“Very well.” King Shavore motioned for one of the warriors to step forward. “This is Hanperto.”
Hanperto bowed to his ruler, and then to Tom. “Thank you for this honor. I stand ready.”
Tom touched the man’s shoulder, making the both of them invisible.
The two of them arrived in an office located on the French Châteaudun Air Base. The UN leader stood by the window, which was the only source of light. He was trying to decide how to deal with the recent EMP strikes as he studied the grounded planes.
Tom glanced out the doorway. The hallway was empty, so he transformed Hanperto into a tangible body. The blue-skinned assassin reached out with his four hands, grabbing the UN leader’s head while firmly holding onto his shoulders, cleanly snapping his neck.
After the UN leaders on the military bases were assassinated and replaced with the Earth Sentinel impostors, Cecile and Zachary lay down to get some much-needed rest. Tom was exhausted as well, but there was one more UN leader he needed to take care of. This particular hybrid didn’t reside on a military base and wasn’t on the official list, but Tom was going to deal with him personally.
Replacing the Crystals
MAMMOTH CAVE. HARUTO stood with Synege in front of the gold-covered chest that contained the Destiny Stone. Light escaped from under the lid, highlighting the treasure trove of gold coins and trinkets scattered across the rugged floor. Partially buried in the dirt beside the cave walls, twelve ancient crystals gleamed. Their quartz bodies were nearly the length of a man.
Synege addressed Haruto, “Thank you for agreeing to do this.”
“You’re welcomed. I am glad to do it.”
“Before you commence, I want to remind you to place the crystals and Destiny Stone in the stone cradles or crypts from whence they came. Stone is an excellent conductor and will help their vibrations to rise faster—and the sooner we raise earth’s vibrations, the sooner the hive mind will shut down.”
“But the Great Pyramid has been destroyed,” Haruto lamented. “It will be impossible to return the Destiny Stone to its original location.”
“Perhaps if you place it directly beneath the rubble, it will have the same effect.” Synege paused. “This was their intention…to prevent us from reactivating the vortexes—ever.”
Haruto nodded. “I will ask the stone and crystals for their advice on where they would like to be placed.”
“Will that work?”
“I believe so, but I won’t know until I try.”
“It must work. Would you like me or someone else to stay here to see if we can be of help?”
“No, thanks. I think I’ll concentrate better if I’m alone.”
“Very well. Please let the council know immediately if you have any problems. We’re in this together.” She touched Haruto’s arm. “Godspeed to you.”
Haruto bowed.
The small Arcturian turned to leave, lifting her white robe above her ankles. The sound of clinking gold coins followed her footsteps to the cave entrance.
Haruto waited for the air to quiet, then she walked to the pink crystal. “Hello, my friend, you will be the first. Please tell me where to take you.” She rested her hand on its cool smooth surface, letting her mind connect with it.
An image appeared. It was of Easter Island in the Pacific Ocean—easily identified by the monolithic figures, which had been carved out of lava, protruding out of the ground near the shoreline. The vision focused on a grassy area between the inactive volcanoes and the sea. The image dipped beneath the black topsoil, moving past a layer of brownish-red dirt, finally arriving at the bedrock below, which had a hand-chiseled depression—most likely created at the same time the monoliths were carved. Unfortunately, it was covered by the dirt that had collapsed after the crystal was removed millenniums ago. The scene lingered here, making it obvious this was where the crystal wanted to be placed, but the dirt needed to be excavated first.
To deal with the situation, Haruto transformed herself into a semi-transparent state, and with her ghostly hand, she touched the fallen dirt, making it semi-transparent, then she moved the mound to the surface, leaving it on top of the grassy field.
It was time to retrieve the crystal.
Haruto returned to Mammoth Cave. She touched the crystal, making it ethereal like herself. “Ready?” she said to it.
The crystal rang out a high-pitched tone.
She transported the crystal to the underground vortex, and tenderly placed it on the stone cradle. It was a perfect fit, so she transformed the crystal back into its natural state. Immediately, the quartz vibrated and glowed, its light nearly blinding. The ground quivered.
