Chaos: The First

by Tammy Fanniel

  “Your Kingdom flourishes because I willed it so. Your Kingdom flourishes because your brethren have looked after you, seeing something worth saving. Your Kingdom flourishes because of the respect you still hold for the Dragons…even if you have lost their friendship.”

  “My brethren. I know not what you speak of.” The King looked perplexed.

  Chaos focused on an empty space behind the King. “Show yourself, Archaggelos.” In the void space, a being made of light materialized. The King’s eyes widened as he gazed upon this mythical being.

  “Sire.” The angel acknowledged with deference. His wings spanning the room and brushing against the high ceiling as he bowed to his creator. His aura was so pure that it spilled between the immortal realm, causing King Abelard to shield his eyes.

  “This is the Archaggelos Michael. He has watched over you and your family since the beginning. You were never forsaken…only allowed to grow through your experiences. While these brethren have watched over your immortal souls, your other brethren have watched over your sacred lands.” With those cryptic words, Chaos turned to the open windows. His eyes flashed a brilliant light and the Kings eyes widened as the majestic creatures he was just watching became larger, flying directly towards the window. Shouting was heard from the courtyard as a massive beast carefully landed outside avoiding injuring any of the small humans bringing her enormous head toward the window. The dragons eyes were translucent gems, glittering with ancient knowledge and her teeth were the length of a man’s arm. A rumble came from the great beast, as Chaos bent forward, placing his head on the massive animals’ snout. She purred with Chaos’ touch and shivered from the ebb and flow of their mingling powers. She felt at peace and united with him, the sire of her heart and blood.

  “This is Ambrose, the leader of the dragons in your mountains. She has vigilantly watched over your lands.”

  A voice rattled through the chamber in greeting, vibrating through King Abelard’s body with its potency. The hairs on back of his neck stood as the beings magic washed over his rigid body.

  King Abelard stepped back from the immortal beings in his presence, registering the use of ‘sire’ by the Archangel and the dragon. His eyes flitted between the three beings, speechless in his fear. The screaming of his people only mildly registered in his brains as his knees buckled with the weight of his fear.

  “Stand King Abelard and do not fear your allies. Long before your time, Ambrose and her coven took in your children teaching them the old ways and bolstering the inner magic. Although mortality has diluted your blood, those gifts still run strong in your Kingdom. You just lost a vital piece of that magic with the rift between the Dragons and your people. It is not that those gifts are lost, they just have not been brought to light by your watchers. Only their Dragon halves can bring out the inner magic that is masked by mortality. Once the traditions of the old were lost through the many wars and battles, the magic was lost.”

  Abelard stood with this revelation and viewed the beast purring outside of his window.

  “My friend, you have served me well.” Chaos crooned to ancient dragon. A shimmer of pleasure went through the dragon’s body, causing the iridescent scales to glimmer with pride. “Abelard, come meet the teacher of your ancestors.”

  Abelard warily walked over to the window.

  “Touch her…”

  Abelard slowly reached out his hand and touched the dragon’s snout. Her scales were warm, and smooth. As he made the connection, a rift opened within his mind. He stiffened as he heard the dragon communicate with him in her musical language. Her voice echoed within his mind, a soothing, crooning caress that put him at ease.

  Ambrose purred with pleasure shifting her head so that one great all seeing eye could look at the current King. He maintained contact with her scaly form as she moved. King Abelard, great ruler of Alexandrites. The voice floated in his mind. I have known your kin through the ages, and I am proud to share this land with you and your family. Soon, we will bond again, and knowledge will flow through your veins as in the old. Your manuscripts and scrolls may have been lost, but those can be rewritten. As we serve our sire, we serve this land and the good people of Alexandrites as well.

  Where his hand touched her beautiful scales, he began to see their essence blend. In his mind, a wall erected from years and generations of neglect began to crumble. Ambrose shared with him her memories of time when Dragons and mortals ruled the Earth as one…keeping evil at bay. Once the barriers in his mind crumbled, he shakily removed his hand, but the connection was now made. The sharing of their life force, created a bond between him and the great Dragon mother. His mind was awakened and he could feel the power subdued throughout the generations pool in his veins. He knew it was a gift. A gift of understanding, strength, and knowledge. He looked into her potent eyes and spoke, “Thank You.”

  Ambrose carefully backed away from the window and launched herself into the air. In back of his mind, he could feel a calming stroke from his new ally as she flew back to the mountains where other of her kind roamed the skies.

  He heard a rustle in back of him and became aware of the other being still in his chambers. He turned to face Chaos and the angel.

  Chaos turned to the angel and said “You have served me well Michael. Leave this land and bring me news of the Sapphire lands. The angel disappeared as Chaos bid the dragon farewell. A soft white feather floated down in front of Abelard, and the whisper in his mind told him to take the gift of friendship from his longtime guardian.

  “It is time to bring the magic in your blood out of hiding. The old ways must be relearned, and new magic must flow through the veins of your diluted blood. Thus I have come to claim your daughter as my mate, or betrothed as you humans put it. For she was never yours to begin with, but always an extension of my Aura.”

