“You will never be king,” Valen said through gritted teeth.
Darai’s power rolled through his mind. Such pain. Such fire.
Suddenly, a scene came to life before Valen, and he saw Exonia.
He saw his home, but it was a place of darkness, an endless sea that spread on forever. The only light came from a dark tower in the distance, and below it, the conduit. A swirling abyss of colors that was the other side of the Void.
Soon it would be opened.
Soon it would allow the Exonians through.
“Look at them,” Darai’s voice said gleefully, as Valen stared in horror at the other world. “Look at your people.”
The Exonians had no bodies.
It was a sea of shadows, writhing beneath the surface, endlessly hungry. Eager to devour, to take up a place in a body. They had never had bodies, could not walk freely the way the Mirabellians did, and they were forced to stare through the conduit forever, seeing the Mirabellians in all their mobility. Their lives, walking among the many planets and worlds.
The Exonians hissed and snapped their shadow-jaws.
“When they come through to this world, Valen,” Darai told him, “they will take the bodies that are already waiting here. They will become a perfect army, to head out and conquer other places. Other worlds beyond this. With your power, with your might...imagine what I will accomplish.”
No, Valen wanted to say.
But fear had stolen his voice.
The Exonians were supposed to be peaceful. That was the truth Valen had always been told, that Nor had believed, too. The Exonians were living in a dying world. They were meant to come to Mirabel, and survive alongside the people who existed here. Nor would rule over them, in a world without war. A world fully given over to peace.
She’d gone about it in the way she had to, and the wicked things she’d done would be worth it in the end, when Exonia and Mirabel became one.
But this?
This was a monstrosity.
This would be murder, of an entire galaxy full of people.
“You can’t do this,” Valen sputtered. “And you won’t. Nor will never agree to continue with the plan. You said she’ll betray me? She won’t do it. She would never bind me to that satellite. Exonia will stay locked away in its dark prison forever.”
With a surge of rage, he shoved against his uncle’s power.
Shoved with everything he had.
The walls trembled around them, and Valen screamed, pain lancing through him. But he would not quit, even though he felt himself fading as he pushed, desperate to escape Darai’s power.
Yet Darai only laughed, chuckling as if he were a giant holding back a child from swinging tiny fists at him. “You’re right,” he said. “Nor loves you too much, the foolish girl. She would never bind you to the satellite—not unless you chose to do it yourself. So you’ll go to her, and tell her you’re dying. That much, Valen, is true. Right now, while your body lies in that hospital wing, you’re dying.”
“I’m not,” Valen said.
But he knew it was a lie. A hope that was already crumbling.
“You’ll tell Nor you want to be a worthy sacrifice, a loyal soldier,” Darai instructed. “And that if you are to die, you would rather hand over your body to the cause, and let us keep it alive while your mind stays attached to the mission.” He patted Valen’s shoulder with a sigh. “Such a strong princeling. But not strong enough to fight my abilities.”
“Why are you doing this?” Valen begged. “If you have compulsion, why not use it yourself, and leave me and my sister out of it all?”
He was nearly lost to his pain, unable to fight any longer.
“Because the foolish Godstars wounded me,” Darai snapped. “They stole my power and tried to destroy my Yielded body, too, when they thought me too dark for a place in their world. But I escaped. I ran, along with a kernel of my power. I’ve tended to it for years, waiting for it to grow. Years, in this miserable galaxy, I have bided my time, waiting to unleash what is left of my power. It isn’t enough to rule on my own, and soon, it will fade. But your compulsion will be uploaded to the Nexus long before then.”
“No,” Valen gasped. “Nor will see the lie. She’ll never do that to me.”
“But she will,” Darai said with a shrug. “Because you will convince her to. Did you know, Valen, that I made you shove that soldier toward Zahn? I compelled you to do so. My plan played itself out well, weakening Nor’s heart. Creating a rift between the two of you, to help guide her into going along with my plan.”
Horror surged through Valen. “You did that?”
He hadn’t even felt the compulsion, and yet somehow, Darai had been the cause of Zahn’s death. Not Valen. Darai.
“Come along, boy,” Darai said. “I’m growing tired of this game. Nor awaits us.”
The view before Valen changed in a flash. He was no longer in his mind castle, but back in his body, lying in his hospital bed. Only he no longer had control of it.
“Get up,” Darai said, those golden eyes shimmering.
Valen stood, aware of how weak he was. But also aware of a deeper, horrific power propelling him forward.
A power that he was helpless to fight.
* * *
Nor was surprised to see them when they arrived.
“Valen!” She stood, pulling a cloak over her shoulders as she crossed the room to his side, pausing quickly to look at Darai. “He should be resting. Why did you bring him here?”
“Apologies, Majesty,” Darai said, and Valen felt sick as the adviser’s tone changed, as his face crumbled to that weakened state he’d always shown them, so different from the monster Valen had just met in his mind.
How many times had Valen missed the truth about Darai?
How many times had Valen sensed the old man’s compulsion, but thought nothing of it?
“The boy is weak,” Darai said as he kept his grip on Valen’s arm, helping to support his body. “I tried to change his mind, but he insisted. He wishes to speak with you, said it was urgent.”
