Paul's eyes widen as he hangs onto her every word, leaning in closer to give her his full attention. He notices in Mandolyn's body language that this is becoming difficult for her. "It's ok Blue. I want to know more of what's troubling you."
"I brought the artifact with me and when I got into my office," she pauses, "This is the part that's hard for me to tell you. I see things that one else can." Her eyes get watery as if she were about to tear up.
"Baby, it's alright," Paul says and strokes her hand, "Please go on. What is it that only you can see?"
She blurts out without even choosing her words, "I saw a Minotaur fight a military angel; with wings!"
She realizes what she's just said and hangs her head down, not wanting to see the expression on Paul's face.
He reaches across the table and gently lifts her forlorn face with his hands, and brushes back her blonde hair that has fallen onto the table. Now that he has his girl's full attention, he gazes into her glistening blue eyes and states, "There is no fear in love; remember?
That was what the couple would always say to each other when things got rough. She starts to cheer up a little and then replies, "You're right. There is no fear in love, and so I'm just going to trust that you will understand what I'm about to tell you."
She explains that when she said she was just thinking out loud at Scott's funeral, that she was actually having a conversation with the winged soldier and the Hindu goddess. She goes on to tell about the dark elf named Pearl and how even demons shudder in her presence. She lets him know that they are being watched and it's all due to the treasured relic that's in her possession.
The news comes as a shock to him, but he also knows that she's a smart woman; telling him this must have been extremely hard. He agrees to touch the key himself as soon as they get into their car, not wanting her to bring out the box that holds it while they're at a busy restaurant.
They have finished talking with Mama Lucia about the catering and have grabbed their leftovers to take home. They're just about to exit the door when Mandolyn locks eyes with the spirit man in the tattered cowboy hat. She now knows with a certainty that this being is not from the living. No one else can see him and his eyes reveal a deepness that's not from here. Paul grabs Mandolyn's hand as they walk to the busy parking lot. All of a sudden out of nowhere a truck is racing by at speeds way too fast for anyone to have control. They hear the revved up engine and Paul instinctively pushes Mandolyn out of the way of the oncoming vehicle. The driver speeds off to avoid a possible manslaughter charge while Paul lay motionless on the pavement. Mandolyn quickly kneels down before him trying to get him to breathe. She keeps pushing on his chest and sobbing and then she hears his voice say her name, it's coming from behind her. She turns around to see Paul standing next to Charlotte and Jake. He quickly tells her he understands what she wanted to show him. She wants to talk openly with him but the crash sound has alerted the folks enjoying their meals.
Mamma Lucia comes running out of the restaurant with her cell phone in hand and screams, "Oh my goodness, I will phone an ambulance!"
Others are now gathering around to see what happened. A former marine and now a member of the police force, happens to be dining at Lucia's, but he is off-duty. He takes care of the entrance to the parking lot, making sure traffic doesn't start building up until the authorities arrive. As people are conversing about the accident and guessing where the hit and run perpetrator is, two spirit agents come swooping down from the sky and take their place next to Jake. They tell the couple that they're here to take Paul before the council. Mandolyn can hear the conversation and would really like to say something but if she does, she will sound like a crazy woman. She has to keep up the front while onlookers are watching her every emotion. She hears the loud sirens from the ambulance getting louder as the vehicle pulls up next to Paul's body. As they turn off their engines to park, she sees the agents whisking her spiritual fiancé away.
Later that evening after dealing with the ambulance and police, Mandolyn is back at home. Charlotte and Jake know that she's in emotional pain and they need to let her have her space so they station themselves upon the roof. She walks in the door and turns on the Christmas tree lights and then looks at the two dream catchers hanging side by side as one dream upon the tree, that only hours ago the two had put up. She sits down on the couch and just sets the bag containing the leftovers on the coffee table next to the bridal magazine. Too emotionally exhausted, she doesn't have the energy to put it away or even go upstairs to settle in for the night. Instead she cries herself to sleep on the sofa with their Christmas song playlist playing in the background.
