This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, locations, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
First Edition, 2013 published in the United States of
America Three Graces Publishing.
ISBN: 061582580X (paperback)
ISBN-13: 978-0-9883695-2-8 (ebook) To Mom, Dad, Ewa, Alex, Amanda, and Matt You all deserve the credit once again. Thank you for being part of my life.
Special thanks to the Writers in The Rain: Brenda
Beem, Eileen Riccio, Fabio Bueno, Martina Elise Dalton, and Suma Subramaniam. To my friends and beta readers. To my amazing graphic designers, Jeannie Ruesch and Martina Elise Dalton. To my family and friends for believing in me. I dedicate this book to you.
THE AMULET
Acopoth was the first to arrive. His six brothers would
join him soon. The sun hurt his flesh, sending a prickling sensation over his hands and wrists. Sacred runes ran over his skin in an intricate maze of symbols, lines, and ancient words, disappearing under the sleeves of his long white cloak. The markings were raised up in his skin like thin faintly-colored ridges. The cloak with an oversized hood protected the rest of his body from the harmful heat of the mortal world’s sun. He was tempted to cover his hands, but even a small patch of his exposed skin helped to draw the magic from the earth. He felt the power rising slowly, laboriously, pulling itself from the hot sand and to his fingers, entering him, and spreading through his body. Magic extracted near ley lines was the strongest in its uncontaminated state, unmodified by the living creatures and plants. Magic from where the two main ley lines crossed was the purest of all, because that’s where the only portal to the Mages’ parallel world existed. The others began arriving at once. First, white wisps of vapor swirled in front of Acopoth, slowly solidifying into a broad-shouldered figure of Zentehta. Next, a bright- orange fog materialized into Laintre, and a soft blue—into Xandah. A moment later Meresh stepped out of a black miasma, and Tuleilan appeared from a green cloud. They formed a circle, leaving space for the last Mage. Yellow vapor danced in the empty spot, slowly becoming the solid figure of Brentarion. Seven brothers stood, covered in white cloaks, deep hoods shading their faces. Each of them stretched their arms forward, exposing the sacred runes on their hands. They drew the magic from the core of the planet, all the way to their fingertips. Their bodies were now outlined, each in the color of their own powers. An acrid smell of the Earth’s concentrated magic became stronger. The Mages’ whispered incantations got louder, a chorus of well- balanced low voices that perfectly fit together. A sphere formed around them, like a soap bubble, colors mixing and sliding over the surface. Sand rose outside it, as if stirred by a wild wind. The Mages slowly upturned their hands, so the palms faced up. Each held a swirling ball of condensed magic. At once they threw the balls into the heart of the circle, chanting together the spells in a language only known to them. A thick pillar of bright light burst up from the sand, sending it flying in all directions. It stretched high up, pierced the sky, and continued far away into the Universe. The ground shook, but the Mages stood firm, unmoved. Magic pulsed around them, traveling from the core of the Earth and through their bodies. It shot out in short, bright snaps, zigzagging between their fingertips— from one brother to the next. Flowing around their circle, it connected each of them to the pillar of light. As the earthquake continued, the ground opened outside the sphere in long, deep gashes. The first gust of hot wind was powerful, but the next brought a full-fledged storm. Sand rushed at the protective sphere, covering it for a moment, and then passing further, away from them, as if on a mission of unstoppable destruction. The direction of magic in the pillar of light reversed and now tore down from the Universe, all the way to Earth’s heart. The brothers’ chanting became louder, until they were shouting their incantations. Their heads were bent, and faces hidden deep in the shadows of the hoods. Trapped by the Mages, the Universe’s powers angrily struck the planet. In a matter of minutes the Earth’s magnetic fields had reversed, and hot lava sprayed from new volcanoes awakening around the planet. Hurricanes and tornadoes ravished the lands and the waters. Tsunamis claimed the ground, and meteors rained down from the skies, as if punishing the Earth for tapping into the powers of the Universe. The madness of destruction had continued, while the brothers chanted in loud, strong voices, determined to finish the task they had agreed to complete for the Winter Goddess. The day turned into night, and then everything went still—as suddenly as it had started. The winds and the earthquakes ended, and the meteors stopped bombarding the planet. The waters retreated from the lands, and only a few volcanoes continued their assault on the surrounding areas. The Mages brought their arms down, fingers splayed and pointed toward the ground. Magic still floated around and through them, but its pillar, gushing down from the Universe, thinned, until it became no wider in diameter than a sapling. It continued to shrink and lost most of its brightness, until it stopped completely. The night gave way into a new day, and the sun rose on the horizon once more. Many doors to the other parallel dimensions were now opened by the powers of the Universe. Otherworldly creatures began to come through, attracted by the unusual mix of magic. Outside the protective sphere, gathered a huge crowd of nymphs, fairies, demons, and other abominations. They stood, eagerly watching the Mages, waiting for permission to claim the Earth. Neither made a sound. Some were pure and beautiful, while others bore a mark of dark and dangerous forces. The brothers stepped in close toward