by Milo Woods
Lorissa and Mori stood in awe.
“Thank the gods,” Keith whispered as he held her close. He laughed and cried at the same time.
Hannet lay with her eyes still closed, weak from the injury. She coughed again and let out a small moan.
Seeko’s eyes went wide. He jumped up and ran to the others. “She’s alive! I can’t believe it,” he said.
He and Mori hovered over Hannet, looking down as Keith hugged her in the cold wet sand.
“Bandits!” someone yelled from within the town, breaking the moment. The thundering noise of the rain and the crashing waves almost tuned out the voice.
Great, not bandits too, Seeko thought as he pulled out his bow. Guards charged onto the beach, and suddenly no fewer than fifteen soldiers surrounded the group.
“Surrender now and we won’t kill you,” one of the guards said in a menacing tone.
Seeko lowered his bow. “Wait, we’re the bandits?” He closed his eyes and re-slung his bow on his back, under his bag.
“We aren’t bandits. I’m Lord Luxant’s daughter,” Mori said. She pointed at Seeko. “And this is the Hero of Endetia.”
Some of the guards murmured to one another before one spoke up. “Scandalous liars. Impersonating the lord’s daughter. You’ll pay for your crimes!” He charged forward with his spear, shouting a curse.
Seeko jumped in front of Mori, drawing his sword. Even with the gash on his arm from Vishoni, he easily deflected the spear from the crazed guard. “I am Seeko Dris, the hero. So please, just let us go,” he said.
The guard roared in rage and swung his spear down at him. “Quit spewing your blasphemy, bandit.”
The guard brandished his spear, but Seeko jumped forward and sliced the weapon in half. The guard looked at his broken spear before being kicked back toward the other guards.
“Please,” Seeko said again. “I’m acting only out of self-defense. I don’t want any trouble.”
Mori was shocked at Seeko’s actions. She knew he was bluffing. One of the guards yelled, “If you’re the hero, prove it!”
Seeko looked to Mori before bursting into a blend of green-and-orange fire. The flames died out and Seeko was gone. The guards looked around, trying to figure out the trick.
“Believe me yet?” Seeko asked from behind the guards.
They jumped and some yelled, turning around to face him again.
“No?” Seeko said. “We need to hurry up. Our friend is hurt badly and needs rest.”
They began talking amongst themselves again, but then Mori spoke up. “Don’t any of you recognize me? I’m Mori, daughter of Lord Luxant.”
“Very well,” a deep voice spoke up from within the group. “We won’t arrest you, but we’re going to escort you to make sure nothing happens to the lord.”
Keith picked up Hannet and moved through the guards to Seeko. Lorissa followed behind him and Mori joined as she passed.
A couple of guards followed behind them as they moved through the town. After a while, the group stood outside a large two-story manor. The walls were made of the same greenish brick as the rest of the town, but were nicer and had an elegant pattern to them. The manor lay near the sea, closer to the lighthouse, and its green walls had heavy ivy growth.
Two guards stood at the gate and opened them at the sight of Mori.
“At least they recognize me,” she muttered.
The group walked through the walled courtyard, to the large double doors of the manor itself, where another set of guards waited. Again they opened the door for Mori, and the company entered, drenched from the rain. Mori pulled the water out of their clothes and shot it back outside.
Seeko looked around the room while she cleaned up. The entrance hall was huge. A staircase rose to the next floor on the other end of the room. A walkway with a railing circled the room from the second story.
“Mori!” a young, surprised voice yelled out. A small boy hung over the railing of the second story. He had brownish-red hair that complemented his red pajamas.
“Zach! Shouldn’t you be asleep?” she asked.
The kid jumped off the second story. He plummeted downward, but then, at the last second, slowed himself with magic. “I can’t believe you’re home,” he said, running over and hugging Mori.
She laughed. “I missed you too, Zach.”
Zach let go and glared at Seeko. “Who are you?” he asked.
“Uh, hello,” Seeko said, waving.
