CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

TEN METERS DOWN, WE dropped into a burrow. I settled the dust with my mind, hugging Evie close as we waited. Six seconds later, the boy, Muhammad, slipped into the cramped space to join us. “You bless me again with your presence.” He knelt before Evie.

She touched his shoulder lightly.

He looked up, addressing me in Arabic. “I apologize for misjudging you. I did not realize you were a warrior of light. I am still young.” He stroked his hairless chin. “It has been difficult to learn so much of what we put our faith in to be false. Some have refused, but I have gathered many. We await your orders.”

I nodded. “It will be bloody. Those of you with enlightened minds should lead the way. The quarters will be cramped, favoring the hybrids.”

He frowned.

“The taskmasters.”

He nodded. “We will deal with them. Despite my recent coming, I have felt their wickedness in the others. Many are eager to fight.”

“One last thing. The others who look like me—they don’t know of your enlightenment or social classes. Give Evie a chance to explain before you go near them. Though they are human, they bring powerful magic. When they are forced to use it, you’ll know.”

A part of me felt guilty for manipulating the boy by playing off his religious superstitions. Another part of me reluctantly admitted the concept of jinn warriors from another dimension didn’t sound much crazier than a 150-year-old telekinetic puppet master.

“Very well.” He bowed.

Gushing tears, Evie embraced him, weeping on his shoulder.

Muhammad’s eyes remained closed, his arms around her back.

After several seconds, she withdrew.

His lips quivered. “You lavish continued graces on your humble servant. I will do my best to honor them.”

“All right.” I moved him toward the burrow opening. “Evie and I will lead the way. Fight for your village. Fight for the truth. Fight for freedom.”

“We will.”

From the passageway, I sensed dozens of twitchers lining the tunnel in both directions. I knew they were backed up along every junction and filling every burrow. These were the ones Evie had spent time with earlier—a mere hour. I trembled as I drew her close. My daughter had become a prophet to twitchers. “Ready?”

Muhammad and Evie responded in unison. “Ready.”

This time I battered the earth beneath me, knocking loose an entire core—two meters in diameter and ten meters deep. Shattering it into individual granules, Evie and I plunged downward, followed by a torrent of bloodthirsty twitchers launching a war of independence.