SoulQuest (30 page)

“You okay?”

“What do
you
think?”

“I get it, I do. But I need you to keep a cool head. We’re more in the dark now than ever, and last thing we need is pissing off the only ally we’ve got,” said Tanus.

Swul grunted. Tanus knew that response was pretty much the best he could hope for. “Come on, let’s hear what he has to say.”

The two men joined the others in the main temple. Quand sat near the altar and motioned for the others to sit close to him. Once they did, he folded his hands in his lap. “There is not much more that I know, I’m afraid. All I can tell you is that there is one more Soulstone, and it is beyond our reach. Yet I sense Zarim’s hand.”

“How’s it beyond our reach?” asked Tanus.

“The Netherealm, the world of the dead,” said Quand. “From what you told me of Zarim’s death, it seems he knew of this and felt this was the only way he could retrieve the Soulstone.”

“You sayin’ Zee let himself get killed so he could get that stone?” asked Swul.

“I believe so,” said Quand. “As of now, all we can do is wait. Pray that Zarim is able to retrieve it without incident.”

Jeske raised an arm and dashed forward, slicing downward. Zarim back-flipped to avoid the strike and reached to his side. But he had no weapons on him. Nothing to defend himself. He futilely patted around the spots on his belt where his sword and gun usually hung. Jeske thrust forward with a second strike and Zarim twisted, again evading the blow.
 

“Lord Vortai was able to pierce the veil and commune with me,” said Jeske. “He told me the final Soulstone is present and to find it, all I would need to do is locate you.”

“I gotta say, I’m a little surprised,” said Zarim. “After all, why would Vortai send a guy I beat to come after me again?”

Jeske growled. “Do you know what I was like before Vortai’s voice reached me? I was forced to replay my death at your hands, over and over again. My greatest failure. And each time it happened, I was aware of all the other times I’d experienced it. I lost count of how many times you killed me, Zarim. But now, I can get my revenge!”

Ekala jumped forward and kicked Jeske between his shoulder blades. He stumbled forward, twisted and came after her. “And
you
! You took Holtz’s life! The Trinity were the greatest assassins in the world before you two came along!”

“Really? The greatest?” asked Ekala, slyly grinning. “That’s actually pretty pathetic.”

Jeske’s blood boiled and he came at her with even more ferocity. She managed to dodge most strikes, but his rage only seemed to grow and fuel his strength ever more. Zarim intervened in much the same way, attacking Jeske from behind while his attention was diverted by Ekala.

Nasam held out his hand, his fingers straining. Red energy began to swirl around his palm and the air around his hand became distorted by heat waves. A small spark formed, growing into a larger sphere of fire, and Nasam recoiled as if firing a gun. The flaming ball flew, colliding with Jeske, enveloping the assassin and driving him back.
 

“Got any more tricks like that?” asked Zarim. “Because without weapons, we’re gonna need them.”

“I dare not use too much magic, because it will make it difficult to return,” said Nasam. “And if you want weapons, why don’t you just make them?”

“What?” asked Ekala.
 

“The normal rules of reality do not apply to the Netherealm,” said Nasam. “We are not physically here. The energy of your souls determines your strength. You need only channel that power in a familiar way.”

“In other words, we have to
think
our weapons into existence?” asked Zarim.

“That’s one way of putting it, yes,” said Nasam. “But hurry, we’re running low on time!”

Zarim reached down once more and imagined his sword being there, Surprisingly, he found his hand resting on the hilt. He smiled and drew the blade, pointing it at Jeske. “Now we’re talking! C’mon tall, pale and ugly, let’s finish this!”

Jeske’s clothing and flesh were charred, but the flame of Nasam’s magic no longer lingered. “Oh trust me, I will!”
 

Jeske charged. He thrust forward and Zarim deflected one gauntlet blade with his sword. Zarim’s sword moved again, clanging against the second blade. Zarim spun away and Ekala’s boomerang struck Jeske’s head. The assassin went for her and Ekala used throwing knives to try and keep him at bay. But Jeske was too fast, capable of either dodging or deflecting each blade. He crossed his arm in front of his torso, slicing into Ekala’s chest.
 

“NO!”
 

