The River of Time (The Shiva XIV Series Book 4)

by Lyra Shanti

  “Ona,” he replied softly, “just keep giving him the regenerative shots. It may still help to heal his cells.”

  “We’ve been doing that! It’s not working, Lius. If anything, it’s making him worse!” She shook her head, then sat on the chair and opened the book back to where she had last left it. “Just go, Doctor. You can’t help us. You’ve tried, but you can’t. Just let me do this on my own.”

  His heart deeply hurt, but he knew he couldn’t reach her. Somberly, he slowly left the room.

  Zasaban could have helped, she told herself angrily, but he was a coward and left this world after the battle on Ohr. Bastard. I’ll never forgive him. He had incredible power, yet didn’t use it to save Ayn. How could he up and disappear?

  She was angry at everyone and everything, even at Ayn. He fought in a battle when he was sick, and made himself even sicker when he somehow healed the plasma in the galaxy’s atmospheres. She didn’t understand what he’d done to cause such a galactic cleansing, but even if she could, she would still be mad. He saved everyone, but at what cost? she asked herself.

  Staring at the drawing in the book, she began losing consciousness once more. The drawing was of a woman with long dark hair, and she was holding up a cup above her head. She wore a black robe and had a crown of red flowers. “Who are you?” asked Ona, now completely dreaming.

  “I am you,” said the woman in the drawing.

  “You’re not me,” Ona replied. “I’m a scientist. I test theories and find answers through facts!”

  The woman in the drawing became real with olive skin and hazel-green eyes. She smiled and put the cup down on a nearby wooden table. “Do you really think that is all you are? What about your priestess side? What about the Dryndi?”

  “What about them?” Ona snapped back. “I have nothing to do with those clueless harlots. The only one who has any real wisdom is Ayn’s sister. The rest of them are vision-less and pathetic! Not one of them could channel Adin’s power enough to bring him back! They’re all useless!”

  “Is that what you are now? Is that what I’ve become? Useless?”

  Ona cocked her head and looked at the woman more closely. It became apparent that she was at the Dryndi temple, and she was speaking with Sri Unda herself.

  “You became… me?” asked Ona, feeling as though she were a feather in the wind, swaying along with her fears.

  “Yes, I suppose… though you seem like one of those clueless priestesses you mentioned. You have no right to judge them when you yourself can’t find the strength to do what you know must be done to save our beloved.”

  “But… I really don’t know! I’ve forgotten what I did last time! Help me remember, and I’ll do it again!”

  Sri slowly turned her head and squinted her eyes. “Even if I helped you, it’s different this time. What I did then was simple comparatively. All I had to do was call him back to life. Once I regenerated his cells using my knowledge of the magnetic connection within plasma, I called his spirit, and he came to me. You, however, need to heal the negatively-charged, twisted plasma in his system, but without hurting his cellular structure in the process. Once you’ve done that, you need to call his soul back from the afterlife. If he wants to come back, he will. Are you prepared for all that?”

  Ona shook her head and gulped. “I don’t know,” she answered quietly, “but I have to try. He’s my life, my entire world. Without him, I feel I’m only half alive.”

  “You don’t have to tell me what that feels like,” Sri coldly replied. “I went through more grief and loss than anyone. I saw my beloved hanging on a tree, bleeding to death, hung up there by the very men who took an oath to protect and follow him! And worse, there was nothing I could do for fear they’d kill me and my children next. So I fled… to this temple, and as I felt the dark hand of death creep upon my soul, that’s when I realized the truth: there is no real death, there is only the depth beneath creation.”

  Ona shook her head, confused. “What do you mean?” she asked.

  Sri sat down on an over-sized, burgundy chair by a fireplace. She then pointed to the chair next to her, coaxing Ona to sit there. Ona sat down and waited for the priestess to explain further.

  “You see,” Sri continued, “I am just an illusion… and so are you. All forms of physical life are illusions. Deep down, we are only soul: the concentrated energies that we have chosen to be, and we live life after life after life, again and again. Some of us take moments to rest, and some find ways to escape being born for large amounts of time, thinking they are able to transcend the living plane of existence, but we all come back to the fire at some point. The fire is the heart of the illusion, Ona, and we cannot turn ourselves away from it.”

