by Lori Darnell
The scene went dark. All I saw was Isis and myself. I wanted to kill her. Torture her. How many lives has she destroyed trying to stop the Church, to destroy a god? Isis turned to me, reading my mind. She was there with me. She looked me in the eye.
“It hasn’t been enough.” She walked closely to me. “Have you seen enough? I would have kept this from you. It isn’t important. Nothing would have saved them. They died by my hand instead of being tortured to death by the Church. It was the only gift in my power to give.” She lowered her gaze and walked past me. “You will see, there is very little we can do once we leave this world. I am no longer a part of humanity. I must keep myself separate. We don’t belong here anymore.” She walked into the darkness. I heard a faint whisper, “you will see.”
“I will never stop trying. I will never give up.” I chanted to myself as I drifted awake. I had spoken the words out loud, louder than I thought. Jill, Jenna and the guardian were all staring back at me, open mouthed. Jill searched my mind, seeing my parents. Tears welled in her eyes.
“I am so sorry.” She held my hand. I was numb.
“Everything has been a lie. How do I know she will keep her promise? What if she means for us to die this way, like my parents? We have served our purpose.” I said bitterly looking down at her hand curling through mine.
“I don’t think it is a lie. You have ascended, and I know you. If she doesn’t keep her word in letting me cross with you, you will tear down the heavens to find me.” Jill smiled, trying to take my mind off of the nightmare before us.
“It doesn’t matter what has brought you here, to this place and to this mission. You know it is right. The Church has gone on too long with no consequence. There are always consequences - maybe you will find they exist for the gods, too.” The guardian's words comforted us. I knew he was right. Even though her methods were unforgivable, I could see the chaos we lived in. The madness had to stop.
"We leave now. I have had enough games." I rose to my feet, looking out over the expansive airport runway.
“They are expecting us. We will never make it to the compound unnoticed.” Jill was always so observant.
“I know. Jenna, you and your father will go into Rome alone, wearing the robes we collected yesterday. Remember; don’t react to anything you see. They will buy you safe passage into the compound. Don’t speak to anyone. It will be of vital importance.” Don’t worry; everyone will be quite distracted in about ten minutes.” I smiled down at Jill as she grasped my hand more firmly. “Are you ready?”
“In every way.” She beamed up at me. We took our first steps onto the runway. We were both tired of waiting.
Jenna and her father were already gone in the opposite direction as Jill and I walked into the vast crowd, assembling at our approach. There were Reverends and guards milling around the airport, looking for us. With a deep breath, we clutched each other’s hand and we walked into view.
“I believe you are waiting for us.” I said to the crowd. Jill clung to my side. We could not be separated. A tall older Reverend walked toward us. He smiled wide as he looked at Jill.
“I see that your marriage was indeed fruitful. This won’t be a complete waste.” The Reverend reached for Jill’s arm, pulling her away from me. I held on tighter. Nothing would be able to take her from me.
“She stays with me.” I said in a flat tone. There was no room for argument.
The old Reverend laughed. “I’m sorry son, but you don’t get to make that request. She belongs to us, and her child belongs to us as well. You can say goodbye.”
I pulled Jill into my arms, she clung to my neck. Securing her safely in one arm, I reached for the old Reverend. “I’m sorry you feel that way, but I won’t let you take her.” I felt the flames grow inside me, but it was too soon. I needed to be calm, to be patient. I grabbed the old Reverend by the neck and forced him back into the crowd. “You all know I have killed, I will do so gladly if you, any of you, touch her again.”
“We will find a way to separate you.” The old Reverend shot back toward me, angry at the indignity I had caused him.
“I am sorry to disappoint you, but you don’t have that kind of power.” I looked into Jill’s clear sea foam eyes. “No one has that power.”
“Will you come with us willingly?” A different Reverend called from the crowd.
“Yes. It would be more wise if you allow us some space. I am tired of these games. You will not be able to trick her away from me." I looked at the advancing guard. "If you want to live, call them off." The old Reverend scowled, but then nodded and the guard walked back toward the crowd.
"Fine, you remember the way. It is several miles. You can put her down. No one will try to take her, for now." He smiled at his own cunning.
"I am quite comfortable. Jill is not going to be able to keep up for that long." The topic of our discussion looked up at me and glared.
"I am not weak." She spoke softly as we walked forward.
"I know, but I am." I leaned down and kissed her softly.
"Well, it is quite comfortable, and I get the best of both worlds." She smiled wickedly.
"And what does that mean?" I inquired.
"I get to be in your arms, and I am free to touch you without fear of tripping over my feet – because frankly, I can't see them anymore." She whispered, giggling softly. I almost dropped her as I laughed. Several of the Reverends turned to see what could be so funny admist the seriousness of the situation, but as usual, Jill and I were in our own world.
The walk brought back memories of the first time I came into Rome’s square. The procession is meant to humiliate and demonstrate the Church’s own significance. It was strange that this time I felt a strange sense of joy as I held Jill close to me. The first time, they had taken everything from me; this time, I was bringing everything back home.
