Glancing about to make sure no chance passersby were watching, he said softly, “LOC, scan data retrieval. Find Theodore of Mistra.”
“Acknowledged,” said the LOC.
Elena crossed herself, but he touched her shoulder for reassurance. Leon came wistfully closer.
“Theodore of Mistra,” said the LOC tonelessly. “Governor of Peloponnese for five years, succeeded by—”
“Stop,” said Noel. “Cross file. Lady Sophia.”
“Lady Sophia weds Theodore. Bears three children, two sons and a—”
“Stop,” said Noel. “Cross file. The Emir of Aydin—”
“Malfunction,” said the LOC. “Override.”
“Cancel data retrieval,” said Noel quickly. His relief drained away. He stared anxiously at the LOC. “What is it? What’s malfunctioning?”
“Override. Override. Time course ending. Prepare.”
Emotion caught Noel in the throat. He looked at Leon, waiting for something, although he didn’t know what. Finally he held out his hand.
“Leave me,” said Leon, making it a plea. “I saved your life. Don’t make me go back.”
Noel lowered his hand, realizing the gesture had been misunderstood. “Very well,” he said, although his better judgment warned him he was making a mistake. “But you must not tamper with events.”
“How can I avoid it?” said Leon. “I can’t dither over every move and decision, wondering how it will affect others.”
“I don’t think you can stay,” said Noel, frowning. “I think whatever brought us here will take you back as well.”
“Then I’ll die!” said Leon in anguish. “I can only live here. Let me go. Please.”
Noel hesitated, knowing only seconds were left. “I don’t have control over this. I don’t know what will happen.”
“Take off the LOC then, and we’ll both stay. I’ll cause you no more trouble. I swear it.”
“You don’t belong here,” said Noel. “And you know I have to go back. I don’t belong here either.”
Leon’s face twisted. “Then go to hell!” he said and ran.
Noel started after him. “Leon! Come back! You—”
But his feet were dissolving. He felt the cool touch of recession as the time stream opened around him. He stood still, watching Leon run down the street and vanish in the twilight. A part of him could not help but hope Leon managed to stay and carve out his own fate somehow; however, he knew that Leon would only cause more trouble. How to fix the problem of Leon would be for the Time Institute to solve.
Elena rose to her feet, her eyes wide with fear and astonishment. She stretched out her hands to Noel, and although he tried to clasp them her flesh passed through his. “Goodbye, ghost,” she called.
“Goodbye, Elena,” he said.
He did not know whether she heard his farewell. He hoped so. He hoped she would have the good sense to keep quiet about her vision and not be labeled a madwoman for the rest of her life.
“Goodbye,” he whispered.
Then he was sucked away into the time vortex.
Epilogue
Noel materialized with a blinding flash of lightning, squinted in an effort to clear his vision, and opened his mouth.
Water gushed in, making him cough and sputter. It tasted horrible, like mud and God knew what else, but it cleared his wits enough for him to realize that he was thrashing about in water running swifter than thought between two narrow dirt banks. Sweeping along with him were tree branches, tumbleweeds, snakes, and a dead antelope.
This was not the white, sterile, safe confines of Laboratory 14, where he should be.
Where the hell was he?
More from Deborah Chester
Showdown
Unable to return to the 26th century, historian and time traveler Noel Kedran struggles to repair the sabotage that keeps him ensnared in time's web. His evil twin Leon, created by the anomaly, works just as hard to prevent Noel from escaping the trap. Each attempt to go home lands Noel and Leon in a different era. Now, they're in the New Mexico territory in the year 1887—a harsh desert land plagued by lawless bandit raids, border wars, and fierce Apaches.
Although determined to preserve the fabric of history, Noel soon finds himself involved with the perils facing a ranching family. The ranch has been burned and a young girl abducted. If Noel can't find a way to rescue her, the altered time stream will change the future forever. That's exactly what Leon is hoping for. Which means that sooner or later, the two of them must have a showdown.
Pieces of Eight
In his attempt to return to the 26th century, historian and time traveler Noel Kedran is transported back to the Caribbean in 1697, where black-masted ships rule the treacherous seas and murderous pirates kill without mercy.
Stalked by enemies—including his evil twin, Leon—Noel fights to prevent a human sacrifice that could change history, and to stop his twisted twin before he destroys them both for a few glittering, golden pieces of eight.
Restoration
In his attempt to return to the 26th century, historian Noel Kedran is transported, alongside his evil twin Leon, to the squalid streets and royal palaces of Restoration England—and into the blazing heart of the Great Fire of London.
Amidst the inferno, Noel will distinguish himself as a hero, whose only hope is to get home to his own time. To do so, he will have to outwit the treacherous, equally brilliant Leon.
But how can any man hope to outwit himself?
Turncoat
A time loop drops historian and time traveler Noel Kedran into the Revolutionary War—and into a deadly battle with himself. While America fights for its independence, Noel wages a desperate struggle against his evil twin, Leon.
