Lost Empire (11 page)

“
You can’t stop! We have to keep moving,” shouted Eric over the sounds of rushing water. The main room behind him was filling up fast, the rising water overtaking the steps one at a time. With freezing death creeping up from behind, their options became severely limited. Although it seemed death would be victorious this day, she would have to earn the right to wrap her cold fingers around their hearts. They pushed upward as icy waves crashed down the steps, making the short climb to nowhere seem even more fruitless.

Even though doom hung thick in the air, nothing could have prepared them for the harrowing sight from the top step. Numerous jagged bolts of green and yellow split the blackened sky over and over again in a series of blinding flashes. Hurricane winds shredded the sails, turning them into white ribbons flapping helplessly in the air. Several thin funnels bent and twisted like dancing ghosts as they skimmed along the raging sea. The endless low rumbling of thunder provided the perfect music for the twisters to shake and spin as they circled the ship like lions circling their prey. They mockingly toyed with the massive ship that suddenly seemed so fragile and insignificant.

Icy white waves crashed across the deck, sweeping men along like helpless insects. A few caught hold of the rail as quickly numbing arms held on for dear life, while others rode the crushing waves right over the edge. The angry sea swallowed them whole without so much as a ripple to show where yet another life had been mercilessly devoured. “Land! I see la—” cried out one of the last remaining seamen before he too went over the side in the grip of a breaking wave. It was as if the sea was trying to quiet the man before his message could be heard.

Najus clung to the main mast as the ship lurched violently back and forth. He laughed like a madman with his body arched back and one hand pointed out toward the sea. It was as if he were daring the storm to knock him from his perch; a challenge accepted as wave after wave crashed over him, choking out his mad laughter in a foamy assault. The four friends were sure he would be gone when the water cleared, but he somehow remained as each icy assault rendered more and more laughter from a clearly broken mind. His sea legs defied logic, as no more than a pair of boots and the fingertips of one hand clinging to the mast somehow kept him in place.

Suddenly there was an eerie calm; a temporary break in nature’s mad chaos. Then they saw it. A single wave that looked like a mountain of water was racing toward them, as if its only purpose was to single them out and destroy the ship. Eric wrapped his arms around Jade as they watched it continue to grow and gain speed. “I won’t let go of you.”

Najus spun on the back of his heels, now facing them with his hands on his hips. However, it was not madness in his eyes. Clarity, resolve, and determination burned like torches as he smiled. “It seems you have angered the Gods...Gate Keeper.” He had always known Eric’s secret. “Believe me when I tell you I anger them daily, but they don’t fear me. Clearly they fear you!” He turned to watch the climbing wave as it hovered over the ship like a frosty cloud. “I will see you in the afterlife some day, but I fear I will be there long before you. You still have work to do...Gate Keeper.”

The boat tilted sideways as it climbed up the side of the massive wave. All vision was suddenly lost, overtaken by a sheet of white foam.

Chapter 7

Whoosh...whoosh...whoosh
. The rhythmic lullaby pulsed smoothly in his ears. A slow, soothing rumble, it sounded like rolling thunder far off in the distance, but the whooshing sound grew in clarity as he began to gain consciousness, his senses slowly returning. Cold wind numbed his face, whipping through his curly hair as he fought hard to open his heavy eyelids. Eric slowly became aware of his clothes rippling wildly as a constant breeze made him feel as though he were caught in a tornado. He blinked once...twice...before his eyes suddenly went wide with panic.
Am I dead
?

His body hung limp, with a set of yellow claws wrapped tightly around his chest and waist. He gazed down at the distant ground that looked to be a mile away, while sparse trees looked like children’s toys as they rolled past. It was everything he could do to not to succumb to the terror that suddenly threatened to consume him. Between the surging fear and icy cold air whipping his curly hair around his face, Eric began trembling uncontrollably.
By the Gods, what do I do
?
What is this thing
? Whatever it was that held him had not yet seemed to notice he was awake.

He tensed his muscles, trying to subdue his trembling somewhat, then turned his head up in a slow, subtle movement, daring to get a peek of his host, but all he could see was a bulky tan belly lined with coin-sized scales. Leathery, green, webbed wings pumped rhythmically as they streaked through the sky.

His hand instinctively moved to his side, where he was relieved to feel the jeweled sword still nestled in its sheath. But the relief he felt was only temporary, quickly realizing this didn’t change his predicament at all. Even if he killed this winged creature, he would only fall to his death. No, the only thing to do now was wait it out. If it wanted to kill him it would have done so already. At least...he hoped his logic was sound and not just wishful thinking.

He could see breaking waves down below as they rolled up on a yellow sandy beach. Farther inland were tall, green trees scattered about. Long and thin they were, with dense, bunched leaves feathered out only at the very tops. Far off in the distance he could see the rolling outline of massive dark gray mountains. Even from this great distance, he could still make out their snowy white caps standing out against the blue sky.

He no longer feared for his own life. Sadness and regret filled him as he was swept helplessly through the sky.
Where is everyone? What happened to my friends? Jade...I’ll find you...I swear
.

****

Jacob’s eyes fluttered open as the waking sounds of nature resonated around him. Baby birds chirped away off in the distance while leaves rustled in the steady cool breeze. The sea continued to sing its steady song as waves rushed up onto the sandy beach, rolling over his feet in an icy wash. He was well aware of the cold water licking his feet time and time again, but could hardly find the strength to do anything about it.

I’m alive...I think
. With a forced effort he rolled to his back, sending a few startled crabs scurrying away as he gazed upward. The rained-out sky still held a fair amount of clouds rolling harmlessly along as the sun peeked through here and there. It was as if the now gentle sky were mocking him by trying to look innocent, pretending its violent storm hadn’t just killed his friends while making a fair attempt on his own life.

