Starlight (The Lightning Strike Trilogy Book 1)

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Starlight (The Lightning Strike Trilogy Book 1) Page 29

by K. A. Rygaard


  mind to it. The Galaxies will never abandon her.” “But, the last time he captured her, he used her

  Magic! Then we nearly lost her! What happens if he gets

  her again? What’ll he do?” demanded Jessie.

  “Jessica,” I said, turning to her, taking her hands

  in mine. “I am so sorry. I should have fought harder, but

  you don’t understand. I have to finish him. I can’t let

  him win.”

  “I don’t want to lose you, Em. You’re my best

  friend and I love you, but he hurt you.”

  “That’s exactly why we have to go!” Zach

  responded. “Jess, if we don’t go, he will find some way to

  hurt her again. He’ll keep hurting her until we fight that

  bastard and we kill him!”

  “Go,” Galaxia said suddenly. “Go, but make sure

  you finish him.”

  We all turned to look at her.

  “I will send reinforcements to Capitol City as

  soon as I know you are there.” Zach pulled me up to

  stand, and Jess stood behind me. Galaxia moved to stand

  before us. “Just promise me that you will all return in

  safety.”

  “That’s a promise you don’t have to worry about

  us breaking, Galaxia,” I said.

  We headed upstairs to change. As I buttoned up my jacket, I realized my hands were shaking. Zach came

  and stood before me, taking my hands in his.

  “Are you coming?” I asked quietly, looking up at

  him. “Are you going to help me finish him?”

  “I told you I would, remember?”

  Dysfunctional Recruitment

  Zach, Jessica, and I appeared before the large stone building that houses the Garders of Quan Head

  Quarters.

  “Where are we?” Jess asked.

  “The Garders of Quan Head Quarters,” I

  answered.

  She gasped.

  “Seriously? They’re real?”

  “This is where Lucas was arrested.” I looked back

  up at the building. “We need their help with this.”

  I headed up the pathway with my hand still locked in Zach’s. We went in through one of the double doors, only to find ten Elves with their palms facing us, preparing to use Magic.

  When they saw Zach and I, their hands lowered immediately and they either bowed or curtsied. They murmured, “Kahi,” as they did so.

  “Welcome back,” said leader Aidan Kingman, coming over to us. He shook hands with Zach, and I introduced him to Jessica, too.

  “So, what can we help you with?” Aidan queried. “The same thing as last time: Lucas Adler.” “He wants a fight, and we’re going to give it to

  him,” Zach added. “This has gone on long enough.” “Well, we’ve beaten them before and we can do it

  again!” someone shouted.

  “That’s why we need you to join us,” Zach

  continued.

  “You can count us in,” promised Aidan. “Yes,” agreed the blonde Elf Leora. “Elves?” They immediately agreed.

  Garders began appearing left and right, saying

  ‘Yes!’ as they did so.

  “This adds to our advantage! But, we’re missing

  someone, Leora,” said Aidan, looking around.

  “Tristan,” she muttered, angrily.

  A dark-haired Elf walked up next to the desk, his

  arms crossed.

  “What about me?” he asked.

  “In case you haven’t heard—” started Leora. “I heard! What about it?”

  “Well?” asked Gen, another Elf.

  He paused and then walked forward, stopping in

  front of Zach and me.

  “You two are the Kahi. I knew it long before you

  did, because of my parents.”

  “How did your parents know?” Zach asked

  skeptically.

  “I can’t answer that right now,” he said quickly.

  “But if my parents found out that I turned down helping

  the Queen and King, they’d have my head.”

  “So you’re saying no?” Jessie asked.

  “I didn’t say that.”

  The Garders hushed, especially Leora, and

  watched him.

  “So? What is your answer, Tristan?” asked

  another Elf.

  “I’m going to fight.”

