NINETEEN

Char

Who would they pray to now?

Xelan used all his strength to hold Elden down while the Progeny clashed with Celindria. Burning under Xelan’s hands, Nox’s flesh flaked away in charred cinders, swallowed by the howling fissure—The split between Probabilities. The Source.

Would Xelan’s brother survive?

And would Rayne survive if he didn’t?

Rayne landed first, knocking her ancestor to the golden/stone/glass surface of the bridge. With an avian screech, Celindria went down and fought with her wings to keep Rayne aloft. It was a fierce thrashing of limbs and attempted blows.

Then nothing.

The gravity densifiers.

With a war cry, Rayne cranked them to maximum, and Celindria flattened to the bridge. They worked. Relief washed over Xelan.

The moment Rayne gave the signal, Kyle, Andrew, and Sagan were on Celindria. Rayne stretched Celindria’s arms, while Andrew did the same to her legs. Xelan’s First Progeny went still.

Was she experiencing terror? Frustration? Or more nothingness?

During the commotion, Silence, Korac, and Lucas had crossed the bridge, and the Father of the Icarean race calmed in the presence of the Mother of their galaxy. Elden inside Nox shot an occasional seething glance at Lucas—One—but otherwise relaxed in Xelan’s hold.

High on octane, Korac didn’t bother with composure. Concern was bare in his eyes as he looked Nox over. Neither Xelan nor Korac were familiar with Elden’s abilities, and in this moment, their deity burned inside their brother.

Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

Xelan glanced the question at Silence. Would this kill Nox?

Their shared foremother’s grave eyes glistened as Silence swallowed and gave one nod of her head.

Korac’s voice was squeezed as he asked, “Nox, are you in there? Can you hear me?” The edge of hysteria to his words choked Xelan.

Lucas gripped Silence’s shoulder, consoling her, before stepping between Korac and Nox. One kept his eyes on his half-brother as he reached back and touched Nox with one finger—

It healed.

Nox’s soft tissue repair system kicked into high gear and regenerated the melting muscle and tendon.

Xelan and Elden both stared at the Aegis contact on Nox’s bicep in wonder.

Lucas said, “There isn’t much time, Korac. I need your mind focused on the Atheneum. Remember the plan.” The sandy blond of his hair and the molten gold of his eyes transitioned into white. “Please.” There was so much desperation in that single word.

Korac clenched his jaw and closed his eyes in answer.

Carefully, Tumu and Smith made their way around the tough situation on the bridge, sidling around the Progeny. They looked expectantly at Lucas.

Lucas said, “On my say…”

Tumu nodded, voids serious. Smith nodded, grinning like a madman. Silence slipped her hand into Elden’s and bowed with her head.

Xelan released Elden, staying close should he need to restrain him again. He said, “We’re ready to finish this.”

Lucas turned to the bridge and shouted, “Now!”

Celindria’s swirling eyes were focused on Rayne, who’d pinned her ancestor to the bridge with Night Killer’s bladed center to her throat. Rayne centered all of her strength on vital points to keep Celindria from reaching the gravity densifiers.

Sagan opened nine conduits surrounding them. They led to skies of varying colors, each of the planets and Ishkur’s Palatial Grounds.

Kyle and Andrew closed their eyes to concentrate their abilities on Celindria.

Xelan held his breath.

Minutes passed and…

Nothing happened.

Celindria’s mad laughter pierced the ravine. Her voice came from the rift, a chorus of thousands. “This is it?! This is your pitiful strategy?! My abilities are beyond you and, short of taking my nacre, you have no power over me!”

What now?

They were out of options—

“Maybe they don’t. But I do.”

Xelan shut his eyes in relief.

Celindria’s voices squeezed into a chorus of strangled sounds as her head fell back, weakened. She no longer possessed the strength to strain against the densifiers and Rayne. Her nacre was drained.

They were saved.

Tameka emerged from the conduit, her eyes black with a green stripe of a pupil. Strain tightened her pretty face into something fearsome. Never had Xelan heard her sound so confident.

“Celindria, welcome to the Wrong Side of Eternity.”