Save Aether (The Trinity Key Trilogy Book 3) (6 page)

“I’m honored to meet you girls. There’s so much I’d like to ask. As you can see we’ve been archiving these items.” She continued to shake Valera’s hand, but turned to speak to Julia. “I assure you we are giving them the utmost respect that they deserve. Your father had quite an impressive collection.”

Valera’s arm ached. Using a little force, she pulled it away from Professor Scrod. The woman seemed surprised, and then jumped.

“Of course, you want to get right to work.”

She spun around and scuttled back toward a room encased by filthy, cracked, glass walls. The girls followed her. At the entrance, Professor Scrod turned four dials and pulled a lever, and the rusted door creaked open.

With an excited grin, she proclaimed, “Behold the relics of Danu.”

Chapter Six

Julia

The three relics were displayed on a table. Now that she had her power, Julia hoped that the Sword of Ealga would respond to her. The crazy professor ushered them into the room. She reminded Julia of a nutty squirrel. Julia’s eyes flicked over to Lawly, who seemed even more intense today. Valera was right, he was acting oddly. He gazed at the relics with a longing in his eyes that gave Julia an unsettled feeling.

“So far we’ve only examined the markings and materials of the relics. Unlike the other artifacts, they’ve been dormant. Unfortunately, we’ve had no luck activating them. According to legend, they hold great power. We’re hoping perhaps you three can provide some insight.” Professor Scrod tugged on a mass of curls.

“Julia, as the descendant of Ealga, why don’t you try the sword,” Dr. Lawless offered.

A twinge of nervousness niggled at Julia. Valera nudged her in the side and smiled.

Go ahead. You’ll do great!

Julia stepped to the table edge and went to reach for Ealga’s Sword of Ice.

“WAIT!” Professor Scrod yelled.

Everyone in the room jumped.

“What’s wrong?” Julia yanked her hand away as if she were about to touch a porcupine.

The professor patted her lab coat and looked around the room franticly. “I need my notebook. I must notate everything!”

Julia shook her head. The woman was kooky. A notebook sat on the table in front of her. Julia cleared her throat and pointed to the book. Professor Scrod picked it up and hugged it like an old friend. She felt around her head of wild curls and pulled out a long pencil. Julia couldn’t help but wonder what else she was hiding in that nest atop her head. Professor Scrod opened her book and flattened out a smudged page. She held her pencil at the ready. Everyone seemed to stop breathing, Julia included. Picking up the sword, Julia held it out in front of her. Everyone waited. And waited. And waited. Nothing happened. Julia swung the sword a couple of times. Nothing.

“I don’t understand. I thought for sure…” Professor Scrod scribble in her notebook.

“What am I doing wrong?” Julia whined.

A crowd of watchers gathered outside the glass walls. She held it like a warrior about to strike, but nothing happened. The only thing that changed was the metal cooling in her hand. She put it back on the table and shrunk to the back of the room.

“According to the lore, Ealga’s sword froze an entire lake with one touch.” Professor Scrod frowned. “Perhaps one of the others might work.”

Valera reached out for Aeda’s Sextant. Julia felt the aether pull away from her. Valera held the Sextant up to her eye and looked through the eyepiece. However, without the sun or stars, all she saw was the dark. Once again, the room deflated with disappointment.

Dr. Lawless grew agitated. “Theo, why don’t you try. You seem to be the strongest.”

The barb incensed Julia. Theo wasn’t the strongest, she’d just had more practice. Without realizing it, she’d gathered aether and cooled the room. Theo looked at her and smiled.

Don’t listen to him, Julia. You’ve just turned the room into a freezer.
She winked.

He better watch out. One more insult and I swear…

Ignore him. We’re a team,
Valera chimed in.

Julia’s nerves calmed, but she glared at Dr. Lawless. She would show him. Theo touched Maera’s Scepter with one finger. Julia startled at the loss of aether. Theo looked at the scepter as if it were a sleeping cobra. When nothing happened, she picked it up. At first, it seemed that the experiment was a failure. Julia felt vindicated, but then the scepter flickered. Theo seemed to concentrate on it even harder, and a spark erupted from the Aquamarine jewel.

