Nyteria Rising (The Thirteenth Series Book 3) Page 13

  The alien pulled her up, forcing her past the bushes and into the woods. Val looked around for signs of the others, but no one was there, or they were extremely well hidden. She really didn’t want to be here again, once in sixteen forty-five and again just the other week felt like quite enough for one lifetime. The dark green scaled thing who was pushing her was getting impatient with her slow movement and shoved her, causing her to stumble. His dry skin brushed against her hand, making her shudder in revulsion.

  “Don’t you like the way I look?” He pushed his face next to hers.

  “So, you can speak.” Val squirmed at the end of his fist. She wanted to flare up, but nothing was happening. She was seriously going to take some magic lessons after this. He pushed her on, and she didn’t trip again; one sniff of his fishy breath was enough to keep anyone on their feet.

  The clearing was full of life, alien life, or more accurately, possessed Earth life. Val had to stop herself from feeling completely repulsed and remember that each one was a human being or an animal possessed by a prisoner, just like she would be if her friends didn’t step in soon. The man who had guided her threw her to the ground. She was getting sick of this ‘let’s throw the Guard into the dirt’ entertainment. Then, from her lowered view point, she spotted a pair of red soled stilettos - Christian Louboutin if her memory served her right. Her eyes rose up a slender pair of legs to a torso wrapped in what she saw was a Burberry Jacket. “Delta.” She uttered the name.

  “Hello Alien, nice to see you home again,” she taunted. “Remember this place? Remember that tree?” She pointed to a majestic oak.

  “Not particularly,” Val replied, lifting herself onto her knees.

  Delta let out a slightly crazy laugh. She touched its trunk. “This was the tree I hid in with Daniel, until your people came for me. They didn’t know who I was, and were kind enough to take me and Daniel in. They were even accepting of the fact that he grew at a ridiculous rate. You know it took him thirty days to reach the age of eighteen. They told me how you had been the same. That he was special, a star child, and he was.” Her words came out with venom and hatred.

  “Then surely they told you about being a good person, and not killing the people who protect you, like Shane.”

  “What?” Delta flinched.

  “Yes, Shane’s dead.”

  Delta paused for a moment in thought. “I’m sorry for Jason, but not for you. You deserve everything you get.” She didn’t wait for a response, she simply walked away.

  That was it: no explanation; no options. For Delta this must have been sweet revenge, and now Val understood how wrong she had been to leave her behind. Bad person or not, she had made a critical mistake. But, now wasn’t the time for trying to make things right. She couldn’t begin to imagine what it must have been like for her with Daniel. She had evidently had Val’s mum and coven trying to help her, and yet she had still turned against her. Sam was right, there was no give or take with Delta, she had always been bad.

  Val watched Delta nodding as Lailah spoke to her, and then they embraced. Lailah placed a parting kiss on her cheek. Then Delta walked towards a clearing where Val spotted the red tail-lights of a vehicle. She thought this was odd. Why would they be letting Delta go at such an important time? The door opened, Delta climbed in and the vehicle set off, its lights bobbing and weaving over the rough terrain and off into the night.

  Eva was the next to approach her. “The portal will be opening in exactly five minutes, so I was wondering if you wanted to say anything before you lose your body and soul.” She grabbed Val by the hair and pulled her aggressively to her feet.

  Val squirmed with pain. “You’re not the first to try. Taking over Earth has a very low success rate to my knowledge.”

  “We will see about that.” Eva laughed out loud, ignoring Val’s warnings as a chorus of aggressive howls rang out in the darkness. There was frantic movement in the distance. Val couldn’t see anything and Eva was far too focused on removing half her scalp.

  “Eva!” Lailah demanded her presence and, to Val’s relief, she let her go.

  Val was starting to feel the energy rising in the air. Her fear was now mixed with a sense of something huge coming. She looked around once more now she was on her feet, but there was still no sign of any movement.

