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

the Anahera…something…older? There was a pause, as though the Old One were contemplating something. What are you?

The Sovereigns shuddered as the pressure upon their minds grew, the Old One seeking to pierce the veil of their thoughts, to infect their minds with her madness. But they were not what they had once been, not a naïve boy who dreamed of war, nor the innocent Tangata in search of love. Those parts still existed, but they were something else now. Something more.

We are the Sovereigns of Perfugia, they replied in unison, hurling the words at the Old One. And we stand united against you.

The Sovereigns felt a moment of satisfaction as this time it was the Old One who recoiled, the barriers of her mind rising to guard against their power. For a fleeting moment, they glimpsed something more amidst the madness, a flicker of gold. Fear?

Sovereigns? No…no, that is a lie. You are something else, yes, but… she trailed off, then a brilliant light flared, and Lukys sensed shock from the ancient creature. Yes…I sense you now, Tangata, Chiara. What magic did you discover, that you persevere still?

Something responded within the Sovereigns at those names, a roiling deep within their souls, as consciousnesses long dormant struggled to wake. They were the names of those who had stood in the circle all those centuries ago and opposed Maya, the first to have passed their memories on to their descendants, to form the tradition of the Sovereigns.

Shivering, Lukys his tore himself from those memories, from the drowning ocean. As he did so, he felt his consciousness separate from Sophia, emerging from the depths of the Sovereigns. Suddenly alone, he found himself drifting before the Old One, before their enemy.

And for the first time, Lukys realised where she was. Darkness loomed about the Old One, an impenetrable black, an emptiness no eye could pierce.

Yet Lukys recognised that darkness all the same.

She had already reached the tunnels beneath the earth, the ancient site in which they sought to trap her.

But it was his friends who were walking into a trap.

Cara! he screamed desperately, reaching for the young Anahera. Beware!

32

The Queen

Erika cried out as a face appeared in the darkness. A voice behind echoed her—then Cara was there, hurling her back, spreading her wings to fill the narrow corridor.

For just a moment, Erika longed to stand back, to turn and flee back the way they’d come, to escape the tunnels, the darkness, the history of this terrible place.

But then she saw Darien standing alongside her, face hard, eyes on the creature that lurked in the darkness. His blade was already in hand, ready to face the enemy, and Erika knew she could not flee. Her duty was here in this darkness, to her people, to humanity.

Drawing in a breath, Erika turned and stepped up alongside Cara. Movement came from their other side as Amina joined them, barely able to fit in the narrow space. Erika cursed inwardly. This was the last place they wanted to face a creature such as Maya.

Laughter whispered in the darkness, low and haunting, empty of mirth or joy or…anything. Hairs rose on the back of Erika’s neck as she watched Maya emerge from the gloom. Her long hair hung around her shoulders, bleached of all colour in the light of the gauntlet, and her eyes…her eyes had bled to black in this place, so that it seemed two empty voids watched them from the face of the Old One.

“Magic wielder,” the creature whispered, and the darkness fixed on Erika. “I know you, do I not?” She nodded, taking a step closer. “Yes, the human who escaped with the young Anahera, the same one I see here, I suppose.”

A growl came from Cara and Erika quickly grasped her friend’s arm, steadying her. This creature was far more deadly than those Cara had once fought, the pair she had defeated alone. Those had been weakened by their long sleep, while Maya…Maya had been awake for months now.

No, if they were to attack, it must be together.

Though…Erika’s stomach twisted in horror as her suspicions were confirmed. The Old One was with child. And while only a month had passed since the City of the Gods, Maya looked to be ready to give birth any day now.

“It was a clever ruse,” the Old One continued, leaning her head to the side. “Luring me away from my followers, bringing me here.” She cackled suddenly, advancing a step. “Or was it I who lured you here? My greatest enemies all gathered in one place, ripe for the slaughter?”

A chill spread through Erika at the creature’s words. That couldn’t be true, could it?

The laughter continued. “Your scheming matters not, human. The Tangata are mine now. They will destroy your precious city, whether I am with them or not.” Her voice hardened and she took another step. “As for you…well, I will ensure your deaths are long, for taunting me so with the promise of my mate.”

Erika shuddered as she felt something dark touch her mind. Her fear responded to that touch, swelling to terror. Even as she recognised the touch of the Old One, had known to expect it from Lukys and Cara’s warnings, still she found herself trembling, her knees shaking, the strength fleeing her limbs…

… abruptly, the sensation lessened, dwindling, as though someone or something had turned off the tap of her terror.

The Old One didn’t seem to notice though, as turning to the walls of the tunnel, she ran her hand across the stone.

“What memories these places hold,” she said softly. “You have no idea the atrocities humanity committed here, the ghastly experiments they committed against our kind, against to her kind.” She paused, leaning her head to the side.

Cara began to scream. Erika spun to the Goddess, expecting an attack, some surprise assault from the darkness. Instead, she found Cara staggering backwards, wings thrashing, fingers clawing at her face, mouth stretched wide as her amber eyes lit the darkness. A moan rattled