by C. J. Lloyd
Titans: Revelation by C.J Lloyd
©2021 by C.J Lloyd. All rights reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced in any written, electronic, recording, or photocopying form without written permission of the author, C.J Lloyd.
All characters in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real people, alive or dead, is purely coincidental.
Cover design by Paganus at 99designs
Edited by Gina Salamon & Carrie Jones
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-7348764-7-5
Ebook ISBN: 978-1-7348764-6-8
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ALSO COMING BY
C.J LLOYD
Titans: Afterlife (2021)
D.O.R: Disciples of Revolution (2021)
D.O.R: The Take Over
The Dragon Princess
The Black Phoenix
To my loving wife Stephanie and our two boys Isaiah and Joshua,
always strive for the vision God has given you!
Contents
Chapter 1: Rest
Chapter 2: Awakened
Chapter 3: The Burdensome Truth
Chapter 4: Worst Behavior
Chapter 5: Fruits of His Labor
Chapter 6: Declaration of War
Chapter 7: Prepare Yourself
Chapter 8: No Strings
Chapter 9: Truth
Chapter 10: Optimism in the Dark
Chapter 11: The Dark Temple
Chapter 12: Sympathy for the Devil
Chapter 13: Reunion
Chapter 14: Dying Hope
Chapter 15: Hypocenter
Chapter 16: What Nightmares We Will Bring
Chapter 17: Want You Back
Chapter 18: Breaking Point
Chapter 19: Lost Hope
Chapter 20: A Global Decision
Chapter 21: Faults
Chapter 22: Going Nuclear
Chapter 23: Deception and Betrayal
Chapter 24: Calamity
Chapter 25: Back from the Dead
Chapter 26: All That We Have
Chapter 27: The Repercussions of Challenging Darkness
Chapter 28: Going in for the Kill
Chapter 29: The War for the World
Chapter 30: Darkness vs. Light
Chapter 31: Two Sides to Every Coin
Chapter 32: Tartarus
Chapter 33: Afterlife
Chapter 34: Ebon
Chapter 35: I’ll Be Back
Epilogue: Calamity
Chapter 1
Rest
Helicopter blades beat the air as the stagnant odor of metal and oil settled inside the aircraft, driving Violet deeper into her thoughts—a place of dread, nightmarish screams, billowing black smoke, and the roar of beasts.
Boston was gone, she thought but didn’t dare say it out loud in fear of giving the statement more power and reality than it already had. No. She wouldn’t be able to run from this failure, not with the blood of thousands on her hands. And to think that Elric and the other two Titans escaped.
Waves of nausea turned Violet’s stomach. She cringed, clenching her teeth and squeezing her eyes shut. Anything to fight the misery. First, Sage had been killed, and now the city was destroyed.
The three of them were lucky to be alive.
Poor Eden was still unconscious, a bloodied bandage stuck to his forehead, stapling his dirty-blond hair down. That was just the visual damage. Who knew what his insides were like?
A few bruises and scrapes showed through Terra’s light-brown skin; she was young but sturdy and carried herself well. Violet was more concerned about her head space, though. That was Terra’s first battle, and Terra did the best she could, but the thought of failing and letting people die could be too much for her.
As Violet lay on the stretcher, tears ran down the corners of reddened cheeks, dribbling into her ears. She never thought they’d lose. Not with so many lives at stake. She thought about her past life, the one below and within the city. The life where Zaroule’s body rested deep within the Earth.
Though only the remnants of Zenith remained below the city after Blight attacked, and the apartment within the city was nothing more than half the structure they’d known after Elric tried to kill her, she still held on to the memories of friendship, love, and joy. Times so far gone it seemed incomprehensible, especially with Elric—the boy she considered a brother—being the one who destroyed everything.
He’d pay. She’d stop him even if it meant killing him.
