“Is he stuck?”
“No, he will come out of the temporal trap in about sixty seconds or so. That’s plenty of time to get you out of here.”
“What about you? You’re coming?”
“I can’t. If I release the trap too early it will unravel and envelop me.”
“How are you holding it intact?” He gave me a grim smile. “The temporal trap is a last ditch effort, Dante. Right now, my chi is what is keeping him in place. Once time runs out, I’m done. I’ll be lucky if I could stand, much less fight him.”
“There has to be a way, there is always a way.”
“There is, the way is to get you back to Meja and the group. My journey along this path is complete, Dante. You on the other hand, have much to do.”
I couldn’t believe this. I refused to believe it. While speaking, Devin had disabled the spheres around me and had manipulated one so that it became a dull blue.
“This one will take you to Meja. The instant the trap winds down, you press here.” He indicated a slight depression in the sphere. “I’ve already set the other spheres to destroy themselves. You must do this, Dante. Don’t worry about me. I’ll find a way out.” We both knew it was a lie. He went back to where Roman stood and put both hands on the hammer. “Remember, Dante, as soon as the trap runs down, not a moment before.”
I nodded my head, my voice caught in my throat.
“I’ll see you soon, Dante.” He didn’t look at me as he spoke. I felt the air around us charge and then thump as Roman emerged from the temporal trap.
“Very elegant Devin, a temporal trap, disguised as a shield. Surely you didn’t make that one on your own.”
“Go to hell, Roman.”
Roman chuckled. “Devin, it’s where I vacation, didn’t you know?”
Devin sagged against Roman. “Now you die.” Roman pulled the hammer, and Devin, in a semi-circle. Twisting the hammer, he wrenched it free from Devin’s grip. He rotated with blinding speed driving the hammer into Devin’s midsection. I heard a sickening crunch as I knew several ribs were broken. Devin bent double as he coughed up blood. Roman slammed the hammer into his back, crushing it. Devin’s legs crumpled beneath him. He looked up at me, fire burning in his eyes. “Now!”
As Roman brought the hammer down for the final blow, I pressed the sphere. I felt the air around me compress. I turned to see Roman, his face livid with rage. He brought the hammer down on Devin’s broken body several times, and then he turned to me. He was becoming indistinct. “I will find you, Dante. On that you can rest assured.” Then the spheres detonated and everything became white.
REUNION
“HE’S COMING TO.” For a moment all I could see was the hammer coming down over and over again. The image burned into my brain. A face came into focus: Meja.
“For a moment, I thought we lost you.”
“Where are we?” Meja looked at me quizzically. “What do you mean, where are we? We have just arrived at the Akashic Records. Where did you think you were?”
“I saw Devin.” I couldn’t have dreamt that.
“Devin? How, when? You never left my side.”
“I did. Some guy named Roman –”
“Did you say Roman?” It was Sylk.
“Yes, he…” I couldn’t look at Meja. “He killed Devin, said something about some woman named Aurora and Ascendants. It’s all jumbled at the moment.”
Sylk looked apprehensive. “If Aurora is involved we have just attracted the wrong kind of attention.”
“Is this the same one from the passage? Who is she?” I asked.
“I can’t go into more detail. Not now, we really don’t have time. Samir, did you find it?”
“I found it, extricating it will be another matter,” said Samir, running his hands through his hair.
“Leave that to me. We must make haste. Time has become our enemy now. Guardian, gather up the Warrior. Everyone else stay close. The Akashic Records are more treacherous than what appears on the surface.”
I tried to stand and found that my legs were no longer receiving signals from my brain, “What the hell?”
“It can be a side effect of wave ride, an unforeseen detour can sometimes cause shorts in the electrical system of the brain. Your body just needs some time to readjust. Unfortunately, time is the one thing we have precious little of.” Sylk looked down at me, sadness in his eyes. He turned to Meja. “My sympathies, Monitor. If Devin was facing Aurora’s enforcer, his was a path destined to end. No one has defeated Roman’s infernal hammer.”
