Terra Vonnel and the Skulls of Aries

by Terra Vonnel

  As they ascended, Quinn was the first to notice an oval- shaped shadow moving from the cavern floor onto the wall in a sweeping motion.

  “Vixen, look… look below!” Quinn yelled.

  Terra stopped, her hands and feet placed firmly in the crevices of the cavern wall. She looked down to see what Quinn was squawking about and at first saw nothing. Then a dark shadow crept over the glimmering stone surface, inching its way up behind them.

  “Quickly!” she yelled. “To the ledge!”

  Terra turned and began to climb as fast as she could. The higher they climbed, the more treacherous it became. The mist had grown thicker, and the rock face dripped with condensation.

  Terra was less than twenty feet away when she heard Quinn cry out, “HELP me!” followed by the loud roar of the devil beast.

  Terra did not look back. She climbed faster and faster with no time to waste. She knew she had to reach the ledge if she were to stand a fighting chance.

  Coven and Marcus were close behind, placing one hand in front of the other as fast as they could. The beast roared behind them as it approached, its heavy breathing just inches away from them now.

  “Faster, Coven, faster. The devil is almost on me!” Marcus yelled.

  The beast roared once more. The sound of its massive jaws snapping together rang out as Marcus reached the edge of the rock face and heaved himself over.

  The beast cleared the edge only to see the Sea Vixen standing before it. With another blast to the face from the Diablo 9 shooter, the beast howled in agony! Quickly she withdrew the Vanquisher from its sheath. Its brilliant blue flame ignited in a blaze of fury. With all her might, Terra Vonnel swung the mighty sword, slashed through the neck of the devil beast, and sent the head and its scorpion torso back to the depths of the onyx cavern.

  Coven, on his back, and Marcus, face down, lay gasping for air. Terra was not about to take any more chances; she had already lost more than half her men to the protector of the gate. So to be on the safe side, she called in reinforcements.

  Once again she reached for the amulet and summoned her Sea Ghouls. Within minutes, the Ghouls were at Terra's side.

  “Guard!” she commanded. The ghouls turned an about-face and withdrew their swords.

  Coven and Marcus slowly got to their feet, their faces still white and drenched in sweat.

  “Glad you guys could join us,” Coven said panting.

  Terra turned, and for the first time, she was able to see the mysterious Gate of Monticule in its entirety. back to top

  Gate of Monticule

  It was a tall, sweeping gate, similar in shape to a teardrop and embedded in the face of the rock. Water rushed through the bottom and over the edge, cascading down into the beautiful twin waterfalls they had seen earlier.

  The gate had been meticulously crafted in gold and inlaid with silver ivy tracery that ran like lace across its outer edges. It was everything she had imagined, but what made the gate so remarkable was it had no point of entry, unlike most gates, which had a latch, to one side or the other, or a swing gate that opened in the middle.

  The Gate of Monticule instead had, near the top corners of the gate, two small openings, each shaped in the form of a small skull, which served as its locking mechanism.

  In the distance, beyond the gate, a small golden podium stood in the center of the rushing stream. Hovering in the center of the podium was a crimson-colored orb--the Orb of Time.

  Terra eyed the Orb through the golden gate as if in a trance. To see it with her own eyes after all this time was a dream come true. She had waited, planned, and fought so hard for this moment, and finally here it was. She would soon possess the power to control her destiny and change the past as well as her future. The world would no longer know her as just a thief. It would know her as the most powerful woman in the world!

  Terra quickly pulled off the rucksack strapped to her back and removed the twin Skulls of Aries. Holding a skull in each hand, she walked over to the rushing stream and stepped into the water. The water was cold, and the current fast--so fast she almost lost her footing. Slowly she moved forward, inching herself closer to the gate.

  “Careful, Vixen,” Coven said as he watched in anticipation.

  Marcus, on the other hand, stood as if he were ready to advance. His eyes fixed on Terra as she moved closer to the gate. He knew the first person to touch the Orb of Time would become the keeper, and he had every intention of that person being him!

  Now standing just inches away, Terra placed the first skull in the top right corner of the gate. The silver skull slid into place perfectly. There was a slight humming sound before the emerald eyes of the skull illuminated. Holding steady, Terra placed the remaining skull in the top left corner of the gate and stepped back as the emerald eyes came to life in a brilliant flash of light.

  Terra watched as the gold gate began to glow a bright green. The top right skull burst into purple flames, followed by the second skull. Slowly the gate began to disappear, taking with it each of the flaming skulls. Terra took one step back, as did Coven, while Marcus took one step forward.

  “Marcus, what are you doing?” Coven asked.

  Marcus turned and smirked at Coven. “Sorry, old friend, but I need that orb!”

  Marcus leaped into the water, sloshing his way past Terra and toward the entrance.

  “Vixen!” Coven shouted, but it was too late. Marcus had already reached the entrance.

  “Marcus… NO!” Terra shouted.

