Crystal (Silver Hills #2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

speechless.  Not to mentioned mesmerized by the parade of colors that danced across his clothes.
    "I suppose I should cut to the business at hand," he continued.  The loud tone of his voice gradually died down.  "Well . . . did it work?"
    "Uh . . ."  I bit the corner of my lip, hoping an answer would come to me.  I had no idea what he was talking about.  "You mean . . . the thing?"
    "Dotti," he replied.  "This isn't the time to play your little games.  Did it work?" 
    "Yes?" I guessed.  His white pupils grew to the size of cereal bowls.  "Or . . . no?"
    " I don't find your jokes very amusing," he sighed, obviously disappointed.  "We must have cast the wrong spell."
    "Yeah," I improvised.  "It didn't work?"
    "Zite," he said under his breath.  "I'll have to go back."
    "Back?"
    "Back to the Sard of course," he said out loud as he scratched the edge of his chin.  "It won't be easy this time."   He ran his fingers through his long, dark hair.  "I guess you'll have to go through with this.  I'm sorry, Dotti.  I really thought our plan would work."
    "And what was our plan exactly?" I asked.  He eyed my forehead suspiciously.
    "You sound . . . different," he said in a low voice.
    "No," I blurted out.  The spark of curiosity in his white pupils made my muscles tense like I was about to be punched in the gut.  "I'm just feeling . . . a little under the weather ."   His hand moved towards my forehead, ready to tear away the veil that stood between us. I swiftly slapped it, regretting my decision but quickly pulling myself together. 
    "Hmmm," he said, lifting his chin.  Apparently I'd chosen a very Dotti-like move.  "Fine."  He turned sharply, striding towards the bedroom door.  "I'll see you downstairs.  You best be ready.  Zircon has just arrived."  He yanked open the door and his heavy foot steps disappeared down the hall way.  I let out a huge sigh as Opi came rushing in once more.
    " You must change quickly," Opi said as she slammed the door shut, this time locking it.  She hurried back to the closet and opened a tiny door I hadn't noticed before.  It looked like part of the wall.
    "Change for what?" I impatiently asked.  " What is going on here?  Why haven't I woken up yet?"  The white pupils, the moving clothes, the unfamiliar symbols carved on the bedroom furniture - it had to be a dream.  Nonsense like this couldn't exist in real life.   Maybe I'm dead?
    "Take off those rags," she instructed.  She pulled a sparkly, white dress from the back of the disguised door in the wall and gently laid it on the bed.
    "I'm not doing anything of the sort," I shouted.  I pulled my veil off and slapped the side of my face - harder than I did last time.  The side of my cheek stung as I closed my eyes.  "Time to wake up.  Time to wake up."
    " It's no use."  Opi unzipped the garment bag and turned her head as a burst of light escaped from it.  "You can't go back."
    "Back to where?"  I opened my eyes, disappointed when I saw Opi's face.
    "To where you're from Miss," Opi replied.   She pulled out a beautiful, white gown with silky fabric that hung straight and shapeless.
    "You mean reality," I muttered.  "And who was that guy with the flashy suit?  He seemed . . . different."  Opi smiled.
    "That was Nuum," she said quietly.  "Your father's most trusted advisor."
    "You mean Dotti's father," I corrected.   "Why did that weirdo think I was Dotti?"
    "You look just like her," Opi responded.  A strand of brunette hair fell across her face as she held up the gleaming white dress.   "Apart from the eyes . . . and the arrogance.  But I'd say you're coming close."  My eyebrows furrowed.
    "What is that?" I asked, pointing to th e long train of fabric that recoil ed like a cat when it touched the floor.
    "Your dress," she answered.
    "Ah yes," I played along.  Anything to get me out of this place and back to Silver Hills .  "Zircon has arrived.  What is that?  A freaky circus act or something?"
    "Zircon