Enaya: Solace of Time

by Justin C. Trout

  Shebris reached out and pinched the tip of his blade between her fingers. A black substance spread down his blade, corroding it into orange ash. It fell onto the ground and Leo tossed the handle to the side. It clinked against the rock wall.

  “I didn’t need it anyway,” Leo said.

  “Enough!” Norcross screamed.

  “Oh yes, Norcross,” Shebris said, fueling with malice.

  “I’ve carried out my duties,” Norcross alleged. “I want the power I was promised.”

  Shebris glided over to him. “I promise, that by the end of today, you will possess all the power in the world.”

  “I wouldn’t give it to him, eh,” Locklin said.

  Shebris glanced over to Locklin. “And who are you?”

  “Well, little lady, ya can call me Locklin Richardson,” he replied.

  “Somebody shut him up,” Norcross said in agitation.

  One of the soldiers smacked Locklin in the back of the head with a rifle. Locklin fell to his knees and touched his head to see if it was bleeding. He wasn’t. He glared at Norcross for a second to see the room spin, but he could see the smile from him. Locklin’s eyes rolled to the back of his head; he felt like he could see his brain bleed the impact was so hard. He wobbled on his feet for a second and then finally caught his balance on Bancroft.

  “Egotistical,” Shebris said, looking at Norcross. She glided over to him and then around him, stopping at his back. She leaned into Norcross’s ear and licked it. He quivered and lowered his weapons. “You desire more than power.”

  “Yes,” Norcross replied, hypnotized by her saliva from her tongue.

  “Zalmador,” she said, “show yourself.”

  Then the walls moved, or it seemed like the walls were moving. From the crevasse between the rock walls, Zalmador slithered out. Leo shivered and ducked between two soldiers. The soldiers aimed at Zalmador as it slithered up around the throne and rested its long head in the seat. It stared at them, flicking out its tongue.

  “I hate snakes,” Leo gulped.

  “Zalmador is from the memory I showed you,” Shebris said to Nile. His eyes were busy focusing on the large snake. “He has grown with me, and as I withered away with my memories, he became stronger. My fear has fueled his growth.”

  “I’m sorry that you’ve been through this,” Nile said, gripping his fist.

  “You will be,” Shebris said. She grabbed Nile, ready to take him to Solace of Time, but he punched her in the face.

  She howled.

  Zalmador slithered quickly toward her. Nile stumbled back, slipped in a puddle, and fell into the water. Zalmador chased after him, slithering into the water as well. Everyone watched with chills shriveling down their spines.

  “Nile!” Ashera screamed.

  Shebris turned to look at Srinath. Black blood pursed her lips and she spat in her hand. She laughed as she did, looking at the black substance ooze down her fingers and into the cracks of her hand. “Kill them.”

  Srinath and Ramiel pulled their swords from their sheaths and glanced to Norcross and his soldiers. The two brothers separated, cutting them off into the middle of the room. This would be so much easier to kill them this way. They were sure of it. They’d done this for generations now—same technique, same swords.

  Shebris glided back to her thrown. She picked up the side of her dress and sat down, arching forward with her pale hands on the armrests. Her long fingers scratched against the throne as she watched.

  “Fire,” Norcross said.

  Then, out of the silence in the cave, bullets ricocheted within the mountain. The brothers dispersed into crows and flew around the room. Their bullets flew between the feathered flock, colliding into the stone structure. The crows swarmed down and pecked at Norcross, their beaks burning his flesh. He screamed and shook them off.

  Within the middle of the group, the crows gathered. They became Srinath. The soldiers didn’t notice from firing into the remaining crows. Srinath jammed his sword into a soldier and then kicked him off. Norcross turned to see the body lying on the floor, and as he did, the crows dispersed into the air once more. Norcross fired at the crows, but continued to miss.

  Nile was floating down. He could see sunlight through the water at the top of the temple, or whatever it was they were in. Then, eerily, the snake came into the water, jaws opened and swimming toward Nile.

  The snake swam faster.

  Nile extended his arms out to the side and brought his legs down below him and he kicked off, swimming toward the surface, but the snake was already close to him. Zalmador slid across Nile’s body and curled up around his feet. Nile kicked the head of Zalmador and the snake uncoiled.

