Last of the Temple Line Read online

  White eyes stared blindly at her. Just like the already visible appendage, the rest of the woman was clothed in shadows and bruises that shifted with her every movement.

  The strange hissing sound was discovered as the thing turned its head. Emersyn watched another woman-thing join it. Their mouths were empty! They had no tongues. Their teeth were rotted down to mere stubs within their gaping mouths. They continued to hiss at one another.

  Gasping, Emersyn turned pale when they turned to look at her after hearing it. Slowly, they grinned. Sliding forward, the first of them started in her direction. Frozen in place, Emersyn was incapable of doing anything as the thing leaned down, its face mere inches from her own.

  The waft of rancid breath across her cheek broke her paralysis. Emersyn screamed, "Dalaric!"

  Willa jerked and awoke screaming. Jaela and Sarah surged up from their respective positions into consciousness, eyes rapidly scanning the room for danger. They turned confused eyes upon one another at seeing nothing.

  At the realization that they could not see the horrid females, Emersyn did not know what to do. The foul creatures smiled, mocking her before laughing down on her without making a sound. Placing her hands over her ears at the grisly sight as if she could hear a terrible sound, Emersyn shouted, "Stop it! Go away!"

  Scrambling to their feet, Jaela and Sarah moved to stand beside Emersyn and helped her to stand between them. Sarah carefully slipped Willa into the sling over her chest.

  Sarah questioned, "What is it? I do not see anything. Emersyn...?"

  Slowly backing away, Emersyn watched the shadow women disappear. She ignored the pain to tug both women from the cottage while the evil ones faded back into the shadows. “We have to get out!”

  Breathing hard, Emersyn did not slow down until they reached the village square. Empty market stalls held shifting shadows. Every corner meant danger. Her eyes darted about the area, scanning each shadow in fear as Jaela came up from behind to stand at Sarah's side.

  Narina sprinted to Jaela, sides heaving as she stomped the ground. Dirt clumps flew. Whatever was there had frightened the mare terribly. Foam coated the rough hairs of her coat.

  Settling the now quiet Willa, Sarah asked, "Emersyn, what is it? What did you see?"

  Turning bright eyes on the frightened witch, Jaela seconded, “Emersyn, what was it? Narina senses something here but I cannot see it."

  "I don't know! There were two of them. Black, bruised skin and white eyes. They had no tongue to speak with," she whispered.

  Placing a comforting arm around Emersyn's shoulders, Sarah spoke soothingly, "Whatever was there, it's not here now.”

  Leaning her head on Sarah’s shoulder, Emersyn hiccupped as her fear began to subside. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, inhaling the light chamomile of her sister's clothing. Had she imagined it? But what of Narina’s state?

  Emersyn turned back to Jaela to ask her to find Dalaric. Emersyn felt her heart lurch painfully while all the breath flew out of her lungs. Lunging forward, she snatched Jaela backward, making the taller woman lose her feet mere seconds before the ghastly hand could latch onto Jaela’s shoulder.

  "They're here!" she shouted shrilly, backing away. Emersyn crowded Sarah behind her. Brown eyes darted about, trying to find the other one. Instead of just one, Emersyn watched in horrified wonder as five others emerged from the shadowed darkness around them to surround the small group.

  "What do you want?!" she screamed at their advancing figures. Instinctively she reached for the well of mana only to recoil. Tears blinded her.

  Sarah's frightened voice cut the eerie silence. "Jaela, what's going on, what's wrong?"

  Jaela cursed. "I can't see anything, Emersyn! Where are they?"

  Panting in terror, Emersyn did not respond but watched as one of the diseased creatures ran for Jaela. "No! Stay away from her!" Emersyn yelled. Without thinking she launched herself at the monster.

  Startled, the thing began to buck wildly. Holding on, Emersyn swallowed bile at the feel of the sandpaper flesh that tore her palms. It flung her around, trying to throw her off.

  Jaela felt helpless, gaping in disbelief at the sight of Emersyn being tossed around in midair by something they could not see. She clenched Wraith and called the shadows to her. Wrapped in nightmares, she saw the ones who threatened her sister. The damned who walked in the shadows had found a way to touch the living! She jumped from the shadows to help Emersyn.

