The Cosmic Spark

by Leo Ndelle

  He teleported away and Fazim followed his instructions, giggling all the way.

  “Open your eyes,” Keerim said and Fazim obliged.

  “I want you to stand over here,” Keerim teleported to what looked like an edge into nothingness.

  Fazim hesitated and narrowed her eyes.

  “You have never been here before?” Keerim asked, faking surprise.

  “I did not even know this place was part of the realm,” Fazim replied.

  “Oh, it is strange you were not aware of this location,” Keerim said and then clapped his hands. “Anyway, this will make the game even more exciting, right?”

  Fazim’s joyful look returned and she nodded vigorously.

  “Wonderful!” Keerim exclaimed. “Now, face me and close your eyes.”

  Fazim did as Keerim asked. Keerim walked slowly towards her and kissed her passionately on the lips.

  “Do you trust me, Faz?” Keerim asked her softly.

  “With my existence,” Fazim replied.

  “Good!” Keerim said.

  Keerim kissed Fazim passionately again and Fazim returned the favor. When he felt Fazim completely relax in his arms and surrender to their shared passion, Keerim slid his arms on her shoulders and pushed Fazim over the edge into the nothingness beneath.

  Fazim kept her eyes closed and opened her arms as she completely let go and fell. In her innocence and love, she trusted Keerim was playing a game with her and that he would eventually catch her as she fell. But as she fell, Keerim was not there to catch her and suddenly, everything felt different. She could no longer feel any connection to Zodica and her eyes snapped open. Everywhere looked and felt different. She was no longer in Zodica and she was no longer within the Dimension of Mueba. Fazim panicked and tried to teleport back to the Realm of Zodica, but she was too late. There was no longer any trace for her to follow; or was it that she no longer knew how to?

  Fazim felt her Paradin essence burn away as she continued struggling even more. Alas, her struggle was pointless. In the final moments before the amnesia took over, Fazim heard Keerim’s voice in her head saying he was sorry and that he hoped that she would find a place in her essence to forgive him. In the final moments before the amnesia took over, Fazim felt trust turn to betrayal and her love for Keerim turn to hatred. In the final moments before the amnesia took over, Fazim swore to make Keerim pay, even if it meant her giving up her Paradin identity. And all these burned deep into her subconscious before the amnesia finally took over and she crashed into Earth Realm.

  ***

  Sara remembered everything! As she stared at the seven, glowing red pairs of orbs in the darkness of her room, she remembered everything. The forms of the hounds manifested and evil growls emanated from their throats.

  “Fazim!” Chiram spoke softly but there was nothing soft about her intentions. “Ashram’s first and only failure!”

  “Leave them all to me, my dear friend,” Ashram offered and bared his fangs.

  “This one is mine!” Sara spat as she became a human form of violet, heatless flame. she hissed, pointing at Chiram. “I’ll show her what failure looks like!”

  “Hounds!” Chiram growled. “Do what you do best!”

  And seven Hounds of Creation howled in the dead of the night before they lunged towards Ashram and Fazim.

  CHAPTER THREE

  A BRIEF REUNION

  MICHAEL AND ELIEL intercepted Luceefa and Beelzebub as these two charged towards Team Shi’mon. Eliel speared Beelzebub with his shoulder, zipped in the air with Beelzebub and accelerated towards the ground. He crashed Beelzebub into the ground, causing Beelzebub to lose his sword in the process. Eliel then drove his left fist into Beelzebub’s right jaw, crushing Beelzebub’s jaw into tiny pieces. He did the same to Beelzebub’s left jaw. The pain was acute, but Beelzebub could not scream, thanks to his shattered jaws. Eliel then quickly snatched Beelzebub by the ankle and slammed Beelzebub’s body into the ground. Bones were shattered and angel light oozed from various outlets of Beelzebub’s body. Eliel loomed over his enemy with a derisive smile forming across his face.

  “Heal yourself, Zukael,” Eliel spoke with spiteful conceit. “I am far from done with you.”

