The Plantation Series Box Set II (Books 4-5): The Plantation Box Sets, #2

By Stella Fitzsimons

When the human story came to its end, hers just began.

 

This box set contains 2 complete novels: Books 4&5 of the Young Adult Dystopian series THE PLANTATION.
(BOOKS: Beyond the River of Time, Rise of the Saviors)

 

BEYOND THE RIVER OF TIME (Book 4)
With love rekindled and her body dying, Freya must solve the riddles of a ghastly adversary to return from the shadows and fight the bloodiest battle the Saviors have ever known.

The Empress and her terrifying new Ghost Legion are closing in on the last free humans on the prison planet Earth. Freya has no choice but to limp out toward her dark fate and discover if she is a true warrior or nothing more than a few altered genes.

 

RISE OF THE SAVIORS (Book 5)
When forces more powerful than she's ever known rise all around her, Freya begins to slip away from her destiny and question her ability to lead.

The girl with hands of light loses her sense of purpose and must depend on the love and guidance of many to prepare for the final chapter in the battle for Earth.

In the most uncertain times, in the company of strangers, in the throes of one's selfish desires, the war for our soul rages most strong.

Freya must fight through her own desires and limitations in order to rally the Saviors for one last desperate attempt to challenge the Empress of Shadows who intends to consume the whole human world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Butterfly Electric Press
• Release date: Sep 30, 2018
• ISBN: 9781507077306

Stella Fitzsimons

Stella Fitzsimons is a bestselling author of urban fantasy and dystopian fiction. She is the author of "The Plantation" series which includes six novels and one novella. She is currently working on the Urban Fantasy series "Mist Riders". Stella is a traveler, a passionate reader and an ardent cook. She likes to blend ingredients to create edgy results in both her sci-fi and fantasy fairy tales, and her family cuisine. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two children and an ever-growing collection of books.  

Book preview

BEYOND THE RIVER OF TIME

*

Book 4

Chapter 1

Kroll’s heavy black boots echo through the corridors of Exodus L21. He marches back and forth like he owns the place. He exudes a menacing energy that sends chills down the spines of the space station’s inhabitants.

His harsh features seem hostile and unwelcoming. I get it. They see him as an intruder. I don’t blame them but I have no option. I need to keep him as close as possible. His one job now is to protect Tobi. I have commanded it.

Kroll is not particularly happy about the arrangement, either, but he will not utter a complaint. Not for something I have ordered him to do.

Finn doesn’t approve of my choice to keep Kroll on Exodus. Nobody does even if they don’t say anything. How could they when I withhold the most important piece of information from them?

The only person who seems to understand is Commander Eldritch. Luckily, he also happens to be the one person whose opinion matters more than mine. He has an ability to see through and beyond things. He has boundless experience in matters both of the heart and the mind.

Adjusting is a necessity in life, he said with a wink when he agreed to let Kroll be my personal guard.

I leave Pip and Tobi with Kroll in the playground. I head for Sector Three which is where I spend most of my time. My days at the energy recycling lab are over. A new era has begun and it has come with a whole new set of responsibilities for me. I have to monitor the development and progress in Spring Town as well as the Dark Legion camp. I have to supervise security systems, provide blue energy for the shields and discuss plans and schedules for what’s to come next.

I would not be able to handle it all if I couldn’t trust that Tobi is safe. I still have nightmares of him being kidnapped by the Empress and turned into her slave. She wants to punish me for stealing Damian and Kroll away from her. What an unexpected delight she would discover when she realized Tobi has inherited her favorite mutated gene from me.

I’m late and not for the first time. The others cut me some slack since they know I have no personal life. I have time only for fulfilling my obligations as the bearer of the powerful, healing and lethal sensory receptor. But when I am late, I get frustrated with myself. It reminds me I am hanging on by a thread in this new role. The burdens of my position just might be too much for such a small, petty and vindictive girl. I feel like an imposter.

I reach the mid-station rotunda that connects the four main sectors of Exodus L21 on my way to Sector Three when I notice him out of the corner of my eye. He walks in long strides coming back from Sector Four. I barely have time to process his presence before he spots me too. He slows down as he approaches, not knowing what to do. I am not sure what alternatives flashed through his mind, but he settles on a broad, toothy grin.

Freya, he says, stopping in front of me.

