by D L Colon
“After his death we drifted far into the Caribbean and gained control of what is now our Kingdom. We soon realized that if we sired a child he inherited our linage, so we took only the one that was destined to be our mate, but could not pass our immortality on to them so we watched them age and die while we remained the same. The only way we can be killed is by being decapitated by a Necromancer. King Darius, before he performed the ritual, created the Legend of Behemoth and left a message to his successor on the sword so he would know to look for us. We never failed to protect a King until we couldn’t save you and your family. We are here now to serve you, Noryad King, the strongest mage and necromancer to ever walk the land.”
Noryad is drawn in by what Xandar just told him and he knows Xandar speaks the truth because he can see King Darius doing this by using his power as a seer. Noryad grins and looks at Xandar, “You have your King, but I must warn you that I don’t play by the rules. I am a maverick and make my own rules. Did you bring the covenant with you?”
“Yes, Milord, we did.” Xandar answers and hands it to Noryad. Noryad opens the covenant and reads it. When he is finished reading it he is shocked by what he has discovered.
Chapter 28
Shock over what he read still coursing through him, Noryad tries to process it all. The covenant is powered by an ancient magic and it requires blood magic to be entered into. He would have to mix his blood with blood from the seven Behemoth and they would all have to drink a portion of it. It says that Behemoth blood is not a magic stopper, so he isn’t concerned about that, but he is concerned about the side effects because no other king has done this. The others have only shared blood with the alpha.
He looks at Xandar for a moment, trying to figure out why it is different with him. “From what I read here the covenant has been changed during the years and you are asking me to mix my blood with the seven of you. We all have to drink it because of my blood being there. Am I correct so far?”
“You are correct, my liege.”
“And we don’t know if there will be any changes to occur in me if I take the blood from the seven of you, right?”
“We don’t know Noryad King, but the blood isn’t supposed to affect the King and creator of the covenant. We haven’t seen any changes in any King who has mixed blood in the past.”
Noryad looks at Xandar skeptically and asks, “Xandar, how many Kings have drunk the blood of the seven of you?”
Xandar is shocked that Noryad picked up on something that was hidden between the lines. “None, my liege,” he answers.
Noryad smiles devilishly and asks, “So you want me to drink the blood of the seven of you to become your Alpha and so I can transfer not only the blood of Behemoth to my family, but also my powers as the strongest Necromancer, seer and telepath alive?”
The color drains from Xandar’s face and one of the men with him steps forward, waves of anger radiating off of him, “How dare you to say something like that. We brought ourselves here to serve you and here you are mocking us like you are a God. You are nothing than a puny human.” When he moves fast to attack Noryad, Noryad smiles wickedly and snap his fingers, using his powers to stop time. With everything frozen Noryad grabs Nightfall and returns to his place in front of the throne before snapping his fingers again and restarting time. He slows everything down though so everyone see what’s happening. Noryad is moving faster than the Behemoth who went to attack him and, upon seeing that Noryad has Nightfall his hand, and knowing that it is too late to stop, the man puts his hands in front of his face, trying to stop the sword that is heading toward his neck. Noryad, screaming in anger and using all of his strength, decapitates the man in one clean cut. He watches for a moment as the man’s head rolls away from his body before he returns the time speed back. Everyone stares at him in shock as he stands over the man’s body while Nightfall is at his side, blood dripping from the blade.
Xandar is shocked by what just happened in front of their eyes and by the fact that they couldn’t do anything to stop it. He is looking at Noryad, whose eyes are radiating fury, and sees Noryad open his pouch and get out holy water and a short knife. He watches as Noryad cuts his palm and drips the blood into the small bottle of holy water.
Noryad starts talking too rapidly for any of them to understand and the holy water within the bottle turns green. He then slowly pours the water over the body of the man and once the water is covering the body Noryad looks at Xandar and asks, “What was his name?”
“Thomas Dust.”
Noryad turns back to face Thomas’ body and makes two balls of blue wizard fire. He drops them on the body and as the flames consume it he says, “Thomas Dust, I, Noryad King, King of Death, release you of your duty as a member of Behemoth. Your soul shall not know rest. You will watch as those you love die and you will not be able to do anything to stop it. May the mercy of the God of Gods find you on your walk because from me you shall know none.”
Everyone is surprised by the turn of events. Noryad not only killed a member of Behemoth, but he cursed him as well. Noryad’s expression is calmer as he walks back to the throne and turns around to face everyone in the room. “Are there any more of you who wants to kill me?”
“My liege, this wasn’t supposed to happen. I don’t know what was going through Thomas’ mind. He was one of the first Behemoth.”
Noryad looks at Coral for the first time, but her eyes are looking at Thomas’ body while it is being consumed by the blue-green flame. He puts his hand on top of hers and she snaps her eyes to him and gives him a small smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes.
