Emily’s Revenge (The Mamluks Saga Book 3) (10 page)

Juozas screeched as he ran to her.
“No!”
He slid to the ground and lifted her into his arms. “Isabella!” He shook her lifeless body. “My love!”

Her eyes were glossed over and her mouth was hung open. Juozas closed his eyes and released a set of tears.

I smiled and aimed at his head. Years ago, when he was just a boy, he had beat me in a game of cat and mouse. At that time, Adomas had told me that I should have been the cat because Juozas hadn’t matured. “Your father was right, Juozas.”

He carefully lay Isabella down and looked up at me with fuming eyes.

At last, I would have my revenge. “I should have been the cat.”

With stark speed, Juozas ignited his laser and leaped to his feet.

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I
attacked Mother with a fast combination. She backed up and blocked it with a laser orb. Mother ducked down and slid through my legs. She tried to shoot me from the floor but I did a back flip over her. I landed beautifully and fired a constant beam at her.

With only moments to spare, Mother spun around and blocked it with an orb. She rolled to the side, trying to elude the beam, but I stayed on her, ripping the rocking ground apart. Mother leaped through the air and blasted me with rapid-fire as she came down.

I ducked and rolled toward her. I tried to kick her legs out but she hopped over my foot. Mother swung at me with her laser orb, backing me up. I fought back with my orb, and they sparked against each other. We held our ground for a moment, and the flashing light from both lasers blinded me.

I could see Mother’s eyes flinching, too. Finally, I rolled to the side and fired a constant beam. Mother dropped to the ground and shielded herself with an orb. She made it bigger as I rushed ahead.

The lasers collided and made a loud buzzing sound. The force staggered me a bit. I saw Mother fall back, still controlling the laser orb. Out of desperation, she flipped backward off the ground and got back to her feet.

Still, I kept my beam on her, and she countered with a constant beam. The lasers blasted into each other and grew bigger at a rapid pace. We backed away simultaneously. From afar, I saw Mother throw her hands to the side and jump away from the beam.

I lost control of my hold and the laser hit the cave ceiling. Large chunks came falling down. Mother quickly looked up like she had just realized something. She grinned and fired a constant beam at the ceiling—in my direction.

I ran the other way as rocks came down, nearly hitting me as I ducked and weaved. Mother was relentless. She chased me with the beam, still aiming at the ceiling. Before long, she broke through the rock and a burst of wind and rain rushed into the cave, making us both stumble.

I fell to the ground and saw Samantha shaking from the sharp winds. I crawled to her and lifted her into my arms. Out of nowhere, Mother came at me with a running knee. She struck my back and I fell face first into the ground. Luckily, I was able to hold onto Samantha, protecting her from the fall. 

I was woozy, and I could see blood in my eyes. I turned over onto my back and saw Mother getting up. She aimed at me, then quickly lowered her arm, realizing I was still holding Samantha.

The wind got stronger and stronger. Mother lost her balance and fell down. I got up and tried to run out of the cave, but the wind speed held me back. I dropped to one knee and tried to move ahead. Mother came from behind again with a kick to my head.

I dropped to my shoulder, and Samantha fell out of my arms. Mother tried to pick her up but I kicked her hands away. I staggered to my feet and tackled her to the floor. I punched Mother hard, and a deep cut glinted across her cheek. She was dazed.

I quickly tried to shoot her face, but Mother had just enough awareness left to block it with an orb. I slapped her arm away and tried again, but she blocked it. Frustrated, I tried to crush her with an elbow, but she moved her head out of the way just in time.

My elbow hit the ground, and the sudden pain shocked me. Mother capitalized and kneed me in the groin. I screeched and fell down hard. She flipped up and tried to shoot me, but I was able to roll away.

Mother ran at me and threw her body into my legs. I lost my footing and went crashing down to the ground. The impact was devastating. My energy level decreased dramatically.

Not again. Not now.

I was exhausted.

Still, I had to keep fighting. I took a deep breath and rose to my feet. Mother ran at me, but the wind stopped her just before she could shoot. I made an orb around my fist to block her.

