‘Where is he?’ Marineus asked as she trudged over to where Katla was stood, a small green jewel held between the finger and thumb of her left hand.
‘Secured in a pocket of space and time.’ Katla replied as she held up the jewel and smiled.
‘Can he escape?’ Hebro asked as she moved to where Katla was stood and held out her hand to take the jewel.
‘Paneous is secured in his own universe, here he can do as he wishes without ever threatening this one ever again.’ Katla replied softly as she lowered the jewel into her mother’s hand.
‘How could you do this?’ Marineus asked as she looked at the jewel longingly.
‘What trap him?’ Katla asked as she turned to face where Tahir and Marissa were both stood still motionless in time.
‘Either?’ Marineus asked as she turned to look at Tahir and smiled.
‘I needed to make sure he couldn’t cause any more trouble for any of us.’ Katla replied softly as she floated to where Marissa was stood and placed a hand on her shoulder.
‘Katie.’ Marissa screamed as she snapped back into motion wrapping her arms around Katla and holding her tight.
‘Mary, don’t ever scare me like that again.’ Katla whispered as she returned the hug.
‘Hebbie, are you ok?’ Marissa squealed as she released Katla and ran at Hebro.
‘I’m fine Mary, thanks.’ Hebro replied warmly as she wrapped her arms around Marissa’s shoulders, as she did so a small tear traced a path down her cheek and onto the floor. As it landed a small rainbow of blue and green formed, Marineus saw this and her mouth opened slightly. This action was noted by Katla who turned to see what had caused the reaction, she allowed herself a small smile before blinking her eyes and the rainbow disappeared.
‘Tahir, come back to us.’ Katla whispered as she placed a hand on Tahir’s shoulder. A slightly confused look spread across her face when nothing happened.
‘What is it?’ Marineus asked as she saw the look on Katla’s face.
‘He should be free.’ Katla replied quietly as she lowered her hand onto his shoulder again.
‘Here.’ Hebro said as she poked him square in the back.
‘Whoa, I want dinner and a movie first.’ Tahir shouted as his eyes opened wide and he took in a deep lungful of air.
‘How did you do that?’ Katla asked as she looked at Hebro with her head tilting slightly.
‘Daughter, just because you’ve taken another step doesn’t mean some of us aren’t already ahead of you on the journey.’ Hebro chuckled as she looked at Tahir who seemed to sway on his feet before dropping to his haunches.
‘You really have a problem with ascended interaction, don’t you?’ Marineus asked as she leant forward and placed a friendly hand on his shoulder.
‘Whenever any of you do something which is alien to me it makes me queasy.’ Tahir replied softly as he ran his hand over his face and took a deep breath.
‘You shouldn’t react to anything we do though.’ Marineus said softly as she looked at him with her head tilted to one side. ‘Are you sure you’re human?’ She asked quietly.
I’ve seen the pictures of me as a baby and growing up, mum never said she’d done the dirty with an alien if that’s what you’re getting at.’ Tahir retorted softly as he stood up and smoothed down his clothes.
‘I’m not so sure.’ Marineus said as she looked across at Katla to make sure her back was turned before slipping her hand between Tahir’s shoulder blades.
‘Hey.’ Tahir barked as he turned sharply. The look on his face as he looked down to see Marineus’s hand embedded in his chest.
‘Sister, what are you doing?’ Katla asked turning to see what the commotion was about.
‘I sincerely believe Tahir here isn’t human.’ Marissa replied softly before. ‘I was just seeing if his energy matched any other planet I’d visited.’
‘And did you find anything?’ Katla asked quietly as she turned to look at Marissa who was still stood with her arms around Hebro.
‘I’ve found traces of Kryosian DNA in Tahir.’ Marineus replied softly as she lowered her head.
‘What!’ Tahir screamed loud enough for Hebro and Marissa to separate.
‘It’s nothing to worry about Tahir, the Kryosian’s were a beautiful, peaceful race from the far side of the universe.
‘How could they interfere with human development?’ Katla asked as she turned back to Tahir who was now looking quite ill.
‘Because sister dearest Kryosian’s shed their physical form billions of years ago.’ Vilstang’s voice whispered in the breeze.
