Page 52 of Dark Shaman: Love Found (The Children Of The Gods #99)

ELUHEED

E luheed must have dozed off and was awakened by a groaning sound echoing through the basement like a death rattle, finally giving way to resurrection. It took him a moment to realize what it was.

The guards had opened the heavy steel door at the top of the stairs, which meant that they could finally come out.

One of the guards walked over to Lady Areana and dipped his head. "The rebels have been apprehended, my lady. The mansion's structure is stable, so that everyone can come out, but you will need to watch your step. There's debris everywhere."

"Thank you, Soren," Areana said, apparently having learned the guards' names at some point.

A collective exhale rippled through the basement, as if everyone had been holding their breath for hours and only now remembered how to breathe. The servants began to stir, some rising on shaky legs, others remaining seated as if they couldn't believe the ordeal was over.

The head butler rose to his feet and turned to face Areana and the other ladies. "I wish to express our gratitude for your kindness and encouragement during this difficult time."

Areana rose to her feet, her gown looking more gray than blue because of the dust covering it. "We all helped each other, and I wish to thank everyone for keeping calm even when the sounds of explosions rattled us all."

There were a few chuckles, and Eluheed wondered whether they were because many hadn't remained calm at all or because they were agreeing with her that the explosions had rattled them.

The butler bowed again. "We'll begin cleaning immediately."

"Please, do not exert yourselves," Areana addressed the servants. "You're all exhausted after this ordeal. Do only what is absolutely necessary for safety. The remainder can wait until tomorrow when you've had time to rest and recover."

"Thank you, my lady," the butler bowed for the third time. "But Lord Navuh?—"

"Lord Navuh will understand that his staff is traumatized and exhausted," Areana said. "I'll speak with him."

The butler's shoulders sagged with relief. "Thank you, my lady. "

Someone began to clap, and soon the entire basement erupted in applause.

It was cathartic, a release of the fear and tension that had gripped them all.

Servants hugged each other, some crying with relief, others laughing with the slightly manic edge of those who'd believed they would soon face death but survived.

Eluheed helped Tamira to her feet, keeping his arm around her waist as she swayed slightly. She'd stopped shaking after the announcement that the rebellion was quashed, but she was still pale.

"Finally," she murmured. "We are getting out of here."

He leaned over to whisper in her ear. "I wouldn't have minded staying if we were alone."

That got a smile out of her.

They began filing toward the stairs, a slow procession of dusty, tired but jubilant people.

They'd made it halfway up the stairs when another guard appeared, working his way down against the flow of people. His eyes scanned the crowd until they landed on Eluheed.

"Lord Navuh wants to see you in his office."

Eluheed's stomach tightened. Of course, Navuh would want to dissect what had happened or maybe ask about future dangers. He glanced at Tamira, reluctant to leave her.

"Go," she said, though her fingers tightened on his arm for just a moment. "I'll be fine. "

"I'll make sure she gets to her room safely," Areana said, appearing beside them with her usual perfect timing.

Eluheed nodded his thanks and followed the guard up the stairs.

The main floor of the mansion was indeed a mess, though as Eluheed picked his way through it, he realized that most of the damage was superficial.

Plaster had cracked and fallen in several places, leaving white dust and chunks on the black floors.

A large vase lay shattered near the entrance to the formal dining room, its pieces scattered.

Several of the modern art paintings that Navuh favored had fallen off the walls.

The bones of the house remained solid, though. The walls still stood straight, and the ceiling showed no signs of imminent collapse. It would take work to restore everything to its former pristine glory, but that was all cosmetic.

The mansion, like its master, had weathered the storm.

The guard led him up to the second floor, where there was also damage. Pieces of crown molding lay on the carpet, and the guard navigated around them.

The office door stood open, and the guard gestured for Eluheed to enter before departing.

Navuh stood at the window, hands clasped behind his back, surveying the destruction visible from his vantage point. Smoke was still rising from several points across the island, and even from here, Eluheed could see the rubble that had once been buildings .

"You were correct, shaman," Navuh said without turning around.

His voice carried an odd mix of satisfaction and contemplation.

"There was fire and destruction and bloodshed, just as your vision foretold.

" He turned then, his robes and his person looking as pristine as ever, untouched by the damage the rest of his domain had endured.

"But I emerged victorious, as I always do. "

Despite himself, Eluheed was impressed.

Navuh might be an evil despot, but he was ancient and wise. Those who thought they could best him should think again.

