Council of Peacocks by M Joseph Murphy

Author:M Joseph Murphy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fantasy, paranormal, demons, time travel, superhero, wizard, paranormal abilities, reptilians, paranormal thiller, demons supernatural, fantasy paranormal, fantasy about a wizard, time travel adventure, fantasy urban, superhuman abilities, fantasy action adventures, paranormal action adenture, wizards and magic, superhero action adventure, fantasy dark, superhero mutant, superhero time travel, fantasy about demons, wizard adventure fantasy, super abilities, fantasy dark fantasy

Chapter Twenty

David looked over the secret city below. Tall sand-colored spires rose on either side of dust-covered streets. Deep-cut stairs followed the outer wall of the canyon heading to the lower level. The stairs looked solid but the edges were cracked and worn. As they came closer to the city, he made out landmarks that made it more and more difficult to think of the Edimmu as simple winged monsters. Several open city squares lay covered with layers of dust. In one of them, seven forty-foot tall peacocks encircled a dry fountain. Dozens of smaller statues dotted the city: life-sized replicas of sleek humanoid figures with massive wingspans.

“I’m starting to envy the Edimmu,” he said. “I’d love their wings right about now. At this rate it’ll take hours to reach the city.”

“You could always jump,” Jessica said. She walked close to Elaine, but she was moving much more easily now. The wounds were scabbing over, the bruises fading. The speed of her healing unnerved David.

“Are you getting anything from Echo?” he asked for the third time.

Jessica turned to him, put her hands on her hips, and said nothing.

“I was just asking.” David focused his eyes on his feet.

Below, mosaics of turquoise and onyx splayed across several of the larger buildings. One showed a reptilian face, forked tongue out to the side in what seemed to be a smile. The series of white figures to the side of the face reminded him of hieroglyphics. Another mosaic was troubling for another reason. It showed two small reptilian creatures without wings riding the back of what could only be a pterodactyl. Either the Edimmu had been around since the dinosaurs or the mosaic was an advertisement for a children’s fantasy book. He wasn’t sure which idea was more unsettling.

“Can we rest for a sec?” Todd sat down on the edge of step. He put a hand to his ribcage.

Elaine set her guns aside and sat cross-legged with her back to the outer wall. “Once we’re down, we need to find shelter. There should be running water in some of the buildings. Echo told me the aqueducts are still sound.”

“I’m hungry,” Jessica paced back and forth along the steps. “What are we going to do for food?”

“Echo stored supplies down here last week, just in case. See that square with the dry fountain? There’s a wooden crate near one of the peacocks. It’s filled with dried goods and bottled water. She said there would be enough for 50 people to survive a few weeks. I’m hoping it doesn’t come to that. Echo’s still around somewhere. Even if she’s not, Wisdom knows we’re here. Someone will come for us.”

‘What if no one comes?’ David thought. He looked over at Todd. He saw the same fear he felt echoed in the other man’s eyes.

David cleared his throat. “How you holding up? I’m surprised you can even move after what they did to you.”

“It’s one of my EFHBs. PK. Psychokinesis. I can move things with my mind.

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