by Thomas Fay
They reached the edge of the park and Cassandra stepped inside what appeared to be a monorail system. Only that instead of gliding along a track, this one hovered in mid-air. Following her inside, Izikiel sat down next to a window. Within moments the futuristic monorail took off. It travelled at considerable speed as it moved between the skyscrapers and parks of the city core. Hundreds of vehicles of various sizes moved throughout the city. Izikiel marvelled once more at what humanity had achieved.
‘This will take us to the Interstellar Library. We should be there in about five minutes.’
Izikiel nodded as he continued to stare out of the window. Their route took them over a river which wound its way through the city. The water below sparkled as it reflected the sunlight high above. Several water craft moved along its length, their multi-coloured hulls in sharp contrast to the dark glass buildings along the banks of the river. Izikiel felt a sudden chill. Despite the climate control of the monorail system and the clear day outside, he shivered. Looking at Cassandra, he suddenly realised what it was.
‘I can feel it too,’ she said.
‘Where is it coming from?’ he asked.
‘I don’t know. But it’s getting stronger by the second.’
As they rounded a particularly dense patch of buildings, Izikiel’s eyes opened wide in awe. A large multi-level structure dominated this part of the city. Its complex geometric design, while angular, appeared almost organic in nature.
‘That has to be the Interstellar Library,’ he said.
‘Yes, it is but look at the central spire.’
Izikiel felt that chill he had experienced before expand throughout his entire body as he stared at the central spire of the Interstellar Library. It was pitch black, with vaulted archways and several spires jutting out at oblique angles. Even at this distance, there was no mistaking the Void Lord citadel.
‘How in the name of the Flame is that possible?’ he asked.
SEVENTY NINE
The monorail dropped them off in front of the Interstellar Library. Walking through a series of revolving doors, Izikiel found himself inside the incredible structure. Warm air blew across his face while gigantic silver beams intersected continuously throughout the interior. The effect was mesmerizing. It was effectively impossible to determine where any single beam began or ended. Amethyst coloured glass covered the ceiling, while a variety of green, blue and yellow plants grew inside evenly spaced planters. Dozens of people moved throughout the entrance lobby. Some carried strange looking cases, while others stood in small groups conversing. Everything appeared completely normal. Or as normal as this futuristic building could ever be, Izikiel thought.
‘So, what do we do now?’ Cassandra asked. Her blue eyes flashed slightly as she scanned the crowd.
‘We need to find the true believer. They’ll be able to tell us what’s going on here,’ Izikiel replied. ‘Do you know your way around the Library?’
Cassandra nodded.
‘Yes. I was here about a decade ago when I first arrived on Tellus. I can’t imagine it’s changed much in that time. Follow me.’
‘What about the Void Lord citadel?’
‘I honestly don’t know. It shouldn’t be here. The fact that no one seems to notice its presence is very concerning.’
‘We should be careful.’
‘That goes with saying. Come on.’
Izikiel followed her inside the Interstellar Library. Passing through a series of narrow metallic laneways, they entered the Library proper. Here, row upon row of transparent tablets and metallic discs were stacked along intersecting walkways. Izikiel’s eyes struggled to take it all in.
‘It’s incredible,’ he said.
‘Yes. You humans are truly gifted at hoarding artefacts from your past. It’s amazing that you don’t run out of space.’
Laughing, Izikiel walked across the green slate floor towards a central glass elevator core. Here, over a dozen small glass lifts moved up, down and across at considerable speed. Following Cassandra inside one, he was totally unprepared for the acceleration as the lift shot upwards and then to the left. The air rushed out of his lungs as his face was pressed against the cold glass. Five seconds later, the lift stopped and its doors slid open with the faintest hiss of air being released. Izikiel staggered out.
‘Thanks for the warning,’ he said drily.
Cassandra smiled at him as she motioned with her hand.
‘The inner vaults are this way. If I’m not mistaken then that’s where we’ll find the Void Lord citadel and this mysterious true believer.’
