Dark Voyage Matters of the Soul, page 1
Dark Voyage
MATTERS OF THE SOUL
THE CHILDREN OF THE GODS
BOOK SEVENTY-NINE
I. T. LUCAS
Also by I. T. Lucas
THE CHILDREN OF THE GODS ORIGINS
1: Goddess’s Choice
2: Goddess’s Hope
THE CHILDREN OF THE GODS
Dark Stranger
1: Dark Stranger The Dream
2: Dark Stranger Revealed
3: Dark Stranger Immortal
Dark Enemy
4: Dark Enemy Taken
5: Dark Enemy Captive
6: Dark Enemy Redeemed
Kri & Michael’s Story
6.5: My Dark Amazon
Dark Warrior
7: Dark Warrior Mine
8: Dark Warrior’s Promise
9: Dark Warrior’s Destiny
10: Dark Warrior’s Legacy
Dark Guardian
11: Dark Guardian Found
12: Dark Guardian Craved
13: Dark Guardian’s Mate
Dark Angel
14: Dark Angel's Obsession
15: Dark Angel's Seduction
16: Dark Angel's Surrender
Dark Operative
17: Dark Operative: A Shadow of Death
18: Dark Operative: A Glimmer of Hope
19: Dark Operative: The Dawn of Love
Dark Survivor
20: Dark Survivor Awakened
21: Dark Survivor Echoes of Love
22: Dark Survivor Reunited
Dark Widow
23: Dark Widow’s Secret
24: Dark Widow’s Curse
25: Dark Widow’s Blessing
Dark Dream
26: Dark Dream’s Temptation
27: Dark Dream’s Unraveling
28: Dark Dream’s Trap
Dark Prince
29: Dark Prince’s Enigma
30: Dark Prince’s Dilemma
31: Dark Prince’s Agenda
Dark Queen
32: Dark Queen’s Quest
33: Dark Queen’s Knight
34: Dark Queen’s Army
Dark Spy
35: Dark Spy Conscripted
36: Dark Spy’s Mission
37: Dark Spy’s Resolution
Dark Overlord
38: Dark Overlord New Horizon
39: Dark Overlord’s Wife
40: Dark Overlord’s Clan
Dark Choices
41: Dark Choices The Quandary
42: Dark Choices Paradigm Shift
43: Dark Choices The Accord
Dark Secrets
44: Dark Secrets Resurgence
45: Dark Secrets Unveiled
46: Dark Secrets Absolved
Dark Haven
47: Dark Haven Illusion
48: Dark Haven Unmasked
49: Dark Haven Found
Dark Power
50: Dark Power Untamed
51: Dark Power Unleashed
52: Dark Power Convergence
Dark Memories
53: Dark Memories Submerged
54: Dark Memories Emerge
55: Dark Memories Restored
Dark Hunter
56: Dark Hunter’s Query
57: Dark Hunter’s Prey
58: Dark Hunter's Boon
Dark God
59: Dark God’s Avatar
60: Dark God’s Reviviscence
61: Dark God Destinies Converge
Dark Whispers
62: Dark Whispers From The Past
63: Dark Whispers From Afar
64: Dark Whispers From Beyond
Dark Gambit
65: Dark Gambit The Pawn
66: Dark Gambit The Play
67: Dark Gambit Reliance
Dark Alliance
68: Dark Alliance Kindred Souls
69: Dark Alliance Turbulent Waters
70: Dark Alliance Perfect Storm
Dark Healing
71: Dark Healing Blind Justice
72: Dark Healing Blind Trust
73: Dark healing Blind Curve
Dark Encounters
74: Dark Encounters of the Close Kind
75: Dark Encounters of the Unexpected Kind
76: Dark Encounters of the Fated Kind
Dark Voyage
77: Dark Voyage Matters of the Heart
78: Dark Voyage Matters of the Mind
79: Dark Voyage Matters of the Soul
Dark Horizon
80: Dark Horizon New Dawn
PERFECT MATCH
Vampire’s Consort
King’s Chosen
Captain’s Conquest
The Thief Who Loved Me
My Merman Prince
The Dragon King
My Werewolf Romeo
The Channeler's Companion
The Valkyrie & The Witch
The Children of the Gods Series Sets
Books 1-3: Dark Stranger trilogy—Includes a bonus short story: The Fates take a Vacation
Books 4-6: Dark Enemy Trilogy —Includes a bonus short story—The Fates' Post-Wedding Celebration
Books 7-10: Dark Warrior Tetralogy
Books 11-13: Dark Guardian Trilogy
Books 14-16: Dark Angel Trilogy
Books 17-19: Dark Operative Trilogy
Books 20-22: Dark Survivor Trilogy
Books 23-25: Dark Widow Trilogy
Books 26-28: Dark Dream Trilogy
Books 29-31: Dark Prince Trilogy
Books 32-34: Dark Queen Trilogy
Books 35-37: Dark Spy Trilogy
Books 38-40: Dark Overlord Trilogy
Books 41-43: Dark Choices Trilogy
Books 44-46: Dark Secrets Trilogy
Books 47-49: Dark Haven Trilogy
Books 50-52: Dark Power Trilogy
Books 53-55: Dark Memories Trilogy
Books 56-58: Dark Hunter Trilogy
Books 59-61: Dark God Trilogy
Books 62-64: Dark Whispers Trilogy
Books 65-67: Dark Gambit Trilogy
Books 68-70: Dark Alliance Trilogy
Books 71-73: Dark Healing Trilogy
Books 74-76: Dark Encounters Trilogy
MEGA SETS
include character lists
The Children of the Gods: Books 1-6
The Children of the Gods: Books 6.5-10
PERFECT MATCH BUNDLE 1
CHECK OUT THE SPECIALS ON
ITLUCAS.COM
(https://itlucas.com/specials)
FOR EXCLUSIVE PEEKS AT UPCOMING RELEASES &
A FREE I. T. LUCAS COMPANION BOOK
Join my VIP Club and gain access to the VIP portal at itlucas.com
To Join, go to:
http://eepurl.com/blMTpD
Find out more details about what’s included with your free membership on the book's last page.
