by Matthew Fish
“Is she in trouble?” Mark asked as he shied away from the question.
“She is nearly upon your doorstep,” Caesar spoke as he nodded. “Will you turn her away when she asks you for help?”
“I told the others that we would avoid conflict,” Mark admitted as he looked down to the floor. “We’ve lost so much…Maddie and Emily are both afraid. That whole mess with Cain has left us all I guess, afraid that we’re going to lose more…I’m sorry, Caesar. I suppose I’ve let you down. You put your faith in the wrong person.”
“You are not defeated yet, my dear Mr. Argent,” Caesar. “Even I did not expect things to go the way they did with Cain. A man who cannot see reason has been completely blinded by power. It is normal, I believe, to feel loss and sadness. To want to give in…sometimes it is even alight to do so—just as long as you get back up to your feet eventually. You have never let me down, and I definitely did not pick the wrong person. Your friends and loved ones may feel defeated, but they will stand by your side.”
“I cannot ask them to do so again,” Mark said as he shook his head. “I will not turn Lily away. However, I do not know how much help we can be.”
“I have sensed that she places all of her hope upon you and your friends,” Caesar spoke as he stood up and placed his hands upon Mark’s shoulders. “There will be time for rest, I promise you. Hear Lily out, the others will come around. She has suffered greatly to reach you. That will not be lost upon your loved ones.”
“I will do my best,” Mark softly replied.
“That is all any of us can do,” Caesar said as he released his hands from Mark. “There will be a time for laughter again, and for good times. Keep hope alive in your heart and everything shall fall into place. I am also…very impressed by the measures you took to come and talk to me today. Though I do fear that you will have the worst headache…I did something similar once my love left me. I felt as though someone was jack-hammering my head the entire next day.”
“Wonderful,” Mark said as he let out a short laugh. “What do I do about the axe?”
“Do not get any ideas in your head that you can wield it,” Caesar said as he rubbed his chin. “It must have a part to play, or it would be returned to its owner. I am sorry, but I can offer no advice on it—leave it be for now, hopefully it will sort itself out.”
“Well, perhaps Lily will have some information.”
“She is quite distressed,” Caesar said as he shook his head. “I dare say that she has rather pressing problems of her own.”
“If I die permanently, will I end up somewhere happy?”
“Count on it,” Caesar said just as the floor began to tremble beneath their feet.
“I don’t feel…quite, right…” Mark said as he began to shiver.
“Perhaps you won’t have that headache after all,” Caesar said as he steadied himself as the floor began to break away beneath his feet.
“I…I don’t understand?”
“The pills were a bit too much for you,” Caesar spoke as the walls began to crack. “Do not trouble yourself, it will pass very soon.”
“I…” Mark began as everything grew very dim. He blacked out just as the dream world crumbled from his mind.
Maddie rested her back against the chair as night came. She found herself alone, Mark and Emily had passed out completely and Fran had gone to bed early. She thumbed through the book that Fran had gathered the information regarding Abelio’s axe. It was a pretty dry read. She let out a yawn as she got to her feet. She about to head out of the room as the door to Red Manor slowly opened.
“Who is there?” Maddie asked as she reached for her gun, forgetting that she had left it in her Conductor jacket. She inched towards the door just as a woman with black, snow covered, hair emerged. She looked up to Maddie with her grey eyes and a faint smile crossed her chapped and weather-worn lips.
“I’ve found you,” Lily spoke as she collapsed upon the ground, her long hair covering up her face.
“Lily?” Maddie asked as she brushed away the large swirls of black hair from the woman’s face. She was so much older than Maddie had remembered her. She was a bit taller—she had filled out and was much more muscular. Her face was similar, yet slightly older. She had grown into a beautiful woman.
“Water… “Lily whispered as she reached out to Maddie.
