Wrath of the Forgotten: Descendants of the Fall Book II by Hodges, Aaron (good english books to read .txt) 📗

Civilisation…Maya seemed to roll the word in her mind as she appraised the Matriarch. And…what of the humans who live amongst you?

To Adonis, the Matriarch seemed to shrink before Maya’s presence. The assigned are carefully controlled.

A frown touched Adonis’s forehead and he stared at the leader that had guided the Tangata for so many decades. Her power, her cunning and strength of resolve had held his people together when the threat of humanity might otherwise have broken them. They owed her for that, honoured her for it, and yet…

…Adonis saw none of that strength now. Instead, a creature withered by age stood in place of the Matriarch, her will crushed by the endless warring, the relentless threat of the enemy. Where before there had been awe, now Adonis felt only disdain.

Controlled? Maya smiled and looked around the hall. To Adonis, it seemed her eyes fell upon every one of the guards. Their stench is everywhere, even in this place that you claim as your seat of power. Her eyes returned to the Matriarch. I ask you, do you seek to defeat your enemy…or become them?

A snarl crossed the Matriarch’s lips and she stepped in close to Maya. Her eyes burned as they faced one another, and for a moment the strength of the Matriarch’s voice matched that of the Old One.

Everything I have ever done was for the survival of my people!

Maya did not react to the words, though a flicker of movement went around the chamber as the Tangatan guards flinched at the force of her voice.

Survival? Adonis found himself replying, his voice taking on a bitter tone. Is that what you call this? Living amongst the hovels of our enemy, forced into bondship with them, to breed with them?

There was no choice! the Matriarch spat back. She turned her strength on him now, but bolstered by the rhythmic pounding of Maya in his mind, Adonis endured. Faced by his defiance, she seemed to wither and her voice took on a desperate tone. Please, Adonis, my child, you were ever my champion.

Adonis shuddered as he felt two minds pressing upon his consciousness. But in the end there was no contest. He stepped up to Maya’s side.

He is your champion no longer, Maya replied.

The Matriarch retreated a step, her pale eyes taking on a panicked look. She swung around, searching the shadows, her movements betraying her desperation.

My children, guard yourselves! she cried to the guards hidden in the wings. Before—

One by one, the guards emerged from the shadows. Their eyes were focused not on the Matriarch, but Maya. Advancing until they stood in a circle around the three of them, the Tangata fell to their knees.

For a long moment the Matriarch stared at them, shoulders slumped, one hand extended as though to lift them back to their feet. Then slowly she faced Maya, and for the first time, fear registered in her eyes. Adonis watched on, impassive, as Maya laid a hand on the Matriarch’s shoulder.

You have allowed humanity to claim this world, the Old One said softly, almost apologetically. Allowed them to infect our own people, to bring the Tangata to the brink of extinction.

A tremor shook the Matriarch and her pure white eyes fixed on Maya’s face. A single tear slid down the lines of her cheek, but she did not retreat from the Old One’s gaze.

It is you who will lead my children to extinction, Old One, she replied, her voice little more than a croak now.

A heavy silence hung over the chamber; and then Maya spoke: “Your time has come to an end, Matriarch.”

With a sharp, jerking movement, she snapped the Matriarch’s neck. The crack of breaking bones sounded like a klaxon in the empty basilica, so loud that even Adonis flinched. He watched as the light faded from her eyes, and felt an inexplicable thrill of terror. This was the leader who his people had followed for decades, who had led them to victory after victory against humanity. Without thinking, he took a step towards her.

But already she was falling, crumpling to the ground, lying still against the stones. Her pale eyes stared up at him and for a second, guilt clamped around his heart, stilling his breath.

Then he turned and found Maya watching him, and the feeling receded, replaced by the glory of victory. Maya smiled, then turned to his brother and sister Tangata.

Rise, my children. Her words lifted them back to their feet, reborn beneath the power of the Old Ones. No longer will you go quietly to your destruction. Today, a new age dawns for the Tangata.

What do you wish of us, Old One? the guards called back. There was desperation in their eyes. They were of the fourth generation, eager to please, subservient to one so far above them.

A smile crept across Maya’s lips as she looked towards the doors, her grey eyes seeming to take in the city beyond.

Bring me the humans, she commanded. It is time for a cleansing.

28

The Soldier

Bring me the humans, the Old One’s mental voice carried from across the plaza. It is time for a cleansing.

Lukys’s heart thundered in his ears as he listened to the words. At his urging, he and Sophia had tracked the pounding of the Old One’s thoughts across the city. Even hidden in the shadows on the other side of the plaza from the basilica, they had easily heard her from within—though the others’ voices had been fainter.

Now they stood beside the river and watched as silhouettes raced past—the Matriarch’s guards, off to do their new master’s bidding. Thankfully they did not look left or right as they disappeared into the streets of New Nihelm. Silence returned to the night. It would not last. Whatever safety he and his friends had found here, it was at an end.

His whole body trembling, he looked at Sophia. What are we going to do?

Run! she hissed.

There was fear in Sophia’s eyes, bordering on panic. Lukys could hardly blame her. He had