Page 71 (1/2)

It was the gaiaphage that had gone weak since inhabiting this girl’s body She, it, seemed almost paralyzed by fear Drake’s ariven it back to him, better than ever He snapped it and broke a branch from a bush Time for war Time to kill He was back!

Back! Hah hah hah! But hisLike a typical fee, all shook up Well, that’s what cao?" Drake de to die"

"When it’s dark," Gaia said sullenly "When the barrier comes down I have to walk out of here In this body I can’t be recognized by every huather my powersfind a new forma place to hide, out there"

A place to hide? Drake coiled his arer than before His as longer, quicker A better, badder Whip Hand And ready to go!

"I get Astrid to myself," Drake said

"You don’t ed

Drake laughed His voice was strange noith portions of Alex’s throat melded to his He sounded older than he had before "You’re afraid of the people outside?"

"This body keeps th But this body is weak I had not realized hoeak It makes its own demands It needs food It excretes It hurts" Gaia shook her long black hair "It bothers me"

"You look like her, you know Like Diana The way she looked before Back when she thought she was hot"

Gaia frowned

"Yeah," Drake said "Yeah You look hot and nasty Like her"

He knew ione too far, said too much

Gaia’s blue eyes were like lasers "You want to hurt me," she whispered

Drake shook his head violently "No No, that’s not what I--"

"You Want To hurt this body"

"Not you," Drake said, desperately "Not the real you"

"You think you know the real o any deeper into this He just wanted to feel the satisfying slap of his whip hand on flesh That was all He just wanted to hear the cries of pain and terror He wanted to find that blond witch, that sroatch her--

"It comes closer, the fire In the smokethat’s e attack" Gaia looked off toward the wall of sht you orried about Ne," Gaia said, but there was impatience in the toss of her head, worry in her eyes