Page 43 of The Void

“It’s started,” Lei said, looking up towards the sky. Directly overhead, the three moons became one. “We haven’t much time now,” Lei added as he glanced in the opposite direction. “Take me to the cave.”

The two suns were almost in position. Their bright lights combined and somehow made a bright narrow beam that was heading directly towards the three aligned moons.

Lei jerked his gaze back towards her. “Bring us to the cave now!” he practically screamed. “It’s the only way. Nothing can stop what’s coming.”

“No!” She shook her head and beat against her invisible prison. “Let me go!”

Two things happened at once. The entire hillside behind Lei started to move at the same time and a large black demi-wolf jumped out of the shadows just behind Mia.

Chapter Twelve

Hearing Mia scream sent a wave of sheer panic through Lucas. He had to act and didn’t even think before coming to her rescue.

Of course he had followed her to the meeting. He’d crept as quietly as he could, knowing that Lei would be too consumed with Mia to notice him. Especially in his animal form.

Besides, he’d masked his dog smell, as Mia put it, with help from Jain, who had littered his fur with moss and floral scents.

When he noticed Jain react to Mia’s cries, he’d jumped into action as well.

What he hadn’t expected was that neither of them would be able to get to her or to Lei. It appeared that both of them were now surrounded by some sort of invisible bubbles.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t even make a mark. While his sharp claws scraped against the invisible barrier as he tried desperately to get to Mia, Jain beat against the blockade on the other side. Neither of them was making any progress, nor was Mia, who beat against the inside. He could see that she was desperately trying to get out, as she glared at him with anger in her eyes.

“Try something else,” he cried to her in his mind.

“I told you I could handle this,” she said back as she shot fireballs at the barrier. They bounced off and fizzled out.

“It’s not working,” he hissed. “Even Jain can’t get to you.” He watched as she tried a few different things.

“Is that…” Mia glanced over her shoulder and motioned towards the creature that was desperately trying to break the barrier. “That’s Jain?” Mia pointed to her. Then she stilled and yelled at her brother. “Let us go.”

“I told you to come alone,” Lei said to her.

It was then that Lucas realized that Lei looked just as uncomfortable as Mia was. Whatever was going on, he got the hint that Lei didn’t want to be trapped either.

Suddenly, a loud hissing sound echoed and the sphere holding both Mia and Lei started to rise slowly into the night sky.

Lucas watched in horror as the bubble headed right for the bright beam shooting out of the suns and heading towards the moons.

“Stop them,” he called to Jain, and changed back into his human form so he could fly up and continue beating against the obstacle. “Let her go!” he yelled at Lei.

“Lei, stop this!” Mia was crying.

Lei shook his head and held out his hands. “I’m sorry, sister.” He sighed. “It’s too late. Nothing can stop it now.”

Lucas beat his fists against the sphere until he felt as if his bones would break.

They were almost high enough in the sky to enter the beam when he stilled.

“Mia,” he yelled, getting her attention. She’d been trying to fight her way out and was yelling at her brother to let her go. “The cave,” he said. “Go to the cave. I’ll find you. I’ll get to you.”

Mia nodded. Just as she vanished, Lei threw himself at her.

Shit. Had this been exactly what Lei had wanted all along? Had they just played directly into his trap?

Immediately after Mia and Lei had disappeared, the sphere vanished.

Setting back down on the ground, he glanced around thinking. Jain moved over to stand next to him.