by David Wind
The time was soon after your father went into space, when I was known as Sophia Nidhi. This was, of course, in the time before the missile destroyed the Island. Has Roth told you what a missile is? Has he explained what happened?
Mikaal and Areenna nodded.
I foresaw no less. I was a microbiologist… a scientist who helped create an organism to stop the radiation poisoning, and… She paused to study the two.
Will you allow me entry to show you?
Areenna’s eyes narrowed. Such requires trust.
Weigh carefully your reply. If what you say is indeed possible, and the Circle can overrun Nevaeh, then you must trust in me or allow them to rule.
Mikaal responded, not Areenna. He leaned forward, even as the apparition wavered and flickered and returned to a solid form. Can you not take us in and show us?
Only if you wish never to return to whom you are now.
The icy certainty of the words told Mikaal she spoke the truth. He clasped Areenna’s hand. We will open our minds.
Sophia entered their minds and brought up images to reflect her words so, as she spoke, the images flowed through their minds.
Ten years before the missile fell, we created bacteria to... Sophia stopped. Let me explain, bacteria are organisms so small you cannot see them. Bacteria can be helpful, and can benefit people, animals, and crops. Bacteria can also be harmful, creating diseases and blights on crops. Do you understand?
When they both nodded, Sophia went on. I… we created a bacteria to stop the radiation from killing and further mutating everyone, by absorbing the radiation. Shortly before we released the bacteria, the Circle of Afzal learned what we were planning. They fired a missile at Washington, D.C., where we worked… you know it now as Dees. Our weapons stopped the missile, but we knew they would keep trying as long as they had weapons left. Their purpose was, and always will be, to destroy everything and everyone who refuses to be a part of them.
After this attack, we came to the Island, to a special place deep under what was then called Manhattan, which had been secretly built a century before, during one of their conflicts. We were far enough below the surface to be safe, or so we thought. We had a special power source… the same power that the missile released. This power will last for tens of thousands of years. Longer, I hope, than it will be needed.
Here, we finished the creation of the bacteria and released it. We sent it into the air, and through tunnels we created, reaching everywhere in Ameri… Nevaeh. We expected to be long dead, and everyone else in the world dead before the bacteria absorbed the radiation, but the bacteria multiplied faster than expected, and exceeded what we thought possible. From these bacteria, Nevaeh survived and grew strong.
After a year of experimenting, we learned the bacteria could not reproduce and we must continue to create and release it, because the radiation constantly flows from across the oceans.
As she explained, she showed pictures of the bacteria expelling into different areas of Nevaeh. She showed them how the bacteria clustered together and formed what appeared to be dark, greenish brown splotches that settled on different surfaces. She advanced the mind visions to nighttime and the splotches of bacteria glowed in the dark.
The bacteria colonies, which are composed of millions of bacteria, formed nightmoss. A side effect, caused by absorbed radiation. And as more bacteria is released, it is attracted to the nightmoss, and replaces the bacterium that die off, keeping the nightmoss always alive and the bacteria working to keep the air clean.
Sophia’s strangely flickering face turned thoughtful. Do you understand? What you seek is not an ability to fight the Circle, but to keep us free from it. The bacteria, the nightmoss is what keeps Nevaeh alive. It is not a power to take with you, to use from within you; rather, this power is what you must protect—the power that keeps Nevaeh whole. This is what the Circle seeks! They want to end the production of the nightmoss and the power that keeps the machines creating bacteria. Afzal wants the radiation to fall freely. It is the very root of their powers.
Areenna shook her head. You are strong; you can stop them.
When the missile struck the Island, many things happened, above and below the surface. The destruction above was horrible, but here, the unexpected happened. The force of the explosion combined with the radiation, was so horrendous when it struck us, it destroyed or altered all life above and below the Island.
Areenna stared at Sophia. You survived. You are here.
A sad smile curved Sophia’s lips. Only my consciousness. The radiation is so powerful it transformed our world, transformed me… us as well.
After the attack, I found not only did I survive; everything here had been saved. The machinery producing the bacteria endured, and the tunnels held. However, I soon came to understand that I did not survive physically. My consciousness lived on, but not my body. I have no way of explaining, no scientific theory, no understanding of the strange and divergent change to rules of nature that followed the explosion.
When my… my first life ended, there was a flashing of time, and I saw the future. There were many things shown to me. Among them, I saw my role in the future, but I saw no further. Within this flash of time, my consciousness and that of dozens of others fused into a single entity with my… awareness as the primary. We… I… whatever we had come to be, are bound within this space—locked forever here. It took the first decade to come to terms with what happened. All I can say with certainty is that the force of the missile’s explosion combined with the radiation to somehow take my mind from my body and create a new entity, one of enormous mental and paranormal powers. It took many more decades to comprehend what happened, and when I finally did, I discovered I had immense psychic abilities.
As a child, I was always special in that way. I knew things before people spoke. I saw things and they would come true, but as I grew older, these abilities faded. After the missile, not only did those abilities return, they grew beyond imagination.
I spent years learning about all the changes in me, and paid no attention to what was happening on the surface. When I decided to explore, I found I was limited. My consciousness could expand, could go to the surface, but no further than the boundaries of the Island itself.
