Threshold of Annihilation (The Firebird Chronicles Book 3)

by T. A. White

  Kira lapsed into silence as the Haldeel marched them along the city streets, drawing stares as they passed. Kira spotted children she suspected of belonging to the orphanage. They watched with fascination before disappearing into the crowds around them.

  At least, Selene would soon be apprised of Kira and Jin's survival.

  Her hand brushed a spot of blood on her black jacket and drew a grimace.

  Now she knew why everyone was so curious. It wasn’t often the Haldeel escorted someone splattered with blood through the streets of the city.

  The Haldeel turned right at the next intersection, toward the spaceport. Next, they took a left.

  Kira was getting a sinking feeling that she knew where they were heading. A place she'd done her utmost to avoid. The Spire. Cultural center of the capital and currently a hotbed of political activity.

  If Graydon was anywhere, that was where he'd be.

  Her shoulders slumped. The destination made sense. After investigating what happened in the clearing, the Haldeel guards’ jobs would be a lot easier if they could immediately turn her over to the higher powers of her race.

  Lovely. Just lovely.

  Sure enough, soon, they passed the arches framing the avenue. Finn shot her a look that she ignored as marched over the still water, flowers submerged beneath its surface.

  If Finn had been anyone else, perhaps someone less serious, there would have been a pep in his step. And why wouldn't there be? Finn was getting exactly what he wanted—Kira back in the bosom of their people.

  The Haldeel leader glanced sideways at them. "You're both Tuann?"

  "What gave it away?" Kira asked.

  "Just a feeling."

  The Haldeel’s lingering glance in Finn's direction told Kira exactly who was responsible for that feeling.

  Turns out you could take the oshota out of the synth armor, but they'd still be oshota. It was in the way they moved, the hyper-awareness and sense of purpose they carried with them.

  They stopped feet from where the avenue ended and a perfectly circular lake began. From its center, an imposing spire rose. At a distance, the spire appeared to be one structure, when it was actually three separate buildings that intertwined like lovers, yet never quite touched. A series of glass walkways connected the structures.

  The rest of the city butted up against the lake's edges, surrounding the unexpected oasis of calm and serenity.

  The Haldeel waited patiently as the glass-like surface of the lake began to froth. Out of the depths, small flat panels rose until they jutted millimeters out of the water. They interlocked, snapping together one after another.

  The Haldeel leader didn't wait for it to finish assembling before he glided onto the pathway, leaving Kira and the rest to follow.

  Kira stepped onto its surface, expecting it to be slippery. Surprisingly, it was not. The surface had already dried in the short time since it had risen from the lake. A good thing, too, since there weren't exactly railings to prevent her from sliding off.

  The gentle waves caused by the walkway’s rise subsided, allowing glimpses of several silvery fish the length of her leg. They darted beneath a wide-leafed plant that looked like the bastard cousin of a lily pad.

  "I would advise not falling in," the leader said without turning around. "The lake is filled with the buka. They have very sharp teeth and consider Tuann and human flesh a delicacy."

  Kira's footsteps slowed. "You surrounded your cultural center with a moat and filled it with carnivorous fish?"

  Talk about sending a mixed message.

  Kind of like saying "Look at the beautiful things we can create—but beware, our pets might eat you."

  No wonder the Tuann were willing to play nice with the Haldeel.

  "The buka are beautiful. Why would we deprive our guests of their grace?" This time the Haldeel aimed a wide smile at Kira, flashing the sharp, serrated teeth of a predator. "Besides, they're quite tasty."

  Kira nodded, feeling like the entire conversation was a bit surreal. "Practical."

  But Kira wouldn't expect anything else from the Haldeel. There was a certain poetry in the way they chose to shape their surroundings. They chose beauty and then edged it with thorns.

  The thought made her a bit nostalgic for Jin and the quip he would have made in this situation.

  She didn't have time to dwell on the feeling as they reached the end of the walkway, passing through the base of the spire. The three structures surrounded them.

  From a distance, the spire was impressive. It was even more so when you appreciated it from the worm's eye view.

  "Wow," Kira breathed, looking up.

  She felt like she was at the bottom of an intricate, twisting well, the sky high above.

  She could have stayed right there for hours, soaking in the calm peace that seemed to radiate in this space.

  The leader paused in front of a massive opening stretching two stories high. "You're very kind. This way, please."

  Kira tore herself from the view, following the leader through the entrance. The building closed around her, muting the gentle sound of the outside world.

  Large windows offered a view of the lake and the structure’s inner atrium. Shadows danced across the floor giving a feeling of movement and adding to the sense of being underwater, the world hushed and serene.

  They crossed the atrium, heading toward a pair of Haldeel standing guard in front of a solid wall.

  Like the Haldeel peacekeepers escorting them, the guards held tridents. Their faces were neutral as the leader stopped in front of them, saying nothing. Verbally at least. Standing beside him, she couldn't see what he was saying with his hands, but the reactions of the guards made it clear he was conveying something.

  They looked past the leader to Kira, respect filling their expressions.

  As one, they stepped aside, tapping the butt of the trident against the wall in tandem. There was a pause as they waited, facing the blank space. A door formed, the wall folding away square by square until it was big enough for all to step through.

