Rune’s roar, which seemed closer, echoed again in the distance.
Arrows soared at the first wave of charging Dokkalfar. As soon as the amber tips met their mark, the demons turned to stone. Another round of arrows flew overhead, felling three of the swordsmen. Whips cracked through the white noise, and Weylin and I inched closer to the black sludge. The battle raged, the stench surrounding me was so pungent I was sure I’d never know the scent of anything else. The upper guard fought around us, and I stayed next to Weylin, shielding only when I needed to. We wove in and out of the Dokkalfar now forever entombed in stone, the shaft of an olive branch impaled in their chests. Weylin pulled a whip from his belt and brought it overhead, bringing it down with a mighty crack, killing whatever stood in our way.
“Weylin.” My breath caught. “Look.”
A glint of metal reflected the weak sunlight. The shape of it looked like the hilt of a sword.
Weylin’s shoe cautiously tapped the object to see if it was embedded in the ground.
“I think it’s part of one of those swords, but whoever had it must have either dropped it or died,” I whispered.
Weylin stepped closer.
I weakened the barrier and started to look away when something glinted from the oil-infested sand ... something white that reminded me of almonds ...
“Watch out!” I screamed as the Dokkalfar lunged, emerging from the ground.
Weylin lashed his whip, wrapping it several times around the demon’s waist. The Dokkalfar drew his sword, swinging wildly, aiming for my chest. My amulet grew hot, and the demon screeched in pain. He bared his yellow teeth as he dropped to his knees, his eyes turned red as the sun. Weylin jerked the whip through him just as the Dokkalfar burst into flame. We stepped closer to the darkness, the sand beneath our feet softened.
As soon as the black sludge lapped around the soles of my shoes, the offensive changed, and the Dokkalfar charged. Silver uniforms chased after them, but the guard surrounding me was overrun in a wall of black. Weylin pulled me behind him, preparing to fight when rays of light concentrated where once the shadows stood. The Dokkalfar scrambled.
“Look!” Weylin pointed to the sky.
I looked up to see the western evergreens bending their branches, flooding us in a pool of sunshine. The trees dipped and swayed, strategically manipulating the sun’s rays to help protect us.
“Let’s hope that doesn’t come our way.” Weylin’s eyes glanced to the dense black clouds rumbling in the eastern sky.
I nodded in agreement.
To the north, high screeches of Kestrels echoed, their enormous breadth momentarily shading the badlands before dipping and hovering near us. The beat of their wings caused gale force winds, and I grabbed onto Weylin’s arm. The Dokkalfar fell to the ground just like they did with Malachi. They waited, skirting the light as the others tried to distract the birds of prey. My heart sank as I watched the sun drop toward the horizon. Even with the help from the land, it was only a matter of time.
“We have to go,” I shouted.
Weylin’s frustration grew. “We cannot gain access that way, my lady.” He yelled, pointing to the gathering Dokkalfar directly in front of us. “We’ll head north, where the mountain meets the abyss.” Weylin grabbed my hand and ran.
“They know, don’t they?” I shouted as the Kestrels swooped in front of us, making a path.
“It would seem so.” A dimple sank into the side of his face. “Stay with me. This is about to get ugly.” His grin disappeared as he lashed his whip again. The trees shifted once more, keeping us concentrated in sunshine.
The demons scrambled to something by the abyss, and I froze.
“No!” My voice rose in horror. A glimpse of a silver hilt gleamed among the black bodies, and I realized they were surrounding the last remaining swordsmen. Arrows flew overhead, petrifying the ones closest to us. We ran through the stone just as he dipped his blade into the ooze, and my amulet heated.
Weylin circled his whip overhead and brought it down. The Dokkalfar turned, howling in pain. His eyes lit with wicked satisfaction as he jerked the sword from the liquid. Weylin yanked the whip back, slicing the demon in two, but it was too late. Thousands of vermin took to the sky.
I screamed. I couldn’t help it. These weren’t the locust made of sharp spikes. These were winged creatures made of fire. If they made it past the Petrified Forest, Kailmeyra would burn.
“Now what do we do?” Weylin growled.
