“Joshua. Wake the fuck up! What the hell’s wrong with him?”
Joshua swore that was Raven’s voice but the man knew if he entered his quarters uninvited it would be a beat down.
More shaking and now Michael’s voice crossed the barrier of his unconsciousness. His Khenti sounded panicked, and his Khenti never panicked.
“Joshua. You have to fight your way out of the Power induced sleep. Alexandria needs you.”
Alexandria. His Mate. He smiled to himself feeling the bed beside him where she should have been. His fingers met cold sheets and the realization sunk in that she wasn’t beside him and hadn’t been for some time. He struggled against the tempting slumber and sensed for the first time the Power threads weaving him into sleep. The woman had sleep induced him, and though he appreciated he had needed the rest, she should have asked first.
Joshua quickly unraveled the energy, dissipating it from his system, but Raven evidently didn’t have the patience since he yelled, “Damn it, Joshua. Alexandria may already be dying. Fuck!”
Instantly Joshua was awake and sitting straight up in bed. He looked next to him touching the empty space and groggily looked at Raven. His brain started to fire up when he saw not only Raven in full battle gear standing in his room, but Khenti Michael as well. Both of them looked like someone had died.
“Dying? What? Alexandria?” His voice was still rough from waking up. “What the fuck is going on?”
Michael, cutting straight to the point barked out, “Our women decided to take it upon themselves to retrieve the Fifth Page of Seven. We have to go now, so get your ass up and…”
Joshua instantly lost any further focus on what Michael had to say. His connection with Alexandria exploded open and he grabbed at his temples. Sheering echoes of pain ripped through him and her voice screamed his name. From there her communication was reduced to snarls until the furious sounds even began to fade. The precious shared Link began to narrow and he could feel her slipping away.
“No!” He roared flinging himself out of the bed. He didn’t even slow to dress but grabbed the fatigue pants lying on the floor by the end of the bed before he sprinted for the door. Vaguely he heard his name called again, but he didn’t have time to acknowledge. Rushing with all the speed his inner Sphinx could manage, he jerked open the door and stumbled down the hall yanking his pants on as he went. Luckily, by the time he was at the stairs, he had the pants pulled up to his waist. Not slowing down, he flew down the stairs buttoning them up and left it at that.
Barefoot and shirtless he flew by the other Warriors who were gathered in the entry hall evidently waiting on Michael, Raven, and him. But he wasn’t waiting for anyone. Alexandria didn’t have time and he knew it. Deep inside him their shared connection was dwindling away and his heart pounded in panic of sensing he was losing her.
“Hang on, Alexandria, damn it.” He choked sliding to a stop by the elevators. He jabbed at the call button with enough force to break it and desperation rose while he waited for the elevator to arrive. “Fuck! I don’t have time for this!”
In a sudden reflex, he formed his Power Sword and focused all of his Power into it. He had been able to generate enough energy before in his fury when Alexandria had been abducted to jump his body to the staging cavern. The action was extremely dangerous and could kill him but if Alexandria died he figured he was dead anyway. Not caring of his fate without her, he forced the energy to build and build until the Power Sword was a bright white glowing blade.
Right before Joshua engaged the transport, Khenti Michael and the other Warriors caught up with him.
“Joshua, no!” Michael yelled.
Giving his leader an apologetic look and sending a quick prayer to the Ancients, he focused his thoughts on the Gate and expanded the energy in his Sword around him so he was encircled by a white sphere of energy. Right before he fully engaged the Power for the rough ride he knew it would be, he felt Alexandria’s tenuous connection disappear.
“No!” he roared and slammed his Power into motion. One moment he was standing in front of the elevator bank, the next he was in the staging cavern.
Joshua promptly fell onto the ground winded and dizzy. His Power Sword converted back into the bracelet form. He shook his head to clear his fuzzy brain and forced himself to stand up. Eleina was there in an instant stabilizing his balance.
“Alexandria, where is she?” He croaked out.