The moment Cassandra mentioned the Void Lords, Izikiel was reminded of their chill presence. It was like a persistent cold wind which was blowing directly onto his exposed skin. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up as they moved deeper into the centre of the Interstellar Library. He found it very unsettling that their enemy was here within a structure created to fulfil part of the second disciple’s grand design for him. It was beginning to feel more and more like a trap with every step.
Walking down a series of narrow corridors, they reached an intricate vestibule. Gigantic support beams stood in each corner, black marble covered the floor while the ceiling was made of a strange crystalline glass. The light filtering down through the ceiling was refracted in a million directions at once, creating an incredible visual effect.
‘There,’ Cassandra said. ‘Through that door lie the inner vaults. If this true believer is anywhere then that is where they will be.’
‘How do we get through?’
‘We walk. I will disable the security measures in this corridor.’
‘Lead the way.’
Stepping forward, Cassandra paused for a moment. Izikiel could feel the heat around her expanding to fill the room. It was a comforting feeling as it banished the chill of the Void Lord’s presence.
Cassandra moved forward, her steps slow and deliberate. Tiny flashes of light burst into existence around her as the electronic security system was overloaded by the human-form Elemental. The flashes of light became brighter and more frequent. Finally, they exploded in a single burst of white light as Cassandra reached the door. It slowly swung open and Izikiel felt the chill of the Void return.
‘Wait,’ he called out. ‘Let me go first.
Cassandra paused in mid—stride. Stepping back, she waited. Taking a deep breath, Izikiel passed through into the inner vault.
Inside, a series of tall metallic cylinders were spaced evenly around the circular chamber. Each one extended up towards the solid marble ceiling. A dozen holographic display units flickered around two central columns. The entire chamber was illuminated in a bluish light radiated by the floor and walls.
‘By the light of the Flame!’ Cassandra exclaimed.
Izikiel saw it too. Kneeling between the two central columns was a silver haired woman. Her face obscured by her hair, she was held in place by thick metal chains attached to her arms and legs. She was clearly in pain as her entire body trembled.
‘Izikiel, wait it’s a trap!’
Ignoring the human-form Elemental’s words, Izikiel rushed over to the unknown woman. Kneeling beside her, he lifted her head gently. Her age surprised him. She appeared to be in her late seventies, her face wrinkled like old parchment.
‘Are you alright?’ he asked.
Her green eyes stared blankly at him for a moment. Then she spoke, her voice barely a whisper.
‘You shouldn’t have come here.’
‘Are you the Guardian of the Eternal Flame on this world?’ he asked.
Slowly, the silver haired woman nodded.
‘Yes. And you are Izikiel, the last disciple of the Eternal Flame. Sofija told me that you would come.’
‘What happened here?’ Cassandra asked.
‘The Void Lords somehow managed to interfere with the flow of time. Creating a temporal flux, they landed one of their citadels directly inside the Interstellar Library. Then they chained me and forced me to maintain the tempora
l flux. But I can’t anymore. The power is fading within me and I can feel my life draining away.’
‘Don’t worry, we’re here now,’ Izikiel said. Standing up, he hefted the chains holding the female Guardian in place.
‘Aduro’
The chain in his hand melted and dropped to the floor. He repeated the process with the other three. As the last chain fell away, the true believer collapsed to the ground. Izikiel lifted her up. Her eyes opened wide as she stared at something behind them.
‘Forgive me,’ the female true believer whispered. Then her eyes closed and she passed out. Lowering her gently to the floor, Izikiel realised that he didn’t even know her name.
‘Izikiel’
The urgency in Cassandra’s voice made him instantly wary. Standing up, he saw a dozen black humanoid shapes moving out from behind the gigantic cylindrical vaults. The void spawn’s eyes glowed with a deep red ambience as they closed in on them. Izikiel stepped in front of the female true believer. The void spawn moved closer.
