Game of Survival

by T R Tells

  “Hati, this here is Thea. She’ll be with you girls from here on out; she’s a Roma.”

  The tall woman quirked her brow and pursed her full lips together before pulling them into a smile.

  “It is nice to meet you, Thea” Hati said.

  “Hati is an Aegon. She still has a bit of her accent, but she’s learning to speak every day.”

  Thea turned to Nobius and frowned. “I thought that the Aegean’s were . . .” Thea stopped. She felt another sharp piercing pain in the back of her skull and went to grab it. “I thought . . . Aren’t they from, um, somewhere. Why can’t I remember?” Thea whispered the last part. She was sure she was going to say something, but it was as if the thought just vanished.

  “Something the matter, Thea? You aren’t feeling sick, are you?” Nobius consoled her and rested his hand on the middle of her back. “We can take you over to the infirmary if that’s what you need.”

  Thea shook her head and waved him off. “No, I’m fine. It’s probably just from being on the boat too long. I think I can manage. Where are my things?”

  “Your bags are already in your room. Hati will show you around as well as Audalai.”

  Thea looked up at the sound of the name. A young girl who looked like she was fifteen strolled over to them, but something in her round, jade-green eyes made her seem older than she appeared.

  “So, is this her?” Audalai said, her green curls bouncing as she spoke. “You look pretty . . .” She stretched out her pale arm and extended her hand out to Thea, waiting for her name.

  “Um, it’s Thea. Thea Frey,” she said and looked to both girls before shaking Audalai’s hand. She couldn’t help but feel a stinging reminder at Audalai’s name but couldn’t place it.

  “Well, I’ll leave you girls to it and you can get settled in. Hati and Audalai are the leaders for the girls in the West Range. Thea, if you need anything ask them.”

  “Will do.” She told Nobius and followed him with her eyes as he walked back downstairs. The door closed and the twelve maidens approached Thea, introducing themselves.

  A woman with a shaved head and thick brown eyebrows approached her with a wide grin on her face.

  “It is so good to have you with us, Thea Frey, my name is Felicity, but many of the girls call me Sister. It is so good we get to have someone like us, right girls?”

  The rest of the girls nodded and mumbled in response to Felicity.

  “Nobius told me you all suffered the fate during the Kingsland massacre.”

  Felicity nodded; her smile never faltered. “Yes, an unfortunate time, but one we do not look back on. When we drafted to the Bastion of Amac, Nobius sheltered us, and the All-father took us in. He saw us as one is all and looked past our race and saw who we were as individuals.”

  “One is all,” the rest of the girl’s simultaneously said.

  “So, Frey that sounds like a familiar name, any relation to anyone?” Audalai asked her.

  “Yeah, my sister . . .” Thea paused and furrowed her brows. “Her name is . . .”

  Thea suddenly felt like she was having a heart attack as her heart slammed in her chest. She gripped her chest and ground her teeth together. The girls closed in and circled her as Hati and Audalai went to her side, holding onto her as she struggled to breathe.

  “Take deep breaths, Thea. Slow and even, through your nose,” Audalai instructed her. Thea did as she was told all the while staring at the floor trying to wrack her brain, no memories resurfacing.

  Sister . . . My sister, why don’t I remember my sister’s name? She felt her throat tighten as she tried to keep the bile from rising in her throat. Do . . . Do I have a sister?

  As Thea stepped further into the room, she felt a knife-like pain in her head. She grabbed the sides of her head, her vision becoming distorted. She blinked several times, hoping to clear the blurriness away; however, the room that she was in was slowly faded out from the beautifully made walls and beds to a dark, gray, windowless cell.

  No . . . What’s going on here?

  ***

  After Nobius left Thea with the others, he headed to his office in the Chapter House. It was quiet in the Cloister, a rectangular stone walkway with gigantic pillars that was built around a garden. Usually, it was filled with religious officials and students, but today it was vacant. Everyone was either in their dormitories or the High Altar. It was always a good day to pray to the All-Father, and now especially, with a new Magi in their midst and a marriage that was on the verge of blossoming: a vision soon fulfilled.

