Nyteria Rising (The Thirteenth Series Book 3) Read online

  “So why let us see them?” Jason asked.

  “Intimidation, they want us to be aware of their power.”

  “Interesting,” he nodded shoving a piece of bacon into his mouth.

  They all stood around eating pancakes in an oddly upbeat frame of mind. Val was wondering if this would be her last meal when Sam tapped on his watch. “Right, it’s time. We have quite a drive in front of us.”

  “That’s if we get out of the garage alive…” Zac stated.

  “Zac, sugar coating!” Val glared at him.

  Mike jangled his keys and they started to make their way out towards Bessie. Wendy and Sam jumped in the back, crouching down out of sight. Belinda joined them. Mike embraced Susan and kissed her. “See you later.” He smiled as tears started to fill her eyes.

  “Don’t be late for dinner.” She forced a smile for him. He released her and walked quickly away, aware that they had little time. He and Zac got into the front of the truck.

  Val was next in line to hug her mum. “Valerie Sheridan Saunders, you come home tonight, or else.” Susan’s voice trembled.

  “Ok, if you promise to make me my favourite dinner.”

  “Hawaiian burgers it is.” She hugged Val and then it was time for them to leave.

  Val closed the connecting door on her mum as Zac impatiently beckoned her into the vehicle. “No, I need to deal with the crowd first.” She pressed the button to open the garage doors. Mike started the engine. The truck door swung open as Zac leapt out. “Stay there, I’ll be fine. Anyway, Hunters don’t fight.” She shoved him back to the car. The last thing she needed was him getting her knocked about. He did as ordered. With the door fully open she could see the crowd of creatures gathering. Her stomach tightened as her helmet sprung over her face. Her sword extended as she readied herself for the fight of her life. “Please let me get through this battle alive,” she murmured to herself.

  Her screen showed her vitals were strong, apart from the fact that her heart was dancing a Samba. She was about to the leave the garage when a huge blue flash of light knocked her off her feet, throwing her forcefully onto the bonnet of the car. Val shook her head, trying to clear it then looked up and saw the shadows of two large figures in the open garage door. She had to get up and take care of them before they harmed her friends in the truck. Then Mike was grabbing at her arm, pulling her to her feet.

  A large, dark figure strode towards her, made difficult to see by the bright light spilling through the garage door. Mike dragged her backwards, but she shrugged him off, trying to summon her sword again. “Did you call?” A familiar voice asked.

  She gasped and her helmet sprung back. The figure’s helmets followed and to her utter joy there stood Boden, with Hadwyn close behind him. “Oh my God, it’s you! How did you get here? You’re alive! I’m so pleased to see you.” She embraced Boden and turned to greet Hadwyn. “I won’t hug you, don’t worry.”

  “Good,” he replied turning his nose up at the open displays of affection.

  “We didn’t get here, you brought us here.” Boden returned the embrace.

  Val called to the truck and its occupants. “Hey, this is my team, well I’m sort of their follower!” she said loudly so Sam and Wendy could hear her.

  “Pleased to meet you,” Mike said as he shook their hands. “I’m Val’s Dad from the future.”

  “What’s the problem? We got a distress call from you and then we were teleported out.” Boden asked.

  Val nodded to the scene behind him.

  He turned around to face the gathering crowd of full aliens. “Ah! Right, I see. So what’s your plan?”

  “Looks like she was planning on getting killed,” Hadwyn butted in.

  Val ignored him. “We have to get to a place called Mistley Heath where Lailah and her followers are gathering to open a portal to the Prison, big enough to teleport all the prisoners to Earth at once.”

  “Are we talking about Princess Lailah?”

  “You can call her Queen Lailah for all I care, although I prefer psycho. We need to stop her.”

  Hadwyn looked concerned. “She’s been in Prison for a long time, Val, and she’s one of a group who attempted to free the Ranswars before. This isn’t going to be easy.”

  “Nothing is in my life,” she responded. Zac tapped on the windscreen, making pointing signals to the back of the car and another to the outside. “I’m pleased you’re here guys, but I think it’s time to make a move.”