  Marcus was not listening. He entered with his hands outstretched, reaching for the floating orb just as three razor sharp scimitar blades swung out from each side of the entrance. He never stood a chance. In an instant, the blades reduced Marcus to three separate pieces--head, torso, and legs.

  The rushing white water turned scarlet as what remained of Marcus floated past Terra and over the edge to the pool below. back to top

  The Orb of Time

  Terra looked over at Coven, who wore a bewildered look.

  “All right, well… that looked painful,” Coven said. I didn’t see that coming!”

  “I did,” Terra replied. “Coven, quickly… in my rucksack there is a rope!”

  Not sure of what she had in mind, Coven quickly retrieved the rope and threw it to Terra, who stood waiting in the stream. She fashioned the rope together using a series of knots into what looked like a lasso. Swinging the large circle once, then twice, she tossed the rope onto the small podium and pulled it forward. The crimson Orb fell into the water with a splash, and the force of the current sent the Orb rushing toward Terra. With a sweep of her hand, she retrieved the Orb and stepped out of the stream.

  “Finally!” she said, holding it up to take a better look.

  The Orb itself seemed rather simplistic in its functionality. There were three brass dials that ran across the surface, one for the day, one for the month, and one for the year. As the story goes, one would simply set the time period they wished to travel to, and the orb would activate, sending you there. Simple enough, she thought.

  Terra grabbed her rucksack and placed the Orb inside. “It’s time go!”

  Coven smiled just as the ground began to shake. Quickly his smile faded into a look of fright.

  “Now what?” he asked, sounding defeated.

  Above them large onyx rocks that looked more like boulders began to fall from the ceiling as the cave began to crumble from within.

  “Now we run!” Terra yelled.

  Terra turned to leave the way she had come in, but the rock face had deteriorated to the point that it was impassable. Large cracks began to spread like lightning beneath their feet, emitting small green flames.

  “Coven, we’ll need to jump!” she yelled.

  “What… jump where?”

  “Follow me!”

  Terra ran back into the stream with Coven close behind. Large boulders fell all around them as they reached the edge of the waterfall.

  Terra turned to the Sea Ghouls, who stood
at attention as the debris rained down.

  “Retreat!” she cried out. Their heads shifted as one to regard Terra, then they vanished into the chaos.

  Terra turned and fixed her eyes on Coven.

  “Ready?”

  “For the record, Vixen, this is not a good plan!” Coven complained.

  “It’s our only chance!” she replied, and with that said she grabbed Coven’s arm and leaped over the edge. back to top

  Destination Known

  Terra Vonnel and her sailing master, Coven Breckrill, looked on from the quarterdeck of the Aspen. They had risked their lives countless times and lost several good men along the way. In the end, they had what they had come for, the Orb of Time. Now they would rewrite history, change their fortunes, and conquer the world. But most of all, Terra would have her mother back.

  Mount Aries was no more, and in its place, a shell of a mountain engulfed in a blaze of emerald flames.

  “I think I like the view from here much better,” Coven said, looking over at Terra.

  She smiled as she looked down at the crimson-colored Orb and began to turn its brass dials.

  “Yes, I would have to agree.”

  Coven leaned forward, placing his hands on the helm.

  “So where to now?” he asked with a grin. Even though Coven knew the answer to that question, it felt good to ask.

  Terra looked up and stared into the sunrise, its ginger red swirls intertwined with shards of violet, stretching across the horizon. It was beautiful, she thought, almost perfect… but not perfect enough.

  “I’m thinking Florida… July… around 1715. I hear it’s quite nice that time of the year,” she replied, sliding the last digit into place.

  “Now, Vixen, I’ve seen that look before. Would ye be wantin' t’steal something?” Coven asked in his best pirate voice.

  Terra grinned. “Coven, my friend, a good quest always needs funding.”

  They laughed as the sky above the great charcoal ship began to thunder, and in a flash of emerald green, the Aspen vanished. back to top

  Other Books by D.C. Akers:

  HAVEN: A Stranger Magic

  Sam Dalcome thinks he is so completely average that no one ever notices him. Until he discovers a mysterious stranger outside his home. Bewildered, he tries to uncover the stranger’s intentions. But Sam is sidetracked when he and his friend Travis discover a secret passageway deep in the town’s quarry that leads to a hidden cavern. What they uncover next will not only change their lives forever, but will uncover the first clue to a deadly Dalcome family secret. Sam finds himself drawn into a world of mystery and magic he never knew existed, which brings him closer to a destiny he never knew was possible.

