by J. E. Klimov
The soldier swung his sword in a downward stroke. Isabel fell back and held her sai before her. Metal clanged and screeched. The sword was stuck in the teeth of the sai. The soldier pressed harder, the pointed edge mere inches from her chest. Isabel locked her elbows, resisting the pressure. She refused to go down this way.
A rocky tail collided into the soldier, freeing Isabel from the soul-crushing weight. Blood rushed from her head, but she fought every ounce of vertigo. Catching her breath, she turned her head. A massive reptilian beast with golden brows and glistening piercings blinked at her.
“Are you okay?” It was the voice of Adem but had the slit eyes of a Zingari.
Isabel’s heart swelled. “Yes. Thank you.”
A rumbling intensified from behind. Turning her head, she saw hundreds of Adem look-alikes charging toward the soldiers. She pumped her first in the air and whistled for her horse.
Isabel galloped toward the melee. The Dunyan figures looked like mountains compared to the soldiers. Anyone that came close were knocked aside like pawns.
“Protect the city gates,” she shouted as she rode past a few Zingari.
A roar snatched her attention. To her left, a horde of soldiers surrounded a Zingari. Despite its massive form, he cowered as they formed a tight circle and lowered their spears. They inched closer. As Isabel approached, she noticed his rocky tail was pinned to the ground by a rusted claymore.
“Transform back,” Isabel shouted.
When the Zingari shrunk back to its regular size, she gasped. The claymore still pierced one of his small, fluffy tails. Isabel leaned toward the side of the horse, gripping the reins tightly. She plucked the weapon from the ground as she flew past, righted herself, and called for the Zingari to escape. Without hesitation, he shrunk further and sprouted blood-stained feathers. An eagle remained in his place, and he rocketed into the air and toward a tree.
Foti’s Ruby flickered to life, fueled by Isabel’s fury. The tingling warmth traveled down her arms and the hilt exploded in flames. It licked higher until the whole claymore was on fire. Envisioning the injured Zingari, she used the remainder of her strength to hurl the blade.
It struck the middle of the circle, missing all the soldiers. They erupted in laughter, faced her, and brandished their weapons. One man lifted a spear over his shoulder and aimed.
“Fools.” Isabel snapped her fingers, and a tunnel of fire erupted from where the claymore struck. The flames swallowed the soldiers.
Pulling the reins, she stopped and stared at the smoldering pile of flesh. Blood curdling screams stopped her heart. She sent a tiny prayer to the heavens to bring these unfortunate, manipulated souls to peace, then charged back into the fray. The Dunyan-sized warriors held strong. The occasional soldier that ran past them were shot down by some Zingaris that picked up bows and arrows from the fallen.
Isabel galloped to a pocket of men chasing down another Zingari. Spears and arrows lodged into patches of bald skin between scales. “Hang in there!” By the time she reached him, some men leapt onto the Zingari and scaled his back with daggers. He yelped each time a blade pierced him. Isabel wound her arm and shot a ball of wind, knocking them off with ease. The Zingari turned to her, and gave her a toothy smile.
With renewed confidence, the Zingari used its borrowed strength and swung its rocky tail. He knocked over a score of men, swirled around and slammed it onto the ground. Any remaining soldiers scattered. Isabel dismounted her horse and applauded him.
“Here, let me onto your back so I can pull these weapons out. You may want to retreat as to not exacerbate your injuries. It looks like we have the upper hand in this battle.”
Before the Zingari could respond, a faint orange glow surrounded him. Isabel retracted her hands upon its touch. It burned, and she sucked her fingertips.
“What’s happening?” he uttered.
Fur sprouted in between the cracks in his scales. The rocks that dotted his torso and tail crumpled apart. His jaws transformed back into a dog-like snout and ears sprouted at the top of his head. When the glow faded, the Zingari stood on all fours in his original form. The arrows and speaks still lodged in his body overwhelmed his back. He blinked at Isabel.
“Your Majesty…”
He collapsed under the weight of the weaponry, enveloping in an expanding pool of blood.
