Vrin_ Ten Mortal Gods Part 35

"You'll see her again, lad," Humphrey said, "when we've finished our work." He waved his hand and the funeral parlor dissipated, leaving us standing on the white bridge. Here we were enveloped in a light that was love. It eased the burden on my heart, and a feeling of complete peace washed over me.

Beings of light traveled in all directions, near and far. Two of them floated down to us. I stared open mouthed as they came in close. "Where are you going, Humphrey?" said one, with unmoving lips. said one, with unmoving lips.

"To see Magnus," replied Humphrey, in like manner. replied Humphrey, in like manner.

"Can we help?" he said, his voice like a song. he said, his voice like a song.

"You could give us a lift. Thomas doesn't completely remember yet." Thomas doesn't completely remember yet."

"Sure thing."

They swooped down and grabbed us by the armpits. At the being's touch, a soothing warmth flowed through me, up into my face and out into my chest, soaking me in peace.

They lifted us high into the air, and in the distance I could see our destination beginning to take form; a brilliant crystal fortress with the base appearing as a frozen spire. --And beyond this, a darkness as black as night. Cries echoed from within, desperate voices crying out in tortured agony, pleading for an end to their torment. Holding the darkness in place was a transparent barrier. Powerful angels of light hovered before it, strengthening it with coils of energy from their hands. The sight of it made my skin tremble.

"Wh- what is that?" I pointed.

"That is the lost land." is the lost land."

If not for the calming effect from the being of light, I would have lost myself in panic. My eyes grew round. "Is-- that that where we're going?" where we're going?"

Humphrey scowled with disgust and nodded.

The being leaned in close to my ear and spoke out loud. "You are brave to return."

Return?

My heart beat faster as we approached the fortress. The being gently placed me onto the translucent bricks at the entrance, then rose back up into the air. I lifted a hand toward him. It was meant to be a wave goodbye, but as I did it, I realized I was reaching for him, not wanting him to go, not wanting him to take away the feeling of peace. The love I'd felt back at the bridge was fainter here, and my own emotions were disconcertingly strong.

"Thank you," I said, still reaching. My voice sounded faint in my ears.

"You are very welcome," he sang. he sang. "It is not often we get to help a prophet." "It is not often we get to help a prophet."

A prophet? The word forced a memory to surface. I was The word forced a memory to surface. I was not not yet a man of G.o.d, but G.o.d had chosen me anyway. He'd sent his angels into the dark land to bring me out. I had been in Dantra-- but the struggles of life were weighing me down. I remembered the pain of being in the love of G.o.d. It was painful because I held on to destructive things. Thomas was a shrewd businessman, an overachiever driven by success-- but with success came difficult choices-- choices that effected the lives of thousands... yet a man of G.o.d, but G.o.d had chosen me anyway. He'd sent his angels into the dark land to bring me out. I had been in Dantra-- but the struggles of life were weighing me down. I remembered the pain of being in the love of G.o.d. It was painful because I held on to destructive things. Thomas was a shrewd businessman, an overachiever driven by success-- but with success came difficult choices-- choices that effected the lives of thousands...

Humphrey smacked me. "Think while you walk, lad. If you stop every time you get a revelation, we'll never get there." He turned and entered into an enormous engraved archway. Reluctantly, I followed.

Deep inside the courtyard of the crystal fortress, the light was much stronger than the light outside, and this light was also love. Love and light were the same. In my mind, words from Davata Notrals echoed: Good lives for the day and the brightness of the sun, but evil flourishes under the dim light of the moon. Good lives for the day and the brightness of the sun, but evil flourishes under the dim light of the moon. It was a metaphor. The sun was a representation of G.o.d's love. The moon was simply a reflection. Kric' tu was the moon. He was once the greatest of G.o.d's angels, but he was merely a reflection, a reflection that grew dimmer as he moved away from G.o.d. Some loved Kric' tu, because they loved darkness, they believed the darkness would hide their wicked deeds. It was a metaphor. The sun was a representation of G.o.d's love. The moon was simply a reflection. Kric' tu was the moon. He was once the greatest of G.o.d's angels, but he was merely a reflection, a reflection that grew dimmer as he moved away from G.o.d. Some loved Kric' tu, because they loved darkness, they believed the darkness would hide their wicked deeds.

