by Wall, Nathan
A small tear collected in the corner of Jarrod’s eye, and a smile formed. Could someone finally understand?
“You can?” he asked. “It’s not just me?”
“I don’t know how I can hear him, but I can.” She motioned for him to sit. To the loud protests of Ryan inside his brain, he obliged. Her fingers crawled along his temples. “Jarrod, I want you to think of a number.”
41, Jarrod thought.
“Any time now.”
“I already have,” he sighed. He tried to stand but she pushed him back down by the shoulders. “We’ve been through this. You can’t read my mind. I don’t have a soul.”
“I can’t read Athena’s mind either, but that doesn’t mean you can’t drain her essence.” Lian moved around the chair and stood in front of him. “This Horus you fought with—he’s an Angel-born just like Athena. In your dream, you said you nearly killed him by draining whatever passes for a soul inside him.”
“We have not a soul,” Athena said, still gripping her sword tightly. “What you’re describing is impossible.”
“It’s not impossible,” Lian contended.
Kill the bitch. She’s messing with your mind, Ryan demanded. Lian’s eyes went wide, afraid.
“Don’t worry. I’m not going to,” Jarrod chuckled. “I can control some things.”
“That’s much appreciated.” Lian let out a relieved breath.
“How do you know all this?” Austin asked, pulling a chair over to sit behind Jarrod. “Who told you?”
“Jarrod did.” Lian and Jarrod stared at each other. Her hands shone brightly as she touched his head. Her eyes rolled back. The veins in Jarrod’s face rose to the surface. Lian pulled back, in pain. “There’s a soul in there, Jarrod. You’re human after all. I can feel it, but it’s fighting against me. I’m not strong enough on my own to overcome it.”
“I’m not human.” Jarrod had already come to terms with being something else. He didn’t want to accept a new path.
You’re a freak, Ryan taunted. She knows it. You should be the one locked in here.
“Don’t listen to him, Jarrod. We all love you. We’re going to help you through it.” Lian tenderly rubbed his hand. “I can get inside. I know I can.”
You’re too weak, Ryan laughed.
“Maybe I have answers,” Madame Patricia said. Everyone turned, surprised to see her.
“I called for her when we came across the Spear,” Athena said.
“The what?” Austin asked.
Athena rolled her eyes. “The spaceship.”
“You read my mind and the secrets locked in my subconscious,” Madame Patricia said to Lian. “Since then, I’ve been going through a period of self discovery to find out what those hidden truths were.”
She held Jaden’s hand and cautiously approached. “The reason William separated you two is because your powers strengthen exponentially when together. Apart, you’re half of what you can be. That’s the exact reason why the Architects agreed, in our treaty, to go our own ways. Our powers grow unstable when we’re in the prolonged company of others like us. That’s why you and I, and Jaden, melded as one when the three of us touched. You and Jaden... Together, the two of you are an Architect.”
“What am I?” Jarrod asked. It was time to stop bottling things up and seek help. The anger of what Sanderson and his mother had done could no longer dictate his actions. “I’m ready to find out. I thought I was strong enough to handle things on my own, to fulfill my own purpose, but I know now that I have to place faith in others.” Jarrod grabbed Lian and Austin by the hands and squeezed. “If I were to do anything to the ones I love, then what would be the point of living?”
Oh please, let me play the world’s smallest violin, Ryan huffed, his words eventually turning into a full-on laugh. Jarrod’s eyes flickered and he rocked back and forth. The time for child’s play is over.
Jarrod collapsed onto the floor, foaming at the mouth. His desperate eyes fixed on Lian.
“What’s wrong with him?” Austin moved out of the way so Lian could kneel by Jarrod.
“There was a child in his dream. A child Jarrod claimed was named Ryan. He said Ryan was the true owner of his vessel.” Lian placed a hand on Jarrod’s back, speaking to Madame Patricia. “I can hear Ryan thoughts. There’s two personalities...”