‘You never came here though brother.’ Marineus replied softly as she turned to a spot on the ground just in front of her.
As Marissa and Tahir looked on the ground seemed to open up as if something was bursting through, then as though a wave of creatures emerged Vilstang appeared before them.
‘I didn’t you’re right, unfortunately some of my race who ascended after me did.’ Vilstang replied softly as he turned to look at Tahir and smiled.
‘What did they do?’ Katla asked as she looked at Tahir cocking her head slightly and allowing a small bolt of energy to flow between them.
‘They hoped this planet could be a copy of our homeworld. They set about adjusting the indigenous life, in the hope it would be more accommodating to others of our species.’ Vilstang replied quietly as he looked at Tahir.
‘And how’s that affected me?’ Tahir asked angrily.
‘One minor change in a sequence of the DNA of creatures from the warmer regions to make you more resistant to outside influences.’ Vilstang replied turning to Katla but keeping his eyes downcast.
‘Why didn’t it show up before now?’ Katla demanded angrily as a bolt of energy flashed between her eyes.
‘When our dear sister here advanced these creatures, she activated certain changes that shouldn’t have occurred for maybe another million years.’ Vilstang replied softly as he looked at Marineus and smiled weakly.
‘I was feeling the effects of your kind on me before Marineus adjusted my wet wear.’ Tahir replied seriously.
‘Something about you must’ve been sensitive to us before then. I can’t think what that might be.’ Vilstang replied softly as he looked at Hebro and cocked his head to the side slightly.
‘What?’ Hebro asked as she caught Vilstang looking at her.
‘I’m wondering if your presence from the beginning has subconsciously changed these two.’ Vilstang replied as he looked at Marissa and allowed himself a small smile.
‘I don’t see how Vilstang. I haven’t attempted to adjust these or Stefan, I didn’t want any of them involved beyond what they were tasked to do regarding the Eye.’ Hebro muttered softly wrapping her arm around Marissa and squeezing slightly.
‘Ah yes, Odin’s Eye, the first great jewel of power and the start of this little adventure.’ Vilstang quipped as he held out his hand the image of a blue sapphire appeared. ‘Then we had Osiris’s Heart didn’t we.’ As a large ruby appeared next and both began to rotate around each other.
‘We know the sequence Vilstang.’ Marineus said dryly as a large sword appeared between the Eye and the Heart.
‘Before we got to the Cronos Stone.’ Vilstang chuckled as a large emerald appeared.
‘And now we seek the Spear of Heaven, we know.’ Hebro growled as a long shaft of power appeared. As the final piece merged with the others a bright flash blinded everyone for a second before the items were arranged before them.
‘What happens when all are brought together?’ Marissa asked as her eyes adjusted to the light.
‘Your worlds ripped apart and everything dies.’ Vilstang replied simply before waving his hand and the projection disappeared.
‘So why are we wanting to bring them together?’ Tahir asked as he rubbed his upper arm.
‘Because a chain of events has been set in motion, one that cannot be stopped, delayed or deflected.’ Vilstang replied seriously as he looked at Katla
and smiled.
‘Surely there’s something you could do?’ Tahir asked as he followed where Vilstang was looking and understood.
‘Katla might’ve just taken the next step of evolution but it isn’t enough.’ Vilstang replied quietly turning to Marineus and shaking his head.
‘What?’ Marineus asked noting the shake.
‘Despite your best attempts sister, the journey you’ve taken couldn’t possibly prepare you for what’s to come.’ Vilstang replied seriously looking back to Hebro and smiling wider.
‘You think you’re ready for the next stage brother dearest?’ Marineus scoffed loudly as a bolt of energy loosed from the sky and impacted just in front of Vilstang.
‘Forgive me.’ Vilstang whispered as he dissolved to his natural state and vanished into thin air.
‘For what?’ Tahir asked as he looked around. ‘Can anyone else feel that?’ he asked after a moment.
‘Feel what?’ Marissa asked quietly as nothing seemed out of the ordinary to her.
‘The ground’s shaking.’ Tahir replied quietly as he could feel tremors under his feet.
‘I can’t feel anything.’ Marineus said softly as she dropped to her hands and knees.
