Finn glanced skyward and didn’t answer.
“Well it’s a good thing I’m here then.”
“Aye, you saved the day,” Finn conceded with a sigh. “So tell me, why are the Djinn so hostile towards humans?”
“They were here first. That’s mostly what it boils down to. The religious texts I read tell of an ancient race of Djinn who populated the planet and flourished by spreading their culture and government across the lands with God’s grace upon them. Unfortunately, they became corrupt and God sent his army of Angels to drive the Djinn behind the veil, where they live upon the earth but are no longer part of it. When humans replaced them, the Djinn waged war upon humanity, secretly attacking from behind the scenes as an invisible enemy creating chaos.”
“So we can’t see them because they live in another dimension.”
“Yesss, a parallel universe, which makes them terribly slippery, especially since they have no permanent form. They’re not carbon-based like most life forms. They’re elemental in nature, mainly fire. This makes them shapeshifters of the highest order.”
“Like you.”
“No, not like me. I can’t break apart into fire, cross through dimensions, or teleport anywhere I please.”
“Aye, but you have the Words of Making. I’d say we’re evenly matched.”
Sithias’s wizened face rumpled into a serious expression. “That’s where you’re wrong. We’re at a distinct disadvantage. We’ll never find them. Their kingdoms are hidden behind the veil. Our only hope is if they choose to show themselves to us, which is highly unlikely.”
“There must be some way to summon and command one with a spell.”
“It’s true. The Djinn are susceptible to magic. But we must be careful to call upon the more benevolent amongst them and pray we don’t attract the more vengeful sort.”
“You just said they’re all hateful toward us,” Finn reminded him.
“I came across hints of a more open-minded faction of the Djinn, who’ve been helpful to humans. Though I’ll need to do more research to determine which ones exactly.” Sithias dug around in his knapsack and retrieved his notebook. Opening it to a blank page, he scribbled a quick sentence. “I have in my possession the book of spells for summoning and binding the elemental beings known as the Djinn,” he said as he held the message out in front of him.
Upon speaking the last word, a violet-colored mist swirled in front of him, coalescing into a large jeweled book, before it dropped to the ground with a dull thud. Sithias reached for the thick tome and began thumbing through the yellowed pages.
“Now, let’s see what we have here,” he murmured. “Luring Ghuls to Ruination spell. No, I don’t think we want to be anywhere near those necrotic flesh eaters. Nasty things, those. They like to ssslip into dead bodies and take them for walks. That is, when they aren’t eating them, or some poor, unfortunate child.”
“Aye, let’s pass on those ones.”
“Protections Against the Palis spell.” Sithias shuddered. “Oh my, we’ll want these protections when we get to the desert. The palis creep up on those who are sleeping and drain their blood by licking the soles of their feet.”
Finn gave him the thumbs up. “Agreed, protection for the feet are a must.”
Sithias ran his finger over the list. “Oh look, instructions for making a talisman to ward against the shaitan of the desert. Apparently, these are the most insidious of the Djinn. They never show themselves. Instead, the shaitan whisper wicked thoughts into the minds of humans. The only means of detecting their presence is through the evil actions that follow between men and women.”
“They sound like demons to me.”
“Very much so,” Sithias muttered as he copied down the materials needed for the talisman.
Finn rocked in place while Sithias proceeded to conjure each item out of thin air. His nerves railed along the edge of panic. This expedition into the desert was becoming more and more complicated and littered with greater risk than he’d expected. Not that he’d allow any of that to stop him. He’d merely assumed having Sithias along would guarantee a smooth and speedy way of locating the fiery divide.
Sithias shaped some red clay into flat round disks, then carved an eye with radiant marks around it into the pliable shape. Lighting a fire over the disks with a few spoken words, he recited an incantation, over and over, until the clay hardened. The fire blinked out and Sithias reached for one of the talismans. “Ouch! Still hot.” He blew on his fingers.
“You really think these will help?” Finn asked.
