Free Dire Destiny of Ours by John Corwin Page B

arches, but it was a mystery. There was no religious aspect to it."
    "The Schism—Desecration, as you call it—shortened our lifespans to centuries and caused us to age. Primogenesis spawned from the desperate minds of those seeking answers and finding none. They wondered why they were being punished and prayed for redemption." Cephus seemed to deflate. "History became legend and legend became myth. History was misinterpreted, lost, rediscovered, or simply fabricated to support popular beliefs. Now there are those who cling to such corrupted stories as religion."
    "Some would kill you for that statement," Pross said with a troubled look. She turned to Nightliss. "Primogenesis blames you for the shortening of our lifespans. It was said that after your failed uprising against the Brightlings, you joined them in the Promised Land and desecrated it. This led to the Schism, the great punishment which revoked our immortality and separated us from the Primogenitor."
    "Preposterous!" I shook my head. "Nightliss went to Eden to fight Daelissa and keep her from destroying it. Melea, a member of the siren race that probably built the arches, is the one who closed off the nexus and caused the Desecration that took away your immortality."
    "It isn't me you have to convince," Pross said. "The other two members of the Trivectus are both believers in this god ." She loaded the word with contempt.
    I crossed my arms. "In other words, they'll look at Nightliss as the enemy."
    "I'm afraid it may be worse than that," Cephus said. "They will likely order her immediate execution as a sacrifice to the Primogenitor. They believe this is one way to heal the Schism."
    "What other ways can they heal the Schism?" I asked.
    The levitator shaft whooshed and two females dressed in tight, drab uniforms stepped into the room.
    The rest of the Trivectus had arrived.

     

     

     

     

     

Chapter 7
     
    "Chief Healer Pross, it is good to see you," said the first female, a sera of ebony skin and bright hazel eyes. Silky black hair hung loose around her shoulders.
    Pross nodded. "A pleasure as always, Minister Thala." She repeated her nod to the other sera. "You as well, Minister Uoriss."
    Uoriss stood as tall as Cephus. She wore her dark blond hair in a tight bun and gazed around the room with piercing gray-blue eyes. "What is the meaning of bringing these accused Brightlings to this chamber?"
    "I have determined they are not Brightlings," Cephus said. "This is Justin Slade and his companion—"
    "Tibbs," I said, thinking of the first name that came to mind. I'd met Nightliss while she was in the form of a cat. I'd named her Captain Tibbs until learning her real name from my felycan friend, Stacey.
    Cephus raised an eyebrow, but didn't call me out.
    Uoriss's lips peeled back. "What bizarre names."
    I almost told them we were from Eden, but my unfamiliarity with their religion froze my tongue.
    "I think they're wonderful names," Thala said with a broad smile. She turned to Cephus. "Please explain the nature of the false alert. I'm also curious why you brought our…guests here once you determined they were no threat."
    He relayed the story, including how I'd defeated two squads of guards. The two seras looked me up and down. Thala seemed delighted and amazed while Uoriss clearly viewed me as a threat.
    "I find this story hard to believe," Uoriss said. "Surely he had aid."
    "I assure you he did not," Cephus said.
    Uoriss narrowed her eyes and turned to me. "Where are you from, young seraph?"
    I saw no point in disguising my true nature and lifted my chin. "I'm not a full seraph, Minister. I am from Eden."
    Thala jumped back a step. "Eden? The Promised Land? Is this seraph troubled, Cephus?"
    "He speaks the truth," Cephus said. "These two came through the arch on Malkiss Island."
    "They came through a Sacred Arch?" Uoriss's gaze turned to steel. "This cannot be true."
    "The Primogenitor disabled his gateways until we atone for the sins of the betrayers,"