“That was a good and brave thing to do, child,” the Guardian said. “I would ease your pain, if I could.” Jonas came over and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“What now?” Jonas asked.
“Your new friends approach and I must return to my watch, challenging the demons as they seek to influence man on the spiritual plane,” the Guardian stated. He looked at them, pride radiating from his face. “The physical world is yours. Know that while I can occasionally take physical form to lend guidance, I cannot compel or command any person. You have been given the power to choose your fate. It is people like you that must guide man, to show them the way. We will not meet again in this world.”
The Guardian stepped back and his form began to glow again. “One last caution,” he said. “Demons still exist on this world. While no more may cross over, the ones that remain will cause problems. I cannot hunt them all down, but you have been given the power necessary to defeat them. Hold onto your faith and courage.”
He glanced up at the ceiling. “One further thing I will give, to show the people here that not all is darkness.” He gestured and a large sphere of golden-white fire appeared in the air, suspended just below the ceiling. The light chased all of the shadows from the hall and, as if a giant window had been opened, the air suddenly felt fresh and clean.
They all stared at the Guardian as they recognized this light. The same lights hung in the Keep. The Guardian smiled slightly at their expressions. “I do enjoy creating these,” he said affectionately. “Farewell, my friends.” With a flickering of air, he disappeared.
…
With Jake’s armor in front of her, Hailyn closed her eyes as she sat on the floor in the throne room, thinking of him. She tried to imagine him home with his family, alive and well, as she absorbed the revitalizing light from the orb of fire. Fresh tears flowed from her eyes, but they were now bittersweet. Despite her pain, she found comfort in the fact that Jake would live.
“Come, Hailyn,” Jonas’ voice intruded. “We need to go.”
Opening her eyes, she saw that Dominic had returned. He had gone to scout out the corridors, checking for enemy soldiers. She nodded, collecting Jake’s things, and slowly rose.
“There is some movement of people, but I did not see many armed men or any demons,” Dominic said. “It seems that the fighting in the throne room scared everyone away. We should be able to leave unchallenged.”
“Let me help you,” Jonas said to Hailyn. He took and belted on Jake’s weapons, then slid on the vambraces and greaves, covering them with his robe. Hailyn held the breastplate and helm as they left the throne room.
As they moved away from the doors, armed men suddenly appeared at the end of the passage, moving quickly towards the throne room. Dominic stepped forward and gripped his sword, but released it when Celric pushed his way to the front of the men.
“Is it done, Dominic?” he asked, keeping a watchful eye on the hallways.
“It is,” Dominic replied. “The demon lord is destroyed and the portal that allowed them access to our world is closed.”
“Where is the boy?” Celric asked.
“He returned to his own world after defeating the demon lord.”
“Then we will honor his name,” Celric said. He gestured back towards the throne room. “Please wait here while I have my men clear the fortress.”
“I will go with you,” Dominic said. “I do not like just standing around waiting.”
“I will go as well,” Jonas said, gripping his staff. “There may still be demons lurking about.”
Redric stepped forward. “I and my friends will guard Hailyn, Uncle, if she wishes to stay,” he said. “We will keep her safe.”
After Redric and his friends took up positions at the doors, Hailyn returned to the throne room and sat down against the wall, soaking in the welcome light. Elis came into the room, nodding to her as he passed, but his eyes were fixated on the fiery globe. He went to the center of the room and sat down, contemplating the light. Hugging Jake’s armor to her body, she closed her eyes and let herself rest. All of her pains and heartache faded as she drifted into sleep, dreaming of Jake.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
“Jake.”
The sound of his name, distant and faint, made Jake aware of something other than the peaceful warm light in which he floated. After that last surge of magic, he had found himself drifting in darkness. As he drifted, the light had appeared and flowed around him, wrapping him in a serene cocoon. There had been voices in the light that spoke to him, but the understanding was gone now.
“Jake.”
The voice sounded closer as the light began to fade. Jake suddenly felt sensations, signals from his body as if it was being shaken, as he climbed towards consciousness. He was aware of a different light, reddish in color, flashing and moving. With a start, he came awake.
Unexpected pain shot through his ribs and his head as he opened his eyes, or tried to. His left eye did not want to open all of the way. Confused, his mind reeling, he saw his father kneeling next to him, flashlight in hand. Jake tried to sit up, his ribs protesting, and his father reached over and helped him up. Jake swung his head back and forth, unable to believe what he was seeing. He was on the rock next to the pond in the Black Hole Woods.
“Hailyn,” he whispered as her face flashed in his mind, his heart aching.
“Son, are you all right?” his father asked, concern on his face.
“Dad, what happened?” Jake asked, his emotions surging. He had never thought to see his father again. He threw his arms around his father, hugging him. “How long have I been gone?”
“You left the house an hour or so ago, Jake,” his father said, returning his embrace but frowning. “Your mother was concerned that you had not come back, so I came to find you.” Bringing up the flashlight, he looked closer at Jake’s face. “If you are forgetting things, maybe I should take you to the hospital.”