“I’d prefer not to do a test without them. We must keep our wits about us. The Mirajaran Desert is perilous enough without the shaitan poisoning our thoughts. Do you know what Mirajaran means?”
“Phantom expanse.”
“Then you know reality and illusion intermix once you enter the desert.”
Finn nodded grimly. “We’ll need a guide.”
Sithias stroked his long grizzled beard. “Where do we begin to find the right one?”
Finn clenched his fists tight in frustration. “I know of one.” He sighed. He’d hoped to avoid calling upon the Lhiannan Shee, but it looked like he didn’t have any choice. He glanced around, searching for some privacy. “You finish your research and I’ll take care of calling a guide.” He spotted a copse of pine trees in the far off meadow and headed toward it.
Confused, Sithias frowned at him. “How do you propose you’ll do that?”
“Let me worry about it,” Finn called back.
When Finn reached the trees, he pushed his way through the dense branches until he reached the enclosed center. The smell of pine and earth wafted around him as he searched the shadows. The Lhiannan Shee was already there, perched on a low branch, her talons digging into the bark like a monstrous bird.
“You’re looking for me?” she said.
“Aye, you said you’d guide me to the Djinn after I reached the desert. We’ll be going there in the morning.”
“With that snake as your companion? I would’ve much preferred traveling with you alone.”
“He’s my friend. I need him.”
“More than you need me?” The air wavered around her, diffusing her sharp, birdlike features into the familiar soft planes of Fate’s face.
The urge to reach out and draw her into his arms was overwhelming. Finn shoved his fists into his pockets. “Stop. I forbid you to take her form! You’re never to do that in front of my friend.”
The tempting glamour of Fate faded, leaving him with the cold predatory gaze of the Lhiannan Shee. “I told you, Fae do not deal with Djinn. We are deadly enemies. I must exact a high price for crossing over into their territory. I’ll be putting my own life at risk.”
Finn grew nervous. “What kind of price?”
She stepped off the branch and circled him. Her pale, thin-skinned wings dragged behind her in the dust. “A kiss.”
Finn could still feel the sandpaper texture of her tongue when he remembered their last kiss. He swallowed back his revulsion. “Just one kiss? That’s all?” He supposed he could do it as long she took Fate’s form and he kept his eyes open for inspiration.
Her small, heart-shaped mouth curved into a sly smile. “That’s all. But it must be given out of love.”
A knot of dread formed in Finn’s stomach. “I can give you a kiss, but there’ll be no love in it.”
She cocked her head to one side, her black eyes tracing the line of his face. “I have a good feeling about you. Something tells me you’ll manage to do it right.”
Finn frowned. Everything in him wanted to banish her, but his drive to keep moving forward would not allow it. “Very well,” he finally agreed.
Her membranous wings trembled with excitement. “I can’t wait,” she whispered.
He backed away. “I assume you have ways of following me.” His voice came out tight, revealing the tension he was trying to hide.
“Always.”
“Then I’ll expect to see
you in the morning as soon as we arrive at the desert’s edge. And come as a man. Someone who looks native to the area.”
The air around her rippled as she faded away, and all that remained was her voice. “As you wish, my love. As you wish.”
35
We’re Going To Need A Forklift
A BLACK DIZZYING VORTEX sucked Fate through the gateway the moment she stepped through the arch. Turbulent air knocked her from every side as she hurtled along the portal’s length. Frightening darkness engulfed her. Wanting to scream from the pain of being bashed inside the churning energy, she bit down and kept quiet. She had to play it cool after putting Brune in her place and showing her who was boss.
Fate hit the breaking point, but just when a shriek of pain formed in her throat, the portal spit her out. She hit the ground, shoulder first. Pain shot down her arm as she curled inward, rolling with the fall until she slid to a stop.
Seconds later, Brune shot out and crashed against her. Fate jumped to her feet like it was some kind of race. Happy to be the first one standing, Fate smirked at Brune as she slowly stood and rubbed her hip.
“That was fun. Can we do it again?” Fate said with a sniff. She was not about to admit she felt like a walking bruise.
