by A D Lombardo
Ryker put his arm around Kai’s waist and his other under his armpit. Crossing through the jungle was slow, but Ryker found a gap in the rocky cliffs. The tunnel was dark at first, so Rayna gleaned the maze until moonlight revealed the exit.
Black cliffs loom overhead as they passed through, then they found themselves in a narrow canyon. Bathed by the moon, Ryker, Kai and Rayna stumbled over the rocky terrain. A mile into the canyon the walls opened into a clearing, and towering palm trees decorated the landscape. The moonlight illuminated the curve of the stone walls. Around the next bend, Ryker stopped.
“It is a dead-end,” he growled.
Overhead two eagles circled and screeched before disappearing back toward the entrance they had just walked through. Fear swirled in Rayna’s stomach, and her heart began to race. “They’ve spotted us and there is no way out.” She eased around Kai. “You must go up.” She touched his face then looked skyward. “Keegan is hunting us. In Kai’s weakened state, he is unable to help fight.”
Ryker eased Kai to the ground and grabbed Rayna’s shoulders. “There must be another way. We cannot give up. Maybe I can lure them away again,” he insisted.
“You tried, but there are simply too many of them.” Rayna looked forlorn. “Even my own parents still help Keegan. Just because she did not kill me when she had the chance, does not mean my mother will not kill you or Kai.”
“You are right. We’ve nowhere to run.” Ryker shook his head. “I should have seen its end before we entered.”
Holding his head, Kai tried to stand but collapsed. “What are you considering, Rayna?”
She did not answer—she couldn’t. If she tried to speak, she might change her mind. There was no other choice. This was up to her now. She might be able to save them, or at least by them time.
“There’s no use.” Rayna kissed his cheek. “I must hide you, high on the ledge above. You should be able to climb around the canyon and get away.” Her tone was resolute.
“Are you sure about this, Rayna?” Ryker begged.
There was no hesitation in her response. “You know the answer. We must save Kai. Hold him tight.” Her heart ached, but she knew this was right.
Ryker grabbed Kai around the waist. Standing next to them, Rayna closed her eyes and summoned nature. The wind stirred and kissed her cheeks. Stars and moonlight danced on her shoulders. Even the ground accepted her call for power. Her green teardrop crystal glowed, and she grabbed for the golden thread of creation.
◆◆◆
Kai reached for her. His heart swelled with emotion. He did not understand what was about to happen. Is she staying behind? “Please, Rayna, don’t do this.” The pain in Kai’s head persisted. He wanted to stop Rayna, but the lack of strength eluded him. His legs felt shaky. No matter how much he wanted to, he could not stand on his own. He was helpless. All he could do was watch.
He watched Rayna’s slender form transformed into craggy bark. Her arm stretched outward. Kai felt Ryker’s grip tighten. Even with his blurry vision, and throbbing head, he knew what was happening. A branch scooped them off the ground and lifted them skyward. Higher and higher they went. He watched as her face disappeared into the folds of the trunk.
Looking skyward Kai watched the cliff walls pass by. Pinpricks of light sharpened into individual stars overhead. To his relief his vision started to clear, but his arms felt heavy and his legs would not hold him.
“Higher, Rayna, higher!” Ryker shouted.
Below, Kai saw the dirt under Rayna’s might oak tree heave. The extra earth propped her higher. Roots bulged, her trunk expanded, and up they went. Green moss hung over the black lip. Ryker jumped, taking Kai with him. Unable to make his legs support him, they stumbled.
Kai’s throat was dry. “What of Rayna?” his voice rasped. “We cannot leave her behind.”
“She will hide in her tree and follow when they’ve gone,” Ryker tried to assure him.
Guilt welled in the pit of Kai’s stomach. Why were they sacrificing for him? “What is happening?”
Kai stepped along the wide canyon’s ledge with one arm around his friend’s waist. Still weak, Kai relied on his friend’s strength to hold him upright. That’s when he noticed his hand felt wet. No. Ryker’s shirt was wet. There was a gash in Ryker’s side. Looking back, he could now see the full breadth of Rayna’s beautiful tree. “Ryker, please. You’re bleeding.” He tried to dig in his heels to stop them. “Why are we running? We cannot leave her.”
