by C. A. Sabol
She then looked up at Pegasus and gushed, “Thank you. I’m so glad that you are here.”
He looked down at her gently. “There will come a time, Selene, that I will not seem so real to you. Please remember our time together, and what I have said to you. For though I will never leave you, I will not always be so physically present to you, even in your dreams.”
“You will always be with me,” Selene repeated. “But you won’t be here?”
“I am as near as a whispered call, always. I live in you, now that you have been called to repentance. But you will not always see me or hear me. I told you this before; I have shown this to you. For even while you suffered, I was carrying you.”
Selene nodded, finally realizing what he was telling her. She would always be with him, and he with her, but she would not realize just how much he really was present with her. He would guard her and guide her, and she would look to him for direction and growth.
Pegasus continued, “Like a cloudy veil the Dark Plague shields you from seeing the true glory of the Kingdom of Dreams, leaving you to gaze upon a shadow of a true reality. I tell you, Selene, this world that you know, it is not really real in some ways. It may feel real, but it is not important as far as eternal life goes. It is only in spirit that you leave this world for the afterlife, to Crystallon or to be locked away in the Four-point prison, and so it is in spirit you will hear me. It is the same with the rest of my followers.”
“How much longer will you be able to stay with me?” Selene questioned him, a tremor of fear in her voice. She didn’t want him to go away so soon.
“For a little while longer,” he told her. “War between the Sapphiran loyalties has come, but few will realize that this is the Great Battle, between good and evil in the realm of the greater powers of good and evil, of the Guardian’s Son and Obsidian. There has come a fulfillment of time in the world of man.” He looked down at her with a sorrowful glance. “There will be many things that trouble you over the next few days,” he told her, “But when you mourn for the lost, mourn with hope.”
Selene nodded tearfully. She was still having trouble understanding what exactly he was telling her. She knew that he was going to stay with her and still reside in her. She realized that this kind of contradiction would only be true if she was in the presence of the Guardian. An incredulous realization suddenly surged through her, her blood quickening and her breath shortening. She had been in the presence of the Spirit of Crystallon, and he had treated her like a friend, when she deserved so much less. “Oh, Pegasus!” she cried, “I did not realize, I was so blind. You are truly the Spirit of Dreams, and I deserve to die ... no, I deserve so much more than death. And yet you have been so kind to me. I have seen the Spirit of Greatness, and I did not know it until now!”
“Selene, my precious one,” he said soothingly, “It is time that you learn my real name in this world.” She still bowed her head low to the stone floor, her tears steadily flowing away from her eyes.
Suddenly, Selene looked up to see a great light shining as Pegasus began to light up the night, a glowing ball of light encased around him, as the transformation from Crystallon was complete. She shielded her eyes, nearly blinded by the great luminescence. When the light faded, she shook her head to clear her vision, and she saw him.
Dressed in simple white clothes, where her friend at been moments before, there now stood a young man. His hair was white, and his skin was bronzed. He looked to be only a few years older than Etoileon. But his eyes held the same crystal flame in them that she’d come to adore over the last weeks, and she knew it was him. “Pegasus?” she asked with a hint of trepidation in her voice.
He nodded. “This is my human form,” he told her. “My father in Crystallon has called me here through the Spirit. We all are the same, but different. My name in this world is not Pegasus.”
“Well ... what is your name then?” Selene asked tentatively. “Will you tell me?”
He smiled kindly at her, and she felt her breath rush out. Wow, she thought, he is breathtaking. There was power in him, coursing through his very blood. He took a step toward her and said, “My name is Adamas.”
It was then that he reached out with his arms, his arms seeming as wide and as embracing as his wings had been, and he held onto her.
Selene felt the world around her dim as she was captured in his hug. When he let go, nothing seemed quite the same. But he winked at her, and then in the blink of an eye, he vanished in a bubble of light.
“Adamas,” she breathed out as she gazed out into space, staring off into the night sky that they had flown through together.
