Read Online Resonance 4th Edits - Bleeding Worlds Bk 3 by Justus R. Stone - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Justus R. Stone
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was just bad timing.”
“You mean you’re an oracle?” Jason asked.
Adrastia chuckled.
“No. I wish I could see things that clearly. I…just have a sense of how things should go. Again, I can’t explain it all—“
“Or you mean you won’t.”
She sighed.
“I would, but Gwynn deserves those answers first. Not,” she jumped on the word to prevent Jason from interrupting, “because you are less deserving, but because the answers impact Gwynn far more. Please just believe I never meant for you to come to harm. It was a risk giving the two of you to the Valkyries, but I felt it was necessary.”
“Did you know what would happen? Did you know Gwynn would cause the Cataclysm?”
Adrastia’s tongue darted out, moistening her lips.
“No, I didn’t. That was a possibility I never…expected.”
Jason took a step closer to her.
“Would you have kept him away from Asgard if you’d known?”
The steady rhythm of her fingers stumbled and fell silent.
“I…I don’t know,” she finally replied, and resumed typing.
Jason took a moment to turn his attention to his team. Marie moved in blinding speed along the entrances and windows, stopping under cover long enough to bring a set of binoculars up and scan the direction she faced. Caelum had climbed all the way to the eleventh tier, his eyes following Marie, assuming she would signal his target. Brandt seemed to be inspecting the structure, trying to calculate how much damage he could inflict without bringing the whole thing down on their heads.
“I’m surprised you haven’t asked the question bothering you most,” Adrastia said from behind him.
He turned to find her jade eyes focused on him.
“And what’s that?”
A slight smile curled around her lips.
“Where have I been these past seven years? I mean, it has to be part of the reason you don’t trust me. I can see they haven’t been happy years for any of you. Reversing the situation, I’d be wondering “if this woman cares and is on our side, why hasn’t she been helping us?””
Jason willed his body to stay relaxed—the tremor of frustration and anger made it difficult.
“So are you a mind reader now?” he asked.
She took a quick glance at the computer screen.
“Forty percent copied,” she reported, returning her focus to him. “No, I’m not a mind reader. I’ve just spent enough years around people that I read them pretty well. Besides, like I said, if our roles were reversed, that would be my question.”
“And is it one you will answer?” Jason made no attempt to keep the snark out of his voice.
Since her return, Adrastia’s eyes and smile spoke of a gleeful mischief—it had been one more thing pissing Jason off. It melted away now, wax exposed to a sun-like flame. Beneath the illusion was emptiness—her eyes hollow, a reflection of a void within her.
“I’ve been inside the Veil,” she answered.
“For seven years?” His voice was thin, nearly choking on incredulity. “That’s impossible.”
Adrastia looked like she might cry. Instead, she turned back to the computer screen.
“Eighty-seven percent…And yes, it should be impossible. You know the funny part?” her laugh lacked humor. “It seemed longer. Much longer. For all I know, I wrestled Cain and chased him through the Veil for a thousand years. I intended to do it until the end of everything.”
Jason couldn’t look away from her. His friends told him how she shifted to various forms, all the while claiming to be some of the most powerful figures from history. Regardless of whether those claims were true, she had taken down a Veil beast by herself—she might be the most powerful Anunnaki in existence. If she had intended to hold Cain for eternity, the only way she could’ve failed was if he was even stronger. How could any of them defeat such a monster? He wanted to ask, to confirm his greatest fears, but the distance in her eyes kept him silent. Ansuz had been inside the Veil for maybe a few
“You mean you’re an oracle?” Jason asked.
Adrastia chuckled.
“No. I wish I could see things that clearly. I…just have a sense of how things should go. Again, I can’t explain it all—“
“Or you mean you won’t.”
She sighed.
“I would, but Gwynn deserves those answers first. Not,” she jumped on the word to prevent Jason from interrupting, “because you are less deserving, but because the answers impact Gwynn far more. Please just believe I never meant for you to come to harm. It was a risk giving the two of you to the Valkyries, but I felt it was necessary.”
“Did you know what would happen? Did you know Gwynn would cause the Cataclysm?”
Adrastia’s tongue darted out, moistening her lips.
“No, I didn’t. That was a possibility I never…expected.”
Jason took a step closer to her.
“Would you have kept him away from Asgard if you’d known?”
The steady rhythm of her fingers stumbled and fell silent.
“I…I don’t know,” she finally replied, and resumed typing.
Jason took a moment to turn his attention to his team. Marie moved in blinding speed along the entrances and windows, stopping under cover long enough to bring a set of binoculars up and scan the direction she faced. Caelum had climbed all the way to the eleventh tier, his eyes following Marie, assuming she would signal his target. Brandt seemed to be inspecting the structure, trying to calculate how much damage he could inflict without bringing the whole thing down on their heads.
“I’m surprised you haven’t asked the question bothering you most,” Adrastia said from behind him.
He turned to find her jade eyes focused on him.
“And what’s that?”
A slight smile curled around her lips.
“Where have I been these past seven years? I mean, it has to be part of the reason you don’t trust me. I can see they haven’t been happy years for any of you. Reversing the situation, I’d be wondering “if this woman cares and is on our side, why hasn’t she been helping us?””
Jason willed his body to stay relaxed—the tremor of frustration and anger made it difficult.
“So are you a mind reader now?” he asked.
She took a quick glance at the computer screen.
“Forty percent copied,” she reported, returning her focus to him. “No, I’m not a mind reader. I’ve just spent enough years around people that I read them pretty well. Besides, like I said, if our roles were reversed, that would be my question.”
“And is it one you will answer?” Jason made no attempt to keep the snark out of his voice.
Since her return, Adrastia’s eyes and smile spoke of a gleeful mischief—it had been one more thing pissing Jason off. It melted away now, wax exposed to a sun-like flame. Beneath the illusion was emptiness—her eyes hollow, a reflection of a void within her.
“I’ve been inside the Veil,” she answered.
“For seven years?” His voice was thin, nearly choking on incredulity. “That’s impossible.”
Adrastia looked like she might cry. Instead, she turned back to the computer screen.
“Eighty-seven percent…And yes, it should be impossible. You know the funny part?” her laugh lacked humor. “It seemed longer. Much longer. For all I know, I wrestled Cain and chased him through the Veil for a thousand years. I intended to do it until the end of everything.”
Jason couldn’t look away from her. His friends told him how she shifted to various forms, all the while claiming to be some of the most powerful figures from history. Regardless of whether those claims were true, she had taken down a Veil beast by herself—she might be the most powerful Anunnaki in existence. If she had intended to hold Cain for eternity, the only way she could’ve failed was if he was even stronger. How could any of them defeat such a monster? He wanted to ask, to confirm his greatest fears, but the distance in her eyes kept him silent. Ansuz had been inside the Veil for maybe a few
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