The Golden Fountain

by Zuheb Alep

  There was a sudden cry. Diverting his eyes, Benjamin saw a pool of blood spreading out to his right; someone had been stabbed. Someone was dead. One of the three in dark cloaks, a young woman, had left this world. Kelindra’s father had stabbed her just now, desperate at her refusal to spare his daughter. Benjamin hadn’t even noticed; he’d been too busy watching Kelindra argue with Ruby.

  “Eyla, don’t die! Please don’t die!” The tall dark man with greying hair cradled the body in his arms and wailed like a demon. Benjamin covered his ears and closed his eyes. This was too much, too gruelling to bear.

  The third cloaked person, another woman, saw what had happened but did not cry. The death of her cousin had filled her with anger, her emotion building to a climax of fury.

  The other woman had already fled, leaving the dark trio and two staff members, one of whom was Kelindra’s father and the other the dead assistant who had tried to harm Kevin.

  Aloncheir examined the machine, unsuccessfully trying to shut it down. The Ghost Boy held Lagunar in his arms, hoping to bring him back, but he showed no sign of awakening. The dark people had tortured him, perhaps, as there were some bruises on his face; although it may have been an attempt to subdue him. The paleness of his body meant only one thing to Benjamin, something he dreaded: they had taken out his light and he was suffering. There were injection marks on his right arm. Lagunar was also a child, an older one of no more than fifteen, but he was not fully human as he could disappear at will. How was that possible?

  Some bangs shook the air, and Benjamin felt a tug on the fold of his trousers. “Benjamin, we must leave!” It was Bana.

  “Remember what I said? I’ll call you when I need you.”

  “But it’s not safe here! The children are unharmed and already turning back; you must take Kelindra and go.”

  “But it’s her dad!”

  For the first time, Benjamin didn’t know what to do. He was stuck there with a dead woman, a dead man, an unconscious Lagunar, Kelindra and her father, who were now having a heated conversation. Meanwhile, the orb above was still working and waiting for more lights. Benjamin couldn’t leave just yet; maybe he could help Aloncheir figure out how to turn off the machine. First, though, he turned to watch the departing children to see if they were safe.

  Toalla helped Herman and Kevin cross the bridge first, followed by Abel, Jama, Anouk and their Eidoncheirs. Benjamin heaved a deep sigh of relief. Then he watched Kaileena, Prince Adam and the band cross, but Hamish and his Eidoncheir stopped.

  “I’m not leaving without Kelindra!” he declared.

  “She’ll be fine!” said Musab. “She’s with her father, Hamish!”

  “Her father’s a traitor! Haven’t you listened to what she’s been saying?”

  “Stop being stupid and come on!” Musab shoved him along but Hamish pushed him away.

  “We’re a band!” he reminded them. “We’re supposed to help one another, aren’t we?”

  “Of course, but we have to get to safety first!” Musab grabbed his Eidoncheir, and together they made their way across the bridge, following the others. Only Hamish stayed where he was at the foot of the bridge, feeling angry and upset that they would abandon him. He stormed back, his Eidoncheir at his side.

  Benjamin was annoyed at Hamish’s stupidity; deep down, though, he felt happy that Hamish was brave enough to aid a friend. Hamish passed Ruby and Amberina, who had stopped to look back at Kelindra. Kelindra was still battling her father, accompanied by her frightened Eidoncheir who had reappeared.

  Turning to the tearful Ruby, Amberina slapped her face. “You’re so ungrateful! Kelindra was a better friend to you than I was, and you’re leaving her!” She turned back also, urging her Eidoncheir to be quick.

  Benjamin watched the two children return, fearing for their safety but knowing there was nothing he could do. It was their choice and they had chosen their friend.

  Shouts and hoarse grunts reached Benjamin’s ears, then he felt a shove on his back and he was thrown aside as the two men wrestled each other. Mr. Fetahi and the dark man were fighting, leaving Kelindra pleading for her father’s life.

  “Rozan, you will not touch my daughter! Touch her and I warn you, you will go the same way as Eyla!”

