Kiara screamed and dove backward just before the insect creature smashed into the wall where she’d been standing, separating her from Rio and the exit.
“Help!” Kiara panicked. Heart pounding and thinking fast, she dashed over to the skull and climbed inside between its sharp teeth and fangs, watching from within as the two monsters clawed and roared ferociously at each other, only meters from where she hid.
Rio hid behind the exit, thinking frantically for a way to save her.
Suriel, Kiara thought desperately. Where the angels are you!?
◆◆◆
“Where are we?” Pete wondered as he followed Suriel down a never-ending, black-stoned staircase lit along its sides by glowing, blue lanterns. Beyond the sides of the railing lay pure darkness in all directions, as far as the eye could see, as if walking through space itself.
“Better question is, where are Suriel and Kiara,” Suriel wondered. “How is this thing even standing?”
“Some kind’a gravitational manipulation,” Pete guessed. “Beats me.”
They continued down the stairs, guided by the blue lights. Finally, after a few minutes, They reached a grand, golden door. The door was situated at the bottom of the last step and stood on its own, not attached to a wall or structure of any sort.
“What in Gavriel’s name…” Pete muttered, walking up to the door. He turned the handle slowly and opened it, finding nothing but empty space beyond.
“I am definitely not going first,” Pete said.
“So, you’d rather be trapped on this staircase forever?”
“Beats fallin’ through space forever.”
“Fine, suit yourself,” Suriel said, and he lifted his first leg through the opening. Holding on to the door for support, he felt for flooring, but found none.
“Maybe we should think this over more first,” Suriel hesitated, stepping back out.
“It’s now or never, your highness,” Pete said. “You know what? Give me your hand, and I’ll go first.”
Pete held out his hand and switched positions with Suriel. Suriel wrapped both hands tightly around one of Pete’s wrists as Pete sat down in the doorway and lowered himself down slowly, feet first. Piece by piece, his body was engulfed in darkness.
“I feel somethin’!” Pete’s voice called out excitedly from below. “Let me down.”
Suriel let go, and Pete disappeared completely. Then he followed Pete’s lead, dropping himself carefully down from the doorway.
They found themselves in a small, circular room with a domed, glass ceiling. Long, oval-shaped glass windows lined the periphery of the white, stone walls, peering out into empty space. A wide, round hole lay in the middle of the polished, tiled floor over which hovered a crystal platform hosting a golden scepter, fastened vertically in place. Four golden fingers extended inwards from the top of the scepter, as if meant to hold an object in place. Rings of mysterious, blue energy orbited around the platform like planets, spinning in rhythmic patterns. Lines of the energy connected between the rings and focused upwards to a point on the ceiling where it seemed to stream down from.
“I’m not even sure we’re on the same planet anymore,” Pete marveled. He approached the platform with caution, scanning the energy with his encoder.
“To begin operation, place the Keystone upon the scepter.”
Pete staggered back, startled by the monotonous, male voice which seemed to emanate from everywhere.
“The Keystone,” Suriel repeated, recalling something from his history lessons. “That is what the God King used as his template to create the universe. This must have been his workplace. The Chamber of Genesis, where the entire universe began…”
“You’re telling me,” Pete muttered, watching the flowing energy in awe, “That this is the energy which created the world? This is the Electus Prime? We must be the first Enlai to ever see it!”
He turned to look at Suriel.
“Your Majesty,” he said, his voice suddenly concerned. “Your necklace.”
Suriel looked down at his amulet, which had begun glowing fiercely. Before he could react, a line from the energy stream shot towards him and connected between the amulet and the blue rings, including it in the closed circuit.
“It’s okay,” Suriel said, his heart pounding. “I’m okay.”
“What do you feel?” Pete asked curiously.
“I feel…” Suriel said slowly, closing his eyes.
“Powerful.”
Suriel walked closer to the platform.
“What are you doing!?” Pete asked in alarm.
“Trust me,” Suriel replied, and he stepped up beside the scepter, wrapping his hands around it.
