Angst Box Set 2

by David Pedersen

  With a heave, he threw the helpless man through the dark door. Angst picked up the duplicate Chryslaenor and Dulgirgraut, sighed deeply, and tossed them in after him. He crossed the room, picked up his own swords, and returned them to his back.

  “Thank you, old friends,” Angst said over his shoulder. He looked up to see the night sky, but the constellations were gone. “I’m getting too old for this. How long are you going to make me wait, Vivek?”

  Marisha was surprisingly easy for Faeoris to find amidst the chaos. Some poor Vex’steppe tribesman was in the middle of a battle he was going to lose. On one side stood a haggard but formidable ANduaut. Burns covered most of his body, and the corner of his head was crushed. He simply shouldn’t have been alive.

  On the other side stood a wilted reflection of her essent, covered in dark feathers with a pained expression on her face—as though undecided if she would pounce or flee.

  A circle of tribesmen had formed around them, keeping others at bay. The tribesman in the center held two broken pieces of his staudauf—pointing one at each opponent.

  “You should never have turned against me, SMyket,” ANduaut said, fencing playfully with his own double-bladed staff.

  “You should never have made your deal with Magic,” SMyket said. “Not only are you a traitor to our people, but your help in destroying Rohjek makes you a traitor to all of Ehrde.”

  Faeoris had heard enough and guided her mechanical wings to land her behind the circle. She picked up a tribesman by his shoulders and roughly tossed him away like trash.

  “Essent,” Marisha said, now appearing confused and frightened.

  “You,” ANduaut said, his tone filled with venom.

  “Faeoris,” SMyket said, looking as if he’d just opened a present. “I was told you were dead.”

  “You, cute one,” Faeoris said, nodding at SMyket. “Keep ANduaut off us for a minute but leave some for me.”

  “I’m…cute?” SMyket said with a crooked smile.

  “You’re dead,” ANduaut said, slicing down with his staudauf.

  While SMyket deflected blows, Faeoris tackled Marisha. She knocked her essent to the ground and straddled her.

  “Please, help me,” Marisha said, making a weak attempt to struggle.

  “My mother’s feather was never meant for you, my dear one,” Faeoris said, looking her in the eye. “This is going to hurt.”

  Closing her eyes, she placed a clawed hand between Marisha’s breasts. The foci she’d bonded with after her mother died was there; she could feel it. The golden feather’s tainted bond to Marisha was like a prison. It longed to be free.

  There was an audible snap. Marisha let out a scream as the feather rose from her chest. Her essent was covered in sweat, breathing rabbit-fast.

  “Yes,” Faeoris said, tears streaming down her cheeks as the familiar bond returned. “I’m whole again, and so are my people.”

  Marisha’s dark feathers whisped away like smoke from embers, revealing her beautiful, naked body beneath. She was unconscious but alive.

  Several screams from above caught her attention as other Berfemmian lost their dark feathers and fell from the sky.

  She stormed over to ANduaut, grabbed his throat and lifted him off the ground.

  “Guard my essent,” she said to SMyket.

  “Anything,” he said, rushing to stand over the Berfemmian.

  “I would kill you with my bare hands,” Faeoris said, “but this will hurt more.”

  Her metallic wings spread, curving forward as though ready to embrace ANduaut. The clawed tips of her metallic wings bored into the tribesman’s chest. Before he could scream, the wings spread, tearing him asunder.

  “I hope that ring keeps you alive,” she said, spitting on the twitching hand that hosted Magic’s ruby ring.

  “So beautiful,” SMyket said.

  She approached, winking at him before turning away.

  “These wings are fused to me,” she said. “You will tear away bone and skin when you remove them.”

  “I…I cannot harm you,” SMyket said.

  “Hurry,” she said. “The feather will heal me while the bond is new.”

  “As you wish,” he said.

  His first tug was an annoyance and the second felt like a small animal bite.

  “I see the look in your eyes,” she said, facing him. “If you ever want a chance to father my children, you will do this.”

