Colors danced across the lake’s surface. They dove and lit the azure depths with different hues and shades, bright and dark. A heartwarming song filled the air and I was drawn to it like to the call of a siren. The words weren’t distinct, I was lost in the music, but I made out words here and there.
Though in worlds you wander far and wide,
Here you came from suicide.
‘Tis time for your soul to swim on,
To new realms where you’ll be born.
We thank you for your offerings,
Be grateful at all times, and in all things.
I felt the familiar touch on the back of my neck and turned to see ominous Death staring down at me. I became lightweight again and he flew up and away, taking me with him. The lake serenaded me as I bid adieu to its loving embrace.
23
We landed at the Grand Imperial Harbor, that site to where suicide souls were ferried by Charon’s mighty ship, which controlled a fleet of vessels containing said souls. It was bright outside and King Death swooped down to the stage they had yet to dismantle since Moo-Day. He landed, I became fat again and we stood there with all eyes upon us, including the cameras.
“Citizens of Quadrant,” said His Majesty in his all-encompassing voice. “I’m going to keep this short. As of today...” He lingered. “You are all free.” The shout that went up was unlike anything I had heard before. Several people, myself included, had covered our ears. The whole city cheered as one. All those different life-form sounds mixed and became a cacophony of epic noise. It was amazing, I could feel the happiness soak the air and fall like rain on everyone, further encouraging the spirit of joy that spread faster than light through the hearts of everyone in the city. As I stood beside him, King Death went on to explain salient points to the people. It was similar to what he’d told me at the lake, about a steward, royal decree still being the norm, and how different approved life-forms other than suicides could now enter Quadrant City as souls ferried by Charon and fleshified by the soul-medics as usual.
After his short speech, he beckoned me to follow and we walked to the wharf. “Quadrant citizens, I give you your last Reincarnator.” People shouted, sang, and praised my name. It felt good but for what came next. “Unfortunately,” he said and the people, sensing the change in tone, immediately grew suspicious, “Helidon will be leaving us.” One by one people started to question. The Press once again had queries they wouldn’t get answers for. “Silence!” Death sounded agitated. The people obeyed. They didn’t wish to psuh the King beyond a certain point. “It is ordained that he will be the price for your freedom. You can take it or leave it, I don’t care. But as of today, Helidon will be the last soul to be reincarnated from Quadrant City. Send him your good wishes.” Something in his expression and stance brooked no argument.
I didn’t expect the King to break the news so directly. I also didn’t expect to stand there for the better part of two days. There were feasts arranged in my honor, singing and dancing too. Death was present throughout it all and so were the ‘’Raptor Units. I’d break for the party and then return to the arduous task of receiving each citizen who came forward, shook my hand, thanked me and made way for the next. It was compeletely unplanned. Everything they did during these two days was on a last-minute whim. You bake the cake, I’ll bring the Karal, you be the band, you get the lights up and angled, you keep the cameras rolling. It was something like that but they managed to give me an unforgettable sendoff. They even put up banners on the second day that read ‘Helidon’s Farewell Feast’.
The Von Heisens, the Crystal-Bloods, all the courtiers, it was wonderful to see them happy and sad at the same time to see me go. I had to keep cool, because I didn’t want their last memory to be of a distraught Reincarnator who went against his will. That was exactly what I was on the inside. Krell shook my hand and said, “For what it’s worth, I thought you were an amazing Reincarnator, and if the job was still open I’d have named a filing cabinet after you.” Boremasta was less courteous but he thanked me sincerely enough.
The baroness blessed me with yet another cheek and forehead kiss that gave me goosebumps but she also said, “I have someone who wants to meet you,” and moved aside for Elizabeth Krem. She was crying, lost for words and helpless about the whole situation. It reflected my state of being as well. I laughed to ease her concern. “Liz, take it easy. It’s not the end of the world. I’ll be alright.” She hugged me tight and said, “I wish we had time. I thought we did now that we are free. I made plans for us.” It broke me. Her words shattered a part of my soul. I will never be the same man again. Here was the potential love of my life, I found her in the afterlife, I have a chance to taste eternal joy, and yet. I sighed and collected myself even tighter. She had to move on or she was facing an eternity of loneliness. “We barely know each other.” She moved in for a kiss and, even though every fiber of my being was drawn to this goddess of love, I changed angles last minute and her lips met my cheek and neck instead. We hugged, she pulled away, I breathed deeply and waited for the pain to abate as I greeted the next person who came forward to say ‘thank you for being there for us’.
It was very hard to get through the rest of the citizens. Elizabeth’s face and my intentionally friendly approach to consoling her made me feel too many things to count. Top on that list was regret. As always, that greedy emotion took alpha point and thumped its chest with proud fists. Finally, we ended day two and all the people had had their say. The feast ended without really having started. We ate and made merry but now it was time to go. Charon’s ship was already anchored; kith had sat dull faced throughout the farewell feast. When it came time, a white dot coalesced on the platform and all eyes were drawn to its growth. A woman decked in blue silk and dangling diamonds appeared. She smiled down at me from her tall vantage.
