by Lyra Shanti
Ayn felt shaken. He didn’t like being grabbed by his calves, and the way Zasaban was acting scared him. He was about to call for help when his mysterious adviser said, “Listen to me, Ayn. That surgery will take away your power, and you will no longer be able to use Adin’s strength when the plasma inside you is supposedly cured. You cannot have the surgery, for only you alone can stop my mother, and you will need all your power to do it.”
“What in The Un are you talking about?” asked Ayn, completely baffled. Annoyed, he pulled Zasaban’s hands off him, and added, “I’m not happy about the surgery either, you know, but I must do it or-”
“No, Ayn, you will not die,” Zasaban interjected, “not from Undaniasis anyway. I know you feel what I’m saying is true. Look inside your soul, and you will see the path you must choose.”
“I honestly have no idea what you’re saying!” Ayn loudly stated. “What about your mother? Who is she, and why do you want me to stop her? From what? What do you mean?”
“There isn’t time for details, my king,” replied Zasaban as he stood to his feet. “At this very moment, your wife is on her way to take you to the doctor. I’m sorry, Ayn, but I can’t allow that - not until you’ve fully remembered yourself, and your true path.”
Without warning, and in a blink of a second, Ayn found himself sitting on a rock in a large cave by the ocean. The speed of movement was so fast that he temporarily felt insane. Wanting to vomit, he doubled over, breathing hard.
“I’m sorry, my king,” said Zasaban as he knelt down, laying his hand on Ayn’s shoulder, “but there isn’t time to waste. You would have most certainly regretted that surgery, and I had to stop it from happening.”
Slowly looking up, Ayn quelled his stomach, and took a deep breath. After a few moments, he shook his head, then shouted, “Who the hell are you?!”
Zasaban stood up with a half-smile, and replied. “Can you not answer that yourself, my king? Can you not feel who I truly am, or should I say, who I used to be?”
Ayn swallowed and tried to calmly assess the situation. “Well,” he slowly replied, “clearly, you’re not simply Hunian, nor just my adviser.”
“I am more than your adviser, that is true, Ayn, but… I am physically Hunian… this life anyway. In my past life, however, I was much more. If you feel it in your heart, I know you’ll remember me.”
Slowly, Ayn stood up as he felt his power returning to his body, though he didn’t understand why. “What did you do to me?” he asked while looking at his fingers. “I feel stronger for some reason.”
Zasaban smiled as said, “Yes, right before we traveled, I made sure Adin’s Viha was in your hand. That sword is enough to recharge your plasma. You see, my king, you and that sword are linked, similar to your bond with my... with your friend, Axis. It was all you needed to feel a little better. However, you’ll need to spend more time meditating with it.”
“I don’t understand,” said Ayn, rubbing his forehead. Looking around on the floor of the cave, he saw his Viha, which had been unsheathed and was now lit up with the glow of its plasma. The light was emanating the entire cave, and Ayn felt half delighted and half horrified. “Zas… where are we?” he asked.
“We are on Ohr,” replied the mysterious wizard, “for the hour of her destruction is almost upon us. Only you can stop her, Ayn. She will not listen to me. She never has.”
“Who?” asked Ayn. “Your mother?”
“Yes,” replied Zasaban, “although, she is no longer my mother this life, biologically speaking. Yet, my soul never forgets her, and she still has not forgiven me for my betrayal.”
Ayn shook his head and went to his Viha. He picked it up and carefully set it on the rock. “Alright,” he said as he turned to face the wizard, “clearly you are speaking about your past life. Why don’t you just tell me who you were and what I have to do with it.”
“Ayn,” said Zasaban as he walked closer to his king, “don’t you know who I am?”
“Not really,” he replied, instinctively putting up a defensive wall. “Why don’t you just tell me? You’ve taken me all this way for some strange reason, so why don’t you just tell me everything and be done with it?”
“Because,” said the wizard, “you may not believe me. I want you to feel it in your soul. That way, you cannot deny the truth of our past.”
Ayn gulped. There was something dangerous, yet incredibly beautiful inside his adviser’s eyes. Why hadn’t he noticed it before?
