The Irin Chronicles Box Set

by T. G. Ayer

  When Julian and Evie reached the Ascension Hall, Evie's stomach did a somersault. She recalled her reaction the first time she'd seen the thick, solid stone door that guarded the entrance. The lintel rose high above her head. Gigantic black metal hinges pinioned the stone door, as large as the muscles in Evie's arms.

  She glanced at the doorknob before Julian grabbed onto it. The knob that sat in the middle of the door was only a tiny bit smaller than Julian's own fist. Evie couldn't stop herself from placing her palm flat against the stone door. She'd been ready to feel the pulsing, throbbing from inside the room. Only this time she felt nothing.

  Evie gave a mental shrug. Maybe giving back the seals worked differently.

  Julian turned the knob, then gave the door an almighty shove before it opened in strange silence. For a door that size it should have made at least a little bit of noise. Evie's thoughts were distracted by the Ascension table in the middle of the room.

  It took pride of place in the stark stone room. And this time Evie could feel the power inside of the stone, reaching for her. She felt the pulsing, throbbing softly in her ears, and as before she seemed to move to the side of the table without realizing it.

  Evie stared at the centerpiece of the room. The large stone table. A shudder ran up her back as memories filtered through her mind. She shook them away and studied the octagonal table. A round depression was carved out of each of the eight corners. And inside each one lay a Seal, its sweet notes echoing along the stone walls. Evie found that her blood and even her muscles sang the Seal's song.

  "You have the final seal?" Julian glanced at Evie, his brow still furrowed.

  She nodded and reached the medallion that she'd returned to its place around her neck.

  The second her skin touched the medallion the seals around the table began to glow golden. The angelic script engraved into the metal seemed to take on a life of its own, spinning and dancing across the surface of the seal. Each Seal began to slowly spin anti-clockwise and Evie recalled it had spun in the opposite direction when she'd received the Seals not so long ago.

  And as before, one symbol on each of the seals shone brightly, each one a different script than the next seal. The singing and the spinning would have begun to make Evie dizzy but she felt her hand begin to move, pulled toward the table by the combined force of all the power of the Seals of Hades.

  The last time she'd been here Evie had been dragged bodily across the surface of the table. This time she was determined to avoid losing control. She hopped onto the table and spun around on her butt until she was in position. Then she opened her palm and let the medallion float above her hand. It hesitated only a second before flying upward.

  When it paused at the pinnacle of the arrangement, bright white light shot from each of the seals, all aimed to meet at a point just above Evie's medallion. And Evie was now surrounded by white rays, engaged within the light of the Seals.

  Evie stared up at the medallion that hovered above her. She'd had it all her life, carried it around with her for centuries. A gift from her father but he hadn't been her father had he? Gavriel had given her the medallion for safe-keeping. She doubted he would ever have thought it would come to this.

  Evie blinked and realized the strength of the Seal's song had subsided to a comfortable hum. Everything seemed calm, as if the Seals were waiting for something.

  She glanced over at Julian, at his hand where the Mark had faded to a pale memory on his skin. This had to be done. His mortality would come crashing back down upon him. This was the only way to keep him immortal. At last, the sound of the chimes lulled into soft silence.

  Black shadows rose from Evie's arm, twisting and writhing in the air, then disappearing into the air above them. Evie kept her gaze on Julian's arm, her heart thudding as she waited. She only exhaled when she saw the Marks re-appear stronger and darker on his forearm. The ritual was almost at an end and Evie tried to breath, to calm herself.

  But something was wrong.

  The mark had been transferred so Evie's arm should be bare of any dark writing scripts. But they were still there, still strong and dark and still emblazoned on her arm.

  The magic gone. Evie hesitated then pushed herself up onto her elbows. She stared from her arm to Julian's, confusion contorting her brow. Then she sat up and stared at her arm.

  What in Hades was going on?

  "It has been transferred. It is done." Julian's voice rang around the small room, almost triumphant as he gazed at the marks bight and new on his forearm.

  "No it has not," Evie answered softly, raising her arm for him to see the Mark.

  Julian gasped then shook his head. He walked forward and took Evie's arm in his hand, comparing it to his own forearm. "That is simply not possible. It should have been a clean transfer." Julian stared for a long time. Until his brow smoothed out and confusion left his darkened eyes. "Perhaps it has something to do with your trip into Tartarus and your battle with Kampe. And maybe the killing of Daniel. I believe you have earned the Mark, not just been given it in a ritual."

  Evie shook her head, still confused.

  "It means you are still Ruler of Hades. Co-ruler, ruler, just words. What you are is the wielder of dominion over the Underworld. As am I." Julian raised his arm and placed it next to hers. A matched pair. It's supposed to be impossible. But there you have it."

  Evie smiled. Better to laugh it off than to cry. "Does this mean I don't get to go home?"

  Julian shook his head. "There is no precedent here, Evie. I think you can probably do whatever you want."

  Evie scanned his face. She lifted her hand, her fingers reaching out to trace his brow. The signs of age, the paleness to his cheeks, even the slight bow of his shoulders were all gone. "You have your immortality back."

