by Joel Stewart
“What the . . .” Davis stared at his hand baffled. “What did I just do?” An explosion behind him stopped his train of thought. He was thrown to the floor as glass and dust pelted him like rain in a hurricane. He struggled to his feet and ducked in an office to look out the window. There was a tank, and it was adjusting its aim directly at his window. There was no other way to describe what happened next without using the word possessed. Unable to control his actions, Davis felt the river once again return to his body. He ran back into the hallway, turned around, and charged toward the window. Don’t do this! Davis roared in his mind. You will die you fool! As he jumped the river flowed into his arms, forming a shield over the front of his body. He crashed through the window and found himself in a freefall from the eighth story of a skyscraper. His uncontrollable body flipped around, and the river flowed down toward his legs. Davis braced for what he was sure was going to be the last moment of his life.
To his surprise, the river formed a dampening shield below him, and he landed firmly on the ground. The force of his fall and the energy from his shield flattened out an impact crater that was 10 feet across and two to six inches deep from edge to center. Exhilaration replaced fear as he realized what had just happened. He looked up at the tank, it was readjusting its aim from the building down to the ground.
The line between voluntary and involuntary actions were beginning to blur in Davis’s mind. He was going to smash that tank. He charged the tank with what seemed like impossible speed. Every step made the next step come faster and go farther. The river was flowing through him and he could feel a shockwave building in front of him. The tank fired. Davis saw the shell heading straight toward him as if it was traveling in slow motion. It did not concern him—it was nothing. He held out his hand and the shell slammed into it. A dust screen from the explosion streamed over his building shockwave but it did not slow him down a step.
As he reached the tank he slammed the lip of the tank’s underside with an uppercut. A satisfying rush flowed from his fist into the steel frame as the shockwave he had been building crashed into the tank’s now vulnerable underbelly. The tank crumpled from the impact and flew back into the air. Davis watched in amazement as the tank continued to fly off the edge of a nearby cliff. An explosion echoed through the air from where the tank landed. Davis walked to the ledge and looked down to survey the damage: the tank had flown almost a mile before meeting its untimely end.
He had forgotten that his actions were not his own, and it was a shock when he felt the grip of what had taken him release its grasp. “That was . . . That was impossible.” He said to no one in particular.
“Not anymore, not for you.” Came an unexpected reply. A transparent image appeared in front of Davis. He just stared, startled but wary. “I am Darin, and my power is now yours. You have a river of energy that flows through you. Harness it, control it, and you will be capable of this and more. Our commander will guide you.” As suddenly as he appeared, Darin was gone.
Davis sat on the edge of the cliff and stared down at the smoking ruin of the tank. “And who exactly is your commander.” Davis said to himself. “Never mind, I think I already know.”
Jesse Clark
Jesse found himself standing in a large forest. Huge trees as large across as he was tall created a canopy above him. Stray rays of light seemed to pierce the shadows like a knife. The forest smelled clean and fresh, as if never tainted by a man’s touch. How did I get here? he asked himself as he analyzed his surroundings. He had never even heard of trees this size. He had read about some trees down in Farsia that may have been close, but he was sure there was nothing like this.
“You will control the elements.” A female voice echoed around him. “Your emotions are the key.”
Jesse looked around scared and confused. “Who are you?” He screamed in alarm at the unknown voice. “Where are you? Show yourself!”
A female figure materialized in front of him. She was beautiful, almost too beautiful to be real. She wore armor with a robe over it and held a staff in her hand. Jesse could see that the top half of the staff carried a blunt weight while the bottom half was carved down and had an embedded sword edge. “I am Nor.” She said softly, “Now that I am awakened in you, you will have my power.”
Jesse looked incredulous. “This must be a dream. For one, you are far too beautiful. And for two, I think I would know if I was carrying a girl around inside me.”
“I am an angel, Jesse.” Nor responded. “I—”
“Yeah . . . Angel . . . Right.” Jesse cut her off. “I’m an atheist. Now I know this is a dream.”
Nor’s soft expression shifted to one of rage. Her eyes glowed bright white. “Your first lesson.” She growled. “Anger is the most unbridled of emotions, and it corresponds with fire.” Fire began to leap up from the ground around her and Jesse stepped backward. “When you start to feel SCARED . . .” Her growling voice grew in intensity and volume. “Get angry INSTEAD!” Fire pulsed from her person and the entire forest went up in flames. Jesse tripped over a root and fell back on the ground. The flaming grass burned his arms and set his shirt on fire. A wind swirled around him and put out the flames.
The wind quickly shifted toward Nor. It filled up Nor’s cloak until it looked like a small parachute and she lifted off the ground. She floated over to Jesse and put her hand on his burned arm. He immediately felt an icy chill course through him and his burns were healed. She held out a hand and helped Jesse back to his feet. Her face was once again serene, like nothing had happened. “If you react in fear, all your powers will be useless.” She walked through the now charred and smoking trees. After a reluctant moment Jesse hurried to catch up with her.
“So . . .” He started carefully. “Assuming this is real, and you are an angel, why me?”
