The Dark Magical World of Alamptria (7 page)

“Hmm, that’s new!” exclaimed Caprius, amazed at what Calista had done. He didn’t stop to celebrate for long, as the battle continued to rage: hundreds of vampires amid the many fallen and two soldiers whose powers protected them as long as they were vigilant.

After another half an hour of fierce fighting, Caprius and Calista were soaked in sweat, euphoric from endorphins, and energized for whatever other plans the vampires had for them. The ground was covered with bodies; blood pooled up all around and reflected the coming evening light.

From the relative safety of the rooftop where Thornin Goncool took refuge behind a pile of vampire corpses, he continued to watch, dismayed at the ineptitude of his cult. The last vampires, those who had sustained the fight and were the strongest and boldest, were tiring while Caprius and Calista interestingly seemed to be gaining energy.

Calista cast a flame through the air so big it engulfed over seventy vampires, sending them withering into dust piles atop one another. The sky was lit up red from even more fire Caprius sent up that engulfed many more vampires who, too, came crashing down dead. Bruiser vampires trying brute strength came toward Calista, who nimbly sprang into the air. They bashed into one another, and she landed on top of their heads, then hopped to the ground, landing on her feet and one hand, her other hand pointing with her sword of power at another faction of remaining vampires.

Every time she and Caprius defeated another one, two, twenty, forty vampires, they let themselves hope the numbers would begin to diminish. They had strength to spare, but at the same time, Calista began to wonder when it would start to wane. They might have been imbued with magic power, but they were still human. She couldn’t feel this powerful forever, she knew. As soon as she vanquished another group, she would look up and see yet another standing before her, roaring hideously, their fangs dripping with blood.

Suddenly, the church bells rang out. The vampires screamed and held their pinched little pointed ears. Many of them tried to fly up above the din, and so many of them fled into the sky, they flew erratically and crashed into one another. Caprius and Calista cringed at the noise, but they were more pleased to see how much it bothered the vampires. They took some deep breaths and wiped the sweat from their faces on their sleeves.

Then the noise stopped. The vampires turned on the pair with reinvigorated purpose, as if the knights had been the cause of the noise.

“Had enough?” Calista yelled to them. She beckoned with her left hand. “Come on. Show me what you’ve got.”

Caprius muttered, “Don’t encourage them, Calista.”

“Caprius, seems to me they don’t need much encouragement,” she said. The creatures reared up and charged. They crashed into Caprius and Calista only to be brutally smacked by an invisible force emanating from their claymores. The creatures flew back, crashing into the walls and windows of the shops. Undeterred, they shook themselves off as would dogs after a bath, then came back for more. Calista and Caprius swung without pause, decapitating each vampire who came before them. At one point, Caprius’s aim was poor, and a head bounced off Calista’s shoulder, leaving a mark. “Eeww,” Calista cried out before instinctively hitting the ground in time for a creature to swoop right down to where she’d been standing. She simply thrust her sword into the creature’s face and channeled her powers, which caused the head to burst into flame. As the creature melted and disintegrated, Calista rolled out of the way. She looked up to see nine vampires hovering above her. She sent a lazy flame into the air that spread out like a cross, crucifying the creatures. She dodged the little vampire fireballs that came raining down and ran back toward Caprius just in time to see forty or more vampires flying in circular formation above them like a growing storm.

That gave them an idea. They looked at each other and at the same time gleefully said, “Fireball!”

They raised their swords and launched a large flame that expanded into the sky and surrounded the formation of vampires like a blazing tornado. Every last remaining vampire disintegrated, and their burning embers fell like rain down onto Jethro, lighting the stores, the houses, and the streets below. People ran outside from the shops and the pub screaming.

Caprius and Calista watched the panicked scene, feeling sorry for the people of this city. But, the crackling of fire and an untamed wind were the only sounds remaining. No more beating wings, no shrieking vampires. Nothing. Their faces lit up by the fires, Caprius and Calista stood looking at the hundreds of dead corpses that surrounded them. They wove through the maze of corpses admiring their handiwork. “Where… on earth… did you learn to fight like that?” he finally asked her, his voice incredulous and thrilled.

“I may have learned a thing or two from you,” she shrugged, grinning.

