by C E Johnson
“Thanks, Mom,” Emily said, wondering if the orange was a physical manifestation of her incorporation of Shadoe. “Why aren’t you watching the television?” Emily asked her father while arching an eyebrow at him. This wasn’t his usual pattern. “No Weather Channel?” She studied her father as she buried her head back into the soft leather couch, too weary to put much energy into solving the developing puzzle.
“Something’s wrong with the power,” Richard answered. He wore a pained expression on his face. His hair was unkempt and there were dark circles under his eyes. He kept glancing toward the windows with uncertainty plain in his features.
“And why didn’t you wake me for school?” Emily lifted her head and glanced around the room. She felt a growing disquiet. Her heart began to quicken. “It’s late.”
They’re definitely worried about something, Xena whispered. Sniffing the air, Xena sent Emily the smell of fear, smoke, and confusion. Emily sat back up. Her heart rate was steadily increasing. She flexed her right hand which suddenly ached with the want of a sword.
“Your father and I are staying home today.” Jean spoke softly, but her voice shook. She had never been good at hiding her inner tension.
Emily studied her mother more intently. She noticed her makeup wasn’t as pristine as usual; her hair wasn’t washed. What’s bothering them, Z?
Something important, Xena worried, leaping down from the couch to stand near to Jean.
“Our cars aren’t working,” Jean said with a sigh. She rubbed her eyes. She seemed to be having difficulty focusing. “We haven’t figured out why, but something’s very wrong.” Peering out the window, her eyes were drawn to the same area that Richard had been studying. “In fact, nothing electrical is functioning.” Her words made Emily’s skin begin to prickle.
“Even our most important machine, our coffee maker, isn’t working,” Richard teased. He tried to make light of the situation, but he was chewing intently on his lip. Joining his wife, the two continued to stare out the window. “I wonder what they were thinking when it went down,” Richard mumbled under his breath. “So much death.”
“Death?” Emily asked, barely catching his words through Xena’s ears. A chill ran down her spine.
Could another natural disaster have occurred close to us? Xena asked.
I’m not sure, Emily answered.
“Didn’t you wake up last night with all the noise?” Richard turned slowly and went to sit close to Emily in his worn chair. He ran a hand through his dark hair peppered with white.
Emily shook her head. “I was pretty tired. What happened?” Her heart was starting to thunder in her chest.
“There was a plane crash near our house.” Richard reached out a hand and placed it on Emily’s knee. “Your mother and I went out to view the wreckage.” Emily gasped as her father continued. “There can’t be any survivors. The area is a massive disaster zone, an incredible mess.”
“A large plane?” Emily asked as she began to picture herself in an aircraft falling to the Earth. What would she do? What could you do? Nothing. Her head began to throb.
Her father nodded sorrowfully. “It must have been a huge passenger plane, probably the size of an Airbus.”
Emily was on her feet. She moved to the window with Xena at her side. No rescuers are out there, Xena whispered warily. I’m not seeing any movement at all.
Emily caught on to what Xena meant. “I don’t hear any sirens,” she said to her parents while peering out the window. She realized there was a massive amount of smoke rising up in the air concentrated around a half mile away from her home where a fire still roared. The cedars and oaks were decimated in a long swath where the plane impacted the Earth. The land was charred into a black line of singed annihilation. The destruction began near the greenbelt before extending along the steep hillside that led down to Lake Austin. Thankfully, her father had cleared the land near their house, so the fire wouldn’t be able to approach too close to them. The decimation extended down into the valley. “Where are the emergency vehicles?”
“We’ve been wondering the same thing,” her father answered thoughtfully. “There were some neighbors out there when we went to look, but no police … no one to help or investigate or even to put out the fires. I don’t get it. I saw other clouds of smoke around the city once the sun came up. Maybe the emergency crews are helping at other accidents.”
“I’ve got a very bad feeling about all of this,” Jean whispered. Rocking slowly back and forth, Emily’s mother was wringing her hands together. “The neighbors’ cars aren’t working either. How can cars all stop working at the same time?” The furrows on Jean’s brow continued to deepen.
Her father whirled away from the windows by their breakfast table and went into the kitchen. “Do you want something to drink, Em? I don’t know if the power will come back on anytime soon. We might want to drink our milk before it goes bad.”
Emily felt another wave of concern and fear wash over her as she looked at her confused parents. What’s going on? She didn’t like feeling out of control.
Electrical appliances in the house aren’t working. Xena was going through the new events methodically. I wonder if the plane crashed because of a loss of its electrical system.
Emily took a deep breath and nodded to her bondsmate. You’re right. We need to sort through this. She forced herself to slow down the thoughts racing through her mind. Drawing from Xena’s calm mind, she used a tai chi mindset to achieve an induced form of mental relaxation. Once her spirit was balanced, she allowed her brain to kick into a higher gear as the flood of adrenaline washed through her vessels in a more conducive form turning the flow of stress to her advantage, allowing it to evaporate the cotton and spider webs in her mind that clouded her thoughts after a portal crossing. Could Iscar somehow be responsible?
