Akillia's Reign

by Dawn Chapman

Then he leaned in and kissed me. I hadn’t expected any of it, but the rush of emotions flowing through me had me all a mess. I couldn’t help but respond to him, feeling his warmth and safety. Then I panicked a bit—I really didn’t need my life to get any more complicated.

  “I thought I was too,” I said pushing him back. “I almost was. I don’t even know where I am let alone how I got here.”

  Abel pointed to the fire. “You’re not that far from the battle. In fact, we only just managed to get out when Taffie spotted the fire. We’ve been heading this way slowly since you went overboard.”

  I was scared, more so for losing the mission.

  “We’ve not lost yet. In fact, Taffie thinks heading this way now might have been the easier option.”

  Taffie and Macie came in behind Abel, who then slightly moved away from being in my face to stand by my side, but he didn’t let go.

  “We’re so glad we found you. Come. Let’s get back to the ship and away from the coast.”

  I pointed to the tree. “I can’t leave till morning,” I said.

  Abel looked to where I pointed and noticed the eagle sitting there. “You found a pet?”

  Macie was the one whose face I could see drop, even in this lighting. “You found a Fire Eagle?”

  I nodded. “He’s young and was injured. Something was chasing him this morning.”

  Macie smiled. “That was probably a parent chasing him out their territory if he’s a fledgeling. I’ve never seen one up close.”

  She started to move into the trees, and I stopped her. “Let him rest. He’s had a tough day, and we’ve both got a full belly.”

  “Managed to catch some dinner too?” Abel grinned ear to ear.

  “Well, we actually kind of worked together for both—fish for breakfast, rabbit for dinner.”

  Taffie noticed I was favouring my leg. “Let Macie see to that, and Abel and I will do a quick check around to make sure nothing is lurking.”

  “There’s Creviok about. I saw one my first night here, but I haven’t seen it since.”

  “That’s good. We’ll check anyway.”

  Abel moved to leave my side, but I didn’t want him to so I held on just a bit longer. When he turned to me, his eyes softened. “I’ll be back soon. Let Macie sort your leg out. The last thing we need is a serious infection on the ship. There might be something she can find here in the morning before we set off if needed.”

  Then he nudged his nose to mine and was off, just like that.

  I felt so stupid and so elated all at the same time. Did he like me? Didn’t he? It was too confusing.

  Macie stepped before me and offered a hand back towards the fire. Easing me down on the bed again, she pulled up the trousers and exposed the wound. Taking off her jacket, she started to kneel to do her work. It hurt now, and when she released my bandage, it started to weep.

  “Oh, Akillia. This is from the Monoli, isn’t it?”

  “Got me as I was heading down to the depths of the ocean, yes. I’ve tried my best to keep it clean.”

  “I can see that, but there’s poison inside the tips of the spikes. I will have to go searching in the morning. Did you happen to see any yellow or purple flowers around?” I hadn’t noticed the flora, so I could only shake my head. “Don’t worry. I’ll do what I can, but I’m not very skilled.”

  Macie then placed one hand below and above the injury. There was a warm glow spreading out from her, and then I started to feel pain. “I’m sorry,” she said, “but I need to get that poison out before you can start to heal, and it’s pretty deep.”

  Whatever I did in this game hurt. If it wasn’t physical pain, it was working through all the feelings in my mind—Andy and his betrayal, and now Abel. Could I really like someone I didn’t know? This was all too much for me.

  I let out a yelp and bit my tongue, tasting blood as I tried my hardest not to scream. That was when all hell broke loose. There was flying talons and shrieks. Macie jumped back, and I just about managed to grab hold of the frightened and defensive bird.

  “Zurath,” I soothed. “Shh, it’s okay. She’s a friend.”

  But the bird’s eyes had started to glow bright red.

  “Akillia, you need to calm him down now.” Macie panicked, raising a shield.

  I had no idea why, but then the fire started to shoot from his eyes. I did the one thing I could. I grabbed Macie’s jacket to throw over him. He stopped with the fire and calmed down immediately.

