by J E Reed
These were the monsters.
One man shouted a warning, and the entire group scrambled to grab their weapons and protect the cargo.
Kiuno thought she’d prepared herself, that nothing could surprise her after all the stories she’d heard, but she was wrong.
These creatures moved along the ground like insects, crawling on all fours. Their bodies resembled that of a human, but they were covered in pale gray fur and the skull split in half to reveal a mouth of jagged teeth. Pale, dead looking eyes sat on either side of the head unnaturally, feral, and with a hunger that wouldn’t be sated.
Kiuno separated herself, moving on them and a strange hissing filled the air, like that of cicadas in the warm summer. The high-pitched whine made her skin crawl as they circled her, calling to one another.
When the first jumped, she cracked the staff over its head, and it landed with a snarling hiss, relocating the injury. It reminded her of a snake’s jaw after it’d consumed a meal. Another lunged forward, receiving a similar injury. Both looked unfazed. She was reminded why Elliott had given them swords. The blades weren’t for the human monsters.
Screaming made her turn to find the wagons surrounded and the horses bucking. A few already carried bite marks. Too much longer and the horde would jump them in unison. There were too many monsters to fight with weapons alone.
The river coursed through her body, and she erupted in flames as three more were almost upon her. They screeched in agony, writhing on the ground, and she let the fire spread effortlessly. It was so simple. She should have realized it from day one.
Kiuno threw flames to the nearest group, watching it burst, and the creatures scattered like insects. She hoped it would be enough to deter them, that their instincts would kick in and make them flee.
The flames surged to another cluster further away and they howled in anguish, those unmarred backing away. Their heads twisted back and forth like a bird’s, each eye taking her in as they regarded her with caution.
“Kiuno!” Panic shot through her as she spun to find them closing in on Liam. He was alone, a young one separated from the pack. She wouldn’t reach him in time and despite the risk Kiuno spun the fire down her arm and right at them. She made a promise. No one else would die.
The flames leeched from her grasp and those in the way crumbled in its wake, distracting the ones that remained from their former target. Liam ducked under the cart and suddenly all eyes, both human and not, were on her.
The creatures clicked to one another and their dead companions seemed to draw their attention before a low gargled howl echoed across the field. They scattered, crawling to the safety of the trees like a nest called by their queen.
She didn’t waste time running to Liam. He sat under the cart, looking after them, clutching his arm.
“How bad is it?” She should have known better, maybe he could have fought them off while she ran to his side, but the image of him being eaten alive wouldn’t let her pause.
“I’m fine.” He tried to wave her off, but she grabbed his wrist, pulling it forward to reveal marred skin that snaked from the wrist to his bicep. She shouldn’t have used her magic.
“That is not fine,” she said. Kiuno dug in her satchel for the salve Vincent made. “I’m sorry, I thought I’d have better control.” There was never a time where she had an inkling of control. The flames moved where they desired.
“I’m fine, it’ll heal.”
She sighed, the guilt gnawing at her. “It’s going to scar.”
He tried to smile as she smeared the sticky medicine over the wound. “Girls will like it.” She returned a scowl.
The group started moving as soon as everyone was patched, and they didn’t stop until they came upon the next town. Several men greeted one another like old friends, and she quickly felt out of place. She forced Liam to a doctor, where he was properly bandaged.
While the doctor worked on Liam, Kiuno went back to question about their departure. Vincent said they might stay a few days, and she didn’t want to miss them.
“When will we be leaving?”
A few of the men looked up, but continued untying boxes while another stepped forward, a little hesitant. “We won’t be, not until Vincent and the others join us.”
“But I thought—”
“Look, I know you want to get to the fifth realm, so do we, but with those creatures still lurking so close we can’t risk being attacked. We were lucky. If we wait it out, they might move on.”
“And they might not.” He only shrugged, and she turned back to the inn, full of disappointment. Liam got them a room next door. That night she fed the fire, thinking. If she’d known this would happen, she would have stayed with Vincent.
“We can still go,” Liam offered.
“You’re hurt.” She reminded him.
“I’m fine, really, it won’t keep me from moving if I have to.”
It wouldn’t be any different than when she traveled with Elliott, but being alone had led to their deaths. Vincent said they wouldn’t be moving on for a few months so where did that leave her? Stuck here while those in other realms moved on?
She’d waited long enough.
“We’ll leave in the morning then.”
Liam woke her in the middle of the night several times, interrupting the nightmares that clawed at her subconscious. They shouldn’t be this bad, but perhaps the thought of leaving on their own had her worried. She didn’t want to go, but a nagging feeling kept telling her they had to. She was running out of time.
They left with dawn.
A man stationed at the gate pointed them toward a wood line, and they entered the trees with the sun at its peak. She watched the horizon, wondering if those creatures would come over it, but after entering the forest, her eyes wandered to the treetops. Maybe with it just being the two of them, they would go unnoticed. It could have been the horses they were after.
When the shadows lengthened, she felt a tug at unpleasant memories. Every sound drew her attention, every movement played on her fears. This was another mistake, after all the times she had questioned herself, why put them in the same situation again. Why—
“Kiuno.” She took a breath before looking at him. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” She didn’t need him to worry.