TRY THE CHILDREN OF THE GODS SERIES ON
AUDIBLE
2 FREE audiobooks with your new Audible subscription!
Dark Voyage Matters of the Soul is a work of fiction! Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any similarity to actual persons, organizations and/or events is purely coincidental.
Copyright © 2024 by I. T. Lucas
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Published by Evening Star Press
EveningStarPress.com
ISBN-13: 978-1-962067-09-6
Contents
1. Syssi
2. Frankie
3. Dagor
4. Kian
5. Annani
6. Jacki
7. Frankie
8. Dagor
9. Syssi
10. Kian
11. Syssi
12. Kian
13. Annani
14. Kian
15. Syssi
16. Dagor
17. Frankie
18. Kian
19. Dagor
20. Frankie
21. Ani
22. Frankie
23. Dagor
24. Kian
25. Kalugal
26. Kian
27. Wonder
28. Aru
29. Frankie
30. Dagor
31. Annani
32. Dagor
33. Frankie
34. Kian
35. Frankie
36. Karen
37. Gilbert
38. Negal
39. Dagor
40. Frankie
41. Kalugal
42. Kian
43. Dagor
44. Frankie
45. Anandur
46. Dagor
47. Wonder
48. Frankie
49. Anandur
50. Dagor
51. Anandur
52. Wonder
53. Annani
54. Anandur
55. Wonder
56. Frankie
57. Negal
58. Karen
59. Gilbert
60. Karen
61. Gilbert
62. Negal
63. Gilbert
64. Dagor
65. Frankie
66. Dagor
67. Kalugal
68. Dagor
69. Kalugal
70. Dagor
71. Dalhu
72. Dagor
73. Kalugal
74. Dagor
75. Kalugal
76. Kian
77. Frankie
78. Dagor
79. Frankie
Note
The Children of the Gods Series
The Perfect Match Series
FOR EXCLUSIVE PEEKS
Syssi
Ever since Syssi had heard Jacki recount the vision that revealed the atrocities the cartel monsters had committed, she couldn't shake off the rage and frustration that clung to her like radioactive sludge.
The monsters had slaughtered those poor villagers just because they could. There had been no one to defend the defenseless. The atrocious act was probably perpetrated to serve as a warning to others to keep their heads down and comply with every demand the cartel thugs made, even if they asked that virgins and babies be delivered to them to be violated or sacrificed to whatever demon they served.
If the Eternal King learned what level of evil the gods' creations were still capable of despite all the progress that had been made, he would order that the entire planet be destroyed. It wouldn't be because he cared about the pain of innocents, but because he would be disgusted and ashamed of what his people had created. Humans had been enhanced with the help of the gods' superior genetic material, and the king wouldn't want creations like these to exist and mar the gods' reputation.
Syssi reached for her daughter. "Ready to see Nana, sweetie?"
As she lifted Allegra, her daughter's soft breaths whispered against her neck, easing some of the tension, and the baby's sweet scent soothed the turmoil in her head. Slowly, the tight coil of anger and frustration unraveled, and the warmth from her daughter's little body seeped into her own, relaxing Syssi's stiff shoulders and releasing some of the vise-like discomfort that had settled over her heart.
Glancing up at her with eyes that appeared to know more than they should, Allegra grabbed her favorite rag doll, hugged it to her chest with one hand, and waved with the other at Kian. "Go, bye-bye."
It seemed like her vocabulary was growing by the day, but it wasn't surprising that she was learning to speak earlier than other babies her age. Allegra had started communicating clearly with only minor changes in pitch and sound almost from day one.
"Daddy is coming too." Syssi smiled, hoping that Allegra's excitement over seeing her grandmother would distract her from sensing the turmoil raging inside her mother.
"Are you okay?" Kian's forehead furrowed with concern.
Damn, Syssi had been doing her best to hide the storm raging inside her from him, and so far, it had worked. Her mate wasn't the most empathetic fellow, but he knew her well, and the only reason he hadn't seen past her composed façade before was that he had too much on his plate. The last thing he needed was to deal with her emotional meltdown on top of everything else.
