Legacy of the Defender (The Defender Series Book 1) (54 page)

"You look great.  I love the new ... lo..."

Celuine suddenly released her angelic presence into the room.  She tensed and began to look around... 

"Shhh!" she fired back, looking around.  The needle in the bowl vibrated louder.  It moved so fast there was a buzzing noise, and it grew louder.  Like a little jack hammer, it cracked the bowl it was in.  Pressure in the room increased; accompanied by that gut feeling this task would never end.  The house started to vibrate.

“Wow is that little thing doing this?”  Jason inquired, looking at the bowl.

It was not conceivable the enemy would attempt an attack so soon.  My gut was never so wrong.  I donned my cloak and tied it while looking at Eryn.  She walked over.  I lowered my head and put my forehead to hers.

"I have to go chase this down.  They are not going to give it any rest.”  I looked to Jason and Celuine.  "Take care of her.  Do not let her out of yo..."

The room exploded with energy. 

A pressure wave knocked me back.  I lost grip of Eryn.  It launched Celuine right through the front window.  As my body impacted the wall hard, timbers and drywall did not break through; however they cracked hard.  Eryn landed near the kitchen and hit her head solidly on the wall.  Blood flowed into her eyes.  I fell on all fours and scrambled over to her.  Placing my hands on her, I dumped my life force into her while a maelstrom of energy vortexes swirled around us.  The drain took over and I did not even twitch a muscle.  It worked.

Her eyes opened. 

"Get in the kitchen!”  I yelled over the noise.  She scrambled to move across the debris littered floor.  I turned to face where the blast came from.  The light was bright.  A shadow danced a bit in front of me while I fought to focus to see what it was.  All I could do was shield my eyes.

"Where are the others?”  I heard Eryn yell behind me.

"Celuine is out the window.  Jason was..."  I found I did not know and I looked again at the light. 

Jason was gone
. 

This was a portal.  Heat radiated from the other side like a fire...like a searing white hot fire. 

“
Oh God, no!” 
I screamed.

The light dimmed and a shadow moved in the opening.  I could see the outline of the rip in the fabric.  It was not a normal portal but simply a slice through it.  The light was blocked then unblocked, creating a sort of blinking effect like waving a hand in front of a dimming light.  Something moved on this side.  I stepped to the side of the room towards the wall nearest the portal.  It was not in the center nor was it aligned with any walls.  To get a better idea of was going on, I side-stepped the light.  When my eyes adjusted, I could see a large clawed hand holding onto something.  It tried to pull its hand back through the opening…just like a monkey grabbing a banana through a hole then trying to pull it back, The hand was too big for the opening; only this was no banana, it was Jason, crushed in his grasp.  Blood ran from his mouth on the hand’s first attempt to retract. 

I could not tell if he was still alive.

The vortex in the room roared with energy.

My swords came into my hands as all my defenses and abilities came online.  I raised my blades to strike; the little metal piece leapt out of the remnants of the glass bowl and disappeared into the torn fabric of space.  Down swung my arms to sever the wrist and save my friend.  

In a quick motion, almost blurry, the giant clawed hand thrust forward then pulled back enlarging the portal with Jason’s blood and twisted Jason's body even more in the process.  He screamed as he disappeared into the void.  My strike missed entirely and slammed the floor breaking it.  I was about to thrust a blade into the maw when I realized I could not risk hitting Jason. 

Celuine crawled in the front door right as I stepped back about to dive through the opening…with her dress torn to bits by glass.  She bled everywhere.  I felt a hand on my right arm, gentle yet firm.  I turned my head to see Eryn standing there without a fear in the world, her face still bloody from hitting her head.  She shook her head.

She knew what I was planning.

"Don't you dare!  I just got you back, and I am not going to lose you a second time." 

"He is my best and only friend.  I cannot leave him,” I said.

A voice came from beyond that was laughter.  "Father, I have him, father....  I will bring him to you..."  The rift started to close slowly.  I had moments to act.

"Eryn I love you.  I cannot leave him to die this way and now that that piece is out of me, I am better than good.  I have to...”

"NO...NO...NO, you don't, don't leave me alone here.  I can't bear the thought of you leaving.  If this can happen to you it can happen to anyone," she sobbed.  I glanced at Celuine.  She propped herself in the doorway.  She raised her hand waiving me to go.

"I will protect her with my life.  I am sorry I had to take your parents, but you were too important not to fulfill your role.  I was wrong."  She breathed heavy and coughed up some blood.  "I'll be fine, and I will protect her.  Go Tathlyn. 
Dammit, go!"

Eryn's hands were on my face
.  I turned towards the sliced opening still sealing up.

"You can't be serious.  How can you do this?  What about your duty to Earth?  We need you!  What about your pledge to protect me?"  I was having a hard time seeing now due to tears forming.  She was right.  How could I leave, he was but one man and my duty was here.

"I'm pregnant." 

I stared at her then back at Celuine, who nodded her head.

A daemonic scream filled the room and a giant mouth pressed itself against the torn fabric of air.  Its feted breath and rotten teeth actually reached into the room.  The invisible flowing fabric formed the face and when its mouth moved, so did the fabric giving me a face to see.

"Whoever this whelp is, he will suffer like no other.  I can come for you now, no matter where you are.  Run little manling.  I will catch you another day."  The portal was smaller; the giant shot two fingers in and tried to tear it open.  A roar ensued and suddenly there was a big eye looking at me.  "I will come for your whore and eat your child."

A look of rage crossed Eryn's face and she pointed. 

"I don't want that thing near our child."

"Then I will take the fight to them, my love.  Keep a candle in the window for me."  I kissed her more passionately than ever before.  Looking to Celuine I smiled.

"My wife is your charge now, Sister.  Do not fail me."

"I love you Eryn, queen of my heart.  From the moment I saw you, I wanted to make you mine.”  Crying, she smiled at me and touched my face one last time.

"Go kill it."

The words rang in my ears as I turned toward the portal and, with a mighty leap, dove headlong into the rift.  Forces tore at me from everywhere.  Heat cooked my skin and started to boil my blood, but I felt my protection compensate to keep me alive.  A burning sensation ran head to toe just like when my first rune appeared.  My only thought was to save Jason and keep Eryn safe by diverting my enemies away from her. 

Behind me, the portal closed.

Tumbling on every axis, I fell forward into nothingness.