by c a king
“A lot of people are dead or taken,” Neil shouted back. It was the first time he had spoken since the invasion had begun.
“We have to do something to stop them,” Malarchy pleaded.
It was Willow who responded with a touch of anger in her voice. “Look at us. We are all that are left. What do you suggest we do. They would wipe us out in a second. No, we are waiting until they go and then we can regroup and decide what can be done.”
“I don't think that is an option,” Malarchy said looking at the ground.
“What do you mean?”
He took in a large breath of air. “Joseph, one of the leaders, he told us he was leaving us behind to burn in some kind of fire...necrid flames is what he called it.”
“Necrid flames are bad.” Nathan stepped forward away from his Grandmother. “It's a blue flame that burns anything living. It makes ghost worlds. The direct opposite of terraforming. The flames keep burning until there is no more life...nothing else can extinguish it.”
“We don't have much time left if they are heading back!” Malarchy exclaimed. “When they leave they will set the flames.”
Clairity almost fell to her knees, “Ashlyn, she is hurt on the hill. She needs help.”
“I will go,” Willow started, turning her attention to her friend.
“No, I will. I have increased speed. I can make it faster. Just lead us back here once we get to the treeline,” Jessie said.
“The trees will show you a path, I will meet you for the last part,” Willow said. “Thank you.”
Jessie ran to the hill racing against time.
“We need to find some way.” Willow's thoughts exploded through all of the information that had bombarded her mind. 'Portals,' she thought. 'All known portals closed...known portals...there must be a hidden portal...but how do we find it? Prophecies, there are prophecies about...' “Diana would there be a book containing prophecies? I know some were only heard by the Council, but other ones the keepers would have kept?”
“Yes, 'The Portal Prophecies'. It's quite large,” the historian replied.
“Nathan, have you seen it?” Willow said hoping the boy had read it already.
“No, I haven't,” he replied.
“Where haven't you read books yet?” Willow asked.
He pointed to a section on the opposite semi circle to where he was standing.
“Quickly, I need to find this book. Only look for the very largest books.”
Clairity had found it before she had even finished speaking. “I had a feeling,” she said.
Placing it on the stone table Willow turned to Diana again, “This is your writing. You recorded all of these as historian. Is there a prophecy about the blue flame?”
Mrs. Waddington looked as if a light had gone off inside her head. “Yes, yes there is!” She turned the pages of the book, when she stopped she read out loud...
“When the blue flames engulf the land, only one whose will is steadied, by that discovered can break that which is set in stone to escape.”
She heard Jessie call and ran out to meet him. He was carrying Ashlyn. They joined the others and watched as Willow paced back and forth repeating the prophecy.
What did it mean, her mind raced, “Somethings only you can discover...an ability it has to be...break that which is set in stone...in stone.” She looked at the book on the table. She moved the book and handed it to Clairity to hold, then ran her fingers over the four corners of the table.
“Shouldn't we try to do something?” Malarchy yelled. “We are out of time.”
“She is trying to do something,” Clairity replied. “Let her concentrate.”
Willow looked up and for the first time noticed above the stone table there was an opening. A small square that let the light shine down on the table.
She turned to Ashlyn. “The dreams...in our dreams, there was a giant storm, it was in the other prophecy as well about today. Everything else has happened, but the great storm...the thunder and...” her words cut off. She understood.
“Stand back everyone inside one of the two side rooms against the walls. Don't lose that book Clairity,” Willow yelled.
Raising her hands to the sky and looking upward a gold dust appeared flowing from her hands. The clouds swirled above, rain fell heavier than they had seen it before. The winds howled and within seconds thunder boomed through the air. A single bolt of lightening struck the table, breaking it into pieces and the four corner stones broke loose flying into position as if drawn by a magnet. A portal opened before them with a rainbow of lights in the middle.
“Go,” Willow screamed. The necrid flames were almost upon them. She watched as each of the survivors ran through, then jumped through herself with only seconds to spare, not knowing where they would end up on the other side.
King Cornelius
The three princes returned to their homeland. Here, whether day or night, the skies were orange with red highlights and purple clouds. Red sands covered much the world, bordering on seas of black liquid where some of the most vicious sea creatures ever to live called home. Towns scattered along the shore lines of the seas, housing the population not enlisted in aiding the war efforts. Fishermen would risk their lives to capture any one of the deadly water creatures, which when cooked properly, were considered a delicacy by the King, and worth more riches than could be earned in any other trade.
In the centre of the land was a great mountain of black rock. A castle was carved into the rock itself. One lone path rounded up the sides, with several large platforms of flat sheet rock along the way, leading to a gate at the top which allowed entrance. This area was the living quarters and King's Court. Under the main levels, buried deep in the mountain were the servants' quarters, below that the dungeons, filled with all sorts of beings, captured from different worlds. Some would be made to join the army, others were to be studied, exploited for whatever was to the use or need of the King or his children.
