by A M Nixon
It was the stones—the ones she drove by on her way to the cottage the first time. She was only one mile from it, give or take. From the road she could only see four of them, but now she was passed the tree line, and could see all eight stones and how they formed a partial circle. Each stone was four or five foot in height and roughly shaped into a wide point. They were grey in color, like granite, and the area in the middle of the stones lay baron of any life, but for the fallen leaves and twigs. As they moved closer, Famous ran up ahead and climbed up an embankment.
He stood several feet above the tops of the stones. He seemed to be smiling with a glint of pleasure in his eyes. Standing in the center of the stone circle, suddenly the toll of a deep iron bell rang in Mary’s ears. She looked at Famous and beside him were five more hounds that resembled his features. The bell still tolling; three echoing bong sounds. Each of the creatures showing every bit of their two-inch fangs.
Mary realized she’d been led into a trap. One set by Famous, whom she believed was her friend and ally. As if a speaker opened in her head, there was a lyrical male voice, which she knew had to be her beloved Famous,
“Lady creature who befriends
What she doesn’t know. Isn’t it a wonder how you
Trusted me so.”
“I, a creature who likes to savor
The utter delicacy you own yourself in flavor.”
“Oh, sweet innocence I have
Always gotten. To come to love me so
Foul and rotten.”
“I never promised love and
Friendship with you. You merely assumed it,
Because I didn’t argue with you.”
“How could I, you see, for I
Never spoke one word. This friendship you assumed
Was utterly absurd.”
“One should never mistake
By one’s nonverbal cues. That which lies within I won’t
One day come to abuse.”
“It’s our one treasured tradition
On a given day year after year, my brothers and I
From the light we do appear.”
“How can we resist the lady
Who shows us no fear. For our one favorite meal is that
Of lady human and we shed no tear.”
“Our presence here was brought about
By your own stained heart. Wishing as you did this world
To forever part.”
“You opened a portal that led me to you.
I ask to be forgiven, for what I am about to do.”
“My mission here is to bring right
That which has been done so wrong.
To consume you as beasts tend to do,
The time now won’t be long.”
“I’m sad for you because soon
You’ll be rotten. Your soul to belong to the place long forgotten.”
Mary slid to her knee’s, ready to beg for forgiveness. “This world to forever part?” Did that mean she was dead? Why were these creatures here?
One of Famous’ disciples spoke, even though he was a hound. “I am Joseph, I will speak for Malkan, or Famous as you named him. He once lived as a mortal man. His crimes were such he was placed as an Angel of Death to pay his penance. The Divine One’s added one caveat; that he be doomed to speak in rhyme for all eternity. It was designed as such that he must carefully choose his words. His speech is part of his penance due to the demeaning and cruel words he chose to use when he was in human form.”
Joseph continued, “He is but one of the Angels of Death, there are many of us. We are only summoned when one contemplates their own death and dies by suicide. Or when one gives up and prays for death as you have. The only time we hunger for food is when we are on Earth. We are asked to devour those such as yourself as punishment for throwing away the gift the Divine One’s gave you. The pain we have in store for you will be so intense you shall never forget, through all of your future lifetimes, and therefore appreciate the lives you’re given.”
Mary stepped back from the stones and said, “No. I refuse. I’m alive and well and can feel the cold and feel the fear. I must be alive.” She was desperate to get away from these creatures, and started screaming, “Divine One’s, if you can hear me, please let me live. I promise I won’t let you down again. I will do anything you want me to do, but I refuse to die.” Mary had her knife in hand and was prepared to fight all the hounds if she had to, thinking the cosmos was playing a cruel joke. There was a thunderous roar in the distance. Joseph jumped off the ledge and rushed toward her. He looked to be going for her throat, instead he stood in front of her.
“Now you want to fight. Where was that drive before you gave in to the last resort? Luckily for you, that sound was the Divine One’s answering your prayer.” Famous spoke:
“No one is immune to the troubles of each life
The goal is to conquer your fears and overcome
The strife.”
“Lady Mary, you need to see.
All that the Divine Ones had in store for thee.”
“You were making great progress,
For that you can be sure.”
“Sadness and hopelessness crept in,
And we understand why you could no longer endure.”
Mary realized she must have died in the woods. Why else would the Angels of Death be with her now? What can she do to get her life back, now that she is filled with regret?
Famous, hearing her thoughts, said:
“We hear your regret, as
Many often do.
When faced with the gruesome death
We had in store for you.”
“The Divine One’s are not as cruel as we
May seem to be.
They have opened a door for you,
If you wish to see.”
Is he giving her a way out? A second chance? She hoped that was what he meant and asked him.” I want to know what your plans are for me. You’re giving me a reprieve then?”
“Hear me Lady Mary. I had been given an order, that
Which I intended to fulfill. I have never once gone against
The Divine One’s will.”
“Since you treated me with such kindness
Given my horrible state. I find you worthy, my recompence
You shall await.”
