Myths & Magic: A Science Fiction and Fantasy Collection

by Kerry Adrienne

  “Bloody moon. What do you think that is?”

  Femror flared his nostrils as he took a deep breath. He smelled it immediately, the sharp tang of blood spilled and death.

  “Raise the others.”

  Santor didn’t need any further instruction from his leader before he dashed back to the Draki camp and raised the alarm. Femror returned to his own tent to grab his shield and spear. Trouble was in the Valley of Lakra. He now regretted not pushing his party further until they reached the sacred site. He hoped the trouble had nothing to do with the portal, but he wasn’t foolish enough to place his fate and the fate of his warriors on wishful thinking.

  Reaching inside his traveling sack, he retrieved the small vial of Razor’s Blood. He had enough to last a couple of days. Putting the vial back, he closed the sack, tying it around his waist. He wouldn’t drink the dark liquid until he deemed necessary.

  Once Femror stepped outside his tent, he found his warriors ready and waiting for him. There were only fifteen of them, not nearly enough numbers to contain the evil that lurked behind the magic seal placed on that rock wall thousands of years ago. If it had been unleashed, may all the gods protect them.

  “We ride fast and hard. We don’t stop until we reach Lakra.”

  “Our mounts are fresh. We should reach the valley before Maya vanishes from the sky,” Santor said.

  “Good. If you see Arcadians acting in an erratic manner, don’t think twice—drink the potion.”

  Santor’s estimate had not been wrong. Femror and his warriors made it to the Valley of Lakra in record time and soon discovered the glow on the horizon had been caused by a massive fire. Ruthless flames consumed every surface in their path, even materials that by the law of nature shouldn’t be flammable. It told Femror the fire in front of him had to be the work of a bloody elemental. He cursed under his breath as he and his warriors skirted around the raging inferno toward the portal. He would have continued without stopping if some invisible thread had not pulled his attention toward a different direction. Femror stopped and focused his sight toward that odd pull.

  Santor stopped by his side and asked, “Do you see something?”

  “I’m not sure. Lead the others toward the portal. We must make sure the seal is still intact.”

  The Draki warrior obeyed Femror without question and soon disappeared out of sight. Femror didn’t know what kept him rooted to that spot, waiting, but he remained there until he saw a figure dash between the flames in the valley below. The pull or whatever it was became stronger, and before Femror could stop to think what he was doing, he jumped toward the raging fire, landing in a crouch, and followed the unknown Arcadian.

  The hot smoke made visibility scarce, and not even his enhanced eyesight could penetrate the barrier. Soon Femror couldn’t see who he was pursuing anymore, relying solely on that invisible thread.

  The smoke became less thick when he reached a clearing. He could see perfectly who he had been pursuing without reason—an Arcadian female—and his entire world went off-kilter.

  Femror’s blood pumped in his veins and a low, guttural sound emanated from deep within his throat. It was the Draki mating call. Femror balled his hands into fists and willed his body to remain rooted to the spot, even though his primal instincts demanded he grab the female in front of him and take her to safety. He couldn’t do it, though.

  She looked over her shoulder and searched in the darkness. Femror couldn’t let her see him, so he called on his powers and blended in with the background. Her gaze narrowed when it landed on the spot where he was, but she saw nothing. Femror swallowed hard when he took stock of her stunning face. He had never seen anything more devastatingly beautiful in his entire existence.

  The Arcadian female took off again, and Femror went after her, like a hunter following his prey. He couldn’t help himself. He never thought it would happen to him, not after all those hundreds of years since he’d achieved maturity and none of the female of his own kind stirred in him anything but physical desire.

  It didn’t matter. Femror Alabaki, prince of the Draki and leader of the most fearsome army of warriors in the entire land, had found his mate.

  Chapter 6

  Aron let out an enraged roar and Samiah found herself free. But the pain remained. She crawled backward in time to see her teammate attempt to punch someone. She didn’t stop to see who Aron was fighting with but looked for Malachiax instead. Finding his sprawled form ahead, her heart stopped beating for a second. She flipped on her belly and slithered toward him, the progress terribly slow. Grinding her teeth, for the burns on her arms were torturous, she pushed through the pain because nothing mattered in that moment besides Malachiax.

