The River of Time (The Shiva XIV Series Book 4)

by Lyra Shanti

  Pira did as Em said, and tried her best to keep Ona’s gentle face in her mind. After a few moments of silence, Em added, “Now, close your eyes, and imagine a dark room with a long hallway. Can you see the hallway?”

  “Yes,” replied Pira.

  “Good. Now, I want you to imagine walking down the hallway. Go at a slow pace, and with each step, imagine that you are walking closer to a door at the end of the hallway. This door is yours, Pira. It is your door, and no one else’s. This door is the pathway to your forgotten dreams and memories, and it is for you to unlock. Look down, and see the key to the door in your hand. Do you see your key?”

  “Yes,” whispered Pira.

  “Good. When you are ready, I want you to put the key into the door and turn the handle. When you open the door, you will see what you have left behind and what you most remember from your previous time in this world. Now, turn the handle and open the door.”

  “I’m afraid,” said Pira with her eyes firmly shut.

  “It’ll be alright,” said Em. “You are here with family, and you are safe. Whatever you see, we will see with you, and you will not be alone. Do not be afraid, Pira. Open the door.”

  Taking a deep breath, Pira exhaled, then imagined opening her door at the end of her hallway.

  “Darkness?” she said, surprised. “I see darkness.”

  “Look more closely,” said Em. “There is more to see - much more. Try to see what you remember most from your past.”

  Feeling surrounded in darkness, Pira felt a shiver through her spine. There has to be more! thought Pira, panicked. Why can’t I remember myself? Why can’t I see anything? This just doesn’t feel right!

  Pulled to see what was happening, Meddhi silently spied on them through a crack of the sitting-room door. He wasn’t suspicious of Emelanthia, but he liked to keep an eye on all visitors. Plus, he couldn’t help being curious. He had gone through the exact same process, but unlike Pira, he didn’t have a Dryndi priestess to help him. His own ordeal to remember himself was a three-year nightmare in the mountains. He hoped Pira’s path would be much less arduous, and he wanted to help, if he could.

  “Mother, don’t worry, I’m right here,” said Ona with a gentle voice. Tell us what you see.”

  Slowly, Pira walked through the doorway of darkness until she came to a water fountain in a garden. The moon shone down on her white slippers as she walked, and she felt a sense of excitement, as if she was about to meet someone in secret.

  “Wait,” she said, “I think I see something, though I don’t understand what I’m doing there.”

  “Yes,” said Em, “let yourself see whatever it is. Don’t judge the vision, just see it as is.”

  Taking a small breath, Pira let her images flow. “I am in a garden by a fountain in the dead of night. It’s a little cold since I’m only wearing a nightgown for some reason… but I don’t seem to care. I’m there to meet someone. I don’t know who, but I’m anxious.”

  “Is it a man?” asked Ona, hopeful that her mother was perhaps seeing the first meetings between her and Ona’s beloved father, King Atlar. It had been a few years since his passing, but Ona still missed him greatly, and the idea of hearing about their courting days gave her a warmth in her heart.

  “Yes,” said Pira. “I’m there to meet a man… but I’m not supposed to meet him. He’s… not who my father wishes me to marry. He’s training to be a priest, and I’m not allowed to be with him, but… I love him with all my soul. Oh, Gods… what am I seeing? Is this even real?” Opening her eyes, Pira looked at Ona and Em confused. They too seemed perplexed.

  Meddhi, however, wasn’t in the least surprised.

  “I don’t mean to pry,” he said as he slowly walked into the room, “but if I may, I think I know what it is you see, Pira.”

  She looked at him and swallowed tight. “What is it?” Pira asked, then bit her bottom lip.

  Meddhi sat on the chair opposite Ona and said, “Well, you see, when you were very young - in your teens - you had a secret affair with a Ney. This was before you even met Atlar. I know this because the man was my best friend. No… he was like a brother to me. We grew up together as orphans on the streets until we were taken in by The Dei and trained as priests. It’s a time in my life that’s very difficult to remember, and it took me nearly three years to come to terms with it all, but… the man you see is none other than Yol Notama.”

