by John Corwin
"Impressive." I ran a hand along the table. It felt like wood. "You made this with Murk?"
He nodded. "The force of creation." He touched his ear. "How are you sending words to my ears?"
I noticed the word order from the translation had improved marginally and wondered if the translation program had made adjustments as it heard more and more speech. I took out Nookli and showed it to him. "This is an arcphone. You can talk to people with it."
He raised an eyebrow. "Can you not use your mouth to talk to people?"
I chuckled. "If another person has an arcphone but is across the city from me, I can call them." I made a show of dialing a number and speaking into the handset. "It is like a communicator."
"Ah." He touched a gem on his collar. "We also use long-distance communication magic." Cephus looked at my phone. "Is this Brightling magic?"
I shook my head. "No. The Brightlings don't have this sort of technology."
He looked a little confused and I had to wonder if technology translated into Cyrinthian.
Nightliss said something and Cephus nodded as if she'd cleared it up.
"What is the language you speak?" He looked at me. "I know you are not speaking Murikan."
This was officially the point where I had to tell him I was from Eden. Either he'd believe me, or things would get really weird and he'd think I was crazy. I'd seen enough movies with people claiming to be aliens to know how this usually worked out. Unfortunately, I'd have to convince him sooner or later.
"Cephus, I am not from Seraphina." I gave that a moment to sink in. "I'm from another realm called Eden. The language I speak, English, is one of many from there."
Surprise registered on his face, though it was mild compared to earlier. "The legends are true."
It was my turn to look surprised. "You believe me so easily?"
"I have read the histories from those who have lived since the ancient days." He looked at Nightliss. "Many have removed themselves from society, though a few still participate."
A warm sensation blossomed in my chest as hope made a comeback. "You know about the Seraphim War, about Eden? You know about Daelissa and her quest for world domination? Holy crap, this is great!" I almost leapt from my cloud seat but managed to resist the urge.
Cephus's forehead wrinkled with confusion. "I'm sorry," Nookli translated in my ear, "but I did not understand much of what you said." He motioned toward my phone. "It would be beneficial to all of us if I could help you with your Cyrinthian. To do so, I must examine your mind."
Chapter 6
Allowing a stranger to get inside my head sounded like a risky proposition. He'd seen me take down a squad of guards without breaking a sweat. If I allowed him inside my head, he might be able to knock me out without a fight.
Nightliss touched my hand. "I believe he means to imprint you with knowledge of the language. I do not think he means you any harm."
I did a double take. "Wait a minute. If that's possible, why didn't you do that to me before we left?"
Her facial expression turned apologetic. "I am good at healing mind trauma, but I am not very good at imprinting knowledge unless it is simple." She looked at Cephus with wonder. "If he is capable of such a thing—"
Cephus held up his hand to stop her. "I am only marginally capable." He motioned at the room around them. "This building is enchanted with spells from the most gifted among us. I will use one of those spells to help." He continued to speak, but the translation grew worse. "Intelligence…dietary fiber…brain midget experiments."
I deactivated the translation routine to get rid of the nonsense words and turned to Nightliss. "What did he just say?"
"He lapsed into a very technical explanation, some of which even I couldn't understand." Nightliss said something to Cephus. He chuckled and nodded.
"Should I take him up on the offer?" I asked.
Nightliss turned her serious green eyes on me. "I will not allow anything bad to happen to you."
"You know I trust you with my life."
She smiled. "It is mutual." She spoke to Cephus in Cyrinthian.
He nodded, turned, and sent a charge of Murk into a gem located on the window next to the levitator shaft. His eyes closed as he continued to channel. After a moment, he opened his eyes and spoke to Nightliss.
"He found the spell and is about to channel it into you," she said. "It will take some time."
I gave Cephus a thumbs-up and nodded. "Go for it."
He raised an eyebrow. Nightliss translated and he nodded.
