Page 58 of Courting Mayhem

Kiri’s leaves rustled excitedly.“We go?”

“I’m sure Uncle Zarek can arrange it. Now are you ready to ride the vortex?”

“I is.”

Defne chirped her agreement.

“Good girls.”

Defne clutched my neck and peered warily at her father.

“Okay. What do I do?”

“Keep a firm grip on the children.” Qa’a wrapped several tentacles around me and held me tightly against his scratchy robe. “No matter what you see, do not struggle.”

The fine hairs on the back of my neck stood on end.“What am I going to see?”

Totally ignoring me, Qa’a walked into the tornado of death.

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Chapter Twelve

Slurppp!We were sucked into the whirling maelstrom. It was like going from zero to warp drive in three seconds flat. The horrific, twisting funnel of energy rocketed us across a weird black void.

“Wheeee!” Kiri cried.

Defne waved her tentacles and chirped happily.

I had to admit it was one hell of a ride. “Yippee-ki-yay!”

“That’s my girl. Have some fun and enjoy the view,” Derek said.

View? “You haven’t ridden the vortex, have you?”

“No, not yet.”

A gob of slime smacked me in the face. Ugh.“Lucky you.”

Strange shapes emerged out of the blackness. The shapes turned into dark, wraith-like creatures.

I pointed at them.“What are those?”

“Executioners,”Qa’a replied.

“Your executioners or the traitor’s executioners.”

“When they attack, we will know.”

“I don’t like his wait and see attitude,” Derek growled on our private link.

The scary ass executioners were getting closer and closer.“How do I fight something I can’t kill or injure?”

“You don’t. Qa’a is a formidable warrior. He has to have a plan,”Derek answered.

“I sure hope so.”The executioners were almost on us.

Qa’a’s body began to pulsate. One minute he was in human form, the next I was pressed against an enormous black mass.Bleurgh!A river of yellow slime shot from Qa’a’s maw, drenching me and the kids. Fuck!

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