Pearseus Bundle: The Complete Pearseus Sci-fi/Fantasy Series

by Nicholas C. Rossis

  Seeing how he now claimed to have never liked that little creep made Lehmor realise how much his father must have missed him, and his guts clenched with guilt. He had never considered the old man when deciding to hide in the forest, his only concern being to sort out his feelings towards Moirah. He stole another look at his father. Growing up, he would wait up at night for him to return from a raid or a Council running late. His presence always comforted him; he relied on his father’s strength. Yet when he looked at him now, it was an old man staring back at him, not a strong warrior, and for a moment the realisation froze him. It was his turn to take care of the old man, he realised, and vowed to do it as best as he could.

  “What would you have done if Cyrus had indeed killed your son?”

  The question came in a quiet voice from behind them, and his head spun around in surprise. He had forgotten about Stripet for a moment.

  “I’d have invaded their Capital, burnt it down, and stuck Cyrus’s head on a stick for all to see,” the old man growled.

  Lehmor placed a hand on his father’s arm, surprised that the flesh under him quivered with rage. “It’s alright. Cyrus didn’t –”

  The man pushed his son’s hand away and rushed to his feet, pointing a finger at Stripet. “Anyone threatening my son would have to go through me first.” He paused and his face softened. “On the other hand, anyone helping my son, will find me very grateful.”

  Stripet chuckled. “Thank you, there is in fact something that I need from you.”

  The man raised his chin. “Anything.”

  Lehmor shot a warning glance at his father. “Dad,” he whispered.

  His father gave him a stern look. “This man saved your life, didn’t he?” After a moment’s hesitation, Lehmor nodded. “Well then, he can have anything he desires.”

  “I only want one thing,” Stripet said, a wide grin on his face. “I need the Old Woman.”

  The old man stared at him in disbelief for a moment, before bursting into laughter. “That’s a good one. For a moment there I thought you were serious.” Still chortling, he pulled the chair and sat down again. “Now, why don’t you join us and you can let me know what you really want.”

  Stripet peeled himself from the shadows and faced the old man, placing a hand on his shoulder. He produced a flask from his pocket and emptied it into the two goblets. “Where I come from, this drink is considered a rare treat. May I offer a toast?”

  The old man raised his cup and held it in the air.

  “To Lehmor,” Stripet said. “May he prove a wise and brave leader.”

  The old man nodded with satisfaction and emptied the drink, smacking his lips. “A fine drink indeed, my friend.”

  Stripet wiped his lips with his sleeve and plonked the cup back onto the table.

  Ephia

  Teo

  “Where did you find her?”

  Gella signalled towards an oversized marble scale A Themis temple had collapsed, and the statue of Themis lay across the street, amidst the debris, in broken pieces. “Under the rubble. She was half-dead when we pulled her out.”

  Teo stepped over a smoking carcass, trapped under Themis’ broken sword, to kneel beside the injured woman. He caressed Satori’s neck with inquisitive fingers. Blood caked a deep gash in her head, forming smudged streaks down her neck. Her hair, once lustrous black, now had thick, dark brown clumps framing her bloodied face. He turned his attention to the lieutenant standing over her. “Take good care of her,” he ordered, satisfied that Satori was still alive. “Make sure nothing happens to her. I’m holding you personally responsible.”

  The lieutenant saluted and barked a command to two soldiers, who rushed over to help her shift the injured woman onto a gurney. The troops had moved into the city once the fires had stopped raging. The remnants of Ephia’s army had put up a brave, if desperate fight. Without a wall to protect them, the waves of Capital soldiers had poured into the city, crushing any resistance. To Teo’s great dismay, Gella had insisted there be no looting, no rapes, no killing of civilians. Oh well, I’ll have to make do with some hangings. That old man heading the City Assembly for one…

  His thoughts were interrupted by a deafening noise behind him. The remains of a belfry collapsed, covering them with dust and dirt. He ducked behind a wall, coughing to clear his lungs. “You said the city was safe?” he accused Gella.

