“That explains the Harbinger,” said Samir.
“Exactly. If that number falls below twenty ascendants, this plane falls.”
“This is a hub plane—if it falls…” started Luna.
“Then every plane connected to it falls,” said Meja. “Unless this plane is sealed off.”
“We can seal off three planes?” I asked.
“Nine planes. Three connected to this one and two connected to each of those. This is the hub,” said Meja.
“That would mean—” began Samir.
“No more portals, no more travelling, no more threat,” said Meja
“No, you cannot do this. It would strand the other planes. It would mean no warriors to assist in times of crisis. We do not know if the process is reversible after the last time,” said Samir.
“The last time?” I asked.
“At one point it was twelve planes, until the hub closed off the access to one of the triads,” said Samir.
“To prevent destruction to all. The plane had been overtaken by disease that we had no cure for,” said Meja.
“The disease was never proven and the triad still stands stranded. The hub was never able to reestablish a connection,” said Samir. “We do not know what happened to a countless number of beings.”
“This is ancient history,” said Meja.
“The lesson still stands, monitor. We cannot abandon the other planes.”
“It would mean each triad stands alone, without the hub. It has been done in the past,” said Meja.
“And resulted in civil war as the planes warred against each other,” said Samir. “The hub is the stabilizing force.”
“We are down to fifty ascendants. I would say this is a crisis,” said Zen.
“We are not going to let that number fall any lower than it is right now. But we can’t stop the Harbinger on our own,” said Meja.
“We must try. I can teach the warrior the words—”
Meja exploded. “His weapon is tainted! It belongs to an entity we are trying to stop. Don’t you understand we don’t have another choice?”
“Monitor, there is always a choice,” said Samir.
Meja gathered her things and stuffed them in her pack.
“This plan of yours; teach him the words, and then what? He defeats Lucius with his own weapon? Why not just kill him now?” she said as she looked at Dante. “You would be doing him a favor.”
“When you say it like that it doesn’t sound like such a good plan,” said Zen.
“How would you like me to say it? I’m not going to sugarcoat it just so you can feel like heroes on your way to save the plane. The best outcome of this mission is suicide.”
“We cannot abandon them, monitor,” said Samir as he placed a hand on hers.
“I’m trying to save them, don’t you see?”
“You must have faith in your companions, in the warriors around you. We are not so weak. Perhaps we can make the difference.”
“Can we put the ascendants in the mirror?” I said. “A place like where Mariko was that would keep their connection to this plane, but keep them out of harm’s way and not drive them psycho?”
Everyone looked at Meja and I realized that she was the emotional center of our group.
She paused a moment. “It’s possible, but it would be the same as imprisoning them. How is that any better?” said Meja.
“It would buy us time, not much I admit, but maybe enough for us to stop Rael,” I said. “We could ask them to help us. The alternative is to be hunted down by Rael.”
She nodded. “I know of a place that can serve this purpose, where they would not feel uncomfortable. This is a temporary measure at best. We will have to prevent Rael from killing more ascendants,” said Meja.
“Let’s go save some ascendants,” I said. The words had just left my lips as the large windows shattered, sending glass in every direction. The Black Lotus had found us.
EIGHTEEN
SYLK APPROACHED A Rah Ven. It was one of the few that remained. This one was older and some of its coat was covered in gray hair.
“Peace, old one,” said Sylk.
“Peace, Karashihan. I am Grawl,” said the Rah Ven.
“You have lost much today. My heart is with you.”
The Rah Ven remained in canine form as he padded closer to Sylk. He looked into Sylk’s eyes a moment before speaking.
“Your words are true. We are saddened by the loss, but we do not mourn. They died in service to the Watch. It was an honorable death, one befitting one of our kind.”
“I cannot bring them back, but I can try and prevent more of this death,” said Sylk.
“Make your request. I have many to tend to.”
“The Keeper said to look to you for the location of my companions,” said Sylk.
“Did you know we are hunted, Karashihan? Like dogs we are pursued. We are enslaved and bonded against our will across the planes. They steal the little ones from their families and slaughter us with no remorse.”
Sylk remained silent. He knew of the plight of the Rah Ven.
“You will do something for me, Karashihan. You say you want to prevent more of this”—Grawl looked around at the bodies of the slain Rah Ven lying in the courtyard—”then you will stop those who hunt our young, ripping them from their homes and enslaving them.”
“Who is it, old one?” said Sylk.
“You may know of them. They call themselves the Mikai,” said Grawl.
Sylk looked into the eyes of the Rah Ven, his jaw set. “What you ask is no small thing, old one. These are the most deadly assassins in all of the planes.”
“It is why I ask it of you. That is my condition. Do you accept?”
If Sylk agreed he would be sworn to bring those responsible for hunting the Rah Ven to justice. If they were part of the Mikai, it could mean his life.
“You have my word, old one. I will find those responsible and bring them to justice,” said Sylk. “The sword or the scroll?” He was giving the Rah Ven the opportunity to mete out the type of justice to the accused. One was swift and final—death. The other would bring those accused before their accusers.
Grawl fixed his yellow eyes on Sylk. Then he growled.
