Atlantis Rising

by James E. Wisher

  “Shit! We haven’t located the second crystal yet.” Conryu stood and ran a hand through his hair. He couldn’t let an innocent girl burn, but without that second crystal, the hunt would never end.

  “The priests leading the search are planning to oversee her execution,” the second ninja said. “They probably have the crystal with them.”

  “Okay, I’d planned to handle this quietly, but I guess we’ll need to go with plan B. Kanna, rally the troops and get them in position to free the girls we’ve found on my signal. I’d prefer to do this without casualties, but don’t take any unnecessary risks. If some lunatic cultist gets in your way, do what you must.”

  “Yes, Chosen.” Kanna vanished to organize things.

  Conryu pointed at the second woman. “You. What was your name?”

  “Melina, Chosen.”

  “Okay, you and Kai are with me. How many girls are being held with the one about to be executed?”

  “None. She was the only one they found in the nearby village. The little I heard indicated that some of the villagers tried to hide her and the priests found out. They’re gathering everyone to show them what happens to those that disobey.”

  “Charming. Let’s have a look at this village.”

  Melina disappeared into the borderland and Conryu joined her. Kai was waiting along with Cerberus who let out a happy bark. Conryu patted his flank. The demon dog had learned that Kai and her fellow ninjas were friendly and no longer tried to devour them when they approached. A fact that the ladies were no doubt happy about.

  “After you, Melina.”

  It was a short journey through the endless darkness. “Here, Chosen.”

  Conryu willed a viewing window into being. A medieval village, complete with thatch-roofed houses and dirt streets, appeared. A tall, gaunt man in white robes and wearing a gold crucifix stood with crossed arms watching as a grim group of villagers built a mound of firewood around a cross in the town square.

  The image shifted and he soon found a girl about thirteen dressed in a simple white shift tied to a stake at the edge of the square. Her blond hair was matted with blood and her right eye had begun to swell shut. Someone had given her a working over. Conryu would very much like to know who that someone was so he could introduce himself with a roundhouse kick.

  “I’ll get the girl. Where does he keep the crystal?”

  “There’s a tent at the edge of town,” Melina said. “Guards watch it, so I believe the crystal’s in there.”

  “Can you sneak in and find out for sure? If it is there, grab it now.”

  Melina bowed. “As you command, Chosen.”

  She sprinted away leaving Conryu to figure out how best to extract the girl and make sure the priests understood that burning innocent girls at the stake wasn’t acceptable.

  “You’ve gotten comfortable with commanding the Daughters,” Kai said.

  He grimaced. “Not really, but I can’t do this on my own, so I’m adapting. Like I said, I’m not looking to be in charge of anything.”

  “It wasn’t a criticism,” Kai said. “You can’t imagine how satisfying it is to have a worthwhile mission. I know the others feel the same.”

  “But if one of them gets hurt or killed following my orders… How am I supposed to live with that?”

  “You live with it by knowing that she died doing her duty, a duty she chose long before she met you. We are warriors, Conryu. Death’s most favored after you. Dying is not something any of us fear.”

  “Thanks, Kai.”

  Cerberus stiffened, alerting him to someone’s approach. A moment later Melina appeared. He held out a clear crystal and bowed. “No one saw me, Chosen.”

  “Outstanding.” He took the crystal and cast a simple divination on it.

  The crystal didn’t register as magical. He tried earth magic, but the spell failed, indicating it wasn’t made of stone. He frowned and prepared another spell.

  Before he could cast it, Kanna appeared. “All are in position, Chosen.”

  Research would have to wait. He pocketed the stone. “Good.”

  He focused and they flew upward until the viewing window appeared a few hundred feet in the air. “I need to make an impression on these assholes so they stop murdering innocent people. I doubt it will take for long, but I still have to try.”

  They watched through the portal until a pair of burly guards grabbed the girl and dragged her toward the cross. That was his cue. “You three stay out of sight.”

  With that Conryu stepped out of Hell, cast a flying spell, and called out to the wind spirits. A storm of vengeance was about to wash over these monsters.

  Chapter 5

  Thunder cracked and lightning flashed all around Conryu as his conjured storm grew in power. The wind roared and funnel clouds began to form. Below him, the gathered cultists and villagers stared up at the sudden change in the weather. He pointed and a lightning bolt crashed into the ground fifty feet from the gathering.

  That got their attention. Everyone scattered. The head priest and his guards broke for the nearest building.

  Conryu pointed again and a second lightning bolt lanced out, striking directly in their path. They weren’t getting away that easily. The guard dragging the future wizard to her execution gave up and let her go. The girl fell to her knees and put her hands over her head.

  That was enough for the preliminaries. He sent a pulse of dark energy out to signal the others before conjuring a massive tornado that fully engulfed the village square.

  Conryu landed beside the girl and held out a hand. “Are you alright?” His light magic translation spell sent the question directly into her mind.

  She looked at him with wide eyes for a moment before nodding and letting him help her up.

  “Monster! Abomination!” The priest screamed obscenities at them. “Children of Satan! We shall send you back to Hell where you belong!”

