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- Herausgeber: Montana Publishing LLC
- Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
- Serie: Seven Kingdoms
- Sprache: Englisch
CIA agent Asahi Tanaka grew up hearing tales from his grandfather about a mysterious realm where magic and monsters are real. His quest for answers takes him back to Yachats, Oregon, his childhood home. His personal investigation of a series of disappearances leads to a break in the case, and he finds himself in a strange but eerily familiar world.
Nali, Empress of the Monsters, will do anything to protect the creatures under her care. When one of her fabled Sea Stags washes ashore grievously injured, she knows that the last of the alien organisms that came to her world has made it to her kingdom. Her search for the alien leads to an unexpected discovery—another visitor, this one from Earth!
A perilous journey to find the malevolent alien takes Nali and Asahi across the Isle of the Monsters, leading them to a discovery that changes their perceptions and makes them reexamine their place in the universe. Will the magic that sparks between these two warriors from different worlds be enough to destroy the threat, or will one have to be sacrificed to save not only the Seven Kingdoms but Earth as well?
Internationally acclaimed S.E. Smith presents a new action-packed story full of adventure and romance. Brimming with her signature humor, vivid scenes, and beloved characters, this book is sure to be another fan favorite!
Main Content: 79,925 words
Fantasy | Saga | Dragons & Mythical Creatures | Romance (love, explicit sexual content) | Royalty | Contemporary | Paranormal (Shifters, Magic) | Multicultural
Sie lesen das E-Book in den Legimi-Apps auf:
Seitenzahl: 403
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2020
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The Monster’s Caress
A Seven Kingdoms Tale 8
S.E. Smith
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank my husband Steve for believing in me and being proud enough of me to give me the courage to follow my dream. I would also like to give a special thank you to my sister and best friend, Linda, who not only encouraged me to write, but who also read the manuscript. Also, to my other friends who believe in me: Julie, Jackie, Christel, Sally, Jolanda, Lisa, Laurelle, Debbie, and Narelle. The girls that keep me going!
And a special thanks to Paul Heitsch, David Brenin, Samantha Cook, Suzanne Elise Freeman, PJ Ochlan, Vincent Fallow, L. Sophie Helbig, and Hope Newhouse—the outstanding voices behind my audiobooks!
– S. E. Smith
Fantasy Romance
THE MONSTER’S CARESS
SEVEN KINGDOMS TALE 8
Copyright © 2020 by S.E. Smith
First E-Book Published September 2020
Cover Design by Melody Simmons
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission from the author.
All characters, places, and events in this book are fictitious or have been used fictitiously, and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, actual events, locales, or organizations are strictly coincidental.
Summary: Tales of his grandfather’s amazing journey to another world leads a CIA agent on a quest to discover the whereabouts of the mysterious Seven Kingdoms and the enchanting Empress of the Monsters.
ISBN: 9781952021480 (Paperback)
ISBN: 9781952021473 (eBook)
Fantasy Dragons & Mythical Creatures | Romance (love, explicit sexual content) | Action/Adventure | Contemporary | Paranormal (Shifters, Magic) | Multicultural
Published by Montana Publishing, LLC
& SE Smith of Florida Inc. www.sesmithfl.com
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Epilogue
Additional Books
About the Author
Synopsis
CIA agent Asahi Tanaka grew up hearing tales from his grandfather about a mysterious realm where magic and monsters are real. His quest for answers takes him back to Yachats, Oregon, his childhood home. His personal investigation of a series of disappearances leads to a break in the case, and he finds himself in a strange but eerily familiar world.
Nali, Empress of the Monsters, will do anything to protect the creatures under her care. When one of her fabled Sea Stags washes ashore grievously injured, she knows the last of the alien organisms that came to her world has made it to her kingdom. Her search for the alien leads to an unexpected discovery—another visitor, this one from Earth!
A perilous journey to find the malevolent alien takes Nali and Asahi across the Isle of the Monsters, leading them to a discovery that changes their perceptions and makes them reexamine their place in the universe. Will the magic that sparks between these two warriors from different worlds be enough to destroy the threat, or will one have to be sacrificed to save not only the Seven Kingdoms but Earth as well?
Internationally acclaimed S.E. Smith presents a new action-packed story full of adventure and romance. Brimming with her signature humor, vivid scenes, and beloved characters, this book is sure to be another fan favorite!
Who’s Who in the Seven Kingdoms Tales
The Seven Kingdoms
Isle of the Elementals – created first
King Ruger and Queen Adrina
Can control earth, wind, fire, water, and sky. Their power diminishes slightly when they are off their isle.
Goddess’s Gift: The Gem of Power.
Isle of the Dragons – created second
King Drago
Controls the dragons.
Goddess’s Gift: Dragon’s Heart.
Isle of the Sea Serpent – created third
King Orion
Can control the Oceans and Sea Creatures.
Goddess’s Gift: Eyes of the Sea Serpent.
Isle of Magic – created fourth
King Oray and Queen Magika
Their magic is extremely powerful but diminishes slightly when they are off their island.
Goddess’s Gift: The Orb of Eternal Light.