  The smell hit all of them. Rot. Disease. Carrion flies flew into Jaela's face, blinding her as they attacked, stinging her hands and face. She stubbornly held on to Wraith, but as she started toward Emersyn, she heard the cry of a baby. Fuck! Jaela reached through the cloud of insects and gripped Sarah's arms. She pulled the woman and child into her arms and whisked them into the shadows to escape the swarm.

  The breath whooshed from Emersyn when she lost her grip and hit the dirt. Narina rushed forward and kicked at the creature. A handful more of the rotted creatures approached the mare. Emersyn watched them scratch at Narina, grabbing the harness and attempting to rip the eyes from the mare.

  She had seen Jaela grab Sarah and disappear. Liindre could only carry two other souls into the halls of the dead but only for short periods of time. She was on her own then, yet she knew Narina could track Jaela. Were these things in all the towns and villages? “Find Jaela!” Emersyn shouted. Narina hesitated. "Now! She will need your help to get away from these things! GO!"

  The Wraith-touched mare stretched her neck and neighed against the coming darkness, hooves flashing in the moonlight as they cut through the swarm. Powerful muscles coiled and Narina took off at a clip, faster than Emersyn had ever seen her move. Within seconds, the mare was gone, the sound of hooves on dirt disappearing into the night.

  Emersyn yelped when fingers closed around her ankle. More of the creatures came out from the shadows to circle her. Held still, Emersyn trembled as she swallowed the bitter taste of fear.

  Determined to hold them off if she could, Emersyn struggled within their grasp. Finally, she managed to break free only to have two others fall upon her. Screaming as nails scratched gashes in her arms and face, Emersyn kicked out with her feet at the others who attempted to subdue her.

  "Get off of me!" she screamed in equal fear and rage, her breathing ragged.

  Attacking in waves, the creatures pummeled her already damaged body.

  Emersyn felt herself grow weaker. No! She refused to give in so easily. Screaming, Emersyn swung her arms wildly as more of the evil ones surrounded her. Too soon she felt her resolve fold under the pressure of pain and lethargy. Only a single burning spark of will remained as her arms fell to her sides, her body buffeted by painful blows from the raging shadows.

  ∞∞∞

  The breeze had changed. It carried a story that made Dalaric's heart stop. "The sickness is in Gilvern!" he snarled.

  Meghara did not wait to be told more. He had come to her holding to inform her of the threat to their line. Of Caelwin's Ascension and the incredible tale of the witch who had managed it on her own despite the cost to herself. For that woman, and only for her, would she dare the pain of rejection of her son's offspring yet again. They had tirelessly worked to prepare for the addition of humans to the palace, including preparing the servants for the potential of violence from Bannon, and increased all Ki wards around the palace perimeter. Now, mere moments from Gilvern to claim the witch and her clan, and the scent of blood touched their nostrils.

  When the village came into view, Dalaric's massive wings created a whirlwind of Ki and rage upon the wind. Screams! Death! Emersyn's blood!

  Quickly folding his wings into a swift dive, Dalaric slammed into the ground and transformed into his Akkadian form. Meghara's smaller form stayed aloft. She would not engage until he called for her aid.

  Dalaric sighted Emersyn. Her limp form shuddered as if from blows while her skin was raked with unseen nails. Welts and bites covered exposed flesh while blood muddied t
he dirt beside her.

  Striding forward, he almost made it to her side when he was stopped by a pulse from inside his chest. Enkidu. The gift of his grandfather. The ancient heirloom had been handed down to him before Dalaran’s death, as it had only called to Dalaric despite Landar being the eldest.

  Dalaric closed his eyes and willed Enkidu to his hand. Just as the familiar weight of it touched his palm, a veil dropped from his eyes. He quickly looked to the writhing figures on the ground. The creatures that were attacking Emersyn were no longer safely hidden.

  Snarling, he swiped his blade across the nearest one. His eyes burned ebony fire as he lashed out again and again, until there were only two remaining. Hissing and spitting at him, one thing pulled on Emersyn's hair, trying to move her into the shadows. Dalaric flew at her in a rage.

  Pulling the limp witch into her arms, the wretched creature used Emersyn as a shield to prevent him from getting to her. Growling, he used his speed to get around the shadows, halting her backward retreat. Enkidu pulsed again. He advanced.