  Nile saw the tail of Zalmador chase past him. How long is this thing? Nile kicked as hard as he could until he broke the surface. He gasped for air and heard the bullets cling off the walls and smash into the water around him. The crows swarmed around them like locusts.

  Then, out of the corner of his eye, Zalmador popped its head out of the water. It swam to him, looking like the biggest crocodile on the earth. Its body zigzagged in the water, rippling it as it moved. Nile made a break for the surface, but the snake had started to coil up around his feet. He tried to kick free but the snake never loosened its grip.

  Then a bullet ricocheted from the wall and hit Zalmador. A chunk of black leather skin exploded off the side and Zalmador uncoiled. Nile reached the platform and pulled himself up. Ashera ran to him and grabbed his hands, pulling him to the center of the group.

  “Stop!” Norcross screamed.

  The soldiers released the trigger. Norcross watched as the crows flew around them. There was a sense of confusion as he watched the crows. They sensed the presence of the bullet, the warmth from the chamber after each round had been fired. Norcross had hunted birds before when he was younger, and he once killed a duck from twenty-five yards, but these things were less than ten yards apart. He inserted a clip into his pistol and aimed it a certain crow.

  His eye hunted it. The tip of the pistol moved with the wings of the crow. He had it in his sight and he pulled the trigger. The bullet shot from the chamber and drove into the crow. It fell down, hopping, cawing in pain. Norcross smirked. He approached the crow and kicked it. The crow extended its wings and caught the wind as it soared about ten yards and landed, then the other crows joined it becoming Ramiel.

  Ramiel was holding his side.

  Shebris stood from her throne and watched.

  “Fire!” Norcross screamed.

  The soldiers riddled bullets into Ramiel. His body flung with each shot, and a black substance leaked from his wounds. Ramiel sniffed the air and could smell his blood. It was a haunting odor, like a rotten corpse. Then, unexpectedly, Ramiel took in his last breath and fell to the ground. His blood drained from his body and into the water.

  Shebris screamed.

  Nile turned to her.

  The other crows became Srinath.

  Norcross pointed to Shebris. “Give me Enaya.”

  Shebris extended her arms to the side, arched her fingers, and whispered. Ashera could hardly hear what she was saying, but she knew that Shebris was about to use her magic, and from the sound of it, she was strong. She gripped Nile’s hand tighter, feeling the water roll between their hands. Then, from inside, the walls crumbled and exploded outward. Chunks of rock fell to the ground and into the water, splashing it up onto the platform.

  “Retreat!” Norcross screamed.

  He and his soldiers ran up the steps, but a large boulder fell from the ceiling and caved in the staircase, crumbling into the water. Norcross was stuck. He measured the distance and jumped for it, tossing his pistols through the doorway. He landed on the broken step but it crumbled beneath his feet and he fell, grabbing the edge. He pulled himself up and reached back to help his soldiers get across.

  Then it was Charis’s turn. She jumped and landed on the step. Norcross reached for her. She grabbed his hand and as she tried to pull herself up to balance,
Norcross kicked her knees out from under her. She fell, hit the steps, and landed in the water.

  “We made a deal!” Locklin screamed.

  Norcross waved to him. “Not my problem.” He then disappeared into the darkness.

  Locklin jumped and slipped, but he caught his balance and pulled himself up. He then turned to help Ashera, then Leo, and Bancroft, but Nile waited. Nile watched as Charis crawled out of the water like a wet cat. She scurried up the steps and made the jump. Another rock came down in front of Nile and smashed into the stairs. It crumbled beneath the water and as he looked down to survey, Zalmador had swum back to the surface.

  “Hurry!” Locklin screamed, reaching for Nile.

  The crows flew over them and through the tunnel. Nile glanced back to see Shebris lower her arms. Rocks continued to fill the room. Nile glanced back to Locklin and shook his head. He ran back to Shebris. Ashera screamed at him, reaching for him, and Leo pulled her back. Nile grabbed Shebris.

  She pushed him off. “What are you doing?”

  “You’ve withered away with your memories. I’m not going to let you wither away here. I can help you.”

  “It’s too late,” Shebris said, watching as Zalmador slithered up to her.