  “A life for a life! I’ll do in your daughter! You took my dear cousin’s life! Get out of my way!”

  “Not – my – daughter!” Mr. Fetahi threw a massive punch, slamming Rozan in the face. There was a crack as two molars shattered. While the two men wrestled for Kelindra’s life, Benjamin took the matter into his own hands. He dashed over to Kelindra and pulled at her hands.

  “Let’s go!”

  Kelindra shook him off with a wail.

  “We’re not leaving without you!” said Hamish, seizing her arm.

  “Please come!” Amberina said, clutching her other wrist.

  Benjamin tried urging her and pulling her while their Eidoncheirs cowered at their feet, frightened of the floating orb above them.

  Kelindra shook, shoved, screamed, punched and kicked, not giving herself a moment to think. She shook her head madly.

  “Just go!” she said, shrieking. “I need to talk to my dad alone!”

  “Kelindra, we’re not leaving without you.”

  “Please GO!” Kelindra roared and stumbled backwards. A crack formed on the icy ground beneath her feet, then another and another, sending splinters of ice into the air.

  Benjamin huddled closer to Hamish and Amberina, all watching their dear friend. On her other side were her father and Rozan, stumbling about like drunken men.

  Another crack formed and steam gushed up from it, then another. Benjamin crept backwards, stepping lightly and keeping a sharp eye out in case of a fall. Once or twice he stumbled but he righted himself. The source of the cracks was near the Three Kings; it was the three remaining machines. With the Ghost Boy by his side, Aloncheir backed away, but they didn’t notice that Lagunar’s eyes had started to flicker. The touch of the Ghost Boy had healed him.

  “Eyla’s dead! Now are you happy?”

  Benjamin had forgotten about the third cloaked person, who was now unleashing her frenzy. Her eyes flared with rage, veins popping darkly at each stressed syllable.

  Lagunar rose from the ground, and Benjamin noticed that he was dressed in the same way as the cloaked woman and bore a strong resemblance to her. He was … Lagunar was related to her!

  “It’s your fault, Ifrit!” he said to the woman.

  “Mine! How?”

  “If our family had never joined the O.O.H., if you hadn’t joined, she wouldn’t be dead. You got yourselves into this mess!”

  “We had to join; otherwise our king wouldn’t be released!”

  Benjamin, Hamish and Amberina stood still, watching them argue. Kelindra turned from her father’s battle to look at Ifrit, who was on her side of the cracking land. The children were eager to hear more.

  “King?” scoffed Lagunar. “A dark one, and one I’ll never bow the knee to! He will never be my king.”

  “Say that once more, and you’ll be the first one the dark king kills when he’s released!” Ifrit threatened. “Lagunar, try to understand,” she continued. “We need the lights from those children because our beloved dark king is trapped under the Golden Fountain, caged in by bars of light, and only the children’s lights can open the cage; the children and Prince Adam. With these syringes we can inject the children and take out their light. The light goes into the machine, through this orb and is transported to another one above the Golden Fountain. It’s a perfect plan!”

  So that’s why the O.O.H. have been kidnapping these children, Benjamin realised.

  Ifrit raised her arm as if she were the most powerful woman in the world. “We all know that the time has come!” she continued. “We’ve learnt that it was Prince Adam who had the dream, and it was becaus
e he became friends with that boy.” She pointed at Benjamin, her dark nails driving home the accusation. “And they are here now! With Prince Adam’s royal light and the other children’s lights, we have all we need to get our king back.”

  “What is she saying?” Benjamin asked Lagunar. “Did you arrange for Prince Adam and myself to meet, not only because we needed to help one another, but because otherwise he wouldn’t have had that dream?”

  Lagunar sighed at the realisation that Benjamin was here, dreading his reaction to all that had been said. Reluctantly, he nodded.

  “Benjamin, we’ve got to go!” said Bana, pulling at his trousers. Benjamin waved him aside.

