Quest of the Staff and the Sword, II

T.K. Kohl

Description

John's quest continues as he searches for understanding of his purpose. John used Luke's confidence in his power to build the castle on Olivet. Luke's control was tenuous, but with control of the world's media, Luke was able to convince the people of the world of this nemesis, the world knew as the hooded man. The hooded man had information, which could destroy Luke. He allowed the hooded man to take control of the castle, knowing he had the full measure of the world's military at his disposal. Luke will use this power to not only destroy the hooded man, but also wrap the chains of control on the people of the world. Luke is prepared to destroy all, to hold onto his power, bringing about change. A change, which could cause this world to live as they did, in the Dark ages. John must protect the Jedidiah family, along with their friends. He must guide them, so they can join him on this quest. As Luke's darkness grows in him and the fate of the world at stake, John must establish the foundation, save those who wish to be saved, and assure those around him, all is well, in Quoin Ataraxis.

Sujets

• Adventure
• Fiction
• Action

Informations

• Publié par: Outskirts Press
• Date de parution: 17 juillet 2018
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781977201676
• Langue: English

Extrait

Quest of the Staff and the Sword, II
Quoin Ataraxis
All Rights Reserved.
Copyright © 2018 T.K. Kohl
v2.0

This is a work of fiction. The events and characters described herein are imaginary and are not intended to refer to specific places or living persons. The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher. The author has represented and warranted full ownership and/or legal right to publish all the materials in this book.

This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Outskirts Press, Inc.
http://www.outskirtspress.com

ISBN: 978-1-9772-0167-6

Cover illustrated by Victor Guiza
Illustrations © 2018 Outskirts Press, Inc. All rights reserved - used with permission.

Outskirts Press and the “OP” logo are trademarks belonging to Outskirts Press, Inc.

