Crimson Knight (Crimson Series Book 0)

by K. L. O Johnson

  “They’ll be fine. They can take care of themselves.” Randolph replied.

  “Wait a second . . . you can’t just abandon us!” I almost yelled.

  Randolph stared me down and replied, “Of course I can. I’m a fence sitter—remember.” The sound of racing footfalls caught my attention—by the time I recalled where the source came from I was knocked to the ground and heard Astaria’s frantic voice and Kal’s humorous one. The fact that baby Kal enjoyed this worried me. I opened my eyes and rubbed my pained forehead only to spy Beatrice above me.

  “Cecelia!” she chimed. “I’m so happy we found you!”

  “Astaria let’s go.” I heard Randolph speak.

  I looked up and watched the upside down world grace my vision. Randolph and Astaria appeared to argue and I said, “She doesn’t have to go if she doesn’t want to.” Beatrice managed to hop off of me before helping me to my feet.

  “Don’t tell me something I already know.” he retorted.

  I stood straight and asked, “Really? Than take a look at what you’re doing if you really cared you’d allow her to make her own decisions.” Randolph released Astaria’s hand and stepped away from her.

  “Ran,” Astaria muttered and I almost flinched at the pet name. Couldn’t they wait until I wasn’t around to start being all lovie dovie? Randolph peered at Astaria with a different set of eyes—ones that seemed a lot gentler than when they were set upon me. The next voice that graced my ears was Kristian’s, I glanced at him making sure it was him and not a strange shape-shifter. Then again, they all could be shape-shifters. I shook my head to rid those dragging thoughts.

  “Kristian?” I asked. “What are you doing here?” His black eyes locked onto my Vampieruz ones and I noticed he was in his human idol form. I glanced at him from head to toe and declared, “You should transition, we’re under attack.”

  “I know that but I can’t.” He held up his wrists and I noticed a bronze band was around his wrist, exactly like the ones I had around both my wrists. Except the difference was the band was wrapped around his right wrist. “But if you guys can get this off me, it’ll be great.”

  “Um I don’t know how to,” I confessed. “Dante did it for me.”

  “You mean Lieutenant Rodez?” he asked and I remained silent as I wondered if I had heard that name before and realise I did but didn’t know who that person was.

  “Um . . . do you mean Dante—Dante—Kal’s future mate?” I asked, certain that was the correct wording.

  “Yes.” Kristian said as he racked his pale fingers through his dark short hair.

  “Well he was with us a while ago and suddenly left, to do something.”

  “It wasn’t that sudden.” Astaria insisted on mentioning.

  “Um . . . it kind of was, if you consider the amount of pirates roaming the halls especially the ones that will attack us without blinking.” There was a continuous pounding sound and I feared Kal’s parents—if kept this up—would puncture the ship and kill us all. Well not in one go, that depended on the damage.

  “What is that noise?” Beatrice asked.

  “I think I know.” I felt everyone’s eyes on me. I glanced over my shoulder to where the sound originated from. It was something that was a little unfamiliar but familiar—it was a fight. What type? Deadly most likely.

  “You do?” Beatrice asked.

  “Yeah, a fight.” I replied and I felt the stillness in the air burn against my scales.

  “Well it sounds like those reptiles.” Randolph replied. I knew he was right but I couldn’t shake it the fear that ripped through my heart. Sadness engulfed me like a pulling tide to the shore. I wanted to wish my worries away but learnt that nothing could compare to the loss of family so I swallowed my sadness and fear, heading towards the double sliding doors. Aware that the others followed after me. I knew more was bound to come others free like us or other as pirates—something in which I didn’t want. The room we entered appeared to be that of a server room or a monitor room. With ceiling to floor glass to one side of the room opening an extended view of the pirate ships that entered through the open runway. They hovered just bedside the cargo bay before; where many Outlanders climbed.

