Awakening A God (Demon Boys Series Book 1)

by Troy Snyder

  Alexander rubbed the scar on his chest. A reminder of the fight that was to come. Quetzalcoatl gave him the scar, but he intended to return the favor. He knew that monster would ruin this peace. He clenched his shirt tightly in his fist.

  Arri noticed the move and saw the seriousness in Alexander’s face, she knew he was troubled, but also knew there was nothing she could say to help him. If he needed her he would talk to her. Instead she clenched his hand a little tighter, letting him know she was there. Food brought to them quickly dissipate the thoughts of coming war. Alexander let himself be caught up in the comradery and love at his side.

  Chapter 26:

  The day came faster than anticipated. Alexander stared out the window on the command deck, the only human allowed to be on the deck. The Alfar home planet lie directly in front of them and he was awestruck by its beauty. The air was amazingly clear; the lush green forestry that covered near the entire planer seemed to lend it a green hue.

  It was larger than Earth, he could tell, but was not sure by how much. What struck him as odd was the only water he could see appeared in a great circle. Within the circle was a large island and Alexander’s curiosity peaked.

  He turned to talk with Odin about the island, but he was intently busy negotiating their landing on the planet. He knew two others that could help him out, and surprisingly they were not at Odin’s side.

  Alexander left the command deck and headed towards Odin’s office. He knocked on the door and it was abruptly opened by Hugin. His large irises still set Alexander uneasy, but he was growing used to them.

  “I was wondering if I could talk to you and Munin?” Alexander said.

  “It is not a good time, Alexander.” Hugin replied.

  From his tone, and the way he called him ‘Alexander’ instead of ‘human’ it was obvious they were on edge. “Let him in Hugin,” Munin said from inside the room.

  Hugin stepped aside and let Alexander enter and shut the door behind him. “So, what’s wrong?” Alexander asked looking at the two of them. Both stood next to Odin’s desk and looked toward one another.

  Hugin spoke first, “Munin and I are debating whether or not to ask for your aid.”

  Alexander sighed. Only he could go to ask someone a question and get dragged into something. “Aid with what?”

  “Hugin and I have been exiled from this planet. During the roughest part of the war between the Craxi and Alfar, we left to join Odin. He was a far better leader than ours, he sought to end hostilities long ago and turn attention toward more… hostile races. Though our leader preached peace as well, he refused to end the war. So here we stand, aids to Odin, banished from our land.”

  “Munin is correct, if we set foot on the planet they may attempt to arrest and execute us. We cannot go with Odin on this excursion to the planet’s surface.”

  “Where do I fit into all of this?” Alexander was getting exasperated.

  “We ask you to go to the surface and advise Lord Odin. He trusts you and from what Hugin and I have seen you are a capable warrior and a trustworthy being. Additionally,” Munin continued, but glanced toward Hugin. “Hugin’s daughter wishes to go to the planet. She is not banished and we will not be able to talk her out of going. You will protect her or feel our wrath.”

  “Very well, I will if you answer my question.” He fully intended to do all that without being asked but decided to get something out of the deal anyway.

  “Ask.”

  “What is the island in the middle of the water?”

  Both Hugin and Munin looked toward one another again. Hugin stepped forward. “I suggest when you are on the planet’s surface you refrain from asking that question.”

  With that both Hugin and Munin left and Alexander sat in one of the chairs. His curiosity grew ever more.

  Later that evening in the hangar Alexander sat in his usual spot with Antonio on the tank. The two men were waiting for emissaries of each faction to prepare for the meeting that would take place on the planet’s surface. Odin reluctantly agreed to meeting there, but in return he was allowed to bring a decent sized number of warriors with him.

  Fifty Craxi warriors and another fifty Broushin warriors sat near a large ship, much larger than a Mjolnir transport. It was in the shape of a triangle with seemingly endless swirls and circles all around it. Three diamond shaped pieces protruded from the underbelly of the ship and a large fin sat on the top. Long lines along the side of the ship indicated that wings would open up during flight.

