Mage- The Ancient's Might

by S A Edwards

  Great. Something else with a connection to me.

  “I suppose it must have been my Keeper gift. If I disappeared like that and woke up by a Hellion, and then I felt a Gate’s power, too, I guess I made it fail. I just don’t understand why my gift took me there. That thing –”

  “The Canticum. A hybrid of the Araña. As long as you heard its song, no one could move you.”

  “I have to control this. Another Hellion is loose, and I can’t put it back. If this happens again –”

  “It won’t.” Movement caught my attention beneath the trees, and Lux, the Light Keeper, stepped out.

  28

  Umbra stood beside Lux, his black cloak almost blending into the background. “At least now we know why the Gates are failing,” he said. “How long have you known you’re a Keeper?” His tone implied I’d known all along.

  “No more than a couple of days,” I said. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. Can you help me control it? I don’t want any more Hellions to get out.”

  Lux shook his head. “Controlling it will not stop the failure of the Gates. They fail because the balance is off. Only two Keepers are permitted to a world. You do not belong here.”

  “I know that, but I can’t go yet. I need to save Charlie.”

  “You can’t stay,” Lux said.

  “There are already two Keepers in my world. Returning would only upset the balance there.”

  “You cannot return home,” Umbra said. “That much is clear. It should not be possible for you to be a Keeper. You must go the Nephilium. They can unmake you.”

  “Unmake me? What do you mean?”

  “They can take away the gift,” Lux said.

  Was that possible? Could they really return me to a normal Mage? I didn’t want anyone else to get hurt, nor did I want to release any more Hellions, but the Keepers wouldn’t help me with Charlie, so I needed the gift. I was the only one who could save him. “Will you help me get Charlie out?”

  Umbra exchanged a glance with his brother. “As we said before, we cannot open the Gate to the Underworld.”

  Can’t or won’t? The latter, probably. “But I can.”

  “You don’t have control over the gift. You could not wield a Gate so powerful.”

  “Then, I won’t go. I won’t leave him there.”

  “We are not giving you a choice.”

  Lux and Umbra raised their hands. Power spiked, wind pulsed, and the Void opened behind me. Grey and black twisted and writhed within the Gate, marking the way to the unknown.

  “No.” I stepped closer to Siren. “No, I won’t go through it. You can’t even be sure you’ll send me to the right world.”

  “Why is that?” Umbra asked.

  “Because you can’t see through the Void,” I said.

  He flashed a half-smile. “I don’t know where you get your information from, but you’re mistaken. All Keepers can see through the Void.”

  “Mine couldn’t.”

  “Then yours were not true Keepers,” Lux said. “We are. If you do not go willingly, we will force you.”

  Could they do that? Although I could once, when I’d tried it with the Hellion at the village it hadn’t worked. Was it the Keeper within me that allowed me to do it back home? That didn’t explain why it wasn’t possible now, though. “I won’t go,” I said. “I can’t.”

  Air sucked toward the Keepers on their silent command, building in pressure and might. Desperation flooded me. I couldn’t leave Charlie. They couldn’t do this to me. To him.

  Chimera snarled, placing himself between us. The tiny thing barely held their notice, and not surprisingly. It had no power to withstand their own.

  They thrust out their hands. A blast of power and energy burst toward me, rippling the grass.

  “No.” I braced, panic locking my legs. I needed something to stop them. Anything. A shield.

  Siren grabbed my hand and flung out his free palm at them. Power coursed through me, and a scene of blue-jewelled forests crossed my mind.

  Light flashed.

  The Keepers’ attack bounced off an invisible shield, careening in every direction. Branches, bushes, and the ground were caught in the blast. Dust scattered, leaves fell, and the weaker branches broke and dropped to the weeds.

  The Keepers staggered.

  The Void vanished, along with the image.

  Expressions of shock covered their pale faces. “That’s not possible,” Lux gasped. “How did you repel it?”

  I peeked at Siren, the same question running through my mind. Exhaustion covered his features, and his hand trembled in mine.

