The Eternal Tomb (24 page)

“Go on,” said Mr. VanWick.

“The bodies are fresh, scattered like trash,” Carly whispered. “Skulls, ribcages … everything is crushed.”

“You are seeing through Dylea's eyes,” said Mr. VanWick reassuringly.

The whispers solidified into murmurs. Oliver heard Theo cursing under his breath with jealousy.

“What is the weaponry?”

“There are trenches,” said Carly. “Rifles and bayonets, cannons, artillery streaks in the sky. Some of the bodies have gas masks on.”

“Return,” instructed Mr. VanWick.

Oliver left his room. It took some effort; even though he didn't want his demon, there was something soothing about the place, a feeling of completeness that was actually somewhat similar to what he felt when Nathan was around, as if having a demon would make him feel more whole, too. He pushed back to the surface of his mind. He opened his eyes and saw the rest of his class doing the same.

Mr. VanWick had picked up his copy of the slim black textbook. Oliver opened his. The book was blank inside, as was everyone else's.

“
Revelethh Dylea
,” Mr. VanWick whispered to the book. The same image began to appear in everyone's book. Text and pictures bled onto the pages. There was a detailed sketch of Dylea, a tall, shrouded demon with blue skin, and text titled “France, 1917.”

“Dylea was soul-collecting at the Battle of the Marne,” said Mr. VanWick, reading the text. He looked at Carly, and Oliver noticed the slight furrow of his brow. “Dylea's timeline is nearing yours.” He shook his head. “It's astonishing; just yesterday you saw her in the French Revolution. That's over one hundred years in just a night … but, I guess it's nothing new for this class.”

“For
some
of us,” Lythia muttered with a scowl. Oliver glanced at her and found her staring directly at him. She looked like she was studying him, and as soon as she saw that Oliver had noticed her, she looked away.

“All right, back to your rooms,” instructed Mr. VanWick. “We will continue the observation, and deepen the connection.” He reached out and used the black crystal to ignite the next inner sand circle, this one made of lavender powder. “Concentrate,” he commanded.

Oliver sank back into his mind, back into the hallway, to the door, and back into the room, walking inside like he always did—

But it had changed.

Over on the left bookshelf, a handful of black books were stacked neatly, held in place by an iron bookend in the shape of a brooding gargoyle, and out the window …

Nexia was gone.

For the first time in over a year of cohesion sessions, the view out the diamond-shaped window was different.

Oh no
, Oliver thought.
It's starting
.

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About the Author

Kevin Emerson once competed in a beauty pageant and lost (probably because he was wearing a suit of armor). He is the author of twelve novels for teen and middle grade readers, including the Atlanteans series, the Exile series, and
The Fellowship for Alien Detection
. He is also a guitarist and drummer in two bands: Northern Allies and the Board of Education. Emerson once appeared in a Swedish television commercial, knows that bow ties are cool, and also knows that Pinkie Pie is the best MLP. He lives with his wife and two young children in Seattle, where the damp, gloomy nights inspired Oliver's story.

All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2009 by Kevin Emerson

Cover design and illustration by Connie Gabbert

ISBN: 978-1-4976-0206-9

This edition published in 2014 by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.

345 Hudson Street

New York, NY 10014

www.openroadmedia.com

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