Shattered Illusions (Terra Chronicles Book 2)

by J. C. Jackson

  Rathal leaned on the railing next to Mother and whistled. I tried to watch them, but the world kept spinning, though it began slowing down.

  They were close enough the boats bumped into each other. “Ketayl, can you come over here?” Mother asked.

  Putting my hands on my knees, I managed to get up. The little girl from the streets tugged on my braid. “Please don’t leave us.”

  I knelt down and pulled the hair elastic out of the end of my braid. I gathered her hair over her shoulder and put it in loosely. “I have to go. My job isn’t done yet, but here’s a promise I’ll come back, okay?”

  “How is that a promise?” a Dwarven boy asked.

  I smirked. “I need to give it back to the person who lent it to me. You’re safe here with them.”

  My hair unraveled as I stood up again. This was going to make the remainder of the recon mission harder, but the main deck was mostly just a large dining hall from what I could tell - I did not think it would be an issue. I needed some time to recharge though. I only hoped the glowing golden arcs from the teleports would go unnoticed by everyone else. I could dissipate them, but I did not have the energy required at the moment.

  Mother reached down a hand as I tried to climb up to the higher deck. I staggered, though unsure if it came from the experience of teleporting so many or the rocking of the boat. Likely both.

  Once we separated from the rescue boat, she asked, “Are you okay to go back?”

  I glanced over as the slave trading boat came into view again and quickly calculated the arcane energy needed to return. Rathal handed me another cup of water while I tried to figure out if I had enough left. I drained it before I answered, “I think so, but I need a few minutes to gather enough arcane energy to get there.”

  “Yeah, let’s not have a repeat of six months ago,” Rathal said and stepped too close to me for comfort, trapping me between him and the railing. “Forgive me for being forward, but I think I’d rather head off the problem.”

  Rathal placed both of his hands on the sides of my head and pulled me in closer. I could feel the rush of arcane energy being transferred and it felt as much like a cooling breeze as did the wind off of the water.

  I sank back into the railing once Rathal finished and let go. “Thank you, but you didn’t have to…” I knew he was arcane sensitive, but I did not know he also had capacity. I supposed it made sense seeing as he once told me he studied at the EAC for a time.

  He shrugged, looking a little drained for the experience. “It’s not like I was using it anyway.”

  “I loathe to send you back into enemy territory, but we need to find out who the captain’s guests are,” Mother said softly.

  I already assumed I needed to go back to finish the job. Looking for some people did not seem like much more trouble. I absorbed as much arcane energy naturally as I could in preparation - I would rather have as much as I could get than possibly run short.

  ~*~

  I made myself invisible again as soon as I hit the deck of the boat. With Rathal transferring his arcane energy, I would have enough to teleport myself back when I needed to with some to spare. I just needed to make this quick or I’d run myself low again. I wanted to avoid anymore hospital visits if I could help it.

  I had not yet left the back patio when I heard a man from below ask, “Where in the Hells is Ron?”

  “Damned if I care,” a second man said. “He probably went to go take a piss. The kids are too scared shitless to try any daring heroics. Besides, where are they going to go in the middle of the harbor?”

  I kept myself plastered against the wall leading downstairs to listen. I should have done more than simply shut the doors after getting the children out.

  The second man spoke again. “Leave the brats be. We don’t want to scare them to death - it’s bad for business.” After a few moments, I heard boots echoing down the hall.

  Only silence came from my headset. I found I wanted the chatter to help keep me grounded. I just needed to finish this job and then I could have all the words I wanted with the people who lied to me.

  I fully understood this was classified as a Dark Op and I technically did not have clearance. The truth silenced by red tape. It did not mean I could not be upset about it.

  As I made my way up the stairs toward the dining hall, I rushed to balance precariously on the railing to let a guard by. I scooted in the door he came out of, finding myself in the back part of the large room. A smaller room sat in the center - it blocked my view of the front part of the dining hall. A bar sat along the side facing the stern of the ship and looking down the small hallway, I could see the corner of another bar on the other side.

  Well, nothing of note here. I took a moment to look at the faded and worn woodwork of merfolk and other sea creatures which must have been impressive at one time. The guards appeared to be staying outside of this room. Good for me they directed their attention on outside threats.

  I quickly padded over to the other side of this half of the dining hall to see what was down the other hallway and made my way back, needing to be able to view one of the friendly boats I knew. Maybe these guests were on the other side or in the center room. Another open deck sat above me, but no one said they saw anyone of interest up there.

  I walked slowly and as quietly as I could down the short hallway on the worn carpet. I heard low voices as I traveled, but the sounds of the boat around me made them indistinct.

  As the room came into view, I saw no one in here either. A sound somewhere between laughing and sobbing coming from the floor on the patron’s side of the bar. I moved faster, how could I have missed…

  Kitteren and Silver sat tied to barstools bolted to the floor. Why were they here? Were they the guests the captain referred to?

  Father’s voice rang through my headset, “Ketayl, abort. Get yourself out of there. Everyone else move in now.”

  Blood smeared the side of Silver’s face, but he held himself as upright as he could. Kitteren sat slumped over making the noise I heard.

