Eternity's War (Books 1-3) (Eternity's War Boxsets)

by Ruben Stelliswolfe

  “I'm not fighting anyone,” she finally said.

  He offered her a smile. “I know. And neither am I. I just want us to be able to defend ourselves if we're attacked. We're amazing people, Juliet. We've evolved beyond the norm, and we have the right to train ourselves to become even stronger.”

  She closed her eyes again as confusion set back in. “I don't know what to do. I don't want to die, but I don't want to fight either.”

  “I know. It's hard. Nothing seems right. If we stay here, or return to Athenia, or fight, or don't fight ... we seem to lose either way. Nothing's right. We're trapped. Which is why the best thing we can do is stay here, where we're safe, and train with Nikolai. What do you have to lose?”

  She opened her eyes and stared blankly around the room. What do I do? If I run, I'll be killed. If I stay and fight, I'll be killed.

  “Nikolai's not our ally,” Romeo added. “Please don't think that he's corrupting me. I just feel that maybe we can at least use him for information, and to train. I don't completely agree with his cause, but I can understand what he's trying to achieve.”

  Juliet continued staring at nothing, wondering how it was that she found herself in this position. She thought long and hard before opening her mouth to speak again. “I'll stay,” she finally whispered. “For now.”

  Romeo's smile grew. “Thank you. It's for the best. And please don't think that I like this situation. In fact, I hate it. I'd give anything to return to my life in Athenia. But right now, we don't have any other choice. It's kill, or be killed.”

  Fourteen

  Delta sat on the floor with her eyes closed, her mind focussed toward the centre of the city.

  “Anything?” Charlie asked.

  She shook her head. “No, I can't sense her anymore.”

  “I hope she didn't find Tahlia,” Skye said, knowing the dangers of fighting Black Dawn in public. “We can't risk it.”

  Delta gasped. She looked at the balcony to see Nikolai standing outside. He smiled and waved at them through the window.

  It took Charlie several seconds to react. He was stunned by the sudden appearance of their enemy. He clenched his jaw, then rose and ran to the balcony door. Before he could open it, Nikolai was gone.

  “Let's not fight,” Nikolai suggested, appearing inside the living area of the apartment.

  Charlie turned and charged once again, only to be stopped by Skye, who grabbed his comrade and held him back.

  “Let me go, Skye!” he roared, his vengeful eyes fixed on Nikolai.

  Delta jumped up and joined in. She threw herself at Nikolai, only for him to grab her and gently place her back down on the ground.

  “Do save your strength,” he suggested.

  “Skye, he needs to die!” Charlie screamed as he wriggled free. He ran at Nikolai once again, but the great man shoved him backwards, sending him flying across the room.

  “I said to save your strength,” Nikolai laughed. “I mean you no harm. I'm merely here to check in with you all and see how you're finding Shizudera.”

  Skye shook his head, knowing that Nikolai always took great pleasure in antagonising White Shadow. “Shizudera's fine. Tell us why you're really here.”

  Nikolai smiled at his friend's astute observation. “Is it not obvious, Skye? I'm here to discuss the Tianzu.” He walked across to the balcony window and took in the view of the city from the eighth floor. “Not a bad residence you've established here.”

  Charlie and Delta exchanged scathing glances, their minds still in a state of shock from Nikolai's spontaneous visit.

  “My apologies if I've come unannounced,” Nikolai said. “I can detect that you two are not pleased with my impromptu social call.” He leisurely walked across to the futon and made himself comfortable. “I know you blame me for Foxtrot's death, but I can assure you I had no involvement in it whatsoever.”

  Charlie stepped forward again, unwilling to make peace with Nikolai. Skye leapt in his path and held his hand up, urging him to stop.

  “Don't,” Skye requested. “I know you both want him dead, and I feel the same way. But the Tianzu are a far greater threat right now. We need to focus on them.”

