Rise of the Elementals

RISE

OF THE

ELEMENTALS

THE CREATURE KID
PREQUEL

By Rashad Freeman

Copyright © 2013 by Rashad Freeman

Smashwords Edition

www.creature-kid.com

www.rashadfreeman.com

www.rashadfreeman.blogspot.com

This book is a work of fiction. The names,
characters, places and incidents are products of the writer’s
imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be
construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead,
actual events, locales or organizations is entirely
coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this
publication may be used reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the expressed
written consent of the author.

“
The high council has
spoken Daviathan. Who are we to object?” The rangy man asked,
stuffing the last few items into a dingy, old rucksack.

He was a tall man, thick boned with long,
brown hair that curled and twisted like a vine. His large hands
were weathered, but strong, and his serene green eyes betrayed his
true age.

He stood inside of a glowing dome. The
black, onyx floor reflected the sparkling blue light that made up
the ceiling. To his left was a thinner man, lean and gangly, but no
less intimidating. He scanned the other man with his mystic blue
eyes and then spoke.

“
Who are we not to object
Tarian? Whether they accept it or not, war is at our door. We must
reinforce the outpost.”

“
But Earth! Certainly our
talents are better suited elsewhere.” Tarian laughed.

“
Come with me or stay
Tarian, I am going.” Daviathan began to walk off, grabbing a sack
from the floor and slinging it over his shoulder.

“
And what of the prophecy
does that mean nothing to you?”

“
What of it? Should the
ramblings of an old woman determine my fate? If the prophecy is
true then we are saved, but what if it is not?” Daviathan turned
around and raised his eyebrow. “Milicent has not always been
right.”

Tarian took a deep breath and sighed. He
stepped away from the table and walked towards Daviathan.

“
I will go alone.”
Daviathan said as he held out his hand, exposing a small sphere of
blue light.

“
Nonsense!”

Tarian grabbed the blue light and tossed it
into the air. It hovered at eye level for a moment then grew into a
shimmering blur of energy. It was about the size of a basketball
and wavered back and forth in the air. Tarian grinned at Daviathan
and took a step towards it. The light rippled as he moved.

“
Well, let’s go already.”
He said as he touched the light and vanished into it.

Grinning, Daviathan followed him into the
portal and disappeared. The floor melted away as he whirled through
an empty black space. There was no light, but it was a different
than just dark. It was like light had never existed in this place.
He felt weightless as he spun through the nebulous void. Pressure
grew all around him squeezing the air from his lungs.

Then suddenly with a crash, Daviathan’s feet
slammed onto an uneven, rocky terrain. Looking to his side, Tarian
smiled at him and headed off. Daviathan scanned the mountain side,
and took a shallow breath.

“
Earth.” He smirked and
then hurried after Tarian.

“
So I assume you have a
plan, or do you intend to make it up as we go?”

“
Tarian you must learn to
have faith.” Daviathan said dismissively.

Together they clamored down the mountain
onto a narrow goat trail. They moved silently, gliding through the
night like ghosts. Ahead of them, the faint lights of a village
flickered like a candle being blown out.

“
Is it there?” Tarian
whispered, pointing towards the quivering lights.

“
Yes. We must be silent for
I fear the worst.”

Daviathan stepped forward and pawed at the
air with his hand. It clung to his fingers like water, slowly
rippling as it moved. Pulling his hand back, the air parted and
tore.

“
Are you coming?” He asked,
glancing back at Tarian.

Tarian nodded. Gliding forward, they both
moved through the ripple of air like it was a bed sheet, hanging
from a clothes line. The mountains, the rocks and the hazardous
terrain vanished, giving way to a small clay hut, dimly lit with
candles.

Daviathan immediately noticed a woman’s body
lying limp on the sandy floor. With Tarian right behind him, he
rushed to her side.

“
Achima!” He
bellowed.

Lifting her head he stared into her empty
eyes and knew they were too late. Blood dripped from her ears,
forming a muddy pool on the floor. Her silvery hair, which was
normally shinning and vibrant, looked dull and lifeless.

“
Daviathan.” Tarian
whispered. “If they’ve found her surely they’ve found
Abrax.”

There was a noise in the next room and
Daviathan pressed his fingers against his lips. Gently lowering
Achima’s head, he stood up and pulled a bronze dagger from his bag.
Tarian did the same and they silently crept forward.

The sound of things breaking and being
thrown around rattled on the other side of the wall. As they moved
closer the ruckus suddenly stopped. Daviathan froze and pointed at
a dark opening in the wall. Tarian nodded and they began to shuffle
stealthily across the sandy floor with their backs pressed flat
against the lumpy clay.

Inching closer, Daviathan leaned forward and
peeked around the corner into the shadowy room. Tables and chairs
were sprawled all over the place. The windows had been shattered
and the giant oak table that sat in the center was broken in half
and partially reduced to splinters.

Suddenly, there was a loud bang and a large
shaggy object exploded from the room and slid across the floor. It
looked like a cross between a wolf and a lion. Its body was covered
in black, spiked fur and a pair of razor sharp horns protruded from
its head. Its tail whipped about like a wild lizard as it gashed at
the air with bird like talons.

