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

by Carissa Andrews

  “I’m not sure, but I can try,” I say.

  Tethys has always been my answer in the snow—she’s fast and capable. Her protection has always been unwavering.

  I stop, holding my breath for a moment.

  Where is Tethys? Whenever she could, she’s always been where I needed her. We’ve been linked, she and I. Since the very beginning, before I knew about any of this. She was there to have my back.

  I peer out over the undulating snow, but there’s no sign of her. Only drifting flurries and the sky-locked sun.

  Taking a deep breath, I focus on the snow, spreading out my consciousness the way I’ve felt Tethys do so many times before. At first, nothing happens, but as I focus on the crimson snow at my feet, it begins to resonate. Ammon steps closer, grabbing hold of my arm as if he’s afraid he’ll be left behind.

  For the first time, I engage with something deeply innate within myself. The ability to connect to the snow—or water—floods me, making me realize this power has been here all along. I’d simply never tapped into it.

  “Let’s get out of here,” I say, taking Ammon’s hand as the snow melds into a shield around us, exactly as Tethys’ does.

  Before we know it, I used the energy of the snow to propel us forward. Connecting to the snow myself feels both familiar, but far more powerful. Every particle, every snowflake makes up the whole as though it’s connected directly to me.

  In a way, it’s as though it has its own collective consciousness. Or its own sense of direction. With my thoughts I’m able to send out the visualization of where I need to go, where I want to be, and effortlessly, our course begins to alter. Like the way birds always know which direction to fly, even if they stray too far.

  There’s a lot at stake and if I’m meant to find the others like Ammon and myself, there’s only one place I want to start. Once place with a connection to both Ammon and myself.

  The Lateral.

  Being there will put everyone in danger—but we already are. Videus will be back and he won’t stop. I need my friends by my side. I need Trae.

  The moment I think it, the crystal around my neck burns brightly. Still clutched under my left arm, the Caudex bursts open dropping to the floor of our shield. Both Ammon and myself, along with the shield around us gets sucked into it. It’s like being minimized to the size of a keyhole, then expanded back out to normal, all within a matter of microseconds.

  As the expansion to our normal size ceases, a shockwave spreads out over the snow. The trees tremble, causing snowflakes clinging to the branches to flitter to the ground. Disengaging the shield, I take a look around. We’re not at the Lateral, but I know exactly where we are.

  Standing in a pool of ashes, the Tree of Burden is at my feet. The Caudex suddenly fuzes itself together and drops to the ground. Grabbing Ammon’s hand, we move back as the book morphs from the large tome, to a seedling, to a small tree, to the magnificent, ancient tree it was before—with one exception.

  For the first time, tiny buds have appeared on the ends of its branches. Tightly bound, they cling to themselves as if huddling for warmth.

  It’s a sign from Pendomus.

  We’re on the right path now, and back where we belong.

  “Wow—” Ammon whispers, “Did you see the way your big book just turned into a Tree?”

  I smile to myself.

  “Yes, Ammon, I certainly did,” I say.

  “Whew, that was cool. But where are you going to get all your information now?” he asks.

  I don’t even need to worry, I already know the answer. Ever since being in the presence of my bloodlines, information, energy, and power course through me. In a way, they’ve passed on their own knowledge. The Tree of Burden obviously felt the Caudex was no longer needed.

  “I think I have all the information I need, Ammon,” I say.

  “Really? What about the trials? You still have one more left?”

  “I can’t worry about the trials right now. Besides, we both know I’m meant to help the others like us. Adrian herself told me. We don’t have time to stop and contemplate another trial anymore. Now, it’s time to take a final stand against Videus,” I say.

  Ammon frowns, but shrugs. His bruised face looks so much better now, but his skin is still so discolored and his eyes are still puffy.

  Stepping forward, I take his face in my hands.

  “I know we both had an enormous revelation dropped on us. And I want you to know, I don’t take any of it lightly. From the moment we met, I felt immediately bonded with you—” I sigh. “Now I know why. We also know why Videus took you, why he did this to you.”