As the words left his lips, the clouds to the east rolled in, trapping the creatures between them and the mountain. Rain poured in sheets, encasing them in a torrential downpour. Steam rose from the abyss as the darkness fought. The creatures struggled to fly through, but the water was too powerful. Their flames flickered, dimming, but still, they survived.
“Look!” Weylin pointed behind me, and I turned to see two silver uniforms, running through the underbrush, followed by vines snaking through the grass at their feet.
“Rena!” Hope ran through me like wildfire.
Rena directed the vines toward the abyss, and they dug into the soil, sprouting and choking whatever they ensnared. Tark ran to the rain, his hand outstretched, commanding the water to stay in the air. The rain collected above his head, pooling around the vermin. They struggled, trying to fly out, only to be blocked again as Tark created pillars of water around the perimeter. A contingency of Dokkalfar sped toward him, but Rena’s joy had them dropping. They died before they hit the ground. The vines lovingly wove around her feet, their tendrils daring anyone to come close. The rest of the demons fled in fear.
A rumble started in the distance, growing stronger every second. Dust billowed through the barren cedars. A pure white whinny pealed through the land, and the ice in my chest thawed at the sight of unicorns leading the way. The Dokkalfar scrambled, their progress being hindered by the shifting shade.
Rena stood a few feet in front of Tark, clearing a path as he walked to the edge of the abyss. Tark’s hands remained outstretched as he directed the water over the fissure. The winged creatures floated lifelessly in the makeshift pool, their bodies looked like charred bits of coal. Tark released the carcasses, sending them back from where they came. The water hissed in protest, creating a plume of vapor, surrounding us in steam.
I turned, blindly running, hoping the energy surrounding me would be enough.
“Princess, wait!” Weylin’s deep voice boomed as my feet hit the inky ooze of the abyss. Black flames raced around the edge engulfing me in an unholy firestorm. The sounds of battle muffled, the world turned to various shades of grey.
Heat singed the bottom of the robe, and for a moment I feared it would catch fire. But the silver strands combined with the power of the Sfera, and the inside of the cloak became cool. I held the hood around my neck. The excess fabric fell past my cheeks, the top of it draping over my face, leaving only a small opening to peer through.
The thick liquid beneath my feet hardened to clear black glass, encasing the Dokkalfar below. Their wide eyes blindly stared, their expressions stunned. Many of them were smaller and new to this world. I looked ahead, refusing to think of their young.
The sky turned to night, and I gagged at the sulfur smothering the air. Looking to the heavens, a sad smile flitted across my face. I concentrated on the need to protect as I made my way to the middle of the abyss. Focusing on all that I’d ever loved, I felt the energy from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet. Edna’s sunshine song filled my thoughts, and I sang her sweet melody. The flames licked overhead, smothering what little sky was left, enveloping me in darkness. The deafening roar of heat, wind, and fire consumed my mind, and all six streams flowed over, spilling their banks. I reached into my pocket and held onto the miniatures there, pressing them into my palm. Gavin’s thoughts, his protection, and devotion, filled me, thawing the cold ache around my heart. I closed my eyes as tears of sweet relief trickled down my face. The miniatures contained different memories, and my mind scrambl
ed, trying to catch each one as if they were priceless. My heart sped as I realized he had thought the same phrase as he finished each sculpture.
“I love you.” Three simple words that held endless power whispered in my mind. For the first time since Gavin’s amulet fell, I freed my memories of him and allowed them to play on all rails. The wild child concentrated on his very first touch in the Appalachian Mountains so long ago.
Astral radiance whipped and eddied around me, and I welcomed the familiarity. As I stood at the end of all things, I smiled, grateful I had a moment to truly love, forgiving fate for not allowing the gift of time. The energy grew, the light pushing back the darkness. The opaque glass beneath my feet turned to pearl. Gavin’s amulet cooled, and I focused on the hidden stone, ignoring that it pressed on the ring hanging over my heart.
A pinpoint of darkness appeared in the distance, absorbing the light as a lone silhouette made its way through the black flames. He stood at the edge of the light, his feet not able to touch the gemstone floor that now spread several yards out.
