The Two Kings (Afterlife Saga)

by Hudson, Stephanie

  “Can’t she swap the dates?” Frank added unhelpfully, bless him.

  “I don’t think it works like that Frank, the flight is fully booked.” I said as Libby was muttering about our mother’s incapability to use computers and all modern technology in general, while also blaming herself for not checking each ticket.

  “Look it will be fine, I will just call Dominic and get him to pick me up and then fly out to you guys in two days...problem solved.” Well at least it seemed so for them, now I was wondering how this affected Draven’s plans? Once I got these guys on their way I could find a quiet place and ask Ragnar, who was still at my side frowning at our current situation.

  “I can’t let you fly out on your own!” Libby said but Frank was nervously looking at his watch and the flight numbers on the checking board.

  “Lib’s, I flew out here on my own remember? Look if you guys don’t go, you will miss the flight...is the spare key still hidden in that old jar in the shed?” Frank nodded before pulling me in for a hug.

  “We will see you in a few days,” he said making Libby curse under her breath.

  “Lib’s it will be fine, don’t be too hard on mum and give everyone my love until I get there.” I hugged her even though I could tell her mind was still running through every possibility. I hugged Hilary and waved them off until out of sight, watching my sister being pulled through security with Frank’s strong arm around her shoulders. She looked like a lost sheep amongst the cattle of travellers.

  “Well, what are we going to do now?” I said in a low whisper trying not to gain too much attention, but when a passerby stopped and stared, I decided to get out my phone and pretend to be talking to someone on it.

  “I will call my Lord, come with me.” Ragnar held onto my arm and we walked through the crowded airport until we were outside one of the main terminals. It was still far too crowded to go unnoticed, but no-one could hear Ragnar let alone see him so it was only me being paranoid for no good reason. He dug in his dark tan jacket and pulled out a phone that looked tiny in his hands. He pressed one button and began talking immediately.

  “The mother made the mistake.” He added after explaining our new situation. I wished I could hear the other side of this conversation because Ragnar’s head bobbing wasn’t easing my irritation.

  “Yes I will, no, the car left after we did. I cannot detect any of our kind nearby. We will wait for the car and I will bring her back to Afterlife directly...Yes my Lord, with my life.” He said and passed the phone down to me, which must have looked mighty strange for anyone walking past, me taking a phone from thin air!

  “Hi,” I said very forlorn.

  “Keira are you alright?” Draven sounded concerned and hyped up as if he had been waiting phone in hand ready for something to go wrong.

  “Yeah I’m fine, so what will happen now?” I asked, trying to sound a little less ‘end of the world’.

  “I am sending a car to pick you up and then we will decide when you get here. It will be alright Keira, soon you will be safely in my arms once again.” The thought made me smile and the nagging feeling I had all day seemed to evaporate.

  “Good, I will see you soon then.” I was about to hand it back when I heard Draven’s words enter me to the core.

  “Keira, I love you.” I smiled and although he couldn’t see me I think he heard it in my reply.

  “And I love you.”

  Ragnar had arranged for us to be picked up in a quieter part of the Airport, when his phone rang.

  “My Lord?” He seemed surprised but nodded again and again as new orders were being given. I, meanwhile, was sat on my suitcase like a bored child.

  “You want us to get to the jet?” Ragnar looked surprised, which brought my nagging fear rushing back to me in a heartbeat. He nodded a few more times and muttered acknowledgements down the phone but his frown never left his harsh red face. The little potted scars seemed to stand out further when he looked this agitated and it automatically made me wonder what had gone wrong.

  “But my Lord, that is not what we had planned...the girl she...” Ragnar shut up immediately once I heard shouting from the other end and we both flinched simultaneously.

  “No, My Lord I am sorry to question you... No it will not happen again.” He said after obviously being reprimanded but still his frown remained. It was quite clear whatever Draven’s changes, Ragnar did not approve.

