Atlantis in Peril by T. A. Barron Read Free Book Online Page A

collapse.”
    Atlanta stiffened. “Promi . . . what if he’s right?”
    â€œBut he’s not! Not once, in all my travels, have I ever seen or felt the veil. And I’ve certainly never felt it tearing.”
    â€œBut, Promi—”
    â€œDon’t you see what he’s doing? Trying to control me, as always! He thinks I’m selfish—but my parents are the selfish ones, still using me for their own purposes.”
    He paused, looking into her eyes that sparkled with green, expecting her sympathy. Instead, she said the last thing he expected.
    â€œListen, Promi. Your father could be
right
about the veil. And if he is . . . this whole world is at risk.”
    â€œWhat? It’s a lot more likely he doesn’t want me to see you! He’s probably cooking up this whole thing just to keep us apart.”
    Atlanta shook her head. “Even if that’s true, the veil matters more. The possibility it’s in danger outweighs the desires of just two people.”
    Stunned by her response, Promi asked, “Even if those two people are us?”
    Atlanta frowned. “Yes.”
    He reached for her hand. “There’s something else you need to know.”
    He hesitated, trying to find the right words. “Time is, well . . .
different
in the spirit realm. It moves much more slowly than on Earth. Just a few minutes up there could be days or months—even years—down here. So by coming here often to be with you, and by spending lots of time on Atlantis, I’m . . .”
    â€œKeeping us close to the same age?” Touched, she gave him a soulful look.
    â€œYes,” he said softly. “I don’t want you to get a whole lot older than me.”
    Atlanta drew a long, slow breath. “I see. But, Promi, you
still
can’t put our needs ahead of the world’s.”
    â€œWhat are you saying?”
    â€œThat you should trust your father on this.”
    â€œNo!” Promi released her hand and stood. Angrily, he strode over to the waterfall. Then he spun around and declared, “He’s just trying to stop me from doing what I want. Like he’s
always
done. And what I want is to see you!”
    He paused, trying to calm his voice. “He’s just putting up barriers, don’t you see? And I’ve
never,
in my whole life, believed in barriers.”
    Something about the way he said that sounded wrong to Atlanta. Dangerously wrong. She walked over and confronted him.
    â€œI’m worried about the veil, even if you’re not! There are evil spirits, too, as you know—spirits who would do terrible things down here if they could. And, Promi . . . I’m also worried about
you
.”
    Angrily, he clenched his jaw. “What are you saying? That I’m evil? Or stupid?”
    â€œNo!”
    â€œOr that you don’t
want
me to come visit?”
    â€œNo, Promi!”
    â€œThen what kind of idiocy
are
you saying?”
    â€œYou sound like you’re still a pie thief! Like you can just sneak into the mortal realm any old time you want—as if it’s somebody’s kitchen. And,” she added, her heart pounding, “I’m
not
just another dessert for you to steal.”
    Taken aback, he objected, “I never said anything like that.”
    â€œNo? No? You said you love never getting caught and you don’t believe in barriers. Sounds like a pie thief to me! Then you just toss aside any worries about the veil.”
    â€œSure, but—”
    â€œListen,” she said coldly. “That veil is protecting my world! My forest. My home. And if you don’t understand that—
how can I ever trust you
?”
    â€œTrust me?”
    â€œNot to . . .” The words caught in her throat.
    â€œI’m just trying to be free!” he shouted. “To make my own choices for a change!”
    â€œEven if those choices put my whole