Freedom, Humanity, and Other Delusions (Death's Handmaiden Book 3) by Niall Teasdale (best summer reads txt) 📕

she was powerful and resourceful. She seemed to be what everyone had hoped Carina was going to turn into. There was every possibility that, with Nava Greyling keeping Carina company, anyone spying on Carina would get spotted sooner rather than–

‘I’m going to give you three choices.’ The voice came from behind him and he turned to look. Nava was not actually looking directly at him, but she gave the strong impression of knowing exactly where he was. Her gaze was lowered, as though she were disappointed in him for letting her get this close. ‘First, you can run, in which case I’ll disable you. Second, you can attack, in which case I’ll kill you. Third, and the option I’d prefer, you can surrender. I’d like to know who you are and what you want with Carina, but I’m perfectly happy to trace your identity from your corpse if required.’

There was a brief pause while the man in black considered his options. Then he cancelled his Invisibility spell. ‘My name,’ he said, ‘is Lars Schwartz Malkin…’

~~~

‘Her family was secretly keeping an eye on her?’ Mitsuko asked. It was more or less a rhetorical question; Nava had just said as much. ‘Why go to all that trouble? Why even send her here if they were going to send a specific agent to watch her?’

‘My family,’ Carina began, looking embarrassed. ‘Well, my entire clan, really, doesn’t entirely trust outsiders. They had this idea that a change of scenery would make me change and unlock my seals, but they don’t like the idea that I might suddenly become more powerful and give away family secrets.’

‘And if she did suddenly gain power,’ Nava continued, ‘they wanted to be sure that she came right back home. When I started spending time with Carina, they had a small fit. They were still trying to work out whether they needed to intervene, and now they don’t get the chance.’

‘Not with that one,’ Courtney said. ‘We agreed not to prosecute for trespass if he left the planet, but they could send someone else.’

‘I suggested that I wouldn’t be as nice to the next one,’ Nava said. ‘I pointed out that she was quite safe and that she had made friends here. I suggested that further activities of a similar nature would have both the ASF and the Greylings looking very closely at the Malkin clan. It might not keep them away, but if they do come back, we can hope they do it openly and officially.’

‘Well,’ Carina said, ‘I suppose that’s that explained. Maybe the Key to Darkness isn’t watching me at the moment.’

‘You’re still convinced they exist though?’ Melissa asked.

‘I wouldn’t have sealed my power away if they hadn’t revealed themselves when they kidnapped me.’

‘Oh.’

‘At this point,’ Courtney said, ‘it’s doubtful there’ll ever be enough evidence to say for sure who kidnapped Carina. Unless they do come back for her anyway. Sorry, Carina, but I don’t believe in the Key to Darkness. I also can’t say they don’t exist with any certainty. Someone kidnapped you. That’s a recorded fact.’

‘It’s unfalsifiable,’ Rochester said in a manner which suggested he thought such a situation had equal standing to genocide.

Courtney shrugged. ‘All the best conspiracy theories are.’

236/1/24.

‘Well, that’s everything,’ Hoshi said. She had just finished laying out the pieces of the shattered prison device that had caused so much trouble the year before on the lounge table.

Nava nodded. She was watching as Trudy – the real Trudy revealed with See Spirits – began examining the various parts set out on the table. Turning from the Harbinger, Nava looked at Carina who was sitting beside her on the sofa and looking like she was covering nerves with bravado. ‘Are you quite sure you want to be here for this? The real Trudy doesn’t look anything like the one you’re used to seeing.’

‘Of course I’m sure,’ Carina replied. ‘She’ll still be Trudy. And it’ll prove that my invisible friend is real. Most people can’t say that.’

‘Makes you wonder though,’ Melissa said. ‘How many kids have invisible friends? How many of those are actually Harbingers? Or something else?’

‘Hopefully,’ Nava replied, ‘not many. Okay then. Before Trudy reveals herself, most of you have heard me talk about what Harbingers look like, but this is the first time any of you are going to meet an alien. She’s big. She’s over two metres in height. And, frankly, she’s kind of scary. I realise this may sound strange coming from me but try to avoid firing off spells by reflex.’

‘I think it has more weight coming from you,’ Courtney said. ‘If you aren’t going to try to kill her, then this must be okay.’

‘Hm. Trudy, show yourself.’

Trudy appeared, standing beside the table and looking nervous. It was hard to tell how you could tell she was nervous; she just was not human and gave away few of the usual indicators. Maybe it was the way she glanced quickly around the assembled humans and then fixed her blue eyes on Carina. ‘Uh, hello,’ she said in her oddly accented voice.

‘Oh… wow,’ Melissa said, her voice hushed, breathy.

‘You fought one of those?’ Courtney asked.

‘Amazing,’ Rochester said.

‘Hello, Real Trudy,’ Carina said. Something about the alien relaxed imperceptibly. ‘I think I prefer the illusion,’ Carina went on, ‘but your real shape isn’t too bad.’

‘I’m glad you prefer the illusion,’ Trudy replied, ‘because it’s a lot easier to do than this is. With one person. It gets harder with this many, and I wouldn’t be able to touch these… Hm. These largely broken components.’

Hoshi and Rochester perked up as Trudy got down onto her knees and picked up one of the bits from the table. ‘Largely broken?’ Hoshi asked.

‘This,’ Trudy said, waving the component she was holding, ‘was the power core. The casing’s cracked. Trying to repair it with your technology would be very difficult and a mistake could result in any of several very nasty accidents. That one there is the shield generator. Or part of it. That bit there, and