Crimson Knight (Crimson Series Book 0)

by K. L. O Johnson

  With all the commotion I heard a voice call above the rest, “Kal!” There was silence and I remained still as I perceived a thump not too far from me presented Marquith’s crumpled body, piled at the steps ahead of me. “Cut this out! You’re harming your friends. Something you said you’d never do!”

  “And who are you, man?” she seethed. Glancing up, I spotted her—Kal. She hovered several metres in the air as her silver cloak flowed beneath her silky tresses. Her blue scales, gleamed as did her armour and the numerous weapons that concealed her limbs—those I knew were only part of her arsenal the rest were bound to be hidden in her central core waiting to be conjured to the surface.

  “You seriously don’t know who I am?” he said. He sounded almost sad. “Fine, I’ll play your game. I’m Varden Fanaldi, King of Planet Zylaria and you are in breach of the Intergalactic treaty 50-71. Or have you really forgotten?”

  She was silent before she said, “I’m certain I’d remember a man like you.” Was she? I thought disbelieving my ears. Was she . . . seriously flirting? Dear Lord. I spied Kal descending towards Varden. I peeled my way from under David, mindful of his injuries. Once free, I spied Kal inches from Varden. “I like men like you, gentle but strong.”

  He backed away, “You’re not Kal.” She seemed to purr at his words. I spied the glitter of metal between her fingers and watched as she pulled out a knife from behind her back.

  “Watch out!” I called but it was too late. The next thing I spotted was Varden collapsed on the ground beside Marquith. Even as I continued to believe that this was a horrible nightmare I knew I wasn’t waking up from it anytime soon—it only became worse as Kal’s eyes darted to me and the purr of her laugh and the smile of her red lips horribly reined. She sneered an evil sneer at her victory.

  She stabbed Varden.

  Varden remained motionless as she licked the knife and spoke, “You’re next, precious Princess. Master Ivan is growing rather impatient.”

  I couldn’t believe my eyes. Kal had killed someone before me that was true. But it being someone who she may or may not have been close too, caused an internal battle to wage within. Attack or not attack. Revenge or not avenge. It was backwards, upside down and who else knows what. All I knew was that she was dangerous and I wanted nothing more than to take vengeance upon poor Varden who to my surprise was still alive. However, my eyes were glued to the man who I thought was dead, he clambered to his feet without any difficulty. He smiled over at Kal, “you told me one thing a long time ago.” He held out a glowing cube in hand. “The one thing that can revive the undead as it did the angel who walked the Earth after death.” He regarded Kal in what I momentarily discovered was arrogance, a mocking smile graced his lips. “You’d know that if you really were her.”

  Kal froze, glancing over her shoulder. Ceasing her assault upon me she watched as Varden re-healed. That cube was what gave him the power to re-heal and within moments his stab wound sealed over. “No, way.” I gasped, unable to hide my surprise but then again, given the world that I was now a part of. I figured I should be at least a little—impermeable to such revelations. Kal peered over her shoulder and glared at me with a sinister smile regarding her lips.

  “Don’t look at her. Look at me,” Varden warned.

  “Oh please, you may be King but you’re not my King.” She glanced over at us and I watched as her features changed from Kalverya’s to Ane’s. I felt my jaw drop as I watched the sight unfolded before me. I watched her blue Nefaliem like scales morphed into the green ones—her natural ones—the ones she wore before. It was nothing like the Licanthrope, instead her scales concealed her facial features. She sneered, peevishly at Varden and I felt a hand upon my shoulder.

  I glanced up to spy the demon commander in Human form, he smiled down at me. “Enough with the games Princess or you’ll never see Lady Kalverya again.” Regardless of who the perpetrator was, they knew that Kal out classed them all.

  “What have you done with her?” I angrily demanded.

