“Thank you, Zayaan, for everything you have done,” he said softly. “We could not have won without your aid.”
It was true. For the lives they had saved avoiding a battle for the city, they owed this man a debt.
For his part, Zayaan only inclined his head. “I only did my duty, Sovereign,” he said softly. “I am glad if it contributed in some part towards our victory.”
“You did more than that, Zayaan,” Sophia murmured. “If ever you have need of Perfugia, you have only to call for us.”
“Of course, Sovereign,” he replied, dipping into a short bow before straightening. “I bid you good fortune on your journey.”
Lukys chuckled. “I should hope so, since it’s only a day’s voyage, but thank you all the same.” Turning to Sophia, he offered his arm. “Shall we, My Lady?”
A smile lit up his partner’s face as she accepted his arm, and together they turned towards the gangplank. Before they could start towards it, however, Zayaan’s voice called them back.
“Sovereigns?” he murmured. “Perhaps there is one thing you might do for me?”
“Oh?” Lukys asked, frowning as he turned back to the elder man.
“Yes,” the man replied, a smirk crossing his face. “One last favour…”
Lukys’s frown deepened, but before he could respond, sudden movement came from around them, as the Flumeeren knights drew their weapons. Lukys and Sophia leapt back from them, but as they turned towards their ship, they found more of the steel-garbed men barring their path. Heart racing, Lukys swung on Zayaan, teeth bared. Already he was reaching for Sophia, seeking to join their thoughts, for the unity of the Sovereigns.
“What is this?” The Sovereigns snarled, hands coming up in preparation for a fight. Neither had thought to carry a weapon, but they were not without defence.
“My duty,” Zayaan replied, his voice suddenly hard, his words harsh. “To humankind.”
“Don’t do this,” they warned. “You must know we will stop you. Your people will not lay hand on us.”
“No,” Zayaan snarled, but still he did not retreat.
Fear struck the Sovereigns then, that there was more to this trap, and desperately they thrust out with the power of their minds, seeking to turn the hatred of those around them aside, to still—
Lukys screamed as a terrible pain exploded through his chest, stumbling, staggering on the wooden dock. Suddenly his strength was gone, the unity shattered, and in its place…agony. Sobbing, choking, he sank to his knees, gasping, hands clutching at his chest, seeking the wound…
…but finding himself whole.
“Did you think I had forgotten you, Tangata?” A cold voice spoke from behind him.
Desperately, his mind an agony of broken glass, Lukys twisted, seeking out the voice, and found Amina standing behind him, the visor of her gold-embossed armour raised, spear in hand…
…and thrust out to pierce Sophia’s chest.
A gasp slipped from Lukys as the agony within redoubled, and he reached out a hand, desperate to reach his partner, to save her. But with an awful twist of her blade, Amina tore the spear lose, splattering Sophia’s blood across the docks. For but a moment, she swayed on her feet, stumbling, turning, her grey eyes meeting his.
Lukys… for the briefest of moments, he felt her mind again, sensed her fear.
Then she was falling, tumbling down, striking the wooden boards with a terrible, awful thump.
“No!”
Lukys screamed as he sensed her presence vanish, her touch upon his mind dissipate to nothing. He made to stand, to hurl himself at the queen, but the agony of their separation struck him afresh, robbing him of strength, of will, and instead he crumpled alongside his partner, sobbing, pleading, gasping.
The thud of footsteps approached as he lay there, but still Lukys did not look up, could not tear his gaze from the empty eyes that stared at him from the face of his beloved.
“Kill me,” he whispered, vision blurring, the void within tearing him apart.
“Oh no, my dear Sovereign,” came Amina’s whisper. “The monster had to perish, but you, you are far too valuable. The knowledge, the lost secrets you hold in that head of yours, they will change everything. With your help, Flumeer will finally take its place as the rulers of this world—and me as its rightful queen.”
Even through his pain, Lukys felt his panic rising, his terror for what this woman might be capable of with the Sovereign gift. But even as he tried to lift himself from the void, the pain redoubled, tearing him apart again, and he slumped back down.
Only then did another Voice reach him, a distant cry of desperation.
Lukys! It was a moment before he recognised Isabella. Distantly, he sensed her panic, her fear. What is happening?
A moan escaped Lukys and he scrunched his eyes closed, wishing he could block out the world, the agony, the loss. But there was no escaping this horror, at least…not for him.
The Flumeerens have betrayed us! he screamed into the void, uncaring of who heard his words. Flee, warn the world, Amina has returned!
Then something hard and unyielding struck Lukys’s skull, and the world turned to darkness.
* * *
Here ends DREAMS OF FURY, the final chapter of
DESCENDANTS OF THE FALL
But I’m not done with this world yet…
In the meantime, it’s time to reveal a secret.
There exists a story from the time before the Fall…
The Evolution Gene
For more from Aaron Hodges, check out
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Note from the Author
I know. Typical right? Goddamn bad guys, they never give up do they? Sorry to do that to you, but I just couldn’t see any way Amina was going to let herself go down without taking out SOMEONE, and I just had this terrible feeling all along…
…well, you saw. Anyway, as I mentioned, I’m not done with this world yet. I fully intend to return to discover what terrible things Amina has in store for the species of humanity. But not just yet. Next up will be something completely different, but if you’d like