  “What?” sputtered Pira. “That’s ridiculous! From what you've told me, Ona, he was a horrible man! I’d never have an affair with someone like him! He tried to kill my son-in-law, and murdered countless others! I would never have loved a man like that!”

  “Mother,” said Ona, “what he says is true. I know it seems crazy, but… Dr. Hessen even tested Pei’s blood and he is yours and Yol’s son. Somehow, you must have seen Yol in a much different way than how he turned out later on. He must have greatly changed after he lost you.”

  “That is true,” said Meddhi. “The man that I was once best of friends with became a stranger to me. I suppose the pain in his heart overwhelmed his very soul. I can only hope that his aching spirit will find a way to heal in the afterlife.”

  Pira shook her head and said, “No! This isn’t right! I don’t believe it!” She then got up and ran out of the room.

  “Mother!” Ona exclaimed as she stood up, about to run after Pira.

  “Let her go,” said Em. “Your mother isn’t ready yet. She needs time.”

  Ona sighed and said, “I know, but… I hate seeing her so confused and upset. And I can’t believe the first thing she remembers is Yol Notama!”

  “Calm down, Ona,” said Emelanthia in a soothing, but authoritative voice. “Your mother is going through a difficult time, and she needs your energy to be without anger right now.”

  “I’m trying, Em, but I miss my mother. I can’t help it if I want her to remember everything. She hasn’t even remembered having me. All this time I’ve yearned to have my mother in my life, and now, when she’s finally here, she can’t really be with me.”

  In tears, Ona put her face in her hands. Emelanthia reached over and held Ona, letting her cry.

  Feeling useless, Meddhi silently got up and walked out of the room. He was shaken by the entire event and felt the need to pray. Heading to the temple, he walked through the newly built indoor bridge that connected the palace to the temple. Overhead was a beautifully painted mural of Ayn and Ona holding each other amidst the ona flowers with the holy Saras tree in the background.

  As Meddhi entered the temple, he saw Pira there as well. She was kneeling in front of the newly reconstructed golden statue of The Great Adin. The sight of her praying to Adin surprised Meddhi, for he had known Pira since she was a child, and he had never known her to pray to the Gods. Unlike her sister Amya, she was always the rebel who had turned away from religion early on, which was something her and Yol immediately had in common. Meddhi had watched Pira grow from rebellious princess to mature Krian queen, but he never truly understood her. This newly awakened Pira was even more mystifying to him.

  He walked over, knelt down next to her, and then closed his eyes to pray. Pira noticed and looked at him.

  “Meddhi?” she whispered.

  “Yes?” he replied with his eyes still closed.

  “Did you go through this too when they brought you back?”

  Opening his eyes, he turned to look at her and said, “Yes… though I’m sure our experiences are somewhat different.”

  “I… just want to remember myself. And I know Ona wants me to remember my life on Kri, but I… just can’t.”

  Meddhi watched as Pira’s bright green eyes glistened with impending tears. His heart tugged in sympathy, and he felt the need to hold her tight. He held back as long as he could, fearing such intimacy would be inappropriate, but at a certain point, he could hold back no longer.

  “Dear, Pira,” he said, firmly holding her with his strong arms, “it will be alright, I promise.” Pira looked up at hi
m, a little stunned by his sudden closeness. When she looked in his penetrating, dark-blue eyes, however, she felt the connection the high priestess had been urging her to sense. Her heart beat faster as she looked at him; it was overwhelming.

  He too felt it, though it frightened him terribly. This was his beloved’s younger sister, whom he never previously had feelings for, and yet, he wanted nothing more than to kiss her, deep and passionate.

  As they locked eyes, the pull toward each other was inescapable. Breathing hard, Pira pressed her lips against Meddhi’s, which was all it took to make him do the same. Hungry and swollen, Meddhi needed her more than he had needed any woman since Amya had died. Pira felt the same, and they became enraptured, lost in the feeling of each other’s embrace.

  --

  Listening to his captain’s report, the Minister shifted a little in the seat of his strategy room, uneasy.

  “What do you mean General Pei isn’t responding?” said Baran. “What about Sterek or Fola?”

