“It’s so peaceful here,” Nia murmured, gazing skyward towards the stars. They twinkled, thousands of them, brighter than diamonds and glitter dust. The wind caressed Nia’s face, pushing her hair from her shoulders.
“This is one of my favorite places to go when I want to be alone.” Rowan folded his hands together, lacing his fingers and leaned forward against the stone balcony.
“Do you like to be alone often?”
“No.” A night bird sang softly, calling out from one of the many trees in the distance. “But I do like my space—it clears my head. This place—it’s a place I come to think when I get stressed out—or when I need a break from the reality. Do you have a place like that?”
Nia nodded. “I used to have a place just like that—up at the top of the apartment building in New York.” Nia closed her eyes, and for a moment the she could smell the city, taste the smoggy air, feel the warm wind caress her face... “You could see for miles from up there, it seemed...and yet you couldn't see all of this." She gestured to the sky and heavens above her.
"Damn light pollution," Rowan muttered.
Nia glanced at Rowan out of the corner of her eye, his eyelashes gently resting against his cheeks. She wanted to ask him what was on his mind, but he was thinking so loudly, it hurt. Nia bit her bottom lip, listening to his current train of memories, unsure of what to say. "You okay?"
Rowan's eyes fluttered open, his eyes the exact same shade of blue glass. “Yeah. I'm just...brooding.”
"Brooding." Nia was quiet, listening to the sound of Rowan breathing. She placed her hands upon the stone wall and looked over at him. “Sorry if this is intruding, but why do you live with your aunt and uncle?”
“My parents are archeologists. They're currently in Turkey.” Rowan pushed himself away from the wall and wandered over to the center of the gazebo, lost in thought as his fingers kneaded the palm of his hand. “They try to call in at least once a week—but lately I’ve been hearing from them less and less.”
“I’m sorry.” Nia's eyes creased with concern as she watched him pace back to where she stood. His face was downcast; an invisible barrier surrounded him that threatened to collapse. She wanted to reach out for him, but her arms stayed frozen at her side, unsure of what to do.
“You are different,” he muttered suddenly, turning to her. Pinched tightly between his fingers was a severely crushed blade of grass. Nia frowned. For so many years, being different meant numerous things. None of those things ever meaning any good. Had she touched too far? Picked up too much from him?
“It's the strangest thing. I've only known you...for days now. But I feel as if I've known you all my life...” he mumbled gently.
"We are a part of the same soul group," Nia pointed out. "According to Fiona...our souls have know each other for centuries."
"Then why don't I feel like this around the others?"
Nia listened to her heart pounding heavily in her ears, felt it throb restlessly inside her throat. Every time she tried to swallow it back down, her stomach flipped like she was on a roller coaster. "What about Kenzie?" she asked softly. "Why did you break up with her?"
"I couldn't give her what she wanted..."
How serious of a relationship could you have had when you're only fifteen?
“Nia?” His voice was tender, as soft as a flower petal. Nia looked at him. His eyes were a much brighter blue then she had ever seen them. His hair was going every which way, tousled by the wind. Rowan held up the hand that held the blade of grass. Between his thumb and forefinger, the grass began to change, growing longer and thicker. Thorns poked out down the stem and its red petals were glowing, sparkling even as they unfolded at the tip, blossoming into something beautiful. She had seen this before, but her lips still parted in awe as she took the rose from Rowan’s hand. Her eyes lingered on the rose's velvet petals momentarily, before finding Rowan’s searching eyes once more.
Rowan touched the tip of his thumb to Nia’s pink lips, soft like velvet. Slowly, his hand curled behind her head, holding her as though she were made of glass. “I know I haven't known you long,” Rowan murmured, so quietly that Nia had to tilt her head even closer to listen, “but I feel that I've known you all my life.”
"Rowan-" Before she could say anymore, Rowan pressed his warm lips to hers, his hands cupping her cheeks. His lips were gentle and hesitant. It was sweet, and yet something felt off. Nia’s chest ached as her heart pounded harder and harder behind her ribcage—the carnivorous butterflies were back, flapping widely inside her stomach. Rowan’s hands fell away from her face, catching just at her hips. Nia sighed and ran her fingers through his hair. She slowly began to part her lips—
Rowan broke the kiss first; he pulled away slowly, his arms still holding Nia tightly to him. Nia’s eyes trembled open. She stared at him, her lips swollen from kissing and her heart, swelling with every beat. Rowan stared at her too. His face looked pensive; there was the hint of a frown on his lips and his bottle-glass blue eyes were narrowed slightly—uncertainly.
