by J. D. Netto
I could not see them through the darkness. Once again, the roars resounded. They were coming from above us, probably from where we had just fallen. I heard someone or something make a loud splash right next to me. I shivered when I felt the ripples of water touching me. Whatever had followed us was now lurking in the water not far from us.
The smell of putrid decay infiltrated the air.
There was silence. I could hear Devin and Petra gasping for air.
“No. Who are…no…” Petra shouted from the darkness. Following the direction of his voice, I heard Devin grunting. Terrifying screams reverberated on all sides; then dead silence. I heard the water crashing around me. The strong stench of whatever had come filled the air. My heart was beating incredibly fast.
“I see you,” a voice whispered.
“Show yourself, creature!” I commanded.
“Look harder.” The voice came from behind me. I felt the pressure of two cold hands against my face. Its palms felt like sharp knives cutting through my scalp, penetrating my head and crushing my brain. I closed my eyes; the pain was unbearable.
XIV
I opened my eyes to find my arms and legs completely immobile, without feeling. An intolerable piercing draft of cold air hung in the air as my senses returned to me.
I turned my head and a sharp pain in my back caused me to wince. My wings, I thought. My speculation was correct. Someone had chopped them off.
As I checked myself, I realized my wrists had been chained along with my legs. The chains that bound me were old and corroded. I was standing on the balcony of what seemed to be an enormous cathedral. The floor was constructed of perfectly inlaid black and white squared tiles. I was alone. The grayness of the sky was so dense it was almost black. I looked out from the balcony and saw many houses, and beyond the houses, the statue of the Star that stood alone in the middle of the sea. Undoubtedly, I was still in Aloisio.
Multiple bruises covered my whole body. Every piece of clothing but my black pants had been ripped off of me, leaving me without any protection from the bitter cold. My teeth chattered violently as I inhaled the frigid air.
“Devin! Petra!” I shouted to the top of my lungs, but there was no answer. I was discouraged, but not ready to believe the worse had happened. I tried to jog my memory, to retrace the steps to remember what took place after I blacked out, but my memory was blocked. I could only recall vague impressions.
A throbbing headache pounded in my forehead. The pain made me nauseous. I caught a glimpse of Nephele; she appeared before me, her eyes peering hauntingly into mine.
“I see our Capios have done a terrific job in capturing you three.”
“Capios?” I asked in a hoarse voice.
“Yes…creatures from the Abyss. Apparently, the Gate of the Fourth Dimension is not being watched so vigilantly,” she said with a snarl, hoping to see my reaction, but I was not about to entertain her depraved humor.
I moaned.
“Capios are shapeless creatures, invisible to the naked eye. The only evidence of their presence is their growling, which serves as a warning to their prey that they are about to be taken. Once they latch onto you they automatically take possession of your senses. Quite useful and interesting beings they are.”
There was silence after her explanation. Because of the pounding headache, I was too weak to even lift up my head.
“Will you continue to believe the lying fools that surround you, Isaac?” she queried. Her cunning voice became soft and almost soothing.
“Where are they?” My lips mumbled the words feebly.
“They are safe, that is all you need to know.” She approached me. “Why are you being so difficult? You must know that aligning yourself with us is the wisest choice. Do not be fooled by the words of others. We have cut off your special ‘gifts’ so that you could see that we are stronger than any other entities you know.”
I chuckled. “When you say it like that, it sounds almost believable,” I retorted with a sarcastic smirk.
There was silence.
“Now tell me,” I said weakly. “Do you not need my blood anymore to open the Diary? You have been pursuing me with such relentless obsession that I thought your life was now driven by the ruthless desire to have me shed my blood for the Diary.”
“I am learning how to be patient with your kind, Isaac.”
I allowed my eyes to look deeply into hers.
“You lied to me. You said I was the only one that could give you blood to open the Diary; not that I expected anything different from you.”
She chuckled.
“Well, I must admit, it was not easy to believe Athalas when he informed me that there were four more like you, especially when we discovered that four more books existed. Since Petra has also been captured, I suppose it is true. Your value to us is vitally important—only you can shed blood to open the Diary, but opening the book isn’t enough. You have to read the words written on its pages. Every book-bearer can only open the book that lies in their possession. Demetre, however, was meant to be a host.” She paced around the balcony as a soft breeze blew her hair. “All he was ever meant to do was to be a dwelling place for Corbin.”
“Are they related to me?” I asked. Even with the slightest movement the pain throughout my body intensified.
“That I do not know,” she answered.
I gasped for air. I could feel the muscles on my face begin to twitch.
“You know, it is baffling to me that you are able to invade a person’s mind, make them dream what you want them to and inflict much pain upon them, but you cannot force them to choose what you desire for them.”
She viciously glared at me, but this time with a different expression in her eyes; eyes that seemed eager to destroy me. She leaned her face in close to mine and spat at my right cheek. Anger rose up inside of me.
“Then why do you think you are chained here?” She turned her back to me, facing the kingdom. “Besides, it is only through him that I can enter your mind,” she chimed.
