by SF Mazhar
“Wait, wait.” Aaron was blind-sided by Neriah discussing his plans, even before Aaron had properly agreed to participate in the war. “Why would I travel to the sword every day? Why can’t I keep it with me?”
“I’ll explain on the way,” Neriah said. He held out a hand, gesturing to the Gate.
Aaron’s gaze darted back to his mum and dad. Both of them had taken a step forward, ready to stop Aaron if he moved.
“I can’t leave like this,” Aaron told Neriah quietly. “Not without their agreement.”
Neriah let out a tired sigh. “They will never agree, Aaron. You do what you want to do, what your heart and soul are telling you to do.”
Aaron glanced to his mum. “My heart is telling me not to hurt my parents.”
Neriah looked agitated. “Don’t fall for their guilt trip,” he said. “You are doing the right thing, Aaron. You are the legacy holder. The Blade of Adams is waiting for you. A weapon of such calibre as a Blade of Aric is a tremendous waste if not used in the war.”
Aaron’s dilemma was worsened when he felt Sam and Rose hold on to his arms and whisper in his ear.
“Think about this before rushing into anything,” Sam said.
“This is your life you’re talking about risking,” Rose added. “Don’t let anyone talk you into doing something you’re not ready to do.”
“I’m not forcing you to do anything,” Neriah defended. “But you clearly have the desire to fight this war. That is why I’m here, to help you.”
A loud crash shook the earth under them. It sounded like a mighty clap of thunder but when Aaron turned, he saw it was a line of trees behind his dad that had crashed to the ground. Seeing the murderous expression on his dad’s face, it made sense.
“That’s why you’re here?” he repeated. “Why don’t you just be honest, Neriah? Tell him you’re using him. You’re risking his life, just to have another Blade of Aric against Hadrian!”
“You can’t deny him his destiny, Chris,” Neriah said. “He’s an Elemental. He’s got fight in his blood. He’s the last in a long line of Hunters.”
“He’s fourteen!” Chris cried. “What is wrong with you? Why can’t you understand that he’s just a kid?”
“A kid who is the legacy holder for Earth,” Neriah said. “He can level entire cities with one swipe of his Blade and you know that. Why can’t you accept the power he holds?”
Chris shook his head with disdain. “That’s all this is about, isn’t it?” he asked. “Power. It all comes down to power.”
“In times of war, power is all that matters,” Neriah said.
“No,” Chris argued. “All that matters is family, and I’m not prepared to lose mine.”
“No one is prepared for loss,” Neriah said and his eyes had darkened to a deep purple. “No one wants to lose their family, but to gain victory, lives have to be put at stake.”
“Yeah?” Chris seethed. “And just how many lives are you prepared to devastate?”
“As many as it takes,” Neriah replied. “I’ll do what I must, but I will defeat Hadrian.”
“You will never defeat him!” Chris was so angry, the ground was trembling under him.
“Chris…” Kate tried to calm him but it seemed his rage had deafened him to her calls.
“You had your chance and you lost it!” Chris continued. “If you couldn’t kill him when he was powerless and at your mercy, how are you going to kill him now, when he has his powers back?”
“I’ll do whatever it takes!” Neriah spat at him. “And if you’re not with me, Chris, then stay out of my way.”
“Keep my son out of this first!” Chris said.
“Your son has a mind of his own,” Neriah shot back. “And he’s choosing to be by my side. He wants Hadrian gone. He wants to fight. He wants to fulfil his destiny. He wants to be a better man than his father!”
Chris bolted for Neriah, lost in his fury.
“Chris, no!” Kate ran to stop him.
She didn’t get to him and Chris didn’t get to Neriah.
The ground between Neriah and Chris cracked and tilted, throwing Chris bodily backwards.
Everyone stilled before turning to the one who caused the phenomenon.
“Aaron.” Sam reached for his arm, but Aaron shrugged him away. He was raging, his hands curled into fists and eyes narrowed.
Aaron could feel the power of the Earth seeping into him, feeding him energy, readying him for a fight. His angry gaze moved from his shell-shocked dad to rest on Neriah.
