Transformation, M J Marlow [thriller books to read .TXT] 📗

moon. We will discuss his obsession face to face.” “That is not our order, princess,” the guard protested. “You are to come.” He reached towards herand Zen sent himand his companion flying. “You are free of control now, lady Trel,” Zen told her, as she showed Trel the mark that had appeared on her palm; corresponding to the mark on Zen’s wrist, “by all but myself.And I,” she said as she looked at the woman, “will only exert my control if you break our agreement.” She smiled as Trel nodded her understanding. “Come to us at Nores’tun, lady Trel, any time you wish it.” Trel noddedand watched as Zen began to glow. The light built until Trel had to close her eyes. While Trel was distracted, Zen went through the redstone mirror, with the bluestone mirror in her arms. She set it to one sideand looked at a frame appearing on the interior. The symbols of the mirrors appeared on a frame thereand laid her hand on the symbol for the goldstone mirror. She stepped through into that mirror, with the bluestone mirror in hold,and froze as she heard something move towards her. “Zen?” a familiar voice sounded from behind her. Zen turned to see Daren standing in the goldstone mirror. “Little cousin.” “He wronged you greatly because of me,” Zen said as she looked up at her beloved cousin sadly. He still had the shadows of scars on his body from the surgeriesand manipulations that had forced transformation. He was now a winged being; his wings were gold tipped with black. “If I had known…” “You had your own battle to fight, Zen,” Daren broke in over her protests. He smiled as he saw her wrist,and she saw the fangs. How much had they changed him, her mind cried in pain for him. “You have it in you to free me from this prison, cousin. Would you do that much for me?” “What would you do with your freedom, Daren?” Zen asked him bluntly. “The one who chained you is long dead.” “But there are others,” Daren told her, “who have risen to take his place. I have seen it in the minds of my children.” He laid his hand on the mirror. “Please, cousin. You must let me out. I can help you.” Zen backed away as she saw the darkness in his eyes. He was damaged by his tortureand long imprisonment. She could not let him free until she was certain he would not harm others to punish someone for what had happened to him. Daren hissedand turned his back on herand Zen knew she had made the right choice. Until she could find a way to help him heal, it was not safe for him to be loose. “You have changed, cousin,” Daren said a moment later as his dark spell faded. “You would have freed me without question before.” He saw the bonding in her memory. “I see,” he nodded, “you have bonded to the current age through one of its sons. Your perceptions have altered.” He went to the bed in his celland laid down. “I shall have to ponder what this means.” Zen stepped out of the mirror into her chamber at Norest’unand left him pondering what he was going to doand went to her bed. She was finding it hard to relax. Images of her past life kept flooding into her mind, when sheand Daren had been growing up together; the times they had shared when she was allowed to visit her motherand family during her training. She had a very restless night, as Daren remained in her mind, trying to convince her to release him by reminding her of the bond they shared. * Trel wondered how Zen had vanished,and knew she might have a chance of learning only if the princess continued to believe she was free of their control. The princess was power in physical form, but she was still only a child. Properly handled, she could become the willing tool of the Directive. She went to her officeand called the captain of her guard. “You will arrest my brotherand Horan on suspicion of treason,” she told the man stiffly. “Their greedand lust have led to the escape of a most treasured resource. They must answer for their actions in front of the Council.” “Yes, my lady Trel,” the man bowed his head. “It shall be as you have ordered.” He left the chamber immediately, without needing any more clarification. Trel smiledand got up to pour herself a drink, allowing herself a moment to shudder. That child had rendered two of the ancient mirror into atoms with a mere thought. What would she be capable of when she had matured? Trel was eager to find out, but she was not willing to risk her freedom, her life, or her status to force the child. She would play the friend, the ally,and have the girl believe that she was sharing the information of her own free will. “Lady Trel?” “Yes, Captain?” Trel sighed as the man interrupted her reverie. “I am saddened to report that, while we found lord Horan,” the man reported, “your brother, lord Reo, had left the Embassy before he could be apprehended.” “Put our best hunter team on him, Captain,” Trel frowned. “I want my brother in bonds by the end of the week, if not sooner.” She watched him goand then made the connection with her hunter. A soft smile lit her face as she heard his voice. “It is time, beloved. Lord Horan’s position stands vacantand I would have it yours.” She had never felt so free, or so happy. “When you arrive, we shall be joined as we should have been.” The link went deadand she frowned. Something had gone wrong. Quern would not have broken link with her like that. He was not that abrupt. Quern turned from the link, wondering what could