“Nice to see the two of you,” said Cynthia.
“Did you stop Colburn?” asked Calista.
“Colburn is dead. I burned down the warehouse. But a Goncool escaped with the serum. I chased him to Quantum Heights. They’re downstairs. They’re plotting their next move,” said Cynthia.
“Cynthia, Calista and I have to go downstairs. We have to destroy them.”
“There’s something big transpiring down there. There’s a large coffin, vampires, and Droges. It’s too much for me to handle,” said Cynthia.
“It’s far too dangerous for you. This calls for the powers of Petoshine,” said Caprius. “You get out of here, Cynthia. Your job is done. Let’s go, Calista.” Caprius and Calista ran down the stairs to the basement. Cynthia looked around to see fire everywhere. The entrance to the hotel was blocked and in flames. She began to walk quickly up the stairs.
Caprius and Calista entered the basement hall. They slowly approached the vampires and the Goncool. “Well, well, well, if it isn’t the knight master Caprius and the infamous Calista. So nice of you to join us. And you have the claymores of power. I have been expecting you.”
“It ends here, Goncool,” said Caprius. Caprius and Calista noticed a coffin in the center. Beside the coffin was Lydia, the vampire sorceress.
“Get them!” the Goncool yelled. Suddenly, the Droges ran with swift speed. These were super Droges. The vampires readied themselves. Caprius and Calista swung their swords. They were slaughtering the Droges. A quick swing of the sword and Calista gutted a Droge. Another swing and Caprius severed a Droge’s head. The fighting went on. Calista was knocked with great force, sending her flying into the vampires. The vampires grabbed hold of her. One of them grabbed her claymore of power from her. “Stop!” the Goncool yelled. Caprius saw that Calista was at the mercy of vampires. Caprius backed off. “Now that I have your attention, Caprius, walk toward me.” Caprius slowly walked toward them, holding his claymore of power. A Droge who was near Caprius growled and snarled. The Droge walked with him. “All I need is one claymore of power. I have one. Calista, my dear, in case you get any ideas…” he paused. “Take off her arrow pack and throw it over there. And get rid of the bow.” They threw the arrow sack and bow across, landing by the door.
Meanwhile, Cynthia was walking up the stairs. She stopped and thought about her friends. “No, I can’t leave them. I have to go back,” she said. She ran down the stairs. In the basement, the coffin was opened to find the corpse of Titanis Clore. Lydia stood by the coffin holding the sword of Petoshine.
“Once this ritual is complete, and my powers bring Titanis Clore back from the dead, he will embrace the powers of Petoshine. Give him the ultimate power and strength. Then not even Grongone’s power can destroy him.” Lydia began her ritual. “You, Caprius Seaton, will not interfere. Or we will rip off Calista’s arms,” said Lydia.
Caprius smirked. He recalled the words of Grongone. “All right, Lydia, you win. I won’t interfere. Go ahead with your ritual.”
***
From the dark, dismal basement of hotel Quantum Heights we are taken up the stairs where the fighting is intense. After a tremendous fight with the Goncools and the vampires, we get to the conclusion…
***
“Up the staircase!” Caprius said to Calista and Cynthia. They ran up the staircase, setting the stairs beneath them on fire. Extending over the whole front façade of the hotel were giant French windows. When they arrived on the fourteenth floor, three vampire creatures appeared at the top of the staircase and began to come down to meet the three knights. Caprius sliced the first one through its middle, and the two parts tumbled down the stairs and crashed into the wall. Calista decapitated the second vampire. The head tumbled lightly down the stairs, but its body was heavy and smashed into Calista, causing her to step back and nearly lose her balance before she was able to shove the body away and down the stairs. Now that she and Caprius had reached the fifteenth floor, there were no staircases. Cynthia was surprised by two vampires and drew both her small swords, slaughtering them. They ran through the hall, and vampires approached them by dozens. As they passed through the hall, Caprius and Calista set the walls ablaze, creating a tunnel of fire. The vampires attacked ceaselessly, and the three knights came at them swinging. They sliced off head after head and sent body parts every which way. At one vampire, Calista swung but missed, and the vampire leaned in and shoved her against the wall. He came to her and held her aloft against the wall by her neck. She still had her sword and jabbed it into the creature’s side, channeling her powers and setting the creature on fire. Though it was engulfed in flames and melting, the disintegrating creature held on to her as it screamed in pain mere centimeters away from her face. She grimaced and blindly swung her sword, slicing off the creature’s hand from its wrist. She fell to the floor beside the remains of the vampire, it smoldering and stinking as it turned into a pool of vampire flesh. Calista ran to Caprius. He was hacking away at a vampire, and she got in the way of his sword. Her reflexes saved her as her blade met with a clang.
