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Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 10
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Ghosts of the Past (Really Long)
This is a side story relating to a bigger work called Fates. This is an important chapter, and it feels flat. Any advice?
The girls were all asleep, but Verital was losing his battle against insomnia. Something about that damn journal kept bothering him. His father clearly wanted him to read it. However, given his father's magical power, and that of Apotheosis, there is no telling what would happen should he open it.
He'd always been curious about that blade. Hed seen his father perform impossible spells with it a few times in his life. During a particularly bad drought, Vir'jil went outside and pulled out the sword. It didn't light up like it does for Verital, so he always figured it was just another blade. He looked at the sky, waited a few seconds, and it started raining. Vir'jil sheathed the sword and came back inside and continued talking as if nothing had ever happend.
Until then, the most powerful magic he had ever heard of was a wizard giving a few stones life in the form of a golem. Vir'jil wouldn't tell his secret, so Verital forgot about it until tonight.
He rolled over and tried to go back to sleep, but across from him was Freya. He'd grown soft for the girl in their short time togther. Her little form barely visible in the moonlight, he began to wonder. Is this blade dangerous?
His father seemed to think so, given how scarcely he used it. And what of this "hunter" she seemed so afraid of? Could that hunter and his father's killer be one in the same? Nonsense, Vir'jil died in the war. Nevertheless, he couldn't justify holding, much less using, a tool that for all he knew could be a time bomb while he was with people he cared about. I have to learn more about that blade.
He sat up and grabbed the journal. He saw the seal on the second page and hesitated. He shook his head and broke it open.
__________________________________________________ ______________________________
He found himself sitting on the floor of what had to be a palace. The cieling was impossibly high, and looked to be made out of gold. The walls were white marble, with huge stained glass windows stretching down the hall on each side. Everything was so ornate, so precious that Verital couldn't imagine any king in the world with this kind of power.
Someone walked by, dressed in a white robe. Verital reached to grab the man's shoulder, but his hand passed through as if he were a ghost.
This I have heard of, I am seeing the past. Looks like I'm in for a history lesson...
A massive door at the end of the palace swung open. For the first time in his life, Verital was genuinely afraid. Behind that door was the biggest human he'd ever seen, at least double his height, perhaps more. His head was hidden behind a white hood, the rest of his body was clad in steel that had been polished to a mirror finish. On his back was a massive tower shield, a broadsword hung at his waist. Most curiously, he had wings. Bright, glowing white wings, like a dove's. The floor shook a little as he walked into the hallway.
The robed man walked toward the doorway.
"Lord Olaan, you are expected at the gate in half an hour."
"Why so? The gate dosn't require my presence to make it through the day." Olaan's voice reminded Verital of distant thunder.
"The current stewards are getting careless and lazy. Why, yesterday our bookkeeper almost got hurt by one of the judged!"
"Someone struck out at her? And made it past all twelve guards to do so?"
"Ah... Yes, lord Olaan"
Olaan sighed. "Very well."
He walked past Verital, toward the outer door. He slowed, and looked straight at Verital as he passed. Guess I know who Im here to see..
The world outside was just a beautiful as the palace. They were in the center of a sprawling city, hundreds of people milling about. They were all wearing pristine white robes, and they were all rather attractive people. The buildings, even the road were clean white. Gold artwork ran along the roadside, hanging flower gardens on every windowsill. Everyone seemed so happy here.
To Verital, cities usually meant high crime, sleazy businessmen, and dirt. Not here though, this was paradise. Even the weather was nice. It was warm and sunny, only a few small clouds lingering in the sky. In the distance he could see the ocean, and from here he could see it was perfectly clear and clean. Olaan was getting away though, not much time to admire the scenery. They walked down the road, and reached a bridge. At the end of the bridge was a massive, golden gate. The city walls were at least two hundred feet tall, the gate was even bigger. A lone woman stood on the bridge. She nodded at Olaan and stepped aside.
They reached the gate, and it swung open just enough for them to get through. On the other side, there was a line of people as far as the eye could see! A girl stood off to the side, behind a podium. She looked to be about fifteen, and she was stunningly beautiful. Remembering the conversation he heard, Verital wondered what could drive a man to attack her. On each side of the gate, six armored guards stood perfectly still.
Olaan turned and looked at the top of the gate. Verital tried, but something up there was shining so bright that it hurt his eyes to even try.
"Keeper, why are they here? I know there is a security problem here, but I hardly think that our king should concern himself with that."
"To be honest lord Olaan, I really don't know. Maybe they just wanted to watch today?"
"Watch this? Well, far be it for me to question his will. Lets get going..."
"Right!"
Two guards stood, blocking the people in line from getting to the gate. The girl waved the man at head of the line in. The guards lowered their weapons and let him pass. The man stumbled a bit and looked around as if he had just woken up.
A trance, that's how they keep people from rushing the gate.... interesting.
"Where am I? Did I.. Die?"
"Yes, you did Giles. I'm sorry, it was your heart."
