The Mir Chronicles- The Complete Series

by Leisa Wallace

  For the first time, General Carina seemed unsure of herself. “Because she’s tyrannical. Her leadership will continue to spiral Mir into chaos for everyone but her closest followers. Surely you care for Mir...”

  “You are only a different face to corruption,“ Gideon said stepping towards the General. “I have one goal right now, getting Evangeline off this planet safely. And you’ve kept me from doing that. So, no, I will not help you. I will not join you, and to be clear, you do not have an ally in me. You have an enemy.”

  General Carina stiffened. Her face tightened into an unforgiving frown. She looked to Lena as if expecting her to give a different answer. Lena hardened her stare refusing to answer. The General looked back and forth between the two. “I’ll give you some time to consider your options. You can stay our prisoners, or you can join our cause. Either way, we’ll get what we want.”

  Lena met Gideon’s eyes. Her stomach felt sick. What had they gotten themselves into?

  Chapter Two

  She was hanging from her arms again. Her shoulders burned. Lena rolled one shoulder at a time trying to relieve the pain. Turning her head behind her, she could see Tarek and Gideon hanging from their arms cuffed above their heads. Turning the other way, she could see Azara and Gideon. The four of them formed a square, all facing away from each other. Only by moving her head to look over one shoulder then the other was she able to see all three of them. She looked forward, towards the cells walls and took a shallow breath. She heard Azara’s voice, coming from behind and to the right of her.

  “What can you tell us about Agent Vernalis?” Azara questioned. “If you’re going to get out of here, you’re going to have to use any means possible. Does he have a weakness? What information do you have that we can use against him?” Azara’s voice sounded pronounced and full of command. Not the friendly voice she’d met the day before. Had it only been one day? Lena paused as she tried to remember the timeline. She didn’t think a day had passed since their capture.

  What did she know about Jonah? Other than the fact he’d always made her feel so safe. And his smile lightened her worries. And that all of Jonah’s actions up to that point had been an act. Lena bit her bottom lip in an effort to control her tears. Releasing her breath, Lena sniffed and began to think about everything she knew about Jonah.

  “He infiltrated the facility perfectly.” Lena paused. Tears filled her eyes. “He gained my trust.” Sorrow consumed her. She kept her face towards the wall away Azara’s probing eyes. “Then he used me to get close to Gideon.” She blinked and a single tear ran down her cheek.

  “No use crying about the past,” Azara cut in.

  Azara’s words made Lena’s stomach clench. She turned her head to stare at the back of Azara’s head noticing for the first time a tattoo running up the back of her neck. Barely a shade darker than Azara’s skin tone, it scrolled up her neck hugging her hairline behind her ears before stopping. She turned her head to look over her other shoulder to Tarek. He had similar markings, though his scroll work was different. Shaking her head, she pulled her thoughts together.

  “You should have known,” Azara said. “The great Evangeline Adhara. The one who the world of Mir thinks can destroy the Priestess, and you couldn’t even see what your boyfriend really was.”

  “Azara,” Tarek scolded. Azara stopped talking and looked defiantly over her shoulder at her brother. He held her stare until she looked away, focusing on the wall again.

  Lena nodded. “She’s right; I should have known something was off. Why else would a soldier have been so interested in a servant.” She started examining the walls perimeter. “He didn’t know who I was either. He was using me to get to Gideon.”

  “Gideon is the child of the Priestess,” Azara said. “That title, in and of itself, holds much power. More power than a silly prophecy.”

  Lena heard Gideon take a deep breath behind her. She turned to look at him. His face was red with anger he clenched his fists in the cuffs above his head. “If you think being her child benefits me in any way, then you, and the Cimmerians, are misinformed,” Gideon said. “As Lena can verify, my mother cares very little for me.”

  Azara turned a jealous gaze to Lena before letting it fall back to the empty spot on the wall in front of her.

  Gideon continued. “And before you blame anyone but yourself, remember, I told you to stay away, Azara. Mir is not safe. Still, you chose to come. Don’t blame Lena for your misfortune.”