“No, I’m okay, Dad,” Jake said absently, his system still shocked by the suddenness of his transition. He saw that he was dressed in his sweats and his phone was on his lap. What happened? “It was just a bad dream.”
“If you say so, Jake, but I want you to tell me if you find yourself forgetting things. I know you have a hard head, but it’s possible that you have a concussion,” his father said. When Jake nodded, he gently helped him up. “Let’s get you back to the house. Your mother is worried.”
Thoughts swirled in Jake’s head as he walked with his father back to the house. What is going on? Did I dream all of that? How did I get here? Did Hailyn, Dominic and Jonas survive? Were they even real? His distress growing, he felt as if he was going to explode. Hailyn.
“Jake, are you sure you are feeling okay?” his father asked, concerned. “You look like something is wrong.”
“I’m fine, Dad,” Jake repeated, taking a breath and trying to push his emotions down. There is no way he could explain what he thought happened to his parents. He would be in the hospital before he knew it.
They entered the house, everything feeling to Jake as both familiar and, yet, in many ways, unfamiliar. He heard his brother and sister in the other room, while his mother was standing near the kitchen counter, waiting.
“Is he okay, Dan?” she asked, concerned, as she came over to take Jake’s head in her hands. Her familiar touch almost brought a sob from Jake. He reached out and hugged her tightly.
“What is it, sweetheart?” she whispered to him, holding him close.
“Nothing, Mom,” Jake said, pulling away. “I feel asleep and had the weirdest dream. It kind of freaked me out.”
“Maybe you should eat something,” she said, her hand still on his arm.
“I’m not hungry,” Jake said. He saw his father and mother exchange a look. “Really, I just want to go to my room and rest.”
“Fine, but let me know if you need anything,” his mother said, worry on her face. “You will tell us if you start feeling worse, Jake?”
Jake went to his room, hearing his parents talking softly behind him. He went inside and closed his door. Everything was as he left it. But was it an hour ago or months? He put his phone on its base and turned on the music, and then climbed onto his bed. That sensation of both familiarity and foreignness came back strongly. He sat there staring at his closet.
Was it a freaking dream? It couldn’t have been, it lasted too long and was too real. He remembered all of the sights and sounds, the joy and pain, of those experiences. Yet, here he was, back in his room, his injuries from his fight with Donald real and throbbing. He wrapped his arms tightly around his chest, trying to contain the thoughts and emotions spinning around in his head. Am I going crazy?
His father checked on him later and asked again if he needed to go to the hospital. Jake refused, saying he was just thinking about what had happened. Once his father wished his goodnight and left, Jake returned to his agonized contemplation of his mental state. Maybe I am crazy. Hailyn.
The night came and went. When his father came to check on him in the morning, he found Jake in the same position as the night before, sitting on his bed and staring across the room.
“Jake, what is going on?” his father asked as he sat on the bed next to Jake. He reached out and gently laid a hand on Jake’s forehead. “Something is not right with you. Tell me what the issue is.”
“Dad,” Jake began, looking over at his father with haunted eyes. He saw the concern on his father’s face. How can I tell him? “It’s just that I couldn’t sleep. I keep thinking about what happened with Donald and how everyone is going to know he got the best of me,” he lied, unable to say what was in his heart. “Everything hurts and I don’t think I can face all of the kids at school.”
“You have to face them eventually,” his father told him gently.
“I know, Dad, but I just need a day to get my mind right,” Jake replied. “Can I just stay home today? I will try to get some rest.”
He saw his father think about his request. He was surprised when his father nodded and said, “I will call the school.” His father stood. “Jake, you can’t change what happened. You need to accept it and move on. You can’t worry about what others think. They will think what they want.”
His father paused at the door. “I will make sure your mother gives you your space. If you need anything, call me at work and I will come home.”
“Thanks, Dad,” Jake said. An impulse came over him. “I love you.”
His father seemed surprised by that admission. “I love you too, son.”
Jake ate breakfast under the watchful eye of his mother, who was attentive and affectionate. After his father and mother had left for the day, Jake took his phone and earbuds and went outside. Feeling the fresh air against his face calmed him a bit. Without realizing it, he began to wander towards the woods. Deciding to face his dilemma head on, he returned to the pond. Sitting on the rock, he stared at the water and tried to reason out what happened. The only logical explanation is that it was an incredibly realistic dream, he thought. But why do I miss Hailyn so much if she was nothing more than something that my mind created? How could I have dreamed months’ worth of time when I was only out for an hour or so?
Sighing, he pulled out his phone to turn on some music. As he swiped at it, he accidentally hit the pictures application. As it opened, he froze. On his phone was a picture of Keria, in her green dress, sitting on the bench overlooking the city, her beautiful face clear as day. With suddenly trembling fingers, he swiped the screen to file though the pictures. The next picture nearly stopped his heart. There was Cherise and Maxis, but his eyes only focused on the other face in the picture. Hailyn. He almost laughed with relief. He was not going crazy nor he had dreamed it.
“Yes, child, it was real,” a familiar voice said, pulling Jake’s head up.
Standing nearby was Tomaris, dressed in his usual gray robes. The old man smiled at Jake’s expression of shock.
