The Marked Son (Keepers of Life) (32 page)

Stealing What’s Mine

Kera plunges under the water.

My mind explodes with rage. There’s only one way I can get her out of Navar’s hands and into safety. I slam my spirit into Kera.

Her lethargy attacks me, but I fight it off and force her eyes open. I grab Navar by his shirt and climb out of the water, gasping for air when I break the surface.

I get right into his face and snarl, “Don’t
ever
touch Kera again.”

He’s caught off guard, but not for long. The air hums as he gathers his power. I’m tired of playing by this realm’s warped rules. Pulling back, I slam a fist into his face, rocking him back on his heels.

He ducks and splashes backward, but I find his face two more times. He flounders in the water. His splashes sting my eyes, and for a second, I’m blinded. When I wipe the droplets away, I see him clawing at his waist for his weapon. A familiar glint of metal draws my eye, and I lurch forward, snatching Kera’s dagger from him.

He pulls his sword free and arcs it down, but I hold the dagger up and stop its descent. Kera’s weapon hums against the longer blade, deflecting any magic Navar instilled in it.

Navar curses and backs away. The dagger pulses like it’s breathing. From the shore I hear Bodog shout, “Dip it into the water.”

I don’t know where the little man came from, or how long he’s been there, but I don’t need to be told twice. Once the tip meets the water, an electric wave shoots toward Navar. He dives to the side and disappears underwater.

I stalk him, wading forward, careful Kera’s feet don’t slip on the slick rocks. The lake’s surface stills, smooth as glass. No bubbles or telltale signs of movement. I spin around, holding the dagger out in front of me, but it’s like Navar has disappeared.

“Do you see him?” I shout, hearing Kera’s voice instead of my own.

Just when I think Navar’s somehow managed to escape, Bodog hops up and down, pointing to my right. I see a spot beneath the water begin to glow. I call on my power, feel it flood into Kera’s body. When Navar pops up, I’m ready for him. Stones he’s collected from the lake bed burst from the water. Ten feet in the air, they abruptly reverse direction. When they hit me, they’ll feel like a stoning from God.

I crouch, then thrust out my hands, pushing the stones back up and toward Navar. He volley’s them back my way, and I use a surge of energy to explode the rocks into dust.

Navar’s rage grows to a level I recognize. It’s the same emotion I felt in the forest before I burned everything around me. I don’t know if Kera’s body can take a direct hit—I doubt it, but there’s no time to move. I hope to God the only option I’ve got won’t kill her.

Navar throws out his power, rippling the air in bright angry waves. It slams into Kera like a semi skidding on a slick road. The life within her flickers for a moment, and I fear the worst. I will her to hold on, to move her lungs. One breath. Two. Kera’s spirit revives, and together, we absorb the power, pulling on it until our spirits stretch and threaten to explode.

Panic enters Navar’s eyes. He tries to stop the waves, but they disappear and pulse within Kera, filling our spirits.

Navar tries to tap into his power again, but it fizzles into nothing. Shock colors his face. He glares at me and his mouth contorts into a sneer. “You think you’ve won, but I’ll regain my powers. All I need to do is kill you.”

With purposeful strides, he wades forward. I crack the lake bottom in an effort to slow him down while I urge Kera backward, but her legs get entangled in her skirts. Before I know it, Navar’s hand encircles her throat, and he squeezes. Her fingers wrap around his wrist as he lifts her higher, dangling her body above him.

I call out for anything that lies in the depths of the lake, hoping there’s something more useful within its murky depths than those tiny fish Navar sent away.

With no way to escape, air pressure builds in Kera’s lungs. Her vision blurs. I kick her feet, churning the water between them. Light pulses behind her eyes, and I feel her going.

I hold on, sending spikes of hot power under Kera’s skin to burn his fingers. He grimaces and lets go. Kera sinks beneath the water, and when she surfaces, sputtering for air, I hear Navar yell. The look of surprise on his face warns me something isn’t right. He’s unexpectedly jerked under the water. A swirl of red rises to the surface, and I stumble back.

“
Priserps
!” Bodog screams. “Get out! Hurry, before they attack Kera!”

The head of a serpent appears. Massive jaws open, revealing row upon row of jagged, sharp teeth.
This
is what answered my call? I take a stab at its head and miss. It plunges back into the water, its body twisting and writhing around Navar.

