Dark Form_Book 1 of the Shadow War Trilogy

by M. A. Da Costa

  “What makes me ‘special’ is what I am and what I am able to do.”

  “How did you—”

  “Hear your thoughts? That would be because I obviously possess telepathy.”

  Telepathy a wicked ability for some type of monstrosity of a zouvx. Genu is every child’s worst nightmare or in my case a mysterious warrior that befriended my parents. He truly is a beast.

  “What are you?” I ponder aloud.

  Genu’s body shivers at the question. His golden eyes shift to me. No matter his appearance his eyes never change. He stands a little over ten feet tall; as he advances towards me the beast’s upper body drops bringing him to all fours. His height is now only a few inches taller than he is normally. Nevertheless, he is even more menacing like this.

  Only a couple feet from me his features are more defined. More keen to Genu’s current form a thought strikes my mind…

  He’s only half-kaine! Oh, shit.

  An eerie grin widens revealing immense fangs.

  “Yes, I am,” shivers run across his body, “but can you guess my other half?”

  The shivers grow more frequent and rapidly spiral along his body. Within seconds, his fangs and claws retract, large animal ears shrink, his body mass restores, and the fur comes together and flows down Genu’s head. Everything reverts back into his mortal form; everything except his eyes.

  His naked body is rapidly covered by his wings that mold themselves into a robe. It finally dawns on me what he is.

  “You are half-vampry!” I almost leap into the sky at my astonishing realization.

  Genu’s smile gives it away. I knew the moment I remembered our battle in the training room. Large leathery wings, fangs, a slight bat-like appearance, and his agility.

  “You have figured me out. You must be stupidly proud, on the other hand, you still have questions. I, of course, have your answers; I believe now would be the perfect time to explain everything to you. Despite you failing our previous arrangement.”

  Genu walks across the courtyard. Weaving his way through the winding paths of the various plants. He comes to the balcony of the garden overlooking Elvendora. It isn’t till now that I learned Genu’s castle is on top of a cliff. I walk to the edge, a stone railing stands at the edge preventing you from walking right off. Placing my arms on the railing I slouch my body a little and allow myself to relax. I feel one with the natural life of Elvendora and everything it has to offer.

  After a few minutes, Genu finally speaks, “I believe it is time that you know what you are.”

  I stand to look him in the eyes and, for the first time, I see sorrow behind them. He breathes in and then exhales slowly.

  “Zarvick, you and Crystalline are more of a miracle than myself. You two pose more of a purpose in Elvendora and in the universe than you’ll ever come to know.”

  Crystalline stands off to the side from us; I catch a glimpse of her beauty once again. This time, however, I notice something different…a connection that we have with one another. My very begin urges me to her but I resist. I need to know what Genu has to say.

  “…Genu…what exactly am I?”

  “I will get to that momentarily,” Genu leans over the rail. “What do you believe makes Elvendora, Elvendora?”

  “I-I don’t really know. Perhaps the life that Elvendora gives homes too.” I respond.

  The ivory robe coating his body slightly shifts on its own. Almost reacting to my words.

  “That’s a good answer, yet you are barely touching the surface,” he turns his head towards me, “Zarvick, Elvendora is the center, the very heart, of the universe. Everything world and being out there is all connected to our home.”

  There will always be unanswered questions in this new life of mine.

  Chapter 4

  The wind begins to blow a gentle breeze. The crimson moon is met by its lovely sister the iris moon. Together their colors warp and wave in the sky as though to dance in perfect unity after a long day. Serene shades of lavender coax the natural life of Elvendora into an unequaled song of life. The dancing of the moons and the songs of nature seem to link as one being. And I—of all the people on the planet—feel apart of it.

  I couldn’t understand what Genu meant by how Elvendora is more than just a home to all that live upon it but the very core of existences. I pondered the idea for a long time before he finally interrupted my thoughts to answer my frustration.

