A New Era

Kaviatha

I can't let everyone know about the Lost Cities. These books are amazing, but so close to the truth. I don't know how Shannon Messenger did it.

I have to share this with the Black Swan.

It's the weekend, so I have more freedom than on other days.

I run down the stairs, asking my parents if I can go see my friend, Alanna. She lives right around the corner.

When they say yes, I tuck the book under my arm and hurry into the garage. I make sure to bring my sweater and helmet as I grab my bike. I wave goodbye and start to pedal frantically.

But my destination isn't Alanna's house. As soon as I get out of sight, I find a desolated area and turn my ring in just the right way. A beam of light shoots out, casting the whole area into bright white light. My ring is no ordinary ring. It's a leaping crystal in disguise. I step into the beam, and within seconds, I'm standing in front of the treehouses at Alluveterre.

I'm so glad that the Black Swan got the crystal back from the Neverseen.

I run into one of the treehouses, yelling for Granite, Squall, someone in the Collective. Blur steps out through the wall in front of me, and I try to grind to a halt. I still run right through him, though, and it isn't a pleasant experience. It feels all tingly, and I freeze for a second.

"Whoa, sorry about that." Blur turns around. "You okay?"

"I... I'll live." I'm still stunned by the trip through the Phaser.

"So, what's up?" Blur says. "You wouldn't be here without a reason."

I remember why I'm here, and I get panicky again. "Listen, there's an author, and she wrote a book, and it's got you, and Sophie, and the Black Swan, and the Forbidden Cities, and--"

"Whoa, slow down. Someone wrote a book about our world?" Blur was evidently surprised. When I nod mutely, gasping for breath, he sucks in a breath. "Where is the book? Do you have it?"

I hold out the book. "Be careful. It's a library book." I can only hope he can read something besides runes and Cipher runes. I really hope he can read English as well as he speaks it.

"I will." Blur quickly flips through the pages, and I assume he isn't happy. "Oh, this is bad. This is so bad." He snaps the book shut. "We have to alert the rest of the Collective." He snatches an Imparter off a shelf. "Show me Magnate Leto."