The Lost Relics Box Set

by LJ Andrews

  “You made it,” Connor said from behind his desk. He adjusted his thick, square glasses and held a translucent tablet close to his chest. He glanced nervously toward the back of his office before quickly pushing past them and locking the door they’d just opened. “Come with me.”

  Mercedes glanced at Killian, her brows furrowed in concern at Connor’s strange behavior. He grabbed her hand and pulled her close to him as they followed Connor to the back of the room. Connor stopped at the blank steel wall and typed along the touch keyboard on the screen of his tablet. The wall split silently along a crease in the metal that was invisible seconds before. Connor motioned for them to follow him and after they crossed the threshold, automatic lighting filled the small room.

  Mercedes gasped. In the center of the room, a man was chained to an old, dusty sofa with the stuffing exploding out of the cushions.

  “You,” she gasped. “You…are the one who tried to kill me.”

  Bant lifted his head and smiled at her. His face was gaunt and pale as if he hadn’t seen sunlight for weeks, though his long hair was still fiery red and the billowing flames behind his brown eyes blazed furiously.

  “Connor, what is this? What have you done?” Killian asked.

  “Listen, I’ve been tracking movement all over the Hemisphere waiting for my system to pick up significant events, or people.”

  “People? Who exactly are you looking for?”

  Connor pursed his lips. “I was looking for Blake.” His face darkened at his admission and Killian was overwhelmed with his anger as it flooded through his own body, burning his veins with fury. “Anyway, a few days ago I found him, but he was using powerful magic I assume he borrowed from Maurelle. I also detected something else with a strange magic to it. Long story short, I lost Blake, but I was able to follow him.” Connor removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Pointing toward Bant, he returned his glasses to his face and continued. “He had the magical object before Blake took it. When he didn’t return to the Trinity...I decided I needed to find him and learn what powers they are using. We need to know what we’re up against with the Trinity.”

  Killian and Mercedes stared at Connor with disbelief.

  “You captured a Trinity soldier and didn’t tell anyone?” Mercedes said. “Do you know how dangerous that is on its own, but to capture him−he tried to kill me, Connor.”

  Connor nodded and stepped toward her, his eyes pleading for understanding. “I know, Mercedes. Trust me, I’ve second guessed my decision every day.”

  “Have you gotten him to talk, at least?” Killian asked, trying to steer Mercedes’ focus elsewhere.

  Connor glared at Bant. “Not much. Even though the Trinity left him for dead from the looks of that awful wound, he still seems determined to stay loyal to Maurelle.” Connor walked over to Bant and pushed against the side of his head, causing Mercedes to gasp at his unusual cruelty. “I know you know about Merlin’s hidden magic.”

  Killian glanced at Bant’s wrist while Connor continued to berate the man. He gulped when he realized the man was missing his hand. Connor had bandaged the wound, but it was still bleeding. The gauze hadn’t been changed in days and the old blood stains had faded to an ugly green-brown.

  “Connor, stop. You could heal him,” Killian whispered. “You’re letting him suffer and he looks sick. This isn’t how to handle things.”

  Connor’s kind eyes flashed with an icy blaze, something Killian had never seen before. “I will not lose one more Ponderi member Killian. I refuse. He knows something about ancient powers beyond our knowledge.”

  “Connor, we should really tell the others,” Mercedes added.

  “Bring me to my brother,” Bant rasped at them.

  “You don’t get to make demands,” Connor shouted, but stopped when Mercedes stepped between him and Bant.

  “Why should we take you to Egan?”

  “There are powers throughout the Hemisphere and outside the Hemisphere you don’t know of. Egan can grant me immunity from the cruel torture of the Ponderi, but also retaliation from the Trinity. I will speak when Egan is present.”

  “You tried to kill Egan’s daughter. I wouldn’t count on his protection,” Connor huffed.

  “We shall see,” Bant said, offering him a cruel smile.

  “Connor, this is your call,” Killian said. “What do you want to do?”