It’s possible. Xena answered Emily’s thoughts while moving closer to her leg until fur merged with skin. He’s been orchestrating a series of natural disasters. He could have arranged this catastrophe.
It didn’t all make sense to Emily. She could somewhat understand the physics of magic changing Earth’s magnetic field to cause more earthquakes, volcanoes, and hurricanes, but something more tremendous was going on. Without warning, she felt a gentle nudge on her consciousness. Hadrian was calling her into a dream-link. “I’m going to go outside and look at the fires,” she informed her parents.
“Be careful, Em,” her father warned. Her parents didn’t look at her. Instead, they were both back at the window, focused on the hillside. They appeared to be mesmerized by the wreckage. “Don’t go far from the house. This is really dangerous,” Richard added.
Emily went out the door to the backyard with Xena. She coughed, overwhelmed by a rush of smoke that billowed momentarily toward her. Dancing on the light wind, the smoke was ethereal and dark. Emily was barefoot, and she moved cautiously forward through the haze. Even though her senses were blunted on Earth, the aggregate stone interlaced in the concrete irritated her sore and tender feet. A breeze continued to swirl the clouds of sooty vapors around her, but the air felt thick and dead. All at once, the smoke rushed into her face and throat and she began to choke. Then, as quickly as it had come, the wind changed direction, driving everything away from her home in a floating current of gray, and Emily could breathe again. She whispered a spell to reinforce the new direction of the wind, pushing the irritating smoke away from both her mouth and Xena’s, so they could inhale clean air. Sitting on the surface of a large table on their deck, she tried to calm herself. She ran her palm over a large tan sand-colored tile on the table surface and took a deep breath. Moving into a lotus position she attempted to compose her mind and better focus her energy. Once she was prepared, she accepted her brother’s mental connection.
“Em, are you okay?” Hadrian blurted as he appeared in a shrouded vision before her in the dream-link which began to coalesce in her mind. More details clarifying his image were filling in around Hadrian every second.
He has components of power, Xena realized from her viewpoint within the link.
You’re right, Z. Emily was impressed with Xena’s talent for recognizing important details.
Dysis was at Hadrian’s side, her face strong and stoic. Dr. D, Emily’s father, was also there, and he was instantly added into the communication portion of the dream-link. Emily’s mood was buoyed by his presence, and she swam in the warm feelings of love crossing from her father and Hadrian as they shared feelings that words couldn’t relay. Once the catharsis of becoming reacquainted was finished, Emily adjusted her position in the dream-link so Hadrian and her father could see the wreckage behind her. “A plane crashed near our house and no one’s responding to the accident,” she informed them. “None of our electronics are working.”
“We know why,” Hadrian said slowly. “Watch this.” Hadrian continued talking as he went to one of the working computer screens. “Missiles carrying warheads generated multiple electromagnetic pulses around the world.” He pressed a button and a video ran. The footage demonstrated the launching of rockets from ships. “Before this event even occurred, a man named Akhil Ahmed claimed responsibility for the impending destruction. He followed through with what we had initially assumed was boasting.”
“Droth created that name and identity for Iscar,” Emily began in a hushed voice. “Akhil Ahmed is Iscar’s pseudonym for a freedom fighter with his headquarters in Al-Hofuf, Saudi Arabia.” She rubbed her temples, remembering other information Droth had told her. “Droth created another identity for Iscar, Ravi Sharma, a billionaire businessman with his largest factory in Shenzhen China.”
“Precisely,” Hadrian said with a scowl. He didn’t look encouraged. “I received the names from you through your dream-link while you were on Acacia. Once I realized your information correlated with the terrorist whom I initially thought was a lunatic, I tried to shut him down. I sent teams to Saudi hoping to intercept him, but I’ve failed in my every attempt. Iscar has destroyed everything I’ve sent after him.” Hadrian’s computer screen tracked a representative missile for a time before it went blank.
“The blasts also knocked out the majority of our satellites,” Dr. D revealed. His expression was hard as he pushed another button on a keyboard, and an image showed lights on the world before the blast. “They detonated over each continent with populated areas.” He then showed a picture after the blast with all lights out. “The world is now dark. Electronics are totally knocked out across our planet.”
Hadrian gestured toward Dysis with a frown on his face. “Dysis thinks he’s trying to create a form of Acacia on Earth. Our world has a very limited backup system set up, so we’re only beginning to get some basic functions restored.”
Concern and anger warred on her father’s face. “Em, do you know anything else about Iscar’s ultimate plans?” he asked.
Emily scanned through her stored memories. “Droth told me that Iscar’s obsessed with magestones. Supposedly Iscar believes the stones stimulated an Earth engineer to form an aura.”
“Plans within plans,” Hadrian broke in. “He’s probably been conducting scores of experiments on the power and effects of magestones on Earth.”
“Droth believes Iscar wants to make Earth over in his own design, where magic and dragon-oaths are all working to his advantage,” Emily continued revealing what she had learned. A new breeze came out of nowhere blowing more of the smoke away from her face. “He’s heavily influenced by his grandfather Drogor whose wraith-spirit resides in Ater. He plans on bringing Drogor back to life as a half-dead at some point.”