Zarim leapt, raising his sword and bringing it down in a stabbing motion. Jeske slashed over his head, knocking the sword and Zarim away. The pirate hit the ground and rolled a bit. He reached for his fallen sword, but Jeske’s foot fell atop the blade. Jeske stared down at Zarim, his eyes taking a perverted joy in the situation. Slowly, he raised the gauntlet.

“Finally...I will be free of you...”

Zarim concentrated on his free hand, closing his eyes. He could feel it forming, but not quick enough. Jeske’s arm came towards him, the blade inching ever closer. Then, Zarim threw his own hand forward and...

Bang!

Jeske’s body froze, a bullet hole in his chest. His arm dropped to the side and he fell to his knees. Zarim’s hand now held his pistol, and smoke circled from the barrel. He stood and placed the barrel against Jeske’s head and pulled the trigger. Another bang
and Jeske’s body hit the ground. His veins glowed beneath his skin, and that faint blue illumination now expanded across his entire body. The glow became brighter and brighter, almost blinding them. Once it faded, Jeske was gone.

Zarim went over to Ekala’s side. Her veins were beginning to glow beneath her skin as well. “What the hell happened to Jeske? What’s happening to Ekala?”

Nasam approached, placing his hand on Ekala’s head and closing his eyes, whispering some words in a language Zarim couldn’t even begin to understand. When he opened his eyes, he said, “she’s dying.”

“How can she die? We’re in the realm of the dead!”

“Her soul has been damaged, the energy is leaking. That’s what happened with your pale friend,” said Nasam.
 

“Well
do
something! She came here to rescue me, not to die herself!”

“We must return to our bodies, now,” said Nasam. “Restoring her soul to her body could stop the process.”

“
Do it!
”

Nasam nodded and clutched the pendant around Ekala’s neck. The glow from the gem had become faint. He concentrated, muttering some words and the red glow expanded to her body, taking her away from the Netherealm.
 

“Did it work?” asked Zarim.
 

“I won’t know until I return, but first the Soulstone,” said Nasam. “It’s important you do exactly as I say.”

Zarim nodded. “Right, of course. Just tell me what to do.”

“Pick it up,” said Nasam.

Zarim went to the altar and wrapped his hands around the Soulstone. He raised it from its podium. “Okay, now what?”

“I want you to picture all five stones coming together. Close your eyes and think of the four-pointed star. A Soulstone on each end with the fifth one in the center.”

Zarim focused, closing his eyes and thinking on the star. He pictured it in his mind’s eye, remembering how it looked both at the cathedral in Serenity and the temple in Xanadar. Just as he had before, Zarim could feel the stone’s power coursing through his body, permeating every aspect of it. He could feel its power being open to his use.

“Do you feel it?” asked Nasam.

“Y-yeah, I do...”

“Use it!” said Nasam. “The Soulstone wants to return to its brothers! Let it!”

And with that, Zarim and the Soulstone vanished in a burst of green energy. Nasam clutched his own pendant and muttered the same incantation he used to send Ekala back. And when he opened his eyes, he found that he, too, was now back. He jerked up with a start, surprising Templar.

“I see you’ve managed to make it back,” he said.

“Ekala, is she still...?”

Templar squinted. “What are you talking about? She’s exactly as she was when you both went into that trance.”

Nasam immediately moved to Ekala’s unconscious body. He wasn’t sure if her soul was intact enough to survive the journey. He placed his hand upon her head. Most of his power had been used up in Netherealm, but he hoped he had enough left to cast a healing spell on her.
 

“Templar, the blue potion on the shelf, give it to me.”

Templar nearly jumped, rushing to the shelves and searching through their contents. He looked among the different bottles, pushing them aside, the glasses clinking against each other. “Which one? There are five different blue potions!”

“It should be a light blue, almost like it’s glowing,” said Nasam.

Templar grabbed the one that seemed appropriate. He dropped to the ground, moving next to Nasam and handing him the bottle. “This one?”

Nasam took the bottle and popped it open. He held Ekala’s head in his lap and poured the liquid down her throat. Tossing the empty bottle over his shoulder, Nasam placed his hands on her head once more and continued his incantation with his eyes shut.
 

“What’s happening?” asked Templar.

Nasam didn’t respond, just continued holding Ekala’s head once the incantation was finished. Her body remained still and her face looked pale. And then, just as he thought that all hope was lost, she began coughing, specks of the potion flying out and flecking Nasam’s robe. Both he and Templar allowed themselves to breathe normally once again.

