‘We don’t have blood, we’re energy.’ Ochotan said shaking his head slightly.
‘In here the rules of the normal universe don’t apply. In here when Marissa kicked you she for a second became the same as you, she interfered with the flow of energy within your consciousness, like blood you need to move to get the proper flow working again.’ Tahir replied looking at Ochotan who hadn’t seemed to register what he’d been told.
‘In here we’re mortal?’ Marineus asked a disgusted look spreading across her face.
‘No, you’re still beings of immense power and energy, it’s just in here with this thing you’re a little susceptible to outside influences.’ Tahir replied as he pointed to the dagger still stood proudly in the table.
‘And why can’t we leave?’ Marineus asked as she crossed her arms across her chest.
‘Your father wishes you to remain safe.’ Tahir replied as the blade began to glow.
‘How do you know this T?’ Marissa asked as she smoothed down his hair.
‘When Bhan undid the updates Marineus here did to me he left a little strand of himself inside my head, my proximity to a physical piece of him magnified that strand, I can access little flashes of his knowledge, that’s why I got heavy and overheated.’ Tahir replied as he turned back to the table and picked up a large selection of fruit.
‘You’ve still got a piece of grandfather inside you then?’ Ochotan asked menacingly.
‘No, when I slammed the dagger through the table he told me to do it, it was the last thought I had before he was gone.’ Tahir replied before chewing on a large piece of pineapple.
‘So, the strand of Bhan’s in the dagger?’ Ochotan asked before turning and slamming it with his fist.
As they all looked on Ochotan was thrown across the room and out through the flaps.
‘I wish he’d given me a chance to say he can’t touch it either.’ Tahir said shaking his head from side to side.
‘What happened to him?’ Marineus asked as she raced to the opening and looked out into the darkness.
‘Stand back.’ Tahir said softly as the darkness disappeared in a flash of blinding light and Ochotan was once again stood by the table looking at the dagger intently.
‘What just happened?’ Ochotan asked as he looked down at his hands which were shaking slightly.
‘You’ve just crossed the expanse of the universe in a split second and been brought back.’ Tahir chuckled as he placed a hand on Ochotan’s shoulder and gently lowered him onto a large cushion that had appeared beneath him.
‘Impossible, my energy didn’t change, I never moved.’ Ochotan spluttered as he looked across at Marineus who was stood with a look of shock etched across her face.
‘For a split second young man, you were everywhere and nowhere at the same time.’ Tahir replied as he turned back to the table and picked up a boiled egg.
‘I’m telling you it’s not possible.’ Ochotan growled softly as he looked up at Tahir who just smiled as he slipped the whole egg into his mouth.
‘Believe what you want.’ Tahir chuckled after he’d swallowed the egg.
‘T. What else do you know?’ Hebro asked as she moved forward slowly so as not to startle him.
‘The Spear’s on Earth and we’re gonna have to find Fornicleus again.’ Tahir replied as he finished yet another piece of pineapple.
‘If you know where on Earth the spear is why do we need Fornicleus?’ Hebro asked as she walked to the fire and raised her hands towards the flame.
‘I only know it’s there, I don’t know exactly.’ Tahir replied as he picked up some of the jelly and ice cream like Katla. ‘Nice this isn’t it?’
‘Lovely.’ Katla replied as she kept devouring the pudding.
‘How many bowls have you had sister?’ Marineus asked as she saw the bowl refilling once Katla had finished.
‘I don’t know.’ Katla replied stopping mid fork travel.
‘More than would be healthy normally.’ Marissa chuckled as she dropped onto a cushion with what appeared to be a large tuna steak.
‘So, when are we leaving?’ Ochotan asked as he gingerly stood back up.
‘Can’t go on an empty stomach.’ Marissa replied as the juices from her steak ran down her chin.
‘You’re animals.’ Ochotan growled as he started to walk around the tent.
‘Following Fred’s advice here.’ Marissa chuckled as she started laying into a bowl of vegetables that had appeared by her side.
‘Who?’ Ochotan asked as he reached the opening.
‘Frederick the Great, brilliant general from Europe.’ Marissa replied as another forkful of tuna disappeared.
