Greenstone

by C E Johnson

  “Attention!” roared Marcus Tate. Samil squinted in the sudden light. A squadron of half-dead shades and vampires were standing ram-rod straight at full attention. Sunlight glinted off spear-tips and dome-shaped helms of steel. The entire squadron yelled together, “Welcome to the Prime, sir!”

  Samil shook Marcus’s hand, “Glad you’re here Marcus. Ready to cross with these new rejuvenators?” He glanced over his shoulder at his timid followers. Marcus nodded, with a wink and a devious grin. Samil gestured to the half-deads in their perfect rows, “I’m pleased with the organization.”

  Marcus surveyed the group of half-deads. “All of this is your work.”

  As they slowly walked along the front row of shade and vampire warriors, Samil stared at the irises of molten black and silver. While he recognized many of the half-deads as his own creations, others were formed by his Oath-bound. They wore black leather armor with matching pieces of burnished black steel. Greatswords were along the backs of the front row in dark scabbards, while spearmen were toward the back row.

  Once he passed the last soldier, Marcus took the lead and Samil carefully advanced behind his captain, looking wonderingly over the edge of the cliff. One misstep would send a body hurtling to the rocks thousands of feet below. As the portal came into view, Samil muttered, “I hate the draining sensation.”

  Marcus didn’t take his eyes from the portal. “At least the return slows our aging.”

  Samil smiled sadly, “I’m not sure I care as much about that anymore.” They advanced in silence while Samil mentally reviewed his plans for this trip. Brytam was scheduling meetings with his Middle Eastern agents for his eventual Earth conquest, and she was going to coordinate a meeting with Droth. “I bet you’re anxious to see Brytam.” Samil knew Marcus was enamored with the white magician, and he also knew she wasn’t impressed by his captain.

  Marcus leered at him, “I can’t wait to be in her presence.” The portal, a monolith of stone, began to glow with an eerie black and gray color as Samil approached. Hues of yellow and green were added from the auras of Marcus and the dark rejuvenators. Marcus ran his hand along the stone, “I can’t even comprehend the strength of the creatures that created this passage.”

  Samil gave a shrug. “It doesn’t really matter who created it. I’m just glad it works.” He stepped close to the portal-void. “It’s time to return.”

  “Form up,” Marcus commanded. He organized the team of rejuvenators to surround Samil, linking hands to ensure a common time approach. “Ready, sir,” he barked while placing his hand on Samil’s shoulder.

  Samil made the mark of an ‘E’ on the stone tablet, and they stepped through. He closed his eyes tightly and gasped for breath, thinking, I’ll never fully adjust to this passage. He was vaguely aware of a muted color of white on the Earth-side, but his eyelids felt too heavy for him to fully assess the drab world and he left his lids closed. While bravely waiting for his rejuvenators to begin giving him energy to recharge his weakened frame, he lost consciousness.

  * * *

  Droth stood by Samil’s bed looking down and evaluating his emaciated form. He doesn’t look well. The death of his wife must have taken a massive toll on him. Healers were scrambling to use their magic to recharge the arch-mage. Droth studied their frantic movements. Some were likely thankful for prior bonds created while others were likely ready to drain themselves to their last drop of magus to help the one who might grant them a bondsmate which would extend their lives. Looking at the jostling, and frenzied mindless devotion, Droth had to swallow down the bile rising in his throat.

  I’m no different, he thought with disgust. We’re all hoping to demonstrate our skills and catch Samil’s eye. Droth shook his head in pity, knowing he was no better than the lowest magician present. They were all doing a job they despised: helping a horrible man of power to be granted a priceless and incredible gift.

  Samil opened his dark eyes and recognition slowly surfaced. “Why are you here, Droth?” He licked his dry, chapped lips nervously. “I thought you’d be in Austin?”

  “There have been many changes.” Droth clenched his square jaw, answering calmly despite Samil’s worried tone. “I had to shut down the Austin house.”

  “But why are you here?” Samil sat up, choking back anger. “You know I don’t like so many magicians in one region.” His face was hard, cold. “We could be discovered more easily.” Samil was weak, but he spat out his words powerfully, adding a sharp, icy edge to his voice.

