Strength Read Online Free PDF Page A

your help to save lives.”
    Roxie’s mouth barely formed the words “sounds complicated,” and then she passed out.
    ***
    Aerigo drew closer and put a hand on Roxie’s forehead, evaluating her energies again. Her skin was hot to the touch, but it felt like change; not illness. “She shouldn’t wake up anytime soon. She’s changing into a proper Aigis.”
    “She’ll be able to do everything she’s supposed to soon?”
    “Correct.”
    “Is it safe to move her? We need to talk but I don’t want to disturb her sleep.”
    Aerigo scooped Roxie into his arms. “Where to?”
    The old woman led him across the living room, down a flight of stairs and into a typical teenage girl’s bedroom. The walls were covered with movie posters, pictures of scenery and people, and a couple of stuffed bookcases. In one corner of the room hung a net overflowing with stuffed animals. Below it was a twin bed neatly made. Aerigo laid Roxie on the comforter of striped pinks and reds with stars, hearts, spirals, and wavy lines all over it. Grandma took the throw blanket from the foot of the bed and covered Roxie from the shoulders down, then kissed her granddaughter’s forehead.
    “So you’ve come already,” she said softly, sorrowful.
    “Yes. It can’t be helped.” Aerigo felt both grateful and saddened by Grandma’s foreknowledge. Grateful because his arrival was less of a shock, yet saddened because no amount of warning would make the family parting any easier to accept.
    “Don’t you think she’s a little young?”
    “What did Baku tell you about Rox?”
    “Come.”
    Aerigo followed Grandma back upstairs and took a seat at the kitchen table when she gestured to it.
    “I’m making some herbal tea. Do you want any?”
    “Please.”
    Grandma filled up a teakettle and set it on the gas stove, then walked around the counter and down the hall. A moment later she returned and set a folded piece of paper on the table. “One morning, when Roxie was still a newborn, I went to her crib and found her holding an envelope in one tiny hand. I couldn’t come up with a reasonable explanation for how the letter got there, much less without disturbing a baby.” Grandma retrieved two ceramic mugs from a hanging cabinet and set them by the stovetop. “If you’ve seen enough of the world around us, you’ll understand that magic isn’t a reasonable explanation.” She retrieved a couple of tea bags from another cabinet and deposited one in each mug.
    Aerigo gave her a comprehending nod. “I’ve been to quite a few worlds. Some have magic; some don’t, like yours. It’s just the way things are.”
    “I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve read the letter. I didn’t know whether to believe it or not until Roxie’s eyes started glowing. After that I had no reason left to doubt its validity. I’ve kept the letter secret from Roxie for fear of scaring her. It seemed like the right thing to let her grow up in ignorance of her fate. Now that you’re here, my choice seems to be no less cruel than the alternative.”
    Aerigo pulled the beige paper closer. The note was old. Every fold was boldly defined, yet no rips or crumple marks aged the note. He opened it and began reading what he recognized as Baku’s simple handwriting:
     
    Dear Eve-
    I give you my condolences for your son and daughter-in-law. The gift of your granddaughter has come at a heavy price I didn’t expect. My name is Baku and I apologize, but it’s too early to explain who I am and how I know about your family. I won’t be able to meet you in person for some time but I need to grace you with some knowledge about your granddaughter.
    Roxie is special. She’s something more than human: an Aigis. She’s still your blood, however she possesses abilities no one else on Earth has, yet she won’t be able to exercise any of them, except one: her eyes can glow in response to fear, anger or sadness, but that trait won’t develop until age five. Hopefully this heads-up