Free Into the Dark (The Conjurors) by Kristen Pham Page B

We’ll have to live almost in isolation. Not even my family will be with me. I can’t imagine being totally alone for months,” Thai said, and Valerie understood the dread in his eyes. She knew how empty and desperate being alone could make you feel.
        “Then you should both come with me to the Globe! You could always come back and visit your family.”
        “We can’t. At this stage, the Conjurors don’t know if Tan would survive the trip. And I could never let anything happen to him,” Thai said, and Valerie heard the tenderness in his voice, almost like a father for his son.
        “You care about him a lot,” she said.
        “Yeah. At first I hated what was happening to me, but I’m growing to like him. He seems more like a person every day. One who’s even more scared than I am of everything that’s happening.”
        “Can I talk to, um, Tan?”
        “Not right now. He doesn’t have the energy to take over again.”
        “Where will you go when he starts being able to take over your body more?”
        “The Conjurors found a place for me in some remote part of South America.”
        “That sounds so lonely.”
    “It will only be for a year or two.”
        “I’ll visit you both – all the time.”
        Thai smiled and then yawned. “I’m counting on that. Now that Tan’s resting, I’m going to try to get some sleep. And Valerie? Thanks.”
        “For what?”
    “For not freaking out about this. You’re the first person I’ve told. It feels good not to be by myself in all this.”
         “I know what it’s like to carry a secret alone, Thai. I’m glad that neither of us has to do that anymore. ’Night.”
     
        The next day, Valerie and Thai decided to explore the Giza Plateau, where they could go inside the three huge pyramids that they could see from the window of their hotel room, as well as see the Sphinx, a giant statue that was half-lion, half-man.
        As they were about to leave, Thai paused. “Hey, Tan. You have something to say?”
    “H-h-hi,” Tan’s gravelly voice said with obvious effort. Valerie almost jumped in surprise.
    “Your eyes didn’t change!”
    “Yeah, that happens sometimes. It takes less effort for him just to speak without taking over completely,” Thai explained.
        It was going to be strange to talking to two people in one body. It would take some getting used to.  She took a deep breath. “Hi Tan. Do you want to see inside the pyramids?” she asked.
        “Y-yes. Thai told me a l-l-lot about them.”
        Valerie smiled. “You’ll have to tell me what you’ve learned. It’s all new to me.”
        “Ready to go?” Thai asked, in control of his voice again.
        “Definitely,” she said eagerly, excited to visit the site that would launch her to the Globe that night. Chisisi was waiting at the entrance of the hotel as they left.
        “Good morning to you both.”
        “’Morning, Chisisi,” Valerie replied.
        “I caution you to stay alert today, young ones,” he added.
        “Thanks, we will,” she said, waving goodbye.
        Once they were out of his earshot, Thai whispered, “Who does Chisisi think he is, calling me young? I’m a grown man!”
        “Not much fun being treated like a kid, huh?” she said with a little snicker. “But Chisisi’s cool. He’s looking out for us.”
    “I know. I wish he would tell us who his employer is. Maybe he would know more about Venu.”
    Valerie shrugged. She didn’t want to dwell on the battle at Stonehenge. It was her last day on Earth, and she wanted to relish every second. The Giza Plateau was a 10-minute walk from their hotel, and she stared as the pyramids grew even larger the closer they came.
    After getting their tickets, she hurried over to the base of Great Pyramid, Thai trailing behind her. As she stood in line waiting to enter, she looked up at the thousands of golden