‘Arrogant mortals.’ Another slightly higher pitched voice boomed from the darkness.
‘Show yourselves.’ Marissa screamed loudly in Tahir’s ear causing him to wince slightly.
‘How dare you.’ The deeper voice bellowed as a bolt of blue energy appeared from nowhere and bore down on Tahir and Marissa. Both stood their ground as the bolt passed through them and into nothing.
‘Impossible, no mortal could withstand that.’ The higher pitched voice exclaimed.
‘You fools, do you know what you’ve done?’ Aurinatus screamed from the darkness before walking into the arc of the candlelight.
‘Lord Aurinatus, we’re only doing as we were commanded to do.’ The deeper voice growled.
‘And if the universe were to discover what you’d just try to do, how do you think it would react?’ Aurinatus asked holding a bolt of green energy in his hand. Two large beetle like creatures staggered into the arc of the candlelight and dropped to their knees.
‘You’re the same race as Hebro.’ Tahir growled as he looked squarely at the creatures.
‘That’s what Hebbie looks like?’ Marissa asked softly turning her head to look at Tahir.
‘Yes.’ Tahir growled in reply as he moved forward slowly.
‘Tahir leave them to me.’ Aurinatus whispered as he turned to rest his hand on Tahir’s chest stopping him from moving further forward.
‘I want to know why.’ Tahir shouted as he rested his hand on top of Aurinatus’s.
‘Not like this Tahir, you’re better than that.’ Aurinatus whispered as he turned to the two creatures, allowed a flash of energy to race between his eyes before disappearing himself into nothing.
Tahir stood in the room looking at the spear still hung before him. ‘My god it’s beautiful.’ He whispered as he reached out his hand to take it.
‘Stop.’ Marissa screamed as she pulled on Tahir’s shoulder. ‘You don’t know if it’s safe.’ She cried as she looked around the spear.
Tahir turned to face Marissa and smiled. ‘It’s safe.’ He cried as he put all his weight on his back foot and launched himself at the spear. As he passed he reached out his hand and wrapped his fingers securely around the shaft, in a flash of green light he landed on the other side and raised the spear aloft.
‘Fool.’ Marissa cried as Tahir lowered the shaft and rested it on the ground.
‘Why?’ Tahir asked as he looked at her, tears streaming down her face he looked at his hand. Where there had once been the brown skin of a man from the middle east grey mottled skin began to fall from the bone, the golden bangle he wore on his wrist began to rattle off the bones in his wrist and his clothes began to sag as the muscle and tissue that should be there dissolved.
‘We need to get out of here now.’ Marissa screamed as she pulled her sleeve down over her hand and ripped the spear from Tahir’s grasp, the bones that had once formed his hand clatter to the floor and dissolved to ash instantly.
‘No.’ Tahir screamed in pain as the pattern of grey mottling began to spread across his chest and down his stomach.
‘Hebro where are you?’ Marissa pleaded as she stepped around to Tahir’s side and propped him up.
‘What happened?’ Hebro replied as she appeared in a flash of blue light.
‘Help me.’ Tahir screamed as his legs began to give way under him.
In an instant Hebro raised her arms above her head, in an instant silence swallowed everything. As Marissa opened her eyes they were stood in the middle of the tent.
‘What happened?’ Katla screamed as she raced to take Tahir’s arm.
‘He touched this.’ Marissa bellowed as she threw the spear at Marineus who caught it with ease. As it contacted with her hand green arcs of power raced up the shaft and impacted with her body.
‘You fool.’ Katla screamed as she lowered him to the floor and began to remove his clothes.
‘Is this the time?’ Hebro asked as she looked at Marineus who seemed rooted to the spot.
‘Yes.’ Katla screamed and rammed her fist through Tahir’s chest.
As she did so Tahir’s eyes opened wide enough for the white to be clearly seen, then he dropped to the floor and looked peacefully asleep.
‘What happened?’ Marineus asked quietly as a flash of green power arced between her eyes.
‘We made it to the end of the corridor, the next we’re in a darkened room with a single candle and that.’ Marissa replied pointing at the spear which had shrunk in Marineus’s hand.
‘Then what?’ Katla asked as she ran a tender hand over Tahir’s forehead.