  “At the very beginning of time, five beings came into existence. How they came about is unknown but they are the ancestors of all that is now. Each had a job of creation. First came the stars, guides through the frozen darkness of the universe. Next came the cosmic dust—stardust—concentrated into what we know as galaxies,” Genu’s eyes gleam with excitement as he stares behind the moons and into the endless unknown, “used as giant worlds to substance portions of the universe. Then came the “cities” within those galaxies also known as planets. Used to withhold life and other wondrous creations of the ancestors. Finally…there came essence or people; the sole purpose of ancestors’ creations.”

  This sounds all amazing to me but I still find it more complicated than his story tells. Five people created all of existence and reality. It’s a bit much. Then again, so is my existence.

  I take a look around at the beauty Elvendora has to offer, yet something still seems off about the story.

  “Genu—” a raise of his hand cuts me off.

  “Let me finish,” he says in a distant voice, “or else you won’t get your answers.”

  I nod and let him continue.

  “The ancestors have finished the universe in our perspectives, however, their work was far from over. Four of the five ancestors morphed together into two beings (two ancestors per being). These beings later become known as the sisters of time and space: Xelom and Yiluf. The fifth ancestor had the greatest duty of all, for it was she who was their leader. The great ancestor created the end product of the universe. At its very core, she made into an image of herself and all within the universe—Elvendora. Our home is what keeps the cosmos in balance and the sisters allow everything to stay in perfect sync with one another.”

  Believing he is finished I decided to ask what I meant to ask before, “Genu, what does any of this have to do with me or Crystalline?”

  Genu’s eyes pull away from the glowing night sky. He looks at me with utter astonishment and smiles. I begin to lean back, close my eyes, and embrace the unknown. Why not? After all, I will always be left with more questions and no answers.

  Within moments, Crystalline is by my side basking in this current of grace flowing from one to the next.

  A few minutes later Genu finally walks away from the ledge and towards the center of the courtyard. The ivory silk begins to shift and morph. It changes into a cloak draping down to Genu’s ankles from his shoulders.

  “Zarvick…” he finally speaks, “this has everything to do with you and Crystalline. You may not see it now but I know that you feel something deep within you. That connection to everything around you.”

  I’m taken back. I had no idea that he knew that. I mean, I don’t even understand half of the things I have been able to accomplish over the past few days. So, instead of trying to figure it out I just lower my shoulders and relax. The cold air around us kisses at my skin. I focus on just warm thoughts, letting them guide me away from the frozen breeze. Slowly, but steadily, my body heats up. I continually concentrate on the warmth. Picturing a wave of heat evolving into an eruption of flame circling around me.

  As my eyes open, those thoughts of fire are no longer images but reality. I feel it gliding along my body. Never harming me. Welcoming me into its blazing heart. Crystalline stands off to the side of me, her arm blocks her face as her eyes peer through the fire at me. Our eyes lock into a standstill. The flame roars as it grows; quickly it swirls around and forms into a sphere between my palms.

  Raising the flame to my eyes it slowly twirls in front of me; I do nothing but stare i
nto it. Waiting for something to happen…nothing…nothing at all. Well, almost nothing.

  Crystalline walks over to me and places her hands on mine. A flicker of light bubbles around the flame. Slowly coaxing it, altering it. A burgundy gleam surfaces along the fire until it completely diminishes. I feel absent when it leaves. As though everything within me was just washed away.

  “Zarvick…” I vaguely hear Crystalline speak, “Are…you…alright…?”

  Before my eyes close I see a golden lace race across my vision. Then nothing. I just disappear as if I was never there. Swimming in a black sea under a lightless sky. Just pure emptiness as though nothing has been created yet. I have never felt this before but I am pretty sure that I am most likely dead. Probably an arrow through the chest or maybe I couldn’t handle all the surprises twisting my life. All of this is moving too fast, it’s as though someone is pushing reality forward and now time is moving uncontrollably.

