by A. M. True
Suddenly, the cottage started shaking violently. I heard a low rumble in the distance. It grew increasingly loud. I became worried. The cottage door flung open and Xabiel barged in. He was out of breath and in a panic. He yelled out to me from the doorway.
Xabiel: Adrienne, get down!
He saw Thorenel on top of me. He looked surprised and confused. The whole scene played out in slow-motion. Xabiel blinked a few times and continued, but his voice was distorted and hard to hear over the deep rumbling. The cottage shook tremendously.
Xabiel: Thorenel, call the warriors! We’ve got uninvited company!
6
The Abduction
Artist: Epic Score (Aleksandar Dimitrijevic)
Song: Waiting for Gods
I sat up in the bed, confused at the apparent danger. My perception of time slowed down, and my hearing became muffled. All I could do was look at the chaos around me, trying to absorb what was happening. Xabiel stood in the doorway looking outside at the sky and then back at me. He expressed a look of terror and disbelief.
Thorenel immediately began conjuring armor—his gunmetal black armored-suit with the red cape. Several weapons were stored away within his attire. I struggled to reposition the straps of my slip back onto my shoulders. The ground shook and rumbled like an earthquake. The wind howled at hurricane speeds. The fire in the fireplace blew out completely. Objects within the cottage were falling from the shelves and rolling all over the floor. The furniture bounced and moved all around.
Then, a violent gust of wind blew the roof off the cottage. The ground shook so violently it knocked me down. Disoriented, I was having trouble coming back to my feet. Everything was blurry. Xabiel ran over to me. He was yelling something, but I couldn’t hear him due to my disorientation. He reached his arms out towards me, but the wind was too powerful. All I could do was grab the underside of the bed. I could barely hear Thorenel, whose eyes were squinted shut as he called out to the warriors in a language which sounded like a blend of Latin and Aramaic.
Suddenly, I was lifted from the ground by some unknown force. My body became airborne. I looked around helplessly. When I looked up, I saw a dark circular object hovering in the sky. It was very large and looked like some kind of spaceship.
As my body continued rising closer to the dark ship, which hovered a few hundred feet above the cottage, Thorenel and Xabiel flew up to me, this time with Romenciel, who had just arrived on the scene. They attempted to grab me but were blocked by an invisible force-field. They could not get closer than two feet from me. They frantically punched at the force-field but were getting nowhere. I continued being drawn up higher.
Then I saw hundreds of small lights begin to appear in the sky. The lights grew from dim to bright as they approached. They were being given off by the rest of the warriors of Lapoi. Some landed on the ground, while others began warfare on the ship in the air. Several celestials flew to surround the ship while others, including Dennoliel and Seronimel, flew over to help Thorenel and Romenciel free me. I regained my lucidity.
Thorenel: They have placed a shield around her!
Looking up again at the ship, I saw a large sliding door begin opening from the underside. I could see inside, it was very dark and foggy. Terrified, I screamed down to the brothers and warriors.
Me: You have to help me! Please help me!
They continued frantically shooting fire and all kinds of energy directly at the force-field. Nothing was working. The brothers panicked among themselves while they continued the struggle.
Romenciel: The shield is too powerful to penetrate without Emalickel!
Seronimel: Where is he, for God’s sake?!
Thorenel: You all know he left the celestial plane days ago! He isn’t returning until this evening!
Romenciel: That’ll be too late!
Thorenel responded in frustration.
Thorenel: And just what do you expect for me to do about it, Romenciel?!
Dennoliel expressed his concern in the matter.
Dennoliel: We must do something now!
Exhausted and annoyed, Xabiel threw his arms into the air. He exhibited his usual, sarcastic, arrogant attitude.
Xabiel: What a genius! You got any more mastermind ideas, Dennoliel?! I know you Guard Celestials are real experts in battle and combat! By the way, where are the guards—having tea with each other?
Holding his head in irritation, Thorenel had heard enough. He roared fiercely.
Thorenel: Would you all just shut the—
The quarrel was interrupted as they were ambushed by orbs of fire and other energies. The brothers were forced to retreat after taking several direct hits to their bodies. I knew they weren’t giving up, but I also couldn’t help feeling abandoned. I watched in terror as a chaotic battle continued. Warriors were fighting in the air and on the ground. The ground was far away as I continued floating up, closer to the door of the ship. I heard thunderous explosions all around me. The land of Dillectus was polluted with debris and disorder. I felt hopeless as I approached the inside of the ship.
The battle continued below me as the ship’s dark metallic door closed to engulf me. Then, it was dark. I found myself standing in the center of a dark room, surrounded by hundreds of beings who stood in the shadows. I was unable to move, as if I suffered from some kind of paralysis. The dark beings that surrounded me were all looking towards me, but I was unable to see their faces for they were all covered by the hoods on their dark-blue robes. The room had a very dim ambient light. It was quiet. It was too quiet. It was the kind of quiet that felt eerie. It sounded like a cave with echoes of a gentle winds whirling throughout.