Exploring the Island, I discovered the world I had grown up in was gone! I was overwhelmed by grief, and it was then that I began having more visions of the future. Through one of the visions, I found Ruth. When I melded with the half-woman’s mind, I learned all that had happened since the explosion. I discovered she was dying.
After too many years of being alone, I refused to allow Ruth to die. At that point—I did not know how then—I transferred some of my energy, my life force, to her. She survived and grew stronger. From birth, her mutation had generated psychic abilities, but with my life force in her, she became stronger, in both physical and psychic abilities.
Over the next century, my life force enabled Ruth to live on, and together, we found seven more of the half women with abilities. The Eight formed the process to enable life to continue in Nevaeh: The Eight Sorceresses countered The Eight Masters of the Circle. The Eight Sorceresses became my eyes and ears, not just on the Island, but through all of Nevaeh.
With the creation of The Eight, the battle between Afzal and Nevaeh went on. The Dark Circle could not overrun Nevaeh, but neither could Nevaeh free itself of the Circle. Against the way it should have been, the balance shifted and, every few centuries, the Dark Circle made deeper inroads into Nevaeh. Their Afzaleem sorceresses grew strong, converting many of the young Women of Power to their darkness before the call to the Island. Their powers helped the Dark Ones to create wars with which they could draw the life force of the Nevaens to them, but not with the same force they can when they have direct contact with another being.
With Roth’s return, his wisdom and knowledge restored balance by ending the wars between dominions. But, Mikaal, Man of Power, you were born, and the balance changed because your father is the only un-mutat
ed being in the world, and while he does not know it, he carries a dormant gene that you inherited, a gene of paranormal abilities. This is the reason they seek both your and Areenna’s deaths. Your combined powers, Male and Female as one, can destroy them… when joined to the power of the past.
Areenna sucked in a deep breath. The afterimages of the many visions still flashing. Next to her, she sensed Mikaal reacting the same way. Yet something deep within her was unsatisfied. She did not trust her thoughts to hold quiet so instead, she spoke. “You say you gave The Speaker your life force, which restored her life, yes?”
Yes, The Speaker… all of The Eight held special abilities, but they did not know how to control them. After I taught them, I transferred many of my abilities to them, and continued to do so for years. I am able to absorb life energy and transform it to others. This energy keeps The Eight alive.
Areenna stiffened. “You were the last thing we felt on the Island, the power at the end of our test?”
Yes. Every Women of Power who passes through the Island receives my gifts, chosen for the person.
“You take those who have not passed?”
Sophia looked from Areenna to Mikaal and back. Such is truth.
“Then you kill those who are not strong enough by absorbing their life force? You do the same as the Dark Masters!”
Sophia’s eyes narrowed. Such is what happens with The Masters.
Areenna’s anger rose as fast as her power. In an instant, Mikaal’s hands flared with blue-white light. In the next, the light disappeared with a wave of Sophia’s flickering hand.
Your anger would be justified, if your thoughts were those of fact, which they are not. Every woman who fails the final test must make a choice: to join with me, to give added life to myself, and The Eight of the Island, or go to the wastelands to live out their lives.
Mikaal did his best to calm the confusion warring in her mind and to ease the roaring blue lights covering his hands. As he did, he turned to Sophia. Why take these women from their families, from their lives?
Because, Son of Roth, like you and Areenna, they have a purpose. What you call magic, these abilities women have, are important, more important than you know, at least at this point in your life. Women, those who cannot control their abilities, endanger the world because they will create children with diminishing powers. If that were to happen, Nevaeh would be unable to survive.
Areenna glared at Sophia, her hands shaking with anger. “So you—”
—No! Unlike the Dark Masters of the Circle of Afzal, we destroy no one. Some choose to stay, to give their energy, their life force to keep The Eight alive. If such is their decision, they live out their lives here, in service to Nevaeh by their own decision.
“How could they make such a choice?”
Sophia raised her arms parallel to the floor and turned her palms upward. Because they know what they do is for their families and for everyone living in Nevaeh. There is a saying from my time, ‘for the greater good’, which means sacrificing something so others will benefit. Each woman receives two visions of the future, thousands of years from now. The first of the Dark Circle conquering Nevaeh, the second of Nevaeh unconquered and thriving. In the past three millennium, only five women have chosen exile to the wastelands, only five. The others lived their full lives in service to Nevaeh, not in service to me. They are who keep the machines running and producing bacteria, and they are who lend their life force to The Eight, to ensure everyone’s survival. But never are they drained of their lives.
Sophia paused, and flickered several times before saying, Without these women, Nevaeh would have died centuries ago.
Areenna studied the image, watching carefully when it flickered. Why do you appear in this form?
This form is a representation of what I once was. A body no longer binds me, as I tried to explain. My mind, my consciousness is what I am; I must remain locked within the chamber.
Mikaal leaned toward the vision. What happens if you leave?
Sophia laughed. The sound was brusque. “I have no body. How would I leave? No, Mikaal, Son of Roth, Son of Enaid, I made my peace long ago. I am bound to this place; my sole responsibility is ensuring the survival of Nevaeh. I have spent an eternity doing so, and you, Areenna and Mikaal, are the sum of what I have spent the last three thousand years creating. Only through Ruth’s mind, can I voyage past the barriers of the Island.
