Sun and Star Academy: Book 3: Moon Kingdom

Chapter 12: She's Got The Power

Seth was seated at the desk in his room when the door flew open and Cole rushed in, "Do you know what Luca's been upto?"

Skylar who sprawled across her brother's bed and sketching away was confused at the rush and tone of things.

Luca wasn't too far behind him; he closed the door so that no passers-by would see or hear what was going on. Both Cole and Luca smiled at Skylar but were frozen to the spot, unsure of whether or not to continue.

Seth closed the black book he'd been reading and turned his chair to face the boys, Luca more specifically. They understood from his relaxed posture that it was okay to stay on topic.

"It's nothing bad, I just think I have a lead," Luca explained.

Cole scoffed, "Smart ass was trying to cross the border into dark realm."

Seth raised an eyebrow at Luca, waiting for his response.

"I wasn't going to cross, you aren't listening. I was looking for Renay."

"Renay was in the training yard, running drills because you cleared her yesterday," Cole lectured.

"She's been cleared?" Seth enquired.

"She's clean, Seth. That's what worries me, one day she's corrupt and I can feel it spreading and the next, she feels normal, everything intact...Soul intact. I couldn't understand so I thought maybe the darkness could return the host it stemmed from, I thought I'd feel the same darkness that I was trying to heal in her, along the border, so that I could confirm that theory. I'm not an idiot, Cole."

"You aren't trained to handle the border, let alone try to get that close. You weren't exactly smart about your approach, were you?"

"Did you confirm the theory?" Seth asked, breaking the tension.

Luca gravely shook his head.

"There is something going on here, either one of you want to fill me in?"

Luca said nothing so Cole glanced at Seth.

"He's helping me out, trying to figure out ways of understanding the corrupted to see if we can heal them."

"That's it?" Cole asked.

"That's it." Seth assured him, "Can you do me a favour and find out who Renay has been in contact with from the time she was cleared?"

"Will do- I'll get you the names in a bit," Cole nodded and turned to leave, glancing at Luca, "Ask for help next time."

Luca ran his hand through his hair and sighed before following Cole out and shutting the door.

Skylar remained silent; her eyes went back to her brother who seemed lost in thought as he stood up.

"You're going to start checking everyone again?"'

Seth smiled and shook his head, "Not everyone, just the names Cole gives me."

"What if there are too many to go through? How can we help?"

"Darkness doesn't usually transfer bodies. It corrupts the body it's in. So if this one did transfer out..."

"It wants to corrupt another body instead of hers?"

"And if Renay, being the General of the army here isn't the body it wants to corrupt...what does that mean?"

"There's someone higher up on the chain it wants instead...Oh no..."

Seth couldn't help feeling proud of how quickly she caught on, he walked over to her and stroked Scoops, "You're going to be a great ruler one day."

Skylar was surprised but didn't smile, "When you say it that way, it always feels like you're saying it because you're not going to be around for it."