The Story of Eris (The Planets, Book Two)

By Michael Cairns

'The Avengers meets Magician, The Planets Series is superhero conflict on a global scale...'

The enemy grows in strength
The Assembly are revealed
The Planets... are screwed.

New York is awash with murders. While the Planets race against time to stop the impending bloodbath, Eris travels to Africa to discover the secret behind his powers. But even he isn't prepared for what he finds there.

The Story of Eris takes the Planets from New York to the European country of Shalktenstein, via the streets of France and the wilds of Russia. On the way they battle The Unseen's latest creations and uncover a future they couldn't hope to predict, or prepare for.

Will Eris get control of his powers in time to meet the challenges that lie before him? Will the Planets find mystery murderer before it's too late? And will any of them be ready for what lies at the heart of Shalktenstein?

Click 'buy now' to continue the fight in this, the earth-shattering second book in the Planets series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michael Cairns
• Release date: Jul 11, 2014
• ISBN: 9781909699182

Michael Cairns

Michael Cairns was born at a young age and could write even before he could play the drums, but that was long ago, in the glory days - when he actually had hair. He loves chocolate, pineapple, playing gigs and outwitting his young daughter (the scores are about level but she's getting smarter every day). Michael is currently working hard on writing, getting enough sleep and keeping his hair. The first is going well, the other two...not so much. His current novels include: > Young adult, science fiction adventure series, 'A Game of War' 1. Childhood dreams 2. The end of innocence 3. Playing God 4. Breathing in space 5. Escape 6. Gateway to earth > Urban fantasy super-hero series, 'The Planets' 1. The spirit room 2. The story of Erie 3. The long way home >Paranormal horror post apocalyptic zombie series, 'Thirteen Roses' 1. Before (Books 2-6 due for release in spring)

Book preview

Part One

The Story of Eris

Somewhere in America

He had expected some sound to announce his arrival, but there was nothing. He drew breath, his first, and let it out, the gentle exhale through his nose making it twitch.

He pushed himself up to a sitting position, and stared around. He was met with a wall of green stalks rising high above him, and he lay back down. His eyes scanned the clear night sky, seeing the constellations he had once studied. They were familiar, as though he had lived beneath them before.

Content he was on the right planet, he closed his eyes and shifted, sending his spirit rushing free of his body and up into the darkness. The body he now called his own lay far below, hidden deep within a cornfield, but he ignored it, looking further afield.

The horizon glowed and he soared toward it, the lights of the city growing brighter and brighter. Soon he was close enough to gaze upon each light, the massive skyscrapers and long, straight avenues calling to him. This was where he was supposed to be.

With a nod, he turned, and flew back into his body, sitting up once more. This body was weak, straining to see anything in the darkness. His nose was filled with the scent of the plants around him, to the exclusion of all else.

Why was it so quiet? He had been told of the animals that inhabited this place, the myriad creatures he would encounter, but there was nothing, not even birds. Perhaps they were hiding, afraid.

A smile twisted his lips. It was his first human expression. It felt good.

He clambered to his feet and set off toward the city.

Eris, Canada

People were screaming. However hard he squeezed his eyes closed and buried his head between his knees, he couldn't block out the noise. They were the screams of mothers seeing their children run into the road.

He dropped to his knees, shoving his forehead into the soil, as though he could somehow bury himself, as though he could find death in the dark ground beneath him and erase his guilt. His fists were clenched, and he was humming, his entire body throbbing with power.

The screams wouldn't stop, and he lifted his head, peering down the mountain side. He imagined he could see it, a cloud spreading out above the city, his disease raining down on the people there.

Those nearest had felt it already. Their panic had no root, no cause, but it was real just the same. They ran from their houses, falling to the floor and hiding beneath their hands, beneath anything they thought might protect them from the chaos that had befallen them.

Cars were screeching to a halt, slamming into one another as their drivers lost control, their minds hijacked, torn from reason and sent spiralling into chaos. From his vantage point on the muddy slopes, Eris could only watch and dig his fingers into the soil and let the tears run down his cheeks.

Venus was tired, and bored, and needed a bath more than she ever had her entire life. Which was a fairly long time. The forest was thinning, the trees fewer, and smaller, the dark floor broken by patches of sunlight. The suit's satnav told her they were near Canada.

Eris was heading home, running for the place he felt the safest. But it wasn't really about being safe; it was about hiding, about burying himself away from the world and never coming out.

Why Pluto thought she was the person who could stop him was anyone's guess, although, she was rather good with most people. Eris, though, was not most people. She sniffed, the scent of fire drifting through the trees.

She leaned against the nearest tree, steadying herself as she raised her helmet, and brought up a more comprehensive map. Satellites far above moved gently through the atmosphere, signals bouncing across and finally down to her suit, and she saw the world from above.

