The following day, I caught a flight back home to California, stopping in New York. By pure coincidence, Dylan was on the same flight heading back to the States. Once in the air, I asked to be moved to sit next to him. Being a frequent flyer member the airline went out of their way to make me happy.
At first, Dylan balked at me moving my seat, but I assured him all was fine. I think I wanted to speak with him more for me, to see if there was any change in his demeanor. He did seem far more at ease than the day before on the steps. He became relaxed and we he started a conversation.
“I was always a person who believed in a supreme being and that my life had a purpose on earth," Dylan said, "I don’t know how much you really do know about me, but after my accident, I stopped being a believer. I still don’t know if you were the person who made me stop believing, or the one who wants me to believe again, either way it’s time to move on with my life again. Who are you anyway?”
“My name is Cale. I was not responsible for your accident. Maybe my job was always to make sure you could use your talents as a musician again. I am not even sure myself any more. I will tell you that I do hope you can get your life turned around. I think you have a much better chance now that we crossed paths again. Who knows, in the end, maybe you can consider me your good luck charm.”
We had a nice chat almost the entire flight home. He told me about the loss of his wife. I explained to him that my wife was also ill. We talked about how neither of us had seen our children in a while. He shared many stories with me about traveling the world as a rock and roll star. I shared that at one time I had managed a few bands. I didn’t want to tell him what bands since Johnny Joe Jackson and one of the others were still actively performing. In looking at my perceived age, he never would have believed that I had managed performers early in their careers who were now in their fifties and sixties. I still looked to be in my late thirties. We talked about songwriting and his band members. By the time we landed, he had invited me to his home in North Carolina. He seemed very sincere in his offer.
When we left the plane and entered the terminal, Dylan had two people waiting for him at the gate. He introduced me to his agent and a very attractive woman, who was a fellow band member. We shook hands, and I wished him all the best. He had his agent write down my name and give me his business card assuring me I could always get in touch. The flight seemed like closure for both of us.
Soon after arriving home, the men who were looking for me in Jamaica turned up on my doorstep. They were not pleased when I informed them I had already restored Dylan’s soul. I knew I would have to confront my Elders and explain my actions. No need for violence, I went peacefully. I wasn't ready for another long plane ride, but I had no choice.
I stood in front of the Council, where their threats no longer had the same impression on me. They weren't going to convince me that what I had done was wrong. But there I was, in front of the men who I despised, attempting to lay judgment on me.
“One would think after we took your wife's soul that you would not disobey us so quickly, Caeles.”
“With all due respect, Council Members, the reason I did was because you did take her soul. I really had not decided to explore the possibility of restoring anyone’s soul until you took hers. And so there is no miscommunication, I intend to restore her soul next. Dylan’s was only a test to see if it worked and I could actually do it. And because it was a success, Kalani is next.”
Elder Orcus pounded on the dais, yelling at me, “You will do no such thing. Her soul will remain where it is. Besides, I am the one who took it. I am the one who needs to restore it and I refuse.”
“I beg to differ with you, Elder Orcus. I can restore it. It is written that it would be easier for you, but not impossible for me. It is a risk I am willing to take, since I am well aware you will never restore my wife’s soul.”
“Caeles, you need to heed my words. Kalani was broken. We allowed her to keep her soul much longer than we should have, only because she was so good at her job. You will not attempt to restore her soul.”
“Don’t lie to me. She was not broken or a bad soul. Your lies will only encourage me to act quicker.”
In my mind, I bet on the idea my newly developed skills would have the Council unsure of what my punishment should entail. I no longer thought anyone could reach in and take my soul. It was not something I was sure about, but for the first time I recognized a hint of fear from the Council. I now had powers they never thought I would obtain; something that I sensed frightened them.
“Caeles, let us speak the truth. This Council has tried to reason with you for decades now. I don’t know how you were able to develop your new found skills, but now that you have them, you need to understand what it means. Restoring souls can have a devastating effect on our kind. They were stolen for a reason.”