“A hundred years ago I would have said the scroll. There are far too few of us now because we avoided the sword. Take them the sword, Karashihan,” said Grawl.
“As you wish,” said Sylk. “My companions?”
“They are with one of my pack mates. She is called Luna. They are in the hub plane.”
Sylk looked at the destroyed obelisk, which would have given him a portal to the hub.
“I cannot travel there directly,” said Sylk.
The shortest path is through my home,” said Grawl. “You cannot travel there alone. You are not Rah Ven.”
“Will you accompany me, old one?”
“I cannot. I have been bound to this place for too long. Perhaps this will help you,” said Grawl as he shifted to his human form and gave Sylk a pendant that had been hanging around his neck.
The pendant was in the shape of a Rah Ven fang. As a human, Grawl looked like an older man with grizzled features. His wiry frame was covered in hair. He stood a head taller than Sylk. Only the eyes remained unchanged, glowing a deep yellow, the color of honey in sunlight. He was dressed in flowing robes that denoted his position as pack leader among the Rah Ven.
“This should allow you passage. It says you are part of my pack. If you are stopped, present this pendant,” said Grawl.
Sylk bowed. “Thank you, old one.”
“Call me Grawl. You are part of my pack now. Remember your words, and let your actions match them, Karashihan.”
“Run long, run fast, Grawl.”
Grawl nodded and shifted back to canine form. He headed back to the Watch, leaving Sylk alone.
“Time and circumstance change us all,” said the Keeper as he strode beside him.
“The cost of his help was steep,” said Sylk.
The Keeper placed a hand on Sylk’s shoulder. His grip was a vice.
“You should leave here now. I am afraid we will have more violence before the day is done,” said the Keeper. “Keep your wits about you in their plane. That pendant can bring you trouble if used against you. Before you go to the hub, you are needed elsewhere. My apologies for your rapid departure.”
“What do you mean, more violence?” said Sylk as the Keeper shoved him back and out of the plane.
*****
The Keeper had forced Sylk out of the plane with a thought. He had sensed his new visitor.
“I love what you’ve done with the place. Renovations?”
The Keeper turned to face the speaker.
“Harbinger, as you can see you are too late. The one you seek is not here and I do not know where he is.”
“I noticed,” said Rael, looking around. “Seems someone was very upset.”
“The warrior is not here and I cannot help you,” said the Keeper.
Rael drew his swords. The energy arced between them as he held them in front of his body.
“That’s where you’re wrong. I think you can help me,” he said.
The Keeper brought his staff before him, his eyes focused on Rael.
“You and I share a similar trait. I heard you can’t die as long as the Watch stands,” said Rael. “We both know this is not the true Watch.” He swept an arm around the courtyard.
“You must not do this, Harbinger,” said the Keeper.
“I know that the real Watch lies beneath our feet.” said Rael.
The Keeper remained silent, his face grim.
“I can’t die either,” said Rael. As long as my master lives, he will keep me alive, but maybe you are powerful enough to test that theory. What do you say, sensei? Can you kill me?” said Rael as he attacked with both swords.
NINETEEN
MARA SMELLED THE smoke first. Not daring to open the safe room for fear this was ruse to draw them out, she stayed back. The heat was next followed by panic—Kal’s.
“They’re trying to burn us!” said Kal. “We need to get out of here. We need to get out. Need to get out.”
Kal got up and headed for the door on unsteady feet.
“Can’t die in here. Won’t die in here, let me out, Mara,” said Kal as she tried to get past Mara.
“Wait, Kal. This could be a trick. This is Rael we are dealing with. Take a breath and let me check outside,” said Mara in a measured tone. Each word was deliberate and she kept eye contact with Kal as she sat her down on the makeshift bed.
“Let me check if this is a real fire,” said Mara. “I promise to come back for you.”
Mara slid open the door and was greeted with searing heat. The flames had taken over the lower level and were engulfing the upper level.
Those are real. How the hell do we get out of this?
She reached back in and grabbed Kal.
“We need to leave, now,” said Mara.
She took a blanket from the bed and wrapped Kal in it. Dousing it with water they made their way to the window. The wooden slats were weakened by the fire. Mara’s hands were surrounded with purple energy as she broke the slats.
“We are going to have to jump from here, Kal,” said Mara.
Kal was unresponsive. Her eyes were fixed on the flames.
“I don’t want to burn. Don’t let me burn. Don’t let me burn,” Kal whispered as Mara lifted her up and dropped her outside of the house. Mara looked one last time around the room. The flames were licking up the walls and the heat was becoming unbearable. She jumped out of the window landing bedside Kal, who was moving away from the house and the fire.
“Are you hurt?” said Mara.
Kal stood up and started running. Mara kept pace behind her.
“Kal, stay close. It’s dangerous out here,” said Mara, looking around.
“I’m not going near that,” said Kal as she slowed.
This is bad. We need to get out of here. We need Sylk, before the Watchers arrive and erase us, thought Mara. Master, where are you?
“You’re right, we need to keep moving. We can’t stay here. Let’s go, but stay close to me,” said Mara.