Nia's stomach dropped.
"Oh," she whispered. She tried to back away from him; the strange and wrong feeling was now easing back into the pit of her stomach, but Rowan’s grip remained steady and strong. He held her to him, staring at her as if he had never seen anything like her.
“Nia,” he said softly. The look in his eyes was gone now, but the uncertainness was still conspicuous across his face.
She tried to speak, but her throat felt sore and her eyes felt wet. Sheepishly adverting his gaze, she suddenly found herself vaguely interested in her shoes. The rose had slipped from her hand and landed on the stone ground between them. Nia yearned to pick it up but she couldn’t move; she felt numb. Kenzie, she thought, tortured at the idea, Kenzie is going to hate me. He broke up with Kenzie...for me?
Rowan tugged at Nia’s chin with gentle fingers. “No. I never felt like this with Kenzie” he said, his sapphire eyes ablaze with concern. He carefully wiped away the tears that had slowly leaked over, uneasiness furrowed in his brow.
Nia choked on a gasp. “Did I say that out loud?” she dully mumbled.
“Yes...” Rowan gave her a highly skeptical look. “I broke up with Kenzie because we just weren't clicking. It was nothing serious. I promise.” He pressed his lips to hers once again.
Feeling slightly lifted at the softness of his lips on hers once more, but still troubled by the terrible twist in her gut, Nia pulled away from him and stared. “It just...it doesn't feel right Rowan.”
It was Rowan’s turn to blanch. “Oh.”
“No-it felt nice. It did. I liked it." Nia reached out and grasped his hand in hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "It's just not the right time, I think."
"Yeah." Rowan frowned, pulling his hand from her grasp. "You're probably right." His eyes bore into hers, as though he could see straight through her. For a moment, she wished she could see right through him.
It was the high pitched shriek-like cackle that broke their gaze; Rowan’s hand went directly to his amulet as though the thing had burned his skin, while Nia peered out into the darkness distrustfully.
“What was that sound?” Nia whispered, gripping the stone wall with her fingers.
“I don’t know—but I didn’t like it.” Rowan grabbed the edge of the wall and easily leapt over it. He landed as graceful as a cat would, knees bent low, his fingertips skimming the rain-covered grass. When he stood up, he thrust his fist into the air and softly whispered, “Sapphire Warrior.”
The jet of blue light shot down from the sky like a silent cannonball and was gone before Nia could blink. Rowan reached around towards his belt and grabbed the hilt of his sword, his fingers tapping the golden plate testily before unsheathing it. Nia watched as he quickly disappeared into the darkness, feeling discarded. Maybe that’s why no one else ever talked about actually being a Mystical Knight. They all wanted time to be normal teenagers with normal hopes, wants and dreams. Nia’s amulet quivered uncomfortabl
y at her neck as if it had trembled. Quickly her hand went to her chest and she gripped the metal tightly in her fist. The amulet was hot like burning coals and at that precise moment, Nia’s heart dropped into her stomach with the most unsettling of twists.
Nia. Come quick, someone thought hastily. Knees shaking, she swung her legs over the rock wall and fell to the ground. As she broke into a run across the park and into the trees, Nia thrust her fist into the air.
“Gold Lion,” she said, her nails digging into her palm.
The transformation was different than it had been the previous time; before, it was like being reborn. This time, it felt like being a measly ant getting sucked up by a shop vac. It was all Nia could do to relax and let the blinding violet rays of light encompass her. Her hair flew straight up in the air and her clothes rippled away from her body even though they had been pretty snug. Nia’s vision sharpened the moment the light dissipated and she felt like a lioness, stealthy and lethal, slinking into the night.
