by Dasrim Hasik
Jack blinked, and tried to call on the manifesting thing. Help! I need protection! Nothing happened and he got frustrated.
Bridget put her hand on his shoulder. "Be specific."
She knows! She knows I'm trying...okay, focus. I need a thick yet transparent shield that should be like solid steel mixed with titanium — hard yet enough for me to see through so I can watch my enemies.
The shield snapped into place, and Jack's hands glowed a deep purple. It was time to strike back, time to actually show people that he was king, would always be king, and he would defend his people to the fullest. On instinct, he drew up his purple-covered hands and fired back a few warning shots of his own. One shot grazed the arm of one of the rebels, while the other shot hit a leg on the other.
JANE showed up on the scene, firing a few pulses of her very own. One hit a rebel dead on, while the other rebel was shot by a stray shot that was originally meant for the leader of the group. Both rebels disintegrated and flashed out in a big cloud of smoke.
The leader hissed. "Ah, boy king. Maybe you have learned new tricks. We shall see at another time. We will definitely be meeting again." The leader turned into a big shadow and faded away slowly, leaving behind only a pair of yellow eyes until those faded as well.
Bridget gulped and tried to look somewhat happy. She turned and looked at Jack. "Well, you might as well get used to that. The rebels aren't happy that you left, and they lost people of their own as food became scarce. Their anger is understandable, but you couldn't help it. I'm sure that if you knew how to fight those doubts, you would have stayed. I brought you back and I plan to teach you everything I can in order to help you battle properly. That's the least we can do. After all, you are indeed our king and it's our job to make sure that you are healthy and well."
Jack looked at her, trying to make sure that she was at least somewhat okay. He ruffled her hair and held her close. Okay, this wasn't really appropriate. But he figured he could excuse himself right now. He had narrowly missed being turned into bits, and he might benefit from a little comfort right now. Still, it was going to be time to go back to Quiet River. Sooner or later, he would have to face Alara and the rest of his problems. For now, he figured he might as well have some fun. "JANE, can you go on the water?"
JANE made a noise of disapproval. Of course I can, Jack Stonewell. I can also fly too, but the last time we flew together you complained I go too fast.
Jack laughed. "Don't be such a pain. Could you turn into a boat then? I want to go on the water for a little while."
JANE complied, shifting effortlessly into a long motorboat with a nice enclosure. She was still fire engine red, fierce as ever, and unwilling to let him get hurt. He noticed the shielding around the boat as they pushed off into the water.
Bridget was at his side, quietly playing with his hair. "Your hair is so amazing. It's such a nice shade of red."
He made a face. Most women on Earth where he lived didn’t care for the red hair, and he knew not to say anything about it by now. It would only make them more inclined to make fun of him. Not that he wasn't used to the stares or that he hadn't heard the names they called him a thousand times over. It was just that he knew there was no point in trying to go over women. They didn't understand him, and he honestly didn't understand them.
Yet this wasn't Earth, and this woman had her life on the line too. She understood what he needed and made sure that she was there for him. He couldn't go wrong with that. He couldn't ignore that either. They floated through the water quietly, holding hands as usual. For the time being, Jack didn't want to think.
He didn't want to manifest anything else. He just wanted to hold this amazing woman who opened a gateway to a new life and forget that everything twisted and crazy was right around the corner. He couldn't pinpoint how he knew, but he knew what he sensed was out there, watching him. He just hoped he would be ready.
Read The Part Two
Read The Part Three
Read The Part Four
Copyright & Disclaimer
Copyright © 2012 by Dasrim Hasik
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Beginning of the End
Chapter 2: The “Note” Book
Chapter 3: Bossy Girl
Chapter 4: Gate to Everywhere
Chapter 5: Awkward Desert
Chapter 6: Great Ride
Chapter 7: Reluctant City
Chapter 8: A Temporary Peace
Chapter 9: Morning Truths
Chapter 10: A City Showdown
Chapter 11: Silent Sages
Chapter 12: The City Electric
Chapter 13: Rebels on the Water