Warriors of the Way-Pentalogy

by Orlando A. Sanchez

  “Who is your source?” asked Raquel. “How do you know this isn’t a trap? Something to round up the last remaining Deadeyes and wipe them out completely?”

  “Because she wouldn’t lie to us, or to me,” said Hiram. “I trust her with my life.”

  “She?” asked Franca. “Does she have a name?”

  “We never used names,” said Hiram. “But we have a meeting in two days. Come with me and see I’m telling the truth.”

  “I don’t want to see you end up dead,” said Franca. “I think you are being played. I will go with you and prove it.”

  They both looked at Raquel.

  “It’s not like I have any pressing business,” said Raquel. Besides getting rid of these Fangs before someone comes looking for them. “Fine, I’ll come.”

  NINETEEN

  “WHAT DO YOU mean Shadowstrike is killing you?” asked Meja. “The bonding was successful.”

  “It was,” I answered. “But when that kindred Watcher died in the circle, it tainted the ritual somehow.”

  “This is my fault,” she said. “I should have dispatched those Watchers away from the circle. How long?”

  “It’s not your fault,” I said. “You had no way of knowing what the intent was.”

  “Whoever sent them must have known this,” said Meja. “How is it doing the damage?”

  “Through the same bond,” I said. “Every time I use the weapon the damage advances. You had no way of knowing they would taint the ritual.”

  “I should have known it was their goal,” she answered, her voice on edge. “How long do we have?”

  “I don’t know,” I said. “It’s not something I can gauge with time. There isn’t a way to measure it. All I know is how far it has progressed.”

  “There must be a way to reverse it,” she said. “What happened in there?”

  She gestured to the now silent Watch. I didn’t sense any energy emanating from it. The structure had gone dark. The glow I had witnessed earlier was gone. I let my senses expand and felt it there on the fringes of my reach. The energy wasn’t gone, it was just muted.

  “This is a Source Watch, or at least that’s what it’s called,” I said. “I met the Keeper.”

  “What did he say?”

  “Said I had a choice about who to face,” I said. “Once I make that choice there is no going back.”

  “Anything else?” she asked. “Did he know about your ‘condition’ with the weapon?”

  “I think he did but he wanted me to find out for myself.”

  I explained what happened when he had touched me. I tried to describe the explosion of power I felt and how the glyphs Ono had etched into my body responded.

  “What was it for?”

  “He said it was help,” I said. “But I don’t think he meant it as help with my weapon.”

  “It doesn’t matter. We have to get you to someone who can help,” she said. “You need a healer.”

  Nina was slowly shaking her head. I had a feeling what she was going to say before the words left her mouth.

  “What is it?” Meja snapped. “Stop shaking your head and just say it.”

  “I couldn’t sense it before,” said Nina as she jumped at Meja’s outburst. “But here in this place I can feel the taint in his bond.”

  “And you’re stating the obvious because?” said Meja.

  It wasn’t like her to respond this way.

  I put a hand on her arm. “Listen, Meja, this isn’t your fault,” I said. “There was no way—”

  She pulled her arm away.

  “Of course it’s my fault, Dante,” she said barely above a whisper. “I gave my word to protect you and I have failed. I killed the Watcher in the circle, tainting the ritual.”

  “You also saved my life in the process,” I said.

  “No. Don’t you see?” she answered. “They were never there to kill you. They were sent to taint the ritual and I helped them.”

  “I think there’s a way to stop the taint from spreading,” said Nina. “But…it’s dangerous and will probably kill you.”

  “It’s not like I have much of an option,” I said. “What do I have to do?”

  “You have to complete a purifying wavedance through your weapon,” said Nina.

  “What does that even mean?” asked Meja. “How can he wavedance through his weapon? He doesn’t even know how to wavedance.”

  “The process will be easy,” said Nina. “He doesn’t need mastery, just basic skill for this.”

  “And this purifying wavedance?” I asked.

  “I have only heard of it,” said Nina. “This wavedance was used to purify weapons and enhance their power. It should work with your weapon, I think.”

  “You think?” asked Meja. “Dante, don’t do this—we can find another way to remove this taint.”

  “My weapon is no ordinary weapon, Nina,” I said. “Will it work on something that powerful?”

  Nina shrugged her shoulders. “I can sense the energy of your weapon,” she said. “It’s greater than any I have sensed before. I don’t know. I can take you through the beginning of the wavedance, but you must complete it.”

  “Meja, if you feel something going wrong or the weapon taking over, you know what to do,” I said.

  “I know what to do right now,” she said. “Let’s find another solution.”

  “Give me a moment,” I said. I sat on the ground, took a deep breath, and pulled my awareness inward.

  Can this taint be removed?

  I don’t know. I have never been in this situation. Usually I am the taint that my vessel wants to remove.

  Is it possible? Have you heard of a purifying wavedance?

  Yes, it was an ancient ritual performed before battle that granted warriors immense power and binded them to their weapons. I don’t know how effective it will be on a weapon of my caliber.

  I don’t see much of a choice here.

  Dante, there is always a choice. You can do nothing and live a very long life as long as you don’t use me. Conversely, you can face your enemies and make your life substantially shorter.

