by C E Johnson
If anyone can, it will be Maaca. Samil pictured his beautiful, flawless vampire in his mind’s eye.
C H A P T E R 9
School Days
Hadrian was introduced to the Whaynes as Dr. D’s nephew. Her parents were initially wary of the tattoo-bedecked man hanging around their daughter, but after many discussions with him and his girlfriend, Dysis, they became impressed by his strength of character. Her parents and friends loved hearing stories about his interactions with the FBI and CIA, tracking down criminals, and soon treated him as family. When her parents learned of Hadrian and Dysis’ expertise at fencing and martial arts, the two were allowed to train with Emily and her friends.
On a warm Austin day, Emily and Hadrian stood regarding each other, barefoot, in the warm grass of her front yard. Emily ran her hand along a skin of protective leather armor that Hadrian had purchased for her. They were using wooden practice swords and shields instead of fencing sabers, and Emily flexed her fingers on the hilt of her weapon. She treasured her time spent with her brother.
Hadrian’s face was stoic, solemn, patient. He was detailing how she needed to expand her leadership abilities. “You need to fully appreciate the importance and value of your friends. Each is different, and you should promote and encourage their underlying core values in different ways.” Leaving his weapon arm forward, he advanced warily.
“Come and get me,” Emily taunted. Xena was watching her, sniffing the air. Emily closed her eyes and evaluated the scents through her bondsmate’s nose—leather, warmth, confidence. Hadrian darted forward, performing a short series of attacks. Emily skillfully parried his movements. She backed away. “Sometimes I feel so much older than my friends.”
“You were on Acacia over a year and you’ve nearly completed your incorporation of Suci’s thoughts and memories.” Hadrian backpedaled deftly as Emily started her own attack. “You’re older than your age, but you still require a big brother for protection.” He brushed aside her wooden blade and attacked, his sword whistled through the air. His tip connected solidly with Emily’s shoulder, bringing a cry of pain from her lips.
“Ouch!” She retreated, her skin felt numb beneath her armor. She saw two agents watching the battle from across the street. They were laughing. Emily knew Hadrian had been directing a hand-picked team to guard her while she maintained her training schedule. Workouts were even more meaningful now that she recognized the importance of each event: horseback riding with Isabelle, martial arts training with Anna, swimming with Elizabeth, and fencing with Luke.
“I’ve been thinking about the best way of returning to Acacia.” Hadrian leaned on his sword, taking deep breaths. “I think I’ll go across the portal first with Dysis to scout out the area before you come across with Father and your friends.” He stretched his muscles and advanced again. “Samil’s probably scouring Acacia for you, but I don’t think he’s aware of me. If I can infiltrate a portion of his network, perhaps we can be more prepared when you cross the portal.”
Emily caught his attack solidly on her shield then redirected his sword before performing small jab-like motions with her weapon, looking for an opening and testing his response. “Have you figured out what Samil’s up to?” She darted high and low, using a backslash to graze his forearm with the tip of her sword, giving him a long scratch.
“Impressive.” Hadrian didn’t let up. He extended his right foot forward and lunged while extending his sword arm with a stab. Emily swung hard and landed a blow on the side of his chest. Hadrian grunted and swore while reversing his movement. He nodded to acknowledge her skill. “He’s working on something called Project Blackbarb and he’s left clues to his enterprise through interactions with arms dealers, engineers, and gems craftsmen, but never enough to fully expose his plans.” Hadrian looked at the scratch on his arm with gritted teeth. “I’ve isolated one of his networks in the Middle East, and I’ve placed one of my agents in the midst of that plan.” He was flushed and sweating, but he charged forward. “I’m worried that he’s making a weapon powerful enough to penetrate your shields.”
Emily began an evasive movement that included a twist. She dropped her body beneath his stab while placing her palm on the ground for support. “I know at some point I’ll have to confront Samil,” she grunted. “I just hope you’re there with me.” She straightened her sword arm and tried to stab Hadrian from below. “Have you revealed Acacia to Dysis yet?”
