The Eventide Child Read Online Free PDF

fools!”
    Alexandra felt terror the likes of which she had never felt as her father lunged from his seat. His demeanor and his words scaring her,
    “Alexandra!” he barked, his voice full of panic “Hurry up! We’re leaving!”
    “Petros! See reason! This is a new beginning!” Tullius tried to shout after them. His voice faded further behind them as she clutched onto her father’s hand. Panic stirred in her breast as they rushed through the halls of the Tullius villa. Her father looked furious and his hand clutched onto hers, practically dragging her along. There was no peace to be had with the Shah.
    They tumbled through the wooden doors, the warmth and comfort inside, giving way to the cold and darkness. The sky filled with black clouds more ominous than any Alexandra had witnessed in her time. A screech echoed through the air as the entire sky suddenly grew brighter, as if the sun had suddenly rose within the sky. In the distance, people screamed in terror as a hand of molten rock and fire pierced the cloud cover. All Alexandra saw through the cloud cover was the faint, fiery outline of a massive figure, a hand swooping through the clouds as the behemoth sent flaming rocks soaring through the air. She cried out as her father’s arms suddenly wrapped around her and they were thrown back from the force of the impact as one such flaming rock collided with ground with an explosive force.
    In one fell swoop, that center of Tripolis was obliterated with a force few men alive had seen. Fire and lava rushed through the streets, burning those alive unfortunate enough to be too close to the site of the impact of the monstrous beast’s large hand. Magma boiled from the cracks of its rocky flesh as the hand withdrew and disappeared into the sky once more. The alarm bells rang furiously throughout the city as with the center of the city had been lost to the fires of destruction, citizens ringing the muster bells in a frenzied panic. The Legion was quick to muster from its garrison as the centurions blew their whistles with as much force as they could, soldiers pouring into the streets as they marched toward their defensive positions. In the distance the figure was a clear silhouette upon the dark clouds, outlined by the fire and magma which was its blood. It was a creature wrought of foul magic that stood taller than any man, lording over the city like the Titans of old. Lava snaked through the streets like tendrils now, stretching out and spreading while people fled en masse.
    “Run!” her father screamed. She obeyed, rushing forward with all the strength she could gather in her small legs, following behind his larger form as they bolted away from the city center. Tullius, in his shock, stood upon his balcony as his chalice of wine slipped from his fingers. Fire and brimstone fell upon his palace to end the life of the senator.
    “W-what is it!?”
    “It’s old magic!!”
    Magic? Surly her father was speaking in jest? There was no way those old stories could have been true. But surly now as she lived and breathed, did she not see a fearsome Titan laying waste to Tripolis? She felt a renewed sense of urgency to run.
    This is just like your dream. The voice that was not a voice whispered within her. A shudder rolled through her body and she gripped her father’s hand tighter.
    I can stop this...
    She shook her head! This couldn’t be real. None of this could be real! Her dreams—the massive beast—the fire—the death. No! She was certain she must have fallen asleep back in the Tullius baths. That had to be it!
    This is no dream, child.
    “Father!” Alexandra cried, the pain in her legs creeping up as she coughed. Her lungs burned as they exerted themselves, the ash and ember from the burning buildings making it difficult to breathe. In the distance, thunder caused the entire ground to quake and tremble beneath her feet. In her head, a constant, steady, drumming. A cadence like the beating of a heart, growing louder