Conspiracy's Garden

By Aimee Child and Elijah Toten

Book 3 of the Conspiracy Series. Zy’Lin and Zy’Soln have been separated, Griel Marsil gravely wounded. Gideon Orson Daimont is inching closer to achieving his goals. Each step the twins take, brings them closer to Gideon’s control. Their search for freedom and family has promised the glimmer of both, only to be over-shadowed by Gideon’s manipulation. Lin and Soln stand on the brink of losing everything. Only the strength of their wills and the courage of their friends stand in the way of Gideon’s plans for revenge.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jul 5, 2023
• ISBN: 9781312370753

Book preview

Chapter One

Lin.

Lin.

LIN!

Lin woke, more rested than she had been in years. She couldn’t remember dreaming. No fear or anger clutched her heart. She rested on a warm, soft bed, surrounded by silence.

Something was wrong.

Silence. Something she hadn’t experienced in a long time. No matter how well she could lock down her mind and keep others from prying into her personal business, complete silence was foreign to her. Yet, it wasn’t the silence she understood as wrong. The absence of other minds was part of it, of course. Something more was at play.

She sat up on the bed, which creaked under her, breaking the quiet. The room was plain, with a small sink in one corner and a stowed commode nearby. On the wall across from her was a wardrobe, which stood empty and dark, giving her no clue who normally occupied the space. The room lacked decoration or character, as visually silent as her mind.

Soln, Lin muttered aloud.

Though she couldn’t hear anything beyond the physical sounds around her, Lin was certain she heard Soln call to her in her dreamless sleep. His voice woke her from her much-needed slumber with an urgent, plaintive sensation. She couldn’t hear him anymore, which chilled her into a deep shiver.

Lin reached out, searching for any sign of her bother. Several seconds ticked by before she latched on to his essence. Soln was still alive, but distant. She thought of the times she travelled to Chinjoul with Anzel, her connection with her brother separated by light years. They could always sense one another’s well-being, but they couldn’t communicate over such a vast distance. If she was still on Covinrosk, she suspected Soln was not. He was beyond the reach of her mental voice.

Lin gripped the edge of the bed, her body stiff. No, she thought. It’s too quiet. I can’t hear anyone. Anything.

While Soln felt distance, she wasn’t entirely certain she could hear him if he was in the next room. The silence in her head was so prevalent, so powerful, she wondered if her mind was broken. On one hand, she welcomed the idea of shedding the burden, but on the other, her powers being gone meant a loss of control. She couldn’t hear or manipulate other minds and she had no idea who could be spying on her. She couldn’t protect her secrets.

Lin launched herself from the bed, turning toward the door. She got no further than a single, panicked step, when the door opened, revealing the man who chased her into the forest. She blinked, pulling back, her leg bumping against the edge of the bed.

It’s all right, he said, pausing and shaking his head. No, wait… That’s a lie. It’s not all right. But you’re safe. I suppose you have questions. He spoke in Free, with the ease and carelessness of someone who never spoke any other language.

A bandage covered the spot on the man’s head where Lin whacked him with a stone. The dressing was fresh, clean. Someone tended to him recently. He also wore fresh clothes, untouched by the forest dirt and snow he fell into when she knocked him unconscious.

Lin balled her hands into fists. He was right. She did have many questions and they all fought in her head for the chance to be aired first. Words were Soln’s thing though. She wanted to slug the strange man in the face and make a run for it, questions be tigwha.

The man sighed and leaned against the frame of the open door, folding his arms. You’re not a prisoner. You want to leave, you can go. You’re not going to help anyone alone though, so why not stick around and listen to what we have to say?

Lin narrowed her eyes, but she let her shoulders droop, and she sighed. His promise she wasn’t a prisoner assured her in a way she hadn’t expected. She frowned, wondering whether more than his words and casual demeanor put her at ease. The last thing she remembered before going unconscious was a whispered word. Sleep. If he was responsible, the man standing before her possessed powers as well. Dangerous, strong powers.

Who are you? she asked, responding in Free. Soln and she tended to use Kaanishian between them, but since they were rescued by Griel, she found herself using Free a lot more. The language was easy enough, but she wasn’t as comfortable with it as Davorlo was.

She already knew his name. Davorlo Shul, according to Griel. Davorlo and Cassen Shul, somehow related to the mysterious Tollis she spoke to ages ago before Encary Moon blew up. Davorlo, the man she hit in the head with a stone before she passed out in the snow.

