The Eye of Elektron: A Clean Urban Fantasy (The Sumrectian Series Book 1)
Page 24
“Not possible.” Jarret rejected his suggestion right away. “For the reprogramming to take effect, the machines must be turned on.”
“And what about us? How can we help?” Max asked.
Gail moved across the room to where the Langs sat. “If you want to help, then first, keep your family safe. A gentleman by the name of Basil Brighton shall join you within the next two days. He played a vital role in the resistance movement years ago, which I’m sure you recall.”
Max heaved a sigh and nodded.
Gail continued, “Soon, Mr. Brighton will call together all Tempeia Pathfinders to distribute the centinums and discuss ways they can coordinate with us when the big day arrives. If you are willing… I’m sure Mr. Brighton can use a hand.”
Max shared a look with Riesa, who gave him an encouraging and comforting smile. “We are both willing to lend a hand wherever it is needed,” he said.
“Excellent,” Gail exclaimed. “Welcome to the family!”
From the bag on her back, she fished out four familiar glass orbs with amber cores. “I’m returning to you what is rightfully yours.”
Myles leaped to his feet. He had not seen a single Eye of Elektron since Vance confiscated the orbs from Tempeia residents eleven years ago. Never did he expect to hold one again, let alone his own.
With trembling hands, he accepted an Eye of Elektron from Gail with the utmost care.
“I heard they stopped functioning a long time ago,” Pam said in a small voice, awestruck.
“I-I thought Vance destroyed them,” Riesa stammered when she took the last Eye of Elektron from Gail.
“Vance thought so too…” Gail smiled at her eager audience. “Ansel never gave up on us and our freedom,” she said with subdued elation. “On the night Vance destroyed the Source, Ansel and the resistance fighters replaced numerous authentic Eyes with replicas… which Vance confiscated, believing they were genuine. The original orbs in our possession have indeed been inactive for years, but the time is ripe for the Eye to be reignited… And I have a feeling we won’t have to wait much longer for the bringer of new light.”
✽✽✽
The amber stone illuminated in Dawn’s hands, beckoning for her to enter. She uttered the Sumrectian words that would open the portal, and the air around her fingers vibrated. Once again, she found herself in Ansel’s study the instant before the laughing young couple’s exit from the secret passageway. This time, Dawn did not wait for Ansel and Amber to emerge. Follow your gut, Ansel had written in the note, and at last, Dawn understood what he meant. Her feet guided her with confidence through the hallways of Chesterfield and into the back garden.
Enshrouded by willows and vines, the rotunda appeared in the same way as it always did, mystical and mysterious. From afar, Dawn could see the crackling column of electricity suspended between the oculus and amber filled basin. She rushed to the ancient willow and waited at the ready behind its gnarly trunk.
Before long, Dawn heard voices approaching the rotunda.
“Like you, it’s amber, married with Sumrectian magic,” an animated young Ansel said to Amber when they positioned themselves next to the basin.
Not limited by time.
Dawn remembered Ansel’s mysterious message in her ear before the guards took him away.
“That’s an enormous responsibility… do you think I’m… capable?” Amber said.
Despite the highly charged situation, Dawn still experienced a twinge of sorrow while she listened to their exchange. Neither Ansel nor Amber foresaw the tragedy that would befall them years later.
“Don’t worry, you won’t feel a thing,” young Ansel assured his wife.
Back to creation.
Every muscle in Dawn’s body tensed up for action.
“Deia Estuem Latian Munn. Suahh Sectus Cenrianum,” Ansel chanted.
The wind picked up. A tornado of fall foliage accompanied the intensification of the electricity column. Dawn waited until the leaves and dust provided enough coverage before she leaped from behind the tree trunk.
There was no time to waste.
She sprinted up the rotunda steps and reached into the crackling column to touch the amber. A warm tingling sensation crawled from the center of her palm to the rest of her body as she kept her hand pressed against the stone.
No, an Etherian did not gain access to the Eye of Elektron on the day of its creation. No, the Eye’s power did not die with its owner; unbeknownst to Ansel until now, the Source had a second owner who was very much alive.
