ROTU: Chapter Twenty-Seven

Jalena arrived at the restaurant the next day to give Shamira details of their trip, only to discover that she was nowhere to be found. The restaurant owner said Shamira didn't call in either.

Jalena quickly returned to Nyhra's home and gave her the update.

"I will go this evening to her home," said Nyhra. "Since your return, Drasúl might have felt a surge in energy that occurred the night you remembered who you were. If he has attributed the activity to you, he may have captured her to bait you. They will be watching for you," she winked, "but not for a maid due for the weekly housekeeping."

"We need a memory-altering drug that is strong enough to use on the Cinak that guard her," Jalena said. "That way we can take her without having to use our power."

"I took Shamira's drugged coffee to a local lab and asked a technician to separate and analyze any foreign substances," Nyhra said. "I paid a lot of money for his silence, but it was worth it since we need it now."

"Do you think it will work on them?"

"We will just have to try it since we won't be able to detect their presence without our power, Hopefully, it will at least last long enough for us to get Shamira safely away."

"Yes. Let's work out the plan."

Jalena kept her distance from Nyhra's house that evening in case someone followed Nyhra home after her visit to Shamira's.

"They have her," she told Jalena when they met up later that night. "Her clothes and everything looked normal, but she was sitting on the sofa in her front room as if in a trance. She did not recognize me."

Jalena looked at Nyhra in alarm. "They have overdosed her."

Nyhra nodded. "If we do not get to her quickly, the damage to her memory could be irreversible."

"Forget the plan. We must go tonight. Even if it is a trap, we cannot wait."

Several hours before dawn, Nyhra and Jalena, without their suppression amulets, entered Shamira's home, which was hidden in the trees far from the shoreline.

We must hurry, Jalena reminded Nyhra. The band Lyons remade ranges at least a mile, but it likely won't block all our light. The band around Jalena's wrist started to beep warningly as she let her light surface and invoked Relasu.

Nyhra checked on Shamira, who had fallen asleep in the same spot she was sitting in the day before. Jalena kept watch for the Cinak, her senses heightened.

They are here, she told Nyhra as she spotted a blur of red out of the corner of her eye. Jalena's eyes flashed as she immediately threw a blue shield around the three of them just in time to block a swift attack from a Cinak.

The beeping from her wrist increased as another Cinak entered from the opposite side of the house and attempted to brush Nyhra and Shamira with a metal rod covered in thick blue liquid. The liquid splashed against Jalena's shield, smoking in the spot where it landed.

"God dammit, Jalena!" Lyon's yelled from the band on her wrist. "Your power is going off the charts! You're a fucking lighthouse!"

Jalena blocked out Lyon's voice and continued to study the moves of the Cinak before her.

There are only two more of them right now, Nyhra said as her eyes lit up. She smiled as her hand grasped the hilt of her gold-glowing gladaé as it formed in her grasp. More will show though. I think they have an automated signal within them that warns other Cinak of danger and beckons them to the area.

Jalena's gladaé formed within her hand.

The Cinak made a high-frequency pitch that caused Shamira to wake. She immediately covered her ears but stared in a surprised haze at the glowing field of blue light around her.

More Cinak swarmed the house.

I think we can forget trying to wipe their memory or using any subtlety to escape, Jalena said. Stay with Shamira. I will handle them.

Jalena extended her other hand out to the side and exhaled as Gyan's gladaé formed in her grasp. The Cinak around her shielded their eyes from its violet and gold glow. She moved faster than she ever had before, using the walls in the room as leverage. The Cinak fell one by one as Jalena's skill with both gladaés surpassed their defense methods.

"Jalena, go as fast as you can to the nearest shoreline," Lyons voiced from the bracelet. "We have less than a thirty-minute window before the probability of the ship being detected increases."

Nyhra and Shamira looked at each other.

"Ship?"

"Yes. I'll explain later. Just go."

Jalena and Nyhra helped Shamira to the back patio of the home. They both stopped as more Cinak moved to surround them.

Jalena immediately opened her Reserve, making sure Nyhra and Shamira were behind her. The diamond shield formation of both gladaés expanded immediately around the trio.

Shamira watched in catatonic awe at the light show before her.

The Cinak immediately retreated as Jalena's power heightened.

"Holy shit, Jalena. Your light has expanded across the entire country!" Lyons paused briefly before he yelled. "He's there, Jalena! Drasúl's energy has flashed on the grid not fifty miles from you. You are going to have to teleport to the nearest beach, and I will come to you. Get there as fast as you can!"

There was part of Jalena that wanted to face Drasúl right then, but her contemplation lasted only briefly as concern for Shamira's safety surpassed the priority of defeating him.

She turned to Nyhra. I will use my charisma to transport Shamira.

It may damage her nervous system, given her power still lies dormant.

