LOCUST
GDQ Novel Excerpt. The Celestial Realm Chapters.
GORDON'S QUEST
CHAPTER 10
LOCUST
"PK! Wait!" yells Riviairria in distress. Katia ignores him and gallops faster. "Speed it up Midnight!" Riviairra commands the horse who lets out a roar. He is finally beginning to catch up. Katia quickly looks over her shoulder.
“Why can’t you just leave me alone Riviairra!” she yells angrily through the loud galloping suddenly making a sharp right turn. Not expecting that, frustration flares up in Riviairra.
“Damn it!” he swears under his breath. “PK!” he shouts as he pulls the reins of Midnight towards the right. Katia thought she was finally losing him. She peers over her shoulder once again, only to this time to see Riviairra trailing right behind her with incredible speed.
“PK!” he yells in hopes she would stop. Riviairra swivels alongside her. “PK!” he yells once again looking back and forth between her and what’s in front of him.
“Leave me alone! Can’t you see I don’t want to talk to you?” Katia snaps at him.
“Just hear me out for a second!" Riviairra begins to stand up in the saddle slowly leaning forward. Katia sees his daring action from out of the corner of her eye.
Riviairra just swings his right leg over the saddle and now leans his weight to the right making Midnight drift closer to Katia.
“What are you doing? Stop that before you hurt yourself!” Katia glares at him with worry. This time Riviairra ignores her. When he is close enough, he bends his legs and leaps onto Moon Beam clinging to the saddle causing the horse swivel while he wrestles his way to climb up into the saddle behind Katia whose eyes are wide with disbelief. Riviairra, out of breath, grabs the reins of Moon Beam from Katia gradually slowing the horse down to a complete stop. Naturally Midnight slows down as well until all movement has stopped. Katia's eyes trail to the ground as fear builds up within her. She remains motionless as a brief moment of silence introduces itself. Without further delay, Riviairra takes a deep breath.
“Please . . . all I ask is that you listen, just hear me out.” he pleads to Katia who stubbornly forces herself to meet his request. She folds her arms in detest as a subtle sigh escapes her lips. Riviairra waits a moment for a response. He assumes her silence is her way of granting him permission to speak. Though he himself is nervous, he fears her rejection.
“I’m sorry.” he finally said in a soft sincere voice, “I’m sorry about what I said . . . And you know what? You’re right! The world would be a better place if people cared more about each other. And the exiled preacher, maybe he sounded crazy to me, but I do respect your beliefs regarding your Elohim. The LIGHT, though at first, I did not feel the same way about it as you do but now, I want to know more . . . I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.” Riviairra pauses abruptly.
Katia remains unresponsive to Riviairra pondering in deep thought. His words were warm and truthful touching her heart. Katia’s vision begin's to manifest tears fighting with all her might to hold them back. She is angry for the fact that he is apologizing. But deep down within her, she wanted to let him know that his apology was accepted. She just couldn’t swallow her pride.
When Riviairra receives no response, the regret of his actions begins to eat at him. The guilt inside of him progresses aggressively burdening his heart in heavy sorrows. His head now hangs low. He releases the reins of Moon Beam before dismounting the horse. As he took a few steps over to Midnight, Riviairra glances one last time at Katia before mounting his horse. He turns Midnight around and gallops in the opposite direction of Katia. Katia can hear the gallops of Midnight slowly grow faint until she can hear them no more. When she is sure Riviairra is gone, she looks up towards the sky unfolding her arms snatching the reins of Moon Beam.
“Why?” she cries feeling a tear stroll down her cheek. “Why did I do that to him?” she whispers to herself. She closes her eyes while her hands tighten around the reins before loosening her grip again. In the mist of the tears, Katia places her right hand over her heart praying softly. In that moment, the wind blows ever so gently.
"I feel your presence.” she whispers with a small smile. "Thank you, Elohim." Just then, Moon Beam a frightening neigh. Katia’s eyes shot open in an instance. A strong sensation of chills runs up her spine. All around her is a pack of demonic creatures and from what Katia can see, there is well over twenty of them. Their heads are covered with woman-like hair toppled over by crowns of gold. Their faces are like that of a man with piercing cat-like distorted eyes. They wear breastplates of iron with a set of black feathered wings that made the sounds of one-hundred chariots. Their tails are long and thick like a scorpion ready to sting. Their roar is inhuman revealing their long crooked and jagged fangs. Moon Beam jumps on her hind legs almost causing Katia to fall out of the saddle.
Immediately Katia pulls the reins of Moon Beam tightly in order to calm her down. She now prays frantically in her heart while quickly drawing out her sword from its sheath hanging from the saddle bag.
