Time thief, p.23
Time Thief, page 23
My father spoke in my ear. Loud and audible. “Do you feel it, Max?”
Nash’s fingers went still.
I saw his eyes on mine in the twilight the night before when the heat of his body alone kept me warm.
I gave myself over to the slip, to the eclipse, to all that I’d hidden from. I stood in two places at once, in two bodies at once.
Her hands came along mine, the little hands of the girl I’d once been, on fire with power I had never felt before and hadn’t felt since.
Daggers of heat cut through my skin, my bones, my soul. Cut me open so everything I’d buried inside poured out.
Black snapped over the sun and a ring of light pierced the moon’s edges.
“Do you feel it, Max!” Dad’s voice boomed in my ear.
Heat rippled down my spine. I felt it.
My voice came out guttural and low. “The gods aren’t here to protect you any longer, Prophet.”
I opened myself to the light inside.
The Prophet’s body jerked straight and rigid like he’d been struck by lightning.
Every ounce of power that had sucked away the lives of my entire village exploded from me. This time it all poured into the Prophet.
In fear and in shame, I had locked myself away so deeply inside that I couldn’t reach it or feel it. The moment in the past when I’d killed the villagers collided with the present in an explosion of power.
The Prophet choked, his body quaking. His skin flushed a red so deep it bordered on purple. A scream tore from the depths of me. It felt like the power ripped me open. But I let it all out, every last drop I could muster.
On the ground, Nash struggled onto his arms. The relief of seeing him alive only fueled me.
“Die!” I shrieked and gave myself to the endless energy inside.
The Prophet fought me, but I could feel his will bending and wilting and collapsing in on itself.
“Max …” Piercey reached across the ground for me. He shook his head. “Don’t.”
Even after all he’d seen today, all he’d seen when we connected, Piercey still didn’t want me to kill the Prophet. His voice croaked as he begged me again to stop. Then, I felt his urging to let him in. To listen to him with the neural link.
I didn’t. I shut him out. It didn’t matter if this was right or wrong. It didn’t matter if there was a better way to free the Valley or if in the long run this would only bring more chaos. There was only one way to make sure the Prophet never hurt my people ever again, and that was to kill him.
I gave myself over to the power that turned me into Eclipse, the Soul Eater, and accepted pure destruction—blind and all-consuming rage.
The Prophet coughed blood into the air. My nostrils twitched as I poured my power into his body.
“Okay.” He clawed at his chest. “Okay! I’ll spare them. All of them!”
The power rushed out of me.
“Release them.” The Prophet doubled over and spewed another mouthful of blood. “What are you waiting for? Release the prisoners.”
I struggled to finish him off and contain his power. He was losing the fight, but I wasn’t sure I was that close to finishing him off.
The lead disciple sprinted down the hill toward the warriors who had finally risen from their bow. “Release the prisoners! Release them now!”
“Stop.” Piercey coughed and pounded his hand against the ground. “Stop it now, Max! He’s surrendering. This isn’t the right way to deal with him.”
This was the man who’d starved villagers until they succumbed to his power. Used the roads meant for trade and safe passage to send out bands of warriors to pillage and leave us all destitute. Who warred against us until every last village fell. This man carved his name into Nash’s spine and left him permanently scarred.
He’d killed me over and over again when I slipped to the eclipse.
“He must die.” My voice boomed with my power.
Piercey couldn’t understand. He’d spent too long on top of that mountain, grown too powerful. There was no order, no justice in this Valley. Only power.
The gates of the village groaned loud enough for me to hear. My heart caught. Children sprinted out. Men and women followed behind them, helping our elderly. Our warriors raced to our innocents, and where once they clashed with the enemy in sprays of blood, they now wrapped their arms around family, clinging to one another in the red-stained grass.
Leif sprinted for the crowd, stumbled, and fell to the ground. He shoved himself back to his feet and ran with wavering legs for his family. Wren chased after him. Arn emerged from the crowd, carrying Rune as he sprinted for his husband. Safe. Finally, truly, safe.
