Myriad
Chapter 9

Myriad flew at an astonishing speed towards the home of the other universal. He had shape-shifted into a swift, a bird that could get him to his destination the fastest. He’d been flying for three days, stopping to sleep as little as possible. He wanted to get this over with, to get on with his plan for the king. Everything was in place and he didn’t want any distractions. A man with his level of power nearby was a threat and had to be extinguished.

He soared over trees, forests, and villages as the dawn grew brighter, turning into early morning. He thought about this man, the man he was to fight, curious as to why he hadn’t felt his presence before. He should have. Something had happened to the man recently, something to awaken his powers. Why had he hidden them? Could he even use them? Myriad felt it might be an easy fight, but still, the connection he felt, the call of this man’s power—he knew, deep down, it would be a battle.

He soared closer to the home, felt the connection grow stronger with every moment, hurting him. He hoped the man was hurting also.

***

Kalin sat at the round table, clutching his chest. He could barely breathe, the intensity of his connection to Myriad overtaking him. It was all he could do to stay upright—how was he going to fight him? He hadn’t known it would be this bad. He looked up at the others around the table. They looked as anxious as him, taking turns to glance out of the window.

He faced Regina. “Regina, hide,” he rasped, the words barely audible.

She moved to sit beside him, and grabbed his hand. “Never,” she said, and he looked at her, distraught. She didn’t have an active power—he didn’t want her to get hurt.

He took hold of her arms. “Please,” he begged, but she only shook her head.

“I have to be there. I have to be with you. I can’t just sit and wait.”

He stared at her again, then lowered his head. He stood and walked over to the window, trying to get a hold of himself. He pushed aside the curtains and looked outside.

Theodore had said Myriad couldn’t magically transport there because he’d never seen his home and because of the distance. They knew he must be far away, given how long it was taking him to get there. Kalin clenched and unclenched his fists, trying to eradicate some of his tension. His stomach turned.

Several agonizing moments passed and the connection grew stronger. He took ragged breaths to control the pain and put his hands on his stomach, his anxiety physical. Then, then, as he was standing at the window, he saw it.

A bird. Small. Nothing you’d ever notice. But Kalin knew. He opened the door and walked outside to the center of the garden. The others also emerged out, standing near the door. The bird flew past the big tree, approaching the ground. Kalin took in a breath as the creature began to change, its body rapidly growing and transforming into that of a man.

When the transformation completed, Myriad’s feet gently touched the ground, as if he’d floated there. He stood before Kalin, staring silently, and Kalin stared back.

Myriad’s long, wild dark hair blew about him in the wind. Kalin thought Myriad looked a thousand times stronger than him—he could merely crush Kalin in his hands. His bright green eyes were piercing, staring at Kalin from several feet away. The call, a constant hum now, coursed through him, heightening Kalin’s senses. He would use it.

Myriad clenched his fists, then thrust out his right arm, flinging a blazing ball of fire towards Kalin. Kalin threw a huge water ball at it, and the water crashed onto the flames, dissolving them. Myriad pushed out his hands, a hundred knives appearing in the air in a flash of light, hurling towards him. Kalin put out his hands also, a wave of power exuding from him, the wall of energy making the knives collapse to the ground. Myriad narrowed his eyes.

He advanced on Kalin, disappearing in a whirl of dark smoke, then reappearing inches from him. Kalin gasped at the closeness. Myriad glared at him, seething. Before he could react, Myriad reached out and grasped his throat with both hands.

Kalin’s hands scrambled over Myriad’s, desperately trying to claw his fingers off him. He panicked, knowing he should be doing something, anything, but he couldn’t move. He thought he saw the others appear behind Myriad, but then his eyes rolled back. He started to slip away—it’s over so quickly—then Myriad released him.

Kalin stumbled backwards, gasping for air, while Myriad whirled around, water flowing from his hands, creating a huge wall of ice, shielding them. Fire hit the thick wall the instant it arrived, the heat spreading but unable to melt it. At the same time, the knives clattered against the ice wall, falling to the ground. Kalin realized the others had tried to save him. He was about to transport over to them when Myriad turned back to him and grasped his shoulders.

Kalin could barely breathe as Myriad’s eyes bore into his own, then suddenly Myriad’s expression changed. He looked ahead, rapidly blinked, then looked at Kalin, his eyes narrowing. A sickening smile crossed his lips, and Kalin heard the others scream.

“Alfred, no!” Sasha yelled hysterically.

Through the wall of ice, Kalin could make out the others throwing themselves at Alfred, trying to stop him from enacting Myriad’s order. Kalin watched in horror.

He gritted his teeth, adrenaline pumping through him. He visualized his body changing, transforming, and rapidly turned into a lion. He felt his arms and legs change, his skin turn to fur, his teeth and nails becoming that of the beast. He roared at Myriad as the change completed, then lunged forward, toppling him to the ground and digging his claws into him.

Kalin was about to finish him when Myriad’s form shrank and changed before his eyes. Soon he was gone, and Kalin looked around in surprise. He changed back into himself, confused, then noticed the rat near his feet.

Myriad turned back into human form, his fists clenched, breathing raggedly. Kalin knew he was getting to him. Pleased, he was considering his next move when he felt a pain in his chest and gasped.

The connection. It was intensifying, growing. He felt the energy building inside him, his blood pumping harder, his heart racing. He fell to his knees, grasping his chest. His breathing became difficult, as if he couldn’t bring air into his lungs. His eyes pricked with tears. His entire body was shutting down. He couldn’t take it.

Kalin looked up at Myriad, knowing he was about to die.

Myriad stared at him in surprise. He stumbled backwards, eyes wide, as if he’d seen a ghost. Suddenly the pain left Kalin. He collapsed on his side, gasping for air. Myriad kept watching him in horror, his eyes filled with shock and confusion. He frowned, glanced at the ground, then rubbed his forehead. Myriad looked at him again, then shook his head and disappeared in a whirl of smoke.

Kalin lay flat on the ground. The others came to his side, with Regina hugging him on the ground, crying. Theodore and Mark were shouting, asking if he was alright. Kalin stared up at the sky, numb.

I’m alive.

But… why?

***

Myriad appeared in a forest he’d flown over that morning and stumbled forward, grabbing onto a tree for support. He put a hand on his heart, breathing heavily. He didn’t understand. He didn’t understand.

A thousand scenarios entered his mind, but he shook his head, rejecting all of them. He gritted his teeth, angry, furious, but the fear over what he thought he saw didn’t leave him. He fell to his knees, tears forming in his eyes.

He threw his head back and screamed, wailing with all his heart. No! he yelled at himself. No! You have a plan! You’ll stick to that plan! This isn’t real! It’s not real!

He stood, clenching his fists. He was going to kill the royal family. He was going to kill the king, the man who had taken away his love. It would end. Birthday or no birthday, he would start his plan now. He would go to the princess, starting now. He would kill her. He would kill them all. Nothing would stop him. Not even….

It isn’t real!

It couldn’t be real.