Looming war threatens everything Fate holds dear
Fate’s reunion with Finn has given her the courage she needs to confront the dark forces poised to claim the immense power stored within the Keep. But a deadly game of deceit is playing out behind the scenes, birthing what may be an even greater threat. As war bears down on Fate and those she loves, her only hope is to break her blood oath as Keep Guardian in order to lure the final battle to unexpected realms, where surprising allies are gathering forces.
To get there, Fate must fight. She will fight for her childhood friend, whose formidable warrior skills are under the control of an ancient evil. She will fight for her father and dear friends, each of whom are prepared to die for her. And she will fight for the future she dreams of having with Finn.
Will Fate succeed in keeping her world from shattering, or is she headed for sheer destruction?
For my Exclusive VIP List subscribers only: I hope you enjoy this first glimpse of Fate’s War. Please remember, this is my first rough draft and is entirely unedited and will be going through many rounds of changes during the editing process, so please forgive any typos you find here.
If by chance you’ve found yourself here without having read Fate’s Fables and you wish to start with book one of Fate’s Journey before jumping ahead to book three, get your copy HERE FOR ONLY 99 cents, or read for FREE if you’re a member of Kindle Unlimited.
Didn’t catch the previous chapters of Fate’s War the last time around? Or maybe you’d like to reread the last few before checking out this next new chapter? No problem…
CLICK HERE for Chapter 1
CLICK HERE for Chapter 2
CLICK HERE for Chapter 3
CLICK HERE for Chapter 4
Chapter 5 – Fate’s War
Prime Directive
“You’re coming with us,” Brune ordered the scientist. “Kaliena can’t build her army without you to make the elixir.”
Raising all six arms in surrender, the scientist shook his head violently. The squeaking metal made Fate want to find some oil to grease his neck. “I cannot leave. I must reprogram the droids to repair the core.”
Brune glanced down at the floor before returning a hardened gaze. “I’ll give you as long as it takes me to flash back to the sanctuary and have Farouk assemble another teleporter to get you out of here.” Holstering her gun, she looked at Fate and Finn. “You two stay and make sure he gets the job done.”
She vanished within a puff of glinting smoke before either of them had a chance to reply. The scientist lurched across the laboratory to a long panel of gleaming buttons, of which he began pressing. Four hands typed furiously, while he massaged his temples with the other two.
Fate inched toward him. She didn’t want to interrupt, especially if he had a headache, but there was a question she had to ask. “Did you give the elixir to Wodrid?”
The scientist continued his frenzied typing, but this did not keep him from turning his head to look at her. “Describe this Wodrid, please.”
“Well, he’s not bad looking. He’s actually quite beautiful, with an elfin face and delicate pointed ears poking through long silvery hair and eyes the color of ice.”
“Careful,” Finn warned with a playful smile, “you sound like you’re crushing on him.”
Fate’s face warmed with embarrassment. “Ew, never!” Shaking off the repulsive thought, she turned back to the scientist. “He’s also undead and being kept alive by the Orb of Aeternitis.”
Recognition registered on the scientist’s pale blue face. “Yes, I administered the elixir to one such subject.”
Fate waited for more information, but none was forthcoming. “Did it work? Is he back to being the narcissistic, power hungry sorcerer we’ve all come to know and hate?”
“The one you described is currently regenerating. He requires more elixir to restore his depleted multidimensional reserves.”
“Do you mean his ability to use magic?”
“Correct.”
Fate sighed with relief. “That’s good news. Wodrid’s as ordinary as the rest of us.” She glanced at the rune marks on Finn’s temple. “I take that back. He’s as powerless as me.”
Finn stepped close and took her hand in his. “Hardly. You’re one of the strongest amongst us. You face danger without any advantages other than your well-honed skills and courage.”
Frustration gripped hold. She was tired of mustering the nerve to face each day. She wanted to know without a doubt she was every bit as powerful as her enemy. She wanted absolute confidence and fearlessness. She hated the word courage. All it meant was not running from what she was afraid of, even though that’s exactly what she wanted to do. “That’s easy enough for you to say. Try being normal again.” Her sharp tone took her by surprise and she felt terrible for directing her resentment toward Finn.
“Hey, I know what that’s like. I lost my ability to fly same as you.”
“Don’t remind me,” she grumbled. While they’d been inside the Book of Fables, she’d come to rely on flying almost as much as walking.
“At least we’ve got these handy dandy jet propulsion engines built into our armor now,” he reminded her.