Isle of the Monsters – created fifth for those too dangerous or rare to stay on the other Isles.
Empress Nali receives glimpses of the future.
Goddess’s Gift: The Goddess’s Mirror.
Isle of the Giants – created sixth
King Koorgan
Giants can grow to massive sizes when threatened – but only if they are away from their isle.
Goddess’s Gift: The Tree of Life.
Isle of the Pirates – created last for outcasts from the other Isles
The Pirate King Ashure Waves, Keeper of Lost Souls
Collectors of all things fine. Fierce and smart, pirates roam the Isles trading, bargaining, and occasionally helping themselves to items of interest.
Goddess’s Gift: The Cauldron of Spirits.
Notable Quotes
“It is how we deal with what we are given that defines who we are and who we are to become.”
~King Ashure Waves~
Prologue
The Isle of the Monsters:
Centuries Ago
The tiny Rose Fairies fluttered with excitement. A portal had appeared near the old willow, and through it they could see a view of deep space before a graceful golden woman materialized in the opening. It was the Goddess!
The fairies clung to the branches of the magnificent old willow tree, huddled behind the cover of its many leaves, and curiously peered down at her. The bravest of the slender green fairies flew closer as the woman knelt and gently placed a mound of colorful material on the ground. When the tiny fairy flitted back and forth, trying to get a better view, the golden woman looked up and smiled.
“Watch over her,” the Goddess instructed in a melodic voice.
“We will,” the fairy promised, landing on the ground next to the brightly colored bundle.
The Goddess smiled. “What is your name?” she asked.
“Rosewood, your Majesty,” the fairy replied with a tiny curtsy.
“Thank you, Rosewood,” the Goddess acknowledged. Then she faded from view.
Rosewood gaped at the empty space where the Goddess had been a moment ago. Then she flew up and landed on the bundle. She tittered when the creature wrapped inside moved. A chorus of gasps came from the gently swaying branches.
“Be careful, Rosewood,” a fairy called out.
“You don’t know what it is,” another cautioned.
Rosewood impatiently waved the fairies’ concerns away. The Goddess had given her a task, and she would not fail.
The creature moved again, and a fold of the material fell aside, revealing an infant’s dark, round face and large gold-flaked brown eyes. Black curls peeked out from the edge of the blanket. The infant’s mouth opened, her eyes squeezed shut, and her lips twisted. For a moment, Rosewood thought the baby was about to cry. Instead, the infant sneezed loudly and cooed with delight.
Rosewood smiled and confided to the others, “In the palace rose garden, I overheard the Empress and Emperor wishing for a baby, a little girl to name Nali. This must be her. The Goddess has answered their pleas,” she announced with wonder.
“What kind of monster is she, Rosewood?” another fairy asked, fluttering above the baby.
Rosewood scrutinized the creature, tilting her head, then shrugged. “Does it matter? She is Nali—our future Empress.” Rosewood grinned at the increasing number of fairies crowding around the baby, all curious to see the creature who would one day be the Empress of the Isle of the Monsters.
Yachats, Oregon:
Twenty-six years Ago
Seven-year-old Asahi Tanaka curiously peeked out from where he was crouched behind the long sofa and winced when his father slammed the front door behind him as he left. Asahi had hidden to listen to the conversation between his father and the man who had introduced himself as Aiko, his grandfather.
They had all just returned from Baba’s funeral, so today was already difficult without his father’s anger boiling over, but the moment Hinata Tanaka had entered the house, he began shouting at Aiko. Their conversation had quickly become heated—mostly because of his father’s refusal to listen to Aiko’s explanation of where he had been and what had happened to him.
Asahi tilted his head when he heard the tires of his father’s sports car burning rubber. Once again, his father had forgotten about him. Baba, Asahi’s grandmother, would have been upset if she were still alive. She always complained that his father drove too fast on the narrow winding roads around here.
Tears burned his eyes at the thought of his grandmother. When one escaped from the corner of his eye and ran down his cheek, he lifted his hand and wiped it away. Baba would have scolded him for crying over her.
“Asahi, I know you are there. Please come out,” the man sitting in the chair instructed.
Asahi slowly crawled out from behind the sofa and stood up. He stared at the man who looked almost the same age as his father. They looked so alike that Aiko and his father could have been mistaken as twins.
“Come, sit down so we can talk,” Aiko Tanaka gently requested.
Asahi stiffened his thin shoulders and lifted his head. He silently walked over and sat in his grandmother’s favorite chair. The pristine white doilies she had crocheted were draped over each arm of the green floral-patterned upholstery. He swallowed and remained still as his grandfather studied him.
Aiko sighed and looked down at the picture he was holding. Asahi looked at the photo too. It was an old picture of Baba, his father as a child, and Aiko—and Aiko looked the same as he did now.
“How… can you be the same person?” he asked in a faltering voice.
Aiko smiled at him. “It is a long story, one that I wish I could have shared with your Baba—and one I will share with your father in greater detail if he allows it. I want to share my story with you if you would like to hear it,” he said.