With every step Valen took, he begged Nor to see him resisting.
He begged her to understand that he was not a part of this, that he was a puppet, and Darai was the master pulling his strings.
But she only helped guide Valen toward the couch across the room, settling him against the cushions.
“I tried to find you in the medical wing, Majesty,” Darai said, sitting down across from Valen in a chair. “I just received word that Nexus is complete, and I came to alert you of it, but found Valen instead. The doctors informed me that his time is short, so I thought it best to bring him up to speed on our plan.”
“What?” Nor asked, raising her voice. She looked to Valen with widening eyes. “You told him?”
Darai inclined his head. “I know it is unforgivable of me to have overstepped. But we are running out of time, and the opportunity will be gone from us if we do not decide immediately. I thought it would ease your pain if we told Valen, and if he was given the chance to decide for himself.”
Nor was silent, as if she couldn’t believe Darai’s words.
He’s lying! Valen screamed from his mind, sending the message as far as he could, pushing it toward their mental doorway. I’m still here, Nor! You have to hear me!
But the message rebounded back to him, unheard.
Dread swirled through Valen as Nor looked from Darai to him and back again.
She believed Darai. Oh, Godstars, she believed him, and Valen would never get free.
“Tell her, Valen,” Darai said, his voice so sickeningly false that Valen wanted to scream, to cringe and scurry far away. “Tell your sister what you told me.”
Valen closed his eyes, trying to fight the Exonian. But his mind was like a reed, bending in the wind. Darai was too strong, his mental
grip icy as he held fast, unrelenting.
“I’m dying, Nor,” Valen said. His lips moved against his will. The words were not his, but Darai’s, compelling him with such ease that Valen felt like he was in a dream. “Every day I draw closer to death. I don’t want to die in vain. I want to die an honorable man. As a sacrifice for my true home.”
“Don’t say that,” Nor begged him. She turned to him, taking his hand.
Valen could feel it, the sincerity in that grip. He tried to squeeze her hand back, to squeeze so tightly that perhaps it would tell her something was wrong. But his hand felt as if it belonged to another. He looked down at it, unable to control his fingers.
“I have to say it,” Valen heard himself say. “It would be the greatest gift I could ever give, Nor, to the woman who gave me a purpose in life. You saved me from the darkness when you found me, when you helped me learn of my power. You gave me a true life, and though it has been short, it has been full of beauty.”
Lies, Valen screamed. Please, Nor, you have to hear me! You have to see the truth! It’s not me speaking! I don’t want this!
The message, again, did not reach her.
Sweat began to bead on Valen’s temples as he fought back against Darai’s compulsion, but Nor likely saw it as a side effect of his condition.
“Darai has promised me there will be no pain,” his lips said, the words still not his own. “He says that when you plug me in, it will feel like I’ve gone into a peaceful sleep. But instead of death, instead of eternal darkness, I’ll be there in the satellite, sending out the truth to the galaxy. Ensuring that Exonia will have a home, and the two galaxies will always live in peace, because of your rule. And after you’re gone, I will remain, keeping that peace. Keeping everyone in the truth and the light. Your children’s children will reign, and I will ensure it is so.”
Nor was crying now, as Valen spoke.
As if he was saying something beautiful, instead of spouting the words of a monster.
“You can’t possibly want this,” Nor said, still holding his hand. “Can you?”
His body shook as he pulled himself back into his mind, toward the mental doorway that connected him to Nor. If he could just send her a message...if he could just get one word through the gap, then perhaps she would see. Perhaps he could warn her about Darai, about the truth of the Exonians that Nor didn’t know.
But when he reached the doorway, he found, with horror, that it was covered with thick obsidinite bars.
No! Valen screamed, pounding mental fists against the bars. Nor! I’m still here! Please, Nor, you have to hear me!
The bars turned to a swirling darkness, thick black smoke that burned to the touch. Valen screamed as the smoke wrapped around his wrists, yanking him away from the locked door.
A valiant effort, Darai’s voice hissed in Valen’s mind. But a futile one.
Then Valen was thrown from his own mind, hurled back into the world where he sat with Nor still holding his hands.
She was right there, right in front of him, but she couldn’t hear him scream.
He was a prisoner to Darai.
CHAPTER 33
NOR
“Please, Nor,” Valen said. “You said you wanted to forgive me for what happened with Zahn. If that’s true, then allow me to do this. It’s my dying wish.”
Tears rolled down Nor’s cheeks as her brother spoke. She looked to her uncle, eyes pleading. “Is there truly no other way?”
This couldn’t be the only answer.
She’d already forgiven him, had forgiven him the moment he’d collapsed in her office, when she’d feared they would lose him. He was all she had left, and he was asking her to let him go. Like a soldier, ready to walk onto the front lines of a war he knew he wouldn’t come back from.
“There is not,” Darai said gently. “The boy knows it, too. And he is brave for still wishing to do it.”
Nor looked back at Valen.
He sat before her, so weak, yet so sure.
