Blackstone

by C E Johnson

  “All brought in by shades,” another vampire grumbled. “I wonder why he favors the cursed shades. He’s a black magician after all. He should place vampires in all the positions of power.” The goblins and were-creatures began to grumble about why their race should be leaders amongst the half-deads.

  “Maybe he wants to be different than his father,” the lead vampire suggested in a soothing voice. Andrew understood how this one had gained his leadership position. He was in control. The leader continued, “We will never forget how much Samil loved vampires. He put a part of his own magus into his finest creation, our queen, Maaca. Besides, don’t worry about favoritism.” The vampire gestured to the entire group of half-deads present. “Maaca says all half-deads will eventually inherit both of these worlds, and once she rules two planets, we will assuredly all be at her right hand for an eternity.”

  I’ve heard enough, Andrew told Dax through their link. I don’t think we can get past the half-deads in that room.

  Only one way left to go, Dax whispered as he scrambled back into his favorite position on Andrew’s shoulder. They turned from the cavern and continued walking along the dark passage as the tunnel angled upward.

  This is good, Andrew thought hopefully. The portal is likely at the highest peak so if we’re going up, we’re probably headed in the right direction. I wonder if I should try and hide us with magic.

  Don’t use a camouflage spell unless we’re cornered, Dax advised. Using magus would probably be like setting off a flare in here. They ignored the doors and caverns branching from their main path and continued upward through a series of gateways made of metal and stone. They could seal off this passage at a moment’s notice if we’re spotted, Dax worried, effectively caging us.

  The side-rooms are changing. Andrew glanced right and left. I’m glimpsing magicians in these rooms. Auras flashed into their perception, and he put up the hood of his cloak to hide his countenance and kept walking, knowing he couldn’t hide his aura. Once they passed through a gateway which was larger than the others, they both felt a breeze. An exit to the outside?

  There’s definitely an opening to the outside straight ahead, Dax whispered while sniffing the air.

  Andrew took a deep breath, steadied himself, and walked straight forward into the outdoors, blinking momentarily as the light overpowered him. The tunnel had emitted him on a small open plateau, where just one hundred yards in front of him was the awe-inspiring Prime Portal structure. It was unmistakable in its grandeur. The titanic construction was made of rose-colored stones and it pulsated with power. It was ringed with a double row of smooth columns and it stood twenty feet tall, topped by a triangular roof of overlapping stone tiles. The columns and roof ended with a finger-like projection of the mountain that housed the dark void portal opening, appearing as if it were a black hole carved into the rock. A team of gnomes were off to their right side, likely a maintenance crew of master craftsmen, repairing a small wall that was the only barrier between the plateau and a sheer drop-off. The wall was artfully fashioned from the portal-temple, flaring powerfully out from the side of the building. A team of shades was to the left side of the temple going through martial arts training maneuvers in unison in front of a similar wall and cliff. The warriors were led by a hulking pale shade-captain in a silver uniform. Andrew frowned in concern as he noted the size of the shade. He took another deep breath, walking all the more rapidly as he looked at the leader’s bulging muscles and cat-like grace. The creature’s bald head showed a multitude of lines, faint scars from countless battles. His head swiveled and he stared in Andrew’s direction, “Who are you?” Andrew was eighty yards from his goal.

  “I just came in with another load of magestones,” Andrew yelled back, continuing forward. He was fifty yards from success. Dax went from his shoulder into the pocket sewn anterior to Andrew’s abdomen.

  The shade peered at him suspiciously, unblinking, and roared back, “Blue magician! Stay away from the portal!”

  It’s now or never, Andrew thought, just thirty yards away.

  Draw your blade, Dax roared, and use a shield spell. Andrew threw caution to the wind, casting his shield spell and drawing his sword blade in one hand while sprinting at a full heightened pace for the portal.

  The shade’s face grew hard and his cold unflinching eyes fixed on Andrew. He shouted in a command voice, “Stop him!”