“Watch where you’re swinging that thing!” she said. They had no time to share in the joke, though, as they each had to contend with yet another vampire. They swung their swords in tandem, decapitating them simultaneously. “Why don’t we just run right through them!” said Calista. So they did. With their claymores outstretched, they bolted down the hall, slicing at any vampire who came too close. Soon, the clutch of creatures was behind them, seething and snarling like rabid animals. With some distance separating the knights from the creatures, Caprius and Calista turned around to face a mass of them, channeled their powers, and threw large flames from their swords at the group, engulfing the creatures with fire. The hall burned like an inferno. Caprius, Calista, and Cynthia turned and ran. At the end of the hall, they came to another set of stairs. They ran up several floors to come to a staircase leading to the twenty-third floor.
At the top, two vampires stood waiting for them. Goncools. These Goncools had consumed Makoor’s blood. Caprius and Calista slowly walked up, their swords dripping with vampire blood. The Goncools gazed down at them. “Careful, you’re dripping,” Caprius nodded to Calista’s sword. “We really should try not to make such a mess,” he said, trying to keep a straight face.
“Right, we don’t want to damage the hotel. Mr. Pinkles wouldn’t like that,” said Calista.
The Goncool ran toward Caprius. Caprius rose to his feet, only to be pushed against the balcony railing. The two pushed against each other, with Caprius’s back at the railing. As they rolled, the Goncool now had his back against the railing. Pushing their swords against each other, the Goncool took his other hand, grabbing Caprius from below at his crotch. The Goncool swung him over his head, and Caprius was thrown over the side of the tower.
Calista yelled, “No!” Calista ran toward the Goncool, swinging her sword. The two clashed their swords and fought. As Caprius was falling, with quick thinking he reached for his Graffel gel tool and shot a thread that lassoed onto a stump on the rail of the balcony. The thread, being gel-based, acted like an elastic band, tossing Caprius up. Caprius swung to the side, swinging onto the balcony railing. As he climbed over the railing, he ran toward Calista, who fought the Goncool. Caprius saw Nero as he slew the last of the vampires.
“Way to go, Nero; now get to your hot air balloon!” cried Caprius. “Now!” Nero, not at all surprised to see the knight covered in blood and floating down to the ground on magical powers, gave Caprius a thumbs-up. But, in a moment of Caprius’s inattention, the slain vampire rose again and grabbed him. He drove his fist into Nero, gutting him in one fell swoop. Nero collapsed to the floor, his entrails spilling from his body. Caprius cried out, “No!” The Goncool, who had gone through the upstairs window and was resting on the balcony floor, got up as if nothing had happened and laughed. Enraged, Caprius and Calista swung their swords, but the Goncool fought back easily. Caprius had pushed the Goncool back hard to crack the railing of
the balcony. They fought, the three of them, hard and long. Calista slashed the creature’s thigh at the artery, but he simply touched it and healed instantly. They resumed their fight, swords striking fiercely so fast and hard it was difficult to tell whose sword was whose. The knights were losing steam, but they didn’t dare let up, for the Goncool wouldn’t stop until they were both dead; this much they knew. Then, without any warning, the Goncool made a horrific face and shrieked, then choked on his own blood coming up his throat. It took Caprius and Calista a moment to understand what was happening. They backed up and realized a sword had come out through the creature’s neck from the back. It was Nero. Nero collapsed onto the floor. He fell back, drained from his last heroic effort. Calista wasted no time. She drove her sword into the Goncool’s chest, channeling her powers. Caprius then drove his claymore of power into the Goncool’s face. Their swords burst out fire, and the Goncool was instantly set ablaze. They held their swords momentarily into its body, watching the fire engulf him. They retracted their swords, and the Goncool ran screaming toward the end of the balcony. He broke through the loose railing and fell down the mountainside to his death.