Cephus channeled into the gem. He raised his other hand and channeled into me. My head tingled as if a ghost had just passed through it. I felt myself growing sleepy. As I closed my eyelids, images and letters danced through my mind so clearly, it was as if I was seeing them projected on a screen. Glimpses of memories flickered through my mind's eye.
I see the outlines of my parents in a doorway as they hand baby Ivy to Jeremiah Conroy. I see my old bike, the neighbor's cat, someone mowing their lawn. I witness a fast-forward account of middle school. Kids making fun of me, the fat boy. A teacher paddling someone in the hallway. Blood on my knees after falling off my bike.
My memories reach high school. I see Katie Johnson, tears in her eyes. Brad Nichols, her former boyfriend, frozen in the act of punching me. Stacey, my felycan friend, hitting on me in the gym when I was still a pudgy nerd, desperate to improve my looks.
I feel a smile stretch my lips as Elyssa laughs at a corny joke I just made. We hardly know each other at this point in time. Her lips press against mine for our first kiss. My heart leaps as memories of her flicker past. I see us playing Kings and Castles. Feel warm blood on my neck after Elyssa attacks me, eyes filled with tears when she realizes I am no ordinary human.
Shelton tries to apprehend my father and me. He is kidnapped by vampires. I see Elyssa dead in my arms as a horde of vamplings lumber in for the kill. I am a mindless rampaging demon, killing everything in my path. The sight of Elyssa's body brings me back. Somehow, I breathe life back into her still form.
Events accelerate. I see Thunder Rock and a dark pool of water as Elyssa, Kassallandra, and I swim to the bottom seeking escape. El Dorado is next. Shadow beings swarm me. Husked Seraphim reach for me, desperate to drain the light from my soul.
The cruel face of Vadaemos flashes past. Leviathan leyworms rumble toward Elyssa and me, scooping dozens of husked angels into their maws. History leaps forward. Maximus leers over me, fangs red with my blood. I fight gun-wielding vampires. Watch helplessly as Ivy channels a spell that will kill every vampire near Maximus's old hangout in Little Five Points.
Arcane University looms before me. I fight with Mr. Bigglesworth, Ivy's deceased Flark protector. I see my sister crying after others make fun of her. Laugh with her as we eat ice cream. The memories blur faster until I can make out only bits and pieces. A giant golem attempts to immolate the Arcane Council. The tragon tries to eat me but Elyssa knocks it out with lancers. I rescue Mom from Maulin Kassus. I am trapped in the Gloom with my father. We escape. Templars engage Nazdal in bloody combat. The Shadow Nexus drops into a pit. I reunite with my parents and they come to live in the mansion.
I see the Grand Nexus. Two massive armies collide in battle. We are pushed back as the Brightlings surge through the arch. I manifest to demon form and channel Brilliance. Unholy rage explodes as my inner demon revels in the destructive power. It wreaks devastation and nearly takes control of me. I push it back at the last instant and retain my sanity.
I am running for my life. Elyssa screams. White-hot Brilliance bursts from her chest. I fight Qualan on a damaged flying carpet. Fury burns through me as I pierce him through the chest with destruction.
Recent history flashes past. I see Seraphina for the first time. I am arrested by Darklings.
I look at Cephus and allow him to look into my mind.
Darkness.
I gasped and opened my eyes.
Cephus regarded me with concern. He might ha
ve just been constipated, but I wasn't sure. "How do you feel?" he asked.
My heart suddenly felt like lead as I realized I was back in the present where Elyssa was near death. "I'm fine, I guess."
"I'm glad to hear it." He smiled.
It suddenly occurred to me that he and I were speaking Cyrinthian. I touched my lips as if they were possessed by spirits. "How in the world did that spell work?"
"Context is often in the experience of the individual. By making you relive your memories at an increased rate, the spell was able to find the most appropriate equivalents for the spoken language including idioms and other minutia that often escape a pure translation." An excited look came over his face like a nerd at a cosplay convention about to explain starship propulsion in layman's terms.
I held up a hand to stop him. "It's not really important I know all the details. What's more important is getting the help of your people."