  “I told you to wait until the city was safe,” she reminded him.

  He nodded towards Satori. “She’d better be fine, or her death’s on you, General.”

  She threw him a look dripping with contempt. “It’s your weapon that –”

  “It’s your men who captured the city,” he interrupted her. “Anything that happens to her is on your shoulders.” This should teach you some manners, my dear.

  She opened her mouth to protest, then something caught her eye and she scurried towards the collapsed belfry without a word. Teo hurried off in the opposite direction, escorting Satori to safety. With her in his hands, he finally had the leverage he needed against Paul. If only Angel had not been so stubborn, I wouldn’t have to do this. He ducked under a still-burning plank to reach the unconscious woman. Kneeling beside her once more, he removed his coat and slipped it onto her, to protect her from the light drizzle that mixed ash and dirt with water to soil everything in its path. Taking her hand, he checked her weak pulse, a worried look on his face. With any luck, he would need Angel no longer; that stubborn girl could drop dead, for all he cared. Satori, however… Don’t you dare die on me now. I need you.

  His attention was fixed on the girl as they rushed across the burning, melted buildings. The mutilated corpses upset him more than he expected; so much so, that he failed to see an archer on top of the remnants of the belfry. The man drew the string with a calmness and detachment that betrayed years of practice, and let go of the arrow. It flew straight to its target, reaching it within a split second. Teo cried out in agony and stumbled to the ground as the arrow pierced his injured knee.

  He crawled backwards in a vain effort to find cover, but they had reached the middle of a plaza and there was nowhere to hide. “Protect me!” he ordered the two soldiers, but they stood frozen. A second arrow flew over their heads, and they fled, sending the gurney to crash onto the ground. Satori moaned and Teo crawled on all fours in his effort to hide behind her, but his damaged leg seized and he fell down again with a loud cry. He stared in terror at the shadow drawing a third arrow in a single fluid movement above him. The man pulled back the string and lifted the bow upwards, when he stumbled and spun around, a lightning-sheathed blade emerging through his chest.

  Teo brought his hand before his eyes to protect them from the drizzle. Gella freed her blade from the soldier’s dead body and pushed him away. The man rolled down the debris to crash on the ground before Teo.

  “I’m already regretting this,” Gella shouted and jumped back, the belfry swallowing her again.

  Malekshei

  David

  “You must be wondering what you’re doing here.”

  David stayed on all fours for a moment, then raised his head to look at the dark silhouette before him. Am I dreaming? Realizing how terrified his guest must feel, the stranger let out a soft sigh. The darkness around them receded into the corners of the room and the shadow itself morphed into a handsome young boy with golden hair. Only its red eyes, glowing with a hateful inner light, showed this could be anything but a normal child. Still, the new form was more agreeable to David, who slowly rose to his feet.

  “Where am I?”

  An obvious question, he thought, but the boy took on a bored look. It seemed to debate whether to answer or not, so David tried a different approach. “Why did you bring me here?”

  The eyes sparkled. Ah, a more interesting question, they seemed to say.

  “I brought you here. And to answer your earlier question, this is our realm. The realm of the Shei-ka-Zuul, as you call us.” The boy waved around and chuckled at the name. “Ser
iously, the Whispers that corrupt? Sounds like something out of a bad fairy tale.”

  David clasped his arms around him. “Isn’t that what you are?”

  “What, a bad fairy tale?” The boy chuckled, then noticed David’s blank expression and shook his head. “No sense of humour, I see. Your loss.” He bit his lower lip in thought. “Yes, I guess it is what we are. But you could have gone for something a tad more original. Perhaps something with more pizzazz?”

  “Pizzazz?” David stared at the boy and took a step forward. “You have ruined countless worlds, countless lives, and you wish for pizzazz?” He clenched his fists in rage.

  The boy yawned and studied his fingernails. “I thought you’d understand, but perhaps that’s too much to ask for.”

