Bridgeworlds: Rise of the Magi (20 page)

“Ragal? You killed her?

That explains everything. Ragal was so harsh and cruel. But you -- you always drove me to be better through our cynical competition. You had far too much kindness to be a true Kalat. Thank you, Kasey, you will always be my sister.” He reached out and hugged Kasey. “So you’re from Earth?”

“Yes, and the Council of Seven is right about the book, you know.”

Moluno lowered his head. “Yes, I know. I figured that out after Thanatos already had a grip on me, and there was nothing I could do about it.”

Myles interrupted. “I hate to break up this family reunion, but we’ve got to get to Gabriyel. Thanatos may be gone, but there’s still that Big Red Dragon.”

Kasey nodded. “Moluno, I’m leaving Musterion with the Magi when we return. I’d like you to come with us.”

Moluno nodded. “I may. But there’s something else I must do after stopping this war. If you’re still here after that, I’ll leave with you. There’s nothing left for me here. Maybe I could start a new life somewhere else.”

There’s a lot of that going around,
Myles thought.

Myles and Kasey got back on the motorcycle and headed on through the tunnels. Moluno waved and headed towards Sarx-Ergon.

18

Departure

With Thanatos gone and Moluno returning to try and stop the war, their travel through the tunnels went smoothly. Myles and Kasey were still intent on reaching Gabriyel because they knew that the Great Red Dragon was out there somewhere. Kasey especially knew that the war and the darkness and all the other evil intrusions may have been brought on by Thanatos, but they weren’t his idea. The trouble he caused was more an indicator of the fact that the Great Red Dragon was here in Musterion. With his favorite Arch-demon gone, he wouldn’t just slink away. He’d be enraged and more determined than ever to rain down destruction on everyone in Musterion. They didn’t need Gabriyel’s help any less now. They needed him more than ever.

The one thing that Kasey didn’t understand was why the Great Red Dragon had come here. She’d learned when she was with the angels that his war was really with Soterion. He was focused on overcoming all those who belonged to the Master and gaining complete control over that world. That had always been his ambition so why did he interrupt that to come to the Maze of Musterion? She wasn’t sure what it was that he wanted, although she had a good idea. She knew that he would destroy everything that got in his way until he had it, and then he would return to Soterion. So her plan then was to make an unusual request of Gabriyel and try to seduce the Great Red Dragon to leave Musterion and return to Soterion.

When Myles and Kasey finally reached Gabriyel’s domain, they found him perched quietly as if he was waiting for them. Myles quickly dismounted the bike, and Kasey followed after him. Gabriyel watched them as they made their way toward him. Impulsive as always, Myles was the first to reach him. “You already know why we’re here, right?” he asked boldly.

Kasey caught up to him and grabbed his arm to stop him. “He won’t respond to you this time.”

Myles turned toward her, looking irritated. “Why?”

“Because you’re not of the Master but I am, and I’m here. He’ll only respond to me.” Then she turned him around until they were face to face and appealed to him to consider his condition. “Myles, you’ve seen the Master’s work and you know he’s real. Ask him to save you and guide you. Ask the Master into your heart.”

Myles loved how she showed her concern for him and for a brief moment he thought about her request. But he shook his head and answered, “I’m not ready for that life. I’ve still got a few wild oats to sow.”

Kasey looked disappointed but kept trying to reach him. “Myles, the time is now. Don’t wait for tomorrow. There’s no promise that tomorrow will be given to you.”

Myles gave her a sly grin as he sarcastically reminded her, “Well, I always was a gambler.” He realized when he said it that he wasn’t ready to let go of his old life completely. He wanted to reserve the ability to turn back if this whole “new leaf” thing proved to be boring or disappointing. He’d found joy in helping others, but that didn’t change the other desires he had that he didn’t want to give up. He preferred taking a chance with his fate and bet on the idea that there’d be a tomorrow for him rather than give up his favorite vices just yet.

He looked up at Kasey with deep affection. “I know what your Master requires, and it’s too much for me right now. I’m not ready to give myself as a sacrifice, even though I believe he sacrificed himself for me. He’s God, but I’m human, so I’ll err just a little bit more and hope for the best.” He stared into her eyes for a moment and then said, “I’d like to drop this now because it’s only making the situation worse.”

Kasey turned away from him in disgust and said, “Fine!” Then she strode towards the dragon.

For just a minute, Gabriyel looked at Myles, acknowledging that he was there, but then he gave Myles a disapproving look and turned away. “What?” Myles shouted at him with an obvious guilt.