  Connor paced for several moments as he considered Bant’s proposal. Finally, he reached beneath his shirt and pulled out a silver key, handing it to Killian. “Make sure he doesn’t run.” Connor stepped back and leaned against the wall as Killian made his way toward Bant.

  Slowly, he unlocked the thick shackles chaining Bant to the sofa. He left one chained around Bant’s wrist and once he was free of the sofa, Killian focused on the thick metal and welcomed the familiar tingling on the back of his neck. The chains wrapped themselves around Bant’s midsection and slithered up toward his neck, pulling tight until Bant’s expression changed to discomfort.

  “If you try to run, those will pull right through you,” Killian threatened, meeting Bant’s flaming brown eyes.

  With difficulty, he smiled back. “The Architect can’t wait to meet you again, Killian Thomas.”

  “Yeah, well, I’m pretty excited to see her too,” Killian replied, pushing Bant in the back to move him through the door.

  The four of them stepped into the busy clinic trying to avert the curious looks from patients and staff.

  “Connor, what’s going on?” Shannon looked up from a chart she’d been reading. Her eyes widened when she saw the chains squeezing against Bant’s midsection and neck. “Connor, wait. Talk to me.”

  He met his wife’s frightened gaze. “I’ll explain later,” he promised and offered her a kind smile before stepping out of the clinic into the empty hallway.

  The elevator ride was tense as they shot to the upper floor. Connor stared straight ahead, never meeting Killian or Mercedes’ eyes, and Bant breathed hard against the thick chains around his throat.

  “You should know if Egan is speaking to you, everyone will be included. That’s how things work here,” Connor said briskly to Bant as they stepped off the elevator.

  “We’ll see.”

  They made their way toward Miller’s office. The carpet cushioned their feet like soft down pillows, creating the illusion life was peaceful in the Praetorium when it was anything but.

  “Killian.” Miller smiled at him when he opened his door. The smile faded when he saw Bant tangled in chains and Connor’s stony expression. “What’s going on?”

  “We need to speak with Egan,” Mercedes said.

  Miller moved aside and ushered them into his office. Killian saw Owen sitting at Miller’s exquisite desk reading through an old, brown book.

  “Killian, I’m glad you’re here,” he said without looking up from the yellow pages. “There’s something I think might help…” Owen glanced up and when he saw them he nearly leapt over the marble top. Gripping his long gilded sword, he jabbed the tip into Bant’s chest menacingly.

  Bant chuckled through a painful wince. “I recognize you, too, Deshuit. Funny we should meet here.”

  “What happened, Killian? Did he infiltrate the Praetorium?” Owen demanded. “He’s Trinity, you know.”

  “We know,” Killian said, exasperated. “Hence the reason he’s shackled.”

  Owen clasped one of the chains. “No one is holding him. He’s too dangerous to depend only on chains. Someone should be holding onto him.”

  Killian tapped the side of his head. “I am holding him.”

  A smile broke out on Owen’s face and he released the chains after a short pause. “Impressive, son.”

  “Someone please explain why a member of the Trinity is in my office,” Miller said firmly.

  “It’s my doing, sir,” Connor admitted. “I’ve been tracking Trinity movement for the last several days and I found Bant surrounded by unusual magic I haven’t seen. When the Trinity a
bandoned him…I brought him here.”

  “Connor, you captured a man without authorization?”

  “Sir, with all due respect, we don’t really have time to wait and do things by the book anymore.” Connor’s jaw tightened as he bent over Miller’s desk so his face was inches from the older man. “I’ve been trying to track Blake, sir. I found him meeting with Bant in Glaciem. Blake took whatever he’d found and then left him for dead. You can see his wrist; I didn’t do that. If Blake was there, whatever Bant had is something Maurelle wants. I tracked Bant after he left Glaciem and brought him here.”

  Miller stood, his expression was a mixture of anger and intrigue. “And how exactly did you retrieve Bant? You are not a Custodis and the track system has been manipulated by the Trinity these past months. Connor, I respect you, but if you traveled the Hemisphere illegally I will not hesitate to have you arrested.”