‘Trust me it’s happening.’ Tahir said seriously as he looked at Marissa, a look of fear beginning to spread slowly across his face.
‘Ok, Katie can you get us out of here?’ Marissa asked looking at Katla hopefully.
‘I’ve tried, something’s stopping me getting us out of here.’ Katla replied seriously as she turned to Marineus.
‘Don’t look at me, I’m not doing anything.’ Marineus replied shaking her head and looking at Hebro.
‘Nothing to do with me.’ Hebro said softly as her eyes flashed with blue energy. ‘Can’t help I’m afraid.’ She said after another bolt flashed down her arm.
‘Ok, what’s going on?’ Katla raged at no one.
‘There’s something about this place, it’s as if the laws of physics and space don’t work here.’ Marissa whispered as she looked across at Katla who turned, looked intently at Marissa and smiled.
‘The Grand Canyon’s a nexus in time and space, lines of power from across the universe converge at this point.’ Tahir muttered absently under his breath.
‘What did you say Tahir?’ Hebro asked as she turned on the spot and looked at Tahir as if for the first time.
‘The Grand Canyon’s a nexus in time and space, lines of power from across the universe converge at this point.’ Tahir replied mechanically.
‘Ok, what’ve you done to my friend?’ Marissa screamed as she looked between Hebro and Tahir.
‘I’ve done nothing.’ Hebro replied quietly as she moved to where Tahir stood and waved her hand in front of his face. ‘He’s not with us.’ She said softly as she lowered her hand and turned to face Marineus who was stood looking up at the sky.
‘Vilstang release him now.’ Marineus growled as bolts of power raced from her eyes to a point in the sky marked by a small dark cloud.
‘Nothing to do with me.’ Vilstang’s voice echoed on the breeze.
‘Liar.’ Katla growled as a bolt of power loosed from her own eyes and impacted the small dark cloud Marineus had targeted.
‘I swear sister it’s not me.’ Vilstang whimpered as a small man appeared just above the ground.
‘Convince me.’ Katla bellowed as she turned to face Vilstang and a bolt of golden energy traced a path and wrapped around Vilstang.
‘Sister, I swear I’ve nothing to do with this.’ Vilstang pleaded as he pointed to Tahir who remained completely motionless.
‘I believe him.’ Marissa mumbled as she looked at the pained look on Vilstang’s face.
‘Why?’ Marineus asked as she walked between Katla and Vilstang, her face composed and expressionless.
‘Don’t ask how, but I know he’s not involved, he’s lost something he once possessed and without it he’s barely able to hang onto what he’s got now.’ Marissa replied softly as she began to move to where Tahir stood.
‘I had a piece of the universe, I kept it safe and hidden from the other.’ Vilstang replied pointing at Katla then Marineus. ‘Now it’s gone and my knowledge and power’s slipping away.’ He finished as he looked at the ground, returned to his natural state and vanished once more.
‘Ok, I’m seriously confused now.’ Marissa muttered as she placed her hands on her hips and looked at the floor.
‘Isn’t it obvious, there’s an ascended out there who’s manipulating everything.’ Tahir said quietly as he opened his eyes and closed them again.
‘Who else could have the power, knowledge and abilities to pull the covers over our eyes?’ Marineus asked as she looked across to Katla and gestured with her hand between the pair of them.
‘Of all the beings in the universe who could pull this off none of them would do this, they’d have as much to lose as everyone else.’ Hebro whispered as she placed a hand on Katla’s shoulder and squeezed gently.
‘Someone out there’s really starting to fuck me off.’ Marissa growled as she looked across at Katla who simply nodded.
‘Forget them for now, we really need to get out of here.’ Katla whispered as she turned to Marineus a small sliver of power flashing between her eyes.
‘Have you got a phone?’ Marissa asked as she started to turn on the spot, taking in the scenery she noted a small mast about a mile ahead of her.
‘Do we look like we carry phones?’ Marineus asked scornfully.
‘For supposedly intelligent beings you really suck at being prepared don’t you.’ Marissa chuckled as she looked across at Hebro and smiled.
‘If you want to blend in on this planet you’ve gotta get a cell phone.’ Marissa chuckled as she looked at Hebro who smiled and blinked her eyes. In an instant a small black phone appeared in Marissa’s hand.
