by Jaye Shields
He wasn’t taking any chances. The bodies of netherworlders of all kinds hit the ground as he ran through the mass of travelers, Sabin’s solid body clearing the way when his determined, violent gaze did not. When he reached the vibrating, glittering portal, he instantly saw what held the other Knights at bay: a Nunanish. The blackened creature towered over many of the Knights, its body skin and bones, save for massive shoulders, built as if it were meant to carry loads of dead bodies.
If it escaped to another plane, the Nunanish could become nearly invisible to the human eye, taking the form of black smoke. The demon’s sole purpose was to infect others. The faceless creature rushed toward the portal in a frenzy. Sabin couldn’t imagine what made the creature desire to leave a land of such perfect violence, but now the demon charged toward the barrier.
Fire!
Sabin ordered his men to execute the creature with their specialized weapons developed to penetrate the mystical division between lands. Wielding their steel guns laden with astral bullets, the Knights of the Fog took aim.
Flashes of light exploded from the weapons, but before each astral bullet could hit its charging target, the Nunanish became a dark cloud, letting the astral bullets streak through. The Nunanish manifested once more just as it crashed through the portal, blood seeping from the misshapen, black body in several places where the bullets had passed through the smoke.
Get the travelers back!
He yelled at his men to secure the masses that could easily become infected before they traveled to their intended destination. Of the five Knights in the vicinity, three focused their energy on pushing back the travelers. Some of the demonic pilgrims were innocent enough, but others would be dying for a chance to wreak havoc.
Sabin and his closest comrade, Rowen, hunkered down for the impact of the demon. The two Knights were massive beasts of men, their eyes translucent as ice, glittering with intent.
The demon collided with Sabin, who held himself like a brick wall. Despite the foe’s towering height, Sabin’s body was strong against the impact and rebounded against the demon, pressing its gnarled, blackened body to the fog-laden ground. Fumbling with the beast on the ground, he freed a hand to retrieve the dagger he had strapped to his thigh over thick leather pants, and sank the blade deep into the stomach of the gangly demon.
Rowen aimed his astral gun to execute the beast but instead his body flew through the fog as a red gargoyle leaped on him during the momentary distraction. Hunched on four massive, powerful legs, thick with red fire-singed fur, the creature was a popular pet in the Asuras plane. The gargoyle’s wrinkled face roared, exposing jagged, serrated teeth. The beast ripped its claws through Rowen before he could get a shot off.
Sabin began chanting in an ancient language, a magical incantation that turned the fog into an intoxicant. The Knights were immune, but their intended prey would be neutralized. “Ghheestia Avrlo Vestiiia Resim.” The primeval tongue was guttural and filled with clicks and inhuman sounds that came from deep within his throat. Just then a primal roar erupted from Rowen as the red gargoyle sank its teeth deep into his comrade’s neck.
The Nunanish slammed back into the Sabin with all its brute force roaring in his face. All hell was breaking loose in the Fog Realm. Knight Sodor had rushed to aid Rowen, and the two remaining Knights were struggling to contain the hundreds of netherworlders. Sabin and the Nunanish demon rolled through the cold fog until suddenly they were falling.
He cursed louder than he had ever heard himself utter anything in any realm. They had fallen through a portal.
Chapter Three
Sabin and the Nunanish fell through the fog. The demon dissipated into a dark cloud as Sabin met the ground with crushing force. Every bone in the immortal’s body was either snapped or crushed and even worse, the Nunanish was nowhere to be seen.
Lifting his head, Sabin noticed that he was not on the ground, but atop a human temple of some sort. He crawled along the cold stone, dragging his heavily muscled but temporarily broken body. Peering over the ledge, he saw many humans buzzing in and out of the temple below him. Fog was thick around the portal ground, but in the distance, he made out the shape of a ship laden with people. He quickly realized that he was on an island. Using his gift for language, he read the sign near the entrance of the temple. Alcatraz.
