by Clayton Wood
Ampir frowns, staring down at his left arm, realizing that the light is coming from him...from cracks in the black insulation where his arm had been crushed. He feels his armor's power draining rapidly, entire systems shutting down.
Shit!
A powerful force grabs Ampir, pulling him back toward the Behemoth's head. A shrill shrieking sound pierces his ears, a powerful gust of wind shooting past him as he slams into one of the metallic plates, sucked flat against its surface.
Then all sound stops.
Ampir feels a horrendous pain lance through his ears, and he cries out, tears streaming down his face. He tries to take a breath in, but can't...the air has been taken away. The Behemoth has created a complete vacuum around him, and managed to nullify all of his shields. If Ampir's armor had been fully powered, such an attack would never have succeeded.
He gasps for air that doesn't exist, pain shooting through the left side of his chest, his left shoulder in agony.
Ampir closes his eyes, pushing past the pain. The Behemoth had to be controlled by someone...someone inside of it. The head was the most likely location, but the body was another possibility; if he gets it wrong, he will teleport into solid matter, and that will prove to be a fatal mistake.
He makes the decision instantly, draining magic from his armor and taking several strands at once, weaving them into a complex knot in the center of his mind's eye. He throws it at the Behemoth's head.
A blast of air heralds the arrival of the rift, the fabric of the universe ripping as a hole appears between Ampir and the Behemoth. He falls through the spacetime rift, landing on his left side on an unforgiving metal floor below.
He screams.
Footsteps approach, five cloaked men surrounding him, each protected by multilayered gravity shields. Their eyes are wide open, their mouths agape.
Ampir grits his teeth against the pain, his vision blurred with tears. He rolls onto his back, the movement sending another wave of pain through his left side. He finds himself in a large, spherical room, its translucent walls giving a panoramic view of the city ruins below. He is inside of the Behemoth's head, he realizes...he'd chosen correctly.
One of the Weavers points his hand at Ampir, a ball of pure white light growing at his palm. Ampir streams magic to his armor frantically, activating a few of its emptied runes.
The room around him explodes.
Ampir shields his eyes with his right arm, his armor protecting him from the sudden blast. The light fades, and he rolls onto his good side, pushing himself up from the floor slowly. He rises to his feet, looking around.
Remains of the Weavers litter the floor, blood staining the translucent walls.
He grimaces, clutching his left side, his breath coming in shallow gasps. Each breath feels like someone is stabbing him. Glancing around the large circular room, he sees the remains of numerous control panels scattered across the floor. Blue light leaks from holes in the floor, where wires conducting magic from the Behemoth's central power supply had been severed. He kneels down before one of these, lowering his forehead to it. His armor recharges rapidly, the Behemoth's power more than enough to fill its runes.
Then Ampir stands, staring through the magically translucent inner walls of the Behemoth's domed head, at the city beyond. Small airships fly over the city, the larger airships hovering far above. The city is in ruins...beyond hope. But there are many other major cities in the Empire that might not be...innocent people that don't deserve to die for the sins of their leaders. That don't deserve to die because of what he's done.
Ampir takes a deep breath in, ignoring the pain it causes his ribs. With a thought, he rises to his feet, staring at the translucent wall in front of him. The base of the Behemoth's diamond-shaped eye is visible on the inner wall of the chamber, glowing green against the black metal plates of its skull. It is as much a symbol as anything else, he knows. A message to the Empire from one of its greatest inventors.
Ampir walks up to the giant eye, staring at it.
It is time, he knows, for his penance. But when he is done, he will have his revenge.
Ampir stares at the diamond-shaped eye for a moment longer, then cocks his right fist back, its runes glowing bright blue.
* * *
“Wake up!”
Kyle's eyes snapped open, and he bolted upright, glancing about the dark room. It took him a moment to remember where he was; then he saw Ariana standing over him, shaking his shoulder. He groaned, rubbing his eyes tiredly. He must not have been asleep for very long, given how exhausted he felt.
“Come on,” Ariana urged, shaking him harder. Kyle groaned again, then slowly rose to his feet. Ariana glanced at the door, then back at Kyle, her expression worried.
“What's wrong?” Kyle asked with a yawn.
