The Complete Pendomus Chronicles Trilogy: Books 1-3 of the Pendomus Chronicles Dystopian Scifi Boxed Set Series

by Carissa Andrews

  All this time, I thought I could actually save him. All this time I thought I was put on a mission to bring him back.

  “What you’re implying, though— it’s preposterous. Ammon isn’t my brother.”

  I look into Ammon’s amber colored eyes. His dark dyed hair growing out, revealing a half-inch of light blond roots.

  “He…he can’t be. Can he? How—” my voice drops off as my entire world spins inside my head.

  Not Baxten—Ammon?

  Adrian’s expression softens, as she waits for me to process.

  “If Ammon’s my—” I say, flicking my glance to his face and giving it another once over, “then why all this? Why continue on with the trials? With everything? Why drag him with? I got him away from Videus.”

  Adrian smiles softly, making her glowing eyes look slightly ominous.

  “Not everything makes sense simply because it’s explained. Sometimes, it needs to be experienced to fully grasp its magnitude. You needed to continue on your mission for many reasons. It needed to play itself out. To draw out your abilities, to draw out his. To bring you and Ammon together. To give you glimpses of what was and what is yet to pass. To show you you’re not alone in the power you hold.”

  She rests her final word, letting it linger on her lips like something needed to be consumed slowly.

  Ammon blinks at me, cocking his head to the side. His eyes pierce my own, as if it’s the first time he’s really, truly taken me in.

  His eyes narrow, but he exhales and says, “I remember my dad once talking about my sister. It was before the accident. He’d had a rough day and wasn’t making much sense. He was talking as though I needed to find her. That she and Mom should never have left. At the time, I thought he’d just drank some of Selphior’s home concoction again—and maybe he did. But now…”

  He bites his lip, blinking rapidly.

  “Runa, I’ve always felt comfortable with you. In a way, it was like having Dad back. I always sorta knew with you I was safe. At first, I thought it was because you saved me,” he whispers.

  I turn to Adrian, “How could this have happened? How could Ammon be my brother? I grew up with my mother. With my brother Baxten. I remember my father. He died when I was four.”

  “Much will be revealed, but this is as much as I can tell you. Videus has been tracing your bloodline back for ages, trying to uncover your lineage. He’s hunted centuries for the one who he believes would set everything into motion for his downfall. Look around you. This is his trophy hall. The place where he keeps the pieces of the puzzle to his survival. With their own blood, these statues have been sculpted in the likeness of those he’s eliminated on his way to you. They’re drained completely, and their shells destroyed in the flames of the Crematorium. Your family knew the risks and did what they thought was their only option. Your mother and father separated to keep you and Ammon concealed.”

  My mind is swirling in a sea of too much information. It’s as though everything I’ve ever known about myself, my family, and life has always been a mirage.

  “Has anything about my family ever been true?” I ask, my stomach suddenly feeling uneasy.

  Adrian nods, “Your mother is your own.”

  “Well, that’s a relief,” I mutter.

  “But she is also Ammon’s,” Adrian finishes.

  “How—how on Pendomus did Ammon happen? My mother and I were never in the Lateral. He’s younger than me, I think I’d know if my Mom got pregnant when I was seven.”

  Adrian takes my hands into hers, folding them in prayer, “Runa, if you’ve learned anything on your recent voyages, it should be that time is irrelevant. You are both outside your normal times, but exactly where you should be at this moment.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask, more confused than ever. Everything is beginning to feel surreal, as though part of a dream.

  “If time were a line, Ammon would be the same age as you. But because Videus found a way to pluck him from his timeline to dispose of him, we had to put you on target to find the younger version of himself before he died of starvation and thirst. It took us many tries before we knew exactly where and when he was.”

  Ammon’s head snaps up, “You mean—I’ve been dead?”

  Adrian nods ominously.

  He scrunches his face. “Wow, that sucks.”

  “Indeed,” Adrian says, “it put the rest of the prophecy in jeopardy. We knew you must be found at all costs.”

