Pain coming from Alan’s left side told him to finish the fight quickly, but caution he had learned from the many battles he had participated in warned him otherwise. If he was going to win, it was because he was smarter than the other combatant.
Steel rang against steel as the sword chopped down on Alan, only to be blocked by his own axe and knife. The harpy was careful not to strike with its talons for fear of getting cut on Alan’s blades.
Just when Alan thought he was beginning to weary from blood loss, the harpy made a bold move by striking with its left leg. Alan moved both of his weapons to block the blow. Instead of following through with the strike, the harpy withdrew its leg and lashed out with its sword.
To miss the blow, Alan had to step sideways and toward his attacker. The two were so close Alan could smell the foul breath of the harpy. Weapons clashed again as Alan brought both weapons up to meet the harpy’s sword. All three blades locked. Alan was close enough to reach out to the harpy and touch it. A mad idea crossed his mind and before he could consider the repercussions, he committed.
Dropping the axe in his right hand, he added more pressure on the blade in his left to hold off the harpy’s sword. The blades ground against one another with so much force Alan thought one of them might snap from its hilt.
With Alan’s right hand now free, he reached over to the harpy and grabbed a handful of thick feathers on the back of its neck. Alarm registered across the beast’s face as Alan pulled the animal’s face in toward the locked blades.
He could almost feel the panic coming from the harpy. The monster began to strain and shift its weight, trying to pull its head back. Still, Alan drew it forward ever closer to its own sword and his knife.
In an act of desperation, the harpy opened its wings and flapped toward the sky, trying to shift momentum.
Alan held the animal in place, every muscle in his body screaming in protest. His feet struggled to find footing and stay planted on the coliseum sand. “It doesn’t have to be like this,” Alan grunted through gritted teeth. “I don’t know how much you can understand, but surrender and I’ll let you live.”
Understanding flashed in front of the harpy’s eyes but just as quickly, resolve followed. It seemed surrender was not an option for the harpy. As the harpy’s exposed face inched toward the blade, Alan thought he had won.
Then three things happened so quickly Alan only had time to react. The harpy summoned some hidden store of strength and flapped its wings, raising both Alan and itself from the ground. The weapons fell away and so did Alan. His hands grasped wildly to find some kind of hold on the harpy before it was out of his reach. By chance, his hands found the left leg of the harpy as the two rose higher in the air.
Everything around him was a blur. Alan fought to find a firm grip on the harpy’s leg as it screeched in protest. Soon, bloody strikes from its free leg and talons were raining down on Alan, shredding his arms and torso.
Alan didn’t have a choice; he needed to move. Another few seconds in his position meant being torn to shreds. His options were simple; either let go and fall, or try to climb up the back of the harpy.
Unsure how high he was already, Alan opted for the climb. Hand over hand, his muscles quivering and threatening to give out at any moment, Alan grabbed at handfuls of feathers as he pulled himself up.
How he kept his grip as the harpy spun in the air, Alan wasn’t sure. The resolve of saving his friends and Seraphim was clear in his mind. He had to succeed no matter what the cost.
Working his way between the giant flapping wings, Alan stretched an arm around the back of the harpy’s neck and found a chokehold. “Lower us!” he screamed into the monster’s ear while he added pressure to the choke.
It seemed the animal had other plans. Higher and higher they flew until Alan knew what the harpy was trying to do. An invisible dome covered the inside of the coliseum. It was flying as fast and hard as it could with Alan on its back toward the invisible wall. It was going to sacrifice itself and kill them both.
Alan lowered his head and squeezed with every last ounce his body had. It wouldn’t be enough. Both Alan and harpy crashed into the top of the dome. The result was like being in a freeway car accident. Alan felt his teeth chatter and everything go grey as they fell from the top of the arena. Pain was coursing through his body. All he could do was wait for the landing and hope it didn’t kill him.
