Raven's Key: A Novel

by Siomonn Pulla

“Watch your tongue Corvus or I’ll carve it out. Show some respect for our King.”

  “All I’m saying is that if you involve Finn we’re all doomed. I’m counting on you to make an executive decision Derg.”

  “How do I know you’re not trying to fool me?”

  “You’re just going to have to trust me.”

  “Trust you!” Derg laughed. “I don’t even like you. You’re a scavenger and a fool. Nothing but trouble.”

  “Kill me then.” Raven put his hands in the air. “I’m getting tired of all this. Do you think I enjoy having to talk to you? Ever since you faeries killed my brothers and my sister I’ve had nothing but spite for you. I wanted Cúchulainn to kill me. Instead Gwern told him to wound me so I would suffer. And I did suffer. If it weren’t for the magical healing properties of Gwales I would be dead. Now I’m the last of the Corvus. Except for Maeve of course. But she’s not a full-blood.”

  “So what do you want from me Bran,” asked Derg.

  “Allow me to take the girl to Anwin,” replied Raven, “so she can come into her own. Then she’ll be ready to take on Marduk and save these humans from this impending darkness.”

  “Anwin?” Derg looked at Raven intensely. “That’s risky. There’s a lot of faeries that would be glad to see your head severed again and impaled on a long spike.”

  “But if I’m there with Maeve they’ll leave us alone.” Raven returned Derg’s gaze. “She needs to believe Derg. Without faith and belief she’s powerless. We’re all powerless.”

  “So you think taking her to Anwin will make her believe?”

  “It’ll not only make her believe, it will make her understand.”

  “Maybe I should come with you, just to make sure that you aren’t trying to pull a fast one on me.”

  “I’m giving you my word on this.” Raven took the tip of Derg’s spear and cut the palm of his hand. A thick stream of blood started dripping onto the cold frozen ground. ” A blood debt.”

  Derg unsheathed a knife concealed in his cloak and without hesitation ran the blade across the palm of his hand.

  “A blood debt.” He took Raven’s hand in his. “May Dagda, the Mighty Red One of Great Knowledge, seal this bond.”

  “And Alnu, mother of all, protect it.” Raven pulled Derg into an embrace. “Now, let’s go find the girl.”

  Chapter 35

  Iyash felt his body collapse to the cold floor of Marduk’s office and was engulfed by a deep, still blackness.

  He lay in that stillness for what seemed like an eternity, until he heard someone call his name.

  Faintly at first, but as he listened, the voice became louder and clearer.

  “Why are you crying?” asked the voice.

  Iyash hadn’t realized that he was crying. Now he could feel the hot tears on his cheek.

  “I’m dead and now I fear that this mad man is going to destroy the world and I can’t do anything to change it.”

  “You did what you could. What you were meant to.” The voice was now very clear.

  “But I could’ve done more. I failed my people. My spirit will be forever restless, feeling like it didn’t accomplish what it could have.”

  “What would you have done differently,” asked the voice.

  “I’m not sure,” replied Iyash, “there are so many possibilities.”

  The blackness faded and Iyash found himself on an island, face to face with a large snake that was floating in front of him. Instead of water, the snake was swimming in an endless expanse of stars, stretching out in all directions.

  “I was left stranded on this island so many years ago and now I’m back again. Why?”

  “Good question,” said the snake. “Get on my back there’s somebody who wants to see you. She can answer all your questions.”

  “But I know how this all turns out.” Iyash took a step back from the snake. “A thunderbird comes and rescues me and I kill you with a lightning bolt.”

  “Well, not exactly,” replied the snake, “that was how it turned out in the other story, not this one.”

  “But I’m dead right?”

  “You could say that. Now get on my back. You know the drill. Pull on my horns if you want me to go faster.”

  Iyash paused and took a good look at the snake.

  “What if I don’t get on your back?”

  “Time goes really slowly out here,” said the snake. “You’ll be really bored. I’m not much of a story-teller.”

