by J. C. Fiske
In silence, the two companions trekked on, but their journey was soon interrupted by the same earsplitting scream they had heard before, as the cave walls amplified the noise tenfold.
“Come on, let's go!” Gisbo said as they sprinted into the depths of the cave, following the voice until they arrived in a large, open area that appeared to be a dead end. Gisbo flashed his sword around, trying to find a way out. Suddenly, as if by command, several torches lit all at once, bringing every bit of the large circular area into view. When Gisbo’s eyes adjusted once more, he saw Jackobi Foxblade for the very first time.
Rolce had been right; he was nearly the spitting image of Foxblade, with the same long dreadlocks and dark skin - but Jackobi wasn’t alone. Surrounding him stood at least a few dozen children who looked like they hadn’t seen the light of day in years. All of them appeared to be on the brink of starvation and the marks across their bodies showed that they were punished daily. Gisbo could guess who had been there the longest just by the thinness of their limbs and the number of their cuts and bruises. Their eyes, however, were as white as snow and absolutely lifeless.
All the children were standing in a neat line in front of a shrouded doorway through which Shax and Lokin made their entrance. Shax’s staff threw shadow the way a torch throws light and he bore the same white eyes as the children before them. Gisbo had seen enough. He screamed with vigor and ran straight for Shax, hoping to at least try and catch him off guard. DING! A clanging noise rang out, reverberating off the sides of the cave as Gisbo and Fao smashed into an invisible wall, tumbling back to the point where they had started.
“Whoa now! Not yet,” Shax said as he walked down the steep side of the cave. “You . . . aren’t Rolce? Where is my son?” Shax exclaimed. Lokin leaned against the wall, flipping his daggers playfully. Gisbo looked all around at the children before him, too furious to speak.
“Well, I admire your courage, boy, I really do, but all good things must be waited for. My son’s synergy mate, am I right? Falcon’s boy? My, how the time has flown,” Shax remarked.
Gisbo stood to his feet, doing his best to seem unafraid as he looked into Shax’s barren eyes. With a wave of his hand, the central line of children parted and Shax’s gigantic form stepped through the gap. Like an overbearing shadow of death, he made his way towards Gisbo. His black, almost toothless grin and cool chuckle made Gisbo shiver as Shax circled him in silence.
“So, Falcon’s boy, do you have a name? I wasn’t there when your good father named his son,” Shax said with another black smile. Gisbo’s eyes perked up at the mention of the word 'father'.
“Oh now, he never told you, did he? No, I would assume as much. What with a past like your dear father’s, why would he want to share? Renegades and their secrets,” Shax said as he placed a cold hand on Gisbo’s shoulder.
“But that’s not what I’m interested in. For you see, you were not expected to come through the hole and yet, here you are anyway. I would have trusted one such as my son, with his Sybil blood as yet untarnished, to jump at the chance of rescuing another. I see I have put far too much faith in his purity and now . . . his friend will die in his place,” Shax said to the roomful of children, as if reading a macabre bedtime story. Gisbo jumped back from his grasp and thrust his ignited blade forward as Fao growled.
“You look surprised by this? As I said, all good things come to those who wait. You see, I respect my son all the more now. He has surprised me. He's very different than I was at his age, very different indeed. I was counting on my son’s impulse to do what you call good and to jump without hesitation to save another’s life. It would seem his soul is already venturing down the path I have journeyed . . . it is in his blood, after all,” Shax said with a black smile.
“Take that back, you freak! He’d never follow down your stupid path!” Gisbo shouted. Shax turned to Lokin and they both laughed.
“At least you have something to be proud of in your son,” Lokin teased.
“Oh, children! How I HATE their naivete and simple natures. The very reason we needed them . . . but you, you're quite different. Aren’t you, boy?” Shax went on, closing his eyes and putting out a hand as if to read Gisbo.
“Such fury, such a strange form of essence pulsating from you. But that’s not the only abnormal aspect . . . there's something different . . . deeper . . . No matter; not enough time for curiosity, unfortunately. There’s still much to say before we watch you fight for your life,” Shax said.
“What do you need the kids for?” Gisbo found himself asking.
