“In the flesh,” Dane grumbled, straightening his wig. “Imagine running into you three here.” His face was a mixture of anger and frustration. “So tell me, have you seen my daughter?”
There it was. The ultimate question. Gabriel wanted to tell Dane about Tahlita, of course, but after that, he needed them to go back to Valta. For good.
“Look, Dane,” Gabriel said, pulling himself together and trying not to freak out. “We’ve been looking for you. We know where Tahlita is, but we’ll only tell you on one condition.”
Brent jerked his head back an inch and eyed Gabriel like he had lost his mind.
“Gabe … ” Piper said, widening her eyes in warning.
Gabriel knew what they were thinking. It probably wasn’t the smartest move giving an ultimatum to one of the evil Duke Malgor’s former council members, but Gabriel needed to be sure Dane had no plans on sticking around. He needed the Valtans to go home. Magical, otherworldly beings shouldn’t live in Willow Creek. Who knows what trouble they could cause? It just wasn’t … natural … or safe.
Dane tugged Gabriel up by the collar of his shirt and slammed Gabriel’s back against the side of the vending machine. The machine hummed louder and several sodas came clattering down. “The only condition, boy, is that if you don’t tell me where Tahlita is, I’ll burn your insides to a crisp!” The overhead lights surged brighter, accompanied by a crackling, electrical current sound. A bulb popped and glass shattered to the ground nearby.
Piper squealed. “No!”
“Let him go!” Brent demanded, tugging on Dane’s arm.
“Is there a problem, ma’am?” an older man stopped to ask, his forehead crinkling in obvious concern.
Dane released Gabriel, straightened Gabriel’s shirt, and patted his head. “Not at all,” Dane answered, tuning his voice up a couple of octaves. The lights flickered, hissed, and then returned to normal.
The old man nodded, stared up at the ceiling, then walked away mumbling under his breath. He must have been wondering what had caused the freaky light show. Gabriel wondered, too, but had a sneaking suspicion it had everything to do with Dane.
Gabriel cleared his throat and took a step back. “Chill. I just want you to promise that when we bring you to Tahlita, you guys will go back to Valta—forever.”
Dane snickered. “That’s not a condition, human. That would be a pleasure. I don’t care for this mad world you live in. Therefore, I say with ease that I promise I will leave with my daughter and never return.”
“Perfect,” Piper chimed in. “Except there’s one other problem. I was trying to tell you before … when you were being so rude to me.” She inched back, gnawing the corner of her lip.
Dane sneered. “It seems problems follow you three around like moss clings to a damp log.” He sighed, then snapped his fingers. “Out with it. What is this other problem you speak of? I don’t have all day.”
“Okay, well … Tahlita doesn’t remember you … or Valta … or anything really, except her name,” Piper said.
Dane’s eyebrows twisted together and his eyes took on a faraway look. “What?” His voice was a whisper, shock plastering his pale face.
“We’ve tried to get her to remember stuff,” Brent said, “but she doesn’t want to talk about it.”
As annoying as Dane was, Gabriel felt bad for the guy. Who would want someone in your family to forget you? Especially after trying to find them for so long.
“But maybe when she sees you, it’ll trigger a memory,” Gabriel added, trying to sound encouraging.
“We need to leave immediately,” Dane blurted, suddenly snapping to attention.
As they all headed back to the city bus, the sun began to set. Gabriel knew if they didn’t get home soon they’d be in major trouble.
Brent spoke to Dane, breaking into Gabriel’s thoughts as they trailed down the street. “Why didn’t you just shape-shift so that you could go around all incognito-like? You know, instead of having to wear a disguise because the police are on your trail?”
Dane grunted. “Not all Zeverons can shape-shift, you know. Me? I can control energy—I’m an energy sorcerer.”
“Cool,” Brent said, looking impressed.
Piper snorted. “That explains the light bulb busting back at the zoo.”
“Indeed,” Dane answered. “Sometimes when my emotions are strong, my powers occur un-summoned.”
