Forged by Fate (The Aqua Collection Book 1)

  THE AURUM DIMENSION

  Forged

  by

  Fate

  First Book of the Aqua Collection

  Cici Wickens

  Copyright © 2018 by Cici Wickens. All rights reserved.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Dedicated to You.

  Also, a special thanks to my dear friend and fellow writer, B.N. Your critique and support are priceless. One day, I hope to read your work in print as well.

  Prologue

  Amap of the stars had been carved upon the Hall’s smooth, glass flooring and stretched out to meet with walls adorned with royal blue and ancient gray. Three thrones, each crowned with a waterfall that flowed with luminescent gold were situated at their respected constellations. Sacred scriptures danced along the walls, their ink glistening with the lifeblood of Aurum. Beside each passage or hymn stood monolithic statues of the Past Ones who held blades and staffs that grazed the clear ceiling as if they were touching the sky itself. They stood watchful over everyone in the room, their golden eyes unwavering and their crystalline-like bodies unmoving.

  In the first throne sat Ujarak, the Elder of War. He is responsible for turning the tides in Grugen’s War and saving his species from the Skinwalkers’ oppression. During the battle his sword had been bathed in the blood of many Hell-Cats and Ancients, earning its name Verochka. Although it was once bathed in the blood of flesh, it is now coated in the blood of Aurum and displayed in the Hall of Arms. His reasoning is objective, and his stance is firm. He is the Savior.

  “There must be a war. The lower government of Aurum will destroy the entire dimension if someone does not intervene.” Ujarak told his fellow Elders.

  At the side of the Savior sat the Mother, or the Elder of Love. Yaromira. She is the one who formed a pact with the Companions, tying the two species together for hundreds of years. Her heart is as soft as her smile, and her love for all flows like water, smoothing out even the hardest of rocks. Her reasoning is compassion, and her stance is peaceful.

  “And who would win this war?” She questioned him.

  “Perhaps there is no winner. Only the balancing of Lux and Nox.”

  “It is unfortunate that in order to attain peace so many lives will be lost.” She said pityingly.

  “Unfortunate, yes. But necessary. Balance is the very definition of war.”

  Lastly sat Aatami, the Teacher. As the Elder of Knowledge, it is he that taught his species the many uses of Lux and first summoned a Familiar. His eyes swirled with liquid gold, a result of his curiosity, and were said to hold all knowledge, even that of the future. His reasoning is logic, and he is unmatched in his patience.

  “It is neither unfortunate nor necessary, but inevitable. We strive for peace, yet we must fight to attain it. It will always be this way.” Aatami finally spoke.

  “This Valencia, Unseelie Queen of the Daphidle Kingdom in the Seelie Territory, must be stopped. She hoards the Lux and uses it for her twisted experiments instead of allotting it to her people as she is supposed to. Slowly but surely, she is turning their hearts just as she turned her own. Still, we may not interfere with the lower government.” Yaromira stated.

  “We must use the girl.” Ujarak agreed. “Otherwise, another war will follow.”

  Aatami tilted his head. “With the girl on the throne, the second war will be as inevitable as the first. She is a Guardian who will rule over the lower government, and a Halfling at that. This has never been and never will be again. It shall cause much strife amongst the Aurum Dimension. I can see that there are long days ahead of us.”

  “You are wise as always Aatami. Fate forges the most difficult paths. I am afraid changing it is out of our power.” Yaromira grimly shut her eyes. “Death is the price we must pay for balance.”

  “Once the girl is strong enough to battle Valencia, we will come to her aid.” Ujarak’s voice was firm.

  “No, we will not. This is not our battle as much as you would like it to be.” Aatami said knowingly. “We have already lost enough in the past. Have you forgotten Grugen’s War? I thought that you led it.”

  Ujarak narrowed his eyes. “I will never forget.”

  “Then it is settled.” Yaromira concluded.

  The Trinity of Elders then settled their eyes on the young man who knelt in the center of the room. He was of otherworldly beauty, covered in robes of the deepest blue. The boy had hair the color of the brightest snow, and it’s as if his eyes belonged to two separate beings. A brooch rested at the base of his neck, shining against his earth-toned skin. Daggers of all different sizes were on his person. His dark, knee-high boots bore a golden cuff, for he was one of the Trusted. The shimmering flower Aethereus, sewn into the back of his garments, mirrored that which was engraved beneath him, pulsing every so often to the rhythm of Aurum’s heart.

  “Rise.” The Trinity commanded in unison.

  So he rose, gracefully, standing to his full height. “My duty is to return with the Halfling.” He confirmed.

  “Yes.” They answered. “May the All guide you.”

  Part 1/2

  “I don’t think that’d be appropriate.”

  Chapter 1

  The Night My Life Went to Hell

  Iris

  A sharp wailing yanks me from my dreams. I sit up, heart thumping loudly in my chest, just as the smell of smoke hits me. For an instant, my body is unable to move. Fire-alarm. Smoke. “Oh, no.”

  Mom.