Artist: Adrian Von Zeigler
Song: Angel of Death
Directly in front of me, I saw a very tall and thin being slowing coming my way out of the fog. He appeared to be the leader as everyone moved out of his way to let him pass. He glided as if he did not walk on feet. It was very creepy. I was absolutely petrified. He continued closer to me until he was directly in front of me. He was so tall that my head came to the base of his torso. I was unable to look up at his face due to the paralysis induced upon me. Then I heard him speak to the other dark beings. His creepy voice echoed throughout the ship.
Leader: Yes. Her energy is very strong. She could be of use to us. She has many experiences radiating within her. Emalickel is connected to her. He will come, but he will only receive her when he is ready to share his secrets with me. Otherwise, I will keep her and use her to obtain the knowledge she holds within.
The leader then spoke to one of the other dark beings.
Leader: Jamaleo, you will take her into my chambers. Prepare her for reading.
A being dressed in the same dark-robed attire stepped forward.
Jamaleo: As you wish, Lord Barthaldeo.
The leader’s voice was then directed at me. Slowly, he bent down and stroked my slip at my breasts with his gloved hand. I was mortified but was still unable to move away from him. He addressed my fear and spoke in an insincere tone.
Leader: It will be quite an uncomfortable sensation, beautiful mortal, but you will not be harmed unbearably. I do apologize, but this is the only way I will be able to see all that you have seen and know all that you know of mortal life in Millattus.
He nodded at Jamaleo, who walked closer to me. Jamaleo quickly swept me off my feet and slung me over his shoulder. Although I was disoriented, I could see, as I hung upside down from his shoulder, that he was taking me down a long, dark hallway lined with several doorways and small purple lights on the floor. It was very cold and foggy. He turned down several additional halls in route. His footsteps echoed loudly. Each step was slow and steady. I began to wonder how far into the ship we were going. Finally, at the very end of yet another long hallway I saw a pair of large French-style concrete doors that were lit up by ambient white lights.
Jamaleo carried me down to these doors and pushed them open with his booted foot. Inside the room, there were several arche
s made from concrete. The only source of light was from candle sconces on the walls. The floor was made of stone. It looked more like an ancient dark tomb than a room. There was a large fog on the floor next to a dark fireplace. Jamaleo placed me in this fog. It felt soft and fluffy, like that of a bed, but the room was dark, cold, and uninviting.
Jamaleo: Lord Barthaldeo shall arrive soon to begin your reading.
Jamaleo turned around and walked out the large French-style doors. I was still unable to move. All I could do was lay in the bed of fog and breathe in panic. I didn’t know what this so-called reading was, but my mind thought in fear of all the possible things it could be. I could hear my breaths echoing within the room which was bare of objects. I could, however, hear a fountain trickling from somewhere in the middle of the room, but I could not see it from the darkness and fog. My body wasn’t able to move on its own, but I could feel it shivering from the cold. As my eyes scanned the room, it was made of stone. It reminded me of a gothic castle or some type of old fort. It was very empty and dark. How could anyone take pride owning a ship like this? It was ridden with cold, darkness and evil. The reality suddenly set in hard that I was aboard this ship with an unknown destiny. My heart began to race in panic.
I tried to calm down and become absorbed in beautiful memories of Lapoi, Emalickel, and Thorenel. They will come for me. They will find a way to get me out of here. Then, my mind returned to worry only moments later. I began having doubts. Will they even be able to find me? How long will it take? What was about to take place in this so-called reading? What will happen afterwards? What about Emalickel and Thorenel? How could I get away? Will the others from Lapoi come in time to save me? Could they die? What would happen if they died?
Just then I heard the leader speak from a distance.
Barthaldeo: My, my, you do worry excessively.
He was standing in the doorway facing me. Then he placed his hands behind his back and began walking around the room as he spoke.
Barthaldeo: We are the celestials of the realm called Haffelnia. There are nine realms in this Universe containing their own individual evolution of life. Your realm of Millattus, you see, is advancing along quite swiftly. Haffelnia is similar, in structure, to Millattus. I am rather envious of the progress of your realm. The mortals there, having become more awakened to their own self-awareness, have evolved immensely. They are entering a bronze age—a time when mortals can experience the celestial plane and directly interact with the celestials of their realm.
He stopped to stare into the fountain at the center of the room.
Barthaldeo: A bronze age occurs just before the dawning of a silver age. A silver age is where the real juice is—a new and improved super-world of enlightened beings is created, where celestial and mortal blend into a civilization of highly-advanced, evolved beings. It becomes a time of even further expansion in this experience of creation. This has yet to be accomplished by any of the realms, but I desire this glory for Haffelnia. And then, I shall be exalted across all the realms!
Turning around to look at me, he grew a mischievous smile.
