Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO

J axxon twisted in his seat to the sound of boots barreling down the backstairs. The noisy arrival of his men sent the packed diner into a frenzy. The older woman hurried from table to table, collecting payment before the other patrons rushed to the door, while her son tried coaxing them into staying and finishing their meals.

Grabbing muffins, spiced meats, and chairs in that order, the men finally sat. Within minutes, Jaxxon yelled for the woman to bring another round, ignoring her glare when she threw her hands into the air. “Yep, our reputation has certainly reached this mining colony.” Zade snickered.

“Once revered as Protectors of the Celestial Realms and now feared as shadow raiders. Fuck ‘em!” Jaxxon growled as he grabbed his plate and began digging in.

A few patrons stayed, but no one dared sit close to where his men settled into breakfast. It had been a while since they enjoyed a home-cooked meal, and he had to admit that the woman and her son did a good job meeting their needs. More steaming pots of coffee arrived. More trays of spiced meats, assorted cheeses, and dried fruit were served .

Mmm, yes! The enticing smells of fresh butter, sugar, and exotic spices were alluring. Hands swiped pastries from every direction, nearly flipping the table as they jostled each other for servings. Thankfully, the servings came steadily, calming his men. Food was a luxury to many, but not to his men.

Rested and fed, the men turned to him. Jaxxon took stock of their faces and stood, his shadows slowly seeping from his fingers. One by one, each man stood as their shadows moved in a steady stream of black light toward his. An unbreakable chain of shadows circled the men, vibrating the windows.

Lifting his face toward the sky, his men followed as they spoke in unity.

May the light of our elemental magic unite the celestial stars. May the shadows bridge our path to them.

Hail Crelentia! Protectors of the Celestial Realms!

The Cra’al-tha’ren chant brought calm and focus. It settled their souls for what was to come. Their shadows created a sound barrier as they retook their seats. It was now time for business as the men turned to Jaxxon again.

“According to the older woman, a ship arrived two days ago adorned with strange, bloodred symbols.” Jaxxon waved his hands, using his shadow magic to recreate one of the symbols. It floated in the air like an eye of death. He snapped his fingers, evaporating his magic as quickly as it appeared.

One teen in the group shivered. Every Crelentian knew the symbol of the Vralgari, the vampiric Red Fae.

“Prince Aeralis of the Vralgari is here with his demon horde!” The men looked at each other as Jaxxon sat forward, his eyes darkening.

“The message we intercepted was right. He’s here looking for a magical object,” said Zade, finishing his coffee and pouring another.

“Someone on this mining colony has been using a magical object of great power. Power so great that the Vralgari Fae are after it!” Jaxxon clenched his jaw. “We’re here to make sure those evil bastards don’t get it!”

“It must be important if Prince Aeralis traveled this far to get it,” said Zade.

“Whatever it is, it can’t be good.” Jaxxon pounded the table. “Which means we need to get it first!” Eyeing his men, they all murmured agreement as he sat back, folding his arms over his chest.

“The Vralgari will do anything to force others to bow to their will. I’d hate to think what Prince Aeralis could do if he obtains more power,” said one of the men.

“This will be the most dangerous mission we’ve ever attempted against the Fae. You know the stakes,” said Jaxxon. Seeing his men move past their fears in the face of danger and willing to put their lives on the line gave him a sense of pride. I’ll move heavens to stop the Vralgari Fae from spreading their evil and make them pay for everything they’ve taken from us!

“Why does Prince Aeralis believe the magical object is on this mining colony? What use would miners have for this type of magic?” Zade’s brow furrowed as Jaxxon thought it over.

“Mineva is certainly known for its wealth from mining ores and the fuels needed for ships. But Mineva has also become a great trading colony, bringing traders from many far-off planets. And I hear this mining colony has more than meets the eye!” Jaxxon smiled. “There’s great wealth…and great magic!”

Jaxxon quieted, letting his men mull over his words. The mood lightened as the men thought about what goods they hoped to find.

“We’ll split up. There’s more to this mission than getting the magical object. We’ll also get much-needed supplies from the traders,” he said. “If our luck holds out, we’ll score big here. Hell, we are shadow raiders!” The men laughed. They knew Jaxxon always had an angle.

As a trading post, the mining colony contained many goods of value. Getting supplies was another reason he risked traveling so far away on the Vralgari’s trail. Besides tracking Prince Aeralis’s demon horde to stop whatever madness they were up to, Jaxxon intended to barter for much-needed valuables that most took for granted. He needed clothing and supplies for his people, especially the younger boys, who were growing so fast they could barely gather enough food to feed them.

He turned to two of his crew, who were nearly sixteen. “We were once known as great traders. Make fair trades to get what we need.”

“And if they don’t want to trade with our kind?” asked one of the teens.

“Then raid them! We didn’t come all this way to return empty-handed. For too long, people have turned their backs on elementals. No one came to help when we were under siege. Content to see us slaughtered. The people here are no different. They are not our friends. And we are not theirs.”