  King Abelard gasped at his declaration and stumbled as he realized that this deity wanted to take his cherished child. “No!!!” The dragon and angel forgotten as his heart twisted with the pain.

  Chaos frowned as he read the ache in the fathers’ eyes. He didn’t understand these emotions since he never visited this Realm before, only watched with a disinterested gaze. He touched the King drawing in his emotions to understand and what he found staggered him. He immediately withdrew his touch and frowned. Such pain and distrust in this mortal from thousands of years of neglect by his children. Distrust of Gods and other magical creatures were ingrained in their very make-up. He took a step back as the panicked King fought for control.

  “King Abelard, I have watched for years as what you call Gods wreaked havoc on this Realm. I stood by and idly watched with a disengaged mind the games my children have played.”

  “Your children, who are you? Are you Zeus? How could you want my innocent daughter? What have we done to you?”

  “So many questions. I am Chaos. Your lost history would tell you that I am the Creator. Father of Gaia, Tartarus, Erebus, Nyx, and Eros. Those that fathered and mothered the Titans. I am alone, the only one and I grow weary of the war and bloodshed. I grow weary of my solitude. However, you mortals are different. Within my creations you’ve been made. Your souls set you apart from other creatures. Some Gods envy you, some hate you, while others want to protect you because they realize how special you are. I am pleased with you and all the Kings that have ruled before you. I have watched you struggle with your own desires, battling the evils prevalent in your mortal souls and for centuries the light in your souls has overcome the darkness. This has been accomplished without the diminishing magic in your veins. A war is coming, and I will not be able to choose sides against my children…but I can empower you to choose your own destiny.”

  King Abelard’s shoulders sagged as he took in the beings words. “Why would you help us? If you have held yourself separate for thousands of years, why now?”

  “As I stated, I grow weary and tired. I have chosen to live in ignorance. My ignorance held me back. I didn’t understand the passions of my children as
they became closer to you mortals. Their existence has created a symbiotic relationship. They feed off of your energy, your prayers. They envy you your passions. I didn’t understand so I watched in silence. To further my knowledge I have chosen this interaction. I have watched your ancestors since the beginning of time and you have held on to the light. The Earth is in chaos and I feel the lands crying out as blood soaks its soils. I could no longer keep my disinterest at bay as my daughter Gaia’s cries broke across my barriers. She mourns the destruction of her children. She mourns her blood soaked essence. I have heeded my child’s cries and released my essence into her depths. She chose your line to promulgate my energy. I cannot fight this battle for you, but I can empower you with a gift; A gift of power, knowledge and strength.”

  “Chaos!!! What could you possibly want with MY DAUGHTER? She has nothing to do with this.” He cried.

  “She has everything to do with this. Long before her existence I have set plans in motion. I have tapped into your emotions to understand what you feel. Some of your kind repulses me, others draw me. Your Realm drew me and Gaia because of the innate goodness shared in your Kingdom. I have come to bless your family and lands, but in return I shall take Zoe to reclaim my essence.”

  The Kings soldiers sagged as he silently wept the loss of his daughter.

  Chaos touched the Kings shoulders and forced him to look into his eyes. “Calm your aching heart. I will not take your daughter from you Abelard. I will respect your culture. I will respect your…heart.” King Abelard drew a deep breath waiting for more of an explanation. “I wish to learn from your people. I will live among you and I will share your daughter’s life. No one must know of my presence. The Titans do not care to remember me. The Olympians, in their ignorance think I am nothing but a tale or disinterested at most. But my children called for my help and I heed their cry. I offer your lands my protection as I immerse myself into your world. How you choose to introduce me to your people is up to you.”

  Hope flooded King Abelard’s soul as he realized the chance within his grasp to save his people. That hope flooded into Chaos, whose eyes widened as he dissected the emotion.

  “So this is hope.” Chaos dropped his hand.

  Zoe sped to her father’s hall anxiously after being summoned. Her mind was awhirl and fear pulsed with her every step. As she neared the double doors, the guards opened the chamber doors for her. As she walked in she saw Chaos by her father’s window standing by her father. She came to an abrupt stop and the doors quietly shut behind her. She twisted her hands anxiously as she waited. Her father was the first to turn and he offered her a tremulous smile, reaching his hand out to her, biding her to come to him. She rushed over to him and grabbed his hand with both of hers, questions unspoken reflected in her eyes.

  Lately, when he thought no one was looking, her father seemed defeated and hopeless. To her, there was nothing to hide. His Aura told the story. Her eyes widened at the imperceptible change in it. It shown with more purity and strength, and she questioningly looked at Chaos. Today his Aura was tinged with hope, and he stood taller, more like the old King she knew him to be.

  He held her in his arms like when she was a child then slowly pulled back. “My beautiful, loving child.” He said.