The man nodded. Davorlo Shul, he replied, shifting his stance, and dropping his protective arms. But you mean more than that. We wanted you both together before we told you everything. Looks like that won’t happen. How’s your head, by the way?

Lin touched her head, expecting to find a wound like Davorlo’s. All she felt was flesh and hair, everything where it should be. No, he meant the silence in her mind. Her suspicions of his involvement deepened.

You… what did you do to me? Lin asked, fearing his power and curious about his ability at the same time. She was certain she knocked him out cold. How could he recover so quickly and take her by surprise?

Calmed your mind. He smiled and pushed away from the door frame, motioning to her. You’ll be your old self soon. You needed a break though. To heal. To listen. Come on. Big guy wants to chat.

Big guy? Lin sneered as she followed Davorlo. The nickname made snakes crawl under her skin. Big Guy, was the kind of thing Lord Beijil would use to refer to himself. Her opinion of anyone with such a moniker sunk lower at the thought of the Chinjoulian who ruined her life.

Davorlo glanced back at her as he made his way down the corridor. Sorry, guess you’ve heard his name already. Tollis Shul. We spend so much time protecting him, I forgot I don’t need to from you.

Lin snorted, tired of the misdirects and lack of solid information. You want me to listen? Talk, she grumped, trailing Davorlo. Stop wasting my time.

I know you’re worried about Soln, Davorlo replied, his voice low. I can’t make any promises, but Cass is with him. She’ll keep an eye on him.

Cass? Lin asked, hating she couldn’t simply pick the information she needed from the guy’s mind. His head was thick as cement, impenetrable by her weakened mind. Just the way they want it, she thought.

Cassen Shul, my sister, Davorlo provided as if the information was something everyone except Lin knew. You met her at the hospital.

Right. Her. Another Shul, Lin thought. So, I take it you’re all related. You two and that Tollis guy? What’s he? Another brother?

Their father, a new voice said.

Davorlo smirked, turning into an opening along the corridor. Lin approached and peered inside, spotting not one, but two new people. The man who spoke was older than Davorlo, with sallow eyes and graying, dark hair. He looked like a person who had been through far too much but wasn’t ready to give up the fight.

Next to the man was an older woman, lighter in complexion, with a similar build and facial structure to the man and Davorlo. And scent. All three shared a common scent, which triggered memories of Lin’s earliest years and visits from her father. Lin was surprised she didn’t notice it earlier. She swallowed and took a step back, pulling her thoughts back into the present.

Please, come in, Tollis said, motioning to Lin.

Davorlo already entered the room and pointed to a ring of chairs hastily gathered next to one another. Tollis and the woman occupied two, leaving one empty for Lin. She didn’t have any intention of sitting so close to strangers and decided she would hover in the doorway instead.

I’m fine he… Lin paused, her eyes sweeping the rest of the room as she planted herself against the doorjamb. They weren’t the only people in the room.

The gradually aged Shuls grouped around a bed, occupied by Griel. Lin blinked. The Protectorate officer who followed Soln and her from Alphis and saved their hides when their ship tore itself apart, lay prone before them. A bandage curled around his head, covering about a third of his face.

What happened? Lin found herself asking before she could stop the words.

She didn’t want to care what happened to Griel. He had been useful, even fun, but that time was over. If the strangers weren’t acting so welcoming to her, she would have thought they were responsible for his condition. Though, without being able to read their minds, she decided they still could have, and she wasn’t about to start trusting them.

He was shot in the head, Davorlo volunteered.

Lin growled, taking a step toward the others. By who? She didn’t understand her rage. Griel was supposed to be another distraction, someone to use and throw away. She burned at the news, though, ready to rip apart whomever was responsible, even if it was the people sitting before her.

The older woman stood and went to Lin, placing a hand on her arm. That’ll do no good, she said quietly.

Lin’s anger fizzled, gone as quickly as it came. She took a breath, a knot forming in her stomach briefly before melting again. The woman’s hand fell away from her arm, and Lin wilted, defeated.

I just… Lin stammered, shaking her head. I just want to know what’s going on. Who are you people? Where’s Soln? Who shot Griel? Why is any of this happening?

