PART TWO: With suspicions fueled, and resentment blunting perceptions, Ezra determinedly seeks to unearth the secrecy surrounding his Uncle Josiah. Uncovering the man’s true nature eventually leads Ezra to a truth that violently shakes the foundations of his beliefs and requires a recognition he is not prepared to accept. For when he lifts the veil shrouding Josiah, he’s faced with more questions, more uncertainties of his own existence. Powerful enemies arrive with efforts to destroy Ezra before he gains awareness of his own power. In order to surmount, he must learn to trust this new Josiah and open his eyes to a world he desperately wished to ignore. Once the blindfold falls entirely, Ezra questions whether he truly wants the cursed destiny that fate has bestowed upon him.
View MoreThe cremation grounds were desolate, empty at the late hour. Only, if one looked hard enough, they would find a group of dark-cloaked individuals surrounding a casket.Their figures all but blended into the dark environment, becoming one with their surroundings. A large fire pit, currently in use, spurted a diminished, smoky fire. An attendant near the pit fanned the embers, intending to create more smolder.As a result of their careful ministrations, smoke blossomed and bloomed, sliding over the tall grass with seductive slowness and cloaking everything in a thick, foggy haze.A woman with a high, arching neck observed the others as they chanted beneath their breath. Her orange gaze—eyes of very high Igni nobility—then landed on the figure in the coffin.“Deliver this to Calder?”“I am more than certain he—along with Prince Ezra—will be ecstatic over receiving it,” the man replied.She considered the prone figure inside the casket before turning to her male companion. The man was of
The sun was on the verge of escaping the heavy blanket of clouds, effectively washing everything in a bright, almost relentless grey hue.The citizens of Concordia swarmed the monochrome streets of the capital, visiting shops and markets, careful not to disturb the rebuilding around them.Slowly, gradually, shattered storefronts and crumbling stone facades began the process of reconstruction. Glass, debris, and other items from the earlier attacks across the capital already cleared the cobblestoned walkways and boulevards, making a safe passageway for shop-goers and carriages.Military guards patrolled the streets, keeping a stern eye on proceedings and projecting a safe ambiance for the citizens.Things were beginning to look up.Sachiel settled more firmly against the wrought-iron chair and observed the bustling streets with a cool, jaded eye.He watched as the workers, donned in dirty and greasy coveralls as they lay stone and brick. His unenthusiastic scrutiny then landed on the n
The atmosphere in the throne room was quietly intimidating.Not an atypical occurrence, Conway supposed, as he’d seen a great deal of disputes and power plays in this very room. Today, however, seemed especially dour and grim. He imagined it was an accumulation of reasons.Prince Ezra’s sudden health scare was an obvious catalyst.King Calder’s necessary damage control was a close second.Not only for his heir’s condition in the eyes of the public, but also for the capital as a whole, who were on the verge of recovering from the unobtrusive and supernatural attack they’d found themselves under. Several men and women claimed they’d felt a haze lift.They’d felt lighter than they had in weeks.Conway had heard the accounts and he’d been entirely unsurprised. While his symptoms hadn’t been severe, his mind did feel clearer. He understood there were others who’d been affected more so than others.They’d been frightened.An understandable sentiment.It would take quite a bit of effort to t
An infection.A critical infection.That’s what the Healer had informed Micah of proceeding Kai’s examination. After using the defrosted transport to travel to Region 20’s train depot, they’d all boarded the royal train back to the capital. At that time, Kai had disappeared behind closed doors with the Unda Healer for a thorough examination. Plenty of medicines and salves stocked the royal train, acting as an acceptable medical bay until they reached the capital. The Healer had spent over an hour with Kai before he’d escaped the room and approached a sullen and silent Micah, who’d taken position in the common area with the others.“He was unconscious almost immediately,” the Healer had whispered. He had looked at the others from the corner of his eyes and leaned closer to Micah, pitching his voice even lower. “Oftentimes, as in this case, a patient can run on adrenaline and force their body to resist symptoms and unconsciousness.”Micah stood from his seat, drawing the close atte
