Everywhere I looked I saw teeth, claws, tusks sticking out of the walls. At the far end was one red and black mask, about eight feet tall. It was the face of the Fanged One.
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The room was cooler than the air outside and I could imagine how even that coolness might have been interpreted as proof of the existence and power of the Fanged One. I saw no priests, no acolytes, not one human being. As I approached the center of the massive cave-like room a metallic scent teased at my nostrils. It grew stronger as I approached the mask. As I looked down at a basin carved into a large flat rock I recognised what I saw and the smell. It was blood. I asked my healer to check and it confirmed it is human blood.
I sat cross legged on the floor, wondering how it is no Cherinian has sensed any human sacrifices. I grew aware of bare feet shuffling in the sand and whispers behind me.
“The Fanged One has called another, our sacrifices have not been in vain.”
“We must first speak to him, some only come out of curiosity.”
“Even they come for a reason, they do not know how to fight the evil white demons and search for the gods of their fathers to free them.”
“Quiet. I will talk to him.”
A man in his forties stepped between me and the mask. I looked up at his scarred face. “Are you a follower of the white demon Samantha?”
“She is not a god to me.”
“But she has powers, do you deny she is a demon?”
“Yes.” I pointed at the basin. “She obviously does not have the powers she thinks she has.”
“Have you come to learn of the Fanged One, the god of our people?”
“I wish to learn. If he is a god, why does he need our blood?”
He sat before me. “God gives us life and now and then he thirsts for a sign that we have not forgotten, that we remain obedient and devoted to him. You have heard stories about him being a cruel god? It is true, some priests in the past thought to rule in his name by terror. That is not the way of the true believer. The Fanged One is our father and he only demands the lives of those who would harm his children the Feshidi.”
“Those who gave the blood, they were not Feshidi?”
“The blood is from those who wish to know the Fanged One. Would you give of your blood as a gift to your father so that he knows you are open to learning about him?”
I looked him in the eyes. “I will.”
The slit was small and the blood he took was not more than half a cup, but I had to fight my healer and Vincent (who had the good sense to remain invisible to the Feshidi). I looked into the basin, suddenly the blood there did not nauseate me as it no longer represented lives taken.
“There are that many still interested in learning about the Fanged One?”
“Most of the blood is ours.”
“You really do believe in the Fanged One!”
He told me the story as he claims it was told to him by his grandfather, who was also a priest, about how it was that the Fanged One created the world and his people. The FO (Fanged One) was happily married and he had the stars to play with. He became bored with them, but he probably would not have done anything if he had not discovered that a friend of his was trying to seduce his wife. He saw that his wife did not act in a seemly manner and encouraged his friend. He grew angry and changed his friend-who-was-now-his-enemy into a sun. His wife he changed into the mother earth. He gave her children that were tall, dark and beautiful and ordered his wife to see to it that they live well and remember their father. For many years it seemed the wife had learnt her lesson and was a good mother.
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What the FO and his children did not know was that she allowed the sun to seduce her and hidden within distant mountains she had his children. Because they were not true children of the FO they were a dirty yellow-brown colour, like mud. They grew strong and the mountains were no longer big enough for them and they came to the land of the Feshidi, the true children of the FO , and took much of their land, treating the Feshidi like animals. When the FO saw what his wife had done, he grew very angry and demanded of his children that they kill the children of the sun. Out of the evil of their father the sun, the Orati created white demons with terrible powers and being evil but not warriors, they claimed that only love rules them and seduced most of the children of the FO into believing them. The FO was so hurt by his children abandoning him that he left them to destroy themselves. A few Feshidi did remain loyal to their father and as they grow in numbers they expect their father to love them again and fill them with the power to destroy the children of the sun and their demons. The giving of blood is important as the smell of blood is powerful and it fills the places between the stars so that their father never forgets his children.
I was fascinated by the clever way the previous generations had borrowed the story of the Orati to create their own belief while also making them superior to the Orati. I saw little I could object to in their original beliefs.