Bodog jumps along the shore, arms waving, voice cracking, as he screams, “Save Kera!”

Navar struggles to the surface, blood seeping from wounds on his face, neck, and arms. He swings his sword, but all he hits is water. A long cord whips out of the water and coils around his neck, pulling him under as more serpents latch onto him.

As tempting as it is to let the serpents have him, if they continue their feeding frenzy, Navar’s body will never be found. Teag will have another Lost King on their hands. Someone like Granel could use his legend to inspire a twisted loyalty that would only strengthen Navar’s evil plans.

I can’t let that happen.

I lunge foreword, slashing at the
priserps
. They hiss and snap, but they back off. I don’t think it’ll last. With Navar’s arm around my shoulder, I help him wade toward shore. Sure enough, before we’re totally out of the water, a
priserp
charges. It skims into the shallows after us, its teeth grinding close, but not close enough.

When we make it out of the water, I drop to my knees. Navar falls to the ground and rolls onto his back. He blinks up at me, his face expressionless.

A firestorm of emotions roll through me, and I can’t quiet my bitterness as I glare at him. “Now you’re just like every human you’ve ever killed. Powerless.”

I move away, feeling the need to separate Kera from him. Her body quivers through a cough.

Bodog stomps around, his voice is frantic. “Why save him? You were to save Kera!”

I don’t have much time. I need to make sure she’s safe, but the drug is weakening her. I’m not sure I’ve made the right choice. When my spirit leaves her, she’ll be vulnerable once again.

I struggle toward Bodog. “Get rope. Tie him up.”

“And?”

“And...” I have no idea.

Kera’s vision darkens, but I force back the blackout. Bodog’s mournful howls draw my attention. He’s fallen to his knees and is rocking back and forth, pointing toward where Navar has escaped. “Mark my words,” Bodog says. “Trouble will come.”

Navar staggers toward the forest. I don’t know where he’s going, but I know Bodog is right. Navar is the kind of person who doesn’t like to lose.

Clinging to whatever thread is keeping me in Kera’s body, I close my eyes and tap into my and Navar’s combined power. The call pulses from within me, a desperate plea. Whatever is in the forest, I demand it stop Navar.

It’s too much. Kera’s knees give way. Her body crumples onto the shore, and without warning, my spirit slips from her.

“Dylan,” she says in a thin voice, before her eyes close. She’s alive, but barely.

Navar has made it to the trees, but he stops abruptly. It’s then I hear a strange flutter and clacking noise. Bodog darts erratically along the shore before grabbing Kera’s hand and dragging her toward what I can now see is a tunnel opening at the edge of the trees.

“Millispits,” he whispers fearfully.

I don’t know what they are, but by the look on Bodog’s face, I know they’re not good. I seriously have the worst luck.

Navar steps back and holds up his hands, searching for power that’s no longer there. A split second of horror flashes on his face before he’s covered in tiny, gooey, lizard-like creatures with broken wings. They fling themselves from the trees and onto Navar, their curled, scorpion tails stabbing. They cover him from head to toe, a mass so thick, I can’t see the man behind the swarm.

Navar’s screams are swallowed by the trees. I can’t watch, but I can’t look away. He staggers, his body tilts, and then he falls.

An eerie quiet descends over the forest. One by one, the dead millispits fall away, leaving their pulsing tails attached to Navar.

Bodog stills and shakes his head. “It’s done.”

I would never wish such an end on anyone, but with his death, I can only hope his hold on Teag will fade. People who had vowed to follow him are now free.

I go to Kera. Her knuckles are swollen, and she’s far too pale. I bend close and whisper, “He’ll never hurt you again.”

Bodog clucks his tongue, mutters about my ill treatment of her, and covers her with his dirty scrap of a cloak. I’m jealous that he’s able to help her when I can’t, and I begin barking orders. In the middle of a command, a bright light shines down on me. Confused, I glance at Bodog. “What’s happening?”

His big eyes blink, and his mouth forms a circle of surprise. A jolt of pain rips thorough me, and I suddenly know what’s happening. I reach out to Bodog. “I’m not ready.”

He knows all about the dead. He’ll know how to keep me here. Instead of helping me, he cringes away, and against my will, I’m yanked into the blinding light, screaming, “No! Not yet!”

Beyond Death

Heaven isn’t as grand as they’ve led everyone to believe. It’s all plain white walls and ugly linoleum floors and nasty antiseptic smells. I cough. Pain that should be saved for the deepest level of hell lances through my body.

