“Monster!” I screech and rush at him.
“I’m no monster princess.” he saids, “I’m a Philistine and I was Jackal of the shadow. I was no demon.”
18. Two Hundred Monsters
* * *
“You might as well be,” I fumed. Pulling back my fist, I punched him square in the nose—I felt it—my power coursing through my veins. Fire surrounded my clenched fists and the next thing I felt was my power crawling beneath my skin. Jackal was forced through several thick old trees and I leaped towards him using ‘trice tread’—an ability that most Resoncretalians possessed. It was an ability that allowed an individual to quickly travel over long distances. Pulling back my other fist, I shattered the trunk of a nearby tree.
There was nothing but danger lurking around every corner it was something that I had only come to the conclusion of. As I regarded Jackal, I felt sick to my stomach. He was a monster—worse than any blood thirsty demon.
He avoided my attack and I blocked his round house. Sliding along the ground, I felt my power rise, uncertain, my Nefaliem form—my secondary form—could handle the amount of power I’d be unleashing. We continued to clash in a battle of skirmish strategies. I glared at Jackal. “You killed my mother,” I had growled as our blacks locked.
“Of course. I wouldn’t lie about my handwork, now would I?”
“I didn’t know if you would or wouldn’t.” I said. We push each other away and begin battling once more.
The battle ceases momentarily, as Jackal pulls out a Codex of Innocence from thin air. He places the codex in his chest and I stare at the painful sight through I saw he doesn’t felt pain as the codex phases through his skin, tissue and bones.
There’s trials and tribulations in this life. One where many people didn’t seem to understand. Then again, they may. How would I know—I’m not them. I am me and forever always will be. I watch as Jackal, as his body increased in size, his limbs grew as did his torso. I was stunned at the sight. “Now I was all powerful.” he grumbles and I hear the sound of familiar footfalls, peeking over my shoulder as my silver hair dances in the wind.
There are things in this world I want to know then there are things I want to be a part of. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t even comprehend what it was that caused this monster to do what he’s doing. I stare at the sight of prodigious man and clutch tightly my sword within my hand and glare. He laughs a deadly laugh and out of the blue Mikaro races towards him.
He pulls out his sword and attempts to take out Jackal. I notice that Jackal doesn’t move instead he continues to stand in the way of the oncoming attack. Than within an instant, he’s gone. “Where did he go?” Mikaro rumbles as he scoulds the area around him. I do the same thing, peering around, behind me and in front of me. The first thing I notice; was Jackal’s energy signature was gone.
Then I saw a blinding light and my body feels light. Once the light fades I saw I was sitting in the middle of what appears to be floating islands within a giant cube slightly tilted like a diamond. “What on earth?” I wondered as I stand.
“No what on earth how on Nefelia.” Mikaro growls. “Worst part was I was stuck with you.”
“Will you shut your complaining up. It isn’t my fault, genius.” Mikaro was silent and I sigh in relief. The only time I’ve ever heard him silent—is never.
I pull myself to my feet and I was surprised by the type of stone beneath my feet. It looks like crystals but as I hit it, it breaks. “What are you doing?”
“Just found out the ground isn’t real diamond.”
He sighs. “Let’s find a way out of here.”
I follow after him and it isn’t until what feels like a couple of hours later do we stop and glanced around. “It looks the same.” I said.
“I know. I couldn’t tell which way we went.”
“Why don’t we try again but mark it this time?” I suggest and Mikaro rubs the back of his neck.
“I guess; we could give that a try but I was unsure if it’ll work. I mean isn’t this place like a house of mirrors. Where we might put a mark might reflect and look like it was put elsewhere.” Mikaro identifies and I didn’t notice that he’s right. I hear the sound of laughter and I glanced at Mikaro for confirmation. He nods. “Who’s there?”
“Don’t asked who’s there you just gave away out position.” I harshly whisper, ignoring me he pulls out his sword and starts moving towards the source of the continuous child-like laughter. For some reason, I know that laugh isn’t a child’s.
