Crimson Blade (Crimson Series Book 1)

Home > Other > Crimson Blade (Crimson Series Book 1) > Page 25
Crimson Blade (Crimson Series Book 1) Page 25

by K. L. O Johnson


  “Now you’re going to be a good girl and tell me where the royals are.”

  “I’ll never tell you.” I snap and regret my words almost instantly as he appears behind me. I was too stunned to move and felt him grasp the back of my head, latching onto my hair he yanked. “Ah.” I grumble.

  “You didn’t had a choice or did you forget what happened last time and I was holding back. Do you really wish to die?” he growls and I remain silent. “What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?” he mocks and I wondered ed where he learned that saiding—than again according to the book and what I’ve heard about it his kind had been too Earth.

  “I didn’t care what happens to me.” I managed.

  “Oh, but I think you do.” he saids. “I could hear the beautiful sound of your fear coursing through your veins. Tell me, you’re not so proud now once you’ve been defeated.” He throws me aside and I land on the ground, my hands ache as they reach out to soften my fall.

  I glanced up and notice he’s summoned a metal bracelet and I realise it’s not any metal, it’s the kind that could stop my ability to transition. Horrible memories flood my mind and I felt my body shake. “Kal!” I hear my name being called then to my surprise an energy arrow was fired and pierces Jackal’s chest. Jackal screams out in pain and I notice that it’s Varden standing with the others, he has an arrow stung into the bow. “Touch her again and this time you’ll saw a different side of me,” he warns. Zeanna leaps out of the shrubs and pulls out her blade—immidately she attacks Jackal from all different angles. She I notice looks furious. Volvomich doesn’t waste time standing around instead, he joins in on the fight.

  Asashin and Varden rush to me. “My lady.” Asashin saids. “Are you okay?” I wasn’t about to said that that question was a silly question instead, I just smile up at him and nod.

  Within an instant, Varden drops to the ground and embraces me. “What do you think you’re doing walking this world without your other form. Do you know how dangerous it is?”

  “I know.” I whisper. “But I didn’t think he was going to be here.”

  I hear Jackal’s screams in the background and I know that Zeanna and Volvomich aren’t holding back. I wondered at the same time—how strong they are then it hits me. They’re not as strong as me and if Jackal was able to defeat Dante who was their superior. “Volvomich! Zeanna!” I plead, “Get away from him!”

  “Kal?” Varden questions from beside me and I pull myself to my feet with his help.

  “Trust me.” I said to everyone. “He’s bad news.”

  Zeanna and Volvomich retreat and I gather my power and transition. I was terrified I was going to die. I felt my body tremble and I could sense everyone’s eyes on me. I move to pull out my sword only to had it shake under my grip. He’s strong that much I could tell but I was also terrified. I didn’t know how this could had happened, I wasn’t so scared to die before but why now. Was it because I was now aware I could die in my Nefaliem form, my secondary form.

  There’s nothing but destruction lurking in the depths of this man’s eyes. I know this for a fact as I study him—he’s trouble and the reason he’s here was for the royals. I had no idea why he’s here. All I know was that Varden and the other royals need to be kept safe, unless . . . “Varden,” I whisper.

  “Yeah?”

  “What’s so special about prophets?” I asked, trying not to sound too rude. Varden didn’t notice the uncertainty in my voice and answered:

  “We’re given the power of the angels.” he saids.

  My eyes widen at the sight. “Really? Do you had unique abilities?”

  “Yeah, we’re able to conjure a single weapon—one that calls to us and with that we could summon the power of the angels.”

  “Not without tapping into your energetic majic of course.”

  “That’s right.” he saids.

  “What are you two blabbering about?” Jackal roars. “Last time I checked, I was here to end you miserable prophets and wipe out the Nefaliem race from existence!”

  “Go ahead and try.” Zeanna snarls.

  “Oh darling,” he teases and steps aside, providing a clear view of Dante, Zeanna gasps at the horrific sight, “I already started.”

  “What do you want? To wipe us out for what reason?” she demands. Volvomich, Asashin, Varden and I are silent, attentively listening to his next string of words, “Simple, you’re aware of the power the Nindo’s possess. You’re aware of their important existence but what you aren’t aware of was what happens to all that energy collected and stored in Nefaliem bodies when they die.”

