Blood seeps from Nyx’s mouth as she collapses to the ground and plunges all of her aura into her chest. The curse gradually cuts into her heart, but it struggles against the channeler’s dense magic. She knows it is not enough to defeat the enchantment and her efforts are only delaying the inevitable, which increases her agony. A violent coughing fit sprays blood across the grass and she rolls onto her side like a wounded animal. The pain is so intense that Nyx can barely make sense of the world around her. Distant voices call out to the suffering channeler, but she is unsure if they are the gods calling her to the afterlife or her friends trying to save her from the curse. Fighting to get a final glance at Delvin and Sari, she sees that they are back to squaring off with each other. Neither of them are paying attention to her slow, pain-filled demise as they ready their weapons.
Using what little strength she has, Nyx struggles to her feet and charges her friends. She reaches them as they come within striking distance of each other. Working off instinct and desperation, the channeler coats her hands in amber energy and plunges them into their skulls, her attack spectral instead of physical. Lacking the finesse and tenderness of a true telepath, Nyx violently rips Zohara’s influence out of their minds. The slimy, gray energy reaches for the collapsing champions, but it is sucked into the half-elf’s crippled body before it can return. She can feel the evil magic pumping through her veins and heading for her heart to strengthen the curse, which will be more than enough to kill her in an instant. The moment Zohara’s energy reaches Nyx’s chest, a surge of raw power envelopes the channeler and helps her absorb the infection. Having already had a taste of the sinister aura, the channeler greedily devours the curse around her heart and reaches across the jungle to do the same to Fizzle. With all of the corruptive energy contained in her body, black ooze mixes with Nyx’s blood that is dripping from her mouth.
“I think I did it,” she gurgles, unsure if she is going to live or die. The half-elf crashes to the ground between her friends, who she vaguely recognizes as her vision fades. “I’m sorry for everything.”
Nyx can barely hear two voices screaming her name as she drifts into darkness. For no reason, a wave of happiness rolls over her and she gets the sense that she is smiling. The last thought she has is that it would be nice to die with a smile.
*****
Dariana dives to catch Fizzle when the drite falls out of the sky and gray ooze leaves his body. She rolls down the hill and pushes off a tree stump to flip back to her feet before skidding to a stop. The telepath whirls around to see the departing magic disappear near the battle, her mind tracking the energy to be sure it is gone. Bursts of pain and confusion rattle her nerves enough that she nearly forgets about her current mission. When she touches on a wall of agony, her mouth goes dry and she feels the sensation of blood dripping from her eyes. The distant roar of Luke brings her back to the problem at hand and she takes some comfort from still being able to sense her friends.
“What happen?” asks the drite before wriggling out of the telepath’s arms. The sound of something large crashing through the underbrush puts causes him to flutter his wings and growl at the approaching noise. “Big beast coming. Fizzle hit with sleep. Then you fix. Not sure spell work on fake dragon. Hope Luke more there.”
“It’s only Timoran, so don’t use your magic. Luke is still in the air,” Dariana replies as she loses contact with Nyx. With all of her power, she turns herself into a beacon for the chimera and mentally prepares for its arrival. “Nyx cleansed our friends of Zohara’s power and I think she removed the curse from you too. She’s badly hurt, but Delvin is keeping her alive while Sari guards against attacks. Though the battle is moving away from all of us, so I don’t think they have to worry. Once we revive Luke, I can try to awaken Nyx. If you want to go to her then I won’t stop you.”
“Fizzle promise help with Luke,” the drite declares while he watches Timoran sprint through the jungle. A small form on the barbarian’s shoulder points in their direction and he changes direction to reach them. “Monkey dragon man with Timoran. They look scared. Do you think this too much?”
Dariana steps forward and sends out a wave of fear to drive the remaining animals away from the area. “Yes, but I have to try. Do not get involved unless you have to. This will be very delicate.”
