Near nightfall, almost the entire camp was gathered in front of the mysterious boulder, waiting for the magic to happen. Ianox came in late, and Samiah noticed he couldn't walk straight. When he got closer, she could see his eyes were bloodshot and his breath reeked of Razor's Blood, a powerful mixture that dulled the senses and made people act stupid. For all the Sacred Powers, he is indeed a paralyzed mummy, she thought with a scowl.
He stumbled and almost knocked her down, aggravating her even further. She wanted to punch his throat, but she contented with only pushing him away.
“Watch it.”
"Aww, look at darling Samiah, already all protective of her little ones."
Malachiax grabbed Ianox's arm and turned him around. "What are you doing?" He wrinkled his nose. "And what have you been drinking?"
Ianox pulled his arm from Mal's hold and took a few wobbly steps back. "None of your damn business."
"How can you do this, Ianox? You're embarrassing us," Malachiax said through clenched teeth.
"Oh, forget him. He's an embarrassment no matter what," Walani said from her position closer to the wall.
Ianox turned on the spot and glared at Walani's back. Samiah’s power kicked in and all she could see was the red glow around him. She was annoyed that Ianox's sudden changes of mood kept triggering her gift. She usually had better control over it. She had to concentrate to stop seeing his aura. When he came into focus again, she noticed his hands were balled into fists at his side, his lips curled into an ugly sneer.
He bent down and Samiah realized what he intended to do a moment too late. The rock flew from his hand with incredible speed and accuracy for someone who was physically impaired. It missed Walani's head by a finger and only because she tilted her head out of the way to look at something on the wall. But instead of bouncing against the hard surface, the rock embedded itself in the stone. Ianox’s strength surprised Samiah. He wasn’t a fan of physical exercises.
Walani's head snapped up. She looked at the pierced wall and then squinted in Ianox’s direction.
"Did you just try to hit me?" Without waiting for his answer, she walked toward Ianox with purpose. The wall started to shimmer behind her but she didn't notice.
"You bet your ugly face I did." Ianox moved with the intention to meet Walani halfway, and Samiah braced for the fight that had been brewing for months.
Half the explorers stared in disbelief at the commotion Ianox and Walani were causing. The other half stared at the wall. Samiah didn't know what to do. Ianox's aura had turned a shade darker, and to her dismay, Walani's aura didn't look much better.
She mumbled a curse and wished she could gag Ianox somehow. If only she had the ability to persuade the fool to stay out of trouble. But the common Arcadian gift to influence others only worked on some alien races. For it to work on Arcadians, the gift would have to be dominant, and she didn't know anyone who possessed that.
Mal stepped between them. "Stop this nonsense immediately!" He raised both arms to keep them apart.
"He tried to hit me with a rock. The coward!" Walani attempted to reach Ianox, but Mal was stronger than she was.
"That was what you deserved," Ianox shot back.
Professor Shix seemed too enthralled by the wall to intervene, but Aron and Ariana came to the rescue. Aron pulled Ianox away and Ariana did the same with Walani. The girl went willingly, and as soon as she realized the scripture was visible again, Ianox and the rest of them ceased to exist.
Ianox kept fighting Aron, but the man squeezed Ianox's arm harder. "Either you stop this spectacle or I will be forced to restrain you."
Ianox lost his steam and calmed down for the moment. He might be slightly out of control, but he wasn't stupid. No one wanted to mess with Aron. His control of fire was legendary.
Relieved that the situation seemed to be more or less taken care of, Samiah turned to the wall. There was something peculiar about it in that moment, and excitement rushed through her veins. The scripture and drawings were the same but they glowed a different color—deep red, like blood. Walani raised her hand to touch it and something in Samiah made her want to warn her teammate against it. Samiah wasn’t going crazy, for Lochiana grabbed Walani's hand before she did and pulled her back for good measure. She must have sensed the wrongness emanating from the wall as well.
