by F. G. Adams
“What do we have here, gentlemen?” a new voice says from behind me.
I try to glance behind me, but the grip around my neck tightens, and then my world goes black.
Chapter Fourteen
Aldin
Striding across the marbled floor entrance from the elevator, I’m met by the congregating team of Enchanted Immortals and Hunters ready to descend onto Jackson. Their faces are grim with determination, and vengeance laces many who have lost loved ones that suffered by his hand over the last decade. We will end their suffering and remove the world of his evil ways.
Marcus is standing in the center when he notices my arrival. “Aldin, we weren’t sure if you would be joining us tonight,” he remarks with a hint of sarcasm and concern mixed together. He knows …
“My lord, I’ve news that will help ensure our victory. I come from seeing with my own eyes the wickedness and depravity Jackson has inflicted upon Enchanted Immortal and humans alike. He is evil and must be destroyed.”
I’ve caught the attention of everyone in the room. Voices are quiet and movement stops. Marcus nods in affirmation for me to continue.
“The place we believed he resides in is definitely his latest tomb of torture. The doorway is open. I witnessed the horrendous acts he is practicing and it must be stopped. Bodies hanging on the walls being drained of blood while the beings still live. His doorway isn’t guarded by enchanted wards, so I was able to follow an Enchanted Immortal cloaked. Jackson has surrounded himself with an army of brainless bodies as his protection. Most likely he is controlling their every move, a grand puppeteer.”
“What do you mean, draining blood?” Marcus asks, shocked at the prospect. His body is tense with an awareness of the act.
“A fledgling was secured on what I took to be meat hooks while his blood drained into a vat of sorts. His fangs had been removed and he was still alive. I wanted to help him, but Jackson showed up and I had to retreat. I didn’t want to give him the chance to sense my presence.”
“Hmmm. Tell me more, Aldin. Every detail is important.” Marcus spouts question after question, expecting immediate answers. “What else? Smells? Lights? Noises? How were the bodies positioned?”
I think back to the surroundings and begin to remember the smallest of details. “The lighting was dim but lit by four large black pillar candles located in each corner of the large space.” I close my eyes and inhale. “At first it didn’t register over the strong scent of blood and decay, but yes, I’m positive I smelled a hint of lavender and resin.”
“And?” Marcus anxiously prods for me to continue.
“Each body was positioned in a line between the candles exactly the same distance apart with a silver flashing placed below attached to a gutter angling into the center vat. The vat collecting the blood was located in the center, a large obsidian stone hung above. It glowed bright red whenever a drop of blood dripped into it.”
“Impossible,” Marcus exclaims, interrupting my dreary recollection. No longer standing still, he’s pacing the length of the room mumbling to himself over and over. “No. I never believed he could escape. This cannot be happening again. He was banished into a lamp, never to be released, and imprisoned within the tomb of Czar Nannook in another realm, never to be awoken.”
“Who was? My lord, what are you saying?” I cooly inquire.
The entire room has grown eerily quiet, tight with anxiety of the news Marcus has about the monster we are hunting.
“Pure evil, Aldin. Evil like no one has ever known. So many lives were lost. The Immortal Conflict was fierce, and only the oldest Immortals lived to see a new day, and every one of them succumbed to the black magic he yielded.” His eyes grow distant as he continues his gruesome tale. “Only my sisters and I share the knowledge of the location. We are the only Immortals alive that know where the enchanted tomb is. I haven’t shared that secret with anyone. Not even you, my trusted son. I was waiting for the right time to share the burden with you.”
I’m stunned by his words. All these years, he has trained me to take over his kingdom and lead the Enchanted Immortals, and I have never heard anything about a tomb or Immortal Conflict. You would think with all the preparations he was making for me to assume his role, he would have felt that the background about our race almost not existing would be important to know. How did they keep this so quiet? Our historians are adamant about the records they keep. Some are fanatical to a point of absurdity. A few I’ve met are argumentative and not so pleasant. My heart pounds loudly from the news Marcus has bestowed upon us.