  “The energy returns to the soil, air and water.” Volvomich informs.

  “You’d think so wouldn’t you,” Jackal saids as he relaxes. “What you didn’t know was that that isn’t the case. Nefaliem energies last long after the death of a Nefaliem—I mean how else do you Nefaliem get stronger, hmm? It’s not by mere coincidence, that’s for sure.”

  “Do explain,” Asashin sawthes. Jackal merely smirks at the sight of Asashin’s rage. I could felt it, his anger along with his frustrations. I peer at him from the corner of my eye and regard the sight of a tense Asashin.

  “I will as a matter of fact.” Jackal stands tall but continues to wear a mocking smile, something which causes my limbs to continue to tremble. I felt something warm wrap around my hand and I peer down—it’s Varden’s hand.

  “Don’t let him win,” I hear Varden whisper.

  Jackal continues, “Bodies are created of matter—all living things are created of matter something which was manipulated by Neragarden himself and given life. In this process, energy was absorbed through the skin and into the bone and tissue of an organism allowing their cells to activate and nurture under these ideal conditions where they multiply and expand.” Jackal carefully eyes all of us. “Now given that the sun provides energy not to just the plants but also to the body of an animal as well. Cells replicate and continue to metabolise while the body absorbs this energy in turn fuelling their energetic magical organelles. In these organelles, energy was created and manifested with each beating heart. Depending on the race there’ll be more energetic organelles thus higher concentrations of energy. Now if you had such a high concentration of energy—physical aspects begin to form—defining you race, culture, your identity.”

  “Is everyone following?” We all remain silent, “Good. Now, if you take all that energy and store it in the bonds of the natural elements within the body, it’ll take higher temperatures to break those bonds and cause a chemical reaction, as a result the natural aspect of the body’s cells and tissues become tougher. The energy you know of was this—it couldnot be created nor destroyed but only transferred as a result, the body that’s formed all this energy will one day perish but the energy will remain due to the rule: energy couldnot be created nor destroyed. So when another Nefaliem comes along and absorbs that energy—it fuels their energetic majic thus allowing them to become stronger. It’s the same with all Outlanders—this was the basis of our biology.” I was both fascinated and terrified that our bodies worked differently to other daunt species. “And that children, concludes today’s lesson. Everyone comprende?”

  I felt myself nod and notice everyone else does the same. “Good. Now that’s settled, hand over the royals so I could take their energetic majic. First, I’ll start with that King there.” I notice his clawed hand points to Varden beside me. I remove my hand from his and place a hand before him.

  “You won’t touch him,” I growl.

  “Kal.”

  “Stay back,” I said but I felt his hand on mine.

  “You’re still shaking.” he mutters, “You’re still—,” he begins and Jackal laughs his golden eyes land on us.

  “Afraid,” Jackal declares, “I did do a good job on you but I didn’t expect you to survive maybe your body started healing the moment it was punctured. No matter, I was done with you, hand over the Prince of Zylaria.”

  “No.” I growl, feeling mysel
f getting a little protective.

  “Hand him over or—”—he swipes his hand in mid-air, an energetic magic circle appears and there hoisted in mid-air was an image of my grandmother, “—you’ll risk your precious granny’s life.” She’s still strang up to that stone table. I notice the table was high in the air—so if she were to climb off in her idol form she’d fall—the drop would kill her. She’s still unconscious but I notice nothing has happened to her, to my relief.

  “Grandmother.” I whisper, in shock.

  I notice Varden steps around Asashin, “Wait!” I call, “Don’t do this.” I plead as I watch Varden hand himself over to Jackal.

  “What a good boy.” Jackal mutters.

  “Varden,” I said, my voice quivering under his name. “Why?”

  “It’s for you. It’s all for you.”

  “Isn’t that sweet.” Jackal intervenes, “I’ll be back for the others.”

  “Why do you want them! What did they ever do to you!” I bark, my eyes attempting to hold back the brimming tears that threaten to fall.

