Beyond Amber: A Visionary Fantasy (The Light Warriors Book 3)

by Lucia Ashta

  Then, she turned toward him, and they became one. He filled her, sharing with her the last remnants of who he was. She received all that he offered her, and she opened herself up to him fully, revealing every last bit of herself. Together, like this, they were truly one. Two individuals who were so much like each other, intermingled, and in the eyes of Creator, for this single moment, they were one.

  Asara closed her eyes to the world, to thoughts of the dark raven, to the doman, and everything that was still left for them to fulfill while they walked this earth. For these eternal moments, it was just her and her beloved, twins since before time. She breathed in deeply, and Anak’s essence filled her.

  Lena sat next to Paolo on the same large, flat rock she shared with Kel the night they met him. Sitting Bear sat to Paolo’s left on another smaller rock, where he listened to Paolo explain who Asara and Anak were. Paolo struggled to summarize a journey that had only lasted months in linear time, but that seemed like forever to him and encompassed several lifetimes.

  Sitting Bear listened raptly. His people believed in reincarnation, so the concept wasn’t foreign to him. He understood that Lena and Paolo were another incarnation of the souls within Asara and Anak.

  Lena didn’t contribute to the conversation. She was back in her body, but she was dreamy.

  “Asara and Anak are the golden children of prophecy,” Paolo said. “The prophecy foretells of twins that will change the world. They’ll come at a time of strife and greed, and they’ll bring peace and golden light to the world. Lena and I believe this prophecy refers to us in some ways as well. Since we’re the same souls as the golden children of prophecy, we also have the responsibility to do whatever we can to fill the world with light and to transform it for the better.”

  He looked at Sitting Bear. All that Paolo had just spoken of were concepts that his own blood family would reject; neither his parents nor his surviving siblings would understand any of it. They’d likely worry for Paolo, thinking he’d lost his mind.

  Here Lena and Paolo sat with a man they’d met only days before but, within his eyes, Paolo identified acceptance and comprehension, not judgment.

  “There’s also something else, something I haven’t seen, but Lena has. There’s another prophecy made by the same prophet. We don’t know all of it yet, but it has something to do with an object of power called a doman. This doman must be very important because the dark shapeshifter is pursuing it. That’s the general idea of what Lena has shared with me. She may have more information.” Paolo let his last statement linger as an opening for Lena to say more.

  He turned his face toward Lena, inviting her to join the conversation. But she stared at their surroundings, her eyes glazed. It was clear she was distracted, pulled away by thoughts of another time and place.

  “We must find a way to help Asara and Anak,” Sitting Bear said, his voice low. “Based on what you’ve said, their mission must be very important. We have to do what we can to support them. Even if they’re in another time than we are now, there must be something we can do. If not, I don’t think Lena would be drawn into Asara’s world the way she is.

  “Besides, there’s no real difference in time and space when it comes to the war between good and evil. Its effects can trickle through all time and all lifetimes. The fate of our present world may rest on Asara and Anak. Let’s not forget there’s an evil envoy that pursues us now, just as there’s one that hunts Asara and Anak.” Someone, or something, had given their attacker orders. It was unlikely that this person or force would yield because the attacker was in police custody for the time being.

  “The answer to what we can do to help may lie with the pyramid.” Sitting Bear’s words rang true. Lena shivered.

  Paolo sighed loudly, but with determination. “It’s what we came here for.”

  “Then there’s no time to waste,” Sitting Bear said. “Let’s go to the pyramid now.”

  From wherever Lena was, she looked up suddenly. The whisper of Asara trailed after her. “Yes, we must go now.”

  Sitting Bear and Paolo discussed the pros and cons of abandoning the campsite Paolo set up when he and Lena first pulled into town. In the end, the only advantage they could come up with was the bubble of protection and, although the security the shield offered was important, it wasn’t a strong enough reason to keep them away from the pyramid.

  The answer was with the pyramid. It had to be. It was why Lena and Paolo were there to begin with. Kel could find them at the pyramid if he wanted.