Isabel’s hands flew to her mouth. She stood over his body, paralyzed. A shadow cast over her. Lifting her head slowly, she studied the intruder. Taupe slacks were tucked into leather boots and around shin guards. Two arms were ornately decorated with black ink. Beyond the slate gray tunic and leather vest, Three’s eyes glistened. His lips twisted into a smile.
“You!” she snarled.
“Let’s end this unnecessary bloodshed, shall we?” He stuck his cleft chin up and raised one hand in the direction of the fighting crowd.
Each Zingari glowed with that same orange hue. Fear seized Isabel as she saw each of them transform back into their original forms. Some collapsed from the injuries sustained as a Dunya. Others were rounded up in a cluster.
“That’s better,” Three said. He sighed, resting his hands on his hips. Strands of white hair fell over his eyes, despite a tightly-wound bun perched on his head. “Now, Queen Isabel. I have to ask. What is the meaning of this?”
She took a step back and arched her back. “I should be asking you this question!”
Three shrugged. “Easy. Jabin was murdered and branded with the Aeonian mark. The panic became too uncontrollable, so King Dante, with Raiden’s counsel, declared martial law until this serial killer is caught. A legion has been sent to each tribe for protection. I went to find you. But here you are, stirring up a rebellion in your own kingdom?”
Disbelief slapped Isabel across the face so hard, her head jerked to the side. In her peripheral vision, she noticed the soldier’s escorting the remaining Zingari back into Zeyland. Heat burned through every fiber of her muscles, erupting at the base of her neck and cheeks.
“Three? These soldiers are resurrected men, aren’t they?”
“Hm?”
His smile transformed into a lopsided smirk. “Yes. They are. And for that reason you mentioned. I feel confident that we are on the heels of this Aeonian fiend.”
“It’s not an Aeonian!” Isabel thundered. She swung her arm with a sai pointed at his neck. Three snatched her wrist with minimal effort and squeezed. Pain lanced through her hand.
Lightning streaked across the sky. A wave of energy pulsed from her armlet. Kai’s Sapphire vibrated in place, and the clouds darkened, releasing a sheet of rain.
Three stared unblinkingly at her. “I think it’s time to return to Deran Castle to settle this little incident? I will escort you.”
When he released his grip, Isabel yanked her arm back. The rain pelted her skin forcefully as it transformed into a downpour. The blue light from the sapphire talisman cast a haunting glow over Three’s face. It highlighted his violent veins bulging beneath his paper-thin flesh.
Isabel peeled her lip back. “I’ll go back myself,” she asserted. The myriad of colors from all four stones in her armlet radiated in warning.
“Go right ahead,” he replied nonchalantly.
Isabel narrowed her eyes. “Wait, what?”
“That’s fine by me. I know you’ll return. And even if you don’t, we’ll find you.”
Stepping backward cautiously, Isabel held the sai in place. Three didn’t budge. He didn’t even blink once. She released a rattled breath and shivered involuntarily, tempted to give into exhaustion, but her mind screamed for her legs to run. When Three was reduced to a mere shadow, she sprinted for her horse.
CHAPTER
28
Blindly clawing for the blanket, Bence shivered. He couldn’t reach it. Someone muffled something. He rubbed his eyes.
“Help.”
Bence sat up. The voice gained clarity; it was a female voice, repeating the word help.
A zephyr brushed past him, pushi
ng the blanket onto the floor. Grumbling, he hopped off the bed. The breezed continued to chill his skin. Bence tip-toed to the window and pulled the curtain aside, but the window was closed.
“Help.”
Leaning against the wall, he fought the pulsing headache that intensified with each second. Blood drained from his face when he recognized the voice, but there was no way to stop it. Shaking his head, he told himself there was no way he could return to Deran.
The wind dissipated and the voice faded. Breathing a sigh of relief, he crept back toward bed. The goose feather mattress sank under his weight. He paused when Isabel’s ring swung back and forth, weighing like a lead orb every time her voice haunted him. But dread of another kind remained: it was a reminder that he hadn’t confessed yet.
“I must be out of my mind.” He shook his head and got dressed. “Screw it.” Slinking around in the darkness, he secured his pack and dagger and exited his bedroom as silently as a phantom.
He glided down the carpeted hallway and stopped at Maciji’s door where two soldiers stood. They glared at him, but the clanking metal gave Bence confidence.