She faded with each question, as if they had been propping her up, keeping her going. The woman put a hand on Lin’s back and guided her to the open chair. Lin’s knees weakened and she fell into the seat, eyes locked on the slow, regular rise and fall of Griel’s chest.

Tollis sighed and shook his head slowly. For all our powers, we didn’t see any of this. I’m sorry. I wish it was different.

Lin looked at her hands. Her knuckles were raw from her fight with the wall on Griel’s ship. The wounds were clean, but the pink flesh was a reminder of everything which had gone wrong most of her life.

What do you know about it, she muttered, not expecting any of them to have an answer. Lin doubted anyone had answers for her.

More than you might expect, the woman said, settling next to Lin. I’m Jassiul, by the way. Met your brother on Alphis.

Soln. Lin frowned and looked at the woman. Soln was so certain the woman was the end-all solution to their problems. That she would lead to something, whether it was their father or the end of their run from the Protectorate. Instead, everything got worse since Alphis. Much worse.

Where is Soln? Lin asked, her eyes going back to the injured Griel. The last time she saw her brother, he was in his own sick bed suffering from withdrawal and inhalation sickness, but he was recovering. Something else happened to him. Something she was certain would make her angry all over again.

Best we can tell, the Protectorate picked him up, Davorlo said, returning to his default folded arm lean.

Fenth, Lin hissed, baring her teeth at Davorlo.

He was so cavalier about the Protectorate. The people her brother and she had been running from for too many months.

Lin flexed her claws, imaging the rush of blood from Davorlo’s neck as she ripped into his flesh. Before she could act, Jassiul placed a warm hand on her arm, and the anger ebbed again. She looked at the older woman, brow furrowed. The simple action was so powerful. Not even Soln could calm her so quickly.

Like I said, Cass is with him, Davorlo said, continuing. He’s safe enough, for now.

Tollis stood, stepping to Griel’s bedside, and folding his hands behind his back. This isn’t how any of it should have gone. He looked pointedly at Davorlo, a frown creasing his graying face. We didn’t see any of this. Encary, Covinrosk, Soln… Tollis and Jassiul spoke with the same Free cadence Davorlo used, irritating Lin’s ears as she tried to follow without the aid of their minds.

Jassiul’s hand fell away from Lin’s arm and the older woman sighed. We’re used to operating with more knowledge. Makes planning easier. I’m afraid we’re at a bit of a loss.

Once Jassiul’s hand was gone a spark of Lin’s fire reignited. We’re… I’m going after Soln. No more wasting time.

She stood, reenergized with the certainty of her plan. Though she knew what she wanted to do, she didn’t have any idea where to start. Rushing out of the room into the wilderness beyond, seemed easy on the surface, but she quickly realized she didn’t even know if they were still on Covinrosk. Lin couldn’t feel any movement or hear the all too familiar hum of engines, but that only told her they weren’t in space.

You’re not going alone, Tollis replied, turning to look at her. He nodded his head at Davorlo. He’s going with.

I don’t think so. Lin shook her head.

Davorlo was virtually a stranger, one whom she traded blows with a short time before. She wasn’t about to spend any time alone with him.

You don’t have a choice, Jassiul replied.

Jassiul was smiling as if she offered Lin a plate of cookies and a warm cup of tea. Lin reflexively searched for the intent behind the woman’s words but could sense nothing malicious. She still couldn’t feel anything outside her own mind. Lin shook her head, unsuccessfully trying to rid herself of her brain fog.

You should explain. Davorlo nodded to Tollis and pushed away from the wall. It’ll make things easier.

Explain what? Lin’s focus returned to Tollis who supposedly held the answers but was slow to provide them. What the fenth is going on here?

Tollis shifted back to look at Griel, who remained blissfully unconscious. A vague hum touched the back of Lin’s mind, spreading into her gut, making her wonder if she managed to shake something loose. She sensed whatever Tollis was supposed to share wasn’t easy for him, yet his secrets couldn’t remain hidden forever. Lin sympathized to the point of nearly spilling her own secrets, though she couldn’t fathom why the urge grabbed her. She tensed her jaw to keep her thoughts unspoken.

Tollis saved her a confession by speaking. It all goes back to your father. And your mother. His voice dropped to a whisper at the second part.

