The Complete Pendomus Chronicles Trilogy: Books 1-3 of the Pendomus Chronicles Dystopian Scifi Boxed Set Series

by Carissa Andrews

  He lowers the sonic resonator, the silent question written in his expression.

  “When I’m gone—she’ll protect you,” I say, sending my final request to Tethys and trusting she’ll follow through.

  Fenton takes his place beside Trae and says, “Hate ta break it ta ya, doll. Bu’ we ain’t here fer ourselves. We came all this way fer you. So ya better ge’ on wit it.”

  Kani ducks down as one of the birds bounces off Tethys’ shield, flinging back toward us.

  “Hurry up and get in the damn tree already!” she yells, arming herself with a knife in each hand and standing beside Fenton.

  Surrounded by my friends and my guardian, the time has come.

  Dazed, I turn to the Tree, reaching for the crystal again. As I wrap my hand around the tiny, pulsating stone, the hairs on the back of my neck prickle.

  The breeze carries the subtle, but inescapable sound of a chuckle. The close proximity of it makes me freeze.

  “Runa …” A voice lulls. “There you are, my little everblossom. I’ve been searching for you.”

  21

  Runa

  BLINKING WILDLY, I turn around to I face everything I’ve been warned of—Videus.

  Instead, the golden strands of Fenton’s hair flicker like flames as they reflect the sun and its halo behind him. His yellow glasses no longer frame his face. Instead, his face contorts, flickering oddly until his eyes become impossibly dark, empty black pools. What takes me aback the most is the expression he’s exchanged. No longer his normal goofy self, his nose crinkles as if the way I smell offends him.

  A slow, creepy grin spreads across his lips and he dusts the snow of himself.

  Trae stands directly between me Fenton—clearly having pushed his friend away from us as soon as he realized what was happening. Kani scrambles backward, her mouth agape and speechless. Her knuckles are white as they grasp the handles of her knives.

  “Fenton, you can fight this,” I say, my voice weak as I try to figure out what to do, what this could mean, “You’re stronger than he is.”

  I can’t take my eyes off of him, as I look for a sign, any sign, the real Fenton is still in there.

  Kani’s face tells me everything I need to know, however. A mixture of shock, horror and determination are rolled up into one powerful expression as she raises her knives.

  “Get the hell outta him,” She spits toward Fenton’s form.

  “Fenton, man—come back to us,” Trae says, reaching out for his friend.

  Fenton arcs an eyebrow and says, “Call me Videus. Fenton’s not here right now. But I’ll be sure to pass on the message.”

  “How can this be happening? Fenton’s never been inside the Helix—he doesn’t even have the eLink installed,” Kani says, edging toward Trae.

  “I don’t know— ” Trae says, bewilderment creeping into his voice, “The ComLink— Did he ever remove it?”

  Kani shakes her head.

  “No, with Runa being the focus, he didn’t think he’d be a target any more. He was keeping Landry filled in on our plans,” she says, her eyes opening wider.

  “What are you talking about? Again?” I ask.

  Trae leans back, whispering urgently, “Videus tapped into Fenton’s ComLink. He knew everything. Where we were going; why.”

  “Alright. Enough chatting amongst yourselves. It’s rude,” Videus says.

  Kani steps forward, her knives raised as she says, “Screw you.”

  Videus chuckles. “You always were one for the melodramatics.”

  “You don’t know anything about me,” Kani spits back.

  “Ah, but I know more than you think,” he says, tapping his temple.

  Fenton’s features contort in odd ways and for a moment, I completely forget this is our beloved friend.

  “Videus,” I say, trying to decide if I should still take my chances with the Tree. Tethys’ energy insists I do—no good will come of staying here, “Leave them out of this. It’s me you want.”

  I clutch the crystal until it digs into my palm.

  “Runa …” Trae says, shooting me a determined look, “Tree.”

  “You know, Runa … I’ll tell you about your brother,” Videus says, his voice taunting me.

  “Ignore him. He’s trying to stall you,” Kani says through gritted teeth.

