by Erin Raegan
She smiled and wiped at her cheeks. Her talons were bright red. I looked down at my chipped lavender nails.
“Yes, girl, we need a manicure,” she grinned wickedly and tossed a few dollars on the table. I chuckled and stood pulling on my jacket. “A little salon time will fix everything,” She dragged me out of the shop and into the rain. Squealing, she slapped me. “You could have told me it was raining this hard!”
I laughed and jogged down the street with her.
Viv ran over to a vendor and purchased an umbrella. “You must have a hundred of those by now,” I scolded her.
She flushed. “I know I can never remember to leave the house with one.”
“You’re in Seattle Viv, and it’s the season.”
“I know that. Where’s yours?” Her sculpted brows hiked up.
I laughed softly, “I don’t have a fear of rain ruining my do.” I flipped my frizzy braid behind me.
Viv patted her perfect curls and rolled her eyes.
We were at the first stop light, and I had just pressed the crossing button when the ground shook. Viv shouted and grabbed onto my arm, steadying us both.
“Earthquake!” Someone shouted, and people ran―or at least tried to. The ground was shaking so forcefully they tumbled down.
“Peyton!” Viv screamed and pushed me to the ground as the traffic light ripped from the street. I hit on my back hard, and we rolled under a parked car just as the light smashed into the ground right where we had been standing.
“What’s happening?” I asked her as the ground rumbled, screams nearly deafened me.
“I don’t know,” Viv shouted, I could barely hear her over the chaos in the streets.
Just as quickly as the earthquake started, it stopped. Screams were still ringing in my ears, but the rumbling had quieted enough I could hear a dripping nearby. Looking to the left, I saw and smelled the gas dripping from the car.
“Oh, shit, Viv, we have to move.” I grabbed her arm and started to crawl from beneath the car.
“What?” Viv gazed at me dazedly.
“The car’s leaking gas, we have to move!” I shouted. We crawled together from beneath the car and jogged around fallen debris and scattering people to the edge of the closest building.
“Is this safe?” She shouted and looked warily at the tall building. I shook my head and looked around, but there was nowhere to go. Cars were piled up, and the road was littered with cracked asphalt and large debris that could have only been from the buildings.
We were in downtown Seattle. The buildings were tall. We couldn’t stay here. “Come on,” I shouted and pulled her down the sidewalk. We jogged around people. There were so many scared and crying. I spotted a man lying in the dirt, blood leaking from his temple, and stopped. He needed help. I looked around, but there was no one. Only chaos.
“What, what is it?” Viv shouted.
“We have to help him,” I said and pulled her over to the man. I knelt and felt for a pulse. There wasn’t one. “Oh, god.”
“Is he okay?” She asked. I shook my head. Tears leaked from her eyes and I stood up, pulling her away.
“Where do we go?” She cried.
“I- I don’t know,” I choked, looking around. There were so many people. I couldn’t orient myself. Blood coated a woman as she limped down the street with the help of another woman.
The ground shook again, and I took off running. We couldn’t stay. We stumbled and fell every step, but I pushed forward, dragging Viv behind me as I spotted the end of the street. We could get to the park and hide in the open without the threat of tall buildings. There were still tall trees all around us, but the stone tunnel would be better protection than anywhere else.
I yanked her into the park and stumbled along the pathway. Once we reached the tunnel, I pushed her under, just as a thick tree came crashing down on top of it.
“Down!” I shouted and huddled with her along the wall. The left side of the tunnel shook from the impact but held steady.
“Holy shit,” she gasped and shook against me. Minutes passed before the shaking subsided. The outside was quiet, and my ears rang from the noise.
We stayed in that tunnel for what felt like ages before Viv crawled to the end and peeked out. “You think it stopped?” She asked in a whisper.
I shook my head and hugged my knees. Who knew? I had never experienced an earthquake like that before, just small shakes. I had no idea what to expect in the event of a high magnitude earthquake, but I learned about aftershocks back in school. I doubted it was over.
Viv’s phone lit up and chimed. We both stared at her pocket in shock. It never occurred to me to call anyone. But Viv scrambled for it, no doubt thinking of Hector.
