Dark Rain: Book 1 of The Aetherium Saga

by Jilly MacKenzie

Lenore huffed in amusement, ‘But then Anubis trumps that feat, by saving us all.’ They all laughed, but Beatrice was solemn, no doubt worrying about Anubis’ well-being after her days of absence.

  ‘There is still one person who is in need of help,’ Lenore glanced pointedly at Cat, who’s face lit up at the suggestion, then became solemn and unsure.

  ‘You think he’s okay?’ Cat whined.

  ‘Of course,’ Lenore assured as her mind screamed in fear and doubt, ‘He’s tough. I don’t think he’ll allow himself to be caught by the IGS ever again,’ she strained a smile for Cat’s benefit.

  Axel’s distressed face in the Cirrus headlights, sprang to Lenore’s mind, and guilt and betrayal stung her heart once again. I’m a terrible person.

  Finn knew what tortured Lenore’s conscience, for he had witnessed it all, and he still agreed wholeheartedly with her decision to abandon Axel.

  She needs to know that she is never alone. That her decisions, and guilt, are never only hers to bear, he vowed to himself. He leaned over the table, looking into Lenore’s sullen green eyes.

  ‘I’m coming with you,’ he firmly stated, forcing her to acknowledge and accept how serious he was, and that he would not listen to her objection anyway.

  Lenore studied him for a moment, considering a counter, but then smiled and sighed with resignation.

  ‘I’d like the company,’ she jokingly groaned, rolling her eyes.

  ‘Um...’ Cat’s voice was small as she ripped off a bitesize piece of bread, ‘I don’t think I can...’

  Lenore placed a comforting hand on Cats small arm, ‘I know. I didn’t expect you to. It’s alright.’

  Cat smiled appreciatively, popping the piece of bread in her mouth, delighting in the oat and honey flavour. After they all had eaten their fill, something they still weren’t used to, Lenore and Finn wasted no time and boarded the Cirrus.

  They departed over the farewells of the grounded group, and made off at speed into the pastel grey sky.

  Lenore’s hands tightened on the helm as the small green island quickly disappeared behind them, I have already left it longer than I should have. I must find him. It’s my obligation, as a friend.

  ***

  Axel had eventually gotten used to sleeping in the barracks. The sound of so many others sleeping close by had initially made him uneasy. And much to Axel’s surprise he thoroughly enjoyed the routine and training of Saboteur life. Wyatt was pleased with his progress, and had assured Axel that he would only have to undertake a couple of weeks of induction training before he was a fully-fledged initiate. Axel’s heightened senses, reflexes, and strength were serving him well, and he found added pleasure in the base’s drinking hall and fighting ring, The Pit.

  ‘Being a splice has its advantages, eh?’ Wyatt jibed as they snacked during a break in Axel’s training.

  Axel snorted in amusement, and devoured the roasted meat with delight.

  The Saboteurs hunted their own game sustainably from the surrounding forests, with permission from the Global Environmental Agency and local rangers, which were all Saboteur or ECIT contacts. The Saboteur base was fully protected from IGS influence, and the rangers in the surrounding lands acted at lookouts, and alerted the base of any unidentified crafts. Axel found his global politics lectures hard to understand, but he’d memorised the current allies of the Saboteurs with ease. They’re the ones that matter anyway, I guess.

  Wyatt's voice brought Axel’s thoughts back to the present. ‘Speaking of splices...’ he began, ‘I’ve been speaking to Matthews about my proposed new plan of action.’ Axel raised his eyebrows with curiosity, ‘And?’

  ‘Well, you know we have been targeting IGS communication and fleet outposts?’

  ‘Yes...?’

  ‘Well, I’m thinking of expanding our hitlist to include their genetic facilities too,’ Wyatt revealed, watching his friend’s reaction closely, and he wasn’t disappointed by Axel’s instantly straightened posture and interested expression.

  ‘To destroy?’ Axel quizzed.

  ‘And to release the captives inside. The innocent pups like you, Axel,’ Wyatt reassured.

  ‘Count me in,’ Axel proclaimed without hesitation.

  ‘We’re gonna save so many. And you… you’ll be the face of it,’ proposed Wyatt.

  ‘Me?’

  ‘Of course,’ pressed Wyatt, ‘You think splices and mutants are going to follow a group of strangers? You think they’ll go willingly to yet another compound, owned by yet another organisation?’