  When he reached his office, he found Nathan sitting in the leather chair with his legs crossed and his arms folded together. He was the spitting image of his mother, Nobius thought, and he had the same calm demeanor as he did.

  “I was wondering if you were held up or taken over by that Roma girl,” Nathan said in greeting.

  Nobius snorted and removed his cloak, hanging it on the hook before taking his seat in his chair. He opened his drawer and removed several scrolls from his desk before putting them on the table.

  “Are those the papers?”

  “They are son, but you won’t need to worry about that. You’ll only need to keep the girl distracted and happy with you.”

  “And if she keeps talking about her sister? You know she won’t rest until she sees her,” Nathan said as he leaned forward his seat and uncrossed his legs. “I can’t keep this going forever, Father.”

  “And you won’t have to,” Nobius looked up at him briefly before looking back at his papers again. “The spell is working just fine. She forgot what she knew of the Aegean’s, and she forgot her sister’s name.”

  Nathan looked surprised as his eyes grew wide. “B-But what if she breaks control like the other girl?”

  Nobius grinned. “You heard her. She’s a weak individual who has no faith in herself, let alone her magic. Only the strong-willed can break out of a spell as strong as the one I created. It was unfortunate that the girl, Dominya, managed to but that is neither here nor there. We finally have a Roma.”

  “And I’ll be free of my wretched curse?” Nathan leaned forward and almost panted with excitement, like a dog.

  “Settle down, Nathaniel. We’ll still need to concoct the ritual ceremony, and she’ll still have to recite it word for word. Otherwise, it won’t work.”

  Nathan sighed and leaned back in his seat. He was looking down at the floor as Nobius watched him. “What is it, son?”

  “Are you sure that one Roma girl will be enough? If she’s as weak-willed as you say she is, how can she restore the curse or protect us?”

  “It is a worthy sacrifice because she is of the innocent and of sin. With hidden potential even buried deep inside of her, it is terrifying to know what kind of power she has within her.”

  “And do we hand over a weapon just like that? Can we trust—”

  Before Nathan could finish speaking, there was a loud smack that filled the room with an echo. Nathan didn’t so much as flinch, even though his cheek was now red, and he felt blood trickling down.

  “Do not say his name on our holy grounds, Nathan! You will disrespect the All-Father by bringing shame upon his name. Roma blood can cure curses and diseases, do you want to change into that horrific beast for an eternity? Our sole purpose, Nathan, is to sacrifice her. We help the All-Father and when the Great Battle crumbles the world into ash the Bastion of Amac will be spared.”

  He picked up a scroll from the table and slowly began to roll it open to read aloud to his son:

  “The Great Outbreak and The Ire Scourge were only the beginning of His power awakening, in a series of disastrous events. Middilgard is to perish, to destroy the beginning of it all, the place where imperfect man has resided for centuries will enter into the realm of the dead. The demons, Knights, and Princes of the Hells shall ravage and enslave all of mundanity that has not pledged allegiance to His name. He will be unleashed from his chains when the key is set in place and torment the living once tormented.
For the Great Battle shall see no light of day when the sun shall cease to exist, and those whose allegiance not pledged shall drown in the belly of the beast. It is a battle of Gods and Demons ‘The Twilight of The Gods.’”

  Nathan looked into the man’s eyes for fear that he would be targeted by magic, but he knew Nobius could do away with him with or without magic.

  “Now is there anything else you are confused about, son?” Nobius hissed out with distaste.

  He swallowed and cleared his throat, sitting up in his seat. “No, Father . . . Master, it is understood.”

  Nobius grinned and walked around the desk and rested his hand on Nathan’s shoulder. “Our people will thank you and one day when I am gone, you will lead them through the time of darkness and decay. Are you prepared for that?”

  Nathan looked up at his father and stood, he slowly went down on one knee but continued looking at his father with a dead look in his eyes.

  “Yes, Father.”

