Chronicles of Stephen BoxSet

by Kenyon T Henry

  “It’s Latin,” Sam answered. “Beatus vir qui non abiit in consilio impiorum et in via peccatorum non stetit, et in cathedra pestilentiae non sedit.”

  Vincent translated. “Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. Psalm 1:1.”

  “You speak Latin, Vincent?” He continued to surprise Stephen.

  “I had private tutors, remember?”

  The doors opened.

  “Gentlemen, it’s time.” Sam motioned toward the opening.

  The two followed Sam through the doors. Stephen expected only one thing on the other side: to be awed.

  Chapter 23

  Stephen walked to the middle of a large empty room. The walls, made of stone, were decorated with tapestries depicting various acts of King David and his mighty men. On one side hung a tapestry of the young shepherd boy, David, being anointed by the prophet Samuel. The tapestries circling around the room depicted David’s battle with Goliath, the three mighty men drawing water from a well for their thirsty king, Jashobeam and his spear that killed three hundred in one battle, Eleazar and the sword that clung to his hand during battle, Shammah defeating an entire Philistine encampment, and many more. The last tapestry was of Benaiah helping Solomon secure the throne after King David’s death. Between the last tapestry and the first was a long table in the shape of a semicircle raised above the floor on a balcony, with what appeared to be twelve thrones behind it.

  Vincent walked around the room, looking closely at the tapestries.

  “Is this the council chamber?” Stephen turned back toward Sam, awaiting an answer.

  “No. This is what we call Solomon’s Hall. The council chambers is smaller. This room is more like a courtyard and serves many different uses.”

  “I didn’t think this looked like what I saw in Alistair’s mind.” Stephen turned, looking around the room.

  “How old are these tapestries?” Vincent asked.

  “They are not as old as you might expect, Vincent.” Sam walked over to him. “This is only the cavern for North America. There is one in each continent, Antarctica excluded, and a smaller one in the Middle East. Each is called Enclave. Plus, the world headquarters is in Rome. Each continent has two representatives on the council except for Australia. We have a presence there. But because of their close ties with Great Britain, they are represented by Europe.”

  “Are all the council members here now?” Stephen joined the other two men.

  “Not all. But they will be here tomorrow. Before you two meet them, I want you to look around and make yourselves welcome.”

  Vincent turned to Sam. “Will we see our families’ troves?”

  “Not just yet.”

  “Why not?” Stephen thought this seemed odd, since he was the only one who could open the trove for his bloodline. What was the big deal? Why keep him from it?

  “There will be all kinds of different things in your families’ troves, many of which will have great value to you and the Mighty. However, some may also have value to the rest of the world. And while these items are yours, there are guidelines we strongly encourage everyone to follow concerning certain types of items. Once we have gone over this with you, you are free to explore your trove. Stephen, many of the regulations will not apply to you, as you are the only one left in your bloodline.”

  “Wait,” Vincent exclaimed, “you mean the items are not fully mine because I have family that is Mighty.”

  Sam looked at Vincent, his face like stone. “You do. You will meet them in time. Many will want to hear your story.”

  Vincent smiled. Stephen felt that Vincent was surprised and happy, which made him happy too. He also smiled.

  Stephen turned his attention back to Sam. “I want to see Matthew and Bernie.” He realized this must have been where they were keeping them.

  “Why do you think they are here?” Sam asked.

  “I don’t imagine you would willingly take Fallen to the world Enclave or whatever you call it. So why not here?”

  “You can see them after you get settled and meet with the council. Keep in mind, the cavern that holds them nullifies all powers, unless you are chosen as a guardian. So don’t worry about their abilities.”

  “Do I look worried? Why do you think they’re here?” Stephen grabbed his bag. “Has anyone been able to unlock Bernie’s mind?”

  “No,” Sam replied.

  “If you want, I’ll fix it,” Stephen stated with a grin.