  As everyone piled on the ship my heart pounded as my parents stood on floating platforms. Their wrists, ankles and necks were shackled and I wanted to cry but I knew the tears wouldn’t come—not yet at least. However, what happened next astounded me. “Let them go!” David hollered how he made his voice so loud was something I’d never know. A few of the pirates glanced over at David who to my surprise was in his human form. What is he doing!? I thought afraid my almost boyfriend was going to get blown to smithereens. He stood calmly and continued, “If you don’t you’ll be sorry.”

  “Are you threatening me boy?” the Captain bellowed. It wasn’t by coincidence that David was there. Standing up high on the rooftop a pirate ship he declared:

  “You have three seconds to comply.”

  “What are you?” the Captain urged. “But a boy. Don’t speak to me as though you have authority.” This dark eyes were hard with annoyance and I knew he wouldn’t think twice about harming David.

  “Oh really,” David muttered with a sly smile and behind the ships from all sides of the room were PASA agents and I noticed that individual PASA agent who addressed me from back in Nefelia, stood ready with a rifle and pointed it straight at the Captain.

  I heard the sound of clapping hands and I knew the captain was without a doubt amused by David’s courage. “Really.”

  Bang! Explosions were scattered along the ships and I learnt that the only ships that exploded were the pirate ships and I screamed, “David!” Pirates glanced at us and I froze as my fingers were pointed at us as the pirates locked onto us and I yelled at everyone, “Run!”

  Randolph called me an idiot—accusations flew freely from his lips as we ran back the way we came. I heard the pirates on approach as they rushed after us. Their footfalls thudded harshly against the ground. “They’re coming,” I stopped.

  “Of course they are! Because of you! They didn’t know we were there—” Randolph yelled while Kristian defended me. I didn’t take much notice to the conversation going on as I was aware that my patience for unexpected incidents was thinning.

  “Would you quit blaming me and do something! I’m sorry it’s my fault they’re after me but the least you could do is be quite so I can think!” I growled staring Randolph down. Randolph seemed shocked at first before he scowled back at me and I turned from him declaring, “That’s an order.” Everyone in the room fell silent and I knew no one dared to move.

  “Yes . . . Princess.” Randolph seemed to declare rather painfully.

  “Good, we need to find a hiding spot, Kristian. Where is a good place to hide?” I asked him and Beatrice exclaimed in surprise while Astaria moved over to Randolph with a comforting hand on his shoulder.

  “Are you serious you want to hide?” Randolph demanded.

  “Yeah pretty serious.” I retorted and entered a nearby room, the automatic doors remained open as the others piled in a room with a high domed ceiling, the walls were a dark steel and the floors were just as grey—with each step I took, the sound of the tattering metal beneath my feet reminded me of where I was. I glanced at the empty room and wondered what could possibly lay within. I continued into the darkness, aware of the others hanging around near the door, I wouldn’t be too surprised they were afraid of what they couldn’t see—the human nature was wired into their idol form so we could live amongst the humans without drawing too much attention to themselves and the other Outlanders around them.

  They were running after us, this much I knew. I heard their angry voices and harsh breaths. I wanted nothing more than to find the perfect place to hide. So into the darkness I went, aware that the others followed after me. And as I entered deeper into the darkness—I learnt I wasn’t the only living thing within the outlines of a protective barrier. Something green, pulsed and hummed to life
. Vines began to sprawl along the floor, at first thin than thicker in size as I met the base of the vines, something which looked like a large tree. The difference between this tree and the trees on earth this one glowed. “Cecelia,” Kristian called.

  I had no idea why but I was drawn to this plant. Every part of me screamed danger but every other part of me screamed life. How it did that I had no clue. I felt the others rush after me but I remained frozen in place. “What on earth is that?” I asked.

  “That’s Tylif,” Beatrice commented from beside me.

  “Tylif. I remember that name.” I glanced at it closely and noticed it seemed to pulse a bit here and there. It seemed almost alive.

  “This isn’t the actual progenitor—instead it’s a duplicate.” Beatrice continued.

  “A duplicate? How?”

