Read Online The Inner Circle (Return of the Ancients Book 3) by Carmen Caine, Madison Adler - Free Book Online
Authors: Carmen Caine, Madison Adler
Tags: Fiction, science, Romance, Magic, Action, Fairies, Young Adult, Myths, spies, ufo, legends, teen fiction juvenile, fairy, adventure fantasy
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was waking up groggily and unable to shake the vague, disquieting feeling that something was in the room with me.
For a brief moment, I could have sworn that I saw the mutant tulpa in the corner of the room near the ceiling. But by the time I’d focused my eyes, the shadowy image had disappeared, leaving me to doubt my sanity.
I shuddered involuntarily.
Darting out of my room, I headed straight for the kitchen.
It was late. Everyone should have been home by now. But by the time I began to freak out on all the possible things that could have happened to them, I saw the light blinking on the answering machine.
The first message was from Grace saying they’d decided to watch a double-feature. The second message was from Al and Betty, saying they’d be late.
Relieved that they were safe, I checked the locks on the windows and doors. And since we were out of hotdogs, I had to physically lug Tigger from the kitchen into my bedroom. It took a lot of effort. He kept falling asleep along the way. But finally, I had him installed in my room.
After giving me a gentle lick on the hand, he curled up with a contented sigh and promptly fell asleep.
I felt better with him next to me.
Jerry was awake, sitting in the corner of the cage. I gave him a few seeds and stared into his little black eyes. He looked so old and wise. He never failed to make me feel loved.
A little calmer now, I returned to my bed, but still awake and wide-eyed.
I stayed that way for some time, but again, I must have drifted off at some point, because I woke up to the sound of Tigger barking.
Instinctively, I thought of Jareth’s numbers.
This time, about two seconds later, Jareth appeared with his trion at the ready.
“What is it?” he asked, scanning the room.
I glanced around. I didn’t see anything. Jareth’s rune was cool in my pocket.
Tucking his trion away with a little flip, he looked down at me. “You look a little … unhinged.”
“Tigger barked a warning,” I explained, clearing my throat a bit uneasily. “Do you think it was the Mesmers?”
Arching a cynical brow, he leaned over and prodded Tigger with his foot.
Tigger snored in response.
“The only reason that hound ever barks is for food,” he said with a dry chuckle. “He’s probably dreaming of hotdogs.” He moved to peer out of the window and frowned.
As his scowl deepened, I asked him with growing panic, “What is it? Are they here?”
When he didn’t answer, I crept up behind him and looked out myself.
I didn’t see anything.
“He’s out there,” Jareth said softly.
“He?” I asked, a shiver running down my spine.
“Rafael,” he said the name reluctantly.
I squinted into the darkness, but I only saw the outline of the tall fir trees against the dark wintry sky. But then remembering Al’s night-vision goggles, I ran to the kitchen drawer and dug them out.
I returned to find Jareth standing right where I’d left him with his arms folded, glaring out of the window. Adjusting the night-vision goggles, I peeked over his shoulder.
I didn’t see Rafael. But then I saw Ajax, staring straight at me from the edge of the greenbelt. I nearly dropped the goggles.
Soon I saw Rafael’s tall form moving behind him.
He was watching me. He was looking directly our way.
“What is he doing out there?” I asked breathlessly.
“He knows they’ll never leave him without a shred of protection,” Jareth grumbled. “That’s probably why he’s wandering around out there. He wants to make sure you’re safe.”
A thrill ran down my spine at that.
Jareth turned on me suddenly, and I jumped, accidentally hitting Jerry’s cage with my elbow. It struck the mirror hanging on the wall and knocked it off its nail.
It would have smashed if Jareth hadn’t instinctively caught it as it fell.
“Good catch,” I said with an uneasy laugh. “Now you won’t have seven years bad luck for breaking a mirror. Or I won’t.” I added, as I’d been the root
For a brief moment, I could have sworn that I saw the mutant tulpa in the corner of the room near the ceiling. But by the time I’d focused my eyes, the shadowy image had disappeared, leaving me to doubt my sanity.
I shuddered involuntarily.
Darting out of my room, I headed straight for the kitchen.
It was late. Everyone should have been home by now. But by the time I began to freak out on all the possible things that could have happened to them, I saw the light blinking on the answering machine.
The first message was from Grace saying they’d decided to watch a double-feature. The second message was from Al and Betty, saying they’d be late.
Relieved that they were safe, I checked the locks on the windows and doors. And since we were out of hotdogs, I had to physically lug Tigger from the kitchen into my bedroom. It took a lot of effort. He kept falling asleep along the way. But finally, I had him installed in my room.
After giving me a gentle lick on the hand, he curled up with a contented sigh and promptly fell asleep.
I felt better with him next to me.
Jerry was awake, sitting in the corner of the cage. I gave him a few seeds and stared into his little black eyes. He looked so old and wise. He never failed to make me feel loved.
A little calmer now, I returned to my bed, but still awake and wide-eyed.
I stayed that way for some time, but again, I must have drifted off at some point, because I woke up to the sound of Tigger barking.
Instinctively, I thought of Jareth’s numbers.
This time, about two seconds later, Jareth appeared with his trion at the ready.
“What is it?” he asked, scanning the room.
I glanced around. I didn’t see anything. Jareth’s rune was cool in my pocket.
Tucking his trion away with a little flip, he looked down at me. “You look a little … unhinged.”
“Tigger barked a warning,” I explained, clearing my throat a bit uneasily. “Do you think it was the Mesmers?”
Arching a cynical brow, he leaned over and prodded Tigger with his foot.
Tigger snored in response.
“The only reason that hound ever barks is for food,” he said with a dry chuckle. “He’s probably dreaming of hotdogs.” He moved to peer out of the window and frowned.
As his scowl deepened, I asked him with growing panic, “What is it? Are they here?”
When he didn’t answer, I crept up behind him and looked out myself.
I didn’t see anything.
“He’s out there,” Jareth said softly.
“He?” I asked, a shiver running down my spine.
“Rafael,” he said the name reluctantly.
I squinted into the darkness, but I only saw the outline of the tall fir trees against the dark wintry sky. But then remembering Al’s night-vision goggles, I ran to the kitchen drawer and dug them out.
I returned to find Jareth standing right where I’d left him with his arms folded, glaring out of the window. Adjusting the night-vision goggles, I peeked over his shoulder.
I didn’t see Rafael. But then I saw Ajax, staring straight at me from the edge of the greenbelt. I nearly dropped the goggles.
Soon I saw Rafael’s tall form moving behind him.
He was watching me. He was looking directly our way.
“What is he doing out there?” I asked breathlessly.
“He knows they’ll never leave him without a shred of protection,” Jareth grumbled. “That’s probably why he’s wandering around out there. He wants to make sure you’re safe.”
A thrill ran down my spine at that.
Jareth turned on me suddenly, and I jumped, accidentally hitting Jerry’s cage with my elbow. It struck the mirror hanging on the wall and knocked it off its nail.
It would have smashed if Jareth hadn’t instinctively caught it as it fell.
“Good catch,” I said with an uneasy laugh. “Now you won’t have seven years bad luck for breaking a mirror. Or I won’t.” I added, as I’d been the root
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