But the strangest thing was when Roseabelle realized that the energy of these feelings were focused on her.
Roseabelle snapped open her eyes to find the pleading golden orbs staring right back at her.
But what if this was a trap? Despite the peace she’d felt from the animal, Roseabelle couldn’t shake her nagging worry. She chanced a quick look over her shoulder. Everyone in the nearby houses was still asleep.
Jessicana. Jessicana would know! She loved animals and she had read probably thousands of books on them. Roseabelle looked in the direction of Jessicana’s home. Her friend would know where this animal had come from. But it was still very early, and Mrs. Wing-ling probably wouldn’t appreciate her daughter’s best friend and a strange animal coming to their house in the middle of the night to talk. Roseabelle turned back to the strange creature.
“I’ll come back for you in the morning,” she said, kneeling on the ground and rubbing its head. Roseabelle stayed extremely still as the animal whimpered.
“I’m sorry, but you have to stay out here for the night,” Roseabelle whispered. “I’ll come right back here in the morning, all right?”
The creature just stared at her, but as she stroked the side of his head, he purred softly. As Roseabelle straightened up, the creature, swift as the shadows, darted away into the night. There was a distinct rustle of bushes and then Roseabelle was alone.
CHAPTER 4
Moonstar
ATRO SPRINTED ALONG THE PATH TO ROSEABELLE’S house, anxious to talk to his friends again. At the crack of dawn he’d been awake, and after meandering around the tower for a little while, he’d decided to get dressed and head over to see Jessicana and Roseabelle again. As he ran, the red Stone thumped in his pocket, reminding him that it was still there.
Around him people were walking, flying, and even burrowing into the earth, traveling around the island. He accidentally bumped into a group of women near a cluster of trees who were practicing using their powers by transforming into various animals. Astro muttered an apology and weaved through the trees, wishing he, like Jessicana, could turn into a parrot and fly for once. As a pair of bird-shaped Benotripians almost collided over his head, however, he decided that maybe it was okay just running.
Surprisingly, when he got to Roseabelle’s house, both she and Jessicana were already on the front porch. “We have to show you something,” Jessicana said as he rushed up to them.
“What is it?” Astro asked, the wheels in his head already turning. But a breathless Roseabelle just motioned for him to follow them.
“I went walking last night,” she said. “And found something crazy.”
Astro had seen a lot of crazy things in his life—probably more than he needed to. But what was Roseabelle talking about? They sprinted across the paths to the beach, keeping away from the Benotripian workers. The girls led him to a more secluded spot, where the sand met the cerulean waves and the outer edges of the leafy jungle. “What is it?” he asked.
“Um, please just don’t freak out,” Jessicana said. “He’s friendly.”
“Who’s friendly?” Astro asked, but the answer came straightaway when a deep, chilling growl rattled his spine. He whirled around to see a large cat with black and red fur pacing toward him. He jumped slightly at the sight of it. “Guys, I’m not really interested in becoming lunch right now.” He backed away slowly, staring in wonder at the animal’s golden orbs.
“It’s fine,” Roseabelle said. “I’ve read his emotions, and he won’t attack you.”
Astro accepted her words but didn’t break eye contact with the creature. “Wait, so he just came up to you?”
Jessicana answered the question. “I think he’s been looking for her all along. They must have formed a special animal bond. I’ve read about those. Anyway, he’s not from Darvonia or Benotripia.”
“He has to be from Metamordia then,” Astro said. There was no way this creature had just appeared from thin air.
“That’s what I was thinking,” Roseabelle said and knelt next to the creature. Astro flinched but the animal only purred in response.
“Why’s he so feathery?”
“No idea,” Jessicana said. “But what’s even more curious is how he got here.”
“Maybe a stowaway of some kind,” Astro suggested, and Roseabelle’s eyes went wide.
“That could be it,” she mused. “But a stowaway on whose boat?”
Astro thought about the weapons flying at him. Was it even possible? Had Darvonians really traveled to the island again? But no sightings had been reported. What about Metamordians? But there had been no contact with that island for years. Why would they suddenly show up? He had the urge to say something but resisted. Right now they had a mystery at hand to solve. “So why did we meet him here?” Astro asked gesturing to the animal. “Someone might see us. Should we go to your yard, Jessicana?”
