Everlife (An Everlife Novel) Read online

  Books by Gena Showalter

  available from HQ Young Adult

  The Everlife Novels

  (in reading order)

  Firstlife

  Lifeblood

  Everlife

  The White Rabbit Chronicles

  (in reading order)

  Alice in Zombieland

  Through the Zombie Glass

  The Queen of Zombie Hearts

  A Mad Zombie Party

  The Intertwined Novels

  (in reading order)

  Intertwined

  Unraveled

  Twisted

  EVERLIFE

  Gena Showalter

  www.harlequinbooks.com.au

  To God, my Helper, Healer, Redeemer, Defender, Shepherd, Provider… my everything.

  To Natashya Wilson, whose keen insight never fails to amaze me. Thank you for your incredible feedback as I worked on the Everlife series, for asking questions that needed to be asked and helping me reach a new level.

  To Vicki Tolbert, Shonna Hurt, Michelle Quine and Christy James, for the prayers I so desperately needed. Also, a special thanks to Vicki for feeding me while I was working!

  To Jill Monroe, who gets a thousand emails anytime I’m writing a rough draft. Most of those questions go a little something like this: “What do you think of this? Yes, but what about this? But, but, but what about this?” I am blessed to know you!

  And last but not least, to the incredible animals who inspired some of the furry characters in this book: Biscuit, Mary Ann, Ginger, Nemo, Thor, Pepper, Boots, Noel, Peanut, Athena, Boomer, Riggs, Murtaugh, Milo, Goldman, Mya, Barney, Bailey, Champ, Lucy, Roxi, Lefty, Righty, Suzi and Dixie.

  “The time will come, the time will not be long in coming, when new ties will be formed about you—ties that will bind you yet more tenderly and strongly to the home you so adorn—the dearest ties that will ever grace and gladden you.”

  —CHARLES DICKENS, A TALE OF TWO CITIES

  The End of a Nation

  All hope has been lost. Our armies have been defeated, our spirits crushed. We are helpless as night smothers day, choking out Light. We have nothing. We are nothing.

  Or so our enemy would have us think.

  If seeing is believing, they would be right. But we must trust the promise in our hearts. We are like a tree firmly planted by a riverbank, our roots so deep no storm can blow us down. We might bend, but we will never break.

  Through trial and tribulation, victory will be ours.

  After all, diamonds are made with pressure.

  Soon a time will come, a time for every man, woman and child to make a choice. When you’ve been beaten down— physically, mentally and emotionally—when you’ve been betrayed, all hope gone, where will you find the strength to stand, and march on?

  How far will we go for the sake of our realm?

  Darkness may descend, but our Light can forever shine. Though we fall one by one, we can rise together. One body. One heart. One purpose.

  One eternity.

  Glossary of Terms excerpted from Myriad’s Book of Evernight

  Abrogate—

  In the darkness, greatness is born.

  * The highest rank of General in Myriad.

  * Once rare, their numbers are now growing exponentially.

  * Those who extinguish the Light in Troikans as well as in humans.

  Conduit—

  In the Light, destruction awaits.

  * The second-highest rank in Troika, accountable only to the Secondking.

  * Currently on the verge of extinction.

  * Someone with the ability to harness sunlight and share its power through the Troikan Grid.

  Covenant—

  The solid foundation on which we stand.

  * Any blood oath agreed upon between two separate parties (i.e., a human and an Everlife realm), legally voided through court or loopholes.

  * If terms are broken illegally, a human can be put to death and a spirit enslaved.

  Everlife—

  The end will always justify the means.

  * The afterlife, where Myriad and Troika are at war.

  * Also known as the Unending.

  Firstking—

  He that shall not be named.

  * Creator of the realms, spirits, humans and the Land of the Harvest.

  * Father of the Secondkings: Ambrosine, the Prince of Ravens, and Eron, the Prince of Doves.

  * Let the name Eron forever be a curse.

  Firstlife—

  Let the countdown begin.

  * A human life (i.e., a spirit encased inside a body).