‘Two of Hebro’s old race asked did we really think we could take it, shot a bolt of energy at us then Aurinatus appeared and saved us.’ Marissa continued quietly looking at Katla who had a pained look on her face, her hand still embedded in Tahir’s chest, the other stroking his forehead tenderly.
‘Aurinatus appeared?’ Marineus asked quietly walking over to the table before placing the spear next to the dagger which was still deeply embedded. As both pieces came into close contact they glowed for a second before returning to their natural state.
‘Yeah, once they’d gone Tahir leapt for the spear, caught it then I noticed what was happening to his hand and screamed for help.’ Marissa replied as she began to cry loudly.
‘It’s ok Mary, he’s gonna be fine.’ Katla whispered as she slowly pulled her hand from Tahir’s chest.
‘How can you know?’ Marissa asked through her tears.
‘Because I’m fine.’ Tahir whispered as he opened his eyes turned his head to Marissa and whispered ‘I’m sorry.’
‘You bloody fool.’ Marissa cried as she leapt forward and wrapped her arms around Tahir’s head.
‘Easy Mary, he still needs time.’ Katla whispered as tears began to roll down her own face.
‘How is this possible?’ Marineus asked as she looked at the scene before her.
‘You’ve been beyond for too long My Lady.’ Hebro whispered as she stepped up to the table and laid her hands over both the spear and dagger.
‘Careful.’ Marineus screamed as she saw what Hebro was about to do.
‘I’m afraid we’re beyond that now.’ Hebro whispered as she allowed her long fingers to wrap around the spear and daggers handle.
‘You.’ Katla barked as she raced to her feet.
‘Yes daughter, me.’ Hebro growled as both pieces of Bhan began to glow white hot under her fingers.
‘You can’t.’ Marineus screamed as she raised her hand to protect her eyes.
‘Yes, she can.’ Bhan whispered from the doorway.
‘Father no.’ Katla screamed as he began to dissolve before their eyes.
As all looked on the pieces of Bhan held tightly in Hebro’s grasp began to crack and scream, then in an instant they disintegrated and fell to the floor.
‘He’ll never bother me again.’ Hebro laughed maniacally before disappearing in a flash of dark green flame.
‘No.’ Katla screamed as surges of green flame and energy engulfed the tent.
Marineus leapt forward and covered Marissa and Tahir who were still laid on the floor. When Marineus raised her head to look around, the floor of the tent was still intact, the fire still raged, the walls were gone, only the vacuum of space lay beyond the carpet edge.
‘I’m sorry.’ Katla whispered as she slumped to the floor and began to sob uncontrollably.
‘Don’t be sister, she fooled us all.’ Marineus growled as she looked around the void for any sign of Hebro.
‘What happened?’ Tahir asked as he pulled himself into a sitting position.
‘We were betrayed.’ Katla replied through her cries.
‘How, she couldn’t leave, her power was minimal?’ Marissa asked as she looked out over the Eagle Nebula.
‘Sister can you get us to the centre of the universe?’ Marineus asked quietly as she turned and looked at Katla.
‘What’s the point?’ Katla asked tears still streaming down her cheeks.
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‘I’ve an idea, but it carries risks.’ Marineus replied as she looked across at Tahir and Marissa.
‘We’re in.’ Marissa said softly but with a look of sheer determination spreading across her face.
‘Ok.’ Katla said sniffing loudly and standing up. ‘Hold hands.’ She said as they all stood and formed a circle. She closed her eyes and focused all her thought on the small place at the very centre of the universe. As she opened her eyes they were once again stood by the bank of the stream, blue skies overhead and fish jumping. Sat by the stream in blue dungarees and a checked shirt an old man with a straw hat sat, a fishing pole beside him and an open basket with nothing in it.
‘Father.’ Katla screamed as she saw him.
‘Daughter, what are you doing here?’ Bhan asked softly as he looked at Katla and wiped away her tears.
‘Father we need to talk.’ Marineus whispered as she walked up and wrapped her arms around Bhan and held him tightly.
‘Ok, what’s up with you two?’ Bhan asked as he looked beyond his daughters at Tahir and Marissa who seemed to want to look anywhere but at him.