Zasaban approached even closer, then touched Ayn’s cheek. “Can you not see inside this Hunian male body? Is my soul that unrecognizable?”
Ayn wanted to turn away and pretend he couldn’t see the red eyes of fire in front of him.
“No…” Ayn replied in a whisper. “It can’t be you.”
“Yes, my king, I have been reborn, but I am still your red dragon to command as you please.”
Ayn looked at the man standing uncomfortably close to him and said, “I don’t understand, but… Siya, is that you?”
Zasaban smiled wide and said, “My beloved Adin, I am here, and this time, I promise I won’t fail you!”
Ayn swallowed hard as he saw the true spirit of his trusted adviser. Looking with, not his eyes, but his soul, Ayn saw the red Sarax of legend with her wings extended across the cave.
“But Siya…” whispered Ayn, “why are you… a man?”
“I am not a man,” he replied, “nor am I a woman. I am Sarax. I do as I please, yet I bend to the universe’s will. Truthfully, I have changed form so often, my king, that I do not find it odd to be in this body, though I understand if it is quite strange for you. One thing that will never change, my Adin, is my love and loyalty for you.”
Ayn felt his soul pull toward Zasaban, and for a moment, he yearned to kiss his lips. Shocked, Ayn pulled back and folded his arms. “I… appreciate that, my friend,” he said, looking away, “but… why didn’t you reveal yourself to me before? Why take me here? What is your ultimate plan?”
Zasaban smiled with a raised eyebrow, noticing Ayn’s apprehension, and said, “I could not tell you any sooner. I can see how you still fear me, and I did not want to risk losing your trust. I remember how you sent Siya away when we were lovers. It still stings, to be honest.”
Ayn brushed back his long bangs with his fingers and said, “My Gods, Zas! It’s so long ago. How can you remember it so easily?”
Zasaban leaned against the cave wall and grew melancholy. “I remember quite a lot, my king,” he quietly explained. “I was raised as a seer of the Hun Sages. Much like your childhood, ever since I was a small boy, I was shown how to meditate, and how to see the past and future as one. The Sarax had visited the Sages long ago, and they taught our ancestors how to shape time and space. Although, only I was able to travel away before our sun exploded. I am one of the only survivors of that doomed, but once beautiful planet. I can still hear the cries of my people as the flames engulfed our beloved world.”
Ayn quietly nodded, not knowing how to respond. “That’s… horrible. I’m sorry,” he finally replied.
“It is the way of nature,” said Zasaban, "and I've come to accept that fact. However, even that terrifying event did not equal the pain Siya felt when she lost her beloved Adin. Do you remember how much she adored you, my king?”
“I… I’m afraid to see it, to be honest,” said Ayn.
“Why?
“Because... I think Adin inside me is afraid to remember how much pain he caused others... when I failed you all.”
“No, Ayn, do not let yourself believe you failed any of us. It was Siya who failed when she cried for her mother to destroy the ones who killed Adin. When her mother refused to do so, she… I… turned my back on my Sarax blood, and I even stopped guiding my son. It was weak and inexcusable. Because of my selfish vengeance, I lost sight of what was most important, and I cannot forgive myself.”
Ayn saw a tear fall from Zasaban’s red eye. He wanted to reach out for him, but was unsure if doing
so would make things worse. “I’m sure your son forgave you,” said Ayn, though he was not really sure of anything.
“No, he never had time to forgive,” replied the wizard as he shrugged off his tears. “Instead, he flew into time without thinking and was instantly reborn. My son, you know him now as Axis, and he doesn’t trust me worth a damn. He doesn't even remember me, and I don’t blame him, to be honest. But Ayn, do you remember? Please say that you at least feel it to be true.”
Nodding, though dazed, Ayn said, “I do feel it, yes… but it scares me. I can still feel Adin’s memories… although, he’s been hiding from me as of late.”