Eleina’s eyes were red and he knew the answer wouldn’t be good. She confirmed his suspicions when she blurted,
“Other side of the Gate. I’m sorry Joshua. Stormy had to close it. There were just too many Wraith.”
Grabbing Eleina by the front of her shirt, he jerked her forward until he was nose to nose with her. Gritting his teeth he growled, “I don’t give a fuck how many Wraith are over there. Get the Gate back open now!”
“Joshua stop! Look! Eleina anchored the Gate’s energy and I’m holding it. She can Jump you in.” Stormy shouted from the center of the Cave.
Joshua took a deep breath realizing he was taking his rage out on Eleina who didn’t deserve his fury. If anything she might have saved both Alexandria and his life. He released his hold bowing his head and stepping back.
“I’m sorry, Priestess. I…”
Eleina touched his shoulder. “No. Really I probably deserved that. We were all reckless and stupid trying to pull this off.”
Putting a hand over Eleina’s he said, “I can’t ask you to put your life at risk any more than you have.”
“You don’t have to. I’m not giving you a choice,” Eleina whispered.
“No one is Jumping anywhere without back-up.” The harsh demand was spoken by Khenti Michael who was just entering the Cavern with the rest of the Warriors. The whole group didn’t seem too pleased of being left out of the dangerous plans.
Michael was just straight out pissed as he growled, “Besides, you’re not even properly geared up to protect your own hide from the Wraith.”
“We don’t have time.” Joshua squared off to his Khenti. “I can’t feel Alexandria anymore through our Link and Eleina can only Jump a limited number of men.”
Michael’s face fell and Joshua knew he would be feeling the same heart crushing loss he was. His Khenti quickly turned to the other Warriors. Whatever decision he had made was going to be revealed but Joshua was leaving now.
“Jacob, you’ll come with us since I know you won’t allow your Mate out of your site anyway. The rest stay here and keep an eye on things. If needed, get Guardian Arik and the rest of the Elite here.”
The group as a whole nodded and Joshua gathered with Michael, Jacob, and Eleina in a small circle by what was left of the Gate. The blood red and white glittering energy hovered about five feet in the air. The only conduit left to reach Alexandria. Joshua, along with his inner Sphinx, was snarling ready to get to Alexandria. Eleina was lucky it didn’t take her any longer in the preparation to Jump.
Eleina nodded. “I’m ready. Let’s go.”
Joshua grabbed on to one of Eleina’s arms while Michael grabbed onto the other one and Jacob encircled her waist from behind. One moment Joshua was standing with the rest of them in the staging cavern and the next, after a quick feeling of being nothing but corporeal energy, he was solidly standing bare foot in the hot red sand of the Drake Dimension.
The first thing he saw was a mound of Wraith fighting over something on the ground. When he realized the something was Alexandria, her long dark hair peeking out of one side of the pile and her delicate pale foot exposed on the other, he lost it. Roaring in fury, he let go of Eleina, not bothering to see what she or any of the others ended up doing. They were big Warriors and could take care of themselves and watch his ass if needed.
Jumping into the pile, he grabbed Wraith flinging them into the air in every direction. So concentrated on getting to Alexandria, he didn’t even consider the possibility the Wraith could have very easily reached out and taken his Power. The creatures were diso
riented momentarily by the surprise attack. With their focus so concentrated on Alexandria and her Life Power this gave Joshua the advantage to clear the pile off her.
With most of the Wraith sprawled on the ground or scrambling to get away from Joshua’s fury, he was able to position himself standing straddled over Alexandria. Quickly, he reflexed his Element bracelet into his deadly Power Sword gripping it with both hands in a defensive stance. Everything in him needed to check Alexandria for life signs but right now he had to hold back the newly approaching Wraith. Their determination to get back to a meal was obvious as they drooled all over themselves and screeched in challenge.
Joshua glanced around to see the status of the others and what other enemies could complicate matters. Jacob was hacking away at several other Wraith trying to get at Turin who was making a hasty escape. Turin was promising retribution while he skittered away. Khenti Michael was holding his own slicing and cutting his way over to Joshua’s position as quickly as he could. Eleina was nowhere to be seen and Joshua prayed it was because she had gone back for re-enforcements and not that she had been taken down.
