“Galean?” she whispered so softly not even the ghosts of her terrors could hear. She looked down at the jewel and closed her eyes as no light eluded from its core. She bought it deep into her palm and held it close to her heart as the now daily course of tears flowed from her eyes. The prophecy had failed, her life had fallen and she would never awaken from this merciless state of existence. The songs of the birds were like poison to her ears, reminding her of Belle, Estelle, Wordsworth and Galean and all the beautiful moments they had shared here together as a family. The touch of her husband’s hand upon her shoulder reminded her of the pain she had inflicted upon him, taking his true love from him and his friends. And when twilight came so too did the realisation of who she was. It was during this hour before the rising moon that she growled deep with anger and frustration, the memories of her true parents and their deaths. Her growls turned to pitiful crying as she would punch her pillow with fisted hands, hating all that she was and wishing death would come and kiss her lips, claiming her existence and turning it to dust.
Any light that filled the room only forced Eveline to delve deeper into her misery, to cling harder to the vicious cycle that had claimed her as soon as she had lain down upon her bed. Sometimes she could feel the body of Wordsworth sleeping at the foot of her bed and would awaken with joy only to be met with nothing, her body falling back down with a slump as she began to cry once more. Days had turned into weeks and her tears had now began to vanish as she had turned into herself and found she had no voice or tears left, simply nothing existed within her. The pain was so white that no emotion could be extracted. Nothing became her everything and her only wish now was to die. Her thoughts turned to violent dreams of her death, dreams of her being punished and sentenced to die. A slithering and sickening voice would consume her mind, poisoning the human propaganda machine that lives within all humans. Death had become a symbol of hope, her once violent dreams turned to beauty and the words spoken within her psyche were poetic and enchanting. She would imagine herself standing alone within a great meadow, filled with beautiful flowers holding a small blade to her heart. The birds would sing and the sun would cascade over her, bathing her in a glorious warmth as the blade came closer to her skin. And as she drew the blade ever closer she in turn felt better, the pain began to evaporate and all the misery like a gust of wind, swept over the meadow and was gone. Each dream of death became sweeter like honey and she became intoxicated with its power, so much so that it pained her to awaken from such dreams. If only she had the energy to get out of bed and find that meadow. All her troubles would be forfeit and she would be not a burden upon the universe any longer, she would bring ease to all those she had brought pain too and her husband could live a happier life, free from her and the memories she induced.
“Eveline?” a male voice awakened Eveline from her dream, filling the room with unwanted noise. Eveline knew the voice of the reverend and felt her body stiffen as he entered her room gently, his footsteps leaving their imprint upon her mind as her crossed from the door and came to her side bringing with him a chair. “It is I Matthew, do you remember me?” the reverend asked as he sat down and glanced over at the small leather backed bible upon Eveline’s bedside table. He gently lifted the bible and opened its pages, his eyes widening at the message within from Galean. Eveline watched him darkly as he returned the bible to her table and smiled at her weakly. “You are probably wondering why it is I am here are you not?” he asked with a concerned look. Eveline simply stared at him, her gaunt face as white as a sheet, a look which had greatly disturbed him at first. This young woman had altered so much since he last beheld her that he felt a rush of anger towards Theodore. “Your husband came to me last night concerned for you and so I am here to help.”
“I don’t need help,” Eveline whispered, her lips and throat dry.
“Yes you do,” Matthew said with firm certainty. “What darkness you find yourself in child, how gaunt and changed you are.”
“Go away!” Eveline tried to cry out but found her words where nothing but air.
“No,” Matthew said with gentleness as he leaned forward. “I am bound to protect you, even if you do not will it so.”
“I want to sleep, I am tired,” Eveline lied to the pastor, who now placed a warm hand upon her forehead.
“You have been too long in your sleep Celestine, it is time to awaken.”
“I don’t want too,” Eveline said with force. “I don’t want to be here.”
“Why?” the reverend asked quietly. He had seen and aided many who had suffered from severe bouts of depression and grief and clearly understood that she had been caught by the hand of misery. For many of those with whom he had visited the depression never departed them and they became bound to its cycle for years. He knew that he could not allow Eveline to fall victim to the same severity, she was meant for greater things and he and his free masonry friends had a duty to ensure the granddaughter of Heiden lived on and took up her place upon the throne of Calhuni, no matter the cost. As he looked down into her child like face, a great sadness took him for her pain was so raw it reached out to him and with fiery hands ensnared his rationale mind. Her golden eyes once so bright were dull and spiritless. Her beautiful skin was greying and dry and her beautiful lips were pale and sickly. Little did she know that all the great and powerful minds of the world were a part of her story here on earth. Many called them by other names, many scorned them and many revered them. But those within the free masonry movement where bound to protecting her, they were made up of normal human beings and guardians all with whom had pledged their allegiance to Heiden and Celestine. Of course only a select few including himself had been informed of Eveline’s whereabouts and those within the Keswick masonic lodge were not just ordinary men and women, they were highly intelligent and gifted men and women chosen from around the world to live in the small and quiet Keswick.