The two teens slammed their fists together as their shadows formed the symbol of Crelentia. Jaxxon had no doubt they would gather the goods and use force if necessary. He’d brought them on this dangerous mission so they could learn what it meant to be a shadow raider. To put aside their individual fear and serve the needs of the many.

Zade nodded toward the kitchen. “After our meeting, take food back to our men on the ship. Make sure they are on full alert and stay in stealth mode. We may have to exit quickly if more Fae ships arrive.”

“Don’t underestimate the Vralgari. The Red Fae are a vampiric race, feeding off the magic of others. They’ll drop from the sky and snatch you from the street. Don’t take unnecessary risks if you encounter them or their demon horde. Cast your shadows and run.” The teens swallowed as their fear seemed to vibrate around them.

“I’ll destroy Prince Aeralis and the Vralgari.” He looked at the men and boys to give them courage. “But first, we must build our strength. We cannot lose anyone on this mission. We leave no Crelentian behind.” The hair on his arms bristled at the thought of anyone harming the youths.

These bright-eyed youths are my responsibility. Their lives are in my hands. Drak! What hellish place have I brought them to? His nostrils flared, knowing he had no choice but to push them to do the work of men when other youths their age were in school or having fun. They were underweight and ill-tempered but ruthless and well-trained.

The young men straightened their backs, nodding solemnly. Jaxxon’s promise was the only comfort he could give them. They would leave no one behind to suffer a horrific death at the hands of the Vralgari—a death he wouldn’t wish on his worst enemy.

“The Vralgari have been quiet since they invaded Crelentia. Most don’t even know they’re in this galaxy. It’s a risk for them to come here. Do we know what this magical object looks like or what it can do?” asked one of the men.

Jaxxon shook his head. “Not yet, but we have teams asking questions and doing surveillance. It must be something the Vralgari intends to use to conquer more worlds,” he said. He eyed each man. “And I’m sure they’ll feed off anyone with magic while here!”

“Drak, should we warn the people here? While humans don’t have magic, most of Mineva’s residents do. The people with magical powers—magic wielders—have never heard of the Vralgari,” said another of his men. They looked around at the patrons.

“These motherfuckers are on their own. Besides, no one will believe us. The Vralgari, when they show their faces, act gentle and kind. You’d think their clawed wings would give them away, but the Fae are beautiful and cunning,” said Zade as he rose.

Zade’s green, almond-shaped eyes blazed with anger. His black tattoos seemed to ripple as his shadow magic intensified, solidifying into sharp circular battle-axes in his hands. He swung them for effect before his men, before letting them dissipate back into the shadows as if they were never there. Zade was a fearless warrior, and his battle-axes were legendary.

Jaxxon’s chest swelled with respect. I’m glad to have my cousin by my side on this high-risk mission. Zade had helped him hand-select the team to join them on this long voyage. Jaxxon looked at the gathered team, knowing they knew the risks when they accepted this assignment .

“We must do everything possible to prevent the Vralgari from gaining more of a foothold in this part of the universe. We will find a way to hammer and destroy them together!” Jaxxon growled, banging on the table.

“I’m Destiny’s Hammer. The one who wields the hammer will demolish those who seek to destroy Crelentia and its Celestial dragons!” He raised his fists as the men cheered. If there was one thing the shadow masters loved, it was a good fight.

After discussing business, the men remained uneasy, more than once looking at Zade.

“So…I’m sure you all want to know if Jaxx found his mystery woman. The answer is ‘No!’” Everyone burst into laughter as Zade slapped Jaxxon’s back. To be so thin, he had one hell of a slap.

Grinning, Jaxxon stood, holding his hands up. “About last night...Let’s all agree that I was drunk.”

The men laughed uncontrollably, joking about how maddening he’d been turning on the lights and trying to force them from their beds. They imitated him barreling in the room with wild eyes and jet-black curly hair swirling like a storm. They had a good time roasting him. He let them have their fun, flailing his hands dramatically for them to go ahead and get out their jokes.

Narrowing his eyes, his shadows rose. They were so black you couldn’t see the sun shining through the window behind him.

“But I’m not drunk now.” Silence echoed as the men sat upright at the sudden change in Jaxxon’s dark tone. No one dared look away when formal business was again at hand, and the gods were watching over them.

“A Crelentian female lives in this colony.” Jaxxon recounted what he saw the night before as each man hung onto his every word. No one could see Crelentian males cloaked in their shadows except a Crelentian female. The men looked at each other and then back at Jaxxon.

“We’ve all had a long journey and a life of agony. I wouldn’t offer you hope if I didn’t believe it would be fulfilled. ”

Zade was the first to ask, “But how is that possible? Crelentian females were never allowed to leave Crelentia. They were treasured and lived together until...” Zade gulped, remaining silent about the atrocities that ravaged their females—atrocities that left Jaxxon and his men as the last of their kind.

