by S. L. Morgan
As Levi began to drift off, losing more energy, he faintly heard a thundering off in the distance. The ground started shaking beneath him, and before giving in to the sensation of no longer feeling anything, the woman was ripped away from him, sending Levi collapsing to the ground.
Levi watched through blurry vision as a massive stallion pinned the woman to the ground. She screeched in horror as a whistling noise alerted Levi to an arrow piercing through her. Once she was struck, her entire being turned to dust particles beneath the stallion. Levi struggled to keep his eyes open as he watched more horses fill the area and attack the bloodthirsty humans. As his eyes closed, he felt an odd source of energy enter his body with each beat of his heart.
“Levi!” a familiar voice called out. “He’s still alive. Give me the remedy now!”
Levi inhaled, fighting to hold on. Finally, his eyes reopened, and he was shocked to see the warrior kneeling at his side. “Diexz?” Levi questioned, finding his voice.
“Yes. Do not speak or move. We are working to stop the venom that is coursing through your veins. You have only moments before you are transformed into one of Mordegrin’s blood servants,” Diexz answered.
Levi heeded Diexz’s advice, disillusioned about everything that had transpired. When he felt his energy levels return, Levi sprung to his feet and studied his surroundings. At least a hundred of Shallek’s warriors filled the smoke-ridden area. Areion was instantly at his side, along with the five Guardian horses that had just lost their masters. They were standing in formation, waiting for war.
“Diexz, I am grateful you and your men showed when you did,” Levi said, gripping his forehead.
Diexz looked over at Areion. “I must say, even after witnessing these beasts in battle with you, they are most remarkable. It is due to their unique abilities that we were able to find you.” He looked over at the remnants of the unrecognizable Guardians. “I am only sorry we weren’t able to save all of your men.”
Levi sighed with anger and grief. “What is happening? First an invasion of fire breathing serpents, and now this?” he asked, waving his hand in the direction of the slaughtered human creatures, along with the lifeless Guardians.
“Mordegrin is effectively taking over Earth,” Diexz answered. “Without Reece to destroy him, there will be more galaxies opened, and more humans changed into servants of Mordegrin’s.”
Levi’s eyes roamed the area around him as he wondered if his wife was safe and if she was truly prepared to battle Mordegrin. He instantly shoved his thoughts of Reece from his mind, knowing that he could not allow weakness of worrying about her consume him at such a dangerous time.
“How is that Olteniaus female that I destroyed still alive?” he asked, trying to remain focused on the tragic situation in front of him.
“With the power of that stone, Mordegrin can do anything he wishes. There was no life in that female. She is merely a product of the stone’s power giving her energy to exist. That is why our arrows sent her into particles of dust, as it shall any dark creation of Mordegrin’s we kill,” Diexz answered.
“None of this makes any sense,” Levi stated. “Folklores and mythical creatures—what else shall we encounter?”
Diexz handed Levi a sword, dagger, and bow and arrow. “These will be your only chance to spare your life against any monstrous being that attacks you again.”
Levi walked over to a fire pit that remained burning. “I must give my men a proper burial before I leave.”
“We have no time for that,” Diexz said as he looked up into the sky. “Another portal has been opened, and we must find shelter until we can learn how to defend ourselves from this new invasion.”
Levi gripped Areion’s reins and hoisted himself on his stallion’s back. “These horses will help to protect us as we travel to Mordegrin’s location.”
A howling roar rumbled as the ground shook beneath them. Levi, Diexz, and the rest of his men silently studied their surroundings. Metallic creatures came soaring through a black area in the sky, telling him that another portal had been opened to give more creatures access to Earth.
“This is insanity! How are we supposed to destroy those things?” Levi said in a low voice. “I am fairly sure that arrows and swords will not penetrate those machine-like bodies.”
“Earth has a military base close by,” Diexz answered.
Levi looked over at Diexz. “Yes, but can we trust that those humans haven’t been turned into servants of Mordegrin’s?”
