by J. D. Netto
The monster tried to sink its teeth into Ballard’s arm. He swung his sword at the creature while dodging its swift attack. The beast shrieked as the blade entered its side. Once again, Petra raised his sword, and this time struck the creature on its right shoulder, driving his weapon deep within its body. It fell on its side, writhing in agony.
This lingering pain was something unfamiliar to me. I managed to stand, reclining my trembling body against the tree’s bark. I watched all of them. Demetre stood in front of his friend’s body. Judging by his stare, he was prepared to die in order to protect Isaac.
For a few moments, Ballard and Petra had vacant expressions in their eyes. In a trance-like state, they stood immobile. The creature continued to thrash its wounded body against the snow. I was confused when I saw Ballard lowering his arms. He bowed his head, dropping his sword to the ground, standing only inches away from the beast. What was he doing? Was it his plan to die again?
Desperate, the beast tried to crawl in the direction of the trees. Ballard’s left arm trembled as he clenched his fists. Petra drew closer to the creature. Fear and confusion filled me when I saw Petra laying his right hand on the creature’s skull. As fast as a breath, it ceased its movements. Its breathing grew shallow as its growls transformed into murmurs. The powerful monster appeared to be paralyzed. Ballard opened his eyes, raised his left fist, and struck the ground, causing the earth to shake beneath us. Cracks appeared on the ground, creating uneven patterns that extended all the way to the trees. I watched with a fervent gaze as the ground that the monster stood on caved in, swallowing its grotesque body. Like new skin that covers a wound, cracks in the earth quickly closed.
Silence lingered as I stared at Ballard and Petra. Where had such abilities come from?
Ballard pressed his brows together, looking at his left hand in amazement. With a gaping jaw, Petra trailed his fingertips across the palm of his hand. My attention was turned away from them as I limped my way to Isaac. Ballard rushed his way to the girls while Petra marched toward me.
“Are you alright?” asked Demetre, helping me kneel next to Isaac. From the corner of my eye, I saw Petra approaching me.
“Isaac,” I said, shaking his left shoulder. “Can you hear me?”
He opened his eyes wide, leaping to his feet.
“Where is the creature?” he asked.
“The creature is gone,” Petra said with a confused expression.
“Gone?” Isaac reached down for his sword, which had its blade buried beneath the snow.
“Ballard and me—”
“The girls!” Isaac screamed before Petra could finish his sentence.
Was there honesty amongst us? I thought while watching Isaac rush his way to Ballard and the girls. Demetre and Petra followed him.
How could these abilities have sprung out of nowhere? In my heart, I hoped that they were not keeping secrets from me. Having to fight against the evil within me was already a battle in itself, but to have to fight against their lack of trust would be something unacceptable to me.
“How are you feeling?” asked Isaac, kneeling beside Xylia and Adara.
Adara cleared her throat. “What…happened?” she asked, pressing the edge of her hand against her forehead. “My head hurts.”
Petra lurched his way closer to Ballard.
“I would also like to know what happened,” I declared, looking at each one of them.
Petra and Ballard exchanged a confused expression. Xylia rubbed her face as she lifted her back from the snow. She squinted her eyes, wagging her head from side to side.
“Where is the boy?” she asked.
Isaac scowled at her, extending his hand.
“The boy was a creature from the Abyss,” he said while helping her stand to her feet. “It turned into a beast and attacked all of us. Do you not remember?”
“What do you mean?” Adara’s eyebrows knitted together. “The boy wasn’t real?”
Xylia’s nose scrunched up in disbelief as she set her eyes on Adara.
“The last thing I recall was lying in bed with him,” Adara said with a frown. “His innocent eyes looking straight into mine as we both fell asleep.”
“You did not hear anything else after you fell asleep?” Demetre rested his left hand on his hip.
Adara narrowed her eyes.
“No,” she replied in a low voice.
“I remember checking on her after we tended to that man’s wounds. They slept on the bed…” Xylia’s voice trailed off. Her fingers scratched her forehead as she tried to recall any other memories. “I cannot recall anything else after that.”
“You were both unconscious when we found you,” Isaac said.
“Though I am glad to see everyone alive and well, I must say that I am indeed curious as to how Ballard and Petra were able to do what they did.” I sheathed my sword.
“They saved us, Devin,” Demetre said with an edge to his voice. “You should be grateful.”
“What did they do?” There was curiosity in Isaac’s voice.
Petra and Ballard were quiet, their heads bowed.
“My gratefulness will not be the answer to my questions, Demetre.” I bore my eyes into Petra’s. “Is there honesty in our midst? Isaac killed a blood-drinker in seconds without moving a single muscle.” I pointed my finger to Petra. “You paralyzed that beast with one touch.” I scowled at Ballard, shaking my head from one side to the other. “And you cracked the earth open with your fist.”
“I don’t know how I was able to do that.” Petra’s shoulders shrugged up.
“You…don’t…know?” I let out a quick breath. “And you, Ballard. You are also unaware of how you were able to do what you did, correct?”
A silent nod was his response to my question.
I turned my back to them, walking back to the house. These mysteries devoured me inside. How could they not know how they’d acquired those abilities? Why would they keep these secrets from me?
