The Return of the Watchers (Armageddon Rising Book 1)

by Denny Bennett

  "It is not all without strife. There are those among the council and their followers who have more radical ideas towards ruling and our role in combating our enemies. Many citizens, the majority I would say, are in uniform agreement that the agents of The Lightbringer need to be dealt with. Only the methods we employ seem to be contested. Indeed, there are those on the council who would like to see me expelled from Anidon because I voice my concerns too loudly and disagree with how some would have things done here. But that is for another discussion. Today we should celebrate this occasion where father and son are reunited and enjoy our are time together. As I have chosen our seating environment, I think it only fair that you decide on what we shall eat. Several friends will be joining us shortly that I should like you to meet, so I suggest you choose wisely; two are fellow council members and two are part of my intelligence gathering team,” he said with a wink at Dorian.

  “I should also remind you not to mention or think anything about your birth mother; that stays between us and Matthias,” he added. Dorian looked over the menu options, which were too numerous to decide; he played it safe with Italian. The selection was made and a couple of punk rocker-type girls skated over the table to prepare the settings for their meal. In actuality they used a portable holographic screen that everyone in Anidon was fond of to select the place settings. A moment later a robotic servant brought them over. Dorian instinctively started to get up to help make the room more inviting for the anticipated guests. The girls smiled. “Have a seat, relax. We'll take care of it,” the pink haired one said, sizing him up. “I keep forgetting this isn't my living room,” Dorian replied with a laugh. All sorts of smells filled the air, and in fact part of the fun of walking around was to see what other people were eating. While Urieth seemed to be interrupted by his subordinates checking in, Dorian took the opportunity of letting his mind sift through the thoughts of those around him for a few moments. He didn't pick up anything significant until he heard a female voice telepathically in his mind. “You are being watched. Be on your guard, especially your thoughts,” she said. “Who is this?” he asked, peering around to see if the messenger was in his visual field.

  “A friend. Be wary of councilman Ashmus Terharax; he is not who he seems. I will say no more,” she replied, then abruptly ceased communication. “You would be wise to exercise caution using that skill. You don't know who might try to poison your mind,” a tall figure standing in front of the living room said. He was completely bald with an ashen-colored skin, much like the fallen watcher Dorian had encountered at his home in Ann Arbor. The markings on his skin were similar as well, as if they were branded, and the resultant scars formed sigils that were licorice colored. His eyes were glowing with a yellowish hue, and his teeth were blackened and pointed. Dorian looked at his aura which was a deep violet. The feelings given off him were warm and inviting, which contrasted greatly with his appearance. “Your countenance suggests you have seen an apparition,” he said to Dorian while glancing over at Urieth. Urieth smiled and stood up to greet him. “Sonra'el, my friend, I am warmed at your presence,” Urieth said, grasping Sonra'el's forearm in his. “Please, I would like to introduce you to my son, Dorian.” “It is my honor to meet the son of Urieth. We have all heard so much about you,” Sonra'el said, extending his hand to Dorian, who received it. A feeling of greetings was exchanged between the two. Suddenly, out of nowhere, Dorian had a flash of Sonra'el's past from ancient times, many thousands of years ago. Before his fall from grace he was a beautiful angelic being that shone brightly with the light of the creator. His fall disfigured him as he was seen now and the vision changed to a battleground of a major war. At that time, his brother, Salami'el joined with the Morning Star and fought against the forces of Heaven. Dorian saw that Sonra'el had also been one of his followers, but through a turn of events he betrayed the other fallen Angels, including his brother. Using very powerful magic he managed to open a dimensional rift to escape their wrath; however, his form remained unchanged. The next several thousand years flashed before Dorian's eyes in an instant and he witnessed the trials Sonra'el had faced over the millennium. A cold sweat formed on Dorian's forehead and his skin turned pale. “Are you well, my son?” Urieth asked as Dorian slowly pulled his hand away with a blank expression on his face, staring at Sonra'el. “Yes, I think so. I think. Did you just?” he asked, looking at Sonra'el. Sonra'el looked at Urieth and then back at Dorian. “What is it, Dorian? Did something happen?” Urieth asked. Dorian looked at Urieth and then back at Sonra'el with astonishment. “I'm not sure if I should....I had some kind of vision. You were an angel of light. I saw you in the war of heaven, the first meeting of the two of you, your struggles, the death of your family. It was as if I was there-I felt what you felt, everything,” Dorian replied, unsure of why he was able to view Sonra'el's past with such clarity. Sonra'el and Urieth looked at each other with astonishment. “You have witnessed what very few have then. And if what you say is true, then you have shared the pain of my existence since that fateful day. I would not wish that upon anyone, my friend. Are you well?” “I'm not feeling the greatest, no. I thought you sent that vision to me; I have no idea how that happened. I'm still learning to control things. Looks like I have a long way to go,” Dorian replied, holding his hand over his forehead. “It would seem you have been blessed with many gifts,” Sonra'el replied. “One can only wonder what else is in store for you. Come, let us not relive the past, but enjoy each other's company while we are able. “Urieth, I should mention, Gregory informed me he will be late in his arrival,” Sonra'el stated, appearing slightly shaken by Dorian's confession.

