by C E Johnson
“I suggest you leave immediately,” the leader of the small squad of men materializing from the passageway advised. His forehead was wet with sweat and he licked his lips nervously. He was holding a revolver, and the men behind him were also carrying firearms.
“Where is Albert?” a man behind their leader called out. “He was guarding the entrance.”
“I’ve come for a portion of the treasure here,” Maaca began, ignoring their questions. “If you bring a fraction to me, I’ll be on my way. I need it to pay for passage on a ship leaving England.”
“I’m the Keeper of the Crown Jewels,” a portly man with a dark beard peppered with white said as he elbowed his way to the front of the group. He didn’t hold a weapon, but there was an air of authority about him. “I can’t let you have these priceless treasures.” The bearded man defiantly touched his glasses pushing them up on his nose with a fingertip. “England will want them when the power returns.”
Maaca drew both of her swords in a flash and she bared her teeth. She didn’t have a strong desire to kill again. Instead, she was hoping to intimidate the men into retreating. “The power isn’t going to come back on,” she said in a low voice. Her weapons rippled deadly in the torchlight. “I’ll give you one last chance to surrender.” Even more impressive than the steel in her blades, there was iron in her words. She wasn’t going to ask again.
“Are you kidding me?” the man with the revolver asked. “We’ll mow you down with our guns.” He nodded to his group while wiping the sweat from his brow with the back of an arm.
“The old has faded away,” Maaca snorted in an even lower voice. Demonstrating her flawless skill in a series of expert sword maneuvers, she twirled her swords through the air. “I am the new.”
“She looks like a vampire,” a man in the back of the crowd mentioned nervously to his mates. Watching Maaca’s skill with mouths agape, the men held their fire.
“I am the herald of a new age,” Maaca said in an even tone. She was unsure of where her words were coming from, but they needed to be spoken. Her swords twisted and soared like creatures alive. All at once, she stopped her movements.
“She’s like an angel of death,” another man in the crowd whispered.
“I have no desire to kill any of you,” Maaca admitted. “Even though you’re choosing rebellion and transgressions against what I offer, I will forgive you.”
“Forgive us?” A man chortled. “That’s brilliant.” He pulled back the hammer of his revolver with a loud click. “Be on your way, you daft wench.”
Maaca remained calm. She tried once again to let them live. “I will forgive your lawless actions and grant your forgiveness in my mind. This is my covenant.” She kept her voice even, emotionless. “Walk away.”
“What are you talking about?” An elderly man with a rifle stared at her. We can’t release Britain’s treasure to anyone who walks in off the street.”
“I’m not anyone,” Maaca whispered. “This is your last chance.”
“Raise your weapons,” the bearded man ordered his men. “This is your last chance, you crazy sword-wielding witch.” His motley squad followed his command. He continued speaking with more confidence, “Although the world is changing, bullets will still crush swords. Turn and leave our tower.” He swallowed hard. “We don’t want to hurt you, but we have to stand for something.”
“I’m sorry for your loss,” Maaca whispered. With that she gestured to her magicians. She could see a faint blue aura form as they spoke the words of their incantation. Once she was certain their veil of protection had been cast, she launched herself forward with her sword raised.
“Have mercy on us,” Maaca’s gold magician stammered from her back. Frantically, he repeated over and over again the words of the shielding spell she had taught him. There was a flurry of gunshots along with the sound of wood splintering in a withering screech of bullets that were connecting with everything besides flesh.
The spells are working, Maaca thought excitedly. She had hoped they would, but she hadn’t been sure.
“Idiots,” Maaca could hear Graciela mutter as Graciela drew her own sword from its scabbard. Graciela had a breathless passion for war and battle. The two vampires were merciless as they waded into their deadly dance of death.
“We will bring our blades upon them,” Maaca roared to Graciela as they sliced their weapons back and forth with bone-rending force.