‘It’s not going anywhere so chill out.’ Tahir chuckled as he slipped another helping of jelly and ice cream into his mouth.
‘You mortals are ridiculous.’ Ochotan growled as he pulled a flap to the side to look out over the abyss.
‘Don’t know what you’re looking for.’ Tahir chuckled as he set his bowl on the table and watched it dissolve back into the cover.
‘Hope.’ Ochotan replied not turning back.
‘Little to the left then.’ Tahir scoffed as he held out his hand for Marissa who took it and pulled herself up spilling the plate she’d had over the floor, before it hit a brief flash and it was gone.
‘Take care you three.’ Katla whispered as she wrapped her arms around Marissa’s shoulders.
‘Loving the family support here.’ Ochotan scoffed as he started taking a step out of the tent.
‘Don’t.’ Tahir screamed loudly raising his hand.
‘Why not?’ Ochotan asked stepping out into the abyss. A second later after a blinding flash he was stood in the middle of the tent his eyes bulging.
‘Because Ochotan I know where we’re going and to leave here you have to know where you want to go.’ Tahir chuckled as he hugged Katla tightly.
‘Again, could do with the information being a little less late.’ Ochotan clucked as he walked over to where Marineus was stood.
‘You never asked.’ Marissa chuckled as she held out her hand for Hebro.
‘Son, it pains me to say this, you need to listen to these creatures, for all our knowledge they’ve been given access to that we seek but are unable to know.’ Marineus said as she wrapped a loving arm around her son before backing away and tapping him gently on the chest.
‘Yes mother. Auntie.’ Ochotan whispered as he bowed his head slightly to Katla as he moved to join Tahir, Marissa and Hebro by the opening.
‘Where are we going Tahir?’ Hebro asked as she held out her hand for him.
‘Katla.’ Tahir whispered as he stepped into the abyss.
‘What are we doing here?’ Hebro asked as she looked out across the caldera of the most powerful volcano in Iceland.
‘I just wanted to see where we’ll end up.’ Tahir chuckled as he pulled his glove off and held out his hand. Instantly a strand of energy traced a path from the ground to his outstretched fingers.
‘T. What are you doing?’ Marissa asked as the ground beneath her feet began to shake ever so slightly.
‘Fulfilling a promise.’ Tahir replied as a golden bolt of energy left his hand following the path of energy deep into the ground.
‘What have you just done Tahir?’ Hebro asked as her head followed the strand down through the structure of the Earth.
‘Bhaniwdral needs an alarm call, I’ve just given it to him.’ Tahir replied softly as he pulled his glove back on.
‘You mean Bhan could’ve slept for many more years?’ Ochotan growled as he pulled at Tahir’s coat swinging him out over the edge of the caldera.
‘No, Bhan’s been waking up for years, I’ve given him enough knowledge so he won’t do what you fear the most.’ Tahir replied as he looked at Ochotan who pulled him back.
‘If you’ve betrayed us mortal you’ll suffer.’ Ochotan growled as he set Tahir back down.
‘I don’t fear you.’ Tahir snapped as he thrust his hand into Ochotan�
�s stomach.
The shock spread across Ochotan’s face said everything.
‘T.’ Marissa screamed as she saw Tahir pull his hand back, a small strand of light green energy clenched between his fingers.
‘You were holding out on us.’ Tahir whispered as he held his hand over the edge of the caldera and let the strand fall out of sight to the floor.
‘What was that?’ Hebro asked as she followed the strand to the floor.
‘When Bhaniwdral was pulled apart all those years ago certain ascended beings kept the pieces they stole, it’s how Ochotan’s been able to consolidate and expand his powerbase so completely.’ Tahir replied softly as he turned to Ochotan who looked quite ill.
‘So Vilstang had a physical piece and you had the knowledge?’ Hebro spat as she turned to Ochotan a flash of dark blue power racing between her eyes.
‘Forget it Hebro, he’s lost everything now.’ Tahir whispered as he held out his hand for Marissa.
‘You knew?’ Marissa asked as she took the offered hand and stepped around Ochotan who had collapsed to his knees.
‘Not until we were here.’ Tahir replied as he held his other hand out for Hebro who took it happily.
