19. P O W E R : Family

CHAPTER III

Cierra, Zill, and Alexis emerged in the lowest level of Cierra's mansion. Cierra released her niece and nephew and put her hands back up as they turned on her angrily. "Before you say anything," she said quickly, "I only did that to bring us here without the others knowing. I do not intend to resist."

Zill shuddered. "Fine, but... never do that again. I hate tentacles."

"Get over it." Alexis reached into her backpack and pulled out a large pair of handcuffs made from white metal.

Cierra sighed and rolled her eyes as Alexis put the handcuffs on her. "Is that really necessary?"

Alexis glared at her. "Very."

Cierra frowned.

"So where's the Reviver, Alexis?" Zill asked, putting his hands on his hips.

"Beneath the forest near Mount St. Helens in Washington State," Alexis answered.

"Cool. Are we gonna drive, or do you want me to teleport us there?"

"You can teleport us."

"Aw, man! I wanted a road trip!"

"Do you really have time for that?"

"Well... no, but..."

"Oh, look at the two of you!" Cierra gushed. "Squabbling like you've known each other for years! How adorable." Then she scoffed and said, "Can we got on with it, please? I've got business to attend to elsewhere."

"You say that like you plan to escape once the Revival is finished," Alexis remarked, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, I do," Cierra confirmed. "And there's no way for you to stop me from doing so."

"If that's the case, then why didn't you break out of Xirxine?" Zill challenged. "Why'd your cult buddies have to come rescue you, huh?"

"Anti-anomaly anchors," Cierra responded in a clipped tone. "A3s, if you will. Very advanced—very effective."

"Alright, enough talking," Alexis broke in. "It's time to move. We—"

Suddenly, all three arthrogons' antennae stood straight up and began to vibrate.

"Uhhhh... what's going on?" Zill asked warily, glancing up at his antennae.

"D----t!" Alexis hissed, glaring at the ceiling with a mix of anger and fear. "They're here!"

"Who? Who's here?" Zill cried, looking around wildly.

"The Trozians," Cierra growled.

Alexis quickly grabbed Cierra and Zill's wrists. "Teleport us! NOW!" she commanded.

"On it!" Zill squeezed his eyes shut, and the three of them vanished in a burst of flame.

-

Maricella abandoned her car on the outskirts of the woods and flew the rest of the way to the Reviver. She landed just beyond its hidden entrance, then entered on foot and made her way to the incubation chamber, where she found Valafar waiting with his back to her.

"Took you long enough," the patriarch of House Marnozal rasped, not looking at his ex-wife. "We have incoming."

"The Trozians—I know," Maricella responded. "I felt them enter the atmosphere."

"It won't be long now," Valafar growled. "Those children better hurry if they want to survive."

Maricella glanced past Valafar at the thousands of eggs within the incubation chamber. "Have you told him yet?" she asked softly.