Scala by Christina Bauer Read Free Book Online Page B

name.”
    â€œI’ve read everything I can find on Scalas,” I say. “There’s always something about the Bloodstone Curse, but no mention of any amulet.”
    â€œThose damned ghouls,” exclaims Mom. “They wiped out all our libraries, all our records, especially anything to do with the Scala.”
    The firm lines of Dad’s face soften with sympathy. “This isn’t the first time someone’s talked to you about the Curse, is it?”
    â€œNo. Well, not directly anyway. Today, Adair asked me if I wasn’t moving souls because I didn’t have the power anymore. I think she was hinting around about the Curse.”
    Dad’s eyes glow angel-blue. “How dare she? I saw you send Armageddon straight into Hell with your powers. You freed me from his prison, something I never thought could happen. You’re strong, Myla. And your bond with your igni is strong. There must be another reason why they want you to have the necklace. We’ll figure it out.” He reaches across the table and sets his hand on mine.
    I stare at Dad’s wide, muscular hand wrapped around my smaller one. All my life, I’d wondered who my father was, and if I’d ever find him. Now, he’s here and more supportive and awesome than I ever dreamed of. My eyes sting with a mixture of love, awe and gratitude. “Thanks, Dad.”
    Mom pulls out one of her ever-present notepads and starts scribbling orders for her staff. “We’ll need to make a diplomatic request for the necklace.” She pauses, tapping her pen against her chin. “However, it might not work coming from Purgatory. Unfortunately, under the ghouls, we ignored the Furor for decades. Cissy’s only starting to rebuild ties there.”
    â€œI can ask them,” says Lincoln. “I saved a Furor child at the Winter tournament. They were very grateful.”
    â€œLet me take this one,” counters Dad. “I killed the father of the current Furor Emperor. He was downright ecstatic. I’ll go to Furonium tomorrow and make a personal request for the amulet.”
    â€œAnd I’ll call in the Alchemists,” says Lincoln. “They’ll be here first thing in the morning.” His confident gaze meets mine. “Together, we’ll find the Orb and restart Soul Processing. I know it.”
    And seeing that fearless look in his eyes, I think he may just be right.

Chapter Six
    Cissy, Walker, and I step into my stainless-steel kitchen, large boxes balanced in our arms. It’s been two days since Lincoln’s Alchemists showed up. Since then, they’ve kept the three of us busy with regular warehouse-runs to grab magical stuff for them to examine in my kitchen, aka our new Alchemy HQ. There are too many spells and enchantments in the warehouse for the Alchemists to work quickly—plus my kitchen has lots of gadgets and snacks—so they’ve taken up residence here.
    Cissy and Walker speed into the kitchen, setting down their boxes on a nearby countertop. I pause inside the threshold, scoping things out. On the right-hand side of the room, Lincoln’s seated at the head of our long steel table, while his Alchemists fill up the other chairs. They’re six handsome guys with mismatched eyes, all of them wearing white lab coats that have silver eagles stitched on the right front pocket. The group’s super-engrossed in the piles of odd junk that cover the tabletop, everything from typewriters to compasses to chia pets. They don’t notice when we come in.
    I set my box onto an obliging counter. “Hey, everyone.”
    Lincoln looks up, his mouth winding into a huge smile. “Hi, Myla.”
    At his words, all the other guys snap to attention as well. Six bodies immediately stand straight and tall with their fists gripped firmly behind their backs. Military stance. The thrax must start training that particular move in Kindergarten. Unfortunately, it