Relief over finding Dane mingled with a buzz of nervousness. It shot through Gabriel’s veins like a bolt of lightning. What would happen if Tahlita didn’t recognize Dane? Or worse, what if she did and they joined forces refusing to leave Willow Creek? What if instead of leaving, Dane and Tahlita became intent on world domination like some kind of evil archenemies of Earth shown in movies? Who knew what trouble an energy sorcerer and a girl with telekinesis powers could throw down on their little town?
Gabriel settled into a seat on the bus, worried that he was unleashing something that he and his friends couldn’t control, and that Willow Creek would never be the same again.
***
Before going to the Matthews’ house across the street, where Tahlita now lived, Gabriel checked in with his parents, and Piper and Brent called theirs. Dane loitered around somewhere outside. He had told them to hurry or he’d knock on every door in the neighborhood until he found Tahlita.
When they arrived at the Matthews’ house, Dane stayed a safe distance away in the shadows. He hid behind a thick oak tree in the front yard, away from the streetlights that glowed to life. He had promised he’d wait until they got Tahlita outside. Cole answered the door, then reluctantly agreed to get Tahlita. He quickly returned saying she refused to come out. No surprise there.
Cole leaned a shoulder against the doorframe. “What is it with you and my sister anyway, Stone?” he asked, grinning. “You got a thing for girls with … issues?”
Gabriel groaned. “No, I just—”
The door creaked open behind Cole. Tahlita’s face was a wave of confusion. “What’s going on?” she asked. “Who’s yelling?” Her eyes darted over Gabriel’s shoulder. Gabriel followed her gaze, but Dane thankfully remained hidden. Gabriel didn’t know what she meant about the yelling. He and Cole didn’t even raise their voices, and Piper, Brent, and Dane hadn’t said a word.
“Nobody yelled,” Cole said, giving his newly adopted sister a “you’re Looney Tunes” glance. “They just wanted to talk to you. I don’t think they bite, you know. You don’t need to be all mad.”
Tahlita pushed by Cole and stepped onto the front porch. “But I heard a man calling my name. Loudly.” She folded her arms and twisted toward Gabriel, narrowing her eyes on him. “What did you do now?” she demanded.
Cole rolled his eyes. “I’ll be inside if you need me,” he said to Tahlita. “Video games are calling my name. And keep it down or Mom will call the cops.” The door creaked closed behind him.
Dane leapt out from behind the tree. “Tahlita,” he said, yanking off the blond wig. “It’s me.”
Tahlita spun around, facing Dane. “You’re the one! I recognize your voice. You were the one yelling.”
Gabriel whipped his head from Dane to Tahlita, to Brent, to Piper, then back to Tahlita. What did Tahlita mean Dane was yelling? Dane hadn’t said a word before, and Tahlita was accusing him of yelling.
Dane stepped forward. At first Gabriel thought he saw Tahlita’s eyes soften—smile almost. But then, Tahlita braced herself against the door. “Get away from me!” Several small rocks lifted from the grass and spun in circles in the air. “I mean it!”
Crap. Here we go with the whole unleashing of power stuff.
Piper and Brent murmured to each other, looking as uncomfortable as Gabriel felt.
Dane stopped mid-stride, but kept his focus on Tahlita. “You’re right. It was my voice you heard. I didn’t mean to yell. I was calling to you using mental telepathy.” He reached a hand out to her. “Why are you scared of me, darling?”
“Don’t you rec
ognize him?” Piper asked her.
“Of course I recognize him!” Tahlita snapped.
Hope surged through Gabriel. “Really?”
“Yeah,” Tahlita said. “He’s the man that keeps flashing in all your minds—the one you say is my father.”
So Tahlita was like Princess Evangeline. She could read thoughts—and had definitely snuck into their minds. And tonight, she heard Dane calling to her. Freaky.
Tahlita whipped her stare back on Dane. “But I don’t know you. I don’t want to know you either. Go. Away.” She bit out each word sharply.
“But … you’re my daughter—” Dane’s voice faltered.
“Yeah well, how do you lose a daughter and leave her for dead for six months?” she hissed before spinning around and slamming the door behind her.
Gabriel barely had a chance to notice Dane’s glistening eyes before one by one the streetlights on First Street popped, crackled, then exploded in a spray of light and shattering glass across the street.
