Premier Reality: Chapter I - Dawn

by Darryll B. Carter

The shining eye of heaven rose and spread its light across the land. The light shone into a bedroom adorned with ivory walls. It enlightened the first bed covered by pale sheets. Underneath the milky covers was a caramel female with blue hair, Jayda.

“What happened…?” She rubbed her head.

She stepped out of bed to the warm floor. She examined the clothing she was wearing. Her body was dressed in white bloomers and a matching chemise. Her face filled with confusion. She scratched her arm and held it there.

The room was void of objects besides the bed she emerged from and the bed across the way. The sheets draped over a body on the bed. Jayda walked over to the bed slowly. She stops a few feet away and leaned forward on the tip of her toes. The body rolled over to reveal a light skinned female. She opened her eyes much like the sun rose.

“Who are you?” She stared Jayda in the eyes.

“Jayda. You?”

“Athena.”

“Where are we?” She said waving her hand around.

“How the hell am I supposed to know?” Athena said rising up. “Don’t you know?”

“My guess is a church.” Jayda said pointing to a steeple outside.

“Is that door locked?” Athena asked.

Jayda turned around and looked at the gold and crimson trimmed silver door. She walked over and turned the handle. The door opened with a click.

“Guess not.”

Athena walked over with long brown hair trailing behind to her waist. The two females crept into the unknown hallway. The flooring was made of white marble and seams of gold. The hallway was bright as a summer day and lush with paintings.  Athena stopped and stared at the picture of a behemoth figure hovering in the night sky blocking out the moon.

“I think we can scratch the church theory.”

Jayda walked up to the painting. “What the hell is that?!”

“I dunno.” Athena said examining the picture.

“Well despite the picture, this doesn’t seem like a bad place.”

“Love doesn’t seem like a bad place at first either.” Athena began to look down the hall.

“It just doesn’t make sense!” Jayda stomped her foot. “I was outside waiting for the bus, next thing I know I wake up here!”

“I know what you mean.” Athena’s eye noticed an open door at the hall’s end. “Yo, let’s go check out that room down there.”

The flowing brunette and sapphire pigtail scaled the hall and entered the open room. The room was an overall contrast to their own. It was filled with color and stayed to the theme of the doors. The carpet was wine and the walls were covered with pearl and gold tapestries. In the center of the room was a bed with a corresponding frame and matching sheets. Under the bleached sheets was a young man no older than them.

“There is someone…In the bed.” Jayda whispered. “You think they got here like us?”

Athena walked closer and looked at his face. She examined him up and down.

“I think so. He’s dressed in weird clothes too.”

Jayda walked forward and her mind was blown away.

“Oh shit! That’s Darc!”

“Darc?”

“Darc indeed.” Ingrid entered the room.

Jayda and Athena turned around to the blonde mistress dressed in her gown. Ingrid stood in the doorway and smiled.

“I am Priestess Ingrid.” She bowed. “I am sure you cannot fathom as to why you are here.”

“Damn right.” Jayda said with a glare.

“Please follow me.” Ingrid walked down the hall.

“What is with the dress code in this place?” Jayda looked at her clothing shaking her head. “I say we wake Darc and get out of here.”

“I’m gonna follow her.” Athena said walking out of the room.

“Wait, why?”

Jayda jogged up to Athena and the two followed Ingrid down the hall.

Darc’s eyes opened as he pushed up off the bed. He rolled over and fell the four feet to the ground.
“Ugh.” He looked down at his clothing. He seemed be wearing some form of medieval bed-wear.
Darc looked around and took note of the elaborate room; the drapes, the lavish bed and the golden trimmed floor. He got up, dusted off his white tunic and shorts and walked out the door. He descended a flight of nearby stairs. Several females dressed in white and powder blue priestess gowns, similar to Ingrid’s, stood at the staircase’s end. The gowns and the headdresses resembled that of a nun.

“How’d I get in church?” He said scratching his butt.