Chapter 15
Enter the Samurai
Paul is mesmerized with the vast array of different spiritual beings and how everything looks so different against the red hue of this realm. As he approaches the Council at Delphi he is even more impressed. He sees the majestic guards in full armor, one in the form of Ra the Egyptian Sun God, and the other in the form of Hermes, messenger to the Olympians, protecting the entrance. Buck, the magnificent stag greats the three and motions them into the chambers. The nine members are all seated around the oval table as the group informs Paul of the situation. They tell of a key that was broken into three pieces and what it will do to his world, how life and death will not be separated; madness will engulf sanity, and the world may just come to an end.
"There has only been one attempt for the fragments in the last three thousand years," Angelica tells him, "None of who you see before you were here at that time, stories are told by those who are here before us. This story is one of the oldest and the most destructive. There are only theories of its power of capabilities; none have ever come across it."
"We know your Mandolyn has possession of the key fragment," the beautiful and honorable witch Hazel tells Paul, "The dark ones also know that she has it as well."
When Paul hears that Mandolyn is being targeted, his energy builds up, causing an intense, glowing aura to form around him. In a respectful manner he says to the Council, "I know I'm new here but I must insist that you assign me to watch over my girl."
Soaring Eagle acknowledges Paul's determination and compliments him by saying," You have proved to me that you have honor, heart and power, three important factors needed in a true Agent of Light. Not many have been able to show a display of power in the way you have just done, and you do yours out of love which makes it even more powerful."
The discussion goes back and forth and the decision is made to relieve Charlotte and Jake and to send Nick and Paul to watch over Mandolyn. This is just what the new warrior agent wants and he is anxious to get back to their home to check up on her. Paul makes his way to his woman who is just sitting on the couch in front of the decorated tree and watching: It's a Wonderful Life. Charlotte and Jake are surprised to see Nick and especially to see that he has Paul with him. The agents soar through the roof and gracefully land in front of the Christmas tree. Mandolyn is startled and then she fills up with emotion as she realizes that it is her beloved fiancé. She throws herself into his open arms and they embrace like they would never see each other again. The others look on at this emotional display of a love that was almost lost. Mandolyn is in a situation that no human has been able to experience. The touching of the key and her being the first person to open the box puts her in direct line with the 2nd Realm. Only she can actually touch a spirit and still live.
Nick informs Jake that he and Charlotte are being relieved and that the council has sent Paul and him to take watch. He also says that they are to go to the Land of the Fairies and rally them to join forces with the Order of Light. The council has set guards at Atlantis and Vesuvius. A battle is sure to supervene. Jake tells of how there were already two Shape Shifters that made an attempt at the fragment. "I didn't think they would try so soon after their last attempt," Jake says, referring to the fight he had with the Minotaur in Mandolyn's office.
"They have tried this before?!" Paul declares in
shock as he looks at her.
"Why do you think I wanted you to touch the artifact?" Mandolyn says to him.
"Ok right, I get it." Paul clears his thoughts, "I was brought to this world before I could truly understand, but I get it now."
Jake and Charlotte have left and now Paul gets to have a little alone time with his, could have been wife, while Nick goes outside to patrol the area. The dark side could always try again, they have shown how determined they are to get to it. With the mention of the Shape Shifting Clan in on this now, Jake needs to gather the troops more than ever. "A dark alliance," Nick thinks to himself, the thought of ones so greedy and selfish combining forces, it is almost unheard of, but the enemy of my enemy and all.
Mandolyn and Paul sit and have a long talk. "I guess normally I would have to stay in Greece for my agent training," he tells her with her hands in his.
"You put up one of your famous bull headed rants and they let you come back?'' she says almost in a sarcastic tone.
"No, I just told them that I wanted to be here," he pauses and looks at her with a smile. "Ok, so I started to glow pretty bright with this new power I have, if you want to call that a rant, sure."