She reached behind her and unsheathed her sword, easily swinging it around so she could hold it at the ready. Rowan was some few yards ahead of her, hidden by brush and forest—she could hear his steady breathing and sense his presence, but there was something else. A tall and lanky shadow stood between the trees-it's head towered above her. She couldn't see its face, but she could see it's glowing yellow eyes staring down at her. It reached out it's arm, beckoning her with abnormally long and thin fingers.
Nia...Nia, come, it hissed.
“Ahhh!” Nia yelped, swinging her sword around so fast, she almost released it into the woods as she collided with something solid. Whatever it was squealed and fell down to the wet ground with Nia, landing with a loud grunt.
“Kenzie!” Nia choked out, her heart paralyzed by fear. “Kenzie—it’s me! Nia!”
Kenzie let out a lungful of air rather loudly. “Geez,” she scolded, reaching down to grab Nia’s arm. “You almost took my head off with that thing!” She jerked her head towards Nia’s sword arm, looked scandalized.
“I’m sorry!” Nia half whispered, a rush of adrenaline coursing through her veins. “I didn’t think you were here.” Her eyes darted back towards where that thing had been lingering, but it was gone now; the trees creaked eerily as the wind blew through them.
“Rowan summoned us,” Kenzie replied hastily, releasing her grip. As if on cue, something bright flew overhead: a silvery eagle-sized bird soared through the night sky. Its wings burned like black and red fire and its eyes were silver slits. It hovered just feet away from them and sang a quavering note before flames encompassed it. A beam of silver light hit the ground.
Fiona stepped forward out of the flames. She looked beautiful, sexy even. Her crimson hair was pulled up in an elegant knot at the back of her head, and she wore robes of scarlet that had embossed curlicues of silver twirling down the front. With a sash wrapped tightly at her waist and a silver mask that was shaped like the head of a bird, Fiona looked only as Fiona could; elegant with a hint of bad ass. She whipped around quickly and grabbed her bow before racing off into the darkness.
Kenzie’s face was glowing; even more so because of the long cerulean gown she was wearing. It rippled against her skin like water, the fabric glittery and light. Around her waist was a belt made of crystals, hanging like water droplets around her center. The dress was sleeveless, but her arms were dusted in a sparkles. She bit lips and when she blinked her sparkle dusted eyelashes, her blue-green eyes glittered like the ocean. Her tear-drop amulet sat right above her heart; the water inside it seemed to be churning like an undertow.
Kenzie glanced over her shoulder just as two more figures shot down the hill behind them; Nia could just make out Quinn’s emerald green robes. Can normal people hear what's going on? Nia wondered just as she had with the basilisk, staring at Thor as he tumbled down the path, looking very much like a younger Zeus, clutching a bronze and iron hammer with markings engraved on its head.
“We shouldn’t be standing here staring at each other.” Nia squeezed her sword tightly. The sinister cackling noise echoed from all around them as if they were standing in an empty hallway. “Did you hear that shrieking noise?” Nia asked, pushing forward through the brush. Her city feet seemed to glide over the scattered sticks and tree limbs.
“I did,” Kenzie said, trailing a few paces behind Nia. “It came from just over there—just off the creek.
Something bright and devil red shot between them like a burning arrow. For a second, Nia thought it had been Fiona, flying between them in bird form. Kenzie stumbled backwards, gripping her dagger firmly, while Nia stared off into the darkness, trying to refocus her eyes.
“Hold your ground,” Kenzie growled; Nia stilled beside her, brimming with anticipation, her eyes darting all over the woods. “It’s coming back around—”
And it was back, cackling wickedly, its teeth sharp like needles. Its skin looked like red leather that had been melted onto a carcass and its eyes were like smoldering embers. It strangely reminded Nia of a gangly elfish child, its long, claw-like fingers dancing cynically.
It laughed and darted forward, slashing its fingers through the air like blades. As the minion sliced forward, Nia realized that its claws were blades—blades of what, she didn’t intend to find out.
“Sword of Horus, be my Light!” Nia shouted. The sword was alight with brightness, but Nia’s hands didn’t seem to shake as horribly as they had before. They were relaxed, gripping the hilt of the sword casually as though she were up at bat. The pressure had began to build behind her eyes, fizzling like soda-pop. Blinking just once, Nia pushed from her eyes as hard as she could. A ripple of pain shot through her head, but she didn’t care. Everything swelling up from within her like a balloon—
Don’t push, young one. The careful voice whispered, soft and brisk. Just let everything build naturally...