  I yank off my comforter and stumble out of bed, fumbling blindly in the dark for a light switch. A hard object bites into the sole of my feet and I jump to the side, hitting my hip on what felt like my dresser. I inhale through clenched teeth as my toes curl from the pain. I will myself to stop panicking and attempt to gather my bearings before calmly reaching over to flip the switch.

  Rational thoughts started to fill my head. Mom was likely just drunk and had tried to cook dinner again. It was a bad habit she picked up a short while ago. Once she got home from work she would tell me she loved me and then drown out any coherent thoughts with a bottle of strong liquor from one of our cabinets. I should be used to this by now. But still…something feels off. Why hadn’t she turned off the alarm yet? Is she that dysfunctional tonight?

  I peer out my window, searching for the glisten of my dad’s SUV. Relief seeps through me. He hadn’t made it home from the hospital yet. I still have time to fix this. I never told him about these spells because I didn’t want him to worry. The long hours are already hard enough on him as it is.

  I pull on my slippers and rush down the stairs, wondering what to expect this time. Some singed macaroni or overcooked banana bread?

  My muscles lock up in dread as I reach the last step. The temperature had noticeably risen, and I could see shadows flickering beneath the kitchen door. I lean against the banister, suddenly overcome with emotion. With fear.

  “Mom!” I call shakily, gripping the rail tightly. There’s no answer.

  I need to call my dad.

  I need to call the police. No, the fire department. Both.

  What if she’s in there?

  “Mom! Are you okay? Where are you?”

  I need to move.

  “Move.” I whisper to myself, straining to take a step forward. “Move, move, move! Help her!”

  My limbs tingle, and I’m filled with a sort of breathless rush. I run to my parent’s bedroom and do a quick search inside. Next, I check t
he living room to make sure she isn’t passed out on the couch.

  I rub my hands over my face, shuddering because there’s only one other place she could be. My legs tremble when I stop in front of our swing-open kitchen door. I can feel the heat emitting from the room, warning me away.

  I brace myself and shoulder the door open. A smoldering gust of hot air engulfs me. The heat rolling over my skin causes me to break into an instant sweat.

  My mom was the first thing that my eyes sought out. She was sprawled out on the floor, unmoving. I check her pulse when she doesn’t wake from me shaking her. Everything around me pauses as I wait for the beat. I exhale and sit back on my heels. It’s faint, but there.

  I grab beneath her arms and drag her from the kitchen into the hall. My muscles burn from the effort, contrary to my mom’s small build, and I have to lean against the doorframe to catch my breath afterwards.

  I plop down beside my mom’s drunken body and give her a once over. Her long, black hair clung to her pale cheeks and neck. I roll up her sleeves to keep her from getting too hot.

  “You’ve really gotten us in a pickle tonight.” I mutter. She muttered incoherently, making me shake my head. “There’s no way we can hide this from dad.”

  I stand up to face the problem at hand. I’ve got to try and put the fire out before it gets any worse. I press at the kitchen door and quickly yank my hand back once I make contact. “Sheesh!” I yelp. I swallow, considering calling for professional help. I dash up the stairs two at a time to get my phone.

  I head straight to my nightstand, where I leave it charging every night. My stomach plummets. It’s not here. I drop to my knees and look beneath my bed in case it had fallen. Panic starts to set in as I frantically scour my room to no avail.

  I run back down the stairs. There’s no telling where my mom’s phone might be. I pace in front of the kitchen door, wringing my hands. There’s no other option.

  I kick open the door and quickly swivel inside. As soon as the door shuts, the heat increases tenfold. The scent of smoke burns my nose. My throat tightens. Dark clouds billowed from beneath the oven which, along with our curtains, was nearly engulfed in flames. Tendrils of fire licked the roof, scarring it black. The blaze is so bright that I fear my eyes will melt if I look at it too long. How had this happened?

  Taking shallow breaths, I hurriedly fill up glasses of water and toss them over our stove, doing an odd little dance to keep my feet from getting too hot. The water vanishes instantly, having no effect. A vicious cough wracks my body and tears at my dry throat. The air around me was growing too thick for me to handle. I jump in fright as something pops loudly.

  And then, for a second, an icy cold spreads from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet. The blood in my veins freezes and my breath hitches painfully. But the moment passes just as the fire intensified, growing brighter and wilder, as if it had been given more fuel.

  A smoldering wave of heat shoves against me, and I raise my hands to shield my face, dropping the glass of water I’d been holding in the process. It shatters at my feet, but I hardly notice.

  I decide that the best thing for me to do is take my mom and get out while we still can. But as I turn to head back out, I realize something is wrong with me. It’s as if my legs have been stuck in cement. A heavy pressure settles on my body and my chest constricts. I struggle to breathe, my heartrate rising all the while. What’s happening? The pressure weighs me down, shoving at me like gravity, until I’m laying flat on the ground. I scream in fear when I’m unable to move at all.

  “Mom!” I cry. “Mom wake up! I need you!”

  As if in reply, the swing-open door was kicked open so hard that it slammed against the wall and fell off its hinges. Tears of relief fill my burning eyes, and I start sobbing uncontrollably.