  I opened my eyes and stood. “Let’s do this,” I said.

  TWENTY

  “IT FELT TOO easy, Roman,” said Kenji. “Something is off.”

  “It didn’t feel all that easy on my end,” said Roman. “In any case, Aurora will have things handled by now.”

  They walked away from the fourth subterranean level of Aurora’s complex. The walls on this level were eight feet thick and covered with glyphs.

  “I’m going upstairs and getting out of this forsaken basement,” said Roman. “I never did like it down here.”

  “Go get some medical attention while you’re at it,” said Kenji. “I’m going to stay here in case she needs assistance.”

  “Look around you,” said Roman. “Those glyphs are not ordinary. I don’t know how or where she found them and I don’t want to know, but even I wouldn’t want to try and breach past them.”

  “I agree, but this is no ordinary prisoner,” said Kenji. “You go ahead. This is just for my peace of mind.”

  Kenji entered a room off the hallway that led back up to the main complex. Inside the room was a small tre, half the usual size. Each of the concentric circles consisted of a precious gem. The outer circle was ruby, the middle circle was sapphire, and the smaller inner circle was diamond. The room vibrated with latent chi, and once Kenji stepped into the center of the circle a deep thrum filled the space.

  Roman peered into the room and whistled under his breath.

  “A battle tre?” he said. “This is new. At least you will be safe in here.”

  “I will be able to monitor what is happening in the cell from here and take action if needed,” said Kenji. “If something goes wrong I can contain him here on this level. He will never reach the main complex.”

  “I hope it doesn’t come to that,” said Roman with a tight smile as he swung his hammer over his shoulder. “If you sense any
thing do not hesitate to send for me.”

  **********

  Roman closed the door, activating the glyphs and sealing it from the outside. If something went wrong, the power contained within the tre could obliterate the entire level. He looked down the hallway at the large steel door at the end. The door stood ten feet high and half as wide. Glyphs ran along its face and covered the walls next to it. He could see the glyphs were designed to contain whatever was behind the door.

  Aurora, I really hope you know what you are doing, he thought. He headed out of the level and back to the main complex.

  ***********

  Kenji slowed his breathing until it appeared he wasn’t breathing at all. Once there, he allowed his awareness to expand. The diamond circle encased him in a cylinder of light as he felt himself explore the hallway. He felt the door and sensed the glyphs. They were designed to keep things in, not out, and his passage inside the cell was unobstructed. As he entered, he saw Aurora sitting in front of a manacled Rael. The manacles were similar to the suppressors he had seen in the past. These contained the partial inversion glyph he gave her. The cell was empty except for a solid wooden table and chair. Across from the table, Rael stood manacled to the wall. His injuries were nonexistent, but he appeared to be unconscious.

  “Harbinger, let’s stop the charade,” she said. “I know you are conscious.”

  Rael opened his eyes and he smiled.

  “Never miss an opportunity for beauty sleep,” said Rael. “How can I help you? Nice bracelets, by the way, where did you get the glyph?”

  “Something I had lying around,” said Aurora. “I’m glad you like them.”

  “I know someone who would kill to get his hands on this, literally,” he said. “It’s not complete, is it?”

  “No, it isn’t,” she answered. “If it were, you would be disintegrating even as we speak.”

  “I figured as much,” he said. “Still, even partial it managed to let your puppies thrash me. Remind me to return the favor when I leave.”

  “Leaving is not part of the equation for you, Harbinger,” she said. “You aren’t leaving this cell until I consider you a non-threat.”

  “I see,” answered Rael. “You do realize he will find me, in time.”

  “I suggest you study the glyphs on the wall a little more carefully,” said Aurora as she sat back. “Please, take your time.”

  Rael looked at the glyphs, analyzing them. After a few moments, a smile crossed his lips and he laughed.

  “That is clever,” he said. “You’ve made this cell a moving interstice.”

  “Which means your master won’t be able to find you because you will never be in the same place twice,” she said. “Now, I have some questions for you.”

  Rael laughed again. “You still don’t know what you are facing,” he said as he composed himself. “This isn’t going to stop him. All you are doing is delaying the inevitable. When he does find me, and he will, he will be…displeased. Which, I can guarantee you will not be pleasant.”

  “Let me worry about that,” said Aurora. “What does he want? Did he task you with killing the ascendants?”

  “Like I told your puppies,” he answered, “I’m off ascendant-removal duty. There is a different priority now.”

  “What is more important than reforming the bridge to the hub?” she asked.

  “You don’t want the answer to that, trust me,” replied Rael. “I’ll die before I give you that information. Oh, wait, I can’t do that.”

  He started laughing again. Aurora waited until he calmed down. She walked up to him and formed a sphere of energy in her hand.

  “I am aware of your particular ability to evade death,” she said. “It’s still a possibility I’m willing to explore. However, I do know that you feel pain, and everyone has a breaking point, Harbinger, even you.”

  She placed her hand on his abdomen and let the sphere enter his body. The backlash of energy filled the cell, accompanied by Rael’s screams.

