by S E Brower
“Yes, I saw it with my own eyes, but you may ask her.”
She shook her head, “No need, I believe you.” Then, suddenly raising her hand covering her mouth, she gasped. “He knows.” Drummondax didn’t understand. “He knows,” she repeated, “The Father knows. That is why he summoned The Author, to give you some time.”
“If he knows, then why does he not put an end to this?” Drummondax asked, clearly annoyed.
“Because,” Aalonray smiled, “it is our battle to fight. He has always known everything.” All at once, she knew what she would do.
“You must all come with me, now,” she commanded. Hurrying across the open lobby, pausing only long enough to retrieve the books she’d dropped earlier. Garret, and the four unlikely heroes trailed behind her single file.
Jessie, still bewildered, took in the dreamlike quality of the Library, wondering what would happen next. All the while, she admired Aalonray’s beautiful white wings, sparkling with golden glittering flecks.
The floor beneath Jessie’s feet seemed made of marble, shining with a glossy richness. She noticed four enormous columns, surrounding a podium in the center of the lobby, nothing out of the ordinary. The Guardian Library was not as impressive as she’d envisioned. No paintings, no magnificent works of art, there were also no discernible windows or doors.
It was a Library, yet no books were present, except for the ones Aalonray retrieved from the floor. Whatever her expectations, they appeared to have missed the mark.
Feeling disenchanted, Jessie’s attention refocused when Aalonray waved her hand in front of a wall, coaxing a doorway into existence. Jessie stared wide eyed. “Okay,” she thought to herself, “now that’s what I’m talking about.” Aalonray crossed the threshold, motioning them to follow. Once they were all inside, she waived her hand again, blocking the view to the lobby.
“Where are we?” Jessie wanted to know.
“We are in the Relic Room,” Aalonray answered. Jessie perked up remembering Drummondax talking about the Relic Room while in her brother’s office.
“This is where you keep Isaac’s Lariat, right?”
“It is,” Aalonray replied, “is that what this is about, Isaac’s Lariat?” Aalonray demanded, with a skeptical eye, directing the question at Jordondey.
“Yes,” he nodded, “we require the lariat to incapacitate The Author.”
“Incapacitate? Why?” her eyes narrowed with suspicion, “what are you planning to do?”
“We are planning on The Author helping us find Garret’s brother, Evan, and the Rogue Souls,” Drummondax told her.
“If he does not cooperate, we will use the lariat,” Jordondey added.
“You know how dangerous this is. Do you not?” she gave them both a stern look.
“We do,” Drummondax said, “do you know where the Rogue Souls are being held?” She shook her head no.
“I have searched without success. The confines of the Library are never what they seem, when they are manipulated.”
“Manipulated how?” Drummondax wanted to know. Aalonray gave a fearful glance towards Jessie, and taking the hint, he said nothing more. It was not the time.
Aalonray turned her attention to Jessie, deciding The Author would be away long enough to perhaps answer some of her questions, and administer her first lesson in ‘Awareness’. Besides, Jessie could use a distraction while they waited, to help calm her.
“Jessica, what do you wish to ask?” Jessie was surprised by the invitation to ask questions and thought about it for a minute. She didn’t want to offend anyone, but she didn’t find this so-called Guardian Library impressive. She decided there had to be more to it.
“Books of Life are supposed to be here for every human since time began... well, that’s a lot of books. I didn’t see them. The Library doesn’t seem big enough to hold that much,” Jessie told her.
Aalonray smiled at her, much like a young mother would when her toddler says something amusing. “Jessica, you don’t see them because you are not ‘Aware’.”
“What do you mean, I’m not aware? I’m here. I’m aware of being here. That doesn’t even make sense,” Jessie objected.
“It is how it sounds, Jessica,” Drummondax intervened, “until you are ‘Aware’ of things in the Library, they are not visible to you.”
“Oh,” Jessie murmured under her breath, but still, she didn’t understand. Aalonray turned, placing both of her hands on Jessie’s shoulders.
