“Straight to the soul crystal, I’m afraid. If you survive that, there are tunnels leading to the surface.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“Humor has never been part of my programming, I’m afraid.” The Librarian looked sad. “Apparently, I just ‘don’t get it.’ ” He said the last words while making air quotes with his fingers.
Outside, the bangs grew louder.
“I can’t think with all this noise,” Cyrus complained, wiping sweat from his brow. “And what’s with all the heat?”
“We’re sitting right in the middle of a lava river,” the Librarian said. “You may have seen its effects on the surface, at your cemetery.”
David squeezed Gella’s hand. “Told you.”
“Now, I don’t mean to rush you, but I’ve already started the countdown to opening the door,” the Librarian said, placing his glasses atop his nose once more. “You really should hurry.”
“Crap!” Cyrus shouted, his injured shoulder throbbing from the tension in his muscles.
They all bolted toward the end of the room. A red glow showed them where the door lay open.
“Quite so,” the Librarian said behind them.
Fennel Bay
Sol
The Anthean center crawled backward, still holding despite the heavy losses. Sol lowered her binoculars, unable to watch the carnage. Her stomach spat acid into her throat. Should I have them retreat? But then Anthea’s lost. All is lost.
She paced back and forth, her mind numb. When she raised the binoculars to her eyes again, the flanks had started attacking from both sides.
“This is it,” she shouted. “Tell the center to advance.”
The ensign raised flags. In response, more flags were raised behind the Anthean center. A moment later, the lines stood still as the retreating army dug in. The wind carried furious shouts and the cries of the wounded and dying along the blaring of horns. She plastered the binoculars to her eyes.
The Anthean lines started an agonizingly slow advance. She let out a triumphant holler when the enemy lines lost ground for the first time. A moment later, the Capitolian center realized they were now under a three-pronged attack. Gradually at first, then with an increasing urgency, their lines broke. Men and women fled toward their ships, crumbling under the onslaught. Some Capitolians, unaware of the bay’s terrain, ran toward the swamps, where certain death awaited them. Others fled to the grove, mad with panic.
“Pursue them,” she shouted.
Her ensign raised the flag. The three groups of Antheans united in a long, thin line that covered the entire width of the bay, descending upon their defeated enemy like a relentless hail of swords and spears.
The panicked Capitolians rushed into their ships and pushed them back at sea. Through the binoculars, she watched an Anthean grab a ship’s bow with one hand. Her mouth twitched with horror as a Capitolian sailor severed the limb with a swift strike. The Anthean refused to let go, holding on to the ship with his left hand. The sailor cut that off too, and the furious Anthean bit down on the bow, using his dying breath to hold on to the freed vessel. Goose bumps clothed her skin as he disappeared in the waters.
A group of Antheans toppled the Capital’s banner from the beach and raised Anthea’s owl. Sol grabbed the parapet to steady herself as her heart raced at the sight. We’ve won!
Map of the Fennel Bay battle (308 AL)
The Capital
David
They barreled down the room and through a hatch similar to the first one. It snapped closed behind them as soon as they were through and into a narrow tunnel, barely large enough to stand up in. It reeked of the Whispers’ foul presence. David glanced around, trying without success to locate the stench’s source.
“Now what?” Cyrus asked.
“I think the Librarian genuinely wanted to help,” Gella said. “He’ll find a way to buy us some time.”
“They won’t be in any hurry to come,” Cyrus said. “If this leads straight to the soul crystal, we’re as good as dead anyway.”
“Unless we find a way to beat the Whispers,” Sebastian said and twirled his rod.
David ignored the banter, focusing on the glow that came from around a sharp corner. Dark shades seemed to dance on the tunnel’s rough edges. Whispering voices and hushed cackles could be heard in the distance. He took a step forward and his head pounded with a splitting headache. “Can anyone else feel this?” he asked through gritted teeth.
“The headache, you mean?” Cyrus pushed his right temple with the back of his hand. “I take it we’re close to the Whispers, so no way but ahead.” He pushed forward.