Sabin didn’t take the time to ponder the danger for the hundreds of humans that seemed to be arriving at the portal destination, even though any one of the humanoids could become infected by the Nunanish and bring chaos to the region.
Grimacing against the agony of regenerating bones, he stood, shaking off the pain. As a warrior, he was accustomed to it. Thousands of years of war were required of a soldier before they were trusted enough to become a Knight of the Fog. After all, only those who waged the best war could keep the peace.
Standing atop the so-called Alcatraz, he tried to figure out his best course of action. Quickly deciding to inspect the local population for infection, he leapt from the roof in a graceful swoop.
Sabin’s heavy boots landed on the cement and the people screamed and jumped away — the hysteria. They have indeed been infected. His eyes filled with icy rage.
The people around him scattered like fearful little ants. The humans on this plane were indeed somewhat puny and frightful creatures. Sabin was overwhelmed with chaotic, frenzied voices.
“Is it a convict?”
“Is it a show?”
“Look at his eyes, he’s meant to be a ghost of Alcatraz!”
Ghost of Alcatraz? These people must be more crazed than I thought. Sabin was disgusted by the humans, so gullible, so easily infected. But as a Knight of the Fog, he knew that he must not disturb their existence, but preserve it.
Speaking for the first time in English, he enunciated carefully. “Yes, I am part of the show.” He cleared his throat and spoke to the crowd as his height towered above them.
An infidel spoke out. “Which inmate are you supposed to be?” There were more murmured voices, mostly from women.
“God, he’s huge.”
And from another, “He’s a gorgeous hunk of man, isn’t he? Models are so tall.”
“Look at his muscles.”
Suddenly he became aware of the fact that humans in the earthly realm were much more clothed. He wore only leather pants and combat boots, with thick astral artillery belts and guns strapped across his chest and slung across his hips. Losing his patience, he spoke again in a commanding voice. “There has been an escape. Has anybody noticed a dark spirit?”
Sabin was met only with the excited murmurs of the crowd. A tall, gangly man with glasses poked his head from around a door. “Are you new here? I don’t think I’ve met you. You know, there’s not supposed to be any appearances until later tonight. I didn’t realize that there was a new show.”
Surveying the small island, Sabin pondered which of the two closest land masses to swim to. One way, there was a large hill-built city with many towers and ground vehicles. On the other side of the water was what appeared to be another island with much flora. The Nunanish surely would not have sought dense foliage; he would have sought the population of the city.
Screams rang in the distance. Gods Daimonous. Sabin realized that no Knights of the Fog were following, obviously having to deal with the outbreak in the Fog plane. “You.” He pointed to the gangly, spectacle-wearing tour-guide. “What is the quickest method off this island?”
When he was met with only open jaws, he took matters into his own hands and ran toward the island cliff to dive into the murky waters of the San Francisco Bay.
• • •
Sparrow and Tera were hanging out in the kitchen of the Alameda coffee shop when the front door burst open with a loud jangle. Sparrow’s colorfully dressed aunts plowed through the coffee shop in a mass of long skirts, heavy knit scarves and entirely to
o much purple eye shadow.
The front barista recognized the aunts and gave a cheerful wave. “Hello Melissandra, hello Morgana. Welcome back.” Tera cleaned her hands off with a damp rag. It was obvious by their flurried arrival that they had news. Not that they weren’t normally somewhat rambunctious.
“Agrotera, we have interesting news for you.” The aunts spoke in disheveled unison. Sparrow seemed slightly perturbed.
“Good to see you too, dearest aunts.”
They looked over at Sparrow, whose dainty hands were placed firmly on her hips, her fingernails bright red with pink polka dots. Melissandra blew Sparrow a kiss before returning her attention to Tera.
Tera spoke up. “What is it?”
Melissandra and Morgana looked at each other with worry. “The portal has been opened.”
“Should I do reconnaissance?” Sparrow asked, ready to become a winged scout if need be. Tera’s heart swelled with warmth for the friend she knew would do anything for her. If there was danger, Tera wasn’t sure she wanted Sparrow there.
