by T M Caruana
“Does nobody in this group respect other peoples belongings?” I hissed, not wanting to wake Michael up, and glared at Tarus’s who was holding my notebook.
Tarus looked guiltily down at the table to avoid having to answer the question. I approached him and snatched the book, but before I had the chance to close it, I saw the page that was open. I paid no attention to the poem they had been hotly discussing, but only looked at the picture that was drawn on the half torn page.
“Give me the two pieces to the map, quickly!” I ordered abruptly.
Hunter dug into his trouser pocket and gave the two pieces to me without having time to think. I fitted the two pieces into the book’s torn page. Yes, of course it fitted, just as Tarus had mentioned. All the pieces fit together and formed a big star, a pentagram surrounded by a circle. It was probably no coincidence that the pentagram resembled the tattoos Tarus and I had on our chest.
“The pentagram. It’s the same pentagram as Tarus has on his chest!” I exclaimed excitedly, looking up at him, but he avoided my gaze.
Tarus’s face was a picture of innocence as he looked at Hunter and he shook his head. Hunter and Tarus’s eyes met as if something were suddenly obvious to both of them.
“I swear, Hunter. I haven’t touched her in that way,” he declared, emphasising every word.
“You weasel, if I find out that you have…and she…you can understand yourself what position you put me in. I swear you’ll have to sleep with your treacherous dragon eyes open if you don’t wish to die,” Hunter threatened with his index finger pointing just a metre away from Tarus’s face.
I hadn’t seen Hunter upset before, and couldn’t have imagined that he would use such words.
Tarus stormed out of the apartment without even meeting my eyes for a second. He must have avoided the situation either because our passion was unauthorised or he knew that it was unlikely to rescue the situation. When the others broke out in fierce political debates, giving opinions about their own worlds’ positions, I couldn’t care what their reasons were. I sighed over the hopelessness of being able to get anywhere with this puzzle, when they just fought all the time. I just wished they would realise that the most important thing was to find solutions and get to grips with who I was.
Back in the bedroom, I felt warmth on the chair next to the bed as I sat down. Tarus must have been sitting in it earlier. Perhaps he had watched over me whilst I had been unconscious. I wondered how long I had been unconscious for? Surprisingly, I didn’t feel hungry and most striking of all, I hadn’t had any memory loss since I had left the clinic. All my seizures had stopped even though I no longer took my medication. I felt inside my shirt; yes, I still had my jewellery. At least no one had attempted to be that intrusive, although I wouldn’t have objected if Tarus had attempted to retrieve it. When I realised the chain of thoughts my brain was leading me into, I tried to refocus and looked back down at the notebook.
“If metal represented the Pillars of Hercules in Gibraltar, and water Stonehenge in England, the other elements must also represent other countries where the portals would open,” I whispered to myself as I traced the edges of the triangles that formed the pentagram. “The colours painted in the triangles represent the colours of the countries and the elements represent the people’s powers and it’s all in the colours of the rainbow. If the portals opened in an order, as the exits did, it must mean that if Gibraltar represented yellow then the next would be green. Green was the colour over Bomi and the element fire.”
As I quietly reasoned with myself, I couldn’t help thinking about Bomi and my feelings for Tarus did their best to intrude into my thoughts.
“The tip of the two western triangles would just stretch to point to the locations for England and Gibraltar on the pentagram, which would be to scale on a map of Europe. This would mean that the next portal would open up at a significant place near the Black Sea that has some relation to fire,” I concluded with satisfaction.
However, I would need a world map and Google to figure out the exact location. My eyes looked down at the page again and toward the text on the right side next to the pentagram, which I hadn’t noticed before.
You shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, See that you be not troubled for all these things must come to pass, but the end isn’t yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you to be afflicted and killed, and hated of all nations for your name’s sake. And then many shall be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
The first poem was very depressing and sounded more like a prophecy of a Third World War, or in my case, the Seven Worlds’ War. It was as if natural disasters were going to occur and the worlds would betray each other. It spoke of an inevitable grief-filled battle that led to death, where only the good that resisted long enough would be spared. I snorted derisively. ‘Prophecies came from ignorant people who didn’t understand the science,’ that would be what Vic would say, I thought, and continued to read the poem below.
The last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, without natural affection, despisers of those that are good, traitors, having a form of Godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
The time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be Increased.
Now the poem had become worse. The world’s downfall would come out of human greed, where they turned their backs on their conscience. There was talk again of natural disasters where mankind hasn’t looked after the Earth’s resources. In the world’s downfall, many would feel lost until ‘knowledge shall be increased’.
