The Circle of Lies by Crystal Velasquez

Author:Crystal Velasquez
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aladdin

An hour later we were standing on the runway, about to board the jet. We each had a small suitcase, which Antonio had stored on board, though I’d kept one duffel bag with me containing a very special item—the vase Ixchel had made to trap the Chaos Spirits inside. It was nearly an exact copy of the vase my aunt and uncle had donated to the school, and I could almost see the emerald fixed to the top of it, glowing through the bag. That was the gem that had called the defeated bat Chaos Spirit back to the vase and trapped it inside.

“You’re bringing that with us?” Lin asked.

“I have to,” I said. “I can’t leave it unguarded at the school. Not with Nicole and who knows who else still hanging out there.”

“Fine, but if the bat gets out and we have to fight it again, you’re paying for my manicures till the end of time.” Though her parents had lost most of their money to a shady accountant, Lin still had the wardrobe of a starlet. She tied a white silk scarf over her head, threw on a pair of black Dior sunglasses, and climbed the steps to the jet.

Doli followed Lin, shaking her head and mumbling, “She thinks she’s Audrey Hepburn or something.”

I laughed and lingered on the stairs, looking out at the gate. Even though I knew it was unlikely, part of me still hoped Jason would come to see us off and wish us luck. But he was nowhere to be found. I was starting to turn away, when I saw a swish of black fur and the glimmer of green eyes emerge from the bushes. We still hadn’t settled on a name for the cat, but she was ours all the same, an honorary Hunter of Chaos. She ran up and pawed at the stairs, looking at the jet and letting out plaintive meows.

“Oh, all right. I should’ve known you wouldn’t want to be left behind.” I picked her up with one hand and settled her on my shoulder. She licked my cheek with her rough tongue, and we climbed into the jet.

“The cat’s coming too?” asked Doli as she settled into her seat.

I shrugged. “I don’t think she’d take no for an answer. Besides, she seems to know things about the Brotherhood that we don’t. I can’t explain how, but maybe she’ll be able to help us find what we’re looking for.”

“Then we should probably do her the courtesy of giving her a name,” said Lin.

I stroked the cat’s midnight-black fur. “I’m sure she’ll eventually let me know what she wants to be called.”

Suddenly the cockpit door opened and Antonio, the school’s pilot, came into the cabin. He had a big smile on his face, half covered by a bushy gray beard. He slapped his large hands together. “Ladies, welcome to my pride and joy. I call her Venezia. It will be my honor to fly you to Mexico today.”

I smiled back. “Really? Nicole made it sound like you didn’t like kids being in the jet.

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