  The guards pulled pistols. Before they could fire, he turned the weapons to rust. They stared stupidly at what was left of their weapons. Conryu gestured and the guards collapsed, leaving only the priest facing him.

  He closed the distance between them, grabbed the gaunt man by the front of his white cassock, and dragged him close enough that their noses were almost touching. “I’m only going to say this once. Your witch hunt is over. You hurt one more innocent girl and I’ll come back and burn every church in this miserable country to the ground with you and your comrades in them. Do we understand one another?”

  “We do God’s work,” the trembling priest said.

  “You do someone’s work, but it isn’t God. Remember what I said and report it to your master. I went easy on you today. I won’t next time.”

  Conryu walked back to the girl, willed the library doors open, and led her through. Once they were safe inside he said, “If you know where your parents are, I can take you to them before we leave the country.”

  “My parents are dead. Shot for conceiving an abomination in God’s eyes. I have no one and nowhere to go.” She wiped tears from her eyes. “What will become of me?”

  He offered her a gentle smile. “Whatever you want. I’ll take you somewhere safe. And you won’t be alone.”

  The library shifted at his command and the doors opened again. Two of the ninjas ushered a pair of girls through before vanishing. Conryu repeated the process with each group until he’d collected all the future wizards. Finally, he retrieved Kai and Kanna from the now-calm sky above the first village.

  “How are the troops?” Conryu asked.

  “No injuries on our side and no deaths on theirs,” Kanna said. “Before I forget, here’s the second crystal.”

  “Excellent.” Conryu took the stone. It looked exactly like the one in his pocket. “Remember how I said you guys needed to find a new home? I’m going to take you to a potential location. You don’t mind the cold, do you?”

  Kanna raised an eyebrow drawing a grin from Conryu. He willed the library to the Land of the Night Prince
s. If anyone could understand what the girls had been through, it would be the former White Witches. And no one would dare threaten them in a land surrounded by vampires.

  Conryu and Kai stepped out of the library an hour after dark. An abandoned city sprawled in every direction. The buildings tended to be less than thirty stories and the streets had weeds growing up out of holes in the pavement. He wanted to check with Lord Talon before he brought thirty-odd girls into his country. Not that he figured the vampire lord would object, but it was rude to just assume.

  Only the building directly in front of them had lights in a few of the windows. Not much had changed from the last time they visited. That was just as well since in Conryu’s experience, things seldom changed for the better.

  At least it was still warm. The Land of the Night Princes was not pleasant in the winter. He looked up at the stars. This was one of the best places to study the sky. The sparse population assured a minimum of light pollution.

  “Chosen.”

  “I sense them too. Relax, we’re on good terms with everyone.” Of course, relaxing when surrounded by half a dozen vampires, friends or not, was easier said than done.

  “Conryu?” A beautiful, dark-haired vampire appeared as though out of nowhere. It was Anya’s mother, Sasha. She wore a stunning, midnight-blue dress slit up to the hip and her lips seemed especially red against her pale skin. “What a nice surprise. Does Lord Talon know you were coming?”

  “No, it was sort of a spur of the moment decision. It’s good to see you again, Sasha.”

  “You as well. Talon is in the east patrolling the border. We’ve had no incursions since the Dragon Emperor’s death, but he takes nothing for granted. One of the others is going to fetch him. Would you like to come in? Anya will be thrilled to see you.”

  “Thank you.” They followed Sasha into the apartment building, through the empty lobby, and to the stairs. “We still haven’t gotten the elevators working, I’m afraid.”

  “How are the former White Witches settling in?”

  “Very well. The winter was a long one for them, but we’ve found work for everyone. Thankfully they each had a skill of some sort outside of magic.”

  “Speaking of magic, has anyone reconsidered about resuming their life as a wizard?” Conryu asked.

  “Not that they’ve mentioned to me. Anya has kept up with her practice and has even devised a couple minor spells of her own.” She sounded so proud Conryu couldn’t help smiling. Sasha opened a door to the third floor. “Here we are.”

  In the hall a pair of middle-aged women were chatting outside their apartment doors. Conryu didn’t remember their names, but they knew him and waved. He smiled and returned the gesture. Sasha led the way to the last apartment on the left. It was a small unit, just a living room with a coffin in place of a couch and two chairs. Beyond that was a kitchenette and two doors that he assumed led to a bedroom and bathroom. All very ordinary, if you didn’t count the coffin.

  “Kiska! We have company.”

  The bedroom door opened and there stood one of the most beautiful women he’d ever met. Anya’s blond hair had grown down past her waist. She wore comfortable lounge pants and a tank top cut off above her belly button. Calling her stunning would be a vast understatement.

  “Conryu.” Anya ran over and hugged him.

  Years of training allowed him to control his reaction when she pressed herself against his chest. Still, just as well Maria wasn’t here. The two women had come to an understanding but seeing her like this might be pushing his luck.

  “Anya,” he said when she finally let go. “Your mother tells me you’ve been keeping up with your magical training.”

  “Just simple stuff. What brings you by?”

  “I need a favor. If you don’t mind, I’ll wait until Lord Talon arrives, so I don’t have to explain twice.”

  “Sure, have a seat.” Anya went to the kitchenette. “Want some coffee?”