  Axel nodded, frowning, ‘They’ll trust me, because I’m one of them?’

  ‘That’s what we’re hoping,’ Wyatt shrugged.

  ‘They will have the option to lead their own lives though? They won’t be forced to join our ranks?’ Axel probed, narrowing his eyes in concern.

  ‘After thorough disposition and psychological evaluations, yes, they will be free to lead new lives, with new identities. Our friends at ECIT will help with that side of things,’ Wyatt explained.

  Axel could tell that Wyatt had thought about all of this in depth. His logic and reasoning was acute, and Wyatt will have considered all angles, outcomes, and solutions. What is there to lose? Axel pondered, then smiled in agreement, ‘Yeah, I’m in.’

  ***

  With the towering sleepy city of Blois in view, Lenore pulled the Cirrus to a hovering stop within the cover of forest.

  ‘We can’t get too close with the skycraft. The conservators will be on guard since...’ she paused, as Axel once again filled her guilty thoughts. Finn checked and readied his energy pistol with a loud click, making his eagerness clearly audible.

  ‘Then we’ll go in on foot.’

  His confidence fed her own, and she was thankful that he had insisted on accompanying her.

  Exiting the Cirrus, Lenore secured the craft, and enabled its standby mode via her OBdevice, strapped onto the underside of her forearm. If they needed help, she could instantly call the Cirrus to their location. They made their way slowly and cautiously into the city limits, traversing the silent maze of streets and alleyways, to the house which seemed both familiar and strange.

  Its once tightly boarded up windows were gaping holes, and the hallways and rooms, which were previously dark and untouched, were illuminated by the dull wintry daylight. Photographs of its old family peered out into the new age. Every detail and remnant of its previous life was exposed to the world.

  Finn crept forward and assessed the charred edges of the window frames. ‘They’ve blown them open,’ he stated, rubbing the black debris between his thumb and forefinger.

  ‘They knew we were here,’ Lenore deduced, then shook her head in hopelessness, ‘Axel... he can’t have stayed here.’

  ‘Let’s find out,’ Finn suggested, moving into the open doorway of the house, ‘After me,’ he grinned mischievously, then disappeared inside. Following him in, Lenore noticed that almost everything lay untouched. Their bowls of collected nuts lay half-eaten by the local wildlife, and a variety of animal faeces marked the explorations of its recent visitors.

  Searching the entire building, there seemed to be no tell-tale signs of struggles or death. No laser holes, no upturned furniture, no bloodstains.

  ‘He was never here,’ Lenore concluded, and Finn agreed with an exasperated nod and sigh.

  Lenore’s OBdevice vibrated silently, and she checked it, noting an incoming call from Deacon. She accepted the call in a hushed tone, ‘Deacon, What is it?’

  ‘Lenore?’ he quizzed, ‘Are you busy?’

  Finn observed the open windows with uneasiness, and gave Lenore an ‘ok’ signal.

  ‘A little,’ she admitted.

  ‘Your location is mapped at Blois. Why are you back there?’

  ‘I have unfinished business. I left someone behind.’

  Deacon took on a tone of urgency, ‘Lenore, you must leave and go back to Lundy. We have been working on your notoriety. Hacking IGS systems and erasing any details they have on y
ou. You must keep a low profile until then, or you will undo our work.’

  Lenore’s eyes flicked to Finn, ‘And my companions,’ she stated.

  ‘What?’ Deacon questioned in disbelief.

  ‘My friends, Deacon. Make them incognito too,’ she proposed, and Finn’s face lit up, hopeful.

  ‘You like making work for us, don’t you?’ Deacon mused with a sigh, then after a short pause, ‘Names?’

  Elated, Lenore blurted out the string of names that would soon be cleared from IGS history, saving them from any future run ins or pursuits involving the shady organisation.

  ‘Victoria Morwenstow, Catherine Sowerby,’ Lenore listed and looked at Finn for assistance.

  ‘Emile LeChance, Finnegan Cormack,’ he mouthed, softly uttering the names under his breath.

  Lenore repeated them clearly to Deacon, and breathed a sigh of relief at his promise to help their notoriety rating. Finn was beaming a proud and hopeful grin at her from across the room.

  ‘There is one more, Deacon. Subject CLXY12,’ Lenore added.

  ‘A splice...’ he remarked, ‘That may be difficult. Those records will be harder to access, and even more difficult to erase. Likewise for the Morwenstow woman. She has familial ties to Richard Lloyd. He will not forget her, even if his databases might.’

