Alan watched as Kassidy ran at Easter swinging her sword like a club. In one fluid move Esther disarmed her and threw her to the ground. Alan winced as he saw Kassidy face plant into a mound of sand. “That’s all for today,” Esther said. “You’ll do better tomorrow. We have to start somewhere.”
Kassidy came up from the sand spitting granules out of her mouth and glaring daggers at Esther’s back. Alan walked over to his fellow Horseman with a water canteen as he remembered back on his own training. At times it was harsh, but it was always necessary. “Need a hand?”
Kassidy accepted Alan’s offer as she shook the sand free from her hair. On top of the sand and sweat that covered Kassidy’s body, she looked worse than ever. Her wrist bandages were already gone thanks to a combination of her accelerated healing and Danielle’s gift of restorative powers, however the drugs were still working their way out of her system. Kassidy’s complexion was pasty white and glaring against the sun’s rays. “What’s her problem?”
Alan handed Kassidy the canteen, “She’s not that bad when you get to know her. She’s just training you the best way she can. Trust me, you’ll thank her for it later when you need those skills in a fight.”
Kassidy took a long drought of the canteen, then another and another, until it was empty. She handed the bottle back to Alan. “Do I look as miserable as I feel? I don’t know why I’m not sicker or going crazy from the withdrawals.”
Alan cocked his head to the side, “Well, that’s because you’re not like everyone else, you’re a Horseman. As far as whether you look like how you feel … I don’t know. Do you feel like death?”
“Yes.”
“Then yes.”
“Thanks for that. My head fills like it’s splitting in half.” Kassidy looked at Alan with large eyes. “A nap wouldn’t be part of you training me, would it?”
“Sorry, kid, I can’t swing that but maybe I can arrange some shade.” Alan led Kassidy over to an empty tent constructed to hold weapons for the angels stationed at the beach. Alan motioned Kassidy to take a seat on a barrel in the middle of the rows of swords, spears, bows and shields.
“Wrists look better,’ Alan said situating himself on the edge of a table holding arrows.
Kassidy twisted her arms with both wrists face up. Alan was right. Instead of two long gashes ripping through her skin, two pink lines showed where scars would soon take over. “If only my body would deal with the lack of drugs the same way. This sucks.”
“I can only imagine,” Alan said. “Think about it this way. How bad would things be if you weren’t a Horseman with an accelerated metabolism? Give it another day or two I’m sure the withdrawals will be gone by then.”
“Yeah, but that only fixes part of the problem.”
“How so?”
“Well, unless you’re not telling me something, it’s not like I’m all of a sudden going to stop craving the drugs. I’m a junkie, Alan. I’m just going to put that on the table.”
“I appreciate your honesty.”
Kassidy shrugged. “Are you sure there hasn’t been a mistake? There’s not some holier human out there that was chosen for this?”
“Nope, trust me. I’ve spent my fair share of time thinking about that. We were chosen for a reason. If we can’t see why yet, we will one day.”
Kassidy rolled her shoulders and winced with the discomfort. “So, what’s next? Are you going to ‘teach’ me how to fly?”
“Not yet, but I do want to see if we can channel the power that makes you a Horseman.”
“And how do we do that?”
Alan recalled the very first time his powers manifested. It was during a situation when he was helpless, when he was about to be killed under Ardat’s sword and he needed to survive. Alan shuddered at the memory. He wouldn’t allow Kassidy to have to go through the same thing. Whatever it took, Alan would make sure she had an easier transition in awakening her abilities. “We’ll have to simulate a time when you needed help.”
“What?”
Alan paused and regrouped before answering. “My powers came to me when I was in trouble. I don’t know if yours will work the same way but I need you to think back to a time when you were desperate for help. I know it may be painful but that’s where we have to start.”
“Well, that won’t take long,” Kassidy said with a sardonic smile. “My life hasn’t exactly been balls and butterflies.”
“Close you eyes,” Alan instructed. He waited until Kassidy obeyed. “Pick your moment. I know it will be painful but relive that experience in every detail. The smells, the sounds, everything.”
