“Sure, whatever you say, Yelnisha. Hopefully I don't embarrass myself too much,” he said, looking over at the area where he had fallen. “Great. Put up your hands like this,” she replied, holding his hands in hers and placing them in proper position. “Now turn you body sideways to expose less of it. Good. Like that. Now, I'm going to rush at you with my right arm and you defend by pushing it aside and step in to attack my exposed right side,” she said. She moved in slowly, demonstrating her maneuver. They went back and forth for some time, switching between defender and attacker. By the end of the day they had worked up quite a sweat and Dorian seemed to be catching his stride. Yelnisha was pleased with his progress. “Not bad there for a newbie. We'll have to work on your Irish to make you a proper man. All in good time. Care to fetch a pint?” she asked, wiping off the sweat with her towel. “Sure, why not, I could use something to help me relax,” he replied. She gave him a flirty smile. “Careful, now, a girl might end up misunderstanding what you meant there.” “I need to get cleaned up first, meet you outside in fifteen then?” he said with a smirk. “Sounds like a da-, ah plan,” she replied.
Seventeen
The circle was nearing completion. Sweat poured from the forehead of Samir as he and several others feverishly worked on the diagrams and pentacles. Conjuring an angel of this magnitude required absolute concentration and attention to detail; failure could spell disaster for all of them. He would not brook any error on their part. “Ramla, you're doing it wrong, ach. Two lines down, farther apart. Look at Issa's figure. Yes, that's better,” he said, as she made the correction. The young woman with long black hair and olive skin looked at Issa, who was watching Samir with trepidation. Issa caught her gaze and widened his eyes in an unspoken gesture, as if to say “Be very careful what you say and do”. Samir began reciting the psalms while the incense was burning throughout the chamber. They stood in an ancient underground cavern known as “Campbell's Tomb”, located beneath the Pyramids of Giza. Constructed by Enoch of old, it consisted of nine large chambers carved in limestone, with the central chamber having three ornate vertical columns. The ancient order that Samir belonged to possessed the triangular shaped golden tablet that had originally rested in the center of the three columns which contained the absolute name of the creator. It was not without significant discussion and argument that he had managed to get permission to use the tablet. Its presence would, in his argument, help protect the group from the wrath of Malik should something go awry. The sect did not fully trust any one person with the tablet, so four of their leaders- Rashidi, Msrah, Omari, and Lotus- agreed to accompany it with Samir to the ancient hidden underground lair. All of the necessary pentacles had been prepared in advance on their respective hours so that the conjuring would not cause him to be cursed. The day of Jupiter and the hour of Saturn were at hand; all that remained were a few minor details. Samir began reciting the necessary prayers as Ramla and Issa took their places, praying fervently as well. Samir had conjured lesser spirits before, so he had some experience in the matter; however, as he would soon discover, he was wholly unprepared for what was about to transpire. Once the last of the prayers were completed he began the summoning.
“Oh mighty Malik, I conjure you by the indivisible name IOD, which marks and expresses the simplicity and the unity of the nature divine, which Abel having invoked, he deserved to escape from the hands of Cain his brother.
“I conjure you by the name TETRAGRAMMATON ELOHIM, which expresses and signifies the grandeur of so lofty a majesty, that Noah having pronounced it, saved himself, and protected himself with his whole household from the waters of the deluge.
“I conjure you by the name of God EL, strong and wonderful, which denotes the mercy and goodness of his majesty divine, which Abraham having invoked, he was found worthy to come forth from the Ur of the Chaldeans.
“I conjure you by the most powerful name of ELOHIM GIBOR, which showed forth the strength of God, of a God all powerful, who punishes the crimes of the wicked, who seeks out and chastises the iniquities of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation; which Isaac having invoked, he was found worthy to escape from the sword of Abraham his father.
“Lastly, I conjure you Malik, by the most holy name of God ADONAI MELEKH, which Joshua invoked, and stayed the course of the Sun in his presence, through the virtue of Methratton, its principal Image; and by the troops of Angels who cease not to cry day and night.”