“I can get us out of here,” Suriel said.
“How?”
“I’m not sure, but I know I can do it. I feel it.”
“Feel what?”
“The Nexus. That which connects between all places and things. There were small pockets of it all over this palace.”
“The red doorways?” Pete asked.
Suriel nodded. “The energy stream is weak. It’s not at its full capacity. But it’s enough to get us out of this palace.”
Suriel twisted the scepter, and the rings of energy shifted rapidly, dashing across the room like shooting stars towards one of the windows, focusing all the energy at one point. As the energy struck it, the window’s glass suddenly changed into a mirror, reflecting everything other than the energy stream.
“Behold,” Suriel said slowly. “The legendary Nexus Mirror.”
“B-but I thought Agius destroyed it after the war,” Pete stuttered in shock.
“It looks like someone rebuilt it,” Suriel replied, “or is trying to, at least. Its energy is being replenished as we speak. I can feel the stream getting stronger, but I’m not sure how.”
“The mines,” Pete realized. “The rocks we were minin’ had this eerie, blue glow to them. They must be extractin’ the energy from ‘em.”
“Perhaps some of the energy from the explosion on the planet’s dark side was absorbed by the rocks beneath the ground.”
“As interestin’ as this all is,” Pete said, shifting back into focus, “it doesn’t help us get back home.” He walked over to the mirror and scanned it with his encoder.
“Eh, this ain’t worth nothin’ here,” he said, smacking the device.
“There is no need for that,” Suriel said. “I can guide us.”
“No,” Pete said quickly. “I ain’t leavin’ without Rio.”
“I can bring the others as well,” Suriel said. “But only if they enter one of the red doorways. I can see them. They are in danger, but there is a doorway nearby.”
“Well, we can’t just sit here and wait!” Pete protested.
“If I leave this place, I will no longer be able to direct us through the Nexus,” Suriel replied. “But I can send you over to guide them, then as soon as you are all inside, I can guide us.”
“Fine,” Pete agreed. “Let’s do it. Tell me when you’re ready.”
“Ready,” Suriel said. “You may proceed.”
Pete took a deep breath, then stepped into the mirror.
◆◆◆
The giant insect screeched, struggling to break free as the sea monster dragged it slowly towards the water, the monster’s tentacles wrapped tightly around six of the insect’s legs. Slashing with desperation, the giant insect severed two of its captor’s tentacles with its deadly pincers. Screaming in pain, the monster whipped its other tentacles outwards, tearing off the insect’s limbs along with them, then retreated back into the water. It smashed its remaining tentacles against the water, sending a wave hurling at the giant insect as it retreated from the pool on its remaining six legs.
Kiara scrambled to the back of the enormous skull as the insect approached her position. It glanced at her hungrily and waved a threatening pincer, as if to remind her it hadn’t forgotten about her, then turned its attention back to its bigger threat.
K
iara ran back to the mouth of the skull and looked out at Rio, who watched by the tunnel entrance, waiting for an opportunity to save her.
The sea monsters pounced out from the pool, and the savage battle ensued once again.
As Rio watched the terrible beasts tear each other apart, a tap on the back sent him spinning around in fear.
“Relax,” Pete calmed him, dodging an instinctive punch to the face. “It’s me.”
Rio exhaled. “The girl, she’s in trouble.”
“I brought you somethin’ that might help,” Pete said, holding out an iron pickaxe.
“My boy,” Rio smiled, patting him on the shoulder before lifting the object.
Rio used his powers to elevate the ax into the air, and it floated towards the beasts. He glanced at Kiara and motioned to her to make a run for it.
Watching the creatures carefully to make sure they didn’t notice, Kiara hopped out from the skull and dashed towards the cave opening, running for her life. A scream erupted from behind her as the sea monster ditched his opponent and raced after her on four legs, seeking easier prey.