  “So, where’s the fiancé?” Antonio asked.

  “Haven’t seen her all day. Probably getting ready for this meeting,” Alexander said. “Where’s your giant purple friend?”

  “Tiny? No idea. He’s not on this mission. Raixo is though. He’s sitting with the other Craxi.” He indicated the group of Craxi with his chin.

  “Is Trent joining us?”

  “You know he will with Maren going."

  A commotion broke through their conversation. Both turned to see what appeared to be an argument between the two groups, Craxi and Broushin. Alexander made a move to rise to quell whatever anger was rising, but much to his surprise both groups broke into laughter. The Craxi and Broushin had grown as friends, but it only now dawned on him how much.

  The main entrance to the hangar from the ship opened and Arri came striding out followed by two personal guards. Trailing behind was Odin with his guards, much taller than the Broushin in the lead. Alexander took notice of his fiancé. She was wearing a blue dress trimmed in white and accented by golden armor inlaid with precious gems.

  When Alexander brought up how heavy her gold armor was she simply shrugged and went on to explain it was not heavy when she wore it. The gold fed off energy at a constant rate, but only a negligible amount. Energy lightened the armor dramatically and increased its strength. It was decent armor she went on to say, but more for decoration than actual combat. Like most races that still made their own armor, the Broushin used the same metal alloy in the braces used by the Craxi, but in a solid form. She did, however, compliment the Craxi for still using the liquid armor due to the fact it takes powerful energy to form the armor and maintain it, whereas the Broushin simply reinforced solid armor with minor energy, but the two armors were roughly the same strength.

  At the end of the train Trent walked alongside Maren, who had all but ceased using her goat for. It was common knowledge who she was now, so she saw no need for it. A few words were exchanged followed by Maren pecking a kiss onto Trent's cheek before Trent broke off from the train and headed toward Antonio and Alexander, both climbed off the tank to meet their friend.

  There was a quick exchange of greetings before silence broke as the group stared at the planet before them.

  "So... Elves." Trent said.

  "I believe they're called Alfar. You should know, you're dating one." Alexander replied.

  "So, after this alliance we go to war."

  "I think it'll be awhile before war," Antonio cut in.

  "He's right," Alexander agreed. "From the intelligence we gathered Quetzalcoatl's home world is in ruins. It could be some time before he is fighting fit."

  "Yes, but the entire planet just seems to have disappeared on all scans. Even scout ships sent have found no sign of the planet."

  "Maybe it's a cloaking thing? Or maybe, as impossible as it seems, it just moved."

  "Wait wait wait," Trent spoke. "We were gathering intel? How come no one told me?"

  Antonio and Alexander looked toward one another then back to Trent. "I thought it was an obvious priority," Alexander said. "We're outsiders here, to these cultures, these races, this history, everything. We need to learn as much as we can if we are going to succeed in this war. So, we talk to people"

  "Sorry, I guess I just got caught up in the entirety of this new lifestyle and being with aliens."

  "Not a new lifestyle." Antonio said. "We're still soldiers, just in a different war."

  "Enough you two." Alexander said silenc
ing both men. Though they were no longer in the military from earth, they still looked to Alexander as their commander and both have stated they would follow him into hell and back. "Trent, on the planet you will be assigned to guard Maren. She may be an Alfar, but she is an outsider due to her father's banishment. They will look down on her. She will want to explore, that I know for a fact. You will stay with her no matter what." He had secretly been training Trent with the thin stealth brace he had given him. It was not as strong as his own, but it was enough. Antonio trained as well, with much more success.

  "Yes, sir." Though Alexander did not like being called 'sir' or saluted his men still did it out of respect. Trent took this moment to salute as well before dismissing himself to the ship, where now all were boarding.

  "Toni," Alexander said, motion Antonio closer to him. The two stood side by side looking at the planet below. "Do you have the stealth brace on you?”

  "Oh, you mean the one the women use? Yes, I have it, but I don't fancy being a cross-dresser like you." Antonio had an obvious smirk.