  Azara turned to Gideon and pursed her lips. “I don’t blame your precious Evangeline for anything. I blame you, Captain.” She spat the words out and turned away from him. “You received training at the best military academy our worlds have to offer, and you let your childhood crush on a servant cloud your vision.”

  Lena turned to look. Gideon just stared at Azara. Lena knew he probably had a million responses to her jibe, but he just shook his head. “I’m not fighting with you over this, again, Azara.” He looked away from her, and Lena noticed a slight coloring to what she could see of Azara’s cheeks. Azara turned back towards the wall. Lena’s eyes bounced back and forth between them before looking over her other shoulder to Tarek. Tarek shook his head in exasperation.

  “Well did you at least find out where Myri and Druinn are?” Azara asked.

  “I didn’t ask,” Gideon snapped back. “I was too busy listening to them tell me I was going to help them overthrow my mother the Priestess.” He paused “But I think Myri and Druinn got away. I’ve been thinking about them, and I didn’t see them when the Cimmerians surrounded us. It’s my guess that they hid, then escaped.”

  “I’ve come to the same conclusion,” Tarek said. “I’m confident they escaped.”

  They stayed silent for a moment before Azara started talking again. “Well, do you at least know what the Cimmerians plans are? Are they leading a rebellion from this ship or do they have headquarters somewhere they’ll take you to?”

  “They’re probably waiting till they can sneak Lena and Gideon off the planet,” Tarek answered. His voice sounded calm and collected. Lena wondered if he felt that way inside. “The Cimmerians are citizens of Mir, but most now live on other worlds.”

  “What do you mean?” Lena asked.

  “They fled Mir before the Priestess attacked Everleigh. They knew they would not win against her, so they went into hiding. My guess is they have headquarters on one of those worlds or a space ship,” Tarek explained.

  “Then why haven’t we left to their headquarters?” Lena asked.

  “Mir’s atmosphere is monitored. It doesn’t sustain itself. Anyone entering or exiting the atmosphere must follow certain procedures and protocol. Usually, the only place to exit legally is through The Port. The Cimmerians must have arranged some way to bypass the protocol.”

  “So we just hang here until then?” Lena asked.

  “You’ll hang here until then,” Azara said. “It won’t be long until they release Tarek and me. It’s Gideon and yourself you’ve got to worry about.”

  “What makes you think they’re going to release you,” Lena replied looking to Azara.

  Azara raised her eyebrows. “Once they find out who our father is, they’ll release us,” Azara assured.

  “Really?” Lena raised her eyebrows back and turned her head further to look at Gideon. He nodded in confirmation. He still looked tense from his conversation with Azara.

  “Lena, what Azara says is correct,” Tarek explained. “They will release Azara and me. They will send us to our consulate at The Port.”

  “It’s there we will attempt to negotiate for both of your releases,” Azara said.

  “Nobody will negotiate for us,” Gideon said. “Unless they’re just as greedy as the Cimmerians are. The only people who would stick their heads out for us are the same ones who would use us to overthrow the current leader of Mir.”

  Azara tightened her jaw. It was evident she didn’t like Gideon correcting her. “Unless you can come up with some reasonable way to
secure your release, we’re going to have to use our political channels,” Azara said.

  “There is no reasonable way, Azara,” Gideon practically yelled. “If we’re freed I can guarantee it will be by the most unreasonable way possible.”

  Once again Azara and Gideon were locked in a stare. Both of their unspoken wills trying to outdo the other’s.

  “We’ll be sent to the Allayan consulate at The Port,” Tarek said breaking Azara and Gideon’s unspoken battle.“The Cimmerians are going to try and sneak off Mir with you and Gideon. You need to find a way to escape before then. Meet us at The Port. And we’ll leave Mir, together.”

  Lena turned towards Tarek. Tarek gave her a look of confidence. Immediately her mind started problem-solving. “How long do I have until the Cimmerians leave the planet?”

  “You act like it’s going to be easy,” Azara snapped.

  “At least, she’s acting,” Gideon said. “Instead of waiting for her dad’s title to save her.”

  Lena interrupted the argument. “I just need to know what I’m working against. “How much time do we have?”

  The door in front of her opened. Jonah stood in the middle of the opening, his arms hanging casually from the door’s rim. He surveyed Lena standing opposite him.

