by Renee Greene
The good-bye was tearful and it was obvious everyone was afraid.
Dylan and his father had a rather emotional good-bye too, and his dad wished so much that he could come, but even if he could cross the arch, he was needed to fight Mahon and his men in their world. He assured Alex he would watch out for Gail and Trina too.
After the final good-byes, Bryan looked over at Alex, Vanessa, Nea, and Dylan and asked, “Are you ready to go into a war?” He didn’t wait for an answer. He called out the magic words and the blue light came. They were committed. They were going to war. They all held hands and stepped through.
Chapter 25: Mahon Learns the Limits of Mutations
Director Mahon slammed his fist down on the table and yelled, “They escaped! We must get them!”
A man in a lab coat sitting at the table complained, “Don’t shake the equipment! This is sensitive.”
“You’ve failed me, Herman!” Mahon complained. “For years you have been working with mutants, trying to figure out how to isolate their mutations to duplicate them, and you’ve failed. I want armies!” Again, he pounded his fist on the table.
Herman grabbed a beaker that almost fell over. “I won’t succeed if you ruin my experiments,” he scolded. “I am getting close, but this is not easy. I have enhanced people’s endurance and speed. I’ve also enhanced reflexes. They are good abilities.”
“But not even to Elven standards,” Mahon complained. “I don’t want someone who can win high school track meets. I want someone who can go invisible, fly, or cast spells. I want humans to be better then fairies. Right now, we need to catch Bryan and Vanessa. We need to see what genetic mutations they have. We can have Alex called into the office for an examination, but we need the twins too.”
“They won’t cooperate,” Herman complained. “You know they won’t.”
“Alex never does,” Mahon complained. “This is why we must capture them. I don’t care if they cooperate. We don’t need their cooperation, only them.”
“We’ll be fired if found out,” Herman whined.
“If we succeed, it won’t matter,” Mahon hissed. “If we can create a superior race, they cannot stop us.”
“That’s a big if,” Herman pointed out. “Fairy-folk are not like us at all. They bleed blue from what I understand. I have no idea how Vanessa folds wings into her back. This is guesswork as to which genes to manipulate. I am dealing in science that has only been dreamed of in science fiction movies. I think I’m getting closer, but experimenting is not safe. If I experiment too extremely on animals, I could create monsters we cannot kill. Experimenting on humans is dangerous too. Where I have had some success with enhancing speed, endurance, strength, and dexterity, I do not know the long-term effects. It could shorten the people’s lives by years.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Mahon argued. “They know the risks.”
“No, they don’t!” Herman argued. “They don’t know the risk. They come in thinking science is much more advanced than it is, and they have visions of becoming a super hero. They don’t realize that the risks far outweigh the chances of success. Where I have enhanced some people, I have also caused muscular atrophy and paralysis from the waist down. I cannot live with that, nor can I live with killing someone.”
“Those people have been paid well to compensate,” Mahon replied with a wave of his hand. “It is for the good of science.”
“But these people are…” Herman began.
“I don’t care,” Mahon insisted. “Humans need what fairies have. It is not fair that they can fly and go invisible and we cannot.”
“Why don’t we try to make technology and enhance it with magic?” Herman asked. “Agent Hall’s ring allows him to go invisible.”
“It’s a good goal,” Mahon agreed, “but we can’t do that either. That ring is all magic and must periodically have pixie dust infused in it to work in our world. You cannot reproduce it, and I think it has run out. My other scientists can’t duplicate it either, and they have been trying for a year.”
“Science takes time,” Herman informed him. “If you want it done right, patience is required.”
“We don’t have time!” Mahon yelled. “Bryan is getting stronger by the day. Soon, he will be able to command an army to die, and they would. We must be as strong. What do you have that can make us stronger than him?”
“Nothing!” Herman answered. “You have seen Wilona and what happened to her brain. Yes, she can connect to others’ minds, and she has power, but it has come at a cost to her. Austin can go immaterial, and it’s a strong power, but he sees it often as a curse. Everyone is afraid of him. He’s a freak and an outcast. We have to think about what we are doing to people.”