Kiuno refused to light a fire that night, and Liam nestled against her for warmth. It was cold, but nothing unbearable. He didn’t complain. After seeing the creatures, he understood.
She checked his injury, adding more salve to ease the burn before he fell asleep. Blisters stretched across the skin, and he grimaced when she touched the area. Being desperate to control the flames didn’t help her do so.
A bright moon shone down, giving light to the surrounding shadow. She’d know firsthand if anything was out of place. They sat against a tree with the barren branches of bushes as their cover. She welcomed summer, at least there would be more places to hide.
Kiuno relaxed, letting her head lean against the tree when a familiar scent made her jerk.
Smoke.
She couldn’t see it, but the smell was strong enough to make her uncomfortable. Too strong for a campfire. Had the wind shifted? How close were those responsible?
She woke Liam. “We have to move.” At first, he was confused, but quickly realized what had her heart racing. Kiuno had a hard choice to make. She could try moving away or follow the scent.
Following it would tell her where a potential threat might lie. She could eliminate them or try outrunning them and risk getting caught. The latter wasn’t an option.
Kiuno glanced at Liam’s arm. He wouldn’t be able to fight, that much was certain. He tried to act tough, but the pain prevented him from moving it much. He needed to hide. Maybe she could just scare them off.
“Keep distance between us,” she whispered. “I’m going have a look around. If I run into trouble, stay hidden.”
“I can fight,” he protested.
“I can’t if you’re in th
e way.” He crossed his arms and she turned a stern gaze on him. “You promised to do as I asked.”
“Fine.”
Kiuno gave him her pack and bow, pulled her hood up and walked through the woods with the staff in front. With the barren trees and full moon, anyone could see her, but she didn’t want to appear as a woman. People were less likely to attack a male. He’d put up more of a fight.
She didn’t walk far before finding the source. Burnt remains that were crumbling to ash. The embers still smoldered, but the area was devoid of bodies. Hopefully they’d escaped and not been taken as prisoners.
It reminded her how cruel some people could be.
She turned and scanned the trees for Liam. A lone soul, watching her from what shadows he could find.
Her skin prickled. Hair stood on end. Liam was close, waiting on her signal, but something was wrong. Someone else was lurking.
A branch cracked.
In one quick movement, she twisted the staff and the ring of clashing metal filled the air.
REALM: 4
DAY: 200
Kiuno ducked, swinging her staff to collide with his weapon, twisting in hopes of wrenching the strange things from his grasp. He turned with the movement, maintaining a firm grip and stepped back, the moonlight glinting from the blades.
She’d never seen the weapon before, a pair of sickle blades attached to short wooden handles. He twirled one in his hand, his stance low. She’d have to be careful. The way he moved would give him better mobility with the weapons. Maybe she should have gotten a sword after all.
“How dare you come back.” He thought she was someone else and the hood didn’t help. He wasn’t much older than herself, but no doubt had suffered at the hands of the demented people who thrived here. Was the burnt village his home?
He charged before she could respond, his blades twirling in various directions. She dodged again and swung at his legs, but he moved beyond reach. The way he handled them made her wonder how many lives he’d taken…but that wasn’t something she had a right to dwell on.
His strike made her spin, and a searing pain tore through her shoulder. She cried out, cracking the staff against his leg. The momentum shoved him forward, but the blade cut further down as it was extracted, her shirt already damp.
She took a step back, tears stinging her eyes. Fighting him directly was no longer an option, another strike like that would end this and if she lost too much blood…
Kiuno didn’t want to kill him. He thought he was just defending whoever had been attacked, but she had Liam. If she passed out, Liam would rush in, and they’d both die. She couldn’t let that happen.
When he rushed again, she let their weapons collide before the flames poured from her center. His eyes widened, and he jumped back to reexamine his opponent. She put them out, not wanting to draw more attention.
When his eyes darted to the trees, hers followed, worried that Liam had been spotted. She didn’t consider if he weren’t alone. Was Liam in danger? Kiuno peered through the woods, finding him a few yards out, pressed into a tree.
Her enemy took the distraction as an opportunity, and she narrowly escaped the swing. She wrapped one hand behind his neck, kneed him in the gut and twisted his arm behind, shoving him to the ground. Her body pinned his in place.
She drew the knife from her belt, hoping the feel of a blade would settle his movements long enough for her to question hi—
A sharp pain exploded in her side. She dropped the knife and rolled across the ground, barely grabbing her staff in the process. Kiuno brought the weapon high to protect her head and felt a hard hit that made her palms sting. He wasn’t alone after all.
She clambered to her feet with her side screaming and blocked another strike from the left, only to be hit in the same tender area on her right. The speed was incredible.
With space between her and the newcomer, he paused, leaning down to check on his friend. The male before her was older and of Asian descent. It took a fraction of a second and he was on her again. The way he danced with his staff would have made Kikyo look like a novice.
She took another hard shot to the side, and it knocked the wind from her lungs.
