The Turncoats (The Thirteenth Series #2) Read Online Free Page B

done something that meets with your approval.”
    “We have no need of food in Alchany,” he told them. “We have what you call a pill that supplies us with all the nutrition we need, but this is much tastier.” Zac pulled out a small black pill from his pocket and handed it to Val.
    “Wow, tasty, thanks.” Val smiled and popped it into her pocket. “I’ll save it for later.”
    “That will feed you for at least three of your weekly cycles,” Zac told them, shoving another hand full of chips into his mouth.
    Val was enjoying everyone being there, even her new acquaintance, Zac. They would find a way to make this new system work. If anyone knew books it was Wendy; she knew the shop was in good hands. In thirteen years of waiting, Wendy had never given up on her and that meant that she was the closest thing Val now had to a best friend.
    She glanced across the table. Jason and Fran were laughing together about something; she had to admit that they made the perfect couple. She had confronted the fact that her romantic feelings for Jason had been all her own and she was over that now. Anyway, they were committed to helping her and she knew how much she needed their support. She looked across the table to see Shane nodding, agreeing with something Zac was telling him, and then proceeding to slap him vigorously on the back. He was the glue that would keep them all sane. This was good; things were going to be ok.
    Then it began.

C HAPTER 2
Protection
     
    Val could feel it in the pit of her stomach: something was wrong; she didn’t know what, but it was going to be bad. There were no pains like before, when she had the tattoo, but it had taught her a very important lesson: she now knew to listen to her instincts and something was definitely coming. Zac was just devouring the last chip on his plate when his watch sprang into life.
    “Zac something is happening; I can sense it.” Val rose from her chair. Zac was with her as lights and symbols flashed away on his screen.
    Zac pointed at his watch, as if Val would understand it. “There are at least five prisoners taking human bodies now. We don’t stand a chance against that many; we need to get out of here immediately.”
    Had they deliberately sought and found Val, or was it just by chance that they had come to rest at the diner? It wouldn’t be long before she found out. Val, Zac, Jason and Shane stood together as five very large, highly intimidating men came their way from a booth across the room. They moved in close and Val could feel the tension building. The men circled them and then stopped.
    “Too late for escape now,” Zac said, pushing Wendy into the corner as Shane and Jason protected Fran.
    “Really,” Val smirked. Everyone in the bar had now stopped what they were doing and were looking at them. She pulled out her sword, but didn’t extend it just yet. What was going on? Why didn’t they just attack? If these were criminals, what was stopping them?
    Suddenly the largest of the five men started to jerk, his eyes flickering in their sockets. Then he became rigid. There were fearful murmurs coming from all corners of the Snakes and Ladders, but no one dared make a move.
    “Do I look like that when I do my thing?” Wendy whispered to Val.
    “No, you look much scarier, now get back.” Val pushed Wendy behind her again.
    The now still giant opened his eyes and looked around him. “Where are you?” The man started to walk, however not like before. Now he walked upright with arrogance. “Ah, Val, my precious little guard, oh how I’ve missed you.” He moved towards her, unbothered by the crowd of spectators. Jason and Shane went to move in front of her, but Val held out her hand to signal to the others that she was ok. She could sense their longing to protect her, but she knew who this was.
    “Excariot, what a pleasant surprise, and what a lovely parlour trick!” Val was now almost nose-to-nose with the guy. “Once again you’re too scared to