Asahi eagerly nodded. “Yes. I love stories. Baba shared lots of stories with me,” he shyly answered.
Aiko chuckled. “Your grandmother was a gifted storyteller. She would have loved this one. My story begins on a foggy morning forty years ago…,” he began, leaning back in his chair.
Asahi listened with wonder as his grandfather spoke of his unbelievable journey to another world, a world filled with magic, dragons, giants, witches, pirates—and monsters. The marvels of the Seven Kingdoms sparked Asahi’s imagination.
Darkness fell while they were finishing dinner. His grandfather paused and stared at him in silence, then twisted in his chair, opened a bag hanging from it, and pulled out an ornate dagger. At the top of the hilt was a small winged lion made of gold. Aiko held it lovingly in his hands.
Asahi stared in fascination at the strange symbols embossed on the thick leather sheath. His grandfather placed the dagger on the table in front of him and nodded toward it. Asahi’s attention remained fixed on the richly detailed lion at the top.
“This dagger was a gift from a dear friend. For years, I dreamed of giving it to your father, but I was unsure if I would ever return to Yachats,” Aiko softly explained.
Asahi tilted his head. “Baba said that father does not always appreciate the things he receives the way he should. She missed you. I liked when she told me stories about you,” he confessed.
Aiko smiled and pushed the dagger toward him. “Then I will give this magic dagger to you,” he said.
A knock at the front door forestalled what Asahi was going to say. He waited until Aiko was in the living room before he ran his fingers over the hilt of the dagger. Surprise washed through him when he saw the red-jeweled handle glow. He yanked his hand away.
The sound of his grandfather’s hoarse cry of denial drew him to his feet. Asahi walked over to the opening between the kitchen and the living room. He peered around the corner to see who was at the door. His heart hammered in his chest when he saw that a police officer was talking to Aiko.
“Where did it happen?” his grandfather asked in an unsteady voice.
“Along Highway 101. It appears he lost control coming around the curve and hit the guardrail. His car flipped over the edge of the embankment and went off the cliff. Someone reported that they saw it below. He died on impact. I’m sorry,” the police officer explained.
“No,” Asahi whispered. The tears dripping down his face mirrored his grandfather’s. Anger flooded his body.
“Asahi—” his grandfather began.
“It’s all their fault,” Asahi whispered.
The police officer looked at him and frowned. “Whose fault, son?” he asked.
Asahi looked back at his grandfather. “The monsters. If they had not taken you, then you would have been here for Baba and Father. They should not have taken you. They are the reason Baba and Father are dead,” he replied in a low, fierce tone.
He didn’t wait for the police officer or his grandfather to respond. There was nothing they could say that would bring back his grandmother or his father. He hurried back into the kitchen, grabbed the dagger off the table and a dish towel from the counter, and exited through the back door.
The tears on his face mixed with the damp mist as he hurried along the uneven path into the forest behind their house. When he was about a hundred yards away, he stopped and took several shuddering breaths of the chilled air. He wiped his face with the back of his shirt sleeve.
There was an outcropping of rocks next to the path where he had often enjoyed playing. He walked over to it, dropped to the ground, and placed his grandfather’s dagger and the dish towel on the ground beside him.
It took him a few minutes to clear the dirt he had piled up near one side of the boulders. He felt along the ground until he found the large, loose rock that covered his secret hiding space. He wiggled the rock free, put it aside, and reached into the small crevice. Inside were the treasures he had collected over the past year. He scooped out the rocks, shells, and an assortment of toys he had hidden in the hollow space and tossed them aside.
Asahi carefully wrapped the dish towel around the dagger before he slid it inside the hole. He replaced the rock over the hollow area and concealed it by piling more rocks and dirt on top.
Once he was confident no one would ever find the dagger, he returned to the path. The heavy mist changed to a light rain that soaked through the dress shirt and pants he was still wearing from the funeral. There were dark patches of dirt marring his clothing, but he was beyond caring.
Asahi slowly walked back to the house, shivering from the cold and shock. His grandfather was standing in the doorway waiting for him. He stopped, and they stared at each other in silence for a minute before Aiko stepped out of the house, walked through the rain, and stood before him.
He trembled when Aiko placed a warm hand on his shoulder. “We will start over, Asahi. Yachats has too many memories for both of us,” his grandfather quietly announced.
“I took your magic knife and hid it,” Asahi confessed.
Aiko nodded in understanding. “Then you will know where it is when you are ready,” he replied.
Asahi stepped into Aiko’s open arms and hugged his grandfather’s waist. Silent sobs shook his frame. He couldn’t help wondering if the rain was Baba’s tears as she cried with him.
Chapter 1
The Isle of the Monsters:
Present day
Asahi roused suddenly from unconsciousness. He frowned when he saw a canopy of unfamiliar trees above him, not the expected Oregon sky. He curled his fingers, noting that instead of beach sand, he touched soft moss. Bright, alien colors filled his vision.
He slowly examined the surrounding area, then forced his body to move. Asahi quickly discovered that sitting up wasn’t easy when the world was spinning around him. He rested his forehead on his knees as black dots swam through his vision.
