Chapter I: Remembrance07:26 Apr 15 2011
Times Read: 466
I closed my eyes, trying to recount my dream. I had never told it to anyone before. Perhaps, this woman, The Dream Reader, could help me interpret what this recurring dream meant. I took a deep breath and held it as I thought of the first thing I remember from my dream. The beginning is always the best place to start, I sighed to myself. This woman is going to think I’m nuts. Hell, I think I’m fucking insane.
“Well, my dear?” an old, croaky voice cracked into my thoughts. “I don’t have all day, you know.” I opened my eyes.
“Sorry, ma’am. I am trying to remember every detail so I don’t leave anything out,” I sighed aloud this time. “Ok. The beginning.” I closed my eyes once again, and focused all my attention onto the place I dared to never go in my waking moments: my subconscious. The dark, recess in my mind was scary to me. I always felt that I would learn the truth about me, and I wasn’t ready to handle that truth. But here I was, going to that place because this woman asked me to. No, because I wanted answers. Ok, Nike. Focus. Breathe. Inhale. Exhale. Focus on the dream. “Ok, I’m ready.”
“I’m listening,” the old woman said.
“The first thing I can remember is waking up in a dark forest. My vision is blurry and my body stiff. My arms are sore. I can barely move them. My first thought is how did I get here? It takes me a moment for me to gather myself and remember. Zeus. Zeus did this. As my thoughts focus on Zeus, I suddenly remember three people: Kratos, Bia, and Zelos. I struggle to remember who they are to me. I know the pull to them is strong, almost like family. That was it, I remember thinking to myself. I somehow found the strength to lift my hands to my face to rub my eyes, trying to clear the blurry vision. They are my family. Suddenly, panic floods through my very being. I sit up, look around. They are not with me. ‘Kratos!’ I call. ‘Zelos! Bia! Where are you?!’ I did not hear any response. I try to stand up. As I get to my knees, I fall onto all fours as a fragment of pain shoots from my shoulders down my legs. I wince, my vision once again blurry with pain. Something is not right. I gingerly feel my back, unsure what I would discover. As my fingers brush the sensitive skin on my shoulders, I realize that I was in my human form against my will. And the reason for the pain was my spirit form trying to emerge. I close my eyes as realization strikes that Zeus had not only banished me from Olympus, he had banished me to my human form where I did not have the powers of a goddess. I am a mere human. I vaguely remember Zeus telling me that I had to earn my spirit form back. Until then, I am cursed to walk among those the gods of Olympus do not deem worthy: the humans. I am cursed to exact revenge on those that would break the ‘rules’ of life and nature. Zeus cursed me to be a fury. I stand up ignoring the pain that shoots down my body, leaning against a tree until my legs stop feeling like jell-o. This was going to take some getting used to. I am a goddess, dammit. A goddess by blood, by rite, and by word. None of this seems to matter in this world. Not anymore.
I shake my head. Zeus would not own me among the mortals. No, I am going to find my brothers, Kratos and Zelos, and my sister, Bia. We need to be together or we won’t survive. ‘My darlings, you are only strong when you fight together. Fight against each other and all will be lost.’ Something my father, Pallas, told us right before the four of us killed him. He also said that is why Zeus asked us to join him in the fight against the Titans, of which my father was one. Zeus knew that together we had more power than Zeus did. And Zeus knew that he couldn’t take Pallas on his own. Pallas was too strong. We have been used. When Zeus did not need us anymore, he cast us aside. This is what this was. He separated us because he knew we could overthrow him. And overthrow him we will, as soon as I find my brothers and sister. I turn my face upward to the non-existent stars, the sky blocked by trees. I’ll be damned if I give Zeus what he wants.
