Universal Warrior: Before Red Morning Page 5

to appeal your sister’s suspension. It’ll at least delay the exile until Yang can review the decision.” She paused and said, “I won’t tell Yang about your bluff to defect.”

  Lillian smiled. “Thank you.”

  Mia nodded. “You ready?” She asked.

  Both brother and sister burst their wings, and the three ascended back towards Heaven.

  Mia had departed at Yevon, as promised, but by then, Reginald had felt strong enough to fly on his own. He was worn out by the time he finally arrived, completed the flight across the Atherean.

  The sight of his modest home never looked so good. Reginald held on just long enough to stumble to the ground outside of his front door. Lillian had to catch him after that, his wings disintegrating. "Whoa, its okay." Lillian exhaled, struggling under his weight, "I've got you."

  "I'm okay." Reginald managed. Everything hurt, every bone in his body felt cracked, like used firewood. His fingers rebelled against him, his bones snapping, muscles burning as at long last, he unclenched his fist. His hand throbbed uncontrollably and had already begun to swell up, dried blood between his fingers.

  His mind was taken off his injuries by his sisters unexpected embrace. as soon as Reginald rose up to his full height, Lillian had leapt, throwing her arms around Reginald's neck. He stumbled before smiling, returning the hug.

  "Thank you." Lillian whispered in a shaky voice, "That was the most incredible thing I've ever seen. Thank you for saving me."

  "You're welcome." Reginald smiled for the first time since he'd left the house that morning. "Come; we must move quickly. We need to be away from Jordan by nightfall."

  Lillian no longer needed any coaxing. She pulled away, nodded, and headed through the open front door of her brother's home.

  Once she was safely away, Reginald nearly collapsed again, hands on his knees. When all of this was done, and they were safely away, Lillian owed him some answers.

  For now, though, it was time to leave town.

  Reginald stumbled as he began to walk, unable to put much weight on his left leg. He groaned, bracing himself on the doorway as he limped into the house.

  The first thing he noticed was that Lillian had never made it past the couch.

  Reginald stepped down into the house. He looked to the right, to the front room, which was the largest in the home. Lillian was perfectly still on the couch, sheet-white, palms pressed to her knees. Beside her was his wife, Dayna, who quickly shook her head and shot a furtive glance towards the kitchen. “Reginald…” She stammered.

  Seeing his wife and sister like this set his senses on edge. “Where’s Uriel?” He asked immediately, speaking of his son.

  “He’s fine.” Lillian spoke quickly, her mouth barely moving.

  Panic flashed through Reginald as he wondered if they’d somehow been followed. “Uriel?!” He called, turning to the left and hobbling towards the stairs that led to the upper part of the house. “Uriel?! Where are you?”

  “Your son is fine, Reginald. I asked that he not be here for this.”

  Reginald froze at the sound of the voice. Unquestionably firm and unmistakably polite, Reginald knew suddenly why Lillian and Dayna were so terrified.

  Reginald swallowed, looking past the stairs to the kitchen beyond. A tall, dark-skinned man with short black hair appeared, dressed in a simple white shirt and black pants. He held Reginald’s favorite coffee cup, from which he took a sip while holding eye contact with the patriarch.

  Reginald lowered his eyes and bowed curtly. “Lord Yang.”

  Yang chuckled, taking another sip from the steaming cup and nodding at Reginald. “Ah, no need for formalities, Reginald. It’s been made clear what you think of my decisions.”

  No one spoke.

  “Your wife makes an excellent cup of coffee.” Yang continued, trying to ease the tension. He stood beside Reginald, looking him in the eye as he finished the cup. “Forgive me for intruding like this. I was afraid if you knew I was coming, you would try to flee.”

  After a moment, Reginald rose to his full height and nodded. “It’s no intrusion, my lord.” He couldn’t get past how young Yang looked. Although both he and his sister predated Heaven itself, they both always appeared as though they’d just passed adolescence.

  Yang studied him for a moment and said, “You’ve done a terrible thing here, Reginald.”

  Reginald nodded, genuinely unafraid of whatever came next. “I know this, my lord.” He replied, “But I’d like to ask a favor.”

  Yang’s brow furrowed, and he smiled. “A favor?” He asked incredulously.

  Reginald nodded. “My lord, I acted alone. My actions are mine and only mine.” He looked at Dayna. “Please, my lord; don’t punish my wife and son for what I’ve done. If you wish to exile me for what I’ve done, I accept that. But my family is innocent.”

