King's Inheritance

by D L Colon

  When he finally looks he sees Blaze standing there with a huge smile on his face. “The time has come,” he says and Noryad instantly knows what he means.

  Noryad turns to Coral, who is getting ready, and says, “Selene is giving birth. We need to hurry up.”

  Coral looks at Noryad with wide eyes and starts to move faster. Once she’s ready Noryad looks at Blaze and says, “Put your hand on my shoulder and tell me where they are.”

  “They are in the guest room that was given to them to use,” Blaze says and puts his hand on Noryad’s shoulder. Noryad looks at Coral and they both nod and disappear in a flash of black and white light.

  Drake is outside his room pacing back and forth as he listens to the cries of pain coming from Selene. He sent Blaze to get Noryad and Coral and was wondering when they would get here when two flashes of light, one black and the other white, fills the room. When the light fades Noryad, Blaze and Coral are standing there.

  She looks at Noryad, gives him a quick kiss and says, “I’m going to check on them.” Then she disappears into the room.

  Zack appears beside them just as Coral disappears into the room and says, “I have got to get use to waking up as a human.”

  Everyone looks at him and starts laughing, then the cries of pain fill the room and everyone goes quiet.

  Noryad uses his power and look at everyone and says, “Want to go inside as a soul?”

  They look at him like he is crazy, except for Zack, who says, “Yes,” and looks at everyone else.

  Everyone looks back at him and says, “Yes,” also.

  Noryad looks at them and nods, “Form a circle around me” When everyone forms a circle Noryad continues, “All of you put your hands on mine.”

  Noryad raises his palms for them to touch, “Once you put your hands on mine do not remove them. Your bodies and spirits are safe.”

  Once everyone puts their hands on his, he whispers a few words to create a protective barrier around each body and then separates the souls from the bodies. Once he is finished he walks toward the door of the room where Selene is and says, “Everyone come on in,” and he disappears through the unopened door. When everyone enters the room they see how Coral looks to where Noryad is standing and they all look at him.

  Noryad shrugs his shoulders and tells them, “I am married to Coral and I linked my soul to hers so she will feel me even if I’m not in the room.”

  Blaze grins and says, “So you are the first to fall into the hands of marriage.”

  Noryad grins back and says, “Don’t worry, you will fall in due time.”

  “Nah, I’m going to enjoy being single for a long time.”

  Noryad whispers under his breath, “I wouldn’t count on that.”

  Drake hears him and starts laughing. Blaze looks from side to side trying to figure out what Noryad said and Zack puts his hand on Blaze’s shoulder and says, “You’re better off not knowing.”

  Blaze grins and shakes his head, “Oh no, not you, too.” Zack bursts out laughing and Blaze soon follows.

  Drake looks at Selene and sees how the souls of his twins look and then he glances at Noryad and says, “Thank you.”

  “It’s my pleasure. Now go stand beside her.”

  Once Drake steps beside Selene her heartbeat starts to become erratic and Noryad hears Coral say, “Noryad, we are losing her. Don’t let it happen.”

  Noryad feels how the room starts to be invaded by soulless demons looking for a soul to devour. He takes out Nightfall, walks toward Selene and creates a barrier of protection around her and the twins.

  Drake starts shaking and looks at Noryad, “You can’t let her die, man. I can’t live without her.”

  Noryad looks at him with sadness in his eyes and responds, “If she doesn’t want to die I will help her remain here, but if her soul wishes to leave I cannot stop her. I can’t force her to remain here.”

  Drake looks at Noryad, pleading with him with his eyes. Knowing the burden he is about to face, Noryad puts his hand on Selene and lets out a breath of relief. He uses his powers to keep her grounded and leaves the safety of the barrier. He removes the barrier from his body to draw the attention of the demons, but he knows he can’t keep them away for long since he must keep Selene grounded, and that takes a lot of magic. He starts to face the demons, killing most of them, but more keep coming. He keeps fighting, but he is starting to get tired. He is being attacked and his body is starting to bleed from the cuts inflicted by the demons. He has lost count of how long has it been that he has been fighting them, but he knows he cannot hold out much longer.