The forest was indeed ending, and soon she would be looking across the St Lawrence River, into Canada. Ahead lay the town of Cornwall, and if the map data was correct, a raging fire right in the middle of it.

Her helmet slid down, and, with a sigh, she pushed herself away from the tree and set off in a loping jog. This was, at least, good for her thighs.

It was worse now, much worse. His head was thumping, a steady hammer blow behind his eyes that made him want to vomit. Some twisted part of him had made him raise his helmet and now he stared down into the city, everything magnified so he could see the fear on the faces, the anguish of every person as they battled their personal demons.

The panic had started a fire, an inferno, now. Three entire blocks were ablaze, and a plume of dark smoke was climbing skyward. He was still on his knees, hands twisting and turning in the soil.

A dull thumping grew steadily louder and he lifted his gaze to the sky to spot the helicopter that was making its way toward the town. He waved his hands, telling them to leave, to go away, but he was a tiny dot on a hillside, and they flew into range.

Eris watched, helpless, as it spun out of control like a truck on an ice-slick road. It plummeted toward the city, and clipped the edge of a skyscraper, sending concrete and glass hurtling to the ground. The helicopter disappeared between the buildings and he dropped his gaze, staring at his hands as they scraped and dug at the soil.

He felt like something was moving through him, tearing every organ apart, pulling and grabbing at him. He needed to vomit, but there was nothing coming up, nothing to come out.

Eris lurched to his feet, futilely brushing at his hands, at the mud that clung to them, and staggered around, away from the city.

He saw a figure emerge from the trees, hair falling in waves, a hand held out toward him. His vision was blurred, but he knew who it was, just the same. He could feel her, some aspect of her that reached out to him, and he whimpered.

Venus saw Eris turn, saw him stagger toward her, hands rubbing together feverishly. She could see past him, see the smoke, and hear the screams, and she raised a hand as her stomach dropped.

She had hoped it was merely a forest fire, but there could be no doubt now as to the cause of the blaze.

He'd seen her, and dropped to his knees, hands digging down into the earth. She could tell from the way he looked at her that he knew little of what was happening. As she drew closer, she felt the heat that poured off him, like she was close to the fire itself.

Venus gasped, holding both hands up, but in defence now, a vain attempt to stave off the massive waves of heat. Sweat poured off her face, running down her neck and into the suit. She wanted to raise her helmet, to return to the air con, but she needed to reach him.

She fell to her knees, and crawled the rest of the way, imagining she was escaping from a burning building. The warmth was flowing over her in waves, and it was getting harder to breathe.

Eris, listen to me, listen, you can stop this.

He turned his face toward her, and she recoiled. It was twisted almost beyond recognition, a mask of anguish so intense she didn't have the first idea of how to get through. She moved her knee a little closer, close enough to reach out and touch him.

His skin was burning, and she pulled her hand back, hissing. He looked down at her hand, through eyes red-rimmed and sore, but seemed to register nothing. What was she supposed to do? She could handle anything, anything the world and even those beyond it, could throw at her, but this, this was well beyond anything she'd yet dealt with.

She shook her head, grinding her teeth. Planets don't use their powers on other Planets. That was practically law. She relaxed her eyes, sending out her love in waves, driving it deep into his brain. Almost immediately, the heat dropped, like someone had flicked a switch.

Something had entered him, some part of her he had never felt. It was, he realised through the haze of panic, her power, and he let it come. He had no control, not now, there was nothing he could do to stop himself. But as new feelings ran through him and he stared at her in a new way, the throbbing in his head eased.

She was so beautiful, how had he not noticed? Maybe his eyes had always been filled with Ghalyela, but now he understood how wrong he'd been. Venus was a vision, more gorgeous than any one person had any right to be.

His hands no longer clawed the soil, but lay in his lap, flexing gently as he gazed at her. Somewhere, far away, he became aware that the screaming had diminished, the anguished shouts no longer assaulting his ears.

Then it was gone. The glow vanished and it welled up, everything he had done, what had happened at the base, and now here, also. He screamed, head thrown back, until his throat gave out and the sound became a silent wail creeping from his lungs.

Arms wrapped around him, and his head rolled forward, his forehead meeting her shoulder, and the tears came.

Somewhere in America

He stepped out onto the road, leaving the corn behind him, and quickened his pace. This body was so easy to control, so pliable. True, it would crumple before any serious strain, but he had no intention of that ever occurring.

He was glad. He hadn't known exactly what it meant to feel something, anything, before he came here. Oh, he had studied feelings, the great weakness of the individual, but now his brain was whirring with the weight of first-hand experience. Even the feeble stimulus of the road and the darkness infused him with warmth.