Mori jumped back next to Seeko. “These are my friends.” She reached out and wrapped her arm around his. He let out a hiss as she jabbed his wound ignorantly. “You’re still hurt?” she muttered into his ear. She healed his arm while still talking to Zach. “This is Seeko, the Hero of Endetia, here to save us from the demons.”
Seeko held out his hand to shake Zach’s, but was denied by a cold stare. He lowered his arm and Zach smiled at Mori again.
“Does Dad know you’re home? And why are there guards following you?”
“No, Dad doesn’t know I’m here yet, and these guards think we’re bandits.” She rolled her eyes and turned her head back to the guards.
Zach puffed up his chest and stomped over to the guard. “That’s my sister!” the boy yelled. “She isn’t a bandit, you big dummy!” He pushed the guard with all his strength but the guard stood firm.
“We’re sorry,” the guard said. “We wanted to make sure the lord was safe and they weren’t imposters. There have been raids on the town—”
“Go away before I tell my father on you!” Zach yelled.
The guards spun on their heels and left the house as commanded. Silence fell on the home as Zach reentered and the guards closed the doors behind him.
“We need to get Hannet to a bed,” Keith said to Mori.
“We have a bunch of nice guest rooms,” Zach answered.
“Those are reserved for important guests,” Mori replied.
“Yeah, but your friend needs it, and the harbor is closed. We won’t have any guests for at least a couple weeks.”
“Dad is going to be mad,” Mori said. “Hey, does my room still have my stuff?”
Zach nodded.
With that, Mori led the group up the beautiful staircase and onto the left balcony. At the end of the second-story hall, the excited Zach jumped over the group to one of the doors, opening it with a grin. Seeko followed, peering in. A large bed with green sheets sat against the wall. Seeko walked in and gaped at the fancy furniture that eloquently matched the bed.
He turned to speak to Mori but found himself alone. He poked his head out the door to see that Mori and the others stood at the beginning of the hall, so he and Zach headed back toward them.
“This room is empty,” Mori said to Zach. “We should use it instead.”
Zach shook his head. “But that’s–”
“I know,” Mori said. “But it’s closer to the exit. It would be better for Hannet.”
Seeko looked into the room. A small bed and empty desk were the only things in this lonely space. The room had large windows, with lightning flashing through the closed curtains.
“Someone should stay with her,” Mori said.
“I’ll do it,” Keith replied. He stepped up to the door, next to Mori.
“Hey! What do you think you’re doing?” a voice yelled from down the hall.
Seeko looked and saw a large red-haired man standing there in a red sleeping gown. He stomped toward them, glaring at Zach the whole time.
“Hi, Dad! Look, it’s—” Zach said before the man’s sweeping hand cut him off.
“Zach! You let strangers into our manor? What do you think you’re doing?” He waved his hand around the group as if to select the group. “All of you, out now!” he yelled.
Keith stepped away from the door, revealing Mori. Seeko shrugged and walked toward the man.
“Mori?” Lord Luxant said, still angry but now also confused.
“Hi, Father,” she responded.
“Wh-What are you d
oing here? Where have you been?” Luxant said.
“I was going to come talk to you, but my friend is hurt and needs to get some rest.”
He shook his head. “First you accuse my advisor of associating with demons, and now this?” He pointed at the room.
“Fath—Dad, we need to talk,” she said, walking ahead of Seeko, next to her brother.
“No. Get your friends out of my manor, then maybe we’ll talk.”
Seeko walked next to Mori. “Hey, I’m sorry to—”
“Don’t speak out of term, peasant!” Luxant shouted, his face turning red.
“Dad!” Mori yelled. “This is Seeko,” she said, putting her hand on his arm. “He is—”
“Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for someone of such a low class! You disgrace this family more and more.” He growled at her and glared into her eyes. “I want you off my property at once. In fact, I want you out of my town!”
“Dad, this is the Hero of Endetia. Behave yourself!” she shot back at him.
“Behave myself?” he said. “For what? This nobody who thinks he can stop the demon apocalypse? What a great job you’re doing!” He scowled at Seeko.
“You don’t know him!” Mori said. “I’ve seen him stop the demons before.”