“Maciji had asked for company from her betrothed. Let me pass.” He twisted his ring around his finger nonchalantly. Their eyes widened at the black pearl, and they lowered their spears. Bence swept past them and opened the door.
Her bedroom was filled with a haze of incense. Silhouettes of dressers, vanity tables, and statues cast shadows along the length of the floor. Swallowing a sneeze, he tip-toed up to her bed and pulled the gossamer curtains aside.
Forcing the lump in his throat, he gently shook her shoulder. “Maciji,” he cooed. “Maciji, wake up. I need to tell you something.”
She groaned and wrapped herself in the blanket tighter. “Bence... middle of the night. What?” she mumbled.
“I’m no Deranian royalty. I’m just an assassin with no home.” He held his breath, bracing himself for an eruption of anger, or if he was lucky, an acceptance. Every second felt like an eternity as he stared at the outline of her body. When she didn’t respond, he leaned over and traced the back of his hand against her cheek. “Maciji. Did you hear me?”
Her lids fluttered, but remained closed. “Hm. Yeah, yeah. Let’s talk in the morning.”
Sitting back, Bence tucked his knees to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. Had she comprehended what I said? Ki’s conversation repeated in his mind. His heart sank at the reality. Even if Maciji accepted him for who he was, he would ultimately do a disservice to her and her people.
As far as love was concerned, Bence couldn’t determine if he loved her. He still grappled with Ki’s definition. Placing a hand on his chest, he felt nothing. No warmth or fluttering heartbeat. But the thought of marrying her under false pretenses disgusted him. Maybe love was beyond his comprehension. All these thoughts swirled in his head like a whirlpool, and he was sucked down the center.
Bence grasped Isabel’s ring and ripped the thread. He rubbed the face of the ring with his thumb, feeling every groove of the phoenix. After a minute of silence, he stretched over Maciji and pressed the ring into her free hand. He bit his lip to hold back the wave of emotions as he closed her fingers around it. His hand hovered over hers. He felt like a dam about to burst as his vision blurred. Forcing deep breaths through his mouth, Bence backed away and slipped into the darkness.
Navigating through Maciji’s castle was easy. He lurked in the shadows, avoiding the moonlight. Metal rattled as a guard snored. He passed the main entryway in the foyer and entered the corridor leading to the courtyard. The chirp of the crickets pierced the oppressive humidity. Flags strung between buildings swayed back and forth. He could barely make out the lion’s paw.
Ki’s gazebo came into view. Bence had to sneak past it in order to reach the iron gates. Beyond its open walls, a flame flickered in a paper lantern. Its shadow stretched all the way to his toes. He strained his eyes, but couldn’t make out anything. If Ki was awake, it would be near impossible to pass without being noticed.
A soft glow caught his attention from the corner of his eye. Lifting his hand, he gasped at his ring; the pearl illuminated. Warmth crept up his hand and arm, through his torso, and settled in his left foot. The lantern’s shadow overlapped his boot. His eyes widened in bewilderment.
“This is crazy,” he murmured. “But I wonder…”
Bending on one knee, he reached for the shadow with his ring hand. The lantern’s shadow rippled at his touch, like a pebble tossed into a pond. Shock jolted him like static electricity. He pressed his fingers forward, and they disappeared into the darkness. The farther he pressed, he still didn’t feel the ground.
When he immersed his whole hand into the darkness, he lost sensation in his fingers. He pulled back in panic, but was stuck. Black spots formed on his arm and crept upwards, as if the shadow took bites of his body. It spread rapidly and sucked him forward. His stomach somersaulted as if he plummeted into a precipice. The tingling of pins and needles spread until it covered his entire body. Every time he filled his lungs to yell, an invisible force wrapped around his throat. The more he struggled, the number he became.
What the hell is going on?
He stopped thrashing and sucked in deep breaths. Struggling got him nowhere. As soon as he stilled, sensation returned to him bit by bit. Bence racked his brain, but exhaustion made every thought cloudy. His body seemed to lay vertical, floating through space, and all he could see was the star-studded sky.
The pearl let me sink into the shadows!
