Oblivion's Peril

by M. H. Johnson

  Should he survive what was to come.

  Val shook his head in wonder at the odd twists his life had taken. Somehow it all clicked, and if he were going to take the perilous role he was embracing seriously, it was expected as well. He would be there for everyone as best he could, assuming any of them survived the mounting opposition that wanted nothing more than to crush anything that didn’t fit their plans to dust. And that most certainly included a hybrid human and his ragtag band of friends, family, and lovers.

  Val gazed down at the strikingly beautiful girl sleeping softly in the nude upon a halo of brilliant flame, awed by the magnificent shimmering mass that was her natural hair. His gaze lingered upon lush ruby lips that begged to be kissed, her blanket caressing her form so perfectly.

  Shadow slipped next to her and blew into her ear.

  He delighted in Bethany’s sudden gasp, the way her hands came together, ready for anything. A gasp that turned to bemused laughter as she spun into his arms, her look of adoration striking him to his core.

  “Thank the gods. You didn’t abandon us. I knew you wouldn’t!” Her unexpected kiss was soft, tender, and left him breathless. “At least, I hoped you wouldn’t, not after I had shared with you the burden of my soul.” Tender eyes pierced his soul as she twined his unresisting hands with her own. “And I promised you all the treasures of my heart.” Val’s eyes widened as she let the sheet covering her drop, revealing her treasures in all their glory.

  “It’s not fear that motivates me, hero. But desire. I want you just the way you are, Val. Fierce, strong, terrible, and wonderful. You saved me and my sisters from horror, from the depths of despair. You raised me on a pedestal of respect, even adoration.” She blushed and smiled, lowering her gaze. “I know you’ll never think less of me for the degradation I was forced to endure. But most of all, what matters is the feelings you feel for me. You don’t have to say a word, Val. I see it every time I look into your eyes, and that’s all my heart needs to know. You’re all I could ever want in a husband.” She looked up once more, captivating him with her gaze. “I hope you’ll let me be all you could ever want in a wife.”

  His mind blurred with the most carnal of hungers, Bethany’s matching smile making it clear she was eager for him as well, before Val gently pushed her back.

  His heart broke at the hurt in her eyes. “No, Bethany. Wait. There is something I want to show you. Something beyond awesome. Somehow, I think you’re just the type of girl who will love it.”

  Raw hurt slowly transformed into a smile. “Good thing I love surprises!” Her eyes twinkled with barely suppressed mirth as she hopped into silken slacks and a skintight chrome-colored blouse that left nothing to the imagination before tying her fiery hair in a scrunchy band that mirrored Terran equivalents perfectly. “You can’t know how hard it is to resist plucking it from your mind, but I’ll be a good girl.” She squeezed his hand even as she grabbed what amounted to a flexible polymer backpack, gazing intently at him as she put blanket and wine both inside. “Though not too good, Valor.”

  She chuckled throatily, pulling him through the apartment and out the front door with a wave goodbye to her bemused-looking and now fully awake sisters. “Come, my prince, show me your prize!”

  The look of awe she gave his bike was worth every moment of anticipation, her smile beaming like the sun.

  “Heaven’s grace, Val. That’s the most incredible looking hover-blade I’ve ever seen! Where did you find that beauty? It looks just like a dwarven artifact!”

  Val grinned. “That’s because it is.” His smile grew as she seemed to tremble with wonder. He squeezed her hand, got on the bike, content with the surge and hunger he felt, the demands needed by the bike being only a fraction of what he had to spare. He insisted Bethany hop on slowly, but when it was clear the artifact would make no additional demands, Val relaxed as the beautiful girl straddled behind him, gripping his chest with her arms. He felt her softness pressing against his back, her hot breath tickling his ear.

  “Show me what this bike can do, my prince.”

  And he did.

  Congratulations! Blade Riding is now Rank 3!