He was glad they had sent him here, that he had been created for this. His task was buried deep within him, driving him on, but it felt less important here, submerged beneath the noises of his thoughts, his feelings.

His smile widened as he strode on toward the city.

Eris and Venus, Canada

When his sobs had died down, sleep claimed him, a necessary balm for his agony. Venus dragged him into the trees, and left him concealed amongst bushes, helmet up. Then she headed down into the city to help where she could.

The cause of the panic had faded, but the many who had been scarred and broken by it needed support, someone to take control, and give guidance.

In time, order began to emerge. The streets cleared as she crossed the river and headed back up into the hills. Eris was where she had left him, and she settled next to him, closing her eyes and letting her exhaustion take over.

When she awoke, he was gone. She sat up quickly, blinking rapidly as she took in the night sky, and the distant sounds of helicopters. She stood, stretching cold limbs, and walked out onto the hillside.

At least a half-dozen news choppers hovered above the city. In the darkness, she could make out the flashing of ambulances and recovery vehicles, still busy hours after the trouble had died down. Standing before the city, silhouetted against the glow, was her team mate.

His head was tilted to one side, his hands in fists at his side. She sighed. Some people lived never knowing real pain, real anguish, never having to deal with the sort of things this young man had faced since the day he was born. Had she believed in a fair world, she might have mourned more, but her many years on earth had taught her fairness was the last thing to expect.

She stepped up beside him. Tears were running down his cheek, his mouth wobbling as he struggled to hold himself together.

This isn't your fault, you know.

He snorted, and shook his head.

It isn't, Eris, it really isn't. She took his arm, pulling him around, away from the view of the stricken city. You didn't do this maliciously, with intent. It happened despite what you wanted, not because of it.

He pulled at her arm, but there was no strength in it, no real wish to get away. She could tell he was still tired. Eris, will you speak to me, please? Or at least, just sit and listen?

He glanced up at her, his eyes dropping as soon as they made contact, but he nodded. She pulled him gently by the hand, and urged him back into the forest.

It was dark here, too dark to see one another's faces, and perhaps that was for the good. He could listen without worrying if she was watching him, studying his response. She settled against a tree, hearing him do the same, and cleared her throat. Where to start?

At the base? That wasn't your fault. It was protected by some form of magical barrier. There was nothing you could have done.

She thought maybe his breathing slowed slightly. But then, she could easily have imagined it, heard what she wanted to. Eris, where are you going, where are you running to?

The night was quiet for a minute, then the sounds around them intruded; the gentle muttering of insects and creatures, emerging from nests and nooks. He still hadn't answered. It doesn't matter where you run to, you're always going to have this. Your power won't go away, you have to--

I KNOW. I know, don't you think I know that?

She'd jumped when he shouted, but now her heart grew heavy at the bitterness in his voice. We can help you, we can. But running away won't help you.

He laughed, humourless and mocking. You think? Weird, I thought it was going so well. So tell me, what are you going to do for me? Make me love you every time I start to lose it? Or maybe Uri could just carry me off and dump me far away from everyone, I'm sure there's so much you could do.

She twitched, struggling with the self-pity in his voice. Sure, she'd thought just the same thing only a few minutes earlier, but he had made his decision. He was feeling sorry for himself, as though this was something he could do nothing about.

I don't know what we can do for you, not truly, but it has to be better than hiding in a cave the rest of your life.

He laughed, and there was something else in it this time. She waited.

Hide in a cave? I wasn't going to hide anywhere.

What?

I've thought about it before, about how I could do it. I always thought the one thing I could do is drown. It's supposed to be peaceful.

She went cold, shivering despite her suit. You were coming here to kill yourself.

Figured if I headed north, I'd hit the river eventually, and then I could just float out to sea.

So what happened?

More silence, until it was broken by a sniff. I couldn't. I got here, and I looked at the river, and the city, and I thought about all the people living in the city, and I just couldn't.

She glanced between the trees, catching glimpses of the glow from the city, and bit her lip. She stopped, aware of how much damage she could do it if she bit too hard. That she could still think about her appearance whilst her team mate bled his emotions out brought her back to reality.

Yes, he felt sorry for himself, of course he did. Her job wasn't to castigate him, or make him feel worse. All she had to do was get him back to New York, and Pluto. Then her old friend could take over, and she could step away.

Well, that's a good decision, all things considered. The world needs you. We need you. You may not like it, and I'm sorry for that, but it's true.

But...

What, what are you scared of?

What am I scared of? What the hell do you think I'm scared of? How many people did I hurt down there, Venus, how many?

She thought about lying, about telling him what he needed to know, but would it ever be worth it if he found out?

Some, more than a few, but god, Eris, you were about to kill yourself, you were emotionally messed up to the nth degree, of course you did some damage.

