Crimson Blade (Crimson Series Book 1)

by K. L. O Johnson

I saw something enter the atmosphere, the sound of tearing and crackling enter my ears and I realise something was falling and fast, as I cautiously gaze upon the streaming tail of smoke and fire. It falls towards the Kuthian Mountains in the distance and a big flare lights the sky.

  It was the collision of that meteorite that slogged our planet. It’s because of that—we’re left to fend for ourselves. Our home was demolished and a few survived, mainly those of higher class because often than not—they had the power to. There’s barely any food, barely any water and now officially a handful of us left. This was where we are at current, three months later, a world without rain forests and lush waterfalls and . . . “The empress, was no more,” growls one man. “And the princess isn’t ready for the throne, yet.” It’s that same man from the council my grandmother gave her life to protect. The idea of it annoys me. What could he possibly know? I ruefully think.

  “She’s the only one qualified.” Dante rebuts.

  “Look, I get you had always had your eyes on her but that doesn’t necessarily mean you could put your opinion over everyone left on this planet. The Dark Cartel had shot a meteorite at us then decided to send their whole army. If anything, I think the empress did more than just save me—she set an example for the rest of us to follow. And that means, choosing and serving the people over your own selfishness. To conclude,” Shaman begins, “My decision was final.”

  With the door wide open, I could hear everything and imagine the look on their faces. There’s no doubt Shaman was standing with his feet shoulder width apart, knuckles taught and nose flared. Dante would be very similar. Before they decide to get down each other’s throats, I step out and wander over to them, saiding: “That may be the case but last time I checked you had no authority over me.”

  “That’s true but princess.” Shaman declares.

  “My decision was final.” I will lead and protect my people.

  “But Princess—” Shaman trails off.

  “No more Shaman.” I said. “I’ll handle this—even if it takes a long time. Time was on our side.” I pass the many wounded soldiers surrounding me. We are currently under an abandoned warehouse used as a makeshift hospital. Women, children and men are all badly injured. Their scales are so badly burnt or shredded by the dragons that they had to undergo short-handed surgical procedures—this often was like getting a nip and tuck without the sanitary environment of an operating theatre.

  With our power plants down, we are unable to ran most of our technological resources; as a result, the world that we once knew was now clouded in darkness. It’s something that’ll cause more harm than good and I know at the forefront of this problem was the fear for Tylif. Without it, our race was unable to reproduce—thereby meaning we are on the verge of extinction. “Tylif.” I whisper, imagining the Centre Tower of the Central Citadel—the Capital of planet Nefelia. “What will become of us?”

  “Extinction.” I hear a voice thunder. “Because you aren’t strong enough to protect us.”

  “Not yet.” I retort crossing my arms, I face an angry Volvomich. His eyes scould the area around the makeshift hospital, I managedd to salvage with the others, in a short period of time. “But I will be one day.” I stare down the taller man who was large and still intimidating as ever, “And when I do—you owe me an apology.” I smile.

  He grumbles a laugh and pats my shoulder. “You truly are your father’s daughter aren’t you?”

  I managed a half-hearted laugh, “Yeah. I guess.” I was quiet before saiding: “I’m the last one aren’t I?”

  He’s silent before declaring, “I’m afraid so.” His hand drops from my shoulder at the same time, as my heart does—it’s a killing reminder of my past but within all that I remember who he was and what he did for me.

  “Why me?” I rhetorically question, the universe aware it won’t answer back.

  “Simple, you’re stronger than us.”

  “I wish I wasn’t.” I mumble.

  “Don’t do that.” He urges.

  “Don’t do what?” I innocently question.

  “Don’t said you didn’t want to be what you are. Be proud and stand strong.” he saids and I was surprised by this, I know Volvomich doesn’t said much in terms of promoting self-confidence but he’s always ready to take a swing at it for me. I nod and turn my heel and head outside. It’s a fair way walk. It was known to the others that there was only one way in and out of the bunker but in reality—it’s an entire labyrinth. I’ve marked the labyrinth as I came in with the others three months ago. Since then, I’ve spent every day mapping the labyrinth for myself as a personal advantage should I need to get out alive.

