by C E Johnson
The President turned from his own explorations and walked over to his son. “How did you find this?” His father held out a hand. “Can I see it?” A light arose in his father’s eyes as he stared at the gem and Malachi could not tell if it was interest or desire.
Malachi shrugged. “I was pulled to it.” He spoke hesitantly, telling the truth reluctantly. He already felt an unusual attachment to the small piece of rock, and he hated to release it from his grasp. Somehow, he managed to drop the blackstone in his father’s hand. “Is it a gemstone from Earth, or is it related to the asteroid?”
The President was quiet as he studied the rock. “I’ve never seen such a gem. I don’t think this is from the Earth, but I’m not sure.”
“Can I have it back.” Malachi felt a panic rising in his chest. His stomach was rolling into a hard ball.
His father looked at him with a questioning expression. “I’ll turn it over to our researchers to investigate. If there’s nothing dangerous associated with the material, I’ll return it to you.”
I shouldn’t have shown him my treasure, I should have kept the blackstone for myself. Malachi frowned immediately regretting his hasty decision. He forced himself to sound laid back, “Thanks, Dad, it would be a fun souvenir from our trip together.”
True to his word, his father had returned the blackstone to Malachi the very next week. Malachi was in his room sorting through his stone collection. Although he was extremely skilled in sports, agile with incredible coordination, he was often indoors. Sports didn’t call to him like the world of Ater. He rubbed his thumb over the malachite pieces his father had bought for him while on a trip to Russia. They both loved the similarity between the name of the stone and Malachi’s name. The stone had dark black tones but with thick veins of green running throughout the gem. His father told him that it was a favorite stone of the Russian tsars, and that one of the rooms in the Winter Palace was completely made from the gemstone. Malachi arranged his stones by colors, putting all his green stones together. He studied a piece of alexandrite, a green stone that would turn red under certain light.
Malachi was studying his treasures when his father walked into his room. His father was often serious, but this morning he had a smile on his face. “The lab couldn’t find anything dangerous associated with the black stone you found. They’ve never seen any stone quite like it, and they believe it’s likely associated with the asteroid.” He held the stone up to the light. “Anyway, as a favor to me, they’re releasing it. You can keep it.” His father tossed the stone toward Malachi.
Malachi greedily snatched the stone out of the air. As his hand made contact with the stone, he felt a small electric surge of magic course through his body. “Thanks, Dad.” The depth of the black was intense, and Malachi felt his mind wandering, almost becoming lost in its deep darkness.
“The lab worker called it a trillion stone because it’s in the shape of a triangle.” The President leaned against the doorway.
“Yeah, Mom taught me that.” Malachi tried to focus on his father, but the stone was like a black hole pulling his interest and attention into its small form.
“Have you been talking to your spirits lately?” The President arched an eyebrow. Curiosity and fascination mixed hopefully on his face.
Malachi reluctantly pulled his attention away from his stone to respond. “No, I’m still taking a break from that project for a while.” Ater was too complex to talk about to a non-magician. Besides, his father always seemed a little too eager to direct him. Malachi clutched the stone in his hand feeling somewhat warmed by the object as slow currents of magus streamed through his whole body in tiny electrical pulsations.
“If they don’t harm you mentally, I was hoping that you might stay in contact with a few of the spirits.” The President wrinkled his brow, forcing a smile on his face.
Malachi knew exactly which of the spirits his father meant—Drogor. Soon after he had started traveling to Ater, he met one of the leaders in the shadowy world. The ghostly creature had advised Malachi to tell his father certain facts about a terrorist cell forming in the Middle East. Malachi had. Each of the facts was subsequently verified by the CIA. The President was amazed by the glimpse of power Malachi displayed. On ensuing visits to Ater, Malachi learned even more information from Drogor. Malachi again followed Drogor’s directions and relayed the revelations to his father. The President was thoroughly hooked.