  CHAPTER 13

  On the Move

  “Val can you hear me?” Jason’s voice was clear in her ear.

  “Yes I can. Tell me what you can see,” she asked as they stood on the garage’s threshold.

  “Whose voice is this we can hear?” Hadwyn asked, twitching his head.

  “It’s Jason. He has equipment to help us see how many aliens and where they are.”

  “Why do we not teleport?” Boden enquired.

  Val glanced back at the truck. “Because our secret weapon’s in the truck and we must protect it with our lives.”

  “Good enough for me.” Hadwyn drew his gun, Boden released his crossbow and Val’s suit flared blue flames. “I do love it when you do that,” he laughed.

  “Let’s get going.” Val stepped out, and something fell from the garage roof onto her back, only to scream in pain as it came in contact with the heat of the flames radiating from her body.

  “Looks like there are at least fifty surrounding the house, more moving in,” Jason relayed. “Hadwyn, six to your left.”

  But Hadwyn was already taking care of them. Flashes shot from his gun, leaving the creatures stunned and motionless on the ground.

  Val could feel the adrenaline rushing though her. The aliens charged at them in an uncoordinated rush, from all directions. If Hadwyn didn’t get them first, then Boden was close behind. Val struck some creature covered in fur with a fire ball. It lit up like a twig, the smell of burning hair filling her nostrils. Then she knocked down two more with a blast of air. More surged forward, as the truck started to leave the garage, Mike steering cautiously behind the fighters, clearly aware of the danger. Inside the truck they heard a thunderous noise as a four-armed alien landed on the truck roof, denting it with its weight. Its skin glowed aggressive red with lumps that looked like boils.

  “Belinda, can you protect the car?” Mike called back to her.

  “I’m trying.” She began weaving a small blue ribbon between her fingers as the beast struck again at the roof. “As I wind this string I bind, the alien from another time. Take his power, give it to me, and keep us safe, so mote it be.” Then Wendy started to chant from the floor of the car with her mother. “As you wind this string you bind, the alien from another time. Take his power, give it to thee, and keep us safe, so mote it be.” They got louder and faster as another blow struck the roof and Zac’s side of the truck was so dented he was almost sitting on Mike’s lap.

  Boden was dispatching an alien when he spotted the truck’s plight. He headed back towards them, ready to fire at the creature on the roof. He was too late. Belinda and Wendy’s spell caught the creature, sending it flying into the air. Yelping in confusion, it floated spinning above the roof, not able to get away. Boden leapt onto the truck’s bonnet and took aim. The stunned creature dropped to the ground. Boden jumped back down, moving to one side allowing the truck to slowly edge past him. He nodded respectfully at Belinda who acknowledged him in between chants.

  Val was knocking the beasts down one by one. Boden had now positioned himself behind the truck and Hadwyn was on the far side. They seemed to have been fighting forever, and she was starting to tire. The aliens were relentless and extremely strong. Jason kept them informed of what was coming, and so they kept fighting until the mass slowly became a rabble and the rabble became a few desperate fools.

  “They’re finished,” Hadwyn called over to the others as he fired at yet another crazed alien. “I’m sure I’ve met him before. Got him that time as well,” he gu
ffawed.

  “Is it normal that he enjoys this so much?” Val asked Boden.

  “Would you prefer it if he cried?” Boden punched a six foot dog-like thing, then fired on it at close quarters.

  She had to agree, he was right, and the aliens were only being stunned. Suddenly something grabbed her from behind. It was immensely strong and knocked her off her feet, but she didn’t fall. Instead she found herself being lifted up by her shoulders into the air. She hadn’t seen the flying creature coming, and it was evidently untouched by her flames. She screamed in pain as it clamped its talons onto her shoulders. Boden and Hadwyn watched in horror as she rose into the air. Both started firing over her head, but whatever had hold of her simply deflected the shots. Val looked up, readying her sword, but to her amazement all she could see was clouds. Whatever had her was invisible and as hard as she tried, her arms just couldn’t reach high enough to strike anything, and now she was rising far too high to even contemplate making it drop her. The top of the truck and the men disappeared as it flapped, carrying her away into the distance.