Chapter 13
Evil Gathers
“PRINCESS,” A VOICE called out to her, as though it was coming from a long way off. She tried to tilt her head to listen more closely. “Princess!” The voice was much more angry and urgent this time. Selene frowned, confused. It was not the voice of Adamas, but someone else that she knew. But who could it be? She wondered. It was then that she noticed that she was still half-asleep.
She tentatively opened her eyes and saw that Aura had returned, and was now looking down on the princess with a mixture of concern and irritation. Seeing that her charge was awake at last, she gave a huff and said, “Well, it’s about time! Master Omni will be waiting all day for you if you don’t hurry!”
“I have a class today?” Selene asked sleepily, rubbing her eyes as she sat up in bed.
“Yes, His Majesty requested that Master Omni give you a smaller session today, as it looks like the rain will be holding up the battle once more,” Aura explained as she, Rosaria, and Chevée were hurrying around to get the princess’ clothes and hair supplies all together.
“It’s raining?” Selene asked, surprised. “But it was all clear last night,” she said. “I thought that the monsoons were about over. Isn’t it time for blooming season yet?”
“Apparently not, Your Highness,” Aura sniffed.
At her tone, Selene scrutinized her with a peculiar look. Why is Aura so short today? Selene wondered. Is it because I was angry with her before? Looking more closely at Aura’s face, Selene would have to guess that not only was Selene the problem, but it had to do with the war, too. Selene sighed and looked away from Aura’s face to the rain falling down outside her window. “Aura ... I’m sorry for what I said,” she apologized. “I have not been so really nice lately, have I? I am grateful for your service, and I do have to respect you for putting up with me sometimes.”
Aura looked over and sighed. “I am sorry, too, Your Highness,” she said softly. “I have never had a daughter before. I suspect that this is the type of argument we would have, though. Let’s just try to put it behind us, okay?” Then she did something that she had never done before. She came over to Selene and gave her a hug.
Selene almost jumped at the surprise embrace, but she put her arms around Aura and said, “See? You did not burst into flames, breaking the traditions.”
Aura laughed and let go. She was about to say something, but then her eyes caught sight of the water clock on the shelf by the princess’ desk. “Master Omni expects you in fifteen minutes! Hurry!”
Selene nodded and sped up, trying to pull on her skirts as Chevée attempted to brush her wayward morning hair into a presentable fashion.
When Selene arrived in the schoolroom of the palace, out of breath and just barely on time, she saw that Kadrianne, Yana, and Cyerra were already waiting. She smiled at them as she hurriedly took her seat.
Master Omni had an expression of slight annoyance on his face as he looked up at her. “Well, thank you Your Highness, for finally joining us.”
“I am not late,” Selene insisted. “I am on time.”
“A royal who comes in out of breath does not appear to be on time,” Master Omni scolded her gently. “But since today’s lesson has been insufficiently prepared due to a lack of proper preparation time, I will allow you to be late this once.”
Selene looked away and felt like gr
itting her teeth in anger. Instead, she opened her book and tried to pay attention as Master Omni began to teach. Soon, losing the train of thought about mathematics and political studies, Selene found herself forgetting the trying times of the morning and thinking about Pegasus’ new identity of Adamas.
Her eyes glazed over in wonder as she thought about his face. There hadn’t been anything so particularly fascinating about it. His eyes had been captivating, it was true, but other than that he had looked like an ordinary man. The pristine white hair and the spotless clothing were a bit odd, but still. There was something so ordinary about him in the midst of all the extraordinary things about him.
She felt a smile grow on her face as she recalled flying with him through the skies of the world. Seeing all of Sapphira convinced her that there was beauty in this torn-apart world. Seeing it with Pegasus had convinced her that in order to see the beauty, all she had to do was look to him.
Selene looked back at Master Omni as her classmates around her began to pull out their datasheets to take notes. She jumped out of her reverie and grabbed her own datasheet, grabbing the high-tech pen that went along with the note-taking program. She began to write down what Master Omni was saying, something about mathematical formulas, but then her thoughts wondered away again. She scribbled out a few words, not pertaining to the teacher’s lesson at all. Soon, she pulled back from her work and read it over. She had written a poem, it looked like.