“He led us here,” Jessicana said, and to prove her point, the animal nudged his head on the soft sand. She walked over to Roseabelle, who had been casually folding and unfolding the parchment in her hand. Both of them stared at the parchment. “I wonder if this really is authentic . . .”
But Astro’s eyes had veered from the girls and he now stared, transfixed, at the creature. Was it just his imagination or was the animal jerking his head toward something? The large cat purred and pawed through the sand, and Astro’s eyes shot up. Getting down on his knees, he dug through the wet sand, getting his elbows deep in the grungy mess. “Something down here, boy?” he asked, feeling a little silly. Talking to a weird creature that was from a different island? Yep, he was going crazy.
But as he dug, Astro felt his arms abruptly enter a hollow space. Looking down at the sand, he realized he had unearthed a small pocket of air in the beach. “Roseabelle, Jessicana!” he yelped. The creature stared at him, its golden eyes almost holding a playful smirk. He could almost imagine it saying, “I told you so.”
The girls scuttled over to them and Jessicana grinned. She knelt beside Astro and yanked out something from the dirt, a silvery object. Roseabelle immediately handed her the Embele and Jessicana furiously scraped at it, revealing a spyglass.
“Where did this come from?” Roseabelle asked. Astro gazed at the object, his curious nature perking up. Almost in response, the creature dug into the pit. When he raised his head, something silver hung from his mouth and he dropped it on the beach. Astro lifted it to his face, realizing it was a tag of some sort fashioned out of grimy silver. The worn letters displayed “Moonstar.”
Astro glanced at the creature. “Moonstar,” he whispered. “So that’s your name.” Moonstar rubbed up against his leg, purring quietly.
Jessicana suddenly stumbled back, holding the spyglass to her eyes. “No way,” she murmured.
“What is it?” Astro asked. He felt as though an extravagant mystery was being unfolded before them, and his fingers tingled with excitement. He had to remind himself to keep his power under control as silver lightning flashed. He quickly stuffed his hands into his pockets.
Jessicana held out the spyglass to Roseabelle, who accepted it. She peered into it and her jaw went slack. “You’re not going to believe this, Astro,” she said, handing it to him.
He raised the instrument to one eye and stepped back in disbelief. Astro had expected to see only a short distance, but instead he saw a close-up view of Darvonia. The rocky dark landscape brought back bad memories and Astro yanked it away from his face. “No ordinary spyglass, for sure,” he said.
“It’s not even extended!” Roseabelle exclaimed.
“Must be a magical relic,” Jessicana mused.
Astro once again raised the spyglass to his eyes, extending the silver attachments and increasing the view. He tilted it skyward—and saw something floating midair: a shimmery, airborne tube, clear as though it were made of glass. Astro couldn’t see inside it, though. He pulled out the other increments in the spyglass, getting an even better view. The tube stretched as wide as the s
ky. “What is that?” he asked.
“What’s what?” Jessicana asked.
“There’s some sort of tube,” Astro said. He retracted the increments, staring at the sandy Benotripian beach, but the glass floating structure was still there.
He handed it to Roseabelle, and she twisted it around. Astro noticed that when he was staring at the air above the ocean with just his eyes, he saw nothing. But with the spyglass, something was definitely there. “I think this spyglass can see through enchantments,” Roseabelle said, concentrating hard on where Astro was pointing. “Wait a second,” she said. “Astro, hand me Horsh’s papers.”
He picked up the trutan from the ground and handed it over to Roseabelle.
“I think this really is genuine!” she exclaimed. “You’re not going to believe me but Horsh says the Dream World is a real place, but invisible, right? Well, I think I might be staring right at it.”
“No way,” Astro whispered. Could that glassy tube actually be the Dream World?
Roseabelle handed the spyglass to Jessicana. “Think about it. What else could the spyglass be? It lets you see faraway distances. Why couldn’t it see magical properties of things as well?”
