Release (The Protector Book 3) (36 page)

“On the contrary, as keepers of the balance, we keep you here to help the worlds remain safe. As for the Dark Brothers, you should show your respect to the demigods of old. Although you are right to fear them, you can’t possibly defeat them. You have not begun to harness your abilities as Protector, and as such, you cannot be relied upon. Because of this, we will do whatever is necessary to keep the equilibrium intact.”

“I’m aware the Brothers are descendants of Ithreal; that doesn’t scare me. And how exactly am I supposed to harness my abilities as Protector if nobody will tell me what that means?”

Alaric shook his head. “It is not my place to educate you on your path. I fear the time for you to be informed has passed. You have not done what is necessary to be anointed, and we must now exercise our role as keepers.” Alaric looked over his shoulder and two large Dunopai stepped up beside him. “These Warriors will take you back to your quarters, and I do hope we will not be forced to punish you, but be warned: repeat this offense again, and you will not be granted the same leniency as you see now.”

I gripped the stolen blade in my hand and stepped back. “I’m not going anywhere with you. You’re going to give me back my things, give us the Claw and let us go, or blood will be spilled.”

Alaric looked surprised by my response, and his mouth dropped open slightly. He was silent a moment before he shook his head. “I’m sorry, Protector, but it is our duty to keep the balance. I cannot let you leave.” He waved his hand and the guards walked forward, drawing their blades.

I didn’t wait for them to get closer. I charged forward and leaped towards them. My foot crashed into the first guard’s chest and strange power exploded between us. His body left the ground, flying back into the crowd with a force I shouldn’t have been able to manage. Power pulsed around me, but I didn’t release my elements. I couldn’t risk hurting myself further, so things were getting done the old fashioned way.

The crowd stepped back and the other guard hesitated, his eyes glancing at his fallen comrade. I swung my blade as hard as I could and he panicked, jumping back and throwing his blade above his head.

Sparks exploded as my blade met his, and it spun from his hand, spiraling through the air and sticking into the black bark of a tree. I held the blade at his throat and he dropped to his knees, raising both unarmed hands in the air.

Spine-chilling roars came from behind me. Vincent and Veronica crept from the shadows, their demons fully exposed. Long talons extended from their fingers, fangs dripped purple blood from their mouths, and black had swallowed their eyes. Dark veins creased beneath their clear skin, and they walked forward with a commanding presence.

Growls joined their roars as a massive wolf and two large panthers crept from the bushes. The crowed stepped back again and Alaric’s stern expression weakened.

“It’s been brought to our attention that the Dunopai Warriors are not built for battle, Alaric. You’ve spoken with your Influencers and they’ve informed you who I am. Give me back what is mine, tell me where the Claw is, and we’ll be on our way. Nobody has to get hurt.”

“We will not back down from our role as keepers because of your threats,” Alaric scowled. “And we most certainly will not hand a god’s power to you. It is a sacred artifact that is not to be tainted by unworthy hands.”

“This,” Grayson said, pushing through the crowd and coming to Alaric, “is not worthy of
your
hands, Alaric.” He held something above his head, walking past the fallen guards and coming to stand in front of me.

Alaric gasped and covered his mouth. “The gods curse you, Grayson. You dare corrupt the Claw of Virtue?”

“He is the Protector. It is our duty as keepers to aid him in his journey, not confine him.”

“You are not even a Warrior,” Alaric said the last as though it was an insult. “You are an embarrassment to the Dunopai’s way, and you will be punished.”

“I’ve lived under your dictatorship for decades. I have been punished enough. I am not a Warrior, a Healer, or a Caller. I am simply a man who wants to live, and so I shall. Give the Protector his things, or you’ll suffer the wrath of Athaniel’s Claw.” Grayson pointed the Claw forward, and Alaric, along with the rest of the Dunopai crowd, dropped to their knees.

“Now, now,” Alaric pleaded. “Do not be hasty.”

I watched with interest as Grayson stepped forward. “Release his things.”

