Shadow Seed by Jose Rodriguez Page A

answered, making an
effort to at least look friendly. “I tried to decorate a little
bit, but I'm not too familiar with human taste.”
    If Nibiru’s pale skin and glowing red eyes
didn’t give it away, the view to the outside told Sara where she
was. “This is the Shadow Realm, isn't it?”
    “Some call it that,” Nibiru answered. “The
name of this particular world escapes me at the moment. There are
so many. I am very sorry, Sara, for having to bring you-”
    “How do you know my name?” Sara asked.
    Nibiru began to sense that Sara was going to
be tough to crack. “What I have to show you is much more important
than the answers you seek. But if you must know, I watched you and
the Rheans during your visit to the Corinthian homeworld. And I
must admit I was very impressed with you.”
    Sara stepped back as she looked for anyway
out. “I don't care what you have to say. You're obviously a
Pelasgian, or some creepy Myrmidon.”
    Nibiru spoke as he thought. “That is
interesting, but not surprising. Leon didn't tell you about
me?”
    When Sara peeked over the balcony she
couldn’t believe how high she was.
    “Not surprising at all,” Nibiru continued. “I
wonder. Did he tell anyone?”
    “It doesn't matter,” Sara said, cautiously
moving back into the room. “I know what happened to the Corinthian
homeworld, and I'm not going to let that happen to mine.”
    “How are you going to stop it?” Nibiru asked.
“You can't even save yourself right now.”
    As fast as any human could have, Sara grabbed
a dagger and threw it with pinpoint accuracy at Nibiru's
forehead.
    Using two fingers, Nibiru caught the dagger
and tossed it aside. “I mean you no harm, Sara. I simply wish is to
show you what awaits your world, and make an offer you can't
refuse.”
    Sara raised her weapon as Nibiru stood and
walked towards her.
    “I'll tell you what,” Nibiru said, holding
his hand out. “I promise when all is said and done, if you want, I
will return you to Rhea. All you have to do is take my hand.”
    There was a long pause as Sara thought about
what to do next. Witnessing what Nibiru did with the dagger told
her she was likely no match for him. If Nibiru had wanted her dead,
he would have already done it and he could easily do so if he
decided to.
    Reluctant, Sara put her weapon away and took
Nibiru's hand. Instantly, the entire world around her seemed to
explode in a burst of swirling, black streaks. In the next instant,
she was standing with Nibiru just inside the entrance of a
cave.
    Outside, it felt like summer. Aside from the
two moons that could barely be seen in the blue sky, it reminded
her of home.
    Sara began to think she was now on the planet
she had seen in Nibiru's throne room. Ahead in the valley below,
she could see a city whose size was reminiscent of Vesuvia, but
this one radiated a certain type of beauty that spoke of its
opulence.
    It made Sara wonder if humans could ever
build such a thing. “Where are we?”
    Nibiru raised his hand to the sky. “As I said
before, the name escapes me.”
    Day suddenly turned to night as a massive
black orb blotted out the sun.
    Sara didn't know what was happening, but then
remembered what Caycee had seen in her vision. Pure terror filled
her as she bore witness to a world being stripped away into
darkness. What she had imagined was nothing compared to actually
seeing it firsthand.
    Nibiru stepped out of the cave, next to Sara
as she fell to her knees with tears in her eyes.
    The once immaculate city was now completely
black and looked desolate.
    As the darkness rapidly approached, Nibiru
placed his hand on Sara's shoulder and both were instantly
teleported back to the balcony of his throne room.
    In full view was the planet, and it vaguely
resembled its former self. Everything from the oceans to the
continents had fallen into darkness.
    “Why?” Sara asked.
    Nibiru almost seemed confused. “If you are
attacked, you defend yourself, do you not?”
    “Attacked?”