“That is because you have been separating him from your soul, Ayn. You need to stop doing that or you’ll never be able to fight the illness spreading inside your plasma. It is not too late, however. Adin is within you… inside your memory and your heart. But you must stop blaming yourself for Adin's death. There is nothing to fear. All of us are with you again in this life, supporting you, my great king.”
Ayn sighed and leaned on the rock by his sword. “Not everyone is with me,” he sadly replied. “I can’t feel Axis. I haven’t felt him since he left, and even before that… ever since the trident broke our bond, it hasn’t been the same. We don’t speak in our minds anymore. I miss him, Zasaban. I can’t even feel like myself when he’s not here. How strange is that?”
“It’s not strange whatsoever, my king. You two were always close, and he has always been your bonded Sarax, going back to when he was your son.”
“What? Axis? He was my, I mean, Adin’s son?”
“Yours and mine, yes,” the wizard replied without blinking an eye.
Ayn took a deep breath and said, “I’m sorry, but this is so weird.”
“Why?” asked Zasaban.
“Because you’re a man now! You’re a very tall man with… a manly voice... and everything else that goes with being male. It's hard to imagine you and I used to... you know.”
Zasaban laughed and said, “I guess I should somehow take that as a compliment.”
Ayn gulped and said, “I’m sorry… I know I’m being close-minded, but… I’m trying to see how you once were, I guess. I mean, Adin and Siya were lovers, right?”
“Very intense lovers, yes,” replied Zasaban, “but only for a brief time. You see, Adin met his soul-mate, and even though he and I shared a very strong bond, it was not enough to steal him from his beloved Sri. In the end, I lost to the woman who eventually loved him enough to bring him back from death itself. How could I compete with such a woman?”
Ayn looked at Zasaban directly in the eyes and said, “Is that why you’re a man now? Is it to get over Adin?”
The wizard shook his head and laughed. “You are still as egotistical as ever, my king,” he replied with a smirk. “No, I became a man because I did not care which gender my body chose. I simply wanted to be reborn, and perhaps I felt a little lost. I let the whim of The Un change me into whatever it wanted. However, my soul remains the same, albeit slightly different.”
Ayn looked at him and then finally saw her. “You were once a beautiful woman with wild, red hair. I see you now, Siya. I think I always loved you. Even as a child, I loved the stories about the red dragon of protection. I remember the priests telling me about how Siya would avenge the innocents of the world who were unjustly hurt. I used to dream about flying on the red dragon during adventures through the galaxy. Silly, I know, but…”
“No, Ayn,” said Zasaban tenderly, “it’s not silly. It’s a memory. You and I did fly together… until I gave birth to Xam, and then you and he bonded even stronger. I was so proud of you both. There was much injustice back then, perhaps even worse than now, and you two stood up for many. There was no one who could stop you… until that horrible day when you were murdered.”
Not wanting to remember that day, Ayn stood up and walked to the mouth of the cave. He saw the vast Tirleni ocean and said, “What are we doing here, Siya, I mean, Zas? Can I still call you Zas?”
“Of course,” replied Zasaban as he walked to where Ayn stood, “and we’re here because my mother needs to be stopped… before it’s too late.”
“Your mother?” asked Ayn. “Who is she? What does she have to do with Ohr?”
“Her name is Osha, and even though she is not my biological mother this life, I still remember her soul. I have tried to talk sense into her, but… to no avail.”
“Is she… Sarax?” Ayn asked.
“No,” said Zasaban, “not anymore. What she once was has died. She is no longer the mother of the ocean, for her anger about what they’ve done to her remaining children has turned her colder than the deepest black of the ocean. No, Ayn… my mother is not a Sarax. This creature… Osha… is a monster.”
Chapter 18: The Dome
“Next,” said the cold voice coming from inside the daunting room ahead. Watching the pale girl slowly exiting from the doctor’s office, Zin gulped hard, his gills expanding in fear.
He had heard horror stories about how anyone who got “treated” by Dr. Quine ended up sick or dead. He didn’t want to be one of those people, yet he had avoided the doctor’s request to see him for a few weeks. Unable to avoid his appointment any longer, Zin was told by Raven to just get through the doctor’s first consultation. Their plan was to escape before Zin started receiving Quine’s supposed treatment.