‘I will have my spirit form, Zeus! Mark my words, your reign is finished!’ I fall back to my knees, sobbing. ‘My beloved siblings, I will find you!’ A rushing wind blew my hair back. The wind seems to talk to me in a faint whisper that only I can hear. The voices in the wind are familiar but distant sounding. ‘Nike, help usssss. We are lossssst. Help usssss!’ And, that’s when I wake up.” I opened my eyes to look at the Dream Reader, hoping that she did not find me crazy. She was smiling.
“My, my, my,” she clicked her tongue against her teeth. “Tsk.”
“What?” my eyes were wide with fear. We lived in a time where dreams being told were frowned upon. The stranger the dream the more likely you were to be committed into a mental hospital and branded crazy for the rest of your life. I was afraid that this lady would find me to be fucking crazier than a bat on crack. The Dream Reader got up out of her seat, went to the door. In one quick motion, she locked the door and flipped the open sign to closed. “For you, my dear, I now have all the time in the world.”
I looked at her in complete confusion. All of a sudden, she now had the time for me to take my time. What could this mean? I thought. She thinks I’m crazy. She’s going to sit here and talk to me until the cops can come take me to the loony bin. Immediately, my instincts started taking over. I automatically started looking for a quick exit.
“Relax, child. I have no desire to send you away,” she sat back down and looked into my eyes. “You are used to running. Understandable. You have been treated like a weirdo and don’t trust anybody. Also, understandable. You have been labeled an outcast by society because you never can seem to fit in. You’re too different. Too pure. Right?” Her deep green eyes pierced my soul when she talked. I could only nod affirmation. “Right. Now, tell me everything you know about yourself. And I will help you fill in the blanks, if I can.”
“Well, my name is Nicole. I was born in Mont-“
“No, no, no. I mean, tell me all about your knowledge on your powers.” I must have looked totally confused because she went on to explain. “For example, I am a dream reader. I can interpret dreams. It’s almost like fortune telling. In the old days, I was called Kioni. It means, she sees. And I do. I see the meaning behind what other people dream. I have long since left that name behind.” She looked at me, hands folded in her lap, waiting.
“I still do not understand what in the hell you mean. Can you just explain my dream to me so that I may leave?”
“Tsk. Fine. Since you paid me to read your dream, I shall. You dream of a past. A past long ago. Greek gods ruled the span of the Greek Empire. You were Zeus’ right hand,” she paused. “Woman. So were your brothers and sister. You were the reason that the Greek gods of Olympus came into power. If you had not sided with Zeus, they would have never existed. The stories of them would have never existed. And you would still have your spirit form. Approximately 400 years after Zeus took to the throne, he banished four of his star pupils: Kratos- god of strength, Zelos- god of zeal or devotion, Bia- goddess of force, and Nike- goddess of victory. Rumor was that these four were stronger than Zeus. Zeus had to separate them and bind them to human form for the rest of their days or they would be the end to his reign. And he could not see that happen. They were never heard from again, at least not by the gods on Olympus. However, they raised quite a stir among the Greeks. They never found each other again, but they have all worked to the same goal. Finding one another, and taking back what was stolen from them. Their power. The fours’ human forms have died and withered away, but they always come back in a new human form. One thing that Zeus did not count on, your will. Your dream is simply reminding you that you have yet to find your brothers and sister. And you are close to accomplishing that goal.” The old woman got up. What in the fuck? And I thought I was crazy. What is this old bag smoking? Right hand woman to the god, Zeus. Riiiiiiiiight. Next thing she’ll tell me is that everything I was told didn’t exist, do. I need to beat it out of here. I stood up as well.
“Well, thank you for that,” I paused. Pick your words carefully, Nike. “Wonderful interpretation. It was really awe inspiring to have such insight into the matter.”