The nun-like women knelt before him as he passed by. He was confused and disoriented. He stumbled down a flight of stairs and fell into a garden of elegance. Bushes, trees, and flowers of all colors of the spectrum radiated the area. The fallen Darc was crowded by a flock of little girls. They all swarmed over him and jumped on him with smiles and laughs. Ingrid arrived on scene with Athena and Jayda.

“Ok. But what does Darc’s lineage have to do with us?” Athena folded her arms.

“He needs you.” Ingrid said softly.

“What?” Jayda questioned.

Darc stood up and a few of the children grabbed his hands. Darc looked at them with a laugh and a smile.

“Are you guys my cousins too?” He laughed.

“Darc.” Ingrid called.

Darc looked up and saw his cousin with two females beside her. He didn’t recognize the brunette, but he stared at the little one more than twice. She was a caramel beauty that put a sweet dinner desert to shame. Her soft round tipped nose and cat- like shaped eyes made his heart pound. His eyes scrolled from her eyes downward along her sloped shoulders and small but proportionate frame. His view rolled pass her average chest to her small waste. He stood to his feet as she walked over to him standing just below Darc’s shoulder.

“Jayda…?” He said in awe. “What are you…?”

“That’s what I wanna know.” She glared at him.

“Darc is but fraction of what is needed to restore the balance.”

“What?”

“Let her finish Jayda.” Darc looked at the sapphire-head.

“To correct the flow of energy, certain individuals must be assembled. Darc is one of these individuals, as is every rightful king.” She turned to Athena and Jayda. “You two are one of these individuals as well.”

“What?” Athena glanced at Darc. “Why us?”

“Exactly!” Jayda added.

“The ones chosen depend on the king. You two are the only souls compatible along with the others. There is a connection between your souls. There aren’t any others over two universes.” Ingrid looked at the silent Darc.

“I don’t even know him.” Athena stressed.

“She’s right.” Darc sat down and stared off into the air. “This is all pretty heavy…”

“Darc, you can’t possibly go along with this.”

“Jayda…” He looked at her softly. “My life was a pain in the ass already.”

“Exactly.” Jayda turned to Athena with her hand out. “Athena?”

“I don’t know…”

“The world is doomed if you do not fulfill your birthright.”

“We’re not even from this world!” Jayda stressed. “Send me back home!”

“If Tellus falls into destruction so will Earth. To balance the universe if one planet goes, all its equivalents will perish as well. Like a chain, they are all connected.” She grew concerned. “You would still deny your duty knowing your world faces peril as well?”

“I never planned to deny it in the first place.” Darc turned and looked at the girls. “Jayda you know I have to do this. I need your help on this.”

Jayda turned away. “You’re asking for a lot.”

“I know…” Darc turned his attention to Athena.  “I don’t know who you are, but apparently I need you too.”

Athena stared into the depths of Darc’s brown eyes. She almost seemed to be judging him. Her mind raced, her heart pounded, and she was lost. She was lost in this foreign world, with people she didn’t even know.

“I’m in.”

“What?” She turned to Athena in shock. “You don’t even know Darc.”

“I don’t know about you, but I’d much rather not see Earth destroyed.” Athena stood sternly.

“Jayda…?” Darc stood up.

Jayda could feel Darc’s eyes. “Fine…”

Darc closed his eyes and bowed his head. “Thank you. So what do we do Ingrid?”

“You must seek out the lost sanctuaries of the Goddess. At the sanctuaries you must acquire your Knight Arms and their guardians.”
“What is a Knight Arm?” Darc asked.

“A Knight Arm is a sacred and ancient weapon created by the Goddess, to give man a chance to save themselves from damnation. They are the tools used in restoring the balance or destroying it.

“You said something about guardians?” Athena asked.

“I am unable to truly elaborate.” She spoke in dismay. “They haven’t been seen for several centuries. All I know is they protect the Knight Arm and its bearer. In time of dire need they will come to the bearer’s aid. ”

“Sounds like a load of crap.”