Noryad is suddenly assaulted by a vision of something that would have happened if he hadn’t killed Thomas. With a faraway look in his eyes, Noryad starts to speak in a voice that is not his own; Dust will attack the King of Death. Not in hopes of saving his race, but to destroy the race he despises so much. If he succeeds the Prophecy of Destruction will be fulfilled. Noryad returns to himself and sees everyone staring at him.
“Well that explains it then.” Coral says with a smile and everyone starts laughing.
Chapter 29
God is seated on his throne watching how the conflict is developing, when there’s a flicker in the air and Lucifer appears. “What are you doing here?”
Lucifer chuckles evilly, “I came to talk about this conflict that was initiated without us knowing about it.”
“I do not know how this started without my knowledge, but I could not let my son be destroyed.”
“They went behind our backs because you would never unleash any fury against the world you created long ago, but you know I have actually been rooting for my son Raphael to defeat the knight in shining armor you hold in such high esteem. What is his name again?”
God smiles and answers, “His name is Noryad King. I granted you the power to take everything from him, yet despite him being all alone, he has become a magnificent man and now has come back to lay his demons to rest.”
“I will be watching his progress,” Lucifer says and disappears in wisp of smoke.
God smiles and continues to watch the conflict, knowing he can’t interfere even if he is wanting to save everyone instead of letting them continue with this.
******
Noryad is facing everyone in the Throne Room as he gives Coral the covenant to hold and looks at Xandar. “Did you bring the things needed for the covenant?”
“Gray,” Xandar says and the man with black spikey hair, emerald green eyes and chocolate colored skin approaches with a golden goblet. “Now you, Bruce, Dorian, Michael and Erick, drip your blood on the goblet.” He orders his men and one by one they walk forward and slice into their wrist, dripping a small amount of blood into the goblet. When they are finished they step back and Xandar does the same. He passes the goblet to Noryad and Noryad follows suit.
When he is finished he holds the goblet out and Gray, Bruce, Dorian, Michael, Erick and Xandar all take a small drink. Once they drink it Coral, who is watching the exch
ange, sees each one of the names appearing on the covenant, as if being written by an invisible hand. Noryad is the last one who has to drink, but before he take the goblet from Xandar he decides to take off his chainmail and shirt, exposing his rich mocha skin.
Coral, who is watching Noryad intently, has a shot of desire run through her body at the sight of his exposed skin and asks, “Why are you exposing half of your body?”
Noryad, with a wicked gleam in his eyes, answers, “Because it was getting in the way.” He kisses her forehead then takes the goblet and drinks the remaining blood in it. Coral watches as his name is being put on the covenant, but notices something different.
As Noryad wipes his mouth and says “that was easy,” Coral sees that a bird is being put beside Noryad’s name and the moment those word leave his mouth an intense pain shoots through his body, bringing him to his knees.
Noryad is on the floor sweating as his face is constricted in pain when a voice enters his head; Destroy, Transform, it repeats over and over again. Everyone is watching him as he collapses to the floor, but no one knows what happened. He clutches his chest as an intense burning sensation makes him lose his breath. Everyone is watching him, worried at what’s happening, when they hear his bones start snapping and see his eyes are glowing like Xandar’s men. There’s a change going through him, but they don’t know what it is. Whatever is happening is bringing him too much pain, Xandar thinks to himself as he sees am image of a birth being carved into Noryad’s body and moving its way to his back, leaving a big bird with a fire-ish color on his back.
Noryad’s body instantly relaxes as the pain disappears and he gets up. His eyes are glowing, but not because of his powers.
Xandar, curious about what other characteristics Noryad has acquired from them, says in a low tone, “Can you hear me?”
Noryad responds, “Yes, I can you Xandar.”
Coral looks around the room. “I didn’t hear Xandar say anything. Did you hear anything Noryad?”
Noryad turns to face Coral with a shocked expression on his face, but before he can say anything Xandar says, “Yes, Noryad King, you have changed.”
Noryad regains his composure and looks at everyone in the room before catching his reflection in the glass of the balcony doors behind him. “What in the hell is this bird on my back?” he asks the room.
“I don’t know what it is,” Coral answers and turns to Xandar, who just shakes his head.
“The bird is a Phoenix, the strongest bird ever known.” They hear someone say from the door.
Chapter 30
Everyone turns to look at the door and sees Merlin standing there. Noryad looks at his mentor and says, “Merlin, I would like to introduce you to Xandar, the leader of Behemoth.”
Merlin walks toward the throne and Xandar and his men drop to their knees in reverence of him. He smiles and motions for them to rise, “There is no need for that. Let’s take care of the matter at hand. On your back Noryad King, you have the Phoenix. A bird long forgotten and erased from the book of magic because no one ever encountered it and anyone who searched for it discovered it was a waste of time.”
