Crimson Blade (Crimson Series Book 1)

by K. L. O Johnson

  I glanced at a nearby branch and saw a man standing on a bough of a tall tree. I couldn’t even begin to wondered what it was that’s causes a man to climb a tree let alone announce to the world he’s in one. He wears regular clothing and Dante I notice doesn’t relax. “What do you want, Mikaro?”

  “Here to deliver a message.” We both remain silent. “Ezla, was wondered ing when you’ll return.” Ezla, who’s she? I wondered as I painfully eye Dante. I saw he sawms to internally struggle at answering it’s almost, like there was a war within him, as Mikaro gazes upon Dante.

  “Tell her, I’ll return when I was able.” Dante replies.

  I silently watch as the men gaze at each other with hostility in their eyes. Mikaro was the first to speak after a long pause. “You haven’t been home for a long time—as if that was a good enough excuse.” I felt my heart sink. He had someone—special?

  Dante was quiet before stating, “No it’s not but it’s all I could offer.”

  “I understand,” Mikaro announced, his black bangs fall down to his chest and I could tell he looks Human from where I am, with black hair and eyes—his tanned skin sawm paler under the full moon like how Dante’s skin did last night. His eyes hauntingly fall upon me, “What do you intend to do with her?”

  “She, was coming with me.” Dante announced. His eyes dart from Dante to me and back again.

  “Is she now? A Human?” he mocks. I glare.

  “I’m not Human.” I snap.

  “Really? Because you smell pretty human to me.”

  I smile and tease, “So do you. And what, you’re going to tell me you’re not Human too?” His eyes harden and I watch as he leaps quickly from the tree. He elegantly flips and as he does, I saw his clothing transform into blue scales and silver armour, engraved in unidentifiable characters. I regard Mikaro questionably as he lands before me, as his silver cloak summons behind him. His black hair was no more as it transforms into long silver strands. His eyes are blue like Dante’s and like Dante he has four blue claw marks concealing his cheekbones—two on either side of his face. Taking a closer look they look like claw marks—they are jagged and rough but textured with scales like Dante’s.

  “No I was not.” he rebuts and I was silent. “What. No smart words.” I glare, I had plenty of ‘smart words’ if he wants to hear them.

  “That’s enough Mikaro. Show respect to your superior.” Mikaro glanceds at me confused before regarding Dante with the same expression. He points at me.

  “Her? My superior?” Mikaro derides.

  “Yes.” Dante motions.

  “Dude, you’ve got to be pulling my leg or something because she’s Human.” Mikaro shakes his head with a small smile before glaring down at me.

  Dante takes a step towards us and proclaims, “She’s in her idol form.”

  Mikaro quietly regards me. His eyes are calculating to said. “Her idol form?”

  “Yes.”

  I regard Dante and dumbly asked, “What’s an idol form?” He holds Mikaro’s gaze a little longer before they drift to me.

  “An idol form was a form that a being of energetic origin could take on. It’s a form of transitional majic—it could copy the biological, chemical and mechanical makeup of every species. This was what allows the Licould to transform into wolves.”

  “You’ve got to be fucking with me?” I demand.

  “Please refrain from such language.” Dante glowers.

  I hold up my hands, “Fine. As long as he”—I point at Mikaro—”backs off.” Dante steps forward once again, purposely towards Mikaro, who to my surprise retreats.

  “If she was our superior than what on earth was she doing here?” Mikaro said. “She’s been gone for years and the Council was angry with her—even if she does return. No one will want her. She’ll be what she was now, an . . . outcast.” He deliberately glowers down at me and I return his scowl, I may not be as strong as him but I’ve taken on a couple of demons, big ones too. Surely he couldn’t be that strong.

  “And what are you—a loser?” I retort.

  He smartly retorts, “Clever.”

  I glare. “You’re an arse—”

  “Kalverya!” Dante bellows.

  I fall silent. His eyes are deadly and I know he’s pissed. “But he—”

  “I didn’t want to hear it.” he scolds.

