“She moved like a goddess.”
“A witch, you mean. I think shecast her spell on you.” Then the significance of what she’d saidhit Onolyn, making her feel sick. Hadthe woman cast a spell on Zac? Would whatever was in the vial killErling, rather than heal him?
“She didn’t look like a witchto me,” Zac said. “I remember every detail of her lovely face.”
“I think you’ve been aroundErling too long,” Hendora said, sounding disgusted. “If they’regood-looking and sexy, nothing else matters.”
Onolyn looked at Hendorasurprised. “Erling’s not like that—neither is Zac.” Onolynadmired Hendora and wondered why she didn’t see Seetva had somesort of hold on Zac when he’d spoken to her. Onolyn hoped Seetva’spower was broken now that they’d left her.
Hendora quickened her pace. “Younever see anyone’s faults, Onolyn. Someday a man will break yourheart and then your sandcastle will wash away.”
“Onolyn won’t have her heartbroken,” Zac said. “No man in his right mind would ever hurtOnolyn.”
Onolyn wished Zac wasn’t soshy. When it came to women, he was all talk and no action. Shewondered if he even thought of her as more than a friend.
“Enough!” Hendora said.“We’re not discussing Zac’s crush on Seetva or Onolyn’sidealistic view of the world. Now that we have the antidote, yourmission is to find out what King Zanton’s plans are. I’ll checkback with you once I get to The City of Silver Light and deliver theantidote. Then I’ll leave to deliver the matrix crystal to theCoalition space station.”
“We’ll fulfill our mission,”Zac said. He got into the driver’s seat of the aircar this time.“We’ll take you back to the spacecraft, Hendora, then Onolyn andI will check into a hotel.”
“I hope it’s not too late tosave Erling,” Onolyn said, getting into the back as she did before.She felt uneasy knowing Hendora was leaving with the Jaiparian shipthey’d flown in on. If things went wrong, it would be harder toescape Haklute without it.
Koriann awoke when Toemekawhispered her name. “What is it?” She felt thickhead from lack ofsleep. She glanced at the clock and saw it was still the middle ofthe night.
“Erling’s breathing is morelabored. Michio went for the doctor.”
Alarmed, Koriann asked, “Do youthink he’s going to die?”
Tears glistened in Toemeka’seyes. “I don’t know.”
Michio entered the room with Dr.Tenzing.
After examining Erling, Dr.Tenzing shook his head. “There’s nothing I can do. His conditionis rapidly deteriorating. His eyes are fixed, his pulse weak, andhe’s having trouble breathing. I don’t know what type of poisonit is and anything I do might only make it worse. We just have tohope there’s an antidote and Hendora can get it here in time.”
“I’d like to talk to Koriannalone,” Michio said. “Toemeka, why don’t you get some rest;you’ve been up all night. I’ll come get you if there’s anychange.” Michio drew Toemeka into his arms and held her close for amoment, then she and Dr. Tenzing left.
Once they were alone, Koriannasked, “What is it?”
“I need to organize Jaipar andthe rest of the planet’s defenses. I’m leaving for the spacestation today to meet with your generals.”
“Thank you. I should probablygo with you, but I don’t want to leave Erling.”
“I understand. I don’t likeleaving with Erling so ill either. The seriousness of his conditionis partly why I want to speak with you. I’d like to take you to theInner Worlds to see Erling.”
“I’m too upset to cross overon my own. Will you help me, Michio?”
“Of course, we’ll gotogether.” They sat on the settee and Koriann took a few deepbreaths, focusing inwardly. She felt Michio’s inner presence as hedrew her out of her physical body. She floated upward in a shimmeringbody of light.
“Come with me,” Michio said.He took her hand and they flew over tall buildings in the City ofSilver Light and into the starry worlds.
They stopped upon reaching a lushgarden shrouded in a blue mist. Together they walked along a jeweledsidewalk with fragrant gardens on both sides. The sidewalk led to atemple composed of white marble with threads of silver and goldrunning through it. A double row of tall pillars surrounded thestructure. They climbed the wide marble stairway and went through anarched entry.
A feeling of peace poured overKoriann. She felt a part of this world more than she’d ever felt apart of the physical world. Illusion after illusion fell away fromher and she was pure Soul with none of the body’s limitations.Koriann looked around in awe as they walked past beautiful paintingshung on the walls. Melodious music filled the air and reboundedthrough her being. Her body was near translucent and she wore aflowing, white gown of light.
They entered a room and foundErling and the Master inside. Erling smiled upon seeing her andKoriann’s heart leapt with joy. She ran to him and he enfolded herin his arms. Love flowed between them. Still in his arms, Koriannraised her eyes to him. He looked strong, healthy and handsome in hisLight Body.
“Kori,”he said telepathically. “I’mglad you’re here.”
“It’stime for you to decide, Erling,” the Master said.
Koriann and Erling walkedhand-in-hand onto a balcony. Beneath them lay a splendid panoramicview of a rugged mountain range.
Koriann felt the coursingemotions that flowed through Erling. He looked out across the vastmountain range, then back at her again. She knew the decision wasdifficult for him.
Atlast he said, “I love you, Kori. Nothing will ever change that. ButI don’t know if I can stay in my physical body any longer. My lifeforce is almost gone and the Inner Worlds strongly call to me.”
21
Antidote
Early morning light splashedcolor across the City of Silver Light. Exhausted, Koriann glanced outthe window and saw the ground covered with a blanket of white, thefirst snow of the season. She’d been awake nearly all night, afraidErling might die in his sleep. His life seemed to be slowly ebbingaway.
“Bakka! Bakka!” she wailed.“Where’s the antidote? I know Erling wants to come back to me,but he can’t if they don’t find it soon.”
A knock on the door precededToemeka and Michio entering the room. “Koriann,” Toemeka said.“We heard from Hendora. She has the antidote and will