  “Yes, I will take her there now, you will meet us?” He waited for his answer and then nodded. Once he had received his new orders he snapped the phone shut and looked down at me with his dark red eyebrows closely knitted together and emitted a low growl.

  “What is it...what’s wrong?” I asked placing my hand on his arm, which felt a bit like comforting a tree trunk against the rain.

  “My Lord wants me to take you to the hanger where one of his jets is being fuelled.” He said looking around the airport like he was scanning for enemies.

  “But I thought it was only a minute ago he was sending a car for us?”

  “It was, but now he has decided to change his plans.” His usual husky voice had an uncertain edge to it that I needed to question.

  “And you’re not happy?” It was an obvious question.

  “No, I don’t like it because it is not like my Lord to be so unpredictable, but his word is law so I do not question it. We have to move,” he said taking my suitcase in one hand and me in the other. That was the end to our conversation but I felt his tension flow through me like it was sticking to my skin in the form of a nervous sweat. I found myself being pulled along until Ragnar found what he was looking for. The next thing I knew I was being pulled into a taxi and sitting back while Ragnar took over the Driver’s mind. He sat back with a faded expression on his face like he was listening to bird calls in the distance. It almost made me want to shake him but I wouldn’t have dared. So I did all I could do...I sat there and worried.

  I had no idea how we got there but the one lot of security we did encounter after a few words from the driver we passed without trouble. Soon we were driving towards a big aircraft hanger where the doors were opening to allow for the sleek black jet rolling out. That’s when the brakes slammed on and thrust me forward hitting into the back of the front seat. I made a noise as the air had been knocked out of me, but before I had time to complain, Ragnar had released his hold over the driver and forced him into a deep sleep.

  “Something’s wrong!” He said in the worst tone to hear from a former Viking King...that was panic!

  “Why?” I was so scared to ask but I gripped onto his arm as I waited for an answer I was sure I didn’t want to know. He was staring at the Jet like he was waiting for it to blow up or something and when I jerked him for a response, he turned to stare at me so slowly I felt my skin prick with fear.

  “Draven’s jet is white” These were the last words I heard before all Hell broke loose.

  I didn’t even have time to scream as the car suddenly filled with a blinding light like someone had just released a flash bomb inside. I couldn’t see a thing but when the car’s metal frame around us started to shake, I heard all the glass shattering outwards and landing in thousands of pieces on the tarmac like the falling snow had turned into icy shards.

  Ragnar’s roar soon became a distant noise as an ear splitting, high pitched hum filled the small space and made it near impossible to think of anything other than covering my ears and closing my eyes. It was only when I felt the cold air being inhaled did I realize that it was so I could carry on screaming through the fog of disaster. Then I felt myself being moved. First I heard the rest of the window crash as the door was being opened on my side and then hands were on me dragging me from the car. I still couldn’t see and my hearing was playing on and off as though someone was flipping a switch. The hands gripped onto my shoulders and yanked until my body slid out onto the tarmac, landing on my back with a painful thud. I was so scared, I was shaking but I was trying desperately to hold onto whatever shred of co
ntrol I had left.

  “KEIRA RUN!” I heard Ragnar’s thundering voice shouting through the craziness but for me there was no going anywhere. Once I had fallen, I was quickly pulled roughly to my feet and held on either side by towering men above me. My eyes were still in blur mode but I could just make out their shadows looming so close to me, holding on to me at the tops of my arms. I tried to squirm away but it became too painful when their fingertips started to dig into my flesh like they were pointed at the ends.

  “Enough!” A man’s voice shouted without anger, it was more a controlled manner, almost business like. That’s when my sight cleared as though water had just been splashed in my eyes and my hearing was no longer consumed by the high pitched hum that was causing my head to hurt. Of course, although all my senses were back, it only brought a new level to our dire situation into perspective.