Hi, Damian.

He stares into my eyes. I stare back, unable to find a way to shake off the spell of the chance encounter.

Our boy, Tobi, is he well? he says, rubbing his hands together.

Tobi is good, I say, distracted by his odd hand movement. As happy and cheerful as a little boy should be.

Excellent.

We fall silent again. He fidgets which seems odd for such a graceful creature. It’s funny that we can barely communicate when we find ourselves alone for the first time in weeks. I haven’t seen him since the night we spent together when Malzod agreed to destroy the underground Sliman base and I freed Zolkon. Saviors apart for so long should have a lot of catching up to do, but we have been forever damaged by a broken intimacy. The secrets and fears that run wild within us overwhelm our need to communicate.

I nod and decide to let go of all pretense. Why are you here, Damian? Has something happened?

He takes a long, hard look at me. Why do you keep Kroll in this flying prison? This is no place for him. The pampered people of Exodus are not comfortable with him here and he must feel like a chained beast on display.

Kroll stays, I say, losing patience with his tone.

Trust me, I know how Kroll feels. There’s an ongoing battle within him and you never know which way it will go. But never mind all that. The Dark Legion needs him, Freya. He’s the one who binds them together, the only one who can keep their dark hearts loyal to you.

I think Torik is more than capable of keeping them in line.

Help me understand, Freya. Do you need a bodyguard? Any Sliman from the Dark Legion would do for that. It doesn’t have to be their beloved leader. He pauses for a moment before he adds, You would be safe under my eye as well.

His heart is in the right place, but I would feel no peace under his eye. I would feel things I may not be able to control. The last thing I want is to drag you away from the life you’ve chosen, I say, trying to avoid his eyes.

Love is blindness, I think. Like falling over a one-foot cliff or tripping on your own toes. After all that Damian and I have been through, we are not able to say anything substantial to each other. This is why lovers kiss to chase away the awkwardness, but we are no longer lovers.

If you don’t tell me what’s going on, I will have to ask Finn, I guess, he says with a teasing squint in his eyes.

Really? That would be comedy. I’d like to watch that, I say, unable to hide my bemusement.

Damian shrugs his shoulders. Who knows more about Freya than Finn?

Freya does, I say, glaring my eyes at him.

Finn doesn’t know? he says. Holy shit. Things must be more serious than I thought.

Ha ha, you’re so funny, aren’t you? I say, looking around. We’re standing in the busiest part of the entire station. People walk by in all directions in a steady flow heading to different sectors. Some of them throw hurried glances our way while others avoid making eye contact. They all know who we are and what we represent.

How long will you stay? I say under my breath.

As long as it takes.

What does that mean, Damian?

I have questions that need answers.

I take out my touchpad and punch in a few words to let Command Deck know I will be late. Then I take Damian’s hand and lead him away. He follows me obediently back to Sector One. We do not say a word until we reach the Saviors’ meeting hall. The door closes behind us with a loud creaking sound that makes me want to cover up my ears.

When did that door get so loud? I say and at the same instant Damian puts his hands on my shoulders and sits me down next to him.

Why am I not in charge of the Dark Legion now that Kroll’s gone? he says. You can’t possibly trust Torik more than me.

Is he not doing what he’s supposed to do? Do you have reason to mistrust him?

No. That’s not the point, Freya. This is our fight first and foremost. The Saviors’ fight. The humans’ fight. I should have some power, some control. It frustrates me that you have no larger role for me.

His words unsettle me somehow. I did not choose to take anything away from you, I say. You made your choice. You left the Saviors. You left Exodus. I respected that even though it was the last thing I wanted. You are never happy. I don’t know what you want from me.

I want you to consider me when you make decisions like that.

I didn’t make the decision, Damian. I asked Kroll who he thought should be his replacement. It was his choice, not mine.

You knew what Kroll would decide. You could have simply put me in charge and you know it. Letting Kroll decide was your way of not choosing me.

Maybe I wanted you to keep your options open, I say.

Open for what?

C’mon, you know what I mean. I don’t believe you belong with the Dark Legion. You belong here with us. Someday soon you will realize that. I want you to be able to come back when you’re ready. You don’t need any extra responsibilities holding you back.

He sighs and takes my hand. You know that it can’t happen, Freya.