Alaric did as he was told, setting both daggers on the ground in front of him. He unlatched the small rope from Rai’s legs and she fluttered off his shoulder, squawking angrily. The sound of nails on a chalkboard made me cringe and a flash of light exploded beneath her.

Sparks flashed across the air and a small bolt of lightning struck Alaric’s face. He gasped and fell to the ground, a black streak marring his orange flesh.

Grayson reached down slowly, picking the daggers up in his hand, and Alaric lunged forward, grasping for the Claw. Grayson’s face was alight with panic as Alaric’s hands gripped his wrists. They struggled against one another and the soul piece fell to the ground.

Warriors from behind Alaric ran forward, but I reached down and grabbed the Claw. It was completely clear, as though made from glass. Two sharp talons curled at the top, and a smaller thumb-like one stuck out the side. Thin black lines stretched beneath the clear material like a skeleton, and the fingers began to move.

The glass creaked and power pulsed into me from the soul piece. I jumped back and fought not to drop it as a faint white light vibrated around the inner black lines.

Sounds of metal being pulled from their sheaths caught my attention, and the Warriors charged Grayson, their blades arched above their heads.

I didn’t have time to think about my reaction. Normally, my gut would have told me to run forward and swing the blade I held, but I didn’t. I dropped the blade, closed my eyes and countered their actions in the only way I could think of.

I pulled the Claw back behind me like a blade and let it cut forward through the air. Magic shuddered in my palm and a flash of red light ruptured the air in front of me. Alaric and Grayson, along with the Warriors and the rest of the crowd, flew back as a wave of power swept through them. Their bodies were crushed all at once and they hit the dirt with a solid
thud
.

Alaric moaned, pushing himself up on his elbows. His skin was split and purple streams of blood ran down his face. The crowd cried out in pain from behind him. They all clamored to their hands and knees, and while chanting in a foreign tongue, they pressed their foreheads into the dirt.

Grayson turned to me, his eyes wide and the same three claw marks dripping blood from beneath his eye. He looked down at the Claw, then up at me, and his body began to tremble. “Gods forgive me,” he said, dropping to his knees. His kissed the dirt, pressing his face against it and began to recite the same words.

Vincent grabbed the Claw from my hand and the white light hovering inside it vanished. His demon faded instantly and his eyes investigated the soul piece. “Did I miss something?” he asked. “This little trinket couldn’t possibly have just done that.” He tapped the glass with his finger.

“What are you doing?” I asked Grayson, ignoring Vincent’s remarks.

“Praying for forgiveness,” he said, not lifting his face from the dirt. “Nobody is permitted to hold the powers of the gods, nobody but the Protector. Please forgive my lapse in judgment.” He gasped, not daring to look at me, but I could see the blue lines running down from his eyes.

“It’s no big deal, really.”

Tiki grasped my shoulder, turning me to face him. “Chase Williams, you are the Protector. You must grant them forgiveness.”

“Why? They don’t even believe I can stop Riley.”

“They are the Dunopai, keepers of the balance between light and dark. If their ancestors, the Influencers, do not believe you are far enough along, and by keeping you here they are keeping the balance, they must abide by that. It is not for their lack of faith that they contain you here. It is their way as Underworlders.”

“So after all this, I’m supposed to grant forgiveness?”

“It is their way, Chase Williams. You cannot fault them for their chosen path in life. They pray to Athaniel now, for your forgiveness.”

I looked over at the crowd, their faces still planted in the dirt. “You are…forgiven,” I said.

Everyone lifted their faces from the dirt and stared up at me. “Bless Athaniel,” they whispered.

Alaric stepped forward and bowed his head. “Forgive us, Protector. We serve the dimensions through our Influencers’ will, but you have awakened Athaniel’s Claw, and therefore, you must be on the correct path. We, and the Influencers, have underestimated you. Bless Athaniel, and the Protector, for their forgiveness.”

I looked at Tiki, who smiled and nodded.