Timoran waves his arms in an attempt to signal his friends to retreat, his voice drowned out by the sound of beating wings. The barbarian looks at the canopy and leaps through the last line of trees as the chimera lands with a rumbling crash. With a bellowing roar, Luke swings his long neck and uses his head to clear the jungle in front of him. Leaning forward to attack Timoran, he stops at the scent of Dariana and casually shoves the warrior away. Wounded in pride more than body, the barbarian stands as a deep laugh rumbles from the beast’s throat and sends ripples along the patches of scales and fur. No longer the chimera’s prey, Timoran can only watch as the monster snorts at the silver-haired telepath and bathes her in a wave of heat.
“I’ve been waiting for a chance to get my teeth into you,” Luke says in a guttural voice that shakes the trees. Noticing Fizzle for the first time, the chimera snaps his curved teeth and licks his lips. “Another little snack for later. I’m so hungry after taking control. The chatty Placid that brought me out was about as filling as a halfling’s rib. Though I can still feel him churning in my gullet. Would you like to meet him?”
“You’re using Luke’s spirit to talk,” Dariana says as she cracks her knuckles. She can hear the chimera snarl at her casual demeanor, the beast’s arrogance weakening for an instant. “I find it amazing that you understand my friend’s powers better than the others. There’s still some resistance among the various parts, but you have most of the control. The other chimeras are savage and wild, but easily manipulated. You’re smart and focused. The Order and the Feykin have no appeal to you.”
“They do, but I can always eat the survivors later,” the creature replies, his eyes briefly becoming brown with flecks of gold. A violent shake of the head returns them to an eerie crimson that casts blood-like light across the ground. “Don’t be too surprised at my return. I’ve been trapped inside this child, but you failed to put me to sleep. While the others helped him, I watched and figured out how I could conquer them all. Of course, I knew you would be the one to give me trouble. So I need to eat you first.”
A screech draws Luke’s attention to his right where several other chimeras are walking through the trees. Instead of retreating from the dangerous creature, the aggressive beasts bare their teeth and rush forward. One of them rolls into a ball that is covered in spikes and bounces toward the larger monster’s flank. Timoran leaps in the way to slams his great axe into the attacking chimera, shattering its armored hide and leaving it open to a lethal stab from Luke’s poisonous tail. Two winged beasts swoop down as the larger creature bites into a sharkskin-covered elephant that is waving a pair of clawed trunks. The aerial predators are intercepted by Fizzle, who puts one to sleep and hooks the other’s long neck with his tail. He slams his shrieking opponent into the earth and prepares to come around for another attack, but Luke smashes the downed enemy under his massive foot. With a twist of his head, the Draconic chimera rips the throat out of the elephant-like creature in his hands and blasts a smoking hole in the beast’s side with a flaming orb.
The ground shakes as another creature charges through the jungle, its size nearly matching the transformed champion. Before he can see his enemy, Luke flaps his wings and bursts into the sky where he is sure to have the advantage. He spies a massive bull with the spotted pattern of a jaguar and a hooded cobra head coiling from each sides. The creature’s hind legs are muscular like those of a hare, which helps propel it off the ground, catching the hovering chimera by surprise. Meeting the attack, Luke grabs the beast by the horns and rakes its scaly underbelly with his clawed feet. His wings beat at the serpent heads that strike and try to numb him with a paralytic venom. The natural resistance of the griffin helps him s
tave off the worst of the effects, but he can feel his strength steadily draining. Unable to stay aloft while holding the heavy chimera, the champion swoops to drive his enemy into the ground. Proving itself to be smarter than it looks, the bull-like beast rolls Luke onto his back and stomps on his torso with razor-edged hooves. Every blow weakens the trapped chimera enough to allow the deadly horns to inch closer to the forehead ruby that contains his life force.
The two creatures hear the boom before Fizzle rams headfirst into the bull’s face, the drite going at top speed with a battering ram spell in front of him. The blow has enough force to knock the gigantic monster off its feet, but it does not move very far since Luke is still holding onto its horns. A serpent head tries for the champion’s neck only for its fangs to snap on a fresh layer of metallic scales. With a roaring screech, the enraged Draconic beast bites through the extended neck and stands to stomp on the severed skull. Ducking the remaining snake, Luke slams his beak-like snout into the bleeding brow of the bull and snaps the horns off. Pelting the beasts with fiery orbs of metal, he drives his enemy back and looks for a chance to deliver a lethal blow. The champion’s barrage stops when he has to bite the remaining serpent, his powerful jaws cleaving off the front of its face. A quick ram to Luke’s side topples him and exposes his battered underbelly to the fresh horns that are sprouting from the bull’s head.
