The Mark of Chaos

by Susan D. Kalior

  “Jen!” johnny’s voice.

  I snapped open my eyes, gazing guiltily at johnny.

  “It’s all right, Jen. He’s paying for that—especially that.”

  johnny turned my head toward the Dark One. His hands covered his face.

  johnny smiled. “I gave him a vision of you burning his face.”

  “I . . . I feel sorry for him.”

  “Don’t,” johnny said, “it will be your undoing. Once he has you, his words of beauty will turn cruel, and his kiss will turn to fire. Such has been my way.”

  I began to envision johnny’s victims. He grabbed me tightly and pulled my head against his chest. “Don’t. Those days are past. I’ll not toy with women anymore, ever again—not this Tazmark.”

  He did love me . . . I think. I could feel my heart filling with all he gave. Take the chance, I told myself. Tears slid down my cheeks. I hugged him back.

  The Zandron groaned, as if contemplating how johnny could possibly treat me well. I wanted to slap the Zandron’s cold-blooded face.

  The sky had blackened. The stars had brightened. The three Tazmarks sparked crimson all around their bodies. Their human faces were transforming, illuminating red, as they alternated hisses of white fire.

  I jumped behind johnny, feeling my old ways come upon me. Oh Blessed Saints, this was it, they were going to play rough now. I couldn’t fight. Not yet! Not . . . yet.

  johnny pulled me back up to his side. “You must fight Jen!”

  I blurted spontaneously, “Vengeance is mine, sayeth the lord!”

  johnny’s voice chilled. “If you crawl back into religious doctrine, you will have betrayed me . . . us, beyond salvation.”

  I sighed, pushing myself out of the Bible trap. “All right johnny. I’ll do as you say. I will.”

  “Concentrate on Chord. Remember what he did to you. This time, get him first. I’ll take the Dark One.” He glanced at the Zandron, “Dan, you go for Goldie there on the far right.”

  The Zandron nodded and smiled cruelly. I felt sick. Such a smile he must have given standing over my parents bludgeoned bodies. Such a smile he must have given this afternoon when johnny would not let me look. But johnny was now too preoccupied to protect me from a smile.

  I looked at johnny. His eyes had turned red. Crimson sparks etched his body. I kept telling myself over and over that he loved me. He loved me. He loved me.

  Suddenly, johnny groaned and threw out his fists; all three Tazmarks fell backward. After a moment, they rose. I don’t mean—stood. I mean rose—their boots hovering several feet above the ground. From their hands, they hurled electrical red veins of light that crackled toward us. johnny and the Zandron held their palms out like a great shield that exploded the light veins, sending a smoldering smoke upward.

  Oh dear Angels, I wanted to say, but “Damn,” came out in its place. The Science Fiction had begun.

  My head felt groggy and disoriented. This couldn’t be real! I half expected James T. Kirk and his crew to appear.

  The Zandron had his finger pointed at Goldie. A dark orange path of dust kicked up the dirt on the ground heading toward him. Goldie sent forth a red ball of light. The orange dust and red ball halted in the middle, seemingly stalemated.

  johnny’s palm streamed red laser light, stretching across the clearing to the Dark One, who disappeared before it struck. johnny flung his hand out in front of me, exploding a red ball that Chord had sent my way.

  “Jen—take Chord now!”

  I looked out to the field, but the yellow lights were gone and I thought Chord was too. I was at a definite disadvantage, unable to see in the dark as other red-blooded Tazmarks could. I’d have to picture him in my mind and zap him that way, as I had done before with johnny. But I feared his inevitable retaliation. I’d had enough of Chord!

  The Dark One appeared before johnny.

  I jumped back and shrieked.

  He was wearing a black vest over a white billowy shirt tucked into tight black pants, just like johnny. He held a Katzbaler German two-handed sword from the 1500’s. I recognized it, because I had one. Or maybe it was mine.