A sob slipped from my chest.
Nash looked at me and stole my attention for a moment. I knew then that if he asked me to stop, I would. We’d planned this together. Were in this together. I wanted to kill the Prophet. I couldn’t trust him, especially with his ego now wounded. But if Nash, of all people, thought I should spare him, I wouldn’t have the heart to continue.
His resolute eyes stared into mine. “He’ll come for your people. He’ll come for Rune and Elsie.” Nash nodded. “Do it.”
The last barrier of my power, that I didn’t even know I’d held on to, fell away. The Prophet slid back on his heels in a gale of my force and then slammed onto his back. I focused on containing his power that burst free as he finally started to die.
Veins bulged in Piercey’s neck. “This makes you no better than him. Just one powerful person deciding the fate of everyone else.”
I didn’t need to be better. I needed my people to live. If that meant I had to be a demon, so be it. So fucking be it.
A voice barely reached me through the chaos of my power. A tone I would now recognize in any voice.
“Max.”
My eyes shot to the right and my heart seized in my body.
Flare glared at me. And in her arms, she held a small child bundled in a blanket.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Little curls fluttered in the breeze, catching on the blanket.
The door within me slammed closed on my power. The Prophet stumbled up and stared with fear tightening his face. He shook as he wiped the blood from his mouth.
All I could see was the child in Flare’s arms.
“Elsie.” I gasped. “Give her to me.” I reached forward, pleading. They were supposed to be safe at the cabin. Flare must have found them.
Nash’s eyes fixed on his daughter, fingers digging into the earth. Dangerous, wild rage flashed in his eyes. His muscles strained and veins popped. He climbed to his knees and then to his feet and stomped one wavering step after another.
“Flare!” His hoarse voice roared through the air.
Fear widened Flare’s eyes even though Nash would be no match for her, especially in his state. His rage was convincing, though, like he might muster as much power as I had, even though he couldn’t.
Flare held Elsie tighter and backed up. “Stay there.” Her eyes snapped to me. “You had better stop him.”
I ran to Nash and pushed back against his chest. “Wait!” I grunted as he pressed against me, intent on Flare. “Nash!”
He stopped but a growl ripped from his chest, buzzing against my hands. “Do not touch my child!”
“I’ll get her,” I said. “I promise.”
His body shook with a rage that emanated from him like my own power. “Why isn’t Elsie moving?”
“I sedated her,” Flare said. “She’s fine.”
“It’s dangerous to sedate a child,” I yelled.
“Undo what you did,” Flare said. “You can have Elsie back then.”
The grass rustled behind us. Val had managed to get her knees beneath her and Piercey wobbled on unsteady legs.
“I’ll kill you,” Nash said, his voice eerily calm now. “I’ll find you in the next life and kill you there, too. You’re dead.”
Flare turned her nose up. “You primitive animals have no understanding of what the real world is or what we have made it into.” Flare narrowed her eyes. “And no one out there in my world understands what this world means to you. They haven’t seen it like I have. I’m trying to save you.”
“You’re delusional.” I twisted for her. “You’ve kidnapped a little girl. Look at yourself.”
“It’s only a matter of time before someone from my world realizes what you’ve done and fixes it. I made it back into my avatar before you shut us out of the system. But if anyone realizes what has happened, they will end your world in an instant.”
Time moved so much quicker in my world than theirs. Since Dr. Henderson was still in our world, she wouldn’t be able to alert anyone. We may have had more time than Flare wanted to admit. But why didn’t she just go back to her world and deal with us herself? Could she even get out now that she’d lost control? Maybe she was trapped here just like we were.
“Are you listening, Max? You foolish, foolish girl.” I could hear Dr. Henderson’s tone buried beneath the mask of Flare’s voice. “It wouldn’t be worth it for them to try to regain control of this world. It could corrupt the data. They already considered scrapping the project. You’ll lose everyone you love. Good luck reconnecting with them after you wake up with no memory of this life.”