As one, Horseman and harpy crashed down into the arena floor with a crunch. Alan’s ears were ringing. Blood covered his vision as he gasped for air. The body of the harpy had broken his fall.
He struggled to his feet, barely able to hold unconsciousness at bay. One look at the harpy and Alan knew the fight was over. The monster’s head was twisted a full 180 degrees. It didn’t have to be this way, Alan thought. You could have surrendered.
Alan searched the scene around him as he staggered on his feet. The arena was silent. Open mouths and wide eyes had taken the places of shouts and jeers. The harpies were huddled now in a mass, chattering and clicking their beaks to one another.
Alan half-walked, half-stumbled toward the remnants of his own group. “I can’t believe it,” Bobby said. “No powers and you brought their leader down.”
Kyle even looked impressed. He opened his mouth as if he was going to say something, but he never got the chance.
A loud clicking sound surrounded the arena. Dozens of armed guards wearing black armor and carrying long spears surrounded Alan and his group. Likewise, a contingent ran to the now grounded harpies and prodded them toward Alan and the remaining prisoners.
Alan could guess at what they were doing. Bobby voiced his own thoughts. “They want the harpies to continue to fight, but it’s over. You killed the leader. Their species needs time to mourn and it’s their custom to allow the victor to live.”
Alan heard Bobby’s words but didn’t care to respond. His only thoughts were on Seraphim. Kneeling down, he took her head in his arms.
Through her fiery-red locks, she looked up at him. Her breathing was shallow, her eyes glossy. “Alan I—”
“Take them back to the dungeon,” a voice said.
Rough hands reached for Alan but he fought them off, hovering over Seraphim’s body, shielding her with his own. “Here,” Kyle said, stepping beside him with Bobby, “we’ll take her. It’s okay, Alan; we’ll take her with us.”
Physical and emotional numbness, the likes of which Alan had never experienced before, washed over him. Kyle and Bobby each took a place on either side of Seraphim and carried, more than helped, her walk from the arena.
Alan felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. It was the female demon whose name he still didn’t know. “Come now, she’ll want to be with you in her final moments.”
Alan allowed himself to be directed back to their underground prison.
Chapter 10
The phoenix looked agitated as it rustled its feathers and clacked its short beak. “I know,” the Shaman said, “you want to get to your Horseman. However, if he and you are to have a chance, we must awaken Tracy’s steed. You will need every advantage in the battle that is coming.”
Fiery eyes took in every word the Shaman let fall from his lips. Far from consent, the phoenix rustled its feathers again and continued to walk with the small group.
“Where are you going?” Tracy asked.
“To wake your horse,” Ardat said.
“Yes, I’ve gathered that much, but where is he or she? Is it a boy or a girl?”
“He’s male and not far now.”
Tracy let out a pent up exhale. They had been walking for hours, following the curve of the coast. The lighthouse had faded behind them earlier that day and still they continued on.
Ardat on her left and the Shaman on her right with the phoenix, Tracy used the time to gather more information. “Who did you say you are again?” she asked the Shaman.
The old man grinned. “Who I am is much less important than what I am here for.”
“Okay,
what are you here for?”
“Both Ardat and I have been brought into your life to give the forces of Light a chance in the battle to come. Ardat to give you the skills you will need and me to tell you things like, ‘we’re here.’”
“What?”
“We’re here,” the Shaman said, stopping on a section of the beach with no distinguishing landmark. The beach went on behind them and in front of them as far as the eye could see, unbroken by any distinct structure.
Tracy looked to the water and frowned. “Okay, so where is this horse?”
“In the water, of course,” the Shaman said. “You didn’t think in a supernatural plane with demons and angels just any horse would lead the Horsewoman of Disease into the battle of the Apocalypse, did you?”
“Well, no,” Tracy said, confused. She looked out into the vast body of water, trying to piece together the Shaman’s cryptic manner of speaking.
“Oh, enough,” Ardat said with a disapproving glance at the Shaman. “She’s already had it hard enough, and her journey will not get any easier with your clues.”
