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

by Nicholas C. Rossis

  “You don’t think they’d do it?” she asked, as if she had heard him. “Are you willing to bet your wife’s life?”

  He stared at her for a long time, conflicting emotions running through him. She was right, of course. He had placed an inordinate amount of faith on the creatures that had refused to help him. Had the Orbs stood with them in Malekshei, perhaps things would have been different. Perhaps Moirah would not be… He shook his head; it made little sense to dwell in the past. The need to place his loyalty on someone gnawed at him, the prospect of losing his faith just as terrifying as that of losing Moirah. “Faith’s all I have left,” he finally said.

  “You need to stand your ground, son. Don’t let grief and fear guide your actions. You mentioned your friend, Oran. Have Pratin’s actions changed how you feel about him?”

  He pursed his lips, bringing his old mentor and friend to his mind. “No.”

  “Then you need to tell the Orbs that you’ll only do what’s right.” She placed a finger on his chest, ignoring his surprised attempt to draw back. “What your heart tells you is right.”

  He studied her, his mind spinning in his head.

  After a moment, she took his hand in hers, her grip surprisingly firm. “What happened between you two?”

  The question startled him. “Who?”

  “Moirah and you.”

  He hesitated. “Cyrus—”

  “After that,” she interrupted him. “When you met again. How did it go?”

  He thought back to the past weeks. Since the siege of Malekshei, Moirah had been cold, aloof. He knew she was mad at him for putting the life of their daughter in danger. She blamed his stupid pride, his principles. But he did not know who he was without them; for what is a man without faith, but a rudderless boat kicked around by the waves? How could she love him, but not accept him for the man he was? What did she love, then, but a spectre, a figment of her imagination? His eyes moistened despite himself, and he wiped them with the back of his hand.

  He wanted to tell Tie all of that. He longed for her advice, her reassurance. He needed someone to tell him that everything would be all right, that they still had time to make things right. To win this battle. But he was Lehmor of the Wind Warriors, and despite what the Orbs thought, he was still his tribe’s leader. And leaders don’t complain to strangers about their wives. They don’t cry on their shoulders. “Well,” was all he said and turned his face away.

  She waited for him to continue, but he had no more words for her. Her voice was soft when she next spoke. “Like she said, you’re a man of honour. And men of honour often have to make the hardest sacrifices. I’ll see to it that you don’t have to make more than you should.” She dropped his hand and jumped to her feet with a surprising agility. He watched her as she disappeared back up the path that led back to the cave, pausing only to kick a terraformer out of her way.

  The Capital

  Angel

  “They should be here any moment now,” Angel muttered with a confidence she did not feel. Cyrus sat down, and she threw him a worried look. “How are you holding up?”

  “Fine.” There was pain in his eyes, but whether it was his body or his soul that hurt, she did not know.

  “It will be all right,” she said and touched his hand. “I’ll keep you safe.”

  He let out a bitter chuckle. “That’s my role. See where it got us.” His words came out slowly. “I hope you have better luck.”

  “It’s not your fault. It was those creatures.” Did she really believe that? She held her breath for a second, hoping he would not ask her.

  “Don’t know who I am.”

  Her brow creased. Had he forgotten his name? Was his condition worsening? “You’re Cyrus,” she said, emphasising each word. She hoped his brain had not been damaged to the point he no longer knew himself.

  He shook his head, an annoyed look in his eyes. “I killed Fallen. Won Malekshei. Rescued Dad. Then, betrayed everyone.” He seemed to struggle for the right words, his voice trailing off every now and then. She waited while he carefully strung words together, like pearls on a necklace. “I’ve been a hero and a villain. Which is the true me?”

  She sat herself next to him and took his hand. “Sophie once told me a legend among her people. Everyone has two wolves in their heart, one white and one black. They’re always at each other’s throats, throughout a man’s life.”

  “Who wins?”

  She chuckled. “The one we feed.”

  Instead of an answer, he squeezed her hand, a soft smile on his lips.

  “Sorry to interrupt the moment, but shouldn’t they’ve come by now?” Xhi shifted his weight as if ants were crawling up his thick legs.