When Gabriel turned around, he wasn’t prepared for what he saw next. It wasn’t just the electrical disaster that made his eyes grow wide.
A boy that looked about seventeen stood under the lone streetlight that hadn’t smashed. His arm was raised high into the air, his hand palm-up as if he was stopping the glass from crashing on top of him. Even though his face was turned away, he looked vaguely familiar and … out of place. His shaggy, long blond hair streamed down over a navy-blue, fitted vest and his white shirt. His free hand rested on the hilt of his sword and his pants were tucked into black boots. Gabriel gulped. He had a sword!
Piper gasped. Brent blinked, frozen in place.
“Is that—” Piper started, but clamped her jaw shut and stared at the boy.
A cold sweat broke out on Gabriel’s forehead as the realization of who it was suddenly hit him, but before he could move, Dane stepped forward.
“Prince Oliver,” Dane said. “To what do we owe this pleasure?”
CHAPTER SIX
Prince Oliver marched toward them. His tall, black boots hit the ground with a thump, thump, thump. “I’m not here for pleasure, Dane,” he said, his face darkening. “I need to speak with my friends alone.”
Huh. Prince Oliver called them his friends. Cool. The worried look plastered all over his face? Not so much.
Dane folded his arms over his chest and scowled, looking offended. “The children are assisting me.”
“What’s wrong?” Brent asked, stepping toward the prince.
Prince Oliver kept his hand on the hilt of his sword and eyed Dane cautiously.
“I am no longer aligned with Duke Malgor, do not worry,” Dane said, grim-faced. “I’m here for my daughter.”
“Yes, your daughter,” Prince Oliver said thoughtfully. “I sense her presence. That is another issue to address.”
Gabriel followed the prince’s gaze to the upper level of Cole and Tahlita’s house. The outline of Tahlita’s shadowy figure shifted behind the sheers of a window. Yeah, she was definitely watching them—or listening.
“You and your daughter must leave and return to Valta immediately,” Prince Oliver said to Dane.
“I couldn’t agree more,” Dane replied. “However, Tahlita does not remember me or Valta. Worse, she has no desire to remember.”
Prince Oliver paused as if he was thinking. “Either the girl is lying or she happened upon some injury to cause her affliction. Either way, you both must still leave. But that is not the sole reason for my visit.”
Just then, Tahlita’s front door flung open. She stepped outside and eased the door shut behind her. “I don’t appreciate you all talking about me.” She set her stare on Prince Oliver. “And I’m not lying.”
Prince Oliver nodded. “Sorry. I meant no offence. And if your memory has been damaged, I might be able to help with that.”
“If you can aid my daughter, then you must!” Dane yelled.
“I’m not your daughter,” Tahlita said with a groan.
“If you don’t remember things, how can you be sure?” Dane asked.
Just then, a car zoomed by, heading down the street.
A shrill sound rang out as the prince unsheathed his sword. He swung around in the direction of the car, pointing the tip of his sword outward.
“Easy,” Piper said. “It’s just a car.”
Prince Oliver tilted his head, eyeing the car curiously as it pulled into a driveway several houses down. “I’ve never visited this place before. It is … very unusual.”
The fact the Prince hadn’t crossed the portal before told Gabriel this visit must be for a special reason. Prince Oliver had said it wasn’t only because of Tahlita. Gabriel’s stomach knotted. He eyed the prince carefully. Prince Oliver sheathed his sword and sighed, looking like he had a ton of things on his mind and didn’t know where to begin.
“Is everything okay?” Piper asked, her voice shaky.
Prince Oliver gave a small shake of his head. “No, everything isn’t okay. My mother and my sister have been kidnapped.”
“What?” Gabriel shouted. “You’re kidding, right?”
“How?” Piper asked, eyes wide in alarm.
Brent twisted his eyebrows. “By who? Did Duke Malgor do it? Did he escape?”
Gabriel knew what Brent was thinking. Of course it had to be Duke Malgor. After all, he was responsible for everything bad happening in Valta. In an attempt to take over the throne from his older sister, Empress Malina, Malgor had stolen the life force for all of Valta—the crystal Divinities. Because of that, he’d almost killed their whole freaking world. After that, Prince Oliver had taken Malgor to the Tower of Doom where he was supposed to stay forever.
