The 7th relic, p.11
The 7th Relic, page 11
Haro turns to us. “Quickly.” He takes off down Stewart Street.
“How many more?” I call out to him.
“Too many,” he replies as he leaps onto a parked car, his blades flashing under the street lights. He slides off the car, landing between it and the next, taking out two hidden Skytes ready to ambush us. Reiko is on the opposite side, taking care of six more attackers, his guns hitting each target. The “thwampt” sound from each silencer keeps pace with his movements. Six more appear. Grace and I face the group coming in from behind. Her movements are much smoother than I remember from a year ago and I’m more than a little surprised. She slips through on her left easily, pulling several attackers with her as I take care of the remainder. Her tactic wasn’t necessary, but then I realize she’s fighting the only way she knows how…as a protector. It’s what she would have done if I were Lana.
We dispatch this group quickly, then make our way back up the street, eyes alert. We find ourselves in a tight circle with Haro and Reiko, our backs to each other. But Jleroh’s minions gather around us with no signs of attacking…yet.
“Haro,” I catch the Cumro’s attention. “Gives us some time to get out this.”
“Stay close.” Haro pulls his pouch out, opening it and releasing its contents. The black sand flies out but instead of scattering onto the ground, it comes alive like a serpent, encircling us within a ten-foot diameter from where we stand. The sand melts and connects, then flashes silver before becoming an invisible barrier. “Stay within the circle,” he orders. “If you step out of it, it’ll break.”
I scan the Skytes; all identical, all completely black except for the eyes. No features such as noses, cheekbones or jaws. Just the eyes, no irises, no pupils…milky white like those of the dead. Their mouths only appear when they are about to speak or feed. They are unnatural, born from the black ashes of Jleroh’s temple. Who or what those ashes once belonged to, no one knows. Although they can be easily defeated, their numbers and their need to kill make up for their lack of fighting skills. Jleroh controls them; Haro and I believe that without his hold they would be free to roam the territories, leaving behind a trail of blood and death.
The street is quiet. The Skytes are eerily still as if waiting for something to happen. They don’t wait long. They move aside to open a path for their master…Jleroh.
“No,” whispers Grace.
“Stay calm.” My eyes lock on the demon.
“No,” she says again as if not hearing me. I hold out my arm to stop her from taking off. Jleroh’s focus is on Grace and his steps pick up their pace as their eyes connect. He stops just outside Haro’s shield.
He sneers, a low guttural grow escapes him. “Give it to me.”
Grace jerks out of my hold, her blades in her hands and she moves to charge the demon. Two steps in and she hits the ground, screaming in pain. I reach for her but she falls on her side, her hands at her throat. Her eyes pop open, staring at me, pleading; the pain preventing her from speaking.
I reach to help her up and she grabs a hold of my hand. I grit my teeth but bear the heat of her skin as it slowly scorches my own. The six relics on me come to life to connect with the seventh. The connection between the relics ignites not only Grace, but me as well. When I was accepted by each relic, they burned into me, became a part of my skin, my body. The pain I endured with each, especially the ones on my chest and back, is beyond that which anyone should have to bear. But this pain ignites me. I bear down, concentrating on putting out the flames caused by the relics I carry, and finding strength to take control. Overtaking the relics, cooling them with my will is new, thrilling and empowering.
The effect is the opposite for Grace. She’s on fire around her neck and chest area, and it’s moving to her shoulders and arms. The medallion is trying to burn its way out of her…and she’s screaming from the pain. She turns to face the demon and my eyes follow. He hasn’t moved. He continues to stare at Grace in fascination and diabolical pleasure.
“Andu,” yells Haro. “You must take her in…now!”
I do as he says, struggling to stay upright. I throw my arms around her…and pull us into Shadow.
~ * ~
Chapter Seventeen
~ Andrew ~
The Shadow plane exists in all realms and belongs to no realm. It holds many secrets, and the Keeper of its secrets is the Shadow Tryse, the mistress of this place. She commands a legion called the Shadow Wisps.