  I rub my thumb across his cheek.

  “I never expected to become this Daughter of Five. And I certainly never expected to find out I had a twin. But—in this weird twist of fate, I’m actually really grateful. I would never have known you otherwise.”

  Ammon’s amber eyes are large and tears threaten to spill. He bites his quivering lip, but keeps silent. Instead, he nods—his silent agreement.

  “Whatever happens next—whatever we come up against, it’s not going to be easy. I want you by my side,” I say. “Not only for your abilities, but so I can learn from you. I want to know what our father was like.”

  I smile.

  “I’d like to know about Mum,” he whispers.

  “And I’ll tell you everything I know,” I say.

  Ammon takes a deep inhalation, blowing it out in a puff of air. He scratches the top of his head and looks around.

  “So, where to next?” he asks.

  “We’re in my normal timeline now, I can feel it. In order to launch an attack on Videus, I’m going to need help. The Vassalage is inside the Helix and I want to be as prepared as possible,” I say.

  “We’re heading to the Lateral for the blue-haired guy, aren’t we?” he says, smirking.

  “Yeah, yeah we are,” I nod.

  “Well, he’s not in the Lateral,” Ammon says, his eyebrows raised.

  “And how on Pendomus would you know that?”

  He raises his hand and points.

  “Isn’t that him?”

  I turn around, looking toward the direction of his finger.

  He’s right. Off in the distance, a man with bright blue hair trudges through the blaring white snow and trees.

  “What’s he doing ya think?” Ammon asks.

  I shake my head, and say, “I’m not sure. Beyond the tree line that way is the Helix. I don’t know why he’d be coming from there. Maybe he was doing recon? Let’s go find out,” I say, grabbing Ammon’s hand.

  Ammon and I tread carefully through the snow and trees. We both keep watchful eyes, to make sure there are no birds or Salamanders in the vicinity, or tracking Trae.

  As we get closer, something is off about Trae’s stature. His mannerisms are stiff, and jarring. Almost as if his knees and elbows are in pain. He walks with purpose, but also in an oddly zoned out kinda way.

  “What’s up with him?” Ammon asks, throwing the words out of the side of his mouth.

  “I was just wondering the same thing. He doesn’t look right, does he?” I say.

  “He looks like he has a stick crammed up his—”

  Suddenly, Trae’s body drops. First to his knees, then face down into the snow. The entire time, his arms remain at his side, as if he has no intention of bracing his fall.

  Releasing Ammon’s hand, I race forward to Trae. Behind me, I hear Ammon calling my name, but I can’t take it in—I can’t respond. There’s something really wrong with Trae and I need to help him.

  As I reach Trae’s side, I slide to my knees, rolling him over in the snow. Clumps of ice cling to his face and hair and his eyes are wide open.

  Letting out a squeal, I fall back in the snow.

  “What is it? What’s happened?” Ammon says, dropping down beside me. As he looks at Trae, he shivers. “Eeeesh. Why are his eyes open?”

  Regaining my composure, I get back up and shake Trae’s shoulder.


  “Trae, Trae—are you okay? Can you hear me?” I say, watching for signs from him.

  Resting my head on his chest, I listen for his heartbeat.

  “Is he—? You know. Is he—” Ammon asks, standing up and backing away.

  I hold up a finger, asking him to give me a second.

  I can’t hear with him talking.

  Through his clothing and the wind, it’s near impossible to make out a thing. But I do feel my head bobbing up and down with Trae’s shallow breaths.

  “He’s alive,” I say, sitting up and exhaling in relief.

  “Oh, thank god. I thought things were really gonna start going screwy with the timelines,” Ammon says.

  “Help me get him up. We need to get him back to the Lateral. Landry will know how to help him,” I say, grabbing one of Trae’s arms.

  As I pull Trae up, Ammon slides beneath his other arm and we get him to his knees.