  Silvery lights fell like snow all around his able and well-muscled body, illuminating johnny also. I don’t think that was the Dark One’s intent because it made johnny look good too.

  My fear faded into excitement. Swords entranced me.

  johnny manifested a jeweled schlager, a sixteenth century German sword, a sturdier version of the rapier. I tried to acquire one, but it cost too much. Did he know how much I admired it? Did he manifest it from looking into my mind? Was there a missing schlager in the Heidelberg Historical Museum?

  johnny began fencing with the Dark One in a dazzling display of swordsmanship. I was highly impressed. I loved the sound of steal hitting steal. I’d forgotten johnny had lived in medieval times, having known the days of knights and kings. Even if I had remembered, I never would have dreamed johnny could fence like this. I know it seems ironic, that I, a pacifist, would adore sword fighting. I abhorred the blood, but I reveled in the dance.

  I wanted to watch, because I knew johnny would win. He told me he was stronger, and I believed him. But I knew I should turn my attentions to Chord. I stepped back behind a tree and began concentrating on him, summoning my light, but not letting it emanate. I was still afraid to join the battle.

  The Zandron was still in a stalemate with his foe. Groans of threat and rage passed between them.

  Then all around us, a black gaseous vapor oozed up from the ground, rising into the low sky, blocking the stars from view.

  I heard the Angels choir again, from where I could not tell. It sounded like it was everywhere. “Ahhhh ahhhh ahhhhhhhhh.” I looked up, but saw only the black shroud. One feminine voice came to the forefront and spoke in a whimsical singsong manner.

  “Dark eyes smolder venomous rage.

  The beasts emerge from their human cage.

  Red eyes flare, the night ensnared

  by diabolic demons in a battle for dominion.

  Will sister Shen join the cause?”

  Another feminine voice answered,

  “She will in my opinion.”

  “Will I?” I muttered feeling cowardly.

  Again, I heard the singsong voice.

  “Tazmark scowls and beastly howls

  echo o’er the clearing,

  Light beams, red streams,

  sister Shen shrinks back,

  afraid of interfering.”

  I felt a mild electrical shock at my back, sensing danger. I heard more words.

  Do not repress divinity’s song

  Fight for your spirit; it is not wrong!

  Had the Angels given me permission? Had they? Had my kind come not only to help me heal, but also to help me kill? Suddenly I felt confident and clear. My light burst from my forehead to wherever Chord was, for that is where I willed it to go. Interesting that my light seemed to exit my forehead when attack was my intent, although it seemed that no matter where the light emanated from, burning or healing could occur. I had much to learn.

  Behind me, I heard moaning. I spun around, still shining my light. White flames blasted my field of vision, engulfing my light. I kept shining. My light became larger, bolder, and brighter. The white flames retreated and Chord’s dragon mouth hissed small curls of smoke. Chord fell to his knees, howling and writhing. I mustn’t stop shining. Had I turned to him without shining, it would have been I burnt to a crisp.

  Still, his pain was dreadful to behold. How could I be so heartless? Then again, how could he?

  The singsong narration continued.

  “In faith she rises, exuding light.

  Alas, she has joined the fight.

  White dry ice burns her Tazmarkian foe.

  Who writhes and screams a fireless blow.”

  I shivered violently. Causing pain, I hated it so.

  Chord finally silenced. His blistered black and red dragonman body had stilled. I was worn out. How long was this d
isappearing act supposed to take? I held my focus, shining, shining, shining. Fatigue spiraled through me. Then there was nothing left. I could shine no more. Maybe if I rested a moment, I could finish the job. Chord wasn’t going anywhere.

  I glanced about for johnny and the Dark One. They were gone. Of course, why would they be here? My light had expanded a little too wide, and it was toxic to them too.

  I looked further over to the Zandron. He was hunkered over his foe, choking him. My head snapped to my shoulder. Had he killed my parents that way?

  My skin bristled. I felt strange. Danger?