  The men didn’t include Lena in the decision-making. It was apparent to both of them that Lena was in a place where these details didn’t matter. Instead, they allowed her the space to honor her spirit. As it was, Lena wasn’t even listening to their conversation.

  While the men quickly disassembled the tent and cleared the campsite, leaving the dismantling of the protective bubble to Kel, Lena let herself drift again until she smelled the familiar scents of Asara’s world.

  Then, Lena walked through the ripple of energy that reminded her so vividly of Area and Arien’s ways. And, like Area and Arien, the twins of air from Asara’s time, Lena floated toward the car.

  Chapter 30

  The twins, Thom, and Kaanra sat together under the wide umbrella of one of the ancient trees of the forest. The trees had now righted themselves, the plants had assumed their usual positions, and the vines had retreated to their habitual spots. Birds chirped and fluttered from their familiar perches. It was as if the illusion to deceive the dark raven had never been.

  Despite the appearance of normalcy, the light warriors were acutely aware that the dark raven still hunted them. For now, the thick canvas of green above would shield them from his probing eyes, but they needed to afford the doman greater protection.

  Thom asked the woodlands and its creatures if any of them identified a danger to him or his companions. Asara joined the wind to detect if a threat was approaching, riding the air currents. Anak searched the earth for signs of encroaching darkness by holding his hands against the earth, becoming one with her. None of them found any signs of imminent danger.

  Kaanra tilted his face toward the sun. He didn’t seek answers. Only gratitude for all that life could be coursed through him. He’d fulfilled his part in Dann’s final prophecy. He’d also completed every other divine purpose that was his for this lifetime. He’d continue with the light warriors for as long as he could offer support and assistance, but it was up to them to determine their course now. The fate of the world was in their hands.

  Thom held the doman out for Asara, Anak, and Kaanra to see. When the mother tree birthed the doman into Thom’s arms, entrusting the treasure of her womb to his care, there’d been no time. Thom had furtively tucked the doman under his cloak so the prying darkness couldn’t detect it.

  Now, Thom held the doman in outstretched arms, while the others leaned in, further closing the circle their bodies formed. The twins, Kaanra, and even Thom, who hadn’t had the opportunity to study the doman either, peered excitedly at it. They were spellbound when, suddenly, Kaanra threw his head back in hearty laughter.

  The others looked at him curiously. Why was he laughing? But Kaanra couldn’t explain. He was too busy laughing at the way the universe worked. He’d wondered about the doman since Master Sina first shared Dann’s final prophecy with him many years before. For all this time, he’d wondered. What could the doman be? What could it do? What did it look like?

  Finally, they found the doman. Now, no matter how he looked at it or at which angle, he still couldn’t tell what it was, or what it could do, or what it even really looked like. What was it? Kaanra laughed harder.

  The universe certainly had a sense of humor. But it also operated with poignant meaning. The item Thom held as tenderly as if he were holding his first-born child had to be an object of great power.

  According to their interpretation of Dann’s final prophecy, the doman was vitally important to the world and to humanity’s survival. Yet its
function, even upon close inspection, was still shrouded in mystery. The doman exemplified one of nature’s main tenets: Everything within nature functioned purposefully, with a good reason for being the way it was, even if the human mind couldn’t perceive the reason.

  The doman appeared to be deformed, as if something had malfunctioned in its creation. But Kaanra knew better, as did the twins and Thom. Creator’s design was perfect, and there was always a purposeful why for any seeming imperfection.

  Thom tucked the doman away under his cloak again, where the beating of his heart soothed it. After touching the doman and looking at it from all angles, the light warriors had to satisfy themselves with knowing it would reveal itself to them when it was time. Besides, they were all a bit relieved when the doman was out of sight again. The threat was too great to take any unnecessary risks.

  They let their comfort dictate their placement around the now-haphazard circle. They leaned against roots, trunks, and stones. The last several days had been long and eventful, and they couldn’t predict when their next opportunity for rest might come, with the dark raven in their pursuit. They took their rest when they could.