Mount Shasta is a dormant volcano that is considered to be the first chakra of the planet. Strange cloud formations, in the shape of giant saucers, are common over its high-reaching snow-covered summit.
Haruto held a red crystal, both of them invisible, as she floated above the landscape. She waited for the crystal to guide her to its desired location within the sleeping volcano. The crystal let out a glimmer of light. It was awakening. Its consciousness prompted Haruto to glide through the side of the mountain, moving through the great expanse of petrified lava until they reached the hollow core. She and the crystal floated down to the hardened-ash floor. She thought they would stop here, but the crystal urged her to continue farther below.
They moved deeper into the base of the mountain, coming to a giant channel that once flowed with fiery slag, but now held cool water. “Here?” Haruto asked. The crystal vibrated. Its desire to be home was so strong that it threatened to leap out of her hands. Haruto kneeled close to the waterline, letting the crystal slide into the water, becoming physical after it left her hands. As the red crystal sank into the ashen crypt, it vibrated and emitted an intense light, causing the water to glow like hot lava.
Because Haruto had installed all of the sacred crystals within the earth’s vortexes, it was time to replace the Destiny Stone. She stood in front of the ancient acacia-wood chest decorated with golden angels—a tribute to the Anunnaki who had brought the stone from their planet. She spoke to the stone concealed within the chest, “Your former home, the Great Pyramid of Giza, has been bombed. Where would you like me to place you instead?”
The rays of light streaming from under the chest lid became brighter. An angelic voice entered Haruto’s mind, saying, I long for a place far, far away. A place where my power is neither special nor feared.
“I understand you are alien to this planet, but would you be willing to help mankind one last time? We need your energy to raise the earth’s vibrations to defeat the Draco’s—”
Ah, the serpents. I understand. Yes, I am willing. Regarding the placement, rest me under the foundation of the pyramid, above the river that flows beneath. There is an underground chamber built between the two. There, I will gladly magnify the energies of the earth.
The connection between them ceased.
It was time to act.
Haruto made herself ethereal, then touched the chest, making it and the Destiny Stone ethereal as well. This transformation allowed her to see the stone’s essence within the container.
She escorted both of them to Egypt where they floated above what was left of the pyramids—three mounds of rubble. Haruto shook her head at the travesty. Stupid humans. The nearby Sphinx’s head had been blown off its cat-like lounging figure and lay in the sand, its blind eyes staring up at the desert sun. The sight broke Haruto’s heart, but she had a mission to fulfill, so she envisioned the chamber the Destiny Stone had spoken of. She saw a subterranean room, beneath the Great Pyramid, carved out of the limestone bedrock. In the center was a pit that dropped eleven-feet before sloping toward the Nile River. “Here?”
“Yes,” the stone answered.
Haruto transported the ghostly chest and stone to the underground chamber, placing them on the slab floor, a safe distance from the pit.
The stone confirmed, This is a good place to call my home. Please take
me out of my prison. Here, I shall share my energy with the earth.
Haruto lifted the still-ethereal stone out of the chest, and carefully placed it into a slight hollow in the bedrock. With a final respectful glance at the Destiny Stone, she disappeared with the ancient box, letting the stone become physical in her absence. Its great powers were unleashed. Energy exploded throughout the chamber.
To ensure everything went as planned, Haruto floated above the demolished pyramids. She saw rays of light escaping from the cracks in the bombed landscape, and felt the intensity of the Destiny Stone’s vibrations. The air distorted like a heat wave. She smiled, embracing the Destiny Stone’s energy. The ley line circuitry was now complete. The free-flowing energy amplified the earth’s vibrations, which began to slowly rise.
Mari Saves Herself
ALTERIA. THE RISING vibrations seemed to improve everyone’s mood. A handful of teenage girls and boys sat on a park bench listening to Rowtag play his guitar. The other tribe members talked among themselves while Haruto and Cecile cooked deer meat on an outdoor grill fueled by a 500-pound propane tank. Refried beans simmered in several saucepans. Traditional Fry Bread dough danced in a skillet filled with hot oil, snapping and sizzling. The delectable aroma tempted those nearby.