  “That was incredible, Val,” said a breathless Bethany endless miles later, gazing at him with such sweet tenderness. A warm, honey-laden chuckle tickled his ear as she sighed and squeezed him close. Val hugged her gently back, refusing to give in to temptation a second time no matter how hard his heart was pounding, no matter how much he wanted this girl in his arms. If by some miracle Julia actually accepted the madness that he could simultaneously love more than one girl without being a pig, that was one thing. But the thought of hurting Julia who he felt so protective of, the painful realization that, inhuman passions and Dark Points aside, he might have hurt her already, did much to curb the hungers burning through him, to let him be the friend Bethany needed more than anything else.

  Bethany stroked his cheek. “It’s okay, Valor. I’m a patient girl. I can wait. Now that I know I have at least a sliver of your heart, I’ll win your first-wife over in time. You’ll see.” Her smile lit up her entire face, transforming her striking beauty into something transcendent, utterly captivating him. “I can’t tell you what a rush that was, Val. Feeling the wind in my hair as I held you tight while we raced across the city, my mind free of all worry and care, you and I living only in that perfect, endless moment. I will treasure that memory for the rest of my life, I think.”

  Val smiled. It had indeed been an incredible morning, roaring across the mostly empty freeways perhaps an hour before they became near congested, Bethany’s bubbling laughter washing over him, squealing in glee as he hugged the curb with tight turns, weaving his way through the city streets in this near desolate part of town before straightening out and going full throttle. Bethany’s delighted scream doubled the thrill, Val instinctively raising the force field that would protect his precious cargo, though her silent protest gently lancing his mind made it clear such was not necessary.

  She wanted the wind blowing through her hair as they raced through the city, and in return, she gave him the most magnificent prize he could imagine. The sense of her spirit, happy and free, soaring the skies high above, slowly freeing itself from the burdens of grief and despair that had clipped her wings for far too long.

  Strangely content just to hold this beautiful girl as he was, Val couldn’t help smiling into her gaze as he felt a deep languor flow through him.

  He was surprised by his own yawn. The crushing exhaustion he now felt.

  PRM Mastery supercharging his cells or no, when was the last time he had actually slept?

  The last thing Val recalled as he found himself slipping away in Bethany’s gentle embrace were her tender words. “Rest, Val. I’ll wake you when it’s time.” And Val wanted to dispute that assertion, that the girl gazing at him with such adoration had no idea what his plans were, but he was already asleep, sinking into soft downy bedding with Bethany’s warm body pressed chastely against his own, sleeping the sleep of the dead for the first time in days.

  36

  Val woke with a jolt, disoriented only for a heartbeat.

  He checked his watch and gave a shuddering sigh of relief to find it wasn’t as late as he had feared.

  It would have been utter folly had he let distraction cost him everything, but the afternoon sun had only begun to set.

  And there Bethany was, dressed in skintight black polymer, the soft shimmer making Val suddenly certain that it was far more than simple attire hugging her curves so enticingly.

  She flashed a winsome smile as Sasha and Lisa wordlessly entered the room, all of them dressed in identical jumpsuits, all of them looking incredibly beautiful, intent gazes locking with his own.

  “I think it’s time you told us the plan, Valor. Let’s get this show on the road.”

  Val smirked even as his heart raced. Knowing eyes behind bemused smiles made it clear that these girls were sharp as dwarven blades, and for all that he had gotten to play h
ero when they had needed a savior, he would underestimate them at his peril.

  “Correct,” Sasha nodded. “We have honored your request, and pried not at all. But we know something’s coming to a head, just from your earlier request, and it was all I could do to dodge inquisitors sniffing after my queries when I dared make the tiniest of inquiries regarding mech pilots, just hours ago.”

  Lisa shrugged, her cute, tomboyish features somehow complimented by her petite form. She was every inch a beautiful young woman, but also exuded a winsome charm few men could resist cherishing if given the chance. She smirked and Val flushed, wondering how much of his unguarded thoughts she had sensed. She then rolled her shoulders and stretched her back before grabbing a cluster of grape-like fruit and popping one into her mouth, looking straight at Val as she did so. “Fortunately, we know what we’re doing. No hounds on our trail, but there are no pilots for sale that aren’t already claimed by our greatest enemy." Lisa frowned. “At least, not legitimate ones. But that relic you have below, which has gotten any number of curious looks, and you’re bloody lucky we bribed the staff to cover it up and maneuver their personal velis around it, is a treasure that would do any pilot proud. And if that artifact had been in any collection anywhere on Jordia, I’d know about it.” Youthful features locked upon his own. “You could only have gotten that vehicle on the black market.”