The two bantered flirtatiously, unaware that remaining on a nearby rooftop was Thornin Goncool staring down at them. Thornin wiped his brow then snarled, his fist clenched. “You may have won this little battle, knights of Petoshine. But the real war is yet to come.” Thornin lifted off into the sky. “Retreat!” yelled Thornin to his remaining few vampires who were in hiding. The ten or so vampires out of the original hundred flew off quietly into the mountains.

Calista and Caprius heard the flapping and spun around with their claymores aloft. They were surprised to see the vampires emerge from behind the main street and fly away in retreat. It made them seem so small and innocuous then, like birds. Thornin and the rest of the Goncools might have left defeated now, but Caprius and Calista knew they still had the fight of their lives yet to come.

Caprius looked at his partner in battle with a whole new admiration. As much as he did not like the fact that her father had ravaged and terrorized his mother, he was now aware that this woman beside him was the new master knight of Petoshine. His pride in his family was great, but it was clear Calista would be his first knight.

As if she knew what he was thinking, Calista raised her sword in the air, victorious. But she soon lowered it out of respect, and the two began to walk through the flames. Caprius and Calista nodded to the villagers, who watched them as they departed to continue their investigation. It would be a long walk through the city of Jethro. But they were ready for it.

Quantum Heights
- Excerpt 7

After the great battle of Jethro, Caprius and Calista continue their investigation within the city. A tip leads them to an art dealer, and as they have difficulty finding the place they seek answers from a feisty teenage boy, who holds as much wisdom as he has love for these knight masters. And after they learn the whereabouts of the dealer, things get really interesting when they encounter a mysterious artist with a secret life. I wouldn’t put my money on this painting; the oil is about to run off.

***

As Caprius and Calista walked through Jethro, they used their claymores’ powers to extinguish the fires that raged all around them. The people were grateful, but as they shook the knights’ hands there was blame in their eyes for their having brought on such evil to their peaceful village.

Aware of the brewing anger, the two knights of Petoshine quickly made their way through the center of the village and continued their journey. They walked a ways until they came upon a teenage boy fiddling idly with some sticks, a bedraggled looking dog by his side. “Let me speak to him,” said Calista. She smiled sweetly and approached him. “Excuse me, my young lad, but I was wondering if you could guide us to an art gallery called Delvinger’s.” Calista swept her hair back and smiled again.

The boy looked at Calista like he had found love. His eyes got dopy, and he blushed. “If you’re here to see the exhibit, I’m afraid that’s not possible. We’re closed today, for it is Sunday, a day of rest.” He squinted and examined Calista and Caprius. “I can tell you’re not from around here, or you’d know that.”

“Looks like we have come to the right person. You know an awful lot about the gallery,” said Calista admiringly. She reached out and brushed a lock of hair out of the boy’s eyes.

He looked like he might swoon and started talking rapid fire. “I actually work there. I sometimes work Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, but mostly just Fridays. That is my long day. And I get paid two shillings a day. Although I think I should be paid more because I have been working there for nearly three years now. And I’ve never missed a day of work. Oh, except for once. But that is because I had the measles. But that doesn’t count because it was on a Saturday. And I normally don’t work on a Saturday, so when my employer asked me to come in and I couldn’t, it shouldn’t have counted as a sick day. I really did have the measles, you know,” the boy jabbered.

“My, you’re feisty!” said Calista with overly sweet admiration in her voice. Caprius rolled his eyes.

“I’m not a boy. I’m fifteen. I’m nearly a man. My birthday is in August, so I’ll be an adult real soon,” said the boy.

“What is your name?” asked Calista.

“Shyla. But don’t say it’s a girl’s name, ’cause it’s not. But you could call me Shy. My last name is Doody. Please, no Doody jokes; I’ve heard them all before.” Again, Caprius rolled his eyes, but he had to smile at the young man. His chatter was growing on him.

“So, Shy, how is it that you started working at Delvinger’s at such a young age?” asked Caprius.

Shy shrugged. “It’s only because my father owns it. He gave me the job,” said Shyla.

“Is anyone at the art gallery right now? Anyone at all?” asked Caprius.