  * Dress rehearsal for the Everlife, when a human soul should be won by any means necessary.

  Firstdeath—

  What was shall no longer be.

  * The demise of a human body.

  * Occurs the moment a spirit cuts ties with its body.

  Fused—

  And two shall become one.

  * When a spirit experiences Second-death, it joins to another—brand-new—spirit (or even multiple spirits) to be reborn in the Land of the Harvest.

  * A fact disputed by Troikans.

  General—

  A dragon with ten heads cannot be defeated.

  * Accountable only to the Secondking.

  * One of ten individuals who oversee teams of Leaders, Headhunters, Laborers and Messengers.

  * Responsible for planning battle strategies and leading armies into war.

  Grid, the—

  One for all, and all for one.

  * A spiritual bond between every citizen of a realm and the realm’s Secondking.

  Kennels, the—

  Betray your realm at your own peril.

  * Prison for Myriadians convicted of crimes.

  Laborer—

  Work hard, play harder. Always win.

  * One of six main positions within a realm, overseen by a Leader.

  * Responsible for returning to the Land of the Harvest to convince humans to make covenant with their realm of choice.

  * ML: Myriadian Laborer.

  * TL: Troikan Laborer.

  Land of the Harvest, the—

  They cannot run. They cannot hide.

  * Earth, home to humans.

  Leader—

  Only the strong survive.

  * An assistant to a General.

  * Females are known as “Madame,” males as “Sir.”

  * Responsible for delegating assignments to all other sub-positions within the realm, while also meeting specific quotas (i.e., recruiting a certain number of souls).

  Many Ends—

  Where happiness goes to die and nightmares come to life.

  * The realm where the Unsigned are imprisoned after Firstdeath.

  Messenger—

  Let the worlds know the horror that is Troika.

  * One of six main positions within the realms, directly under Laborer.

  * Responsible for teaching humans about the realms, protecting others from the enemy and chronicling exploits inside and outside the realm.

  Myriad—

  Autonomy, bliss, indulgence.

  * The dark realm, ruled by the Prince of Ravens.

  * Magical forests whisper enchanted tales, and secrets await you in every corner; self-indulgence is revered, and the party never stops; victors are adored and failures are abhorred; emotion always trumps logic.

  * Motto: Might Equals Right.

  Penumbra—

  In the dark, the Light is easier to extinguish.

  * A sentient darkness capable of draining Troikans of Light.

  * Must be a Myriadian General to access more information.

  Realms—

  The onl
y home that matters.

  * Kingdoms in the Everlife: Myriad and Troika.

  * Sub-realms: Many Ends and Troika’s widely disputed “Rest.”

  Rest, the—

  Deception cloaked in hope.

  * Troikans believe a spirit enters into a state of absolute tranquility after Second-death, forever separated from the realms…with one exception.

  Resurrection, the—

  A promise without merit.

  * Once every year, the people of Troika hold a vote, allowing one spirit to leave the Rest.

  * A trick—there is no Rest.

  Second-death—

  Another end, another new beginning.

  * When a spirit is drained of Lifeblood.

  * The moment a spirit is Fused to another spirit(s) in order to return to the Land of the Harvest.

  * Troikans foolishly believe a spirit enters into “the Rest.”

  Secondking—

  Bow or break.

  * One of two sons of He Who Shall Not Be Named.

  * Ambrosine, Prince of Ravens, rules Myriad.

  * The Other Who Shall Not Be Named rules Troika.

  * Ruler of a realm.

  Troika—

  Self-proclaimed leaders of justice, equality and freedom of choice.

  * The realm of Light, ruled by the Other Who Shall Not Be Named.

  * Supposedly 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, never allowed to play, and violators are punished.

  * Motto: Light Brings Sight.

  Unsigned—

  Punishment rides the wings of the damned.

  * A human who fails to make covenant with a realm before Firstdeath.

  * Cursed to spend the Everlife inside Many Ends.

  Veil, the—

  Choose us and enter in.

