The Light Thief
Page 29
Go away, go away.
The voices were now almost shouting, and one of the voices grew louder still, rising above the rest but still unintelligible.
As the collective voice became deafening, the solitary voice strained even harder, fighting for attention.
Aniya’s ears rang with a screech that rattled her bones and sent daggers of pain through the nerves in her teeth. Tears running down her cheeks, she let out a scream of pain, a cry she just barely heard above the din that raged inside her mind.
She ran out of breath and fell backward in her cot. As she gasped for air, she realized that her mind was quiet once again. The conglomerate of voices was silenced.
But as she sighed in relief, a single feminine voice whispered one final time, its speech now clear.
“Aniya.”
Epilogue
“Report.”
Kendall glanced back down the tunnel behind him. Aside from the obvious, they were alone. But it wouldn’t be long until someone realized the jammer had been disabled. He had to hurry.
He cleared his throat and spoke into the earpiece. “Mission was a success, sir.”
“Good.” A smooth, pleased voice crackled in Kendall’s ear. “And the girl’s status?”
“You were right. They found her almost dead in the reactor chamber, but we were able to resuscitate her using electrotherapy, just like you said.”
“Well done.” His voice was smooth and low. “And the rest of the main players?”
“They made it out as well. Except for William, that is. You were right. They survived. But how could you have known all this?”
“You should know by now not to waste your breath with that question. In any case, what matters now is what happens next.”
“Understood.”
The man’s voice lost its cheeriness. “What became of the Chancellor?”
“He’s gone. Escaped in the middle of it all. No one knows where he is because all surveillance is down. I saw just enough to know he’s still alive.”
“You must waste no time finding him. When you hunt down the rest of the Silvers still loyal to the Chancellor, I want him dead.”
“Understood.”
His voice was soft again. “Run full medical diagnostics on the girl and report back as soon as you find something.”
“Already ordered them, sir.”
“Very good.”
Kendall shifted his balance uneasily. “But, sir . . . Nicholas was inside the tank with her.”
The man’s voice took on a new tone, one that Kendall had never heard from him. “And he’s still alive?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Interesting. Where is he now?”
“All three of them are with me in the caves,” Kendall said. “You were wise to send someone back into the Citadel to check the remains of the reactor or we never would have found them. I should have never questioned your judgment.”
“Indeed. And you’ve ordered diagnostics for Nicholas as well?”
“Yes, sir.”
The voice crooned. “Good. Did you see what happened in the cavern?”
“Nothing past the main explosion.”
It went silent for a moment.
“Keep a close eye on them.”
Kendall nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“I’m sending another operative to you.”
“I was hoping we would not have to resort to using one of them.”
“In an ideal world, we wouldn’t, but you know I cannot afford to rely simply on hope.”
“Understood, sir. Aren’t you concerned about the children’s survival?”
A chuckle came across the line. “I am concerned with everything that happens in the Underworld. That’s my job. How I react to things, however, is what determines my effectiveness. I choose reason, logic—not panic.”
“Yes, sir. Anything else?”
The mirth in the man’s voice vanished. “When the girl recovers, bring her to me.”
“Sir?”
“Is that a problem?”
“No, sir. Sorry. What of the asset?”
A long pause. “Keep him close. If you see any change in his condition, send him to me immediately. Make sure he stays alive for now.”
“Yes, sir.”
Kendall took off his earpiece and looked up at the asset.
“What did he say?” The asset spoke slowly, almost cautiously.
“Keep an eye on Aniya,” Kendall said. “And report to me instantly with any new developments.”
“Yes, sir.”
The asset turned to leave.
“One more thing.”
Kendall leaned forward in his chair.
“Emotion is a dangerous thing. You must not let your feelings for her get in the way of what we’ve worked so hard to accomplish.”
“That won’t be a problem, sir.”
“Good.” Kendall sat on the floor of the small cavern and stared into the fire. “You did well. I know it must have been hard for you, leading her to a death you knew was certain. You have proved your loyalty as a valuable asset, and it seems that fate has rewarded you with her miraculous survival. But don’t be tempted. If a time comes when you must choose between Aniya and this new world, I have to trust you to make the right choice.”
The asset said nothing.
“Can I do that, Nicholas? Can I trust you?”
After a long moment, Nicholas nodded. “I live to serve the Glorious Bringers of Light.”
To be continued...
Thank You
Thank you for reading my debut novel, The Light Thief.
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THE PHOENIX MANDATE
MARCH 2020
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
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rst paperback edition December 2019
ISBN 978-1-7343511-0-1 (paperback)
ISBN 978-1-7343511-1-8 (ebook)
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