I
His dreams were filled with suffering
Yet he laid there; with no fear, worry or pain. A smile bloomed on his face as his eyes crept open. Lights, colors and sound swept into his mind. A euphoric feeling swam through his body. He didn't know what any of this was; he didn't know where any of this was. He didn't remember coming here; into this very room. He lifted the thick wooly blanket that was elegantly dropped over his body to find clothes he'd never worn. Clothes he's never seen. The idea of being lost brought a slight panic to the bottom of his stomach as he closed his eyes and thought of home.
His purpose.
He opened only to see the same, but more blurred, he didn't know if that was his eyes playing a trick or his mind. Effortlessly he swung the blanket over the bed before sitting up straight. Before his feet touched the smooth granite floor he noticed the bedding lay perfectly in half from corner to corner.
He sat wondering, before shaking his head and spoke softly in a crackled whisper
"Fools believe lies."
Those words echoed through his entirety but were felt beyond his extremities.
The man completely lost to all that he knew giggled before rising to see a precious wood framed mirror. Detailed hand carved depictions of soldiers rising to Heroic angels.
“Completely wrong,” he announced before giggling softly at the sound of his voice.
He gazed and wondered if they ever knew the power that was hidden within the halls, that was beginning its decent on the world around it. His reflections were laughing back at him smiling, as if agreeing with his master’s statement. After calming his face the man looked down at his body. A body that no longer felt like his own. He looked back up and gazed through the window, the sun was just beginning to creep over the mountains. Rays of sun shined through the painted glass above his head. To show an elaborate design of a flame with ice as its base.
He turned to the door staring; for a better part of the morning.
Knock. Knock.
Come in” he instructed then coughed to cover his last laugh.
Creaking, the door slowly opened enough for a small child to enter.
Father” the blonde child whispered
Father. He became sick at the very thought. Bringing a child into this... world echoed between his ears.
“Father Sooket. It’s time to join the others for the prayer” the boy gently spoke. “I’ll go get Father Tremos and Father Phlude.
Ah my brother is here.” Turning back to the mirror he grinned.
Gazing closer he inspected a face he didn't recognize, eyes that have never seen; A jaw that has never clenched when death was around them. Grinning, he ran one hand against his jaw noticing how smooth his stubble hair was from what he remembered. The other floated down his chest with a graceful effortless motion. His jaw opened and shifted as the cheeks moved and contorted around his teeth and bones. Bringing his mouth fully opened he saw how white his teeth were, how evenly spaced with no gap between two.
“Whoever did this? I thank you” he thought to himself as a grin spread across the reflections face.
Just as fast as the grin was there, it was gone, his eyes narrowed as he clenched his jaw;Flat and dull. What use were dull teeth? Teeth were meant to put scare and fear into others, and rip meat from bone. Turning he dropped his robe to the ground, peering over his shoulder with a closed eye to prevent his vision blurring. He saw his back muscles flinched as hrs tried to turn more. The discs of his spines twisted crack when he turned too far, when his eyes caught a strange unfamiliar sight. No hair took his back as their field, no bruises from falls or cuts from fights. His skin was perfect.
“Monastery” he chuckled.
It may have perfect but it was missing something. He gazed at his back, and he placed one hand on his lower back and one by his shoulders. Not exactly knowing what to do but proceeding with what felt right. What felt good. His hands began to glow an almost inky blue, as he focused his mind on what was missing. Small strands of light burst out if the center below his hands, falling and landing as if the light was a liquid. The pool of dark blur inky liquid began to pulse, as if it were breathing. Slowly, the liquid began to slither over his skin before being absorbed leaving a constantly shift image of an obsidian blue winged creature trying to flap its wings in an earnest attempt to free him from his captor.
“Much better”
After he clothed, he proceeded to the door. Opening the cold metallic handle drew open the massive door, letting the groan escape from the hinges. He stood in the hallways as the door crept close; large archways surrounded the inner garden. The smell almost sent him to his knees. Supporting his weaken knees with his hand on a sculpture to his right he cleared his throat and stood tall. He peered left before walking, and then he stopped. He looked back over his shoulder, down the path to the right of his room. Cautiously he spun on the heel of his boots and proceeded down that path. It seemed right with the monks being the right hand of the Spirits.
“Father, what are you doing?” Giggled a small child in the garden.
“Excuse me”
“Why are you just standing there?” The child laughed. “You're funny”
He stopped his feet, blinked to where the voice was, he turned behind him to see the door. Spinning forward he saw the garden. It shouldn't be there, it was supposed time be by his left. His mind truly was playing tricks with him.
