Read Online Kilenya Series Books One, Two, and Three by Andrea Pearson - Free Book Online Page B

too, was colorless. Akeno’s mouth was set in a grim line. He’d obviously seen this before—most likely when they tried to get the Key themselves. The Minyas were oblivious to the situation and continued flitting around in the air.
    “Why is everything black and white?” Jacob asked. Even his own body was in shades of gray.
    “We don’t know,” Akeno said.
    While he was taking in the surroundings, Jacob had the slight sensation of being on a boat, rocking side to side. He couldn’t put his finger on why he felt this way. He studied the forest around them, trying to figure it out. After a moment, he noticed something odd about the trees. “Akeno, are the trees moving?”
    “I’m not sure.” Akeno walked up to the trunk of the tree nearest them.
    “Oh, wow!” Jacob said. “Did you see that? The tree leaned away from you!”
    “Yeah, I saw.” Akeno started wringing his hands. “But why’d it do it?”
    “I don’t know.” Jacob joined Akeno and noticed that most of the trees shifted as they got closer. “It’s as though they’re trying to get away, like they’re repulsed by us or something.”
    “I don’t like this.” Akeno reached out with his left ring finger to touch the tree. As soon as he made contact with the bark, a branch whipped through the air and smacked his hand, causing both of them to jump.
    “Ouch!” Akeno looked down at the skin on his hand, where a large welt was already forming. “Why did it do that?” He glared at the branch that hit him. “Stupid tree!”
    “Maybe it doesn’t want you to touch it. Or maybe it’s possessed or something.” Jacob backed away quickly, careful not to get too close to the trees on the other side of the path.
    Akeno shook his head, motioning in jerky movements with his hands. “I’ve never heard of this happening before.”
    “Should we send one of the Minyas to ask Kenji about it?”
    “I don’t know, I don’t know!” Akeno said frantically. “What could he possibly do to help?”
    “He might have an idea about what’s going on,” Jacob said, looking around at the trees.
    “I doubt he would.” Akeno’s voice took on a shrill note. “Why didn’t he come with us? Why didn’t Brojan come with us? This is such a waste of time!”
    Jacob looked at the Makalo. What was wrong with him? “Akeno? Are you . . . feeling okay?”
    Akeno turned on Jacob. “Of course I’m not! What makes you think I would be? I just got attacked by a tree!” An anguished expression crossed his face. “If it won’t let me touch it, how will I know what’s going on around us? These things don’t just happen for no reason! I’ve always been able to use my Rezend!”
    Jacob was astonished to see that Akeno was almost in tears.
    “Can I see your hand? The one the tree just whipped?” Jacob reached out, but Akeno jumped away from him.
    “Don’t touch me! What are you doing? Keep away!”
    Jacob put his hands in the air. “Okay! Sorry. I won’t do it again.”
    Akeno pulled off his top hat and crumpled to the ground, sobbing.
    “I’m sorry!” Jacob said, exasperated. “I really didn’t mean to upset you.”
    “I don’t need your pity!” Akeno said, flinging his hat at Jacob.
    Jacob caught the hat and turned away, muttering to himself. Someone had to act logically here.
    Brojan and Kenji would know what to do—they must have some advice. He started running to the tunnel to go back to Taga, but thought better of it and turned around.
    “September, go now—” He paused when he saw that September was pretending not to hear him. “Come on—it’s for Akeno, not me.”
    September turned to him. “Fine.”
    “Is it possible for the two of you to throw yourselves, or whatever you do, at the same time?”
    “Yes, it is,” September said.
    “Then you go to Kenji, and you, Early, go to Brojan. We need to figure out what’s going on.”
    “On it!” Early said, and with a bright flash of light, they were gone. Jacob faced Akeno, who was no