  “Dammit, Ketayl, get out of there,” Mother ordered, her voice bordering on panicked.

  “You need to keep it together,” Silver said, his voice low.

  Kitteren sat up more and I could see she had taken not quite as much of a beating as Silver had, but the split lip alone made me cringe. I brought this on them when I ran instead of listening.

  My sister spoke softly, “It’s going to be my fault. I’m never going to be able to live with myself after what I did to her.”

  I finally broke out of my daze at having found them here and moved to get between the two to start analyzing their restraints.

  “What in the Hells?” Kitteren said, tucking her legs up. My hair had fallen over her legs when I stepped over her.

  In my ear I heard a number of people yelling at me to get out. As I heard the guards moving into action against the coming boats, I dropped my spell, becoming visible mostly behind Kitteren, trying to figure out how to get her free.

  “Ketayl, what are you doing here?” Silver asked in a hushed voice.

  Kitteren twisted so she could see. “Dammit, Ket, can’t you see this is a trap?”

  “Yeah, and I’m still here. I’m not leaving.” Getting annoyed with the constant yelling in my ear, I took the headset off and put it on Kitteren. I figured she could put up with it so I could concentrate. I did not have enough arcane energy to teleport three of us. Not to mention all of the boats were now moving far too quickly for me to try and target.

  “Knife, Ket,” Kitteren said softly. I stopped, confused. She quickly elaborated, “Give me the knife in your pouch and go. I’ll get us out of here.”

  I forgot about the knife. I fumbled to dig it out of the pouch attached to my thigh. The velcro echoed loudly in the room as I tore the small bag off in frustration.

  “You make a horrible infiltrator,” Kitteren joked lightly. It sounded empty.

  Silver spoke, “Ketayl, please just go. I can protect us unt
il help arrives.”

  With the gunfire being exchanged outside, where could I go? I got the knife out and tried to figure out how best to get the plastic ties off without cutting her.

  “It looks like I didn’t have to wait long at all.”

  I froze at the new voice in the room. I did not need to turn around to know it belonged to the captain. I slipped the knife into Kitteren’s hands before turning to face him.

  The men I had seen in the city flanked him. The Human looked downright blood thirsty as he grinned madly, toying with the dagger in his hands.

  “Are you responsible for the noise outside? Of course you are. That bitch there may have been a thorn in my side over the years, but she still hasn’t come close to causing me the problems you have.” The Dwarf smiled despite the fact I already heard a couple of splashes from his men falling overboard.

  The captain moved, making his way behind the bar while his men remained where they were. He pulled a glass and a bottle of amber liquid out from under the counter and started pouring himself a drink. How was he not at least showing concern for the fight going on outside?

  “Now, I’m a reasonable man and I do need to make a profit. Capturing you alive is the bigger gain here, though I’ll still make a fairly good amount if you’re dead. I’d like to keep this as clean as possible so if you surrender, I won’t order my men to kill the brats in my cargo hold and you get to choose which of these two gets to leave.” The captain took a drink. “Also, you’ll want to call the people outside off. That’s part of the deal.”

  The gun fire slowed and stopped.

  “That’s pretty impressive given you haven’t spoken a word,” the captain noted. “So, do we have a deal?”

  I clenched my fists and thought through my options. I could not choose who would leave and he never said he would let them leave alive or what would happen to the other. And given they had not yet realized the children were gone put me into a far more precarious position.

  “Fine then, I’ll choose. Kill the lad,” the captain ordered.

  I reacted reflexively and unleashed pure force to knock back the Human man who strode forward with his dagger raised. He hit the windows near the bow with a sickening thud and the glass cracked. The Elven man would have also fallen back if he had not leaned up against a post.

  “I’ll take that as a no then. Deal with her,” the captain ordered his man standing.

  The Human had not gotten up and stayed slumped against the wall. The Elf, however, strode forward confidently and I moved toward the right side of the room, wanting to put distance between myself and the two on the floor.

  I chanced a quick glance at the two. “I’m sorry,” I whispered. I turned back to my opponent and tried to quickly gather what little arcane energy I could from around me in preparation.

  The captain advised his subordinate, “Careful, mate. It looks like the rumors about her power fading might have been wrong.”

  No fire. I could not use fire. I would put everyone in jeopardy if I did.

  The Elf sneered at me, cracking his knuckles as he strode forward. He stopped a couple of yards away before launching himself at me. I barely had time to get out of the way and let him run into the wall.

  It did not stop him for long and I found myself trying to keep up blocking or deflecting attacks. He kept me too busy to try and focus my power where I needed it for offense. The hexagonal pattern of my shield spell flashed brightly with each strike landed. Maintaining it took more energy than I anticipated.

  I found an opening and rammed my shoulder into his stomach, using the momentary reprieve to step away and double-check everyone’s location.

  Kitteren and Silver still sat where they were tied. Silver stared at me like I was someone he did not recognize. Kitteren kept pleading with me to run - worry plain on her face as her shoulders moved slightly. I assumed she continued trying to free herself, but there were a lot of plastic ties to get through.

  The captain leaned against the wall behind the bar with his hand on the doorknob to the center room. He treated our fight like a show. His attitude only angered me and I rode the wave instead of trying to force it back.

