Ascendant Saga Collection: Sci-Fi Fantasy Techno Thriller Brandon Ellis (ebook reader for comics txt) 📖

blinked it away and eased. “We are here to fulfill our prophecies and wake up those in the Galaxy that have fallen into darkness.”

Bogle touched the crystallo fabrica on her chest. “Does this transmit my thoughts to you?”

Liberty tapped her head with her finger. “We are Atlantean, not Human. There’s a difference. We can hear thoughts. I can turn my psychic dial down for you, if you’d like.”

Bogle combed her fingers through her hair. “Yeah, don’t just turn it down. Turn it off.” To Bogle, mind-reading, soothsayers, and prophesy were all part of the same demonic bundle: heresy. She couldn’t listen, but not hear; hear, but not believe. They could talk all they liked, but she knew the word of the One True God and she planned to do right by Him.

For a fleeting instant, there was silence, and Bogle took a good look around. She was in a sanctuary. Trees, much like blue atlas cedars, their needles hued differently with a tint of blue, pink and orange, reached toward the top of the dome, along with reddish, gold palm trees, bearing an orange fruit the size of coconuts.

A butterfly, twice the normal height and width, dropped from a branch and fluttered past her. Its wings fanned Bogle’s face. She jerked back and stifled a soft yelp.

“We have many animals and insects here that are now extinct from where we came from.” Liberty reached inside her dress and pulled out a piece of what looked to be hard, white bread. “The last great deluge on Earth caused a mass end of life for many species.”

Liberty dropped the piece on the floor, then whistled. The bushes stirred and a cat—its body as big as a grizzly, fangs as long as her forearm—emerged. The creature padded up to Liberty and bumped its head against her outstretched hand, then gave her fingers a quick lick. A purr rose from the cat’s throat and it bent down, whisking the food into its mouth. It sat on its hind legs, sitting contently next to Liberty. “Meet Dakin.”

Bogle leaned as far back in her chair as her spine would allow without snapping her in two. “I...uh...those are called sabretooth tigers.”

Liberty leaned forward, cupping her hands. “I see. I call her only ‘Dakin.’ You may pet her, if it pleases you.”

“It doesn’t please me. In fact, it would please me if she were further from me.”

Liberty nodded and Dakin ambled around the back of her chair and stretched out, licking her paws. “Now, to why I summoned you and why Grenik Star saved you.” She gave Bogle a long, hard stare. “We’ve been waiting for you.”

Bogle didn’t know what to say, so she said nothing.

“According to our prophecies, you’re here to help us. A great wrong is with us now and it’s bleak. The prophecy states: ‘A pure and clear Being, a phantom of the deep, dark cosmos will fall from the stars and will bring the key to Atlantis Alta's survival. Three lords, three seeds, three contrary intentions will follow with thunder, lightning, and blood in the year 71,746. Much blood will be spilled.

“We are in the year 71,746.” Liberty gestured toward Bogle. “And here you arrive. And, here they arrive.”

“Who are they?” asked Bogle.

“To our east and west, our lands, cities, and people have been ravaged. The Kelhoons have already landed.” Liberty shook her head. “Then your race, the humans, send a forward guard in the form of their ‘Secret Space Program’ to grab our land. If these forces come down upon us, one after the other, we’re doomed. Though, if you help us, Katherine Bogle, the prophesy indicates we have a chance.”

Bogle shook her head and scratched her jaw, wondering why Grenik hadn’t spoken a word. She folded her arms across her chest. “We’re not in the year 71,746. We’re in the 21st century.” Even as she said it, she knew she sounded petulant and childish. Of course there were going to be different calendars in different planetary systems. It was just that this Liberty woman was off her rocker and she wanted to stop her talking. There were no modern prophets or invading forces or…Liberty’s words snagged in her brain. She was supposed to do something; save a people; make a difference. “Where is my name in that prophecy?”

“You are the pure and clear Being and you are the phantom, all which are meanings to your name; Katherine Bogle.”

Bogle hung her head. It was almost too much to hope for: that she would be destined for greatness. Which was how the Devil did his work. Yep. Speaking to her vanity. She’d almost been caught up in the lie. He was as cunning and conniving as Liberty was sweet and gentle.

“And,” continued Liberty. “You had a thought when you first entered these Temple Gardens. Would you like me to confirm that your crystallo fabrica is indeed working?” She held a wry smile, one that a teacher would have for a new student.

“I don’t recall. And, I told you not to read my thoughts.” Demons never keep their promises. I should have known better.

“It was before you had asked me to turn off my telepathy.” Liberty took a sip of tea. “The human body and the Atlantean body were built to withstand the diseases of aging. I am indeed two thousand years old, give or take a year or two. Your people, as in the masses, will discover the truth of long living in the near future and aging will no longer be a detriment to your society.”

Bogle waved her hand in the air, doing her best to be polite. “Okay, let’s say I’m this person you’re seeking.” She rolled her eyes, then remembered to treat others as she would like to be treated herself. “What do I need to do?”

“Convince Kaden Jaxx and Rivkah Ravenwood to join our fight. You’re their calm, you’re their leader. Kaden Jaxx is the key to all of this. He’s the reason we severed the holographic array around Atlantis