  “Where are you taking me?”

  “Get on and find out. “

  “I guess I don’t have anything to lose.” Iyash climbed up onto the back of the snake and grabbed its horns. “Lets go.”

  The snake slithered up into stars and took off at a dizzying pace. The starlight whizzed by as the snake climbed up and then down in all directions.

  Iyash was amazed by the beauty of all the subtle colors and the depth of space as the snake wound its way through all the various star clusters.

  Just as quickly as he started, the snake stopped.

  In front of them was a small wigwam, with a trail of smoke streaming out the top.

  “Ok we’re here.”

  “That’s it?” Iyash was surprised. He had suspected that the snake was going to take him to some bizarre alien civilization. Not a simple wigwam. “Are you kidding me?”

  “No. She’s been waiting a long time for you,” replied the snake.

  “Ok. Thanks for the ride.”

  Iyash climb off the back of the snake and it curled around and disappeared back into the field of stars. He made his way towards wigwam, pushed aside the moose-hide door and stepped into the dim light.

  “Grandson, I’ve been waiting a long time for you,” said an old women sitting by the fire. She moved a small earthen pot off of the fire and placed it behind her. “We don’t have much time and you have much to accomplish.”

  “But I’m dead grandmother. What can I accomplish now?” Iyash sat down next to the fire. “I’m just thinking about having a good meal and enjoying this fire.”

  “You need to maintain your strength grandson. We have a long journey ahead of us.” The old woman passed the earthen pot to Iyash. “I’ve made you this special soup.”

  Iyash took the earthen pot. The soup had a strong, delicious aroma. He started to drink the soup.He drank for a long time before he put the pot back down. When he looked at the pot it still wasn’t empty.

  “What do you see in there grandson,” asked the old woman.

  Iyash was amazed to see images starting to form inside of his soup pot.

  “I’m not sure.”

  But after a few seconds, the images became sharper. It was George and the two humans.

  “I see my grandson, George, and the two humans. They’re sitting around a fire, passing a feather.” Then the image shifted. “It’s him. Raven. He’s talking to the Council. They’re discussing Marduk. But that’s not possible, he works for Marduk. They’re talking about the girl.” The image shifted again. “I see the girl. She’s wearing a beautiful dress. She’s walking in a forest, towards a large tree.” The image shifted again, “It’s Marduk. He’s looking at something. It’s a large explosion.” Iyash pushed the pot away from him. “I don’t want to see anymore.”

  “What was the last image you saw grandson?”

  “It was Marduk. The planet was reflected in his eyes. The waters were black and the skies were orange. The trees were on fire. People were crying and sick. It was horrible.”

  “As I suspected.” The old woman placed another log onto the fire. “He plans on continuing down the forked path.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “This man Marduk is playing a dangerous game.”

  “Yes, I know. That’s why he was after our sacred objects.” Iyash moved closer to the fire. “The council has been monitoring his activity for quite some time. We understood that he was trying to counter our efforts at shifting the planet-consciousness forward into the new crea
tion. Somehow this man was able to limit our efforts severely. He hired Raven, who proved to be especially difficult to track down.” Iyash paused, remembering the image of Raven he saw in the soup pot. “Are you’re trying to tell me that Raven was working for the Council all this time”

  “I’m not trying to tell you anything Grandson,” said the Old Woman. “That’s not my place.”

  “But the soup pot. I saw him talking to the Council.”

  “Yes, the pot shows many different things. It depends on who is looking.”

  “What do you know Grandmother” asked Iyash. “Share your vision with me.”

  “You are correct, Iyash. Raven is working for the Council. He’s been working for them for some time now.”

  “But why did they pretend?”