  “Because of your parents?” Jess queried. I really

  wish she’d be quiet. . . “Really—”

  “Not because of my parents,” he denied,

  frustrated. “I want to fight him. I think all of us do, just

  because of all the trouble he’s caused us. Especially his

  father.” He looked at Leora and she shifted

  uncomfortably at his mention. “I’m not letting Adler

  follow in his father’s footsteps and ruin more families, or

  further ruin them.”

  “What are you talking about?” Leora whispered,

  her eyes in pain.

  “You know what I’m talking about,” he

  mumbled.

  “Good , man!” a black-haired Garder said,

  exasperated. “Just tell us!”

  “What are you fighting for?” Leora asked. The Elves gasped; that question was their call to

  battle, one that got every Elf at the core.

  Tristan stared at Leora, his mouth agape, for some

  reason surprised that she asked him that, and the next

  moment he was pulling her to him. He kissed her, and

  her returning kiss caused a collective gasp from the

  Garders.

  “I fight for you,” Tristan said as they pulled

  away.

  “And I for you,” she whispered back.

  “We need to go,” Zach instructed. “It’s almost

  ten, and I doubt Adler is going to wait any later.” “Let’s move,” demanded Aidan.

  The Garders ran off- Tristan and Leora together- and disappeared behind a wall.

  Aidan turned to us three.

  “Will you be coming with us or. . ?” he asked. “We have one more stop to make,” I said. “Meet

  us outside Capitol City Academy.”

  “Okay, then. We’ll be there. Stay safe.”

  “We will.”

  Aidan nodded and ran off after the Garders as

  Zach, Jessie, and I turned and left the building. We

  walked the pathway, vanishing at the end.

  We appeared before the Academy.

  “Um. . . Em? Why are we at school?” Jessica

  asked.

  “We and the Garders can’t be the only people fighting Lucas. We are going to need all the help we can get. School is the best place to get that help, what with all

  the teachers. Besides, Galaxia’s telling the Capitol.” “But they’re

  “Jess, they aren’t all kids, but all of them have

  Magic. Besides, as I said: we need our professors.” “But the little ones! They can’t go fighting Adler

  and the Abarims!” said Jessie. “If they even come,” she

  added under her breath.

  “Oh, they’ll come. The Abarims might not, but

  Lucas and Tess will.”

  “But getting the little kids?”

  “They’ll stay at the Academy. We’ll take only

  volunteers.”

  “But what if they attack the school?”

  “Jessie, Barriers.” I stopped walking, looking at

  her. “What’s wrong?”

  “This can all go to hell, you know. Fighting him

  in Capitol City?”

  “We have to. What are we supposed to do? Drop

  him a line and ask for another location? He’d laugh and

  attack Capitol City anyway.”

  “This had
better work.”

  “It will work. It has to.”

  We walked up the polished-to-a-shine granite steps of Capitol City Academy and through the double oak doors. We reached Professor Woodkins’ room in a matter of minutes and I turned the handle, stepping inside with Zach and Jessie right behind me.

  “Yes? Who’s there?” I heard the professor ask.

  We continued walking until we were in complete view.

  “Goodness!” exclaimed Woodkins.

  “Hi, Professor,” the three of us said awkwardly.

  “Kahi!” He began to stoop but we stopped him.

  “There’s no need for that, Professor,” Zach and I said hastily.

  He looked up at us.

  “We all saw Galaxia’s broadcast. Kantiu wasn’t very much surprised, considering you two knew so much about the Kahi!”

  “I’m sure he wasn’t,” I responded.

  “And what can I ask from this visit?”

  “We need anyone who wants to help, to come outside with us to face Adler,” said Zach.

  “What? Why?”

  “He wants a war and we have to stop him. Is anyone willing to help?” I responded.

  Gradually, everyone began raising their hands. Woodkins nodded his affirmative. Nicholas Ermines is the only one who hasn’t raised his hand. Everyone lowered their hands and looked at him.

