The Prodigal Sun: A Novel

by S. E. Meyer

  “It was! She died of an overdose, I had nothing to do with that!”

  “You didn’t bother to help her though did you?” Traedon slyly remarked.

  “And I didn’t shoot Brent!” Adam shouted.

  “Let me guess, that was an accident too right?”

  “It was! And how do you know so much about me?”

  Adam was getting agitated. A small drop of blood began to collect in his nostril and slowly ran down onto his lip.

  “I know everything Adam, and I know that you have lost it. You’re going crazy. Your mind can’t handle what has just happened to it. It’s like a circuit board with shorts and wrong connections. It’s driving you mad isn’t it? I can’t just let you back out there.” Traedon paused behind Adam as he bent over, his lips now less than a quarter inch from his left ear. “Unless you are willing to learn who, and what you really are. Once you understand it all, and your mind can accept it, without going insane.” Adam could feel Traedon's hot breath brushing his ear as he continued. “If it doesn’t drive you completely mad. If you’re strong enough to survive Adam, then maybe you will do something for me.”

  Curiosity was getting the better of Adam, after a long pause he finally asked. “What? What do you want me to do?”

  I will send you out to work for us, according to our plan and the great work we have been doing for thousands of years Adam. You’ve had visions of grandeur lately, haven’t you? Help us save the world Adam. What could be more suitable than that? You wanted another option, there it is,” Traedon finished.

  “And if I refuse?”

  “Trust me Adam, once you hear what I have to say, you are going to be quite motivated to help. You want the pyramid don’t you? Since things didn’t go as planned at the auction you want nothing more than to get back to Frank and that shiny little trinket. Am I correct?”

  “How do you know what I want?” Adam spat.

  Traedon stood up and moved around to face Adam. “I can feel it burning inside you like fire in your veins.” He bent over and looked Adam directly in the eye as he spoke. “It’s eating away at you Adam, your search for it. Like a virus consuming your mind.” He paused for a moment and then stood up straight, placing his hands behind his back before continuing. “I can tell you that Frank is no longer where you left him. But I know where he’s going and I can send you there. Consider this a test Adam. Get the pyramid from Frank and bring it back to me. If you can do that, and convince your friends to come see me, just to talk, then maybe there is hope for you yet. We can put on a little party. Maybe have you all down for dinner and get acquainted,” Traedon said as he smiled broadly. “If you can do that Adam, then maybe I can find a place for you here.” As soon as he finished speaking, Traedon walked over to the wall on the other side of the room and pushed a button. “Show him where he needs to go and send him on his way.”

  “Sir, we can’t release him without Braedon’s approval.”

  “Fine, get it then, do what you have to do,” Traedon snorted.

  “Sir, he went to see your Uncle, but I will do my best to reach him.”

  ____________

  Braedon stepped off a small airplane and onto wet pavement at the end of a deserted runway in the Himalayan foothills. “Does it rain here every day?” he sneered towards the tall, slender man waiting for him. Braedon's host was dressed in a neatly pressed, dark suit under a winter jacket with the collar pulled up around his neck, stopping just short of his thin jaw. He shivered slightly, making his naturally curled, brown locks tremble. The two got into a black SUV parked near the aircraft before Braedon received an answer.

  “Actually it didn’t rain yesterday. I think that is the only day it hasn’t rained in a while.

  “That’s good, I guess?” Braedon questioned with a raised eyebrow.

  “Not really, it snowed instead.” The two waited as three figures transferred crates of bread from the airplane to the back of the SUV. “You are lucky, you only have to visit occasionally, while I’m stuck here every day. I am still waiting on your answer to transfer below the surface.”

  “And disappoint our Uncle? You’re lucky I haven’t told him you sent a formal request or you may have already been dispatched from your post. But not in the way you would have liked. Once in his personal service Tabira, you are there for life.” Braedon gave him an apologetic look as he cocked his head to one side. “You know the rules, just because you are fourth in line to the throne means nothing when it comes to the Old Ones personal service.”

  The three figures finished placing the last of the crates in the back of the vehicle and Tabira slowly drove off the runway and onto a muddy trail. The SUV made its way through an endless forest of trees at the base of a looming white-capped mountain range. There was a long silence between them until Tabira finally spoke again.

  “I’m freezing up here, there has to be something you can do! You have his ear.”

  “Ha.” scoffed Braedon. “I have his ear. I’ll be lucky if he still has any faith in me at all after what I’ve been dealing with the last several weeks.” A shiver ran through Braedon’s body as he looked out the window. “Why must he insist on living in the worse possible conditions, up here, when he could be right at home down below! It’s so frustrating.”

  They continued to bump and bounce along the muddy trail as they climbed through the foothills. “Because he is stubborn as a mule and likes his anger to fester.”

  “I think it’s sick and irrational,” complained Braedon.