The newborn was no longer than his forearm.A tiny thing. Just days old.Five days, to be exact.He’d waited nine mortal months to see it in the flesh, now it was here, a bundle of soft, healthy skin and a thrumming, developing heart. Less bloody and far more endearing than when it took its first, wailing gasp of air five days ago.Cupping the baby in his large palm, he held it aloft, analyzing the petite features, long lashes, the wild tuft of black hair, and the elfin nose and tiny ears. Soft. Breakable. He could curl his fingers into a fist and easily crush the newborn until its delicate ribs closed in around its organs.Death would be quick.His fingers tightened out of morbid curiosity, smiling as the newborn squirmed and emitted a sound of displeasure.No.His fingers loosened before the midwife overheard. He’d observed newborn mortals before—several before as their parents sought for his blessings. Never did he feel any sort of gentle affection for them. They were, after all, m
“They were right behind us!”“I know they were, Talia.”Conway and his men stood tensely behind the open transport, gazing back towards the underground labyrinth where they’d abandoned the prince and the other men. His eyes then lifted to the skies, peering through the downpour of rain and admiring the vivid, wrathful lightning.Across the abandoned town, tall fires burned radiantly, their ginger flames hardly shrinking beneath the onslaught of heavy rain. If anything, they roared fiercer in defiance.A sense of unease hung in the atmosphere, thickening the air with profound static. Every time he inhaled, he tasted the sheer impossibility of their current surroundings on his tongue.It was bitter, like ripe, toxic fear.Rain in the desert.Fires unrelenting under sheets of rain.In the distance, a deteriorating building suddenly burst in a shower of rock, causing a few men to flinch from the thunderous explosion. Their arms jerked towards their heads, as if to protect themselves, yet
“They are not beacons, child, but entities who wish to remain undetected,” Micah impersonated, pitching his voice to sound like Agni.Said entity offered him an uninspired look.“I said until they do not,” Agni emphasized. “Evidently, they do not wish to remain undetected. They are hailing us almost as subtly as your teammate is hiding that pain in her fractured wrist.”Micah stayed back as his team clambered into the inner region conveyance train. The conveyance unit resembled a carriage more than it did a traditional train. However, instead of a horse as the power source, the small, single-compartment unit ran off the bulky coal and steam engine situated in the front.It was a broken-down piece of rusted equipment used to shuttle the residents between the desert settlements of Region 20. Judging from the noises it emitted, and the noxious scent of rust, Micah imagined it was close to its expiration.Fortunately, the place they believed Kai to be located had tracks close by.Otherwis
Thirteen Years Ago Unimpressed eyes stared down at the young child. “Get lost, boy.” The small boy lifted his chin. “I said you need to give me my change.” His pubescent voice hardened with authority. “I gave you a gold coin.” He gestured to the bag of large potatoes. “For two potatoes. I need nine silver pieces back from you.”“And just how old are you? Do you even know the difference between gold and silver?” The vendor sneered. “Get lost!”Around the quarreling young child and the potato vendor, men and women hustled through the streets. The dying sun cast deep, orange and red hues across the desert village. White and beige buildings, made entirely of clay and other desert materials, stood out from the darkening atmosphere.Most civilians of this outskirt village in Region 10 just wanted to get home to their families before dark. The nightlife was far from convivial and every bit unfriendly.The warmth that the sun had provided earlier that day gradually disappeared. In its plac
“Micah!”Jerking violently awake, Micah pulled down his hood and frantically searched his surroundings. His chest heaved frantically to accommodate his racing pulse, certainly not accustomed to jarring awake so abruptly, especially when his mind had dipped down into a deep, heavy sleep.Across from him, Viktor danced on one foot, then the other, before cupping his groin.“Where do we pee ?”Behind him, Talia shook her head exasperatedly.Micah stared blankly at Viktor. “ What? ” he exclaimed sharply. “What are you doing?”“I need to pee,” he repeated. “I don’t know where we should go. Is there a designated area or…?”Groggy and still fighting the faint clutch of sleepiness, Micah looked at his team. They were in various states of awareness, some appearing just as jarred as he felt, others wide-awake and irritated over Viktor’s antics, Agni especially.“What?” Micah asked again stupidly.The boy slouched petulantly. “Pee. I have to pee.”“Go!” Micah demanded, his tongue slurring with s
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