  "I believe I do." He smiled.

  Evie traced the black whorls on her arm. No longer were they abhorrent. Hating them had only been part of her fear for Julian's life. For his lack of immortality because of her stupidity.

  Now she had power.

  And strength. The past was over, Marcellus and Daniel were gone from the Irin. And if Evie didn't get back soon, Flash would be running things and that was definitely not a good thing.

  Evie stood, taking a deep breath and feeling as if it was her first in a very long time.

  If the Mark was there to stay, then so was the power. And with power come influence. Evie smiled.

  "Now, I can find my sister."

  Chapter 30

  Evie emerged into the sunlight and had to immediately shade her eyes. The brightness dazzled her and pain seared into the back of her head. The joys of not having sunglasses. She stepped away from the cave and scanned the surrounding trees and dense vegetation.

  Then she sighed. She was home, free of the bounds that held her to the Kingdom of Hades. Despite the markings which gleamed black and fresh on her forearm, Evie felt that a new day was about to begin. One where the brotherhood would face the future led by someone who did not have their own agenda, by someone who had the needs of humanity at heart.

  Evie stared up into the bright blue sky. She felt the bones in her back burgeon as her wings sprang forth in a dusting of silver and a puff of pure white feathers. Then she shoved off the ground and soared high into the air, a feeling of exhilaration pulsing through her veins as she banked right and headed for the estate.

  A sister.

  She never would have known the truth if she hadn't pursued the Seals, so some good had certainly come out of that disaster. But what did she do about the seals now? The Markings pulsed and throbbed on her arm as if they were living breathing creatures, but for now she pushed all thoughts of them out of her mind and concentrated on the one thing that pulsed through her soul - the need to find her sister.

  Evie was certain that the Control would have had a more sinister reason for capturing them than just the desire to rid the world of the abomination called Nephilim. And Evie swore that she would find out what that reason was.
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br />   Evie scanned the horizon. Greylock was just up ahead, the faint mirage of the protective dome clear to Evie's angelic sight. She inhaled as she pointed her toes for her landing. She couldn't deny the pulse of excitement she experienced, knowing she was coming home to her friends.

  Her feet crunched deep into the black gravel that littered the rooftop of the old castle. Constructed of large grey stones, it was reminiscent of something ancient, with a decidedly English air. Giant floor to ceiling windows, archways, and rich old wood gave the building a mysterious yet livable feel.

  The gargoyle guard was absent, sending a wave of concern through Evie's chest. What reason would there be for having no watchman up on the roof? Even in broad daylight the guards never left their posts. Evie tried to shrug off her worry, chalking the guard's absence up to changeover or timing. She hurried to the edge of the roof and floated down to the stone-tiled patio below. This one led to the common room where Evie was hoping to see Ling and Ash. She hadn't kept track of the passage of time too well and she suspected the girls would have returned a few weeks ago.

  The common room was silent and empty. Again, an unusual thing considering the height of the sun. Lunchtime. The commons should be throbbing with Nephilim right now, all hungry and sociable. Evie's heels tapped the wood floor as she headed out of the common room and down the passage.

  At the next turn she hesitated. Should she go up to Marcellus' study hoping to meet his successor or should she go and find the girls first? Evie made up her mind and headed right, reaching the stairs to the upper floor within seconds. Soon she was knocking on Ling's door and receiving no answer. Along the hall she rapped her knuckles on Ash's door. Again, no response.

  Frowning Evie hurried to her own room. It certainly looked like the place was deserted but Evie knew that wasn't possible. The brotherhood wouldn't stop their work just because they didn't have a Master. By now they should have chosen a new Master. And things should be rolling along smoothly. But why the strange silence?

  Flinging her door open Evie entered the room and headed to her closet. She grabbed fresh clothes and was about to head into the bathroom when a sound at the door caught her attention. Immediately Evie pulled her glamor over her body, just in case. She faced the door, watching it as she stood very still and waited. But the sound didn't come again. Evie shrugged and dropped her glamor.

  She turned to enter the small bathroom attached to her room when something smashed hard into her head. So hard that Evie lost her balance. Her body was still recovering from her various wounds and this blow to her head was enough to knock her senseless.

  She crumpled into an untidy heap and gave herself up to darkness.

  Evie came to, but when she opened her eyes she couldn't see a thing.

  She was seated on something hard. Wood beneath her, wood at her back. A large chair. A cold breeze scraped her cheek as it went by, whistling as it found nooks and crannies to travel through. The sound was enough to wake all the dead of Tartarus.

  Evie blinked few times, wondering if the blow to her skull had rendered her sightless. Her eyeballs hurt inside her head but that was more a sign of an aching head than anything else. After a few seconds of staring around her with intense concentration, she found she could make out faint patches of light at the edges of her vision. No, she wasn't blind. She was just somewhere very, very dark.

  She raised her hand to touch the throbbing spot on the back of her head but found her wrist bound. The other arm was afforded the same attention. From the soft leather against her skin she imagined the cuff and the straps, the large notches, the old stone prongs. Cuffs used for special prisoners. Prisoners kept in the dungeons deep below the castle.