Alan kept his eyes open measuring Kassidy’s progress. It killed him to imagine what she might have to relive, but it was necessary. Kassidy brow furrowed as she kept her eyes closed and breathed hard. The nightmare she was remembering had to be horrible. Within seconds, Alan could see a gleam of sweat on her brow. Her heartbeat quickened now even audible to Alan’s ears.
“I—I can’t,” Kassidy said eyes still closed slowly shaking her head.
“Tell me,” Alan said forcing any sympathy from his voice. “Where are you?”
“I’m—I’m eight. My father is back again from drinking. My mother and I are hiding in the closet. She tells me to be quiet but I can’t stop crying.”
It tore Alan’s heart to hear her recount such a horrible memory. Alan was having second thoughts about being ready to mentor. He was about to call the exercise off when he saw the first spark. It was faint like the last ember of a dying fire. A yellow line of energy racing around Kassidy as if it could surround her and protect her from the pain that was to come. Just as soon as it appeared, it was gone. This spurred Alan on, “Keep going, Kassidy. What happened next?”
Kassidy shook with the memory, a tremor took her body. “I’m still in the closet with my mother, my dad hears me crying. My mom is begging me to stop. He’s throwing around furniture trying to find us. He hears me. He hears me crying. He’s coming.”
Multiple yellow lights the color of the sun showed like lines and wrapped around Kassidy racing to protect her from harm. “He found us. My mom begs him to stop but he starts beating her. He’s beating her because I couldn’t keep quiet.” Kassidy’s voice was the sound of fear laced with regret and self-loathing.
Alan couldn’t take anymore. Hearing the pain in her voice was even beginning to bring his own past to the surface: the bullying, the loneliness. “Open your eyes, Kassidy.”
There was no hesitation, as the girl ran from her past. With a sigh, her eyelids snapped open. As Alan witnessed Kassidy see her true powers for the first time, he knew it was worth it. The trepidation from only a second before was replaced with an expression of wonder.
Yellow lines sped around her like tiny comets eager to chase their own tails. Words were clearly past the budding Horseman, leaving Alan to fill the silence. “This is only the first step. Now that you can call on your strength, it will get easier and easier. Eventually, you won’t have to remember the things that drove you to be who you are today. You’ll be able to find your own trigger to call your abilities.”
Kassidy nodded along with Alan’s words yet it was clear she was in shock. Alan couldn’t blame her. Kassidy moved her arms out to her sides and forced them up and down in a slow steady beat. The yellow comets sparked and followed her motions careful not to touch her skin, always within inches of her body.
Alan wanted to say more. He wanted to share in her enthusiasm and excitement, however fate had other plans. A horn from somewhere in the encampment sounded. Shouts and the sounds of running feet and whooshing wings reached Alan’s hears. He stuck his head from the tent looking for answers.
Esther was running across the beach shouting orders. Alan caught her eye, “What’s wrong. What’s happening?”
Esther met him with a grim response. “Demons have come to claim the new Horseman.”
---
Alan’s first thought was of Kassidy’s safety. Looking back into the tent he caught
her wide-eyed. The yellow energy swirling around her was now gone. “I need you to stay here,” Alan said. “I’ll send Danielle or Raphael to watch you. Promise me you’ll stay here.”
It was clear Kassidy was frightened but just as easy to see was her will that set her apart as a Horseman. “I can help.”
“No,” Alan winced as the word came form his mouth more as a shout than an answer. Already, Alan could feel his body tingling with the promise of battle. He fought back the feeling trying to focus on Kassidy instead. “Please, just stay here.”
Instead of waiting for an answer, Alan hurried off into the rush of running bodies. Alan’s eyes ran over the crowd of angels preparing for war. Esther wasted no time in forming her company into ranks of armored defenses. Above, a long line of angels were already positioned and held shining silver bows and quivers full of arrows. They formed a line in the sky just ahead of the camp. Likewise, another line was forming on the ground. These angels were equipped with shields half the size of their bodies and spears as long as they were tall.
