Gena Showalter - Lifeblood

The Rest—

Peace beyond all understanding awaits.

★ Troikans believe a spirit enters into this state of absolute tranquillity after Second-death, forever separated from the realms…with a few exceptions.

The Resurrection—

And so the dead shall rise again.

★ Once every year, Troika holds a vote; one spirit within the Rest is brought back to spirit-life.

★ The winner must exit the Rest even if he or she wishes to remain.

Troika—

Justice, equality, freedom of choice.

★ The realm of Light, ruled by the Secondking Eron, the Prince of Doves.

★ Untouched by gloom, where hard work isn’t an expectation but a way of life, equality isn’t an ideal but a standard and fear isn’t a treasured friend but a hated foe…logic always trumps emotion…people are governed by a strict set of rules, and violators are punished.

★ Motto: Light Brings Sight.

Unsigned—

Without hope, there can be no joy.

★ A human who fails to make covenant with Troika or Myriad before Firstdeath.

★ Damned to spend the Everlife inside Many Ends.

Veil—

All who enter are welcome.

★ A doorway leading into and out of an Everlife realm.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Title Page

Dedication

Map

Epigraph

The light Expands and the darkness Narrows

Glossary

Troika

Troika

Troika

Troika

Myriad

Myriad

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Myriad

Myriad

Myriad

Myriad

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Myriad

Myriad

Myriad

Chapter Six

Troika

Troika

Troika

Troika

Myriad

Myriad

Troika

Troika

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Myriad

Myriad

Myriad

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Troika

Troika

Troika

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Myriad

Myriad

Myriad

Myriad

Myriad

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Myriad

Myriad

Myriad

Myriad

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Myriad

Myriad

Myriad

Troika

Troika

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Myriad

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Myriad

Myriad

About Everlife

Copyright

TROIKA

From: L_N_3/19.1.1

To: M_C_4/2.17.12

Subject: Tenley Lockwood

You begged to take over Miss Lockwood’s case, Madame Cordell, and vowed to always—always!—keep me updated on her progress. Since her Firstlife ended by poisoned spear, I have yet to receive a single report. Update me. Now!

Light Brings Sight!

General Levi Nanne

TROIKA

From: M_C_4/2.17.12

To: L_N_3/19.1.1

Subject: Your patience and trust humble me

My apologies for making you wait a whole 6.8 seconds for another report, sir. If you haven’t noticed, my team is a little busy slaughtering Myriadian soldiers—and getting slaughtered in the process. By the way, Archer Prince has experienced Second-death. Not that you asked. I’ve lost track of Tenley and suspect Myriad is hiding her within their shadows. I’m doing my best to locate her, sir.

Light Brings Sight! Maybe consider using yours?

Madame Meredith Cordell

TROIKA

From: L_N_3/19.1.1

To: M_C_4/2.17.12

Subject: Brrring! Brrring! This is your wake-up call

Find her!

And you had better not be crying for Archer. He lived a good life and died a warrior’s death. His name has been added to the Book of New Life, and he’s a candidate for the Resurrection. You just might see him again—and soon!

Light Brings Sight!

General Levi Nanne

TROIKA

From: M_C_4/2.17.12

To: L_N_3/19.1.1

Subject: Please leave a message at the beep

When has “might” ever been good enough?

Light Brings Sight!

Madame Meredith Cordell

MYRIAD

From: Z_C_4/23.43.2

To: R_O_3/2.17.12

Subject: The Conduit

It’s certain. Miss Lockwood has made covenant with Troika. Foolish Madame Bennett! Her actions hurt us all. We appeared immoral and foul, so I can’t blame Miss Lockwood for her choice. My question is: Does Killian Flynn protect Miss Lockwood for our benefit—or theirs?

How would you like me to proceed?

Might Equals Right!

Sir Zhi Chen

MYRIAD

From: R_O_3/2.17.12

To: Z_C_4/23.43.2

Subject: Instructions

You’re right. Madame Pearl Bennett got us into this mess, but I’m happy to report Killian Flynn will get us out. I assure you, his every action is intentional and for our greater good. His mission is critical.

You will tell no one of his motivation. The fewer people who know, the less likely the information will spread, compro­mising everything he has done and has yet to do. Let today’s battle play out without interference.

And fear not. All is not lost where Tenley Lockwood is concerned. Killian is working his magic to ensure she single-handedly wins the war—for us. Let him do what he needs to do. He knows what’s at stake, and he won’t let us down. He never has before.

Might Equals Right!

General Rosalind Oriana

chapter one

“Tribulation reveals your greatest strength...or greatest weakness.”

—Troika

Present day

Sand in the hourglass falls, one grain at a time...time...one second bleeds into two...three... I try to piece together my fragmented thoughts. A difficult task. My mind is hazy, my thoughts blurred. Four...

A fact clicks into place. Numbers are my greatest obsession; they always tell a story, and they never lie.

Five...five...five. The numeral gets trapped in my head, set on constant repeat. Click. Five minutes and fourteen seconds ago, I died.

Whoa. I’m dead?

I must be. My heart no longer beats, and my lungs are deflated. I can’t breathe. I need to breathe. Sweat beads on my nape and trickles down my spine, and yet my limbs remain ice-cold.

Calm. Steady. Though my body is wrecked, my spirit lives on. This is a new beginning. A new life.

Calm? Seriously? From now on, I’ll have zero second chances. Zero do-overs. Everything I do will matter: every word I say, every action I take, every person I befriend and every enemy I slay will positively or negatively affect me. No ifs, ands or buts.