Mayan Blood by Theresa Dalayne Read Free Book Online Page A

gleaming with whimsical anticipation. “Allow me to fill you in on the true history of the Maya. The history you won’t find in books.” He drew another long puff from his pipe. Fear slithered inside her, mirrored by the smoke seeping from Renato’s lips.
    “Many millennia ago, the gods feared for mankind. They knew humanity was no match for the underworlders, who strove to control every realm in their quest for power. As a result, the middleworld gods, who have limited abilities, pleaded with the deities of heaven to help protect mankind. Seeing the poor chances the humans stood to defend themselves, they gave the people a tool; a stone from the earth, blessed with the ability to transform human into Riyata. A guardian was chosen to protect the stone, and for generations, did. That is, until she was captured, slaughtered, and the stone was taken from her possession.”
    A migraine throbbed through Zanya's temples. She massaged the ache, only spreading it behind her eyes. She sighed and squinted at Renato. This guy must have thought she was a total idiot. “Tell me, Renato, if that’s even your real name. How do you know all of this? Did someone tell you this ridiculous story, just like you’re telling me now?” The migraine surged with her aggravation. “How gullible do you think I am? You really expect me to believe all this? Underworlders? An ancient super-race of enlightened people transformed by a magic stone? Where are the vampires and werewolves? Oh, and the giants? You forgot the giants.” She crossed her arms, tapping her fingers over her biceps. “I’m sure they wouldn’t appreciate that very much.”
    Renato’s gaze intensified. “I know because I was one of the first volunteers to be changed by the stone.”
    A tiny wave of relief washed over her. The story had taken a turn for the ridiculous. “Oh, come on. That’s not even possible.” She leaned forward with a smug purse of her lips. “You forgot to do your math. That would mean you’ve been alive—”
    “Longer than I can keep track of. I have witnessed man discover the earth is round, the creation of penicillin, and the birth of electricity. However long it has been exactly, I couldn’t say.”
    Zanya sat back, her lips parted. “You can’t be serious.”
    “Riyata generally stop aging between sixteen and forty years old, unless you are a dreamwalker.” He gestured to Marzena. “We may stop aging, but that does not mean we cannot die. Countless have fallen while protecting the stone. Life can be prolonged, but it can never be ensured.”
    Renato extended a book. Zanya slinked back. Maybe he didn’t mean any harm, or maybe he did. She still couldn’t tell. Either way, old habits die hard. She examined it for a moment before taking it from his grasp.
    On the aged paper was a drawing of a woman who stood with her arms outstretched and her face tilted toward the sky. An illuminated orb of light glowed from under her skin. Threads of recollection tugged at her. She pushed them away, refusing to fall into his black hole of madness.
    Tara tilted the book toward her for a better view. “Wow.”
    It was time to put an end to this. “If I am who you say I am, why haven’t I ever felt different? I mean, consider the facts.” Renato listened, puffing his pipe with no particular expression. In fact, he seemed completely convinced of his own story. Convinced this fantasy world he lived in was real. “You know, facts? They’re those little tidbits of information that make things real. Scientific documentation, studies, and observations of things you can see, taste, touch, and smell.”
    “Such as the wound on your wrist being miraculously healed by the touch of a healer’s hand.”
    She ran her fingers across the area where it had been, the skin supple and flawless. Her stomach fluttered and tightened. She still hadn’t figured out how she healed so quickly, but there had to be an explanation.
    “Zanya, I know this is difficult to