Meja, tears in her eyes, turned away.
“We’d better get moving then,” she said thickly.
Zen picked me up like a sack of potatoes. “You okay, D?” he whispered. I couldn’t answer. How would I ever tell Meja that Devin sacrificed himself for me? Even now the truth of it pressed heavily on my chest. I had to tell them what was going on with the Ascendants, and what we were up against. How would I explain it all? More importantly how would I keep them safe, especially Meja? All these questions plagued me as we entered the hallway that led to the Akashic Records. I looked at Meja, my heart breaking with her pain. I knew I would die before I let anything cause her any more pain. I vowed to end this and get her away someplace safe. Deep within, I heard a laugh. It was Maelstrom.
“Let’s see what it will take to keep that vow, vessel. I look forward to it.”
BOOK 2
THE ASCENDANTS
ONE
THE DOJO SMELLED of sweat and old wood. The morning sun glistened on the hardwood floor creating pools of brilliance. In the center of the floor stood a figure. His white hair was cut short. His gnarled hands clasped gently in meditation rested on the knot of his obi the belt that designated him as the sensei of the school. His uniform hid his frame, muscled from years of extreme training. His breaths were so measured it seemed he wasn’t breathing.
Every morning he stood there, waiting for the sun to rise. As the sunlight touched his feet, he exploded in movement. His body moved with grace and power. Each strike was precise and deadly. He did this kata a prearranged set of movements every day since he learned it three hundred years ago. It was in his body now. He no longer needed to think about the movements. They flowed of their own volition. A dance of life and death. He finished his last move facing away from the entrance as another figure entered the dojo.
He was taller than the sensei. His long black hair was tied into a ponytail. Two swords were strapped to his back, the hilts of which protruded past his shoulders, giving the impression of horns. He stepped onto the dojo floor, his leather boots creaking softly. His every step spoke menace.
“I see you haven’t lost your ability, sensei,” said the figure.
The sensei spoke without turning. With his senses expanded he knew it was Rael.
“That title is no longer applicable to you. How did you escape?”
“Funny thing, that. It seems ascendants are dying, sensei,” said Rael.
The sensei remained motionless.
“Dying or being killed?”
“Does it matter? The end result is the same and here I am,” said Rael with a mock bow.
“You will go back, Harbinger,” said the sensei in a quiet voice.
“Are you going to send me? Are you strong enough?” said Rael as he unsheathed his swords. Dark blue energy enveloped the blades, crackling with power. The smell of burning metal filled the dojo as he extended his arms to the side.
“Our strength does not diminish with age. You most of all should know that.”
The sensei turned to face Rael. He held a folded metal fan in each hand.
“Where is he, sensei? The one who carries the weapon?”
“He is not here.” The sensei flicked his wrists, opening the fans.
“But you know where he is,” said Rael. “All of you are connected on some level. You know where he is.”
He brought his swords to his sides and the energy arced between them, setting off small lightning st
rikes across the dojo floor. Rael approached the sensei, gliding forward with unnatural speed, his fans giving off silver light as he advanced. Rael slashed with both swords, crossing them. Flicking a fan closed as he ducked, the sensei stopped the attack, immobilizing Rael’s forearms. Energy bathed them as Rael twisted back, out of the hold.
“Stop this, Rael,” said the sensei as he stepped back. “You cannot help your master. It would be the end of everything.” Rael took a defensive stance, his swords burning the air around them.
“Help him? You say that like I have a choice. He owns me, sensei. Just tell me where Dante is. I know you know.”
“I cannot.”
“Before you die today, you will.”
Rael stepped back and sheathed his swords as three figures entered the dojo. Standing seven feet tall, their muscular bodies rippled with dark energy as they stepped onto the dojo floor. Two of them held metal spheres attached to a chain, the third held a little girl.
“Grandpa, are these big men your friends?” said the little girl.
“Her parents?” asked the sensei.