  “I’ll check.” With a grunt, Angel lifted the heavy lid covering the manhole and pushed her head out. She could not see a soul in the narrow backstreet. Making a snap decision, she slid the heavy lid onto the street, then crawled out, holding her breath. When she heard no sound, she crept to the street corner. From there, she could see their house, behind the lush garden that had been her parents’ pride and joy, a lifetime ago.

  She glanced anxiously towards the open manhole, where Xhi and Cyrus were waiting for her. Had her plan failed? She decided to risk another look and slithered away from the shadows to glance around the corner. Only a couple of priests of Themis stood just outside the intricate iron gate, seemingly lost in conversation. Priests?

  Before she had a chance to wonder about their presence, the gate groaned open. Sophie and the twins strolled out. Angel’s heart raced at their sight. She fought the urge to rush towards them. Why is that priest following them? One of the priests left the house to hurry behind Sophie, hoisting his robe up. The scales of Themis swung around his neck with each long stride. Angel bolted towards the manhole before they could turn the corner, when a loud whistle broke the early evening tranquillity.

  “They’re here!” someone barked. Heavy leather boots pounded on the cobbles.

  “Run!” Sophie’s voice cried out.

  Angel spun around and rushed back to the corner. The twins crashed against her.

  “Angel!” they both screamed in glee and jumped into her open arms. An immense sense of completeness washed over her, her family once again together. She hurriedly shepherded them towards the sewers.

  “Where’s Sophie?” she asked as soon as her emotions let her speak again.

  “She wanted to speak to the priest,” Cook said.

  “Ew, it stinks!” Elsie pinched her nose as they approached the manhole.

  “So does Angel,” Cook whispered and they giggled.

  “Why did—”

  Pained cries sounded from around the corner, followed by curses and rushing feet. “Hurry, in there,” she said and pushed the twins into the sewers.

  “But Angel…” Elsie started, then Xhi caught her and her voice trailed off.

  As soon as the twins were down the manhole, Angel ran back to the street corner and stole a glance. Sophie lay on the street, blood pooling under her. The priest held a dagger, painted red, and was pointing a dozen soldiers in Angel’s direction.

  Angel lunged into the sewers, pulling the cover over the opening just as the first soldier broke into the narrow alley.

  “Where is Sophie?” Cook asked, his voice thick with worry.

  “Shh!” Angel brought a finger to her lips. “Run!” If they find us… Agony replaced the relief she had felt at the sight of the twins. Could Themis be so cruel as to tear them apart just as they had finally been reunited?

  They fled down the narrow tunnel. Xhi motioned them forward. He pushed a lit torch in Angel’s hand, and another in Cyrus’s. “I might need my hands.” She nodded as he slid a dagger out of a holster strapped on his belt.

  In the distance, they heard the grating of metal against cobbles as the soldiers opened the manhole to search for them.

  She lost track of time as they sped down one tunnel after another, each stinking a little more. She fought to push the image o
f Sophie’s bloodied body away from her mind, but it kept popping back to her head. The woman had been like a mother and a sister, helping raise the twins as if they were her own. And the priest; why would a priest of Themis be after them? What had they done to offend their goddess?

  Elsie froze and her pretty face went white. Angel followed her eyes to a dozen red eyes peering at them from the darkness. She pulled her little sister by the hand. “Don’t look at it,” she whispered, but the little girl could not move. Angel leaned down to face her, trying to avoid the stinking waters. More red eyes blinked around them. “Honey, it’s just a rat. It’s more scared of you than you are of it.”

  Elsie bobbed her head while craning it around Angel’s shoulder to stare at the animals splashing in the stinking water. Angel swallowed a sigh and lifted her into her arms. Themis, she’s heavier than she looks!

  The girl burrowed in Angel’s arms, squirming with each new rat they encountered. Balancing the torch with one hand and holding Elsie with the other proved impossible. Angel handed the torch to Cook. Stumbling under the weight, she moved as fast as she could. She took one turn, then another, when the torch fell into the water with a loud hiss. It glowed for a second, then the light disappeared.