  “Understand what?”

  “Why, us of course! Don’t you humans have a saying; keep your friends close and your enemies closer? I mean, this is a golden opportunity for you. What do you really know about us?”

  David stayed silent for a moment. “Why am I here?” he repeated in the end.

  “Mainly, because I’m bored. I thought meeting you would entertain me, but I was probably wrong.” He leaned forward and examined David, cocking his head. “Of course, I could pry you apart, I guess. Isn’t that what human boys do to insects?”

  He laughed and raised his hands as David took a step back and clasped his Sheimlek-Dar, the weapon he always wore on him. Just caressing the Old Woman’s gift eased the pounding in his chest.

  “Don’t worry, I’m only kidding. I promise not to hurt you.” The boy could see the suspicion in David’s eyes and hastened to explain. “The others have asked me to try and win you over. I told them it’s a waste of time, but there’s no harm in trying, is there?”

  David still said nothing and the boy rolled his eyes. He jumped down on a chair that materialized behind him. “Even if we can’t win you over, though, a little perspective won’t hurt, don’t you agree?”

  “If you’re referring to how humans stole your planet, I already know all about it.”

  “They didn’t steal it, they flattened it, rolled it and fried it, then baked it until crisp.” The boy stifled another yawn and lowered his voice. “Can I tell you a secret? I don’t give a rat’s ass.” He shrieked with joy, banging on the chair with one hand. “I mean, everyone’s furious about the planet and what a great place it used to be. So much anger, so much rage in them. I say, to hell with it! I, too, hate you, but you did us all a favour when you arrived.” He waved his hands towards the emptiness around them. “I can shape reality, create worlds with a mere thought. We were but shadows, but your coming here brought us to life.” As he spoke, the boy grew in stature, now towering over David. “You made us gods.”

  The last words thundered in the room so loudly that David let out an anguished cry and dropped onto his knees, clutching his ears in pain.

  “Sorry, I forget myself sometimes.” The boy had returned to his normal size, his voice a soothing whisper. He tapped the chair with restless fingers.

  “If you’re so powerful, why do all those things?” David asked, raising himself on uncertain legs.

  The boy scratched his head and yawned. “What things?”

  “You destroy, corrupt, ruin lives. Why?”

  The boy pursed his lips and pondered the question for a moment. “That’s the problem with being a god, I guess. You get bored easily. That’s just me, though. The others still have to outgrow all that rage, all that fury. They hate you, plain and simple. So do I, of course, but by now I’m bored, too.”

  David’s jaw slackened. “Bored?! You’ve taken us to hell and back because you’re bored?”

  The boy jumped off the chair and paced the room. “What can I say? Omnipotence can be such a drag, and there’s no thrill greater than corrupting an innocent.” He stood before David, staring into his face with glistening red eyes. “To take a soul and break it; what can be more fun? A whisper here, a prod there and you watch a person ruin everything they hold dear. And the best part? I haven’t actually done anything!”

  “Yes, you have!”

  The boy shook his head vigorously. “No, no – you don’t get it! We can’t really do anything; we can only project ourselves to your world. We can neither feel nor touch it, smell nor taste it. We’re reduced to mere shadows of a long-forgotten past, whispers in the dark. Your atrocity gave birth to us; we’re a dying world’s final gasp.”

  “That’s a lie. Who built Malekshei? Who slaughtered –”

  The boy raised a hand to interrupt him. “You misunderstand. Our servants can do all these things. They’re part of your world. But we aren’t. Don’t you get it? We’re sitting here, whispering in your ear, and watch you betray yourself; destroy each other.” He took a deep breath, then exhaled loudly. “Ah, the thrill of the chase… To see how far you can take a person, what they’ll do for you. Step by step, lead them to their doom.” His fingers stepped in the air, imitating walking. They fell abruptly, as if dropping from a height, and he mimicked a startled cry. “They all fall down, of course, but first they beg for it! I’ll do anything, just help me get the girl. Or the money. Or fame. What difference does it make? All that matters is we can make you puppets dance to our tune. It’s the greatest game of them all; it’s exhilarating.” He burst into care-free laughter. “We are the real gods of this planet.”

