Crais(52)

Although I don’t think I will end you, sweetheart. You, I have much bigger plans for.

I felt it then. The laluna was back in my hand, its blue light extra bright in the darkness. It gave me the boost I needed to permanently end the conversation and detach the golden cord. The moment I was alone again, my heart started to beat rapidly. I could be mere moments from having Brace back, but was I deluded to think I wouldn’t damn us all by assisting the Seventine?

“What are you planning, Abby?” Lucy’s words startled me.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I attempted to keep my voice steady as I slipped the laluna into my pocket. It would either be there later or not. I had no control over the powerful stone.

“Liar.” She flicked me hard on the arm. “I’d recognize that guilty look anywhere. Either you’ve already done something bad or you’re planning to very soon.”

I stared into the comforting face of my best friend. I wanted to tell her so badly. I needed someone to talk with, but there were too many ears here. And they all had awesome hearing.

“I’ll tell you later,” I murmured to her, knowing she’d never give up otherwise.

She leaned in. “Make sure you do, or I’ll be forced to torture it out of you.” Her grin looked a little evil.

“Just because you’re an alleged soothsayer doesn’t mean you have to know everything.” I lowered my voice and smirked. “Maybe you don’t know because you’re not meant to.”

“I have an insatiable need to know everything, even that which is not my business.” She returned my expression, hers even more devious. “And I’ll find out, mark my words.”

History had taught me, if Lucy wanted something she always got it.

Tunnel eight was so far uneventful. I had a suspicion that the Bracentine was keeping the dangers away from us. I could feel them lurking out there but nothing was attacking.

“The men have had reanimated dead, scarab beetles and underground moles in the other channel,” Josian said. “Stay alert. I don’t like that so far we’ve encountered nothing. We’re being led into something big.”

“Are they all okay?” I asked.

The Walkers around me laughed.

Josian nodded. “Yes, they’re fine. The numbers were small and no match for ten Walkers.”

“There are very few things in any of the worlds that are a match for one Walker, let alone ten of them.” Lanthorne continued to chuckle, his proud features crinkled in mirth.

“Who would win in a fight, one Walker versus two dragoonas?” Lucy grinned.

She loved this game. On Earth we’d spend days fighting over which superhero would dominate, arguing all their strengths and weaknesses. Nerdy, I know, but without television we lacked entertainment.

The debate started then and continued for the rest of the tunnel. Dune in particular found it hard to believe anything could defeat two dragoonas. He listed their strengths, which were impressive. They were definitely the dominant species on Crais, but still the consensus seemed to be that Walkers would squish them like bugs.

We were still arguing a few minutes later when Josian, who was out in front, came to a halt and threw up one hand to silence everyone. I fell quiet, trying to hear. Finally I made out a tapping noise, so slight it was almost imperceptible.

Josian started to move again, his grace and stealth resulting in almost silent steps. As we curved around a bend there was a flash of intense light which rendered Josian’s glow-ball useless.

The end of tunnel eight was just ahead, and there was something very bright up there.

I opened my mouth to speak but shut it just as quickly. Now was probably not the time to distract him with the questions flooding my mind. I missed having Brace in my head. It was convenient when I had to run thoughts past someone.

As we approached, the light was so bright that stepping out of the tunnel into the room left me blind for a few moments. I stopped, waiting for my eyes to adjust. Finally I had a clear picture of our surroundings. A swirling vortex-portal thing was in the centre of the round stone room, the light shining up from its depth. This must be what the Bracentine was talking about.

“Stay away from there,” Lucy spluttered out, breaking our self-imposed silence. “That’s the portal to the Seventine.”

Yep, definitely in the right spot.

Josian grunted, his eyebrows lifting. “It should not be open in this manner, even with the freed Seventine. The gateway was sealed and hidden from those that may stumble onto it. First World is the oldest of planets and it was deemed the perfect hiding zone.”

“It’s open because Que has disturbed the balance. It will be permanently open until they are all free or the gravitational force sucks them back in.” Lucy spoke in a firm voice. She was strangely attuned to the Seventine.