Spiral of Silence (The Unearthed Series Book 3)

by Marc Mulero

  Two Neraphis began to remove the patches monitoring his vitals, and then worked to undo the fastenings and bolts that confined him to the table.

  Blague was shocked to see Halewyn standing among them, accepting defeat in one-on-one combat so smoothly. What’s more, the Eldest was studying the vial containing the forbidden substance – true to his word. And those cloaked around him still cowered to him even after his defeat; respect never waned. The Neraphis truly were an anomaly community. Blague could only imagine being overthrown in front of his people, how he would be taken down rank, and rightfully so. But apparently living as long as these beings meant learning to cope with failure in ways other than succumbing to it.

  “I will leave you scientists to your work, I think,” Orin patted the Eldest’s arm as he rose, “if you have the adequate samples, that is.” His smoky eyes were still forward, fixated, while he made his way toward his son. “Aslock, old friend. May I steal this lowly adept for a few minutes?”

  They both smiled genuinely at one another.

  “More than a few, Orin.” He presented him with a warm hand before proceeding to join Halewyn and the other Neraphis to discuss their findings.

  Orin’s challenging nature in the Neraphis grounds appeared to dissipate, now that his agenda was met with little resistance. He walked with Blague out of the lab and through the hallways that led to the glass room where he and the Eldest had dueled.

  “Time is fleeting. A moment idle is a moment Mulderan gains ground over me, a moment that Asura strengthens her power within the smoke…”

  Orin held a hand up, asking for his son’s patience. “Please… entertain me a moment. You have already explained the cost, but perhaps have not yet realized the benefit.”

  “Hm.” Blague scoffed.

  “A lifetime ago, when I was part of a different world, the conglomerate that I controlled was responsible for feeding many. My corporation, Ingora… it flourished gracefully through times of economic growth, and survived devastating recessions. You may recall this in your youth. But now, as an old man, can you guess how such a task was accomplished?”

  Blague wanted to ask Orin questions about the duel, about overcoming this mountain that was the Aura, but he digressed at his father’s request. “Even though I was young and didn’t show much interest, I was there. I remember. Adaptation to a changing economy would be my first guess. Being risk averse when investors were fearful, and bullish when they laid out open wallets.”

  A sole laugh escaped Orin. His exceptionally deep voice made his mocking tone that much more grueling. “So rigid in thought and confined to the inside of a box.”

  Blague rolled his eyes, reverting back to their dynamic when he was a boy.

  “My approach was a bit more philosophical. In harsh times, I acted as any good farmer would. I planted many seeds, and nurtured the ones that showed signs of life. This practice did more than keep Ingora afloat - it aided in keeping humanity from sinking back into primitive times when the first Quake hit.”

  Orin’s smile faded as he grew more serious to reveal his point. “I took a chance that your brother would not kill you, but instead banish you into exile. In all of Mulderan’s ill will, he did find room to respect you. I wagered on that, and on you. My last initiative as the leader of the Hiezers was a quiet and seemingly hollow one: to brand the Sins with Cryos itself. Once I saw Mulderan lose the mere inch of sanity he had left and gain ground, I needed to plant the seeds. Who better to combat him than the bottom feeders? Who better than the most deeply affected by the Hiezers’ greed? And who better to lead them, but you? I’ve watched from afar for a long time, my son.”

  Blague’s eyes scanned his father in awe.

  He set the stage for new life when there was nothing left. He gave the Sins a fighting chance, seeing potential in the world’s lowliest. Cryos was deemed useless all of those years ago, used “just to make the bugs shine” as the Hiezers would say. So subtle. He fostered an army of unlimited potential right under our noses. But the masses could never be trained in time… it will never work.

  “Father…” Blague started.

  Orin shook his head. “If you are the only seed that shows a sign of life, then that would be enough. Think of what you have accomplished, think of your relationship with the Neraphis. Now it is time to focus on the seeds that you have planted. Watch them grow, help them grow.”

  “Magnificent, isn’t it, Eldra?” Mulderan honed in on the broken island of Auront closing in from the aircraft’s window.

