A Land of Perfects

by Bella Forrest

  My system went into overdrive. Some kind of panic gripped me and refused to let go.

  I kept struggling against my restraints, not willing to let anyone near me. I guess my temper got the better of me, as I was quickly held down by three other hybrids. A needle went into my arm. I yelped from the pain.

  “Anjani! I… Where is…”

  That was all I was able to utter, as heat spread through my body at an alarming speed.

  Before I realized what had been done to me, my eyes rolled into my head, and I drifted away into the darkness. The last flickers of my consciousness revolved around Anjani, Hansa, and Jax. I’d seen Heath already. I hoped more of ours had made it.

  That was all I could do, as I passed out.

  Hope.

  Sofia

  Out of everything I’d been through, nothing had been as challenging and this. We’d had our ups and downs; we’d fought tooth and nail for freedom and love. We’d faced the Elders, for heaven’s sake. We’d taken down malevolent kingdoms, and we’d saved entire civilizations. We’d done so with strength, patience, and resilience. GASP had brought us to a point in our lives where we’d figured we had enough power as a group to withstand pretty much anything.

  In hindsight, I could see how wrong we’d been.

  The universes were vast and never-ending. How could we possibly have thought we had it all figured out? A thousand alliances with supernaturals across dimensions couldn’t stop what was coming.

  Ta’Zan had achieved the impossible. He’d turned terrifying ideas into reality, and he’d made them look beautiful, too. His Perfects were extraordinary specimens, but they were cruel and indoctrinated to believe his idea of genetic supremacy. How could a creature like him, so intelligent and so capable, choose to do something so heinous with what he’d been given? How could he be so cruel?

  I simply couldn’t wrap my head around it.

  “How many do you think were up there?” Lucas muttered, lying in his bed and staring at the ceiling.

  “Judging by the size of the ships, I’d say seven, maybe eight or nine hundred?” Derek replied. He’d found his strength to move on. The wheels in his head were already turning, looking for solutions.

  “They must’ve had an equal number of escape pods,” Xavier offered. “That’s GASP protocol for all the vessels we agreed to build.”

  “Plenty made it out,” Vivienne replied. “Based on what we know so far, I reckon Ta’Zan is thrilled to have so many ‘specimens’ to draw his genes from.”

  “Let’s not dwell on his ‘creative’ endeavors, now,” Claudia grumbled, getting up and planting her hands on her hips. “We need to figure a way out of here. And, in the meantime, Derek here seems to be on Ta’Zan’s good side. If he has a soft spot for him, we can use that, going forward.”

  That got our attention, including Derek’s, who sat up and looked at her, frowning. “What do you mean?”

  “Stay in Ta’Zan’s good graces,” Claudia replied bluntly. “I know you’d rather gouge his eyes out, but, given the circumstances, we have to put all this anger and grief aside. It serves no one.”

  “What are you trying to say?” Derek asked, blinking several times.

  Claudia was angry, practically trembling. “I’m trying to say that my daughter and granddaughter are out there, Derek! I need to do something to keep them safe,” she said, her voice raw. “I am going stir crazy in this stupid box. I feel useless.”

  She was trying so hard to keep it together. I couldn’t blame her, though. We were all struggling with the same kind of frustration.

  “I’d rather focus on finding a way out of here and getting back to my babies. Do you hear me, Derek?” she added, then bit her lower lip.

  “Babe, it’s okay, we’ll find—” Yuri tried to speak, but Claudia wouldn’t have it, cutting him off.

  “No, honey! I need Derek to say it!” She scowled at Derek. “You’re our leader, Derek Novak. We followed you everywhere. We’ve fought, and we’ve killed for you. And right now, we’re all in deep trouble. I need to know we can count on you. Do you hear me?”

