Atlas Cloud And The Amulet of Thieves (19 page)

The boathouse wall exploded into splinters as Cain punched through it. He was done playing with me and now he wanted to end it. I threw bolts of magic at him, but he deflected them away with ease. They collided with the rock face behind me, cracking off chunks of stone as they hit. I jumped to my feet, he was getting closer. I had to escape before he gets the Amulet.

He was quicker than me. My face crushed against the cliff face. His hand wrapped around my head, burning into me. He licked his lips and whispered in my ear.

“You’re weak like your father was, and you will die like a dog just the same.” I placed my palm on the rocks, letting out all of my animosity and resentment, implanting my fury into the stone. “Yes, show me your power.” He said absorbing my emotion. The magic created veins that ran through the rock face, cracking it and separating it piece by piece. I pulled my arm out from the wall, striking Cain in the chest; he loosened his grip slightly, enough for me to wriggle free. I harnessed my totem’s power, pulling down the detached rocks. Half of the cliff almost fell down on top of us. I dived out of the way, the shockwave creating sand clouds blocking everything from view. I shook my head and wiped the sand from my face, trying to gain some composure. In the distance, near the shoreline, Roko and Eli were battling against Gillian. His whip flowing through the air lighting up the darkness, it all being a façade, he was the darkness, not the night sky.

I capitalised on the situation and ran towards the shoreline, hoping to find Roko and Eli safe. I didn’t check whether Cain was under the rubble or not I didn’t have time, he was too strong for me to face on my own. Gillian’s whip was a flame, scorching their skin as he swiped at them, Eli rolling and ducking from it, trying to find an opportunity to attack. Roko was fending him off with barriers of magic, they were holding but her power was diminishing. Gillian was thrashing wildly, he felt them closing in. They were all drenched, their clothes slowing them down. I was just happy that I didn’t drown them both. I ran as fast as I could. He was vulnerable from behind, his attention focused on the other two. I created an ice pick, throwing it at his right leg, the shard piercing his skin. He fell to one knee. He swung his whip in my direction, not looking where I am, just barbarically aiming for me. I ducked the attack, grabbing him by the throat from behind.

“Please don’t hurt me.” He said, cowering in fear, his true colours showing through him.

“Why?!” I growled, ready to let Eli plunge his sword into his heart. He looked around nervously looking for his master. He head butted backwards in desperation. His skull cracking me in the chin, making me let go of my hold on him. He jumped up kicking me away, swinging his whip around himself. He evaporated into thin air, escaping his punishment.

“Cowa...” Eli muttered as the dust settled back in its place. His voice cut off by the sound of flesh and skin ripping. I turned to see Cain over his shoulder.

“Nooooooooo!” I yelled. Before I could let go of my fury he ignited a fireball into my chest, my feet leaving the ground, the flame ball burning away parts of my shirt, before it dissolved into nothing. He raised his other hand lifting Roko into the air, she clasped her neck, he was squeezing the life out of her. He lost interest and then slammed her into the ground. Roko was knocked unconscious, her body lying there in the sand waiting for the sea to claim her. Eli wasn’t moving, his eyes were closed. He couldn’t be dead. He is my brother.

“I’m tired of these games now, give it to me!” He howled at me, the ground shaking as he spoke. My eyes were fixed on Eli’s body, trying to sense whether he was still alive, the faintest breathe was all I needed. Cain leant over him placing his hand over his heart.

“Don’t you touch him.” I shouted standing to my feet, using the mirror from the boathouse as leverage.

“He lives, Atlas. Oh I do like ripping their souls from their bodies when they’re still alive.” He said, he licked his lips and then pressed his hand harder on Eli’s chest. His body went into spasm, his life force being siphoned away from him. I didn’t hesitate. I stretched out my arm, my dad’s ring glowing with energy. I channelled my hatred for him, and blasted out an icy blue beam of energy, it was far more powerful than any spell I had used before. Cain reacted the same way, sending out a fiery liquid beam. They both collided and battled together. The energy fluctuating, sparks of green appearing at the epicentre. I was holding on as tight as possible but he was stronger. I grabbed the Amulet from my neck with my other hand. Holding it even tighter, hoping to borrow its energy. Nothing was happening, it wasn’t helping me. I thought of home, the house and my bedroom, loving thoughts, keeping me strong. I couldn’t hold it much longer; his magic was unyielding, creeping closer and closer. Cain was gritting his teeth, his malice and rage enforcing his power. Then I heard something, it was like a drum, but it was much fainter than that. I looked over at Eli, he was still. But I could sense life, his heartbeat. I lost concentration for a moment. Cain blasted forwards with two hands, sending a shockwave down the link. I held up my hands to my face, shielding my eyes. The shockwave hit me, my body vaulting backwards into the mirror. A white flash exposed through the gaps in my fingers. Images of home came into view. I wanted to be there so badly.

I smashed into a tiled wall, the ceramics cracked as my body collided with it. I moved my hands away from my face. It was my bathroom, a small bathroom with a mirrored cabinet above the sink. I was home. The Amulet took me where I wanted to be. But I didn’t want to be here anymore, not without Eli. Not while he was still there trapped with evil. I got to my feet; I looked around for a moment, taking in the sight. I haven’t seen anything this normal for months. I placed my hand against the mirror, expecting to get transported to the other world. Nothing happened. I took my hand off, the remnants of grit and blood wiped on the mirror. I looked down into my hand. The Amulet was scorched and burned. It crumbled in my hand, the dust falling through my fingers.  The blast was too powerful, burning it away. Leaving me stranded here. Leaving Eli stranded there. I gazed at my reflection, I was different. The other world changed me, the evil that slumbered there, the never ending hopelessness. I was thrust into an adventure I thought I wanted. But it was far more than chasing dragons and fighting evil, it was real and dangerous. Eli was trapped there because of me and my selfishness. That was unacceptable. I had to get back. I had to save him.

-The Adventure will Continue in…

-Book 2 of the Atlas Cloud Saga-

-Visit
www.lmjrayner.co.uk
for juicy details and a sneak preview at book 2