  “That would be helpful to the council.”

  Vincent tapped Stephen on the shoulder. “Already making friends. See, you are a real people person.”

  A door opened opposite where they had entered. An attractive young woman entered. She wore a long black robe, which made her braided lock of blonde hair appear golden. She looked serious and held her head high. She also wore the same type of medallion that hung around Sam’s neck. Now that Stephen could see it clearly, he recognized it as the emblem of the Mighty.

  Sam held his hand out to her. “This is Shannon, my daughter. She will show you around and try to help you get adjusted. I have responsibilities to which I need to attend. I’ll check in on you later.”

  “Are your eyes purple?” Vincent asked her.

  “They’re only contacts,” she said through a half smile.

  Stephen felt like a spectator for a moment. He couldn’t help but feel a spark between them, which started the moment Vincent had seen Shannon enter the room. Looking at them, he thought they’d make a cute couple. He sensed another strong feeling in the room coming from Sam. He had noticed their interaction too and didn’t like it.

  “So, your daughter is one of the Mighty?” Stephen asked Sam.

  “Yes. However, she has no abilities. The robes tell you which class. Blue is for prophets, red for priests, and yellow for warriors.”

  “Black,” Shannon interjected, “is for soldiers.” She smiled. “You’ll notice subtle differences in our robes. On my collar”—she pointed—“is a spear. It means I am skilled at combat. And, I often help to train in combat. You don’t need abilities to make a difference.”

  “No, you don’t,” Vincent said.

  The two grabbed their bags and followed Shannon down a hallway, which resembled a cave more than an underground building. Lights ran along the top and bottom of one of the walls.

  “Shannon, what do you know about us?” Stephen wondered how informed the members were.

  “Not much. The council will have to meet you to complete their inquiry before we are fully briefed. I know that you weren’t raised as one of the Mighty—either of you. That’s kind of a big deal. Other than that, not much.”

  “Big deal?” Vincent wondered. “How so? What does that mean?”

  “Being one of the Mighty is something that is usually automatic. When abilities present themselves in the early years, kids are brought in and trained. After they complete their training, there is testing and a ceremony, more a formality than anything else. Everyone has a place here. After all, we’re kind of like family, with relationships between our families going back more than three thousand years.”

  “And us?” Stephen asked.

  “You’ll go before the council. They’ll question you and search your hearts to determine if you will be members of the Mighty.”

  “What do you mean determine? I made a choice to serve,” Stephen stated.

  “Yes, you may have. The council needs to know they can trust you before accepting you as member. Being Mighty grants access to information, tools, and resources that not just anyone should have.”

  Stephen continued to press for answers. “But some Mighty fall. What makes us different?”

  “From what little I know,” Shannon replied, “everything.”

  Stephen and Vincent looked at each other, exchanging confused looks.

  “Here.” Shannon stopped and motioned with her hand. “Your rooms are through this hallway, first and s
econd doors on the right. I’ll give you two a minute to drop off your bags. Meet me back out here for a tour.”

  The two men walked to their rooms, which seemed to Stephen little more than sizeable hotel rooms. Each room was complete with a bathroom and a small sitting area. He dropped his bag on the bed and went back to Shannon. When Vincent joined them, they began their tour.

  The place had the overall appearance of a high-tech underground castle. They saw a formal dining hall, treasury, guard armory, recreation and fitness rooms, and the council chamber. The grandest of all they saw was the library, which contained more books than Stephen had even seen in one place. The bookshelves were made of cedar, with gold and silver sconces to illuminate the rooms. They met several others, all of whom were cordial. Still, it seemed obvious to Stephen that he and Vincent had become a topic of discussion. People looked excited to meet them, though not all excitement appeared positive. Many felt uncertain about them, wanting to know more but didn’t dare ask.

  Stephen’s own emotions had become heightened, making his mental abilities harder to control. He unintentionally picked up fragments of thoughts from others, most of which were harmless. However, he picked up one thought about Vincent that he found interesting.