  “No, Minister,” came the voice on the screen, “we’ve tried repeatedly to contact all of them, but they haven’t sent anything back, not even a distress signal. Sterek’s craft was last seen by our spies stationed on Ohr about three miles East of the Tirlenian ocean.”

  Baran sighed, knotting his brow. He rubbed his chin and said, “Thank you, Captain Jayse. For now, I’d like you to stay put, but remain on high alert in case The Tah need our help. I will call the Deiusian adviser and let him know that… never mind, he’s calling me apparently. I’ll speak to you later, Captain.”

  Switching channels on his plasma-screen so that his signal could match Deiusian time-space coordinates, Baran took a breath and put on his best confident smile.

  “Adviser Zasaban, how good it is to hear from you. I was about to call you, actually. I just heard from my Lirhan contact that we’ve lost touch with Pei and the others. Do you have any idea what’s happened?”

  Zasaban sighed and said, “We have our suspicions, Minister, but nothing for certain yet. At this point, we only know where they were last recorded. We are in the process of sending reinforcements. The Shiva was wondering if you could send some of your Lirhan spies to help track wherever they might be.”

  “Of course,” replied Baran. “Ayn knows that he can count on me.”

  “Good,” said Zasaban. “I will send you their last detected frequencies now.”

  Baran received the message, then said, “I’ve got it, thank you.”

  “General…” said Zasaban.

  “Yes?”

  “Ayn has asked me to personally thank you for your help in this mission. He wanted to tell you himself, but he is busy with other matters at the moment. However, he is truly grateful for your continued support.”

  Baran smiled and said, “It is my honor to remain Deius’ strongest ally. You can tell Ayn that Kri shall always be with him as long as I am its leader. Besides, those Ohrian bastards killed King Atlar, and I won’t rest until we’ve proven it. If we can find the dome that Lod Zin spoke of, we will finally be able to put my uncle’s murder behind us and move on to a better future where all of The Un galaxy is at peace.”

  Zasaban nodded and replied, “That is what we wish for as well. When you are ready to deploy your spies, please send me an alert, and as always keep in contact. Thank you, Minister. I shall speak to you soon.”

  “Good day, Adviser,” said Baran just before the call ended, and the screen went dark. Breathing deep, then exhaling, Baran leaned back in his oval, chestnut-colored chair and rubbed his forehead.

  “Pei’s gone missing?” said Reese from behind him. Startled, Baran whipped around in his chair and looked at her.

  “How long have you been there?”

  “Long enough to hear that you need your best spies to find Pei, Sterek, and Fola. Don’t send Jayse. He’s a great fighter, but he’s not your best spy. You know who that person; she’s standing right in front of you.”

  Baran looked at Reese with penetrating eyes, then inhaled deeply. “Reese…” he said, frustrated and sad. “I’m sorry, but I can’t let you go.”

  She smirked and said, “Oh, Baran, your response has so many levels to it, and I’m flattered… but you know I’m the only one who can find them. Don’t be my ex-lover here, be Kri’s Minister. Send me to Ohr, and I’ll find Pei and help him complete the mission. You know I will.”

  “Look, Reese,” he said as he stood up, “you’re needed here.”

  “What? How so?” she asked with her green eyes squinting at him.

  “Iliya needs you, for starters,” he replied.

  “Ha!” she blurted, folding her arms. “That is so far from the truth right now, Baran, you have no idea.”

  “No,” Baran argued, “she may seem like she doesn’t, but I know she needs you, maybe more than ever.”

  Reese sighed and then said, “Baran, you’re so clueless… so selfish. You just had to have her, didn’t you?”

  “Oh, Gods, Reese, do we have to go into that right now?”

  “No,” she said, shaking her head, “we don’t. I guess it’s pointless now anyway. You and I… never had a chance really. I can see that now.”

  “Only because you didn’t want me,” he angrily replied, turning his head away from her.

  “You idiot,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Look, I wanted you. I always wanted you. I just didn’t want… all this!” Gesturing with her hand around the room, Baran assumed she meant the political position he held.