  “He speaks the truth,” Nikolai agreed. “There'll be plenty of opportunities for you to slay me during our eternity together, but for the moment we need to concentrate our efforts on the Tianzu.”

  “Out of the question!” Charlie snapped. “I'm not siding with you.”

  Delta grabbed her husband's arm and held him back. “He's right, Charlie. As much as I hate to admit it, the Tianzu are the ones who killed Foxtrot, and we need to accept that.” She turned and faced Nikolai. “But we're not joining Black Dawn,” she warned. “If you have any useful information, you're welcome to share it, but you're not our ally.”

  Nikolai grinned and clasped his hands. “Very well. I assumed you'd react as such. In that case, I'm more than happy to declare a ceasefire for the time being.”

  Skye rolled his eyes. “What information do you have?” he asked, his mind wondering if killing Nikolai was truly a poor decision. Since the events in Athenia, he had been thinking of ways he'd be able to put an end to his reign, but also knew deep down that stopping the Tianzu was a far more pressing matter.

  “Well, I also assume we're wasting our time in this city,” Nikolai began. “Why would the Tianzu be stationed in Nishihama? Would Azuma-jo not be a more suitable and logical choice for them?”

  Delta shook her head. “We've been to Azuma-jo; I didn't sense them.”

  “We've also tried Kitadera,” Charlie added, not impressed they were even conversing with Nikolai in the first place.

  “Perhaps you missed them,” he said. “Those are all large cities, and your tracking abilities are atrocious.”

  Delta shot him a frustrated glance. “We know they're nearby. We've shown a photo of them to the public and a few different people reacted to it.”

  Nikolai frowned. “A photo of the Tianzu? How did you manage to acquire that?”

  Skye grabbed the small print from the desk and placed it in his face. “Ren downloaded it from the Athenian surveillance system.”

  “Interesting,” Nikolai said as he studied the photo of the teenage boy and the hooded man. “Although I suppose you've had no luck in finding them yet?”

  Charlie and Delta cautiously shook their heads.

  “Then you've wasted your time, I'm afraid,” Nikolai joked. “I propose that we share any new information we gather on the Tianzu with one another. We don't necessarily have to work as one, but I think you'll all agree it'd be wise for us to not get in each other's way.” He rose and placed a hand on Skye's shoulder. “But if you ever do wish to join me, I'd be honoured to have you, brother.”

  Skye shook his hand off. “Will there be anything else?”

  Nikolai surveyed the room and admired the apartment. “No, that will be all for now. I merely wanted to check in with you. But I recommend keeping a closer eye on Marion. Her reckless infatuation with killing Tahlia will no doubt lead to her making rash decisions. I'd rather not have the Shizuno authorities fighting against us. Having Archibald quash your arrest warrants was seamless, but I doubt he'd wield the same level of power here. He'd probably be obstructed by union bureaucracy.”

  The others stared at him, impatiently waiting for him to take his leave.

  Nikolai offered a slight bow. “I'll be in touch when I've found more information,” he said, then vanished from the room.

  Fifteen

  Shin stared west out the window, watching the sun slowly set. It had been an uneventful day for him, and he could hardly contain his excitement for tomorrow.

  “What are you looking at?” Karatsu asked, staring at the curious boy. The Tianzu had spent the day resting in their residence in east Kitadera, which was usually where Kai and Hana dwelled. The house was a simple one, far from lavish, but adorned with numerous books and artefacts. It comprised of two levels, with the upper one housing the main living area. The
group spoke among themselves and swapped stories from Athenia, with the exception of Shin, who chose to sit in isolation.

  “I'm waiting,” Shin said, watching the people slowly saunter down the cramped street outside.

  “Waiting to return to Nishihama? We were there only yesterday.”

  Shin looked up at him with bright eyes. “I'm waiting to kill them.”

  Karatsu groaned and knelt on the floor beside his pupil. “Shin, how many times do I need to tell you? Killing shouldn't come as a thrill to you. We only do it as a means of protecting the people.”

