by Martin, CJ
Once Sam realized he was the cause of the light, he snapped back to the moment and began directing his light into his enemies. The two closest Perazim had fallen backward and were on the ground shielding their faces from the light—Sam’s light. These Perazim were not Nephloc; natural light did not overly harm them, he had been told—but this was not natural light.
Anger worked to build a surge of energy within him that Sam didn’t know was possible. With a shout rivaling the loudness of the Perazim’s cry only a minute before, Sam released it all. The stream of light flowing from his fingertips became an instant flood as it bored into and through the two enemies before him.
As Sam’s screaming ceased, so did the light. Sam fell to his knees and just stared at his empty hands. He had felt no pain but looking upon his two victims he knew it had inflicted great damage. The two Perazim lay motionless before him with clean holes in their chest a foot in diameter. He watched as Marcus quickly tossed handfuls of dirt and rubble into the holes. Their masters would no longer be able to animate them.
Sam felt exhausted, but beyond all expectation, he stood and marched toward the nearest living Perazim as if he were Hercules just about to complete his twelve labors. With his shoulders back and eyes narrowed, Sam grabbed the first one by the neck and squeezed. The Perazim, snapping from its shock, attempted to fight back. But it was too late; Sam’s hold was too great.
Sam had no recollection of when or how Marcus had pried his fingers from the creature’s throat. He only realized that Marcus was speaking to him when the Perazim’s lifeless body dropped to the ground, being severed from the head that Sam still held fast.
As Sam regained his senses, he saw the remaining Perazim retreating back into the earth.
It was a victory, but it took everything within Sam to keep from falling. Marcus immediately caught him.
“Sam! Can you hear me?”
“Marcus?”
“Are you all right, boy?” After Sam gave a silent nod Marcus added, “That was quite something. You never told me you could do that.”
“Marcus, I had no idea I could do it.” Sam took a few breaths before adding, “Actually, I have no idea what I did.”
“I’ve seen this often in my visions but never experienced it in life. Come. Can you stand? We must get inside. Most extraordinary, my boy.”
Sam felt the old man’s arms help him up. And as he did he heard a voice behind him.
“One just went inside!” It was Suteko; she was the farthest away from the house. “It’s going for Hikari!”
“Everyone!” Marcus shouted. “Get to Hikari, now!”
Chapter Forty
Loud clapping sounds behind Sam caused him to stop and sink within himself. Everyone, likewise, turned to face Kaileen.
“Well done. It is as Marcus said. An extraordinary show. Any doubt I may have had, has at once been erased. You are indeed the heir,” she said, locking her gaze squarely on Sam.
Sam saw the old man in front of him leap to his feet, but as he was about to address Kaileen, an unseen force threw Marcus twenty feet away into the bushes.
“Good evening, my dear. But I have not come for you.”
Sam closed his eyes and worked to build the energy inside of him again, but before he could turn around to let it loose on his attacker, he felt a strike to the back of his neck and saw no more. Kaileen had materialized behind him as his concentration was focused on gathering the energy.
With a scoop of her arms, Kaileen seized Sam and began to walk casually away from the house. Marcus had recovered and together with Maro, they launched themselves at her. She held her hand up and both men stopped as if caught in an invisible spider web. Their arms and legs moved but with difficulty and without progress.
“Play nice, boys. I’ve got what I like. There’s no need to be rude.”
With a rough laugh, she pushed her hand forward and let go, sending the two men through the bushes and into a fence beyond.
Marcus scrambled to his feet, but she was too far and fading into the ground too fast. She was taking Sam with her. Marcus left the bushes and ran with a sense of hopelessness. He could see Sam’s lower body dissolving and spilling into the earth. He was simply too far away.
Then, hidden by the darkness and a large bush, Suteko appeared from behind, ramming her rival. Sam, unconscious but whole again, was knocked out of Kaileen’s arms. The two women tumbled toward the street.
