"We must get you out with us."
Sophia shook her head. "No. My time has come to an end." She coughed, the taste of burnt rust filling her throat and spilling over into her mouth. "Take care of her, when she arrives. She can stop this."
"I provided my word, she will be safe."
She coughed. "Thank you," Sophia whispered as dark clouds filled her vision. She closed her eyes and gave way to the darkness.
Afterword
Leonardo stood on the cusp of the mountain, staring down at the labs. Sophia
Collingsworth’s death didn’t put an end to the labs, and he suspected she knew it
wouldn’t. He wondered how long it would take for her granddaughter to arrive.
The tiger-man, the shape-shifter, joined him from the mountaintop roost. "You spend too much time up here. We escaped, remember?"
"But the war has not ended."
He stared down at the building. "No, I guess not. At least that horrible woman is dead. It feels so good not to be called Sventen anymore. I despised that woman."
"Justiz, I do not believe she was as bad as you and Shakira presume."
"You weren’t locked in those cages."
Leonardo thought better of arguing with his new friend. A Torrent, as he and Shakira preferred to be labeled. Perhaps a better reference than shape-shifter or werecat. Ancient legends coming to life on the quiet mountains Leonardo adored, building a fierce storm beyond the horizon. Unpredictable. Worrisome. "Are the rest of the Torrents settled in?
The abandoned mine was more than we could have hoped for."
"They are more comfortable there than they ever were in the labs."
Leonardo nodded. "Good. Any further rumors of the bounty hunter?"
Justiz shook his head. "Only that he remains in town. Telov has him on their payroll, from what we can tell."
Leonardo nodded. "I do not suspect he will find us in these forests."
"No. Not unless that granddaughter arrives in town."
"Perhaps she is better than you believe."
"If she’s tied to those labs, and the Collingsworths, she is most likely far worse."
"We shall see."
Document Outline
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Afterword
Birth of the Forbidden Page 4