  The Ice Queen’s eye grew wide in wonderment. “It is.”

  They stood side by side in a luxurious jet cabin, gazing at the disaster that Mulderan had created. True to form – they watched the world mutate from their lavish thrones, from their ivory towers, where just beyond them, these risen landmasses suspended in mid-air should have claimed a trophy for the strangest spectacle in all of human history. But truly, it was still the crimson smolder that earned that title. All of the smoky tendrils were spread throughout the floating steps, connected, tethered to each Aura member, all the way up to the top… to her, Asura, marking her as the chariot rider in the head seat, with all of her horsemen beneath. She held the reigns.

  The Hiezer jet circled the floating continent, showcasing it like an illusionist proving that nothing was underneath to hold it up.

  “A magnetic rarity, my scientists tell me,” Mulderan said. “Destined to fall, much like the Aura.”

  As soon as those words were said, Asura craned her head from below to face the incoming aircraft. It was an eerie moment that bred silence as the Aura suddenly stopped their work to face the sky in unison. A thousand sets of eyes were now upon the Hiezers. Had they somehow heard Mulderan speak? The fact that Eldra even had to question it left goosebumps on her skin, although she’d never admit it.

  She cracked her neck to distract herself. “Our informants have scanned the landscape entirely. They have no artillery to pluck us out of the air. But now, I can’t help but wonder if they have hidden means of attack.” She honed in on Asura’s direction, recalling that this group nearly got her killed back in Old New York.

  Mulderan seemed unconcerned. “There are Ordinate pods that we would escape to if such a risk ever came to fruition. Here I thought we contained the most alluring of the world’s buried substances, but it seems all of the rumors are true. This smoke provides a unified mind. Such immense and concentrated power leaves us with one central goal.”

  “To take it?”

  “Yes, and then destroy it. One mind would deter evolution, narrowing its path and hindering its growth.”

  Eldra clenched her jaw in frustration. “What if there is more to the smoke than we understand? What if that one mind doesn’t hinder the rest, but directs instead?”

  The Highest Lord turned to face his wife. “Precisely what we’re here to find out. But unless there is an opportunity to explore, the objective remains the same.”

  A hunched scientist approached the two from behind and bowed his head before speaking. “My lord and lady, if I may. It would be against our philosophies as a science-centric hierarchy to destroy such a perplexity.”

  Mulderan pivoted to look down upon him. “We don’t even know if it was this woman who chose the smoke, or if the smoke chose her, Vistice. You would consider toying with a threat of unknown magnitude?”

  Vistice lifted his head, revealing deep green veins protruding from hollow cheeks to eye sockets, like thin leeches suckling blood. “Watch how it interacts. The flow is all outward from this woman’s body. The control is centralized with her. She governs it, for sure. But you raise a valid point, is this relationship with the substance a partnership? Or is she a mere host? We must find out.”

  The Ice Queen’s face was as hard as nails, detesting Vistice’s obsessive words. “Would you blindly throw your body at this hallucinogenic experiment too?” she asked with disdain.

  “As easily as you would throw yours into war,” Vistice flinched awkwardly. “
I mean no disrespect. For the good of the Hiezers I will advance our science, if the Highest Lord so chooses.”

  Mulderan turned to face the island. “If I were to permit experimentation, where would we even begin?”

  The scientist stepped forward, wedging himself between the regal couple and inching his slouched head to the window. “There’s more congestion on the fourth step than anywhere else. Look, opposite the tower that we built for them. If there was a hidden source of this cloud, I would suspect it’s there.”

  Eldra stared at the rumbling body of smoke that consistently expanded and contracted, consuming itself in a whirl. “If we showed the slightest sign of curiosity in that direction, we would risk war with only a handful of our troops at their step.”

  As the jet began its vertical descent to the highest floating landmass, Mulderan turned his attention to the man standing next to Asura - Eugene.

