The Two Worlds by Alisha Howard

exams.
Assignments slow down around this time, and you kinda start to go
out on your own.”
    “ What exams do you have to
take?” Rena asked around a mouthful of roll.
    “ They’re the Multi-level
Assessments of Graduating Individuals Ceremonies,” Nia answered
proudly. “Once you’ve successfully completed a number of
assignments, you are nominated to attend the exams, so that you can
receive your final authorization to practice your skill freely on
different planets, without having to bother getting permission from
the Senior Counsel. And a small number of really lucky souls are
invited to take a seat on the Counsel every year. It’s a huge
honor.”
    “ Wow,” I said impressed.
“Does everyone have to attend?”
    “ Yep. If you don’t, you may
lose your ability to practice, and then you won’t be allowed on
Turgor.”
    “ It’s the Counsel’s way of
keeping track of everyone,” Yolonda said. I had placed Finny next
to her on my necklace.
    “ Wait, if you’re supposed to
get the Counsel’s permission to use your magic, didn’t we break the
rules when we busted out Finny?”
    “ Technically, yes,” Nia
explained. “But I’m going to talk to Senior Paul tomorrow and see
if he can be forgiving this time, since the two of you are
new.”
    “ So what’s the plan?” Finny
asked.
    “ We go to Caldbeck, find
Rena’s mom, and then find my grandpa and ask him what the heck this
legend is all about. We’ll drop down to the oogie-boogie graveyard
and wake up a Death Walker, assignment completed and then we’ll
come back home.” I said this all in one breath and sat back
satisfied when I was done.
    “ You make things sound so
simple,” Dia scolded. “Have you thought about what you might be up
against when you get to Caldbeck?”
    “ Well, that’s what we have
good ole Finny-Fin here for,” I said, poking Finny. “Tell me, what
are we up against?”
    “ Are you sure you want to
know?” he asked. “Caldbeck is one of the most guarded places on the
planet. There hasn’t been a successful break-in since
1753.”
    “ 1754,” Yolonda
corrected.
    “ Excuse me, 1754. You’ve got
the Crupians, first of all, that guard Caldbeck with their lives.
Fierce warriors. They’re small with serious attitude. And if you
make it through them, you’ll have to go through the second level of
security inside the walls that surround Caldbeck. That’s where the
Harpies come in.”
    “ Ick, I hate Harpies,” Rena
shuddered. I nodded, remembering the bus ride to Tormey.
    “ Well, they’re there. And
they’re hungry. Harpies’ll eat any and everything that comes in.
They not only protect our inhabitants, but also provide security
for Caldbeck.” Finny sighed. “If, and that is a big if, you make it
past the Harpies, you’ll find yourself in the field of illusions.
There are tons of nasty traps in that place.”
    Rena shifted in her seat. “So how do
you get through it?”
    “ Common sense. Illusions are
nothing more than false things that trick our senses into believing
they are real.”
    Yolonda piped, “Nicely put, Fin. Kay,
did Nia tell you exactly how folks are trapped in Caldbeck?” I
shook my head. “Caldbeck is not like the prisons that are on planet
Earth. When a being goes to prison on Turgor, their minds are
trapped there, nothing else.”
    “ It’s an eerie place,” Nia
added.
    “ Just forget it,” Rena
murmured. She leaned back in her chair with a defeated sigh. “It’s
not worth risking our lives.” Nia and Dia both made sounds of
agreement. Yolonda and Finny warmed against my skin.
    I eventually broke the silence and
suggested we all go to bed. Nia created Rena another room in the
house, and I Awakened her things. Finally we all feel into a deep,
troubled sleep.
     
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

CHAPTER TEN
     
     
    “ So, what I’m trying to say
is if we do things such as turning the heat down and wearing a
sweater or reusing plastic bags, we