  Urieth paused a moment while he looked over at his son with concern, then back at Sonra'el. “That is no surprise. Gregory is typically late for most social gatherings. Jasmine and Marcus should be here shortly. I see them now, actually,” Urieth said, waving at the council members to join them.

  The two made their way over and fit themselves on the couch. “Ah I see everyone's here except Gregory, as usual,” Jasmine said. Her face appeared to be much younger than her voice and demeanor suggested. Her skin was coco-olive in color, and she wore a dark blue and gold appointed turban and large gold earrings, along with a gold-woven dress; all in all she was a remarkably beautiful woman who garnered much attention from those passing by. She smiled at Dorian with her exceptionally perfect teeth and lips. Dorian smiled back nervously, having a difficult time maintaining his focus after his disturbing vision. A tall, dark man wearing a futuristic-looking grey suit moved in behind Marcus just as Jasmine finished her last sentence. “I'm not always late. Just most of the time,” he said with a laugh as he slid into the gathering, placing his arm around Jasmine and gently kissing her on the cheek. “Jasmine, Marcus, Gregory, I would like to introduce you to my son, Dorian. Jasmine is one of the council members and also serves as a Mediator, which is what you would refer to as a judge on the Earth's surface. The one to her left, often accused of being my twin, is Marcus Parreth, another council member who works in our intelligence gathering unit. And the last one, standing next to the beautiful woman he could only dream of acquiring is Gregory, who works with me in the Division of Offensive and Defensive Operations. Thank you all for coming.” “Urieth tells me that you are a professor and scientist in the state of Michigan in America on Earth. How is it you have not joined us sooner?” Marcus asked. He had the chiseled and experienced look of his father, with long, sandy brown hair and blue eyes, along with a commanding tone of his voice. There were no ill intentions that Dorian could sense coming from him. Urieth did not mention the abilities of his guests, so Dorian had to assume they might be able to detect deception or evasiveness; the best approach, in his eyes, would be to tell as much of the truth as he could. “I was given up for adoption for a time because Urieth wanted a normal life for me, away from all of the troubles you all face. For that I am grateful, because I see what a difficult life some of you have had. My foster parents have both passed on- my mother just a few days ago,�
�� Dorian said, glaring at Urieth. “But they were both very loving and wonderful. I could not have asked for more. My father was a researcher and scientist, and when he died from a terrible disease I devoted my life to study and followed in his footsteps. Truthfully, I spent part of my research just trying to find out about myself, what set me apart from everyone else.” Urieth and the others looked at Dorian with sadness.. “I think I can speak for everyone and say we are very sorry for your loss. You still have family, and in time I hope you will come to see Urieth as a father, if not a friend at least. You are very young. To ones such as us, the short time you have spent above was but a brief moment; however, you should be proud of what you have accomplished and do not feel as if it has been all for naught. Your experiences will be of value to you in the days ahead,” Jasmine said with a loving smile on her face. “If only I shared your optimism, Jasmine. Events are rapidly unfolding all around the Earth signaling a major change, a coming war,” Marcus interjected. “What news can you share, Marcus?” Gregory asked. He looked around and lowered his voice. “There have been significant fluctuations in the Earth's energy field. We have reports that two of the prisons of the fallen have been opened and expect more to follow soon. I can also tell you that the Chinese and the Russians will be heading to war soon against Europe. This will have a major impact on the infiltration efforts the fallen have invested with the United Nations. They are vying for a world leader and this Mullah Xul may be what we have feared; some are saying he is the product of one of the corrupted Angels and one of the Nephilim.” Dorian and Urieth looked at each other and said nothing. “There is also rumor that the offspring of one of Rapha'el's special guard may hold the key to Asa'el prison.” Urieth's eyes widened. He kept quiet but it was obvious that he was not happy with Marcus having this knowledge. “If what you say is true, we need to find this individual before the fallen do; with Asa'el unleashed, the world will become a battleground. No doubt his power has grown over the years,” Gregory replied. “Mullah Xul will have to be dealt with soon if we are to gain a foothold in the coming days,” Sonra'el said grimly. “We have made several attempts to assassinate him, but he has very powerful allies who seem to have some way of predicting our movements. I have my suspicions about why that is the case, but I will remain silent until I am certain of the facts,” Urieth said as the waitstaff began bringing their food. They ate their meal and talked of lighter topics. Urieth stood up and made some motion with his hand on his personal display and the living room transformed as they sat. Dorian's grand piano made an entrance from the back of the room. “I was wondering if you would be willing to play a melody for us?” Urieth asked with a smile. “Oooh, Dorian please play us a song,” Jasmine said with a big smile, her eyes lighting up. Dorian groaned inside at the thought of performing, but he didn't want to embarrass Urieth, so he obliged. Getting up from his seat, he tapped the keys to determine how well the piano was tuned and the response of the instrument, then began to play. It wasn't long before a small crowd had gathered to listen. He finished a few more pieces to a rousing applause from the audience. Smiling and nodding in appreciation to their gesture, he got up and returned to his seat. “Quite the performance, Dorian. One would be surprised to learn the piano was not your profession,” Gregory remarked.