  Luceefa felt Michael’s hand on her neck, stopping her dead in her zip. She thrust her sword at his torso, but Michael inclined his body and caught her left wrist as her sword missed its target. Luceefa felt a sharp pain radiate from her wrist as Michael twisted her wrist at an acute angle, forcing her to let go of her sword. She bared her teeth at Michael and screamed at Michael, more out of anger and frustration than out of pain and anguish. She met his flaming eyes and felt the reflection of her helplessness in his flaming eyes.

  “Remember my promise to you when I put you away?” Michael asked with an emotionless tone of voice.

  Luceefa stopped struggling, knowing that her end had come. To her surprise, Michael let go of her neck.

  “I will keep my promise, Luciel,” Michael added. “But not like this.”

  He turned to see how Eliel was doing and Luciel did the same.

  “What are you waiting for, Eliel?” Michael demanded via telepathy. “Stop playing with him and finish him! Now!”

  Miryam watched as two angels moved around in a blurry fashion. Everything was too quick for someone even as herself to observe in detail. The female and Beelzebub had come to kill her children and the other two males had come to her children’s rescue. So far, the other two males were in control. Good! Her children would be safe, at least for now. Miryam was familiar with Beelzebub, but she was still unsure who the female was. Why did Beelzebub and this female want her Cahen and Sarael dead? Myriam remembered the female addressing Cahen and Sarael as ‘the sons of Adamou’. So, the female must know about Cahen and Sarael. And if the two male angels were so bent on protecting Cahen and Sarael, could that mean one of them was…?

  Sarael read her mother’s colors as her mother tried to make sense of what was happening. It was an interesting situation, seeing her mother helpless for the first time. Not that it was a good thing, though. Sarael was just happy her mother was still essentially human and not all-powerful, after all. And why did the female angel, or archangel maybe, want to kill her and Cahen? It was burden enough that Beelzebub was out for her essence; but to add another angel, or arch, to her list of fans was too much for the entire team to bear. Well, she was grateful those two male angels had come to their rescue.

  Yehuda wished he could get in on the action, if only Kundalini would take control over his body again. Beelzebub and the other angel who had come to their rescue were moving too fast even for his vision. Now would have been perfect to take Beelzebub out once and for all and free Sarael from the visions and the demon who was always onto her essence. The other angel was already making Beelzebub look like a hopeless amateur, for which Yehuda was immensely grateful. He sighed! How he would have loved for the Scorpion to deliver the final sting on The Beast.

  Eliel watched as a fully-healed Beelzebub snarled, summoned a sword and charged at him. Beelzebub was moving at full, archangelic speed but from Eliel’s perspective, Beelzebub was a tad bit slow. He observed Beelzebub go for decapitation. Stupid move, Eliel thought. He ducked and drove the knuckles of his right fist into Beelzebub’s right armpit with such force that Beelzebub’s shoulder was shattered. There was a scream and Eliel heard Beelzebub’s sword clang on the ground before it disappeared in a puff of smoke. Eliel straightened as a writhing Beelzebub hit the ground and reached for his badly dislocated shoulder.

  “I said finish him, Eliel!” Michael commanded.

  Eliel glared at Michael. This was only the second time he had ever been in a fight and he did not want to end Beelzebub, even though he knew he had to. He was angry at Michael for putting him on the spot like this. He beat Michael before and he could beat Michael again if he wanted to. And though he desperately wanted to, more out of the humiliation he felt for looking weak in front of everyone, despite Beelzebub being no match for
him, Eliel recalled that Michael was his superior and he had to follow orders. You won’t be archangel supreme much longer, Michael. I have risen above you and I will claim my spot as the new archangel supreme! Eliel thought and summoned a sword as Beelzebub healed himself.

  Luceefa had also observed that Beelzebub was no match for Eliel and she was grateful for Eliel’s naiveté. But now that Michael had just issued an order, the fight was going to end very quickly and unfavorably for both her and Beelzebub; unless she did something about it. She knew Beelzebub had also heard Michael give Eliel the order and she also knew Beelzebub’s ego smothered his sense of reason. She really would have preferred to fall by the blades of their enemies than run or surrender; but, for the sake of a much grander vision, they would run and live to fight later. As such, when Beelzebub let out a scream of rage and zipped towards Eliel, Luceefa zipped towards him and caught him at the hip.

  “Listen to me brother!” Luceefa pleaded. “I don’t want to do this anymore than you do, but we must focus on what we really want.”