Still, something didn’t feel right. Nor sank into her mind, reaching for the mental doorway between them, and found it shut tight. She’d closed it herself, locked it up during their argument after the attack in the city...but she’d opened it again, back in the hospital wing. Perhaps he’d closed it once more, wanting them to have some space before they spoke so intimately again?
Nor was about to knock on the door, to try to open it, when Valen spoke, more insistently this time. He gripped her hand tighter, with a strength he hadn’t shown moments before.
“We have no time to waste.” He coughed into his sleeve, leaving behind a few flecks of blood. Darai stood and offered him a bit of cloth. Valen nodded his thanks, wiping his mouth clean. “I’m sorry, Nor. But this is our duty to Exonia. It’s time.”
She swallowed and chewed on her lip. So quickly, the tide of this war had turned. So quickly, she’d gone from feeling as if she had no choice, to Valen suddenly deciding for her.
“You’re sure you know what this means?” she asked. “You know that once you enter that satellite, once you go forward with being uploaded...you’ll never be able to take it back.”
Valen nodded, his eyes downcast. “I’m fully aware, Nor. Darai has answered all of my questions. I’m ready. I want this. And I know you want it, too.”
It was all happening so fast.
Nor turned back to Darai, to ask him a final time, to command him to find another option. But then the door to her office swung open, and Nor’s head analyst rushed in.
“Majesty!” The woman’s silver veins were bright as she bowed.
Nor stood at the same time as Darai. “What is it?” she asked.
“We’ve received a message from Arachnid,” the analyst said, panting slightly. “He has Androma Racella in custody. And he’s en route to Arcardius, this very moment, to offer her up as a token of peace. He requests that the girl’s remaining crew be there, ready to hand over as a trade, as well as the body of her pilot, so she can be buried. He’s also asked for a cease-fire—if we stop the attacks on his people, he’ll stop the attacks on ours.”
Nor felt like the ground was about to fall out from beneath her.
“Are you certain?” Nor asked, her heart hammering.
The analyst nodded, face bright with excitement at the happy news. “We’re certain, Majesty. What would you have me do? Arachnid is waiting for a response.”
Nor looked to Darai, who nodded his encouragement. “The time is nearly here, my dear. Perhaps the spider has finally realized he is vastly outnumbered. He has come to his senses.”
Valen smiled weakly at her from the couch. “Tell him we accept. Give him the girls—we don’t need them. And we’ll head to Nexus immediately, to begin preparations.”
“But of all people, Arachnid arrives with Androma in tow?” It felt like a trick.
“Perhaps they had formed an alliance, which Arachnid is now using to his utmost advantage. A wise decision, if he wishes to save himself,” Darai suggested. “We’ll have all of our soldiers at hand. An army ready to capture them both.”
“You would make a false deal?” Nor asked.
Darai nodded. “You would do so, my dear. As you have before, when you sent Valen to Arcardius masquerading as an innocent, helpless boy to pave the way for you.” He looked to the analyst. “Arachnid is coming, but with how many ships?”
“Only one,” the analyst said. “One ship. We will meet them in the skies and escort them here to Averia.”
Darai looked to Nor, taking her hand, eyes meeting hers. He smiled warmly, and she felt peace fill her from within at his touch, at his gaze. Peace with the plan. It was nearly all over.
She wanted this. She wanted to move to action, before it was too late.
Nor glanced back at her brother, struck by a sudden thought. “What use could Arachnid possibly have for Androma�
�s crew?”
“I imagine Androma probably asked for their freedom in exchange for surrendering herself peacefully,” Valen said. “She was always selfless when it came to them.”
A burst of energy filled Nor, followed by the need to get up and move as Darai squeezed her hand once more. “Then send our response,” she said to the analyst, again filled with that sudden burst of courage, that strange need to move. “And arrange for the girls to be there when Arachnid arrives with Androma. Arrange for a full guard, too. Zero opportunities for the Bloody Baroness to escape. I want her in my grasp, so we can transfer the power from her to me immediately. You will be there as well, to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible. And once Arachnid gives us Androma, we must seize him, too. The man can’t be trusted. We’d be fools not to take them both together.”
“He will resist,” Darai said.
“And if he does, kill him,” Nor said boldly. “In fact, kill him even if he doesn’t resist. He’s too dangerous to be left alive.”
The analyst nodded, then raced from the room to carry out her orders. Nor turned back to the others, a new energy pulsing in her veins.
This was it. The moment she’d been working toward for so many years.
“A fortuitous ending to our day,” Darai said, smiling. “We must go at once, and begin the process of uploading Valen.”
Nor’s smile fell from her face. She’d forgotten, momentarily, about Valen’s choice.
She looked to him a final time, her heart still racing. Was this it, then? Was this to be the way things ended between them?
“Don’t think of it as an end,” Valen said suddenly. Quietly. As if he’d been reading her mind. He lifted a hand to her, and she went to his side to help him stand. He was so weak. So frail, compared to how he’d once been, when they’d first met on Xen Ptera, when they’d truly become the brother and sister they’d always had, but never known.
“Think of this as a new beginning,” Valen said. “A new life, Nor, for countless others. I’m ready. I’m willing. And I can’t wait to see how beautiful it is, when Exonia finally walks free.”
Nexus Page 29