The Dark Magical World of Alamptria (12 page)

The sun was setting and cast a beautiful array of bright red colors. “It’s beautiful here,” she said.

“We’re making our descent now,” he said. Caprius pushed a button, and at the bottom of the shuttle two long, hard-cushioned rubber tubes began to inflate. The shuttle was white and silver with red, striped markings and lettering that red NIC CRO - T40. The rubber tubing that inflated was black. And now the shuttle skid along the water and touched the surface. The shuttle landed just at the shoreline. Caprius pulled down another lever, which caused the rubber tubing on the bottom to move back and rotate. The shuttle was pulled onto the shore, closer to land, but much of the shuttle still was on the water. With a push of the button, the top of the glass cockpit swung slowly open. They pushed a red button on their seat belts, and the belts deflated, becoming loose. They unfastened them. When they pushed a button on the left side of their helmets above their ears, the foam inside their helmets let loose. They took them off, setting them aside. Caprius then pushed a button, and at the center of the console the front of the shuttle descended to the ground in pieces, creating a series of steps. From the front of the shuttle they walked out. Caprius pushed a button in the center of the shuttle’s front side, and the cockpit quickly closed up. The stairs to enter the shuttle remained. A moment later, all the lights within the shuttle had shut down.

“Well, now that we’re here, we can pay our little visit. Just let me do the talking.”

“If he even is at home,” said Shelly. They began to walk up the rugged hilltop. It was hard on their knees. They came to a flight of concrete stairs. They walked up. The stairs circled up and to the left. At the side of the stairs the grass had pockets of snow. They went up nearly one hundred feet until they touched the surface. On the far left there was a cliff, and it went down straight into water.

They entered the walkway and came to the front door. Caprius tried turning the knob. “It’s open,” he whispered. They walked in. Walking the wooden hallway, they looked around. They checked one room and then the one in back. There was a light coming from beneath the door of the room on the left. Caprius slowly opened the door. As the door swung open, there stood a man who took a swing at Caprius. Caprius ducked and hurled the man over him. The man landed on his back. Shelly had entered the room to see another man seated at a table. He had been playing a game of chess with the other man. He did not move. He just looked at Shelly as she walked toward him. Caprius was run into by the man and pushed to the back wall. The man threw a punch at Caprius’s abdomen. Caprius pushed the man’s face with his hand. As the man drew back, Caprius swung his fist, hitting his face with his other hand.

“Don’t move,” Shelly said to the seated man. The man sat still, just looking at her. He seemed rather tired. The other man swung his fist at Caprius, missing, and Caprius grabbed his arm. He twisted the man’s arm, turning it behind his back. The man grabbed Caprius’s hand and swung around, and they pushed each other. Their hands were in the air, tight against each other. Caprius hit his forehead against the man’s nose, hard. His nose began to bleed. Caprius grabbed the man’s short hair with one hand and threw a punch at his face. The man drew back and lost part of his hair as it was torn off. Caprius looked at the clump of hair in his fist. He threw it away.

Slapping the man’s face with his back hand, Caprius clenched his fist and swung, hitting his jaw. The man’s tooth flew out. The man reached out, grabbing Caprius by his collar. As he pulled Caprius toward him, with his other hand he grabbed Caprius by the crotch and flipped him onto a table. Landing on the table, Caprius pulled the man toward him, and they both rolled off the table. Caprius landed on his back with the man on top of him. He pushed the man up, pulled him over his head, then flipped him over, throwing him. The man’s legs hit the wall. Caprius quickly turned, rose to his feet, and grabbed the man’s legs close to his shoulders. The man squeezed his legs together, grabbing Caprius’s neck. He twisted and flipped Caprius onto the floor. Caprius’s body hit a nearby table with all sorts of trinkets, a small brass clock, and a letter opener. The table’s front legs broke, and everything came crashing down on Caprius.

The letter opener slid toward the man. Looking at the letter opener, the man grabbed it and brought it down toward Caprius. Caprius had just sat up quickly as the letter opener’s point hit the floor. Caprius turned the man over, grabbing his wrist. They both struggled for the letter opener. Caprius overpowered him, bending the man’s wrist back. The letter opener fell to the floor. Caprius turned his back and hurled the man over him. As the man fell on his back, Caprius reached for the letter opener and quickly put it to the man’s neck. The man grabbed Caprius’s wrists. Caprius pushed down hard. The point of the letter opener came to the man’s windpipe. They struggled. With every ounce of strength, Caprius pushed down hard, penetrating the man’s windpipe. Blood oozed out. The man gasped as he held Caprius’s wrists. A moment later, the man’s eyes rolled back, and he was dead. The man’s hands fell to his chest. Caprius sat on the floor, looking down at the lifeless body. The letter opener pierced the man’s throat.