We approached the large compound. I knew that the Church had no plans of letting either of us ever leave again. The council was waiting as the large doors opened.
“Marcus, you have cost us so much. James was a good teacher. It was unfortunate that you convinced him to help you in your escape.” The oldest of the council members accused. I was not going to let him get to me. Nothing he said mattered anymore.
“We are quite pleased with you Jill, bearing the fruit of our labors, just as we wished. However, it seems you’re under the impression you will get to keep your baby.” He looked up at me. “It seems you both are.” The council man walked back toward the common area of the compound. Everything looked so much smaller than I remembered, insignificant in comparison to everything we had seen and experienced outside these walls. As doors behind us closed, Jill began to squirm.
“Put me down.” Jill pleaded.
“I don’t trust them.”
“It doesn’t matter anymore.” I looked into her eyes with confusion. There was so much love there, but the fear in them was overwhelming. She brought my hand to her stomach. It was warm, very warm. It was time, I realized, horrified.
“No, not here.” I could feel the tears before the rest of the crowd noticed. I looked at the council members, panicked. “She needs to lie down.”
“I will take her.” You have things to answer for.
“No, I have to go with her.” Jill clung to my side.
“Then she stays here.” He coldly replied. He was trying to guilt me into letting her go. But I wasn’t that stupid. Jill walked slowly with me into the council chambers. There were many robed figures in the room waiting for us. The council walked to the head of the conference table. Time was up. It was my last act. I could only hope Jenna was nearby. Jill was crying uncontrollably. Not from the pain, but the fear our daughter would become theirs. I could only buy a little time for Jenna to find us.
“So what have you been up to?” The eldest council member stated conversationally, looking at the swell of Jill’s midsection. “Other than the obvious.” The time for lies and fear was over. I had no intention of putting this off any lon
ger.
“Well, since you ask, I have been learning much about myself.” I leaned over the table, taking in the vast number in the room. There were so many people here, tormenters, evil men doing evil things. They were crammed in like sardines – nearly everyone had come to witness the spectacle about to unfold. Their savage curiosity would be their downfall. “I have spoken to gods.”
“You mean, God has spoken to you, child.” The old man looked about the room. “And what did He say to you?” He was accusing in his tone.
“SHE told me that your reign of evil is coming to an end. This has to stop. Your god is a selfish child.” I glanced at Jill. She was smiling through the tears.
“Blasphemy! How dare you speak as you do to me, to us! You have no right. God will punish you!” The old man shook his finger at me. He was threatening me?
“Your god has no power over me.” I closed my eyes letting the visions pass through me. I was searching for Jenna. She was inside the compound, though not inside the building – but she knew where we had been taken. I took Jill’s hand and she looked into my mind. Her relief washed through me. I saw Jenna looking forward, like she was looking right at me, through a window, most likely. It was amazing. I could see Jenna moving to the fountain in the square. I was unsure of what to do next; I didn’t want to risk Eve’s capture - but I knew Jill had a plan. Jill squeezed my hand in acknowledgment.
The Church officials in the room circled us, trying to intimidate us into submission. Jill clung to my side, for support through the pain she was experiencing. The council, thought it was fear. They were wrong.
It was time to show them who I really am. “I am sorry, gentlemen, if you think that there is anything here that will be able to scare us. It really isn’t you choice anymore.”
“My boy, you are truly mistaken. If you think your heathen gods will save you, it will be your last mistake.” I heard footsteps as the old council member approached.
I felt his hand on my arm, pulling possessively. “Take your hand off of me.”
“Do you think you can scare me, son? God is on my side.” The old man laughed.
“Your god may be on your side, but this god has lost his patience.” I shrugged his hand away.
“So you now claim to be a god?” The laughter echoed thought he room. I opened my eyes. The room was ablaze with the blue glow.
The laughter stopped instantly.
I surveyed the room. The fear was intoxicating. “The gods are angry. But you’re right.” I looked at the old council member. “They can’t hurt you, or more importantly, they don’t care to.” I looked up at the rest of the crowd, shifting uneasily before me. “But I am here, and I do want to hurt you - a lot.” I felt the flames build within me. Jill touched my arm. Her hand was very hot.
“Marcus, it is time.” She clutched her stomach.
I let the flames engulf me. The crowd shrunk against the walls. I was standing in their way. No one would leave this room alive. I walked toward the council. “Time is up.” I reached for the old council member. “Remember to tell your god what I have done here.” I reached for his chest. My flames touched his body and it turned to ash. The screams echoed through the room. I could hear people trying to open the doors from the outside. I saw in Jill’s mind - she had locked them from the inside and was holding the bolt locked – using a kinetic power that no one knew she possessed. There was no way in – and there was no way out.
The room full of people rushed toward the doors as I reached for the other council members, as the screams grew louder. The ash filled the room like a thick cloud of smoke.
“Marcus!” Jill screamed as she fell to the floor.
I ran to her. Kneeling on the floor, I prayed that Jenna would find her. “Eve, I’m sorry. We love you.”
“She will be fine. She will be loved. Jenna will not fail.” Jill was so confident.
“Are you ready?” I looked at her through my tears.