Darc looked at Jayda.

“It does.” She shrugged.

“So I guess we’re off?” Darc asked.

“It would be best to rendezvous with the others at the Tower of…”

A young girl came running up with cuts and bruises and fell to the floor. She fell to the floor in distress. Ingrid knelt beside her as did Darc.

“Fi…fi…fiend…” She gasped for air. “Armory…”

Ingrid took off running into the building. The girl grabbed Darc’s arm. Her eyes burned with fear. Her hand lost its grip and fell to the ground. Darc was befuddled. He looked at her chest which was no longer pulsing and watched blood flow from beneath her. Darc took off into the building as Athena and Jayda watched in shock. Darc followed the screams and arrived in a large room with a creature. It was a large creature and about five men tall.  It was a monstrous plant, green like a flower’s stem and shaped like a bulb. Tentacles, the color of a rose’s pedal swung around the room spawning from within the bulb. Along the side Ingrid lay unconscious.

“Ingrid!” Darc stood before the creature as another young priestess arrived.

“Help me!”

Darc looked upward to find a girl being constricted in the vines of the monster. Athena and Jayda arrived on the scene and gazed upon the colossal giant.

“Whoa.”  Athena was stunned.

“Is she ok?” Jayda checked Ingrid’s vitals.

A tentacle skull thick knocked Darc into the air. He soared into a rack of swords. His body was mutilated with flowing wounds.

“AHHH!!!”

Darc lay on the ground and grabbed a large sword. He stood and took a stance.

“There is a big weed attacking me!” He grinned. “That’s what I’m talking about. Finally something to really use a sword on!”

The tentacles of the plant were numerous, but there were four that were dominant. They were thicker than a tree and acted as appendages causing all the destruction and damage. One of the death-vines raced for Darc. He dove to the side and hit the ground. He rolled under the vine and clung to it. The vine retracted at great speed and sent Darc flying toward the captive girl. He soared right for her and straight through the vines. The tentacle was severed by his sword and fell to the floor along with Darc. It writhed on the floor sending the violet dressed girl rolling toward Athena and Jayda. A dominant vine coiled around Darc’s body and hurled him into the bulb and swallowed him whole.

“Darc!” Jayda nearly died.

Athena’s shock was only enhanced. She started to scan the area. She grabbed a bow and quiver. She slipped the quiver onto her back and readied a shot. The violet adorned girl struggled up coughing and gasping.

“Shoot…it in the eye...”

“What eye?” Athena searched the area.

“Look… at the end of the black tentacle.” She coughed.

Athena searched for the onyx vine amongst the threads of red and green. Then amidst the vines an eye and black tentacle emerged.

Athena staggered backward. “Holy…”

“It’s going underground.” The girl rose to her feet.

“Hurry Athena!”

“I’m trying! I’m not Robin Hood!”

“I am. Give it to me.” Jayda walked over and put her hand out. “Stop it from getting away!”

Athena handed Jayda the bow and quiver and took off. Jayda took aim. She fired arrows repeatedly tearing down the vines in her path. Every time an arrow came close to the eye another of its tentacles took the hit. The man eater was half way under the ground.

“Ugh! The damn vines! Athena!”

Athena ran up with a lance and charged right into the weed. She left the lance in the demon plant and braced it against the floor. She ran for another and rammed it in its side. Then again all around the beast like the numbers on a clock. The fiend burrowed further and screeched in pain. As it burrowed deeper the lances dug deeper into its sides. Jayda cocked her bow and armed it with two arrows. She let go and sent the arrows darting through the air. They rushed for the eye, one was deflected by the small vines and the final continued on piercing right through the eye. The creature began to shriek bringing everyone to their knees. It began to convulse and spewed red fluid all over. Its belly tore open as it collapsed in death. The tear opened wider as the wet and grassy Darc stepped out. His face was blank as everyone looked at him in silence.