*****
Riviairra gradually transitions Midnight into a steady trot, slowly coming to a halt. They are now near the Sacred Forest edge leaving the Fields of Polina. Riviairra is lost deep in his thoughts thinking about Katia not forgiving him. The burden increases more in weight baring down heavily on his conscience. In the quiet of fields edge, Riviairra feels something strange in the air. He lifts his head glancing around at his surroundings. The air is especially deathly silent. The alarm of his inner voice escalates with each passing second. Riviairra tries to shrug it off but the more he ignores it, the stronger it grows. Suddenly a tree full of hidden black crows explode into the sky, their taunting calls filling the air. Even Midnight becomes perplexed by this.
“Whoa, easy boy.” says Riviairra quickly, soothing the horse with the gentle pat of his hand. The feeling is wielding up inside so big, it scares Riviairra. He closes his eyes tightly.
“Katia . . .” he whispers softly at the first thought that comes to his mind. Riviairra maneuvers Midnight to turn around in the direction of Katia. “GO!” he thunders.
*****
“What should I do?” Katia panics in being surrounded by these creatures. They taunt in attempts to sting her with their tails. Katia shrieks barley dodging the tails with Moon Beam. Seconds after, one of the creatures enters into the circle. Its demeanor is challenging, full of hostility. Moon Beam backs up just enough not to run into any of the creatures from behind. Terrified, Moon Beam lets out a hoarsely scream throwing her front legs wildly into the air. Before Katia could comfort her, the creature’s tail comes swinging at Katia just missing her head. Katia saw out of the corner of her eye the tail is unexpectedly heading right for her side. Without thinking, she holds up her sword to block the tail slicing it into two pieces. As this happens, the creatures inhumane scream pierces the air. The sound is so sharp and painful, it causes Katia to cover her ears and Moon Beam to quench. The creature falls down in pain. Its black blood stains the patchy grass and dirt. Its tormented screams echo as if in a void.
*****
Riviairra is suddenly jolted to a stop. He hears the piecing demonic scream of the tormented creature echoing about the forest. His eyes widen as his heart nearly skips a beat.
“What, the hell was that?” he whispers quietly to himself in a tremble. He knew it came from the direction of Katia. Hoping she is okay he draws his sword from the sheath on his back.
*****
While the creatures are disarrayed, Katia whisks Moon Beam's reigns causing the horse to take off past them. Katia glances over her shoulder only to see the creatures in pursuit of her spread out in a line formation, their hoofs hammering against the ground. They move with great agility. Moon Beam is barely ahead of them. She is growing tired but forces herself to keep going. Even she knew their lives depended on it. In the mist of all of this, Katia continues praying in her heart. Despite her hope burning out, she prays in her final attempt that they would make it out alive. Just then, Katia is cut off by one of the creatures. Moon Beam comes to an abrupt halt kicking her legs in the air to avoid running into the creature’s stinger. Katia holds fast to Moon Beams reins. She quickly tugs them to the left. Moon Beam instantly takes off in the direction. Katia looks back over her shoulder. Before she can react, one of the creatures from its line formation has ended up right behind her and it's moving in fast.
“Come on Moon Beam! Please!” Katia pleads. She is able to see the creature up close. Everything happens so fast as if time had suddenly given the illusion of slowing down the second. Katia can hear the magnifying beat of her own heart thumping uncontrollably fast. The creature’s tail is about to come down on her when a sword intervenes. Katia’s eyes widen in shock as Riviairra’s sword advances through the creature’s tail. It cries out in torment. Riviairra glances over at Katia who is now staring back at him traumatized through the suspended blood spill from the creature now landing on the ground. Katia’s eyes met Riviairra’s. His face is relieved but sorrow swirls within the windows of his very soul. More creatures are coming to attack. Their battle cries snap both Katia and Riviairra out of their trance-like state of momentary existence.
“PK! Go quickly!” Riviairra commands her. Katia can see the creatures coming. Their demonic roars are piercing with immense hostility. Katia is hesitant to do as Riviairra has instructed her to do.
“PK! Go now! I’ll be right behind you! I promise!" Riviairra reassures her. Katia takes one last look at Riviairra before galloping away with his promise and her hope.
Riviairra watches her ride ahead still in sight. Snapping the reins of Midnight, he begins trailing Katia. Riviairra can hear the creature’s thunderous hoofs not too far behind him. They move with incredible speed almost surpassing Midnight. Two of the creatures speed up, one on each side of Riviairra. Riviairra quickly glances over at both of his sides. The creature whips its stinger at Riviairra. Naturally, Riviairra pulls Midnight's reins to move away from the creature nearly avoiding the other creature’s stinger on the other side of him. Suddenly it is as if the creatures have one mind. They are moving in on Riviairra trying to squish him in between them. Riviairra pulls Midnight’s reins causing the horse to drastically reduce speed pulling back. The creatures collide into each other tumbling forward. Their tangled bodies are fast approaching Riviairra as he regains speed leaping over them. Six of creatures are now closing in on Riviairra ready to attack. One of the creatures on the left side of Riviairra is using its tail to try and knock him off Midnight. Riviairra swings his sword horizontally forward towards the creature as another’s stinger came down slicing him on the arm. Riviairra cringes yet ignores the pain. He slashes his sword backwards slicing off the tip of the creature’s tail.
