Fragments of Light

by Beth Hodgson

“I see you have a friend with unique talents, Auron. Such a fraudulent priest you are, hanging around with sinners.”

  “She’s here to stop you!” he said.

  “Ah, I see. Your vision proved to be false, after all. She is no man, and she does not have the gift of the red.”

  Combining her magics, Ikaria constructed a complete circular force barrier around herself, crackling with violet lightning. The barrier began to grow in size as Ikaria funneled magic to it, intensifying the barrier. The purple-gifted woman began to unfreeze the other gifted, and the world faded back to its true color. One by one, the yellow-gifted began to counteract Ikaria’s spell by siphoning the protection magic away from her barrier.

  Any time now, Derek!

  The purple-gifted woman joined in with the yellow-gifted, and they all worked on melting away her barrier. Ikaria grimaced, continuing to flow her magic to the barrier, but they were faster and stronger together.

  Ikaria couldn’t keep this up forever.

  Then she heard Derek’s call through time. He had the blood. Through the barrier, Ikaria glanced at her sister, giving her a smug look.

  “Goodbye, sister. The next time you see me, I will have completed the Spectrum of Magic. There will be no stopping me.” Ikaria’s eyes burned violet-white as she laughed, and her body started to disappear slowly inside the barrier.

  Auron, the purple-gifted woman, and the yellow-gifted intensified their magic, hoping to break the barrier before she disappeared, but it was too late. They couldn’t penetrate the magical blockade fast enough.

  With a sudden motion of her hands, Ikaria called forth time, letting its waters rush through her soul, and at the same time, released her barrier magic. The dark-violet magic exploded, shattering everything in it.

  Then there were stars. A multitude of stars.

  She was in the space-time continuum.

  CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

  The vial of blood had an odd glow to it, pulsating a brilliant red. Derek could feel the warmness of the blood through the glass vial. Emerald’s blood. The secret she had been hiding from him, her being one of the gifted.

  Even if she had confided in him years ago, Derek doubted that he would have believed it at the time. Now, with a sorceress invading his mind, a magical cyborg, and a disappearing scientist, it was hard not to believe in magic. Yes, it was very real. And her blood was the cause of all the events spiraling out of control.

  It’s for her own good, he told himself. She needs to be queen of Arcadia. The people need her. I need her.

  He had wanted her for so long, and finally, he was about to have her. If she was going to be stubborn about marrying him, then he was just going to have to make the decision for her.

  “Leave me,” Derek ordered the servant who had delivered the blood. The servant bowed, then left the room, and Derek locked the door behind him.

  Derek stared at the blood, sucking in his breath, watching the liquid illuminate its eerie essence.

  I hope I don’t regret this.

  Derek glanced at the vial one last time, then closed his eyes. He clenched his teeth, not wanting to follow through with what he was about to do. If he did it, it meant he was indefinitely helping that witch. But was she all that bad?

  Yes, she is! he told himself. But she had helped him as promised… And Emerald. He had to help Emerald. She couldn’t live under her father’s tyranny.

  Determined, Derek took one last deep breath. “Ikaria!” he called out.

  There was a long pause. The air remained still, unmoving.

  Perhaps Ikaria hadn’t heard him. Derek looked around, wondering if he was crazy and it was all a dream, but the glow of the circlet on his vanity remained.

  A moment later, the air rippled, and a transparent figure began to emerge. Slowly, the body became more opaque, and Ikaria’s hourglass figure appeared in front of him.

  She gave a long stretch, extending her body and sticking her chest out, her corset doing a poor job containing her ample breasts. She snapped back into place, then held out her hand, waiting for him to hand over the blood.

  Derek clenched the vial involuntarily, then hesitantly placed it in her extended hand. Ikaria lifted the vial in front of her eyes, examining the blood to ensure it was magical. Then she smiled, letting out a joyous laugh.

  “What took you so long?” she asked coyly. “I was in the middle of something when you called.”

  Derek narrowed his eyes. “Really? After all this time hounding me, you are suddenly in the middle of something?”