“Have you noticed,” the lady was staring at me with her deep green eyes again. “That you have found yourself incapable of lying? Really lying? Sure, you can mislead someone into believing something small. But even in misleading them, you give them a sample of the truth. It is never an outright lie. Is it?” I choked on my spit when I realized that I was holding my breath and I inhaled too fast. “Ah,” she smiled. “I thought as much. You are the true seeker of truth, the seer of right and wrong. You are a moral one, in a very immoral society. You have standards and expect those to live by those same standards. As long as they do not transgress against the rules set in place long ago, then you do not have a quarrel with them. However, if they do break the rules, you annihilate them. Your dream is truer than you know, Nike. Your family and you have been cursed to live several life times being the guardians to a power higher than the gods, a power that is more sacred than any power out there. You alone must figure out the rest. I will help where I can, should you choose to need it. But, that is all I can offer. I’m glad you came in today. You are a glimmer of hope in a world that has long since dimmed. A glimmer than I am glad to have seen in my time here on this earth.” She smiled and opened the door for me. I couldn’t help but smile back.
“Thank you, Kioni. The gods bless you. I have no quarrel with you this day.” I shook my head, startled that those words had come out of my mouth. My voice was the same, but, it sounded more elegant, refined, and royal. My fucking god. Could the crazy, old bat be right?
That was three years ago. I now possess knowledge that I did not possess then. I am Nike, goddess of victory, reincarnated. I have the power to see the future, but I do not possess the power to speak of it. I am called a secret keeper. Many claim to possess the gift of foresight, but only a handful have the full potential to be one who keeps secrets. I am also the punisher of those that would break the rules of the higher powers. They have commissioned me to deal with the law breakers. Hence, I have earned the name Fury. I believe that is rightly placed – hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Appropriate. I also possess the ability to talk to any form unseen: ghosts, spirit familiars, demons, and angels. Ghosts are those beings that once lived but have died and can’t or refuse to move on to the nether life. Spirit familiars are what people of the age of seven call imaginary friends, or guardian angels. Demons and angels, well, that’s pretty much self-explanatory.
I have two ages: a physical age and a spiritual age. My physical age is that of a 23 year old female. My soul age is over 1,000 years old. And yes, that crazy, old bat was right. My dream was real, a memory that was trying to spring forth into my consciousness. Through thousands of years being reincarnated into the world of mortals, I have the knowledge most anyone could only dream of knowing. However, finding that knowledge is proving difficult. It has been in the past three years that I have learned more about myself than any of my other times on Gaia. What I remember of my time on Olympus, I would rather forget. I was an instrument in the destruction of many innocent people. By order of the gods, they had my siblings, and me, kill over 3,000 people because the gods were in a mood. It is only now that I realize these “theos’” were not gods at all. They were mere humans that were special. In that regard, there are people that are gifted. They use more than 10% of their brain, unlike most people do. These people have abilities that set them apart from human society. And, the more they focus on training their abilities the more they can do. The reason for the battle between the Titans and Olympians? Zeus knew that the Titans were elitists. These were the most advanced humans. They knew their energy and abilities and could wield them more than proficiently. The Olympians felt threatened. Led by Zeus, the Olympians, along with my siblings and myself, waged war on the Titans. Overall, winning the war and becoming the elitist in the entire Grecian Empire. The Olympians set themselves on pedestals, like gods; scaring people into following them. If a person did not “appease” these gods, then wrath would come upon the person and his family in the form of me or one of my siblings. During times when the people, the Olympians loyal subjects, began to lose faith in the gods, the Olympians would show their abilities and faith would be restored. However, there is one small thing that the Olympians did not count on. The Titans who had fought with them: Kratos, Zelos, Bia, and me. We had been raised to train our abilities. Hell, we were the fucking reason that the Olympians even fucking won that fucking war. We were fucking Titans! Our abilities soon became more advanced than that of the Olympians. Partly because the Olympians were never properly trained in how to attune their abilities; the other part, they were just fucking lazy bastards. Why would they feel the need to advance their abilities when they were already revered as gods?
Zeus saw that we were more powerful than the Olympians. To rid himself of the threat, he called us in separately and then banished us one by one to the different areas of Gaia. He saved me for last because he felt that he could make a deal with me. Be his right hand woman, and he would bring my brothers and sister back. I declined. I was not going to do his blood-shedding for him anymore. That was when the memory, that took the form a dream three years ago, happened.