Suteko caught her footing and thrust her hands into Kaileen’s chest. Kaileen was instantly knocked backward, landing in the middle of the street just beyond the property grounds. The perimeter had been set in place a quarter of a mile away, blocking all civilian traffic, but a military vehicle was in motion toward her.
Kaileen jumped out of the mini-crater that her impact had created and held out her hands, palms up like a traffic cop. The front of the vehicle obeyed, sending the rear flying up with a terrible screech. It was vertical in less than a second, but instead of continuing the fall, the movement stopped. A dent formed from something or someone within hitting the roof.
Kaileen’s face was devoid of care or pity. She let out a high-pitched squeal resembling that of one of her eagles as she turned her palms inward and flung her arms above her. Following the arms’ arc, the vehicle twisted and then launched over her head and out of sight from the Temporal at the Berkshire House.
Just as Suteko took off in attack, Kaileen aimed a pointing finger at the Japanese woman and sent her flying in the direction the vehicle had gone.
Turning her attention back to Sam who was moaning listlessly and then the remaining Temporal who were all now focused on her, she spoke with a commanding voice, “You should know by now that you cannot defeat me. I’ve come for Sam. Give him to me now and you will live. You should be more concerned for Ian and that fool of a Nephloc traitor.”
Marcus leapt in her direction, but he was pushed back toward the house with a mere thrust of her arm. She pulled her fingers into a fist and Marcus was held several feet above the ground.
“You are limiting Sam’s progress, Marcus. Under your tutelage he has managed to nearly kill himself,” Kaileen said as she approached the prone body of Sam.
“What is it about Sam that you would risk it all?” Marcus said with a growl. He glanced at her eyes and saw it. “Your master, Arthimas—he lives, does he?”
Marcus had not believed the wild ramblings of Arthimas regarding the prophecy. Neither Marcus nor Bae had received such a vision. At any rate, the prophecy had been made void after Arthimas’ death. But with the revelation of his survival…Marcus was beginning to believe.
She was silent. He felt a sudden drop in her concentration. Marcus knew he was correct.
“You believe Sam is the one—the one who will destroy your master. The Three shall fall as One—Light shall stand in their stead,” Marcus said, quoting the ancient prophecy. He was now focused. While still airborne, he pushed his arms outward, sending her energy back to her. “So, you believe Sam is that light?” The outbound force pushed Marcus closer to the ground.
Kaileen said nothing but the one-sided conversation clearly affected her; Marcus touched the ground and stood straight, pushing back with even more force.
As Marcus sent his energy toward her, his heel buried into the soft earth. Once he got his footing, he was able to let out more of his energy. The power leaving Kaileen and Marcus was invisible to the eye, but the area where the two forces met burned red like the knot of a heavy rope on fire. It was small at first, but as Marcus increased pressure, it glowed hot and the knot began its push toward Kaileen.
“Does your master know of your theory? Does he know you seek to overthrow him? Arthimas would never tolerate insubordination.”
“And does Samuel know that he will destroy you?” Her voice was suddenly strong and in control. She had accepted the fact her secret was known. She had regained her composure.
Suteko, who had returned with torn clothing and disheveled hair, stood opposite Maro fr
om two other locations and exerted themselves, sending energy toward Kaileen. The other three Temporal, Bilai, Yehi, and William, were behind them, giving their support. Kaileen spread her hands wide and smiled. Marcus’ knot yielded no ground, but Suteko and Maro were struggling to keep Kaileen’s energy from falling back on them.
Kaileen focused her eyes on Marcus, beckoning him to gaze into them. From the side of his eyes, Marcus saw Maro and Bilai hit by her energy and fly backward. Seconds later, Suteko and the other two Temporal were also gone.
“Give me Sam and I’ll leave. There is no need for all of them to die.”
Marcus didn’t respond but kept pushing. He wasn’t sure if he would be able to hold on much longer. Then it was confirmed. The knot changed directions and began an uneasy motion toward him. The ground he had gained was being erased by the second. He felt drained and yet he held on.