Caprius and Calista ran to Nero and knelt down. Caprius elevated Nero’s head on his knee. “Nero,” said Caprius humbly, “I cannot believe—”
“That was just such a brave thing you did,” said Calista. “Standing up to that Goncool.”
Nero tried to breath. “You’re, you’re out of danger,” Nero gasped.
“Yes, thanks to you,” said Caprius.
“Now go, my friends. Take the balloon and save yourselves.” The knights looked back at the hotel; the fire had spread throughout the whole building. Nero took his last breath, shuttered, and died. Caprius put his friend’s head down gently. He and Calista both stood up and gazed down at the poor, lifeless Nero.
“We have to get off this mountain and away from the hotel,” said Calista.
“Yes, it’s what Nero wanted. He was such a good man. To the balloon, quickly!” said Caprius. They ran to it and climbed into the basket.
“Can you fly this thing?” asked Calista.
“I hope so. Now’s a good time to learn how, anyway,” said Caprius, trying to figure out the levers. Calista looked back behind them and felt the heat of the fire on her face.
“Whatever you’ve got to do, do it faster!” she said.
“I’m trying! I think I’ve got it!” said Caprius. The balloon slowly began to rise, but instead of taking them out of danger, it was drifting them directly toward the hotel. Caprius tried some other levers, and the balloon lurched even closer to the fire.
“Caprius!” Calista cried out. Caprius tried another combination of levers, and suddenly, gently the balloon began to sail away from Hotel Quantum Heights. “Caprius! Look over there. It’s Cynthia.” And indeed it was. She was trying to escape the towering inferno.
***
The story of Quantum Heights goes on to present an explosive and dramatic conclusion.
Richard A. Valicek has redeveloped the world of Alamptria in a new, exciting way.
To purchase the entire book of Quantum Heights, click below.
www.amazon.com/Quantum-Heights-Book-Dead-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B0183YDI0S?
www.amazon.co.uk/Quantum-Heights-Book-Dead-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B0183YDI0S/
Chapter 11
Serenity Incident- Crimson Peak
The Dead Path Chronicles reignites the very first book Alamptria: Red Moon Rising in a whole new way. The retelling of the original book is indeed very, very, different, and it is a welcome addition to the Dead Path Chronicles series. This book is a prequel to Quantum Heights, and I’d now like to release to you a brand new chapter in book two of the Dead Path Chronicles: Serenity Incident. The following is the chapter entitled “Crimson Peak.” Enjoy the read!
***
Caprius was knocked out unconscious with his head back. His forehead was bloodstained. There was deep snow here. A half hour passed, and he still was not conscious. Not far from the vehicle, a woman walked the deep snow in her combat outfit. She was taking an afternoon walk with caution. As she now approached, she noticed the damaged vehicle. She came closer. She looked into the car window to see Caprius injured and unconscious. The windshield was cracked in several places.
“Oh my god,” she said. “I hope he’s all right.” Suddenly, Magula bats swarmed down on top of the car. They began chewing on the metal; they sensed the smell of blood inside the car. “Oh no!” she cried. The woman pointed her left arm, pushed a button on her palm, and produced a blast of frost. The icy frost was two hundred degrees below, and instantly the Magulas froze solid, their teeth etched into the metal of the car. Then a push of another button on her left palm produced a sonic, high-pitched sound wave, and the Magulas’ icy exterior exploded, including their exoskeletons. She rushed to the vehicle. She tried opening the car door by the driver’s seat. It was stuck. She yanked harder and harder. Finally, she forced the door open. She felt Caprius’s pulse. “He’s alive.”
