Fearlings Three (The Fearlings Series Book 3) (2 page)

“Stand by the dresser,” James nods to the lit candles across the room. “Stay in the light.” He watches his friend walk towards the dresser then he turns the lamp off. He walks quickly to the light next to his friend. They both stare at the darkness around the room. The shadowy images of the Fearlings Drawk and Hydron appear along the wall a few feet away. Then the large shadowy image of Ekabar fades into vision. Several seconds pass before the silence is broken.

“You want what?” Ekabar whispers. He stares at the scared human children in front of him.

James’ eyes tear as he talks, “My mom, and my dad.”

“What?” Ekabar interrupts, “to join them?”

“No,” Hydron says. He stares at Ekabar. “No.”

“I want them back!” James yells. He steps forward but stays in the light. “I want them back!”

“You,” Ekabar says. He steps forward to the edge of the darkness. He stares down at the brave human child. “I like your bravery little one.”

“Are they ok?” James asks. His tone reflects his fear of the potential answer. “Are they?”

“For now,” Ekabar says.

“Can I help them?” James asks.

“No,” Ekabar answers.

Ekabar slowly raises his arm penetrating his smooth black hand into the candle’s light.

“Are you going to take me?” James asks. He is scared but he doesn’t move. He stares at Ekabar and waits for the answer.

“No!” Drawk demands as he and Hydron step closer to the edge of the darkness. “No!”

Ekabar retracts his arm then steps back. He looks to James several feet in front of him. “You I like.”

“My dad…?” Stewart asks. He steps forward to stand beside James. He has never met his father but he has always hoped that he would one day. “Is my dad ok?”

Ekabar doesn’t answer Stewart’s question. He steps back to the wall. “I will rest...” He fades from vision into the darkness.

“Wait!” James yells. He steps into the darkness not thinking. “Wait!”

The door to the room opens and light from the hall shines in. Hydron and Drawk fade into the light as James and Stewart turn to see the Professor standing in the doorway.

“No!” James yells. “Shut the door!”

The Professor takes one second to scan the room and he instantly knows what the two boys were doing. “You did not think to get us when you decided to call them?”

James isn’t listening. He wants to finish his talk with the Fearlings. That is all he is thinking about. “Shut the door! I wasn’t done! I want to talk to them!”

“That was Ekabar?” Professor asks. He sees the intensity on the young boy’s face. He attempts to calm the boy by conversation. “What did he say?”

“He said that my mom and dad are safe.”

“Did he?” Professor asks. He is curious as to why Ekabar spoke to the children. “What else did he say?”

“He said that he was going to rest,” James says.

“Did he now?” Professor asks. “What about yours? What did Hydron and Drawk say?”

“You interrupted them!”

The Professor smiles as he steps into the room shutting the door behind him. “Ok. If that is what you wish, let’s talk to them.”

The images of Hydron and Drawk appear in the shadows of the darkness along the far wall across the room.

“Is it true that Ekabar is now resting?” Professor asks.

“Yes,” Drawk’s whispery voice answers.

“Then you two should rest,” Professor says.

“No,” James yells. He just got his Fearlings three days ago. “They can’t leave me! No!”

“When Ekabar returns in five years he will be too powerful for them to defend against,” Professor explains. “They have to.”

“What about my parents?” James asks. He hesitates for a second. He fears the answer to his question. “Can we help my mom and dad?” That is all he wants to know. “Can we help them?”

“Now,” Hydron answers, “No.”

“When?” James asks. “How?”

“Young James,” Professor says as he reaches for the light switch and turns the light on.

“No! Leave the light off!”

The Fearlings fade from vision and Professor steps forward. “Right now your Fearlings need to go into resting. They will return as Molawners when Ekabar does and they will be strong enough to protect you.” He bends to one knee and stares into the eight-year-old’s eyes. “I promise you that we will find a way to your parents.”

CHAPTER 2

The larger cloaked Kynar walks at a steady pace with Rob closely behind him. They have been walking since they lost the Screamers. Rob asks his questions but Kynar has not yet chosen to answer.

“We have been walking for a while now,” Rob says. “How long are we going to walk before we are safe? We haven’t heard the Screamers.” Rob doesn’t know if they are out of danger. He is trusting Kynar. “Are we safe?

“No,” Kynar says. He doesn’t turn around as he walks. “We will be soon. Though time in this world is not the same as yours,” Kynar says.