  A large rock fell and crushed the throne. Nile looked up; he could see an opening, revealing the sky and the clouds. He ached to feel the sun. Another rock fell this time, barely missing the last of the stairs. It would be no time before it would happen again and completely obliterate the steps.

  “It’s never too late,” Nile said, reaching for her hand.

  Shebris glanced to Zalmador and nodded. The snake turned and slithered up the rock wall and into a crevasse, disappearing. It probably led to somewhere outside. Nile shivered when he thought of its size again. Shebris grabbed Nile’s hand and he led her to the steps.

  Locklin, Leo, Ashera, and Charis gave him an odd look, but Bancroft smiled. Bancroft reached past Locklin and Shebris glided across the large gaping hole in the stairs. Bancroft grabbed her for good measure and pulled her to him. Shebris glanced back at Nile, reaching for him as well.

  Nile jumped, grabbing Locklin and Shebris’s hands. Bancroft reached between the two and grabbed his shirt, pulling him in. They ran toward the entranceway. Nile looked back to see several more rocks and boulders crash below. This temple was dead now.

  Norcross and his soldiers were resting outside of the temple, waiting for them to burst out in any second. He and his soldiers would kill them, and then go back for Enaya. But his plan went sour; instead, several crows burst from the darkness and formed Srinath as they flocked down the steps.

  The soldiers aimed at Srinath, but he flung his hand and the guns flew from their hands. Srinath stumbled onto the closest soldier and stabbed him with his sword, right through the gut. He then kicked the soldier off and turned to the other one, but he didn’t have to kill this one, instead, Zalmador slithered out from an opening with in the temple.

  The snake coiled up and Srinath cut the soldier off from Norcross. Zalmador hissed, then struck forward, jaws open, and grabbed the soldier. It moved its head upward, faced the sky, and swallowed him. Its jaws contracted as it did. Norcross placed his hands on his pistols, but he kept them holstered.

  Srinath held his sword at Norcross’s throat. He could hear the others echoing through the tunnel, so he waited. And when he looked, he saw Shebris with them. He lowered his sword and Norcross pulled out his pistols and aimed at him. He fired six shots, three from each gun, into Srinath. Srinath never saw it coming, and he fell down, still clutching his sword.

  “You’re outnumbered,” Norcross said, aiming at Shebris.

  Zalmador had disappeared back into the mountain.

  “Now, give me Enaya,” Norcross said.

  Moans were heard.

  Everyone looked through the forest to see the undead marching.

  “Call them off,” Norcross said.

  Shebris whispered and the undead fell to the ground all at once.

  Norcross stared at her and holstered one pistol. He then reached outward with an open palm. “Now, give me Enaya.”

  Ashera grabbed Nile and hugged him tightly. He kissed her head. Shebris pulled the gem from within her dress and glided a little forward. Her dress extended out over Srinath’s cape and as she reached with one hand to give it to Norcross, she grabbed Nile with the other and in a second they were gone.

  “What the . . .” Leo said, looking around.

  Norcross laughed, but a fist came across his face. It was Locklin. Norcross staggered back, but Locklin kept on him. He punched him again, this time, forcing Norcross to drop his pistol, and then he kicked his gut. Locklin reached forward, grabbed Norcross by the shoulders, and slung him toward Leo. Leo pushed him off.

  “You left us in there, eh,” Locklin said, reaching for his sword.

  Norcross pulled out his pistol, scooting back and aiming at Locklin.

  “It doesn’t matter anymore! It’s over. You took everything away from us. You can kill me, but there are three other people here who are waitin’ to kill you. So do it. Pull the trigger. Pull the damn trigger!” Locklin balled up his fists in agitation.

  Norcross shrugged and aimed at Leo. He pulled the trigger and a bullet whirred out and smashed into Leo’s left shoulder. Leo winced in pain and reached forward, trying to grab something to hold his balance. Charis reached for him, but Leo had already hit the ground.

  Chapter 43

  Far From Home

  “Leo!” Charis screamed, rushing to him.

  Words could never find the way from Leo’s lips. The pain burned like a wildfire, and he looked over to see blood drain from his shoulder. He closed his eyes. Charis helped Leo get up on his rear and he leaned against the step leading into the temple.

