Curse of Shadows and Light

by Penelope King

  I move confidently, as if in a dream… a dream that somehow I am able to control.

  “We lose our heads, you lose yours!” I scream to the leader, and pull on the rope around his neck. I imagine it being made of the finest wire, sharp enough to slice a diamond. The noose tightens. His eyes bulge, as blood starts to drip down his neck.

  “What’s she doing?” he yells to the stunned Amazèa. “Stop her!” They get up and start to brush themselves off.

  “If I die, you die!” I shout. “Take these off us right now. Now!”

  The throngs of Belith jostle uneasily, unsure what to do. Many have their weapons poised, ready to attack.

  “Stand down!” their leader shouts to them. “This isn’t part of the deal. I’m not losing my head for this crazy bitch!”

  I aim my electric fire at the ropes binding Corrine and Kieron, setting them free as well. A guard standing just below the stage looks up and starts toward us, brandishing his sword. I reach forward, and instantly the blade is in my hand. I give it to Kieron and repeat the process, this time handing the deadly weapon to Corrine.

  “Liora, what—?” She’s obviously terrified, but she takes the sword firmly by the hilt.

  The Amazèa are watching all this with fascination, but I notice the Belith leader still has made no move to release us.

  “Here, I’ll make it easy for you!” I yell out. I aim my deadly fire once again. He screams in agony as his hand falls heavily to the ground. I close my eyes and mentally summon the appendage to me, and like the two swords, it flies instantly into my hand.

  “That was for hurting my friends!” I hold the hand to my throat, touching the fingers to the choker. “Now say the spell!”

  He clutches his forearm in agony. “You crazy… you bitch! You—”

  I focus my eyes on him like a laser. “Say… The… Spell!”

  His face suddenly becomes blank, and he chants, “Solvo signum quod exsisto permissum haud vulnero fio cado absentis quod exsisto solvo.”

  With a soft click, the orange band releases and falls to the ground. I pass the hand to Kieron as I make a large fireball. “Say it again!”

  A few seconds later, Kieron’s choker releases, followed by Corrine’s. “Keep an eye out,” I hiss to Kieron.

  “It’s all clear behind us,” he says, scanning the crowd in front of us. One of the benefits of being a Latros Demon— the three-sixty degree vision.

  “What do we do now?” Corrine asks, holding her sword up like a bat. She looks around wide-eyed, her muscles straining under the weight of the heavy blade. I remove my hand from the spinning fireball and place it on her arm. I feel my energy flow into her, and she gives a little cry.

  Suddenly, she stands with a renewed strength, wielding the sword as if it were but a feather.

  “You’re free,” the Belith leader yells, still holding his wounded arm. “Now take this thing off my neck!”

  I shake my head, and focus my thoughts instead on imagining an invincible shield around the three of us. I can see it perfectly in my mind – an invisible, impenetrable force-field encasing us. I don’t know if it’s actually working, but it feels like it is. Guess I’ll soon find out.

  “We’re NOT free!” I shout back at him. “We’re surrounded by hundreds of enemy demons, and the Amazèa! If I take that off you, we’re as good as dead! You’re coming with us!”

  “Liora, what’re you doing?” Kieron asks, as I start to pull on the rope. The huge demon slowly moves closer. One quick tug and his head will be coming off, and it’s obvious none of his followers want that. Demon tribes are notoriously loyal and protective of their leaders. The Belith have no choice but to just stand and watch.

  “I’m taking a hostage,” I reply.

  “But… how are we getting out of here?”

  I think about that for a moment. “Good point. I need to find me a teleporter to drain.” Kieron stares at me, dumbfounded.

  “Drain?”

  “I’ll take their energy and use it as my own. And right now the only ones I know who have that power are those two little twats right there—”

  My glare lands on the Amazèa, who are watching us, obviously amused. Oh, how badly I want to kill them right now. “Here, hold this.” I hand Kieron the rope.

  “Wait, Liora—”

  I take a few steps toward the end of the stage. “What’re you so afraid of?” I taunt them. “Why are you just standing there? Here I am. Come and get me.”