“Jessica,” she began, “The Books of Life are here. They are too many to count, as Drummondax explained. They remain hidden, until we wish to see them. The Guardian Library is vast, and over-whelming even for a celestial. Do you understand?”
“Yes, I think I’m beginning to.”
“Good. This is lesson number one, ‘Awareness’. Now tell me; What do you see in this Relic Room?” Jessie looked around the room.
“I see a shelf,” she shrugged her shoulders.
“What do you see on the shelf?” Aalonray asked. On it, Jessie spied an object that looked made of wood. It was long and narrow, a metal tip lashed to one end, ancient, like something from Roman times.
“Is that… the ‘Spear of Destiny’?” she asked, with excitement.
“Yes,” Aalonray answered, “what else do you see?”
“I see the Lariat,” Jessie smiled, “and something else, it looks like… a hammer?”
“Yes, Jessica, it is the crucifix hammer.”
“Wow,” the word nearly inaudible escaped Jessie’s lips. “If this room is for relics, why aren’t there more. I’m sure there would be a Bible in here somewhere, right?” Aalonray nodded.
“Now, look again.”
Jessie looked once more, shocked to discover a large, very old Bible, sitting in the middle of the room on a marble pedestal. Thinking to herself, “It wasn’t there, I swear it wasn’t. Wait… is that?” she thought, then stopped, and asked.
“Is that what I think it is?” she looked at Aalonray, her eyes filled with wonder.
“It is the original Guttenberg Bible, in all its glory.” Aalonray told her.
“Did you make it appear for me?”
“While I could have, no, my dear, you made it appear. Because you were sure a Bible would be here, you could see it. Understand when in the Library, if you know where an object should be, and you need it to be visible, it will appear along with other small objects in proximity.
This is how we can catalog the books. Each section appears when we need it, or we can view the whole corridor of books at once. But true awareness only happens when you are sure. You must know, like you know your own name. You must believe with every fiber of your being. If you are unsure, you will see nothing, unless you have a celestial to aid you. If you are confident, yet still do not see the object you seek, then it is not present. In time, you would learn to know the difference.”
“So, the reason you can’t see the Rogue Souls, is because you don’t know where to look?” The question surprised Aalonray.
“In a manner of speaking, I may have walked past them many times. I fear The Author has masked them well. They are here. I feel their presence yet…” her voice trailed off. “You are very perceptive, Jessica. You learn quickly.”
“Thanks, that’s what Dax said, too. But I’m still confused. If I don’t want to see everything, wouldn’t I just be tripping over a bunch of invisible stuff?”
“No,” Aalonray giggled, “the stuff, as you say, exists on a different plane, manifesting only when you require it.”
“Hmm, interesting. I have one more question. Why could I see the lobby of the Library, and the stuff on the shelf, but nothing else?”
“You could see the Lobby because you saw it in the memory, I shared with you,” Drummondax said, “so, you were ‘Aware' of it already. You had no reason to doubt its existence. Also, you have glimpsed it before, you told me so, yourself. You just did not understand it.
As for the items on the shelf, Aalonray told you this
was the Relic Room. Earlier, I told you the Relic Room was where we would find Isaac’s Lariat. You already knew it was here, and so you could see the Lariat, and things close by. The Bible became visible to you, because you assumed there would be one here. Your assumption was correct.”
“Okay,” she nodded, “it’s making more sense.” She looked over at Travis, who stood with his arms folded, watching her. Jessie wondered why only she was being given the lesson. His silence reminded her, he was no longer the same person she’d known, her whole life. The Celestial Realm held no mysteries for him. At least, that is what she assumed.
The thought saddened her. She had lost her mother and felt as if the ‘Transference’ had taken her brother from her, as well. Even in her sorrow, learning about ‘Awareness’ overwhelmed her. But they had yet to face the reason they came, and she hadn’t the time to indulge her feelings just now.
Turning her attention back to the sacred relics on the shelf, she noticed a pulsing, glowing red object, further back.