“You’re wrong,” he said and the words came from between clenched teeth. “Everything you just said. That’s not why I’m willing to fight. I want to fight to save lives. It’s got nothing to do with fulfilling destiny or any crap like that! I just don’t want Hadrian taking over because he’s part demon.”
Neriah shook his head. “You only say that because you don’t know Hadrian–”
“I don’t care!” Aaron spat. “I’m fighting so Hadrian – a vamage – doesn’t take over the realm. So the human realm doesn’t fall into chaos because of us! I don’t want our elemental powers seeping destructive energy through the tears and destroying the human realm. It’s got absolutely nothing to do with having fight in my blood or wanting Hadrian gone.” His eyes slitted. “And it sure as hell has nothing to do with my dad. He did what he did to protect the ones he loves – that itself makes him a better man.”
Chris was staring at him, but he didn’t speak. Kate had reached his side, but her eyes too were on her son.
“I’m not a fighter,” Aaron continued. “I may come from a lineage of Hunters, but that doesn’t mean I like hunting. I want to fight to protect lives, not because I enjoy ending them.”
“You can’t deny there is an honour in fighting,” Neriah argued.
“What honour?” Aaron asked. “Dying senselessly in war? Is that it?” He stepped closer. “Understand this, Neriah. I’m not fighting for honour, or for any kind of a prize. I’m willing to fight so millions of lives, human and mages alike, aren’t lost in Hadrian’s battle for power.” His angry eyes held on to Neriah. “I don’t care what your agenda is and, I’m sorry, but I never will.”
He walked away, ignoring Neriah, his parents, even his best friends, until the heat biting at his insides diminished and the burning of his fingertips stopped. He was afraid if he’d stayed a moment longer, he’d have lost control and cracked the ground wide open, letting the gap swallow the whole lot of them.
***
Aaron was surprised to find the City of Marwa had a lake too. It was smaller than the beautiful lake in Salvador but it was just as serene and peaceful. It invited Aaron to come and sit at its bank. Small fish, silvery white, broke the surface a few times, only to go back down instantly. Aaron watched them, following their path until he accurately guessed where they were going to pop up next. How long he sat there he didn’t know, but the tranquillity of the lake helped extinguish the fiery rage inside him.
Aaron let out a breath and leaned back, resting on his elbows as he stretched out his legs. He heard the heavy footsteps approaching but he stayed as he was, unwilling to move. Neriah settled next to him.
“You know, if you wanted to hide from me, at the bank of a lake isn’t such a good idea,” Neriah said.
Aaron could hear the smile in his voice but it only served to irritate him.
“Why would I hide from you?” he asked, without looking at Neriah. “I’m not afraid of you and I’m not sorry for what I said.”
“Oh, Heaven forbid.” And this time, there was a small chuckle at the end.
Aaron turned to glare at him, but Neriah only looked amused. “Aren’t you angry with me?” Aaron asked. “For disrespecting you.”
Neriah turned his head to look at the lake.
“Respect has to be earned. Besides, you spoke your mind. How can I hold that against you?” He smiled. “You know, you reminded me of someone today.”
“Let me guess,” Aaron started tersely, si
tting up. “I reminded you of you when you were my age.”
“Not at all.” Neriah looked at Aaron for long minutes. “You reminded me of Hadrian.”
Aaron bristled and looked at Neriah with indignant surprise.
“He was like you in many regards,” Neriah continued. “I’m pretty sure he once said words very similar to what you just said.”
Aaron was glaring at him, so angry he struggled to talk at first. “You know what, Neriah? If you want to insult me–”
“I’m not insulting you,” Neriah said with a shake of his head. “Hadrian wasn’t always corrupt. He was pure once – a mage, an Elemental. He was the Controller, and he was passionate about the mages, about the war with demons. He was a protector, much like you. He fought the war against demons and he did it for no gain other than to save lives.”
Aaron stared at Neriah. “How does someone go from being like that to a power-hungry demon?”
Neriah’s smile was gone. Pain filled his eyes and he let out a long breath.