“What’s going on?” asked Ekala. “Did it work? Where’s Zarim?”

“I think he’s back,” said Nasam.

“So where is he?” she asked.

“Likely back with his body,” said Nasam.

“Where would that be?” asked Templar.

“Xanadar,” said Ekala. “That’s where Swul said they were gonna take him. We have to—”

The ground started to rumble. The tremor quickly grew fiercer, and Nasam’s books and bottles were thrown from the shelves. The three had trouble standing themselves. “Earthquake?” asked Ekala.

“No,” said Nasam, eyes widening. “I fear it’s much worse.”

A massive fist broke through the door and tore it from the hinges. Those hands then tore the frame, making the entrance larger. The figure who stood in the new doorway was a massive behemoth with gray skin. He grunted as he saw the three inside, and tore at the wall of the shack.

Templar held up his cane, activating the pulse sword. He thrust forward, but Graf simply swatted him away, throwing the thief against the wall. Ekala released a pair of throwing knives, but they had no effect on Graf’s thick hide. The monstrous creature broke through, wrapping his large hand around her legs and holding her tight.

Graf moved aside and as he pulled Ekala from the shack, she saw Lord Vortai, his eyes glowing. He shook his head at her and then stepped inside the house, seeing his old teacher lying on the ground. Vortai stepped closer and knelt down by him.

“Oh Nasam, what has become of you?” he asked. “Living in isolation like this? Like an animal?”

Nasam sat up and grinned. “Better to live as an exile than to live in a world where a vicious bastard has the ear of the Emperor.”

“I sensed your interference, and you must be why Jeske has not returned,” said Vortai. “Tell me, old friend, what have you done?”

“You’re too late,” said Nasam. “The Soulstones have been assembled. And you won’t reach them in time.”

“Hmm, you make a strong case.” Vortai stood and pointed up. Nasam was thrown to the ceiling by invisible hands and held there. His arms and legs were forcefully spread out. Vortai stared at his old teacher. “You always thought you were above me, Nasam. But you overplayed your hand. Used up all your power in the Netherealm. And now, I get to show you just how vicious I can be.”

“Stop!” Ekala struggled against Graf’s hands, but his grip was far too strong. She may as well have been wearing shackles.

Vortai’s eyes crackled with emerald energy. It surrounded his entire body and he reached for Nasam. The energy arched out for the old mage, engulfing him. Something began glowing in the center of Nasam’s chest, getting brighter and brighter. Nasam’s eyes went blank, his body starting to convulse. The ball of energy that came from Nasam’s chest started floating down, following the green energy chain that linked the two men. As it came to Vortai, the warlock cackled, his laugh sending chills down Ekala’s spine.
 

And then, the energy vanished. Nasam fell from the ceiling and landed on the table, the legs buckling under the sudden weight and breaking. Vortai turned away from his dead teacher and pointed now at the unconscious Templar. The thief was raised up by Vortai’s power and floated out of the hut. Graf looked at Ekala and then Templar.

“Which would you like to drain first, My Lord?”

“Just try it, you bastard! I’ll make sure you choke on me!” said Ekala.

“Neither,” said Vortai. “That insufferable old fool was right about one thing: Quand has all five stones and he is going to prepare his spell. These two will ensure that we have more time on our hands. They come with us.”

Ekala sneered at him. “You really think they’re gonna risk you getting your hands on the stones? Those things will be long gone before you reach Xanadar!”

“I think not,” said Vortai. “You just risked death to save Zarim’s soul. He won’t allow you to die. Not yet.”

Reyche stepped into the basement of the temple, where Zarim’s lifeless body still lay in front of the four Soulstones. Only the fifth slot, in the center of the star, remained vacant. And from what Quand had told them, that slot would be difficult to fill. Standing in the corner of the room, a cigar clenched between his teeth, was Swul. After they spoke with Quand, he’d returned to the basement to watch over his friend.

“Any news?” asked Reyche.

Swul grumbled.
 

Apparently not. Reyche lowered the hood of her cloak and walked over to Zarim, gently laying a hand on his. It was cold to the touch. Not unlike, she surmised, her own condition. She wondered, if Zarim did return, would he be like her? And would he really want to live a life like that?