  I recognized the Chief patch that shone brightly through the smoke. Mr. White, a local firefighter, was shouting for me. “Iris! Iris, you in here?” Another firefighter appeared at his side.

  I don’t think they can see me through the smoke. I try to raise my hand, but I’m still anchored to the floor. I call out to them, though my voice is weak, barely above a whisper. I can tell that Mr. White hadn’t heard me, but the other firefighter had. He pointed towards me through the smoke.

  He and Mr. White begin rushing to my side, just as I feel a hefty object fall atop me. A loud, dull throbbing starts in the back of my head, and a dark shadow creeps over my line of sight.

  Chapter 2

  Did You Schedule an Appointment?

  Iris

  I am in a dark room. The air smells stale and prickles strangely against my skin. There’s a faint white light shining in the corner, where two lone figures stood speaking to one another. I attempt to take a step forward but find that I’m unable to move.

  A figure with black hair said, “The day is nearing, my King. Trēs de Flovios en Hiems comes fast. Would it not have been wiser to kill her before it came to this? She will only grow stronger once her abilities manifest.”

  He spoke to a towering figure of a man, both in presence and in stature. He had a dominating stance and held his chin high. The pale light reflected off his long, silver hair. The man was silent for a lengthy time, as if contemplating every possible way to respond. “I know, but we must find her first. Do you not think I would have already considered that, Pippin? If it were that simple we would have done it ages ago. We have had to wait this long because she has been hidden from us since her birth. You should know this.” His voice was so condescending that even I had to cringe. “There is a chance that it may be easier to detect her presence since we are nearing the date, though. I am sure that there will be a few subtle shifts in her energy before her abilities manifest. It will be a short window, but a window nonetheless.”

  “Would you like for me to send the Spiritseekers after her during this window, King Caesar?” Pippin asked.

  “I would indeed.” Caesar said, rubbing his slender fingers together thoughtfully. “She is likely on the North American continent of Cruor. It is where her mother hails from.”

  “And would you like for me to inform the Queen—”

  “Is my word not enough for you?” Caesar interrupted icily. “I am King.”

  “It surely is!” Pippin rushed on. “I merely did not want to risk her wrath.”

  “You should be more concerned with mine.” The King growled.

  Pippin inclined his head. “Yes, I am sorry.”

  “Sorry you are and will always be. If you question my authority again, I will cut out your tongue and feed it to Grugen!” He threatened, voice rising until it echoed throughout the room.

  “Yes, my King.” Pippin bowed deeply, and they started to walk towards me. I begin to panic from the fear of them seeing me and try to back away, but to my despair, I can’t move.

  I close my eyes tight once they’re close enough that I can hear them breathing. There’s an unpleasant heaving sensation in my stomach, which causes me to open my eyes in surprise. I spin around, and the wildest thought dawns on me. They had walked straight through me!

  What kind of crazy dream am I hav—

  “Valencia!” A woman hollered angrily.

  I hear a door slam shut behind her. Her footsteps echoed loudly as she marched into the room. A low laugh came from behind me, and I feel another heaving sensation in my gut as Caesar, the man with the silver locks, walked back through me. He paused, this time holding his stomach awkwardly, and glanced back at me inquiringly. My body locks up, and I feel myself drifting forward. His eyes were the color of liquid silver and were absolutely mesmerizing. I have never seen anything like them. They almost seem…inhuman.

  “Where is she!? Where is that she-devil!?” The lady shouted louder.

  This tore his gaze from me, and he whirled on the woman who stood in the shadows shouting. Cold water might as well have been doused upon my head once I could no longer see his eyes. “You will address her as Queen, and foremost, you do not have the authori
ty to be here. Should I remind you that the punishment for using gate-magic while under banishment is death? How did you even get past the Towers?” He demanded incredulously.

  I can tell that the woman slunk forward from the shadows that crept along on the floor. “I need to speak with Queen.” She said after hesitation. “I must discuss my banishment. It has been forty years in the Cruor Dimension. One hundred and twenty in—”

  “Silence!” Caesar interrupted. “You need to leave this instant. If you would like a visit with the Queen, you should schedule an appointment like everyone else. Who do you think you are?”

  “I am—”

  “That was a rhetorical question.” He muttered in irritation. “I know exactly who you are. A three-eyed pest that I wish would have killed instead of banished. We have no need for your kind anymore. You are unnecessary and therefore there is no need to keep you, unless you would like to be given the job of testing our food for poison. Now get out of my sight before I draw my blade.”

  The woman’s voice shook with fear, “A-as you wish.”

  I feel a light tapping on my cheek, and the dream before me fades away.

  Chapter 3

  Chipped Nail Polish and Favorite Colors

  Iris

  “She’s awake! Mike, get over here!”

  “Iris! Are you okay? What happened?” My dad questioned. His face was creased with worry lines.

  “I’ll go get the paramedic.” Mr. White said with a pat on my dad’s shoulder.

  “Okay, thanks Frank.” He mumbled. He was too busy trying to get me in a more comfortable position and constantly asking me if anything still hurt too badly. “I was so worried. When they called me…I thought…I knew something had happened to you. And when they told me about the fire...” He handed me a clear glass of water.