by Jarod Meyer
“And why would you do that for me? Don’t you think I’m a corrupted soul as well?”
“I do not know you, my new friend. But, you sacrificed yourself to save an innocent, which is no small deed. And after, you did not turn into one of Lucifer’s abominations,” Gabe paused. “I made a very similar choice once. So I ask you. Trust me, and stay, my friend,” Gabe said very seriously.
William stared at the man for what seemed like hours, going over every possibility, and considering all of the outcomes. He couldn’t see a version of this story that didn’t end in his death. In the past, he’d always run away from problems. That option seemed like a valid option now. After all, they would never accept him. He turned away from Gabe and looked out across the endless fields. He had but to run and never look back.
“If I run will they catch me?” William asked, his gaze locked forward.
“I cannot guide your on this matter. You must make this choice on your own,” Gabe responded softly.
William looked down, letting his eyes slide over the edge of the wall. The structure they were in had to be at least forty stories high. He didn’t even know if he could survive such a fall. And if he did, where he would go? The possibilities flooded his mind, meanwhile a different emotion tugged at his heart.
William had a gut feeling that Gabe would protect him. He turned and considered him. Gabe stood motionless, his crystal clear gaze lock on him. A shiver ran down his spine.
“I will trust you, Gabe.”
William took a step back, retreating as men with spears appeared through the gaping hole in the wall. More guards appeared from the hallway, the razor sharp blades of their spears leveled at him.
“Take ease, my friends. He does not yet know his own strength,” Gabe said, holding his hands up to shield William.
The guards stopped, their armored bulk filling the space. William winced as a spear tip dug into his side.
Chapter Three
Trials
A massive figure appeared beyond the crowd. He loomed above them, so broad in the shoulder he barely fit in the doorway.
“Stand down!”
William watched Brock push through the crowd, before unlocking the cell door.
“I hope you know what you are doing, Gabe. The Synod has convened. They’re waiting for you,” Brock said.
Gabe grabbed William by the arm and pulled him from the cell, almost yanking him off of his feet.
“I can follow,” William snapped, wrenching his arm free.
Gabe didn’t respond, he just turned and followed Brock down the hall, his face an unreadable mask. The guards ushered them down a massive hallway, the ceiling spanning at least a hundred feet overhead. They walked for a half an hour, passing through hallways that seemed to go on forever.
Finally, they came to a massive set of double doors, spanning at least four stories above him. They were crafted from black onyx, and covered in menacing looking sculptures. William saw twisted faces and monstrous creatures the likes of which he had never seen. They were demonic.
“Do not speak. I will take care of everything,” Gabe said, leaning over and whispering into his ear.
William swallowed, but his throat was horribly dry. How many times could he feel mortally threatened in one day? The mammoth doors opened, and a light crashed upon William like a blanket of warmth.
He followed Gabe into the chamber beyond and looked up. The ceiling was so high he could only just make out the intricate murals sprawling across it. Windows sat ten stories high, letting in bright columns of white light. The light fell onto a raised dais in the middle of the chamber. Ten people sat in a semicircle facing him, their chairs large, rigid, and ornate. To their right was a group of people who were perhaps onlookers or witnesses.
The ten people seated upon the dais were dressed in an assortment of the most exquisite regalia William had ever seen and could never have imagined.
William paced forward, his attention drawn down to his feet. Tiny tiles had been perfectly inlaid into the floor to create a sprawling mosaic. The room was completely silent, his footsteps astonishingly loud. They reverberated across the room; a round structure with pillars reaching towards the sky, all perfectly sculpted as if they were part of the earth jutting out of the ground. All of it was silver, gold, and white.
The guards came to a halt, stopping William and Gabe. They stood in the center of the room, and the men surrounding him quickly withdrew. Gabe turned towards the men and women seated on the dais. They sat perfectly still, watching Gabe and William like statues.
This must be the Synod Gabe spoke of, William thought.
The members of the synod were regal, beautiful, and to William, terrifying. They were young and beautiful, blessed with extraordinary features, and looked like giants from where he stood.
Gabe greeted them first with a tone that spoke to years of wisdom. “Great Synod, I thank thee for your audience. I am Gabriel of Archonia, and I come before thee in search of forgiveness,” Gabe said in greeting, his tone soft and respectful.
Forgiveness? William wondered.
The Synod sat motionless for several long moments before the man seated fourth from the right, finally spoke. He was wearing robes of dark burgundy, woven with strands of gold and inset with many glimmering jewels. Though he looked young in years, wisdom could be seen in his features.
“You know why you are before us, Gabriel. You have defied us yet again.” The man spoke carefully, and with perfect diction. His voice was deep and his words deliberate.
“Yes, your grace. I have indeed defied you,” Gabe responded.
This is ridiculous, William thought. What is Gabe trying to do? Get only himself off the hook and hang him out to dry?
William stepped forward, and was about to speak in his own defense, when Gabe put an arm across his chest. As he did, the guards, crowded around them, brandishing short swords that gleamed fiercely in the white light. Everything happened so fast, William couldn’t react, or speak.
A woman spoke, breaking the tense silence.
