Lucas Ryan Versus: The Return Read Online Free PDF Page A

around both of her pinky fingers were two shiny bands. They twinkled to life, spinning with golden sparkles. The scratches along my forearm matched their colorful flashes. She had only two of the twelve rings on her. I wondered where the other ten rings were. In my head I could hear Ripley come to life.
     
    ~ She must be taught to control the power of the rings. ~
     
    I agree. I spoke in my head.
     
    ~ No one as young as her has ever wielded the power of the Jynshee. ~
     
    I know. I thought, quietly.
     
    ~ Thankfully she only wields twelve of the thirteen bands. She cannot unlock the full potential of the rings without the complete set. But, this is still extremely dangerous for her. ~
     
    Why don’t we just take them from her?
     
    ~ Because once the power of the Jynshee has bonded with its host, there is no taking them away. Only the host can wish the power away, and I do not have faith that Sophia will give them up so easily. ~
     
    I had felt that power myself. It was intoxicating and absolute. I frowned, and agreed. I know.
     
    Olivia stared at me curiously. She knew my history with Ripley and the powers it had. Quickly, her hand fell onto my markings and she closed her eyes. My two-way mind conversation became a three-way.
     
    * Are you two talking about Sophia? *
     
    ~ Hello, Olivia. ~
     
    Feeling excited to have her voice in my head, I smiled, and answered her back. Yes, we are.
     
    * About what? The rings? *
     
    Ripley thinks it’s too dangerous for Soph to have the rings. It’s too much power to handle.
     
    * I completely agree. * Olivia leaned into me. It made a goofy smile appear along my face.
     
    Olivia, I’ve missed doing this. I mean, sharing our thoughts like this. Olivia and I had shared this closeness before. When Ripley was still a stone-like jewel, we shared a few important conversations telepathically.
     
    * I’ve missed it too. *
     
    So, you did miss me while I was gone.
     
    * Everyday, Lucas. *
     
    I stepped slowly to her and she leaned closer to me. The moonlight filled her big eyes and I wanted to kiss her. Suddenly, she pulled away from me again.
     
    What’s wrong?
     
    * We should talk about this later. *
     
    Why?
     
    * I just think we should take things slow. Things were moving so fast before you…left…disappeared… *
     
    I guess saving the world can be a little stressful, huh. I was making a joke, but her words had taken the wind out of my sails a little. She looked away from me for a moment.
     
    * I guess so. *
     
    I took a deep breath and continued. Maybe we should take a step back. Just be friends, or study buddies or something. I so didn’t want to take a step back. I had been infatuated with her even before middle school after all.
     
    * Friends. * She repeated inside my brain.
     
    “Friends,” I said, out loud. She looked down at her hand along my forearm and blushed. Her fingertips were gently tracing the lines of my flickering tattoo.
     
    * With benefits. *
     
    We both erupted into a fit of laughter and it echoed everywhere around the mountain. Sophia walked up to us and broke our connection with her hands.
    “You’re talking about me, aren’t you?” she demanded.
    “Calm down, Soph,” Olivia warned her.
    Sophia snapped back, “Don’t tell me to calm down, O!” I stepped between both of them.
    “We need to talk about your rings,” I said, to Sophia.
    She stepped back from me. “What about my rings?”
    “Soph, they’re too much responsibility for you. They’re too dangerous,” Olivia tried to say.
    “Are you kidding me? No they’re not!” Sophia yelled.
    “I know the power of the rings is appealing, tempting even, but it’s a power we don’t fully understand yet. You’ve seen what they did…we were lost for over a month,” I tried to reason with her.
    “So!” she fought back.
    “So, they’re dangerous! I can’t take the chance of losing you again,” Olivia snapped.
    Without missing a beat, Sophia made a fist and stuck