  He grimaced in determination, and she turned around. SMyket placed a foot between her shoulders, grasping the inside of her metal wings. With a roar, he braced his foot against her back and pulled.

  It was pain like she hadn’t experienced since they’d been attached. Bone cracked, and muscle tore as flesh was ripped from her body. She collapsed, and he threw away the wings.

  “Worth it,” she said. With a grunt, wings of light grew from her back, washing away the pain.

  “Find me in Unsel when this is over and we will mate,” she said, delicately picking up Marisha. “Bring the wings.”

  “Okay,” he said, dumbfounded.

  She launched into the air with a broad smile as SMyket’s cheers were met by the other tribesmen’s.

  52

  Within a blink, the walls and partial ceiling returned as if no fight had taken place. A warm, golden light flooded the room. This was it. This was everything he’d fought for. It was finally time for his wish. Wiping away tears and smoothing his goatee, Angst turned around.

  “Mom… Dad?” Angst asked, his chin quivering. It was too much. They’d passed away years ago.

  “No, Angst, we are Vivek,” his mom said. “We chose these forms to make it easier for you to understand.”

  “This isn’t easy. You’re bad at this,” he said, wanting more than anything to hug them both. They were everything he remembered. His mom’s wrinkled, caring face. His dad’s thoughtful blue eyes and thinning hair. Angst breathed in and remembered their scent. He took a step toward them, his voice shaky. “What are you?”

  “I suppose you may consider us life,” his father said, nodding to his mom.

  “We’re more than that, more complicated than that, but it’s an explanation,” she said, wringing her hands together as his own mother would have. “The elements you’ve been battling are our children.”

  “Your children are assholes,” Angst said.

  Vivek smiled, both of them. “And yours aren’t?”

  “No,” he grumbled. “My children are perfect.”

  “Ours are too,” Vivek replied together.

  “Please don’t talk at the same time,” Angst said. “It’s too much.”

  His parents looked at each other impatiently. Despite the turmoil burning a hole in Angst’s gut, he felt the great need to hurry.

  “You seem like nice…life…people.” Angst stumbled over his words. The whole concept was so far beyond him, he didn’t really want to think about it. “Why do you let your children do this?”

  “For balance,” his dad said. “There must be balance on Ehrde or all will be lost.”

  “Balance? There is no balance! I almost lost everyone,” Angst yelled, slashing the air with his hands. “You’ve got an element for Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Magic. Who is the element that protects life? If you are, you’re doing a crappy job!”

  “Six elements?” they asked in unison, looking at one another.

  Their eyes flashed a color he didn’t recognize, and thinking about that color made him reel, so he didn’t.

  “So, what is this?” Angst asked, looking around the room. “I fought myself. I fought through time.” He pointed in some random direction. “I went through all of that and I still need to stop a war. Was it all for nothing?”

  “No,” his dad said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “You’ve been through much, son.”

  “We want to thank you,” his mom said, “for bringing the balance we’ve always wanted. We are here to give you a gift.”

  They seemed so real his hands shook. H
e’d been close to his parents, which made it hurt all the more.

  “What are you offering?” he asked, his voice shaky.

  “A wish, for lack of a better word,” his mom said. “You deserve a reward, Angst, for all you’ve done.”

  “A wish? Really?” he asked. After all he’d been through, it almost felt like a trap.

  They both nodded with soft expressions and caring eyes.

  “Hector,” Angst said. “I couldn’t find… He… Please bring Hector back.”

  “You know we can’t,” his father said. “Not Hector, nor any of the others. The dead are gone. I’m sorry.”

  Whatever he’d been holding back came out as he bawled like a baby on his mom’s shoulder. She patted him gently, holding him like his own mom had. His heart ached from failure, but something about this felt like home and gave him strength.

  “I’m sorry, Angst,” his dad said. “We have little time.”

  Angst pulled away, smiling at his mom with gratitude. She placed an old hand on his cheek. He sniffed loudly.

  “Well, I guess, it would be nice to be younger again,” Angst said.