The air in the underground chamber became thin and dry, as if a vacuum had removed most of it. Thunder rumbled from within and the walls began to tremble and quake. The hair of everyone present stood on end as the air became electrified. Lights began flickering and unusual sounds could be heard echoed throughout the chambers. A humming sound filled the air, changing to a low frequency pulsating wave that reverberated with a constant amplitude and pitch. As if that wasn’t eerie enough, colors of various hues filled the top of the chamber, increasing in brightness until they morphed into a white light which was emanating from a fifteen foot tall figure that stood before them. It was Malik in all his splendor and power, a sight which caused the host of humans to tremble in awe of this magnificent being. A golden crown encircled his head which floated above his head, spinning in sync with the low frequency tone. His entire form was comprised of light, yet his features appeared tangible. In his right hand he held a golden scepter that reached almost to the top of the cavern, the top spiked in a circular fashion along with a floating crown above it, moving in unison with the one adorning his head. Malik’s expression was stern; his eyes were flickering grey flames positioned in the usual space that eyes would on a human. As he opened his mouth the sound he began to make was deafening, causing everyone in the room to clasp their ears, with the exception of Samir, who wisely had worn earplugs. Dropping the pentacles at this moment could cause Malik to be released or worse. Malik slammed his scepter onto the ground causing it to quake and opened up a small chasm. Samir knew he had better take control of the situation quickly before their chamber was destroyed. “O mighty Malik I beseech thee; I entreat thy grace that you would show mercy for this monumental affront to your great majesty and splendor for summoning you to this realm. For this, I humbly beg your mercy and forgiveness. Were our position less dire we would not come before you as we do now. Yet our cause is desperate; our hopes dim. “We humans cannot stand alone against the might of the fallen; at this very hour they are working to destroy the Earth, the beloved jewel of The Most High,” he said, prostrating himself. The mighty watcher's countenance shifted; slowly his face softened and his stature decreased as he lowered his Shi from an aggressive stance to his lower form until he stood at about ten feet. He began to speak, his voice sounding like the rush of the ocean. “Arise, son of man. I have tested the truth of the words you speak. Your thoughts I have born witness to, yet what you seek to accomplish is folly beyond all measure, for you do not possess the power to contend with the corrupted ones. Return me to my appointed task, lest you tempt the wrath of the One Above All.” Malik paused and shifted his gaze about the room. “You have been undone. The corrupted stand among you,” he said solemnly. The group looked at each other in confusion. Four figures stepped forward from the shadows, one holding a sobbing young girl by the neck. Samir's eyes widened at the sight of his daughter being held aloft. “Eshe!” he screamed in a panicked voice. “Ever the dutiful son, Malik, and thy wisdom is great indeed, yet it seems the human has bound you to his will. The ancient covenants cannot be denied. You will provide the location of my brothers!” “Belial!” Malik shouted, immediately growing to his former size. He raised his scepter to strike the ground in an attempt to disrupt the circle and end his imprisonment. “Order Malik to be still, human, lest we destroy this one,” Belial said, holding Samir's daughter up with one hand as if she were a rag doll. The skin that covered the long bony fingers of his hands was ashen and scaly, as was his face, which displayed his fearsome looking teeth and pointed ears. “Eshe!” Samir screa
med again, his heart bursting at the sight of his daughter in pain. The monumental weight of his foolishness had just begun to extract a karmic payment. “Quickly, human! My desire to rip her flesh open is growing with each passing moment!” His razor sharp claws began to slowly slice into her face, burning and cutting at the same time, causing her to bellow out in howls of pain and agony. “No, Samir! Don’t do,” was all that Msrah could say before one of Belial's followers, Kludon, removed his head from his body. The head fell to the ground with a ghastly thump. The others, horrified by what they just witnessed and what might be in store for them, began to look for the exits. Despite several of them being experienced Magick users of a lesser nature, they were all quite terrified and unable to perform any useful spells. Indeed, a thick aura of evil emanated from the four fallen, causing all humans present to shake with fear. “Malik, I command you to cease!” Samir said, his voice quivering as tears ran down his face. Malik lowered his raised