Hadrian parried before launching a counter-attack with a surprisingly graceful flying leap. He swept aside her attack and knocked away her sword with a slash to the dorsum of her wrist. “No, but I feel like she knows about the magic around her. I keep giving her clues.”
“Will she accept it?” Emily attempted to ignore the growing weight of the wooden sword and backpedaled away from his leap while whipping her blade around in a sudden blur of motion, giving Hadrian a loud smack on his thigh.
Hadrian cursed again as he lost his footing. He began chuckling at her second score. “Dys has read files from agents who have reportedly encountered visitors from other worlds … whether or not she believes it, I don’t know.” He adjusted his leather jerkin.
“Should I talk to her about Acacia?” Emily took off her mask and leaned heavily on her own sword. She didn’t want to overstep her bounds, but she wanted to help her brother.
Hadrian also took off his mask. Sweat dripped from his face and glistened on his bald head. “Yes, but only if she comes to you first. I want her search to be of her own accord, not something we’re talking her into.” Hadrian gestured to her to come to him. Emily, did and he gave her a hug, whispering, “I’m glad I found you, sis.”
His hands were strong, and Emily felt safe leaning against him. They both sat on the grass. Xena and Duke came over and they all relaxed together, skin to fur. Hadrian rubbed Duke. His eyes were lost in thought. “She’s seen some of your powers in action in Washington D.C. She might come to you with questions.”
Emily gave him a faint smile and pushed her fingers through her sweat-drenched hair. “I’ll be ready.”
* * *
Although Emily was feeling a dull ache related to the pain from her many bruises sustained at the end of Hadrian’s wooden sword, she attempted to ignore the discomfort and focus on her current combatant. She was in her gym sparring with Dysis. Her sensei, Oliver Tseng, was so impressed with their training and techniques that he gave her a key to his facility, so they could practice when they wanted. The two were trading blows.
Dysis slammed Emily with a rapid series of front kicks, but advice from Emily’s ki helped her deflect portions of the assault, minimizing the numbing effects of the attack. Dysis had a serious, determined expression on her face. After a time, she paused and brushed her black hair back from her face. “What do you think of the possibility of alien life on Earth?” Her voice was clear and calm, and she displayed no more emotion than if she was asking about the weather.
Emily tried to hide her amusement. She performed a quick side kick, scoring a glancing chest-hit on a distracted Dysis who let out a cry of pain. “Aliens are very real.” Emily kept a straight face after answering Dysis. She circled and bounced on her feet. She could feel Dysis watching her, studying her closely.
Dysis feigned several attacks, apparently debating when to make a true lunge. Without warning, she slashed at Emily’s legs, forcing Emily to backpedal. “Where are you from?” There was apprehension on Dysis’ face, as if she didn’t really want an answer to her question.
“I was born on a parallel planet named Acacia.” Emily couldn’t suppress a hint of a smile as she performed a flawless roundhouse kick. She had been waiting so long for Dysis to confront her. Dysis ducked, narrowly avoiding injury, and she staggered a step. The two matched stares. Dysis’ eyes were wide, like a wild animal caught in the headlights of an approaching truck. She reeled away, sucking in a rasping breath of surprise.
Emily didn’t pause. Spinning and giggling, she executed a butterfly twist-kick knockin
g Dysis to the ground. “And this alien is going to do some serious damage to you.”
Dysis laid the back of her head on the mat with a groan of pain. Confusion clouded her face. After a time, she began to laugh nervously. Warily she got to her feet sparring again, but now, surprisingly, she fought with more relaxed blows. She performed a series of hand strikes, so rapid her fingers were just a blur of motion. “How can you prove it? I know you saw an enemy target so far away that no one on Earth could have seen him, but what else can you do that makes you different?”
Emily stepped back, murmuring an incantation quietly, Mutationem, changing her face to resemble Dysis.
“Holy cow!” Dysis stumbled backwards, again falling to the mat. She remained supine, staring at Emily. The air felt thick with uncertainty.
Emily ended the spell, switching her face back. “That’s two knock-downs in under a minute. I’m doing pretty well.” Emily put out her hand to help Dysis up. “Didn’t you ever wonder why your elite team let Dr. D walk out of his hospital bed?”