“Wait!” David cried out, but Cyrus had already marched ahead.
David noticed the pallor on Gella’s face had increased. “How’re you holding up?”
She shook her head, her taut features revealing the pain she was in. “I’m fine.” She leaned against the warm wall to steady herself.
He slithered his arm around her back to support her. “Come.”
They shuffled down the tunnel and turned the corner.
Gella gasped. “This is…”
“The soul crystal,” David whispered.
They stood on a precipice at the edge of a vast room, larger than he had ever imagined. Red crystals lined its walls, making him feel like he were standing at the edge of a giant geode. At its center, a particularly striking structure joined ground and ceiling in a stalactite-like formation. A man’s shadow was trapped inside, his knees bent, his arms open in eternal supplication.
Gella followed David’s gaze. “The Architect,” she murmured.
His gaze traveled up to spheres trapped in the crystal. Their light had gone, but he recognized the intricate shapes inside. They no longer danced and pulsed, making them look like fossilized remains that maintained little of their original beauty and elegance. “And the Orbs that’ve fed the Whispers.”
He heard clapping beside them, and whirled around to see a boy with red eyes. “Well done, servant boy.”
“I remember you,” he cried out, stepping in front of Gella.
“What is this?” Cyrus asked.
“One of the ways the Whispers appear to us,” David said.
“Would you rather I showed up like a shadow?” the boy asked. In the blink of an eye, it had transformed into a vaguely humanoid hole of blackness. Its proportions were all wrong for a human, with elongated arms that almost touched the ground, much like a tree’s branches. Shadowy, ethereal fingers formed and disappeared at their end. Its face was no longer visible, save for two huge, bright red eyes.
Sebastian flicked his rod to life and sliced through the ethereal form. The fiery blade passed right through it, failing to harm it in any way.
The shadow looked at him with something approaching pity. “You can’t hurt me, clone.”
The voice, normally whispery, now boomed and echoed through the room, filled with raw power. Every word lanced David’s head with racking pain.
Sebastian roared in defiance. “My name’s Sebastian!”
“Interesting. We saved you, yet you betrayed us. A clone with a soul. I’ll delight in devouring it.”
“Show them your power, Servant of Themis,” a nasally voice cried out behind them.
“Priest!” Sebastian cried out and charged.
The creature cackled and waved its arm. A wave of unbearable anguish hit David. “No,” he cried out, clutching his head with both hands. He dropped to his knees.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Gella fall to the ground, followed by Cyrus. Both screamed in agony. Only Sebastian remained standing, swaying as if hit by an invisible strike. In the end, even he crumbled to the ground, twitching.
“Anna!” he whimpered. “Forgive me.”
Alexander chortled, caressing the stone hanging from his neck. It blazed like the Whisper’s eyes.
Take their hands, Parad’s voice commanded him.
I can’t move!
Do it!
Letting out a roar, David crawled toward Gella. The creature fixed its eyes on him. Crushing despair filled his soul. It drained him of all desire to live. He sank on his knees, his hand inches from Gella’s.
Take her hand!
I can’t!
Do you love her?
Yes!
Then, take her hand!
Memories of him and Gella filled his head. Their first kiss, their first time together, their goodbye. Love filled his heart, a golden glow that chased away the shadows in his heart. He grabbed her hand and the warm glow spread through his fingers and into her hand.
She gasped and her eyes flickered open. “David,” she whispered. She squeezed his fingers.
The creature hollered in rage. More shadows gathered around it. Piercing red eyes filled the air. More hatred than he could ever imagine assaulted him from all sides. The golden glow started to fade away.
Focus on her!
He shut his eyes and let the sweet memories return. His other hand moved almost without him noticing, until his fingers reached Cyrus’s arm. He clutched it. A father’s love for his son filled him, dwarfing even his love for Gella.
Cyrus moaned. “Dad.”
I’m here, son.
David felt Parad’s presence flowing through them all, joining them.