I didn’t want her to be right, but I couldn’t deny what she’d said. Had anything I’d done actually helped my people? I looked down to the blood soaking into the grass where slain warriors from both sides gave up their lives. Beside me, Nash still breathed heavily from being strangled.
In my first two lives, I’d destroyed everything. I was doing the same thing again.
“I can’t give up.” I said it to myself more than I did to Flare. “You’re hurting the people I love. How can I ever give up?”
“Your fight is pointless. What did you think would happen?” Flare asked. “Do you think we’re powerless? We made this world. Either you give me back control or you destroy it all.”
“Maybe it isn’t so simple to turn us off when you no longer have access to our simulation.” I stared at Elsie. “Maybe that is why you’d be so desperate as to steal a child.”
“Nash said I feared you. Well, he’s right. I do fear you. We all should fear you, because you’re out of control. It doesn’t matter that you know you can’t win a fight. You’ll raze everything to the ground trying to win. Piercey tried to speak reason to you but you’re unreasonable.”
I couldn’t deny what she said, but I wouldn’t let it break me like it had in the all-white room. “All I want is for us to have what every other world has. We don’t deserve to be experimented on.”
Flare clutched Elsie tighter. She didn’t want me speaking of that which she’d forbidden. “Prophet.”
He looked at her with his face pale.
“This demon’s blood will quench the god’s thirst. There’s no need to take the rest.” Flare patted Elsie’s back softly. “You freed them, so let them stay free. All of them. Take only Max.”
The Prophet’s inky eyes turned to my own.
“If she resists, I’ll take the child home to the gods.” Flare’s voice showed no hint of emotion. “Stop anyone who tries to follow me. I’ll return the child once the demon is dead.”
If I tried to take Elsie from Flare, it could hurt the girl. Did I feel confident that I could save her without risking her life? Besides, I literally hadn’t been able to die because I was going to die during the eclipse. If that wasn’t confirmation that it was unavoidable, then I didn’t know what was.
Really, I’d accomplished my mission. I’d freed my people. Now, I could die in peace, like I always knew I would.
All feeling drained from me. This was it. What my life had led to. I almost felt relieved to get it over with.
“No,” Nash whispered.
Flare whistled and a horse galloped from the Prophet’s campground. She placed Elsie’s little body on the horse, climbed up, and held the girl once more.
“Oh, and don’t be foolish, dear girl. I’m linked with the Prophet. We can communicate. If you harm him or try to escape, I’ll be forced to hurt her to save this world from you.” Flare held my eyes a moment longer and then turned away. There was nothing I could do to stop her. I couldn’t fight, not with Elsie in danger.
Flare faded from my mind. The Prophet and Piercey and Val faded. All the people and the disciples watching us were gone. It was only Nash and me.
“Nash,” I said.
He shook his head, refusing to look at me.
“Nash.” My hands slid up his arms softly. “Elsie needs you to be smart about this.”
His jaw muscles bunched. His nostrils flared.
“I can’t fight what’s already happened. It’s already happened to me so many times. I always die in the eclipse. Look at me. Say goodbye to me.”
Nash’s amber eyes locked onto mine and there was no gentleness there. No softness to be found. He had a warrior’s eyes. “How dare you give up so easily?”
My voice got stuck in my throat.
“Fight for yourself like you fight for your people and your world. Max.” He clutched my shoulders and shook me. “Fight!”
“She has your daughter.”
“So find a way to save you both.”
“I can’t fight this, Nash. Neither can you. It’s time to say goodbye.”
I rose on my toes and pressed my lips to his, but he took my face in his hands and pulled me back.
“I’m not giving up,” he said.
“I’ve ruined everything, Nash. Can’t you see that? I don’t know what I’m doing. I’ve been hot-headed, blinded by rage, too afraid to admit what deep down I’ve always known. I’m powerless.”