“Have you lost your marbles? That was the worst ride I’ve ever taken through any portal. And I’ve jumped through hundreds.”
“It was a bit bumpy.”
Shaking her head at Fate, Brune turned her attention to their surroundings. “Damn. We landed smack in the middle of the lair. Look at all the statues. Goggles on.”
Fear streaked along Fate’s spine as she fumbled with the snap on her utility belt. Her hands shook as she grabbed the brass goggles. They were built with layers of reflective glass, enabling them to see the Gorgons’ reflection, versus their true image. She strapped them on, swaying dizzily as a series of upside-down and right-side-up images of the cave flashed in succession before stabilizing to the proper orientation. Fate blinked until her vision acclimated then tried to adjust the heavy goggles on her head, but without much success. They dug into her cheekbone and pinched, but it was a small price to pay for protection against being turned into a garden statue.
She glanced at the nearest stone figure. It was a young man with his hand held out against impending danger. When her gaze settled on his face, she shivered with dread. His mouth was open, forever frozen in a contorted, terrified scream. She could only imagine what horrifying sight would cause him that much fear.
More nervous than ever, she turned her attention to the vast cavern. Thick stalactites hung from the ceiling, some of them dripped so low they’d connected to the floor and had become deformed pillars. In amongst them, the stone victims stood like a large crowd waiting for the final moment of an apocalypse that would never come, at least for them.
A greenish light emanated from a tunnel in the distance–the only illumination against the darkness filling the shadowy grotto. Fate didn’t want to take a single step further. She wanted to turn around and take the portal back to the Keep, no matter how bone-shaking the ride. But she’d agreed to come on this mission. How could she turn tail and run now? Brune’s attitude towards her would be insufferable if she left.
Pride and competitiveness propelled Fate forward. Gripping her laser gun, she headed toward the light, surprising Brune by taking the lead. As they moved through the tunnel and approached the opening, the light grew brighter and an emerald gleam shimmered over the rough walls.
With her heart pounding in her ears, Fate edged her way into another cavern with a lake in its center. The viridescent water appeared to be the light source. Stalactites as thin and sharp as spears clung to the ceiling, each wet with electric green liquid, which rained tiny droplets into the pool.
“Does it seem like we should’ve seen some slithering by now, or am I just being paranoid?” Fate whispered to Brune.
“Wish I could say it was you, but I have to agree.”
“There’s another tunnel over there.” Fate pointed at a dark hole across the cavern. “Maybe we should–”
Brune gestured for silence, her jaw clenched as she nudged her chin toward the pool.
Tiny waves rippled the water. A black snake, no larger than a cobra broke the water’s surface. Fate aimed her laser gun at it. Was the snake attached to the Gorgon’s head? Her skull would have to be huge to accommodate a full head of snakes that size.
Fear iced through her veins.
Five more snakes surfaced, then twenty, then hundreds until a swarm advanced toward the water’s edge. The gun shook in Fate’s hand. Her instinct was to blast away as many of them as she could in one sweep. But they needed the head intact, snakes included.
“We’re going to need a forklift to carry that head back,” Fate whispered.
Brune took a step back. “Something tells me that’s not her head.”
The horde of snakes slithered over the rocks, dragging the torso of a female covered in scales. Fate didn’t register what she was seeing at first…until she noticed the snakes were attached at the torso, which heaved itself upright, revealing a reptilian head with jagged horns. This Gorgon looked nothing like her snake-haired sister, Medusa. She had a writhing tangle of snakes carrying her forward instead of legs.
While trying to make sense of the creature, neither Fate nor Brune realized the Gorgon was looking back at them, until the moment she grabbed her bow and quiver.
The Gorgon knocked an arrow and shot with astonishing speed. Fate and Brune both hit the ground, the arrow zinging through the air just above their heads. Brune shot back. The red laser sliced the Gorgon’s reptilian hide and left a smoldering gash.
