My arm was tingling still, but at least I had the use of it. I reached down and picked up my sword. We all seemed at am impasse. Shaitan was slowly recovering from whatever effects my spell had on him, and Morning Star was still holding his side where my sword had sliced it open.
"Paul. You have grown much stronger. You are being affected by the power of Chaos. You must let it go before it destroys your mind," Morning Star told me.
"Right. Then I will 'lay me down', and let you kill me as you please? Uh uh. I ain't buying," I told him grimly.
"Look, you are right in that this gate has been destroyed. Even the pattern has been obliterated. Perhaps it is best you go after all," Morning Star said, with a look at the place where the gate had stood.
I didn't want to hear it. I was feeling great! My arm was almost back to normal, and the power of Chaos was flowing into, and through me. It was filling me with enough power to do just about anything!
I threw back my head and laughed! Give up now, just when I proved I could hurt him? Well, betray me, and you get what you bargain for.
"What deal did you enter into with the Ancients?" I asked curiously.
"It matters not. The gate and pattern for it is gone. Even I cannot reclaim that which is no more," Morning Star said with a sigh.
"Well call me peculiar, but you had entered into a deal with me, and broke it when it suited you! People warned me about making deals with demons. I had assumed you would try to trick me, but to out and out break your word? I'm shocked," I told him with feigned astonishment.
"I understand your anger. We came to you, seeking help. I admit that we needed and wanted your help. Now, all is lost," Morning Star said with a sigh that seemed to echo forever.
"Well, that's what happens when you change sides, mid-battle. Things go to hell, no pun intended," I said sarcastically.
I was astonished at myself. Was that me talking like that? I would have at least kept a civil tongue in my head before, but now? Was the power of chaos really affecting me? I reached out, and stroked the power coursing though me.
I returned to my normal size. I looked around at everyone. Demons were drawn up in a loose battle line a few hundred paces from me. Morning Star was standing about 5 feet in front of me, holding his side. Shaitan had climbed back to his feet, and was off to one side to my left. All of us were more normal in size, now.
"It seems that the power has shifted from you to me," I said to them.
"Paul, this is not like you. You must withdraw from the Chaos, before it is too late," Shaitan said to me.
"Let's see. A demon of great power tells me I should not do something. What ever will I do?" I asked in a sneering voice.
"Paul, Think! Would you normally talk this way to me, or to Morning Star? No! You were ever a polite guest. Now you strut about, and expend power like you were one of your gods. Just think about it a moment, is all I ask," Shaitan said to me.
What was there to think about? I was doing what these damned demons wanted. Destroy the gate. I did not betray them, they betrayed me! I got angry all over again, just thinking about it, which caused the chaos in me to respond by feeding me more power!
I laughed and laughed. "You are unbelievable. You betray me, but then try to play on my humanity, and my sense of honor. Well, maybe I don't think you have to treat honorably with demons, particularly when they betray you!" I finished with a shout of rage.
I was about to level a blast at Morning Star, when something strange happened.
A great voice filled the world around me, and said <<ENOUGH!>>.
I looked around wildly. Both Morning Star and Shaitan had a look that I had never seen before. They appeared to have both hopeful, yet terrified looks on their faces. It was almost comical to see.
A great light of such purity as to make normal sunlight pale by comparison, came into being. The demons that were here, fled, screaming. Both Shaitan and Morning Star stayed, but moved closer together.
I looked into a circle of light, and saw someone walking towards us. While he seemed to be walking normally, I got the feeling he was walking through time and space, as easily as you or I would walk to the door and open it. I don't know why I thought that, but that was the impression.
As he got closer, he became more solid and real. He seemed to glow with an energy and reality that made my world, or any world I had been in, fade to a phantom ghost by comparison.
The sense of PRESENCE I got from the gods was manifesting itself, but it was on a whole level more than just PRESENCE! It was as if the center of the universe had just dropped in for a visit, and made itself known!
Finally, the being was before us. I tried to look at him, and was confounded by a blurring of my site. I directed the Chaos in me to my eyes, and my vision started to clear. Just as I was about to get a good look at his face, he reached out and brushed a finger across my forehead.
The Chaos vanished. All the power coursing through me was gone! I gasped, and fell to my knees! I was overwhelmed!
<<ENOUGH, MY CHILDREN. PAUL, YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED MUCH, BUT THE POWER YOU HAD WAS NOT MEANT FOR THE HUMAN MIND. I HAVE TAKEN FROM YOU THE BURDEN THAT SHABASONTI GAVE YOU. THIS IS DONE.
<< I RETURN THE REMAINING ANCIENTS, TO THAT PLACE IN WHICH I BANISHED THEM SO LONG AGO. THEY HAVE NOT YET LEARNED. SO, THIS TOO IS DONE.
<<MORNING STAR, SHAITAN? MY CHILDREN, DO YOU ASK OF ME, MY FORGIVENESS, YET?>> the great voice asked them.
