Free The Last War (Book #9 of the Sage Saga) by Julius St. Clair Page B

closed before anything looked familiar. He heard clanging in the background, and murmurs, but he couldn’t identify any of the sounds. There was a pressure on his limbs but he didn’t feel any pain. He tried to take a look at his hand but something was holding it down.
    He tried to open his eyes again and he heard footsteps coming toward him. Before he could see who it was, they bent down and whispered in his ear, “If you move too much, she’ll die.”
    His eyes shot open this time, and he was able to see the horrors before him.
    There were over a dozen people in the room, all in long, white, priestly robes. They were all holding stacks of paper and rushing around the room as if a bomb was about to explode any second and they were trying to figure out to defuse it.
    “What is going on?” Bastion tried to say, but it came out as a whimper. The mysterious man by his side leaned in even closer to his ear.
    “You are embracing your destiny. Nothing more.”
    “Where’s Lily?” he asked, trying to stand up. It was then that he realized that he was strapped to a table, and the restraints were so tough that he could barely breathe. Was this why he couldn’t concentrate? Or was he drugged?
    “She’s still inside of you,” the man said. “But we devised a concoction that will keep her there and very unhappy. If you do anything that we don’t like, we’ll be able to kill her instantly. See your chest?”
    Bastion grunted and lifted his head. There was a gigantic needle hanging from the ceiling, covered in wires and steel. The tip of the needle had already pierced through his chest and had burrowed deep within him.
    “It’s touching her,” the man said with a sigh. “Now, do we understand each other?”
    “What do you want to do with me?” Bastion said calmly. He still couldn’t move.
    “I already told you. I want to help you achieve your destiny. We’re here to use you as you were designed. Either you’re going to restore the barriers between the worlds, or you’re going to die trying.”
    “No!” he cried out. From the outcry, he felt like he was on the edge of consciousness. “I can’t. I won’t do it. Why would they…” Bastion turned his head and clenched his teeth as he felt his eyes water. He sniffled as he nearly broke down in a panic. “Why would the Delilah do this?” his voice broke. “I thought that they loved us. But I should have known…”
    “No, this isn’t them,” he said. “I’m afraid you’re in Paragon.”
    “What am I doing here?” he asked, trying to look at his captor.
    “You’re the only person in the entire world that could have prevented the Great Collision, and we’re now seeing if you’re the one that can make things right.”
    “Where are the Delilah? What did you do with them?”
    “We cleaned house,” he said, clearing his throat. “That’s all you need to know. Now, don’t think that you’ll be able to get your revenge. It just so happens that these restraints have been specialized designed to keep you here. Courtesy of one of our favorite investors to this secret division. Casimir, please.”
    “Thank you,” Bastion heard someone say. Light footsteps approached him and Bastion found himself looking into the eyes of a young preteen boy with dark brown, short cut hair. It looked like it had been dyed recently. His eyes were wavering and studying Bastion meticulously.
    “What do you want?” Bastion asked.
    “Do you know who I am?” Casimir asked.
    “No.”
    “Hmm. Then Remi hasn’t gotten this far. That’s interesting.”
    “Are you supposed to be in charge?”
    “Don’t let the way I look fool you,” he said. “I’m more powerful than anyone in this entire land. I’m a Sorcerer.”
    Bastion’s eyes widened. “An actual Sorcerer?”
    “Yes. But I didn’t have you captured out of malice. I’m trying to end this war with as little casualties as possible. You understand that if I am able to restore the barriers, then it’s over,