Cecile called out, “Come and get it!”
The people heeded her call and formed a line, letting the women serve them before finding a place to eat.
After everyone was served, Cecile walked over to where Mari sat. The young woman was resting her back against a tree trunk. The food on her plate remained mostly untouched. “May I sit here?” Cecile asked her.
Mari nodded. She had not spoken a word since she had been raped. The once vibrant woman was now despondent.
Cecile sat beside her. “I was thinking that, later, just us women could take a swim. Care to join us?”
Although Mari had refused many such invitations before, for some reason, this time she agreed by nodding her head.
An hour later, Cecile strolled with Mari toward the lake while the teenage girls followed closely behind them, giggling. They all wore bathing suits and carried bright-colored towels. Eva tagged along. Jabbar was perched on her shoulder while Ferta padded beside her.
As the group crossed the grass, Adeelah shrieked, “I do not!”
Cecile asked over her shoulder, “What’s going on?”
One of the girls piped up, “Adeelah has a crush on Rowtag.”
“I do not!”
“You do!”
Cecile smiled and shook her head, deciding not to get involved.
At the water’s edge, the towels were dropped onto the grass. The women and girls stepped into the cool lake, which was fed by the streams flowing down the mountainside whose tall peaks attracted rainclouds like a beautiful woman attracted lovers.
The girls waded into the water, trying to avoid stepping on the smooth stones scattered across the sandy bottom. They didn’t venture far, choosing to stay in the warmer shallows where they could sit and talk while the sun’s energy nourished their souls.
Things didn’t go as well for Eva. The monkey shrieked when she stepped into the amethyst lake. Jabbar’s fear of the water forced the little girl to return to the grassy embankment where she sat wishing she could join the other girls. But even more than that, she wished her mother was here.
Unlike the monkey, the jaguar liked the water, and scouted for minnows, nipping at them with her sharp teeth.
Mari and Cecile waded into the depths of the lake.
Cecile stopped when the water reached her chest, running her hands through it as she watched the teenagers giggle and talk. A group of fairies flew into view, hovering above the girls, their sparkling lights dancing around them.
Mari swam farther out, paddling over the murky bottom where the pond weeds waved in the slow current. She trod water for a moment, then decided to float on her back. The sun warmed her exposed body. A breeze caressed her face. A flock of birds flew from one side of the shore to the other. Feeling safe, Mari let down her guard. And in that moment, her freed mind allowed a repressed memory to squeeze into her awareness—a flash of the horrible incident she had so carefully hidden away. His cold blue eyes stared at her, delighting in her pain and moaning with pleasure while she screamed. Her mind slammed shut, but it was too late. The emotions from the attack overtook her. Tears trickled out of the corners of her eyes. Her nerves became raw wires with too high of a voltage coursing through them. Overwrought, numb and helpless, Mari stopped fighting.
Limp, she let her feet sink below the water, taking the rest of her with them. The sound of the giggling girls fell away as her head slipped beneath the surface. Slowly sinking, she gazed up at the sunlight streaming through the water above her, growing fainter and fainter, her black hair billowing around her face as she slipped deeper, bubbles trickling out of her nose. Her feet hit the cold muck that swirled around her legs.
Cecile took a break from watching the girls and noticed Mari was nowhere in sight. Fear welled up in her as she spun around scanning the water. Where could she be!? In her panic, Cecile had forgotten she could transport herself with a simple intention, but then she remembered. Instantly, she appeared next to Mari at the bottom of the lake, looking at her through the cloudy water. Mari returned Cecile’s gaze—dismayed by the fear expressed on her friend’s face. That’s when it occurred to Mari that she was tired of being saved. Tired of being the victim. She pushed off the bottom, racing toward the surface, clawing her way to the top, bursting out of the water, gasping for air, filling her lungs with oxygen. Mari had decided to save herself.
