The Search for Starlight

by Elyse Salpeter

  They came to an opening in a moss-covered rock wall. A stone staircase moved upwards and Desmond held out his hand.

  “After you, Princess.”

  She shook her head and moved up the staircase. They climbed until they overlooked the lakes and streams gurgling below. There was a landing where they rested, and a path leading off around a winding turn on the mountainside.

  “We’ll go this way.”

  Kelsey glanced up to see the staircase continue into the clouds, but turned and strolled with Desmond down the cobbled walkway. The path passed by a waterfall that cascaded down into a brilliant set of pools below. Kelsey took a moment to breathe deeply. The air was so pure she could almost taste its sweetness on her tongue.

  A peace settled deep into her bones as they came upon a terraced patio, but then it fled instantly in a rush of panic. Kelsey grabbed Desmond’s arm in alarm and pulled him back.

  He turned to her and squeezed her hand. “It’s okay. I promise.”

  She turned back and steeled herself. The traitor, Master Dov, sat at the head of an outdoor table. Robbie sat to his side and Kenmut, the Decan Sky God who had betrayed her and set her on a course for destruction, sat across from them with a glass raised as if he were in the middle of making a toast.

  Desmond coughed gently and as one, they all turned to her.

  Master Dov beamed and stood up. “You came! I just knew you’d choose the right path. You always do.”

  All Kelsey could see through the red haze that had swept across her vision were his perfect teeth, and they reminded her of a monster’s. Her lips curled in disgust. “You betrayed me.”

  Master Dov walked slowly towards her until only a foot of space separated them. Kelsey wanted to pound him into the ground. She wanted to send him soaring into the sky to plunge down into the cascading pools below to drown a hideous death. This man who was supposed to protect her. She shook where she stood.

  “It is not what you think.” The expression in his eyes startled her. She expected to see riddles. Hidden agendas. Triumph over making her a fool lifetime after lifetime. But instead, the emotion in them made his eyes soft and kind. They reminded her suddenly of how her father, Benjamin Porter, looked at her when he’d been human.

  She would not be fooled again. “Do not use your glamour on me, Demon. It will not change who you are. I know what you did,” Kelsey spit out.

  “I am what I am. That’s true,” Master Dov said gently. He reached out and lightly brushed his fingers against her cheek, and it was all she could do not to flinch. “But what I did, I did to save your soul.”

  She had enough and smacked his hand away. “I don’t believe you.”

  “Kelsey,” Robbie called softly from the table. “It’s true. Please sit down and let him explain.”

  She stood there for a long time, deciding if she wished to even listen. Finally, she let Desmond bring her over to an empty chair at the table, and she sat down stiffly with the two men who had a hand in destroying her, lifetime after lifetime. At least with Mara, his actions were always pure. With these two, the deceit was nearly overwhelming.

  “Kelsey, let me explain,” Kenmut said. And he began to talk, and she listened. He told her again how Ustha had put a curse on his family, slowly killing them century after century. How he appealed to the greatest of gods for help when it happened, and they created a prophecy which would ultimately release his family from Ustha’s spell.

  “I waited for centuries to find the one soul that would have the power to defeat her. While I searched in vain, you chose to leave your father’s side and live your first human life as Adra’s unborn daughter, Odgerel. That’s when everything unfolded in a perfect plan. I saw how everything would fall into place.”

  Kelsey was incensed. “How perfect for you that you found someone to use. I hope you enjoyed destroying me generation after generation,” she said, bitterly. “You played with my life, Kenmut. All of you did.”

  “We guided you, not played with you, Kelsey,” Master Dov corrected.

  She glared at him. “Stop spouting semantics at me. It’s the same thing.”

  “No it’s not,” Master Dov said, his voice suddenly firm. “You were not human, so human rules never applied to you, Temptress.”

  She shook her head. “So because I am a demon at my core, the human life I chose to lead meant nothing?”

  Master Dov raised his voice and his expression changed. Kelsey could see the demon hiding behind his eyes. “It meant everything! You are not opening your mind, Daughter.”