scepter and stood still. Eshe was still screaming and crying, annoying Belial, who tossed the girl over to Abyzou. The demon carefully held the girl in her arms and spoke softly to her. “There, there, young one. Shhhhh. Abyzou is going to make it all better. See?” Her hand glowed and as it did she passed it over the girl’s face, instantly healing the burnt and torn flesh. “No need to cry now, little one,” she said, her eyes glowing as the girl’s sobs ceased. “Continue, human. We would have the information you sought from Malik revealed to us as well. Continue,” Belial said, his shrouded face hiding his distorted visage beneath the wrappings. “Malik, I command in the name of the Most High that you reveal the location of where the Watchers are being held,” Samir said, knowing time was short for all of them. The pressure was intense as he was scouring his memory desperately for any spell, anything that would buy him time or allow them to escape. “Show us, then, where our brothers have been imprisoned, Malik,” Belial demanded. Malik’s expression was furious. He held out his hand and pointed towards the adjacent wall and chanted something the humans were unable to comprehend. The wall glowed amber, followed by a flash of light. Suddenly an image of Europe, Asia, and Africa appeared, with an enormous hexagram overlaid on the three continents. There were thirteen dots, one at each point on the outer portion of the lines drawn for the hexagram, one at each point on the inside making the inner ring, and one in the center, in the middle of the Dead Sea. The points were equidistant at seven million cubits. Cheers erupted from the four fallen watchers as the others looked on with dread. The pleasing aroma of incense that filled the chamber was misplaced amidst the dread felt by the humans. “Release me, quickly!” shouted Malik. “I think not, human,” Belial said, drawing the blade from the extra-dimensional space Bernael used in Algeria. Wearing the seal of Solomon, the legendary ring that controls demons and other spirits, he placed the face of it against the hilt of his demon blade and his eyes filled with flames, as did the top of his head. “You will not have opportunity to warn your followers, as I have sealed this temple from the sight of heaven,” Belial said. He held the blade up and pointed it towards Malik. A deep black purplish light emanated from the blade along with black lightning bolts which arced all around him. He laughed maniacally as the void attempted to draw Malik’s essence into it. Undeterred, Malik stood his ground as he held his scepter aloft. Blinding white light filled the chamber along with a deafening sound as the two forces opposed each other. It seemed to be a stalemate until the other three accompanying Belial lent their power to him. Touching his back and closing their eyes, they all began to chant a spell which increased the power of the void, drawing Malik in with a horrible sound. The blade was steaming as Belial returned it to the dimension it occupied. “Will it hold?” Ornias asked with a look of concern on his wretched face. Belial held up the hilt and waved his hand over it while silently chanting, observing its integrity and pausing as if searching mentally. “It holds, my friend,” he replied with a smile. The others shouted with glee. “I have done as you asked. Please, my daughter, return her to me,” Samir said, with anguish strewn across his face and arms outstretched. Ornias and his accomplices smiled. Abyzou caressed her face as she looked at the girl with the soft tenderness of a mother. She lifted the child by her neck and tightened until Eshe let out a cry and clutched at the hand that held her while gasping for air. Her struggles ceased and her body went limp. The harrowing sound of bones crunching were heard as her face turned purple and eyes bulged. She tossed the girl at the feet of Samir. “I have returned your daughter, human, as you have asked,” she replied with cold indifference to her cruel act. Samir’s face drained of blood and he fell to his knees as if struck in the diaphragm. He was unable to make any sound as his emotions overwhelmed him, until he finally produced the most blood curdling scream he could muster from the depths of his soul. Ramla and Issa were both sobbing in the corner, unable to do anything. Omari and Rashidi were also unsure how to proceed; however it was obvious their fate would be similar to Eshe’s if they did nothing. Lotus, who was not particularly keen on dying this day, had been slowly moving towards the triangular-shaped golden plate of Enoch, the ancient tablet that contained the ineffable name of the creator. Seizing the opportunity, she grabbed the tablet, knocking down the pillar which housed it in the process, drawing all attention towards her. Instantly, Belial knew he had seriously miscalculated by allowing her to retrieve it. Everyone froze in their tracks as Lotus caught the gaze of Samir, who knew she was not prepared nor