“Him?” I asked, revelation dawning on me.
“The Dark One.” She sighed resolutely. “There is a very special connection between you two—something that the Nephilins and the Fallen Stars are to also discover. Your minds are connected in some mysterious way.”
My breathing grew faint. “Bastards,” I said angrily, clinching my teeth.
“The citizens of this kingdom are all ignorant of the present danger—the motive for this darkness is under their very noses,” she declared, ignoring my comment. “They think we have recruited their men simply to train for a war. Yet they are completely blind as to what this war is about, or where it will take place. They are all scared, running to and fro trying to create a solution, some theory to explain all of this darkness. Also, having Athalas—the commander of Death—on our side is something very beneficial to the cause.”
“Why are you holding me here, Nephele? You know I will not shed my blood willingly.”
She paused a moment.
“There is someone that I want you to see before your special treat,” she said.
Nephele opened the massive wooden door that was to my left and on the other side, I caught a glimpse of a very long hallway. She closed the door behind her upon leaving.
Frantically, I shook my arms, hoping to find a way to break free from the chains, but my efforts were for naught. I stared up at the gray sky and my mind drifted away. I wondered, questioning Raziel’s whereabouts, and what had happened to Tonma, Devin and Petra. Did they all share the same fate?
I began to doubt the reality of all that I had experienced: the memories of the white lion, the sea. They all seemed more like a distant dream to me. All of the people I had encountered, even the Underwarriors, were like a myth in my mind at this moment. Everything seemed to be so surreal.
A flash of lightning dashed across the sky; rumbles of thunder followed. I was hungry; my body had been beaten and was in a weakened state. The door flew open and two Nep
hilins walked in my direction. They unchained my hands and dragged me down the hallway. The floors followed the same black and white pattern from the balcony. There was writing all over the walls and statues throughout the hallway that made the space feel somber. Even with my dulled senses, I was able to decipher some of the words. One of the phrases caught my eye.
“Judgment Comes Swiftly When Least Expected.”
Another door opened to my view. It was a throne room. Two guards were positioned at the entrance as we entered, both armored from head to toe in silver. Their helmets were shaped like human skulls with two horns on each side. A red cape was draped behind their backs, touching the floor. The room was decorated with beautiful white stones; ornate statues and mosaics surrounded us. The ceiling was painted with depictions of human torture. In front of me was a throne, which exuded with royalty and majesty. The golden allure of the throne which was erected in the center, stood out above all of the white accessories in the room. A man sat upon it his left arm reposed on the armrest with his head resting on his hand. The two Nephilins that accompanied me left.
“Leave us,” the man on the throne ordered; both guards that were positioned at the door’s entrance retreated. To discover that these guards were human was a big surprise.
Silence dominated the room as I stood before his presence in awe.
“I will not pretend that I do not know who you are, Isaac. Neither will I hide what it is I want from you,” he said with a kind voice.
My body continued to grow weaker.
“What is…your name?” I stammered.
“King Marco.” He raised his head up and his dark eyes were now looking directly at me. His black shoulder-length hair cascaded in front of his face, covering his left side. “I will not say I am sorry for what has happened to you. It was the only way I could get you here to show you what I must do. Consider your presence here to be a…favor from me.”
I was speechless, and honestly too weak to even make an attempt to reply.
“Your weakness displays the fallibility at which the Creator is capable of taking care of you. If you are meant to be this book-bearer, why are you still here in this room, weak on your knees, and at my disposal?”
I closed my eyes and realized that the weight I felt within me was a lot heavier in this room.
“Why have you brought me here?” The pain that coursed through my body was markedly intensified with every word I spoke.
King Marco stood to his feet and walked down two short staircases positioned in front of his throne.
He deliberated momentarily. “I do hope my timing is right.” Measuring the moment, he painstakingly drew back the white curtains that draped onto the right side of the throne. As I peeked through the frosted windows I caught a glimpse of the sea. From a distance, I could still see the statue of the Star. Lightning ripped from one end of the horizon to the other.
“I want to show you something real—something tangible,” he said, walking away from the windows.
“I know you are not in the best condition, but you do need to see this,” he said ominously. He gruffly pulled my right arm and placed it over his shoulders.
He led me in the direction of a painting that hung on the far left wall of the room. It was a depiction of a masterfully painted field of flowers, a breathtaking sunset and many Stars flying. In the painting, one of the Stars was seated on a rock, holding a harp in his hand.
My blood rushed through my veins at every step. The remnants of my amputated wings moved as if they wanted to expand. I could not understand why my body reacted this way.
Instantaneously, my senses came back to me. I felt invigorated. A boost of energy flooded my body, empowering every member.
“What happened?” I asked, shocked.
King Marco looked at the painting and laid his right hand over the Star sitting with the harp.
“This painting is special. Your body is reacting to the power that Lucifer still has while his body sleeps. Even though he still slumbers, your body can sense its vibrations,” he countered as his hand traced the canvas.
