by Nikki Landis
“Stay with me Rhiannon!” Kellen yelled, his sword facing the demon.
It had returned, quickly, determined to finish its objective, undeterred.
“You will never claim her,” Kellen stood in front of me, “I dare you to face me in your true form. Coward,” he taunted it, “worthless, a pitiful little attempt at murder and evil. You will not succeed.”
The demon screeched, turning from black shadow into flesh, not the flesh of deception, but its true evil form. Black wings sprouted from its back, horns grew from his head, ebony skin stretched taut over layers of muscle and sinew. Red eyes that burned with an inhuman flame stood out in the skull. It was the vision of nightmares. The being that haunted the night. The evil that sought to ensnare the soul.
Kellen faced him, a fierce determination in his eyes. I watched him in desperation, unable to help, all my hope resting on him. He was the only one who could defeat the evil that wanted to destroy me.
The demon laughed sardonically. “I will rip your flesh from your bones and enjoy watching you bleed as I take her.”
My eyes widened in horror. Oh God, help us, I thought. Please help us.
Kellen twirled the sword in his hand and laughed, unperturbed. “You can try.”
Claws extended on the hands of the creature, razor sharp, protruding, as the demon opened his arms wide. With a snarl it ran toward us. Kellen raised his sword and deflected the blow, cutting into the flesh of one arm. The demon spun on him, swiping at Kellen’s chest, one nail cutting into his flesh, streaking blood in a wide arc.
I screamed, afraid for Kellen but he shook his head. “It’s going to take a lot more than that demon.”
He swooped on Kellen, swinging and darting, never close enough for him to slash deeply into the creature’s body. The demon was smart. It kept a distance, only close enough to land a blow, and then spinning in another direction. It sought to confuse him, to disorient him, to keep Kellen from delivering any kind of fatal blow.
“I was right,” Kellen taunted again, “you are a coward.”
The demon growled. “Little puny human. You are not a match for me.”
“Prove it,” Kellen challenged, “stop retreating to the shadows in your fear.”
The demon launched his next attack, leaving its torso vulnerable, only a few seconds, but long enough. Kellen spun at the last minute, shoving the sword into the soft flesh of the creature’s abdomen. He yanked on the hardened metal, dislodging it, and shoved again. The demon scratched him, slashing in desperation but it was not enough. Kellen pushed with his weight, plunging the sword in deeper and higher, again and again, until it landed the final killing blow.
In shock the demon stared at the wounds, disbelief on its sardonic face. It collapsed to the ground, thick black blood oozing from its wounds. It screeched in agony, dissolving from flesh back into ebony shadow. Within moments it exploded in a plume of black ash. A cloud of smoke billowed in the air, combining with the ash, like a volcano’s expulsion, causing us both to cough. In disgust I realized I was coughing on the remains of the demon’s flesh.
Nausea rose within my throat. The bile was already lingering in my mouth. I turned my head and vomited, expelling the ash from my throat and stomach, clearing it from my lungs. My shoulders heaved with the exertion. I leaned over, my hands planted on the plush white carpet of the house, and coughed again. Black streaks covered the ground. I shivered, a cold chill running along my spine, only to be replaced with a flash of liquid heat.
“Rhiannon!”
Kellen fell to his knees, blood and black ash covering most of his body, and I ran to him. He caught me, his arms hugging my body tight. His chest lurched with a heavy cough that shook his muscular frame. I started to cry, sobbing into his shoulder, soaking his shirt with my tears. He held onto me, his fingers clutching me closer, as I felt him shudder.
“I’ve got you,” he whispered, “I have you my darling Rhiannon.”
I was unable to answer. My voice would not cooperate. I buried my head in his neck, the tears still falling, rolling off my cheeks. I took a deep breath, then another, frantic to stop the horror of moments ago. I was losing my grip on reality, the sanity fleeing. Oh God.
“It’s gone,” he reassured me, “it’s gone forever.”
“Kellen,” I finally managed to reply. It was all I could do.
“Look at me,” he commanded and I raised my head, “you are fine. I will protect you, always.”
I nodded. My eyes were locked with his, searching, afraid, vulnerable.
“I love you,” he told me, raising a hand to brush along my cheek.
“I love you too,” I whispered back.
He held me close again, his arms holding me tight against the persistent shaking and tremors that racked my body. It took several minutes for the shock to wear off. He never let go. His grip never relaxed. We must have stayed like that for quite some time. The minutes ticked on, the fear hardly retreating, and still he clutched me close, his arms never releasing their hold…
Chapter Eighteen
“It is time Rhiannon,” he reminded me gently. He turned his head and nuzzled my neck. “I dare not linger.”
We stood, one strong hand held mine with an iron grip, the other bent down toward the ground, scooping toward something. Picking up a couple of full backpacks, he slung them over his shoulder. He smiled and started to whistle. As if nothing extraordinary had happened in the last few minutes. I might have given him an incredulous look. Surely he had lost his mind. Or maybe I had. I wasn’t sure.
Nothing he did surprised me anymore. I think I was becoming desensitized to my crazy world.