The scriptures and drawings started to move, blending in a swirl and spinning so fast they soon disappeared altogether. It looked like contained energy going in circles. Gasps and shouts erupted from many, one-glancers stood hypnotized, and the more sensible explorers started to move away. As the spinning reached an impossible speed, it seemed the wall behind started to collapse inward, only to do the opposite in the end and explode toward the group. The force of the shower of stones knocked down those closest to the wall as the cascade of debris fell on them. A foreign, high screech followed the explosion, freezing Samiah’s blood and making her want to cry. It kept ringing in her ears even after the wind had carried the sound away. After that, utter silence remained.
A suffocating fog created by dust enveloped them, making it impossible to see. Sandy film settled on Samiah’s skin, hair, and clothes. Washing it all off is going to be fun. A purposeful, light breeze helped disperse the grimy haze. Once it was cleared, Samiah saw Ariana a little bit ahead of them with her eyes closed and brows furrowed in deep concentration. Samiah’s attention turned to the wall, or what was left of it. Where moments before there were glowing scriptures, now there was a gaping hole. A midsized airspeed would have been able to fit through. Inside the newly opened cave, the darkness was so absolute not even the light from the moons could penetrate it.
A one-glancer from Jackur took a step forward with the clear intention to enter the unknown void when Professor Shix's voice boomed in the valley.
"Nobody moves."
He walked past the Jackurian and stopped in front of the cave entrance, so close that if he raised his arm, it would disappear inside. He looked up and down and at each side to assess the situation, then stared ahead and scratched his chin. After a moment of consideration, he retrieved his com-slip from his vest pocket and pointed it toward the cave. A blue laser beam shot out, followed by a very faint beep. Professor Shix's shoulders hunched forward before he pocketed his com-slip again. He walked backward, maybe afraid to turn his back to the huge emptiness in front of him.
"Yoni, prepare the AXPs. Nobody goes in until we have received data from them."
Samiah wondered what kind of information Professor Shix had acquired with his com-slip to make him so wary. He took Lochiana aside and had an agitated conversation with her. Samiah observed them with rapt attention, the flickering of their auras reflecting their tense body languages. She was burning with curiosity but knew her mentor wouldn't share anything with the team until he had solid information.
The entire camp started buzzing about with purpose. Gone was the apathy from before. Samiah didn't think anyone noticed Professor Shix's peculiar reaction to the opening of the portal. Neither she nor Malachiax could do anything until the Artificial Explorers came back safe and sound.
They decided to return to camp and wash off the grime. She knew there would be a big celebration by the bonfire that night—what had happened was huge and exactly what they had been waiting for—but somehow, she didn't feel like celebrating. Her heart constricted painfully in her chest, and a sense of foreboding hung heavily above her head.
Once Samiah and Malachiax were back in their tent, he grabbed her hand and made her look at him.
"Samiah." Her name was but a whisper on his lips. He caressed her cheek and captured her gaze with his mesmerizing eyes. She knew exactly what he wanted to say. As explorers, their jobs were to use the portal once it was opened. Now he didn't want her to go. The risk was too high. She felt the same way toward him. But is it fair to ask him not to go?
"Mal, I'm afraid. I thought discovering the portal and opening it would have a different effect on me. I have a bad feeling about it,
though, and I can't shake it off."
Malachiax hugged her, and she rested her chin on his shoulder while he stroked her back. "Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere. Not until we know it's safe."
Not what Samiah wanted to hear but exactly what she knew he would say. Malachiax let go of her and ignited a hovering chair. He sat down and leaned back, closing his eyes. His face was tense and his eyebrows were furrowed. She knew what it meant.
"Did you take Ariana's concoction?" She came up behind him and started to massage his scalp.
"No, and I don't want to."
"Mal, I know you're trying to hide the amount of pain you’re in. Please, if not for yourself, do it for me. I can't stand to see you suffer."
Samiah moved from behind him and knelt next to his chair. He turned his face in her direction and seemed to contemplate her words. She held his gaze until he sighed in defeat. "You know I can't say no when you put it like that."