  They turn to each other and smile. Then they each slowly raise a hand. Instantly a barrage of enormous fireballs, several times larger than mine, comes hurtling at the stage. Corrine screams and ducks, and Kieron instinctively shields his face with his arm.

  But apparently this barrier I’ve created in my mind is somehow working. About five feet before they reach us, the fireballs are deflected and ricochet back into the Belith crowd. Dozens are incinerated on the spot. Another wave of fireballs comes at us, but these also are turned back onto the crowd, zapping even more of them.

  Chaos now ensues. Instantly the pit becomes a storm of fireballs and flaming arrows and streams of electric smoke, all directed at us. I feel them hit the shield, but miraculously, they all either ricochet again on the crowd, or fall harmlessly to the ground.

  “Stand down!” the Belith leader screams again. “I said stand down!” But no one seems to be listening. He’s close to us, but obviously not under my protective shield. A huge fiery arrow is sticking out of his leg.

  “Don’t let him die!” I yell to Kieron. “He’s our only leverage!”

  Kieron’s face is grim. “How the hell am I supposed to stop that?!” He points to the arsenal being fired at us again. “And why are we not fried to pieces right now?”

  I’m trying to expand the protective shield to include the leader when I realize I can’t see the Amazèa anymore. Their tiny bodies are lost amongst the chaos and confusion. Like a bee hive that’s been disturbed, angry Belith are swarming everywhere. I know that taking my attention off them would be fatal.

  Another rain of flaming arrows comes at us, followed by more fireballs and streams of electric fire. Again the shield protects us from the assault, but doesn’t completely protect me from feeling the impact.

  Then I see them, two tiny bodies rising up above the crowd, holding hands and smiling. They float higher, closer, as my heart pounds wildly.

  Kieron spots them, too. “Holy crap!” Still holding the rope in one hand, he raises his sword with the other.

  “What? They can fly?” Corrine screeches, and raises her sword as well.

  Suddenly the Amazèa lift their hands, and a moment later the head of the Belith leader is flying off into the crowd. His body immediately turns to ash at Kieron’s feet.

  Stunned, for a moment the mob doesn’t move. Then, as one, it suddenly erupts in a torrent of blinding fury… directed at us.

  Oh crap.

  The huge throng rushes forward, and their impact on my shield actually knocks me back several feet, where I stagger to my knees. I hear Corrine scream. She drops her sword and runs over to me, but all I can see are the two Amazèa demons as they float still closer. Now the Belith have begun to turn their aggressions on the Amazèa, shooting arrows and throwing fireballs, and even knives and swords. But the Amazèa seem to be projecting their own protective shield, and nothing is able to penetrate it.

  However, unlike me, they don’t seem to be the slightest bit fazed by the barrage. They smile serenely as countless arrows sail around them, and even giggle when huge fireballs bounce back on the demons who threw them.

  But I’m not finding it so easy. My energy is starting to fade, and my body begins to shake and strain. The air is getting hotter. I can barely breathe, and it’s all I can do to keep our barrier intact. For the first time I feel my confidence begin to wane. Tears fill my eyes, and as I wipe them away, I see blood on my hands.

  Perhaps the Belith will somehow find a way to kill the two assassins. But that hope is quick
ly dashed as the Amazèa wave their little hands over the mob, and for a moment the fighting comes to an abrupt halt.

  But only for a moment.

  As if under a single, silent command, the entire crowd of Belith suddenly turns in unison and stares at us. Then, like conductors of an orchestra, the Amazèa flick their hands again. Instantly, all the weapons in the demonic Belith arsenal are aimed in our direction. I see more swords than I can count. So many fireballs it looks like a blanket of lava. And the cackling of electricity is nearly deafening.

  I reach deep inside and gather what remains of my strength. As the Amazèa get closer, I stagger to my feet. I don’t know if I can continue to fend off the Belith… probably not for long. But there’s no way I’m letting these two little monsters win. No way.