  “No, Bana! I want to know the truth!” he said, ignoring the roar of the orb and the whooshing steam passing between the cracks. “I’ve heard so much about this prophecy but never had it explained. I first heard it from the pharaoh in Egypta, who was going to kill me so that the prophecy wouldn’t come true; he let me live because I saved his son. Then, the same thing happened in the Afghardan Kingdom with Ophildar. That prophecy nearly got me killed – twice! I want to know what it’s about. Someone tell me the truth!”

  “I think that’s a good idea,” said Ifrit, folding her arms with a sinister smile. “You reveal the full prophecy to Benjamin, and I’ll let you go unharmed. It’ll destroy him.”

  “I’m not saying anything to him or to you!” hissed Lagunar, turning angrily towards her. Aloncheir and the Ghost Boy nudged him further away from her, but halted when Amberina shouted.

  “I’ll tell Benjamin! Please don’t harm us! Let us go! I’ll tell him all about his golden light destined to destroy the dark king. I’ll tell him, but please let us go!”

  Everyone stood in astonished silence.

  “You know about that too,” said Ifrit. “Go on; tell him.” She lowered her arms and crossed them on her chest as if about to enjoy a gossip.

  “All these children who’ve been kidnapped to the Far South and here,” said Amberina, “and all these slaves who’ve been kidnapped in Egypta, all these wars that have been happening, Benjamin, are because of you. The dark king came to this world from the realm of dark before you were born, hoping to corrupt it and take it as his own. He wanted to claim the whole galaxy. But a prophecy had been made, foretelling that you were destined to destroy him with your golden light which came to you during your birth.” She stopped to draw breath and then continued.

  “When the dark king found out, he did something wicked; they took someone from your family hoping it would terminate your golden light. But it didn’t work. As punishment for what he did, the dark king was trapped under the Golden Fountain by the people from the realm of light. However, it was also foretold that he would be freed one day, almost thirteen years later, when you befriended a prince who would have a dream. That’s presumably Prince Adam, and he’s therefore the one chosen to free the dark king from imprisonment with his royal light. The owners of the O.O.H. have been kidnapping children to use their light because, when it’s merged with Prince Adam’s light, it’s the only way to open the bars of light under the Golden Fountain. It’s the only way they can free their dark king.”

  Expecting to hear more, Benjamin realised that Amberina didn’t want to say anything else that would mess up his head. She winced at each word and eventually had to stop.

  “There’s more!” Ifrit ground her teeth. “Tell him more!”

  Amberina shook her head, wincing once more in fright.

  Ifrit stepped back. She could have tortured Amberina with a spell to make her speak, but she thought better of it; instead, she would tell Benjamin things he didn’t know. “The owners of the O.O.H., Enchantelxia, Vendettaluxia and Dryluxia, are one of the dark king’s sisters. It is their brother who’s imprisoned, and it is they who started kidnapping children five years ago as a trial run. Thankfully it worked, and they would have done more if it weren’t for the armies that shut them down.”

  Amberina gasped; it was clear that she hadn’t known this crucial piece of information.

  “Are you sure?” asked Benjamin. “I met them in the building and –” he stopped, remembering that they’d said they would be watching him.

  “They were also the one who commanded the pharaoh to kidnap you from your uncle’s village,” Ifrit declared, inhaling deeply. “To get you out of the way as a guarantee that you won’t mess up our plans. We knew you would stop Prince Adam from releasing the dark king and we could not let that happen. Yet here you are, and there goes the pharaoh. But you being here still won’t stop our purpose. We will win. Prince Adam will never listen to you, not when his desire to see the Golden Fountain is fierce. The dark will win and rule over the galaxy. We will dominate the light, which will fall, and not even your golden light or your sword can save you.”

  Benjamin took out the long knife. “You mean this?” he asked.

  Amberina yelped. “You’ve had it with you all along! That’s your Object of Leadership. If the dark king is released, you will use it to kill him. How did you get it?”

  “Herman gave it to me,” Benjamin told her.

