The Darkness Within Read online

  Cyrus walked into the main grounds. The pathways were illuminated by the soft glow of orbs attached to small poles. Cyrus stayed clear of the lights and stayed in the shadows. He trudged through the shrubbery and into the maze of the bushes. Cyrus located their secret spot. He sat on a nearby boulder, his hands drumming on his leg. The music of the wind played along the plants. Cyrus used his wizard’s sight delighting in the focus of the air and the rhythm of the cool night. The earthy smells of the garden penetrated his skin and senses. The crickets chirped their night's songs.

  "Princess?" Cyrus said.

  She was dressed in a long green robe. Her face was framed with her deep red hair. Cyrus stood and walked closer to her. He smelled her scent of wild jasmine flowers.

  "Hello, Cyrus, I missed you," the princess said.

  "I missed you, too. It has been several seasons since I graced your presence," Cyrus said while kneeling.

  The princess stamped her feet.

  "Do not be so formal. Our last conversation was hurtful, and I want us to be friends again."

  Cyrus said, "How did you know I was in the capital?"

  She said, "The emperor has many spies. He knows what is happening in his city."

  Cyrus did not believe her. He wanted to touch her hands, but he just stood there.

  "Narah, what do you want of me?"

  "What do I want?" Narah said, "You know what I want. You know what is in my heart. Except, I am a princess from the bloodlines of the ancient Rowans. I cannot get what I want."

  Cyrus said, "I am here because of the murders of the innocent children in my village. The local constable is not investigating and I want the Royal magistrate to do something."

  The princess said, "What's happening?"

  "I believe black magic is being used," Cyrus said.

  Narah said, "That is impossible. Black magic has been forbidden since my parents were killed."

  "I tried to talk to the Royal Magistrate. But they turned me away. I do not know what to do?"

  "I will talk to the emperor," the princess said.

  They were silent for a few minutes. She brushed her long red curls away from her face.

  "Cyrus, tell me about your village," she said.

  "It is a town of farmers. People there are hardworking, simple and loyal to the crown. I teach history and math," Cyrus said.

  "Do you like to teach?" she asked.

  "Yes," he said.

  "You have always liked to help people. It’s a quality that reminds me of my father," Narah said.

  She trembled. She held out her hand, and Cyrus took it.

  "Narah, I can’t be mad at you."

  "I know. I missed talking to you," the princess said while getting closer to him.

  Cyrus took her in his arms. She sobbed.

  The princess said, "I miss them, Cyrus. Even after all these years, I still grieve for them. I will find their killers."

  She cried and then pushed him away.

  "Are you wearing a metal plate?"

  "No, yes, I am wearing a medallion," he said.

  The princess took out a handkerchief from her robe and dried her eyes.

  "Cyrus you seem different, somehow."

  "I’m the same person, Narah," he said.

  "There is just something about you," she said.

  "Narah, I’m going through something. I do not know what it is," Cyrus said.

  The princess moved away from him and turned toward the pond. He studied her profile. He wanted to tell her how beautiful she looked.

  "I have something to tell you, and you knew this day was going to happen," she said.

  Cyrus’s hands clenched. Her birthday was in two more months. She would be eighteen.

  "Go on."

  "I accepted the proposal from the Prince of Fantaur Kingdom. The wedding will be on my birthday," the princess said.

  Cyrus did not say anything. The medallion in his chest grew hot. A jolt of magic surged from his body. He tried to calm himself, but he couldn’t.

  "Aren’t you going to say something," Narah said.

  "I’m happy for you," Cyrus said. He turned his back to her. His breathing grew heavy. Sparks started to shoot from his fingertips. Cyrus hid his hands from her.

  "Are you okay, Cyrus? I knew this was going to be a shock for you," Narah said.

  "I’m fine," he said. He calmed himself and his magic ceased.

  "Cyrus, if I was not a princess, I’d be with you. You know that. But I am a princess. I cannot be with you," she said.

  "I know, Narah," Cyrus said.

  CHAPTER 7

  Cyrus walked his way back to the inn. He found Meza waiting for him.

  "Where have you been?" Meza said.

  "I needed some air," he said.

  "Cyrus, I know you went to see the princess."

