Excerpt: Night Eternal

Terek looked past the bars of her cell at the man across the corridor that separated them. The cameras were never gone, of course, and they were always being watched. But they had other ways to communicate, ways that wouldn’t be noticed.

She studied his face. Was that a smile, or just her wishful thinking? No, she decided, definitely a smile. It was time, then. She braced herself. 5…4…3…2… Right on cue, there was a ‘whump’ and the floor rumbled threateningly under her feet. Flashbacks hit her: white columns crumbling, the screams of those below her as the bombs went off; blood and death and destruction and laughter ringing in her ears.

She snapped out of it; the man across from her was firing at the lock on her cell door, apparently having decided to forego finesse. “Stop,” she snapped. She narrowed her eyes, tapping her fingers. The lock opened, seemingly of its own accord. The man stared, but she said “No time,” and he grabbed her roughly, shooting the cuffs at her wrists and feet. She grinned at him.

He smiled back, shark-like, holding out his arm. “Shall we?” She laughed and took it, then the two of them ran through the prison hallways like the escaping convicts they were.

From there, it was easy. They were out and into the dark world. Sometimes Terek had missed the sun. Not anymore – the lack of sun, moon, and stars made it easier for her to hide. Except for those damned lights… the self-sustaining lights her father and grandfather had invented when the world went dark. She shook away her thoughts, looking at the man across from her. “Thanks,” she said shortly, turning to go.

“Darlin’,” he said quickly, and she whirled about and slapped him, hard.

“Don’t you ever call me that again,” she hissed.

He raised his hands in surrender. “Fine. Miss Livingstone, I believe you and I could be great partners.”

She paused, thinking about it. Well… the enemy of her enemy and all that. “Fine,” she said cautiously. Sure, she’d work with him. That wouldn’t mean she would trust him. Or hesitate to betray him, if it came to that. Maybe even kill him.

He smiled as if reading her thoughts. “Well then.”

She held out her hand and they shook. “So,” she said. “You said you run a gang, isn’t that right…Orion Black, isn’t it?”

He smiled dangerously. “Yes, Miss Livingstone. But please. Call me Ghost.”