  Derek nodded slowly, then got up. I could see the resolve glimmering in his eyes, and it filled my heart with hope and pride. I knew he’d already bounced back, but it still felt incredible to see him show it for the rest of our crew. We’d never dealt with an enemy so powerful and so destructive, so defiant and capable. And we all needed to see him stand tall and determined, this time.

  “I’m with you, Claudia,” Derek said. “I’m with you all. I’m sorry if I made you think otherwise. It’s just, I didn’t think I’d ever see such an attack on our own fleets. I was foolish enough to think we were invincible.”

  Claudia scoffed. “Well, I thought this was going to be the perfect vacation, but hey, circumstances change, obviously!” she replied. “So, back to what I was saying earlier. We need a fresh approach here, guys. We’re not going to claw our way out of these boxes. The magic and technology are friggin’ airtight.”

  Corrine sighed. “We’ve floated this theory before, and I think we can address it again,” she said. “The Faulties. We might have a shot at freedom with the Faulties, provided Derek keeps Ta’Zan busy.”

  “What are you proposing?” I asked, eager to try pretty much anything to get us out of here.

  “You’ve seen how Abaddon treated Isda,” Corrine explained. “This genetic supremacy is deeply embedded in the Perfects’ genes, since Ta’Zan is fanning the flames and telling them they’ll conquer the universe and destroy anyone who isn’t equal to them. It’s obvious from Abaddon’s behavior toward Isda. The Perfects despise the Faulties.”

  “And the Faulties adore Ta’Zan,” Ibrahim chimed in. “They worship him, no matter how the Perfects treat them.”

  “That is true. But!” Corrine replied. “Think about it. Ta’Zan treats them like servants. He’s specifically told Derek he has yet to decide whether all Faulties will be allowed to survive in this so-called perfect new empire of his. How difficult do you think it is to sow the seed of discord with the Faulties?”

  “Plant doubt,” Derek muttered, his face lighting up with the realization.

  Corrine was spot on. And so was Claudia. “Derek, they make a great point,” I said. “If you engage with Ta’Zan, keep him on your good side, and keep him busy, we can work on the Faulties that bring us our food. All it takes is just one of them to doubt, to see Ta’Zan for who he really is. We might be able to pull this off!”

  “What’s our endgame, though?” Lucas asked. “Because it can’t be just about us getting out of here. We can’t leave Strava without finding a way to stop Ta’Zan and his Perfects. Once they figure out space travel—and we all know it’s only a matter of time before they do—we’re all done for.”

  Ibrahim nodded slowly. “That’s why Derek’s relationship with Ta’Zan is important. Ta’Zan can see Derek’s compliance as a white flag of sorts. It will make him open up. Derek can pick up on the details, spot the weaknesses, feed us information, which we can then use against Ta’Zan. We might even find a way to burn it all down from the inside. And, like my brilliant wife just suggested, sowing doubt is essential.”

  “We have a few days, at least, until they gather all the ship parts from wherever they landed,” Derek replied. “It’ll probably take a couple more for them to figure out how to build a starship of their own. And I doubt Ta’Zan will go out conquering the entire In-Between with only a few thousand Perfects. He’ll need millions to deliver decisive and permanent blows to each planet that they encounter.”

  “As fast as they are, they won’t spend months mining for metals. They’ll do it faster. But still, it won’t happen in a week or two. So we have a little bit of time on our side,” I murmured.

  “If we use the right arguments, it won’t take long before the Faulties start thinking about rebelling against him and the Perfects,” Corrine said. “We just need to make sure we help them organize covertly. Provided we get that far with them.”

&
nbsp; “One thing is clear, though, and Claudia said it perfectly,” Derek concluded. “We can’t just sit here.”

  That much was obvious.

  I couldn’t function, thinking my Rose or my Ben was with the fleet when the Perfects attacked. Or Hazel or Benedict. Grace and Lawrence… No. I instantly shook that thought away. It did me no good.

  A massive show of force had done nothing to sway the Perfects into submission. They were too powerful. But we had other ways of stopping this horror from unraveling further. It required some cold-blooded thinking and setting our ethics and morals aside.