  “It’s only a matter of time, Harbinger,” she said once the screaming subsided. “I will take you to that breaking point and you will answer my questions, or you will wish you were dead.”

  Blood trickled from the side of Rael’s mouth. His head hung as he gasped for breath.

  “You still don’t understand,” he said, his voice a rasp. “I wish for that every moment of my so-called life.”

  He spat blood on the floor as he looked down at her. Around him small arcs of energy jumped to life. They traveled across the manacles and down the length of his body. He gave her a crooked smile before more energy arced away from his body.

  She drove another sphere into his chest. More screams filled the cell.

  “I don’t know how you are accessing any energy, but it won’t help you,” she said as she prepared another sphere.

  He gasped for breath as he strained to look at her. His eyes were now covered in the blood that flowed from them and it obscured his vision.

  “What is his plan?” she asked, letting the sphere dance lazily in her palm.

  “Do you really think you can stop him?”

  “Yes, I do,” she answered after a moment. “And I will not hesitate to use every means at my disposal.”

  “I don’t know what’s worse,” he said between gasps. “The lie you’re telling me or the fact that you believe the lie.”

  “Do not pretend to know what I can do,” she answered. “I will undo this plane if it means destroying him.”

  “Now that sounds familiar,” said Rael. “It doesn’t matter anyway. You have run out of time.”

  **********

  Kenji felt a tremor of energy along the floor of the cell. The glyphs covering the walls fluctuated and then disappeared leaving the walls bare. A mist filled the cell behind Aurora. From the mist emerged a figure—an old man—his gray hair braided into a long ponytail that hung down to his waist. Dressed in simple black clothing, he stood just inside the door, his gray eyes impassive as he took in the room. Kenji snapped his awareness back to his body and made his way to the lock. He made the gestures and opened the door when a second tremor raced across the floor, knocking him back several feet. He scrambled back up and looked down the hallway. The steel door had crumpled inward. It looked like a giant had taken the door in his hands and squeezed it. The mangled door effectively sealed the cell. All of the glyphs around the door and the surrounding walls were gone.

  Who or what could do such a thing?

  **********

  Inside the cell, Rael looked up and behind Aurora.

  “That was faster than last time,” he said. “You have to admit she had a good plan.”

  “A fluctuating interstice—yes, it did take me a moment to locate it,” said the old man who still stood behind Aurora.

  Aurora turned around and faced the old man with spheres of energy in both hands.

  “Destroyer,” she said, “you have no business here.”

  “I disagree, Aurora,” answered Lucius. “The Harbinger is currently engaged in my business and you are detaining him.”

  “He is not leaving here,” she said. “Not while I am still breathing.”

  “A situation I can remedy if you insist on this course of action,” said Lucius.

  “I know you are only a shadow,” she said. “I am not a door you can easily crush. You will not remove him.”

  “Let me show you how mistaken you are,” said Lucius as he closed the distance.

  TWENTY-ONE

  “IT’S POINTLESS TO resist, Samadhi,” said Perth. “Once the palms have touched you, there is no counter. You will burn until I stop them.”

  Smoke writhed on the ground. Grunts of pain escaped him as he clenched his teeth against the onslaught.

  “You can end this,” said Perth. “Just tell me where they are, where you sent them, and I promise to make it swift for them.”

  Smoke rolled into a fetal position. He whispered something, but it was too low for Perth to hear.

&n
bsp; “What was that?” asked Perth as he crouched down.

  Smoke mumbled again. It was unintelligible, forcing Perth even closer. Perth grabbed Smoke by the shoulder. “Tell me, old man,” he said. “Don’t make this agony last longer than it needs to.”

  Around them, tendrils of smoke crawled along the floor, walls and ceiling. Smoke managed to assume a sitting position. “Enough. I will tell you,” croaked Smoke.

  Perth smiled in satisfaction. “After you tell me, I will end your pain,” he said. “Where are they?”

  The tendrils all around them burst into flame, engulfing them both. Smoke held on to Perth with a vice-like grip as the blaze burned all around them.

  “I wanted to tell you that your master ill-prepared you,” said Smoke. “There is one counter to the palms.”

  “Impossible,” said Perth in shock. “They will consume you with me.”

  “You cannot have smoke without a fire,” said Smoke. “You wanted to know where my family was. They are here with me.”

  Perth began to scream as his flesh blistered and blackened.

  “But the palms?” yelled Perth. “How could you resist?”

  “I am the Samadhi of my discipline,” answered Smoke. “Did you think a little fire was going to stop me?”

  The flames around them intensified until they were white-hot. Perth screamed one more time before being consumed and turning to dust. The flames continued to rage around Smoke. His skin took on a white and waxy appearance.

  Time for one last message.

  He gestured with his hand and emblazoned a glyph in the air. It flared with a light of its own and then faded from sight. The flames continued to burn until nothing was left of the Samadhi.

  TWENTY-TWO

  THE VORTEX WAS too strong to resist. Sylk found himself alone, standing on the sand about a mile away from the South Watch. He could see the structure of the outer wall shimmering in the distance.

  “Welcome back,” said the Keeper. “You have managed to do something I thought impossible.”

  Above them, the sun beat down with midday heat.

  “And that was?”