  * A doorway leading into one of the realms.

  * The Veil of Midnight protects Myriad.

  * The Veil of Wings protects Troika.

  Message Directory

  MYRIAD:

  Laborer Sloan Aubuchon: S_A_5/46.15.33

  Sir Zhi Chen: Z_C_4/23.43.2

  Abrogate Javier Diez: J_D_2/43.3.19

  Laborer Killian Flynn: K_F_5/23.53.6

  General Hans Schmidt: H_S_3/51.3.6

  Laborer Leonard Lockwood: L_L_5/19.36.2

  Laborer Dior Nichols: D_N_5/62.4.1

  Laborer Victor Prince: V_P_5/20.16.18

  TROIKA:

  Laborer Raanan Aarons: R_A_5/40.5.16

  General Jane Adamson: J_A_3/19.37.30

  Messenger Clayton Anders: C_A_6/53.1.4

  General John Blake: J_B_3/19.23.4

  General Tasanee Bunyasarn: T_B_3/19.30.2

  General Shamus Campbell: S_C_3/50.4.13

  General Spike Jones: S_J_3/62.5.5

  Conduit Ten Lockwood: T_L_2/23.43.2

  General Chanel Moreau: C_M_3/5.20.1

  General Marcos Pereira: M_P_3/45.10.9

  Laborer Archer Prince: A_P_5/23.43.2

  General Luciana Rossi: L_R_3/51.3.15

  General Bahari Sekibo: B_S_3/51.3.13

  General Agape Stavros: A_S_3/42.6.31

  General Alejandro Torres: A_T_3/23.40.29

  General Mykhail Vasiliev: M_V_3/54.5.8

  General Ying Wo Li: Y_L_3/59.1.2

  Contents

  Part One: Troika

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Part Two: Myriad

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Part Three: Many Ends

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  PART ONE

  Troika

  TROIKA

  From: A_T_3/23.40.29

  To: L_R_3/51.3.15, J_A_3/19.37.30, S_C_3/50.4.13,

  C_M_3/5.20.1, Y_L_3/59.1.2, A_S_3/42.6.31,

  T_B_3/19.30.2, B_S_3/51.3.13, M_V_3/54.5.8,

  J_B_3/19.23.4, S_J_3/62.5.5, M_P_3/45.10.9

  Subject: Tenley Lockwood

  Fellow Generals,

  We have two orders of business to discuss. The first: animals. Because of the recent bombings inside our realm, our Secondking has issued a decree. Every citizen will be appointed a guardian, whether four-legged or winged. However, we all have the right to decline. I suggest you do so, and encourage your people to do the same. We haven’t trained with these animals. There’s a good chance they’ll be more of a hindrance than a help.

  The second order of business is the most important. For the first time in our realm’s history, the Prince of Doves has decided NOT to hold a vote for the Resurrection. I don’t know why, only that protests will not change his mind. Instead, Tenley Lockwood is tasked with selecting which of our fallen soldiers will leave the Rest.

  No doubt she plans to choose one of the following (in order of rank):

  General Levi Nanne, her trainer

  Leader Meredith Cordell, her grandmother

  Laborer Archer Prince, her friend

  Laborer Elizabeth Winchester, her teammate

  We have twenty-four hours to plead the case of our revered brother, General Orion Giovante. While I love and respect the others, Orion is the one we need. The war with Myriad is heating. We are outnumbered and outgunned, and Orion is a warrior among warriors, our greatest hope for victory. He has what Levi doesn’t: a killer instinct. Toward the end, Levi softened. He worked with Killian Flynn, known by our Laborers as the Butcher. Mr. Flynn is also Miss Lockwood’s biggest weakness. Their romantic relationship puts us all at terrible risk.

  Orion will deliver Mr. Flynn’s Second-death without pause or concern for Miss Lockwood’s feelings. He will help us focus on the only thing that matters: Myriad’s annihilation.

  First, we must find Miss Lockwood. Second, we must convince her to do what will help us but hurt her. For some reason, I’m unable to find her in the Grid.