Let love win over hate.
Mental defenses crumbled inside of David. Frozen emotions unraveled. He felt at one with Parad, with Gella, with Cyrus. The feeling extended to Sebastian, still struggling to keep on his legs. It then pushed outside, engulfing the wall of Whispers surrounding them. Pity filled his heart. Remorse for a terrible crime humanity committed all those centuries ago.
I’m sorry.
“No,” the first Whisper thundered. “You will not be forgiven. You must pay for all eternity for your crime.”
“Punish the sinners,” Alexander shrieked.
“I forgive you,” one of the Whispers said, surprising David. The creature’s hatred faded away, along with the darkness surrounding it.
“Me too,” another one said.
One after another, several Whispers disappeared, their rage melting away like morning fog. Red crystal dissolved from around them, clearing a path.
“I’ll never forgive you,” another Whisper snarled. “Never!” It jumped in the middle of the path, cutting them off.
“Then you die,” Sebastian bellowed. He pointed his rod at a part of the wall where the crystal had vanished. He squeezed the trigger and fired a repeated volley. The whole room shook as the wall exploded. Debris flew around them. Through a crack, lava flowed into the cavern.
“What have you done?” Alexander screeched. He pulled a dagger and charged Sebastian.
Sebastian fired again. The charge hit Alexander in the chest. The crystal on his neck flared, absorbing it.
Alexander guffawed. “Can’t you see? My faith keeps me strong. You can’t hurt me, blasphemer.”
His eyes popped wide open as the edge of a sword sliced through his chest. He stared at it in disbelief, then slid down and crashed onto the ground.
Behind him, Cyrus pushed him with his foot while pulling out his sword. “I can,” he said and wiped the blood from the blade on Alexander’s white robe.
Furious shrieks filled the room. “You can’t do this,” the first Whisper hollered.
David stumbled to his feet. “Watch us.” He pulled Gella up, then tugged at Cyrus’s arm. “We must go.”
“Where?” Cyrus asked, his gaze darting around the room.
The flowing lava edged them toward one corner and started dropping down the precipice and into the cavern. With a booming crack, part of the wall gave way. It crashed down the river, which grew in size. Lava poured faster than before.
A golden sphere shot up and hovered over the precipice. Jump!
“Follow Parad,” David shouted and pulled Gella by her wrist. Together, they jumped into the sea of red crystals.
Fennel Bay
Satori
She gasped and tumbled backward as an arrow struck her chest. It ripped the uniform and bounced off the suit, but the skin underneath felt numb with pain. This will bruise. Well, it beats dying. She saw the archer nock another arrow and she zapped him with the laser. The man clutched his eyes and crawled away, screaming.
She reached the monstrosity that had haunted her dreams all this time and spat at it. The spittle landed on the hot metal and sizzled. She looked for something to throw at it.
A man with a long moustache in a blue apron let out a loud cry and charged her with a wrench.
She raised her weapon and fired. The man let out a howl and fell, pushing his palms against his face.
She stood over him. “You’re responsible for this thing, aren’t you?” When he failed to answer, she kicked him. Hard. “Answer me,” she hollered.
“Yes,” he cried out. He removed his hands from his face to show glassy eyes filled with tears. “What have you done to me?”
She ignored the question and kicked him again. “Were you in Ephia?”
He let out a pained cry and whimpered instead of an answer.
She grabbed his apron and pulled him up. “Were you in Ephia?” she repeated, shouting in his ear.
“Yes,” he cried out, tears streaming down his face. “But I was just a trainee.”
She grinned. “You will do for now.” She pulled her dagger and plunged it into his neck.
He let out a gurgling scream and clutched his neck. Blood slipped through his fingers as he collapsed onto the ground. Within seconds, the sand turned crimson under his body.
A shouted command drew her attention. A hundred yards away, Altman’s guards were hurriedly escorting him into a ship. As soon as he embarked, men shoved the ship into the sea.