“Nope, I’ll ride the direct ferry; it should only take about fifteen minutes. You hold down the fort here in case I don’t return,” she assured her friend.
Tera shrugged on her favorite leather jacket, perfect for concealing her discreet weaponry, which consisted of a stake, a silver hunting knife, handcuffs, and mace. She hugged the aunts good-bye, but Sparrow grabbed her arm.
“Let me go with you. What if it’s the goddess from Morgana’s vision?”
“It’s probably just my mother come to warn me. Don’t worry, I’ll have my cell. I’ll text you with an update.”
As Tera headed out the door, she filled with warmth. Her mother, the Goddess of the Hunt had taught her everything about the forest and how to care for the creatures within it. Artemis was more than just a mother to Dryads, she was a defender of the defenseless. Tera hoped that one day she’d be as courageous as her mother. For now, she’d settle for throwing her arms around the goddess.
It was time to visit the portal.
Chapter Four
Sabin pulled himself up onto a long wooden pier. Leather pants clung to his legs, his whole body soaked by the swim from Alcatraz Island. Surveying the area, he realized that matters were escalating quickly. Time to utilize his powers as a Knight of the Fog.
The people swarming the boardwalk area were frenzied with violence. The women pulled at each other’s hair and threw fists randomly, driven by the hostility of the Nunanish infection. The men foamed at the mouth as they tumbled with each other on the ground, or threw each other through business windows. At least a hundred people on the pier had been infected. A carousel loomed in the distance, filled with children and he realized he had to contain the violence quickly.
Reaching his arms out, he chanted in the old language once more, beckoning the fog to come closer. “Ghheestia Avrlo Vestiiia Resim.”
Slowly, the thick fog that rested atop the water traveled to where he stood on the pier. The summoned haze blanketed the chaotic violence. As he began chanting, Sabin tasted the salt water dripping from his long silver hair, but his immortal flesh was immune to the cold liquid. He felt his pupils dilate as the fog thickened. In turn, his irises shifted to their clear aquamarine state. Now his eyes could penetrate the thick fog. “Pestin Gooja Astain.”
He inhaled, pleased to find the fog thickening with its narcotic properties, and hopefully, the violence would be subdued. They’d have a wicked comedown and unexplainable bruises, but the infection would have passed.
The fighting eased and every person within 100 yards of the pier passed out. Now it was time to find the Nunanish. It had to be nearby. He wondered briefly if he should gas the whole city while he worked. But then a welcome sight interrupted his thoughts.
A single body walked through the thick fog. Long legs were wrapped in leather, and the tall female had cascading auburn hair and green eyes so bright they could have penetrated the thickest of fog. As she stepped over sleeping bodies, her gaze never looked down, but was locked on him. The narcotic of the fog didn’t work on her, and he thought she must be a succubus escaped into the realm. He wished he had time for the sex demon, but there were more pressing matters at hand and he was a warrior. Suddenly the succubus rushed him with blinding speed.
• • •
When Tera exited the ferry onto the pier, she noticed an uncharacteristically thick fog a couple piers down, and it was much too quiet for her taste. Sprinting into the dense fog, she found the ground littered with bodies. Most were beaten and badly bruised. This is not the work of the Goddess Artemis. Walking through the thick haze, her nose wrinkled against a peculiar scent.
And then she saw him.
Standing with his long legs spread, he held his hands outstretched like some sort of god. Her eyes took in his massive shoulders and smooth, muscled stomach before meeting his eyes. Clear as ice, his vicious gaze bore into hers. The Goddess Artemis had taught her long ago to distrust and despise men, so she relished the chance to tear the handsome murderer to shreds. Nobody messes with my city.
Her greatest weapon as a Dryad were the strong claws that could elongate from her fingertips. They were used mostly for climbing, but they could also slice and dice if need be. Feeling the thick, pointy talons fully extended at her sides, she lifted her chin in a proud display of defiance and rushed the towering man standing fifty yards away.