He took several deep breaths until he was confident that he wouldn’t pass out. Once he lifted his head and looked around the area, it didn’t take long to confirm his suspicion that he was no longer on the beach in Yachats State Park—or on Earth.
“Ruth,” he softly called.
He pushed up off the ground, staggering when another wave of dizziness hit him. He bent forward, resting his hands on his thighs, and waited for it to subside. It took several minutes of deep breathing before he was steady enough to stand upright.
The spell had worked. He stood in a strange forest now. Tall trees, many the size of Redwoods and Sequoias back on Earth, were towering over him. Unlike the trees back home, these had long spiraling branches with dark blood-red leaves that grew upward and branched out in huge sections. Their darker red trunks looked like dozens of smaller trees had twined around each other as they grew. The overall effect was breathtaking—and definitely alien.
He had made it to the world of the Seven Kingdoms. However, it seemed that Ruth was not with him. Magna, a former Seven Kingdoms’ resident, had given the spell to Ruth, and she had been the one to invoke it, but it was undeniable that Asahi stood here alone.
Blue, green, and yellow vines clung to the tree trunks and some had hanging fruit. He stumbled backward when he saw a small, hairy, bluish-purple mammal dart out from a hole in the trunk and grab a piece of the yellow fruit with two of its six appendages. The hairy creature turned and warily looked at him. It blinked its six eyes at alternate times before it brought the fruit closer to its chest. The animal swished its long, slender tail, which was covered in a series of fluffy purple tufts of hair, and then returned to its nest. Asahi smiled when he remembered the name of the mammal.
“A Purple-Tailed Tree Mouse,” he murmured.
He reached into the side pocket of his black cargo pants and touched his journal. It contained the information his grandfather had shared over the years. Looking down at the ground, he breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the black duffle bag that he had been carrying on his shoulder before he appeared here. He hadn’t been sure it would make the journey.
He knelt on one knee and unzipped the bag. A quick inventory showed that everything he had packed was still there. The first thing he retrieved was his 9mm handgun and shoulder holster. He secured the holster over his shoulder, then double-checked that the clip was full and the safety was on before he placed the gun in the holster and snapped the strap over the grip.
Next, he reached in and pulled out a white plastic trash bag. Inside the bag was a dirty dish towel wrapped around the dagger he had hidden twenty-six years ago. He unwound the dish towel and stared down at the dagger. It looked as pristine as it did the day he had hidden it.
The sound of chittering drew his attention back to the tree. Nearly a dozen of the Purple-Tailed Tree Mice were now gorging themselves on the yellow fruit.
He scanned the area again, looking for any sign of Ruth. There was no trace of footprints. Even from the brief time he had known Ruth, he was positive that she would have stayed nearby if she were here.
He kept the dagger out, stuffed the towel and the plastic bag back into the duffle bag, zipped it closed, and stood up again.
First things first—he needed to find shelter, take stock of where he was, and decide on his next move. If he was correct and the creatures in the tree were Purple-Tailed Tree Mice, then he was on the Isle of the Monsters. There was a rough map of the Isle in the journal. His grandfather had visited the kingdom once, but he had never ventured farther afield than the capitol city.
Asahi bent down, picked up the duffle bag, and pulled the strap over his head so it crossed his body. Based on the angle of the sunlight streaming through the upper canopy, he suspected that it was just after midday. He would have a few hours to secure a safe place for the night. The temperature was moderate now, but he suspected it would drop when the sun set.
“I think the trees may be out for camping tonight—at least that one,” he mused with a shake of his head at the colony of tiny purple creatures.
He closed his eyes and carefully listened to the surrounding sounds. The chirps of birds mixed with the buzzing of insects and the chatter of the Purple-Tailed Tree Mice. Another sound coming from his right filtered through the noise—the sound of rushing water.
Asahi opened his eyes and turned in that direction. Water meant a river or lake that could lead him to either a village or the coast. He unfastened his belt and slid the end through the loop in the dagger’s sheath. He refastened the buckle and rolled his shoulders to ease the tension in them before he set off toward the sound of flowing water. If Ruth was anywhere nearby, he hoped she would do the same.
Nali’s palace:
Underground chambers
“Keep her contained. I want no one except the gargoyles anywhere near her. See if Denae can do anything to relieve her suffering,” Nali instructed as she stepped out of the high-security containment room.
“Yes, Empress,” Di answered.
Nali looked through the thick diamond plate window. The room had been reinforced and sealed so the alien could not escape. She splayed her hand against the foot-thick steel door as she studied the suffering Sea Stag in the water tank. Two gargoyles monitored the Sea Stag mare.
“Empress, is there anything I can do?” her old guardian asked.
Nali shook her head. “No, Pai. I must do this alone,” she murmured.
The hippogriff shook his head and snapped his beak. She looked at him and smiled at his obvious disapproval.
“Your parents…,” he began before snapping his beak closed once again.
“…would have insisted that you accompany me. I understand your concern, Pai, but my parents never had to face anything like this before,” she said, looking back through the window. “She is being tortured by the alien inside her.”