“There are two halves to Jarrod.” Madame Patricia escorted Jaden to Lian’s side. “Sanderson told me about Ryan, a clone of who I know to be Azrael. Sanderson merged the cloned DNA into the dead embryo that was inside his wife, reigniting its life. Supposedly, the powers and connection Ryan had to the many realms was uncanny. The boy was scared and too powerful for his own good. Sanderson believed he’d died along with his wife in a house fire...”
“I will destroy all life for what they did.” A blue shockwave surged from Jarrod’s body and threw them all back. Ryan was taking control. It was he who spoke.
Jaden grabbed his sister’s hand and covered her mouth to keep her quiet.
Ryan continued to scream, “I hear you speak of my mother, but the bitch was nothing of the sort. Instead of helping me control what I was, loving me despite my destiny, she locked me away and let Jarrod roam instead. Not anymore. The wall is down for good and Jarrod will burn while I’m free.”
Athena grabbed Ryan and tossed him backwards. He rolled to a stop. Athena lunged, driving the point of her blade towards him. Ryan flicked his hand up and Athena went rigid. Her aurascales vanished. Blue flames circled her frame as she levitated unwillingly. Her eyes shone with pale blue light.
“That’s not a soul I feel.” Ryan squinted, unsure what to call it. It felt good, making him powerful. He tried touching Athena, but Jaden intervened.
A white energy flowed from Lian’s eyes. With her brother, she entered Ryan and Jarrod’s collective mind and searched for the wall Aunt Liv had created.
“Wait,” she said, holding her brother’s hand. “The dream he always has. We need to find the burning child.”
“I hear you,” Ryan shouted. The ground shook.
Reality in Jarrod’s mind shifted. The dream world he was stuck in every night came to form. There were two Jarrods, stuck in a deadlock. Jaden tugged on Lian, pointing at the wall. While the duplicates fought, the wall fractured.
Lian lifted her hands and large boulders pieced the barrier together, sealing the cracks. One duplicate flickered and the other overcame it. Ryan vanished. Jaden released Lian and they exited Jarrod’s mind.
Jaden laughed and walked away from his sister to sit in a corner of the room. Austin and the others gaped at Lian, looking for answers.
“Did it work?” she asked, groggy. They remained dears in a headlight. She squinted at Jarrod. “I hear nothing.”
“That doesn’t mean it failed,” Austin reassured.
Jarrod’s eyes opened, but instead of a tired fear overcoming him, there was a sense of relief. He smiled at Lian, breathing heavily.
“Jarrod?” Lian asked, crying. She crawled to him and sat on his lap.
“I’m OK,” Jarrod said softly, rubbing her head. “I don’t hear him.”
“For now, yes.” Madame Patricia brushed herself off. She looked at Lian and Jarrod. “But for how long? Until you learn to merge your human soul with your angelic aura, you’re a danger to yourself and everyone else.”
“Human and angel?” Lian asked. She thought about it for a second and finally nodded. “The boy Sanderson knew was human and angel. When Aunt Liv could no longer keep Ryan under control, she split the two halves, locking the unstable soul away and creating the personality of Jarrod to control his angelic side.” She smiled at Jarrod, amused at the answer. “I can’t read your mind because you’re an angel.”
***
Horus—hands chained—flinched when he noticed Jarrod standing over him. The room with broken floorboards was barely large enough for a twin size mattress. Jarrod remained silent but vigilant, etching a note into the wall. His armor was gone, but he knew Horus didn’t pose a threat.
“Thank you for sparing me.” Horus sat the book he was reading onto the pillow. “You could have easily not.”
“It’s not that easy.” Jarrod was short on purpose. He wanted to see how Horus would react. The twitch in his guest’s eyes said he believed otherwise. “Well, killing you would’ve been simple. Living with it, not so much. I don’t like what I am more than anyone else.”
“And yet there you stand and here I sit.” Horus lifted his chains. “Clearly there is something trustworthy about you.”
“I think they figure cuffs are useless.” Jarrod smirked, finding Horus’ dry sense of humor entertaining. “It’s probably better to not ruffle my feathers, or get me anxious. I’ve got this Jekyll and Hyde thing going on.”
“I noticed,” Horus quipped.
“You understand the reference?” Jarrod was caught off guard.