“It’s not the same. I still haven’t mastered balancing the speed between the rocket fuel shooting from my boots with what’s bursting from the backpack. The other day I turned myself upside down into a nosedive. I was in serious jeopardy of becoming one with the floor.”
Finn winced. “You didn’t need to tell me that.”
“Not exactly my proudest moment.”
A flurry of activity distracted them from continuing the conversation. Thousands of the spider-shaped droids skittered into the laboratory and swarmed over the bins of crystals. Swiftly and efficiently, they gathered as many crystals as each could carry, exiting the laboratory, while more streamed in to replace those leaving.
“Looks like the reprogramming is in place.” Finn returned a concerned gaze. “What’s really bothering you?”
“Nothing.” How could she tell him she was planning to level up her abilities with something that was once used by a goddess? He’d never allow her to put herself at risk, even if the benefits outweighed a few minor side effects. Besides, this was her decision and no one else’s.
“I don’t buy that,” he pressed. “Tell me–”
The hatch ground open. Grateful for the interruption, Fate glanced over her shoulder expecting to see Brune.
It wasn’t her.
A dark soldier stormed through the opening. Fate drew her laser gun and shot. The air wavered in front of the soldier, a force field that deflected the beam. In the span of time it took Finn to pull her down behind the table with him, she recognized Jessie.
Her best friend’s body was completely covered by an exoskeleton haloed by a misty aquamarine light. Bronze-toned armor fit the contours of her legs and arms like a second skin. Ribbed metal wrapped her torso and steel spikes grew from the spine of her armor. A helmet of fine metallic webbing fit snugly to her head, concealing the whole of her face, except for one beautiful hazel eye. The yellow Dragon Eye covering Jessie’s other eye moved in tandem with her gaze, making it all the more disturbing.
Fate’s chest tightened with a confusing mixture of relief and fear. Jessie was still alive! But what had she become? Kaliena’s infection inside the Dragon Eye had obviously spread and multiplied into more machinery, completely transforming her friend into a mechanized weapon.
“It’s Jessie,” Fate whispered to Finn.
“Aye, I was afraid of that.”
“Stay down, I’m going to see if I can talk to her.” Before Finn could stop her, Fate stood. “Jessie, it’s me, Fate.”
Without looking at her, Jessie lifted an arm, pointing it in her direction as the armor plating reshaped into a long-barreled laser gun. Before the blast of energy struck, Fate focused her panic into being on the other side of the laboratory. Her teleporter activated, and in the flash second of scattering through space, she was standing by the hatch, staring at the black scorch on the opposite wall.
The scientist yowled and reeled, his six arms flailing. He was definitely having a bad day.
Jessie marched over to him. “Reprogram the droids to continue mining.” Her voice sounded modulated and monotone through the mouthpiece.
Dropping all arms to his side, the scientist shook his head with a loud, pathetic squeak. “I cannot. Repairing the core is my prime directive.”
“Kaliena’s order is your only prime directive.”
Finn edged out from behind the table and made his way over to Fate. “Where’s Brune? We need to get the scientist out of here,” he whispered. “Now!”
The scientist trembled and his knees clanked together as he turned back to the control panel and began typing.
Loyalty to the Keep surged through Fate. As much as she wanted to avoid fighting Jessie, the oath she’d taken as Keep Guardian would not allow her to stand by and do nothing. She drew her sword and struck Jessie’s head from behind with the flat part of the blade. The sound of metal clashing on metal made Fate sick to her stomach. She didn’t want to hurt Jessie, just knock her out.
Jessie staggered to one side, but swiftly regained balance. She turned, rushing at her with incredible speed. Fate braced for the impact, but Finn rammed into Jessie, taking her to the floor. They rolled, each struggling and grappling to gain the upper hand.
Fate watched helplessly, fearing for them both. Then she realized Finn was the one in greatest danger. Jessie’s armor shifted. The gun slotted back into the arm bracer. With a series of clicks and sliding steel, daggers formed from the hard surface of her gloves and Jessie punctured Finn’s armor, stabbing him in both shoulders.
Growling with pain, he vanished in a streak of sparking smoke, appearing next to Fate within the next second. “She’s too strong and fast. And deadly.” He winced, touching his injured shoulders.
Jessie was on hands and knees, her head turning this way and that when he disappeared from beneath her. She jumped to her feet, her claws shifting into swords, and charged toward them.
“Back to the sanctuary!” Fate yelled.
In the instant her transporter initiated, her last glimpse was of Finn nodding and Jessie’s blades coming down over his head.
This concludes Chapter 5 of Fate’s War.
Stay tuned for the next sneak peek and let me know if you enjoyed this latest chapter by leaving a comment below.