The President had then restarted an old initiative of earlier presidents, called The Stargate Project, hoping to find others like Malachi. So far, several potential magicians had come forward. One of the most impressive candidates in the Project, next to Malachi, was a girl named Amanda Baker. Malachi had a powerful crush on Amanda, and he was hoping to impress her someday.
* * *
“Sorry I took so long.” The President was entering Malachi’s room. “Did you fall asleep?”
Malachi shook his head to clear the cobwebs away. “I was just thinking back to when I found my blackstone.”
“The alien stone.” His father chuckled. “Now, what did you want to talk to me about?”
“I was wondering about other candidates for the Stargate Project.” Malachi chose his words carefully, he didn’t want his did suspicious about his questions. “What did you find out about the other girl you mentioned, Emily Whayne?” Malachi spun his blackstone on his desk. “Is she going to join the Project?” He stopped the spinning stone with his thumb. “Do you think she’s a magician?” Malachi attempted to sound casual, but he didn’t think he was a very good spy. The answer wasn’t really for him, but rather for Drogor. Whenever Malachi gained information from the wraith-lord, Drogor expected a returning favor. Lately, for some reason, Drogor seemed to be obsessed with Emily Whayne, and Malachi was tasked with discovering more about her.
“One of our Blacksky agents, Hadrian Simara, is investigating the girl. Hopefully Emily will display some sign of promise and we can pull her on the Stargate Project. I’d love to add a few more members to the council. She was the one who helped our agents with that event by the National Mall.”
Malachi asked another question, one Drogor wanted him to ask. “If Drogor thinks Emily Whayne has important information regarding national security, would you detain her?”
The President looked thoughtful for a moment. “I guess I would. I mean, I trust your advisor, your prophecies. Everything you’ve told me so far has turned out to be true.” He approached Malachi’s desk and picked up the blackstone. Malachi had to stifle the urge to snatch the stone back. “If Drogor thinks Emily Whayne is withholding information, I guess I would intercept her.” His father put his eye close to the stone. “Why? Has he said anything to you about her?”
“No,” Malachi answered quickly. “I was just curious.” Malachi wondered what Emily Whayne was doing right now. He also wondered why Drogor was so interested in her. And lastly, he wondered if Drogor was good or evil. Questions swirled in his mind, but he pushed the questions away for now. Soon it would be his time to come into his power, Drogor had told him that. He simply had to wait. Now at last he had the information his wraith-mentor desired, and he could return to Ater. His father returned the stone to his outstretched palm. “Thanks, Dad.”
C H A P T E R 1 9
The Decision
Emily sat across from her father at the long wooden trestle table in the Castle Cave. Dax was on his shoulder, looking as if he was whispering into her father’s ear. Dr. D dusted off the cover of a book and showed her the title, The First Dragon War. He sighed and slid it to her over the tabletop. “I don’t know how many dragon wars there have been, but the Alitis only wrote of one in our history books.”
There have been three that I know of, Ammolite informed Emily.
“Ammolite knows of three,” Emily said matter-of-factly. She studied the cover of the book, which displayed a massive male multi-colored dragon.
Dr. D smiled. “I will have to study with Ammolite one day. As for the dragon war in this tome, there was o
nce a magician named Drakus who formed an army that included bonded dragons.”
“A relative of Drogor?” Emily asked dryly. The multi-colored dragon appeared broad of chest, larger than Tiamat.
“Actually yes.” Her father walked around the table to sit next to her. He opened the book. It was illustrated in gold and silver leaf. The picture he turned to showed a handsome magician with a black aura. “Drakus’ followers attempted to destroy the ruling family of multicolored dragons and also the elves.”
“Why?” Emily ran her fingers over the page. She couldn’t imagine anyone that could kill either magical creature.
“Drakus wanted complete rule of Acacia.” Her father pushed his thick white hair back from his forehead. “Horrible battles emerged between the Acaceans, dragons, and their allies.”