  “What about Baxten?” I ask.

  A triumphant grin spreads across his face and he says, “I can take you to him, if you’d like.”

  Black tendrils sweep across the sky as a mass of juncos descend. Most circle the area to perch in the gnarly branches above. Their calls echoing across the snow as if they’d like nothing more than provocation. The hint of relief at the sight of them is dampened by the way the trees undulate in the sunlight, suddenly making me feel trapped. Videus barely considers their arrival, taking the moment instead to smirk.

  “Where’s the Waterbear? Using her parlor tricks, no doubt? Come out, come out…” he chides, tilting his chin upward as he surveys the landscape.

  Tethys tenses at his prodding, her instincts teetering on the edge. She doesn’t like this any more than I do.

  Shrugging to himself, a wary amusement flashes across this false Fenton’s face before he returns his cold gaze to me.

  “No matter. She’ll make herself known soon enough. She’s no match for all I’m capable of. I can be anywhere and nowhere all at the same time. Ponder a bit on that. Besides, you’re what we’re here for.”

  “You’re gonna have to go through us first,” Trae says, reigniting the sonic resonator.

  “Damn straight.” Kani huffs.

  “Kani, you would never hurt the man you love. You and I both know that. Put your weapons down,” Videus says, peering down his nose at her.

  As if struggling to retain control, Kani slowly lowers her knives.

  So close, the vibration of the aquamarine crystal is intense, as if the air around us is super-charged. Taking a deep breath, I center myself for what I have to do, knowing no matter what happens, I need to be ready. My mind races and every part of me is hyperaware one wrong move could be my last.

  Suddenly, my juncos enter the fray, leaving the trees to circle the scene. Their agitated calls add to the cacophony around us and I blink away the tears blurring my vision.

  “Are you going to come with us? Or are we going to play a while?” Videus asks.

  With a swift hand gesture, the largest of the birds not already circling us dive in from the trees. The additional birds come in waves from all directions. Tethys snorts as she stomps the ground, preparing for the attack. This is what she was anticipating. Feeling useless, I watch in disgust as everything unfolds.

  Tethys extends her shield, encompassing all three of us inside. This time, as the vulture-birds hit, things are different—this is not their play, this is their real attack. Without care for their own lives, they slam against Tethys, each point of impact makes her shield bevel inward, releasing a black substance that creeps over the outside like a puddle of blood. Their bodies crumple to the ground and the next wave of birds take their place. The black substance begins to bind, sparking like the salamanders from puddle to puddle. I’m suddenly lost without air—the bond between Tethys and I has grown quickly and I take in the sensation this attack causes in her.

  Videus’ eyes blink as he steps back, searching for our location.

  “Clever,” he spits, pacing back and forth.

  “What the hell is going on here?” Kani screeches, ducking down as the birds continue to attack.

  “We’re being protected—that’s all you need to know,” I say, readying myself.

  Kani and Trae both look around, wide eyed as the attack continues from all sides. Tethys’ shield holds, but she won’t be able to keep up against this forever.

  In an accelerated energy burst, she releases a thunderous reverberation which disburses the substance from her shield and slams the birds back fifteen meters or more. They recoil, some landing on the ground with a sickening se
ries of scraps and thuds.

  “Let me out, Tethys. Please— ” I say, pushing toward the back edge of her shield.

  She ignores me, holding her ground and searching for the next threat. The large birds lay motionless, their razor sharp talons grope at the nothingness in the air. Tearing my eyes from their carcasses, I swallow back bile. With the black substance disbursed, Tethys’ shield pulls from the snow nearby, melding back into a cohesive unit. Unfortunately, it isn’t enough, and a gray cloud contaminates the surface until her shield bursts like glass being shattered.

  “Ah, there you all are.”

  The full weight of Videus’ cold stare pierces through me.

  Tethys groans from her exertion, summoning the snow around her again. The vibration is audible as it moves in accordance to her will. I take a step toward the Tree—but Tethys urges me to wait. This is still not our moment. She needs to regain some strength because I’m not the only one she’ll have to protect once I’m gone. Struggling not to let impatience and fear get the better of me, I clench my jaw. I trust her instincts, but I don’t like the wait.