  At that moment, time began to lag. Although Andrew was running at the limits of his heightened speed, everything continued in slow motion. Blue colors swirled languidly around the structure in response to his aura. The nearest shades were floating up the steps as if they were on strings, intercepting him five yards from the portal. They fell into a similar martial-arts stance as one, like a well-oiled machine. I’m sure they’ve sucked the magus from enough magicians on Acacia to become heightened in their own way, he thought in wonder at their smooth movements.

  You can defeat them, Dax encouraged him. The leader of the shades directed his warriors to fight. He stood as the last wall of defense, behind his troops, just in front of the portal void. His scarred face was contorted in fury. He roared, “Bring me a magician. I want to go through the portal before this blue idiot gets through.”

  Back and forth, high and low, Andrew’s sword began to sing its own unique song as he fought with a savage intensity. Side-slash, back-slash. He became focused on the single goal of entering the void. Step forward. Overhand strike. Shades were falling to his blows, but he only had eyes for his dark target. As he whirled, performing a roundhouse kick, slamming the heel of his boot into a shaved head, he noticed a black magician stealthily emerge from the tunnel opening behind him.

  “Take me to Earth,” the lead shade boomed to the black. “We must get there to warn Iscar. Somehow the enemy has found the Prime.” The black magician sprinted around the periphery of the chaos by the gnomes’ stone wall. He joined the lead shade, just out of Andrew’s reach. As he prepared to make the correct mark for Earth on the tablet stone, black colors replaced Andrew’s blue in the portal.

  They’re going to go through and prepare an army on the other side for me, Andrew realized. The shade put his hand on the magician’s shoulder.

  You must prevent their passage! Dax was in a panic. Andrew ripped a dagger from his belt with his non-dominant left hand. Leaping high in the air, he threw his sharp weapon at the crest of his jump, only breathing a sigh of relief as a black cloud erupted just after the steel found purchase in the magician’s back. The lead shade whirled, all scars and silver, howling in anger and frustration.

  Andrew ignored him and focused on his fighting technique with the closest shades. A hammer-fist caught him on his arm and the force of the impact nearly caused him to drop his sword. Wincing, he gritted his teeth and thrust his sword through mail, muscle, and bone, coughing as the death-smoke of his enemy filled his lungs. Although he was blocking most of the attacks, the shades were relentless. Leopard punch. Spear hand. They didn’t stop, and Andrew was thrown off-balance with their annoying psionic attacks.

  Your shields are depleting, Dax warned. Blood welled from scores of cuts, but Andrew’s blade continued to swirl like a heightened tornado, shearing through metal and leather. One more step, Dax encouraged.

  Almost there, Andrew grunted. His sweat-drenched hilt slipped time and again in his hand as he forced his way forward.

  You must enter before more troops come from below, Dax had never sounded so worried. Is it too late? Half-deads began streaming out of the stone gateway in the side of the mountain like water bursting from a hole in a dam.

  I’m close, Andrew yelled. Clouds of black and silver smoke were swirling around his body. I will not be stopped.

  Only the lead shade stood before them. His face was dark with his fury. While roaring a battle-cry, the shade acted overly aggressive, launching a flying front-kick. Dodging away with heightened dexterity, Andrew narrowly avoided the attack. He now had the time to rush forward and frantically made the sign of an �
��E’ on the portal tablet.

  “Not on my watch!” The lead shade’s body shook in anger as he realized his error. He desperately prepared to launch a spinning hook-kick. Before the kick could strike, Andrew took a last chance. He threw his sword at the shade. Metal met bone in mid-air, slowing the shade the final millisecond Andrew needed. Andrew dove side-ways through the portal. In an instant, the roar of battle was gone, and he found himself lying on a darker stone on the Earth side.

  We’re alive, Dax whispered.

  Alive, but we’re back to a world of muted senses and a weak body, Andrew groaned, his body shaking. I’m not sure which is worse.

  We both know which is worse. Andrew could hear a touch of humor in Dax’s relieved tone. They were both thrilled to be alive. Lightning flashed, and thunder crashed and boomed so close that Andrew shook his head in frank disbelief. Rain was coming down in torrents, immediately soaking him to the skin. Pushing himself up from a prone position, he peered at his new surroundings as another round of thunder pealed around him. It was cold, but his depressed senses protected him from a portion of the chill. We’re on a mountaintop on Earth. Dax said. He crawled out of Andrew’s pocket and rushed around the edge of their new plateau. And there’s another huge drop off.

