Forced to Remember: Nepherium Novella Series, #3

By Samantha LaFantasie

The weight of the world feels heavy on my shoulders. Desperation touches everything. Memories forgotten, truths untold. Humanity is threatened. Their safety granted in exchange for me. But I won't go without a fight.

With strange occurrences taking place in the city, it's up to Elsa and her team to discover why. But an odd encounter at an abandoned warehouse leaves the team with more questions than answers.  Just when the team least expects it, Alexander returns, and he's not alone or without demands: the world's safety in exchange for Elsa. They have only one week to decide while the world falls under Alexander's wrath and his powerful army of followers. Avalon seeks help from every Nepherium that can be spared and hope it will be enough to stop Alexander.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Samantha LaFantasie
• Release date: May 10, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386350453

Samantha LaFantasie

A Kansas native, Samantha LaFantasie spends her free time with her three kids and arguing with her characters. Writing has always been a passion of hers, forgoing all other desires to devote to this one obsession. She’s primarily a fantasy writer but often feels pulled to genres such as sci-fi, romance, and others. Samantha became a bestselling author with the Pandora Boxed Set (which includes Made to Forget: Nepherium Novella series--Part One) on both Amazon and USA Today. Samantha loves to take time to enjoy other activities such as photography and playing her favorite game of all time, Guild Wars 2.  

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Disclaimer

All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Cover art provided by Ida of Amygdala Design

Editing provided by Rainy Kaye

Proofreading provided by Emerald Barnes

Translations provided by Gordon Vivace of Indie Author Promotions

Acknowledgment

Ican hardly believe I’ve reached the end of this series. There was a lot of blood, sweat, and tears involved in this last installment. I couldn’t have done it without my amazing beta readers, my fabulous editors, and, of course, my fans. You’ve kept the inspiration going with your kind words of encouragement when I needed it the most.

To keep this simple and sweet, though I would like to thank you all individually, I want to say thank you to everyone who has had their hands in the creation of this piece, most especially for the patience of my three children for bearing with me while we transition to our new life and being the loudest support that I have for making my dream a reality.

It is my hope that you all enjoy the last installment of my Nepherium series. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts!

Dedication

To my readers, my number one fans, and my kids,

Terry, Nate, and Zach.

ONE

Irecounted the details of the events leading to Jenna’s death to Captain Morrigan while standing in the med room on Avalon, a secret military facility south of Wichita. I still trudged a thin line with her and Tartarus as far as proving myself not a traitor. Noah held my hand as he lay cuffed to a bed, giving me the strength I needed. Bear, Justin, and Blake stood off to the side, silently observing. When I got to the part about Jenna beating me inches from death, and then Justin knocking her from me, I stopped.

Then what? Captain Morrigan asked, standing with her arms crossed over her chest, from the other side of Noah’s bed.

I paused before telling her the truth. I must’ve blacked out.

What do you mean you ‘blacked out’? she asked, stepping up to me, her eyebrows raised. How am I going to explain this to our superiors if you won’t even tell me every detail that happened? Need I remind you the narrow path you’re walking as it is?

You were the one who advised me to pursue her, I said.

Noah squeezed my hand.

Yes, and you were to follow protocol.

I tried to follow protocol, but—

But? Captain asked. Her lips pressed into a thin line as her eyes narrowed on me. I felt her probing in my mind and willingly let her see that I wasn’t hiding anything. Though something told me that wasn’t going to be enough.

She got to me somehow. I should’ve held more composure. Before I realized it, she laid in on me. Okay? I am not sure what happened after that. Just—

Go on, Sergeant, Captain Morrigan urged.

My words sounded distant to my own ears, flat and unfeeling. I stood staring down at her with my hands covered in what I believe to be her blood. Justin was on his back and not moving. My concern was making sure he was okay, but I’m afraid we were seen.

Captain Morrigan turned and lifted her hand to her forehead. Justin and I exchanged worried glances.

That’s not all, Captain, Justin said from the other side of me. She got Jenna to talk.

Morrigan turned, setting her gaze on my brother. And?

He shifted his weight back and forth. Well . . .

She said only Gaia can save him, I said. The antidote wasn’t real. It never was.

Captain’s gaze moved to mine, filled with ice. Gaia? Do you think this is some sort of joke, Sergeant?

No, I snapped. My nerves were still raw from the encounter with Jenna.

We didn’t believe her either, Justin added. That’s why, when we got back, we did some digging of our own.

There’s a tribe of aborigines who tell a tale of a large flying ship that was swallowed by the ocean eons ago. Not long after, they noted men and women emerging from the sea, I said.

Upon further investigation, Justin continued, and a significant number of favors called in, I might add, we found information detailing divers having taken submarines toward the same rumored location searching for artifacts. Stories range from strange electrical interferences to seeing things they can’t explain. None of them were able to make it deep enough to see anything ‘ship-like.’

That’s not all, I said.

Spit it out, Ehlers? Captain Morrigan said, sounding more annoyed than interested.

There’s one Nepherium who has made it down there and is willing to help us  . . .  on one condition.

Of course, the catch, Captain Morrigan muttered.

Wh-whoever goes down there  . . .  they can never leave, I said, shifting my eyes to Noah. The warmth of his hands soaked into mine and reached up my arm. His eyes were bluer than before. A few silver specks reflected the light in the room. My heart fluttered.

It’s our only hope to save you, I told Noah.

How do you know? Captian Morrigan asked.

I turned my attention back to her. I refuse to believe otherwise.

She pursed her lips and sucked on her teeth before turning toward the rest of the team gathered in the med room.

And you all believe her story? She gestured toward me, despite Justin having told the tale as well. When her hand fell, it slapped against her leg.

So much for having her trust.

It’s true, Noah said, commanding everyone’s attention. I’d forgotten all about it until now. When I was a boy, my father told me Gaia was more than what we thought. She lived in the deepest ocean, safe from humans, just waiting for her children to return to her. I thought he was telling me old fables based on truth; stories handed down for generations meant to hold some secret wisdom. He never seemed to believe them. At least, that I could remember. Thinking about it . . . He struggled to sit up. I pressed the button to lift the head of his bed. He smiled at me and then continued, There were other historical accounts of the same thing the aborigines had mentioned. Most of them are hidden under the guise of the legend of Atlantis or something similar.

There’s one more thing, I added, laying my free hand on his shoulder.

Noah’s eyes took in mine, and his lips dipped in the corners. Could he see the fear in me?

What is it? he asked.

Alexander didn’t poison you. He’s changing you  . . .  with his blood. A tear streamed down my cheek.

That’s impossible. I’d be dead.

You are dying, I said. However, the process is slow. I’m not sure why he did this to you, but I’m sure taking you to Gaia will reverse it. It’s our only choice. Will you please let me take you there?

Wait, Captain Morrigan interrupted. How do you know this?

I made some calls. I pulled out my communicator and handed it to her. I remembered a few connections from my past that I could count on. Justin took me to my source where I gave him all Jenna’s blood I could from my clothes. He accessed Tartarus’ database and compared it to the information in Noah’s file. That was the one conclusion he could come up with. You can check. I pointed to my communicator. He said he’d confirm to you and you alone.

What does Jenna have to do with Noah? Captain Morrigan asked.

Jenna told me Alexander changed her with his blood.

She gaped and stared hard at the floor, seeming to search for words that wouldn’t come.

I figured that had to be the common denominator. Turns out, I was right. Now we can save Noah.

No. It’s been too long as it is. I’ll die in transport, Noah said, setting his eyes on me. I didn’t need to feel his energy to know he was