  “But if life is just an illusion,” asked Ona, feeling her frustration rising, “why should we care so much?”

  Sri shook her head slowly and said, “I never said illusions were bad. You must stop thinking of it in simple terms. Your mind imagines what it wants, especially dreams, but is everything it imagines pointless? Is everything you think of as an illusion also unreal? What about emotions? Can they be tested with fact? Can you prove love exists?”

  “I can feel it and remember it to be true,” replied Ona.

  “Yes, but emotions change. How do you know when it’s real?”

  “What are you getting at?” Ona said with squinted eyes, folding her arms.

  Sri smiled and said, “I’m trying to tell you that what is truly real is the heart. The fire of our souls stays with us, even after our bodies are gone from the physical world. If you can see past your dependence on scientific facts, you’ll realize what Coismir really means.”

  “What? What do you mean?” sputtered Ona.

  “You are addicted to proving yourself,” said Sri, “and that too is an illusion. You must free yourself from it before you can see behind the veil of the universe. Take away your need for proof. Despite how useful theories and questions can be, in the end, all we are is the fire of our souls. You can only bring your husband back if you remember how to call to him with your heart.”

  “Tell me what to do,” said Ona, pleading with her eyes.

  “Forget the illusions,” said Sri. “Don’t think about ends. The veil will be lifted and you will see his soul. Then, when he is ready to hear you, do not give up if he struggles upon waking, for he is weary of life, and the shock of re-entering the physical world is painful. Forgive him, and help him to heal himself while you guide his heart back to yours. Together, you can cure his body and start again.”

  Crying, Ona nodded, trying her best to believe the wise woman before her.

  “You can do this,” added Sri. “You must do it, or you and I both will never be able to move forward.”

  Ona stood up and walked to the fireplace. She then instinctively reached for Ayn’s medallion, which was hanging around her neck. Holding it firmly in her hand, she closed her eyes and shouted, “Sri Unda mah Coismir dar Adin-ha!” She had no idea what she was saying, but trusted the ancient words were calling Ayn’s soul back to hers. She told herself to forget her doubts or the sound of Ayn’s heartbeat on the machine nearby in the lab. Letting everything go, she focused only on the feeling of plasma itself.

  “Sri Unda mah Coismir dar Adin-ha!” she again chanted to the fire. “Ayn! Come back to me!”

  Just then, she saw a red-haired woman with fiery eyes, dancing in the flames. “Who are you?” Asked Ona.

  “I was once called Siya,” the fiery woman proudly replied, “though you knew me in your lifetime as a Hunian wizard. During the plasma explosion on Ohr, my soul was set free, and I am now at the borders of the afterlife, protecting Ayn’s consciousness. He saved the universe, but he couldn't save himself. My mother and I are more than grateful for his noble sacrifice, so we are protecting his spirit while he drifts between the ocean of death and the fire of life.”

  Ona nodded, though a bit confused. “Please, Siya," she addressed the fiery spirit, "help me reach my beloved husband
. His heart is still with me, I know it, but he can’t hear me for some reason. Do you know why?”

  “His consciousness is drained,” Siya replied as she slowly swayed inside the flame. “He is afraid that he cannot heal himself, and that he will fail you. To convince him that he is not alone, you must give him your own plasmic energy.”

  “How can I do that?” asked Ona.

  “You can use the medallion to amplify your soul. Envision that your soul and Ayn's are joined as one, then take in his pain and transform it into love. You were once a healer too, if you let yourself remember. You used to call spirits back to the living with your own plasma."

  Ona was shocked, and yet, Siya's words felt right.

  "Why did I lose my power? Did something happen?"

  Siya nodded sadly. "Yes," she soberly replied. "When Adin was murdered, you lost faith in yourself. I did as well, for I loved him as greatly as you. I chose anger as my release. You chose madness. But we both ended up losing ourselves... for a little while anyway. Time heals all, however, and you are here now... at the side of your beloved. He chose you to be his wife, dear Ona, and your soul is the answer to his heart. I realize this now, and I am sorry for any hurt I caused you in the past."

