by Pierce, SJ
“We have all come a long way to get here, and I am delighted that you made it. My name is Prolificent, and here beside me is Diamort. We are your Elders.”
The Protectors repeated different forms of salutations in response, nodding and smiling in unison.
Prolificent’s expression darkened. “While it’s a pleasure to have all of you here, this is a sad and woeful day. Our beloved Earth has been overrun and defaced by beasts from another world. This is a time of great sadness, and also a time of great significance. We have all been called here to assemble our army and make sure that they are brought to justice.”
He gave a quick nod to Diamort.
“Yes, that is our purpose here,” Diamort said in his soothing, pleasant voice. “Your duties are not over yet. The time we will strike back is unknown, but when it comes, we will be ready.
Everyone nodded enthusiastically with a crazed passion in their eyes, like a hyped up football team, ready to get on the field and clobber their opponent.
“Your contributions today meant everything. These gifted humans you’ve brought here will aide us in this crucial time. We will gather with them tonight and discuss specifics on how these beasts operate and what our plans are to utilize you further.”
“And you are all probably wondering why your humans are no longer bound to you now,” Prolificent said. “I’m sure you have all noticed how when you came through the gateway your ties to them were severed. They are no longer your concern.”
All of the Protectors nodded except Alyx, and his black eyes darted to her. Her heart jumped. She still felt her draw to Isaac. How can that be?
“Your new Marked are the Warriors who will arrive tomorrow at dawn. You will be bound to one of them for reasons we will explain at a later time. We weren’t sure how many of you would make it here so we had to wait before they were sent.
The Protectors looked around at one another with puzzled expressions. Were there supposed to be more? Did they all make it?
“You all made it here,” he confirmed to ease the tension. “However, this is no time to celebrate. Let us take a moment and reflect on all of the human lives that were a casualty of these beasts’ cruelty today.”
The Elders bowed their heads, and the Protectors followed suit. As the cooling island wind blew around them, Alyx’s heart became heavy. The silent streets and towns her and Isaac drove through on the way here were, in fact, an indication of what she feared. According to her Elder, everyone died at the hand of theses beasts, and brutally so. Within the gentle caress of the wind, Alyx imagined the dead’s spirits being carried along with it, to join them in encouragement, to avenge what was taken from them.
After their moment of silence, the Elders’ heads lifted. “I’m sure you’re also wondering about your new bodies,” Prolificent said with a hint of pride. “We created you to transform into strong, sturdy vessels once we summoned. Your skin is soft, but tough like an ethereal coat of arms, intended to be impenetrable to any demon or foe. We have worked for thousands of years to perfect this, and did not expect them to be able to pierce your skin today,” he said as he glanced at Alyx again. “Their strength acquired from their infinite wickedness was a lot greater than we’d ever anticipated. But you should all be proud of your accomplishments. Your instincts served you and your Marked well.
As they stood together, not one other Protector with a single mark on them, Alyx felt as flawed as she appeared with her healing lacerations. It wasn’t only Cindra who adjusted well to her new body and whose instincts performed flawlessly, the rest of them were of the same caliber.
She then wondered why her defective, angelic vessel was able to even make it there. Perhaps her love for Isaac prevailed when her imperfect body could not. His life was so invaluable to her and to the world that it drove her forward and through the chaos. Her desire for him had been the source of her torture as a human for so long and yet at the core of it, ended up being what saved their lives.
And how was it, that she was the only third life-timer -- her assumed reason for her flaws in the first place. Were there no seconds, or any other thirds like her? Every time she was created it was with a group of others. Perhaps the perils of life as a human did a lot of the work for the beasts. Maybe their Marked had passed, and their ethereal souls weren’t reassigned to a new vessel before the summoning.
“We do apologize, however, for the gateways being located in inconvenient places. In order for your now angelic bodies – or any celestial entity – to pass through, we had to create them somewhere untouched by human hands. While you all did a marvelous job getting here, your skills and concentration need to be perfected if we expect to achieve success. Running from these beasts is a lot less demanding than meeting them in battle, so along with your Warriors, we will begin our training tomorrow.
His face brightened, hopefully indicating that the somber part of their meeting was over. “The bodies that you are in now are your heavenly vessels. When this is over, either by victory or defeat, we will ascend to the place we’ve prepared for you. This place here was created only for our temporary stay. This dimension will not last forever.
While the others seemed pleased with this information, Alyx had mixed emotions over both of these revelations. She had already taken a liking to the island and was sad that it wasn’t a permanent fixture. Also, this ‘place’ that they had prepared for their angelic bodies, would it be somewhere that Isaac would one day go once his human days came to an end? Were angels and humans allowed to be together in the afterlife? She certainly wasn’t going to ask, but felt a sense of anxiety over it nevertheless. This short amount of time they had left would seem but a speck of dust in time to the eternity that her and Isaac would possibly spend apart. She was now more determined than ever to reach out to him and make the most of their time here.