  Samiah finally reached his feet and attempted to pull him away from the fire. She cried out when she couldn’t and lowered her head to the ground, defeat caving her chest in. Getting out alive seemed like an impossible task now.

  She sensed someone crawl next to her and was caught by surprised when she found Ianox there. He didn’t say a word before he wrapped his hands around Malachiax’s ankles and moved him away from the raging blaze.

  "Is he alive?" Ianox asked in a small voice when Samiah joined him.

  “I don’t know.”

  Samiah would have checked Malachiax’s vitals if she could use her arms. The color had completely drained from his face and she feared the worst. Ianox, for once, took the initiative and pressed two fingers against Malachiax’s neck.

  “He has a pulse. It’s weak, but it’s there.”

  Samiah let out a shaky breath and thanked the Sacred Powers. But the noise of battle made her aware of her surroundings again and the sense of urgency returned. They needed to get out of there. She noticed that whoever attacked Aron was winning the fight. It didn’t give her a sense of security, though, only made her warier. She caught the shape of a leg move in a blur and connect with Aron's midsection. He stumbled backward, tripped over her forgotten bag, and fell against the burning tent. Hungry flames immediately engulfed him. He screamed and thrashed, but the more he moved, the more tangled he became with what was left of the structure. If he had been himself, he would have been able to control the fire.

  When his attacker came into view, Samiah’s heart sank. Lochiana had just killed Aron, and now she was coming for them. Samiah put her body between Malachiax and the woman, but the attack never came. Lochiana knelt next to Malachiax instead and with the gentlest touch felt his pulse. A moment passed before she looked at Samiah.

  "He has lost too much blood. We need to move him fast."

  "Y-you are not possessed. How is that possible?" Samiah asked.

  "Oh, they tried. But my will is too strong for them. Can you two move?" Lochiana glanced at Ianox.

  He nodded and with Lochiana's help, they managed to drag an unconscious Malachiax all the way up to the temporary gateway. The distance wasn't great, but with the extra burden and Ianox's lack of stamina, it took forever. That they didn't come across any more possessed explorers was a miracle.

  When they reached the gateway, Lochiana didn't waste any time and ignited the connector. Once they stepped on it, the air surrounding them began vibrating at rapid speed, the pressure building. The world around them disappeared, and all Samiah could see was pulsating light. She knew they weren't going back to Argor, not without the codes. She also doubted Lochiana had any desire to see Lord Droom again. Where they were going didn't matter. As long as Malachiax got the help he needed, they could end up on another planet for all she cared.

  The journey lasted no more than a minute. The pressure around them stopped suddenly, and Samiah had to take a step forward to keep her balance. Arrivals through gateway traveling were never smooth. They stepped off the connector into a small courtyard. There were several stucco wall buildings covered by ground-creeping woody plants and connected by clear glass tunnels. Small orb lights illuminated the space. In another time, Samiah would have thought the place cozy.

  Lochiana ran ahead, her f
ootsteps not making any sound on the soft purple naigon grass. She disappeared through a sliding door, leaving Samiah, Malachiax, and Ianox behind. Mal remained unconscious, his prone form propped between Samiah and Ianox.

  Samiah looked up at the sky and noted she could no longer see Maya, which meant dawn wasn’t too far away. And what a savage dawn it will be. She knew the morning sun wouldn’t bring any hope, only shed light onto despair.

  The sliding door opened again, and Lochiana came running out, followed by two royal guards and a short woman with bright red hair wearing a healer's robe. Malachiax was quickly placed on a hovering bed that floated next to the healer. When the woman put her hand directly above Mal’s chest, a light purple glow emanated from her open palm. The examination only lasted a few seconds. Without glancing at Samiah or the others, the healer took Malachiax away. Samiah ignored her companions and followed the woman. She didn’t plan to leave her mate’s side.