  “You’ll pay for this Videus. Fenton was my friend …” I spit.

  “Funny thing about friends … They can be so fickle. Wouldn’t you agree, Caelum?” Videus purrs. A smile quirks in the corner of his mouth, but his eyes stay fixed on me.

  Tilting his head to the sky, he turns his view to the trees. I watch in disbelief as a small junco lands on his shoulder. Its white beak glistens in the sunlight and for a moment, even the breeze stands still.

  My bird—Rowan— no.

  No!

  Pendomus feels sideways as recognition begins to dawn. Nothing is safe. No one. I’m supposed to see everything with new eyes, quite literally—and I’ve still been so blind.

  My memory races back to the event that started this all. Deep inside my mind, I’ve ignored the obvious flaw niggling at me. Even though I know better, I haven’t given myself time to resolve this moment. With Tethys’ attempts to keeping me near her, the way she slashed at my face to open my sight—gift me this vision … All was done knowing she could accelerate my healing. But she had been disrupted— Things happened the way they had because she’d been trying to save my life—trying to keep me away from the real attack. The one from the birds—the juncos.

  Rowan.

  All this time, I thought the birds had been trying to save me—

  Catching my expression, Videus narrows his eyes and the corners of his mouth curl upward.

  “Still so clueless about the world, aren’t you? You know—you’re just a child attempting to play a game without knowing any of the rules. Silly, really,” he chides.

  Raising my eyes to look at the dark gray bodies all around, the peace they once brought is transformed into treachery. Zeroing in on Rowan, my stomach churns over. How could I have been so wrong? Around his edges, a soft glow becomes evident, like he’s emitting intense heat radiating off in waves. How did I not notice this before?

  Stroking Rowan’s back from his shoulder, Videus looks around again. “What do you say, Caelum. Shall we try one more time ... just for giggles?”

  With another signal, a few dozen juncos catapult themselves with such a velocity my eyes can’t even follow them. Tethys struggles to pull her shield up again, but the dome’s weak. As they hit, the shield not only bevels, but the water holding it together scatters for a moment before Tethys is able to—drop by drop—pull herself together.

  “Stop! Stop hurting her— ” I yell, my scream piercing through the bird cries.

  “What can we do, Runa— I don’t know what to do,” Trae says, watching in horror as the birds bounce off of the dome protecting him. The dome he can’t even see.

  Surprisingly, Tethys manages to send out a pulse of water, shooting out like tiny daggers. They create a rainbow effect in the sunlight as they pass through the bird’s bodies. Juncos drop from the sky, lying motionless on the ground. At the same time a blue flame ignites in front of Videus and his salamanders, protecting them from the projectiles. The water sizzles in a quick burst and evaporates away.

  The ground is now peppered with more of the fallen.

  As the blue flame dissipates, Videus doesn’t even seem phased at all. The salamanders, however, stomp forward. Their electricity arcs zapping up and over Videus and toward us.

  “Runa ... This is not how the game works,” Videus says. He smirks, no remorse at all for those he’s lost, “Now, I suppose that was ... better. But not quite good enough.” Looking over his shoulder at the salamanders, he turns back to us. When he turns back around, his face is completely deadpan until one corner of his mouth twitches upward, “Three.”

  Puffing his chest with anticipation, he clearly thinks he’s won this. Three of the salamanders begin to stalk their way forward, each with a sense of purpose. Every step they take releases the fleeing snow in the form of steam until they appear to emerge from an electrical fog. Mesmerized by their movements, it takes me a second to break free from their hypnotic quality and come back to myself.

  “This doesn’t look good,” Trae says, pushing me back as far as I can go.

  Tethys shudders, unsure of her abilities against the salamanders. The time to get inside the Tree is nearing because we must be running out.

  Before the three salamanders can take their places, the crystal in my pocket vibrates more violently and I reach my hand inside, clutching it. I’m suddenly overwhelmed with the urge, not only from Tethys, but from inside myself, to go—

  Go now.