Pai stepped closer, the long talons on his front legs tapping against the polished stone floor. Nali lifted her hand and gently caressed the feathers along his neck. Pai had been her guardian all her life, and she appreciated his many years of unwavering friendship and loyalty.
“I can see to the Sea Stag’s execution. I would make sure she doesn’t suffer,” Pai offered. “It would be more merciful.”
She shook her head. “Not yet. Perhaps Denae can draw the alien out of the poor creature without killing her,” she murmured.
Nali retraced her steps to the upper levels of the palace. Pai followed her. Gargoyle soldiers stood at attention as she passed. She bowed her head in greeting to each one, even as her thoughts were focused on the problem at hand.
“Nali, if there is another alien, it is best that I help you search. You need my superior eyesight,” Pai coaxed.
Nali chuckled and sighed. “You aren’t going to give up, are you?” she demanded as she stopped and faced him.
Pai tilted his head as if thinking about her question before he shook it. “No,” he teasingly replied.
Her expression softened when she saw the worry that he didn’t bother to hide. She also noticed the silvering of his feathers and the slight limp in his gait. Pai’s expert skills would be useful, but she worried about his health. He was no longer the spry young hippogriff that he had been a century ago.
“You are aware of what the alien can do. You’ve witnessed what will happen if it enters your body. We are still not sure how it does that. I hope Denae will be able to tell us. You also know that you won’t have the same protection that I do, Pai,” Nali warned, already knowing that she would give in to Pai’s desire to go with her.
“And what will happen if it takes you by surprise before you can shift? Who would be there to protect you?” he asked.
“You, of course! Do you really think I don’t know when you follow me—even against my orders?” she replied with a wave of her hand.
Pai chuckled. “I must be losing my talons,” he answered instead. “Where do we start?” he asked.
“We start where the Sea Stag came ashore,” she instructed.
Nali soared through a cloud, her long wings spread wide, leaving a faint contrail of swirling mist behind her. Pai flew beside her, his sharp eyes scanning the coast. They were close to the area where the injured female Sea Stag had washed ashore.
“Empress, there is something moving near the rocks half-a-mile north of here,” Pai called.
Nali turned north, slowly descending until she had a better view. A line of rocks rose above the surface of the water, protecting one of the many black-sand beaches that lined this part of the coast. Near those rocks, she saw a Sea Stag struggling in the surf.
“Keep a safe distance, Pai,” she warned before pulling her wings in tight against her body and diving toward the beach.
She twisted at the last second, landing on her feet. She shifted, her skin and clothing hardening to smooth and supple black marble. Her feet sank into the fine, black grains of sand, her footprints disappearing behind her as she walked over to the Sea Stag. He was lying on the beach, the lower half of his body still in the surf.
She pursed her lips to keep her outraged cry from drawing Pai down to the beach. The Sea Stag was slit from his front fin to the tip of his tail. The wound was large and it gaped, revealing bone and internal organs. It was a miracle that the stag had made it to shore.
Nali cooed softly to the stag as she approached, placing the beautiful creature into a trance. The usually bright-red scales were pale and dull as the life force faded from the beast. The stag turned his head toward her and made a barely audible whinny. She kneeled beside him in the damp sand and gently lifted his head onto her lap.
“I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect you,” she murmured, stroking the slender jaw.
The stag’s eyelids drooped, and he shuddered. Rare tears slipped from the corners of Nali’s eyes as she held the dying creature. Only great tragedy and sorrow could bring tears to a gargoyle’s eyes. She bent forward and rested her head against the stag.
“Please, I need to know what happened to you before I can let you go,” she whispered.
Another shudder ran through the stag at her request. She closed her eyes as images of the stag’s last minutes formed in her mind through her bond with the beast. When the creature’s fear hit her, she took a deep breath and gently stroked the fin between the stag’s ears.
The living black liquid had come up out of the depths of the ocean. Long tentacles had attacked the juveniles before they broke free and escaped. The alien attacked the female first. When the male rushed to defend her, the second alien struck.
The images faded before she could see what happened next. The stag’s wounds were too grave, and she sensed him slipping away from her. She lifted her head and looked up at the sky. Above her, Pai kept watch.
Nali lowered her head and tenderly stroked the young stallion before she whispered a simple incantation. Her magic surrounded the Sea Stag, engulfing the body of this once-beautiful creature in a vivid white light. When the light faded, a single brilliant gem was all that remained, and she was alone on the beach.
Nali picked up the precious stone and held it against her heart. She rose to her feet and stared out at the ocean. Pai swept down and landed near her.
“Did you learn anything?” he quietly inquired.
“There were two aliens. We have one. The second one escaped. The stallion—the stallion died before he could show me everything,” she replied in a soft voice.
“I noticed tracks leading into the forest. They belong to a troll,” Pai said.
Nali clenched her jaw. The two who found the first stag had thankfully kept their distance and sent an alert to the palace, but this troll may not have been so cautious.
“It will be night soon. We need to visit the troll village to find out who was here. We can stay there for the night and then resume our journey in the morning,” she said.