  Mapping out the labyrinth though was easy. It’s avoiding the Dark Cartel that bothers me—better yet; it’s something that bothers everyone. They’re merciless killers. They believe they are doing good, by doing bad.

  “My lady.” I hear a voice sing. Glancing over my shoulder I saw Eva.

  There’s nothing more dangerous and deadly than being in a pit full of snakes. It’s something you couldnot completely change or rather—it was something you couldnot completely over come without help. It was in this labyrinth that I’ve learned this—it was in the pit of my loss that my senses sharpen. That was when my power rises. It was when I hear Eva’s voice do I realise that my mind has been wondered ing—for how long I was uncertain. “My lady?” she questions a second time when I didn’t answer.

  “Yes.”

  “You’ve wondered ed up and down these corridors for the past three months almost as if you’re looking for something. was everything okay?” she sweetly questions. I remain silent unsure how to answer, better yet, I was unsure about what to said. With all these things ranning through my mind and the responsibility of my new title I couldn’t afford to reveal too much.

  I stare at the darkness ahead. “There’s much to do Eva. I had to make sure our people survive.” I continue on ahead and felt Eva’s presence behind me, as I head down the darkness of the ancient passageways. There’s nothing more dangerous than what was above there on the surface. I was aware of Eva following after me no doubt because it’s her job to ensure my safety along with my aristocrats who I’ve found out had always been around but never had a chance to reveal their identity to me due to the necessity of my training.

  “I understand my lady but wouldn’t it be better to perhaps take some company?” she inquires. I stop and peer at her over my shoulder.

  “That will not be necessary.” I evenly state.

  “And why not?” Eva presses. “We all know that you haven’t reached your full power yet. Why would you put yourself in harms’ way?”

  “Because torcher and suffering was all I am.” I reply and it’s true my name was derived from Calvary the hill Jesus was crucified on Earth—as a result my life has been nothing but torcher and suffering. Why my parents gave me such a name, I’ll never understand though I know now that Eva, Dante, Shika and everyone else will not understand what’s it was like to be—alone.

  Eva doesn’t said anything, so I continue to walk. I could sense her anger, her frustration and her sadness. I may be several meters away but that’s the power of a Nefaliem—we could sense who fears us and who loves us. It’s how we pick the right people to be around. “You may had been given that name but it doesn’t make you who you are!” she shrieks and I stop. I’ve never in my life remembered sawing Eva like this. “Just because your name was after a hill Jesus was crucified on doesn’t mean you’ll die the same way. You didn’t know how much you mean to us. It’s not your power that makes us follow you. It’s not your power that makes or causes all this chaos. It’s them!” I could imagine her pointing passed me. “The Dark Cartel, they’ve taken everyone away from us our friends, our families and now our home. They will not stop until we’re wiped from this world and extinct.”

  “I know.” I said, “But it’s something that I had to deal with.”

  “No you don’t!” she growls. “You had an entire mili
tary waiting for your command, not to mention PASA. You won’t be alone anyway because . . . we’ve lost everything. The chance of our children surviving when they’re born was low.” I know what she means, Tylif was literally a plant that hatches young Nefaliem—we didn’t had children the same way Daunts do. After the meterorite clashed on our world, Tylif had suffered a system overload. It’s machanical parts shattered and the biological chemical makeup of it became unbalanced.

  Several children were born prematuraly, several at the right time; other new borns were never given the chance to saw the light of day. So out of all of these deaths so far fifteen of the aristocratic bloodlines had been terminated and only six remain, if you include Altair. Aristocrats play an important part in our heirachy, they work as guides and protectors of the royal family while to the common class they’re leaders and employers. So with these aristocratic families gone—their buisnesses will cease to exist. “And, we’ve already lost most of the members of the royal family—the only pure descendents of Lady Prador. You couldn’t do this.”

