Read Online Skybuilders (Sorcery and Science Book 4) by Ella Summers - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Ella Summers
Ads: Link
nearly white, reflected the ceiling spotlights.
Ariella and Silas stood at the far wall of the first room, peering down at the floor. Past them, both doors were open, giving Leonidas a good look at the gigantic hole blown out of the back window. No, not blown. The Helleans had taped it shut with thick white bands, but sun shone through the opening, highlighting the clean edges of the hole. The glass had been cut. This was no explosion.
He took a step forward, shivering from the nip of a chilly ocean breeze against his skin. The hair on his hands stood on end. It was more than just the breeze. The lab felt like a tomb. A tomb without bodies or blood. A hand gripped his shoulder, and he nearly jumped out of his shoes.
“Leonidas, we found something,” Ariella said. “Over here.”
He followed her over to the door. As they stopped, Silas extended his hand, which held a clump of purple-black hair fifty centimeters in length. From one end dangled a bloody wad of scalp.
CHAPTER SEVEN
~ Clues ~
526AX August 20, Oasis
“NEITHER HAYDEN NOR Ian nor Marin has black hair,” Silas pointed out, tossing the hair clump onto the nearest table.
If for nothing else, Ariella could at least be thankful for that. Of course, the absence of their detached body parts was hardly proof in and of itself that Marin and the Selpe brothers were unhurt.
“What do you figure?” she asked him.
Silas’s blue-white eyes scanned the three rooms. “There are no signs of an explosion.”
Ariella followed his gaze and nodded. She’d noticed that too. No scorch marks, no broken furniture, no blood. Perhaps, the Helleans had simply lived up to their meticulous reputation and repaired the damage, but then why was there still a hole in the window? Ariella could hardly imagine they would scrub down a few internal walls before patching up a gaping hole in their city’s facade.
Leonidas had already wandered over to the window and was walking slowly back to them, his thoughtful gaze pausing to focus on things several times along the way. By the time he was standing before them, his face was both relieved and perplexed.
“There was no explosion. It was an attack,” he declared. “My guess would be the Crescent Order.”
“They were seen entering the city after Marin, Hayden, and Ian disappeared—not before,” Ariella reminded him.
He shrugged. “Then there were two waves of them. The second assassin group could have been reinforcements for the first…” His eyes drifted up in thoughtful silence. “Yes, that makes sense. They would need more bodies after what happened to their comrades.”
“Which was?”
Leonidas leaned over and extracted something from the floor border. “Their prey fought back.”
“How do you know?”
Silas’s hard eyes shifted from Ariella to Leonidas. “Explain.”
“Much as you would like to discount my skills, they are quite useful,” he began, puffing out his chest defensively. “In this case, my keen detective skills.”
The confusion must have shown plain and simple on her face because Leonidas let out a heavy sigh. “I can decipher the clues of the scene.”
“Like a Cipher?” Ariella wondered aloud. Elition Ciphers were particularly adept at solving puzzles and codes.
“In this case, very much like a Prior,” Silas told her.
“Ah.”
Elition Priors could peer into the past. A select few could even see events unfold in their entirety. One of those Priors would have been useful to have along on this trip. They could have followed the Memory breadcrumbs to Hayden, Ian, and Marin.
Leonidas glared at Silas. “Why do you always do that?”
“What?”
“Box whatever I say into some Elition ability compartment.”
Ariella stepped between the men, who both looked about half a second away from exchanging blows. “Please tell us what you believe happened here, Leonidas.”
He continued to glare at Silas for a few seconds, then flashed a charming grin at Ariella. “Gladly.” He tapped a
Ariella and Silas stood at the far wall of the first room, peering down at the floor. Past them, both doors were open, giving Leonidas a good look at the gigantic hole blown out of the back window. No, not blown. The Helleans had taped it shut with thick white bands, but sun shone through the opening, highlighting the clean edges of the hole. The glass had been cut. This was no explosion.
He took a step forward, shivering from the nip of a chilly ocean breeze against his skin. The hair on his hands stood on end. It was more than just the breeze. The lab felt like a tomb. A tomb without bodies or blood. A hand gripped his shoulder, and he nearly jumped out of his shoes.
“Leonidas, we found something,” Ariella said. “Over here.”
He followed her over to the door. As they stopped, Silas extended his hand, which held a clump of purple-black hair fifty centimeters in length. From one end dangled a bloody wad of scalp.
CHAPTER SEVEN
~ Clues ~
526AX August 20, Oasis
“NEITHER HAYDEN NOR Ian nor Marin has black hair,” Silas pointed out, tossing the hair clump onto the nearest table.
If for nothing else, Ariella could at least be thankful for that. Of course, the absence of their detached body parts was hardly proof in and of itself that Marin and the Selpe brothers were unhurt.
“What do you figure?” she asked him.
Silas’s blue-white eyes scanned the three rooms. “There are no signs of an explosion.”
Ariella followed his gaze and nodded. She’d noticed that too. No scorch marks, no broken furniture, no blood. Perhaps, the Helleans had simply lived up to their meticulous reputation and repaired the damage, but then why was there still a hole in the window? Ariella could hardly imagine they would scrub down a few internal walls before patching up a gaping hole in their city’s facade.
Leonidas had already wandered over to the window and was walking slowly back to them, his thoughtful gaze pausing to focus on things several times along the way. By the time he was standing before them, his face was both relieved and perplexed.
“There was no explosion. It was an attack,” he declared. “My guess would be the Crescent Order.”
“They were seen entering the city after Marin, Hayden, and Ian disappeared—not before,” Ariella reminded him.
He shrugged. “Then there were two waves of them. The second assassin group could have been reinforcements for the first…” His eyes drifted up in thoughtful silence. “Yes, that makes sense. They would need more bodies after what happened to their comrades.”
“Which was?”
Leonidas leaned over and extracted something from the floor border. “Their prey fought back.”
“How do you know?”
Silas’s hard eyes shifted from Ariella to Leonidas. “Explain.”
“Much as you would like to discount my skills, they are quite useful,” he began, puffing out his chest defensively. “In this case, my keen detective skills.”
The confusion must have shown plain and simple on her face because Leonidas let out a heavy sigh. “I can decipher the clues of the scene.”
“Like a Cipher?” Ariella wondered aloud. Elition Ciphers were particularly adept at solving puzzles and codes.
“In this case, very much like a Prior,” Silas told her.
“Ah.”
Elition Priors could peer into the past. A select few could even see events unfold in their entirety. One of those Priors would have been useful to have along on this trip. They could have followed the Memory breadcrumbs to Hayden, Ian, and Marin.
Leonidas glared at Silas. “Why do you always do that?”
“What?”
“Box whatever I say into some Elition ability compartment.”
Ariella stepped between the men, who both looked about half a second away from exchanging blows. “Please tell us what you believe happened here, Leonidas.”
He continued to glare at Silas for a few seconds, then flashed a charming grin at Ariella. “Gladly.” He tapped a
Similar Books