Every new Enchanted Immortal is recorded in the “Forever Living Enchanted Immortal” scroll. The scroll is a divine entity, all-knowing. When a new Enchanted Immortal is created, a name and date is immediately burned on to it. Whether it’s a Necromancer or Shifter, naturally-born or other, a name and date appears. Every Enchanted Immortal throughout time is listed. If one meets their death, a new date appears. The scroll is kept in a temple at the center of the Enchanted Immortal Kingdom, accessed through a doorway in Egypt guarded day and night. I’ve seen it once when Marcus showed me that my own name had been added. It’s a sacred bonding between a master and offspring.
For a brief moment, excitement strums through my body. I will be traveling to Egypt with Wren for the bonding ceremony, once she accepts our blood bond. I wonder how she will accept all the changes. From my interactions with my Wren, she is a very logical human. Gifting her with this knowledge will need to be executed delicately. She’s human and life as she knows it will end. Humans will age, but not Wren; she will be tied to my life source.
“This changes nothing. We banished him once and we will banish him again. We are strong and must stop him.” Marcus vehemently declares.
Startled, I try to catch up with him. “I’m at a loss. Who must be banished and why, my lord? I thought we were hunting Jackson Parrish and now you say we aren’t?”
“A monster, Aldin. Someone I hoped never to see again in my eternity of living. He’s known as Baako, God of the Night Realm. He captures souls of the lost and tortures them for eternity. He lives off their pain and suffering.”
Agent Fox comments, “Some of the scrolls passed down by hunters, generation to generation, have mentioned a boogeyman of sorts from the beginning of time. Are you saying this Baako is the one?”
“Yes.” Marcus nods and shakes his head back and forth as if reliving a horrible nightmare. “One in the same. He is using Jackson as his living vessel to perpetuate his rising. He needs a body to replace the one he is currently using. His soul lives in this realm while his body is entombed in another realm under strong protection wards.”
The eerily quiet room begins to hum with fear and uncertainty. For Marcus to lose his calm persona and react the way he has unsettles even the oldest Immortal. Fox and his men are huddled together, whispering. I’m at a loss with their need to whisper the conversation; don’t they realize we can hear them?
“Fox, repeat what you are saying for everyone’s benefit, please,” Marcus calmly directs.
He shuffles from foot to foot nervously. “We are concerned, Marcus. If you feel he is so powerful and, well … you’re Marcus, King of the Enchanted Immortals … how are we possibly going to defeat him? The history books mention a blood cleansing, but with no instructions or guidance. Nothing we could use. We believe contacting the twins, Jazmine and Jada, is our only hope. Do you think they would know of this? They are the only Immortals powerful enough to conjure a vanquishing spell against Jackson. You said he’s a god? How would that work?”
“Tricky.” Marcus furiously ponders Fox’s comments as his hand runs through his short hair. “I’m not sure I want to bother them just yet. They prefer to live in seclusion. Large crowds bother them. They haven’t been seen by anyone in many years. But, I will go and request their help. When they learn of the body-jumping of Jackson Parish, I am more than positive they will want to help.”
“This is a life-changing event, Marcus. Without
their help, we could all be facing a grim future … possibly no future at all. You have to try,” Fox gently says.
“Yes, I know you’re correct, even understand your concerns. The situation is out of my hands with Aldin’s new revelation. Seems I have no choice but to summon them to help. We will await their arrival and expect all to go well once they are among us.”
Marcus
I exit the elevator onto the basement level. As I walk down the long pristinely white hallway to my vault, my mind goes back to everything Aldin recalled.
“Such a mess. After all these years, he’s still learned nothing.”
Standing outside the vault, I place the combination into the pad and the door slides open. I step in as the door seals behind me. The chamber I've entered has two physical doors. One on the right is tarnished and brass-colored—an earth doorway. Open it and wish to be anywhere on earth, and it will take you there. The door on the left is silver with gold trim, and it is much different and sacred. This doorway can lead to other realms in the universe, but only an original Immortal can open it.