But there isn’t enough time! Nia thought back irritably, pushing harder now; the pressure was so close to popping; Nia's head felt like it was spinning like a top.
The harder you push, the harder it is to gain control.
The minion lashed forward, its bladed fingertips—clang, shink, slash—rubbing together. Its fingers were just centimeters away from Nia’s throat. Cold air breezed across her face as Kenzie thrust her dagger into the minion’s heart. The minion gasped, choking on black thick blood that bubbled out of its mouth. Its eyelids seemed to freeze and its eyes became glazed like frosty glass before it crumpled into ash.
Kenzie grabbed Nia’s wrist and began to march into the woods. Heart thrashing hard, Nia gulped back her built up scream. Her head was pounding—the blood felt like it was sloshing around violently.
“What were you doing?” she hissed angrily once they had found a small clearing. The smaller girl slammed Nia’s back firmly into a tree; the bark ground into Nia’s skin hard, causing her to wince. “You could have gotten yourself killed!”
Trying to form words, Nia furrowed her brow, blinded by the constant pounding in her head. “I—I tried...” she muttered, feeling dizzy.
Kenzie’s eyes narrowed with concern. She hesitantly relinquished her grip around Nia’s wrist. “Are you alright?”
Nia placed the ridge of her hand to her forehead, squinting her eyes to adhere the light from pooling into her retinas. “I’m fine.” Her eyelashes fluttered spastically while she tried to stand up straight.
Kenzie looked like she was going to argue; her mouth was open and her eyes looked easily disputable, but something crashed out of the woods to their right.
“You ladies alright?” Thor stepped towards them, tiny spheres of electricity swirling around each of his wrists. Nia could hear the crackle of the static as he moved closer; the sound made her want to squeeze her aching eyes closed even tighter.
Kenzie gave Nia a scrutinizing look. “Are you alright, Nia?”
Nia nodded, grimacing as she pulled herself away from the tree trunk. “I’m fine.” Nia looked at Thor determinedly, the pain sl
owly ebbing away. “Let’s go.”
Thor led them back up the banking and into another clearing. This clearing wasn’t bright and welcoming like the previous one; the trees here seemed much more foreboding and light was scarce. Through the darkness, she could see Fiona and Quinn fighting one of the red minions in the far right corner of the field.
“What are those things?” Nia wondered out loud, watching as Fiona narrowly missed getting scalped by the minion’s razor sharp fingertips.
“Quatours,” Thor said darkly; Fiona sent a gigantic ball of fire towards the quatuor that had almost taken off the top of her head. It screamed as the fire imploded around its body, enrapturing it like a mushroom cloud. “Typically from the Sixth Realm. Damn little critters—mischievous as all hell—”
“They need our help,” Kenzie pointed out, cutting Thor off. “We can discuss what they are later.” She disappeared, plunging into the night without looking back.
“Ladies first then, Nia,” Thor looked down at Nia, his honey colored eyes swirling like cyclones. He hurtled himself into the clearing, launching bolts of electricity at a tiny patch of three quatours. Nia’s sword wobbled in her hands uncertainly. She watched as one launched itself onto Kenzie’s back, its long, spidery toes twisting around her hair. It pulled her head back so that her neck was an open target—
Quinn knocked the minion easily with the tip of his staff. It lost its balance and fell to the ground, looking dazed. “Crystal Blast!” Kenzie shrieked. Water, gallons and gallons of it, streamed from the palms of her hands, drowning the minion where it sat.
Quinn’s arms were around her then, holding her tightly to his chest as if he were cradling a small child. Nia could just make out shining streaks of tears that stained across Kenzie’s cheeks...
Rowan was battling in the center of the field; he had the mighty Earth on his side, gargantuan roots rumbled out from the dirt below him, coiling around the minions and asphyxiating them. Rowan laughed victoriously as he spun around, lashing out with his sword as though he was enjoying the battle. He gracefully sliced off a minion’s head with one swift motion.
The Mystical Knights: The Sword of Dreams Page 11