by Jarod Meyer
“My God. Are they children forever then?” William asked.
“No, my friend, they grow as their minds grow. Some take longer than others, but eventually they reach maturity and stop growing. They become adults, like the rest of us,” Brock said, indicating the beautiful people around them.
“What about the children who were never born?” William asked, stopping.
“Well, as soon as a man’s seed meets a woman’s egg a soul is formed, though it is just energy and has no defining characteristics.”
“Dear God!” William breathed loudly.
“What is the matter?” Brock asked, stopping to look at William, thoroughly confused.
“There is a…process on Earth, called abortion…” William started to say.
“Rest easy, William. There is an Archonian woman who collects those unborn souls from the mortal world. They are innocent, so they are brought here and raised by loving couples or matrons that wish to raise them. Many of these people you see have never lived a mortal life, and they are much better for it. The physical world is full of sorrow and hatred,” he finished, looking at the busy street with a smile.
William shook his head, trying to clear away the darker thoughts “They all look so young. What about the people who died of old age?” William asked.
“Ah. This is because people never forget the way they looked and felt when they were young. The mind or soul reflects what you feel when you are here,” Brock said, pointing at a man passing by. He looked more aged than the rest, with a touch of grey hair.
“This world, Brock, it is very much like the heaven described in our religions on Earth,” William said.
“Yes, little brother, and each of those religions has some truth to it,” Brock replied. “When the nine Archons descended to the mortal world, the tribes of men revered them as gods. They taught them about living and loving and about what comes next, but over time, this knowledge became distorted, and lost,” Brock said.
“There was a game we used to play in school,” William said smiling. “We would all sit around a table. The first person would tell the one next to them a short story. Then that person would tell the next person and so on, by the time it reached the other end of the table, it was a completely different story.”
“That is exactly what has happened throughout the history of man,” Brock said, nodding. “The fundamental truths of this life remain, but the story becomes twisted by time, and the minds of men.”
“But there are documents on Earth that have been recorded into books,” William retorted, “The Holy Bible. The Quran.”
“Those stories were written by men, William, and were translated through many different languages,” he replied simply.
William thought about it for a moment, and realized the big man was right.
Brock laid a giant hand on his shoulder, and said, “Do not despair, my young brother. Some men were correct. All religions share the same fundamental rules for how we should conduct our lives. Be kind to others, do not be selfish, do not covet or steal, do not spread lies or anger. Instead, live with joy and happiness.”
That makes perfect sense. William thought
“So why don’t we go back and teach them again? Can we even back to Earth?” he asked.
“Would you have continued to live your mortal life knowing of this wonderful place?” Brock asked.
“That’s a good point,” William said.
“No. The Archons thought exactly as you did, that if mortals knew how to live properly, they would do so. In the end, thousands of lives were lost, simply because they all believed they would come here,” Brock said nodding.
“And they didn’t?” William asked.
“No. When the Archons first started interacting with humans they did not have immortal souls yet. That was a gift later given to them by the Archon Prometheus. Once the gift was given and the first people started coming here. The Archons knew they could no longer interact with the people unless they were extremely delicate. Otherwise there would be more self-destruction,” he finished.
“Self-destruction?” William asked.
“Sacrifices and mass suicides, little brother. Some of the first humans thought that they could achieve immortality by releasing their souls from their Earthly bodies,” Brock said solemnly.
“This is a lot to take in,” William said, taking a deep breath.
“In time, you will understand everything.”
William looked forward, taking note of a group of men and women standing in the middle of the road. They were looking straight at him. Brock put a hand on William’s shoulder, anchoring him to the spot.
“We do not want him here, Guardian. His soul is foul,” a tan, dark haired, blue eyed woman said in a dour tone.
This wasn’t the first time William had been met with such rejection and hatred. He wasn’t taken aback by it, but it still stung a little.
“My friends please surround your new brother. Welcome him home. The Synod has decreed it,” Brock bellowed with a smile.
The crowd didn’t move, and another man shouted, “The Synod is wrong! This man is a danger to us all. He belongs in Dichonia.”
Some of the others in the crowd murmured in agreement. William was pissed at this point. Brock must have taken notice of this because and he turned, putting a massive palm across his chest. He shook his head, and William was put at ease. Then Brock turned to the crowd again.
“The Archon Gabriel brought him here. Is he also wrong, citizens?” Brock asked.
The crowd murmured, looking at one another, waiting for someone to speak out.
The first woman to speak took a step forward. William noticed that she looked familiar to him for some reason.
“Gabriel would never put us in danger,” she said, shaking her head.
“Of that, I can assure you, Lisa,” Brock said, addressing her by name.
William realized where he recognized her from the moment Brock mentioned her name. The Mona Lisa. Could it really be?” William wondered.