“You will not win.” His voice, like a whisper and a scream, cut through the roar of black flames. Familiar eyes raked over my form.
“Jakkar, we finally meet.” I smiled, my teeth gritted in concentration. “Where’s your lovely mate?”
His eyes turned to slits. “Paying for her transgressions. She should have killed you when she had the chance, but she is new to this life. She will learn.” He pointed at his feet. Below the black glass, Mia’s body writhed in pain, her face pleading, her eyes steeped in despair. I shuddered and looked away. He smiled, stepping forward, his toes just barely missing the pearl’s edge.
“I confess, your abilities are impressive. I never thought you would last this long without your source.” He waved his hand to the other side, looking down. Gavin, forever trapped in darkness, appeared. His expression tortured, his hand reaching toward me.
“It is a trick ... focus, love, focus.” The wild child played Gavin’s last words, and tears blurred my vision.
Jakkar smiled. “I feasted on his death for days. It was most enjoyable.” I lost my focus, and Jakkar laughed. “If you beg, I might kill you quickly and send you to be with him on the higher plane.”
I could barely hear him over the pulse pounding in my ears. Black flames rose in victory; my legs grew weak.
Jakkar’s smile widened. “No, weak human, you will not win.” Slime dripped from his mouth at the thought of tasting my flesh.
Disgust rolled through me in waves. “If that’s the case, then allow me one answer before I die.”
His eyes glinted in recognition. “I am curious.” He admitted, his eyes shifting to see how he could get to me without touching the platform. “What is it you wish to know?”
“Why?”
Jakkar’s eyes narrowed to slits. He became aggressive, pacing in front of me, his mind preoccupied. “Let’s just say that knowledge from the first clan was thought to be a myth until recently.” He looked at me, his eyes alight anticipating my reaction.
“It wasn’t until my mate revealed the secrets of the mountain that we understood them to be true.” As he spoke, he slowly circled the platform. “The Dokkalfar all but rule the minds of man. Those that fight know of the manipulation, but most humans, and Alfar for that matter, are too stupid to recognize it.” He stopped and kicked a bit of the black liquid on the platform. The liquid bubbled and smoked into nothing. The pearl shone brightly, and Jakkar scowled. “Jayril had read the ancient scrolls. He knew the prophecy told of the King’s lineage finding a power source on Earth. He knew of the scroll that explained the one to find it would exceed anything beyond imagining.” He looked beneath his feet, reaching into the swill and grabbing a dagger. He stabbed at the platform, but the metal melted as soon as it touched the pearl. Jakkar growled. “The Ancient One feared we would find our way back to Kailmeyra before the prophecy came to pass.” Finally, he stopped and faced me. “If the Prince strengthens beyond understanding, and you meet the potential, the portals could then be sealed before we found the heart of all. And so, we concentrated our energies on eradicating any threats on Earth. We were unaware of your heritage. But no matter.” His smile turned to sheer evil. “We have assured none survive. You truly are the last.”
He watched with malicious satisfaction as I processed the idea that they had hunted and murdered anyone who could be related to me.
“We would never have known the stones of golden power were real had you not forced my lovely mate from this realm. She freely gave me the information I sought, and only asked one thing in return. That she be allowed to reign over what will be left of Kailmeyra.”
Jakkar closed his eyes, relishing my pain. “On second thought, I might not take your life right away. Maybe I’ll let you survive so you can see what I have in store for your precious kingdom. It would give my mate pleasure to watch you suffer.” His calm assurance ran through me, and I fell to my knees. Dark swill lapped over the edge of the platform as the energy weakened.
Triumph lit Jakkar’s face. A savage snarl curled his lip as he leapt. My hood fell from my head as he knocked me to the ground. The sickening crunch of ribs breaking sounded as pain shot through my torso. He stood on my chest, digging his heels in, relishing my screams of agony.
“Then again, your pain is most exquisite. Why share it with anyone?” Yellow teeth glimmered as he raised his foot, centering it over my face, intent on crushing my skull. I turned my head, bracing for impact.
“No!”