  Val took a sip of the wine Bethany offered, her fingers lingering upon his own. “Maybe I did.”

  Lisa smirked. “Then please tell me you got some pilots while you were at it. That you were doing something besides pretending to be a chaste saint while you stole my sister’s heart.”

  Val felt his cheeks blaze at that, coughing up his drink as Bethany rubbed his back before kissing his cheek.

  “Lisa makes a good point, even if she is putting us on the spot. Please, share with us your plan?” Bethany asked, slipping to his side, taking his hand in her own.

  “Of course.” He brushed back her hair, noting the chrome ports that had been so cruelly gouged. Taking in her sudden wince as she lowered her head and pulled away.

  “Those bastards hurt us in every way they could,” she whispered, shuddering.

  “I’m sorry, Bethany. I can only imagine how much you miss piloting a battle-mech.”

  Bethany jerked a nod. “I was good.” She shrugged. “I had a knack for it. More than a knack, actually, and my birth mother taught me everything she knew. But what’s done is done.” She smiled through her tears. “I have my life, I have my sisters, I have hope...” She swallowed, gazing into his eyes. “And maybe I found a man who cares for me as well. I can live with those things, Val. As long as I can keep the people in this room safe, I’ll be grateful for every bit of happiness I can claim. I will accept whatever challenges life sends my way.”

  Val brushed her cheek with his hand, smiling into her eyes. “Would you like to be able to fly again?”

  Her eyes widened with breathless awe.

  “Just say the word, Bethany.”

  “Yes! Gods, yes! Can you do such a thing? Can you truly, Val?”

  Congratulations! You have successfully cast Dominion Catalyzation! Extended focus has generated critical success!

  Val tuned out the echoes within his mind as he felt his gifts flowing into the overloaded Dominion electromana couplings and circuitry. Exquisitely complex, yet flowing back into place perfectly as he took his time, being exceedingly careful in channeling arcane repair magics so close to Bethany’s brain.

  At last, he was done. He took a deep shuddering breath, stepping back, blinking away a moment’s dizziness, alarmed to see that the sun was significantly closer to the horizon. Val frowned. So much time spent. Yet he had the feeling it would go much quicker, should he ever need to repair a pilot’s ports in the future.

  Bethany was gazing at Val with undisguised wonder, propelling herself into his arms, sobbing her gratitude as she squeezed him tight. “He fixed it! Mother’s mercy, he fixed it! I feel my connections again! I can feel the electromana current all around!” She laughed for joy. “Thank you, Valor Hunter! For my life, for repairing my greatest joy, for soothing my heart, thank you!”

  Val hugged her tightly in turn, grateful beyond words that he had been able to heal at least one of the terrible wounds the angel in his embrace had suffered.

  Sasha flashed a bemused smile after endless moments had passed. “Beautiful. You two were made for each other. You should make Bethany first-wife, not third, but that’s an issue for another day. Right now, all that matters is...”

  “Fire’s mercy, you’re a wizard?” Lisa was gazing at Val with disbelief, fruit in hand forgotten. “But my sisters are wearing hardware, and your finger was a hairsbreadth from Bethany’s skull! There’s no way you could have done that without shorting out the circuitry so badly you fried my sister’s brain!” She paled, disbelief turning to awe. “Holy crap, you have Personal Resonance at grandmaster rank?!?”

  Val blinked. “That didn’t need translating. How do you even know that term?”

  “Terrans. Now quit dodging the question. Who the hell are you?”

  Val gazed at the three girls, feeling the sudden tension build.

