Taken

Chapter 22

I'm out the door before Lux can utter another word.

            My thoughts race as my breaths quicken and my hands clench into fists.

            No no no! This can't be happening. This can not be happening.

            I find Leo at the dining room table, the chairs pushed against the far wall so he has better access to the massive map spread across it. He's leaning across it with a pencil behind his ear and a handful of pushpins in his hand.

            "Leo," I gasp, trying to push out the words that seem to be trapped in my throat.

            He turns and his eyes widen at my frazzled expression. "Ari, what—?"

            "We have to go," I say and lean against the table for support. "We have to go now. Lux—she—Nina—"

            Leo grabs my shoulders. "Breathe," he says and gives me a gentle shake. "Ari, you have to breathe."

            I nod, and after a moment I stop hyperventilating and take a deep calming breath. "Okay," he says now as he drops his hands from my shoulders and takes a step back. "Now tell me what's going on."

            "Lux told me that I was supposed to be the one taken, not Nina, and because they took her they are using her for what they were supposed to be using me for but she's not hosting Beata so they are actually killing her and she doesn't have long," I blurt out, the words tumbling out of my mouth just as fast as I am thinking them.

            Leo blinks. "Wait a minute, you're Beata's host?"

            "Yeah," I say and rub at my arm. "Lux said that Beata puts some of herself in a member of my family—the first born girl, technically—so that the balance between both worlds can be kept, but only the Veti know about this. She didn't want anyone to find out what was really going on so she had them keep it a secret so the rest of Caelum only knows that Mari betrayed everyone," I say before waving it away. "But that's not important. What we really need to be focusing on is Nina. We have to go now, Leo."

            He shakes his head. "We can't," he says. I feel the familiar burn behind my eyes as I hold back tears. "Vul isn't even back yet and we have to figure out how to get you to the Bratus undetected. And," he says with a pointed look at me. "You still have no idea how to control your powers, or what they even are. Last I checked, Beata told you that you need them to get your sister."

            I frown. "But we have to go, Leo. That's my sister they're killing. And besides," I say as I fiddle with the hem of my t-shirt. "Lux said that the easiest way to figure out what I can do, is to be in a situation where I'd need my powers."

            "But I thought you said the life-or-death situation was out of the question."

            "I know, but that was before I found out that Nina could die any day now."

            Leo watches me for a moment before sighing and turning back to the map. He rolls the pins around in his hand, studying the winding paths and greenery with a look of concentration. "All right," he says finally and turns to me. "Here's what we'll do. Vul should be back soon, in the meantime I'll work on the map. You can pack the supplies." He begins scribbling in the corner of the map with his pencil. When he's done he rips of a small section and hands it to me. "There are backpacks in the hallway closet along with most of what you'll need. I'm sure Lux can help you with the rest."