Dreams of Fury: Descendants of the Fall Book IV by Hodges, Aaron (most important books to read .txt) 📗

Maisie tripped and stumbled. Adonis found himself wondering how it would be to find oneself blind, unable to discern the shadow of an enemy from that of a tree or shrub. Such a terrifying, helpless existence, pitiful, when compared to the greatness of the Tangata…

Adonis gave his mind a mental shake. Maya’s voice was growing louder now, seeming to vibrate his entire being, though he steeled himself against it. Her influence would only grow greater the longer they remained in the camp, and carefully he gripped the human’s hand tighter. Maisie had not seemed overly affected by the Old One’s presence, but nor could she defend herself against its affects. If something drove her to anger, Maya’s influence might drive her to ruin everything.

For now, all he could do was take them in a broad circle around the centre of the camp, where Maya’s Voice was strongest. Even so, he could feel its effects within him, the growing desire to turn towards that centre, to go to his mate, to deliver the human to her judgement…

Teeth bared, Adonis resisted and kept on, though his hold on the human tightened even further. He could sense her glances, the concern swirling from her mind and wondered how she could bring herself to trust him. She couldn’t even begin to understand his kind. He certainly did not trust her…did he?

Adonis paused, glancing at the human, and Maisie raised an eyebrow.

“Hey, stay with me, bud,” she whispered, clicking her fingers. “The plan, remember? Where are those kids?”

Adonis hesitated, watching her, wondering, then abruptly he nodded. He turned towards the dense clot of fear, the terror radiating from a group that could only be the Anaheran fledgelings. The poor creatures only wanted to see their parents again, the noble beings he had made into slaves. He wondered how many of the Anahera would fall, never to see their children again, before this was all over.

No more, if we can help it, he told himself.

Yet there was another voice within him, a deeper voice, one that whispered this was madness, that they would never escape with these innocents. Even should they pass the boundaries of the camp, the city was a mile off and morning was fast approaching.

One step at a time, he tried to supress the doubts, but it was a struggle now—one Adonis feared he would soon lose.

Maisie gave a sharp intake of breath as a pair of shadows moved to bar their path. Adonis drew to a stop, fearing for a second they’d been discovered, but he soon realised what the reason for the presence of his brethren here. The knot of terror lay just beyond them—these two were guarding the fledgelings.

Who goes there? the first of the guards hissed.

There’s a human— the second started, but he broke off as Adonis quickly invaded their minds.

This was a greater challenge, even for one such as Adonis. No amount of trickery would convince these Tangata to part with their charges, not without approval from Maya herself. And they were stronger too, of the fourth generation. To prevent them from raising the alarm, Adonis pressed his Voice upon them.

Do no move, do not Speak, he ordered, before turning to the first of them. How many of you are there?

A tremor shook his brother’s face as the Tangata struggled, but there was no resisting Adonis’s Voice, and finally the guard broke.

Five! Came the gasped cry, even as the Tangata slumped to his knees.

Adonis held up a hand, stilling the human at his side, then reached out with his mind for the other guards. He found them stationed amongst the children, alert for signs of treachery. The fledgelings might be young and apparently helpless, but they were Anahera still. Thankfully, Adonis’s brethren were not alert for treachery from their own.

One by one, he took their minds, swamping their thoughts with his Voice. When he had them all, Adonis ordered them to where he and Maisie waited, until finally all five stood rigid before him. Spasms racked their faces as they strained against his Voice, struggling to break free and sound the alarm, but Adonis held them—at least for now.

Trembling with the strain, he turned to Maisie, and nodded.

The human stood wide-eyed, staring at the guards, as though waiting for them to leap forward and tear her limb from limb. At Adonis’s gesture, she looked at him, her features knitting into a frown.

“You’re doing this?” she whispered, shaking her head. “Incredible.”

Teeth still clenched, Adonis gestured again in the direction of the children. Their time was short—he could not hold these creatures long. They couldn’t waste a second if they were to somehow escape with the fledgelings.

The human finally seemed to understand and a look of resolve crossed her face. She disappeared into the darkness, leaving him standing alone with the Tangatan guards. Adonis could sense their eyes on him, their hatred as they fought his mental bindings. Silently he prayed for the human to hurry. Against these five, his strength would eventually fail and they would fall upon him, tearing him to pieces before turning on her…

…Adonis’s stomach twisted at the thought and he straightened, determined to see this through, to…to…

Maisie reappeared from the gloom. Adonis had no idea how she’d managed it so quickly and without struggle, but a group of tiny figures followed just a step behind. Their wings tucked close to their sides, the Anaheran fledgelings looked from Adonis to the Tangatan guards with open terror in their eyes.

Adonis’s heart swelled at the sight all the same. For the first time that night, he felt they might actually accomplish their mission. But even as the thought came, he sensed a surge of emotion from the Tangatan guards, a terrible rage as they realised his plan and truly began to fight. A gasp escaped him as they stretched against his restraints. Quickly he refocused his attention on the five figures, commanding them to be still, to silence.

A sound like nails on a chalkboard sounded in his mind