  “Mitosis.” Randolph replied. “Or weren’t you paying attention in biology.” I glared, he dared. He continued to glance at Tylif and I wandered what it was he was thinking, “We were created from this you know.” I continued to watch as the colour faded in and out as it hummed. “Tylif was how we were made, your parents told you that right.” he continued. I remained silent and glanced from Randolph to Tylif wondering how we were created, then I followed the trunk of the tree and glanced up, high above our heads were green glowing leaves. The leaves seemed to be nestled above what appeared to be eggs. These eggs harvested small beings—babies if you will that have yet to be hatched. I recalled my parents telling me that we were hatched but she was doing something else whilst telling me, so I never thought to ask if she was serious or not.

  “So this plant is really important right?” I asked.

  “Yes,” Kristian declared. “I feared the pirates may be after this.”

  “What happens if they get their hands on it?”

  “Tylif is a biochemical artificial breeding depository. Those that have yet to be hatched are like that of human babies, they are not aware of what’s right and what’s wrong the difference is—because they were created by natural selection the offspring of imprinted mates, have a higher survival rate and are stronger than the previous generation. So if they’re not taught correctly which I fear the pirates may do would be able to create an army of incomparable power.”

  I recalled that part. “We have to hide this.”

  “And how exactly are we going to do that?” Beatrice asked. Astaria glanced at the tree and I asked:

  “What is it?”

  Astaria’s brows crinkled. “We could always hide it in plain sight.”

  “How?” I asked. Kristian and Randolph nodded and agreed as did Beatrice. I noticed something was missing but I couldn’t exactly place it. I didn’t know what it was but it was nagging at me to recognise it and I wondered what it could have been before I realised.

  “Where’s Kal?” I asked and everyone glanced at each other before peering over at the door which led to the pirate infested halls. “Don’t tell me you guys left her!” I yelled at Astaria and took off in search of her. To my surprise she wasn’t around.

  NINETEEN

  Thy Enemy

  I wanted to yell at Astaria, whilst demanding why she did what she did but I knew blaming her for putting Kal down wasn’t entirely fair. So, I sniffed the air searching for Kal’s scent, I eventually locked onto it. The scent of another individual mingled with Kal’s made my heart race in anxiety and fear. I prayed nothing happened to her—so after the scent I went. I travelled down several corridors only to come to a dead end. It was where the corridor and the scent ended. “What on earth?” I gasped in disbelief.

  People didn’t vanish, especially outlanders. We either went missing because we were dead and our energy returned to the air, the land and the sea. It became a part of our world we inhabited. So our Vampieruz mourning clothes weren’t black instead they were red—the colour of our energy and our marriage colours were gold. The colour of the energy when two forms combined.

  Gathering my energy, I channelled it into my fist and punched the wall through it my fist went. The metal pinched numbly at my scales. I noticed my armoured wrist was wrapped around the metal, I could feel the metal flare in sharp jagged teeth on the other side. I pulled my hand back and this time, grasped the edges of the metal and peeled it back enough for me to fit in if the need be but there was no way I could enter as there were circuit boards—where each glowed and blinked a little here and there. So where did Kal go?

  “Cecelia!” Beatrice called. “Did you find her?”

  “No.” I replied. Everyone was silent. I glanced over my shoulder and threw my hands forward releasing my energy. A fire ball flew from my hands and blasted one pirate. I bought up my shield as they fired energy bullets, I tossed red energy discus from my hands as if I were throwing actual discus discs from my hands. Two of the pirates fell down after they were pushed against the wall from my energy discs. They fell unconscious—I noticed all three pirates were unconscious. They were cladded in black full padded armour body suits.

  Glancing at everyone I noticed they were okay. Kristian and Beatrice beamed up at me and I regarded them a little uncomfortably. “Way to go Princess!” Astaria declared.

  “That’s showing them,” Kristian motioned.

  I mockingly bowed three times and said, “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” The ship shook again and I felt the vibration in the air—powerful energy clashed and I felt my scales rise. Something powerful was on this ship and it was heading towards us. I knew we had one way in and out of this hallway, so without realising it I used my telekinesis and pulled down the vent, “Everyone inside.”