‘You even got the number right.’ Marissa squealed as she hit the send button. ‘Yes, if you could pick me and my associates from Jacob Lake. We’ll be by the visitor’s centre.’
‘And how do you suggest we get to this visitor centre?’ Marineus asked quietly.
‘You’ve got legs, haven’t you?’ Marissa asked as a smile spread across her face.
‘Oh come on, I’m the second most powerful being in the universe and you expect me to walk.’ Marineus cried as she realised what Marissa meant.
‘No, I expect you to help carry my friend here.’ Marissa chuckled as she lifted Tahir’s arm and beckoned for Hebro to take the other one.
‘He’s heavier than he looks.’ Hebro whispered as she took the strain of lifting Tahir off the ground.
‘Yeah, he is heavier than normal.’ Marissa replied quietly in case Marineus or Katla overheard them.
‘Not just a few pounds either, what do you reckon, two three hundred pounds heavier?’ Hebro asked as she set down Tahir and looked across at Katla who shrugged her shoulders.
‘I’d say closer to three hundred.’ Marissa replied softly as she did the same.
‘How’s that possible?’ Katla asked as she walked over, wrapped her arms around Tahir and lifted him off the ground, before dropping him back down again.
‘His density’s increased by nearly a hundred and fifty percent.’ Katla said after shaking her arms.
‘Yeah we know.’ Marissa hissed softly as she looked at Marineus who’d decided she wouldn’t be left out of trying to pick up Tahir.
‘Who could do this?’ Marineus asked as she replaced Tahir on the ground after picking him up.
‘Only dad could do this.’ Katla replied softly as she looked across at Tahir and then Marissa.
‘What’s with the change?’ Marissa asked noting the subtle change in Katla’s voice.
‘What change?’ Katla asked turning to face Marissa a look of surprise formed across her brow.
‘You’ve never referred to Bhan as dad before.’ Marissa replied quietly as she turned to look at Marineus who was stood with a confused expression on her face.
&
nbsp; ‘I guess I’ve picked up some bad habits then.’ Katla chuckled as she sniffed deeply and turned her head to a small clump of trees.
‘What?’ Marineus asked as she saw the look on Katla’s face.
‘We’re being watched.’ Katla replied softly as a brief flash of power raced between her eyes.
‘My Lady please forgive me.’ Fornicleus whispered as his form emerged from behind the trees and into the light.
‘Who are you?’ Marissa asked as she turned to see where the voice had come from.
‘The fool who climbed into a gravity well to collect the piece of Bhan.’ Hebro replied softly as she looked at Fornicleus and smiled.
‘You climbed down the plug hole, stayed at the bottom of the biggest drain in the universe then crawled back out?’ Marissa chuckled as she looked at Fornicleus and eyed him up.
‘I’m sorry, who are you?’ Fornicleus asked his eyes flashed red.
‘Don’t even think about it.’ Marineus growled as her eyes flashed green.
‘Sorry My Lady.’ Fornicleus muttered as his gaze shifted to look down at his feet.
‘Fornicleus, what have you done this time?’ Hebro asked as she looked between Fornicleus and Marineus then back.
‘I’ve done nothing.’ Fornicleus replied softly as he moved closer to Marissa.
‘Don’t take another step Fornicleus.’ Katla growled softly as something about the movement unsettled her slightly.
‘My Lady?’ Fornicleus asked as he noticed a slight change in the hue surrounding Marineus.
‘Please stay where you are Fornicleus.’ Marineus whispered softly as she turned to look at the sky which had turned a slightly darker shade of blue.
‘I assure you I mean you no harm.’ Fornicleus whispered as he once again bowed his head deeply.
‘You’re not the one I’m worried about.’ Katla growled as her eyes flashed again.
‘I assure you I’m quite alone.’ Fornicleus snivelled as he lifted his head slightly to look at Hebro who was beginning to glow eerily.
‘Mother, what is it you sense?’ Katla asked as she caught the change in Hebro.
‘We’re definitely being watched, it’s an ancient power.’ Hebro began as the sky above her began to grow darker still.
Spear of Heaven: The Fallen Page 6
