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

by Carissa Andrews

  “I’m trying to change things right now. You just have to step aside,” I spit.

  “Do you even know what this will do? What happens when you throw the gigantic book into the Tree? What then?” he says.

  “Time is reset,” I say simply.

  He waves a hand dismissively, “Sure, sure. But to when? To what end?”

  I stare at him blankly, blinking slowly as I consider. I honestly have no idea to when. Or how the book will decide what to do in order to restore Pendomus and all its creatures. Most likely, it will wipe him out before he’s even born. I simply know that’s what it’s meant to do. I have faith in its ability to set things right.

  “When doesn’t matter. What matters is setting the planet back on course before you interfered. Did it ever occur to you how much damage you’d do tidally locking Pendomus? Our planet is a wasteland because of you. We’re all dependent on the Helix’s stupid RationCaps, your guidance and acceptance. We think it’s all our destiny, but it’s just you pulling strings behind the scenes while we’re none the wiser.”

  “Silly stupid girl,” Landry says, ducking an incoming dive from three vultures. “You think that’s the worst of your problems? I’m ready to die, my dear Everblossom. I don’t care about the planet, about me, about you. The only thing I care about now is smiting the powers that be who turned their backs on me. The rest is all cupcakes and sparkles.”

  Behind him, Ammon steps forward, his eyebrows scrunched together. His lips are tugging down and he raises his hands as though he’s commanding an orchestra. A large boulder covered in snow sails through the air, smashing into Landry’s side. With a look of surprise on his face, his body sails through the air. The rock narrowly misses Trae, and I know Ammon did it specifically.

  Landry hits the ground hard, snow flying in the air as he lands. It flitters about in the air, carefree and sparkling in the sunlight.

  Others take Ammon’s lead, stepping forward to add their gifts into the mix.

  The energy swells and I hold up my hands, “Wait, wait.”

  All eyes turn toward me, the blood lust evident in all of them. They’ve been through so much, and I know this is more than I should ask of them, but I have to.

  “Stop,” I say, “Don’t become him. Don’t you dare let Landry destroy the humanity you have left just because he lost his. He’s down, we can take things from here.”

  Landry chuckles. His eyes flick away for a moment; an insignificant look, really. But with damaging consequences.

  Without hesitation, the rogue Salamander huffs forward, clutching the Caudex in his large paws. Blue flames ignite at its feet, and instantly, the Caudex is consumed in a plume of fire.

  22

  Runa

  A MANIACAL, GIDDY LAUGHTER fills the field while everyone else stares in horror.

  With the Caudex smoldering in ashes at the Salamander’s feet, Trae being controlled by Videus again, and Tethys bleeding out in the snow—I blink back my own horror and surprise.

  How can we get this far—to the very end, only to fail now? It’s not possible. Is it?

  The scene feels like everything has been put on hold. No one dares move—we all know what was at stake. Some of the people behind Landry hold their fingers over their agape mouths. The Pillars by my side stand in stunned silence.

  “You know, when I first learned of the prophecy, I knew it was the one thing I could overcome. Don’t ask me why. I may not have been able to save Fenton from his fate, but I knew I would have control over this,” Landry says, getting up and wiping snow from his robes. “The Beacon will die out. The Acropolis will be mine—a fitting place for a ruler, don’t you think?”

  He looks over at me and cocks his head. The smug look of pleasure cast across his lips makes me ball my fists.

  “Okay, maybe you don’t find this as ironically pleasing as I do,” he shrugs.

  I think about the Acropolis becoming his, and bile builds at the back of my throat. There’s no way I could allow this beautiful remnant of the past—the structure meant to signify peace, tranquility, and the unity of the Pillars to fall into his hands. Not after all that he’s destroyed. Nothing is sacred to him anymore—nothing.

  How could I have been so stupid? I practically handed everything over to him as a present. My eyes flick to Trae, who stands stiff at Landry’s side. His face blank and devoid of his normal intense expressions.

  It’s all come full circle in a way. As I stand here now, a changed woman, but still the same trusting, naïve girl. I should have been wiser by now. I already knew Landry wasn’t to be underestimated, yet here we are.

