Dark Kingdom

by Phil Maxey

  “This is no sanctuary,” said Justin in a deadpan tone.

  “No, but we can make it one, at least temporarily,” said Algorine standing once more in the doorway. Kat and Justin both looked at her. “You’re a powerful young magi . . .” Kat was grateful she didn’t say witch. “. . .and combined with the right spell we can protect this place.”

  “I don’t know any spells,” said Kat.

  Algorine sighed. “Yeah, that’s a problem.”

  “Don’t you know any?”

  Algorine shook her head. “Not my thing.”

  “Well there goes that idea then.”

  “Not necessarily,” said Algorine, looking at the copious amounts of old books sitting on the wall-to-wall bookshelves around them. “If your father was involved with the houses, he probably has books on magic. Even being a Pendragon.”

  Darren appeared in the doorway as well. He had a plate of sandwiches. “I made some food, and I got this.” He held up a packet of bacon. “Don’t suppose you’ve got a skewer?”

  Kat started laughing, after a moment Justin smiled.

  CHAPTER 18

  Unlike the fire at the Glastonbury sanctuary the fire in the living room needed to be constantly restocked with wood but it kept them all warm and even provided a useful way to cook the meat Darren had gleefully found. Snow had begun falling again outside but the heat of the room was doing its best to battle the ice creeping across the windows.

  Kat looked at the others. They were all standing around a large table in the living room which was covered in old books, including some that Justin had found in the dark recesses of the attic.

  “How do we know if this is going to work?” said Kat.

  “We don’t, but it’s better than doing nothing,” said Algorine.

  Kat took a deep breath, then looked at the spell which Darren had spotted in one of the old vellum-covered volumes. Algorine was the only one of them that was able to partially understand what it said and thought it looked similar to some spells she had seen before, but wasn’t sure it was the real thing.

  Kat lifted her hands slightly in front of her, then started to recite the words of an unknown language. “I don’t even know if I’m pronouncing it right.”

  “Just get as close as you can,” said Algorine.

  Kat looked at Justin and Darren who both feigned smiles back at her.

  Chip sat by her feet seemingly asleep.

  The table started to rattle as a faint glow started to emanate from Kat’s ring. She continued reading the old words as best she could. Sparks leapt from the fire making them all jump.

  “It’s OK, keep going,” said Algorine.

  Kat did so and now the ground was shaking as well. They all gripped the table trying not to be rocked backwards.

  “I think it’s working,” shouted Justin as ornaments and paintings threatened to fall. Chip was now standing with his tail wagging.

  “Protego!” shouted Kat finishing the spell and bringing the shaking with it to an end. She slumped forward resting both hands on the table.

  Algorine put her hand on her shoulder.

  “Did it work?” said Darren.

  “Look at the windows,” said Justin.

  The ice which was covering at least half of the windows, was receding.

  “Will we be able to leave?” said Darren to whoever would give him an answer.

  “Right now it doesn’t matter. We should be safe, at least until the magic fades,” said Algorine.

  “How long have we got?” said Kat.

  Algorine looked back down at the book. “Until sunrise I think.”

  “Let’s all of us get some sleep, then wake and discuss our next moves before then,” said Kat.

  Everyone agreed.

  Algorine walked into the hallway slinging a rifle over her shoulder, then walked up the stairs.

  Darren picked up his laptop and went to his own room.

  Kat walked to the living room doorway and realised Justin had not moved from the table. “You’re not going to get some sleep?”

  “I think I’m going to sleep down here, read some more of my father’s journals.”

  Kat nodded then left.

  * * * * *

  Kat awoke with a start. She was dreaming that she was in the middle of an earthquake. She looked at her watch. It was 3:25 a.m. Even though she had had four hours sleep she still felt drained. Sheepishly, she turned over in the comfy single bed and let her eyes close once again.

  The bed shook. Chip, who was standing near the bedroom door barked.

  This time she sat all the way up. Noises came from the landing outside her room. Swinging her legs out of the bed she walked quickly to the door and opened it, opening it ajar while holding her dog back. Algorine and Justin’s voices drifted up from the ground floor. She quickly returned to the bed, put her boots on and ran back to the landing, making sure Chip stayed inside. She then descended the stairs while trying to listen to the agitated words that her two friends were exchanging.

  As she got to the bottom step the house shuddered again making her lose her footing and land awkwardly on the hallway rug.

  “They’re here!” shouted Algorine running past her into the living room with her rifle.

  “What’s going on!” shouted Darren from two floors above, while Chip barked from behind the bedroom door.

  “Get dressed!” shouted Kat in reply, still not having any idea what was happening. She then ran into the large room where Justin and Algorine were looking, as best they could, through the window while staying hidden behind the curtains. The ground shook again and a large something blocked the moonlight covering them all in shadow.

  “What the hell is that?” said Kat trying to hide the panic in her voice.

  Something rattled the front door.

  “They’re trying to get in the front!” said Justin running to the lobby.

  He stopped frozen by who was on the other side of the doors glass panels. It was his father.

  “Justin! We have to go!” said Nathan.

  Justin shook his head while words became stuck in his throat. “I . . .”

