“Up you get.” Nick says locking his eyes
“Remember that you belong to me.
I'll one day collect your debt to be.
Well, I suppose I've toyed with you all long enough.
Troah!” He calls upward “She can't be that tough!”
Suddenly, the siblings come crashing in
As a blast of flames spark and singe
Troah now has Leigh pinned
“You, little girl.” Nick says with malice
“You've yet a part to play.
But I can't tell you about it today.”
“Give me back my brother!” Leigh screams
Knocking Troah away with a bluish gleam
“I'm afraid I can't.” Nick replies
Scrambling to her feet, Leigh's flames thrive
Not the usual red but a brilliant blue blaze
“I have had enough of these games!
You will give me my brother!
Or so help me I'll burn you to ash!”
“Give it your best shot!” Nick laughs
With intense rage Leigh lets loose
Setting the platform ablaze
And cooking Nick like a goose
The fire melting his flesh from the bone
He lets out an eerie agonizing tone
As the flames dissipate
A skeleton stands
Melted flesh and organs bland
He takes a step
But he should be dead
Instantly, his body heals
As if nothing happened
As if he's made a deal...
“What the hell?” Tom calls
“You shouldn't even be breathing.”
“That actually... really... hurt.” Nick's malice seething
“I can't die, until I take your life.” Nick points to me
Rage in his eyes
“Well, I've lingered here long enough.
Here's a parting gift, nephew.
Full of love.”
In his hand materializes a vial of ash and blood
Identical to the one that my brother used back...
Back then
“No!” I cry as he breaks it on the floor
“No one likes it,” He taunts “When losers are sore.”
And just like that they're both gone
Nick and Troah
Both fading beyond
In this moment I can't worry about them
There's something more pressing
With scaly skin
The basilisk begins slithering, wrapping the tower
Big enough to smother Eiffel's power
“Oh no.” Tom calls “Not again!”
I look to my partners, my friends
I feel the mana swelling in my head
And with a momentary burst
It's as if my sight has been fed
It's almost like steroids for my eyes
Time stands still while it's passing by
Stronger than before
I feel like I could do almost anything
Looking to the crowd, I will them to sleep
And just like that they all collapse in a heap
Well, that's one problem solved
Now to handle the snake
It's bigger this time
No way for a reptilian bake
Plus I can see it feeding on the mana
Of the Sins power
In comparison, for a regular snake,
It is the equivalent of a sauna
It's growing and getting stronger as the moments pass
If I'm gonna do this I've got to do it fast
Scrambling to the upper floors
I hear Leigh's cries, her heart still sore
“What are you doing?!” She calls
“You idiot! Don't!”
My partner and best friend – Of course she knows
And she knows in all likelihood I'll end up dead
But this is the best chance we have
With the mana exploding in my eyes
This is our best chance to thrive
Scaling the beast
Coming face to face
Locking our eyes
Foregoing the chase
I can feel his magic trying to kill me
But right now my sight and what I see
It's like an impenetrable shield keeping me safe
The question is how long will it take
Taking a page from uncle Nick
With just a look I inject the beast with pain
And not a mere prick
I'm injecting 50 times more than any human could take
It's hurting the beast
But also me – The pain
It's excruciating
As the snake roars loud
Wriggling, losing it's grip and sliding down
Which one of us goes first?
Only time will tell
As the snake goes limp
I'm pretty numb myself
Tumbling down the tower
Getting banged on the iron
The last sight I see is Leigh's beautiful smile
“You idiot.” She sobs
I hear her last words
As she holds me close
I feel her warmth
Then everything goes dark
And a vision takes hold
This one making me feel afraid and cold
Trial 18: What was lost
The vision I see
It fills me with pity
Sorrow and tears for the children locked in cages
Not human or mage
Nor goblins, sirens, or dragons filled with rage
Half breeds – Born of mages and other races
They cry out in terror as he approaches
The sight making me sick to my stomach
Seeing my mirrored reflection with crimson eyes
Seeing his terror and malice thrive
Seven - seven children locked away
When was it they last saw the sun?
More than days
As he, my brother with a twisted grin
“One step over.” His voice deep with sin
Not my brother
Simply his body
As Death's aura emanates
The children's health shotty
As Death berates
“Seven of the twelve.” Death's voice burns
Looking to Nicholai
Making my stomach churn
“A good start.
Now acquire the rest.
We need all twelve
If we wish the results to be the best.”
“Their mana is stunted.” Nick warns
“They barely have enough left to keep warm.”
“Why do you care?” Death's question bites
“Why let yourself be troubled at the sight?
You wish to die, no?”
