General Klaus just blinked in surprise his face red with anger. Jack picked up his phone and snapped a picture. General Elder glared at Jack but he only smiled as he left the room with Tyree.
"What you going to do with that?" asked Tyree.
Jack laughed, "It's a present for Omar."
Tyree shook his head, "So you are really going back in?" Jack nodded, "I was thinking. You are currently under employed and very rich. I say we go in this together, get some more toys to go into Musterion with and do some exploring."
Tyree laughed as he shook his head, "You just don’t quit do you?"
Jack shrugged, "Well? What do you say?" Tyree sighed and before he could answer the younger Tyree approached them. The older Tyree turned his head trying to look distracted.
"I know you are me. I know it because I can almost feel it. What is going to happen to me to give me so many scars? Please warn me so I can stop it," he said.
Older Tyree turned and looked his younger self in the eyes. "Thanks to Dr. Metzger and Jack you will never have to live through what I have been through. The place where I am from... it is no longer true earth as the timeline has been changed."
Younger Tyree shivered, "Ok, that's a lot weirder than I expected it to be. Hearing my own voice back at me but looking into those eyes and seeing a different person... ok, I’m good."
Younger Tyree started to walk away and Older Tyree called after him, "Hey! We are rich now! Your welcome!"
Younger Tyree either didn’t hear him or pretended not to.
Tyree turned back to Jack and just laughed, "Was I really that awkward?"
Jack nodded.
"Alright Jack," said Tyree, "It’s you and me. Let's get some things and go back in."
14
Absolute Power
Myles still lay in the snow in ecstasy of all of the emotion he was just fed by Catalina. They argued around him. They fought for the throne... his throne.
"You brought him to us as our King knowing what he was. You knew he was not one of us," said Carn towering menacingly over his sister. "It was just that which led me to do so, what he is... you still do not know what he is. Your mind can not comprehend the depth of it. But at least he is one of us now, can’t you accept that? Father chose him and he is now one of us," Catalina replied.
Mullach picked Myles up with one arm. Myles felt an anger stir in him that he had not felt before. How dare this idiot handle me in such a way? How dare they try to take my throne?
Mullach said, "He is not one of us. He is a corpse. Or at least he will be soon." Myles could tell Catalina was reading his mind, but she didn’t need to. Myles was sure she could see the fierce look in his eyes. I’m tired of this game. I’m tired of things not going my way. I've been imprisoned, I’ve been attacked, and now I’ve been shot and left for dead.
Myles knew the feeling now, the feeling that was boiling up inside of him was vengeance.
Myles didn’t think it but said it, "My skin is the hardest substance in existence."
Mullach looked back at him and said, "Oh yeah, we will see about that." Mullach drew back and punched Myles in the face with such force he was positive it could have broken his neck and killed him right there. Instead he felt the bones in Mullach's fist crumble to dust.
Mullach and Carn backed away as Myles floated toward them slowly and said aloud, "I am living fire." His body exploded and all that was left was his form in flames. He saw the fear in their eyes. He fed off of their fear. "The snow falls upwards," he said as he kept approaching them. And it happened. The snow on the ground began rising defying gravity and the laws of physics. Myles didn’t so much as get a nose bleed.
Carne stared at him, “What… are… you…?” Myles spoke and magnified his voice to the level that it shook the ground. “I have been telling you. My wife has been telling you. I… AM… YOUR… KING…”
Myles felt her there. Catalina. Her presence was soothing. The snow began to fall in the right direction. He was no longer fire. Carn and Mullach were kneeling, cowering on the ground before him. Myles bent over and helped them up. “Now, we are family. We should not fight and squabble. This is a time of celebration.” Myles turned around and Catalina was gone. He thought about it and it was odd that he was able to affect that much of his surroundings. Maybe it was that he was a vampire. Maybe it was the raw emotion of the masses of vampires gathered for the wedding. In all of this time he had not realized that he had stopped breathing. He gasped for air when he realized but his lungs didn’t work. It took him a moment to realize he was ok. I’m dead, but alive.
