Ares Sword

by L L Vickery

  The path was littered with palm leaves and coconuts from a recent storm. It must have been a hurricane by the looks of bent and broken trees.

  Luc didn’t care much for the jungle. It reminded him of home, where he was the strange one, the outsider. The pigmy children would circle around him laughing and pointing. They called him blunt teeth and would ask how the weather was up there. If they were feeling particularly ornery, they would poke at him with a stick.

  Cassandra could sense his pain. “Do you want to talk about it?” She asked.

  “There’s nothing to talk about,” Luc replied. “I was just thinking about when I was a kid.”

  “Must have been hard for you being the only humans on the island.” Almon was listening from just behind them.

  Luc didn’t say anything, he just walked along trying not to slip on the wet palm leaves. The mud under them splashed at his feet with each step.

  “Do you hear that?” Cassandra asked swallowing the lump that was building in her throat.

  “What?” Luc asked, his eyes darting from one tree to the next scanning the jungle for anything out of the ordinary.

  Rein stopped walking, “Shh.”

  He held a finger to his lips and shushed the group following him. His ears perked up, he listened, closing his eyes for better concentration. The sound of his own breathing was muffled in his ears.

  “Guess it was nothing.” Rein said and continued on the path.

  They walked for a few miles, making it to the other side of the island in good time. It wasn’t too hot and they had just eaten stew so they didn’t need to rest. As Almon rounded the turn in the path he noticed a what looked like a grave maker just ahead.

  “Do you see that?” He ran ahead to be closer to Rein.

  “What?” Rein asked.

  “Up there.” He pointed at the large wooden cross that sat just off the path. From there it looked to be about four feet high.

  “I do now.” Rein said. “Let’s have a look.”

  “We were told to stay on the path,” Cassandra shouted from a few yards back.

  Luc dropped her hand and ran to catch up with the other two. “You think someone’s buried out here?” He asked panting to catch his breath.

  “I think there’s more than a few someones buried out here.” Almon pointed out the small graveyard a few feet from the path.

  Without a way to sheath the sword, Almon carried it at his side. The closer they got to the first grave the warmer the hilt became in his hand.

  “Luc stay back with Cassandra.” Almon managed to say before the first boney hand reached out from under the soft muddy sand.

  The sword erupted in flame as more skeletons clawed their way out of their graves. Almon took a swipe at one setting it ablaze. Rein pulled out his dagger unsure it would do much damage to the skeletons.

  Luc stumbled backward and ran to hide with Cassandra. He pulled her into the bushes. She pushed him away and ran down the path straight into the danger zone.

  Luc watched on. Without a weapon, he was useless against the army of the dead. Cassandra at least had her magic.

  Rein stabbed at the skeletons, taking note that his dagger wasn’t having much effect. The blade went between the bones, he would need something larger. He picked up a big rock and threw it right through the chest of the one closest to him. Bone splintered from the skeleton’s ribs. He picked up another and threw it at the head.

  Almon gathered his strength and lunged at one of the skeletons. He saw that it had pointy ears like his and was very tall. They must be the remains of an elven tribe. He felt sick to his stomach having to battle against the undead elves. They should be left to rest in peace not out here as a trial is some sick game of the Gods.

  The skeletons were equipped with short swords and didn’t hesitate to charge the three trying to defeat them. Rocks clanged against the metal and broke in half. Clang, Clang, the sound of metal on metal as Almon tried to disarm their foes.

  Swinging the sword higher he decapitated one and the bones fell in a heap to the ground. He brought the sword back and came around with all his might taking the head off another. Two down and only a dozen or so more to go.

  Cassandra saw the piles of bones that fell as Almon took the heads off the skeletons and thought she would do the same. She held her hand out flat at her sides, the ground rumbled and large rock raised up from under the sand.

  She shot her arms forward and rocks hurled toward the skeletons, she managed to hit a few. Their heads came off but the bones didn’t fall to the ground. The best she or Rein could do was to keep the undead focused on them as one by one Almon took out the small army.