Rael walked over and took the little girl’s hand and squatted down to look in her eyes. A chain and bell materialized in the giant’s hand as she let go.
“They didn’t make it,” said Rael. “Did you know her father was an ascendant?”
The sensei narrowed his eyes.
“Gyrevex,” said the sensei. “You dared to summon them?”
“I wonder if she is an ascendant?” said Rael as he stroked her hair. Rael walked over to the Gyrevex nearest him, tapping him on the chest as he spoke.
“Turns out I didn’t need three of these,” said Rael. “One of them is like an army, unfeeling, uncaring. Practically impossible to stop. He gave me three—talk about overkill.”
“She is not part of this. Let her go,” said the sensei.
“If she was an ascendant it would be too early to tell. What’s your name, sweetheart?” Rael said as he crouched down to speak to her.
“Nina,” answered the girl. “Are you going to hurt my grandpa?”
“Well, Nina, here is the thing. Your grandpa has a secret, but he doesn’t want to share it with me. You like secrets?”
Nina nodded slowly. Rael looked at the sensei as he spoke.
“Well, if grandpa tells me his secret I promise to let him go. How old are you, Nina?”
“Four.”
“Do you like ice cream? I love ice cream. Do you want to get some while grandpa plays with my friends?”
At the mention of ice cream, Nina’s face lit up with expectation. Rael stood up and spoke to the Gyrevex.
“He has information I need. Extract it.”
The sensei took a step forward. The three Gyrevex turned to the sensei. Rael spoke without turning.
“I wouldn’t. Innocent eyes shouldn’t have to see bloodshed. Don’t you agree, sensei?”
The sensei stood still. The three Gyrevex remained facing the sensei, their attention fixed.
“All you had to do was tell me. You caused this, remember that. Let’s go, Nina. Do you like chocolate?” Nina grabbed Rael’s hand as they left the dojo. The Gyrevex fanned out and began to spin their metal spheres.
“Very well, then,” said the sensei. “A life for a life.”
The sensei opened his fans with a flick. The metallic sound echoed through the dojo over the whirr of the spinning spheres. The sensei focused his chi and his fans flared bright silver. The first Gyrevex let his sphere go. The sensei twisted his body sideways. The sphere, called a bell flew past him. He immediately bent forwards to avoid the second bell that came from behind. The third Gyrevex stayed back, observing. With a tug, both Gyrevex pulled their bells back. I need to get rid of these bells, thought the sensei. The first Gyrevex was spinning his bell overhead, while the second spun his to the side of his body. They attacked simultaneously. The first aimed for his head, while the second came in low trying to break his legs. The sensei leapt into the air, avoiding both attacks. The third Gyrevex attacked then, sending his bell directly at the sensei. Too late, the sensei realized the tactic. He brought up his fans to shield his body from the bell. The bell struck his chest. The force of its impact was dispersed by his fans. Two, maybe three ribs broken, he thought as he was flung back across the dojo floor. He stood slowly as they closed on him. The first attacked, sending his bell straight at the sensei. The sensei turned around the attack, allowing the bell to pass behind him before he brought his fan down and severed the chain. The bell continued its trajectory and smashed into a wall, cratering it. Blood trickled from the sensei’s mouth. He wiped it away using his sleeve. Have to end this quickly, he thought. He closed the distance on the first Gyrevex, who stood momentarily confused at the loss of his bell. It was all the time he needed. His fans a blur, the sensei attacked. The Gyrevex fell, dead before hitting the ground. He sensed the second bell before he saw it. Closing a fan and tucking it into his top he slid back, narrowly avoiding the attack. As it reached the end of its chain, he grabbed hold and sliced through. He let the bell fall several feet before rotating his body and returning it to its owner. It hit the Gyrevex with a sickening crunch. One more, he thought as a bell crashed into his side. Moments later the dojo door opened.
*****
Rael walked in to see the sensei on the floor. The last Gyrevex towered over him, spinning his bell.