The pickaxe swung violently under Rio’s control, hacking into the monster’s chest. The monster cried out as Rio withdrew the ax and swung again, piercing a second hole in the creature. Before Rio could repeat it again, the monster wrapped its thick, green tentacles around the object, fighting Rio for control. Finally, the ax stopped moving, and it growled victoriously. However, its content was short-lived. The monster’s eyes widened in surprise as a sharp, speared tail burst from its back to the other side, impaling it. The spear withdrew, and the monster crumpled to the floor, revealing the giant insect behind it.
“Let’s get out of here!” Kiara yelled as she reached the exit.
The insect screeched as it charged in their direction. Before running, Rio slashed at it with the pickaxe, but the weapon simply bounced off the creature’s hard shell.
They ran as fast as they could down the dark tunnel, but the insect was too quick, crunching over piles of bones as it gained on them by the second.
“It’s no use,” Kiara cried. “It’s gonna catch us!”
Rio looked back at the approaching beast, then glanced at Pete.
“The thing has no eyes,” Pete said quickly. “I reckon it navigates with sound, if ya’ catch what I’m sayin’.”
Rio lifted an eyebrow, then nodded. He suddenly stopped mid-run, turning to face the creature.
“Rio, what are you doing!?” Kiara yelled.
“Die, ya’ damned bug!” Rio yelled. He held out his arm, and the pickaxe flew from the distance into his open hand.
Just before the insect could reach him, Rio opened his mouth and emitted a deep, pulsing sound, unlike any Kiara had ever heard. The creature stopped in its track, seemingly confused. It tried to screech again, but its sound was somehow muted by that of Rio. Taking advantage of the moment, Rio whipped the pickaxe at one of the creature’s legs, hacking a hole through it.
Kiara rushed to Rio’s aid, hurling fireballs at the insect’s other legs. The insect stumbled clumsily forward, crippled and disoriented, as they continued their attack. Finally, as Kiara and Rio destroyed another two legs, the beast crashed down onto the floor, unable to hold its own weight.
Kiara wiped a drop of sweat from her forehead as they held off their attack and stared at their fallen hunter, panting.
“Well, what’re you two waitin’ for?” Pete asked from behind them. “The next one to find us? Let’s get out’a here!”
Kiara and Rio glanced at one another, then took off down the tunnel.
“How did you do that?” Kiara asked as they jogged over piles of various rocks and bones.
“I didn’t do nothin’,” Rio answered, avoiding the question.
“You controlled soundwaves like a Surger,” Kiara pushed. “But you also moved that ax like a Charger. How could that-”
Kiara paused as realization dawned upon her.
He’s an Ancient!
“Suriel’s gonna transfer us out’a here, but we need’a get to a red doorway first,” Pete said quickly, trying to get Kiara’s mind off the subject.
“How?” Rio asked.
“No time to explain, not that I fully understand it myself.”
They exited the tunnel into an extensive cave opening. The cave was lined with entrances to numerous other tunnels, and steam rose from various-sized holes in the ground.
“Careful here,” Pete warned them. “The floor is fragile.”
As they followed Pete carefully across the cave, Kiara peered down through one of the holes. What she saw both terrified and shocked her. Hundreds of feet below them was an ocean flowing with molten lava. Man-made, wooden platforms hung from chains above the lava, supporting dozens of pickaxe wielding, Decrepit-cursed slaves as they heaved chunks of glowing rocks back and forth. Other undead kept the bridges from overheating, constantly soaking them with buckets of water.
“Did you guys see that?” Kiara asked in bewilderment as they entered another tunnel.
“Did we see it?” Pete asked rhetorically. “We worked there.”
The next tunnel dipped sharply downwards, leading them deeper and deeper. Kiara’s clothes were drenched in sweat as the heat grew more and more unbearable. She watched the slaves work through holes in the tunnel walls. Dozens of Decrepit hovered over them like taskmasters, making sure they did their work.
“What are they mining?” Kiara asked.