  “Val, can you still hear me? Are you ok? I can’t see what’s got you.” Jason said urgently into her ear.

  She was breathless and the pain in her arms was intense. There was the most stomach wrenching stench coming from whatever was holding her. She struggled to speak. “Yes, I’m ok, but I don’t know where it’s taking me.” She took a painful breath, “We’re far too high up to do anything now, just track me and tell the others to head for Manningtree. Tell Hadwyn and Boden to protect the packages.”

  “Will do. I’m here with you Val,” Jason responded.

  “I know,” she said.

  As the alien soared into the sky, the top of the canary yellow dodge became a spot in the distance. With the wind rushing past her body, she wanted to be sick; her lack of stomach for heights was only beaten by her fear of flight. This was as close to truly flying as she could imagine and it felt bizarre.

  The buffeting the wind was giving her was exhausting; they seemed to have been flying for ages. There was a sudden change in the creature’s direction. It was coming down, circling over a wooded area, gliding in ever-decreasing circles. Val could make out a clearing in the trees. Then a pond. She could recognise it even though she was hanging under an invisible flying alien. She was home. This was Mistley Heath. As she got closer to the ground she saw Lailah with her mass of blond locks and Eva with her Brazilian bronzed face waiting for her arrival. Eva raised her hands towards Val. The creature that had been holding her immediately became visible. Val looked up. It had metal-like claws attached to legs that looked armour plated. It wasn’t a bird as she had imagined; it was more like a flying cockroach. It seemed to be secreting some sort of mucus from its mouth area, which Val was pleased she hadn’t seen before. She struggled to escape its grip, but she didn’t have to try for long as it dropped her right in front of her enemies.

  Lailah approached, eyes blazing with pure hatred. “You are a problem to me.”

  Val stayed silent, rubbing her sore arms and taking a moment to survey her surroundings. There were hundreds of creatures making camp. She glanced over at the pond, remembering the dreams, or memories, she had lived. She knew that through the trees, behind Lailah, was the place of her initiation. They would take her there again tonight for sure. “So is this your big plan, a picnic?”

  “Shut up Guard!” Lailah tossed her hair over her shoulder then closed in on Val until she was standing up close to her. Viciously, she grabbed her by the arm, lifting her up. “Do you know how powerful I will be very soon?”

  “Excariot said that too.” She shrugged.

  Lailah started to glow. Her nostrils flared. “I’m far superior to that idiot.” She banged her delicate fist on Val’s helmet. “It’s bad manners to wear those things in the presence of a Princess.”

  Val’s helmet shot back. “You know kidnapping is bad manners and you alien types don’t seem to get that.”

  Lailah took a deep breath, refocusing herself. “I don’t like being called alien, don’t do it again. Anyway, you’re one. Now let’s get down to business. Do you know why I have brought you here?”

  “I have an idea,” Val replied.

  “Tonight, I will free my sisters, and then I will allow them to destroy your weak pathetic planet before we go home. I could have done this with your Dellatrax, but you wouldn’t hand it over, so now I have to use some ancient mystic alignment.”

  “Yes, and when you do, you’re going to create hell on Earth. Do you really understand what you’re doing?” Val quizzed Lailah.

  “Of course I know what I’m doing!” she roared into her face. “I’ve had four hundred years imprisoned in a box to plan it!” She took a deep breath. “Deal with it.” She threw Val towards Eva.

  She knew better than to try and get away from Eva. They had come face to face before and Eva had helped Val and the others to escape. But that had clearly been part of the bigger plan. “So how are you going to deal with me then?” She asked the Brazilian witch.

  Eva touched Val’s cheek. “I hear you killed my son.”

  Val had forgotten about Daniel, She couldn’t let them know he was alive or that would put her mum in even more danger. “So what if I did? It was a fair fight. He killed Shane.”