  Thankfully I didn’t walk with you right over that edge in the dark, Andrew thought. Rain fell in sheets, whipping into his wounds, mixing with the blood flowing down his body.

  Focus, Dax chastised. We only have seconds until they follow. Andrew used pressure to dampen the flow of blood from the largest cuts. Don’t use magic to heal yourself or we may have scores of half-deads and magicians erupting from the mountainside, Dax warned. You’re in no shape to fight anymore. Dax studied him critically. We must hide. The magicians chasing us might not understand the time differences, and they may think we have a large lead.

  Andrew silently cursed the change in his vision and his difficulty adjusting to the loss of his heightened senses. He staggered on his feet, panting, as he followed Dax. The surface of the mountain was smooth rock with scattered small depressions. Water was everywhere, collecting in puddles and small pools, drizzling down his chest and off his soaking cloak. Dax scurried away from the portal, and away from the steel gate marking the main entrance into the mountain. Andrew wobbled forward until he could make out the vague shapes of several helicopters in the dark, just as the portal began to make noise. They’re coming, he realized. He tried the doors of the first helicopter, but they were mage-locked, and he could sense the power in the locks—there was no way he could open the doors in his current state and he would probably sound an alarm once he attempted to breech the magical bonds.

  Shades and magicians, Dax whispered as individuals began to cross the portal. Andrew ducked low, his mind was clouding over in his weak and wounded state. Try this, Dax suggested, pointing at an unusual container on its underbelly of the nearest Blackhawk helicopter. The voices from the enemy troops were getting louder as they approached. Andrew fell to his knees and opened the trunk, gasping in awe. Acacean magestones, Dax whispered.

  Andrew had never seen so many magestones in one place. Although he hated to discard any, he selected several handfuls of stones and hurled them over the cliff to make room for his body. He continued the process until enough were cleared to approximate his weight and size. Pulling himself into the container with Dax, they hid beneath a superficial layer of stones.

  “I don’t see any sign of him,” a voice called.

  “Iscar’s going to string us up for this,” another voice answered.

  “Let’s check inside the mountain,” a third voice suggested.

  Once they left, Andrew attempted to relax his mind and send out a dream-link, hoping his magic would be shielded by the stones. Hadrian, I’ve returned.

  Hadrian instantly was in the link. Where are you? Are you wounded?

  Andrew realized Hadrian could sense his weakened condition across the link. I’ll survive. I’ve found Samil’s Prime Portal. I’m going to send you my location. His mind was numb. He wanted to destroy everything. I want you to bomb this area as soon as possible. He sent across information to Hadrian, using the spell to detail his position.

  You’re in the Sierra Madre del Sur mountain range in Mexico. Hadrian sounded worried. I don’t know how I’m going to get permission to perform a bombing run in Mexico, but I will.

  Do whatever you have to do. Bring this mountain peak to the ground. Iscar is using his gateway for Acacean magestones and half-deads.

  When will you be off the mountain?

  Hopefully tomorrow. I’ll dream-link you when I’m off with a short message.

  Good luck. I hope you get out of there safely. The concern in Hadrian’s voice was growing.

  They ended the link and Andrew fell into a fitful sleep, awakening to the sound of helicopter blades whirring over his head, with nothing but darkness coming through the small cracks in his container. Sleep, Dax whispered.

  The next time Andrew awoke, the helicopter was landing smoothly, and he felt his container being disconnected and moved. Creatures were grunting as they moved his weight along with the stones.

  I hear other planes taking off in the distance, Dax considered their situation. I think we’re at an airport.

  The container was set down and Andrew waited until Dax was certain there was pure silence around them and no human smells before using a spell of opening to release the locks on the container. Stretching his back, he waited until feeling came back in his aching arms and legs. After selecting several stones to keep, he latched the container back. They were in a hangar with a sleek white private jet.