Grace is instantly cooled. The ordeal has taken much out of her. She lies limply in my arms, exhausted. The relics’ fire has died down, but their light engulfs us in this place of darkness.
The Wisps move restlessly just outside the relics’ light. They quiver slightly, elongated smoke and shadow figures wavering in anticipation, their prey only a few light steps from their reach. Despite knowing who I am, they seem agitated, emitting a low whining sound. The seventh relic, the true relic of Light, is within their realm. Its mere presence here hurts them.
“Andu, you have brought me a gift.”
The Tryse steps out of the dark, the Wisps calming at her approach. Beautiful, with a grace associated with one who has lived for eons, she bows slightly at her “guests.” Like the mist that surrounds her, her delicate face wavers like a lover in every man’s dream. She is dressed only in shadow and mist, glimpses of her naked body teasing through. Her beauty enchants without effort…she is beautiful beyond imagination.
“No. She carries the seventh relic.”
A corner of her lips rises. “She does indeed.” She looks Grace over. “She seems to heal quickly; are you sure you don’t have the true Bearer here with you now?”
The smoke in this joint has finally taken its toll on the Tryse.
“We’re not staying long. We just needed a place to cool off, catch our breath.”
“You seem lost,” she continues, moving to the side, her eyes never leaving Grace.
“I know this place better than I do my own home.” I drop to one knee, taking Grace with me. The fire is dying, but embers continue to burn.
“Hmmm, yes, but you don’t stay for very long these days. Only when you need to ‘catch your breath,’ it seems. You haven’t visited the cottage in a long time, Andu.”
The cottage. My place of solitude in this place of solitude. A gift from my mother the day she passed away. My mother’s sister is the Tryse, and her name is Atheas.
When my mother laid in her deathbed, she called for Atheas, introducing us for the first time. I was twelve. My aunt brought me here and built the cottage to give me a place to heal. Atheas was my solace during the days before and after my parent’s passing. She taught me to use my gifts from my mother’s side, one being the ability to move in and out of shadow. After all, my aunt is mistress here. Also, my ability to heal, even without the relics, is a family trait.
I sit Grace up and she leans against me, moaning softly. “I’m sorry, Aunt, but I left Haro and Reiko surrounded by Skytes. And Jleroh is there.”
“Bring Jleroh to me, nephew, and I will take care of him for you.”
“He’s too smart to be blindsided by mere trickery, Aunt. Besides, he’s mine.”
“Ah, yes, Konè. One of the better ones on your father’s side. He was a good man, a better lover.”
Okay, that’s new. “Please don’t regale me with your conquests, Aunt. I really don’t have the time…or the stomach.”
Her laughter is like a wind chime of delicate metal from the deep caverns of the Nigoria Sea. Despite my annoyance at her nonchalant attitude regarding my situation, the sound is pleasing to my ears, bringing back childhood memories. I shake my head, clearing her enchantment over me. “He wasn’t the only one who died that night.”
She sobers quickly. “I am sorry for the loss of the false bearer. She was beautiful and, given her due, she would have made an amazing protector, a warrior for Kalorii.”
Forgetting the urgency of our situation, I’m startled by her words. “What are you talking about? Lana was the Bearer of the seventh relic. Grace is…was…her protector.”
My mystic aunt pauses, clearly confused by what I’m saying. “I’m sorry, but Grace is no more a protector than she is human.”
“What?” I am so caught off balance by this news I almost drop Grace.
My aunt tilts her head. “Andu, I believe it’s time you returned. It seems new players have arrived. Haro is doing his best to get my attention and stave off several attackers.”
Damn. “Fine. But I’ll be back, and you and I will finish our discussion.”
“Of course, dear, I always enjoy our visits.”
I feel her soft kiss on my cheek as mist gently surrounds me.
“Andrew?” Grace’s eyes become more focused. She grabs on to me. “Where…where are we?”
“It’s about time!” shouts Reiko, as he battles three Skytes who have broken through the barrier. Several more bodies lie scattered around his feet. He must be out of bullets. He is now using his hand weapons, winged blades that project out from his forearms. He also has a Molsna wood club that extends into a bo staff.