“Does the Fanged One still love his wife?”
“We believe he does, that is why he was made so angry, allowing his priests to change him into a demon that wants to steal our lives.”
“How sad that someone as powerful and wise as the Fanged One should be hurting because of the betrayal by a female. Does he not know it is within the nature of the female to betray if she is loved too much?”
“Indeed, his revenge will be terrible.”
“I have seen men betrayed and they have forgiven their wives and lived lives rich with the love they wanted. Revenge is for weak men who cannot see that part of the blame lies with themselves. That is what my father taught me.” I nodded, as if seeing a truth they had not. “It is difficult to see the Fanged One as he truly is, for the evil priests who turned him into a demon who wants to kill his children still affects us, even when we learn the truth. The Fanged One your grandfather spoke of, I think he still loves his children and does not want them to suffer and die for him. He is powerful enough to kill the Orati himself, if that is what he wants. I think he is looking for a way to forgive his wife, even if it means he must accept her other children as his, as long as he can find a way to do so without his enemy the sun laughing at him. Perhaps that is what his true children should be doing, looking for ways to help their father.”
The priests are no better educated than the ordinary Feshidi and I’d gone too fast and too far for them to understand me. I promised to return the next day, offering to give of my blood again, if it is needed.
“I don’t understand why you’re wasting so much effort on them! There are only eight priests and no more than fifty to sixty believers.”
“Ever since Arthur messed with our past you’ve been in a bad mood Allan. What are you objecting to? Is Cherinianism a religion and therefore we should not tolerate their beliefs? When we return home will you take a stand against the religions of our world? The Orati have their own beliefs and so should the Feshidi, or else they will never be equal. I’m only doing what the Christian Church did, they brought the pagans into their churches by adopting many of their beliefs, gods and celebrations. I’m not going that far since we don’t have a religion of our own, but I do hope to gentle their god so that they accept all other races and nations as their brothers. I damn well intend finding a way to change his name and image!”
Allan looked as if he were about to argue with me, but Cassie got in first. “I hope they don’t change his name, I like it. Perhaps he only needs a more modern look, like a black cape, tall and slim, you know, someone like Count Dracula.” Jessie laughed, Allan grinned and suddenly the pressure was off me.
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I’ve had five meetings and given blood each time. The priests are impressed as they think the giving of blood must be weakening me - as they are weakened because they have that belief. As I’ve talked, I’ve also tried to create an image of the religion they could become and they are responding to it as a dream worth striving for. I’ve talked about all men being one family and the importance of family in any nation becoming strong. I’ve talked of the FO as being a gentle god who believes and aches for love. Much of what I say is going to be ignored, but I think I’ve affected the way they think. One of the younger priests, as he saw me to the door, whispered that the others think I am a wise man sent to them by the FO.
I had a talk with Meli, asking her not to include what I’m doing with the priests in their tellings. She shook her head, her eyes boring into mine.
“You are right, when our worlds learn about your interfering with this religion there will be those who will fear that you are secretly doing the same with theirs - especially those of the Islamic faith. Sam, if we keep it secret and they learn of what you are doing, they will never believe any of our protestations. If we speak openly and include it in the tellings, they will see that you responded to a need and most of them will approve. What is more important, they will believe us when we tell them we are not interfering with any other religion. Why do you think I’ve always insisted on telling all, even when it embarrasses us? Why has Robert never fought me even when he cringed at us showing him loving us as children? Our tellings must remain a sacred duty towards truth or else we stop them.”
“Then we must not do a telling until I’ve finished with them.”
She smiled. “You intend showing them that it is the white demon Samantha they have talked with?”
Glumly I replied, “I’ll have to find a way that does not invalidate all I’ve said.”
She caressed my cheek. “I don’t foresee us doing a telling for a long time.” I don’t know whether Robbie responded to the way I was feeling, but I was very pleased when Meli was his special of that night.