  Shin rolled onto his back and lay on the floor lazily. “That's boring, master. I want to be a great warrior.”

  “You can be, if you want to. But to become a great warrior, you must have honour. We have been chosen to serve the people, and the Tianzu are not ruthless or violent. We are to only fight as a means of promoting peace. Death is a very final and definitive concept, and shouldn't be contemplated with an impure mind.”

  Shin sat up and stared at his mentor with disdain. He detested being lectured on what seemed to be an hourly basis. “But Raien seems to enjoy killing. He wants them all to suffer, just like I—”

  Karatsu held a hand up, interrupting his dialogue. “Don't ever speak that way of Raien again,” he hissed. “He's our leader, and we are to trust his judgement.”

  Shin glared at his teacher and opened his mouth to protest.

  “Know your place, Shin,” Raien warned from the other end of the house. Within seconds, he had entered the room and was standing over the boy. “Listen to your master, and don't ever question my leadership. I don't enjoy killing, and every life I take is regrettable. However, if it means keeping the people of the world safe, then I gladly accept the burden.”

  Shin stared up at the man before him and said nothing. At times he felt as though he was above his mentor, Karatsu, but was wise enough to not feel the same way about Raien. He looked down at the floor, hoping his leader would leave.

  Kitsune walked into the room. “Raien, might I have a word with you?”

  The pair walked through the small streets of east Kitadera as dusk set in. They walked slowly, not in any hurry, enjoying the peaceful end to the day. Several people were returning home from their day at work, and many children were still outside playing with one another.

  “What did you wish to discuss?” Raien asked, despite already suspecting the answer.

  “Why did you issue the order to attack the Athenian clans?” she asked without hesitation. She respected her leader and never defied him, but also had a strong enough relationship with him to politely question his orders, yet always in a respectful manner.

  “Because they're dangerous, Kitsune.”

  “But Karatsu told me that he and Shin went to Athenia three months ago to fight. Why did you keep this information from me?”

  Raien looked at her and shrugged. “You were here in Kitadera for the entire time. I didn't feel it was necessary.”

  She stopped walking. “Not necessary? Raien, the order you gave means that we're about to go to war with two rivals clans.”

  “You shouldn't question my judgement. If my orders are to eliminate those who I believe pose a threat to innocent civilians, you are to follow them.”

  Kitsune shook her head in an attempt to rid herself of the frustration she felt. “But is there no other way? Is war the only solution?”

  Raien chuckled softly to himself and began walking again. “Are you offended that I didn't keep you informed? Or are you concerned because you no longer believe that combat is the Tianzu's way?” He turned his head and caught her staring back at him with a cautious eye. “There's no use denying it, Kitsune. I've sensed it for some time now. You're beginning to lose your lust for fighting.”

  “I never felt lust for fighting. It's something we do only out of necessity.”

  “Is it now?” he asked. “I can recall a time when you were a foreboding warrior who would kill without question. And now you seem to have become a pacifist like Daye and Hiroaki.”

  Kitsune looked down at the road as she walked. “Is that such a bad thing? I've witnessed so much violence in my life. I don't believe it's a viable solution any longer. We should be working with these two clans to achieve a mutual peace. But instead, you've started a war which could've easily been prevented in the first place. I don't understand any of it.”

  Raien frowned, surprised to hear her speak to him with such defiance. “Careful,” he warned. “You should show your leader respect.”

  She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “My apologies,” she feigned, the anger in her voice still evident. “I just don't know what you're hoping to achieve from any of this. First you order an attack on the others—a decision I do not agree with—and now you're ordering that no further action be taken. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're trying to drag the war out for as long as possible.”

  Raien smiled as he strolled down the street with his hands behind his back, admiring the beauty of the ancient city around him. “What would become of us if we were to eliminate both Black Dawn and White Shadow immediately?”

  Kitsune frowned with confusion. “What do you mean?”

  He stopped walking and sat on the path. “What would become of us, Kitsune? Do you recall the last time any of us went to battle? And I'm not referring to petty street thugs; when was the last time we actually had to push ourselves and fight for survival?”