  “Arrest me, sir, if you must. Believe it or not, I developed a program that can finally create a wormhole. I targeted Bant with the specialized sensor and used the technology to hone in on his energy and it pulled him into my lab.”

  Miller’s eyes widened, but it was Owen who spoke first. “You actually figured out how to open a wormhole through the realms? That technology has only been hypothesized for as long as I can remember.”

  “Well, it was in a beta phase, but when the opportunity arose, I put it to the test. So, sir, I don’t know if it was legal since it’s never been done before, but you’re welcome to use my system even if you arrest me.” Connor released a nervous breath and sat on one of the large, overstuffed sofas.

  Miller came out from behind his desk and leaned a bony hip against a corner. “Connor, you had no idea if your transport would have killed Bant.” He rubbed the building tension in his forehead. “Honestly, I don’t know how to handle this, but it will be addressed. You will be placed under a supervisory probation until we can meet as leaders to discuss the ramifications of your careless actions. That means no using technology without another engineer present, no inventing, nothing without supervision. I can’t believe you opened a hole leading back here. We can’t risk opening a direct track to the Praetorium for the Trinity to take advantage of, or have you forgotten the many lives we lost not so long ago?”

  “Miller, he was trying to help,” Killian said defensively as his grandfather’s voice grew agitated.

  “I am aware of his intentions, but that does not make it any less dangerous for our members, Killian. I am the director. I am responsible for keeping the people safe. Connor, do you understand the interim punishment until we can address it further?”

  “Yes, sir,” Connor answered quietly.

  “Good,” Miller said taking a deep breath and tugging on his forest green vest. “Now, I will call for Aidan and the other recruit directors to question Bant—”

  “He will only speak with Egan,” Mercedes interjected.

  “I don’t believe he gets the luxury of choosing with whom he speaks with,” Miller replied angrily.

  “Miller, we don’t have time to waste. If Egan can get to the bottom of this, then perhaps we should bring him in,” Owen said.

  “Why do you insist on seeing the Chief?” Miller insisted glaring at Bant.

  Bant sneered wickedly, but said nothing. Mercedes huffed in frustration and stepped forward.

  “He’s my father’s brother,” she said. Miller and Owen both raised their eyebrows in surprise. “This is my uncle who tried to kill me before I could find out who I was.”

  Miller said nothing for a long moment; he paced in front of his magnificent window overlooking the lush, wild garden below, allowing the tension in the room to thicken like a suffocating weight over everyone. Clearing his throat, he straightened, returning to the distinguished demeanor of Ponderi Director. “In light of this information, I agree it would be appropriate for the chief to question the prisoner. Next time, perhaps giving that information first could speed things along.”

  “Wonderful. I’m pleased we can agree,” Bant responded in a chipped tone.

  “Quiet,” said Miller, “You will not be alone with Egan because frankly I trust the rats of the prison cells more than I will ever trust you. Killian and Axel will join you.”

  “And if I refuse to speak with a weak boy and the deplorable magic manipulator present?”

  “Then you will be tried, found guilty of treason against the Hemisphere, and provided a swift execution.” Miller stiffly walked toward Bant until their noses were practically touching. “But the Trinity obviously doesn’t care if you live so perhaps death is not enough incentive to get you to talk. The choice is yours. If you would escort the prisoner to the Underground, I will summon Axel” —he indicated to Killian— “and please make sure your father meets them promptly” —he nodded toward Mercedes— “Connor, I’ll let you know when the council will meet as soon as possible. In the meantime, I will have Owen stay with you until an engineering supervisor can be arranged. Killian, report back to me as soon as the meeting with Egan is over.”

  Killian nodded, Mercedes left to find Egan, and Connor buried his face in his palms. Feeling the power surge up the back of his neck and burn his veins like warm melted wax, Killian took control of the chains and forced Bant back out into the hallway.

  Once in the elevator car, Killian stared straight ahead, ignoring the awkward feeling of Bant’s gaze.

  “You really think you’re powerful enough to stop the Trinity?”

  “You really think you’re powerful enough to stop the Ponderi? We have two Infinium and all four relics,” Killian spat back.

