Black Scarlet

by R A Oakes

  As the animal snapped out of its battle lust, Tarlen gripped hold of the warhorse’s mane with his claws and pulled its head back so far Chen thought she heard bones cracking. Responding instantly, the warhorse came to an abrupt halt, and the king leapt from its back.

  Chen quickly dismounted, ran over to the giant tiger and gave him a big hug. “My hero,” she said apparently feigning adoration, but it was only half in jest. Before stepping back, she kissed the Tiger of Dominion Castle on his cheek and gave the king a big smile.

  Few things in life had ever impressed Chen or penetrated her jaded heart, but King Tarlen’s incredible transformation touched her deeply. She understood power and the importance of symbolism, and a king changing into a tiger was the most potent symbol of power she had ever seen.

  Unconsciously, Chen began stroking the king’s fur. She was flirting with him, but was barely aware of doing so. Flirting with those in power was instinctive and was in her blood. Someone had once asked her why she did it, and her answer was, “Because it works.”

  Together, they made quite an impressive sight, a massive tiger in his prime and a warrior woman wearing a tight, black leather outfit dramatically accented by a scarlet cape and blouse.

  When King Tarlen’s and Chen’s warriors caught up with the Tiger of Dominion Castle and Black Scarlet, they formed a protective circle around them. Energized by the overall experience, the massive tiger tilted back his head and growled so loudly that it echoed off the surrounding hills. Chen smiled. She had found her king.

  Gwendylln leapt off her stallion, drew her sword and stood protectively by her master. Turning to her second-in- command, Chen proclaimed, “With a king like this, we just might be able to retake Dominion Castle.”

  Bringing Chen back down to reality, Gwendylln whispered, “We’ll need a lot more than the Tiger of Dominion Castle to mount a proper offensive, a lot more.”

  Earlier in the day, Gwendylln had been talking to some older warriors at Skybrook Castle, ones who’d fought in occasional skirmishes with gargoyles over the years. “They’re the vilest, evilest creatures I’ve ever known,” one warrior had said.

  “But can they fight?” Gwendylln had asked.

  “Like the devil himself,” the warrior had replied, and the others around him nodded their agreement.

  Chapter 16

  Skybrook Castle. After dark, the same day.

  The entire fortress shook as a cylindrical stream of brilliant plasma energy shot from the heavens and slammed down upon the highest tower in the castle with the power of a runaway juggernaut. Ordinarily, the flat roof served as an outdoor courtyard, but today it was the stage for a dramatic reappearance of the Creative Light. Its targets were Aerylln, Baelfire and Zorya.

  The enormous energy surging through Aerylln and Zorya transformed them from mere flesh and blood into clear crystal. Then, with their bodies acting like prisms, the young woman and her warhorse refracted the Creative Light splitting it into a breathtaking array of colors.

  On this moonless night, the vibrant beams of light bounced off the courtyard floor and shot high into the sky forming long, brilliant lines across a black background. Upon reaching their zenith, the streams of color began curving downward in graceful arcs and then plummeted for hundreds of yards before bursting into a spectacular display of purple, blue, green, yellow, orange and red sparks followed by explosive claps of thunder.

  Soon afterwards, the warriors patrolling the outside wall on the eastern side of the castle saw something that took them completely by surprise. In fact, some were so mystified that, later on, they wouldn’t even be able to describe it, and still others would refuse to admit to seeing anything, but they had.

  The exploding multicolored light had created clouds of sparks that began drifting down towards the ground. For a few terrifying moments, the particles passed through an invisible body of what appeared to be a huge, 30-foot-tall demon floating just outside the eastern wall, which was the one facing in the direction of Firecrest Castle. Then, as the sparks cooled and disappeared, the monstrous apparition vanished.

  Out on her chamber’s eastern balcony, Chen saw the image of the demon, and the warrior woman knew who it was and what it meant. It was Balzekior, and she meant trouble, big trouble.

