Gathering of Shadows (The Hundred Halls Book 4) by Thomas K. Carpenter

Author:Thomas K. Carpenter [Carpenter, Thomas K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Young Adult, new adult, contemporary fantasy, hundred halls
Publisher: Black Moon Books
Published: 2017-09-16T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Aurie knew the summons would come even before Tristen had arrived at her door. The vibration from the Engine could be felt throughout Arcanium. It'd started a few days ago, and rose quickly, until Aurie worried that it was going to explode. She'd tried to see Semyon, but Professor Mali had restricted access.

This had been for two reasons. The first was that she'd passed the information to the professor that there was a secret way into Arcanium that nobody knew about, and the second was the concern about the Engine. Aurie wasn't sure how credible the secret passage theory was, but if it was true, the Cabal could cause all sorts of havoc.

"Thanks for getting me," Aurie told Tristen as they walked down the hallway.

"I had a choice?" he asked. "Not like I have anything better to do."

"Are you, uhm, doing okay?" she asked, eyeing him for signs of faez madness or that he might be compromised by Cabal treachery.

"No, not really," he said, glumly. "But I'm doing better than most. Xi attacked Deshawn last night. Someone got him sedatives to calm him, but we can't keep him drugged until Semyon is fixed, can we?"

"We have to do what we must." She paused at the top of the staircase that went down to the waterfall. "This is my stop. Be safe."

"You too."

Tristen disappeared down the other way. Was he too calm? Aurie didn't know what might indicate if the Cabal had snuck in and charmed someone, but she felt like Pi would be way better at figuring it out.

When she reached Semyon's chamber it was radically different from before. The room looked like it was a massive science experiment, or a Rube Goldberg machine. Antennas and beeping black boxes were set up everywhere. Professor Longakers, in his tweed jacket, was typing at a computer while Professor Mali sat with the unconscious Semyon, who had little round pads attached to his forehead that connected to a host of machines. The runed brass cylinder rested on his chest.

The Engine whined for a moment, setting off a reaction in the sensors. Professor Longakers looked worried for a moment, then shook his head.

"I have a feeling I'm not going to like this," said Aurie.

"You have to go back in," said Mali.

The Engine felt like it was tugging on her. Invisible strings pulled her towards the bed, but she resisted.

"What am I going back to?"

Mali shared a glance with Longakers. "That's what we mean to find out. Is this a memory, or a trip to the astral plane? Or maybe an alternate reality. Whatever it is, we'll know."

Aurie stared at the brass cylinder.

"You knew you were going to have to go back."

"I know," said Aurie. "I started this, and I'm going to finish it."

But I really want Pi to be with me.

"Can I take someone else?" asked Aurie.

Both professors' heads bobbed up like gophers. "I suppose it's possible."

The whine increased in frequency, causing them to squint.

"Maybe next time. Seems like I should start."

Aurie reached towards the cylinder.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.