Haro is sitting on the ground, his eyes shut and his lips moving silently. He is chanting to keep the black sand in place. The pressure to keep the shield up is obvious by the sweat on his forehead and upper lip. His bare arms are also wet, and his clothes are soaked from his efforts.
“Andu, I can’t keep it up much longer,” he says, struggling to get his thoughts across.
Jleroh is now pounding on the barrier with a giant sledgehammer. The pounding echoes through the street; people from nearby buildings and casinos begin to come out to see what the commotion is all about. Damn it.
Grace pulls out her blades, ready to charge Jleroh again. I grab her arm, yanking her back. The furious look on her face tells me she’s ready to knock me over.
“That didn’t work the first time. The closer you get to him the faster the relic burns through you.” That did it. She glares at me, then at Jleroh. “The only way you can help is to help Reiko with the Skytes. I’ll take care of him.”
Jleroh brings his sledgehammer down one last time, finally crashing through. Haro flinches back as if being hit on the head. I run past the Cumro, knowing it will be a minute before he’s able to assist. I take out several Skytes coming at me, trying to keep me from reaching their Master. As for Jleroh, his focus is solely on Grace. I hear her scream, knowing the relic has come alive again as Jleroh approaches her.
Too many. There are too many Skytes in my way to get to the demon. “Haro, get off your ass, old man!”
Haro sits up, shaking his head. He looks about, assessing the situation, then stands and reaches for his pouch. Empty. His silver blades appear and he moves forward, but not before giving me a hard look.
“I believe there are laws in this realm against elder abuse!”
“Stop shouting in my head and stop your babbling. Get to Jleroh! He’s killing Grace just by being near her.”
Two becomes four, four become six…the harder I try to get to Jleroh, the more Skytes hinder my progress. Haro is taking out as many as he can while Reiko fights over Grace, keeping the horde from reaching her. As for Grace, she’s on her knees, tearing at her throat, trying to get the relic out of her.
I scatter the attackers before me and heft my scimitar, ready to heave it at the demon. Before I can release it, a twelve-inch dagger flies past me, hitting Jleroh directly in the chest. The demon staggers backward but doesn’t go down. That is, until a second identical blade strikes him in the same spot on the chest. The velocity with which the blades were thrown knocks the demon lord several feet back. He lands on his back, but it doesn’t keep him down.
The weight of the attack eases up as someone flashes by me, taking out Skytes with incredible speed. He slows down enough for me to catch a glimpse of his dark coat, black beanie and blonde hair. He seems to be everywhere until I realize there are two of them. At the speed they are going they look like twins. The “new players” Atheas was talking about.
I take advantage of their help and head for Jleroh as he rises slowly. The demon is on one knee, heaving and staring at his chest where the two blades remain. I reach him as he stumbles backward, his face a mask of rage and pain. I combine the scimitars into the Kalorii’s sword, and swing it upward ready to bring it down on the beast but at the last minute Jleroh’s eyes clear and sees me coming. The sword hits the pavement, buried a foot deep. The demon is gone and everything comes to a standstill, the Skytes waiting for their next command. Without Jleroh there is no one to lead them.
I turn to Grace to find her lying near Reiko, unconscious, more of her clothes burned away. “Reiko, your coat.”
He takes off his coat and tosses it over her quickly, before returning to face the now motionless Skytes. As fast as they appeared, they disappear, taking their dead with them. The only thing remaining where Jleroh was are the two strange blades.
“What the hell happened?” I turn to face Haro.
“He happened.”
“So you’re Andu.” The voice immediately behind me is low, soft and deep. A sense of old earth, new spring…of trees ancient and long gone overwhelms me. I didn’t hear him come up from behind, didn’t sense any movement. I take a step back to face him.
The man before me steps into the light, his face hidden under a hood. He is tall, broad, well built—and without a word from him I know this man is dangerous. He tilts his chin up to stare at me steadily. His green eyes are intent, filled with wisdom and the burden of one who has seen too much with such a young visage. He could be my age, if not for those eyes.
