The Atlantis Plague (The Origin Mystery, #2)(117)

Ares’ words echoed in his mind. She’s the key to everything. But you must wait. At some point very soon, she will acquire a piece of information—a code. That code is the key to freeing me. You must capture her after she has the code and bring her to me.

Dorian marveled at Ares’ genius. The realization, the full appreciation of the Atlantean’s plan struck him. He felt… awe. Dorian finally felt as though he had an equal. No, a superior. But Ares was something more. Dorian knew it now: Ares had designed the entire process partly for him—for Dorian’s own growth. The charade in Antarctica, his challenge to find Kate Warner. It was as though Ares was… mentoring Dorian. But it was even more than that. Ares was more than a mentor to him. Dorian had a part of Ares inside of him, his memories and more—his desires, his unrealized dreams.

A father. That was the most apt term. That’s what Ares was to him.

And they would be together again soon.

Dorian tried to imagine their reunion, what he would say, what Ares would say. And after… what else did Ares have left to teach him? What would Dorian learn about himself? He knew it now. That was his true desire—to finally unravel the greatest mystery of all: how he had come to be what he was.

Ares and the answers waited beyond the portal. They would reach it soon.





CHAPTER 93


CDC

Atlanta, Georgia


Paul Brenner opened the door and walked to his nephew’s bedside. The boy was still.

“How do you feel?”

The boy looked up at him. He started to speak, but no words came. What’s happening to him? Paul wondered.

He checked the vitals. All normal. Physically, the boy had made a miraculous recovery.

Paul rubbed his temples. What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I think straight? His mind seemed to be in a fog, a cloud of confusion he couldn’t escape.





David tried to wrap his mind around Janus’s words. “You’re taking us back to the stone ages? You’re… devolving us?”

“I’m making you safe. Have you not understood a word I’ve said? An enemy of unimaginable strength is hunting my people. You have some of us inside of you. Regression, devolution is the only chance you have. It will save your species.”

“Assuming we’re even the same species. Look, we’re not going back. I don’t accept this.”

“I respect that, Mr. Vale. Indeed, that’s why I chose you—you fight for your own kind, you sacrifice for them. You follow the Human Code. But it betrays you in this moment. You just heard the history of your world and your species. Those primates that came down from the trees and sought sustenance on the savannas, they were survivors. Ask the chimpanzees and gorillas how they feel about their choice to remain in the trees. It was easier there, but those who ventured out, who chose the hard road, actually grew stronger, adapted, and evolved—the few who survived. The tribes that marched to the sea during Toba, they were survivors too. That is the defining trait of your species. This is how you will survive this trial.” Janus jerked his head toward the tunnel. “The cube is through—”

David grabbed a lantern. “This conversation isn’t over.”

“It has been for a very long time, Mr. Vale.”





David had led Janus and Milo out of the tunnel, toward the rays of sunlight that cut across the tunnel opening. The glowing yellow cube hovered just beyond the newly carved entrance.

David crossed the threshold first. He swept the room with his assault rifle. Nothing moved. In the corner, a pool of blood spread out. David crept toward it, fearing what he would see.

Kamau. Knife wound to the chest.

David bent and pressed his fingers to the African’s neck. He felt the cold skin before the lack of a pulse. Still, he held it there, waiting, refusing to believe it.

Janus and Milo both stared at the scene. Apparently neither knew what to say.

Finally, David rose and walked over to Kate’s computer. He closed it and stuffed it and the other equipment in the backpack. “Let’s move out.”

Outside the building, David led the group back to the square. Their helicopter was gone.

He turned to Janus. “What’s the plan? We can’t beat them to Germany—they’re too far ahead of us.”

“There is an alternative,” Janus said. “If we can get there in time.”

“The Knights have a plane,” Milo said. “Can you fly it, Mr. David?”

“I can fly anything,” David said. Landing had sometimes been an issue, but he didn’t mention that. There was no need to worry them.





Dorian watched the sea below turn to land. Italy. Soon they would cross into Germany, and they would reach the portal shortly after.

The plague had crushed continental Europe. NATO had folded early, offering their resources to the humanitarian effort. Nothing could stop him now.





Kate opened her eyes. Dorian stared at her.

She didn’t blink now. She wasn’t scared of him any more. She knew who he was, and she knew who she was. History wouldn’t repeat itself.

“Everything okay, Kate?” Dorian asked sarcastically.

She matched his tone. “I’m good.”

The helicopter touched down a half hour later, and Dorian dragged her out, onto the ground.