One thing that one must understand: in the time of the Olympians, the people with special abilities did look different than the normal human race does now. We were elitists. We had wings, fangs, claws, and whatever else one could think of. But, we could also look like normal humans, if we wanted to. Hundreds of years of people not being awakened – I mean, after all the Olympians were fucking selfish, why would they want more elitists to be awakened and possibly challenge them? – has led to a decline in the ability to change forms. But, the mentality still exists. Vampires, werewolves, witches, warlocks, demons, angels, and everything else that has been ruled “fantasy,” in today’s society, is real. We just keep ourselves hidden; even if, we don’t want to. But, to keep ourselves alive, we must. We are branded freaks, abnormals, and fucking crazy-ass motherfuckers. You name it, we’ve been called it. Due to this fact, our rules have changed to live with the times. At one time, we ruled. We were revered as gods. Now, we are smut on the bottom of people’s shoes. Not even worth the time. Most of us have been diagnosed with some form of mental illness; even though, we really aren’t mentally ill. It’s just the way we fit into society. So, most of us, don’t even talk about our abilities. Unless, it is with someone has abilities as well. I discovered that I am not the only one that has been cursed to walk this world as a Fury. There was another. One more powerful than I, more full of hate than I, and one who was destined to be my protector.
Approximately 4,000 years ago:
Chaos ruled the feudal Nordic villages in what are now Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands. Four thousand years ago, however, they were all one - ruled by one. Chaos loved to start feuds between the different villages. Little did Chaos know that by doing this, he would create the most powerful abnormal that would cause destruction among the world for generations to come. Zero Deathguise, the name he is known by now, was a child in one of these Nordic villages; which one is unknown. Even as a child, Zero knew more about war and tactics than any of the elders of his village. He was well practiced in the weapons of that time. Chaos did not know that a fallen angel had been reincarnated into the form of this child; a fallen angel with a taste for violence, blood, and war. Chaos decided that it was Zero’s village turn to suffer the wrath of another village. Zero awoke to the screams of the other villagers. His parents’ bodies lay motionless in the door, blood oozing from their wounds. He ran outside to help the fighters but he was shocked to see most of them annihilated; heads separated from bodies, bodies with their innards pouring from abdomens. Those that had breath left were running for their very lives.
“Cowards!” Zero called after them. “Come back and fight!” He picked up the sword of a fallen warrior and charged at the nearest intruder. Their swords clanked together. The warrior was taken aback at the force that Zero struck at him and he lost his footing. Zero used the advantage and stabbed the warrior in his side. Blood spurted from the warrior’s mouth as Zero retracted his sword. “Take that, you bastard.” He went after another one, but quickly found himself surrounded. He fought them off best he could, taking three of their best warriors with him. The last thing he remembered was feeling sharp pains in his abdomen and chest.
He awoke to the smell of rotting flesh. Pain shot through his entire body when he tried to move. He managed to ignore the pain, and got himself to his knees. Zero soon realized that the smell of rotting flesh came from the dead bodies that he was piled on top of. They left me for dead. He climbed off the pile of decomposing bodies, slowly, so the pain was more bearable. As he got to the ground, his wounds began to heal. A fact that surprised him. What is this? That’s when his dreams began. Dreams of being something more. Dreams that told of his past, present, and future. He was a fallen angel. He fell from grace and was cursed to be Destruction. When he realized that these dreams were the truth, he began to plot revenge against the village that attacked him. I will be a force to be reckoned with and no one will stop me. Odin be damned if I will not be able to succeed. And, damned is the person who tries to stop me.
Zero awoke in a cold-sweat. He thought that he had put this dream behind him. He was over what happened 4,000 years ago. Fucking ridiculous. He rolled himself out of bed, grabbed his cell phone, his pack of smokes, and as he headed outside dialed my number. After three rings, I picked up.
