Rogue (Book 2) (The Omega Group)
Page 19
Daedric spent another painstaking hour photographing every inch of the rectangular crevice that once held an ancient version of cement sealant. He didn’t miss any angle with the camera while he waited for the others to catalogue every chip and chunk they’d removed.
When he felt sure he would tear Jonathon’s head from his shoulders if he spent one more second cataloging, Daedric’s temporary boss held up one of the long metal tools they would be using to dislodge the small door and handed it over.
They each took their positions, tools at the ready, and waited for Jonathon to give the go-ahead.
“The discovery of King Tutankhamun's tomb has, for decades, been considered the greatest archeological find of our era. We are about to change that,” Jonathon said. He broadcast the obviously rehearsed speech in the self-important tone Daedric had come to despise. “From this moment forward, Jonathon Stapleton will be remembered as the man who discovered the oldest intact tomb in existence.” He looked to his two companions and continued. “Of course, your names will be added as contributors to all published works on the matter.”
Daedric forced a smile he hoped matched Luke’s. He didn’t yet want to express his true feelings about the man who had delusions of grandeur even the best psychiatrist in the world couldn’t cure. As soon as they brought the box across the entrance’s threshold, the enchantment protecting it would be no more. Then, he would show Jonathon exactly how little the man meant to the world, in the most painful way possible.
“Are you guys through yet?” Flip yelled from the safety of his faraway spot.
Jonathon raised his eyebrows at Daedric. “Why doesn’t he just come down here?”
The door stood a mere five feet tall and two feet wide, but its weight was formidable. The three of them would never have been able to pull it free had Daedric not used his telekinesis. Although strictly forbidden to use his powers while in the men’s company, waiting for Jonathon to find enough people he trusted with his secret dig to help them was unthinkable. Ares would forgive his transgression when he presented him with the box.
When they’d pulled back the door enough for them to slip through, Jonathon pushed Luke aside to make sure he gained entry first. “One small step for man, one huge leap for mankind,” he said, misquoting Neil Armstrong’s famous line from when he stepped onto the moon.
Daedric felt the protective power of the small chamber pushing against him, and he struggled to remain in place. A high-pitched yelp from down the corridor said Flip felt something, too. “That space is a little small for my liking,” Daedric said. “If it’s okay with you, I’ll take photos from out here.”
Luke’s jaw dropped and Jonathon turned to him, astonished. “Are you kidding? All of your impatience and you’re going to let a little claustrophobia stop you? You two are the strangest archeologists I’ve ever worked with.”
When the two men crossed into the chamber, their flashlight beams illuminated the room’s sole occupant. The box, a chest made of dark metal, sat unadorned on the cold stone floor. It radiated a force Daedric couldn’t identify but instinctively feared.
“This is amazing,” Luke said. “I’ve never seen a chamber lacking in all decoration. I can’t imagine why a people would put so much effort into concealing something they didn’t even think was worthy of ornamentation.”
“It is odd.” Jonathon couldn’t conceal his obvious disappointment at the lack of riches. “Perhaps the real treasure is inside the chest.” He reached for the lid.
“Stop!” Daedric bellowed. “You can’t open it here. What about the integrity of whatever’s inside?” Ares had been very clear in his instructions. Under no circumstances was the box to be opened. Daedric had to bring it to his father for safekeeping until they were able to locate, and eliminate, the key-holder.
“Who are you, and what have you done with Rick Aresson?” Jonathon said as he examined the edges of the chest’s lid. “This lid isn’t even sealed, which means the contents have already been exposed to the air.”
“You don’t know that for sure. At least bring it out here so I can take a look. This is, after all, why you brought me in on this expedition.” Daedric watched as his pseudo-boss weighed his options, then added, “Tell you what, we have more light hooked up out here than your flashlights can produce. Bring the chest out, we’ll take another look, and if we all agree it’s safe, we’ll open it.”
Both Jonathon and Luke nodded their agreement, and Daedric let out a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding. They each grabbed one of the thick metal handles jutting out of the side of the chest and lifted.
A rare genuine smile crept across Daedric’s face as the unsuspecting men inched the heavy box forward. A few more feet and they would be outside the chamber, the power protecting the box would disappear, and he could take it to his father. Perhaps then Ares would see that he didn’t need Flip’s help.
