Rout of the Dem-Shyr (The Ascendant Series)

by Raine Thomas

  Reider had explained that the area beneath Death’s Door was thousands of years old. Somewhere in its depths was rumored to be a store of energy even more potent and sustainable than tajeria. Because it was so deadly to Harvest, it was very rare. According to Reider, no one even knew what it was originally named, but Outcasts called it the Gift of the Yen-Ki. Ty was certain he had never heard of the stuff under any name. As far as he knew, nothing was more powerful than tajeria.

  In any case, Reider assured Ty that even a little of this mysterious energy source would gain him passage across the Dark Lands to the mine. He warned Ty that the poisonous air was more and more concentrated the closer one got to the Gift, and he would need a tightly sealed container in which to carry it. Reider told him if he didn’t find a container on the way to Death’s Door, he would likely find one inside by a dead body.

  Not exactly a comforting thought.

  He studied the grate, then looked around. A few tumbled buildings cast shadows around the area, but otherwise, there wasn’t so much as a breeze. It seemed even the scenery was holding its breath.

  Checking his air gauge, he saw that it was lower than he had hoped. If this quest took him any significant length of time, he wouldn’t make it on this canister. Of course, he had breathed the unfiltered air of the Dark Lands before the Harvesters found him and he’d survived. Maybe he could survive this, too.

  In any case, he didn’t have time to ponder it. The air wasn’t getting any fresher.

  Lifting the grate took a surprising amount of strength. He wagered that was for safety reasons so people didn’t just wander down. He managed to tug it up and haul it off of the hole. All he saw when he looked down was darkness.

  His eyes soon adjusted, allowing him to see the splintered wooden ladder leading down into the pit’s depths. There wasn’t much else to see. He didn’t trust the rungs of the rickety ladder to hold his weight, so he carefully lowered himself into the hole and grasped the sides of the ladder with his gloved hands, bracing his feet on each side. This allowed him to edge his way down. The going was slippery and precarious, but he made it to the bottom.

  He stood still for a moment once he touched the ground. It felt spongy under his heavy boots. As his vision adjusted to the increasing darkness, he spotted a number of bodies in various states of decay filling the chamber.

  Guess they tried to use that ladder the traditional way, he thought.

  A quick search told him that none of the corpses had any clothes or personal items on them. That wasn’t surprising. Reider mentioned that they had Harvested in that space a few times when they were starving or desperate. They hadn’t ever gone beyond this initial entry point, however, content to Harvest whatever the bodies had on them.

  Ty stepped over the body closest to the dark tunnel on his right and started walking. He focused on keeping his breathing slow and shallow to save as much air as possible. Hopefully his healing abilities were strong enough to get him in and out of this place with or without air, but he’d rather not chance it.

  The further along the winding passageways he walked, the darker it became. His vision continued to adjust, telling him he still retained that ability, as well. It continued to baffle him, but he wasn’t about to complain.

  The air thickened and grew warmer. His goggles filmed over and he could smell the toxins even through his filtration system. The walls were damp with some kind of condensation that he had no desire to investigate.

  He encountered a few more dead bodies along the way. Their poses suggested they hadn’t died without a great deal of agony. Pushing his natural aversion aside, he searched all of them for anything of value. There wasn’t much that hadn’t gone to rot, but he recovered a canteen, a compass, and a sealed container that looked like it would work well for storing the Gift.

  He pushed onwards. After a while, smoke began rising from his clothes. The haze over his goggles got heavy enough that he could hardly see. The temperature rose to an intolerable heat.

  But he kept moving. One foot in front of the other.

  The canister ran out of air shortly thereafter, leaving him with only the low-level filtration offered by his mask. With each step he took, breathing became more and more painful. The poison was coating his lungs, pervading his clothes. His skin burned and blistered beneath his gear.

  This way, Ty…

  He stumbled as Kyr’s voice filled his mind. The poison must be in his blood. He was starting to hallucinate.

  Well, if his dying moments were spent hallucinating about Kyr, he could think of much worse ways to go.

