The Final Redemption by Michael Manning (little red riding hood ebook free .txt) 📕

No one spoke to me, probably out offear. It seemed I might complete my mission and escape without anymore damaging personal conversations, but one person was toostubborn to be ignored.

“You think you can just take what youwant and leave?” challenged Penny. She had left the others andmoved to block my exit.

Something pulsed within meagain, this time more painfully. No,never—I have too much to say. I love you. Forgive me.Again my internal voice seemed strangely out ofsync with my own thoughts. “Move. I am not who you think I am,” myvoice answered tonelessly.

She didn’t move. “Elise told me aboutyour letter. She says you’re still in there.”

The magic binding me was insistent.Lacking any danger or logical impediment, my mind and body werebetraying me. I would force my way past her if she didn’t move. “Iam Brexus. Your husband is dead. Move or I may be compelled to hurtyou.”

Her warm brown eyes were wet withtears, and her face twisted as she stared at me. “No. You wouldn’thurt me. Show me your face, and I’ll let you…”

Too much time had passed. My armoredfist came up with lightning speed. My body was moving against mywishes, and I was helpless to stop it. If she wouldn’t move on herown I would strike her from my path.

Searing pain tore throughme, burning along every nerve, as if someone had filled my veinswith acid. My eyes were blinded for a second while my chest poundedwith a furious pain. No! You will not dothis! NO! I heard my voice speaking, butit seemed to come from another place, “Penny, please move quickly.I can’t restrain myself for long. Please, I’m begging you!” Thewords were tortured, filled with emotion that seemed foreign tome.

My armored fist trembled in the airbefore me, scant inches from Penny’s surprised face. It was caughtbetween two opposing forces, and neither of them seemed to belongto me, for the moment I was merely an observer.

Before the inner turmoil couldsubside, she moved aside. The universe twisted around me for amoment, and the pain in my body disappeared. With an odd wrenchingsensation, I resumed control of my body. My feet began movingforward, and using my magic, I directed the stone sarcophagus aheadof me into the open street.

What are yourinstructions? asked Moira Centyr’s voicein my mind.

Since she had nothing todo with my compulsion, I was free to command her as I wished. Isent my thoughts toward her, You’re freeto remain. Help them if you would. When this is over, if I am able,I will free you completely.

The dragon waited for me, and Karenthstood beside him. “That coffin looks extremely heavy,” notedGareth. “I won’t be able to carry that more than a mile ortwo.”

“You’re staying here,” I informed him.“Do as your conscience demands until I return.”

“My conscience?”

I brought out the enchanted stonesthat would form my flying construct. Lyra and her stone containerwould easily fit within, and I had enough power to handle theweight. “They are in the middle of a war, and you’re the onlywizard who might be willing to help, unless you count that littlegirl in there.”

“I am a dragon,” Gareth corrected me,as if the distinction meant something. “And the ‘little girl’ youmention in there, has more power than I ever did.”

“You’re also an archmage, and you havea hell of a lot more knowledge and experience,” I answered. As Ispoke, some part of my mind remained on Penny and the others. Iwatched them in my magesight, feeling a dull ache that was echoedby a sharper pain that came from some other place within me.Matthew and Moira stood beside their mother and Conall peeked outfrom behind her. They were all watching me and none of them seemedhappy.

“Why don’t you order me to do what youwant done?” asked the dragon. “You still have myaystrylin.”

I pointed at Karenth, gesturing at theopening of my flying machine, “Get inside. We can talk while wetravel.” I followed him in, my body still moving with ruthlessefficiency. I couldn’t have paused if I had wanted to. Reachinginto my pouch I drew out Gareth’s aystrylin before I sealed theinvisible door behind me. I tossed it to him, and then I spoke thewords that would close the ‘doorway’. Sound traveled through itjust fine though, “I’m tired of giving orders. Do as youwill.”

The dragons jaw snapped open, and hecaught the small figurine in his mouth. His tongue tucked it awayin one cheek before his mouth closed. With a roar he launchedhimself skyward, never looking back.

“It appears you made a miscalculationwith the dragon,” observed Karenth as I lifted usslowly.

I shook my head, “He’ll beback.”

“You think he’ll help you of his ownaccord? You’re a fool,” said the Shining God.

His words registered, but I wasn’tlistening. My attention was on the ground below us where a smallgroup of people gathered to watch us ascending. Despite mynumbness, I was still sad to leave them. Below were most of thepeople I had cared about in life. I felt an additional twistingpain in my chest as they grew steadily smaller below us.

“No. I’ve been a fool up ‘til now, andI still have a lot to learn,” I responded. Before he could commentI asked him a question, “Do you ever hear voices?”

“What do you mean?” saidKarenth.

I struggled to describe my meaning, “Ithink everyone has an internal dialogue or commentary of thoughts,but lately mine has been different. Sometimes it feels as thoughthe thoughts in my mind are someone else’s. Add the compulsion thatLyra’s binding has placed on my actions and lately it seems asthough I’m sharing this body with two or even threepeople.”

Karenth grinned wickedly at me. “Iknow all too well what compulsions are like. You desire one thing,but your body and even your mind are forced along the path yourmaster has commanded. It gives me no small amount of pleasure tohear that you are suffering as I have.”

I ignored his obvious glee at mydiscomfort. “The compulsion, the geas, that part I think Iunderstand at least. I want to do one thing, but my actions and attimes even my thoughts, are channeled along the path that