Ryden Simmdry used his mind to plumb the depths of Johanna’s consciousness, and found he couldn’t. ⌘Explain to me what happened with Beck.
Johanna told him about grabbing Beck’s hand and suddenly feeling both lightheaded and energized at the same time. “It’s like I absorbed all his knowledge.”
⌘Did this sudden influx of knowledge feel like it entered through the Illumini constellation on your left hand?
Johanna thought back. “Yes.”
⌘And you were merely holding his hand … his palm?
“No. Not his palm. His wrist.” Here eyes widened with recollection. “His sigil.”
A commotion coming from the main reading room interrupted their conversation. They found Alianessa pounding on the front door. “Let me out of this place.”
⌘In good time. First, I must determine why the cube chose to induct your essence. I designed this box to absorb unnatural energy that is imbued with protective powers or special charms. It chose you as the most likely source after Odyon managed to disappear.
The Frenchwoman pouted. “I do not know of any Odyon. It’s something you’re making up.”
Johanna held her gaze. “You were right there when I accused Robert Birk of being Odyon. You know precisely whom we’re talking about.”
“I’ve never known him by that name,” Alianessa said.
⌘But you do know him. The question is, how well?
“He’s just one of the eight. I don’t know him any better than the others.”
⌘That’s too bad because it would have explained why the cube worked on you. I will have to investigate your relationship more directly. He placed his left palm against her temple.
Alianessa backed away. “Don’t touch me.”
⌘I hate you involve you Jackson, but would you please hold her?
Jackson grabbed Alianessa from behind and wrapped his arms around hers, so she couldn’t move. ⌘Once again. Ryden Simmdry placed his palm against her temple.
Alianessa stomped on Jackson’s instep with the five-inch stiletto heel of her shoe.
“Ouch,” he shouted loosening his grip on her. She squirmed away and ran for the door.
Jackson started to run after her.
⌘It is all right, Jackson. I have what I need. Ryden Simmdry picked up the box. Once again, Alianessa dissolved into a smoky haze before being reabsorbed by the cube.
“Why not let her go?” Johanna asked.
⌘Because she is more than she claims to be.
LOI
If you enjoyed this book, kindly review it on Amazon and/or Goodreads. Your reviews are what make books like this possible.
This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic, digital, or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, contact the publisher with “Attention: Permissions Coordinator” in the subject line.
ARTIQUA PRESS
info@artiquapress.com
Westbury, NY 11590
e-Book Edition
June 30, 2015
Library of Illumination—Books Five, Six, and Seven
Copyright © 2015 C. A. Pack
All rights reserved.
ISBN-13: 978-0-9915428-7-1
Library of Congress Control Number: 2015900954
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
C. A. PACK, author of Chronicles: The Library of Illumination (a Kirkus Reviews’ Best Book of 2014), is an award-winning journalist and former television news anchor and assignment manager at LI News Tonight, who has also worked as a news writer at WNBC-TV and Cablevision News 12. She served as president of the Press Club of Long Island for several years and is a proud member of International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, and Mystery Writers of America. She lives on Long Island with her husband and a couple of picky parrots.
BOOKS IN THIS SERIES
The Library of Illumination
Book One (The Curator)
Doubloons
The Library of Illumination: Book Two
The Orb
The Library of Illumination: Book Three
Casanova
The Library of Illumination: Book Four
Portals
The Library of Illumination: Book Five
Chronicles: The Library of Illumination
Books One through Five
The Overseers
The Library of Illumination: Book Six
Myrddin’s Memoir
The Library of Illumination: Book Seven
The Second Chronicles of Illumination
Books Five, Six and Seven