Crais

by Jaymin Eve

  As the illumination drew closer I tried to determine the source but it was bright, too bright for me to see anything. As I sank into it, its intensity forced my eyes closed for a brief moment.

  And then I was free.

  I dropped the shield and re-opened my eyes, having no idea what I was about to see. I was sprawled on the edge of the lake again. Lucy, Talina and Lucas were beside me. And I was completely dry. I shook my head a few times. Had I just imagined everything that had happened? The three other faces looked just as shocked as I felt.

  “Can someone tell me what the hell that was?” Lucy was angry. She jumped to her feet, her dry blond curls flying everywhere. “I couldn’t swim or fight that water. I was actually preparing for death, you know, choosing my funeral songs and everything, and now somehow we’re back where we started.”

  “Not exactly where you started, I’m afraid.” The voice came from the shadowy wall to our right.

  I spun around, an energy ball already formed in my hand.

  “Blast them, Abbs. I’ve had enough for one day.” Lucy crinkled her nose.

  “You do not need to defend yourselves; since the water did not reject you I know your intentions are pure. Water is our most untainted source. Nothing can lie to it.”

  He stepped out of the shadows, walking into our light. He was average height, as was everyone on this planet so far, skin purple-black, and bald-headed. He wore intricate wooden shields along his forearms and large bone ornaments threaded through his ear lobes and nose. He held himself with a strength and majesty that spoke of leadership.

  “I am Jordan, the high priest of the Craicor, the underground people of Crais.”

  I lowered my hands, letting the energy fizzle out in small streams of light. I really loved the control I was gaining over my powers. We were becoming attuned to each other.

  “Tell us what happened in the water,” I demanded.

  “And how the hell do you survive living under the ground?” Lucy added in annoyance.

  “What lives above ground in the suns’ light here?” Lucas said without inflection.

  I turned to Talina, expecting her to add a question, but she remained silent.

  Jordan smiled, his teeth the same flat polished ivory as Channa’s.

  “Curiosity is a gift, and its rewards are knowledge. Allow your minds to broaden enough and nothing will take you by surprise.”

  I sighed, casting my eyes in Lucy’s direction. Great! We had another soothsayer in our midst. Bring on the obscure random babble.

  “Please sit and I will explain as much as you need to know, nothing more and nothing less.” He waved in a gesture to a nearby area.

  I realized that wherever we were right now was much smaller than that cavernous hall from before. We followed him, and it was with relief I noticed chairs scattered around. They were made from vines, in a kind of hammock style, with wood as the structural support. I sank into one, grateful as it cushioned my weight and gave my muscles a reprieve.

  When we were all seated he began to speak.

  “A millennium ago our people lived above the rocks. Our world has always had two suns but they were further away, the world was cooler and water flowed above the land.”

  I was instantly captured as his strong, soothing voice weaved the tale.

  “But then something changed. Slowly the world began to heat, millions of us were lost. We could not survive in the harshness that started to ravage Crais. The air changed. What we needed to breathe was being replaced by ash and death.”

  He paused, letting his eyes roam our faces for a moment.

  “It was my ancestor, from long ago, one of the first priests, who discovered the water. It led him under the ground; it revealed a grotto of the finest forest in which greens could be cultivated. It provided clean air, and a sanctuary for the animals that we both nurture and hunt. The water showed him how to survive. We now are small people. Those who survived and evolved live in the rocks. We have twelve tribes, numbers only in the thousands.”

  I wanted to interrupt at that point. I had a million questions, but something warned me not to speak yet.

  “This has been our life for a thousand years. And I believe that eventually the suns will consume us but until then we survive.” He clasped his hands beneath his chin, the dim lighting reflecting off the hardened scales of his skin. “Tell me where you are from. Why have you come? Are you our saviors?”

  I swallowed loudly, wishing I had the answer he was looking for. After hearing his story I wanted to save them. But where could they go? I +couldn’t transport thousands of Crais inhabitants to Josian’s little planet. I looked at Lucas. He shook his head. And apparently First World wasn’t an option. Maybe we could re-evaluate their situation after I had spoken with Josian. He knew a hell of a lot more than I did.

  “I’m sorry,” I began. “I wish I could say that we’re here to take you all somewhere more hospitable for survival. But we just don’t have that sort of power.”

  His face fell then. It was so minute I doubt most people would have noticed, but I did.

  “However, I will take your situation to my family and see if they have any solutions.”

  He nodded as he spoke dismissively. “We have survived, and we will continue to. Why are you here then?”

  His expression was harder now that he knew we weren’t there to provide help. Did he suspect we were asking for it instead?

  “We come from another world, one that is part of the Crais star system, connected to your planet,” I started.

  Lucas interrupted me. “First World is the name and I am its ruler.”

  Arrogant ass.

  “Future ruler,” I said drily. “I’ve been sent on a mission of the highest importance, an undertaking to save all of the planets in the First Worlds star system. I need to find a Crais female.”

  “Which tribe is she from?” he asked.

  “We have no idea. All I know is she is half-Walker – my race of people. I’m guessing she would look or have abilities that differ from the average Crais inhabitant’s.”