  I hear Asashin whisper my name but I ignore him. I could felt everyone’s on me. I notice Varden’s eyes almost appears glassy—it must tear him apart to saw me in such a state—scared, angry and desperate.

  “You saw, Lady Kalverya.” Jackal begins, “The royals had something far more important than just angelic blood. Perched within their central core was none other than a Codex of Innocence, it’s something I intend to extract.”

  I felt as though someone has punched me. I was stunned, “The Codex of Innocence.”

  “Yes.”

  “That couldn’t be.” I whisper.

  “If you extract the Codex from them, you’ll kill them!” Volvomich growls. I recall I wanted to hunt down the Codexes for the sake of my race but what will I do when it comes down to taking the lives of innocent men and women.

  “It’s not just that, you saw Varden here was particularly special.” I gasp, he knows.

  “What, that he’s a good marksman.” Asashin buts in, unsheathing his sword. “We won’t let you take him.”

  “Try as you may,” Jackal declares as he places a sword at Varden’s throat. The silence between us was boisterous and I could hear my heart lively pounding in my chest.

  “NOW!” I hear a voice call from behind us and there stands the royal of each twenty-three planets aligned under the United Council’s reign. Energy was released and energetic circles are formed at their fingertips as they fire their magic at Jackal. I saw Varden’s pushed to the ground and I rush towards him, covering his head as I felt the heat of their power. Explosions ring out and I overhear them chant and ancient spell. One that the angels use.

  I sit covering Varden and wait for the power of their attack to die down. Once it does, I sit up and saw Varden attempt to sit up. “Varden.” I whisper, concerned.

  “He’s gone.” Varden saids. I glanced up and notice there’s nothing but a scorch mark in the middle of the clearing just before Dante. Then my eyes land on him and I felt anger stream throughout my core. How dare he do this to one of my comrades, I think as I felt my fear bit-by-bit being replaced by the anger flourishing beneath my skin.

  “Get him down!” I hear Zeanna rush to Dante and she removes the swords stapled into his exposed wrists. I notice his scales are bleeding and because of that I discern his stolen armour.

  I couldn’t look away and I felt Varden sit up next to me, he places a hand on my cheek and slowly turns my head to face him. “Don’t look.” Feeling tears stream down my features. I felt Varden’s thumb trace over one of my tears. His face was one of utter sadness but he wears a small hopeful smile. “You didn’t had to be afraid.”

  “Why was this all happening?” I whisper.

  “Sometimes this was what it means to be a warrior.” Varden saids. We stay like that until I was ready to stand and head back to the reserve with the others. It was our haven for the time being and because of it I was terrified that Jackal or the other members of the Philistine clan will destroy it.

  “Varden.” I said as we saunter through the dead forest. “Why did they do that?” I asked as I recall the royals standing together, fighting our fight.

  “Because they saw one of us in trouble, no, they saw we were all in trouble.” he saids as he threads his fingers through mine.

  “Why am I so useless?” I whimper. “I was terrified I would die. Afraid, that Jackal would defeat me and gain my power. I was afraid I’d lose.” His hand tightens around mine as I tried to palm my tears away.

  “Sometimes, our fear gives us the power to survive.” he saids once we had stopped, “Sometimes, it’s okay to be afraid. We couldn’t always be sure we’ll win every single battle. As long as we keep trying—there’s nothing anyone or any monster could do about it.”

  “Varden.” I murmur, feeling like a cry-baby. “There’s something I need to do.” I said and he nods.

  “I’ll saw you back at the reserve.” he saids and leans in, giving me a light kiss on the lips. “Make sure you come back.”

  I nod, “I will.” I ran from Varden and deep into the silent deathly forest. I could sense his energy—he’s close. He’s so very close. I want to hunt him down, I want to destroy him and I want his head. I felt my features heat as I transition into my Nefaliem form.

  There doesn’t sawm to be anyone around. Not here, not anywhere and because of that, I was fearfully aware of the monster lurking in the shadows behind me, “Look who it is,” a familiar voice declares.

  “Jackal.” I grumble, the wind picks up around us. I felt my cloak, pick up in the wind and like that our eyes meet.