The odds didn’t look good to him even bringing all of his brothers in arms to where he was encircled and trapped. There were just too many Wraith and he was certain Turin was going to announce the alarm. They would be swarmed with no escape. The creatures around him must have sensed his unease because they began to advance.
“Shit. Alexandria, can you hear me? Come on. I need you to wake up.” No response from her didn’t bode well. Even when he tried to reach through their Link, there was nothing from her, only silence.
Taking stock of the positions of the Wraith, Joshua realized he was now in the very center of a circle and the first of the Wraith dived at him. He swung his deadly weapon in an arc, cutting a neat slice through the center of the creature. It shrieked doubling over and hit the ground in an oozing pile of Wraith entrails. The next Wraith advanced upon him and he dispatched this one just as easily, severing its head. Two Wraith came at him with evidently Power lust in mind when he saw them reaching out with their clawed hands smacking their lips. Not good. Joshua felt his Powers begin to spiral up to protect Alexandria and the Wraith would pick up on it too.
The circle of creatures started shrieking and coming at him all at once. Joshua could hear Michael’s cursing and his efforts to reach him and Alexandria. The Wraith were so transfixed on his energy now that Michael was just an annoyance to them. Where Jacob had gone, he didn’t know, but none of the Warriors were going to be able to get him out of this jam in one piece anyway.
A Wraith finally got past the blurred movements of his Sword and his defensive blocks to sink claws into his back.
“Son of a bitch!” He roared, spinning around slamming his fist into the Wraith’s jaw and sending the creature flying back into several others.
The domino effect of Wraith flying everywhere was satisfying to him but short lived. Another Wraith grabbed his arm, this one latching its teeth into him, and a second clawed at his chest. He was losing momentum in the fight and he could feel the Wraith taking his Life Power now. Without his Power, Joshua was doomed, but he continued slamming his fist into creatures and slicing with his Sword. As soon as he disengaged one Wraith, two more took its place. He could feel his energy depleting rapidly and for a moment felt despair that he was going to fail Alexandria.
A shout from his Khenti brought his head around in time to see two Wraith grabbing onto Alexandria. They were attempting to pull her away from him, both of them fighting over her which slowed them down.
“Get your fucking hands off her.” Joshua growled at them.
He tried to disengage the Wraith clawing and biting at him but they held him back. He saw Michael trying to reach her but just that quickly the Wraith had a hold on Michael too, pulling him down into their masses.
Joshua couldn’t breathe, his heart pounded out a furious beat, and his inner Power was depleted. He couldn’t accept this fate, not for his Khenti, not for himself, but definitely not for his Mate. Looking over to Alexandria’s bloody body, he tried to reach out to her but was held back. When the Wraith near her grinned wickedly and drew its razor sharp claw across her shoulder opening up her skin Joshua was blinded by his own energy.
He had always fought these dionic episodes in the past not knowing what they were. When his Life Power boiled to the surface during a time when he was highly upset or in extreme danger, the reaction it produced could be explosive. He had always held back knowing he could potentially harm someone. This time he held nothing back. He didn’t care and would embrace the destruction for Alexandria, for Khenti Michael, for his family.
Focusing the building, converting Power, Joshua sent the energy straight to his Sword letting it build and build. The Wraith continued to try and take his energy but it was building so quickly the creatures were letting go of him. Free of their sharp claws, he renewed his grip on his Sword. There was no stopping the incredible rush of Power and Joshua couldn’t see a damn thing. He prayed the force of the exploding energy didn’t inadvertently take out those he was trying to save, but there was no other choice.
Dragging in a lungful of air, he paused for a moment allowing the Power to crescendo and then…let it all go. The explosion outward was concussive. Joshua was knocked to the ground and the sand, debris, and his deadly glowing bluish-gold Power blew up in a swirling dust cloud of stinging destruction. All of it swirled around him and he couldn’t see much but he could hear the shrieking of Wraith being torn apart and the distant cursing of Khenti Michael. By the Ancients, Joshua hoped he just hadn’t taken out his leader in all of this.