The Orati elders made available their stadium and screens at the centres and our screens in Freddie showed us gathered for a general debate. Debate is not the correct word, for each who took part were mean to throw into the arena ideas for consideration and hopefully some of them will spark meaningful debates. Our speeches did not have to be serious, they could also take a more light-hearted view of life. I’d been asked to kick start it by talking on any subject I wish.
“I was asked by an elder, ‘will there always be riders Samantha?’ I’ll give his question a broader meaning and substitute the word rider and use warrior, although they basically hold the same meaning. Haven was standing by me and she countered with another question, ‘will there always be politicians Samantha?’” I paused as many laughed. “To be a Cherinian, you have to be a warrior, so I hope there will always be warriors. As for politicians, I’d like to see them substituted by ambassadors.
Being a Cherinian is not defined by a set of beliefs. It is a state of being. The day we set empathy lower than some other criteria, such as compassion or love or even selflessness, then we are no longer Cherinians. If empathy defines us above all else as Cherinians, they how can any Cherinian not be a warrior? Can any of us stand aside while any human suffers? If those causing the suffering are powerful and we must risk our lives to help, can we turn away out of fear? For that to happen we have to define fear as being the prime definition of being a Cherinian.
As to politicians, well, I wanted to be certain of the way I use the word so I opened a dictionary to see how the word is defined by those more knowledgeable than I. It was not a very comprehensive dictionary, but I admit, I was upset when I read their definitions.
A leader engaged in civil administration.
A person active in party politics.
A schemer who tries to gain advantage in an organisation in sly or underhanded ways.
Robert has always defined politicians as servants of the people. None of the definitions in the dictionary implies that. Faced with these definitions I turned elsewhere for something with more meaning. I looked at the way most men and women view politicians. Guess what, I found they held the same definitions as the dictionary, except for one important modification. The third definition is included as part of the first two, in other words:
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A leader engaged in civil administration is a schemer who tries to gain advantage in an organisation in sly or underhanded ways.
A person active in party politics who is a schemer and who tries to gain advantage in an organisation in sly or underhanded ways.
For those of you who are from other reality Earths, doesn’t it make you wonder, if that is what people believe, why do any of them bother to vote?
I think I know. Whatever people believe, they hope the next politician they vote for will suit the definition Robert gives us. They dream and vote and then shrug when they are proven wrong once again because the system is against them, they are helpless to demand the changes they want. We must not forget the psychological barrier. It is considered naïve to believe in politicians who are servants, and sophisticated and practical to think of them as manipulators of power - who are in turn manipulated by those who have the wealth to tempt them. I think that this cynical argument is proven by those politicians who have named themselves the Elite or Globalists and the people who are not offended by their presumptuous belief that they are superior to them.
It sounds as if I am promoting despair. I am not. Despite the system and despite what power does to people, there are many men and women who become politicians because of a dream and they start off by doing what they can to protect the rights of the people. The problem is, by the time they have achieved the possibility of becoming effective as politicians, they have also become cynical and accepted most of the practical limits they are faced with.
How can changing the title make a difference? Perhaps I should not have offered the suggestion, what I should have said is that we should have people who accept the role of ambassadors between the people and the politicians. Some such efforts have been made and in some countries they are called ombudsmen or constitutional courts. A few of them do make a difference, but most of them end up trapped within the same spider web of national and big money interests. Without meaning to, most of them end up betraying the very people they were supposed to protect.
Again, it sounds as if I am promoting despair. I am not. There is a way for us to approximate what we want. We all must empower ourselves, each of us ambassadors for all our fellow men and women. In other words, change our worlds from being worlds that belong to clerks, civil servants and secret agencies, to worlds that are bravely protected by warriors willing to challenge laws and rules in a legal manner so that they change for the better. I thank you for listening to me.”
I found Meli’s talk interesting and original.
“To some I am Melina or Meli, but to most of the world I am that strange person who writes books that few claim to understand and yet every species we know have translated my books into all their languages. Sometimes, when my feelings of self value are at their lowest, I wonder if all the attention given to me is because of my being part of the Teller family. For me, personally, it would be devastating if that should be true. I think of the books and what they contain and I think I have written stories that on each level have a message so that the reader finds something of value in them, but I don’t doubt that even the worst of writers have the same opinion of their stories.
