E.V. Everest - The Botanists Game

E.V. Everest

The Botanists Game

Book Two

First published by Golden Bird Press 2021

Copyright 2021 by E.V. Everest

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

First edition

ISBN: 978-0-9999041-2-1

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SHADOWS & STARLIGHT
Seven Crowns
The Botanists Game

Rule of Shadows

Fallen Kingdom

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I t was a brisk autumn afternoon in the Northern Province of Bellaton. Ana and Adam zipped down the lane in a sleek hovercar. In all official records, this road did not exist. Nor did the very township itself that they had passed miles back. Generations of Rockwells had been sure of that. They had many enemies. Almost as many as Ana.

Anas family was one of seven royal lines on Bellaton, or they had been. Until every member was picked off one by one in a series of accidents, illnesses, and outright murders. She was the last remaining member of the Halt line. And she wasnt safe.

At the end of the last school year, her own adviser had attempted to kill her with an arrow dipped in poison.

Ana stared out the window at the umber rolling hills and forests of scarlet and deep crimson leaves. If she really craned her neck, she could just barely see the metallic road below. The hovercar operated on a magnetic propulsion system that required no wheels.

Ana wanted to roll down the window to get a better view, but as she reached for the button, the driver turned around. Best to leave the windows up, he said in a low gravelly voice.

Well, he was more of a bodyguard, she supposed. Although he sat up front, the car appeared to be self-driving.

Were almost there, Adam said in a hushed tone.

Ana could sense his anxious energy, and she snuggled closer, lacing her fingers through his. I cant wait to see it.

Itll be hard to miss, he said pointedly.

Ana knew Adam was nervous about showing her his house. He had already explained that it would be different. Bigger than she expected. And his dad could be a little well, she had met his dad. She knew exactly how he could be.

Ana wasnt worried. She thought Adam was being a little silly. She had seen the academy and the capital. She knew his house would be large and magnificent. In her mind, she was imagining something like the White Housea palatial home with columns and flags.

It had been difficult to leave home again. Ana and Adam had lounged around Earth for several weekseating at Franks diner, hanging out with Anas brothers, swimming in the lake, and working on their suntans. Ana didnt need a job. Money was, at the moment, not an object.

She and Adam had been excused from end of year exams, as were all involved in the challenge. Time to rest and recuperate from the terror they had faced. Counseling had been offered. Ana snorted. All she needed was tape recorded sessions falling into the hands of her enemies. Still, it was luxurious and languid. Everything a summer should be. It felt like the end of an era when they had boarded the spaceship a few days ago.

The hovercar approached a tall iron gate and paused by a sizable guard shack. A uniformed officer exited the building, and their bodyguard got out to talk to him. Ana couldnt help but notice the turnstile was in the up position. She looked over at Adam and waggled her eyebrows. I bet this thing can go pretty fast, huh?

His eyes flashed like lightning in a bottle. He leaned forward and pressed the boost button, grabbing onto a nearby headrest. The hovercar lurched forward. They achieved 0 to 100 mph almost at once.

Ana screamed like she was on a rollercoaster as her head was sucked back to the seat. She was now regretting not taking Adam to a theme park.

The car slowed to a stop in the shadow of a large estatea cross between a castle and a prison. It loomed ahead, many stories tall, the portrait of a gothic tale. Its roofline stabbing like unhappy swords into the clear, autumn sky. Despite its name, Rockwell Manor was no manor house at all. It was a massive compound.

The walls were constructed from enormous gray stone blocks. The roof of obsidian. Turrets formed in sections. Perhaps the most disturbing addition from Earthen architecture were the demonic-looking gargoyles on the roofline.

She sucked in a breath. Whoa.

I told you, Adam said, crossing his arms over his chest.

I cant believe Im saying this, but I think you undersold it.

He grunted.

Lets, um, lets go in, she said, regaining her composure.

The hovercar lowered obligingly to the ground, allowing them to step onto the metallic road.

I cant believe we just passed through security like that, Ana said, sliding out of the car.

Adam gave her a half-hearted smile. If one of us didnt have Rockwell DNA, we would have been automatically reduced to vapor.

Anas eyes bulged. She looked around as if attack robots might soar at her from the rooftop. Are we safe?

Of course. Im a Rockwell.

She drew her shoulders back, determined to put Adam at ease. She could handle whatever his creepy house had to throw at her. Well then, Mr. Rockwell, I think its time we see yourahemestate.

He rolled his eyes and nudged her playfully in the side. Fine. But stay with me and dont touch anything. There are a lot of dangerous objects and security measures. Dont do anything hasty.

She looped her arm through his, and they marched up the stairs to the front doors of Rockwell Manor. Ana started to step forward onto the large black welcome mat, but Adam pulled her backward. Dont step there.

She looked at him in confusion. On the welcome mat?

Its rigged with explosives.

Maybe, she had been wrong to downplay Adams warnings about his house. So far, not that she was counting, but it could have killed her twice.

He led her over to the second window and a gas lamp that glowed silver. Adam reached for the base of the lamp and slid it upward. A scan was activated around them. The gas lamp returned to its original position, and the glass windowpane disappeared.

Ana peered inside, careful not to breech the interior. Is it safe to step through? she asked. She wasnt taking any chances anymore. The manor was not only uncharted but rigged with booby traps and security measures at every step.

Yeah, come on in, he said, stepping in and reaching a hand out to her.

She stepped through to join him. Wow, she breathed.

The entry was thirty feet high and illuminated by the light of a chandelier made entirely of sharp, silver swords that had been welded together. It might have been her imagination, but she could have sworn she saw a glint of dark dried blood on the point of one of the swords. The walls themselves were a light gray, and they too were covered with artfully placed swords.