“
Ravens!” Daviathan
screamed.

He lunged at the animal, his bronze knife
slicing through the air. The raven was quicker and slid to the side
avoiding Daviathan’s blade. Tarian dove after it, but the raven
swatted him to the ground, scraping him across the chest with his
savage claws.

Circling the raven, Daviathan glared into
its dark purple eyes. It snarled and growled, slowly mimicking
Daviathan as they stepped in unison around each other.

Tightly squeezing the hilt of his knife
Daviathan clenched his teeth, waiting for an opening. The raven
snapped at him and slashed with his claws. Then with another growl
it turned and dove out of a window into the night.

Daviathan gave chase, but the sleek animal
was quickly consumed by the darkness. He stared after it, narrowing
his eyes to focus.

“
Daviathan!” Tarian called
from inside the hut.

Whipping around, Daviathan darted back
inside. Tarian was leaning against the wall, his hand covering a
gash that ran from his chest to his stomach.

“
I’ve found Abrax.” Tarian
grumbled.

Daviathan looked at him; blood seeped
through his fingertips and down his hand.

“
Age has made you slow my
friend.”

He placed his hand over Tarian’s hand and
closed his eyes. A soft, yellow glow rose around the wound and then
vanished. When Daviathan moved his hand the wound had healed.

Daviathan stepped away, noticing the limp
body that was laying at the edge of the room. He was a portly man
with thinning red hair. His throat had been torn out and a streak
of blood stained the floor where he had been dragged.

“
He was in the room…the
room with the raven. We were only minutes too late.” Tarian said as
he dropped his head.

Daviathan sighed. “Old friend, I hope your
journey was not in vain.”

Kneeling down, he swept the fiery locks from
Abrax’s face and stared into his dim, gray eyes.

“
I’ll need your help with
this.” Daviathan said stretching his hand up into the
air.

Tarian knelt next to him. He placed one hand
on Abrax’s body and grabbed Daviathan’s with the other. Daviathan
did the same forming a circle.

They both took a deep breath and flashes of
light started to pulse from their fingers. The pulses grew stronger
and stronger, lighting up the room like a torch. Abrax’s body began
to convulse, his head snapped backwards, his chest arched upwards.
Then with a flash their hands were thrown from his body and they
were flung backwards.

Daviathan stumbled to his feet first.
Abrax’s lifeless corpse was still lying on the floor, but a
purplish glow surrounded him. Slowly, a mist wafted from his mouth
and rose into the air.

It was a thick purple gas, shapeless, but
moving. As Daviathan watched, it morphed into an oblong figure then
stretched until the form of a man started to appear. Within
seconds, the gas resembled the figure of the man that lay dead on
the ground.

Daviathan looked at him with sad eyes and
the misty figure smiled and spoke.

“
It has been too long my
friend.” His voice seemed to come from everywhere, echoing
throughout the room.

“
Abrax, I am sorry to find
you like this.” Daviathan sighed.

“
I am sorry I couldn’t do
more.” Abrax sadly responded.

“
What do they know?” Tarian
asked as he stepped closer.

“
Everything.” Abrax said
grimly.

“
Everything?” Daviathan
echoed.

“
The portals are gone, the
protectors are dead. They sent legions of ravens. We weren’t
prepared. I held them off for as long as I could, but their numbers
were too great. Achima tried to send word back, but…”

His words fell off like the sound of wind
tumbling over a cliff. The figure that had been formed by the gas
wavered as if it were going to disperse, then came back
together.

“
Where are they now?”
Daviathan asked after a long silence.

Abrax’s misty shape started to break apart
again. The purple gas swirled and thinned, wavering in the dimly
lit hut.

“
Abrax!” Daviathan called.
“Where are they?”

“
Heading for the master
portal.” Abrax whispered and then he was gone.

“
Daviathan! You dare
interrupt the high council while in session. We have tolerated your
arrogance long enough, you shall be punished.”

Daviathan stood in the center of the great
hall. It was an elaborate dome with white, marble floors and
spanning ceilings. In front of him was a long table raised ten feet
from the ground. Behind it sat several men all cloaked in
identical, black robes.

“
It is true Theodoros. We
shall all be punished, but not for my arrogance, but for the
stupidity of this council!”

Theodoros shot out of his seat, slamming his
hand onto the onyx table in front of him. He opened his mouth to
speak, but a taller man stood and placed his hand on Theodoros’
shoulder.

“
You are out of line
Daviathan. The high council must be respected.” He said
calmly.

“
Lupercus, I wish there
were time for respect or the normal customs due this council.
Unfortunately, time is no longer our ally.”

“
Speak your peace then.”
Lupercus said. His fierce orange eyes blazing into Daviathan like
the sun.

“
The spectrals, it is as I
have feared. They have dealt us a fatal blow. Abrax and his wife
are dead, the portals have been stolen and all the protectors
slaughtered.”

Theodoros gasped as the other men jostled to
their feet. There was an eruption of chatter, council members
turning to one another in outrage.

“
Lies!” A younger looking
man screamed as he shook his finger at Daviathan.