Wings of Light
Soar through the Night
The White Moon grins
The adventure begins
As Dreams take Flight.
Selene smiled, her thoughts remaining devoted to her dear friend, who had shown her so much, and had taught her much, that she could not shake him completely from her mind.
THERE WAS MUCH DRUNKEN laughter and senseless joking in the camp of Obsidian as the human soldiers entertained themselves. Having called his human minions to his side, Obsidian watched and reveled in the rainy celebrations of the rebels and the spirit warriors on his side. He had great cause for rejoicing, even when he was about to head into the greatest battle of all history. He leaned back under the altar that the humans had created to worship the powers of war, strength, and courage. Here he was sheltered from the rain at least; though he could not physically feel the elements of this world, he had to manipulate them so they would accommodate him and his comrades.
Obsidian watched as the men under his control cheerfully drink their ale and moonshine as they twirled around each other, swinging each other around and around. They were laughing too hard to maintain their grips on each other’s arms. And the laughter only increased as someone, every so often, went flying straight into something, whether it was the ground, the tents, or another person.
It was as though they were celebrating their victory already, Obsidian thought. With the exception of the watch guards, and the Supreme Command Squad, there were hardly any sober soldiers in the camp that day as they all waited for the rains to disperse.
Soon, he thought, they would have to straighten up. It was a time to sharpen skills, prepare the weapons, and ready the forces.
Sulfas came up to Obsidian and gave him a wrinkled smile, his ghostly face contorted and twisted into a cheerfully frightening expression. “Master,” he bowed low, “I see that you have taken your rightful place as you await the beginning of this battle.”
“Ah, yes, I have,” Obsidian agreed. “It is all so well to be here, Sulfas. I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun. Probably the last time I was free of that dreadful prison. When Master of All, I shall lock up all of my enemies in that tiny prison and I will laugh in their faces as they try to break free. But unlike me, they will not manage so well.”
“And what of the humans remaining?” Sulfas asked, grinning wickedly. Humans were pointless to his kind, so he was anxious to hear what Obsidian had in mind for them. They were really too much of a nuisance to do much with, other than for entertainment.
“I was thinking of just letting them all die painfully,” Obsidian sneered, “but I had another thought first. I want to see them suffer, to see them squirm with pain and fear. Maybe I will allow the demonic beasts to have some fun with them first.”
The demonic beasts were huge, scaly creatures with eight legs and a long body. They came in all sorts of monotone colors, but they all had faces that were scrunched together at one end of their bodies. Their snouts were big enough to breathe in an entire human in each nostril, and they had breath that rivaled the fiery burnings of Sapphira’s inner core. They had long arms, and short, buzzing wings on their backs. No human could see them, but they frequently visited the bottom of a well or lurked in a forgotten tree stump. They had insatiable appetites for the darkness, and many of Obsidian’s spirit followers were even scared of them.
“Oh, Master, truly you are a genius beyond all!” Sulfas exclaimed, shaking slightly with both fear and anticipation in his voice. “I cannot wait for this battle to be won.”
Obsidian looked up at the lightning in the sky and closed his eyes. “I can almost see victory now,” he said quietly, his mouth already watering for the taste of his foe’s death.
“That human that is in charge of all this, Aemon? I think he should be one of the first to go,” Sulfas said. “He was careless and caused all the city to hear of our coming.”
“True,” Obsidian agreed. “But not too soon. Let us save him for afterwards, when you and your friends are kings of this world, and I am its Master.”
“Too bad, but I see your point, Master,” Sulfas said. “What about that silly woman that you used to corrupt that princess? Can we dispose of her yet?” He looked pleadingly up to Obsidian’s face, and said, “We should have a proper sacrifice for this celebration, don’t you think? That Seer would make a fine prize our collected troops.”
