Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 123779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 495(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 495(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
My lips part with shock as I watch an asteroid begin to enter the atmosphere. It turns the clouds into a blazing inferno, looking like a storm from hell is about to be unleashed on us.
“We need to get out of here,” Ares says, his tone strained, then I hear Thana’s voice sounding drained of all life, “You have to get them to safety, Alchera. I can’t hold out much longer.”
I quickly glance around me and see a house in the distance. The sound of a baby crying is carried to me in the wind.
“Save them,” Thana sobs.
I fall off the chair and land on my hands and knees. Shaking my head, my mouth is dry, and my heart thunders against my ribs.
“What happened?” I hear Raighne’s voice.
“Just a dream.” I climb to my feet, and hurrying out of the house, I pray to all that’s holy he’ll hear me as I think, “Ares, I need you.”
“Alchera!” Raighne’s voice thunders through my mind, and I start to run. “Don’t you fucking dare.”
A moment later, Ares appears near me, and he holds out his hand. As I grab hold of him, I think of the area where Thana is, and the next second, we shimmer away from Vaalbara.
“Alchera!” Raighne shouts when we appear on Earth.
“I’m sorry. I’ll be back soon.”
“Come back right now,” he demands, his tone tense with worry and anger.
Ignoring him, I glance around us. The area is pretty much deserted except for a few houses in the distance and a man kneeling in the dirt, give or take a thirty yards from us.
“I always thought she was the most beautiful sister until I saw you,” Ares says, drawing my attention away from the kneeling man.
I look at where Thana hovers in the sky, and hoping she can hear me, I think, “I’m here. I’ll save them.”
“Please,” she begs. “I can hear them crying. They’re so scared.”
Ares must’ve been listening in on our thoughts because he asks, “Who are we saving?”
I point to the house that’s familiar from my vision. “They’re over there.”
When I hear the kneeling man groaning, “Thana,” my head snaps to him.
Realizing it’s Phoenix, I run to his side, but what I find shocks the living hell out of me. His skin is gray and riddled with cracks where it looks like lava is moving beneath the surface. His eyes are glazed over white as he stares up at Thana.
“Oh my God,” I gasp, but before I can touch him, Ares grabs my hand and stops me.
“Fuck,” Raighne’s groan echoes through me, telling me he can see what I see.
With a shake of his head, Ares says, “We can’t help him. Thana’s burning through him.”
“No,” I whisper as I look up at where my sister is hovering, her light so bright it stings my eyes.
“We can’t save them, Alchera,” Ares says, his tone urgent. “We have to leave.”
“Listen to Ares,” Raighne begs. “Get out of there. Now!”
“No,” I shake my head. “I’m not leaving without the children,” I say as I tighten my grip on Ares’ hand. “Take me to the house.”
He instantly shimmers us closer to the house, the area around it looking like a farm with corn stalks reaching above my head. The moment we appear I hear a baby crying, and not thinking of my safety, I shove the front door open and hurry inside.
I find a boy who can’t be older than fourteen, huddling in the living room with three toddlers and a baby. His eyes are wide with fear as he stares at us.
Shit, there’s no glamor to make us look human.
“We’re here to help,” I say as I move closer to them. “You have to come with us.”
“It’s not safe,” the boy argues, his terrified gaze darting between Ares and me. “Our parents left to get help and never came back.”
“Are these your brothers and sisters?” I ask.
He shakes his head, looking like he’s about to cry. “I’m just babysitting them.”
“We’ll take you to a safe place,” I say, keeping my tone as gentle as I can.
“You can’t, Alchera,” Raighne begs. “They’re not chosen.”
“I don’t care,” I mutter to him. “I have to do this.”
Chapter 33
Alchera
Moving forward, I say, “Form a circle. My friend is going to take you to a safe place.”
The boy gives us a worried look, but he helps get the toddlers to hold hands.
I crouch in front of them. “Don’t let go of each other. Okay?”
They just nod, their cheeks covered with tear tracks.
I rise to my full height and look at the boy. “Give me the baby.”
He hesitates for a moment before handing her to me. I turn to Ares and hold her out to him. “Don’t let go of her.”
Even though he shakes his head, he takes the baby.
I grab the boy’s arm and force him to stand beside Ares. “Place your hand on him and hold one of the toddler’s hands.”