  A soft breeze rustled the grasses. Leaves fluttered in the wind as soft, filtered sunlight revealed the secrets of their cracks and crevices.

  Master, please tell us the words of Dann’s final prophecy again, Anak said.

  Kaanra sat up straight against the tree he leaned on. His posture was one way he showed respect to the great prophet’s words.

  Master of the isle will follow the stars to it. Master of the forest will cradle it, hidden in the womb of the world. With the golden ones, it can open the pyramids to unknown worlds. But be wary of the dark crow. If he succeeds, the world will suffer the fury of sunless night.

  Thom repeated Kaanra’s words. Then he said, With the golden ones, it can open the pyramids to unknown worlds. It’s obvious to me that Asara and Anak are the golden ones.

  Kaanra nodded his agreement. I also think they are, Thom. They’re the golden children of another of Dann’s important prophecies. It’s synchronistic that they should also be a part of this one.

  Our guides led us to Thom, Anak added, which makes it likely that we would also be further involved in the prophecy’s fulfillment. I agree that Asara and I are the golden ones.

  There was no pride or ego involved in Anak’s comment. The light warriors gathered there knew they were an important component of a greater picture. They also knew they were who they were because they were meant to be, because Creator designed them to be exactly as they were. Arrogance had no place in any of it.

  I believe we are the golden ones as well, Asara said.

  So what does the rest of it mean? Thom asked. With the golden ones, it can open the pyramids to unknown worlds.

  They all thought of the doman. They wouldn’t receive any answers from it yet.

  It is Anak and I who’ll use the doman to open the pyramids to these unknown worlds. Perhaps the ‘unknown worlds’ refer to the plane Baldub and Carn entered through the black hole in the skies. The unknown worlds may be where the dark extraterrestrials have gone, taking Veena, Mohan, and Osarus’ souls with them. Maybe this isn’t only a way we can spread light to the planet and its creatures, but also help Baldub and Carn, retrieve the cousins’ souls, and restore balance where the dark extraterrestrials have sought imbalance.

  Anak looked at Asara excitedly. We set off from Arnaka to find a way to help Baldub and Carn. We didn’t yet know what the doman was. He paused for a quick breath. We still may not know what the doman is, but we found Master Kaanra, who found the tree. We found Thom, who found the doman. Now we must find the pyramids to unknown worlds. It only makes sense that it would all lead back to Baldub and Carn and correcting the universal imbalance. The unknown worlds must be where Baldub and Carn are!

  Kaanra slid his master pendant up and down its gold chain while he pondered what Anak was saying. I think you’re right. What you say resonates with me. Yes, I think this is it. Do you agree, Thom?

  Thom had been looking down at the earth, thinking. He looked up and smiled. Yes, I agree. It was a relief to have some idea of what to do when so much depended on their actions. So where do we find these pyramids that can open to unknown worlds?

  That, my dear son, is a very good question, Kaanra said. Let’s hope we discover its answer before the dark raven does.

  Kaanra repeated the concluding lines of Dann’s final prophecy as the sun slipped behind a cloud far above them. But be wary of the dark crow. If he succeeds, the world will suffer the fury of sunless night.

  Despite the muffled density of cloud, the faint caw of a faraway raven rung out in eerie echo.

  There are pyramids everywhere. How are we to determine which of all of them opens to unknown worlds? Anak asked.

  No one answered him right away. It was the same question they’d all been considering. Finally Master Kaanra replied, while looking off into the distance. There must be a way for us to discover which pyramid of all of them it is. I feel like we’re missing something that’s right here, something that holds the answer to this question.

  Still, neither Kaanra, Thom, nor the twins could decide where to begin the search. It was futile to walk aimlessly without guidance, but they also didn’t want to sit around waiting to figure things out. Learning the answer to this question was urgent. The dark raven sought their trail without rest.