  When the action was over Luc came out of the bushes. He was carrying a wolf pup that wiggled free of his arms nipping at his flesh when it saw Cassandra.

  “Wolfie?” Her chest heaved as she tried to fill her lungs with as much oxygen as possible.

  “Great, the rest of us are fighting for our lives and you’re playing with a puppy,” Almon grunted trying desperately to catch his breath.

  Wolfie ran straight to Cassandra, yipping and howling. His fur was covered in blood and the fresh flesh of his recent kill still hung from his teeth.

  “Wait,” Luc shouted. “I don’t think that’s Wolfie. That little monster bit me.”

  “I’d bite you too if you wouldn’t let me go.” Rein laughed and dropped the rock he still had in his hand.

  The triple moon scar on Luc’s back burned. Low growls came from the bushes and out sprang a full-grown gray and white alpha male. Luc stared into its eyes.

  “Give me the sword.” He said reaching his hand out.

  Almon took his steps carefully. The flames were gone from the sword and he wasn’t sure if Luc could wield it at all.

  “Wait.” Rein said and handed Luc the dagger. “Maybe it’ll be lucky for you.”

  Cassandra tried to control the wolf using her powers but it was no use. All she got was a pounding headache and a nosebleed.

  Luc took the dagger and lunged at the wolf missing it by inches. The wolf howled and his pack came out to surround the group.

  “You’ll need to do better than that.” The wolf opened its mouth and the words fell out.

  “You can talk?” Luc fell backward landing in a pile of wet leaves.

  “Your dagger won’t work on me.” The wolf howled with laughter.

  “Are you going to kill us?” Luc asked swallowing hard.

  “Maybe.” The wolf walked around Luc gnashing its teeth at his ankles.

  “Can’t we talk about this?’ Luc asked. The birthmark on his back burned more intensely. He bellowed out in pain.

  Cassandra reached for him and the other wolves closed in around her. The alpha sat down on his hind legs.

  “What are you doing?” Luc yelled, dropping the dagger and grabbing the sides of his head.

  “Waiting.” The wolf replied.

  “Waiting for what?’ Luc growled deep in his throat. His eyes turned a deep yellow and his jaw cracked as the bone broke and protruded into a snout.

  “How can we stop it?” Almon shouted.

  “You can’t. Only the boy with the moon curse can stop it.” The wolf growled.

  “Fight it,” Cassandra begged Luc as she dropped to her knees.

  Luc cried out again as his fingernail popped off one by one revealing black claws. “I don’t think I can.”

  “If you don’t stop it this time you’ll never be able to stop it again.” The wolves howled as the full moon rose above the trees.

  It was too early for the moon to be out. A peculiar thought as it was, it entered Rein’s brain. “Luc it isn’t real. It’s the middle of the day, the moon can’t be out. You can fight this.” He shouted quickly picking up the dagger just in case Luc couldn’t fight it.

  The bones in Luc’s back cracked and his spine twisted, he cried out in agony. “I can’t”

  “Luc you have to fight it,” Cassandra said as tears streamed down her face. “For
me. Fight it for me and your little brother.”

  Luc howled and ground his teeth together. He fought with every ounce of his being until his claws retracted and his snout shortened back into his human mouth and nose. His back twisted and his spine realigned. He lay on the ground back in his human form and cried.

  Chapter 18

  Thunder rumbled through the darkening clouds. The wind picked up blowing palm leaves through the air. A bolt of lightning struck a tree nearby cracking it in half leaving a scorch mark, down through the middle.

  “Luc,” Almon pulled the boy off the ground by his arm. “We can’t stay here.” He shouted to be heard over the rushing wind.

  “Look,” Bram pointed to a cave opening in the mountain. “We should go in and wait out the storm.”

  Another crack, this one closer downed another tree. Rein grabbled Luc’s other arm and dragged him to the cave. Rain poured from the sky as if a faucet had been turned on high.