“I will send a group of my men to check the location. If the humans have been altered, we will destroy them until we can safely take over their weapons.”
Levi gripped Diexz’s arm. “Must we destroy the humans? There must be a way we can turn them back into the normal beings they were before Mordegrin used his dark powers on them.”
“With all due respect, your men were brutally killed and your life nearly ended by such evil. Why would you wish to spare—”
“Because they are humans,” Levi interrupted him. “They had no choice in this. They are victims of Mordegrin trying to control their world.”
Diexz’s eyes narrowed. “What you do not understand is that they did have a choice, and they chose to follow Mordegrin in order to gain immortality.”
“All of them? What have you seen?”
“Not all. The ones who have chosen not to comply with Mordegrin are currently in hiding. Strangely, Mordegrin has not attacked them or made them suffer for not following his demands.”
Levi stood. “Let us hope that the military personnel was not foolish enough to fall to that monster. We can use all of the help we can get.” Levi sighed. “Now that I have my horse, I am closer to meeting with Reece and the army with her at the White House. Send your men to scout out that military base, and if the personnel are no use to us, leave them. When Reece destroys Mordegrin, it is likely they will be healed. I must go now. I plan to be at that location when Reece arrives.”
“You will not survive the journey. There are far too many dangerous humans along the way,” Diexz warned.
“I won’t allow her to attack Mordegrin without me by her side. I will find a way to her, regardless of the threats. I am unsure if she is prepared for this, and I will be by her side when she meets with that evil being.”
“Your wife is stronger than you realize,” Diexz said. “She possesses more powers than even she believed she had.”
“I understand that, and your words are indeed reassuring,” Levi answered. “But I will not go back on my word. I will be at her side when she faces Mordegrin.”
“Then we travel together and hope that the new enemy will not track us down and destroy us.”
“Let us waste no more time discussing anything. We need to leave now!”
Levi and Diexz’s army raced through the wooded countryside, remaining concealed with the thickness of the forest. Their journey led them to the White House with no interruptions. Levi halted Areion when Reece’s voice intruded into his mind.
You must be close, Levi.
“What?” Levi shook his head.
“Is everything okay? We are close to where Mordegrin is residing,” Diexz responded.
Levi looked over at the warrior. “My wife has an ability to mentally speak to me, and I believe she just did.”
“Does she have information for you?”
“Only wondering if I am close?” Levi said in confusion. “They must be at the location we are to meet.”
“Let us hurry. If she is there, we will all battle together to give her the ability to focus and destroy Mordegrin.”
They charged through the streets that led up to the White House. “They have to be around here somewhere,” Levi stated as he slowed Areion and started walking cautiously when the White House came into view.
Harrison! Levi telepathically called out to his cousin, knowing if they were nearby, Harrison would hear it.
Nothing.
“Come on, I need something!” Levi said in frustratio
n.
So intently focused on communicating with Harrison and wondering where they were, Levi was taken by surprise when a group of the metallic beings stood in a line, stopping the men from going any further. Areion reared up and viciously pawed the ground.
“We are at a grave disadvantage,” Diexz muttered.
“These creatures look like robots. There must be something that can stop them.”
As Levi said it, Rei appeared with a group of his warriors. The lion-like creatures glided overhead as the warriors flung their chained whips into the air. The chains wrapped around the steel necks of the beasts, lighting their entire bodies up with a vivid blue light before they shattered into thousands of pieces and crumbled to the ground. Within seconds, Rei’s army defeated the threat.
Thundering hooves alerted Levi to horses charging toward his location with Reece, Navarre, Harrison, and Angeline directly behind him. Levi studied Reece’s blank expression, seeing that something had changed in her. He was instantly off Areion and rushed over to help her from Arrow, bringing her into his arms. Her returned embrace was rigid, encouraging Levi to step back.
He studied the deeply set lines of her brow as she gazed at him intently. “Reece,” he started, “what is wrong? Something has changed in you.”