“I spoke to your defense.
Why my heart speaks for you does not to me make much sense.”
Joseph again, spoke for his leader. “He doesn’t know, for his memory has been taken from him. You will know the truth in time.” Mary remembered her dream, when Famous appeared and there was a brown haired man on a throne. Were her psychic abilities getting sharper? She knew she would find out more if she could keep her life. Famous, still on the ledge, said:
“Take your hand and place it
Over your heart.
In doing we will know,
This life you wish not to part.”
Mary placed her hand over her heart and closed her eyes, fearing it was another trick. She had to take the chance and trust again, she wanted to live.
“Be at the stones by midnight with the book that
Holds the family key
To all you need to know to
Fulfill your destiny.”
Mary read everything she could understand of the book when she was at the cottage. Some of the pages were written in a language she didn’t know. She wasn’t far from the cottage. She went as fast as she could to get there, running in the moonlit darkness, to make it back by the midnight deadline. She went to the special cabinet and took out the book. She opened the stairwell and grabbed the crystal pendulum, she sensed she would need it. She studied the book again, for anything that stood out as leading to her destiny. There was nothing new for her to learn. She couldn’t read the language the rest of the pages contained. She hurried back to the stones, hoping Famous and the others might have left.
Famous, Joseph and the rest of the angels of death were still at the stone
s. She took that as a sign they trusted her. Joseph spoke as she had the thought.
“It’s not so much we trusted you. It’s that there is nowhere you could ever go that we couldn’t find you. Now you know, we can read your thoughts.”
Mary’s stomach twisted in fear and it became clear that the angels were giving her a second chance because they would have killed her by now if they wanted to.
it was approaching midnight and She had no idea what was about to happen. “I have the book with me, what can I do to save myself.”
Joseph came to her and materialized into a man. He seemed ordinary, with dark hair and a young manly face, wearing a tunic. He wasn’t very tall, his eyes met her forehead, but he had a presence about him, and she couldn’t look away even if she wanted to. He took the book and read what was written in the language she didn’t understand earlier.
As the night sky illuminates another full moon, a large bat appeared from behind Famous. The bat flew gracefully over Mary’s head and landed on the centermost stone. She could see the tear in its wing and knew it was Izzy. He flapped his wings a few times and an oval shaped bright light appeared and a woman with long black hair stepped forward. A perfection of what a woman should be, and only those in the cosmos could create. She appeared in a gown of white silk with clear stones, the same kind resembling the crystal pendulum.
She floated in front of Mary. “I am the Priestess Isadore and I appear to fulfill our destiny. I can appear to you now because you are temporarily in spirit. The night you prayed for death you were taken, as you wished.”
She knew what she feared was true. She did die at her camp.
“We raised your spirit because you have a destiny to fulfill. Your body awaits you to complete your task. Only then your prayer to return to your life as it was shall be answered.” Isadore’s words as lyrical as Famous’ were. They must be from the same place, wherever that was. Heaven? She was sure it was somewhere in the cosmos.
“Whenever mankind has conjured a dark force, through their hatred and their fear, the Dark Spirt will appear. Only the Priestess can send him back to his realm.” Isadore said.
“He was created by the Divine One’s of the universe to be summoned when this planet veers off its path. Sometimes, if the energy of the planet is especially ill, he can appear earlier than we can anticipate. He sent the meteorites; we merely changed their paths to do the least amount of damage to human life.”
Mary knew what the Dark Spirit was capable of from the camp. She was still in shock over learning of her death and the team of supernatural beings surrounding her. “I have so many questions, but I don’t know where to start.” Mary said.
“You read about me in the book you now have in your hands. Much of the language is Gaelic, Scotts and another is Enochian. It was written in our language to keep those who are not involved with my story from knowing how important my bones and the crystal pendulum are.” Isadore said.
Mary read about the bones and the Priestess Isadore’s first incarnate life.
“I was one of the first immortals created and asked to be the one to send the Dark Spirit back to his world should he arrive before his time. We have history together that goes back to the first days, when there were powerful beings.”
“Where do I fit into all of this?” Mary asked.
Famous stepped off his perch and stood in front of Mary. “Famous will lead you to the vine castle, what we refer to as Zropu. There you will get the information you need, and any questions answered you may have. You can thank Famous for adding his influence on your prayer. I will see you when I’m needed again.”
Mary was trying to take in everything Isadore said. “I need to know, for my own sanity, that I can return to my life as long as I fulfill my destiny.”
“Yes.” Isadore said, and added, “It won’t be easy. It will require all of your strength, as well as the energy of the spirits willing to help you.” Isadore gave her a warning. “You must follow the rules completely, or you shall return to the exact moment when Famous and the disciples came to you, and then they will get their reward. Afterward you will be sent to Oapuzi, what is considered heaven in all religions, and you will not return in this form again.”
“Oapuzi is what you and the angels call heaven?” Mary asked.
