by C E Johnson
It’s like a horror movie, Emily thought back. If magic begins to form alongside the chaos from natural disasters, people will think it’s the end of the world. Emily felt a growing unease in the pit of her stomach. I wonder if she sees my aura. Emily stared at Delores, who abruptly turned in Emily’s direction. The large girl shot Emily an obscene hand gesture, and Delores’s dad, Doeg, let out a hearty laugh while tousling Delores’s hair. Emily knew what the hand gesture meant because Delores had taught her and her classmates several choice motions years ago. Doeg, was from an area near Belarus, and he had taught Delores something he called the Bras d’honneur. Raising a fist and slapping the bicep on the same arm as the fist, was equivalent to using a middle finger in America. I was hoping she would change as she matured. Emily slowed so she wouldn’t catch up to Delores.
No chance of that, Xena responded. Ignore her. They quickened their pace in a new direction.
If brutal, cruel, Delores gains powers and begins to see auras in others, there could be real trouble. Emily’s mind was in a panic. She could fall in league with a bad group. She thought through a variety of possible permutations in growing fear as she arrived at swim practice.
“About time you got here, slowpoke.” Coach Palin, her swim coach, was somehow still tan even at this time of year. His hair was immaculately gelled with the tips of his hair frosted in a mixture of blonde and white hues, and he almost looked like a member of the Alitis with steam from the pool rising to cloak his body with misty wings. Emily knew she wasn’t late, her coach was simply teasing her.
“Morning, coach.” Emily inclined her head, too worried by recent events to even grin at him. With all that’s occurring right now, I don’t think I’d be surprised if Coach Palin had an aura or if he even suddenly showed off actual white wings. His arms were covered in friendship bracelets from kids on the team and they shook as he raised his hand to receive a fist-bump from Emily.
“Just living the dream,” he boomed, “can you imagine having a desk job? Now park that dog somewhere safe, and get in the water.”
Xena went over to greet Coach Palin. “Does Xena want to see the best coach in the world?” Coach Palin laughed as she bounded to him and playfully tried to knock him over while he pretended to fight with the massive creature. Xena dodged and danced about with the tall coach.
It’s nice to see you acting like a dog sometimes, instead of the wise bondsmate you’ve become, Emily whispered. She took a towel from her backpack, and spread it out on the ground just outside the swim area so Xena would have somewhere comfortable to sleep while she swam.
“Go take a rest,” Coach Palin directed Xena. “You look tired.” However, Coach Palin was the one who was breathing hard. Xena immediately curled up on her towel-bed.
Emily left her bondsmate, put on her goggles and cap, and prepared to dive into the lane with Elizabeth. Focusing hard on her friend through the steam rising from the pool, Emily realized she was becoming almost numb to the incredible events around her. A faint gold colored aura sparkled and writhed around Elizabeth’s moving body. Amazing, Emily thought, this is really getting interesting. She dove into the water in a perfect streamline form, holding her position to remain straight as an arrow until she formed a powerful dolphin kick to propel her through the water without breathing. Beneath the waves she felt instantly at peace, with all the sounds and colors blotted out of her mind for a few tranquil seconds. How should I tell Elizabeth of the news?
She’ll be just as thrilled as the others, there was mirth in Xena’s voice. At least our pack is becoming more powerful.
After warm-up Emily and Elizabeth got close together. The air was cold, but the heated water was warm, and they ducked down low in the water to stay hidden, with wreathed mist swirling by their heads at the water surface. The steam from the warm liquid created a dreamy appearance of the pool with a multitude of apparitional forms dancing in and out of their vision. Emily tried to keep her voice low, “You’ll never believe what I can see.”
“Mist, water, and a tall coach who loves to talk a lot?” Elizabeth gave Emily a wry smile. “And a huge black dog.”
Emily giggled, feeling relaxed with her friend. “Nice. Beyond the obvious. Something I can only see with magic.”
Elizabeth was quiet for a minute before answering. “A stone? Do you see a blackstone or another magestone?”
“No goof-ball,” Emily splashed her friend. “When I first saw you swimming, I saw something around you, something magical.”