  Chen had fought the demonic woman before, and when the sparks briefly highlighted the fire pouring off the evil creature, the black leather panther shivered with dread. Balzekior usually took the shape of a decrepit old hag, but at other times appeared in the form of a volcanic beast made of molten lava. Chen had felt the heat of the demon’s body before. She thought, I guess I’ll be feeling it again. Doesn’t evil ever go away?

  At times, even Chen wearied of battle. This was a premonition of what was to come, and the warrior woman wasn’t eager for a rematch with the flaming, red-hot, lava woman.

  Chen thought, Being a mother changes things. Putting myself at risk before having Dylancia was one thing, but now I have my baby to defend and protect.

  For Black Scarlet, this was a different outlook, and she found it confusing. The warrior woman had stumbled upon a justifiable motive for fighting, though she’d never really had one before or felt a need for one. Up until now, she attacked at the least provocation, exploding into fits of rage over the frustration, despair and intense feelings of vulnerability and helplessness she’d experienced when being repeatedly victimized by her uncle during her teenage years.

  However, Chen, much to her surprise, sensed something more solid and rational inside of herself. What was it?

  As wisdom entered Chen’s consciousness, it dawned on her. She thought, A mother picks her battles carefully, weighing options and alternatives. But when she does fight, it’s with the determination of a woman defending her family.

  The concept of justifiable self-defense was an epiphany for Chen. Filled with a sense of wonder, she whispered her new awareness about motherhood to the nighttime sky.

  “It’s a license to kill.”

  Now, Chen knew she had the strength to face Balzekior again, if necessary, and heaved a sigh of relief.

  With the image of Balzekior having disappeared, silent darkness once again enveloped Lord Stallington’s fortress. As it did so, the residents who’d witnessed the prism light shooting through the nighttime sky witnessed yet another phenomenon.

  A ball of brilliant, white light shot off the roof of the main tower and flew through the heavens at an amazing speed leaving a trail of multicolored prism light in its wake. Looking like a comet, it soared high above the castle and then changed direction completely, swooping downward and skimming the grassy fields. It roared along the surface of the ground creating shock waves, which were followed by a tremendous boom as it crashed through some invisible barrier. Surging upward, it seemed to break free of the bonds of the earth’s gravitational pull as it raced once more through the nighttime sky.

  Next, the comet again changed direction and dropped down low while executing a long, wide turn before hurtling along the mountain peaks surrounding the valley. Making its way back to Skybrook Castle’s highest tower, the comet reduced velocity, put on the brakes and glided to a soft landing on the courtyard floor. When the intensity of the Creative Light began to dim, it revealed a giant warhorse being ridden by a radiant, young woman with outstretched wings and white-blond hair billowing in the wind.

  The comet, with its ball of light and multicolored tail, had formed earlier when Aerylln unsheathed Baelfire. After holding the sword high above her head, she’d transformed into White Angel, exuding enormous energy. White Angel, Baelfire and Zorya had then catapulted off into the darkness, streaking across the nighttime sky like a comet and stunning all those watching on the ground below with its radiant beauty.

  When the Creative Light first reappeared, Marcheto had been with them on the rooftop. Using his wizard’s staff, the young mystic had created a protective bubble around himself and saw Baelfire, Zorya and his girlfriend transform into the Trinity of Light, which was the most
dramatic and powerful transformation thus far.

  It was a fascinating experience for them all, but the Creative Light was about to make things even more interesting. In the past, the Creative Light had always vanished after a brief appearance, but this time was different. It lingered.

  When White Angel dismounted, Zorya stood to the right of her while Baelfire slipped out of the angel’s hand and floated in the air on her left. Taking up his proper position, Marcheto stood directly behind her.

  The young wizard shouted the words that his mentor, Eldwyn, had taught him. “Angelector kapernaum dutrian hermangic! Angelector kapernaum dutrian hermangic!”

  Aerylln, while remaining as White Angel, began shape shifting up and down her own time line. The 19-year-old soon appeared to be 35, 17, 50 and 28. White Angel’s body quickly became a blur as the young woman’s age seesawed even faster, changing from 28 to 16, 35, 22, 40 and 19.