  “My mother was a professional pianist and instructor, so naturally I learned from the best,” he replied, pausing to remember her passing. “That was breathtaking my dear, simply breathtaking. Thank you for a wonderful evening, Urieth. It was so nice to have met you, Dorian. I think we will become fast friends,” Jasmine said as she stood up to leave. The rest of the group followed suit and said their goodbyes, leaving Urieth with Dorian to finish up their conversation. “So now you have met my inner circle of friends here, although I have many others that I value. Unfortunately, it seems that-” “Wait, Urieth, we should be careful here. Is there somewhere private we can talk?” Dorian asked. Urieth looked concerned. “Of course, my son. One moment.” He put the room back to its natural state and gestured for Dorian to follow. The two left the Whispering Wind and got aboard Urieth's flying transport, traveling to the enormous floating crystal sphere Dorian had seen some time ago. As they approached the structure Dorian realized that it was not a crystal at all, but rather an enormous diamond. As they approached, the colors and lights shimmering from it were mesmerizing. Its surface was cut with many facets to reflect the light with the greatest luminosity. At the bottom of the sphere there was a large opening through which many dozens of beings were coming and going from it. “This is where we control the central government of Anidon. There are secure rooms in here where we can talk freely,” Urieth said as they disembarked their platform and walked into the stone. The ground was an unusual type of stone that appeared to flow like a slow moving river, displaying information for visitors to find their way. Officials in uniform were coming and going, several of which nodded to Urieth as they passed. They rode a platform up to the twenty-first floor, where Urieth gave his credentials to the security forces there. A temporary pass was given to Dorian and the two of them travelled forwards on their platform for a bit until it stopped in front of a set of double doors that also appeared to be made of diamond. A sign upon them read “Commanding Offices For Offensive And Defensive Operations Of Greater Anidon. Security clearance required for entrance.” There were no guards outside, only a floating device was outside, much like the one Yelnisha had used to get into the mountain. Urieth waved his hand over it and mouthed some words. The doors lit up brightly and announced the two of them as they passed through the entranceway. “My office is back here; follow me,” Urieth said as Dorian was looking around at the see-through floors. “I've heard of transparency, but don't you think this is a little overboard?” Dorian asked. Urieth chuckled. “We can alter the floors' colors to give privacy, but after hours we keep them off for security purposes. Most of my more sensitive discussions take place on Verdes Eta. What you see around you is where our basic day to day operations take place. Come inside, have a seat,” he said, waving his hand, causing the transparent door to open. There were several chairs in the office, and Urieth gestured to Dorian to take a seat. When Dorian sat in one of the chairs, it conformed to his body, reclining him into an almost prone position. A floating screen appeared in front of him. “Do not touch anything, I'll set it up,” Urieth said. After making adjustments, Urieth sat in his chair, which moved into alignment next to Dorian's. “Just relax and take a few deep breaths. You might find the experience to be a bit disorienting at first,” Urieth said as he finalized the adjustments. A moment later Dorian felt the tremendous rush of force pulling him through the now familiar tunnel. A thunderclap later, they were both on the breece. Verdes Eta was unique in that it was Ureith’s own secure space that only he and those whom he chose could access.