  “No,” said Lagunar. “It was we who gave it to Herman, to give to you.” He looked at Aloncheir and the Ghost Boy, who nodded their heads.

  “And this?” said Benjamin, taking out the Unique Compass. “It’s no ordinary compass.”

  “You’ve got that too!” Amberina was trembling. “That’s another object to help you. Prince Adam lost it so it could find its way to you, to guide you through your perils.”

  Benjamin ignored them. He turned to Amberina. “How do you know all this?”

  Amberina bit her lip. “On the ship to the Far South, I heard your brother talking to his friends.”

  “When I saw you come out of the cabin?”

  She nodded.

  “Since then, you’ve been quiet and reluctant to talk to anybody, and all this time, you’ve said nothing to me about the prophecy? Why not?”

  Amberina looked tearfully at the Three Kings.

  Benjamin looked at them too. “You’ve met before?”

  “Yes, Benjamin,” Lagunar said. “We followed her to the cabin and found out that she had heard the prophecy from your brother and his colleagues. We told her there and then never to reveal it to you. It wasn’t the right time for you to know, until now.”

  “We’re a band!” Benjamin said to Amberina. “We’re supposed to tell each other everything!”

  Amberina cried hard.

  “The lost one – you said he was taken from my family – tell me who he is.” Benjamin wasn’t the same person he had been before. This piece of information has changed him, altered his outlook on life. Everything he had known and lived for seemed meaningless when he was told of this prophecy, when he learnt that all that had happened centred around his own existence. “Tell me!” he demanded again.

  Amberina looked at the Three Kings, who shook their heads. “I can’t tell you,” she replied. “Only they can.”

  Lagunar seized Benjamin’s arms, turning him around to face him. “Remember Prince Adam’s birthday party? We asked you a question that day.”

  “I think so,” said Benjamin. “You asked if I remembered him, but whom?”

  “Yes, that boy! He’s the lost one.”

  Benjamin frowned. “Lagunar, do I know him?” he asked.

  “What are you waiting for?” shouted Ifrit, her rage still white-hot. “Go on, tell him who he is! Tell him why his parents left. Benjamin’s right there next to you! You’ve got your chance.”

  Lagunar ignored her, still facing Benjamin. “We weren’t trying to reveal anything to you; we only wanted to see if you knew the lost one, but you didn’t. You hadn’t seen him, you didn’t know who he was and he was still lost; but we found him on Friday, the nineteenth of October, when you had that dream in Egypta.”

  Benjamin gripped Lagunar�
�s hands, clutching them tightly.

  “Lagunar! Tell me, who is that boy? I have to know because I do have a connection with him – I did see him in the dream I had on Friday, the nineteenth of October! Who is Zephraim?”

  “He is – someone very special to you. I think you already know. Your mother and father left home to find him.” It was all he could say.

  A storm raged inside Benjamin’s mind at these words He remembered Mama saying something about not wanting to lose another child like – like the lost one. He tried to put the pieces together. “They left to find him. He is a member of the family. A brother …”

  Lagunar nodded. “That’s how you’re connected to him.”

  “But how would the dark king terminate my golden light by taking him away?” Benjamin asked.

  “The connection you have with Zephraim is what keeps your golden light strong,” Lagunar answered. “The dark king was hoping to break it, but he couldn’t. Your connection with Zephraim could never be broken. It’s always there.”

  “This still doesn’t change anything!” Ifrit cackled. “Prince Adam’s desire is so fierce!” Her cackles stopped when she turned to look at Eyla’s body; she cried. In flashing dusts of darkness that dissolved into the swirling air, Ifrit disappeared, taking her dead cousin with her. Roz lay sprawled on the ground, his face beaten to a pulp. Mr. Fetahi took Kelindra in his arms.

  “Kelindra, my daughter, you must listen to what I have to say! Please let me explain. I was put under a dark spell, but as soon as I saw you I was freed from the enchantment.”

  What he would have said next went unspoken as Ruby came up with her Eidoncheir and grabbed Kelindra.

  “Don’t say another word. We’re going home.”