  Ikaria held up a hand. “You really are too serious, my prince. You need to lighten up a little.”

  Her violet eyes looked to him as she raised the vial in front of her face, giving him a wicked smile. Ikaria popped off the cork, then raised the vial as if proposing a toast at a feast. Only this feast was far from ordinary.

  “If this is anything like orange blood, I’ll be in for a real treat,” she said, eyeing him. She began to lick the contents of the blood, slowly and sensually, never taking her eyes off Derek, making him feel uncomfortable. Then she drank half of the vial with a swift flick of her wrist.

  Derek blushed, looking down at the ground.

  “Do not be embarrassed, my prince,” she said as she swallowed the blood. Ikaria handed him the half-empty vial.

  “Why are you giving me this?” Derek asked.

  Ikaria flopped onto his bed, making herself comfortable as she sprawled her legs. “Because, it is your turn,” Ikaria she said casually.

  “My turn?”

  Ikaria laughed, her violet eyes flashing at him brightly, her hair flinging back. “I’ve seen you in awe of the gift. Power is so… desirable. How much more fitting of a king you would be if the gift chose you? A king to match a gifted queen.”

  Derek looked down at the vial, watching the blood pulsate. Deep down, he wanted that power. Thinking of all he could do with that power, it was tempting. He could use it for good, for his people, and for Emerald.

  Ikaria’s last words rang in his head. If the gift chose you.

  He looked over at Ikaria as she threw back her head in ecstasy. A darkness had formed around her, misting and swirling around her body as the magic worked through her system. Through the darkness, an intense black power radiated from Ikaria’s heart as she began to thrash on his bed, appearing to be in intense pain and intense pleasure.

  Derek closed his eyes as Ikaria’s climaxing cries filled the room. Trying to block out the noise, Derek thought of Emerald. How much he wanted her, how much he desired a simple smile from her. How much he burned for her. With power, Emerald could confide in him, feel close to him…

  He slowly raised the vial to his lips, hesitating. Then, pushing back all arguments that arose in his head, Derek quickly drank the glowing liquid.

  A horrible death grip immediately filled Derek’s lungs. It was as if time had stopped his body, freezing him into an eternal state. He couldn’t breathe. The more he tried to, the more fear and paranoia poured over his soul, sinking him to the depths of his heart.

  A sharp pain shocked him throughout his being, stabbing deeper and deeper into his core. Derek crumpled to the couch in a fetal position, sweating more than he did with his mysterious sickness.

  His heart began to beat rapidly. It pounded through his chest, beating with such ferocity that it pushed him to the verge of a panic attack. He ripped off most of his clothes, then melted to the floor, the pain becoming more intense by the minute.

  Images from different times, the past, present, and future, flashed before him. They were constantly changing, moving, flowing through the river of time. Each one flashed as his heart beat quicker, like the beat of a song gone mad.

  Emerald stood before his eyes with that man from the lower levels. She was cradled in his arms, a bright smile on her face. But instead of enraging him, the image saddened him, drove his soul into a deep depression.

  Derek cried out for Emerald, holding out his hand for her to take it, but she tur
ned away.

  The image of her disappeared, leaving him alone in the blue void. Grief bled through his heart, and his existence became desolate. He had no reason to live without her.

  He sunk to the bottom of his sadness, letting it envelop his soul. His vision became a blur within a sapphire world, drowning in a pit of nothingness while the sounds of Ikaria’s climatic, erotic laughs echoed in his ears.

  CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

  Vulnerable. That was how Ayera felt. Completely vulnerable.

  Ayera shifted her eyes around the room, watching a few of the orange-gifted dissolve away, becoming unseen once again. Shivering, Ayera felt their eyes still on her, watching her every movement and expression.

  Was what Ikaria said about Cyrus true? Were all the orange-gifted keeping his secret from her? Were the other red- and yellow-gifted aware of his power as well?

  She felt like a fool.

  Angrily, Ayera wiped away a tear.

  Whether it was true or false, the High Court would no doubt find out what had taken place today. She had failed, and Ikaria had succeeded in her plan to travel back in time. World Sector Six hadn’t been able to stop her.