Alan ran to the front of the line to find Esther while still searching for a familiar face. Finally, he saw Raphael. The Archangel was walking from his hut, a haunted look of anxiety plastered across his bearded face. “Raphael,” Alan shouted changing his course to intercept the Archangel. “I need you to look after Kassidy. She’s in the weapons tent. I—” Alan paused as he witnessed Raphael’s eyes glaze over. It was obvious amidst the clanking armor and captains shouting their commands that Raphael was reliving events eons old.
Alan grabbed the Archangel by the shoulders and shook. “Listen to me. Kassidy needs you. This isn’t the war you were in. This isn’t any of your friends or Uriel.”
That did it: Raphael snapped out of his haze at the mention of his lost friend. He blinked like he was seeing Alan for the first time. “Do you hear me?” Alan asked. “Kassidy is alive in the weapons tent and she needs you right now. Go protect her, Raphael.”
Raphael nodded dumbly and ran for the encampment. Alan wished he had more time to ensure the Archangel found Kassidy but he needed to get to the frontlines. Alan maneuvered his way through the maelstrom of activity in the camp. Every angel was either already at his or her station or in the camp preparing their defenses.
The frontline was the area just before the beach ended and touched the first outcroppings of grass. Esther stood tall just behind the frontlines taking council with Danielle and a handful of her advisers. Alan craned his neck to see what evil approached but to his dismay he could see nothing. Past the broad shoulders of the angelic core, only green landscape appeared.
“What’s going on?” Alan asked, skidding to a halt beside the group of conferring military leaders.
Esther gave him a sideways glance, which clearly communicated that she was not used to being interrupted. “Our forward sentries came in contact with Fallen scouts in advance of a much larger company. The demon scouts flew a white flag and spoke with our sentries.”
Alan took the information in as fast as it was being related. “They want Kassidy,” Alan said.
The group of warriors looked at each other uncomfortably. Danielle finally spoke. “They want Kassidy,” she said in a low tone, “and they want retribution for what you did.”
Alan couldn’t believe his ears. “What I did?”
“Yes,” Esther took up the story. “It seems that when you rescued Kassidy you embarrassed one of the demonic princes.”
Memories of his encounter with the demon named Trubic came back to him in a rush. “This is ridiculous. We aren’t going to give them Kassidy or meet any of their demands, prince or not.”
Esther raised a gloved fist for silence. “We have no intention of giving them Kassidy. However, if we can avoid bloodshed, we must. With Gabriel’s influence on the rules of our world, an encounter now would mean death to our men and women. I cannot knowingly go into a battle until I have exhausted all other possibilities for a peaceful resolution.”
Alan knew he should agree with Esther. The Captain was only trying to spare her men. Still something burned inside Alan with the heat of a fury he never knew. It begged him to speak. Alan bit it back. His stomach churned with the effort and sent bile to his mouth. In the absence of any words, Alan nodded his agreement.
“They’ve requested an audience,” Esther said. “I think we should hear them out. I’d like you and Danielle to come with me.”
Alan nodded again. Danielle looked shocked. Her eyes nearly filling the insides of her large framed glasses. “Me? You want me to come?”
“Yes,” Esther said, “will that be a problem?”
“No, nope. No problem here.”
“Good,” Esther replied unbuckling her sword belt and handing it to one of her lieutenants. She gave parting instructions before making her way to the frontlines. “If anything goes wrong, you tell the archers to fire without restraint. We’ll be coming back fast so be ready.”
In the echoes of the, “Yes, ma’am’s” from her soldiers, Alan and Danielle followed Esther. “Why do you think she wanted me to go?” Danielle said with a nervous twitch in her voice. “I mean, you I understand but, me? I’m just the tech girl who has the ability to heal.”
“I don’t know,” Alan said. “I guess we’ll find out soon.”
The ranks of warriors that made up the frontline parted. A narrow walkway was opened for them in one smooth motion and closed behind them just as efficiently. Esther, Alan and Danielle made their way up the beach and to the area of grassy hills that marked the end of the sand’s reach.