  I shake my head in disgust.

  “You know, Runa—I can call you Runa now, can’t I?” Landry says, holding a hand to his chest in a false gesture of sincerity. “Just to really drive this situation home for you, I want you to know how really screwed you are. See, this guy here—he’s always been a go-to guy for me, but Caelum, he’s had to manage himself between inhabiting Trae and being in his own body, too. It’s taken a toll on the poor thing. I think it’s time to put an end to his back and forth suffering.”

  Pursing his lips, a high-pitched whistle pierces the battlefield. From high up in one of the trees, as if keeping surveillance, a little gray junco flies to Landry’s shoulder. It’s white beak opens and closes of its own accord, but no sound escapes it. The bird rests motionless, devoid of any sign of sentience—in a weird way, much like Traeton.

  Landry pats Trae’s shoulder and stands a little taller.

  “Since the chances of completing the Beacon’s mojo have been flushed down the allay—I think it’s time to remind you—and everyone standing here—I’m the one in control. Not you. I decide who lives and who doesn’t. Who controls whom.”

  His hand lifts up, gently taking the junco with a white beak onto his outstretched finger.

  “See, this here is an empty vessel. Sure, he flies like a bird, acts like a bird. But the essence of this bird—it’s stuck in here,” Landry taps the side of Trae’s head. “Remember all the way back to when you entered my Helix and stole from me? Well, let’s see if you like me stealing from you.”

  With his right hand, Videus snaps the neck of the junco and tosses the limp body at me. I step back, horrified.

  “Why would you—?” I say, aghast.

  “Fun fact,” Landry says, holding up his pointer finger, “Now that you’re trapped here like the rest of us, I won’t kill you. No, I have a much worse fate in mind. You’ll get to live every day knowing I took your love from you. You’ll get to see him, talk to him, interact with him every day—but Trae’s gone. Instead, I have full control of loverboy’s body and that’s the way it will stay. And if you think I can’t do the same to each and every one of you, you’re sorrily mistaken.”

  My eyes flit to the limp gray body of the junco with a white beak. The one I’d connected with early on—the one I thought was trying to help me. Rowan was the name I gave him before I knew better. Perceptions, they can be so deceiving. Maybe Caelum won’t ever be able to leave Trae’s body, but he hasn’t always been the second in command Landry thinks he is. He’s loyal to his ancestry—and he’s even been loyal to me. I hope he still is.

  “Traeton—please, you can fight this. You have to fight this,” I say to him, wanting a reaction. Any reaction. Something that lets me know they’re both in there, fighting.

  When he doesn’t even blink, Landry chuckles.

  “I told you, he’s not in there anymore. Well, nowhere he’ll ever escape from. He’s kinda in his own personal hell right now, thanks to my White Elephants. Right, Caelum?” Videus says, smiling in Trae’s direction.

  Trae tips his head in acknowledgement. The movement is odd for him, certainly more mechanical than Traeton.

  “The boy is bound,” Trae’s voice says.

  My heart slams against my ribcage. I can’t let this be the end of things. I can’t let Landry win. Maybe it’s not the end I’d envisioned, not the result I’d wanted—but I re
fuse to simply sit by and allow him to do what he’s saying.

  The Beacon’s energy behind me begins to waft outward in waves. I feel its dense, demanding call as if it’s a part of my body. It tugs at me, beckoning for me to come closer. To touch the light.

  I look around, but no one else seems to notice the shift.

  As if a string were pulling me from the center of my body, it takes all of my strength to fight it and stand still. A few yards away, Tethys cries, her blood soaking the ground, despite the TerraDweller’s best efforts to contain her wound.

  She also pushes me toward the Beacon’s call. She doesn’t want things to end this way—the others will protect me, she says. They’ll give their support.

  ~The Caudex, it’s destroyed. There’s nothing left to throw into the Beacon.

