Striker by Charmaine Ross

Author:Charmaine Ross [Ross, Charmaine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-09-22T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

The spectrum of blue-greens of the surrounding forest were cold and frozen. The steel grey sky offered little in the way of adding any extra colour. In fact, it deepened the shadows and absorbed anything that might be counted as bright. Striker’s breath frosted with every exhale, the chill of dusk seeping through his clothing. The underside of the spindly leaves was coated with a layer of white ice. It was dark and desolate. A frozen wasteland, despite the surrounding forest of tall trees and spindly shrubs.

The only thing more unnerving than the almost frozen landscape was the absolute silence. Apart from his footfalls punching through an icy crust, there wasn’t even the distant call of the small, flying feathered creature he’d seen before he’d entered the cave.

There was an ominous press of air, as though the molecules had become denser, clinging to each other as though a herd sensing danger. A foreboding sense started as a throb behind his eyes but now pounded through his mind with the subtlety of a giant fist.

He stilled, peering into the shadows. Faces soundlessly appeared in the tightening and shaping of leaves, the twist of young, supple twigs, the imprint on a leaf. As promised, the Callisteans surrounded him, guiding him, watching out. He wasn't used to the effect of appearing and disappearing faces, having accidentally swiped numerous of the planet’s inhabitants out of his way thinking it was a low hanging branch, rather than a limb. However, at the moment, their guidance had stopped.

He spread his palm on the nearest trunk, closed his eyes, concentrated and spoke into his mind, “Where to now?”

“We are unsure.”

What did that even mean? Whatever it was, it couldn't be good. The ominous press of foreboding somehow grew heavier.

“Why are you unsure?”

“We can no longer sense her. Her essence has...changed.”

“Changed? How?”

“It is...unknown.”

The Callistean sounded unsure. This wasn’t good. So not good. He needed to change tact. If the inhabitants were unsure, he had to find another way. “What type of energy do you detect?”

“That is also unknown. It doesn’t appear to be from this universe.”

Striker’s mind spun. Nothing made any sense.

“How is that possible?” If anyone knew about impossible, it would be the Callisteans. They had made themselves half-flora for frek's sake.

“The energy has shifted and grows stronger. It seeks to destroy.”

That wasn’t good.

“Can you take me to the energy?” If Vivien’s energy was somehow mixed in with this new unknown factor, logic told him she would be close by.

A sick feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. This was bad. He could only pray Vivien was safe, but his prayers had never been things that were fulfilled. Experience taught him if the Reptiles were at the centre of it, it was nothing good.

If something had happened to Viven… he swallowed hard… if something had, then it was his duty to stop the Reptiles from doing whatever they were doing. His duty – and his pleasure - to exact revenge if they’d no more than harmed a hair on her head.

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