  “How on Pendomus are we going to get him to the Lateral?” Ammon asks. “He’s too heavy and awkward for the both of us to carry there.”

  “You’re right, but luckily, we won’t have to,” I say.

  “Huh?” Ammon asks, quirking his face.

  Right beside him, Tethys snorts, making Ammon scream.

  23

  Traeton

  I’VE ALWAYS WANTED to know what it felt like to fly. To soar incredibly high above the trees, no cares in the world. Riding the currents and clouds, knowing I was able to rise above it all.

  I find myself floating and flying with such speed there’s no way I could be disconnected from the air. I am the air. The colors and sights below make complete sense, greens and blues intermixed with the white of the clouds as I disappear through them.

  When I have spent enough time in the clouds, I swoop in lower, enjoying the fragrance in the air of the Everblossoms as the scent mixes with the dew on the grass. Settling myself on a sturdy branch, I see a woman below; her feet kicking playfully at the waterside.

  Beside her sits a large animal with brilliantly colored light fragmenting in every direction as the sunlight passes through it. There’s a name for this animal, but my mind can’t seem to recall it as easily as it did with the flowers. I know its my friend though. A fellow creature of this planet.

  Sensing my presence, the woman turns to me, her shoulder length hair with deep blue and purple streaks on the underside blows about in the breeze. Her eyes light up with joy as she sees me and I find myself floating down to her to take in her face more clearly.

  Getting lost in her gaze, I realize there’s more to this woman than I can recall. More than I can even describe. She’s unimaginably gifted and has a radiance not unlike that of the creature beside her.

  Reaching through the depths of the atmosphere, I hear her thoughts as if they were my own. As if I were somehow a part of her.

  I missed you.

  I realize I feel the same. This woman and who she is belongs to me as I do to her. Bound by something more powerful than time and space.

  She strokes my chest as I lean closer to her. Her touch sparks something inside me. The memory of a cold, barren place where this one should be. It jolts me from this beautiful world where I can fly and anything is possible.

  I must still be dreaming.

  The weight of someone next to me, their rhythmic breathing, it’s jarring. I open my eyes. Beside me, Runa is curled, beautifully—blissfully asleep. As if these past few weeks have only been a dream. Or perhaps a nightmare.

  I try to recall what happened before this. What I’d been doing, or why I don’t remember her return.

  As I slowly regain consciousness, I realize we’re back at Landry’s and laying on his bed. Runa’s resting beside me, just as she had before in the cavern, with one exception. I’m a bit more exposed than I was before. For some reason, my NanoTech jacket and shirt are open and she’s laying directly on my skin, her right hand resting over my heart.

  Curiosity of how I got into this situation plays at the edge of my mind, but I can’t keep my focus. My memories are so fuzzy and jumbled. I can’t seem to hold onto my thoughts for very long. Partly because of the intense headache shooting through the back of my skull and partly because of Runa.

  “You’d better be careful. I might get used to waking up like this,” I whisper, trying not to wake her.

  I squeeze her tight and lift my right hand, playing with the ends of her hair. It’s shorter now. Didn’t I dream that? Again, something I need to figure out. When did she cut it? My insides twist and my heart clenches.

  Despite the confusion, I smile to myself. Here she is again, resting with me, so oblivious to what her touch does to me.

  Even something as simple as this.

  But this is a different day. We are different people now. It feels like forever since I last saw her. Since I last felt her body near mine. I’d forgotten how reassuring her presence is.

  Her eyes open, eyelashes gently brushing my skin before she lifts herself and props on her elbow.

  Relief flashes through her eyes and her face lights up. The next thing I know, she’s kissing me as she flings one leg over and straddles my body. Both her hands press against my chest as she bends forward. The spot where our skin touches feels like it melds together, and I like it. I shudder in response, lifting slightly as I return her kiss.

  Scratch the previous thought. I could get used to waking up like this.