“I'm...I don't know for sure,” she answered. “I'm...hearing things.” Kyle frowned, straining his ears, but he heard nothing.
“Right now?” he pressed. “I don't hear anything.”
“No, not with my ears,” Ariana clarified. She reached a hand up to her forehead, rubbing it gently. “I...think I heard it in my mind.”
“What are you hearing?”
“Just fragments of things,” she replied. “Thoughts, I think. I felt the same thing when Ibicus was near me. When he was being controlled by Sabin.”
“Wait, who?” Kyle pressed.
“Sabin,” Ariana repeated. Then her eyes widened. “That was his name!” she gasped.
“Who?” Kyle repeated.
“The old guy that attacked me,” Ariana explained. “He said his name was Sabin. He spoke to me through Ibicus earlier.”
“Wait, don't you mean Xanos?” Kyle asked. “Xanos controls the Chosen,” he added. But Ariana shook her head.
“I don't think so,” she replied. “Not this time, anyway. It was definitely Sabin.”
“Okay...” Kyle mumbled, rubbing his eyes again and stifling a yawn.
“The point is,” Ariana explained, “...I think there's a Chosen nearby...that's why I'm hearing these thoughts again.”
“Wait, where?” Kyle asked, glancing about the room. Fear gripped him. “Is it close?”
“I don't know,” she admitted. “But we need to warn Kalibar. Come on,” she urged, pulling him up to the door. She grabbed the handle, twisting it and pulling the door open. Bright light seared Kyle's eyes, making them ache for a moment. He covered his eyes with his hands, squinting against the glare, his eyes adjusting quickly. Ariana didn't so much as blink, pulling Kyle into the hallway. The two guards standing on either side of the door turned toward Ariana, glancing at her questioningly. She smiled sweetly at one of them.
“I need to speak with my father.”
“Grand Weaver Kalibar is in the lobby with Councilman Goran,” the guard informed, pointing down the hallway. Ariana nodded, pulling Kyle down the hallway with her. They passed a wall of Battle-Weavers guarding the lobby, who parted to let them through. Kyle saw Kalibar standing in the center of the lobby, talking with Goran. The Councilman did not look happy.
“...is forbidden by one of our most sacred laws,” Goran was arguing, pointing one finger at Kalibar. “You don't have the authority to do this!”
“The law was intended to prevent traitorous generals from overthrowing the government,” Kalibar shot back coldly. “There won't be an Empire if we don't hold Stridon.”
“There are other cities in the Empire,” Goran countered, lowering his finger. “Spero is only three days' ride from here. Instead of allowing the military into Stridon, we should have them escort us to Spero and fortify our position there.”
“To what advantage?” Kalibar asked. “Stridon is the most heavily fortified city in the Empire. Spero offers us nothing.”
“It offers us time,” Goran retorted. “In case you didn't notice,” he added acidly, gesturing at the lobby around them, “...the Council is fragmented, our Grand Runic is critically wounded, and the streets are filled with escaped prisoners. We barely ha
ve communication with your Grand Weavers, much less the military!”
“True,” Kalibar acknowledged. Goran frowned, taken aback. Kalibar nodded, rubbing his chin. “It would give us time to organize, but it would also be risky. Xanos will expect that if we evacuated, it would be to the nearest major city. With their advanced weaponry, they could rip through any military escort we managed to coordinate, effectively removing the entire upper government of the Empire. Then, as with Ibicus, they could make puppets of any successors, and no one would be the wiser. Xanos would own the Empire.”
“We could set a diversion, or go to an alternative city,” Goran countered.
“It's an option,” Kalibar agreed. “But if Stridon falls, it will be a blow against morale for the entire Empire.” He gestured at the lobby around them. “This Tower is a symbol...when the first one fell two thousand years ago, the rest of the Empire crumbled, though many cities remained unscathed.” He shook his head then. “We know that the Empire is an idea, Goran. To us, the buildings are just buildings. But to the people, this Tower is the Empire.”
“And if we stay, and Stridon falls anyway?” Goran pressed. “Then we die, the Tower falls, and the Empire is lost anyway. At least if we evacuate, we have a chance.”