  Trying to keep his own anger in check while watching Samil grind his teeth, Droth took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Blacksky agents are everywhere. They’ve become more sophisticated. They’re watching the Austin site, waiting for my appearance, so I won’t return there. I didn’t leave many clues for them in that location, only misleading scraps of information and your motorcycle.”

  Samil glanced in the direction of Droth’s three black guard dogs sitting proudly at the foot of his bed. “I heard you located our missing Doberman. Is it true?”

  Droth’s Doberman Pinchers began to whimper in discomfort, unsettled by Samil’s appearance and tone. Droth silenced them with a stern look and handed Samil a folder filled with photographs of Emily and her bondsmate. “Is this the same girl who attended the Bashan school?”

  Samil opened the folder. His eyes narrowed, and he began to curse under his breath when the first large photograph was revealed. “That’s the half-elf witch.” Samil threw the folder aside in disgust.

  “I can kill her or capture her if you want, but it will take the majority of our assets.” Droth tried to keep the bitterness out of his words, angry at his own many failures. “With my two unsuccessful attempts at confining her, I’ve prodded the Blacksky agents into forming a net around the girl. She’s well-shielded.”

  “We’ll have to wait,” the anger in Samil’s voice was thinly veiled, “but we’ll eventually deal with her.”

  Droth shrugged in indifference. “If we reveal too much to the Earthlings now, it could jeopardize Project Blackbarb and our Earth missiles.”

  Samil tried to sit up, grasping Droth’s arm for support. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The Earth battles are a long way off. Tell me what’s happening with Blackbarb.”

  Droth pulled his arm away from Samil after the arch-mage was sitting, and absently began to pet the smooth fur of his Dobermans. “The project’s almost complete. I’ve obtained the plans for the propulsion system, but I was almost captured during the deal.” He rubbed his tired eyes. “The Blacksky agents are smarter than I gave them credit for, and Emily is somehow helping them.”

  “What?” Samil gasped, curling his hands into fists. “They’re working together? She’s admittedly an arch-mage, but she’s just a girl.”

  “I first identified her aura signature in Austin when I was tracking her, and committed it to memory.” Droth went to the folder and picked it up. He studied Emily’s face. “I spotted the same aura signature in Washington D.C. She was observing me when I met with our arms dealer, but this time her aura showed she was an arch-mage, and she had a new hint of violet by her multi-colored fringe.” Droth paced next to the bed, the eyes of his Dobermans following his every move. “She was with a massive team of Blacksky and federal agents. She has power even here on Earth … she’s become a game-changer.”

  Letting loose a new stream of curses, Samil flushed red. He put his head in his hands. “I helped bestow the gift of an arch-mage upon the ghastly half-elf, and Suci’s failed kill-spell lent her even more power and knowledge.” His voice was quavering as he moved to stand unsteadily by his bed, but his eyes were unflinching. He pounded a weak fist into the bed-coverings. “I cannot stay long, so we’ll have to work quickly. Let’s prepare a backup plan in case this girl becomes more powerful than I had imagined.” His face was as pale as the Mavet raa he liked to create. “Maybe Cyril’s right. Maybe she will fulfill the prophecies and decide the power of the dragons.”

  Droth went to a d
ark wooden desk with silver handles. He opened a drawer and handed Samil a list. “I’ve created many falsified identities for magicians here on Earth. We can proceed in several directions.”

  Ignoring the list with a dismissive wave, Samil massaged his hands together while speaking softly to his general in a distracted voice. “I’ve created a wonderful half-dead, Droth, a vampire queen named Maaca. Have I told you about her?” Droth nodded. Samil’s hard features grew soft. “I’m hoping she becomes strong enough to eliminate the elf magician, Shadoe, in the Dothan Forest. If she does, perhaps I’ll let her help me kill Emily Dalton.”

  Droth frowned. “Be careful with the half-deads. I don’t trust them.”

  Samil appeared to ignore his comment. His face was brightening, his eyes were filled with hope. “For now, I won’t let Maaca get near to Emily … I don’t want to ruin our house of cards.” He picked up Droth’s list and studied it. “I want to give more assistance to our Middle Eastern project.”