  Ragnar was fighting off a large group of men all going at him from all angles. It also looked like he had grown twice his size and all the figures around him looked like they could barely touch him. Ragnar was unstoppable and my hopes rose at the sight of three men being flung backwards like bowling pins. Two behind him were approaching him with thick iron chains and I almost laughed at the idea of them holding this Viking beast. They sidestepped in sync and then ran for him at an incredible speed but for the size of my giant protector, he was as swift as a hawk and as nibble as a jungle cat. He spun on his heel and met them head on. He grabbed the chains before they hit him and he wrapped them around his trunk arms a few times to get a grip. He began to run backwards taking the two men with him. He then whipped the chains out to the sides and back causing the two men to collide with each other in the middle knocking themselves out with the force.

  I almost started shouting in encouragement at the sight of him beating them down but when the ones who had hold of me started to drag me backwards, my shouts turned into ones of desperation instead. Ragnar stopped after grabbing one by the neck and breaking it with one distinct snap.

  “LET THE GIRL GO OR DIE!” Ragnar roared in his Demon voice which sounded as though it could command Hell itself!

  Meanwhile the voice of the man who shouted “Enough” was making himself known as he emerged from the black Jet. Ragnar took one look at me before seeing him coming down the plane’s steps...then his face crumpled in confusing defeat. I couldn’t understand, he was just one man, but one thing I was sure of, Ragnar knew this man.

  Everyone froze as if God himself had just popped down to state his claim in this, but considering I didn’t know who he was, I was going to use this opportunity to run like Hell! I used my body weight to aid me and let my legs drop and then pushed back with all my strength. It wasn’t a lot but it was enough to take them off guard. They lost their grip on me and I made my legs power forward over to Ragnar thinking behind him would be my only hope at surviving this. The men behind me cursed as they ran towards me but I remained out of reach, and seeing what the other men had endured, they stopped before Ragnar was within reach to do the same to them. He saw me coming and growled out at the men behind as a warning, they didn’t need. He scooped me up with both arms and held me back like I was a frightened child, he needed to prevent from witnessing this.

  “Ragnar, the Viking King. It has been a long time since I have seen you. And now it seems you have a charge to take care of. This is unfortunate, as now I will have to take her from you...unless you are willing to stand down.” He was a tall thin man with silvery white hair and had a handsome face with sharp features. A long, straight nose and a point to his chin made his high cheekbones seem all the higher. He didn’t look like your typical bad guy, all dressed in a tailored beige suit and red tie...he even carried a briefcase for heaven’s sake! Was he here to kidnap me or make me a business deal in buying real-estate.

  “Carrick! Doing errands for Vampires now...I would have thought that beneath you, soul collector!” Ragnar had let me slide down to the ground and he was holding me back with one arm and hiding the rest of me with his colossal frame. I could see his muscular back tensed and ready for another fight, although something told me this next one he wouldn’t find so easy. There was something in Ragnar’s voice that told me as much, like a respect he had to give this man and I knew he must be a big player in the Supernatural world.

  At Ragnar’s words he cocked his head to one side amused for a moment.

  “It is not your concern why, but the will is. Hand the girl over to me and not only with I give you my word that she will not be harmed but you too will walk away with your life...Although I cannot vouch for your Master’s wrath on the matter, I hear he is quite fond of this little human.” He seemed intrigued with me as I arched my head round to see him at my mention.

  “She is the ‘Electus’” Ragnar said and if he hoped to shock him into submission he failed, all he got was one raised white eyebrow.

  “Is she...ah well that explains the circumstances but unfortunately for you my friend it does not change them. I am neutral in this fighting prophecy but when commissioned I always fulfil my contract. The girl is still mine and I grow weary of discussing it with one of Dominic’s servants, so I ask only once more...hand her over or face the consequences!” He said this last part with a venomous bite but Ragnar stood his ground. He widened his stance and braced himself for what looked to be his death.

  “Ragnar don’t,” I whispered, placing my hand on his arm but he glared down at me and shook his head.