“Didn’t the multicolored dragons easily destroy Drakus?” Emily studied the ornate Acacean words that appeared to be painstakingly drawn on the page.
We do not attack unless true injury is imminent, my link, Ammolite answered in her mind before her father could continue. My family only attacks those that are life-threatening to us.
“No, unless directly threatened, the dragons fight primarily dragons, leaving the other races and creatures of Acacia to battle amongst themselves.” Her father sighed. “Sometimes I wish the dragons would eliminate a few more people on this world.”
“So somewhat like bees to a human.” Emily thumbed through several more pages as she made her comparison. “Humans will usually ignore bees, unless stung.”
A nice comparison, Ammolite acknowledged.
“Even so, the dragons know that they’re not invincible.” Her father wore a thoughtful expression. “You and I both know a large swarm of bees can occasionally kill a human.”
We must always be wary, Ammolite whispered.
Emily read a few passages from the book describing a conflict in the dragon war. The dragons would battle separately from the land armies, preferring to do battle in the skies above; meanwhile, their dragon-riders would do battle on the land. If either the rider or dragon was killed individually, their corresponding bondsmate would experience incredible pain or death. Emily set the book down and leaned back in her chair. “Where can we get an Acacean army to challenge Samil and Cyril?”
“We can get a portion of our army from Angkor and from old allies to my kingdom, but I think we should also journey to the Javan to see if we can get help from Hadrian’s warriors.” Her father stood, pushed in his chair, and walked to a framed map on the wall to point out the land of the Javan. “After that journey, we will need to go to your mother and ask the elves if they’ll join us in this battle.”
Emily swallowed hard. She loved the thought of going to see her mother, of finally meeting her, but at the same time she was scared. I hope my mother will be happy to see me.
She’ll adore you, Xena assured her, and I’m sure she’ll help you. Who wouldn’t help family?
Emily rubbed Xena’s head before joining her father. She studied the map. “What do you believe mother will think of me?”
Her father put an arm around her. “She will love you. She’s waited an eternity to meet you. I’ve contacted her through a dream-link telling her we will go to her soon.”
“Does she want to come here?” Emily shuffled her feet uncomfortably, wondering why her mother wasn’t riding to meet with them.
“She wants to come, but I told her we will come to her.” His face momentarily darkened. “Elves very rarely leave their home as they feel only bad things will happen to them outside their area of power and very rarely has any good come of elves leaving their homeland.”
“She almost died in the Sky Castle in Angkor,” Emily murmured.
“She did.” A steely edge of anger was faintly audible in her father’s voice. “Regardless, I can’t wait to show her you, her daughter, one of the greatest things to happen to an elf who did leave her home. I just pray that one day I can also show her Hadrian.”
“We’ll get him back,” Emily promised. As she spoke, Anna, Isabelle, Elizabeth, and Luke walked into the library with solemn expressions.
Luke looked her up and down. “Em, your armor and bow … you look awesome.” Then he looked at her father and reddened slightly.
Emily felt a thrill in her heart at his comment. “Are you all ready to return to the portal?” she asked.
Anna pulled out a chair and sat at the table facing Emily and her father. Isabelle, Luke, and Elizabeth also sat. Anna cleared her throat. “We’ve talked over your plan for us to return home.”
Isabelle’s eyes gleamed with excitement in the mage-light. “You’re right about our brains working very well in this world. Your plan is the ‘safe’ option, but there are other possibilities.”
“We’ve discussed our choices so many times that I feel like my head is spinning,” Elizabeth put a hand to her had as if to steady it. Her golden hair was pulled back in a bun with two wispy tendrils framing her face. “We want you to fully realize that we’re aware of your plan and we know it’s probably the correct plan of action, but we want to discuss another option, something that is not your idea and not your responsibility.”
“I assure you that we know this isn’t a video game.” Luke folded his hands before him on the table. “We know our choice could cost us our lives, but returning to Earth doesn’t feel like the right decision.”
“We’d like to stay with you here on Acacia,” Elizabeth said as her smile faded.