Dysis didn’t accept Emily’s hand at first. She remained on the mat, breathing rapidly. “They all gave their reports saying I had given the order. It just didn’t make sense. I never got to the bottom of that riddle.” Dysis sat in silence before reaching out to allow Emily to help her to her feet. “What about Hadrian?”
“Hadrian, myself, Dr. D … we’re from another world. We would like to share it with you,” Emily added softly.
Dysis sighed, and Emily could tell she was considering the revelations. There was a faint glimmer of acceptance in her eyes and her lips curled into a shadow of a smile. “I have to think this over. I believe … I mean, how else could you do what you do?” She gave a nervous laugh. “I think I’d like to see your world. It seems as if my best friends on Earth are not Earthlings.”
“You’re going to like what you find.” A warm rush of excitement bounded in Emily’s chest.
Dysis considered Emily, licking her lips while rubbing her arm where Emily had made contact with a kick. “Right now, I need to go and have a long talk with Hadrian.” Dysis departed the gym without looking back.
C H A P T E R 1 0
Meeting
Samil had finished with his critical duties on Acacia, delegating to his sons and brother what had to be accomplished in his absence. It was time for a dreaded task; he needed to return to Earth for a full status assessment of all missions on the abominable planet.
He flew on Skyler as high up the mountain as his black dragon could go, his coal-colored cloak billowing behind him, snapping in the wind like a heavy sail. Sometimes I wish we could fly forever.
Life has its limitations. Skyler’s tone was quiet and sad. However, you’re one of the few magicians that aren’t bound by many tethers. The wind was cold and biting. Try and enjoy all that you’ve fashioned. Most humans have tiny dreams. You’re changing the history of two worlds. Samil absently rubbed the scales on his bondsmate, thankful to have such a wonderful advisor and friend in his mind.
Skyler’s breathing became labored as they went higher and higher. Few dragons could achieve this altitude. There was a flat landing area for dragons that his stone mages had constructed, hidden in the rock just below the peak. Skyler touched down, and the frigid air was filled with a harsh scraping noise as dragon-claws skidded over stone. Skyler’s tail lashed back and forth just over the gray stone of the mountain. Samil skillfully dismounted with components of the heightening making his motions smooth and fluid. Skyler departed. Four of his Oath-bound, dressed in black boiled leather armor with a black dragon emblazoned on their chest, scrambled to meet him. They led him up a series of stairs toward the cave entrance. Samil glanced briefly at their auras as they climbed, all displayed fibers of duty, loyalty and allegiance. He knew he could trust these men. The wind was clawing at his face as he finally arrived at the entrance to the Prime Portal departure site, located in one of the tallest mountaintops in northeastern Acacia.
Why is this portal so high up? Samil wondered as he paused to catch his breath. He leaned against the rock along the side-wall of the tunnel he was entering.
To keep it hidden, Skyler whispered in his mind. While doing research on the Island of Bashan with his instructor, Vadimas, Samil discovered an ancient document which detailed several characteristics of the portals suggesting they were positioned at the extremes of nature. Vadimas theorized at least one would be on a mountaintop, one underwater, and one underground. Samil thought the mountains would be the easiest to explore, especially with his dragon whom he correctly theorized would be able to detect a trace of an aura from a portal. The process didn’t take very long, and soon after beginning exploration of the highest mountain range, Samil found his first portal, the Prime.
I didn’t think finding other portals would be so difficult. Samil waited until the burning in his lungs eased, before he followed his warriors.
Capture Emily Dalton, and I predict you’ll find another access point. Skyler continued to talk to Samil as he flew back toward Bashan.
What do you think of the caution in the ancient scrolls concerning taking mage-stones through a portal? Samil wasn’t too worried about the warnings, but he wondered what his dragon would think. He began adjusting his belt which housed several black magestones in the fabric.
Skyler answered slowly, I believe there’s some truth in the words. They might stimulate the core of Earth. Who knows what might happen.
