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

Mike seized the vine and pulled, ripping it free from Ellylle’s trunk. “That was rude,” said Mike, and he wrapped the vine around his forearm. “My mom gave me that shirt.”

“Too bad she’s not around to mend it,” said Ellylle, and she blasted Mike with a fusillade of stinging nettles. They ripped through his jacket and what was left of his shirt, but he remained unharmed. Ellylle snarled, and her branches snapped. “How are you resisting me? You’re no binary—I’d sense it if you were! You must be augmented.” She glared at Torsha. “No matter. I’ll move on to your friends.”

“Good luck with that,” said Torsha, and with insight from April, she sprang away from the roots and brambles erupting near her feet. Growling, Ellylle attacked relentlessly as Casey and Malmoradan opened fire, sending chunks of scorched wood and bark flying.

Nimbus ran to Orin’s side. “I can see that you’re struggling, despite inhabiting your nightmare form. Orin Webb, please allow me to assist you.”

“Hey Nimbus,” said Orin, and he glanced her way before closing his eyes and concentrating on the world seed. “Her name is Nyx, and she’s a living rift in spacetime. She’s as big as Earth, and she plans to trade places as soon as I let go.”

“Don’t let go,” said Nimbus. Quietly, she cleared her throat. “Please.”

Orin chuckled. “I wasn’t planning on it, but I can’t hold on forever. She’s fighting me, and she’s stronger than I am. It’s just a matter of time before I lose control of her.”

Nimbus looked to the heavens and spotted a bright dot near the horizon. “Venus approximates Earth’s mass. Perhaps Nyx isn’t a picky eater.”

“I appreciate your faith in me, but I can’t move an entire planet!”

“Of course not,” said Nimbus. “I meant for you to send Nyx to Venus.”

Orin briefly opened his eyes to regard her. “I’m open to suggestions.”

“Can you not project in this state?” asked Nimbus.

Orin nodded, and he smiled. “I suppose I can.” In a flash, he appeared in the upper atmosphere, taking Nyx into his hands. He paused to gaze upon the clouds and scars of light that traced Earth’s shores, that flowed across her continents. Come with me, he thought.

In an instant, he appeared in high orbit over Venus. Far below, her thick layers of endless storms raged above unseen continental masses. He held Nyx out, slowly releasing the world seed. Eat well, he thought, and Nyx raced down through the clouds. Slowly, the planet’s mass fell into her core, strained through the rift as the nightmare planet emerged.

Effulgent and prismatic at first, soil and stone began to appear on the Venusian land masses. Winds whipped along as oxygen-rich air rolled across the planet’s surface, and oceans welled up from the depths of the rift. Clouds gathered in the sky, and green sprouted from the soil.

Orin smiled to himself and fell back into his body on Earth.

“Nyx has been sated,” he said, and he lowered his arms to his sides. His body reverted to normal. “Ellylle, you should know that Venus has been remade according to your vision. She’s beautiful now, overflowing with life. Thank you for your gift.” He glanced at Nimbus. “And thanks for the suggestion.”

“No,” whispered Ellylle. Her trunk smoldered. Most of her branches lay scattered about the ground, scorched and lifeless. “That’s impossible!”

“You poor little thing,” said Casey. “All that hard work for nothing. A week from now, no one will even remember who you are.”

“Don’t you pity me,” said Ellylle. Looking to the stars, she used her powers to broadcast to the captains of her fleet. [Starships of the Forest of Worlds, heed the call of your Eternal Vanam! Destroy the starships of our enemies! Destroy them all!]

Orin quickly dialed Eridani.

“Hey Orin,” she said, her voice a little hoarse. “Nimbus said you were—”

“The Forest of Worlds is about to attack!” said Orin. “You have to warn the others!”

Eridani leaned over the conn. “Judging from the chatter, the rest of the fleet is already aware. The beocranns might pack a punch, but they refrained from engaging the spheres. It’ll be at least a minute before any of their weapons are primed.” She scanned the tactical data. “Multiple friendlies are ready to engage. If you have any sway with her, tell her to call off her armada before it gets wiped out.”

“Ellylle, stop!” said Orin. “Call off your ships! They won’t last two minutes up there.”

“Our technology is unsurpassed!” said Ellylle. “Cower before my armada! Rue the day you crossed paths with me!”

“And… they’ve been neutralized,” said Eridani. “Yikes. It’s like a forest fire up here!”

Ellylle shrieked. “I’ll never stop! You’ll have to kill me first!” In a flash, she submerged, burrowing through the ground. She crossed the East River and continued her subterranean charge until she reached the municipal starport where Big Huey awaited her. Water cascaded from her limbs as she stomped across the tarmac toward the boarding ramp.

She paused. Within the shuttle, light flared, and she watched as Zella torched one of her world seeds. When it was white hot, she grabbed it with tongs and dropped it into a crate, where it met a thin layer of liquid oxygen. The diamond coating burned away, and they all listened to the quiet death throes of the entity that had been suspended within.

“That was the last one,” said Zella. “Say goodbye, ye daft weed!” Reggie and Lomomu stood protectively on either side of her.

“No,” said Ellylle. “How could you?” Taking on a furious visage, she howled. “Traitors! I’ll kill you. I’ll kill all of you!” Briars and lashing vines erupted from her dwindling body as she advanced, but her limbs moved slower, and slower, and… slower…

From all around her flowed a howling chorus of machinery and dissonant tones. Sliced through the air itself, blinding white light spilled forth. Time stopped as Persephone appeared from within the rift. “Ellylle,” she said. “You look lost.”

“Persephone! I’m so glad you’re here. I need your