“Now, curiosity is something I DO value. I will humor you, Falcon’s boy, for a little while longer . . . just a little. Either way, you will be dead soon,” Shax announced.
“Would you stop saying that!” Gisbo yelled as Fao barked beside him.
“Oh, you truly are a pleasant surprise! All right, I will explain. What you see before you are the best of what Renegades and Strifes had to offer in the new generation. I tested them myself, years ago, upon their birth, with Sybil Honj – that was right before many of their families became Strifes. All of these children had the highest outputs of energy at the time, the only exception being Narroway’s son, Ranto, who was too closely guarded to get near. It is only a slight setback for we have scored the runner-up prize: the son of Chief Lamik, Malik Strife,” Shax motioned to a boy a little bit taller then Gisbo, with long hair that was spiked on top and flowed over his shoulders. He looked just as lifeless as everyone else; drool dripped from his open mouth.
“The potential of this group was astounding. Without a female, which surprises me. Usually the girls have the highest outputs of energy. This was the apex of our greatness, the culmination of the Sybil’s vision that a new Man-Phoenix would return to us!” Shax bellowed.
“A new Man-Phoenix?” Gisbo questioned. Shax looked affronted.
“What say you, boy? You have not heard of the Man-Phoenix? The Phoenix is the avatar for IAM on this planet! IAM himself speaking to Thera! The Man-Phoenix is one who receives power from the Phoenix and, in turn, from IAM himself. Warlord Vadid was the first and only Man-Phoenix, given powers none of us have ever seen. Powers great enough to rip open time and space to trap our great Diety Drakearon. We need to return to our Deity for we have the last piece of his puzzle: the first ever Sybil aligned with Drakearon. Myself,” Shax explained. Gisbo shook his head.
“Are you two crazy!? Or just stupid? Why would anyone follow a whack job like you if the Phoenix already defeated Drakearon and his dragon? And even then it’s stupid, because who says the Man-Phoenix would rip open the Reath for you?” Gisbo yelled and Shax laughed aloud.
“Finally some intelligence! You should know that IAM and his phoenix are not all powerful, boy; it was a draw! There were no winners that day, only containment. If IAM were so powerful, why wouldn’t he destroy what you call evil? If IAM, who is supposedly completely good, created this universe, then why would he allow his followers to suffer? Why would he even allow this evil to even exist in the first place? As a Sybil, I receive voices and insight from heavenly powers, but not JUST from the Phoenix or IAM - but from Appolyon and his dragon as well! Good and evil are only our mortality’s attempt of simplifying life. Sight and reason is all that is needed. For really, who is it that declares good or evil, hmm? Only the powerful, only the rulers! No one else! Give it enough time and constant hammering, anything can be deemed good. Nobody wants to be an outcast from popular opinion. There IS strength in numbers! Your types are so few nowadays. Use reason! The age of the Renegade will soon be dead and with it, only sheep will remain,” Shax taunted. Gisbo didn’t answer.
“As for your first question, why don't we make the new Man-Phoenix himself reveal why he would open the Reath for us? As I am sure Rolce has told you, there is a Sybil ability known as Mind-link. Once mastered, it is a powerful ability and with the power of the Drakeness flowing through me, it is even more exceptional! These children you see before me are not only connected to my min
d, but obedient to every whim I bestow upon them - and soon, very soon, I will give the order for them to destroy you, make no mistake. You will be sacrificed for the grand cause,” Shax revealed, then started pacing.
“The only problem remaining is that we must employ an unnatural process, for this ability requires one of good heart to open the Reath. Therefore, through a Drakeness ritual, we will funnel the purity of these children, their innocence, to counteract our contamination. This will give us enough time to stabilize the opening for Lokin and I to return to our master and provide him with the power of a Sybil! He can’t escape without Sybil blood. With him by my side however, I will further my Sybil abilities through his teachings to once again break down the barriers of this realm and bring forth a new age of Warlords!” Shax cried, raising his hands for emphasis.
“You’re freakin' crazy! Why would you want to destroy such a great place as Thera and Heaven’s Shelter? Why?” Gisbo yelled.