  “This isn’t over,” Lux said. Light and shadow rushed around the Keepers, and they disappeared.

  Siren slumped to the grass, breathing heavily.

  I crouched beside him and gaped. “What gift was that?”

  He shook his head. “I have no idea.” He clasped my hand in both of his, shock clear in his eyes. “But I channelled through you.”

  “Channelled what?”

  “I think … your Keeper gift.”

  “That doesn’t make sense.” I sank down onto the grass, fatigue pressing on my mind. “They tried to force me. If they’d sent me through there, Charlie would be …” I gazed up at him. “Thank you. Again. You seem to save my life a lot.”

  “It wasn’t me.” He paused to take a breath. “I felt your magic, your need. I acted on instinct. I had no idea a shield would come.”

  The very thing I desired. Had I done that? Keeper against Keeper, preventing their forcing me through. Still, without Siren’s assistance … “I forced a Hellion back into his prison once,” I said. “I tried to do it again when I got here but … oh, of course! The Keepers could do it because they did it together. When I did it back home, I was wearing the crystal, only the Dark Keeper was the crystal. He must have been working with me to banish it. Which explains why I can’t do it now. And why light rushed around me when I disappeared at the Gate. I helped create a Dark Keeper, which means I’m a Light Keeper. His opposite.” I grabbed Siren. “I know how to get Charlie out.”

  His eyes widened.

  “The Keepers said opening the Gate would take a tremendous amount of power,” I said, “that afterwards, they wouldn’t have the strength for several minutes to be able to close it. I can open it. I just need to master it. Since they haven’t used any power to open it, they can close it again right away and send me straight through the Void with Charlie.”

  Although there was still the issue of Zantos to consider. Sure, the tree said he wouldn’t be a threat, but I didn’t see how.

  “It’s a risk,” Siren said. “I don’t know if they’ll agree to it, and even then, I’m unsure you can master it in time. Not at the rate the Gates are failing.”

  “But you said you channelled me. What if you could give me a power boost, of sorts? You could help, even if I haven’t got complete control by then. Besides, they’ll have to agree. How else will they get rid of me? Then, I can use the whisperleaf to force out Zantos, and maybe they can lock him in a prison.” If they have the strength.

  I rubbed my eyes. Having barely slept, my own strength waned. Siren’s pale face matched how I felt.

  Siren remained silent for a moment. Then, he nodded. “Okay. We’ll head toward the Gate. When they turn up again, we’ll talk to them.”

  “Well, I could call them. Do you know how?” Back home, I merely needed to speak their name.

  “They just used a lot of power,” he said. “Instinct tells me they need time. Give them a day, then call them.” He slid two straps from his shoulders and handed me my pack. “Let’s head farther in and rest for a few hours. Morning isn’t far off and channelling you has exhausted me.”

  I nodded, pulled him to his feet, and slumped across the clearing beside him. We ducked under the shade of the trees, enclosed at once by shadow.

  Time passed in silence. My feet ached, and my pack pulled against my shoulder. Eventually, I could go on
no longer and dropped to the dirt.

  Siren peered back. “All right. This will do. Using power is draining, especially when it hasn’t been mastered. Sleep. I will watch over you.”

  “No, you need to sleep, too.”

  “Someone has to stand guard.”

  Chimera brushed his paw against my arm. I laced my fingers in his soft fur and smiled. “Thanks, but I’m not sure how much of a guard you could be.” I turned my attention to Siren and stifled a yawn. “You’ve used power, too. Let’s light a fire, or I could surround the clearing with ice. We’re not near any Gates. Surely, we’ll be okay for a few hours?”

  He peered at Chimera. “I think you’re probably right.” He sank down on the grass and unshouldered his pack. “But just for a few hours. It’s not safe out in the open. Not anymore.”

  *

  Chimera’s hiss woke me from a dreamless slumber.

  Footsteps pounded through the red, early morning light.

  I clambered to stand.

  Something glinted, shot between the trees, and pierced Siren’s shoulder. He dropped with a cry.

