Ethan Wright and the Alchemist's Order, (Book 2) Read Online Free PDF

the end table that Loki was resting on.
    There was Odin, hunkering under the table, holding his crippled hand with his hood pulled over his head. His bottom stuck out from the confines of the small refuge as he unconsciously rocked back and forth. Ethan could hear whimpering coming from the old man as he breathed erratically.
    Ethan walked to the table and knelt down. “Odin?” he said, concerned. “Odin, are you okay?”
    “Ethan!” Odin exclaimed. “No … I, uh …” Odin’s breathing grew deeper, causing a small amount of spittle to run down his chin. He was in an obvious state of panic as beads of sweat streaked down his face.
    “Ethan, you don’t understand … I didn’t mean for this. No! Where are they? They are coming for us; we have to get out of here!” Odin was cautiously crawling out from under the table.
    The old man appeared to be Odin, but something was not quite right. He had a befuddled look, as if something was missing from inside his head. Ethan thought his caretaker might lose it at any moment, and the fact was, Odin was doing everything in his power to hold himself together.
    “Calm down, Odin, you have to send us to Tirguard! You bonded with Dimon and you told me this would happen — you told me you would act out. Please, get yourself together and send us, right away … right now! ” It felt odd giving orders to his caretaker — Odin had been the one in charge since Ethan’s father disappeared.
    “No, too dangerous — too dangerous, that place. Ethan, I’m sorry. It wasn’t supposed to happen like this — voices, Ethan … whispers … inside my head and an evil that’s after me! It’s after us….” Odin rambled on and Ethan turned to address Auren, who was now standing up.
    “Now I know why Wegnel was so nuts,” said Auren smartly.
    “Come on now, we have to figure out how to get him to send us,” replied Ethan frantically.
    “Just tell him the truth. He can’t leave here until we get him a replacement — remember when MacArthur got separated from the Oroborus last year? He nearly lost his mind,” said Auren.
    “Did you hear that, Odin? We’re all stuck here until we get you a replacement.”
    Odin stood up tall and removed his hood. “I can’t stay here.” His hands were shaking and he looked terrified. “They will get me like they got Wegnel, you know they will, Ethan … you know he will come for me — Xivon doesn’t want us using this Oroborus,” he whispered frantically.
    “Then send us and we’ll get you a replacement,” offered Ethan insistently. “Send us, Odin.”
    Odin paused and walked toward the magic chair, then turned to look at the boys. “Have it your way,” he said softly. “Don’t leave me here too long — you hear me? I need to get out of here … so don’t forget about me, do you understand?” beseeched Odin as he looked Ethan in the eyes. He did not suspend his stare until Ethan nodded. It seemed to satisfy Odin’s desperate urge to leave.
    Odin peered at the scaly creature that lay on the table. It frightened him terribly, but the thought of staying in the hut any longer than necessary terrified him even more. Ethan took a seat in the magic chair with the old-looking border around it. Odin reached out to pick up the Oroborus. He did not quite know how to pick it up and hesitated several times before finally coercing himself to close his eyes and just grab Dimon. His hands trembled as he quickly brought the tail-devourer near Ethan. The Oroborus sank its fangs into flesh, and soon Ethan was in darkness.
    ***
    “Hold, you brigand!” Ethan heard a loud bellowing voice as he regained consciousness from his trip through the stars.
    Ethan opened weary eyes to see a sword tip at his throat. He followed the blade up past the handle, until he saw its master. It was Odin, the other Odin. This version of him had a fierce and bold demeanor, and he looked quite serious. His lip curled as he flared his nostrils. His eyebrows drew down in