Read Twisted Sister of Mine (Overworld Chronicles) for Free Online Page B

supernatural sight allowed me to make them out. Once the last figure left the beam, the Arcane released the orb. The connecting beam flickered off, and the control sphere sank back onto the pedestal, looking like nothing more than head-sized gray marble. The stars in South Africa and Atlanta dimmed to match the sullen glow of the other stars on the map.
    As my eyes readjusted to the relative dimness of the yellow glow illuminating the rest of the room, they turned upon Ivy and Eliza, who stood watching the operator. He turned back to them. His mouth moved. Turning my head ever so slightly and focusing my ear, I barely made out some of his words.
    "…will be dangerous even going there." He pointed toward a row of black arches, which stood marginally taller than the others in the room, and shook his head. Unfortunately, the bellows and brays of pack mules, horses, camels, and the rest of the noisy menagerie in the stable located across the narrow alley from the vent colluded with the distance between me and the speakers to block out what they were saying.
    Ivy stood on her tiptoes and fiddled with the symbols on the side of the map. One of the arches sparked to life, sending shards of black and white energy arcing on the silver circle around it. Eliza waggled a finger at her, and she stopped.
    "Damn shame what they did to that little girl's mind," Shelton said, his mouth curved down in distaste.
    "Wish I could hear what they were saying, but those stupid animals are making a ruckus," I said.
    Shelton took out his wand, made a circular motion toward the opposite end of the duct, and the sounds from the stable cut off, leaving only the ambient noises in the control room to deal with. "Can you hear them now?"
    Eliza Conroy spoke in a southern genteel drawl, her voice loud and pompous enough to carry across the distance. "Jeremiah won't be pleased to hear this. We plan for our associates to use this site as a staging ground." She crossed her arms. "We would take it rather badly if you and the other workers don't assist them with a smile and a spring in your step."
    The arch operator bobbed his head, a frightened look on his face. "I promise it won't be a problem."
    "A problem what?" Eliza said back, one eyebrow arching.
    "A problem, ma'am?" the Arcane replied, his tone more of a cautious question than a statement.
    "I do declare, nobody teaches young folks manners these days," she said, shaking her head. "Mr. Tuttle, our associates will declare themselves as Darkwater employees. You are not to interfere in any way, or I suwanee, I will tan your hide. Do you understand?"
    The man continued bowing and nodding affirmatively while Ivy quirked her mouth into an amused grin and waggled her finger while her poser grandmother's back was still to her.
    Eliza shook her head and threw up her hands. "Heavens to Betsy, but the Conclave must be out of their cotton-picking minds forcing Arcanes to pay these ridiculous gate fees!"
    Mr. Tuttle kept right on nodding. Magnifying the scene with my enhanced sight, I saw beads of sweat on his pale, gaunt face.
    Eliza took Ivy by the hand, as my sister squatted to peer underneath a console, and admonished her. "Young ladies do not squat in dresses." She made an exasperated noise. "I suwanee!" Then she and Ivy strode for the door to their right, while Mr. Tuttle stood wiping his forehead with the sleeve of his robe.
    "What the heck does 'suwanee' mean?" I whispered.
    "Some kind of crazy southern swear word," Shelton said.
    "I suwanee, those two scare the crap out of me," I said, testing out the new phrase.
    Shelton rolled his eyes. He put the web filter back in place, turned, and motioned me toward the stables. The animal sounds returned as his sound barrier dropped.
    I heard the clack of hard shoe soles on the polished rock floor and barred Shelton from taking another step with my arm. I saw Ivy and Eliza from the chest down as they started to pass the vent.
    About halfway across, Ivy gasped. Stopped and