  Auron slowly approached the platform with the mysterious violet-gifted woman, both waiting for her to speak. The other gifted that remained were just as shocked as Ayera. The revelation of spies within World Sector Six’s court, the unknown ability of adjacent magic, or Ikaria having the ability to wield her own magic with other colors… it was a lot to take in.

  Ayera whipped around. “No one is to leave this chamber! I want everyone to be seen!” she ordered, her voice booming through the hall.

  The orange-gifted that remained turned to face their invisible counterparts, while the other gifted eyed the room curiously, waiting for them to follow orders.

  The few gifted didn’t appear, which made Ayera furious. They had no respect for her or her command.

  “Arrest those who choose not to obey!” Ayera said.

  The violet-gifted woman headed for the doors, outstretching her palms. The doors clicked into a locked position. With another swift gesture from the woman, violet magic flowed through the air, ribboning around invisible bodies. The violet woman swept her hand, and the violet-magic-infused bodies were hurled to the foot of Ayera’s platform.

  The violet woman returned, then bowed. “I believe they were attempting to leave, Your Majesty.”

  “I suspected as much.” Ayera narrowed her tear-stained eyes. “Show yourselves!”

  The orange-gifted appeared gradually, struggling within the confines of the violet magic that bound them.

  “Were you the ones masking the Emperor? Tell me! Were you and all your orange-gifted friends in on the Emperor’s secret?”

  One of the orange-gifted, Mikko, spoke. “No, Your Majesty. There were only three of us.”

  “I want the truth!” Ayera shouted.

  “It is the truth, Empress.”

  Ayera turned to the other orange-gifted, shaking with anger, pointing. “And you all, if what he says is true, why did you not see what they were doing? Did you not see the Emperor cloaked within their spells?”

  Another orange-gifted, Jonas, answered. “Empress, we have never seen the Emperor masked with magic. We saw him as you did, with brown hair and eyes. I can say for certain, at least for me, we have not seen anything that was out of the ordinary.”

  “I do not stand for liars, Sir Jonas!”

  “I swear it!”

  “Your Majesty, what he says is true,” the violet woman said.

  Ayera eyed the woman. “How do you know?”

  “Because I can feel their minds. He isn’t lying.” The woman walked over to the group of magically bound men and gave them a kick with her boot. “But these guys, they are at fault.”

  “I see.” Ayera watched the men as they lowered their gaze. “How is it that you are able to fool the other orange-gifted?”

  The men remained silent.

  “That was an order, sirs.”

  They continued their silence, glaring at her.

  “Their magic has been intensified by infusion,” the violet woman said, staring at them curiously. “By… a blessing?” The woman glanced over at Mikko, raising an eyebrow.

  “Did you sense that too, stranger?” Ayera asked hesitantly.

  “No, I just heard their thoughts.”

  The men glared at the woman and grunted, trying to break free from her magic.

  “Take them away. I want them on lockdown in the dungeons, and I want five gifted stationed at all times. Lord Nathan!”

  “Yes, Your Majesty.” The man stepped forward, his red hair glistening.

  “I put you in charge of this task. You are to assemble teams and ensure that each group is balanced with different colors of gifted.”

  The man bowed low, then glanced hesitantly at the entrapped men.

  “Remove them from my sight before I do something that I regret!” Ayera snapped. “And as for everyone else, I want everyone out. Now!”

  Auron and the violet woman were about to leave, but Ayera called out, “Not you, Auron. And your acquaintance. You two may stay.”

  Auron and the violet woman stood before her as the others gave them curious looks. Some of the gifted melted out of sight while others exited the hall’s doors, following the string of guards and gifted escorting the magically bound men. As the last of the gifted exited the hall, the doors closed behind them.

  “Empress…” Auron began.

  Ayera held out her hand to silence him, then let out a loud sob, staggering backward into her throne. “I don’t even know if I can speak my thoughts, Auron. I… I don’t know what to think.”