  “So why you defended the Kahi, Fitch! You are the Kahi!” he said, angrily.

  “So? Capitol City is our home; are you or are you not going to help us, Ermines?” I asked.

  “Like I’d help! I’m outta here.” He threw his books into his bag and slammed the door behind him.

  “Knew he would not,” muttered Woodkins. He paused before continuing. “When do we leave?”

  “Now. We don’t know when Lucas will get here, but we have to be prepared. We have to get as many people to help as we possibly can,” I answered.

  “Yes, I will help with that! You three!” Woodkins said, pointing to three boys in the front row. “Come with me; we’re going recruiting!”

  The three tall boys stood eagerly before following Woodkins out the door. Everyone stood up and followed him out.

  Zach took my hand.

  “Are you ready?”

  I took a breath. “As I’ll ever be.”

  On the Offensive

  Just minutes before ten, half the school was

  outside, waiting for some type of alert.

  “Kahi, Ms. Monroe, go up front and tell us what

  we are to do. We desperately need some instructions,”

  beseeched Professor Lewis, the headmistress, stepping up

  to us.

  We nodded and followed her through the crowd.

  She cleared her throat and everyone looked at her,

  quieting immediately.

  “The Kahi have a few words for you. Do as they

  say!” she barked.

  “Go for it, Em,” whispered Jessie.

  I nodded and stepped forward. Everyone looked at

  me.

  “I’m going to say something that might make

  some of you run back inside now. Some of you might not

  make it through the whole battle, you know that, right?

  Lucas Adler is extremely powerful—and he doesn’t

  hesitate to kill those against him. I assure you: no one is

  going to think less of you if you go back inside the

  Academy right now.” Some people hesitated, but they all

  stayed. “At any time during this, if you become

  overwhelmed, please go back inside the school. Professor

  Layton will be right at the doors, right inside the Barrier,

  and she will let you in.” I wetted my lips. “Keep

  yourselves safe. We will win this, and I promise that I

  will not rest until we have.”

  “One more thing: leave Adler for us,” Zach

  demanded.

  The look in his eyes undoubtedly made everyone

  agree. “Now let’s get going; they’re coming.” Everyone

  was staring at me still, but the ache in my scars was

  growing by the second. “Now!” I repeated, turning

  around to the people who are still standing behind me,

  staring.

  The crowd scattered, and then the Abarims

  appeared.

  Everyone started fighting, blasting spells left and right at our enemies. I couldn’t see or feel Lucas anymore, but he had to be here somewhere. Nearly half the fighters are staying in small groups, which upset me, but Professor Lewis was on it already, shouting at them as she fought and they broke up.

  “Where do we go, Em? Amhara!” shouted Jessie, blasting away an Abarim who had jumped at Zach and me.

  “I’m not— Cagendo!”

  “Amhara!” shouted Zach. The spell knocked an Abarim back and it hit a wall, falling to the ground with a cracked skull.

  “I have to find Lucas.”

  “Stay , Emma!” Jessie begged as she ran off.

  “You too!” I hollered.

  She raised her hand over her head in acknowledgement and Zach and I ran off to the north, but stopped when we saw Thalia. The scars started to burn.

  “Thalia!” I shouted, running to her. She turned and looked at us.

  “Em—?” Thalia gasped, her eyes darkening.

  I froze, my eyes widening. Thalia collapsed to the dirt and I bit back a sob, looking up on top of the hill. Lucas stood there with a look of success on his face, lowering his hand.

  His eyes met mine, narrowing. That was a lie; what he said on La’veer was a lie. He wants me dead, and I want him dead.

  A dark red light started emitting around me, before thundering at Lucas. He missed it by an inch and teleported. I strengthened the storm above Capitol City, and a second later, I followed him.

  ****

  Lucas stood in the field behind the school, his

  arms crossed.

  “I knew you’d come,” he acknowledged, that

  horrid smirk still on his face.