“Come on, we need to go tell Gran. We’re leaving.”
He placed a purposeful kiss against my lips. His eyes searching mine. He wanted to know if I was all right. I nodded. I would have to be. What choice did I have?
We hurried to the Hummer, anxious to be on our way. When we came in the door Gran knew something was up. She took one look at our faces and sat down, gesturing for us to sit down next to her. We must have been a sight, black ash and blood covering us both.
“Tell me what’s going on.” She sounded very calm, considering.
Kellen filled her in on our discussion we had before the demon showed up. He described the confrontation and its destruction. I filled Gran in on my intuition, the fear of an imminent battle, and the worry that it was all connected in some bizarre way.
“That’s why we need to see my father as soon as possible. As the head of the guard, he is responsible for the safety of our people.”
She nodded. “And you’re taking Rhiannon with you?”
“Yes, it is not safe for her here alone. I can’t protect her unless she is with me.”
“How long will you be gone? Is it a long journey?” She looked concerned.
“I can’t say for sure how long we will be away. It is a two day journey each way to my home. We will have to be there several days at least to take care of things. There will probably be a gathering to plan our defenses. I will try to be as quick as possible but we are probably looking at about a week and a half to two weeks…and that is on the quick side. More than likely it will take close to a month.”
“I hope that is ok, Gran. I’m really too scared to have him go without me,” I told her truthfully.
“No, sweetie, that is fine. I will just worry about you both until I see you again. Please keep her safe Kellen,” she said shakily.
“I promise to protect her in every way. We have to go. The portal closes at dusk.”
I ran to my room and changed clothes into cargo khakis, a tank top under a t-shirt, and hiking boots. The soiled dress I threw in my hamper. I quickly packed a backpack with clothing, my toothbrush, my hairbrush, and a few other essentials. I slipped it on and ran downstairs to say goodbye.
Kellen was already changed and waiting. I hugged Gran, concern for her overriding my decision. Was I wrong to leave her all alone?
“I love you Gran. Don�
�t worry.” The lines were evident, showing at the corners of her eyes.
“I love you too, sweetie,” she patted my arm, “don’t worry about me.”
I suddenly remembered my plans with Emily and Mariah.
“Gran, will you call Emily for me and tell her something came up? Are you going to be all right? How can I leave you so soon after Gramps?” I asked her, a bit unsure.
Speaking his name aloud sent a shooting pain straight into my heart. I would not think of him right now.
“Oh, it is fine, Hun. I’ll call her. Don’t worry. You get going now.”
She was still waving when we walked out of sight…
We held hands in silence as we made our way quickly along the forest path until we split off to the right and took a different route. I had no idea where we were going but the possibility of spending all of that time with Kellen was intriguing. He seemed to be thinking the same thing as he squeezed my hand.
“It’s not far now. We’ll be just in time. Come on,” he said urgently.
I watched him out of the corner of my eye. Kellen was my savior, my friend, my lover, and my confidant. While all of these made him special and endearing to me, it was his status, his career, his abilities that were the most important. Kellen was my Guardian protector.
It was with him that all my hope now rested. His singular purpose and drive to keep me safe. His promise to keep me alive, no matter what, and no matter the cost. Everything rested on his shoulders. The future was dangerous and uncertain. My life would be at constant risk. No one could offer me the same protection, the same oath, or the same level of commitment. He was the only one I could trust now. The only one that could save me.
Only Kellen, only my Guardian.
He pulled me along even faster as we came to a thick dense stretch of trees. It looked completely normal. Nothing out of the ordinary. Then he asked me to turn around for a minute and I obeyed out of curiosity. I listened to a bird singing nearby and tried to ignore the sound of clanging behind me. After a few minutes he told me to look at him. I turned around and froze.
Kellen was standing in front of me in his full armor. He was the most magnificent thing I had ever seen. The armor was glistening in sleek silver and metallic green accents, trimmed in gold, and inlaid with an ivy leaf design all over it. Each piece was shaped like leaves, fitting to his body exactly, moving individually to allow for flexibility. The metal was unlike any I had ever heard of or seen. It was thin and light but looked incredibly strong. At his side was the long, gleaming sword he used during my attack before. It hung in its sheath tied around his waist.
I closed my mouth, realizing it was open wide in surprise. He laughed gently at my expression.
“Wow, Kellen, you look amazing. The armor is beautiful.”
“Yes, it is very strong and incredibly durable too. Let’s get moving love.” He responded with humor.
Kellen glanced at me and pointed his ring in the direction of a huge oak tree. He twisted the green stone I had admired many times before, never realizing its significance, and a murky misty swirl rose up from the center, altering the smooth appearance, and rising out of it that exploded into a window. I really didn’t know how else to describe it. Similar to a large oblong mirror but without any kind of frame. The edges shimmered, like the sun’s rays reflecting on a glassy water surface. Through it you could see to the other side, which looked like more forest but I wasn’t fooled.
“Touch it,” Kellen urged me.
I walked over to the window, the portal, and put my finger up to it. As I touched it, it wobbled and rippled like liquid glass. I was completely fascinated. I saw my finger go through and come back as I pulled it out of the mirror, intrigued. Wow, I thought. I turned to Kellen and grinned.