The spinning force continued for several seconds while the sound of the surrounding enemies slowly diminished. When Joshua could hear nothing else but the sound of the energy, he closed his eyes focusing for control and roared, “Enough!”
Instantly, the energy, the sand, the swirling stopped. Everything in the air fell to the ground and the only thing left was a reddish haze floating around Joshua. He glanced down at his body seeing he was fairly in one piece, covered in blood and reddish sand, but alive. Coming up to his knees, he desperately scanned the area for Alexandria. Finding her a few feet away, he crawled over to her, and as soon as she was within reach, he pulled her up into his arms sitting back on the ground. Only then did he check to make sure his Sefu Element had transformed back onto his wrist and see what kind of damage he had caused.
Rubbing at his eyes to get the grit out, he took stock of the damage he had caused. Wraith bodies were everywhere in the circumference of his destruction torn to shreds right down to the bone. A movement off to his left had him preparing to reflex his Sword but Khenti Michael sat up shaking his head and sending more red sand flying.
“Fuck, Joshua. At least we know now you won’t do damage to us. Our own Life Power must negate whatever the fuck you just did.” A final sneeze and Michael was on his feet brushing off more of the red sand. “Jacob!” He shouted out.
A muffled, “I’m over here. A little help getting these dead assholes off of me would be fucking appreciated.”
Joshua heard the distinct aggravation in Jacob’s demand. He figured Michael and Jacob were going to be kicking his ass for this one later just for fun.
Michael disappeared in the haze for a moment. More cursing reached Joshua as he waited and clutched Alexandria’s still body against him. He looked down at her brushing the tangled matted hair out of her face. She was pale white and he still couldn’t detect anything from her, not a touch in their shared connection, not her gentle breath.
“Come on, Lexi. I need you, damn it. Don’t leave me.” Brushing his fingers through her hair, he felt his heart being crushed with each passing moment when no response came from her.
A sudden presence above him brought him back to the reality of his surroundings. Looking up he realized Khenti Michael was standing over him holding Jacob up. Both of them looked like shit. Blood, sand, and Wraith gore covered them. This ba
ttle had taken more out of all of them than had ever happened before. It had taken Power, trust, faith, and perhaps a life.
Michael sighed heavily. “My sister doesn’t look good. Can you detect anything?”
Joshua shook his head and barely choked out, “No. Nothing.”
For several seconds Michael stood there in silence. Joshua thought his leader was going to collapse right there before him but after a moment his leader’s expression hardened with determination.
“Alexandria appears to have accomplished her mission, and you’re going to bring her back to us, if nothing else so I can fucking yell at her for doing this.”
Evidently, his Khenti hadn’t lost faith in them after all. No matter what, through hell and back, Michael would bring his Warriors home. Joshua had even more respect for his Power Mate’s brother and his leader.
Joshua sighed heavily, his exhaustion beating at him and his Power at an all-time low. He didn’t know if he could make it up off the ground but for Alexandria he gritted his teeth and stood up adjusting her in his arms so she would be secure. When he moved her closer, something shoved into his side. Gently moving her arm to the side, he saw the gold tube shaped container.
“The Fifth Page of Seven. I’ll be damned. She did it.”
Michael smiled sadly. “Yeah. Only my sister would risk her neck to this level without some sort of back-up.”
He reached over dislodging the tube from Alexandria’s unconscious death grip and secured it into his fatigue pants.
The screeching of more incoming Wraith in the distance had Joshua backing away from the stronghold, the fresh rush of adrenaline giving him a small amount of renewed strength. Michael dragged Jacob along with him keeping pace with Joshua’s quick retreat. Before they could get more than a few steps a bright flash before them had Joshua instantly stopping and shifting Alexandria in his arms to offer what protection he could. To the side of him, Michael reflexed his Sword.
Sphinx Transformed (The Sphinx Warriors Series Book 3) Page 27