by J. D. Netto
“What happened in Mag Mell?” I asked.
Raziel and the others instantaneously bowed their heads in unison. From what I could guess it was a sign of respect for those who had lost their lives there.
“The Shadows reached the city last night and wiped out its citizens.” Raziel cringed as he answered my question. His voice implied great sorrow.
“Did any of the humans willingly ally with them?” Devin asked.
“Not that we were able to witness. When we arrived at the city, many had already been ravaged.” Raziel turned his gaze to me. “Even though they were unsuccessful in Isaac to open the Diary, they are still willing to destroy the kingdoms of Elysium to expand their Shadow army even more.”
“The expansion of this army should not be difficult now that the Council has fallen and Athalas—the master of Death—is now one of them,” Devin contested.
“Not only that, but the gate between Elysium and the Fourth Dimension now lies unguarded. Many creatures have already entered—and will continue entering,” Raziel confirmed.
“Is there any hope for Mag Mell? Can we still seek out survivors?” I asked, expecting a hopeful answer.
“Of that I am not sure,” Alexander said. “The kingdom appeared to be deserted when we left it.”
Those around me had great sorrow expressed on their faces. The marks of battle were visible all over the Underwarriors’ bodies. Their silver armors were broken, and their shields were shattered. Cuts and bruises covered their arms and faces.
“Why do you mourn?” I asked. “Why do you mourn the loss of Shadows? Yes, they were humans at one time, but you yourselves said it had to be done.” The conversation was broken by a long, eerie silence. We were too distraught to speak.
“Were others killed?” I asked, afraid of an unfavorable response.
Raziel and Alexander looked at each other. “Corbin, Nephele, Azaziel and Athalas fled before we could catch them. I am afraid only Shadows were lost here this morning,” Alexander responded.
I knew Demetre…Corbin…was no longer the friend I once knew, but I still desired to see him somehow redeemed from the destiny that was forcefully predestined for him. If I was given the choice to follow the Darkness or the Creator, shouldn’t he?
“What must we do now?” Devin asked. “They will keep on destroying the kingdoms of Elysium, and one by one, they will fall into darkness.”
The Underwarriors were all silent. I could sense that all tried to think of ways to destroy the Shadows and the Nephilins, but no one uttered a word.
“We must lead the kingdoms to war against them,” Alexander boldly proclaimed.
“But how?” I asked, bewildered. Even if a Star was able to defeat Shadows here, it would only be a matter of time before more creatures were released out of the Gate of the Fourth Dimension.
“We have to try…I know it will be a difficult task to convince the kingdoms to believe that Lucifer’s army is rising; that the Fallen Stars roam unhindered around us, trying to destroy their people,” Raziel affirmed as he paced about.
“We can watch the Gate of the Fourth Dimension for any activity, giving you and Devin time to reach out to the people,” Alexander advised; the Underwarriors nodded in agreement.
“Who will we go to? Which kingdom would most likely fight alongside us? Who would have the greatest influence on the other humans?” Devin asked anxiously. Even though the task ahead of us seemed arduous, I saw a dim light of hope in the midst of this chaos.
“Go to the Kingdom of Aloisio. It is home to the beast tamers and skilled fighters,” Raziel answered. “Seek to speak with the king. He will know what to do.”
Devin rebuked Raziel with a sneer. “We would be wasting our time trying to convince them to go to war against the Darkness. They have been the ones proclaiming that Lucifer is a myth. They raise their children to believe that humans are the only force in this universe, and that everything else is but a tale.” Devin walked around apprehensively. “Why would we go to them?”
Raziel slowly walked toward Devin; his expression was undecipherable.
“Where is this kingdom located?” I asked Raziel.
“Your friend knows the way well, Isaac.” Raziel turned his eyes to me.
“Azael was not wise in his choice—don’t be like him.” Raziel looked at Devin. “Don’t forget you have the Creator on your side.”
“Then he should be the one destroying these creatures…he should be sending out his most powerful warriors to fight this war,” Devin replied, placing his hands on his face. He nodded in disbelief at Raziel’s statement.
Raziel smirked.
“It was not he who chose the doom of Elysium, it was its inhabitants. Live for the greater good, Devin, I am sure you will not regret it,” Raziel replied, clearly enunciating each word.
Raziel walked back to the others. Alexander followed him.
“Can we count on you?” Alexander asked us. I was reluctant to be the first one to answer, because I was not the one who knew the way to Aloisio. It was obvious that Devin was entangled in an internal battle, and trying to contemplate another solution, but we both knew there was no other way.
“It would be selfish of us to let so many perish because we doubted,” I told him.
Devin stared up at the sky for a few moments, closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. His mind was set as he declared, “As impossible as this feat sounds, you can count on us.”
“Your story of redemption starts now, Nephilin. Do not waste your chance,” Raziel said with a smile.
“We will head to the Gates now, and will do our very best to protect it and prevent more Shadows and beasts from breaking in. We are all united in this fight,” Alexander announced with courage and boldness.
“Underwarriors! Fly!” Raziel shouted. They took flight. Their flying was beautifully synchronized; they all flew in formation, and their movements were precisely coordinated. Shortly after they had taken flight, they all vanished.