Lin took in the faces around her, each of them showing loss. Those expressions reached into Lin, twisting her heart. The feeling wasn’t her own acute missing of the woman she never actually knew, but a mix of the other’s feelings as well. Lin’s mind was waking up at the wrong time. She gritted her teeth and curled her arms around herself, wanting to dig out the emotions. Soln was the priority, and these people were keeping her from finding him.

At the same time, they knew about her parents. She didn’t have to work hard to guess they knew a lot more than anyone else, maybe even the Eigers. How is this is supposed to help? she asked, growing impatient.

They worked with us, Tollis said, glossing over Lin’s question. When we lost your mother, it was a significant blow. We tried to help your father as much as he was helping us. But we made too many mistakes. We should have brought you to Encary years ago.

Tigwha straight, you should have, Lin snarled. She shifted and glanced at the door. Too late now though. And the longer you fenth around, the further away Soln gets. So, if you have a point, make it.

We’re not your enemy. We’re also done making mistakes, Jassiul said. That’s why Dav is going with you. When Griel is ready, he’ll join you.

Lin pressed her mouth closed and looked at the unconscious man. Griel saved Soln and her from certain death. He was the one who connected the dots, placing suspicion on the people surrounding her. She plotted with him to watch each other’s backs, even though he wasn’t supposed to be anything more than a one-night stand and a potential risk to their freedom.

How do you expect me to trust you? Lin asked, her eyes fixed on the rise and fall of Griel’s chest. 

Jassiul stood again and held out one of her aged hands, saying nothing. Lin’s attention was drawn to the motion. She hesitated but instinctively knew what the woman wanted. Slowly, Lin reached out, placing her much larger palm against Jassiul’s.

The room disappeared, replaced by warm darkness. Lin drew in a deep breath and looked at herself. A glowing rope of golden light wrapped around her body, curling around her arm from her shoulder to her hand. The bright line connected to Jassiul, wrapping around the woman in the same manner it did Lin.

Following the light’s path, Lin saw it wind its way away from Jassiul and toward Tollis, binding him as well. Lin’s eyes travelled the bright line, finding it wound from Tollis toward Davorlo, and then beyond him to some point she couldn’t see. Another line led from Tollis into obscurity, connecting with yet another line that led away from Jassiul. A separate, much dimmer rope curled out of the darkness and wrapped around Griel, its color more silver than the brilliant gold of the line around Lin and the Shuls.

Lin didn’t need to ask what it meant. She already knew the Shuls were related, but the golden line around her spoke the truth Tollis refused to give. She was related to them as well. If she could have turned to look behind her, she knew she would see a line of gold leading toward Soln, wherever he was. These people weren’t to be feared. They were family. They were there to help. At least they wanted her to believe as much.

Gasping, Lin pulled her hand away and stumbled back. The room came into clarity, and she fell against Davorlo, who caught her before she could hit the floor.

You’re… Lin wasn’t sure how to finish her thought. Though the vision showed she was related to them, she wasn’t certain how and was afraid they would tell her. Part of her also feared they were tricking her for some unknown purpose.

Family, Jassiul said, providing nothing more.

If that’s not enough to trust us, we don’t have anything else, Tollis added with a shrug. We want the same thing. Soln back, Gossin, if he’s out there, finding the people responsible for all this. Let’s help each other.

Lin pulled away from Davorlo and looked at each of them in turn. Jassiul with a sad kindness in her eyes, Tollis with a hardened determination, and Davorlo, ready to attend to the task at hand. The assurance they gave her might not have been much, but it was enough for the time being. Until she got Soln back.

Lin nodded slowly, moving passed the Shuls to Griel’s side. The strange silver line echoed her in mind, but she filed the image away for later. Will he be all right? she asked.

The worst is over for him, Jassiul assured her. He’ll be back on his feet soon.

Lin nodded again and turned toward the door. Let’s go then. Soln’s waiting.

Chapter Two

Soln sat on a hard transport seat, his head bowed, hands secured behind his back. His temples throbbed from his encounter with the Protectorate in the hospital parking lot, and he kept his eyes closed as much as he could. When he did open them, he focused on the medal hanging on a chain around his neck. A constant reminder his father was out there somewhere, waiting for Lin and Soln to find him. Unless their father was dead, the medal becoming a symbol of a meaningless search.

For the last several hours he tried to call to his sister, but she hadn’t responded. Her mind was strangely quiet, at peace in a way he hadn’t felt in years. Part of him was happy she found contentment. The rest of him needed her, fighting her way through the Protectorate officers who took him prisoner.

