Page 180 of Remnants: Disruption
Azazel seems to have gone fully mute. I wish I could see their face because I swear there’s a shudder that passes through my hand.
Then they nod. Just once.
“It will be done,” they say, bowing their head.
The werewolf plops to the floor as my shadows disperse. But just as quickly, a red, glowing cage surrounds him. It floats overhead before hovering just at the ceiling.
“That should do it,” Azazel says.
“Good,” I say, turning to face the remaining men.
Tendrils of darkness sprout from the floor and walls. The room becomes a void as the only remaining lights blink out.Power presses into the walls like the buildup before imminent storm. It’s almost visceral in the way it clings at the gut. The way it pulls at the heart.
In the end, the darkness never really cares who it takes. It's only ever up to me to direct its wrath.
“All hail Tempest,” Azazel says softly, almost reverently.
The shadows descend. Blood splatters along the walls and standing room. The red sharply contrasting the otherwise surreal blackness.
Corpses flop uselessly and their spirits ascend into the next life. Where, just maybe, they might make better choices.
“All hail the God Queen,” I whisper before turning and following Azazel up the stairs.
The war has begun.
Chapter 63
Balance
November 17th, 1030 A.D., Early Morning
Where there is Life, there will also be Death. With Time comes Space. Do not mistake me, though. I do not care for any of them. I will only breathe easily when all are gone.
Darkrend, recovered correspondence with Omen, 1030 A.D.
“We have multiple reports of violent Remnant activity across New Chicago and the surrounding boroughs. If you or a loved one feel in danger, please call your local RISE strike team. You can find the number on the dNet’s home page. If you see something, say something.”
“That’s right, Josie. Especially with psychopaths like Bloody Mary running around. It’s very odd to see someone like her working alongside a former NCPD associate and longtime member of the community.”
“Well, Eric, that’s what we get for trusting Remnants. It was only a matter of time before they’d snap and start killing off our leadership.”
I grunt with annoyance and whack the button harder than I mean to. The screen blinks a multitude of colors before fizzling into darkness.
“Sorry,” I mumble to Azazel who sits across from me. “I’ll fix that.”
They tilt their head a little and lean forward, elbows braced their cloaked thighs.
“Should we not wait for the God Queen to join us?”
I glance at the other six Remnants sitting beside us in the armored vehicle. Either they’re in their own heads or doing a damned good job of pretending to be disinterested.
“Even if we let her do her thing, I don’t know how quickly she can be ready. I don’t know how it all works,” I rub the heels of my palms over my throbbing eyes. It’s been some time since I last slept.
And, for reasons I will never understand, Azazel and the other councilors elected me leader while Cass is down.
I would have loved for her to be here. Not just because she alone could level the city, but it feels wrong to be without her now. And I have no idea how her siphoning will go. She’d done itbefore, but it had seemed to be for expediency of the execution—not for the necessity of feeding.
“I should…” I slide the new device from my pocket and flick it open. It honestly looks a lot like a dPhone but has a stylized “O” on the back. Hell, even the interface is similar enough that it took only a few minutes to fill in the singular contact I had.
