One more year. Then I will finally be old enough to set out on my own. My plan, as it is, is to take up residence in the capitol. There will be plenty of contracts and opportunities to catch the eye of a certain Starvast Guardian.

  I will also be bringing Laluli with me as my pilot. I’m sure her father will allow it. He knows I would never let anything happen to her. She is more than just a friend to me. She is my sister.

  -Journal of Karena Zephyr

  Wulfo

  “Let go!” shouted Phuro Zephyr. Tears had been continuously flowing down his face since his sister, Karena, had gone back to slow down their pursuers. “Let me fight alongside my family!”

  Laluli held the boy’s wrist with both hands and pulled as hard as she could. He was only a little bigger than her, but his Elementi strength was vastly superior to that of even the strongest of Liplees. “No, Phuro,” she strained to say as she struggled to keep him from walking away.

  “Let go, Laluli,” Phuro repeated. This time his voice was stern. It made him sound much older than Laluli ever imagined him sounding and it took her by surprise. She loosened her grip and Phuro was quick to pull away.

  “Phuro!” she shouted out as she watched him race down the path towards his sister.

  Karena Zephyr got into her fighting stance for an eighth time. She had acquired numerous cuts throughout the course of the battle, but she was also obtaining more information on her opponent. With some impromptu strategizing she had come out victorious in their last couple bouts.

  Shalika was breathing heavily. “Little Farako bitch,” she said as she wiped some blood from her busted lip. “Horbel’s never going to let me live this down.”

  “Live what down?” Horbel asked from the balcony that stretched out from the second floor on the back of the estate. He was looking down on them with an amused smile. “Having a little trouble, are we?”

  Shalika stomped the ground in a fit. “I’m supposed to help you track down Liplees! Not fight the damn Elementi!”

  Klasp then appeared over the railing beside Horbel. “That one’s barely even full grown! How tough could she be?”

  Shalika hissed in response. Her minotaur companion chuckled and hopped over the railing. He landed with an enormous boom that raised up a dirt cloud quickly blown away by the high mountain winds. He had to put his hands on his large belly to keep it from jiggling.

  “You know you used to be a lot more intimidating before you let yourself go,” Shalika remarked as she observed his bouncing belly.

  “Hey!” he yelled back. “I told you the wife’s got me on a diet!”

  Karena fought back the fear. She had to remain poised. She was having a hard enough time keeping up with just Shalika. She couldn’t let any doubts slip into her mind now.

  “Alright, little one,” Klasp yelled over to her. “You’re lucky I have a soft spot for kids. I’m going to give you a free shot.” He pointed at his bare-naked chest. “Right here. Everything you’ve got.”

  Karena looked at the other two fighters. They both held smirks that made her feel uneasy. The beastly man most likely had a hide that was incredibly tough. Had her parents even had the opportunity to strike him? If only she had stayed behind to help them, but how could she have possibly known these invaders would be so strong?

  Still, she didn’t see herself getting another opportunity such as this one. If she concentrated and sent a dense enough jolt, then perhaps she could pierce his flesh. Instead of hitting him with a consistent stream of lightning she would strike him with a solid spear of electricity. She doubted any of them were aware Imperians even possessed such an ability.

  She gathered her bril into a wobbly ball of electricity in her hands. She focused on making it as dense as possible.

  Klasp pounded on his chest with his fist in anticipation of her attack. “Gather all the lightning you want, kid.”

  At the last moment, Karena manipulated the electricity into a spear and threw it with all her might.

  Shalika noticed there was something strange about Karena’s attack. “Move, imbecile!” she shouted to Klasp, but it was too late.

  The spear pierced the minotaur’s flesh, and he bellowed in pain.

  Karena was breathing heavily and was so exhausted that she fell to one knee. She had put nearly everything she had into that attack. Which is why she watched in horror as Klasp pulled the electric spear out of his shoulder. It dissipated as soon as he pulled it loose. Black blood driveled down the side of his chest from the small hole it had left. She missed. She had never thrown so much bril so hard in all her life and miscalculated its trajectory. She had been aiming for his heart. Her one chance had resulted in failure and the fear was starting to find its home in her mind.