  His eyes drift to Mikaro, “I’m taking her home. You could inform her majesty I’ve found her daughter.” I earnestly scrutinise Dante.

  “Daughter?” I question. “Both of my parents are dead.”

  “And she’s an orphan too.” Mikaro butt in.

  “Arse.” I mumble.

  “Bitch.” he grumbles. Dante glares at the both of us and I watch as Mikaro turns his back on us. “But do I had to?”

  “Yes. That’s an order.” Dante declares. Mikaro glanced at me one last time before turning his heel and moving towards the centre of the park. Dante moves over to me. “You really didn’t remember who you are, do you?”

  I shrug and shake my head, “No, should I?”

  He was silent. “It would be easier.”

  “Sorry, nothing’s easy with me.” I remark.

  He was silent and gazes upon where he once holds his hands. I notice the air sawms to weave like a heatwave. “Let’s go.” He heads towards the interlacing air and I follow after—wondering where Mikaro disappeared to. Dante I notice vanishes right before me and this leaves me stunned. Before I could race after him I was pulled in by a stern arm. I saw nothing but darkness at first before I wake to a blinding brightness. I felt hands catch mine as they hover above my head—attempting but failing to shield my eyes from the blinding light. “You could open your eyes now.”

  Before I open my eyes, I hear the sound of twittering birds and smell strongly damp moss. As I open my eyes—I saw two birds flitter through the air and higher into the clear blue sky. Green trees sprinkle rays of sunlight through the couldopy. “Where am I?” I asked as I sit up. Dante holds out his hand and I questionably glanced at him. He smiles. I stand without his help and look around. I was in what appears to be a forest. Not too far away from us was a small pond, surrounded by shrubs.

  “You’re in Nefelia, in the land of Bronze.”

  “Nefelia?” I asked.

  Dante smiles over at me and hike the inclining land, he peers over his shoulder and down at me. “Your home.”

  “My home was a rainforest?” He remains silent. “What? I was trying to be funny.” He manageds a small smile and climbs the hill. I trail after him. He helps me through the forest, pushing aside large overbearing leaves and thick branches. During the trip, he was silent as he helps me and I fight to find something to talk about.

  “So . . .” I began, “Where are we headed?” Before I could find my answer, the streaking zooming sounds overhead catches my attention. I gaze at the skies and I spy black spots speeding passed. “What the—?” I gaze at the sky, waiting for black silver specs to grace my vision.

  Dante grumbles a laugh, “That would be the carriers.”

  “The carriers?”

  “They’re what you would consider transportation.” I stare at him.

  “Those things in the sky are transportation?” I asked.

  Dante raises a silver brow, “Earth has them too.”

  “You mean hovercars.” I asked.

  “Yes.”

  I sigh, “Why didn’t you just said that?”

  “Because I want to be . . . smart.” I glare and he smiles, something which causes a smile of my own to quip my lips. So he could be funny when he wants to be, good to know he has a personality. I humorously thought.

  I repeat, “Where are we head?”

  “To Citadel City.” I watch as he stops and scould the trees around him. I glanced around as well, wondered ing what it was that he could be searching for.

  “To Citadel City?”

  He nods, “Yeah.” He holds out his hand and I back away.

  “What are you doing?”
I asked, not too surprised he’s acting chivalrously, not that I mind.

  “I’m wanting to cut our travel time in half.” he announced.

  “How are we going to do that?” I dumbly asked.

  “We’re going to fly.” Before I could, back away even further. He gently strings his arms around me, I felt his power and watch as his cloak and hair sawm to settle elegantly behind him. I gaze upon his alluring features and watch as he smiles down at me. “Hang on.” he said and I strang my arms around his neck before he floats high into the air. The sky envelops us in its arms as the sensation of something solid beneath my feet vanish. I felt the cool air, it tickles my skin, as my hair whips around me. The wind was loud in my ears but it was all too comforting.

