Read Online Bitter Cold: A Steampunk Snow Queen (The Clockwork Republic Series Book 4) by Katina French - Free Book Online
Authors: Katina French
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amassed control of their interests. At times, I've had to employ quite aggressive means to persuade a few stubborn souls. I hold no affection or pity, and that has been a greater power than my wealth or my beauty."
Kit's brown eyes continued to glow with artificial affection, giving them a striking greenish cast. The powder held him tight in its grip. She could probably confess to cold-blooded murder, and he would still adore and obey her, justifying it to himself in some broken loop of logic. While it was an effect she'd engineered, it never failed to fascinate her.
She supposed it was much like real infatuation, although she couldn't say from personal experience.
"I may be immune to love or pity, but not time and mortality. I hold considerable power, but it's not absolute. For five years, I've been putting a plan in motion to resolve these limitations. The answer is a machine no man has ever dared create. Now, with the help of a mentor and your assistance, I am close to achieving my aim."
She beamed at him with fierce, terrible joy. "The ancient alchemists had it backwards. They changed course, believing alchemy existed to bring technology to its apex. They abandoned the search for the philosopher's stone just when the answer stood right before them! Technology was the missing element! Fools! My machine employs modern engineering to achieve the true, original purpose of the alchemists, and it's nearly finished. It only needs a skilled mechanic to calibrate it and correct a few lingering design flaws."
"You have my skills at your disposal." He seemed pleased at the chance to help her, but she hadn't yet revealed the cost. She wondered if his enthusiasm would wane when he discovered the chain reaction she intended to set in motion.
"According to what I've read in the papers, you're a perfect choice, Kit. Not only a tinker skilled enough to finish my machine, you're still at the beginning of what I'm sure will be a glorious and prosperous career. An engineer who was already prominent would have been far harder to secure, and even more difficult to keep."
"What's this machine you need me to finish?" Kit asked.
"I call it the Eternity Engine. It will grant me an eternity of youth, beauty, and power. Can you imagine it?"
She leaned forward, gripping his dirty hand in her pristine white-gloved one. "Once I possess that power, the world will be in the palm of my hand! I can demand anything, from anyone, in exchange for eternal life. I'll unite the republics, end these squabbling civil wars, and create a continental empire under my wise and everlasting rule." She smiled in satisfaction, leaning back deeply into the plush seat.
"There would be a long and bloody rebellion against any overthrow of democracy," said Kit. "The republics have rejected unified rule since the revolution. You'd need more mercenaries than there are men to create such an empire."
Through the effect of the alchemical powder, she could see a mounting distress rise in his expression. His eyes flashed their natural dark brown for a moment. It seemed she had reached the limit of the powder's ability to nullify his reason and manipulate his emotions.
The young tinker's will was stronger than she'd anticipated. If it wore off this quickly, she might need to adjust the formulae's strength. Kit blinked and shook his head. He winced, gripping the sides of his head as the powder induced a state of terror and panic. The effect occurred whenever the powder was wearing off, disabling any subject under its control until she could administer another dose.
She shook a handful of the powder from her reticule and blew it into his face. He screamed in agony, writhing as the sharp particles worked their way into his eyes and sinuses, dissolving to find the fastest possible path to his brain.
Moments later, he was her docile, adoring admirer again.
Chapter 7
Flight Plan
Greta stared hard at the three bottles of luminescent blue formulae on the table. After
Kit's brown eyes continued to glow with artificial affection, giving them a striking greenish cast. The powder held him tight in its grip. She could probably confess to cold-blooded murder, and he would still adore and obey her, justifying it to himself in some broken loop of logic. While it was an effect she'd engineered, it never failed to fascinate her.
She supposed it was much like real infatuation, although she couldn't say from personal experience.
"I may be immune to love or pity, but not time and mortality. I hold considerable power, but it's not absolute. For five years, I've been putting a plan in motion to resolve these limitations. The answer is a machine no man has ever dared create. Now, with the help of a mentor and your assistance, I am close to achieving my aim."
She beamed at him with fierce, terrible joy. "The ancient alchemists had it backwards. They changed course, believing alchemy existed to bring technology to its apex. They abandoned the search for the philosopher's stone just when the answer stood right before them! Technology was the missing element! Fools! My machine employs modern engineering to achieve the true, original purpose of the alchemists, and it's nearly finished. It only needs a skilled mechanic to calibrate it and correct a few lingering design flaws."
"You have my skills at your disposal." He seemed pleased at the chance to help her, but she hadn't yet revealed the cost. She wondered if his enthusiasm would wane when he discovered the chain reaction she intended to set in motion.
"According to what I've read in the papers, you're a perfect choice, Kit. Not only a tinker skilled enough to finish my machine, you're still at the beginning of what I'm sure will be a glorious and prosperous career. An engineer who was already prominent would have been far harder to secure, and even more difficult to keep."
"What's this machine you need me to finish?" Kit asked.
"I call it the Eternity Engine. It will grant me an eternity of youth, beauty, and power. Can you imagine it?"
She leaned forward, gripping his dirty hand in her pristine white-gloved one. "Once I possess that power, the world will be in the palm of my hand! I can demand anything, from anyone, in exchange for eternal life. I'll unite the republics, end these squabbling civil wars, and create a continental empire under my wise and everlasting rule." She smiled in satisfaction, leaning back deeply into the plush seat.
"There would be a long and bloody rebellion against any overthrow of democracy," said Kit. "The republics have rejected unified rule since the revolution. You'd need more mercenaries than there are men to create such an empire."
Through the effect of the alchemical powder, she could see a mounting distress rise in his expression. His eyes flashed their natural dark brown for a moment. It seemed she had reached the limit of the powder's ability to nullify his reason and manipulate his emotions.
The young tinker's will was stronger than she'd anticipated. If it wore off this quickly, she might need to adjust the formulae's strength. Kit blinked and shook his head. He winced, gripping the sides of his head as the powder induced a state of terror and panic. The effect occurred whenever the powder was wearing off, disabling any subject under its control until she could administer another dose.
She shook a handful of the powder from her reticule and blew it into his face. He screamed in agony, writhing as the sharp particles worked their way into his eyes and sinuses, dissolving to find the fastest possible path to his brain.
Moments later, he was her docile, adoring admirer again.
Chapter 7
Flight Plan
Greta stared hard at the three bottles of luminescent blue formulae on the table. After
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