The hair-raising hiss of thousands of snakes filled the cavern as the Gorgon let another arrow fly. They hurtled out of the way in separate directions. Brune rolled down the incline, stopping herself near the water’s edge. Fate smacked her back against the rock wall. Gasping for air, she aimed her laser gun at the Gorgon’s gown of snakes. The beam cut through several hundred of them, chopping a good third of the Gorgan’s support out from under her. She teetered sideways as she sniped an arrow at Fate, missing her arm by about an inch.
Following Fate’s lead, Brune dove onto her belly, taking a shot from the other side, cutting off the remaining snakes supporting the Gorgon. Screeching in pain, the Gorgon toppled to the ground, a blackish ichor spurting from the flailing severed ends.
Fate jumped to her feet and charged over to the Gorgon who was dragging herself towards her fallen bow. Drawing her sword, she raised her blade over the monster’s neck. But Fate hesitated, suddenly squeamish at the thought of chopping off her head.
“Do it!” Brune rose to her feet. “The snakes are growing back!”
Breathing hard and fast, Fate watched in horror as freshly grown scales sealed over the bloody ends and the amputated parts lengthened while forming heads at the tips. Dizzy with revulsion, Fate steeled herself and brought the sword down. Closing her eyes for a split second, she felt the blade strike bone, the impact nearly jarring the sword’s hilt from her grasp. But it wasn’t bone she’d hit.
The Gorgon blocked the swing of her blade with her bow. Before Fate could counter, the creature twisted the bow against the top of the blade, jerking it from her grip. Fate reached for her gun, but some of the regrown snakes seized her ankle, wrenching her legs out from under her. The gun fell and rolled out of reach.
Fate slammed on her side, pain driving into her ribcage, wind rushing from her lungs. Snakes lashed at her legs, sinking their fangs into her armor. Fate screamed, kicking wildly in a panic to get them off.
A laser blast tore through the Gorgon’s chest, knocking her back. While Brune hammered away at the Gorgon, shearing off snakes and searing more holes in her tough hide, Fate unsnapped her dagger and hacked at the snake heads locked onto her armor by their fangs. Free at last, she scrambled backwards, searching for her sword.
Grabbing it off the ground, she raced over to the Gorgon, no longer tr
oubled by the gruesome job. Without missing a beat, Fate brought the blade down, slicing through the Gorgon’s brainstem like butter.
The body thrashed, jerking violently in the last throws of death. The Gorgon’s arms reached for the severed head, whapping blindly, which sent it rolling down the rocks toward the water.
“Get the head before it hits the water,” Fate shouted.
Brune chased after it, grabbing the head by one the horns seconds before it fell in the pool. Smiling in triumph, Brune heaved the hideous head off the ground for Fate to see–the Gorgon’s face frozen in a scream of rage, fangs protruding from the mouth and red snake eyes glaring.
“Ew, bag it.” Fate grimaced and quickly wiped the black goo off her blade with the carrying bag before tossing it to Brune.
As Brune reached out to catch the bag, her eyes went round with fear. “Fate, behind you!”
Fate turned to see two enormous snakes slithering from the far tunnel. She raised her laser gun and shot, missing the one she was aiming at. The serpents hissed, fixing their gleaming eyes on her as they snaked round the bend. Four more snakes followed and Fate fired again, this time hitting one in the head. It reared back, when suddenly an unrecognizable form ducked low to pass through the tunnel entrance.
The thing entered the chamber, rising to a height of twelve feet or more. Fate staggered back, her heart hammering with terror. It was another Gorgon with an overly large reptilian head. From the neck down, she was human in form, naked and vulnerable in every way. Six serpents the size of boa constrictors grew from the back of her huge skull. Their strong muscular bodies lifted and bore the Gorgon forward like loyal servants who never allowed her dainty, human feet to touch the ground.
Her massive head turned toward her fallen sister. When she saw the decapitated body, she let out an anguished cry, sharp and shrill. She rushed at Brune, who stood there caught like a kid with her hand in the cookie jar, holding the severed head of her sister. Brune threw the head at Fate’s feet, then started blasting the Gorgon with her laser gun.
Fate's Keep (Fate's Journey Book 2) Page 26