  The cave was more of a large den. There was soft black and tan sand covering the floor. Drawing of animals and early men littered the walls. Rein had seen many caves like this during his journeys but the drawings on these walls were different.

  Normal cave drawings told a story. These were random and didn’t make any sense what so ever. Rein walked around the room running his hand over the painted drawings wondering if the hermits made them or if another more ancient group of people were there before any of them.

  “That isn’t very nice, Odin!” A man ran in from the storm dressed in armor. He was much taller than any of them had dark brown skin and bulging muscles. His jaw was unnaturally square and there was not a bit of hair on his body that anyone could see, save his eyebrows. He did have perfectly manicured eyebrows.

  Almon took a protective stance in front of the others and held Ares’ sword out in front. “Who are you?”

  The tall stranger brushed water from his arms and ran a hand over the top of his bald head. Cassandra couldn’t help but giggle awkwardly. She quickly turned away, her face turning a bright red like the poppy flowers that grew on pigmy island, Wuten.

  “Ah, thank you. I see you have found my sword.” The stranger reached out to take the sword, he pulled his hand back when Almon took a swipe at it.

  Rein stepped forward, “Are you telling me that you are Ares?” He rolled his eyes.

  “You don’t believe?” Ares squared up against Rein.

  Flames shot from the sword and Almon lunged at Ares. He wasn’t about to let this man, God or not, harm his friend. Ares raised his hand and Almon flew backward hitting the wall behind him.

  “I don’t have time for any of this. Give me the sword.” Ares stood his ground and held his hand out.

  Cassandra picked up the flaming sword and a loud trumpet blasted through the cave. She dropped to her knees throwing the sword to the side.

  “Only a direct descendant of mine can wield the sword stupid girl.” Ares laughed.

  Rein looked over at Almon. There is no way Almon could be a direct lineage to Ares the God of war. Almon was the most peace-loving guy Rein knew.

  “You think that just because he’s a wood elf he couldn’t have any of my blood coursing through his veins?” Ares asked as he reached down and picked up his sword.

  The wall at the back of the cave began to shimmer as though a veil was being lifted. Rein saw Odin and Frigg on the shore watching the sunset. He had so many questions.

  “Ares, wait,” Almon said as he watched the God head for the wall with his sword in hand. “I have so many questions.”

  “Talk with your mother.” Area patted the elf on the shoulder.

  “She’s dead,” Almon shouted as Ares got closer to the shimmering wall.

  Ares shrugged and jumped through the portal. When he was through the veil closed leaving them in shock and confused about what just happened.

  “Fuck.” Rein slammed his fist against the portal wall.

  “Dude, it’ll be ok,” Luc said brushing sand from his clothes.

  “I don’t know what the hell I’m supposed to look for now.” Rein frowned at Luc, “I need to talk to that bastard and find out what to do next.”

  “Calm down, your gonna pop a vein,” Luc said under his breath.

  Rein was huffing, his chest heaving and his face as red as the ripest tomato with deep blue veins bulging in his neck. He stomped out of the cave. They were no longer on the far side of the island. He could see the ship in the distance and knew better than to question how they were back on the back coarse sand beach.

  The sky was the same pale blue it had been before the storm the sun beat down on the water creating a steam on the jungle floor.

  Broken shells littered the sand where they had left the rowboat. Luc helped Cassandra in and pushed the boat into the water. The others climbed in and Almon lifted one of the ores. Bram took a turn with the other.

  Cassandra looked into the water over the edge of the boast. She was looking for whatever had tried to tip them over on their way to the island.

  “What are you looking for?” Luc nudged Cassandra with the back of his hand.

  “Nothing.” She lied.

  “Oh really?” He winked and turned her face toward him with his finger on her chin. Her face turned but her eyes stayed on the water.

  Rein laughed. “Looks like the girl is more interested in what’s going on below the waves, than you.”

  They made it to the ship and tied on the ropes then waited to be pulled from the water.

  “There’s something down there,” Cassandra said pointing into the abyss.

  “I don’t see anything.” Luc looked over the edge, all he saw was the black water.