  The healer took Malachiax through a pair of thick, translucent doors, but when Samiah tried to follow, she was stopped by two giant Morians who blocked her path. Both had short blond hair, strong jaws, and necks as thick as trees. They were almost identical, probably siblings.

  "You can't go in there," one of them said.

  "Watch me." Samiah tried to go around them, but the one who had spoken blocked her. She narrowed her eyes. "Get out of my way or I'll make you sorry."

  She knew her bold words meant nothing—she could barely stand on her own two legs—and yet she stared hard at the Morian blocking her path.

  "You're covered in filth and in need of healing yourself. You can do nothing for your mate. He's in good hands," the second Morian said.

  He had kinder eyes, but they did nothing to soothe Samiah. The need to go after Malachiax was still there, unrelenting. She felt a hand on her shoulder and found Lochiana by her side.

  "They're right. Healer Xarma is the best in the country. You don't need to worry about Malachiax. Despite the blood loss, his injuries have not affected any vital organs."

  "How do you know? Are you a healer too?" Samiah couldn't keep the bite from her tone.

  Couldn’t they understand? It killed her to be apart from Malachiax not knowing the extent of his wounds.

  Samiah was still glowering at Lochiana when the other woman’s irises began to swirl. She didn’t understand what was happening at first, but once she felt the rage dissipate from her veins, it finally dawned on her. Lochiana was compelling her. Samiah was shocked. How was she able to do that? Wasn’t aura-reading Lochiana’s dominant gift? Despite those questions bouncing in her head, there was also a huge sense of betrayal. She couldn't believe Lochiana would do such a thing to her. She thought they were friends.

  Samiah wanted to look away and sever the link, but it was too late. Quickly and surely, she felt the anguish seep from her body. Without so much worry toward Malachiax occupying her mind, she could feel the searing pain on her arms at its full strength. Also a new kind of concern became present. Her babies. Samiah put a protective hand over her belly—despite how much it hurt for her do to so—and in that gesture, she gave her condition away.

  After being led to another room by one of the giant Morians, she didn’t fight him when he began his examination. After scanning her body from head to toe with the soft glow from his hands, he asked Samiah to sit down. She felt immediate relief when her body sagged against the plush chair. She hadn’t realized how drained her body was.

  The healer came to Samiah carrying a bowl with greenish balm in it, and Samiah braced for more pain. It didn’t happen. Instead, her arms became numb as soon as the healer covered her wounds with the paste. She couldn’t recognize her limbs any longer. They looked exactly like two sad pieces of burnt log. Eerily similar to the log she had used to kill Professor Shix. A lump formed in her throat again. Samiah wanted to cry for her mentor, for all those they had lost, but she couldn't allow herself to do it. If she let the tears fall, she wouldn't be able to stop crying. She had to remain strong.

  "What's your name?" Samiah asked her attendant to distract herself.

  "Eniax." He had in his hand a little prick pen that he used to take a sample of Samiah’s DNA.

  He connected the pen to a crystal screen. Then Samiah watched it do its magic. Bleeps and random images she didn't understand appeared on the screen. A moment later, Eniax retrieved a tray that contained two very thin, almost transparent films. Artificial skin was Samiah’s guess.

  "Now this part might be a bit upsetting. It won't hurt, but it's okay if you want to close your eyes."

  "I want to watch. I won't throw up. I promise."

  Eniax stared at Samiah as if he didn't believe her. She didn’t know how bad it would be, but she doubted it would be more gruesome than seeing Professor Shix’s brain scattered all over the place. Samiah soldiered on and kept her eyes open.

  Eniax had been right. This part of the procedure was not pretty. He had to scrape the burnt skin and muscle away. The damage on her limbs was so extensive that once he was done, she could see her bones. Next, Eniax grabbed a syringe with blue liquid inside. When he injected it in the muscle that was left on Samiah’s arms, it stung a little, despite the balm. She bit her lower lip and winced. Eniax threw her an apologetic glance and quickly applied the artificial skin over her burns. To secure them in place, he wrapped her arms with healing cloth.