Astro noted that Roseabelle was getting excited, the prospect of discovering something new gleaming in her eyes.
Jessicana set down the spyglass. “Um, guys, I think there’s something else you should see.”
“What is it?” Roseabelle asked, and Jessicana let her peer into the miniature telescope.
“I think your family might be in trouble, Roseabelle,” Jessicana said, her usual perky bounce gone.
When Roseabelle pulled away from the spyglass, Astro saw that she looked troubled. “Let me see!” he said and peeked through the spyglass.
He skimmed across the dark waters, catching a glimpse of the clear glass tube. Astro could now see the outer edges of the dark island and his interest piqued when he saw a fleet of black ships moving. His pulse raced—they were Darvonian ships. Weren’t Danette and Dastrock supposed to be monitoring them?
He swiveled the spyglass to see the distinct forms of the Benotripian ships not too far away. But they were sailing right toward the Darvonians, as though they hadn’t even seen the dark ships.
Each of the friends peeked through the spyglass once again. “I don’t get it,” Roseabelle said, pacing back and forth, running a hand through her bright red hair. “Don’t they see them coming?”
“Maybe not,” Jessicana said. “It’s possible the Darvonians have some protective fog around them.”
“So Danette and Dastrock think they have the upper hand,” Astro said, piecing it together.
“But in actuality,” Jessicana said, exchanging a look with Astro, “they’re the ones being trapped.”
“I think you’re right, Roseabelle,” Astro said. “The Darvonians might be using an enchanted fog to conceal themselves and we can see it because of the spyglass.”
It happened as quick as a flash and Astro didn’t even have time to react. A black arrow, appearing from nowhere, sailed toward his midsection. He cringed, waiting for the blow.
But it never happened. Glancing down, he saw the arrow embedded in his pocket—it had struck the glistening red Stone inside. Roseabelle and Jessicana looked at the trees in horror, and Moonstar perked up, alert.
And then time seemed to slow down for Astro as the dark figures of Darvonians appeared in the trees—their black soulless eyes staring straight at him.
This time Astro knew exactly what they wanted.
The trutan had to be genuine—they had seen the actual Dream World with the spyglass and now Darvonians were after the Stones, the Keys to the Dream World.
CHAPTER 5
Setting Sail
FOR A FEW SECONDS, THERE WAS ONLY SILENCE. IT SEEMED as if the Darvonians were scrutinizing them, wondering why the three friends hadn’t moved yet. They were still frozen, immersed in shock.
“Run!” Astro shouted, and the trio tore out of the beach, kicking up sand in their wake. Jessicana nearly slipped and Roseabelle quickly steadied her. Running right along the water, Astro felt his fingertips already crackling in alarm, his heart pounding like a bass drum. How had the Darvonians snuck up on them like that?
“Where are we going? There has to be somewhere we can hide!” Jessicana yelled.
In the lead, Roseabelle shook her head, panting. “I have a better idea.”
They raced in front of the Benotripian defense towers. Glancing up, Astro saw the citizens looking torn—they could obviously see the Darvonians right there, but there were also three Benotripian kids that they couldn’t risk hitting with Flame-hurler Missiles.
Astro chanced a look behind him. The Darvonians were chasing after them like a hungry mob, and Astro saw them release a cloud of black arrows. Knowing that he and his friends couldn’t survive such an attack, he quickly grabbed Roseabelle and Jessicana. The three of them instinctively ducked, sprawling on the sand as the arrows flew right past them.
Rising to her feet, Jessicana shouted, “Go, go, go!” They resumed sprinting across the beach. Moonstar bounded behind them, seemingly comprehending the danger they were in.
The Darvonians were right on their tail, and Astro wondered where Roseabelle was headed. But then he saw it—she was racing right for the emergency getaway boats!
“You’re not really—” he started but his worst fears were confirmed just seconds later.
“Yes, I am!” Roseabelle shouted back and tore toward the docks. Astro’s legs were getting tired but he urged himself to go on. He turned in time to see the Darvonians firing arrows again. He stretched his fingers out, an array of silver lightning shooting rapidly at the Darvonians, peppering them with deadly energy.
