Part 3: Lightless Dreams

Mia slept uneasily. She was too hot, then too cold. For hours she tossed and turned, fluffing and flipping her pillow. Nothing was working. A strange tingle suddenly shot up her spine, like tiny spiders scurrying over her skin. It was here. Nearby. She jumped out of her bed and ran to the window. Mia peered into the darkness easily, seeing with the power that was a part of her even when she didn’t wear the armor. A woman stood in the yard, almost hidden by the shadows of the trees and shrubs. Evil.

Stygia gestured to the woman who stood staring out the window at her. Stygia summoned her with the mesmerizing power of the Sidhe as she did the other humans she had taken. Like a dark intoxicating wine, sweet words of persuasion flowed from her lips. “Come to me, Mia Koji. I am Stygia, your queen. You are my servant. Nothing in the world matters more than the desire to please me. I need something that only you and that boy can provide. The two of you will give me what I need to rule. Come to me, child.”

Mia turned from the window. She slowly made her way down the stairs and to the door. Still in her nightgown, she opened the door and stepped out into the cool night air. On bare feet she strode across the lawn to stop before the dark creature that summoned her.

“Good, Mia. I’m pleased with your obedience. Now come closer so I may take what I need.”

“I don’t think so, monster. DARK FOG RISE!” Mia’s armor formed around her like smoke. Swift as lightning, Mia drew her katana and sliced at the dark woman in front of her.

Even with her inhuman speed, Stygia barely sidestepped the blade. Who was this girl that she could move so fast? Why wasn’t she mesmerized by her magic? “You’re only one weak little human. You shouldn’t be able to resist my power!”

“I may be only human, but I’m certainly not weak.” Mia ran at her, blade in thrust position. Stygia dodged, deflecting the katana away from her with a push to the flat of the blade with her hand.

“If my voice cannot make you submit, perhaps I need to try something else.” A ghostly vapor rose from Stygia’s hand, solidifying into the shape of a falchion. A sword made for breaking armor. Stygia smiled ferociously. She needed the girl alive, but not necessarily intact. The elven woman swung it at Mia’s helm with lightning speed.

Mia brought up her katana just in time to block the blow. For a moment the two of them stood locked in a battle of strength, each pushing towards the other. Mia’s armor gave her physical abilities beyond human normal, but she was at a disadvantage in her position. Mia had blocked her, blade held at her left—an awkward stance to maintain in defense for long.

Stygia suddenly took one hand off the hilt and slugged Mia. Mia fell to the ground. She looked up to see the glint of metal bearing down on her. She rolled away, hearing the swoosh of air as the falchion struck ground behind her. Mia rolled into a kneeling position, slicing at Stygia’s legs. Stygia jumped. Mia anticipated the move and threw two shurikens in the air.

Stygia hissed in pain as the throwing stars embedded themselves in her side. These were no ordinary weapons. She felt the burn from them like the touch of magic—earth magic. She hadn’t expected the woman, Mia, to have such armor, speed, and power. This was not going as easily as she’d thought.

Inside the house, Anubis and Jack had felt Mia power up. The two of them ran out into the yard to help.

“ARMOR OF STORMS!” Lightning crackled around Jack as his dark blue and silver armor appeared.

“ARMOR OF CHAOS!” Violent bursts of color, wind, and dark energy brought forth Anubis’s purple and black armor.

Stygia was seething with anger. The Nameless Ones told her nothing of this! They’d made a fool of her. This girl had allies of equal power. With enough time she could have defeated the lone girl. Even Mia’s enhanced endurance would not have been able to keep up with that of Stygia’s elven heritage. But three magically armored warriors! She couldn’t succeed against them by herself. Stygia needed more information, more power. Cursed Nameless! They were probably laughing at her right now.

“Enjoy your brief victory, girl. I will return.” A fountain of inky blackness shot up from the ground around Stygia with the sound of a thousand rushing rivers. Mia, Jack, and Anubis were staggered back by the concussive force of energy pulsing from the column of liquid shadow. Then suddenly it was gone. So was Stygia.

Stygia reappeared deep within the caverns under the city. “Nameless! Where are you? No one makes a fool of me! Show yourselves!”

“Is anything wrong, Your Majesty?” Red eyes glowed from the shadows.

“Cursed shevsh! You know very well what is wrong! You sent me out there against magically-armored warriors!”

“We merely told you where to get the substances you need to create the perfect host body. You asked us nothing about the girl and boy. Must we do everything for you?”

Stygia was sure that if the Nameless Ones had faces they would be smirking at her. A dark rage burned within her, but she made every effort to conceal it. She still needed their knowledge and power. “Tell me what I need to know about this girl and the boy.”

“You will need to drain their energy first. Then they will be too weak to stop you from taking what you desire.”

“And how do I do that? Tell me something useful.”

“Engage them in battle. Use magic to drain them physically and emotionally as they fight.”

“In case you hadn’t noticed, I don’t have the power to fight them all.”

“Of course not. Especially when their other friends will also come to their aid when they are threatened.”

“There are more of them than the three I have just met? Then how am I to prevail?”

“Patience, little queen. You will need assistance. We can help…if you are willing.”

“Whatever it takes.”