Beyond the Sapphire Gate: Epic Fantasy-Some Magic Should Remain Untouched (The Flow of Power Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

stuck in her mind. Why would she lead those men in here? “Where’s the other one?”
    “The coward ran off when I stuck Jewel in this one,” she replied, patting the corpse’s leg.
    “You call your knife ’Jewel?’”
    Atoi closed her half-open mouth, her white face statuesque and regal. Suddenly she jumped upright. Gray dust mushroomed as high as her booted ankles before falling away. “Enough talk.” Holding her right hand behind her, she patted her thigh with her visible hand. “Jewel will make you tell me everything, providing I don’t scratch you too deep. You will die from her special lingering death. Methinks you’re too weak to stop us a second time.”
    A gray shaded symbol with a white outline set to a star pattern formed in Crystalyn’s mind. Crystalyn combined it with another, redrawing it into a highly complex maze-like design, though it retained the same colors. How it would help, she was uncertain. Standing straighter, she almost cried out from the pain of her throbbing head. Grimacing, Crystalyn faced the little girl, praying her legs would hold for a while longer. The conversation had turned bad, possibly deadly.
    An adage she’d penned in med school popped into her mind. Wear the right emotional mask, and people will respond. Perhaps she could turn the conversation around with her arrogant instructor mask, if she was strong enough to maintain it. She must hurry. Please Great Father, let this work. Smoothing her face, Crystalyn tilted her head and looked down upon the little girl, straining to keep her voice steady. “Am I as weak as you think, little one? Is it worth the risk to find out?” Atoi’s expression didn’t budge a hair. Her hard, green eyes shone with anticipation, matching the half-smile pasted on her pale face. The girl wasn’t buying a single word, but she had another idea. “Perhaps I should melt your Jewel in her sheath. Would you want that?”
    Atoi’s fine eyebrows rose. “So, you are a User,” she said. “I thought as much, outlander.” Advancing slowly, Atoi glanced surreptitiously around. “You don’t look strong enough to melt snow, though. You are pale like me, and shaky …unlike me. You’re much too weak to stand for long.” Atoi paused, cocking her head and nodding slightly. Her voice took on an odd, echoing quality. “I know how taxing using the Flow can be without an Interrupter. One of my Hosts had the ability. I commend you for being able to stand at all. Using the Flow has drained you deeply, hasn’t it, young User?” Atoi advanced a few steps closer, her smile thinned to a grim line. Strangely, her eyes looked aquamarine instead of the emerald she’d first thought.
    Crystalyn was tempted to ask Atoi to elaborate, but she’d had enough. Time was passing too quickly, Jade could be anywhere, now. Though her ruse probably wouldn’t work, Crystalyn had to try convincing the little imp that stabbing her again would be a mistake. “Care to test your theory, little girl with the big mouth? Go ahead; give it your best shot. I’ve had my fill of attempts on my life. Well? Am I as weak as you think?”
    Left hand hovering near her thigh, Atoi hesitated, a step or two away.
    Meeting her gaze for gaze, Crystalyn waited until Atoi’s hand dropped to her hip and her stance relaxed. Then, curling her lip, she put on one of her best sneers. “I thought so. Now, show me what you’re hiding behind your back.”
    Scowling, Atoi moved her arm to her side. Gripped in her small hand, the black candle gleamed darkly caked with dried blood. Probably my blood, Crystalyn thought. Wait! Atoi had used her other hand to retrieve the knife. Little Miss Dagger must be ambidextrous. She’d have to keep an eye on both hands.
    Atoi raised the black candle. “You have two books and don’t really need this, why not let me hawk it for you at the Under Market? We can make a great fortune. With a bit of work beforehand, I can raise interest for it and double the coin.