Quantum Heights: Book one of the Dead Path Chronicles

by Richard A. Valicek

  “We should arrive at 3:00 a.m. We’ll take a room at the inn to get a few hours’ sleep and be on the road by 9:00 a.m.”

  She nodded imperceptibly, her face to the window. Caprius began to say something but thought better of it. He closed his mouth and walked away.

  Eventually, Calista dozed off in her seat, not going back to the compartment she shared with Caprius until the night was well underway and she was sure he was asleep. She didn’t want to have to speak with him anymore.

  “Calista, Calista, my sweet, wake up.” Nigel was stroking Calista’s long hair. He kissed her on the lips. “Are we all set for tonight?”

  “Yes,” she said.

  “When you have the solace claymore, bring it to my cabin. Number 113,” he said. “And, Calista, I can trust you?’

  “I’ll knock on your door when I have it,” she kissed him goodnight and made her way down the long corridor.

  Caprius was breathing deeply on the bottom berth when she entered in the dark. She climbed up to her berth and lay for what seemed a long time. “Caprius?” she whispered.

  “What?” Caprius answered.

  “Oh. Nothing. Go to sleep,” she said, annoyed he was such a light sleeper. She began to wonder how she’d possibly get his claymore away from him if a whisper disturbed his sleep.

  She waited more, then tried again. “Caprius, are you asleep?”

  “No, I’m not, but I’m trying,” he said.

  “Sorry,” she said. She was very tired and wished she could just get this whole ordeal over with. She knew once she took his claymore, there would be only fear in her dreams that she’d done the most wrong thing of all, despite what he was doing to her.

  “Caprius?”

  “What is it, Calista?” asked Caprius, annoyed.

  She didn’t respond and hoped he’d just fall back into his deep breathing again. A few moments later, his breath slowed. “Caprius?” This time Caprius did not answer. She crept out of her upper bunk and landed lightly on the floor like a cat. She reached out and touched the claymore. Caprius sniffed and turned over. His hand reflexively went to his sword, but it fell, limp to the blanket. And, there, Calista was able to slide it from its sheath. She held it and let it catch the moonlight streaming in through the small window. “Goodbye, Caprius. I’m very sorry it’s come to this.” She opened the door and walked out.

  Compartment 113 was at the other end of the train. She walked through the corridors holding the claymore beneath her tunic hoping not to be noticed by any night owls who might be about. When at last she reached it, Nigel opened almost instantly. She wordlessly handed the claymore to him. Nigel smiled gently. “Why don’t you come in,” he said.

  The power of the claymore was at work; while Caprius lay sleeping, his solace dagger at the side of his boot was humming and vibrating, telling him there was danger afoot. The claymore in Nigel’s cabin vibrated so loudly, Nigel wrapped it in a blanket. He was gleeful like a child. “The power; it is working!” He embraced Calista and passionately ravaged her. She returned the passion, remembering their love, his body. Yet, once Nigel was satisfied, he sat up. “Get dressed,” he commanded her. The solace was humming and vibrating to such an extent he was worried it would awaken those in the nearby compartments.

  Alone in the compartment, Caprius sat straight up in his berth. His hand flew to his side. He thought a moment and knew what had happened. “Calista!” He grabbed his solace dagger from his boot and lurched out into the corridor. He moved quickly, not knowing where he was going and trusting only his dagger as his guide.

  In Nigel’s cabin, Calista reticently began to pull on her clothes. When she looked up, Nigel was pointing a dagger at her. “Thanks for the solace claymore. And, for our little romp. Just like old times. You didn’t actually think I trusted you, did you?”

  Her heart fell. Again she’d been betrayed, left. “You bastard!” she cried.

