In Creation's Heart

by Jason Hamilton

  “Of course, though, uh, where did you have in mind?” Naman looked around them, and the implication was clear. There was no place private anywhere in Foothold. They had far too many people here at the moment.

  “Take my hand,” said Jak, offering it. Naman and Jamilla glanced at each other, and something passed between them, an understanding. Silently, they helped the wounded man back down onto his cot, before joining Jak.

  In the blink of an eye, Jak called on the Pillar of Space and it whisked them away to a familiar location for all three of them. A cool wind whipped at their clothing in near silence.

  “Oh Jak,” said Jamilla. “Did you have to take us here?”

  They stood outside of Naman and Jamilla’s old house, what had once been the only store in Riverbrook. Today parts of its roof were missing, water damaged much of the inside, which they could see through the door that hung on one hinge, swinging back and forth in the wind with a prolonged squeak.

  “I wanted to remind you of old times,” said Jak, staring at the place where she had spent many hours of her childhood, playing with Marek. “Of what you lost.”

  “We haven’t lost him,” said Jamilla. “There is still hope for our son.”

  Jak put up a hand. “Perhaps that was a poor choice of words. But we have all lost something, and even Marek is not what he once was. None of us are.”

  They stayed silent, understanding in their gazes.

  “I think we can help Marek,” said Jak. “I saw him recently. He’s holed up in what I can only describe as Cain’s home.”

  “Where?” breathed Naman.

  “In the Hollow Peaks. He still stubbornly insists on staying with Cain for now, though he did not seem hostile towards me.” She didn’t mention some of the things he said about learning from Cain. Best to fill them in bit by bit.

  “We need to go to him,” Jamilla added hurriedly. “If there’s anyone who can convince him to leave, it’s us.”

  Jak nodded. “That’s exactly what I wanted to talk to you about. I’m putting together a small team to infiltrate the place and destroy Cain once and for all. If Marek fights against us, it will be difficult. But if we could turn him to our side, or at least ensure that he doesn’t fight…”

  “We’ll do it,” said Naman.

  “I wasn’t finished,” Jak said, putting up a hand to signal patience. “If you come, I will need to brand the both of you, with far more brands than you already have.”

  Jamilla and Naman exchanged a glance. They looked hesitant.

  “I know it could probably take some getting used to.” Jak admitted. “It did for me. And it’s possible that people won’t look at you the same way, even if they think they’re tolerant of multiple brands.”

  “You misunderstand, Jak.” Jamilla said, softly. “We’re not going to reject your offer.”

  “We’ve…” Naman shifted his feet uncomfortably. “We’ve actually talked about this possibility before, speculating, idly or so we thought, about what we would do with such a gift.” “And what did you decide?” Jak said, listening closely. Their answer would go a long way in confirming whether Jak’s decision was in good faith or not.

  “We’d do exactly what you’re asking of us,” he said. “Find our son and bring him home.” He glanced back at the ruined shop.

  “You’ll never be able to return to the life you knew,” Jak warned. “Especially not if I give you this.”

  “We know,” said Jamilla. “But it would be worth it if we could have our son back.”

  That much Jak could understand. She’d give up just about anything to have her father or mother back, even if it meant losing a part of herself. Thankfully, Naman and Jamilla did not face that dilemma, unless the extra power somehow got to their heads. Jak would forever need to keep a close eye on them, alongside Skellig and Naem for that matter. Anyone with as much power as her would need to be monitored. It was an aspect of her power that Jak hated.

  “Very well,” she said. She held out her Gifter arm, readying it for use. “Let’s begin.”

  17

  “I’m actually feeling rather good about this,” said Naem, bouncing slightly on his heels as he waited. He, Seph, and Jak were waiting at the top of the tower for everyone else to join them. When no one replied, he went on. “I mean, we’ve got a dragon on our side, one who very nearly killed Cain the first time they fought. And now that we have not one, not two, but four others who are just as powerful as Jak, I feel like we’re in a much better place.”