  "I think I liked you better when you weren't talking." Both shared a short laugh before becoming serious once more. "Do you see that island in the middle of the water? Take that brace, stay hidden, and find out what is on that island. I keep getting a strange feeling from it. Like there is some form of energy coming from it."

  "Yes, sir." Antonio replied and made his way to leave.

  "And Toni, don't get caught." With a nod Antonio was on his way to the ship. Alexander stood awhile longer staring at the island before boarding the ship himself.

  Chapter 27:

  Lights flashed all around the room, buttons were being pressed and switches were being flicked. Beeping, buzzing, and a myriad of other noises filled the room where Quetzalcoatl stood. In the time since he had taken control of the planet he had done something all had thought impossible, he moved the planet. Teleportation had been achieved before by all races, but with the power it takes combined with the sheer amount of money it costs to teleport living organisms, it was deemed trivial at best.

  However, Quetzalcoatl's people had nothing to lose and everything to gain. Speech after speech he rallied his people to build a device that took up near a quarter of the planet. The cost was nothing but food and shelter for the workers. A wonderful trade in his favor Quetzalcoatl thought to himself. It was like a willing slave work force but willingly done.

  The issues only came during the actual teleportation of the entire planet. Coordinates had to be found to ensure the planet could sustain itself in its new environment, then they had to be checked and rechecked a painstaking amount of times. At such a time when the calculations were finally completed, all forces who had any decent amount of energy were required to hook themselves up to the device via a gauntlet connected to an energy booster, which in turn connected to an energy converter. The sheer magnitude of energy being released seemed to shake the entire planet. Finally, Quetzalcoatl would place in arm into the teleport mechanism constructed to only read his energy, and the planet would teleport.

  Minor damages were reported around the planet, not much different from a small earthquake. Weather fluctuations were another issue, but nothing too serious for the time being. All in all, Quetzalcoatl thought, it was successful and a wonderful tactical advantage. Then again, all he did was tactical, all was for a bigger purpose, and even his own daughter, though he did truly love her, was a tactical move. He would truly be a God and all would worship him.

  "Lord Quetzalcoatl," A voice called to him.

  A soldier was standing next to him looking expectantly, he must have missed what the soldier said, lost in thought. "What is it soldier?" Quetzalcoatl asked none too politely.

  "My lord, Holcan humbly requests to see you in your office." The soldier kept his head bowed as if afraid to look up.

  "Very well," Quetzalcoatl looked around one more time checking each screen ensuring the planets successful teleport. Satisfied with the results he ordered the soldier manning each screen to inform him if anything changed. With that he turned on his heel and was off to his office.

  In the hall outside his office, the place where he had made his triumphant return, Quetzalcoatl found Holcan waiting for him. Holcan was the first of the nobles to complete his training, surpassing the others by far. He stood in the general's dress, a blue short sleeved shirt with long brown pants and military issued boots. Along with his golden necklace formed in a snake eating its own tail symbolizing his status as a noble. It was connected to a pitch-black chain necklace of a general.

  "Holcan, I have yet to congratulate you on your promotion to general." Quetzalcoatl placed his hand on Holcan's shoulder and gave a motion to the door. "Please, join me."

  "Thank you, my lord" Holcan replied.

  Both men entered the room. Quetzalcoatl took his place behind his desk. Papers and books were stacked and strewn on and around the desk, but neither seemed perturbed by the dirtiness like the other nobles, they saw it as a sign of recovery.

  Quetzalcoatl sat back in his chair, this one newly made of fine wood and very well cushioned, a gift from a man grateful for Quetzalcoatl's return and restoration of the planet.

  "So, what does my new general have to discuss with me? Please don't tell me my daughter has been bothering you again..." Quetzalcoatl said. Recently, due to his completion of his training, Gabriella had been constantly challenging Holcan to duels, but he always managed to escape the challenge. He did not fear the child, just felt no need to duel her.

  A slight smile reached Holcan's lips. "No, she's been after Potan more. I believe she gave up on challenging me... for now."