  At a loss of what else to do, they returned to what they did know. They came back to the constant that connected them to the infinite knowledge available to all humanity, when it understood how to listen. The twins stood from their seats on the ground and walked a few body lengths apart from each other and the rest of the group. They didn’t go too far, however. There was safety in numbers.

  Thom did the same. Only Kaanra remained where he sat. But he, too, was now by himself, able to focus without distraction. Thom walked toward the opposite side of the clearing. He stood for a moment, opening his heart, connecting to the life all around him. Then, he walked straight toward the tree that was closest to him, the one that called out to him the strongest, and he grabbed her trunk and held her. Next, in a succession of incredibly quick moves, he tightened his hold on the trunk, and he shimmied up it until he reached the first branch thick enough to hold his weight.

  He straddled his legs around the branch, leaned his back against the trunk, and closed his eyes with a sigh of pleasure. He was at home. This was where he was at peace and able to be his most amazing self.

  Unlike everyone else, Asara stood. She held her arms spread out to her sides, and she allowed All of Everything to radiate up her arms. She took in the beauty that surrounded her. Her heart expanded and, when she finally closed her eyes, the light of her heart filled her inner sight.

  The forest watched the light warriors with a mixture of curiosity and appreciation, and underlying all of it there was love. In that moment, everything with life within those woodlands was intrinsically connected.

  Chapter 31

  They came to a stop near the pyramid. Paolo parked on the narrow access road that allowed them to keep their car nearby—just in case. They had no idea what might happen once they entered the pyramid’s immediate energy field again.

  “Are you ready, amore?”

  Lena was still dreamy. She continued being connected to Asara, and she believed she might always be linked to Arnaka from now on. A constant stream of Arnakan images mixed with Utah’s landscapes.

  She looked out at the magical forest that surrounded Asara and her companions. She observed the object whose power Asara hadn’t yet discovered glowing at her chest, pulsing, growing ready to reveal its secrets. Lena was in Asara’s body. But when Lena focused on the pyramid that soared toward the heavens in front of her, she could feel her own body as well.

  She was beginning to remember. “I’m ready. Let’s go. We have a lot to do.” She pushed the car door open.

  Paolo swiveled to look in the back seat. He an
d Sitting Bear shared a meaningful stare. Something significant had shifted in Lena. Whatever it was, it was something big. When she spoke, her voice carried a muted force that neither Paolo nor Sitting Bear had heard her use before.

  Lena was already starting toward the pyramid. She had a mission, and she intended to fulfill it as soon as possible. The men didn’t want to miss what would happen next. They scrambled to get out of the car.

  Paolo quickly grabbed the few things they needed and ran to catch up to her. With unspoken agreement, Paolo and Sitting Bear let Lena determine their future course of action. The otherworldliness within her announced its presence loudly. The men knew better than to interfere with it.

  Sitting Bear’s skin broke out in goose bumps as they neared the pyramid. The air around them was alive, electric almost. Light and dark swirled in the air, blending as well as oil and water did.

  Ultimately, the light and the dark emanated from the same source, with the similar purpose of soul evolution. Here, at the pyramid, the light and the dark were oscillating, vibrant and exposed.

  However, despite their identical origins within Creator’s design, only one of them could work with the pyramid at any given time. It would be light, or it would be dark. Only one could amplify through the pyramid, sending a massive projection of itself out to the world, changing the course of all life forever.

  Just as Paolo was watching Lena grow into her power, so too Anak was observing Asara. He’d been connecting to the All of Everything to discover which pyramid, with the doman, could lead to unknown worlds. Now his eyes focused on his twin, who hovered above the ground, her feet removed from the earth’s curves, arms outstretched to her sides. A barely-there smile illuminated her face.

  As Anak watched, the woodlands responded to his twin. The forest had been still but now it stirred. It whipped up a slight breeze that crossed the forest floor. Fallen leaves flew in bursts of movement, and those leaves still on branches rustled in accompaniment. The breeze whirled around Asara, intensifying.