I’ve ignored other warning in the scrolls. Samil trailed his fingers lightly over his blackstones. He didn’t want to leave them behind. If he had the urge to journey to Ater while on Earth, he would need their strength. I’ve taken large groups of portal-travelers across, causing another theoretical transfer of magic from Acacia to Earth. Half-deads were in several cavernous rooms off the main tunnel passageway. Many of the half-deads had been created at Samil’s hand, and they came to attention in the tunnel as he passed. I’m likely changing the very fabric of Earth forever. I’m breaking all the rules.
Rules were meant to be broken. Skyler roared a dragon-laugh in Samil’s mind. I wouldn’t worry about the scroll warnings. Do what you think is best, my bondsmate. The creatures on Earth will adapt. Earth will change. It already has. Even half-deads are learning to survive there.
Half-deads are an incredible species. Samil studied two silvery shades. They saluted him, and Samil returned their gesture. A female vampire with jet-black hair nodded to Samil. Her presence stimulated a memory. He pictured Maaca wielding her two swords in battle. Perhaps I’ll send Maaca there one day. The wind screamed across the tunnel entrance behind him. “Why don’t you close the entrance?” Samil gestured toward the noise behind him.
“We like the breeze,” an Oath-bound warrior with a gray aura grinned. “Besides, no one’s going to make the journey up the mountain to surprise us.”
Samil didn’t challenge the man’s notion, instead he focused on his gray aura, where there were elements of honesty and creativity. Skyler was silent, but Samil could sense him in the back of his mind. They both instantly realized the similarities between this man’s aura and Vadimas’ gray aura. Samil spoke softly to his bondsmate, I regret that I had to kill Vadimas.
Vadimas wanted to announce the discovery of the portals to the entire school of magic. Skyler spoke with overdone disgust. Your plan to keep the portals secret has paved your path to a total Acacean conquest. Vadimas had to be sacrificed.
But he was a friend and mentor. Samil’s words were laced with sadness. Now I don’t have any friends besides you, Cyril, and my sons … and Maaca.
We’re all you need, Skyler retorted. Think of what you’ve created. Drawing strength from the conviction in his titanic bondsmate, Samil trudged along. Skyler chased away the feelings of unease in the pit of his stomach. Stay strong, Skyler combined his words with warm thoughts and love.
Samil sighed. He was out of the half-dead section and he was approaching the main bulk of his receiving team of Oath-bound warriors in an
area where the tunnel widened. As one, they fell to a knee, bowing their heads to their benefactor. Samil silently passed them, nodding to warriors he recognized. The passageway sloped upward, and he felt a pulse of magus beating in the heart of the mountain. Teams of guards came to attention in the hallways as Samil followed the pulse, passing a series of rooms housing his guards.
His pace picked up until he reached the stone-mage section. He delayed a minute in a large cavernous room off the main path that was well lit with mage-lights. Slowly turning around just inside the doorway, he admired the stone-work. Nearly every inch of the room was decorated with carvings of magicians, knights and bondsmates, with many scenes delving deep into the stone walls to give an impressive multi-layered three-dimensional composition. Beautiful work.
Without warning, a contingent of his ‘dark-rejuvenators’ rushed into the room to stand in a line, rousing him from his reverie. They were a new group of ten healers who would accompany him through the portal, all Oath-bound green magicians.
“Ready to go to another world?” he rasped to his troupe. They nodded with worried expressions on their faces. “This is your first trip. Don’t forget the rules and stay in a pair with your battle-brother. Recharge your teammate’s lungs at the same time. Once you’re comfortable and stress free, you’ll begin to acclimate.” They eyed him anxiously. “If you see someone panicking, raise your hand and others will come to help you. The team already in place will heal me. Grab your belongings. It’s time to proceed.”
The rejuvenators picked up their bags, and Samil couldn’t suppress a sour grin as he watched their bodies and hands shaking with fear. “It’ll all be over in an instant, and then you’ll be seasoned time-travelers.” As he whirled out of the cavernous room, they scrambled after him. The passageway continued upward to an opening that emerged on the mountaintop. The magus-pulse was beating stronger.