‘We meet again, disciple,’ a chill whisper echoed around the chamber.
The ranks of the void spawn parted and an impossibly tall and thin spectral figure materialised within the chamber. Izikiel recognised it as the Void Lord who had spoken to him above Vesta.
‘Caligo Dominus,’ Cassandra hissed.
The spectral figure turned its burning red gaze towards the human-form Elemental.
‘I see that you have discovered the Elementals,’ the Void Lord said. ‘These creatures of the Eternal Flame will die now as surely as they did before.’
Izikiel felt the heat around Cassandra explode to a new level as her eyes glowed with pure flame.
‘Wait,’ he said.
Cassandra’s eyes dimmed slightly as she held herself in check.
‘What do you want?’ he asked.
‘What do I want?’ the Void Lord asked with a note of surprise. ‘I want you and all the other light worshipping creatures wiped from the face of this Universe once and for all.’
An overwhelming cold enveloped Izikiel. His breathing slowed as his entire body shivered. Images of a vast darkness filled his mind. Unlike the blackness of space, this darkness had no end, no shining points of light denoting light and warmth. This was an infinite darkness. Struggling against the power of the Void Lord, Izikiel’s heart slowed. He couldn’t breathe. Dropping to his knees, he tried desperately to concentrate, to reach out with his mind. But everywhere he turned a pair of glowing red eyes bore down on him. Oily black mouths opened wide to reveal rows of razor sharp teeth. The Void Lord glided closer.
‘You are mine, disciple.’
Izikiel’s heart constricted. He stopped breathing. Darkness filled his vision and he tumbled into the Void.
EIGHTY
He opened his eyes slowly. It was still dark. Turning over, he looked at the alarm clock next to his bed. It read 5:30AM. Yawning, he closed his eyes and attempted to fall back asleep. Opening his eyes a moment later he checked the clock again. 5:31AM.
Realising that he wasn’t going to get anymore sleep, he pulled the blanket off and swung his legs over the side of the bed. Standing up, he winced as his bare feet came into contact with the cold floor. Tiptoeing across the room, he reached the rug in the corner.
Looking in the mirror, he tousled his dishevelled brown hair and rubbed his eyes. Yawning again, he found his slippers. Putting them on, he stepped out into the hall. Walking past the bathroom, he paused.
He hadn’t been inside his sisters’ room since the day that she had disappeared. At first, he had simply assumed that she’d stayed at a friend’s house or at the University. But after three days, he knew that she wasn’t coming back. That had happened over a year ago.
Pushing the door open, he looked around. Everything was exactly as it had been the last time that he had been in her room. Her chair was still turned halfway around the way that she had left it on her way out. Several books lay on the bed and a glass of water stood on the nightstand.
Walking over to the window, he opened it. A gust of cold air blew inside making him shiver. Wrapping his sister’s blanket around his shoulders, he leaned out of the window.
The trees and houses outside cast long shadows as dawn slowly broke over the street. A fresh scent of flowers and cut grass was carried on the crisp morning breeze. The world came to life outside as he realised something with increasing certainty. First, his mother had disappeared. Now, his sister was gone too.
‘I’m alone in the world,’ he said.
PART V – ASCENSION
EIGHTY ONE
Izikiel was drowning. The weight of the water pressing in around him was exhausting him as he desperately struggled to break the surface. He could feel the water filling up his lungs. His vision began to darken. A strange calm settled over him as he realised with certainty that he was going to die. He stopped struggling and allowed the water to enter his body unhindered. Closing his eyes, he drifted off. There was nothing more that he could do.
‘Izikiel’
The voice was faint, like someone whispering down a long corridor. Izikiel barely heard it as his thoughts dissolved in the water around him.
‘Izikiel, wake up!’
