Chapter 23
I landed with the gracefulness of a cat, and I touched my finger to my shoulder blade, feeling a temporary moment of happiness for the mark. I was standing at the entrance of the cave where the red rubies waved across the snow-white crystal wall and dark red crystals pointed down from the glittering charcoal ceiling. I immediately took off towards where I knew the massive crystal ball burned bright, my feet softly thudding against the translucent crystal floor that covered the flowing midnight river. I ran passed the area where Laylen had knocked Nicholas out once, and charged by where Alex, Laylen and I had made our escape from the Death Walkers. I reached the pair of silver doors with the Foreseers mark on top and slipped quietly into the room.
My stomach instantly rolled at the sight of the bodies strapped to the giant crystal. Just like the first time I had been here, their eyes were still shut, their bodies still slack with tubes sticking out of their skin.
I walked towards the massive crystal ball, shining so brightly it hurt my eyes. Yet, I didn’t look away. I held my breath and tried to block out the human bodies on each side of me as leaned forward and put my hand to the crystal. Energy zapped through my body and my heart sped up so fast I thought it was going to explode out of my chest.
I couldn’t breathe. It was too much. I yanked my hand back and gasped at the sight of the Purple Flame burning in the palm of my hand.
I did it by myself. I took pride in this fact; a kind of pride I had never felt before.
Instinctively I shut my hand, and the flame poofed out. I opened it again and Ta-da! the flame ignited.
“Wow,” I muttered under my breath. I opened and closed my hand a few more times, watching in awe at the sight of the Purple Flame lighting up and smothering out. But, finally, I decided I better leave. I could play with the flame when I got back. I shut my hand, suffocating the flame, and headed to the door, slipping the Traveler’s ball out of my pocket. I had been warned once not to use the power of the Divination Crystal so close to the massive crystal ball that supplied all the energy, so I figured I would wander a ways back down the hall before I took myself home.
I cast one last glance back at the people strapped to the crystal ball, their energy being sucked from them. One day, I would come down here and free them all, even if it meant there would be no more Foreseers. The world could live without Foreseers. I mean, look at what my father had done.
I turned back to the door just as it swung open and smacked me in the face. The Traveler’s ball slipped from my fingers and crashed against the floor, breaking into pieces of glass and rubies.
“Crap.” It was a good thing I had a backup.
A man entered the room wearing a silver robe that matched his sliver eyes. His skin was pale, his hair grey, and I had seen him before.
“Gemma,” Dyvinius said, startled by the sight of me.
“What are you doing in here?”
“A…um…would you believe me if I said I was lost.” I said innocently.
He stared at me blankly, either not getting or not appreciating my sense of humor.
“Sorry.” I deliberated my options. I could go all ninja on him—I mean I was a Keeper now. But kicking an old guy’s butt didn’t seem right. So I let three seconds tick by, and then I ran.
My shoes skidded against the crystal floor as I barreled around the massive crystal ball. I wasn’t sure what to do.
Did I dare risk using my power so close to a crystal loaded with power?
“Gemma,” Dyvinius voice came from right behind me.
Wow, he was quick for an old guy.
I decided the heck with it and shut my eyes. It was definitely time to go. But I couldn’t feel it, there was no power. Had the Purple Flame sucked the power out of me?
“There’s no use trying, Gemma,” Dyvinius said, in his monotone-like voice. “I have the place on lockdown. No one may leave or enter, even with a unique Foreseer gift like yours.”