It’s not easy to hear him talk like that. I feel my heart ready to leap up and shout that it could happen, that it should happen as a matter of fact, and that there’s truly nothing keeping us apart now. But he’s not ready to hear this and I can’t force him to be someone he doesn’t want to be.

That’s a dangerous way to live, I murmur.

Dangerous? What do you mean?

If you think you know everything in advance, you’ll always be disappointed, I caution him.

Damian studies me with his penetrating eyes. You see what happens. You’re stuck up here reading too much. All words and no action.

Haven’t we had enough action for a while? I suggest. Tell me about you. How is your life down on Earth?

He leans back on his chair. At its best, it’s rough, unpredictable, wild. He turns to me with a pleasant expression. Whenever I visit Spring Town, the children can’t stop asking about you. Freya this, Freya that. I would rather fight a genetically enhanced bull than smile and talk of you all day long.

Thank you for being there for them when I can’t.

You see why I want to command the Dark Legion, he says. You’ve made me an ambassador of good cheer. So cruel.

You’ll forgive me one day, I joke.

His crooked grin is interrupted by something darker. I will always forgive you. You know that, he says. I wonder if you will ever forgive me for the way I changed at Plantation-15.

He has a bad knack for turning all conversations dark. I just want you to start living again, I say. I cannot tell you how but you have built too many walls. You’re always defensive. You have to let people in. You need friends.

You see, you always want me to go back and be him, the man who no longer exists.

No, I just want you to be someone with hope. I reach for my touchpad and check the time. I’m extremely late, I say. Do you promise you’ll stay until tomorrow at least?

He nods. Of course. Your ambassador of good cheer will be ever obedient and at your ready.

You, obedient? I ask, bending my face at him. Since when did you become so silly?

I leave him in the room but carry him with me, as always, as I hurry down the corridors of the space station. It will stay like this for a long time. Maybe forever. Damian in my blood. He leads my thoughts to ruin. He overwhelms and suffocates me. Love is blindness. My certain past and uncertain future.

I’M SUPPOSED TO BE in a hurry but with each step I want to travel back to Earth or to the past or to anywhere I can feel a canyon breeze again, or a morning mist or the touch of afternoon sunshine.

Life on the station has proven to be quite a challenge lately. The days all lead to another day just like the one before. I often wake with the same feeling I had when I woke at the plantation as a girl, the feeling of being pulled reluctantly through another monotonous day.

I reach Sector Three as the eleven o’clock hour chimes on my touchpad. I begin to run when a hand reaches out from behind and grabs my shoulder.

It’s Theo. When I see his face, I know something’s up. Something major.

Can we talk? he says and motions for me to follow him to his lab.

Theo’s recent growth has not been just physical. He’s more confident and serious. He moves with a purpose. Nya’s influence on him is obvious, but it’s more than that. We’ve all had to grow up fast.

He shuts the door and walks to the thin glass screen on his desk. An advanced model Theo has helped design. It’s almost on par with the alien three-dimensional imaging technology. The code on the screen forms a rainbow of light very similar to my sensory receptor’s energy fields.

There has been an interruption in the energy field around Spring Town, he says. Three times in two days.

Three times? I ask as I try to process the information. Are you sure?

Absolutely.

Is it a glitch?

That’s what I thought the first time and even to some degree the second time. But today I’m not so sure.

Today’s the day of the third interruption?

Theo nods. See for yourself, he says.

He brings the mapping of the security field up on the screen which displays three-dimensionally in waves of infrared light. The continuity is apparent and harmonic, almost like a symphonic composition. But then something happens. The waves in the center of the energy field become shorter, then longer again. Up and down they go like a steady beat for several seconds right before they disappear, leaving an ugly hole in my force field—the field that supports the shields placed around Spring Town.

A few seconds later harmony in the field is restored only for the same pattern to be repeated three more times.

I turn to Theo astonished. Someone’s testing the shield.

Bingo, he says.

But who?

Said the owl, Theo says. I wish I knew, Freya. I think we can both imagine the worst scenario.

We share dark thoughts of the Empire’s deadly ways, but neither of us cares to speak of it or their cold-blooded leader.

I set my hand on Theo’s shoulder. I know you have a theory.

I do and it’s not what you might think.

Just share, Theo.

Whoever’s doing it is in Spring Town. Or nearby.

I consider that strange possibility. Are you saying it could be one of our own?