I can reawaken the Eye, Dawn realized, because I was present at the creation of the Source.
The surrounding reality dimmed. The wind and dust vanished, and Dawn returned to her jail cell, holding the warm, glowing amber stone in her hand.
“Miss Dawn!” Cameron’s voice rang out.
Startled, Dawn clamped her fingers around the stone, closing off the portal. She spun to see the Sumrect guard peeking through the gated door with two hands on its steel bars. Has he been observing me from outside the cell this entire time? she thought with a bout of panic.
However, very unlike himself, the Sumrect guard seemed even more alarmed than she was.
“Miss Dawn,” he repeated in a low voice.
“What do you want?” she demanded.
“I found you at last!”
Found me? What did he mean by that? Confused, she studied the Sumrect suspiciously.
Cameron glanced left and right to ensure they were alone. Then, to her complete astonishment, his face began to droop, and his stature began to shrink.
“Eek!” She gave a start, backing away from the gate.
Within seconds, Cameron’s face melted into that of a girl with big blue eyes and bow-shaped lips.
Dawn could not believe her eyes.
“Moira!” Of all people at Crimson, she did not expect Moira to show up at her cell door. “What are you doing?!”
“Miss Dawn! There are a lot of prisoners down here. Thank God I found you!”
“How did you just change like that?”
Moira pressed a finger to her lips and whispered, “I’m a morpheo, Miss Dawn. It runs in the family.”
The divulgence took Dawn by surprise. She had not been aware Vance and Regina were morpheos.
“Are you supposed to be here?”
“Well, not exactly… Mom told me about what happened to Uncle Ansel and you. She said Uncle Ansel was burned pretty badly and asked me to bring him this.” Moira shook a container of yellow liquid labeled with Sumrectian words. “But Daddy doesn’t know…”
Dawn’s heart skipped a beat. “How is your uncle?” she said quickly, rushing to the gated door.
A slight crease appeared between Moira’s brows. “Terrible at first… He didn’t even recognize me when I went in… but I think whatever Mom gave him worked because he looked much better by the time I left.”
“Thank you, Moira.” Dawn felt relieved, but only a little. And thank you, Regina, she thought.
“But Miss Dawn, why has Daddy locked you both up? Is it true he’s planning to execute Uncle Ansel in three days?”
Three days? That is way too soon.
Dawn sighed. “Your father is not happy with us because he wants something he can’t have… and never had…”
“What could Uncle Ansel have done to make Daddy so angry?” Moira sounded scared and confused.
“That’s beyond me… All I know is he needs to be stopped. It’s not right what the Atma is planning to do.”
“Don’t you worry, I’m going to get you and Uncle Ansel out of here. I promise!” Moira nodded in earnest, her golden curls bouncing on her shoulders.
Dawn took the child’s hands from the steel bars and squeezed them. “Thank you for helping Uncle Ansel. You don’t have to do any more than what you have already done.” Then, staring into Moira’s eyes urgently, she said, “And you must be careful visiting us in case your father finds out.”
“I know, I know.” Moira dismiss
ed the admonition. “Is there anything you need, Miss Dawn? I’m going to sneak in again tomorrow to check on Uncle Ansel.”
As if calling Dawn’s attention, the amber stones in her pants pocket seemed to grow warmer and heavier.
“I don’t need anything, Moira, but if you see Uncle Ansel…” She paused, hardly believing the truth she was about to speak. “Please tell him… the Eye Elektron has been reignited once more.”
Wonder sparkled in Moira’s eyes. “I will, Miss Dawn. I will!”
Chapter 22
The blood orange sun grazed the ocean horizon, lending the waves its portentous hue. Deceivingly calm, the glistening, tinted surface masterfully concealed the terror underneath. Those familiar with the waters around Crimson Estate stayed far away from it, lest they accidentally disturbed the dormant machines tucked away in the ocean’s depths.
In a cave on the side of the cliff, Kai, Myles, Gail and the six Phyon Sumrects waited for the sun to set. The safest time to act, they decided earlier, would be in the evening when the Crimson guards took their break for dinner.