“So this is the one that you have risked everything for?” she asked.
Gabe nodded solemnly, but did not speak.
She was beyond beautiful, with long red hair that curled slightly as it fell around her shoulders. She wore a robe of green with an assortment of flowers and gemstones. The juxtaposition of something as ever-changing as a flower was astonishingly beautiful next to something as unchanging as a gemstone.
The man to her right, the first of the Synod to speak, cleared his throat. “We have studied his mortal existence, and cannot deny the stain inside of him.”
William breathed heavily. He hated this. He could not defend himself. He felt helpless, similar to how he had back in his drunken stupor, completely unable to control his own fate.
Gabe quickly responded. “It was obvious to me that there was much more to him than initially believed. I also witnessed his actions at the end of his old life, and when he began anew, and confirmed my suspicions.”
The Synod fell silent again, and moved for the first time, as if life had suddenly been poured into them. They looked to each other, debating. A second man spoke. He wore robes of navy blue with golden droplets and an assortment of other things adorned the robe. He had handsome features, and yet, his long, jet black hair fell around his face, giving him an almost sinister look.
“By all means, Gabriel, regale us with this wonderful tale,” he said, sarcastically.
“Of course, I would be most obliged in a recount of these wonderful events, but I think perhaps it would be more appropriate for you to hear another’s account,” Gabe said quickly.
The Synod members exchanged confused glances and murmured quickly.
“And who is this third party, Gabriel?” the woman with red hair asked.
“Her name is Angelica. As the Synod is well aware, I had business in the mortal world. I heard the cries of an Archonian woman, hovering on the threshold of mortal life. She called out to me
, and I answered as swiftly as I could. As I arrived I realized that there was nothing I could do to spare her. My only option was to bring her here to start her new life,” Gabe paused, eyeing the Synod members each in turn. “For the rest of the account, I defer to Angelica.”
The doors to the room flew wide and Angelica swept it, accompanied by Brock.
The huge bald man escorted Angelica forward as if protecting an innocent child. Indeed, Angelica looked quite out of place in this setting. Her appearance had changed, and she now looked even more beautiful, if that was possible. Her long, black hair was perfectly groomed, and she wore garbs of pure white draped all over her, like the chitins of ancient Greece. Her smooth, dark skin shone slightly against the light pouring in through the high windows. William couldn’t help staring at her.
Brock bowed low to the Synod, before stepping back next to Gabe.
Gabe whispered, “Thank you, my friend.”
Brock smirked.
They smiled and looked forward. The man in the burgundy robe spoke directly to Angelica, his tone now very gracious.
“My dear, do not be frightened of us, as we are your servants. We ten have vowed to uphold the integrity and justice of this world, so that you might live in true harmony.”
Though this was a comforting thought, Angelica did not seem to take it to heart.
“It would give us great honor to hear the tale of your ascension to our world,” another Synod member added.
“Yes, of course,” Angelica said, quietly.
The room fell silent for a moment, before she continued, “It was Friday night. I was on duty for my church, doing missionary work down by the riverfront. You see, we all took turns trying to save the lost children of God. To convince them to turn away from their sins, and follow the Lord’s path.”
William was sure that this would evoke some sort of reaction from the Synod, but they sat perfectly statuesque again, as if the life had left them and was replaced by stone.
“It was getting late, and I wasn’t having any luck, so I decided to head home. On my way home, I passed a group of men hovering in an alleyway. They surrounded me. I knew what they wanted, so I prayed for help, and the Lord sent me an angel,” Angelica said, smiling and looking at the group beside her.
The woman in green spoke first, her voice soft and her tone kind. “It is easy to see why you would think Gabriel to be an angel.”
Angelica interrupted, “No, it was not him,” she said looking at Gabe, “It was him.” She turned her gaze to William.
The Synod members looked from one to the other, a rumble growing from the on-looking crowd. William wasn’t shocked. He listened quietly as Angelica continued.
“The men hit me and pulled me into the alleyway. I prayed and prayed, hoping the Lord would end my pain, and then I saw him running towards me. He fought the men singlehandedly. He sacrificed himself for me. Everything went black. When I awoke, it was like I was stuck in a nightmare. I saw him lying on the ground, his body broken. I wept for him, asking God for a miracle, and he answered again,” she said, smiling widely at William.
It was at this moment that Gabe decided to chime in again.
“This is the truth, my brethren. But the story doth not end there. For brave William would face a new evil. The wretched men lay slain at his feet, but they too would live on, taking on the form of the demon. Four of them there were, and only one of him, but he showed his quality again, striking out at the leader with an iron fist. Split asunder, the evil was reduced to ashen waste, ruined by William’s Archonian essence. An essence that I hope and trust you will find pure enough to let live amongst us in our peaceful realm,” Gabe finished.
William felt his legs go wobbly, as he was beset from some unexpected emotions. He didn’t expect Gabe’s words on his behalf to impact him so. The guards surrounding their group suddenly erupted into applause. Several of the Synod members had to stifle smiles of their own.
