***
On this occasion, Kalvich had decided to visit the old man alone. This was unusual as he was always accompanied by at least two of his Verone Elite. Kalvich normally would travel via his personal shuttle, but instead walked the thirty-minute journey to Cemel’s prison domain. It gave him a rare moment to be alone, plus, it had been too long since he had stepped out of his stone jungle. He had recently made extraordinary changes to the surrounds of his fortress, for the benefit of the queen. He knew this would make her happy. His journey took him past perfectly manicured hedges that wholly formed a labyrinth for her to explore. Endless gardens sprawled out, giving way to graceful rolling hills, a swinging bridge over a sparkling twisting river, and through a forest passage that eventually veered off into an unused entrance to the underground dungeon like rooms that ran two square kilometers underground. Just inside the entrance he was greeted by the guard on duty and finished his journey via an underground mini shuttle.
Kalvich had granted Cemel anything he wanted, except for his freedom, of course. Cemel stated he was a simple man and only required his books, ingredients, and solitude so he could carry on his studies of magic. Cemel never outwardly complained and made no changes to his humble surroundings, as a fair reminder never to allow evil to seduce him and sell out to his enemy. It was not easy. For the hardest thing was not taking the easy option and giving in. Though he suffered, he learnt to live with it. For once he succumbed. His enemy would win. He could not fail.
Cemel, surrounded by disturbing negative energy day in and day out found it had somehow manifested to the point where even his immortality was slowly being sapped. His will subtly tortured to the point of being in a state of what he termed as “fading away.”
Aside from the link that Cemel had created for the queen using the stones, Kalvich sensed the kinship bond between Leah and Cemel was strong back in 4000 B.C. And she could well be drawn subliminally to the alchemist through the reincarnation process. Kalvich’s jealousy of this bond was as strong as the fact Cemel never stopped believing in his queen’s return.
Now Kalvich was going to use that bond to his advantage.
The Supreme Ruler stood silently at the entrance of Cemel’s windowless room. It was extraordinarily bright. A small Avrodite crystal mounted on a staff was acting like a torch, a type of inspirational symbol for Cemel. His eyes floated around at the wall to wall shelves crammed with books, potions, and formulas. Then settled on the small cauldron where the old man was humming a tuneless tune stirring some god-awful smelling concoction and squinting at a tattered old book on a stand.
Kalvich sneered with contempt at the shrunken, feeble old fool and considered that perhaps the old man’s mentality had slipped to the point where his only use would be to feed his papery flesh to the wild animals.
“I have a mission for you, old man.”
Cemel did not look up from his readings.
Kalvich continued, “When it all ends, I will give you your freedom, your freedom to die.”
Cemel let out a sardonic, “Hmmp!”
Kalvich smiled complacently, clasped his hands behind his back, and slowly paced around the old alchemist who totally ignored him. “Your prophecy sounds like it is indeed coming true. A woman, known as Kate Willard, who shares Leah’s exact same physical features will be here very soon. However, she is not happy with her quest. She is distraught and your reincarnation has produced violent, disjointed visions and as far as she is concerned, she is Kate Willard and this Queen Leah entity must be removed. Before she arrives here, I want you to talk to her, earn her trust, and win her over. Tell her the people will listen to her as she is kind and good and brings light to their lives.”
Cemel turned and stared at him with as much malevolence as he could muster, wishing he could read behind those evil eyes. Though both enemies shared immortality, neither could read the other’s mind. Cemel could do nothing, except mentally utter a curse regarding the God’s gift of immortality.
“That is not the rules you and I are allowed to play by,” he snapped. “You know as well as I do she must have free will. You know this is a reincarnation, not an implantation. You cannot block out one part from the other. Kate Willard has to know the truth and only through time and guidance, not using your manipulative, twisted evil brand of sorcery and vile drugs. She needs to view both sides, and what her destiny will be and all the consequences if she accepts Queen Leah to dominate! God forbid if she is not as power hungry as you, Kalvich! Kate Willard is in a perpetuating nightmare with visions and messages too disjointed for her to make an informed decision. Ignorance breeds fear. If you desire your queen so much, you must look after Kate. They are one and the same. You can’t have one without the other.” He paused. “She is stronger than you can imagine.” His eyes deliberately narrowed as he chided his oppressor, “Oh, the unpredictability of reincarnation.” He cheekily winked at Kalvich and carried on his stirring.
Kalvich ignored him. “So I gather your dividing potion we administered to Kate Willard was only temporary, therefore unsuccessful.”
“I think that is what I just said,” retorted Cemel, rolling his eyes up.
It was Kalvich’s turn to give the old man a look of pure malevolence for such impudence, and he fought a sudden thunderous anger building. Taking a moment to steady himself, Kalvich continued, “You are not going to tell her to do anything she does not want to do. You just have to encourage her. Do what you wish to do with your teachings, but warm her to the positives. Like how she was with her people six thousand years ago, how they worshipped her for her leadership. It is just the same now, for the Trimadian people; they will follow the one with a true heart.”
Cemel stopped his stirring, folded his arms, deliberately taunting Kalvich, whom he knew had a very short fuse. They were a striking contrast–a seven-foot tall muscular giant pacing around a shrunken, puny old man.
“You are a cruel dictator, Kalvich. No one has a choice where you come from. Everyone must abide by your rules. Yes, the people will follow her, not because she is the Chosen One, but because she will be your queen. You and your pathetic craving for loyalty. Your subjects are only loyal to you and your barbaric warriors out of pure fear.” With a mirthless laugh he continued, “You know a quick fix to your problem would be a Cathexistome implantation. But she won’t be unique. She won’t be the same challenging, strong-willed Leah you desire so much.”
“Shut up, you feeble old fool!”
“But ruler, you are not dealing with the same woman. You may be disappointed. Don’t forget she chose to die six thousand years ago to stop her turning against her own people, to get away from you, to stop you. That was her choice, it may still be.”
“You damn well know I won’t do it, old man. But you are right, perhaps I will be disappointed. Then I will take what I need and dispose of her. Do you want to risk losing her again; your friend, your protégé, she was like a daughter to you wasn’t she?” Kalvich forcibly laughed. “And you can stay in my service for another six thousand years. Time means nothing to me. Or maybe I should remove your existence and let you reign in hell with a simple stroke…no!” Kalvich’s voice changed to a low, deathly cold tone. “I think it is high time to re implant you again, get you reacquainted with an old friend. That would sort you out, old man. Then I will finally sort out those pathetic losers that call themselves gods and take my God-given rightful place. And you will bear witness before I pluck your eyeballs out.”
Kalvich thoroughly enjoyed the flicker of terror barely hidden behind the old man’s eyes, and his contemptuous laugh rang throughout the stone walls.
The thought of another implantation was unbearable to Cemel, the removal was excruciating–like having his insides torn out while still awake. He lived thanks to his immortality. But the memories of having his strength of will slowly being drained, the torment by the evil Cathexistome, then his greatest fear; the shadow world’s final domination.
“Alright enough!” C
emel slammed his hand on his stand, knocking the book to the floor. “We are getting nowhere.” He sighed resignedly. “Let time play a part in this. You and I have waited for six thousand years. What are a few days or weeks for her to come to terms with what she has to face?”
“Is that your last word, alchemist?”
The alchemist glared at him. “I want to see this Kate Willard for myself, in the flesh.”
Kalvich abruptly turned and stormed out, once more with a big smile on his face.
It was all going as planned.
Let us see what will not make the gods happy.
Chapter 26—Casus Belli