Suddenly Myles felt nothing. He was detached from the world and everything felt gray and drab. Where in one moment he was full of life, he felt dead. He felt as though his soul had slipped away from him while he was not watching.
After some time Catalina came back. Myles called Carn who hurried to him at his call. Carn looked at him expectantly. “You are in charge of the Kingdom while I am gone. Try not to get too used to it. But we must be off to our honeymoon.”
Myles put both arms around his wife, looked her in the eyes with a smile, and then he had the winds carry them into the air. Together they floated over the vast lands of their Northern winter Kingdom. They had to stop until night came so Myles stopped and formed an igloo for them in the snow. He built a fire for a camp where he made her ice sculptures. When the last sun set Myles teleported them over the Brugmos Sea where they flew over Captain Burgess’ beautiful ship. Then he teleported them to Caelsis where he introduced her to Queen Ariana. She threw a faerie ball for them. It was a thing of beauty. Castle Enigma alone enchanted Catalina. They explored the castle together for most of the night and when the night was over. Kleis who Myles knew was posing as Omar from the start gave them a beautiful room in the Tower of the Magi. Catalina poked fun at Myles for the statues of him calling him “Master Callaghan”. There in the tower they fell asleep in each other’s arms. The next evening Myles teleported them to Loefel Meren where he introduced Catalina to the Queen. Each night Myles took her to a new place she had never been before until they had been gone for a week. He explained to her that he would even take her into Musterion but he was afraid that too much time would pass while they were gone.
They returned to Pathos well rested and well acquainted having spent every waking moment of the adventure together. But they returned to find the castle under attack by the Broken. As Myles flew them into the castle he asked for a report. They said that two nights prior the Broken had started a siege on the castle but Carn had held them back. Myles looked out at the army of hundreds and teleported himself there.
“Where is your leader,” he cried out.
“We need no leader”, several of them said. “And we want no King.” At those words Myles closed his eyes and lit the very air all around him on fire. It was a white hot flame, then he set out at killing the Broken’s force making himself into a one man army. They ran from him in fear as he hunted them down and killed them in the night. Myles killed them all, blood lust had hit him in battle and he had gone out of control. He fed on their fear and as he did so he felt alive in those brief moments. They deserve to die. They are all murderers. Several of his own men had tried to stop him but he was drunk on the emotions of all of the dying Broken ones. It took Catalina to bring him back to sanity.
Myles could feel himself slipping. He was losing his humanity. After the battle he felt empty and hollow again. But there were none who could defeat him. Forget Haylale, he had become the most powerful creature on Soterion. He was a force to be reckoned with.
That night was the first night he had spent without his new wife. He sat on the throne handling Kingly matters. Carn was getting him spun up on local events.
"Your Majesty. We suffered casualties against the Broken but we were winning. I believe it best if we concentrate our soldiers on the battle and let you live safe behind the walls of the castle," said Carn with hesitance in his voice.
Myles gave Carn a stone faced look,
"Fear and humility are unbecoming of you. You are a Prince. I expect you to act the part and not cower before me when we meet."
Carn's eyes got big, he seemed taken aback with the candidness with which Myles was speaking of his fear of him. "Yes, your Majesty. I just wanted to voice that the Kingdom needs a King and we cannot risk losing you."
Myles shook his head, "I will not have my subjects dying unnecessarily. I will fight until you are given instructions otherwise. I have nothing to fear on the battle field."
"Yes, your Majesty." Carn bowed and left the King to sit on his throne alone. CHARLI HAD FOUND HER WAY to the Kingdom of Pathos. It was a small city built beneath a castle. It looked like there had once been a wide mote surrounding the castle with three brides leading across the water. However, where the water might have once been there was a city below. The city had been divided into three baronies: North Pathos, East Pathos, and West Pathos. These baronies were divided by the South, Northeast, and Northwest bridges above the city.