  “The same age?” I finally whisper.

  Adrian watches me closely with those glowing eyes, “Yes.”

  “Does that mean—we’re?” I glance at Ammon again, his face a painting of confusion.

  “Twins, yes,” Adrian acknowledges.

  “Whoa,” we both say in unison.

  “If we’re twins—then what makes me so special? Why not a Son of Five?” I ask, turning to her.

  “Though you may have similar genetic makeup, it was foretold that a daughter would be the one to save us. Your experiences Runa, your choices are what make you who you are. Not chance, not genetics. Ammon is important because of his blood tie to you, but he can’t replace you.”

  “What about Baxten?” I say.

  “He was your half brother. While he still held some importance by way of blood, his loss spurred you to keep pushing forward. It was an unfortunate necessity.”

  “Who gives you the right to play with our lives like this? Deciding who lives and dies.” I sputter. “Baxten was still my brother. He was the only brother I’ve ever known.”

  “And you would have lost both of them. At least one could be saved,” Adrian says softly.

  A thunderous crack makes Ammon and I both jump. Before our eyes, as though massive claws are ripping open the curtain of reality, the sky tears in two.

  Adrian calmly looks over her shoulder, “My time with you is coming to a close.”

  “Not yet. I have so many questions. What happens next? What do I do with all of this information? I feel so—”

  “What you need to do now, Runa, is in your blood. Now that you know who and what you are—and that there are others, you need to find them all,” Adrian says as the vortex begins to pull her backward. “Once you do, you will be unstoppable. Videus will be thrown out of existence and Pendomus will be saved.”

  “How will I even find the others? It’s not like there’s a special alarm that goes off, telling me they have powers. I didn’t even know Ammon—”

  With a soft pop, the tear closes itself and Adrian is gone.

  “Dammit,” I mutter. It feels as though a heavy weight has been placed on my chest.

  I can’t breathe.

  How do I do this? How do I find the others Adrian is talking about? What makes her think any of it will matter once I do? All of this seems to hinge on me being this special Daughter of Five, but right now, I feel anything but.

  Ammon grabs my hand, “Runa, it’s time you do what you’ve done since I’ve known you.”

  Taking a deep breath, I look down at his wide eyes, “And what’s that?”

  “Consult your big book there and keep moving forward,” he says.

  Glancing at my white knuckles as I clench the binding of the Caudex, I nod in agreement.

  “You’re right, Ammon,” I say. “Thank you.”

  I nod, giving him a hug. My twin—

  My mind is a blur of unintelligible thoughts. We need to get out of here. Away from the blood sculptures. Away from anything remotely associated to Videus. I need to get Ammon to a safer place and I need to figure out how to find the others.

  Dusting off a spot on the frozen walkway, I kneel down and open the tome. Flipping through the book this time reveals pages and pages of new information. More than I could even consider reading in one go. Especially here.

  “Wow, it’s nearly filled up,” Ammon says in surprise.

  “I’m not seeing what we need, though. We have to know how to get out of here.”

  Half expecting the right
page to jump out and consume us, I continue flipping the pages relentlessly. Nothing happens.

  I shut the Caudex, clutching it to my chest as I look up into the snow covered hills in the distance. I have no idea how far away from the Lateral and Haven we are. Or if I’m even in a timeline that matters.

  “We need to go,” I say, standing back up.

  “Go where?” Ammon asks.

  “Anywhere is better than here. This is Videus’—I don’t know, lair? Sanctuary? All I know is, this isn’t our territory and if we don’t get moving, things could get far, far worse for us.”

  “Okay, then I’m more than with you. Let’s get outta here,” he says.

  Grabbing his hand again, I take a final glance at the sculptures all around us. Videus has captured and killed so many people in his search for me. Or my blood line. I wish I understood why. What are his motives for any of this? My brain simply can’t wrap around the desire of one man to want to destroy the lives of so many people, the entire planet, in fact. For what? Power? Because he can?

