The Awakening

by Tony Mazzarella

  Dread began to fill his heart when he thought of all the possibilities of why she would have called him. Was she hurt or dying somewhere and had the strength for just one phone call? He tried to fight these thoughts and the guilt of not being there for her as he’d promised. He was jerked back to reality by the sound of two loud male voices engaged in what sounded like an intense argument. As he crept over to a set of open windows, he saw two men shouting at each other. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small device that he clipped to his right ear and carefully slid the power switch on. Instantly the sound of the argument was amplified, and he was able to hear the conversation. He could see through the rain that was sliding down the window and saw Adrian yelling at another man.

  “How dare you invade her mind. You know I would never allow you to do that.”

  “Allow me?” said the other man with disdain. “You have done what you pleased with her. Why can’t I do the same so I can understand what you’re thinking? I didn’t leave our father so I could serve another master, yet I feel just as I did then when we left.”

  “How dare you!” Adrian shouted. “You know it’s not the same thing, Corrado. I told you what I’m thinking. If it is to be, then it will be my decision, not yours. The power was kept from you for a reason. You still have so much to learn, and he was smart to keep it from you. I realize that now.”

  “I am learning more and more each day, my brother. You are becoming weaker as the eons pass. I remember you when we first came here. I was in awe of your power, and you ruled with fury. Creatures burned in agony as we laughed at his foolishness to create them, knowing what their fate would be. Ever since you met her, you’ve lost your way.”

  “You will not speak of Khaheet!” shouted Adrian angrily.

  “Why not? She’s long dead, and I was glad when it happened. You were a fool then, and you’re acting like a fool now, brother.”

  “Damn you!” shouted Adrian. “You will not make contact with her mind again when you take her back or you will see the fury I once had, firsthand! Do I make myself clear?”

  “I will obey…for now, but this is not over.”

  Drew watched as Adrian removed a small metal box from the drawer of his desk and walked toward his brother. He could see the look of fear come over Corrado as Adrian opened it, exposing a blinding light.

  “You remember now, don’t you, Corrado? What it feels like for you?”

  He could see Corrado, now cowering in the corner, falling to his knees while trying desperately to shield himself from the light emanating from the box.

  “Please, no more!” he begged as he writhed in pain.

  “You will obey me, yes? You will not speak of Khaheet, and you will not enter Ms. Kirby’s mind again. Do I make myself clear?” threatened Adrian.

  “As you wish. Please, no more!” he pleaded as he fell farther to the floor, moaning in agony. Adrian hesitated for a moment and snapped the box shut.

  “I’m glad we’re clear on the matter,” said Adrian as he placed the box on the small wooden desk near the window. Corrado slowly pulled himself up from the floor, wiping the sweat from his forehead. Still breathing heavily, he stood up, glaring at Adrian with a look Drew thought would melt steel.

  “I remember a time when it affected you as it does me. That’s when I truly knew my brother. Now you’re as fake as the politician you pretend to be.”

  The deafening thunder crashed down as lightning struck a nearby tree, startling Drew and causing him knock over a plant just under the window. The old ceramic pot shattered loudly, drawing the attention of the men inside. Drew ducked down quickly, hiding out of view.

  Adrian looked at Corrado, and Drew could hear the chilling words.

  “Deal with our uninvited guest.”

  He peered in one last time and was terrified as he saw the man referred to as Corrado dissolve into a black shadow and leave the room with Adrian following close behind. Drew quickly pulled the small knife from his pocket and cut the screen on the window. He reached in and grabbed the small metal box from the desk and hid it in the inside pocket of his jacket. He took off running back to the cliff’s edge and began frantically trying to scale the cliff to the path far below. He knew that Cait was in trouble, and he reached for his phone as he stood on the small plateau. He texted as quickly as he could, knowing that Corrado was coming.

  “Pretend to call a taxi. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes,” he said aloud as he typed the words. He once again found foothold after foothold and looked up, praying not to be discovered, but his worst fears were realized as he saw what looked like a thick black fog pour slowly over the rock wall above him and spiral toward him. It formed into the face of the man he’d seen arguing with Adrian, and it approached even faster.

  “You will die now,” whispered a voice in his mind as a hand formed out of the blackness. It reached toward the sky, summoning the power of nature to its will. Lightning electrified the night sky as its energy concentrated into a giant spear and plunged toward him. He looked up and resolved himself to his death. His last thoughts were of Cait and her helplessness at the mercy of these creatures. At once he knew he had the choice to die at their hands or his own. He looked down at the pines below and closed his eyes as he fell backward into the night. He looked up as he was falling and saw the giant bolt of lightning electrify the wall above, sending rock and dirt showering down after him. The shadowy figure swept upward and back over the cliff as his mind went blank and he accepted death.

  ***

  Cait stepped back, disconcerted by his words.

  “What do you mean I can’t leave? Until what’s done?” she asked, frightened.

  Adrian walked over to another covered easel and removed the white sheet, exposing the nearly completed painting. Cait stared at the canvas for a few seconds and quickly realized she was staring into her own eyes.

  “You see, I’ve not had the chance to finish this yet,” said Adrian, looking vulnerable. “I was hoping you’d allow me to do so now.”