  Part Five

  Chapter Forty-One

  Month of Harvest, Year 667 of Ya’skr

  Somewhere in the Gorr Oceans

  The powerful ship coasted through the rough waters with ease. It wasn’t the largest ship and could be taken over by a larger ship, but it was what the team was on the ship that made them fierce. The Half-blood’s crew varied in shapes, sizes, and races: mundanes, Fae, Magi, Horai, Augur Wytches, Strigoi, Dullahan, and Daemons; it was by far the most robust vessel because it brought together so many races that were thought never to work together.

  The captain of the ship had found every one of them, broken and abused or persecuted by the power-hungry nobles that wanted only to exploit their abilities. It was sickening and the captain thought that the only place everyone could be safe and free was on the sea. There was no one to tell you what to do, where to go, or to damn you because of your bloodline.

  The captain gripped the steering wheel tight enough to make his hands turn white. He was often reminded of his past, shunned and ostracized over and over for being different.

  Except for one, he thought to himself, and his grip on the steering wheel loosened. A faint smile stretched on his lips, only to disappear just as quickly. And I won’t leave her behind, she would do the same for me.

  “Captain?” someone called out, but he was so lost in his train of thought that he didn’t hear him calling. “Captain Clodovicus, are you alright?”

  This time Clovis turned around and spied one of his men standing at the foot of the steps. A young twenty-year-old Strigoi, with bronze hair and thick, messy brows. His skin was pale as if he dipped himself in white paint.

  “Caleb, what are you doing outside? I know that you think you can handle the sun’s rays but it's going to make you sick if you persist like this.”

  Caleb tried to stand up straight, but the sun had drained a bit of energy from him, so he ended up slumping awkwardly to the side.

  “I could say the same to you, Captain. You haven’t slept or eaten for several weeks. You’ve been going on these expeditions and you haven’t stopped to rest . . . You don’t even take your sword off your back.”

  “You know I don’t need to sustain most things,” Clovis said, but an afterthought made him look up at the hilt of his long sword and smirked. He turned to face Caleb and brought his fingers to his lips to whistle. In a quick blur, a blue trail of stardust whizzed past them and in front of Clovis and Caleb.

  “You rang, Captain?” A small and eccentric blue-haired Fae floated in front of him, her wide, black eyes staring at him. “He’s finally going to take a break?” the Fae asked Caleb.

  “Yes, I’m going to take a break. I’ll need you to steer Eileen.”

  “Will do!”

  “Come on so we can get you out of this heat,” Clovis said to Caleb, placing his arm around the young boy’s shoulder just in case he tipped over.

  “And to get you something to eat, Captain. We need you to be in tip-top shape, especially if we’re going to find Audalai.”

  Clovis pressed his lips together, and Caleb thought he had somehow crossed the line again when Clovis answered. “Well, I guess you can get me an ale and some chicken.”

  Caleb grinned and mentally sighed with relief.

  When the two had walked down the stairs to the kitchen area, the smell of booze wafted toward them, pleasantly stinging Clovis’ nose and he almost regretted not coming down sooner. The smell of salt and pork filled the air and despite Clovis not needing to eat, he couldn’t deny that the aroma was delectable.

  “Aye, Captain! Finally made it down here did you”, said an older man named Jennis. He wore a knitted cap and a bushy auburn beard with a beer cup in his hand. He was playing Ginfold with a Dullahan across from him. “Good work, Caleb boy!” He shouted and slapped Caleb on the back making him lurch forward.

  “Nice to see the Captain again.” Corin-dole, the Dullahan, said. He had his head sitting on the table next to him.

  “Save me a hand of Ginfold, you two. No cheating this time, Corin,” Clovis said with a wink.

  They continued to walk through the tavern area and found a seat at a near-empty table. There was a Fae girl with slightly pointed ears and brown hair running down her back, arm wrestling with an Auger Wytch, a dark-skin male with dark locks cascading down his back and a trimmed beard.

  “You look a little tired there, Ezekiel.” Clovis joked with the mundane as he waved him off. “You can’t let a girl beat you twice in a row.”