The two go back and forth for a while, Mandolyn asking questions like why the soldier has wings and, "Why was he fighting a Minotaur in my office?" that was the one she really wants answered. He tells her what he can or at least what he knows from his conversation with Nick and the council telling him things.
"I know there's still a lot that I don't know, but that's why Nick has agreed to train me here and tell me what I need to know," states Paul. It's starting to get late and Mandolyn is closing her eyes, so he stays with her until she falls completely asleep. When he comes out of the bedroom, Nick is waiting for him.
"If you want to keep her safe, then it's time we begin." Then he leads the new agent outside so they don't disturb the sleeping Mandolyn. "It's good that you picked up on it quite fast, your love for her is giving you the energy you'll need to do all of the things you're going to have to do." He continues with his lecture on what power he possesses and how he must always keep the order of the two worlds. They go back and forth with questions, swords and answers, all for Paul to understand who he is now.
"Have you talked to her about the key fragment?" Nick asks him.
"Not yet, but I already know what she's going to say. Her friend died and she wants him to get credit for it. Nothing you or I say is going to change her mind."
"What about the attempts that have already happened?" the silver hair man is trying to drive home a point, "Will those change her mind?"
"It may just take the end of the world to get her to change her mind."
"If she doesn't, it just may be the end of the world.
Paul looks up to the moon to see three figures in the moonlight, two of them have wings flapping as they come down to meet them on the ground.
"Perfect timing," Nick says as Terra Belle, Olivia and another member of the Steampunk Guild, a ninja by the name of Ninjato show up. They have come here to help train Paul that much faster. He needs to get used to his powers and quick. "Now that the questions and small talk is over, we need you to hurry up and be ready. We're going to bypass turning him to ash, we just don't have time," Nick informs the others.
"Good, because that doesn't sound like any fun what so ever," Paul quivers at the thought of it.
"Me first!" and then Olivia forms a club and slugs the side of Paul's body, knocking him to the ground.
"What the hell lady?" Paul says a little confused.
"Do you think our enemies will wait for you to be ready before they come after your lady friend?" Nick asks, bringing in a hard reality.
"Just be glad this is training, dude," Olivia says to him as she takes off her top hat with the cog teeth brim. With a thought the teeth extend out to sharp blades and grow another six inches. "Now you know it is coming," she then throws the hat like a vaudevillian ring master in a circus.
Paul is able to manifest a samurai's katana sword and block the oncoming hat. "O, we do not want him to be ash." Terra Belle reminds her.
"He knew it was coming," the spit fire of a fairy tells them, "If he was hit by it then he's not as good as we are hoping."
She continues her attack by forming a Gatlin gun and starts shooting at Paul. He forms a transparent shield to keep his eyes on his foe. He keeps looking at her as she starts to flutter her dark, metal and feather wings, float into the air and move all over. She is forcing him to maintain his construct under fire; this will help him when the battle is a lot more real.
"Huh, I wonder who she picked up that gun from," Nick says to Terra Belle, referring to council man Sir Edwardo, the head of The Steampunk Guild.
"Look down the street," Terra Belle tells Nick.
There are two dark ones on a rooftop looking in. It is Quill and he is looking on, knowing there will be no chance for him tonight. With five Agents of Light in front of the target house, they don't come any closer. After a short while, they leave, most likely not to return, at least not tonight.
Terra Belle looks over to Ninjato and gives him a nod. The ninja in black and metal knows she has given the signal for him to jump in and strike. The steampunk assassin disappears behind a car to give a sneak attack. Paul notices that the ninja is gone and thinks about it, he picks up on the assault and is able to conjure a blast of energy, knocking Ninjato to the ground. "Good, you read into the coming attack and you countered," Nick says to him as Paul is still locked in battle with O.
