Save Aether (The Trinity Key Trilogy Book 3) Read Free Page A

that Julia was dead. The thought scared, delighted, and angered her at the same time. She stopped in front of the old woman.
    “And you just believed him? Did you even try to learn the truth? Wasn’t there a funeral or something? You could have asked to see the body, or… I don’t know.”
    Parmelia looked small and fragile, wringing her hands. “There were no funerals. No bodies. After Juliet’s death, Lazarus declared war on the Elders and shut us out of Subterria. Our spies discovered a plot to murder the families of Valera and Theo. Victoria exiled her family on Aetherland, and Marjorie chose to hide her family in the human world. Aether fractured. If I had known, I would have fought for you. You’re my grandchild.”
    Parmelia stood on shaky legs and held her arms out. Julia hesitated. With one kick, she could escape the old woman and run away. She could hide in Subterria or live in the human world. She didn’t owe Parmelia or anyone else anything. She was strong. She was smart. She didn’t need anyone.
    A salty taste touched her tongue. Tears streamed down her face. One step was all it took, and Julia fell into the woman’s arms and cried.
    The footsteps outside the door came too soon. White robes flooded the room and split Julia and her grandmother apart. Griping the doorframe, Parmelia fought to stay a few seconds more. The men took her away and locked Julia inside. Her grandmother’s voice shouted in Julia’s thoughts.
    We’re going to fight this. We’ll get you girls out as soon as we can. Watch over each other…

 
    Chapter Two
    Valera
     
    Without the other girls, Valera felt lonelier than ever. When her mother had come to her, she thought that everything would be okay. She was wrong.
    “You are coming home with me.” Victoria had grabbed her arm and rattled the chains around Valera’s wrists.
    “But, I though… I’m a prisoner. They aren’t just going to let me go…”
    “I’ve made a deal with the Elders. We’re leaving.”
    Valera’s hopes grew. She hugged her mother, although Victoria didn’t return the gesture right away. Valera didn’t care. Her mother was there to save them. Valera, Theo, and Julia still had a chance to be free. Victoria patted Valera’s back and stepped back.
    “Now that this nonsense is over, everything will get back to normal. We’ll get you back to Aetherland and put this whole mess behind us.”
    Valera wasn’t exactly eager to go back to the way things were, but maybe she could change her mother’s mind about keeping her locked up on Aetherland Isle. She’d been set free once, and didn’t want to lose it. Besides, she had Gideon and the girls now. If anything her time away proved that she was just as capable as her brother Victor. She’d survived being kidnapped. She’d been to the human world and come out unscathed. She’d helped take down Marcus.
    “Yeah, back to normal. Theo will be with her parents again, and I bet Julia will like the island, if she’ll give it a chance.”
    Surely, Julia would see some merits to Aetherland Isle. She’d be free to do as she pleased, within reason of course. The three of them could learn to control their powers together.
    “Theo? Julia? You misunderstood me. We’re going home. Those other two are not my problem.”
    “We can’t, Mother—
    Victoria lifted Valera’s tangled hair from her shoulder and scoffed. “What an unruly mess. When was the last time you brushed it?”
    Valera pulled away from her mother, yanking her own hair in the process. “Mother, listen to me—
    “Really, you need to learn to take care of yourself. Look at your clothes. You’re beginning to look like an airship pirate. You’ll be wearing proper dresses from now on.” Victoria pinched the stained white fabric of Valera’s sleeve and scrunched her nose up as if it were a dead skunk.
    Pressure built up inside Valera. Her hopes unraveled. Her mother had no intention of freeing her. She wasn’t there out of love and