  Another shadow woman came to rescue it. Her hideous visage twisted even further with hatred and rage. Torn, he watched the one holding Emersyn claw and bite into the delicate flesh of her throat. Blood spurted out of multiple wounds and Dalaric realized he had no time left to formulate a plan.

  Taking a chance, he darted forward, claws raised. Swiping, he blasted pure Ki onto the face of the creature holding Emersyn. Stray motes of power landed on the unconscious woman and they sizzled through her clothing. Howling, the shadowed woman dropped Emersyn to claw at her burning flesh. He used the distraction of pain to grab Emersyn.

  His brow furrowed in worry while he took in her sorry condition. She was losing too much blood and an unknown poison had entered her body. He clenched Enkidu in his fist.

  One of the shadows moved. White eyes grinned at him from the darkness. "She is ours," it hissed.

  Surprised it could speak, Dalaric narrowed his eyes. He declared, "She belongs to me. Tell me for what purpose you have come."

  "Poor, poor little dragon," the hideous thing tsked. "She may have saved one, but she will not live long enough to save them all. She defies what will be, Whoreson. You cannot protect her forever. Take her now. Enjoy the taste of hope while it lasts." She looked at the woman in his arms. "Even now she is dying. We will have her yet. They will all come to us."

  Holding Enkidu aloft, Dalaric pushed his essence to move through the crystal orb on the pommel before shooting out to engulf the remaining shadows in Akkadian Ki. Screaming in outrage, the creature whirled around and was gone.

  Regarding his handiwork briefly, Dalaric turned to the woman on his shoulder as she groaned.

  Dalaric pushed Enkidu back to the safety of his body. He would not wear it until Emersyn's mana was safely back within her once more. He adjusted her to lay comfortably in his arms. She was limp and stared up at him with blank eyes. "Emersyn," he said, shaking her lightly to gain her attention.

  Head bobbing with the effort to hold it up, she slurred out, "Dalaric." Unable to continue, she fought sleep as her eyes drifted closed.

  "Do not die," he ordered. She had been through too much in too short a time. Her human body could only heal so quickly. He transformed in a whirl of Ki, carefully maintaining his grip on Emersyn.

  He adjusted his grip on Emersyn's frail body with his deadly claws. Before any of the creatures could come back, he took to the wind and joined his mother as she circled in the air to await his command. He turned his wings to the palace.

  The Blending of Essence

  “I was refused. I still hope to be returned to my love someday and gain her favor. Perhaps, with tales to tell, she will be pleased.”

  -The Travel Journals of Hofei-

  Dalaric stood over Emersyn where she lay on the soft coverlet. Aegwin sat on the bed next to Emersyn’s sleeping form, her hand gripped in his. Meghara watched them from the door.

  They were in the rooms Dalaric had assigned for Emersyn. Once they had reached the safety of his palace, he had barked orders for Loren to send all available servants to Gilvern to search for survivors. He had not seen Emersyn's sisters but hoped they had managed to get away given he had not sighted them.

  Jocale, returned from seeking Nialle, volunteered to search for the women. He ran from the hall before Dalaric had even crossed the threshold of the bedchamber with Aegwin at his back. Emersyn was hurt badly, but Dalaric hoped Aegwin would be able to heal her of the poison that concerned him more than the wounds.

  Just as the sun had risen, Dalaric had slammed open the doors and laid her upon the soft bed. He quickly removed the tunic from her body, wincing with every scab that he ripped off with the effort. Dalaric frowned at the wounds now revealed to his eyes.

  Individually, the scratches and bite marks marring her were not life threatening. The Akkadian stroked her cheek. Moaning, Emersyn's eyes rolled behind her lids as fever took her mind far from the present. He scowled at the scrapes and gashes marring her once sun-kissed flesh. Moving insidiously underneath her skin, he could see her veins blacken with darkness.

  The hidden poison she fought in such a weakened condition would kill her.

  Contemplating the next step, the Akkadian leaned down. He scented her breath and pulled back sharply at the odor of decay.

  Aegwin spoke, “The toxin should have already killed her.” He placed a hand over her chest for a moment, closing his eyes briefly to feel of her internal struggle. Then, he pulled back to stroke a single finger over her bruised wrist, tracing the delicate veins that had gone dark. “I can heal humans of small wounds though it pains them. My Ki cannot remove this poison, however.”