“What? No victory music?” Darc fell to the floor.

“He’s gonna need new clothes.” Jayda said with a grimace.

Premier Reality: Prologue

Premier Reality

Prologue

by Darryll B. Carter

Centre

The sky was cold and desolate, like a winter rain over a plain. A bus rode through the sorrowful weather and came to an abrupt stop. A young man equipped with armor of a civilized sport and stained by the sky's tears, stepped off the bus.

“Darc, why are you doing this? You don't even like football.” He thought to himself.

The vehicle pulled off into the fog as Darc walked on into the crowd of homes. He walked the gray paved path beside the joined homes.

“I'm only doing this because I wanted to impress Jayda. Join the team, win the girl I thought.” He dejected.
“Eighteen years of trying to get the girl, straight out the womb…”

Darc walked up a flight of stairs to a blue coated house. He dropped his luggage to the carpet and scaled the stairs to his sanctuary.

  “I'm so tired. I swear life is heavy. Always so much to do, school work, house work, work work, practice...Too much to do...”

The teenager flopped on to his bed where his skin blended with the brown sheets. His eyes slowly closed as did his mind. He slowly drifted into a dream state, or so it seemed. He dropped down like a feather through the air. He landed in a bed of emerald roses surrounded by walls and pillars of jaded leaves. Behind him, encased in diamond was a massive sword. Darc opened his eyes and stared at the ominous star vacant sky. He rose to his feet and witnessed a brown haired woman dressed in robes of ebony. Darc gazed in confusion.

“Who are…“Darc lost his words as the robed woman hugged him as if he was long lost and now found.
“Oh cousin... How I have dreamt of this day for years.”

“Cousin? Who are you?” Darc was lost.

Streams poured from her eyes as she looked up at the black haired teenager.

“I am your cousin, Ingrid.” She said with delight.

Darc backed away and rose above her to his feet. He looked at Ingrid with mixed feelings; confusion and intrigue.

“Where am I? How did I get here?” He looked around the area. It was dark and hollow. As his feet wandered he looked down and saw earth beneath him. He knelt down and pressed his hand against the transparent film that served as the ground he walked on. He could feel it ripple as he removed his hand and continued to gaze down at his mother.

“Am I in space? No, there’s gravity and I’m breathing. I’m dead…” Darc examined his hands.

Ingrid wiped the tears from her peach skin as she guided her cousin’s gaze to a point above. “You are between realms. The space between Earth, and a parallel world, Tellus. Bless the goddess for letting the soul of your grandfather bring you here.”

“Parallel world?! Yea… That’s definitely not the moon.” Darc backed away even more. “How do you know my grandfather?”

“Your grandfather Advent was from my world. He was to serve as the Paladin of our nation.”

Darc continued to retreat until he stumbled on to a silver glazed bench. The beautiful Ingrid approached and planted her bottom next to his. Darc shook his head in disbelief.

“He was banished by his brother, Malaise, to your world. Malaise was the very devil. He rivaled the god of hell himself. He ruled with blood instead of honor. Thousands were slain by his hand and word. Innocent men, women and children killed simply because they did not fit into his desires. Malice, his grandson, is in power. He was once thought to be the one to restore order to our land, but… Though not as violent, he has followed in the footsteps of his grandfather.” Ingrid began to shed a tear.

“What does this have to do with me?” Darc looked down.

“You are a Centre. It has everything to do with you. You are our only hope left. You have to restore the balance that Malaise and Malice have disrupted.

“Balance? What balance?”

“There is a delicate balance of energies that must stay constant or the world will slowly spiral toward its doom. They are the divine energies of the four gods. The deeds of the past three generations of the Centre family have tipped this balance in favor of the world eater, the fourth god, Asatan.You are the only one who can save us from doom… It’s your duty…”

“How am I going to do this alone…?”

“You will not my cousin. The Century shall be beside you, at your hip.