  "The injection will make your muscles regrow. By nightfall, the healing should be complete. You might feel a certain discomfort for the next Tandrum's moon cycle. I'm going to check your baby's vitals now." He attached a clip to Samiah’s finger, and almost immediately, the images of Samiah’s babies appeared on the screen. They were only tiny little dots, but she could see the pulsing of their hearts. Samiah became overwhelmed with a foreign feeling. It was elation, love, worry, and a sense of protectiveness, all bundled in a messy package that settled in her heart. Her eyes prickled and she held her breath.

  Eniax looked up from the monitor and turned to Samiah. "Two?"

  She nodded, unable to speak.

  "I have never seen it happen to someone so young. You and your mate must be very special."

  Samiah let out a shaky breath before speaking. "I don't know about me, but Mal is most definitely special."

  Malachiax didn't stay long under Xarma's care, but it took him a few hours to wake up again. Samiah was waiting by the side of his bed, watching his chest rise and fall, when he opened his eyes and blinked a couple of times. For the first time since this whole nightmare started, Samiah’s heart kicked up a notch in happiness, not despair. She nudged Malachiax’s arm with her still sore hand, prompting him to turn his head in her direction. Confusion and sorrow were etched in his night-sky eyes.

  "Sami? What happened?"

  "You don't remember anything?"

  "I do have memories, but they don't make any sense. It feels like I just woke up from a horrible dream." He pulled a face when he tried to turn his body. "I guess it was real, then."

  "Yes, it was all real. I still haven't processed everything."

  "Our crew? Are they all gone?" His voice was choked, and Samiah’s heart clenched in response.

  "Yes, we and Ianox are the only survivors. Plus, Lochiana."

  Malachiax swallowed hard. "How?"

  Samiah told him everything, and it felt like a barb twisting in her side to see guilt take over Malachiax’s expression. He was so good and so thoughtful that, no matter her reasoning, he would always carry the burden of their friends’ deaths with him.

  When Samiah related her experience with the alien wraith, she saw the gradual horror shadow Malachiax’s gaze. She explained the wraiths were lost souls that had been trapped in a prison so long ago that time had ceased to mean anything to them. Misery and destruction were all they knew. It was impossible to tell how many had come through the portal, but both of them knew they needed to act fast before more Arcadians fell prey to the evil beings.

  "What do we do now? How do we fight them?" Malach
iax asked.

  Samiah didn't know the answer to his questions. How could anyone fight something so intangible?

  A knock on the door kept Samiah from voicing her fears. It opened a fraction and Ianox's face appeared through the crack.

  "How are you feeling?" He directed his question at Malachiax before he came into the room with careful steps.

  Ianox had cuts and bruises on his face, and his left arm was wrapped in a thin gauze just like Samiah’s. There were no signs of arrogance in his demeanor, only uncertainty. Samiah focused on her gift and realized immediately that Ianox was depressed. His aura was a light gray color instead of brown.

  "A bit sore, but nothing I can't handle," Malachiax answered.

  Ianox's gaze wandered restlessly and unfocused before it stopped on the bandage around Mal's shoulder. He swallowed hard and brought his hands together in a fidgety motion. "I want to thank you for saving my life."

  "I didn't. Lochiana did," Malachiax was quick to point out.

  "No, it was you. You were hurt, yet you still fought for me. I'll be forever in your debt."

  Samiah saw in her mate’s eyes that he would counter that logic until he turned purple.

  "Have you heard from Lochiana?" she asked.

  Ianox shook his head. "When can we go home?"

  "I'm sure by now Lord Droom and the council are aware of the situation. We must contact them to obtain the codes for the gateway,” Malachiax replied.

  Ianox made a motion to retrieve his com-slip from his pocket only to realize he didn't have it. He went in search of one, but he never returned.

  Chapter 7

  Lochiana pushed aside her guilty feelings as she strode toward the Morang castle. This was the second time she had used her compulsion gift against an Arcadian. The first had been an accident when she was a youngster and hadn’t known she possessed the ability. She never spoke of it, never confided in anyone that the Sacred Powers of Arcadia had blessed her with two dominant gifts instead of one. She knew, even at that young age, the dangers such an ability could bring.