“Then why are there still out there?” he mocked. “Why haven’t they gone away?”
“I’m working on it,” Seeko said though clenched teeth.
“Ha! You can’t even stand straight! Why should I believe you? You are a disgrace, just like my daughter.” He spat at Seeko.
Seeko stepped forward and pointed at him. “You shouldn’t talk about your daughter like that!”
“Oh, the big man thinks he has what it takes. Where did you find him, Mori? With the homeless scum?”
“I’ve heard enough of this!,” Seeko yelled.
“Oh, have you? I guess you’ll have to leave. Mori, you leave too. Join this rabble and get out!”
Seeko shouted, summoning dark hands from the floor. They reached up and grabbed Mori’s father, lifting him into the air. “Mori has done more for the world than any average person could achieve! It’s thanks to her that countless lives have been saved and even more will be once we stop the portals! Your negative input isn’t helping you or me. Your daughter is more of a hero than anyone I’ve ever met, and I wouldn’t be standing here without her help today!”
“Seeko!” Mori yelled and pulled back on his shoulder.
He let go of his spark and dropped her father from the dark grip.
“Y-Your … Your eyes,” Luxant said from where he lay on the floor. “You’re … You’re a demon.”
“He’s not a demon!” Mori said.
“I have the eyes of a demon and the powers of a demon. And if you talk like that about either me or your daughter again, I will kill you as fast as a demon.”
“That’s not helping, Seeko!” Mori snapped at him.
Seeko looked at Luxant again, then dispelled the threatening hands.
Luxant rose and dusted himself off. “I’ve never been intimidated before. If you can stand up to a lord for my own daughter’s sake, then maybe there is some hope for you yet. I will let you stay for a night. Maybe you are a hero; we will see. I’m still not completely convinced.” He headed back to his room. “Mori, I would like to have a word with you after you settle in.”
She nodded, mouth agape.
Zach interrupted her shock: “I should finish showing you your rooms.”
Mori came back to her senses. “Go ahead and finish showing them where they’ll be staying. Come with me, Seeko.”
Mori led him back, farther into the manor, and turned into another hallway.
“Uh, what just happened?” Seeko asked, watching rain crash into the side of the large window at the end of the hall.
“I don’t know how he just let you walk away.” She stopped at a door, turned around, and leaned against it, placing a hand to her face.
He knelt before her and saw tears. “Hey, I’m sorry I attacked your dad.”
She looked at the floor. Her red hair shrouded her face in darkness. “He hates me. I never knew he hated me so much. What did I do to deserve this?”
Seeko scooted closer to her. “Hey, I believe in you. All our friends believe in you. He hasn’t seen what you’ve done. Look at me.” He tipped up her head and brushed her hair out of her face. “You’re the most charismatic and lighthearted woman I have ever met. Your dad doesn’t realize what a nice and honorable girl you are. I trust you with my life.”
“Do you really believe that?” she asked.
“Yes! You’re beautiful and amazing,” he said, grabbing her arms and pulling her down to him.
“Thank you for standing up for me,” she whispered.
Seeko leaned in and answered just as softly, “You deserve better.”
And she closed the gap, kissing him. It quickly went from a simple peck to passionate kissing. He ran his hand through her hair as their bodies interlocked. They rose and Mori fumbled for the handle, pushing open the door.
The two stumbled in and fell back to the floor. Seeko stopped the kiss and looked around the room. A bed covered by dark red drapes sat to the left. More red and black curtains covered the windows.
Mori pulled on his shirt and he went back to kissing her. They stumbled back to their feet and fell onto her bed. She leaned up, sitting on his lap. Seeko pulled off his shirt, and Mori grabbed hers to take it off, but hesitated.
“My dad still wants to talk to me …”
Seeko sighed and lay back onto the bed. “Oh … yeah.” Damn, so close.
“I’ll try to be back as soon as possible,” she said, moving off the bed. She walked over to the door and leaned on the wall.
He could hear her take a deep breath and then leave.
