Read Online World's End by Will Elliott - Free Book Online Page B

pointing off towards the city.
    The Tormentor seemed to know what he meant. Its voicegrated out:
‘Haiyens call it … That Which … Governs Cycles of Events.’
    â€˜And what are haiyens?’
    The Tormentor didn’t answer.
    â€˜That huge thing – is that what did all this, all this destruction? Is that what kills dragons?’
    â€˜No. It comes … later. After the rest … is settled. To change … time. When it comes, all is … already over. So do not … fear it. Those small things … which you fled from … are what you should fear.’
    â€˜Tell me one more thing. Why are you here to help and guide me?’
    He waited but it did not answer. He left it there trying to reassemble its face. Something did not sit right with him about the Tormentor being here at all.
    The park near the train bridge was alive with rustling grass, although now no wind blew. He slowed to a walk, dug around his pocket for Shilen’s key, and went to the door, which he knew would open for him the second he chose to go back. Sure enough it did, as soon as his hand twisted in the lock: it opened with no more ceremony than a puff of wind. When it closed behind him he was crouched on the stone floor of the dragons’ sky prison once more.
    Shilen stood waiting for him. ‘You don’t seem surprised to see that I’ve returned,’ Eric said.
    â€˜Are you home now, Favoured one?’
    And then he understood he’d been deceived. The destroyed world he’d walked through had been no more than an illusion. Probably the kind created from his mind and memories, filling in the details of a world the illusion’s caster had never been to (whoever that caster was – Shilen, or another dragon?). The doorhe’d gone through had
not
taken him back to Otherworld at all. The Entry Point was not here, or the dragons would have escaped through it, long ago. The Entry Point was behind the castle, where the dragons could not get to it. His home then was not all in ruins.
    While he would later be glad it had been an illusion, in that moment he was seized by incredible anger. Without hesitation he took the gun from its holster, pointed it at her and pulled the trigger. Shilen yelped in surprise, her body flung back.
    He was perhaps more shocked than she was. From the second her spinning body fell to the ground he went numb. He dropped the gun, utterly sickened, and made a noise in his throat.
    Shilen’s voice seemed to come from elsewhere in the dark. She groaned.
    â€˜I’m sorry,’ he said, as if that could be any use.
    Her shoulders shook as she pushed herself upright again. She turned her face to him. Blood so dark it was black seeped from her forehead, past her nose and mouth. She smiled through its sheen, her teeth white for a moment till they were drenched. ‘You have hurt me,’ she said, ‘but not too much. No one promised my duties would come without pain.’
    He went to her. Misunderstanding his intent, she said, ‘Stop. Don’t be foolish. You cannot kill me.’ She palmed the blood from her eyes.
    â€˜You aren’t human, are you, Shilen? A human could not survive this kind of injury. But I’m sorry I hurt you. Very sorry.’ Clumsily she stood up, swaying on her feet. ‘What are you?’ he said.
    â€˜I’ll not answer.’
    â€˜Are you a dragon in disguise?’
    â€˜I speak for them. That is all you need to know. Since youranswers come with a price, so now do mine. Do you understand what you just saw?’ She pointed at the door.
    â€˜An illusion.’
    â€˜No. You saw a future. When seers see futures they see only probabilities …
usually.
But what you just saw is what comes. Unless you help us.’
    â€˜Why should I believe you, Shilen? You’ve just shown you are perfectly happy to lie to me.’
    She seemed angrier at this remark than at his having shot her. ‘You tell