  Tabira turned onto a narrower path with grass growing between the rain-washed ruts. Within a few miles the tops of castle walls could be seen through the tree line in the distance. They turned a corner and drove up to a large gate with guards at each end. One of the guards immediately waved them through as the other opened the large iron gate in front of them. Once they twisted their way closer, the road opened up to reveal a large stone castle surrounded by a complex of old monastery buildings. The grounds were well kept and the green lawn was thick and lush. Neatly trimmed bushes ran around the perimeter of the lonely gray walls just below the dark ghostly windows than ran in pairs like hollow sets of eyes staring blankly out across the lawn. Tabira pulled up to the front entryways as it started to rain again. Braedon got out and quickly climbed the steps to the large front door. It immediately swung open as he made the last step and he disappeared inside.

  “He is in the den sir,” came a quiet raspy voice from the dim light of the foyer.

  Braedon walked down the hallway to his right and through the doorway leading to the den. He entered the room slowly. There was a high back chair in front of a large roaring fireplace. In the large chair sat a figure that looked just as noble as the many portraits on the walls, only more aged. There was a prominent scaly texture to his pale, olive skin as it reflected the orange light of the fire behind the hearth. The figure spoke as soon as Braedon entered the room. It was a low guttural voice in their native tongue. Braedon walked around to the front of the chair and knelt.

  “Uncle,” Braedon said just over a whisper.

  “I already know what you have come to tell me.”

  “I need your advice, Enki.”

  “Come, sit. This situation is not uncontrollable. It can, and will be, resolved. The last capstone will be found just as the Sura has been. I’m not so concerned about all of that. What I am concerned about is the timing. You need the last key soon in order to be prepared. We cannot underestimate the power of the ones on their way here. The putrid spawn that left us here to freeze to death, and slowly die. Marooned here on this rock for over seven thousand years! Tell me, Nephew, would you have done things differently if you were to do it all over again?”

  “Stop, Uncle, you really must get off the surface and come down and live with us. You've been up here for almost three thousand years, toying with your precious Tibetan monks. Isn't teaching them the same meditation and mind tricks getting old by now?”

  “They entertain me,” replied Enki with a s
mug expression.

  “But it’s terrible up here! You could have picked a better location. Maybe somewhere closer to the equator might have been a little more comfortable. This weather is eating away at you.”

  “Why do you think I am here? I stay here to remind myself, every day, of how cruel they were to all of us. I need to feel the daily pain so that I do not become complacent, like all of you down there; living happily ever after in that fake world you have created. I want to feel our sun on my face again, the real sun, glowing red and hot. Don’t you want to feel that again Braedon?“

  “Of course Uncle but…” Braedon tried to speak but Enki cut his nephew off.

  “Then if I were you I would make sure this capstone issue is resolved immediately. We cannot allow for mistakes, mistakes will get all of us killed. Live up to your birthright and get the key as soon as possible. It must be started now if you are to succeed. The Elders are all counting on you. This is our last and only chance. This is what we have all been planning for a very long time,” Enki explained.

  “Yes Uncle, it is being taken care of as we speak, but are you sure it will work? The weapon I mean. We have been energizing the cells, but it hasn’t been fired since the first Age. I’m concerned this will all be for nothing.”

  “Yes it will work, it was made to stand the test of time. But it will not activate unless you have all seven stones,” answered Enki.

  “Yes, I understand that. We will have the last one soon. What I don’t understand, is why this had to be so complicated. It’s taken us thousands of years to find them all,” Braedon said.

  “Because the ones who left us here knew how powerful it was. They wanted to make sure we never gained control of it. By spreading them across this planet, and only giving one to each of the highest priests of each continent, they were able to conceal them well. The priests guarded them in utmost secrecy and knew that the pyramid keys should never be brought back together until the end of the Age.”

  “A lot of good that would have done them anyway. Half of the stones were buried under rubble and long forgotten, like the one my brother retrieved from South America. It doesn’t matter, I will have all seven soon, the search is over, and you can count on me to finish the Great Work Uncle,” Braedon finished.

  “Good, is there anything else I can help you with?” asked Enki.

  “What do I do about Traedon? Do I allow him to be at the forefront of the plan? He can be,” Braedon paused, “unpredictable.

  “Yes, keep your brother close to you. I realize his methods and demeanor may be untamed, but he will have a large part to play in all of this before it’s over.”

  “Very well, I appreciate your advice Uncle. Oh and do you have an urgent need for Tabira?”

  “Not at this time. Why?” asked Enki.

  “I think he would be a good addition to my team in order to finish up this little problem,” Braedon explained.

  “Take him if you must, he hates it here anyway and would welcome a visit down below I am sure. Besides, he has been driving me crazy lately. I would welcome the break from his whining.”

  Braedon bowed low before exiting the room and made his way back to the front door. As he approached the entrance, a small robed figure opened the door just enough for him to walk through out into the cold rain.

  “Well?” Tabira stared him down with an inquisitive look as soon as Braedon got in the vehicle.

  “You have been temporarily released, but don’t get too excited. It’s only temporary,” explained Braedon.

  “I could kiss you cousin,” said Tabira as he moved towards Braedon

  “Get off me, please, you can show your gratitude by staying on your side of the car.” There was irritation in his voice but he was happy that he could help Tabira get out of the cold and allow him time with his family. They waited as the last of several large crates packed with loaves of bread were removed from the back of the SUV.

  “You’re first task will be to keep an eye on my brother and make sure the last key is recovered,” Braedon said.