The pain in my leg set my teeth on edge. These creatures had the power to wound me—a Nephilin. Maybe they were hiding the truth because I had no place amongst them. I was immortal by birth—an aberration.
Athalas had mentored me for so many years. The man I’d deemed to be one of the wisest among men had sold his soul to Lucifer. Had he seen something that I missed? He was the one that opened the door of Justicia to shelter Adawnas and me. Was I allowing this journey to blind me from the real truth? A part of me also wondered where Adawnas was. For so many years, we had lived together, sharing the same pain, the same struggles. Little did she know of the affection that I had for her. If only love was as simple for Nephilins as it was for humans. My heart was shattered when I saw her in Aloisio, standing beside Nephele. She had confided in me in the past. Why had she concealed the truth from me?
I walked across the stall where the horses were being kept. I was surprised when I did not hear their sounds. Flakes of snow started to descend from the sky.
I hurried my pace, worried as to why the animals were so quiet. A rotting stench filled my nostrils. With a heavy heart, I looked at both horses lying on the ground; blood was splattered on the mildewed walls of the stall. Their eyes were a hazy white. There were no signs on their bodies that a wild animal had attacked them.
I looked over my shoulder and saw the others making their way toward the house. I waited for them to come closer.
“We have to leave now,” I said as Isaac approached the stall. “Something evil is lurking in these woods.” I pointed to the dead animals.
Isaac wrinkled his nose when he saw the horses, resting the back of his hand over his nose and lips.
“Demetre, Petra and I searched these woods. There was no sign of an enemy nearby,” he said.
Ballard and Petra studied the horses’ carcasses; the girls took one quick look and turned their faces away in disgust.
“What could have done this?” Adara shook her head.
“Judging by the creatures we encountered today, I
am sure it was something that we have never seen or heard of before,” Demetre said in a somber tone.
“Let’s go get the books so we can be on our way,” Isaac whispered, his eyes never leaving the dead animals.
“I will keep watch as you all head inside,” I said.
They made their way up the short steps, walking through the doorway. Snowflakes fell on my cheeks as the wind blew against the dry branches of the trees.
“Devin.” I heard a sudden voice in the air.
I turned around, thinking it was one of my companions, but I did not see anyone.
“I know the evil that lurks in your heart.” I shivered as the voice continued. “It must be a great burden to fight against your nature every day.”
I unsheathed my sword, walking away from the stall. I searched for the owner of this voice.
“Who are you?” My chest constricted as if being pressed by two hands.
The wind howled while I waited for the voice to respond.
“I am the one that hunts you.” The voice deepened, cracking as it spoke.
“Lucifer?” I frowned, watching the pine trees ahead of me dance in the wind.
“We are ready, Devin.” I was startled when I heard Isaac’s voice. He approached me from behind, the others following.
“Are you alright?” Isaac’s eyes analyzed my face. “Did you see anything?”
“No.” I did not lie. I had not seen anything, but I was not about to tell him about the voice I’d heard.
“Why do you have your sword in your hand, then?” Xylia inquired, adjusting her satchel around her shoulder.
My right eyebrow rose up.
“I do not have to answer to you.” I sheathed my sword.
Her shoulders shrugged upward. She rolled her eyes, walking away from me.
I glanced back at the stall, looking at the lifeless horses. Did that voice belong to the Dark One? Could it be that Lucifer had spoken to me?
XIII
The snow on the ground deepened as we continued to travel down the Road of Ahnor. The flurries settled on the trees, accumulating atop the frozen ice that already rested on their dry branches. The vegetation grew denser and taller, making limiting my visibility.
Why would the Dark One come to me? Though Lucifer did not have a physical body, his presence lingered, manifesting in different ways. If I heard his voice, did it mean that he was aware of our location? Was he to send an army after us?
Though my heart was troubled by the sound of his conniving voice, fear stood at bay. Perhaps I was making the wrong choice. Since darkness was already inside of me, why should I continue to fight against it?
Above the tree branches, and towering even above the cloudbank, were the mountains that so many men feared.
“There they are,” Ballard said in a low voice. “The Weeping Mountains.”
“You know where we are?” I asked, looking over my shoulder. Ballard frowned at the ominous landscape.
“Indeed I do. The ruins of Madbouseux lie in the mountains. I will never forget the day I stumbled upon…” His voice trailed off as his hand grasped the rugged satchel around his shoulders. “The day I stumbled upon this book.”
“You found the Book of Letters here?” Isaac inquired.
“Yes.” Ballard’s shoulders rose as he took a deep breath. “I should have listened to my father.” He pursed his lips.
An unknown power rested upon these mountains. I recalled King Demyon’s accounts of what his soldiers had seen near these ruins.
In an instant, a fog curtain formed around us. It was not long until my visibility was further limited, and I struggled to see what lay ahead of me.
“Stay together,” Isaac ordered. Everyone drew their swords. Thistles covered in thick, long thorns rested on the forest floor. The snow no longer descended from the gray sky; there was no breeze blowing against the limbs of the trees.
We were all apprehensive as we continued to make our way through the mist. I looked around me, failing to recall our exact location.
