The 13th Prophecy Read Free Page B

ceaseless burning made me want to open my mouth and gasp. That’s when things got weird. At first I thought it was from the lack of air. I heard voices crying in the darkness like lost children. Going against every urge I had, I stopped struggling and remained still. I didn’t swim, or kick. I waited. I waited to hear it again.
    Holding my breath, I watched as a girl formed in front of me. Her body was small and lean. Blue hair floated around her face. “Please save us. Please. You’re the one. You must be...” She wore a pinafore. It moved under the water, like a piece of paper caught in a stream. Desperation was as visible on her face as it was in her voice.
    I stared at her, thinking I must have opened my mouth and died. I must have drowned. The dead weren’t supposed to be able to speak. They shouldn’t have been able to talk—but I heard her. Fear entered my mind. There were things I wanted to do—things I’d left undone. Collin. Regret smashed into me, nearly making me open my mouth and scream. The girl must have recognized the look on my face. She reached up, keeping me from opening my mouth, and pressed two fingers to my lips. A burst of fresh air rushed into my lungs. Coughing, and slightly shocked, I looked at her with wide-eyes. Just when I thought I had a good grip on things, it turned out I didn’t.
    I thought I drowned, but couldn’t make sense of what was happening, “Did I die?” was all I managed to ask.
    Smiling, she shook her head sadly, “No, you’re still alive. Keep breathing. The magic will keep you alive. There is nothing down here that can hurt you. Not anymore. Not since he left.”
    Her little fingers stayed pressed to my lips. I breathed again, slower this time. When I exhaled little bubbles rushed out. I watched them rise and fade in the darkness. Looking back at her, I asked, “You mean the Guardian?”
    She nodded, “He controlled us. We were forced to destroy anything that touched the water, constantly adding more souls who could never escape. The Pool is magic—dark magic. Although the Guardian is gone, we still cannot leave.” Her head tilted sadly to the side, “But, you can save us. You can free us.” Her fingers remained pressed to my lips and I continued to breathe. My hair floated around me as I watched her glowing face. “We are neither dead nor living. Kreturus drains our power for his own use. Destroy the Pool and you’ll lessen his power. You’ll make him weaker.”
    The little ghost girl watched me as I asked, “I thought this place was filled with the dead. How...?” My mouth moved but I didn’t know what to ask.
    Another girl, an older girl, appeared. My heart lurched. It was the soul of my sister—Apryl. “We’re not what you think we are. We’re souls with no bodies. There is no form to cling to. No comfort. No warmth. We’re trapped in an eternal grave that cultivates us for our power. A soul contains endless power as long as it’s separated from flesh. The living are weaker. They die when he uses their power. But we do not. And until now, no one has been able to penetrate the waters and live. And yet, here’s my little sister.” She smiled and my gut twisted with remorse. She saw it flash across my face as she floated closer to me. Her hair billowed around her face, but lacked the normal color of a fiery sunset. Instead it was a cold and pale greenish blue like everyone else trapped down here. “You’ve already mourned me. There is no saving us. Not one of us can walk the world again. We’re stuck here, Ivy. There is no rest, no peace for us as long as we are trapped here. Do you know what that’s like? To die a violent death, and know you’re trapped forever, only to be used again and again? We’ve made him invincible. But you can undo him.” She pointed at the sliver tooth in my belt. When I saw it on the bottom of the Pool, I didn’t know why I picked it up. It was spontaneous. Now I wondered if they compelled me to do it. I could