  I was willing to do that and more if it got us out of here, and if it stopped Ta’Zan from spilling out into the universe with his supernatural eugenics.

  Whatever it took, we were going to do it. It wasn’t just our lives or the lives of our loved ones at stake. It wasn’t even about saving an entire kingdom or planet, this time around.

  We had the whole of the In-Between to keep safe.

  Billions of planets. Trillions of flickers of life.

  All depending on us.

  Ready for the next part of the Shadians’ story?

  Dear Shaddict,

  Thank you for reading A Land of Perfects!

  The next book in the series, ASOV 62: A Citadel of Captives, releases August 5th, 2018!

  Pre-order your copy now for your convenience and have it delivered automatically to your reading device on release day!:

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  I’ll see you there…

  Love,

  Bella x

  P.S. Join my VIP email list and I’ll send you a reminder as soon as I have a new book out. Visit here to sign up: www.forrestbooks.com

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  P.P.S. Keep turning the pages for a sneak preview of my new supernatural series!

  Sneak Peek BONUS Chapters!

  I’m excited to announce a brand new supernatural series that is releasing on August 27th, 2018!

  Introducing,

  Harley Merlin and the Secret Coven

  Keep turning the pages for the blurb and an exclusive sneak preview of the first 3 chapters!

  Blurb:

  Harley has had a difficult life, slipping through the foster system while trying to understand her strange abilities.

  At nineteen, she finally seems to have it all under control, using her unnatural skills to pinpoint cheaters at a casino—her first job as a responsible adult. She’s yet to figure out who or what she is, but Harley is definitely not like other people.

  Everything changes when a mysterious, and startlingly handsome, young warlock named Wade Crowley crosses her path while hunting a monster. A very literal monster.

  The encounter sets Harley on an incredible journey, as she discovers the hidden world of magicals, riddled with secrets—and clues about her murky past.

  A girl with no history…

  Whether she likes it or not, this new world is where she belongs now. But after a nerve-racking twist of events, it appears that someone is out for her blood, and she must decide whether it is somewhere she is truly brave enough to stay…

  Fans of witches, magic and fantasy, you are in for a treat. Prepare to enter a tantalizing new world!

  Prologue

  I froze, my back against the window, my whole body shivering as the beast in front of me shuddered with delight.

  Another second and I would become its dinner.

  Something inside me roared like thunder, unwilling to give in yet. The air around me thickened—I could feel it tickling my fingertips, beckoning me to wield it. I’d done it before, though not with the strength I would need to disable a fiend as savage as this.

  But I had to try. There was no other choice.

  I summoned all the energy I could muster, and, for the first time ever, I sensed the particles of Chaos flowing through me. My mind went into overdrive, and I thrust my hands out. The winds outside listened, rumbling and whistling as they crashed through the window.

  I ducked as broken glass exploded everywhere. Shards cut through the beast’s face and eyes, and it hissed from the pain.

  With no other route to safety, I embraced the winds and leapt onto the windowsill. My breath hitched as I looked down at the sheer drop, and then I closed my eyes, abandoning myself to the air.

  Chapter 1

  My eyes wandered around the poker table.

  The dealer, a young man in his early twenties, had been fitted into a crisp white shirt and black silk waistcoat, his brown hair slicked back with too much gel. His dexterity as he shuffled the deck made me stare, before I went on to check the players.

  Two women and three men. Three of them had skipped on the Gamblers Anonymous meetings—I could tell from their frayed nerves and shoulder-crushing guilt. It was written all over their faces. The other two, a man in his late twenties and a cute brunette who didn’t look a day older than twenty-three, struck me as the coolest cucumbers I’d seen all evening.