As she stumbled, Mother sent wild rapid-fire at me that missed badly. On my feet, I could feel my body getting heavier and heavier. I lowered myself to my knees and exhaled deeply.
Come on, get up.
Mother regained her balance and marched toward me.
Get up.
She was getting closer.
Get up, Juozas.
And closer.
Get up!

Finally, I caught a glimpse of Isabella’s inert body and rose to my feet. A moment later, Mother created a laser orb and swung at me with astonishing speed. An enormous surge of rain came down through the gaping hole in the ceiling. I held my orb high and blocked Mother the best I could.

I stepped to the side and carefully backed away. I was going toward the pit. Mother was moving faster and father, thrashing her laser all around, making me dizzy. I staggered back further and further before finally falling down. I was a few feet from the pit—and I was spent—I had nothing left. Mother could have shot me right then and I wouldn’t have been able to block it.

Instead, she took her time and enjoyed the apparent victory.

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I
looked down at Juozas with a smile. He was trembling, trying to lift his arm to defend himself. Like his fight with Adomas, he had lost his strength. I hadn’t understood the first time, but now it was quite clear.

The power of
ozlon
is based on the emotions of its host. In Juozas’s case, he had turned to humanity—and abandoned the colder side of his Mamluk existence. He had chosen the weaker side of his being—the human side.

By contrast, like Adomas had told me, I had abandoned my humanity and embraced the ways of the Mamluks. Unlike humans, I had become fearless and strong.
That it why I was able to defeat Andrew—and now Juozas.

I aimed at him. “It’s true, Son: humanity has made you weak.”

He shook his head at me with tears running down his face. “No. Embracing my humanity allowed me to stabilize the
ozlon
I carry. It made me stronger.”

“Did it? If I recall, you defeated Adomas without the power of
ozlon
.” I grinned. “The stabilization is just that—stabilizing the
ozlon
—balancing your emotions.” I stepped closer. “But you’ve balanced them with the wrong side.”

Juozas barely lifted his arm and created an orb around his fist.

“Now you see the truth about humanity. Is that what you want—to be human—to be weaker?” I blasted him with a constant beam. He narrowly blocked it with his orb, but the force from the colliding lasers sent him tumbling into the ghastly pit.

I heard him scream loudly as he descended into the darkness below. I walked to the edge of the pit and looked inside. Juozas was gone. “Goodbye, My Son.” I turned off my
sija
and let out a deep exhale.

From above, it appeared as if the storm had ended. It was still raining hard, but the winds had calmed and the thunder and lightning had silenced. I headed toward the cave exit and found Samantha. I picked her up and hugged her close to my chest. “Come on, Dear. Let’s go home.”

When I got outside, I saw the soldiers regrouping. My ship was gone, and Nojus was nowhere to be found. I pointed to a soldier and waved her over. “You there, come here.”

She hurried to me. “Yes, My Ruler.”

“Give me an update.”

“The war is over, Great Emily. The rebels are dead.”

I proudly nodded. “I am tremendously pleased.” I turned with her and marched on. “Find Azar and bring him to me.”

She jogged ahead. “Right away, My Ruler.”

A group of soldiers approached me, and one of them spoke up. “Great Emily, shall we return to the space pods and ascend from Turkland?” 

“No. Not until I’ve made my declaration to the Turks.” I stopped and turned to him. “In the meantime, I want you to find Nojus.”

All at once, they promptly bowed and went on their way.

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I
t seemed as if I would fall forever. Finally, I landed on a soft, slippery slope and slid down to a rocky ground. I hit hard and rolled for a few feet. In pain, I gripped my shoulder and closed my eyes. From afar, I could hear all kinds of strange noises. I opened my eyes and carefully rose to my feet.

I turned around and saw a massive, mystifying jungle. There were majestic birds flying around, giant critters crawling up the enormous trees, and a shiny, scaly animal slithering along the rocky walls.

The Underworld.

I turned back around and went to the slippery slope I’d come down on. I tried to climb back up but it was no use. Feeling even more exhausted than before, I put my head down and crumbled to my knees. Slowly, I turned around on the ground and sat back against the slimy slope.