Gabriyel went back to ignoring him and turned his head to Kasey. “What is it that you wish from me, Kasey Phoenix?”

Myles could see that he was no longer relevant so he went back to the bike and waited.

Kasey stepped closer to Gabriyel and answered, “I seek passage for all those who are of the Order of the Magi as well as for me and Moluno. I want to take them into Soterion,” she said boldly.

Gabriyel snorted in irritation. “The portal lies in the midst of the Great

Red Dragon’s realm within Musterion. If they live to get there, all of them may pass,” he said dismissively. Kasey almost felt like he didn’t want to do that for her. She sensed that he couldn’t see what she was planning and how it would further the Master’s purpose.

But Kasey didn’t give up. She shook her head and argued with him saying, “Gabriyel, it is the Master’s will that all of the Magi reach Soterion alive. You know that’s not possible if we pass through the land of the Father of Lies. Please reconsider my request.”

Gabriyel nodded in agreement then and offered, “Very well, Kasey Phoenix. I’ll return you from here to the Tower of the Magi where you’ll gather everyone you wish to journey to Soterion. Once everyone is gathered, I’ll know and I will take you all to Soterion.” And then, without warning, he breathed purple flame on them.

~*~

When the mob was finished with him, Moluno was bruised and bloodied and left for dead. He’d anticipated this result but had hoped that he could stop the war. When he arrived he saw the darkness and the madness that had spread over Sarx-Ergon, and he knew it would be impossible to stop them now. But he tried. He’d gone before the Council of Six and told them everything that had happened, including the fact that their forces couldn’t defeat the Council of Seven, but they wouldn’t listen. Thanatos had spread a dark curse on all of them, making sure they went to war, and it had worked. So they gave him over to the Kalat who heard what he had tried to do, and they treated him as a traitor.

Dragging him into the main square, a crowd had surrounded him and each one took their chance to beat him bare fisted. Then believing he would die, they abandoned him in a pool of his own blood. He slipped in and out of consciousness for some time until he finally recovered enough to realize that the city was now completely empty.
The fools hadn’t even left anyone behind to guard their homes,
he thought. Every man, woman, and child was gone, and he was alone in the city. He struggled to get up and began searching to make sure the city was truly empty. As he staggered through the streets, he broke into house after house checking bedrooms and cribs realizing that they’d even taken their babies.

This madness could only have come at the instruction of Thanatos. He loathed the memory of that wicked demon. He’d stirred the worst in every citizen and then sent them off to battle, hoping that it would destroy every last one of them. It would be a massacre and even the blood of children would spill before the day was over. His anger and frustration rose up, and he felt that it was convenient that there was no one there. He kicked over several gas street lamps so that fire erupted on buildings and began to spread.

When the few who would have survived the conflict eventually returned licking their wounds after the battle with the Council of Seven, they’d have no homes to come back to.
They’ll be re-building for years
, he thought with delight,
keeping them away from the Council of Seven. Maybe this will allow peace to be restored somehow.

After he made sure that every district was ablaze, his anger began to subside and he sat down to catch his breath. Blood trickled into his eyes and distorted his vision. His wounds were bad, and he was rapidly losing strength. His vision kept blurring on and off, making everything seem like it was rocking back and forth. But as he struggled to keep his focus, he saw the silhouette of a man approaching him. At first he wondered if someone had returned from the battle and would kill him because of the fires. But he wasn’t able to make out who it was until he was right up on top of him. That’s when he realized it was Nekar. Moluno knew from Kasey that Nekar was the messenger of the Master, and he smiled as he realized why Nekar had come.

Moluno stumbled around as he tried to stand up, but he gained his footing and then spoke. “Nekar, I’m leaving Musterion with Ragal, I mean with Kasey, but not until I do one last thing. Please…take me to your Master.”

Nekar smiled and replied, “I’ve waited a long time to hear you say those words. I will help you to him.” Then a portal opened before Nekar, and he reached over and helped Moluno walk through.

~*~

Back in Pneuma Karpos the city had fallen into total chaos. The madness of those who came with the Council of Six had stunned everyone. This was a war that made no sense, yet they attacked like it was their last hope. Before their arrival Omar instructed the Magi to take the women and children to the secret chambers above the city so they’d be safe. That was just the first part of a many faceted strategy that went into action as the battle began.

