1
They were being poisoned.M.L. LeGette
2
Toad must have been very accustomed to traveling this way, balanced on the back rails of a rushing buggy, but Melena was not. She gripped the sides and white-knuckled the rails with her knapsack sandwiched between her knees. Hazel was clamped onto the roof, grinning like an alligator in the sun. And Toad lounged like a cat.M.L. LeGette
3
Her name was Mora ... and she was waiting.M.L. LeGette
4
The next second a great blast of hot light erupted over Toad and Jed, but they didn't stop. Toad was trying to punch every bit of Jed that he could reach. There was a great howling of fright and a heavy-booted foot nearly missed Toad's fingers. Jed knocked Toad off him and rose to his feet. He swung his foot back, readying to kick. With a roar, Hazel flew at Jed. Her sharp claws latched onto his back, piercing through the leather vest. Jed roared in pain. His hands scrabbled for Hazel, but she flew in the air, beating her wings against his face. With a bellow, he turned on his heel and raced out of the pub. .M.L. LeGette
5
A creature--a frightfully, awful creature--was mere feet from her. Its eyes were enormous, the size of goose eggs and milky white. Its gray, slippery skin was stretched taut upon its face. Its mouth was wide and full of needle teeth. Its hands rested on the rock, hands that were webbed and huge with each finger ending in a sharp, curved nail. It was as tall as a human man, yet oddly shrunken and hunched.M.L. LeGette
6
You know what I know, Mally. Now you must decide what to believe.M.L. LeGette
7
I looked at the faces around me, wondering what was going to happen to me ... wondering when I would see Father again." I will help you.M.L. LeGette
8
I'll keep my head down, " Mally assured him. "I'll be careful."" If anything happens---"" If anything happens I'll tell you immediately." Ivan seemed pleased at that and relaxed against a tree trunk." Good. I don't want your mother chasing me around Lenzar with a carving knife.M.L. LeGette
9
I grasped the mirror to look closer at the strange girl in the reflection. Yes, I could see some similarities. The shape of the face was the same, but with all the changes it looked unearthly. The reflection was beautiful .. extremely beautiful--small, pink lips .. pale and glowing skin .. fine white hair. But I couldn't stop focusing on the eyes. The bottomless blue was shocking in the midst of white. She could have competed against Lydia. No, she would have blown Lydia out of the water.M.L. LeGette