At the end of the courtyard was another angel and the light reflecting from him him was blinding. Though the light was weaker here, this angel seemed to magnify its reflection. was blinding. Though the light was weaker here, this angel seemed to magnify its reflection.

He lifted his wings high into the air. "WELCOME!" His voice was deep and resonating. "I AM MAGNUS. I STAND IN THE PRESENCE OF THE ONE TRUE G.o.d. COME. I WILL TELL YOU WHAT YOU MUST DO."

"Do we have have to do this?" I whispered. to do this?" I whispered.

"I don't," said Humphrey.

My throat constricted. "You're not coming with me?"

"I'm coming with you." He scowled. "I just don't have to."

We approached the foot of Magnus.

"DO NOT BE AFRAID. G.o.d HAS CHOSEN YOU, AND YOU HAVE DONE WELL. THE DAUGHTER OF ROBERT HELM IS IN THE LOST LAND-- AND YOU MUST MAKE A CHOICE. WILL YOU RISK YOUR LIFE FOR HERS, THAT YOU MIGHT SAVE YOUR ENEMY?"

Save my enemy? enemy? Thomas would have said no, he would have chosen his own needs. I did not like what Thomas had become, and was thankful that G.o.d had given me a second chance with Charm. He had learned the value of selflessness. I liked Charm. I chose Charm. Thomas would have said no, he would have chosen his own needs. I did not like what Thomas had become, and was thankful that G.o.d had given me a second chance with Charm. He had learned the value of selflessness. I liked Charm. I chose Charm.

"Yes. I will."

"WELL CHOSEN. TAKE YOUR SWORD AND ENTER THE PORTAL."

I could see the portal behind him, swirling around in melted gold and silver spirals. But I did not see the sword he spoke of. I looked at Humphrey.

He let out an irritated sigh. "Your sword sword is in your mouth." is in your mouth."

My tongue rolled in response.

"Words are our sword." are our sword."

I gave him an uncomprehending look.

"In Dantra, even in the lost land, truth truth cannot be denied. If you speak truth, it must be obeyed." cannot be denied. If you speak truth, it must be obeyed."

"And--" I looked at him sideways. "What is is truth?" truth?"

"It is what sways the hand of G.o.d. He He is our weapon." is our weapon."

His reply did not answer my question, but I didn't press the point, partly because of the towering angel watching me with fierce eyes, and partly because Humphrey was already walking toward the portal. I hurried to catch up. He pa.s.sed through without hesitation, but I was not so comfortable with the idea. Although this was not my first trip to the lost land, it was was my first time entering with the understanding of what it actually my first time entering with the understanding of what it actually was-- was-- to an extent. The memory had not completely returned, but what I did remember made me realize that I did to an extent. The memory had not completely returned, but what I did remember made me realize that I did not not miss this place. miss this place.

I closed my eyes tightly, and pushed through.

On the other side, was darkness. And it was complete. My short nervous breaths sounded much louder than they should have, as if the sound was reflecting off a hard surface inches from my face. I reached out my hand. But there was nothing there.

"Humphrey!" I whispered. I whispered.

"What?" His voice made me jump, like he was right next to my ear.

"Why is it so dark?"

Something flashed in my face. The sound, and subsequent reduction of flash, told me it was a match-- before my heart could fully leap from my chest. Humphrey's face appeared in the orange glow, his wrinkles deepened by the harsh shadows.

