by D L Colon
Merlin looks between the two of them before he nods and says, “Let’s continue then. You must say your vows, Noryad.”
Noryad turns to face Coral and looks into her beautiful, aqua-colored eyes and starts, “I didn’t expect to fall for someone such as amazing and stunning as you.” He pauses when Coral smiles and blushes. He smiles at her and continues, “You have changed all I have ever known and I will always love you. I want to bind my soul to yours.”
When Coral nods, he stretches his hands out and she takes them. Once they are linked he starts speaking the ancient words of his ancestors: My soul is bound to yours and my heart will beat with yours. Distance will not keep us apart, my powers will always find you. My love shall know no limits. As proof of this love, I shall mark my heart, leaving my soul to belong to only one and that is you.”
Coral feels something warm run through her body and then her back starts shining as an image of the Phoenix starts to appear it.
Everyone is surprised at this occurrence, but Noryad has a knowing smile on his face. What’s most incredible is that a little Phoenix has been born in the middle of the two of them. The baby Phoenix flies and lands on Noryad’s shoulder. He looks at Coral and says, “You are connected to me forever, Coral. I want this for us and I know that you want the same, your feelings make that very clear.”
Coral smiles and says, “I must say my vows now: My soul is bound to yours and my heart will beat with yours. Distance will not keep us apart, my powers will always find you. My love shall know no limits. As proof of this love, I shall mark my heart, leaving my soul to belong to only one and that is you.”
Merlin smiles when she is finished and says, “What has been joined together will not be broken. This love is pure and it is strong, let it be shown.”
After he utters the last word Noryad and Coral kiss and everyone claps.
Chapter 59
Noryad is thanking those who attended this private ceremony when he suddenly hears clapping coming from the door of the Throne Room. He looks to his side to see the person who is clapping at him and sees a woman with long blond hair and yellow eyes. Everyone in the room instantly gets on high alert as Noryad step in front of them and asks, “Who are you?”
Everyone in the room knows that she is a destroyer, but they also know that she holds more power than any of the other destroyers.
The woman laughs and starts talking. “You have done well Noryad King. You have survived the hell you were forced to live through and it seems my son wasn’t able to take care of you, but it seems he is coming back for you as he promised.”
Noryad walks toward the woman, making sure no one moves from their place, and she smiles at him. He stops in front of her and he says, “I haven’t gotten your name.”
She raises an eyebrow and asks, “Are you sure you want to know my name?”
“If I wasn’t sure I wouldn’t have asked for it in the first place.”
The woman gets close to Noryad’s ears and whispers her name, “Lucifer”
All color drains from Noryad’s face as he realizes who has come to visit him.
The woman pats Noryad’s cheeks as she says, “It’s too bad you serve someone else, I could have chosen you as my champion and granted you the power you deserve instead of making you struggle to become the man you are now.” She grabs Noryad by his neck and kisses him on his cheek and continues, “I will see you again, Noryad King, and when that time comes I will personally come to take you down with me.”
“If that actually happens it will be Raphael you take with you. Now that I think about it, he is too busy plotting to get you out.”
Lucifer hisses at Noryad and says, “He isn’t strong enough to oppose me, but I would like to see him try. That doesn’t matter to me though. Congratulations on your wedding and enjoy this happiness while it lasts.” Lucifer disappears in a wisp of black smoke.
Noryad sighs heavily as he turns around to face the room. Coral looks at him and asks, “Who was she?”
Noryad looks around the room and says to everyone, “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
Everyone looks at him and says in unison, “Try us.”
“That was the Devil herself.”
“You’re playing with us.” Someone says from the back of the room.
“Do I look like I’m playing with you?” Noryad asks in irritation.
“No,” the person says as realization registers on his face.
“Oh my god!” Someone else says and Noryad nods.
“Yep. We would have been dead if she had wanted us dead. I’m glad she didn’t.”
“But why didn’t she?” Coral asks.
“Because Raphael is coming to do it.”
Chapter 60
Everyone is heading toward their rooms while they think about the appearance of Lucifer in the Throne Room. Noryad is the only one who has a calm expression on his face. Coral is overthinking the situation and what could have gone wrong. Noryad puts his hand on her cheek, dragging her out of the turmoil in her head, and says, “Mi Diosa, stop thinking about it. What happened was just a test we had to go through. This will go as it is destined to go, but we must remain calm or we will be destroyed by her. She is stronger than all of us combined.”
They stop talking when they hear a voice in front of them say, “Like always, you are right again.”
Coral and Noryad look up, realizing that someone is there, and see a man with brown hair. For some reason they can’t see his face, but Noryad somehow knows who the person is and Coral seems to realize that, too. Noryad bows and says, “What brings you down here among the living, God?”
God touches his shoulder and motions for him to rise, “You have always been the one to know who the person is in front of you. Let’s walk for a bit.” He disappears in a flash of golden light and when Noryad looks at the beach God is there waiting for them. Coral and Noryad look at each other, nod and disappear in a flash of white and black light. They appear beside God on the beach and God smiles. They can’t see his face, but they know he is smiling so they smile back and God motions for them to walk and he follows them.
