Free Save Aether (The Trinity Key Trilogy Book 3) by L.M. Fry

coming.”
    This time she nodded, and they headed straight for Theo’s room. Julia stormed into the room, fuming. Eli slipped in behind her and shut the door. Julia’s nerves were on fire. She walked around the room, cracking her knuckles.
    “What happened?” Theo asked from the bed.
    “He asked me about the dream. I told him, and then he got all… creepy. He dismissed me and threatened me when I questioned him. Then, Slammy came into the room and ordered me out. I don’t know, you guys… this seems to be getting weird. Lawless really freaked me out, and Slammy seems pretty pissed that we were in the labs,” Julia railed. “He said they had to control us.”
    “What does that mean?” Valera asked from the chair, startling Julia. “Why is it so cold in here?”
    Julia hadn’t realized Valera was in the room, or that she was still holding aether. Eli wrapped his arms around his body and breathed out mist.
    “Okay, okay, Julia, ease up. I’m turning into an ice cube,” Eli chattered through his teeth.
    Julia smiled, but released the cold.
    Valera bit her nails. “What if we can’t get back into the lab? I barely had a chance to study Aeda’s Sextant.”
    “I have an idea. We should sneak downstairs at night, so you can use the relics on your own,” Eli suggested.
    Julia raised an eyebrow at him and grinned. “Aren’t you supposed to keep us out of trouble?”
    He laughed. “I figure it’s better to help you learn to control your power, than to end up an icicle.”
    Theo and Valera giggled. Julia couldn’t find words to express her feelings. No one had ever made her feel so confused before. She could feel her cheeks burning.
    “I, uh… He’s right. We need to practice on our own. What do you say?” Julia blurted.
    “Let’s do it,” Theo nodded.
    “Tonight,” Valera said.
    With that, Julia escaped to her room. She tried to stay awake to avoid the bad dreams. She practiced holding and releasing aether, but her thoughts drifted to Eli and his insufferable smirk. She refocused on ice and cold air. Her eyes stung from fatigue. She yawned, closing her eyes for just a moment.
    Danu was there, calling out to her. Julia felt her pain. She was aware of everything around her. She tried to wake up, but was pulled deeper into the nightmare.
    “Wake up, Sleepy,” Eli whispered, gently tugging on her arm.
    Groggy, she wiped her eyes and peered into the dark. A small light appeared in front of her. Eli hovered over her, grinning.
    “How long was I out?” she asked.
    “A few hours. I think we’re good to go. I checked the halls, and everyone seems to have gone away.”
    Julia’s body protested her late night wakeup. She reconsidered their midnight practice session, but had little choice. Eli took both her hands and hauled her to her feet. She groaned and followed him out the door. Theo and Valera waited in the hall. They slipped down the empty corridors, avoided the few straggling night owls, and snuck into the labs. The scientists had left the lab open, but had locked the relic room.
    “Damnit,” Julia huffed.
    Eli just grinned and moved the four dials. With a bow, he pulled the lever and the door creaked open. Julia clapped.
    “I happen to be a very observant person with an excellent memory. Not to mention, Professor Scrod doesn’t exactly keep the combination secret. After a drink or two, her technicians get chatty.”
    Theo and Valera clapped. Julia groaned. Why did they have to encourage him? It was bad enough he was boasting about taking technicians out on dates. Not that Julia was jealous. Valera gave Julia a nudge into the room. Ealga’s Sword of Ice was still laying on the table. Before touching it, Julia opened herself to aether. The room grew cold.
    “You can do this, Julia,” Theo said.
    “I should have worn a coat,” Eli teased.
    “Shush, I’m focusing.”
    She waved her hand over the blade of the sword and felt a tingling sensation. It was a start. She gripped the worn leather