Barthaldeo: Millattus is on the brink of discovering a great awakening. You, my dear, will act as my window to view how this great awakening has taken place on the mortal plane of Millattus.
Artist: Adrian Von Zeigler
Song: Fallen
He soared over to me in a fog. His dark-blue robe shed into a simple dark-blue kilt. A golden cape hung behind his back, tied with a golden rope around his chest. He pointed at the fireplace causing it to light. He positioned himself onto his side next to me. I could now see his face and body. He looked like a normal man with medium-length, wavy, black hair which grazed his shoulders. A few wispy strands of hair fell in front of his eyes. His face was tattooed on one side extending down his cheek and neck, to his shoulder and chest. He wore a thin golden rope crown around his forehead. His body had a thinner and taller frame than the celestials from Lapoi. It was the same in structure, but his skin was pale.
Barthaldeo used his long skinny fingers to stroke my face. I cringed.
Barthaldeo: I desire to know the secrets of how you became awakened. How has Millattus become so awakened without revolt from the mortals? Emalickel has chosen his moves wisely and tactfully. I wish to know his techniques and will to do the same for Haffelnia.
I struggled to speak
Me: Why don’t you just ask Emalickel?
Barthaldeo rolled over onto his back. He laughed overtly.
Barthaldeo: Ha! And Emalickel break code? He wouldn’t even think of such!
He calmed himself from the dramatic laughing episode.
Barthaldeo: The code says we are not to exchange information between realms as it interferes with the development of our own unique individuality. Perhaps Emalickel will talk, though, seeing how I have your life at my mercy and all. It is worth a try.
Me: How can you expect to be glorified when you’ve done everything so maliciously?
Barthaldeo: I am already on the shit-list of realms, so what do I have to lose? I will see what your conscious mind has to offer me, otherwise, perhaps Emalickel will spill the beans in exchange for your fate.
I noticed his facial expression become bitter.
Barthaldeo: If he doesn’t, he will forever suffer in his own guilt of your little soul being trapped and warded from celestial radar on one of the primitive planets of Haffelnia for eternity.
He rolled back onto his side to face me. He spoke in a creepy soft voice right next to my ear.
Barthaldeo: You see, I have a plan for you. Once we arrive in Haffelnia, I will hide you away on one of my mortal planets, in a cave warded with spells keeping any Lapoian celestials from finding you. Not even Emalickel will be able to sense your presence there. If he still refuses to talk, then I will ward your very flesh from all of Lapoi, and you will dwell among the mortals of Haffelnia lifetime, after lifetime, after lifetime. You won’t even remember anything of Millattus or Lapoi after this present lifetime.
Barthaldeo stroked my hair behind my ear before continuing.
Barthaldeo: Do not worry, mortal, I will try to make this fast.
He sat up to position himself in front of me. His eyes turned dark and cold. He gazed at me with hunger for power. He looked at me with a wide grin. I knew he was about to do something awful.
Barthaldeo: Now, shall we begin?
He lifted his arm and extended it out. Examining it closely, he shook out his arm and opened and closed his hand as if warming it up for something. He traced a circle around my lower abdomen and placed his open hand on that spot. Then, he drew his arm back, like he was about to punch me there. He closed his eyes. I was terrified, but it was impossible for me to be able to move. I closed my eyes, too.
Artist: Audiomachine
Song: Akkadian Empire
Then I felt it—the punch. I felt his arm reach inside me. It traveled up through my neck to my head. My scream must have been heard all along the entire ship. He squeezed everything inside the path. It felt like my insides were being twisted in a vice. The slightest move of his hand felt like ripping and tearing. I screamed in agony. There had never been a pain I had ever endured as intense as this. I was in my astral form, but it felt like my brain was being mixed around in a blender. My entire torso and neck felt like fire was burning from the inside as a thousand knives churned and poked the fire.
I felt myself drift away from awareness. Images flashed throughout my mind. Memories from previous lifetimes resurfaced. There were so many of them, from various time-periods. Each memory that played contained a common theme. They were all at pivotal moments involving my own self-awareness or when others around me were exhibiting higher levels of consciousness.
After what seemed like 15 minutes of memory regurgitation, I heard Barthaldeo take a long, deep breath. He slowly removed his arm from inside of me. He rolled onto on his back and closed his eyes. Relived he was finished, I thought to myself, at least it’s over. The sound of
Barthaldeo’s thoughts interrupted me.
Leader: Only for now mortal, only for now. It will take quite a few times before I have received all I need to know from you.
Artist: Audiomachine
Song: Sand of Time
I felt myself passing out from exhaustion. A vision of Lapoi came into my head as if I was viewing it remotely. All the celestials were at the Warrior Temple preparing for battle. They were sharpening and perfecting their weapons and putting on their armored gear. Inside the Warrior Temple, Thorenel and Xabiel were talking with one another privately.