“Gabriel would never bring harm to any of his fellow Archonians. This is why I have trusted his judgment and have not destroyed this filthy soul myself!” Brock shouted, and as he did there was a terrifying force kicked up around the street like an unseen wind. Brock still seemed in control, but he got his point across.
They shuddered and moved away. William who had seen some very bizarre things today, felt an icy cold shudder go up his spine.
“Now. Disperse! Go about your business and let me take care of this poor soul,” Brock said, a smile returning to his face as he turned back to William.
Lisa cast a final hard look at William, before turning around. The others followed suit, either floating into the sky or running at abnormal speeds.
“Brock, how do I make them like me?” William said sadly.
“In the mortal world people treated me this way too.”
Brock gave a heavy sigh as they began to walk again. The large man moved slowly this time, allowing William to keep pace.
“Little brother, people will always fear what they do not understand, but that does not mean that they hate you. They simply hate the idea of you. Remember what happened after your judgment? The Synod felt the same way but they did not take the time to get to know you,” the large man said earnestly.
“Then why did this happen on Earth? I was not so different from people back there,” William asked.
The question made William feel naïve. Then again, his father had been a horrible person, so William grew up without a good role model. Now, he was looking to a man that he had just met for advice.
“William,” Brock said, placing a huge hand upon his shoulder. “You looked like a loner when you came to Archonia. Is it possible that you have just refused to let people in?” Gabe asked quietly.
“I suppose you are right. But what can I do now?” William asked.
“For starters, smile! And tell people about yourself. If someone is unkind to you, treat them how you
would wish to be treated. In time, they may do the same.”
William felt like a child, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. He had missed so many fundamental things like this growing up. He’d been too busy simply trying to survive the streets.
He decided to change the subject.
“Brock, who was that woman you referred to as Lisa?”
“Oh yes, Lisa!” Brock bellowed. “She fancies herself a model or some such thing. Some young lad named Leonardo painted a likeness of her on Earth, and apparently it has gained some repute.”
William’s jaw dropped. It wasn’t just some painting. It was probably one of the most famous paintings in human history.
“She had the chap paint her another exactly like it here. She boasts about it often. Personally I think the painting was poorly done. Did you see some of the murals in the Synod chamber? They look almost real,” Brock said.
William laughed.
“I did, and now that you mention it, I’d say I have to agree.”
What an astounding world, William thought. And silently wondered what other famous figures he would cross paths with.
Chapter Five
Family
Angelica watched William’s frightened face as the large soldier helped him from his knees. She felt pity for him, in much the same way she had when she first met him on Earth.
That poor man, she thought. His entire life had just been laid bare before an entire room of strangers. He’d done some terrible things, much of it out of necessity. And yet, Angelica owed William everything. Had it not been for him, those horrible shadow creatures would have devoured her soul before Gabe could have saved her. She shuddered at the thought and watched as William was led from the hall.
She stood in a crowd of people, yet she felt alone, her thoughts drifting back to recount everything that had happened since her death. After William and Gabe had been taken into custody, she had been escorted into the city by a group of soldiers.
She remembered how one of the soldiers extended an arm, a beam of piercing light flashing out of his hand. The light flexed and expanded, taking the form of a creature. It looked strangely feline, with silver fur and penetrating, blue eyes. Black stripes covered its sleek, muscular body. She thought it looked like a cheetah, even though it was far larger than any cat she had ever seen. The beast caught her gaze, its eyes like ice.
The man who created the beast took a step in her direction, his voice soft and reassuring.
“My lady, have no fear. This gentle beast is of my mind, and will not harm you.”
Angelica nodded, unable to speak. The man was strikingly handsome. He had long brown hair, which framed a handsomely structured face. He wore silver armor, the breastplate inlaid with sapphires, and a long flowing purple cape. He stood just slightly taller than her, with green eyes that glowed softly.
“I pray that you ride with me to the city, it will be much faster this way,” he said, extending a hand invitingly. She saw a silver band upon his ring finger and became a little disheartened. He must be married. She took it anyway and he lightly hefted her up upon the back of the giant cat.
The soldier’s hands were strong. He made her feel like she was weightless. She was not surprised by anything right now. She had just seen men flying through the air and one had made a huge beast appear out of thin air. He mounted up on the beast in front of her.
“Hold on to my armor if you feel the need,” he said. Then he whispered something into the large cat’s ear. Without warning it lurched forward powerfully. Angelica felt like she was on a roller coaster. She shrieked and grabbed onto the thick plates covering her armored companion.
They must have been a hundred miles or more from the city, yet the trip only took a few minutes. Angelica’s eyes went wide as they approached. Her heart was already pounding from the speed, but everything seemed to slow down when she locked onto the massive city.
She’d seen the Rocky Mountains while traveling in Colorado, but this city looked like it could have dwarfed them. It’s sheer size was unnerving, and made Angelica’s knees feel weak. They crossed the threshold of the city, passing through a gargantuan gate, taller than the skyscrapers in her home town. They moved through a large courtyard, and saw a blur of color, and heard a loud humming noise. Her insides churned from the ride, and she couldn’t find the focus to make out anything happening around her, so she shut her eyes tight and buried her head into the soldier’s back and held on tight.