The Shaman shrugged.
“Your steed is a horse that can travel in both water as well as over the land,” Ardat explained. “He’s sleeping in an underwater cave waiting to be woken.”
“Right,” Tracy said under her breath, “in an underwater cave. He couldn’t just be here waiting for me or grazing on grass or whatever horses do.”
“You may proceed,” the Shaman said, extending his hand to the water’s edge. “About chest deep, you’ll find the floor is a shelf that will give way. You’ll have to swim underneath and enter the cave.”
Tracy began unstrapping her shoes. A thought struck her in the middle of tying her long hair behind her. “If you two knew where the horse is sleeping, others must as well. What’s stopping anyone from coming and taking the horse?”
“The gryphon, the phoenix, the dogs, your horse,” the Shaman listed. “They all know when they will be needed for the battle. They cannot be killed or taken against their will. It would be pointless for anyone to try to take one of them unless they are willing to go. Even now, I have no power over the phoenix.”
Tracy’s eyes drifted toward the large red bird. It looked at her in turn and bobbed its head up and down as if agreeing with the Shaman’s words.
“He’s only here now,” the Shaman continued, “because he wants to be. He understands the best way to rescue his rider is together.”
Tracy felt goosebumps prickle her skin despite the warm nature of the day. She edged toward the water, hearing her heartbeat thunder inside her chest. An army of reasons this was insane was pulling at her mind. What are you doing? What if you lose your breath or drown down there? What if this has all been a mistake and the horse kills you or something. What if …
Her thoughts were interrupted as Ardat’s voice broke the silence. “I’ll go with you.”
Tracy stopped just before her feet touched the water. She turned to give Ardat a look of surprise. “Really?”
Ardat was already tying her hair in a knot and taking off her own boots. “Why not? There are no rules that say otherwise, unless you think you want to go by yourself.”
“No, no”—Tracy threw up both hands and vigorously shook her head—“I’d love it if you came. Thank you, Ardat.”
Ardat ignored the words of thanks and joined Tracy at the water’s edge. “Yes, well, we can’t have you drowning before the fight even starts.”
Tracy found herself smiling at the hardened warrior. She couldn’t help but feel that Ardat was beginning to warm up to her.
It was a fleeting thought as Ardat walked into the water, not slowing against the chill of the liquid. Tracy set her jaw and followed.
The water was cold enough to make Tracy want to jump back. She steeled herself. Ardat was already waist deep and still continuing forward. One of the driving factors that made her move one foot in front of the other was not wanting to disappoint her mentor. In the short time Tracy had with Ardat, she already sensed a bond that could only be described as necessary.
The water grew deeper and deeper until the two women stood side-by-side, chest deep. Tracy was doing her best not to shiver in the frigid water. Ardat didn’t even seem to notice she was in water.
“Are you ready?” Ardat asked.
“Is ‘no’ an option?” Tracy said.
“Not anymore,” Ardat said with the hint of a smile. “The next step will bring us to the end of the shelf. Take a deep breath and follow me. You’ll be fine.”
Tracy nodded, taking in a long breath of air. She watched as Ardat took a step forward and was lost under the water. Well, it’s now or never, she thought to herself.
Tracy took a step forward; instead of her foot hitting the soft sand floor, it continued to sink into the depths of the water. Tracy felt the water lap over her head as she sank.
Blinking away the bubbles that accompanied her submersion, Tracy fought back, exhaling the precious air in her lungs. All around her, another world teemed with underwater life. Colors, so bright they almost made her eyes hurt, greeted Tracy at every turn. Coral the colors of the rainbow extended out beneath her as fish she recognized and others she didn’t examined her with curious eyes.
Ardat was already yards ahead of her, swimming deeper into the exotic world below. Tracy tore her eyes away from the wonder around her and followed. Light from the sky above cut through the liquid as clear as day. The water didn’t bother Tracy’s eyes in the least, a fact she attributed as part of the supernatural realm’s magic.
