Post 33: The Opening

 

Chase watched as Adrian stepped to the tall man and shook his hand. His skin bristled as they touched. He didn’t want any darkness touching his woman. They looked chummy, the four of them backed by the small army that continued to filter into the same. A ways away, Tristan stood with Mendax. They motioned towards him the ‘clear’, and the ‘one the move’. He nodded and inched forward on his stomach. Again he glanced forward as Adrian’s mother Annalise had her hand kissed. This seemed more like a reunion than a bloody kidnapping. By the grace of the Light Warriors, his mate had better be just being nice to them and not actually in cahoots with them. He reprimanded himself for thinking that Adrian would even be tempted and for not trusting her. He’d known the moment they said she’d betrayed them that she hadn’t. He just had to prove it. She wasn’t exactly helping his cause at the moment.

            A soft scuffle to his left had him pausing but the instant mental search uncovered it was Vectio, appearing on his bellow next to him.

            Hey guys, there is a problem. At first no one responded. They weren’t used to Vectio using the telecommunication link they all had, or speaking at all.

            What is it, Vectio. Tristan spoke. The warriors turned in Vectio’s direction.

            That man, the one speaking with Devlirus like they are best friends? I know him. The warriors glanced over at the two men conversing and Tristan mentally let out a string of discolored and flavorful words; none of them cringed.

            Who is he? Julius spoke from his perch in a tree high above them.

            He’s my father. Vectio spoke. They could each feel the anger, the hatred, the hurt bristling inside of him.

            Umm…you might’ve mentioned that your father was a Malus when we were busy having the trust circle. Mendax spoke, his voice uncharacteristically serious.

I haven’t seen him in four hundred years but there was speculation he had something to do with my teams demise. There was some talk that he was there and that he’d led the army that ambushed and killed every member.

Do you think that might be the reason you’re the only one that survived? Arinth spoke. The team had included her and Ana in on the comms. They’d needed as many able bodies as possible. Somewhere on the other side of the clearing, just aside the house, the European team was figuring just how many bodies their opposing army included.

Tristan, you knew? Shepard spoke. He’d been the only one to acknowledge that Tristan had cursed before Vectio had uncovered the relationship.

I’d been warned that Dvakart Vymenil or “Nile” as they call him, would be here. I didn’t quite put two and two together until we arrived. The moment he began to speak I knew who he was. Vectio, will this affect you in anyway. Your duty? Maybe I should pull…

No! Vectio transported to just closer to Tristan. You will not pull me out. As a matter of fact, I believe our surprise factor is over. The game has changed. Let’s go. Before Tristan could respond, Vectio had transported them into the clearing.  

            “Ahhh, I’d been wondering when you would show up.” Devlirus didn’t turn around to face the women and warriors that appeared behind him. He walked towards Adrian whose eyes had widened with hope at the sight of her mate. Lifting a hand, he drew his knuckles across her chin, as he seemed so fond of doing. “Just in time for our fire works to begin.”

A booming sound rang out and the ground shook just before lightening struck down. The tip of the light hit Adrian right in the chest burning her clothes and moving beneath her skin. She screamed as her body was lifted off the ground. Fire blazed in Chase Hunters eyes as he darted forward. Just before he reached her, Devlirus struck out his hand, connecting with his jaw. He hit the ground hard but didn’t stay there. Adrian’s eyes turned a stormy white and her mouth fell open. Her feet crossed as if bound and her hands flew up, straight from the shoulders. She looked like she’d been placed on a cross; her head fell back and lolled. Removing his sword from its sheath at his back, Chase slashed through the air just narrowly missing Devlirus’ head. With a strong force, Nile appeared at his side and slammed Chase to the ground. His eyes, now a dark navy blue with a fiery red rim, bore into Chase’s.

            If you don’t stop this, I might have to kill you. Calm down. Adrian is in stasis. Unless you interrupt the opening of the portal, she will be fine. For now. The words bore into his mind, as Chase was rendered immobile. He didn’t respond but ceased resisting. Nile let Chase go and bowed his head slightly before stepping back.

            “By the grace of the Light Warriors, that sure escalated quickly.” Devlirus laughed a hearty laugh as Chase moved, sword raised, back towards his team. They all watched as above Adrian a portal opened. A shapeless space, just darker than the evening sky, tore open the world and a dark cloud seeped into the courtyard. The Alter she hovered above crumbled under the force of the dark power and was reduced to dust.

            Stillness filled the air and settled on everyone in the area. They came, towards where she lifted above the earth. The dress that covered her body circled her limbs and seemed to seep into her skin. She was neither clothed nor was she naked.  A skin like cloth stretched over her body and shimmered in the midnight skin. It circled her wrists and her reached down to circle her ankles. The European team that had stayed out of sight seemed to walk into the courtyard in a trance to join the others around the Alter. No one was immune to the pull that flowed from the portal.

Devlirus stood with one hand covering his heart, as did his army. He reveled in the sight of their home planet. It’s dark surface seen from just the edge of the portal. He’d picked the perfect place and the perfect portal. According to his connections and his Intel, this was the strongest portal this side of the pacific that would get them home. It also wouldn’t buckle under the force of the light source when they extract it from the planet. He’d had great Intel and now he had great expectations for the night’s events.

Reveling in the pull the portal had for his soul his heart soared. Pretty soon he’d be able to go home and so would the rest of his soldiers. They’d see their families and he’d see his. Despite the fact that no matter what happens his heart will stay darkened, at the least the hope given to his people would lighten their souls. They’d no longer be darkened by jealousy, anger and hatred. But he would. It delighted him to be filled with such emotions. If not for them, he couldn’t be an effective leader. He couldn’t make the tough decisions. Once he was back home and the light source was firmly implanted in their centre, his people would never know what happened on earth. They would just thank it for it’s gift of life given and never know of the sacrifice they’d made. That was leadership and that was what it meant to have duty and fulfill what needed to be done.

As the pull from the portal softened and Adrian slowly lowered to the ground, Chase jogged forward and pulled her into his arms. Her eyes were still open and white, her mouth closed and her breathing evened. Blinking twice, Adrian could feel his arms around her, could tell it was his heart beating against her shoulder but couldn’t see him. His scent enveloped her and yet he seemed distant.

"The only way to be a writer is to write, write and write. The only way...is to write." -Jade Elyzabeth