This time the voice was more insistent as it carried with it a note of urgency. He became vaguely aware of a pair of hands shaking him, bringing him slowly back to consciousness. Coughing, he spat mouthfuls of water out as he rolled onto his side. He realised that he was back on solid land, probably the river bank which he’d fallen off. Opening his eyes, he saw his mother looking down at him. Looking into her large blue eyes, he felt instantly safe despite how close he’d come to drowning.
(‘Izikiel’)
He recognised the voice. It was the same one that he had heard on Vesta then on Aurora and finally in the future Tellus. It was the voice within the Eternal Flame, the hollow, distant tone that he associated with the interstellar deity.
(‘Izikiel, you must fight the darkness. Do not allow it to swallow you. Fight!’) Izikiel breathed in deeply. Then he expelled the darkness around him with a single word as he rose to his feet.
‘Aduro’
The Void Lord fell backwards, the dark veil disintegrating around him. Blue sheets of flame enveloped the creature of the Void. Izikiel became aware of Cassandra’s presence next to him. She was battling with half a dozen void spawn. Her entire body was wreathed in flames as she lashed out at the oily black creatures.
‘Cassandra, are you alright?’ he called out.
The human-form Elemental unleashed a wave of flame outwards from her body, forcing the void spawn back. Turning towards him, she said, ‘Izikiel, thank the Flame that you’re alive. I thought I’d lost you when Caligo Dominus unleashed the dark veil around you.’
‘How do we stop them?’
‘We need to break the temporal flux holding the citadel here,’ Cassandra said. ‘You’ll have to reach into the very fabric of space and time which surrounds the Interstellar Library and sever the temporal flux.’
‘How am I supposed to do that?’
‘I don’t know. You’re the disciple, figure it out!’
‘Alright, I’ll try.’
‘Hurry!’
The note of urgency in the human-form Elemental’s voice was not lost on him. Opening his mind fully to the Eternal Flame, Izikiel felt the heat escalating within his body. Within moments it felt as if he were walking across burning coals. Still he held on. He knew that to achieve the kind of awareness that he needed, he had to draw upon more of the Eternal Flame’s power than he ever had before. As the heat within him continued to rise, his perception of the world around him began to change.
At first it was subtle as he became aware of the light of the Elemental next to him and the darkness of the Void creatures surrounding them. He could also sense the people around him, walking, standing and talking throughout the Interstellar Library and the city beyond. Then, as the heat within him reached a higher temperature, all of that melted
away. Izikiel found himself staring at an incredible sight.
Streams of glowing energy flowed all around him. They swirled, twisted and entwined to form shapes of all sizes and colours. Surrounding the energy trails were patches of sheer darkness. Izikiel’s mind raced as he perceived the Universe at its most basic level.
Then he saw it; a thin strand of darkness stretching into the swirling mass of energy that was the planet Tellus. Realising this had to be the temporal flux the female true believer had spoken of, Izikiel moved closer. He saw what appeared to be two interconnected strands of dark-matter. Focusing on them, Izikiel suddenly felt something pushing him backwards. A patch of darkness materialised before him. He tried to move forward but again the darkness blocked him and forced him back. Realising that the Void Lord must have recovered and was trying to prevent him from severing the temporal flux, Izikiel focused his concentration. Then he unleashed it with a single word.
‘Repulso’
The darkness parted and Izikiel saw the twin strands of dark-matter clearly. Holding up his hands, he channelled the power of the Eternal Flame once more.
‘Aduro’
Instead of the blue flame that Izikiel was used to seeing, his altered perception showed him waves of glowing energy cascading out from his outstretched hands. They ripped into the twin strands of dark-matter, shredding them to pieces. As they fell away into the depths of space, the energy surrounding the darkness within the planet glowed brighter. Then it swallowed the darkness and Izikiel returned to normal.
Cassandra stood with her hands poised as if she were about to lash out at something. The Interstellar Library’s inner vault looked the same as it had when they had first entered. Of the Void Lord and his minions there was no trace. Izikiel couldn’t even detect the faintest hint of their presence.
