Threads Of The Devoured

Shadows of the past

CHAPTER 2: SHADOWS OF THE PAST

"Hand over the cylinder, Eira." The man in the pristine suit extended an open palm toward her.

"You will have to kill me first." Eira backed against the bloodstained tiles of the laboratory wall.

"That can be arranged." The man smiled a cold and empty smile. "My name is Lysander. I orchestrate the Vanguard. We do not leave loose ends."

Eira shot a venomous glare at her former companion. "Tell him, Vane. Tell him I do not even know what is on this drive."

Vane refused to meet her gaze. "I just brought her here to clear my ledger. I am done. Let me walk away."

"Your debt is forgiven, Vane." Lysander did not look away from Eira. "But nobody walks away from the Architect. Stay where you are."

"This was not the deal." Vane took a trembling step toward the heavy iron door.

"The deal is whatever I say it is." Lysander snapped his fingers.

Two Vanguard guards stepped out from the shadows of the laboratory. They raised their heavy rifles and aimed them directly at Vane.

"Wait." Vane raised his hands in panic. "I gave you the girl. I did exactly what you asked."

"And I am grateful." Lysander turned his full attention back to Eira. "The Architect has searched the remnants of Tenebrous for that exact artifact. Give it to me now."

"Why does he want it?" Eira gripped the cold metal of the relic. She pressed it tight against her ribs. "What does it actually do?"

Lysander drew his blade. The steel hummed with a low, unnatural frequency. "It is the key to the Sunken Citadel. The Architect needs it to breach the final ward. Hand it over, and I will let your friend live."

Kael scoffed. He shifted his weight and raised his fists. Shadows coiled around his bare forearms. "You are not in a position to negotiate."

"I am not negotiating." Lysander lunged forward.

He moved faster than a human should. Kael intercepted the strike. Sparks cascaded as shadow met enchanted steel. The force of the blow shattered the wooden floorboards beneath their feet. Eira stumbled backward. She hit the stone wall hard.

The relic in her hands grew incredibly hot. The intricate brass dials spun wildly on their own.

"Eira, run." Kael pushed forward. He parried another blinding strike from Lysander.

She pushed off the wall. She bolted for the arched doorway. Two more masked operatives dropped from the ceiling rafters to block her path. They raised their heavy crossbows.

Eira did not stop. She channeled her latent energy directly into the relic. If it was a key, she needed it to open a door right now. She twisted the central dial.

A blinding pulse of violet light erupted from the device. The shockwave threw the operatives against the stone pillars. Lysander and Kael broke apart to avoid the blast. The light swirled around Eira. It formed a violent vortex of tearing space.

"Stop her." Lysander threw a silver knife straight at her chest.

The blade froze in midair. The gravitational pull of the vortex caught the weapon and crushed it into dust. Kael sprinted toward her. He reached out his hand.

"Take it." Eira reached back.

Their fingers brushed. The vortex collapsed inward with a deafening crack. Silence slammed back into the room. Eira blinked against the sudden darkness. The cold stone floor was gone. She was standing on damp, black sand. Ash fell steadily from a crimson sky.

She looked down at her empty hands. The relic was gone. And so was Kael.

A low, rumbling laugh echoed behind her.

"Welcome home, little spark."

She spun around. The Architect stood waiting in the falling ash.