The Candidate (The Viral Superhero Series Book 3)
Page 22
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EXCERPT: ENEMY TERRITORY
Senator Kit Kable could barely hold back his smile as he leaned against the press conference podium. Of course, expressing the joy he felt would be the worst decision in his campaign thus far. The best decision, though, had been to hold this event right there, at the very hospital where he'd been operated on. Sitting in chairs behind him were the doctors and nurses who'd purportedly saved his life. While the bullets from Sandra's gun had never put him in any real danger, it was a piece of cake for him to rewire the doctors' minds to remember his surgery very differently. Kable could see the sympathy in the journalists' eyes. They were happy he was alive, but they were also sorry for him. As far as they knew, he'd been duped into falling in love with a spy from another world. The healing bullet wounds in his abdomen told that story well enough.
While he was in recovery, the media made up the complementary tale that Sandra had been stampeded by the crowd as it ran away from the otherworldly beasts she'd summoned through blue portals from another dimension. It was better than Kable ever could've hoped for.
"Next question." Kable drew out every syllable, which made it sound like speaking was a major struggle.
"Mr. Senator." A balding pencil of a man gestured to the podium. "The attack during your rally was unprecedented. How would you classify it? Terrorism? An act of war?"
Kable coughed twice. He considered going into a full on fit, but he didn't want to oversell it.
"I'm devastated by the injuries and loss of life that occurred among my supporters." He took a deep breath and let out a bit of a wheeze on the exhale. "I'd label it as a teaching moment for the world. President Blake doesn't have our security in mind." Kable paused for a moment to squint under the fluorescent lights. "His knight, his champion, Ted Finley, is nowhere to be found."
A phlegm-filled throat-clearing caught Kable's attention. Rudy Bolger cut through the grim mood with his polished smile. Kable was sure he wasn't the only person in the room who suppressed an eye roll.
"Kit, do you think Ted is alive? And if so, is he off colluding with fugitive-at-large Erica LaPlante and the other missing teens from Treasure?"
Kable knew the answer to both questions, remembering the moment well. He had just revealed himself as Adam, the true living soul on Earth. Erica, his former protector, looked like she was going to be sick as he tightened his grip around the scrawny hero and tossed him into another world. For all he knew, Ted Finley was dead, but that was a part of the plan he wasn't given access to. As for fugitive-at-large LaPlante, agents from the Department of Homeland Security had injured Erica and her friends before the gang disappeared.
It was no matter. Kable was well on his way to victory.
He wore his most solemn expression and leaned an elbow on the top of the podium. "I pray for Ted and his family. He's done a lot of good, and I think there's more for him to do."
The rest of the press conference went by quickly enough. Kable played the proper emotions like he was moving his fingers along the keys of a grand piano. Anyone who knew how well he covered his true feelings might call him a maestro. He wondered if his Presidential competitor had to pull the same strings behind his steely demeanor.
After gingerly taking the steps down from the makeshift stage, Kable shook a few hands before retreating into an empty room in an isolated wing of the hospital's cardiology center.
As he stretched out his arms, he felt discomfort where the bullets had penetrated skin and bone. Kable grunted through the sensation and calmed his mind. He pointed his hands in front of him and let three deep breaths pass by his lips. On the third exhale, a blue spark seemed to materialize out of nowhere. Another colorful dot appeared and slammed into the first one. The reaction repeated hundreds of times over in a matter of seconds, forming a ring. The blue, shimmering circle expanded in all directions, casting a cold hue on the walls of the dim room. Kable felt his arms begin to twitch. Of all the powers he'd coaxed from his former protector's mind, this was the one that'd taken the longest to master. He still failed to create the portal at least half of the time he made the effort, but the expansion rate of the current gateway told him he was in the clear this time. The portal grew and grew until it reached about six and a half feet in diameter; more than enough to accommodate his entry. He pulled his hands back as if he'd gotten too close to a warm stove. The portal remained intact and he admired his creation.
"It really is beautiful."
With that, he stepped inside.
Kable's eyelids fluttered as the bright sunlight reflected off the gold and silver weaponry that lined the walls of his destination.
For a race named for its darkness, they sure do appreciate natural light.
When his eyes adjusted, he noticed two armored troops standing at attention a few feet in front of him. His stomach clenched. This was one of the few locations that left him vulnerable. With the eyes of the dark souls upon him, he was no longer a powerful being. He was just a man.
Albeit one who's indispensable to their plans.
He made himself believe he was vital, but he could never be too sure.
Kable noticed the portal sputter, flicker and close behind him. Despite several decades of training, the gateways he created were nowhere close to the perfection of the gatekeepers'. But the portals he made were functional, and at the moment, that was all that mattered.
The two troops led Kable to a comically tall set of doors 10 times his height. He wondered what kind of massive beast might request a one-on-one with the General himself. With a mighty groan, the doors opened and Kable walked forward. Each step resonated throughout the vast room and sent a tiny vibration through his legs. There was power in here, all right, and Kable didn't have any of it. As he approached, he saw the General's face obscured by shadow. He halted in the customary spot and waited in silence until the man before him raised his hand.
"The plan is in motion, General." Kable did his best to hide the disgust that came with addressing a superior officer.
The shadow over the General's face continued to hide his features. "Have you ever played chess?"
Kable stifled a laugh, though for all he knew, the question might've actually been intended as a joke. "As a teenager."
The General took in a breath as large as his castle. "Then you'll understand that you may have sacrificed your queen and your bishop too early."
It was still eerie to hear the familiar voice come out of the General's mouth. Kable felt his face twitch. "I'm sorry, General."
The powerful man sitting on his throne leaned forward into the light and let out a quick laugh. "No, you're not. But it's no matter. We remain strong. You'll proceed as planned."
Kable nodded. Every muscle in his body tensed. Even at the cellular level, Kable wanted to return to his world, where the power coursed through his veins unimpeded. "Is there anything else, Sir?"
The General grinned. "Why do you look at me like that?"
Kable studied the man's face. It was a teen's face, really. Dark hair and long cheekbones. The last time he'd seen such a face, it was bruised and bloody.
"It's just incredible how much you look like him."
The General leaned even closer. Kable's pulse quickened.
"If you want to get technical–" the General's eyes danced, "–Mr. Finley is the one who looks like me."
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All contents Copyright © 2017 by Bryan Cohen & Casey Lane. All rights reserved. No part of this document or the related files may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means (electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the publisher. This book identifies product names and services known to be trademarks, registered trademarks, or service m
arks of their respective holders. They are used throughout this book in an editorial fashion only. The publisher has used its best efforts in preparing this book, and the information provided herein is provided "as is." Bryan Cohen & Casey Lane make no representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaims any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose and shall in no event be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damage, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages. All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Thank you to everybody who made this book possible. Our beta readers Julianne Clancy, Tim Matson, Barbara Pohland and Torsten Spooner made a difficult project much easier with their notes. Damonza & James Olsen did a great cover, and Oomphotography did an amazing job with the key art. Thanks to Alisa Rosenthal for helping out and to Michael Silberblatt and Cordelia Dewdney for bringing the characters to life. Ashley Gainer & Abigail Dunard went so far above and beyond this time. Sheridan always kicks butt with the formatting. Thank you. Lastly, thanks to Amy for everything.
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Table of Contents
Introduction
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
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Epilogue
Co-Authors’ Note
Excerpt: Enemy Territory
Legal Business & Acknowledgements