  All at once, a number of things happen. I’m suddenly blinded by an insanely bright light just as Landry comes rushing into the room. Runa abruptly sits up while Landry surveys our situation, but shrugs it off. He continues forward, medical instruments of some kind in his hands. An annoying beeping off to the left enters my consciousness and I realize I have electrodes connected to my body and the alarms are sounding.

  That explains my chest being exposed. One question answered.

  Oddly enough, my headache feels better than it had when I first woke up. A little laugh escapes before I can stifle it.

  Must be the endorphins.

  “Well, that worked better than I expected,” Landry half-chuckles, shifting his gaze to me and raising his eyebrows in approval. Taking a seat, he turns to watch my vitals on the screen. “Your pulse is a bit erratic, though.”

  Thus the alarms.

  Still straddled across my body, hands still burning into my chest, Runa holds my gaze surveying me closely. Her face is a beautiful shade of crimson and I can’t help but laugh.

  She looks more embarrassed now than when her mother walked in on us.

  Clearing her throat quietly, she asks Landry, “What worked, exactly?”

  Landry turns around and answers with a smirk, “I knew I’d be occupied with Ammon for a while and I needed to know as soon as Trae was up. Figured the heart monitor would alarm if you were nearby.”

  His grin deepens as he meets my eyes, cocking his head slightly to the side.

  I can’t help but roll my eyes at his double entendre.

  He’s just like Fenton. Only with ten years more experience.

  She misses his double meaning, as he knew she would. Thank the stars for that.

  Sliding off me slowly, as if it wasn’t a choice she wanted to make, she takes a seat to my right.

  “Will he be okay? It’s a good thing, right? That he’s finally woken up?” Runa says.

  Landry and Runa exchange a significant glance before Landry nods.

  “Yeah, of course it’s a good thing,” he says, returning to the monitor.

  “Finally? How long was I out? And who’s Ammon?” I ask.

  The two of them exchange another round of glances. Concern creeps in, and I shift to a seated position.

  “I’m sure you’ll be fine,” Landry reassures me, but worry is hidden behind his eyes. He leans forward and removes the electrodes from my skin.

  “Okay…” I say slowly.

  Evidently, something’s not right with me.

  Runa places her hand over mine and whispers, “We ar
en’t quite sure what’s happened to you. You’ve been out of it for a while. And Kani’s—well, she’s missing.”

  “What do you mean? Missing? How could Kani go missing?” I say, lowering my eyebrows.

  “We’re hoping you could tell us. You’d both gone through some stuff, but seemed to be better. You lost time, she lost—well, she had issues that needed to be resolved. Do you remember any of this?” Landry asks.

  Everything he says rings a vague bell, so I nod.

  “Yeah, I think so. I remember Landry had to wipe pieces of her mind,” I say, rubbing the back of my neck.

  “Well, we’re wondering if not all the pieces were put back together properly. You were found out in the woods, but no one knows where she went. Do you have any idea?” Runa says.

  For the life of me, I can’t remember much after Kani’s memory restructure.

  I shake my head, “Nah. Everything is pretty muddled after that.”

  “Landry thinks he may have a theory about that,” Runa says.

  “Oh yeah?” I say, my gaze shifting to him.

  “What did you call it again?” Runa says, turning to Landry.

  “I think it may have been the Seize Scanner,” he says, eyebrows pinched.

  “Right. Seize Scanner,” she frowns before meeting my eyes again. “I keep forgetting.”

  “Why would you think my loss of time stems from that?” I ask, confused.

  It’s been ages since I was attacked by the Labots inside the Helix.

  “Because you’ve been off since then. Headaches and whatnot. I figure that’s when it all started. It’s likely a side effect or a deliberate defense mechanism the Helix cooked up to make sure there were lasting effects of those they seized. For instance, if they got away, they’d at least be sure to cause lasting neurologic damage.”

  He’s right. The headaches started after Runa and the Helix. After the Tree and—after Fenton.

  Landry meets my stare and adds with a shrug, “It’s what I would do if I were inventing it.”

  Shocked, I ask, “What does that mean? You’d want people to suffer?”