Union of Fire

Chapter 4: The Festival-2

“Father, I want one of those!” He exclaimed from atop Bartas’ shoulders.

“You want to be a warrior like your old man, huh?”

Siena glared at Bartas shaking her head, eyes disapproving and hands c****d at her hips. “Sweetie, you don’t need a sword. They are too dangerous,” Siena warned.

“Aw…come on mom. I promise I won’t hurt myself. Please. Please mom,” Nolan begged.

Siena crossed her arms sighing.

“Come on Hun. How much harm could it do?” Bartas asked.

“He could poke his eye out.”

“Come on, Siena. I’m pretty much a big child with a sword and I’ve still got perfect vision,” Bartas retorted with a roguish grin.

“Fair point…all right,” Siena hesitantly obliged.

“Yes!” Nolan exclaimed.

Bartas approached the friendly shop keeper and exchanged a few coins from his pocket. He examined the short sword and handed it to Nolan. Bartas gently slid Nolan down from his shoulders to let the excited child examine the sword.

“Yes!” Nolan exclaimed, waving the sword around carelessly.

“Nolan, please be careful. There are a lot of people here sweetie,” Siena urged.

Nolan immediately took off toward a group of people brandishing his new toy. “Beware the might of the pirate kid! I will take the seas with my sword of destiny!” Nolan yelled. Bartas watched his son eagerly wave his sword at passing celebrators, laughing.

“My word,” Siena murmured, shaking her head.

Maya suddenly walked by and caught Nolan’s eye.

“Wow! Father can I have her?” Nolan exclaimed.

Maya quietly chuckled, shaking her head. Siena glared back at Bartas with crossed arms. “What did you teach him, you dirty pirate?” Siena questioned.

Bartas’ eyes widened, as he took a few steps toward Nolan and Maya.

“No son you can’t. She is not for sale,” Bartas replied, hesitantly glancing back at Siena.

“What am I going to do with you two? I’m sorry, Maya.”

“It’s okay. I still can’t believe how much you have grown, Nolan.”

“Thank you. You look very pretty today, Maya,” Nolan complimented with an innocent smile.

“You are definitely your father’s son.”

“Unfortunately,” Siena murmured.

“Hey, come on now. I’m not so bad,” Bartas replied.

“Tell that to that magical forest you call a beard.”

“Come on, you like the beard.”

Siena looked away smirking. He was right.

“I hope you all enjoy the festival.”

“You too, Maya. See you later,” Nolan replied and returned to swinging his sword. “I have the power of one thousand suns!” Nolan yelled.

Maya proceeded through the crowd toward the statue of the two dragons. She gazed up at the giant structure remembering her vision and gently slapped her face with both palms, exhaling her tangled tension.

“Stay calm, Maya. Everything is going to be okay,” she whispered.

“Maya!” Xia called, jogging toward her.

Maya noticed that Xia seemed distressed and her feelings of dread returned.

“What’s wrong, Xia?”

“It’s Dorian. He’s getting that feeling again. Something is coming. Please contact everyone as discreetly as you can and tell them to prepare. We have to find a way to get these people out of the streets without alarming them.”

Maya nodded and began to concentrate. “Can everyone hear me?” Maya asked with her mind’s eye.

“Maya is that you? You scared the hell out of me! That is so creepy!” Dain exclaimed.

“We hear you, Maya. Loud and clear,” Lucas replied.

“Lucas, is that you? How can we hear each other’s thoughts?” Dorian questioned.

“I have honed my abilities within the last seven years. I can hold multiple mental conversations at once and create an overlap of brainwaves that result in us hearing each other’s thoughts. Never tried it because I didn’t want to overwhelm everyone. No choice now, I’m afraid,” Maya explained.

“Wait, you what?” Dain asked, confused by her explanation.

“Her telepathic abilities became stronger, sweetie,” Kara explained.

“Oh, well why didn’t she just say that?” Dain replied.

“I did,” Maya replied.

“I meant why didn’t you say it in a language I could understand?”

“I did,” Maya repeated.