Her only option was to fake it and deflect his attention to another subject.
Syssi plastered a bright smile on her face. "I'm excited about tonight's wedding. I have no doubt that Anandur is planning some goofing around. I just can't imagine what he will come up with."
Kian grimaced. "Neither can I, which worries me. Hopefully, he will think of his bride and not embarrass Wonder in front of the entire clan with something too outlandish."
"Maybe you should have a word with him when you guys meet for whiskey and cigars later?"
Kian chuckled. "I'm afraid of bringing it up in case he hasn't thought of it, and he gets the idea from me."
"Good point." Syssi kissed their daughter's cheek.
"Na-ni," Allegra said with a commanding tone and pointed toward the door.
"Are you excited about having breakfast with Nana, sweetie?" Syssi asked.
"Na-na." Allegra nodded.
Syssi was excited, too, but for reasons of her own. Finally, she was going to see the amulet that had enhanced Jacki's prophetic ability and enabled the rescue of the surviving victims.
It scared the hell out of her, but she was going to touch that thing anyway.
Hiding her anxiety and fear from Kian hadn't been easy. If she were still human, he would have smelled her emotions and realized what her calm façade was hiding and what she was planning, but she was immortal now, and the emotional scents she emitted were not as strong as they were when she was a human.
Kian didn't want her to touch the amulet, and she wasn't too eager to do so either. She wasn't sure she could stomach what Jacki had seen, but if there was a chance that she could discover the identities of the masterminds behind the atrocities, she was willing to suffer through the horror so she could provide the information to Kian, and then he could mobilize the clan to wipe them off the face of the Earth.
Kian made it to the door first and held it open for her. "I wonder if my mother has told Allegra to call her Annani or if she picked it up from others."
"She repeats what she hears." Syssi managed to keep her tone casual as she entered the wide hallway. "That's why I call your mother Nana or Grandma when Allegra is around."
"Yeah, I do too. But she still says Na-ni more than Na-na."
"It's confusing." Syssi stroked Allegra's soft hair. "The two sound so similar."
The small talk was helping, but her heart was still racing as fear mixed with excitement.
"Mama?" Allegra put her tiny hand on Syssi's chest, her big eyes scanning her face with worry.
It was much more difficult to fool Allegra than to fool her father.
"Yes, sweetie." Syssi kissed the top of her head. "Mama, Dada, and Allegra are going to Nana's cabin, and your aunts and uncles will be there too."
She knew that hadn't been what her daughter had tried to convey in her one-word question, but she had to keep Kian in the dark about it for a little longer. If he guessed her plan, he would give her another lecture about why she shouldn't touch the amulet, saying all the things she knew to be true and couldn't dispute. The visions would upset her, she wouldn't be able to sleep for weeks or even months, and it would affect Allegra.
It already had.
There was very little that escaped their daughter's notice. She might not understand much of it, but she sensed and internalized her mother's emotions.
"Nana." Allegra pointed at the door on the other side of the corridor.
The Clan Mother's cabin was the most luxurious on the ship, but Syssi couldn't tell the difference between theirs and the goddess's, and it didn't really matter to her. What mattered was that she had her family with her, the one by birth and the one by marriage, and she felt incredibly blessed and guilty.
She was experiencing many of the classic symptoms of survivor's guilt even though she hadn't lived through what had happened to those villagers.
The poor women on the lower deck had lost everyone they loved in terrible and gruesome ways, and then they had been violated by the monsters who had done it.
Thinking of them and their immeasurable suffering made Syssi's skin prickle with heat, and the tips of her fingers tingle. It was an odd and disturbing reaction, given that she was immortal now, and her blood pressure wasn't supposed to spike when she was upset or angry.
Perhaps it was the rage she was trying to stifle for the sake of her husband and daughter.
The monsters were dead, torn to pieces by the Guardians, and that gave her a small measure of satisfaction, but vengeance wasn't enough. It couldn't bring back all the innocent people they had barbarically and sadistically slaughtered, the children, the mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers that they had maimed and violated before killing.
There was no erasing the images Jacki's words had etched on her psyche, and they were going to haunt her for the rest of her immortal life.
That was why touching the amulet and taking the risk of summoning a terrible vision no longer terrified her as much as it should.
Syssi was already traumatized just by what her mind was reconstructing on repeat from Jacki's account, and her sleep was disturbed because the images haunted her in her dreams, so if she could gain more information by exposing herself to the amulet's power, things shouldn't get markedly worse.
As Kian rang the doorbell, Syssi hugged Allegra tighter, plastered a bright smile on her face, and summoned courage she didn't feel.
All the females in the cabin she was about to enter were so much more resilient than she was. Annani and her daughters were strong and brave, Jacki had nerves of steel and seemed almost unaffected by what she'd seen in the vision, and Syssi refused to be the only weakling who couldn't face suffering and horror without falling apart.
The door opened, and Oridu bowed deeply. "Good morning, Mistress Syssi, Mistress Allegra, and Master Kian. The Clan Mother awaits you at the breakfast table."