  Macie dropped the shield and came to stand before me, “Are you okay?” I asked her.

  “I’ve never seen one in action. Akillia, he’s amazing.”

  Amazing and unpredictable. I eased down lowering the panicked and panting bird to the floor gently. Then, as I whispered, I bade Macie to kneel with me. I removed her now scorched jacket, his eyes flaring red, but he listened this time to my soothing words. “Macie,” I said, “meet Zurath.”

  Macie held her hand out before him and waited. When the bird lowered his head, she moved back.

  “A formal introduction,” she said. “I’ve heard that when an animal is bonded to a person, they can be quite protective. I’d never seen it, though.”

  “I should have known, the pain...”

  I reached down, seeing the blood dripping freely from my wound. Macie’s instinct was to rush in, but I settled Zurath a little more first. Then, with him by my side, I allowed Macie in closer. She did what she needed to do, and she allowed her energy to show him first. Healing energy. Only when Zurath looked away, did she place her hands on my leg once more.

  Chapter 24

  Although it was still painful, this time, it wasn’t anywhere near as bad as when she tried to heal me.

  I moved uncomfortably as Macie stopped. Zurath looked back, and his eyes had returned to normal, their slits the usual colour, mixed orange and yellows. He glanced at the wound in my leg, moved in close, and pushed his head down into my arm. I scratched the top of it, and then he settled in closer. Being on the ground really wasn’t good for him.

  “I see no reason to stay now that he’s been disturbed. If Abel and Taffie return, you can go out with one of them to search for the flower. I’ll stay here a while. Then we’ll leave as soon as possible. I think that’s our best option.”

  Abel’s voice was heard a few minutes later, and reluctantly, he went back out with Macie while Taffie stayed with the bird and me.

  “You know fire birds aren’t water travellers, right?”

  I looked to Zurath, still not preening, but also had his head low tucked into his back sleeping again.

  “Why?”

  Taffie’s whiskers twitched, and he stroked them. “Well, wood and fire aren’t the best of combinations.”

  “Yes, I can see that.”

  “Do you really think you can control him?”

  I looked down at the bird. There was nothing bad looking about him, though I did think the ends of his feathers had a fiery glow to them.

  “I think that’s not going to be a problem. We should keep him on deck though. Maybe somewhere he can keep a watch and where I can sleep without getting drowned.”

  “I think that’s a good idea. I will hold you to that.”

  I felt the throbbing in my leg getting worse, and I placed a hand on it, feeling the heat rise.

  “I hope she finds what she needs. I don’t think I’ll last much longer without better healing.”

  Taffie looked out to the trees. “Oh, she’ll find it. She has a great nose for things. It’s just if she can get it in your system quick enough.”

  Rustling branches snapped and crunched ahead, and Zurath was awake and staring into the night before I had even looked. “It’s okay, my friends, remember.”

  When he backed down a little, I motioned for Taffie to go see, which he did, returning a moment later with Abel and Macie.

  “We got enough to help.”

  This time, she didn’t do anything with potions or healing spells. She ripped the pants up and qu
ickly pulled off the bandage she had wrapped around it, slapping on whatever it was that was in her hand.

  “Just don’t look,” she said.

  I couldn’t help it. I froze. There were now red tiny worm-like creatures wriggling on the side of my leg.

  I tried to scream, and Abel clamped a hand over my mouth, more to stop me from scaring Zurath than anything else, but the bird glared at him his eyes changing colour once more. I slapped Abel’s hand away so that I could speak.

  “What the hell are they!”

  Macie pointed to them. “They’re going to find all the poison, and once they have, they’ll leave the body, but it might take them a while.”

  I watched as she picked the bandage up and began to wrap them inside my leg... I mean INSIDE MY LEG.

  I turned to Abel. “Please don’t let them stay there, please.”

  He cupped my chin with his large hands, and I did my best not to let his eyes sweep me away with the emotions I didn’t want to feel.