  "How did you know?"

  "Cyrus, I can tell. You seem nervous and on edge. I also can smell her perfume on you."

  "You remember her perfume?" he asked.

  "When you were with the princess, I went to the Wizards Guild," Meza said.

  "She is going to be married in a few months," he said.

  "I’m sorry, for what it’s worth."

  "So what did you find out?" he said.

  Meza said, "The medallion is called a Rathraka. It is an ancient magical talisman created by the Drakus Vinnikai. Randall, the head Wizard of the High Chamber, wants to get his hands on it."

  "What is a Drakus Vinnikai?"

  "They are a group of powerful wizards. They are evil but they are all extinct now since the Dark Wars. If this medallion is an ancient Drakus magic, we need to dispose of it at once," Meza said.

  "We have a problem. I did not want to show you this," Cyrus said while unbuttoning his shirt and showing Meza the Rathraka embedded in his chest.

  "Ahh, does that hurt?" Meza said.

  "No, I do not feel a thing." Cyrus said.

  "This is beyond my knowledge. I cannot go back to the Wizards Guild. I am not welcome there. But, I do know a witch who may help us," Meza said.

  Cyrus wondered why Meza couldn’t go back to the Wizards Guild. He was not telling him something. A knock at the door surprised them. He buttoned his shirt.

  "Cyrus, it’s Jacob," a voice said.

  He opened the door. Jacob strolled inside, glanced behind him into the hallway and closed the door. He sat in the nearest chair.

  "Why couldn’t we talk at your tavern?" Cyrus said.

  "There are spies everywhere. Bad things have been happening since you left," Jacob said.

  Meza shook his head. "Cyrus is stubborn."

  "Meza, are you not telling me something?"

  "Cyrus," Jacob said, "before I tell you more, I’ve got to tell you about the emperor. He doesn’t care about his people. His taxes are grinding us to poverty and the only thing he cares about is his new castle."

  Cyrus said, "He is still anointed by God to be our king. He is from the Rowan bloodlines. We are just common people. We cannot do anything."

  "Do you not see the people begging on the streets?" Jacob asked.

  "Yes."

  "The group I belong to wants to help these people," Jacob said.

  "I do not know any such group," he said.

  "Cyrus, there is a lot you do not know," Meza said.

  "Why are you telling me this?"

  "Because we want you to understand. The murders happening at your village are only just the beginning. Whole families have disappeared," Jacob said.

  "Cyrus, when you went to the Royal Magistrate what happen?" Meza said.

  "They did not want to talk to me."

  "This is how it is. Nobody wants to help," Meza said.

  "I do not believe you."

  "I told you, Jacob. Cyrus is stubborn," Meza said.

  "He has always been stubborn, since we were boys," Jacob said.

  "Meza, do you belong to this group?"

  He nodded.

  "Go to the orphanage tomorrow and visit them,"
Jacob said.

  "Tomorrow then," Cyrus said.

  •••

  The next day after breakfast, Cyrus wanted to see his foster parents. He asked the proprietor of the Whisper Inn for directions to the Green Meadows Hills. In the streets, Cyrus bought some flowers from a street vendor. The Green Meadow Hills was an area Meza had never visited. It was outside the city’s walls by the rolling trees and bushes. Cyrus’s parents could not live there. He kept his silence and followed Cyrus into the busy street. Several soldiers guarded the exit but didn't say anything to them as they left. They strolled a league toward the southeast.

  Cyrus said, "You can wait here if you like. I understand if you would want to stay behind."

  They stood a few yards away from a long wooden gate. Meza at first didn’t understand why Cyrus wanted him to stay behind, until he saw wooden stakes poking behind the gate. Meza forgot the Green Meadow Hills was a cemetery for the poor. Meza's grandparents were buried in the noble burial grounds near the Great Valley.

  "Cyrus, I would go only if you want me to come," Meza said.

  Cyrus nodded. They walked through the gate. Meza noticed the graves did not have headstones. There were only wooden posts with strips of fabric nailed to it. Cyrus trekked through a small gravel path picking his way up a hill. They reached the crest of the next peak when Cyrus stopped by two posts. Cyrus placed the flowers in between these graves. He bent his head. Meza didn’t know what to do. He waited.