  They stood talking and then Eva started to gather a group of aliens, making them form an orderly queue. Then to Val’s amazement and terror Eva grabbed the first one in the line by the face, her eyes turning black she seemed to suck out its life force. The creature never had a chance. It was as if Eva was rooted to the ground, pure energy. She dropped the creature’s body, lifeless, and it was quickly dragged away by other aliens who were surely thanking their lucky stars they weren’t in the queue. The others, who were now trying to bolt, were being held in a pen by Lailah and her purple light. They yelped and screamed to escape, but there was no way out. Val had no idea what the purple glow was, but they clearly weren’t going anywhere until Eva sucked their lives out. This went on until she had consumed twelve of them. Val was petrified. She had witnessed some crazy stuff, but this was major magic.

  Eva was now sparking, full of energy. Then she jerked her arms above her head, palms facing the night sky, her hands letting off sharp sparks into the atmosphere. Val could feel the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end. Why weren’t the others doing anything yet?

  “Can you feel it?” Lailah caught Val’s arm and started to drag her towards Eva, “Soon, very soon, you will have the privilege of housing one of my sisters and we will be the most powerful people on this planet. Does that not fill you with excitement?”

  “I can think of better things.” She tried to resist Lailah’s pull, but she was seriously powerful. She needed to prevent herself from being possessed for a few more minutes. She glanced quickly over her shoulder.

  “What are you looking for?” Lailah asked her.

  “It’s just such a nice view.” Did that sound as stupid as she thought it did?

  “Or are you looking for these people?” She pointed and a mass of creatures dispersed to reveal a group huddled on the ground. Val’s worst nightmares had just come true. There they were: Hadwyn, Boden, Sam, Belinda, Zac and her dad. “Because they will all be joining us as well, in a roundabout way, as you say on Earth.”

  “Dad!” Val called. “Are you ok?” Mike nodded. She could now see they were all bound together in a tight circle.

  “These are my offerings; some ritual Eva says will please the gods. I don’t care much for gods but it makes her happy. Quite a catch if you ask me.” Val was trying to force her way over to them when Lailah tightened her grip on her arm. “No, you’re not to be with them, they’re not like us. We are to rule the Ranswars. Come, take your place here in the centre.”

  “I’d rather die with my friends.” Val dug in her heels.

  “That is not the answer I wanted to hear, you ungrateful useless Guard!” Lailah’s response was filled with agitation. Her hands glowed a deeper purple. Val could feel the magical energy coming through her suit.

  “Well guess what Princess? Sometimes you just have to take no as an answer. I’m not going to go down without a fight.” She slammed Lailah with her shoulder, knocking her off balance and ran towards the group, throwing herself onto her dad. “I’m going to get you out of here Dad, don’t worry. Sam, teleport out,” she pleaded. Why were they just sitting there?

  Mike looked into Val’s eyes. “Don’t worry about us. Just remember Spain.” That was all she got before two creatures dragged her off him, pulling her back towards Eva.

  Eva lowered her hands and spoke, but her voice was not human anymore. It sent shivers up Val’s spine. “I told you she would be a problem; no one will be teleporting in my presence.” Eva spat at Val, calling to Lailah who was being helped up, “She won’t submit. I will not give her one of your sisters.”

  “Fine. Stick the ugliest beast you have in her after we have used her.” Lailah brushed herself
down, aggressively pushing the aliens away from her.

  ‘Spain? What was her dad talking about? Spain had been one of those ‘surprise’ holidays that hadn’t happened because her mum had found the tickets two days before they flew. Val looked back at her friends probably for the last time. Spain, why had he said that? Think Val, come on.

  “Hold her down here,” Eva instructed, pointing at the ground.

  ‘Spain.’

  “Now I get to avenge my son.” Eva reached her hand up and light shot into the night, then her other hand followed. Two solid beams shot out. Who knew where they would strike, but Val had a bad feeling it would be the Prison.