“What’s that red glowing thing back there?” Jessie had seen something like it when she and Travis were at Celeste’s parlor.
“Not for you to concern yourself with, my dear.” Aalonray decided the less Jessie knew about the carrying crystal containing the pesky little demon captured when she set Garret free, the safer Jessie would remain. She distracted her from asking any more questions on the topic.
“Now, what do you see here?” Aalonray pointed to the other side of the room.
“I see a darkened, blank wall, so?”
“It is not just a blank wall, Jessica… when you are ‘Aware’.”
“What is it?”
“It is the Ark,” Aalonray said.
“The Ark of the Covenant?”
“Oh no,” Aalonray shook her head, “step back.” Jessie squinted in confusion, as Aalonray waved her hand. “It is, Noah’s Ark,” and the massive vessel appeared, accompanied by an enormous swoosh of air.
“Talk about getting your hair blown back,” Jessie laughed, when a wave of smelly, briny seawater smacked her in the face. She stood there in shock, then wiped the water from her chin.
“Thanks, Aalonray,” giving her a dirty look, followed by, “oh my God!” Jessie choked, covering her mouth and nose with her hand. “What is that?” she looked up to see Aalonray had already buried her nose in her sleeve.
Aalonray coughed, “Yes, it’s awful isn’t it? Forty days and nights of animal excrement takes its toll. You would think after all this time…” she gagged a little, then continued, “you would think it wouldn’t smell so bad.” She waved her hands with haste, making the ark, and the smell disappear.
From behind her, Jessie heard the familiar voice of her brother. “And that, is what it’s like to be ‘Punk’d by an Angel’.” Jessie turned to see his smiling face.
Throwing her arms around his neck, she hugged him with all her might. He was still in there, he was still Travis! Jessie let go, backing up, smacking him on his chest with the back of her hand. “You knew that would happen, didn’t you?”
He pointed to the tattoo on his upper arm. “Dragon Warrior”.
“Okay, I get it,” she sighed as she watched Aalonray remove Isaac’s Lariat from the shelf, and hand it to Jordondey.
“It is against my better judgment, but I trust you know what you are doing,” Aalonray said. As he took the Lariat from her, their hands touched, causing Jordondey to pause for but a second. He smiled, and turned his attention to Drummondax, who called to him.
“The Author will return soon, are you ready, my brother?”
“I am,” Jordondey nodded, and the two of them devised a plan of action.
While they were deep in discussion, Aalonray motioned for Garret to come near. He flitted this way, and that, around her.
“Garret, please be still now. I need to ask you something.” The sparkling mist hovered in front of her.
“Anything,” he answered.
“I wish to offer you my ‘Transference’.” Garret sped around and around her, until he hovered in front of her, once more.
“Why would you want to do that? You know what it will do, right?”
She shook her head. “I know well what I’m doing, Garret. Your spirit is true, you are young and intelligent. You will make an excellent Librarian, you will see. Jordondey will progress soon. We have been through much together, and I wish to progress with him. It is fitting.” Then, Aalonray telepathically communicated to Garret, not wanting Travis and Jessie to hear.
“Garret, there is something you should know, before you agree. This ‘Transference’ comes with a terrible price. There is a demon within, you must hold at bay. However, you will know how to do this, once the ‘Transference’ is complete.” Then, she said aloud, “will you do this for me Garret?”
Garret’s mist turned a paler shade of blue and was silent for a long while. “All right,” he said, “what do I need to do?”
“Thank you, Garret,” she whispered, “you don’t have to do anything. I will do it all. It is a soul to soul ‘Transference’, and as you have no physical body to interfere with the process, it should happen easily.”
Garret had his doubts. “How can I be the Librarian, when I don’t have a body?”
“The Father will restore your physical form,” she explained, “so, again I ask, will you do this?”
“Sure,” he answered, “will it hurt?”
“I don’t think so. Are you ready?”