  “I’m sorry,” Cook whispered with a strained voice. “It slipped.”

  Angel stopped herself from screaming at him. “It’s all right. We’ll just follow…” Her voice trailed off. Where was the light from Xhi’s torch? He must have moved on, unaware that he had left them behind. She fought the urge to shout his name; she had no idea how close the soldiers might be. When was the last time she had seen the flame from his torch? Shit! It was back at the rats’ nest. She must have taken a wrong turn, and now they were lost. Swearing at herself, she wondered how to tell the children that they had to go back. She opened her mouth, then heard faraway voices. Soldiers!

  “Follow me,” she whispered and raised one hand to feel the walls as she pressed forward in the darkness. In the distance, her straining eyes caught a light. She headed that way, hoping to find Xhi. Instead, they arrived at a grating that sliced the dim light from above into dirty squares flickering in the waters. She let Elsie down with a loud sigh. “Will you be all right now, honey?”

  The girl nodded, holding back terrified tears.

  She heard the voices again, this time accompanied by the sound of approaching feet splashing in the filthy waters. They must be getting closer! Her gaze jumped around, searching for a hiding place. She pushed the twins into a tight alcove, squirming behind them. I wish I had a knife! More splashing echoed in the narrow space, drawing nearer. She held her breath as she pressed their bodies to the wall, wishing to blend into the shadows.

  “Angel?” Cyrus’s voice made her jump out of her skin, then she burst from her hiding place to jump into his arms.

  “Thank Themis, I thought—”

  Xhi did not let her finish her sentence. “They’re heading this way. Hurry.” He climbed a tight ladder before pushing a manhole cover to sneak a look outside. A few moments later, he motioned them up. With some loud, straining breaths, she raised Cook, then Elsie into his arms, and he lifted them out. Angel pushed Cyrus up, then followed them.

  They had emerged in a confined alleyway, now covered in darkness. The derelict buildings could only be part of the Slums. She drank the evening air in deep gulps. The stained walls around them stank of mould, urine and moisture, but to Angel the stale air smelled of freedom. The twins stared at the unfamiliar surroundings. Elsie sniffed and wrinkled her nose in disgust. They must be so scared. Angel wished she had some sort of treat, aside from a half-eaten apple.

  She waited until Xhi and her brother pulled the manhole cover back in its place before exhaling a deep and relieved breath. “Now what?”

  “This way,” Xhi whispered. Too late for the Slums’ morning crowds but still too early for the evening prowlers, they met only two people – a comatose drunk and a limbless beggar – as they meandered through its alleyways. Above them, lit windows revealed the presence of families preparing for the night; of thieves and smugglers about to go to work; of hookers and gamblers getting ready for their next mark. In the distance, the lights of the Chamber of Justice shone, like a lone beacon failing to light up the darkness of the Slums.

  They stopped before a derelict building and Xhi tapped rhythmically the crumbling door. After a moment, it opened with a loud groan. An old First shone a lamp in their faces.

  “Are you crazy?” Xhi hissed as he pushed her aside to stride inside. “You want someone to see us?”

  They followed him into the house, and the woman shut the door behind them. “Welcome to my home,” Xhi said.

  “You took us to your home?” Angel rasped, still out of breath. “This is the first place they’ll search. What were you thinking?” Xhi opened his mouth to respond, but Cyrus cut him off. “This was your plan? To deliver me back to Teo?”

  Xhi’s face hardened. “Not my family home. My second home. The one Tie made for us.”

  “Us?” Angel said, confused.

  “Come,” the old First instructed them and sat them down at a wooden table. They sat down on a bench made of planks. “You must be hungry.”

  She headed off to a small fireplace, where an iron pot hung over a small fire. A stew bubbling inside filled the room with its earthy aroma. While she poured the contents into clay dishes with a wooden ladle, the door burst open. A gaunt, middle-aged woman rushed inside. Her hair was pushed back into a tight knot that pronounced her austere features. Xhi jumped to his feet as soon as he saw her.