“My father is there today. But no one is permitted to get in. Except me, of course,” said Shyla proudly.

Shy, Calista and I are from Elysium. I am the son of King Confidus. We are here on a mission,” said Caprius.

Shyla looked at them suspiciously. “I don’t believe you. What would the Prince of Elysium be doing all the way out here?”

“Have you ever heard of the tale of Grongone and Petoshine?” asked Caprius.

“Maybe a little bit,” said Shyla. Caprius pulled out his sword of power from his sheath. The boy backed up. “You’re not going to kill me, are you?”

“No, Shyla, we are not going to kill you,” laughed Calista.

“We only mean to show you something,” said Caprius. He held out his claymore. “Have you ever heard of the claymores of power?”

“Yes… I have. They are swords of great destructive power,” said Shyla. Calista drew her claymore, and with her new powers she blew an icy frost at a nearby tree. The tree instantly froze into solid ice. “Wow!” The boy exclaimed. Then, Caprius aimed his sword at the tree, shot a flaming torch at it, and melted the ice. Water came pouring down in rivulets, and the tree was unharmed. The boy jumped up and down. “You are knights of Petoshine!” he said.

“So, let’s try this again. As I said, we are on a mission, and we could very much use your help,” said Caprius.

“What would you have me do?” asked Shyla.

“We need you to get us into the art gallery now. It’s imperative that we speak to a woman named Enlora Renfield. Someone called Melisa who works at the gallery knows her and will introduce Enlora to us. We need to speak with her as soon as possible,” said Caprius.

“Well, I would help you, but as I said, the gallery is closed. And, anyway, only my father is there today. Enlora won’t be in until tomorrow.”

“Could you perhaps, then, take us to see your father?” asked Caprius. “If you do this, let’s just say I’ll mention to your father that it’s high time you got a shilling or two raise. How does that sound?”

“That would be great! Let’s go,” said Shyla. He started walking quickly, and the two knights followed him. Calista gave Caprius a thumbs-up.

Soon they came to the front doors of the art gallery. Shyla opened the door.

“Well, my friend, thank you for showing us to the art gallery.”

“There’s a small hotel just one block up the street, the Delvinger Hotel,” said Shyla.

“Your father owns the hotel, as well?” asked Caprius.

Shyla shrugged. “He’s a busy man.”

They said their good-byes, Shyla looking forlorn as he watched Calista depart.

Early Monday morning, Caprius and Calista headed out to Delvinger’s. They sailed in and went directly to the elegant-looking woman there. “Excuse me. My name is Caprius Seaton, and this is my partner, Calista. We are conducting an investigation and are wondering if you can help us.”

She smiled gently and bowed her head. “How can I assist the Prince of Elysium?” she asked.

“We are looking for Enlora Renfield,” said Caprius.

“Yes, she’s here. She comes here to paint portraits. She is in the middle of one now, so I can take you to her, but she greatly dislikes being disturbed when she’s at work. I’ll introduce you when she’s finished,” said the woman. “Come this way.”

While they followed her, Caprius asked, “May I ask your name?”

“Melina,” she said.

“That is my wife’s name,” said Caprius.

“Yes,” she said. “I know.”

The last thing Calista felt like talking about was Caprius’s wife. “I see you have some wonderful paintings here. Such a fine collection,” said Calista effusively.

“Some of our paintings go back as far as the eleventh century. They fetch quite a price,” said Melina.

“I should be very happy to have one of these,” said Calista.

“I’m afraid they’re only for private investors. But for a more reasonable price, I’m sure Enlora would be happy to paint something for you,” said Melina. “On average, it takes her about three weeks to finish a portrait. People come here from all over Alamptria.”

“Funny that I had not heard of the Delvinger’s Art Gallery before. I didn’t know such a job in painting portraits existed,” said Caprius.

“People hear about us through word of mouth,” said Melina. They came to a large room, every wall surface hung with paintings. In the corner by a window sat a tall, thin woman with porcelain skin and dark hair that cascaded down her back. She was concentrating on some detail work on her canvas with a small brush. A fine gentleman in full evening dress posed for her. “This is Enlora,” said Melina. “But please keep your voices down so you don’t disturb her. You may speak with her when she is finished.”