"You mean like grabbing the soul from a guitar player, who was pissed off at the world? Restoring his soul is going to have a devastating effect to our kind? This Council has kept all the souls for one reason and one reason only, to keep all the extra energy for our own survival. I recognize what is going on now, and you can’t stop me from returning back to the original mission we were assigned from the heavens.”
“You're correct, Caeles, this Council concedes the mission was altered. What you have failed to uncover is why it was done. Long before your existence or anyone on this Council, some souls, were injected with evil, while being stored and waiting restoration. Despite the best efforts to restore them with purity, once back in their given human bodies they continued to wreak havoc on society. They not only could not find beauty for themselves, they made sure others would not see it either. The Council decided it could no longer continue with the program of restoration. It's a practice that ended over one thousand calendar years ago."
I listened, but not with an open mind as Orcus continued.
"You will now argue with me that many have found redemption in the past thousand years, and you would be correct. But, they are people who never lost their souls, so it was not our responsibility to offer them redemption. They found peace on their own.”
“Council members, how do you know that we cannot institute a system to prevent mistakes in the past from happening again? Why can’t we try to find where the system broke down and try it again?”
Orcus raised his tone. “Because despite our best efforts, there will always be an element of evil in the world. It is time you accept this, Caeles. The Council will admit to erring on the side of eliminating evil too quickly at times, possibly even with your musician. But that does not alter the fact that evil does still exist. We have a much larger responsibility to society and our kind than you're willing to see. It's easy for you to think we keep all the souls only to grow our own powers. I will counter with the idea that our mission was to eliminate despair, greed and contempt from earth. We're not perfect, since our humble beginnings were of pure human form, but we do take our responsibility seriously. If you would open your mind to our side of the equation, possibly you will understand and not want to continue to restore broken souls."
“I beg the Council to reconsider. Look at Dylan James. Study him for a while. I am firmly convinced he will find his life again and harmony on earth. If he proves he can stay on the right path to redemption, will you reconsider my desire to restore souls?”
“The decision of this Council is final. You will not use your powers to restore souls any longer.”
I refused to leave the large marble walled room. “There must be some form of compromise. I implore the Council not to make such a hasty decision. I still believe that restoring souls will improve our chances of survival not hinder them. However, I will offer you a deal and I will honor it. If you allow me to study why some souls came back laden with evil after restoration, I will continue to steal souls and not seek to restore any more souls. But you must allow me to restore two more souls before my research is complete. If you allow me to restore Kalani and Detective Nesstor’s souls, with no
further punishment to me or them, I will stop restoring souls until we find a cure for the system. In return, I will again become a loyal servant to our kind. You have my word. I will not use my powers behind your back or remove any souls.”
The men all looked at each and nodded before Orcus spoke. “The Council will give this some consideration. You do of course understand that it is possible your own powers will be diminished should you attempt to restore souls not taken by others, like your wife?”
“I do.”
“Then retire back to your home and await our decision. We will contact you once our decision has been rendered.”
There were only three words I could say, “Yes, Elder Orcus.”
I headed off to Tahiti to see my son and Kalani. I explained to her mother and father all I had been through and that I was attempting to get Kalani’s soul returned to her. They weren't impressed.
“Cale, you spin many words from your mouth, but until she returns, they are only words,” my mother in law said.
I held Kalani’s frail frame against my chest. I had hoped for some improvement, but none was there. I wanted to believe she could understand I was trying to restore her soul, but there was no way of knowing. The vibrant green specs once in her eyes were now faded. Her rosy lips now chap from sitting alone in the sun. I didn't know what our future as husband and wife would be, but this would not be it. I made up my mind that no matter what the Council would decree, I would attempt to restore her soul. Whatever punishment the Council could hand down could never match the pain and suffering of allowing her to remain without a soul.
Spending a few days with my son was melancholy. I was so pleased to spend the time with him, but sad it was brief because of my job. I wanted so much for him and Kalani to be with me under one roof again, the way it was before her soul was ripped from her body. My emotions were racing between attempting to restore her soul alone, before the Council’s decision, or forcing my way into their inner sanctum and testing my new found powers to eradicate the six Councilmen from the earth. Thankfully, the following day I was asked to return for their decision before I could anything foolish.