“We are being hunted,” Ryker responded but did not stop. “Keegan and his men followed us here. After you crashed landed, we removed the bolt. Rayna healed your wound. Besides being weak from your transformation, you lost a lot of blood. We could not wait for you to wake up. We were exposed in the clearing, and we had no choice but to move. Rayna spotted eagles following us. I found a place to hide you and I tried to lure them away. I heard them—Caroco men. Katori warriors. I saw Keegan here on the island.”
Kai rubbed his sore ribs. “You were a shuk carrying Rayna and me.”
“We needed go fast. She is a very brave woman.” Ryker finally stopped.
Tall palm trees now blocked their view of Rayna’s tree. Kai stepped to the left to bring her back in view. From this distance, she seemed small against the black stone backdrop. He pushed his foot down and took a step then a second step back in her direction. On his fourth step he collapsed. “We must not leave her behind.” He craned his neck to see around another treetop.
“We cannot go back,” Ryker responded, although he followed Kai without resistance.
This didn’t feel right to Kai. She should not sacrifice herself for him. More than ever he wanted to go back. This was all his fault. If only he’d stayed in the glade this morning. He felt sad seeing her standing all alone.
There was a whisper on the wind. Come back. Kai felt Rayna’s plea. Empathic to her plight, he edged closer. Moonlight bathed her tree embodied tower of strength. A statue of life in a barky tomb. He wanted to run to her, but he lacked to muscle control to do so.
Down in the valley below, Keegan and his men wormed through the canyon. It was too late. Trapped, Rayna would stand alone. From this distance, all Kai could do was watch in fear. What would Keegan do against one lone Kodama?
Unable to stand on his own, Kai crawled on his hands and knees back in her direction. Ryker grabbed his shoulder. “Stop, Kai. There is nothing we can do.”
There was something he could do—go back. He watched Keegan study Rayna’s tree, but he could not hear the man’s words. The men with him searched the bushes and rocks. A tightness clamped around Kai’s chest. He pulled free and scrambled around the ledge. He had to get closer. He had to save her.
Then Kai heard him.
“Oh, my dear Kodama sister.” Keegan’s words echoed through the canyon. “How foolish of you. A lone oak in the middle of a palm tree jungle. Where is my son?”
Kai wanted to vomit when Keegan ran his hands up her trunk. He tried to stand, but Ryker’s hand pushed him to the ground and held him fast.
“Where is the trickster Ryker? Does he lay in wait?” Keegan stepped back and whispered to his men.
Kai edged closer, pulling Ryker with him. “Come out, dear girl, there is no need to hide in your tree. I will find Kai. Then you will all explain to me what you were doing on that sandbar.”
The hair on the back of Kai’s neck stood on end. Magic filled the air. Black clouds blocked out the moon and stars. Wind stirred the air and Kai tensed. Thunder rumbled in the sky. White lightning streaked across the darkness. “What are they doing?” Kai whispered.
“I don’t know,” Ryker answered, crawling along the edge to get a closer look himself.
“If you will not come out willingly,” Keegan seethed, “I will drive you out.” He motioned to his men—Weathervanes wielding their power to create the brooding storm.
One man flicked his wrist and bolt of lightning zapped the top branches of Rayna’s tree. Sparks popped and she caught f
ire. The oil within her leaves bloomed into a pale-pink glow, before turning ash-white, and blowing away in the wind. Her upper branches burned. Rayna’s tree swayed. The strike flashed in Kai’s eyes and his heart wrenched with pain. His soul heard her screams. He had to help her. “NO!” he shouted, but his voice was lost in the storm.
Kai crawled closer. Tears ran down his cheeks as he watched a second bolt of lightning strike Rayna’s trunk and lower branches. The tree burst into flames. Keegan laughed. “Stubborn girl. Hit her again and again.”
The sight of her burning made Kai wretch. Her screams intensified within Kai’s soul. A third and fourth bolt struck Rayna and the tree split, collapsing to the ground. Flames ate her bark. Smoke curled high into the air. The smell burned his throat. Agony shot through his heart. She was dying, and he could not save her.
Adrenaline coursed through Kai’s veins. He curled his fingers in the moss and pulled at the lifeforce around him. The vegetation beneath his hands withered and turned black. Some of his strength return to him, and he hobbled around the edge. One hand traced the rock face wall, and with it, he took more power. His might returned with each step.