Myles pulled at his skintight diving suit. The luvithon material these suits were made of irritated him like a thousand ants crawling on his skin. How are the Sumrects not bothered by this? He shuddered upon touching the realistic gills on his mask over where his mouth would normally be.
As he paced the cave back and forth, Lorenzo explained the plan in detail for the third time that evening.
“The control room is on the second floor, accessible by a ladder at the rear end of the Morvyann.”
“Yes, yes, Lorenzo. We know!” Sitting at the edge of the cliff jutting, Blair rolled her eyes. “Let me see your collar.” She had morphed herself into a color that matched the cave so perfectly she might as well had been invisible to the unwitting observer.
“Be in constant communication. To unlock the panels, remember to press the junx and eamus simultaneously,” Lorenzo kept on while he pulled aside his collar to reveal the fake beast branding. It looked authentic enough, at least in the dim light.
“Not bad,” Blair said.
Gail stood by the cave’s mouth, gazing out into the vast ocean. Myles knew she had been working incessantly toward this moment. Now, on the verge of manifesting a dream years in the making, she looked surprisingly calm.
“Two guards left. Their replacements should arrive soon. It’s time.” Blair’s eyes followed the Sumrect guards patrolling above on the perimeter of Crimson Estate.
Lorenzo ceased pacing within the cave as the other Sumrects sprung to their feet. Myles took in two large breaths to steady his nerves. He understood the gravity of their undertaking. One shot at success. No mistakes. In his mind, there was no “what if,” only “what must be.” His friends and family’s lives depended on it.
“Alexander, Jarret and Gail. You are up first.” Blair beckoned them to the jutting while she maintained her watch on the guards who had momentarily turned their backs to the water. “Hurry up!” She hissed.
Connected at the waist by a diving rope, the group of three nodded to the rest. Then, without delay, they took their places at the edge of the precipice.
Eyes still glued to the patrols above, Blair whispered to her friends, “Good luck! We’ll meet again on the west shore. Now, go!”
Alexander, Jarret and Gail locked hands and took the plunge.
One.
Two.
Three.
A splash occurred on four.
The sound did not go unnoticed. Above, the Sumrect guards spun in unison. Blair froze on the jutting, an expression of terror on her face. Inside the cave, Lorenzo and Nico reached for the centinums on their belts.
The minute dragged on as Blair remained motionless, blending in with the rocks. Although the Sumrects studied the water with intrigue, none appeared too concerned. Just about an eternity passed before they turned back around one by one.
Blair let out a long sigh. “They thought it was a large fish.”
“Lucky this time,” Nico said with a scowl, “but I don’t think it’s wise to for us to jump in after that.”
“We don’t have a choice. It will take way too long to climb down,” Lorenzo said, placing a finger on the audicog in his ear. Earlier, he had distributed an audicog to every human and Sumrect. The tiny devices would allow them to communicate their thoughts underwater.
We are headed toward the first Morvyann in line. Our estimations are spot on. Alexander’s thought message gave Myles quite the start when it echoed in his head. He felt encouraged by the news. Every bit of success brought them one step closer to accomplishing the impossible.
Lorenzo, too, must have heard the update because he smiled wide.
“Are you three ready?” Blair gestured for Lorenzo, Kai, and Winston.
“Oh, we’re more than ready!” Winston looked at Kai hopping from one foot to the other and grinned at his unbridled enthusiasm. “Hold still!” he said as he connected himself to Kai and Lorenzo with the diving rope.
Together, they walked to the cliff’s edge.
“We’re going into at least two Morvyanns, aren’t we, Lorenzo?” Kai bounced on the balls of his feet.
“That’s the plan,” Lorenzo replied. He flashed Blair a thumbs-up.
Blair nodded in response and wished the group luck before they took off.
Shortly after, Myles winced at the three distinct splashes.
“Deram!” He heard Blair curse in his audicog. The patrols started to take a sudden interest in the ocean. Clustered together, they pointed at the place where Lorenzo, Winston and Kai had just disappeared.