When they crested the embankment, Alan’s breath caught in his throat. The inside of his mouth tasted like chalk in the face of the horde. The mass of bodies was hard to see because they were green. The army melded into the grassy terrain. Alan guessed they numbered in the hundreds. Perhaps not enough to overwhelm Esther’s forces but enough to give them a blood-soaked fight.
Ahead of the moving caravan three lone figures rode forward on creatures well ahead of the main force. One of the figures held a white flag attached to a tall wooden pole. Alan raised a hand to shield his eyes against the midday sun’s gleams. The three figures as well as the animals they rode took shape as they approached.
Alan could feel his heartbeat quicken with every step they took nearer. Easy. We’re not here to fight. We’re here to talk. Think about the lives that will be lost if this goes bad.
Alan didn’t have to concentrate on keeping his composure for long. Soon disbelief took the place of any kind of blood lust or battle fury. The three demons were a surprise themselves: all clad in black with dark billowing capes. The only one Alan recognized was Trubic. The other two much larger demons were menacing with wide shoulders and dirty scowls. What was even more disturbing were the animals they rode. Alan had read of the mythological creatures before, but reading and seeing a chimera in real life were two extremely different things.
The chimeras each had three heads; one of a lion, and a goat to the front and one of a snake on its tail. It seems the monsters were also able to cover long distances on foot. Alan witnessed the chimeras run towards them as fast as any horse. As the creatures came closer, Alan could see their front paws were those of a lion while their back legs resembled the goat and a tail ending in the head of a snake. All six eyes of each chimera fixated on Alan and his companions as though they were the only prey left in the world.
Alan steeled his nerves as the surreal creatures stopped just yards from where the members of the Light stood. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Danielle grimace as she looked at the animals. To her credit, Esther’s face remained emotionless. Her back was ridged, hands falling to either sides of her frame.
The stench coming from the beasts was nauseating. Alan felt a tickle in the back of his throat as the creatures’ reek begged a cough or worse. Trubic, the only demon Alan recognized, stared at him through dark ebony eyes as he dismounted from his ride. Alan could practically feel the hate coming off the member of the
Fallen race in waves. “That one,” Trubic said raising a withered hand to point at Alan’s chest. “That is the one that attacked me.”
The large man seated next to him shifted off his stead. “Put down your hand, Trubic, we have all heard of the Horseman of War.”
Trubic obeyed as his tongue flicked in and out of his mouth almost with a mind of its own. In a whiny voice he muttered, “He also has the other one. The girl.”
“Esther,” said the demon who ordered Trubic to lower his hand as he approached. “It has been too long.”
“That’s far enough, Sodom,” Esther said stopping the demon in his tracks. “Spare me your pleasantries and tell me why you requested this audience.”
The third demon who had not yet taken part in the conversation slid off his chimera with a dull thud. He was armored from toe to neck. His thick black hair fell behind him in long dreadlocks. He snapped his fingers and the three chimeras evaporated in front of Alan’s eyes. The demon joined his comrades and stared with impassive eyes at Alan, Esther and Danielle.
Sodom’s already large eyes grew at Esther’s remark. “Well, I thought it would be you, not me, that would start the negotiations for a peaceful interaction. As I’m sure you well know, we are not as invulnerable as we once were. Gabriel, it seems, is trying to play Creator and decide what is best for us all.”
Alan caught the sneer in Sodom’s words and found himself surprised the demon did not speak with favor when he mentioned Gabriel. Until now, Alan thought the demonic forces were all on the same page. It seemed that there were rifts in the Fallen hierarchy.
“It’s true. Our mortality in battle even with normal weapons is real,” Esther said, “but I suspect you are only leveraging this new truth to meet your own endgame.”
Sodom took a step back with feigned hurt. He even lifted a hand and placed it on his chest as if Esther’s words had hurt his feelings. “Please, Esther, I only bring this up so we can understand the weight of this conversation. Its outcome could mean the death of hundreds from both our sides. All I want is the girl.”
Alan Price and the Statue of Zeus (The Nephilim Chronicles Book 3) Page 7