  Bant looked ahead arrogantly until the doors dinged open to the cold room leading to the underground prisons.

  “You don’t know what you’re going up against, Killian Thomas. The Trinity has more than your ability or Merlin’s trinkets could ever wish to stand against.”

  “You know, Bant, I know your brother. He is one of the most honorable leaders I’ve ever met,” Killian said, pulling the chains tighter so Bant had to turn and face him. “I like to assume at some point you were an honorable Ignisian, too. Maybe you can find it in yourself to tell us what you know about the Trinity and do the honorable thing again. Do you really want to watch an entire realm die?”

  “He is beyond honor, Killian. It isn’t worth it to try and change him,” Egan said from behind them, his blue eyes burning with an angry sadness. Egan, Mercedes, and Axel stood in the open elevator. Bant glared at his brother for a short moment before turning his attention to a plain steel wall.

  “We’ll take him into a cell and stand on the outside while you speak with him,” Killian said. “Don’t tell Miller we left you alone.”

  Egan nodded and walked through the thick iron door Killian and Axel mentally commanded open together. Bant willingly stepped into a small earthy cell. It wasn’t as nice as the cell Nathaniel had once lived in. There was a single cot with a small bathroom area. No lights, no windows to the outside, just one small candle that never burned out in the corner.

  “Thank you for bringing him down,” Egan said.

  “We’ll be right outside.” Killian focused hard on Bant until the chains dropped to the floor, releasing him from the heavy iron.

  Once the cell door slammed shut, Egan slowly turned to face his brother. Bant plopped down on the cot and rested his head on his good hand.

  “Well, brother,” Bant said arrogantly. “Are you ready to hear what I have to say?”

  Egan’s face was as stone as he leaned against the mud-packed wall. “Let’s get one thing straight, Bant. You’re not the brother I once cared for and nothing you say could ever make me trust you again.”

  Bant smirked, but his flaming eyes darkened. “Sit down, Egan.”

  Reluctantly, Egan rested on the far edge of the cot while Bant sat up. For several moments, Bant stared at the floor without speaking. Growing restless, Egan allowed his frustration and anger to billow to the surface.

  “You are a coward and a liar,”
he said. “I don’t know why I even entertained the thought you might have a, honorable bone in your body. Good luck with your trial, Bant.”

  “Sit down, Egan,” said Bant forcefully.

  Egan turned, surprised by the tone. He met his brother’s eyes once more, but this time he saw nothing but true concern. Slowly, Egan lowered himself to the cot once more and spoke softly.

  “What is it?”

  “I know what the Architect is after, and she will destroy me if she finds out I told you. What she’s after is greater than she knows and it will overtake her.” Bant paused again. After several moments he stood and paced in front of the old cot, until he finally stopped, his flaming eyes blazed with truth. “If she is not stopped, the entire Hemisphere could be destroyed.”

  Chapter 7

  The Ruby

  Owen tapped a silver pen against the steel table Connor was using for a desk in his lab.

  “What is that you’re reading?” Connor finally asked, pointing to the small brown book Owen had brought with them.

  “An encyclopedia of curses and magic throughout the Hemisphere. I thought it might help us be a little more prepared to meet Maurelle.” Owen said, never looking at Connor.

  “You said you found something. What is it?”

  Owen closed the book and a cloud of dust erupted from the pages. “Why did you do it, Connor? Why didn’t you ask for help? We need you and if something would have gone wrong, you could’ve hurt someone or yourself. We just can’t afford loses like you. I’ve known you for a long time and you were never one to take risks like this, and you’d be the first one to admit it.”

  “You didn’t see the attack start, Owen. I did. I was out in the halls with a…a group of new engineers. They’d just left Potential training. The blast hit us from behind and then we were completely overtaken by Trinity soldiers. There wasn’t even time to turn around before they...” Connor tossed his glasses on the table and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “The only reason I survived was because a steel plate of wall fell on top of me, covering me. When the soldiers moved on and I got up…well, everyone was gone and it’s something I will never stop replaying in my mind.”