Blood of Mages (Rift of Chaos Book 3)

by A. J. Martinez

  “No. Let me handle this alone. I want them to understand that we come in peace,” she replied.

  She slid down the tube and the whale coughed her out. Commonly she would shape shift into a mermaid but this time she cast a bubble around herself that kept the oxygen in for her to breathe. She wanted the Laguans to see her as her human self instead of shifting into a mermaid to blend in. She wanted to hide nothing and allow them to see into her so she pushed her bubble downwards towards the net formed of Laguans. She could have swum faster than the bubble moved but it was better done this way, for this situation.

  The warrior merfolks immediately swam her way and when they reached her they circled her with their green shards like swords. She was afraid they would burst her bubble but she was confident that her magic would keep her from drowning. They hissed at her but she showed no fear. Then the warrior Laguans came closer with their harpoons. At that moment she used her water spell to communicate with them. “Aquabos larienga,” she whispered. The spell allowed her to send mental waves from her mind that could only move through the water and speak to beings of the ocean. The same waves she used to communicate with the glass whale.

  “Hear me,” she spoke to them, “I come in peace. We mean no harm. We only want to speak with your leader. Nothing more. Please let us through.”

  “No surface dweller will wander around our home,” a mermaid said. She had red hair and the veins on her forehead thickened. Her scales were green and dark blue. “Return to your land of earth and trees or we will burst your enchanted bubble and you shall drown and we will feed on your flesh.”

  “Please, we did not come here to fight. We would like to speak with the Laguan king,” Serena persisted.

  “And what message do you have for our king?” A Laguan asked as he approached. It was a much larger one with arms and feet shape shifted into fins for swimming. He carried a much larger harpoon and so Serena assumed he was the one in command. “Identify yourself, human.” He commanded. His body was blue with an orb floating around his chest area resembling a heart.

  “We would like to verbally resolve what we have been fighting for. We want to speak with your king about the Sapphire Cosmo Jewel,” she answered. “It is time that we speak about it instead of fighting and slaying each other. There is an unknown enemy that is also searching for the jewel.”

  “What makes you think that our king would want to talk to you?” The Laguan commander asked.

  “I am sure he is tired of fighting too,” Serena replied. “We both want the same thing. For so long we have been fighting over the jewel and trying to claim it for ourselves. I believe the time has come to find a way for both humans and Laguans to use the jewel and bring peace.”

  The Laguan commander remained silent. The warriors mermaids around her lowered their weapons. Serena’s honesty and integrity had reached them. The commander as well had lowered his guard.

  “Very well. But only three of you humans are allowed into our kingdom. No more than three,” the Laguan instructed.

  “As you wish,” Serena agreed. “I will bring my companions with me.”

  The mermaids broke their circle formation around her and she swam back to the glass whale. She beckoned Auron and Eckxio to come out. Auron did not hesitate but Eckxio was frightened and so the redhead pulled him down the tube of the whale and they were both coughed out. As soon as they began to drift in the water Serena cast a bubble around their bodies for them to breathe. The two bubbles followed her down to the city below. The Laguans ceased their defense formation around their city and guided Serena to the entrance. Hundreds of Laguans swam around her wielding harpoons. She used her water magic to pull Auron and Eckxio’s bubble close to her. She was afraid that they would burst if they drifted away.

  The Laguans took her to the largest dome in the center of the city. As she gazed at the glowing egg shaped homes below, many of the citizens shut their lights when they saw Serena. It was extremely rare for humans to come to this city and those who have made it to the underwater city never saw more than the outside of it. No human ever entered the city so Serena felt lucky to mark the pages of history for her country as the first.

  As they got closer to the city, the dome became larger and dwarfed them. The center domes were five times larger than her castle in Sarb Thale. The Laguans entered the dome through a round window and walked into the city. When she reached the round windows she quickly pulled in Auron and Eckxio and the three of them fell through. The bubbles vanished and their bodies fell through a curtain-like material then landed on a surface made of white stone.

  There was fresh air to breathe and a soothing light from the very top of the dome. The light above looked like an eye watching you, like the eye of a deity or a gentle creature. Serena scanned her surroundings. Everything was made of glass, crystals and alabaster. Stairs coiled around the walls and there were tubes where some Laguans traveled through, propelled by water. There were goldfish shining and floating in mid air without the aid of water, just hovering and moving through the dome.

  “This…is…incredible,” Eckxio said in awe. “I have never seen anything like it.”

  “Me neither,” Serena whispered. “It is beautiful.”

  “Are those goldfish moving through the air?” Eckxio asked.

  “It appears so,” Serena responded.

  They gazed up and saw the higher floors made of glass, watching as Laguans walked on those floors. Just as they were enjoying the architecture, a warrior Laguan approached them.

  “Princess Serena,” the Laguan said. This one was taller than the ones they had seen. “Follow me please. I will take you to his majesty, King Krobpiok. He is interested in hearing what you have to say.”

  “Thank you very much,” she said and bowed. “What is your name?”

  “My name is Orobio. I am one of the commanders of the Laguan army,” he said. “This is the first time we have had humans inside our city. I expect you to behave and not cause any trouble. Even enemies can show respect.”