  Droth inclined his head and put out an arm to lend support to Samil. They began to move slowly toward the doorway. “How long will you stay?” Samil never stayed long.

  “Just two days.” A vein pulsed in Samil’s forehead. He was as light as a feather on Droth’s arm. “I have projects back on Acacia that need my presence.” Samil’s breath was coming fast. “We need to move quickly.”

  C H A P T E R 1 1

  The First Crossing

  Fall passed into winter, and spring turned into summer. Emily trained intensely with her father, Hadrian, and her friends. With the start of summer vacation, plans were finalized for a return to Acacia with Hadrian leading the first stage of the journey as a scouting mission.

  Emily, Dr. D, Dysis, and Hadrian walked from the parking lot toward a side-entrance to the hospital with Duke and Xena.

  “I think I’m ready for this trip,” Dysis murmured out loud, but the fine quiver in her voice betrayed her inner emotions. “At the same time, a part of me keeps waiting for you guys to tell me this is an elaborate joke.”

  “You’ll be fine.” Emily gave her hand a squeeze. She could tell Dysis was trying hard to stay positive about their revelations.

  “I can’t wait to go back.” Hadrian winked at Emily, his eyes glittering with excitement. He put his arm around Dysis. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been in my world.”

  Emily gestured toward the camera monitors as they entered. “I always worry that someone’s watching us.” She rolled her eyes at Hadrian, “You know how Big Brother likes to spy on people.”

  Hadrian glanced at the camera. “I made sure no individuals who I believe have potential links to Samil or Droth are anywhere in this region and I deactivated the surveillance system for the next hour.”

  Dr. D led them to the service elevator in his building, with Dax peeking out of his pocket. Dr. D unlocked the door with a silver key and led the descent to the subbasement. When the doors opened, Duke and Xena bounded forward. Xena sniffed the air, I don’t smell anything out of the ordinary. Her brown eyes darted around the room.

  Emily calmed her mind, pulled her magus, and let it flow out from her. She felt like a spider with web-like tendrils searching for any signal of trouble along the delicate branching fibers cast by her mind. Her searching spell spread through the storage areas in the subbasement flickering over boxes and shelves into the darkest corners. No one around, her ki assured her. She and her father spoke another incantation and small blue flames shot out from their index fingers.

  “Whoa,” Dysis exclaimed while watching the glow. “I’m in a tunnel with a bunch of aliens. I’m about to be abducted, and I’m not exactly sure how I should be acting right now.” She backed away from Emily’s light. “At least I should be able to sell my story to the tabloids when we return ... if we make it back.”

  Emily laughed, “Let’s get a little more dramatic for your send off.” She pulled Cadux, her bluestone staff, from her pocket and it expanded. Light shot out from each end.

  “Now that’s what I’m talking about, a little more weaponry.” Dysis forced a smile on her face. Emily thought Dysis was sounding more at ease. They marched down another hall past janitorial supplies to an apparent dead end. Dr. D stepped up to the wall and spoke several words. A door appeared. He opened the mage-locked passage and they descended to another set of tunnels below the building where the air was damp, and the walls were solid stone instead of wood, steel, and plaster. Eventually they entered the massive cavern housing the portal. The gateway of stone began to radiate with magus-lights shimmering and pulsating with blues, yellows, and dapples of violet.

  “Incredible.” Dysis gaped open-mouthed at the portal.

  Hadrian gave her a reassuring wink. “We can do this.” He placed his hand on the stone, the proximity of his yellow aura fed into the portal, charging the structure with more yellow intensity. “Amazing.” He moved his palm, watching the swirling colors infusing the stone.

  “I always get a sense of calm when I’m here.” Dr. D closed his eyes and traced his fingers over the words carved in the stone. Upon his contact, brighter blue hues intertwined with Hadrian’s yellow. He read the script for the benefit of Dysis:

  Portals of power, enshrined in dark,

  To pass this way, make your mark.

  Take only your body and what you wear.

  Take across more, and Traveler, beware.

