Read The Third Key (The Alaesha Legacy Book 1) for Free Online

they can set up base and make strategic attacks on the rest of the world."
    Edith held up a hand. "Okay, stop. What... the hell... is going on? Everyone is freaking out about stupid keys and then this guy shows up who seems to know everything about me and tells me he's from another world and now there's a war ? None of this makes any sense!"
    Dana's sad expression nearly broke Edith's heart and calmed her irritation a bit. "Civil war," Dana said. "But not between us, not between humans. Though we'll get the brunt of it if it comes to a full scale battle. I'm not sure we can survive something like that. Without the full protection of Alaesha... " She trailed off when she saw Edith's annoyed glare return.
    "My world," Charles began, "is called Alaesha. It's identical to yours. Set up the same way, the geography shifts in similar fashion. You might call it a parallel universe. Our job, however, is to protect your universe. Well, in theory. The actual protecting really only falls to a small number of people. The rest carry on with their daily lives and maintaining the world, just like yours."
    "How do you get from my world to yours?" Edith found herself immersed in the tale and almost willing to believe it. She scoffed inwardly, telling herself that Charles was just a good storyteller and she shouldn't believe a word he says, but she still wanted the answer.
    "Doors, of course. Seven of them to be exact. There is one on each continent, and each door is controlled by a key. You have one of the keys. Only humans can touch the keys. It was a rule initially created to keep my people from abusing our power, but as humans grew in number and greed, we began to fear what they would do. Up until now, it hasn't been an issue. But..."
    "But what?"
    "The Keeper of the Seventh Key was corrupt. He sold the key for money and power, and that was the catalyst needed. Tension has been brewing on Alaesha for centuries. It was only a matter of time. A minor group wants the control of the keys to be more open. They want to allow migration between the two worlds, or more correctly, they want to be allowed to travel to your world to use your resources and further degrade your ecosystem, all the while keeping Alaesha safe from your influence. There has even been talk of enslaving your people, but I do not think that would come to pass, at least not anytime soon."
    "And they have a key now."
    Charles nodded. "Yes, they do. They have the key to Antarctica. They have already started building their base and bringing over an army. We did not realize they were so organized."
    "You said other keys are missing. Where are they?" Edith's forehead wrinkled as she tried to take in all the new information. It was all too unbelievable, totally ridiculous, utterly unfathomable, but a growing part of her was actually starting to accept it as truth for some inconceivable reason.
    "We do not know. They may be in the hands of the enemy. Or they may have been hidden by the Keepers. Each key has its own set of rules as to who can protect it. Not just anyone can be a Keeper."
    "And what about this key? What are its rules?"
    Dana perked up. "The Keeper of the Third Key must a child be. A minor in the eyes of the law, true of heart, strong of spirit. Never to falter in their faith or turn from what must be done." She rattled off the rule like it was the Girl Scout creed.
    Edith's jaw dropped. "Wait, so the keys are guarded by kids? That's ridiculous."
    "No, just the Third Key. And though the children are the true Keepers, they are not the only ones involved. They are guarded at all times, trained in self-defense and the art of combat. I will admit, however, that more than one child has died in defense of the key. It is always a shame, but an unfortunate necessity."
    "Why give the key to me? If Dana is the rightful Keeper, why just pass it off? That's dumb. I'm not at all trained like she is."
    Dana colored and her eyes glistened with unshed tears before she tore her gaze away