The Second Renaissance Series Boxset

by Paul Heron

  Michael walked in a circle to get a clear view of his surroundings. No, it can’t be!

  ‘Everyone’s here?’ George asked, standing in the middle of the gravel covered yard.

  Marcel looked grateful to have a reason to put on his sunglasses.

  ‘This is our farm, in Italy,’ Sofia said, her face muscles tight, arms folded. ‘What the hell is this, George?’

  They all looked on edge. Afraid to move. Afraid to take another step into whatever they’d just walked into.

  ‘You’re safe. You’re not in any danger,’ George said. He laughed. ‘With the gifts you all have, the gods and goddesses of this world would probably be more afraid of you seven.

  ‘But this is my family’s farm, isn’t it?’ Sofia said. ‘We can’t be here. It’s impossible.’

  ‘Sì, siete qui. You are here.’ A lady with a soft but powerful voice whispered. She was fifty yards away from them, sitting on the grass reading a book. She stood up, wearing a white bodice, overlapped by a light blue dress that dropped all the way to her feet. whispered again. ‘Welcome!’

  Chapter Six

  ‘SCREW THIS!’ EDUARDO shouted. He turned, walking briskly towards the red door that was now the front door to the house. He tried to open it. It was locked. ‘Open this bloody door!’

  ‘Please, let me have five minutes of your time, Eduardo,’ the lady said.

  ‘How the hell do you know my name?’

  She laughed. Which kind of terrified them all.

  Michael shook his head in shock. ‘You’re the lady from my dream, the dream I had at the airport! And I recognise your voice, I’ve been hearing it all my life!’

  She smiled. ‘I’m glad to finally get a chance to meet you all.’

  ‘Elisabetta,’ George said, as he strolled towards her, looking at his pocket watch. ‘I think you should give them the answers they’re looking for. It’s not as if we have the luxury of time on our side.’

  She looked at each of them in turn. ‘I’m humbled to meet you all. Sofia, you’re right. This is the Sirani farm, but not in the earthly realm. I am Elisabetta Sirani. You’re all here because your world today is on the verge of being destroyed, by gods of this world.’

  The group looked even more confused.

  She continued. ‘An organisation in your world is being controlled by the gods of darkness in this world. The Fomorians want to claim more mortal souls so that it can grow in strength in this world. I, and the Tuatha de Danann are trying to prevent them from doing so.’

  ‘Who are they?’ Ajit said. ‘And what the hell does this have to do with us?’

  ‘The Tuatha de Danann were a tribe of Irish gods who fought against the evil Fomorians. The Fomorians were a monstrous race of giants and other creatures that invaded Ireland,’ Michael said. ‘They had many battles.’

  ‘Smart ass,’ Mohammad said.

  ‘The leader of the Fomorians was Donn, who became God of the Dead, the darkness, and of this world – the Otherworld,’ Sofia said. ‘He controlled all of the gods’ passageway from our world to this world. He rules this world. Well, that’s what the stories say.’

  ‘Both Donn and Elisabetta rule this world,’ George said. ‘She absorbed his powers while carving a sculpture into the walls of an Irish cave. She did not know this cave was his house. And doorway to the Otherworld.’

  ‘Bruce’s Cave?’ Michael said.

  Elisabetta nodded. ‘Donn, or as the gods know him as: the Dark One and the God of Greed, the two highest ruling gods seated at the Fomorians table are working with the God of Greed’s descendants on earth. The God of Greed wants the rest of my sculpture. The Dark One wants to build an army here, so he can overpower me, again.’

  ‘You’re the one who’s made me control animals?’ Mohammad said.

  ‘And given me some kickass martial arts skills?’ Marcel added, taking a selfie with Elisabetta in the background.

  ‘You seven are the people who must take up a fight against the God of Greed’s blood relatives on earth.’

  They all laughed.

  ‘You must be smoking something, lady,’ Eduardo said, looking at Ajit. ‘Tell me she’s just lost her marbles!’

  Ajit folded his arms defensively. ‘I’m beginning to think I’ve lost mine.’

  Elisabetta clicked her fingers and the seven all changed their appearances, dressed in navy coloured suits. They all looked older, more adult like.

  ‘How did you do that?’ Carolina said.