Rage boiled in Jaxxon’s chest, but he anchored his anger and took a deep breath.

“She must be a descendant of the Crelentian Goddesses of War. They are the only known Crelentian females ever to leave our home. It was so long ago that records of their existence were long forgotten. But when the Vralgari attacked, my father told me the goddesses were not a myth. I’ve been searching for them ever since.”

The men argued and looked for every reason to discount Jaxxon’s conclusion. Whether it was fear of finally having hope or genuine flaws in his logic, Jaxxon didn’t know. But they all agreed on one thing. If she was a Crelentian female, they had to find her.

“What do we know about her? Any idea where to find her?” one man asked as excitement rose around the table. Everyone’s gaze snapped to Jaxxon.

Jaxxon rubbed his jaw. “She seemed too knowledgeable and comfortable in her surroundings to have just arrived. She must live here. And she knew I was a stranger.” He smiled.

“She was a striking beauty. She came up to my shoulders, so I’d say she was at least five foot four, maybe less. And she was very shapely, wearing tight jeans that hugged her curves...real nice.” The men hooted as Jaxxon shook his head. He repeated details he’d already told Zade earlier. But the men kept joking.

Jaxxon chuckled. “I noticed the jeans were tight because she had some kind of weapon in her pockets. Okay, guys? Cut it out. I know what you’re thinking.” But they continued to laugh until Zade got them to quiet.

“Anyway, she wore a pink floral shirt with long sleeves. And sneakers. She also wore a necklace and a few arm bangles with no rings on her fingers. Her long, brown hair with golden highlights was pulled into a ponytail with twists framing her lovely face.” He thought for a second before adding, “And boobs. Lots of boobs.”

That really got the men laughing, but Jaxxon noticed their eyes hungered for every detail. He didn’t blame them. When he closed his eyes, all he saw was her.

“That doesn’t give us a lot to go on. A lot of women probably fit that description. And I’m sure she won’t wear the same clothes today, especially given the heat. I’m surprised she wore long-sleeved clothing last night. Anything else about her?” Zade pressed.

Jaxxon thought it over. “She was fast. I’ll tell you one thing for sure. She’s athletic. It took everything I had to keep up with her.”

“But...you lost her?” said one man, jostling Jaxxon as he hit him to cut out the jokes. But he was used to their banter. Let them have fun.

“Yes, I lost her! The alleys and streets here are a goddamn maze. She was darting in and out of the alleys like a fucking Dremora bird, and you know how fast they are! That’s why I’m certain she lives near where she headed. She knew the streets well.” He described where he last saw her.

“Do you think there could be others? She might not be the only one,” said Zade, his tone hurried and his eyes hungry for answers.

Jaxxon hoped there were more.

“We’ve wanted to find Crelentian females to restore our people for a long time. We must quickly find this woman and confirm she is a Crelentian female.” Jaxxon smiled with determination and strength etched into the hard planes of his rugged face.

Zade gave him a sidelong glance. “If the Vralgari learn we may have found Crelentian females, they’ll do everything in their power to get them.”

Jaxxon looked each Crelentian male in the eye as their shadows began receding. “We won’t let history repeat itself.”

Suddenly, the door to the diner burst open as a sharp gust of wind rattled the windows. Thick shadows swept through, curling around a figure as he walked inside. To the patrons, it likely seemed as if no one had entered through the open door .

Patrons glanced up momentarily at the sound of the door as it swung shut. Then they returned to their meals, unaware of the shadowy figure moving through the diner like a ghost, seen only by Jaxxon and his men.

Jaxxon leaned back in his seat, the corner of his mouth curling into a grin. His loud laughter rumbled through the quiet tension.

“Now that’s how you make a draking entrance!” He chuckled, shaking his head with amusement. His men clapped, shadows dancing faintly around them, the only sign of the invisible storm that had just passed through.

Grabbing muffins and scarfing them down, the new arrival finally sat at the table and looked at everyone. They waited anxiously for what he had to report.

“I found the Vralgari and their demon horde. Prince Aeralis wasn’t with them. They were seeking information about rumors of a magical object being used in a mine that created a powerful energy burst,” said the man between mouthfuls. Drinking the coffee, likely stale and cold, he continued, “So far, no one knows anything about it or which mine was involved.”

“Is that it? Any more information on who would possess such an object?”

“No. Much of what was told was based on rumors. But the horde is going from mine to mine to investigate. Whatever it is, Prince Aeralis wants it.”

“Well, we’ll make sure he never gets it,” said Jaxxon. “We must split up. I need your group to monitor the Vralgari and their horde. Stay one step ahead of them and track down who used that powerful magical object.”

Jaxxon looked around. “Zade and a few others will come with me to find the mystery woman.” With a broad grin that spelled trouble, he looked at his men as his tattoos pulsed.

“We need the dragons!”