“No,” Prince Oliver said. “Duke Malgor didn’t escape—but someone wants him to. Although … I’ve yet to figure out why.”
“What are you speaking of, Prince Oliver?” Dane asked.
Brent looked at Dane. “After you left Valta, the Malgor dude—your friend—was locked away.”
“I figured that part out,” Dane snapped. “But what do you mean someone wants Malgor to be released?” Dane stared at Prince Oliver. “Who’s the someone?”
“Yeah, who would have taken the empress a-and Princess Evangeline?” Piper stammered, pacing from side to side. “This is crazy! We have to get them back!”
“And how could they kidnap them?” Gabriel asked. “I mean, where was Andimian?” He couldn’t believe someone had kidnapped the empress and the princess with the huge, flying tiger on guard.
“Empress, princess, kidnappings, and Andimian … ” Tahlita said, slumping to her butt on the front step. “You guys realize you sound nuts, I hope.” She eyed Prince Oliver up and down like he was an alien. “And why are you dressed like that?”
Prince Oliver ignored her, focusing in on Gabriel with a frown. “Andimian was wounded—almost slain. And I—I was away from the castle when the tragedy occurred. Both he and the seekers were all seriously injured and are now under the care of Leejor and his wife Marta.”
Leejor was the magical healer of Valta who had cured Gabriel, Piper, and Zigzag from gruock bites. Leejor had all kinds of awesome potions and spells. Gabriel had to trust that Leejor could heal Andimian.
Piper approached Prince Oliver. “The princess must be so scared! Can we help somehow? Is that why you’re here?”
“Actually, I was thinking that since my mother had such faith in you three, maybe you could assist us. That is why I came. You three saved all of Valta the last time you were there. There is no one I could trust more to send on this important quest, so I was hoping you could help find them.” He gripped his hand around the handle of his sword. Tilting his head back as if searching the stars for an answer, he then closed his eyes and heaved a sigh.
“I must stay at the castle and guard the Divinities. Mother made me swear an oath to keep them safe no matter what. She wants to ensure history will never be repeated. Even now, only a short protection spell has been placed on them whils
t I am away. I must return to the castle before the spell breaks.” He paused. “However, if you agree to help I must admit that I am unable to gift you with powers the way Mother did. I can only aid you with swords and potions.”
Gabriel’s insides twisted. He didn’t know if he was up for another quest, but he knew he couldn’t abandon the empress and the princess. If they needed help, he’d have to try.
“I’m in,” Brent said. “But there’s no way my parents are gonna let me leave. Since I came home from Valta last time they’ve totally been made of suck. On top of that, I took off today when I wasn’t supposed to. And when I called them from Gabriel’s house, they said I’m grounded, for like, ever.” Brent picked up a rock and flung it down the sidewalk with a grunt. “I bet they’ll stick a GPS down my throat when I get home.”
“Well, Brent,” Prince Oliver said. “I came prepared. If you agree to help, I’ve brought some special memory potion made by Leejor himself.”
“Memory potion?” Dane asked, tilting his head in thought.
Prince Oliver nodded.
“That sounds cool. How does it work?” Gabriel asked.
The prince pulled out a vial from his vest pocket. “You slip some in your parents’ tea, or whatever it is they are drinking, and they will forget about you until you give them another potion on your return. The same thing can be used for your town. I’ll add some to the drinking water to be safe.”
“Sick!” Gabriel laughed. “A little school-skipping all double-oh-seven style. I’m down with that.”
“That sounds awesome,” Brent agreed.
“You’ll need to catch up with school when you return,” the prince countered. “And make sure you hide any pictures with yourselves in them until that time. But at least you won’t have to explain your absence.” The prince rubbed his chin before adding, “And I’m hoping you won’t be gone long. We need to find my family soon—before it’s too late.”
“Just hold on,” Dane demanded, glaring at Prince Oliver. “You said you could assist my daughter. And now you mention this memory potion. Am I right that this potion could heal her?”
Gabriel Stone and the Wrath of the Solarians Page 3