  “Sorry to be disturbing your little lover’s spat,” Jonah said with a smirk. “Though Azara is right, you know.” Jonah moved to Lena’s right to look around her to where Gideon hung. “Lena did cloud your vision.“ He turned to Azara. “And you do have something to worry about. It’s obvious your boyfriend is in love with someone else.” Azara flushed, and Gideon reddened in anger. “Do you really think you’re not being monitored.” Jonah looked towards the ceiling where a small camera hung.

  “Release the brother and sister,” Jonah commanded. The cuffs released, and Azara crumpled to the ground letting out a small shriek as she fell. Tarek caught his footing, as his arms fell limp to his sides. Wincing, he stepped to Azara and knelt at her side. Two guards walked up beside them. Grabbing them by the arm, they pulled the siblings up.

  “Apparently, the General doesn’t want your father as an enemy,” Jonah said to the siblings. “The Allayan consulate awaits your arrival.” Azara now stood on her own. Shaking away her guards, she gave them such a look that made them melt under her stare. She walked herself into the hallway.

  Tarek looked back towards where Lena hung. In one quick step, he was next to Lena, whispering furiously in her ear. “Two days,” he whispered. “My guess is you have two days to free yourselves.” The guards yanked his arms, pulling him out the door.

  Chapter Three

  “Take the Captain to Carina,” Jonah said. He released Gideon’s cuffs. Two Cimmerian guards pulled him to his feet then pushed him around Lena and into the hallway. Gideon turned towards Lena, his face relaxed and he smiled, but Lena could see the worry in his eyes.

  Jonah stepped between them, causing Lena to refocus her eyes. He didn’t wear a uniform like the other Cimmerian guards. He wore black pants with a black sweater that hugged his form. A gun sat on his hip in a holster along with an electric rod.

  ”So, should I congratulate you on a job well done?” Lena said still hanging from her cuffs. “The girl of the prophecy and the son of the priestess. However did you do it?” Lena hoped Jonah would pick up on the sarcasm.

  “I’m good at my job, Lena. Anyone paying attention could have seen Gideon’s interest in you from day one. He watched you more than a Captain should observe a servant. I knew if I got close to you, I’d get close to him.”

  “And what’s your job now? To recruit me to the Cimmerians?” Lena asked.

  Jonah smiled. “Do you really want to go hide on another planet for your whole life? You know Gideon can’t see your real potential. Otherwise, he’d be keeping you here. Not trying to hide you on an unknown planet.”

  “It’s better than being held prisoner,” Lena said.

  “Lena, I know you don’t want to leave Mir and fighting is in your blood. Look at what you can do for the Cimmerians. For Mir.”

  “So, I was right. You are trying to recruit me.”

  “Of course I am. You are the daughter of General Marcus Adhara. He was the Priestess’ biggest threat to her conquering Mir. Now you’re all grown up. The offspring of her greatest threat to power. If you joined us, you could take it back.”

  Lena scoffed. “You’re dreaming if you think that.”

  “People will look to you, Lena. The ones disenchanted with the Priestess. They wait for word of your survival from Everleigh. They know you’re alive. They’ll look to you. To the Cimmerians.”

  “But what will the Cimmerians do for Mir, Jonah? I’ve read about the Cimmerians. They want to set up a government-run world where they tell people what and what not to do. Where they decide who’s privileged and who’s not. Where they choose where you work and what you’re good enough to do or not do.”

  “Is that so bad?” Jonah asked.

  “It’s not what Mir was built for,” Lena responded. “Mir was constructed for the advancement of the human race. It was created for peace and prosperity. Happiness and equality. Where we’d help each other. Where we’d find our talents and use them to benefit not only our world but all worlds. That is the only Mir I will fight for.”

  Jonah smirked and looked away. “You’re an idealist, Lena.”

  “Not an idealist. I believe in Mir. The true Mir. The Mir that stood for hundreds of years.”

  “The Mir that was overrun by the promises of that woman.”

  “We’ll learn from our mistake.”

