Eternity's War (Books 1-3) (Eternity's War Boxsets)

by Ruben Stelliswolfe

  “You need me,” Night said, a large grin on his face.

  “And stop lying on my chaise!” Nikolai shouted. “You're going to ruin it.”

  The door to the suite opened. Sabina and Aurelius quietly entered the room with Archibald in front. Six guards were behind them. While Nikolai preferred having Tahlia transport the old man from place to place, he agreed to Guard Two's request of having her soldiers escort Archibald back to the villa. For the sake of his mission's success, he knew that keeping up appearances was imperative.

  “Out!” Nikolai screamed—the Guard instantly retreated back outside. He turned his attention to the new president. “Well, at least your soldiers are obedient. Have you told the rest of your staff of my promotion?”

  Archibald shifted his weight nervously. “Nikolai,” he stammered, “that's actually your job as chief counsel.”

  “I don't think so,” he dismissed. “I believe I've endured my share of menial chores in recent times. You can send the communique out yourself.”

  The president let out a long groan. It has been a lifelong dream of his to reach the position he was finally in, but he now began to fear that Nikolai was truly uncertain how the Athenian chain of command worked, and that he'd constantly pester him with incessant orders for the entire five-year term.

  “Nikolai,” Archie began, trying to conjure enough strength to stand up for himself, “I can't do that. I'll be running an entire country soon. I don't have time to do small tasks like that.”

  “Then make time,” Nikolai said, staring out at the beautiful blue ocean. “Remember, this is my country.”

  Archie's head fell. He knew that Nikolai would never understand how running a country worked until it was too late. He already regretted making the deal with him in the first place, but was now in over his head. Archie would have no choice but to push on and take solace in the fact that as long as he was president, he was somewhat safe from Nikolai slaughtering him for his past crimes. Nevertheless, the government would have to operate effectively, or else his contracted term could abruptly end.

  “Nikolai,” he started again, trying to sound wiser than he was, “you can have the country, but we need to maintain a functioning government in order to succeed.”

  “And that we will. I have faith in you, Your Excellency.”

  Archie swallowed hard. “But I need your cooperation. If you're going to take on the role of chief counsel, you'll need to also take on all of its duties.”

  “I think not,” Nikolai responded without removing his gaze from the ocean. “As I just stated, I've worked hard enough to get us both to where we are, and spent more than enough money on this campaign. I'll gladly accept my title, but I have no intention in undertaking any tasks that are of no interest to me.”

  “Nikolai,” Archie said for a final time, trying to hide his impatience, “I think you're taking this a little too lightly. Without a proper government, cracks will start to show, and the Athenians will be unhappy. If they're unhappy, there'll be unrest. If there's unrest, there'll be—” he paused, immediately realising his mistake. His heart began to pound loudly in his chest.

  Nikolai slowly turned around, his eye sockets burning with rage. “Uprising? Riots?” he asked, finishing the president's sentence. “Is that what you were brazenly warning me of? That if I do not perform my duties as chief counsel, there will ultimately be a wave of riots in the streets of Athenia, like the ones you yourself instigated?”

  Archie took a step backwards, fearing for his life yet again. He turned to Night for assistance, but the odd man just stared back at him with a pleased grin. The gazes of Sabina and Aurelius were cold and unsympathetic, as always.

  Nikolai stepped forward, but stopped when the door opened again. A man with brown skin and short hair walked in, not in any apparent hurry.

  “Well, look who it is!” Nikolai shouted as he cocked his head to one side.

  “Hello, Nikolai,” Daye greeted with a polite grin.

  Archie backed away from Nikolai and took a seat on a nearby chair, grateful for the well-timed distraction. Furthermore, he always felt safe in the presence of Daye. It was as though the man always brought with him a distinct feeling of peace.

  Kai and Hana walked in no less than a second later, their faces expressionless.

  “And just where have you three been?” Nikolai curiously asked, his frustrated mood shifting to the three Tianzu.

  None of them said a word; they simply stared at him blankly, not feeling the need to justify themselves.