“Nonsense!” Mahon countered. “They should glory in their power and their differences. If people are afraid, they can use that fear for power! What all can you do?”
“That depends,” Herman explained. “I am working with genetic mutations to start with. Austin couldn’t go immaterial, but he had a condition that made him shake all the time, which made him unstable enough that I could effect him to do quantum tunneling. It’s complicated. Wilona had a neurological condition I used to get her into people’s minds. Right now, I cannot manipulate normal genes. We must start with people who are somehow eccentric to begin with. The problem is that sometimes enhancing those mutations can be done in a way to create a strong power, but often it makes them dysfunctional in other ways.” He clasped his hands in frustration. “I’m not explaining this well, but I can’t just take someone and give him super powers. I am working on inserting powers into normal genes, but it will take time.”
“We don’t have time!” Mahon yelled. “Bryan is getting too strong. We must stop him now! I want his power. How does he do magic? What gives him that ability?”
“I don’t know!” Herman yelled back. “We have samples of Alex’s blood, but I have no idea what makes Bryan different.”
Mahon picked up a vial on the table and asked, “What does this do?”
Herman took it back as he nervously explained, “I have a volunteer who has a temperature that naturally runs high. I am trying to use that to enhance him so he can have some sort of fire power. I do not know what he will be able to do yet. If it doesn’t work, he could die.”
“I don’t care if he does,” Mahon sneered. “That is an acceptable loss.” He then smiled wryly and asked, “What could you enhance about me?”
“I’m not sure,” Herman answered honestly. “I will need blood samples, strands of hair, and brain scans to figure it out.”
“Then do them,” Mahon insisted. “I want to be stronger than Bryan. I will get power. I will be more powerful than a fairy. Get the samples you need now. This is top priority. I want to have more power than Bryan. Is there a way to command the elements themselves?”
“No,” Herman answered. “This is insanity. I cannot do what you are asking. It would take twenty years of research.”
“We don’t have twenty years!” Mahon yelled. “You will get the power for me, and get it now! If you fail me, just watch what I can have done to you.”
“But you need me,” Herman begged. “You cannot kill me. You need me. There is no other scientist who can do what I can. This is proprietary research.”
“Indeed,” Mahon agreed. “I need you alive, but you don’t have to be able to walk. It is amazing what you can live through.”
Herman looked down and conceded, “I’ll get right on it.”
*****
Fardoragh stood in the woods near the sheelaun. “You failed me, Takrin!” Fardoragh accused. “You were supposed to deliver Bryan to me. Evander is going to attack King Giles soon, and I need Bryan so we can stop all of them.”
“He is powerful,” Takrin hissed. “He has a fire nymph working with him too. You know fire is deadly to my people.”
“I know,” Fardoragh agreed, “but we must help each other. I was able to free you from the prison you were banished to, but the mag
ic gem I used to do it was destroyed in the process. There are few other gems in existence like it, and they are well guarded and useful for other things. Yet, if we can capture Bryan, he can rewrite the magic holding your kind back. Evander says Bryan claims to even be able to rewrite the magic of the arch. The boy may be young, but he is powerful. You must get him for me. Surely a sheelaun will be able to get through defenses to get to him.”
“I will try,” Takrin assured him. “My people would love to get to taste real blood again, not just that of beasts. We want out of our prison. Give me time, and I will get to Bryan. The more blood I drink, the stronger I will get. I will bring him to you, and you will release my people.”
“Of course,” Fardoragh agreed. “With him, I can open your gilded cage. You help me, and I’ll help you. Now, we will need to take advantage of the war that is about to happen. Lord Dakarai will certainly send the high elves to back King Giles. Yet, I have more control over the men than he does. Where we would like to see Evander dead, personally, I’d like to see King Giles dead too. If he dies, likely Lord Dakarai would be the next king, and he will do what I say if his son, Lindir, doesn’t get in the way. Let’s hope he dies in the battle.” He smiled and added, “No, let’s do more than hope.”
