Magician Reborn (Book 2) Read online

  “They did what was necessary at the time,” said Kiara. “You had been given the Water of Life, releasing you from death’s inevitable grasp. However, all who consume the Water are rejuvenated, made younger by many years. Your companions, already hundreds of years old, were not noticeably affected, but the small amount you drank returned you to the age of a young child. For your own sanity, it was decided your real identity should be temporarily concealed and you begin anew as Xander.

  “Alex, they had every intention of removing the psychic barriers, but only when they felt you would be ready to accept the truth.”

  “What gave them the right to decide my life? To move me about like a chess piece, just to suit their needs. Who are they to say when I am ready or not? Most of my life has been nothing but one big lie.”

  Kiara saw the barely concealed pain behind the young man’s eyes, and she wanted nothing more than sooth his worries. “You would have been a man trapped inside a child’s body. Their way may seem wrong, but it was necessary. You were given another chance to grow up, to be perfectly normal in an extraordinary world you were ultimately meant for. Years of study and learning at the Academy were unhindered by your old wilful personality, and now, with the combining of the old and new you have the experience of two lives to draw upon.”

  “I can understand the logic behind their actions,” Alex replied softly, “perhaps even go so far as to forgive Silver and Archer, but they used Simon to keep my true memories locked up, like a prisoner for so many years. I don’t know who to blame; my best friend for going along with the crazy scheme or the people who came up with it in the first place.”

  “Look in your heart, you will find the answer there.” Rising, Kiara took hold of Alex’s hands and looked into his stormy blue eyes. “Let go of hate and anger, return to your world at peace and continue living whichever life you choose. It’s your choice now.”

  Alex considered her words for some time, before saying, “I can’t make any promises, but I will do the best I can.” He moved closer, and without realising what he was doing, embraced the young woman in a fierce hug. Emotions, positive and negative, raged throughout his being, and he knew he would eventually have to let go of them all to find the much-needed inner peace his heart desired. “Thank you.”

  The young woman smiled and nodded. “We shall meet again, have no doubt, but until then know that I will watch over you always.” Kiara kissed him lightly on the cheek, the faintest touch of her lips to his skin.

  Alex slowly disappeared between the forest’s massive trees, turning back once, but could no longer see the woman in the flowing white gown. Concentrating on the dream catcher back in his tent Alex felt a slight tugging sensation to his right, and trusting the artefact to guide him home continued travelling in the indicated direction. The trees before him thinned out, and soon he was once again walking over loose shifting sand and blister-producing rocks.

  The transition into the real world was seamless, leaving Alex a little confused at first, because he had felt nothing during the crossing. The only difference, once he realised it, was no longer feeling being led by the dream catcher. Looking up, the partial moon was past its zenith and making its way inevitably towards the horizon. Dawn would arrive in a few hours’ time.

  Out on the desert plain the chilly morning air made Alex’s skin goose bump, but just as he considered transforming into wolf form he sensed a presence nearby in the dark. With a particularly nasty spell prepared, Alex waved his hand, creating a bright light around himself. Out of the darkness appeared a young woman, and for the briefest of moments Alex was confused. He thought he saw Kiara approaching, a worried look upon her face and her mouth open as though trying to say something, but as the figure entered the halo of magical light he first noticed long silver hair. Visibly relaxing, Alex dismissed the spell he had silently prepared and stepped forward to embrace the young woman before him.

  “I knew I could find you Huritt!” Aiyana cried joyously as she rushed into his open arms. Alex smiled as she hugged him fiercely, carefully considering what to tell her, but for some unknown reason the right words just wouldn’t come out. How could he explain that he was no longer Xander, not entirely, but someone else as well? The situation might have been comical, under different circumstances, but neither felt the moment deserved anything less than wholehearted seriousness.

  In the glow of the magically created light Aiyana looked up at his face, noticing conflicting emotions play across his chiselled features. She could clearly see something had changed in him, and cautiously asked, “What troubles you this night? For a long time I could not find you, and then suddenly you are right here. Where did you go, Hurrit?”

  “Aiyana,” he said, looking deeply into her eyes, “I have been on a dream quest.” She took an involuntary small step back, remaining within his embrace, but clearly taken aback by what he had said.

  Seeing a slight frown of disapproval on her face Alex hurried to explain the situation. “I discovered something tremendously important about myself, but as you guessed it has changed me, and I need time to figure out who I really am and what to do with my life.”

  Looking into her eyes he saw the brief spark of hurt emotions blossom. He wanted nothing more than to comfort her at this moment but he knew in his heart that he must leave and discover his own path. “Ever since we first me, I saw something special in you, a kinship that I never thought possible, at least for some time. But in the small period of time together my feelings for you have deepened, and I sense you feel the same way. I love you Aiyana, but I need some time away to sort out my life. I promise I will return some day, hopefully the same person you have come to care for, and take my place at your side.”

  “Huritt,” she said, close to tears, “I will forever hold you close to my heart. Take the time you need, I will wait.”

  Alex brushed away a tear lazily tracing its way down her cheek. “Tell me, what does that mean?”

  Attempting a smile she replied, “Handsome.”