  I looked to Chord and shrieked. With gaping eyes, he projected a red light ball at me. I activated my forehead quicker than before, targeting the ball. My light beams banished the red menace. As johnny had said, Tazmarks can regenerate to some degree if given time. And I had given Chord time. My mistake.

  I had to keep shining and reject fatigue. I had to know that I could, even when I felt empty. I renewed my focus on Chord and doubled my concentration. I must succeed. I must!

  Chord cried out and began wailing. My heart broke, but I endured his suffering. I kept blasting him with my light, which according to johnny was Divine Love. Love was killing him, love, I kept telling myself, only love. The light grew larger around him, larger and grander, and I couldn’t seem to stop it. Something was opening up inside me. I was changing. My essence felt like it was growing more enormous than life itself. My back surged with energy in the shape of wings. I reached around to feel between my shoulder blades. No wings.

  I kept shining my light on Chord.

  The Angels’ choir heightened, mounting in intensity. “Ahhhhh AHHHHHH AHHHHHHHH.” The black shroud above opened until the stars shone again and the air was a clear, cool mist.

  The chorus subsided and the singsong voice narrated:

  “Stormy sky cleared

  sacred mist fell around

  The clearing was filled

  with the Angels’ resound.”

  On and on I shined, trying to make Chord disappear. I wasn’t worn-out anymore, a second wind I guess, but geez, what would it take? I was concerned that with the broad emanation and concentration of my light, I’d harmed johnny. I had to find a way to narrow the scope without losing the intensity I’d discovered. Maybe then I could make Chord disappear.

  I glanced over where the Zandron had been. He was gone. Goldie laid still. I looked harder around to detect johnny. The whole meadow and all around me as far as my eye could see was thick with the misty aftermath of my light’s glow.

  I stopped shining, scared that I’d done johnny in. Geez, I’d gotten carried away. Once I’d started, I wanted to envelop the earth. But I must never envelop johnny. Where was he?

  I looked at Chord. He too was motionless. His blackened skeletal body glowed from the charge of my light. It was almost beautiful, except that he was covered with blood and I had to fight not to throw up. I shuddered, trying to detach myself from the pain he’d suffered, and the fact that I’d caused it.

  Still, I had to make him disappear. I summoned my light once again, imagining I could create a beam to the billionth power. Out came the beam from the center of my brow, covering his body, but it wasn’t to the billionth power. It wasn’t any stronger than before. What was the secret?

  This Angel business took real training. I never fathomed how much. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t make Chord disappear. Frustration consumed me, then anger. My light faded. I’d learned perhaps one of the most basic lessons in Angel training. You can’t shine Divine Light if you’re mad.

  At least I was out of danger because there was no way Chord was still alive.

  I heard a crackling sound coming from the mountains across the meadow. I looked. Red lightning veins lit the hills. I sighed with relief. I hadn’t killed johnny. Unfortunately, it seemed I hadn’t killed the Dark One either.

  Again, I heard the singsong narration.

  “Anger caused blight, vanquishing light.

  The Tazmark was visible, still.

  Then Shen was drawn to the distant battle,

  of red lightning from hill to hill.”

  I wished I hadn’t chased them that far away because now I couldn’t see them. I was hesitant to attack the Dark One with my mind because Tazmarks, especially Blacks, were full of trickery. The Dark One might trick me into burning johnny as Chord had. I was afraid to trust my senses knowing that they could so easily be tampered with.

  I needed to find johnny personally, before I attacked the Dark One. The easiest method would be to call for him, but I was too afraid I’d distract him and he’d get zapped. Also, the Dark One might hear the call and then I’d be subject to his deception.

  I had to go to the hills. But they were so far away. Oh, why couldn’t I fly? I tried. I really did. Well, you know, I did have the feeling of Angel wings on my back. Silly, yeah. Oh well, I couldn’t fly. I had to run.

  The narration came again, and it was beginning to feel normal.

  “Driven by love, she moved toward the red

  But the Tazmark she’d burned, he was not dead.”

  What? I stopped in my tracks.