“Are you okay?” She gasped into the phone. There was a murmur on his end, and she cried out in relief. He was shouting something over her cries.
“Where are you?” She choked. “Wh-what?” She cried harder.
“Give me the phone, Viv,” I said and held out my hand. I could hear Hector shouting, but Viv was too hysterical to answer him.
She handed it over and held her face in her hands.
“Baby doll, calm down,” he was shouting.
“Hector, it’s Peyton,” I said and knelt next to Viv, rubbing her back.
“Thank Christ,” he breathed. “Get her out, Peyton,” he bellowed.
“Out?” I looked around. We were already outside. But he didn’t know that.
“Get out of the city!” He growled. Explosive gunfire blared in my ear, men shouting orders drowned him out.
“We’re safe right now. The earthquake stopped,” I told him. I was confused about the gunfire. Wasn’t he in the city? Viv didn’t say anything about him deploying.
“Get out! It wasn’t an earthquake! Go and don’t take any planes!” He shouted again. His breathing was erratic like he was running.
“What?” I asked confused. What else could it have been, the whole city was shaking.
“Just go, Peyton, Please!” He shouted, and gunfire crackled out of the phone again.
“Reyes! We need you!” Someone yelled through his end.
“I have to go, Peyton, get her to the ranch, I’ll come for you. Tell my girl I love her,” he growled and then there was dead air.
“Wh-wh-what d-did he say?” Vivian cried and grabbed for the phone.
“He said it wasn’t an earthquake and to leave the city.” I stood and walked to the end of the tunnel. The sun was gone, there was something blocking it out. At first, I didn’t think anything of it, debris or dust, but looking now, it was too dark.
“What was it then?” She shuffled out behind me, her bare feet slapping against the stone. She must have lost her heels in the rush.
“Holy shit,” I breathed as I got the first look at the sky.
“What is that?” Viv clutched my hand tightly.
“We have to go,” I whispered. I could still hear gunfire. It was faint, I rubbed my ear, and I realized it wasn’t an echo from the phone.
Not far from us, a lot of guns were going off.
“What the fuck is that?” Viv shouted and pointed at the sky.
“Now, Viv, we have to go NOW!” I yanked her with me and ran to the freeway. I didn’t know how we’d get there without a car, but we needed to get to the ranch. Hector would come for us.
“Is that a fucking spaceship?” She screeched behind me.
Yes, there was a fucking spaceship blocking out the sun.
Glossary
Battler Games: The Juldo fighting games. Species throughout the universe travel to watch the games and the slaves of the Juldo forced to fight.
Dahk: A purple-grey-skinned alien species. They are an honorable warrior species and led by a King and his House. The throne is passed down through their royal genetic line. Description: Over seven feet tall, on average, purple-and-deep-grey-skinned, with armored plates and ridges strategically placed on their bodies as a defensive trait. They have large wings, claws, and fangs
as offensive traits. Their ears are large and pointy, flattened to the sides of their skulls, and they have horns that curl from their upper temples to the back of their crown. Dahk are built for dark surroundings, and sunlight is an irritant.
Dahkish: Dahk Ancestors. Often used as an exclamation of surprise or great emotion.
Dahk Hierarchy: All Dahk are ruled by one King. His House is the ruling line, passed down from each generation. A King has a personal council that will aid him and give him guidance during his rule. He will grant his chosen members of his council a “Rise,” placing them in their position. He will Rise a Commander to lead his army. A Dahk Commander will also have a personal council. He too will hand-pick its members and grant them the “Rise.” A Dahk House is their immediate family and those to whom they extend an invitation to join. A House is comprised of a “First Father” and several mates that his own “First Father” have matched him with. These mates have their own hierarchy, “First Mate,” “Second Mate,” and so on.
Galactic Council: A group of twelve seats of different species filled by invitation alone. They enforce Galactic Law throughout the members of the Order.
Galactic Order: A large group of alien species joined in an alliance.
Galactic Vernacular for telling time: Sunring- “Day,” Sunspin- “Year,” Dimtide- “Hour,” Spin- “Minute,” Click- “Second.” Actual times vary from species to species based on how their time is judged.