  She appeared before him, looking like a projected image rather than a real person. She waved her hand, beckoning him. He hurried after her, suddenly not bothered by the pain in his lungs and raging along his skin. When he turned the next corner, he saw it…the Gift of the Yen-Ki.

  The pool of glowing pink liquid swirled in a small crater. It looked like concentrated tajeria in viscous form. A thin line of it trailed from high above and dripped into the pool, but he could only guess its true source.

  Dropping to his knees beside the pool, he collected enough of the stuff to fill the sealed container. He considered using the canteen to store more.

  Save it for water, Kyr told him.

  Well, his mind told him in her voice.

  He listened to her. So much pain wracked his body that he had trouble securing the container. It took him several valuable minutes. Finally, he had it properly sealed and stored in the sack he was carrying.

  Get up, Ty.

  I’m tired, Kyr.

  Get up for me.

  He couldn’t resist her command. Shoving himself up took all of his remaining strength. He staggered like a drunken person back the way he had come. His hands slid along the slippery walls as he tried to keep himself upright. By the time he was halfway back to the entrance, the pain was overwhelming.

  Ty, you have to get out of here!

  Kyr’s voice carried unexpected urgency. She seemed very cognizant for a hallucination.

  Get out now! she ordered him.

  He crawled on trembling arms and legs. The air was a little clearer down there, but his lungs didn’t feel any relief. Blood seeped into his mouth, making him gag and remove his mask to spit it out. He was in bad shape. Even in his delirious state, he knew it.

  The further he got from the source of the Gift, though, the easier it was to breathe. Kyr waved him forward, slowly. So slowly. After what felt like hours, the circular area marking the entrance came into sight.

  You’re almost there, Kyr encouraged him. Keep going.

  His stomach revolted. He gagged again. Once he was sure he wasn’t about to vomit up his intestines, he replaced his mask and shuffled along the ground until he flopped beside one of the desiccated corpses lying there.

  Kyr pointed up. Her lips moved, but he didn’t hear anything. She started fading. He wanted to beg her not to go, not to leave him, but words were beyond him.

  As she disappeared, he stared at the ladder that stretched up, up, up towards the pink sky above. In that moment, he realized that it hadn’t been a fall that had killed the people around him. It had been the fact that, like him, they were too far gone to climb back up.

  Chapter 35

  The tunnel stretched before her, dark and endless. Noise roared around her. There were so many voices. Too many. They were all clamoring to be heard. She couldn’t hear herself through the cacophony of sound. She tried to cover her ears, but it didn’t help.

  “Shut up!” she screamed.

  There was a slight pause in the roar, but it quickly resumed. Her head throbbed. It felt like a vise was squeezing her at both temples. She fell to her knees.

  She couldn’t do this. The pressure was too great.

  Please don’t leave me, Kyr.

  Ty’s voice rose above the others. Her head lifted. A soft pink light appeared at the end of the tunnel.

  Ty?

  He didn’t respond, but the other voices quieted whil
e she focused on trying to hear him. By using all of her concentration, she managed to subdue the voices enough that she didn’t feel like her eardrums were about to rupture.

  She got back to her feet. Maybe if she reached that light, she’d hear Ty’s voice again.

  As she started walking, a sense that something was wrong crept over her. It quickly escalated to the point of panic. She broke into a run.

  Darkness. So much darkness. Had the Shelvaks come back for her? Had they decided to kill her after all?

  Her chest heaved as she fought back another scream. The light didn’t seem to get any closer, no matter how fast or how long she ran. Somehow, the tunnel twisted, making her propel herself blindly around corners. The light remained a constant source of torment. She knew she had to reach it.

  No. She had to reach Ty. He needed her.

  The moment that thought entered her mind, the light snapped forward. She flew into a round chamber encased in rock. Pink light filtered down from a source high above.

  Death surrounded her. She brought a hand to her mouth and barely resisted fleeing as she looked at all of the dead bodies scattered along the floor. It was fodder for nightmares.