  Eva’s next move was unexpected. Val didn’t have time to step away or try to dodge the swipe. A claw like nail struck Val across the face. She felt it digging deep into her skin from just above her left eye down to the top of her cheek. She wanted to cry out, but knew weakness would be fed upon. She kept her mouth tightly shut. “When you see that scar, if you live long enough, remember why I put it there.”

  “What is it you want Eva? Always the puppet? Never pulling the strings?” Val deliberately needled her. Even through her pain she knew angry people talked too much.

  “Puppet, hah! You have no idea of the power I have. Each and every one of these aliens does as I order. And soon you will be joining them. So sit tight and be patient.” Her finger directed Val to the ground and she found herself unable to resist her power. Her knees buckled and she fell to the grass. Eva walked away, unconcerned with Val.

  Val tried to stand, but whatever power Eva had over her was strong enough to keep her down. She had to escape. There was no way she was letting one of those prisoners into her body. The reality was that the future wasn’t bright. It was her, here, captive and dripping blood from her forehead. The situation was grave and yet she found herself wondering where Delta and Flo were hiding. Surely Delta should have been here, taking great pleasure in her suffering.

  Val had been sitting for hours, worrying about how and when the alien prisoner was going to take her over and whether she would even be aware of it happening. Did they go up your nose or in your ear? No one had come near her. She wasn’t sure if it was fear of her or of what Eva might do to them. She might have been physically alone, but in the back of her mind she kept believing that the others were coming - if they had managed to get out of Arksdale alive. The aliens seemed to be readying for the evening’s events. Fires were now being built and groups were gathering together to eat the things they had caught in the woods. Their unusual forms were starting to look familiar. Val had seen a snake-like woman come past at least five times and had named her Bertha. Her back was aching from being crouched on the floor and, although her uniform was keeping her warm, she had lost contact with Jason. Her ear piece was blocked, either by magic or loss of signal.

  A small pebble hit her head, bringing her out of her self-pity and back to reality. She looked around to see who was going to be sorry. “So, you got captured.” A voice whispered in her ear. It was Hadwyn. He was down next to her - invisible.

  “You know, I’m sure if you’d been picked up and carried away by an invisible flying roach you’d have been captured as well. Why did you throw a stone if you’re next to me?” she whispered between pursed lips.

  “I would never have been captured, and the stone entertained
me,” he replied.

  “Whatever. Just get me out of here.” She wriggled her bottom, trying to get some sensation back into her legs.

  “No. We’ve been here for a while and are all in position. We know what we’re doing and we will step in if we think you’re in danger. The packages have arrived and we have cut communications with you for our safety. You are to stay here until the time of the alignment.”

  Val couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “They’re going to shove an alien in me!” she growled at him. “Like snake girl.” She flicked her head in the direction of her newly named pet, Bertha.

  “They won’t; you’re too valuable. Stop making a fool of yourself. I like your scar; it makes you look more aggressive. I’m going - be ready.”

  “How the hell do I do that when I’m magically strapped to the ground?” She was so mad. “When I get out of this, Hadwyn, I’m going to burn your hair off,” she mumbled, knowing he had already left. Tears of joy started rising in her eyes. They were safe. Her dad was safe. One of the aliens walked over to her. Getting brave, it prodded her with a stick. “Yes, you prod away. I’ll be sending your sorry alien backside back to jail very soon.” She grinned at it, not caring if it understood her or not. All she knew was it would soon be time to end this relationship she had with people wanting to use humans as sock puppets once and for all, and she was ready for it.

  CHAPTER 14

  The Battle

  As mist started to roll onto the Heath, Val sensed the time had come. The aliens that had taken form were howling and cheering at the rising of the moon, prancing around their fires. One of the uglier ones came over and pulled Val to her feet, then started to drag her towards the woods.

  “You know you could let me go?” He sneered at her showing his doglike teeth and black gums. “I’ll take that as a no then.” She attempted to pull free, falling onto her knees next to the pond. Her reflection clearly showed the scar forming over her eye and the dried blood on her cheek and neck. It made her think of Daniel. It seemed Eva was right: it would always remind her of him, laying asleep back at Sam’s house, while they all went to their deaths at the hands of his crazy mother and Princess Lailah.