As we wander through the crystal labyrinth of reflective glass I realise that we’re not getting anywhere and thought we might not until I notice something at the far end of the corridor. It’s dark and stagnant, standing patiently waiting for us. “Mikaro.” I said.
He de-summons his sword and pulls out a crossbow, it’s large in size and requires both of his hands. There’s something deadly about that monster—something almost worrisome about it. I summon my crossbow and pull the arrow back into the last nook and point it at the monster. It doesn’t move instead it just stands there, with long black hair concealing it’s features—the sight of it unnerves me.
Mikaro takes aim and fires. It dodges the arrow and rushes towards us and thrusts its hand through Mikaro’s chest. It happened so quickly I didn’t had a chance to react. The only thing that makes me realise the severity of this situation was the amount of blood spraying from his chest. The monster laughs and I notice it’s the same laugh as a child, then it changes into a dark gargling laugh—so deadly it makes my skin crawl.
“Kal.” I hear Mikaro cough, “It’s a Necromer Parasite . . . take it out.” After he saids those words I watch in horror as he collapses and I catch him before he hits the ground. His eyes close and I fear for his death—I fear to be alone with this thing. Then out of the blue, I felt the breath of someone behind me, slowly I turn over my shoulder and there is: the Necromer Parasite inches from my face. It smiles and its mouth stretches across its face revealing fangs.
I hear the sound of an arrow fired and the Necromer Parasite vanishes and the arrow zooms past my face, I could felt the wind behind the trajectory of that arrow and I glanced behind me there stands Dante—not Varden. “Are you alright?”
I ignore him and glanced down at Mikaro. “He’s not waking up.”
“And his body hasn’t gone into torpor yet.”
“Is that bad?” I asked, scared I was going to lose yet another member of my race.
“It means that his body will be vulnerable as he heals.” Dante summons his sword and glanceds at the monster at the far end of the corridor. I notice it moves quickly crawling along the ceiling. It leaps from the ceiling with claws extended it jumps Dante. Dante brings up his sword and deflects the attack, I hear the sound of grinding nails against metal rings out and the monster flips away. It rushes at Dante once again and this time Dante back fists it—sending it into the wall. “Don’t test me. I was not in the mood to play.” He growls and this was the scariest I’ve ever sawn him than I notice his scales, his armour-less physique.
“Dante,” I said as I stare at the sight of him continuously battling the monster. The monster doesn’t give up until Dante rans his sword through the monster who of which vanishes like a fleeting memory. He falls to his knees and cradles his torso. “Dante.”
“Don’t worry about me,” he saids, “I’m still kicking. We need to get Mikaro some place safe.”
“How did you find us?” I asked.
“After I woke up in my room back at the reserve. I heard you didn’t come back and Varden was worried. I slipped outside and searched the forest for you then I heard the sound of heavy panting and clashing of swords. That’s when I knew something was up. I literally ran to you guys and saw that there was you, Mikaro and . . . all fighting Jackal. I wanted to help but my wounds didn’t had a chance to fully heal. So I waited then I noticed Jackal disappeared then saw you guys lighting up it was like you were being teleported. I grasped onto your cloak and e
nded up here.”
“How come I didn’t notice you?”
“I think you were too pre-occupied that and I think there was something going on with that light I tried calling out to you but you couldn’t hear me maybe it was the same for you.”
“Maybe.”
I hear the sound of static then on the crystal surfaces surrounding us Jackal’s face appears. His black, hair and golden eyes contrast strongly against the transparent quartzes. I glanced at the image of him and realise it isn’t an image but instead a video.
“You know in the beginning, we never thought we’d make it to Nefelia alive. Noticing that the Gratticould were on their way to invade your home—we took our opportunity. We had an ancient feud if you will and out of this battle of death, destruction and loss we will reign victorious.”
“Not on your life.” I growl.
“I’m surprised you still had strength left to bitch.”