  But she had lived through her own nightmares. She would handle this.

  One body was larger than the others. Even though it was covered from head to toe, she knew in her heart who it was.

  Ty.

  She rushed over to him. Dear Yen-Ki…was she too late?

  She tried to grab him, tried to check for a pulse, but her hand passed right through him. Was this a dream? Why did it feel so real?

  Why did she feel like she was losing him?

  “Ty!” she cried, hoping he’d respond to her voice.

  “Did ya hear that?”

  She gasped. The voice had come from the source of light leading down into the chamber. Someone had heard her…someone who was getting closer.

  Someone who meant Ty harm.

  “Ya didn’t hear nothin’,” someone else growled. “Now get the Gift and finish him off.”

  Ty wasn’t dead, she thought. But he was about to be.

  Returning her focus to Ty, she tried again to touch him. She had to do something to wake him so he could protect himself. But her touch had no effect. In fact, he was starting to fade. Everything was starting to fade.

  “No!” she screamed. “Ty!”

  It was no use. The tunnel dragged her back into the darkness.

  The roar returned. The pressure amplified. Each voice sliced at her mind until she could no longer remember who she was.

  Until she no longer cared.

  Kyr!

  The name echoed. It stood out from the others.

  Kyr! Come back to us. Please!

  There was so much fear in that tone. So much love.

  Her mind responded, clinging to that thought like a drowning person to a lifeline. Rather than the lifeline pulling her to safety, though, she dragged him into the tunnel with her.

  Shit! the lifeline cursed.

  The thundering voices subsided. Her own thoughts gradually returned to her.

  Kyr!

  This time, the lifeline sounded panicked. She was dragging him in too deeply. She had to let him go.

  Harnessing her abilities, she gathered the energy to shove the lifeline free. The moment she did, she felt lighter, as though a burden had been shared. Her head stopped pounding. She started remembering.

  Vycor. The Guardians. Sem. Gren.

  Ty.

  Her eyes popped open. Her pulse beat rapidly, as though she’d just run a race. For a moment, she felt like she was an observer outside her own body. Her consciousness floated, seeing her lying on a strange bed, nearly as waxen as one of the corpses she had just seen in her mind. Sem was on the ground next to the bed. Gren was beside him, trying to rouse him. Fear gave her another jolt as she pieced together what had just happened.

  Sem had been the lifeline.

  The part of her that hovered like an observer suddenly slammed back into Kyr. She sat up so fast the room spun. Air filled her lungs in deep drags.

  Kyr! Gren stood, pulling Sem to his feet. Damn it…what happened?

  Seeing that Sem was alive brought tears to her eyes. She wanted to scramble off the bed and pull him into a hug, but her body still felt like it was being inhabited by a stranger.

  That’s okay, Sem thought. I appreciate the thought, though.

  Her eyes widened. He had picked up on her thought without her consciously sending it to him, just like Ty used to. She studied him more closely. His face was nearly as white as hers. His eyes, usually a soft golden brown, looked a shade lighter. They burned with a peculiar light.

  She had shared some of Ty’s abilities with him.

  It was the only way, he thought. Your mind was nearly obliterated, Kyr. As strong as you are, all of these abilities originate in the brain, which can only hold so much.

  Seriously, what’s going on? Gren asked, looking between them.

  He couldn’t hear her and Sem because they weren’t projecting their thoughts. It really was just like the bond she had shared with Ty.

  Ty!

  She used what energy she had to scoot towards the side of the bed. Sorry, Gren, she thought. Sem saved my life. I had to give him some of the Dem-Shyr’s abilities because I couldn’t control them. It was too much when combined with my own.

  Kyr, stop trying to get off the bed, Gren warned her, touching her shoulder to stop her from sliding off the mattress. You’ve dangerously exhausted yourself. You have to rest.

  I can’t, Gren. Ty’s in danger. I’m going after him.