  He’s kind of awkward in a cute sort of way . . .

  The thought belonged to Shannon. Stephen grinned at Vincent, who responded with a confused look.

  The day went by quickly. They saw so much, yet were told it was only the tip of the iceberg. It made Stephen want to be a part of it all. For the first time, he was surrounded with others like himself. He even imagined Waltz down there with him, and wondered what Waltz used to enjoy doing there to pass the time in his youth. For the first time in awhile, he realized again just how little he knew about Waltz’s younger days.

  ****

  The next morning Stephen found Vincent waiting outside his door. They walked together, both too nervous to say much. The realization that they would soon stand in front of the council gave them reason to feel both honored and concerned.

  After they finished eating, they lingered at the table. Although they looked for her, Shannon did not join them for breakfast. Everyone kept their distance. Each person seemed unsure how to respond to them, except for one.

  “Hey.”

  Stephen turned to see a man with shaggy brown hair, wearing a deep-yellow robe standing behind him and Vincent.

  “Hey,” Stephen and Vincent replied.

  “I’m Edge. We didn’t meet yesterday. I’m a trainer here.”

  “Warrior class, right?” Stephen remembered the yellow color from the shroud.

  “Yeah, that’s right. I am a warrior. That’s not what I teach though.” He pointed to what looked to be scroll on his color.

  “Let me guess,” Vincent said. “History?”

  “Not just that. The history, regulations, and protocols of the Mighty. They’re intertwined. You’ll see.”

  “What makes you so certain?” Stephen asked, looking around at the others. “The council isn’t.”

  “The council won’t have a choice. They’ll have to welcome you. You’ll see soon enough. But I’ve got work to do. I just wanted to see you before Shannon took you two away.” Edge nodded toward the door. “Here she comes now.”

  Shannon walked toward them. She looked different, dressed in regular clothes—blue jeans and a solid-black blouse.

  “No robes?” Stephen asked.

  “I’m not training today, so they aren’t required.”

  “Well,” Vincent said, “I think you look very pleasant in street clothes.”

  She smiled. “Thank you, Vincent. Now, are you two ready?”

  They nodded.

  “Follow me then.”

  They dropped their remainders in the trash and walked down the hallway toward the council chamber as Shannon gave instructions.

  “You’ll go in individually. Like you, each council member has some ability and falls into one of the three classes. Suffice it to say, they will know if you tell them the truth or not. They will ask you questions. Again, this is usually a formality, only not with you two. You have nothing to fear though. When they are done, you will either be offered a chance to train with the Mighty, or you will be asked to go home.”

  The two men looked at each. Stephen heard Vincent’s thoughts. Stephen? Are you nervous?

  Stephen wiped sweat from his brow and nodded.

  They stopped in front of the chamber doors, where two guards in yellow robes stood waiting. One opened the door.

  “Vincent, you and I will go first.” She looked at Stephen. “When they are ready, I’ll come get you. Don’t worry, priests are usually the quickest.”

  Stephen waited outside for what seemed like hours. The longer it took, the more nervous he got. He wanted to use his ability to see the minds of those inside but restrained himself, afraid they would know. He looked at his phone. Only thirty-two minutes had passed. The door opened. Shannon stood just inside.

  “They are ready.”

  Stephen walked inside.

  “And Vincent?”

  Shannon smiled. “He’ll be here as long as he wants.”

  Vincent walked past on his way out. “Good luck. And, try to play nice.”

  Stephen looked around the room. In the middle was a single seat—for him. On one side stood the large table he had seen in Alistair’s mind, the council members seated on the other side of it. Anastasia and Sam sat in the center. Opposite them, the wall was covered in names. At the top was inscribed “The Mightiest of Acts.”

  “Your father’s name is up there.”

  Stephen recognized Anastasia’s voice. He turned back to the council.

