The Underworld (The Atlas Series Book 3) Read online

  The Underworld

  The Atlas Series

  Book 3

  BECCA C. SMITH

  Copyright © 2016 by Becca C Smith

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

  Published by Red Frog Publishing, a division of Red Frog Media

  Visit our website at www.redfrogpublishing.com

  First published in 2016

  Cover Art by Sarah Cave www.littlebluestudios.com

  Cover Design by Stephan Fleet

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  ISBN 9780990565048

  Printed in the United States of America

  To Stephan: you are my everything.

  DAY ONE

  Chapter One

  3d 23h 59m 58s

  John Fortski huddled in a ball, sobbing. He was a mess and Kala couldn’t blame him. She debated whether or not to try and explain why she had destroyed his life’s research of creating the cure for cancer, but, ultimately, Kala decided against it. It would only upset him more.

  Kala surveyed her surroundings. She was still in the Compound’s laboratory and had just set aflame Fortski’s cure. Not something she thought she’d ever fathom doing. But, as Atlas now, it was either that or watch the world end. Black or white choice. No compromises. Do what her vision told her or…

  Or civilization as the world knew it was gone.

  And this time Kala’s vision told her to kibosh John Fortski’s brilliant discovery of how to wipe out cancer.

  Yeah. Being Atlas was a real hoot so far.

  “Don’t move.”

  The click of a gun sounded directly in Kala’s ear.

  She recognized the voice. It was General Harry Clifton. Her ex-boss, and not someone Kala particularly liked.

  Even though Kala knew she couldn’t die, being shot at by Clifton wasn’t high on her priority list.

  “You know you can’t kill me, right?” Kala didn’t even try to hide her condescending tone.

  “We’ll see about that!” The confidence in his voice was infuriating.

  BAM!

  “Ow! Son of a…” Kala felt the bullet crash through her skull and it stung worse than she would have imagined. Still, as the bullet harmlessly popped out of her head and clattered to the ground, Kala took the opportunity to snatch Clifton’s gun and level it at his chest.

  His eyes were wide and round at witnessing Kala’s bulletproof body. Being a Titan definitely had its perks.

  “How did you… Some new technology…” Clifton couldn’t seem to complete a sentence.

  “I don’t think you want to know,” Kala sighed.

  Clifton’s poor little brain was on overload. He’d seen too much over the last eight days that he couldn’t explain and it was finally causing his brain to fry. “Please, tell me,” he asked carefully.

  “I’m the one holding the gun, General. Not sure if you should be making any demands, especially after kidnapping Roberta. I’m also pretty sure you planned on offing her husband.” Kala eyed Clifton knowingly; she had ruined his perfect plan by rescuing Roberta, General Geoffrey Turner’s wife, and Clifton knew it.

  Even with a gun pointed at him though, Clifton managed to calm himself. He nodded. “You can’t be killed. You and your friends can teleport in here like it’s the Starship Enterprise. Eight days ago you were one of my best soldiers. What the hell happened?”

  “Long story.” Kala was oddly relieved to finally be able to speak to Clifton in a somewhat civilized manner. She never had any affection for the guy, but she had respected him as her boss. And to have him try to execute her for the last eight days had been both annoying and strangely hurtful.

  “Long story, huh? Let me guess: you don’t have time to tell me.” Clifton nodded to the gun. “Can I have that back? It’s not like I can do any damage.”

  Kala handed him the weapon with a shrug. Clifton’s ability to adapt to any situation was a trait Kala admired in the guy. Knowing he was at the disadvantage, Clifton simply accepted it.

  Besides, Kala knew that if she could fight and beat Cronus, leader of the Titans, General Clifton was just a flea. He couldn’t harm her, so handing him back the gun only proved how powerless he truly was.

  It was at this moment Clifton noticed John Fortski crying in the corner. “What did you do to him?”