“You’re welcome?” I said, failing to sound sincere.

“Now,” Alaric said. “You must be off. You cannot stop all this by remaining in Silas.”

Grayson stepped forward and handed me my daggers. “Here, you’ll need these.”

“And you! Get back to your cell!” Alaric’s humbled gaze was overcome with anger.

“Wait,” I said. “Without him, none of this would’ve happened just now.”

“That is irrelevant. He has broken our laws and therefore will be punished.

“Well, punishment will have to wait. The Protector demands a Dunopai guide.”

If possible, I think Alaric’s eyes opened even wider. “We are in no position to deny you any longer, but let us gift you with a Healer. Surely you do not require the aid of a mere…failed Warrior.”

I paused for a moment, watching the anger in Alaric’s eyes. “Do you expect any of your kind to be able to compete with the Protector?” I asked. “Do you fault this Warrior because he lost to me of all people?”

Alaric’s forehead creased and plump blue lips pursed. “I suppose I cannot…”

“Good, then he will assist me in my journey.”

“As you wish.” Alaric lowered his head. “Grayson, take this.” Alaric handed him a small Dunopai blade. “Guide the Protector and do as he wishes. You are now under his command.”

“Yes, Warden.” Grayson bowed

“Come now,” Alaric said, clear eyelids blinking rapidly over his eyes. “There is no more time to waste.”

Alaric ushered us along a well-beaten path and into a small clearing in the trees. A stone platform sat on the crest of a hill, with a line of stone arches. We all gathered in the center of the platform and Alaric moved from arch to arch, whispering words under his breath.

“Ah, here we are!” he shouted with excitement, pointing to a moss covered stone that looked weathered compared to the others.

“What’s this?” I asked.

“This is, of course, your doorway home.” Alaric smiled. “Allow me to do the honors.” He stepped forward and bowed towards the door, gripping the bottom of a torch on each side of the arch. “Guided vessels, journeys deep, unlock the doorway to this keep.”

           
A
snap
sounded like the branch of a large tree being torn from its trunk. The sound came again, louder this time, followed by another that echoed even louder than the last.

“Forgive the disturbance,” Alaric said. “This doorway has not been used for many a lifetime, due to the barrier that has surrounded your world. Best we all take a step back…or two.”

We did as he said and the cracking came again, loud like a gunshot going off. I cupped both ears and the sound continued until the ground quaked. The torches burst into flames and a mirrored surface rippled over the inside of the arch. A burst of cold air rushed through the mirror, forcing me to squint.

“Come along now!” Alaric shouted over the wind.

He nodded to me and I reached into the stone arch. The mirror was liquid, molding itself around my arm. Cold air rushed over my skin from the other side, and I pulled my hand back in surprise.

“It is time, Protector.” Alaric stood beside me, massive gray eyes blinking up at me and his ponytail blowing behind him in the wind.

I nodded and stepped forward, taking the plunge into the portal. The mirrored arch sucked me into a dark pit, but the ground was still solid beneath my feet.

Tingling sensations flickered in my limbs, making me lose all feeling in them. Although I felt like my legs would give out at any moment, I kept walking forward.

The tingling faded and soft chirps sounded. I could feel Rai’s claws gripping my shoulder, but it wasn’t her voice.

The melody grew louder the further I walked, and after a dozen steps, a faint blue glow began to flicker around me. As it grew brighter, the blackness broke and a reflection of the clearing appeared in front of me.

Colorful leaves sprouted from the enormous tree and each color became more vibrant as I neared. I stepped through the reflection again, and everything in the image shifted from left to right.

The imagery was disoriented and the moment I felt grass beneath my feet, I breathed a sigh of relief.

The stone arch now stood in the clearing, filled with the same mirror image as the other side. I could see Alaric through the mirror and he bowed to me. I nodded and replied with a wave.

 
Every few moments, a new person stepped through, bewilderment and discomfort in their eyes. Grayson was the last one through, and before he could take in his new surroundings, he turned to face the arch.