From the stretcher, Violet studied Jennifer, the girl she thought had died two years ago, Elric’s childhood best friend and love. No way in hell would Jennifer agree to take out Elric, especially if she’s returned specifically for him.
Terra’s brown eyes burned into Jennifer. That was mostly due to the sliver of a smile that gleamed from her smooth brown cheeks. Violet couldn’t blame Terra for being angry; she wanted to wipe the innocent grin from Jennifer’s face too and go right into her about Elric. But Jennifer was oblivious to the events that had taken place in the world these last few years.
Even now Violet wondered how she would break the news. How was she going to tell Jennifer that Elric had become a monster, the one responsible for killing thousands? Especially after the promise she’d made.
Violet could still feel the blistering cold against her neck from the cold air that night, standing outside Jennifer’s hotel room. She could still see the paleness of Elric’s face in the darkness as Jennifer’s hands wrapped tightly around his wrist. “I promise. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him safe.”
Violet tensed at she recalled her own words to the girl sitting before her. They were just as loud as they were that night. The last night she saw Jennifer. And two years later, here she was. Did Jennifer even remember?
Jennifer’s eyes widened. “This is amazing!”
Violet nearly came off the bed, her heart jumping from Jennifer’s excitement.
“I’ve never ridden in a helicopter before. I mean, I’ve flown, but not in a machine,” Jennifer said with a bubbly tone that broke over the roaring engine. Ropes of hair glittering with golden clips spilled over her shoulder. She flung a few back.
“I haven’t either, so what are you getting at?” Terra spat the words out in a fiery southern twang.
“Oh, that’s right! None of you guys have been to Ermak. It’s beautiful! They flew on draco’s, these oversized lizards with extra flaps of skin under their arms, kinda like flying squirrels. They didn’t really fly . . . just glided. Cool nonetheless.”
Terra’s eyes thinned, a swoop of her long dark-brown hair hiding the soft features of her face. Violet was thankful Jennifer didn’t turn to see the cold, bitter expression. Violet wanted to intervene before things got out of hand; she could feel Terra boiling over inside.
Terra yelled over the engine, “And what made you come back again?”
Jennifer straightened in the seat, and her shoulders popped back. An edge sharper than the tip of a blade replaced the jovial energy she had been giving off only seconds before.
She slowly turned, eyes narrowing on Terra. “Like I said before. When Madison told us what was happening, I made the decision to come back. I had to find out myself about Elric. Then I plan on kicking the ass of the person who drove him down this path.”
The stabbing blade of rage poured from her side as Violet looked up at a squirrel-eyed Samantha. Sam’s rage. Sam was ready to pounce too. “Really? That’s all that matters, huh? Not going to ask about the people who’ve d
ied and given their lives while you were away? Or maybe the people who died in Bos—”
Violet threw her hand out to stop Sam before she went off the deep end. Their eyes met, and the woman in uniform gave her a terse nod. The last thing Violet needed was to have the three most short-tempered females she knew at each other’s throats.
“Thanks, Sam.”
Sam placed a pair of shades over her eyes and wiggled a bit in her armor. “For you, I’ll relax. But I won’t hold my tongue for much longer, Violet.”
Jennifer scoffed. “You make it sound like this world’s the only one that experienced loss. The Ermakians experienced just as much, maybe even more. This war has torn Ermak apart; it wiped out entire species and cultures. At least here, there are people like you, Violet. In Ermak, it’s just them, and they were losing until I came.”
“Imagine that.” Terra rolled her eyes as she sat back, arms folded across her chest. A strange sense of angst radiated from her. Violet hoped it was battle fatigue that put a bitter taste in Terra’s mouth.
Samantha tapped Violet on the shoulder and nodded toward Jennifer. Her stony expression was even more intimidating than usual.
“When do you plan on telling her about Boston?” Samantha asked as her face turned to the girl draped in gold, staring out the window. “Regardless of her attitude and this mind-numbing nostalgia she suffers from, she’ll have to accept the truth.”