  “You know who I am. You know that I care for you. All of you,” he said, gazing intently at Sasha and Lisa even as he squeezed Bethany’s hand. “What you don’t know is that I’m not just in this for love and adventure. All of Jordia is in flux, and the only way I can hope to keep the people I cherish safe is to play for the biggest prize of all.”

  The room was strangely silent, the girls gazing at him speechlessly, wound so tight Val feared their reactions but knew he needed to be clear.

  “I’m here to take on all comers. I’m here for the throne.”

  The three girls stared at him in stunned disbelief, then Bethany’s eyes widened. “That’s why you played nice with our enemies even after you purchased our contracts! You were feeling them out. You got them to reveal their troop strengths and weaknesses so you knew what pieces they have upon the board!”

  Val nodded. “As well as the fact that they are desperate for magicians, and what their going rate will be for hiring Terrans.” Val flashed a cold grin. “Not to mention Kentric’s offhand order to kill any Terran who dares to show up for an interview that they don’t like. So if you’re not quite high enough level, or have mixed feelings… you get to die. Somehow, I don’t think too many players who keep tabs on Readit will be wanting to work for Kentric’s side once that gets out there.”

  Sasha blinked. “Are you serious about all this? Permission to read your mind, Valor.”

  Valor caught her gaze with his own, holding nothing back. She paled and trembled, crumpling to her knees. “You… that was you?” Her constant superior expression with a hint of bemusement had been replaced by a look of unspeakable horror. “Do you even know what you did?”

  Valor jerked a nod. “You’re damn right I do. And I would do it again, no matter the screams that would haunt my soul. I will claim this world, Sasha, and I will kill anyone that gets in my way.”

  “Because that’s just the first step,” Bethany whispered, “isn’t it, Valor?”

  Val froze, realized he had been looming over a trembling Sasha. He took a deep breath, gently gripping her unresisting hand and pulling her to her feet as he stepped back, turning to meet Bethany’s enigmatic gaze. “Yes, Beth. It’s just the first step. But until I’ve seized the board, I have no way to claim any other.”

  Lisa was gazing at Val with growing horror. “Heaven’s grace, I thought you were a good man. I thought you were showing Maja mercy!”

  Val slowly shook his head. “No, Lisa. I was being prudent. Far better to look like an honorable if arrogant Highlord who had accepted his foe’s defeat, than kill her ruthlessly—my blade blasting through her skull so fast some of those fools would declare it murder, garnering the interest of inquisitors who are the last group of people I want to run into right now. By drawing it out, no one could deny wha
t kind of contest it was, or who was the aggrieved party." He flashed a cold smile. "Besides, this way she owes me a favor and is bound to me tighter than you might think."

  Lisa trembled. “You can soul bond. Oh gods, I feel it upon you! You’ve enslaved hundreds… no, thousands! Wait, there’s more. I taste more! All of Blackenthorp Province, almost a million souls, are now bound to you!”

  Val peered intently at Lisa. “Arcane Perception. And you’re no novice. I see I’m not the only mage in this room." For some reason Lisa blushed and lowered her gaze. "And no, Lisa. I did not enslave an entire city. But I did sacrifice a great deal of my life force stopping a plague that had already infected hundreds of thousands with the Red Death.” All three girls paled at those words. “Bonding so much of my, well, essence to the land did have unexpected effects. I now really am a part of Blackenthorp Province, and the destinies of its citizens are now a part of me. Any citizen of Blackenthorp has the freedom to leave. Any man or woman who detests the idea of loyally serving me, who would harbor thoughts of spying and betrayal, will simply feel a growing sense of unease and discomfort until they finally flee, never to return. That’s all.” He shook his head ruefully. “If anything, I’m still vulnerable until the next full moon. It’s conceivable that a traitor might find it in himself to strike at me before then, before growing discordance compels him to flee. The only consolation is that his anxiety will make him stick out like a sore thumb until he finally succumbs.”

  Lisa swallowed, her gaze perilously close to awe. “It was you. Even trapped in my own living nightmare, I could sense it. Taste it in the ether. All of us with the gift could.”

  Sasha frowned. “What exactly did you feel, and why did you never mention this before?”