Variants of Adlin: Hunted

By E. L. Jensen

“You are dangerous,” she breathed.
“I like dangerous.” He responded with a smile.

It is the Variant way to blend in, hiding amongst the normal people of Adlin. But after Adlin’s royal family disappears and a cruel dictator claims supremacy, the Variants are forced to change their ways and fight back.

Anaya joins the covert Variant teams fighting for Adlin’s freedom. But when it is discovered that Anaya is an exceptionally powerful Variant with many rare abilities, the evil forces focus hungrily on capturing her.

• Language: English
• Publisher: E. L. Jensen
• Release date: Apr 30, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463549490

Book preview

Variants of Adlin

Hunted

E. L. Jensen

Acknowledgements

Steve and Belinda.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted by any person or entity, including internet search engines or retailers, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying (except under the statutory provisions of the Australian Copyright Act 1968), recording, scanning or by any information storage and retrieval system without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Copyright © E. L. Jensen

Jensen, E. L.

Variants of Adlin: Hunted

ISBN 9780463549490

Table of Contents

Prologue

1. Team Amara

2. Haydel House

3. Midnight

4. Consequences

5. Impact

6. Burning

7. The Siege

8. Innocence

9. The Master

10. The River

11. Camp

12. Tangled Webs

13. The Journey

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About the Author

Prologue

No one noticed the swirl of red light on the rooftop above as the crowds bustled among tables of summer produce surrounded by the smell of smoke and spices. When the light faded away, a young woman stood in its place. Anaya immediately started searching the busy market square below her. She pulled off her snow caked outer layers which had already started melting in the summer heat.

He’s here, Anaya thought, I can feel it.

The roof tiles crackled beneath her feet as she climbed, searching the busy market square below her.

A child screamed somewhere below her. Anaya scanned the crowd and seeing a young girl, Not him.

The young girl shuddered as she stared ahead of her. A woman behind her had reached down to comfort the girl but she also stopped and stared, her hand paused in mid-air, forgotten.

The market square had flooded with strangers. Each person was dressed in the same intimidating black uniform with a strange silver symbol over their hearts. The skin was pale on their scowling faces, making their black sunken eyes seem grotesque as they surveyed the crowd.

The clear blue sky above them shuddered and grey clouds formed dramatically as they grumbled thunderously. The heat of the summer afternoon intensified, and the air became thick and intolerable.

The market bustle stilled and Anaya moved to the edge of the roof, trying not to draw attention to herself, as she continued searching. She spotted a fountain in the centre of the square had a single spurt of water dampening the hot air. A six-year-old boy with straight brown hair leant into the fountain, running his fingers over the surface of the water.

There he is.

A wave of relief when she saw him…

Raphael Amara.

She dropped to the ground and gently pushed her way through the crowd towards him as a drawling voice pierce the still air.

People of Terryn, we are Hunters. We seek Variants for our Master!

He was met with silence.

The Hunter sneered, "Come on, this is a small town. You all know each other. Someone must have seen something… unusual."

The townspeople crushed closer to the spectacle, whispering amongst themselves as Anaya pressed towards the fountain.

The speaker raised his voice, Who amongst you has seen someone use fire ability, lighting a fire with a mere thought? Perhaps strength ability, is someone here stronger than ten men? His eyes darted from face to face looking for reactions as he continued, Variants keep their secrets for generations, but not… in a small town… just like this.

Between her and Raphael stood a woman carrying a basket of bread, Anaya moved around her and finally reached him. Raphael had climbed up on the fountain edge to get a better look at the Hunters and he turned and looked up at her with deep blue eyes, wide and scared.

Anaya assessed the Hunters, the man continued to bellow at the crowd before him. The speaker’s fingers looked unnaturally long and his arms seemed to dangle from his shoulders when he spoke. His entire body just looked somehow … wrong.

She glanced down, it was only a matter of time before someone noticed that she was out of place on the hot day in her black knee-high boots over black pants, with a fitted long-sleeved cream tunic and leather gloves.

Raphael, she whispered, Your Dad sent me to find you!

He nodded and trustingly reached his little arms up to her. She carefully reached out her gloved hand to his and grasped tightly. He leapt off the fountain ledge and followed her through the crowd, listening to their whispers.

Who are these Hunters?

Who is this Master?

Why do they want Variants?

Do we really have Variants living here?

The sky above them grumbled and the thunder vibrating the buildings and rattling tiles.

Raphael pulled closer to Anaya and she squeezed his hand hoping it was comforting. He was a Variant, just like her.

You are safe with me, she murmured.

He took a breath and steeled himself before he forced a smile I trust you, he whispered back to her.

Anaya had reached the edge of the square when she saw David; a tall, well-built man with broad shoulders searching the square as his blonde hair glinted in the dim light.

His familiar figure had not changed since they’d met over a hundred years ago. David was a Variant with longevity ability, leaving him eternally with the appearance of a twenty year old. He strode towards her and immediately lifted Raphael up into his arms.

Are you both okay? What’s going on? he asked, staring intently at her.

