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

few empty chairs nearby. His mind raced, and as he sat down to wait, Orin felt a familiar energy resonating deep within him. It’s her, he thought, and the evening breeze ruffled his hair. Ellylle’s close by!

Chapter 37

Truth in Shadows

A black Humvee pulled up to the curb, and a robot valet approached. Inside the vehicle, Orin shook hands with Commander Richards. “Thanks for the ride,” said Orin. “See you tomorrow morning.”

“Be sure to get enough rest,” said Commander Richards.

“I will,” said Orin.

The valet opened the door, and Orin stepped out. After a moment, the Humvee pulled away, and Orin glanced around. “Excuse me,” he said, catching the valet’s attention. “I know it’s getting late, but is there someplace around here I can do some clothes shopping?”

“Most everything is closed, due to the evacuation. However, the gift shop is manned by a synthetic servant,” said the valet. Its voice sounded calm, and it ended each of its sentences with a sigh. “To find the gift shop, simply head through the entrance and look right. You will find the gift shop between the check-in desk and the elevators.”

“Thanks,” said Orin. He patted the valet’s metallic shoulder and stepped into the hotel lobby. After doing a bit of shopping, he approached the register and readied his gene key.

“Will that be all?” asked the cashier. He stood tall, with a strong build and a shaved head.

“I hope so,” said Orin. “Hey, I don’t mean to pry, but shouldn’t you be in an underground shelter by now?”

“Synthetic servants will not be evacuated. Due to the limited space available, all natural beings take priority,” said the cashier. “If any extra rooms become available, servants that specialize in caregiving and groundskeeping may be selected by shelter managers on a case-by-case basis.”

Orin looked angry. “So, if Earth gets hit—”

“We will perish,” said the cashier. “Yes sir. Will that be all?”

“Yeah,” said Orin, and he completed the transaction. “That’s messed up.”

The cashier smiled sadly. “Thank you for choosing the gift shop. I sincerely hope it met all your shopping needs. It was my honor to serve you.”

Orin nodded. “Right.” He waved as he exited and crossed the lobby. A moment later, he boarded one of the elevators and went up to his room.

Seated on the bed, he took off his boots and his orange jacket, changing into a light gray hoodie and a pair of colorful athletic shoes. He pulled his hood up over his head. Taking a deep breath, Orin closed his eyes and focused on Ellylle’s energy. Slowly, he stood up and turned until the connection felt its strongest, and he opened his eyes. “Southeast.”

As he headed for the door, he heard a knock and found April standing in the hall. “Orin, are you okay?” she asked.

“Yeah. Why?”

“I’m getting echoes of your thoughts from somewhere,” said April. “It feels like they’re being broadcast directly to me.”

She stepped inside, and he closed the door. “I think it’s Ellylle,” said Orin. “Whatever connection she forged between us must be the source of the echoes. She’s here, somewhere to the southeast, and very close by. I think she arrived tonight.”

“What could she possibly want?”

Orin shook his head. “I have no clue. I hope she knows what’s at stake.”

April noticed his attire. “Why are you dressed like that?”

“I’m trying to keep a low profile,” said Orin. “The streets aren’t exactly crowded right now, but I’d still rather not get stopped by anyone until I find her.”

“You’re going out to see Ellylle,” said April.

“I hope so,” said Orin. “My guess is she’s using a park to blend in. According to a map of the area, Queensbridge Park is directly southeast of here, across the East River. That’ll be the first place I look. Then there’s a couple cemeteries and Elmhurst park after that, but I have a good feeling about Queensbridge.”

“Mind if I tag along?” asked April.

Orin smiled. “That’d be awesome.”

“We should let Casey know what we’re up to,” said April.

“Yeah, I guess so,” said Orin. “I kind of didn’t want to get everyone involved, though.”

April regarded him curiously. “You projected to her in your dreams, she left you for dead in your room, and witnesses report seeing a beocrann that matched her description receiving a shipment from the Caretakers when they appeared on Trionides. Forgive me, but this seems like precisely the sort of meeting everyone should be involved in.”

“You’re right,” said Orin. “I’m not sure what I was thinking.”

“You share a strong connection with her. She claimed to be as powerful as you are,” said April. “If your thoughts are ricocheting simply because she’s close, it’s likely she’s right about her power level, and that must be very intoxicating.”

Orin looked uneasy. “Then maybe you shouldn’t go. Maybe everyone should stay here. If she’s as powerful as I am, she could kill you without even trying.”

“I doubt you’d allow that,” said April.

“If she’s mastered her powers, I may not have a choice.”

“Perhaps you’re right,” said April. “Perhaps we will be in danger, but I’d rather face it together than risk you dying alone.”

“All right,” said Orin. “Let’s rally the team.”

Before long, Nimbus, Torsha, Mike, Shona, Malmoradan, and Casey joined them in the hall. “Where’s Lafuega?” asked Orin.

“She’s passed out,” said Shona. “I’m not sure how keen Ellylle’s going to be on a hanging out with a pyro-kinetic anyway, so maybe it’s good luck I couldn’t wake her up.”

“That’s a very good point,” said Mike.

“Are we ready then?” asked Torsha.

“Looks like we are,” said Casey. “Let’s go.”

They exited the hotel together and made their way to the lobby. Stepping out onto the streets, they followed the signs to the nearest subway entrance and descended belowground to stand within an otherwise deserted station. In time the train pulled up, the doors slid aside, and they boarded. Old smells mixed with the scent of solvents, and they settled down on the orange and yellow plastic chairs that lined the train walls.

Slowly, the train pulled away, and Orin