“What do you mean?” Rob asks. He is getting tired of walking. He wants answers and he wants answers now. “Wait. I want to know everything Kynar. Everything! And you need to show me what you look like. I don’t like staring at your cloak without knowing what you look like. Ok?”

“No,” Kynar says. His tone is not angry but it shows no concern for Rob’s demands. “I will show you when I am ready. In this place Rob, I am your friend, I am still your protector but you do not command me. As far as time, it passes faster in your world than here. Here in Ciren many minutes have passed since you arrived but in your world days have gone by.”

“What?” Rob asks. His thoughts are on his son, “Days, how many?”

“Not important,” Kynar says. He walks to Rob and stops in front of the human. “Now, only our survival is important.” He looks up as the black surface of the red crystal ceiling fades to fog. “Follow me.”

Rob watches as Kynar rises straight up and disappears into the fog above him. He scans down the hall in front of him then behind him. He doesn’t know what Kynar wants him to do, “How?”

“Think up,” Kynar’s voice says from within the fog above him. “That is all.”

“What? “ Rob questions as he thinks about the word up. He instantly rises straight up into the fog. They are inside a small circular room with lower ceilings and closer walls than the previous one. Kynar steps back as Rob rises up through the misty floor. He watches the Human stare down as the fog fades into a smooth black surface.

“Wow,” Rob says. He is off balance and is still having a hard time accepting everything. Especially since there is so much he does not know. “I just think it and I do it?”

“Yes,” Kynar says. “We have little time for your questions.”

“Where is Ann?” Rob asks. “Is she here?”

“Yes, she is in Ciren,” Kynar says, “and she is here in Typol. She is at another location high above us. It will be our ending if we attempt to rescue her.”

“What?” Rob asks. He paces as he talks. “Why? No. I don’t care. We have to find her do you understand me?”

“The one that took Ann is named Nanlar,” Kynar says. “He sought her out because she was with child.”

“Why didn’t you help her like you helped me?”

“I am not attached to anyone but you Rob. I could not identify Ann’s location until she was here. By then there was no time to protect or to rescue her.”

“What do they want from her?”

“Again,” Kynar says, “It is not Ann that is desired. It is the unborn child.” His patience is limited to the time they have before the Screamers discover where Rob and Kynar hide. “The child will be a Vaun and here in Ciren, a female Vaun has great value.”

“Value for what?”

“There are many who would trade her for a variety of reasons.”

“We have to get to her!”

“If that is your choice then we will attempt your quest but do not expect to survive.”

“Start with Typol. You said that we are in Typol, what is Typol? Please Kynar tell me everything.”

“Typol is a Screamer city,” Kynar says. “Their city was built at this location because it is a travel point. They are here for one reason. To collect those who travel to Ciren whether through banishment or escape. The Screamers keep sections of Ciren under control. They hunt, trade and enslave all that they can. They gather experience for others. Their numbers are great and their strength is powerful. There are very few who can survive the Screamers.”

“Like you?”

“Yes.”

A loud screaming roar erupts from beneath the floor and Rob stares to Kynar, “Kynar?”

“We are safe in this room no more,” Kynar says. He draws his weapon and readies himself, “Back to the wall.”

“Are there too many of them?” Rob fearfully asks as he takes a step back.

“No,” Kynar says. At that second, the floor fades to the foggy mist and three Screamers rise up. Kynar moves quickly. He stabs the closest Screamer in the back before it is aware of him. He spins around and stabs the second in the chest then turns as the last Screamer grabs him.

Rob is wide eyed in horror as Kynar and the Screamer drop down through the fog floor. He hears another loud screaming roar from beneath him. He steps forward to the center of the small room. He thinks “down” as he remembers Kynar’s words. Instantly he drops through the fog and lands hard on the floor. He looks around and sees several Screamers lying motionless as Kynar stabs his weapon in and out of the last one.

Kynar turns to Rob as the Screamer drops lifelessly to the floor behind him. He steps to the Human and speaks with purpose in his tone. “If you wish to go after Ann we must move now! Time is not our friend. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” Rob replies. He has one thought. Save Ann.

“I will answer your questions as we travel.”

CHAPTER 3

It has been five days since the attack at the school. They still do not know much. Julie does everything that she can to protect her son and James. It is easier since the Fearlings went into resting. As long as they stay away from other Vauns, there is no reason to fear.