  They laughed; they actually laughed. Angst had made life, the creators of everything, laugh out loud, which was great, and awful.

  “It doesn’t work like that,” his dad said.

  “Of course it doesn’t,” Angst said with a deep sigh.

  “Hurry,” he said. “You have a world to save.”

  He couldn’t bring back the dead. He couldn’t make himself younger. He already knew how he’d end the war. At this point, he just wanted some cake and a nap, but he could do that after battling hordes of armies from every nation on Ehrde. This wish couldn’t be for himself, not really. He had to make a wish that helped someone else. After everything he’d been through, there weren’t many left that he hadn’t lost or saved, except…

  “The twins,” he said, hope rising in his heart. “I want the twins.”

  “Your children are already safely back in your time,” his mom said.

  “You know that’s not who I’m talking about,” Angst said. “I want Bella and Karina to come back.”

  “They are not from your time, son,” his dad said, looking nervously at his mom as if he’d just asked to ride a pony into town for the first time.

  “They don’t belong—” his mom began.

  “I want the twins to come with me,” he said, irritation raising the hairs on his neck. “They deserve to be saved, just like the others.”

  “I don’t think we can—”

  “I want the twins,” Angst shouted as loud as he could. Blue and red lighting reached out from his swords, the songs in his head screaming with his own frustration.

  Everything stopped. Lightning froze in the air. His lungs didn’t move. His heart didn’t beat. He couldn’t wiggle a finger. Mom and Dad were gone, replaced by a glowing thing in that color he couldn’t recognize. His brain hurt.

  “Don’t test me,” Vivek said. And his doubt was gone; this was indeed Vivek.

  Angst wanted to plead for the twins. He would have begged. The incomprehensible light flashed, and he wished he could’ve closed his eyes because the Vivek was too much to understand. Before he succumbed to a new madness, his parents returned, and he could breathe once again. He did. Dropping to all fours, Angst gasped for sweet air. His entire body shook with fear. They let this pass before helping him up.

  “You may have the twins,” his dad said in a stern voice he recognized all too well.

  “Thank you,” Angst said.

  “But there will be a price,” his mom said with a familiar look. He felt like he was being sent to the corner of the room.

  “Isn’t there always?” Angst asked, sighing deeply. “Haven’t I already paid it, over, and over, and over again?”

  “They don’t belong in this time, Angst,” she said. “It’s the only way I will agree to this.”

  “Anything,” he said. They deserved it. “Just tell me, so I know what to expect.”

  They both leaned in and whispered.

  “Oh?” he replied.

  Vivek nodded.

  “I’ll do my best,” he said.

  “That’s all we ask,” they replied in unison.

  He heard squeals of delight behind him, and his heart leaped with hope. The twins ran from the doorway and wrapped their arms around him.

  “Go,” he said. “We don’t have much time.”

  “Got it, boss,” Bella said.

  “Thank you, Angst,” Karina said softly, kissing him on the cheek. “For whatever it is you did.”

  “Anything for you two,” he replied. “Now hurry, and please be careful. Tell them I’ll only be a minute.”

  The twins rushed off, and in a flash of light, they were gone.

  “It’s time, Angst,” his father said. “This is it.”

  “We have many other worlds to manage,” his mom said wisely. “Ehrde is just one, one of many.”

  “I have a selfish request,” Angst said, looking at both of them. “Before we part ways.”

  They smiled like his parents, and he wrapped his arms around them. He hugged his mom, he hugged his dad, he hugged them both and then they were gone. It wasn’t really them, or maybe it was. It didn’t matter because the hugs were great.

  Angst reached over his shoulders to touch both swords and smiled.

  “Time to finish this adventure.”

  53

  “Looks like we came at just the right time,” said a young woman.

  “Or the wrong time,” said another.

  Victoria turned to see two beautiful young women appear from the light. The identical twins were perfect enough that she wondered what Angst had wished for. The blond looked ready to party while the redhead was prepared for war.