  We follow the row of statues to the furthest end of the walkway as it leads out over the undisturbed snow drifts. Glancing up at the final two sculptures, my mouth drops open. On one side is a man, his face stern, and eyes wide. But on the other side, the woman’s face is all too familiar. The way the bloody snow shapes the curls that line her face, and the perfectly mimicked badge for a RationCap Chemist.

  My hand instinctively flies to my mouth.

  “What is it? Runa? What’s going on?” Ammon asks, tugging at my arm.

  I blink wildly.

  The last time I saw my mother, she’d been transformed into a Labot. Perhaps she’d always been one, I don’t honestly know. Even though we’d never had the best of relationships, I’d never wish this for her. Never—

  Ammon looks from me to the sculpture again.

  “Is this…? Your mum?” he whispers.

  Unable to speak, or remove my eyes from her crimson gaze, I simply nod.

  Of course he’d do this. It makes perfect sense. Once he knew for sure I was the Daughter of Five, he had his lineage to go after.

  Deep inside, lamentation takes root.

  Unable to stop myself, I step forward, reaching out for her. I never meant for any of this to happen. More than anything, I wish I could undo it all. Bring her and Baxten back. Make Videus pay.

  I place my hand on the curve where her hand meets her wrist, sliding my fingertips in the cold palm. The warmth from my hand begins melting hers on contact.

  Even in death, she recoils at my touch.

  Pulling my hand back, I stare into my palm as her blood pools in the center. As if a drain has been pulled, the blood soaks into my palm and light shoots out of my fingertips.

  Ammon sucks in a breath and steps back.

  “Whoa,” he whispers.

  Very slowly, the light pulls back into each one of my fingers. Lingering behind is a new sense of serenity. And an odd sense of power.

  I turn to Ammon, seeing the wonder and fear hidden in his features. But it’s more than that—across the iris of his amber colored eyes is the lighted outline of a five-petaled flower. I inhale quickly, taking a step back. Blinking once, I look back to find the flower has all but dimmed. With my right eye closed, however, and focusing on it with my left—I still see it there. Hiding in plain sight.

  Literally.

  “Well, my little Everblossom and her pet. It’s wonderful of you to join me,” Videus says from beside us. “Just the two people I’ve been looking all over time and space for. You have no idea how difficult it’s been to track you down. And here you’ve come to me. Who could ask for anything more?”

  20

  Traeton

  MY JAW DROPS OPEN and both Alina and I stare at Kani for longer than we should.

  “Guys, why the hell are you staring at me like that? It’s giving me a complex,” Kani says, running her hand through her hair.

  “They’re just surprised to see you feeling better, Kani,” Landry says, entering from the allayroom down the hall.

  “Understatement of the year,” I say, glancing at Alina. Her eyes are wide, but she doesn’t say anything. Instead, she turns to Landry and tips her head toward the bedroom.

  Kani notices the exchange and snorts.

  “It’s okay. Alina and I just need to talk a minute. Trae, you’ll stay here with her, right?” Landry says.

  Blinking away my own confusion, I nod, hoping to hell Landry plans on filling me in, too.

  “Sure,” I hear myself saying.

  I scratch the top of my head and take a seat on the sofa and try to act normal.

  Kani sits down next to me once the two of them close the door.

  “What in the hell is that all about?” she asks, clearly unaware of the precarious situation she was in only moments ago.

  I lick my lip.

  “C’mon Trae. Really? It can’t be that bad,” she glances at the door and back to me. “Can it?” she adds.

  “Well, I—” I begin. I honestly don’t know what to tell her. How much is too much? What does she think is going on? “What’s the last thing you remember?” I offer.

  “What kind of stupid question is that?” she snickers. But after a moment, her expression fades as her eyebrows knit together. “You know, I have no idea. I mean, it’s all kind of fuzzy. I remember being here and being safe, though.”

  That’s an odd thing to say, even for Kani.

  Safe.

  It must be an implanted emotion from Landry in an attempt to keep her calm.