  Beelzebub grabbed Luceefa by the neck and glared at her, but she remained unfazed by his actions.

  “We run for now but we live to fight later,” Luceefa added, feeling the sting on her ego. “Please, brother.”

  Beelzebub saw the wisdom in her words and let go of her neck.

  Luceefa turned around to face Michael and Eliel.

  “We will meet again,” Luceefa promised.

  “For the last time!” Michael replied.

  Luceefa and Beelzebub teleported to Hell Realm. Eliel was glad he did not have to end Beelzebub. Michael and Eliel dismissed their archangel battle flames and turned around to face Team Shi’mon.

  “Hello Archangel Michael,” Shi’mon said reverently. “My name is Shi’mon and I am the leader of this group. Our main mission is to protect Earth Realm from all forces of evil.”

  “It is my honor to be on your side, Shi’mon,” Michael replied and extended his hand. “Your realm is my home away from Celestia, which is where we dwell.”

  Shi’mon hesitated before extending his own hand. His excitement was getting the better of him. For Earth Realm’s sake! He was about to establish PHYSICAL contact with not just any angel or archangel, but the one and only MICHAEL! The trembling in his hand was real and cute, eliciting some snickering from the rest of the team.

  “Shut up everyone!” Shi’mon said and laughed out loud.

  Michael and everyone joined in the laughter as Michael clasped forearms with Shi’mon. Shi’mon introduced the entire team to Michael and Eliel. Michael and Eliel clasped forearms with the men and hugged the ladies. Eliel, however, held Shi’mon in a comforting embrace.

  “I am so, so sorry for Patrick,” Eliel whispered into Shi’mon’s ears. “He was a good man; the funniest and coolest man I have ever known.”

  He peeled himself off Shi’mon and held Shi’mon’s gaze.

  “Thank you, Archangel Eliel,” Shi’mon replied.

  His voice quavered and his eyes brimmed with tears.

  “Eliel will do, my friend,” Eliel said. “I take it you were Patrick’s boss and you two were close?”

  “He was my son,” Shi’mon said and silent tears rolled down his eyes.

  “I am truly sorry, my friend,” Eliel said and squeezed Shi’mon’s shoulders. “May Patrick rest well.”

  “Come closer, you three!” Michael beckoned and smiled.

  Miryam, Sarael and Cahen approached Michael..

  “You all look so different,” Michael said, taking Sarael’s and Miryam’s faces in his hands, one at a time. “And you’re a giant, son!” Michael exclaimed, slapping Cahen in the shoulder.

  “Father?!” Sarael and Cahen exclaimed in disbelief at the same time.

  “Adam?” Miryam could barely contain her shock.

  “Wait! So you didn’t know?” Michael asked in humorous disbelief. “Really-”

  But he could not finish his sentence as he was smothered by the loving embraces of three of his favorite people during his sojourn on Earth Realm. Cahen was the happiest of all. He had finally gotten to meet his mother and father. And his father was Archangel Michael. There were many tears of joy. Finally, they peeled away from Michael.

  “Father!” Cahen exclaimed. “Father!”

  Michael smiled lovingly as he reached up and placed a hand on his son’s cheek.

  “My giant of a son!” Michael said, evoking a smile from Cahen.

  “I never imagined you as a very beautiful lady, Ahben,” Michael said, referring to Sarael. “That is quite a change.”

  “The intricacies of reincarnation, Father dear,” Sarael replied.

  It did feel odd to her referring to Michael as ‘Father’ because, in this lifetime, Yeshua was her father.

  “My Aiden love,” Michael said as he zoomed in on Miryam. “My Eva.”

  Miryam closed her eyes, inclined her head and parted her lips. Michael did the same and the two of them kissed each other passionately. There was no awkward feeling on their parts. But to the rest of Team Shi’mon, except for Sasha, the scene did make them feel awkward. One side of their rational minds understood that this was a reunion between Adamou and Eva, while the other side of their rational minds saw Michael kissing their mentor’s wife. Eliel could care less.

  Michael and Miryam ended their brief moment of passion.

  “We must go now,” Michael addressed everyone. “A war is coming to Celestia and we must ensure Hell’s insanity is put to rest once and for all. Luciel and Zukael will no longer be a bother to you; not for now, at least. Are you all familiar with an entity called The Scribe?”