  Suddenly, flashes of insight take over my vision. It’s like seeing a few moments into the future. I witness myself running away, toward the enormous tunnel of light, and throwing myself inside. The rest of the Pillars guard me from any attack, ensuring I do what I came here to do. Their own bloody and battered bodies, shielding mine.

  Then, Tethys’ energy falters and her life force wanes from her body. The vision is pulled back and I’m still standing in the field in front of Landry.

  Of course —it’s all so clear. As soon as the mark was transferred to me, I became the Caudex. The Burden became mine and mine alone. I’m meant to deliver my life’s Burden to the Beacon—

  How did I not realize, it’s meant to be me. It’s always been meant to be me.

  I cast my gaze over the scene, realizing for the first time the meaning behind this all. Blood and sacrifice.

  It’s my life the Beacon needs. My sacrifice.

  Swallowing hard, I stand up straighter, preparing to make a run for it. Through my mind, I alert the others of my intentions. I need them to be ready.

  Their energy instantly perks up. Many questions are thrown my direction, but I can’t take the time to answer any of them. I need to finish this once and for all.

  “—so the question really is, where shall I relocate you to?” Landry says, finishing whatever tirade he was on.

  In an instant, two men tied to me in blood jump Landry, grabbing him around the neck and subduing him to the ground.

  I turn on my heel and run— racing for the Beacon like I’ve never run in all my life.

  “Really? Really? You’re that much of a coward you’re going to run away? There’s nowhere to hide, Everblossom. This is mine—all mine,” Landry yells.

  I scramble over the large boulders and rocks of the caved in cavern system, making my way to the top of the crater so I can get to the Beacon.

  Behind me, I hear screaming and commotion as the battle to protect me begins. Even from here, my hair rises and I feel the electrical energy of the Salamanders as they take up rank. I don’t stop to worry about it, or see what’s happening. I know they’ll do whatever it takes to ensure I make it safely to the Beacon—it’s their job. Their birthright.

  This is mine.

  As I get closer to the Beacon, every cell in my body vibrates, and feels as though it separates from the whole of who I am. Even if I wanted to stop, to change my mind and go back—the energy wouldn’t allow it. It knows I’m near and it wants my blood, my sacrifice. I feel it like it’s alive.

  The wind whips at my face, and my fingers are frozen as I climb up through the debris. Cold air billows out of my mouth—my last few breaths. Everything I am is about to end.

  I can only hope it’s enough to set everything right. I hope Trae and the others will live a long, happy life. That the planet will be saved and the Pillars free to do what they please again. I wish for peace for everyone.

  Near the mouth of the crater, the wind cyclones around the Beacon of light. As I reach the point of no return before making my descent into the center, I widen my stance, digging into the snow so I can turn to look back. One final goodbye.

  The scene is a mess of people and remaining Pillars. Trae still stands guard over Landry. I don’t know what’s being said to Landry or what’s happened since I ran, but I take a moment to reflect on everything that’s transpired. All I had. I’ll be gone soon.

  “I love you, Trae. I wish you so much love and joy. Take care of everyone for me,” I whisper.

  I swallow hard, fighting back tears.

  “Okay, Runa—let’s do this,” I say, shaking off the emotions welling up.

  Sliding into the crater, I climb down to the lowest point where I can get inside the Beacon. Racing forward, I stop a meter or so away, gathering my nerves. The pull is intense, and I take a step forward.

  “Took you long enough,” someone says from behind me.

  I spin around, coming face to face with Landry. Our Landry. After all the devastation inside the Lateral, he must have found his way back.

  Glancing around, I search for signs of accomplices. As far as I can tell, he’s completely alone.

  “What are you doing here, Landry?” I ask, playing the naïve one again. “You shouldn’t be here. It’s too dangerous —”

  He chuckles, the same exact chuckle Videus did moments before. It gives me goosebumps. My heartbeat thrums rapidly in my chest, as I prepare to either fight or run. I look at the Beacon, knowing I could easily make the leap, but for some reason, I stall. There’s something in his face that makes me question why he’s really here.

  “I know what you’re doing,” he begins, taking a step forward.

  I watch the conflict in his face as he gets closer.