  Without any words, she joined with his mind as she had many times before. She removed her dress with no inhibition and allowed him to capture her likeness as he’d done with another, thousands of years before. She stared, mesmerized by the other painting, into Khaheet’s eyes as the minutes passed. She felt Khaheet’s spirit pour over her and began to understand more about the meaning of her existence and why he cared for Khaheet as he did.

  Suddenly she was there, thousands of years in the past. She watched as Khaheet walked through the marketplace on her way to the fields where she worked. She saw the giant abyss created by the massive creature minutes earlier. Its master stood nearby as the people fled and screamed in horror, but she still approached him. There was no fear in her soul. Something had removed it and replaced it with purpose. She didn’t know what that purpose was, but she had to keep walking. She could see through his façade. The image of the beast was just an illusion to hide what truly lay underneath. His fiery minion stood towering over the city, waiting for his master’s order to destroy, but she walked through his shadow with no fear.

  “Who are you, human, and why don’t you run like the others?” he growled.

  She kneeled down before him. “My name is Khaheet, and I have a gift for you, my lord.”

  She could see his puzzlement as he’d never seen any creature in all his millions of years show such bravery of spirit.

  “I have no need for gifts, woman. You are unique for your kind; that much is certain,” he said as he watched thousands fleeing in chaos all around him.

  She removed the silver box from her robes and stood up, holding it outward.

  “Please, my lord. You must take it. You were meant to,” she pleaded.

  Confused, he reached down and took the box from her. Something drew him to it and to her. As he lifted the lid, a brilliant light, which shone with great purity, emanated in
all directions. It was a light he knew all too well, and it blinded him as he tried to look away. He had left the source long ago and had never thought to feel its pristine resonance again. He’d been away so long; its radiance was torture. He dropped the box and quickly fell to his knees, writhing in pain. Seeing his suffering, she quickly closed the lid and knelt by his side. He could see her staring at him, not with fear or apprehension, but with compassion. He hadn’t felt that concern of another since he’d left so long ago. He rose to his feet, grabbing her violently.

  “What is this poison you’ve brought to me, woman! I should crush you right now or better yet have him deal with you,” he said, looking high above to the creature that longed to wreak havoc on the earth.

  “It’s not poison, my lord. It’s a gift,” she said calmly, as if she knew he wouldn’t harm her.

  “A gift?” he asked with suspicion. “Where did you get this gift?”

  “I don’t know, my lord. I only know I needed to bring this to you and offer myself to you as well.”

  He raised his hand and was about to destroy her when she reached up and touched his face tenderly. His eyes closed as he savored the softness of her flesh. Suddenly and uncontrollably, his form changed. The hideous monster he’d been seconds before morphed into a man who stood before her, handsome and vulnerable. She saw, in physical form, the entity she’d felt was hidden behind the monster. She stared into his green eyes as he trembled before her. Never before had another creature brought him to his knees. It was he who caused everything that stood before him to tremble in fear. Creatures, too primitive to know how to beg for their lives, would just cower in fear as they were destroyed.

  “What are you?” he whispered.

  “I am Khaheet, my lord, and I come to you now as I was meant to. Give up your hate and embrace the light, and there will be no more pain.”

  ***

  A beeping sound awakened Cait from her trance, and she quickly gathered her clothes and dressed as her modesty returned suddenly. Adrian seemed to be in a trance, staring at the completed painting as she reached for her cell phone. She read the text message from Drew and was relieved to know he was so close.

  “Adrian, I have to leave. I forgot that I had asked a taxi to pick me up at ten o’clock.”

  “I’m sorry, Cait. We haven’t even had dinner yet. Can’t you please stay, and I’ll have Corrado bring you back right after?”

  “As charming as your brother is, I’ll have to decline the offer. Besides, you got what you wanted, didn’t you?” she asked.

  “You’re beautiful, Cait, just like she was. I knew it when I first felt your presence—that you had been sent to me as she was.”

  Adrian seemed to snap out of his trance and stood up, covering the paintings. She wasn’t sure but thought he wiped tears from his eyes.

  “I must apologize for my brother,” he said, gathering himself. “He is a child inside and has much to learn, especially about interacting with people. I will deal with him in my own way. Please let me walk you out,” he said, taking her hand.

  “Thank you,” she said, collecting her purse. As they walked through the large hallway and into the foyer, she could see Corrado at the top of the stairs, looking even angrier than before.

  “Are you ready to go, Ms. Kirby? I am so looking forward to finishing our conversation.”

  “Ms. Kirby has a taxi coming and will not need your services, Corrado,” said Adrian sternly. “I also look forward to finishing our conversation, brother, after Ms. Kirby has left.”

  Cait could sense the fear in Corrado at his brother’s words, but he had one last ominous warning that scared Cait to death in worry over Drew.

  “I hope your taxi will make it, Ms. Kirby,” he said, scowling. “We have many accidents on these roads, especially on nights like this. You may yet need my services before the night is over.”