  Anastasia continued. “When he sacrificed his triune’s power to bring Elizabeth back from darkness, it nearly killed him, and it would have killed any ordinary person. It earned him a place on that wall. You should be proud of him.”

  “I am. I only wish I knew this side of him.”

  The faces in front of him were the same he had seen in the vision. He recognized Novak, who sat next to Xiang at the right end of the table.

  The man on the opposite end spoke with a slight British accent. “Stephen, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Allow me to first offer my condolences. I knew Waltz. He was a good man.”

  “Thank you,” Stephen replied. The man looked slim, though the robes made it hard to completely tell. He did, however, appear to be older than the others.

  “I am Charles. This lovely lady to my left is Sabine, from Paris.” Sabine smiled and nodded. She had long brown hair and a nice smile. Charles continued. “Next to her are Julien, from Venezuela, and Daniel, from Brazil.” Both waved. Stephen nodded. “Then, there is Mugisah, from Rwanda, and Rania of Egypt.” Mugisah’s dark skin was a stark contrast to his robe. Anastasia and Sam sat between Mugisah and Rania, which seemed to be the head seats. Rania made no facial expression, only nodded. “The two after them are Zachariah, from Israel, and Joash, also from Israel.” Two older men with long white beards nodded, although Zachariah’s was whiter. Stephen couldn’t tell if they were smiling or not. “Last, we have . . .”

  “Novak and Xiang,” Stephen interrupted. Except for Sam and Anastasia, all the members seemed surprised. Anastasia, however, seemed to find it amusing. Sam did not.

  “Stephen,” Sam sounded annoyed, “to be clear, we are going to ask you some questions. We need you to be completely honest. We will know if you are not.”

  “I will be.” Stephen began feeling anxious again. However, he could sense the same from the council members. He took his seat as the council members seemed to watch his every move.

  Xiang spoke up. “Stephen, please tell me if the account you gave Sam and Anastasia is accurate.”

  “It is. I omitted information concerning Vincent. It wasn’t relevant to what happened. Nor was it my story to tell. But what I told them is true.”

  “Impossible.” An angry-sounding voice with a French accent came from the opposite
end of the table. “He is obviously lying.”

  Xiang spoke up. “Sabine, you know my gift. He is not lying.”

  Sam spoke up. “Council members, we are not to discuss this without completing the examination. You all know this.”

  Hearing the council start with disagreement concerned Stephen. He had not expected there to be such emotions concerning him.

  One at a time, they asked him questions about his childhood, relationships, Waltz, his time away, and even of the past several months. No part of Stephen’s life remained private. He poured it all out to them: his feelings of loneliness, Tommy, the addictiveness of having powers, and more.

  Three hours later, the council began open discussions among one another. They hid nothing from Stephen. He Fierce discussion broke out before they had reached a decision, which Sam delivered.

  “Stephen, the council would first like to recognize and apologize for the hard life you have had. Were you taught sooner, perhaps much of your pain could have been avoided. That being said, we also understand why you were not taught and do not fault Waltz. You are unusual. He had no reason to think you would have abilities of the Mighty. The council would also like to recognize the service you have performed. You have identified those responsible for Waltz’s death. For that, we are grateful.”

  Sam continued. “For a person to be allowed in the order of the Mighty, a council member majority vote is required. A tie vote is not enough to pass. The council’s findings are this. You are honest and brave. You are also drawn to the feeling of power and vengeance. You are compassionate. You are also dangerous. You are loyal. Yet, you often seek to satisfy your needs first.” Sam looked around at the council. “How say you, Council of the Mighty?”

  Xiang spoke first. “Yes.” Seated next to him was also a yes, followed by two nos.

  The voting continued and Charles voted yes, while Sabine said no. Anastasia and Sam voted last. Stephen sighed in relief. Voting had stopped even at five for and five against. His fate rested with the only two members with whom he had any type of relationship.