“Stop. I told you I needed information from him.” The Gyrevex stepped back, the bell disappearing.
“Unstoppable, but not too bright.” Rael looked around the dojo and took in the scene. “Seems like I needed three after all,” he said.
He crouched down near the sensei. The damage was extensive and he cursed under his breath.
“Where is Dante, sensei? Where is the weapon bearer?”
The sensei, barely conscious, looked at Rael.
“Nina.”
“A life for a life, sensei. No harm will come to her if you tell me, on my word.”
The sensei sighed and closed his eyes. Too late, the old man is gone, goddammit, thought Rael. He stood with venom in his eyes and looked at the last Gyrevex, who stood impassively to the side.
“Rael…” whispered the sensei.
Rael turned back to the broken body of the man he once knew as his teacher.
“On your word…”
“She will be safe until she comes of age and into her abilities, on my word. Where is he?” Lucius is going to kill me for this, he thought.
“The records, the Akashic Records,” said the sensei. Moments later the sensei breathed his last. Rael stood looking at the Gyrevex.
“Well, damn. I’m going to need more than three of you to get in there. Let’s go, we have a warrior to kill,” he said as he walked to the exit. The Gyrevex trailed close behind.
Rael left the dojo and his past behind him.
TWO
“HE’S COMING TO,” said a voice behind me.
For a moment all I could see was the hammer coming down over and over. Everything was blurry, and then a face came into focus: Meja.
“I thought we lost you,” she said.
“Where are we?” I asked as I looked around at the group. Closest to me was Meja. Standing behind her were Zen and Kal. To the side stood Sylk and Samir looking over what appeared to be a map. Beside Sylk stood Mara at guard as usual.
“What do you mean where are we? We just arrived at the Akashic Records. Where do you think we are?”
“Devin, I saw Devin.” Did I dream that? It was too real, I thought.
She grabbed my hand. “Devin? How did you see him? You never left my side,” she said.
“I did. We were attacked by someone named Roman. He had a huge hammer,” I said.
“Did you say Roman?” It was Sylk.
“Yes, I saw him attack Devin.” I don’t want to say he killed him. Can anyone survive that many blows?
“He mentioned someone named Aurora and kept saying something about how the ascendants were in d
anger,” I said.
Sylk looked apprehensive.
“If Aurora is involved we have attracted the wrong kind of attention,” he said.
“Who is she?” I asked. I was still shaken up from my trip. Sylk turned to face Samir.
“Not now—we don’t have time. Samir, did you find it?”
“I found it,” said Samir. “Extricating it will be another matter entirely.”
“Leave that to me. We must make haste. Time is our enemy now. Guardian, gather up the warrior. Everyone else stay close. The Records are more treacherous than they seem.”
I tried to stand and found my legs unresponsive. Sylk stood over me.
“It can be an effect of a prolonged wave-ride,” said Sylk. “An unforeseen detour can sometimes cause shorts in the electrical system of the brain. You just need some time to adjust. Unfortunately, time is the one thing we have precious little of.
Sylk turned to Meja. “My sympathies, monitor. If Devin was facing Aurora’s enforcer, his was a path destined to end. No one has defeated Roman’s infernal hammer.”
Meja, her eyes wet, turned away. “We’d better get moving, then,” she said thickly.
“Guardian, if you would be so kind,” said Sylk. “We need to make haste.”
Zen picked me up like a sack of potatoes and placed me over his shoulder.
“You okay, Dante?” Zen asked.
I couldn’t answer him. Devin had sacrificed himself for me. The image of Roman’s attack kept replaying in my head. How could I be a Warrior of the Way if I couldn’t keep them safe? I looked at Meja, her pain piercing my own. Before us lay the entrance to the Akashic Records and the key to ending this. The master syllabist text held the answers I needed to control Maelstrom and face Lucius. I promised myself I would stop Lucius and keep my world safe. Even if it cost me everything.
Deep within me, I heard a laugh. It was Maelstrom.
Warriors of the Way-Pentalogy Page 23