At this point, we can’t rule out anything or anyone. We’ve gone from just twelve of us to thousands. Humans, Sliman, hybrids, the children. There are as many possibilities as stars in the sky.

Does anyone else know? I say.

No, you’re the one and only.

Not Nya, not Zoe?

No. I tried to tell Finn, but I couldn’t find him.

All right, I say as I head for the door. We will need a list of everyone who’s been near Spring Town in the last couple of days. We’ll go through it together.

I’ll go to work on it, Theo says as he shuts down the mapping and the infrared is replaced with black.

We’ll tell Finn later, I say. But for now, let’s keep quiet. The fewer people that know about our suspicions, the better.

Theo nods. He immediately returns to his work as I leave.

I don’t want to imagine there could be a traitor among us. I don’t have the energy to believe it. It’s an unthinkable, preposterous suggestion. Not again. Not after Gabe was sentenced to life in prison for trying to kidnap Tobi.

One thing I have learned is that life really does suck sometimes. Things do not stay the same. Happiness and loyalty must be earned every day. Nothing, no matter how unwanted, is impossible.

I have protected entire camps and I have brought people back from the throes of death, but it’s often the little things that I struggle with, the petty individual human desires. I am not a political creature. I am a warrior.

When I finally enter Command Deck, the frustration and fear quickly melt away from my conflicted soul. I see Finn’s grinning face up on the big screen mounted on the wall. There are happy children with him, children of all ages moving about in the sunny, green gardens of Spring Town.

Chapter 2

W ho authorized this ? I say, keeping my eyes glued to the screen that’s receiving the feed from Spring Town.

Who authorized what? Joshua says, walking in front of the screen with a buzzing touchpad in his hand.

Finn. In Spring Town.

When Joshua’s touchpad stops buzzing, there is absolute silence in the room. I realize I must have sounded like a lunatic. At least like someone in a terribly sour mood.

I didn’t know people needed authorization to visit Spring Town. Especially you Saviors, Commander Eldritch says, half-amused and half-curious. I can feel his gaze focusing on me, scrutinizing and impenetrable.

I have to choose my words carefully. No, you’re right, I say. There’s no need for authorization. But why don’t I know about Finn getting off the space station?

I sent them, Lainey cuts in. I didn’t realize I had to report to you first about every decision I make.

Them? I say.

Yes, Finn and Ella. I need information so I can better coordinate matters between all our growing communities. That’s what I do, remember? I coordinate things?

Lainey isn’t particularly fond of me. She thinks I bring more trouble than good. It’s nothing new. It’s definitely nothing I particularly care about or can’t handle. But today I resent her tone. Finn is part of my team. I need him and not being informed of his whereabouts isn’t an option.

Let us all take a deep breath, Joshua offers. There’s no harm done, Freya. They will be back soon. We all assumed Finn would tell you himself. We know how close you two work together.

I turn and steal a glance at the commander. He’s calm and collected as always. I can’t read much on his expression other than the fact that he’s somewhat more interested in all this than he should be. It would probably be my duty to report what Theo has shared with me but I can’t bring myself to do it. Not before I talk to Finn and ask him if he’s seen anything out of the ordinary while visiting Spring Town.

When we’re done with the official part of the meeting, I go over to Lainey and Commander Eldritch who are discussing something in private. They politely turn to me as I approach them.

I know this is none of my business, I start to say but then I change my mind. Of course it is my business. Why did you pick Finn of all people for this? I go on. He’s on my team, not yours.

Will you chill down a little? Lainey says, tapping her long fingernails on the desk. She’s an impressive woman by all standards. Nearly perfect features, body in perfect shape, perfect diction and poise.

I will chill when you explain to me what happened.

It’s not a big conspiracy, Freya. I went to talk to Ella. Finn happened to be there and he heard everything I had to say about Spring Town. He volunteered. He’s a big boy.

I consider her words. This doesn’t sound like Finn at all.

Lainey throws her arms up in the air. I don’t know what else to tell you, she says, rolling her eyes.

Each new day will bring a surprise, Commander Eldritch says. It doesn’t sound like Finn taking off without informing his team. On the other hand, you don’t sound like yourself either right now, Freya. Care to share with us what’s really going on? I don’t understand your reaction, to be honest.