The three of them walk for a bit before God says, “Noryad, you know that you are my champion right? Everyone is fighting the destroyers, as they are fond of calling themselves, and the saviors, that name makes no sense to me, but I have come to congratulate you on your wedding. It seems Lucifer beat me to it though.”
Noryad nods, “Yes, she came by earlier. It seems Raphael is coming to find me.”
“That is correct, my son. I have been watching over all of you in the world. It wasn’t supposed to be an all-out war, I can see this, but I can’t change the way this goes. I have granted you all the power to fight back. That was all I could do considering that you know who is watching my steps, but Noryad I know it was not fair for you to lose everyone’s love. Lucifer asked to test your will, to see if you would remain strong despite the situation and I allowed it, not knowing her intention until it was too late.”
Noryad is surprised, but he knows that what Raphael said while they were looking for the child of the prophecy was a way to protect his identity, and the reason behind the attack.
Noryad says, “I didn’t expect it to be this bad, but I know there was a higher power behind my fate.”
“Yes it was, my son.”
Coral, who has been listening to this without saying anything, is in awe of how Noryad can interact with God, without fear.
God looks at Coral with a warm smile and says, “You don’t have to fear me, child. I am just here to talk.”
Coral smiles and then laughs at herself. God and Noryad join in and they laugh together for a minute before they continue walking.
They walk in silence for a few minutes before God says, “I have to go now, but congratulations on your wedding and remember that I am always watching.” God disappears with a flash of gold light and Noryad kisses Coral as they look at the moon.
After a few minutes pass Noryad s
ays, “Let’s go get some sleep,” and they both disappear with a flash of black and white light.
Chapter 61
Morning
Noryad is getting up, he needs to get ready to leave and wants to make sure he leaves everything in order so he isn’t distracted by worry over Coral and his Kingdom. He gets up and looks at the bed to see Coral peacefully sleeping, with no worries or status. He knows he is leaving a lot of responsibilities on her shoulders, but he has no other choice in the matter. He has to leave to get what he needs, for his parent and everyone else. Noryad caresses Coral’s hair, which wakes her from her sleep.
He kisses her lips and says, “Mi Reina, I don’t want to, but I have to go.”
Coral’s eyes fill with sadness and with a pleading voice she says, “Don’t go Noryad, not now. We just got married and I don’t think I can take care of this on my own.”
“I will talk to Xandar and his men. They will protect you at all times.” Noryad says as he gets up and kisses Coral on the forehead. He stops at the door and turns around to face Coral. “Te Amo, Mi Diosa. I will be back as soon as I can.” Noryad turns back to the door, opens it, walks out and closes it behind him without giving Coral a chance to respond.
When Noryad walks out of his room he is greeted by Xandar and his men. Before any of them speak Noryad addresses them all, “I know that I am leaving at the worst possible moment, but it seems that the situation couldn’t wait. I wish I could postpone it, but I know that this is not an opportunity that repeats itself and if I let it go now I will regret it for the rest of my life. I must leave now. I know that I can count on each of you to protect Coral. Xandar, I ask you and your men to help train everyone before the war starts. Deana, Rachel, Charlotte, Corrina and Christina can you spend some time with her? She has been the only woman around here for some time now and, even if it’s only for a short while, I want her to have some company while I’m gone.”
Christina and Deana look at each other and Christina asks, “Will you be gone long, milord?”
“That is something I do not know.” As soon as the words leave his mouth Merlin appears and calls for him. Noryad looks at everyone and smiles sadly, “Well, it seems it’s time to go. I’ll be seeing you soon,” he says to them while thinking to himself, if I make it out alive that is, as he leaves with Merlin.
Chapter 62
Merlin and Noryad are heading to the catacombs and the two guardians come alive, Merlin turns to face Noryad and says, “You must prove you can go through them before I can let you pass.”
Noryad looks at Merlin with an irate expression and he says, “You have got to be fucking kidding me. I don’t have time for this shit, Merlin, let me pass.” As he moves to enter the catacombs he is attacked and forced to step back. Noryad, trying to save his energy so he can be ready for what is approaching him, tries to approach without having to fight, but no matter where he moves the guardians move to face him. He’s getting frustrated, he doesn’t like this one bit, but he knows that he can’t do anything about it.
He takes a second to evaluate the situation and decides the only way to get past the guardians is to use force. As he moves forward he forms an energy blast in his hands and sends it at the guardian on the right, but it seems that it doesn’t work. As he continues to attack the guardian on the left, the guardian on the right uses his sword to block Noryad’s attack, deflecting it and Noryad is sent back by the force of the guardian’s attack. He repeats the same process over and over again, but it doesn’t work so he decides to rest and gain his strength back as he reevaluates how to attack the guardians.
Merlin is looking over his shoulder and he says. “I will be waiting for you inside when you pass these two.”
The guardians look at each other and shake their fists at Noryad, causing his irritation with the whole situation to grow. Before he can make a decision Noryad hears a voice from behind him asking, “Have you learned nothing, my son?”