  For the briefest of moments, Tethys’ shield lowers and goes on the offensive, intending to attack the salamanders first.

  Not able to look back, I run at full bore to the Tree. Everyone I care about, their safety all hinges on this. I hear Tethys’ attack happening behind me and based on the sounds of distress, I’d say she’s been at least somewhat successful. Kani and Trae take up the fight too, because I hear their exertion.

  “Enough! Forget the Waterbear! Gather her!” Videus cries out.

  The remaining vulture-birds swoop in, while others circle in a wide berth around me and the Tree. One of them screeches close to my right side, swooping down and slashing open my right shoulder with sharp talons. Groping at my wound, I bite down on my lip, refusing to satisfy them with a scream. Instead, I force myself to take the last few steps and thrust the crystal into the center of the flower shaped locking mechanism without so much as a second thought.

  With my hand still touching the door, a bright blue light shoots out the tips of my hair and lights up my skin. The light travels in an accelerated pace down my right arm, then continues to descend until finally escaping through my fingertips. In an instant, it merges with the crystal and the keyhole. The outer edge of the five petals slowly turn white, as if an invisible hand were drawing them one by one. Resonating across the snow, the Tree itself begins to hum—low at first, but getting louder. Peace washes over me and I’m momentarily swept away by comfort.

  However, the others continue to struggle behind me and I’m pulled back into the severity of the moment. I’m certain I can hear more salamanders advancing. Dodging another swooping bird, I don’t waste any more time. As soon as I’m safe, Tethys will find a way out with the others. I know she can even save Fenton—

  Grasping the cold handle on the door, I yank back hard, desperate for solace and safety. For answers. But more than anything, to put an end to Videus’ control over my future.

  To my horror, the door still won’t budge. Conjuring as much strength as I can manage, I give another frantic pull. The ground comes up to meet me as I fall backward, landing hard in the snow. I duck and roll over quickly as the birds closest to me shriek, bending the wind with them as they fly by.

  “No!” I yell, slamming my fist hard into the snow. Exasperation and desperations mingle together in a potent mix.

  The door’s supposed to open—it’s supposed to be our answer!

  Videus laughs in the distance, making m
y skin crawl.

  I turn around, struggling to my knees to face Videus’ vengeful eyes. The ground is red and steaming around the three salamanders Tethys attacked. A fourth salamander lay in pieces at Videus’ feet, clearly having died protecting him from my guardian. The steam from its flesh rolls in a strange dance with the heat he radiates. Three additional salamanders have come to the aid of their fallen, caging Tethys within a circle of lightening.

  Kani and Trae both have salamanders around their feet, squeezing tightly. Their bodies are locked stiff, as if they can no longer fight back and dark purple and black flames lick their bodies.

  In complete disbelief, I shut my eyes tight. Any hope I’d been foolish enough to cling to is now replaced with complete emptiness.

  Everything I thought I could give wasn’t enough.

  Videus has won.

  22

  Runa

  MY CHIN QUIVERS and my hands shake uncontrollably at the thought of what Videus will do to us now. None of us know what he’s capable of doing and it’s clear he has more resources than we even knew. Certainly more than we have.

  I bow my head, wracking my brain for any other possible way out of this—but nothing comes to mind. This was as far as my plan had brought me.

  To top it off, Tethys’ energy irritates me. Regardless of my despair, she’s illogically anticipatory—practically excited and I can’t believe she’d accept this fate so easily. Didn’t she see nothing happened?

  Nothing!

  “The Tree’s here, isn’t it?” Videus says, his gaze searching the space around me. There’s a peculiar sliver of consternation in his voice as he looks from tree to tree, completely missing the one he’s most interested in. Holding my breath, I inspect his every movement, not sure when or where he’ll strike next.

  For a moment, he says nothing, but his dark eyes lock onto me.

  “What did you do to it?” he questions, annunciating each word deliberately.

  “N—nothing.” I say, clenching my jaw, “What are you going to do with my friends?”