"While channeling the spell, I was able to give myself knowledge of English." He looked slightly embarrassed. "I also saw into your memories quite clearly." He looked between Nightliss and me. "Even though they offered only a glimpse into your life, I now know the truth of your mission."
I resisted the urge to pump my fist. "Does that mean you'll help us?"
Cephus sat back on his cloud with a pensive look. "I am merely a member of the Trivectus. While we might be able to authorize a token force to return with you, we cannot commit an army."
"Don't the Trivectus members serve as rulers?" I asked.
"In day-to-day matters, yes." He waved an arm at the city beyond the windows. "The citizens must vote on major policy decisions."
My heart began to droop again. "How long would it take to hold a vote?"
"Not long, but first you must convince the other members of the Trivectus. We must agree unanimously to hold a citizens' vote."
I blew out a frustrated breath. "Sounds redundant."
"It can be, but it is an improvement on the old form of Trivectus government under the Brightlings."
"Can you decide one small thing for me?" I asked.
"The woman from your memories." He looked quite sad. "She was struck down in a battle."
I nodded. "I need a gifted healer to mend her heart."
"Centuries of war with the Brightlings have molded many Darklings into superb healers." He gave me a thumbs-up. "I will dispatch someone at once to return with you."
I almost cried. "I can't tell you how much that means to me."
"Believe me," he said, "I know."
I kept forgetting he'd been in my head. "Do you know everything about me now?"
"The memory imprint is already fading," Cephus said. "It was like watching a theatre performance in fast motion. Soon, all that will be left is the language. The glimpse I had into your memories was enough, however, to give me excellent insight." He touched the gem on his collar. "Please have Pross report to the ministry chamber."
"At once," someone on the other end said.
"Also, please notify Thala and Uoriss that the Brightling situation is resolved and they may join me in the chamber as well."
"Yes, Minister," the subordinate replied.
"Will you allow us to travel back to the Alabaster Arch on the skyway?" I asked.
"Of course." Cephus's forehead pinched with a troubled expression. "We will dispatch a squad to guard the arch. Once my fellow Trivectus members arrive, I request that you give us a full debriefing on the arch and its capabilities. I may also ask you to demonstrate certain things to overcome their skepticism."
"Can't I just show them my memories again?" I asked.
He shook his head. "The memory imprint process is still working in your mind. To do another so soon after would risk severe brain damage."
I couldn't afford to lose any more brain capacity. I backed up to one of his other requests. "Don't you already know about the arches? You said there are Seraphim who were alive during the first war."
"This is true, though many of them were quite removed from the conflict." He looked out of the window toward the mountain peak in the distance. "Our history tells of the twin sisters banished to this land with their parents. How one of the sisters denied her Darkling family and returned to the Brightlands. How this Brightling sister overthrew the Trivectus and installed a regency that enslaved our people. How her Darkling sister led an insurgency against her." His eyes snapped toward Nightliss. "You are the Darkling sister they spoke of."
Nightliss's head jerked back as if he'd struck her. Eyes downcast, she nodded. "I am the sister of Daelissa."
He stood and bowed deep. "You were the one who led the first uprising against our oppressors. There are many legends about what happened to you when you vanished after the Brightlings crushed our insurgency."
Nightliss slowly shook her head. "I knew we couldn't hope to defeat Daelissa without discovering how she'd grown so powerful. I went to Eden with as many of my people as I could. Once there, we joined with the humans and the demons in their war against the Brightlings."
Cephus's eyes brightened. "Humans and demons? Our history only whispers about such creatures. Do they truly exist on the other side of the arch?"
"There are more wonders and horrors in the universe than you could imagine, Cephus." Nightliss shook her head. "Even after so long, my mind is still incomplete. I remember only generalities, in most instances."
"Our historians have long theorized that the closing of the Alabaster Arch was the precise moment when we lost our longevity." A look of profound regret shadowed his face. "Those who were far away at the time maintained their immortality while others were cursed with mere centuries of life."