‘Mothers gone mad.’ Katla started before Bhan could raise a hand and stop her.
‘She did it didn’t she, destroyed the spear and the dagger?’ Bhan said looking at Tahir who was slumping forward again and resting on the bank.
‘Yeah.’ Tahir replied as tears began to race down his cheeks.
‘You’re afraid for your friend?’ Bhan asked warmly as he pointed to where Stefan lay, encased in glass protected from the elements.
‘He’s safe, trust me.’ Bhan said as he laid a hand on Tahir’s shoulder. ‘Don’t blame yourself, this was always going to happen.’ He finished as he wrapped a loving arm around Marissa and gave her a gently hug.
‘What do you mean, always going to happen?’ Marineus asked as she joined the little group.
‘Despite what you thought daughter you were never the second most powerful being in the universe, Hebro was. At least the original was.’ Bhan replied softly as he turned to look at Katla.
‘What do you mean original?’ Katla asked seriously.
‘When we came together to ascend you we nearly lost you, Hebro offered the universe her ascension so you could carry on, the universe in an act of mercy it’s never likely to do again allowed both of you to carry on existing. Unfortunately at the time I didn’t know Hebro had been raised to the same level as me, the universe granted her everything I’d been given, she broke off a piece of her conscious and imbued it with the power and knowledge from before and allowed it to roam freely, she’s been in exile since the time of my absence, knowing that my return would cause issues within the structure of the universe, if she’s the supreme being things will carry on as they are, if we’re both allowed to carry on there will be major repercussions.’ Bhan replied as he turned to where Stefan lay.
‘What kind of repercussions?’ Marineus asked moving forward a flash of power racing between her eyes.
‘End of the universe.’ Bhan replied turning back to face Katla.
‘I can’t lose you.’ Katla cried softly as she realised what this would mean.
‘You won’t lose me, I’ll always be here.’ Bhan replied warmly as he pointed to the stream where a fish leapt from the water and landed in the basket.
‘What about our friend?’ Tahir asked turning from where Stefan lay back to Bhan.
‘Unfortunately, he’s a casualty of war, he can never leave this place now, the cost to him would be disastrous.’ Bhan replied softly as he lowered his head.
‘Sorry I can’t accept that.’ Marissa growled as she jumped forward and began beating her fists on Bhan’s chest.
‘I know you’re upset, but it’s really for the best.’ Bhan said softly as he wrapped his hands around Marissa’s and held them tightly against his chest.
‘We can’t leave him.’ Marissa screamed as she buried her head in Bhan’s chest and began to sob uncontrollably.
‘There there.’ Bhan whispered softly as he released her hands and wrapped a fatherly arm around her.
‘Vilstang said you’ve taken a step along evolution no one else has sister, could she contain your knowledge and power father?’ Marineus asked after a moment.
‘Unfortunately, your sister doesn’t possess the skills required to accommodate that much knowledge or power.’ Bhan replied quietly still holding Marissa.
‘What about Stef, could he help?’ Marissa asked through the clothing.
‘Suppose there’s a chance.’ Bhan said after thinking about it for a second. ‘Vilstang.’
‘Father.’ Vilstang replied instantly as his form appeared on the other side of the stream.
‘Do you still possess the original Immortal Blade?’ Bhan asked quietly as he turned to face his son.
‘Paneous took it when he captured me.’ Vilstang replied soberly looking at the ground.
‘Very well, return to the edge of thought and begin your search there.’ Bhan replied with a wave of his hand and Vilstang disappeared.
‘What are you thinking father?’ Katla asked as she watched Bhan start to walk to where Stefan lay.
‘The two blades might just be enough of my physical form to make this work.’ Bhan replied absently as he continued to walk to where Stefan lay. ‘Are you ready to receive the full power and knowledge of the universe daughter? To know all there is and to exist as I did?’
‘No.’ Katla replied truthfully.
‘A good start then daughter.’ Bhan replied with a warm smile as he looked at Stefan and nodded his head.
The glass melted away and Stefan took a deep breath. ‘What happened?’ he asked as he looked around.
‘My boy, are you ready to relinquish all you’ve been given?’ Bhan asked seriously bending down to meet Stefan’s face.