  Fortski felt the need to join in the conversation at this point. “She destroyed my research! I had the cure to cancer, General! And she burned it all!”

  Clifton raised an eyebrow. “Is that true?”

  Kala holstered her own weapon and nodded. “Didn’t really want to, but yeah.”

  Clifton put his gun away as well. “Turner will go after you for that.”

  “He knows. He was kind of pissed that Fortski was working on the cure in the first place. He supposed to be focused on some kind of immortality drug.” Kala was testing Clifton, to see his reaction.

  Clifton chuckled. “Age-pro. A fool’s dream, though admittedly the trials have shown some interesting results having absolutely nothing to do with anti-aging. Turner should have been happy with the cancer cure.” He tilted his head toward the destroyed computers. “So this mission was Turner’s? Rescue Roberta and destroy the cure?”

  Clifton was fishing as much as Kala was. It made her realize how alike they were. Soldiers to the end. But it only benefited Kala to be on civil terms with Clifton. Having to deal with his elite soldiers coming after her while at the same time fighting Titans… It made her job as Atlas a lot more difficult than it needed to be. She didn’t think she and Clifton would ever be friends, but maybe they could leave each other alone. Plus, she had no earthly idea how Turner was going to handle the whole you-kidnapped-my-wife-you-bastard scenario either. But from what she knew of both the generals, they’d most likely continue as they had: as if nothing ever happened. Theirs was a relationship she did not pretend to understand.

  Kala decided to tell Clifton enough to satisfy his curiosity, but she wasn’t going to elaborate any more than she had to. “Saving Roberta was my mission from Turner, yes, but destroying Fortski’s research was my own mission. Different agenda. Let’s just say my new super-keen powers were given to me once I agreed to work for my new boss.” Vague, but Clifton understood Kala wouldn’t give away too much.

  “I see.” Clifton touched the watch on his wrist. “NOW!”

  Within seconds, the room was filled with over fifty soldiers aiming automatic rifles at Kala.

  Clifton snarled as he spoke, “You just admitted to me that you no longer work for the U.S. government! Was your first order to kill the President?!” He motioned to all the guns pointed at her. “Do you think you can survive hundreds of thousands of bullets? Because I don’t think your special armor will do that!”

  Kala sighed. He still didn’t get it. And how could he? His mind needed to have a scientific explanation for what Kala could do. She chastised herself for using the term, “new boss.” That did sound like she had changed loyalties.

  Teleporting out of there seemed like the best course of action, but Kala didn’t want to be on the run from Clifton while she was trying to accomplish her Atlas missions. She wanted to bring him to her side – or at least to some kind of understanding.

  And –

  Kala needed to show the General that she was indestructible so he’d stop attacking her.

  “Listen, General, my new boss is still the United St
ates. It’s just not your unit anymore.” Which was true in the sense that being Atlas meant she was saving the world and that included America. “Do you really think General Turner would have anything to do with me if I was working with another country?”

  “I can’t take that chance.” Clifton made a sweeping motion with his hand. “FIRE!”

  Wow. That was loud.

  Fifty guns sent bullets thumping into Kala’s body all at once. The force of it was so shocking that she barely felt the pain. She had thought her skin would tear to pieces, then reform, but it was more like she was made of water. As each bullet broke through her skin, her body rejected it and pushed it out again. It went on like this for almost five minutes – until Clifton ordered his men to stop with a wave of his hand.

  Staring at him with an apologetic smile, Kala shrugged. “I’m telling you, we’re on the same side. And this time believe me. You can’t kill me.”

  Clifton eyed Kala, trying to decide how to proceed. He came to some sort of conclusion in his head and addressed his men. “Report to section ten.”

  With confused expressions at what they had just witnessed, the soldiers followed Clifton’s orders and left the lab.

  Out of the corner of her eye, Kala saw Fortski uncover his ears. The poor guy had been through a lot in the last ten minutes.

