Dire Destiny of Ours

• Title Page
  
• Chapter 1
  
• Chapter 2
  
• Chapter 3
  
• Chapter 4
  
• Chapter 5
  
• Chapter 6
  
• Chapter 7
  
• Chapter 8
  
• Chapter 9
  
• Chapter 10
  
• Chapter 11
  
• Chapter 12
  
• Chapter 13
  
• Chapter 14
  
• Chapter 15
  
• Chapter 16
  
• Chapter 17
  
• Chapter 18
  
• Chapter 19
  
• Chapter 20
  
• Chapter 21
  
• Chapter 22
  
• Chapter 23
  
• Chapter 24
  
• Chapter 25
  
• Chapter 26
  
• Chapter 27
  
• Chapter 28
  
• Chapter 29
  
• Chapter 30
  
• Chapter 31
  
• Chapter 32
  
• Chapter 33
  
• Chapter 34
  
• Chapter 35
  
• Chapter 36
  
• Chapter 37
  
• Chapter 38
  
• Chapter 39
  

Dire Destiny of Ours

Book Ten of the Overworld Chronicles

John Corwin

Copyright © 2015 by John Corwin.

Digital eBook Edition.

All rights reserved.  Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

The characters and events in this book are fictitious.  Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author. 

LICENSE NOTES

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.  This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people unless expressly permitted by the author.  If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient.  If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please go to Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Smashwords.com, or other digital ebook retailer and purchase your own copy.  Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

THE END IS NIGH

The last battle with Daelissa took a tremendous toll on the resistance. Elyssa is hanging onto life with the help of a preservation spell and Daelissa has new elite troops ready to conquer Eden.  Justin realizes the only way to save the woman he loves and his home realm is to travel to Seraphina and ask the Darklings for help.

But the Darkling nation, Pjurna, is embroiled in its own war with the Brightlings and its leaders believe Justin is an enemy. His back to the wall on two fronts, Justin decides to take the gloves off and kick some ass.

If he doesn't, Elyssa will die and Daelissa will rule Eden.

To my wonderful support group:

Alana Rock

Karen Stansbury

My amazing editors:

Annetta Ribken

Jennifer Wingard

My awesome cover artist:

Regina Wamba

Thanks so much for all your help and input!

Elyssa has one week to live.

The thought bounced back and forth in my mind as I listened to Chancellor Frankenberg drone on and on about the history of Science Academy.

I forced the thought from my head and returned to the present. "We need everyone to help us. If Eden falls, Science Academy falls with it."

The short, dumpy man shook his head. His long gray hair extended in all directions as though constantly subjected to insane amounts of static electricity. "Science Academy has always maintained neutrality in political affairs of the Overworld. We let those
magicians
"—he harrumphed and waved a hand in the general direction of Arcane University—"tend to their own business while we tend to ours."

I looked around the audience chamber at the other professors seated at a long, semicircular table partially surrounding the lectern where I stood. I felt like a student in the hot seat. "Does he speak for all of you?" I waved my hand around the room. "If Daelissa defeats us, she'll shut down the academy to eliminate any threats to her rule. It's time to put aside ancient rivalry and join forces." I looked at Frankenberg. "It's time to come out of our shells and face reality."

The chancellor rose to his feet, face red. "I believe we've heard enough of this nonsense." He looked at the other professors. "I forward the motion to deny this boy's request."

A bony man with a crooked nose stood and spoke in a haughty voice. "I second Chancellor Frankenberg's motion."

One of the younger professors pshawed. "Of course you would, Newton. There's nothing you'd like better than to see Arcane University destroyed even if it meant the end of the world as we know it." He stood. "I vote no."

Shelton stood from his seat beside me and raised a fist. "Hell yeah."

I gave him a stern look. He shrugged and sat down.

The other council members, most of them resembling every kind of mad scientist stereotype I'd seen in the movies, voted. The final vote was eleven to two in favor of shutting me up.

Frankenberg shot me a caustic smile. "Science Academy will tend to itself, boy. Why don't you run along, now? The magicians need you."