It seemed Kal had returned to her senses as they headed into the forest that surrounded the still-burning house.
“What happened to you?” said Mara.
“I don’t want to…I can’t talk about it—thank you, though. If I had been alone I don’t think I would have made it out,” said Kal.
“We are all pursued by demons. I understand,” said Mara. If we don’t get out of here soon we will be pursued by something much worse. The image of Anna reduced to nothing flashed in her mind and she picked up her pace.
Behind them a pair of eyes followed their progress. The figure leapt silently from branch to branch, staying close.
TWENTY
GLASS WAS EVERYWHERE as black-clad bodies rappelled into the space. I was still disoriented from using my inner sight, but I knew this was bad. We were surrounded in seconds. She came in through the door. A tall blonde dressed in a black body suit covered in knives. She held a dagger in each hand and stopped just inside the door, letting her eyes adjust to the change in light.
“You let him use his inner sight ,Meja. Why would you do that? You had to have known we would be waiting for something like that,” the woman said as she entered the room.
“Monique, how’s Diana?” said Meja.
“You bitch,” said Monique as she blurred her hands and threw her daggers.
Meja’s sword appeared instantly. She deflected one of the daggers and side-stepped the other.
Two more daggers appeared in Monique’s hands.
“I can do this all day,” said Meja.
Monique smiled. “I’m sure you can. What about them? Can they do this all day?” she said as she began to rapid fire daggers at all of us.
Several of the daggers found targets. I managed to stumble out of the way as my sense of bearing returned. Zen and Luna were not so lucky. Zen caught a dagger in the thigh and Luna had one in her arm when Monique was done.
Meja advanced on Monique, sword in hand.
“Stop where you are or I will kill you all,” said Monique. She had her hand raised. All around us the members of the Black Lotus aimed pistol crossbows at us.
“I won’t make the same mistake Diana made, Meja,” said Monique.
Meja stopped. My head finally cleared as I realized the situation we were in. Samir was standing next to me whispering something I couldn’t make out. Inside of me I could feel Maelstrom struggling against my control.
Let me out, vessel. I can take care of this upstart. I only need a few moments, said Maelstrom. The anger rose. We were trying to save not only our plane but every plane connected to ours. How could they not see this? Why would they stand in our way instead of helping us?
Maelstrom appeared in my hands, its black and crimson symbols shining with light.
“Dante, no!” yelled Meja.
Time slowed as I saw the expressions change on those around me. I could hear the others. They were far off voices, a noise hovering below the roar in my ears. Part of me knew this was wrong. I knew this would only make matters worse, but I had lost control and it was too late now. Monique had given the order and the arrows were on their way. Instruments of death coming to claim our lives. Because of me, because of who and what I was. Because I wielded a cursed weapon.
Do what you must, Maelstrom, I thought.
I felt myself recede from my body as it took over, slamming the short staff to the ground. My voice took on that strange dissonance when it spoke through me.
“Repelare,” I said in that strange voice. A shock wave spread out from the impact of the staff on the floor. The arrows were sent off course. Some of them hit other members of the Black Lotus. Most careened off the walls and bounced harmlessly on the floor. Most but not all. Meja had an arrow buried in her side and Samir had several arrows in his leg. I h
ad been too late and now they were suffering for it.
“You cannot keep them safe, warrior. You failed. Look around, only you remain,” said Monique.
I didn’t need to look around. I could sense where each of them lay.
“You should have killed me first,” I said.
Monique threw several more daggers at me. I swatted them away as I closed the distance.
“Fire at will!” she yelled.
I could hear the fear and panic in her voice and it made me glad. Arrows were flying at me from every direction. I could sense the displacement of air around them and avoided or deflected them. She kept throwing daggers at me, forcing me to move or roll to avoid being hit.
“You have neither the skill nor the expertise to stand before me, child,” I said as I slid into melee range.
I jabbed forward with Maelstrom, she parried with her daggers. As I brought the staff back, blades formed on the ends. I swung back. Too late she realized that the blades existed. She blocked the staff as I buried the blade in her leg.
“Ungh,” she cried out as I ripped the blade out of her leg sideways doing as much damage as possible. That was when the first arrow hit me. A few seconds later my vision became blurry. More arrows followed the first, burying themselves in my back and legs.
Poison, goddammit. Not fair, I thought. As if fairness had any part in this situation. I collapsed to the ground as hands grabbed me and a second explosion rocked the building.
“Let’s go!” yelled Monique. “We have what we came for.”
I was picked up as the world tilted around me.
“And the others?” a voice said.
“Let the poison do its work. They are finished,” she said.
Once we were outside she grabbed me by the front of my cloak. My eyes focused on her knuckle knives as they glinted in the sun. Rage danced in her eyes. She punched me once, twice and once more. I saw the desire to end me in that moment. It would be a simple thing, a twist of the wrist and she would plunge the blade in my throat instead of hard metal against my head. I felt my face begin to swell. For once I was glad I was poisoned. The pain of the blows came a distant second to the raging pain in the rest of my body as the poison ate away at me.
Warriors of the Way-Pentalogy Page 28