“Dain, please shut up,” Kara interjected.

“Okay.”

“Listen. Dorian believes that something is coming. We need to be on our guard and be prepared for an attack. Diamos, I need you to make up an excuse for the guards to begin herding the people inside the castle so that they are out of harm’s way. Lucas, ready the army. Kaya wherever you are please come to me. I’m standing under the dragon statue. I want to be near you so that I can protect you,” Maya explained.

“I’m on my way, sis?”

“I’m on it,” Diamos replied and rushed to the guards near the castle’s entrance.

“Good day, sir,” the guards greeted with bows.

“At ease men. Get these people inside. I have reliable information that an attack is coming. Please tell the people that there is to be a feast inside the castle. Get them inside as quickly as possible. Go!” Diamos urged.

“Yes, sir,” the guards replied and scrambled about the city.

Diamos returned to the castle to find Lucas and Barlamain assembling the army. Maya resumed her conversation with the others when she suddenly began to feel dizzy. Her head spun, so fast it was as if she would fall through the ground. She had slipped into another vision. Maya saw the cloaked figures attacking a vibrant city with many decorations and a statue of two battling dragons. She opened her eyes gasping a moment later.

“Did you see that?” Rin exclaimed.

“Wait, you saw it too?” Maya questioned.

“I saw a city in flames and a statue,” Dorian replied.

“What was that?” Xia asked.

“I just had a vision,” Maya replied.

“Did we see your vision too?” Julius asked.

“Yes, I believe you did.”

“How?” Lucas questioned.

“I suppose that since our minds are linked at the time of my vision you saw what I saw.”

“I take back what I said, Maya, that’s kind of incredible,” Dain replied, chuckling.

“This is not a time for jokes, Dain, the vision was of Loxx,” Maya said, raising her voice.

“Damn it. They’re here. I feel it,” Dorian interjected.

A powerful explosion suddenly erupted near the entrance of the city. A flaming object landed near Maya as she jumped away in surprise. She carefully approached the smoldering object. Her eyes bulged and a horrified gasp escaped when she realized that is was the charred body of one of the guards that stood watch at the front gate. Screaming rang out from the entrance of the city and more explosions rumbled in the distance.

“Warriors! Defend the city!” Diamos ordered.

“No, this can’t be happening,” Maya said, frantically searching for her sister. “Kaya where are you?” She screamed.

“Right here, sis,” Kaya replied, nearing the statue.

Maya hurled herself into her sister, embracing her like a protective mother defending her own. “Stay close to me,” she urged.

“We need to join forces. Mobilize the troops and meet at the statue,” Maya ordered using her mind’s eye.

“What’s happening, sis?”

“I don’t know, Kaya?”

As suddenly as the explosions had begun they stopped and the city fell silent. Nine cloaked figures appeared on the dragon statue above, standing on different parts of the display. Smoke billowed from the surrounding buildings as a considerable crowd of onlookers formed at the city square.

“Maya, look,” Kaya said.

“It’s them,” Maya whispered, gazing up at the mysterious intruders.

Dorian and the others arrived at the statue. The nine strangers stared down at the crowd of terrified masses, soaking in the chaos they had created.

“Who are they? Are they the ones you saw?” Lucas asked.

“Yes,” Maya confirmed.

Two figures stood together on the head of one of the dragons. An aura of electrical energy surrounded one of the hooded figures, crackling like static. The other stood with a sharp rapier strapped to their belt beneath their robes.

“Today is the beginning of a new era,” a male voice proclaimed.

“O…Orthenius? Is that you, young man?” Julius questioned.

Orthenius removed his hood. His face was fair, squared at the chin and sturdy like his father’s. His blue gaze carried the casual callousness of passivity. It was a gaze worn by time and loss, yet filled with the fire of patient vengeance. His short, dark brown hair parted to the right, dangling just above his right eye. “You do remember me. I’m flattered, Genrou. Then I trust you remember my lovely sister, Verutia?” Orthenius replied, turning to the hooded one next to him.