Obsidian thought carefully about Sulfas’ suggestion. It was true that he could use a sacrifice, he thought. He waved his hand, and smiled. “Yes, but I think some entertainment with her before we kill her would prove much more gratifying. Let us bring her out here, so both human and demon can enjoy her great pain. I shall call out my servant, Emanon.” He turned to Sulfas with a smirk on his face. “How ignorant and foolish some of these humans are, let me tell you. I barely used up any energy convincing some of these imbeciles to join us, even though they are walking into certain death.”
“Yes, humans are so unassuming of just how much power we of the spirit world have over them!” Sulfas agreed. “All it takes is the right stream of thought, and we’re in. It is so easy to get them thinking exactly what we want them to think. I cannot even count how many relationships, careers, and lives we’ve ruined since you came here to Sapphira, Obsidian.”
“Well, it is somewhat surprising to see how inferior the human mind is,” Obsidian agreed in a scathing tone. “Just watch this, as I control my slave, Emanon. He is as eager to have my attention as a silly child.”
Emanon had not proved to be hard to control at all. Though he was strong in body, he was weak at heart and in his mind. He wanted revenge, and Obsidian could use that to the advantage of his purpose. And while he could do that with nearly any human, it was somewhat heartening to see someone willingly allow him such control over his thoughts and actions.
At Sulfas’ command, the spirits began calling out for a sacrifice. The humans subconsciously began to hunger after blood as well, thanks to the power of the ghostly spirits. Their feelings easily wormed their way into the hearts of men.
Eventually, a soldier came forth. “I have found a traitor in our midst!” he cried out. He pulled out Melantha, pulling at her chair. He seemed to forget that she had been an honored guest at the campsite for the last few days.
“I am no traitor, you buffoon!” Melantha shouted, as the soldiers didn’t seem to hear her. Some more of the soldiers came forth and bound and gagged her. With a few quick tugs, they had dragged her to the altar they had built earlier. Emanon, the general of the troop
s, came forward.
“Men!” he called out. “We have a found a traitor!”
There were several catcalls and shouting from the ranks of the men. Melantha’s eyes were wide as she wildly looked around. She was trying desperately to bite away at the gag that had been shoved on her mouth.
Emanon held up his hand to silence the troops. “The great masters of war had always loved the taste of a traitor. They love to see their enemies butchered, until the ground runs red with the blood and the air stinks of killings.”
“Yes! Yes!” cries from the soldiers all shouted in agreement. Their leader smirked and held up Melantha by the scruff of her neck, her frail form already squirming and kicking around in his grasp.
“And look!” Emanon shouted. “It is even better for the Masters today! A woman’s blood has been very sweet to their lips, and the desire of them we worship desires and deserves nothing less!”
Melantha tried to shriek as the men all began to draw out their swords and began to wave them around.
Obsidian pulled the strings of his puppet decidedly, yet he could not help but feel the excitement of the crowd. They were bloodthirsty for death. He whispered out to Melantha, “You did not manage to corrupt the mind and capture the memories of that boy,” he told her. “You might have done your job for me, but it was not good enough to keep you alive.”
Melantha tried to reach out to him, as though she knew he was there, watching this scene. She managed to spit out the gag, and gasped out, “Why? Why did you do this to me, Obsidian? I thought we had a deal! It was not my fault that my power was blocked from that wretched boy!”
“We did have a deal, Melantha!” Obsidian cried out, his eyes gleaming in anticipation as the men came closer and closer to her, trying to slice open her body as Emanon hung her in mid-air. “You said that you wanted nothing less than to spend all eternity with me! You gave me your soul the instant that you decided not to kneel down to the one in Crystallon. Since then, your habits and your thoughts have been slowly transformed into the dark deeds I have willed to be done!” Then he laughed, and finally allowed his influenced humans to have their fun with her. His head threw back and laughed harder, as he watched Emanon toss Melantha’s wrinkled body into the crowd, his cruel chuckle echoing into the emptiness of the night even as her blood spilt all over the ground and stained it red.