  “Not too shabby,” said Klasp as he rotated his left arm. He was having a hard time lifting it over his head and winced in pain every time he tried. Then he looked over at Karena with bloodthirsty eyes. “Now, it’s my turn.”

  The large brute dashed at Karena much faster than she anticipated. She barely had time to jump back as Klasp hammered down on the spot she was just at with his right fist. A loud boom echoed up the mountain path and a small crater formed from the impact.

  Karena fell back and the muscles in her legs spasmed. She quickly rubbed them with her hands. She had overexerted herself. Her over usage of bril was slowing down blood flow. She looked at the hole in the ground left by Klasp. Had she not evaded, she would have been splattered all over the lawn. If she couldn’t stop the muscle spasms soon it would mean certain death.

  Klasp noticed the young Farako warrior struggling to get up and walked over until he stood directly above her. He lifted his large hoof over her head with a maniacal grin. “Nighty night, little lightning girl.”

  He brought his hoof down but to his surprise he hit nothing but the ground. A strong gust of wind had come up and rolled Karena out from underneath him.

  Everyone looked over and saw Phuro standing confidently in a fighting stance at the foot of the mountain path. “Leave my sister alone!” he shouted.

  Klasp made an enormous gasp. “Look at him! He’s so cute! Wow, if only the wife were here to see this! She would get a real kick out of you!”

  “That’s the last one,” Shalika announced to her squad. “Him and the eight or nine Liplees further up the path. So, my job here is done.”

  “Horbel!” Klasp shouted up. “Please, let’s not rip this one up.”

  “I’m not letting you keep it if that’s what you have in my mind,” said Horbel. He stood perfectly balanced on the thin metal railing of the balcony. “That thing won’t be so cute when it grows up.”

  “I know,” said Klasp. “That’s why I’m going to have him stuffed. He’ll make a great gift for the wife.”

  Gift for the wife? Thought Horbel. Perhaps he could learn a thing or two from the blundering oaf. He should acquire a gift of his own for his wife-to-be. A grand gift that would impress someone who would no doubt hold him to the highest of standards.

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  Karena listened in disgust as she attempted to get back up. The spasms had subsided, but her body was still too weak to fully cooperate. “Run! You idiot!” she shouted at her little brother. “Get out of here!”

  Phuro ignored her and stood firm. His green and black clothes started shaking in the wind that he was summoning around him.

  The first few steps Klasp took were slow, but as he got closer, he started to pick up momentum.

  Phuro used the wind to launch himself toward the minotaur. He landed a knee directly to the face of his opponent and kicked off Klasp’s shoulder to retreat.

  Klasp was unphased by the attack and snatched Phuro out of the air with a tight grip on his ankle. He held the boy upside down and laughed. “Got him!” he said with excitement. “Now, how to kill you without ruining your adorable little frame. I know! I’ll squeeze the life out of you. I’ll have to be sure to hold back though. Wouldn’t want to make you pop!”

  Phuro started punching the air and using his bril to make the wind dense enough to feel like physical punches. Still, Klasp remained unphased by his attacks. He put a hand around Phuro’s throat to stop his breathing.

  Karena managed to get to her feet and tried to collect any bril she could. She knew she didn’t have enough. She could barely shoot a weak bolt at this point, let alone find enough energy to stop Klasp. She slowly started to put one foot in front of the other as her brother’s face began to turn blue.

  No! She thought. What is he doing here? This has all been for nothing!

  “Almost there,” said Klasp reassuringly to his victim. “Just let the darkness take you.”

  Phuro leg’s squirmed and kicked as he pulled at the minotaur’s large hand. Spit bubbled from his lips and Klasp’s smile grew.

  Then a large red laser came down from above them, blasting Klasp in the back and forcing him to drop Phuro.

  Phuro gasped for air and coughed violently as he crawled away from the minotaur.