Once again, I’m having second thoughts about my decision to keep quiet on the energy field issue. Eldritch is our commander and leader after all. The sensible thing would be to inform him that the shield over Spring Town has been compromised and let him know that anyone who has been in the area during the last forty-eight hours is a suspect.

Freya and Ella are both really fond of Finn, Lainey says. I imagine it’s a girl thing.

Is that so? the commander says and his expression goes back to that of pure amusement.

Lainey could have handled this better. She could mind her own business since none of what goes on in the hearts of Finn, Ella or me is relevant. But maybe it’s for the best that she’s being nosy. It kind of solves my problem for the time being if Commander Eldritch thinks this is a personal matter. It saves me the trouble of having to give him an explanation.

I shrug while Lainey and the commander exchange looks of complicity which makes me think the rumors about them might be true. Maybe there’s more than meets the eye with these two. In which case, the wise thing for me to do would be to step away.

I head back to Theo’s lab with a million thoughts racing through my head. I find Theo and Zoe bent over a digital spatial blueprint. When they work together like that, the whole room seems to vibrate with robust ideas and sizzling energy.

Hey, Freya, Zoe says without looking up.

How did you know it was me? I tease her. Is your third eye at work again?

Now she looks up and cracks a smile. More like my third ear. You’re the loudest person I know.

I glance to Theo with pleading eyes. He picks up on my need to talk to him.

Since you’re here, Freya, I need to show you something, he says. On Main Command Deck. Zoe, keep your eyes on the map.

All right, Zoe says. I think I got it anyway.

Right, Theo says and pushes me out the door. She didn’t get anything, he says as we walk down the corridor. It’s almost impossible to trace the electromagnetic energy left behind by a tiny asteroid trailing through our galaxy.

Finn’s in Spring Town, I cut him off.

Okay, he says.

With Ella. On Lainey’s orders. You don’t think those two would deliberately try and mess with the shield, do you?

Finn? Theo says, narrowing his eyes.

No, of course not. Ella and Lainey.

Why would they do something like that?

I don’t know. To mess with me?

Theo scratches his forehead before he pulls me further down the corridor and into a nook. Finn would never be involved in something nefarious, Freya. We both know that. I can feel the tension boiling underneath his calm voice.

Not knowingly, I say.

I see that he is struggling with this. In Theo’s mind, things are always clear and perfectly simple in their complexity like mathematical equations. He deals with numbers, graphs, data. He likes to stand on solid ground and test every idea thoroughly. We’re not going to agree on this, he says.

I want you to be right, Theo, I say. Just remember, you can’t breathe a word to anyone.

I won’t. What are you going to do? You have a plan, don’t you?

I shrug. What else is there for me to do? I’m going to Spring Town, of course.

I WALK TO THE DINING hall with Rabbit by my side. I blurt out that I will leave for Spring Town in the morning and he somehow gets it in his head that he has to go with me.

C’mon, Freya, he says. I’ve never been to Spring Town. I’ve never even seen the new district. I want my feet back on the ground.

Now is not the time, Rabbit, I say. Next time, I promise.

I won’t be in your way, he insists.

I sigh when I take a look at his face. He longs to be out in the open fields again and who am I to stop him really? I get it. You need some fresh air, I say. But it will be a short trip and you have to be on your best behavior.

I will be a model citizen. I promise, he says. What do you think I’d do? Challenge Torik to a race to the death?

Just don’t make me regret it. I know how impulsive you can be.

I can’t help it, he explains. My heart literally beats faster than everyone else’s. And besides, everything up here moves so slow.

It will be a nice break for both of us, I agree.

We reach the sliding doors of the dining hall. They slide open silently and just as I am about to step inside, I hear Damian’s voice behind me.

No, not here, he says. I have something else in mind.

I turn and look at him. He has changed into a simple white T-shirt and jeans that can hardly contain his robust musculature. I can’t remember the last time I saw him dressed as casual as this. Maybe never. I need a moment to catch my breath.

What do you mean? I finally say.

Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten about our date, he says with a disappointed look on his face.

Ah, I guess that’s my cue to leave, Rabbit says and darts into the dining hall.

I’m confused, I say. "Did you say date?"

It’s a joke, Freya.

What’s with you and all these bad jokes? You don’t do jokes.

It’s the human side messing with me. It’s annoying. I’m sorry.

