Page 109 of Dark Shaman: Love Found
"Good." Navuh let out a breath.
All ninety-seven enhanced soldiers were accounted for. The rebellion that had threatened to topple his empire had been crushed in less than a day.
His victory was complete.
He would need to find Zhao's replacement, implement newprocedures to prevent future rebellions, and repair the damage to his facilities and his reputation.
Fires still burned in places, bodies still littered some areas, but order was being restored.
His order.
The enhanced ones had thought themselves gods. They had learned, as all who dared to challenge him eventually did, that there was only room for one master on this island.
38
ELUHEED
Eluheed must have dozed off and was awakened by a groaning sound echoing through the basement like a death rattle, finally giving way to resurrection. It took him a moment to realize what it was.
The guards had opened the heavy steel door at the top of the stairs, which meant that they could finally come out.
One of the guards walked over to Lady Areana and dipped his head. "The rebels have been apprehended, my lady. The mansion's structure is stable, so that everyone can come out, but you will need to watch your step. There's debris everywhere."
"Thank you, Soren," Areana said, apparently having learned the guards' names at some point.
A collective exhale rippled through the basement, as if everyone had been holding their breath for hours and only now remembered how to breathe. The servants began tostir, some rising on shaky legs, others remaining seated as if they couldn't believe the ordeal was over.
The head butler rose to his feet and turned to face Areana and the other ladies. "I wish to express our gratitude for your kindness and encouragement during this difficult time."
Areana rose to her feet, her gown looking more gray than blue because of the dust covering it. "We all helped each other, and I wish to thank everyone for keeping calm even when the sounds of explosions rattled us all."
There were a few chuckles, and Eluheed wondered whether they were because many hadn't remained calm at all or because they were agreeing with her that the explosions had rattled them.
The butler bowed again. "We'll begin cleaning immediately."
"Please, do not exert yourselves," Areana addressed the servants. "You're all exhausted after this ordeal. Do only what is absolutely necessary for safety. The remainder can wait until tomorrow when you've had time to rest and recover."
"Thank you, my lady," the butler bowed for the third time. "But Lord Navuh?—"
"Lord Navuh will understand that his staff is traumatized and exhausted," Areana said. "I'll speak with him."
The butler's shoulders sagged with relief. "Thank you, my lady."
Someone began to clap, and soon the entire basement erupted in applause. It was cathartic, a release of the fear and tension that had gripped them all. Servants hugged each other, some crying with relief, others laughing with the slightly manic edge of those who'd believed they would soon face death but survived.
Eluheed helped Tamira to her feet, keeping his arm around her waist as she swayed slightly. She'd stopped shaking after the announcement that the rebellion was quashed, but she was still pale.
"Finally," she murmured. "We are getting out of here."
He leaned over to whisper in her ear. "I wouldn't have minded staying if we were alone."
That got a smile out of her.
They began filing toward the stairs, a slow procession of dusty, tired but jubilant people.
They'd made it halfway up the stairs when another guard appeared, working his way down against the flow of people. His eyes scanned the crowd until they landed on Eluheed.
"Lord Navuh wants to see you in his office."