“Destroy? No, silly boy, you have read way too many fantasy novels. Have you not been paying attention? We wish to IMPROVE it with the ideals of Drakearon ushering in a new age. Warlord Karm has already begun our work on the common people, not even realizing it, preparing the way for us. You and all your Renegades are already lost in the minority. You call evil what Drakearon and I call pleasure. Why deny our impulses? The people are beginning to follow in suit as well, especially those not given fantastic powers such as you or myself,” Shax said.
Gisbo gritted his teeth.
“It is here our palaver ends, my young friend. You won’t live to see the new age unfold, I’m afraid, so it's best not to worry yourself. Right now you have something much more cumbersome to occupy your mind: you will fight for your life. The reason, you ask? Our ritual requires one thing . . . sacrifice of an innocent, at the hands of the innocent.” Shax laughed so hard he gurgled on his saliva. Gisbo’s eyes went wide.
“You sick bastard! You were going to sacrifice . . . Rolce? Just to open some stupid realm?” Gisbo yelled, appalled by the notion.
“The new age is much more important than a simple blood bond, I’m afraid. He would be sacrificed for its cause! A glorious way to die!” Shax said.
“A STUPID way to die!” Gisbo screamed.
“Such fight in you! I love it! Let's see how you and your little Boon will fare, for if you die, the Reath will open. Fight hard, Gisbo, everything now relies on you. How does it feel?” Shax leered and with another wave of his hand, all the children jerked to life as they pulled up to full height and formed their hands into fists. Gisbo raised his sword to ignite his essence and Fao braced herself.
“Tsk, tsk, you wish to swing your sword? You will kill these defenseless children with just a swing? Alright, then: do it! It is the easiest way to end our mission! If you kill but one of these children, we won’t have enough power to stabilize the realm for us to pass through. Will you kill a boy to save the world? Is it worth it?” Shax taunted with a smile.
Gisbo lowered his sword. Shax was right - if he fought with it, he would surely kill someone and Shax wouldn’t be able to go through with his mission. Thera would be safe, but for how long? He would just locate another group of kids eventually. Which would lead to more suffering. He, Gisbo Falcon, had to go about this a different way. As long as he held on to his sword, he could use Elekai'!
Gisbo powered up his essence and pointed the sword in the direction of a small boy standing to the far right. If only he could knock this kid unconscious, then maybe Shax couldn’t use him. It would at least buy some time. Yes . . . time! If he could hold out long enough, certainly Rolce would get the cavalry to come. The portal was gone, but he held out this desperate hope. He had to try.
“Thinking hard, I see? Weighing the options? I’m curious to find out what you come up with,” Shax taunted. Gisbo gripped his sword handle, swung it back and thrust it forward in the direction of the small boy. A swirling ball of red energy soared from the powered blade and struck the boy right in the head, causing him to topple over. Bullseye, Gisbo thought and smiled when the boy didn’t get up.
“My, my! You sought to stun the boy! Right in the head even! Why, with just a little more essence, it would have certainly killed him! What recklessness … interesting to say the least. However smart that tactic may have been, it is of no avail. I’m controlling his mind even now. For you to truly knock this boy out of consciousness, you would have to do it through the source . . . me. And we both know you can’t do that. Still, if you killed him . . . severed his head from his shoulders . . .” Shax tempted. Gisbo gritted his teeth.
Where was Rolce when you needed him? He always took care of the thinking department! How was Gisbo supposed to get out of this without him? Gisbo looked down at his sword, then over to the children. Kill one to save many? Was this an option? Either way, Shax would repeat the cycle . . . but what if he killed the new Man-Phoenix? Then all would be solved! They wouldn’t be able to return and without a Sybil for Drakearon, he wouldn’t be able to cross over! But who was this Man-Phoenix? He couldn’t just kill all the children! He’d never be able to live with himself…wouldn’t be able to live with one innocent death either, but if it was the only way . . .
“Which one is the Man-Phoenix?” Gisbo blurted out.
“Would you really kill one of your own? All are needed, but only one is essential. So, you figure if you're going to kill one, you might as well make it count. Am I right? Oh what fun this is! And about to get better: I will tell you and we shall see what you decide to do. The Man-Phoenix is the boy right in front of you, Jackobi Foxblade!” Shax said, laughing hysterically.