  “You just killed one of my oldest friends in front

  of me, Lucas. Nothing would have kept me away.” “This is all fault, you know,” he claimed.

  “You should have just stayed on La’veer."

  “And let you continue to abuse my Magic? Not a

  chance.”

  He stared at me, the unnerving glint in his eyes

  again.

  “You should have taken the deal when you had

  the chance, Emma.”

  I threw a spell at him, which started the battle. It

  was nasty, and increasingly messy. I kept my distance

  from him and when he was distracted with my spells, I

  sent a bolt of lightning at him. It missed him by inches,

  but I could see the current had still frazzled him. “You don’t play fair so don’t expect me to!” I

  shouted. “I’m sick of this game, Lucas! It’s over!” “Don’t be so sure, Emma. I told you, I’m never

  going to leave your Galaxies in peace! You will always

  belong to me!”

  I sent a burst of heated Magic at him, again. It

  scraped him on the arm, leaving a nasty cut. He clenched

  his teeth, but he had to keep moving; I didn’t give him

  any other option.

  Just as Lucas started to use something else on me,

  we heard a scream. A body suddenly flew between us

  and slammed into a tree. My eyes widened as I saw it

  was Boone Lewis.

  Lucas smirked, raising his hand toward yet

  another of my friends. I was quicker; I launched my

  body toward Boone and touched his head, teleporting us

  inside the school.

  I crouched down once we were through my

  Barrier, relieved to see his eyes looking into mine. “Do me a favor?” he asked, w
inded. I nodded.

  “Find the Abarim who did that to me and kick his ass.” I smiled.

  “You got it.”

  The nurse ran out of her office then and I helped

  Boone to his feet.

  “Please take care of him,” I said to her.

  “Yes, of course. Come, boy.”

  She took his arm off my shoulder and took him

  into her office.

  I looked through the windows near the entrance of the school and took a breath. We need help. . . but who? Who could. . ?

  “Niall,” I whispered.

  I teleported myself to Farbreach.

  Making Allies

  Halt! Who goes there?” shouted a gruff voice

  from inside the enormous oak. The trees had told me that this is where the Kensworth reside.

  “Emma Stone, Keeper, Kahi,” I answered.

  The bottom of the tree opened like a door, but just a crack, and a Gnome’s head popped out. He looked at me for a moment, before going back inside.

  “Open the door! It’s the Queen!” he shouted.

  There were scattered, urgent voices, and then the tree door opened to reveal ten Gnomes.

  “Kahi,” they murmured, bowing.

  I nodded. The Gnomes straightened and one stepped forward.

  “Your Majesty, please, come inside.”

  I stepped inside and the tree door shut. All the Gnomes, except for this one, ran off.

  “You are here, I presume, to speak to our King?” he asked.

  “Yes, I need his help.”

  “Right away you will be taken to him. Caledon!”

  A Gnome rushed forward.

  “Yes, Declan?” he asked.

  “Caledon, take Queen Emma Stone to King Eamon,” ordered Declan.

  “Yes, Declan.”

  Declan bowed to me and then off.

  “Queen Emma, please follow me,” instructed Caledon.

  He started walking down a high-ceilinged hallway, beckoning me to follow.

  “Just a bit further, my Queen,” said Caledon, turning right.

  I turned, too, and saw a pair of enormous oak doors, guarded by two tall Gnomes.

  “What is it, Caledon? Trouble at de gates?” one asked.

  “No, no trouble at all, Piran.”

  “Who was it at the door, then?” the other asked.

  Caledon turned and gestured to me.

  “Queen Emma Stone, Rafferty.”

  “Kahi!” they exclaimed, bowing. They straightened and looked at me, then Caledon.

  “Did Declan tell ye to brin’ her to Kin’ Eamon?”

  “Yes, Declan did.”

  “I shall inform him of ‘er arrival,” announced Piran, turning around and going inside the doors.

 

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