“Don’t stop! It’s working! Look, how beautiful.” Professor Scrod perked up and reached out to touch the jewel, and then seemed to pull back.

“Good job, Theo!” Valera cheered.

“Focus harder,” Julia shouted. The excitement overpowered her resentment.

Theo bit her lip and squinted her eyes. Gripping it with both hands, she forced aether into the metal. Julia’s hair lifted off her shoulders as did everyone else’s. A static charge built up in the air. Theo let the staff touch the floor. The air sizzled and filled with bright white light.

Theo closed her eyes. The glass crackled all around them. Julia thought the walls were about to shatter. When Theo opened her eyes, the old cracks in the glass melded together and the filth burned away. The scientists outside the panes of crystalline glass gasped. Their hair began to rise as well. Julia felt Theo push the energy of the scepter beyond them. The massive room buzzed with life. All of the other artifacts in the larger room switched on at once. The room buzzed with noise and lights. When Theo’s light touched the walls of the room, the stains disappeared and the fractures closed. The puddles on the floor boiled away.

Then all at once, Theo collapsed on the floor. Professor Scrod picked up the Scepter and placed it back on the table, muttering her amazement. Julia and Valera ran to Theo’s side. Julia patted her cheek.

“Hey there, you still with us?”

Theo’s eyes fluttered open. Julia smiled.

“I’m here. Just feel a little drained.”

No wonder… You just had to show off.
Julia laughed.

“Well you know me,” Theo coughed.

The girls helped Theo get to her feet. They seemed to be the only ones concerned for Theo’s wellbeing. Dr. Lawless and Professor Scrod jabbered to each other, smiling and laughing excitedly. The crowd outside cheered and examined the fixed walls.

“That’s enough for today, Lawly. Theo’s exhausted,” Julia commanded.

Dr. Lawless frowned and grumbled. His anger frustrated Julia. Clearly, Theo needed to stop. Any trust she had for him disintegrated. Professor Scrod touched Lawly’s back. Her brows furrowed, and she at least appeared concerned for Theo.

“Ellwood, they are young. We don’t want to burn them out.” She turned to the girls. “Get some rest. It was an honor to meet you, and please come see me anytime. I’ve so much to ask.”

Julia ushered Theo and Valera toward the door. She wouldn’t risk giving Lawly a chance to stop them. Professor Scrod opened the relic room door, and the crowd of technicians parted to let the girls through. Each of them bowed as the girls passed them. It was a strange feeling – to be acknowledged, to be given respect, to be adored. Most of her life had been a struggle for her father’s attention, which he never gave her. Even though she hadn’t performed like Theo, the people didn’t discriminate between the three girls. Theo, Valera, and Julia were one.

With one final look back, Julia saw Lawly still inside the relic room, arguing with Professor Scrod. Julia thought it odd, but kept it to herself. She may not have a handle on her powers yet, but she was still the strongest of the three. In the end, she’d be the one to protect Valera and Theo. She helped Theo to her room.

“I’ll just lay down for a little while,” Theo murmured.

“If you need me holler. I’m just going to hang out in my room for a while,” Julia said. Their time in the lab had taken a toll on her as well as Theo. Before leaving, she added, “Good job in there.”

Theo smiled, and Julia went to her room. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she bathed herself in aether. Theo had shown her just how powerful they all were, and now all she needed to do was tap into that power. She just needed practice. If Theo and Valera could do it, then so could she. She was as intelligent as Theo and Valera – regardless of what Lawly thought.

She focused on aether and waved her hands around. Her breath came out in puffy white steam. The room cooled.

“Ice… Ice… Ice…” she chanted.

The tips of her fingers turned an iridescent blue. She was doing it. Redoubling her efforts, she envisioned icicles. A small crystal of ice grew out of her hand. She squealed and nearly lost her concentration. Then, her doorknob turned and Eli burst into the room.