I’m not convinced. Every time I think I know what he’s all about, he does or says something that sends me back into the realm of complete uncertainty.

C’mon, don’t look so suspicious, he goes on as he pokes me gently on the shoulder. I just thought it’d be nice if we had some privacy to talk.

I follow him through several corridors to a door with a sign that reads: BALLROOM. I’ve passed through this area before but have assumed the room was out of use as I’ve never seen or even heard of anyone using it.

The room is dark when Damian opens the door but a moment later it gets illuminated by blue spotlights and artificial candle flames.

What do you think? he says as I let my gaze rest upon the glass chandelier, the silver candleholders and the heavy, velvet drapes that cover up two imaginary windows. In the center of the room there’s a round table with several dishes laid out across the lace tablecloth as well as a bottle of wine with two tall glasses.

What on Earth, Damian? I mumble, trying to make sense of the surroundings.

"I think you mean, What on Exodus?"

That one was clever, but what is all this?

You deserve nice things, he says and folds his arm around mine. He leads me to the table and pulls the chair back for me.

I’m freaking out a bit, I say as I sit down.

I don’t have an agenda, if you were wondering, he says and takes the seat opposite mine.

How did you make this happen?

It only took me a couple of hours to put everything together, he says, filling our glasses with bubbly white wine.

Damian, seriously. What’s going on?

Okay, I’ll come clean, he says. I’m not actually responsible for any of this. A certain someone planned this for someone else but things didn’t pan out as expected so I had an epiphany. It turns out I was at the right place at the right time, so here we are.

Who? Who did this?

I’m pretty sure I’m not supposed to tell you.

A suspicion enters my mind. It wasn’t Finn, was it?

As if I would ask Finn for any favors. Especially one that involves you.

I watch him as he sips his wine. I’m being paranoid, aren’t I? I say. Third time today.

No, not paranoid. Just plain old crazy, he says, smiling.

Shut up, funny boy. Who are you to talk? I say and throw a piece of bread at him. How many times have you gone looking for death? That’s as crazy as it gets.

Death is no match for me, he boasts.

Few are, I concede.

His smile becomes more serious. But you are. Your power goes way beyond your receptor or even your genes.

His sudden honesty startles me. It is refreshing to hear you talk from the heart, I say after a short pause.

Maybe I’m not the great manipulator you’ve always thought I was, he says just before he empties his glass. He takes a look at my glass, still full to the brim. You’re not drinking, he says.

I never drink, Damian. Not since that night at Zolkon’s castle that almost cost me everything. Despite all that’s happened between us, we barely know each other, do we? I say as I explore his handsome features in search of signs of mockery or arrogance. I find neither.

I can’t argue. No one could delve into your depths, he says. You are a vault of secrets and mysteries.

His face gets softer, lighter somehow. He looks down at his hands and I feel the distance between us getting narrower. There is finally some tranquility in him, some peace of mind. It is very difficult for me to see through his intentions and maybe the thought scares me. It is a very fine line that I’m walking and I know quite well how easy it is to get back to that place where all I want to do is have a chance with him. A real chance. It’s a good thing that the lighting is dim so he can’t notice the flush on my cheeks.

Where’s Tobi? he says.

With Mandy. She babysits for me sometimes.

I know Mandy, he says and then points at the big platter on the table. One thing I know about you is that you like eggs. This dish is called a quiche Lorraine. You’ll love it.

I take some onto my fork and let it melt in my mouth.

Well? he says.

It’s really good.

Just good?

It’s... it’s delicious, okay?

You should tell Biscuit.

Is he the one whose date fell through? I say.

Hmm, nice try.

Just so you know, you are a mystery to me, too, I say while chewing on the quiche with a new kind of hunger. The hunger for fine things.

Maybe we always need mystery, he says.

I’m not sure what you mean, I say.

Whatever energy makes up love, maybe that needs mystery to thrive.

The marvels of this changed Damian never cease to amaze me. I love Tobi more than anything else, I say, and he’s not a mystery at all.

Isn’t he? Could you honestly say you know everything about him?

I put my fork down and stare into his eyes. He might be a mystery to you but only because you chose it to be so.

He laces his fingers together. Show me some of those neat tricks you can do with your receptor.

I don’t do tricks, I say.