“Girls, quit gabbing and get going!” Coach Palin interrupted their discussion with a yell. “Five one-hundred individual medleys, fifteen seconds rest between each, ready go!” An individual medley consisted of four laps. Butterfly, then backstroke, followed by breaststroke, and finally freestyle, and both girls groaned at the impending challenge.
“Around me?” confusion and happiness warred across Elizabeth’s face. Emily couldn’t help grinning as she pushed off, leaving Elizabeth with the unanswered puzzle. She formed another perfect streamline, like a sleek underwater rocket, while again using a dolphin kick. The surrounding liquid flowed off her smooth body and she released a stream of bubbles which sprang from her nose like beautiful silver drops of mercury. Her arms burst out of the fluid in an effortless demonstration of the difficult stroke. Her fingers swept just inches above the surface before her hands re-entered the water, her muscles in harmony with her surroundings. Emily controlled the fluid like a magician taming a spell. As she finished her final lap with long freestyle pulls, getting the most distance per stroke possible, she hit the wall and began to count off her fifteen seconds of rest.
Water cascaded in intricate patterns around Elizabeth’s rapid hand-slashing strokes, as she slammed into the wall, coming in just five seconds after Emily. Elizabeth lifted her head from the water, huffing and puffing from her full-steam sprint. She ripped her goggles from her head, still gasping for breath, while bubbling over with excitement. “What did you see?” She was flushed and almost breathless.
“A faint aura.” Emily was enjoying this. Her fears were drifting away like the mist as it rose above the pool and she laughed in amusement at the emotions displayed on Elizabeth’s perfect features.
“Are you serious, an aura?” Elizabeth was so excited she could hardly speak. “What color is it?”
Emily pretended to not hear her friend. She counted very loudly now, “fourteen, fifteen,” and pushed off with another artful streamline. She could hear Elizabeth screaming in frustration at her departure.
Elizabeth again finished the next medley right on Emily’s heels. She was now red faced and fully out of breath, barely able to spit out her question. “What color?” she gasped.
“Gold,” Emily exclaimed, giving her friend a hug, “A gold aura is associated with the elements, earth, wind, fire, and water. If I could have chosen a color for my own aura, I think I would have picked gold.” Elizabeth somehow managed to force a scream of happiness out of her exhausted body, while jumping and splashing crazily in the water.
“Time to go, Emily,” Coach Palin yelled. “Quit your yapping and get snapping. What’s wrong with you Elizabeth? Are you having a seizure?”
“Just happy coach,” Elizabeth gasped.
“I guess you aren’t working hard enough. Push this one!” Coach Palin yelled.
Emily darted off the wall. Pushing off in water is somewhat like flying, Emily thought as she thrust herself forward, immersing in the sensation of soaring effortlessly through the medium. I love seeing my friends adoring magic. I just wish people like Delores weren’t involved with it also. The expression of happiness and satisfaction on Elizabeth’s face warmed her heart.
Elizabeth wasn’t on Emily’s heels anymore. She must be taking it easy on the final medleys, Emily thought, I bet she’s winded. They both caught a well-deserved breather once each completed the required set. Emily whispered to Elizabeth, “I’m going back to Acacia tomorrow.”
Elizabeth answered immediately, “I
’m going with you.”
Emily couldn’t suppress a wry grin. “You don’t even know what I’m going to do.”
Elizabeth straightened her cap and goggles. “It really doesn’t matter. I love the way I feel alive there.” She got a dreamy expression on her face. “If I have a faint aura here, it might amplify there. I can’t imagine performing a real spell. There are lots of things I want to do here on Earth … but a real spell. It would be incredible.”
“Your blossoming power might not amplify, but I sure hope it does.” Emily released her hand from the wall and began to tread water slowly, letting her legs circle lazily.”
“So why are we going back?” Elizabeth was right next to Emily.
“I received a message today from Iscar on a message-stone that confirmed my theory that he’s causing the disasters here on Earth. I want to find him, and I think there’s someone in the Dothan Forest, on Acacia, who can direct me to him or his portal. If I locate Iscar, Dr. D and Hadrian can shut him down, and if we find his portal we can lock it up.”