“We need to climb down! They’ll be monitoring the water after all that noise,” Myles said to Nico in a low voice.
“As long as we stay under the jutting, we’ll be out of their view,” Nico agreed.
The seconds ticked on, but the Crimson guards kept their watch on the water.
We are at the first vessel, ready to enter, Jarret’s voice rang in his ears.
On our way to vessel three, Lorenzo’s voice reverberated.
They could not afford to wait any longer. Myles glanced at the melted remnants of the setting sun just in time to see two dolphins leap across the horizon.
Nico and Myles, Blair’s voice echoed in his head, I’m going to give Vance’s guards a diversion. Prepare to jump when you get a chance.
No! We can climb down the cliff. If we stay under the jutting, they can’t see us! Nico made to run out to the jutting, but Myles held him back.
That will take too long! We must get to the Morvyanns now. On the jutting, Blair waved once before jumping off into the ocean.
Nico wriggled free of Myles’s grasp and rushed to the mouth of the cave, but Blair was long gone.
Blair! Where are you doing? Myles thought in alarm.
He found his answer when, off to the left side of the cliff, a golden dolphin, larger than any he had ever seen, somersaulted in the air before it dived gracefully back into the water.
Stubborn Sumrect, Nico’s voice cut through in Myles’s head.
The dolphin leaped again, vaulting through the ocean surface, drawing the patrols’ attention away from the cliff.
Hey, I heard that! Quick! Go now before they tire of me!
Nico and Myles rushed to the edge of the cliff without needing any more prompting. The Crimson Sumrects were so entranced by the dolphin’s gymnastics they did not notice the movements on the jutting. A window of opportunity opened.
On three, they plummeted into the water below. Nico’s shield softened the impact. He led Myles into the depths of the ocean, using his hands to part the water and his feet as propellers.
They plowed through the heavy ocean water at an impossible speed, and Myles was thankful for the Sumrectian suit that supplied him with ample oxygen and prevented him from being crushed.
We’re in, Jarret announced in their ears.
Up ahead loomed the massive whale shaped bodies of the Morvyanns, illuminated by the light
radiating from Nico’s palms. They were lined up, one next to the other, with about a hundred feet between vessels.
Giant, reflective Sumrectian letters covered each hull. Nico held up three fingers to indicate the number of the vessel they just swam past. Their mission was to hijack the last two Morvyanns in line.
Blair, where are you? Myles heard Nico in his mind.
Keep going. Vance’s Sumrects are giving me trouble. I’ll catch up with you soon. Blair’s curt reply came with no other explanation.
A yellow light appeared where Lorenzo, Kai and Winston had gathered by the third Morvyann in line. As Myles and Nico drew closer, Kai waved his arms wildly in excitement.
All was proceeding according to plan.
Winston floated near the entrance, the beast tattoo exposed on his collarbone. Stationed five feet away from the entrance, Lorenzo was muttering to himself, a string of bubbles flowing from his open mouth. A vortex formed next to Winston and before long, it created an air-filled bubble vacuum wide enough for the entry door to swing open. Winston stepped into the bubble with Kai, and the pair hoisted themselves into the colossal vessel.
With a grunt, Lorenzo shut the metal door behind them. Then he halted the vortex, which allowed seawater to block the entrance in a heartbeat.
So that’s how this works, Myles marveled without slowing pace.
He and Nico swam on until they arrived at their assigned Morvyann, vessel number five. For the next twenty minutes, Myles and Nico waited for Blair to join them. Though all was calm around them, Myles suddenly felt a sense of dread at what was about to unfold. Unable to stay still for even a second, Nico circled the entire Morvyann no less than twenty times.
Myles was just wondering if any of the parties had succeeded in resetting the controls when Jarret’s deep voice cut through his mind, Vessel one, complete. Now exiting. Junx and eamus are located beneath the basin rim at the center of the control room.
A wave of relief washed over him. He gave Nico a high five in celebration of the good news.
We have made it to the basin in vessel three, Winston reported.