“It’s always a pleasure to see you, Genrou,” Verutia properly greeted, removing her hood. She was a striking woman, intense and proper, yet a playfulness hid behind her stern gaze. Her hair was as jet as a pitch-black night and her eyes violet, calculating and steady. Her head was c****d high, undoubtedly lifted by her sense of self-importance that manifested itself in her haughty stance of nobility.

“The children of Zathandalous. I had hoped that you two would not follow in your father’s footsteps.”

“Oh, please, Genrou, I always did grow tired of your self-righteousness. Shut up, I am in control,” another figure standing on the dragon’s right talon remarked. The strange man seemed fidgety as he murmured to himself, quietly apologizing for the outburst and tucking his thick tome underneath his right arm.

“Tarin?” Julius said. Tarin removed his hood and bowed. He was a wormy looking fellow, shorter than the rest. His green eyes were filled with conflict. His brown locks had been slicked back, forming tips toward the back of his ears.

“So, tell me, which of you is in control at the moment?” Julius asked?

Tarin laughed as his fingers clutched his book, unsure of the lie he would soon tell. “I am in control. I would have preferred to settle this matter without bloodshed. It appears Orthenius has acted rashly. My apologies.” Tarin replied, fingers gripping tighter. He suddenly gasped and began to shake his head. “No…no…not now,” he whispered. His left hand pressed against his forehead as he feverishly muttered to himself.

“Shut up you moronic coward. You are just as weak as, Genrou. Your sentiment is pointless. Crawl back into your hole,” Tarin mumbled as if another person were speaking through him.

The crowd stared at Tarin in confusion, unsure what to make of the abnormal occurrence.

“What the hell is his problem?” Bartas questioned.

“His name is Tarin. At a young age, he developed an alternate persona in response to childhood trauma. His mind created an entity that dwells deep within his psyche. This personal projection, so to speak, takes control of him in times of stress. It calls itself Zaros. It can be very difficult to determine who is really in control, but Zaros is the aggressor. I assume the one talking is Zaros,” Julius replied.

“So, he’s like me?” Dorian asked.

“Yes and no. His mental entity is more a creation of his own insanity, whereas yours is something entirely different. Genetic in nature.”

“Ah, I see your senility hasn’t yet set in old man,” Zaros taunted.

“Damn it, Tarin, Zaros has corrupted you,” Julius said, shaking his head in disappointment.

“Don’t you dare lecture me, Genrou. I gave him the power to do extraordinary things. I gave him the power to live forever. I also gave him the power that has bested you here today,” Zaros boasted, a rage swelling in his wild eyes.

“Apparently gave you the talent of bad dialoguing, too. ‘Don’t you dare…’, seriously, who says that,” Dain murmured to Kara.

Julius examined Zaros’ face and realized something very peculiar. “Why do you appear so young, Zaros? What happened to you?” He asked.

“It’s a little spell I concocted from forbidden magic. I call it rejuvenation. It’s a shame Genrou, judging by your stature and your age I would dare to say you could benefit from the spell yourself,” Zaros taunted.

Julius looked away scoffing. “Uncalled for. I am not old,” he murmured.

“So that’s three of you down. Would you kindly introduce the rest of your crew so we know who’s asses to kick?” Bartas remarked.

“Oh, I like him, Orthenius. Maybe I’ll make him my pet when this is all over?’ Verutia jested.

Siena glared at Verutia wrathfully. “She can try,” she murmured, clasping her son and Bartas’ hands. Maya focused on Verutia, attempting to read her mind. Verutia felt the intrusion and responded with a simple smile. Maya fell to one knee screaming, clutching her head.

“Foolish girl. Don’t you know it’s rude to just go meddling around in people’s heads? You would do well to stay out of mine or you just might lose yours,” Verutia retorted.

“S…she’s just like me,” Maya fearfully replied.

“No, darling. I’m better,” Verutia boasted.

“Are you ok, sis?” Kaya asked, helping her sister to her feet.

“I’m all right. She’s…very powerful.”

Verutia chuckled and another of the unknown assailants began to speak.