  ‘I know, but please, try,’ she gently implored.

  ‘You know I will,’ Deacon assured.

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘Anyway, back to my original reason for calling. I have good news,’ Deacon began, and Finn moved closer, ‘A positive shift is occurring in the passive aggressive battle between us and the IGS, it seems our offshoot mercenaries, the Saboteurs, are infiltrating, and succeeding, in clearing and deposing IGS outposts and communications.’

  ‘The Saboteurs!’ Lenore exclaimed in disbelief, ‘Really?’

  ‘They’ve reopened communication and information sharing with us,’ reported Deacon, a hint of excitement was detectable in his voice.

  ‘So they are allies?’

  ‘Yes. They have proved their worth, and are making dents in the IGS as we speak. But there’s also bad news.’

  ‘And that is?’ Lenore quizzed, dreading the answer.

  ‘We've identified the perpetrators of our satellite attacks. It’s the Greys,’ he revealed.

  Finn and Lenore exchanged looks of surprise, ‘We can’t fight them,’ Lenore declared, overwhelmed by the sudden feeling of helplessness.

  ‘There is no question they are an advanced race, but we have been working on our fighter fleet for decades now. You haven’t seen it Lenore, we’ve made remarkable progress. I think we, in fact, do have a chance.’

  ‘More good news at least,’ Lenore huffed in amusement.

  ‘Yes, hopefully we can stop them interfering further. I’ll check in again soon.’

  ‘Thank you, Deacon.’

  Closing her multitool, Lenore breathed a weary sigh from the weight of the new information, and glanced sideways into Finn’s hazel eyes, which seemed to have moved uncomfortably close in his excitement.

  ‘Well, you’re soon to be a free man,’ she jested, moving away and brushing dust from her recently laundered clothing, trying to deflect the awkwardness she felt. ‘What are you going to do with your new life?’

  The light-hearted question flew forth from her nervous mouth, but her mind swam in apprehension. The prospect of Finn, or any of her companions going their own way, distressed her greatly. I’d miss him... I’d miss them all.

  He chuckled uneasily, seemingly as nervous as her, ‘Well I’d always thought I’d be stuck in Drakestoke my whole life,’ he shrugged, leaning against a wall. ‘But, here I am. I am already free.’

  ‘I am glad you’re here,’ Lenore began, then made a flippant wave with her hand, ‘I mean, I’m glad you came here with me. Today.’

  Finn huffed in amusement and pushed away from the wall, ‘You’re just gonna have to get used to me, Norey,’ he groaned with a smirk. ‘You’re stuck with me,’ and he made his way to the house entrance.

  Lenore rolled her eyes at his ridiculous nickname for her, and his equally as ridiculous declaration.

  ‘I’m not sure that’s a good thing,’ she jibed.

  ‘It could be...’ he muttered under his breath as he exited out into the snowy city of Blois, with Lenore following closely after, pondering his words.

  Conversation was few and far between on their trek back to the Cirrus’ hiding place, and likewise during the short flight back to Lundy.

  Lenore was downcast about returning without Axel, but also having to return so soon, at Deacons behest. I would have searched for much longer and further afield… But I cannot endanger our potential anonymity and new identities. Again, I am abandoning Axel, for the benefit of the group. God forgive me.

  Lenore had forgotten how gloriously green Lundy was amongst the heaving grey waves, and after landing the Cirrus, she was in a lighter mood as she and Finn entered the mansion. Although Lenore had not delivered what she had hoped, she at least brought some good news.

  Cat had darted down the grand staircase to greet Lenore with a heartbreakingly hopeful face.

  ‘The others are out and about,’ she announced looking around, then came to stand expectantly before Lenore and Finn.

  ‘Well? Did you find him? Where is he?’

  Lenore shook her head sullenly, ‘We couldn’t find him,’ she explained.

  ‘But he’s not hurt,’ Finn interjected, ‘He got away unharmed, wherever he is.’

  Cat’s face subtly fell, and she nodded.

  ‘He’s strong. He’ll be...’ suddenly Cat’s eyes widened in surprise as she focused at something behind Lenore and Finn.

  Spinning around, Lenore gazed upon the healed face of Anubis. She wore her usual neutral expression, and stood with her hands upon the chest of a tall, strangely clad man. Dragging her eyes upwards, over the dark attire, Lenore gazed into the unblinking azure gaze of the Devil himself.