  “There will be no hostility,” she agreed.

  “Very well then, follow me,” Orobio said and beckoned.

  Silently they followed Orobio along a bridge with no handrails and on to the stairs along the walls. There was no talking as they followed Orbio, and as Laguans passed by they were given foul looks. Laguans would gasp and whisper as they walked by. “Out of the way!” Orobio shouted. “This area is restricted. Go back to your orbs. These humans are only here to visit.”

  Serena looked at the shape shifters. Although they were all the same colors, they were different sizes and had different facial structures. There were burly ones, and others with more slender figures and short ones. They wore no clothes and their private parts were protected by hard skin. Serena saw the pain in their faces. She knew why. It was not because she was human, but rather because of all the Laguans that were killed by her people.

  As Orobio guided them to a lower floor, they soon arrived at a platform.

  “Get on the platform,” Orobio instructed.

  Serena and her friends did as they were told without question and she was afraid to speak in front of so many Laguans, in front of her enemy.

  There was a trail of white stones on the platform, smooth large stones. She looked at the trail of stones and saw that it led to another round window with a curtain-like material that somehow prevented the water from coming into the city.

  “Step on the stones and you will be taken to the king’s throne in the next dome,” Orobio said.

  The three did as instructed and as soon as they stepped on the stones they began to glow. Serena balanced herself on her stone. Eckxio almost fell off, but Auron did not seem to have a problem. They traveled through the round window atop the stones and on through a tube. They moved at a steady pace yet Serena crouched, afraid she would fall off.

  “This is becoming more and more interesting,” Eckxio said from behind Serena. “You know, at first I did not think we would be able to breathe in
side the city.”

  “I was not sure either. It does make me wonder, why there is no water in their city?” Serena questioned. “Maybe they need air to survive too.”

  “Did you notice the angry stares?” Auron asked from behind Eckxio.

  “Yes, and I know why,” Serena replied. “They want revenge.”

  “Trust me, I know how it feels,” Auron sympathized. “I have fought in many wars back home. It never ends. You slay your enemy’s brother and your enemy slays yours and on and on it goes. What you are doing is right. It is better to talk things out, which is not always easy with your enemy, however, it is another step towards saving lives.”

  “That has to be the nicest thing you have said to me since we have met, Auron,” Serena said and giggled.

  “Don’t expect it too often,” Auron replied and chuckled.

  They were arriving at the dome of the king. The white stones were slowing down as they reached the end of the tube. When they streamed through the curtain at the end, they arrived at an atrium. There were shining jellyfish moving throughout the space of the atrium. In the center of the atrium was the king’s throne. Laguans paced around with net baskets filled with seaweed and a bizarre looking green goo. Ten warrior Laguans were lined all around the round stone path that led to the throne. There were glowing stones on the floor everywhere and the Laguans that stepped on one elevated to a higher floor.

  The white stones on which they traveled descended to a platform and ended their glow. Serena and her friends jumped off the platform and marveled at the atrium and its shining jellyfish. Serena knew that there had to be some meaning to these shining fish in the domes yet was still paranoid about touching them.

  “Step forth towards the king!” a high pitched voice demanded from the side of the throne.

  “Finally, there he is,” Auron said with excitement.

  As the three walked towards the throne it was difficult not to stare at the king. Like all Laguans his skin was blue but a darker blue of the deep ocean. He had tentacles for a beard and, oddly enough, he had pupils in his white eyes unlike other Laguans. A crystal crown shone on his head, shaped like a trident. His left arm was in the shape of a crab’s claw instead of a fist and it seemed to be part of his original form rather than shape shifted.

  They walked up a couple of stairs when they were fifteen feet away from the king.

  “Bow to the king as you would to yours on the surface world,” the king said.

  And so they did. They got on their knees and their heads touched the stone floor.

  “Rise,” the king said shortly after they had bowed.

  Serena and her friends stood up. She was eager to speak but she knew better.

  “When you first entered our domes, did you see our goldfish moving through the air as if they were in water?” The king asked. His voice was deep and slow.

  “Yes, my lord,” Serena answered.

  “Do you know what they mean?” the king asked.

  “A goldfish means good luck and good fortune. You have been waiting a long time for your fortune, your…prosperity. It means that the koi has evolved its scales and it is now ready to swim up the waterfall and become a dragon. You are now swimming up the waterfall, against the current and you won’t stop until you reach the top,” Serena deciphered.

  “Very good,” the Laguan king said. “Now, take a look at the jellyfish in this dome. Do you know what they mean?”

  “Yes, King Krobpiok,” Serena answered. “You grieve, time passes, then you moved on. The Jellyfish represent your willingness to expand and no longer look at the sting they left on your body. You are forgiving those who have hurt you and ready to move on to better things with faith and love.”

  King Krobpiok chuckled joyfully and it brought a smile to Serena, but she forced herself to remain solemn for she knew that the pain was in the details to come.

  “Very good, very good. You remind me of her,” the king commented.

  Serena wished she knew of whom he was speaking but she did not bother asking at the moment.