Rena’s scream pealed as her small frame came running through the flames. Jakkar’s fear shone in his eyes, and he pounced off my chest. She sprinted towards him, the rage etched in her features a sharp contrast to the joy in her eyes.
“How?! You are not strong enough to come here!” He screeched.
Rena shook her head, positioning herself between us. “You poor, stupid fool. You discount me yet again. How many times have I bested you Jakkar? How many times have you run from me? And still, you doubt my abilities.”
He growled in rage and lunged at her, but Rena dodged him easily. She laughed, but I could see the beads of sweat rolling down the side of her face.
She glanced at me, concern flashed in her expression as she watched me struggle for breath. Jakker charged again, but Rena’s eyes were focused on me.
“Rena!” I tried to shout, but my entire chest ached at the effort, and the sound died before it crossed my lips. Rena flipped through the air as Jakkar passed beneath her. In one fell swoop, she grabbed under his chin. Using his momentum, she jerked back as he ran forward, twisting his neck from his body. Jakkar’s torso collapsed, sinking beneath the surface as his head rolled toward me on the platform. His face stopped just a few inches from mine. The pearl platform bubbled under the black blood and brain matter trickling from his skull. Panicked, I tried to back away from it, but the crushed bones of my chest held me pinned in agony, and I could do nothing but clench my eyes closed. I winced, trying to shift my body again.
“Hold still.” Rena’s voice cracked as she tossed the head over the side.
The flames receded, showing a snippet of the night sky. I stared at the stars, taking small shallow breaths. The torment of broken bones could no longer be ignored, and tears streamed down the sides of my face. The weight of pain sat on my chest; the stone over my heart finally cooled.
Rena knelt beside me, brushing my hair from my eyes. “I told you I called dibs,” she softly teased, her wide Jasper eyes glittered with worry and tears.
I managed a smile. I “Rena ... I’m not cold anymore,” I whispered.
Her hands glowed silver as she reached over me, but I shook my head, unable to reach for her wrist.
“Please, ... don’t.”
“We are not done here, my lady.” She mumbled, placing her palms on my chest anyway. I cried out, convulsing from the torture of broken bones fusing back together.
“I’m sorry.” Rena took her palm from my chest and stroked m
y hair, waiting until my body relaxed before trying again. I braced against her, not sure my heart could take another try. Trembling, I turned my head from her as she placed her hand on me again. The pain was considerably less, and breathing became easier, but my entire chest cavity throbbed.
“I need more energy. I cannot heal you fully.” Her voice grew thick with tears. “This will have to do for now.”
“Go.” I weakly pushed her hand. The black sluice lapping over the pearl ate away at our platform.
“I will not go without you.” Her voice became husky, but her conviction stayed firm.
I looked back at the path I’d created, watching it disappear beneath the black water. “You don’t have much time, Rena, the path will be gone before long.”
Black flames danced, growing stronger. Onyx bodies darted in and out, their eyes alight with vengeance as they headed for us.
“Please, Rena. You can’t leave Tark.”
She stood over me, her hands outstretched, trying to find her joy. A small ripple of energy filtered through; the flames stayed where they were, waiting. She closed her eyes, her legs quivered with the effort to stand, but she tried again. The fire moved toward us. Her shoulders slumped as the darkness grew. She knelt next to me, taking my hand in hers.
“I am honored to be your friend.” She sadly smiled.
“As I am yours.” I squeezed her hand.
She pulled me close as we watched the Dokkalfar circling, drawing neat.
A familiar roar sounded through the crackling flames, and demons scrambled as a white beast charged from the north. Rena slowly stood, watching Rune riding on a unicorn’s back. His feathers stood on their ends, his face chiseled with rage. The image was strangely familiar, and warmth seeped through me as my sculpture from the cabin blazed in my mind. Behind him galloped the rest of the herd. I stumbled, straining to stand, trying to find some energy.
Onyx bodies lunged, biting and clawing at the unicorn’s flesh. As soon as the white beasts touched them, the Dokkalfar perished. Stallions were now spearing anything that stood in their way. Without any other recourse, the Dokkalfar scrambled, running from the abyss into the waiting arms of the guard.
The Secret of the Keepers Page 29