by Jason Wilcox
“I wasn’t dreaming…” Mauldrin said to himself. He thought back to when he had been locked up in the dark matter cell and a glowing being rescued him. “She went through the gate?” He looked into Kaz’s dark black eyes. Anger raged, knowing the gate was destroyed, and it was he who had destroyed it. More lightning and thunder crashed in the distance.
“Yes, but you can’t follow her. She went to Triaad’s kingdom, it’s too dangerous.”
“Too dangerous?” Mauldrin shifted his weight, deflated that the gate was destroyed. “That’s the least of my worries. I’m more worried that I can’t get to her. I destroyed the gate.”
“You?” Kaz looked confused. “You destroyed it, not Triaad?” He blinked a couple of times, staring at Mauldrin. Clearing his throat, he continued. “It’s fixed. Azgiel repaired it.”
A tear developed in Mauldrin’s eye before he could swallow and keep his emotions under control. His hope had slowly disappeared and become nonexistent, but now it had returned with a flood of emotions. “Then I will find her.” He sheathed the sword and turned around. The forest towered over him. He could feel the trees looking at him. There was a communication that he had with them, like thoughts entering his mind that weren’t his. They knew the way to the gate.
“Move.” Mauldrin waved a hand wanting the trees to open the way to the portal. The trees in front of him creaked and moaned as they moved apart, creating a path for him to follow to the gate. Some of them pulled up roots and dove them back into the ground in a different direction. Bolts of lightning ripped through the sky, striking the ground, and lighting the path in front of him.
“If you’re going to go against Triaad, you’ll need help. I’ll come,” Kaz said as he stepped closer. Moving swiftly, Mauldrin drew the sword and had the tip of it at Kaz’s nose before the demon could move another muscle.
“I can’t trust you.” Mauldrin clenched his teeth for a moment, analyzing the demon in front of him. A part of him wanted to trust him, he sounded so sincere. But as Matt once said, that was one of his flaws, he trusted too easily. “If I catch you following me, I’ll kill you.” There was no trusting anyone any longer. “And if I find out you’re lying to me, I swear to you, I’ll find you and give you a slow tortuous death.”
Holding his hands up, Kaz shook his head. “I’ll stay away. I give you my word.”
Having nothing else to say, Mauldrin turned and sheathed the sword. It was time to get his wife back. It was time to leave this planet behind along with its terrible memories. Taking the sword off, Mauldrin shed his armor into the bushes, and then put the sword back on.
The black circling clouds rumbled as he walked down the trail that was created for him. He moved into the night to start his new journey.
I’m coming for you Bridget, and not even Triaad will stand in my way!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
JASON WILCOX is a Counselor by trade who loves to write and has been writing for the last fifteen years. He got his Masters in Social Work from Walla Walla University. He lives in the great state of Montana where he loves spending his time with his three cute kids, wife, and Dusty a black Great Dane that thinks he’s a lap dog.
Table of Contents
BOOK ONE
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
CHAPTER 33
CHAPTER 34
CHAPTER 36
CHAPTER 37
CHAPTER 38
CHAPTER 39
CHAPTER 40
CHAPTER 41