11
PROPHECIES
I laughed out loud at the absurd text. The poem also contradicted itself. How could it be the world’s doom at the same time as the people felt lost? I would assume that when the worlds have their doomsday, they would all be dead.
“Given that you can hardly hear what you are thinking in here with all the noise in the kitchen, I can’t imagine what would be so funny in your book.”
Michael had woken up, groaning but smiling.
“You’re awake, how do you feel?” I asked, concerned about his wound.
“Not too bad. It has almost healed now so today I’ll probably be back on my feet,” he said with a grin, showing that his playful personality had suffered more from bed rest than with concerns over the magnitude of his pain.
“But Samuel explained that it would take three days to heal?” I questioned, feeling surprised.
“Susy, you’ve been unconscious for almost two days, this is the third day,” Michael whispered, leaning toward me as if it were a secret, though I was sure that it was just to create a more dramatic effect.
I did still feel tired, or was I depressed? The fuss in the kitchen didn’t improve the situation and the voices were becoming louder now. I had been locked in a clinic and unable to experience the world and now I was trapped in an apartment with a bunch of squabbling adults, acting like three-year-olds, convinced that their way is the best. If they had lived so many years together I would have thought that they would have resolved all their differences by now.
“I can’t be bothered with them when they are like this. Do you want to come for a walk?”
Michael got unsteadily up from the bed and was already almost out of the bedroom. It was as if he had read my mind. But I was sure that reading minds wasn’t one of his strengths. Or was it? I put the notebook in the bag and ran after Michael, leaving the bag behind. No one noticed us
leave the apartment, as they were still too busy arguing. Once outside, my mood was restored and I felt almost like a masterful villain again.
“I thought we weren’t allowed to leave the apartment, that it would be dangerous now that Eutychia was on Earth…Teli?” I asked as I tried to keep up with Michael’s long strides.
“If she shows up, I’ve got you to protect me,” he joked cheerfully.
He was easy to like – always happy, nothing seemed serious to him. He took each day as it came and made you always feel calm because there was no reason to be on guard or try to impress. He was the very person I needed to be around right now. If we were attacked, at least I would die happy, and it made me wake up to the environment around us. Malaga was a wonderful city with life and movement.
Michael stepped up to a horse-drawn carriage that was parked at the side of the street.
“Your Highness!”
I saw he grimaced slightly with the pain from his wound when he bowed to open the door of the carriage.
However, he didn’t for a moment allow his discomfort to spoil the mood.
“Awe, so nice, thank you,” I replied, just as happy and playful.
My body tingled; I had never been on a horse ride before and it felt luxurious. The horse was handsome – white with brown spots, just like I had seen in western films. Michael had taken a seat next to me and as the carriage began to roll gently forward I knew that now was a good chance to tackle Michael with all my questions. He seemed to have no objection to chattering about everything and anything and it was less embarrassing than sitting in silence.
“Michael…why am I really here on Teli? Can’t you tell me a little about my life…I mean before I came here?” I pleaded as humbly as I could so that it would be impossible for him not to answer the question.
His talkative character never ceased to amaze. Michael began to explain. He had obviously expected me to ask questions because he seemed happy to show off his knowledge.
“Let me see,” he said slowly, as if he wasn’t sure where he should start.
I had observed enough of him by now to realise that it was probably only to create the dramatic effect he liked so much. So I waited patiently for the answer.
“Pixi, your home world, is a wonderful place, lush in all the colours of nature. There is a beautiful waterfall that runs down the mountain over the opening to a cave and the birds chirp in the fruit trees,” he spoke as if he based his description on a scene from a theatre play.
I giggled at his extravagant manner. “The apples are redder than rubies,” he continued, “the water bluer than turquoises and the grass greener than…grass.”
Now even Michael was laughing at his own descriptions, but he kept going.
“The people of Pixi are blonde, like Hunter – pale skinned with purple eyes. They have the power of strength, speed and intelligence. And apart from a few stubborn men, their love is renowned as the most loyal and caring out of all the worlds. They are special in that way. They don’t have descendants in the same way as the rest of us,” he explained matter-of-factly; after all, he was a doctor.
I, on the other hand, blushed. Experience in that area didn’t exist for me, and no one had ever discussed it in my presence. I had never had a female role model and the idea that father…Isaac would have educated me about THAT was unimaginable.
“How do you mean?” was all I managed to respond.
“They just have one love, one soulmate and if he or she dies they live alone for the rest of their lives. Like swans. Though don’t forget that our lives are next to infinitely long. The love shows like a glowing aura around the body when they are within one metre of each other. The soulmate is determined by their feelings for each other and sometimes they don’t even realise themselves that the other is their soulmate until they see the light. When their lights meet and both have the will, a child is created, without more body contact than that. It’s a deep, loving feeling, entirely different from Teli’s bodily passion. It’s quite romantic, when you think about it,” he concluded dreamily.