“I’ll give ya’ the short version,” Pete called back as he jogged. “This place we’re in, the universe was designed here. All these bones and fossils, my guess is they were the God King’s experiments gone wrong. Someone’s tryin’a rebuild some sort’a portal in the God King’s old work office that could teleport you anywhere, and the fuel is in these rocks, so they had us minin’ ‘em.”
Kiara paused, trying to make sense of what he said.
“What?” she said finally.
“Ah, whatever,” Pete sighed. “Your boyfriend will explain when we get out’a here.”
They reached the end of the tunnel, where another red doorway was hiding.
“I never thought I’d be excited to see one of those,” Kiara exhaled with relief.
“Let’s go home, boys,” Pete said, sliding open the glass. “Err, and girl,” he added, winking at Kiara.
Kiara chuckled and followed Rio into the red mist.
She prepared herself for the unpleasant experience. However, this time, it was different. Kiara felt something pushing her, guiding her exactly where she needed to go, and in a few moments, it was over. She staggered out into the open air, feeling the slippery prickles of grass below her feet. Pete and Rio emerged in the field a few feet away. She looked up, seeing the orange sky above, and began to laugh hysterically, her heart belated, never having felt so free.
“We’re out!” Pete exclaimed excitedly. “The Prince really did it!”
Kiara spun in a circle, gazing out into the distance. There were fields of grass as far as the eye could see, with no sign of the palace. She yelled with excitement, jumping up and down. The air in front of her began to shimmer, and a fourth figure stepped out from the Nexus.
“Suriel!”
Kiara charged at him and pounced, wrapping her arms around him.
“Suriel, you did it!”
“We did it,” Suriel corrected her, laughing happily as he returned the embrace.
While they celebrated, Rio walked over to Pete, whispering covertly into his ear.
“Did you alert the others?”
“I sent out a signal from the encoder,” Pete replied. “They should be on their way.”
“Good,” Rio muttered, meeting Kiara’s elated smile with a torn expression.
“You know, Rio,” Pete sighed, “Part of this just don’t feel right. They’re good people.”
Rio placed his hand on Pete’s shoulder.
“Sometimes we gotta make hard choices for the greater good,” he said sadly. “Unfort
unately, the Prince must suffer for the sins of his father.”
“Get over here, you two!” Kiara beckoned towards them with a beaming smile.
“Eh, thanks, but I don’t do hugs,” Rio answered uncomfortably.
“Too bad,” Kiara answered, running over to him. She threw her arms around him and Pete, closing her eyes happily.
“I may have only known you two for a couple of days,” she said sincerely. “But, that’s enough for me to consider you among my closest friends.”
Rio and Pete glanced at each other from opposite sides of her, their eyes torn between affection and guilt.
Chapter Thirteen
Prehistoric Rampage
5 days before planet’s destruction
“Tighten your left strap, or you’re going to fall!” Kain shouted to Raiden from his right. They raced across the grassy fields on the backs of speedy, bounding raptors. Skarai, having finished regenerating, soared above them, matching their speed easily with his bionic-enhanced wings.
Raiden resisted the urge to puke as his body shook up and down with each of the raptor’s rapid steps. Holding desperately to horns protruding from the creature’s neck, he hesitantly freed one of his hands to tighten the harness around his waist, stabilizing himself somewhat.
“What’s wrong?” Sable asked teasingly, galloping on his other side as a centaur. “Never ridden a dinosaur before?”
“No,” Raiden answered. “Well, actually, yes, if you count a half-dinosaur half-tree.”
“What?”
“Long story.”
“Are they going to be like this the entire journey?” Kain called over, referring to Mara and Ferrus. The two women rode ahead of the pack, keeping a safe distance from Kain and the other knights.
“You may tell them that I don’t bite.”
“If you’re as trustworthy as you claim, they’ll warm up eventually,” Raiden replied. “Just give them space for now.”
“And why are you so quick to trust me?” Kain asked.
“I don’t trust you, no offense,” Raiden replied. “But this deal was the only way my fellow villagers would get to safety.”
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