“We must be on our way, Devin,” I said.
“Your body isn’t strong enough to fly for long periods of time yet,” Devin said. “It is best if we travel by horse.” Devin closed his eyes; he was in deep concentration and not long after, I heard the neighing of horses emerging from the woods. I had completely forgotten about his abilities to manipulate some animals.
He was pensive as he watched the wild horses galloping in our direction.
XII
We rode quietly through the white forest. The only sounds we encountered were those of the wind and some wildlife. These were moments when my mind drifted away relentlessly trying to understand the tumultuous disaster my life had become. I wondered where Adawnas was, and why she had left us so suddenly. I attempted to ignore the intense pain and sorrow that lingered in my heart whenever I remembered my parents had died at the hands of the Nephilins; the overwhelming distress of having to witness my best friend defect to Nephele’s side and the others. I was becoming a master at ignoring these haunting emotions, continuing on as if the only challenge I faced was to reach Aloisio.
As we traveled on, I noticed the scarcity of the vegetation. The air was still frigid and the wind was picking up with increased velocity.
“How far are we from Aloisio?” I shivered.
“Another day’s ride,” he replied. Ever since our encounter with the Underwarriors three days ago, Devin had been quiet and in deep thought.
“What is on your mind?” I asked him, trembling as the freezing wind began to blow with a blizzard-like ferocity, making visibility almost blinding.
He chuckled. “Like you can’t read my mind?”
“Well, I’d rather not read your mind. I would only resort to that if my life depended upon it, and even then I would feel as if I had violated you. I believe you trust me enough to not withhold any relevant information from me,” I affirmed.
He tilted his head upward, and scanned the length of the firmament, as though his answer would be found up there. Devin took
a deep breath and was silent as he pondered his options.
“Raziel mentioned that this was the start of my redemption.” He sighed. “Throughout my long years of existence, I have perpetually wondered if being redeemed was ever possible for me. I left my hiding place to live with the Council for many years, hoping that my efforts would somehow free my soul from the innate darkness always present within me.”
It must have been exceedingly difficult for my companion to grasp the concept of receiving a chance for redemption. Having lived many lifetimes believing wholeheartedly that there was no hope for him, and then to discover the possibility of being redeemed from this fate must be undoubtedly confusing.
“I do not think that the Creator would damn you for the previous actions of your kind,” I affirmed. I was trying to summon words of encouragement to build his hopes up, but my knowledge was in the infant state of development in reference to this subject. “I just can not remotely imagine you damned, Devin. It is too impossible to fathom.”
“What do you mean?” he asked, disconcerted by my allegation.
“You willingly chose to go on this journey with me and Demetre, disavowing your own fallen nature. You have been living these many years struggling to be free from the darkness within yourself. I don’t see how someone that is willing to go through such peril could be damned.”
He nodded his head, affirming that my assumption was correct.
“Adawnas left…” He inhaled a deep breath. “What makes you think I won’t betray you as well, Isaac? Do you know me well enough to make those assumptions?” he continued. “My nature is wicked. Do you believe I am truly able to change what I am? My father fell and bore children with your kind, damning you as well. We are nothing but an aberration destined for damnation.”
I was shocked by his reply. What could I say to him that would make him see beyond the past? I thought about how Devin’s trials reflected the struggles that afflicted Elysium. How would humankind ever believe in what was thought to be legend? Yes, they would see the destruction, but many were stubborn or too afraid to take a stand. With the driving passion that humans had for power, they might just choose to succumb to the Darkness instead of pressing on toward knowing the hidden source within the Darkness.
“Why do you go on then? Why are you still here in the middle of a frozen wasteland, heading to one of the most powerful kingdoms in Elysium, trying to bring truth to their minds?” I questioned in a blatant voice.
He tightened his grasp on the reins. He did not answer.
“I can imagine you are fighting inside of yourself, wanting to believe that your soul does not have to be damned forever,” I comforted him.
“Not only wanting to believe, Isaac…I must believe. I have seen so much in this world. Pain, war and deception have always followed the citizens of this land. Still—I want to believe in redemption. It means life to me!”
We continued riding. I gazed at the many hills ahead of us, which were all covered in a white blanket of snow; they were radiant under a canopy of gray sky. Small houses appeared scattered throughout many of the hills. For once, we viewed no evidence of destruction before of us.
Although the quaint little village appeared to be quite placid, I kept my guard up.
“Is this Aloisio?” I asked, carefully glancing at the houses in the distance.
“No. Aloisio is surrounded by many small villages. The actual kingdom lies on the other side of the sea,” Devin affirmed.
The houses were invitations of a warm welcome. I envisioned a picture of a home-cooked meal, children bustling to and fro cheerily, and the adults reclining lazily around the cozy hearth. They had been built around the trees and the rocks that covered the hills. Smoke rose from the chimneys and the smell of baked pastries drifted through the air.
When the citizens caught sight of us, their curiosity drove them closer. The women with their children and husbands surrounded Devin and me. The people were joyless. Their hearts were weighed down, burdened with great distress.