“Hello?” I answered, groggily putting the phone to my ear.
“Nike, what are you doing?” came the voice on the other end. It sounded agitated. This isn’t going to be good. I pulled my phone away to check the time, then placed my phone between my ear and my pillow.
“Well, I was sleeping. What’s up, Zero?” I listened as intently as I could to him ramble on about him having the dream again. And, how he felt it meant something. I tried my hardest to not fall asleep. “Nike? Nike, are you there?”
“Wha-?” I startled awake. “Yeah, I’m here.”
“Did you hear anything I just said?”
“Mhm.”
“Liar. I’m gonna beat you the next time I see you. This is important.”
“So is sleep, buttface. It’s 2:30 in the morning. Did you really expect to speak to a coherent person? If so, you should try calling Chris. He’s awake,” I was starting to get agitated. He thinks he can call me up at two fucking thirty, bitch about his dream, then bitch at me when I’m falling asleep. I don’t think so. “Besides, you’ve had this dream before and refuse to get it analyzed. We go through this almost every night. If it’s got you that worried, let me read you.”
“You say that every time, Nike. You know how I feel about people touching me,” Zero stated, frustration rising in his voice.
“And you know how I feel about being woken up,” I shot back. “Look, the worst that can happen is that I confirm your feelings that something bad is brewing. The best thing is that I find out it’s just you reliving a memory in your subconscious. Whatever you decide, this needs to fucking end. This is becoming routine bullshit with the same fucking outcome. You won’t do anything about it, you’ll have the dream again, and call me. I need my sleep.”
“Fine, fine. No need to get bitchy on me, Nike,” he sounded defeated. Odd. That doesn’t sound like the Zero I know. This is really bothering him. “I’ll come pick you up in about an hour.”
“Alright, fine. If that’s what it takes to get this shit taken care of. See you then.” I hung up my phone. Joy. Another sleepless night. Fucking wonderful. I begrudgingly got myself out of bed, took off my pajamas, and started to get dressed. As I was putting on one leg of my pants, my ears began to throb. I dropped my pants and immediately covered my ears. What in the fuck? The pain riddled its way through my ears, into the very fiber of my being. My insides felt like they were vibrating. Shut up. I can hear you without you fucking yelling at me! Jesus fucking Christ. The pain continued. Holy fucking hell. I’ll talk to you. Just stop the fucking screaming! The spirit refused to stop its unintelligible screams. Time to take matters into my own hands.
“Graimo, nyet. Shaintisse un callai ti noramis kovee!” The spirit immediately quieted. I breathed a sigh of relief as the pain slowly subsided from my ears. I took my hands away. No wonder I’m almost fucking deaf. Jesus. “Now, I know you can hear me. And, you know, I can hear you. But, in order for me to grasp the situation, I must see you. Show yourself.” The spirit complied with my order. Standing before me was a girl. By the looks of her, she was maybe fifteen or sixteen when she had died. “Good. See progress? Better than screaming your head off. What is your name?”
“Gypsy,” the ghost replied. There was no readable emotion on this ghost’s face. Save one. Fear.
“Ok Gypsy,” I placed myself on my bed, putting my pants on. “Why are you here?”
“I am not supposed to be here, ghost whisperer. I was forbade to even leave my grave. But I felt I must come. To warn you,” Gypsy was trembling with fear. The smell of it permeated the astral plane and found its way into my noise. I blanched at the grotesque smell.
“Warn me about what?” I asked, taking off my shirt, grabbing my bra and putting it on.