My eyes were fixed on him, anticipating an unequivocal answer to my question. Surprisingly, my ability returned and I was able to pick up my surroundings, and without delay I could read his thoughts. There was a vacuum within him, an empty shell. Incoherent thoughts and memories scattered without rhyme or reason in his mind. Amid the collection of illogical thoughts, I recalled the image of a dark being I had seen when I had read Devin’s soul. It was the Dark One.
“You sold your soul to Lucifer, didn’t you? You are no longer a mere human, are you?” I charged as I returned from the vision.
King Marco belted out a frenzied roar.
“I see you are no fool. I know of your gifts, Isaac, but I don’t think you are yet able to capture all that is in this room,” he said menacingly.
“Why do you say that?” I asked; my fists tightened as rage arose inside of me.
“Because the Star you see playing the harp in this painting is a manifestation of Lucifer.”
My heart skipped a beat as I heard his affirmation.
I concentrated my attention on the Star portrayed on the canvas. I was hesitant about using my powers in the room again. Whenever Lucifer appeared in my mind, a feeling of loss and desperation overcame me.
I felt as if fire burned inside of me. My hands trembled, and to my surprise the painting began to move. This image of Lucifer played the harp beautifully while the other Stars flew against the beautiful sunset. Sudden flames circulated throughout his body, burning everything, including the six wings that were marvelously pinioned to his back. A low screech came from him as his body was incinerated. He resembled nothing like the apparition I had encountered before in Valley Hills.
“Why is my body responding to the painting like this?” I asked, panting, gasping for air, eyes transfixed on the canvas.
“It is because you approached this painting that your powers came back to you. Even as he sleeps he has been gracious enough to give you back your strength, but if you walk away from his presence, your body will return to its ordinary human state,” he affirmed with a gentle, yet malefic voice.
From behind us the door burst wide open; Nephele, Athalas and Azaziel made their entrance.
“The Shadows are quickly approaching the city, Marco. They are on the opposite side of the sea, swimming to shore as we speak,” Nephele informed him with a smile stamped on her face. Athalas remained at her side. “Many Whispering Lights are accompanying them.”
“Who sends the Lights?” the king asked.
“Corbin,” Nephele replied.
I turned to face the king.
“You would destroy your own people…for them?” I asked in disgust.
The veins on his neck became visible as he scowled at me. He punched the brick wall, wounding his right hand.
“Do you still not understand the magnitude of power that is at play here?” he shouted as he removed his bloody hand from the wall. “Do you believe you have the ability to withstand the vast army rising from the Darkness? Many kings are very much aware of the Dark One ascending again. This is the power of Lucifer. In the same way he decided to return your abilities to you, he has the power to take them away in an instant.” He moved his hands in a flagrant way as he spoke. It was apparent that he was tormented.
“Isaac, you are smarter than this, aren’t you?” Athalas asked with a sneer. “Please do not be a fool. We are giving you another opportunity to join us.”
“Where are…” My voice trailed off. I was not able to finish my question when I saw Adawnas appear from behind them.
“Stop being so insolent, Isaac,” she said in her lovely, caressing voice.
“What an unexpected way to meet you again, Adawnas,” I said, shocked. My mind was flooded with the vivid images of our journey together.
“It is amazing to watch how stubborn you can be, Isaac, and your fortitude is commendable. These are qualities I desire to have on those tha
t are with me,” a mellow voice bantered from behind me. I turned around to see the impossible happening. The painting had completely come to life. The Stars flew on the painted sky, the beautiful sunset emanated heat, and Lucifer, in the form of a Star, looked at me with penetrating, inviting eyes.
“Adawnas is right,” he said with a smirk. “You mustn’t be so resilient in your choice now.”
“This cannot be real,” I whispered to myself, dazed.
“I did warn you, didn’t I?” Lucifer said with a cunning smile. “The voices in the little village of Adhelina, I was speaking to you. I warned you. You cannot hide.”
Lucifer started to play a somber melody with his harp. “You said this could not be real? Well, let me prove to you how real I am, my dear Isaac.”
My body returned to its apathetical state and my strength diminished as the strings played their melody. At the sound of every note, the bruises reappeared on my skin, my legs could no longer support the weight of my body, and my heart seemed crushed with a heavy-laden burden. King Marco laughed deliriously.
“Remarkable…this never gets old.” He clapped his hands in amusement as he watched the scene.
I gasped for air incessantly.
“Never gets old? Why? Have you tortured others this way before?” I asked in a broken voice. In caution, he stepped toward me, knelt down and whispered in my ear.
“How do you think I persuaded all of those men from the villages to join us?” he balked. “They have been sent out to go throughout Elysium and kill as many men and women as possible. It is obvious that no man with a sound mind would agree to that. I had to torture every single one of them.”
My eyes met his. They were empty, dead and hollow. Even in my weakness, I could feel rage growing inside of me. From outside, I heard chants and perverted growls.
Lucifer laughed. “Yes. They are finally coming! My army is urgently in need of new soldiers,” he said as the Stars in the painting melted away like snow under the sun
“So you mean to kill these people before they discover the truth, so that they can all become Shadows in your army?” I asked, breathing heavily.