He slipped his hand in mine and squeezed. “Ready?” He asked excitedly. His finger ran the length of my cheek as he placed a quick kiss against my lips. His other hand clenched mine, entwining our fingers, a protective gesture. A fierce determination lit up his eyes. Only he could be there for me now. Only he could show me the way. Only my Guardian…
I nodded to him.
Kellen pulled me into his arms, holding tight, his entire body a shield against the unknown, and jumped through the gateway…
Thank you for reading!
If you enjoyed Kellen and Rhiannon’s story please leave a review to help others decide on the book.
Keep reading for a sample of Nikki Landis’ Refugee Road, the first book in a new series.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Also by Nikki Landis
Freedom Fighters Series:
Refugee Road (Book 1)
Available Now
Midnight Surrender (Book 2)
Coming fall 2016
Fight for Light Novels:
The Guardian (Book 1)
Available Now
The Harbinger (Book 2)
Coming fall 2016
The Reckoning (Book 3)
Coming late 2016
Keep reading for a sample of Refugee Road by Nikki Landis.
Refugee Road Sample
The sky was dark above, almost pitch black, lending an eerie quality to an already miserable and dreary night. Heavy clouds blocked whatever silent beams of moonlight dared to brighten the impenetrable darkness. In sparse efforts it burst through, breaching the gloomy expanse, only to be quickly distinguished, as if the urgency of the moment had issued a quiet rebuke.
Not even a hint of moonlight was the result, the ebony night stretching before us as we awaited our shipment, the one that would change everything and tip the scales in this long and tedious war. The shipment, as we called it, contained a weapons cache in addition to a bulk delivery of crucial supplies that included guns and ammunition, but more importantly it contained explosives and large grade weaponry like RPGs (rocket propelled grenades). It was exactly what we needed. And it belonged to the enemy. Our enemy.
All-out offensive has never been our strategy. We had foolishly tried in the beginning, motivated by false courage, and bolstered by hate. The result had been devastating. We were greeted with staggering numbers of fatalities for our efforts. Senseless deaths.
The vast graves dug across numerous fields and cities were a constant reminder that smart premeditated warfare, strategical planning, and surprise were the attributes that would win the war for us. We would use our intellect and perseverance because the cost, the brutal cost, had been high. Too high.
We needed weapons. Heavy weapons like tanks, turrets, and machine guns. In the beginning we had only our wits. Our drive. Our determination. But the years had changed the war. Changed us. Even changed me.
We weren’t enough men to stage that kind of war, not against the power of this enemy, so we fought back in every way possible. We grew bolder in our victories. The smallest victories, the merest gain, gave us renewed hope and vigor. We fought hard enough that the enemy couldn’t ignore us. Not then and not now. That was the point. That single focus spurred us on.
We wanted to be heard. We wanted them to know not everyone feared them, not everyone would stand by and watch them butcher innocent people. Push, push, push against the ever present enemy at our gates. Never did we yield, never did we relent. We would continue to fight back, any way we could, however we needed, for as long as it took, and as long as this enemy endured. The alternative was to let them win. Let them bury us. It was unthinkable.
The thought was a complete contradiction to my present situation. As much as I believed in our mission, I had doubts about our current leadership. Darren inspired dedication. Or at the very least, demanded it. He was a man to be feared, as determined to lead the rebellion as any one person could be, and yet, his inability to grasp the full picture of the war would ultimately prove our und
oing.
I never thought I would be standing on the frontlines, ready to give my life for a cause that counted us only as numbers, leading us like sheep to the slaughter. It didn’t matter what Darren and the others thought. It didn’t matter what we were told. Sheep. That’s what we all were. And we did what we were directed to do. We went where we were led. That’s what sheep do.
As sheep we held the front lines. We found our targets. We caused destruction. Missions were finished. Defeats. Victories. Fighting. Chaos. We pushed at the enemy. We did our job. We were soldiers…and it did not matter. As long as we won. As long as we continued to push. As long as we gained ground against the enemy. Victory. At all costs.
This was the leadership that led the refugees. This was the legacy we were given. The singular focus of every effort. Darren was a good leader but his passion was misplaced. He thought we all made a difference. He thought each individual person counted. He thought that fervor, heart, and drive made a difference. But he was wrong. Dead wrong. The enemy had proved it. Over and over again. Only numbers change things. High numbers. Only brute strength. Death. Destruction. Fear. Intimidation. Not people.
Darren did not listen to me, at least not in that regard. He met with his officers and made the plans. They would strategize. They would consider the targets and the price. The Intel would be passed along and I would fight. It was all I had left. Myself. Nothing. War. It was everything now.
The war had left many of us alone, many of us broken, and even more of us in need. At least those who had survived. I tried to think of myself as one of the lucky ones. I had survived. I had made it through the last hellish months and years without maiming or capture or torture. I wanted to be glad about it, or at least grateful, but I was not. Bitterness, anger, and resentment for the militia blocked any attempt on my part to acquiesce to the feeling.