Ninjato comes back and manifests shurikens in the shape of cog wheels. He starts throwing them; Paul sees it coming and forms a katana sword, blocking them all. O comes in seeing that he is focused on her clansmen and swoops in from above. She creates a sword in steampunk fashion with a mechanized looking handle and gear teeth for a serrated side of a double edged sword. Paul motions to his waist as if he was pulling out a second sword and one appears. He uses it to block the fairy's attack. When the ninja gets close enough he forms a kusarigama, a short pole to grip with a long hook like blade at the top. The bottom has a long chain with a heavy ball at the end. He swings the chain and lunges it at the trainee; Paul ducking the chain and swinging his foot along the ground; sweeping his competitor off his feet, utilizing some of his judo knowledge.
"That is enough!" Nick shouts out before Olivia can continue her attack. "I have seen what I wanted. You adapted to your surroundings, held together your constructs and even took on two highly skilled agents. Your fighting skills will be enough to take on what is coming; your power will grow as you use it."
When the lesson is over, it is very early in the morning; Paul slips into the bed with his love and just looks at her. Before the sun comes up, Paul fades through the bed to let his girl sleep a little longer. The sun is now up and Mandolyn's eyes have opened to an otherwise empty bed. No Paul there with adoring eyes and a morning snuggle. She gets up and opens the white drapes that only let the brightness of the morning in to let all of the sun in completely. She puts her slippers on and makes her way down the stairs to see a figure standing in front of their Christmas tree, she is almost startled but remembers the insane things that have been happening. When the man in armor turns around to look at her, it is Paul and he is in full Samurai garb with two swords at his hip, and he is looking at the Japanese figure made into a Christmas ornament, "How do I look?"
"You look like my hero."
Chapter 16
Battle for the Atlantis Piece
Dark spirits and all forces with evil intent have begun to band together in great numbers. A group of shape shifters has been sent to Atlantis and another to Pompeii. The massive lost city of Atlantis sits beneath the water in its entire former splendor. The grand structure is pooling with energy under the deep ocean, just waiting to be unleashed. The spirits have been coming here for centuries to gain power and try to bring it back to its former glory. This place has special meaning with its belief of a spiritual utopia. Th
ere is even a dark spirit that calls himself: Poseidon, he likes to swim the waters of the Atlantic as if he's keeping guard. Nobody really knows his story or how long he's been in the 2nd Realm, but for a solo spirit with no clique affiliations, he's pretty much left alone. He knows that if he were to make his dissension into the underwater city, the Order of Light will intervene; so he keeps guard over it, hanging around the great city, hoping that one day he will be King of Atlantis. There are others that call this area their home as well; including a band of pirates; a few mermaids; and the crocodile hybrids. Here as well are a couple guards from the Order of Light and fighters for the cause who've been joined by Light Soldiers and their commanding officer, Sean.
He and his company of spirits are one of the few battalions to fight for the side of Order and Light. Most of the armies in this world follow the ruler which they died under, and not many of them want structure and peace. Human nature is after all what the individuals' true soul is. If you believe in a racial pure world, then that is who you are to the core. Sean and his men believe and fight for what is right, they did so in life and they will continue to do so in death.
As they keep patrol, they notice a large pirate ship boasting their flag; they know this can't be good. Poseidon picks up on the on comers and makes his way to them. As he comes closer, Maiko, the shark-man heads him off to inform him of their assault and also lets him know; if he wants to claim his kingdom, now is his time. The evil god spirit is more than eager to join them. He swims up to the water's surface and flies up to the deck of the immense pirate ship. The captain now knowing that Poseidon is with them; submerges the vessel that would normally never go under water. The Soldiers of Light know for a fact that they will be facing an army that is intent on getting to the piece of key. They put a call out to any reinforcements that can respond, not many can make it, but those who do, show up in an instant. The shape shifting clan will have a fight on their hands now.
The 2nd Realm Book One (The 2nd Realm Trilogy 1) Page 8