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His nearness has taken my breath away andI’m only capable of nodding.

“Remember that,” he quickly says as I hearthe whistle of air when the door opens and then a harsh voiceshouts, “Exgesis!”

The Selell is no longer seated beside me. Myeyes shift to the human behind the counter and he’s frozen inplace, staring straight ahead. A loud crash rings out. I whipmyself around to see. The white-haired Selell has collided into oneof the marble-topped tables breaking it in large chunks.

However, that name, Exgesis, repeats in myhead and I squeeze my eyes shut tightly. I’ve heard it before butwhere?

“This is going to be too easy,” says theother Selell who has black shaggy hair. He is glowering down overthe white-haired Selell.

The impact has left the white-haired Selellgroggy. The black-haired Selell’s hand swiftly shifts to the insideof the long black coat he’s wearing and when it’s visible again,he’s clenching a weapon. It’s a silver-bladed dagger. A few humansin the room watch in shock; others scramble to get out of the way.This new Selell has tainted the air with violence and he means toput an end to his target.

“You don’t want to do this, Chex,” my Selellsays as he struggles to stand on his feet. “Name your price.”

“Zero,” the aggressor replies withoutdeliberation. “And yes,” he eagerly nods and lifts his eyebrows athim. “I want to do this,” he sneers.

But suddenly my Selell streaks quickly outof the aggressor’s trap, leaving a white shadow in his trail. Thesephantoms chase each other around the room, leaving destruction intheir path. Chairs and parts of tables whip through the air,slamming into walls and shattering. My eyes work to keep up untilI’m facing the dagger-gripping, black-haired Selell. I gasp as ahard body presses against my backside and the soft white hair of mySelell swipes my cheek.

“When are you going to stop hiding behindgirls and kids, you coward?” the black-haired Selell scoffs.

Exegesis…. I ponder.

Then, the Selell called Chex glares at mewith his black eyes and I instantly shudder. He tilts his headforward to take a tiny sniff of me and ruffle his brows. He looksominous. I can sense death and the blood of others all overhim.

“You’re one of those sisters?” he growls. Itsounds like he’s demanding an answer from me but I’m too petrifiedto speak. Then he turns his menacing eyes on my Selell. “How didyou get this one, Exgesis?”

“Exgesis,” I mumble because the revelationof who the Selell is starting to come to me.

“Ha!” the black-haired Selell snorts at me,and aims the sharp tip of his weapon at Exgesis. “You don’t knowwho this bastard is?”

That object is so very dangerous in his handand I’ve gathered my bearings enough to touch him on the wrist.“Could you please put that away?” I ask, trying to steady my voiceas I flood him with as much light as I can.

“No,” he bluntly says. “I know you’reworking your magic on me and don’t worry your pretty little headoff. It’s working but you’ll never get me to let down my guardaround that bastard. And you shouldn’t either.”

“Come on Chex; this is not the place foryour grudge.” Exgesis scans the room. All the humans watch us,stunned. Many of them are clutching tiny square gadgets in theirhands.

The black-haired Selell named Chex laughsloudly and then simmers down by taking an exaggerated breath. “Youcare about humans now, do you?” he scoffs.

“This isn’t about you, Chex!” Exgesisbarks.

“Put your hands up!” the human behind thecounter demands.

All three of us look over at him. He’spointing a handgun at Chex’s head.

Without warning, Chex makes a move and, whenthe streak stops, he’s holding the handgun and aiming it back atthe human while keeping the sharp point of the dagger aimed atExgesis.

Loud gasps and a chorus of whispers erupt.The humans are baffled by what they’ve just witnessed. This entirescene doesn’t sit well with me either.

“Chex,” I say holding my palms up.

“Yes,” he says, overstatingagreeableness.

I’m immobilized, trapped by his menacing butintriguing eyes. “They’re afraid—the humans are. We should leave.Leave our matters to those who are aware of them?”

He’s grinning, showing a straight line ofwhite teeth. “Humph,” he grunts. “I thought I liked the one who setmy ass on fire, but the diplomatic approach is…” he sucks airthrough his teeth.

As I flinch, Exgesis draws me closer intohim. Chex’s eyes don’t miss seeing this and his grin grows broader,showing how amused he is in the same sinister way Exgesis oftendoes. The two of them carry similar traces of darkness within.

“Certainly,” he sings facetiously as hewhips his shoulders forward and slides the dagger back inside hislong black coat. Then he fixes his slanting eyes on me. “You justcome on over here with me and we’ll be on our way.”

Now it’s Exgesis who’s laughing. He soundsso wicked that I twist around to see if he’s vexed with ek’et’ru. Irelease a sigh of relief because I cannot see the red haze of deathswirling in his eyes.

The two Selells are not concerned by thenumber of people who have gathered on the sidewalk behind thecracked window. Instead, their eyes anxiously search thestreet.

“I’m taking you back to Ze Feldis and Elo.Let’s go,” Chex says curving his head toward the door.

Hearing the name Ze Feldis sounds likesalvation. He can lead me to Cl’auta.

“Enough!” Exgesis roars so loudly that itfeels as if the earth shakes.

The fear that’s trapped in the room hasbecome so strong that it now grips me. I can no longer bear it. Ireach inside of myself to gather the light of peace. Chex watchesme pucker my lips and before he can figure out what I’m doing, Iblow as hard as I can. Blinding light explodes, filling the room.When the i’lek’u subsides a soft yellow shimmer settles over thespace. Every human is subdued. And this time my power works fullyon both Selells. The hold that Exgesis has on me is no longer tightand possessive; instead his grasp is full and desperate.

Chex is compelled to take staggering stepsover to the counter to drop the handgun. “What the hell did youjust do to me?” he complains. His body is weak because he’sfighting against the good