  She knew no matter what, she’d never sit in a car with Corrado and would sooner walk back to Livorno. She stood with Adrian on the front steps with no sign of a taxi or any other vehicle. As the minutes passed, her heart sank into despair hoping Drew was safe but suspecting Corrado had done something horrible. It was almost as if he knew Drew wouldn’t be there. Just as panic was setting in, a servant came out and asked Adrian if they should open the gate for the car that was waiting.

  “Yes, let him in,” said Adrian.

  Cait watched as the headlights approached from the long driveway’s end. The car rolled slowly through the driving rain and pulled in a few feet from where Cait was standing. It was a taxi, and the driver had a cap pulled low over his forehead. He got out and hobbled to the back door to open it for Cait.

  “Until I feel your presence again, my dear,” said Adrian.

  “Thanks for a lovely evening. I hope you continue to pursue the compassion I feel inside you. I feel like you’re searching for your true self, and I know there’s more to you than even you know. Until we meet again.”

  “You are wise, Cait, as I’ve known. Good night,” he said as he kissed her on the cheek. As she walked to the waiting cab, Corrado started down the front steps and stared at the driver, looking like he was ready to explode inside. He began to approach as Adrian reached out his hand to stop him. He looked sideways at his brother and stormed into the house. Cait sat in the back seat as the driver slammed the door, limped back to the driver’s side, and slowly drove out the front gate.

  “Drew, is it you?” asked Cait worriedly.

  He pulled off his cap and she could see his condition was serious. His face was bloody, and he was covered in leaves and pine needles.

  “It’s me, or what’s left of me,” he answered, breathing heavily.

  “Oh my God. What happened! Are you okay?”

  “I’ll be fine. Are you all right?” he asked.

  “Yes, I think so.”

  “Just hang on until we get far away from here. I’ll try to…”

  She could see he was struggling to stay conscious as the car began to veer off of the road.

  “Drew! Stop the car now!” she shouted.

  He managed to pull to the side as Cait slammed the rolling car into park as he slumped forward. Cait jumped out and managed to slide Drew to the passenger seat, which she then reclined so he could lie down. He seemed to fall into an exhausted sleep, and despite his injuries, Cait felt he wasn’t in need of a hospital. She managed to find her way back to the main road that led to the city. After an hour she got there, and she got to her apartment shortly after. She had the doorman help her with Drew, and she put him in her spare bedroom. She did her best to tend to his wounds and could see he was badly bruised and scraped. He also seemed to have an ankle injury of some type, which she wrapped in a bandage. Morning came quickly as she spent the night on the chair next to Drew, watching him throughout the night. As he began to stir, she sat on the bed next to him.

  “Oh, man,” said Drew, rubbing his head.

  “Are you okay?”

  As his vision cleared, he saw Cait come into view.

  “You’re all right?” he asked, relieved.

  “Yes, thanks to you. What the hell happened last night? I didn’t see you when we left the building.”

  Drew sat up, still moaning as he grabbed his midsection gingerly.

  “Oh, does that hurt,” he muttered.

  “Why don’t you lie back down.”

  “No, I’ll be okay. I waited outside until that car pulled up. I borrowed a radio transmitter from an Italian secret service friend of mine so I could follow you without getting too close.”

  “So that’s why I never saw you?” she asked.

  “Yeah, I didn’t want to put you in more danger, so I stayed back. I also thought the taxi was pretty clever. Turned out to be a good move, wouldn’t you say?”

  “I would. Thanks.”

  “No problem. I seem to have called
in all my favors with just about everyone. Antonio’s cousin will be coming by for his cab in the morning. Hope I didn’t do any damage.”

  “It’s fine,” said Cait. “What happened to you?” she asked as she lifted a bandage from his shoulder to inspect his wound.

  “That’s a strange story, and I still can’t believe it myself. I couldn’t get through the gates or past the wall so I climbed up the cliff in the back. When I got up there, I found Adrian arguing with that creep that picked you up. It was pretty intense, and they seemed to be fighting over you, Cait.”

  “I know. Adrian connected with my mind and saw what that bastard tried to do on the way there.”

  “What did he try to do?” asked Drew with curious concern.

  “It doesn’t matter,” she said, not wanting to relive it. “He never got the chance to do any damage. When Adrian found out, he stormed off, saying he had to take care of something.”

  “That must be what I overheard. He chastised him for doing whatever he did to you, and it got pretty intense. There’s no doubt now that these things aren’t human. The one called Corrado turned into something I can’t explain. It chased me and almost killed me with a blast of lightning. I thought I was dead, so I jumped off the cliff, and he left me for dead.”

  “Oh my God,” said Cait, softly caressing his cheek. “How did you survive the fall?” she asked.

  “That’s the strange thing,” said Drew as his eyes welled up. “The pines were thick and helped break my fall, but there was something else. Something intervened to save me; I’m sure of it. As I fell through the branches, I should have died, but I didn’t. Something guided me through, and as I struck the ground, I looked up at the rocks falling toward me. They surely would have crushed me, but something shielded me at the last minute. Almost like an invisible energy field around my entire body, which caused the rocks and branches to bounce off. I just lay there for a few minutes in shock, basically realizing I was hurt but not dead. That’s when I made for the taxi and came to get you. I was hoping you saw the message.”