  "She is quite persistent. Anyway, what did you wish to discuss?"

  "My lord, I am old. I have had a long time to gather sources throughout the planet and beyond. A source, mind you, one that lost his life to give this information, has given me something I thought you would wish to hear."

  "What information would that be?"

  "The location of your father, my lord."

  "Nonsense, my father is dead."

  "No, he was imprisoned as well, a deterrent for you to stay away. If you should attack, they will execute him."

  Quetzalcoatl stood and placed his hands on the desk. "Tell me where he is, now." There was clear anger in his voice and the words came out clipped.

  "No."

  "What did you just say?"

  "As your general I cannot in good conscience give you this information in your current state. Your anger is rising. Anger causes mistakes. If we attempted a rescue with your current condition it would be bound to fail."

  Logic, Quetzalcoatl hated logic. He preferred the head on approach, but he knew Holcan was correct. Taking several deep breaths, he calmed himself. "Prepare a meeting of all high-ranking officials and make sure all troops are on high alert. We will discuss a strategy before we commit to anything, but we will be getting my father back."

  Chapter 28:

  A tall slim tall figure watched as trees began to wave in a frenzy. The Craxi ship began its decent. The ship was bulky and lavishly decorated, to the figures below it seemed an eyesore.

  Wind began to swirl around the grass as the ship came to a halt in the clearing. Bright green glowing crystals beneath the ship lost their hue as the engines were shut down. Al seemed to come to a standstill.

  Two figures standing behind their leader made to stand in front of him but were waved off. They began to shift their weight between their feet and obvious tension was emanating from them. A door began opening and forming a ramp, the time for the talks between long standing enemies had come.

  Light flooded into the Craxi ship as the doors opened. Alexander shielded his eyes with his hand, though he probably should have shielded his ears. The smaller Mjolnir vessels created a dull hum when they flew near ground, but this one - being much greater in size, had a loud thrumming, only revealed once the doors were opened. It quickly dissipated as the engines rumbled to a halt.

  Ale
xander could feel the cool breeze from outside caress his skin and he took in a deep lungful of air. It was so pure, unlike anything he had experienced before and it seemed to fill him with such calm. A complete inner peace.

  The Broushin and Craxi envoys exited the ship in a motley group. They stayed behind their respective leaders, but as both their militaries trained individual fighters, there was no cohesive unit. Alexander took all this in in but a moment along with the third planet he had ever been on. Well one was a moon, but it still counted in his mind. Now that he thought about it, he was one of only three humans to ever leave the solar system, let alone stand on an inhabited alien world, or another world for that matter.

  Trees were all around, their trunk rose high into the sky as if they were reaching to touch it. They swayed in a light breeze that, if the Craxi and Broushin had not been marching and chatting loudly, would have made such a beautiful song. It was not possible to see far beyond the trees however; their thick leaves and multitude of branches formed an almost impenetrable canopy. Yet there was something more, the grass and ground he walked on were like clouds.

  Alexander knelt down and ran his fingers through the long, ankle high grass. It was then he felt eyes on him sending the hairs on the back of his neck on end. Raising his head, he noticed a tall slim figure with two others standing behind him.

  The two behind had no noticeable features. They wore silver helmets with what appeared to be plumes of horse hair erupting from the back. Their chest plates were also silver and forged to look like muscle. They wore braces on their wrists and guards on their shins. Cloth skirts of deep green escaped from below the green leather belt. On their backs were two long curved swords.

  When Alexander took in the one in front, however, his attention was fully caught. The Alfar leader wore a long robe of many shades, and if Alexander did not concentrate, the man seemed to blend in with the trees. His face, not a blemish to be seen. His skin, the color of caramel. His ears pointed straight to the sky. It was his eyes though that spoke volumes. As Alexander stared into those eyes he felt as if all his energy was melting away from him. They spoke of countless years of knowledge and power, this man carried so much, but only his eyes showed it. The dark green, large iris' bored into Alexander and studied everything about him, internally and externally.