Dire Destiny of Ours (16 page)

"Where is the real Darkling army?"

Flava scrolled the holographic map to a continent that vaguely resembled Australia but with a slightly different shape to the southern coastline. Instead of curving inland, it bulged out into the ocean. A wide river ran deep into the center of the continent and branched out into large tributaries. Mountain ranges and fields of red and blue covered much of central Pjurna. If I was reading it correctly, the geographic detail indicated the land was fertile and not desert as in Eden.

Flava pointed toward a large, northeastern section of the island continent shaded red. "This is the front line, Destroyer Justin."

I ignored her use of my distasteful title and peered at the map. It looked almost like live satellite imagery. I wasn't exactly a military genius, but even I noticed the range of mountains protecting the southern lands from further enemy advances. "I assume most of the enemy army can't fly."

"True," Cephus said. "They have access to cloudlets, as do we, but our defenses atop the mountains would easily destroy any attempts to ferry soldiers across."

I traced a finger along a network of lines that looked like roads. "What about the skyways?"

Flava pointed to several hubs with skyways radiating from them. "These skylets hovering above large aether vortexes are the power source for the skyway system." She indicated several hubs close to the conflict zone. "We shut down the skyways leading into those lands so the enemy could not use them."

I examined the coastline. "Do they have boats or ships they could sail down the coastline?"

Cephus looked confused. "Watercraft?"

I gave him a weird look. "Exactly."

"Why would they use watercraft for military purposes?" he said in a perplexed tone. "They could simply fly cloudlets over the water."

I threw up my hands. "Okay, fine. Why haven't they done that?"

Cephus motioned toward the map. "Flava, please show him the Great Barrier Vortex."

"Yes, Minister." She scrolled to the ocean just off the coast. Instead of the Great Barrier Reef, there was a cauldron of boiling ocean water. Gouts of steam flew into the air, and the air shimmered with heat.

The place looked inhospitable for sure. "I don't see a vortex."

"It is far below the water," Cephus said. "The energy it throws into the air disrupts magical patterns. The spells powering a cloudbank would come unwoven and cast those aboard into the deadly waters below."

A monstrous reptilian creature with glistening black scales abruptly burst from the water. It leapt like a giant dolphin, arcing through the air. Great wings unfurled from its body, casting sheets of water in all directions. It glided a distance before plunging back into the ocean.

"Holy crap."
It's a dragon with wings.
I could hardly believe my eyes.

"Who is this Holy Crap?" Flava asked. "Is he a deity?"

"You have dragons here?" I said.

"They are supposedly guardians created by the Primogenitor," Cephus said. "They live within the vortexes, but we rarely see them."

Considering the amount of aether in Seraphina, I should have known there'd be dragons here. I wondered if they knew Altash and Lulu, two leviathan dragons that lived beneath El Dorado. The sighting raised tons of questions, but now wasn't the time to ask them. The Great Barrier Vortex guarded much of the northeastern coast from invasions by sea, and the mountain defenses blocked the Brightlings inland.

Flava traced a red line to the northwestern coast. "The First Battalion was supposedly making its way further west before they were recalled."

"We suspected this recall was a feint so our defenses would relax, but our spies confirmed the bulk of their forces did indeed leave our lands." Cephus set his drink on the table. "Our last reports indicate they traveled to Anjora."

Flava rotated the map to this realm's version of North America and zoomed in on an area I'd recognize in just about any realm.
Thunder Rock.

Cephus continued. "So far, we have been unable to discover why they travelled there."

"I can tell you why," I said.

"How would you know what our spies do not?" Flava asked.

I jabbed a finger at the map. "Is there a Sacred Arch there?"

"Yes," Cephus replied.

"That arch goes to a place called Thunder Rock in my world." I gave them a super-serious look. "The First Battalion is in Eden. If you think they're powerful now, just wait until they've fed on humans. Imagine an army of Brightlings as powerful as me."

I realized with absolute horror that what I'd said wasn't true. The archangels were already powerful without feeding from humans. Once they supercharged themselves, even I might not be a match for them.

Flava's already wide eyes managed to flare wider. "But you are the Destroyer. No single Brightling could match you."

I sighed. "Even I can't fight an army."

"I don't see how feeding on humans could increase their abilities," Cephus interjected. "Why would the Primogenitor"—he rolled his eyes at the word—"give such powers to the forces of evil?"

My fists clenched and I let out a frustrated grunt. "Look, I'm the Destroyer. I know what I'm talking about. That's why I need to take an army to Eden and supercharge them so they can fight the First Battalion."

"The Brightlings are stealing the power from the Primogenitor," Flava said. "They are abusing the Promised Land just as Daelissa and her minions did." She turned to Cephus. "I think the Destroyer is right. We must stop them."

Cephus shook his head. "Absolutely not. Do you not remember the prophecy?"

"There are several prophecies regarding the Destroyer," Flava replied.

"Yes, yes. They all say he is to drive the Brightlings from our lands, correct?" Cephus challenged her with two raised eyebrows.

"It is a matter of interpretation." Flava opened her mouth as if to launch into an intense religious discussion.

I'd dealt with too many prophecies, or foreseeances as the Overworld community called them, and wasn't about to let this conversation nosedive into irrelevance. I cut off Flava before she could speak. "I'm the Destroyer, so I think I know what the Primogenitor wants." It was a cheap move on my part, but I had to stop this nonsense.