  Cyrus said, "They died in a fire when I was at the university."

  "Sorry."

  "I never knew what really happened," Cyrus said.

  "It must have been difficult."

  "King David helped me after they died," Cyrus said.

  He walked away while Cyrus stood over his foster parents’ grave. He felt Cyrus wanted some time alone.

  •••

  They went back to the capital. Cyrus got his bearings and navigated the streets with confidence.

  Meza said, "This orphanage is where you first were a teacher?"

  "Yes," Cyrus said.

  "You and Jacob were orphans?" Meza asked.

  "That is how I met the princess."

  "How do you remember where to go?" Meza said.

  "There are some things I cannot forget," Cyrus said.

  Meza followed him into one of the poorer sections of the city. Meza had never been there and disliked the smells emanating from the alleys and streets. The squalor hung around every building congregating in dark shadows and empty windows. Meza felt despondent and wondered how people could live like this. Disease was rampant amid the peasant district. Meza’s sources had reported this to him. However, to see it first-hand made him angry.

  Meza first heard the sounds of children playing. The orphanage was a sturdy looking structure with peeling paint. Kids of all ages ran along the outside enclosure while other kids sat staring off into space lost in their own thoughts. Meza could not imagine Jacob and Cyrus living here.

  They yelled, "Cyrus is here!"

  Kids ran outside toward them. One kid with spiky, unkempt red hair said, "Cyrus, we got your books you sent us. Are you coming back to teach us?"

  "No, I came to visit. Where is teacher Preckle?"

  "They took him away," the kid said.

  "What? I’m going inside to see Betty," Cyrus said.

  They traversed up the front steps. A large gray-haired woman came out to greet them. She placed both of her hands over her hips and shook her head.

  She said, "Shh, kids let Master Cyrus have some room. Is he going to take any of you to his village for a field trip?"

  "Betty," Cyrus said. She furrowed her brow and smiled. She hugged Cyrus.

  "Cyrus, it has been a long time since you’ve been here. You seem ill. Come inside and have some tea," she said. "Who is your friend?"

  "Sorry, Betty, this is Meza."

  Betty said, "By the look of it, he must be a Royal mage,"

  "He is my traveling companion."

  "Cyrus, I do not want to be rude. There are things happening here. But I trust you," she said.

  Inside the building, Meza saw the furnishings were just as bad as the exterior. The tables and walls needed repairs. They turned through the hallways with chalk marks written all over them.

  "Betty," Meza said, "How do you get funding?"

  She said, "Some people donate their old furniture. Cyrus gives his books and sometimes money. I get nothing from the emperor."

  Meza decided when he had time he would tell Darrin about this orphanage. Maybe the Freedom Fighters could provide needed assistance. Cyrus and Meza followed Betty up a flight of creaky stairs. Meza was scared he might fall through.

  Meza said, "Cyrus, how do all the kids know you?"

  "The children visit me with Master Preckle."

  The sounds of the kids could not be heard upstairs. Meza was ushered into a large room with a broken table, a chair and a desk. The walls were barren.

  Betty said, "Meza, this room is more than enough for me. Please close the door behind you."

  Meza and Cyrus sat by the table. Betty went into the adjoining room and came back with a teapot and cups. She poured the tea and sat facing them.

  "Cyrus, sorry, I didn’t prepare anything, do you want some biscuits or cookies," she said.

  "No."

  "Meza," Betty said.

  "No," he said while sipping his tea. It tasted of lemon leaves.

  "Betty, what is going on here? Jonah told me to come visit you," Cyrus asked.

  Betty stared at Cyrus and then at Meza.

  She said, "Cyrus, the kids are, are..."

  Betty collapsed. She cupped her head in her hands. She started to sob. Cyrus hugged her.

  He said, "I know. The kids at my town are also being killed."

  "I cannot believe somebody would do such a thing to a child," she said.

  "Have you told the Royal Magistrate?" Meza said.

  "I’ve tried. However, they just laugh at me. They treat these kids as vermin," Betty said.

  "I will talk to the emperor," Cyrus said.