  Evie's heart thudded so loudly that she almost didn't hear the voice.

  Her eyes darted blindly around her. "Who's there?" she asked the darkness. The darkness didn't answer.

  Then Evie heard it again. But it wasn't the sound of a voice. Someone was at the door. A key scratched in a lock somewhere in front of her. A strip of light appeared, then widened as a huge stone door was pushed open. A hooded figure glided into the room and came to stand two feet before Evie. The figure was back lit, the light at the edge of her captor's head stabbed into Evie's eyes causing them to water. The stark outline of the cowl sent shivers of worry up Evie's spine.

  The light fell on Evie's bound wrists but what she saw made her want to pass out again. Angelic script, burnt into every inch of the leather that held her so tightly. Angelic words to bind an angelic being.

  Evie tamped down her rising panic. She needed a clear head, she needed calm to deal with this ridiculous situation. "What's going on? Where am I?" Evie asked, injecting her usual cool, unaffected tone into her voice. She would not let them see her afraid, no matter what they did to her.

  "You are here the Greylock estate," the voice was soft, elegant and unfamiliar. Evie tilted her head, still having not seen what her visitor looked like, she was now more curious than ever. A hand, disembodied in the dark shadows, emerged from the cloak and pushed the hood back to reveal a mane of tightly curled coal-black hair. Her heart-shaped face was serene and controlled as she met Evie's gaze. Deep brown eyes, caramel skin and a sweet smiling mouth completed the picture of Evie's captor. "My name is Mykia Goodwin. I am the new Master of the Brotherhood of the Irin."

  A female Master. Well, well, well. Good for the Brotherhood. About time they ceased their sexist ways. But a thought niggled Evie's mind. What if this woman was just a figurehead just the hand to do the bidding of another? Or what if she was the type to disregard the right and wrong just to prove she deserved her position?

  But Evie couldn't waste time thinking about the progression of the rights of women, or the ability of the woman before her to carry out her sworn duty. Right now her own rights were being disregarded. "Why are you holding me?"

  "You are awaiting your trial." Mykia's voice remained soft, but it held a note of authority to it. Her brown eyes flashed but her expression was far from judgmental. That didn't mean Evie could trust her.

  "What trial? What the hell is going on here?" Frustration brought an edge to Evie's voice. One that came with a low rumble of angelic fury. Immediately she tamped it down but it was probably too late. And it didn't matter. Another rule broken would not be of much concern considering Evie's current position as captive and defendant. "What am I accused of?"

  Evie wanted to sob. She'd saved them all from Daniel and Marcellus when they'd been using the brotherhood for his own end. They should be grateful but now she was on trial?

  Mykia's next words chilled her to her soul.

  "You, Evangeline, Nephilim of the Irin, are accused of the highest of treasons."

  "And what exactly is this treason?"

  "Murder."

  ~ TO BE CONTINUED ~

  Read the next book in the Irin Series:

  Resonance

  Copyright

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  THE IRIN CHRONICLES BOOK 2

  Copyright © 2014 by T.G. Ayer

  All rights reserved.

  Cover art by Eduardo Priego

  Cover art © T.G. Ayer. All rights reserved.

  Kindle Edition, License Notes

  This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Amazon.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, actual events or locales is purely coincidental.

  The Irin Chronicles #3 - Resonance<
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  Chapter 1

  Darkness encased Evie, the stone walls of her cell exuding a moist iciness that burrowed deep into her bones. Even a Nephilim could feel this kind of cold, a cold arising both from the world around her and from her very spirit.

  When Evie had returned to Greylock, she’d embraced the feeling of the sun’s warm rays on her face, and she’d felt the lilt of joy in her heart when she thought of her sister—no, her sisters--and she’d steeled her determination to search the ends of the EarthWorld to find them.

  She’d been sad to leave Julian behind, and concerned with what her future held especially with now being part-ruler of the underworld. She’d also worried about the powerful reach of the Control and if they had her or her sisters already in their sights at all.

  But someone else had also been after Evie. Only moments after she arrived, she’d been knocked out with a single blow to her head.

  Not much can fell an angel, that much was true--full- or half-blood didn’t matter.

  Alcohol did nothing. Like many supernaturals, skinwalkers for one, Evie had to resort to hunting down specially drafted fae spirits in order to reach a satisfactory state of inebriation.

  Hence her attacker had been smart, prepared. He’d caught her unawares, and had used a little known method of felling an angel without bloodshed--a blow hard enough to knock her out, yet positioned just right to ensure she sustained no physical injury as a result.

  The sunlight had vanished in an instant, golden shimmers replaced by darkness and shadows. What a perfect metaphor for both her mood and her immediate future.

  Evie had later returned to consciousness, only to be greeted with darkness and discomfort.

  Securely cuffed to an old wooden chair, weak patches of light had soon revealed she’d been blindfolded, the cool air and the whistling drafts dancing around her had confirmed she was locked within the depths of the Greylock dungeons. Even her wings had been caged in a net of leather straps.