These thoughts and speculations have led me to some ideas I’d like to share with you. I am hoping someone has the gifts needed to make them a real possibility, for I think they could revolutionise our mental worlds.
I began by thinking of the alternate Terrans who are able to externalise their imaginary worlds within bubbles of energy. I asked, what if I could do the same and build within such a bubble the world of one of my books? If the bubble were large enough, then anyone could watch my story unfold as if it is a real world.
I know my limitations, I cannot translate words into such complex pictures with sound, tactile senses, smell and feelings included. Not even if all my wives who perform our tellings helped me. Anyway, let us say it was possible and hundreds watched my story, what would they see and understand? I doubt it would exceed by far what words alone can communicate and in most cases would achieve less as words stimulate the imagination of the reader with his own imagery.
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However, what if there is a mind capable of understanding all the levels of my books and it has the talent to create a memory that makes the audience become part of the story at all levels, with thoughts and subconscious thoughts included, could such a memory be passed on to others for them to share - as if it were a real memory?
Alas, it will never happen with any of my stories, but there is no reason why it should not happen with other books. If a film can be made of a story, so then can a full world memory of it be created with all sensory stimulations. Perhaps the story could be viewed through the eyes of the main character or the viewer could choose the character they wish to share from?
If my concept is feasible, it would affect stories told in words, in film and in theatre, melding them so that a new art form is born. We could have dozens of versions of the same story as interpreted by the various creators of the memories.
While I am writing, I visualise and see what I describe in words. Imagine an author who can write new fiction combining his talent with the talent of creating sensory copies. We’d actually be seeing and experiencing the world of that author as he did. I hope someone makes that little dream of mine come true.”
Robbie took the stand. “I’m certain that someone will make it happen. I just wanted to mention that as there are people who are capable of using words to create art, there will be many who are not good with words, but will be able to create such ‘sensories’ in the richest details. In a very limited sense, that is what an artist uses a paintbrush for.”
Meli’s idea provoked many excited comments among the audience so the next speaker had to wait for them to calm down. When Ordinx took the stand he was very brief for a male Anadir.
“Do Cherinians, of all species, have the right to attempt to guide non-Cherinians and, as a separate question although allied, do they have the obligation to do so. The second question can only be addressed if the first question is answered positively. The first question can only be asked if it can be assumed that such a right is ethically allowed because the guidance would lead to the advancement of the non-Cherinians and not out of arrogance by the Cherinians. To answer that with any degree of certitude, we need to define the word advancement as it is meant or is applied in this case. We also seem to have evidence showing that not all souls are ready to be advanced, some require a further number of incarnations before they are not damaged by such guidance. Is it possible to evaluate each soul and determine what advancements would assist it in evolving? I hope to see such studies undertaken before too many well intentioned people take the decisions on their own. Thank you.”
Angelica gave a talk, with questions regarding the effects of Cherinians learning magic. Haven spoke about the effects beauty has on our souls. Many individuals of various species talked and the consensus at the end of the two days was that this was an exercise we should repeat on a regular basis. A number of debates on issues raised are already taking place. A further point was stressed by all, we believe such debates must not be held in exclusivity - in Freddie or anywhere else where only Cherinians are present. We must choose to hold the debates at a new alternate planet each time, so that Normals of all species, plus other Talents, can take part.
I’ve been cudgelling my brains, trying to come up with a way of letting the priests know who I am without undoing whatever good I’ve achieved. I can sense Meli’s eyes focussing on me now and then, but before I can say anything she is already back in her story. She really has put me in an impossible situation. No, I must admit that’s not fair - if I’m to remain an ethical being - I did it to myself.