Violet cringed at the thought. Accept the truth?
Sam didn’t know Jen. She didn’t know the girl with fierce hazel eyes and a commanding presence. She was a lot like Sage that way.
All of that was gathered from Violet’s first encounter with Jennifer just a few years ago. And judging by the short dialogue in the prison cell, she hadn’t changed. “If anything, we need to get off this helicopter before we tell her. She’s human but trust me when I say she’ll go over the top if we go about this the wrong way.”
Samantha clasped Violet’s fingers and rubbed them. “I trust you, but she’s going to find out soon—whether from you or someone else. What happened in Boston will be considered the greatest human catastrophe and the deadliest domestic terrorist attack in US history.”
A chill climbed Violet’s spine. She shivered as the gravity of Sam’s words hit home. It was inevitable that Jennifer would find out about the horrors of Boston and what Elric had done.
Violet focused on Jennifer. Then what will she do?
Large golden loop earrings hung from Jennifer’s ears, and her neck glistened with jewelry like that of royalty. It chimed with the slightest swivel of her head. Bracelets of gold woven together with bone covered her arm. The bands were arrayed with fiery red, shocking blue, and piercing green gems. But in all her glamour, nothing compared to the milky white dress of silk that cascaded down Jennifer’s torso, gripping the curves of her hips.
Violet watched Jen tug the pearly white gown over her knees, hiding calves that looked like they belonged to a professional kickboxer.
“So, where are we headed?” Jen yelled over the beating blades.
“When we get to where we’re going, everything will be explained,” Samantha yelled, throwing Violet a look of unease.
Jen nodded, searching the world outside the small window.
Violet wished she could sink deeper into the stretcher. The tingling of her powers scurrying over her body eased her anxiety, but not the pain of bones mending and tendons reattaching. The damage sustained should have killed her. Any normal person would’ve died.
Finally, the thoughts of agitation and anxiety released her, letting the psionic energy do its job. Sleep swept Violet away as the deep beating of the helicopter lulled her into a world of nightmares and broken memories. Of hellish fires and monsters.
The light brightened overhead, and the sensation of the helicopter descending reached her.
“Violet. Violet, wake up. We’re here.” Terra gave her a gentle nudge.
Violet’s eyelids pulled back with a blurriness as a warmth swept over her. She still trembled from cold even in the dry heat.
As the engine powered down to a low grumble, the doors jolted open. Two men in uniform came in and slid Eden out, while another pair transferred Violet to a wheelchair. Samantha stayed by her side as they stepped out into the light of the sun.
A salty breeze kissed the sweat on Violet’s cheeks with a freshness that reminded her of the last time she’d trained with Sage. The sky had been a deep blue with patches of white, thick like cotton, roaming high above, and seagulls glided overhead, their cackles mixed with distant voices and the groans of passing vehicles. Coming back to the present, the sudden shift of energy and the number of people in uniform that surrounded them threw her off balance.
A few yards in front of them stood a three-story structure built of brick and cinderblocks. It was so wide that it appeared to have no end. The windows were barred, and the rust stains and crumbling areas on the edges of the building aged it considerably. Dozens of antennas waved from side to side on the roof, and people in uniform poured in and out of the building. A few donned white lab jackets.
Violet’s skin prickled as the vibes of Area Zero returned. “Where are we, Sam?”
“It’s going to be the place we operate out of from now on. This will be our new home.”
As they entered, a group of people wearing white surrounded Violet and Eden’s stretcher.
“Get them to the healing tanks immediately,” Samantha commanded.
“Yes, ma’am. Do we have any idea of the severity of their injuries?” a woman asked.
“Well, everyone’s alive.” Sam glanced down at Violet. “She’s pretty broken up, but the boy should be alright. Dunk them both just to be sure.”
“Yes, ma’am.” A man looked over at Terra and Jennifer. His eyebrows pinched as his gaze fell on Jen. “And uh, how about these two?”