“Whether Samuel comes with me or stays with you, you are a dead man, Marcus. You know the prophecy. He will be the death of you! Light shall stand in their stead.” She turned her head and spat. “You know, Marcus, it is true. Sam is that light!”
Repositioning his feet, Marcus found a stronger foothold. For the moment, the knot stopped moving.
Then came the mistake. It was only a glance, but Marcus looked up and met her eyes.
You are weak, old man!
Her voice filled his mind, echoing. He lost his attention, his will to continue. The knot once again began to move and gain momentum in Marcus’ direction. He prepared to leap to the side to avoid the blast when he heard a series of loud popping sounds that changed everything.
Lieutenant Scott Harrison was worried. He’d last spoken to General Gordon the afternoon before. He had expected the usual morning call for an update on Marcus’ needs. There had not been one. The general’s voicemail box was full. Repeated calls to his secretary only told him that no one else seemed to know where the general was.
But when calling Marcus and also not getting a response, Harrison drove back to the Berkshire House convinced something was terribly wrong. He saw a military van destroyed and pulled in behind it. From the back seat, he grabbed the biggest weapon he had—an M16—and headed toward the sounds.
It was a sight unlike he had ever seen. Marcus and a strange woman were fighting—but over twenty feet apart. In front of Marcus was a red fireball that seemed to be slowly moving toward the old man like the fire of a slow moving fuse.
Harrison was behind the source of the trouble, Kaileen. Without hesitation, he opened fire, filling the woman’s back with dozens of rounds of lead.
Marcus instantly fell forward. The tension coming from Kaileen was no longer present. The energy knot flew uninhibited into Kaileen causing her to hit the ground with an explosive force. Looking to the right of the body, he saw Lieutenant Harrison with the M16 he had used to distract Kaileen long enough for Marcus’ energy blast to do its work.
In an instant, Marcus was on top of Kaileen with his hand to her forehead. He looked up at the lieutenant and shouted, “Get Sam and Suteko over here now!”
Chapter Forty-One
The scene was dreamlike, but it was no dream. Marcus had entered Kaileen’s mind. He was in her domain, but he had to know—he had to give his wayward bride one last chance. He only hoped Sam and Suteko were conscious and able to come to his aid. Without their help, he knew, all would be lost.
There was a foggy gray everywhere except immediately around Marcus. He had light. He didn’t know if he was the source of the light or if she was just keeping track of him, but it moved with him. The only sound he heard was his footsteps. There was an echo as if he was in an expansive cave. She was hiding somewhere in the darkness outside his circle of light.
“Where are you?” His question echoed. “You can still be saved, Kaileen.”
Then, a new pale light shone about fifty feet in front of him. It illuminated the woman who was seated on a large black throne. In this mental representation of Kaileen, she was wearing the same dress she wore the day she first met Marcus. She was desire. No! Marcus shook his head free of doubts and repeated his statement.
“You can still be saved.”
About twenty steps led up from Marcus’ position to the foot of the throne. It was hard to see any features. Within the darkness between them, there was something in motion. It was translucent and, without a light source on it, Marcus couldn’t be sure what it was.
“It’s just like you to keep following after me like a sick puppy looking for its lost master. I need no salvation.”
Marcus stepped onto the staircase. He didn’t make it even two steps before being thrown back with a force not unlike a tornado. Seeing his options limited, Marcus stood straight, brushed off his morphic clothing, and sat down.
“You cannot win, Kaileen. Your forces are defeated and soon other Temporal will come to my aid.”
“Marcus, Marcus,” she said, standing with a slight shake in her hand. “It is so sad to see you so humbled and weak. To think I once admired you so. I wanted to be your queen! But you would not have it.”
Marcus stayed seated and quiet. He watched her casually walk down the steps. The whirlwind gave way to her, but remnants of this barrier remained between them. She was hunched over. Even through the barrier, he could see that her skin was blotted. Horrid scales took the place of her previously smooth arms. The mask was falling; she was hurt. He didn’t look at her face directly for fear of meeting her eyes, but quick glances around her mouth revealed several open sores and welts. Marcus was seeing Kaileen’s true appearance.