“Scorp, fire!” She let the flames surround her, hoping for some reprieve, without it he was going to—
The staff cracked against her shoulder, and she cried out. Surprise made her movements slow. His skin didn’t scorch as it should have, and his movements didn’t falter. Was he able to use magic as well?
The first bit of real fear crept into her gut. Without magic, winning this fight would be impossible. His sharp eyes calculated every movement and reacted before she even knew how to counter.
Her foot caught a branch and only instinct had Kiuno rolling to her feet. Both men stood with weapons directed her way. She took another step back. The flames scared the first one, but it was the second that mattered.
“Watch the right Blue.” She glanced, and Liam burst from the trees, colliding with the younger of the two. Names mixed with memories as the two fumbled across the ground. Liam was injured, he could be killed. She turned back to the one standing. This man would end their fight in seconds. However, if both were the people she thought they might be—
He slammed her against a tree, using the staff for leverage, the flames crackled around them, but still his skin didn’t burn. This was her only chance.
“Scorpios?” His brow rose, questions glinting in dark eyes as the world froze. She tugged on the flames, pulling them into submission, but neither moved. The two on the ground paused, both watching their dominant counterpart.
He pulled the staff from her chest, allowing her to breathe. “Who are you?”
She pulled the hood back. “Kiuno.”
“Kiuno?” The male wrestling with Liam threw the boy aside. “I can’t believe it’s really you!” He wrapped her in a tight hug making her wince. “Sorry, sorry.” He stepped back. “Where have you been? Are you well? Where the hell did you learn to fight like that? You’re hurt, do you remember me?”
She struggled with which question to address first, throbbing pain making itself known in both shoulders. “Of course, I remember you Blue, how could I forget? As far as being hurt I think you tore me open, and I’m fairly certain Scorpios might have cracked something.” She could already feel the pain creeping along her sides as the adrenaline receded.
Both males returned an apologetic look. “Forgive me, after hearing Blue I thought he might be in danger. You were over him with a knife. I assumed the worst.”
“I only wanted him to be still, I wouldn’t have killed him.”
He nodded. “How bad is the shoulder?”
She could feel the damp material rubbing against her skin, but in the dark, it was difficult to tell. “I’m not sure.”
“We have a small camp nearby where we can stitch it up.” She turned to Liam. He stood with his mouth gaping. A moment ago, the two beside her had been trying to kill them and now they were talking like old friends.
“This is Scorpios and Blue,” she said. “I’ve known them for many years, long before we were dragged here. You can trust them.” He nodded though still seemed reluctant.
“Are you going to introduce him to us?” Blue teased.
“This is Liam. I stayed with him through the winter.”
“Nice to meet you.”
Liam looked at her again and then back into the forest. “I left our packs back there,” he said, still uncertain.
“Shall I help you get them?” Scorpios offered.
Liam looked to her for guidance. She had to remind herself that he was still a child and looked up to her. It might take him a while to warm up to the others. After seeing her wounded, she imagined his fear and the confusion he was feeling now.
Scorpios carried her pack and bow. She hadn’t even thought about Liam using it, but was glad he hadn’t.
“So Kiuno,” Blue started again, his demeanor bright and cheery, “you didn’t answer my question.”
“Which one?”
“All of them, where did you learn all that?”
“Six months of practice.”
He laughed. “That’ll do it.”
Still giggling at his banter of questions Kiuno explained where she’d been and what she’d accomplished along the way. She kept the details short, and a wave of nostalgia swept through her. It felt as though a heavy weight had been lifted from her chest. They were alive. That’s all that mattered. If they’d survived, then surely Elite had as well.
In their gaming world, she relied on everyone, each watching her back and guiding her no matter how trivial the situation. These two were among the top players and shaped their foundation. She was confident they’d do the same here.
Back then, Scorpios functioned as her second in command, though he’d been reluctant to accept the title. He was always good at reading people and controlling tricky situations. He’d never failed to keep tabs on those that were a threat and his suggestions were things she took to heart. He was smart, kind and possessed every quality a leader needed. It made her wonder if he were their true lead and her nothing more than a pretty face.
Blue was the glue that held their little family together. His jokes and sense of humor brought out the best in everyone. She couldn’t remember him ever being in a foul mood. His ability to work with others spoke for itself. He was excitable and energetic; someone she was glad to call a friend.
Silence fell for a moment as they walked. Her eyes drifted to the weapons now hanging from Blue’s belt. “What are those?”
He glanced down. “They’re called Kamas, I had someone make them.”
“Dangerous is what they are.”
His eyes fell, trying to examine her shoulder in the darkness. “That’s the point, I just hope you aren’t hurt too much.”
“I’m sure it’s nothing that isn’t patchable.”
A fleeting shadow caught the corner of her eye. She stopped to examine the humanoid figure and tensed at the thought of another fight. It wouldn’t bode well for her. Kiuno glanced at the others, expecting to find suspicion and concern as they grabbed for their weapons. Both saw the figure, but neither moved. Confused, she turned back as he stepped into the light. A young face with dark skin.