“Fire again!” screamed the bearded leader as he scrambled backwards attempting to flee the onslaught, but there was no escape. The men flailed at the air with their guns hoping to stay the sharp steel to no avail. Maaca placed her full force behind her blades, advancing with every blow. She felt impassioned and engaged while moving side-by-side with her Black-blade warrior. The injured cried out and murmured prayers, but the two vampires didn’t waver in their resolve.
When it was finished, Maaca was surprised to feel a sense of guilt advance in her mind as her battle-rage receded. It must be the dragon-blasted elven assimilations making me weak, she cursed. She found herself blaming the elves for everything. Ending their incantations mid-air, her magicians wiped the sweat from their faces with their outer garments as they collapsed to the ground.
“Are you sure about the women and children?” Graciela asked again. She glanced to a door where they both knew the others were likely crouched, hiding in fear. “If they also have guns, our magicians may be too weak to cast another shield spell.”
Maaca shook her head to say no. “Let the women hide and the young sleep. They will soon awaken to the horror that their fathers are dead.” Guilt nearly overwhelmed Maaca once again as she thought of the young girls and boys emerging to see this grisly sight. She glanced sadly at the crimson-splattered stone and mangled bodies.
“They’re like the beasts on Acacia,” Graciela murmured with revulsion while staring at a decapitated body. “They really shouldn’t stay intact like this. It will always bother me.”
Maaca sheathed her swords before squeezing Graciela’s hand sympathetically. She also wished the dead evaporated into death-smoke. What is going on in my head? She sighed in frustration at the extent of her ever-changing evolution. Deaths never used to bother her at all. “Let’s complete our mission,” she said in a low voice. She reviewed the surface thoughts from her rapid assimilation of the Keeper of the Crown Jewels.
“Do you have all the information we need?” Graciela asked. “I didn’t get to assimilate their leader. I’m not sure where to go.”
Maaca nodded. “I incorporated him. I’m good.” She helped the magicians to their feet and led the group forward. They arrived at the doors of a vault. Looking to her magicians, she asked, “Do you have enough energy?”
Her exhausted gold magician gave her a thumbs-up sign. He directed his partner to form the words of a spell. Simultaneously they completed their incantation and together they unlocked the six-inch thick steel doors. Maaca collected an assortment of priceless diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. She also selected several scepters and rings to round out her collection along with pieces of gold. She took the famed Koh-i-noor diamond, but she left the crowns of royalty intact. I will leave them for England, she thought, but she doubted if the government of this country would ever be the same.
“We should go from here,” Graciela murmured. “They’re exhausted.” She gestured to the two magicians who were slumped against the wall, napping. They were breathing slowly in a daze.
Maaca nodded. “Back to The Shard.” They left through Traitors Gate nearly carrying the exhausted magicians on their backs. After placing the men in their beds, the two disoriented magic-users immediately fell into a deep sleep. Maaca set their stolen treasure on a table in the center of their room and she studied their loot along with Graciela until they heard a knock on the door.
“The premium cabin is now ours,” Edvard called out excitedly when they allowed him inside. Flashing them a broad, beaming smile, Maaca could see traces of clotted blood clinging
to his canines.
CHAPTER 10
The Second Wave
Emily’s group moved slowly toward New Orleans over the next several weeks as March turned into April. Daily they were riding anywhere from ten to thirty miles. Their passage was slowed as they felt the need to hide whenever groups of people passed. Who could say who was friend or foe anymore? Nightly they gathered together around the fire sharing the pain from the loss of their families. The ache in their hearts wasn’t going away, but it was evolving, changing.
Currently, they were camped on the outskirts of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Emily had awakened early with her friends to go through their tai chi movements. Since their parents had died, they stuck to each other like glue. Stretching in the cool predawn air, Emily tried to shake off the cobwebs in her mind. The mist, snow white and dense, rose around her obscuring her distance vision.
“I wake each morning praying that the fire was a dream,” Isabelle said softly. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes with a sorrowful expression on her face. “Still, nothing changes.” She stretched her arms while arching her back like a cat. Her muscles were wiry, strong and smooth.