“I’m sure Drogor is behind all of this,” Dr. D muttered darkly. Emily’s muscles were trembling with emotion as she thought about what would happen if Drogor returned.
We have to plan for that possibility, Xena whispered.
Emily felt too tired to brush her wind-blown hair out of her face. She licked her dry lips and imparted the last of her information, “You saw the message-stone from Iscar. He hopes I’ll call the elves and dragons to Earth where they’re weaker, where Drogor can win the ultimate war.”
Hadrian rubbed his hands over his face and his eyes. “You’re in trouble, Em. You’re not only a thorn in Iscar’s side, but he wants all the knowledge you hold. He wants our portal.”
“Our portal?” Emily questioned in confusion. The wind tugged at her clothing. “He has his own.”
Dr. D pushed another button on the touch-screen and it showed a mountain-top being decimated. “Under my guidance, Hadrian helped me destroy Samil’s Prime portal.” Dr. D rubbed the sides of his forehead as he spoke. Worry was etched on his features. “I’m not sure if I did the right thing. Now I imagine Iscar and every Acacean creature on Earth will be searching for another way to get home.” Emily felt a cold chill go down her spine.
He’s right, Xena growled in her mind. I’m not sure if he should have tampered with the old pathways. It’s arrogance to believe our actions with something so ancient won’t cause repercussions.
Hadrian shut off the computer screen. “They’ll all be coming for you, Em. If I can get an aircraft to function, I’m going to come and get you out of there. I think you’ll be safer here. I’ve created layers of redundancy in the electronics in my home.”
“What is the President doing?” Emily asked hopefully.
“The President is organizing an army with any soldiers that are willing to stay in service,” Hadrian answered. “Many are going home to their families, but he’s hoping to keep a large force here.”
Emily had been to Hadrian’s castle-like home just outside Washington D.C., and she had seen his intricate headquarters, but she was doubtful if any location was a true haven. “They’ll come for you, too,” she said slowly. “You might not be as safe as you think.” She worried for her brother.
“I’m sure you’re right, but I should be safe enough with so many troops in this area. I’m refining my plans, but you’re in imminent danger,” Hadrian said with a concerned sigh. “My agents in Austin have scattered. I’m having trouble contacting them. I’m sure there’re only a few teams left to guard you. You need to get moving. Find some mode of transportation and start toward me. Don’t stay in your home, and don’t stay near the portal.”
“I can’t leave my family here in Austin. They might need me,” Emily retorted. She didn’t feel as if Hadrian understood just how important her parents were to her.
He understands. He’s just primarily concerned about you, Xena whispered tenderly.
Emily glanced toward her parents still at the window. Their faces were etched with fear and worry. “Maybe I can get them to go with me to meet you,” she said slowly to Hadrian.
“Whatever you have to do, Em.” Hadrian frowned. “I don’t know how much time you have.”
“While Hadrian tries to track Iscar and get the power to function again, I’m going to come to you now across the land,” Dr. D promised. His rock-solid jaw was clenched, and his voice was hard. “Hadrian has put several Blacksky teams under my command along with military squads. I’m going to organize them and lead them toward New Orleans. I think that’s our best bet. Try and meet me there. Stay in contact by dream-link. If this power-loss persists, the world is going to go into a panic. Chaos will descend very rapidly.”
Emily gave her father a brave and appreciative nod before turning to address her brother. “Hadrian, Shadoe gave me a message for Malachi, his nephew. Do you think you can get to him and help me communicate with him through a dream-link? Shadoe thinks Malachi is key to Drogor’s plans.”
Hadrian appeared thoughtful, calculating. He nodded. “I’ll see what I can do.”
They all ended their component in t
he link. Emily stared at the fires still burning near her house as she attempted to formulate a plan.
You don’t seem tired. Xena was staring at her intently while she spoke. Her words interrupted Emily’s evaluation of their surroundings.
What do you mean? Emily didn’t understand Xena’s train of thought. Her muscles were certainly sore and tired.
Your dream-link with your father and Hadrian was too easy. Xena moved closer. It didn’t use up much of your magus, and the link was very clear despite the distance. Your magic is rapidly becoming more powerful on Earth.
You’re right. Emily was an extremely strong magician on Acacia, but in the past, she was only able to perform spells at a much lower degree on Earth. Her spells were suddenly changing. All at once, Emily noticed movement on a far hillside. She wondered if a team was finally trying to help assess the damage and put out the fires.
You think something’s out there? Xena asked, picking up on Emily’s observation. Xena sniffed the air. Emily could smell horses, leather, and steel through Xena’s nose. Xena bounded away from Emily to patrol the edges of the yard along a black iron fence that separated their property from the greenbelt.
Is that an aura? Emily asked herself. She thought she caught the wisp of a red aura associated with the activity, but the distance was too far. She couldn’t be certain. I thought I saw a hint of crimson out there, Emily informed Xena, fully opening their link so she could share all of her perceptions with her bondsmate. The fur around Xena’s neck bristled becoming nearly upright. Her discomfort through the bond was crystal-clear, a definite difference from the usual hazy connection on Earth. Everything was changing.