Another flicker traced Sophia from foot to head as she lifted her hand and pointed to Mikaal and then Areenna. What you do next determines the future of Nevaeh. She turned to Areenna. Hate me, revile me, but you must find a way to stop them.
Areenna grasped Mikaal’s hand and the moment their fingers clasped, she raised her block. Mikaal added his to it. There is no power to aide us, not here, Areenna sent to Mikaal.
Stop. The flickering figure shook her head. You can hide nothing from me, here on the Island. Sophia gestured at the walls. Have you heard me not? You seek a power where there is none. You think of it as receiving a gift, while you have yet to discover all the gifts given you.
She wavered several times, the colors brightening and fading. Stop your seeking! There is nothing more for you to find… outside of yourselves. You must accept that the ability to stop them is already yours!
Sophia’s image flickered faster and then settled. Listen carefully. In the mountains overlooking Dees, is the old entrance to a tunnel large enough for people to pass through. This tunnel runs far beneath Dees and leads directly here. The tunnel is why they attack Dees, but The Masters do not know where the entrance lies. If they find the entrance, if they are not stopped… Sophia paused. Her body expanding, the flickering increasing in speed until it became a writhing mélange of vibrating colors.
You have only a few days. Use them well.
Areenna shook her head. It will take us days to reach Dees, if luck is with us.
No. Hours only.
How is tha—
—Go now! Complete the Trinity! Stop The Masters of Afzal!
There was a flash, and the floor disappeared from beneath them.
CHAPTER 30
LESSIG, ASTRIDE A black kraal, rode between two gray robed Masters as they crossed the border between Fainhall and Freemorn. Behind the three, marched an army of twenty thousand ghazi and five thousand of Lessig’s creatures mixed with the remnants of Fainhall’s soldiers —those who decided to live under the Afzal rather than give up their lives.
Three days earlier, King Nomis and Queen Eetak, controlled by Lessig, surrendered Fainhall to the Dark Masters without a struggle, their reward was death. The soldiers of Fainhall had a choice: join or die. A third chose to live. The remaining two thousand men and women met their deaths with pride and honor while the bodies of their king and queen swayed from the east rampart of the castle keep.
The moment Lessig crossed from Fainhall to Freemorn, a Dark Master stepped onto the parapet of Fainhall’s keep. He stared into the distance and, through the eyes of the other Masters, saw the army of Afzal march beneath the dust cloud kicked up by the fifty thousand feet crossing into Freemorn.
Behind this lone Master, two men knelt, their arms bound, their heads bowed under the weight of thick metal collars. The Master placed a hand on each of their heads. His back arched, and his eyes rolled upward, leaving only the white showing. He curled his fingers into claws and dug his long pointed fingernails into their scalps until blood flowed. Then he pushed his way into the center of their being and sucked their life force from them, filling himself with their energies until they fell lifeless on the parapet floor.
The Master looked up at the sky and, using the life forces he had added to his own energy, sent a message to the other Masters. I am ready!
Wait, came the reply from the leader of the Circle, Fasil Abdul-Mu'eid. Tonight, at the height of the moon, we all join to raise the barrier.
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The afternoon sun was directly overhead when Elyl and his small band crested the rise of a foothi
ll a mile from the borders of Freemorn and Brumwall. Looking west, he spotted a small dust cloud and narrowed his eyes in an effort to see. Moments later, the rider came into focus, and Elyl signaled the two hundred odd exiles to rest.
It took the rider a quarter hour to reach the small band, and when she dismounted, she ran to Elyl and grasped his hand. “I have never seen an army as large as what comes from Fainhall. They stretched as far as I could see. They will reach Caymir in two days, three at the most.”
Elyl turned to the others. “We must move fast…eat and drink now. If we move quickly, we reach Caymir in ten hours.”
<><><>
They fell hard: Mikaal hit bottom first. Areenna, landing on top of him, knocked the breath from his lungs. Gasping and holding his chest when she rolled off him, he got to his knees, drawing shallow breaths until the pain eased. Areenna’s hands were on his back, trying to give him comfort.
As soon as he caught his breath, there was a hissing from above as two pieces of glass rose on each side and met in the center. There were two clicks, and the top of the strange compartment closed. It was clear, clearer than any glass he had even seen. Another hissing sound came from the front, followed by a stream of stale air.
Areenna looked frantically around. What is this?
Mikaal tasted the fear flowing from her; it was the first time he had ever sensed anything this desperate from her. He pulled her to him, held her close. Sophia’s magic, from…before.
There is no need to fear. This is what we once called a transport. These conveyances brought the equipment from Dees to the Island, so we could create nightmoss. This unit is all that remains of the old ways. The rest no longer function. We have maintained this one, for we saw the need for it long ago, as we saw you then as you are today. The tunnel is clear, but we know not if this machine will hold together until you reach the end, for the power to move it no longer exists and to move it, we will use our abilities. You cannot aid us in this, to do so will alert The Masters of your presence.