  Then the light bulb went off in her head. “I get it!” she shouted. It wasn’t the holiday; the surprise had been Susan’s Auntie Bianca from South Africa, who had turned up out of the blue. That was the big surprise. Wendy! She wasn’t with the others. Why hadn’t she realised that sooner?

  Eva was glowing like a light bulb; Val was still held down at her feet, but she could see enough to witness the arrival of what Sam had feared: essences from the Prison, and many more than in Excariot’s attempt. Above them was a huge swirl of energy in a sparking, buzzing cloud. Whatever her witchy friend’s plan was, it had better kick in soon. Val was suddenly aware that her feet were very warm. She looked down, to see small blue flames skipping off the toes of her very unattractive boots. Was this part of the spell? Eva was too busy weaving her magic to notice Val light a tiny flame in her hand. ‘Thanks Wendy,’ she thought. Somewhere nearby Wendy was opening things up for her. Val concentrated on willing her sword to extend just the smallest amount. It complied.

  Eva looked down at Val. “It’s time,” she said in her creepy voice.

  “Yes it is.” Val allowed the helpers to lift her to her feet. She was now face to face with the enemy. Eva was totally possessed and Val had to believe that this would work. Reaching up, Eva summoned one of the essences. “Tome este corpo agora,” she called to it. Val could only guess this meant it was time to get a body. As Eva slowly lowered it down towards her, it whipped back and forth, eager to find a new home. Val’s vision rose up momentarily to witness the main circle growing in circumference, filling the sky above them, increasing in size with every second. This was Sam’s worst fear spilling into reality.

  Eva allowed the essence to rest on her hand, her black eyes inspecting its form. The two creatures held Val firmly in front of her. Eva stepped closer. Val knew this was going to be her only opportunity. Eva pushed the light out towards her, and in that instant, Val flamed blue flames, It was like being a foot away from a bonfire in all its November 5th glory. Val wasn’t sure whether fear or magic had caused the exploding flames, but they threw, not only the creatures holding her, but also Eva three feet away from her.

  The essence evaporated and Val aimed a flame-ball directly up towards the larger collection. Although her plan was good, she hadn’t factored in Lailah hitting her from behind. The surge of purple energy knocked her forward. Lailah was extremely strong, but Val’s uniform saved her from the worst of the blast. As her armoured patches became rigid; she felt the tension in her arms, chest and legs.

  “Four hundred years. I won’t wait another day.” Lailah grabbed Eva, pulling her back up onto her feet. “Do it now. I will deal with her!” She shouted her orders seemingly unconcerned that half of Eva’s hair had been burnt away. Her attack was remorseless. She struck Val three, four, five times. Each time, Val found herself being knocked a few feet further away from her friends. This was bad, she needed to get to her friends and release them so they could support her. Then she heard a blood curdling scream. She managed to dodge the next purple assault and spotted Wendy coming out from the bushes with something she recognised. It was Sam’s wand. He had used it to stop Excariot in 1645, saying he could only attack when the dome Excariot had created was down. Well right now there was no dome.

  Lailah was now aiming in both directions, but Wendy was ready for her. “Subsisto,” she said sharply as each shockwave bounced off an invisible shield protecting her. Pulling herself to her feet, Val ran towards the others. Throwing herself into their midst and grabbing Sam’s hands she burnt through his rope first, then the others. Hadwyn was first on his feet, his gun extended and he reached over Val, using her as a firing platform as he disabled four aliens. They were all now on the move.

  “Protect Eva!” Lailah fired again at Wendy. Val could see that she needed to distract her long enough for Wendy to stop Eva.

  “Val, cover Sam,” Boden called as he drew back his crossbow. She extended her sword catching an alien as he attacked. Stunned, the creature fell at her feet, but more were flooding through the bushes and what had felt like a feasible plan was now falling apart because of the sheer number of attackers. Belinda and Mike were already being restrained. Val tried desperately to get to her dad, but her sword and powers just couldn’t cope with the volume of enemies.