  Jane, do you see her in the Eye?

  Light Brings Sight!

  General Alejandro Torres

  TROIKA

  From: J_A_3/19.37.30

  To: A_T_3/23.40.29, L_R_3/51.3.15, S_C_3/50.4.13,

  C_M_3/5.20.1, Y_L_3/59.1.2, A_S_3/42.6.31,

  T_B_3/19.30.2, B_S_3/51.3.13, M_V_3/54.5.8,

  J_B_3/19.23.4, S_J_3/62.5.5, M_P_3/45.10.9

  Subject: Foolish girl!

  Miss Lockwood has disabled her comm. Does she want Myriad to kill her?

  Worry not. I’ll find her. I just need time.

  General Shamus, gather your army and await further word at the Veil of Wings. The moment I’ve located Miss Lockwood, I’ll transport you to her side.

  Light Brings Sight!

  General Jane Adamson

  PS: I have rejected my guardian.

  TROIKA

  From: S_C_3/50.4.13

  To: J_A_3/19.37.30, A_T_3/23.40.29, L_R_3/51.3.15,

  C_M_3/5.20.1, Y_L_3/59.1.2, A_S_3/42.6.31,

  T_B_3/19.30.2, B_S_3/51.3.13, M_V_3/54.5.8,

  J_B_3/19.23.4, S_J_3/62.5.5, M_P_3/45.10.9

  Subject: I’ll be ready

  How
ever, I doubt I’ll be gentle. But then, I have a feeling “gentle” isn’t necessary or even desired. Why else would you assign the Brute to retrieve her? You’d like someone to teach her the error of her ways, perhaps even scare her into doing what we desire.

  Consider it done.

  Light Brings Sight!

  General Shamus Campbell

  PS: I was appointed a guardian poodle. You did not misread. I said POODLE. If you want to be insulted on my behalf, feel free. I turned her down—of course.

  TROIKA

  From: L_R_3/51.3.15

  To: S_C_3/50.4.13, J_A_3/19.37.30, A_T_3/23.40.29,

  C_M_3/5.20.1, Y_L_3/59.1.2, A_S_3/42.6.31,

  T_B_3/19.30.2, B_S_3/51.3.13, M_V_3/54.5.8,

  J_B_3/19.23.4, S_J_3/62.5.5, M_P_3/45.10.9

  Subject: I’ll go with you, Shame-us

  And I’ll hear no protests on the matter. Anger has clouded your judgment; it is Myriad, not Troika, that deals in fear. Also, if we punish the girl, we risk alienating her. We cannot make her feel as though she has no allies, otherwise she’ll vote for someone other than the General she’s never had the privilege of meeting.

  Do us all a favor and think before you speak, General Campbell.

  Light Brings Sight!

  General Luciana Rossi

  PS: I was assigned a grizzly bear. Suck it.

  TROIKA

  From: S_C_3/50.4.13

  To: L_R_3/51.3.15

  Subject: Admit it

  Your concern isn’t for the girl or even our great realm. You’ve always lusted for Orion, and you’ll do anything to bring him back—even pander to a Conduit too ignorant to pick a good decision in a lineup.

  I’m sure Orion’s wife will thank you for your efforts, eh. Or not. Yeah, probably not.

  If ever YOU stop acting like a Myriadian and want to tup an unattached male, all you have to do is beg me. I’ll do the dishonors, you have my word.

  Light Brings Sight!

  General Shame-on-you

  PS: I guess Eron thinks you need a stronger guardian… because you are weaker.

  MYRIAD

  From: S_A_5/46.15.33

  To: K_F_5/23.53.6

  Subject: Penumbra

  I know you’re in hiding, Killian. I know you’re in trouble. But you have to come back to Myriad. After Dior’s court appearance, I overheard something I shouldn’t have. We knew the Penumbra had begun to spread but we didn’t know our realm had found a way to mass-produce the infection. Thousands of humans are going to be affected— and soon.