  She squinted. “Don’t call me that. You don’t deserve to.”

  “Hear him out, Kelsey. Please,” Desmond said. He squeezed her hand.

  I am forever letting others explain the atrocities they committed against me and then being asked to absolve them of blame. I’m so tired of being used.

  “Fine, speak your peace and then leave me alone. Why did you do this to me?” Kelsey asked.

  Master Dov continued. “After Caim attempted to murder you, Kenmut appealed to all the gods to help him and they came at his call. He then appealed to me because I had the power to grant humans knowledge of things they can’t possibly know. He asked me to give Caim answers so that one day when you met him, you would eventually discover who you were. Kenmut always wanted you to ultimately discover you were the daughter of the Emperor and Empress. We just couldn’t disclose it to you earlier because we didn’t want Mara or Ustha, or the Aranhats themselves, to thwart our plans. The Emperor and Empress knew enough to know if they helped us with this prophecy, they would finally find their unborn child. But that is not all. Kenmut also tasked me to watch over you in all the lifetimes we matched up.”

  “Yes, to be my fake father.” Kelsey crossed her arms, defiantly.

  His voice softened. “No, to be your real father. Every time you were born of my body, I was determined to keep you safe whenever I was able. Kelsey, it took me nearly four thousand years to get you to survive to the age of twenty two, when you could finally come into your abilities.”

  “Kelsey,” Desmond interjected. “So much was done to get us all to this point. They saved me from Aihika so I could find you. They took care of Finley so I could eventually find her in Egypt. They safeguarded the Bodhidharma Monastery from destruction through all the purges. They saved Robbie from dying of leukemia.”

  “From the moment you came into creation, we watched, we protected you when we could, and we waited,” Kenmut explained.

  Kelsey stared at each of them, still incredulous. “How can you sit here and say you protected me?” She stood up and slammed her hands hard on the table. “Don’t you get it? I don’t care that there was this ultimate plan! You allowed me to get murdered. Time and time again I died horrible deaths, and I remember each of them vividly like knives piercing my soul! You played with me and my human families’ lives over and over for thousands of years for selfish reasons!”

  Master Dov moved to her side and bent down until they were eye to eye. His expression was pained. “I won’t lie to you any more. It’s true. I started this journey selfishly because Kenmut promised to get me back into the Seventh Heaven if I did his bidding. I did not expect what then happened to me. I’ve changed, Kelsey, and my soul has begun to evolve. Being your father has made me become more human in every lifetime I have spent with you. I did protect you when I was able, and I enjoyed being your father. I learned how to love. To cherish and nurture. It was because of you. Those years when our lifetime’s paths didn’t match, Mara’s minions found you when you were just a toddler or a baby. There was nothing I could do but watch the agony that you endured, and wait until we’d meet again. But Kelsey, in every lifetime I was your father, you lived into your teens. Every single one. I was able to thwart Mara’s minions time and again, protecting you and helping you grow. But when Mara’s men finally came, and they always did, I did my best to stop them. When I couldn’t hold them off any longer, I did the only decent thing I could. I helped make your death q
uick, many times even sacrificing my own life so that your death could be as painless as possible.”

  Kelsey’s voice was hushed. “But you didn’t protect me in Tibet. You literally set me up to get attacked on the mountain. You brought me to Tibet with the intent that I’d get hurt. You set up my mother to sleep with Armand and get pregnant with me. You created everything that happened in this timeline.”

  Master Dov and Kenmut exchanged a glance, and then Master Dov smiled sadly. “That is all true, but remember, you are alive. You lived. But you must know and believe this, I loved your mother, Margaret. She was one of the sweetest and most beautiful women I was privy to walk the earth with. She was full of so much life and loved you fiercely.”

  “Yet, you used her like you used me and then let her die.”

