A Division of Souls - A Novel of the Mendaihu Universe Read Online Free PDF Page A

well.”
    Caren shuddered. Had she heard it...?
    “One,” Poe said, looking straight at
Farraway.
    Farraway scowled at him. “Excuse me?”
    “The One of All Sacred. I heard the voice as
well, sir. Whoever it was must have –”
    He waved that away quickly. “Don't even
entertain the thought, Poe. Coincidence. This sure as hell couldn't
have been a Rebirth.”
    “We can’t rule it out yet,” he
countered.
    Farraway dismissed the comment and
continued, grabbing a hardback folder from the desk drawer. “At the
moment, we’re still getting numbers on victims. Police and Fire are
taking care of any damage and injuries, leaving us free to deal
with our side of the investigation. This is what we have so far,
including Kennedy and Slater’s report.” He dropped the folder on
the desk in front of them. There were two vidmats within. “All
sources pointing to a Mendaihu performing the ritual.”
    Caren held back the same anger she’d felt
earlier. “Why would they do this?”
    Farraway pondered that for a moment,
shrugging. “A rogue Mendaihu...or even a group of them...bent on
soul awakening? I wouldn't know the reason. I've never known the
Mendaihu to be paranoid. If they did this, they had a damn good
reason. Someone or something is threatening them.”
    Poe shook his head, scowling at him. “See,
that’s what’s bothering me. The Shenaihu wouldn’t willingly start a
spiritual war…not this kind of war, one of this size. Why
the hell would they want to threaten —”
    “It wouldn't be the first time,” Caren
interrupted. “They've always found one avenue or another to disrupt
the balance. Probably, hopefully, not as intense as the last time,
but I wouldn't rule it out.” It was a weak response, but it was too
personal for her not to bring it up. “I concede, it's not like the
Mendaihu to instigate. Either we've got a paranoid Mendaihu, or an
amazingly prescient one.”
    Chief Inspector Farraway's eyes moved
between them. For another long moment he said nothing. Caren and
Poe understood his silences meant deep concentration on the subject
at hand, but they still carried the uneasiness of emotions on edge.
“Do what you think best,” he said. “I want the two of you to keep
it shut, though, and shut tight . I don’t want anything
distracting you or your team two. I’ve also assigned two Mendaihu
agents who are coming in tomorrow.” He tapped at the keypad on his
desk, entering even more information into their personal vidmats.
Farraway switched on one of the flat viewing sheets and turned it
in their direction, and instantly the holos sparked to life and
stared back at them. They had the long black hair, dark eyes and
wide oval faces of the Shalei clan. Their records were full of
accolades and recommendations spanning years.
    “Agents Akaina and Ashyntoya Shalei from the
NewCanta chapter,” Farraway said. “They contacted me soon after the
incident to offer their services. I accepted. They'll be in early
tomorrow. And I'd like complete cooperation from all of you.”
    Caren started to respond, but halted when
she saw the coldness in Farraway’s eyes. He’d expected some kind of
reaction out of her. Did he think this would dredge up unwanted
emotions regarding her parents? “Of course, sir,” she said
unevenly.
    ‘Yes, sir,” Poe answered with a nod.
    “Good,” Farraway said, finally turning away.
“In the meantime, I suggest you familiarize yourselves with the
case, get in to the mind of the Mendaihu. The research library is
still open, and Fancher’s already brought up all you need. That is
all.”
     
     
     

CHAPTER THREE
    Shirai
     
    dehndarra Né hra nyhndah.
    Shirai opened her eyes to a universe of
spiraling dataflows within the Mirades Tower, and felt the
countless energies washing over and through her, exciting her very
essence. She let out a startled gasp, the rippling and buzzing
sensations unexpected. She’d been here at the Tower’s confluence
and felt these same waves