  “There you are,” he said and rushed towards her. She pushed him away as he tried to take her into his arms. “You stink worse than a hog,” she said, creasing her nose. Her face hardened when she saw the rest of them. “Who are these?”

  “Everyone, this is Hecate, my wife,” Xhi said.

  Cyrus nodded politely, while the twins gaped at her. “I’ve heard much about you,” Angel said politely.

  “So you’re the other woman in my husband’s life,” the woman half-joked, measuring her from head to toe. Her voice had a nasal quality that grated, while her downturned mouth and wrinkled brow betrayed her thoughts on Angel. She turned her attention to Cyrus. “And you’re the Prince.” He shifted his weight on the hard bench as she studied him. “Not much to look at,” she concluded. “And you all stink like a herd of pigs. I’ll go draw you all a bath.”

  She disappeared towards the back of the room. “She’s the one…” Angel whispered.

  “Yes, the one your dad helped me keep,” Xhi said with a scowl. Angel wondered if Parad would have bothered, had he actually seen the woman.

  The old woman plonked dishes on the table, handing each of them a spoon. Angel cast a worried look at Cyrus. He slurped the hot soup into his mouth with leaden hands that seemed to struggle to hold on to the spoon. He looks exhausted. She could not imagine what he was going through, but as her gaze caressed the people around the table, she felt for the first time in years that everything would be fine. She placed a spoonful of the soup into her mouth. Saliva spurted and she sighed with pleasure. With each spoonful, she realized how hungry she was. For a few minutes, only the slurping sounds and the clatter of spoons on dishes could be heard. Even the twins ate without a word.

  When she emptied the dish, the old woman filled it again without asking. Angel beamed her a grateful smile, finally allowing herself to relax. Whatever the future may hold, for now we’re free.

  “Once you’re done, we must move on,” Xhi said, breaking the silence. “Each moment we spend in the city, we risk getting caught.”

  “How will we get out?” Angel asked. If her brother minded her taking charge of their fates, he did not show it. He had eaten most of his soup, and had now closed his eyes and leaned against the wall, as if sleeping.

  “The gates will be guarded. So, we leave by boat. With so much traffic on the river, they’re not as careful with boats as they’re with wagons.”

&nb
sp; Cyrus lost his balance as he fell asleep and jolted awake. Cook stifled a yawn.

  “Can we rest first?” Angel asked.

  “Yes, but only for a few hours. We don’t want to spend another day in the city.”

  “Thank you,” Angel said and took Xhi’s hand. “For everything. I don’t—”

  “Your bath is ready,” a voice interrupted her, and she dropped her hand in a hurry, feeling Hecate’s scalding gaze on her. The woman shoved Xhi before her. Angel could hear her nagging voice as they disappeared into the back.

  Scorpio

  Gella

  “You think that Scorpio’s Secretary is a thief,” David said.

  Gella shot him an annoyed glance and jumped up to pace the room. He’s not even trying to hide his disbelief! “I don’t think, I know it!”

  “I know she was rude and a bitch,” he said and lowered his voice. “But a thief?”

  Doesn’t he get it? “Not a thief. She’s the one who had me kicked out of Scorpio. The one who made my life a living hell.”

  “That’s ridiculous. You said you didn’t even know her.”

  Gella passed her fingers through her hair in frustration. “I didn’t recognise the name, but she looked familiar. Then I remembered her. She was in my squad. A mousy thing, always getting in trouble. I can’t even remember how many times I had to save her ungrateful butt.”

  “Fine, so she was unpopular back then. How do you know she planted the candles?”

  Gella spun around to face him. “That’s what’s been nagging at me! The golden candelabras, isn’t that what she said? Candelabras, not candelabra.”

  David’s brow furrowed. “So?”

  “Inside my locker, they found a single candelabra. Everyone thought that’s all that was stolen. Only during my interrogation did I realise that two had gone missing.”

  “Did they find them?”

  “Just the one in my locker. In fact, they never even admitted that both candles had been stolen. As far as anyone knows, just the single taper was stolen.”