  “I have sworn to protect her with my life and I am a man of my word!” He barked back making Carrick roll his eyes as though bored.

  “Very well Viking, then let your life be the price you pay for your loyalty, I hope you die with dignity old soul for it will not be lacking in courage.” He said these words like a prayer and they did hold respect which I found surprising, considering he was the one that was going to take this life.

  I made the decision that if I was going to be any help to him, I was going to have to really see what was going on, so I did something I rarely do...I dropped my guard and let the other sight take hold. I closed my eyes tight for seconds until I was sure I had freed my gift, like letting loose the evil side of me. When I opened my eyes the first thing I saw was Ragnar in his Demon form, and being that this was the first time I had seen him this way I couldn’t stop my reaction. He knew instantly what I had done.

  He turned to look at me and I also couldn’t help the frightened gasp that escaped. His face had no skin, just a fleshless bone skull with tiny holes pierced all over it, like he had been locked in one of those medieval iron maiden’s that shut a person into a standing coffin full of nails. His nose was just made of two elongated holes and his mouth was covered in was looked like metal cladding hammered in sections over his jaw line to hold it in place. I felt the tears roll down my cheeks as I looked into the hollow where his eyes had turned into a small white dot in the middle of a dark mist that was flowing freely from his body. It could only be described as his energy that was making his body pulsate with anger. I automatically stood back and saw two twisted horns brake through his clothes and curl up around his exposed skull like a helmet. They had combined at the front once they covered his face and met down at his chin to interlock like a bone beard. Now to look at him there was only twisted horn coming from either side of his exposed bloody spine to protect his entire head.

  I kept taking steps back to give his growing body room as his pulsating had reached it height and he stood ready for the war against us. He was the size of a Transit van making me look like a toddler. Carrick’s men pulled together and were ready to hit Ragnar with his first wave but Carrick’s hand went up to stop them. Maybe the sight of Ragnar looking like a Demon tank was enough to make him change his mind. Then I received my answer.

  The skies started to grow dark, like a storm was quickly taking hold and I felt an icy chill seep through every layer of my clothing. The clouds look angry with us all as they moved at such speeds, I could barely believe what my eyes were seeing. Clouds
never moved like that, not even in a hurricane! Who was this man that could command the skies? There was only one man I knew with that kind of power...Draven!

  “All in vain, Viking!” Carrick shouted shaking his head, causing me to really look at him for the first time. He was no longer a man but had now turned into death. That was the only way to describe him, he was Death! His suit had faded to the dark cloak that cut off at his chest. The hood raised, hiding his face under a black plastic looking material...or was it skin? It stretched across powerful, large shoulders and floated down stronger looking arms. This was different as the man before was tall and of a slim build but not now...no now he too was a warrior!

  All of this was caught in a blink compared to what my eyes were now fixated on. His torso was only half muscle and flesh as it had been stripped away on most of his ribcage. There was left bloody ribs that encased a light glow behind, like his own energy source was being protected by bone. As I raked my sight further down I saw that his waist didn’t exist and only his dripping spine was holding him upright. The start of his pelvis was also on show but then his cloak returned and flowed as though alive around the rest of his body. Literally it looked as though a cloaked figure had had a section of his body removed and we were all looking at the result of only a remaining skeleton. If I thought Ragnar was frightening then this guy took first prize for that award!

  The Soul collector, as Ragnar had called him, still had hold of his briefcase and this also had changed. Now he held a case that looked as though someone had filled it with blood, set the edges alight and dipped it in black tar. This was now being held back and made ready to throw. It flew through the air and landed in between the two Demons that were ready for the fight. But I was wrong, there was no epic fight about to take place but only an easy defeat. Ragnar didn’t have a chance and the way his body reacted told me this. He actually was moving backwards away from the open black case. At first I couldn’t see why, but once I stepped to the side I saw the black wave coming towards him like a black ocean coming crashing to the shore.