  ‘What the hell’s this?’ Eduardo shouted, pulling a silver chain out from under his shirt collar, a tiny piece of stone dangling from it. ‘I don’t like jewellery.’

  ‘It’s just a charm,’ Elisabetta said. ‘A trick of the eye, that hides your true identity. It will be safer, in your world.’

  ‘Guys, the Fomorians are going after the rulers of our world. That’s why there’s political turmoil. That’s why the world is about to go to war for a third time. There is an essence of the Fomorians left on earth. A seed. Trees. The leaves of these trees are made into a liquid and serves as a poison,’ George said.

  ‘If people in your world ingest this, then the essence of the Fomorians will become part of the person’s soul. When these humans, with Fomorian blood die, they will join the Dark One and his tribe here,’ Elisabetta said.

  ‘What does this mean for us?’ Carolina said, standing beside Sofia mirroring the Italian’s defensive posture. ‘What do we have to do?’

  ‘The people who rule your world have been poisoned. The Dark One wants to further spread this poison out into the people of these nations. If they start wars on earth, the people who perish will be summoned here and become part of the Fomorian’s army. Donn will grow in strength. You must stop any wars from breaking out.’

  ‘What about this sculpture?’ Marcel said. ‘Have they got their hands on it.’

  ‘I smell someone talk bull!’ Eduardo shouted.

  ‘This is a joke.’ Mohammad added.

  Elisabetta clicked her fingers again. Eduardo got suspended in mid-air. ‘There is an enchanted lock on the wall that leads into the room where I created the sculpture. There is a way of gaining access. Documented in a book that I left for the worthy people.’

  ‘Don’t tell me,’ Ajit said, staring at Eduardo who was still floating. ‘We’re the worthy ones?’

  She looked at Michael. ‘Memorise the phrase that will grant access to the sculpture. Then destroy the book.’ She looked at the rest of them. She clicked her fingers and Eduardo dropped to the ground. ‘You seven must work as a team. Together, you will win. Stay together. The piece of stone you all have around your necks are pieces of the cave. If you hold these in your hands and chant the charm that is in the book, it will release the wall and grant you access to the cave.’

  ‘Hold on a second! How the hell are we supposed to do this?’ Ajit shouted. He looked at the rest of the group. ‘I’ve only met these guys. I don’t even know who they are.’

  ‘Tell me that’s not a unicorn!’ Mohammad shouted.

  ‘For gods sake! What the hell is that thing?’ Eduardo shouted as the creature from Michael’s dream appeared behind them.

  Marcel took another selfie with the animal in the background.

  ‘This is Storm. She sent the God of Greed to his death,’ Elisabetta said.

  ‘Who is this God of Greed?’ Sofia asked. ‘There are no documents that mention him.’

  ‘A fellow artist and friend from Italy. His name was Pietro Mancini. His family have formed the Mancini Corporation in your world. They are as greedy and as evil as Pietro. They will be coming after you. They must not find you.’

  ‘Why can’t we inform the world of what’s going on? We could even tell them of the cave. And of the Fomorian’s drug,’ Sofia asked. ‘We can all fight Mancini together. Have the politicians removed from their power. Stop the war.’

  ‘No!’ Elisabetta shouted. A dark shadow was cast over the land. The ground rumbled. Storm ramped, screaming a deadly, pier
cing cry. ‘Mankind cannot know of this cave. It must remain secret.’ She didn’t seem to like what she was about to say. ‘Greed is something your world suffers from, and knowledge of this cave’s power would simply destroy mankind. Nations would fight and lose their souls over trying to take control of it. Pietro Mancini was the first to give in to his greed. We need no more. It is for the good of the human race that you do not allow the power of this cave to cloud a normal human’s judgement on what is right and what is wrong.’

  Elisabetta glanced at George. ‘George, give Michael the book as soon as you can.’ Turning her head to look at Michael, she said, ‘I am sorry. You are the bearer of this burdon. The Dark One knows the ground you walk. He fears you, Michael. You have a connection with this world. That is why I have guided you, to keep you safe. If the Dark One gets inside your head, he will try and control you. You should be the one who destroys the book.’

  ‘Wait a second! The Dark One who’s real name is Donn, Pietro Mancini who’s now been promoted to the God of Greed, suits, magic jewellery?’ Eduardo summarised it all, counting off each point with a finger, his voice and body trembling. ‘This is insane. You’re insane. That weird horse is insane. Take it’s bloody horn off!’