  The two of them travelled in spirit form to the one and only building on the breeceway, which had the outward appearance of an ancient stone structure crafted by an advanced civilization from long ago. “We are free from prying eyes and ears here. Was there something important you needed to discuss with me?” “Yes. At the Whispering Wind I heard a voice in my head. It told me we were being watched and that a Councilman Ashmus was not to be trusted. I was trying to communicate with it when Sonra'el showed up. I don’t know what that's all about, but I thought you should know,” Dorian said. Urieth frowned. “I see. I’m not quite sure what to make of it myself. We've had our disagreements over the years, but I do not consider Ashmus my enemy. Ashmus is the Chancellor of Research here, in addition to his position on the council. I, along with several others, have called for closer scrutiny of his research activities, which he has vehemently opposed every time the subject has been broached during the council sessions. I do not fully trust him myself, so I am thankful you have brought this to my attention. It would be foolish for me to dismiss it casually, so I will carefully investigate.

  “I trust your dinner was satisfactory?” “Yes, everything was great,” Dorian re
plied. “It was nice for us to share a meal together, and I am happy that you have met some of my closest friends.” “There is one more thing I forgot to mention to you before I came to Anidon,” Dorian said. “Oh? What’s that?” “I discovered what I believe to be an encrypted message within my genetic code. As far as I can tell it was left for me to discover by Esme. About a week ago, my mother gave me this alien-looking metallic disc; well, more of a heptagon in shape. Anyway, it had these unusual pairings of dots and words on it. She told me Esme gave it to her when I was a baby and mentioned something along the lines of for her to give it to me when the time was right. Apparently the right time was just a few days ago, since she had forgotten about it entirely for years.

  “When I looked at it at first I couldn't read it. After they turned on my Shi or it was activated, whatever you call it, somehow I was able to read it. What we've come up with is that the dots on the object correlate to specific codons, genetic sequences of DNA base pairs that are also linked to these angelic words.” Urieth’s eyes widened. “We? Where is the device now?” he asked. “I left it with a friend of mine, Yuki, who also runs my lab. She’s working on decrypting the code for me,” Dorian replied. Urieth looked quite shocked. “I was unaware that Esme'el had placed any message in your genetic code so I am at a loss for words right now. We need to keep this information between ourselves for the time being, as there are too many variables to consider. I will have Sonra'el place a protective spell over Yuki's home. Whatever this message may contain, it could be information that the enemy might somehow benefit from, so we should assume it does and act accordingly until we know for certain otherwise. It may be best for her safety and our security that she go into hiding.