  Live. Die. Sink. Swim.

  With this step let your quest begin.

  He backed away from the structure. “I’ll bring Emily and her friends over tomorrow.” He glanced at Hadrian, “You’ll be ahead of us by up to a full Acacean year. We’ll just stay a short time to let Emily’s friends have a taste of our world. After we take them home, we’ll return to go as a family to the elven forest to meet your mother. If you have any concerns when we arrive, let us know when we dream-link, and we’ll reverse course immediately.”

  Hadrian led Dysis to stand in front of the portal void. “Ready?”

  Dysis gave a brave nod. “Unless someone would like object.” She glanced around expectantly, but was met only with laughter. Dysis gave Emily and Dr. D a hug. Duke moved closer to press against Hadrian’s leg.

  “Remember, you’ll be underwater, so you need to focus on holding your breath.” Emily’s heart was beating more quickly. She wished she was also crossing over. Dysis ran her hand along the special fabric she was wearing, an outfit that could cross the portal. “Swim rapidly to the surface,” Emily advised. She couldn’t tell if Dysis was trembling, or if the shifting mage-light washing over her was playing tricks on her mind.

  “Okay.” Dysis brushed back a loose strand of her jet-black hair.

  Have them look for your friends, Xena sounded protective.

  “Look for my friends.” Emily’s skin was prickling with the force of the magic flowing around her. “If they’re alive, they’ll help you. It will be nice to have people that you can trust on Acacia.”

  Hadrian nodded. “I’ll search for them.” He made a mark upon the tablet stone before he stepped through the arch, hand in hand with Dysis. They disappeared into the void.

  Tomorrow we’ll be back here with my friends, Emily whispered to Xena, I hope I’m doing the right thing.

  You are, Xena assured her. They’re going to love Acacia.

  C H A P T E R 1 2

  The Campout

  “Em, now tell me again. Why do I have to wear this?” Anna twirled her black fabric blindfold in the air in the back of Dr. D’s car. The glints of gold in her chestnut hair were shimmering in the bright sun coming through the window. “And why the new clothing? This is so secretive.” She ran her hands down her long-sleeved outfit that somewhat resembled a wetsuit, with the close fitting smooth material feeling like Spandex.

  “For the whole mystery and adventure.” Emily beamed at her small group of friends from her position in the front seat. “We’ll play in a lake and tell stories tonight. It’s a cool place.” She felt excitement, but beneath it all w
as a gnawing sense of worry. She had such a bond to these four friends and didn’t want to get them into trouble.

  I’ll try and keep them safe. Xena sat with ears erect.

  “Dragon world stories?” Luke flashed a wry grin and Emily and Dr. D.

  Dr. D chuckled, “I think we’ll surely tell some stories of the dragon world.” Dax was perched on his shoulder, listening attentively to the group with his head cocked to the side.

  “I bet Isabelle won’t make it overnight,” Anna teased. “She’ll be heading home once it gets dark.”

  I do smell the greatest fear in Isabelle, Xena agreed, nose raised, delicately sniffing the air.

  She’ll make it, Emily thought with determination.

  “Anna will probably have severe withdrawal symptoms from losing her phone,” Isabelle quipped, “and she probably won’t even make it back at all.”

  Emily glanced at Luke in the seat behind her. He rolled his eyes, and they shared a warm smile. He leaned toward her and put his hand on her arm, “I’m still amazed that I’m allowed to go on this campout with you.”

  Her heart gave an extra flutter at his nearness. The simple act of his hand brushing lightly on her arm caused sparks to fly along her skin. “Your dad has always liked Dr. D.” Emily felt something catch in her heart as she looked at his sandy blonde hair, and the hope in his eyes. “He is your doctor after all.”

  “Yeah, doing a tough school physical each year,” Luke laughed. Emily didn’t want him to take away the warmth of his hand on her skin, but he leaned into his seat, away from her.

  I do like Luke, Xena stared penetratingly at Luke from the rear of the car. He’s honest and protective … a true pack member.

  I like him too, Emily flashed back in reply, her warm feelings becoming even more amplified by Xena’s acceptance.