Guhuvin: An avian species, they are known for their skills of flight. They are a peaceful species but are fiercely protective of their home and nests. Their Guhuvin steel is highly sought after throughout the universe. They are led by a king and his flight captains.
Heraterran: Scorching planet filled with multiple species, known for its slave auctions and unlawful trading.
Hima: Dahk word and interpretation of their “ear.” Also referred to as a hima canal.
Home World: The Dahk’s home planet. Dark due to their dying sun. It is known for its various types of toyl stones. The Dahk use them to light their homes and for trade with other species who use them as a fuel source.
Hugund: The Galactic Order Outpost. Home to various species, Hugund was built among the moons and the remains of the Order’s chosen home planet. The planet died hundreds of years ago for reasons unknown.
Huktbores: Galactic curse word. Often used to express anger, surprise, or rage.
Ilyndahdus: Warmest landmass on Home World.
Ilynda: Home World’s trading city. (Outside of Ilyndahdus)
Juldo: A warmongering species. Their mechanics contain a disease that will allow them to infect other species and change them into Juldo. They are led by a Juldo Master who earns his title through a challenge. Description: Juldo are large, varying between six and eight feet—and in some cases larger, though this often means a Juldo is close to succumbing to the virus. They are a red-skinned species with large incisors. Both traits are a result of the infection. They alter their bodies for battle with nano-mite tech. The nano-mites are also essential for their survival. Without them, the virus would grow in strength, eventually killing the host.
Juldo Made: A term used by the Juldo and other species for the process and end result of infecting another species and turning them Juldo.
Juldoris: The Juldo home planet.
Kilbus: A raiding species. They are led by one lord for thousands of years.
Latari: Chyn’s origin. A moon and the name of his species before they became the Shadow Born.
Milvira: Latari word for pair or mate. In China speak “Mine.”
Pythe: The female vernacular for a true mate in the Dahk species.
Pythen: The male vernacular for a true mate in the Dahk species.
Pythen Mating Rage: An affliction the Pythen endures when he finds his Pythe. He becomes feral and enraged beyond his control.
Pythen Mating Ceremony: After a Pythen loses himself to the mating rage, he is chained for long periods of time to honor his Pythe. This is to allow him to become worn, lessening his strength and rage, so it is safer for the Pythe during their first mating.
Rite: Dahk burial ceremony.
Ruhasha: Galactic vernacular meaning “Treasure” or “Prized.”
Shadow Born: A Juldo Assassin. Their ancestry is unknown. The Shadow Born were believed to be eradicated by the Old Juldo Master hundreds of years ago, after they became too powerful and hard to control. A Shadow Born is believed to be so formidable, it would take an army to destroy him. They are not as dependent on nano-mites, but it is unknown why. The Juldo are secretive about their Shadow Born and their capabilities.
Vitat: A carnivorous alien hive species. A queen at the helm controls their minds. Description: The Vitat are over seven feet tall, on average, and white―nearly translucent―skinned. As offensive properties, they are fast and have claws, and their featureless, bulbous heads have a mouth that splits their head open from one side to the other, filled with several rows of razor-sharp teeth. They have no sight, and they pick up on sound through vibrations. They also have a sensitive palate. They track their prey through sound and a sense of smell though their mouths, using organs in their mouths that collect small organisms in the air.
Xixin: A feline species. They are currently ruled by four brothers, four kings, the first to share the throne in their royal line, until they challenge each other for the throne. The males mate several females in a pride until a challenger takes his place in the pride. Description: Their height ranges between six and seven feet. Their females are known to be larger than the males. Their color ranges from dark shades of brown to deep gold. They have a great deal of fur to protect their skin from the elements of their home planet, as well as large incisors and claws as offensive traits. They have excellent night vision and an extraordinary sense of smell.
Yula: Galactic vernacular for “Star.”Zythen: Sexless species. Protectors by nature, they bond to a being they deem defenseless.
If there’s something here you don’t see and want added, or more detailed. Hit me up at [email protected]
Thank you for reading Shadow Assassin!