  This was a steady gig I’d gotten my hands on, so I had to do a good job. Three months in, and I’d already gotten fifteen people banned for cheating and counting cards. It wasn’t an easy profession, though—for most people, anyway. It required a lot of psychology and the study of body language, along with excellent knowledge of the game itself. You had higher chances of success if you were a former cheater, preferably with some Vegas experience. But I had very little experience at all.

  Then again, I wasn’t “most people.”

  After betting, it was time for the “flop.” The dealer displayed three cards in the middle of the dark red velvet table—seven of clubs, queen of diamonds, and a five of spades—while we checked our “hole” hands again. I had nothing to use, but I bet anyway. The casino supplied my betting cash, so it didn’t matter if I lost. My prize came in the form of a generous percentage of the cheaters’ relinquished winnings if I caught colluders at the table, along with my hourly rate.

  Texas Hold’em was a favorite game choice for collusion, and with the amount of money involved in tonight’s game, I knew I’d get some bold players this evening.

  My instincts were pointing me to the “cucumber” couple. The other three were already sweating. One was clearly a veteran gambler, at least compared to the rest. With graying hair, salt-and-pepper stubble, and sweat stains on his peach-colored shirt, the man was nervously clicking two blue chips between his fingers as he stared at the three cards in view. He was going to fold soon.

  I could feel it in my bones. There was nothing he could do with what he had in his hand, and what was on the table. With five crappy cards combined, and just two more to go with the “turn” and the “river,” he wasn’t feeling this round, at all. Sure, he had the gambling bug, but he’d probably lost enough over the years to know when to pick his battles.

  He scoffed, and folded.

  Hah, called it! Who’s a smart girl? You’re a smart girl, I mentally congratulated myself while my gaze wandered around the table. I was a smart girl. It was the only thing I’d learned from my father.

  I flipped open my black satin clutch—which I’d matched with my dress—pretending to look for a tissue. I kept a small note in my card wallet. I pulled it out and examined it for a moment.

  Harley, I am so sorry for doing this to you, but there is no other way. Stay safe. Stay smart. I love you. Dad.

  That note was the only thing my parents had left me with, before dropping me off at the orphanage when I was three. I was bounced around from one foster home to another after that. It was rarely a pretty picture, and my father’s advice somehow helped me retain my sanity. Even now, as I glided into adulthood, I kept looking at that note for guidance, whenever a part of me wavered. As a foster kid, I always had to “stay safe” and “stay smart,” though the two rarely went hand in hand.

  When the turn
was dealt, I glanced around the poker table again.

  Each of these people had their stories to tell. They had first names and last names, parents and grandparents, uncles and distant cousins, social security numbers and student loans. In my twisted view of the world, they existed, while I was just a visitor of sorts. Always on the outside, looking in.

  I had no identity. Just a name on paper. I rented an apartment in Park West and pinpointed cheaters in casinos for a living. Nobody knew anything about me or my… special skills, and I was okay with that.

  “I’ll raise you twenty,” the male cool cucumber said, looking at the equally chilled female across the table.

  In the eyes of everyone else, they didn’t know each other. They were complete strangers exchanging pleasantries during a game of Texas Hold’em, where tens of thousands of dollars were at stake. But I could feel the physical attraction between them. The guy was head over heels in love with her. She was just as crazy about him. There was a familiarity between them, an intense emotion that they couldn’t hide from me. That was the downside of being an empath; I felt every emotion as if it were my own.

  I basically had the hots for both of them, as if we’d been together for years. Ugh…

  When the river was dealt, I could almost hear the guy’s heart thumping out of his chest. His excitement filled me to the brim, and, judging by the looks the couple exchanged briefly, unbeknownst to anyone else, they were ready to do some good old-fashioned whipsawing—raising and re-raising each other until they trapped another player in between.

  And I knew exactly who their target was for this round. The other female, one of the compulsive gamblers. She was nervous, her eyes darting across the five cards now shown on the table: a seven of clubs, a queen of diamonds, a five of clubs, a jack of clubs and another queen, of hearts.