“You are pale and in need of food Eveline, don’t you think it is time to awaken?” the reverend asked Eveline.
“I’m not hungry,” Eveline groaned as she moulded her head and body into the folds of her bed.
“But you are hungry,” Matthew stipulated sternly. “Even now your stomach rumbles at my words.”
“If you have come here to revive me then you have come in vain!” Eveline said coldly. “I am a curse to all that look upon me, I do not deserve to fill my stomach. I deserve nothing.”
“Those are the words of your captor,” the pastor said gently. “Who wishes you to fade away into nothing, who wishes you to inflict such misery upon yourself.”
“I am a murderer! I am the reason for all the misery that condemns man. I am not worth any of this.”
“Is that what you truly believe?” Matthew answered with furrowed brows. “That you are an arrow of death and misery and nothing more? Is that what Estelle, Belle and all those who loved you believed of you? Is that why they loved you even in death because you are a curse? Because you are nothing but a plague upon mankind?”
Eveline’s eyes widened with horror at the pastors words. No matter how hard she tried to push the words away they drenched themselves into her soul and mind.
“I killed them,” she whispered faintly, a tear falling from her dry eye.
“No you did not kill them, you were possessed,” Matthew whispered softly. “You were possessed by a demon, a demon called Nathaniel who relishes in violating the minds of beautiful and kind people. He killed those you loved.”
“Then why have I blood on my hands?” Eveline asked as she wiped her face with the back of her hand.
“Because he used your body against your wishes and abused it so that you would be forever covered with the blood of his victims,” Matthew said with passion. “If a man takes it upon himself to violate another is it the victims fault? Would you blame that victim?”
“No,” Eveline whispered shaking her head. “But I should have done more, I should have overcome him and I did not.”
“You had not th
e power or education to overcome Nathaniel,” Matthew said with raised brows. “You had not the ability to stand against him.”
“I am still a murderer.”
Eveline turned away from Matthew and wept into her pillow as the reverend watched on with grief.
“I am not gifted with the time in which to try and bring you back from this darkness that ensnares you,” Matthew said cautiously. “Even now you are being hunted from the furthest part of the universe. I wish I had the grace to enable you to mourn for those you love, to allow you the time to come to terms with all that has passed but I do not.”
“Then let me be no more,” Eveline cried. “I don’t want to live. I can’t live with my shame and guilt.”
“Everyone whose heart is filled with life and light is dependent on you whether you wish it or not,” Matthew said with a stern voice. He got up onto his feet and made for the second window and swept back the heavy curtains, letting a greater amount of light seep into the room. Eveline cried out louder as though burned. “You have the power to protect the needy, the vulnerable and the innocent from demons such as Nathaniel. You and only you have this power, would you see it turned to dust simply because you are unable to see past the darkness that blinds you? Is this what your parents would have wanted?”
“You cannot make me better!” Eveline cried out, thumping her fists against the bed. “I am an ill curse, I will bring only heartache and disappointment.”
“I will not allow that to happen do you hear me?” Matthew cried out, striding over to the other side of her bed and grabbing the sheets, pulling them off her body dramatically. “This world is in a state of peril because of man, how do you think it will bare when faced with the even greater threat of Lagar? Do not let your pride get in the way of who you are. You are too intelligent to allow that voice of doom to ensnare you with its deceitful propaganda that you are a curse, that you are worthless and that the universe would be a better place without you! Do not let your mind glorify in the thoughts of death” Eveline looked up into his passionate face and growled. “I know the route it takes within the mind, I know the power it can wield and the destruction it can cause. I have watched good men and women fall victim to its lies and have watched them whither into mere shadows of who they once were. If you think for a moment that I will allow you, you! To fall into the hands of its storm then you are gravely mistaken.”
“Who are you to speak to me as though you were my grandfather?” Eveline cried out so loudly that the room shook. Without thinking she arose from her bed and stood tall before the reverend, her eyes bright and her face unearthly.
“I am nothing,” the reverend replied coolly. “I unlike you do not have the power to change the course of the future.” Eveline stared hard into his eyes, her body shaking with anger. With a sudden weakness she fell down upon her bed and grabbed her sheets, plunging under them once more.
“Leave me.”
*
Theodore was pacing the morning room after hearing the raised voices upstairs. Around him the reverends housekeeper, Mrs Brown was busy cleaning undisturbed by the events that were taking place above them. Soon enough Matthew entered the room with a heavy sigh.