“What are you doing here?” Jake exclaimed. “How did you get here?”
“I am here to see you, of course,” Tomaris said with a warm laugh. “But I should let you know that I am not who you thought you knew.”
With a sudden shimmering, Tomaris’ body transformed. In the place of the old man, there was a tall, beautiful being, its perfect skin dark and glowing, eyes shining brightly with a white fire, with two dazzlingly white wings extending from its back. Jake felt an immediate peace settle over him as he looked at the being. It was dressed in a white robe, wearing golden and silver armor. At its side, a sword hung in its scabbard. Jake started a bit when he realized what sword that was.
“Yes, child,” the Guardian said gently. “You have helped to free the world I ward from the power of my fallen brethren.” With another shimmer, Tomaris stood there again, smiling. “You may find it easier to talk with the form you knew.”
“I don’t understand,” Jake said as Tomaris sat down next to him. “If everything actually happened, how can I be here, only hours after I left? What happened to all of that time?”
“What is time to the One who created it?” Tomaris asked. “If it had been months since you disappeared, how would you have explained that lost time? You were returned to a time where the experience would have the least impact.”
Jake nodded; that sounded reasonable. He then asked, “If you are the Guardian, why didn’t you take the sword when I brought it to the Keep?”
“And do what, Jake?” Tomaris asked him gently. “I once was arrogant in my power and tried to confront the demons by myself. That led to the sword being lost and near disaster for the people of my world.”
“But I saw you injured,” Jake said. “Was it all an act?”
“No, Jake,” Tomaris said, “it was very real. Obviously, I can assume physical form, but the transformation had to be more complete to hide my true essence from the demons. I was who I am, but my spirit was hidden so deeply in the body that I appeared to be like any other human. I could leave my body for a brief time, but if I were gone too long, it would die. I also could not use my full powers, as mortal flesh limited my abilities.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Jake asked. Another question followed. “Why me anyway?
“Understand, Jake, we who protect mankind are forbidden to use our powers to compel man to do anything. The Creator has given mankind free will to choose their path, for good or ill. We can only nudge and show them the right course.” He paused. “If you had known my true identity, do you not believe that it would have affected your choices? You had to be given the ability to decide your own fate.”
“As to the other question, Jake,” he continued gently, “I cannot say why you. As I struggled to find a way to defeat the demons and seal the portal, I often turned to my inner thoughts, where I can hear the Creator. This is how I knew to teach the people how to access His light as a defense against the demons. It was what led me to call you. Not you, in particular; just that I should reach across the realms to this place to bring someone over. As to why you, I believe that the Creator chose you for a purpose known only to Him.”
“In those revelations, it was shown to me that men from this world could access the powers you wielded, and those powers would free my world.” He gestured around them. “As I reached across time and space, I found that in the place, I could achieve what I sought. That is why I pulled the boy Bruce over the first time. But since it required a combination of spiritual and physical energy, my enemy detected my efforts and was able to interfere with the transfer. When I again felt the call to pull another from here, it was you that I found.”
“Wouldn’t have been easier for the Creator to simply close the portal?” Jake demanded. “It seems that would make more sense.”
Tomaris shook his head. “Of course, you and I agree that would have been easier. But even we who have existed since before Creation itself do not know the Creator’s full plans. He has a purpose in all that He does,
even if we cannot see it clearly. When I sought to gather my brothers to drive the demons from the world, He showed me that such a course of action would lead to a war that would devastate the world and its people, so I had to work in a different direction.” He paused for a moment. “Consider that, in the end, the portal was sealed. So, His plan worked.”
“But it took all of those years,” Jake protested. “All of the people that died. That seems a stupid way to do things.”
“Again, His purposes are not our own,” Tomaris said. “Also, I told you once, what is a thousand years to those who existed before time was time? It is hard for the human mind to comprehend such time frames, as your physical lives are like flashes of light in comparison.”
Tomaris stood. “However, I have not come to debate the actions of the Creator.” He smiled down at Jake. “Regardless of how or why you came to be the one selected, you have freed the people of my world. However, you were placed in that position without your consent. Because of that, you have been returned to your world.”
“For your efforts and sacrifice, you have been given a choice; you can remain here or return to my world and your friends,” Tomaris said. He gestured as Jake began to speak. “You do not need to make that choice now. You may find that once you have settled back into your life here, you do not wish to leave. Besides your family, your world offers many comforts not found on mine. Simply think on it.”
Jake looked down at the picture with Hailyn. His heart swelled at the thought that he may be able to see her again. “How will I let you know?”
“Simply come here and call my name,” Tomaris said. “I will come for you.” He reached over and lightly touched Jake’s head. The pain and discomfort of his injuries faded. “I left the physical manifestations of your injuries. It would be difficult to explain how they disappeared, but I can give you relief from the pain.”
Stepping away, his body transitioned back into the Guardian. “You have my gratitude for what you have done, Jake. Even if you choose to stay here, know that.” With a nod of his head, he disappeared.
The Eternal Darkness (The Jake Thomas Trilogy - Book 3) Page 30