  Chapter 32

  Coalition

  Finn and Cat stood, mouths agape at the ethereal scene before them. A pair of figures, silently stood in a corner of the grand entrance hall of the mansion. Anubis had returned, the scars has miraculously healed during her days of absence. But it was the living statue she was clutching onto that drew everybody’s gaze.

  He was the strangest and most magnificent specimen any of them had laid their eyes on. Beautifully disheveled black hair, with highlights of bright gold. White alabaster skin which was marked only by beautiful columns of faint blue cuneiform and hieroglyphics. Lenore resisted the urge to begin interpreting them and devouring the stories they told.

  ‘Lenore,’ Anubis softly spoke, her low voice drew Lenore out of her awestruck state.

  ‘This is Marduk. I believe you wished to speak to him?’ Anubis proposed with a knowing and proud grin.

  ‘Marduk...’ Lenore gasped, and made a quick bow to the Anunnaki prince, before once again staring into his timeless eyes, sensing his concealed grandeur, and millennia worth of knowledge and memories. He smirked at her questioningly.

  ‘I’ve been told much about you, Lenore. About your... ECIT.’

  ‘You speak English…’ she swallowed.

  ‘We can learn languages in the blink of an eye. But I have lived among your world for a long time, and saw the emergence of your modern English. I will speak it better than any of my kind,’ he explained in his deep velvety voice, speaking as perfect as a British national.

  ‘ECIT know of your plan,’ she blurted, her curiosity taking hold of her.

  ‘My plan?’ he puzzled, amused.

  She paused, and mentally kicked herself for her blatant insult and assumption, ‘I mean, the other Anunnaki?’

  He nodded, ‘Yes, there are a group of my kind who are planning the downfall of humankind,’ he began softly, ‘The Tiamatians. Lead by Tiamat, a powerful Anuna with the power to create creatures from the elements.

  ‘My uncle, Enlil, has joi
ned her with his loyal Enlilites. As have a band of Zetans,’ he divulged with a level gaze. ‘And it seems humans too have been recruited to their cause. The IGS?’ he added.

  ‘Zetans?’ Lenore probed, in a daze of overwhelming confusion.

  ‘Tall, grey, beings from the Zeta Reticuli star system,’ he elaborated.

  ‘I know them…’ Lenore nodded slowly. Deacon was right. The Greys are part of this.

  It was all too much for Lenore to absorb, as well as the fact she was face to face with a flesh and blood Anuna. She crossed the cavernous hall and slumped into armchair by the roaring fire.

  ‘So... you come in peace?’ Finn quizzed Marduk with an uneasy smirk, as he too chose a divan to settle onto.

  ‘Of course,’ Marduk affirmed with a nod.

  Cat skipped over and sat on the floor by Lenore’s feet, intrigued, by the situation.

  ‘Marduk is the name you go by?’ Lenore asked confidently, trying not to let her true feelings show. Fear, excitement, and insignificance. I’m like a fan girl... she mused to herself.

  ‘What else would I be?’ he puzzled.

  ‘Lucifer... Satan…’ she replied with a serious glare. Marduk chuckled, understanding Lenore’s assumptions.

  ‘I see,’ he nodded, ‘I am aware my image and reputation has bled and morphed into your faiths and folklore. But they are all... misinterpretations.’

  Lenore nodded slowly, deep in thought. ‘So you’re not... evil?’

  Marduk raised his eyebrows and shrugged, ‘Exaggeration,’ he stated.

  ‘You fell from grace because you despised humans, didn’t you?

  ‘Misinterpretation...’ he pointedly defended.

  ‘The destruction of Babylon?’

  Marduk stiffened, uncomfortable by both her interrogation, and her knowledge of such matters, even if that knowledge weren’t entirely accurate.

  ‘A mistake...’ he defended softly, and Anubis stroked his arm, and led him to join Lenore, Finn, and Cat beside the fire.

  ‘You can trust him, Lenore,’ Anubis assured.

  ‘Sorry, it’s just...’ Lenore apologised, then met Marduk’s gaze, ‘I’ve been waiting my whole life to meet one of you. I’ve know nothing but our own version of events. Our salvaged knowledge from the fragmented remnants of your glory days,’ she proclaimed, ‘I have so many questions!’ she blurted out with an awkward laugh.