“Do you know where we are, Devin?” came Demetre’s voice. I turned my face to him.
“I am not so sure.” My right hand tightened. The pain in my leg was almost forgettable, but it was still bothersome.
“Have you ever been here before?” Xylia asked in an impatient tone.
“No.”
“Then why do you guide us?” Her voice loudened. “We are lost, aren’t we?”
My patience grew thin as she spoke.
“Would you like to guide yourself through the mist, girl?” I halted, looking at all of them. “And please, can you at least have the decency of giving me an honest answer?”
Petra pressed his eyebrows together.
“You still do not believe that we are not aware of how we acquired those abilities?” he barked.
I shot him a cold sneer.
“Do not play me for a fool.”
“Devin, we are not lying,” said Ballard, stepping his way closer to me.
From the woods emerged the sudden sound of rattling hoofs. The loud neighing of horses echoed. The fact that I did not know who or what dwelled in these parts of the world stirred fear within me. With swords ready, we waited for whatever wandered these woods to appear.
“Do we run?” Adara’s voice was a whisper.
“They seem to be all around us.” Demetre bore his eyes into Isaac’s.
“They are approaching us.” Xylia stooped her body forward, raising her sword. Her blade stood inches above her head.
My eyes closed as I attempted to control the approaching horses. I focused my mind on the sounds they made as they galloped. They were strong and untamed. The faint beating of their hearts invaded my ears. After a while, I perceived that seven animals galloped in our direction. A throbbing pain invaded my head as I tried to enter their minds. I opened my eyes, pressing my fingers on my forehead.
“What is the matter, Devin?” Isaac asked, laying his hand on my shoulder.
“Nothing.” My eyes squinted, trying to relieve my head of the throbbing pain. “I am alright.”
The hoof beats and the neighing ceased. We stood together, immobile. I could hear the breathing of the horses and their riders, hidden behind the fog. They whispered to each other, though none revealed the exact location where they stood.
“Show yourselves!” Xylia demanded. “We are not here to be played as fools.”
“Neither are we,” a deep, disembodied voice declared. “Who are you? What are you doing in these woods?”
“We will only answer your question once we lay eyes on your face.” Isaac held his head steady.
A low grunt came from the owner of the voice as I heard him alight his horse. Those around him followed his act. The snow crushed beneath his feet as he walked.
Through the mist came a tall man. He carried a bow in his right hand. The rugged, thick cloak that covered his body was made of sheep’s wool. Though the prominent color of the cloak was white, it was stained with dirt.
“Now that you see my face, can you tell me who you are?” His russet eyes were focused on all of us. A scruffy beard covered his heart-shaped face. His brown hair was tied back. He had thick lines around his lips.
“We are travelers.” Demetre raised the tip of his sword toward him. “Our business is our own.” His right eyebrow shot up, hiding beneath his dark hair.
The man let out a quick breath while he shook his head.
“What kind of business would bring a group like yours to the Weeping Mountains?” His eyes bore into mine.
I lurched forward, leveling my finger in his face. “I believe we can ask the same of you.”
His lips curved into a thin smile. “You are not human, are you?”
“He is with us.” Isaac stepped in front of the man.
The moment the man laid eyes on Isaac, his face changed. He frowned as his eyes trailed across Isaac’s facial features.
“What is your name, young one?” The man tilted his face slightly
.
“Isaac.”
Upon his response, I heard the men around us murmuring amongst each other.
“You are Isaac?” the man in white asked in a quivering voice. “Isaac Khan?”
“I do not believe we have met.” Isaac lowered his weapon.
“No, we have not.” The man gave him a half-hearted smile. “But your face is very familiar to me.”
Isaac drew his head back, confused at the man’s statement.
“What is your name?” Demetre asked the stranger.
“I am Alistar, defender of the Village of Tears.” When he finished speaking, the other six riders that accompanied him approached us. They were all dressed in similar clothing as Alistar. All were armed with bows and arrows.
“Tell me, why is the Nephilin with you?” Alistar cocked his head in my direction, keeping his eyes set on Isaac.
I tightened my hands, trying to restrain myself from breaking his jaw. Who did this man think he was?
“I can speak—”
“He is my friend.” Isaac cut me off. “He has been by my side since I left home.”
Alistar strode forward, bearing his eyes into mine. “Do you all trust him?” he asked.
A part of me wanted to stick my blade into his gut. Another longed to hear the answer my companions would give him.
“Yes, we do,” Petra replied in an instant, taking a short step toward the man.
“Who gave you authority to answer for all of them?”
Petra’s lips moved as he tried to find words to contend with Alistar. In shame, he returned to his place. Alistar handed his bow to the man on his left.
“Do you all trust him?” He raised both of his eyebrows, creating wrinkles on his forehead.
“If we did not, do you think we’d still have him by our side?” Xylia marched up to Alistar. “Why does it matter if we trust him or not?”
“Do you not fear for your life, girl?” He crossed his hands in front of him.
She lifted her chin, leveling her eyes with his. “If my life is the price to be paid for a just cause, then fear is nothing but a mere enemy that can be easily defeated.”