‘The strand from the core.’ Hebro chuckled as she turned back to look at Ochotan who was beginning to glow ominously.
‘Yes.’ Tahir replied as he closed his eyes and the world around them dissolved.
Ochotan watched them disappear before standing up and peering once again over the edge into the caldera of the volcano.
‘You can’t reach it now.’ A cold voice whispered on the wind. ‘You’ve failed, so it’s back to your prison.’ The voice continued as golden strands of energy surrounded Ochotan before closing together and crushing him. ‘I had such high hopes for you as well.’ The voice echoed on the wind before the ground began to shake more violently.
‘Tahir, where are we?’ Hebro asked as she materialised on a cold dark harbour wall, little fishing boats bobbing up and down on the swell.
‘You should recognise this place.’ Tahir replied as he walked towards the quayside.
‘Not familiar I’m afraid.’ Hebro sniffed as she followed with Marissa in tow.
‘To be fair Hebro the last time you were here was when Fornicleus had just returned from the centre of the universe.’ Tahir chuckled as he reached down for a small length of rope.
‘Well forgive me for not keeping up with modern movements.’ Hebro scoffed as she turned to look around at what the little harbour had become.
‘Surely Fornicleus wouldn’t return, would he?’ Marissa asked as she pulled her coat tighter around herself.
‘We’re not chasing Fornicleus just yet.’ Tahir replied softly as he found what he was looking for at the water’s edge.
‘Who then?’ Hebro asked as something in the shadows caught her attention. ‘Step out into the light.’ She growled as a tall powerfully built man appeared, a torch in his outstretched hand.
‘I don’t want trouble, just making sure you don’t damage my lines.’ The man said as he walked forward.
‘Hello Thoreus, nice to meet you.’ Tahir whispered as he turned back from the quayside.
‘Thoreus, you left this planet.’ Hebro bristled as blue energy flashed between her eyes.
‘Hebronicleus, I always wondered if I’d get the chance to do this.’ Thoreus whispered as he moved forward and before Hebro could react he planted a kiss on her lips.
‘What are you doing?’ Hebro growled as she pushed Thoreus back an impish grin on his face.
‘I’ve wanted to do that for centuries.’ Thoreus chuckled as the large powerfully built man dissolved and a smaller unobtrusive one took his place.
‘You need your head checking.’ Hebro said all flustered at what had just happened.
‘Hebbie you’ve got an admirer.’ Marissa chuckled as she put an arm around Hebro and squeezed.
‘Give up.’ Hebro snapped as she pulled her coat tighter and headed to where Tahir stood.
‘On this spot sixteen hundred years ago, you watched as your old friend Fornicleus returned to the planet Bhaniwdral had been defeated on. You then watched as he forged a spear from the largest piece in existence.’ Tahir said softly as he reached into a bag and pulled out the Immortal Blade.
‘How did you get that?’ Hebro screamed as she looked at the sword in Tahir’s hand.
‘Not a clue.’ Tahir replied as he swung the sword before slamming the tip into the ground. Immediately the sea pulled back from the beach leaving the little boats balancing precariously on their keels.
‘I recognise the power my Lord, I’ve not seen Fornicleus for centuries, I swear I haven’t seen him.’ Thoreus whimpered as he dropped to his knees.
‘You know I believe you.’ Tahir said softly as he pulled the blade from the ground and slipped it back into his bag.
Marissa stood looking at the bag and couldn’t work out how such a large weapon had been hidden inside it. ‘T. how’d you get it in there?’
‘I’ll tell you later.’ Tahir whispered as he pulled the bag over his shoulder and started walking down the quay towards a light on the side of a building.
‘Hebro please look after yourself.’ Thoreus whispered as she passed him.
‘Always.’ Hebro smiled as she ran to catch Tahir and Marissa.
Thoreus smiled to himself as he walked to the quayside, laughing as the sea came racing back lifting the little boats.
‘Ok T. you need to be straight with me here, what’s going on?’ Marissa asked as she caught up to Tahir who’d set off at a brisk pace.
‘Your guess is as good as mine Mary. Ever since Bhan got into my head things pop up and I’ve no clue how to deal with them.’ Tahir replied softly offering his arm for Marissa to slide in close.