“Are you from the other side of the forest?” one asked frantically.
“Do you know what is going on? Do you know why the sun has vanished?” another asked as he grabbed my leg.
“We have been under the shadows for too long,” said an old woman. “If you have any information, please tell us.”
They all spoke at once, asking questions and babbling amongst themselves. Confusion permeated the group of inquisitors. Questions were flying from every direction, but they were not willing to wait for answers.
A man mounted on a gray horse galloped through the crowd. He was clothed in silver armor that was tarnished and covered with cracks and rust. A long, dirty cape woven with the fur of a bear was attached to his back.
“The guard…he is coming…” the old lady muttered.
“What is this commotion about?” he shouted in a loud voice. Immediately the crowd broke up, leaving us stranded out in the open. Devin remained still; his breathing was soft and constrained.
The guard scrutinized both of us, and turning away, he scratched his head.
“Follow me,” he said bluntly.
“Should we follow him?” Devin asked.
I did not feel threatened by his gruff appearance, nor did he seem eager to destroy us. The crowd stood aloof, gawking at us with wide-eyed wonder while the three of us conversed. They watched us in a state of terror.
“I see no reason why not,” I said, even though I was reluctant to follow him.
As we rode on, I could clearly hear the people muttering amongst themselves.
“The blond one looks suspicious,” a man exclaimed in a heavy accent. “Are you going to question him?” he shouted. They were skeptical and it was apparent that they wanted answers quickly.
As the marble streets narrowed, the houses were situated closer to each other. It almost seemed as though they were mounted on top of one another. The trees were barren, void of life, and the lake that we passed by had frozen over.
“Shouldn’t be long now,” the guard exclaimed as he continued on, looking straight ahead.
As we rode by the last house, we came into a clearing. The foliage was dense. The gigantic trees and small thorny shrubs made it hard to navigate. Puddles of mud and fallen pine trees were scattered along the rugged terrain. In the midst of this gloomy landscape, an old shack appeared.
“You can tie your horses there.” He pointed to a wooden pole that sat on the right side of the shack. He unsaddled his horse and quickly headed inside.
“Please, do not hesitate to come in,” he yelled out, beckoning with his hand to enter. We tied our horses to the pole and followed him inside of the shack.
The roof and the walls were old and cracked. As I walked up the two creaking wooden steps and onto the porch, I was surprised to see a massive conglomeration of cobwebs hanging from the ceiling.
Once inside, I noticed the fireplace was lit and the aroma of newly brewed barley tea reached my nostrils, tantalizing my senses.
“You caused a great commotion back at the village,” the guard said. “Where are you two from?”
“We did not mean to cause any problems,” Devin answered. “We are travelers, just passing by.”
“That doesn’t really answer my question,” the guard snapped in a rough voice. He paced back and forth suspiciously, his eyes fixed on us.
I quickly surveyed the shack. There were many wine bottles and lit candles placed on an old shelf. I remained attentive. I did not know what to expect here.
“What is your name?” I asked.
“Abhel. I guard this wee village of Adhelina. What may yours be?” he asked, staring at the fireplace.
“Isaac, and this is Devin. If you don’t mind my asking, why did you bring us here?” I approached him, suspicious of his behavior.
Abhel smiled.
“There has been talk abroad of a great shadow that has come.” His hands intertwined. “Twenty of our soldiers went to Mag Mell the day before yesterday, but t
hey never returned. We sent out two more of our men yesterday to bring us news of the latest developments, but they did not return either.” Abhel sat down on his chair. His left hand began to rub his chin. I could sense he felt very nervous in our presence. “You are outside travelers.” He was silent for a while. “Where are you headed to?”
Devin sighed as he clasped his fingers together and bowed his head.
“That is a story we do not have time to tell. The darkness you speak of is true—the Fallen are multiplying,” Devin proclaimed hastily.
“Well, I can surely see that you…with the deep blue eyes…you aren’t as common as the rest of us…” His voice trailed off as he studied Devin’s features closely.
Abhel stood to his feet. “I need you to understand that I lost twenty-two men to this darkness. Forgive me if for insisting, but I need to know if you have more information about all that is happening. Some bodies were found today near the river. The women are not aware of it yet, but I saw the way the bodies were mutilated. I do not take death lightly. Do you know what the reason is for this disappearance and the vast mutilations?”
“Because the Diary of Lucifer has been found,” I quickly informed our interrogator.
Slowly, he sat back on his chair and cupped his face with his hands.
“The dark book is then a reality?” he said, mesmerized.
“We need safe passage through your village. We must convince the kingdoms to come together and fight against this turbulent force,” Devin affirmed.
I looked out the window behind him and I observed movement in some of the tree branches. I caught sight of a Shadow slowly crawling along the ground on his hands and feet. It headed toward the shack.
“Devin!” I alerted him, pointing at the dark figure. “They are here!” I sprang to my feet.
All of a sudden, the roof of the shack was broken through and Shadows mounted on Desert Dragons descended upon us, growling ferociously. One of them brutally attacked Abhel. They decimated his body. It was torn in half, and his innards were smeared all over the floor of the shack. Blood splattered onto my face.