“There’s smoke rising from chimneys along the river a few miles inland,” Pai replied.
Nali nodded. She turned her hand over and looked at the red gem containing the essence of the Sea Stag stallion. Pai silently stood by as she stepped to the water’s edge and waited for an incoming wave to roll ashore. She knelt and released the gem into the receding water, watching as it carried the gem back out to sea. With a deep sigh of sorrow, she straightened and faced Pai.
“Let’s go. I have an alien to kill,” she declared. Her tone was as hard as her ebony skin.
Chapter 2
Asahi sat on an outcropping of rocks that loomed above the river and watched the first moon rise above the trees, followed shortly by the second. A sense of peace swept through him, and he focused on the emotion, the way his grandfather had taught him. The simple meditation helped keep the residual waves of dizziness under control.
He pulled his jacket out of the duffle bag, put it on, and zipped it up. His thoughts returned to Ruth Hallbrook. He genuinely hoped that she had survived her trip through the portal, if indeed she had gone through the portal at all. Throughout the day, he had searched for signs of her with no luck.
He studied the surrounding area. He had followed the flow of water that meandered southward, hoping that it would eventually lead to the coastline.
As afternoon became early evening, Asahi had started searching for a suitable place to make camp. He had finally settled on the rock platform where he now relaxed. He had needed to cross the river, but that hadn’t been an issue thanks to the natural bridge formed by the accumulation of rock and debris that had been washed downstream.
He looked across the river when he saw movement. A dozen small shaggy animals emerged out of the forest.
This spot turned out to be a good place to make camp for the night, he thought.
The yellow and brown striped animals were about the size and build of a wombat, but they had markings like a zebra. Several juveniles grunted with delight and broke for the water ahead of the adults. He chuckled when they began splashing each other.
He slid back and leaned against the rock. A poke in his side reminded him of the dagger at his waist. He adjusted the sheath to a more comfortable position and relaxed. The sound of snapping wood and the warning sounds coming from the family of yellow-striped animals drew his attention back across the river.
A bear-like creature, the size of an elephant, emerged from the forest a hundred yards from the wombat-like mammals. The bear’s low growl sent the juveniles dashing out of the water and back into the shelter of the forest, squealing in alarm. The adults took up a defensive stance, but the bear merely shook its head and ambled over to the river. The immense beast waded in and submerged itself in the gently flowing water, propping its head on a convenient rock with a contented sigh.
Asahi laughed softly. It took the striped adults a few minutes to relax. Once they did, the juveniles returned to the river with more caution tempering their enthusiasm.
“This world is amazing, Grandfather,” Asahi murmured.
As unusual as the forest appeared during the day, it was even more spectacular at night. Bioluminescent plants and insects began appearing as the evening progressed. He didn’t make a fire for several reasons. The last thing he wanted to do was attract attention to his location. He also didn’t want anything to affect his night vision.
There was now a chill in the air as the sun settled over the horizon. With a tired sigh, he reached into the duffle bag again, this time pulling out a thin thermal blanket. He zipped the bag and adjusted it for use as a pillow before lying down and covering himself. He was a light sleeper, a habit that worked in his favor because for the foreseeable future, he would have to be on alert.
Lying on his back, he looked up at the moons, and wondered if fulfilling his grandfather’s last wish was a wise thing to do. After all, there was no guarantee that he would make it back to Earth, and if he did, he didn’t know what year it would be. He had taken precautions, making sure certain items would be passed down as an inheritance. Still, would he be ready to handle a world that would have changed over a forty-year—or more—period? He knew all too well the struggles that his grandfather had faced.
He touched the hilt of his dagger, drawing comfort from it. Intense fatigue dragged at his consciousness. His eyelids drooped. The splashing river below and the chirping insects soon lulled him into a light but restful sleep.
The Troll Village
Nali and Pai landed in the center of a ring of massive thatched huts. The small community had clearly been busy with activity a few minutes ago, but the trolls had stopped what they were doing to watch her arrival. She scanned the group. They were several times larger than even her tall physique.
“Empress, what brings you to our humble village?” Zenma, the Elder troll, asked as she stepped forward. She wore a long, beautifully embroidered tunic and carried a long, carved staff.
Nali shifted into her softer form, and greeted the Elder troll. “I fear it is a matter of grave importance, Zenma,” she said.
Zenma looked down at her with concern. “Of course, Empress. Please follow me,” she said.
“Pai, check the village. If you find anything, do not engage,” she cautioned under her breath.
“Yes, Empress,” Pai replied.
Nali followed Zenma to a central longhouse. As she climbed the steps, she scanned the surrounding area. Zenma stepped through the opened doors and into the cheerful interior. Three long rows of tables, most of them as tall as Nali, stood perpendicular to a fourth table up front on a low platform. While the tables in the center of the room had bench seats, there were individual chairs beside the table on the platform.
Zenma paused and glanced with concern at the benches and chairs, then at her. It was easy to see what the Elder troll was thinking. Nali gave Zenma a reassuring smile and motioned for the old troll to sit.
“If you sit, we’ll be a little more at eye level,” Nali suggested.
