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  What? What is it? Deep demanded, sounding concerned.

  Something on the planet. Something dark. Burned me…shocked me, Kat choked. Her astral form was tingling all over. It was as though she’d grabbed a live electrical wire with her bare hands.

  The AllFather, Lock sounded grim. He must still be there.

  Did he feel you, Kat? Deep asked urgently. Does he know we’re here?

  I…don’t think so. Kat shook herself mentally, trying to regain control. He’s angry though. So much rage…hatred…betrayal.

  No doubt because Xairn flew off with the only female who could fulfill their twisted prophesy, Lock sent. This changes things, we have to hurry. If he feels us out here…He let the sentence dangle ominously and Kat had an idea she didn’t want to know what might happen if the leader of the Scourge found their vulnerable spirits wandering so far from their physical bodies.

  We have to hurry anyway. Deep sounded strained. Taking us this far and holding us here is almost beyond my power. Quickly, Kat, avoid the planet and feel for the tug of Lauren’s mind in the space around it.

  Got it, Kat sent. Just give me a little time.

  Time is what we don’t have. Hurry!

  She didn’t bother answering. Taking a deep breath she pictured Lauren in her mind’s eye. The delicate features, the long, silky black hair and warm mocha skin, the high cheekbones so like Sophie and Liv’s. And of course her striking amber eyes. Lauren, she thought, feeling her way along the net, searching with every ounce of concentration she could muster. I haven’t known you long but I can tell you’re strong. Brave. You’ve been through so much but your spirit shines through it all. Let me find you so I can give your mom some hope. She loves you so much! Please let me tell her that her daughter is coming home soon…

  At last she felt the faintest tug imaginable from the far distant corner of the great net. It was so miniscule Kat nearly ignored it, almost waved it away like a tiny mosquito buzzing near her ear. But then the feeling began to grow and she knew it wasn’t her imagination—the tug really was Lauren, and she was somewhere on the edge of the shining net Lock had cast.

  This was the part Kat liked the most. As the seeker, Deep provided the power to get them to their destination and hold them in place. Lock, as the finder, wove and cast the net. But as their focus, it was Kat’s job to track down the person they were looking for and fly the three of them to the exact spot where that person was.

  Hang on boys, here…we…go! She spread invisible wings and lunged forward, slicing cleanly through space as a swimmer diving into a pool slices through water. The feeling of speed, the exhilaration of finding what they were looking for as she followed the tug forward, grew stronger and stronger within her…

  Kat, watch out! Lock sounded more alarmed than Kat had ever heard him.

  What? What’s wrong? She wanted to look behind her but they were moving too fast.

  It’s coming…he’s coming for us. Look to the planet! Look to Zlicth!

  Finally managing to backpedal, Kat turned her gaze to the quickly receding Scourge home world…and saw something that nearly stopped her heart.

  A finger of darkness was extending from the planet. A searching tendril of black slime which made even the blackness of space seem faded and pale in contrast. But this finger was huge—a tentacle of pure evil big enough to engulf them completely like a snake swallowing a mouse.

  If it touches us, Kat thought, her blood turning to ice. If it even brushes us we’ll be caught. I just know it!

  The AllFather, Deep sent. He must have felt your probe after all.

  What can we do? Kat sent back, trying not to panic. How do we get away?

  We can’t. Not unless we leave now, Lock sent.

  But I don’t want to leave! We’re so close. I can feel Lauren and we’re almost to her.

  Then we can tell her mother that she’s safe, Lock sent back. But if we stay here and the AllFather catches us in his web, we’ll never get back to our physical bodies and be able to tell her anything at all.

  Kat wanted to cry. To come so close and then not be able to finish what they’d started was too much, too awful. I don’t—she began but Deep interrupted her.

  Kat’s right—we shouldn’t leave without seeing this through.

  I agree but I don’t see how, Lock argued. If we don’t leave now—

  There is another way. Deep sounded determined. Go on Kat, take us there. If the AllFather traces us I’ll…distract him.

  That was all Kat needed to hear. She dived forward again, following the tugging which was growing stronger in her mind. Find me, Lauren’s life force seemed to be saying. Find me, find me, here I am!

  There! Kat couldn’t keep the triumph out of her voice as a small silver spaceship came into view. There she is! I knew it.

  Quickly, then Lock urged. The AllFather is just behind us. His arm grows long and if he catches us…

  Too late. Deep sounded so grim that Kat turned her attention from the spaceship to look behind them again. Rolling toward them like a black, oily cloud that smudged and dirtied the very space it moved though, was the AllFather’s trap. Kat could feel the tingling, burning sensation again even though she wasn’t touching it…yet. A sudden , awful thought filled her mind.

  What were we thinking? We’ll lead him right to them!

  Lauren and Xairn aren’t on the astral plane, Lock told her. So while the AllFather might sense them, he won’t be able to hurt them. Not physically, anyway. Hurry, Kat, we have no time to spare.

  He’s getting too close, Deep sent. You two stay together, I’ll distract him.

  Stop! Lock’s mental voice was urgent. Don’t you think I know what you mean by ‘distract’ Deep? You can’t sacrifice yourself for us—I won’t allow it.

  What makes you think I’d sacrifice myself? Deep’s voice was filled with mocking laughter but it sounded hollow to Kat. Don’t be foolish, Lock. The AllFather won’t know there’s more than one mind wandering the astral plane. If he gets me, he’ll think he has us all. But he won’t get me—I’m just going to lead him a on a little chase while you two look in on Lauren. So hurry!

  Kat wanted to protest but there didn’t seem to be any way to stop him. I love you, Deep! she sent as strongly as she could. Be safe and come back to us or I swear the AllFather won’t have to do a thing to you—I’ll kick your ass myself!

  You and your Earth vernacular. I don’t see how you could hurt me by planting your sweet little foot on my posterior. Deep laughed again in her head. But I’ll be sure to come back so you can demonstrate.

  Do that, Brother, Lock sent. I love you too.

  And I love both of you. Goodbye. And then there was sudden silence from the spot where Deep had been. Looking over her invisible shoulder, Kat saw something bright whiz daringly close to the foul finger of darkness. The inky black tendril hesitated and then seemed to make a decision. It swooped after the bright thing so fast it was a blur in space.

  God! Kat’s heart was in her throat. She hadn’t realized the AllFather was so fast on the astral plane. Watching him chase after Deep’s spirit was like watching a striking cobra after a mongoose.

  Don’t waste time watching, Lock told her, sounding stern. Deep is playing the decoy so that we can get the information we need. Hurry, Kat. Hurry!

  You got it. Forcing herself to look away from the horrifying spectacle, Kat turned her attention toward Lauren and gave their mission her whole concentration again.

  There was nothing else she could do.

  Chapter Forty-two

  Slicing through space, Kat dived straight at the silver ship and passed through its skin easily. She could feel Lock behind her but he said nothing as they looked around the cockpit they suddenly found themselves in.

  Xairn’s massive form was hunched over the controls and he seemed to be concentrating fiercely. Kat felt a stab of panic as she realized she didn’t see Lauren. But I feel her here! Where is she? Where—

  “Oh, that feels so much bett