  Dante to my surprise felt cool but warm if that’s possible. I smile up at him, amazed that flying was even possible. He touches his forehead to mine and I felt something flood through me. The pull gravity had on me, lightens and I felt like I was floating and to my surprise, I am. “How did you do that?” I asked, as he hovers beside me, tugging me here and there, almost as if he’s guiding me.

  “It’s a little magic trick.” He winks and I giggle. He hovers behind me and holds both of my arms. I felt his warm yet cool breath against my neck. “Now, relax.” I do what he saids and felt as we move, slowly. I glanced at the peaking mountains in the distance and green lush forest beneath us. We soar through the air. Once I was confident, I could manoeuvre in the air, Dante pulls me away from him. Holding me away at arm’s length. I began to glide through the air.

  We transgress over valleys, small mountains and large glistening lakes that gleam under the bright sunrays. The air was warm and fresh. I knew I could breathe in this air all day. I glanced on either side of me and saw flocks of strange blue long tail birds flying high into the air. I glanced at Dante and he leans away, taking me with him as he swirls through the air. The world spins but I didn’t realise it until I understand that I was wooing in complete excitement.

  Soon we venture between snow flake mountaintops and passed jagged cliffs. I notice we had pass a village high in the mountains, the citizens wave at us as we pass by—some I perceive are hovering in mid-air. Several fly with us before returning back to their home and loved ones. Once we break free of the mountainside. I gaze upon a silver sterling city in the distance surround by tall sky scraping buildings. I was aware Dante banks to the right and I grasp his arm, fearing he’d drop me but he never did. It doesn’t take long until we made it to the city and what I saw leaves me gobsmacked. There are people like Dante, in blue scales and silver cloaks, hovering in the air while others us hovercarts to fly. “Welcome to the Citadel City.”

  We cease to move for a moment as I gaze upon the traffic lights that hold everyone at bay. The lights flash green and we continue on. “Where are we going?” I asked.

  “To saw Nerelda.”

  “Why we’re here aren’t we?” I asked.

  “Yes we are but she didn’t meet us in the Nexus. She instead transported us to Nefelia, our home.” As those words flitter from his lips, I felt my arms prickle in gooseflesh. Whoever this woman is, she isn’t messing around that was for sure. The thought of her knowing where we or where Dante wanted to go, caused my body to tremble in fear.

  3. Discovering Varden

  * * *

  As we soared in the air, I saw the Central Citadel in the distance and couldn’t help but admire the silver glass and walls, as we circle around it, I couldn’t help but become more and more fascinated by it, as we move over to a landing bay. Soon after Dante fluidly descends. “We’ll get off here.”

  “Where’s here?” I asked.

  “The eastern gate of Citadel Tower, it’s the largest tower in the Central Citadel.” I contemplate what he had said and glanced at the glassy tall striking sterling silver windows. I notice they had a form of elegance to them and I wondered if the city itself was designed for more than just looks. Dante releases me and I turn to face him. “Let’s go.” I nod taking one last look at the busy city centre, I file after him.

  “So where could we find this Nerelda lady?” I curiously asked. There are two security guards on standby dressed in grey armour which conceals their bodies from head to toe, their armour shimmies finely under this alien sun as they move and I was briefly made aware of how similar it was to how Dante’s armour reacts.

  “She’s most likely with the empress,” Dante concludes; as I observe the external guards observing the guards quickly step forward to delay our entrance. Dante holds out a transparent holographic pass written in yellow inscriptions one of the men takes the pass in hand and scoulds it on their armour, soon after a light beep occurs. The men nod in approval before glancing at me. Dante announced, “She’s with me.”

  “Okay, sir. But you’d need to get her, her own pass in the Compliance Sector.” one saids.

  “I’m aware of that.” Dante declares. The guards step aside as Dante struts past them and I follow after, feeling a little strange as I notice these men, including Dante are all very tall. They are without a doubt pushing seven feet.

  Entering a waiting room, I notice there are rows and rows of empty plastic transparent chairs. That only makes the waiting room all the more eerie. “This way.” Dante motions and I nod, trailing behind him.