“What about your portal?” There was worry in Elizabeth’s tone. “Is your portal a part of the trouble?”
“I don’t think we’re causing problems, but who knows, maybe that’s why auras are forming here.” Emily didn’t like the thought that she was hurting Earth.
“So, you think Austin’s going to get a little weirder?” Elizabeth joked. Emily nodded solemnly.
“Get moving, ladies. Warm-down time.” Coach Palin walked over to tower on the pool deck above their lane, looking ominous in the mist which continued to cloak him like armor. “Don’t sit there thinking about what’s left to do, do it. The pain is certain, but the suffering is optional.”
C H A P T E R 1 0
Akhil
Akhil’s lead lieutenant informed him that the devices in Tebah’s safe-house were intact and fully ready to operate. Tebah is holding the bombs and now I’m ready to acquire the missiles, he thought as he entered a well-lit warehouse.
“Welcome to my little store,” Linwood said as he wrapped Akhil in a massive hug. Akhil didn’t like being touched, but Linwood had his own ways. Linwood was an enormous butterball of a man; however, there was firm muscle under his many layers of fat. He had smooth white skin and close-set blue eyes, with flaming red hair that framed his face in fire. He was the arms dealer of Votkinsk, one of the most notorious men in Russia.
“It’s good to see you, my friend.” Akhil gently pulled away from the hug to look at the contents of Linwood’s store. The last step before we begin our onslaught, Akhil thought as he ran his hand slowly along a portion of a massive thirty-seven-foot missile. Feeling like a dark sword of death, the cool steel slid beneath his fingers. This missile was one of many he planned on purchasing. This was an SS1e, or better known simply as a Scud missile.
“What’s the accuracy and payload?” Akhil asked.
“You know the specifications of this missile better than we do,” Linwood laughed a hearty laugh that shook his whole body as he sank into a large black chair that was outfitted with a prominent cushion that whistled as loud as an engine as air escaped the device when smashed by his bulk. There were three bodyguards in dark suits standing at attention around him. “I promise you, these missiles can carry a payload of one thousand kilograms within fifty meters of your target.”
Akhil kept walking around the missile, in awe of the technology that went into making the device. “It’s bigger than I thought,” he whispered.
Linwood smiled, and opened a novel that was on the desk before him. “Keep circling the product and asking questions, but I’m fairly certain you already know all the answers. Furthermore, I’m positive you’re going to buy these missiles.” Linwood appeared instantly immersed in his novel as Akhil continued to study the weapon.
“And you can get all that I need?” Akhil tried to keep an impressed tone out of his voice.
Linwood stopped reading and stared at Akhil. “And what are your targets, my friend?” Despite his warm personality, his eyes were icy cold and penetrating.
“The target will affect many, including an enemy of yours. I can assure you of that.” Akhil continued to slide his hand along the missile. “Even so, I’m not sure if you will celebrate the day I start this war.”
“Tell nothing to your friend that your enemy may not know,” Linwood said while leaning back proudly in his chair.
One of the other Russian agents next to Linwood cracked an icy smile that displayed an incomplete set of yellow and black teeth. “Nice quote from the Bible boss.” The agents face was a mass of scars that danced in intricate patterns as he spoke. He glanced at Akhil. “Our boss is always reading.”
Linwood winked at Akhil. “Don’t tell me your exact target. I don’t want to know. But from our research into your group, I believe you will accomplish a task that we all dream of. Do you have transport set up for the missiles?”
“I will need them delivered to these coordinates and then I have the modes of transport standing ready.” Akhil handed scar-face the coordinates. Scar-face passed the note to Linwood.
“Amazing that I might see this in my lifetime.” Linwood stared at the paper in his hands.
Akhil felt like laughing. He couldn’t believe he was this close to success, but he kept a straight face. “Do you have a momentous quote for me?”
Linwood gazed toward the missile as he began to speak. “Although I think you’re mad … I’m impressed by you. Let me think of a good quote for this pivotal occasion, the possibilities here intrigue me.” Linwood put down his novel and heaved up his massive frame to stand. Leaning on his desk with one hand, and gesturing toward his weapons with the other, he spoke in a deep tone, “With money a dragon, without it a worm.”