  Gripping his wizard’s staff tightly, Marcheto shouted, “Skizmat warpora timeth multikar! Skizmat warpora timeth multikar!”

  Suddenly there were two White Angels, then three. The original, 19-year-old White Angel was now standing next to a 29-year-old version of herself as well as a 22-year-old version. But soon, three White Angels became four, four became five, and five became six as the young woman multiplied into 11 versions of herself ranging in age from 19 to 29.

  Marcheto spread his arms wide, went into a meditative trance and whispered, “Exemplar digitor umbalex chatmar.”

  The Creative Light evaporated, and the 19-year-old White Angel returned to human form, as did the other ten. The 19-year-old Aerylln, now named Aerylln 19, put Baelfire back into her sheath.

  Ambling over to Marcheto, Zorya said, “So, how’s it feel to have 11 girlfriends to boss you around?”

  The 29-year-old Aerylln said, “Marcheto, I left the kids with you before I came here.”

  “Kids? What kids?” Marcheto asked.

  “Our kids,” Aerylln 29 said.

  “And our child, too,” Aerylln 24 said.

  “How many children do we have?” Marcheto asked a bit apprehensively.

  “It depends on which one of us you ask,” Aerylln 29 replied. “You got us pregnant for the first time when I was 23.”

  “That’s me,” Aerylln 23 smiled. “But I’m not showing yet.”

  “Then, you got us pregnant again when I was 26,” Aerylln 29 said.

  “That’s me,” a very pregnant Aerylln said, smiling warmly at the young wizard.

  Suddenly, Aerylln 29 got a wicked look in her eye, walked over to Marcheto and slapped him full across the face.

  “What did I do?” the young wizard asked, putting a hand on his burning cheek.

  “Did that hurt?”

  “Yes!”

  “Well, that’s nothing compared to the pain I’ve endured during childbirth.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  Baelfire smiled but said, “Hey, everyone, we need to focus on the reason you’re here.”

  “Which is?” Aerylln 29 asked. Being the oldest, she was already asserting her authority as group leader.

  “To form the Council of Aeryllns,” Baelfire said. “And this is an historic occasion. You 11 are the first such council in over 300 years. Since then, no heir to the Sword of Light, which is myself, has been gifted enough to make this happen, at least until now.”

  “What’s the council’s purpose?” the group’s leader

  asked.

  “To keep Aerylln 19 alive. If she dies, you all die,”

  Baelfire warned.

  “What if I was killed while here?” Aerylln 24 asked.

  “The Aeryllns younger than you wouldn’t be affected, but the older Aeryllns would all die with you.”

  “But we wouldn’t actually die, would we? I mean dying here would just cause us to go back to the future, right?” Aerylln 24 asked.

  “No, that’s not how it works. If you die here, you’re dead period,” Baelfire explained. “All the Aeryllns older than you will die, and not just those here, but all the Aeryllns in the future. Aerylln 19’s lifeline ends at the point where you die.”

  “So, if she dies at 24, then I’ll die when I reach 24?” the original, 19-year-old Aerylln asked.

  “Yes, down to the very exact day. If Aerylln 24 lives three months and two days beyond her last birthday, then that’s how long you can live at the most.”

  “Borrowing on the future is a dangerous thing to do.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  It dawned on Aerylln 19 that the others here represented a crystal ball that could foretell the future for the next ten years. She turned to Aerylln 29 and asked, “Is Swarenth able to keep Dominion Castle, or does King Tarlen wrest it from his grip?”

  The oldest Aerylln present thought for a moment and said, “I don’t know. I can’t seem to remember.”

  “Returning to the past wipes out memories of the future, except for the most personal details, like children and family,” Baelfire explained.

  “So what’s happening here today has to do with trying to take back Dominion Castle?” Aerylln 29 asked.

  “Yes.”

  “One thing I do remember is a demon named Balzekior. Do you believe she was behind Swarenth’s takeover of Dominion Castle?” Aerylln 29 asked.

