Rivers of Orion by Dana Kelly (a court of thorns and roses ebook free .TXT) 📕

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Nimbus stirred and promptly removed all the leads, setting off the monitors’ alarms. “I am awake, and I am refreshed. John LeKay, please take me to see Miguel Santos.” Nimbus sat up, pivoted to the edge of the table, and the blanket tumbled away.

Cajun dressed Nimbus in a hospital gown. “Edison, could use ya help.” He braced Nimbus under one shoulder, and Edison supported the other. Carefully, Nimbus stood. Unsteadily, Nimbus put one foot in front of the next, and they slowly crossed the operating room floor.

Cajun pushed open the doors, and they walked the halls. Moments later, they rounded the corner and soon crossed into the waiting room. “Mike and Orin, it’s my honor to present Nimbus to ya,” said Cajun, and he wore a broad grin. “Nimbus, there’s ya chères.”

With bright blue eyes, Nimbus looked between Orin and Mike. Suddenly, Nimbus’s feet slipped on the tile, but Cajun and Edison were quick to react. Steady once more, Nimbus locked eyes with Mike. “M… Miguel Santos, Or… Orinoco Webb, it is me in this body!”

Tears gathered in Mike’s eyes. “You’re back! You made it.”

Nimbus nodded and laughed. “Miguel Santos, I am experiencing happiness, and I like it very much!”

“I thought Nimbus was a medical fog,” said Malmoradan.

“He was,” said April. “I believe Nimbus is inside that woman, now.”

Shona grabbed her jacket from the duffle bag and draped it around Nimbus. “Don’t want you catching cold,” said Shona.

“Miguel, Orinoco, what do you think?” asked Nimbus.

Orin approached and stood on one side, taking over for Edison. “It’s a good look for you, but I might be biased.”

“I’m sure it’s just temporary,” said Mike, and he dashed to the other side. He relieved Cajun and held Nimbus close. “We’ll get you back to normal in no time.”

“Miguel Santos, you are wrong,” said Nimbus. “There is no going back to what I was.”

“You just need to get your bearings,” said Mike. “You can leave this body whenever you’re ready.”

“He can’t,” said Cajun, and he rested a hand on Mike’s shoulder. “Ya fog’s been cerebrally integrated. There’s no reversin’ that without killin’ Nimbus and the host body.”

“John LeKay, y… you do not yet grasp the scope of the integration,” said Nimbus. “This is no longer a host body. Th… This is my body.”

Mike spun around on Edison. “You said Nimbus would be able to leave!”

“I was wrong, Mike. I’m sorry,” said Edison. “I should’ve consulted Cajun first.”

“What can we do?” asked Mike. “There has to be something we can do for him!”

Nimbus grabbed Mike’s hand and gently squeezed. “Miguel Santos, you need not fear for me. I chose this. Although I am scared about f… facing so many unknowns, I w… want this.”

“It’s okay to be scared,” said April. “I don’t know if you remember me or not, but I’m April. I’d love to be your friend. If that’s what you want.”

“April Sattari, you visited me in my dormant state,” said Nimbus.

“That’s right,” said April, and she smiled. “Nimbus, I promise to support you in any way I can.”

“I find hope in your sentiment,” said Nimbus. “Thank you, April Sattari. I graciously accept your offer of friendship. Where is Torsha Madagan?”

“She’s at the Cavern Lake mansion,” said Orin. He and Mike shared the events that followed the pirate invasion.

As they talked, Casey approached Malmoradan. “Hey, it’s been twenty minutes. I need you and Shona to find out what’s going on out there and report back to me. Catch up with Rusty and Hector if you can find them.”

“Will do.”

“Hey, Malmoradan,” said Casey.

“Yeah?”

Casey tossed him a couple pairs of earplugs. “Use these, okay? And be careful.”

“We will be,” said Malmoradan. He and Shona busied themselves gathering and securing their gear. With earplugs in place, Malmoradan disengaged the lock, and they exited the office. He closed the doors, and they headed for the courtyard. Only a few steps in, Malmoradan stopped.

“What is it?” asked Shona.

He removed his earplugs and gestured for her to do the same.

She shook her head. “No way!”

“The noise is gone,” he said.

She studied his face and his body language. Cautiously, she loosened one earplug. After a moment, she removed them completely. “All I hear is the hum of the building’s vents.” She looked around at the deserted expanse, and a chill ran up her spine.

“Same here, baby girl. I don’t hear anything else.”

They soon reached Cherry Grove’s entrance. Warily, they set foot on the patchwork deck, as the afternoon sun shone brightly overhead.

“Where’s the ziggurat?” asked Shona.

Malmoradan pointed to an enormous, rectangular depression in the distance. “It was right there,” he said. “But now it’s gone!” A mound glinted from within the heart of the basin. “Let’s go see what that is. It might be a clue.”

“Yeah. Sure,” said Shona, and she patted her bandaged forearm. “Just you and me, huh Pops? You know we’re not the sleuths of the group, right? Shouldn’t we wait for Casey? Or April?” She shrugged. “Or Mike?”

“They’re all having a moment,” said Malmoradan. “We can do this.”

“All right,” said Shona, and she gestured toward the nearest tram station. They boarded a hanging car, and it lurched into motion. It drifted and wobbled along, swinging slowly around under the station’s massive, ever-turning cog.

Downward they traveled, beyond warning lights, shop lights and crossbeams. A parade of girders sauntered past. The instant the car reached the lower platform, they disembarked and crossed the empty station to the dark red soil beyond.

They spotted a large buggy with oversized balloon tires and climbed its ladder to sit within the vehicle’s cabin. “She’s all yours,” said Malmoradan, and Shona took the wheel. The buggy rumbled to life, and they drove toward the basin.

It took time to reach the depression’s heart.

At first, the mound looked like shale. As they got closer, it looked decidedly metallic, and Shona slowed. As they got close enough to see details, she stopped the vehicle completely. “Oh my god,” she whispered. “Are those