  She watched as Sam and Boden were smothered by the crush of unnatural beings, some now the size of horses. Eva’s circle of light had reached proportions far greater than before. Suddenly Val realised that Wendy was being dragged to the ground. Wendy called out to her friend, but she was knocked unconscious. Val raised her hands into the air – retracting her sword. “STOP!” she shouted. Her companions came to an immediate standstill.

  “STOP!” Lailah echoed the message to her own followers. The aliens came to an instant halt. Lailah was left standing in the middle of the fight, proud of her achievement, floods of alien creatures still pouring into the opening. Lailah had won. “Did you seriously think I would show you how many followers I had! Always save the best to last!”

  In moments they were all once again tied down and Val lay at Eva’s feet, her destiny face down in the grass. She would become a vessel for a prisoner and her friends and family would have to watch.

  CHAPTER 15

  What Happened Next

  The group stood huddled together under the street lamp.

  “Are you sure this will work?”

  “Well, based on the information I have, you are the only ones who can do it.”

  “How do we get there?”

  “I will take you.”

  “Doesn’t that put you two at risk?”

  “Nothing matters more now; we have to rescue them.”

  It seemed to be taking Eva a while to recover her powers fully after Val’s group’s failed assault. Val knew this was the end of the road. She had no other great plans. She was overwhelmed by a sense of responsibility; of the realisation that she had brought her dad into all this trouble. He would die because of her, and her mum would end up alone, taken over by a hairy alien.

  Lailah was now in possession of Sam’s silver wand, which she had placed in her pocket. She walked around, looking up towards the energy cloud floating above their heads and then back down at Eva with a satisfied expression. Everything was going according to her plan.

  They pulled Val to her feet again. Understanding that her life was about to end, she allowed her body to go limp, she wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of her helping them to drive her from her own body.

  She could see Sam in the distance; their eyes met. What would life have been like for them? She suppressed the thought. This wasn’t the right time to be thinking about wedding bells and little Sams running around.

  Meanwhile, Eva pulled another prisoner from the glowing mass. The aliens who were supporting Val forced her to lift her head and she was compelled to look Eva directly in the eyes. She stared back boldly, refusing to cower before her nemesis. She had the random, comforting thought that it would take Eva years to grow her hair back.

  As the essence got closer she closed her eyes, waiting for the inevitable, wondering if it would hurt; what it would feel like. She almost wished Eva would hurry up, that it could be over with so she didn’t have to think about what her friends were going through. A sudden commotion in the background caught her attention, but she kept her eyes close
d. They must be getting ready to celebrate her death and she had no desire to look at them.

  The noise got steadily louder, punctuated by screams and yelps that, even to her despairing mind did not sound much like a celebration. Her eyes flew open and she tried to turn her head to look, but a hairy hand held her fast, forcing her to face Eva. Then the first explosion hit. Blood-curdling cries of pain filled the air.

  Val started to struggle. What was going on? Eva looked past her, her face blackening with anger. “Deal with them!” she yelled at the alien spectators. “I will not stop!” she screamed at the two creatures holding Val. “Hold her still.”

  From behind her she heard her dad call, “Susan!” she froze. Her mum was here. How on Earth had she managed that? She still couldn’t see what was happening and Eva was still far too close for her liking. In that moment another explosion threw Val sideways several feet onto the ground. Clearly the one restraining her had been struck. She was now face down in the mud.

  “Daniel what do you think you’re doing, you fool?” Eva released the essence.

  “What’s right.” He gave a resounding response. Val rolled over to see him now standing over her, energy ball in each palm ready to protect her.

  “You can’t stop us, we’re too powerful,” Eva insisted.

  Purple lightning struck Daniel in the back and he was thrown down next to Val. He began pulling himself up.

  “Stay down if you wish to live,” Lailah yelled, purple energy skipping all over her body.

  “NOW!” Daniel yelled.

  “Get away from my daughter!” Val heard her mum before she could see her.