“I’m sorry for interrupting your battle,” Dariana whispers before elbowing the charging chimera in the face. The strike stuns the beast, which collapses in a twitching heap. “You have not fully mastered that body. I can hear the others fighting your influence and they get stronger every time you are struck. You wish to fight alone, but ignoring them puts you at risk. May I ask why you are so determined to take control?”
“Because I am the strongest!” Luke proudly roars, stabbing the unconscious chimera with his tail. Raising his clawed hand to smash the telepath, he finds that he cannot bring himself to attack. “It would seem your friends’ emotions are staying my hand. They will not let me do what I want to do. My influence is great and my will is like iron, but those four bound together are eroding my control. It takes too much for me to remain here.”
“You could join with them,” Timoran suggests as he cautiously approaches the chimera. The barbarian steps away when the beast whirls around to face him. “There is nothing wrong with getting help and being with others. It is not as if you can go anywhere. You and Luke are bound by spirit.”
The transformed champion slaps the ground with his tail and spits a flaming orb over Timoran’s head. “I was not built that way. This child is my prison and I refuse to acknowledge him as my keeper. He is too weak and pathetic. Perhaps that will change as his challenges become even greater, but I am not a patient beast.”
“Go back to sleep?” Fizzle suggests while landing on the bigger dragon’s back. When the chimera roars, the drite yawns and pats the beast on the wing. “Fizzle not like fake dragon. But you have real dragon pride. Unsure what means. Maybe need time to find place. Fizzle surprised you have spirit.”
“He may be a construct, but a true dragon was used to give him life,” Dariana explains as she places a hand on Luke’s foot. A chorus of voices can be heard calling for her help, the spirits getting louder when they sense her touch. “You’re a weapon that has had its soul unlocked. No wonder I couldn’t put you into a deep sleep or eliminate you. For all of your faults, you’re as pure and innocent as a newborn child. This is amazing and unexpected. I’m not sure what to do about it. Do you have a preference?”
“Put me back under, but allow me to speak when I am ready.”
“They will know you’re there.”
“I prefer it that way.”
“As you wish.”
Dariana steps back to allow the chimera to bow his head, the metal snout falling into her outstretched hands. With her breathing steady, she presses her forehead against the beast’s warm skin and gently enters his intricate mind. Drifting among the intertwined thoughts, the telepath delicately unravels the five spirits that are wrestling for control. As she separates Stiletto from the mess, the fur and scales slough off Luke’s body to reveal tan flesh. When she frees the griffin entirely, the wings shrivel and are blown off by a stiff breeze while the forest tracker shrinks to his normal size. The tail retracts once Pike is released, which leaves Luke and the Sword Dragon intertwined with each other. Dariana finds it difficult to divide them, having to dispel the sensations of pain left over from Gursel’s torture methods. With a little more force, the telepath pushes the proud beast into the back of her friend’s mind and creates a small window for it to use. She can sense that the others are nervous about the portal, all of them fearing that the Sword Dragon will make another attempt to conquer the body.
“He’ll behave. I promise,” Dariana whispers while easing Luke to the ground. The half-elf is naked and his head is still returning to its normal form, the ruby being the last part to sink back into his skin. “Our friends are heading our way, which is good because I need to rest. We should probably clothe Luke.”
“I have nothing that will fit him,” Timoran says, holding out his vest. He is sure it would look like a short, revealing dress on the forest tracker. “Perhaps you can lend him some of your clothes. You may be taller, but your shirts can be adjusted.”
“Are you sure he won’t be embarrassed wearing my clothing?”
“I believe he will have more important things on his mind.”