“Of course,” Maddie said as she rushed to the kitchen and fetched a large pitcher filled with water. She brought it to Lily who attempted to pull herself from the floor. She took the large container of water and brought it to her lips; she nearly finished half of the pitcher before she found the ability to speak clearly.
“I have travelled through many passages of time in this form—passages that took me on a long journey, to warn you all. You all die—in the future,” Lily spoke as she picked up her bow from the floor and brought it to her chest. “An army of White Stags reside in the forest. We must find a way to change the future—to stop Cernunnos.”
“I don’t understand,” Maddie said as she helped Lily to her feet and placed her upon the couch. “Why didn’t you travel as a stag? Why did you put yourself through so much difficulty?”
“I needed to protect my people,” Lily said as she nodded. “I must speak to everyone.”
“There aren’t…really many of us left,” Maddie said as she placed a hand to Lily’s cheek. It felt warm as though she was fighting a fever. “We lost Christopher yesterday…and Jenna. Cain turned on us.”
“That is…not right,” Lily said as she shook her head. “I have memories—I’ve been here before, a few weeks from this day. I came back to visit. “Cain was still alive, but Jenna and Christopher had left or disappeared.”
“Cain wanted Abelio’s axe, Mark refused to give it to him because Christopher insisted that it stay here—Cain was driven mad and we had to fight our way out. Christopher and Jenna did not make it…” Maddie said as she recounted the events that had led to her feeling defeated.
“Someone else must be manipulating time,” Lily said quietly as she looked down to her dirty, calloused hands. “For what reason, I do not know. When I came here through the normal passages—Mark had given Cain the axe to keep safe and Christopher and Jenna disappeared shortly afterwards…”
“What did Cain do with the axe?”
“He tried to wield it,” Lily said as she attempted to keep track of the memory. “I helped fight him, he killed Emily’s two sisters—Abelio’s axe drove him mad. You took him down with an arrow covered in your own blood. Emily was not the same after that, she was depressed for many years…the axe was lost…it disappeared after Cain fell.”
“None of that makes any sense,” Maddie said as she rubbed her forehead.
“It is why time was meant to always be forbidden to change at the will of others,” Lily said as she closed her eyes and attempted to concentrate on what was correct and what was not. “I had hoped to come and speak to everyone—before the fighting. I wished, with the information I had, everyone would put aside their feud over Abelio’s axe and come together to face what lay ahead. Even arriving early, I am at the same time—too late.”
“If Abelio’s axe disappeared during the time you were here—it must mean that there was no one deemed worthy to wield it. So, since it remains in this time, there is still someone around who could be chosen by Abelio…”
“Enough talk of the axe,” Lily spoke as she shook her head. “It has caused too much trouble and it has led us astray from the real danger. You, Mark, and Emily all die eighteen years from now.”
“Well that’s…” Maddie whispered as she let that bit of information sink in. “That’s very troubling.”
“I will explain to the others, if you would wake them?”
“You’ll have to wait until morning,” Maddie said as her mind kept turning over to the thought of their death. Eighteen years did not seem like a very long time at all. She did not want to be drawn into another conflict, as she looked upon Lily’s rough conditio
n she felt bad for the negative things she said to Mark regarding Lily. She knew deep down inside that there was no avoiding this conflict, this wasn’t just Lily in need of help like before—this was her warning her friends of their own demise. “They well, Mark—he wanted to get in contact with Caesar in that dream passage thing, or at least that’s how he explains it so he and Emily rendered themselves unconscious. I do not believe they will wake until morning.”
“I see,” Lily said as she bit at her rough lip and nodded. “I shall take my rest then.”
“Do any of the other White Stags need a room?” Maddie asked. She was not quite sure she could fit as many as was out there, but she was sure they could manage.
“They are all in the stag form, they will be fine. I have remained in this form for so long I dare worry that I may not be able to turn back,” Lily spoke as a tone of sadness filled her already dire tone. “Please wake me when the others are up. I will need to speak to Mark and Emily as quickly as possible. We need to figure out a plan to stop what is to come.”
