Free Mystics 3-Book Collection by Kim Richardson Page B

Agent Lee find out who took it? Do they
have any leads and theories as to why they took it in the first
place?”
    Tristan hesitated then shook his head. “No.
It was really bad. There were bodies everywhere, mystic and human.
It was horrible. Whoever took it must have had an army or
something—they got through the agency’s toughest security. We don’t
know how they found out where it was.”
    “But why would someone steal it?”
asked Zoey, aware that Stuart was slowly making his way closer to
their table. It was so obvious he was trying to hear what they were
talking about.
    “To travel without being detected,” answered
Tristan. “To let the hostile mystics who hate us in. There’s
no way we could keep track of all the mystics traveling to Earth if
someone had their own interloper.”
    Zoey frowned. “You mean like, illegally ?”
    “Yup,” said Simon. “I mean we do get
illegals from time to time. They slip through the cracks, so to
speak. Usually they use other transporting devices, but those
things don’t work very well, and most of the time the mystics die
trying to get across. But a single interloper could let thousands
of undetected mystics through at one time—thousands of big ugly ones.”
    “So who would want to do something like
that?” asked Zoey.
    “Hostiles, probably,” said Tristan.
    An uneasy feeling grew in the pit of Zoey’s
stomach. “So whoever stole it, has big plans for it, like something
really bad, right? I mean, that’s the only thing that would make
sense, right?”
    “Yup,” agreed Simon. “Like a nuclear
explosion of hostile mystics. They’d come here and destroy every
last human being. They would probably eat us, too.”
    Agent Barnes had said that whoever had
stolen the interloper must have been an insider. Someone with
Agency connections must have stolen the device. But who had it now?
And why did they take it in the first place?
    When they were finished eating, Zoey pushed
her seat back and got up.
    “Okay, what’s next?” she asked.
    “Now the fun really begins,” said
Tristan excitedly, sharing a look with Simon. “Now it’s time to see
if you’ve really got what it takes to be an operative.”
     
     

Chapter 6
Mirror-port
     
     
     
    Zoey hadn’t expected to see a Viking when
she returned to class with her new friends, Tristan and Simon. A
giant of a man with angular features and muscles that bulged
through his white shirt stood at the front of the class in place of
Agent Ward. He looked to be in his late fifties, but was still as
fit and strong as an ox. His long blond hair was tied in a neat
braid. She had read that horned Viking helmets were a myth, but she
couldn’t help picture one on his head. It seemed to fit him.
    He stared at Zoey without blinking.
    “You must be the Drifter, Zoey St. John,” he
said in a deep commanding voice. Stuart and his gang laughed.
    Zoey stood frozen in the doorway, she
suddenly felt very small and insignificant. She saw Tristan and
Simon take their seats, and she willed herself to her place and sat
down, doing her best not to look at the Viking.
    But then something happened that changed
everything. The Viking smiled.
    “Welcome, Zoey,” said the Viking.
    “You may call me Agent Vargas. For your
practical training, I’ll do my best to teach you the art of combat,
weapons training, and self-defense. I will teach you how to catch and restrain illegals. If you are not
physically fit, then you cannot do your job. You can know
everything there is to know about hostiles and the mystic world,
but if you can’t fight or defend yourself—you’re just as good as
dead. Might as well quit while you still can, and go work in the
kitchen. Quiet down everyone. I’m going to make agents out of you,
if it’s the last thing I do.”
    He winked at her, and she felt her face get
hot. She felt even better when she saw the disappointment on
Stuart’s face.
    Agent Vargas smacked his great hands
together, making everybody jump.