  Kitsune looked around, hoping that none of the locals were hearing their odd conversation. She had purposely led her leader away from their house so that the other Tianzu wouldn't hear. She sat down beside him. “I suppose our last enemy was the Xing Clan.”

  “That's correct.” He turned and looked into her eyes. “And what's the purpose of our existence if we are not fighting for survival?”

  Kitsune stared back at him, a horrified expression creeping across her face. “What are you saying? Are you actually excited to have a new enemy?”

  “Aren't you?” he asked. “We've sat idly by for two decades, and our only purpose has been to govern the streets of our cities and arrest criminals. We've become nothing more than local police officers. Our existence is futile.”

  Kitsune's jaw dropped upon hearing the words escape his mouth. “Raien, you can't possibly think this way. You told us earlier that Nikolai was the one who played such games. You're beginning to sound as though you agree with him.”

  Raien grinned slyly. “I don't agree with the likes of Nikolai, but he and I have more in common than I realised. He truly understands the purpose of life, and I can respect him for that. My short time in Athenia was the most excitement I've experienced in a very long time. The prospect of existing to kill Nikolai and the others is an alluring one.”

  Kitsune rose quickly and stepped away from the man. “Raien, what you're saying is not the way of the Tianzu. You need to exercise caution.”

  “And just who are the Tianzu?” he spat, standing and facing her. “Why do we serve Kheree? He's a coward who hides in the shadows. I hardly consider him to be a leader.”

  A local shopkeeper appeared behind them, curious to see who was engaging in such a conversation.

  “We should leave,” Kitsune said, seeing the woman in the corner of her eye. “Please don't mention a word of this to the others.” She knew that Kai, Hana, and Karatsu would not react kindly to Raien's blasphemies.

  “Very well,” he accepted. “But search your feelings, Kitsune. In time, you may come to feel the way that I do. It has taken me several lifetimes to come to the realisation that without purpose our existence is meaningless.”

  She shot him a final warning glance before beginning to walk back to their residence. The conversation had left her feeling more worried than ever about the state of the Tianzu.

  Raien followed closely behind, breathing in the warm air and smiling up at the golden sky above.

  Sixteen

  Arabella jumped, startled by the knock on her office d
oor. She had been staring out her window, lost in her worried thoughts. The gravity of the situation with the president weighed heavily on her mind, with no clear solution in sight.

  “Come in,” she instructed.

  Xu led the way, walking inside with Veronika and Guard Two.

  “Oh,” Arabella said, surprised to see all three of them.

  “You need to watch this at once,” Xu said, walking across to Arabella's computer and placing a small drive on top. “I've asked Ms Gunawan and Guard Two to join us.”

  Two shut the door tightly behind them, ensuring that no one would hear what they were about to discuss.

  Arabella wheeled her chair out of the way as Xu took over her computer. “What is it?” she asked.

  “Remember, what you're about to see is classified. Do not share it with anyone,” Xu reminded. She ran her fingers along the touchscreen. “My analyst found it for me. It took her an entire day to comb through the footage, but she found what we were looking for. I've forbidden her from disclosing it to anyone.”

  Arabella turned her attention to the monitor, curious as to what she was about to watch.

  “There,” Two said, pointing to the left side of the screen. “That's me.”

  Xu played the footage; all four of them watched the screen intently.

  “This is from outside the convention centre,” Xu said.

  Two pointed to Tahlia, who made her way through a small crowd of people outside. “This woman was wearing a counsel badge. She approached me and offered to take this young woman here into custody.” She moved her finger, pointing to Juliet, who was almost invisible among the other Athenians.

  The footage suddenly turned violent as several of the people on screen began attacking one another. The scene turned into one of anarchy as civilians started running for their lives.

  “There,” Two said, tracing her finger back to Tahlia. The woman in the suit held her hand high, summoning a ball of black energy.