“It's my decision,” Kalibar countered. “The Right of Dictatorship gives me the authority. I've already ordered a legion to enter the city.”
Kalibar spotted Ariana and Kyle walking toward them then, and held up one hand.
“Not now, Ariana.”
Ariana hesitated, glancing back at Kyle.
“We really need to talk to you,” Kyle told Kalibar, glancing at Goran apologetically. That did little to mollify the sour Councilman.
“We're having a meeting,” he snapped at them, turning back to Kalibar. “We don't have time for your children, Kalibar.”
“Kalibar...” Ariana stated earnestly, glancing at her adoptive father. Kalibar frowned, then gestured for Ariana to come closer. Goran rolled his eyes, throwing up his hands and turning away from them both.
“What is it, honey?” Kalibar asked. Ariana leaned in and whispered into Kalibar's ear. Kalibar stooped over to listen; she spoke for a long time, Kalibar saying nothing, his expression carefully controlled. Then she finished, and he stood up straight, turning back to Goran and putting a hand on the man's shoulder.
“We have a problem,” he warned.
Then the lights went out.
Kyle gasped, crouching low instinctively, pulling Ariana down with him. A few dozen light orbs appeared high in the air around them, bathing the lobby in pale white glow.
Then there was a boom.
Kyle spun around to face the lobby doors, saw Battle-Weavers backing away from them. Another boom echoed powerfully through the massive lobby, the huge double-doors rattling on their hinges. One of the Battle-Weavers – High Weaver Urson – turned to the Weavers around Kalibar and Goran.
“Evacuate the Grand Weaver and Councilman Goran!” he shouted, waving them away from the lobby doors. The Weavers complied, pulling Kalibar and Goran backward. Kalibar resisted, turning to Urson.
“It's a Chosen!” he bellowed. “We need to evacuate everyone!”
“You first,” Urson countered, pushing Kalibar back. “We'll delay them.”
“What about Erasmus?” Kalibar pressed.
“We'll get him out,” Urson promised. Kalibar nodded, letting himself be pulled back by his Battle-Weavers. Kyle felt hands on his shoulders, and was pulled back with Kalibar and Goran, Ariana at his side. Before Kyle knew it, they were surrounded by a ring of Battle-Weavers, a multi-layered blue hemisphere appearing around them all. They moved at a rapid but steady pace out of the lobby and into one of the hallways. Kyle glanced backward, seeing the lobby doors shudder again, another deep boom echoing through the room. Then he heard a horrible cracking sound, and the doors burst open. Rays of blue light arose from the Battle-Weavers standing closest to the doors, sucking outward into the night air. The Weavers scrambled backward, gravity shields appearing around them, then vanishing as quickly as they had formed. More blue light was sucked from them, and Kyle saw Urson levitating backward above the floor, beyond the range of the blue light, barking out orders.
And then the blue light vanished.
Kyle felt himself getting spun about, felt hands under his armpits, lifting him upward. He was carried forward, caught in a dense mob rushing down the hallway. Kyle heard screams coming from behind them, and the wind howling past their protective shield. The screams became higher-pitched, a horrible crunching sound echoing down the hallway. Kyle tried to turn around to see what was happening, but the arms holding him were like iron. The Battle-Weavers broke into an all-out run, pulling their charges toward the riser in the distance.
“Ariana!” Kyle yelled, realizing he couldn't see her. He felt the hands gripping him from behind squeeze him, and turned to see Ariana right behind him. Within moments, they reached the riser, along with Kalibar, Goran, and a few Battle-Weavers. Kyle turned around, staring down the hallway, at the lobby.
The floors were covered with blood.
Kyle felt his stomach churn, and he turned away, glancing at Ariana, who was still looking down the hallway. As the riser began to lift upward, her eyes widened, and she pointed forward.
“Watch out!” she cried.
Kyle turned back, saw a small white sphere flying through the air out of the lobby and into the hallway. Blue light sucked into it from every nearby surface. The magical lanterns bolted on the walls went dark as it passed.
“Fly, now!” Kalibar shouted.
The riser began to accelerate upward, but Kalibar was already flying upward even faster, rising off of the platform and into the air. Kyle activated his own gravity boots, wrapping an arm around Ariana's waist. She clung to him tightly, and he flew up into the air, the Battle-Weavers and Goran doing the same. Kyle saw the riser platform below him begin to glow blue, the light flowing out into the Void sphere.