  “Good. Safe is good,” I mutter, nodding.

  “Yeah, except I’m getting the distinct impression there’s something going on. So spill it, Traeton. I don’t have all day.”

  I shake my head, “Kani, I would if I knew what was going on myself. I’m kinda in the dark here, too.”

  Creeping slowly up the back of my neck, like a snake uncoiling and ready to strike, I sense my headache surging. I wish to hell I could get rid of these damn things. They’re coming with more frequency and the NeuroWand isn’t doing a damn thing to stave them off anymore.

  I rub my temple, willing it to fade away.

  “Headache? Do you need a NeuroWand?” Kani offers.

  “I, uh—” I stop myself. How far back are Kani’s memories fuzzy? “I better not,” I mutter.

  “Suit yourself,” she shrugs.

  Landry and Alina open the door and Alina’s expression is stone cold. Not a single emotion is readable and I stand up.

  “Alina, I need to—”

  She nods without hesitation and points to the bedroom.

  “Thanks,” I say, giving Landry a what-the-phug is going on glance.

  Once inside, he closes the door behind us.

  “Sorry, I didn’t know she’d take the reframing so easily,” Landry begins.

  “What’s going on with her? She doesn’t remember anything and is acting completely—normal. Well, kinda,” I say.

  “That’s the point, Trae. I was able to pinpoint some of the memories, well, more accurately, the timeline in her memory. I restructured it, trying to erase the emotional drama that surrounded whatever happened. Very complicated stuff,” he says.

  I run my hand through my hair and give it a tug, wishing it could alleviate some of the pressure building up in the back of my skull.

  “Landry, as happy as I am to have Kani up and operational…should we be messing with her mind like that? I mean, hell, I didn’t even know you could get in there and do that sorta thing. Were you able to see what freaked her out?”

  Too many questions are flooding in all at once.

  “Nah, it’s not like that,” he shakes his head.

  “What is it like then?”

  Landry paces from one end of the small room to the other.

  “It’s kinda like hunting for a thread that’s linked to a series of memories in her timeline and then, unraveling the way it’s housed in her brain. There are pathways that disintegrate
, though, and you have to be careful to pick the right ones. I just got lucky, really. I pinpointed the area and sorta…scrambled it.”

  “Scrambled it?” my eyes widen as I picture an egg and whisk situation happening inside her brain.

  “Well, more like muted it, I guess. I had to blank out the section so she could let go of the trauma.”

  “Will her memories ever go back to normal?” I ask, not sure if it would be a good thing or not if it did. “Will they ever come back?”

  He shakes his head.

  “Oh,” I mutter.

  “Look, it wasn’t invasive. It was just a slight reframe so she feels safe and secure. In a way, it’s like she was in one of those meditation sessions with Jordan—even though Kani wouldn’t have been caught dead in one. It just relaxed her mind enough to reset and forget about whatever trauma she just went through.”

  “But we still don’t know what happened. What if whatever’s out there decides to—”

  “We weren’t going to get anything out of her regardless. Our best bet to uncover all that is you.”

  “Does she remember anything? Fenton?” I say, pacing now, too.

  “I don’t know yet. I haven’t had much time with her to find out where her memories are at. Or how far back the muted memories go.”

  “Well, then let’s go find out before we freak her out with something we say,” I mutter, shaking my head and walking out.

  Sometimes, the things Landry can do are borderline frightening. I know it’s a good thing in this case, but in some ways, it’s not far off from the way the Helix handles situations like this.

  “How’s everything going out here?” I ask as we walk back into the main open space of Landry’s small abode.

  “Gettin’ weirder by the minute,” Kani says, side-eyeing everyone.

  “Look Kani, we need to talk,” Landry begins.

  “No, really?” she says, thick with sarcasm.

  I exchange a glance with Alina, who shrugs.

  Landry takes a deep breath and says, “There’s no easy way to say this, so here goes. You and Trae were recently out to the Archives and something…happened.”

  Kani’s expression turns grim. “Happened?”