  “My father, the previous king, once told me that, hundreds of years ago before the humans stole the Sapphire Cosmo Jewel, this city was the center of the southern ocean of Odealeous,” the king said. “I grew with tales of how our city was once a beautiful kingdom blessed by the dragon god of water himself. Creatures from all over the ocean and the surface would visit our city and we would trade and share cultures. This city was once filled with magic and it still is, however, it was nothing compared to the kingdom it was before. I intend to return to those times of prosperity and abundance when we no longer feel like we need to survive but just live. Those precious times my father spoke of, I can see them in my dreams. Our people have done everything we could to make our city great again but we are dying out and our numbers have greatly reduced since then. The only way for us to become the supreme beings of the ocean once more is with the Sapphire Cosmo Jewel and live in service to Oceamus.” The king paused and there was a short silence. He glared at Serena and asked, “What is your goal? What is your dream? What is your desire for your people?”

  “Thank you for asking,” Serena said and felt sad. “I have come here because we have grown tired of fighting. We humans have also had the Sapphire Cosmo Jewel in our possession and have felt its great power. However, I am starting to believe that it does not have to be in the hands of just one race. We can find a way for everyone to prosper from its magic.”

  “Are you sure you are King Sarbock’s daughter?” The king asked sarcastically.

  Serena giggled and responded, “Do you not see the resemblance?”

  “The resemblance, yes, but the personality, not one bit,” the king said. “Forgive me for speaking ill of your father but he was a man of war. His current illness is a reflection of his inner world.”

  “I hope I don’t offend, your majesty, but if I remember correctly he was poisoned by you, wasn’t he?” Serena asked.

  “That is correct and I would have gladly killed him had he not invaded us a day before,” the king said.

  “What!” Serena snarled.

  “I bet you did not know that, did you,” the king said and chuckled. “Six months ago we attacked your city only because your father had sent assassins to kill me. After thirty years of peace I am not sure why he decided to send spies. We almost gave up hope of finding the sapphire jewel, but your father’s unexpected attack had made me believe that perhaps he still had the jewel. It was a war instinct and at the moment we decided to follow it.”

  “What about that Laguan boy you sent to kill me?” Serena reminded.

  “Ah, yes, that was my son,” the king answered, then gestured to one of his warriors. “Where is Krijy?”

  A Laguan warrior grabbed the boy that hid behind the phalanx. He pulled the boy then pushed him towards the king. The boy fell on his knees and looked up at his father.

  “This here is my boy, Krijy. He was punished for what he had done. He almost started another war between us. For this, we apologize,” the king said.

  “She is a liar, father, she has the sapphire jewel,” Krijy said in a hissy voice.

  “Silence!” the king thundered. “You were not given any command to leave the city. You only brought trouble for us.” The king then returned his attention to Serena. “I apologize on behalf of my idiot son. Now, as I was saying about your father, I poisoned him to teach him a lesson. I wanted him to experience real suffering. However, lately I have been having visions and decided to approach this in a different way. I no longer want to use violence. I will be better than my father and the ones before. The jellyfish and goldfish in my dreams have been trying to tell me something. I believe that you are also a manifestation of my dreams. I have seen you in my dreams before, Serena, and you are here to reveal to me the truth that I refused to listen to before.”

  “Excuse me, your majesty,” Auron interrupted.

  “You do not interrupt the king,” said the Laguan next to the throne.

>   “Let him speak,” the king approved and gestured to Auron.

  “These dreams and visions you speak of, why are you relying on them?” Auron asked.

  “We Laguans strongly believe that dreams are a gateway to the world we cannot see,” the king explained. “The element of water governs sleep, fantasy and imagination. Our dreams find solutions to our everyday problems. For the past six months I have been dreaming of this woman beside you. In my dreams she stands in front of me and tells me the truth.”

  “What truth?” Auron asked again.

  “I don’t know. We will soon see,” the king replied and stared at Serena.

  For some reason she did not feel uneasy as he looked at her. Perhaps it was because he was of a different species, not another man drooling over her. The king stood up and paced back and forth. He stroked his beard of tentacles and snapped his crab like hand.

  “You remind me of that woman,” the king stated.

  “Who do you speak of?” Serena asked.

  “The last time that we saw the sapphire jewel it appeared during the midst of war,” King Krobpiok said. “A woman that looked similar to you appeared. She seemed to have been summoned by the jewel. She took it and then we never saw it again. The war had ended and the woman vanished before our very eyes. I had met her before the war. She had visited this city three decades ago and stood here just like you, asking for peace and an alternate solution to the war. If only I can remember her name.”

  Serena felt deep in her gut that she knew who this woman was. Without a doubt, she was sure of it.

  “Is there anything else you remember about her?” she asked.

  “She prophesized about the day of the chosen one,” the king answered. “She told me that one day the sapphire jewel will choose a master and when that day comes the war will end and she would hide away into the forest south of her city. She said ‘On that day both the Laguans and humans will come to terms and join hands to create their own abundance and prosperity.’”

  “The south forest,” Serena whispered and then she remembered that it was the same direction where Akielas was headed. “Mother, could it be you?”