  Everyone looked up and saw the Zephyr starship hovering above the estate. Laluli’s voice came over the ship’s loudspeakers. “Hands up, or I’ll blast the lot of you into the abyss where you belong!”

  Shalika’s hands shot up in immediate surrender. Klasp was a little slower and heavy with reluctance. He raised his hands and growled in frustration. Smoke continued to rise from his back where he had been struck.

  “You too, scales!” ordered Laluli as she pointed the ship’s laser cannons at Horbel.

  Horbel still remained perfectly balanced on the railing. He grinned and kept his arms folded. “I would never surrender to a member of a mortal race. Let alone a slave one.”

  Laluli didn’t appreciate the Liplees being referred to as a slave race. She was now hovering directly on top of Karena to ensure that she didn’t accidentally hit her. So, with that worry free from her mind, she opened fire. The first laser struck true and blasted Horbel straight in the chest. It sent him flying back into the house. He came running out of the house and several more lasers rained down on him.

  This time Laluli did not hold back. She completely destroyed the balcony Horbel had been perched on. She had no idea how much it would take to kill the fearsome intruder, so she kept firing. She didn’t let up. Even when the screens started to flash caution of overheating. She didn’t let up. She was not going to take any chances.

  It was the ship that finally overrode her controls to keep from damaging itself. When the lasers had stopped, the entire estate was in shambles. And there was no sign of the dark scaled invader.

  She turned the guns back onto Klasp and Shalika. The duo, in return, raised their hands even higher into the sky.

  “Easy now, little missy,” said Klasp. “We’ve learned our lesson! We’ll be good!”

  “Just a job!” shouted Shalika. “Nothing personal!”

  “Now,” said Laluli. “You two are going to get back into your ship, take off, and never ever return!”

  “You got it!” said Shalika.

  “Works for me!” Klasp yelled up. “We’ll mosey on out of here! Just like you said now!”

  Karena was beaming with pride for her friend. Laluli’s quick thinking had saved the day. With their combined efforts they had stopped the invaders. She held out hope that her parents were still alive, but she knew it was folly. These monsters were far too ruthless to understand a concept such as mercy. She needed to accept it now. Her parents were dead.

  Then Karena noticed the guns of the ship suddenly disengage. What was Laluli doing? This wasn’t over until they were gone. Did she really believe they would just leave without them keeping their guns on them? No. She was much smarter than that. Klasp and Shalika both laughed, and Karena knew that something had gone terribly wrong.

  Laluli felt a hot breath on her neck, and something brush up against her cheek. She tried to turn around, but her body wouldn’t respond. She was frozen stiff. In the reflection of one of the screens in front of her she made out a thin forked tongue leaving her face.

  “Actually,” said Horbel from right behind her. “We’re not going anywhere.”

  He grabbed her by the throat. She wanted to struggle, but it was no use. Her body refused to respond.

  “The venom should wear off soon,” he told her. “When it does, you’re going to land this ship. If you follow my instructions and be a good little slave, then you and the Elementi brats down there just might have a chance to survive this ordeal.”

  Laluli was soon able to move her body again but saw no other option than to do what she was told. She was completely powerless to someone like Horbel. She landed the ship and joined Phuro and Karena as their prisoners.

  They had given it everything they had. Karena could barely stand. She was covered in cuts that she had received in her fight with Shalika. Some of them were rather deep, and she was having trouble deciding which ones she needed to apply pressure to.

  Phuro had been embarrassingly outmatched. His throat was bruised, but the worst of his wounds were not on his body. He had once believed his people were invincible. Now, he knew different. Even the sons of Farako warriors should fear what monsters were lurking out in the dark recesses of the galaxy.

  Laluli was the only one unharmed among them, but she was just a Liplee. The Zephyr starship had been her one last hope. She doubted she even had the strength to strangle one of these invaders in their sleep. Not that she would ever be presented with the opportunity.

  “I need one of you to deliver a message for me,” said Horbel.

  “Whoa, whoa, whoa,” said Klasp. “We were told to enslave Liplees and kill Elementi. Not send any messages.”