He smiled a bit. "I kinda thought that's what would kill me! Wait, I get to see my wife again! Thank heavens, its been so long!"
"Well, let me see here." The keeper said. She opened a huge tome and began thumbing though the pages. "Ah, here you are! Go on in, shell be waiting for you at the gate."
"OH! Thank you, thank you!" He cried, as he ran toward the gate.
I'M IN HEAVEN?? I knew this place was nice, but HEAVEN?! Then that thing at the top of the gate must be.... God...
Verital didn't have much time to process this information, the guards were letting another person in. It was a young man this time, probably mid twenties. The guards let a girl through as well, she looked to be the same age. They embraced each other, they probably knew what was happening.
"Come forward you two. Dont hold up the line!" The keeper said with a giggle.
The couple held hands as they walked up. She was skinny, her hair long and blond. She looked to be athletic. He was a bit scruffy, with short brown hair. He'd clearly worked his way through life. His shoulders broad, he carried himself like a soldier.
"Lets see here.... Yes, Lydia, go on in."
The girl smiled, but she didn't leave her love.
"As for you..." The keeper thumbed forward a few pages. There was a hushed silence. Her smile faded.
"Im sorry James. You may not pass."
Thunder ripped across the sky, and struck the ground on the other side of the road. A huge hole opened up in the ground, and black smoke spewed forth. Tortured screams filled the air, Verital could feel the heat from where he stood. He felt sick, and furious. He reached for Apotheosis, only to find it wasn't there. This was an illusion, one that his father thought he had to watch.
"NO! Why do I get to go, but not him!?"
"All I ever did was love her and try to make a life for us and the kids! What more do you want!?"
"You fall short of the glory of God, and for that you will burn."
The guards advanced on them. Two of them grabbed Lydia and began dragging her toward the gate. She fought with all she had, but the guards were immesurably stronger than she was. Two more grabbed James, and forced him to his knees.
"Don't make her watch, wait until she is inside."
"You can't do this! What kinda God does this kind of thing!?"
"This is the law of God, surely you must see that." The keeper said coolly.
James stopped fighting. He looked up, and saw his love, Lydia, being drug into the promised land. A tear rolled down his cheek.
"Not today...."
Verital barely saw it happen, but somehow James had grabbed one of the guard's swords. With one, fluid motion, he slipped out of their grip and decapitated one of the guards holding him. The other stepped back and drew his own blade and attacked. James was weaker for sure, but the guard's attacks were pitifully clumsy. He had clearly never used his sword before! A few seconds later, another guard found himself headless.
James laughed "Pretty pathetic for the army of God, now let me in!"
The guards dragging Lydia had stopped to stare. Olaan stirred.
"I've seen enough..." Olaan drew his shield.
James started shaking, he'd been thinking that thing was a statue! Undeterred, he charged forward. Olaan reached down to grab him, James slashed at his hand. A shower of sparks fell to the ground, Olaan grabbed James around the neck and picked him up like a ragdoll.
"I have to say, I've never seen a human kill an angel before, but this is where it ends."
"NOO! YOU CAN'T DO THIS! LET ME GO WITH HIM!" Lydia shrieked.
Olaan prepared to throw James into the abyss, but paused. He held James over the pit, and time stopped. Everything was still except Verital. He walked toward Olaan and James. James had fury in his eyes, tears streaming down his face. He could see Lydia, her horror and heartbreak evident. The angels were watching soullessly. As if this were no different than squashing an ant.
Verital looked up, and he could finally see Olaan's face. He looked like a member of the Fearaii family!
"What makes them so different from us angels?"
It sounded like Olaan's voice, but his lips didn't move. Am I reading his mind now?
"They feel fear, anger, and love just like we do.. probably more than we do. Humans were once our beloved creations, but what now? No, this isn't right." Olaan turned his head to look at Verital. "This has to end....."
Everything started moving again. Olaan looked back at James, who was struggling in the Angel's grip.
"Do you love her?" Olaan whispered.
"What?"
"If you love her, then no matter what happens, you swing that sword!"
Olaan spun around and hurled James toward the top of the gate! He tumbled aimlessly for a bit before straightening himself and flying like a bullet toward that shining light at the top. James saw what no human ever should, the face of God himself! He was sitting in a golden throne overlooking the gate, and he was looking right at James! James swung his sword with all his power, but an angel like Olaan shattered the blade instantly. God reached out hit him square in the chest.
James felt an unearthly pain surge throughout his entire body. He felt as if he was covered with cold fire. An eternity seemed to pass, and James's heart started beating again. He didn't even realize that he'd fallen back to the bottom of the gate.
Someone jumped down from the top. It wasn't god, it was his son.
"What is the meaning of this, archangel? Do you intend to go the way of Lucifer and his followers?"
"You compare me to him? No, he wanted to replace God. To become the new master of creation."
"Then what do you intend to accomplish here? This man is condemned, and there is nothing you can do about it! It is the law of Heaven that he be sent to hell for eternity for his sins."