  “Justin! Open the door, come on! Quickly!”

  The ground shook once more, as a wall of scales passed behind his father.

  “What is that?” Justin said to himself as he walked towards the door.

  “That’s right boy. I know this is all very strange, but you have to trust me!”

  Justin reached for the door handle as if lost in a dream.

  “No!” shouted Kat in the living room doorway. “What are you doing?”

  Justin slowly looked back at her. “It’s . . . my father . . . I have to go.” With one movement before Kat had a chance to move any closer, he opened the door and stepped back.

  Nathan walked forward and slammed into an invisible barrier which fizzed with energy. “What is this?” said Nathan, looking at the magical barrier.

  “We did a spell to protect ourselves,” said Justin.

  “Can you get out? Try and step forward.”

  “Justin!” shouted Kat, running forward and grabbing his arm.

  He looked at her, the strain obvious on his face. “I have to leave, I can’t stay in here while my father is out there!” Shrugging her off, he felt out with his hand and it instantly hit the wall of magical energy. “I can’t get out!” He then looked back at Kat. “Switch it off, I need to leave!”

  Kat shook her head. “I don’t know how!”

  Algorine walked into the hallway with her rifle pointed directly at Nathan Pendridge behind the invisible barrier.

  “What are you doing!” shouted Justin. “He’s—”

  “I heard who he is. He’s also got a dragon with him.”

  Justin looked confused and looked back at his father. “Dragon?”

  “Yes, my friends brought me here, so I can return with you to the cyning. If you come back with me, he’s assured me you won’t be hurt!”

  “What? Cyning? I don’t unders
tand . . .”

  Footsteps came from behind Justin’s father. It was the woman who acted as dragon pilot.

  “What’s taking so long, we need to be back in the air, before the snow gets—”

  Algorine looked directly at the women on the other side of the doorway. “I might have known you would be in the middle of this.”

  “It’s been a while sis. How about you get your little pet magi there to bring this barrier down so I can do my job and whisk this man’s son back to where he needs to be.”

  “I don’t know how . . .” Kat repeated under her breath.

  “Don’t do anything,” said Algorine to Kat.

  “What the hell is going on!” shouted Justin his head flicking between the two parties.

  “Your father here, is working for someone really important. Someone who you really don’t want to get on the bad side of. I’m here to take you and him back up north. That’s about as simple as I can put it.” Aithne then looked at Nathan. “Not too bright is he.”

  Justin started backing up. “No . . . I won’t leave my friends.”

  “Justin, these people are not your friends. I don’t know what you’ve been through over the past few weeks, but you don’t know how happy I am to see you well. But things are just going to get worse and if you come back with me I can protect you!”

  “Oh screw this. Let’s see if this ward can withstand dragon fire,” said Aithne. “I suggest all of you go and find somewhere cold and secure to shelter.” She then looked at Nathan. “This place got a basement?”

  He whipped around to face her. “No. He will come out, you just need to give—”

  “Time? That’s something we don’t have any of. This is the only way.” She started to walk away to the bus-sized creature which had stopped moving just tens of yards behind them.

  Nathan looked to his son, then to the dragon not knowing what to do. “Justin, run and hide!” He turned and ran into the driveway as the ground shook and a huge scaled head with bony protrusions spun around to face the front of the house.

  “What do we do?” shouted Kat.

  Before Algorine could reply the world outside filled with a yellow and white fury. When the flame dissipated the wooden porch which sat just beyond the barrier was no more. The Victorian brick house creaked in response.

  “Will it hold?” said Kat who had ducked down behind a sideboard in the hallway.

  “I have no idea. Probably not,” said Algorine.

  Kat looked across to Justin whose eyes were still staring at the open front door. “We can’t let him be taken.”

  “Once the ward is down, that dragon can tear through this house if my sis tells it too. This—” she held up the rifle “—won’t even slow it down.”

  Kat raised her ring hand, it started to glow. “Maybe—”

  Algorine reached out lowering Kat’s hand. “You’re not ready to take on a dragon.”

  “Then what? Can you reason with your sister?”

  Algorine looked down shaking her head. “No.”

  Another blast of white hot heat hit the barrier, making it fizz and flicker like a faltering light.

  “I don’t want to go with him. I want to stay with you,” said Justin, looking at Kat and Algorine.

  “Maybe I can teleport us!” said Kat. Her defiant tone not reflecting how tired she felt.

  Algorine went to reply, when the dragon’s fire rammed into the magical barrier, this time though, it only partially withstood the impact and a surge of flame leapt into the hallway making them cover their eyes. When they all looked again, the ceiling above their heads was on fire.

  “The ward is down!” shouted Algorine raising her rifle towards the door. “Both of you, get Darren and teleport out of here! I’ll try and hold them off.”

  Nathan ran through the doorway and grabbed at his son. Justin was trying to push him away.

  “No, I’m staying, you leave!” shouted Justin.

  Algorine went to go to his aid when a bolt of white light hit her in the middle of the chest sending her flying back onto the stairs.

  Aithne appeared in the doorway with a smirk on her face. “It really is a shame you had no time for magic sis, it can be very useful.”