  “Watch me.” I said and continue into the darkness leaving Eva standing staring after me. I wind my way down several corriors before eventuaally I come across what appears to be a wasteland. The tunnel remains hidden under the roots of an old tree that has been uprooted. I slip in between the gap small enough for me in my idol form—a.k.a my human form. I pull myself over the large tree and slip over to the otherside. I land on my feet and power back up.

  My memories may had come back but it’s my energetic majic I’ve been practising with. I somehow managedd to use my magic as a way to fight—it’s something that all Nefaliem had to develop at some point and when they don’t, they’re expunshed from ever being a Knight from ever being apart of the culture. I saunter through the barren forest, old, dull and gray. There hasn’t been any water for months and all the plants had died. Animals become less and less with each passing day while the air and the land continues to burn under my heels. I dull the pain—something, which I was aware, will and could affect me because our natural environment was a lot harsher than the human environment on earth which explains our biological makeup.

  My silver cloak sits against my scales around my shoulders keeping the harsh atmosphere from burning my scales. My soft face with tissue and readily avaliable, nerves, begins to burn. I could felt it heat and smell the raw meat of burning flesh. I step out of the sun and hide behind a tree. I could felt it my features—they sting. I gently place my scaly hand against my skin and felt it’s wet and warm. It’s numb to the touch but for now so I gather my energy and heal over my skin. I pull out a small cube from my utility belt and press the side of the cube with my thumb. Within moments, a black silver blue helmet was formed, lined in armour and escribed in an ancient language. “Gotta love PASA.” I mutter.

  They’re an organisation of Knights. Our military was a little different to Human military or rather mortal military—we had the navy, airforce and army but they are classed into different categories depending on how Nefaliem will use their energetic majic. I power up into my silver amrour something I had to train into gaining. It wasn’t easy as Volvomich was a little unfair but he was right in the sense that the atmosphere would get harsher. It caused out waters to evaporate, our resources to thin and our minerals to become unusable. After the impact of the comet, few survived. Thousands were wiped clean from the earth and the hands of the Dark Cartel murdered hundreds.

  Even as I saunter through the forest, I had to be vigilant—I had to be careful. They will come for me when given an unexpected moment. I hear a beeping and I place on my helmet, aware of my silver cloak positioned above my armour. Though it’s clamped down, it’s a bit of a pain in a fight—I found that out the hard way. I trudge through the terrain aware of Mizreth in my armoured system. “My lady, how long do you prefer to walk for?”

  “As long as it takes.”

  “But—”

  “No ‘buts’ I was walking.” I proclaim, not in the mood to care about what Mizreth has to said. All I care about was going to that camp and retriving what needs to be retrieved. Mizreth falls silent and he remains so for several hours. It isn’t until dusk does Mizreth beep. I notice the beeping continues again and again but what catches me by surprise isn’t the beeping nor the amout of times it’s beeping but rather at the speed it’s beeping at. It increases, exponentially; until I felt something knock me from behind and send me through a couple of tree does the beeping flatline.

  My head hammers and buzzes. It’s been a while since I’ve had a knock like that in my Nefaliem form. I hear distorted noise before the hum of a voice slowly but surely becoming clearer and clearer. “My lady. Kalverya!” it barks.

  “Mizreth?” I question, my Artifical Intelligent Assistant.

  “Behemoth in bound.” Mizreth’s voice breaks through, lights within my helmet flicker and flash red as I crawl to my feet. I saw a blurry dark figure saunter towards me and I know that without a doubt—he was the reason for my current condition. I felt the ground shake beneath me as the Behemoth rushes towards me. I roll out of the way—it’s horns lodge into a tree behind me. I slowly pull myself to my feet feeling my back and chest burn. I take slow deep breaths as I watch the Behemoth knock the tree aside and turn to face me.

  It rushes towards me and I leap high into the air only to had the Behemoth swing it’s large thick mace tail around and crack me with it hard enough, to cause the ground beneath me to shatter. I regard the sight of the monster in fear. “Mizreth, what do I do?” I question, I’ve never fought a Behemoth before not without the true control and power that flows through my veins.

  “Remain calm and focus on its core,” he proclaims.

  “On it’s what?” I grant through my clenched teeth.