I begin to speak the spell of old, ordering the silver doorway to be opened. Bright lights flash as the solid door liquefies into clear, shimmering waves. I walk through to the other side and greet my beloved sisters.
“The time is nearing, my sisters. The prophecy foretold has been triggered. He has found his mate. We must be ready. Your assistance is required from this point forward.”
“We are ready, my dear brother,” Jada hastily responds.
Jazmine sadly sighs. “Let us begin our quest.”
Chapter Fifteen
Aldin
The exchange of doubt and hope among those in the room continues once Marcus leaves on his errand to summon the magical twins. I’ve only been privy to seeing the beautiful creatures once, and that was at a distance. In the past, Marcus deemed their privacy and protection absolute, never allowing interaction with them as a possibility for anyone, human or Enchanted Immortal alike. For him to agree to disturb their sanctuary of peace reiterates the drastic circumstances developing for Enchanted Immortals.
Wren’s mortality as a human enters my thoughts. I’m filled with unease, knowing she is out there without my protection. Existing without her now after what we have shared would destroy me. I now understand why, after all these years, Marcus is unable to move on. I need to speak with Marcus when he returns and plans need to be made for integrating her into the Enchanted Immortal way of life. Explaining the differences between us won’t be easy. I’m not sure how she will react. I’ve marked her and, for me, there is no turning back.
I’m so focused on Wren’s protection when a sense of urgency and pain grabs ahold of me. I collapse to the marble floor, writhing in pain and clutching my chest.
“Aldin, what’s wrong?” Strong arms try to hold me still as I continue to squirm in agony on the floor.
“Help him.” I hear Brenton yell, and footsteps move closer to where I’m lying on the cold marble floor.
Blood rushes faster as my chest pounds harder from the adrenaline coursing through me. What’s happening to me? All of sudden, I’m whimpering. Again, emotions swamp me that are so unfamiliar. An overwhelming fear and helplessness bathe my entire being. Desperation claims me followed by total blackness.
Darkness envelops me as I spin down a cavernous hole. The never-ending feeling of rapidly descending into nothingness pummels me. My arms and legs are melded against the trunk of my body, unmovable. After a moment of being unsure of how much longer I will have to endure the endless falling, I suddenly stop.
Voices. I hear voices far away as I struggle to open my eyes. Blinking away the fogginess, I strain to focus on the shapes taking form in front of me and am startled when Jackson Parrish and another Vampire appear.
“She is his mate and carries his unborn son, Jafar. The first original Immortal conceived since the Conflict. A descendant of the almighty Marcus Dalca is in my clutches. She is the key to destroying him once and for all.” Jackson’s evil laugh echoes in the cavern.
“Yes, your majesty, but how did he get around the curse? How did he know?”
“They’ve found a way to circumvent the blasted curse, the same way I’ve been reborn over the centuries, I’m sure. If you hadn’t been linked to me, I would be stuck in that realm for eternity.”
Jafar reminds him, “And, after all these centuries of searching, we still haven’t found the doorway to your tomb. It’s protected by a powerful ward. If their power is weakened, I should be able to pinpoint a location within a hundred mile radius of the doorway. The last time, we were so close. Do you believe this is the reason the twins’ location is kept a secret?”
“Yes. Marcus’ plan is crafty, but not foolproof. Regardless, we will make plans now for the sacrifice and exchange. Everything is in place. Even the planets are aligning that will help boost my powers. I’ve waited centuries to claim my rightful throne. The throne my beloved brother stole from me. He will pay dearly for the pain and suffering he has caused me. Beginning with his precious creation, Aldin. Once, my body is released from the tomb and my soul is reunited, I will be unstoppable.”