Emily quickly realized Elizabeth was dead serious. She stared at each of her friends in amazement, the enormity of the situation sending her thoughts into a confused jumble. “I’m totally flattered, but there’s going to be a war. You’re my best friends, but friends from another planet.” Emily was excited, worried, and hopeful all at once. “You need to get back to home as safely and quickly as we can get you there.”
I thought you’d be surprised. There was mirth in Ammolite’s voice.
Anna crossed her arms on her chest. “By your own admission, we’re now a few of the smartest people on Acacia. Standing by you is our choice. It’s the only realistic alternative for us.” Her words shone with an iron resolve. “We don’t want to live with the feeling of betrayal if we walked away right now.”
I want them to stay so badly, Emily thought, but that would be so selfish of me. I must let them go.
Listen to them, Xena advised. Don’t make a decision yet.
“I’m usually back to my family before trouble starts, but this time I don’t want to go home just yet.” Isabelle’s cascading brown curls swayed in the air as she spoke. “I think somehow you’ll need our help. You know we work well as a unit.” There was steel in her tone, fire in her eyes.
We do work well together, but there are dark things here, Emily worried.
Warn them, Ammolite urged.
“You can’t imagine how proud I feel knowing you would all be willing to stay with me, but there are so many other dangers here besides magicians.” A lump grew in her throat, she was so proud of her friends wanting to protect her, but she wanted them fully informed. “There are actually vampires, were-creatures, goblins, and more.” Conflicting emotions continued to well within her heart.
“All the creatures we used to read about,” Luke said in a low voice. He had been listening raptly, and he appeared more excited than scared. “We’re here for you Em, we have your back.”
Anna leaned forward, her eyes were glistening. “I wondered if this would all be a dream when I woke up, but I’m glad it’s not. I adore my heightened powers, and I think I can use them to help and advise you.”
They’re so confident in their abilities, but one or all of them might die, and I would be responsible for their death. Emily looked at them doubtfully.
They are making their own choices. Ammolite’s tone was soft.
Elizabeth ran her palm gently over the surface of the trestle table. “When we reasoned with you yesterday, you listened to us.” Her eyes were
full of care and concern. “Even with all your powers, you’ve always accepted us as equals. I think you appreciate us and need us.” Emily could feel her heart beating faster as she began to consider the possibility of their staying.
“Before this trip, I thought my destiny was to get an education, have a good job, and live to as old an age as possible.” Isabelle’s face was serious as she spoke. She was being completely honest. “However, now I believe my destiny is different. I believe I’m meant to help you on a grand adventure.”
“You really want to stay and be my advisors?” Emily was incredulous. I’m dying to scream ‘yes,’ but I’m so worried for them.
With training, they would become strong fighters, Xena suggested.
“Not exactly.” Luke glanced at Dr. D. “We want to help, but we don’t want to leave this Castle Cave until we’re armed and trained, especially with all the creatures here that you’re describing.” He set his jaw stubbornly. “We won’t do anyone any good the way we are now.”
“What do you think, Em?” Dr. D raised an eyebrow. “I could train them.”
“I’ll make a deal with you.” Emily spoke slowly to her friends. She felt a new responsibility weighing on her, but it wasn’t too heavy. “Why don’t you all stay a little longer. With your physical and mental gifts, you could learn rapidly. If my father and I think you’re ready after you train, you can remain on Acacia, but if we don’t think you’re ready, you have to go back to the portal without argument.”
“That sounds fair,” Anna answered for her friends, allowing herself a hint of a smile.
Isabelle glanced at Dr. D and shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “Now tell me again about this magic difference in time. Are you sure I’ll only be gone one night when we return? Because if I survive against vampires on this planet, I don’t want my mom to kill me when I get home.”
Dr. D laughed before teaching her more of the rules of Acacia.
* * *
The following morning, the group made their way through a large room of weapons, lit by staff and mage-lights.