“They’re fine. I’ll bring them downstairs to the barracks to see the others. It’ll provide some relaxation until we move out next.”
The man nodded as a group carried Violet and Eden away. Violet could see the unease on Terra’s face.
“Everything will be alright, I promise. Trust Sam,” Violet said telepathically, trying to comfort her.
Terra took a deep breath and bit her bottom lip. “Okay.”
“Samantha,” Violet called, drawing her attention so that she looked down at Violet. “Make sure nobody says anything about Elric.”
Samantha gave her a thumbs up. “Focus on getting better. I’ll take it from here.”
Violet and Eden were taken down a long corridor. Her concussion was starting to rear its ugly head. The blinding fluorescent lights didn’t help much, and the walls were an ugly shade of green just like Area Zero. Dozens of men and women hurried about, some wearing white coats, others in uniform, also like Area Zero.
Deep breaths, deep breaths, she chided herself. No point in losing her mind now. And it wasn’t like she had the energy to do anything.
They took a hard right down another corridor into a wide room with four metal tables, each connected by dozens of steel cables to a machine.
The man accompanying them nodded to a group of people in white lab jackets. “Prep them both for a two-day vacation. Colonel’s orders.”
Vacation? Violet thought.
Two women from the group wheeled her to one side of the room and gently began undressing her. She tried to sit up, but a jolting pain in her spine made her think twice.
“Please don’t be afraid; we’re here to help,” one woman said. “You and your friends are something else. I’ve studied Anomalies for some time now, and from the things I’ve heard … you’re pretty strong.”
Violet swallowed as they carefully dressed her in a black spandex undersuit. The suit went over her head, touching the edge of her brows, and the lower portion went over her chin just below her bottom lip. She was then brought over to one of the strange tables. Eden was already on one.
They placed her gently on the table.
The ice-cold metal reached her through the strange material, and she grimaced. The stiffness on her back was murder. Another man came over and, starting from her legs, began slowly strapping her in.
Violet snatched his wrist, looking him straight in his warm brown eyes. His memories rushed and flooded her consciousness. As much as she hated to dig into people’s minds, after everything that had happened, all hesitation went out the window. She saw all the skeletons in his closet and all his accomplishments. Her discomfort eased. He was a decent man all in all.
He nodded, gesturing for her to calm down.
“These are recovery tanks,” he explained, placing his hand on one. “A glass will roll over the table, sealing you inside, then fill with a chemical solution used to heal most injuries. This machine is still in its infancy stage, but so far, we’ve had some great success. You and your friend will be fine in a couple of days, maybe sooner depending on how quickly your bodies take to the solution.”
She bit her bottom lip and nodded, then caught a glimpse of herself in a mirror hanging on the side of a computer. The left side of her face was purpling, and in some places, already yellow. She could barely see the freckles that brushed over the bridge of her nose, and her hair was a mess, matted with sweat and blood. Her bottom lip was split, and she had a few gashes that covered her face too.
“I’m going to give you an IV. It’s a cocktail that’s mixed with a sedative and will be hooked up to the machine that’ll give you fluids and nourishment during your recovery. Also, swallow this.”
He handed her two large pills, which Violet looked down on with skepticism. “And what are these for?”
“Let’s just say it helps control your bowel movements while you’re in the tank. They’re effective, trust me.”
“Enough said.” She knocked the pills back and gulped a glass of water.
She winced as the man slipped the needle into her arm and hooked another tube to it, then securely taped the tube to her arm. He nodded and gave her a thumbs up. “Almost done. Next, I’ll place an oxygen mask over your face. This will feed continuous fresh oxygen into your lungs while you’re submerged. Okay?”
She nodded unctuously, controlling her breaths. Her mind ran wild. What if this is a trap? What if I’m knocked out and Elric attacks again, and I’m not able to stop him? What if I don’t wake up?