Reece nodded. “Look around you. Until Mordegrin has been destroyed, I must remain focused on how I will kill him.”
Levi reached for his wife, who emanated the presence of the warrior within her. “We, Reece,” he answered, “we will destroy that creature together!” he returned with the understanding of why his wife wore this deadly, lethal expression.
Even though Reece’s demeanor was indifferent, and Levi appreciated and understood why she seemed like a completely different person.
“You’ve come from a violent battle,” Reece said as her fierce emerald eyes studied him intently. She ran her hands through his hair, smoothing it back while her eyes roamed over his neck. “These wounds.” She looked at Levi in question. “What has happened to you?”
Levi cleared his throat. “That conversation is for a later time. Let’s just say we destroyed a creature that was resurrected by Mordegrin. The threat is removed, and with Diexz’s serum, I am fully healed.”
Reece’s eyes narrowed as her fingers traced over the wounds that scarred his neck. Levi felt a warm, yet chilling sensation coming from her fingertips.
“There. Your scars are healed now,” she stated dryly.
Levi glanced over at Harrison and his father and wondered how they were receiving the new personality that Reece possessed. Harrison’s eyes narrowed, prompting Levi to mentally communicate with him.
What has happened to her, Harrison? She sounds like an entirely different woman.
We are unsure. It is the stone’s power, of course. But she seems to be consumed with it completely. She was attacked by some odd beasts and then rescued, but her expression didn’t falter. No fear. No reaction. She is able to not only alter minds now, but she disarmed a human man with a wave of her hand.
Levi watched Reece’s unyielding war-like visage. “Reece, do not shield anything from me. What is the power of the stone doing within you?”
Her emerald eyes bore into his. “Giving me the ability to destroy Mordegrin. I can’t explain any of it, but I have no emotions about anything. All I feel is a craving to kill him.”
A black whirlwind of smoke alerted everyone to the image of Mordegrin standing a few yards away from them and glaring at Reece. “Is that what you believe is happening?” he said with a sadistic laugh.
Levi lunged out toward Mordegrin, thrusting his sword out to where Mordegrin once stood. Levi spun around to find Mordegrin standing at Reece’s side.
Levi watched Reece as she remained perfectly still. “I am the only one that can destroy him,” she distantly said.
Mordegrin raised his arm toward Harrison who was stealthily approaching him. He flung his wrist, sending Harrison through the air and crashing into the car behind him.
“Reece, you will not do this alone,” Levi responded.
Levi, listen to me, Reece impressed into his mind. You must work to save the humans on Earth from these invasions. I will destroy Mordegrin. I’m ready for this. I can and will do this on my own.
Levi nodded to accept Reece’s course of action. Reece’s new demeanor and the strong bond they shared gave him every ounce of confidence in her words.
“If that is all, gentlemen,” Mordegrin started. “I believe my new pet and I have to catch up on some business. It is time we make our exit.”
“NO!” Levi thundered, realizing that this was a trap his wife was to be taken into.
Trust me. I know how to kill him. Just do your part, she said telepathically.
“It is a shame, is it not?” Mordegrin eyed everyone around him. “She was once your empress, Emperor Levi,” he mocked. He brought his arms around Reece. “Now, she is my queen. It has been a joy, gentlemen.”
Before Levi could take a breath, the black whirlwind appeared, and Reece and Mordegrin disappeared with it.
“REECE!” Levi roared up into the ominous sky.
“We must find her,” Navarre ordered as he gripped Arrow’s reins.
Arrow fought viciously, nearly sending Navarre to the ground.
“Arrow!” Levi snapped. “Settle!” he said as he approached the furious horse. He gripped the horse’s bridle on each side of his face. Levi exhaled and brought his forehead to Arrow’s. “Can you sense her?”
Arrow broke free from Levi’s grip. The massive stallion stomped hard into the pavement, crumbling the asphalt as if it were chunks of mud. He reared back and violently shook his head, letting out a guttural moan.