  “That’s only half of the story,” a voice shouts in the distance.

  “I’m sorry…what?” I flail about.

  Two tiny orbs of light peer through the darkness. They gradually grow larger as they near, until they are the size of a baby’s head. It isn’t until the lights are before me that I remember them…

  “Mom…dad…” a harsh voice escapes my lips, “is that you?”

  “Yes, it is us, and we have been within you since the forest.”

  Everything slowly falls into place as the two orbs join together. I have no idea what to do. I want to ask so many questions; I want so badly to talk about everything that has taken place. However, I know there’s no time. My senses suddenly go haywire as I am pulled away from them.

  Cracking roars in my ears, a sour taste stings my tongue, a numbing sensation races across my skin, a sweet yet deadly smell fills my nostrils, and a burst of multiple colors flashes in and out of my vision.

  “Our time is limited Zarvick,” Edon starts and Delphine finish, “but we must tell you that time has been fractured and is now under the influence of the dark one.”

  Then nothing…just darkness…just more loneliness…more sorrow…nothing…

  Fading away, a whisper-shouts in my ear, “Crystalline needs you now more than ever, just like you need her. Protect one another.”

  I am gone as fast as an unheard thought and as quiet as the shadows.

  * * * * *

  My eyes open with much effort, pain aches all over. As my senses return to normal a sharp ringing hits my ears, taste finds its way back to my mouth and I start to smell the fresh castle air around me. Everything begins to fall into place one after another; grasping onto every nerve, muscle, and bone within me I force myself into a sitting position. Again, I found myself in the same room as always: plain grey walls, an amazing bed, and an extremely colorful window.

  I feel something tightly squeezing my hand, glancing over I find Crystalline on the edge of my bed. I nudge her with my other hand until she seems to wake. Yet, she keeps her head down and just lays there. At first I begin to fear the worst, however, she releases a loud annoyed snore and I back off; taking a few minutes to finally release myself from her grip. I get out of bed with my regaining strength and go out into the hall.

  As I close the door a voice appears, “she was worried about you. Crystalline never left your side once while you were unconscious.”

  Only until I register the tone of the voice do I realize it is Genu. I turn to face him, “how long was I unconscious?”

  He stares up at the ceiling then says, “a day or two. I am assuming your body is adjusting to the sudden uprising of your powers.”

  I pop like a bubble, “I have been through hell and back again! Dealing with crazy creatures and begins! Seeing the weirdest things! Using powers that I never knew I had! Watching the people I loved and, the only way I knew how to live, get wiped off the face of existence! Now I am constantly fainting and you have the audacity to stand here and act like everything is fine. Why the hell did you not wake me up?!”

  His eyes narrow. With a swift movement, my back is against the wall and his hand is pressing against my chest. The anger in his eyes is petrifying. Every part of me is terrified to move. I have never felt so afraid, not even in the face of death. I should really get a handle on my emotions.

  “You will not speak to me like that,” he breathes, “and there is a lot of reasons why I could not wake you. Besides, all that matters is that you are safe and alive. So, we have a lot of things to discuss don’t we.”

  I swallow hard, then nod. Genu starts down the hall, his cape glides behind him. The anger within him keeps me at a distance as I follow him. I’m not sure if I am supposed to say something or just keep quiet. However, I decided to, slowly, because we reached our destination.

  A large room with a grandmaster table in the very center. Large marble counters with smoothly crafted cupboards covering the lower part of the left wall. Huge windows are spread out on the right wall. Near the back wall is an enormous amount of cooking utensils. It is wonderful, even better than it appears.

  As I am gawking at the kitchen; Genu motions for me to take a seat. Pulling myself together I sit down in the closest chair to me. Before sitting down, Genu places an empty glass cup on the table. I simply stare at it in bewilderment.

  “Zarvick, what happened to you?” Genu asks.

  I reply, “no idea. But I talked to my parents and they told me something very important.”

  His silence urges me on.