  “He loomed up behind her with red eyes of ire

  Determined to singe her with the last of his fire.”

  I flung around and beheld Chord, still lit with my glow. The bloodied features of his hideous Dragon face were melted together from the burn of my light. Barely a second passed before white fire flared from his charred mouth toward me, raw and desperate.

  I crouched, throwing my arm up, protecting my face. Flames flashed around me like a tunnel. At first, I thought my hair was on fire. It wasn’t actually on fire, but I smelled it burning. My arms hurt like sunburn. I heard Chord step closer and inhale. The next blow was coming. Still hiding my face, I summoned my light once more, when I heard a snapping sound and then the narration.

  “Then a shadow behind him,

  an arm snapped round his throat,

  cracking, then laughing

  the Zandron’s cruel gloat.”

  I lowered my arm slightly. The Zandron’s muscular elbow had hooked Chord’s neck, yanked it back, and snapped bone. Chord’s head flopped to one side. I cringed. My parents’ murderer had saved me. Dare I say thanks? How could I? He released Chord, letting him fall to the ground. The narration continued.

  “The Tazmark’s neck was broken

  by her foe and her friend—”

  The Zandron said, “Make him fade away Shen, or he may rise again.”

  I was a little astonished. His sentence had rhymed with the Angel’s sentence. Could he hear the narration too?

  I had no time to ponder. And after what just happened, I had to vanquish Chord. But I couldn’t. I didn’t know how. But I had to. There was no room for doubt or failure. I would make Chord disappear. I activated my brow and commanded my light to incinerate him. I did not try. I just saw it done. I was almost startled when a thread-like beam shot from my forehead, stabbing chord between the eyes. He dissolved instantly. How ingenious! Angel Lesson #2. Narrowing Divine Light to a thread, condenses power. I’d been trying to narrow the beam to the size of the body, thinking anything smaller would only dissolve what it hit. Further, I succeeded when I imagined the result instead of logically figuring out the formula, which brings me to Angel Lesson #3. Don’t try to do it. See it done.

  And I had done it. I had made someone disappear. Not that I was proud or anything. However, I was amazed, that I . . . me . . . scaredy cat Jenséa, had such power, for it was usually I who had always tried to disappear.

  Again, the narration:

  “She beamed her white light

  ‘till he vanished from sight.”

  I was tempted to do the same to the Zandron, and thinking of my parents, I almost did. Then he pointed to the clearing. His low voice rumbled, “Now, the other one.”

  I nodded and trailed him en route to Goldie. Strange, but the area in front of me was illuminated as I walked. Then I
noticed my hands were glowing, and my arms too . . . oh dear. My whole body was phosphorescent as if I’d been radiated. I was radiated—with Divine Light. I guess I was overdosing on it. I suddenly understood why angels in storybooks were described as having a heavenly glow about them. It’s as johnny said, all fantasy has a basis in reality.

  We reached Goldie in his dragonman form. My luminescence fell upon him. He looked so very dead, his face bruised, his opened eyes bulging in an endless stare of no return.

  The singsong Angel voice continued,

  “He led her to the Tazmark who

  was sprawled upon the ground

  his life force shining dim—”

  The Zandron spoke again as if finishing the poem. “Quick, shine the light on him.”

  I wanted to ask him if he could hear the Angels talk, but first things first. Didn’t the Angels just narrate that his life force was shining dim? I had to act fast. But already I was too late. A blast of white fire exploded from Goldie’s mouth, covering the Zandron, who with desperate eyes discharged guttural moans. He turned black as if he were being micro waved. I should have felt sorry for him, but all I felt was the emptiness he’d created when he took my parents from me.

  Before Goldie could blast me, I shot a thread-like beam of Divine Light between his eyes with my newly discovered technique. I ignored his screams. And I ignored the Zandron’s screams and smashed the pity that kept budding in my heart. Goldie disappeared.

  The narration:

  “She exploded her light on the Dragonman