“And I was surprised you still had strength left to be a complete ass.” I bark. Jackal smirks at my comment and his golden eyes glitter against the smooth surface and I notice his sun-tanned features are blank of any and all emotion.
“Anyway, as I was saiding, welcome to my house of mirrors. In here there are two hundred different monsters all at different levels. You want to make it out alive battle them and come and find me and we could finish what we started.”
“You’ve got to be joking.” Dante grumbles.
“Nope, I was one hundred percent serious. I want to test the strength of the Nindos and her people. Also,”—I notice a man was pulled into the screen and it’s Varden. How did he . . .? I think. Varden grants as Jackal pulls as his golden locks—”If you don’t. I will kill him. After all, he was your husband was he not your majesty?” He laughs and I felt anger fume beneath my skin like that the transmission was terminated. I felt Dante’s quiet behind me and doesn’t said a word. I was not too sure if he knew about Varden and I but I also wasn’t too sure about anything anymore. Normally, I was the one in control—normally I was the stronger than this. I felt pressure on my shoulder and I look up to saw Dante comforting me.
“It’ll be alright. We’ll get him back.”
I nod. “Thank you,” I said and place my hand over his. His eyes fill with pain and I remove my hand from his. After a moment or two, he removes his hand from my shoulder and moves over to Mikaro.
“I’ll take him.” he offers and I shake my head.
I pull Mikaro into my arms and heave him over my shoulder. “I’ve got him but if I get tired, I’ll let you know.”
“Sure.”
I stand staring at the hall we must head down and said, “I didn’t want to lose any more people Dante.”
“Neither do I.”
I regard him with as much anger, hurt and determination I could muster and declare, “Let’s make him hurt.”
“Right.”
We turned our heel and ventured down the crystal hallway, the transparent walls makes it difficult to define the other hallways adjacent to each other. I couldn’t help but felt like a mouse caught in a game. It’s infuriating. After some time, we managed to make our way to a large open rounded room—the wall glittered in transparent crystals, they are smooth to the eye like a well-cut diamond. As I glanced up, I notice the ceiling filters in light from an unknown source. A sheen of colours reflects against the diamonds. “It’s beautiful.” I said as I glanced around.
I notice there’s a stream of water in the middle, it falls into the room from a crevice within the wall and crashes down before ranning along into another crevice at the opposite end of the room. “It is.” Dante confesses.
“Only if this wasn’t such a life-threatening situation, we’d enjoy this. Wouldn’t we.” I stated.
Dante grumbles a laugh and I notice that his scales had healed over. Though the question remained, why did it take so long for him to heal? “How are you feeling?”
“Like an athlete.”
“Good to hear.” A voice grouses from behind us. I glanced over my shoulder and there stands a seven-foot tall Minotaur. I regard the sight of him with utter annoyance. Jackal did said there were going to be monsters at all different levels. I wondered what level this is. “And it’s level one.”
I’m shocked at his words.
“How did you know I was thinking that?” I question with my features so blank I would had reminded myself of an untouched couldvas.
He points to the headband on his head, “With this.” Idiot, that’s the first thing I’ll—”I didn’t think so.” He swings his staff in his hand and I was surprised at the quick use of his hands. He stands ready to fight and with his free hand, he motions for us to attack. I place Mikaro on the ground. Soon after, Dante and I glanced at each other before racing towards the monster.
The minotaur avoids Dante’s attack and leaps to the side. He, I notice, was clothed in bandages that capes his forearms, waist and shins. He wears a white cloth that covers the front of his uniform which was gold and black. His horns sit sharply on his head as his hooves grind against the crystal wall.
The ground shakes under Dante’s fist and the minotaur slides along the ground. Where I rush at him with my summoned sword in hand. I notice the minotaur also de-summons his staff and summons a sword from thin air—like us—like the Nefaliem. I gasp at the sight and regard this minotaur with shock. He smiles at me and blocks my sword with his sword. He presses into me and I lose my footing before back flipping away avoiding his sword in time as it smashes into the ground.