  After a moment of contemplating his options, General Clifton held his hand out –which she cautiously shook. “I won’t send my men after you… for now.” He motioned to the thousands of bullet casings littering the floor. “Waste of bullets anyway. But you agree to keep me in the loop as much as you can?”

  Clifton’s men weren’t exactly a problem for Kala, but she didn’t like hurting fellow soldiers simply because they were following orders. Having them off her back was worth throwing Clifton a bone or two every once in while.

  “I can live with that,” she agreed, “as long as you leave Lieutenant Derek Echols alone as well.” At this point, Derek couldn’t be killed either thanks to Kala’s misuse of her healing powers. Still, she didn’t want him having to constantly watch his back either.

  “I consider you two one and the same. We’re good on my end.” Then, to Kala’s surprise, Clifton saluted.

  The salute brought her back to a time when she had been so sure of who she was in the world. She was a sniper, a soldier, a part of an elite team that saved the world from bad people. Clifton’s simple gesture reminded her of what she had become in the last eight days: a god, burdened with doing unspeakable acts in order to stop the universe from collapsing.

  Kala saluted back and for once in a really long time she felt normal.

  Fortski finally stood up and pulled himself together after realizing that Clifton wasn’t going to help his cause. He wiped his cheeks dry and walked over to Kala and Clifton, trying not to trip on the shell casings.

  “If you two would please leave my lab, I have work to do,” Fortski said coldly. “And have a team brought in here to clean up this mess,” he ordered Clifton.

  Clifton didn’t seem ruffled by the barking. “I’ll send a team immediately.” He nodded a good-bye to Kala, “Lieutenant Hicks.”

  She nodded back, “General.”

  Clifton left the room, leaving Kala alone with Fortski.

  Fortski held back his rage as he repeated, “Leave my lab now.”

  Before she teleported out, Kala tried one last time to reassure him. “If I hadn’t destroyed your research, the world would have been destroyed. No lives would have ever been saved by your cure. And this way you’re destined to cure everything.”

  A glimmer of understanding crossed his features, but his defenses quickly replaced it. “Please, Lieutenant, just go.”

  Kala didn’t want to upset him further, so she teleported out of the Compound.

  When she landed at her destination, relief washed through her. She was home, at her dingy one-bedroom apartment. Kala almost wanted to hug the strewn out clothes on the floor that made her place such a mess. She hadn’t set foot in here since her human self had to escape from… Asmodeus.

  Asmodeus.

  It seemed almost funny now that she had been so terrified of the king of Demons coming after her. Now she would actually appreciate his company. Until Asmodeus picked a side though, Kala knew she wouldn’t be seeing him any time soon. He’d either stay with the Titans or join the Grigori and the Olympians. Either way, Kala knew she could handle Asmodeus. He was so very predictable in his self-serving ways. Everyone else, on the other hand, was a hassle. Even the good guys. They all had their agendas and Kala wanted nothing to do with any of it.

  Being at home gave her a sense of comfort. Unlike before, Kala knew she could defend it now. Consuming Atlas, a Titan, had made her immortal. And finding out she had within her a part of Gaia, the mother of all gods meant she could consume any god she wanted. It was an advantage that kept her enemies at bay for the moment. Even Cronus was scared she’d vacuum-up his soul. Not that she would. Why add yet another life’s experiences when having Atlas’s memories bounce around in her head felt schizophrenic, to say the least. Talan had at least fixed Kala’s brain so she wouldn’t black out every time she flashed back to some crazy moment in Atlas’s life. If she added any others to the mix, Kala doubted she’d be able to stay conscious.

  Her favorite plushy green armchair greeted her like an old friend. Walking over to the ratty monstrosity, Kala plopped down into its soft goodness. For once in a really long time she actually smiled in happiness. She missed that chair.