She pointed behind him at the diamond caged sword. Darc turned his body and observed the weapon.
“ . . .” Darc stood with his mouth wide open. “That is one badass sword…”

“This is your birthright The Century. It is a sword that can only be wielded by a Centre.”

“Wait. So I have to do this with just this sword?” He said looking for assurance.

“The Century is not just a sword.” She declared. “It is the sword.”

Darc nodded to her.

“There are those you know that will have to assist you. Their souls are compatible with the task that be falls you.”

“Who?”

“I do not know them by name. You will see when you awake.” Ingrid said with a smile as she began to fade away.

“Wait, Ingrid.” Darc spoke.

“Yes?”

“If the Century can be used by a Centre. Why didn’t you take it to restore the balance?” Darc asked peering into her eyes.

“I was not worthy…” She said with tint of disipointment. As soon as her sorrow came it was replaced with solace. “It told me to find you.”

 Storm, Sopel and Bourne

“I know Kate.” He says pushing someone away at his side. “But I’m at home right now.”

“Don’t forget like last time Jace.” She demanded. Kate’s light brown hair fell from her head and pass her shoulders. She had a timid face created from years of optimism and a stable life. She was as plain as vanilla but just as rich when you got a taste of what she was made of. “I’m tired of you missing it.”

Kate was speaking to him from her decorated room. She was lying on her bed holding a bible in her hand.
“We’ll just have to catch you up now.” She opened the black covered book and began to read.

“I’m kinda busy.”

“You know I love you right?” She said smiling over the phone.

“Yeah.” His feeling was somewhat dry.

“So say it.” Kate cuddled up on her bed.

“Umm.” Jace began to flag something away.

Kate looked off to the side then vanished like light into the depths of space. Her phone plummeted to the floor, creating a sound that irritated Jace’s ear. He leaned away from the phone in reflex.

“Kate?” He said rubbing his ear. “Kate?”

Jace hanged up the phone and received a soft rub to his chest. A female beside him leaned closer brushing her auburn hair away and putting her hand on his Latin skin. She was attractive to say the least but, her features were round and soft in contrast to Kate, whose chin was much more pointed and face narrow. She was of mixed descent, a cross of Earth’s many races.

“When are you going to tell her? Didn’t Dar…“ She was cut off.

“I don’t know!” His hand slammed on the coffee table.

She stared at him unwavered .

Jace got up and walked toward the kitchen. In his course he stopped and picked up a picture. Within the golden hue frame was a picture of himself and Darc. They were both clad in football gear and large smiles. Darc and Jace were strong you could see it in their faces. Though Darc’s muscles weren’t visually prominent you got their impression from his hulking size. Jace stood at Darc’s shoulder, more muscular with a smile that could lure any woman.

“Cindaly is right. Darc tried to warn me…”

Jace vanished and the picture crashed to the floor and its glass shattered. Cindaly walked in to see what happened. She bent over to pick up the frame and vanished, leaving nothing but the frame’s destruction behind.

Benton and Azure

In the city’s vibrant moonlight a pale sedan cuts through the rain. The driver and passenger ride observing their surroundings. The driver was a striking young man with tan skin. His forearm clenched the steering wheel exercising the muscles in his arm. The city lights sparkled through the car’s sun roof onto is low cut hair. The passenger next to him seemed to be a carbon copy of smaller size. Though when you looked hard you could see their were slight differences mostly due to younger age.

“You got on your seatbelt Cam?” The driver said as they stopped at a light. “Mom told me to make sure you put it on.”

“Yeah. I know.”

The crimson glow turns to jade and the car pulls off as if on cue. It glides across the asphalt like a duck on water. A ring begins to sound from the driver’s pocket. He tugs and jerks to pull his cell phone from his jeans. The passenger pulls it out.

“Thanks.”

“It’s Darc.” He hands the phone over after answering it. “Mom said I could go with you over his house tomorrow right?”