  “My brother’s most trusted Sin stands beside this woman, who directly assaulted the Senation mansion at our directive. She would not be inclined to combat us while already having so many enemies, especially before defenses were raised. We can afford to be brash if the opportunity presents itself.”

  This wasn’t the only leverage that puffed Mulderan’s chest – Hiezer scientists and engineers had been stationed there for a while at this point, building the Aura’s tower and observing, spying, reporting. The elites were as prepared as possible for these anomalies, and Mulderan would be sure to show it.

  Down the plane went, smoothly lowering to the concrete-like floor, stabilizing against the intense magnetism. The landing platform hit the ground and out shot a decorated ramp. A few flinches showed the scarlet goddess’ unease – but alas, the scare tactic was short-lived.

  Asura withdrew the smoke she had extended throughout the island, where the lurking tendrils attached to her followers. And like a host tidying up for guests, she further suppressed it so as not to scare them, pushing it deep into her pores to diminish the crimson aura before walking to the foot of the ramp.

  Jason inched up behind her, neck strangely bent forward, with each hand signing to one another behind his back. Nerves? Perhaps. And when Mulderan emerged from the shadows of the jet doorway, all fidgeting stopped.

  The wide-shouldered figure was accentuated by its armor, cloak glistening in the clouded light, pauldrons reflecting the gray atmosphere amongst black and gold. Who was in control, truly?

  Uneasiness everywhere. Why did Mulderan think he held the cards? How? Everyone else around him grew tense – his wife, the scientist, his potential enemies. Everyone. But he breathed in this air as if it were his home, relishing in it.

  Clank, clank, clank went his armored boots, until cold, hazel eyes met Asura’s crimson ones. She was surprised by the extended hand peeking from the cloak of the Hiezers’ Highest Lord.

  “In all of our meetings in Senation, you never once dared to touch…” Asura became distracted by the smoke retracting away from her hand and back up her arm.

  “You didn’t think I would come unprotected, did you?” Mulderan’s cold eyes were unblinking. “You can relax. It’s just a device that pushes foreign molecules from my vicinity. I’ve heard what you can do with that cloud,” he stated, walking past her before stopping in front of Jason. “Fascinating. Your body is his, but my builders tell me that you’re someone entirely different.”

  Jason couldn’t help but twirl his fingers at his side. “That’s true. I’ve experienced a mortal death, and an immortal rebirth. You would be wise to bow before your gods,” he spoke with a strange buoyancy, arcing his head like something were crawling up his spine.

  Mulderan passed a glance back to Eldra and Vistice, likely in amusement, before facing forward again. He begged everyone’s eyes upward, to the magnificent tower that the Hiezers had constructed for them.

  “Enjoying your new home, I take it?” Mulderan made it known that they were only here to collect on their debt.

  “It’s more than sufficient. You’ve fulfilled on your end so far. Shelter and rations as requested,” Asura thanked.

  Something suddenly pulled at Vistice’s shoulder and nearly took him off balance. Eldra was twitchy and unnerved, immediately clenching the hilt of her blade, ready to cut them all down if need be. But Mulderan stayed calm, lowering his hand for his wife to stand down.

  The goddess shook her head. “That’s not our doing. The island has magnetic pulls that can swing you off balance. You get used to them,” she assured, playing nice with her guests as Mulderan had expected. “Just don’t stand too close to the edge,” she smirked, helping the hunched scientist back upright. “Come, let us fulfill our end of the bargain.”

  She guided them to the opposite end of the island that Vistice had pointed out in-flight, confirming his speculation. With her charming smile and openness to display what the Aura members were working on; she tried her best to distract the guests from what she didn’t want them to know. They watched on while making their way to an ominous cloud awaiting at the edge.

  Jason and Asura submerged themselves into the smolder, and it welcomed them by closing its mouth around their bodies. The Hiezers followed, but were met with a different reaction. The smoke recoiling, screeching from the Hiezer safeguard technology.

  “You would reject the gift of gods?” Jason spread his arms to either side, smiling with fanged teeth and protruding crimson veins.

