Dark Awakening: Echoes of Destiny (The Children Of The Gods #88)

35. The Saboteur

35

THE SABOTEUR

T he night air was cool against the saboteur's skin as she sat on the swing, her feet dragging through the grass below. The playground, usually alive with the shrieks and laughter of children, was silent at this hour. The only sound was the soft creaking of the swing's chains as she absentmindedly rocked back and forth.

The little ones were all tucked away in their beds or going through their nightly routines about now, the kind of coddling rituals she'd seen on TV.

Baths with bubbles? Bedtime stories? Lullabies?

These were foreign concepts to her.

Her childhood had been vastly different. Instead of a playground, she'd had a training yard. Instead of toys, she'd had weapons. Her earliest memories were of gripping a stick in her small hands, learning to wield it as an extension of herself. No time had been wasted on games or idle play. Every moment was dedicated to honing her skills and becoming the warrior she was meant to be.

The rest of the time had been dedicated to training her mind.

As she gazed at the empty playground, she wondered who had it better. These children, with their carefree days of play and laughter? Or her, with her strenuous training and a sense of purpose?

She wasn't sure.

The saboteur's eyes drifted to the benches surrounding the playground. During the day, they would be occupied by mothers, chatting and gossiping while keeping a watchful eye on their offspring.

She wondered what they talked about.

The latest village gossip? Their children's achievements?

It all seemed so trivial.

So human.

This wasn't the Kra-ell spirit. The Kra-ell were warriors born and bred. They didn't waste time on idle chatter and frivolous pursuits.

These village children, with their soft upbringing and lack of true challenge, would be useless in battle. They were soft and unprepared.

Cannon fodder was the human term for soldiers whose lives were not valued.

At the sound of approaching footsteps, she planted her feet on the ground, stopping the swinging motion. The three figures approaching tried to keep their demeanor casual, but they weren't very good actors.

Not like her.

Well, that was what she had to work with, inferior as they were.

They were afraid of her, and rightly so. She was stronger, smarter, and she called the shots. She did not have their loyalty, but she had their obedience, and that was good enough.

"Did anyone suspect anything?" she asked in a low voice.

As the three shook their heads in unison, the saboteur felt a wave of relief wash over her, but she was careful not to let it show on her face.

She hadn't been sure her compulsion would hold under the scrutiny of the village's strongest compellers. The fact that it had was not only reassuring but exhilarating.

It meant she was stronger than them all.

The thought sent a thrill of power through her.

She looked at each of her minions in turn. The boy, Blue, stood slightly apart from the others, his stance betraying a confidence that bordered on arrogance. He felt protective of Yellow and Red, but his stance was nothing but bravado. If she could have their loyalty, she would choose Red, who was the smartest, to be her second, but only until she revealed her plot to the other young Kra-ell she hung out with. Then, she would have no more use for these three.

For now, the other Kra-ell didn't think much of her, but they would soon.

"Good," she said, allowing a small note of approval to creep into her voice. After all, a leader had to know how to dole out praise from time to time.

Not that she expected ever to gain the loyalty of these three, but she needed to practice for the future.

One day, she would be the leader of her people, and she intended to be spectacular.

Blue stepped forward. "Do you want us to do anything tonight or tomorrow?"

The saboteur considered for a moment. Part of her itched to push forward, to strike again while the village was still reeling from their previous actions. But caution stayed her hand. She had already taken significant risks to make a statement.

The statement had been made, and now it was time for caution. That was another thing a leader had to be good at. She had to know when to push and when to pull back. Being rash was the downfall of rulers.

"Not tonight," she said. "Go home. We'll meet again when I decide it is safe."

She saw a flicker of relief cross Blue's face, quickly masked. The three knew better than to antagonize her.

As her minions melted back into the shadows, the saboteur rose from the swing. She took a moment to survey the playground one last time. In the darkness, it looked almost sinister. A fitting metaphor for the rot that lay beneath the village's perfect fa?ade.

She began to walk away, her steps unhurried, her posture relaxed. No need to draw attention by rushing.

As she moved through the quiet village pathways, her mind turned to the future. The compulsion she had placed on her minions had held firm, even under intense questioning.

It was a victory that opened new possibilities.

There was one more test, though, and that was her own ability to withstand compulsion.

If she passed that one, nothing could stop her.