  Horbel gave him a menacing glare. Klasp shut his mouth and looked down to the ground. Little did the minotaur know this was his own doing. His plans for presenting a gift to his wife had inspired Horbel.

  He turned his attention back to his three prisoners. “Obviously, I can’t speak for everyone present, but I found today’s battle to be extremely underwhelming. So, to provide me with the fight I was promised, I will be sending one of you to go and fetch the princess that attacked Superior Vishka for me.”

  For what grander prize could his wife-to-be want than the head of an Elementi warrior princess? A one-of-a-kind trophy! The most dangerous game in the galaxy. Aside from himself, of course.

  Laluli’s mind raced. How could she get everyone out of this? How could she convince Horbel she needed both the Zephyrs?

  “Laluli is the only one among us who can pilot the ship,” Karena said before Laluli had a chance to think.

  “But I don’t know the way! I’ll need guides!” Laluli shouted. Fearing that Horbel would just start killing the remaining Zephyrs upon hearing they couldn’t properly pilot their own starship.

  “What kind of pilot doesn’t know how to navigate the stars?” asked Shalika. “I smell deception in the air.”

  “Is that true?” asked Horbel. “Did you just lie? To me?”

  Tears found their way down Laluli’s bright pink cheek as she trembled in fear. She was messing this all up. Why hadn’t she just kept her mouth shut?

  Horbel wiped away her tear with a black scaly finger. Laluli flinched as he brushed against her cheek. “What a fragile little race you are,” he said. “You should know that I do not appreciate being lied to.”

  “She’s not lying,” said Karena. “She can find planet Farako on her own just fine. But she doesn’t know where the palace is. Not to mention the royal family members won’t give audience to just any random citizen. That’s where you’ll need a Farako Elementi. Send Phuro and Laluli. I’ll remain here as collateral.”

  Horbel rubbed at one of the horns protruding from his jaw. “Admirable of you. Offering yourself up to be the hostage so your brother and the little slave girl can escape.”

  It had been Karena’s plan as soon as she had come back down the mountain path. To ensure the safety of what remained of her family no matter the cost. “It’s just the most logical approach for all parties.”

  A wicked grimace spread across Horbel’s face. “I’ll keep the boy.”

  Karena was about to protest, but she felt a small hand grab her own.

  “Don’t,” Laluli pleaded quietly.

  “A hostage is a hostage,” Karena argued. “Any Farako Elementi being held prisoner is a top priority for the godking.”

  Horbel’s hand then extended out in the blink of an eye and into the chest of Karena.

  Fear overwhelmed her. Icy cold and blazing hot waves wrapped around her. She tried to take a breath, but no air would enter what was left of her lungs. She looked at Laluli with a look of desperation. She had so much she wanted to say. So many things that she still wanted to do. But she would never get the chance. This was the end. The end of everything.

  Horbel pulled his hand free, and Karena coughed up blood all over Laluli before falling to the ground.

  Laluli screamed in anguish and fell to her knees. She put her hands over the gaping hole in Karena’s chest and her friend gave her wrists one final squeeze before the life faded from her eyes.

  “No!” Laluli screamed. She howled in grief at the loss of her friend.

  “You bastard!” shouted Phuro. He was about to retaliate but Klasp grabbed him from behind and kept him in place. “You’ll pay for this!” he yelled with tears streaming down his face. “The godking will rip you apart for this!”

  Horbel held up his hand to reveal Karena’s heart. He took a bite from it and more of her blood splattered onto Laluli. “Now,” he said while chewing. “Get in that ship of yours and tell Princess Marilyn Voltus every little thing that happened here. Tell her that this little brat,” he said as he pointed at Phuro. “Is going to be our guest until she comes to pick him up. If my ship’s sensors pick up more than one Farako vessel approaching, the kid gets stuffed for Klasp’s wife. If Princess Marilyn fails to make an appearance, the kid gets stuffed for Klasp’s wife. And if she fails to produce a challenge for me then it should go without saying…” he squatted down next to Laluli and swallowed the bite he had taken.

  “The kid gets stuffed for Klasp’s wife.”