“I am, and so is Eve. Let’s go home.” She smiled through her anguished, tear streaked face.
The flames grew strong and violently within me, boiling with heat and smoke and demanding expansion. I surrendered to the flames, allowing the pyre within to explode and burn everything around us out of existence; the control over the fire was the only thing holding me here. The fire of creation engulfed my soul. I could feel death approaching. My lips brushed against Jill’s an instant before her body was ablaze in blue flame, lighting her from the center and spreading outward briefly before soundlessly turning her to ash. I felt myself ascending to the heavens; in the distance, I heard our baby’s first cry.
Epilogue
“Welcome home.” Isis greeted us as we walked forward, hand in hand.
“Where is he?” I asked. She must know I would want to find him.
“You know you can’t hurt him. Please leave it alone. I told you I would watch her.” She reached up caressing my face. I backed away, looking at Jill.
“You remember my wife.” I reminded Isis of the simple fact I was taken.
“Yes, she is such a pretty, little thing.” She walked up to Jill arms held wide. “Welcome to our family.” Jill surprised me as she accepted her embrace.
“I am so happy I could meet you in person. I have enjoyed Marcus’ memories of you.” Jill smiled sweetly. I cringed. She then leaned back, reached her hand back, and slapped the god across the face. “I told you, he is mine. This is the last time I want to have this conversation with you.” Isis, her pride wounded, narrowed her eyes at Jill, but nodded and silently walked away.
“Marcus, if you want to find him, you need to follow me.” Isis stated abruptly as she continued walking, holding her hand to her cheek. “It has been a long time since someone had the audacity to strike me.” She glared at Jill.
“If you continue your ways, trying to claim Marcus as your own, it won’t be the last.” Jill warned as we walked after Isis.
“Jill, was that really necessary?” I smiled down at her smug expression.
“No, but it made me feel better.” She held my hand as we walked through the corridor after Isis.
In the large room there was a single man looking intently at a dark pool of water. The man looked up at us and sneered. He was of average height and build. His short, cropped, dark hair shimmered with reflections from the dark water.
“I see that you have brought your new pets.” He glared at Isis.
“I wouldn’t say they are pets.” Isis looked at Jill.. “That blond one can be quite vicious.” Isis turned back to the man at the pool. “Jill, Marcus, this is Adoni. Adoni, they've asked to meet you.”
“Yes, I knew that you would come. I saw the show.” Adoni pointed into the water. “See for yourself.” He nodded as we walked forward.
“You bastard! How can you justify this kind of torture? All of those innocent lives!” I wanted to wring his neck.
“Innocent? There is no such beast. Look at yourselves! How many innocents have you killed today?” Adoni beckoned us forward. We obliged looking down in to the deep, dark, shimmering water. I could see us in the council chambers. I was leaned over Jill. I could feel the tears streaming, remembering the last kiss.
“I was there, I remember.” I looked up at Adoni, seeing the smug expression on his face.
“True, but you didn’t see what happened next.” He laughed as he brushed his hand over the pool. “See for yourself.”
Once again, I saw Jill’s body turned to ash. The flash of light that followed blinded me. I couldn’t hear anything, but the flash faded and I saw the destruction. Our ascension had caused an explosion, blowing the entire compound in half. The council chambers were reduced to cinders. No bodies could be seen in the area. As I searched outside the blast, there were people bleeding and dying. I smiled. They deserved it.
“See? You smile at those dying at your hands. How many of the innocent students died here as well?” He questioned me as my expression changed.
“I can’t save everyone.” I looke
d back into the pool and I saw her. Jill held me closer. Our daughter, perfect and waiting, was in the center of the large black cinder that was the compound. She had Jill’s beautiful sea foam eyes. She looked so fragile. I could see a fine dusting of dark black curls around her face. She was so beautiful, so perfect. No one had approached her yet, lying naked and clean amid the chaos and destruction.
“You see, she belongs to the Church now.” I followed his gaze as two dark robed figures walked toward our daughter. There was nothing we could do now but watch in horror. “She will be raised to help my cause. My efforts will be rewarded.” He looked back at Isis. “You don’t care about the human race anymore - let me have my fun.” Isis shook her head with disgust, and turned from the pool.
“Marcus, you and Jill can find me, and I will acclimate you to your new home. Adoni, I have stated before that you are wrong. I stand by that.” She walked away from us, from the rending torment on Earth she couldn’t bear to see.
We watched the robed figures approach our daughter. One of them bent down to take her. Jill turned to Adoni, but I couldn’t take my eyes from the scene.
“You are a cold-hearted bastard. One way or another, I will make sure you understand true suffering.” Jill walked up to Adoni, pulling him from the dark pool. “I am no longer bound with human limitations. I will find a way, if it takes an eternity, I will find a way!”
Jill reached for my hand. I was crying as she led me from the room. We could hear the laughter echo as Adoni called to us.
“Forever changes the way you look at things.” He called, assuming that we would forget everything that we suffered trying to stop him. Jill and I looked at each other and knew that was highly unlikely. It was because of all we suffered that we were here, now. It would be impossible to forget.