“The loss has left a hole in my heart,” Elizabeth added sadly.
After all is said and done, they now truly only have you, Xena whispered.
We’ve always been tight, Emily thought to herself, feeling a flood of emotions rush through her, but now we’re truly becoming family.
A bond of even greater strength is evolving, Xena observed quietly. Emily knew Xena was right. The link between each of them was now made from titanium, almost as strong as a bondsmate. Not that strong, Xena chided her good-naturedly. Emily smiled in her mind.
“Dawn is coming.” Luke gestured toward rays of light that were gently attempting to poke through the white blanket rising from the lake with golden fingers.
“A promise of something good,” Elizabeth murmured with a longing in her voice. Emily nodded to her, pleased that the dappled dark was receding as the sun gained strength. Mist and shadows still danced over the water’s surface, but light was conquering the dark. It just took a little while.
“Let’s finish the last sequence,” Emily said in a hushed voice, not wanting to disturb the silence and the beauty around them. They moved together in synchrony, the whisper coming from their clothes was the only sound they heard. The gentle flowing dance somewhat soothed Emily’s mind, but she knew the deaths of her parents would weigh on her the rest of her life.
An owl hooted from somewhere overhead. “He’s over there.” Anna pointed him out excitedly. A light wind blew in from the north and the mist began to break apart along with the heaviness in Emily’s soul. The owl took to the air wheeling over their heads before departing like a loosed arrow in the direction of New Orleans.
“Do you guys want to jog a little before we get on the horses?” Anna asked.
“Perfect idea,” Emily answered for everyone. They left their coaches sleeping while they dashed through the ragged fog. Emily enjoyed the warmth that built up in her body as she moved her arms and legs faster and faster.
Easy, Xena whispered, you’ll leave them behind. They need your company right now. Although slowing her pace, Emily still danced lightly over the ground as the pale sun showed more of its face.
“It’s good to jog,” Luke panted. “My leg muscles were beginning to atrophy with all this riding.” Taking long strides, he appeared to be striving to get his breath into a steady rhythm.
“You never had many muscles to begin with,” Isabelle teased.
Luke pretended to bristle with anger, but Emily could see the smile beneath his act. “I know all of you ladies wish you had my level of testosterone pumping through your scrawny female veins, but we can’t all be males.”
“You can have whatever brawn you want,” Anna began to throw a verbal barb at Luke, “because I’m very happy with my brains … an attribute you’re obviously lacking.” Luke snorted while the girls giggled and laughed.
The sun was coming up stronger and stronger sending out a new legion of golden rays to warm the air. A gentle breeze stirred the oak and pine trees along the sides of the road they were jogging along. Elizabeth pulled her sweat-drenched hair into a ponytail. She peeked over at Emily anxiously, “How do you think this is all going to end, Em?” Appearing to be holding back tears, her eyes were glistening, and she blinked several times. “Whenever I think of my parents, a sadness rushes over me.”
Elizabeth needs encouragement, Xena whispered. Fear can overwhelm her like a mind-killer.
Alleviating a cramp in her bicep, Emily stretched her arms over her head as she moved closer to Elizabeth. “I’ve been thinking about things.” Her boots were pounding out a steady staccato rhythm. “There’s nothing keeping us here on Earth anymore. After we kick Iscar’s rear, maybe we should retire early on Acacia.”
The idea appeared to amuse her, and Elizabeth flashed a hesitant smile that broadened rapidly. The morning was becoming warmer. The last of the mist was melting away and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Hues of blue swirled in the air directly out of an artist’s masterpiece, accentuating the sapphires in Elizabeth’s eyes. She spoke hesitantly, “Before all of this happened, I couldn’t imagine leaving Earth for good, but now I can see us doing it.”
“I remember well that tall elf who you had the hots for,” Luke teased. Elizabeth’s face flushed, and she giggled aloud. The fear in her eyes had dissipated as quickly as it had come. Emily enjoyed hearing her friend acting like a young girl again.
