Scala Read Online Free PDF

their bodies making intricate flow-patterns that wind up my arms.
    My sweet igni. A sense of peace and power rolls through me. I am the Great Scala, and this is what I’m meant to do.
    Sensing the igni’s power, the Durus leans back on its heels, beating his chest with his great fists. Opening his piston-mouth, the demon lets out another ear-splitting roar.
    At the sound of this cry, my inner wrath demon kicks into high gear, electrifying my nervous system with rage. Time to go home, buddy. I lower my arms and command the igni to slide onto the floor and create a Soul Column, the vehicle that will send the Durus to Hell.
    Only, the igni don’t move.
    I frown, my forehead creased with confusion. This can’t be right.
    The igni keep whirling around my arms. Inside my head, they start rasping out an odd song that makes me wince. I catch the words ‘dragon’ and ‘must get’ in there, but otherwise, it’s a bunch of nonsense.
    I mentally command the igni with more force. It makes no difference. Their voices keep chattering away in their strange cacophony, their sounds faster and harsher by the second. Finally, I resort to speaking out loud, something I’ve never had to do before.
    â€œI order you! Send the Durus to Hell!”
    In reply, the igni’s song turns furious in its intensity. I’ve no idea what they’re saying anymore, only that the sounds are super-painful to hear. I set my hands over my ears. “Enough!”
    Instantly, the igni disappear. It takes me a full minute to regain my focus and senses. Damn, those dark igni can take over your brain when they want to.
    I scan the factory floor for Lincoln. He’s fighting the Durus, and probably has been for some time. The demon’s now missing a riveter-arm; half its face is gone. The Durus swings its remaining band-saw arm at Lincoln, who leaps away while changing his baculum into a net of white flame. Tossing it high, Lincoln encases the demon in his angelfire web.
    A pause follows. In a moment that lasts forever, Lincoln and the Durus stare at each other. The demon’s face droops with an unasked question: what can this thrax possibly do with a net?
    In one swift movement, Lincoln cinches the net-cords into a tight ball. The angelfire strands are razor-sharp, tearing easily through the demon, slicing its metal body into thousands of tiny shards. The bits tumble to the floor, softly jingling as they fall. The place where the demon once stood is now a shredded pile of scrap metal.
    The Durus is dead.
    I should cheer, but I’m still a little freaked out my impromptu igni concert.
    Lincoln steps up to my side. “What happened? Are you alright?”
    â€œYeah, I’m fine. My igni wouldn’t listen to my commands, though. They were singing some kind of message to me instead. Weird.” I punch his upper arm. “By the way, nice job, you.”
    â€œI’ve fought Durus before. Normally, they’re incredibly fast. The eyes shouldn’t light up, either. Something was wrong with this one.” He frowns, resetting his baculum into their holster on his thigh. “Not that there’s anything wrong with an easy battle every once in awhile.” A crafty look lights up his eyes. “Ready to head out? I want to hear all about what’s going on.”
    Happiness bubbles up inside me. That’s right. Lincoln’s staying for days now. Awesome. Whatever other plans I had, I’m clearing my schedule and enjoying our time together. I take his hand in mine and head for the door.
    Betsy’s still waiting outside.

Chapter Four
    Lincoln and I hunt through the contents of my fridge, looking to scrounge up a quick snack before dinner. Like most nights, my parents are off running Purgatory as Madame President and First Man, so it’s fend for yourself time. Turns out, killing a Durus makes you hungry. Plus, that weird-igni-concert was no-fun. I need me some grub.
    Lincoln