‘Yes.’ Stefan replied instantly.
‘Ok then, Tahir would you mind giving Katla the Immortal Blade in your possession.’ Bhan said looking at Tahir who was dumb struck.
‘It’s in my bag.’ Tahir said sheepishly.
‘This one?’ Marineus said with a wry smile.
‘Yeah.’ Tahir mumbled as he reached into his bag, pulling out the blade, Odin’s Eye still set into the hilt.
‘Beautiful workmanship.’ Bhan said as he examined the blade.
‘Thanks.’ Stefan chuckled softly as he reached out his hand for the hilt.
‘Daughter take the blade itself.’ Bhan said softly as he placed the two approximately four feet apart.
‘Father.’ Vilstang said as he appeared in a bolt of green energy, the original blade in his left hand.
‘Give Stefan the blade, daughter take the hilt.’ Bhan said as he stepped out of the way so Vilstang could do as ordered.
‘Now what?’ Stefan asked as he wrapped his fingers around the blade, feeling uncomfortable as blood began to ooze down towards Katla.
‘Nothing.’ Bhan replied as his eyes turned from their usual to two small orbs of green flame. He reached out and touched both blades at the same time. As he touched the blades both handles merged with the hand holding them, then in an instant he pulled both blades and impaled the end into the opposite person, Stefan holding one end the other going through Katla and vice versa. Neither screamed but looked down then back at the other and smiled. As the looked up at each other an aura of light engulfed the three blinding the onlookers, even Marineus and Vilstang had to shield their eyes from the light. As it faded the blades were gone, Stefan and Katla both stood a serene look across both their faces and in the middle a slightly taller and happier looking Bhan.
‘Are they ok?’ Tahir asked quietly so as not to disturb them.
‘I’m fine T.’ Stefan replied quietly as he opened his eyes, instead of eyes two golden orbs of light rotated and filled the area with warmth.
‘Cuz, you’re scaring me.’ Tahir cried softly as he began to kneel down.
‘What are you doing?’ Stefan asked quietly his eyes returning to their norma
l blue as he stepped forward and placed a hand under Tahir’s arm.
‘Couldn’t help myself cuz.’ Tahir spluttered as he looked at his friend before wrapping his arms around him and holding him tight.
‘Mary, you ok?’ Stefan asked as he looked at Marissa who stood a little further back, an unusual look on her face.
‘I can see it’s you, but is it really you?’ Marissa asked after seeming to lose her voice.
‘It’s me Mary I promise.’ Stefan replied softly as he stepped forward and held his hands up.
Marissa unsure about what to do next looked across at Bhan who smiled and nodded his head slightly. Marissa leapt forward and wrapped her arms around Stefan’s shoulders and her legs around his waist.
‘Sister.’ Marineus said softly looking at Katla who hadn’t moved a muscle.
‘Give her time Marineus.’ Bhan said quietly as he moved to stand between Marineus and Vilstang.
‘Father forgive me.’ Vilstang said quietly bowing his head.
‘My son, you had to learn for yourself, I can see you’ve paid your penance, this new understanding was necessary for all of you, even you Aurinatus.’ Bhan chuckled as he turned to see his other child stood before him.
‘I.’ Aurinatus began before Bhan raised his hand to stop him saying anything else.
‘I know.’ Bhan chuckled as he turned back to Katla who it seemed was beginning to stir to life.
‘Katie, are you alright?’ Marissa asked as she let go of Stefan and moved forward.
‘Remember your place mortal.’ Vilstang began before a look from Bhan silenced him.
‘My apologies Marissa, it seems there’s still a few rough edges to smooth out.’ Bhan whispered as he turned back to Katla who’d begun to move her head and shoulders.
‘Mary.’ Katla said softly as she opened her eyes. The two orbs of golden flame burning where eyes should be didn’t faze anyone anymore, when she blinked they returned to their normal green colour and her limbs began to move.
‘Are you ok?’ Marissa asked as she moved forward her arms up.
‘I’m fine, really I am.’ Katla replied as she wrapped her arms around Marissa hugging her tightly. ‘And now so are you.’ She finished as she let go and turned to Marineus.
Spear of Heaven: The Fallen Page 12