Noryad turns to see his father walking toward him, his ethereal form becoming more solid the closer he gets to Noryad. When Trez stops beside him Noryad looks at his almost solid form and asks, “How is it possible that you seem so alive?”
“Well, my son, it seems that the Goddess of Life has granted me this opportunity to be alive and help you, but after that I have to leave.”
Noryad shakes hands with his Dad and says, “I am glad that I can spend these few moments with you, Father. This has been a really long and difficult road for me and I want to make you and Mother proud.”
Trez smiles and says, “You have made us proud, son. You have taken on something that many couldn’t return to. I have heard legends that those who went to look for the sword never came back, but you, my son, I know that you will come out alive. Now let me help you on this. Remember you have to remain calm at all times.”
Noryad sighs deeply and says, “Father, I am trying, but now that I have this war approaching I can’t shake the feeling that something is going to change if I don’t make it out in time.”
“My son, the job of a King is not leading all the time. Sometimes he has to trust those under him and give them the place they deserve, not a life that could crumble without notice. You have become more than a simple King, Noryad, you are also the King of Death. That means that all the creatures of the night are also under your rule.”
“Seriously? I have to protect those long tooth, bloodsuckers?”
Trez chuckles at Noryad’s nickname for the vampires and says, “Yes, my son, you have to protect the vampires. They have been under our rule for millenniums. We are their only choice if they are taking the right road. A King will protect those he has under his rule, even those he hates.”
“I know, even if I don’t like it. Anyway, how can we destroy these two big giants?”
“Why are you thinking of destroying them instead of conquering them?”
Noryad thinks about it for a second and comes up with an idea, “Protect my body. I will be back.” He says, then closes his eyes and releases his soul from his body. He dives into the river of souls to find a way back to the guardians.
Trez feels it and says, “That’s my son.”
Noryad is in the river of souls and demons started to attack him. Noryad uses Nightfall to start destroying the demons. Noryad is fighting, but for some reason he can’t find the way to the souls of the guardians. He notices a disturbance in the river and he heads towards it. When he gets there he sees two souls protecting the entrance to a Kingdom. For some reason he knows that he has to head there. As he approaches the two guards look at him, shake their fists and let him pass. For some reason he knows that they would only let him pass.
He heads into the Kingdom and is surprised to see his name above a door at the entrance. As he touches the door words form on it: Any connection to the human world, for the time being, will be broken. You will be neither dead nor alive. Your real body will not decay, it will remain as it is. It will be protected by us. If you are Noryad King then enter, your journey is safe, but if you are not then do not try. You will be consumed by this world.
Noryad reads the words of the warning and at the end there is a name written on it: First Necromancer, King Darius.
Noryad touches the name and smiles, but before he enters he sends a message to his father: I have to go Father, but I will be back. My connection to this world will be lost temporarily, but remember that this isn’t the end, it is only the beginning. Please tell Coral that I love her and will be back as soon as possible. Goodbye for now.
Noryad hears his father’s response immediately: I will my son, stay safe in there.
Noryad breaks the connection with his father, takes a deep breath and opens the door. As he heads into the Kingdom, his real body drifts into a long, deep sleep and his connection to this world is lost.
As the connection is broken Coral wakes up crying and screaming, “NO!! NORYAD!!”
Chapter 63
Trez is carrying Noryad’s body toward his room. Once there he fi
nds Xandar and his men, with their mates and Christina, trying to calm a disconsolate Coral. They look up at the sound of his footsteps and the color drains from their faces. They can’t believe what they are seeing. They don’t know which surprises them more, that Trez is alive or that Noryad is in his arms. They make space to let him pass and Coral jumps up and runs to him. Between sobs she manages to ask, “What happened to him? Why can’t I feel his presence? Why are you with his body? How are you alive?”
Trez turns toward the bed and lays Noryad on it, leaving enough space for Coral to curl up beside him, before he turns to face her and says, “Patience is a virtue my girl. Noryad is neither alive nor dead at the moment. You can’t feel his presence because he isn’t part of the world of the living, he is somewhere we can’t reach him. I am with his body because he asked me to take care of it while he was away. As for your last question, that’s something you will have to ask the Goddess of Life. Noryad asked me to tell you this before he left us, ‘I love you, Coral.’”
Coral slowly starts to register what Trez said and she loses consciousness.
******
Noryad opens the door to the Kingdom and there’s a road that is being lit with blue flames. At the end there is a man standing there with a crown on his head and looking at Noryad. As Noryad approaches the guy says, “It seems the time has come, Noryad King. I have been waiting for you. Come closer, we have to talk.”
“I don’t know who you are, but I don’t have the time to talk. I have two wars to prepare for.” Noryad turns around to leave and is walking back to the door. Once he makes it he puts his hand on the handle and the guy smiles and says, “Ah yes, Albert Rose and Raphael, how did I forget your two biggest enemies? Noryad King, if you want to make sure you return to find the Sword and your Kingdom intact, then I know you will remain here.”