  Bram looked over the edge expecting to see the Kraken or some other horror from the depths. He shouted up at the ship. “Get us the hell out of this water!”

  “Did you see something?” Rein asked, his eyes scanning the surface of the water.

  “No, but you can’t be too careful,” Bram said.

  “It’s right there.” Cassandra pointed at the golden shimmer as it made its way to the surface.

  “I see it,” Almon shouted and braced for impact.

  Whatever it was banged into the bottom of the boat tipping it to the side. Bram fell backward off his seat. Rein helped him up as another bang came from below.

  “What the hell is that?” Bram asked.

  “Looks like a goldfish,” Luc said.

  “That’s one hell of a goldfish,” Bram said.

  Their boat jerked and Cassandra screamed. She put her hand over her mouth and her cheeks turned pink. They were being pulled from the water by the crew of the Misty Rose.

  Once on board they all ran to the rail and looked over the edge. A few yards away they saw a beautiful blond-haired woman. She didn’t look as though she were in distress.

  “Jon there’s a woman out there, we have to throw her a line,” Almon called over his shoulder.

  The others watched as she disappeared beneath the waves. Standing there in shock they didn’t take their eyes from the water expecting her to reemerge.

  The woman sprang from the water and dove back down splashing the surface with her golden tail.

  Chapter 19

  “Jon, did you see that?” Rein asked. The words formed and came from his mouth without him being aware that it was he who had spoken.

  “Mermaid,” Jon said.

  The woman swam close to the boat, her tail beating against the side of the ship as if she wanted to stop them sailing on. It was no use; the ship was too big and Jon wasn’t going to let some sea nymph stop him from getting back to Hope Falls.

  “Crazy sea nymph.” He spat over the side of the ship.

  “Are you sure?” Cassandra looked frightened.

  “Only one thing in the sea that’s half human and half fish my dear.” Jon laughed.

  “Mermaids never show themselves to humans.” Cassandra pulled Luc from the edge and wrapped herself in his arms.

  “Not true,” J
on said. “I’ve seen them from time to time out here.”

  He leaned over the rail and waited for the mermaid to show herself again. After a moment he stepped away and walked to the helm.

  “You never told me you’ve seen mermaids.” Rein raised an eyebrow.

  “You’d have thought I was crazy,” Jon said as he watched his compass needle adjust itself.

  “What do you think she wanted?” Bram asked.

  “Never talked to one before.” Jon snapped his compass closed and put it in his pocket. “Maybe she was tired of fish and wanted something a little plumper and warmer for her dinner.” Jon laughed and pointed at Bram’s belly.

  “Not funny,” Bram grumbled rubbing his round belly.

  “Did I hear you say there was a mermaid?” Avanna staggered out of the captain’s quarters.

  Cassandra took the sleeping baby from her arms. She went back into the room humming a sweet tune and lay down on the pile of blankets on the floor and listened as Avanna spoke.

  “It’s nothing to worry yourself over.” Jon insisted, putting an arm around her shoulder.

  “You should all be worried.” She warned as Jon ushered her back to their room.

  They made it to Hope Falls just before sunset. The paper lanterns lit up the dock like a midday sun. The smell of roasting pig flesh filled the air.

  Luc’s eyes were glued to a booth where a man was throwing ball after ball trying to knock over a stack of milk bottles. He giggled and ran over to have a turn. Cassandra ran after him laughing.

  “Rein!" Lillian shouted from the far side of the pier. She waved her hand and held up a paper cone of cotton candy.

  Rein waved back and excused himself from the group. Not knowing where he should head next left him with little options than to stay with his mother while he figured it out.

  “It’s been a while since I’ve seen you this happy.” Rein put his hands-on Lillian’s shoulders and kissed her cheek.

  “It’s been a long time since we had a reason to celebrate.” Lillian look out on the people of the town of Hope Falls and the settlement as saw dollar signs.

  All those people meant more money from taxes. The money she would use to hire more soldiers and build more ships. It would take a massive army to accomplish what she had planned.