We have no choice. I have to hope her core power will protect her from the shock. If we keep our Reserves open as we form the Lumfáinne, it will ensure that we cover the distance to the shoreline.

Nyhra nodded and opened her Reserve.

The light coming from their Reserves flooded the area as the two faced each other with Jalena's arms around Shamira's waist. Nyhra gripped Jalena's forearms. Jalena smiled over Shamira's shoulder at Nyhra as the blue-white light in her gaze mirrored the eyes of the elder master. The momentum of light rapidly encircled the two and formed a solid beam just before the three disappeared from sight.

Jalena landed with ease, adjusting her balance to accommodate the sandy terrain. She caught Shamira as she dropped forward against her, now unconscious.

Nyhra looked around in caution as she appeared alongside Jalena, prepared to wipe memories with the Cinak's drug if any late-night wanderers still lingered. She sighed in relief as she scanned the empty beach.

Immediately the Xita-8 Nyhra had used to travel to Earth emerged from beneath the surface of the ocean and floated on the water's surface.

"We are here, Jalena," Lyons said.

She is not doing well, Jalena, Nyhra said as she examined Shamira.

"You will have to come to us, Lyons. I don't think Shamira's condition can handle another Lumfáinne."

"I don't know what a Lumfáinne is, but we are on the way."

The Xita-8 moved rapidly across the water, slowing as it got close to the shoreline.

The ramp to the ship lowered, and the two carried Shamira as fast as they could manage into the ship.

Jalena stood on the ramp as the Xita-8 returned quickly to the air. There on the shoreline beneath them, Drasúl appeared in a flash of light. His steady gaze met hers.

A piercing fire rose within Jalena as the Mark of the Dragon lit in silver and gold on her forehead. As the ramp closed, a large wall of water shot up around the ship forming the shape of a dragon. The water dragon dove at Drasúl, its wings stretched out wide.

He teleported as the water slammed with heavy force into the shoreline and the ship disappeared in a flash.

Jalena started to close her Reserve and froze as a voice surfaced again from deep within her.

Yield to love, Jalena. I am with you.

Her breath caught. There was no mistake that it was Gyan's voice. She savored the sound for several moments after her Reserve closed completely. She realized his voice must now be a part of her Reserve because of the energy he had granted her at the time of his death.

Nyhra entered the room from the back compartments where she had placed Shamira to rest in one of the healing chambers.

"How is she?" Jalena asked.

"Stable," replied Nyhra, "but she will not remember who she is until the drug completely leaves her system, and even then, we do not know for sure what will happen. There may be unexpected side effects from the withdrawal."

Jalena nodded and plopped into the nearest seat. She ran a finger over the Lumsigne mark on her chair. She smiled as she met Nyhra's eye. "How did it feel?"

"Like breath that has long been taken from me has once more returned," Nyhra replied with a look of satisfaction.

Jalena nodded. "I know what you mean. There is no comparison to the joy experienced after freeing yourself from a life that masks your truth."

"Well because you all want to blast your truth now," Lyons said as he entered the compartment, punching away on his tablet, "I have to increase security shields everywhere. Drasúl knows you are on the surface now, so there is no telling what lengths he will take to find you."

"It's okay, Lyons. There is nothing that will get in the way of us preparing for what is to come now."

"That better be true, Princess!"

Nyhra studied Lyons with an amused look as Jalena introduced the two.

"When did you retrieve the ship?" Nyhra asked him.

"The Federation led me to it about ten years ago and asked me to upgrade it. I like the designer—this Sir Fane or whoever," he said as he looked around. "I understand how he thinks. Other than the grid, it is what I've been working on during your warrior vacations."

"Shakou is here?" Jalena asked as she sensed his presence.

Lyons nodded. "The star wizard is in his mind to help him fly the ship."

"I'm going to him." Jalena left the compartment and went to the front of the ship.

Relief overcame her at seeing him in the ship. She fought off a sudden desire to grab him as she watched him concentrating on the flight path.

Sensing her presence, he smiled. "Finally!"

"You can relax now, Shakou-chan. I will take it from here."

He nodded and allowed Jalena to take over.

He blinked several times and grabbed her hand. "Your star wizard's energy is intense, Okami, but I like him." He did a double take as he glanced at Jalena. "Your energy! The dragons!"

Jalena smiled. "Many were in Strenkarlia—where I found the Glisayas. The queen there offered her power and blessing. To become a Javen, one must use the black dragon's energy," she explained. "The wall of water earlier was a warning to Drasúl. They wanted Drasúl to know they are active in the quest to set their brother free."

Shakou smiled. "It is good that the dragons have united with us because now the Javen seeks with all he has to hunt you down."

"I am ready," Jalena said. "During the times we search for the Conduits, we will form our plan to also face Drasúl."