She rested her head on his lap, enjoying the feel of his warmth against her cheek. Malachiax ran his fingers through her hair, and Samiah closed her eyes, savoring the moment. She held the world in her hands. She had found her soul mate, the Sacred Powers of Arcadia had blessed them with two little ones, and she had accomplished so much in her career already. By all rights she should be elated, not feeling the awful dread swirling in her chest. She let her mate see what was in her heart with a push of her thoughts into his mind. In silent agreement, they decided to skip the celebration.
Chapter 4
Mora – Present day
Samiah was disoriented. One moment she was sound asleep next to Malachiax, and the next, she had killed her mentor. She couldn't hold on to her thoughts. Memories of her life flashed without order and disappeared, like they had never happened. She was losing herself, and she didn't know how to stop it. She couldn't feel her body either. What is happening? Where is Mal? she thought in panic.
His name brought a recent memory to the forefront of her mind. Malachiax's face when she told him about the twins. Samiah grabbed it like a lifeline, an anchor. The swirl inside her head ceased, and she became aware of her surroundings. Her breathing was labored, and numbness had spread through her body. She felt some dark and twisted thing trying to get hold of her conscience again, seep through her memories, and distort everything. But she was aware of its presence now. She wouldn't let it destroy her essence. It was a battle of wills, Samiah’s conscience against the malign presence. She fought hard until her head felt like it would explode, but she never wavered; she had too much at stake. She needed to save her family.
The alien entity raged and screamed inside her head. It was pure evil, thriving on destruction and despair. It was lost in its madness, and it wanted to take Samiah there too. There was so much suffering. How could anyone be put through this and not go insane? But Samiah refused to be its victim. She thrashed against its hold, her nails digging into the rough ground. My body will not be possessed. My mind will not be controlled. Not tonight, not ever, she chanted loudly in her head. With a final, determined push, she purged the being from her body.
She lay there panting and wide-eyed for a brief moment until Malachiax's face hovered above hers.
Oh no. Mal. Has the alien wraith possessed him? A lump the size of the Tandrum moon formed in her throat. She didn't think she had it in her to fight the love of her life if he had been taken. But Malachiax’s concerned gaze told her he was still himself.
"Sami, talk to me."
She took a couple of deep breaths before she sat up.
"I'm okay." There was a metallic taste in her mouth, and she realized it was blood. She had bitten her own tongue.
Samiah scanned Malachiax's face, and his paleness drove another sharp knife to her side. She gazed down at his shoulder and discovered the trowel was gone. Blood flowed freely from the wound. No wonder he looked like a ghost.
"Mal, we need to bind that."
His head snapped up. "There’s no time. Come on, let's go."
The urgency in his voice spurred Samiah into action. She got up and turned to look behind her, then wished she hadn't. The frenzied mob had spotted them and was coming their way. They ran as fast as they could, but the camp was still on fire, and billowing smoke was everywhere. Soon the mob was gaining on them. Malachiax glanced back and without slowing down, he made a brusque movement with his arm. The ground shook and split in two just behind them, growing bigger as the jagged fissure ran toward their pursuers. Those people were so crazed that not a single one noticed the ground open under their feet.
Some of the enraged explorers managed to hang on to the edge of the massive hole, their fingers digging deep into the uneven ground, trying to find leverage. Samiah hesitated when she recognized Ariana and Walani among them. She tugged Malachiax's hand, making him stop and look at her.
"Mal, it's Ariana and Walani. We must help them."
His gaze traveled over her head and a muscle ticked in his jaw when he saw them. He pressed Samiah’s hand harder. She turned around in time to see the section of the ground where Ariana and Walani were hanging from break away and crumble in the abyss.
"No!" She took a couple of steps in their direction, but Malachiax pulled her back.
"They're gone, Sami. I couldn't keep the ground from collapsing. I'm sorry." His words were laced with sadness and guilt.
She turned to face him. "It’s not your fault. You didn't know they were there."