“Ready?” she said and I felt a similar warmth as what I’d experienced at the Lake of All-Seeing. I nodded but didn’t return Lady Life’s smile. This was by far the most terrifying moment of my afterlife as memories whooshed through my head that I knew my subconscious would make me forget once I’m reincarnated. There was loss, happy thoughts, sad moments and dashed hopes, to name a few of the things that ran marathons in my head as I stared at Lady Life smiling down at me.
The whole city went silent and I distinctly heard several people cry. I wanted to gouge my eyes out at that moment. I turned to see Molina. She cautiously walked up to Lady Life and showed her the baby in her arms. “Ah,” gasped Life and looked splendidly happy. “The cause of it all.” She looked at King Death who could only stare back at her. “You are such a beautiful boy, yes you are. You have blessed a whole city. I think we should name you after—”
“No,” Death interrupted as he clip-clopped his way to us. “No being shall have the same name as a member of my court, past as well as present. There will be only one Helidon in Quadrant City.”
Lady Life gave a barely discernible curtsey and spoke the traditional words. “I take this offering freely given. I claim Helidon and deem him fit for reincarnation. He shall be the last soul I reincarnate in this dimension. All is well, the deal is made. I carry this soul from Quadrant City in the name of the Almighty Mother Goddess, Galactic Empress Athena, Queen of all worlds.”
“Long live the Queen. Long live Athena.” The people picked up Death’s declaration and echoed the words. I did too.
“Helidon,” said the King before I turned to follow. “Thank you,” he said and stretched forth his hand. I gripped it as I recall seeing Charon do. “I fought for you, Your Majesty. I waged a war in my soul the entire time I lived here. I think it’s safe to say goodbye, my liege.”
He didn’t smile. He held my forearm and stared down at me. “If you dare take your life again, I will find a thousand ways to make you suffer in the afterlife.” It was as sentimental as King Death was going to get. I grinned, turned around and followed Lady Life and Captain Charon to the mighty silver-sailed vessel on the waters.
As the ship headed out, I felt more than saw every citizen in Quadrant stand with fists at their hearts. I heard them shout at the top of their voices. “Long live Helidon! Long live Helidon! Long live Helidon!” I received the chant all the way to the horizon. A bright light overcame me and I heard no more.
Epilogue
It was a blue moon night in Quadrant City, a few weeks after its last Reincarnator had sailed away. It was almost the next fifth-month of His Majesty’s solar year. Captain Charon had a fresh batch of souls, only two ships’ worth, whom he ferried in as he always did. One of the passengers was the newly appointed steward of the city. King Death wasn’t here to receive them. He’d told Charon to drop the cargo for the soul-medics to fleshify as he was busy straightening out government and preparing for Tobry-Day. There were new events starting with the bullfight, fresh feasts, concerts, and a game of Featherball, to name a few from the schedule. Each quadrant had a new statue to commemorate Helidon the Last Reincarnator.
His Majesty wanted to officially appoint the City Steward on Tobry-Day and have him start work after. The King wanted Charon to be part of the festivities mostly because he planned to sail back with him, leaving the keys to the kingdom in the hands of an informed steward and several hundred courtiers. He would return on a timely basis to check progress but after Tobry-Day His Majesty would no longer be here as he charted a course to other realms in his kingdom.
The Elders had decreed that Lady Life no longer charge interest rates for the souls in this dimension. But that still left pending payments, which Quadrant City’s treasury couldn’t hope to cover; it didn’t even come close. His Majesty was asked to sign the gross total wealth accumulated in the Grand Bank over to Lady Life’s coffers but the King put a hold on the transfer. He wanted to learn what the new steward had in mind about this financial mess, and if there was a way it could be resolved. This was, after all, his city to run.
The King was in his throne room, busy sorting papers, when in walked the steward to introduce himself. After Death orientated him, the courtiers would take up the task. There was a knock at the door.
“Come in, Mr. Steward. Don’t walk like a dainty daisy, you have big bold shoes to fill. Get in here.”
A lovely young lady entered and walked to meet her King.
His Majesty looked up just in time to see her and the shock on his face spoke volumes. His jaw dropped, his hands lowered, he set himself on fire and his bladed wings spread their full length. His mind showed him the cause of his distress. The last Reincarnator’s suggestion at the Lake of All-Seeing. He crushed a large wad of papers in each hand and looked up at the ceiling.
“Helidon !!!”
*****
Long Live Death
By: Joshua Mercott
*****
About The Author
27-year old Joshua Mercott resides in India and has a passion for books, reading and writing.
His personal life motto: Fantasy has the answer to Reality's woes and it communicates it through stories.
Traditionally published author of “A Chance For Darkness; Book 1 of the Dark Seraph series” (Penrose Publishing), Mercott has decided to try something daring with a step into self-publishing. His Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing title "Long Live Death" is up on Amazon May 1 2015.
Joshua hopes to please all his readers with memorable characters and fun storytelling that will keep them laughing and enthralled for a long time to come.
“I write because I want my characters to touch readers’ lives as much as they did my own. Money is merely a survival tool, Meaning is forever.”
Find Me On...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Long-Live-Death/1570534579865400
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Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/112039958741137831304/posts
“Long Live Death” cover design: Anto M.
Long Live Death: Welcome To The Afterlife Page 21