I crack open my eyes and Kera’s face slides into view. She’s dressed in a white, frilly shirt and blue jeans. “He’s awake.”

Grandma bends over the bed rail and clasps my hand. “Dylan! I thought you’d never wake up. How do you feel?”

“Like a dozen monkeys used me as a jungle gym,” I croak.

“Praise the Lord. Can I get you some water? Another pillow? George!” she shouts toward the door. “Dylan’s talking!”

“Does he still have a brain?” Grandpa asks in his sandpaper voice. He’s got a black eye, a week’s worth of beard growing, and he’s leaning on a cane, but I’d lay bets on him being fighting ready.

Grandma lets go of my hand and gives him an exasperated look. “Of course, he has a brain.”

“You never know. I signed so many papers, one could have been for a brain donation.”

As Grandma argues about the improbability of brain donation, I nudge Kera’s hand. “What’s going on?”

She slides the bed rail down and rests her hip near mine. A dark wave of hair flutters forward and tickles along her jaw. Pushing it away, she flashes me a radiant smile. “You’re not dead.”

I shift—for future reference, that’s
not
a good idea—and suck in a quick breath. It feels like my liver has been put through a shredder. Obviously, I’m not dead. No one who’s dead can be in this much pain. My jaw clenches, and I manage to grit out, “Why not?”

That sounds… strange. It’s not like I want to be dead. I’m beginning to fear I dreamed it all: the wall, Bodog, Navar, the war.

Kera’s existence is problematic. If I dreamed all the other stuff, shouldn’t she be a dream, too? She was before.

Her eyes twinkle down at me like twin amethysts. “Your grandmother saved you.”

The arguing stops and Grandma leans over and tucks the blanket to my chin. “Now, don’t start giving me credit for what the doctors did. They hooked you up to all sorts of machines and got your body going. Your brain was another matter. You’ve been in a coma.”

“She gave you CPR until help arrived.” Grandpa reaches around Grandma and folds the blanket lower. “We just got him back. Smothering him isn’t the best idea.”

Grandma blushes and tucks the top edge of the blanket even lower. “You lost a lot of blood.” Her tucks turn into pats, and then she turns away. The sound of light sniffles reaches my ears.

It’s now or never to find out if I’m crazy. “How?”

Kera and my grandparents exchange worried looks. “Don’t you remember?” Kera asks.

“Just tell me.” I brace myself to hear the worst.

Kera’s voice lowers and she leans close. “Navar shot you three times. I jumped in front of you and took the forth arrow.”

“It wasn’t a dream?”

“No.” Grandpa draws closer, until all three are huddled over my bed. “Those doctors think some crazy cult went on a drug-induced killing spree, and that’s exactly how I’m spinning it.”

The doctor comes in, along with a nurse. Everyone else leaves, so they can give my body a thorough once over. They poke and prod me in places I didn’t know existed, but after the pain med is delivered, the nurse calls in Kera, who’s waiting outside the room.

“He’ll get a little goofy and probably fall asleep for a while.”

Kera nods, and the nurse leaves.

Step by small step, Kera approaches. Shyness colors her face. “The doctor is talking to your grandparents.”

I don’t say anything. I’m not sure what to say.

She returns to her spot on my bed and slips her fingers into my hand, her touch a warm reminder of how much I love her. “You saved me,” she whispers.

All I want is to sink into Kera’s eyes, but there are certain things I can’t forget. “But not Jason. Or Pop.”

Kera slowly shakes her head. “I’m sorry.”

“What did you tell his dad?”

“He thinks Jason ran away. Your grandpa says he’s done it before. Until we can retrieve the body, it’s best to let his dad think that.”

I don’t like it, but there isn’t much I can do about it until I’m better. “I was afraid you’d die.”

“How could I, after you went to so much trouble to save me?” She leans forward and rests her head on my chest. “I wanted to die after you disappeared at the lake. I wanted to take the rest of the drug and fall asleep forever.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“I kept seeing your face, and then I had a dream.” She turns her head and looks straight into my eyes. “You were asleep, deeply asleep, but alive.”

I run my hand down her bare arm. She’s even prettier in modern clothes. “And you’re here, dressed like this, because…?”