You talk about it like I've trashed someone's car, or something. I've hurt people, again and again, I hurt people and I can't stop. I thought everything I'd done with Pluto had solved it, then London happened, and then the base, and I thought they were dead.

Mars and Uri are fine, really, and the alien is dead. Her voice was soft. Yes, you hurt some people, but surely this is proof that you should be with us? We can help, and when we can't, we can stop you.

Can you, can you really?

What do you think I just did?

So what about when I turn my powers on you?

Like you did in London?

It was a gamble. She still didn't know what had happened, not exactly, but everyone was still alive, so whatever he had done, it had been controlled. He was sniffing again.

I hurt him, Vee, I hurt Pluto. How could I hurt him, after everything he's done?

But he stopped, you, right?

Yes. It was barely a mutter.

Yes, he did, just like I stopped you now. She took a deep breath. Look at it this way. You need us, because if you aren't with us, you're going to hurt people.

He sucked in a breath, reeling, and shaking his head.

So you're saying I have no choice? I thought you were here because you cared about me.

I'm here because I care about our mission. That comes first, before you, or me, or anyone else. We aren't in this for ourselves, Eris, you know that.

So that's it, it's not about caring for anyone. Is that how you got through the last few centuries alone, by saying that stuff? How does that work, having the power of love, when you can't even love anyone?

She couldn't restrain the gentle laughter. I'm sorry sweetheart, that just won't work. The advantage of living for a long time, is you realise what's important--

Do you ever get bored of being the superior one, the one with all the experience, all the know-how?

She sighed this time, her voice still calm. I'm sorry, truly, but it's either come with me, and let us help you, or we come and find you.

There was a long pause, and Venus imagined she could see him, jaw clenched tight and hands balled into fists, seething silently in the darkness. She cleared her throat, her voice slightly louder now. Look, I can keep saying this all night, but the facts are there, so why are we still talking about this?

Because it can't be like this, I can't live, waiting for the day when you, or Uri, or someone, has to put me down to save others. Would you live like that?

He had a point. Dammit, he had a very good point. You could work with Pluto more. It was only a few months, wasn't it?

It won't help, not properly. He paused, and she waited. There was something else, something hiding behind that sentence. Her patience was rewarded moments later.

In London, we met a witch named Ghalyela.

She chuckled, despite herself, and he stopped talking, asking instead. What's funny.

Nothing. I've met Ghal a couple of times, that's all. Tell me, did she try to convince you of how sexist the Assembly were?

It was his turn to laugh, some of the bitterness gone. Yeah, she did actually. Do you disagree?

Not at all, I think she's bang on. It's a funny combination, African warrior witch mixed with a Suffragette, but it works. What about her?

He took a deep breath. She had a theory, about my... powers.

She could hear the sneer in his voice as he said powers, as though they were something to be mocked.

She thinks they come from African gods, the same ones she believes in.

Well, that was interesting. They didn't have the first clue where his powers came from, but she was certain they were far stronger than any of theirs. Maybe Ghal was right. So what does that mean for you?

She asked me to go to Africa, to meet her and explore my powers, learn how to control them.

What are we waiting for?

I won't be with you, out there. I'll be alone again, and out of your control.

She shook her head, realised he couldn't see her. 'No, you'll be under Ghal's control. She's no Planet, but she has some decent power. You'll be fine.'

She'd thrown the ultimatum at him, praying he responded the right way, and it had worked. Getting him away from here, away from all the things he was used to and into a new situation, may be just the thing.

She let her head rock back against the tree, exhaustion creeping in again. She'd trailed him for the best part of a week, his pace astonishing. She'd blamed old age for her inability to catch up, and truth be told, she was feeling it.

Venus pushed away from the tree, far enough to stretch out on the forest floor. Her bed was calling her, the distant cries reaching her even here. Soon, she promised, soon.

I'm going to have a sleep, sweetheart, I suggest you do the same. Will you be here when I wake up?

There was silence for a second, and she wondered if he was thinking about the question or something else entirely.

Yeah, I'll be here.

She barely caught the last word, as sleep claimed her.

Venus and Eris, England

They stood before the house, Eris fidgeting and uncomfortable, Venus wearing a wry smile. The early autumn sun had squeezed its way from behind the clouds and bathed the evening in warmth. Around them, the gentle Cotswold Hills were hazy and peaceful, the only noise, a gentle mumble of conversations from within.

They had taken two weeks to trek to the airport and then a day and a half more to get here, and now that they had, she found herself missing the slow pace of their journey through the mountains. It was rare to get the time to really think, to have a genuine excuse to wander and wonder.

Eris, against all her expectations, was actually something of an optimist. She admired that even as she found it hard to believe. She only hoped he could keep his optimism as they