“The danger. You must not toy with this warning. We know you do not believe in what you can’t control, Great One. But you must listen this time, you must heed the warning! Danger awaits at every turn. Powers wish to unleash Lazarus and Mikkael. That cannot happen! It must not happen! The powers that be wish for you to make amends with some of your old rivals. Destroy the threat before it can impregnate the world with destruction. Before Chaos reigns!” Gypsy looked around her. “I must go. They know I have left my grave. Please, heed this warning. You do not belong in the nether with us. Not yet. Vey krushka te bilar vey nelomna.” And with that she was gone. Weird. Why would a ghost tell me that my future is not my own? I sighed. This is shaping up to be a very, very weird fucking night. I grabbed a wrinkled shirt out of the laundry basket, shoved my arms into the arm holes, and put my head through the head hole. I threw on my sweater shirt, grabbed my pack of smokes, and headed to the garage. I really hope I get to the bottom of all this shit that is happening. I can’t take too much more of people not being able to help their fucking selves. I opened the garage door and lit my cigarette. I inhaled deeply, breathed the smoke out. I walked over to the electronic panel on the side of the house, pushed a few buttons, and closed the garage door.
Zero came blazing around the corner in a black Mazda 3. The only car I have ever known that had its own entity. I puffed on my cigarette as I waited for him to park against the curb. I knew that I didn’t have to walk to the car, he’d get out. Sure enough, he did. As he got out, he lit his cigarette. He turned to make sure the door was locked and walked towards me. “Hey stranger,” he said, taking a hit on his cigarette. He stopped just in front of me.
“Hey,” I looked at him. He looked worn and ragged. Something was really up with this dude. I had never seen him look this bad before. “What’s up?”
“Same shit, different day.”
“Yeah, I know how that goes,” I threw my cigarette on the ground and proceeded to light another one as I stepped on the cherry of the other cigarette burning on the ground. We stood in silence for a moment. “A ghost visited me tonight. Just after you called.”
“Oh, interesting.”
“Yep.” Wow, we’ve gotten pretty strained, if this is the extent of the conversation. I watched him, analyzing his body language. Zero had always been a tough read but this was almost too easy. “Are you okay?”
“You know me. I’ll deal with it,” he replied. Bullshit.
“Right. And I’m Ghandi,” I looked at him fiercely. This “dream” was wreaking havoc on him. “This dream,” I started slowly, watching his response. “How does it end?” He shook his head. The bastard wasn’t going to answer me. “Ok, I’m going back to bed.” I threw my cigarette into the street still lit and headed back in the direction of my garage.
“Ok, ok. I’ll tell you,” he looked at the pavement. “At the end, we die.” Great. Another the whole world depends on your sacrifice thing. I’m gonna go fucking insane with this bullshit. First, the ghost. Now, this. Fucking Christ. I looked at him, waiting. Finally, he looked up at me, sighed, and continued. “It starts in a village. A long time ago. Raiders killed my whole village, left me for dead. I hunted them down, killed them all, and became a ruthless killer. Then I flash forward to you, me, and some others fighting a losing battle because we cannot work together. We are all too confident that we can defeat them on our own, in our own way. You were instant on protecting one person. You would not live his side. Eventually, we all fall, one by one.” I pulled a cigarette out of the carton, put it to my lips and lit it. I took a few puffs, making sure that he was done, before responding.
“Well, I think the first part is a memory. The second part, the future. I can’t really say as to what exactly. But the ghost that came to me warned me that all of us must learn to work together or we would fail. We must reconcile with all our old rivals that have the same amount of power or more, in order to succeed. Pretty fucking cryptic, though.” I took a drag of my cigarette. Zero was silent. “Ok, dude. You’re seriously freaking me the fuck out. What the fuck is up with you?”
“This whole thing, Nike. You know I don’t work well with others, except you. How am I supposed to go to the ones that I have alienated and make amends? There is good reason why I alienated them in the first place.”
“Yeah, your fucking rules. They broke them in some way and now you can’t talk to them because you’re a heartless, unforgiving, cold douche bag. I know.” I smiled at him as I took the final drag of my cigarette.
“Well, aren’t we just a bitch this morning?” He laughed as he said it, which was a good sign.
