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.
Starlight (The Lightning Strike Trilogy Book 1) Page 29