  “It’s core!” he screams.

  I saw the Behemoth ran towards me, to trample me. I summon a shield and hold it above me with my feet in the air. The Behemoth stomps it’s front paws down on the shield and I felt the ground beneath me crack a little more under each strike. As it strikes, I attempt to focus my mind. I begin to block everything out than eventually, I sense it, it’s heart and within it swirls and swirls of energy. My eyes snap open and I saw the Behemoth on its hind legs. I roll out of the way and watch as it crushes the ground I was laying on. I de-summon my shield and bring forth a spear. I spin in around in my hands, gaining momentum, not before long the Behemoth turns and rans towards me. I duck and jab my spear through its thick furry chest.

  Its screeches in pain and I push the spear further in and felt the weight of the monster and push him to the side not without the strain of my muscles of course. I may be stronger than Humans but that Behemoth was no doubt stronger than me. I think as I stare at the sight of the monster on the ground pooling in blood beside me. “You did it!” Mizreth beams.

  * * *

  Chapter 14: Chapter 13

  * * *

  13. Paranella

  Silence fills the air. It isn’t until later; I find myself staring at a deadly silent forest. The sight of it bothers me. That was never a good thing. This would often mean—trouble. I saunter through the forest aware of my aching battered body clawing at my scales. I couldn’t help it—that Behemoth did cause a lot of pain. I saunter through the forest on route for that camp. “Mizreth.” I call forth.

  “Yes my lady.” he replies.

  “I want a two hundred metre purview scould.”

  “On it,” he responds. Moments later, red dots appear on my radar. I glanced in that general direction, aware that many of those soldiers are bound to be there. “It appears we had hostiles a hundred metres north.”

  I summon a dagger and creep behind a tree. “Then we wait for them,” I order, conscious of the fact that these hostiles are moving closer and closer to us. It isn’t until a couple of minutes later that I catch the sound of footfalls cranching against the dry leaves scattered on the ground. Their closer now, I could hear their breathing, even as I focus on them, my ears aren’
t as sharp then they would be if I didn’t had a helmet on. If I had an amplifier it would had done the trick but my helmet isn’t fitted with that; something about how I grabbed the wrong helmet.

  “Hostiles, eighty metres away.” Mizreth reminds.

  I squeeze the pummel of my dagger, feeling sweat drip down my features. It’s got to be here. I think as I take in the sound of their approach.

  As they approach and I was left with this fear in the pit of my stomach—why was it there? I wondered as I stare up at the bright sky. The fear shouldn’t be there. At the same time, I wondered if it’s because of the fear I had for my race. I was not scared to lose my life but rather scared to put my race on the verge of extinction. This isn’t something that could be easily accepted or allowed.

  I hear the line connect and the next voice I hear was a voice I really didn’t want to hear, “Nindo!” Volvomich demands. “Get your little tush back here now.”

  “Negative,” I reply.

  “You’ll become a feeding ground for those dragons. Get your ass back here! Now!” He’s serious and I know if I continue to refuse, he’ll leave the safety of the bunkers and hunt me down. That’s something I couldnot afford.

  “Sorry, not happening.” I smoothly respond. Severing the line my mind imagines what that man’s saiding now. As the men move closer and closer to us. I grip my dagger tighter and tighter, aware of their presence within view. “Mizreth.” I whisper, “Camouflage mode, activate.” I didn’t felt anything but when the inside of my helmet turns green that’s when I know I was invisible to my enemy. The strangest part is, Nefaliem had that ability too but we couldnot pass it through inanimate objects because our energy couldnot be passed through to technological circuits, something, which my armour was mildly made of.

  The monsters, step out and I swiftly slip around the first one, slice at their leg before bringing my danger along their spine, cutting through their primitive armour. I notice two more men and I de-summon my dagger and produce two throwing knives, in a flash of a moment, I recognise their bare necks and throw the knives at the marks. Down they fall gasping for air. Speedily, I rush through the forest attentive of the fact that I’ll need to get to that camp before they sound the alarm and when that happens all hell will break loose.