The Black Gods War

world fell away to nothingness, and death’s long tunnel opened before him.

    ~~~~~

    Lucia stared at the spot where Caio had been standing.
    Whatever spell you’ve cast —her thoughts burned on the Pawelon sages— I will break .
    She raced up the dry hill pointing Ysa’s sword at the sky, her muscles alive with exertion. “Ysa, destroy them for whatever they’ve done to him!”
    The sword discharged a shocking force into her body, stunning her senseless. The energy retreated back into the sword and shot from its tip toward the water.
    Lucia collapsed in a quivering heap, battered lungs straining to breathe. Gasping for air, a vision of blond Ysa appeared before her closed eyes.

    ~~~~~

    Death’s tunnel pulled Caio in, faster and faster …
    BOOM!
    An explosion shattered the black tunnel. Caio became conscious of his body again. A shock wave sent blistering heat across his skin. He picked up the scent of sizzled hair and flesh.
    Dozens of Pawelons floated around him, all but one unconscious. The first attacker floated away, twitching involuntarily. The young man who speared him struggled with weak limbs to grab his floating weapon.
    Caio grabbed the spear with his right hand, Mya’s rod still somehow in his left. As he pushed the weapon away, their eyes met. The boy wrapped his fingers across his own throat with terror contorting his face. Caio heard a garbled sound from him and knew the young man was nearly out of breath. By some grace, Caio no longer struggled to breathe.
    His empathy reached out to the boy, and the Pawelon’s came to him in a flash of insight. His family lived in a poverty-stricken village in the mountains near the city of Mathura. Caio saw his possible future. He saw the man someday with a large, loving family. His first son would become a respected spiritual leader among his people.
    Caio watch the young man’s agony as he drowned. He reached out just as the boy’s body went soft, and put his arms around him.
    Mya, protect his soul.
    The rest were dead. Caio somehow knew the boy's spirit had been powerful enough to keep him conscious after the lightning spread through the water.
    The water gave way and flooded down the hill’s steep slopes. Caio crashed to the ground in the center of the outpost, clinging to the young soldier and bleeding on his enemy’s soaked uniform. He rolled onto his knees and grabbed the boy’s shirt with both hands.
    Mya, I command you, raise this young man from death!

Chapter Fourteen: A Rival to the Gods

    Moments earlier.

    ILARIO WATCHED SPARKS OF LIGHTING flow from Lucia’s sword, around her armored body, back into the blade, and then out toward the hovering mass of water.
    “Lucia!”
    He slid beside her, panting, his knees scraping against the desert floor. He dropped his sword and put his hands to her cheeks.
    “Lucia, you’re going to be all right!”
    Her body writhed. She struggled to breathe. No air came in or out.
    Ilario pressed against her breastplate, hoping to awaken her stunned lungs. A tortured sound escaped her throat, followed by wheezing, then choking breaths.
    “I’m okay,” her pained voice lied. “Stop their sages. Go find Caio.” She squeezed her eyes shut and grimaced. “I’ll follow. Go!”
    Ilario grabbed his sword and stood, his heart slugging his ribcage. Lucia’s suffering filled his mind with red rage. He wanted to stay with her, but he knew she was right. The warpriests would protect her while he searched for Caio.
    With duty focusing his mind like the edge of his blade, he pushed his muscles to their limits and ignored the burning in his thighs. He sprinted to the wall of the Pawelon outpost, just beneath the chaotic waters. He dug his fingers into the stone walls, climbed, and jumped upward into the hovering sea.
    The water sucked him in deeper before its force released him. His stomach hit the dry ground. A moment later, the sea crashed down over him, surging past his ears as it flooded the area. He jumped up reflexively, spinning with sword in hand. The water cascaded off the hill in all directions, revealing hundreds of dead Pawelons. Their outpost had become their graveyard.
    Caio lay near the center of the structure, beside a Pawelon’s body, both of them covered in blood. Ilario ran as Caio came up onto his knees and grabbed the unconscious soldier by his shirt. Caio’s face contorted in agony, revealing intense concern for the young Pawelon.
    “Let me help you.” Ilario approached him, tearing off