  The Human got himself up with the dagger back in his hand. He tossed it and caught the blade, moving as if he planned to throw it.

  The captain spoke again, “Remember boys - she’s worth Hells of a lot more to us alive. Though do make the little bitch suffer. She set me back a long time the last time we crossed paths and I’d like a chance to thank her for this scar.”

  I concerned myself with the Human wielding the dagger and did not pay enough attention to the Elf. I took a hard punch to the jaw, staggering back several steps. I tasted blood in my mouth, but ignored it for the immediate danger.

  The dagger flew in my direction and I used my power to deflect it - sending it to sink deep in the ceiling. With the weapon out of the equation I still had these two. I also did not know when the captain would stop sitting back and join in the fray or call for reinforcements. I hoped his other men were too busy staring down the TIO agents outside.

  I also needed to get on the offensive. If these people wanted the fairie, then they could have her. I let instinct take over and launched my own attack, bowling over the Elf, allowing me to get on the other side of him. Now both of my opponents were in front of me.

  The Human jumped over his companion and I cast a wind-based spell to knock him back, sending him across the room again. He hit the port-side wall with a sickening thud. Part of my mind told me to control the amount of force I used so I did not kill someone, but instinct overrode rationality.

  All that mattered now was getting Kitteren and Silver out of here. If I had to kill every last enemy on board, then so be it. I could deal with the consequences later.

  I heard people moving outside of the dining hall, but I could not spare time to find out what was going on. I managed to get on the offensive and it took everything I had to keep the Elf on his toes.

  Dropping to one knee, I swung my leg out and tripped the Elf. He landed on his back with a loud thud, but rolled out of the way before I could touch him with the hastily conjured electricity. Hitting the floor with it instead which caused the lights to flicker violently for a few seconds.

  Conjuring pure arcane into my hands, I kept after him even before the lights stabilized - my feet kicking out to try and hit him physically, looking for an opening.

  He got in a hard kick to my left hip and I fell to my knee, turning my power to defensive until I could get back on my feet. Feeling the pain shooting through my leg as I stood up, I knew I would not be able to just walk it off.

  I held his attacks back as best I could and found my opening. Quickly concentrating electricity in my hands, I dropped my shield and grabbed his arm as he threw a punch, slamming my open palm into his chest. His body convulsed as it hit and he dropped to the floor. The only one left was the captain.

  I walked forward slowly with my arms crossed and my palms open to the outside, preparing to bring my full power to bear on the remaining enemy in the room.

  The captain twisted the knob on the door behind the bar. With a smile, he opened it, allowing a Troll to come in. I felt the blood drain from my face as I looked up at the hunched, towering figure. It leveled a tooth-missing, menacing grin at me as he approached slowly. The gray-skinned creature obviously savoring the upcoming confrontation. I took a limping step back.

  The Troll moved fast and with my hip injured, I barely made it out of the way in time for him to charge past. I could not think of what to use to combat this creature.

  By the time the Troll got himself off of the wall and turned around, I had begun putting up an ice barrier between us. With any luck, I could get it thick enough to keep him contained for a minute or so. At least long enough to think of something else.

  My ice wall shattered like glass before I could finish.

  I tried to block the first swing from the Troll with my power, but I barely noted my feet left the grou
nd before I hit the wall hard. I did not remember falling to the floor and the pain in my right shoulder made it hard to focus.

  Struggling to get up, a large hand wrapped around my throat and I felt the ground disappear once more. How did I not know they had a Troll with them? How did no one know? There were also more people on board than the previous intel provided. This time they took better care to hide their activities.

  The Troll gave me a wicked grin and I knew the captain directed him, but I could only hear my heart beating wildly. I swung my legs, despite the pain, trying to find something to get a hold on. I clawed at his hand with my left arm - my right useless.

  I could see the faces of those I cared about out of the corner of my eye shouting. Kitteren and Silver struggled hard against their restraints. The barstool holding Silver sat at an odd angle, or perhaps the lack of oxygen made it look that way.

  All rational thought left as panic completely took over. I could not breathe and felt like I was on fire. I only hoped I bought enough time for the rest of the team to get here.

  Suddenly I felt the floor beneath me again and coughed hard to get air back into my lungs. It took a couple of painful deep breaths to clear my vision. The Troll fell back, clawing at his chest. By the smell, he burned from the inside out. It had happened again. Within seconds, he became little more than a charred corpse.

  I covered my mouth at the sight and looked around, but flames did not dance around me.

  “I’d suggest you stop or this one is gone,” the captain said. He held a gun pointed at my sister’s head. He now stood above his captives on top of the bar. A few red dots danced on his chest, but he seemed unconcerned. He had a crazed look on his face.

  “Ket, get out of here,” Kitteren said with tears in her eyes, “Please. Don’t worry about me.”

  Anger took over and my left hand was out in front and my hair floated about me. I used my power to hold the captain in the air and forced his gun arm up and away from the two on the floor. Managing to work the fingers on my right hand, I pried the gun from him, using my power to dismantle it before him, letting the pieces fall between his guests.