Read Online Scala by Christina Bauer - Free Book Online

find it, Dad’s agreed to transfer it personally to some super-safe vault in Heaven. “Sorry to ruin your fun.”
    â€œNo worries, quasi girl. Once this is all over, I’ll think of another Diplomatic-something to celebrate our victory.”
    Our group launches into excited chatter about finding the Orb, restarting Soul processing, and my first iconigration as the Great Scala. We’re so loud, it’s hard to hear someone pounding on the warehouse’s back door. Erik and I don’t miss it, though.
    â€œI’ll get it. We’re expecting a delivery.” Erik jogs away.
    I watch him rush up to a door at the end of the aisle, open it, and stare out into space. The skin on my arms prickles into gooseflesh. Something’s wrong here.
    Who opens a door and stands there like a statue?
    I move closer to Erik. He looms in the doorway, blocking my view of the alley beyond. I can’t see his face, but there’s a crimson glow around his cheeks, almost like his eyes are glowing red. Erik’s voice comes out in a strange monotone. “Please come in. I’ll show you around.”
    I step closer. “Stop right there, buddy.”
    Erik flips around to face me. “Stop what?”
    I do a double-take. Erik’s eyes are the typical thrax mismatch of brown and blue. No sign of demonic red. Any trace of a monotone is gone from his speech, too. I shake my head. This morning has been a lot of excitement after an intense all-nighter. My mind must be playing tricks on me.
    â€œLook, Erik. You were about to invite someone in and give a tour of the warehouse. Not acceptable. This place stays on lock-down until we find the Orb.”
    Erik looks at me like I’m nuts. “I wasn’t talking to anyone. Look for yourself.”
    I pop my head through the opened doorway and into the alley beyond. It’s empty. Huh.
    â€œSee?” asks Erik. “No one’s there. The knocks were probably a prank from some kids.”
    I scan the alleyway again. Still empty.
    â€œA prank, eh? One of yours, Erik?”
    â€œNot this time.”
    I’m so sure.
    Still, the situation with the mystery knock-and-run brings up a good question. This is a huge warehouse, and we definitely need to keep it secure between now and tomorrow at 6:17AM. As Minister of Infrastructure, Walker’s in charge of providing guards for all government buildings. I seek him out and pull him aside.
    â€œHey, do you have enough security folks for this place?”
    Walker tilts his head to one side, thinking. “Enough to cover through tomorrow, sure.”
    â€œCool. And however many you’d normally put on a high-risk building, can you double it?”
    â€œThat won’t be as easy, but I think I can manage it.”
    â€œThanks.” I watch the little tin bird flap around the warehouse, landing from box to box. “This is way too important to leave anything to chance.”
    â€œAgreed.” Walker’s mouth thins to a worried line. “I’ll take care of all the plans personally.”

Chapter Eight
    Lincoln and I stand in the warehouse, alone. The Alchemists and Cissy are gone, having done an awesome day’s work. Walker’s waiting outside for us. Lincoln and I take a quick stroll around the warehouse interior, double-checking that all the new guards are in place. Tomorrow’s a huge day, and we want everything to be secure.
    As we make our rounds, some of the tightness and anxiety fades from my body. The warehouse looks good. Really good. Walker gave us some top-notch guards. I’d even like to fight a few in the Arena, just to see how they’d do.
    After one last check, Lincoln and I step out the back. It’s not even six o’clock yet, but since the alley’s bordered by tall buildings, it gets pitch dark out here pretty quickly. A bare light bulb hangs above the warehouse door, casting a dim glow onto the cracked asphalt. I scan the darkened