  I look over at Kieron. He’s building and shooting fireballs, one after the other. But I’m sure he knows they won’t be any more effective than throwing sand against a brick wall. Not with the insane firepower aimed at us.

  “Liora!” Corrine screams.

  Immediately Kieron moves to stand in front of her. Good. Right now all my energy needs to be focused on one thing… don’t let them get through this shield!

  An eerie silence falls over the crowd… the calm before the storm. Then a tiny voice sings out, “Destroy them!”

  I concentrate on keeping the shield intact, as the assault comes fast and furious. The pain I feel is excruciating - like thousands of lashes all over my body. I’m lifted off the floor and slammed back down, again and again, as the shield is attacked without mercy.

  I scream. I’m using the last of my strength to keep up the faltering shield, but I feel myself weakening. I dig deeper… desperately seeking the last reserves of power to keep us alive.

  I scream again, and the air fills with the sounds of my wail. I lift my arms in the darkness as I drain the last of my energy.

  I’m screaming a piercing, deafening scream. Blood trickles from my eyes and ears, as everything grows dark. I cannot do this anymore. I cannot stop this. We are going to die.

  I’m helpless, lost in the screaming darkness as the violent assault pounds me again. The screams grow louder and louder, coming at me from every direction.

  The screams…

  …the screams…

  …. They aren’t mine!

  My whole body is numb – shaking. But I’m not the one screaming.

  I open my eyes. Everything appears blurred, but I can see that the Belith have turned their attention elsewhere. Slowly, the excruciating pain lessens, and I can breathe again.

  “The Legionare is here!” I hear Kieron shouting from somewhere.

  “What the hell is that?” Corrine screeches. For the first time I notice her kneeling next to me.

  I force myself up and again try to wipe my eyes. My vision is still blurry, but I can see enough. And what I see shocks me to my core.

  Flying low over the storming crowd is a long, white, serpent-like creature. This is the source of the terrible, ear-splitting screaming. Bullets of fire shoot from its mouth with pin-point accuracy, incinerating its targets one by one.

  Suddenly, dozens of Hellhounds, each of them larger than an automobile, appear from every direction and begin to attack the Belith. They tear through the crowd, ravaging everything in sight. All descends into chaos and confusion, as I sit, stunned, and watch the terrible scene unfold. I am only vaguely aware of Corrine and Kieron beside me. The Hellhounds have now been joined by several large black men built like gladiators, and wielding enormous axes. They slash at everything the Hellhounds haven’t destroyed.

  One of the Hellhounds makes its way towards me, dragging something in its mouth. A body. It lets out a loud, ferocious growl.

  “What? It can’t be! I thought—” Kieron starts, then stops.

  Corrine screams, and Kieron puts his arms over her. “No… no, it’s okay. He’s on our side!”

  “Who is that?” I yell. “And where’d the Amazèa go?”

  Kieron pauses for a moment, then shouts, “He has the demon wizard from the Hlbafa! And he looks half dead. Don’t see the Amazèa anywhere!”

  The Hound looks at each of us in turn, then rips the head off the wizard and flings it to the side. And before I can even react, the Hound has transformed, and Vincent is standing before me.

  Chapter 31. Liora

  “Vincent!”

  “Sorry we took so long.” He sounds out of breath. “Big battle in Hlbafa territory, and needed to gather reinforcements. Brought the wizard to release your chokers, but I guess you don’t need him now.” He glances over at the headless corpse. “Good. Well, that’s his payback for destroying Dryndara.”

  He studies me for a moment, then looks at Kieron. “What the hell is going on with her?”

  Kieron shakes his head. “She woke up that way. Her eyes were all glowing red, and she’s got these crazy powers I’ve never seen from her before. She’s been keeping us alive this whole time by projecting some shield, but I think she was just about to lose it when you showed up.”

  “My eyes are glowing red?”

  Vincent quickly herds us off to the side of the stage. But no one is really paying attention to us anymore. They’re all trying to save their own skins from the sudden and unexpected onslaught.

