The Realms of Ethair by Cecilia Beatriz Read Free Book Online Page B

his direction. Unconsciously, he leaned
back into the shadows, bumping against the tree, and shrank his
aura fearing detection. The size of her aura had grown larger that
it covered most of the forest. If she was more adept with her
abilities, she would have immediately sensed his presence; worse,
identified his exact location.
    At present, his heart raced at the
possibility that she might have felt him nearby. His misgivings
remained unrealized as Kala distracted her with a crystal tablet.
They were both in deep conversation as they shared the object
between them. At some point, Kala met his gaze and he knew that she
would not give him away.
    Arturion descended from his perch and thanked
the tree spirit for granting his request. When he asked if he could
repay the kindness, the tree spirit appeared. She had taken the
shape of an ethereal young woman with dark almond-shaped eyes.
    “Answers in return for the favor.”
    Arturion nodded.
    “Why do you hide, Gate Keeper?”
    “Because,” he stared past the spirit. “I am
afraid.”
    “She is light and air and of earth. You have
nothing to fear.”
    “Yes, but I have failed her. I fear losing
her friendship.”
    The tree spirit smiled wanly and shook her
head, retreating within her tree.
    Arturion had turned to leave when he heard
the spirit’s whisper through the rustle of her leaves. “I will be
your friend, Keeper. I am Mira. Call my name and I shall heed
it.”
     
     

Chapter 8
Arturion
     
     
    Sola sat across him. His foster father’s head
bowed in thought after he had brought the news. Sara placed her
hand over Arturion’s. It was a habit of hers to make physical
contact with those near her. As a child he had sought for his
mother and her small gestures had helped him feel that he was not
quite alone in the world. He began to treat her as he would his
mother as time
passed.
    “Are you certain that your plan worked?”
Sola’s eyes bore into him.
    “Yes. Reno and his Black Guards helped cover
the trail.”
    “The Others. Your encounter with one of Them.
This is the flaw in your plan. How would you deceive them when they
have sent Theirs directly? Usually, Their humans do the dirty work.
Rarely do They involve Themselves.”
    “My encounter turned out to be a defective
prototype – a drone someone released. Reno has imprisoned it in a
concealed location until the Galactic Federation sends one of their
representatives to transfer it to a more secure area.”
    “They are still at war with the Cabal.”
    The Galactic Federation (GF) is a large
collective of beings from different parts of the galaxies and
universes formed with the sole purpose of achieving a harmonious
existence or universal peace.
    The Cabal is another organization responsible
for numerous atrocities in the world. The Hiroshima and Nagasaki
bombings in Japan, year 1945, were suspected to be a part of the
Cabal’s machinations. The nuclear bombing had caused a chain of
events in the universe and reminded everyone of the devastation
that occurred after Atlantis engaged in a nuclear war. The last
incident, the March 11, 2011 tsunami and nuclear terror attack in
Japan, had been the turning point, which caused the GF to engage
the Cabal while keeping mankind ignorant of the ongoing war.
    The Federation has been watching
activities on Earth closely to prevent another incident from
happening and to ensure the long-awaited evolution of the planet
and its inhabitants comes to fruition.
    “ They are neutralizing most of the fear and
chaos the Cabal has been organizing. As for the Others, they have
lost the advantage. They will not touch Kris –Karina’s sister and
friends when they believe her…dead.”
    “ True, unless she comes back from her
supposed death,” Sola acknowledged. “The immediate danger has been
averted. We have to thank Reno and his people for their
efforts.”
    “ Karina’s life is still in danger,” Sara
said softly.
    The two men looked to the high priestess for
an