Brneary lived a life of luxury in preparation for responsibility. One night that should have been a celebration turns into national horror, and she is the sole survivor. Waking in the hospital when no one else even left remains behind, she grieves her family and then finds out that there have been... changes.
She is left with a huge corporation, a vast personal fortune, and a family of thieves and assassins who cling to her as the last of her line. They help her gain control over the gift that rises, and while learning, she finds out that her world is even more twisted than she had imagined.
Generating armour from anything she touches is not a skill that helps when personal betrayal hurts her worse than any projectile.
Brneary sat with her family on the embankment overlooking the basin where the new power station was ready to spring to life.
The elite of Akerhar was all here, lined up at a safe distance to watch the experimental power supply kick on for the first time.
“Eerie! Get over here and have a seat. They have notified the locals that they are ready to start the generator.” Her boyfriend called her over to his side.
Brneary headed for the next blanket where her friends were sitting and consuming more intoxicants than they probably should have. She sat next to Itian, and she leaned against him as they watched the building for signs of life.
Her family looked over, and her mother sighed, shaking her head.
Brneary held Itian’s hand, and they watched and listened to the chanted countdown.
The power system that had been created would power their entire world from one small building. The energy created would be harnessed and broadcast across the entire world. They would be independent of all the imported minerals that they were currently pulling in through the portals.
“So, what do you want to do next weekend, Eerie? My parents have work off-world, so the summer house is available.”
“Let me think about it. I have to finish my first-year reports this week, and a weekend with you isn’t usually restful.” She nudged him.
He chuckled and squeezed her hand.
In the background, she heard the chant, “Three... two... one!”
Everyone stood up and watched the building below. Light began to flicker in the windows in the distance.
Brneary stepped toward the edge of the embankment. She whispered, “Total freedom.”
Light flared in the power station, and Brneary watched a wave of energy expand out from that one point. It broke across her body and shattered. She turned to Itian and said, “Did you see that?”
His eyes were focused behind her, and she turned to see the blast wave moving across the floor of the basin. The power centre was gone.
The wave crashed into the embankment, and the screams that she had barely heard were drowned out as she was covered in earth and falling with all of the other sightseers.
Everything went dark, and she was fighting for air, and then, the world was silent.