Eluheed dipped his head. "Congratulations on your victory, my lord. I'm happy and grateful that everything ended well. The rebellion was crushed. Your rule continues."

"Yes," Navuh said. "It does." He moved away from the window, returning to his desk. "Zhao is dead."

"I know, my lord. You told me earlier."

"Yes, I suppose I did. The coward killed himself, chose the easy way out rather than face his failure.

" He looked up sharply. "The road to great achievements is paved with failures, but Zhao didn't realize that despite his brilliance.

I, on the other hand, have no intention of giving up on the program. "

Eluheed found it hard to retain his amiable mask. After everything that had happened, Navuh still wanted to create more enhanced soldiers?

"The concept is sound." Navuh walked over to his desk and sat in his chair.

"The execution was flawed. Zhao failed to implement proper controls, and he failed to account for the psychological changes.

This time, I will employ a psychologist in addition to a biochemist." He gestured for Eluheed to sit.

"I need to know what the future holds." Navuh extended his hand across the desk.

Eluheed took the offered hand, and the vision slammed into him with the usual force he'd come to expect from Navuh's touch. The immortal was a force of nature, bending even the universe to his will.

The first images were almost reassuring—the island rebuilt, order restored. But then dark clouds gathered on the horizon, not metaphorical but literal; a storm was approaching.

The vision shifted suddenly, and Eluheed found himself observing a scene so vivid that he felt as if he was there. Navuh and Areana were running through a tunnel. The tunnel was wide and crude, carved from rock but big enough for a vehicle and lit by emergency lighting.

"How much longer?" Areana stumbled.

Navuh caught her arm, steadying her without breaking stride. "Not long. The submarine pen is midway between the harem and the mansion. We're almost there."

Submarine.

The word echoed in Eluheed's mind as the vision continued. He saw glimpses of a hidden cove, a small submarine waiting in an underground pool, a secret escape route that probably no one else on the island knew existed .

The vision ended as abruptly as it had begun, leaving Eluheed gasping for air. It was his usual response when shifting back to reality—a post-vision disorientation that he used to gather his thoughts.

A submarine. If he could find that tunnel and figure out how to operate the vessel, he and Tamira could escape.

But first, he had to survive this moment and lie.

The submarine was Navuh's ultimate secret, his last resort. If Eluheed revealed that he knew about it, Navuh would kill him without hesitation to preserve that secret. Even Eluheed's people, who valued truth above almost everything else, allowed lying when necessary to preserve one's life.

Navuh was watching him intently, those dark eyes missing nothing. "What did you see?"

"The island rebuilt," Eluheed said. "I saw new structures, better than those that were destroyed, and order restored. Everything was back to normal."

"And?" Navuh leaned forward. "I know that's not all you saw."

"Dark clouds gathering on the horizon," Eluheed admitted. "Another storm is brewing, but I couldn't see its nature clearly."

"What else?" Navuh's voice had taken on a dangerous edge.

"Usually, I don't need people to tell me what's on their minds.

I can pluck it at will. But your Russian heritage has hardened your mind.

It's difficult to read you, but I can break through.

The only reason I haven't yet is because I don't want to destroy your brain in the process. I still have use for you."

It was a threat that Eluheed knew he should heed, not because Navuh could break into his head but because he held his life in his fist.

He met Navuh's gaze steadily. "The visions were fragmented, my lord. Pieces that didn't connect clearly. I saw movement, urgency, but nothing concrete enough to describe with certainty. Perhaps future sessions will show me more."

For a long moment, Navuh studied him, and Eluheed felt like those dark eyes were indeed trying to peel back the layers of his skull to see the thoughts beneath. Then, surprisingly, Navuh smiled.

"There's always a storm gathering on the horizon," he said, leaning back in his chair.

"That's the nature of power. Someone always wants to take it from you.

" His expression turned philosophical. "Whoever thinks that life is about rainbows and butterflies is bound for disappointment and an early grave. "

"Wise words, my lord," Eluheed said, relief flooding through him that Navuh had accepted his partial truth.

"You can go." Navuh waved his hand dismissively.

Eluheed rose and bowed. "Yes, my lord."

As he reached the door, Navuh called after him. "Shaman."

Eluheed turned back. "My lord? "

"Those dark clouds you saw. Were they coming from within or without?"

It was a perceptive question, and Eluheed considered his answer carefully. "I couldn't tell for sure, my lord, but my impression was that they were coming from without."