  Not now—this wasn’t what I wanted.

  I wanted those darned critters. Out. Of. My. Leg!

  He leaned in and put his lips to mine, uttering, “Shh, it will be okay. Macie knows what she’s doing.”

  But all I could think about and feel were the creatures inside me, squirming, doing things. I couldn’t help myself, but I leaned over and vomited again.

  Gee, all the people at home were going to see was me as I lost my lunch day after day and injury after injury. This wasn’t a good thing.

  I pushed away from Abel and pulled my trouser leg down. “Come on. Get me to the ship,” I managed to say, and then the world around me went black.

  I woke to the sounds of several things—two of which were the ocean once again and the wind whistling around me. Opening my eyes, I saw two things—the fiery red bird next to Abel on a perch and the ocean skies. We were back aboard the ship.

  “Abel?” I croaked. And finally started to see what else—the floor, the deck, this bed I was lying in—it was all new to me, but it felt nice.

  Heat blazed through me, pain, and wriggling. Nausea hit, and I leaned over vomiting.

  I heard Macie and Anlea talking. They were worried. I felt a hand on my forehead. “If this fever doesn’t break soon, I don’t know if she’ll make it.”

  What? I can’t die because of this!

  But there it was, the red splotch, filling my vision. The number 27 displayed.

  I pushed it away and wondered why my throat hurt so much. Had I been screaming, crying?

  I felt something beside me, was someone sleeping next to me? I looked, yeah it was Sven, I was sure of it. Abel looked to be asleep in a chair. My leg was so heavy, I couldn’t lift it, but I could still feel that wiggling.

  A cool cloth touched my forehead, and my eyes met Macie’s eyes. “This will take some of the stinging from your fever, but it will not be pleasant.”

  I breathed in a strong scent, like mints and lemons, but my eyes started to water, and I tried to pull away from her.

  That splotch went up one number, and I freaked out. I must have been so close to death.

  I glanced at the log off button. I needed a break, something tangible. This was so real. It was too difficult to process.

  The world faded around me, blackness. I felt suddenly sick. I’d been doing this too often. Jane had said I shouldn’t do it, but I had to do it, no matter the side effects.

  When my eyes opened, and I settled to standing with my real legs, I wobbled. The door opened, and a gruff voice came through the darkness. “Emma, is everything all right?”

  Was that Miles?

  I stumbled and almost fell over, but strong arms caught me and guided me to the door. My eyes hurt still, and I wasn’t sure if it were the lights or the concoction that Macie had made for me.

  Miles settled me on a chair. “Where’s Jane?” I asked, wondering why he was the only one here.

  “There’s been a family emergency. She had to leave. She’s not been around for a couple of days—just me and the doctor.”

  I grunted, not wanting to talk to Miles, although he’d been nothing but nice.

  “What made you log off?”

  “I think my character’s going to die. I’m sick, and it’s like a horrible death. It’s hard to process that kind of pain and suffering.”

  “I don’t get to follow the game, and they’re only streaming stuff you’ve already done. How’d you get sick?”

  “Poison and then infection,”

  He grimaced. “If you spend a few hours here, you’ll probably be over the worst of it. I could show you some of the facility.”

  “Wouldn’t that be like breaking all the rules?”

  He shrugged. “They’re all busy.” He patted his chest tag. “Besides, I get in all the cool places.”

  Spending time out of the game wasn’t going to be a bad thing. I felt myself smile. “That sounds like a good idea. What time of day is it?”

  “It’s late. Most people are asleep, so there are just minimal night crew and security around.”

  I stood back up, though still a little wobbly. “I’d like to see what Andy’s been up to and how my bet’s going, and maybe check on Beth.”

  “That might be a problem, but I can get access to the outside world through my phone. It’s something that Jane would authorise or work through with you, not really my decision.”

  I reached the door, a grin on my face. “Well, today, it is your decision.”

  Miles took me through some amazingly long corridors, and then we found a straight set of doors. This was obviously accommodation at its basic standards, but he didn’t seem to falter as he approached the door and opened it for me.