  HAVEN SERIES: Known as a place of refuge, Haven is a sanctuary for those with supernatural abilities. Decades of peace between the Witches, Vampires, Goblins, Elves, and Orcs is coming to an end. Now the once tranquil world is shrouded in deception and corruption. Dark secrets tear at the very fabric of their alliance giving way to an evil that stirs in the shadows. Exhilarating and utterly gripping, the HAVEN series is an action-packed journey full of suspense, magic, mystery, and intrigue. Only .99 at Amazon.com

  Haven

  A Stranger Magic

  D.C. Akers

  Copyright © 2013 by D.C. Akers

  All Rights Reserved

  Cover design by Roy Migabon

  Book design by D.C. Akers

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  Visit us on the Web! http://www.dc-akers.com/

  Printed in the United States of America

  Chapter 1

  Sam stood gasping for breath. His muscles ached and he was terrified. He was lost. Massive redwood trees towered above him, branching out in all directions. Patches of snow and large rocks littered the ground before him. He winced and took a knee. The ache in his side felt like a stab wound. His heart pounded against his rib cage as if it would burst from his chest at any moment. How long had he been running? The cold air stung his throat when he swallowed; he needed water. Sam straightened himself slowly, inching forward down the narrow pathway. Large boulders covered in dense ferns and moss that dripped of moisture formed a winding pathway between the redwoods. Sam knew for certain that wherever he was, it was far from home.

  He didn’t know why, but he knew that he was in danger. Something was chasing him.

  Sam looked for a weapon, a stick or rock—something to protect himself, but it was getting too dark to see anything clearly. The moonlight, which had once pierced the veil of the mighty treetops, was beginning to fade. Menacing black clouds were gradually enveloping the enormous moon. Sam was losing the only light he had left. As reality set in a cold shiver ran down his spine.

  Blackbirds scattered from the treetops, fleeing their nests. The footsteps were moving closer. It was circling him; he could hear it moving from all directions. His eyes shifted from side to side trying to catch a glimpse of his pursuer. Sam’s heartbeat hammered his insides. The sound was deafening. His feet scuffled over the ground, failing him, causing him to stumble and stop. He stood frozen as he watched the last glimmer of moonlight vanish, stifled by a sea of dark clouds.

  Despair seeped though his veins like a slow-moving poison, choking out any hope from within. The darkness had become so impenetrable he could not see his own hands in front of him. Loud stomping, like a gallop, came ever closer, striking the ground with a deadly force.

  It was just beyond the tree line now. He could feel it; he could feel its presence closing in on him, and that’s when he saw it.

  Sam stopped breathing and his body tensed. The beast was massive, towering above him like a giant. It had large, seething, blood-red eyes that cut through the darkness as it moved closer. The area around them was cloaked in a pale red hue that glowed in the moonlight.

  Sam tried to swallow, but his tongue felt like sandpaper. He wanted to back away, run, but could not move. Frozen like one of those awful-looking statues in the city park, Sam watched the beast emerge from the trees. At first glance he thought it was a massive horse, except for the curling horns at the sides of its head. The creature's hide was smooth and pitch black. If it was a horse it was the tallest horse Sam had ever seen. It had unnaturally long, thin legs, ending with long, branch-like clawed fingers instead of hooves. The beast moved with an eerie elegance despite its unusual-looking legs. But it was the face that made Sam’s skin crawl. Huge fangs protruded from its mouth, sharp and bloodstained. Its eyes were an empty, souless crimson that glowed, but never blinked.

  Willing himself to move, Sam felt his foot slide backward. Like a child taking his first step, he dragged his foot across the uneven landscape and began to slowly back away. The beast followed, its panting becoming faster and harder. Sam continued to back away as the monster advanced. He was about to turn and run when he heard it.

  “Sam, can you hear me? Sam!”

  It was Sarah’s voice. It was faint, but where? She must be close by. He looked over his shoulder, scanning the surrounding area. But there was nothing there.

  “Sam!” she yelled again.

  Sam turned to follow her voice when all of the sudden the trees that stood in his way disappeared. As if by magic the clouds parted and the moonlight seeped through the treetop
s, illuminating his surroundings once again. Sam looked around and saw a new pathway that cut through the forest. He turned and ran toward Sarah’s voice.

  The beast roared into the night, filling the air with its rage. Sam ran as fast as he could. He could see just far enough ahead to follow the curving path. Dark shadows of the enormous trees sped past him. Galloping claws struck the hard ground, echoing loudly into the night as Sam ran for his life.

  “Sarah, I’m coming!” he cried out.

  “SAM, you moron, I’m right here!”

  Sam sprang up in his bed. His eyes flung open. He was blinded momentarily by the light in the hallway. He twisted and turned in his sheets. His bedroom was usually dark except for the flickering street lamp that cast the occasional weak glimmer of light through his window. Sam was drenched in sweat and his heart was still pounding. He saw the lanky silhouette of his sister standing in the doorway.

  Sarah, she was okay.

  With her hands on her hips, she stood like a beacon of reality. Quickly, the bitter sense of normality that Sam was all too familiar with came rushing back to him. He had no doubt been dreaming again, and his sister had, unfortunately, witnessed it all.

  “Are you ok?” she asked, “It’s the middle of the night! Are you trying to wake up everyone on the street?”

  Sam wanted to die. This was going to be bad. The fact that he had had a nightmare was one more thing Sarah would add to her arsenal of verbal insults she liked to have on hand. Just because she was two years older than he didn’t mean that he was a child. Last time Sam checked thirteen was still a teenager.