  His expression never changed. He would be an excellent poker player.

  “You will be looking for Fury, from the Palasands people.”

  I hadn’t expected him to have a ready answer.

  “You need to travel back through the sacred waters. She will be on the other side.”

  “Hell, no.” Lucy jumped to her feet. “That was the most horrible, freak-me-the-hell-out experience of my life, and that includes getting sucked through Abby’s wormhole Walker doorway.” She crossed her arms. “Not going to happen.”

  Once again he regarded her with calm eyes. Jordan was the coolest and most collected man I’d ever met.

  “Crais has two sides. The dark side, where there are no suns, is where the sacred priests make our homes. We survive only on the good will of our people, since nothing lives without the suns’ light. It is both deadly and essential to us. To traverse between the two sides you must use the sacred waters. It runs through the centre of Crais and is our life-giving savior.”

  “What would have happened if the water hadn’t accepted our intentions?” Talina spoke up for the first time, her voice harsher than usual.

  Jordan shrugged, his skin rippling again. “You would never have made it to the other side.”

  Talina looked at us. “I take it back. Spurns are downright hospitable.”

  Lucas let the smallest smile grace his cold features. He liked Talina, but unfortunately not enough to leave me alone.

  “Your journey will be shorter and less uncomfortable on return. Channa will help you. Tell her you’re looking for Fury and that she is to assist you in any way.”

  With that said, Jordan got to his feet and led the way to the water. Struggling out of the hammock seat, I followed, not at all excited to travel back. I could probably have traced or used a doorway, but I was pretty sure that would create mistrust and fear and we still needed their assistance.

  “Hold m
y hand, Abbs. I don’t think I can go through that again. Wait, how was your claustrophobia?” Lucy tugged me to a halt.

  I thought about it for a beat. “Honestly, I was so busy trying to free myself that I never even gave it moment’s attention.” Weird. Usually if I’d been surrounded by that cloying water fear would have consumed me. “Maybe I’m getting over it.”

  Yeah, just like that I’d move past a life-long phobia.

  She snorted. “Abbs, I was there when you screamed yourself hoarse because the bed sheets wrapped around you and you couldn’t get your arms out. Don’t tell me it’s just disappeared.”

  “I remember. You laughed until you cried, and at no point made any attempt to free me. Remind me why we’re friends again?”

  She laughed. “It was the funniest thing I’ve ever seen. And you like the friendship perks.”

  I raised my eyebrows.

  “You know: quirky wit, fashion advice ... free shirts.”

  “Maybe the shirts,” I acknowledged.

  We were at the edge of the water now. Lucy was holding my right hand so I reached with my left for Talina’s. Lucas didn’t bother, simply stepping off into the darkness. I breathed a little easier when he wasn’t so close.

  “Ready, girls?” Lucy said, barely a stutter in her voice. She’d put on her brave-girl panties.

  I gave each of their hands a hard squeeze, and then we stepped off together.

  Jordan hadn’t lied. The journey back was not as bad. The girls were torn from my grasp, but it took us less time to reach the original bank again. When we surfaced we found we had drawn a crowd of curious Crais inhabitants. They kept their distance. Only Channa crouched close to us on the rock floor.

  “Come. It’s dining time. We will replenish your strength and then you may explain the story so I can assist.”

  With a heavy sigh I pulled myself up. These worlds required delicate handling. Sometimes I wished I could simply walk in, knock the girl out and drag her back to First World. I hated politics and I just wasn’t great with the small talk and creating amicable bonds. But of course if you don’t make these efforts people are far less inclined to help you.

  “Calm yourself, Abby. We’ll find your girl soon enough.” Lucas, the ass, was apparently also a mind reader – okay, yes technically he was a mind reader, but you know what I mean.

  “I’m perfectly calm,” I ground out between gritted teeth.

  Talina placed one of her cool hands onto my shoulder, and I have no idea why but peace flowed through me. Since Brace’s possession I’d been on edge, which until that moment I hadn’t even realized.

  “You’re not alone, Abby,” Talina reminded me softly. “Don’t try and take on the burden of the world by yourself. You will not survive it. And I don’t want to see you crushed.”

  I nodded once, shrugging off her hand, but not in an angry gesture.

  Channa stood there, waiting patiently, and behind her were fifty or so others. We followed the group as they began to cross the great cavern before leading us into another set of tunnels. The entire underground on Crais was a rats’ maze. You could easily get lost forever in the depths.

  We ended up in another large room, although it was miniscule compared to that first space. There were long bench tables and chairs which were carved from the rock. They rose out of the floor and hundreds of the dark-skinned people were seated around. Channa led us to an empty section. I slid my legs over one side and sat facing the flat table.

  “We do not have any servers here. I will fetch some platters and you can choose what your liking is,” she said before walking away.

  I spent the time watching the people, the way they interacted, talked and moved around each other. I could see no segregation and no one sat alone. Most of the tables were covered in what looked like plates of greens and long lizard-type creatures. My stomach turned a little at the thought of eating a lizard. Especially while it was still whole.