I looked at the road to distract myself from the embarrassing conversation and read a few signs as they passed. I briefly recognised the Picasso Museum amongst them, before the carriage continued out from the city centre. I hadn’t had a thought about where we were going and had no time to think about it now.
“But how does it work if their soulmate comes from one of the other worlds?”
I was fascinated by all the new information.
“No, that wouldn’t work. They are purebred and a soulmate can only be someone from Pixi. Also, I have never heard of mixed children who have parents in different worlds,” he clarified with a smile.
“Then it means that Tarus and I could never…”
My sentence came out in a disappointed tone and I cut it short, so as not to elaborate my thoughts in front of Michael. However, my feelings toward Tarus had probably already been obvious to everyone in the group.
“How can it be that Tarus, who is considered malevolent, gets along well with Leo who is so overprotective?” I asked instead, attempting to save the situation by changing the subject.
Michael had already clearly shown his abhorrence of Tarus and looked serious. It almost got me worried that he would not even answer.
“Leo is a good seafaring man and has always tried to act in a more than noble and fair manner. However, he bears a heavy load from his past. It’s…”
“A long story!” I interrupted with the words I had heard before.
Michael smiled, acknowledging that I had paid attention.
“In any case, he can’t escape from the fact that he and Tarus are more similar than what you see with the naked eye,” he concluded in response.
“What about the tattoo on my chest? What does it symbolise?”
“It means you are from the first bloodline. If you are born with the tattoo it means you are the rightful ruler of your world, hence it’s passed down the generations. But you’re only interested in the beautiful, dangerous guys? Don’t you have any questions about me?” he asked teasingly.
“What are you saying? You’re the handsomest of them all!” I exclaimed light-heartedly with a wink and I could see a twinkle in his eyes, as I took his hand to help me off the carriage.
We had arrived at the castle of Gibralfaro, so a sign said and apparently there were some connecting ruins called the Alcazaba. We began to walk up the stairs that led to the castle, which was situated on top of a hill.
“You must tell me all about yourself – I want to know everything. Don’t disappoint me; don’t say that you already have another special woman in your life?” I said flirtingly.
Michael indeed seemed to appreciate this light-hearted banter.
“No…it would be a shame to tie such a neat bee to only one flower when there are many beautiful flowers to pollinate,” he said proudly, stretching to his full height. “In addition, my work has been my life,” he continued.
It was obvious that he couldn’t wait to impress me with his life’s story.
“You see, I have the important job of ensuring that the King of the City of Gold remains alive.”
His clasped his hands behind his back, in an apparent attempt to make himself look wise as we continued up the path.
“So you are the king’s personal bodyguard?” I teased, even though I had realised that his skinny body and rogue personality weren’t exactly typical for a bodyguard.
In addition, Hunter had already given away that he was a doctor, when Michael had stuck his fingers down my throat.
“Maybe I don’t have much muscle, but I have brains,” he continued pompously without appearing insulted. “As you know, I am King Meno’s personal doctor; my healing skills are notorious amongst my people. They say I’m a natural talent,” he said even more self-important than before.
“I don’t know if I think that’s so impressive. Do you have any other powers?”
Seeing that I appeared unimpressed, Mich
ael once again used his theatrical voice.
“In a world full of precious stones and minerals, each item has its purpose, its healing power. The city was built out of the noblest of them all, gold. In the noble City of Gold there was a powerful doctor, the mightiest of them all, the incredible Michael! His amazingly beautiful chocolate brown skin was irresistible to women and his yellow puppy-dog eyes could produce the most toxic tears – tears that could slow your heart rate down to an almost dead-like state, and where his powers from his steel heart combined with the stones could heal almost any wounds.”
His dramatic game, talking about himself in the third person, made us both giggle until my stomach hurt.
As we arrived at the top of the hill the view was magnificent. The whole coast was covered with beautiful sandy beaches washed by turquoise blue waves. Everything that I associated with Spain could be seen from here. A bullfighting ring, roof terraces laced with newly washed clothes, tourists with a map in one hand and an ice cream in the other, and the mountains in the background to the west and the sea to the east. The shouting and laughter of the people could be heard as a rumble, mixed with the roar of the city traffic. Michael put his jacket around me to protect me from the chilly, late summer breeze. I felt a bit cold and didn’t reject it, slipping my arms into its long sleeves.
“You said you had a heart of steel. What did you mean by that? Is that a symbol like the star signs here on Teli?” I continued my interrogation, still staring out at the beautiful surroundings.
“No, it’s literally true. Here, listen.”