Universal Warrior: Before Red Morning, Page 4

push its way to Reginald, who was pinned under the creature’s weight and couldn’t break free.

  A second energy blast from Mia caught the creature squarely in the new wound, and again it screamed. Reginald scampered from beneath it, raised his axe, and swung it down across the creature’s face.

  It was less affected by that blow, able to recover and snatch Reginald’s axe before he could bring it back up. Reginald released the weapon and leapt backwards to avoid its oncoming jaw.

  The creature pursued, chasing Reginald down and chomping twice. Reginald nearly lost his footing as he darted backwards. When the creature came down a third time, Reginald raised his axe to intercept its jaw.

  The creature bit down, and then through the hilt of the axe as though it was nothing. As the Kurag tossed the axe to the ground, Reginald sprinted forward and landed a crushing right fist to its jaw.

  The impact echoed throughout Heaven and the Southern Lands. Augra let her hands fall to the side, shocked.

  Reginald followed up with his attack, leaping again as he sent his left fist crashing through the creature’s jaw. The Kurag staggered backwards. Mia appeared, channeling her aura into a high-velocity landing and thrusting the blade of her foot into the Kurag’s wound. The beast was splayed forward and crashed to the ground.

  “Take my sister.” Reginald panted to the fresh-faced young officer, “Get her away from this place. I’ll find you when this is over.”

  Mia nodded quickly, turning back towards Lillian. “Yes, sir.”

  She turned, going for Lillian.

  As Mia and Lillian extended their hands for each other, a bolt of purple lightning struck, exploding at the ground between the two of them. Lillian squealed, withdrawing her hand quickly.

  Augra held up her hand, with crackled with unnatural purple energy. “No, Mia.” She snarled, “Stay. Watch. It’s just getting interesting.”

  She lowered her hand and addressed Reginald; “Are you sure you were born here?”

  Reginald panted, catching his breath. Augra held up a palm and the Kurag was still. “I don’t think anyone’s ever struck a Kurag before. No one’s wanted to get that close.”

  The world was silent, save for a burst of roaring thunder in the Southern Lands.

  “You.” Augra addressed Reginald, “You’re her brother, hmm?”

  Reginald said nothing. The longer she spoke, the more time he had to prepare.

  “Why don’t you come with me?” Augra smiled, nodding back towards the Southern Lands, “It’s not as bad as you all think. Sure, there’s a lake of fire, but you only go there by choice. Or if you haven’t done your job.”

  Reginald’s brow furrowed. “Is that so?”

  He could hear Lillian behind him. “Reginald, no…”

  “Reginald, yes.” Augra countered, gaining an advantage by learning his name, “You don’t belong here, I can tell. You’ve got anger, but you’ve been raised to think it’s a bad thing. It’s not. It has a purpose.”

  The Kurag rose and snorted, irritated. Reginald remained silent.

  “Both you and your sister should come with me.” Augra persisted, “Not as exiles, but as residents. You’d be welcomed, treated well, and put to use in what we’re planning.”

  Both Mia and Reginald stiffened. “What’re you planning?” Reginald asked hesitantly.

  Augra went silent, folding her arms and smirking. “Come with me.” She purred, “And find out. Or better yet, be part of it.”

  “Reginald?” Mia asked cautiously, prepared to strike.

  “If I come with you…” Reginald began, waving for Mia’s silence, “You leave my sister and family alone. Do we have an accord?”

  Augra considered it a moment, looking from Reginald to Lillian and then Mia. She smiled, nodding. “You have my word. Lillian will have to disappear.”

  “Reginald, don’t do this!” Lillian bellowed, getting to her feet.

  “You’ll never see her again.” Reginald promised. He gestured towards the Southern Lands. “Lead the way.”

  As Lillian screamed in protest, Reginald turned. “It’s because of you we’re here!” He bellowed, pointing at her accusingly, “The least you can do is accept things with dignity.”

  Stunned by her brother’s words, Lillian appeared to wilt under the words.

  “Reginald.” Mia warned.

  He didn’t reply, following Augra into the Southern Lands. The air was repugnant and almost physical. It felt like it was trying to crush him from all sides. He took his breaths sparingly.

  “Reginald, I cannot allow this to happen!” Mia called.

  Reginald continued to walk, lowering his head.

  “This is your last warning!”

  He smiled, thinking of Dayna and Uriel.