  “Now, die, little princess,” he said and swung his dagger at her neck. Calista quickly stepped back. Nigel thrust the dagger at her again but missed when she jerked to the side and grabbed his wrist. The two struggled, crashing into the walls and knocking things over. Nigel lifted Calista up holding her against the ceiling. Calista swung her right leg, smacking him in the chin. Nigel lost his balance and Calista fell down on top of him. Calista quickly rolled away from him. They both sprang at one another. Calista kicked him in the crouch, and Nigel fell onto the bed. She quickly took the blanket covering him up. Nigel tore through the blanket with his dagger, nearly stabbing Calista as she lunged back. He used both legs to throw her off the bed, and she crashed into the wall. A picture frame tumbled down hitting her head, and she quickly grabbed it. She held the picture frame, smacking it onto Nigel’s head as he came at her. With the picture frame around his neck, he swayed the knife side to side. Calista jumped back. Nigel quickly removed the picture frame from around his neck. He growled at her. He jumped at her and she quickly grabbed hold of his wrist that carried the dagger with both her hands. They struggled, holding their hands in the air. The dagger struck the light fixture on the ceiling, cracking it, and the pieces of glass landed onto the floor. The room went partially dark. One light bulb remained upon the ceiling fixture. “I’m going to carve that pretty face of yours!” Nigel swung his arm holding the dagger, and Calista jumped back hitting the wall. “You’re running out of room. No place to go. No place to hide.” Nigel lunged forward with the dagger as Calista moved to the side. The daggers point struck the wall. Calista kicked his arm and went for the dagger, which was pinned to the wall. She grabbed a hold of it and quickly swung her arm stabbing him at the side of his head, striking his left ear. Nigel screamed as the blade scratched his ear, causing it to bleed. Calista quickly swung the knife again puncturing him in the chest. The blade was not deep. He screamed now holding both hands on her wrist trying to push the blade away. Nigel’s hands shook. He was in fear. His eyes widened. He found his strength and twisted her wrist. The dagger fell to the floor. Nigel dove for the dagger head first and grabbed it. Calista was on top of him, and she lunged over him grabbing hold of the frame of the bed on the upper part of the wall. She quickly turned facing him. As he picked up the dagger rising to his feet, Calista held both hands on the bed frame, threw her legs around his neck, and tightened them, pulling him down to the side, tossing him onto the floor, and twisting her body until she was on the floor herself. The dagger, which had fallen to the floor, pierced Nigel’s thigh, cutting through. He screamed in agony. He moved to the side on the floor and pulled it out of his thigh. Calista quickly rose to her feet. Nigel rose to his feet. His leg was in pain. He lunged at her, swinging the dagger, and Calista swung her fist at his jaw striking him hard. Nigel spit out his tooth. He swung the blade, but Calista grabbed his wrist. They struggled for the dagger.

  Caprius continued his journey down the corridor of the train, following the activity of his dagger. When he heard loud thuds and grunts from what sounded like a woman and man fighting in a compartment, he burst in. Caprius glared at Nigel’s sweaty face. “Nigel Goncool,” Caprius said. “Why am I not surprised to see you here.”

  Knowing he was cornered, Nigel elbowed Calista in the chin and grabbed hold of her, pulling her to him. He grabbed hold of the dagger, which had fallen from her hand. He pointed the dagger at her throat and looked at Caprius.

  “Back off, Seaton, or she dies!” Nigel shouted.

  “Don’t listen to him, Caprius! Take your solace claymore and-” Calista tried to say.

  “Shut up! You bitch!” said Nigel piercing her throat with the tip of the dagger. “All I want is this piece of tin, and you can have her. You’ll find she’s very nice in bed.”

  “Thanks anyway, I’m married,” said Caprius.

  “What a pity for you,” said Nigel. “Her kisses taste like raspberries. She’s sweet, inside and out.” Nigel peered into Caprius’ face. “So, what’s it going to be Caprius, the solace or the girl?”

  Caprius pretended to cons
ider the option. “Hmm, I don’t know. I’m still thinking about it,” he said lifting his claymore from the berth.

  “You made your choice, now I’ll make mine!” said Nigel. Just then, Calista, who was fuming over Caprius not choosing her, who was, she realized, livid from his horrible reaction to her confession, back kicked Nigel in the crotch as hard as she could. He fell to his knees, moaning, and dropped the dagger. Calista grabbed Nigel’s hand. She hefted him up and over her shoulder, throwing him onto the floor. She picked up the dagger that he’d dropped, and before he could get to his feet, she stabbed Nigel in the heart. Behind her, Caprius held his claymore of power steady. He channeled his powers and lifted Nigel off the floor. Blood spilled from Nigel’s mouth as he tried to ask Calista, “Why?” Before she could answer, Caprius pushed Nigel against the window so hard, he crashed through and dashed to the tracks. Calista ran to the shattered window; Nigel’s body rolled over the tracks a few meters from the force, like a limp doll, until he stopped, forever. She turned and, forgetting their recent rift, rushed into Caprius’ arms.