“Well, it is three in the fucking morning. I haven’t taken my anti-bitch pills yet.” I laughed. It felt good to laugh. Everything had been so serious this morning, thus far. “Besides, you’re the douche bag. I’m the bitch. Chris is the dick. It’s the roles we have all assumed. We have to live up to them. We have reputations, you know.” I spat into the grass. The one downside to smoking: too much phlegm. Zero followed suit. “Yummy.”
“Oh, yeah. So about this ghost,” he looked at me, hoping I’d get the hint and tell him.
“Gypsy, screamed at the top of her fucking lungs for so long I thought my ears would fucking burst. She came to warn me. It had to do with what happened at Chris’ playground.”
“Oh, shit.”
“Yep.”
We talked for a little while longer and then Zero decided he needed to get home to sleep. I went back inside my house and started reading up on sealing rituals, seeing if I could find some way to hold back what Zero’s minions had unraveled at the Red Bluff cemetery. If I get the chance, I’m gonna kill those little fuckers. Someone with seeing abilities and the ability to communicate with ghosts in their native tongue, needed to seal the rift. And that left only one person that could do it out of the three of us: me.
As I researched the proper rituals to seal the rift between the underworld and this realm, I became even more aggravated. Fucking hell. This is going to be tougher than I thought. I read up on the necessary requirements. I continued to read and my eyes stopped dead on the following two sentences: This ritual should only be used in dire times. Most often, it is necessary when the end times, or the Apocalypse, is about to begin. Fuck.
I picked up my phone and looked at the time. I sighed. Chris is just getting to bed. God dammit. I closed my eyes and summoned Diana, Michael, and Notari – spirit familiars that I had become quite fond of. They appeared in front of me at the same time.
“You called, Mistress. We are here to answer that call,” Diana bowed, the others followed her lead.
“We don’t have time for formalities, Diana. We’re in deep shit,” I looked at them. The reverence they showed me had always irritated me. But, on this morning, it just pissed me off.
“What is the matter?” Michael asked. I knew he sensed the fire in my words. I also knew that Michael would do his best to sedate it. He knew that Bob would awake if I became even angrier.
“What can you tell me of Lazarus and Mikkael?” The three familiars looked at each other then back at me.
“We don’t know much -” Diana started to say. My anger arose to its full potential. I cut her off.
“Look, I know they are evil. I know that if they arise from their graves all hell will break loose and the apocalypse will happen. I need to know what they are capable of. How they were defeated before. And why, if I cannot succeed in stopping them, Chaos will reign. And who the fuck is Chaos?” Notari was the first to speak this time.
“I can answer one of those questions. I was a familiar when Chaos was allowed to rule the old Norse territories. I did not dare step foot in his territory, but I had heard the rumors. Chaos is an evil entity. I believe Christians call him the Devil. He was bent on destruction. He would amass villages to attack villages just for fun. It was said that the one that locked him away was his arch enemy’s son. Born into human form – Christians call him Christ; the basis of their belief, their savior. If the veil between the underworld and this world is removed, Chaos will be freed from his prison and there will be nothing but trial and tribulation.”
“So you’re telling me that Chaos is the Devil, and that if I do not stop the removal of the veil then our worst fears will become a reality?” Notari only nodded. “Shit.”
“It only gets worse,” Michael piped up. Diana tried to stop him from talking.
“Michael we mustn’t break the rules which we uphold ourselves to. Telling her could impact future events. We shouldn’t-“ I cut her off once again.
“Graimo, nyet!” Diana fell silent. “Go ahead, Michael.”
“Lazarus and Mikkael were two of the greatest abnormals to live since the Titans. They became aware around medieval times and lived many centuries. They practiced what are now known as the black arts. Chaos is their ruler. I believe you call them Satan worshippers now.” I rolled my eyes. This is just getting better and better. He continued. “If Lazarus and Mikkael are raised again, they alone hold the power to let Chaos out of his cage. The familiars feel the tear in the veil. We cannot let it be destroyed. But, we do not know how to work together without a leader. We have always had a leader and without one, most of us, have been able to do almost anything they’ve wanted to. As long as it doesn’t interfere with the rules the higher powers have put into place. Some of us have even gone beyond the rules and no punishment has been given out. Like Joe, for example.”