  Nathan started dragging Justin towards the door. “Come on!”

  Kat’s ring begun to glow as she lifted her hand. She then noticed the huge lizard-like head and catlike eyes that were looking straight at her from the darkness outside.

  “Uh, uh, magi, hold that thought unless you want to just be ashes.”

  Kat shook with frustration.

  Justin looked back at her his face full of emotion. He stopped resisting and allowed himself to be walked out of the door.

  Kat wanted to spring forward to stop him from leaving, but she knew he was going because he had too. There was no other choice. Algorine started regaining consciousness at her position on the stairs as Nathan and Justin disappeared into the gloom of the night.

  “We can’t let them take him!” said Algorine trying to sit up.

  Just as Kat looked down an explosion lit up the grounds in front of the house, together with a deep roar which she presumed came from the huge serpentine creature outside. She got up and ran forward.

  The APC they had traveled to Justin’s house with was firing on the large reptilian beast, which was now rearing up on its hind legs. Its passenger plane size wings flapped causing a draft which almost pushed Kat back inside, but she could tell what it was powering up to do and she had to stop it. Running forward across the snow, her ring hand out in front of her she summoned all the rage she could find. Her ring glowed with an intense blue-white light and she thrust her hand outwards towards the dragon that was on the cusp of letting out a stream of flame towards the military vehicle. Instead energy poured from Kat’s hand, blasting the side of the huge beast, and knocking it into the nearby trees, which promptly set on fire. Its wings flailed around it, as it tried to right itself. Just as Kat went to attempt the same again, she noticed the flash of silver out the corner of her eye and a burning sensation in her arm quickly followed. She looked down at her arm, her top was already turning black in the moonlight.

  She had no idea what had just happened, but the dragon’s wings were flapping more assuredly. She feared the worst when bullets flew past her head hitting the ground around the creature. Ignoring the molten metal a wall of fire came from its mouth bathing the APC in intense heat, causing its turret to visibly wilt.

  More bullets from the house pinged off the scales of the beast, as Kat started to feel weak and a blanket darker than the night around her descended across her eyes.

  CHAPTER 19

  Snow, wind, and fury whipped around Kat’s head as she tried to make sense of where she was. Where am I? She remembered her arm, but looking at it revealed no obvious injury. A stream of energy whizzed past her ear making it hot. She ducked and realised she was in the middle of a battle. A conflict which was taking place in the middle of a huge stone circle. Huge muscular leviathans with axes that were as long as Kat was tall appeared in flashes of blue and instantly set about thrashing at legions of armoured warriors. All the while streaks of neon flashed across the snow-covered ground felling tens of soldiers in one sweep. She then heard it, the clash of swords and a girl’s voice. Turning she saw a tall young man resplendent in a mix of modern and ancient armour, with a mighty sword in his hand . . . Justin? His eyes looked wild as he brought his sword down heavily on the girl’s own, who was equally decked out in golden armour. She had seen her before. It was the girl they rescued from the farmhouse. Kat went to run towards the fight, when Darren’s voice filled the air around her.

  “Is she alive?”

  Kat’s eyes flickered open, but she quickly shut them again as even the dull white light from the windows was too bright for her. She then felt a deep aching sensation emanating from the top of her right arm. She looked across at the copious number of bandages it was covered in and frowned.

  “Where am I . . . Wh
at happened?” Those and about a hundred other questions flooded into her mind.

  “You’re alive, that’s what matters,” said Algorine. “The corporal stitched your wound and bandaged you but said you should go to a nescient hospital unless . . .”

  Kat looked at her.

  “Unless you can heal yourself?”

  Kat went to push herself up, but the pain was too intense and stopped. Darren moved forward and helped her up so her back was against the headboard. She then placed her other hand across the top of her arm and concentrated. But as soon as she tried to make any mental effort a wave of fatigue swept through her.

  “I can’t yet, too tired. Corporal?”

  “I made you some food, it’s downstairs, I’ll just get it!” said Darren quickly leaving the room. She then noticed Chip looking up at her from the side of the bed.

  Algorine sat on the end of the bed and smiled. “You saved us.”

  “Where’s Justin?”

  The noise of heavy boots came from the stairs then landing outside the bedroom. Vic appeared in the doorway. “You awake?”

  “I think so . . . your tank thing got blasted in flame?”

  Vic walked into the room and sighed. “It sure did, luckily it’s pretty well covered in armour to stop that kind of explosive heat from getting inside. The gun turret won’t be firing anymore rounds though. If you hadn’t done your magic thing, I don’t think we would have withstood any more attacks though from that weird dinosaur.”

  Algorine rolled her eyes. “Dragon.”

  “Yeah, well whatever it was, this young lady caused it to quit and run.”

  “Where’s Justin?” Kat repeated.

  Algorine looked down.

  “I’m afraid they took him. We got his father though, he fell before he could get on the back of his ride back to whether they came from.”

  A feeling of sadness moved across Kat’s body making her feel even more lethargic. Eden now Justin.

  She pushed herself further up in the bed, ignoring the pain best she could. “We have to go after them.”