Awe soon turned to worry as Tracy let out a small portion of the precious air fighting to escape her lungs. Ardat had reached the bottom of the sandy floor and was swimming alongside a school of silverfish, toward an open cave mouth.
Tracy kicked harder while forcing her arms to take long strides in the water. Fighting panic, she followed Ardat into the massive cave entrance.
The outside of the cave was made from a dark-red coral that was home to a variety of sea life, including slimy-looking eels and large-eyed crabs.
Her lungs were beginning to burn as Tracy entered the darkness of the cave. Inky blackness surrounded her on every side. Her worst nightmares were being realized. Ardat was lost to sight in the darkness. In the next few seconds, Tracy’s lungs were demanding fresh air.
Tracy had no choice but to let the precious last few ounces of air escape her lips. The realization of her situation was tearing at her mind. Death in an underwater cave was becoming a very real possibility.
Her body and mind were locked in a power struggle. Her mind telling her to hold on and not to open her mouth to the water around her, while her lungs demanded the oxygen they needed to survive.
Just when Tracy was beginning to lose all hope, a light cut through the blackness. Tracy forced her arms and legs to work as she followed the illumination. A second later, her head broke the surface. She had never taken a breath so big. Tracy found herself treading water as she sucked down large gulps of air.
“Thought I lost you for a moment, “Ardat said from somewhere to Tracy’s right.
Tracy looked up, examining her surroundings for the first time. They were inside a gigantic cave. Green light in every shade surrounded them. The illumination came from an army of bright crystals that hung from the ceiling and sprung up from the ground in an uneven pattern.
Ardat was standing on a ledge that led deeper into the cave. She was squeezing water from her long, dark hair. Tracy swam to the edge and pulled herself onto the rough stone floor.
“He’s not far now,” Ardat said, beckoning to an exhausted Tracy.
Tracy nodded and pushed herself to her feet, ignoring the fatigue that was begging her to rest. The soles of her feet made contact with the rough floor cutting into her skin. Tracy pushed the discomfort from her mind as she continued forward. The light inside the cave was warping shadows in such a way that every direction she looked seemed to be harboring mythical monsters and beasts from chil
dhood stories.
This kind of fear was easy for Tracy to fight back, compared to the breathing that soon began. It sounded like a giant was lying somewhere deep in the cave. The noise of the deep inhales and exhales reverberated off the walls. Tracy was already shivering from the cold water. Now fear added to the experience unfolding around her.
Tracy checked behind her to make sure Ardat was following. Her mentor met her concerned eyes with a firm look. “He’s just around the corner now. No fear, Tracy. If we are to see this to the end there will be no room for weakness.”
Tracy gulped as she came around a sharp turn along the cave path and stopped in her tracks. The source of the breathing lay in front of her. An emerald-green creature was lying on its stomach. Bright green eyes open, it was looking directly at Tracy.
Air caught in her throat, not unlike her recent near-drowning experience minutes before. Tracy’s mind fought to understand the animal lying in front of her. It was massive; the body of a horse, with a long, straight horn that came from its forehead, reminding Tracy of a unicorn. Its mane was long and unkempt with seaweed strands tangled in its hair.
Tracy wasn’t sure how long she held the animal’s stare. Its eyes were just as intelligent as any human’s Tracy had ever seen.
It was like a piece of her she never knew was missing was somehow found.
The animal snorted and stood, shaking its strong muscular body. Water sprayed in every direction. Panic once again spread through Tracy’s body as the beast moved toward her.
As it moved to just a few feet from her, Tracy was struck by how colossal the horse really was. The top of her head only came to the center of the horse’s chest. A gigantic head lowered before Tracy could think to move in fear of the animal. A soft muzzle pushed against Tracy’s arm as the horse tried to maneuver its large head under her touch without stabbing her with its long horn.
Alan Price and the Horsemen of the Apocalypse Page 7