“Come in, please,” said the cold voice once again. Nervously, Zin stood up, then slowly walked through the off-white corridor. He had never liked doctor’s offices, but none of them filled him with as much fright.
As he entered the doctor’s office, he saw the man everyone feared, and was surprised at how non-threatening he actually looked. Dr. Quine was a pale man with slicked back, chestnut brown hair, and he wore a white doctor’s robe with circular, small-rimmed glasses. He actually reminded Zin of a mild mannered science teacher from his school days.
The doctor stood up and shook Zin’s hand. “Hello, Your Majesty,” he calmly said. “I am Dr. Leono Quine, and I will be testing you for Undaniasis this afternoon. It is a small, simple procedure, but if you have any questions, please feel free to ask me.”
Zin slowly nodded in distrust with squinted eyes. “So…” he replied, “you know who I am.”
“Oh, of course I do,” said the doctor, matter-of-fact. “Who would not know of Lod Zin? Now, if you please, Your Majesty, will you sit on the table here so that I may take a few samples of your blood?”
Zin shook his head. “No, thank you,” he replied, just as nonchalant.
Dr. Quine raised his left brow and smirked. “I see… you are skeptical of what we do here. I understand.”
“Skeptical?” Zin scoffed. “That’s putting it mildly. As far as I can tell, you’re testing people like they are lab animals, and you might even be making them sicker! I refuse to take part in anything you’re doing, and I will not willingly give you my blood under any circumstances.”
The sly doctor raised his brow and coldly said, “I see. Well, then… I suppose you wouldn’t object to me at least checking your blood pressure. I’d like to make sure you are generally healthy.”
Zin couldn’t believe how oblivious he seemed. Does he not understand that I’m on to what he’s doing here? he asked himself. “No,” he replied in a sharp tone. “Maybe you misunderstood me, but I don’t want you touching me… at all! I am fully aware that I am a prisoner in this place, and I refuse to take part in anything you and Vax have going on behind closed doors. So, unless you plan on keeping me in your office by force, I will take my leave now.”
Turning for the door, Zin heard Dr. Quine clear his voice.
“Excuse me,” said the doctor, “before you go, Your Highness, I must insist on you at least receiving your immunity shot. It’s standard. Even I had one.”
Before Zin could turn around and object, he felt a quick sting to the back of his right forearm. “Ouch!” he snapped. Scornfully, he looked at the doctor and snarled. Great, he probably ju
st poisoned me! thought Zin as he raced out of the office.
Rubbing his arm, he briskly walked to his room where Raven was waiting for him. She was deeply worried and met him with a desperate kiss to his cheek.
“My love, are you alright? Did he hurt you?”
“No, not really,” he replied as he closed the door to their room, “but he stuck me with some kind of so-called immunity shot. I couldn’t stop him. Am I infected now?”
She pursed her lips, then said, “No, I don’t think so. The first shot they give you is to cleanse your system, at least that’s what they say. No one has ever gotten sick from it though. I think you’ll be alright, honey. It’s when they begin giving you the actual treatment that you start to feel weak.”
Zin bit his lip and looked at Raven with a furrowed brow. “My poor woman, you and Mother have had to endure these treatments, haven’t you?”
She nodded and said, “Well, I’ve only had a few. Your mother has been here longer though, so I worry about her health. She gets easily tired a lot these days.”
Zin felt the rising heat of anger as it crawled up his spine. Swallowing it back down, he said, “I don’t know what’s taking Pei so long, but I’m not waiting any longer. We’re getting out of here… tonight!”
“How?” asked Raven.
“When the lights go off for the night and everyone is asleep, we’re going to get Mother and sneak out. Do you trust me?”
“Of course, my love.”
“Then, be ready by midnight. We’re escaping this hell-dome no matter what!”
--
Kiyana didn’t wish for anyone to fight; she hated war and only wanted peace for everyone in the universe. However, she was all too aware of the threats to her people, and to Osha. She knew war was inevitable, starting with the destruction of The Dome, though she regretted that fact.