  The leader turned to Finn. "If you would please wait here."

  Finn's body locked.

  Kira could already hear his refusal as she patted his shoulder. "I'll be fine."

  "You realize the last time you said something to that effect you ended up in a fight for your life against a swarm of shriekers," Finn said through gritted teeth.

  Kira saw his point.

  "I'd like to say I'll get better about that, but chances are I won't." Kira grinned and winked. "Welcome to the team. Also, I hardly think the Haldeel dragged us all the way here just to kill me. Much easier to do that out there."

  "Very wise words.” The leader inclined his head in a partial bow.

  That answer didn’t make Finn happy, but he was also smart enough to know when he wasn't going to win the battle.

  They were standing on Haldeel territory—in the very heart of their power. If they wanted Finn to wait here, here Finn would wait. There was nothing either of them could do about it.

  "Fine, but try to avoid having anyone kill you while you're gone."

  Kira lifted a shoulder as she stepped past the entrance. "I'll try, but my track record isn't exactly the best."

  The wall reassembled, blocking Kira's last view of Finn’s sour expression.

  "I guess that's that," she muttered to herself.

  "You will come to no harm in our care, za," the leader assured her.

  Kira's smile was wry. "I wasn't too worried."

  This wasn't her first experience with the Haldeel. She'd found as long as you treated them with respect, they'd do the same to you.

  Their politics were a tad warped and vicious, but the same could be said of human and Tuann politics as well.

  The leader stopped in front of the entrance to a room Kira could only describe as the nicest conference room she'd ever visited.

  White floors were offset by glass windows offering a view of an ornamental garden. Pebbled paths wo
und through the garden’s center, trees not much taller than Kira draped over artful ponds, their fronds reminding her of weeping willows, if a willow's branches were twisted like a braid.

  The colorful garden helped offset the sterility of the white room. There was a white table in the shape of a crescent in the center and charcoal gray seats that looked comfortable surrounding it.

  It was a far cry from the drab holding cell she'd imagined.

  "If you would," the leader gestured inside.

  Kira complied, looking around with interest as a Haldeel stepped into the room after her, carrying Jin in one hand. He set her friend on the table before departing.

  "Please wait here until we have finished verifying your story.” The Haldeel pointed to a basin that had a waterfall of water cascading down into it. “You can clean up over there if you wish.”

  He didn’t linger any longer, touching the butt of his trident to the floor. The door reassembled, cubes crawling into place as they cut off the only exit.

  Guess they didn't really plan on giving her an option. Not that she blamed them. If she found someone standing over a swarm of shrieker bodies, she'd probably want to do her due diligence too.

  Kira didn't waste time searching for a way to open the door. She already knew she wouldn't find one. Even if she did, where would she go? Chances were the Haldeel had placed guards outside, just in case.

  Knowing she was likely under some kind of surveillance, Kira crossed to the table, setting a hand on Jin.

  Like this, he almost appeared to be sleeping.

  Except, Jin was never this still, and he never slept. It was both his blessing and his curse not to be bound by the same limitations as an organic. He could avoid the time wasted by sleep, but he also never experienced the escape it provided.

  Sleep was where biologicals processed their emotions. It offered a chance to allow the psyche to heal and evolve. Without it, people tended to go crazy.

  Lucky for Jin, he had his connection to Kira. It allowed him a limited biofeedback that mitigated some of the issues stemming from not being able to rest. Otherwise, she very much would have feared for the stability of his mental state.

  It wasn't a perfect solution, but it worked.

  "This look doesn't suit you, old friend. You should hurry and wake up." Kira rested a hand on his hard shell, feeling for the spark that was Jin. It was a futile effort, her consciousness bouncing off the same barrier as before.

  With a harsh exhale, Kira gave up. It was probably better this way. She could imagine the outcry if she were to break the Haldeel's hold on Jin while standing in their seat of power.

  With one last caress, Kira stepped away from his still form. "Rest well. I'll protect us until you can take up the mantle again."

  She moved to the basin, cupping her hands under the water only to find it warmer than she expected.

  The water turned red as she washed away the blood. She dried her hands and shrugged out of her jacket before picking up a cloth sitting beside the basin.

  Too bad there wasn’t a mirror to see the extent of the damage.

  As if sensing her desires, a silvery oval formed at eye level, reflecting her image.

  Blood streaked her cheek and throat, small specks dotting her white shirt. There was nothing she could do about the shirt, but her face was another case.

  It didn’t take long to clean the blood off her skin and make herself at least semi-presentable again.

  She ran the cloth over her jacket. Luckily, it was black and hid the stains she couldn’t wipe away.

  When it was dry enough, she shrugged into it, knowing it would cover most of the blood.

  With one last check in the mirror, she judged that she wouldn’t send any kids screaming if they saw her like this.

  Good enough for her.

  After that she paced around the room, hoping to burn off some of her excess energy. Cleaning the blood off her hadn’t touched the adrenaline that had flooded her system.

  Being cooped up in this room didn’t help. It made her antsy. Not the best feeling when you were supposed to be on your best behavior.