Leon's plan is to assassinate George Washington and change the course of the Revolutionary War. If the plot succeeds, history will be as warped as Leon's mind. Now it's up to Noel to defeat the British army, and his own worst enemy—himself.
Termination
In Renaissance-era Italy, as rival houses of nobility use deception and murder to gain power and wealth, historian and time traveler Noel Kedran struggles against the machinations of his evil twin, Leon.
Thrust into sixteenth-century Venice, Noel arrives just in time to step into a trap set by his mad double. Sentenced to torture for a crime he didn't commit, Noel attracts the interest of a sorcerer who wants the mirror-image twins under his control. He will plunge Noel into a shadowy realm of terror, madness, and death.
There's only one person Noel can trust to help him survive—the very twin who has pledged to destroy him.
The Children of Anthi
In the grand tradition of Dune, an epic of adventure and survival on a dying world.
Omari has violated every sanction of his world to hijack the Forerunner and blast his way through a black star to reach the Uncharted Zone—and freedom.
But on Ruantl, a toxic world lit by a black sun, Omari found himself hostage in an underground citadel deep beneath a radioactive wasteland. Here the enigmatic high priest and his horde of black-robed barbarian mutants guard an army of crystal caskets—and plan a bloody rebellion to save their race from extinction.
To survive, Omari has one chance. But does he dare undergo the ultimate sacrifice and become one of the CHILDREN OF ANTHI?
Requiem for Anthi
In the grand tradition of Dune, an epic of adventure and survival on a dying world
The world of Ruantl is nearly dead, its waters tainted and its land scorched by a poisonous black sun. Members of the Galactic Space Institute have crossed into the Uncharted Zone, eager to strip Ruantl of its gold and gemstones. They will not—and cannot—be stopped. Not by the few survivors of a dying race.
But one ancient lord is ready to fight back—even if he must reawaken the mighty goddess Anthi herself.
The Omcri Matrix
In the Planet Patrol, Costa was the best. The smartest, toughest, most ambitious officer in the ranks. Until the day the Omcri
—a deadly alien force of faceless assassins—kidnapped the Kublai of Drugh, killing Costa's patrol but leaving her alive.
The brass think Costa has sold out. And now she's on the run, desperately trying to clear her name. Her search for the truth will lead her from the back alleys of her own planet to the savage dangers of unknown worlds—and finally, into the dark heart of the Omcri Matrix.
The Goda War
For eons, countless races have feared the godas, planet-sized doomsday machines that could destroy all time and space. But no one has ever dared unleash their awesome powers.
Until now.
Brock, dire-lord of the Held, is the only man alive who knows where the godas are hidden. As his empire crumbles, he vows to activate the godas—no matter what the cost.
But Brock has a rival: Colonel Kezi Falmah-Al of the ruthless Colonids. She too seeks the godas, to further her dreams of conquest. So begins the Goda War.
Now, not even the stars are safe.
Reign of Shadows
Caelan E'Non is the son of the land's most powerful healer, and is naturally expected to follow in his father's footsteps. Except Caelan feels a burning desire to blaze his own trail—and possesses a magic he does not understand.
Elandra Albain has been raised as a servant in her father's house. Her sister, Lady Bixia, has been pampered and spoiled, and is thought to be destined for greatness. But Elandra has a destiny all her own.
For as long as Caelan or Elandra can recall, Emperor Kostimon has ruled the land. For nine centuries his life has been sustained. But this wondrous immortality stems from a bargain with the very source of evil itself—from the dark lord Beloth. Now, as Kostimon's tenth and final lifetime begins, the shadow god is growing restless.
And so begins the REIGN OF SHADOWS.
Shadow War
For nine centuries the Emperor Kostimon has sat upon the Ruby Throne. The dark lord Beloth is responsible for his eternal existence. And what the shadow god has bestowed, he can easily take away...
As the aging Kostimon awaits the crowning of his empress, Elandra Albain, forces of evil conspire to destroy the kingdom of Imperia. Whispers of treason come from those closest to the emperor—including his own son.
Pure of spirit, Elandra remains untouched by the shadow god—but she senses his return. With darkness descending, Elandra finds her destiny joined with another's.
Possessing the magic of a healer and a warrior's might, Caelan E'non has risen from lowly slave to champion gladiator. And when the dark lord and his minions overtake the castle, he will find Elandra's life—and the future of the empire—in his hands.
Realm of Light
After nine centuries—and ten lifetimes—the Emperor Kostimon is dead, and darkness sweeps the land. The emperor's young widow, Elandra, has fled the shadows of war with her champion, the warrior Caelan—the man she has grown to love.
But is the emperor truly dead? Or can the power of the shadow god bring him back? Elandra must make a fateful decision—to fulfill her destiny on the throne, or to follow her heart. And the warrior Caelan must stand and fight—for his life, for his love, and for the entire kingdom.
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