Mana Mutation Menace (Journey to Chaos Book 3) Read Free Page B

minute for a
human to notice, but someone with his heightened sensitivity to prey picked up
on it. She was defensive.
    “I suppose we have time for a short version.”
    Kallen drifted away from him. The absence of her hand left
him feeling cold and isolated. Clasping both of her own behind her and staring
off into the distance, she said, “My parents were the directors of the Siduban
Chaotic Research Facility. My sister and I went there for a day to watch them
work.” Her eyes transformed. “Then, a greedy little imp appeared and sabotaged
the Chaos Machine. He caused the Chaos Explosion. It mutated me in body, mind,
and soul.”
    “But you’re human now, and sane. In all the time I’ve
known you, there’s never been anything ugly or monstrous about you.”
    Kallen turned back to him and smiled. “Thank you, but it
wasn’t easy and….not everyone shares your opinion.”
    “Getis. Getis Darwoss. Lab-rat insult.” His eyes slitted. “ A threat .”
    Kallen quickly grabbed his hand again. “Eric, please, calm
down.”
    “ Why?”
    Kallen grabbed his other hand. “Because you need to learn
about disproportionate retribution.”
    “ What
about it ?”
    “It’s going to happen to you in five seconds.”
    Both behind him and in front was a wall of guards. Clad in
armor and carrying shields, they were a formidable barrier. Behind them was a
wall of mages. Brandishing spells and carrying bolts in orbit around
themselves, they were an intimidating barrage.
    Eric snarled. Then Kallen gave his hands another squeeze
and maintaining it became impossible as peace flowed into him from her. His
eyes unslitted.
    “Please stand down,” Kallen said. “He will settle this peacefully
with words, like a civilized sapient. Isn’t that right, Eric?”
    He nodded. “Yes, I can and yes, I will. I am not a threat
to you as long as...” He shook his head. “No, I don’t want to fight you because
no one paid me to do so. I am a mercenary, not a monster. Just now, I was
recalling someone unpleasant. Surely there are people you don’t like but aren’t
going to hurt, even though they’re threats, I mean! I will not hurt him either
because no one paid me to do so. Besides, he would probably taste nasty.”
    He bit his lip to stop himself. Kallen smiled uneasily at
the guards, who hadn’t lowered their shields or their spells. Eric struggled
with himself not to bring out his staff. His grendel instincts shouted at him
to kill the threats before him, but his human memories said such an action was
more dangerous.
    “I didn’t mean that either! It just slipped out.”
    “I’m leading him to the cafeteria,” Kallen said. “He
hasn’t had a proper meal since a day or so before mutating. I’m sure he’ll feel
better once he has food in his stomach.”
    “I completely agree. I’d rather not kill my food before…”
    He hit himself on the head repeatedly. The action agitated
the guards. Kallen’s mind raced for a way to calm them and then one mage fired
out of nerves. She stepped in front of Eric to guard him with her barrier, and
he registered this as them attacking her. His eyes slit once more and the
guards prepared for him to charge. Then, a pearl of laughter broke the tension.
    Tasio appeared in their midst, holding his sides and guffawing
up a storm.
    “Oh, what fools these mortals be!” he cried. “Neither of
you wants to fight, yet you’re about to kill each other. Ahh…” He wiped a tear
away. “I’m sorry for interrupting. Go right ahead. Don’t mind me.” He
disappeared as suddenly as he appeared.
    There was a pause as the hostiles reflected on The Trickster's
words. They reconsidered each other and sheathed their weapons: guards put
their blades away, mages depowered spells, and Eric kicked the grendel back to
the basement of his mind.
     "The Trickster's right. We don't want to kill you,
but you must admit that you are dangerous to us."
    “Yes, I am. I bet I could crush your head like...Sorry!
What I