  Drake has been whispering words of love to Selene, even though he thinks Selene doesn’t hear him, and he hears Coral say, “Noryad, she is safe. The babies are, too, thanks to you. Te amo, Mi Rey.”

  Noryad stops fighting and uses his power to create the green fire. He starts burning the demons and that causes them to retreat. Once they are gone Noryad releases the barrier around Selene and Drake is so transfixed on the souls of his twins that he doesn’t realize when Noryad puts his hand on his shoulder until he speaks, “Time to go back to your body. Your son and daughter need you in the flesh.”

  Drake has tears in his eyes when he looks at Noryad and says, “You have no idea how much this means to me, man. You risked your life to save my twins and I will always be indebted to you.”

  Noryad smiles and takes them back to their bodies. Once they are back in their bodies Noryad feels the pain from the battle running through his body, but his magic rises up to start numbing the pain and start healing the wounds.

  Drake runs into the room where Selene is and Noryad and the rest follow. Coral moves to stand beside Noryad and grabs his hand. He kisses her on the lips and says, “Te Amo, Mi Diosa,” which causes Coral to smile.

  Noryad looks at everyone and smiles, “Let’s give them some space. We have to start training.”

  Drake moves to leave with them and Noryad stops him, “You should stay here with Selene and your twins. Congratulations on your son and daughter, have you thought of names?”

  Drake nods, “Yes, I want to name our daughter Kiara and you, Selene?”

  Selene smiles and answers, “I want to name our son, Damien.”

  Noryad smiles at the names and says, “Then get better so you can enjoy them. I’m glad you’re safe.”

  Noryad is closing the door when Selene stops him, “Noryad wait,” he turns around and Selene says, “Thank you for keeping me alive.” Noryad nods and closes the door.

  Selene looks at Drake with love in her eyes and says, “I knew you were beside me the whole time. I felt your soul for some reason and I heard your words. I love you, Drake Blackfaith, and I’m not going anywhere.”

  Drake lays his head on Selene’s chest and says, “I thought I had lost you, Selene. I love you and I hope I never feel that feeling of despair again.”

  Selene lays her hand on his dreads and says, “Me neither,” and they kiss softly while Selene has Damien in her arms and Drake has Kiara in his.

  Chapter 87

  Noryad has been able to walk well for a while, but the blood on his shirt has Coral worried. She knows there must have been a reason since he was protecting Selene and the twins, she could feel his presence in the room and feel his magic envelope her when he started using it, but she doesn’t know what he was fighting.

  While they head to the training ground where Xandar, Merlin and the rest of the warriors are training, Coral wonders what happened. Before she can ask they stop beside Xandar and Merlin, and Noryad says, “Xandar, Merlin, how are you two today? Can you tell me how the warriors are doing? Are we ready?”

  Xandar and Merlin face Noryad and they both bow respectfully. “Milord,” Xandar says, “The ones I have been training are ready for a war at any time.”

  Merlin nods and says, “So are the rest of the troops.”

  Noryad walks toward Vlad and his troops and asks him how they were doing.

  Vlad answers, “We have been
ready, your majesty.”

  Noryad addresses Xandar, Vlad and Merlin, “I need you three to go with me to the church to train. I’m bringing everyone from the Lost City there to train with us.”

  They nod and Noryad contacts everyone from the Lost City, except for Selene and Drake, they need to be left alone. The he turns to Xandar, Vlad and Merlin and says, “I’ll see everyone later in the church,” and he leaves.

  Everyone from the Lost City is there when Noryad appears and Noryad says, “Good to see that everyone is here. I’ll get straight to the point, we need to be more ready than you were for the war in the Lost City, this time it won’t be that easy. This time they come with one goal, and that is killing everyone. I will be training with you, if you’ll follow me I will show you what we are going to be working on.”

  Xandar looks at Noryad and says, “Come here, Milord, it is time to show them the fruits of your training with us.”