“Mrs Brown, a cup of tea if you wouldn’t mind?” he asked with a tired expression.
“Of course!” the elderly lady smiled, leaving the room and making for the kitchen.
“What on earth happened?” Theodore asked with an urgent expression. Matthew found a seat and sat down, placing his head into the palms of his hands.
“She is worse than I thought,” he said aloud. “Although there is hope.”
“Hope?”
“Did you not hear her yell?” Matthew asked, raising his eyes to the Theodore.
“Yes.”
“There is life in her still and strength if only we can encourage it to come forth.”
“And how do we do that?” Theodore asked as he took a seat opposite the reverend.
“Time and gentleness,” Matthew said with soft eyes. “Do you think it would be possible for Mrs Brown to live with you for a while, I feel she may aid our cause as a mother comforts her child.”
“But of course she must stay if she will help Eveline,” Theodore returned quickly with hopeful eyes. Soon the housekeeper entered with a tray of tea and biscuits.
“Thank you Mary,” Matthew smiled as he took a cup of tea from his housekeeper. “Mary would you mind awfully staying here for a few weeks and maybe attending to Eveline? You were a close friend of Estelle’s and she may find comfort in your presence.”
“If you wish it,” Mary replied with a warm face, filled with motherly concern.
“I do,” Matthew nodded. Mary left the room with a nod and when she closed the door behind her, Matthew slumped back into his chair.
“What is it?” Theodore asked cautiously, setting his cup down.
“I have received some un nerving information this morning,” Matthew replied before taking a quick sip of his hot tea.
“What information?”
“Have you heard of the four knights?” Matthew asked quietly, his hands folded before him.
“The four knights? No,” Theodore replied with a confused expression. “Who are they?”
“You have heard of the princes of Hell I take it?” Matthew asked patiently, the room growing dark as he spoke.
“Yes but what have they to do with four knights?”
“When Lagar came to power he resurrected great warriors of this earth and others and gifted them with great and terrible powers, for he cannot be in all places at once,” Mathew explained. “At first they were used to slay his brothers own knights as we call them.”
“You mean the battle of the Gods?” Theodore said with raised brows as he soaked in the information. “That was tens of thousands of years ago, I thought Lagar’s knights had been slain by Aedon?”
“No that is a myth long held by guardians and the like,” Matthew replied with a worrisome look upon his usually calm and collected face. “Indeed they were never again heard of and the reason for that may shock you a little.”
“Go on,” Theodore prodded, leaning forward a little with anticipation.
“In fact they grew too powerful for Lagar to control and so he had them killed.”
“Well then they are dead yes?” Theodore replied with a confused face.
“Think on my words a moment,” Matthew instructed the young angel, sitting back in his chair and taking another lengthy sip of his tea, watching the information pass over Theodores face until finally he looked up from the ground with wide eyes.
“They had been resurrected,” Theodore whispered fearfully.
“Indeed. It is said that their great bodies were placed within Lagar’s magnificent palace taking centre stage for all too see and fear,” Matthew explained as he drew his gaze away from Theodore and let it settle among the flames of the fire. “My source tells me that they have come to life once more.”
“How could your source know such a thing?”
“He is a shadow,” Matthew confessed. Silence filled the room as Theodore looked on at Mathew with angered eyes.
“You share information with a shadow?”
“Sometimes we must do things, things for which we are not always proud for the greater good,” Matthew whispered lowly, sensing the anger in Theodore and understanding it with shame. “It is the only way in which we can have eyes on the inside.”
“And how can you trust such a source?” Theodores said with a sour glare. “How do you prevent that said source from going to Lagar with information on you?”
“There is one thing that separates a shadow from a guardian, do you know what that is?”
“They do not want to be controlled and limited,” Theodore answered gruffly. “They are greedy and in want of power.”
“Indeed, we are pledged to ensuring there is peace within our universe and at times that means having to be selfless,” Matthew said turning his brown eyes to Theodore. “We willingl
y abide by our laws and God and in return we are given our safety and peace, but shadows,” he shook his head. “Shadows only want what they seek and to us that is against all that we are, but it means that they are easy prey when we are in search of information.”
“And this shadow? What does he or she receive in return for his not so honest information?”
“Position within his legion,” Matthew answered bluntly. “He wanted to become a commander but in order to become said commander he needed help with getting rid of the current now previous commander.”
“And how did you do that?”
“There are many gifted and talented guardians within the masonic fellowship, it was easy to get rid of him in return for information,” Matthew said with a shrug.
“Even so he may yet have lied to you.”
“He did not lie,” Matthew said with certainty.
One Crown & Two Thrones: The Prophecy Page 52