  Chaos slowly turned indecipherable eyes on her. She tensed, knowing that her father was giving her to this man. She turned to look into her father’s worried face and smiled. “I understand Father. No words need be said. Even if this were for our people, I would want no other.” She saw the worry leave her father’s eyes. He placed her hand into Chaos’ hand and said, “Take care of my daughter,” and walked out, affording them his blessing and privacy.

  Her eyes met his dark depths and she went to him. She felt his arms enfold her as she laid her head on his chest. Immediately she was cloaked by his calming presence as she heard the strong beating of his heart match her own. “What is to become of me?” She asked.

  “You will become my teacher, as I yours. You are my other half and I have been watching over you your entire life…and I will continue to do so until your physical form can no longer hold your spirit and it is returned to me.”

  “Will you take me away from all I know and hold dear?” She asked tremulously.

  “No. I will not take you away from here. You have no need to fear. Our goal will be to unite the Dragons with your people…and it starts within us.” He sighed as if explanations exhausted him.

  Their betrothal was short. Chaos was introduced as a prince from Adamas, the Iceland’s. No one questioned their king, the trust his people had in him was absolute. Also, Adamas was a closed of land and news never travelled to Alexandrites from Adamas. Initially the people were wary of the intense stranger. With him came the dragons. As he was introduced to the society, the dragons began to make appearances. They flew over the kingdoms, playing the air. Some of the more curious and younger dragons even touched down, which gave the people quite a fright. As time progressed, the people began to accept the Dragons and Chaos into their folds. The Dragons had a proclivity to adopt some of the children in the Kingdom, assigning themselves as their mentors, teachers, and body guards. Initially the parents were terrified of the great beasts following their children but as time passed, their children began to show signs of the magic that had been lost to the Kingdom for centuries. The children blossomed under their tutelage learning the lost skills of magical healing, herb lore, weaponry, and the magic of the elements. Ambrose watched with pride as her children and their children were united with their human halves. It seemed as if each family began the healing bonding with the line of Ambrose and the white magic began to saturate the Earth in its cleansing goodness as times of past.

  The women couldn’t take their eyes off of Chaos, and Zoe felt pride as well as a twinge of jealousy. But his words allayed her fears. “I am yours Zoe. You and I were one before this ceremony, before these people even came into existence. I see no one but you.” Chaos whispered in her ear after they spoke their vows. I small shiver ran down her body as his intense stare spoke to her heart. She smiled and lifted her head to receive his kiss. He slowly lowered his head and tenderly brushed his lips across hers. Her body immediately responded to his kiss and tenderness swept through her being as she looked at her new husband. He was more than she could have hoped for.

  “Tell me who you are, where you come from.”

  “I will in due time. There will be no secrets between us.” He replied. He turned from her, keeping her small hand in his. The wedding guests cheered at the happiness they read in their Princesses eyes and they reveled in gifts that the new Prince brought.

  Chaos looked into the happy faces of ‘his people.’ Their acceptance of a complete stranger strangely humbled him. He was at a loss. The emotions that pummeled were intense, but his new brides steadying hand grounded him. The more time he spent with these mortals, the more he understood how short their lives were, yet how deep their emotions ran. Their emotions were magic. He realized how addictive their feelings could be. He siphoned from them their hopes, their dreams, their fears, pain, love, anger, hatred, and jealousy. The more he became a part of their Kingdom, the more he felt the complexity of the wars on Earth. The more time he spent with Zoe, the more emotions sprung from him naturally.

  “May we leave? Have we spent enough time adhering to your people’s customs?”

  Zoe looked at him wide-eyed and nodded. With good natured jeers, the couple made their way out of the great hall to their new living quarters. He was adamant that they would share everything. There would be no separate beds, just Zoe and him.

  She looked at herself in the reflection of the mirror. Her luminous gown was almost transparent and she shivered with the knowledge that tonight she would take the final step into womanhood. Her bridesmaid giggled as they combed her hair and remarked about her husband’s handsomeness. She was nervous. She was told of the ways between a man and woman’s marriage bed, but he was not a man. She still didn’t fully understand w
hat he was. Then he was there and her giggling bridesmaids left the room. She stood in front of him barely clothed, nervous, tense, yet beguiled by the desire she saw in his eyes.

  Chaos looked at his chosen mate and was struck by her beauty. Her frame was slender, and her brown hair shown with the different hues of the Earth. Her skin was the color of muted gold but through his eyes, her Aura made her seem like a golden statue. Amber eyes looked at him, and in their depths he recognized his kindred spirit that he released eons ago to create this enticing being standing in front of him. He saw her apprehension just as he saw her desire for this physical manifestation of his form.

  He took her trembling hand and guided her over to the chaise. He sat down on the chaise and pulled her small form onto his lap. From his will he brought into being a cloak made of the softest wool and covered them to ward off the light chill in the night air. He enclosed her in his arms and her head lay on his chest listening to his beating heart. They lay that way for some time and the tension left her body. The tension was replaced by desire that fed into his desire. His hands softly caressed her back in circular motions as her body melted into his on a soft sigh. She’d never been held like this or touched so tenderly. Then he began to tell his story.