  Noryad nods and moves farther from the group. He gets into his fighting stance and closes his eyes. Xandar starts moving faster than the eye can follow and starts to throw a punch at Noryad from his left side. Everyone watches in awe as Noryad evades the punch by grabbing Xandar’s fist. Then, using a little of his power, he lifts Xandar from the ground and throws him at the wall. Xandar lands on his feet against the wall, but immediately rushes at Noryad again. Using a little of his power to move faster, Noryad easily keeps up with Xandar and starts to fight back. They fight for some time, punching, kicking and evading, like a dance.

  While the fight is happening, Selene with Damian in her arms and Drake with Kiara in his arms, are watching the fight and Selene is explaining to Drake, that somehow Noryad has started to use a way similar to her katas to defend and evade.

  Noryad and Xandar look to the side where Selene and Drake are located, and walk toward them. Everyone turns around and seeing them they all walk toward them too, giving them their congratulations on having the twins and living through it.

  After a while Noryad explains that each one of them will be training with one member of Behemoth except for Samantha, who will be training with him and Merlin. Vince, who has been paying attention to something someone else has been saying, snaps his head around and looks at Samantha when he hears that she won’t be joining their training. Noryad has been watching everyone notice this, but doesn’t say anything.

  When he’s finished giving assignments he asks, “Does anyone have anything to say about your training teacher?”

  Blaze grins and says, “Well, I think we should get the hang of it pretty fast.”

  Noryad notices the look in Blaze’s eyes and decides to play along with it. With a wicked grin he asks, “Wanna test that method of yours?”

  Blaze looks quite pleased with this, “Yes, but I want to do it with you.”

  “You heard him. Everyone give us some space here in the middle.” Noryad says and grins at Blaze. He taps his chest and says, “I am ready, are you?”

  Blaze makes a funny face and says in a teasing tone, “Yes, I am ready, your majesty.” Which causes Noryad to smile.

  Blaze gets ready and starts throwing punches at Noryad, who evades them all, remaining in the same spot he has been standing the whole time. As the seconds pass he slowly starts attacking, making Blaze feel like he is getting the hang of it, but then he suddenly starts increasing the speed. Putting a pain spell in his fingers he starts touching Blaze in all the spots he would have normally hit and Blaze starts to flinch in pain. When Blaze is sweating heavily and his face is constricted in pain, Noryad stops and releases the spell.

  Blaze’s face changes to relief instantly and he’s groaning, but grinning as he says, “I take it back. This is not going to be easy.”

  Noryad smiles, then starts laughing and everyone in the room follows suit. After a minute or two Noryad says, “For the next few weeks this will be our training. Now go get some rest everyone, the real training begins tomorrow.”

  Everyone nods and heads toward the castle.

  Chapter 88

  Next few weeks

  For the next few weeks everyone trains from dawn until dusk. Vince, Blaze, Nemesis and Raven have been training with Behemoth, Samantha has been training with Merlin, Coral has been training with Raven and Nemesis and Noryad has been alternating between training with Behemoth and training with Merlin.

  They have all been training especially hard today and are getting ready to leave when Noryad stops them, “Everyone, I appreciate the time you have taken to train with us. It is necessary for what approaches. I have to tell you that tonight is the last time we train. This is not a prophecy, I haven’t seen anything in the last few weeks, but my powers are sensing danger and it has gotten to the point where I feel it prickling over my skin. Tomorrow might be the day where we face the biggest threat we have ever faced, are you ready?”

  Everyone puts their fist on their chest, letting him know they are ready and Noryad says, “Thank you everyone. Now go and rest, tomorrow threatens to devastate the world.”

  Everyone leaves for their rooms and Noryad and Coral take their time while they walk toward their room. Noryad has a distant look in his eyes as he looks down at the city and then over to the battlefield. Coral puts a hand on his shoulder and he jumps a little as he snaps out of his thoughts.

  Coral sees this and asks, “Is everything okay, my love?”