  Kira counted her steps. First to one wall and then the next.

  "Don't think I'm not going to rub your face in this later," she told Jin. "You're lucky I have nothing to write with, or you'd be covered in graffiti."

  The silence that answered her wasn't exactly calming, but the act of talking to Jin, even if he couldn't snipe back, helped settle her.

  When long minutes passed and nothing happened, Kira relaxed, allowing herself to soak in some of the tranquility of the garden outside the window. She found a chair, making herself comfortable as she propped her feet on the table and stared out the window.

  Time passed, one minute ticking into the next. Eventually, she fell into a form of meditation, one only broken when the door finally disassembled, and a thunderstorm hovered on its threshold.

  The sharp, fresh smell of ozone flooded into the room, bringing with it the taste of rain and the wicked bite of wind.

  Kira closed her eyes, letting herself bask in the seething energy. The crack of lightning against her senses, blistering hot only to be soothed by the coolness of the storm clouds. A primal feeling that made her lightheaded.

  Graydon.

  Anticipation rose, fast and furious before Kira strangled it.

  "Did they finish their investigation?" she finally asked after what felt like an eternity of silence.

  *

  Graydon held himself in check with a rigid discipline born from the most brutal training a Tuann could undertake. All this time and that was the first thing she wanted to say?

  No "how are you", "sorry for leaving", "I missed you".

  Fine. If that's how she wanted to play it, he was game. He liked challenges, anyway. They were so fun to conquer.

  Graydon prowled across the room, noting the way Kira subtly stiffened at his approach.

  Satisfaction rumbled through him.

  She wasn't as unaffected as she pretended.

  Good to know.

  "They've concluded you were in the right,” Graydon said, answering her previous question.

  Kira dropped her feet from the desk. "I can go then?"

  Graydon bared his teeth at her. It isn’t going to be that easy, coli.

  Graydon studied his nails. "They've released you into my care."

  He didn't have long to wait.

  "What does that mean?"

  "I'm so glad you asked. Let me explain." He invaded her space, watching as she barely concealed her flinch at the merciless expression on his face that even his gentle smile didn’t fully hide. "It means your ass is mine."

  Graydon straightened, enjoying the temper rising behind her eyes. "At least for the remainder of your time on this planet."

  "No." The words were clipped, and her movements jerky as she stood from her chair, reaching over and snagging Jin off the table.

  Graydon waited until she'd reached the door. "Speak to your niece lately?"

  Kira's spine went ramrod straight as she stopped a foot from the exit.

  "Because I have,” he said.

  That got a reaction.

  Kira whirled, looking like an avenging goddess as she strode toward him. "We don't speak of her where it's not secure."

  A meaningful look at their surroundings made it clear what she meant.

  Graydon leaned closer, saying into her ear. "I cut off the surveillance feed the moment I entered."

  Kira remained motionless as he straightened.

  Graydon found he was rather enjoying that look of impotent rage on her face.

  "I wanted this conversation to take place in private," he finished.

  Caution entered Kira's expression. "Why?"

  "Because there are a few items that need to be clear before you step out of this room,"

  Her eyes narrowed. "And they are?"

  "We're getting to that," he assured her. "But first, tell me what happened with the swarm."

/>   "Do you really have Elena?" she asked instead, shooting him a hard stare.

  Graydon gave a one-word answer, knowing it would get on her nerves. "Yes."

  Kira went motionless.

  Graydon counted. One. Two. Three.

  A harsh exhale left her as she glared out the window.

  There she was. Kira hid her anger well, but Graydon could see the frustration and resignation she tried to cover. Mixed throughout it all was love and concern.

  "What was Elena thinking?" Kira muttered.

  "I imagine she thought she was helping you."

  Graydon could sympathize with Kira. She'd gone to great lengths to keep Elena's existence a secret, even kept the knowledge of her birth from the girl's father at considerable cost to her relationship with Raider.

  She'd left House Roake in such a way that it could have done extensive damage to the connections she'd tentatively established with them, only for her niece to hand-deliver herself to Graydon within a month.

  If he didn't find the whole thing vastly amusing, he'd commiserate with her.

  "Nice race by the way. I particularly liked the ending where you crashed."

  An uncomfortable look crossed Kira's face as her gaze dropped. "There were some technical difficulties."

  Was that what she was calling it?

  "I noticed."

  Kira's gaze avoided his.

  "How angry was Finn afterward?" Graydon asked.

  Kira lifted a shoulder. "His anger was somewhat mitigated by helping me avoid your oshota."

  Graydon raised an eyebrow. So that’s how she did it. He hadn’t thought Finn had it in him. Not since the tragic circumstances that had led to the end of his relationship with his poorly chosen sword.

  For him to allow Kira to knowingly put herself at risk showed their relationship had evolved—and in a healthy direction.

  The bond between sword and shield took trust. One that required a certain flexibility. A sword couldn't always stay within the safety of a shield. Such a sword would be useless if it couldn't slice through their enemies.

  The oshota protected, but they also knew when to concentrate on other battlefields so their chosen sword could maximize their forces.

  Graydon hadn't thought Finn would ever be able to trust his sword to that extent again.