Read Online Two Halves Series by Marta Szemik - Free Book Online Page A

yoursss,” Aseret offered.
    “Otherwise you’ll hold her against her will?” I retorted.
    “Oh, she’sss not herrre againssst her will, Xanderrr. Neither are you. You wanted to be herrre, in the underrrworld. The heat drawsss you in.”
    “Not for the reasons you think.” My eyes instinctively flew to Xela’s thighs.
    “I doubt that. You’re not the firssst she’d usssed her body on to bring to the underworld.”
    “What’s the catch, Aseret? Why do you want me? Why would you want me to stand down and not kill one of them?” I nodded toward the seekers. “What are you scheming?”
    “If you join of your own will without killing, his powers will be stronger,” Xela whispered.
    Aseret’s brows drew down in displeasure, though he pretended not to hear her. “Me, scheming? Neverrr. Another two hoursss and it will be all overrr.” His tongue slithered between his lips like a snake’s.
    “What will be over?”
    “The hereafterrr will be opennn.”
    “What is he talking about?” I asked Xela.
    “Come on, Xela, tell himmm what I told you,” Aseret urged.
    “You can stop him, Xander, if you get the sphere—but not without it. He’ll open the portal where souls linger before passing to heaven or hell. He’ll imprison them so they won’t be able to reconnect with their bodies for their last breath that decides their fate.”
    “Why?”
    “Spirits have endless energy. Unclaimed, they stray in the hereafter forever. The keepers will make sure you’re busy while Aseret roams, stealing their essence, turning it into energy.”
    Pop had mentioned us being watchers of the dead. Did the keepers know this was going to happen?
    “Well done, Xela.” Aseret applauded as if she’d just won a prize, but Xela kept her head down. “She doesss exactly what I wannt each timmme.” He was succeeding in infuriating me, but I didn’t succumb to his tactics.
    “You trying to make my job easy, Aseret?” I asked, my chin lowered as I absorbed what Xela had said. I finally looked at him from below my lashes. Aseret’s stretched eyes narrowed, and it seemed like he waited for my attention like a cautious burglar in a jewelry store.
    “No, of courssse not. I wouldn’t darrre.” He placed his white palm in the middle of his chest. “Let go of your frussstrationsss, Xanderrr. We don’t have to fight, we don’t need more scratchesss.” He glanced toward the left side of his neck, where the orange gash glowed. The sound of his voice was like a spell that kept his words lingering in the air. The seekers in the hall seemed to disappear as Aseret stood in front of the fire pit, his eyes fixed on me. “You’re a winnerrr, Xander. Join the ssside that will inevitably rrrule.”
    “What’s your motive, Aseret?” I demanded.
    “You’re ssstrong and unclaimed. I need creaturesss like you, who know what to do with powerrr when they have it. Not like these zombiesss.” He waved a hand at the unfazed seekers. “Once marrrked, you will have ssstrength beyond what you know. No one will be able to harm you. You can have herrr. She will be yoursss forever,” he cooed, seeing my gaze find Xela again.
    My witch tried to speak, but when she opened her mouth, no sound escaped. Her lips trembled. The words stuck in her throat—Aseret wasn’t allowing them to leave her mouth, or was it someone else? Her eyes told me what she’d wanted to say: It’s not your calling, Xander. I am yours already.
    “I knew you would commme. Feel the heat inssside you. It’s alrrready a part of you.” Aseret raised his arms as if embracing the heat of the entire fire pit.
    He was trying to sway me, knowing I felt comfortable in the underworld because of Xela. Aseret used my need to be with Xela and my desire to be marked against me. But I knew my nature better than he did. I wasn’t a coward or a failure. I would not disappoint my sister, or Ma, or the humans and other species depending on someone like me.
    “I was going to stop by today