We were to meet in the library within the stone walls. The room was filled with mostly antique books, one computer, and a table you would find in your typical boardroom. The room wasn't large. The table filled over one third of the length of the room. The library had far more light than inside the Council room. The leather seats were far more inviting than the hard wooden chairs down the hallway. The entire atmosphere in the library was more relaxed. Once inside, the six Council members were sitting on one side of the table. I sat on the opposite side.
“Caeles, we have given this much consideration and debate. We have also again researched your bloodlines in an attempt to discover how you could have achieved all you have. It escapes us. We are an educated group. We have concluded that either some other powers are at work here, or someone has changed your records to hide your true identity. We don't doubt you are one of us, but we are perplexed as to how you have acquired powers only the few of us on the Council can claim. We must accept that you are indeed powerful as us now, and younger. With that in mind, we are offering you a truce or a compromise; you decide how you will see it. You will be given the right to restore Kalani’s soul with no further punishment. You may restore Nesstor’s as well if you still choose. However, in return you will do something for us. You will not restore any other soul under any conditions, unless we order it. There will be no further research on your part. You will continue to take souls at our behest with no questions asked. You will convince your wife to do the same should she return to full strength. You will be responsible for Kalani and Nesstor for as long as you have the power to do so. If either turns to evil, you will be responsible for them and should their souls need to be removed again, you will oblige. If you refuse, we will take your son’s soul. There will be no discussion or debate. These are the terms of our agreement and are final. If you chose to accept these terms, it begins immediately. If you refuse, you will go back to stealing and stealing alone. If you try to restore even one soul, other than the two granted, we will fall back on our last decree and take the souls of everyone you love. Take your time to consider it.”
I didn’t need but one minute to know something more was at play here.
“I am somewhat surprised at your leniency. I must say it almost sounds too good to be true, but as you noted before, if I attempt to restore souls not originally taken by me, it could easily weaken my abilities.”
“That's a risk this Council is willing to accept. Are you? One other item we have not discussed; should you prove you have the ability to restore souls and not lose your powers, you will be made a member of this Council when the next vacancy occurs. You will have proven your powers equal to ours. This has never occurred in our history. All of our previous members came from inside our own family bloodlines. It has never occurred outside of the six men sitting here. As you know it is all carefully documented.”
I needed time to think. Was this all a set up? Did they already know I would lose my ability to steal and restore if I restored a soul not stolen by me in the first place? I was shaken when delivering Dylan’s soul, but I didn’t lose my powers. Would it take more than one before I would suffer? But then again, I took Dylan’s soul and the other two would be ones I had not taken. I know how weak I was restoring a soul I had stolen. In the end, I knew Kalani had suffered long enough because of me.
“Council Members, I do accept your gracious offer and will honor my word.”
What an idiot I was. I wanted to crush the members of this Council for what they had done and what they wanted to do to me or my loved ones. I was calling their offer gracious? What choice did I have? I was starting to understand why I suspected many of our kind really could steal, but chose not to expose their powers to the Council. Maybe they knew once you start, it was hard to walk away and live any type of life. Sure, I traveled the world, experienced things I never would have without my abilities, but at what cost? My life had become a marionette for six men I had come to despise and not much could be done about it.
“Since you have accepted our agreement, Caeles, your next assignment is Paulo Kopono. I believe you have crossed paths before in Hawaii. He has taken over the drug cartel and has ruined the lives of too many children. Take from him before he can destroy any more lives. We will await your report.”
“This one will be my pleasure. However, I want to restore Kalani before I do anything else.”
“You will take the soul of Paulo Kopono; then you may attempt to restore Kalani.”
Again, the tired marionette had his task. I headed to Hawaii to settle the score with Paulo Kopono.
CHAPTER Twenty three
Soul Intentions Page 23