‘How did you get the blade into such a small bag?’ Marissa asked as she ran her hand over the outside of the small fabric bag currently strung over Tahir’s shoulder.
‘The inside of the bag is a separate piece of universe.’ Tahir replied with a slight growl.
‘I’m guessing that’s one of those things you can’t control?’ Marissa asked as she squeezed Tahir’s arm tighter.
‘When are you two gonna stop conspiring?’ Hebro asked as she caught up to Tahir and Marissa.
‘We just want this finished as much as you do Hebbie.’ Marissa replied as she held out her other arm to allow Hebro to slide in close.
‘I just wanna get back to how things were, back when I knew my place and could experience the whole universe, rather than this little speck of it.’ Hebro replied sarcastically.
‘It’s not that bad really?’ Tahir asked as he fumbled in his pocket and produced a small black leather pouch.
‘What’s that?’ Marissa asked as she caught sight of the pouch.
‘The last gift from Stef. He told me one day I’d need it and when that day happened I was to take it out and think of him.’ Tahir replied as he pulled the drawstring at the top. As he tilted it on one end a small silver coin fell out into Marissa’s hand.
‘Where did you get that?’ Hebro asked as she eyes the coin carefully.
‘You know what this is then?’ Tahir asked as he twiddled the coin between his finger and thumb.
‘You’re holding a piece of me.’ Hebro replied softly as a small tear ran down her cheek.
‘You can have it back Hebbie, I don’t need it.’ Tahir said softly as he offered his hand with the coin in.
‘It’s not that simple Tahir, I gave it up many years ago, I don’t have the knowledge or power to reclaim it.’ Hebro replied as she took the coin and felt it grow warm to her touch.
‘How do you know you gave it up?’ Marissa asked as she looked across at Hebro who seemed to be struggling to remember something.
‘I’ve never been so sure of anything.’ Hebro replied softly as she disconnected her arm from Marissa and rested the coin in her outstretched hand.
As the coin fell into Marissa’s palm something strange
began to happen, both hands seemed to merge, the coin got hot and disappeared.
‘Mary.’ Hebro screamed as the pain seared up her arm.
‘T.’ Marissa cried as she clenched onto Tahir’s shoulder.
‘Don’t fight it.’ Tahir growled as he turned to Marissa who recoiled slightly at the sight of Tahir’s eyes glowing slightly.
‘Mary, it’s ok.’ Hebro whispered as she looked down at where the coin had been and was unsurprised to see it had vanished. ‘I can remember, everything.’ She whispered hoarsely as her eyes flashed cobalt blue and lightning danced around her head.
‘Mary step back.’ Tahir whispered as he pulled gently on Marissa’s arm.
‘T. did you know?’ Marissa cried softly as she turned to watch Hebro dissolve into a brilliant blue cloud of smoke and lightning.
‘No.’ Tahir replied as he looked across at the cloud and smiled.
‘What’s happening?’ Marissa asked as she saw the cloud darken and dissolve into the ground.
‘Hebbie surrendered most of her power when she imprisoned Bhaniwdral here. When she hid the sword she surrendered some of her knowledge, to reclaim the knowledge she needed to find that piece she gave away, then find someone who’d been in contact with a supreme ascended to bind the two back together.’ Tahir replied softly as he looked up to the sky where a blue cloud was forming. ‘Here she comes.’ He chuckled as a bolt of energy left the cloud and impacted the ground just in front of them, as it did so it through a cloud of dust high into the air, as it drifted back down the unmistakeable form of Hebro emerged from the centre of it.
‘Hebbie.’ Marissa screamed as she let go of Tahir and raced at Hebro.
‘Mary.’ Hebro screamed for joy as she turned in time to see Marissa wrap her arms around her neck.
‘Don’t do that to me again.’ Marissa wept as tears raced down her cheeks.
‘I’m going nowhere anytime soon.’ Hebro replied as tears welled in her own eyes.
‘Promise?’ Marissa blubbed through her sobs.
‘Yes.’ Hebro replied as she held onto Marissa tighter.
‘As much as I love seeing women hugging we’re on a bit of a tight schedule.’ Tahir said coughing slightly to interject.
Spear of Heaven: The Fallen Page 8