  “Angst’s twins,” Victoria said. “Where did you—”

  “Call me Bella,” the redhead said with a sincere gaze. “And I’m not Angst’s.”

  “Speak for yourself,” the blond said with a wry smile. “Hi, I’m Karina.”

  “I’m Victoria,” she said. “Where is he?”

  “He’ll be here soon,” Bella said. “The old man is just taking his time.”

  Victoria looked back and forth between the sisters as they spoke in a dialect she didn’t recognize. It sounded made up, like a language only twins shared. The conversation ended with Karina blushing fiercely.

  “I know you think she’s a legend,” Bella said, rolling her eyes. “Even legends like compliments.”

  “Is everything okay?” Victoria asked.

  “It’s just,” Karina said. “You’re as pretty as he said you were.”

  “As who said I was?” Victoria asked, befuddled.

  Roars and screams and screeches drew her attention back to the battlefield. The monsters were leaving. Dragons, cavastil birds, and gargoyles all gathered overhead at different ends of the field. Like flocks of migratory birds that eat people, they flew away.

  “What a mess,” Angst said from behind her. “About what I expected. I wouldn’t know what to do if it was easy.”

  “Angst,” Victoria squealed, wrapping her arms around him. “You did it? You won?”

  “I did,” he said, sounding a little sad.

  Angst pulled away, and she took several steps back in surprise. He’d entered the Vivek in black armor and came out wearing armor that was brushed silver. There were more wrinkles around his eyes, and his hair seemed a lighter gray and thinner. A peppered beard covered his chin and mouth. He smiled at her but looked more tired than ever.

  “I don’t understand,” she said, looking him up and down. “Is it…you?”

  “I missed you so very much,” he said, his eyes glassy.

  “You missed me?” Victoria asked. “You just left. What’s going on? Why do you look older?”

  “Later,” he said with a wink.

  Angst drew both swords and took a deep, reluctant breath.

  “Jaden,” he called out, throwing a foci
to the young man.

  “About time,” Jaden said, catching the sword by the hilt. He raised it high as red lightning showered his body.

  “Kala,” Angst shouted, tossing his other foci to the teenager.

  “Yes,” she said, catching it. The blue lightning that surrounded her sword flashed in her eyes.

  “Kala?” Nikkola asked.

  “Wait until you see this,” Kala said. She knelt beside the black lab pup, petting him several times. Pointing to the nearest attackers, she said, “Scar, fetch!”

  The puppy rushed forward, growing with each step until it became a steel-coated monster with six glowing red eyes and three tails. She leaped on the dog’s shoulders as he reared up, letting loose an earth-shaking bark.

  “How can you stop a war without your swords?” Victoria asked.

  “I won’t be needing them anymore,” he said. “I won the prize.”

  “What does that mean, exactly?” she said, her heart racing.

  “I’m not completely sure, yet,” he said. “But I’ve learned a few new tricks along the way. I think you’ll like this one.”

  Silence fell on the battlefield. The abrupt quiet from Angst’s mute bomb had an unnerving effect. It was a great spell, one of his favorites. Who wouldn’t love a spell that made everyone shut up? Soldiers from every nation became disoriented as swords struck shields without sound and war cries went unheard. The fighting abruptly slowed and within minutes stopped entirely.

  Pressing a finger against his throat, he cast a spell so all would hear him.

  “Hello, Ehrde,” Angst shouted, holding out both hands. “I’m interrupting this war to tell you that it’s over.”

  He took a breath to let that sink in. The sheer quantity of people in all their shapes and sizes was almost overwhelming. From tiny Meldusians to enormous Nordruaut, they all turned to face him.

  “We’ve all been tricked into something we didn’t want to do,” he said. “Every two thousand years the elements come alive and go to war. They create weapons like dragons and gargoyles. When those weapons don’t work, they use us instead.”

  The crowd continued paying attention, which brought a sigh of relief. There’d been enough dying. With every moment they took to think about what they were doing, there was a greater chance they would want to stop fighting. At least, that was what he hoped.