“We have always called it Oapuzi. Humans have called it Heaven, Sirius, Nirvana, Shamayim, Jannah and Svarga Loka. It has many names, but it is where all souls and angels reside.”
Mary reached for Famous and scratched his head. She thanked him for adding to her prayer. She wouldn’t be about to embark on her fate’s journey if not for him. It was always there, calling to her, subtly, throughout her life. Now she was about to step into that journey with everything she had to give. Famous must have read her thoughts as he leaned against her body, and she knew he was encouraging her.
She followed him and the others through the woods and back to the path where she sensed she had been before. Even though Mary knew this was her fate, her heart raced as she looked at Zropu. The Castle from the outside resembled a large shed. The growth of brush and vines had taken over the structure. So many vines, of all sizes. They acted as armor for the structure; alive, filling in every bare section they could. The only area the vines didn’t cover was the twelve-foot door in front. As Mary approached, the door opened and a woman, at least seven foot tall, with a pristine white aura answered. Her white hair placed up on her head with tendrils flowing down around her face. She wore a medieval Victorian gown, fitted to her slender body. An ornate hand stitched masterpiece that only the cosmos could create.
“Come in, I’ve been expecting you. I will tell you who I am in good time, but for now you may call me Syx, that’s S-Y-X. Please follow me.”
She led Mary through the castle. Once inside the vestibule and into the large corridor, the castle went on much farther, it certainly wasn’t the size of a shed from the inside. She followed Syx to the library. Every book that was ever written must be housed there, Mary thought. Stacks and more stacks of book cases, with a metal stairway leading to the second floor of the chamber. The domed-shaped skylight reflected the light from the moon outside mixed with the candle chandelier below. The walls held long tapestries of vintage medieval design. There was a fire set in a large hearth and candles littered about the room. Mary didn’t know where to look first. She was having trouble catching her breath as each fixture and eccentric item came into view. She was having a déjà vu moment, when Syx guided her to a round table covered with embroidered tapestry. She poured Mary a cup of tea and began to explain what she needed to know about her life and her destiny.
“You are an old soul. You are a special blend, as we like to say on Oapuzi, our home planet. From the beginning of your soul’s existence, Isadore has used it to live a human life. You share your soul with her. Because of this, your soul has been called upon every so often, to remove the Dark Spirit when he appears. The lifetime you are in now, happens to be the time when he needs to be banished back to the Otherworld.” Syx said.
“I’ve been in this castle before?” Mary asked.
“The last time was several centuries ago. Each time we need your assistance, we meet like this to get you fully informed. Each new life has freewill and you can decide to help the world you live in or not. If you choose not to help, you won’t be judged negatively, you simply go to Oapuzi like you would have if this were a normal lifetime.”
Mary knew she had been in Zropu before, hence the Déjà vu. Everything Syx was telling her answered the question of why she had a connection to the spirit world and why she became enlightened and believed in past lives.
“‘special blend? Why would the Divine One’s go to all that trouble?” Mary asked.
“It means that your Mexican heritage and your Scottish one is of a special blend, providing the right mix of ancestral lineage that makes her power, your power, strong enough to remove the Dark Spirit, the Dark Force, Haden, whatever you want to call him.”
Syx h
anded Mary a parchment with foreign writing on it. Mary looked at Syx incredulously, “I can’t read this, I don’t even know what language this is. Is it important?”
Syx smiled. “You will be able to read the parchment when you are required to. The scroll has been enchanted by the Divine One’s. That way, if anyone but you attempted to read it, they wouldn’t understand what it said. When the time comes, you will understand every word. You are to read it when you are over the grave of the Priestess. You will need the crystal pendulum as well.”
Syx stood and waved for Mary to follow her as she led her to the stairwell. They walked down two flights and came to a door. Mary could see the resemblance of the door and the one that was on the closet back at the cottage. Syx turned to face Mary and looked into her eyes and said, “I have loved you since the moment your soul was born. I heard your prayer at the cottage, and I have never left you. You had faith in us once, but when your life took a turn for the worse, you pushed us aside. We were always with you. We felt your pain.”
Mary knew right then that Syx was her guardian angel.
“I am with you now and I’ll be with you until your death in this life, and beyond. You can see me and hear me because you are in spirit, but once you fulfill your mission, and return to your life, I will still be with you.” Syx said.
Mary, with tears in her eyes, reached for Syx, always wanting to be able to put her arms around her and feel her loving embrace when she knew she was with her throughout her life. She looked into Syx’s angelic form and wanted to commit every second to her memory. One of her dreams was coming true and she wanted to savor the moment.
“I want to know…” Mary said. Syx already knew what she was going to ask. “Why I didn’t answer you that night in the woods?” She nodded. “If I had rescued you, and I wanted to, you wouldn’t have learned the true value of your life. You had to be in front of Famous and his disciples before you understood what your life meant. How badly you wanted to live. Anyone else and you would be at Oapuzi.”