  “They told—more like made me feel—that time has been altered. Everything has been shifted and won’t be so easily fixed. I just don’t understand what any of this means, worst of all I don’t know how to fix it.”

  Genu stares at me with unadulterated concentration. His pupils have narrowed like that of a snake’s. The gold color of his eyes brighten and it starts to freak me out.

  “I believe you,” he finally mutters, “but I need to know more. You need to know more.”

  My eyes widen. Did he actually say that?!

  “Zarvick, you have the power to be all eight elements. The four planetary elements: fire, water, earth, and air. And the four cosmic elements: light, ice, darkness, and energy. You can do more than just manipulate them, you are them. They are you.”

  His eyes glance at the empty glass. It quickly slides across the table with an invisible force. He then stares at me, waiting for me. Until finally speaking when I do nothing.

  “An empty glass is a glass worth filling for it poses no purpose without anything inside.”

  My eyebrows raise in confusion, “I’m not sure that I understand the concept.”

  “What am I to do with you…” Genu sighs, “you have a purpose in life whether you know what it is or not. That purpose deals with the eight elements…”

  I stare blankly at him, “I—”

  He angrily cuts me off, “just fill the fucking glass with water.”

  I look at the glass, then all around the room. Just stone no water. How does he expect me to fill this?…duh, he wants me to “be” the elements. Honestly, could’ve just flat out said that. I really don’t understand his need to be so complex.

  I close my eyes, just picturing the glass in my head. Steadily, I make water swirl about its interior in the darkness of my thoughts. I can’t wait any longer, my eyes shoot open, an overwhelming sensation surges from inside of me and—right out of thin air—water emerges in the glass.

  It fills up half way before I close myself off from this…sensation. Astonishing as it is to make water just appear, Genu doesn’t seem impressed. Being the person that I am, I won’t just let him sit there unsatisfied. Raising one hand the water lifts easily into the air. Instantly, I fasten my hand into a fist; the liquid becomes a solid sphere of ice, suspended right above the glass.

  Glancing at Genu, I notice slight irritation. Thus, I quickly melt the ice into a vapor state. He just stares, not uttering a single word.

  “Genu—”

  “It is known
as Reaper. I am not exactly sure of what it is but Reaper’s power is beyond that of any being I have ever come to know. On the day that you and Crystalline were born, a century ago, it slaughtered both her parents. I got there only moments later to save her life. Luckily, your parents fended Reaper off and they managed to get away with you. The Sacred Forest was a place of great purity; it protected all of those that lived them from any dark corruption whether it be a plague or magic. Nevertheless, Reaper has grown in power over the years…”

  There are no emotion or changes in his demeanor. I, on the other hand, can’t stop thinking about all the pain and death that my life has caused without my knowledge.

  Mom…dad…I couldn’t protect you. All that they have ever done for me, I took it for granted; complained about their restrictions. Now, I will never see them again.

  “…I came back here with baby Crystalline,” Genu continues, “with the help of an old friend we managed to make my castle a sanctuary. Now that I know about this…time shift. I must learn more. Zar—”

  “Why didn’t you let Reaper kill me? Because of me, my parents are dead.”

  Genu slides his chair back and stands. He stares at me with what I assume to be anger. Probably the only emotion he actually has.

  “I was like you, years ago. I felt what you are feeling at this very moment. Bad people took someone that I loved who had no part of this; she just wanted to protect me. I am going to tell you the same thing that I told myself all that long ago,” his emotions fade with every word, hiding within himself, “it is not your fault. They died for you because they deemed your life more important than their own. Your parents knew the risk of protecting you and valued your life. Don’t you ever forget that.”

  I choke back the pain, “my parents weren’t just looking out for me.”

  “What?”

  “Before they disappeared. They told me to protect Crystalline. They said that we needed each other.”

  Genu nods. He tells me to do exactly that. Although, I doubt she really needs my protection. Crystalline is kind of a badass.