  Caprius roughly pulled her back looking at her. “You betrayed me,” he said.

  Calista nodded. She realized that acting emotionally at a time when she needed to be an advocate for Elysium despite her personal situation was juvenile and could have affected the entire kingdom’s future. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “Whatever is going on between us, that will never happen again.”

  He pulled her close again and held her in his arms. They stood embracing each other mostly out of the loss of the other. They held on because they knew what they’d had: friendship, feelings of something deeper, trust, those things were gone to them.

  Too much had happened for them to try and sleep, so they headed to the dining car to get a drink. Caprius was deeply disappointed in her for betraying him, but he also knew he’d given her good reason to go against him. He took a sip of his grog and clasped his hands together with his elbows on the table. “Tell me, what did Nigel promise you?”

  She could barely get the words out. “He promised me that we would have a life together. He lied to me. But, he was convincing; he used our history together to manipulate me, to get me into bed, to make me think we had a future.”

  “So, you made love to him,” said Caprius raising an eyebrow.

  Calista shook her head, a few tears falling onto the table. “It was such a mistake. I wish none of this had happened and certainly that I had never taken your solace claymore.” Her voice was hoarse, almost broken. “I am so very sorry. There’s no excuse.” She fidgeted in her seat. “It’s just that, when you blew up…” she paused, “you and your father, your whole family, they just mean so much to me. And, now that’s all gone.”

  “I reacted badly. It must have been shocking to you. So, if it pleases you, to be fair, I’ll say I forgive you.”

  Calista sighed deeply. “Thank you,” she said, her voice filled with emotion. “And, I will watch your back. No more deceit and no more lies. After the mission is over, as you stated, I will leave Castle Elysium and quietly resign from his majesty’s assault force.”

  Caprius looked down at the table and sipped his grog. They both turned to look out the window into the dark of pre-dawn, there being little more to say. Finally, to break the silence, Caprius said, “At least that’s one Goncool out of the way.”

  A tear slid down Calista’s cheek. She brushed it away brusquely. “Eighteen more to go,” she said. “I wonder if we’ll meet up with any more along the way.”

  “Seems our chances are best if we encounter them in a group. But, arresting them will be impossible. We’re going to have to kill them all,” said Caprius. “Will that be a problem for you?”

  “No. With Nigel now out of the way, it won’t be a problem. My allegiance is to the Council of Confidus. And, I will honor that, so help me God.”

  Caprius looked at her through narrowed eyes. She seemed to be authentic, and he saw how she was remorseful for what she’d done and that her hasty actions had been beyond foolhardy. But, it was such a dramatic betrayal, he’d need her to prove her loyalty again for him to trust her. He glanced at his pocket watch. “We are approaching the city of Galdington. It won’t be long now.” Caprius finished his grog and slammed the glass onto the table face down. They quickly got to their compartment, took their things, and then waited in the corridor. Moments later, when the train arrived at Galdington station, Caprius and Calista disembarked.

  Vernon Goncool, back in his compartment, prepared his things and wondered what was taking Nigel so long. He was becoming concerned that something had gone awry. Finally, he stepped from his compartment and went to Nigel’s. There was no sign of him. The window was shattered, and there was a pool of blood on the floor.

  Vernon clenched his fists. He knew Nigel was dead. Vernon ran out of the cabin and through the corridor. He stepped off the train and looked among the travelers until he spotted Caprius and Calista making a quick exit. He followed them but kept his distance.

  Caprius and Calista took a simple room at Molly Mable’s Inn close to the station. The room available had only one bed. They were so tired and had been through so much, they didn’t bother worrying about this. Vernon Goncool held back, and as soon as the pair went up the stairs, he, too, booked himself a room.