As he drifted, the roof of the gazebo came into view. In the blink of an eye, the lantern towered over him, and he stopped moving. Curiosity itched at him; Bence tried to lift one arm, and gasped when he saw his hand materialize beyond the shadowy dimension. When he felt around, he came upon smooth polished wood. His heart leapt. He lifted his other arm and grabbed a hold of the surface. Pulling himself up slowly, Bence gazed in wonder─it looked as if he was materializing from the floor. Familiar incense filled his lungs. When he finally emerged, his body solidified over the lantern’s shadow.
“Woah. Incredible.”
“Bence?” A high-pitched shriek curdled his blood.
His head snapped up, finding Ki on her bench, brushing her hair. The brush fell with a clack.
“Evening, Ki. I… was just taking a stroll,” he said as coolly as possible.
When she didn’t respond, he backed up, and bumped into the table. The lamp crashed onto the ground. Ki shrieked, pointing at the flames licking the floor. He stamped the fire out, filling the gazebo with darkness.
“I better get going. Back to bed, I mean.” Bence felt his way to the handle.
As soon as his fingertips grazed the knob, Ki collided into him. They crashed onto the floor. He arched his back as part of the fallen table dug into his back. Nails scratched his biceps as she grappled him. Her thick locks smothered Bence.
“You’re planning on leaving, aren’t you? I saw you pop out from the shadows like a ghost!” she screeched. “I will not let you strand my sister at the altar!”
Bence gagged. “No, I wasn’t. I swear!”
“Then what are you doing in my gazebo? I knew there was something shifty about you!”
He wiggled free from her grasp and locked hands with hers. As he pushed, his muscles burned and his breath grew ragged. He felt as if he had been running for hours. Mustering every ounce of remaining energy, he tucked his legs in and kicked Ki in the stomach. As she doubled over, Bence staggered onto his feet and rammed into the door. The hinges snapped, and he tumbled out.
Wasting no time, Bence pushed through the exhaustion and sprinted down the pathway. When he reached the iron gates, he whipped his head around, but found no one. He sighed in relief and slowed down. He snuck to the nearest building to catch his breath. Eyeing the ring, he smirked. “Power always comes at a price, doesn’t it?” The pearl sparkled back. His brief cheer faded, reminding himself of the task at hand. There was no telling how quickly Ki
would alert the guards. After wiping his brow, Bence ran from house to house, ducking beneath windows and scanning for guards.
When the decrepit three-story came into view, confidence gave Bence a second wind. He peeked back where the gazebo should be. Still no light, no noise. After drawing his dagger, he made the final sprint to the building that imprisoned Tulelo. He felt along the wall, ignoring the vines, until he felt a lock.
“Tulelo? Tulelo!”
“Bence?”
He hacked at the lock. Sparks blinked in and out of existence. After a resounding crunch, the lock broke and Bence pushed the door open. He was greeting by glimmering scales, reflecting a hint of scarlet in the moonlight. Tulelo faced him, his eyes glowing as bright as lit candles.
The Dunya unfurled itself and stretched. After releasing a yawn, he said, “What’s going on? What are you doing here?”
Bence puffed out his chest. “We’re leaving.”
Tulelo’s eyelids fluttered and his two lower teeth jutted out from his jaw. “Mean it? I’m so excited!”
With a shushing motion, Bence waved his hands. “Quiet! I unfortunately tipped Ki off. We need to leave now. Quickly and quietly.”
After peering out the window, Tulelo lowered his head so his jaws were aside Bence’s ears. “How does Ki know?”
Playing with his ring, Bence said, “Not important. Let’s go.”
“But how?”
Bence brought his hand to his chin and scanned for ideas. At this point, the two major exits were risky, and the path with the least amount of guards didn’t have an exit. Tulelo nudged him with his snout.
“I got an idea. Climb on.” Tulelo’s words overflowed with excitement.
Grumbling, Bence hopped up Tulelo’s hind legs, grabbed onto a handful of scales and pushed himself onto his back. His scales were smooth as slate; however, Bence noticed some were missing. Patches of wrinkled brown hide peppered the Dunya’s back. “You’ve been nipping your scales.”
“Nervous habit. But after today I won’t!”