His lungs hurt as he drew breath in shallow gasps, sending out rapid puffs of steam as he panted. It was no surprise he was freezing, given the time he had spent in the icy water, but now he could see the air really was cold.
I need to move. Have to find warmth
. He finally pulled his feet from the constant waves and sat up, but the moment he did so he began vomiting in violent bursts, nearly all if it seawater as he heaved again and again. The dry heaving continued long after his stomach was empty. When that finally stopped, he had to admit he felt much better.

After pushing himself up on unsteady legs, he gazed around to see the new land he was now forced to call home, a world that had claimed the lives of his friends. White sand speckled with shells and the occasional black stones covered the entire beach. Off to the east stood some odd-looking trees with smooth, tan, barkless trunks with large fanned-out leaves scattered toward their tops. The trees were scattered here and there with plenty of sparse grass and white sand between them. Beyond them looked to be nothing more than sprawling field with tall, dead grass still blooming with seed.

In a burst he whirled sharply toward the trees. “Is this what you wanted?” he tried to scream with his fists clenched, but it came out hoarse and scratchy. “Was it worth it? You killed the only man that could have saved you. The land that time forgot is arrogant enough to believe it’s superior to the Gate Keeper? You’ve sealed your own fate!” He looked down and whispered to a small crab dancing around his foot, “You’ve sealed the fate of mankind.”

With a heavy mind and even heavier heart he started his slow walk across the white sand, dragging his feet with every step. He patted himself down harshly, partly to help warm himself but mostly to see what belongings were still in his possession. It was no surprise the staff he always wore loosely across his back was now long gone, but the dagger strapped inside of his vest had luckily remained sheathed. “At least I’m not completely unarmed,” he mumbled while fingering the hilt.

He gazed above the line of odd-looking trees and noticed the reaching mountain range through the hazy skyline. “If I start heading that way now, I’ll be in the mountains in two or three years.” He coughed out a laugh at his own statement, knowing it was not so far from the truth. And who was to say he shouldn’t head that way? Where was he going to go? What was he going to do? Dark thoughts of hopelessness swirled through his head as he dragged his feet along, kicking the occasional shell or rock. What did it matter which way he went? They had already failed their mission, and the Gate Keeper was dead! Mankind’s only chance had been lost...and now he was alone. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he continued his slow journey to nowhere. The sounds of rolling waves riding up the sand just short of his feet mocked and taunted him. He couldn’t blame nature for laughing; they had been soundly beaten.

Jacob’s darkening thoughts were beginning to border on madness now. One minute he thought he might carry on for the Gate Keeper, to find some way to take his place and complete their mission by himself. Seconds later reality won out over his mindless delusions, realizing that learning to walk on water was far more likely.

His friends were dead. He was all alone in a strange world. Why go on then? He could always...
join them
. Jacob reached a hand inside his vest, running his fingers over the ridged wooden hilt of his dagger.
I...could do this quickly. I mean...why shouldn’t I?
He gripped it tightly before unsheathing it halfway. An eager thumb ran down the partially exposed blade.
I mean...there is nothing I can do anyway. My friends are gone. There is no way they could still be
—

Suddenly, the blood drained from his face. All thoughts of ending his own life vanished in an instant as panic and horror rushed through him like an icy waterfall. He tried to run as fast as he could, but wobbly legs were simply not up to the task. Several times his knees buckled, sending him sprawling across the cold, wet sand. He began to crawl frantically like a wounded animal as tears streaked his face.
By the Gods.
I’m sorry for my moment of weakness. I’m sorry. I’ll do anything...just...just let her be alive!

He scrambled up to Athel’s unconscious body and dropped down onto his knees. Despite all his sudden haste, he now moved slowly and carefully, gently removing long, wet strands of dark green seaweed from her chest and face as she laid there on her back, still as death. “No no no,” he whispered, shaking his head back and forth as he brushed back her dark, beaded braids. Cold as ice to the touch, he lowered his ear to her frozen lips, then rolled his head to her chest. Nothing. He sat up with a jolt. Trembling fingers wrapped around the back of his head as he rocked back and forth. “No. No, it can’t be.”

Leaning over her once more, he placed both hands over her chest with one overlapping the other, then began to push down in a series of hard thrusts. Her lifeless body jerked and heaved with artificial movements as he carried on. He stopped for a moment and lowered his ear to her chest again. There were still no signs of life. “No, no! It’s not fair!” he screamed before starting the task all over again.

A crazed feeling began to consume him as he pushed harder and harder, forcing her lifeless head to bounce up and down off the sand. “You don’t get off this easy, you hear me? You think to go and leave me here alone? You’re a coward...that’s what you are. A coward!” He raised both hands in the air, interlocking his fingers into a single fist, then brought it down hard on her chest over and over. “Eric’s survival was the only thing that mattered. But he is a fool, just like you are! He’s so bloody loyal to his friends that he was willing to risk everything just to save you. You...one insignificant person. Not that any of that matters now, since he’s dead! And now this? This is how you repay him?” Again and again he brought down his fists as he screamed into the air like a madman. “You’re a coward. You hear me? A coward!”

In a sudden surge, Athel’s body lurched up with a gasp before falling back to the sand. She jerked over and over as violent coughing racked her whole body. Water expelled from her lungs with each jerk as she found little time between convulsions to bring in the precious air. Jacob patted her back hard to help expel more liquid.

He helped her sit up then kneeled down behind her, vigorously rubbing her arms and shoulders to generate as much warmth as possible. She was cold as ice and didn’t say a word; not that he expected she could do much of anything after such a near brush with death. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her cold body close to his. Even though he was cold too, he was certainly warmer than she was. He leaned in and whispered in her ear, “I knew it. I knew you wouldn’t quit on me.”