No! Out of all of them, why Jackobi? The very person he wanted to save! Kill the one person that had driven him here in the first place? Gisbo’s head began to hurt. This was just too much for anyone to handle. He could kill Jackobi and end it forever . . . could he? Could he really? He could most certainly kill Shax on a whim, but to attempt it would be like a fly attacking a flyswatter. No, he had one more option. He had time on his side. If he kept this going, help would come ... but even then, what would happen? He wasn’t sure the portal was open or where the cave was, for they’d have to fly here. Rolce knew where he was and he would tell. Yes, they were coming…if time ran out, then he would have to do the unthinkable, but it hadn’t yet. Now was time to do what he was best at: time to fight.
At that moment, with one arm, Gisbo threw his sword like a boomerang so it pierced the side of the cave. Pebbles fell and a small crack formed while the clang of metal on stone echoed across the ceiling and walls.
“So then, you wish to go down fighting? Fine! A Renegade to the end then!” Shax declared and with a wave of his hand, the twenty or so kids broke into a sprint, their sluggish movements a distant memory. Why was he always fighting so many things at once? First the Black Wolf Pack, then an actual wolf pack, and now…a pack of supernatural kids…at least he had Fao by his side.
“Why is it always me? Ready, girl? We gotta survive as long as we can…help's coming, girl, I know it! Let's go!” Gisbo said, charging forth with a battle cry to meet the first batch of rabid contenders. Just have to survive, Gisbo thought.
The one who reached him first was Chief Lamik’s son, Malik. Royalty first, Gisbo thought as he let out a straight right punch that collided with Malik’s nose. The boy kept charging as if nothing had happened. His head was still bobbing back from the force of Gisbo's blow as he followed it up with a quick left hook, narrowly missing Gisbo, who managed to duck, then followed with an uppercut that lifted Malik off his feet.
Barely hitting the ground before he was on his feet again, Malik showed no signs of pain. They don’t even feel pain? I’m in trouble … Gisbo thought. Fao smashed her body into two rushing boys, toppling them to the ground and nimbly leaping out at another one who was closing in on Gisbo’s left. She’s amazing! Gisbo thought as he watched her dart back and forth, knocking kids to the ground like a white hurricane.
As Malik rose to his feet, he grabb
ed a sharp stone and thrust it point first, leaving a bleeding gash across Gisbo's face, right next to the scar he had received from Falcon. Blood trickled from the wound and, with a surge of adrenaline, Gisbo grabbed Malik’s arm, ripped the stone from his grasp and swiped back, clean across his left eye, leaving a gash that reached from Malik's eyebrow to the side of his nose.
Gisbo grabbed the boy by the throat with his left hand and pummeled him in the face with his right fist over and over again - but still to no avail. Malik took each swing without a problem as he grabbed Gisbo by the throat with his own left hand and returned the favor, pummeling Gisbo with his right fist. At first Gisbo felt dull knocks striking his face because the adrenaline numbed the pain - until he was hit straight on the nose. It broke with a sickening crack and moisture obscured his eyes, blinding him while Malik continued to rain blows upon him. Gisbo felt like his face was shattering and Malik showed no signs of stopping.
In his blurry vision, Gisbo noticed that others were closing in. Fao could only keep so many at bay with her darting and tackling. He released Malik’s throat, bent down and wrapped his arms around his mid section, charging forward in a blind spearing tackle. With one swift motion, he picked the Strife prince up off the ground. Using him like a battering ram, Gisbo sprinted forward with a desperate yell as boys were scattered asunder.
The battering ram worked to some degree, until the fallen were back up on their feet with a superhuman agility. They pounced on Gisbo like murderous bunnies. Gisbo couldn’t take the weight of the four people now atop his shoulders. His knees buckled and his legs collapsed as he went down, smashing his battered face into the unforgiving stone floor. He tasted the metallic tang of blood in his mouth as he tried to desperately to struggle free. Suddenly Fao, his last remaining chance for a savior, was slammed down beside him in a whimper of pain. Gisbo’s eyes met his wolf's moist baby blues for a moment of comfort before Malik grabbed him by his hair and slammed his face repeatedly into the floor.