The black forest bordered the foot of the mountain, filled with large dark trees, which in any other world may appear as dead or dying. They had no leaves, and stood silent. Several large branches exploded from the top and grew downwards, each dividing into five separate vine like branches, resembling large hands with long fingers. The finger like vines could sense movement and wrap around any living thing, pulling the poor creature to its base where the bark of the tree would open and surround its prey, absorbing the very essence of its life. There was one road through the forest which was used by tradesmen, hunters and fisherman, at their own risk, to bring their items to a market place located on the first stone platform heading up the mountain. The other platforms all contained vast amounts of housing for the King's armies.
Today the halls of the castle echoed with laughter and celebration for the victories the Princes and Princesses were to bestow upon their father.
“A toast to Prince Joseph, Prince Simon and Prince Lance, for the conquest of yet another world. Come my sons. Tell me tales of today's adventures,” the King's voice trumpeted as he raised a glass of wine in the air, its precious liquid overflowing in every direction he turned.
“A perfectly flawless attack, no injuries except for Lance, he picked a fight with a tree and lost, ending up on his backside,” Joseph answered laughing.
“To be fair the tree was twice my size,” Lance answered with a smile. “And nothing was hurt but my pride.”
“Do we know the name of the world you so boldly conquered?” Cornelius asked.
“No father, but one of our new guests will be willing to share I am sure.” Joseph was the most ruthless of the three princes. He executed his father's requests without question and was quick to claim the glory as well.
“Casualties?” One of the King's royal eyebrows raised a the query.
“Limited, a few struggled and were executed or left behind,” Joseph answered.
“Without knowing what world this is? I explicitly instructed you that I am looking for someone. How do you kno
w she wasn't one of your casualties?” the King yelled, a blush red colour creeping up his cheeks.
“I highly doubt this was that world father. There was nothing but a small town of wooden huts and one castle. Even the prisoner count is minimal.”
“Find out quickly about this world. Ask the captives the names of who is missing so I can be sure.” Cornelius turned to Lance. “The necrid flames? They have been lit?”
“Yes, the world should be consumed by now and barren of all life, useless to anyone ever again,” Lance replied.
“Your gift is a blessing my son. Soon we shall have destroyed all of those who imprisoned us and the walls they built, not just around us but around thousands of worlds. They imposed their will on us unjustly, took our friends and relatives, turned them against us and had them betray us. They told us we were not good enough for their utopia and denied us the right to make our own.”
“Have my sisters returned?” Prince Joseph asked.
“Not yet,” the King answered. “When they do we shall celebrate till the morning. Till then perhaps you can work on a few of our new guests, find some information.”
“As you wish, my King,” Joseph answered and turned to the staircase leading down to the dungeons.
The stone staircase was dark and cold. The three princes headed down past the servants' quarters, past the next two levels which housed beings who were being reformed or chose to join the King's army and were in training, to the very lower level dungeons. Here, there were several different rooms which spread across a few levels, including interrogation rooms and holding cells all carved from rock and virtually escape free.
“Bets? I think I can crack one first,” Simon said with a smile.
Joseph smiled. “Brotherly competition, my favourite.”
“I will sit this one out, you two enjoy,” Lance replied. “I may visit some old...friends.” The prince disappeared into the deepest darkest part of the castle's lower levels.
The first two holding cells were full of the new guests to the castle. Simon chose a young girl to interrogate, motioning a guard to have her brought to a private room.
“Hello,” Simon said smiling. He was able to turn on the charm when he wanted to on the same level as Joseph. In fact, women found all three of the princes to be irresistible. They were all handsome, tall, well built, and eloquent speakers. “I am Prince Simon and you are?”
“Sabrina,” the girl answered in a shaky voice.
“Sabrina, very nice to meet your acquaintance. I believe there has been a misunderstanding, I want to fix things, but to do so, I need your help. The sooner I sort through the answers, the sooner we can improve your situation here. Okay?”
“I am not sure what help I can be. I don't know anything,” she answered.
Simon laughed. “I haven't asked anything yet so how could you know whether or not you know? These questions aren't difficult. They are about your home. For instance what was the name of your town and world?”
“Name? It didn't have a name, at least not one I have ever heard. It was just our home. We didn't speak of other places.” Her voice shook in fear that her answer might anger the man before her.
“No name at all? There was only the one town and it had no name either?” Simon asked.
“Just the one town. I don't think we ever needed it to have a name, or maybe 'the town' was its name,” she answered.
“Okay,” he said smiling. “It makes sense, there was no need...there are some people missing correct? Do you think you could name them?”
“Yes there are some. Why do you want to know who they are?”
“Like I said, this is I believe a terrible mistake, I just need to rule out the person we are looking for wasn't hiding in your town,” he answered convincingly.
“Hiding? Like a criminal? Odd things were happening lately. Do you think that is why? This person was scared you were coming for them?”
“Yes...yes, it most likely is. Why don't you tell me the names so we can try to bring this evil person to justice?” Simon listened and wrote down all the names. “That's all, you are sure?”