James stood up and got next to Olaan. Verital chuckled a bit when he noticed the size difference. The son of God flew back to the top of the gate. Perhaps he was afraid of Olaan, or he just didn't want to get his hands dirty. The gate opened behind him, and dozens of armored angels poured out.
Olaan looked down at James. "Ill ask again, do you love her?"
James grabbed the sword from the other angel he killed. "Dumb question man."
Olaan drew his massive blade. The angels hesitated at first, but they knew what awaited them for disobedience. They charged toward the two men. James noticed the gates closing, Lydia had been drug inside. His heart sank, but his fury only grew. A particularly big angel was closing on him, his sword raised over his head to strike. James blocked it effortlessly, and ran the angel through! Whatever strength advantage angels had over him was gone now....
Several had chosen to attack Olaan. He sent most of them flying back with one swipe of his sword. Another he simply punted into the pit of Hell. The attackers kept coming, Olaan and James worked their way toward the gate slowly. James was fighting like a wounded animal, hacking and slashing wildly. Hed killed several, but his body was mortal. Hed taken a few hits, but he would carry on til the end...
Olaan waded through his attackers like they were ants. None of them had bothered to grab spears, or bows, or anything that would be effective against a giant like him. Their attacks bounced off his holy armor without leaving so much as a scratch.
"How did you lot manage to stop Lucifer!? You can't even stop one archangel and a human!" Olaan charged forward with his sheild raised. He bulldozed a path for James to follow straight to the gate.
"How are we gonna get through this?!"
"You underestimate the power of an archangel."
Olaan stabbed his sword into the gap between the doors. In a flash of white hot fire, a huge hole was blown into the gateway. Lydia was still being held by the two guards. She was surrounded by people that were drawn by the commotion. As the two men advanced, the bookkeeper ran in front of them. Her hair was frazzled, and her makeup was running.
"Stop this! Olaan, what have you become?" Tears were forming in her eyes.
"I've seen what we have become. These two, they are better than us. When did we lose our compassion? When did humans stop being our children, and start being our playthings? Playthings witch we torment during their lives, only to torment them more upon death?.
"The laws have always been this way. You should..."
"I remember a time when God himself would weep when we condemned a mortal to Hell. When we sent one, perhaps two people down there during the course of a day. Now look at us..."
The keeper seemed cold and distant. "The law of God is perfect. If his name isn't in this book, then he deserves what he gets. Regardless of her feelings for him! You know this!"
Olaan laughed. "I have nothing to gain talking to you. God chose you to be the keeper because of your heartless, pitiless nature. Stand aside. NOW!"
Olaan pushed her aside with his sheild and redrew his sword. He hurled it down the bridge and impaled one of the guards holding Lydia. He fired a ball of magic at the other guard. It hit him, sending him flying over the guardrail into the water below. Finally free, Lydia ran back toward James as fast as they could. They embraced each other, against the laws of heaven. The angel and the damned, joined again by their unbreakable love.
It didn't last long. The son of God descended again, along with several of his archangels. Michael, Gabriel, Ariel, Azrael, and Uriel. They surrounded the group, but didn't attack. They stood like statues, waiting their master's command.
"I've seen enough Olaan. You, like these mortals, have fallen from grace. All that awaits you now is the chambers of Hell!"
"Oh? Don't you understand the power of your own father?"
The Son raised his eyebrow, but didnt say anything. "As I planned, your father touched our friend here with his bare hand. I knew Michael would be standing guard, and I also knew that Michael would try to deflect the sword rather than James himself. God was left with no choice but to lash out himself."
"And what does that have to do with anything? God has touched all of us at one point or another." The largest of the archangels said. Verital assumed this to be Michael.
"It means nothing to us, were angels. Were already immortal."
"But if he touches a human..."
"He is just as immortal as God himself now! Furthermore, part of God's infinite power seems to have spilled into him. An unforseen benifit I suppose." He looked over, and noticed that they were both glowing faintly now. Just like any of the angels. "Looks like she gets to be immortal too! Another thing I didn't forsee. But again, hardly what I would call a setback."
He looked at the couple one last time. James looked back and nodded, not sure what to expect anymore. Olaan raised his sword a little, as if to examine it one last time. This was the first time Verital took the time to look at the thing. It was Apotheosis!
Olaan tossed the huge blade at James. While it was in the air, it shrunk down to a size more suited to a human. James caught it, and as soon as he did, he and Lydia vanished.
"What did you do!?" One of the Archangels barked.
"He just sent them back into the mortal world. They've been reincarnated..." The son of god said with a hint of wonder. "What do you hope to accomplish here?"
"I, like Lucifer, seek your downfall. I have for eons now. However, unlike Lucifer, I don't do this for power or glory. I know better. I do this to put an end to all of the suffering this kingdom has caused. We have lost our way, no, you and your father have lost your way. You don't deserve to rule creation anymore!"
"You will fail just like he did. You wont even escape this bridge!"
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. Sorry about the length!