Cecile and Mari lay on the colorful towels watching the teenagers who were still in the water. The red sun in the lavender sky dried the women’s long black hair and warmed their bodies.
“I was so afraid of losing you,” Cecile confided. “I know it’s going to take time, but if you ever feel like you can’t go on, please let me know.”
Tears welled in Mari’s eyes, and, for the first time since that fateful day, she spoke, her words quietly uttered, “At the bottom, with no breath left in me, it felt like I had died, but I wanted to live.” She sniffed. “I was a butterfly breaking free of my cocoon.” She seemed embarrassed. “I know it doesn’t make sense. Does it?”
“It does,” Cecile comforted her.
“I wish I was like you, powerful, so I could have left that place before—”
“I know.”
The teenagers got out of the lake, shivering. They grabbed their towels, then headed toward where Cecile and Mari lay. With Jabbar on her shoulder, Eva followed them.
Standing in front of the two women, Adeelah asked Cecile, “Can we have a snack?” Then she noticed Mari’s tear-stained eyes. “Is everything okay?”
The teenagers were pleasantly shocked when Mari responded, “I’m hungry, too.” She stood up, wrapping the towel around her waist. “Ready?”
Conchita
ZACHARY TOSSED AND turned in his sleep. He was worried the rising vibrations might not dismantle the Dracos’ hive mind. He wanted to provide a safe world for Eva to live in. He dreamed of a ticking clock. Tick, tock. Too late. Tick, tock. Won’t work. The illusionary clock alarm rang out. He woke up, sweating.
The young man looked over at Eva and her furry friends, who lay beside him blissfully enjoying their slumber. The Alterian sun, which was dimmed by the nightly mist, glowed faintly through the canvas teepee, highlighting Eva’s features. Zachary ran his hand over his daughter’s head, thinking of Conchita. He fretfully pondered, What if Takwa had lied? What if Conchita never abandoned us? Is it possible she still loves us? Although the answers might break his heart again, he had to know.
The invisible Zachary arrived in Pahtia’s old hut. Conchita stood near a slatted wall holding a bundle of fresh herbs, looking for an empty spot among the multitude of other bundles. The familiar sounds of the jungle filtered inside. Parrots screeched. Monkeys hooted. How Zachary missed this place and his wife. His heart
ached at the sight of Conchita’s beautiful face. The amulet that Pahtia had given her hung from her neck. Sadness overtook Zachary when he realized Conchita’s presence here did not bode well for him because it meant she really had gone to live in her father’s dwelling, just as Takwa had claimed.
Zachary’s attention was jolted by the sight of his dead infant’s rattle lying in the center of the worktable between the medicinal herbs. The presence of the baby’s toy caused his grief to well up. It also pained him because its prominent placement insinuated that Conchita still clung bitterly to her grief.
The shaman’s daughter finished tacking the herb bundle to the wall, then unknowingly walked through Zachary’s essence as she headed toward the doorway, grabbing a pouch off a peg before stepping outside. She strolled along a path toward the river.
As Zachary watched her walk away, he wondered how she could justify deserting him and Eva. Wanting answers, he let himself become physical, calling out, “Conchita!”
The young woman stopped, slowly turning around. She stared at him a moment as if not believing it was really him, then she smiled joyfully. Her expression confused Zachary. Did he dare to believe she still loved him? But why had she forsaken her family? He searched her face for clues.
Conchita took a hesitant step toward Zachary, asking, “Does Eva live, too?”
In a guarded voice, he answered, “Eva’s fine.”
She let out a quivering sigh of relief. “Day and night I have mourned for the two of you, hoping you had survived the journey. I asked the spirit guides for answers, but they said it was not for me to know.”
Zachary couldn’t understand how she could speak of her own pain when she had caused him and Eva so much of it. “Why did you leave us, and let the tribe send us away? It was a death sentence.”
“Please, let me explain.”
He shook his head. “There’s no excuse.”
Earth Sentinels Collection Page 39