“Yeah, I’m ready.” Aalonray put her right hand on her own heart, reaching out with her left to touch Garret’s blue spirit mist, beginning the ‘Transference’. Jessie and Travis stood to the side watching. They knew what she was doing. Drummondax and Jordondey however, deep in conversation, were unaware of what was to come.
Jessie was saddened, and torn. She had noticed what this had done to Jordondey. Her premonitions had crept in, telling her he was dying. Once this ‘Transference’ concluded, saying goodbye to Aalonray as well, was inevitable.
She wanted to yell to Dax, and Jordondey to stop her. One look at Travis, told her it wasn’t her place. This was Aalonray’s decision and there was nothing Jessie could do but stand by.
A bright flash of light signaled the ‘Transference’ to Garret was complete. This prompted both Drummondax, and Jordondey to look in their direction. Aalonray staggered back, just as Jordondey reached her. He was in a declining state himself.
“What have you done?” he whispered. Dropping the Lariat, he caught her, as she collapsed in his arms.
Chapter 17
Hwyl Fawr Calon Lan
An awkward hush fell over the Relic Room. Everyone understood what just happened, but their reactions were mixed and unspoken. The now diminished Warrior Angel, cradled the beautiful Aalonray tenderly against his chest. He gently smoothed away her shimmering golden locks, searching her face for an answer.
“What have you done?” he repeated. In his heart of hearts, he hoped he was wrong, but when their eyes met, he knew. Theirs was a love transcending time and space. A love unrequited, still deserving of recognition. Nevertheless, their joyful reunion was to be once again cut short. But Aalonray, determined not to let that happen, had other ideas. Her eyes told him everything. He leaned in close and kissed her.
It was a sensual, lover’s kiss. For an instant, her pulse quickened. Feeling complete in his arms, she dropped the rose he gifted her to the floor, reaching up pulling him close, she embraced him.
“It was my choice, as it was yours. It is fitting,” she whispered in his ear.
Drummondax and Travis looked away. But Jessie could not. Missing her husband Michael, she understood the pain of separation, yet could not fathom how love could survive so long an absence.
Watching them, she smiled as silent tears ran down her cheeks. She felt a sense of satisfaction that the woe-begotten Angels had found one another again. Yet, she was heartbroken, knowing she would lose them both so soon after just having met them.
; It made her curious though, of their history. Where were they from? Better yet, when were they from? How did they meet? What were the circumstances of their passing? All questions they will most likely leave unanswered. There would be no time for goodbye, let alone stories of how they met. After ‘Transference’, their progression would follow soon. How soon, Jessie hadn’t a clue.
Aalonray regained composure, as he held her hand. The pair of them in such a weakened state.
“Are you strong enough to stand?” he asked, releasing her when she nodded. Jordondey retrieved the Lariat and looked at the unlikely companions around him. “I am honored to have served The Father, in your company.”
“Everyone knows what to do,” Drummondax said. It was not a question.
Jessie brushed the tears from her face, her gaze resting on her brother. She was afraid for all of them. He gestured a silent thumbs up, showing he understood.
“Now, we wait,” she thought.
It wasn’t long before Aalonray gasped. “He is returning.” The slight shiver in her voice told them she was worried. Not for herself, but for them. “The Author shall be here any moment. Be ready.”
The group quietly slipped from the Relic Room into the hallway leading back to the main lobby. The tension was palpable, so much so, Jessie half expected her hair to lift with static, just as it had before the solidarity circle was formed.
There was an odd break in the air pressure, which evaporated. A deep silence consumed the atmosphere, swallowing Jessie and her cohorts as if they had fallen into a vacuum. Shifting her attention towards Jordondey, positioned just outside the Relic Room, his beautiful love by his side. Jessie noticed his fingers tighten around the Lariat, making her heart skip a beat.
With one great breath, she prepared to peer down the hallway. When she did, she saw a tall figure in long flowing robes approaching. There were no introductions needed, it was without a doubt, The Author. He strode towards them with quick angry steps, the glare on his face even angrier.
“What is the meaning of this?” The Author shouted, recognizing Drummondax. Drummondax, though polite, did not bow.