A single candle sat on the bedside desk, and soon a small green flame flickered upon it. Seeko leaned up and scanned her dark room. Paintings of raging waters hung on her walls. A chair sat in the corner, facing the window. Mori must not have done much in here, he suspected. The only other thing was the closet full of clothes. Most of the clothes were colored red or black.
Seeko scooted to one side of the bed and lay there, waiting. He lost track of time and soon fell asleep to the sound of the storm outside.
/ / / / /
Seeko awoke to darkness. He leaned up and saw Mori sleeping next to him in a nightgown. The drapes were pulled closed around the bed, but he pulled them back. The room was less dark and a glow trickled in from behind the curtains. He pulled them back as well, revealing an ugly, overcast morning outside.
Past the wall, the ocean was crashing into the rocks and the lighthouse sat far away in the heavy wind. He watched the trees bend ferociously in the wind before noticing a dark speck fly off the lighthouse. He peered through the trees, trying to see what it was. More specks appeared near and around the lighthouse, flying erratically, and he came to a simple conclusion.
“Demons,” he mouthed.
Mori snorted and rolled over in her bed. Seeko dropped the curtain back down and sat on the bed.
“Hey,” he said, rubbing her arm. “I hate to wake you up to bad news, but I think I found the next portal.”
She half opened her left eye and stared through him. She reclosed her eye and buried her head in her pillow. She mumbled into the pillow.
“Hey, did you hear me?” he asked.
She pushed herself out of her pillow. “Yes, and I said, ‘How is that bad news?’”
“It’s in the lighthouse.”
“What?” she yelled, jumping up. She pulled back the curtain and looked out at it. “My dad isn’t going to be happy.”
“Is he ever?” he said with a smile. “Oh yeah, by the way, what happened last night?”
“He yelled at me for running away. Then he asked me to tell him everything about you and the journey. He still isn’t happy, but he seems to have some sort of respect hidden behind his harsh tongue.” She smiled and dropped th
e curtain. “It’s all because you stood up for me last night.”
“I couldn’t just stand there and watch him tear you apart,” Seeko said, returning the grin.
She leaned on him, closing in for a kiss. “I never got to thank you last night.” She gave him a quick kiss and walked to her closet. “But it will have to wait. Who knows what time it is with this horrible weather?”
Seeko laughed and sat in the chair. “I guess we should go talk to your father.”
“Yeah. We have to tell him that the portal is in his lighthouse.” A set of clothes, almost exactly matching what she had on the entire journey, fell on her bed. Mori began to take off her shirt to change.
“Hey!” Seeko yelled and held up his hand.
Mori sighed. “What is up with you? I could understand it when we first met, but definitely not after yesterday. Would you have covered your eyes the whole time?”
“What, no! I … okay, fine.” Seeko’s hand fell and his wide eyes ogled her bare body. He followed her curves, unable to pull himself away from her beauty. Where her shirt and skirt would have sat on her body was pale, leaving a very distinctive tan line.
“I should get dressed,” she said, blushing. She picked up her clothes and covered herself again. Seeko watched her pull on her shirt, hiding a few scars underneath it. She pulled her hair out of her shirt and let it flop against her shoulders. “Okay, I’m ready.”
Seeko stood up, joining her at the door. They headed toward the staircase. Lorissa sat outside Hannet’s room, idly brushing her hair, but stopped and stood at the sight of them.
“Hannet’s doing fine, but she still hasn’t woken up,” she said. “Keith fell asleep by her side.”
“Keith fell asleep?” Seeko said. “That’s unlike him.”
“It was partially my doing,” Lorissa said. “I convinced him to. He did all that running and worrying and he needed the rest.”
“Maybe we should just leave them be,” Seeko said, looking at Mori.
Lorissa opened her mouth but hesitated. Instead, she spoke through their minds. “Maybe you two should go confront Luxant alone. He never saw my eyes, and I think one red-eyed monster is enough for him right now.
“Luxant still wasn’t too happy about the rest of us after you yelled at him last night,” she continued. “He was shocked that someone would stand up to him for his daughter. He thinks you two are in a relationship.” Lorissa’s eyes shifted back and forth between the two. “Which might not be too far off.”