Although Sebura’s riders have only caught two groups, their patrols have been declared a success by the elders. No further incidences have been reported and no evidence of any gangs crossing over into Orati land has been found. The next time he returned to visit Pirusi and rest, I invited the two of them for supper on my private terrace facing the park. Pirusi has changed within these two months, losing much of her baby fat has made her seem taller. She will be taller than usual for her people, as Efineh is, because of the healer. I held her on my lap while we discussed general topics and then Goldi took her from me and I refilled his glass with beer while I had a coffee.
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“You’ve made quite a name for your riders among the Feshidi.” He shrugged and I laughed. “Come on, you do not care what the people of that village who cared for you when you were wounded think of you? Is it so easy to forget they are people and that some of them could be good friends, worthy even of an Orati rider?”
“I have no intention of returning to their lands so it makes no difference.”
“What a pity.”
He gave me a look filled with suspicion. I sat back and enjoyed the cool breeze and the sound of the trees. I was certain his curiosity would get the better of him.
“What is it you plan?”
“We should examine the problem first. Your success has forced most of the deserters back onto their own lands.” He nodded. “Where they now steal, rape and kill. Others will travel to the lands of the people of Efineh. Before too many innocent people suffer, would it not be a good idea to form one international group of peace riders? Your riders are the best trained. If there are four men among them who could become leaders of their group of riders I would like to see the other Orati and the Feshidi give of their best warriors to join your men. You would be the head rider of all the groups and they would report to you. That way you can gather information and stop the killers before they harm anyone. Let me give you an example. At the moment, when you find tracks of a group and you see they lead to the borders, you forget about them. If you had a group on the other side of the borders you could warn them and they’d stop those murderers.”
“The other people would never allow our men on their lands.”
“They would, for among the men of all your riders would be men from all the lands. If you like my idea we will approach the elders of all the lands and only once they have agreed will you form your international peace rider teams. What do you say?” I could sense his mind churning as he became aware of the exciting possibilities.
“You are smiling because you know I will not refuse? I will do it because you ask.”
I laughed. “Sebura, I do not need to be a Cherinian to know how your mind works. Isn’t it better to use your ambitions in ways that are for the good of the people?”
“Really Samantha, aren’t you overdoing it? If we consider the positions you bestowed on him and never revoked, he is your ambassador, your elder and now you want him to be the head of security for all four nations!”
“Not security Dommi. Head of the International Peace Riders Organisation. I do not want to use the words we use on our worlds, no police force or security agencies.”
“To most of the non-Orati the word rider is synonymous with brutality and terror.”
“It is up to them to earn the respect it should deserve.”
Orgg asked Sebura whether he can join one of the teams just for the training. Sebura understands that Orgg is not capable of killing, but he agreed. The Orati know how loved Orgg and Jeskine are by our family and it added to Sebura’s prestige. Sebura undertook the training of that group personally and they spent many evenings talking, Orgg’s gentle thoughts influencing him in ways ours have not managed. I suppose it helps that Sebura also admires him for his natural strength.
Ashema joined me for an evening meal and a few glasses of brandy afterwards. Often when he comes we sit alone, sometimes with all my family and close friends and sometimes with just Robbie and Cherine or one or two of my other loves. Tonight Robbie and Angelica were the only ones with us and I allowed the two men to do most of the talking.
“All the elders are puzzled Robert, and they have asked me to find out what it is Samantha plans for Sebura.”
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Robbie smiled at me, but I let him answer. “For once Samantha is being subtle. She wants Sebura to occupy various positions of power without him having absolute power. When he is ready she will find a people who need someone like him to lead them for a while and she will send him there to guide them. By the time he returns to you for your elders to accept him as an elder of the Orati, she hopes he will have learnt the true meaning of power and its responsibilities and he will be a wise elder.” Robbie grinned. “Sam is trying to turn him into another Ashema.”
“Having a daughter has changed him, she might succeed.”
“Having a daughter is helping change him in many ways, but she is not the cause for his changes Ashema. He could never have been her father if he had not already changed himself.”
He nodded towards me. “She still remains a mystery to us, a demon not to be understood by men. We hear that she now speaks of the Fanged One and his priests as becoming a force, I think she said, for good. How can that be?”