“Along with your draws to your Marked being severed, you have probably noticed that you do not tire or need sleep. Your hunger, thirst, and many of your human needs have vanished. The way you look now will be how you stay forever. You will age no more.
What?! How in the world could she be that different from the other Protectors? Alyx knew she was flawed, but this elevated her distress to a new level. She felt as though she could eat a giant hamburger and could use a nice, relaxing bath to rest – something that was apparently supposed to no longer be needed.
“We’ve decided not to announce anything further until our gathering with the humans tonight, where we will discuss our future plans in greater detail. We will introduce you to them and give a brief tutorial on their gifts, one of which has some extremely valuable information about our enemy. Until then, please continue to get acquainted with one another and with your new living quarters. Our camp is on the hill to the North where we descended from earlier. We have a large tent set up for you to share. Each of you has an assigned chest that you will share with your new Marked and has changes of clothes. Please know that during any gathering with the humans, we require you to be dressed in the robes that are provided for you. We wear black, the humans wear purple.”
Prolificent’s eyes narrowed as he scanned the circle. “Please remember,” he said, his harsh tenor causing her soul to tremble, “no human contact except during assigned gathering times.
Seemingly gratified by this limitation, Christineth smirked and cut her eyes over at Alyx for a slice of a second.
“Diamort will now bring this meeting to a close. I must return to the camp for some preparations. I look forward to working with each of you.”
He turned to his counterpart with a stiff bow. “You may continue,” he said and exited the circle between Natalia and Serena.
“Are there any questions you have about where we are or anything you may need?” Diamort asked.
Alyx already determined that she liked him better – he seemed more approachable. His pleasant expressions weren’t as forced. What she couldn’t determine was if he was Prolificent’s equal or if he was his subordinate. Either way, Prolif
icent appeared in charge.
“And let’s keep the specific questions about our training and the Warriors for tonight.”
A dainty arm on the other side of Willow rose in the air. “I have a question,” Serena said in a wispy French accent.
At first glance, it seemed inconceivable that either she or Natalia could have made it there untouched if you went by stature alone, but as Cindra already mentioned, there was more to this girl than her petite appearance. Her green eyes brimmed with fire, shaming the mousy brown color of her hair. “Is there anything else you can tell us about the island?”
The other Protectors mumbled amongst themselves, nodding in agreement. It was something that everyone wanted to know.
“Yes, my child, what an excellent question indeed. Where you are is on an unnamed island, still on Earth no doubt, but in a different dimension than where you all were living. More will be discussed on that tonight as well as why it was created. I can tell you, however, that both Prolificent and I are invisible to the human eye in traditional human realms. For us to work with humans, a place such as this had to be created.”
Nobody wanted to push his limited explanation any further and smiled appreciatively in response.
He scanned though the faces around the circle. “If there aren’t any further questions, I also need to retire to my tent.”
His statement wasn’t obliged, so he bowed his head in the same manner as Prolificent and turned to leave.
The others stood in silence for a scant moment and broke into their cliques, chatting excitedly. Some theorized about the island and what the Elders were preparing for, and some speculated about the Warriors and what they would be like. Alyx noticed though, that nobody appeared interested in her.
“Want to go check out the camp?” Cindra asked.
Alyx flashed an appreciative smile. “Let’s go make history.”
With Willow trailing in their wake, they headed for the green incline to the North. While they walked, she peered longingly down the hill at the human camp. Her hopes of reconciliation with Isaac were now squashed. Perhaps the Elders knew that was all the punishment she would need, and it would be plenty. Even though her contact with him wasn’t completely forbidden anymore, it was still complicated by who she was and the rules they placed upon them. Something she would need to work hard at not to resent.
Her duties as a Protector were far from over, and while Isaac occupied a huge part of her heart that she couldn’t ignore, he also shared it with her love of the human race that they were all destined to avenge. But maybe somehow in the near future, fate would pull through for her again and a chance meeting was in the works of the divine, gifting her and Isaac with more tender moments within what she feared was mere days before they might be separated for eternity.
While the other Protectors had the relief of their ties being severed from their humans, Alyx’s remained to both comfort and torture her soul, which was torn between who she was and what she wanted to be – the human she was inside. Her outer shell felt strong and youthful like an angel, but her desires and needs were still mostly human. She wasn’t sure why this was or what any of this meant, but knew that it was something she would have to hide from the others somehow, and was something she definitely couldn’t disregard.
END OF BOOK ONE
EPILOGUE:
A Twisted Agreement
Earlier that morning…
“I need you to do something, if you have the guts,” a menacing voice echoed through the empty parlor of his uncle’s study. Like the other times before, he couldn’t make out a figure but felt his overwhelming, dark presence as it surrounded him.
He knelt with his head bowed. “I do, your Worthiness. What are your wishes?”
“You are to make sure someone doesn’t survive,” the voice rumbled, growing louder, “and that his contributions to this cause against us are wiped from the Earth.”