Charli knew about the tracking devices in the different weapons. She waited and hoped her team would find her. She had been in Pathos for a week and though she was the only walking talking cat there it seemed the locals welcomed her visit. She had arrived three nights ago and after only one day the city and castle had been under attack by a crazed group called "The Broken". All citizens of the capital were urged to stay on the castle grounds during the battle as it was a last line of defense. Charli along with several hundred natives were escorted to the castle.
During the battle she had found her way to a tower where she used her telekinetic abilities to help gain a victory from afar. With the use of a telescope that natives had been passing around to observe the battle she was able to see into the ranks of the Broken and cause much chaos. It started with her forcing the arm of a soldier holding a sword to stab another soldier within their ranks. She did this in a few key places within their ranks causing confusion and dissention in the ranks allowing the Kingdom of Pathos to have a great advantage on the battle field.
CALEB AND OWEN ARRIVED at the castle in Pathos just after the battle. They had seen the carnage caused in the battle and were disturbed by the brutality of war. As they entered the city they heard rumors that the King had unimaginable powers and had defeated the armies of the enemy by himself.
The tracking device they had led them straight to the castle. As they walked the South Bridge to the palace they made plans for what they would do.
"Look kid, I have military training and some foreign dignitary training along with it. Let me do all of the talking. One miss-step and we could end up dead," said Owen.
Caleb nodded. "I just want to get in there, get my cousin, and get out. I'm not interested in talking to a King."
Owen smiled and asked, "No love for royalty?" Caleb shook his head, "I just don’t want to complicate things." They arrived at the portcullis where they told a guard that they were visitors to see the King. The guard didn’t hesitate to let them in, in fact he seemed pleased at their presence. "It is not often that we get visitors from the South. Please, go in and one of the servants will lead you to the throne room where you may speak to the King."
Owen cocked his head, "Really? So any stranger can gain an audience with the King?" The guard shook his head, "You really don’t know Pathos do you? There are only a few mortals who would dare travel here or stay here for that matter. We welcome mortals, the King is invincible, and he should be the first to know if mortals are here."
Owen looked at Caleb and shrugged. "I just wasn’t expecting it to be that easy."
Caleb laughed as they walked onto the castle grounds and found the nearest servant. MYLES COULD HEAR FOOTSTEPS DOWN THE HALL to the throne room. He waited and then saw a Yaarma and a Daqad being led by one if his servants. They were led to the center of the throne room and then the servant hurried off.
The Yaarma looked to be a typical Yaarma with brown eyes and dark skin but the bags he carried were manufactured. The Daqad had stone clusters at his joins which was not typical on Soterion. He too had bags that looked to be manufactured. They both wore a necklace with Omar's auto audio translator on it around their necks.
They approached the throne. The Daqad first kneeled and then the Yaarma. He could feel the fear of the Daqad and the determination of the Yaarma. He fed off of it. They were intense emotions which always helped him to feel alive. Time to add confusion.
"How is Earth?" he asked as if he was asking how the weather was. The Daqad blinked in surprise and confusion. But the Yaarma only smiled in amusement. The Daqad began to stammer not able to form an answer. Myles looked at the Yaarma and pointed a finger at him, "Answer me."
The Yaarma stood, "I am Caleb. Earth was fine when we left it."
"Why have you come here?" asked Myles in a flat tone.
Caleb cleared his throat, "We believe my sister is in your castle. She is... cat-like." "I took notice of her. I believe my servants can help you find her but I wanted to know why you have come to Soterion. I recognize the device around your neck. What business do you have with Master Metzger," he said giving them a judging look.
The Daqad looked down not making eye contact. He spoke in a low rumbling tone as all Daqad from Musterion did. "May I speak, your Grace?" he asked.
He has been trained in diplomacy. "You may."