“The priests who tried to use their religion to rule, changed what was good into something bad. The new priests are trying to return to the god of their grandfathers. Ashema, when a savage people create a god, that god is usually hard and brutal, but he is also fair and cares for his people. Sam wants the fanged One to evolve into a god of a more civilised and gentle people. Do you think she will succeed?”
“If she wants it, it will happen.”
Angelica giggled. “She has given of her blood so I’d say she really does want to succeed.”
“Angel!” I was angry with her.
Robbie pretended not to notice my anger. “It is true Ashema, she speaks to the priests as a Feshidi man and gives of her blood so that they will listen to her.” Of course Ashema then wanted all the details and Robbie provided them, keeping hidden from Ashema his amusement at my barely concealed anger and dismay. “She does not want anyone to know of what she is doing until she finds a way to let the priests know they have been speaking to Samantha. I trust you will respect her wishes.”
The exhibition of the bubble explosions was a great success and Robbie was more than pleased with their ability to control their bubbles until the very last second. Not all are able to avoid the explosions, but they are able to send them high into the sky to prevent any damage occurring. Anyway, the uncertainty helps give the bluff some teeth.
Orgg and Jeskine are about to return to their home world and because they have become so popular we had a feast for everyone to send them off with love.
Orgg said to Goldi who was seated next to him, “I’m pleased I spent time with Sebura and his men. They taught me much about self discipline.” His words were overheard by Normals and that raised the esteem many have for Sebura.
During the training period the teams confronted another four bandit groups and where they wished to fight, they were killed. Those who laid down their arms were handed over to the local authorities, passing on the problem of how they should be dealt with to them. Two months into the training, Sebura vanished.
Robbie and Vincent have returned in time to watch his disappearance and all they can tell us for certain is that he has been kidnapped by Talents. We met at the taverna so that all aliens can be present without having to project Terran bodies. It was agreed that Vincent and Kirsten are to stay with me. Others remaining are some of my loves who must continue with the training at the centres plus Samuel King, my Samuel and his family, Haven and Jade. Without asking, Samuel returned to his world and reappeared with the rest of the Sacred 42. We put aside our worries and celebrated their arrival. Comforted by the presence of so many for protecting us, Robbie agreed to return to our reality to search for Sebura.
Pirusi must be linked to Sebura in ways we had not realised, for none can console her, she does not believe anyone who tries to tell her he is out on patrol and cries for him. I’ve moved her so that she stays with Aganthi and me.
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On the eighth day of his disappearance Pirusi cried out and ran to the front door with us following closely. I sensed Vincent enclose us within his energies. As the door opened she grabbed at his legs and he raised her to his chest.
“I need your help.”
“Come in.” I led him to our private rooms. I handed him a beer and sat facing him, noting the new grim lines on his face. “Tell us what happened and what help you need.”
“Those who took me are from your world Samantha. They are your enemies.” I had to mentally shout at my loves to stay away while keeping a calm look for him.
“I’d more or less guessed that. Did they open your mind to powers for fighting me?”
“They did.”
I calmly watched him, waiting for him to explain himself or declare war.
Chapter Two Hundred and Eighty Two
He shrugged, his eyes turning cold. “I killed four of them.”
“You did what you had to. Sebura, use that bright mind of yours and think back, did you get away from them or did they let you go?” I could not believe they would have taught him how to jump realities and time his arrival.
He locked eyes with Pirusi for a while. “I better tell you of all that happened and you judge. Would they allow me to kill four of them just to allow me to think I escaped?
When I was taken from here I arrived on your world, but in a place that was white and very cold. I could only see fields and trees covered in white and mountains behind them, but no other houses. They told me I was their guest and that they had watched as you used me for your own reasons and in the hope of enslaving my people by making them Cherinians. I was told they are a group of powerful people who are secretly fighting to free all men from all Earths. I asked them why they had brought me and they explained they will be opening my mind to powers I have inside me so that I can help them by killing you.