Some of his bolts exploded as they collided with a storm of arrows; others knocked the Darvonians off their feet. But to Astro’s surprise, the rest of the Darvonians kept coming.
“Get away from here!” Roseabelle shouted at Astro and Jessicana. “I’m Shadow Tumbling back to the house to get the trutan and some weapons. The Darvonians will follow you. Above all else, keep the Stones safe.” Shadow Tumbling was one of Roseabelle’s many powers—it allowed her to travel through shadows. Astro opened his mouth to argue, but Jessicana beat him to it.
“What about the people?” Jessicana asked.
“I’ll make sure they follow us and leave the Benotripians alone. Hurry, they’re gaining on us! I’ll be right back.” Roseabelle dove into the shadow of a large tree, then closed her eyes and disappeared, spinning into the depths of darkness.
The other two reached the docks, and Jessicana hurriedly untethered a particular boat, her hands working at the knots at an unbelievable pace. Astro leaped into the spacious wooden boat, and Moonstar quickly followed after him.
The Darvonians came closer. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a couple of the Darvonians turning to face the Benotripian people, weapons in their hands. Quick as a flash, Astro leaned out the side of the boat and aimed. An eruption of silver bolts sprang from his fingertips, slicing through the air. The lightning hit the attacking Darvonians and they fell to the ground, unconscious. The lightning attack delayed the other Darvonians who were attempting to revive their fallen comrades.
Jessicana finished separating the boat from the dock and stepped inside the boat, casting a nervous glance at the Darvonians closing in on them.
“I’ll paddle, you shoot!” Jessicana instructed, her hands shaking. As the Darvonians raced up the dock, Astro shot a firm wall of lightning at them, his arms trembling. The force was almost too much for him, and he was tiring quickly.
With the Darvonians only slightly delayed, Jessicana and Astro steered the boat away from the docks, paddling furiously. But before they knew it, the Darvonians had cut the main rope and compressed themselves in the boats, eyes glinting, power hungry for the Stones. Roseabelle had been right. They were so driven to retrieve the Stones, they were leaving the island just to follow Jessicana and Astro.
Jessicana paddled furiously, and Astro quickly drove his oar deep into the water—but they were moving too slowly. The Darvonians were speeding toward them now. At the front of the boat, five archers drew back their thick bows, deadly black arrows nocked in place. If those arrows were loosed, Astro knew he and Jessicana wouldn’t have a hope—the Darvonians were well known for their deadly aim.
Acting on an impulse, Astro compressed his hands together and formed a crackling ball of electricity, which glinted silver and blue on the waves. Jessicana’s eyes widened, but she continued paddling as Astro gritted his teeth, forcing all of his energy into his hands, and raised the charge above his head.
Then, with a mighty yell, he hurled the crackling ball of light at the enemy. Both he and Jessicana ducked for cover. A bright flash followed by a sizzling crack illuminated the water. Cautiously, Astro quickly peered over the rim of the boat. Half of the boats were in splinters, and the Darvonians that had previously occupied them were swimming frantically to the other watercrafts, boosting themselves into them. Astro had created a gaping hole in one of the boats. He grinned—only a couple boats remained perfectly untouched. And the boats that had shattered had lost all their weapons and supplies.
“Nice job,” Jessicana said, grinning. “That was like a thunderstorm next to the ground!”
“Maybe that’s because it was,” Astro said teasingly, and Jessicana rolled her eyes.
“Whatever.” They high-fived. Suddenly Roseabelle appeared beside them in the shadow of the stern, red-faced and sweaty, the trutan tucked under one arm and a bulging sack clasped in her hand.
“You nearly gave me a heart attack!” Jessicana breathed.
Astro tried to calm his racing pulse. He hoped that the sack was full of food and weapons.
Roseabelle blushed. “Sorry. I got everything we need.”
“Roseabelle, where are we going?” Astro asked. Moonstar purred in agreement, and all three of them jumped. They’d completely forgotten he was there.
Benotripia- The Complete Trilogy Page 18