“I lived in space, not under a rock. We procured human literature from time to time.” Horus flashed the book he was currently reading. “Hamlet is one of my favorites.”
“Is that because the son takes over for the father? Avenges him?” The memories he’d absorbed from Horus had grown more poignant since Lian had helped quiet Ryan, as did the memories of past souls. “I hope that didn’t seem too forward. I know how the memory stings. I figured we’d be transparent, given how well we know each other.”
“The story always had a familiar sense about it. I don’t know why. I found Claudius’ betrayal of his brother cold and unthinkable.” Horus shrugged, standing from the bed. His fingers roamed over the book’s edges. “Hamlet’s mother is like my own. She’s unaware that I know the things she did to keep me safe… to keep herself in power. No, she didn’t bed my uncle, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“I wasn’t.” Jarrod shook his head. “The others don’t know if you’re a friend or foe. I told them who you were. Madame Patricia and Athena recognized the name, but they aren’t telling me why. I didn’t clue them in that I already understood the significance.”
“Did you say Athena?” Horus asked, shocked. “I was told she was—”
“—Dead?” Jarrod nodded. “I know. The two of you were to be married. Kind of like fate that you’re here, with us.”
“With you, too.” Horus furrowed his brow and folded his hands. “Seems destiny has a way of making itself go full circle, despite how hard we fight against it.”
“I’m hoping that’s not entirely true.” Jarrod thought about something his mother once said. How she was afraid of what he’d become, but the world would need to deal with it. He didn’t want the world to deal with it. He didn’t like surrendering to fate. “I’d rather believe in free will. Worst case scenario, I’d sooner put faith in random chance.”
“A trillion decisions, coincidences and occurrences had to take place for you and me to stand here together, at this very moment in time and space. The knowledge and love that spawned your birth had to age in perfect symmetry with my growth in the time warp of a collapsed star, so that whatever galactic force saw you on that street the instant I arrived could bring us together.” Horus smiled, laughing under his breath. “If that’s not masterfully constructed chess maneuvering, then I know not what is.”
“You forgot Athena.” Jarrod smiled. “Your child bride. Care to meet her?”
“I suppose.” Horus sat on the bed. “Bring her in.”
“No, I meant, would you like to GO and meet her.” Jarrod pointed at the chains. “This is all a little overkill.”
“How can you be so sure?” Horus asked.
“Because you need us to rescue your family.” Jarrod unlocked the cuffs and they collapsed into his aurascales. He nodded for Horus to follow. “I know about that too.”
“Why would you do such a thing?” Horus followed as if walking on glass. His voice was nervous. “That is the wrong question. I should be grateful.”
“I know what it’s like to leave your friends behind, failing your family and the ones you love. I don’t want you to feel that.” Jarrod pushed through the door and into the main room of the apartment. The others waited. They were uncomfortable with the plan and showed it. “Everyone, this is Horus. His cousin is a prisoner of war and his mother held captive by traitors with ill intent. We’re going to save them.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Lian VI
Lian kept her watchful gaze on Jarrod, continuously scanning his head for signs of Ryan. Even though Ryan was absent, the plethora of other voices clamoring for power in his absence gave her pause. Jarrod shot her a squint.
“Can you focus on what’s being said?” he asked Lian, referring to Horus’ speech. The others were enamored with the space prince.
“None of that will matter if you come unhinged,” Lian whispered, turning her eyes to Horus while she spoke. She leaned close to Jarrod. “What about all the others who are stirring around in there?”
“They’re echoes, not conscious thoughts. I can handle them.” Jarrod looked down at Lian, nodding. She wanted to believe him, but had doubts. He sighed, irritated. “If you’re not convinced I can do this, then lock everything into a safe and drop it in the ocean. Make me a vegetable.”
“Don’t think I won’t, just because you’re my best friend.” She prodded him with an elbow, turning her attention to Horus.
“Where are they now?” Austin asked Horus about Isis and Hathor.
“The rift should have delivered them somewhere on Earth,” Horus said, rubbing the stress off the back of his head. “I need to reenergize my starstone in order to locate them. Anything built under the Southern Corner star will have a connection.”