Freddie arrived in the sky and they took me to another Earth. From there we moved to a different Earth every two or three weeks. Samantha, I have been away for nearly one hundred days.
They were in my mind most of the time, the reason they gave me was that they were searching for what powers I have, but I think they were also watching my mind, listening to what I think. I tried to be the Sebura who first met you, but I don’t know if they were fooled - sometimes I would forget and be fooled and fill with hate for you. I used the memories of my Pirusi fighting a lion for me to remember I am fighting a war.
It is not a life for an Orati rider! Everything is lies and deceit. Not one looked me in the eyes and spoke the truth. As I learnt to hear their thoughts I saw they expect me to be killed when I kill you and so they did not fear giving me powers they do not have.
They taught me to hide my powers and returned to your world to test me against Robert. If he could not feel me, then they would do the final binding that would make my will theirs. When they came to turn me into their animal I was standing outside in the cold, staring up at Freddie. I felt them coming to my mind with the words of power they had prepared and I used a power that enfolded them within a wall of fire and I killed them.
I jumped to Freddie, calling a warning for him to give to Robert and asked for it to send me home. I found myself close to the door and came to speak to you. Samantha, they have placed chains inside my mind, if they speak the words I will not be free, I will do whatever they ask of me. Can you break those chains?”
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“What do you mean Freddie sent you here! He can’t do that.”
“It is what happened. A long time ago I offered to allow you to see my thoughts, I cannot do that now, it might be a trap - they would know you would want to see whether I spoke the truth.”
“You’ve been doing a lot of thinking.”
“They taught me a lot Samantha. They sent into my mind years of learning your children are taught at your schools. Most of it I do not understand, but it has changed me.” He gave a bitter smile. “I am not your primitive friend anymore, I am half a savage and half of that which laughs at the savage.”
“I’ve never laughed at you Sebura, I’ve been angry, I’ve liked and disliked you at times, but I’ve never laughed - how could I when I admire you?”
He struggled to speak for a moment. When he did, I could see on his face what it cost him. “For Pirusi and my people, can you find a way to trap the powers I have?”
“Once I am certain you will not need them to defend yourself. Those four you killed, they are probably alive again and very angry with you. They and their friends might come after you. Vincent, can you give him a sliver and teach him how to release it if he is captured again?” Vincent took on his form and nodded.
Jade disobeyed my wishes and jumped to us. “I will link to Sebura so that I can feel when he needs help.”
I sat back and grinned at Sebura. “It seems I won’t have to do anything, they’re all determined to protect you.”
Vincent said, “I do not consider him in immediate danger, they will know he went to Freddie, but they cannot know what happened once he arrived there. Until Freddie leaves they are not likely to come here looking for him.”
Aganthi quickly spring cleaned a large bedroom and we told Sebura he will be staying in the house with us for a while. Having Piri run around, yelling, laughing, tugging at our arms for our attention and the many hugs she needs all combined to cheer us up so that we did not dwell on the future fight. At a time that everyone was busy I took Piri to the roof. She looked down at the treetops and the people below them with fascination.
“When Efineh was still a child, the two of us were sitting on a roof like this when someone shot me with an arrow. I fell to the ground underneath.” Her eyes opened wide and I could almost sense her holding her breath as she leant over to look at the ground below. “From the ground I looked up at Efineh and called to her that I needed her. I asked her to jump off the roof and she did.”
“Efineh not hurt?”
“If she tried it without me, she would die. Just as you would, the ground is too far for you to jump. Pirusi, if I asked you to jump, would you?”
She shook her head, her hair waving violently. “No!”
I laughed. “Okay, what if I hold your hand, would you jump with me?”
I thought she was going to pull away, but with her heart hammering she placed her little hand in mine. I smiled, my own heart racing from the love I felt for her. “We won’t jump, but we’ll fly around for a while. Don’t let go of my hand, okay?”