  Jak nodded inwardly. She had finished branding Naman and Jamilla the day before, giving them over a dozen Healing brands, and multiple copies of Flamedancing, Telekinesis, Toughness, and more. They were essentially brand powerhouses now, along with Naem and Skellig. Jak had given them a few extra brands as well, though Naem had also given himself a few, since he was not only well branded, but another Oren like Jak.

  “We certainly have a much better chance of facing him now than we ever did,” said Jak, fingering the white Pillar of Eternity in one hand. “I only hope it will be enough.”

  “There was a time when our entire army couldn’t have made a dent in Cain’s ego, much less his person,” said Skellig, emerging from the stairs at the side of the tower. She was followed by Naman and Jamilla, both of whom were now covered from head to toe in various brands, just like Skellig and Naem.

  Jak waved them all closer, gathering all in a circle. Seph, who had said nothing so far, merely watched her with arms folded, a confident smile on his face. He trusted her.

  “I don’t need to tell you that this will be dangerous,” said Jak, meeting each of their faces. “We might not all make it out of this alive.”

  “We’re ready for that possibility,” said Naem, his tone unusually sober.

  The rest nodded in confirmation.

  “Well then,” said Jak, feeling herself grow more and more determined. “Remember the plan. Naman and Jamilla are primarily responsible for dealing with Marek, hopefully by turning him to our side if possible, but at the very least, taking him away from the battle.”

  Naman and Jamilla both nodded, but said nothing.

  “The rest of you will attack Cain with everything you’ve got. If we have to, we can destroy his starship and other Relics to get his attention, though I recommend doing that only after Naman and Jamilla succeed with Marek. He seemed rather attached to preserving them.”

  Once again, a line of nods met her eyes.

  “With your distractions, I will do my best to take the Pillar of Eternity from him, or at least transport him to Illadar to spring our trap. If that doesn’t work, we will use brute force, but let’s hope that won’t be necessary. Try to get him in a position where Seph can deal the killing blow.”

  She glanced at her husband, who nodded, though there was some mild unease among the group at this last option. In order to send dragon fire at Cain, he would likely have to be held down, or at least deprived of the Pillar of Time. That meant certain death for whomever held Cain in place long enough for Seph to spew dragon fire.

  But it would not come to that. They had a plan, with multiple backups. They would win this. No cost was too great if it meant the safety of the entire human race and those of the Fae.

  “We’re ready,” said Skellig, holding out her hand. Naem quickly joined her, placing his hand on Skellig’s. Both Naman and Jamilla followed suit, followed by Seph, who looked at Jak expectantly.

  Jak took a deep breath, activated the Pillar of Space, and placed her hand last on that of the others.

  Instantly, she transported them inside the cave in the western Hollow Peaks.

  It took awhile for her eyes to adjust, but it wasn’t long before she caught the glow in the distance that represented the strange crystals that grew from floor to ceiling. She had brought herself and the rest of them inside the cave.

  Cain must have been resting, for he had not jumped out of the shadows, and the cave even appeared empty, though Jak knew from the uncomfortable flutter i
n her stomach that such was not the case. Cain was here, just ahead of them in the vast chamber. They could only hope that he was sleeping, still recovering from his exhaustive use of the Pillar of Time.

  “I figured you would come here,” said a calm voice from one corner.

  All of them spun to see who had spoken. In the pale blue light reflected from the crystals, Jak could make out Marek sitting on a rock not ten paces away from them.

  “My master is sleeping,” he confirmed, and Jak felt a stab of hope. Perhaps they could sneak up on the demon king.

  “Are you here to help us?” Jak asked, placing the tip of the Pillar of Space on the ground.

  “That depends on what you plan to do,” he continued in that calm voice. “Are you only here to kill him, or do you plan to destroy his work as you once suggested.”

  Jak swallowed. She had hoped Marek wouldn’t bring this up. But now that he had asked, she couldn’t exactly ignore the question, or he would assume she meant the starship harm. “That is not our plan, though if it were the only way to distract Cain long enough to gain the upper hand, we would do it.”

