Fall of Eleazar: Nine Realms Saga (Withering Book 1), page 1
Fall of Eleazar
Withering, Book 1
Ken Lange
Fall of Eleazar
Ken Lange
Published by Ken Lange
Copyright © 2020, Ken Lange
Edited by Lisa Miller
Cover Art by Natania Barron
This 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 resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.
This book is dedicated to everyone who has ever found an escape, purpose, or even a glimmer of enjoyment in my writing.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Also by Ken Lange
1
Introduction
Hello, my name is Jade Baker. It used to be Jessica Grant, but that, like so many other things, has changed. There are literally thousands of valid reasons why the switch was necessary. The biggest being that I’m in hiding from the Black Circle—a powerful organization made of necromancers and led by the eight remaining Lich Lords, one of which is my father.
As far back as I can remember, the word miracle, messiah, or some other outrageous title has been lain at my feet. According to the Lich Lords and every necromancer I’ve ever met, my birth was supposed to herald a new era for their kind.
Like I give a shit about them and what they believe. It’s my fondest hope they burn in the hell they’ve created for themselves.
That’s not why you’re here. You, like them, want to know who I am. The two big differences between them and you are, you’re interested in me and not who you think I’m supposed to be. Secondly, and more importantly, you’ve been invited.
Why? Because there’s so much you need to know and even more you need to understand in order to shake off the shackles that have been unknowingly placed upon you.
They got one thing right—my arrival did change things. Through the Lich Lord’s arrogance, they and my mother literally brought about their destruction the moment they conceived me. I will be their undoing and in time, they shall wither and die at my hands.
You see, I’m the final part of the puzzle—the fourth horseman.
This is my story.
2
Chapter 1
10 years ago
Siberia
Black and gray clouds blotted out what little sun there was overhead, leaving the world around me in a perpetual gloom. Artic winds tore across the rugged tundra to slam into the Alti mountains that I’d called home for nearly a decade now. It’d been my hope that being here would be better than living with the Grants back in the states.
Sadly, that wasn’t the case.
You’d think that traveling across the world would’ve meant a change of personnel at the very least…it hadn’t. My personal guard, led by Diana, was further up my ass here than ever. If that wasn’t bad enough, Inna, commander of the Onyx Mind—an elite unit of necromancers within the black circle—was sent by Seth to personally oversee my tutelage by Ke’lets, the lowest ranking of the Lich Lords.
For his part, he packed my days full of work. Classes started at three a.m. sharp on our— necromancers—history, alchemy, medical, biology of every known species, etcetera. After that, I was given a quick breakfast to eat on the way as we were hurried to one lab or the other where I was given instruction on how to use my necromantic and angelic abilities—they were unsure what other powers I possessed and I did my best to keep it that way.
Then came a late lunch, after which, I was given combat training. My favorite subject since it allowed me to vent my frustrations. Thanks to everyone around me being a murderous asshole who’d gone through a horrific blood rite to become a necromancer, I didn’t bother to hold back. By the time my day ended, I had about three or four hours to myself to get some sleep. Meaning the thin mattress thrown atop a rectangular carved-out piece of rock looked immensely appealing. As you might guess, that’d done wonders for my personality. On a good day, I was irritable. Mostly, though, I was angry.
Today was one of the few bright points in my captivity. I was allowed outside on my own once every twelve days. Of course, this freedom came with conditions. Such as, staying within a preset boundary that’d been carved into the stone. To ensure my obedience, they’d added enough magical sigils to burn down a decent sized city if I strayed too far.
I strode toward the edge of the barrier, causing my skin to glow. Another step and the light radiated through my clothes. Any closer, I’d collapse and be rendered immobile. To add insult to injury, the others would be alerted to my transgression. They’d found a way to hook these safeguards into the blood curse given to me at birth by Seth, Inna, and Dermot—Inna’s boss—to ensure my compliance.
They turned me into little more than their puppet until I turned ten. At that point, things became more complicated. While I’d always had my own thoughts, wants, and desires, I’d never been able to act upon them until then. They spent the next year doing everything in their power to compel or force me to do their bidding but failed. That was when they switched tactics, reworking the marks to cause me physical pain or incapacitate me through several complex glyphs.
Fear and ignorance kept me inline afterwards.
Then puberty kicked in. I was able to fight their influence and negate some of the glyphs through sheer force of will. That’d been when they assigned a full protection detail to me. Now in my mid-thirties, I’d learned to play along. There was a way out of this hell; all I had to do was wait for the opportunity to present itself. What needed to happen was simple; my guards, along with the three Grant brothers, had to die to break the blood curse they’d placed on me.