  “No one is going to learn anything while the Priestess is in control.” Lena bit her bottom lip and glared at Jonah as he continued talking. “If you join the Cimmerians, you’ll have an army behind you. You can help the Cimmerians destroy the Priestess. That’s what the prophecy says, isn’t it? That you will be the one to overthrow her?”

  Lena cringed. She didn’t know what to think about the prophecy, or if it was about her or not. She hadn’t even had time to think about it that much. But she did know one thing. “I am not helping you, Jonah. You are just a different face of evil. I can’t believe I was ever your girlfriend.”

  Jonah smirked as he played with the handle of the electric rod that was hanging from his belt. His blue eyes met hers. “You were never really my girlfriend, Lena. You were nothing more than an assignment. An assignment that I aced. Don’t confuse what you thought we had as friendship or romance. It was nothing more than a way to get what I wanted. Just so happens that in the process, I got to have a little fun.”

  Lena felt her nostrils flare, her lips tightened. Jonah was standing only feet from her. Raising her chin, she looked at him defiantly. “You’re despicable.”

  Jonah stepped to her and grabbed her jaw forcing her to look at him. Lena let out a gasp and tried to turn her head away. Jonah gripped her jaw tighter. Her skin stretched where Jonah held her. She forced herself to breath normal, but couldn’t help that her skin crawled under his touch. She felt the burning in her jaw where Jonah gripped, but it was nothing compared to the anger building inside her.

  “If you won’t join the Cimmerians on your own, I’ll have to convince you with other methods.” Jonah released his grip. “I know where Thora is,” Jonah whispered. His voice was barely audible. Lena looked at the camera on the ceiling. Jonah’s face was hidden from its view. She knew he was purposely talking soft enough that it wouldn’t be able to record what he was saying. “I was with you the day we found Thora on the satellite in Everleigh. I know she stole something valuable from the Priestess.”

  Lena hardened her stare but didn’t respond.

  “I didn’t tell the Cimmerians,” he continued.

  “Why are you telling me this?” Lena asked.

  “If you don’t help us, I’ll tell. If you try to escape, I’ll inform the Cimmerians of what I know,” Jonah said. “If you do anything different than what I ask of you, I’ll send the Cimmerians after Tho
ra. Or maybe I’ll send the Priestess.”

  “You’re threatening me,” Lena said.

  “I’m securing my position,” Jonah responded. “Help us, and don’t attempt an escape. Then, Thora will be safe. Think about it. Joining the Cimmerians is a much better option than what you have going for you now.”

  He held Lena’s stare then turned to the hall and called for a guard named Naos. “Release her cuffs and get her some warmer clothes,” he commanded. Naos nodded and left Lena’s view. Her cuffs released and she fell to the floor. Her arms felt numb then started to burn just like before. Lena saw Jonah’s boots in front of her. She looked up.

  “Think about it, Lena. Join us, or remain our prisoner. Either way, we’ll use you.” Turning casually he exited the room into the hall. Lena could hear the clanking of the metal getting quieter as he walked away.

  Naos stood in the doorway now. He whistled for another soldier. After a brief conversation the soldier left and a service bot returned with a pile of clothes. She could feel her hair loose around her face. Her face throbbed where Jonah grabbed her. She imagined it would leave a bruise. As she looked down at herself, she noticed her silk wrap was smeared with dirt and had holes in it.

  “I don’t know when the General will want to see you again. You better get rest while you can.” Naos left, and the door shut.

  She turned and slid until her back was resting against the wall. She took a deep breath and tried to stretch her arms. They hurt. She hurt. Everything Jonah has said hurt. She felt like something in her chest had torn. Something that could never heal. Lena felt a tear roll down her cheek and onto her neck. She quickly wiped it away but another filled its place, then another and another. She held her breath trying to control the pain building inside her. When she could hold it no more, she released it. Then she lost it. The last few days had been too much to handle. Huge gasping sobs echoed around her tiny cell. Grabbing the pile of clothes Naos had given her, Lena lay on the ground and curled into a ball. Burying her face in the clothes, she suffocated the tears until there was nothing left to cry. Still, she kept her face pressed tightly into the clothes, until finally, her body had nothing left inside and sleep overtook her sorrow.