“Is that all you have? I was expecting more from you.”
“Who… who’s there?” Daniel weakly called out. He held Kroanette closer to keep her safe then noticed she had passed out in his arms. “Kroanette? Kroanette! Is anyone out there? Please, help us!”
“Hm, perhaps I was mistaken. I thought if you had enough fortitude to attack a succubus then surely a little weather wouldn’t bring you down. Seems I was wrong.”
“What? What are you talking about? Where are you?”
“And now you’re going to just lie down and die with her in your arms. Didn’t see that coming.”
“Who are you? Please, she needs help!”
“Then you should probably do something about it.”
“How? I can’t even get myself out of here, much less carry her up with me. I can’t do this alone!”
“Not with that attitude you can’t.”
“What are you talking about? Who are you? Please, don’t let her die!”
Daniel waited for her reply while everything was completely silent around him, his eyes frantically searching for anyone that may be nearby yet seeing nothing in the darkened rainstorm. Slowly he lowered his head and held Kroanette close, his breathing shaky while he felt the centaur shivering in her sleep.
“Please, whoever you are, don’t let her die. I don’t care if I die, but she-”
“You don’t care if you die?” the voice mockingly asked. “Let me get this straight, Daniel Sorres. You don’t care if you die, that all your efforts thus far be for nothing, so long as this centaur is allowed to live? Tell me, doesn’t that sound like a very stupid idea?”
“How do you know…” he softly said while looking around, still not seeing anyone but feeling very clearly that he was being watched. “How do you know my name? Who are you?”
“You’re never going to protect them like that,” the woman playfully scolded him. “Honestly, you have so many mates, Daniel Sorres. You need to be more of a man and not throw your life away so easily if you wish to keep them safe.”
“But… how…”
“A real man deserving of such lovely young girls wouldn’t allow anything to keep him from them. Thus far you’ve entertained me with your words promising to protect and care for them. But now that things aren’t going your way you’re lying down and taking it without a fight. I’m very disappointed in you.”
“Who are you?” Daniel shouted out.
“You had such promise. I was genuinely interested in you, Daniel Sorres. But it seems all of this has been a waste of time. How very unfortunate.”
Daniel shut his eyes and held Kroanette close, her arm floating on the surface of the rising water beside her while she remained unconscious. He shook his head and tried to steady his breathing, fighting off the cold he was enduring while also trying to keep his sanity as he feared he was growing delirious from the weather and hearing things now.
“You just got Triska Raylight back in your life, and now you’re going to leave her?”
Daniel’s eyes quickly opened as he heard the voice again, her words seeming to bore straight into his mind while the world around him remained silenced during the storm.
“And Doku, she promised to help you on your little quest. I suppose that promise will go unfulfilled now, won’t it?”
“Who are you? How do you know about us?”
“What about Clover? You promised to take her home. Can you only imagine the tantrum she’ll throw should you not keep that promise?”
“What do you expect me to do?” Daniel yelled out into the air. “I can’t leave her. I can’t even get out of here myself! What do you want from me?”
“I want you to show me that I haven’t been wasting my time with you. Entertain my curiosity further, Daniel Sorres, and then perhaps I can give you a little assist.”
“Assist?”
“Yes. You’ve had my interest thus far. It would be a shame to lose it now, that would be a waste on both our parts.”
“I don’t understand what you’re saying! Who are you, can you help us or not?”
“Don’t be so rude. That’s very unbecoming of you.”
Daniel looked to Kroanette with growing concern as the water rose up over her chest to her chin. Her hair floated on the surface behind her while he felt her beginning to slip and slide down in his arms.
“She’s going to drown,” the voice spoke solemnly as Daniel struggled to lift Kroanette up on the incline. “Centaurs sink like stones in the water, and a sleeping centaur will sink very quickly.”
“Please help!” Daniel cried out as he desperately tried to keep Kroanette from going under. The humpers nearby were splashing about and flailing around in the water as they fought to keep close to the muddy slope, the four monsters frantically trying to escape and paying Daniel and Kroanette no mind still.
“Answer me this, Daniel Sorres, will you uphold your vow to protect and care for your mates? Or will you throw it all away because you couldn’t save this one?”
“What are you saying? Please, she’s going to die!”
“Answer me. Are you going to take care of all your mates, or just her?”
Daniel watched Kroanette with rising tension as the centaur was slowly sliding back down in his arms. He felt his feet giving out on the mud below while his chest ached from straining himself to hold the heavy monster up.
“What about those waiting for you still? Will you let them all go if you can’t save her?”
“Don’t make me choose something like that,” Daniel nervously pleaded.
“Answer me before it’s too late. Are you going to uphold your vow to protect and care for your mates?”
Daniel shut his eyes as he feared he was going to lose Kroanette, his hands clinging to her tightly while her lower body slid further down. He struggled to get his footing on the mud while keeping Kroanette close to him, her human half held against his chest while the rest lowered deeper into the water. Lightning streaked through the sky while everything remained silent, his shaky breaths all he could hear as he stared at his sleeping mate with heartbroken eyes.