  Between sobs, Betty nodded. Meza stared at Cyrus. He seemed more determined than ever. Meza wondered what was going on in the kingdom. His journey with Cyrus gave him another reason to fight against the emperor. He needed to find out this mystery and help them.

  CHAPTER 8

  Sitting inside his secret library, Randall read the inscription of the Rathraka inside the leather-bound book. He wanted to tell the Master, but he waited. If only if he had the medallion, he could learn to use its power. The inscription explained a Drakus Vinnikai mage could only touch and learn from it. If anybody tried to probe the medallion, its magic would ensnare this person. The Rathraka was created after its maker for some type of specific purpose. Randall wanted to harness this power to destroy the Master. He was always at the Master's beckoning call. His other Clandestine comrades also had to heed to his calling. The Master was powerful. He controlled demons and arch demons. However, he was only an illusion. His form was trapped in a dark cavern.

  Randall was concerned because a few days ago, he felt a powerful flood of magic coming from the outskirts of town. His Clandestine brethren went to investigate. They had never felt a magic so strong that it even dwarfed the Master’s abilities. He thought the interloper must be a Master Mage or even a Demon from the Deep. Yet, Randall suspected this person was a Drakus Vinnikai. This could not be, he thought, he would sense a Drakus mage if he existed.

  Randall felt the summoning. He chanted a spell and his clothes changed into the dark robe of the Clandestine order. Randall transported himself to the area. He didn’t want to go, but he had to. To dismiss a calling from the Master was painful. Randall unconsciously touched the sigil of his order on his robe. It was the symbol of their order. Meza would have been asked to join a few years ago, but he strayed from the Wizards Guild and could not be trusted. Meza’s loyalties were placed with another group. Randall sighed and completed the teleport spell.r />
  He stood upon a dark corridor. Only the glowing stalagmites lit his way. He saw his breath in the air. Randall tried to locate the location of this cavern, but the Master cloaked it with ancient wards. He wanted to talk to his other Clandestine brethren but their identities were a mystery to him. The Master brought them together. It had always been like this for centuries. Randall placed his hood over his head and wrapped his cloak around himself. He entered the large cave. Dark pools of water dispersed throughout the floor. The other two Clandestine mages waited. They eyed the large ice throne.

  "You finally came. We have been waiting for you," the Master said. A cloaked form materialized in the chair.

  Randall bent his head in front of the figure.

  "Did you see the dark Mage?" the Master asked.

  "Yes, Master. He is young and inexperienced. However, he is very powerful," Randall said.

  "Why did the Clandestine mages let him escape?" the Master said.

  "Master, there where Trollics attacking us and the Shade also joined in the fray," Randall said.

  "I cannot believe the powerful Clandestine mages cannot handle a few Trollics and the Shade," the Master said.

  "Another mage was with him," Randall said.

  "Excuses!"

  "We will find him but he is safeguarded by some type of spell," Randall said.

  "He has a powerful artifact which shields him," the Master said.

  Randall was surprised. He didn’t mention the charm.

  "Yes, I know about the Rathraka. Never hide things from me," the Master said.

  "We will get the Rathraka, my lord. When the mage uses his magic again, we will get him. We can sense his magic," Randall said.

  The air grew thick and large demons appear. The monsters were all scales and claws. The demons ogled him and salivated. Randall froze. He tried to conjure a defense spell.

  "Do not disappoint me. Find him," the Master said.

  The demon jumped at Randall. He fell backwards. The Master waved his hands, and the demon stopped in mid-air. Randall instantly transported back to his library. He shook and placed his hands on his face.

  •••

  The princess, attired in her birthday gown, ran through rooms. Her silk dress was snagged and she couldn’t find her parents. She gazed at her hands. She was younger. Everything around her was large. She was a little girl. The room changed and she sat exhausted on the floor in the main ballroom. Her parents appeared, smiling and hugging her. Darrin Masters, her dad’s Captain of the Elite guards, stood next to the king. She knew what was going to happen. It always happened in her dreams. The demon fire would appear and engulf them. She tried to tell her mom and dad to leave, but they would not listen. The dark cloak figure appeared and pointed. She tried to protect them, but she couldn’t move. Fire erupted. Narah awoke.