consecrated to unleash such a spell. He, however, was in a position to use its power and widened his eyes at her, hoping to get her attention. The four fallen bared their teeth as Lotus held the tablet aloft, slowly moving towards Samir, who was safe while he stood in the circle. The same could not be said of the others. Ramla took the opportunity to remove her cell phone and capture an image of the wall that displayed the location of the fallen prisons before it disappeared. Abyzou looked perplexed as she followed the strain on Belial’s face. “What does she hold?” she asked in their ancient tongue, unsure if she should risk rushing Lotus. “The sacred tablet of Metatron from his time as a human. Do not move,” he said, responding in kind as he pondered on how to proceed. “Does she even know how to use it? Perhaps we should find out,” Abyzou said with a sly smile. “Hold fast, Abyzou!” he yelled, shooting a scowl at her. Belial was a high ranking fallen angel; it would be painful to retreat from a few weak humans, but he could not chance losing the information he had gained, along with his demon blade and ring of Solomon. He shot a glance over to Omari and communicated his commands silently to the others with him. All four quickly departed to the upper chambers. “Everyone, stand next to me,” Samir said with a weary voice. A loud booming noise could be heard from above as bits of rock and sand fell down on top of them. The spell Malik had cast on the wall began to fade, leaving it without evidence of the fallen's whereabouts. “They mean to bury us in here,” Rashidi stated bluntly. Samir took off the apron he was wearing and wrapped his daughter’s body in it. Gently picking her up, he carried her over his shoulder. “Do not despair, come with me,” he said as he moved to the back of the room. “What should we do with Msrah?” Lotus asked. They all looked at each other, unsure of what to do.
“Issa and Rashidi can carry his body I suppose,” Samir said with a sad sigh. “How will we explain this to the authorities, Samir?” Rashidi asked. “Fine, leave him then. We can come back for him later after I have buried my daughter,” he said, his voice cracking. Standing at the back of the room with his daughter’s corpse slung over his shoulder, he retrieved a small spherical crystal from his bag. The crystal ball had a slight luminescence to it. In the center of it were hieroglyphics that appeared to be shifting from one symbol to another as Samir held it in his hand. “Where did you obtain that?” Omari asked in a slightly impertinent tone. “I will explain later. For now, it will provide us with a way out,” Samir replied as he carefully placed the crystal into a receptacle in the wall. A few seconds went by before they heard a loud noise coming from the opposite side of the wa
ll. As that was happening, larger pieces of limestone fell from the ceiling as the pounding from above increased in intensity, all signs indicating that the whole room could collapse at any moment. Several minutes later the pounding from above ceased. The chamber exit was now completely filled with huge pieces of limestone, making it clear the survivors had to leave by another means. A clicking noise followed by a low rumbling sound came from within the wall as it began to slowly move. Stale air mixed with the scent of the sea blasted them as the wall opened, revealing an enormous underground city. A stairway illuminated by glowing lamps filled with a silvery liquid that looked like mercury stood before them, leading down to a lower platform where a large river flowed. Two statues of approximately eighteen feet in height, each with the face of a lion and the teeth of a dragon, stood on either side of the stairway. Each had outstretched arms holding an iridescent triangular object. The walls lining the chamber were ornately painted with scenes depicting humanoids and humans interacting. They reached the bottom of the stairs and Samir walked over to a large inflatable raft that was sitting beside the river's edge. They looked at each other and wondered how it got there and more importantly, who was going to stay behind, as it was apparent the raft would not accommodate all of them. At that moment Omari produced a knife and plunged it into the back of Rashidi, then quickly pulled it out. He reached over and grabbed Issa by the arm, bringing the bloodied edge to her throat. Rashidi slumped to the ground and began convulsing and groaning, foam coming out of his mouth. Ramla moved next to Lotus and Samir quickly jumped back, after having just placed his daughter's lifeless body in the raft. “The tablet, quickly or I cut her throat!” Omari demanded with his hand outstretched toward Lotus. “I wasn't certain whether it was you or Rashidi who betrayed us, but now it is clear. You have doomed us all! Fool! You are responsible for the death of my daughter!” Samir yelled, his sadness shifting to rage.
The Return of the Watchers (Armageddon Rising Book 1) Page 23