  He pulled back a loose strand of silvery hair from her face and kissed her. Tasting the bitter saltiness of tears on her lips, Alex knew she could no longer hold back, and while he wished this moment would last forever he had to leave. “I love you, and I promise, I will return for you.”

  “And I will wait.” She savoured the last moments of contact with this young man she had only known a few short weeks, and yet it seemed so much longer, perhaps from a previous life.

  Stepping away, Alex turned, and within a few paces had already transformed into the large black wolf, his golden eyes shining in the sudden darkness as the magical light disappeared. He wanted so badly to turn around and be with her, but something in his heart told him it would be a mistake.

  So caught up in the rush of conflicting emotions Alex didn’t sense the slight magical disturbance nearby. The bolt of purple energy came from somewhere above and slammed into the ground moments after he had transformed. The concussive blast sent him tumbling over the sandy soil. Stunned and disorientated he didn’t even feel the anti-magical spell that enveloped him, effectively cutting off his ability to channel mana, and with his magic nullified Alex transformed back to his human self.

  In a rather large circle, tufts of dry prairie grass burned in small patches where the blast of energy had hit. Looking wildly around, by the feeble light Alex tried to catch any sign of Aiyana. He knew she would be somewhere close by, but hearing her scream he realised something was very wrong. Whoever had attacked them now held her captive.

  Fighting a sudden wave of dizziness, Alex tried to get to his feet, but could barely manage half way and ended up collapsing onto his knees. In the pre-morning gloom he could just make out a dozen or so figures surrounding him, and his stomach turned as he recognised not only vampires but also sensed several dark magicians within the group.

  “Let her go!”

  “Now why would we do that?” One of the indistinct shapes took a step closer and knelt as if to get a better look at
their prize. The unmistakable dirty feeling of dark mana washed over Alex, and pain seared through his veins. The dark mage was toying with him, like a cat after a mouse, thought Alex. “I wish we could continue all day long, but unfortunately for you and your girl we’ve got a train to catch.”

  Purple energy crackled and spat from the magician’s hand and Alex contorted in unrelenting agony. Aiyana calling out, but her words were unintelligible to Alex who writhed on the ground. Realising this could be the end he reached out towards her, hoping to convey his last loving thoughts. Fresh tears washed down her face as she watched her love being tortured to death, which only made the gathered vampires and magicians laugh.

  The pain mercifully ceased, and Alex lay panting trying to catch his breath. His throat burned, raw from screaming so long, and despite wanting nothing more than to quietly slip away into death’s embrace he still struggled in a vain attempt to help Aiyana.

  “You will find no release in death, young magician.” The voice spoke directly above him, and Alex could feel a slight warming from the man’s breath. Mustering what little strength he had left Alex clenched his fist and blindly lashed out. The punch connected with soft flesh but didn’t carry enough force behind it to do any real damage. The dark mage was more shocked than hurt, and as he stood he motioned for Aiyana to be brought forward.

  Trying to look in her direction, Alex had no strength remaining to turn over; instead he barely managed to move his head aside. Tears escaped from the corner of his eyes at feeling utterly helpless, and he said a silent prayer to whichever gods were listening for a quick and painless death for them both. Aiyana, my love, be brave.

  Her scream pierced Alex’s being, and he felt white-hot rage build up inside. “Xander,” it was the only word Aiyana managed to barely whisper. The vampire who held her tightened his grip around her throat, so whatever came out next was an unintelligible gargle. The others laughed and shouted taunts as Alex tried desperately to crawl towards the vampire who held his love captive. Alex managed to move a few feet before someone kicked him from behind, sending him face-first into the dirt. Blinded by sand and struggling against a crushing weight on his back, Alex felt his rage-fuelled strength ebb and tire, but when he heard Aiyana’s screams it ripped through his very soul.

  Laughing, the vampire that held Aiyana bit deep into her throat cutting short her cries. He drank long, and as Alex wiped his face clear of grit he saw the last vestige of life leave her eyes. Her one free hand outstretched towards him went limp. The vampire savagely tore out her throat, and what little blood remained in her body feebly spurted down her slender neck. Letting go, her body collapsed to the ground. In a final act of sacrilege one of the magicians motioned with his hand and the body disintegrated, leaving nothing but a small amount of ash on the ground.

  An animal snarl of rage escaped Alex’s lips. “You bastards!”

  More laughter came from those surrounding him, but Alex was oblivious to it. Furiously searching for a way to escape the anti-magical field he delved deep within, desperately trying to draw on his mana, but was completely cut off from his source. Pain and anger burned through his veins like liquid fire, and like several times before, his eyes ignited with a white-hot intensity. Alien power flooded his system, threatening to overwhelm his senses instantly, but Alex channelled the raging torrent and used it, along with his hatred, to form a single powerful spell.

  The anti-magical field shattered in a brutal release of energies, and once freed Alex got to his feet in a single fluid motion. Gazing calmly at his captives, Alex spoke a single word. “Die.”