  I’m ready for some water and a fresh fish, Dax whispered.

  Andrew laughed quietly, I think a shower and an ice-cold beer would be a perfect equivalent. Knowing he would look unusual in his Acacean garb, he searched for clothing in the warehouse. I’m sure I fit every stereotype of a terrorist right now. Eventually he found a mechanics outfit. Pulling off his cloak and his clothing, he tried to wipe off as much of the blood caked on his skin as he could. He put on the new apparel, and stuffed as many of the magestones as he could into his pockets. Afterwards, he opened a large sliding door and the light flooding in blinded him momentarily.

  You’re still groggy from our recent return from Acacia, Dax worried.

  Yes, but I’ll be fine, just lying on the stones has restored a portion of my magus. They were indeed at an airport. Andrew exited the building. He stifled the urge to run, instead walking slowly into a crowd, attempting to merge with a group of passengers exiting a large commercial passenger plan. They moved together across the runway.

  Just stay in the middle of this group, Dax encouraged him.

  The crowd walked up the stairs to a terminal and Andrew entered the first bathroom he was able, camping out in a stall where he used tissue to further clean himself as much as possible. After he felt somewhat refreshed, he entered into a dream-link with Hadrian.

  Hadrian answered at once, relief undisguised in his tone. I was worried about you, he blurted.

  I’m alive, Andrew informed him. Update me.

  Watch the news in a few minutes. We’ve verified ‘hostiles’ in the caverns on the mountain-top you were in, and the Mexican government has given us permission to bomb the area. I’m going to wipe that portal off the Earth.

  Where am I? Andrew asked, using the dream-link spell to allow Hadrian to see his location.

  You’re at the Hermanos Serdan International Airport. We have agents in the area. I’ll have you picked up by someone in thirty minutes.

  Once he felt somewhat presentable, he left the bathroom and walked straight to a set of televisions showing breaking news. The newscasters were reporting that the United States was going to attack a remote outpost in the Sierra Madres, where the Mexican government had discovered a terrorist threat. Radicals were hiding dangerous weapons in a sophisticated series of caves, and were refusing to surrender. The Mexican government was allowing the Uni
ted States to combat their mutual enemies. Images displayed a formation of stealth fighter jets on approach to the mountain. Those are huge bombs, Andrew thought as he stared at two one-thousand-pound joint direct attack munitions on each plane. Camera crews sent images of the bombs being released, the sun glinting off the falling metal. The tallest peak in the Sierra Madre del Sur range received the blow and appeared to fracture in a series of massive mushroom clouds. Andrew could picture the magicians scrambling to save themselves. They’re dropping secondary bombs, he realized as the planes returned.

  I can’t watch anymore. Dax tucked back into Andrew’s pocket as explosives continued to fall and detonate. Too much destruction.

  Andrew’s shoulders sagged and weariness began to overwhelm him. Regret surged in his heart and he couldn’t shake the feeling that what he had done was inherently wrong. I’ve closed a link between two worlds forever, he thought with his heart thundering as loud as the weapons on the screen. Dax, what have I done?

  C H A P T E R 2 3

  Shadoe

  “I‘ve missed you, my brave knight.” Elaina’s voice was laced with pain and exhaustion, but she was putting forward a brave face. Shadoe dismounted and enveloped Elaina in an embrace. Slowly he separated, gesturing to one of his warriors to help him support the queen, but Crittenden was there first, helping her instead. Emily surveyed their wounded: Crittenden and her mother were the only elves to survive their panicked run. Droth, Lambo, and her Earth friends were all injured and drained, but also alive.

  Shadoe spoke softly to Elaina. “How your presence brings back memories.” He separated himself from her, putting his head in his hands and rocking quietly for a moment. Two of his honor guard went to him, but he brushed them away.

  Emily’s mother spoke quietly to Emily. “When Shadoe comes in physical contact with others, he’s often overwhelmed with new prophecies. Potential paths in life will stream unbidden into his consciousness. He hasn’t been near me for an eternity and he’s being overrun with the webs of possibilities in my future.”