  When I went inside, there was just one bed, a desk, a small door leading to a bathroom. Privacy really had its advantages.

  “So, nice room,” I noted a picture on his bedside cabinet, a young girl. “Daughter?” I asked.

  He frowned. “Yeah, she’s with her grandparents. My wife was killed a couple of years ago, drunk driver.”

  I instantly regretted mentioning her, but he smiled and pulled out his phone. “I’ll bring it up on the main computer screen, and you can have a good old root around. I’ll go get us some coffee.”

  I was soon using the screen to find out all the information I could about Andy and my character. The bets were going crazy. They’d no idea I’d been injured, but that wasn’t what shocked me. On the gaming forums, there were also bets as to if I would be nailed by another guy. By the time Miles returned, I’d seen enough, shutting down the computer and wiping my eyes. I wasn’t going to cry this time. No. I was getting stronger.

  Miles looked at the closed screen and offered me a coffee. “He’s an ass.”

  I took the drink, and leaning back on his bed, I sipped it. Miles joined me, not too close, but his weight made the bed move.

  “Thanks for the timeout,” I said. “I needed it.”

  “You’re welcome. I’m only glad to help.”

  I sucked the wonderful drink up the side of the mug and coughed. “I’ll finish this and head back. I’m not taking dying lying down, and nor will I sleep with the first guy who throws himself at me.”

  Miles grinned. “I believe in you, Akillia.”

  Logging back in was an easy decision, but I braced myself for the pain that would come. Abel looked up from staring at the floor and took my hand in his. “Good to see you’ve come around again.”

  “How long have I been out?”

  “Three days,” he said.

  “Three days. My leg? Those things!”

  “They’re all gone. Don’t worry. Your leg is healing up nicely.”

  I looked at Zurath. “Hey, buddy.” He immediately stretched his wings out and squawked loudly.

  “He’s been guarding you more than I have.”

  A female voice appeared behind him. “And that’s saying a lot because neither of you has left her side.”

  Myleen stepped into view, and her smile
radiated across her pale skin. “They’ve been very attentive.”

  I glanced at both the eagle and then back to her. Abel blushed. But she wasn’t letting him get away with just that.

  Myleen patted him on the shoulders. “Give us a minute alone, please, Abe.”

  She was calling him nicknames, and now the green-eyed monster surfaced.

  Myleen sat before me, and she looked pained. “What did I miss?” I asked. “What happened?”

  “I know Abel hasn’t told you anything about the battle we had.”

  I shook my head. There hadn’t really been any time for that. Taffie hadn’t either, and that was when I noticed we were flying at half-mast.

  I swallowed. “What happened?” I repeated as shivers and goose bumps appeared all over my skin.

  “We lost Cris,” she said.

  Taffies’s youngest son. I felt tears well up in my eyes. “To the creatures?” Flashes of that battle whizzed through me. I’d seen how close Cris and Sven were to the creatures.

  “He was pulled from the deck almost at the same time you were, but we couldn’t find him.” I wanted to do more, to run to Taffie, and then I realised, the hope he had seeing that fire, to realise it was only me there.

  “I need to see him,” I said. “I need to...”

  Myleen turned behind her and picked up my bag. She handed it to me. “I know. Macie said you might need the pendant as soon as you were awake. She couldn’t touch it. She couldn’t do anything with it. It wouldn’t respond.”

  I rummaged for the leather folder. There had to be something in here that would help them. Her ancestors lived and surged through the pendant. If I could get through to them, I could maybe see if he really was there. If he had passed over, they would know.

  I managed to get out of bed, but then I felt woozy. Myleen pushed me back gently. “It’s okay. I asked them to come here as soon as I’d seen you. They just want clarity, Akillia. that’s all.”

  I knew that. I wanted to know that myself. Had the dolphins saving me led to his death? I couldn’t live with that. I couldn’t

  This wasn’t a game. This was horrid. People died, and they left other people mourning them. It hurt like hell.