Yes, the odds of that happening were low, but either it’d come to pass, or I’d grow strong enough to do it myself. At this rate, I was banking on at least another two decades of this hell, maybe a little more.
Until then, I’d play their game.
The circle I was standing in glowed, telling me it was time to return. It felt a little early though, and I checked my watch to make sure. Footsteps echoed out of the tunnel behind me. I turned to see which asshole they’d sent to ruin my few moments of peace.
Diana, an attractive woman who was a few inches shorter than me, skidded to a halt, concern etched across her face. She spoke with a thick, heavy Russian accent. “Come.”
“No.” I tapped my watch. “I’ve got twenty minutes left.”
Her tone hardened. “Jessica, we haven’t got time for this, we’re under attack.” She gestured behind her. “Ke’lets has sent me to bring you to him, now.”
Attack? We were in the middle of nowhere. How’d anyone find us this far out?
Frustrated, I glared at her. “Fine.” I gestured ahead. “Let’s go see what this ‘attack’ is all about.”
The moment we stepped inside, I winced as the siren for the alarm blared and the lights flashed red and yellow. Diana grabbed my arm and yanked me toward the front of the base instead of Ke’lets’ quarters.
Odd, yet I followed her without another word. Something was happening and she was scared. Maybe this would be my chance.
Two minutes later, she dragged me out onto the balcony cut into the rockface to join the Lich Lord. “Here she is.”
Ke’lets was slender, tall—around seven foot two—with overly long arms and legs. His skin was thin, wrinkled, and stretched in odd places, giving him that chic mummy look, but with less moisturizer.
His voice was low but calm. “Thank you, Diana.” He waved her away. “That’ll be all.”
She hesitated. “But—”
“—Leave.” His eyes glowed crimson. “Dawdle a second longer…hell, utter another syllable, and I’ll put you down. Am I clear?”
Diana paled, stumbled back through the doorway, and closed it behind her.
He turned to me and smiled. “Hello, child, it’s good to finally be alone with you.” His gaze swept the valley below. “We haven’t much time.” With a wave of his hand, thousands of undead shambled into the gorge below. “But this should buy us a few extra minutes.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Nor should you.” He sighed. “The others have gone out of their way to keep you ignorant.” Pointing back at the door, he said, “Inna and your guards were sent here to ensure I didn’t tell
you too much or delve into subjects they wished to keep from you.”
I blinked. “Like what?”
“For instance, Lewis Grant isn’t your father.” He reached out and touched my forehead. “That much you’ve figured out for yourself.” Gripping the railing, he frowned. “And sadly, your mother is very much amongst the living. Insane but alive.”
That confirmed a long-standing theory I had about John, but my mother…that was entirely new. “Why are you telling me this?”
Sadness shone in his eyes. “Because you have a right to know and what the others have done to you is wrong.” A tiny growl escaped his lips. “They want to bring darkness into this world then have it spread out from here like a cancer to contaminate all the realms.”
His words were treasonous. “Why trust me with this knowledge? What makes you think I won’t tell the others?”
Ke’lets turned and took my hand in his. “Because you want to be free. You’re not like them. I know this because I was there at your birth. Unlike the others, my eyes were opened to who you would be.”
My gut tied itself in knots. “And who’s that?”
“You’re to be the end of us—the Lich Lords.” He cut his hand, bleeding onto mine before chanting something, causing a jolt of energy to surge through me. “You’re not free but I’ve weakened their hold on you and made it so they can never bind you again.” Swaying on the spot, he smiled. “I’m sorry I won’t get to see the woman you’ll become.”
Fear and anger crept into my soul. “I won’t let them hurt you.”
He reached out and hugged me. “Thank you for your kindness, I truly appreciate it more than you know.” His tone turned ragged. “Besides, they are not the problem.” Releasing me, he gestured out into the gorge where two men stood fighting a horde of undead. “The Star Born is here and sadly, so is his demon, the Mad God.”
Looking out, I caught sight of a well-built dark-skinned man who collapsed as the zombies tore into the flesh of his legs, breaking his bones. The other was an average looking stocky man with dark hair. “Who’s the Star Born?”