When mass numbers of Kalat tried to enter the city, the moss agent was released into the air and the would-be invaders choked and died on the spot. Not knowing at first what had happened, the rest of their army retreated momentarily and plotted an alternative attack. When they figured out that the initial slaughter had something to do with the moss, a second wave of all the other races attacked while the Kalat shot arrows into the city from outside the boundary. The arrows were wounding the Council of Seven fighters, but they were also wounding their own. They had no plan, and the chaos of their madness was only working against them.

The plan was originally for the Magi to stay out of the battle, but Omar observed that someone was wandering the streets of Pneuma Karpos with some kind of laser rifle sniping everyone in sight. The strange part was they were attacking people from both sides. Omar decided that he needed to take action because this weapon was so advanced and only he had anything that could come against it. He handed a device to Kleis and to Ischus and explained that it was actually intended to warp light all around you, making you invisible. But it would also work as a shield to a laser because a laser was just intensified light. They quickly agreed on their strategy and all began to rise from the tower in flight while Omar led them in a tight V formation.

After circling the city several times, they finally spotted the shooter and all three of them dove toward the ground. Since they were invisible, the stranger didn’t see them coming. Omar let Ischus take the lead in their dive since it was his city. Ischus slammed into the man, plowing the stranger into the street but disabling Ischus’ device in the impact. The stranger was momentarily shocked by the slam out of nowhere, but he got right back up and shot Ischus in the chest. Still invisible, Omar swiftly approached from behind while Kleis, also still invisible, grabbed Ischus and flew off.

Omar’s staff had two prongs at its end, and it carried a powerful punch so he lifted it up and set the electricity to 100 volts. This was usually enough to severely hurt or even kill someone. It would at the least knock the perpetrator out. As he snuck up behind him he saw that the man wore over his head what looked like a dragon skull with dreadlocks coming out the back. He was also wearing a body armor that looked futuristic. Omar quickly decided to strike him in the neck because he could get contact with skin there. Omar touched the prongs to his neck and the stranger began to shake violently. He turned off the voltage after only two seconds, and the stranger dropped to the ground unconscious. When Omar removed the helmet he gasped as he saw his old lab assistant. He whispered to himself in total shock, “Tyree Jackson?”

It was a much older Tyree, maybe ten years older, but he didn’t understand why Tyree was attacking innocent people. He knew that it wasn’t in Tyree’s nature to be violent at all so why was he doing this? More importantly, what was he even doing here in Musterion? Omar bent down and felt his pulse and confirmed that he was still alive and breathing. He searched Tyree quickly for any more clues as to what had happened and he found a bag with a small arsenal, a wallet with a license dated twelve years after Omar’s disappearance, and dog tags naming him as Captain Tyree Jackson of the United States Marines.

As Omar was rummaging through Tyree’s things, an arrow whizzed past reminding him that there was still a battle going on. Just then, Kleis returned and Omar motioned for him to come quickly. When he landed beside him Omar whispered, “I know him. He’s from Earth. Help me carry him back to the tower.” They immediately gathered him up and both flew him back to the top of the tower where Peel-off was already tending to Ischus.

As they handed Tyree over to Sebastian, Omar said, “Strip him down of everything and give him one of our robes. Then lock him away in one of the sealed vaults and set a guard. If he comes to, no one is to talk to him until I do so first. I have a feeling he’ll be out for some time though. Oh and bring all of his belongings back to me and leave them on my lab table.”

Then Omar turned his attention to Ischus to see how he was progressing. Ischus was conscious but wasn’t speaking. Peel-off shook his head as he turned to Omar and then whispered, “Whatever this burn wound is…the moss won’t heal it. Omar, he’s going to die if the moss won’t work!”

Omar looked Peel-off in the eyes and sternly replied, “That’s not an option. Go fetch my surgical bag.” Omar was gearing up and he had a driven look on his face as he studied the wound on Ischus.

As he peered closely at the laser induced wound, a stranger who looked to be a Miyka with green eyes, blonde hair, and feathered wings landed in the tower. No one knew who he was but before anyone had a chance to respond the stranger spoke, “I was once Moluno, I am now Protos and I serve the Master. Let me help; I can save Ischus.”

Omar couldn’t deny that it was Moluno. He had the same facial bone structure and he was wearing Moluno’s clothes, but he no longer had that wicked look. He was definitely not a Kalat anymore, but Omar didn’t care. He pointed a finger at Protos and rebuked him saying, “I don’t care who you serve. You, sir, are a villain! You would more likely intend to finish him off than try to heal him. Besides, he doesn’t need your Master to save him. I can save him.”