  Not bothering to turn on the flat screen resting on crates in front of her, Kala tried to ignore that the TV even existed. She knew that once she turned it on her new mission would play repeatedly. That was another “perk” of her new job as Atlas: all screens showed her a vision of what she was meant to do to prevent the world from ending, except computer screens apparently. So at least she could numb her mind Internet surfing if she so pleased. But her days of binge watching television were over.

  The reason the green chair was so comfortable was because of all the time she’d spent in it between her Special Forces missions, planting her butt right in this chair either watching TV or playing a lot of video games. Part of her wanted to get rid of the Atlas curse just so she could play Mass Effect one more time.

  Kala closed her eyes and took in the silence, feeling the peace of the moment. She knew it wouldn’t last long but was determined to enjoy it as long as possible. Sounds of her neighbor clanking dishes, a car starting in the carport, a siren blaring in the distance… They made Kala feel normal. As if all she had to do was open her eyes and everything she’d experienced in the last week would be a dream.

  But when Kala opened her eyes…

  It was still only the blank screen of the television that greeted her.

  And the overwhelming sense of foreboding seizing her chest. Things weren’t the way they used to be. They never would be again. No more Jack, the love of her life. She was forced to kill him as her first Atlas mission. No more human life. She was Atlas now and she needed to complete her missions. The faster she accepted this reality, the better.

  Kala had felt an inner calm when finally deciding to complete her last Atlas task. She wanted – no, needed – Jack’s death to have some meaning.

  So the sooner she turned on that TV, the sooner she’d know what to do next.

  Yeah.

  Not yet.

  Kala listened to the everyday noises of life happening around her a little longer. Life that was able to continue because of her. Because she did what needed to be done. Still a soldier. Still with a purpose in life.

  Besides, Kala knew, this moment of respite wouldn’t last long. At any moment she fully expected some form of visitor, spouting “End of days,” or “We can only do this with your help,” or “Please help me kill my (insert relative here).” As for the coming war between the Titans, the Olympian gods and the Grigori, Kala wasn’t sure if she even wanted to take sides. Now that she knew the mother of them all,
Gaia, was inside of her somehow, a part of her wanted to let the children figure it out on their own.

  Taking a deep breath, Kala decided to rip off the emotional Band-Aid, feel the pain, get it over with, and face it all without help. She’d rather watch her vision alone than have someone like her adoptive father, Owen, who (it turned out) was a powerful Grigori angel, standing over her shoulder supportively. Or Talan, another Grigori (with his gentle, caring eyes) asking how he could help. It was painful having such loyal, sympathetic people in her life. Kala didn’t want to justify her actions; they were too atrocious. So to have her loved ones encourage her actions “For the greater good,” made doing the unthinkable worse.

  Nope. At this point, Cronus would be a better companion by her side. He’d simply tell her to ignore the whole task and let the world burn. At least she could beat the Titan senseless and feel good about it. Kala had to admit, she’d loved seeing Cronus squirm when he thought she was going to consume him.

  Grabbing the remote, Kala turned on the television before she could chicken out.

  The vision played on the screen in front of her, but she wasn’t quite sure what she was seeing.

  It was a dark place, like some sort of cave or underground cavern. A grotto. Every surface was made of craggy rocks soaked with moisture. Constant dripping sounded all around, convincing Kala that this place must be under a body of water or waterfall.

  Vision/Kala stepped into view and placed her hand on a large stone lying in the center of the grotto.

  The scene was peaceful and calm. Almost as if the world wasn’t about to end like it had in her other visions.

  Vision/Kala took a deep breath and almost appeared sad, but determined. Her hand began to glow on the stone.

  And it moved.

  Kala watched the television more closely and realized that it was a man lying at Vision/Kala’s feet, not a rock at all. He coughed and sputtered, until his eyes met Vision/Kala’s.

  “Hades.” Vision/Kala nodded in solemn greeting.

  “Who are you?” Hades asked.

  “Atlas. My mission is to wake you,” Vision/Kala replied calmly.