Angelica’s companion didn’t seem to notice that she was terrified. She gave a little shriek as the large cat stopped suddenly, smashing her into the soldier’s back. He pried her hands loose from his armor, before sliding down the side of the mount. Angelica needed a moment to get her bearings. She took in a deep breath, trying to slow her breathing and her runaway heart. Finally, she looked up and found herself in a small yard filled with lush grasses and flowers. She slid trembling to the ground after a moment, the soldier greeting her with a smile.
“Young One, these matrons will take good care of you. This is where I leave you. Welcome to Archonia,” he said, taking her hand and brushing his lips against the top of it softly.
He kicked his heals together forcefully and burst into the sky. The cat that they rode into the city disappeared as it was sucked into the trail of light behind him.
Angelica watched him in wonder, simply stupefied by the fact that he could fly. Someone lightly touched her shoulder, startling her and making her jump a little in surprise. She turned and beheld a group of four young women around her age. They were all beautiful, and she immediately became very self-conscious.
“Welcome, Young One. What is your name?” one of the matrons asked.
“Angelica,” she replied shyly.
The group smiled and ushered her towards a strange looking fountain.
Angelica yelped in surprise as the girls began to strip off her clothes.
“Oh hush, child, we need to make you presentable,” a matron said.
In just a few moments she was completely naked, clutching an arm over her breasts out of modesty. The Matrons took her to the small pool, where they bathed and groomed her. They scrubbed her body with soft sponges lathered with soapy substances that smelled of fresh fruit and flowers. The dirt and lather was carried away by a strange whirlpool at the fountain’s center.
She had bathed herself most of her life, so this was by far the most uncomfortable thing she had ever experienced. She fought the urge to pull away, or cry out, not wanting to be rude. She stood still, her hands covering her breasts, hoping there wasn’t an audience watching in the adjacent yard. When she was bathed, they put white flowers in her hair and draped her body with the purest white silk she had ever seen. It was so soft and light she could barely feel it against her skin. She had to check to make sure she wasn’t still naked.
Before she knew it, Brock returned, a large toothy grin on his face.
“You look simply splendid, little sister. A true citizen of Archonia,” he said, beaming.
“Thank you. Brock wasn’t it?” she asked.
“That is my name, young one. I am here because your savior needs your help.” He went on to explain that there would be a trial to decide William’s fate. She agreed to go.
It is the least I could do for him, she had thought.
Now she felt completely lost, standing alone in the massive chamber as it emptied after the trial.
Will I get to see William again? she wondered.
She looked around, trying to find someone who could tell her what to do next, and locked eyes with one of the women who had helped bathe and dress her. She was dressed exactly like Angelica, with white flowers in her hair, and a flowing white gown. Angelica smiled feebly, trying to hide her fear.
“Hello,” she said as the woman approached.
“Baily,” the woman responded with a pleasant smile.
“Nice to meet you…er again. I’m Angelica.”
“It is quite alright, child. I trust you wi
ll meet a great many new faces in the coming days.”
“Baily, what do I do now?”
“I know that you feel lost right now, but everything is going to be just fine. I am one of the midwives here in Helios. It is our job to help new souls that pass into our world find their place. One of my sisters was able to track down some of your ancestors while you were in the trial,” Baily said, smiling kindly.
Angelica struggled with this news. Her ancestors? Who could they be? she wondered.
The woman motioned for her to follow and they exited the chamber together. As they walked, Baily began to talk about the Archonian way of life. There was no currency, and very little possession. There was no need to eat, sleep, or use the restroom, but you could still eat if you so desired. She could enjoy all of the joys of living, with none of the strife. The longer she listened, the more she believed that she had indeed come to the Promised Land.
After a long while they emerged onto the streets of Helios. Angelica watched as hundreds of souls moved about, evidently living their lives in peace and happiness. She listened as Baily continued, and was rewarded with answers to each and every question. She laughed as a funny realization struck her. Baily called herself a midwife. After all, coming into this world was very similar to being born anew. It was a fitting title.
After walking for some time, they came upon a massive structure. It towered above them, piercing the sky like a hundred palaces had been stacked upon one another.
They entered through a massive door covered in colorful carvings. Angelica’s eyes bounced from ceiling to wall, taking in every fantastic detail and decoration, until she realized that Baily was no longer talking. She stopped and caught sight of the midwife walking a short distance ahead. Someone else was standing next to her now. The woman was about Angelica’s height and had the same flowing dark hair and caramel skin. She wore simple, colorful garbs embroidered in orange and teal. The woman was gorgeous and youthful, with deep brown eyes that Angelica had seen before. Tears swelled up in her eyes as realization struck her.