  Caprius and Calista fell into the bed without any discussion. The night was dark, a shadowed moon in the sky, and soon Calista was woven in upsetting dreams. She saw herself running in the woods. Running from Nigel. She took refuge behind a tree and closed her eyes. Nigel was calling out to her in the sweetest, most loving voice. Yet, she trembled. His voice faded away and all was quiet. When she opened her eyes, a chilled hand came around and grabbed her chin. It was Nigel. The next moment she was back on the train with Nigel in the bunk making love. She felt Nigel penetrate her and gasped, then gasped harder and louder, the pain excruciating, and then with a last push, she gave birth to Nigel’s child. She held the baby in her arms. It opened its eyes, and they were bright ruby red. In an instant, she was in a burning village, fire all around her and hundreds of horrid vampire creatures flying in the sky. She was surrounded by burning corpses; they were closing in. The sky turned crimson red.

  Calista woke up screaming. Caprius immediately held her. “I’ll be alright. Just a bad dream,” she said breathing heavily.

  “What did you see?” asked Caprius.

  “I saw myself giving birth to Nigel’s child. I saw the village burning,” she said.

  “Which village?” Caprius asked.

  “I think it was Jethro,” she said. “I have had this dream once before not too long ago. I hope it’s not a premonition of things to come.” Calista lay back. “The child was a demon child with dark powers. One who would grow up to follow Makoor,” Calista whimpered. “My God, what have I done? I only meant to share a night with Nigel. I’m such a fool,” she began to sob uncontrollably.

  Caprius murmured, “Makoor’s followers are growing in size. There are more and more of them every day.”

  Calista put her hand on her abdomen. “If I am with child…” she paused, “then I must die. This child must not be born.”

  “Oh, no, no,” Caprius murmured. “It was just a dream. You’re going to be fine.”

  But, Calista was beyond herself, locked into her dream state. “If I am to die, then I want you to do it.” She grabbed Caprius. “I wish to die by the powers of Petoshine. That is my last wish.”

  He smiled tenderly. “Yes, I understand. But, we do not know for certain that you are carrying Nigel’s child. We will know in time. But, for now, you may live.”

  “As long as I am alive, I will fight by your side, Caprius Seaton.”

  “And, I by yours,” said Caprius.

  Calista was exhausted. She lay down again and, within seconds, fell into a deep sleep. Caprius lay back down as well, and soon, he too fell asleep.

  At exactly this moment, far away in the land of Petoshine, within Petoshine Castle, Grong
one the great wizard was sitting on his throne in deep thought with his eyes closed. The four Muskata monkey creatures sat on the floor before him in meditation. When Grongone opened his eyes, the Muskatas opened their eyes, too. “Did you see it?” asked Grongone.

  “Yes,” said Chooko.

  “Tell me,” said Grongone, folding his hands together.

  “Calista carries a great burden. She had sexual relations with Nigel Goncool and now believes she could be carrying Nigel’s child,” said Chooko.

  “If she is, that child must be destroyed,” said Mishka. “For, if it is allowed to be born, then a follower of Makoor it will become.”

  “Calista must die,” said Mravish. “If she dies, the child dies. Then there is no need to worry.”

  Chooko was angry. “I do not understand,” he erupted. “Why did Confidus send Calista on this mission with Caprius? Andromin could have postponed his vacation plans.”

  “Confidus knew what he was doing. Andromin has too many problems and would not have been a competent partner to Caprius. Calista is a superior warrior. But, now with what is about to happen, I can see this decision may have sent her to her death,” said Grongone.

  “So, then it’s confirmed that the Dark Lord has planted a seed that will grow inside of her?” asked Mishka, tilting her head as she hopped over to Chooko.

  “No, no. I for one do not believe it is so. Let us not be hasty,” said Chooko. “Grongone, do something?”

  Grongone held up his hands, closed his eyes, and opened his mind. He closed his hands, as if to hold air within them, his thoughts entirely on Calista. He slipped deeper into his powers and looked into her womb. He looked deeper and deeper, moving past blood, muscle, tissue, cell. He moved so he was inside and felt her heart beating. He looked again, then opened his eyes. He sighed and smiled. “Calista will bear no child. She is now free of Nigel Goncool. I have seen this with my spirit. Her womb is empty,” said Grongone.