“Yeah.” He holds the phone up to his ear. “Wasup DC.”

“Hey Chris.”

In another area of the city a girl is sitting on a bench, shivering from the rain. Her deep blue hair blended in with the city’s neon light background. She speaks into a sleek cobalt cell phone with joy in her voice.

“Jayda? How did you get…?” Chris digressed. “Why did Darc’s number come up?”

“I took his phone since he wouldn’t give me your number .” She sighed at her messy blue hair.

“You would think that would tell a person something.” His sarcasm stressed.

“Yea that he’s an ass!!!”

Her yell sailed through the phone like a strong wind. The screech rattled Chris’ brain as he dropped the phone. It fell down between his legs and slid under the break.

“Chris, look out!” Cam slammed against the door as he pointed to an oncoming truck.

“The breaks are gone!” Chris yelled as he vanished.

The signal on Jayda’s phone went dead. She tapped it on the bench a couple times.
“Hello?” She yelled. “He hung up on me.”
A car rushed by and sent water splashing her way. She cringed in defense and vanished with the wind.

Belmonte

A tall and toned Latin girl with long ponytail danced across the court with grace. Her skill was rivaled only by her beauty. She spun and twirled like a ribbon in the raining air as her feet left the ground for a lay up. As she returned to the ground the ball rolled around the rim of the basket and dropped through the net. She landed and turned around with a large smile on her face and her hand out to the group of men in front of her.

“That’s 3 games straight guys.” She said as her smile turned to a grin.

“Can’t believe we got beat by a girl.” A guy said walking off the court to his bag.

“Shit, she whopped our asses 3 times.” Another said as he pulled some cash from his pocket and handed it to her. “Here, it’s nice and sweaty for you.”

“Damn it’s like that though?” She asked.

“Yeah it’s like that.” He said walking away.

She took the sweaty money and put it in her pocket. Her phone rang as she walked over to a bench off court.

“Hello?” She said answering the phone.

“Athena? It’s Jessenia.”

“Oh hey! We still on for tomorrow?” She sat down and let her hair out its tail.

“That’s what I wanted to talk about?”

“Come on Jess.” Athena said dejectedly.

“I’ll ask Jace to take you. Although I think he’s doing something with Darc?”

“Who’s Darc?” Athena’s eyebrow rose.

“Hey don’t forget double or nothing tomorrow Athena.” A man said as he handed Athena some money and left with a wave.

“You got it Elonzo.” Athena yelled as he left the light of the court for the darkness of the city streets.

“You still hustling guys for their money?” Jessenia asked.

“Well, you know guys.” Athena smiled counting her money. “The think they’re the best at everything. Damnit, one of those bendejo’s shorted me.”

Athena vanished and the cell phone dropped to the concrete shattering the back casing and expelling the battery into a nearby puddle of water.

“They shorted you? Athena?”  Jess saw asked. “Athena? Are you there? Must’ve died.”

Zane

A young man the shade of ground coffee paraded across a dojo floor in an all black dogi. Sweat dripped down his bald head to his red sparring gauntlets as he threw punch after punch and kick after kick. The force from his strikes sent ripples through the all black dogi that covered him. A young man of similar age walked up scratching his hair.

“I locked everything up Cain. Just make sure you shut the door when you leave.” the young man said.

“Yeah, yeah.” Cain continued his practice. “Is it true, Darc’s starting again tomorrow?”

“Yes it is,” the young man laughed. “The Knight returns.”

“Yeah, it will be good to have a real challenge here again. I was getting tired of beating you and your katana down everyday. He probably still thinks he can beat me.” Cain laughed.

“Darc is an out of the box thinker. Your ego will be your downfall Cain.” The young man began to exit.

“Strength and arrogance aren’t everything.”

“No.” Cain flew one final punch. “But they are powerful.”

Sweat flew from Cain’s final punch as his gauntlets dropped to the floor and he vanished.