“Answer me, Daniel Sorres.”
“I’ll always love and care for them, for all of them,” he dearly promised. “I… I will not let them die. I can’t, I can’t lose them, I can’t lose any of them! They all mean the world to me!”
“Will you do whatever it takes to save them, to protect them, to care for them just as you promised?”
“Yes, I will! I’ll do whatever it takes to save my mates, to protect them all! They’re all my responsibility! I have to take care of them no matter what; I know that was my promise and I will uphold it!”
“Then you cannot let yourself die. If you do, you’ll have broken your promise to all those other girls. They are counting on you after all, they love you and expect you to return and care for them. Don’t you agree?”
“Yes, I agree,” Daniel remorsefully admitted as he felt Kroanette slip further down in the growing lake.
“Then prove it,” the woman dared, with Daniel looking up at the sky with worried eyes as all remained silent in the world. “If you let yourself die here, you’ll have failed your promise. You must push on, no matter what, for your mates that are waiting for you, yes?”
“Don’t ask me to do what I think you’re going to ask me to do.”
“I’m only asking you show me the man you really are, Daniel Sorres. That you have the power in you to push on and do whatever it takes to protect those you love. There’s so much potential in you, so much…” Daniel listened as the voice appeared to drift in thought at those words, a slight chuckle being heard from her before she spoke again.
“Here’s the test, and it’s a rather simple one so don’t worry. Get to the top of the ravine alive.”
Before Daniel could say a word a row of crimson longswords flew through the air and struck into the ground beside him up towards the top of the slope with swift strikes. His footing stumbled about in his surprise as he saw
the strangely familiar swords sticking into the ground with rain running off their handles.
“Climb. Push on no matter what.”
“But… if I let her go,” Daniel softly said looking to Kroanette in his arms.
“She’ll sink, rapidly. As it stands now she will die no matter what. However, if you prove to me that you won’t let anything keep you from achieving your goals I will have her saved before she leaves the mortal world. Though I suggest you do not hesitate, I figure you only have just enough time to reach the top before she drowns.”
“You’re asking me to let her sink, and leave her behind while I save myself?” Daniel raged in disgust.
“I’m asking you to prove your words, Daniel Sorres. If you stay with her you’ll be leaving behind all the others who are waiting for you to return when you die with her. You need to do whatever you must to protect your mates, even if it means risking saying goodbye to one of them.”
“I can’t do that, I can’t risk losing her,” Daniel argued shaking his head.
“She’s already lost as things stand now; I’m merely offering you a hand in saving her. Either way, whether she lives or dies, it would be a shame for you to throw away all that you have and can still accomplish, don’t you agree?”
Daniel looked to the crimson longswords at his side, the row of them leading up towards the edge of the incline glistening with a mystic glow while the rain continued its unyielding downpour against them.
“Show your worth as a mate. Show your worth as a man. But most of all, show your worth to me.”
“Who are you?” he quietly asked, knowing the woman could hear him just fine regardless.
“Don’t disappoint me, Daniel Sorres.”
With a bright flash of lightning Daniel heard the world around him coming to life again. Thunder echoed loudly above while the area was brightened by the flickering light in the sky. The roaring of the rain pelting the ground and growing lake they were in, the humpers who were crying out in fright and splashing about in the water next to him, the chilling wind howling as it blew droplets against his face, everything was heard clearly just as before.
Suddenly Kroanette was yanked down, his arms quickly tightening around her as her lower body dropped further into the lake. His feet started to slide down into the mud from the weight while his chest pain became unbearable with the added stress. With a strained grunt he struggled to keep Kroanette from falling underwater, his strength fading fast while he could feel both of them sinking into the growing lake despite his efforts. He glanced over to crimson longsword that was within reach then to Kroanette as her body was shivering less now in her sleep.
“Kroanette,” he softly said. Pausing for a moment to think about what he was going to do he then leaned forward and kissed her, holding her close while not being sure if he was shedding a tear or if it was just rainwater dripping down his cheeks. Breaking the kiss he smiled worriedly at his sleeping mate before looking towards the sword at his side.
“You’re not going to die. I’m going to save you, so please don’t lose faith in me. I’m going to save you, I promise. Just hang on a little longer.”
Mustering all the willpower he had he forced himself to let go of the centaur. She rocked back then dropped down under the surface, the sight causing Daniel to nearly scream in agony before he then yelled out in sheer anger and frustration.
“You’d better not let her die!” he shouted as he grabbed the nearby sword and used it to lift himself up.
“It is you who is fighting to keep her alive.”
“If this is some trick, I swear I’ll make you pay for it!” Daniel cursed as he scrambled frantically to get up the hill. He grabbed the next sword’s handle and used all his remaining strength to pull himself upward, his feet stepping on the handle below then pushing him forward.
“Haha, now that’s the energy I knew you had.”
Daniel grabbed one sword and lifted himself up, climbing against the muddy incline with all his strength before grabbing another and repeating the process as he used the handles below as footsteps. Thunder boomed overhead as the storm picked up, the wind blowing against his side fiercely with the freezing rain as if the weather itself was trying to knock him back down.
