Back to Atlantis by Bar Sagi (best book reader txt) 📗

“Amazing,” Yasmin heard Lucas whisper beside her, his face full of awe.

“I know,” Yasmin said, her gaze landing on a fountain carved out of red stone, and the water it sprayed out into the hands of a beast was not clear, but golden, like the sun.

There was writing under the beast’s statue: The beast will not scare us, for we know he is a beautiful man inside.

There were flowers scattered all around the fountain, like one would scatter flowers around a grave. Yasmin touched one of the withering petals in awe. People must have really loved the dead king, to still leave him flowers ten years later.

Standing, she wrapped her sweater a little tighter around her, shivering a bit. It was getting cold up here, and the air was thinner.

“Yasmin,” Violet called out, turning back to call her.

She was walking toward a mansion made completely of red stone. It was built on the top of the mountain, and went a little ways into the mountain itself. “Are you coming?”

Yasmin nodded and looked around for Lucas, hoping he wasn’t lost. She found him standing hunched on the other side of the fountain, looking down at the ground. He seemed to have the weight of the world on his shoulders.

As she approached him, she saw Lucas look at the king with thinly disguised hatred shining through. Yasmin nearly stepped back in surprise, and fear. The look in Lucas’s eye’s was full of more than hatred, but also desperation, the kind starved men have when meat is dangled above their heads.

Just as Yasmin was trying to figure out what had caused such pain, Lucas caught her eyes. Immediately, his expression cleared, and he held out his arm to her, smiling softly.

“Wanna go in, Milady?” He grinned teasingly at her, but his eyes were cold.

Yasmin swallowed hard and took his hand, which felt as cold as ice. Yasmin looked at Lucas’s face again, noting the hard features and the fake smile.

This wasn’t the Lucas she had known. Her thoughts troubled her. What had happened to him? When I get back I’ll shake him until he spits the answer out. Then I’ll help him, if I can. But right now, I have to stop the rebels. If Lucas has been this way for a while, he can wait a little more. I can’t let more people die.

As they entered the mansion, Yasmin gasped again. This place was astounding! Even though by now she was used to grand palaces, and this mansion didn’t come close to it in size and grandeur, there was an ancient quality about it all the same.

Yasmin felt like she was a part of history as she walked down the plush velvet carpet, glancing around at the beautifully carved ceiling showing wars from centuries past. Humans—spellcasters, probably, judging from the fact that they had nearly no weapons—and fairies alike fought each other with unmistakable anger on their faces.

Yasmin glanced at Violet, part fairy, who was the fiancée of the prince himself. What had happened to change everything?

Lucas was looking around the room with a bored expression on his face. Yasmin felt confused. He looked lifeless, like a doll. And whenever their eyes caught, he grinned like he was having fun. Why was he putting on a façade?

Violet came up beside her and smiled. “Thank you, Yasmin,” she said, hooking her arm into Yasmin’s. “I know it’s hard for you to use your magic again after that time, but thank you. I promise that in return, I’ll do my best to help you.” She brushed her hair out of her ear and gave Yasmin a winning smile. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”

Yasmin forced herself to smile, but it didn’t fool Violet. “Are you okay?” Violet asked, looking concerned.

“Yeah,” Yasmin said, shaking her head. “Something just doesn’t feel right.”

Violet laughed, and the sound echoed around the halls like the tinkling of bells. People stopped to stare at this beautiful, fairy-like creature walking down the hall with grace and beauty.

Violet ignored them, but Yasmin felt their gazes on her and shrank a bit.

“Yasmin, you hate every palace and mansion. I’ve seen you during the parties, remember. I think you’re just sulking because you’re stuck in here.”

Yasmin did feel uncomfortable, walking down these halls, but that wasn’t it. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but something felt out of place.

Maybe it was because she was behind on homework? Or that David was here, just twenty feet away? No, that wasn’t it. She knew that there was something very wrong here. She would stake her life on it. It itched. Like a place on her back that couldn’t be scratched.

Something would go wrong today, she was sure of it…

Chapter 22

The portal

“Hello!” the cheerful Lady Mackenzie said, grinning and curtsying in front of David.

David and Violet smiled and waved back, with Lucas and Yasmin standing behind them, as uncomfortable as dolphins in a lake.

“Your rooms are this way! I’m so happy that you came early!”

The bubbly brown-haired lady twirled excitedly, and waved them toward their rooms.

“See you at dinner!”

As she walked away, Yasmin glanced at her watch. She had noticed Gloriana doing that a lot the past few minutes and had begun wondering if all the townsfolk were out of town yet.

Walking over to Gloriana, Yasmin tapped her on the shoulder while David, Violet, and Lucas were led away by guards.

Gloriana turned, surprised. “What do you want, Yasmin?” Her usually stern face was tired and lined. She seemed older than she was. The past few months had really put a toll on her body.

“I just wondered, when are we leaving? When will everyone be out of Meldon?” Yasmin asked, on edge.

“Soon,” Gloriana replied, glancing at her watch. “They should have everyone out of there by now.” Giving Yasmin a stern glance, she took her aside. “I need to ask you something, Yasmin. And I need you to be very honest with me.”

Yasmin nodded, unsure and confused because of the sudden