  Mulderan peered at the transformed man before him, who had risen to double the height than just a moment ago. It did nothing for him, no change in expression or emotion. He was still unimpressed. More tricks, is all. So far there was nothing real to gain here, just hallucinations and nonsense. Where was the proof?

  “We are here to study, not to be consumed.”

  Jason laughed. “Very well then. You aid us in your dimension, and we will teach you ours.”

  Vistice’s eyes glimmered at the idea. He was overwhelmed with curiosity to begin with. Well, of course he was… it was the scientist in him. They had crossed into a brand new, unlearned realm. His senses told him so. How could he deny such an opportunity?

  Eldra didn’t share Vistice’s enthusiasm, however. She had other struggles like dealing with the lack of control on this island. A neck crack spoke to her trying to loosen up, but it was obvious how uncomfortable she was. Would her blade swing right through them, or would it stop short? Would a bullet count for anything? What’s worse… was it possible that they weren’t actually standing here beside them, right now? So many possibilities. So many threats.

  Through it all, there was one saving grace: the Hiezers still had the upper hand in the grand scheme... the Aura’s resources were limited no matter which way you cut it. They needed the Hiezers. She would have to take confidence in this, and in the fact that Mulderan was still acting as an unchanged machine throughout it all. How could he be so calm? This was his best game of poker, for sure, and he was playing it in hell.

  After immersing herself in the smoke, Asura’s hair had spun into a sickle that curved down her back, and her covering mended to her skin, accentuating her slender body.

  “Could you draw blood if you choose?” Mulderan challenged her.

  Before she could respond, Jason cackled as he took the ground out from under them. “We can do far worse!”

  The three Hiezers felt as if they were suddenly in flight, falling hard, with one look down revealing the floor escaping far underneath them until there was nothing but a black abyss at their feet.

  Breathing became an impossible task, for the surrounding air was suffocating. Vistice fell for it. He clawed at nothing in desperation, making the Hiezers look weak, pathetic, at the Aura’s mercy.

  Mulderan and Eldra would give no such satisfaction. They were tense, sure. They felt what Vistice felt. But that was no excuse to succumb to psychological torture. The Aura will pay for this, one way or the other.

  Realizing that he wouldn’t get the reaction he’d hoped for, Jason returned the floor to their feet and,
in an instant, the sensation of being dropped from high altitude quickly departed.

  Mulderan kept calm as normalcy returned, running a hand through his hair and doing nothing but keeping a thought of superiority at the forefront of his mind. He, in every technicality, was their creator. No matter how firmly the Aura believed they’d become gods, Mulderan knew that it was he that moved the earth to make it so.

  Eldra straightened her knees, recovering from the frightening feeling that was forced upon her. “You would be wise to recall that you need our support much more than we are curious to learn.” Her sharp words didn’t mask her irritation. “What type of gods are at the mercy of food and shelter?” She took a step forward toward the giant man.

  “All vessels need sustenance. My current one took your eye, did it not? And you know deep in your heart that I am not that man. If this vessel decayed, I would just find a new one. Perhaps your-”

  “That’s enough, Jason,” Asura demanded, and then shifted to the unfazed Hiezer leader. “What would you like to understand about us?” she feigned interest.

  “My inquiry has not changed. Perhaps you would prefer me to be more direct.” Mulderan’s cloak rippled as the smoke rushed around him like an event horizon of a black hole. “Are you all about mental disorder and misdirection? Or can you draw blood?” He shifted from Jason’s path and walked into hers. “Can you merge your ‘dimensions’ or just confuse those who step into yours?”

  Asura and Jason became noticeably silent, seemingly communicating with one another without words or body language. Before she could answer, a loud noise from beyond the smoke took their attention.

  The entire populous of the island twisted their necks in unison, beckoned by the sound of another jet whizzing past. It slowed abruptly with an amplified bang, dispersing the smoke around it and providing a clear view. Why was another aircraft landing vertically at the foot of the largest landmass?

  Asura directed the smoke above them to disperse, pushing it aside like curtains. “One of yours?” she inquired somewhat hesitantly.