  “Nothing, as of yet,” he spoke. “Come with us.” I glanced over at Varden who seemed to shake his head very slowly. I sighed and wondered where it all went wrong. I recalled being at home opening the door for Ryan, quickly escaping the house. Chatting with my Human friends at lunch—regarding the shows I would watch after I returned from home before I went and did my homework. Just wondering, where it all had gone made my heart yearn for that life. The life my parents so carefully cultivated. I wanted to know how quickly it disappeared.

  Even as I yearned for it, I knew I wouldn’t give up the life I was already living for. Kal, Daphne, Odette, Marcus, Jorden and Zarlach. They were all the people I not just lived for but fought for. Especially when things were difficult. “Okay,” I said. Varden’s face was a shroud of confusion and surprise.

  “You mustn’t.” he urged.

  “I have to,” I declared. I heard something shift beside me and realised David had come around.

  “No you don’t.” he managed. “You don’t have to do anything, you don’t want to. Everyone and everything has that right.” He groaned, clutching his shoulder.

  “David?” I asked, “Are you hurt?”

  “Yeah,” he managed, “Don’t worry it’ll go away in a bit.”

  He says that yet I find it so touching to hear it voiced. Lately, I figured I’d have to stay away from people I cared about when I only now realised they’ve done what they done in order to protect me. Including Bella. Speaking of which, I pondered and glanced around. Cecelia. Bella spoke.

  “Let’s go girl.” The demon responded.

  “I’ll go, as long as David and the others stay, untouched.” I prompted. He didn’t appear to like that I took what little time I had and responded, Bella? Where are you?

  In the shafts under the arena.

  What are you doing down there? I thought and soon heard the demon reply.

  “Fine. Ane, let’s go.”

  Ane looked annoyed, “But—”

  “Let. Us. Go.” Ane sighed and nodded, I guessed she didn’t want to piss him off. He was a demon, after all. I was surprised to see she lasted this long with him. So as easily and efficient as possible, I decided to remain quiet, moving away from my friends as he nudged me. Bella?

  I’m still here, I got it all, thanks.

  I relaxed at least she knew where I was. A neat trick I had learnt from Daphne. What are you doing down there? I asked out of unavoidable curiosity. I moulded my features into a blank expression—even though I was often told I looked angry or distant. But isn’t that supposed to be the case.

  Bingo. She voiced before I could ask another question. Her mind link was severed and I was all alone with the demon and the strange metamorphican woman.

  As we peddled down a silver gleaming hall. I was aware of the demon and the shape-shifting woman behind me. The scary part was—she could transform into anyone and she’d have their power to carry out her desires. We meandered down several more halls, twisting around several corners. I eventually stumbled upon a hangar bay. A javelin sat in the centre of the flight deck—it shone brightly under the morning Nefaliem sun. We weren’t going to use the Nexus—the place that homed the various portals, no instead we were going to use a spaceship. I notably realised I may be a full-fledged hatchling when we arrived to wherever we were headed.

  “Get on,” the demon probed. I nodded and moved closer to the ship—this was it. I may not be dead but I knew I’d be far from living. The mounting ramp extended and I was fruitfully aware of someone standing at the top. It was a woman—a Nefaliem woman.

  “Well hello there, nice to see you joining us, little princess,” she mused happily as we climbed the ramp.

  “I don’t have a choice,” I retorted aware of her hybrid energy fissuring against my own demonic one. Vampieruz, monsters from legends and tales. A bit from us mutated any race into Vampieres a term we used to describe lesser monsters with our power. But when we killed them, they returned to that before they cha
nged back into that which they were once before.

  The Nefaliem were similar like that—who they bit always morphed the individual into a mutated dragon. They were more often than not responsible for our curse and the curse—of the other syndicate members. “That you didn’t.” the female Nefaliem purred. I didn’t understand why she needed to be so coddled. Her power—her energy was that much weaker, she obviously didn’t know her place. Her spiky silver hair was a reminder of her energy but given the various weapons gleaming over her silver armour she was ready to inflict damage within a heartbeat. And I was certain without a doubt, she was dangerous.