When he had saved Sam from her in Manhattan, it had been over a thousand years. Like her master, Marcus had thought her dead. Her appearance then had looked exactly as it had in her youth. But in her defeated state and within her own mind, the sorcery that kept her artificially young was ineffectual. Through the whirling, he saw the dress was now in rags.
He could hear her voice clearly despite the whirlwind. She spoke in a whisper that somehow still carried through the barrier and the distance.
“You didn’t provide for me, my husband. You chose to not realize your potential.”
Marcus kept looking forward even as she moved to his side. “Kaileen, evil is empty. The power you seek will destroy you. It is destroying you now.”
“Perhaps,” she said, stopping as if in thought. “But not before I destroy the Temporal. Or if that doesn’t please you, my husband, there is another way.” She moved in closer to him. The whirlwind thinned, but remained as a separator. “Join us, Marcus. Join with me and live!”
“No.”
“Not even for the world?”
As the words flew out of her mouth, an image of the globe appeared before Marcus’ eyes. He could see vast grasslands, mountains, man-made wonders, and the pure beauty that exists within nature.
“You can rule as king—the King. I will be your servant. I would submit to you if you would just show a spine.”
The image changed to Kaileen’s appearance. Unlike the current Kaileen, the image showed a woman in her prime, with beauty unimaginable. She was once again the very picture of desire.
“You can have me. Join us,” she said as she walked softly to his right, a few feet away.
“Why you waste your time on me, I do not know. You chose the evil path long ago. I didn’t join you then, why should I now after many more years of experience.”
“Perhaps you are right. There are others better qualified.”
Marcus remained silent.
“You know of whom I speak,” she said ending her statement with a laugh laced with a cough. “He has chosen the better path. Does that change your mind? With him, you, and Sam by my side, my master will have no choice but to bow to us!”
“You do yourself a disservice, Kaileen, if you think I will choose death and deprivation. Not only is it a waste of time, you also delay the inevitable.”
“Perhaps, then, Suteko would be a better queen for you?”
The image before Marcus
changed to Suteko in a kimono. She was seated under a sakura tree on a peaceful spring day. A multitude of cherry blossoms floated gracefully down and around her.
Marcus turned away, but the image followed his eyes, even when he shut them.
Kaileen continued, “Think of it, Marcus, You can have us both. You can rule the underworld and rid it of the evil you so hate. I’d submit to your power. Think of all the good we could do—you could do. We’ve only but to defeat my master. We would need no Perazim or Nephloc—all that you wish destroyed, would be destroyed. Together, he will stand no chance.”
“Your master Arthimas tricked you into submission. Do you really think you can do the same to him?”
“You were never quick witted,” she shot back before he finished his question. “I have had much practice.”
Marcus was weakening from the morphic illusion around him. As a Roman soldier he lusted after power and women. He became a centurion and controlled the lives and destinies of sixty men. He had sent many young men to their deaths, never batting an eye. He had spent the subsequent two thousand years after his Extending seeking atonement from the evil he had sought and wrought.
“You must not underestimate him, Kaileen.”
There was a crack in his voice. His shoulders seemed heavier; his head somewhat lower.
“Good. It’s not just lust, but power, it is?” She moved closer to him, thinning the barrier further. She was two feet from his right side. Her voice was as a whisper. “Kill my master and it shall be yours.”
Suddenly, there was light all around. Kaileen shut her eyes and threw up her hands in an attempt to block the bright intruder. Marcus had been waiting for Suteko to touch his real-world shoulder, giving him renewed strength. Wasting not a moment of this advantage, Marcus’ hand shot out to his right and grabbed Kaileen’s exposed neck. The whirlwind barrier was no match for Marcus’ renewed strength. She screamed both out of fright from the light exposing her darkness and the sudden attack. Her face deteriorated further, resembling a decaying corpse.