He pulls his hood back, exposing a dark beanie pulled down below his ears. He continues to stare at me, then the corner of his mouth quirks upward, amusement evident on his face. He reaches up and removes his beanie, but it’s not his sandy blond hair I’m staring at…it’s his ears.
“Andu,” says Haro, now at my side. “Meet Prince Alorn Luna from Velesi.”
~ * ~
Chapter Eighteen
~ Grace ~
The pain at my throat subsides. My breathing comes easier by the second. Someone covered me with their coat and I push it aside—until I see skin. Lots of skin. I pull the coat back quickly when Reiko steps to my side.
He helps me up. “Grace, you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m good.” Despite my words, my knees buckle and I hold onto him. I shake my head, trying to clear the fuzziness, only to cause a shooting pain at the back of my skull. I look under the coat and see my jacket and new shirt; the upper parts are gone, burned off completely. Crap. I maneuver the coat, slipping it on without exposing anything, wrapping it close. It’s heavy, not because of the thick material, but because of all the weapons Reiko has hidden in it. I shrug my shoulders, adjusting the weight to balance my own.
“Where’s Andrew?” I realize we’re in the middle of the street with no Skytes coming down on us.
“Behind you, talking to our rescuers.” With a flick of his wrist, Reiko’s blades snap back into the broad leather arm sleeves. They hook at his wrists, tying off at the elbows. The staff I glimpsed earlier is also gone.
I turn to find Andrew, Haro and two strangers speaking softly. Reiko takes my arm, helping me until I assure him I can walk on my own. I stop next to Andrew, giving me my first good look at Haro’s contacts.
They could be twins, maybe fraternal twins. Their features are almost identical, a strong family resemblance…brothers maybe? The differences are in their physiques—both tall, but one taller by a few inches; both broad around the chest and shoulders, but one a bit thicker than the other. Young in looks, they could be Andrew and Reiko’s age, yet they seem older, maybe more mileage than the guys. But that’s not the most fantastic thing about them. Their ears. Are they…oh, my God…they’re elves!
The smaller of the two pushes his way past the other, hand extended. “Hi. I’m Mellis.”
“Um, hi…Grace. My name is Grace.”
When Mellis smiles…I mean, can there be any man more beautiful? Besides the big guy standing next to him? Speaking of, I check him out. For some reason I suddenly want to reach up and fix my hair…what the hell? And yet, I feel shy when I smile at him. Mellis steps back when the other reaches over and opens my coat. Reiko takes a step forward, but it’s Andrew I worry about. Even though he didn’t make a move, I can sense him ready to strike.
“You have the seventh relic of Aeyan,” says the elf.
“How do you know about the relic?” demands Andrew in a quiet voice.
“Prince Alorn,” starts Haro, but stops when “Alorn” gives him a hard look. “My apologies…Alorn, perhaps this is not the time or place for such discussion.”
Haro nods past Alorn and Andrew to the small crowd gathered at the corner behind us.
“You’re right.” He turns and makes his way to a set of dark blades, lying a few feet from us. Like Andrew and Reiko, Alorn and Mellis wear dusters, and Alorn’s blades disappear into hidden pockets.
Andrew walks ahead with Alorn. I feel Mellis beside me, waiting. When I look at him, he bows slightly with that warm smile of his. His hand extends outward for me to proceed before him; I smile back when I realize I no longer have my blades. I reach for my back, turning in a tight circle searching for them. When I turn to the spot where I was during the fight, Mellis stops me. He offers me my blades.
“I believe these are yours?”
“Uh, thank you. But how did you…thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
He turns to follow his partner and Andrew. I walk alongside him, keeping pace with his long legs. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure, I’m all ears,” he says with a wink, and then wiggles his ears at me.
I can’t help it, I laugh aloud at his obvious joke. “His blades…”
“Alorn.”
“Um, yes, Alorn. Alorn’s blades…what kind are they? I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like them. I only got a glimpse but I didn’t recognize the metal. What kind is it?”