With a curse, Satori jumped over a small dune and followed the wave of Antheans to the shore. Before she could reach Altman’s ship, it started gliding on waters turned crimson.
Six soldiers broke her charge, standing between her and her prize. She used her momentum to jump over the first one, plunging the dagger in her left hand into his neck. She left it there as she rolled on the ground, a sword’s blade digging a groove in the sand half an inch from her exposed neck. She aimed the laser and pressed the trigger. The man ducked and charged her. His shoulder caught her chest as she was scrambling to her feet. She flew backward, crashing against another guard. Whirling around, she tore his sword from his hand and plunged it under his leather armor. It slit his skin and dug deep into his side.
The first assailant lifted his sword and attacked. She swung to the side, narrowly avoiding it, and fired the laser once again. The man staggered back with a shriek and let his sword drop.
The remaining three guards closed in, surrounding her.
I don’t have time for this!
She picked up the man’s sword and swung it to clear a path, then darted to the sea. I hope the suit and laser are waterproof! She jumped into the water and swam to Altman’s ship. Thank you, Dad, for all the swimming lessons! When she emerged to take a breath, arrows hissed and splashed in the water around her. She ignored them, focusing on reaching the ship. From the ship’s deck, she heard the orders to raise the sails. She redoubled her efforts and her hand touched the ship’s stem just as the jib and sails were raised.
Their loud flapping drowned all other sound for a moment. The wind started to turn the ship, the wood shuddering and groaning. A loose rope swayed toward her and struck her abdomen. The searing pain made her lose her grip. She held on to the stem with her left hand, her body swaying, until she managed to regain her grip. With a groan, she lifted herself and clutched the figurehead. A wooden mermaid stared at her, her blind eyes scolding Satori for her insolence.
Ignoring the mermaid’s silent reprimand, Satori lowered her head back, rolled her legs around the woman’s figure and hoisted her body up. She lifted her arms and clutched the bowsprit, then ran down the figurehead and jumped onto the forecastle. She dropped on all fours and crawled to
its edge to look over the main deck.
No one had noticed her yet. Altman was screaming insults at a bunch of officers who had their backs turned to the forecastle. Towering over him sat a huge slab of marble, blocking her view of the quarter deck. The sun’s reflection on the marble turned everyone into shadows and silhouettes. She lifted her palm to shield her eyes from the glare and unholstered her weapon. Taking aim at Altman, she squeezed the trigger. Instead of the buzzing zap, she heard a hollow click. She squeezed again. And again. Nothing happened. She studied the dead weapon and banged it against her palm. Water flew out. Crap. The water must have shorted it. I hope I can fix it, or Sol will never speak to me again.
A surprised yelp snapped her attention to the deck. Altman pointed at her, hollering with rage.
The officers whirled around. One of them pulled an energy weapon from his holster and fired. Satori jumped on the foremast and held on to the jib just as the energy charge blew up the forecastle under her feet.
The foremast swayed violently. She hugged it tightly as a second charge blew up the jib. The unfurling sail almost caught her. She grabbed a swinging brail and pushed with both feet against the foremast, propelling herself to the foresail. The racket from the groaning masts drowned out the shouts from the deck below and Altman’s furious barks. She jumped onto the shrouds and started climbing her way up the mast, when another blast tore half the pole from under her. She hung on to a smoldering piece of rope and swayed like a desperate pendulum until the line slipped from under her hands, burning her palms. Crying out in pain, she crashed onto the main deck, at the mast’s foot. The officer lifted his weapon and aimed at her head, a triumphant grin on his face.
The Capital
Sebastian
Anna was beckoning him from a narrow strip of clear ground. From the edge of the precipice, Sebastian looked down at her. Burning wind and ashes blew on his face. Muttering a prayer to an unknown god, he closed his eyes and prepared to jump.
A burning pain behind his left shoulder blade made him swirl around, clutching his rod.
Pearseus Bundle: The Complete Pearseus Sci-fi/Fantasy Series Page 108