have happened to cause Trel to close the link so abruptly. She had not seemed done with their conversation. He turned as he heard a noiseand rose to his feet. Leoninand a pair of Chen warriors were coming into the hut. “Your ladyand her brother are causing great harm, hunter,” Leonin said as he sank down on a chairand Quern was bound. “Give us reason to allow you to live.” The hunter cried out in painand the man’s mind shot into his, removing everything he had kept hidden from everyone but himself with an ease that terrified the hunter. When it was over, the hunter was unconscious. Leonin raised his head to Chen’ya, smiling. She went to her knees before him, laying her cheek on his lap. He stroked her hair, pleased that these people had not forgotten him in the centuries he had been locked away from them. “Your people have grown in the centuries since their creation, Chen’ya,” he said softly, his hand moving along her fur. “You make me quite proud to have had a hand in that act.” He accepted a goblet from a slave. “I will die soon,” he told herand felt her stiffen. “It is as it must be. My sister, Zenyssa, must be the one to protectand guide on this world. Youand the Chen must be ready to assist her.” “She is of your blood, Creator-being,” Chen’ya bowed her head. “Sheand all those she calls her own shall receive our aid.” * The next morning, after the few hours she had fought for to rest; Zen assured Marek she was well. Zen was still smiling with happiness, as she stood on the hillside overlooking the valley that had been her home for ten years with the lady Atav. It had changed in twenty-five centuries. There was a village there that had not been in the valley in her time.And in the mountains to the north, she could sense an Aerie of a race of winged beings that had not been known in her age. She was leery of approaching either, but she wanted to learn how things stood with this world. She let herself relax a few moments longer, then she approached the village. “We have been awaiting you, Princess,” the village elder, a tall, exceeding broad-shoulder man with hair braided in three, four,and three, bonded with cord in every shade of light, bowed his head. “Our Seer told us you would come.” “I would greet this Seer,” Zen replied. She waited until he gave acceptanceand then she followed him to a hut off to the west of the village. “Seer,” the Elder called out softly as he pushed open the door. “The Princess has come as you asked.” The woman turnedand smiled as she saw the pretty Zen. She nodded to the manand he stepped away from them. She saw the woman’s mindand shook her head, her eyes wide in fright. The Elder moved as Zen tried to leave,and held Zen fast as the Seer brought over a gobletand forced a liquid down her throat. Zen felt her body freezing as the drug went to work. “These people have served your memory for centuries, Princess,” the Seer smiled as she stroked Zen’s cheek. “Now you are here, we do what we must to keep you secure.” She saw the anger in Zen’s eyes. “We do this for you.” “This is not my choice!” Zen cried out weakly, even her anger dulled by the drug. “You must not do this!” “We must keep you safe, Princess,” the Seer replied. Zen could not move now. The Seer smiledand nodded to the Elder. He went to the doorand opened it. Four women came in, carrying garments in their arms. They stripped Zen as the Elder leftand helped her into the flowing white gown. Zen’s mind was screaming as it reminded her of the gown her father had forced her into.And then she remembered where she had seen this woman before. This was Sarit, her father’s torturer! The Seer leaned forward as she saw that recognition dawn. “Yes, Princess,” she laughed as she sat back to watch. “I am Sarit!And this time,” she smiled as she enjoyed Zen’s helplessness, “there is nothing you can do to prevent the bonding.” She stroked Zen’s hair. “We have been waiting for your return for a long, long time.” The door openedand two Temple guards stepped in. “She is ready.” “Come with us, Princess,” a guard ordered as heand his companion pulled her to her feet. The sun was suddenly blotted outand he looked up to see a band of the winged beings. “What is this, Elder?” “They must not take you, Princess,” the Elder cried. He grabbed her armand pulled her to a shed by the hut. He kicked open the door. “No,” he cried as one of the winged men arrivedand pushed him into the shed. “You must not!” Zen was yanked off of her feetand she reached down to her belt, drawing her knife. She drove it into the winged man’s armand he dropped her. She landed wrongand felt her ankle twist painfully. She tried to stand and found that her ankle would not hold her weight. Biting her lip to keep from screaming, she ripped the hem off of her skirtand wrapped it around her ankle. She got on her feet. It hurt, but she could walk. She turned to find one of the winged men landing behind her. The Elderand the temple guards were on their knees, wrists bound. He bowed his head to her. “Princess,” he said softly, his voice filled with awe. “We meant no harm. We merely wish to make ourselves known to you.” He cocked his head as he saw the shock on her face. “We are known to you?” “It’s not possible,” Zen said softly as she looked him over. It was Daren standing before her, the same golden-hair,and the same deep blue eyes. The only difference was the pair of wings unfurled behind his back; black, tipped with