Chapter 26: Dylan Learns Choices have Consequences
When Alex, Bryan, Vanessa, Dylan, and Nea stepped through the arch into Elliad, there was already a fight going on. Salgothen and Heremon, the high elven fighting teachers Dylan had had, were leading the charge against ogres, ankou, and several tengai, who were obviously after the twins, most likely Bryan.
There really wasn’t much chance to think, as they all had to fight. The twins hadn’t seen their father fight much before, but he seemed to have some experience fighting ogres.
Dylan fought hard against the ogres around him. He started to call to Vanessa to shrink and fly off, but if she did, she would be in more danger, as the tengai and ankou could all fly. That would keep Alex from teleporting away with his children too, as the fliers could likely catch him away from the fight.
There was no time to think, only to fight. Dylan blocked a strike from a tengai, not wanting to know what poison his claws or tail had. As he did, an ogre hit him in his back with a club. It hurt, and for a moment, Dylan buckled and fell to the ground.
The killing blow would have come, but Salgothen struck the ogre delivering it. As he did, the ankou grabbed Salgothen and pulled him off his horse, with him screaming in pain.
Dylan got up and pushed the ankou off of Salgothen, but the ankou grabbed him. Dylan was far too familiar with the pain an ankou inflicted, and he hadn’t missed it.
Unfortunately, the pain was as bad as he remembered, but he had to keep fighting. He grabbed the ankou’s wrist. It hurt, but he had to endure it. He then punched the ankou in his dragonish face. His knuckles stung, but the ankou flew backward from the strength of Dylan’s punch.
As he punched the ankou, one of the tengai stung him in the back. He immediately felt all his strength drain from him. He turned to punch an ogre, but his punch did nothing, and the ogre laughed.
Dylan felt helpless. He was surrounded by enemies. The tengai punched him with much more strength than the tengai normally had. His cheek cut open and bled.
He saw a blade about to strike and thought he would surely die, but Alex suddenly teleported in, grabbed him, and teleported away.
“Where’s Vanessa?” Dylan cried as soon as they materialized.
“She’s fine,” Alex assured him. “Let’s get out of here.”
There were horses ready for them, and Heremon was there to help them escape.
Salgothen and his men held Evander’s men back as Heremon led Alex, Vanessa, Bryan, Nea, and Dylan toward the castle.
As they were going, the ankou and two tengai caught up with them and began to attack, but Rayne and Niall suddenly became visible and grew to full size. They were flying in to help from the direction of the castle.
The fight in the sky was brutal. Vanessa panicked and started to fly up to help, but Dylan grabbed her leg and pulled her back. “Don’t,” he warned.
Fortunately, Alex suddenly appeared in the air, and grabbed a tengai. He couldn’t fly, so they started to fall, but he teleported back to the ground.
As soon as they materialized, Bryan called out, “Strup izp,” and the tengai’s claws and tail all missed Alex.
Dylan jumped over and punched the tengai, but his punch was weak and didn’t even knock the tengai back. He did grab the tail so it couldn’t sting.
Fortunately, Rayne suddenly pulled the tengai away and struck him with his sword. The tengai fell to the ground dead.
Vanessa ran over and dropped beside the tengai, trying to heal him, even though he was the enemy. She couldn’t. He was dead.
“How?” Dylan asked Rayne.
Rayne knew very well what he was asking. How had they beaten the ankou and other tengai so quickly.
“Fire,” Rayne answered. “Nea helped.”
“Nea,” Dylan muttered. He shook his head. Nea was useful. He was not. Without his strength, he was nothing.
“Hurry!” Heremon ordered as he pulled his sword from the dead tengai. “To the castle before more trouble comes.”
They hurried to the castle, and as soon as they arrived they were brought to the king, but before he briefed them on the situation he called for all of their wounds to be tended to.
