by Rae Else
‘What happened?’ El asked, staring at Luke’s bruise.
Luke shook his head. ‘Oh, nothing, just my brother’s way of saying hello.’
El raised her eyebrows.
Janos interrupted, ‘The Order’s on its way.’
Alex exited the house and put El’s suitcase in the boot of his jeep, along with Anna’s urn.
‘Let’s get to Braintree then,’ Luke said.
‘No,’ Janos said. ‘My foresight shows that, for the time being, there’s no clear route out from any airfield. I want you all to go to the Camden safe house.’
‘Where are you going?’ El asked.
‘To Southend Airport. I’ll get the next flight to Greece. From there, I’ll be able to keep watch. I’ll contact you when I see an opportunity to get you out.’
‘Can’t we just get a flight from there too?’ El insisted. His lack of explanation was irksome, especially as he’d not told them what he’d been doing for the last few hours.
Dan’s brow furrowed. ‘El – Janos has been overseeing this operation for years. If he sees this as the best move–’
‘Then what? We should just do it?’
Dan flushed but fell silent.
Alex held a needle and syringe: Janos’ blood. He must have drawn some so that they could disappear from the Order while they travelled. He gave Luke a dose and went to Dan.
‘If you expect us to work with you,’ El continued, looking at Janos, ‘you’re going to have to be more open.’
‘I understand,’ he said. ‘I will answer your questions at the right time, but for now, this is adieu.’ He strode to his car and opened the door, retrieving something from the glove compartment. He handed what looked like a piece of paper to Dan. ‘I will send word to that address on the darknet as soon as I see a clear route to Greece open to you. And remember, with time, precision is everything.’
As Alex prepared another dose of blood for El, his expression was solemn. She knew him well enough, had been through so much with him, to notice that he was troubled by Janos’ leaving too. She wished he’d say something. El pushed her sleeve up as Alex injected the blood.
Luke spoke up, ‘Can’t you stay here, come to the safe house too?’
Janos shook his head. ‘Once I’m in Greece, I can focus entirely on watching the future. I’ll phase out of the present to stay concealed and monitor the future timeline. I’ll only come back to the present to give you information. Communication will be limited. Time is a precious commodity and I have cheapened it by lingering too long.’
El gawped. Whose fault was that? He’d been the one sitting around for the last few hours. Something told her though that it wasn’t the hours he’d spent out of this time that he was referring to, but to the meagre few minutes he’d spent talking to them.
‘Do you want me to drive you?’ Dan asked.
‘No,’ Janos said. ‘I can deviate my route if necessary. Besides, you will be needed at the safe house to ensure everyone entry.’
For the first time, El noticed that Janos still wasn’t entirely here. His hands were transparent. Any movement caused them to flicker as if a mild breeze might carry their particles away. His hands were still physical enough to interact with objects, and after opening the car door and getting in, he slammed it shut. The engine revved and with a quick manoeuvre, he hurtled away.
They stood for a moment in silence. El trotted to the boot of Alex’s jeep and threw the walking stick on top of her bag. She checked that her real weapon was stashed in her pocket: the cylindrical camping lighter. She and Luke took the backseat, while Dan climbed in the front. Alex pulled away and they were soon racing down the drive.
El peered back. When would she see the manor again she wondered. As she looked at the vista, the Medieval section of the house drew her eye. The smoother Victorian renovation was tacked on the side. Ivy ran over its body binding the composite parts. Despite the foliage, the house looked disjointed. Its sections were infused with the spirit of different ages. Just like Janos. She pictured his impassive expression, blurring, fading away to … who knew where … or when. As the building vanished behind the trees, El reflected that in this life, nothing was permanent. Everything, whether flesh or stone, here one moment, was changed the next.
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The Connection
The first e-short, one of two prequels to The All-Seeing Eye, book two of The Arete Series.
Janos, the only survivor of the Triad, traverses time, seeking to ensure that the future he desires will come to pass.
Web of Lies
The second e-short, prequel to The All-Seeing Eye, book two of The Arete Series.
Luke Laukas is about to flee the UK with El and the Opposition. But first, he must disclose the truth about the Order to his brother, Josh. Can past ties be re-forged or are some things unforgivable?
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Author’s Note
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed the first instalment of The Arete Series. If you enjoyed the book and have a moment to spare, I would really appreciate a review on the page you purchased the book. Your help on spreading the word about arete is very much appreciated. Reviews will help other readers discover the arete world. Thank you!
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Acknowledgements
First and always, thank you to Dave, for understanding my fascination for ancient worlds and their myths. Thank you for your creativity in the cover design and for your tirelessness in line editing.
A huge thanks to my writer’s group that has helped me develop and finish this book. Especially to Barbara Murphy Marder for her dialogue, which is as sharp as her wit and to Samantha Nash for her scientific attention to detail and structure. Thank you too to Karin Lillehei Bakhtiar for your thorough and brilliant editing and proofreading. Thank you to Crystal Packard as well, who has helped shape some of the comic aspects within the story. Thank you to Caroline and Gary Smailes at Bubblecow for your structural edit.
Finally, thank you Rebecca Turner for your scientific expertise, for looking at drafts, your forbearance in proofreading and your continued encouragement.