  Marek tightened his fists and hung his head. “You’d better not.” He said it with such coldness that Jak almost took a step back. What would he do if they did try to destroy it?

  “Marek.” It was Jamilla, standing in the back. She moved to one side and around Jak to be plainly visible in the low light. Naman followed.

  Marek looked at them as if genuinely surprised. “Mother?” he said, his eyebrows furrowed as if confused. “What are you doing here?”

  “Jak asked us if we would come,” Naman responded.

  Marek looked at Jak. “Using my greatest weakness against me?”

  “Attachment is not a weakness,” said Jak. “It can be your greatest strength.”

  “And yet your ability to let go of your mother was what saved us all on top of Mt. Knot.”

  Jak frowned. He didn’t have to argue the point when his parents were right there.

  But both Jamilla and Naman seemed to take no notice, or care that Marek referred to them as a weakness. Instead they closed the distance between them and their son.

  “It’s okay, son,” said Naman as he approached. “We’re here to help you. You no longer need to be under the thumb of such a tyrant.”

  “There is still much that he knows, father,” said Marek. “I wish to learn.”

  “We can sort through all of his things after he’s dealt with. We cannot let him continue on his path. You, however, you can still come home.”

  Jamilla put out a hand and laid it on Marek’s face. Slowly, Marek raised his own hand and placed it atop his mother’s, pressing her hand into his cheek and closing his eyes.

  “I would wish for that,” he said. “Sometimes I wish I was back in Riverbrook, that I could take over the store when you got older. Maybe get married,” he spared a glance for Jak. She swallowed. It was true that had they all stayed in Riverbrook, the two of them might have had a future together. Everybody had already thought they were a perfect match for each other.

  “Things will be different,” said Naman, putting his arms around both his wife and son. “We cannot change that. But perhaps we can still have a peaceful life together. We can help you recover from the horrible things Cain has put you through.”

  “Horrible.” Marek tested the word on his tongue. “Yes, they were horrible. I wonder if they weren’t necessary.”

  “Of course not, my boy,” said Jamilla. “No one should have to endure the trauma of being turned into a killing machine, of being tortured, and forced to become a tool.”

  “I am not a tool, mother,” said Marek, sharply.

  “Which is why you must stand aside,” Jak cut in. “Let us take it from here, or help us in our goals. Only then can you prove that you are not a pawn of Cain.”

  Perhaps she was being a little harsh, but the words needed to be said. Marek claimed to be independent, to not work for Cain, and many of his actions had suggested as much. He had helped them on more than one occasion, even though he chose to stay with Cain, against her better judgement.

  Marek met her eyes. “I understand. I must help remove my restrains, become my own man.”

  “Exactly,” said Naman, pulling his family close. “Without Cain’s influence, you can choose your own path.”

  Marek’s face lit up with something like understanding. He looked less burdened. “You're right,” he said. “Thank you.”

  He put a hand on each of his parents’ faces. They smiled at him, and clutched at his hands with their own. Jak felt a wave of something like relief flood through her. Though something was a bit off. It felt far too dramatic for her liking. Her father had never shown this much sentiment, and it made her a bit…

  A brand flared to life on Marek’s forearm. Jak immediately sought it out to identify it.

  A Gifter brand. That was new. He hadn’t had it the last time they met, and now that he did...

  “No!” she screamed.

  Two brands formed on both Jamilla and Naman’s faces. Jak couldn’t make them out in the darkness, but it wouldn’t matter what they were. Marek was not an Oren. He couldn’t give people multiple brands! Not without…

  Jamilla and Naman screamed, and the sound was perhaps the most horrifying thing Jak had ever heard. The screams were high-pitched and full of pain.

  They were demon screams.

  The Gifter brand on Marek’s arm extinguished itself, but Jamilla and Naman dropped to the ground, writhing in pain. Skellig lit up her palms with Flamedancing, Naem did the same, and Seph tensed.