The beastly male stood there, almost as if he was too stunned to move. His hands dropped to his sides, but he did not take a fighter stance. Instead, he simply stared at her.
She continued to sprint forward until he stood mere feet away and she leapt against a warehouse wall. She rebounded behind him, shoving her silver knife into his back. Using the blade to propel her body around to his front, she swept her elbow high up into the man’s face.
“Oops, I’m sorry. Did I shatter your chin?” she teased the brute.
Instead of surveying the damage, she dished out more. Tera focused her strength on pummeling his stomach, which she swore was made of steel. The eleven-inch blade hadn’t even come out the front of his body where she had plunged the serrated hunting knife. Disappointed that he had not yet fallen to his knees, she dropped to the fog covered ground and swept her leg out to bring the big man down.
A strong grip grabbed her foot just before it connected and the force caused her body to knock hard against the ground. Whack!
The strong, bruising hold on her ankle pulled her up. All of her blood rushed to her head as she dangled. She braced for impact, for surely her assailant had the perfect shot at her ribs from where he kept her hanging. Refocusing all her might, she swept upward and swung out to claw her aggressor’s throat.
A gurgling sound came from her assailant and she relished her brief success. Surprisingly, the brute hadn’t dropped her despite the tracks of blood seeping from his neck. Who is this guy?
Suddenly, the beast with blue eyes swung her by the ankle so that her whole body flipped through the air, her weight tossed like a rag doll. He caught her with two strong hands gripping her shoulders, her feet still dangling off the ground.
Pain exploded in her shoulders where the demon vised a strong grip on her. Their eyes met almost seven-feet off the ground. His steely gaze appeared like a melting glacier, white and turquoise and aquamarine all at once. He looked more handsome than dangerous, but she had learned long ago that the most lethal killers did not give the impression of an obvious predator.
Blood stained the brute’s full lips. “You are violent, but I sense that you are not infected. So what is your cause for attack, Dryad? And why are you not in your forest protecting your livelihood?”
Tera’s jaw dropped in shock, the pain in her arms where he held her almost forgotten. He knew she was a forest-dwelling Dryad. Finding the courage lodged somewhere between her ribs, she warned the rogue. �
��I do not stand by while demons travel to my city and attack it.” Her lip quivered from the agony and she thought for a moment that he might have dislocated her shoulder. “You will pay for what you have done here.”
The man’s eyes glittered dangerously, as if she struck a nerve. “Perhaps you should let me do my job if what has happened here pains you so much. The Nunanish will only escape farther if you continue to distract me.”
“Nunanish?” Tera recognized the name from ancient Native American legend. It had been told that the Nunanish were dark clouds that infected them with violence. They could also take the form of a dark, misshapen beast, no eyes or face, no serrated teeth, only an infectious aura of evil. “So you didn’t kill these people?”
A look of impatience passed over the man’s expression. “These people are only unconscious. I am a Knight of the Fog, a guardian of the Portal Realm. This Nunanish escaped under my watch and I am here to contain it before it does your region too much damage.”
“What kind of damage?”
“Gods use these demons to stir war, invoking hate and violence within peoples. It will bring chaos to your city.”
His words didn’t make any sense to her. Tera’s vision wavered as agony overwhelmed her senses. Although she hadn’t lost any blood, she wondered briefly if the warrior’s iron hold had cut all circulation off in her body, and the aching in her arms and her dislocated shoulder throbbed. Tera had always been victorious in skirmishes with local vampires, but she had never known such pain.
• • •
Sabin frowned as the Nunanish presence faded, the demon obviously deciding to put off his chaotic rampage until later, hoping that Sabin would simply return to the Portal Realm. Sabin had no intention of leaving without the Nunanish. He would wait the demon out. The monster could only hide in shadow for so long. Eyeing the beautiful warrior woman he had dangling off the ground, he decided that she could be a powerful ally on the plane. Sabin loosened his grip and set her feet gently on the ground.