Her screams subsided, and silence engulfed Kai’s mind. Loss and rage battled within him, and he dove headfirst off the cliff, barreling into three of the Weathervanes, breaking his fall. They did not get up.
Ryker landed as a shuk, taking out five Caroco soldiers. One man tried to get up, and Ryker’s beastly paw punched him back to the ground. His silver eyes zeroed in on Keegan before he transformed back into his natural body.
Surveying the new players on the field, Keegan spun on his heels. “There you are, my son. And you brought your dog with you. Ryker—still chasing what is not yours, I see.”
Hatred bubbled inside Kai as he listened to the pop and crackle of the fire consume Rayna’s tree. The faint smell of burning flesh caught his attention. He could not believe it was true, the love of his life was gone. But, he could not feel her presence. Her screams were gone—their connect was gone. His heart felt hollow and empty and his insides screamed in pain. Rayna was dead.
Kai had no idea confronting Keegan, would cost him Rayna’s life. His father was a man more determined than ever to get what he wanted regardless of the outcome. Keegan murdered Rayna to get at him and now all he wanted was revenge. Spiteful angry thoughts consumed his heart.
There was no time for tears. Kai clenched his fist and scowled at Keegan. “You will pay for her loss, Keegan.”
“My dear boy. You cared for her.” Keegan smirked. “What a mistake. I must harden your heart. We are gods. There is no room for emotion or love in this life.”
Tempted by his father’s words, Kai lunged, but Ryker stepped in his path and grabbed Keegan. Before he could punch the man, Keegan grabbed Ryker’s neck. “You and I have been at odds for far too long. Shall I strip you of your youth, suck the life from your bones?”
Kai watched in horror as gray hair streaked Ryker’s temples. Lines formed on his face. His bone structure became more pronounced as his muscles withered. Yet he did not fight back. He dangled like a fish on a hook.
“No. I would hate for you to miss my rise to power,” Keegan proclaimed, pushing life back into Ryker. “You will see this world bend to my will.”
Finished, Keegan dropped Ryker to the ground and turned his eyes on Kai. Blue turned to green, an ability Kai knew all too well. Quick as lightning, his fierce grip took hold of Kai’s neck. The magic emanating from his father’s touch paralyzed Kai. Unable to lift his arms in defense, he regretted getting so close.
This had been a mistake, attacking a man he did not know how to fight. Kai swallowed the lump in his throat as he watched his father’s hand curl around his mother’s necklace daggling beside his own. Sorrow for all his mistakes stabbed at his soul as he felt the chain snap. His so-called father beamed with pleasure.
“My dear boy. Tell me what on earth were you doing in the middle of the ocean with this? Why were you and Lucca fighting over…?” Keegan’s words trailed off, and his eyes danced with delight. “She is alive, isn’t she? The rumors of her death were lies meant to deceive me. Tell me what I want to know, boy?” Keegan shook Kai.
Chapter 29
Promises & Forgiveness
“Let him go!” Lucca's voice bellowed.
A blast of light knocked Keegan the ground; he dropped Kai and the necklace. Able to move, Kai snatched the crystal and shoved it into his pocket. Ryker was still on his hands and knees, holding his chest, each breath an act of labor. Yulia and Basil stepped around Lucca.
“Yulia, please, help Rayna!” Kai pointed to the blazing tree behind them.
Rain fell from the sky, dowsing the flames. The smell of smoke and charred wood filled the air. Lucca approached, hand outstretched, and lifted Ryker to his feet. Their eyes met. Sympathy and compassion welled in his grandfather’s eyes. A wave of light poured down Lucca’s arm into Ryker.
“This is what you do with your Kodama magic, Keegan.” Lucca glared at the man. “You siphon life instead of healing others.”
Rejuvenated, Ryker stood on his own. Ready to fight, he glared at Keegan and his remaining men. More Caroco soldiers joined the fight, armed to the teeth, swords and hand cannons at the ready.
“Cheap shot, old man.” Keegan dusted the dirt from his hands. “I am done playing games with you. Give me the necklace. I will find Mariana, and she will stand at my side. You too, boy.” Keegan glared. “One day, you will see. I was right all along. We Katori are meant to rule this world. Not hide.”