the center, tightening their circle. They guarded whatever was now inside the sphere from the beings that waited outside. Magic, thick and strong, lazily swirled around the hooded figures. It stretched in gentle wisps toward the sphere, testing it, trying to find a crack through which it could set itself free. Half-buried in the sand lay a beautiful, intricately-cut jewel. Magic emanated from it in bright, colorless rays. The air around the jewel quivered, distorting its edges. Each of the Mages extended one hand over it, palm facing down, and resumed his quiet incantations. Their own powers that now rained down from their hands were like a rainbow of colors, mixing and separating, each trying to overwhelm the other. The gem beamed from yellow to red to purple to green, and then milky-white, only to turn deep black and fade to a rich blue. The colors cycled through a few more times faster, almost frantically, until light burst out of the jewel in a cascade of blue rays. All brothers stood, bathed in blue light. Each, except for Xandah, withdrew their hands and waited. The sphere pulsed with magic, and the dense crowd of creatures outside took a few steps back, some shouting in fear, the others murmuring curses or words of awe. Xandah’s chants became louder, his deep, low voice rising over the others. He kneeled by the jewel, with both hands cradling the air right above it. The gem rose from the sand, slowly lifting to Xandah’s fingers. He grasped it gently and turned his hand up. The blue jewel rested on his palm. “Amulet,” Laintre said in a raspy whisper. Each of the Mages repeated the word, nodding their approval. Xandah handed the Amulet to Meresh, who silently inspected it. The jewel made its way from one brother to the next, until Brentarion returned it to Xandah for safekeeping. Now they had to deliver it to the Goddesses— Crystal, of the Winter, and Amber, of the Summer. Acopoth thought about Amber. She would not be pleased, since it was Crystal who had secretly commissioned the Amulet from them. But the Goddesses’ quarrels were not their concern. The Mages only wanted to ensure stability in this world, by giving each Goddess a responsibility to protect it. They had captured the powers of the Universe, and entwined them in the Amulet. Their job was done. Now the Goddesses had to follow the Mages’ requirements. Crystal and her Winter Shape Shifters would hold the Amulet for one thousand years, and then peacefully pass it to Amber and the Summer Shifters for safekeeping. This process would be repeated every one thousand years, or until either the Mages decided otherwise, or one of the Shifter Races ceased to exist. Laintre touched Xandah’s arm and pointed to the Amulet in his brother’s tight fist. Blue-colored magic seeped through between Xandah’s fingers. He opened his hand and Laintre caressed the gem. Thick gold wires wrapped themselves around the Amulet, twisting over it, and then into a long rope-chain. Acopoth tapped the chain with one long finger. A clasp appeared in a shape of a howling wolf, with the head turned up, and the eyes almost shut. The wolf’s fur was beautifully detailed. All of the Mages leaned over the Amulet, examining its new setting of gold. Hundreds of small golden and blue specks shined on their faces, as the sun rays reflected off the jewel. “You favor the Winter Race, my brother,” Meresh said slowly. “But you know the Amulet must protect them all. The humans too.” Zentehta stretched his palm over the jewel and moved his hand once in a circle. A fire-like script coiled itself over the Amulet’s edge, barely touching its surface. The runes that crawled around the gem came from the Mages’ ancient language. “I am the protector of life. I am the guardian of balance. I keep them safe. The Shifters and humans alike,” Meresh read the script. All his brothers nodded in consent. It was time for them to leave. Acopoth knew that his brothers didn’t like Earth. It was so much different from their own Realm. And the sun, that hot, prickling sun burned their flesh, even under the cloak of magic. The only good thing about this place were the Shifter women. Not the human, but the Summer and the Winter Shifters. They were strong and beautiful; and the Earth’s magic condensed and increased around them, making them irresistible to the Mages. Xandah closed his fingers around the Amulet. The chain spilled down from his hand and gently swung from side to side. Together, the brothers whispered sacred words from the beginning of time. The protective sphere began circling around them, first slowly, and then gaining speed. The magic spun into a smudge of interlocking colors. A gasp tore from the sea of throats. All abominations ran away from the sphere, finally realizing they were not in their own worlds, but on Earth. And they were not welcome here. Some of them rushed through the closing doors to their own dimensions, either making it back in time, or becoming crushed and dissolving into nothingness. But most stayed there, drawn to a strange divergence of this new place. The protective sphere shattered into thousands of small jagged pieces, sharp like glass. It burst outwards, as if chasing after the running creatures. One by one, the brothers vanished through the miasma of their colored magic. Acopoth stayed a while longer, watching the night sprawl over the desert. The whispers and cackles of the otherworldly creatures mixed with the stillness of the cooling air. Many eyes shone brightly in the blackness, some still or slowly blinking, the others darting in fright or looking for prey. The new era on Earth had begun.
This is one of five fantasy stories included in this
anthology. If you enjoyed it, please download the full book from Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Forged-Magic- Origins-Series- ebook/dp/B00D3Y9ST4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=13702 88884&sr=8-1&keywords=Forged+by+magic