“Of course,” Maddie said as she followed behind Lily who smelled rather strongly of wet earth and sweat. “I should sleep as well, I have a feeling it’s going to be one of those days.”
“It is good to see you again, Maddie,” Lily said as she looked back and smiled weakly. “I am sorry that I forgot to mention it.”
“It’s good to see you as well, Lily,” Maddie replied politely. To be honest, she was not sure how she felt about Lily’s return—especially given the news that she carried with her. “Perhaps…you might also want to shower. I mean, you’re probably pretty cold and all.”
Chapter 6
A hooded man cloaked in black walked across the great expanse of frozen ice. His thin form was barely visible beneath the many layers of tattered fabric. The moon was set low on the horizon as the snow and ash swirled around his feet. He carried with him a strange staff made from dark wood that contained a large glowing orb of golden light at the end. He held the staff out in front of him, illuminating his path as he continued to walk the seemingly endless expanse towards the direction of the moon. The man paused as he looked behind him. A strange pale white glow danced upon the horizon. The earth beneath the man’s feet began to tremble as cracks appeared in the thick ice.
“It cannot be too late,” The man spoke as he quickly began to run. The cold air rushing past his face as his dark brown boots left imprints in the snow. He allowed himself to turn into a strange dark and murky form as he flew forward as a dark cloud against the surface of the permanently frozen lake. The shattering ice followed swiftly behind him, giving chase. The white glow grew brighter as the man continued to fly towards the moon. With the moon close at sight, the man slowed down and transformed back into a more human-like form. The moon was just above him, a massive round pock-marked stone that gave off a faint white glow. He pressed his hand against the moon as he was quickly absorbed through the dusty surface. He stepped forward into darkness as the moon began to raise high into the air. The cloaked man looked down to the earth and watched the land fall away to the blinding white light. From a great distance, he watched as glowing orbs of light were extinguished—leaving behind a blank existence bathed in an endless white.
“Approach,” An odd voice echoed through the darkness. “It is done.”
The man pulled down his hood revealing his long white hair and pale skin. He had slim red eyes that emitted a faint glow and strong, fair features. He looked once more to the earth as the light faded and left behind nothing but a complete and permanent darkness. He turned his attention to the darkness around him as he illuminated his path by the light of his staff. He walked on for a time until he reached two statues frozen together in an odd embrace and held up from the ceiling in chains. The woman, naked and glowing faintly blue, had her arms wrapped around a man who returned the permanent embrace. Their faces were pressed together and their bodies remained intertwined.
“The memory that you carry with you, is that the one you spoke of?” A female voice answered as the strange statue-like couple shimmered in faint blue tones as the woman spoke, her face remained unmoving, and her lips forever frozen against the man’s lips.
“It is,” the man spoke as he held out the orb of light towards the man.
“I must view it,” a man’s voice echoed through the darkness. The chained bodies began to shimmer wildly as the glowing light from the man’s staff began to dance about in the air above. “Cernunnos allowed such a thing to happen…”
“That he did, my lord,” the man spoke as he took a knee. “He is responsible for many things. You have allowed me to travel back a few times, though only briefly—I have found one of his children that stands defiantly against him. She now resides in the same time that I found the location of Abelio’s axe. Though I was spotted by a Child of Abelio, I do not know how he found me—but I read his memories and I do believe that he can be of great help.”
“I have made an arrangement with Abelio for the axe to remain,” the man’s voice spoke as the memory returned to its place against the staff. “I have already broken a longstanding sacred vow to never change the path that life on Gaia takes—however, Cernunnos has forced my hand. He has errantly allowed such a transgression twice, the first time as merely a spectator who would not honor our laws. The second time, as a leading participant—we must not allow this second act of the perversion of time to go unanswered. However, in order to do so, we must allow this Child of Cernunnos to defy him. We must allow her attempts to change the future. Just as I must allow you passage through time to join her.”