  “I think I know where you ran off to,” Nikolai said, moving closer toward them. “I'm not a fool, you know. Perhaps you forgot that Tahlia and I can monitor your location.”

  Again, the Tianzu said nothing.

  Nikolai frowned. It frustrated him that his attempts to intimidate the Tianzu were often futile. “I saw your friend in the city earlier today. He was watching me for quite some time. You were meeting with him, weren't you?”

  “Of course,” Daye said, his smile still present. “He's their leader, Nikolai. We were updating him on the current situation in Athenia.”

  “Their leader?” Nikolai asked, looking at Kai and Hana. “And what of yourself, Daye? Do you not have a leader? Or do you simply roam the plains like the lazy vagabond you are?”

  “I serve another,” he said.

  “You serve me!” Nikolai thundered.

  Tension filled the room as the Tianzu trio stared at Nikolai. Unlike the others in Black Dawn, they were defiant, and never hesitated to show it. None of them once swore allegiance to this group, and none of them ever would.

  Nikolai stared back at them, trying to hide his confusion and intrigue. He knew that Daye served as emissary to the leader of the Tianzu, but had now just learned that Kai and Hana had a separate leader. Any information on the Tianzu was exceedingly difficult to extract from these three, and Nikolai's lust for knowledge on the group only grew all the more.

  Nikolai cleared his throat and lowered his voice. “What I meant to say is that you agreed to work directly for me in the interim. Therefore, you serve me.”

  The three stared at Nikolai and the ridiculous statement he just made. While it had been commonplace over the past three months for them to disregard his wishes, this was the first instance in which they had disappeared for an entire day, making Nikolai even more suspicious of them than he already was.

  “Very well,” Daye said, his smile widening. “I shall serve you, my lord.”

  Nikolai scoffed. “Something tells me that you're lying. How typical of you to try and keep the peace, even if it means feigning loyalty. But I shall accept your subservience for the time being.” He turned to Kai and Hana, who stood rigid in the corner of the room, their usual place in the suite. “Do you wish to serve me too?”

  They said nothing.

  “I can assure you,” Nikolai declared, “that if you were to completely join Black Dawn, you'd live far more thrilling lives than you do in the Tianzu.”

  “I doubt that,” Kai muttered under his breath. “Your group's cause is based on domination. Ours is based on peace.”

  “Is that so?” Nikolai asked smugly. “I was under the impression that Black Dawn and the Tianzu shared a common cause.”

  “Far from it. Your version of peace justifies the death of civilians.”

  Nikolai nodded in agreement. “Well, you are somewhat accurate, but that is only because a certain level of domination is required to achieve true peace.”

  “That's not true,” Hana spoke confidently.

  “Don't assume that I'm going to give the order for civilians to be murdered. Far from it, in fact,” he rebutted. “But if I have cause to believe a civilian is a threat to the state, then yes, of course I'd justify—”

  “And that's where we differ,” Hana interrupted.

  “Nikolai,” Tahlia said, knowing that the room was about to erupt in another giant debate, or worse, “we should prepare for tonight.”

  “Ah, very good,
my dear.” Nikolai glanced down at the time on his comm and saw that the light in the day was indeed running out. “Archibald, would you rather stay here tonight, or the bunker?”

  “Here,” the old man said without even considering the question. He had so far spent a short time in the bunker, and it was far from hospitable.

  “Yes, I thought you might say that. Unfortunately, that's not part of my plan. I need Sabina and Aurelius to come with me tonight, so you'll have to be relegated to the bunker.”

  Archibald cringed at the thought of going back in there. “I think it would be best if I stayed here,” he said. “The Guard are here, and they'll keep me safe.”

  Nikolai burst into laughter. “Keep you safe from whom? Skye will be busy looking for you at East Tower tonight. Furthermore, I don't trust you alone. In fact, I don't trust you at all!” He twisted his head and pointed to the three lonely Tianzu in the corner. “You either.”

  “Likewise,” Kai said.