  “Siren!” I scrambled to his side. A Mortal Blade protruded through his blood-stained tunic. He whimpered.

  Kyne stepped into our path. “Good morning, Celeste.” He grinned at Siren’s writhing form. “I see you’ve found someone new to travel with. What happened to Amicus? Did you tire of his company?” Behind him, the rest of the group emerged.

  “What are you doing here, Kyne?” I snapped. Siren’s pain tugged within me, and my Healer gift longed to call forth the water in the air.

  “I have come to claim what’s mine,” Kyne said. “You are, after all, our key to getting home.”

  “I already told you, I will not make the Gates fail.”

  “And I already told you, you don’t have a choice. Their failure will open the Void and our path back to where we belong.” He nodded at a nearby Mage with scruffy dark hair and a scar down his neck.

  He strode toward me and balled a fist. A glowing band of fiery light appeared before him.

  Chimera snarled, but the Mage didn’t slow. The cat’s hairs stood on end. Then, he pounced and slashed at the Mage, swiping his claws along his exposed arm.

  The Mage cried out. His light faded and died. He clutched his arm and staggered backward. Although deep and open, the wound didn’t bleed. Instead, dark veins edged out from the cuts, centimetres long.

  The Mage’s new pain mixed with Siren’s: deep, sharp, and burning. I cringed away, partially blocking my senses to it.

  Kyne stared at the cat with wide eyes. “You have a Chimera?”

  “You know what this is?” I asked.

  “Of course, I do,” he snapped.

  Hanrel shoved his way to the head of the crowd and past Kyne with a disapproving scowl. He grabbed the injured Mage’s arm. Drawing water from an open flask attached to his waist, he directed it to the wound.

  “Don’t bother,” Kyne said. “He’s already dead.”

  Hanrel shot him a glare. “What’re you talking about? It’s just a scratch.”

  I sensed the pain increase, spreading through the Mage’s body. He screamed and dropped to his knees. The veins spread, covering his arms like poison. They disappeared beneath his tunic and reappeared on his neck, distorting his scar. He scratched at them, screeching in agony.

  “What’s happening?” I whispered.

  Kyne stood still, his eyes dark. “The harder you try to heal him, the faster he dies.”

  Hanrel dropped his hands and staggered back.

  The veins continued to grow, choking their victim like ivy until it covered every inch of him.

  His screams fell silent.

  Then, he crumbled into dust.

  29

  Kyne’s jaw tensed at the dust that had once been the Mage, but no surprise showed in his features. How did he know about the Chimera?

  Hanrel turned to me with shock and sorrow. “Did you know that would happen?”

  I shook my head. “It’s a cat. I didn’t think …” But I should have suspected more. It came out of a mysterious book only I could see. A twist to its nature shouldn’t have been unexpected.

  Another Mage broke from the crowd. Fury filled his eyes.

  “No, don’t!” Kyne leapt forward too late.

  The Mage raised a blade and sliced off Chimera’s head.

  I gasped. I never dreamed the tiny creature was so dangerous but to die so young at the hands of one so fierce? Perhaps it was a good thing, but I couldn’t stop the tears that filled my eyes.

  Kyne stepped back, his gaze on the cat. “Time to go.”

  I blinked. Was there a hint of fear in his voice?

  “You’re coming with us,” the Mage snarled and reached for me.

  I sent a blast of blue flame at his hand.

  He leapt back, missing my attack by inches.

  “Leave her,” Kyne said.

  The Mage turned to him. “Why? The cat’s dead.”

  “If we take her now, we will all face its wrath.” Kyne glowered at me. “You may have the upper hand now, but we will get home. Mark my words.” He retreated. “Move out!” The crowd followed their leader with confused whispers, matching his rapid pace.

  Only Hanrel didn’t move. He gripped my wrist and surveyed the cuts on my hand.

  Siren shifted.

  “It’s fine,” I said. “I trust Hanrel.” Although, maybe I shouldn’t.

  Hanrel frowned. “Hm, I thought I could sense you hurt.”