  Master Dov’s expression was pained. “I was born into the body of Benjamin Porter and lived his whole life. But I knew that one day Margaret and I would meet, and I knew how it would happen. So yes, I used her and had a hand in your mother’s indiscretions. I knew at that time your soul was waiting to be reborn. If Margaret got pregnant by Armand, that was the child you would become, and the power and connection would be complete. So yes, I knew all along who you were from the very moment you were conceived. But it didn’t stop how I felt for you.”

  Kenmut interjected. “I saw it all unfold, Kelsey. The stars showed this timeline as being paramount, the one in which everything would come together. We simply did what we could to bring it all to fruition. Otherwise, we might have had to wait another four thousand years.”

  “And when you were born,” Master Dov said. “We all saw your immense abilities in this lifetime. Your brilliance, your beauty, and how everyone was drawn to you even as a small child. As your father, I did everything I could to protect you.” He turned to Robbie. “And you as well. We did not know how your timeline was going to impact the prophecy, but when you became deathly ill, it all became clear. We told the Emperor and Empress our plan, and they knew everything except for who Kelsey was to them. That is why The Emperor stepped up in Mara’s palace. He knew he ultimately couldn’t be the one to kill you, but would set in motion someone who could.” He stared pointedly at Robbie.

  Master Dov continued. “So as Benjamin Porter, I left Robbie in Pritvhi to be healed and to be raised by soldiers, while I took you to Tibet to get trained. I wanted you to be as powerful as possible. I’d hoped for more time with you, Kelsey. But Mara came to our hut in the woods in the form of Raul Salazar with his men. I tried to give him what he wanted and spare you from getting hurt, but we all know what he wanted ultimately was your death. I did not want you or your mother to get hurt. It’s why we lived nearly a mile from the monastery, hidden deep in the woods! You must know this. I thought we were safe there. And even though you needed to be tested, my desire has never been for you to suffer. Mara had already tried three different times in this timeline to kill you, and I was able to stop them each time. I tried so hard to protect you. Trips to Egypt to meet your birth father, having your mother give up her son so I could get you to Tibet. I knew the monks at the Bodhidharma Monastery would train you, and if Mara attacked, you could potentially be saved. But when they killed Benjamin Porter’s body and I could no longer help you, I did the next best thing I could. I immediately took over Master Dov’s body so I could at least protect Robbie and help end the prophecy in this lifetime once and for all.”

  Kelsey took this all in. “Why didn’t the Emperor and Empress know who I was every time I died?”

  “I had help from the gods,” Kenmut explained. “We hid your soul from them in every lifetime so they would not see who you were to them. They knew you were Tanha, though, and knew you would have the power to help them find their daughter.”

  “Why were they ruling the bardos in the first place?” Kelsey asked.

  “I had them sent there so they could be the ones who would heal you if you ever survived one of Mara’s attacks and needed a place to recover,” Kenmut said. “We had the monks send you after the attack in Tibet.”

  She clicked her tongue. “That’s not quite true, is it? The monks don’t have the power because they’re just human. I was the one that sent myself there, wasn’t I?”

  Master Dov smiled slightly. “You were a demon, Kelsey. You could take yourself anywhere.”

  “So they knew who I was all along, didn’t they?”

  Kenmut nodded. “Kelsey, every one of your human lives was important, but it was your eternal soul that needed saving.”

  Kelsey looked at each man in turn. “So, Mara thought you were working with him. You tricked him.”

  “We did. I imagine he’s not very happy right now,” Master Dov joked.

  Kelsey stared at Desmond. “I think I’ve listened enough. Please tell me where my brothers and sisters are now? Are they even alive?”

  Master Dov nodded. “They were all sent back to Earth. And your friend, Josh, was sent back to Xanadu where he will do his penance for his transgressions in his past lifetime. They are all safe.”

  Kelsey’s mind reeled with this news. She hadn’t wanted to think about it, but she had believed they’d all perished in the Naraka Palace. “And how am I still here? I died in the Naraka palace. Robbie hit me with three of his darts. I could feel that they were imbued with enough magic to kill me. What happened?”

  A lilting voice sounded. “I happened, Sister.”