“That’s a Chinese Proverb,” Scarface grinned.
Akhil rubbed the stubble on his chin thoughtfully as a chill of fear ran down his spine. How much does this man know? he wondered. Forcing himself to stay calm, he tried to speak in an even voice, “A dragon quote. I like that.” Linwood inclined his head and sat, air again whistling out of his cushion.
Akhil handed over several heavy briefcases. “I think you will like what I’m paying you with. This payment was arranged by my associate, Zaki. For some reason, the man loves gemstones.”
One of the Russian agents stepped forward and began evaluating the contents. “These are truly magnificent gemstones,” he mumbled in admiration while looking over the payment for the missiles. “I’ve never seen their equal.”
Linwood put his massive hand into the container and selected three stones, turning them in the air to see the way they caught the light. “One for each of you as a bonus.” He presented them with a flourish to his bodyguards. Pulling out a small leather bag from somewhere within his voluminous clothing, he gave Akhil another wink. He withdrew several of the larger stones for himself, placed them inside and tucked the container back away. “Please take the rest of these to the general.” Linwood closed the cases and two of his agents immediately left to comply with his order, weighed down by the gems.
Linwood peered at Akhil with a broad smile. “Let me know when you need something else. I like this type of reimbursement.” Akhil turned to go, an armored stretch limousine was waiting for him just outside the door. “You’re smart to drive in cars with protection,” Linwood called to him with a warning deep in his throat.
Akhil’s heart began to hammer more rapidly. He hesitated and turned back to Linwood with a questioning gaze, his mind awakening. “What do you know?” His words felt cold as ice in his mouth.
Linwood sighed before speaking as the air became thick with indecision. “Be careful, my friend. There’s a double headed snake in your midst.”
Akhil pondered Linwood’s words while staring back into his crystal blue eyes. They were clear, without a glint of amusement. Instantly he realized Linwood was suggesting Akhil was working with a double agent. “Do you know who the traitor is?” Akhil had long had his own suspicions.
“Someone in your upper echelons.” Linwood shook his head slowly, snorting in mock disgust. “I’ve never enjoyed reading a novel with a double agent.”
Akhil grunted, “I appreciate your candor. I’ll find the agent and deal with him.” One of his bodyguards drove him out of the secure building, taking him to the airport where his charter jet awaited. He boarded the pristine eagle-like plane, white as snow, and took his seat. His second body guard sat in the same compartment. At least I know I can count on these two men, he thought. He reviewed his computer mail and found Tebah had finally sent him the location of his headquarters for their impending meeting. Akhil knew many things about Tebah’s headquarters, but not the whereabouts of its position until this moment. Calming his mind, he forced himself to nap. He would need all his energy once he arrived in Riyadh to pull off the goals he had planned.
After his nap, Akhil exited the plane to find the temperature tolerable, around seventy-five degrees. Another armored vehicle was waiting for him with a trailer connected to the back. “I’ll meet you after everything is finished at Tebah’s headquarters,” Akhil informed his men. Driving away from the main city, he entered a desolate environment. He was surrounded by soft red sand and the air grew steadily warmer. After an hour, the terrain became rougher with cliffs, ledges, and boulder-shrouded slopes. He noticed scattered compounds housing small groups who chose to live in the desert. I wonder what else is being planned in these buildings today.
You are the wisest of men, a dark voice spoke in the back of his mind. Surely nothing that can compete with your grand schemes.
Akhil smiled to himself. Once he was close to Tebah’s headquarters, he scanned the horizon. Drones approaching, he heard from the same deep voice in his mind.
“Here they come,” he whispered when his sharp, dark eyes saw the drones coming in low, long before he could hear their engines. The small aircraft looped lazily around his car, reading his license, looking in his windows. Akhil was sure their pilots were curious about his trailer, but they wouldn’t fire on him for this small variance. If they had identified him bringing in associates or weapons, several missiles would already have been released at his car, but aside from the trailer, everything else was in accordance with Tebah’s desires.