“She is lost to him,” Levi responded. “Very well. You all will listen to me. Before Mordegrin waved his magic wand and transported him and Reece away, Reece was communicating with me mentally. She has a plan to kill Mordegrin, and we have borne witness to the drastic changes in her. She ordered us to protect the humans. We will do so, and as we do, we will form an army.” He looked at Diexz. “Can you and Oble’s troops scout out every location they might be without Mordegrin manipulating your minds to turn against us?”
Rei exhaled. “We must be as discreet as possible.”
“Then that is your mission,” Navarre interjected. “Warriors, communicate with your men what has transpired, and let them know our new plan of attack. We will work to gather armies with the humans that are still unaffected by Mordegrin’s dark powers.”
Movac stepped forward. “Can you fools not see that all is lost?” he snarled. “Earth’s magnetic fields have shut everything of technical nature down. The humans are being transformed with every portal that Mordegrin opens into our galaxy, and now,” he laughed with disgust, “we trust the girl to save us from this being?”
Levi strode briskly to where Movac stood and held his dagger to his throat. “Speak one more word, and I will end it all for you now!” he growled. “If my wife is confident she can destroy this being, then we trust her word and resume our mission. Let us hope she ends that creature’s life soon because I plan to end yours directly after.”
“There is no need for hostility,” Navarre spoke out. “Clear all of your thoughts and let us fulfill our duties.” He looked at Diexz. “Go gather what information you can. We cannot predict when another dangerous species will enter our galaxy again.”
Diexz’s wings appeared, and the army that was with him darted up into the blackening sky above them.
Levi hoisted himself onto Areion. “Let us go prepare an army. We must have hope those men can locate Reece, and we must be ready to assist her in destroying Mordegrin.”
The group followed Levi’s command as he and Navarre turned their horses and raced them through the devastated buildings and out toward the countryside.
Chapter Eighteen
Reece jerked her arm free from Mordegrin’s grip. “Why are we here?” she demanded as she gazed up at the great pyramids of Egypt.
She looked at Mordegrin, who stood and admired the massive monuments. “This is the last thing you want to see before you are destroyed for good?” she pressed.
“That is no way to talk to your master,” Mordegrin responded with a cheeky smile.
The ground started rumbling all around them as Reece closed her eyes and began to mentally focus on persuading Mordegrin to give her the stone so that she could finally destroy him. Her eyes snapped open when he held the stone out in front of her.
“Is this what you are seeking?” he asked, apparently amused.
Reece frowned, concentrating harder.
Give me what is mine, she thought as she reached out toward him, willing the object to leave his hand and shoot toward her.
A laugh erupted from Mordegrin. “What is yours? Child, do you honestly believe you have powers so great that you can alter the strongest mind in existence?”
Reece turned and glared at him. “You will not win this battle. There is a weakness in you. I can sense it.”
Mordegrin tilted his head. “You are correct in assuming as much. And now I will finally take back what is rightfully mine.”
Reece glanced around the area, focused on the power of the stone surging through her veins, and made a swirling motion with her hand. This newfound talent that afforded her the ability of telekinesis was becoming her greatest weapon.
The sand around them churned up in the air, and strong winds blew through her hair as a violent sandstorm followed her motion toward Mordegrin. She was fueled by anger when Mordegrin held his hand up, creating an invisible wall for the storm to crash into. He smiled darkly at her, pointed to the ground, and all of the sand from the storm shattered onto the ground at his command.
“We can do this all day,” he said as he studied Reece. “Unfortunately, I have no time for foolish games.”
Reece rushed toward Mordegrin and drummed up the power within her body to force him to the ground. “You have tried to ruin my life, and I will not lose this battle. Levi and I want nothing more than to see you pay for what you’ve done.” Mordegrin’s eyes rolled back as Reece went on. “I will destroy you. I can feel that in every part of my body. You may be strong, but not—”