Read Online Revealing Eden by Victoria Foyt - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Victoria Foyt
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common lab rat,
Rattus norvegicus
. They would destroy him, just like every other wild thing on the ravaged planet.
And yet, hope surged in her as the cunning predator now embedded into Bramford’s DNA seemed to take possessionof him. His feline eyes canvassed the room, probably devising a strategy to attack. She imagined him drawing upon the superfine senses and formidable powers he’d been given. But how would he resist the soldier’s lasers?
Bramford sank onto his haunches with a warning rumble. Powerful muscles rippled in his thighs. His lips curled into a snarl, ready to attack. The louder his growl grew, the more nervous the soldiers seemed. Eden understood with a rush of respect that like any alpha male, he needed to establish his dominance over them.
Her father pleaded with the FFP. “Please, desist at once. You’re inciting the subject.”
“One minute and counting until termination. Fifty-nine seconds…”
Fire mushroomed through the shattered roof, sucking out the air with a powerful whoosh. Chunks of the building rained down. Eden screamed as one of the soldiers fired his laser at Bramford, who dodged the flare with lightning speed.
Shen rushed forward but Bramford sent him flying back with a light slap. He looked surprised when Shen hit the wall with a loud thud. Eden wondered if he’d simply aimed to put his loyal bodyguard out of harm’s way.
A second laser blast sizzled in the air. Again, Bramford pivoted away, too fast for her eyes to trace. He leapt upon the nearest soldier and mashed him into a ball. With ease, he hurled the screaming man into the path of an oncoming laser. In a blur, Bramford ducked to evade the other two soldiers’ flares. He bounded towards them, crushing them with a single swipe of his arm.
Giant and Squeaky retreated to the edge of the platform.
“Stay down,” Jamal told them, as he aimed his laser. “I’m going to neutralize Bramford.”
Eden saw that Bramford would leave himself open to Giant and Squeaky, if he attacked Jamal. She had to help. She recalled that Aunt Emily said she felt as if the top of her head came off whenever she recognized poetry. Now, Eden felt a similar lift and knew what to do.
Time slowed, in her mind, as she spied a burning timber shake loose from the roof. She grabbed a nearby chair and, like an old-fashioned baseball player, swung it hard at the falling timber. It connected with a bang and sailed in Jamal’s direction. The chair flew from her hands, sending her tumbling to the ground. A sick scream filled the air, followed by a laser blast. Eden raised her head to find Jamal lying on the floor covered in flames.
Another gut-wrenching cry reached her, its familiar tone filling her with dread.
Father!
Scrambling to her feet, she saw him sprawled on the ground. He clutched his leg, a crimson stain spreading onto his lab coat.
Bramford roared at Giant and Squeaky, the remaining line of defense. They inched backwards, then turned and ran to their fallen leader.
Once more, Bramford’s penetrating gaze fell on Eden. Did she imagine it or did something in his eyes soften?
Distracted by Shen’s loud moans, he turned to the devoted bodyguard, who struggled to stand. One arm hung limp at his side; the dragon tattoo gone slack. He lurched forward with obvious effort, but Bramford’s abrupt growl stopped him.
A look that puzzled Eden passed between them. Bramford pointed towards the exit, clearly ordering Shen to leave. Now she was sure the creature must have lost his human voice, although some reasoning appeared to be intact. Shen shook his head, refusing even now to abandon his boss. Bramford answered with a final roar, its cold authority strikingly similar to his old ways. Finally, Shen turned away.
What was it, between those two, anyway?
Bramford leapt towards Eden’s father, who lay helpless on the floor. The beast’s emerald eyes burned feverishly, the nostrils flared. Eden gasped, afraid the blood that oozed from her
Rattus norvegicus
. They would destroy him, just like every other wild thing on the ravaged planet.
And yet, hope surged in her as the cunning predator now embedded into Bramford’s DNA seemed to take possessionof him. His feline eyes canvassed the room, probably devising a strategy to attack. She imagined him drawing upon the superfine senses and formidable powers he’d been given. But how would he resist the soldier’s lasers?
Bramford sank onto his haunches with a warning rumble. Powerful muscles rippled in his thighs. His lips curled into a snarl, ready to attack. The louder his growl grew, the more nervous the soldiers seemed. Eden understood with a rush of respect that like any alpha male, he needed to establish his dominance over them.
Her father pleaded with the FFP. “Please, desist at once. You’re inciting the subject.”
“One minute and counting until termination. Fifty-nine seconds…”
Fire mushroomed through the shattered roof, sucking out the air with a powerful whoosh. Chunks of the building rained down. Eden screamed as one of the soldiers fired his laser at Bramford, who dodged the flare with lightning speed.
Shen rushed forward but Bramford sent him flying back with a light slap. He looked surprised when Shen hit the wall with a loud thud. Eden wondered if he’d simply aimed to put his loyal bodyguard out of harm’s way.
A second laser blast sizzled in the air. Again, Bramford pivoted away, too fast for her eyes to trace. He leapt upon the nearest soldier and mashed him into a ball. With ease, he hurled the screaming man into the path of an oncoming laser. In a blur, Bramford ducked to evade the other two soldiers’ flares. He bounded towards them, crushing them with a single swipe of his arm.
Giant and Squeaky retreated to the edge of the platform.
“Stay down,” Jamal told them, as he aimed his laser. “I’m going to neutralize Bramford.”
Eden saw that Bramford would leave himself open to Giant and Squeaky, if he attacked Jamal. She had to help. She recalled that Aunt Emily said she felt as if the top of her head came off whenever she recognized poetry. Now, Eden felt a similar lift and knew what to do.
Time slowed, in her mind, as she spied a burning timber shake loose from the roof. She grabbed a nearby chair and, like an old-fashioned baseball player, swung it hard at the falling timber. It connected with a bang and sailed in Jamal’s direction. The chair flew from her hands, sending her tumbling to the ground. A sick scream filled the air, followed by a laser blast. Eden raised her head to find Jamal lying on the floor covered in flames.
Another gut-wrenching cry reached her, its familiar tone filling her with dread.
Father!
Scrambling to her feet, she saw him sprawled on the ground. He clutched his leg, a crimson stain spreading onto his lab coat.
Bramford roared at Giant and Squeaky, the remaining line of defense. They inched backwards, then turned and ran to their fallen leader.
Once more, Bramford’s penetrating gaze fell on Eden. Did she imagine it or did something in his eyes soften?
Distracted by Shen’s loud moans, he turned to the devoted bodyguard, who struggled to stand. One arm hung limp at his side; the dragon tattoo gone slack. He lurched forward with obvious effort, but Bramford’s abrupt growl stopped him.
A look that puzzled Eden passed between them. Bramford pointed towards the exit, clearly ordering Shen to leave. Now she was sure the creature must have lost his human voice, although some reasoning appeared to be intact. Shen shook his head, refusing even now to abandon his boss. Bramford answered with a final roar, its cold authority strikingly similar to his old ways. Finally, Shen turned away.
What was it, between those two, anyway?
Bramford leapt towards Eden’s father, who lay helpless on the floor. The beast’s emerald eyes burned feverishly, the nostrils flared. Eden gasped, afraid the blood that oozed from her
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