My feet sloshed in water upon the hard obsidian surface we were standing on. I turned and squinted into the darkness, listening. There was no sign of life. Just me and Humphrey. In the middle of endless black. I should have been afraid, but I wasn't.

"--That's weird." weird."

"What?" The way he said the word, I realized he already knew what I was going to say.

"I didn't expect to feel G.o.d's love here."

He nodded. "His love fills Dantra, even in the lost land, but it is fainter here because the inhabitants cannot tolerate the light."

--Cannot tolerate the light. The words echoed in my mind. The idea was so familiar, so... The words echoed in my mind. The idea was so familiar, so...

Humphrey smacked my arm. "Come on!"

I shook my head, and followed closely behind him, unable to take my eyes off the match. As we walked it continued to burn, but did not get shorter. I was about to comment on it, when a tortured scream broke through the darkness. I stopped abruptly and peered around. "That was creepy," I said in a low voice.

"And to think," Humphrey said, half sympathetically, "you used to live here."

A memory surfaced. Pride and selfishness brought me to this dark place. I would come here to try to work through my financial troubles, always carrying my burdens with me, never able to trust G.o.d with them.

As I explored the memory, our surroundings began to flicker and change. Light filled the darkness and objects took shape in the receding shadows. Soon we found ourselves walking through an enormous office s.p.a.ce with cubical after cubical of men and women frantically trying to get work done. The dark obsidian chamber had completely dissolved. "Did I I do that?" I asked, startled. do that?" I asked, startled.

"Yes, and yes."

"What?"

"Yes, you changed our surroundings, and yes, you used to be one of these people, struggling to make a name for yourself, never trusting G.o.d, only trusting in the talents G.o.d gave you."

"How? How did I do that?" He looked as though his answer was going to be a smart one, so I cut him off. "I mean, how did I make all this appear?"

He looked disappointed I had ruined his fun. "Don't get your undies in a bunch. It'll come to you."

I looked into one of the cubicles at a man in a business suit. He was staring at a screen filled with charts and graphs. In the corner of the screen, a stock ticker flashed red. He laced his fingers into his curly hair and gripped hard. His elbows dug into the desk.

Peering down at him, I suddenly realized, I I had once been this man. In fact, I had shared this very office! I looked around at the other workers. They were all here because of the same l.u.s.t, the same perceived had once been this man. In fact, I had shared this very office! I looked around at the other workers. They were all here because of the same l.u.s.t, the same perceived need need for something more. I was once one of them, constantly worrying about money, caught in a cycle of endless frustration. for something more. I was once one of them, constantly worrying about money, caught in a cycle of endless frustration.

I had not created this room. These were real people sharing the same reality, the same struggle. I had simply merged my reality with theirs-- but this was not not a place I wanted to remember. The emotions were growing stronger, a place I wanted to remember. The emotions were growing stronger, painful painful emotions, and I had emotions, and I had no no desire to revisit them. I turned toward Humphrey. "Can we leave?" desire to revisit them. I turned toward Humphrey. "Can we leave?"

"Yes, you are in control," he answered. "You need to search for Gaza's daughter. Her mother is dead and her father's in a coma. Look for someone dealing with loss."

Could I do that? Could I find her by searching for her own personal h.e.l.l? Wherever she was, she was experiencing the loss of a loved one. I thought of my love for my family, and of how I would feel if I lost them.

My soul reached out into the maelstrom of realities. In this realm, as in Dantra, thought became reality. But here, the fears and l.u.s.ts of its inhabitants generated horrific self-made prisons. It was difficult sifting through the realities of unstable minds, but I realized, much to my surprise, that I had been created for this task. I could walk this realm because I had lived this realm. It spoke to something deep within me. A core belief? An insecurity? Regardless, it was the part of me that caused mistrust in my Creator, but ironically, it was the same part that allowed me to connect with these wretched souls. It was why why I was uniquely qualified to rescue Gaza's daughter. I was uniquely qualified to rescue Gaza's daughter.