“Oh, god.” I rolled my eyes at the name. Daniel’s familiar. What next? Vampires? Werewolves? Demons? Ugh.
“There’s more,” Michael stated. “But, Diana could tell you more about that better than I can.” Diana shot Michael a death stare. If looks could kill, he would have been dead. I looked at her patiently, understanding that she did not want to break her rules. Finally, she sighed and turned to me.
“That is where the higher powers are hoping you would come in. You have the power to know everyone’s true name, including familiars. You have power over them by just thinking of their name. This would come in useful to persuading the others who are not willing to join the cause. You also have the power to see and speak to us as well as the ghosts of this world. If Mikkael is risen, he will need an adversary that rivals his powers. That is you. You and Mikkael are cut from the same cloth. Same powers. The only difference is that you use your powers for good.” She paused. “You are the familiars only hope in saving the veil. If we cannot prevent it, all is lost.” She said the last part in a whisper, as if, even speaking of it would make it happen. The silence hung in the air; thick and full of fear.
“We understand if you cannot give us your answer now,” Notari finally spoke. “This is a lot to take in.”
“I’ll say it is,” I shot at Notari. “Do you really think you can tell me you understand what I’m going through?! Do you really think you can stand there and tell me all of human life hangs in the balance, that it all depends on me and tell me that you understand how I feel?! Fucking really, Notari? You don’t know the first thing about being human. You were never human! Sure, you guide humans through their life but you will never truly know what it is like to live and breathe as a human. To feel the things we feel. Being human is difficult enough without the rigmarole of world fatality decisions to add to it! I do not want to do this anymore! I do not want to make the decisions the higher powers are incapable of making themselves. This is complete and utter bullshit!” I threw my pad and paper across the room. As I did, my spirit familiar, Bob, entered into the living room. He looked at Michael, Diana, and Notari.
“Way to piss off my Mistress,” he growled. His voice was deep and menacing. Being a Voltar, his basic shape was that of a really big dog, sharp pointed teeth, and acid saliva. No familiar in their right mind would want to tangle with him. One bite and they’d be toast. “You guys should really use your manners a bit more often.”
“Bob,” he looked at me and I shook my head. He walked over and sat by me, his body still full of tension. His eyes never left the three familiars that were still standing in my living room. I looked at them. “You will have your answer in three weeks. I cannot promise it will be the answer you wish it to be. But, I cannot promise that it won’t be. I don’t know what I am going to do. I need to think about it. I need to gain more information. And, I need to commune with Chris and Zero. Hear their thoughts on the matter. I will summon you. Do not come to me unless I call you. That is all.” They bowed their formalities and vanished. I knew they were still watching, but, I also knew that they would not talk to me. I looked at Bob. “So, what can you tell me about this?”
“I only know what I keep myself informed of. For your safety, of course. I can tell you that they are right. There is no one to lead them, and you have the natural abilities of a person that could lead them. The only person? I have no idea the truth of that. But, I also know that Voltar familiars only get handed out to the people of significant power and usefulness in the prophecies. You were assigned a Voltar, therefore the higher powers have deemed you important.” Bob laid down on the floor. I laid my head back and closed my eyes.
“I don’t like this,” I mumbled.
“Who does like it when they are being told who they are and what they must do? If you ask me, no one would fault you if you said no. However, I think you’re being selfish if you do say no. You have the chance to change the future. You have the power to stop evil. You have the power to make a difference. You can make a difference. But, you’re so blinded by your own inhibitions, you don’t see that. And for that, I have failed you.” He felt the anger rise in me. “No use getting angry with me. You know I’m speaking the truth.” I sighed. He’s right. Damn it all to hell. He’s right.
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