Category: Fantasy Publisher: Gus Kenney
Type: Fiction
Pages: 497
Copyright: Aug 4, 2017
Price: $2.99 (eBook)
Sever all ties. Lucy is a pawn. A dark means to a deadly end.
Sever all ties. Lucy is a pawn. A dark means to a deadly end. An enemy, burning with centuries of betrayal, has made the opening move to shatter an already divided empire. His first step, the slaying of one of Lucy's guardians. Broken with grief and compelled by rage, Lucy embarks on a journey of vengeance to the shadowed and forgotten corners of the five lands. With those she has left by her side, sacrifices will be made to bring her closer to retribution but only if she doesn't succumb to the manipulations of a ruthless enemy first.
Excerpt
His name was not known to Elias Florentine. He was just some busboy that had been lucky enough to get a job at the only place in town that served food on a plate and not in a paper wrapper through a window. Elias had been coming to the diner off and on for years, and had grown to love the atmosphere, the food, and the people that had grown up in the area; some of them getting a job at the worn old building and working there until they were just as old and worn. He stepped around the broken remains of a cheap Formica table and recognized one such soul. Sharon had always served him a slice of pie cut a little bigger than the other pieces and spoke of her exes while she waited for a coffee break. Elias always remembered that she wore the brightest red lipstick all the time which made it easy to spot her mug from the rack that hung behind the counter. Her lips weren't the only thing red about her face now.
Elias looked around at the carnage and senseless destruction of the diner and finally let his eyes settle on the lone spot that had been spared. A man sat with his back to him at the only booth to survive, the booth that Elias always sat at. The point wasn't lost on him as he slowly approached, keeping his anger in check.
“It's safe to assume that we have your attention.” A voice too cheerful for the surroundings spoke when Elias stepped into his peripheral. He sipped at a steaming coffee and casually indicated the open seat opposite him. “Why don't you sit and we can catch up.”
“There is nothing I wish to say to you.” Elias growled and his hands curled into fists.
“That is because you think that I am somehow responsible for this.” The man flicked a finger towards the carnage around them.
“Are you claiming that you are not?” Many people swore innocence when they reached the end of their life. Especially when it was delivered by vengeful hands.
“You know that this is not my style.” The man scoffed and sipped at his coffee, deliberately slow. “I would have simply shown up and collected what is owed me.”
Elias snorted a weak laugh and moved to at least stand across from the man.
“I wasn't sure if you were ever to collect on my favor, Pick.”
“I always collect.” The man gave him a devilish smile that was only slightly dimmed by the friendly dimples that shown in his cheek. “And I go by Mr. Lucian now.”
“Are these souls what you have come to take from me?” Elias didn't care what the man called himself.
“I came to collect you.” Pick-Lucian finished his coffee and set down the empty mug. The one with the red stain. “I am recruiting your aide in a very important and dangerous mission. One that may very well spell certain death.”
“Death is not certain. You told me that.”
“We'll see about that.” Mr. Lucian stood up. “Shall we go?”
“You expect me to just leave this place.” Elias indicated the whole of the diner, feeling that such a show was unnecessary. “Why did you do this?”
“To repeat, and I hope this will not become a habit, I didn't do this.” Mr. Lucian smiled again. “The man we are going to be working for did.”
“When did you start working for anyone but yourself?” Elias sneered.
“When it became a matter of life and death. Mostly my life and a lot of other peoples deaths.”
“Do you think this is some kind of joke?” Elias snapped and grabbed the man by his throat.
“No.” Mr. Lucian wiggled himself out of the man's powerful grip enough to speak. “It's a test.”
“A test?”
“Yes.” The man rolled his eyes towards the shattered door. “They weren't sure if you still had it in you. Care to show them?”
Elias followed his gaze to where eight large men stood bearing an assortment of deadly implements; many of them still showing signs of recent use. Very slowly, he released Mr. Lucian and took the measure of each armed man.
“I will gladly show them.” Elias Florentine raised an empty hand and extended a single digit. “But pay attention because I will only do this once.”
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