  Jak did nothing, only stared with open mouth as her friends’ skin faded to a sickly gray color, their teeth elongated, as did their nails. Their screams continued to fill the cavern, likely enough to wake Cain, though he was far from Jak’s mind at the moment.

  “Fascinating,” said Marek. Then several Thunder brands lit on his arms, and giant bolts of electricity burst from his fingers, directly into the hearts of his parents. Their screams intensified, then were cut off abruptly, and both lay still on the floor, their bodies smoking from the lightning.

  “You...Marek!” Jak screamed at him. She was about to launch herself at him, before a pair of unusually strong hands grabbed her from behind. She looked back to see Seph standing there, a tear in his eye, but otherwise expressionless.

  “Cain has always been short sighted when it comes to his demons,” Marek said, his voice exhibiting complete calm. “There’s so much potential there, far more than he sees.” He took one step towards them, and Skellig and Naem flinched, adjusting their stances and readying for a fight.

  But all Jak could do was ask, “Why?”

  Marek looked down at his dead parents. “It’s like they said. I need to be free from that which influences me. They were a weakness. And now they are gone, and I am stronger.”

  “They were talking about Cain!” Jak screamed at him.

  “And you are free to deal with him as you wish,” said Marek. “I might even help you, as you suggested.”

  “We will never fight alongside you,” Skellig spat.

  “It is your choice,” said Marek. “Well then, I must therefore step aside.”

  “We will discuss this later, boy,” said a hard voice from behind him. Marek only smiled at Jak as all their attention turned to the dark shape silhouetted against the pale crystal light beyond, holding a staff in one hand, and seeming to grow in the dim light.

  Cain was here.

  Jak didn’t even need to signal the others. They all knew their jobs. Skellig and Naem darted to either side of the cave, raising their fists and readying fire to shower down on Cain. But the real shocker came as Seph began to transform.

  This part of the cave was smaller, but there was still room for the dragon. A warm light seemed to grow out of Seph, clashing with the pale blue light of the nearby crystals. For the first time, Jak caught a good look of Cain’s face, as he stopped in his tracks. Marek’s face also went
slack. They hadn’t expected this.

  Jak stared at them both, feeling anger bubble up inside her. Seph had revealed himself, their best wild card. Now it was time to end them.

  “Bring this cave down,” she ordered.

  18

  Seph’s dragon belly began to glow. Cain immediately moved. Marek dove forward, propelling himself with some Telekinesis towards the back of the cave, where the starship would be. “No, you can’t!”

  Flames gushed out of Seph’s maw, racing past Jak and the others, and filling the cavern beyond. Cain’s quick thinking barely saved him as the flames just missed his body. But Marek, on the other hand, caught the full brunt of it.

  The torrent of fire hit him square in the back, the force pushing him forward until he crashed into the wall on the other side, not far from the starship itself. He lay there unmoving, his back burning.

  Jak felt a stab of pain, and not just for seeing what happened to the man who had once been her friend. She looked down to see a sword embedded in her gut. Looking back up, she saw Cain standing there, the Pillar of Time in one hand. He must have used it to get to her fast enough.

  Jak stepped forward, swinging her hand down at the flat of the blade that was still exposed. It snapped in half, most of it still embedded in her stomach. Skellig and Naem converged on Cain, sending out waves of Telekinetic energy to keep him there.

  Cain disappeared, the Pillar of Time aiding his supernatural speed. Jak looked down at her gut, took hold of the remaining length of the sword, and pulled it out. Yes, there was pain, but it was far from what should would have felt without all her Healing brands. Even as the blade left her body, the wound knit itself together, and Jak felt the pain flood out of her.

  Seph roared in the back, and Jak turned to see Cain there, his hands on Seph’s side, spewing torrents of Thunder magic into the dragon. Jak had seen him do the exact same thing before, as a way of subduing the dragon before it had merged with Seph. He was hurting her husband.