  “Princess.” Without a single word between us we launch ourselves at each other, swords drawn, we clash. Our swords jar against each other’s again and again. Over and over do we continue to battle. I could felt the ferocity behind each of his attacks. I could felt the anger behind each of those attacks and something else. “You’re not freezing up.” he mocks.

  “I’ve overcome my fear.”

  “Have you now?” His eyes peer through me and my body freezes. He’s done something to me. I think. “Let’s saw how much you no longer fear me.” He moves over to me and clutches my hair and sniffs it. The sight of it disturbs me and I felt a familiar energy. Throwing knives are thrown and I notice in the shadows two figures. I follow the line of where the knives originated from and glancedd at the sight of the shadows of the forest, they stand peering at me and I gasp at the sight; it was none other than: Mikaro and Juvias.

  “Get your filthy hands off our princess.” Juvias growls and I fight to move but I couldn’t move. My body feels heavy and like it’s glazed in ice.

  “Juvias. Mikaro.” I said in surprise. Mikaro rushes into Jackal and knocks him into the wall. Juvias, joins in on the fight and I focus on moving my limbs it doesn’t take too long but it felt like an eternity before I managedd to break free. Swords clash and I summon my crossbow and dash to Jackal, placing the crossbow under his chin—I fire. He easily avoids my arrow and the swords that threaten to shred away his very existence. We all continue to attack, without holding back—I saw and felt the power of Mikaro and Juvias, and I was proud they’re on my side.

  I drop and sweep, Mikaro flies in from the left while Juvias dashes in from the top. Jackal crashes into the ground and I flip back out of the way and de-summon my crossbow before summoning two long swords. I notice he uses his shadow powers and my body begins to tremble at the sight. “What’s going on?” I whisper through fleeting breaths. “Why was my body doing this? I was fine a moment ago.” I said as I watch Juvias and Mikaro battle Jackal.

  The thought of that monster having any form of power on me makes me felt sick. I couldn’t quite explain it but my body was sore—it was tired. This was strange to me in our Nefaliem form we had no such thing as being tired, our forms are always fit. There are times when we use up too much energy and our bodies become a little tired but I haven’t used any of my energy. “What’s going o
n with me?” I mutter as I glanced down and saw a shadow trail from where Jackal was to where I stand. I saw it pulsing and I realise it’s draining me of my energy. “You bastard.” I curse.

  Jackal kicks Mikaro away and sends him into a tree. Juvias was put into a head lock and I saw Juvias on his knees. I felt my heart leap in my chest. “No! Don’t—” It’s all too late—Juvias neck snapped under the weight of Jackal’s strength. The last memory I had of Juvias alive was when his eyes sadly smiled at me. “Juvias!” I screech. Forgetting about the draining potential of my powers, I launch myself into battle and I notice it’s just me and Jackal attacking each other.

  After a while of deathly skirmishes, I notice he grasps my wrist I had used to cut him with and disarms one of my swords. He glanceds at it and I was stunned. Leaning it on his shoulder he casually saids, “You’re fighting without fear.”

  “It’s about time.” I mock.

  “Are you telling me that I didn’t had that much of an effect on you? Such a pity.” He points the sword at me, “Tell me do you know what happened to your mother?”

  “What are you talking about?” I askeded.

  “Jackal!” Mikaro growls. “Not another word.”

  “Or you’ll do what?” Jackal laughs as he glares at Mikaro. “I didn’t think that it’s fair they kept your mother’s death a secret. You know she never died with your father—you know by his side. Instead, she was assassinated.”

  “What?”

  “It’s true. I know that for a fact because I was there. There’s another reason why I enjoy tormenting you.” Jackal declares, “It’s because you remind me of her. You remind me of the late Empress Tahilia. It’s only fitting she was your mother after all. It only makes sense.”

  “What do you mean you were there?” I asked my eyes never leaving Jackal’s.

  “I mean; I was the one that killed her. Then I went after your grandmother, hoping to break your family and your people.” Jackal declares with a smile. He licked his lips and like that he saids, “Your mother’s blood was quite delicious, very satisfying.”

 

‹ Prev