  Moments later, he heard it; a bolt of energy, fired from Mia’s hands, coming for his back.

  Forcing all of his concentration into a single effort, Reginald burst his wings, grunting as they came to life at his back. He leapt up, flipping backwards, and allowing the beam to pass harmlessly beneath him

  Harmless to him, but not to Augra.

  She was caught completely by surprise, the beam catching her in her back and sending her hurtling into the ground face-first.

  The Kurag rumbled hungrily, and Reginald could’ve sworn that the creature was smiling as he dove for it. Reginald now understood why the Kurag had brushed off the Heimdall’s energy but been staggered by his fists; no one had dared get close enough to engage it. It wasn’t used to being hit.

  Of course, punching the creature was still like hitting granite bare-handed. He needed help to soften the thing up. This was where Mia and Augra came in…

  He could feel Mia’s questioning surprise, and Lillian’s nervous curiosity as Reginald closed to within striking distance. He hoped Mia trusted him enough to follow his lead.

  The Kurag leapt, trying to snap its jaws closed on Reginald’s head. Reginald saw it coming and darted to the right, and then fell beside the creature, wrapping his arms around the creature’s neck. He then turned in mid-air and hurled the Kurag to the ground.

  The Kurag was on its feet quickly, continuing to lunge for Reginald. Reginald swayed and dodged, staying just out of its reach. Each time the Kurag missed, Reginald caught the creature with lefts and rights, eventually staggering the monster. When it took a step back, Reginald landed, ignoring the pain coursing through his fists.

  He hammered the creature in its massive midsection, driving the thing back. As the Kurag looked down, preparing to consume him, it was knocked forward by an unexpected blast of Mia’s energy. Reginald was grateful that the Heimdall had caught on.

  He heard the wind crackle behind him and immediately threw himself to the right.

  The Kurag shuddered, arms akimbo as purple lightning struck it square. The lightning then bounced and caught Reginald.

  He thought his muscles would tear in half. Every part of his body felt suddenly enflamed as the artificial lightning cooked him from the inside out. A violent, painful ringing sensation surged from his body through his arms, each of his fingers and toes. Then he fell to the ground.

  He could hear Augra screaming in anger and sadness as she hadn’t meant to strike her mount. A permanent buzzing had set into the left side of Reginald’s head, and hearing out of his right ear was muffled.

  He merely followed his instincts as the pain subsided. He rose, turned, bringing his right fist with him. Sure enough, he caught the Kurag cleanly on the underside of its jaw, which was just beginning to open as it came for Reginald.

  As the Kurag was knocked backwards, Reginald could see that the lightning had hit it hard. It was now pockmarked across its body and bleeding black from all of its eyes.

  Rocked by the last punch and the two blasts of energy, the Kurag stumbled backwards and fell to ground. This time, it did not get up.

  “If you attack,” Mia warned, and Reginald could see that she was not speaking to him, “I will take it as an act of war and respond appropriate
ly.” Her hand was raised at Augra, who was still in the distance. “You attacked me unprovoked.” Augra seethed, “Should I not take that as an act of war?”

  Mia shook her head without blinking. “Take it however you want. I was aiming for Reginald.” She shot him a look to say that he would answer for this later.

  “I’ll allow you to take your mount and go.” Mia offered, lowering her hand, “Tell your mistress whatever you want.”

  “Oh, I will.” Augra nodded as she approached the fallen Kurag. “I imagine you’ll hear from us again in the very, very near future.”

  Reginald limped backwards, his body feeling as though it would turn to jelly. “Don’t think you’ve won anything here.” Augra glared at Reginald as she knelt beside the Kurag, “We may revisit this event on my terms, with no trickery to assist you.”

  Reginald could feel blood running from his ear. “If you come for me,” He rumbled, “You had better put me down.”

  Augra studied him a moment, and then smirked. She touched the Kurag, and the two disappeared in a wisp of black smoke.

  Reginald would’ve passed out had Lillian not caught him. Seconds later, Mia appeared, supporting the rest of his weight. “I’ll take you as far as the Yevon.” She said, “Beyond that, you’ll have to fly on your own.”

  Reginald managed to look at her and nod. “I’m sorry about your friend. I’m sorry I interfered.”

  Mia looked up at him and smiled. “I understand why you did it. Your family must mean a lot to you.”

  Reginald nodded. “They do.”

  “I’ll tell you what.” Mia offered, “When I get to Yevon, I’ll start the process