Silent screams, p.1
Silent Screams, page 1
part #1 of Dragon Queen Series
Dedication
To my family and loving husband for their support.
Thank you for allowing me to take my frequent trips to the dark side.Acknowledgement
I would also like to thank my friend, Andrea Weidner for pushing me forward when I was prepared to give up and throw my hands in the air.
Also, thank you Andrea for giving me inspiration when my muse was on vacation.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Black Rayne Silent Screams by Yvonne Nicolas
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Red Rose™ Publishing Copyright© 2010 Yvonne Nicolas ISBN: 978-1-60435-774-5 Cover Artist: T.D. McKinney Editor: Kristy Bock Line Editor: Bernadette Smith
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Black Rayne Silent Screams
By
Yvonne Nicolas
Prologue
The Winged Beauty
Calroada Island Demon Realm
From afar, the sharp bray of a blade sliced through the air and seized the night. Followed by the howls of the fallen, a brush of wind wafted the foul scent of demon blood into her senses.
They were coming.
At the place where the ocean met the sandy beach, the full moon illuminated the calm open waters, giving the night a false sense of peace.
As the scent of her wounded lover assaulted her senses, Nikena gazed back along the path she’d traveled and bristled. Nothing but the cold darkness stared back at her.
“Please, be patient, my dear Kaishan,” she whispered in a mental message. “I will retrieve your soul from purgatory and we shall be as one again”
Clutching the bundle close to her breasts, she turned back to the ocean and moved forward. A spellbinding voice sifted up from the watery plain in song and warmed her bare feet as she crossed. She came upon a large coral reef. It shimmered like the bright orb watching from above.
“Princess Narri,” she softly called.
The song stopped and the water rippled. A burst of wind washed over her, lifting her hair from her shoulders. A playful giggle echoed in the distance as the mystical creature’s head pop out of the water like a curious child.
Narri’s magical presence shifted the breeze and strained the placid ambience surrounding her. The water fairy swam toward her in flashing speed, and then her head disappeared beneath the small waves.
The flutter of Nikena’s gown and flow of her hair froze in mid motion. Time paused, then resumed, bringing back the sound of the night. A pair of scaly hands reached out of the ocean and clamped onto the reef. The princess of Arna, the demon waters, emerged and rested her lamina coated frame on the limestone.
“Shame on you, milady, to make me wait so long to be blessed with your heavenly presence.” Extending her fin, Narri splashed her jestingly. “You should’ve told me you were coming. I would’ve prepared a meal.”
As always, Narri was a colorful dream. Magical hues of lavender and ocean blue scales stretched down her elongated aquatic tail, curves and torso. Small droplets of water seeped into the smooth, fawn shade of her full breasts, and made her appear as if the water hadn’t touched her at all. Bouncy aqua hair, which turned dark brown in the moonlight, dried instantly. Tiny iridescent sea creatures clung to her thick tresses, sparkling like gems.
“How thoughtful of you Narri, but unfortunately this visit is not for pleasure.”
“Aw,” Narri pouted, raking the tiny creature trinkets from her hair. “I was looking forward to splashing around with you again. I notice you are without your armor. Surely you can take one quick swim with me. It will ease your troubled mind, milady.”
Peering deep into Narri’s bright hazel eyes, Nikena gazed upon the image of herself in a sheer silver gown, which flowed gracefully against her mahogany skin.
“Just one little swim..” Narri’s words trailed off when a soft whimper came from the bundle held to her breasts. She gasped. “A child? You’ve brought a child with you?” Excited, she clapped her hands and flapped her fin. “Where did you get it from? Ooh, may I see?”
Nikena brushed the thin veil from the infant’s face and lowered her for Narri’s view.
“Oh my...” Narri scooted closer, nearly toppling off of the reef. “What a beauty.” Leaning in even closer, she inhaled the baby’s scent and stiffened. She swallowed hard and stared up at her wide-eyed. “Milady is this child the—”
“Yes,” Nikena replied.
“But, but you have—no, this is too soon,” Narri stammered, her eyes darting about nervously.
“No Narri. The time is now.”
“Oh no, that means the demons.” She tilted her head toward the dark forest. A storm of black clouded her irises. Her scales and fins turned a shade of onyx. “They are coming. Where is Lord Kaishan? Where are the dragons?" she asked, her mental words laced with panic.
Frowning, Nikena pressed her hand to her heart and looked away. The mention of her demon lover made her chest tighten. “My time is limited, my friend. I must pass a great responsibility onto you for the sake of God’s children."
“What does milady command?"
The request sat on the edge of her tongue. She glanced down at her daughter’s beautiful face, so peaceful in deep slumber. There was so much at stake and to ask the lady of Arna to shed her scales and abandon her home, for the sacred love child nestled in her arms was too much to ask. But there was no one else she could trust.