"My name is Owen we are here with a team of people to rescue Dr. Omar Metzger." Myles let out a hysterical laugh. He felt the fear welling up in Owen again, it made him feel alive. Caleb was a stone of serenity. He had good control over his emotions. "Omar Metzger does not need rescuing but Soterion may need rescuing from Master Metzger, have you even ever met the man? Who is leading this project? Are you the only ones?"
Owen shook his head, "Jack Raven leads it and there were eight of us including Tyree who was not with us starting out on Earth."
Myles gave them a dangerous look, "I owe Tyree a lump on the head." Myles paused remembering his last run-in with Tyree when he knocked Myles out from behind and dropped him and Gannan in Musterion.
"It will take you months to travel to where Omar is and years possibly to find him on your own. I can get you there within seconds. Join me and stay in my Kingdom. Wait here for the rest of your party and then when I am ready I will take you to see Omar," said Myles.
Caleb raised an eyebrow, "Within seconds?" Myles teleported in front of Caleb who had a knife ready by the time Myles got there. Myles raised an eyebrow. Still, no emotion. Owen's fear, however; increased.
Caleb put the knife back. "I'm sorry. I wasn’t expecting that."
Myles gave him a dismissive wave. "Your knife did not scare me."
"You can teleport us to Omar?" asked Owen.
"You catch on quick," said Myles. He could feel Owen's anger welling up in him. This guy is like a buffet of emotions. "Owen, though slow at times, has his uses," said a female voice from the hallway. A Katken stepped out. Myles noticed that she also wore an auto audio translator.
Myles looked to her. She was bubbling with amusement. "I was just wandering if I could keep you from teleporting."
"Keep me from teleporting?" he asked. "I tell you what, if you can do it then I will grant you one wish within my power and within reason."
Charli used telekinesis to create a pocket of air around him anchoring his clothing and even his skin to the stone floor. Myles felt his skin tingle. He then tried to teleport and it didn’t work. He was shocked. He made the room go dark. It didn’t work, she did not need to see him. He could shoot fireballs at her but Katken can move pretty fast. There were several things he could do but he was not sure they would work and it would be wrong as she was only doing as he asked. He dissipated the darkness. He could not move his mouth so he spoke in her mind, an ability that he was still learning from Catalina. "You can release me."
She looked shocked but she let him go. Myles cleared his throat, "Impressive, but don’t ever do that to me again. I could have retaliated." She nodded, "I plan to stay if that
is alright with you. I want to wait for some time for the rest of our team. I can also shed some light on the recent attempt on your life."
"That is a matter I will trust my wife to handle. For now I will have a servant show you to your quarters," said Myles. Over the next several months Myles found out about his assassin and where he was from, he trained with the rescue team from earth while they waited for the rest of their team, and he gained their loyalty.
Catalina stood by his side but she worried for him. She loved him with all of her heart and would do anything for him but he was not the man she had first met. Being a King and being a vampire was taking a toll on him.
Years passed by and Myles won battle after battle never having to use his army. He became known as the Sorcerer King of the North. The Empress to the East had heard of his power and of his evil. She began sending forces against the Kingdom of Pathos. Never had the Kingdom been challenged before especially by mortals.
This Empress was but a gnat at his heel. But she bit at him every time he moved. He could not go out without being attacked. Finally one night as Myles was fighting off the armies of the Empire from his border there came a woman through the ranks. She was dressed in all white and wore a veil over her face. She walked through the army as a ghost or apparition.
Myles tried to attack her but she was ethereal. His attacks went right through her no matter how much he tried to control his environment. She only walked through the battle field as if mourning those that Myles had slaughtered on the battle field.
One night Myles sat at his throne and he knew that he was truly hollow. He was empty and there was nothing left of him. Catalina came to him and kissed him on the forehead. He did not react even to her anymore. He just sat there staring forward, hating his own existence. Catalina cupped Myles’ face in her hands. “What have I done to you, my dear Myles? I tried to save you but I have surely killed you. You are a walking grave my King.”
Bridgeworlds: Deep Flux Page 20