“How are you going to save her? Answer me!” he demanded as he got closer towards the top of the valley.
“Focus only on moving forward, Daniel Sorres. Do whatever it takes to keep all those you can close to you. That is your goal, yes?”
“My goal is to keep my mates alive and happy, to protect them no matter what!” Daniel vowed as he grabbed another sword, the edge of the incline just a little further ahead of him now.
“And if one should fall, will you throw away your life then? Will you give up and let the others who are alive linger on alone?”
“If one should fall I’ll kill whoever took her from me! So you’d better keep your promise and save Kroanette!” Daniel threatened as he climbed up the last sword towards the edge of the valley. He grabbed the grass and mud at the top and pulled himself up with a painful grunt, his chest and shoulder now aching severely while his body was trembling from the cold and adrenaline rush.
“Does this mean that you won’t give up so easily again? That you’ll push on no matter what?”
“I’ll never give up!” Daniel yelled with eyes shut tight. He struggled to get up on his knees then shouted up at the sky with all his might. “Nothing will keep me from being with my mates! Do you hear me? Nothing!”
“Glad to hear it. In that case I shall give you a small reward for entertaining me thus far. Girls?”
“Yes, master,” two voices spoke in unison before Daniel. He quickly looked forward as lightning struck through the sky, illuminating the land and revealing Apoch and Astreal standing in front of the boy with long black cloaks over their witch clothes fluttering in the wind. The crescent obsidian stones on their staves glowed softly with their respective red and white colors, rainwater dripping off their hats and capes while they watched Daniel with little interest.
“Apoch? Astreal?” he quietly asked.
“Hold your breath, Mr. Daniel,” Apoch softly warned as the girls held their hands out onto his chest.
“You’re going home with your dear centaur,” Astreal spoke as if telling him an order.
From their hands a bright glow lit up before washing across his body, the streaks then shooting down towards the water and yanking him back with them. The humpers below watched with fright as the light raced down along the slope before crashing through the watery surface with a large splash. Daniel held a hand over his mouth to keep what little air was left in his lungs from coming out along with his surprised yell, his body being pulled downward through the murky water with the streaks of bright light spiraling around him. He looked around in bewilderment before seeing himself approaching Kroanette, the centaur gently drifting down with her hair waving slowly behind her head. The light spiraled around him as he was drawn towards the sinking centaur, pulling him towards her quickly with a stream of bubbles trailing behind along with the fading glow from the magical energy.
“Master, why did you choose to save him?” Apoch softly asked as she and her sister kept their hands held out towards the water where they had sent Daniel flying down into.
“It’s his own fault. He piqued my interest.”
“As he did with Ms. Charlotte,” Astreal mentioned. “What makes him so special?”
“Potential. Yes, there is much about him that could prove… very promising.”
The twins glanced to each other then back down to the water before waving their hands around precisely, trailing glowing streaks of green and yellow light from their hands before they snapped their fingers towards the lake. A bright flash erupted from under the surface followed by a large splash, the rainwater then appearing to collapse in on itself from their magic displacing a great deal of water and two travelers from under the waves.
“It is done,” they casually announced.
/> “Girls? Silly question, and I’m quite certain I know the answer already, but you didn’t teleport them inside their little wagon, did you?”
Apoch and Astreal blinked then slowly looked up with confusion.
“Um, were we not supposed to?” they asked unsurely. “We thought you wanted us to send them home.”
“Yes, I figured you didn’t think that through. Oh well, they’ll make do, I’m sure.”
*****
Inside the caravan Specca finished lighting the two overhanging lanterns above the bed, the warm glow brightening the cabin while the curtain over the entryway ruffled in the wind and rain. Luna sat on the edge of the bed watching the curtain with worried eyes while Specca slowly got down next to her and sighed while hearing the rain pattering on the ceiling above relentlessly with no signs of slowing down.
“I’m really getting worried, Specca,” Luna nervously mentioned before lowering her head and holding her hands over her face. “Kitten is using Triska’s body again, my sister’s still out there, and Daniel hasn’t come back yet. They’re all out there and might be in danger.”
“They’ll be fine,” Specca tried to reassure her with. “Kitten… said she was going to be good now. And Triska can take control again if she needs to, I think. I’m sure they’ll find Pip and Cilia before they… I’m sure they’ll be alright.”
Luna whimpered and dropped back onto the bed, hiding her face and rolling onto her side as she tucked into a ball and shook a little. Specca watched the butterfly worrying herself into a panic then gently lied behind the girl and held her close.
“Your sister would have found shelter I’m sure, and I know Daniel is going to be alright, a little weather won’t bring him down. Kroanette and Squeak may be with them right now, they’ll all be just fine during this. So please don’t cry, Luna.”
“Specca?” Luna asked glancing back to her from behind her hands.
“It’ll be okay. Everyone will come back soon. So please don’t cry, I really don’t like seeing you so upset.”
Luna held onto the nixie’s arms around herself and sniffled before snuggling closer to the girl and praying her words would come true.
Chronicles of Eden - Act VII Page 32