Nick looks away
“Then do what I ask.
And soon enough you'll reach the final task.
At that point I shall grant you your wish,
But not before.
Now harvest these kids.”
“As you wish.” Nick's tone pained
As I hear the screams of the children being drained
The agony and screams
Destroy me inside
As I jolt awake
I feel the sweat rolling down my face
As I take in the room
What is this place?
I don't recognize it
Nor the outside
The view from the window
Vacant and dry
It looks almost like Paris
But that can't be right
Many of the buildings are vacant
And an air of depression thrives
This can't be the city of light
And yet there stands the tower
Formerly Eif
fel's might
It looks weak now
No life – No power
What the heck happened here?
Suddenly I feel it
I.V.s everywhere
The sound becoming clear
Medical machines abound
Then I look to the ground
A massive beast lays calm and purrs
A snake tail, lion's mane, goat hooves, and fur
“Gorgette?” I say
The chimera looks up
Getting to her feet
“Someone's fed you more than enough.”
I use the bed like a seat
I'm wearing a hospital gown
Nothing more can be said
I rip out the I.V.s and try to stand
The lightness in my head making me feel bland
Nearly crumbling over
As Georgette acts as placement for my hands
She makes a good crutch
Making it easier to stand
Jack mirror rests on a bed side table
I grab it swift
It's cracked, but I'm able
Able to sense her
Jack's mana still looms
Stifled, like a flower unable to bloom
Goergette supporting me
We step out the door
This is HQ
But the O.D.s – There should be more
By a lot
It's almost like a ghost town
Not a soul in sight
If anyone's got answers, Jewl certainly might
Making my way slowly through the halls
On one side of me Georgette
On the other the walls
Both holding me up
This doesn't make sense
How long was I out?
How bad was that dance?
My tango with the basilisk
So much shouldn't have changed
Yet I know it did
It causes me pain
Where the heck's Leigh?
Tom?
Jerome & the others?
So much is different
I feel like I'm being smothered
Finally we make it to Jewl's office
I open the door
And the view of him softens
He looks up at me
“Nate!” He calls
“Finally, you're awake after all.
How do you feel?”
“Like I've been hit by a truck.” I reply
“Well that's good, considering.
You need to thank your luck.
Any other man would've been dead.”
“How long was I out?
I woke up and I was strapped to medical machines and a
bed.”
“Sit down.” He says warmly
“The truth is,” His tone nervous “It's been two years.
The world's been overrun by fear.”
“Two years?” I ask stunned in disbelief
“Leigh and Tom?”
“Alive,” he says “but weak.
In truth we're stretched super thin.
That's how bad it's gotten.
Death has us in a strangle hold.
We're not sure if we can win.
But now that you're here,
Maybe we can turn it around.”
“I need to find Leigh.” I say scrambling to my feet
“She's on a mission on the ground.
There's now no way to meet.
Nate!”
I scramble away
Out the door
Nearly collapsing on the floor
Introductions may be needed
As it's been quite awhile
Certain for me now, questions seeded
I can't really bring myself to smile
My eyes feel strained and weak
What all have I missed & where is Leigh?
Are the only answers that I seek
Where do we now stand against Death?
Who's carried on the fight?
Pain coursing through my sternum
My chest becoming tight
Taking a breath, I lift my legs
Starting into a run
My eyes now more crucial than ever
Not a single thought of fun
The world is far darker
Time to catch up
My name is Nathan Masterson
Sneak peek
Here's what's next
A sample excerpt from:
Book Three of the
Death-Bringer Chronicles
My upcoming Verse Thriller
Trial 1: Organized Chaos
Muscles working overtime
Giving chase to make him fry
Fleeing on a unicorn
His tubby little frame – It doesn't work
He's struggling just to even hang on
Since that day every thing's gone wrong
Two years - That's what I lost
This among others is what it costs
“Vito!” I call running in pursuit
Every few seconds a blast of mana giving me a boost
“Vito!” I call “You won't get away!”
In all seriousness
It's 50-50 if he'll escape
The goblin holds answers that I need
About Death and his most recent deeds
“I never thought you'd sink so low!”
The damage he's caused is irreparable
Quite the blow
“I had nothing to do with that!” He wobbles around like
a kid
On the back of the horse “And I don't know who did!”
“Then why are you running?!” I ask making my way up
a tree
From branch to branch I bound
With even more speed
“Because I know how it looks!” He cries
“And there's no way you'll believe me!
Not with my history of lies!”
“Fair enough.” I call “You're probably right.
At least I'm willing to hear your side!”
“You, maybe, but the rest of the organization?
I'll be tortured for life with no vacation!”