Slowly we rose into the air and I swirled around the roof garden until she was used to the idea and knew she would not fall (what happens in Freddie seems to be discounted by many as not happening in the real world). I warned her and we went beyond the walls. Soon I was able to swoop close to the ground with her shrieks accompanied by her excited laughter. I saw Sebura walking in the open, talking with a rider. As we swooped towards him Piri screamed his name and he looked up. He flinched slightly as we came to a stop just over his head.
“What are you doing out here, please return to the house.”
7240
“I am a rider Samantha, if they come I prefer to meet them like a man outside.”
Without a word I flew straight up and then aimed for the forest where I’d first arrived. We alighted at the top of the cliff overlooking Efineh’s home village. “That village is where Efineh was born, I think it is a good place for me to teach you a few games. Pirusi, if you want me to teach you, then you must promise me you will never use what I teach you unless it is to save Sebura or yourself.”
I entered her mind and then taught her how to use the sphere or shield of energy until she grew confident. “You have to choose how you will protect Sebura. Will you hide him inside the energy or will you hide his enemy inside so that he cannot attack your papa?”
She gave it her most serious thought. “I don’t know Samantha, which is best?”
“If you hide Sebura then he cannot fight while the enemy can still try to attack him. If they realise the energy comes from you, they could kill you. It is better you use the shield to stop them and leave Sebura free to help you fight them.” She nodded. “Piri my love, you only have to delay them for a few seconds so that we can join you. That will be enough to save Sebura.”
“What do they look like?”
“I don’t know, they could make themselves look like me or Robert or anyone. If you feel Sebura is in danger, stop whoever it is, even if it is me. I will not be angry with you nor will Robert or anyone else.”
I took her to the forest to collect mangoes and stayed for as long as she enjoyed watching the strange plants, flowers and insects.
“We have to enter his mind to rid him of the conditioning, but how do we do it without springing the trap they’ve probably set for you?”
“The only way is by taking him to the void. To tell you the truth, I feel the best would be to take him to our World for Adam to handle it. Whatever trap they’ve set, it can’t hurt him.”
“That would mean taking him back to our reality!”
I grinned. “If you’re worried about taking Mohammed to the mountain, why not bring the mountain to Mohammed? Share with me how I carried our World.”
“No, I will go, teach me.” Vincent said. “They are less likely to sense me.”
“Vincent, either way they’ll know once our World is gone from the void. You better let Robbie know or he’ll worry. Tell him to stay there for a while longer, we have to free Sebura first before they come.” I gave a delighted laugh as I sensed him. “You’ve been dying to know how I did it! All you had to do was ask!”
Vincent left just before midnight, promising to return within a couple of hours. Haven was at the Feshidi centre and Aganthi and Jade were sleeping with me. We were undressing for bed when Sebura suddenly appeared.
“Die you demons!”
As he spoke a dark whirlwind formed around him sucking at us like a black hole. I could not break away so I stepped forward to cover my loves and screamed in their minds for them to jump. I felt myself being torn out of my body so I barely noticed that the bedroom door had opened and two men stood there, one of them holding Pirusi. As the force of his whirlwind grabbed at my soul I was spun around him and I lost all awareness.
The following is what I was shown by my loves. I was already being drawn into the heart of the whirlwind (a bad choice of description as it only looked like one, there was no wind, it was more of a dark vortex of energies) when Pirusi realised I was being attacked by Sebura. She formed her shield around him. I was inside the shield with Sebura, but his vortex lost its powers almost instantly as Sebura lost his concentration. My loves had not jumped and it took them a few seconds to recover. Within that time the two men launched their own attacks, thinking my loves were responsible for isolating Sebura. Disorientated as they were they could not protect themselves and they screamed with pain as the powers from the men reached in to tear at their bodies. Haven arrived, already in a rage as she felt the pain of her loves and she was merciless, killing both men instantly.
I hope you enjoy reading this story of fantasy, adventure and love - and should some of it be true for our reality, I hope you will love our Cherine.
Αλέξανδρος Ζήνον Ευσταθίου
(Alexander Zenon Eustace)- posted: 16th Jun, 2020
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