Read Online Guardians of Rhea by Jose Rodriguez - Free Book Online Page A

go to another building and they'll have pretty much the
same facilities, but Vesuvians there won't be as powerful as the
ones here.”
    “So are all Vesuvians are trying to get in
this one tower?”
    “No, no, no. Only a small fraction even
tries, and of those that do make it, even fewer wind up here.”
    The platform finally reached the top. Sara
was reminded of the Great Hall. At the center of an enormous room,
seven Vesuvians sat or stood about a huge, triangular table.
    “Have a seat,” Alexia said. The one thing
that immediately stuck out to Sara was her red highlights flowing
through her black hair.
    “Good evening, Leon,” said Sagan, an Orlok.
He was grotesque almost beyond words. He had no hair whatsoever,
wrinkly skin, pointy ears and a mouthful of sharp teeth.
    “I see why it took you so long to get back,”
Denzso said. He appeared similar in age to Arthur, but his biceps
alone were the size of a child’s head.
    Everyone sat, Sara with Leon on one side and
Marus on the other.
    “I'd like you all to meet Sara,” Leon
said.
    Marus was almost covered completely from
head-to-toe in clothing. The oddity being a long trench coat with a
popped collar that went up to his eyes, gloves, and a tricorne hat.
“Pleasure to meet you,” he said. “It's been some time since I've
seen a human.”
    “As you can see,” Leon began. “Each person
here belongs to a different House. Marus here is a Turin. Alexia is
a Doran. You probably guessed what Houses Denzso and Sagan are
from. Gavin over there is a Liro. This pretty lady here from the
Kanara is Helen, and the half-naked Siena there is Jaren.”
    Sara looked over at Jaren. He was shirtless,
reclined in his seat with both feet on the table. With a grin, he
winked and quickly flickered his tongue at her.
    Sara recoiled slightly. “I thought everyone
on the Council was old.”
    “What you consider old may as well be a
toddler to us,” Helen said. “Everyone here is at least a thousand
years old.”
    “Oy!” said Gavin. “I got four years till I
cross that line! Not that I care what any yous think, but I take
pride in being the young one here.”
    “Gavin, please,” Helen said, tiredly. “Leon,
we were beginning to think something happened to you.”
    Denzso sighed. “Tomorrow we have Khothu and
Hegiran representatives meeting with us to discuss our options on
how to deal with the invasion.”
    “Excuse me,” Sara interrupted. “I understand
the concern for your afterlife, but how does it affect you here,
now? Aren't your dead capable of fending for themselves? There must
be countless Rheans who've passed over. I'm sure if they joined
forces-”
    “It's a little more complicated than that,”
Leon said.
    Alexia spoke. “When we cross over, we become
immortal, however, we lose our inherent abilities. With the
invasion of the Pelasgians, many are being driven to portals that
lead back to Rhea. Our dead can only exist for several days here
before they completely decay, and reemerge in the Netherworld. It
is only a matter of time before the Pelasgians begin to overrun
them and we're stuck with a refugee crisis we can't handle.”
    Sara asked. “Not to sound heartless, but if
push comes to shove, can't you close the portals?”
    “No,” Alexia answered. “The ruler of the
Netherworld, Lilith, opened them. She is the only one who can close
them. Aside from that, it's very much in our best interests to help
Lilith.”
    “Where do the humans stand?” Denzso
asked.
    “My people need me to verify all of this and
for the time being have extended an offer of truce,” Sara said.
    Denzso laughed. “I suppose it'll take nothing
less than seeing the Shadow Realm for yourself?”
    “It'd certainly help.”
    “You're tired, Sara,” Helen said. “Perhaps
after some rest, you can join us tomorrow with the Khothu and the
Hegiran. Maybe with some input from them you won't have to
undertake such a dangerous quest.”
    Sara wasn't about to argue with a mind
reader.