  I pulled away from him, gripped the blade in Siren’s shoulder and tugged it from the wound.

  Siren cried out, and the blood flow increased.

  “Sorry.” I dropped the weapon to the ground and flipped the ripped fabric of Siren’s tunic away.

  “Stay still,” Hanrel ordered him. “You’ll only hurt yourself more.” He held out his flask.

  I drew water from it and directed it to Siren’s shoulder. I sensed his pain surge before fading. His wound closed. “What about the camp?” I asked Hanrel.

  “What about them?”

  “Aren’t you going with them?”

  “Hmph. I’m finished with the likes of him. Too many people get hurt. Too many innocents. I don’t know where he came from, but I’m from here, born and bred, and actually have a shred of decency. I’ll take my chances without him.” His anger faded. “I’m only sorry I didn’t do more to stand up to him before. You’re the first who has. Took me by surprise.” He nodded at my hand. “I assume those aren’t scratches from that thing?” He glanced at Chimera’s remains.

  “No.”

  “Good.” He gathered more water from his flask and pooled it to my cuts. The dull sting of my cuts increased, and then faded along with the injuries.

  Siren’s breathing slowed. He ran his fingers along his shoulder. “You’re a Healer.”

  “Aye, so are you. But aside from that, who are you?”

  “This is Siren,” I said. “Wait, did you say he’s a Healer?”

  “Aye, that I did. I can sense it in people, you know?”

  “Then, why couldn’t I?” I asked.

  He shrugged. “Comes with experience.”

  “So, another gift.” Assuming he was correct. I smiled at Siren. “Unless you don’t count your flames as one.”

  Siren’s lips tightened. “What’s to say he’s telling the truth?”

  “I trust him.”

  “Why? How is he different from anyone else?”

  “I can hear you, you know,” Hanrel interjected.

  Siren ignored him. “None of his followers can be trusted.”

  “Hanrel can.” I squeezed the Healer’s shoulder. “He was good to me before Amicus brought me to the Might.” And for some reason, my instincts trusted him. Couldn’t Siren feel my trust? How often did he connect to my emotions?

  Hanrel bowed his head.

  My focus turned to Chimera. His tiny form lay still, almost like he slept. A stab of sorrow for his sudden dea
th pierced my control. He was so young. And so misunderstood. If he’d been allowed to live, what other surprises would have been revealed about his nature?

  Siren considered, and then turned his attention to Hanrel. “Fine. Can you teach me? It would be good for her to have a Healer with her.”

  Hanrel snorted. “She has me.”

  “Where we’re going will be dangerous. You would be safer not accompanying us.”

  “Ain’t nothing you can say to stop me. I pledge my allegiance to the right, and I stick with it.”

  “Like you did with Kyne?”

  “Enough, you two,” I said. “But I can teach you. You don’t need Hanrel for it.”

  “Oh, I can teach him well enough,” Hanrel retorted.

  “So can I.”

  A crack sounded from Chimera. His body convulsed, and then he grew, his shape morphing into something bigger.

  I staggered back, unsure what was happening. Should we run?

  He stretched, shivered, and stood, then twisted his head to face me.

  With every detail much the same as before, Chimera now stood as tall as my knees with a more elongated face and larger, gleaming, opal eyes.

  “You’re alive?” Disbelief coated my words despite the evidence in front of me.

  He approached and nudged my hand. I tensed and gave him a wary pat, the memory of his attack fresh in my mind, but he did nothing further and moved instead to stand a short distance away.

  Hanrel retreated several steps from the creature. “Now we know why Kyne didn’t want it killed.”

  “Him,” I said. “He’s a him.” Although, I wasn’t sure how I knew.

  He raised his eyebrows. “He’s a killer. That’s all that matters.”

  “He was just protecting me.”

  “We’re Healers, Clara. It is our responsibility to help people. That thing made me kill Tibs because I tried to heal him.”

  “No,” Siren said. “He was dying, anyway. You merely saved him from a slower death. You did nothing wrong.”