  “What is it? A disease?” Dalaric demanded to know. “Is this the same disease that has decimated so many towns and villages?” His father had refused to believe the disease had normal origins. Recalling the shadow golem that had spoken, Dalaric scowled. First Nialle and now those caricatures of death. Once Emersyn was secure he would rid his lands of their filth.

  “I do not know, Dalaric. It is similar, but Emersyn should be dead right now if it were. By binding her mana away from her, it has been protected from this pollution, but her body, by all rights, should have fallen swiftly to the toxin.”

  “Her power rebuilds. The essence flows to Enkidu, but its source is Emersyn. She is not without her essence entirely. It is in her bones. Her skin.” Dalaric lifted a limp strand of cinnamon blonde. “Even in her hair. Over time, since her birth, the power has infused every mote of flesh and bone.”

  Aegwin frowned. “But it is not enough. She will die, Dalaric. There is nothing I can do. Unless-” He broke off, biting his lip in concentration while placing a hand on Emersyn’s cheek.

  “Unless?” Dalaric leaned over both Aegwin and Emersyn, bracing a fisted hand on the mattress beside her head.

  “Claim her,” Aegwin suddenly commanded. He turned to meet Dalaric’s eyes over his shoulder. “Mark her. The toxin is born of dark mana. It is attempting the same sort of dance within her body as what happens when a female is claimed. To take up residence within her. Your Ki is powerful enough to destroy it. Marking an Akkadian female is always painful until their essence bows its head to their Sydae-Ra’s and allows it dominion. Emersyn is of a temple line. She could survive the pain of your Ki. She might also be killed by it. All I know for certain is that she will not survive this.” He waved to encompass the blackened veins and the flesh flushed with fever.

  Dalaric cursed, eyes narrowing. If Aegwin said it was the only way, then he trusted him. But there were no guarantees. He gently ran a knuckle over Emersyn’s cheek and hissed at how hot her skin had become. Emersyn's body had fought as long as it could but was steadily losing way to the fever. What he planned could kill her, but she would die regardless.

  Concentrating, Dalaric drew his Ki forth. Straining with the effort to direct his raw power without killing her human body, Dalaric snarled. Marking was rarely done in such a way. Small tokens placed on
the skin. Designs to display affection. What he attempted would burn his Ki into her from the inside out.

  Enkidu pulsed within his chest.

  He pulled back; eyes narrowed in thought. He called the bladed weapon forward. The clear crystal surface glowed. Blue flames flickered within the gem. Her mana. The weapon pulsed again. Once. Twice. Dalaric's eyes widened when he realized the pulse matched Emersyn's weak heartbeat.

  Very well, he thought. We will do this together. His fingers tightened on the pommel and he laid his other hand on the flesh above her heart.

  Aegwin placed his hand over Dalaric’s. The male vowed, “I will do what I can once your Ki has claimed her to lessen the pain.”

  Dalaric grunted in approval. Then green bled to black. He let go; pouring his Ki into the woman below him in a massive wave meant to share of his strength so that the fever and all sickness from her body would be washed away. Mana answered his call as well. Blanketing the Ki with blue flames, it joined the avalanche of power that crashed into her from Enkidu.

  Emersyn's eyes shot open on a scream. Shrieking and thrashing as her body burned from within, she turned terror-filled eyes on the one holding her down. Lost in a world of agony and disorientation, she did not recognize him. All she knew was the jagged edge of pain.

  Shallowly taking in air, eyes blurred from tears, Emersyn whimpered. Dalaric slowed the flow of energy into the witch. Her body would suffer mightily for the cure.

  She looked up at him, recognition finally seeping into her gaze. "Dalaric?" she whispered; her fingers brushed against his face before falling by her head. Knowing it was him, Emersyn did not fight anymore. The pain was intense, horribly magnified beyond anything she had ever felt even in the Rite. But it was Dalaric. She did not have the strength anymore to fight.

  Satisfied she would not resist his will, the Akkadian sent wave after wave of power through her body. Saturated with his essence, her very flesh took on the eerie glow of Akkadian Ki that spat blue flames. Panting, he watched when Emersyn's eyes rolled into the back of her head and her body convulsed. The poison fought him. Challenged his Ki for possession of the female.