When the men crossed the threshold, Daedric felt the air pressure drop as the enchantment dissipated. Luke raised one hand to shield his eyes from the bright artificial light, letting the weight of the chest rest in his other. His pathetically weak muscles were no match for the box, and it crashed to the floor. The sudden movement pulled Jonathon off balance and he tumbled ahead, still gripping the handle.
For Daedric, everything seemed to move in slow motion: Luke dropping the box, Jonathon’s misstep, the chest toppling forward. Then the unthinkable happened. The lid of the box rose, and a stench so foul as to make him gag filled his nostrils.
“Jesus, what is that?” Jonathon asked, covering his mouth and nose with his sweat-stained shirt.
Daedric knew the answer. It was Eris, the Greek goddess of chaos, strife, and discord. She also happened to be Ares’s sister. “I’m guessing you’re about to find out.”
Black tendrils of smoke exploded from the chest and swirled around the room. Mist the color of blood rose upward, choking out the breathable air. The chest itself glowed a deep purple, and the once-smooth metal transformed into a patchwork of hieroglyphics.
“Oh, this is bad. Really, really bad.” Flip peeked his misshapen head into the antechamber and grimaced. “Ares said to keep the box closed. We don’t have the key yet. We don’t even know who the key-holder is.”
Daedric’s anger flourished. “It wasn’t me, you moron. It was these two idiots.”
“Hey!” Jonathon and Luke said in unison.
A hole emerged in the front of the chest as the metal pulled back, forming a grotesque ring of warped and twisted shapes. Another mist, golden and shimmering, oozed out of the new orifice. It didn’t join the black tendrils and red clouds dancing in the air. Instead, it formed a column in front of the box, swirling and thickening until it finally took a solid shape.
A beautiful woman, nothing short of exquisite, appeared in front of Daedric. Although she stood only slightly taller than him, her powerful presence inspired awe. She had flawless pale skin, and her black hair flowed in waves down her back. She wore a white tunic, cinched at her waist with a golden rope, which cascaded to the floor. Although she was glorious from head to toe, Daedric couldn’t tear his gaze away from her eyes. They were black as coal with a sliver of white around the edges.
A whimper from the floor drew her attention. She looked down at Luke, who cowered in fear at her feet. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but a flick of her finger ignited a flame that engulfed him instantly. His screams were short-lived as the incredible heat turned him to a small pile of ash.
She turned toward Jonathon before being interrupted.
“Please, allow me,” Daedric said, lowering his gaze to show respect.
Her perfect lips curled up in a macabre smile as she nodded her agreement.
“Rick?” Jonathon’s voice trembled as he spoke.
“My name is Daedric, and I’ve been waiting for this moment since the day I met you.” Raising his arm, Daedric squeezed his empty hand into a fist as though choking the air. Jonathon grabbed at his throat as his airway instantly
constricted. His eyes bulged and his cheeks turned red.
Daedric felt the familiar warmth fill his chest as he used telekinesis to drain the life out of the sniveling little runt at his feet. It had been far too long since he’d last watched the essence leave a man’s body, and he relished every second of it until Jonathon lay crumpled and lifeless on the stone floor.
Eris looked at Flip with disgust, and his small frame shrank under the scrutiny. “Still playing with horses, Flip?” When she turned to Daedric with what could only be described as curiosity, her voice vibrated throughout his chest. “And you are?”
“I’m your nephew. Ares sent me to bring you home.”
To purchase the next installment in the Omega Group series, click below.
Pandora (Book 3)
A Note From The Author
Thank you so very much for reading Rogue. I really hope you enjoyed it. For those of you who have been with me from the beginning of this series, you know what I’m about to ask. For those of you that just joined me with Rogue, here is my request.
Please take a moment to leave a review for this book on Amazon. I know it may seem like a minor thing, but believe me when I tell you, it is not. Not only do reviews help me improve on my stories, but they also have an enormous impact on the success of each novel. A moment of your time would be very much appreciated. Click HERE to leave your review.