  Elisabetta clicked her fingers, sending an echo bouncing off the walls of the atmosphere.

  A moment later, they were back in the gallery.

  ‘Mohammad?’ Ajit shouted. ‘Is that you?’ Ajit’s broken English sounded more fluent, his voice deeper.

  They all remained in their different appearances. Suits. Too well dressed for a student visiting a gallery. They all took out their phones and looked at themselves in selfie mode. They moved their phones in front of their faces slowly, taking in each new detail. They looked pleased with what they were seeing.

  ‘This can’t be real!’ Sofia said. Like the rest of the group, she couldn’t believe what she was seeing, looking at her long slender legs.

  ‘I think it’s time to sign myself into a hospital.’ Mohammad said.

  Michael held out his trembling hand, a potent mix of confusion and adrenaline almost making him sick. The silver chain gleamed under the fluorescent lights of the gallery. He felt dizzy, about to collapse.

  ‘Screw it, class photo time!’ Marcel shouted, arranging them all for a group photo, pulling Mohammad back into the room despite his sulk.

  They looked at George, perhaps with more answers than they had previously. ‘Okay, the book.’

  The group looked curious about what incredible new abilities they might have. Finding out they were walking around with god blood in their veins was hard for them to grasp. They struggled to focus.

  George cleared his throat to get their attention back. ‘The book is in the charity shop. The book is... Hey! Guys, pay attention!’

  ‘Will I be the best martial artist in the world, too?’ Eduardo asked, swinging his leg in mid-air, losing his balance and falling into the fall.

  George shook his head in disbelief. ‘I said the book – it’s hidden in a charity book shop. Getting the book is the first step.’

  He walked away a few steps and then pulled himself back. ‘Please don’t contact your families or friends. It’s important for their safety and ours that we don’t talk to anyone outside this group, at least for the moment. The world must not know you seven exist. Your families will be contacted.’

  The group’s jubilation dissipated as they grasped the enormity of what was happening.

  ‘Ringo will drive you all back to the student halls,’ George said as he approached the lift. He pressed the button to call the lift and turned to them. ‘I have an urgent meeting,’ he looked at his pocket watch. ‘The world is about to erupt unless we can do something.’

  Chapter Seven

  SITTING IN THE CAFÉ of the gallery’s foyer, Michael sat looking at the piece of stone he had clasped in his still trembling hand, in a daze, a trance. Who was he? Who was Michael O’Hagan? Was his entire life a lie? Was he really O’Hagan? Were his parents really his parents? What was he? A new part god of Irish mythology? Did he want that? He had so many questions, but no idea who to ask.

  Ajit and Eduardo, albeit completely freaked out, went to the university to work on the device. Ajit had an idea on how it could be used to look for information on the web to find out what they’d heard. He believed he could get in behind government firewalls and wanted Eduardo’s help. Mohammad went with them. Marcel and Carolina went to the local supermarket to blend in and eavesdrop on the public; try and gather some information that could prove or disprove what they’d been told. Sofia and Michael wanted to collect some information on Irish myths and legends. Sofia, as much as Michael, wanted to find out why there wasn’t any mention of Elisabetta going to Ireland to explore the local myths and legends. Surely her family records or an historian – either Irish or Italian – would be able to find out. Something must have been documented from the time Elisabetta left Italy and went to Ireland.

  Waking out of his trance , Michael could hear Sofia in the office behind the gallery’s reception desk, shouting, in Italian. Creeping closer to the reception, he could hear her asking why she couldn’t call her family. Perhaps George was the one getting the earful.

  Michael continued to wait, eventually getting bored. Tired of listening, he played around on his phone. A group chat set up as “The Sirani Seven” was created by George. Michael sent the first message to the group. Let’s meet at the halls later. I need to know if I’m crazy or not.

  Just as he pressed send, a text from his dad appeared on the screen. Hope you’re okay, son!

  Michael felt his emotions bubble to the surface. He had an overwhelming urge to call his father. He still didn’t know if he could trust these people. These strangers. His parents were the people he could count on when he had a problem. The only people in the world he could definitely trust were just a phone call away. He desperately wanted to talk to them. But why didn’t they tell him this was what he was? Did they know? He was conflicted. Unsure of what was right and what was wrong. What was real and what was fantasy.