After taking several breaths, Caprius rose to his feet. He looked at the man seated by the chess table, Shelly standing by his side. He slowly walked over to them, fixing his posture. Caprius pulled the chair forward and sat down in front of the man. He looked into his eyes. The man looked like he was low on energy. As he looked closer, he noticed that the man was actually seated in a wheelchair. “You sick?” asked Caprius.

“I lost my legs years ago. They’re useless to me. Might as well cut them off,” said the man.

“You’re Rover Tilbury?” The man didn’t answer. “That’s okay. I know you are.” Caprius glared at his face. “You know why I’m here?” The man didn’t answer. “That’s okay. I know you do.”

“I was wondering when you’d come. They said that a Seaton would show up.”

“We haven’t got much time,” said Caprius.

“I guess my time has come. No matter. I don’t have much of a life anyways.”

“What do you know about the Goncools?”

“I know they’re out for blood.”

“It’s more than that.” Caprius drew a breath. “Trenton. What do you know about him?”

“He’s in charge of the whole operation. It’s him you got to take down. Cut off the snake’s head, and the others will weaken. He’s the mastermind. The others, they’re just pawns.”

Caprius looked down at the chess game. He thought momentarily. “Queen to king four.” He moved the chess piece. The man made his move.

“Trenton is the brains behind all this. The vampires, they listen to him and the rest of the Goncools. It’s not the undead that will take control but rather the Goncool who thrives on the pure blood of Makoor—an extract, taken from a flask, that is very potent. They take that, they’re far more powerful than the vampire.” Caprius made his next chess move. The man thought and made his move.

“Who is Makoor?”

“You’ll never find him. He’s somewhere in Mount Drone. That country is vast. If you get rid of Trenton, that will weaken Makoor. He thrives on the vampires’ and Goncools’ success. The more you kill, the weaker he gets.”

“I’m going after him,” said Caprius.

“Ha,” Tilbury laughed. “You think it’s easy? Taking him on alone?” The man made his next chess move. “You take one step on his property, you’ll be dead before you know it. You won’t even get a chance to look upon him.”

“You were once a Goncool, weren’t you?”

“Yes, I was. And now I’m human again.”

“Why did you defect?”

“It didn’t agree with me. I love humanity.”

“You’re a good man, Rover Tilbury.”

Caprius made his next chess move. “Where can I find their fortress? The Goncools’?”

Tilbury looked at him in amazement.
What courage
, he thought.
Nevertheless, a big fool on a suicide mission
.

“Look, I know I’m a thrush flying into a storm, but I won’t be going alone. I can have an entire army ready by tomorrow and at my disposal.” Caprius grinned. “All I have to do is give the word.” Suddenly, the entire roof began to shake. “What is it?” asked Caprius.

“They’re Magulas,” said Shelly.

“Trenton knows you’re here,” said Tilbury.

“Caprius, you don’t have your claymore. You left it in the shuttle,” said Shelly.

“Crimson Peak. Smallest center mountain.”

“Thank you.” Caprius gave him a warm smile.

Tilbury pulled a flask from his pocket, handing it to Caprius. “You get into trouble, take this. It’s more potent than Makoor’s blood.”

“The antidote,” said Caprius.

“The roof began to chip. Wooden chips began to fall. “Go. Move your ass,” said Rover Tilbury.

“Come on, Caprius. Let’s go!” yelled Shelly.

“I’m sorry,” said Caprius, putting his hand on Tilbury’s shoulder. They began to walk away quickly.

“Caprius!” said Tilbury. “I don’t want to die like this.” Caprius looked away and ran out with Shelly.

Caprius pushed a few buttons on his wrist band. They walked down the steps coming out of the house. “No, not that way!” Caprius yelled to Shelly, pulling her away from the long staircase going down. They ran toward the cliff.

“What are you doing?” she yelled. Some of the Magulas flew of the rooftop, chasing them.