"Unless you are a false Destroyer," Cephus replied calmly.

I almost punched him. "From what you've seen, do I look like a false Destroyer?"

He didn't reply right away. Despite his calm façade, he seemed to be wrestling internally with some dilemma.

"That's what I thought." I turned to Flava. "Who would I speak with about deploying a military force?"

"But, the front line is too delicate," Cephus protested. "We cannot move—"

I slashed a hand through the air to cut him off. "I'm not talking about moving front line defenders. I'll take a city legion."

Cephus shook his head. "But—"

"Will you stop with the buts?" I put a finger to my mouth. "Just be quiet if you can't say anything constructive."

His face turned bright red.

"The Tarissan Legion would gladly fight by your side," Flava said. "We can speak with Legiaros Ketiss first thing tomorrow."

"Is 'Legiaros' his first name or a title?" I asked.

"That is the term for a legion commander," she replied.

"Do I still need the documents declaring me the ruler and all that?" I asked.

Flava looked at Cephus. "I am not familiar with the requirements for assuming leadership, but there is no mention of such a requirement for the Destroyer."

"It is protocol," Cephus said in a precise, nerdy tone.

"What if I'd killed you too?" I asked him in a deadly quiet tone. "Would I still be required to sign documents?" I was done playing games with this seraph. More than anything in the world, I wanted to go home to see if Pross had healed Elyssa. Duty to Eden held me here until I could raise an army. If Cephus intended for me to lead Darkling forces all the way to the north so I could drive out the Brightlings, he had unrealistic expectations. Such a campaign would take years, especially considering the superior Brightling fighters.

Cephus seemed extremely unnerved by my question. "There are sub-ministers who would have to cede power." His voice trembled. "Signing a document transferring power to you would ensure the legitimacy of your rule."

Flava's eyes flared with something like anger. "The Primogenitor ensures his legitimacy, Minister. There is no higher authority the Destroyer needs recognize."

I narrowed my eyes at Cephus. "You'd best recognize, brah."

He tugged at the collar of his uniform. "I am not questioning the will of the Primogenitor—"

"Indeed you are, Minister." Flava made as if to touch her gem. "I must contact my religious leader and ask them proper protocol."

He held his hands in front of him in a gesture of surrender. "No, that will not be necessary." Cephus turned to me. "Do as you see fit, Destroyer. I just pray you don't doom us all." He turned and left.

I faced Flava. "Did you see the video where I killed Thala and Uoriss?"

She backed away a step. "I did." Her voice faltered. "Must I also be a sacrifice?"

"I'm not going to harm you." I almost reached out to put a reassuring hand on her shoulder, but decided against it. "Why would people willingly follow a person who assassinated your leaders?"

"They failed the Primogenitor." She tilted her head slightly. "It was not assassination, but sacrifice. They failed him for too long."

I didn't even know why I bothered to ask anymore. Guilt weighed on my guts like a sumo wrestler in a hammock, but I was desperate. "Would it hurt the city's defenses if I borrowed the legion?"

"The attempt on your life was the only Brightling attack we've suffered in this city for over a century." Flava's lips curled into a reassuring smile. "Tarissa will survive long enough for you to visit death upon the evil scourge threatening the Promised Land."

"Alrighty then." I wanted to go speak with Ketiss right that minute, but a yawn cracked my jaw and fatigue tugged on my eyelids. "I'm going to sleep. Let's meet with Ketiss first thing in the morning, okay?"

"As you command—"

"Do
not
call me Destroyer." I gave her a severe look. "From now on, I want everyone to refer to me as either Justin or Billy Joe Bob Baxter Corinthian the Third, Esquire Junior."

Her mouth dropped open a fraction. "Then I must call you Justin, because I could never remember such a complex name as the second." She touched her gem. "It is, of course, recorded. I could review it several times until I pronounce the name to your liking."

I held back a laugh. "No, that won't be necessary."

"Is there anything else you require of me, Justin?" She touched the front seam of her uniform. "I would be quite happy to experience your demon feeding again, in the name of magic, of course."

I managed a faint smile, but the thought of doing anything with any woman besides Elyssa made me sick to my stomach. "I'm devoted to another woman, Flava. You are a beautiful sera, but what happened earlier was an accident."

She looked down. "I understand. I did not mean to tempt you. If you must kill me, I understand."

"For crying out loud, I'm not going to kill you." I face-palmed so hard I hurt my nose.

"Why do you flagellate yourself, Justin?" Flava looked horrified. "Are you seeking penance for me?"

I could have face-palmed another ten times for that statement. Instead, I took her by the elbow and guided her to the door. "Go home, do three Hail Marys, and go to sleep."

She turned around, her forehead wrinkled. "What is a Hail Mary?"

I charged the gem next to the doorway and a wall closed the opening. I turned and rested my back against the wall, ran a hand down my face, and sighed. "The Darklings are every bit as crazy as the Brightlings, and it's all Daelissa's fault."

I just wanted this day to end. I should've been hungry, but I wasn't. I saw the drink Cephus had left for me and tasted it. The liquid was tepid, but mildly sweet and dark like tea.