Xandar interrupts him, “With all due respect Merlin, the Phoenix is a myth. There are no images of him in the books.”
“Precisely, my friend,” Merlin responds, letting Xandar’s interruption slide. “I was the last person to encounter one and that was two millennium ago.”
A shocked gasp fills the room as the knowledge of Merlin’s age penetrates their brains. “You are really that old?” Noryad asks in shock, “I guess that explains how King Arthur and King Tyrone are connected. King Tyrone is King Arthur in our time and he made sure you would be by his side. That’s why I’m looking for the Sword of Kings.”
Merlin is a little surprised that Noryad put it all together so quickly. “Yes, Noryad, you are correct. I knew where King Arthur would reincarnate and he wanted me to make sure I was here with the sword and the Pendragon ring, with his memories encased within them, so he would know who he was in his past life and not make the same mistakes he did then. That is something we can discuss later though. At the moment you need to know about the Phoenix. I didn’t go looking for him, he came to me, and he came to tell me that we would meet again, but he said something that I did not understand at the time, but now I do: On the back of The King I shall rise. When the change is complete and he returns to fix what is right, I will forever live within him. Until that time is at hand erase me from existence. Leave no trace of my intentions. Leave me as a myth that will not be found.
Noryad is shocked by what he just heard, but he knows what Merlin has said is true. The Phoenix is on his back and he has gone through the change. He is also a Behemoth now, but his magic won’t let him use that new power. He has the glowing eyes and super hearing, but nothing else. He knows this because he can feel it.
A question forms in his mind and he asks Merlin, “Merlin, from what you said the Phoenix chose me because I have Behemoth blood in me, but what is the reason for him to stay with me? He is the strongest bird and there’s no need for him to remain inside of me until I die, right?”
Before Merlin can answer Coral, who is curious about the Phoenix, reaches out and touches Noryad’s back. Once her fingers make contact with the Phoenix she feels an intense fire run through her body; it’s not an intrusive fire, but a warm one. When she sees that the Phoenix has moved. She withdraws her hand quickly and says in shock, “It moved!”
At Coral’s gentle touch desire shoots through Noryad’s body, but the moment she takes her hand away a coldness settles inside of him. When she says, “It moved” he looks back at her like she has made a mean joke and he asks, “What moved? I didn’t feel anything move.”
“I saw it, and felt it, move. I don’t know why you didn’t feel it.”
Noryad reaches back slowly and tries to touch the Phoenix. When his fingers brush the edge of the wing he feels the Phoenix move at his hand. Then suddenly he feels it move like it’s coming out of his back. When a projection of it appears in the air a booming voice fills the room. Hear me, Noryad King. I chose you because you are worthy of bearing me on your back and you will summon me when the time is right. I will be the guardian of your lineage and I will be passed down through the generations to come. When you have a son I will be there, on his back, watching over him. No one else will have me, only your lineage, and once you summon me I will die and rise from the ashes, like the myth says. There is nothing impossible for me. When the Phoenix returns back to Noryad’s back a deafening silence fills the room and Noryad feels the Phoenix as it moves through his body.
Merlin smiles at Noryad and says, “Well, Noryad, that’s all you need to know about it. You are now the bearer of the Phoenix. I hope that everything you know now is enough for you to see your place in all of this. You will be the one to take everyone to war. Now I have to ask you, Noryad King, what are you going to do with Blake?”
Noryad looks at Merlin for a second before answering. “I intend to find out how close he is to Albert Rose.” He looks down at Blake and asks, “Are you ready for what is going to happen next?”
Chapter 31
Blake has been unconscious all this time and no one knows why. He didn’t stir at all when Noryad asked him the question, Noryad, not caring what happens to Blake as long as he stays alive, walks to where he is propped against the wall and makes sure he isn’t dead. Once he knows he isn’t he looks at everyone behind him and puts a finger on Blake’s shoulder, making Blake feel like his body is being struck by lightning. Blake screams in pain as he wakes up, his face registering shock, pain, and anger but the strongest emotion is fear once he realizes where he is, what happened and what is about to happen.
Noryad uses his telepathic powers and gets a chair close to Blake. He’s going to talk to Blake when Blake spits on his chest as he says, “You think you will get what you want with this? Albert will come for you asshole. Then I will make sure you suffer as he tortures you and kills Coral.
”
Noryad use his powers to lift Blake with one hand and sets him in the chair. His eyes are glowing with anger and everyone in the room can feel the killing intent pouring out of his body. He creates a rope with his power and fiercely ties Blake to the chair, making him scream in pain. Even through the pain Blake is defying Noryad with his eyes so Noryad walks toward him and asks, “Are you sure you won’t tell me what you know?”
