Chapter 10

"What’s the matter, Nick. Don’t you love me anymore?"

Nick had lost count the number of times Luke had played this game. Looking down he studied his hand, the wounds completely healed. But in their place, Nick’s right hand now bore an intricate pattern, almost like a vine twining around his wrist about a third of the way up to his elbow. The pattern was of a dark blue shade and almost against his will Nick found himself admiring the beautiful tattoo.

"You like that, do you?" remarked Luke noticing Nick’s interest. Sitting back, he studied the younger man.

"I’ll share a secret with you, young one." His voice had reverted back to normal.

"You’ve never met a true Drake, have you?"

Nick shook his head no, intrigued despite himself.

"Understandable since you are the last after all."

At Nick’s hurt look, Luke paused, surprised.

"Didn’t you know?"

"I suspected but hoped that maybe there were others. That maybe they were just in hiding."

"No. You are the last. I did not give you the markings on your hand. They were there all along. All I did was reveal them. Because of your human blood, the markings were naturally suppressed."

Silence ensued as Luke let Nick think over what he had said.

"Does that mean that all true Drakes had these markings?"

"Yes."

Nick studied his hand once again, the guilt at admiring the markings fading as he realized his mother would have had them too.

"Why?"

"Remember I told you that I had learned how to bind Drakes?"

At Nick’s nod, Luke smiled.

"Well, my bindings work best on true Drakes. To bind you I had to bring out more of your Drake side."

Nick looked up and met Luke’s eyes. At times like these, it was almost as if they were friends. But the moment Nick tried to draw on his powers and felt the shields in his mind slam into place, he was brutally reminded who Luke was. He was toying with Nick and they both knew it. As Luke stood to leave, he heard Nick whisper.

"Thank you."

Turning back he found the younger man tracing the pattern on his hand. An undecipherable expression crossed Luke’s face as he left the cabin.

Up on deck, Luke observed the vast expanse of ocean before him. He had chartered the ship they were on heading for Daisanu. Looking down into the clear waters, he waved his hand and an image appeared. It showed the cabin of another ship, its occupants unaware of their unwanted observer. Luke’s attention was focused on the dark-haired general listening intently to something the Prince was saying. From the clarity of the image, they couldn’t be more than a few hours away. Closing his eyes, Luke concentrated. In the corner of his mind, he could feel the shields on Nick and strengthened them. Once satisfied, he focused on the elements before him.

Nick felt the added weight on his mind. Feeling suddenly claustrophobic, he left the cabin and was shocked to see the dark clouds above him. They had come upon them so quickly. Noticing the crew’s attention fixed to his left, Nick turned and saw Luke, standing with arms stretched side, a pillar of water originating from the depths of the ocean before him. Nick walked towards the wizard drawn by the beauty of the spell being weaved.

Luke brought his hands together and pushed. Just as suddenly the pillar dissipated and the storm clouds dissolved. Turning towards Nick, he smiled.

"Just thought I’d send a little gift to your friends."

Nick’s eyes widened as he turned once more facing the direction a ship following them from Khiranirn would be coming from.

"They’ll never know what hit them."

"What’s in Daisanu?"

They were sitting in the main cabin of the ship and Cole was curious about their destination.

"It’s supposed to be where the sacred grove is. The landmark marking Modezarran’s prison," answered Brian.

"Daisanu’s just a small island. Last I heard, the only people living on the island were the Terayanu."

"Terayanu? I thought they were just a myth," said Howie.

"Not according to Gaia. The Terayanu are a dark-skinned race who have been guarding the grove for generations."

"So, won’t they stop Marduk?" asked AJ.

"Not if he has an army of soldiers with him."

"Riiiight, and somehow adding the eight of us will change that?" AJ looked on skeptically as Brian nodded.

"Uh-huh. I think someone needs a reality check."

Before Brian could comment, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

The captain stepped in to report.

"Looks like clear skies ahead, Your Highness. We should have smooth sailing from here on."