  “What is all this? What’s happening?” I look around in amazement at the new arrivals. Now that the merciless pounding on me has stopped, some of my strength is starting to come back. I’m still working to keep the shield up, and this time I make sure it includes Vincent, too.

  “Had to round up some allies,” Vincent replies, his mouth drawn tight. “Belith have pissed off a lot of tribes lately.” He glances at the Legionare. “The enemy of my enemy is my friend…”

  I look at him again and finally notice that even in his human form, he’s completely covered with blood. And very naked.

  Sweet mercy… God, I wish I could see better right now!

  I shake my head. “But you brought the Legionare? Are you crazy?!”

  “Just a small fraction of them.” He points to the group of soldiers on enormous red-winged horses, charging through the crowd. “From Kieron’s former unit, actually. Ran into them while fighting the Hlbafa and told them what was happening here, and why I needed to take the demon wizard alive and not let them kill him. They insisted on coming to help. For Kieron, but also to put down the Belith once and for all.”

  “My unit is here?” Vincent nods.

  We turn back to the fray, but is seems apparent that the Belith are being conquered quite handily. Hounds rip through flesh like butter, while sword wielding gladiators are eliminating most of the fighters in the Belith camp. Those remaining are being picked off by the horsemen hurling balls of electric fire, and the flying white serpent spits its fire bullets at any Belith trying to flee.

  There’s only one problem.

  “Where are the Amazèa?” I ask.

  Suddenly the flying white serpent turns and heads straight for us. Corrine screams, but several feet away from us the beast suddenly stops, and hovers in the air. It twists and turns, and morphs into a beautiful, ethereal woman, with long blond hair. She gracefully floats our way, also apparently naked.

  “Holy shizz, who ordered the flying Playboy model?” Corrine mutters.

  The woman comes over and throws her arms around me. “Sweetie, are you okay?”

  I step back, stunned. “Do I know you?” She looks a little familiar, but I’m not sure.

  She laughs. “Well enough. We met the other night, but that’s fine. I just wanted to make sure you’re okay. Us girls need to stick together, you know.” She gives me a wink.

  For some reason, I have no idea why, I feel like I can trust this woman… this, whatever the hell she is…

  “Wait!” I say as she starts to leave. I turn back to Vincent and Kieron. “Take care of Corrine. I have to do something.”

  “Where’re you going?” Vincent grabs my arm.

  I look at him, then at Kie
ron. “I have to do this. You know I have to. I must find them!”

  “No!” they both shout together.

  I silence them with a look. “Yes! Protect Corrine!”

  Vincent slowly lets go, and I turn to the girl. “Can I ride on your back? Can you help me find some demons?” She nods.

  “Wrap your hands around me and hold on tight. And you can communicate with me with your mind. I’m a telepath.”

  Well, that’s convenient.

  I feel a hand on my arm, and turn to see Vincent, his eyes pleading with me. “Don’t… please… It’s suicide.”

  I shake my head. “No… it’s not. I’m not fighting to die. I’m fighting to live.”

  “Then let me go with you.”

  “You can’t.”

  “I’ll take care of her, I promise,” the beauty tells them. Neither of them looks happy, but there’s nothing they can do.

  This is my destiny.

  She morphs back into the serpent and hovers in the air beside me. I take a deep breath and swing my leg over her like a bike, then lean forward and wrap my arms around her neck.

  I give my three friends a smile as the creature rises gracefully into the air and takes off, so smoothly we hardly seem to be moving at all.

  “Where are we going?” her words sound in my head.

  I take a deep breath, and search the area below. The fighting has all but died out, and the Amazèa are nowhere in sight. Naturally. They would have fled at the first sign of trouble.

  I close my eyes and force myself to block out everything from my mind – the chaos, the drama, the fighting – it all becomes nothing but a distant hum. My mind is clear, focused. Searching.

  Where are you… where are you…

  If they’ve left, then it’s all over for me. But for some reason, my instinct tells me they’re still close by. They went through a lot of trouble to get Kieron and me, and I don’t think they’ll give up that easily.