  “Nah, she won’t win. I’ve been practicing,” Ezekiel replied in a thick and rough accent. “I suggest you pay up, Nova. I’ll be taking back the pounds you stole from me.”

  The Fae, Nova, only laughed and squeezed her hand tighter on Ezekiel’s hand pushing his arm further and further on the other side. “I’ll get back to that comment later, Ez, but what’s that supposed to mean, Captain? May I remind you that I beat you too?”

  Clovis raised his hands in a playful defense. “Just the one time and I was a bit tired.”

  Nova glanced at him and hummed. “Right, of course, you were tired. I call bullshit, don’t you think Caleb?”

  Caleb’s cheeks turned red, his color slowly returning, waved his hands in front of him. “Nope. Not choosing sides, you almost got me in trouble last time, Nova.”

  “Captain, it’s good to see you,” a monotone voice said above Clovis. He looked up to see an older woman with short-cropped brown hair in several braids that pushed behind her pointed ears. She had tired circles under her eyes and laugh lines around her mouth which gave her a look of a middle age woman.

  “Good to be down here, Emma. I think I’ll take an ale and whatever is cooking back there.”

  Emma patted Clovis’ head affectionately. She was the only one, besides Audalai, that was allowed to do this. She was like a mother to everyone on the ship, no matter how much older than her someone was. Emma was always caring, it was just in her nature, she raised Clovis and left her people for him. It often pained him that he ruined her life and segregated her from her own family, but she often told him – with a smack on his head — “Quiet boy, you’re my family and family doesn’t abandon anyone. You hear?”

  “Coming right up. You want anything, Caleb sweetie? You look a bit pale.”

  “That’s because he’s been standing out on deck with Mora.” Nova teased, making kissy noises. Caleb’s face was as red as a tomato now.

  “Gosh, Nova shut up.”

  Emma tussled Caleb’s hair, just as a loud bang was on the table. Ezekiel had pinned Nova’s hand down on the table.

  “W-What! You cheated; I was distracted!”

  Ezekiel grinned as if he had just won a small fortune, because to him, making Nova flustered was a rich reward.

  “Sorry my Fae girl, always keep your eyes on the prize.”

  Nova glared at him. “This isn’t the last, I can assure you of that. I’m going to make sure that I put lobsters in your pants and hope they snip off something precious.”

  �
�Hey, no bloodbath on this ship. You take it outside when we dock,” Emma said, making Nova’s eyes twinkle.

  Clovis couldn’t help but laugh and shake his head. He heard Eileen's voice, telepathically in his head.

  “What is it, Eileen?”

  “We’ve arrived at our destination, Captain. The Golden City of Polis.”

  Clovis immediately stood and replied, “I’m coming back up.” He turned to look at Emma, who was looking at him quizzically with worry in her eyes. “You’ll have to put my order on hold, Emma. We’re here.”

  ***

  “Clovis, wait,” Emma called him back before he headed off the plank to the island. Clovis turned around seeing that she still looked worried. “You know the Aegean’s—”

  “I already have Mora sending a telepathic message to them. They’re only dangerous when you come unannounced. I want to ask them if they’ve seen Audalai. Hell, if they might even have her here.”

  Emma pursed her lips together and walked over to Clovis. She was a foot shorter than him, but she managed to stretch her arms out and took his cheeks in her hand.

  “You’ve been looking everywhere for her, Clovis and scaling across the Realm for years. You should prepare yourself in case—”

  Clovis reached up and gently peeled Emma’s hands from his cheeks. He knew what she was going to say, but he just couldn’t conclude that Audalai was dead.

  “I’m going to find her, Emma. Don’t you want closure as well?”

  Emma looked down and closed her eyes. Like Clovis, she had raised Audalai like her own, it had broken Emma to the point that it was easier to accept that Audalai was dead.

  Clovis leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “I’ll be back. You won’t lose me too, Mother.”

  “Captain!”

  Clovis turned around to see Mora, the Umber Wytch, holding a white and blue sphere in her hands.