“You want me to kill?”
“Not just anyone – the one who holds the answers to our demise. He will be the one they call a Prophet.”
The kneeling man peered through the darkness. “I can handle that, your Grace,” he snickered.
“Do not be so sure of yourself, for I am not!” the voice snarled, the power within it forcing his head back down.
His chin jutted forward, and his eyes pooled. “I do not mean to anger you. I only want to please you.”
“You will please me when you have completed this task. If he makes it through the gateway, make sure you dispose of him – and anyone else that threatens our survival – and I will give you what I promised.”
The kneeling man trembled. “M-more than one person?”
The darkness whirled around his head, the deep voice at the cusp of his ear. “If you don’t want to take the offer, I can leave you be and give it to someone more worthy,” it said in a patronizing tone. “You will then be left on your own like everyone else.”
“No, your Grace!” he pled. “I just wasn’t prepared for that, but I will make you proud. I will do whatever you ask and serve you valiantly.”
“Good, my son, and there is one more thing. You must give them all false information that will ensure their demise. I trust that you will keep in mind our previous conversations and use that to your benefit. Do you understand that instruction?”
“Yes.”
“When all is done, you will receive what I promised. You will be taken soon so make your preparations.”
He fell to the floor and his cheek rested against the marble flooring, his arms stretching out in reverence. “Thank you, my Liege. Thank you.”
And with that, the dark presence left him.
He sprung to his feet to scan over the ceiling-high shelves for the small, wooden box. Within it laid an ancient artifact, perfect for the job. He had seen it many times, but his uncle never allowed him to touch it despite his longing. He spotted it halfway up the shelf behind his uncle’s walnut writing desk, next to a replica of King Tut’s bust, and wheeled the ladder toward it.
He steadily climbed the rungs, each step an ascent into his destiny -- to make good on the deal he had made to ensure his soul’s survival. As he cradled the box in his hands, it felt heavier than he remembered. He wasn’t sure if it was because he hadn’t held it in awhile or because of the burden that it now carried.
His fingertips traced the intricate carvings along the top of the box, which read “Krosos, the Island of Crete. 1800 BCE”, and he unlatched the gold hook on the front. The blue, velvet lining caressed the golden dagger whose blade reflected the wicked sneer stretching across his face. The artifact appeared exactly as he remembered. Intricate detailing of tiny gold beads wrapped around the end of its Onyx handle, and dents speckled along the blade’s entire eight inches of soft gold, their existence suggesting its prior use. Taking lives was its specialty.
He carefully lifted the dagger from of the box and slipped it into the pocket of his baggy jeans to conceal it from the nosey, infantile house workers. “Now all I have to do is be patient,” he surmised and began formulating a plan as he awaited his capture.
Sampling of TETHERED BY FATE,
The gripping sequel to Marked for Vengeance
Available Now
The Alyx Rayer Chronicles:
By: S.J. Pierce
Book One:
MARKED FOR VENGEANCE
Book Two:
TETHERED BY FATE
Book Three:
DESTINED FOR FIRE
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
(1 John 4:18)
PROLOGUE:
A Private Bungalow
Who would have known that their reunion would be filled with lighthearted chit-chat, flirtatious touches, and lingering looks? Isaac’s back had healed nicely, and the color had returned to his face. Both pleasant surprises, as well. They sat in the center of his tent on the edge of a feather
-filled mattress, and wispy, white curtains draped across the canopy overhead, encasing them in a private bungalow for two.
“We only have a moment left,” Alyx whispered as his hand caressed her flushed cheek.
“Let’s make the most of it then,” Isaac replied, leaning in for their first real kiss.
Their hearts pounded together as their lips met, and he moved his hand to her breast – a signal that he intended for every thrilling minute to be utilized to the fullest.
They fell onto the soft cloud, their arms and legs entangled, their bodies rocking, crashing into each other in waves. She bit her bottom lip to keep from moaning, revealing their sordid love affair to those who deemed it wrong – a punishable offense.
His teeth fastened to her shoulder with a playful nip. She arched her back as his thrusts deepened, strengthened. This was it. Their lips met once more to share the moment together, the precise second that their bonding was sealed, and their bodies trembled in unison.
Breathing heavily, he rolled to the side and brushed the crease of her elbow with his fingertips. “I love you, Alyx.”
“I love you too,” she purred, and a grin swept across her face. “One more time?”
CHAPTER 1:
Even God Couldn’t See Them
“Try to forget about him,” Cindra said as she patted Alyx’s leg. “It will do you no good to think of him if you can’t have him.”
Alyx snapped from her erotic daydream, her eyes shifting to the ground from the labyrinth of white, canvas tents ahead – the place where Isaac was hidden. Her friend was right. It wouldn’t do her any good, but she couldn’t help herself. Because she couldn’t be with him in person, her daydreams served as a weak consolation.