Her fear has gone, Xena murmured appreciatively. That’s how I like Elizabeth. She sent Emily the smells of happiness and camaraderie.
Me too, Emily agreed with a smile in her mind. After running for a time with the only sound the trill of birds in the air, they returned to camp and ate breakfast.
“We should probably head out in an hour or so,” Luke advised. “I’m going to help McAdams train our new recruits with some sword-play before we go.” He gestured toward the coaches.
“That sounds good. They need the help of a master,” Emily said with only admiration in her voice. She went to Luke and kissed him on the cheek. “I’m going to meditate until you finish.” She wandered away from their camp until she found a small clearing. Sitting with Xena, she took out her magestone treasures and arranged them before her. She studied the blackstone that she had recently acquired from Maaca. Along its surface, she could see the reflection of a raven wheeling over her head. Staring into its depths, she could feel a power in the stone that writhed and turned. Each stone was amplified by the other magestones in her set. The energy within the blackstone’s core made the hair on her arms stand up straight. It seemed to be calling to her, daring her to journey to Ater. Could she defeat Drogor in Ater, and end the conflicts on Earth?
I don’t think you could win on his home turf, Xena whispered. He’s lived there too long. Maybe that’s a reason he’s waited there for so many years. Maybe he’s daring you to try the impossible.
Emily was sure Xena was right and she discarded the idea. She allowed her fingertips to trail delicately over the smooth surface. Scattering the rays into magical flickers of a thousand colors, the blackstone seemed to suck a portion of the light from around her. The power in the stone was beyond incredible, and it sent a thrill of excitement down her back. Slowly picking up each of the other stones one by one, she rolled them all thoughtfully in her palm before putting them away in her leather pouch. As the magic shut off, the world seemed to go silent for a time, listening. She could hear the creak of leather as the horses were saddled. She thought back to Elizabeth’s comments. Do you really think we can really defeat Iscar? she asked Xena.
I do, Xena answered succinctly.
Are you ever scared? Emily asked her bondsmate. At times, grief and fears rose within her like a terror threatening to overwhelm her. She could picture her parents in her mind’s eye, and she felt heartbroken without them.
Never, Xena replied with warmth in her w
ords, because I have something no one else on Earth or Acacia has with them. Emily raised her eyebrows in question. I have you, Xena added. I can roam far and wide knowing I have the strongest magician on the face of two worlds at my side.
Emily felt tears of pride and love forming in her eyes. I feel so lost sometimes, Z. She ran her hand through Xena’s silky fur.
Focus on your assimilation of Shadoe, Xena advised in a soft tone. You haven’t completed it yet, and something he passed on might be important. Xena licked Emily’s hand.
I’ll try, Z, Emily whispered, blinking back tears. She tried to focus on her meditation, but every time she thought she was reaching an inner calm, her parents came to mind, and tears again began to flow from her eyes. I’m so distracted.
Focus on who Shadoe was and what he meant to you, Xena suggested.
Emily slowed her breathing until it was even and steady. Fully opening her mind, she felt a thrill of excitement as Shadoe’s teachings began to flow into her consciousness. She was able to lose herself for a time in his wisdom and his words which spoke to her as if he were there. Shadoe believed in finding one’s center by traveling along a path with morality and spirituality acting as a guide. Emphasizing the importance of being able to lay down one’s life for one’s friends and a higher principle, he suggested that one would need to lose their self to find eternal light.
I don’t think I could sacrifice myself for others, Emily thought to Xena, feeling frail and weak inside.
You’ve seen Tiamat sacrifice herself for Ammolite and Acacia, Xena pointed out.
I know, Emily said hesitantly. And I’ve seen what Shadoe did for the elves and for me, but I’m not sure if I could truly do it.
You could, Xena retorted. Every battle you engage in, you fight without thought of your own well-being. You escape from your own suffering in your acts of righteousness.