  By the time I entered the ship, she sauntered towards me again—this time with a breather. She strung it around my neck and stood back watching a glassy dome conceal my features. “Where were headed you’ll need a sufficient supply of oxygen.” she commented before shackling my wrists. The shackles were heavy and thick as they waddled around my wrist like bracers. I noted that both the demon and Ane wore breathers. The silver doors opened and white smoke poured out of the shaft. It cluttered at my skin then the doors behind us sealed and I felt cool air and I noted my scales tightened.

  The doors in front of us opened and revealed the sight of aliens. I knew I was an alien—an Outlander but to see others big in size, rock hard or tall was both surprising and scary. As I inched closer, I wondered, where it was I would go and to whom. Was it Ivan they were taking me to? It must be otherwise why say it. So in the end I knew one thing—mental preparation. It was all I had in my arsenal and all I knew I needed. As I took my seat in an air locked dome, the pressure returned to normal and my helmet peeled back—revealing pure fresh air.

  My fear rose as the jet began to take off, I knew I was on my way to a place—far, far away from my friends. Even Though I knew I could relax, a little as I knew one thing, I wasn’t dead or defiled yet. I felt my fear rise as the pressure built. Then bang, high into the air we arched, up we went and I knew we were leaving the planet. The questions running through my mind were: will I ever see my friends again, my loving parents and most importantly would I ever see Zarlach again?

  I wished deep down that things were different. That I wasn’t always running from danger. I wished that things were closer to the normalcy any teenager would have. I wanted to do assignments and fail, date a decent boy, go out with my friends and experience life. It was my life I wanted back yet strangely I felt there was nothing left for me to have. My parents have given me that.

  I heard barbarous voices, gently whisper, “They’re closing in.”

  This quipped my attention. Perhaps the others were coming for me. “But were in space.” the other responded, “There’s no oxygen out here. They’ll die.” The sound of something smashed muffled by the compact space. Alarms rang, red lights flashed and the seat harness, strapped around my waist and over my chest, locking me in place. I tested the trestle of the metal and smiled at the dent I was able to make.

  The guards, shot clandestine glimpses towards me and I pretended not to notice as I thought of a way out of here. If outside was solely comprised of no oxygen, then I’d need a suit of some kind. One similar to what the astronauts on Earth would use it’ll give me movement something I knew that I’ll need.

  The guards’ hastily left as the echo of creaking halls sounded. Everyone in the carrier pit gazed at the sound, it occurred again and again but slowly. The guards didn’t return and the air fell silent and thick as red lights flashed. The image of some horrible monster attacking us jumped to my mind.

  I glanced at the information panel to my right, across the area where the guards stood. The area was comprised of a different atmospheric pressure and composition. I’d most likely die even if I got out of this metal harness, the air would kill me. Then what? I wondered as I scanned the touch screen. The creaking echoed again and I held my fear firm. I’d take whatever horrible outcome this monster possessed on the chin and I wouldn’t think twice about running away.

  The anxiety didn’t quell as my eyes scanned the area, I was heating up in fear but the glass dome that surrounded me gave off a coolness that aided in clearing my mind. I glanced forward, there was no one there and I realised it was what I was looking for, the dials for atmospheric composition. I focused.

  The sterling silver walls were a dull grey in colour, lights flashed and the air was filled with a manageable hum that vertebrated throughout the still room. Every alien I noted was different, there was none the same, all like me were stationed in an air filled dome strapped down with a harness. Also, there was only one of each species almost like a collection. I gasped. That was what I was going to be a collection with these species—a trophy of some kind.

  A yellow rough skinned, slender male, regarded me. His eyes were like that of a crocodile, he blinked twice before turning his attention ahead. I couldn’t help but follow his gaze. He turned back to me and I nodded. Time to break out of here. I focused on the gage and watched as the oxygen levels rise. I sensed the connection and out gas smoked from the vents. Just a little longer, I hoped. And the doors sealed and the connection strengthened.