Grandpa and Grandma return and hear my question. Grandpa stands at the end of my bed, while Grandma takes up her station near my head and says, “Kera showed up yesterday. Leo told us what happened, and when we heard it all, I knew exactly what to do. We put all the sculptures from the shed back along the barrier. I should never have let your grandfather talk me into taking them down in the first place.”

“They’re ugly,” he grumbles in his defense.

Her back snaps straight and she grumbles, “They’re protection, and they stay.”

He grunts. “I’m not arguing, woman. Not
now
.”

Grandma’s hand slips over mine and she takes Kera’s hand in her other one. A warm smile brightens her face. “Kera will stay with us. We won’t let them take her. Or you.”

I have to ask even though I’m afraid of the answer. “Do they know she’s here?”

The skin around Grandma’s lips whitens. “They do.”

“Don’t worry, son,” Grandpa says. “They won’t catch us sleeping again.”

I turn to Kera. “Do you think they’ll try to take you back?”

“Navar’s dead, but many who followed him are still of the same mind. Half-bloods like us won’t be tolerated.”

“Enough of this ugly talk. Dylan needs his rest.” Grandma rounds the bed and slides her arm around Kera. “I’m hungry. How about we let Dylan take his nap while we go out for a quick bite?”

She doesn’t give Kera a choice, guiding her through the door and into the hall. Something about the look on Kera’s face tells me she won’t be gone long.

Grandpa stands at the end of my bed like a soldier on guard duty, but I know how much he likes to eat. “You can go, too. I’m starting to feel the drug.” It’s not a lie. I can barely keep my eyes open.

He nods, takes a step toward the door and stops. His gaze captures mine. “If I believe all Kera has told me, this isn’t over, Dylan.”

“I know.”

“I’ll help you as best as I can, but I’m afraid you’re going to have to take the fight to them.”

“I’ve already tried. You know what happened. It was a disaster.”

“Preparation. Precaution. Precision. Those are the tools that win battles. We’ll figure something out.”

I’m having a hard time following him, but I nod, and that seems to appease him. For emphasis, he gives the mattress a quick slap and says, “Good,” then leaves.

I sure could have used him earlier.

The drug warms my body until my insides feel gooey. I smile, blink, and when my eyes open, I see Kera standing in the doorway. She really is the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.

She enters and closes the door. “Your grandmother is a very persistent woman. I convinced her I was too tired to eat, and that I’d be happiest sitting next to you.”

“That’d make me happy.”

Kera moves straight for my bed. Without saying a word, she sits and eases the blanket off my chest, exposing my injuries. With the gentlest touch, she places her hand over the first cut. Her skin begins to glow, encouraging my wound to heal.

“You can heal?”

“Shh,” she says, and slips her free hand into mine. “Sleep. It will all be over soon.”

I sigh and relax and let the drug overtake me.

The dream I’m dumped into is unexpected. I find myself lying in a meadow, but this place is brown and dried, as if all the life has been burned away. I sit up and search for a familiar landmark. Nothing. Dried sticks pass for trees, and within those trees, a sharp movement catches my eye.

I pop to my feet, my bare toes digging into the dusty ground. “Who’s there?”

A man steps forward. He glares at me, and my skin crawls. A harsh wind ruffles his smoke-colored hair, and tugs at his tattered clothes. He carries himself with a regal air, demanding my attention, yet it’s his eyes that hold me still. They glitter bright blue. With a flick of his hand, a swarm of
pux
appear, hovering about him, sighing into his ears.

His gaze rakes my form and a harsh smile touches his lips. “I hear you’ve been looking for me.”

I don’t know what the
pux
have been telling this guy, but it’s all lies. “I don’t know you.”

The
pux
disperse and dart around the clearing, buzzing so close that I have to duck to avoid getting hit.

Their antics amuse the man. “You don’t know me yet, but you will. It’s unavoidable now.”

There’s a threat to his tone that puts me on edge. “Where am I? Did you bring me here?”

His laugh is rich and full. “You don’t know what you’ve done, do you? No matter. Soon, everything will become clear.”

He releases a high-pitched call and the
pux
gather around him once again. As he steps back into the decimated forest, they flutter after him.

I pull out of the dream and open my eyes to find Kera staring down at me. “Where were you?”

She squeezes my hand. “Here. I’ll always be right here.” She bends and places a soft kiss on my lips.

I sigh and my dream fades, replaced by the light of love shining from Kera’s eyes.

My dream girl is real.

I don’t have to be alone anymore.