“We are not allowed to possess humans, so my spirit has remained dormant in your family’s lineage for generations, at least ten thousand years or so by my estimate.” Nor responded. “The fact that I have been awakened now can only mean one thing: Serenis has returned. It is incumbent on you to master my powers and use my strength before you are found by her and the demons that follow.”
“If you don’t want me to be afraid, you’re not doing a very good job.” Jesse replied dryly. He thought he might vomit.
Nor looked at him, her face concerned. “Fear is natural, but it is how you respond to that fear that makes the difference. I recommend that you respond in anger because it is the easiest, but it is not the most powerful response. It is hard for me to guide you much more than that because my powers will manifest in you different than they did in me, your emotions are human and therefore the mechanics of how my powers operate may not be the same at all. Our commander will figure some way to get you in fighting shape though, she has to . . . or . . . well . . .” Nor pondered a moment before continuing. “It is not safe for us to be in contact longer than we have already, I am afraid I must go now.”
“Wait!” Jesse called out but Nor was already gone. The trees faded, and the dream collapsed.
As the dreams ended . . .
Jesse awoke with a start. He looked around the room and saw all three of his friends in various states of disarray, all unconscious. The letter that Lena had written them lay unfolded on the ground in front of Davis. Are they OK? He thought, Should I check their pulses . . . or something? I wish I knew more about first aid.
Before Jesse came to a decision on what to do next, Davis began to stir. He sat up and opened and closed his eyes a few times. Reality that he was back in the basement of the tower sank in and he jumped to his feet. He ran over to the stair landing and checked to see if there was any evidence of that watery napalm might be coming down the stairs, but he didn’t see anything. He checked his watch. “It’s early morning, we have been unconscious all night.” He said to no one in particular. His head whipped toward Alex as she woke up screaming.
“AAAAHHHH!!!!!!” Alex patted down her arms and legs, sweat beaded on her forehea
d. “I . . . I’m not on fire. I’m not on fire!” She yelled triumphantly. She sagged back against the wall. “Oh man, what a dream. I have never had a nightmare that bad . . . ever I don’t think.”
Davis walked over to Alex and looked down at her with a quizzical look on his face. “I’m not convinced it was just a dream Alex.” Davis said. Concern was etched on his face. “I had a dream, too, but it was far too real to be just a dream.”
“I had one too.” Jesse added reluctantly. “And let’s just say, I might be seriously rethinking my stance on atheism.” All three of them looked down at Cliff who was still unconscious. “I hope he wakes up soon.” Jesse added. “I don’t know what you guys were told in your dreams, but my angel—Nor was her name—told me that staying in contact longer than we had was dangerous, and I was the first to wake up.”
“I didn’t hear anything like that in my dream.” Davis said after a few moments of pondering. “Did you say that your person identified as an angel? Mine’s name was Darin, but he just showed up, gave me some power pointers, and disappeared. Unlike Alex here though, I thought I had the best dream of my life!”
“Power pointer?” Jesse repeated while laughing. “I like that phrase. I got ‘power pointers’ from Nor too. I can apparently harness the elements like fire and wind . . . and maybe some sort of healing, too, or so she says.”
“That’s pretty awesome.” Davis nodded in approval. “I am a human battering ram it seems. I took out a tank by punching it.” Davis smiled as he remembered the moment the tank went careening off the cliff.
“I didn’t get any of that.” Alex cut in. She wasn’t smiling or laughing. “I didn’t get any power pointers, I didn’t get to talk to any guide. I met the dragon Ivinor who told me I wasn’t me, and then I met another dragon that said I needed to die for threatening the ‘great Lord’s plans’. Then he somehow regurgitated this fireball and sent it at me. The fire surrounded me just as I woke up.”
“I’m sorry.” Jesse offered. “Maybe your power has something to do with dragons?” Alex shrugged but didn’t respond. She did not seem interested in elaborating further. “I am getting really worried about Cliff, I hope he is OK.” Everyone looked back at Cliff again, but he still wasn’t moving. A familiar buzzing sound came from the stairway and a fly flew into the room. “Those flies.” Jesse muttered angrily. “I know they are part of this somehow. He got up to head toward it but before he took two steps the fly spontaneously burst into flames and fell to the ground. Jesse took a step back. Alex and Davis watched the fly fall and then looked back at Jesse. “I . . . I . . . I think I did that.” Jesse stammered in disbelief.
Davis got up and looked at one of the sets of steel bars that were still in place. “If that dream wasn’t true . . . this is really gonna hurt.” Davis stepped back and then flowed fluidly into a cross punch, laying everything he had into a bar. The energy flowed, the shockwave built up in front of his fist, and when his knuckles connected with the steel the entire frame of the cage burst from its casing in the floor and ceiling and crashed into the back wall near the staircase. All three of them stared wide eyed with surprise. “Unbelievable,” Davis said, obviously dumbfounded at what just happened.
The attention quickly shifted from Davis to Cliff as he began to stir. He opened his eyes slowly and looked around at everyone staring at him. “Hey guys, what’s up?”
“Any chance you had a very lifelike dream?” Davis asked as if he knew the answer.