“It’s such a beautiful view from up here. It’s the best view to watch the city burn,” the man joked, kneeling on the tail of one of the dragons. A long, jagged teethed scythe rested on his back.

“I would know your voice anywhere, Alistair,” Julius said.

Alistair chuckled. Although carrying the appearance of a rejuvenated youth, his hair remained dyed a silvery grey, flowing from beneath his hood like swaying tendrils. His eyes were as silver as his hair, lit ablaze by the distant fires, and accompanied by a wide smile of destructive, sadistic satisfaction.

Another of the intruders spoke from atop the second dragon’s back. “This time Zathandalous will rid this world of humanity and we will reign once again. You should have joined us Genrou,” the man said, his voice thundering as he removed his hood. The imposing mountain of muscle brandished a thick hammer, adorned with spiky protrusions at its head shaped like clawed teeth. He stood supporting the heavy weapon over his shoulder. His hazel eyes were steady, fixed like a mountain. His dark bearded face and chocolate skin were familiar to Julius.

“Xeadulous!” Julius exclaimed.

One of the remaining cloaked figures scoffed and spoke. “It’s funny how people never really die they just have a way of coming back to haunt you,” a female voice said, glancing toward Kara.

Kara could feel the woman’s piercing, hateful eyes glaring back at her.

“Wait did that Xeadulous guy just say something about Zathandalous? Who are you, people?” Dorian questioned.

Orthenius laughed. “I wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise, Dorian. Besides, as Alistair said, I’m rather enjoying the view.”

“Damn you! These are people’s homes! Stop treating their destruction with such cavalier jeers,” Lucas erupted.

“Settle down, boy. The only reason we haven’t killed you yet is because we have come to extend our hands to you. Join us and help us beckon the new world,” Verutia offered.

“I have already chosen the hands that I choose to shake. We have beckoned a new world. A better one. A unified one.” Lucas protested.

Verutia laughed, covering her mouth with the back of her hand. “You poor thing. So naïve. You’re just like your mother.”

Verutia’s comment stunned Lucas. For a moment, time stopped for him. “W–what did you just say? How do you know my mother?”

Verutia remained silent, refusing to answer his question with a teasing, smug smile.

“Answer me!” Lucas screamed.

“As my dear brother said, I wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise,” Verutia said chuckling, teasing the young man’s curiosity.

Lucas’ temper boiled and he stepped forward, drawing his blade. Kaya pressed her arm against his chest to hold him at bay.

“Put that blade away, Lucas. Wouldn’t want to hurt yourself,” Verutia said, her tone condescending.

“We won’t aid you in your quest for destruction. However, we offer you the same deal. Help us make a better future. There doesn’t have to be bloodshed,” Julius reasoned.

“I’ll pass. We tried peace once. It cost me my home and my mother,” Orthenius replied.

“Well, if they won’t join us we should just kill them now, save us the trouble,” Xeadulous suggested.

“At ease, Xead. Besides, there is so much more pain my father wants you all to see before we kill you,” Orthenius threatened, smiling at Julius.

“Tarin, let us take our leave,” Verutia beckoned.

“Don’t call me that stupid name, you daft woman,” Zaros snapped.

Orthenius glared back at Zaros. Verutia smiled and turned toward the wrathful man with a friendly smile. “Zaros, please be a darling and transport us. I will make it worth your time,” Verutia kindly requested.

Zaros grinned and opened his book. He raised his hand into the sky chanting ancient Droragorian phrases. A bright purple aura engulfed the nine figures. “As always, it’s been a pleasure, Genrou–I’m sorry, Julius. You aren’t one of us anymore. I can’t wait to become better acquainted with your delectable daughter,” Zaros taunted, staring at her with a perverted desire.

“You touch me and I’ll break your face. Both of them,” Xia retorted.

Zaros chuckled and the nine aggressors evaporated into thin air. Dorian and his friends stood silently in the partially destroyed square trying to comprehend the sudden attack. Parts of the city continued to burn as troops scrambled to quell the fires around the shaken metropolis and escort the frenzied people to safety.