My eyes travel around the cavern and land on something that sends me exploding with anger, losing my prided self-control. My Wren! She is floating midair, her long auburn hair unbound down her spine with her head hanging back. Her clothes from earlier have been replaced with a sheer white garment, baring her beautiful body for all to see. A foreign ache starts in my gut at the possibility of losing my mate. I notice her chest moving and calm slightly, knowing she’s alive. My eyes check her body for any harm and end on her angelic face, and I’m shocked at what I find. Blue eyes focused and staring intently at me. I inhale trying to catch her scent, and can’t.
My body is yanked backwards, spiraling towards my ascension, Wren’s body fading rapidly from my sight. “No,” I vehemently scream, fighting to return to her, only to have my arms and legs not listen to my demand.
“Aldin?”
My body is shaking profusely.
“Wake up, Aldin,” a strong voice demands.
I recognize that voice.
“Aldin, I command you to obey me now.”
I must obey him. My subconscious won’t allow me to ignore his command. Willing my eyes to open, I am comforted at what I see. I’m in my bedroom laying in the middle of my large platform bed, which is centered in the room. The concerned expressions on their faces show. Marcus and the twins surround me.
Looking directly in his eyes, I try to relay the anguish and turmoil at what I saw.
“Marcus … Wren,” I weakly mutter. “Help her,” I manage to say before blackness consumes me again.
Chapter Sixteen
Wren
Hundreds of small flames illuminate the darkness, casting shadows on the walls in the large hollow cavern somewhere in the middle of nowhere. I don’t know where “here” is, even though I’ve been trying to remember how I got from the warehouse to here. A powerful force within me beckons for me to listen. I’ve been ignoring the pull on my consciousness for some time now, even though time is irrelevant in this place. I’ve been counting the drops from the moisture that has built up from over the years to stop the insanity trying to take a hold of my mind. How long is forever? I wonder. Then I answer myself: one second more of enduring this craziness. Have I gone mad? Maybe.
Two rather young, good-looking men—one claiming to be a vampire and the other the god Baako—have been discussing the end of the god Maarku, enacting revenge from eight hundred years ago, and Baako claims to be the rightful heir of the throne for Immortals gods.
Yeah, right, I’ve got two tickets on the loony bin train for these bozos.
Yet the tugging in my mind won’t let the reality of what they are saying go. Awareness occurs when I realize I’m able to understand the conversation the two vampires are having even though I know they are not speaking English. It sounds similar to Dr. Kalile’s native language and he is fro
m Egypt.
This must be a dream even though it feels so real. Strange things are going on right before my eyes. I’m Alice in Wonderland and I’ve fallen down the notorious rabbit hole with no way back. Holy Fuck! I know I’m hallucinating because Aldin is here now. I’ve been trapped within my own mind, dangling in the middle of this cave, butt-ass naked except for the sheer white drapery wrapped around me. I’m not cold or hot. I don’t feel anything.
“Wait.” Aldin begins drifting backwards towards the light. “I need you. Please don’t leave me here,” I silently beg. The words never escape my lips, and then he’s lost from my sight.
I’m alone again. Drifting. Aldin, where are you? Aldin, I need you, I chant endlessly, willing him to return to me. Time has no meaning.
An all-too-familiar feeling wraps around my consciousness. Aldin. I’m sure I feel his presence with me again, but this time I can’t see him. Invisible arms surround me, comforting me in the shadowy abyss. He’s back.
“My lovely Wren. I am here. I will protect you and our unborn son.” Aldin speaks clearly inside my head as if he’s sitting right next to me whispering in my ear.
“Aldin, thank god. You heard me. Felt me calling out to you. You’re here. Wait, what the fuck did you just say? Our child? Unborn son?”
Aldin’s gentle laughter permeates through me causing me to forget my question for a moment.
“Yes, my Wren. You are carrying our son. It is true. There is much I need to tell you. I didn’t want to explain to you like this, but it seems who I am will have to be told.” I feel the sadness of Aldin’s emotions as if they were my own. I sense the truth behind his words, but I can’t believe it. It’s not logical.
“Okaaay … So, explain,” I ask, unsure.
Aldin sighs. “Oh, my Wren. What I’m about to tell you will change your life forever.”