“Milady, they are drawing near. Please tell me, what will you have me do?"
“Take my daughter from this place and protect her. These cursed demons are not to have
her”
An iridescent gleam glazed Narri’s eyes. “You trust me with such a precious being? I am honored. Where am I to take her, heavenly one?"
“Mayiki will open a portal for your escape. He awaits your arrival in Bahdea, the forest of enchantment”
Swallowing back her emotions, she gazed at her lovely child once more, said a silent prayer then handed her to Narri. Sadness and grief weighed heavily on her heart as tears threatened to spill down her face. She took in a shaky breath and turned away.
Harboring howls of evil, a dark cloud moved across the bright moon, shading its radiant glow. Nikena sought her spiritual energy for emotional balance.
“What will you do? Where will you go?"
A steady calm consumed her as the sounds of the approaching demons escalated. The heat of silver absorbed her irises and lightning cracked from the heavens. “I will do what I must.” She raised her hand and called out, “Arise Geantye!”
A bolt of lightning shot from the heavens and filled her hand with her war companion, Geantye, the double edged, spirit battle axe. His energy sparked and stirred, fusing with hers. Together they gleamed in raw power.
Ready for war, she squeezed his leather wrapped handle, and glanced at the silver-eyed creature staring at her through the reflection of the razor sharp blade. “I will distract them to give you time” She turned to Narri and sprouted her wings.
Tears filled her friend’s eyes. “Milady, wait! Before you give into the call of the battle, please give me a name. Give me the name of your beautiful daughter.”
Nikena straightened her back and glared up into the wickedness that consumed the night sky. “Sharayna. My daughter’s name is Sharayna.”
The zephyr teased her feathers and with a powerful flap of her wings, she ascended from the watery plain and took to the air. The stirring wind engulfed her in a hot rush, fueling her energy.
Against her better judgment, she sucked in her dreariness and searched for one last look at her child, but Narri no longer occupied the reef. A smile of relief curved her lips. “Swim hard, my friend.”
“Where is she, Nikena?” hissed an entity, manifesting out of the blackness which coalesced before her.
He took shape as hundreds of blood thirsty chingi demons separated from the dark cloud. Combined with their foul stench, the sound of their leathery wings flapping in the wind surrounded her.
“You cannot keep her from—”
With the unseen swipe of her axe, she severed the ghastly creature’s head. “You dare to speak of my daughter, demon?”
“You will pay for that, wench!” shrieked another.
She flashed before him and claimed his head before he could strike. Their angry howls over their fallen comrades charged her intent.
She raised her battle axe to the sky, blazing hot silver. “Now, who else wants a taste of my blade?”
Water creatures
“Destroy them all ” Narri growled, clutching the infant against her breasts.
Suddenly, the awareness of another force spiked her senses. Someone was trailing her. She increased her speed, but the creature matched her pace. The being advanced swiftly, and before she knew it, he was swimming alongside her.
“There are demons hovering over our home, Narri!” he bellowed in fury. “I wanted to stay and fight but Nikena commanded I follow you. What is going on, sister?"
“They are after the child in my arms, Sota. We are to get her to the portal and protect her at all cost.”
He nodded and swam ahead of her. “I will lead to clear the path ”
Mayiki paced nervously along the shoreline, leaving a trail in the sand where his robe brushed. Off in the distance, he could see the battle between Nikena and the demons. The glow of her spirit axe and wings brightened the sky as she beheaded one dark creature after another, creating a shower of black blood.
The sudden ripple of the ocean caught his attention. Cautiously, he stepped back. Then in the midst of a blink, two blurs shot out of the water and landed in front of him. Startled, he stumbled backward and was on his way to the ground, when a pair of big hands grabbed the collar of his robe and pulled him upright.
“Oh, thank you, Sota,” Mayiki huffed, his heart beating erratically. “I can never get use to your sudden appearances.”
Sota regarded him with a warm smile. “And you most likely never will, my friend.”
Mayiki glanced at Narri, quickly nodded then averted his eyes. Heat warmed his face. The sight her beautiful naked body made his insides flutter. He forgot how fast water demons shed their fins and scales when completely out of the water.
“Well, first things first .” He waved his hand in a circular motion and cast magical beams of light over their nude bodies, clothing them. “Follow me.”
They moved through the copse of trees to make their way into the heart of the forest. Mayiki cut a side glance at Narri, careful not to stare at her stunning mortal image. “Is the child safe?”
Narri eyed the infant in her arms and smiled. “The hard swim across the ocean hasn’t stirred her one bit.”
“Good. We’ll do better if she’s dormant for the trip through the portal.”
They came upon the large tree bearing blue and silver leaves—the elm of spiritual enchantment. Enlightened with magical life, the leaves gleamed bright. As they neared, the elm began to sway, beckoning them closer.