  Ona shook her head and began to cry. Suddenly, she was flooded with memories.

  "I remember you now," said Ona. "You showed me the truth of plasma, and inspired me to write about it. But... I think you hated me."

  "No, I never hated you," Siya replied. "I was jealous of you, but that was my own foolishness. As far as plasma is concerned, I only showed you what you already knew, but had forgotten. I should have been more understanding back then, for there is much to remember in our lives, and even I can't retain all of it."

  "You were once a great Sarax," said Ona. "I remember you now."

  "Good," Siya stated proudly. "I am glad you can truly see me now. The truth is, if you go even further back in your memory, you’ll remember we were once bonded as soul-friends. I would like to be friends again, if possible."

  Ona smiled though her tears and said, "I'd like that as well." She had the urge to reach through the flames to touch Siya's hand, but she didn't want to chance getting burned. "Please, my friend," she added, "teach me as you once did, and tell me how to save Ayn."

  Siya slowly danced in the flame and said, "Ona, all you have to do is feel the plasma that radiates inside you. Then, hold the medallion while you call to him. Believe in your soul's power, and I know you'll bring your beloved back home.”

  Giving a loving smile, Siya slowly disappeared into the flames.

  Ona held onto the medallion on her neck and focused her energy on Ayn's deep blue eyes. His soul came through those eyes, and when she thought of them, she could sense he wasn't far away.

  "Ayn! I know you're here with me," she passionately spoke to his spirit. "I know you're scared, my lovely, brave man. But I'm with you, and I'm going to heal you."

  Staring at the fire, she waited for a response, though none came. She then clutched onto the medallion and tried harder.

  "Trust me, my love! I am fully here with you, in this life and all others, and I will walk the path of life and death with you! I am your Sri Unda! I am your priestess for all time, and I'll never let you go!"

  She didn't see anything in the fire, but felt the flames rising as they fluttered and crackled in a rhythmic pattern, like a heartbeat.

  "Ayn! Adin! My love! Come home to me! Come back to this world, for I am here, and I will heal you. I swear it!"

  Gasping, Ayn came through the fire and grabbed her arm. "Help me," he whispered in a guttural voice. "My soul is poisoned."

  She held onto the medallion with her left hand and pulled Ayn through the fire with her right. When she had him tightly in her arms, she said, "No, my love, I will transform you."

  "How?" He asked, naked and shivering.

  "The same way you transformed the universe. Hold onto this," she said as she guided his hand to the medallion, "and listen to the sound of my heart. It beats with my undying love for you. Just listen, and let the plasma inside me heal you."

  Ayn listened and was soothed by her soul. She too began feeling the warmth within her aura as it calmed and transformed their fears.

  She felt her power coursing through her. It had been ages since she trusted her soul's plasma, but she felt it now more than ever as it healed Ayn's body and mind.

  Taking a deep, relaxed breath, Ayn looked at Ona and said, "Thank you, my beloved. I am awake."

  Ona slowly opened her eyes and saw, not the temple room any longer, but the lab with Ayn in his bed. She was holding his hand, as well as the medallion. She felt as though she had traveled through time, though she knew it was just a dream.

  "Ayn?" she whispered, praying her vision had been prophetic. "Can you hear me, my love?"

  He lay still, breathing slowly with his eyes closed. At first, she was heartbroken, thinking her dream was nothing more than a naive, desperate wish. After a few moments, however, she noticed how much easier he was breathing than before. She then looked at his virtual statistics, which displayed above his bed.

  Stunned, she almost screamed. His heart rate was normal, and his cells were finally accepting the regenerative medicine they had been giving him.

  "Ayn?" she whispered through tears. "Can you hear my voice? Are you with me?"

  Slowly, he opened his deep blue eyes and gave her a weary, yet warm smile.

  "Yes, my love," he softly replied, "I am with you… now and forever."

  End of Book 4

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  The story will continue in

  “The Book of Adin”

  Glossary

  Adin / ə - din'/: The very first Shiva Bodanya. He was supposedly murdered by his brother, Siri.

  Ah: The oldest God in Deiusian myth. He is the god of the sky, the stars, and the heavens. His wife is Om, and his children are Rami and Uramay.