  Auron frowned. Ayera was sure he didn’t know what to make of the situation either.

  “What happened with the High Court, Empress?” he asked earnestly. “Why did they not send you reinforcements?”

  Ayera scoffed at the mention of them. No wonder why Ikaria hated them so. The more that was revealed, the more ammunition Ikaria had against them, and it forced her to consider that her sister’s concerns about them held some truth. She seldom agreed with Ikaria, and now was not the best time to start. Or was it?

  “Auron, the High Court did not want to send any gifted to help. Instead, they pushed the problem back on us.” Ayera’s eyes met his. “They also said that your vision was not true, the part about Ikaria destroying the world; Tyllos said it wouldn’t happen. Furthermore, they made it very clear if we do not put a stop to my sister, I would be dethroned.” Ayera sighed, waving her hand aimlessly at her throne. “I think I shall not be seated up here much longer unless we do something about it. Perhaps I have already lost it.”

  Auron looked like he had been slapped by the God of Light himself. “Truly, Empress? How could they say that? I have been proven correct every time!”

  “Something is going on here,” Ayera said quietly. “And with Cyrus… Why were we not made aware? And these ‘blessings’? What are they?” Ayera turned to the violet woman, hoping for answers.

  “I didn’t hear much, Empress,” the woman answered immediately, sensing her question. “They were trying hard not to think, as if they understood my power. I only heard the word ‘blessings’ and a thought of some kind of super power to enhance their magic.”

  Ayera studied the woman for a moment. She was bizarre, like no one Ayera had ever seen. Her hair was wild, her fashions strange. She was a unique gifted, without a doubt. “Who are you, stranger?” Ayera asked.

  “Geeta, Your Majesty.”

  “Where did you come from, Geeta?”

  “The past.”

  Auron stepped forward, bowing. “Empress, allow me to explain. Your sister was secretly waiting for me in my chambers earlier this evening. Upon entering, a battle ensued between us.” Auron paused, then lowered his gaze. “She easily overwhelmed me, causing me to lose consciousness. I was on the brink of death, or perhaps I really did pass away. It was hard to tell. But before I thought I had
passed into the God of Light’s realm, I sent a message, using all my power, to reach the Ghost Man.”

  Ayera’s eyes flickered to the strange violet woman. “Is she the Ghost Man?”

  The woman bowed as if it came naturally to her, unlike her unnatural appearance. “No, I am not. Auron’s message reached further back in time than he intended. I came to help find the man in Auron’s vision and to help stop the destruction of the earth.”

  It seemed that Geeta was the only one Ayera could trust besides Auron. The God of Darkness take the orange-gifted for their deception! And Cyrus, he had deceived her too, just like he had with her sister. No wonder Ikaria wanted vengeance. And where was he? Was he even alive? Had Ikaria killed him too?

  “What now, Empress? What do we do about Ikaria?” Auron asked quietly.

  Ayera shifted in her seat. “She must not return to this time era.” The coldness of the throne sent a chill up her spine. The words of the High Court echoed in her head. She couldn’t lose her father’s throne. She would be the biggest disappointment of World Sector Six.

  “I concur, Empress,” Auron agreed. “If she returns with the gift of the black, it will be too late. She must be stopped back in time. Empress, whatever High Justice Tyllos thinks, I am sure that my vision is correct.” Auron’s voice shook, as if he was hesitant about the whole situation. She didn’t blame him; she was feeling the same as he did.

  “I agree with you, Auron.”

  He paused in thought. “What if we sent our sector’s gifted back in time to stop Ikaria?”

  “But how would that be any different than what just took place? We couldn’t take her on in this era!”

  “But the Ghost Man is back in the other time, along with this green-gifted princess. With those two, and with Geeta and our gifted, it would boost our chances in stopping Ikaria. And perhaps I can persuade the gifted in the other sectors…”

  Ayera paused at his proposed plan. It sure sounded a lot better than doing nothing. For some reason, the High Court said they would stop Ikaria if she came back to this time. That didn’t sit well with her. Minute by minute, her faith in the High Court was dissolving.