Free The Mystical Knights: The Sword of Dreams by K.A. Robertson Page A

to speak more—wanting more than anything for it to guide her through the dark shadows—but it only continued to burn into her hand.
    Then, when Nia was quite sure she had been hallucinating, she heard the distant squeal of tires as a vehicle braked in the driveway.  A number of coughs and chokes hit her throat, as Nia thought about her father coming home from a long day’s work to find his only child sprawled out across the living room floor, choking and sputtering.  She wondered if he would be able to see the shadow creature or if her father would just feel it's dark ill-omened presence instead.  Her chest ached as she sputtered some more, dizzy and disoriented....Through the dense haze that was as black as pitch, Nia could have sworn she had seen bright green and blue flashes from outside...but she reasoned that it must have been the bright hues of color that had began to dance in front of the backs of her eyelids...
    “Nia!” a voice shouted, the front door slamming loudly from the kitchen.  Nia tried to open her eyes this time, but it just wasn’t worth the effort...it actually hurt to try.  The voice that spoke definitely belonged to a male—but it didn’t belong to her father.  She tried to groan so that she could let her savior know that she was alright, but her throat was too dry...her lips were too weak...
    The shadow monster roared beseechingly like a mother bear protecting its cubs.  The world had begun to tilt from underneath Nia and she could feel herself sliding away into the mist...
    “I don’t think so, you oversized waste cloud!” the voice hollered threateningly.  Nia heard mumbling and the rustling of speedy footsteps inches away while she clung helplessly to the world she needed to belong in.  “ Tempest of Maelstrom!”
    The monster’s roar rumbled loudly, the smog billowing out much thicker than before as a low chugging sound thrummed gently, vibrating through the tiny living space.  At first, Nia wondered if she were only imagining it—the sound of helicopter propellers that seemed to be getting closer and closer—but a violent breeze fluttered across the floor, knocking pictures and ol’ Bessie off the living room walls.  The fish plaque flipped through the air, as though caught in an invisible undertow.  Nia heard something smash loudly—maybe it was a lamp or quite possibly ol’ Bessie—and she felt her knees begin to rattle from the intensity of the wind.  The black mist wafted dangerously close to her face again; her nostrils tickled and twitched as she fought hard not to breathe in another breath of the vile pollution but her lungs began to wrack hard within her chest, pinching and suffocating her with what little fresh air she had left...
    “Nia!”  Another voice had shouted—this one was very familiar and laced with concern.  Nia tried to call out, but her body felt as though heavy boulders were pinning it to the floor and her aching lungs wouldn’t allow her to speak. 
    “ She is mine ,” the shadow thing hissed softly, its hoarse voice low and menacing.  A loud bang sounded shortly after—and Nia was certain that the monster was attempting to prove its point.
    “Guess again!” his voice sounded closer to Nia, just hovering over her weak head.  A hand brushed her tightly balled fist, his fingers gently grazing her burning amulet.  A sigh, a quick rustle.  And then he fiercely spoke, “ Gold Lion, I awaken thee. ”
    The most wonderful, most extraordinary shock softly buzzed through his finger tips, into her amulet and up her arm.  It wasn’t painful nor surprising— but warm and much welcomed.  A vital energy like no other surged through her veins, beating in time with the lion amulet clutched tightly in her hand.  Nia could feel bright white light shining down upon her and although she could still feel the floor beneath her back, she felt her entire body being lifted towards the heavens. 
    It smelled of sweetness, like cotton candy and