Both shook their heads no. Wow, were they stupid! I would give this being anything it wanted!
<<SO BE IT.
<<PAUL, YOUR PART IN THIS IS DONE. YOU HAVE DONE WELL, AND YOUR MOMENT OF MADNESS WAS NOT YOUR FAULT. I HAVE REMOVED THAT WHICH CAUSED THIS MADNESS.>>
He glowed with a pureness I had never imagined before. Everything about him was PURE!!! I could feel waves of love, and amusement, and joy rolling off him like a dynamo! Power infinite seemed to roll off him as well.
The being reached into nothingness, and pulled out his hand, revealing my wife! Her eyes were huge. She seemed, not scared, but in awe!
<<YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN A WIFE WHO LOVES YOU. CHERISH HER AND YOUR CHILD. YOU ALSO HAVE ONE OTHER CHILD, THAT YOU SHOULD FIND AND MEET. YOU LEFT THE CHILD ON THAT EARTH YOU LIVED ON FOR SO LONG.
<<YOU HAVE DONE WELL FOR YOURSELF, AND YOUR PEOPLE. I AM PLEASED WITH YOU AND YOUR WIFE. GO IN PEACE, MY CHILDREN. LIVE YOUR LIVES IN LOVE, AND HELP YOUR PEOPLE.>>
With that, The Creator, for it could be no other, gestured. My wife and I found ourselves back in the palace in Landkur! I looked around. We had come out in the audience chamber of my sister Miranna's court.
Mariel moved to me, and clung like a child. Mirwanna jumped to her feet, and called an end to the audience proceedings.
We were rushed out of the room, and back to Mirwanna's private apartments. We then explained everything that had happened. Mirwanna sent for Vostich, and Fithian. We had to go over everything again, for them. Silence reigned as everyone thought over what we had said.
"The Creator! Do you two realize how rare it is to meet The Creator of All, while living?" Vostich asked wonderingly.
"Now hold on. The Creator is everywhere. We commune with him everyday," Fithian protested.
"That is not what I am talking about. Yes, evidence of The Creator is all around us. But I am talking about being in his physical presence! It is not until the change from this life to a new level of reality that one meets with The Creator of All," Vostich stated musingly.
"All I can say is I am glad he came for us. I think he saved Paul from madness!" my wife said fiercely.
I smiled at her and held her hand, which was hardly ever away from mine. She was right. After he had touched me, I had felt a great relief, and a sense of well being. I was still feeling a vast contentment and sense of well being.
I still had power. I even could feel or sense the power of Chaos. But it seemed to be layered away in... something. I knew I could gain access to it, if I wanted to; but it no longer presented a problem for me. I was also thinking with a clarity that I had never known before. I wondered how long that would last. I knew I would always be in awe at having been in the very presence of The Creator of All.
"What I don't understand, is how both Morning Star, and Shaitan refused to ask his forgiveness. I mean, I was there! Both had fear and love for the Creator, but they just refused to do that simple thing," I said to the assembled people in the room in general.
"That is a whole different story in itself, Paul. Let me just say that they are very recalcitrant children. Some people will not ask for forgiveness for any reason. It's a shame, but there it is. I suppose that sets an extreme example at that," Vostich said.
I shuddered. I could not imagine myself cut off from that being! It was still hard for me to adjust to everyday things, after being in HIS presence. But the human mind has its limits, and I was already forgetting! I clung to the memories as well as I could, but they were already dimming and things were resuming a more normal feel.
"I find it interesting he told you about your child on Earth. Do you intend on seeking this child out?" Mirwanna asked me.
"If I have anything to say about it, he will!" my wife exclaimed.
So ends book two. Will there be a book three? Well, it's possible. But I am going to rest a while, and do a bit on my other stories. "PI and Magic", and "PI and Magic, Book Two: The Gods Return", was an epic effort on my part!
I enjoyed the process of writing them. I hope you, my readers, enjoyed them as well. I hope I have grown as a writer, and grown in your affections. I loved all the feedback I got, as sometimes it was the only thing that kept me going.
I still have one story Collision Course and After languishing. Part of the problem there is a change in the way I feel. I have to feel my story when I write it. If I don't, I find that I write a stilted and unconvincing story or chapter.
I have started a couple more stories: "Cyborg", and "The Misty". I am leaning towards the SCI-FI type stories, thus Cyborg and Misty. I did a short stand alone chapter in the CC&A universe, trying to kick start the feeling for it, so to speak. Nothing yet. <G>
Again, my thanks for reading. It has been a joy to write, and your feedback has been a godsend. While I like to look at my download stats, feedback is like life's blood to me, and I enjoy each and every email! Those who write to me, know that I respond, as long as I have an address to respond to!
Volentrin
9:25AM
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Edited by TeNderLoin