  “No worries Braedon, you can count on me to get it done, no matter what it takes,” Tabira said as he smiled a cruel smile. He slowly pulled the SUV away from the castle and headed back down the muddy trail. Halfway down the mountainside Braedon’s phone rang.

  “Yes brother?” Braedon said as he held it to his ear.

  “We need to release him,” said Traedon through the receiver.

  “Why would you want to do that? He’s a liability right now.”

  “Because brother, his very existence yearns for what we seek. He’s not a real Sura, or at least was never meant to be one. His mind has cracked under the weight of the stone,” Traedon paused, “it’s disappointing really. I was expecting someone that knew of the key’s power would have been more apt to receive its gift.”

  Braedon let out a sigh of irritation. “If his mind is gone then he’s even more of a liability.”

  “In a way, yes. However he can also be used to our advantage. His mind only wants one thing, it consumes him. As long as we get him close to the stone, the power within him will lead us the rest of the way like a bright beacon in the dark.”

  “Or a moth to the flame,” retorted Braedon.

  Traedon continued. “We need him in order to locate and retrieve the final key now that it’s on the move,” Traedon explained.

  “Fine, release him. I hope you’re right about this, I want good news when I get back,” Braedon replied. There was an air of confidence trickling through the transmission as Traedon said his last words before ending the call.

  “You should know by now brother, I’m always right.”

  an unexpected guest

  They’re killing him by not letting us help! Jenny thought as she struggled uselessly against the guard’s weight. Frank stood up and looked at each of the guards. A slight blue flash flew across his eyes as Frank made eye contact with the one who appeared to be in charge.

  Just then, two more guards arrived at the scene and they all began arguing.

  The first guard looked at Frank. “You all must come with me,” he said.

  Frank ignored him and spoke in a cool icy tone. “I am a doctor, and this is my patient, he is very sick and we must take him to a hospital. You will not detain us and you will allow us to leave immediately.”

  The guard Frank was talking to seemed to calm down and he began to speak into his radio. Frank took the leather case from the man and knelt down next to John. The other guards became frantic, but the one in charge quickly calmed them down with a few words. Frank filled a syringe and injected the liquid into John’s neck. He began gently tapping the side of John’s face and calling his name. The guard Frank had been speaking to got on his radio again and within a few minutes two more guards showed up, this time with a gurney, apparently to carry John away in.

  John began to come around and Frank took the candy bar Jenny had brought. He broke off another piece, putting it in John’s mouth.

  “Eat this, it will help,” Frank said.

  John still had a blank look on his face. He coughed a few times, but then ate the chocolate and sat up now that the injection was taking effect. The guards were obviously not impressed with John coming around. They began to motion for Frank and Jenny to follow them as they laid the gurney next to John. One of the guards motioned for Frank to give him the black case.

  “It’s insulin for God’s sake” shouted Frank. He ignored the guard and turned back to John. “John you need to get up, now.” Frank bent over next to him and put his hands under John’s arms and pulled. He slowly got to his feet and was able to stand on his own. Frank gave him another piece of chocolate and turned to look at the guards. As he did, the guards that came over with the gurney headed back the way they came. Frank made eye contact with the guard in charge. “You will help us,” he said in a cool icy tone, his eyes once again glowing a bright blue. The guard waved off the other two, took the handcuffs off of Jenny, and then in English told Jenny,
Frank and John to quickly follow him. “I will escort you to the main entrance. I have already requested that a car be waiting for you to take you to the hospital.” The guard escorted them directly through customs, without stopping, and the group made their way out to the the street in front of the airport. The guard rushed them into the waiting cab and closed the car door, slapping the roof twice with his hand to signal the cabby to move.

  “Just take us to the nearest hotel” Frank said to the cabby, who seemed confused about the change in destination, but did not argue when Frank held up an American one-hundred dollar bill.

  “That was close,” said Jenny

  “Too close,” replied Frank.

  Jenny held John against her, laying his head on her shoulder, as the car made its way to Paseo de la Reforma, the main drag leading into the heart of Mexico City.

  “Are you okay honey?” Jennifer whispered into John’s ear.

  “I – I think so. What the hell was that, what happened?” John stammered.

  “Just rest for a few more minutes John,” said Frank. “We’ll talk once we get checked in.”

  They didn’t speak the rest of the way and within twenty minutes the taxi driver pulled up in front of the grand Embassy Suites Hilton of Mexico City. They checked into adjoining rooms and began to freshen up, but John felt tired again. He lay down on the bed and Jenny laid down next to him while Frank began shuffling through some notes, looking for phone numbers. “I need to see if I can get a hold of Dr. Lopez,” mumbled Frank, more to himself than the others. “Ah, here it is,” he said as he walked over to the phone in their room and picked up the receiver. There was a click…click as he dialed the number. It rang several times before a female voice answered.

  “Hola”

  “Hola, "¿Hablas inglés?" asked Frank.

  “Yes, a little,” she replied.

  “Is Senior Lopez available?”

  “Who is your name?” asked the woman in broken English.

  “This is Dr. Frank Johnson from the United States, I am a friend of his.”