“Hurry” the boy whispered. “No one wants to see the father late for his own ceremony”
Following closely behind the scampering child, he was intrigued by the thought of his own ceremony. What could the ceremony be for? What did he do that he could not remember?
Assuming these ceremonies were held for greater power acquisition. A smirk grew across his face as he hurried behind the small child. Anticipating, hungry for the power that was awaiting him.
“There must be a faster way” he spoke between strides. “Boy. Where is this ceremony taking place?” He commanded.
The child stopped at a crack in the thick tan stone that created the walls on the east wing. Peering through the crack. The boy muffled some jargon as he almost tried to force his head into the tiny crack.
“Speak clearly boy” he ordered.
The child pulled his face from the crack leaving a red make where his nose was squished into the bottom point. “At the closest spot to the spirits”
The father stood there for what seemed an eternity, losing his count of how many times the boy scratched his nose.
Blinking, the father commanded “Where!"
Startling the child caused a high pitch yelp echo through the stone hallways. Almost creating a heartbeat-like acoustic.
The boy pointed out the window trying to hold back the tears, there” he whispered.
Father took hold of the small child and bent to one knee. “Please forgive me child. It seems my eagerness to be at my own ceremony seemed to have gotten the worst of me. The last thing everyone wants to see is for me to show up late because you were guiding me. Now I know that you are doing your best and we are going the fastest route you know. But what are one child and a simple father's voice against them all.”
“But but this is the only way” the child whimpered.
“There might be another way.” He looked over at the window and saw the flame at the tip of the mountain. “Trust me child but do exactly as I tell you and promise you won't tell anyone of this. You will take this to your grave.”
The child's knees buckled as he dropped to the floor, tears filling the gap of his lower eye lid, before screaming silently, “I promise father!”
“Say my name!” He screamed back. Deafening shockwaves rattled the child making him fall on his back.
“Say. My. Name!” He repeated with a step for every word bringing him closer to the child.
To his prize.
“Creator!” The child proclaimed” I pro-”
“Fool” he spat as his hand made contact, knocking the child off his bottom sending him across the hallway. “Do not insult me again!”
The child wiggled his way back to his feet. Wiping his face from the tears and dirt stuck to his cheek. “I don't know your name” he spoke.
“Rekooni” the father stated.
“I promise Rekooni” the boy cried out barely making a sound.
“Again” Rekooni laughed as he kicked the child's abdomen. “Louder so I can hear it”
After the boy stopped twitching and struggling for air, he sat himself on his shins crossed at the feet.
“I promise Rekooni on my soul. To never let this find passing ears. If not let the creator take my soul as judgment”
“Much better” he grinned with his neck twitching.
The monk took the child, flailing and thrashing, into his side with his left arm. “Shh shh. Child. It's alright. He's gone. It’s alright, you're safe here. He whispered as he cradled the sobbing boy in his arms.
“Father Rekooni” the boy whispered. “Are you hurt?”
“My only hurt is seeing you like this. I have failed.” the father replied, “child, what did you call me?”
The boy began to cry uncontrollably, wailing at the top of his lungs. Between the grasps for air and the tears cascading into his mouth, bubbles began to form in the corners by the tiny teeth in the tiny jaw.
“Shh shh child. I meant neither you nor harm. Worry only fills my lungs promise to never speak that name again. You may call me Sooket.
The child's trembling arms and legs began to relax, cradled in such a Raw and vulnerable state felt warm to the young child.
“Walter” he whispered, “my name is Walter”
Sooket give the child a warm smile, “it doesn't surprise you that I already knew your name, I was waiting for your introduction. Walter Riley Gibons, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, let me properly introduce myself. Father Sooket of Rendort, Home to the ShadowBlades”
Rendort? Did he come from there? What force was behind the words he spoke so fluidly?
Sooket propped the big up on his feet, pushing his lower back in,
“Nobody likes a slouch” he giggled making s funny grace to Walter.
A smile erupted from Walters face, exposing 2 white teeth, a brown tooth. And a pair of black teeth littered his bottom jaw making an innocent and purest of smiles ugly.
Almost ghastly.
“Walter if you help me. I can help you have a pretty smile again. I've seen how you try to keep your mouth closed. I can help with that, but it will take a lot of my energy to do what is needed to get to the ceremony first. After we arrive and wave to our fellow brothers and sisters will I then fix your smile”
“Really. You can do that?” Walter jumped with his hands high in the air “thank you thank you thank you father Sooket. My mommy always says I have a pretty smile trying to help me forget about me tooths.”
“I can do more than that Walter. If I have the power I could stop aging. Imagine never getting old, never dying.”
The temptation flooded through Sooket mind. He was so close to the power. He could feel it bleed into his body from beyond. Slowly he was getting stronger.