“Stay close, and do not stare at the leaves.” Mayiki pushed away the spiritless corpses of two shape-shifters at the base of the enormous bewitching plant.
Narri and Sota shot curious glances at the dead bodies, then at him.
“I’m aware you two have not ventured this far from the Arna before.” Mayiki kneeled and placed his fingers on one of the victim’s forehead. The gradual cooling of the flesh suggested the tree had devoured their souls only moment ago.
“So that you are informed” he announced, looking up at Narri, then to Sota. “This plant like creature is a soul seeker ” Rising, he moved closer to the trunk. “If your will is not strong enough, it will absorb your soul, leaving your body limp and lifeless for the wretched scavengers to fight over ”
Sota nodded, a quirky smile gracing his face. “We’ll keep that in mind, in case we come across any more spirit-sucking land creatures created by careless wizards ”
Mayiki couldn’t help but chuckle. His friend’s sarcasm wasn’t lost to him. “Yes Sota, I take full responsibility for my creation ” He placed a hand on the elm and the other out to his side. “But do not forget, my mind was clouded in darkness when I crafted this unforgivable blunder ”
He murmured a spell to conjure a portal. His staff appeared and filled his open hand. Completing the evocation, he slammed the rod into the base of the enchanting plant. A white light opened in the shape of an oval.
Mayiki waved them toward the portal. “Do not stop running until you feel earth beneath your feet.”
They nodded and both rushed into the entrance. As soon as they were completely through the portal, Mayiki began to cast the spell to close it.
The perception of a dark presence interrupted the wave of his spiritual energy. Before he could gather his senses and strengthen his power, a force lifted him in the air and slammed him against a nearby tree. He attempted to counter this dark power, but his concentration was broken when a monstrous serpent wrapped itself around his body to bind him to the tree.
Trapped within the scaly coils, he was crushed mercilessly against the rough bark. Through the fabric of his robe, the wood bit into his flesh. A harsh wail leaped out of his throat.
“Ohh, you really disappoint me, Mayiki,” scoffed a familiar sibilant voice from the shadows. “Reeeally disappoint me.”
“It seems I have a talent for that, big brother,” Mayiki retorted, his voice strained as he struggled to breathe.
“Hold your tongue, traitor,” the shadow scolded. “You are hardly in a position to be facetious.” Doshar emerged from the darkness, his finger leveled at him. The pale light emanating from the tree highlighted his pallid features.
“No Doshar, it is I who should be calling you the traitor.”
A malevolent glow shone from Doshar’s eyes. “I am no traitor! I’ve stayed true to my blood!” he boasted, slapping himself on the chest.
“Ah, true to the blood you say? Would that be the blood you were brought into existence with or the blood our gracious dark lord has bestowed upon you?” Doshar’s hand sought his throat cruelly. “Enough of this pointless talk! Which realm did you send her to?”
“Sent who?” A weak smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
His brother’s hand tightened around his neck, pinching off his air flow. “Why do you continue to go against your own kind, for the likes of her?” Doshar sneered.
“Because she will lead me to salvation and save my dark soul,” he gasped barely above a whisper as tears of anguish blurred his vision.
A sinister chuckle erupted from Doshar’s gut. “Save your dark soul, you say?” He laughed harder, stopped and growled, shoving his face close to his. “Well unfortunately for you, little brother, your savior has met her demise.”
“Is that so,” Nikena’s voice sung from the darkness.
The shriek that retched from the large serpent made Mayiki’s ears bleed. Its large body uncoiled and slithered to the ground. Heaving and gasping for air, he fell over the snake’s limp body.
Nikena melted through the tree, the huge severed snake head in one hand and her blood soaked axe in the other, evidence of her victorious battle. The black
vital substance was spattered along her sheer silver gown and wings, but failed to tarnish her radiance.
“Are you well, Mayiki?” she asked, her back to him.
Nodding as if she could see him, he pushed up from the ground and stood, taking in several deep breaths. “Yes, my lady,” he choked out on a cough.
Doshar grunted disapprovingly. “You address her as such, when she is nothing but a demon’s whore?”
Instant fury carried Mayiki’s feet in a flash step toward his brother, but before he could strike, Nikena raised her axe against his chest. He shifted from one foot to the other, glaring at Doshar, reluctantly granting Nikena’s request to stay put. His chest rose and fell with every angry breath he took. He balled his hands into tight fists until his nails bit into his palms. It was all he could do to prevent himself from sending a magical strike over her shoulder to sever Doshar’s insulting tongue.
“Calm yourself, my friend. His insults mean nothing to me ” she mused, glancing at him over her shoulder. She tossed the snake’s head to the ground and approached Doshar.
Panic dissolved Doshar’s smug grin as he backed away. “Those incompetent demons! I sent hundreds after you! Why are you standing here before me, alive and unharmed?”
“Because the light always prevails,” she whispered, suddenly behind him.