  The group said they did.

  “Good,” Michael continued. “I am not sure what his plans are, but I assure you that we will do our best to foil his plans in Celestia and help you foil his plans in your realm. We are on the same side. I recommend you return to your domains and strategize based on what you know and what you can research on. We will share information with one another. Until then, we bid you farewell, dear allies of Earth Realm.”

  “Farewell, allies of Celestia,” Team Shi’mon chorused.

  “Farewell, Father,” Sarael and Cahen said at the same time and laughed.

  Michael nodded towards Eliel and the two archangels teleported away.

  “I… uh,” Maduk, also known as Cahen, stammered. “I will see you all later.”

  “You are welcome at our base anytime, Maduk,” Shi’mon said and turned to face the rest of the team.

  Everyone nodded their agreement.

  “Thank you,” Maduk replied softly and averted his eyes. “Thank you all.”

  “Just follow my link whenever you’re ready, son,” Miryam said and kissed Cahen on the cheek.

  “I will, mother,” Maduk replied as Sarael hugged him.

  “You have some explaining to do, young lady!” Sarael joked at Miryam.

  “Are you sure you want to hear all the gory details of our time in Aiden?” Miryam cocked an eyebrow towards her daughter.

  “I should’ve just kept my mouth shut!” Sarael shook her head.

  Team Shi’mon teleported back to their base in Rome, while Maduk stayed behind in Nimbu Realm to mourn and bury his fellow Sinisters.

  ***

  “How about we get some rest and reconvene later?” Shi’mon offered.

  “Wonderful idea,” Tau’ma agreed.

  Everyone retired to their respective domains, while Miryam and Sarael followed Shi’mon to his private quarters. There, Sarael and Miryam hugged him tightly and tried to comfort him in his moment of sorrow, grief and pain.

  “I loved him the moment I laid eyes on him, brother” Miryam said, referring to Patrick. “I can only imagine the love you had for him. He was like a son to you, was he not, brother?”

  “He was my son, sister,” Shi’mon replied and tried to hold back the tears in his eyes. “I don’t know how I’m going to tell his family.”

  Sarael broke down and cried against Shi’mon’
s chest. Shi’mon was desperately trying to stay tough. He failed woefully.

  “I’m so sorry, uncle,” Sarael said. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Thank you, my child,” Shi’mon replied and kissed the crown of Sarael’s head.

  “We will leave you alone for now, brother,” Miryam offered. “But if you need anything…”

  “Thank you so much, sister,” Shi’mon expressed his gratitude.

  Miryam and Sarael kissed him on the cheek and retired to their chambers.

  ***

  “I noticed Archangel Michael paid particular attention to Miryam, Sarael and Maduk. Why was that?” Sasha asked Yehuda as she snuggled against him.

  “Are you familiar with the story of the Garden of Eden?” Yehuda asked Sasha.

  “Yes, I have read about it,” Sasha replied.

  “Archangel Michael is Adam,” Yehuda explained. “When he fell to Earth Realm, that is. Miryam is the reincarnation of Eve, Sarael is the reincarnation of Abel and Cahen, is Cain.”

  “Wait a second,” Sasha bolted upright on the bed. “You did say Cahen IS Cain, correct?”

  “Correct,” Yehuda affirmed.

  “What a very interesting situation!” Sasha said with excitement. “Here I am, comingling with some of the most famous characters in the bible and it keeps getting better! Maybe one day I will get to meet your most elusive master!”

  “Me too,” Yehuda replied and for a moment, he was filled with sorrow.

  Yehuda had come to terms with the unsavory events of his past with Miryam, though there were still some residual feelings of guilt that haunted him. However, ever since his trip to the Shadow of the Soul, that feeling of guilt was no longer as intense as it was before.

  “It has been so long since I last saw him myself,” Yehuda continued. “And the last time I saw him was not under the best of situations.”

  Sasha understood what Yehuda meant and she empathized with her lover. She lay back on the bed next to him and cradled his head on her bosom. She gently stroked his head in silence until he fell asleep. Watching him sleep was a strange feeling since she did not recall ever seeing Yehuda fall asleep. She smiled, closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep as well.