  Damn it, Kyr! Keep your stubborn backside right there, Gren ordered. Turning to Sem, he gave him an irritated look. Don’t let her get up. In fact, you look only marginally better than she does. Sit with her.

  He seems pissed, Sem thought as Gren marched out of the room.

  He’ll be fine. He’s just worried about us.

  She started to disregard Gren’s order and edged towards the floor. She had to get to Ty. Where the hell were they, anyway?

  One of the palace guest rooms, Sem answered. It was the only option to avoid Vycor. He and the other Mynders are searching the palace for the person who drugged and drained Shaya.

  He gave her a light shove that returned her right back to the middle of the bed. Before she could complain, he climbed on after her. His thoughts ran through her mind as he sat beside her. He was profoundly relieved she was still alive. He wondered if he really did look as beat up as she did. He wished the two of them were doing much more than sitting on the bed, even if she did look weird with orange hair.

  Her gaze moved to him. You’re going to have to work on controlling those kinds of thoughts until we can give Ty his abilities back.

  He shrugged. I can’t control how I feel about you, Kyr. I’m sorry if that makes you uncomfortable, but it is what it is.

  She wished it was otherwise, but there was nothing either of them could do about it. Sem, thank you for doing that. I know you didn’t intend for me to funnel Ty’s abilities to you. I had no idea I was doing it. But I think this is a blessing in disguise.

  They both looked at the door as Gren returned. He was carrying a tray bearing three bowls with steam rising from them. Kyr started to say that she didn’t want to take time to eat when Ty needed her, but Gren silenced her with a sharp look.

  What do you mean, blessing in disguise? Sem thought.

  Gren handed each of them bowls and took his own. He sat on Kyr’s other side, stretching his long legs in front of him.

  Blessing? he prompted.

  Giving up on trying to escape for the moment, Kyr sipped the broth in the bowl. I was telling Sem that him having a portion of Ty’s abilities is a blessing in disguise. I’ve been worried about how we could go and rescue Ty and still keep an eye on what’s happening here at the palace. My ability to connect with you and Sem is limited by distance. Now that he has some of Ty’s abilities, though, he’s in part of my
mind. Distance won’t matter. He can be our eyes and ears here while we’re in the Dark Lands.

  You can’t possibly think to leave me behind while you guys run off to save my cousin, Sem argued. That’s bullshit.

  It’s perfect, Gren countered. Kyr’s exactly right. You’re already in a position to stick close to Vycor and the Guardians. Vycor still thinks he has a hold over you. You can help us from the inside.

  Kyr felt Sem’s conflicting emotions. Part of him wanted to argue, but the rest of him knew they were right. Rather than offer him more words, she experimented with sending him reassuring thoughts. It was the right thing to do.

  That was rather manipulative of you, Sem thought, but there was no venom in it.

  She felt guilty until she thought of the vision she had of Ty in that chamber. She thought of the deadly intent of the two males making their way to him. Had it been a dream? A premonition? A vision of something happening across the planet?

  It was absolutely killing her not to know. Not to have any idea if he was all right.

  If he was dead, it would destroy her.

  I’m sorry, Kyr, Sem conveyed, telling her he had felt what she did. And it had rocked him. Really sorry. Shit. I didn’t know…anyway, I’ll stay here. When do you want to go?

  Taking a deep breath, she looked at Gren. He frowned, but seemed to know what she was thinking. Giving her a look, he tipped back the bowl to finish his broth. Knowing it was what he wanted, she did the same thing. Then she looked at Sem.

  “Right now,” she said out loud. “Let’s go get him.”

  Chapter 36

  Kyr’s scream woke him.

  Ty’s eyes flew open at the sound. His heart rocketed in his chest, pounded in his ears. She had sounded so close. So real.

  “I’m tellin’ ya, he ain’t alone. I heard a woman’s scream.”

  Orran.

  Ty hauled himself to his feet. The pain that had knocked him unconscious had receded. Either his healing abilities had kicked in during his period of unconsciousness or the adrenaline spiking through his veins kept him from feeling it.