Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 66383 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66383 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
I look at him, baffled and frustrated. My hands grip my dress, not having thought I could be different from my sisters. How is that possible? We are all the same. We appear the same, were born the same day different years, yet the possibility—
“Would you like me to guess?” he interrupts my raging thoughts by pulling my attention back to him, where he is now sitting on the edge of the bed.
“Sure, but I know who my father and mother were. My sisters and I all look alike.
“That doesn’t mean one of you can’t have a different father.”
“My mother would have told me,” I say. But as the words leave my lips, I’m not so sure.
“Not necessarily.” He shakes his head. “How would you tell your child that they are the outcome of someone you didn’t want them to know existed?”
“Existed?” I ask, confusion raging through me.
“Yes. I believe you are part demon. But not just any demon. The King of Hell himself…” He pauses, but continues when I don’t react. “Only he had your power. I’ve not known nor heard of any other being having that kind of power.” I walk over and sit on the bed with him, my mind spinning from this revelation. “Have you asked a seer, perhaps?”
A laugh tickles my throat.
“No, the one seer I know hates me.”
“Give me your hand.” I hold it out to him, and before I know it, we are back at the border with the bright, flashing yellow light. All eyes turn to us, and Levy runs straight to Max, her hands going around his neck. She hugs him to her, and he stands there stiffly, not reciprocating any of the attention she is showing him.
I glance at the crowd and see Ron, with Adam still in his uniform, standing next to him, looking at me.
“Levy.” Max says her name, and she pulls away from him, wiping at her tears and staring at the ground. I feel bad for her, I do. He doesn’t want her the way she wants him, which must be heartbreaking. His eyes find mine, and I hold them for a moment before I look away.
“I was worried she hurt you.” Levy tries to touch him, but he holds out his hand to stop her.
“Maxilliam.” The shadows are back, calling him, but he pays them no attention.
“Did she hurt you?” Levy pushes.
“No, she did not.”
“But we saw she had you under a spell,” she says, not realizing that she should probably stop questioning her king.
Max looks at her dead in the eye. “She did not spell me,” he says again. “But I believe she can open a portal to her world to get us all through.” Shock at his statement ripples through everyone, including me.
“A portal? Me?” I question, my spine straightening with a shiver.
Maxilliam steps around Levy and comes straight toward me. He captures my hand, giving it a squeeze. “You. You have the power, but you aren’t quite strong enough, whereas I am. I can give you the right amount of power to do it.” Everyone goes quiet. Not one word is uttered. “Talia, I can give you the power. You felt it, correct?”
“I did.”
The king turns away from me and searches the crowd with his eyes. “Alan.”
A man steps forward, and I know straight away he is a seer as he has the same eyes as Viper.
“Alan, would you help me with Talia?”
He bows. “Of course, sir.”
Max starts walking away, guiding me along with him, and the villagers follow us, even Levy, who is glaring at me as if I am bacteria that grows on her feet. I probably am, but I’m going to take any chance I can get to return back to my family.
“We don’t need her help,” Levy yells as we enter the village, eyes on us the whole way.
Max stops and looks back to Levy, but chooses not to answer her before he points to the bench where Ron and I were sitting earlier.
“It takes a lot from you,” he states, and I nod my head. “But you also get very high on it.” I hide my smile, remembering that kiss. Would I have kissed him if I hadn’t taken his powers?
“Alan, can you read her?”
Alan steps from the crowd and walks over to me. He bends down until we are eye-to-eye and shakes his head. “I’ve never had this problem…”
“It’s because she is stronger than you. She is blocking you.”
I hear a loud gasp.
“But, my king, I can read you.”
“Her power is stronger, she just doesn’t have full access to it all yet.” Everything and everyone seem to still. “Alan, you have seen and heard the spell for the portal. Once I give her my power, you can guide her. I need you to guide her, Alan. She will be stronger, but she is also on a high. You have the ability to manage a high, so I need it managed.”