"We refer to it as the Desecration," Nightliss said. "A being named Melea removed the Chalon, the key, from the Grand Nexus. Her action closed the nexus and disrupted every Alabaster Arch within Eden. The backlash drained the light from any entity caught in its massive wake. While it did not kill them, it husked them—turned them into shadow creatures that would drain the light from any creatures they touched."
Cephus's eyes widened with horror. "Was Eden overtaken with these horrors?"
I shook my head. "No. They couldn't survive in daylight. We found a way to resurrect the cherubs—that's what I call husked Seraphim. As for the Flarks, humans, and other entities that were husked, they don't survive the resurrection process."
"Flarks?" Our host touched his chin in a thoughtful manner. "Those were the shape-shifters mentioned in historical records. To the best of my knowledge they have not been heard from or seen in our time."
I shrugged. "Won't see me crying about it. They're extremely hard to kill and mean as hell." Ivy's former bodyguard, Mr. Bigglesworth, claimed that he was the only Flark to survive the Desecration, at least in Eden.
The sound of rushing air echoed from the levitator shaft. A young woman appeared a second later. Unlike most of the other Darklings I'd seen, she wore a long red dress that somewhat resembled a sari. It was certainly the most colorful article of clothing I'd seen so far.
"Please state the nature of the medical emergency," she said with a bright smile as she looked around the room. Her eyes caught on me. "I certainly sense a fashion emergency. What sort of clothing is that?"
"Hipster," I replied. "I haven't managed to grow a thick beard yet."
She looked even more confused. Since hipster hadn't translated into Cyrinthian, I'd apparently said it in English.
Cephus indicated me with his hand. "Chief Healer Pross, this is Justin Slade and Nightliss."
Pross's forehead wrinkled and her eyes twitched as if her train of thought had just hit a semi-truck. "Who would dare name their child Nightliss?"
I held up my hands. "Whoa, don't get so upset." I turned to Cephus. "There's a law against naming your child Nightliss?"
He returned an affable smile. "There is a great deal of debate about her role in our history."
Nightliss turned a confused look at Pross. "It is truly my name."
"She is
the Nightliss," I added.
Pross stumbled back a foot. Her eyes flicked to Cephus. "She is truly the one?"
He nodded. "She has returned."
I was starting to feel positively bubbly about our chances of securing an alliance now. With Nightliss's status as a returning war hero, she might be able to single-handedly raise an army to take back to Eden.
"Who else knows of her identity?" Pross stared at Nightliss with a slightly disturbed look.
"Only those in this room." Cephus held up a hand. "I know what you will say, but perhaps I can convince the others she was not at fault."
"Not at fault for what?" My jubilance took a shot to the ribs.
Cephus leaned on the table. "The religious among us believe in a single deity, the Primogenitor, who built the heavens and the earth and also created the arches. It was believed we were once his direct servants and used the arches according to his will to aid his other creations."
"This was not the belief in my day," Nightliss said. "We believed other beings created the arches, but it was a mystery. There was no religious aspect to it."
"The Schism—Desecration, as you call it—shortened our lifespans to centuries and caused us to age. Primogenesis spawned from the desperate minds of those seeking answers and finding none. They wondered why they were being punished and prayed for redemption." Cephus seemed to deflate. "History became legend and legend became myth. History was misinterpreted, lost, rediscovered, or simply fabricated to support popular beliefs. Now there are those who cling to such corrupted stories as religion."
"Some would kill you for that statement," Pross said with a troubled look. She turned to Nightliss. "Primogenesis blames you for the shortening of our lifespans. It was said that after your failed uprising against the Brightlings, you joined them in the Promised Land and desecrated it. This led to the Schism, the great punishment which revoked our immortality and separated us from the Primogenitor."
"Preposterous!" I shook my head. "Nightliss went to Eden to fight Daelissa and keep her from destroying it. Melea, a member of the siren race that probably built the arches, is the one who closed off the nexus and caused the Desecration that took away your immortality."