Quest For The Ultimate Artifact

in's

business," Leonardo whispered.

Vanessa cried. "This isn'

y only lifesaver, onl

oward her, and for a brief momen

his grip

roken doll, sucking in as much a

ire, but at least...

embling as if she wasn't sure what to do. Her face was etched with worry, her

tood abruptly, her gaze lingering on

e alone i

nergy and I stumbled out of t

my neck, because the way my

rn expression, i

hind me, leaning against it as I exhaled shakily. My hands tremble

on in the mirror, I ba

my eyes shadowed

k where Leonardo had nearly

und to him in some way? I wanted to believe she ca

nts, filled with flashes of r

Needing a distraction, I left for a nearby co

hand around a

my mind replaying the events of th

wisted nightmare, bu

she involved with

door snapped me out of my thoughts. I

him. Le

d still in his tailored black suit, a glitter

the room until th

y legs wouldn't move. He sat down ac

ked, trying to mask adre

do replied smoothly. "You see

able, trying to steady myself.

fe isn't as simple as you think. She's bound to a world you can'

you talk

ce dropping to a whisper. "

sbelief pouring ove

ghed; he sounde

u expect me to believe th

with a smirk that sent a

it," I

ore my eyes, his ears elongated, his skin turned ghostly pale, and his ey

fell silent. The clatter of cups, the

people frozen in mid-motion. Fear crush

-eyed and panicking. "You're

the

art pounding like a drum in my chest. The edges

. He leaned back, watching m

ly. "I don't want to kill you, but

ing. "What do y

sun. It's part of an ancient collection hidden by secret scholars. Your father was

ore confusing th

ld me anything. How do y

hing darker than you can imagine. Now that he's gone, I'm certain

I don't know what you're talking about. I'm s

lking about," he said,

nt, please release me,

ore I could speak, he walked toward me, his

d the gem, whether

crashing over me. "You...

on grip pulling me from the

tch

the world around me blurred, colors smearing to

me go!" I screamed but

vortex opened beneath

sappe

lf standing at the edge

needles, and the scenery around me

hade of purple, and the mo

teps ahead of me, his presence co

, his voice slicing

ed, my mi

I? Why w