“The ceremony has already started Walter” he stated, we must hurry. Now take me to the field over there where we can see the mountain. And hurry child we don't have much time.”
Together the two ran down hallway after hallway almost seeming to go in circles. Down a flight of stairs here, up a flight there. never seeming to make any progress, always seeing what seemed similar locations The child turned down a corner too fast, causing his balance to offset and tumbled across the floor. Rubbing his head he laughed.
Sooket stopped, if you’re well enough to continue I would appreciate it.” He looked left and right. “If not here will do”
“Really father? We can do it from here? Please can we?”
“Alright. Now hold tight and keep your eyes closed. This may cause a tingling sensation through your body. That is normal.
“Shall we begin” he asked the child.
“Please” Walter replied
“Excellent” escaped the smirk on monk’s face before one last giggle.
*****
“Sarah? What are you doing standing there! There’s a banquet hall full of our honored guests hungry for food and you want to pick roses?” no good help now a days yelled the head maid.
“It’s just I noticed something, a bright light” Sarah passively defended.
“Well. Let’s have a look outside for a bright light shall we?” Marissa mocked. “Hmm well I've looked everywhere and I just can't seem to see any bright light”
She laughed raiding her hands and head to the sky
“Oh, well look at that. There’s a light, right on top of us. By the judge of the sun” she enunciated “it’s after lunch. We. Are. Late. Get going!”
Sarah hoisted the bronzed plate onto her shoulder, focused as to not let any of the drinks spill.
“I'm coming” she exhaled
Going as fast as her pale legs would take her, she hurried down the steps to the doors of the grand hall. By the looks of it every hard earned coin was put to its work to make this a memorable experience.
A truly unforgettable experience.
Without thought a smile erupted from her cheeks as she headed into the hall full of the highest power in the hands of Rendort. Officials from every land as far as the white cap mountains. Each official ruling their own lands as they saw fit, but each and every one of them had to answer the calling whenever Rendort requested it. The hands had to enforce the rulings and teachings of the monks and followed every law set forth for the Hands. Some say each land is a finger on the Hand, bringing reason to the name.
Others believe it to be an insult proclaiming them puppets.
Another glass over here peasant” an official from Slurith yelled, spewing the loose bits of duck between his teeth into the open air.
“Right away M'lord” she responded, bowing her head momentarily before beginning across the crowded hall to her request.
Along the way, between her twists and turns she managed to free herself of all but three glasses. Arriving the overly obese official open his oily palm and wrapped his stubby fingers around the neck of the glass.
Two more and it's all over.
As she circled the pack of officials by the outer column, she saw a bright light, off in the field, just beyond the windows. The same bright light she saw earlier, and just the same it seemed no one else saw it. With haste she headed sideways while holding the plate above her head, she knew better than the spill a glass. Weaving through the drunken crowd seemed easier from afar than in the midst of the frenzy. Having to bend and contort her slim body to avoid hitting anyone, made the journey seem to last an eternity.
She stopped. Frozen in fear. Her ears still ringing from the sound cut into her soul. She looked from left to write, trying to find the source. Without thought, motive or reason, she lost balance of the plate before dropping to her knees covering her ears.
All she could hear was a child screaming.
A glass fell of an officials robe and mayhem broke out. First, simple nudges and words of wine. But soon after the sounds of chairs splinters and bones cracking drowned out the shouts.
All she could hear was a child screaming.
“Ladies, Gentlemen. The foreplay shall stop at once” a dark echoing voice proclaimed from the doorway. “We shall have order. If you want to live that is.”
Her eyes squinted as he dropped what seem at first to be a bag of grain, only to discover it was a small child.
“Walter.” Sarah gasped
Her trembling fingers did no good to block her sight, laying there with a face full of fear, for eternity the image was burned into her spirit.
“This boy! Walter was with me when I came here. Just over that hill. He was my guide. He helped me get to my ceremony.” The father spoke to the crowd. “And as it seems, you all have been here for quite some time, I seem to be losing my balance just breathing in your disgusting air”
With but a moment's paused, he continued “I'm late! For my own ceremony! This boy had to be punished.”
Kicking the boy across the banquet hall he spoke with a deafening tone. “I am Rekooni. Lord of the Underworld’s first and foremost purpose.”
He smiled. “Death”
“You fools have been dabbling with forces you cannot control, trying to bring back your Savior. Instead, you brought back his worst nightmare.”
Bending his head to his left, his neck cracked in two spots, each distinct, each spine chilling.
“You have but two options. Surrender to me. Or die. I will give you a moment.” He folded his arms. “Times up”