“Jump!” he yelled to her. As they jumped off the cliff, right in front of them was the air shuttle. They landed on the seats. As Caprius quickly sat into position, he pushed a button on the console, and the cockpit’s roof closed swiftly. They quickly put on their helmets, adjusting them. The Magulas now landed on the shuttle rooftop. They fastened their seat belts and adjusted them. Caprius turned a key on the console and then pushed a golden button. Immediately a quick spray of gas flooded the top of the shuttle roof. The Magulas choked, as they had no air, and slid off the roof into the water, dead. Caprius looked into the house across. He could see the light in the room where Tilbury was and him sitting in the wheelchair.

Tilbury looked out into the shuttle. “I always knew death would come calling,” he said. The Magulas at last broke through, eating their way into the house. The Magulas surrounded Tilbury. They widened their mouths. Tilbury stared through the window, gazing at the shuttle, helpless. Not wasting another moment, Caprius fired two missiles. As the missiles flew, they instantly hit the house. The house exploded with a big blast of fire and smoke. Caprius pulled the lever, turning the shuttle around, and pulled away into the sky with speed.

***

To read more of
Serenity Incident
, I invite you to visit Amazon and purchase the book. The book is scheduled for release at all book retailers on Christmas of 2017.

I hope you are excited for the upcoming release of book two of the
Dead Path Chronicles
,
Serenity Incident
.

Visit online at
www.richardavalicek.com

Lantrinon
- The Riddles of Anomptra

Book three of the
Dead Path Chronicles
—
Lantrinon
—introduces us to some devious villains. A war is set to commence. The attack is imminent. The dark lord sends his henchman Carcass Doom to find the child of prophecy and bring him to mount Drone for extermination. In this chapter we open up the story with some terrifying and dangerous moments for Lantrinon Seaton.

***

In the castle of Petoshine, Grongone sat in the interior garden. The Muskata monkeys milled about. Suddenly, Grongone was compelled to close his eyes, overpowered by the vim of Petoshine that grew strongly within him. A glistening white light surrounded the garden, and from inside the light came sparkling white dust. The spirit of Felicia the Golden Fleece appeared before them.

“The time has come, Grongone.” She smiled warmly. “You know of what I speak.” Grongone and the Muskatas knew what had happened. The Muskatas gathered and sat two by two on either side of Grongone. “The child is born,” said Felicia. “The prophecy has begun.”

“The undead have much to fear now,” said Grongone. “The knights of Elysium will need to be extra vigilant in order to protect the boy.”

“The dark forces will sense the presence of the child. They will hunt them down. There is much danger.”

Grongone shook his head slowly. “No, the knights of Elysium will keep him safe,” he said.

Felicia’s face fell. She took a long, deep breath. “They will fail,” she said. “You know what will happen. You have foreseen it yourself. They will celebrate with song and dance. They’ll feast to their hearts’ content. Their minds will become fogged, and they will lose sight of the importance of the mission.” She stood firm in her words. “One in particular will let go of his duty and will be ultimately responsible. The child will be lost.”

“Yes, but he will right his wrong, return things to how they should be,” said Grongone.

“I know, but it will be a hard-won restoration,” she said ruefully. “Though you are right that things will return.” She plucked a yellow carnation from the garden. As she held it, the flower’s petals began to fall, but rather than float down to the ground, they hovered in midair, buoyed on the white light that surrounded her. “Hope still prevails. The life of the child will be in the hands of a tiny creature. You know this to be true.”

“The Grumplets will protect Lantrinon. The boy will be loved,” said Grongone.

Felicia walked over to a chair in front of Grongone and sat down. “It has been a long time since we’ve had a chance to talk, my husband.”

He held his hand out to her cheek. “There is much to speak of,” said Grongone. Beneath Felicia, Mishka also held out her hand, trying to touch Felicia, but her hand went right through the spirit woman. Felicia’s attention was on Grongone. Her face was pursed with concerned. “I can see your mind dwells on the past. Your sorrow is evident. He will always be with you in spirit.”

Grongone ducked his head. “It was a long time ago. My father was the light of Petoshine. Before my time,” he said.

“But Bremendalf’s powers were weak. That is why when he was seduced by the dark forces of Makoor he was brought to his knees. When he tried to rise and take back what he’d once had, he was crushed by the dark forces. In the end, your father was given a seat in the heavens to sit on the thrones with the elves,” said Felicia. “He asked them for forgiveness, and they gave it.” Felicia held out her hand and drew a ball of light. The light hovered in the air. It grew larger and larger and glided away from them to a spot on the floor. The light shined brightly. As it got brighter, it disappeared, and in its place appeared the spirit of Grongone’s father.