“Yes...wait I almost forgot. Diana and thinking back, she had been taken away bound with ropes by the castle guards for something she had done.”
The young prince's face went white. “What did she look like?”
“Tall, thin, very pristine, hair always very neat, tied back in a bun, clothes always clean and proper. Nice features, some of the girls wished they had her cheek bones. She was pleasant to look at and well spoken. Is it her?” Sabrina asked, without hesitation.
“I don't know,” he answered leaving the room to find his brother.
Joseph had chosen a woman from the town named Martha, but hadn't gotten very far. He was about to slap the woman for the fourth time for not answering his questions, when Simon flung open the door asking to speak to him. After leaving the room, he listened to the story and read the names on the list, which was a little more extensive than he had expected.
“There are many worlds brother. I am sure there are many women by the same name as our long lost Aunt. The whole thing seems unlikely, don't you think?” Joseph asked.
“How so?” Simon asked.
“Guardians were creatures of great power. When they separated the worlds to their own taste and created their utopia, do you think they would have designed beaten up old wooden shacks for their keepers to live in? Our dungeons are better accommodations. Also, wouldn't there have been a guardian or two left to protect their homeland? No, I think this was a trial colony of some sort, an experiment. The size of the world itself was so small, one town, no bodies of water. Surely a powerful ancient race would have made a better home for itself.” Joseph motioned to one of his men to return the captives to the holding cells with the others.
“Wait!” Simon smiled. “The girl in the other room, have the maids bathe her and find her something...appealing to wear, then bring her to my room to wait for me. I do enjoy celebrations.”
Joseph laughed. “Let's find Lance.”
Lance was on the very lowest level of the dungeon when his two brothers found him. He had been standing in front of a special rock enclosure which was clear to see through and naturally blocked many special abilities. Inside was a woman with light strawberry coloured curly hair, shades paler than the girl he had seen in the forest earlier. They had similar facial features, perhaps related he thought. He hadn't been able to get the vision of the girl out of his mind. She was different some how, something about her intrigued him like no other girl had before. His thoughts were interrupted.
“Something wrong?” Joseph asked handing him the list of names that had been collected.
“No, just wondering how to get her to give up the other creature,” Lance lied while looking over the list.
“Why? The other one is immortal. We have eternity to torture it for its crimes,” Simon offered.
“It no longer responds. Look for yourself. I think it is broken beyond repair, as good as dead but trapped in life. It has given up and is useless to you now,” Lance responded.
Joseph entered the cell beside the woman his brother was watching and returned with a body of a black bird, motionless. One wing had been removed, all of its bones had been repeatedly broken. It had endured the worst forms of torture until it could endure no more.
“Immortal isn't always a blessing,” Joseph mused.
A loud noise came from down the hallway. Three girls, all dressed in black, their skin a pale olive green were heading their way.
“Do we have victory sisters?” Joseph asked.
“Victory...there was nothing to be victorious over. This was the first world we have seen with no intelligent life forms. At first we thought there were some humanoids but it ended up being just bunch of beasts, sharp teeth and claws...vicious yes...but usable, no. The land however, was perfect to assimilate into the new world once the barriers between space come down. We made sure any plant life would die off quickly and water s
ources would dry up fast. It won't be long before it is barren land that we can later transform into whatever we want,” Zoe responded. She was the impulsive one of the three princesses, quick to make decisions. “I thought those things couldn't die,” she added referring to the bird her brother was holding.
“They can't but it is broken, beyond help now. I just don't know what to do with it. Seems such a waste to use valuable space on it now,” Joseph answered.
Without a word Zoe grabbed the bird and rushed back up the staircase. Several minutes later she returned smiling.
“What did you do?” Lance asked.
“The doorway was still open to the world we were just in. I threw it in. Let the beasts play with it some before they expire and it's out of our hair. We can use that room for other things now,” she answered.
“I may be starting to understand why you are father's favourite Zoe,” Joseph said.
“Why don't you share the good news with the lady, Lance. I am sure it will jolt her some, maybe even anger her enough to let the other one out to play,” Simon said.
“Actually, I think I will have a chat with her and catch up to you later at the celebration.” Lance entered the stone room and closed the door behind him.
“Hello,” Lance said. He had never actually paid any attention to the women before. “Raven, isn't it?”
“I have no desire to speak with you,” she snapped.
“I have information for you, about your friend and...daughter,” Lance said.
Raven's eyes widened, “What has happened to the guardian? Return her to me and we can speak.”
“I am afraid I can't. The guardian gave up hope. The torture you let it endure on your behalf was too much for it to bare. The broken body was discarded moments ago.”
“You are a vile race, without any signs of morals or decency,” she yelled, spitting in the prince's face.
Lance took a cloth from his pocket and wiped his face. “It was your precious guardians who imposed their will on us. They took our lands, our property, our family and our right to grow away from us. They imprisoned us with walls created between worlds, designed to hold us back from our true potential. We are not the villains here we are the victims. If you are as civilized as you pretend then why weren't we consulted as to our future?”