  “And what’s that, Landry?” I say, watching his every move.

  “You’re meant to fix time somehow. This thing—” he points at the Beacon, “it’s meant to correct all the damage I’ve done,” he says.

  I stand motionless, not sure what to say. Instead, I nod.

  “If you do this—please do something for me. I need you to do the one thing I’ve never been able to do. Please. Save Fenton. From what little the other me has shared, this guy—Videus—whatever you want to call him—he’s been chasing you for years, maybe even jumping back and forth over centuries trying to find a way to you. From what I’ve pieced together, his time travel is spotty at best. It never puts him where he really wants to go, but he still manipulates stuff in the hopes it will change things. He wipes memories, changes them. He manipulates people to his end goals, in whatever means necessary. The only thing he’s never been able to change is Fenton’s death. But one thing’s for sure—he always felt you’d be the one element that could change that.”

  “I don’t understand. Why focus on me and chase me through the timelines? If I was the one who could change things, why not just let me?” I ask.

  “No, it’s more complicated that that. He didn’t want you to change things. He wanted to use you to change things. You were the missing piece he thought he needed to harness. Videus believes this planet has magic. It’s what he harnesses to travel back and forth, but it works against him—us. Every move he makes, the planet seems to counteract him. For some reason, he’s connected you with the magic and energy of Pendomus. Since he can’t control the way he time travels, he waits—watching to see what will happen, what changes. But every time Fenton dies; again and again. Then he goes back, trying to change something again, and every time—I think—losing a piece of himself. I mean, he has to watch Fenton die over and over and in different ways, different times. It’s no wonder he’s—I’ve—gone insane. If you can do this—if you can set time right, please, please find a way to save Fenton. I don’t care if you have to take me out, do it.”

  “Landry, I don’t think that’s how this works. I don’t know if I have any more control than Videus once I go in there,” I say, pointing to the Beacon’s light.

  He takes a moment, considering.

  “Okay. Then you need to kill me here, now. I need assurances I won’t become—” his voice drops and he casts his eyes to the ground. “You need to stop me in this timeline.”

  “But
what if it doesn’t —”

  “I don’t care, Runa. Don’t you see, everything I’ve ever loved is gone. Fenton—my daughter—Alina. She died in the flood. There’s nothing left to tether me to anything good. I can’t live with this anymore. End it.”

  He raises his arm, and in his hand is the same blade Kani used on Fenton.

  I raise my eyes to his.

  “Please, Runa. Please.”

  I shake my head, “Landry, I can’t—”

  “You know, I originally came here to kill you. To stop you from going in. That’s what the other me wants. When he’s in our timeline, he’s always in my head. Telling me things. Constantly whispering. But, I don’t know, when I saw you walk in, I knew it needed to go down differently this time. This can’t keep spiraling out of control. I have to acknowledge that; take responsibility for it,” he says, holding the hilt out for me.

  I take the knife from Landry, holding it in the palm of my right hand. It’s heavier than I thought it would be. It’s sad to think this one small piece of metal extinguished the life of my dear friend.

  “Landry,” I sigh, “I know you’re in pain, but killing you won’t help. Not me, not you. Not when I’m this close to resetting time. And if I make it through the Beacon, something like that will stick with me. You’re not Videus, and you don’t have to be. I know right now it doesn’t seem like it, but you have a choice. You always have a choice. The only one you have control over is you, and that’s how it should always be. Don’t you see? That’s what the universe is telling you. Don’t worry about the others. Focus on your inner state without trying to control everything else.”

  I fling the knife into the snow and rubble behind us. It clatters as it hits the ground, the sound reverberating around us as it disappears.

  Landry blinks away his surprise, as anger and tears well in his eyes.

  “I don’t know how to live anymore,” Landry admits, cupping his face with his hands.

  “If this changes nothing with Fenton, you need to take things one day at a time. Stop expecting so much from yourself. Life isn’t going to go back to normal. You’ll need to find your way again. Fenton would want you to be happy,” I say, reaching for his arm, “I want you to be happy.”