He gazed at his trousers, glad Dr. Ophnau suggested he change before attempting his escape from the hospital. His clothes were scuffed with the remains of white chemicals, meant to melt the layer of ice covering the hospital parking lot. Some of it got on his hands and face, and his skin itched annoyingly. With his hands bound, he could do nothing but try to distract himself from the irritation.

The guards who detained him, left him alone in a cavernous transport. Seats lined the walls, ending on one side with a thick door, and on the other with the pilot’s compartment. Soln was chained to one of the seats near the center, away from easy escape either direction. The Protectorate may not have known what they were dealing with in capturing him, but they weren’t taking any chances.

Soln sighed and closed his eyes, reaching out to Lin once more. Lin. He waited a beat, listening for her.

Lin. Another pause between the pulsing throb in his head. Soln sensed nothing but the same quiet peace filling her mind for the last few hours.

LIN! he mentally shouted in frustration, slamming against the side of the transport. He instantly regretted it as pain shot through his skull. Soln crumbled forward, wincing.

As the sound of his body slam echoed around the compartment, the doors opened, letting in the waning remains of daylight. He looked toward the gap, squinting at the silhouettes standing outside. Anger bubbled in his chest. Soln pulled at the chains holding him, certain if he put enough effort into it, he could snap them and fight his way out of his captivity.

Don’t. An unfamiliar voice touched his mind.

The mental voice was cold, but feminine. A commanding voice Soln was compelled to obey. He blinked and tried to focus through the pain on the people in front of him. The voice came from one of them. The speaker owned a strength which rivaled Lin’s, and if he didn’t know better, he would have thought it was his sister.

The new person also held a calmness Lin could never achieve, and an edge which buzzed in his head, like a knife sawing into his brain. Before long, he realized the pain wasn’t the voice touching his mind and adding to his physical discomfort but coming from the speaker. She was also suffering.

He’s secure? a man asked in Alphisian as he stepped into the transport’s interior.

Soln didn’t recognize the man, and it obviously wasn’t the woman who spoke to his mind. The man wore a thick coat several sizes too big for him. Under the coat, the rest of his clothes were too large as well. Despite his informal appearance, he held himself like a man in charge of the situation.

Yes sir, another officer answered, nodding toward Soln. Chained to the bulkhead, just as instructed.

The man looked at Soln, wrinkled his nose, then pointed toward him. Officer Shul, check his bindings.

Yes sir, a woman said, stepping up beside the man.

The woman was in Protectorate uniform, a riot helmet with the visor down, covering her face. Though she spoke to Soln’s mind, he sensed a wall when he tried to reach her. Whatever she felt or thought, remained as hidden as her face. Soln took a shivering breath, more concerned about the woman than the man giving orders. Something about her was dangerous.

Soln bit his lip to hold back a snarl, his thoughts turning to Griel. Did the Protectorate officer who was supposed to be helping them, turn on them instead? Did Griel hand him over to this intimidating woman? Soln already blamed himself for the idea of having Griel follow them, especially after Lin started getting a little too close to the man, and Griel to her. Much too close.

Officer Shul approached Soln, holding a large gun at rest across her chest. I’m sorry. Play along, she whispered into his mind, her words apologetic but still cold.

Her closeness confirmed she was the one reaching his mind. Before he could question anything, she shoved him forward with the butt of her gun and grabbed his chains, tugging on them. Soln grunted, pain erupting between his shoulder blades with the press of the gun. He wasn’t sure what he was supposed to be playing along with. All he could see was the woman’s sincerity in carrying out her orders.

She released him and turned back to the man giving the orders. All clear, sir. He’s ready for transport.

As she spoke, her voice touched Soln’s mind. I’ve loosened your bindings. Get ready to run.

Soln narrowed his eyes. He felt along the chains, and flexed his wrists, testing them. They were looser, but she was a stranger with a cold, silent mind, and he wasn’t about to blindly trust her. Without Lin by his side, he had to be more careful about his choices. Still, a chance to escape, even into what could be a trap, was better than remaining in Protectorate custody.

The man moved toward him. His booted feet thumped on the decking, and he held his hands behind his back. Soln couldn’t see any weapons on him, but the newcomer radiated cruelty. And something else. A faint scent Soln remembered but