“I thank you for the opportunity, my lord,” the man spoke as he looked down to his hands. “I am but a scholar, a researcher of memories; a warrior would have been better suited for the position.”
“You are the last of you kind,” the woman’s voice spoke.
“Fail and your kind will not exist. If you do succeed, changes will no longer be allowed to be made to the fabric of time. Whatever comes to pass shall be permanent—you will also not be allowed to return to your time. Not even the White Stags can pass so far into the future.”
“I understand,” the man said as he got to his feet. “You honor me with your task.”
“We can only give you one day once you arrive to change things, you must act quickly—work with the Child of Cernunnos. After that, time must be allowed to fall back into its normal state. No more changes will be allowed—what will be after that day will be set in stone.”
“I understand,” the man spoke as he nodded.
“Go now, Child of Elatha and Luna.” The chained man spoke as a glowing vortex of swirling blue light formed in the darkness beyond the hanging couple. The man pulled his cloak over his head and walked towards the light. He reached his hand out as he approached the violently swirling vortex. Within seconds he was sucked in and spirited away through time.
2015
Mark sat stiffly, his back against a dining room table as he looked up to the ceiling. He had a strange image of the roof being old and torn—leaking down cold water. He shook his head as he returned his attention to Lily, who sat across from him. Maddie was at his left side, and Emily sat at his right. She was rubbing her forehead. She was suffering from quite an immense hangover. Mark, however, having died in his sleep due to the overconsumption of alcohol mixed with the sleeping pills, managed to avoid this. It was late evening by the time William arrived with Felecia and Amelia. William was rather surprised to receive a call so early after Mark, Emily, and Maddie’s early retirement. Grandma Fran led them into the room as she filled up cups of hot coffee and tea for everyone seated at the table.
“Thank you for coming back…so soon,” Mark said as he nodded to William and let out a sigh.
“As I said, I will always be here when you need me,” William said as he folded his long-coat and placed it over the back of his chair. He pulled off his gloves and sat down beside Lily as Amelia rushed over and took the chair next to Emily. Felecia sa
t across from Amelia and picked up a warm cup of tea and brought it to her lips.
“We are less than I had hoped,” Lily spoke as she looked to William and the others.
“Lily was just telling us that in another time, I gave the axe to Cain and he used it—to a terrible result, of course. I do not understand why I would have given it to him though. But we all battled Cain and…well Amelia and Felecia both died in the battle and the axe disappeared shortly afterwards.”
“That’s rather unsettling,” Felecia said as she swallowed hard and almost spit up her tea. “What of Christopher or Jenna?”
“They disappeared after I gave him the axe,” Mark answered.
“So I like, died…like shitty permanent death?” Amelia asked as she folded her arms and narrowed her eyes to tiny slits.
“You did,” Lily answered. “Emily was most troubled. I am thankful that you are not amongst the dead, but I had hoped to talk to everyone. In the other time—this battle did not occur for weeks after I arrived.”
“You said that this kinda shit was not allowed,” Emily spoke as she scratched at her cheek. “I don’t get it. Is time changing just going to be a thing now—are we going to have to wonder if we’re going to get fucked over without even knowing we’re getting fucked over?”
“Am I going to have to go through anything else like I did with…your brother?” Maddie asked as her mind lingered upon the terrible thought of her own child—though she did not recognize the Ankou as being her child, part of her knew that in another time, it was true. “I do not think I could survive another incident like that.”
“In this instance, I am here to change time,” Lily spoke as she attempted to fend off all of the troublesome questions. If there was someone else involved in changing time, then she honestly did not know the answers. “Approximately eighteen years from now—all of you die, Cernunnos has taken the Ankou’s idea and in eighteen years he marches his army to Chicago and slaughters many—he saves only the ones that will join him. William…you and all of your people die that day attempting to fight him off. He then marches on Red Manor, Mark, Emily, and Maddie die that day…”