She unbuckled his seat belt. “Come on, my young lad. We’ll get you out of here.” She managed to get Caprius out of the car as he fell to the snowy ground. “Now how am I going to get you home?” She cut the seat belt strap from the car and tied it around his feet. Then she grabbed the strap, slung it over her shoulder, and pulled Caprius’s body along the snowy ground. She pulled him to a nearby cottage. She opened the door, untied the seat belt strap on Caprius’s feet, and lifted him up. She was a strong but attractive, beautiful, blond-haired woman. She slumped him onto the sofa, which was near a fireplace. She went back outside and grabbed Caprius’s sword. “He may need this,” she said. Walking back into the cottage, she went to the bathroom, took a cloth, and wet it with water. Then she stood by Caprius’s side and lay the folded cloth onto Caprius’s forehead. She looked down into his face. “What a beautiful man,” she muttered. She put her hand on his face. Caprius’s eyelids began to twinkle. As he opened his eyes, he found the woman staring down at him with a smile.
“Who are you? Where am I?” he asked.
“My name is Shelly Hathoway. You’re in my cottage,” she said.
“Where is your cottage?” he asked.
“You’re at Pinewood Hills,” she said.
Caprius sat up. “I have to leave, immediately.”
“You’re in no condition to walk. You’ve just been in an accident.”
“My sword. Where’s my sword?” he asked.
“It’s over there on the table.”
“I need to get to my vehicle.”
“Hate to tell you, but your car is a total wreck. It’s inoperable.”
“Oh great. The rental department isn’t going to like this,” he said. “Can you drive me to Hillcrest Hills?”
“Look, I can see you’re in a hurry. Why don’t you stay here for a while, and I’ll fix you something to eat.”
“You don’t understand. I’m an agent. I work for the Elysian Assault Force. I’m on a mission. I need to get to where I’m going. I have an air shuttle at Hillcrest Hills. I need to get to it right away. There’s a terror plot, and I have to stop it!”
“All right, I believe you. But you need to get some food in your stomach. Have a bite to eat, and I’ll drive you to Hillcrest.”
“Okay. I’ll stay a while.”
She cooked up a quick lunch for him. They sat and talked. Caprius was feeling better and enjoyed the conversation.
“I see you have a picture on the wall of your father with a dolphin,” said Caprius. “And I see the other picture on the wall. You have a twin sister.”
“My father died two years ago. It was cancer. He had been fighting it for nearly three years. The chemotherapy helped at first. But the cancer came back.”
“I’m sorry for your loss,” said Caprius. “You have any other family?”
“My mother divorced my father when I was only twelve. I keep in touch with her. She usually calls me every week. She’s supposed to call toda
y.” Suddenly the phone rang. “Oh, hold on. That’s her right now.” She got off her chair and walked over to the phone. She picked it up and began to talk. “Oh, hello. Yes, I know. The Goncool oppression must not succeed. How many dead? We can be thankful that the casualties are low. Have the team meet me at the Hillcrest Pub tomorrow at noon. Bye.” She hung up.
“That was my contact.”
“I didn’t know you’re fighting the Goncools. You’re an agent!” said Caprius, astonished.
“Yes. On a mission for the Hillcrest Secret Service,” she said. “How are you involved in this?”
“The Elysian government is directly involved. After the bombing in Jasper, the cities have been put on full alert.”
“Yes, it is the same here in Pinewood,” she said. “I think maybe we should pull our resources together.”
“It seems we’re fighting the same war. I have a lead. A man by the name of Rover Tilbury knows the whereabouts of the Goncool stronghold. I have to find out what he knows. I must fly to Hillcrest Hills.”
The Dark Magical World of Alamptria Page 8