“Your chance at freedom. It won’t be today, but it’ll come in the form of death incarnate.” He pointed at the last man standing as the rest of the undead rushed forward to obscure him from sight. “Damn…I can feel the Mad God awakening…he’ll be here soon.” Turning to me, he sighed. “I’m sorry to say it’s time for our goodbye.” A tear rolled down his cheek. “There’s a spot in Ontario, Canada called Campfire Lake. You must go there, find the cabin, and retrieve the Singasteinn that’s hidden there. It’ll guide you and help you survive what’s coming. It’ll also keep you hidden from the scryers as well. Keep a low profile until you’re ready to strike. Once you come out in the open, they’ll know, and they will find you.” Time slowed to a crawl as he smiled. “My time is at an end, my child. Yours is coming. Be patient.”
A low roar sounded in the valley below. I turned to see a shaft of golden light coming right at me. Ke’lets grabbed hold of my shoulders and swung me around. The gilded light tore through his back and out his chest to slam into me. Time resumed its natural course. A massive shockwave hit us and knocked us hard against the rockface. I slid to the ground with Ke’lets in my arms.
His voice was ragged and thick with fluids. “Tell me the place…I need to know you know.”
“Campfire Lake, Ontario, Canada, cabin.” My head swam. “What’s happening?”
He pressed his forehead to mine. “I’m dying…my burden is passing to you…I’m sorry.”
As his body crumbled to dust, agony crawled through me and his power seeped into my being. There was a banging behind me, but I was unable to move. In a haze, I watched as Inna and Diana rushed out, fear in their eyes.
Their mouths were moving and, while I was sure they were speaking, I had no idea what they were saying. A sharp pain cut through my soul and I screamed. The two women were thrown back out of sight then my vision narrowed and darkness took hold.
3
Chapter 2
March 3rd
Grants, New Mexico
It’d been a little more than nine years since Ke’lets died in my arms and his words finally rang true. I’d met a Reaper—death made manifest—and his name was Gavin Randall. He differed from Dvalinn, the supposed god of chaos and death, in so many ways. For starters, he didn’t intend to corrupt the very fabric of the universe to turn it into his own personal hell. Instead, he wanted to help those around him and keep them safe from harm. Which made sense given he was the vigil, a sheriff of sorts for the Archive.
No one had a clue what brought him here eleven days ago, but I for one am glad he showed up. Since his arrival, he’d taken out John Grant, one of the three brothers, and all but one member, Diana, of my protection detail. Freedom was so close yet so far away as there were two major problems to deal with…Angus and Lewis.
Even with all their power, I could sense their fear. It wasn’t just them either. Everyone inside the compound was afraid. After what’d happened to the others, Angus thought it’d be a great idea to have several drones keep watch on Ambrosia Lake, while Diana and her team mobilized the last of the undead horde they were keeping there.
Once Gavin’s team arrived and strode into the fray, all hell broke loose. Diana barely escaped with her life by shadow walking back to the compound. While his people were impressive, Gavin’s power made them look nearly ineffectual. He called down fire to take the revenants out by the score. Ice tore through their number as if they were little more than tissue. This continued for longer than any of us, including me, would’ve believed possible.
Then in an instant, all the feeds went dark. Lewis trembled and began to mumble to himself that they were all gone. It took a lot of effort for Angus and Diana to calm him enough to explain what he was talking about. That was when he revealed that every last revenant was destroyed. The realization hit them like a gut punch. Somehow, this man had destroyed nearly nine thousand undead by himself.
That was when panic set in.
My phone beeped, alerting me to a text from Gavin.
We’ll be there soon.
A chill ran up my spine. He was coming. My time was now.
Taking a deep breath, I stood, walked over to the door, and opened it.
Allen Richards, one of Lewis’s enforcers, put out a hand to stop me. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“The library to speak with Lewis.” I gestured at the ceiling. “Please step out of my way.”
He cocked his head to the side. “Get back in your room till I call for you.”
This wasn’t his day…or even his week. “No.”
A cruel smile crossed his lips. “Oh, honey, you should reconsider.” He glanced around and lowered his voice as he adjusted the crotch of his pants. “With the way things are going, you could get yourself into a situation on top of getting real hurt.” Venom coated his tone. “Mouth off to me one more time, I dare you.”
Smiling, I lifted my hand and sent a bolt of golden light through his skull, killing him. He, like everyone else here, was under the mistaken impression that I was harmless. That’d be a lesson they’d learn a little too late.
On my way out of the basement, three more guards perished. On the first floor, the thought of leaving crossed my mind, but that wasn’t a real option. I had to stay here and make sure the others died.
Lewis and Angus were holed up in the library talking to Diana, trying to figure out how to stop Gavin when he arrived. I pushed open the door and the three of them fell silent.