C’mon, Freya, he urges. The rainbows and the confetti and the stars. I’ve heard people talk.

What people exactly?

Don’t be naïve. You’re not the kind of secret anyone could keep. Everyone’s talking. Your legend precedes you. He picks up his glass again.

Is this your brutish way of flirting, Damian?

Are we not beyond that? he says with an almost innocent expression.

I thought so, but you’re acting so strange I don’t know what to think.

I want to know why Kroll is here, that’s all. He leans back in his chair. Is there something you’re not telling me?

Maybe we should stick with the tricks, I say, lifting the receptor out of my pocket.

With a swift motion I create a pulsing crystal ball made of silver energy. I hold it between us now, suspended in the flimsy blue light of the candles and the chandeliers. I push it toward him until it gets dangerously close to his face.

Look into the light and you can see your future, I tell him.

He shakes his head. How appropriate, there’s nothing there, he says, but I have a feeling you’re about to reveal it.

Damian’s eyes glisten in the silver light.

You’re going back to Earth tomorrow, I whisper. And I’m coming with you.

Is that an order? he says.

Before I can give him an answer, my touchpad starts buzzing. I take it out and check the screen.

It’s a message from Malzod, I say. He’s at the Dark Legion camp. Zolkon has disappeared.

Chapter 3

When I set foot back on Earth, dawn is just breaking. My eyes widen to the soft, crisp sunlight. It feels like it’s the first time I have ever felt the cool air whispering across the mist and spreading the magic touch of morning. I’ve been away too long.

I run my fingers through my hair and breathe in the lush humidity of Spring Town and its surroundings. My nostrils and lungs welcome the pleasant sensation as it expands within me and rejuvenates my starving cells.

Spring Town has evolved by leaps and bounds during the last few months. The multi-level residence buildings are finished and the non-residential buildings are now half-built. The tents and huts are all but gone. A once rudimentary street plan is now producing a steady flow of young citizens coming and going. Somewhere out behind all of these buildings the energy generators are pumping away and the fields are producing their first bountiful yields.

I spot Finn chatting happily with three Sliman guards outside the Administration Offices. Ella stands a few feet away with a group of playful children. They both seem so natural here. I immediately regret my desire to check on them and begin to feel completely out of place in their carefree space.

Finn notices none of my uneasiness. He puts his arms around me and kisses my cheek. What took you so long? he says. His eyes shine with a brightness that only he can emanate.

Excuse me, I say and pause for a moment to pick my next phrase. What’s with you leaving without telling me?

I left you a note, he says, furrowing his brow. I can tell by the way he looks at me that he is honestly perplexed.

A note? I say uncertainly. I didn’t find any note. Who leaves notes anyway? My mind races trying to remember if I saw a piece of paper lying about and simply chose not to bother with it.

I left it with Lainey, he says. It all happened out of the blue. You were in a meeting and I didn’t want to interrupt. I basically had to leave within minutes once I decided to go.

I nod. It all makes sense now. Lainey and Ella are up to their usual tricks, I say.

Come on, Freya. What does this have to do with Ella? he says. I don’t like it when you make insinuations.

Finn, I don’t have any issues with Ella. She has plenty of issues with me, but that’s a different story. I lower my voice when I pronounce those last words. Ella is dangerously close to us and I don’t want her to know of my suspicions. Can we take a walk? I say.

He leads me to the small sleeping chamber assigned to him while he’s in town. There’s a bed, a desk and two straw chairs and that’s about it. Finn isn’t big on forging temporary connections with places.

Now tell me what crazy ideas you have forming in that head of yours, he says as we settle down on the straw chairs.

They’re not crazy. Where should I start? Let’s see. One: Lainey never gave me your note nor did she mention it when I asked her point blank why she chose to send you of all people down here. Two: she told Eldritch that Ella and I are having a girl fight over you.

Finn chuckles.

Don’t laugh, you idiot. It was not fun.

Okay, sorry, it was just the look on your face, he says, a silly grin still on his lips.

Never mind that, I say. We have a bigger concern. Theo has detected several attempts to disrupt the energy field that keeps the security shield in place around Spring Town.

Finn goes pale now. You’re not serious?

Very serious and all of them happened since you arrived here with Ella.

Finn shakes his head. You have Ella and me under suspicion?

I rub the back of my neck, unsure how to respond. "Not