  Kelsey whirled around and watched in shock as Arati glided onto the patio. She’d changed out of her sheer sari and wore a robe of pure red silk. Her long raven hair was piled high on her head and covered with jewels.

  Kelsey’s jaw stood ajar. “Arati, how are you here?”

  Arati glanced at Kenmut and Master Dov and gave a sly smile. “Let’s just say I was given a little gift for my help.” She held up a ring with a bright blue gem. When Kelsey stared into it, it seemed alive.

  “What is that?”

  Robbie spoke up. “It’s a portal ring, Kelsey. After you sacrificed yourself, your sister put a spell on everyone in the palace so Master Dov and Kenmut could help us all escape. They have given her this gift to travel the realms as a reward.”

  Kelsey sucked in her breath. “You gave a Temptress Demon a ring to travel the realms at will?”

  Kenmut stared at Arati and nodded knowingly. “Her soul has started to evolve. Just like yours did. She has seen what your life has become. We saw the change and made her a deal.”

  Kelsey took a step towards her sister in wonder. “Arati, you choose to stay here? With me?”

  Her sister laughed uproariously. “No, Sister. I have no intention to remain on Pritvhi or on any of the other Earth realms yet. My desires still reside strongly back in the palace where my every whim is accommodated.” For a moment Arati paused and stared out over the patio edge and peered into the cascading pools below. “But I can see the allure of visiting now and again. There is something refreshingly appealing about humanity. I can see why you choose to stay.”

  Desmond moved over and took Kelsey in his arms. “It’s truly over, Kelsey. They’ve removed the mark on your soul. There’s no way you are ever going to be tracked again by Ustha, the Usthatan, or Mara. Your life is finally truly your own to live.”

  “But I’m still a demon,” Kelsey said. “It really won’t ever be over. I’ll never be a normal human girl.”

  Robbie stood up and slowly walked over to his sister. He held up his amulet with the Jikininki demon trapped inside. “It doesn’t feel you any longer Kelsey. Your demon side has been released. Now you’re only human. You are truly hidden. You’re free. And when death finally takes you, you will travel to Xanadu and then move on to whatever path you choose next. Your journey is now yours to make.”

  I’m not a demon? Kelsey concentrated and tried to raise her feet from the ground. She searched for that part of her inner core with the power and concentrated.

  Nothing happened.

  She began to wiggle her fingers, over and over, searchin
g for the sound of the longhorn in Xanadu. Like waves on a shore she let her fingers dance. Over and over she fluttered her fingers, searching for Xanadu.

  Nothing happened.

  Kelsey’s eyes widened in wonder, she picked up her fingers and tried to light flames from them. She pulled from deep in her gut and sent out her powers.

  Nothing happened.

  “It’s truly over, Kelsey,” Robbie whispered.

  Kelsey raised her head to the sky and let the cool breeze kiss her face. She let Robbie’s words wash over her. My journey is now my own.

  She couldn’t believe it. She was finally and truly…

  Free.

  THE END

  Other Books by Elyse Salpeter

  The Kelsey Porter Series – Adult thriller

  The Hunt for Xanadu – Book 1

  The Quest of the Empty Tomb – Book 2

  The Call of Mount Sumeru – Book 3

  The Haunting of Cragg Hill House – Book 4

  The Mannequins – Horror

  Ricket Row – Horror Anthology

  The Flying Series – Young Adult Thrillers

  Flying to the Light – Book 1

  Flying to the Fire – Book 2

  The Children of Demilee Series – Dark Fantasy Thrillers

  The World of Karov – Book 1

  The Ruby Amulet – Book 2

  Please see her work at her Amazon Author Page:

  http://amzn.to/2pDwod8

  To learn more about Elyse Salpeter, please check out her website at www.elysesalpeter.com or her blog at www.elysesalpeter.wordpress.com

  Want to read more from Elyse Salpeter? Check out her horror novel, THE MANNEQUINS here: https://amzn.to/2LDmx1A