  “No, thanks.” He settled into one of the chairs and sighed. It had been a long couple of days and the soft leather felt wonderful. “What does he have you guys doing?”

  “Cleaning and restoration mostly,” Anya said.

  “Lord Talon hopes to bring this city back to life,” Sasha said. “It will take time to convince more humans to move here, but if they wish to, he wants to have places for them to stay.”

  A tall, dark figure materialized in the middle of the living room. Talon looked exactly as Conryu remembered. Tall, handsome, and pale, dressed in all black, he was the very definition of a vampire.

  “My ears are burning. Have you been discussing me?”

  Conryu stood and they shook hands. “Nothing scandalous I promise.”

  Talon laughed. “I’m sure. What brings you here, my friend?”

  “I need help.” Conryu explained about rescuing the girls. “I couldn’t think of a safer place for them. It’s a big ask I know, but can they stay here, at least for a little while?”

  “Of course. As you can see, we have plenty of room. I may christen this building a shelter for abused wizards if you keep bringing them to me.”

  Conryu smiled, but it was tinged with sadness. Far too many wizards were abused in this world and he couldn’t save them all, no matter how powerful he was.

  “Where would you like me to bring them?” Conryu asked. “A living room with a coffin might be a little unnerving to start.”

  “Follow me. Anya, would you join us and greet our new guests?”

  “Yes, my lord. Let me throw on a robe.” Anya ducked into her room and closed the door.

  Conryu reached into his pocket and pulled out one of the crystals. “Ever seen one of these?”

  Talon took the crystal and looked it all over. “It’s not a diamond. What is it?”

  “It’s a crystal and the cultists were using it to determine the magic potential of girls as young as thirteen. It’s not magical. At least not in any way I can detect.”

  “A mystery indeed.” Talon handed it back to him. “I’m sorry I can’t be of more help.”

  “Taking in the girls is a huge help. Sasha mentioned you had to patrol the border. I think I can help with that.”

  Talon raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow. “Oh?”

  “My bodyguards need a new home. I thought maybe they could watch the border in exchange for a remote spot to set up a new village.”

  He glanced at Kai who was still standing silently beside him. “More like her?”

  “Yeah, about seventy. Their old village has been compromised and is no longer safe.”

  “I know just the place. And yes, their help would be most welcome.”

  “I’m all set.” Anya had swapped her pajamas for a brown earth magic user’s robe.

  They went to an empty apartment and Conryu opened the library. It was going to be a long night, but at least the girls would be safe.

  Talon’s perfect place for Kanna and the other ninjas turned out to be an abandoned monastery in the mountains. The stone of the main structure had seen its share of bad weather, but otherwise it appeared solid enough to Conryu. If it became necessary, he could make any modifications they needed with earth magic. There were cells enough for everyone and a large courtyard where they could train.

  With the sun coming up, the mountains were beautiful. Their island was beautiful in its own way, but this was more his style. Conryu stifled a yawn. He’d been up all night reassuring the girls that they wouldn’t end up as undead servants or just snacks for the vampires. Talon and his people had a terrible reputation, especially in the cult’s territory. You’d think that would be enough to convince them given how the priests treated wizards.

  Anya had done more than he had to calm their nerves. She was good with frightened girls. Probably having been a frightened girl running for her life once upon a time made her more understanding. At any rate they were settled for now and that was enough for him.

  Leaving Kanna to get used to her new home, Conryu and Kai stepped into the b
order of Hell. As always Cerberus was waiting for him with a wagging tail.

  “Will we not travel through the library?” Kai asked.

  “We will, but first I need to talk to someone else about those crystals. Talon had never seen anything like them which, given his age, is remarkable. Prime didn’t recognize them either. Dark Lady!” Conryu’s summons was carried on winds of dark magic deeper into Hell. His demonic agent shouldn’t take long to respond. “If she doesn’t know what it is, then I’ll really be worried.”

  A short time later, a crimson light resolved into the voluptuous figure of the Dark Lady. She was, as was her habit, dressed like a dominatrix in black leather. She was also wearing the thigh-high leather boots he’d gotten her for Christmas. Her bat wings were open and her hair was blown back in the breeze of her flight.

  Conryu sighed. He had far more beautiful women in his life than was prudent. Not that he would trade any of them for anything.

  The Dark Lady stopped, snapped her wings closed behind her, and bowed so low her breasts nearly escaped her bodice. She straightened and offered a smile that would have made most men weak in the knees. “Master. How may I be of service?”

  He took out a crystal. “Ever seen one of these? It’s used to detect magic potential in girls far younger than anything we have.”

  She looked anywhere but at the crystal. If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn’t have believed it possible, but she actually looked uncomfortable.

  “I can’t say, Master.”

  “Does that mean you don’t know?”

  “It is forbidden by the Reaper’s law. If you’d shown that crystal to anyone else in Hell, they likely would have killed you.”

  Prime snorted and Conryu raised an eyebrow.

  “Or tried to,” she amended. “I am sorry, Master. Is there something I can do to make it up to you?”

  That was more like the Dark Lady he knew. “There is, actually.”

  Her eyes widened and she licked her lips.