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA




PROLOGUE
The sun was high overhead as Nikki and her parents walked to the park. At almost age two, Nikki loved to go on picnics with her parents. They laughed and played ball. Nikki ran to the swings. Her father pushed her. She laughed as she went up into the air. Nikki looked at her daddy. “Higher daddy. I want to fly like those birds.”
Nikki’s mommy walked up beside Nikki’s daddy. “Come on Nikki. It’s time to eat.”
Nikki jumped out of the swing. Her father caught her. She kissed her daddy on the cheek. He looked into her eyes. “You’re going to be an acrobat someday.”
Nikki laughed. Her father put her on the ground. She ran to her mommy and wrapped her arms around her neck. “I love you, mommy.”
They sat on a blanket and ate. Nikki got everything on her face. Nikki stood and looked at her daddy. “Come on, daddy. I want to go to the swings.”
He laughed at her. “We need to wash your face, Nikki.” Her father grabbed a damp cloth and washed her face. Nikki laughed as he wiped her, because it tickled.
Nikki ran to the swings. She climbed aboard and her daddy pushed her.
Late in the afternoon, her mommy walked over. “I think we need to leave.”
Nikki looked up at her mommy. “No, mommy. I want to stay.”
Nikki’s father stood and looked down the road. He knelt before Nikki. “You go with your mommy, Nikki. It’s getting late and we need to leave.”
Nikki folded her arms in front of her and stuck out her lip.
Her daddy laughed. “I’ll bring you here tomorrow and we’ll spend all day. Okay?”
Nikki threw her arms around her daddy and gave him a kiss.
Her daddy stood and looked into her mommy’s face. “Go, and hurry.” He kissed her.
Her mommy picked up Nikki and ran across the street. She ran into an alley and waited.
Nikki stood beside her mommy. She watched as trucks of men drove up the road. They stopped next to Nikki’s daddy. A man walked up to her daddy. He talked with him. He hit her daddy. Nikki tried to run to him. Her mommy held Nikki tight.
The man turned to the other men. “This traitor thinks he has the right to have a picnic with his family.” The man pointed towards the buildings. “You have no rights.”
Nikki jumped as she heard several loud bangs. Her daddy fell to the ground. Her mommy grabbed Nikki and pulled her into her arms. Her mommy cried. Nikki looked at her mommy and cried with her.
The trucks drove away. Her mommy stood and walked out of the alley. Nikki ran to her daddy. Her daddy wasn’t moving. She pushed on him. “Come on, daddy. We have to go home.” Nikki looked at her hands. She held them up. She showed her hands to her mommy. “Mommy, daddy’s bleeding.”
Her mommy fell on top of her daddy. She cried. Nikki put her hand on her mommy’s shoulder. “It’s okay mommy. Maybe he’s sleeping.”
Her mommy looked into Nikki’s eyes. “No Nikki. Those soldiers killed your father. He won’t be waking up.” Mary held onto the body. “What am I going to do now?” She cried.
A woman walked up to them. “Come on, Mary. We need to get you out of here before those soldiers return.”
The woman led them into an apartment building. They walked into an elevator and rode it to the top floor. The woman held Mary in her arms. “My name is Madeline Ross. You two can stay with me. Several people have lost family to Luke Nachash’s soldiers. You’re lucky those men didn’t find you.”
Madeline knelt before Nikki. “Those men are bad men, Nikki. They took your daddy and he won’t be coming back. You will stay with me.”
Nikki cried. She put her arms around Madeline. “I want my daddy.”
“I know, Nikki.” Madeline gave Nikki a hug. Madeline stood and looked into Mary’s eyes. “We need someone to save us, and make this world, good again.”
Madeline made them as comfortable as they could be. Nikki and her mommy stayed in a corner of the large flat. Nikki would lie with her mommy. Nikki would see the bad men killing her daddy. Nikki would wake up, grab hold of her mommy, and cry.
One night she sat down with her mommy and watched TV. She saw the man everyone said was bad. He was celebrating. A hooded man stood on a platform and talked with the bad man. Nikki walked to the TV. She pointed at the hooded man on TV. She turned to her mommy. “That man is a good man, mommy.”
Everyone in the room looked at Nikki. Madeline walked over and picked Nikki up. “I don’t know, Nikki. I hope he is.” She gave her a kiss and sat her next to Mary.
The next morning, there was a knock on their door. Mary grabbed Nikki and held her tight. Everyone watched Madeline go to the door. Madeline stepped out of the apartment. She returned. She and a hooded woman were carrying the hooded man.
They laid him on the floor. Madeline and a man held guns on the hooded woman. The hooded man glowed. Everyone backed away. He stood. He told everyone to trust him. No one did.
Nikki walked towards the hooded man. He was sitting against a wall. He had his head bowed and he was crying.
Nikki touched his cheek. “It’s okay, mister, there’s no reason to cry. I trust you.”
The man pulled her into his arms and hugged her. Other children came over and talked with the hooded man. Nikki listened to the man. The man stood Nikki in front of him. He looked into her eyes. “What would you like to know?”
Nikki stared into the man’s eyes and smiled. “Are you going to save us, and make the world, good again?”
The man bowed his head and cried. He gathered himself and looked at all the faces staring at him. He looked at Nikki. “Nikki, you are so precious.” He gave her a hug. He looked into her face. “For you, Nikki, I will, even if I die.”
The hooded man and hooded woman ate the last of their food. He filled their cupboards with food.
He gave each of the children a gift. He knelt in front of Nikki and gave her the best gift. It was a doll. Nikki loved that doll.
Nikki looked into the face of the doll. “I need to give you a name.” Nikki thought a moment. She looked at the woman with the hooded man. “I know. I will call you, Elizabeth.”
She gave the hooded man a hug. He whispered in her ear. “I love you, Nikki. I will always keep you safe. You can trust me.”
Over the next couple of years, the bad men didn’t come around as often. They had more food than could ever be imagined. Every day the cupboards would be full.
One day, Nikki walked to the kitchen. Her mommy and Madeline were talking.
Mary shook her finger in Madeline’s face. “You know we can’t continue to live like this. Maybe we can make a deal with those soldiers.”
Madeline grabbed Mary. “No, Mary. You can’t talk like that. Those soldiers will kill us.”
Mary shook her head and looked at Nikki. “I can’t have my daughter hiding out for the rest of her life. There is no hope, Madeline.”
Nikki looked at her mommy with tears in her eyes. “No, mommy. The hooded man said he would keep us safe. I trust him. Don’t lose your hope.”
Mary stared at Nikki for a moment. She turned to Madeline. “You have her believing in this guy also. This man can’t protect us forever. I have to do what’s best for my daughter and me.” Mary walked across the room.
Nikki looked at Madeline. “We can’t lose our hope, Miss Madeline. The hooded man will keep us safe.”
Madeline smiled at Nikki.
That night, Mary tucked Nikki in. “Don’t worry, Nikki. We’ll be safe.”
Nikki smiled. “I know, mommy. The hooded man will always keep me safe.”
Mary smiled at her, gave her a kiss, and turned over.
Nikki lay back on the floor. She held Elizabeth. She looked into the doll’s eyes. “The bad men won’t hurt you, Elizabeth. The hooded man will keep us safe. You go to sleep.” Nikki turned over and fell asleep.
Nikki was awakened by people running around. Mary grabbed Nikki. “Don’t worry, Nikki. We’ll be safe.”
Nikki heard gunfire on the streets. People shouted. She heard people crying and more gunfire. Mary picked up Nikki and gathered inside a room behind a false wall. Nikki held Elizabeth close. She looked into her eyes. “Don’t be scared, Elizabeth. The hooded man won’t let those bad men find us.”
Nikki and Mary huddled with Madeline. People were screaming outside. There was more gunfire. People were crying. There was banging inside the apartment. Everyone in the room stayed quiet. There was a loud crash. Soldiers ran through their apartment.
Mary gave Nikki a kiss and stood. Nikki looked at her. “What are you doing, mommy?”
Mary opened the passageway and walked out. The soldiers broke through the false wall. They dragged the people out. Mary stood next to one of the soldiers. She looked at Nikki. “Come on, Nikki. We’ll be safe.”
Nikki pulled away from her mommy. “I’m not goin