  “If you’re so powerful, what do you want from me?” David interrupted him.

  “I wanted to make a proposal. Aren’t you tired of all this fighting, all this pain? I have the power to end it all. You can be anything you want. What’s your greatest desire?”

  David stayed silent. Is he trying to tempt me?

  “Fine, don’t tell me,” the boy said, sighing. “It’s not like I don’t already know.”

  David suddenly found himself back in Themis’ temple, with Tie. “If I had my wish, I’d make the world a better place,” he said, and the scene melted away, disorienting him. He returned to the same place as before, only the boy was now sitting on a golden throne, a globe and a sceptre in each hand.

  “Wouldn’t you like to make the world a better place?” he asked. “Think of all the good you could do. All the things the Orbs have stolen from you.”

  Images of flying cars and spaceships exploring the far ends of the universe filled the void around them, followed by fields overflowing with gold husks, tilting under the weight of rich crops. Children were playing hide and seek, squealing with glee as they ran around. More scenes of progress; smiling, unchanging faces and quiet, untroubled lives succeeded each other in rapid procession, dazzling David.

  “Stop!”

  “Convinced?” the boy asked, giving him a knowing look. “Then how about we turn all this into reality? With you as its ruler, Pearseus will be the very centre of the universe. Peace and prosperity for all.”

  David shook his head. “Peace… Do you even know what it means? Peace is more than the absence of war; it’s the absence of war’s causes. How can you stop war, when you’re its cause?”

  “Now, wait a minute,” the boy said, rushing to his feet. He pointed the sceptre at David in accusation. “Don’t people deserve happiness? Will you deny them that?”

  “What makes people happy, is not absence of adversity. Our soul doesn’t care about pleasure or pain. It feeds and grows on experience, both pleasant and unpleasant. Like a fruit’s flesh rots away to feed the seed inside, the body decays to feed the soul. Constant bliss starves it as surely as poison kills a man.”

  “Fine, you don’t like happiness. What about truth? We can lead people to it. Isn’t that what everyone seeks?”

  “People seek the truth, but truth is not a destination; it’s a journey. A road.”

  “Truth is unchanging,” the boy countered. “If it were otherwise, it would just be an opinion.”

  “What do you know of truth? Everyone must find their own truth. Truth is reality. None of this is real. How can you offer what you don’t have? It’s all
a lie, because you are a lie. You’re not even here.” David waved his hand in the empty space, remembering a term the Voice had once used. “None of this is real. It’s a ghost cave; a makyo.”

  The boy chuckled. “Don’t you realise that reality, too, is an illusion?”

  “Then perhaps you’re no gods at all. Your divine abilities, your created worlds, everything about you is no more than a trick; a deception. Even your bored act.”

  This isn’t going well, the boy’s expression seemed to say. He scowled and morphed back into a menacing shadow, red eyes piercing the engulfing darkness. “Now listen here –”

  David raised his hand. “And if this is an illusion, then I, too, can shape it, can’t I? Say, by invoking the Lady?”

  The boy shook his head, raising his hands.

  A pulsating light tore up the very fabric of space where they were standing, increasing in intensity with every pulse. David grinned as a woman’s silhouette appeared within the blinding light, then bursts of light shot from within and the boy shrieked as the world around them shattered to a million pieces.

  From afar, he heard a voice calling his name. “Wake up! Daveed! Wake up!” The voice shook him awake. He pried his eyelids open. A familiar silhouette stood over him. “Two-horns?” There were others, too, holding torchlights. Their flames’ flickering light illuminated the small room, sending shadows to dance on the rug-covered walls. It must still be dark outside. He rubbed his eyes, trying to get his bearings. “What’s wrong?”