  As the doors closed, sealing the creaking hall, I saw someone rolled in before the doors closed. I recognised the silver cloak and the smooth crimson scales. The Vampieruz kneeled with a rifled crossbow in hand and scanned the area, the barrel of his gun moved, as his eyes darted to everyone in the room. Several wore breathers while some were able to inhale the air that I knew was an ideal composition for people of Earth. The Vampieruz stood and I spied a deadly looking Zarlach. “Are you okay?” he mused and I nodded. He placed something on the wall and and smashed the dome that surrounded me.

  His head was sealed in a breather and I regarded what he placed on the wall. I felt everyone shuffle in fear as he placed another looking box on the wall. There sat all three, blinking and waiting. Zarlach stepped over to me and I regarded his forearm watching as lights blinked as a holographic screen stood over his arm. Without warning our feet were sealed to the floor with his energy. The metal locked around our ankles and I was scared. I knew what he was up to and I was terrified we’d all die. “You should learn to have more faith in me.”

  “I never said . . .” I began than realised, it didn’t matter as it was our power. So I knew without a doubt, him as my imprinted mate, would know everything about me the idea both horrified and completed me. It was a feeling I never knew existed.

  Zarlach.

  He was a stubborn man that one and without a doubt irritating but I knew he meant well. Apart of me wondered sinful things but the other part of me knew, those things would get me killed. And perhaps it will be as I stared at the numbers that counted down from five. Four; Zarlach slinked over to my side. Three; there was this fierceness to him almost as a form of preparation. Two; his body was close to mine but not touching. One; bang, bang, bang!

  The sound venerated the vacuum of space.

  I felt my neck constrict as I desperately fought for air. Zarlach pressed something beside, my neck I felt nothing as it domed over my head. Others locked the breathers around the other species who weren’t fortune with a breather. The breather pulled at my hair as my mouth and my throat went dry. Then, the warm composition of air filled my lungs and I sucked in several lungful’s ensuring I’d have plenty for my poor depleted cells. I didn’t notice we moved until we were chained together by energy bonds that glowed a baby green, as Zarlach lead us out into the blackness void that was space.

  He tugged at my hand as he flew out of the ship. I floated with the others; moving through the darkness and to something in the distance—something I realised was a ship that would be our haven. We flew over and a tunnel pulled out of a ship, inside we climbed and the tunnel sealed around us. We moved into what appeared to be an air lock. The door scaled us inside and I watched out of the port hole as the tunnel slipped back into the side of the ship.

  This wasn’t something I was used to. Better yet this was something I’ve *never* done. If someone told me ye
sterday, I’d be in space—I would have laughed it off as rubbish. Now, if someone said I’d be taken hostage by a bunch of Vampieres I’d believe them. Though I knew I couldn’t help Zarlach with securing the hostages because of the shackles still wrapped around my wrist—were carbonised steel.

  “Zarlach, are the hostages secure?” Eyris’s voice beamed through the video call. Her blond hair seemed to shine on the holographic monitor. The gravity began to increase bit by bit and like that we were standing flat on the ground. The composition of the air changed and I wondered if I’d get sick from so much exposure to changing environments.

  “Secure,” he coolly replied.

  “And the Princess?” Eyris genuinely sounded.

  “I’m fine Eyris.” As I moved over to stand beside a stiff Zarlach. I regarded him puzzled but brushed his strangeness aside and declared, “What about Kal?”

  “We’ll inform you of her situation at the bridge, until then.” The holographic projection disappeared and I was left confused and concerned. I glanced over at Zarlach who quickly fled to the exit, he piled out and everyone followed after him. I watched and waited as everyone left—noting how quickly everyone was to escape.

  This ship had officially become diverse. The aliens disappeared behind the doors that slid open to reveal another room, most likely as a safety protocol.

  As I followed suit. I realised that I was just like everyone else here, I was in danger. I sighed, when will this all end and when will I find some form of everlasting peace and tranquillity that I solely deserve after surviving various attacks? If it weren’t for Zarlach awakening my Vampieruz heritage I was certain I’d be crazy right now.