“Life is not only cruel but sometimes ironic, not to mention a little twisted.” He gave Aaron a sideways glance before dropping his head. “I know that I upset you with what I said,” he started quietly, “but I meant every word. You are a fighter, even if you don’t know it yet. I see in you what I once saw in your dad. You have that spark that I used to see in Hadrian when he spoke about securing the fate of our realm.” His eyes were back to the impossible shade of violet as he held Aaron’s gaze. “You are the only Adams of your generation. The legacy resides in you, Aaron. The Blade of Adams is waiting for you and the power you could bring to our fight is phenomenal.”
Aaron took in a breath. “I want to help,” he said, “but I promised my parents I wouldn’t risk my life.” He looked down at the ground and steeled himself. “I saw what happened to Ben.” He had to clear his throat, pushing back the horrid images that would haunt him forever. “I can’t put them through something like that again. They had to watch one son die, that’s enough.”
“Ben was an infant; he was defenceless,” Neriah said in a quiet, hollow voice. “Once you have Aric’s Blade, you will have true power at your fingertips. I’m going to train you, teach you how to use the Blade so nothing can stand in your way.” He paused. “What happened to your brother happens to children in Hadrian’s zones all the time. There are no Gates to protect the mages. Hadrian leaves the zones open and all sorts of demons, including Lycans, find their way inside to torment and kill the mages there.”
Aaron remembered what Kyran had claimed, that they only had nine zones and all nine were Gated. He watched Neriah carefully, trying to catch something, anything, that would suggest he was lying. But Neriah’s sincerity was shining through his very skin. He believed in what he was saying. So did that mean Kyran was the one lying? Or perhaps that Neriah didn’t know about Hadrian’s Gates?
“This fight will end the suffering of thousands, hundreds of thousands of innocent mages,” Neriah said. “With Hadrian finally defeated, we can protect all the zones of this realm. The human realm will no longer pay the price of our battles. Isn’t that what you want?”
“It is,” Aaron said. “But I need my parents to agree first. I need their acceptance and help.”
“You don’t need their help. I’ll help you,” Neriah promised.
“No offence, Neriah, but I would rather have my parents backing me up than just you.”
Neriah paused before smiling. “It wouldn’t be just me,” he said and his tone was one of playful teasing again. “Ella would back you up too, even Skyler.”
Aaron laughed. “Yeah, that’ll be the day.”
Neriah watched him before letting out a sigh. “I meant what I said. I’m not going to force you. The decision to fight or not is yours to make.” He stared at Aaron intently. “But we really could use your help.”
Aaron didn’t know what to say.
A flash lit up the sky and, for a heartbeat, the entire city glowed red. Aaron whipped around, as did Neriah.
The sky was on fire.
Leaping up to their feet, Aaron and Neriah watched in mounting horror as a wave of fire, brilliant orange and red flames, spread across the sky. The next moment, the flames tightened, coiling themselves to form a symbol. Two adjacent lines, tilting towards one another until they joined at one end: a blazing inverted V burned in the sky.
“What’s going on?” Aaron asked, his heart kicking at his insides.
“It’s a message,” Neriah said, staring at the symbol for Fire in the sky.
“A message?” Aaron asked.
“From Hadrian. He’s telling us it’s time,” Neriah said. He turned to look at Aaron with darkened eyes. “Hadrian’s core has fully restored.”
18
The Sword In The Stone
The journey was made in complete silence. The only sound was the crunching of dry leaves and snapping of twigs under their feet. Aaron glanced at Neriah’s back as he led the way, once again, through a dense forest. Skyler and Ella were behind Aaron, and on either side of him, were Aaron’s parents.
Moments after Hadrian’s message had blazed in the sky, Aaron had found both his parents, Sam and Rose rushing to his side. They had all stood and stared at the fiery symbol for long minutes, each contemplating the fate of the realm now that what they had most feared had happened. Hadrian’s core was restored, after being locked for sixteen years. Hadrian had his powers again. A full Elemental with demonic powers – what exactly would the mages be up against?
Aaron couldn’t stand back, not now, not when the war was afoot. Hadrian had sent his declaration. If the mages were going to survive, they had to gather their forces and ready themselves for the battle.