  Ahluhana / ä - lü - hä' – nä/: The ancient name for the Sirini universe Goddess. It is also the original name for the planet.

  Amun-Lan / ä' - mün – län /: The high priest who taught Meddhi-Lan.

  Amya / äm' – yə /: The Queen of Deius and mother of Ayn. She died from plasma illness when he was very young.

  Api / ä' – pē /: The beginning month of harvest season on Deius.

  Atlar / at'- lär /: King of Kri and father to Ona.

  Atlaris / at - lär'- is /: The sun God of Krian mythology.

  Avoraleen / av - or'- ə - lēn /: A planet in the Dru-Ahm galaxy.

  Axis / ak' – sis /: Ayn’s bonded Sarax. He is a cross between a cat and a bird in appearance.

  Ayn / īn /: The boy-king and “Bodanya” of Deius. He is the supposed reincarnation of Adin.

  Baran / ber' – ən /: Second general to King Atlar. He is the leader of The Lirhan, Kri's specialized army.

  Bodanya / bō - dan' – yə /: "The Chosen One" or the prophesied spiritual leader of Deius.

  Bolgara Seith / bəl – gär' – ə sēth /: Ohrian wife of Governor Goral Seith.

  Coismir: / koiz' – meer /: An old Dryndi term that means “the core of truth.”

  Darvis / där' – vis /: A young Krian who is an apprentice councilman to Octian.

  Deius / dā' – üs /: The planet where Ayn was born. It is part of the five remaining planets that inhabit the Un-Ahm galaxy.

  Dru-Ahm /drü äm /: A complex galaxy with intelligent life. It neighbors the Un-Ahm galaxy.

  The Dryndi / drin' – dē /: The mystical oracles of Kri.

  Elenon / el' - le – nän /: An eight stringed musical instrument originally created on the planet Ohr.

  Emelanthia / em’ – el – lan’ – thē - ə /: The high priestess and head oracle at the Dryndi temple. She has a very important bloodline which gives her knowledge of the deep mysteries within the Deiusian and Krian religions.


  Fola / fō' – lä /: Sirini ex-slave who becomes a general of The Tah. She is Sterek's twin sister.

  Governor Goral Seith /gor' – äl sēth /: Former Governor of Xen's biggest city, Xen-14. He has strong ties to the Ohrian mafia.

  The Great Paradox: The Deiusian term for the slow decay of the atmospheres of the known planets near Deius. Also the term for the depletion of plasma within the Un-Ahm galaxy.

  Hana-Lo: The great valley of holy mountains on Sirin. It translates to “Queen of the Mountain.”

  Holy Order of the Dei / dā /: The council of priests in the Dei Kingdom. They have guided the Royal line of Shiva for many years.

  Hun / hün /: The destroyed planet where Zasaban originally hails. It used to be part of the Un Galaxy.

  Hynfir Astire, Lord General / hin' – fər as – tēr' /: Reese's adopted brother. Remembered as a great warrior and hero.

  Iliya / il' – ē – yə /: A young girl from the royal line of Shiva. She is a distant cousin to Ayn.

  Inda / in' – də /: An orphaned child who is taken care of by Weema and the fisherman near the Holy City. He is eventually taken in by Ayn and raised as a royal.

  Iniya / in' – ē’ -- yə /: A country on the Eastern side of Ohr. It is run by mafia lords.

  Iravini / ēr' – ə – vēn' – ē' /: A Deiusian, and later, Sirini, Goddess who represents sensual love and music. She visits Adin when he first travels to Sirin, giving him a vision that helps him attain enlightenment.

  Irix / ēr' – iks /: The daughter of Raxas.

  Captain Jayse / jās /: Reese's favored Lirhan captain, and often, her second in command.

  Jin / jin /: The youngest student of The Holy Dei.

  Krenja / kren' – jə /: “Kren” is a Sirini born fighter and ex-slave. His name means “brave son of the family.”

  Kri / krē /: The planet that is nearest to Deius as well as being their closest ally.

  Kurin Vax / kər' – in vaks /: The Prime Minister of Ohr.

  Kuva / kü' - və /: Krenja's younger sister.