  “To get close to Marduk it was essential that they not tell you. Unfortunately, for you, plans did not unfold as the Council had anticipated. Of course, I knew you were coming to visit. We’ve known for a long time how this story unfolds, although there are multiple endings. There are always multiple endings. That’s why it’s so important that you make conscious choices on how to shift this forward. So much destruction, pain and darkness can be avoided. But we are running out of time. So far, the Council has not succeed in raising the earth vibration to the level that is required to shift the planet-consciousness in the direction we would all like. Marduk has proved to be a formidable opponent to the Council. He’s tapped into the collective fear, insecurity and greed of the planet and figured out a way to amplify this.”

  “But how do we move forward against this force of darkness?”

  “Do you believe it is possible?”

  “Yes, but it seems impossible at the moment.” Iyash let out a long sigh. “Marduk has all of our sacred objects, and has figured out a way to shift the vibration to support his own version of creation, which is dark and twisted.”

  “We need to make a journey to Anwin,” said the old woman. “It’s a long distance from here. There you will find the answers you seek.”

  “I’ve never heard of this place before.”

  “It’s deep in the interior of that far star cluster.” The old woman pointed over her shoulder. “Now get some rest and fill your heart with the light of love and hope. We leave in a few hours.”

  Chapter 36

  After Raven left his office, Marduk snorted a long line of black powder off the top of his desk.

  It’s so close now. Soon I’ll be free and more powerful than Anu, more powerful than any of the Anunnaki. I’ll finally be recognized as the supreme leader. The King of kings. I will not have to hide behind these glass walls. And when Raven brings me the girl, I’ll no longer ache for that sweet taste of a woman. My plan is finally coming together. I’ve waited so long for this.

  Marduk stood up from his desk. The drug was starting to take effect. He could feel the pulsating energy lines of his body, his vision expanded and he could see past the glass walls of his office tower. If he focussed his attention, he could direct his sight wherever he wanted to go. Time was no longer linear, but spiraling in many different directions. Past, present and future merged within a multiplicity of timelines.

  After Anu had taught him how to travel through these timelines, Marduk leaned to successfully manipulate them to serve his own interests. Lately he had been trying to manipulate the timelines to ensure the successful completion of his plan. But every time he encountered the future and tried to shape it with his intent, the timeline would split into the same two scenarios.

  In one he and Maeve were lying together on a large bed, watching the skies turn orange as the trees in the city burned from a small nuclear explosion. The shrieks and cries of people could be heard in the street below.

  In the other scenario, he lay dead on the floor of his office, watching the same scenes from his long life over and over again.

  I don’t like that possibility. It should be erased from the timeline. If I could only figure out how to do it.

  “But that’s the price you pay Marduk.” Anu stepped into the office from a door in the fabric of time-space that had opened when Marduk snorted the black powder.

  “I realize that,” snapped Marduk. “But if I created it, surely I can destroy it.”

  “So you would think,” replied Anu calmly. “But the Council is working very hard to counter your manipulations of the timelines.”

  “The Council is worthless and they know that.” Marduk sent his sight to find Maeve. “The shape shifter has figured out a way to bring the girl to me, and as soon as she is here, we can move forward with the plan.”

  “Considering the timelines, your plan is risky.” Anu walk over to the table where Marduk had laid out the five objects Raven had stolen. “We want to ensure that you can still supply us with the powder. Over the years, you have proven a very worthy servant to the Anunnaki and we reward those who are loyal to us.”

  “I can assure you my production rate is stable at 15,000 barrels of crude oil daily,” replied Marduk. “That means at least 10 pounds of powder a month. Although as the human population has increased its consumption of crude, it makes it more difficult for me to ensure a steady supply to the Annunaki.”

  “We’ve been studying the situation in your oil-producing regions,” said Anu. “It is very unstable and unpredictable. These are the best resource areas for the powder. What are you doing about it?”

  “I’ve managed to secure the production fields and maintain a steady flow of oil,” replied Marduk, “and thanks to Anunnaki technology, my soldiers are impossible to defeat. My military is the most feared and effective force on the planet. I’ve just been informed that the short-range nuclear stealth device we’ve been developing is ready to be deployed. This means we can finally move into key locations and take out the leadership. It’s time they were reminded who is in control.”