Aaron had turned to his parents with eyes full of pleading, but before a word passed his lips, his dad had nodded at him and stepped forward, hugging him tightly. Seeing Hadrian’s symbol blazing above their supposedly safe city had shaken all of them. There was no time left for reservations. They had to fight. All of them had to fight.
Sam and Rose had been escorted to Salvador that same day, and by nightfall the trip to retrieve Aaron’s Blade was arranged. They left at daybreak, with Skyler and Ella joining them. They all took the portal Scott set up to arrive in the middle of a dense forest.
It felt like they had been walking for half a day when Aaron caught sight of something glittering in the distance. He squinted, trying to make out what it was. His eyes widened in complete and utter shock at the sight of a Gate, sitting in all its glory in the middle of the woodland. There was no Gateway for this Gate. It was just a great big towering door amongst all the trees.
Neriah stood before it, waiting for the rest of them to catch up. Once everyone gathered before the Gate, Neriah placed his palm on it and said his name. The Gate slid open and Aaron was disappointed to see what lay ahead was more of what he left behind. The forest looked just the same on the other side of the Gate, which meant they had more trekking to do. Neriah turned to look at Aaron. He didn’t say anything but his gaze moved to meet Chris’s before he turned and walked over the threshold. Kate and Chris entered with Aaron, leaving Skyler and Ella to follow after them.
Neriah continued to lead the way. It was hot and humid this deep in the forest. Aaron’s clothes were beginning to stick to him. Beads of sweat had already gathered on his forehead. He wiped at his brow and trudged along. The further he walked, the more breathless he felt, like the air had suddenly thinned. Thinking he was just getting tired, Aaron ignored it and pushed on. He pulled his backpack higher on his shoulders and walked with his head lowered. His feet felt heavy, every step cost him more effort than it should. A strange weight settled on his shoulders, almost like invisible hands were pushing him to the ground. Aaron came to a stop, breathing heavily. He looked up to see Neriah had come to a rest too, catching his breath.
A hand squeezed his shoulder and Aaron turned to meet his dad’s eyes. His face was covered in perspiration. He nodded at him. “It’s okay,” he
said. “It just means we’re...we’re close.”
“The...the Blade is doing this?” Aaron asked, surprised.
“The Blades of Aric are powerful creations,” Neriah said, somehow managing to retain his graceful composure, even when his skin glistened with sweat and his voice shook slightly against the strain of breathing in thin air. “When you get close to them, you feel their presence–” He stopped. His body snapped straight with tension. He turned, watching the forest with narrowed eyes.
Not a word was uttered but Skyler stepped forward. His platinum blond hair was plastered to his head. He brushed his hand over his face, wiping at the moisture clinging to his skin. He scanned the grounds with intense blue eyes before turning to the right.
“There,” he said. “It’s over there.”
In the blink of an eye, everyone had their weapons in hand, everyone bar Aaron.
“It’s next to the stream,” Ella said, and just like that, everyone was moving – heading to the right of the woods. Skyler cocked his gun and pulled out his sword, charging forward on one side of Neriah, while Ella was on the other.
Aaron was taken aback. He had thought they would retreat and ask for Scott to send a team before going off to hunt whatever was out here. But Neriah, Skyler and Ella moved swiftly through the forest without a moment’s pause. Kate kept hold of Aaron with one hand, while her other gripped a silver semi-automatic. The sight of the weapon in his mum’s nimble hand brought a shudder to Aaron. He met her eyes but quickly looked away.
“Come on.” Chris tugged at Aaron’s other arm and they hurried after Neriah.
Aaron didn’t see much, other than tall trees and lots of vegetation, but he heard the stream before he saw it. The sound of water running over rocks, a soft melody in the quiet woods, led Aaron towards it. Kate and Chris were careful to not let Aaron get even one step ahead of them. They stayed by his side, guns in hand, alert and ready. Neriah, Ella and Skyler had slowed down and were approaching the edge of a hill with caution. Aaron followed them, struggling to quieten his heavy breathing and slow his racing heart.