Shadow Seed

by Jose Rodriguez

CHAPTER EIGHT

  On the mainland, Melkor's house was part of a large complex forged into the ground. Aside from the children, it was a quiet area strictly for homes.

  Inside, Gillan and Caycee waited as Melkor came down a flight of stairs.

  “How’s Kemik?” asked Gillan.

  “He's a strong kid,” Melkor answered.

  Caycee reached out with her abilities to sense Kemik's feelings. “He's so sad, but…he'll be fine. He has Kamala's courage and your sense of honor.”

  Melkor nodded with satisfaction. “Thank you,” he said. “Gillan, I'm afraid I can't go with you to see the Chiefs. I must stay here with my son.”

  “We understand,” Gillan said. “We'll check back with you when we're done. Right now, we need to get to Central fast.”

  “Wait, did you hear about the Pelasgians seen in Rhea?” Melkor asked.

  Gillan thought he felt his heart stop. “No, this is the first I've heard of it. The only ones we saw were in the Shadow Realm.”

  “The Vesuvians informed us, but all they said of you and Kamala was that you had gone with several others.” Melkor said.

  Caycee’s head began slowly moving around as if she were slightly dazed and confused. “Then the Chiefs already know everything.”

  “You may still have to see them,” said Melkor. “Just as a formality. At least now you know they know.”

  “Thanks for the heads up,” Gillan said. He then noticed Caycee staring blankly ahead. “What's wrong?”

  “I'm not sure,” Caycee answered. “I just got this bad feeling, like I need to get far away.”

  “Why?” Gillan asked.

  Caycee held her head in frustration. “I don't know. It could be anything. Maybe there's gonna be an attack on the city, or maybe there's some place I need to be.”

  “Rest assured,” Melkor said. “Any attack on this city will be met with severe retaliation.”

  “Don't worry,” said Gillan. “You're safe here.”

  Caycee glanced around in paranoia. “I wish I felt that way.”

  Gillan lightly tapped Caycee's back. “Just relax, okay? Let’s see the Chiefs. I think we’ve kept them waiting long enough.”

  With a Leviathan controlling the water, the trip to Central Island was short. Compared to the housing complex, the smaller meeting hall at the promenade was noisy and packed with people. Simply trying to stick together was a chore for Gillan and Caycee.

  They eventually found the Chiefs waiting in the main chamber.

  Gillan greeted them, placing his fists together close to his chest and slightly bowing. “Thank you for coming. I'd like you to meet Caycee,” he said. “Caycee, meet the Chiefs. Jesca, Varak, Nasia and Salacia.”

  “Welcome,” Jesca said. “I would tell you to enjoy your stay, however, minutes ago the Draco spotted an army of Pelasgians advancing on the city.”

  “I knew it,” Caycee whispered, fidgeting nervously.

  Nasia bowed to Gillan. “Forgive me for making a hasty departure. The Typhon must be ready for battle. Speak quickly.”

  “Yes, ma'am,” Gillan said. “I was unaware of the Vesuvians who came earlier, so I'm sure by now you've all heard of Kamala.”

  “About Kamala-” Varak began to say.

  “I accept full responsibility,” Gillan said.

  The Chiefs looked at one another for a moment.

  “Take care,” Jesca said taking a bow and leaving with Nasia.

  “You don't want to carry that,” Varak said. “Kamala's loss is tragic, but she knew the risks. I respect that you came here to bear the burden.”

  “Thank you, Varak,” said Gillan.

  Salacia placed her hands on Gillan's cheeks. “Being good friends with Kamala isn't the only reason she took you along. She saw it in you. You care more for others than you do for yourself. You take responsibility. Those are powerful traits of a leader. Now, all you have to do is learn how to deal with it.”

  Gillan felt some comfort, but couldn't hold back the tears that fell with the thought of Kamala.

  Salacia bowed slightly to Caycee. “It was nice to meet you,” she said. Two Leviathan warriors quickly escorted her out as Tiamat's warning horns began blaring.

  When Gillan and Caycee exited the building, they noticed black clouds rolling in like a bad storm.

  Perak landed with his wyvern in front of them. “Gillan, we've got Erinyes and griffins coming in. It doesn't look like they're worried about the defenses. Any words of wisdom?”

  “They may look crazy, but they’re not stupid,” Gillan answered. “Watch each other.”

  Perak smiled mischievously. “Yeah, watch carefully. Do you remember that little maneuver the Draco practice from time to time?”

  Gillan’s jaw dropped. “You’re actually going to try that?”

  “Fight well!” Perak said as he took off. “It’s gonna be a party.”

  Caycee held her head as collage-like visions of the fight ahead flashed in her mind. “I hope you guys are as powerful as I’ve heard.”

  Gillan watched as the Khothu around him began scrambling in preparation for the attack. “Me too,” he said.

  Thousands of Dracos gathered at a nearby grouping of mountains with huge swaths that appeared to have been carved out of the sides.

  “Form up!” Perak ordered.

  A female Draco landed next to Perak. “Sir, the distraction teams are already on their way.”

  “Good, I’ll make this quick then,” Perak said, moving his wyvern to the front. “A lot of us never thought we’d live to see this day, but it’s what we trained for. It looks like we have our work cut out for us, so use the wind to pick your targets. And remember, we stay airborne until we've won, or we’re lying on our backs dead. Now let's fly!”

  Within a minute, the sky was filled with wyverns and their riders climbing higher and higher.

  In the fading visibility, Perak could see the distraction teams engaged with the Pelasgians. He pulled out a pair of retracted chain whips, a dual-purpose weapon that could serve as a short sword or a whip with razor-sharp sections of blades.

  Leaning off his wyvern, Perak went headfirst into free fall.

  With their ability to manipulate the air, the Draco had a great degree of control as they fell. Their exposed arms and legs along the openings of their attire had small, wing-like appendages they could extend to guide themselves.

  Rapidly closing in on a Corinthian and his griffin, Perak righted himself up and unfurled his chain whips. Colliding feet first, he knocked the Corinthian off and snared the griffin's wings with his whips as he clutched the underside of the creature.

  The griffin squawked and spun wildly trying to buck Perak, but this only caused more pain as the whips cut into it.

  With a strong push off his feet, Perak tore the griffin's wings off and went back into freefall. He instantly spotted a pair of Erinyes in his path. At the speed he was going, his whips easily ripped their heads off.

  Perak's wyvern swooped in for him to land on.

  Making a rapid ascent through all the madness in the sky, Perak looked down, picked a target, and dove again into the mayhem.