“Yes, actually. An angel named Ariel was in it.” Cliff replied. “He said that angels were not allowed to possess humans and that I would have his power.”
“Did he give you any power pointers?” Jesse asked smiling.
“I take it that there is a joke there by the look on your face.” Cliff smirked as he took them in, they were still all staring at him oddly. “Umm, not really. He said his powers were strength, speed, and flight . . . and something about summoning the Sword of the Cherubim. No pointers though. What happened to you guys?” After a brief explanation from the others, they all looked down at the open letter in the middle of the floor. “I suppose we should read this letter from Lena . . . who I suppose is our Commander.” Cliff picked up the letter and began to read.
You had asked me what the “Awakening” was, and now you know. There is much more that makes up the world than what you can see, feel, and smell. There are entire realms that are separated from this planet’s physical existence. The Great War may have been lost to the annals of history, but it did happen. Serenis and her demon army invaded this world and we were sent here by the Creator to stop her systematic subjugation of the human race. We fought for thousands of years until we won a costly battle. Serenis was sealed, but all four of my angelic generals fell.
Each of their spirits chose a family and seeded themselves into their lineage, to be awoken if Serenis was ever successful in breaking free. As the Creator kept us on this planet, we knew this day would come at some point, and we have been patiently awaiting the day when the battle would resume once again. I am sorry that this has happened during your lifetimes, but I am also glad. The four of you are strong, and I know that together we can defeat this evil once and for all.
I had hoped to do this with you a few days ago, but I was delayed dealing with a substantial Chengarian assassin network that had been established in the city. Their goal is to kill the four of you before you become strong enough to threaten Serenis, leaving me to fight them on my own. It may have been for the best however, after what you have seen you may accept the reality of what I am telling you with less resistance. The sooner you accept it, the sooner I can start training you.
Come to my house as soon as you can, but do not go out the public gate. There may be more assassins I have not yet dealt with, and until you are trained you are vulnerable. Davis knows a secret way to exit castle Dengrin and you should take it. Come to my house via the public road that approaches the tourist watch tower and head down to the basement. I will meet you there and take you the rest of the way. This is but a small part of what I will explain to you when we meet again. May the Creator watch over you and guide your steps.
Lena
Cliff finished reading the letter aloud and dropped it to the floor. Everyone stared at it in silence. After several minutes, Cliff got to his feet and started pacing. “Anyone know what time it is?” He said absently
“Edging up on breakfast.” Davis replied.
“And you know a way out of here that won’t get us killed?” Cliff added dryly.
Davis looked toward the exit and then back to Cliff. “I do.”
Cliff eyed the steel bars that were smashed against the wall. He could see the point where Davis had hit the center of the steel lattice, the bar was bent in a half circle. “I don’t know whether to accept this at face value or to chalk it up to crazy. Going to Lena right now means accepting it. Accepting that we have angels inside of us. Accepting that the fate of the world might sit on our shoulders. Accepting that we are going to have to fight . . .” Cliff shook his head. He had never looked this serious in his life. “It means we are going to have to fight demons.”
“I’ve never even been in a fight.” Jesse muttered sadly. “I’m not equipped for this.”
Alex started crying. “I can’t fight . . . I can’t hurt people . . . This all has to be some kind of elaborate joke . . . right?”
“All of you stop!” Davis shouted. “We all had these dreams! Cliff didn’t see it, but the rest of us saw me crush those bars and Jesse roast that fly! If we are the last wall of defense that the world has against this evil then we have to step up to the challenge! For our friends! For our families! For the world! We are going to Lena’s and we are going to get to the bottom of this, but we all know there is truth in it, and we all know what we have to do. Grab your stuff and follow me, we’re leaving.”
Jesse and Alex stared at Davis in shock. After a moment they stood up and nodded. Cliff gathered up his weapons and stood next to them. “Let’
s go.”
Chapter 3
Denoria Eastern Desert
“Target Acquired, 1.5 leagues and closing.” The voice crackled over General Reminir’s radio. “Roger that Snake One.” Crackled the reply. One hundred and fifteen airships from three different Denorian Air Navy bases closed on the injured creature.
“We are going in hot! Assume attack pattern ZULU.” Lieutenant Commander Kurt Cerigan exclaimed. Today LCDR Cerigan was scheduled to have a dogfight with the reigning Denorian ace pilot Commander Turner. Instead he was hunting down a creature that, by all reports, was something out of myth or legend. He was piloting an A-1 Firehawk. It had served Denoria well for over a decade, but he could not wait for the X-5s to come rolling off the line. He had the privilege of giving one of the prototypes a test flight and, ever since, it had been painful flying the older ships. A crisp “Roger that!” chimed over his radio. Methodically, he watched the airships in front of him form a single file staggered line.
The sun glared off the cockpits that sat like half an eggshell on top of the airship structure. Single engines in the rear left smoke trails that signaled areas to avoid in order to not get caught in the wash of other airships. Wash was the most dangerous part of running attack pattern ZULU and a careless pilot could quickly find himself ejecting after getting caught in it. The teardrop-shaped body and wings gave these airships a top speed that could not be matched by any other country in the world.