  Nikolai stepped forward and placed both hands on the elderly Archie's shoulders. “I feel that the bunker will be the best place for you this evening.”

  Archie looked down at the ground and hid his scowl. “What if he stayed here with me?” he asked, pointing a cautious finger at Night, who grinned at the thought of guarding the president.

  Nikolai looked back and forth between Archibald and Night, considering the proposal. “Very well,” he accepted. “But I would advise you not to try anything foolish. You know full well what he's capable of doing to you.”

  Archie looked at Night, whose sadistic and hungry eyes stared back into his. Part of him wondered if staying in the suite alone with Night was actually a wise decision.

  “Promise me that I'll be safe from Marion tonight,” Tahlia requested, changing the subject.

  Nikolai put his hand on his chin and thought about his response. “I can't make that promise,” he finally said, and started laughing to himself. A look of despair spread across her face.

  Kai and Hana exchanged confused glances, wondering how anyone could work for such a callous individual. Their leaders were far more compassionate, and put the highest emphasis on all of their lives. While their clan was one of peace, they were very protective of their kin. If any of them were to be killed, it would almost certainly mean war.

  Twenty-six

  “If you see anyone that poses a threat, run. Run and hide,” Skye instructed. He sat on Roman's bed, trying his best to prepare him for the dangerous night ahead.

  “Can't you just drop me off home on the way?” Roman reluctantly asked, despite already knowing the answer.

  Skye looked back to Ren, who was standing in the doorway, shaking her head. Neither of them knew what else they could do to comfort the boy. He was trapped in a hopeless situation, and it was almost impossible for him to comprehend everything in such a short time.

  “Roman,” Ren said after clearing her throat, “tonight we have a mission to attend to, so this couldn't have come at a worse time. I know it's a lot to take in, but you'll have to listen carefully to what I'm about to say.” A small part of her pitied him, but her patience was beginning to wear thin, and she didn't have time to console him like a child. She took a deep, dramatic breath, watching as Roman's solemn eyes stared up at her. “This isn't going to end. There is no going home. You can either stay with us and fight for our cause, or you can leave and be killed by Nikolai. It's your choice.”

  “What she means,” Skye corrected, scowling at Ren for expressing herself so freely—despite the fact that he agreed, “is that you don't have to join our cause if you don't want to. But you might not have much choice in siding with us. Nikolai already wants you dead.”

  Roman let out a loud groan and buried his face in his pillow.

  “Just leave him,” Ren said. “There's nothing else we can do. You need to get ready.”

  Skye got up and left the room in silence. He turned right and started ascending the steel staircase, eager to see how Juliet was feeling. As expected, she was sitting up on the balcony alone, watching the sky turn pink as the sun set.

  “How are you?” he asked.

  She turned around and smiled, but her sullen face revealed her fear.

  “Everything will be fine,” Skye tried to reassure her. “We'll be fine.”

  “I hope so,” she whispered. Usually a much happier and brighter person, the sudden news of Nikolai's threat had hit her hard. She was no longer safe, and the reality of their dangerous lifestyle had become apparent very quickly.

  Skye sat beside her on the cool metal grate. “You know, Nikolai and I used to always discuss how our fears and worries are linked to our overthinking.” His attempt at comforting her had little effect, and his words didn't quite sound as profound as the ones Sierra used a short time ago.

  “That's easy for you to say, Skye. Nikolai won't kill you. Of course you can be so carefree.”

  He kept his face hidden as he nodded sheepishly. “I know,” he admitted. “You're right—it's easy for me to not worry as much about my life. But Nikolai still can't be trusted for any reason, and he could just as easily turn on me or Ren.”

  Juliet faced him with a raised eyebrow. “He won't. He's obsessed with the two of you.”

  Skye sniggered quietly in agreement. “He certainly is. But even if Nikolai treats me as an ally, it doesn't mean I'm always immune, especially against the Tianzu.”

  She winced at the statement. “You're not helping. If you're killed by the Tianzu, I don't stand a chance against anyone.”