  Wrestling with his thoughts, he eventually gave in. ‘Screw it, I can trust him more than a bunch of strangers.’ He started typing a message with all the information he’d received from Elisabetta, and sent it. He then took a photo of himself, holding the apparent piece of Bruces’s Cave he had around his neck. Finally, he pressed the call button.

  ‘What are you doing?’ shouted a broad Scottish accent from behind him.

  Michael almost jumped out of his skin, dropping his phone to the ground. ‘You scared the life out of me! Who the hell are you?’ he shouted at the gargantuan ginger haired man behind him. Dressed in black trousers, a white shirt, and a black tie, the Scotsman looked dressed for a funeral. I’m not dead yet! Michael thought. His appearance could also trick one into believing he was a member of The Fomorians. He was big enough. Monstrous, even.

  ‘Hamish, Michael lad. The name’s Hamish. Head of security here. I’m sorry you’ve been paired with, and have to listen to Sofia. I mean, listen to her over there on the phone, barking orders. Spoiled little brat, if you ask me!’

  ‘Did I ask you?’ Michael replied brassily, still trying to calm his nerves, tucking the stone pendant down behind his shirt.

  Sofia stormed out of the office, slamming the door shut behind her as she walked around from behind the reception.

  ‘Awk hi, Sofia. You alright, lass?’ Hamish practically sang to her. His tone different to the one he had used just had a moment ago.

  ‘Hi, Hamish. Yes, I’m fine, thank you.’ She buttoned her suit jacket closed.

  Michael looked at Hamish, amazed at how his tone towards Sofia had suddenly changed. Then he stared at Sofia. He was speechless.

  ‘What’s the problem?’ she said, her eyes glazed, her face slightly red.

  ‘What’s the problem?’ Michael laughed, looking down at his dress code. ‘Well, apart from my reflection in the mirror, this suit, this pendant dangling from my n
eck,’ he said gesturing at his chest, ‘or our recent trip to Tuscany? I mean, our recent trip to 1600’s Tuscany, when they apparently rode black unicorns instead of horses? Hmm, where should I start...’

  She laughed, then shook her head. ‘I must be dreaming.’

  ‘Fancy grabbing a coffee? If there’s anything about Elisabetta’s trip to Ireland, it’ll be on the internet somewhere. We may as well do it from the comfort of a coffee shop.’ His voice trembled like someone was playing a tune with his vocal cords.

  ‘Sure. Lets go. See you later, Hamish. If you speak to my mum, tell her I’m trying to get in contact with her. Tell her it’s about Elisabetta.’

  ‘Will do, dear!’ Hamish shouted with his back to them as he dropped coins into the vending machine.

  As they exited the building, Sofia grabbed an umbrella that was drying upside down by the door. ‘I need a walk to process this crap as well.’

  Looking across the garden towards the fountain, Michael remembered what he seen: the reflection. ‘Wait a second,’ he said, marching towards it.

  ‘What are you doing?’ She followed him.

  ‘Remember earlier, when we arrived, I came over here to have a look?’

  ‘Not really...’

  ‘Well, when I looked into the water the last time, I didn’t see my reflection. I actually saw a well-dressed man.’

  ‘Like you? The way you look now?’ Sofia asked.

  ‘Yes, and... You’re...but... it’s him, or me. Or, I don’t know,’ Michael said, staring at the reflection in the water. He stroked his cheek, looking at himself with a side on glance. ‘I hope this charm wears off eventually.’

  ‘This is the person you saw earlier?’

  He nodded. ‘I also had a dream at the airport before I left Ireland. In the dream, I saw this same guy... or me. I guess it was me in the dream then.’ He was legitimately freaked out. ‘In my dream, this guy was talking to Elisabetta one-on-one.’

  ‘This is too much to put together,’ Sofia said. She pulled him away from it. ‘Lets go. Staring into the water isn’t going to help. We need to figure out what the hell is happening to us. George said the world is about to erupt? Well, I don’t want to be here if it does. But I’d rather not be given a responsibility to stop it either.’ She led the way off the grass towards the gates. ‘Come on, it’s almost half five, the coffee shop will be closed soon.’