  With no time to give voice to the agony he momentarily experienced, the vampire standing closest to Alex disintegrated from the inside out. Stunned at the unexpected onslaught, the dark mages and vampires stared in awestruck silence, but it only took a moment for them to recover and attack. Closing in at lightning speed the vampires rushed the lone magician whose eyes glowed with white fire. As though crossing an invisible line, vampires burst into flame and quickly dissolved, showering Alex with red-hot glowing ashes that swirled about him in a miniature whirlwind.

  Spells fuelled with dark energies fired at close range only to be absorbed by Alex’s protective shield. The early morning darkness was eerily lit as purple and red energy blossomed and crackled around Alex. With an outstretched hand he made a clenching motion and the nearest Dark magician exploded in a gruesome shower of blood and gore. As more dark magicians fell, their offensive spells redoubled in an effort to pierce through Alex’s shield.

  Lightning streaked across the clear night sky, fireballs flared and scorched the earth, dark creatures from the netherworld attacked with mindless fury while life draining spells were thrown around with abandon. The dark magicians, in their desperation, tried everything, but Alex remained standing untouched against the savage attacks.

  Turning his emotionless gaze on one of the magicians, Alex pointed with a single finger, and a golden point of light sped across the short distance. The struck magician stood for several confused moments, uncomprehending what the spell had actually done. Dismissing the attack as a possible failure, the dark mage prepared to renew his assault on the protective shield. Mana flooded his system, and at the point when his spell should have been cast nothing happened. A panicked look crossed his face as he quickly realised what was happening, and with a silent plea turned to his comrades for help, but it was too late. Power continued to invade his body, and like a swollen river bursting over its banks so too did the build-up of energy. The magicians veins glowed red, outlining his entire body with a hellish inner light, and continued to burn until it was a white-hot radiance that quickly consumed him entirely.

  Seeing one of their own killed with such a brutal spell, several magicians decided to escape. With a whip-like motion of his hand, a fiery rope shot from Alex’s hand, wrapping around one of the fleeing magicians throat. As his companions watched helplessly, the man’s head soon fell to the ground, burned off his shoulders, a look of pure naked agony still etched on his face.

  Another magician, about to cast a teleportation spell, froze where he stood. Unable to scream, the magician’s body began to bubble and melt, as though made of wax too close to a flame, until little remained except a messy puddle of shapeless mass on the sandy ground. Horrified, the remaining five mages decided to attempt a hasty retreat. Alex, in his enraged state, had other plans.

  With arms outstretched towards the starry sky, a brilliant beam of pure white energy shot down, enveloping everything within a hundred feet. The dark magicians froze before they could teleport away. An unnatural silence descended upon the barren plane, lit with tiny gouts of flame where scrub continued to burn. Alex’s voice boomed from all directions, yet it remained whisper quiet. “Death is too good for you,” his soft voice filled with unmistakable menace, “enjoy oblivion.”

  The beam of white energy from the sky narrowed and focused between Alex’s hands. In an explosive outward rush the energy was released in a huge expanding sphere that engulfed everything for several miles. The energy suddenly winked out, returning the desert wasteland once again to its usual state of solitude.

  Hundreds of miles away Silver glanced over at his travelling companion. “I felt it too,” said Archer with a slight look on awe. “I doubt there’s a magician on this planet that didn’t.”

  “How could it have been him though? That much power could not be wielded by any single magician, not even someone as powerful as Alex.” Silver looked in the general direction of the blast, worry clearly etched on his face.

  “I don’t know, but if we don’t hurry we may never find out what happened.”

  Silver could only nod in agreement, and although they were already travelling as fast as possible he drew on more mana than was safe to do so. By his hasty calculations they were still several hours away from the blast, but minutes could often make a difference, and he held onto that glimmer of hope with a grim determination.

  Chapter Nineteen

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bsp; Forx had just closed the door to the train carriage. His Master was in a foul mood this night due to unexpected delays with the rail system, which meant he would most likely take it out on his servants. However, if everything went according as planned the night’s events would take an unexpected turn. That single thought brought a small smile of evil satisfaction to the imp. Before leaving on this final leg of the journey he had covertly contacted the local representative of the Brotherhood, who assured him everything was on schedule; the ambush would take place a few hours before dawn.

  The lesser demon had glanced at the clock on his Master’s desk; it read 02:11, which meant they had at least an hour to go. He would have to be somewhere safe when the ambush happened, and decided the last carriage would be furthest from the onslaught. He even contemplated jumping off in case the hired thugs got a little too carried away and decided to destroy the whole damn train, but just in case they fumbled the job he would have to be close by for a chance opportunity to strike when least expected. That was the usual way with demons; use the element of surprise to full advantage, especially against a more powerful adversary.

  Forx was about to head for the last train carriage when he felt the small disturbance in the Aether. Somewhere ahead, maybe less than a hundred miles, a magical battle was taking place between a dozen or so dark mages. The spells they were using were quite powerful, and for a brief moment Forx worried. That was too close to the ambush point to be coincidence. Then he groaned with frustration. The idiots he had hired might be fighting with the ones from Chicago. By now even his Master would have felt the disturbance, and considering the copious amounts of dark energy used he would grow suspicious. They were, after all, in the middle of the desert.