Star League 7 Read online

  ‘No!’ I shout. ‘What have you done to him?’

  At a glance, Ben seems fine. He still has the same eyes, the same face, the same lanky legs. But there’s one major difference –

  The Shadow Six have turned Ben to stone.

  We’ve faced the professor and his minions in the past, and each time there’s been something important at stake. Each time I’ve been able to keep my cool and eventually we’ve been able to defeat him.

  But this time it’s different. I just see red. I can’t believe how evil the professor is. What kind of maniac is he? As I watch the motionless statue that was once Ben Beaumont, I vow to myself that I’m going to destroy the professor, no matter what it takes. And first, that means getting through the Shadow Six.

  Cale steps forward and I’m overwhelmed by the urge to wipe that smirk off his pasty face. His eyes stare into mine and I start to feel their hypnotic pull, but I shake my head and break away.

  ‘I’ve never met someone able to avoid my powers before,’ he says. ‘If you and I worked together, we’d be unstoppable.’

  ‘That will never, ever happen,’ I growl. ‘I’d rather die than work by your side!’

  ‘That can be arranged!’ He lunges towards me, but I easily spin out of the way and aim a kick at his head. He ducks it and lashes out with a blow. ‘You’re not the only one who’s had martial arts training, Jay!’

  We circle each other for a while, trying to find each other’s weaknesses. Cale taunts me the whole time. ‘You know, Jay, you could end this all now. Team up with us and you’ll have all the power you ever wanted!’

  ‘Forget it!’ I say. ‘I’ll never join you!’

  Anger courses through my blood, clouding my judgement. I lunge towards Cale and almost slip, only just managing to catch myself before I fall. I take a deep breath and tell myself to calm down.

  As I pause for a moment to focus, I feel something in my pocket. My hand seems to act on its own as I reach in and grasp something cool and heavy. My parents’ compass! I’d almost forgotten about it.

  I pull it out and straight away I get the same boost of strength I noticed when I first held it. Maybe my parents are here looking over me after all?

  As soon as Cale spots the compass, his face drains of colour. He looks like he’s seen a ghost.

  ‘You have it!’ His finger shakes as he points to the compass. ‘You had it all along!’

  ‘Huh? You were looking for this?’ Cale doesn’t have to answer. I can see it written all over his face. ‘Why is my parents’ compass so important to the professor?’

  ‘It’s not the compass that’s important, you fool, it’s what’s inside!’ There’s a hungry look in Cale’s eyes. ‘Go ahead, turn the needle to the southern bearing.’

  ‘What kind of trick is this?’ I ask suspiciously.

  ‘No trick, just try it.’

  Keeping an eye on Cale, I turn the needle to the south. The back of the compass clicks open to reveal a secret compartment. Hidden inside is something I never would have expected to find.

  ‘The missing Shadow Shard,’ I mutter. With trembling fingers I take the swirling black stone out of the compartment. ‘Why would my parents have this?’

  A man’s cold voice breaks through my fuzz of shock.

  ‘Cale, you didn’t tell us we had guests!’

  ‘You simply must introduce us!’ chimes a woman’s voice. I squint, but the two newcomers are shrouded in shadow.

  Cale’s familiar smirk returns. He looks like a snake about to enjoy a tasty meal of a big fat mouse. ‘Jay, let me introduce you to the real Professor Pestilence!’

  Two figures step forward out of the shadows, and when I see their faces my heart skips a beat. The woman has blonde hair, and the man has blue eyes, just like mine. I’ve never seen them in the flesh, but I’ve seen photographs, just like the one of us in the compass.

  I’d know these people anywhere –

  My parents are Professor Pestilence.

  To be continued …

  randomhouse.com.au/starleague

  H.J. Harper isn’t sure if books are stalking her, or if she’s stalking books. Either way, she’s had various jobs in bookstores and libraries, and now works as an author. Her favourite part about being an author is that staring out the window and imagining things is no longer something she can get in trouble for – in fact, it’s required! When she’s not writing books about werewolves, zombies and ninjas, she’s usually playing video games … about werewolves, zombies and ninjas. She lives in Melbourne with her partner and a very spoilt cat who cannot be controlled by animancer powers.

  Nahum Ziersch was born and raised in the Clare Valley in South Australia. From a very young age he knew he wanted to draw for a living, surrounded by very artistic parents who encouraged and nurtured his passion. As a kid he would watch Astro Boy and stacks of other cartoons in his PJs, devour comics and draw his own imaginative worlds and characters. Nahum works as a freelance illustrator in Adelaide. While his main areas of work include editorial, advertising and educational illustrations, he still has a mad passion for creating quirky and expressive characters.