  Yang nodded. “Reginald, I have no intention of exiling anyone today. Including your sister.”

  Dayna took Lillian’s hand, and the two women exchanged a brief, joyous smile.

  “You may want to hold off on the celebrating, though.” Yang interrupted, acknowledging the women, “Lillian is a murdereress, and she must answer for that. I am only postponing her judgment, not cancelling it.”

  He looked back at Reginald. “We have more pressing matters at the moment.”

  “What do you mean, my lord?” Reginald asked.

  “Reginald,” Yang began in disbelief, “To be frank, the story my officer told me is a little hard to believe. Is it true you engaged a…four-armed monster of sorts?”

  Reginald nodded after a moment. “Yes, my lord. I believe it was called a Kurag.”

  “Lillian said that you encountered a woman who called herself Augra?” Yang pressed.

  Reginald looked at his sister and tried to discern just how much she’d told him. “Yes.” He said, “She called herself Augra. She said she had permission to enter Heaven if we denied her Lillian.”

  Yang pulled forth a roll of parchment from his back. “I’d like to show you something, Reginald.” He said in a somber tone, hurriedly unwrapping the thick paper, “Let me know if you any of these look familiar.”

  He passed the parchment to Reginald, who began to sort through them. He was looking at six coal-drawn, detailed drawings of women’s faces. They were all smiling. Two of them had red lines drawn through them.

  Reginald came to the last one and nodded. The woman didn’t have the antennae that Augra sported, but that smirk was unmistakable. There was no warmth in this picture.

  “This is Augra.” Reginald said, passing the picture back to Yang.

  Yang tensed as he accepted the photo, studying it. “Her name is not Augra.” He said sadly, “It’s Maria. She lived in Yevon.”

  He looked at Reginald. “She was exiled at the beginning of the Great Divide. Lillian mentioned that something was being planned?”

  Yang hesitated, and then gestured towards the couch. “Why don’t we sit down, my friend,” He whispered in a grave voice, “and you can tell me everything that happened.”

  JAYDEN ZENECA: Into the Storm

  “Jayce!” Jayden chastised his younger brother as they ascended towards the Atherean Skyway, “Cool your trail!”

  “I can’t help it!” Jayce fired back in an irritated tone, although he did his best to darken the orange light that followed them, “If I de-energize my wings anymore, I’ll fall.”

  “If you fall, I’ll carry you.” Darryl, the oldest and largest of them, flew up beside Jayce and patted him on the shoulder. Jayden nodded at the both of them and continued upward through the night sky. Eventually, they left the town of Jordan behind and found themselves about a mile over the Atherean. “How’s Bethany?” Darryl asked after a moment.

  Jayden looked down at their slumbering sister, nestled safely in his arms. “She’s still asleep.” Jayden raised his voice above the wind and replied, “But I think her arm’s broken.”

  “Damn him…” Jayce cursed. Jayden whirled on him as Darryl ga
ve him an annoyed shove. “Jayce!” Jayden hissed at him. Darryl gave Jayden a chastising look before turning back to Jayce. “I know you’re angry with him, believe me…but you can’t even think about him right now or he may pick up on it and track us down. Okay?”

  Jayce pursed his lips and nodded tightly. “Okay, I know, it’s just…it’s not fair, okay? He hits us and we’re the ones running?”

  “I know.” Jayden growled as they approached the third crown on the Atherean Skyway. A fire burned brightly from its peak, and Jayden smiled; Grace was home. “I don’t like it either, but it’s the way it is. We’ll stay here for the night and then go home tomorrow. Dad’ll be cooled off by then.”

  “If we’re lucky, he will be.” Darryl added ominously. As the oldest, Darryl had endured their father’s anger and zealous adherents to the commandments longer than any of them. “He will be.” Jayden replied gravelly.

  “Where exactly are we going?” Jayce asked.

  Jayden arrived at the third support beam and then shot up quickly, minimizing the orange trail of his wings. “I have a friend who lives here.” Jayden replied as his brothers followed, “I come here to help with her Pegasus when dad…you know, when he has one of those fits.”

  “Jayden!” Darryl teased, “You didn’t tell us you had a girlfriend!”

  “That’s because I don’t, you pervert.” Jayden groaned. “Come on; when we get there, you’ll see. Be polite, too. She’s not used to company.”

  Bethany stirred in Jayden’s arms as the boy alighted atop the deck; a good sign, considering the