“Yes, thank you, Empress,” Zenma said with a sigh as she slowly lowered herself to the bench. “I’m afraid the years are finally catching up with me.”
“How are the trolls doing? Do you need anything?” Nali politely enquired.
Zenma smiled at her. “The trolls are doing well, thank you for asking, Empress. However, I believe your visit involves a more pressing matter. Does it have to do with Elderberry and Dew, the trolls who found the Sea Stag?” the Elder troll asked.
Nali nodded. “Yes. I would like to speak with them, and I believe there is also a third troll. We’ve discovered another Sea Stag, a mortally wounded stallion. Pai saw troll tracks nearby,” she explained.
“I was not aware that there was another,” Zenma replied.
The Elder troll lifted her staff and brought it down twice in rapid succession on the hard-planked floor. A guard appeared at once.
“Find Dew and Elderberry, and tell them I wish to speak with them. Also, find out who else has been hunting recently,” Zenma ordered.
“Yes, Elder,” the guard said with a bow of her head.
Zenma returned her attention to Nali. “Are my trolls in danger, Empress?” Zenma quietly asked.
Nali reached over and laid her hand on Zenma’s. She would not lie to the Elder troll. The old troll's hand trembled under hers.
“There is a great danger to our Isle. I believe the same kind of alien that attacked the Sea Witch and the Isle of Magic is now on the Isle of the Monsters. Your trolls were the first to encounter the creature here. It is imperative that I speak with them,” she explained.
Zenma nodded. “The trolls will do whatever you require, Empress.”
“Elder, Dew and Elderberry are here,” the guard announced.
Nali transformed her skin back into the stone exterior of a gargoyle as she turned and faced the two trolls who entered. She searched their eyes for any evidence of the black swirling shadows that she had noticed in Magna’s. Twin sets of clear blue eyes watched her with a mixture of awe and nervousness, then Dew ducked his head.
“You wished to speak with us, Elder?” Elderberry inquired.
“Not I but Empress Nali,” Zenma replied with a wave of her hand.
“You were the ones who discovered the first stag, correct?” Nali asked.
“Yes, Empress. We planned to fish the cove. Dew was the first to notice the stag. It was struggling in the surf. We’ve never seen a stag this far north before and never that close to shore. Dew sensed something was wrong with it and cautioned that we should alert the palace,” Elderberry replied.
Nali looked at Dew. He was young, and from the way he kept looking down at the floor, she sensed that he was shy. She stepped closer to him, gently reached out, and touched his chin, forcing him to make eye contact. His eyes were clear; she was certain.
“What did you sense, Dew?” Nali gently asked.
Dew looked at Elderberry with a pained, almost pleading expression. Nali refrained from expressing a sigh of impatience. Trolls were clannish creatures, she knew, but this was no time to be keeping secrets from outsiders, so she was grateful when Elderberry silently encouraged Dew to speak with a motion of his hand. Dew looked at her with an expression of resignation.
“I… I… ca-ca-can sen-se th-th-things, like dan-danger. Th-the stag had a-a bl-blood re-re-red aura,” Dew stuttered.
“Dew is one of our most gifted trolls. His ability to sense danger has saved many of us from injury or death,” Zenma added.
Nali nodded. “There was another injured stag a bit farther north. My guard saw troll tracks leading away from it. Was there another troll with you?” she inquired.
Elderberry frowned and shook his head. “No, it was just Dew and me,” he said.
Dew shook his head. “I-I saw… Med-Medjuline in… in the woods earlier,” he replied.
Nali looked at Zenma. “Where is Medjuline?” she demanded.
Zenma started to reply when Pai and another guard entered the longhouse. Pai gave Nali a sharp look, indicating that he had found something. The guard bowed low before addressing his Empress and Zenma.
“Empress, Elder, Medjuline is missing. Her parents have not seen her for two days,” the guard said.
“Find her,” Zenma ordered, rising slowly to her feet.
Nali raised a commanding hand. “No, Pai and I will search for her. It is too dangerous for anyone to be near her until we know for sure what has happened. I will have some of my gargoyle guards come to the village in case she returns. Do not allow anyone near her. I cannot stress that strongly enough,” Nali sharply instructed.
“We will do as you command, Empress,” Zenma said.
“We will begin our search in the morning. Zenma, do you have lodgings we can use for the night?” Nali requested.
“It would be our honor for you to stay, Empress. Please follow me,” Zenma said.
Chapter 3
Asahi knelt behind a tree and watched as a troll he had come across stumbled and groaned. She was gripping her head and shaking it back and forth as if she were in pain. Then she unexpectedly twirled in a tight circle and ran head first into a nearby tree. Asahi braced his hand against the tree trunk to keep from losing his balance when the ground shook.
He watched in disbelief as she spun in a dizzying circle before her eyes rolled back in her head. She fell backward with a bone-shaking crash. Something was definitely not right. He slowly stood but remained hidden. He was glad of his precaution when, a moment later, he saw the troll’s unconscious body suddenly bow upward, and a black, liquid mass oozed from her mouth.