“You’re not. You could kill the Prophet right now.”
“I don’t want the power to kill.” Hot tears rushed from my eyes. “What kind of power is that? I bring darkness to our world when I want to bring light.”
Pain twisted Nash’s face. “If you think your power is only good for killing, then find out what you can really do. You’re not Eclipse.” He pressed his forehead against mine and whispered so only I could hear. “Find your true name.”
Piercey walked up to where I could see him in the corner of my eye. “Give us a second to think, okay? You’re not dying.”
“Flare could kill Elsie at any time.” I wiped my face and stepped away from Nash.
“Then she would lose her leverage,” Piercey said.
I stared at Nash. “She still has plenty of leverage over me. Who can defy the gods?” I smiled sadly. “Apparently not me.” I looked at the Prophet. “Give me time to say my piece. I won’t resist, as long as you free my people and don’t hurt anyone else.”
“Max!” Wren rushed for me with Leif a few steps behind her. What was he doing leaving his family’s side when he just got them back?
There was no stopping them this time. I could tell by the look on Leif’s face. They both came to my side.
“What’s happening?” Wren gripped my hand.
I couldn’t bring myself to speak the words.
Then, Nash pushed past me, chasing after Flare’s retreating form. “Do the gods know you’ve lost yourself to your power?” His voice raised. “Turn and face me. Do they know?”
Flare stopped, but she didn’t come closer. “I’m sorry it came to this, Nash. I really was always fond of you.”
“Nash.” My voice croaked. “Stop. This is dangerous.”
“You said you’re trying to save young worlds,” Nash said. “Your people are supposed to be better. So what happened to you?”
She was quiet for a moment. “I’ve lived with perfect for so long now. There’s something real in your world. Something in your humanity that shines only in tragedy and war. Something my people lost long ago when we evolved beyond death and strife.” Her voice quieted. “Perfect can’t stay perfect in a broken world. I think I’ve found who I was meant to be, if not for all the perfect I’ve lived in.”
She gripped the reins and took off in a gallop.
Nash’s jaw muscles flexed. “If her people are so perfect, they must have a place for broken monsters like her. They need to know that’s where she belongs.”
“We have no way of telling them. Please, don’t get yourself killed for no reason.”
Nash clutched the back of my head in his strong grasp and looked down into my eyes. “You’re more than enough reason, Max.” He kissed me hard and desperate. “I won’t let you go. And I won’t let that woman ruin our world and her own. She’s a threat to everything she touches. Don’t surrender. We need to figure out how we’ll save Elsie, not waste time on sacrificing you.”
“She told us how to save her. The fight is over.”
What did he think we could do? Flare was already disappearing with little Elsie. I listened to their heartbeats until they grew too faint to hear.
Nash ripped away from me and strode for the Prophet. “Flare will use you to kill Max because she’s afraid of her. Something about Max threatens her, not just in this world, but the next one. You must know this is true after what you’ve seen.”
The Prophet said nothing.
“You’ve seen something, too. You want to kill Max, too, because you’re afraid as well.” Nash met him head-on. “But what you’re too arrogant to see is that Flare has played you for a fool all this time. Once Max is dead, she’ll kill you. She’ll give everything you have to the Flatlander’s Prophet.”
“You’re lying,” the Prophet said.
“I’m a good spy.” Nash didn’t waver. “Flare told me she would choose one of you. You’re too ruthless to lead a nation. She wants a more reasonable ruler. You’re a blade she’s using and then will throw away.”
I stepped for Nash, but Leif caught me, holding me back. “Let the boy speak,” he said.
“How will you keep yourself alive after Max almost killed you in front of your best warriors and demons? You surrendered and freed her people.” Nash tilted his head. “Will sacrificing her be enough? Will it be when they all know it is really Flare killing Max? That it is only because of a little girl that Max willingly lowered herself for your blade.”