He nodded once, and they resumed their escape. They needed to get to the gateway. They rounded a corner and came upon Aron creating circles of fire with his hand and laughing like a madman. Now they knew who had started the fire. They skirted around him, trying not to draw attention to themselves. Samiah was torn between fleeing and finding a way to help Aron. If she could purge the alien being from her mind, so could anyone. In the end, the will to survive and protect her family won.
She pulled Malachiax in the opposite direction, but he stopped in his tracks.
"Mal, you can't fight Aron. He's gone mad, and you're not strong enough to take him down."
"Sami, I know. But look, he has Ianox trapped. I can't simply leave him behind."
Samiah looked beyond Aron and his rings of death and saw a hunched figure on the ground. Cowering. She couldn't be certain, but it looked like Ianox. And he wasn't possessed—he was terrified. Malachiax was right. They couldn't leave Ianox behind to be burned to death by Aron. Samiah couldn't add to her growing guilt.
"We have to help him," she said finally.
"Do you think he has gone insane too?"
"No. If he were, he would be fighting back, not trembling in a corner."
Samiah’s logic appeared to make sense to Malachiax, as he raised his arm and concentrated hard. Nothing happened, not even a slight tremor. That wasn't good. The loss of blood must have taken its toll on Mal. Samiah was grateful for her gift, but she couldn’t deny that being an aura-reader put her at a disadvantage in life-or-death situations. She searched frantically for any kind of weapon, but the only things she found nearby were small pebbles.
Ianox screamed when a ball of fire set his sleeve ablaze. He rolled on top of it and managed to put the flames out. His face was distorted in pain, and his eyes were bulging out of his skull. Aron continued to laugh maniacally. He pulled his arm back, ready to send another fireball at Ianox, when Malachiax tackled him to the ground.
“Mal!” Samiah screamed.
The impact sent them rolling until they ended up near a tent that had turned into a giant torch. Aron straddled Malachiax and had his neck in an iron grip, squeezing the life out of him. Samiah, in a feeble attempt to save Mal, swung her bag at Aron's head, but he didn’t even glance her way. She might have hit him with a fluffy pillow; there was nothing inside it to make any substantial damage.
She dropped the useless object and attempted a choke hold on her friend. He finally let go of Malachiax to deal with her. He grabbed her arms and flames erupted from his hands. Samiah let out a bloodcurdling scream, f
or the pain was excruciating. She had never felt anything like it. Her knees buckled as she tried to pull away from Aron’s fiery grip, but he held on. He was going to keep burning her until all that was left were her charred bones.
Samiah closed her eyes and tried to soar above the pain. Impossible. She opened her eyes and searched for Malachiax. She wanted to see him one last time before the fire consumed her whole.
Chapter 5
Femror wasn’t a Draki who believed in things such as feelings. As the alpha warrior of their clan, he trusted his muscles and sharp mind above anything else. Feelings and intuition were nonsense frivolities more in line with his half sister’s abilities. However, Femror couldn’t shake off the strange pang in his chest when he woke in the middle of the night. It was an acute pain that made his dual heart pick up in pace.
He threw his legs off the dried moss pallet on which he slept and sat up. He rubbed his chest as if by doing so, the ache would go away. No such luck. He got up, knowing going back to sleep would be impossible, and walked out of his tent to relieve the sentry of his duty. He would take the night watch’s shift.
Femror had been sent by his father to patrol the harsh desert plains of Mora without being given a reason why. Not that he needed a reason. His father was the king; and blood relation or not, Femror had sworn to obey his sovereign without question.
Santor, the sentry on duty, glanced up when he felt his general’s approach. “Couldn’t sleep?”
“No. Anything out of the ordinary?” Femror let his enhanced sight scan the vast plains, but the land was deserted aside from them and the scattered nightbloomers.
“No.” Santor tried to suppress a yawn unsuccessfully.
Femror was about to tell his warrior to rest when an orange glow on the horizon caught his attention. His entire body tensed. Santor noticed the change in his leader and followed Femror’s gaze.
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