I had been defeated. My love was dead, and my spawn had surely been taken again. The rebellion was no more, and here I was, trapped in an unknown world. I was afraid to go forth—but I had no choice.

I rose and firmly marched into the misty jungle. The birds chirped at me as I moved ahead. I came up to a tree and saw a strange piece of fruit dangling from a thick vine. I pulled it off and took a big bite. It tasted good, so I ate it all, then grabbed a few more and stuffed them in my boot.

I walked past a row of trees and came to a massive crater. Down below, far into the distance, I could hear loud roars and eerie shrieks. My fear heightened as I stepped into the crater and gradually went down. I almost lost my footing and nearly fell down the rocky surface.

When I got to the bottom, I turned and checked the area. I shuddered as I looked around at a never-ending wilderness. There were so many different creatures moving around and flying overhead.
How am I going to survive this?

Maybe I’m not supposed to survive. Maybe this is my grave. My end.
I turned and glanced up the crater I had come down. I could have gone back up and stayed in that jungle.
Why not die there?

Still, after taking a moment to contemplate, I decided to keep going. I looked back to the wilderness and gradually moved ahead.
Forgive me, Samantha.

A moment later, I looked up and saw a giant, grisly bird swoop down with its claws at the ready. I sparked my
sija
and fired a steady laser beam. The bird dropped to the grassy terrain. I carefully walked to the creature and studied it. I bent down and touched its side. Clearly, the bird was dead.

From above, I heard several birds shriek. I looked up and saw them coming at me. More and more began to swoop down. I got up and backed away with my
sija
aimed, but I didn’t want to kill them.

Instead, I turned around and tried to find a place to hide. Just ahead I saw a tall, narrow tunnel. I ran to it and quickly got inside before the birds could attack me. I stayed there for a long while and waited until the birds calmed and flew away.

I stepped out of the tunnel and sneaked ahead, being extremely cautious. If this was to be my end,
The Underworld
would have to give me its very best to finish me.

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I
made it back to the base. Azar was being held down by a group of soldiers. Still holding Samantha, I walked up to him. There were thousands of ships flying overhead, headed for the space pods, and hundreds of ground troops patrolling the area.

I watched Azar for a moment, and he looked back at me with a hateful stare. I stepped closer. “The war is over, but our presence on Turkland will continue.” I glanced at Samantha and kissed her cheek, so thankful to have her safe in my arms. “To decrease the chance of
any
rebel resurgence, a unit of soldiers will remain on Turkland to monitor you and your kind. If they deem it necessary, they will search your huts, interrogate anyone they see fit, and kill those who disobey orders.” I looked back at Azar. “Do you understand?”

He growled and grit his fangs. “Yes, Master.”

I smiled. “Very good.”

A group of soldiers came marching forward, pushing along a small group of young Turks. One of the soldiers stepped away from the crowd and walked up to me to explain.

“On our way back, we found these stragglers, My Ruler.”

“Father!” a young Turk in the group yelled. The little creature ran to Azar and bent down over him, like it was trying to protect him from us. “Leave my father alone!”

Another little Turk ran from the group and went to Azar. “Father, they killed Mother.”

Azar growled mightily and tried to rise, but the soldiers shoved him back down. The two little Turks attacked the soldiers, and one of them got shot with a laser.

Azar jumped up and let out a deafening roar, breaking free from the soldiers who were holding him. He quickly pushed his other child away. “Run, Theron!”

The young Turk dashed into the forest before the soldiers could shoot. The soldiers chased after him with rapid-fire, but I quickly called them off.

“Let him go. There’s nowhere to run or hide.” I looked back to Azar with a grave stare. “Still, you will pay for that.”

There were a few Turk onlookers gathered by the trees, looking down at their supposed King with frowns. They were holding daggers and spears, too. I ordered the soldiers to take the weapons from the spectators and use them to kill Azar. A few Turks resisted, and the soldiers immediately blasted them.

The soldiers holding Azar pinned him down even harder, shoving his face into the mud. The soldiers with the spears and daggers laughed as they approached, and their reaction made me smile.