*****
Nyx groans as she regains consciousness and feels a stinging numbness throughout her entire body. She barely notices that her tongue is scraping against her teeth in order to get rid of the toxic taste in her mouth. The world around her is bouncing, which the groggy channeler eventually figures out is because she is being carried on Timoran’s back. Spotting a silhouette out of the corner of her eye, Nyx turns her head to smile at who she thinks is Dariana. When her vision focuses, she is happy to see that it is a familiar figure wearing the telepath’s clothes. She can see Luke blush at her feeble giggle, the forest tracker fiddling with the ties on the side of his green shirt. Being several inches shorter than Dariana, his black pants are tied around the ankles to prevent him from tripping over the extra fabric. She half expects him to be wearing slippers, but Luke’s feet are bare aside from a growing layer of dirt. To make sure he is really with her, Nyx reaches out to run her finger along the embroidered peahen until the warrior removes her hand.
“Why are you wearing Dariana’s clothes, little brother?” asks the channeler in a hoarse voice.
From her other side, the telepath taps Nyx on the head for a final scan of her mind before answering, “He was naked when we returned him to normal. Taking him into battle with nothing on would be dangerous and rather humiliating. I’m sorry if you feel ridiculous, Luke, but you don’t look bad in my clothes. Though the pants might be a little long and the shirt isn’t a perfect fit. Odd that our torsos are about the same length and width while our legs are so different. You must feel strange in those things. If it helps, I’m seeing why kids at the orphanage used to call me a featherless crane. I thought it was because my hair matched their feathers, but I guess I was always tall for my age.”
“I’ll be fine. We’re almost at Caurea,” Luke says while checking Nyx for signs of physical injuries. He puts his thumb on her eyelid and moves it up, but the channeler lazily swats his hand away. “I think you’re going to be okay. Delvin healed your physical injuries and Dariana woke you up when she regained her strength. What happened?”
“I fought Zohara’s curse and nearly died,” Nyx answers, her voice getting stronger. She shudders at the foul taste in her mouth and spits out a few lingering globs of gray ooze. “I don’t know who or what she is, but I think she’s controlling all of the Feykin. Maybe the Order has something that can stop her plans or she’s simply holding a grudge, but Zohara wants them eliminated before the eclipse. Really happy that I can finally talk about this out loud. Anyway, she’s g
oing to do a ritual to increase her strength. It requires Sari to be killed at the wedding, Delvin to be drained of energy on their wedding night, and my misery at losing friends being absorbed throughout the whole affair. She has backups and everything, but we can stop her if we free the Feykin from her control. I think we still have a day or two before the eclipse too. Where are Delvin and Sari?”
“They are walking behind us and refusing to talk,” Timoran replies, stopping to put Nyx on her feet. He is ready to catch her if she stumbles, but it is an awkward position since he has Dariana leaning against his other side. “We received apologies and then they began to trail behind. I have asked Fizzle to stay with them, but they remain focused on their shoes. The situation does not look good.”
“It’s because they remember everything they did while under Zohara’s control,” Dariana says to prevent the channeler from approaching the pair. She senses fear and shame ebbing off the miserable duo, their emotions becoming stronger whenever they hear Nyx talk. “The guilt that their true personalities would have created after such deeds is hitting them hard. We should give them time to come to terms with what happened. Though we will need them to regain their composure once we reach Caurea. I doubt the Feykin will listen to broken leaders, especially if Phelan decides to be difficult.”
Looking over her shoulder, Nyx can see Delvin and Sari standing like statues among the vine-covered trees. Fizzle and Isaiah are watching them from the canopy, but the morose champions remain motionless. With their heads hanging, nobody can see their expressions and an occasional shuddering breath is the only proof that they are still alive. Delvin remains injured after having healed Sari and Nyx, the warrior stating that he needs to give his powers a rest. The faint shimmer on his skin hints that he is lying, yet none of the others are willing to argue with him. A crude bandage is around his wounded shoulder, but he refuses to accept anything to replace the blood-soaked rag. Appearing haggard and drained, Sari is missing her joyous glow and reminds her companions of a zombie with how she sways when walking. The way the pair stand among the trees makes everyone nervous, but Dariana has repeatedly stated that the two champions are not becoming undead.
Charms of the Feykin Page 29