  “I can’t believe that after 21 years I have reclaimed my family’s heritage, but it has come with a price. I had to relive the memories that I tried to forget and now the demon responsible is coming to kill me.” Noryad’s eyes start to turn red and with anger lacing everyone word he says, “I want vengeance, Coral. I want to make him pay for what he has done. I want to make sure he suffers enough to make him remember the pain I went through after he killed my family.”

  Suddenly Noryad and Coral hear a voice behind him, “Your sword won’t be able to kill him, my son”

  Noryad turns to face the person behind him and sees that the one standing behind them is God.

  Noryad looks at God and asks, “What do you mean my sword won’t be able to kill him?”

  God starts walking and motions for them to follow him, “Noryad, you have Excalibur and the Armor of Kings, but have you been able to kill a Destroyer commander?”

  “Milord, I haven’t fought one.”

  “A destroyer commander is unlike other destroyers. He can’t be killed unless he is stripped down from his Rank, and only I or Lucifer can grant the ability to do that.” Noryad and Coral nod in understanding and God continues, “I can grant you that, but it’s a one chance deal. You have to put your hand on his face to be able to do it.”

  After Noryad nods his understanding God touches Noryad’s shoulder and says, “It is done.”

  Noryad looks at him and asks, “What words should I say?”

  “You will create the words and I will pass down the judgment,” God answers then disappears in a flash of gold light. Once he is gone, Noryad and Coral proceed to their room and sleep easily finds them.

  Chapter 89

  Noryad wakes up and Coral is opening her eyes. Noryad sits on the side of the bed with his back to Coral and starts talking, “Coral, Mi Diosa, first of all I want to say that I love you. I want you to know that I am younger than you and I will make mistakes that you have already learned your lesson by making. I don’t have the leading experience you have, but I value experience and knowledge. I will not lose my cool if we ever have an argument. I will remain cool and will most likely use my knowledge and experiences against you, that’s how I had to survive to this point and in the court that’s something that you must use. I know that we haven’t really had time to be together as man and wife, there has been a lot of things happen since we got married. I will hurt you with my words and that’s something I don’t like doing, but it’s what I was taught to do. No matter what happens I will never stop loving you, in this life and the next, my heart, body and soul belongs to you, Coral. I will treat you like no one el
se has and we know that I have my flaws, but no one will ever love you the way I do.”

  Coral put her hands on his back, leans against it and she says, “Noryad King, I know that you are not perfect and I know that we will have arguments and fights, every couple does, but that will never change the way I feel about you. This is the time where we are being tested and we will make it through.”

  Noryad turns to face Coral and give hers a kiss on her forehead before he says, “Te amo,”

  “I love you, too,” she says and then there’s a knock on the door.

  Noryad gets up, puts on a shirt and opens the door to see Trez waiting outside, “My son, Raphael’s army approaches.”

  Noryad nods and closes the door then says to Coral, “My love, the time has come.”

  Coral nods and goes to get her battle armor from her castle. Noryad gathers his power and summons the Armor of Kings, grabs Excalibur and Nightfall, changes Excalibur to a staff-sword, and slips Nightfall into its sheath on his scabbard on his waist. When he is finished Coral reappears with her battle armor on and after a quick kiss they exit the room and see that Trez is still waiting for them.

  Noryad puts his hand on his shoulder and says, “Father, it’s weird that you have remained in your body this long. Has the Goddess of Life told you how long you will remain here?”

  “No my son, but I will be there beside you on the battlefield,” Trez answers and the three of them start walking. Noryad gathers a ball of red flames and throws it to the sky, sending the message to everyone to get ready. As they walk the rest of the leaders start to slowly join them with the warriors falling in behind them forming the battalions. Noryad snaps his fingers and the dead warriors that remain start waking up and walking with them.

  Noryad enhances his eyesight and sees Raphael leading his destroyers. When he sees them stop he signals for his troops to stop as well and he turns to face them, “This is it, everyone. This is the war I have been waiting for, and some of the souls among us have been too, to make them pay for killing every member of the King Family. I will make them pay, and so will you. I will fight until there’s none of them alive. Leave no one alive and remember what will happen if we lose. I saw it 21 years ago and I will not let their memories go to waste.”