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.“I will tell her,” Troy said.“Soon, Troy.It must be soon,” Boshar insisted.“Is this one of your premonitions, Boshar?” Troy asked somewhat jokingly.Boshar did not smile.“I have a very strong feeling of doom if you do not share this information with her.Please, Troy.Tell her,” Boshar persisted.“I will, Boshar.I will tell her tonight when we go home,” he promised.“What!”Jess’s exclamation drew their attention.“What did you say?” Jess repeated.“That you and Troy will enter the portal together to assume your powers.He has a Galaxia Star as well,” Oshun explained.Boshar gasped.Troy turned ashen.“Oshun.Silence!” Shan ordered.He could see from Jess’s reaction that she did not know of this information.Oshun appeared confused.“I’m sorry.I thought you knew,” Oshun said apologetically.Jess was in shock.She couldn’t believe what she had just heard.Troy would assume his great powers if they went through the portal together? That’s the reason he has been with her all of these years.The reason he brought her back to Topal.The reason he courted her, made love to her, and made her think that he really cared about her.He was only using her for his own gain.My God! What a fool she had been.“Jess,” Troy said brokenly.He advanced toward her.“Stay away from me,” she cried.“Jess, you must listen to me,” Troy said as he continued to approach her.“No! I don’t have to hear another word that comes from your mouth,” she yelled.“You’ve been using me all along.You only protected me for your own gain.You needed me to secure your own power.And when you got it you would throw me to the wolves.You’re no better than the Wulshuk or the Jeplong.”He reached out to grasp her arm.She yanked it free of his grasp then flung her arm out.Troy sailed across the lanai and crashed to the floor.Her family was astounded yet horrified at her actions.“Jess, no! Please listen to him,” Boshar pleaded.“Jess, I’m sorry.I ran my mouth without thinking.It’s not as it sounded,” Oshun said quickly.“Silence!” Jess commanded her.Oshun clamped her mouth shut.Troy slowly rose to his feet and moved toward Jess again.“Don’t come near me,” Jess yelled.“Let me talk, Jess,” Troy pleaded.“You’ve betrayed me.How could you do that? I trusted you,” Jess exclaimed.Shan looked at Oshun in accusation.His grey eyes shouted this was all her fault.Oshun’s eyes filled with tears.Shan tore his gaze away from her in anger and frustration.“I didn’t betray you, Jess.I just hadn’t told you yet.I was going to tonight when got home,” Troy said in measured tones.“Liar! You would say anything to me now to save you hide,” Jess said scornfully.“It’s the truth, Jess.I have always told you the truth.You know that,” Troy said as he continued to approach her.“Stay away from me,” Jess wailed.She raised her palm and bolts of streaking light slammed him into the wall.Troy groaned in pain.She then jumped over railing and soared across the lawn.She ran so fast that she was out of sight within a blink of the eye.Boshar and Tah moved to assist Troy to his feet.“I must go after her,” Troy said.“You have a cut over your eye.Let me tend it,” Boshar said.Troy put two fingers to the wound on his forehead.He held them there for three seconds and the wound healed completely.“I forgot that you could do that,” Boshar said in awe.Oshun moved to stand beside him.“I’m so sorry, Troy.I assumed that Jess knew of your connection with her.I didn’t mean to cause trouble,” Oshun said miserably.“But you did.As usual you spoke before thinking,” Shan said testily.“I didn’t do it on purpose, Shan,” Oshun said tartly.“But the result is the same,” he returned harshly.“Shan, stop.Your sister feels badly enough,” Tah chided.“I will go with you, Troy to look for her,” Shan declared.Troy shook his head.“No.You would not be able to keep up with me.I thank you though for the offer,” Troy said.“Where will she go? She doesn’t know the area.She could easily become lost,” Boshar worried.“And she is exposed to any alien who wants to abduct her,” Shan said uneasily.“Do not worry overmuch.I will find her and bring her home,” Troy said.“She is so angry.I never thought to see her turn on you,” Boshar said.“She is hurt.But I will get through to her,” Troy said.“I have to.”He hopped over the railing and was gone in an instant.The family looked after him, anxiety and fear etched in their eyes.*****Jessica’s feet barely touched the ground as she blindly ran through the woods.Pools of tears filled her eyes as she tried to make sense of Troy’s betrayal.She had given her trust and her heart to him only to have him deceive and hurt her.The pain was like a stake being driven through her chest.And she couldn’t pull it out no matter how much she tried.Jess stopped running to lean against a tree.She slid down its trunk to the ground and wept.It’s was while she was in the throes of despair that a shadowy figure crept up behind her.Just as Jess sensed there was someone near her the figure drew back their arm and plunged a syringe into her shoulder.Jess screamed in pain then fell forward as a dark void enveloped her.*****A Wulshuk alien dumped Jessica’s body face down onto the ground before Loog.“Is it her?” Loog asked gruffly.He kicked pushed Jess onto her back with the toe of his foot.“It is.I have kept my part of the bargain.Do with her as you like,” Roz sneered.“Just remember what you owe me when you revel in your newfound power.”Loog looked at her gleefully.“You will get your reward,” he triumphed.“I will be generous.”“Well, you have to secure the prize first.And she will be none too obliging to help you when she wakes,” Roz derided.“She does not need to be awake to give me the map.It glows on her neck as we speak,” Loog returned.“I will travel with you.I would rather receive my boon immediately than having to wait at your leisure,” Roz stated.“You do not trust me, Roz?” Loog snickered.“I do not,” Roz snapped.“There is no honor among thieves where you are concerned.”“It is a pity you are untrusting of me.We would work well together on future projects,” Loog considered.“Let us get through this project before devising new ones,” Roz said harshly.Loog flashed a light onto Jess and studied her throat.He then turned and spoke in a strange language to his minions.Grul, one of aliens, lifted Jess as if she were a feather and threw her over his massive shoulder.They started walking at a brisk pace.*****Troy rushed through the woods easily following Jess’s internal signal.Then suddenly her signal faded to the point that he couldn’t sense her.Why? He had always been able to track her whenever he needed to.What had suddenly happened to terminate his connection to her? She had to be hurt or—no he couldn’t think like that.Jess is not gone but she was in trouble
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