“Never,” Kai insisted. “I will fight you with my dying breath if I must.”
“Fine with me, boy.” Keegan brought his hands up from his sides and clasped them together.
Vines from the jungle floor wrapped around everyone. Kai fought to hold his ground; he managed to break the first few, but more took their place. The multitude brought him to his knees. Basil and Ryker struggled and transformed. Their broad beastly bodies ripping the coiled tendrils. Yulia pulled electricity from the air and singed the unwanted shackles.
Lucca stood proud. Light emanated from his core, and the restraints burned away. “I have always tried to be a peaceful man, but you test my limits once again, Keegan. You do not want to see what I am capable of.”
Laughter echoed around the canyon. “You are nothing without the other Lumens. What power do you really have? You’re weak, we both know it. The combined power of all three of you is something to fear, but you are alone. You have not really used your magic in decades. Even when you burned your own daughter, you had no real power. She stopped you easily. This little display of light, is it for the boy? Are you giving him hope?”
There was a history that Kai did not understand, but it was easy to see these two men hated one another. He tried to free himself—a few vines snapped but were replaced with more. “Stay put, boy,” Keegan seethed.
Pulled back down, Kai crumped against the evergreen bindings. Whatever faith Kai had was being tested. He prayed to Alenga for deliverance. Lucca looked down at him. Tears welled in his grandfather’s eyes. “I am sorry, Kai. I was wrong. So many times, I was wrong. I never wanted any of this to happen.”
The sadness in Lucca’s expression wiped away the resentment in Kai’s heart. He could feel the torment in his grandfather’s soul. The man struggled with a choice. Life is precious.
Keegan pulled a hand cannon from his belt. “I am done playing with you. Kill them all.” He aimed at Ryker’s head.
White light bloomed around Lucca’s clenched fists. Kai held his breath, his heart begging for more time. He felt the air thicken with his magic. BANG! White sparks and debris spat from the hand cannons hovered frozen in time. Lucca’s eyes bulged at this foreign weapon. Everyone hung suspended. Time inched forward, struggling against Kai’s power.
Fighting the green tethers, Kai felt the energy within the vines coiled around him. He thought of all the lessons he’d learned to let nature empower him. For once, h
e needed to bend with his magic instead of force it. Rayna’s aunt Mina’s advice rang in his ears–let nature empower your shift.
He gained power, taking it from the very vines imbued with Keegan’s magic. Time stopped, yet he was free from the constraints. Connected to his inner dragon, he focused only on changing his hand.
Kai felt the power transform his hand. Claws extended, he sliced through the withering powerless vines, freeing half of his body. He shook off the transformation and reached out and grabbed his grandfather’s ankle. The alteration of time shielded them both. Lucca looked down at him with understanding. Time pushed back, eager to creep forward.
A blast of pure energy ripped through the air, aimed at the lead balls fired in their direction. The metal balls glowed red and dropped to the ground. Lucca continued, his pulses melting the weapons. Kai breathed a sigh of relief, letting time resume its natural speed. The Caroco men screamed and fled the canyon, clutching their burned black hands.
In pain, Keegan yelled. His hand smelled of burned flesh. He turned his hand over and gazed at Lucca while his hand began to heal itself. Red, blistered skin turned pink and then healthy. “You’ll have to do better than that, old man.”
The remaining Weathervane pulled lightning from the sky. Yulia deflected the strike, sending it back at the wielder faster than he could react. The man dropped to the ground; a black mark burned into his chest. Smoke rose in a twist above his prone body.
The remaining Beastmasters transformed. Basil attacked Keegan’s Beastmaster. His gorilla grappled with a grizzly bear. Ivory bear claws racked across Basil. Blood poured from the wound, and Basil returned the blow. As a shuk, Ryker attacked the two remaining Beastmasters, two leopards.
Using his dragon claw, Kai ripped through the remaining tethers. Two Kodama rushed him. He recognized them from the beach. The woman who favored Rayna stared at him—her mother. Tears streaked her cheeks, but she fought anyway. Her blade slashed at him while the man, presumably Rayna’s father, sent new vines to restrain Kai.