Everything had been so rushed and hectic that they really hadn’t had time to think about how everyone was. They knew they were all alive, and that was what mattered the most.
Pixie girls were called in to help with the healing. The wounds were fairly minor in the group. Rayne had his wing cut, but mostly he’d endured the pain of the ankou which left no damage. It was the ankou’s knife that cut his wing. Niall had mostly fought the tengai, so if he’d been cut or stung, it would have been major.
Dylan was the most wounded, but what panicked him the most was that there was a large bruise on Vanessa’s face. He took her hands as he told her, “I’m so sorry. I should have protected you.”
“I had her,” Alex assured him. “We are a team. We have each other’s backs.”
“I’ll heal quickly,” Vanessa assured him. “I’m fine. I’m worried about you. Let me heal you.” She then looked over at the others and asked, “Do any of you know what happened to his strength or if he will get it back?”
“He will,” Nea answered. “Just as a tengai’s love potion can be broken, the strength will come back to him.”
“How?” Bryan asked. “Do I need to cast a counter-spell.”
“No!” Nea immediately answered. “If not done exactly correctly, the counter-spell could do more harm than good. For example, reversing the spell could make Dylan end up with the normal strength of the tengai, which is not as strong as he normally is. You know how magic is. You’d have to be careful. This is best left for time and need.”
“What do you mean by need?” Dylan asked.
Nea explained, “For example, when the war starts, you will be determined to fight hard. That will make your strength return faster. Just as a kiss from someone you care about more will break a love spell, someone you care about, particularly needing to protect her, will help you overcome the spell faster.”
“This isn’t overly encouraging,” Dylan noted. “I don’t have much time. War is coming, and I’m not strong enough to fight.”
“Then I suggest you have Vanessa strengthen you,” Nea suggested. “She can strengthen you and that will help the strength return more quickly too.”
“How long will it take that way?” Dylan asked.
“No idea,” Nea answered. “A tengai’s poison can be mild or strong, and I have no idea how much was injected into you.”
Dylan put is hands in his face in despair.
Vanessa reached over, put her hand on his arm, and offered, “Let me help you.” She blushed and suggested, “I’m not sure how much I can strengthen you, bu
t I think we will both enjoy trying.”
Dylan looked over at Alex and suggested, “Umm… it might be a little uncomfortable. Perhaps in a bit.”
Alex chuckled and suggested, “Why don’t we start planning with King Giles and you take Vanessa to the solar to help you. It’s open to view, but private at the same time.”
Dylan was really shocked that Alex wasn’t telling him to stay away from his daughter. Still, it was helpful to heal. Dylan took her hand to head to the solar.
“Keep it G-rated,” Alex called as they walked off.
Dylan looked back as they left. The others could start the planning without him.
He took Vanessa to the solar. It was a loft over one end of the great room, so it was open to below, but not easy to see from below, if not standing by the railing.
He and Vanessa sat on the couch together, and he looked into her eyes, but not with his usual confidence.
“You’ll get your strength back,” she assured him. “Time will heal this.”
“Let’s hope in time,” Dylan replied. He shook his head.
“What?” she asked. “You’ve been through worse. Why let this get you so down?”
He didn’t immediately answer.
She put her hand on his cheek and again asked, “Why?”
“Because it’s all I’ve got!” he admitted, the pain at the confession obvious. “Everyone here has some amazing abilities. You can shrink and fly. Bryan works magic. Nea throws fire. Alex teleports. Everyone has magic here but me. Strength is all I have, and I have worked for over four years lifting weights and before then doing fighting training and sports to be as strong as I am, and now it’s just gone. I felt helpless in that fight, and if it wasn’t for your father, you could have been seriously injured.” He looked away and tensed his lips, trying to hide emotion.
“What?” Vanessa asked. He didn’t respond, so she asked again, “What? You aren’t getting out of telling me. I am your girlfriend.”
“I felt helpless, but fortunately, you don’t need me,” he admitted. “Your father, Bryan, Rayne, and Nea can all protect you better than I can.”