  “They aren’t going to bring us one of those animals camped out on the platter, right?” Lucy’s pale features were taking on a green tinge. “’Cause I can’t eat something once I’ve seen its eyes.”

  “Uh-huh, sure, Luce,” I said, knowing her eating habits all too well.

  Ten minutes later, while ripping off large chunks of the succulent meat from the leg she held, Lucy shook her hand in my direction, flicking me with droplets of juice.

  “Don’t get high-handed, Abigail.” She took another bite, her mouth full for a moment, before she swallowed. “It was a lucky guess this time.”

  I laughed, my own hands full of creature. It was so tender and juicy, flavored with aromatic herbs and stuffed with greens. Delicious.

  “We are delighted that you are enjoying our tarakor lizard. It is one of the more prevalent creatures on Crais, living above and below the suns’ wrath.” Channa waved her hand. “But please, you must also eat the greens. Their nutrients are essential for survival. We insist.”

  Her tone implied that this was a serious suggestion. We really did have to eat the mound of greens on our plates.

  “None of the others left any food at all,” Talina said in a low voice. “I like that they don’t waste. We also limit wastage on Spurn, especially from the Sacred Isle.”

  Well, from my experience half of Earth used to starve and the other half – over-fed greedy wasters. Although the dark days had evened it out; everyone had to learn how to starve a little.

  Once I’d finished my food, I felt an immediate increase in energy. Maybe there was something to this ‘greens’ theory.

  “So, tell me of Jordan’s words and how I may help you on your journey.” Channa spoke formally. “And please tell me your story. Very little happens here. I’d love to know of your adventures.”

  We’d gathered a small group of Crais inhabitants again. They were sitting on the stone benches surrounding ours, just listening in silence.

  “I’ll explain as quickly as I can, but we don’t have much time to linger. And we’re also interested to know as much as we can about your world as well.” I was curious as to what these tribes did all day, stuck under the ground.

  I started at the beginning, explaining about First World and the six youngling planets. Lucy and Lucas chimed in with any of the facts I forgot. Talina was quiet except for small details about Spurn.

  “Your world is almost all water?” Channa regarded Talina with wide eyes. “I cannot even imagine the majesty. The only water on Crais is that which runs directly through the centre of our world. The sacred lake, where you were initiated, is our largest reservoir, and everything else runs off it.”

  “In a way our worlds are almost opposite,” Talina said. “We have too much water and you have not enough.”

  Channa sighed. “If only we could share our resources between worlds. The two suns have parched our land of living creatures. But there are a few species who have evolved to survive. The nomads are the only humanoids. They need very little in the way of moisture and seem to garner energy from the suns’ waves.” Channa gesticulated with her hands. “There are the nomads, and the dragoonas who rule above. Other than that only smaller reptiles, insects and arachnids.”

  “If this is true, how was the tribesman who saved us out in the sun?” Lucas’s question jolted me.

  That’s right: he was above ground.

  “For two cycles a day the suns eclipse each other. The larger is weaker, and blocks much of the smaller. This lowers the temperature so that we can walk in the shadows and hunt the lizards.”

  Behind us, someone spoke. I spun around to find a young girl.

  “Most of us do not venture above. Only select groups of hunters from each tribe are permitted. For the rest of us, we know nothing but these caves.”

  She lowered her eyes, her reptilian skin shimmering in the mid-lights. Some of the tribespeople’s skins were more scaled than others.

  Channa nodded. “That’s true. But we’re grateful to have survived. Millions of our people did not.”


  They seemed like such a sad race. One would think, since they didn’t know any different, they wouldn’t resent the way they lived, but I could see they did.

  “So you mentioned Walkers. Tell me more about this.” Channa’s ivory teeth flashed in an attempted smile. I took a deep breath, before complying.

  “They’re a race of humanoids. They have no world so they walk amongst all the planets in the star system. They are both powerful and immortal.” And mischief makers, I silently added. “They didn’t believe that they could have offspring with any other than Walkers, but we’ve recently learned that one woman on each of the youngling planets had the power to conceive and nurture a half-Walker female. Talina and I are both halves and we are on a mission to gather the rest of the half-Walkers.”

  “And Jordan believes Fury is your half?” She didn’t show any reaction to my explanation of the Walkers or the news of these gods living amongst them.

  “That’s what he said.”

  “What are you gathering them for?” she asked.

  I took a deep breath. I’d explained this many times and would many more after this. I should just carry a recording around with me.

  “When the original seven Walkers were created by the universe, an anti-seven also emerged to balance out the power. Known as the Seventine, they’re energy-sucking demon creatures and they are set to unravel the worlds. We believe ...” I hesitated, not knowing what I believed anymore, but determined to finish my mission anyway. “That the only way to defeat them is with the seven half-Walker females. Two Seventine have been released already, but if all seven become free, they will destroy everything. Every single world and their inhabitants will cease to exist.”

  I wasn’t going to explain about the tethers and how they were severing them to gather energy. It was too complicated.

  “Well,” Channa said, “sounds like we need to find Fury for you.”

  Damn, these Crais people took bad news in their stride.

  “Fury’s gone.” A man who had just stepped into the room drew everyone’s attention with his brief words.