Madame Patricia was wary. “I’m sorry, but we can’t permit…”
“Of course you can,” Jarrod interrupted her. She sneered at him in return. Lian was shocked he would make such a commitment without consulting the others. “What do you need?”
“If I could only borrow the power of another starstone.” Horus’ eyes were filled with hope. “I should be able to reignite my aurascales.”
“Hold on, Jarrod.” Austin grabbed his longtime friend by the wrist. “We can’t offer up things that aren’t ours.”
“You’re right.” Jarrod nodded. “I mean, we can debate what takes precedence when the clock is ticking. But we know there’s more going on out there than what we can handle on our own. I see a way to build our alliance and tip the scales in our favor. There’s a game that’s been played since creation first sparked. We’re just now getting onto the board. So, if you have any other suggestions on how to catch ourselves up, I’m all ears.”
Lian was happy that Jarrod was finally showing flashes of the cocksure soldier he’d been when she’d first met him. Slowly, he made her a believer. No one else was sure. The room’s silent doubt stunted the flow of debate.
Jarrod looked at each of them, hoping to find affirmation. Athena narrowed her eyes, shaking her head with defiant determination. Lian could hear that Austin was torn. She couldn’t take her eyes off Jarrod. When his gaze fell to her, she smiled. That same honest look he’d displayed when offering himself for the Double-Helix sparkled in his eyes. It was a hope she’d not sensed in him since Sanderson died. That was all the convincing she needed.
“He’s right.” Lian nodded. The others rolled their eyes, so she knew a case had to be made. “I don’t have eons of knowledge and fighting skill back up my judgment, an inner beast to take over when cornered by the enemy, or the ability to construct worlds. But what I do have is an intimate knowledge of Jarrod’s heart, despite the lack of connection to his mind. I’ve had my doubts and concerns. But I trust him with my life.”
Before anyone could argue against her, she steered the debate. “How does it work?” Horus was shocked by the question. She nodded but remained stern. “You want us to trust you? We need transparency.”
Athena offered her hand to Horus. The two exchanged a look of understanding. A static charge surged through Athena’s hand and swirled around Horus’ arms. His green
and pink aurascales bubbled to the surface of his skin. His shiny silver armor grew from the fluid green and pink swirl, hardening. The hawk mask stretched over his face and his eyes glowed with green light. All of Athena’s armor vanished as she transferred any reserve power into Horus’ starstone.
“I too believe,” Athena said, catching her breath.
Horus swiped his fingers over the back of his wrist. A cone shaped light sprouted over his forearm and a map of far-reaching constellations took shape in the hard light constructs. Hundreds of fuchsia, cypress, and mustard flickering dots overtook the spheres of blues and tan. Jarrod was drawn to the figures, almost in a trance. He stepped towards the map, but Lian tugged him back.
“This is strange,” Horus said, almost in a panic. His fingers sifted through the light, sliding the image on all axes. “The green dots are others like me, powered by a Southern star. The yellow ones are our ships. This large one is our fortress, but it lingers in a place I don’t recognize.”
“What about your mother’s escape pod?” Lian asked, pressing the issue to keep Horus focused.
“It’s vanished.” Horus replied. The light map dissipated and he hung his head. Austin patted his back, trying to restore confidence in the new ally. Horus extended his arm and the light reappeared. “I remember the sector we were in. If I can acquire another chariot, I can head out there and find it for myself. Maybe the problem with my map is a proximity one.”
“A chariot?” Austin wondered aloud.
“A jet that can fly in outer space, like the one Jarrod tore apart,” Athena replied. “How did you get your hands on the previous chariot?”
“When the Four Corners were intact, they built hideouts, gateways, and slipstreams all over the planet. If I retune my locator to find them,”—Horus held his tongue between his lips as he focused—“I can simply find another and leave. There.”
The holographic map reshaped into an image of Earth. On the surface of the rotating sphere, yellow and pink dots were sprinkled all over the map. This time, it was Lian who was infatuated. She pointed at the dots, calling out the locations.