  We waltz through the double sliding doors, which leads us down sterling silver halls, where a deep blue carpet lines the silver floor that lays stretch before us. The hallway was spotless. “Stick close,” he orders, peering at me from over his shoulder. With a bob of my head, I continue to follow after him as he steers his way through the winding corridors of Citadel Tower.

  Not before long, the ground shakes, as do the walls. My footing becomes uneven and within an instant, Dante presses me against the wall. “Get down,” he commands, hovering over me as the ground and everything around us resumes to shake while the lights overhead flicker. Dante lingers as a shield and I silently thank him, as I was unsure if the ceiling would come down on us. Once the quake ceases, Dante pulls away and stands. As expected, he holds out his hand and helps me to my feet. “We need to move quickly,” he reminds and I could tell something was seriously wrong as he pulls me after him.

  “Wait, hang on.” I managed and pull my hand from his grasp, to ran beside him. “What’s wrong?”

  Dante stares on ahead, as worry moulds his features. “I didn’t know. But I fear it’s something, as that was no ordinary earthquake.” I remain silent. I glanced up ahead and saw we are headed to an escalator. Dante leaps into the air and lands on the railing. He easily rans along it and I stop, the escalator belt, I saw was transparent—I could saw blue lines and beneath it a long drop. I fearfully step forward; to my surprise the ground becomes visible and stable so I sprint along it, after Dante.

  By the time I reach the bottom of the escalator, he had already disappeared. “Great,” I mumble as I continue to ran further down the corridor. Moving through a pair of consistent double sliding doors, I was met with the blaring sound of alarms. “What on earth?” The alarms shriek and I flatten the palms of my hands against my ears, attempting to shut out the sound.

  The alarms quieten and I hear the sound of pattering feet on approach. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw two armed men in silver armour; they hold sterling silver battle rifles, which they point straight at me. Silver helmets conceal their faces and I raise my hands. “I surrender,” I announce. They speak in another language and slowly walk towards me while I remain still. “You didn’t understand what I was saiding do you?” I asked.

  No response.

  One man taps the side of his helmet and his voice as clear as before breaks through but this time, it was distinguishable—as he speaks fluent English. “Identify yourself.”

  “Kalverya.” I managed.

  “Division and rank,” he articulated. I glanced at them and know that something was bound to go wrong. I didn’t had what they want and I know that was going to cause problems.

  “I’m
not a part of a division nor do I had a rank.” Both of their rifles are aimed at me once again and I watch as their fingers move from the side of the gun to the trigger. I gulp. They are intending to kill. I know this for a fact. You never put your finger on a trigger without the intent to kill. I eye them as they cautiously move closer to me with firearms in hand. “You’re coming with us.” that same man speaks. I nod and know there was nothing else I could do.

  One man moves behind me and nudges me forward with the barrel of his rifle. I glare. Where was Dante? “Let’s go.” I allow them to shuffle me down the hall.

  “Inside,” a guard growls, I glare a menacing glare. Glaring at the transparent wall boxing me inside this four-by-four prison doesn’t help my situation at all, at least it makes me felt better. My hostile gaze rests on the male that had tossed me into this cage.

  Sitting in my cell, time quickly flies by. I didn’t know how much time has passed but I know I could had potentially been sitting here in this same position for a really long time as I note my legs begin to tingle in pins and needles before eventually I fall into a deep slumber and dream a dream where Dante comes to save me.

  The sound of approaching footfalls catches my attention, as do the familiar voices. “Open it up!” howls a female voice. Feet quickly shuffle and I wake to my cell-door opening. There stands Dante and beside him a woman. With silver hair and blue eyes, her pale features contrast nicely against her blue scales. She wears a fleecy gown—it conceals her but provide an outline of her physique. The sleeves are longer than her waist while her gown falls to the ground.

  The men stand beside her ready to defend. She must be someone important. I think as I glare at them. I didn’t know what was going on but I knew I was not going to let them anywhere near me. I pull myself to one knee. The woman saids something in a different language to the guard before she enters the cell. She glanced at Dante one last time who, gracefully nods, this causes me to wondered at what it was they had planned.