  Skye bit his lip, running out of ways to reassure the young woman. “Well, the Tianzu have no reason to attack us, so don't worry about them. My point is you shouldn't sit up here worrying that you might be killed. It won't help.” He didn't believe his own words. The Tianzu had already launched an unprovoked attack on them months ago, resulting in the death of one of their own. They were as dangerous and sporadic as Nikolai. Probably even more so, he thought.

  “But I'm not like you or Sierra. I'm not strong enough to defend myself. If I was, you wouldn't have kept me hidden here for the last few months.”

  Skye nodded, realising he was unable to console her. None of them could deny that the evening ahead was filled with risk. “You're right; I'm sorry.” He rose and began to walk back inside the warehouse. “Just don't dwell on something that might not happen.”

  “Skye ...” Juliet's quiet voice stopped him. He turned and faced her once again. “I know you're only trying to help me, but it's not your job. There's nothing you can say to help me right now. I just need to sit here alone for a while.”

  Skye stared at her blankly. Tango had told him that he was trying too hard to be the hero, and it was obvious that Juliet now felt the same way. “I'm just trying to do the best I can to help.”

  “Thanks. But I'll be fine,” she said, smiling up at him. He returned the smile and walked back inside.

  Juliet's smile turned into a frown when she sensed an odd feeling of excitement from within Skye. She ignored it, turning her gaze east to the pink horizon. As she tried her best to compose her fear, she hoped that she hadn't taken her beautiful island home for granted.

  Twenty-seven

  Daye sat crouched on the beach and traced his fingers along the soft sand, his gaze focussed on the gentle waves in front of him. The sky was bright, and the slow-moving ocean reflected the different shades of pink and orange.

  “I admire what you're trying to do,” Kai said, “but we can't defy Raien's orders.”

  “I agree,” Hana added. “We want peace too, Daye, and this is how we're going to achieve it.”

  Daye shut his eyes and listened to the soft sound of the water lapping against the shore. “I can't justify Raien's orders. These people are not the enemy.”

  “Of course they are,” Kai said, tired of having to repeat himself yet again. They'd had the same conversation several times that afternoon after their meeting with Raien. “I don't know what further justification you need, brother. Th
ey're going into the city tonight with the intention of killing the president. How can you possibly stand by and not take any action?”

  “He's right, Daye,” Hana said. “You know as well as we do that our duty is to protect the citizens of the world.”

  Daye's chest tightened upon hearing the words. He was all too familiar with the Tianzu's doctrine, and certainly needed no reminder of what they stood for—what he stood for.

  “I'll go tonight,” he said, “but you also know I won't be taking anyone's life.”

  “Of course,” Hana nodded. “We're not asking you to. We just want for you to understand our goal. And to not stop us from doing what's right.”

  Daye froze. Are they doing what's right for the world, he thought. Or are they doing what's right by Raien?

  Kai knelt beside Daye and placed a hand on his shoulder. “I know you don't serve Raien, but you should respect his orders.”

  Daye turned and faced his comrade. “You saw what happened when he issued his last order. He's obviously provoking White Shadow. Don't you feel that his desire to start a war with them is needless?”

  Hana shook her head. “Not at all. None of us want a repeat of what happened two decades ago, which is why he ordered for us to take action.”

  Daye rose to his feet and stared at the glowing horizon. “It makes no sense though, Hana. You say that he wants the Tianzu to take action, but why now? Why would he wait three months? If he truly believed this clan was a threat to society, why would he not give the order then?”

  Kai and Hana looked at one another. Despite their loyalty to Raien, it was something they'd often wondered about too. It was odd for Raien to order for them to originally attack White Shadow, only to then retract the command immediately after. What followed was a three-month ceasefire, until Raien reissued the command earlier that day.

  “I don't know,” Kai eventually admitted. “But we're not in any position to question Raien.”

  “Don't you question the fact that he said to do so slowly?” Daye asked. “Again, why would he order for you to take your time eliminating the enemy? It makes no sense.”