A small noise cut through the commotion, one that sounded oddly like the clearing of a throat. Everything immediately fell silent. Everyone, even the Synod members, turned to a man seated in the very middle of the group. William hadn’t even noticed him. He wore a robe of white with gold trim, and was the first man in this new world that William thought looked older. It could have also been the thoughtful look on his face. It made him look older, and wiser.
He spoke softly, his tone immediately commanding respect. William wondered if it would be this this man who would decide his fate.
“If this was truly the way of things, then Gabriel, your measure of character is impeccable. However, our laws are clear. It would not be balanced to allow some, and not all to enter freely,” the man said softly.
His brow showed frustration.
Gabe spoke slowly, “The Synod knows well my opinions on certain laws. They also know of my concerns for our future.”
“What would you have us do?” a woman in green asked.
“Simple. I would have you find faith in people again. Let more souls cross our borders to live with us. It was Prometheus’ wish, one which he sacrificed his own place in this realm for,” Gabe said sadly.
“We have heard you sing this song many times, Gabriel,” he said, rolling his eyes.
“And the Synod has disregarded it many times,” the man in burgundy interjected.
“You are one of the few who know what happened in those dark times,” the woman Synod member finished.
Gabe nearly spat as he retorted, “Of course I was. I sat and watched while my brothers slaughtered one another. I know what is at stake, and I know how important my decision was.”
Panic shot through the hall, and Gabriel became terrifying for a moment. The enormous room grew larger, if possible, and stretched, darkening slightly. There was a pause, and Gabe’s face calmed. The people in the room fell silent.
Gabe sighed. “I, therefore, ask that I be banished. In my place William will stay, as proof that if given the chance, those on the edge can find redemption.”
The room remained quiet. When William had seen the anger in Gabe’s face it was frightening. Everyone else seemed to feel the same way, because there was rustling amongst the onlookers again.
“Allow me to serve as the ambassador between worlds. Appoint me the judge of your will. I will see it done. You know this to be true. Let it be my punishment, my burden, for these transgressions. In return, I ask only that this single soul be allowed a chance,” Gabe finished.
The man in the middle finally spoke, breaking the silence.
“Then let judgment commence.”
A surge of wind coursed through the room, and the light dimmed. A bright ball of bluish light formed in the center of the room. All fell cold and still.
William stood breathless at this display of inherent magic. Since he had been here, he had seen some very extraordinary things like flying men and demons, yet he was still amazed.
“William of Earth, you are hereby judged for all of your evil deeds upon the mortal plane,” the man in white said in a deep voice.
The blue light flashed and expanded, and William filled with dread. He saw an image of him sitting alone in his room reflected in the ball of light. He knew what it was – it was the first time he stole something. He was just a boy, sitting in his room playing with a toy that did not belong to him. There was another flash, and he was a teenager. There was a strange face looking back at him bloody and raw from blows to the face that William had landed. He had to fight to survive on the streets.
William began to shake. This couldn’t be happening. They were making him relive the worst moments of his life. All of his sins laid bare for everyone to see.
How can this be possible, he thought?
The ball of light flashed like a video recording in fast forward mode. Many more shameful scenes played out. Terror filled him.
He saw himself standing in a field, rain pouring down. He knew what they were all about to see, and he couldn’t bear it.
“No!” W
illiam sobbed.
He hadn’t realized he was crying. He screamed with a ferocity that shook him, while guards jumped to his side to restrain him. However it was no longer rage that filled him, only despair. He was forced to relive this moment every night in his dreams, but nobody had ever known that this had happened. With the exception of his superiors in the military who had ordered it.
“Sir, those civilians are unarmed,” William heard his voice say. It sounded far off.
“They are endangering our operation. I am ordering you to neutralize the threat,” another man responded, his voice cold.
A shadowy figure emerged from the bushes. It was him. He approached quickly, and grabbed a girl from behind, and snapped her neck. It was a sickening crunch that he’d heard too many times in his nightmares. The innocent lives he’d taken had now followed him here. He felt his body go limp and he started to gag and heave.
More scenes passed through the light, but it didn’t matter anymore. The room was silent, and William knelt now on the cold floor sobbing and choking on tears. Light flooded back into the room, and it felt warm again. William wiped off his eyes and looked around. The crowd stood around him, staring, their faces grim.
“William of Earth. What have you to say for these deeds committed on the mortal plane?” The man in burgundy asked.
A tear slid off William’s cheek and hit the floor.
“I am guilty, and will accept my punishment in hell,” William said, wiping more tears away.
“Where is the fierce fighter we just saw?” A woman said, stepping forward from the crowd. She was wearing red, decorated with gold, which matched her almost floor-length hair.
“Has he given up?” she asked
“Yes,” William said in a tone of finality.
The man in the middle stood slowly. As he did, the rest of the room’s attention swayed his direction.
“Your remorse is touching, William. I have never seen a man whose life was so stricken with pain and sorrow. I am truly sorry. Gabriel is correct, my brothers. We have become hardened and cold. We must not forget the compassion Prometheus showed us. My brothers and sisters, we will have much to discuss, but I declare William of Earth to now be William of Archonia,” he said slowly.