  “Yes, because gargoyles couldn’t have possibly overrun Dominion Castle by themselves,” Baelfire said. “King Ulray Kardimont was far too good a warrior, and way too smart, to be taken down by mere mortal forces.”

  “How long can we remain in the present?” Aerylln 29 asked.

  “Not very long. But we will need your help. So, be

  ready at a moment’s notice.”

  And with that, one by one, the Aeryllns began to disappear. Aerylln 29 was the last to go.

  “Don’t be intimidated by all of this,” she told Aerylln 19. “You can handle it.”

  “I hope so.”

  “If you need me, call on me. I’ll come to you no matter what the risk.”

  “Thanks, I appreciate your thoughtfulness so much.”

  “I appreciate you, too” she said as the two Aeryllns hugged. “But be careful. Watch your back.”

  “I will.”

  Looking deeply into the younger woman’s eyes, Aerylln 29 said, “I’ll never be far away,” then gave a reassuring nod and disappeared.

  Chapter 17

  Dominion Castle. Earlier the same day.

  In the afternoon, shortly before Rathlor, General Zarkahn and Valkira joined Swarenth to watch the big cats fight in the arena, the three men were walking down a flight of stairs when Lord Stallington’s son literally bumped into Yermeti, Swarenth’s niece. The gargoyle female was strikingly different from the other ape-like creatures. She was an albino.

  Yermeti, 25, was beautiful by human standards in that she was tall, thin and had blue eyes. Rather than her wings being made, like other gargoyles, of hairless, dark-gray skin pulled tightly over a bony skeleton, her wings were covered with a soft, white fur.

  Yermeti also moved with a sort of sensuous grace with her willowy body swaying gently as she walked. Adding to this was her luxurious hair. The gargoyle female’s long, blond locks flowed over her shoulders and down her back. Many human women would have been envious of a head of hair like Yermeti’s, but for the blond ape, her flaxen hair wasn’t limited to just her head and shoulders. It covered her entire body and swung gently back and forth as she walked.

  Yet gargoyle men found her revolting, and she’d been rejected by her own species for most of her life. Male gargoyles liked short, plump women whose sole purpose in life was to cook, clean and bear children. Of course, since gargoyles’ cleanliness habits were atrocious, there wasn’t much dusting or scrubbing to do, and cooking skills weren’t much in demand either, with meals consisting mostly of a putrid gruel the men enjoyed. But when it came to childbearing, gargoyle women were kept pregnant almost constantly, and keeping them barefoot was easy since gargoyles never wore shoes. It was a hellish exis
tence.

  After seeing how other females were living, Yermeti had lost interest in having a man of her own and was content with being single, that is, until she met Rathlor.

  Lord Stallington’s son, at 40, was tall, gangly and awkward. The would-be heir was shy around women and, except for a few servant girls around Skybrook Castle, had little experience with the opposite sex.

  While walking downstairs, Rathlor had been in the lead with General Zarkahn and Valkira pretending to be deferential by following along behind him. When Lord Stallington’s son rounded a bend on a landing, he cut close to the wall on the left and found himself covered with piles of blond hair. Yermeti, who’d been going upstairs, tripped and fell against the human male knocking them both onto the floor.

  Ending up on top of Rathlor, the albino woman straddled him, her breasts pressing firmly against his chest. Yermeti was so covered with hair that this aspect of her figure could hardly be seen, but the young female was amply endowed.

  Through his thin shirt, Rathlor felt her nipples against his chest, and his eyes widened when he felt her pelvis pressing against him.

  Realizing that Rathlor was smitten, General Zarkahn almost laughed out loud, and Valkira quietly whispered into his ear, “Word has it that she’s still a virgin.”

  “Things just keep getting better and better around here,” the general smiled.

  “What better way to join Dominion Castle and Skybrook Castle than with a marriage between the ruling families?” Valkira added.

  “This is just too easy,” General Zarkahn said with a grin. “How do you think Swarenth will react?”

  “He’ll be delirious. He’d love to take Skybrook Castle without a fight, and this would certainly increase his chances.”

  “In that case, let’s formally introduce our young lovers,” General Zarkahn suggested.