Anger surged. My fists clenched so tight the knuckles cracked.
How do people like this exist?
"I think you should reconsider." My Elyssa had nearly died to protect idiots like Frankenberg and Newton. Instead of immediately setting off for Seraphina as I'd planned, I'd come here in a last-ditch effort to convince them to join us.

"Or what?" Frankenberg leered and looked around the room at his fellows. "Will you throw a tantrum?" He snapped his fingers and two human-sized battle bots marched from behind the council table and toward me. Each of them bore an array of deadly weapons, complete with missiles, death rays, and other crazy gadgets I didn't recognize.

"Are you threatening me?" I said.

Shelton tugged on my sleeve. "Justin, we should go. These geezers ain't interested in helping."

I ignored him and bared my teeth. "Brave people have died to protect Eden. Now I see you're nothing but cowards who hide behind the very technology that might help us."

"These bots are magically resistant," Frankenberg said. "If you attack them, you'll only embarrass yourself."

"You think I'm an Arcane?" A laugh burst from my throat. "Challenge accepted."

The bot to my left raised an arm equipped with lasers. Before it could fire, I thrust out my hand and encased it in a cube of Murk. The laser fired, but was too weak to penetrate the shield. These particular bots were smaller and might be protection against conventional magic attacks, but it was obvious the scientists hadn't accounted for Seraphim magic.

I saw the other bot aiming for me and fired a torrent of Brilliance. The magic-resistant armor held up for a couple of seconds before melting into slag. I clenched my left fist. The Murk cube compacted around the first bot and crushed it like a tin can. A couple of mini-missiles exploded. The impact sent a shock up my arm, but the Murk barrier held.

Gasps rose from the professors.

With a sarcastic smile, I opened my fist and let the crushed bot fall to the floor with a loud crash. "Imagine facing an army of Seraphim with powers like mine." I leaned forward on the lectern. "After you clean the crap out of your pants, maybe you'll reconsider my proposal."

Frankenberg's face pale face turned purple. "Out! Out! We will hear no more of this!"

Some of the other professors recovered their wits and banged on the table with their fists. "Out!" they chanted. "Out, out, out!"

The young professor who'd supported us gave me a sad look. He pushed back his chair and left the room.

My inner demon strained against my will as the professors continued to chant.

Kill!
it commanded.
Destroy!
It was even worse at diplomacy than me. Resisting the urge to rake the room with destructive rays, I turned and stalked out.

"Well, that sure went to hell," Shelton said later as we rode the rocket ferry over the valley back toward Arcane University.

I looked down at the city of Queens Gate far below and tried not to feel sorry for myself. As usual, time and distance had given me plenty of time to rethink every aspect of my failed attempt to secure another ally.

Shelton blew out a breath and rested his arms on the railing. "What now?"

"I'm going to La Casona."

"Elyssa wouldn't want you moping around her all the time." Shelton paced around the deck. "She'd want you figuring out a way to beat Daelissa."

"Well, I'm out of ideas." The rocket ferry docked.

Shelton got off and stepped onto the flying carpet we'd ridden here. He looked back at me. "You coming?"

I shook my head. "I'm going to take a portal to La Casona from here."

He gave me a long concerned look. "Okay, man. I'll be at the mansion if you need me." The carpet rose, and he flitted off toward the Dark Forest and the hidden tunnel to the mansion.

After he was gone, I paced around, wondering if there were any other potential allies I could talk to. None came to mind. "There has to be something I can do!" A glow emanated from my right side. I looked down and saw a sphere of Brilliance coalesced around my hand. My temper was getting the best of me.

On a whim, I drew in Murk with my left hand and wove creation and destruction into a ball of gray Stasis. I'd been practicing my Seraphim magic as much as possible lately. It would take all my abilities to do what had to be done. I released the weave and let the fuzzy gray orb float in front of me and then channeled Murk and Brilliance directly into it. A crystalline beam speared from the other side and into a nearby boulder. It simply splashed against it.