“Hey there… whoa it’s freezing in here!”

The ice fizzled into nothing. Angry, she threw a pillow at him. He caught it.

“You just ruined everything!”

“Chill, I didn’t mean to interrupt… whatever this was.” He smirked.

He thought he was so witty. He was an egomaniacal dimwit.

“Do you always just burst into people’s rooms? Who do you think you are?” She ranted.

He shut the door. “Parmelia told me to keep an eye on you, remember?” He shrugged, “Besides I heard that you had some trouble in the lab. I just came to give you a message.”

“Who told you that? I didn’t have any trouble.” She sat up and crossed her arms. “Well? What’s the message?”

“Dr. Lawless wants to see you in the ballroom in twenty minutes. He said you need extra help.”

She was tired of Dr. Lawless. He made her feel so… pathetic. Besides, she was doing better alone in her room. And who was Eli to Dr. Lawless? She thought Parmelia sent him, but now he’s all buddy-buddy with Lawly? Her suspicions were on full alert.

“What, are you Dr. Lawless’ lackey now?”

Eli sighed and crossed his arms. “I’m not
anyone’s
lackey. Are you always this stubborn?”

Julia gripped the bed covers and clenched her jaw. She refused to answer his insulting question. If he wanted to play games, then fine. She was above such childishness.

“Well, I’m not feeling well. I’ll have to miss the meeting,” Julia feigned, flopping back on the bed and pulling a cover over her.

“Nice try. You’re going,” Eli stated. “I’m not going to be the one to tell Dr. Lawless you’re too pigheaded to go.”

Julia glared at him. “Don’t you have anything better to do than hover around me all the time. Go bug one of the batty-eyed girls in the lobby.”

She knew that needling him was a mistake, when that annoying smirk returned. He plopped on the bed, smushing the mattress and forcing her to roll toward him. She shuffled away from his side. He grabbed a corner of the blanket, acting as if it held some interest.

“Of course, I have better things to do than watch a spoiled brat, but I’ve been ordered to protect your petulant fanny. Not many could handle the task, that’s for sure. I drew the short stick.” He stood suddenly, taking the blanket with him. “So up you get. Time to train.”

Even though she was fully clothed under the covers, she suddenly felt very vulnerable. She yanked the blanket back, but he had a solid grip on it. They ended up in a one-sided tug-of-war.

“Come on it’s not fair…” she whined. “I’ll do better practicing in here by
myself
.”

Eli didn’t even struggle. With one yank, he could pull her right off the bed. He held tight to the blanket and laughed.

“Why do you care if I go? You know if you did me the favor and tell him I’m sick, I’ll do you a favor in return.” She gave up the fight and released the blanket.

“Are you flirting with me? Julia, I’m shocked,” Eli quipped.

Her jaw went limp. She wasn’t flirting… was she? He was the most detestable, obnoxious, cretin she’d ever met. Besides, she didn’t flirt. Somehow the ability to speak clearly escaped her.

“No… of course not… you’re so not my type… you’re like the opposite of my type… you’re so… so… not…”

“Uh, huh,” he smirked. “Whatever you say.”

“Danu’s ass! You’re so annoying!”

“Language, Julia. What would your parent’s think?” He laughed.

The mention of her parents stung. Clearly, no one bothered to mention to him who her parents were. All of this training and running around had made her soft. Tears stung her eyes. Her shoulders slumped. She stared at her hands, trying to keep her cool. The last thing she needed was for Eli to see her weakness.

“You okay?” His voice softened.

Julia took a deep breath. “Yeah.”

For such an oaf, he was well tuned-in to her emotions. She felt his hand on her shoulder. He dropped the blanket and knelt down in front of her. She was surprised that he seemed genuinely concerned about her.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to say something offensive.”

Julia scoffed. “When have my feelings ever stopped you?”

“Seriously, I’m sorry.”