They call themselves ‘Variant Hunters.’ D, let me evacuate you all immediately. she replied.

"No, we’ve built lives here, let’s leave my way. On foot. David turned to a middle-aged woman standing behind him, Bellana, we’re leaving." She nodded, her lips forming a thin line as she tightened her grip on two young boy’s hands, one in each of hers. One child with blonde hair and the other with a mass of cropped black curls.

David adjusted Raphael in his arms, Stay. See us to safety. He didn't have to ask; she would not leave them until she knew they were safe.

Moving quickly Bellana followed David down a narrow walkway that exited the market square with Anaya closely behind. Bellana was becoming visibly much older than her husband. Bellana was not a Variant.

The walkway led them to an empty street cluttered with older wooded houses. She recalled that David had lived in the town for many years and knew that it was in his nature to have already scoped the best exits.

A voice pierced the air behind them, The easiest way to catch a Variant is to announce you are looking for them, then watch them scatter… like rats.

Anaya turned sharply on her heel, her heart thumping loudly in her chest.

Three Hunters had followed them through the walkway. The closest jeered at her, his eyes black and soulless.

She sucked in a slow breath; all three Hunters gripped their drawn swords ready to attack.

David moved to stand next to Anaya, his fingers moved slightly, subtly signalling them to wait and assess the situation.

Anaya glanced behind her to see Raphael had been set down next to his brothers. Bellana watched the Hunters cautiously as she released her sons’ hands and moved casually next to her husband, strategically placing herself between the Hunters and her sons.

David’s voice was calm, sounding almost bored, The children have tired of the markets, is there something I can help you with? She heard one of the boys behind her perform a loud yawn.

The symbol on the Hunters chest was a dense silver oval-shaped badge with an intimidating hawk in the middle. Anaya stared at it for a moment, something was familiar, but she wasn’t sure where she had seen it before.

The third Hunter lagged behind, staring intently up to the sky lowering his sword clumsily and showing that he was not a swordsman. His concentration made her uneasy, so she watched him stare at the sky the words between David and the first Hunter continued to drift past her.

Anaya’s skin pricked as the hairs on her arms stood on end. She felt the air around them change and saw strands of Bellana’s hair rise with static. The third Hunter continued his concentration and a roar of hellish thunder belted loudly above them so hard that the sound vibrated through her body. The temperature dropped suddenly and she knew something was coming.

Get down! Anaya yelled.

Everyone instinctively obeyed, even the Hunters.

A bolt of lightning flashed above. It was blinding, bright and deadly as it came straight towards them.

Shield.

A disc of red light above their heads reflected the deadly bolt spearing against it. Then more bolts struck, again and again, blinding and flashing and battering the red sphere. The deadly arcs of light didn't permeate the shield that had formed around them all.

Anaya shuddered under the impact. David gripped her wrist, Can you hold the shield? he murmured.

She couldn’t answer as another blinding flash of lighting above them hit the shield and both Anaya and the shield shuddered under the force. Above them the shield was scorched with black marks where it had struck.

Mum! A child cried.

Anaya remember that she had told Raphael that he was safe with her. She closed her eyes and concentrated on holding the strength of the shield and she felt it strengthen as another series of lightening pelted down on them.

A Hunter yelled at the third Hunter as his fist flew at him, We need them alive. Idiot! You could kill us all. He staggered under the punch and the static in the air settled as the lightening stopped.

Anaya breathed in relief and saw the third Hunter holding his jaw. He growled through his clenched jaw, Proved we’ve got us some Variants. He looked up at the shield above them swirling red and strong.

Anaya let the shield dissipate and met David’s eyes. She gave him a small nod to let him know that she was okay.

His expression answered very clearly that he didn't believe her.

So who’s the Shield Variant? The first Hunter demanded.

We don’t want any trouble, David stepped forward blocking her from their view, "Seeing as we all survived that random lighting storm together, let’s go our different ways."

Shield Variants are rare and valuable to us, particularly one that strong. Let’s see what else we have here! declared the Hunter. Lurching towards them raising their swords their long legs quickly engulfed the distance between them.

David dodged a sword blade thrust at him; he easily threw himself into combat knocking two Hunters off their feet within seconds. David was well matched despite being unarmed.

Reaching into her boot Anaya pulled out a long thin knife and passed it to Bellana, pressing it into her hand. Bellana wasted no time expertly deflecting a sword blade arcing towards her head wielded by the third Hunter.

Anaya! Protect. The. Boys! David ordered.

She turned and saw the three boys held their gripped fists near their chins tightly, ready to fight with them. They inched towards their parents defensively.

Shield!

Anaya watched her shield wrap itself around the three boys - a swirling red bubble surrounding and containing them. Curiously the eldest pressed his hand up against the surface. Feeling a solid wall in his hand Bion glared at it in frustration and then punched it with his clenched fist. He yelped and shook his hand in pain.

With the children contained safely in her shield Anaya went to help David and Bellana when movement caught in the corner of her eye. A fourth Hunter was approaching from behind, but the shield had startled him, and he stood staring at it, open-mouthed as if he was mesmerised by the