I de-summon my sword and pull out a sterling metal staff. Spinning the staff around in my hand, I attempt to make my mind blank. As I aim to devoid my features of any and every expression. This was my battle masked, it’s something I was aware has happened in the past and will continue to happen. I jap the end of my staff at the minotaur and watch as he dodges my attacks. Growing a little impatient, I drop to the ground and sweep at his ankles only to had him leap in time and flip away from me.
Dante fires an arrow and the minotaur dodges it in time. “Impossible.” I grumble.
Dante warps from where he stands and behind the minotaur, he ducks avoiding the minotaur’s attack and stabs his sword through the chest of the monster. I regard the sight in relief and watch as the monster disappears into an eruption of shattered glass.
“What was he?” Dante askeds as he de-summons his sword.
“I didn’t know but I could tell you now, these monsters are something.” I said. I hear a grant and a groan from behind me and there over my shoulder was Mikaro pulling himself to his feet.
He stands and places a hand on his head, “Man, I had a head ache.”
“You’re alive.” I said.
“Yeah but my chest still hurts, like a lot.” he grumbles as he hunches over before straightening himself. He saunters over to us and I was surprised by the healing powers my people have.
“Are you good, though?” Dante askeds as he regards Mikaro.
Mikaro stands up straight and I notice the pain must be excruciating. “We’ll rest here then we’ll move on—Ah!” I groan as my arm hurts. I glanced down and saw a black tattoo appears, slinking along my skin, it sparks a deadly sunset red as it travels along my arm. It continues to scorch and as I felt this sweltering pain riddle through me. I sense Dante and Mikaro regard me.
“Kalverya?” Dante questions. I recalled the time he had questioned if I was okay a while ago when this had happened. This time I notice the tattoo was larger.
‘That man will die.’ I hear it said. I felt my body heat up and my mind begins to blank. I fall to my knees as the pain ripples throughout my system. Once the pain subsides, I notice that the tattoo does as well. “What on earth?” I asked myself, “What was happening to me?”
I hear the sound of oncoming footfalls and I glanced over my shoulder there in the shadows was Zeanna, Asashin and Volvomich. “What are you guys doing here?” I demand.
“We’re here to help you a little thank you would be ni
ce.” Zeanna mocks.
“Yeah we’re all trying to get his highness back.” Volvomich declares in his usual gruff voice.
I nod, “Thanks guys.”
“Don’t mention it, really.” Zeanna sounds.
“It’s what we do.” Asashin declares with a smile and I notice his features are completely revealed. Sharp jawline, high cheekbones just like back at the inn. I regard him in wondered , making sure it’s him and not someone else. “What?”
I quickly glanced away, “Nothing.” I said, feeling everyone’s eyes on me.
“You know you could be a little weird sometimes, right?” Asashin declares and I was surprised by that, I never expected Asashin to make a comment like that. Feeling my features heat and a smile crawling along my lips I force a frown and glare over at Asashin.
“And you’re not?”
“No I was not. I was pretty normal.” Asashin states.
“There’s no such thing as normal. It’s only something like minded people said to keep themselves from feeling insecure.” I declare and he falls quiet. I won that one. I think with a smile. Asashin crosses his arms and states:
“Well either way, we’re here to help you or do you not want any help.”
“I want help—I mean we want help.” I fix.
“Good.” Asashin smiles and I realise there’s just something a little different about him and I was not certain if it’s the masked or his personality.
I pull myself to my feet and stand tall. I notice the air around me changes and that everyone’s eyes who of which land on me, land on me with pride and undeniable focus. “We’re going to take out these other one hundred and ninety-eight monsters and we’re going to get Varden back.”
“Understood.” They all said in union and I turn my heel and head for the tunnel that has just opened at the opposite end of this room. Once I head inside I notice the room changes. Vines ran along the ground and light shines at the end of the tunnel followed by long green grass. Pulling out my sword, I begin slashing at the grass and continue on route for where ever we’re headed.
Crimson Blade (Crimson Series Book 1) Page 26