  I held out my hand—palms facing up and boosted everyone up into the vent. Kristian held out his hand so did Randolph I reached up and they caught my wrist pulling me up into the safety of this air vent. Something I was surprised to see they had. Using my telekinesis, I slowly pulled the cap and stilled. I had no idea how but I felt the monster closing in. “No one move,” I whispered and I felt everyone freeze in place. The monster was here and I was certain the pressure I felt was demonic.

  The power that surrounded him was similar to the power I felt before—a power similar to Kal’s. I didn’t know who was stronger. Instead, I remained silent and hoped, that he or she wouldn’t find us. The footfalls grew louder, loud enough for a human to catch wind of. I attempted to slow my racing heart but my breathing came out in ragged breaths. I felt something tickle my mind, Cecelia, where are you?

  Zarlach? How did you get inside my head? I asked absolutely horrified at the intimacy.

  Get your head out of the gutter and focus. he growled and I had no idea why he was so angry. I must have made him uncomfortable—no surprise there.

  Right. We’re near the mass hall.

  What wing? he asked.

  South I think. I confessed sealing my lips shut as I watched an black armoured man strut to the circuit board at the end of the hall, I had teared open. His fingers traced the the dented metal.

  “Sir Princess Kalverya has been detained.” said a man’s voice. I couldn’t see him from where we were but it sounded smooth—too alluring to be a pirate’s.

  “Good.” The man in black turned away and disappeared out of sight. My mind was a little too preoccupied to answer Zarlach.

  Cecelia, are you there? he asked concerned.

  I’m here. The whispering whistle sounded as he spoke a melodic reminder of our internal conversation.

  I’m coming to get you. Wait for me. Like that my link to Zarlach severed and I felt a form of security I never felt before. The thought of him coming for me despite of what was happening warmed me. I waited for the man in black to leave before I did anything. I waited a good two minutes after his departure as he looked like someone who knew what he was doing—someone I was certain reigned trouble.

  By the time my two minutes was up, I dropped the vent cap and down it fell, clattering against the ground. I was the first to hop out and the others followed after when everyone was out of the shaft I heard Beat
rice ask, “Who was that man? I’ve never seen him before.”

  “Really?” I asked. “You’ve seen everyone in the Dark Cartel?”

  “No, just the higher ups.” Beatrice retorted with a shrug.

  “So where are we headed?” Astaria asked.

  “Who cares.” Randolph replied. “It’s time to leave Astaria. Let’s go.” Astaria didn’t argue this time and I felt the bond I created with Astaria strengthen, as she regarded me with saddened eyes—she and I knew what she had to do.

  “Astaria.” I called and tossed her a communicator device. “For you.”

  She caught it and glanced at the silver square device that I recalled from Bella was supposed to clip around one ear. “I already know telepathy.”

  “Who said you can always rely on your powers?” I responded referencing Kal, she had said something similar during my first training session. I recalled I was really sore after that but cultured muscles, I wasn’t used to using. Astaria and Randolph left and I hoped he wasn’t going to get her killed as Astaria was beginning to grow on me.

  “Who said you can always rely on your powers?” Kristian teased and Beatrice giggled.

  “Be quiet.” I said and walked towards the junction. I froze as I noticed someone round the corner, red scales glowed beside silver three layered armour with ancient incarnations written along the armour for protection. Zarlach stared down at me. His red eyes had delivered a look I wasn’t used to, something which made my cheeks heat. “Zarlach.”

  “I told you to wait.”

  I crossed my arms, “You took your time.”

  “Ah, should we be leaving?” Kristian asked as he and Beatrice motioned to move.

  “No.” Zarlach and I said.

  “Cecelia needs you two beside her, she’s not fully trained and lacks the experience necessary to handle these situations.” Zarlach ordered and I knew Beatrice and Kristian had no choice but to agree with his order.

  “Sir.”

  “How can I gain experience if you insist on treating me like a child?” I demanded.