Gabriel Stone and the Divinity of Valta Read Online Free

Gabriel’s hair. “Just keep it for good luck, then.”
    “Thanks.” Gabriel gave him a tight-lipped smile, feeling a bit awkward. Maybe Dad’s coming around. Maybe we can be close again . Ever since Mom left, there had been a Grand Canyon-sized hole in the house that seemed to swallow everything up, pushing his dad further and further away. Some days, it felt like both of his parents had disappeared.
    He stared at the compass. So maybe his dad didn’t blame him for Mom leaving. Or, maybe Dad had decided to forgive him. At least that’d be one of us . Even if it was only temporary, it felt good to have him back. Gabriel sighed and squeezed the compass tightly in his hand. “I’m sorry for wrecking my room. I’ll clean it up before I leave, I promise.”
    “It’s okay.” His father leaned in, about to hug him. He stopped short, patting his back instead. “You go on. I’ll take care of it this one time. Then I’m heading off to court to close the Matthews case.”
    “Matthews case?” The Matthews family lived next door. Gabriel hadn’t known they needed a lawyer.
    “Yes, it’s nothing to worry about though.”
    The doorbell chimed. Gabriel quickly slipped the compass in his pocket and snagged his watch from his nightstand and put it on. He dashed down the stairs two at a time. Brent and Piper’s eager faces greeted him.
    “ Hola !” Piper said in her usual Spanish greeting. Even though she spoke English, she liked to throw in a bit of her native Spanish here and there. Gabriel liked it. It actually helped him ace some Spanish tests.
    They gathered inside the doorway and did their secret handshake: a “high ten,” moving their right hands up and down in a wave, then stacking them one on top of the other, before throwing them up in the air with a big “Woot!” It’s not like they’d do that sort of thing in public. Cedric would totally tease them for it.
    “Let’s go,” said Gabriel. He couldn’t get to the mountains fast enough.
    ***
    “Did you tell your dad, dude?” Brent’s voice rose in excitement as they neared the waterfalls with Zigzag bounding after them.
    “Tell him what exactly? That we found a crystal that refracts light in crazy colors and seems to give off some kind of energy and—wait for it—seems to have a tiny tiger living inside it?” Gabriel rolled his eyes at Brent.
    “What’s your problem?” Piper glowered at Gabriel. “He was just asking.”
    “And I’m just saying. Maybe what we saw wasn’t real. I mean, a white tiger inside of a crystal? Who’s gonna believe us? Nobody, that’s who. It sure wasn’t there when Mr. Roswell looked. How do you explain that ?”
    Piper sighed. “I can’t. But I didn’t want to come up here in the first place. It sucks up here in winter. And don’t get any crazy ideas about jumping back in there.”
    “I won’t do anything stupid, I promise.” Gabriel said it firmly, and he meant it. He held the crystal out from his neck, watching the lights shimmer through the air. The shades of blue twirled with white, and danced before his eyes. He stared at the waterfalls, deep in thought.
    “Besides, Gabe,” Brent said, “we all saw what was in that crystal. It’s not like you were the only—” He stopped speaking. Something in the woods cracked, like a really big branch snapping. They turned in the direction of the noise. “Did you guys hear that?”
    Snap.
    “There it is again!” Piper said with a shaky voice. “Do you think it could be a bear or something?”
    Brent stood first, then Piper—slowly. She took a step back, toward the water’s edge. “What do you think it is?”
    “Relax, Piper,” said Gabriel. “It’s probably just a deer.”
    “Ahhhh!” A boy screamed.
    “That’s not a freaking deer!” shouted Brent.
    Cedric Morley raced out of the woods, Zigzag chasing after him. Cedric yelled as he ran toward them. “Leave me alone, you mutt!”
    A belly laugh doubled Piper over. “I’m gonna pee my