I latched on to the feeling of loss, and the world changed again. It was night and we were walking across a bridge. Several hopeless souls stood poised on the railing, working up the courage to jump. A young man leaned out and I reached to grab him, but Humphrey held my arm. "We can't help him. He has to work through this on his own."

I turned to Humphrey and studied his face. "We're helping Gaza's daughter, how is that different?"

"This trial is made for that man. He would not respond to you."

I understood what he meant. G.o.d knew I would respond to the angels when they came for me. He knew I had come to the end of myself and was ready to receive their message. I turned from the suicides. It was pointless to try to help; I did not have the message they would hear.

"There was a car accident, right?"

"Yes," said Humphrey.

"Then maybe we're looking in the wrong place."

The bridge dissolved and a new scene took form around us, this time, a busy city street. There was a flutter and a woman screamed. I searched for her amidst the sea of pedestrians s.h.i.+mmering into view across the street. She was standing over a body. A crowd was beginning to form.

"We're looking for victims inside inside a car," said Humphrey. a car," said Humphrey.

"I know!" know!" I snapped at him. "This is all new to me!" I snapped at him. "This is all new to me!"

"I'm just saying..."

"If you think this is so easy, you you try it!" try it!"

"Now you're just being disagreeable," he said, folding his arms.

The environment s.h.i.+fted again and we found ourselves on a remote road. In the air, droplets of water hovered, like a million tiny tears-- as though time itself had frozen on the most tragic of moments, and nature could not contain its sorrow. I reached out and poked a drop. It left a hollow s.p.a.ce, and ran down my finger.

Through the curtain of rain, I saw a woman kneeling by the side of the road. I approached her, creating a path through the droplets. At the bottom of the embankment was the object of her interest, a silver BMW, wrapped around a telephone pole.

I looked down upon the still and somber woman, then back at Humphrey. "She is too old."

Humphrey's brow furrowed. "She's not a little girl anymore, the accident happened over twenty years ago."

"Twenty years? years? Wouldn't she be past the grief?" Wouldn't she be past the grief?"

He gazed down at her. "It is not grief that brings her to this dark place. It is guilt."

I studied her for a long moment, then knelt beside her on the wet pavement. "Excuse me, Miss. What is your father's name?"

She stiffened. "I don't have a father."

"I'm sorry, what was was your father's name?" your father's name?"

"Robert Helm." Her voice was distant. "Did you know him?"

"I still do."

"That's not funny!" She stood up.

"I'm not making a joke." I followed her into the road. "I know your father."

She stopped on the center line, and for a moment her eyes were uncertain. Then her face contorted in agony as she looked up into the darkness. "HE'S DEAD!" DEAD!" The sky opened up and rain poured down in torrents so thick I had to s.h.i.+eld my eyes to see her. She had collapsed to the pavement and was s.h.i.+vering in the downpour. The sky opened up and rain poured down in torrents so thick I had to s.h.i.+eld my eyes to see her. She had collapsed to the pavement and was s.h.i.+vering in the downpour.

I knelt beside her. "Come with me, Constance!" I hollered over the roar of the rain. "I will bring you to him!"

"You lie! He's dead! dead! You can't know him!" You can't know him!"

I tangibly felt her sadness and guilt, and although she appeared as a woman, I sensed that inwardly she was a still little girl. "Constance, "Constance, listen to me! When I saw your father, I saw him do this!" I held my pinky out and swooped it in a J shape, then tapped my knuckles together three times. listen to me! When I saw your father, I saw him do this!" I held my pinky out and swooped it in a J shape, then tapped my knuckles together three times.

Her eyelids flicked at the rain as she looked up at me.

"I understand that it was a secret between the two of you! but I I know about it! Please believe me when I say I know about it! Please believe me when I say I know know your father! He loves you very much, Constance. And I can bring you to him! your father! He loves you very much, Constance. And I can bring you to him!