Now on to the fun stuff. As always, I’ve woven as much truth into this story as fantasy. The Havasupai tribe does reside at the Grand Canyon in Supai Village. It really is one of the last places in the country that receives its mail via pack mule. Beaver Falls, where Chief Mockta has his not-so-secret cave; Mooney Falls, where Carter and Gina first met; and the eight-mile hiking trail to the village are all described as accurately as I was able. The true majesty of these places, however, cannot be adequately described by mere words. I urge you to visit them yourself if you ever have the opportunity.
All of the Pai tribes I mentioned in the book are also real, and most still reside on their reservations at the canyon. Sadly, their reservations are a fraction of the size they once were. And, yes, there was a very old feud between the Havasupai and Yavapai tribes. It was not, however, caused by one of them gaining the power to shift into wolf form. At least, I don’t think it was.
The Metabolically Dominant Soldier program that General Persaud oversaw is based on reports of a $3 billion DARPA research program which is developing ways to meld biology and technology in order to transcend the limits of the human body. The biology side of their research reportedly includes ways to enhance healing, muscle strength, stamina, metabolic energy, and cognitive function. Their technology research is focused on computer controlled liquid armor, bionic boots, spring walkers, and a host of other items that would revolutionize our military. As I always say, the truth is so much more fascinating than fiction.
Another interesting tidbit that comes right from the history books is the newspaper article Carter referenced during his first visit to the DARPA research facility. The April 5, 1909 issue of the Phoenix Gazette ran a front-page article detailing the discovery and excavation of a rock-cut vault by an expedition led by a Professor S.A. Jordan of the Smithsonian. This excavation reportedly took place on the north ridge of the canyon and uncovered tombs and other rooms filled with ancient Egyptian artifacts. Since that time, the Smithsonian has denied any involvement. They continue to report that no Egyptian artifacts have ever been discovered in North or South America, and that the commonly held belief that there was no transoceanic contact in pre-Columbian times is, indeed, fact. It is interesting to note, however, that much of the north side of the canyon has Egyptian names. The Tower of Set, Tower of Ra, Horus Temple, Osiris Temple, and Isis Temple are all names of rock formations in that area. Perhaps more interesting is the fact that, to this day, most of the north side of the canyon is off-limits to tourists and rangers alike.
Some other fun things that are real in this story are the names of a few of the characters. Our intrepid park ranger, Kell Christner; our rogue general, Eryk Persaud; and the newest member of the Omega Group, Will Hancock are all names of real people who entered the Name a Character After Me contest. I really hope the three of you enjoyed your alter egos. If you’d like your name to be used in my next novel, just visit my website at www.AndreaDomanski.com and click on “Contest”.
There are a few people that I really need to thank. The members of the WorldWiseWriters group have become like a second family to me. I don’t know what I’d do without them and their wisdom. They are Ro Green, Hannah Sullivan, JD Faulkner, Jacky Gray, and SM Freedman. If that last name sounds familiar to you, it might be because Mirissa was engrossed in her book on both plane rides.
Pat Mason, Lois Lavrisa, and Tom Haase also deserve a great big thank you. Our lunch meetings are the only reason I was able to work through my multitude of plotting issues.
Last, but most definitely not least, my wonderful husband and children, who tolerate my time at the computer and my frequent questions about which version of a scene they like better.
As I’m sure you deduced from the epilogue, the next book in the Omega Group series, Pandora, is already in the works. To find out about new releases, sign up for my newsletter at www.andreadomanski.com or like my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/andreadomanskiauthor. You can also follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/andrea_domanski.
Thank you again for reading Rogue. I look forward to reading your review on Amazon, seeing your name in the Character Contest, and maybe even getting an email from you at info@andreadomanski.com.
The Omega Group Series
Crossfire (Book 1)
Greco (Book 1.5)
Rogue (Book 2)
Pandora (Book 3)
Chaos (Book 4)
About the Author
Born and raised near Toronto, Canada, Andrea Domanski moved south to get away from the snow and cold when she was 24 years old. She now lives in Savannah, Georgia with her husband Mark, their two children, and their goldendoodle.
After selling her business in 2012, Andrea focused her energies on raising her two children and finding a new career path that excited her. It wasn’t long before she decided that writing a novel—something she’d always wanted to do—would be her next big adventure.
Andrea is a member of the WorldWiseWriters group and is currently working on the next book in her Omega Group series.
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Epilogue
A Note From The Author
About the Author
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