  “Excellent. Your actions instill confidence Marduk. You understand that the Anunnaki are always ready to share technology with you if it means securing access to the powder.”

  “Yes, and for that I am forever grateful. In many ways the Anunnaki have made the human species what they are. Without your technology and science, we would never have advanced the way we did. The Anunnaki have an amazing understanding of how to combine mathematics, engineering and energy consciousness into the development of the most advanced technologies and philosophies ever imaginable.”

  “When we first contacted your species, you were like new-born babies. Just barely walking. It took many years to perfect the gene sequence to make you intelligently sentient. I remember when we first showed you how to combine numbers in order to think in abstract fractions, multiply into the million, calculate roots and raise numbers several powers. It opened so many doors for your people to develop.”

  “Now we are advancing towards the new consciousness. Soon I will be able to host delegations of Anunnaki here on Earth and humans will accept their proper role as servants to the higher galactic life forms.”

  “Remember that we have a special fondness for you humans,” said Anu. “We’ve invested a lot of time and resources into your species. We only require that you secure a steady supply of the powder for our use. It would be in your best interest to maintain balanced control of the situation and not attempt any overly dramatic displays of power.”

  “You can count on me to do what is required.” Marduk joined Anu at the table where the five artifacts were laid out. “My shape shifter did a good job acquiring these objects. It was no easy task stealing them from the different museums across the world. This is my favorite piece.” Marduk picked up a small bone cylinder. “It holds exactly four drops of the water from the fountain of youth and wisdom from the magnificent kingdom of Shambhala. It is the purest water that has ever existed. One drop of this water and I will live for two thousand years without aging. Two drops and I will gain enlightenment. Three drops and I will die a most gruesome and painful death. Four drops, and I will be reborn again and ascend
.”

  “Do you plan on taking this water?”

  “Yes. I plan on taking two drops for myself and giving one drop to the girl once she is in my possession,” replied Marduk, “and together we will live through this new coming age.”

  “What about the last drop?”

  “That will be added to the dirt in this bag.” Marduk motioned to Iyash’s medicine bag lying on the table.

  “And what about this?” Anu picked up a large red figurine, carved in the figure of a human.

  “This amulet was forged by the Egyptian ruler Re-Akum, Isis’ husband, using the menstrual blood of his wife. The original intention was for it to be used as a protection against Set, who wanted to destroy their unborn child. While the amulet ensured the safe birth of Osiris, the council intended to use this for Ceremony to ensure humanity’s safe protection into the new world creation. But I intend to break the amulet, and dislodge humanity’s protection against the darkness. This will allow me greater freedom and flexibility to shape my own vision of the new world order.”

  Marduk picked up the clay flute laying on the table.

  “After I have charged the earth element with the smoke from the sacred pipe, I intend to call in all the sounds of creation with Kinich Ahau’s flute.”

  “It is dangerous to play as a God.” Anu placed the amulet back on the table. “Even the Anunnaki understand that with creation comes responsibility. That is why we have spent a considerable amount of time watching and guiding you along your short evolutionary trajectory.”

  “I’m not playing,” snapped Marduk, “I’ve seen this all in the timeline. The Council has inadvertently shown me how to charge and use these objects. I know exactly what I’m doing.”

  “We are confident that you will be able to maintain and look after our interests.” Anu backed away from the table and noticed Iyash’s dead body lying on the floor. “I assume that he was no longer needed.”

  “He was a surprise gift from the shape shifter.” Marduk sat back down behind his desk. “Now the council knows I mean business. Their time here is limited. When I take full control of this new word order, I will kill every last one of them. Their petty meddling will not be tolerated.”

  “Excellent. In a few days I will send a craft and some of my Ducaz agents to collect the next shipment of powder.”