The mass coalesced, its size growing larger until it was about the size of an English Mastiff back on Earth. The liquid blob twisted and turned as if searching for another creature to inhabit. A shiver of unease swept through Asahi when the tar-like mass suddenly twisted in his direction. He remained frozen.
Something large passing overhead cast a shadow on the ground, and he looked up. Through the thick canopy, he saw two creatures flying above. The alien blob suddenly emitted a shriek, whirled, and took off through the forest in the opposite direction.
Asahi crouched down behind a large fan-shaped fern to conceal his presence as the unfamiliar creatures swooped down through the canopy. One, the hippogriff, landed on a thick branch with his wings spread wide to keep his balance while the winged woman landed beside the troll sprawled on the forest floor.
His breath caught when he saw the woman’s exquisite ebony features. Her skin was like shining armor, as if she were a beautiful statue cut from the purest black marble. She landed with such grace that there wasn’t a whisper of sound.
Asahi studied the female as she cautiously circled the unconscious troll. The woman’s eyes were the color of dark brown goldstone and held a shimmering light that made him want to gaze into her golden irises forever. Her face was heart-shaped with high cheekbones, a long, straight nose, and full luscious lips. She was lean, with small breasts, and a commanding stance that spoke of power and confidence.
She knelt beside the troll and gingerly touched the large knot on the giant female’s brow before lifting each eyelid. Then the marble woman rose to her feet and looked around with a frown.
“Pai, do you see anything?” she called out.
“There looks to be some fresh damage to the ferns leading northwest,” the hippogriff replied. “What about Medjuline?”
The troll softly moaned and the woman stepped back. Asahi stiffened when he heard the low whimper of pain. He watched as a sword materialize in the woman’s hand. The troll rolled onto her side and whimpered, lifting a large, trembling hand with thick, dirty nails to her head. The beautiful winged woman took a step toward the troll who was now struggling to sit up.
“Medjuline,” the woman said in a soft, reassuring tone.
“Hel-help me, please. Don’t… don’t let it take me again,” Medjuline choked out in a shaky voice.
“Who took you?” the woman demanded in the same soft voice.
Medjuline sat up and looked around her with wide, frightened eyes. She looked back at the woman standing in front of her with her sword at the ready. Medjuline raised a trembling hand to her brow again.
“The creature that… that came out…. The stag… the stag’s side exploded and covered me. There was a black glob…,” Medjuline exclaimed, her voice growing louder as fear engulfed her again. “It was choking me, and I couldn’t get it off!”
Compassion washed through Asahi when the troll began to cry. It was obvious now from her features and the way she spoke that she was young. She looked at her hands and rubbed them together before pushing back her dark red hair as if to make sure none of the residual goo from the black substance remained. She rocked back and forth as she sobbed.
“Where did the alien go, Medjuline? It is important that I find it before it can harm another,” the beautiful creature said.
Medjuline wiped her face with her grimy hands, leaving streaks of dirt across her dark tan skin. She looked back at the marble woman, and her eyes filled with tears.
“I don’t know. It was hurting me—my head. I had to make it stop. I wanted it out of me. I… I ran into a tree. I don’t feel it inside me anymore, but my head still hurts,” Medjuline confessed.
The woman lowered her sword and stepped forward.
“Nali!” the hippogriff in the tree growled fearfully.
Nali’s lips curved into a smile. It wasn’t one of amusement. It was a dangerous, anticipatory smile—as if she were daring anything to attack her. She rested her hand on the young troll’s arm and studied her closely. Several tense seconds passed before she whispered something so softly that Asahi couldn’t hear it.
He took in a startled breath when the marble woman suddenly changed into a version of herself that was softer, warmer, and far more glorious. Her smooth, light brown skin glowed in the filtered light of the sun above the canopy, making it appear the same color as creamy milk chocolate. Her long black hair hung in tight ringlets around her face and shoulders, reminding him of the ancient Cretan women.
“Pai, the alien has left Medjuline’s body. It is safe to come down,” she replied.
Medjuline sniffled while silent tears continued to course down her dirty cheeks. Her eyes were now filled with wonder instead of fear. She reached out a hand to the woman.
Asahi tamped down his unease. He had seen the liquid parasite leave Medjuline, and this powerful woman was certain that none remained. It was just the horrifying nature of what he had seen that was keeping him on edge. He would surely have nightmares about that parasite for days.
“Nali,” Pai cautioned again, “the alien has never left a host alive—not without far more force applied than a bump on the head.”
Nali’s expression softened as she looked at her concerned companion. “I could not say why this time is different, but the alien is gone, Pai. I am certain of it—and Medjuline is hurt and frightened. Please come down.”
Nali firmly clasped Medjuline’s hand, meeting her eyes reassuringly.
“Empress, I…. It wants to hurt us,” Medjuline said.
“I will stop it. Pai, take Medjuline back to her village. Make sure that there are ample guards to secure the area in case the alien tries to circle back,” Nali ordered.
The hippogriff landed and pawed at the ground in irritation. He shook his head. “Nali, please tell me that you aren’t planning on going after that creature alone,” Pai hissed with dismay.
