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That simple fact stirred up a million questions, but a star in the approxihten and fade in syncopation with a star in South Africa, distracting ’s path The Arcane held up a finger to Eliza as a glohite orb lifted from a pedestal centered before the h the rooht arced fro black and white as a klaxon blared fro the Obsidian Arch A network of arches just like the one here spanned the globe, if the stars on thehue cavern, and sending a vibration throughthe two stars pulsed faster and faster, until with a thunderous booy, no thicker than a pencil Equal parts ultraviolet and brilliant white, it arched across the map from one point and down to meet the other

I watched in open-mouthed fascination as er, streaked through the arced beaht allowed ure left the bea beam flickered off, and the control sphere sank back onto the pedestal, looking like nothing ray marble The stars in South Africa and Atlanta dilow of the other stars on the map

As low illu the rest of the roo the operator He turned back to thehtly and focusing erous even going there" He pointed toward a row of black arches, which stood inally taller than the others in the room, and shook his head Unfortunately, the bellows and brays of pack erie in the stable located across the narrow alley from the vent colluded with the distance between

Ivy stood on her tiptoes and fiddled with the symbols on the side of theshards of black and white energy arcing on the silver circle around it Eliza waggled a finger at her, and she stopped

"Dairl’s mind," Shelton said, his mouth curved down in distaste

"Wish I could hear what they were saying, but those stupid ani a ruckus," I said

Shelton took out his wand, made a circular motion toward the opposite end of the duct, and the sounds fro only the ambient noises in the control room to deal with "Can you hear theenteel drawl, her voice loud and poh to carry across the distance "Jeremiah won’t be pleased to hear this We plan for our associates to use this site as a staging ground" She crossed her arms "We would take it rather badly if you and the other workers don’t assist the in your step"

The arch operator bobbed his head, a frightened look on his face "I promise it won’t be a proble

"A problem, ma’am?" the Arcane replied, his tone more of a cautious question than a state folksher head "Mr Tuttle, our associates will declare themselves as Darkwater employees You are not to interfere in any way, or I suwanee, I will tan your hide Do you understand?"

Theaffirrin and waggled her finger while her poser grandmother’s back was still to her

Eliza shook her head and threw up her hands "Heavens to Betsy, but the ConclaveArcanes to pay these ridiculous gate fees!"

Mr Tuttle kept right on nodding Magnifying the scene with aunt face

Eliza took Ivy by the hand, as my sister squatted to peer underneath a console, and ad ladies do not squat in dresses" She made an exasperated noise "I suwanee!" Then she and Ivy strode for the door to their right, while Mr Tuttle stood wiping his forehead with the sleeve of his robe

"What the heck does ’suwanee’ mean?" I whispered

"Some kind of crazy southern sord," Shelton said

"I suwanee, those two scare the crap out ofout the new phrase

Shelton rolled his eyes He put the web filter back in place, turned, and motioned me toward the stables The animal sounds returned as his sound barrier dropped

I heard the clack of hard shoe soles on the polished rock floor and barred Shelton fro another step with my arm I saw Ivy and Eliza from the chest down as they started to pass the vent

About halfway across, Ivy gasped Stopped and tugged her grandmomma?"

Shelton and I froze Sweat dampened my armpits If she saw us, it was over My little sister had once executed a spell that would have killed hundreds of vampires in one fell swoop had I not altered it In other words, she had skillz with a ’z’ and could probably take the two of us out without much effort

"I do declare, child, you nearly pulled your poor Bight out of the socket" She leaned over Ivy, her voice changing fro and affectionate "Nohat did my little darlin’ hear?"

Ivy drew in a sharp breath as so trumpeted in the distance "You hear that? It’s an elephant! Soo see it, please?" She hopped up and down, holding her hands together as if in prayer "Please, please, please?"

Eliza gave her an affectionate sh tiet home"

Ivy slumped, and her pretty but sad face appeared in profile at the end of the vent "But I never get to do anything fun"