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

felt the Matriarch’s power, her strength. And the Old One had slaughtered her, had claimed her guards, even Adonis, as her champions. The thought gave him pause and he wondered at the creature’s power. But there was no time to linger.

I can’t leave the others, Lukys replied, taking her hand in his. Please, you have to help us, Sophia.

Sophia’s grey eyes were large in the moonlight, but after a moment, she nodded. In silence they turned and raced away, desperate to reach the compound before the Tangata did. As they ran, Lukys scanned the way ahead, fearful they would encounter the Matriarch’s guards—but the streets remained dark, empty.

After several blocks, though, he began to hear sounds behind them. Doors slammed and masses of boots struck pavements as the city woke. A distant buzz touched his mind and he felt the tingle of annoyance broadcasted by the collective minds of the Tangata. The odd voice carried through the night as well. Lukys did not look back, though in his mind he pictured Tangata and their human partners forced from their houses, corralled into the streets.

Shame touched Lukys as he contemplated the fate of his fellow humans. But there was nothing he could do for them. It was already too late. He couldn’t fight the Old One; he couldn’t even fight the Tangata—at least not unarmed.

Sophia! he cried, his stride slowing. We need weapons.

His partner glanced over her shoulder, then drew to a stop. Concern showed on her face.

Lukys…

Please, Sophia, he insisted. We don’t stand a chance without them.

Still Sophia hesitated. He could sense her doubt. What he asked was a betrayal of her people, to arm the very enemies they had waged war against for a decade. And yet…he had seen the Tangata’s affection for their human partners. Looking at Sophia…Lukys thought he could almost understand his friends’ decision, almost accept.

“We’re not your enemies, Sophia,” he whispered. He looked back then, eyes lifting to the spire of the basilica. “That thing…that thing is the enemy of all of us.”

He looked back at Sophia, wanting to say more, but the words didn’t come. Still, he was surprised to find a smile on her lips. She nodded.

This way. There’s an old storage building close by, many of the weapons found in the city after its fall were placed there.

Weaving through unfamiliar streets, it took them only minutes to reach their new destination. Unlike most buildings in New Nihelm, this one was of stone, though thankfully the door was still wood. It gave way beneath a single blow from Sophia, unleashing a wave of dust and forcing Lukys to stifle a sneeze.

Pulling his shirt over his face, he moved with Sophia into the darkness. It took several long minutes before he found what he wanted—a bundle of spears tied together by twine. He took one from the pile and immediately his heart began to calm. It felt good to hold a weapon again, to feel like his fate was in his own hands again.

Unfortunately, there was no armour—and time was quickly evaporating. If the Tangatan guards arrived at the compound before they did, this would all be for nothing. He reached for the bundle, but Sophia was faster. Hefting the spears onto her shoulder as though they weighed no more than a sack of feathers, she nodded for the door.

Outside, he let her take the lead again, still unsure of himself in the dark streets of New Nihelm. The moon had shifted overhead, the night stretching on, and he swallowed. Even if they escaped the city, the Tangata would come for them. What then? They could not outrun these creatures.

Despair touched him, but he forced it down. One step at a time. First, he needed to convince his companions that they must flee. After the comfortable weeks they’d spent in New Nihelm, even that task could prove difficult, even with Sophia’s support.

They found the doors to the compound standing open, though where they’d left the courtyard empty, now dozens of tired faces stood around the tables. It was clear from their faces that they’d heard the sounds of alarm from elsewhere in the city.

“Lukys?” Frowning, Travis stepped up to greet him. “Where have you been?” The recruit’s eyes were immediately drawn to the spear in Lukys’s hands. “Where did you get that?”

Sister, several of the Tangata present spoke at the same time, moving toward Sophia. Why is your human armed?

Lukys and Sophia shared a glance. “The Matriarch is dead,” Lukys said to them all. Whispers assailed his mind as the Tangata cried out, demanding answers, but he pressed them down and continued: “She was slain by an Old One. She calls herself Maya. Adonis is with her. The creature intends to rule over the Tangata.” His eyes slid to Travis and the others. “And cleanse the humans from amongst them.”

Silence fell suddenly over the group and Lukys nodded, gesturing to Sophia. “Quickly, take a spear and gather supplies for the road. We need to be gone before the creature’s followers reach us…” He trailed off as he saw the group was no longer watching him.

Their eyes were on the gate to the compound. His stomach twisted as a voice whispered into his mind.

My dear human, Adonis said softly. I hope you aren’t trying to leave us. Maya was so looking forward to meeting you. There is so much you could tell us of our enemies.

Heart hammering in his chest, Lukys turned to face the Tangata. Adonis stood in the entrance to the compound, arms clasped behind his back. His eyes narrowed as he stepped into the courtyard, taking in the gathered recruits and their Tangatan partners, before settling on Lukys and Sophia. A tightness crossed Adonis’s face as he saw the spear in Lukys’s hands.

Sister, he murmured, turning to Sophia. Have you betrayed us?

Sophia wilted beneath that terrible gaze. I—

Adonis surged forward before she could finish speaking, his hand flashing out, catching her by the throat. A cry sounded in Lukys’s mind and he