  “You didn’t have to deal with anything political, Reese. I could have-”

  “No, Baran,” she interrupted, “anyone who marries you also marries into your role as Minister. We’ve had this conversation more times than I care to remember, and you know I’m right. If I had married you, I would have had to give up The Lirhan and become your Lady Minister - your arm candy, basically. I can’t do that, and I honestly feel pity for the woman who takes that role. Then again, I have a feeling Iliya will enjoy it. After all, she’s always wanted to be the princess she was born to be. The silly girl will probably milk your position for all its worth. You two deserve each other.”

  “What? I beg your pardon?” sputtered Baran. “Look, Iliya’s not going to be my anything. We had one night, Reese, and it was an absolute mistake that I will never repeat.”

  “Oh, I don’t think that will be the case, Minister,” Reese slyly replied. “Something tells me you will be spending many nights with my adopted daughter, for better or for worse. I can only hope you grow to cherish her the way I do. She may be a pain in the bottom, but she really does have a good heart full of fire and determination. I hope that fire in her never goes out, even if she does become your political wife.”

  “I’m not marrying her, Reese!” Baran blurted.

  Reese looked at him and raised her brow. “Oh, yes, you will,” she replied with a serious, almost threatening tone.

  “Why the hell would I do that? She’s only ever been like a daughter to me. The idea of marrying her is absurd.”

  “Well, you better get used to it,” she replied as she headed toward the door.

  “Reese!” he yelped, going after her. He then grabbed her arm, causing her to turn around and slap his face.

  “Listen to me, you stupid, selfish man,” she growled, “I am going to Ohr, and I’m helping Pei. You cannot stop me.”

  “Yes, I can,” he said, holding her right wrist. Their eyes were burning as both of them suppressed their desire for each other. Angry and hurt, Baran added, “I can order you, as my Lirhan First General, to stay behind.”

  Reese smirked, then ripped her arm away from his grip. She reached for the Lirhan medal of honor on her left collar and threw it on the floor. Baran looked at her, shocked.

  “Fine,” she said, “I quit. I will go to Ohr on my own.” She then turned around and headed out the door.

  “Reese!” he yelled after her. “Reese! Have you lost your mind? Reese! Get back here! I command you to stay!”

  It
was too late. She walked down the hallway and then turned a corner, out of sight and out of his reach.

  Baran’s heart sank as he tried to process what she had just said and done. Had she really just quit? He couldn’t imagine her quitting when he knew how much she loved being Lirhan. No, he thought, she’s bluffing. She’s just really angry. She’ll be back. She has to come back… at least for Iliya. Feeling as though he’d lost her forever, he sat back down on his chair and began to quietly cry into his hands.

  Chapter 10: Underneath

  Gasping, Pei tried to reach for Maisy’s hand, but to no avail. The plasma-vacuum was pulling them all at such a violently fast speed that they couldn’t keep together.

  The metal looking mouth had been sucking them into its jaws, and it was terrifying to even the hardened Tah soldiers. Pei, however, was more fearful for his troop than for himself. He was also determined not to fail his mission - for Ayn, for Ona, and for the future of his people.

  As Pei slipped through the mouth’s jaws, he quickly grabbed onto what looked like to be a tooth. Using all of his strength to fight against the extremely powerful magnetic pull, Pei’s hands began to quiver. He just couldn’t hold on!

  Flying backwards into darkness, he felt himself racing through a metallic looking tunnel. He could barely think, but he soon realized he wasn’t inside of a living creature, but some kind of machine.

  As his head started to swim from the force of the vacuum, he was suddenly thrown on his back onto a soft surface. Reaching with his hands, the surface felt smooth and damp. “Where the hell am I?” said Pei as he slowly stood up.

  “You’re in the decompression chamber,” came a woman’s voice.

  Whipping around, Pei couldn’t see a thing. He had no idea where the woman’s voice had come from. “Who said that?” he asked, trying his best to adjust his eyes to the darkness.

  “I am… a friend,” said the voice.

  “Then show yourself!” Pei shouted.

  “I can’t,” she said, “but I will lead you to where your companions are located. Follow my voice, and you will be with them soon.”