Katia is riding fast. Many thoughts race through her mind. Though she is worried about her own safety, she is more so worried about Riviairra's. Her instincts knew something is bound to happen. Feeling the knot pressure in her throat, her eyes widen with apprehension seeing Riviairra growing farther behind her. Katia's mind is flooding with graphic vivid images of possible disasters that can happen. She suddenly brings Moon Beams to an abrupt stop causing the horse to rear on its hind legs.
“I don’t know what to do!” Katia said to herself in a state of panic. Time is now of the essence. Ignoring Riviairra’s command, she turns Moon Beam around. One of the creature’s lunges at Riviairra attempting to bite him. Riviairra quickly, with his golden wrist bangle, throws his arm up to defend himself from his predator. The creature with compulsion, bites down on the golden bangle gauntlet that shields Riviairra's wrist. Its powerful jaws clamp shut struggling to penetrate its fangs through it. Riviairra’s arm strains, shacking pensively to keep the creature from coming any closer to him. Only inches away from Riviairra’s face, the creature’s eyes furiously beam into his eyes. Riviairra’s eyes enlarge in terror as he looks into the cat-like eyes of the demonic being. Its face puckers as the force of its bite increases, bringing about a loud cracking sound. Riviairra's eyes rummage his bangle only to find it rupturing away. He then suddenly feels a sharp pain under the bangle followed by another loud crack.
“AWW!” Riviairra hisses in pain feeling the bone underneath his skin disperse. He takes his sword with his free arm still pained and bleeding from being cut and thrust his sword into the creature’s neck. The creature’s impenetrable jaws open instantly releasing Riviairra’s wrist. Its scream is deafening, piercing in torment. It stumbles backwards when Riviairra pulls his sword from its throat. The blade is drenched with its black blood spilling onto the ground. Riviairra embraces his wrist unable to move it.
“Riviairra!” Katia shouts to him. The creatures all snap their heads towards her in unison.
“PK, no you didn’t . . .” Riviairra whispers to himself knowing this would heighten the stacks. The demons then snap their heads back to Riviairra. They lock eyes. A bead of sweat trickles down Riviairra's face. The creature’s reveal their jagged fangs under their sinister grins and mocking roars. Filled with antipathy, Riviairra instantaneously turns his focus back to Katia.
“PK! GO NOW QUICKLY!” Riviairra commands her indispensably. The creatures snap their heads towards their former target. They take off in pursuit of Katia. Riviairra kicks Midnight in the side causing Midnight to follow after the creatures with great acceleration. Katia stands her ground awaiting the creatures. Her heart is pounding against the walls of her chest uncontrollably. She watches them charge forward seeking her blood. She can see Riviairra in their midst trying to stop them. In that second, time becomes sluggish. Katia bows her head softly closing her eyes.
I know this seems impossible, with the illusion of no hope, but with you . . . if one believed, a mountain could be moved by you. You’re the only one who can save us. My faith remains unbroken . . . Katia concludes. Her eyes are warm and her heart, airy with hope. Her hand tightens around the hilt of her sword, for in this moment felt like an eternity.
Riviairra is struggling to keep up with the creatures. His wrist continues to throb. The wound on his arm opens wide under stress, soiling his tunic with his own blood. Despite it, Riviairra slashes any creature he crosses paths with.
Just a bit more . . . Riviairra thought subconsciously. He grows weak from the loss of blood. Just then, Riviairra is inflicted by a sharp overwhelming pain as two of the creature’s stingers slash him across his chest and lower back. He cries out in pain quickly looking towards Katia. The sunset sky glistens behind her on the horizon. That's when Riviairra notices the clouds of sunset surfing the sky as darkened storm clouds follow in pursuit. The creatures suddenly come to a halt, crashing into one another with no time to slow down. Riviairra’s eyes widen. He cannot comprehend what is happening around him. He looks up to the sky just as silent skims of lightning disperses. The creatures turn around fleeing in fear. Their roars become sounds of torment and terror. The sky rumbles shaking the ground like a soft earthquake. Riviairra stops Midnight to observe the unfolding events. He looks to the sky. It is beautiful with nebula aura curtains painted across it. Lightning flashes and booms lighting up the clouds and landscape. Suddenly, a single raindrop hit splashes upon Riviairria's face. A powerful presence seeps through his body befuddling his mixed emotions. He looks to Katia who is now staring back at him. Riviairra's vision is greatly distorted as the world around him appears hazy. His strength is slowly leaving him.
“What in the world?” he whispers quietly in a daze drifting his sword towards the ground. He saw an inexpiable force with a powerful turn of events beyond this mysterious woman-child. A loud crackle of thunder rolls into a powerful blast of lightning bringing about a down pour of heavy rain.
END OF EXCERPT
ⓒ2010-2024 ALLRIGHTSRESERVED GORDON'S QUEST_ KATIA R.V. REED