As if on cue, lightning flashed and thunder boomed across the sky.

"I know I’m not much of a sailor, Captain, but I’m pretty sure lightning and thunder equals clear skies and smooth sailing not."

Everyone rushed up and were shocked at the chaos that confronted them. The waves were beginning to crash and storm clouds had set on them.

"This is not possible." The Captain was amazed. Never had a storm of this magnitude appeared this suddenly.

"This reeks of magic, guys," Howie shouted over the noise.

"Cole, stay downstairs," instructed Kevin and then proceeded to direct the men with the help of the Captain.

"How the hell are we going to get out of this?"

Jayden paced the confines of the tent restlessly. Ever since the sighting of the ships, the people of Terayanu had been busy preparing for the attack. The banner of King Marduk waving proudly from the first ship warned them that it was an enemy that approached. As the chieftain’s youngest son. Jayden had been prepared to help his brothers but instead had been summoned by Tiath, the Terayanu’s Shaman.

Among all his father’s children, Jayden had been the only one to have ever forged a close friendship with Tiath. The shaman had become like a grandfather to him.

"Come here, Jayden," said Tiath as he entered the tent and sat in the middle. Motioning Jayden to sit in front of him, Tiath explained.

"There isn’t much time left. You must listen to me carefully. What we have guarded against all these years has been set into motion and it’s up to us to prevent Armageddon. I must walk the waves."

"But Tiath….." Jayden spoke up knowing fully well that at his age, Tiath would not survive the journey. To walk the waves essentially meant separating one’s soul from one’s body.

"Quiet! You must listen!"

Jayden noticed a sense of urgency to Tiath and remained silent.

"There are those I must help. You will come with me."

Grasping the younger man’s hands, Tiath closed his eyes. Jayden did the same and in the next instant he was on a ship, waves angrily crashing down around him.

"Secure that line!" he heard a man order. Turning, he saw a tall, dark-haired man, soaked to the bone. The man looked up and their eyes met.

The next thing Jayden knew he was looking at the scene from the stranger’s own eyes. He held up his hand only to see the stranger’s hand instead. He felt the stranger’s, a name came to him, Kevin. He felt Kevin’s shock at the intrusion but before either of them could react, Tiath’s voice was heard.

"Listen to me, both of you. I’m here to help you Shadow Lord. The man sharing your body is Jayden, youngest prince of Daisanu. That’s all the explanation I can give now. Trust me."

With that, Jayden felt a surge of power flow through him. Pain in is right hand as claws erupted from Kevin’s hand. A scream burst forth as both Kevin and Jayden felt the battle wage between Luke’s storm and Tiath.

Brian whipped his head around as he heard the scream even with all the racket the storm was making. There was Kevin, but he wasn’t alone. It was like they were superimposed over each other. All three of them. A young man, totally bald with dark skin gleaming and an old man with a gray beard. All three had their eyes clenched shut and a look of total concentration on their faces.

The old man’s image started fading away first but at the same time, the storm finally started to die away. Within minutes, all that was left was a few clouds and Kevin’s unconscious body lying on the deck.

An image of a young man with golden hair rose before him. The man’s sad eyes reflected the ocean he was gazing upon. With skin so fair, he felt he was seeing the most beautiful creature in the world and Jayden lost his heart.

All at once he heard Tiath’s voice in his mind.

"To save the land, him, the Dragon Prince you must kill before Jikal’s moon."

Jayden’s eyes snapped open. He was back in the tent, Tiath’s lifeless body before him.

"I miss you."

A kiss to the temple was his answer.

"I was worried you wouldn’t survive the storm."

"To quote AJ, although he can’t remember when, he’s seen worse."

Nick smiled, missing his friends even more. Kevin’s arms tightened around him.

"I’m coming for you."

"I know."

He felt Kevin fading, and when he opened his eyes, Luke was there shaking him awake.

"We’ve arrived."