  “Leo, ya gonna be okay.” Locklin approached him.

  Leo glanced up at him with dark eyes. His skin had become pale and he gasped for air. Locklin took off his shirt. He hunched over Leo and brought the shirt under his arm. He tied it across his shoulder as tight as he could and Leo moaned in agonizing pain.

  “We are goin’ to have to get that out soon,” Locklin said. “It could start an infection.”

  Bancroft knelt down beside Leo and grabbed his hand. He stared at him as if he were his own son. Leo only smiled at Bancroft, feeling too tired to try to say anything. Bancroft sat down this time and extended an arm over Leo, pulling him close to keep him warm.

  “Am I . . . am I going to die?” Leo asked.

  “No,” Locklin said. “It just hit your shoulder, but we have to get that out soon.”

  “Look at you,” Norcross said, glancing up to Locklin. “You fit in. I’m so glad you found a family.”

  Locklin lowered his head, but never turned to face him.

  Charis jumped to her feet and faced Norcross. Norcross aimed his pistol at her, but before he pulled the trigger, Charis was already on top of him. She kicked his pistol out from his hand and she aimed her crossbow at him. Norcross turned his upper torso to the pistol and reached for it, but a narrow piece of wood shot through his hand. He looked at the wood and saw feathers at the end and an arrowhead at the tip. Charis had shot him. She kicked the pistol further.

  Charis brought her foot around and kicked Norcross in the face. His head flung to the side and Charis squatted down and crawled up on top of him. She aimed her crossbow at him. “Today, you remember your defeat.”

  Norcross clutched his hand in pain, moaning as he did.

  Charis pulled a hand up in front of Norcross’s eye, and her claws extended. “You never should have come here.”

  Norcross screamed.

  Charis swiped her hand across his cheek, cutting it. Blood spread across his face and down the curvature of his lips. Charis looked off the ground beside Norcross to see that some of his blood splash onto some nearby pebbles and grass. Norcross screamed, but nobody was around to hear him.

  He was all alone.

  Charis grabbed Norcross’
s wounded hand and broke both of the tips of the arrow off. She tossed the pieces to the side and looked at his hand to see a chunk of splintered wood in the middle of the wound. She got up, kicked Norcross across the face again, and then turned to Leo, who managed a smile.

  “We need Ashera,” Bancroft said.

  “I don’t know where they went,” Locklin said, looking over his shoulder. “They even took that dark elf with them.”

  “What if you were to go and get the ship and bring it here,” Bancroft suggested.

  “That’s a long run, and what if I come across more dragons, eh?” Locklin said.

  Bancroft placed his hands on Locklin’s shoulders. “I believe in you.”

  Locklin took a deep breath and glanced into the forest. It wouldn’t be that long of a run, just a couple of minutes, but the ash part of the forest terrified him. He got to his feet and took off, disappearing into the forest.

  “What is it, son?” Bancroft asked Leo.

  “I . . . wanted . . . to thank you. You’ve been like a father to me and Nile, the past few days. I-I actually forgot that my real father was dead.”

  Bancroft teared up. “Everybody has to have a father, whether it is theirs or not.”

  Norcross laughed in the background.

  “If I don’t . . . if I don’t make it . . . tell Nile, I love him,” Leo said, leaning back.

  “You will make it,” Bancroft said.

  Charis was pacing back and forth with her crossbow ready. She watched as Norcross snickered and rolled in pain, holding his hand. She then stared at Leo, who was reaching for Bancroft’s hand. He squeezed his hand tightly and smiled. Tears strolled down her face and she looked to see if the Ancrya was in the sky, but Locklin had just left a minute ago. It wouldn’t be that quick.

  ***

  Locklin swore he heard a loud roar, but it was just the wind. He covered his head as he jumped over fallen branches and rocks. So far, he had tremendous luck, and he wondered why the dragons weren’t around. Perhaps it was just the one. However many there were, none or twenty, he shivered and the fear fueled his speed.

  In the distance, he could see the black forest turn into green. There was a smile on his face that he was leaving the dragon’s nest. The wind was rushing against his face, and his thighs hurt like hell, as if weights were tied to them. His instinct was to stop and catch his breath, but as he thought about Leo dying, he picked up his pace.