“Go, go!” Kalibar urged.
Kyle saw Kalibar shoot upward even faster, and pushed magic into his own gravity boots. He blasted upward, Ariana gripping him so tightly that it was painful. He pushed through the discomfort, matching speeds with Kalibar and the Battle-Weavers. The riser – now some forty feet below – slowed its ascent, then stopped.
Then it fell.
Kyle turned his gaze upward, the riser shaft extending as far as he could see. Each floor of the Tower zipped by in a rapid blur, the magically powered lights on the circular walls glowing bright white. Kyle heard a loud boom from below, and looked downward, seeing the riser smash into the ground floor far below. Kyle felt a sudden burst of hope...the riser must have fallen on top of the Void sphere, after all. Surely the sphere couldn't have survived such an impact! But as he watched, the lights on the bottom of the shaft dimmed, then winked out, faint blue light pulling from the walls inward toward the center.
“It's following us!” Kyle yelled. Kalibar turned to Goran.
“We stop at the 40th floor,” he shouted. Goran nodded, relaying the message to the Battle-Weavers. Kyle glanced downward again, watching as the lights in the riser shaft winked out floor by floor, the darkness moving upward toward them. Ariana looked down, then tightened her grip on Kyle, her powerful arms nearly crushing his ribs. He realized that she had no idea about the gravity boots' stabilization fields...she didn't realize that she barely needed to hang on to him at all.
“Easy,” Kyle told her, trying to pry her arms from his chest. Ariana nodded, relaxing her grip. Then he felt something tapping his shoulder. It was Kalibar.
“Slow down!” he shouted, suddenly dropping below Kyle. Goran and the Battle-Weavers did the same, and Kyle cut back on his magic stream, rapidly decelerating. He glanced upward, seeing that they only had a half-dozen more floors to go before they reached the top. “Stop at the third from last,” Kalibar ordered. Kyle eased back, slowing even further, trying to match Kalibar. The Grand Weaver slowed, then stopped at the t
hird to last floor, shooting forward out of the riser and into the hallway, Goran and the Battle-Weavers following close behind. Kyle overshot a bit, stopping at the 41st floor.
“Kyle!” Ariana warned.
“I know!” he shot back, rapidly switching crystals, dropping downward through the shaft. Ariana shook her head, pinching his arm – hard.
“No, look!”
Kyle glanced down, realizing that the bottom half of the riser shaft had been left in darkness. And that no more lights were being shut off.
The hair on the back of his neck stood on end.
A high-pitched wail sounded throughout the wide shaft, and Kyle felt a blast of air tug at them, pulling them violently downward. He cried out, dropping rapidly, quickly passing below the 40th floor. The wailing sound intensified until it was a hideous screech, a torrent of wind sucking Kyle and Ariana downward. Kyle thrust magic at his boots, their descent slowing...but not stopping. He grit his teeth, shoving as much magic as he could at them, his mind struggling to keep up with the massive drain on his reserves. An hour or two of sleep had greatly replenished him, but he was nowhere near his full strength.
Their descent slowed, then stopped.
Kyle closed his eyes, the magic in his mind becoming more difficult to stream. He knew that he was running out – and no matter how hard he tried, they weren't moving upward against the powerful suction created by the Void sphere's gravity fields. He felt himself slipping downward, felt terror twist his guts as he realized that there was no way they were going to make it. He cried out, shoving as much magic as he could into the stream, giving everything he had left in one final burst.
Kyle shot upward through the shaft, rising upward against the powerful current, until the 40th floor came into view, with Kalibar standing at the edge of the riser shaft.
“Come on!” the old man shouted. Kyle felt a vibration, and then a blue sphere surrounded him and Ariana, and he was pulled upward and forward into the hallway past Kalibar. The sphere surrounding them vanished, a powerful wind ripping through Kyle hair, but it was nowhere near as strong as the current in the tunnel below. Kyle braced himself against the wall, pulling himself forward down the hallway. He could see Goran and the Battle-Weavers a few dozen feet ahead.