***
Leah took off her heels and bounced gently on her mini tramp. Since she had arrived at Casus Belli, she had noticed subtle changes to herself. Her attitude, her inner strength… Hmm, overall she just felt good, yeah damn good, apart from her initial fainting session. Dr. Ventrowe had not been totally honest with her diagnosis. She was slowly absorbing and feeling the effects of the exact same force that was sapping Cemel’s goodness and strength from him.
Leah had all but forgotten her existence as Kate Willard. That was her Earth existence, her small world, where she was nobody. This world she would class as her reality existence, where she was queen. Soon, she would have her stones and the magic that went with them, and her very own wizard to help guide her. By the look of things, a new man in her life whom she found fascinating, unpredictable, terribly exciting, with the sheer danger element thrown in; by all accounts this turned her on. This was his world and he was going to share it with her. What a package deal!
Never in her wildest dreams would anyone on Earth believe who she was. She imagined flying back to Earth in a ship, Look out, all you bastards that did me wrong, I’m gonna get ya!
A gentle knocking on the door brought Leah back from her reverie. She sprung off her tramp and pulled her heels on.
“Enter.”
The guard let in an old man, complete with long white beard and flowing white robes.
My God, he is old, she thought, as she watched him slowly shuffle towards her. Here he was, finally, in the flesh.
The guard closed the door, and Cemel bowed low, stood up, wobbled a bit, went to take a step and lost his balance. Leah leapt forward and steadied him.
“I’m sorry, my lady, I am not as full of beans as I used to be. Permit me to introduce myself. I am Cemel the Alchemist at your service.”
Leah curtsied gracefully, much to his pleasure. “I am honored to meet you, Cemel. I feel I know you, but I only remember meeting you in that dream vision while aboard Lord Talokta’s ship. I am a little embarrassed that I cannot recall you.”
“Oh my dear, I am very surprised that you don’t fully remember me or details of your past. The reincarnation process should retain all your memories.”
“I have been struck down with disjointed visions and dreams, while I am awake and asleep, but not lately. What I do loosely recall is I lived around 4000 B.C. as Queen Leah of the Kingdom of the Old World, and I remember I ruled with Sidonio who I only learned recently was a god, and of course Kalvich’s own brother. You know, you told me through our dream meeting. It is almost like trying to remember someone else’s past, but slowly, little bits keep seeping through. Maybe the dam will burst and I will recall everything! She laughed and Cemel laughed with her.
Not if I can help it, sweetheart!
“It is so strange. Talokta and Kalvich have helped me with endless knowledge. But for me simply trying to think back, it’s like something is blocking my mind. Maybe the process wasn’t quite right for me, as I am, well, different and Kate Willard might have something to do with it. The past is the past, and I do not recall any details of my time with Sidonio or the people I shared my life with‑oh listen to me raving on. Here we are now face to face. Tell me, Cemel, how many reincarnations have you done, er, witnessed, whatever?”
“You were my first. As you state, you are a little different.”
“Can you explain how so?”
“You are special. You just have to accept that. You are the Chosen One.”
“Yeah, so I have been told ten million times. But I need to know more. Like you told me in that vision, are you going to guide me, show me the way, how to use these powers that I should possess?”
He looked at her for a few seconds. “Of course I will help you. But remember, no one to my knowledge has been reincarnated with the sacred bloodstones involved. You are the first and you are the one to begin the evolution to the next step. I cannot give you plain simple word spoken answers. Some things are just meant to be, and you must accept that. There are a lot of steps to take and nothing is clear cut, remember that. You will know what to do when the time is right. No one can tell or teach you that Leah. It is like being in love—no one can tell you that, it is simply a state of being. Your people will follow, no matter what, but you must keep one thing in mind. Any decisions you make will paint the picture for mankind’s future. The decisions you make will be the blueprint for the future, at least for the next million or so years.”
Leah slumped down on her sofa, stunned. “So it is up to me, you can only give me the overall result. But the journey, the piecing together, that is, err, more obscure.”
“Yes, nothing is ever straightforward, that is life all over is it not? A straight forward perception of logic does not play a part.” The old man stumbled again.
“Oh, please forgive me. Where are my manners?” She stood, took his hand, and sat him beside her.
He inadvertently groaned and quickly coughed, as he sensed her nearness.
“Are you in pain Cemel?”
“Oh no, just a touch of arthritis, I know I could get rid of it, but I do not mind, being old, you know.” He winked.
Damn! After six thousand years and finally being in her presence, here he was, sitting right beside her, and he had to be in his nemesis’ ugly old body! And—not react. He had worked so hard on his plans, he could not foul up now.
Once he was out of this body, it would be all worth it.
He was looking forward to receiving the all important detailed report back from his 2IC on her progress and reactions. Feeding her with this information and having the support of the real Cemel’s memories and powers should help, but the ceremony would be the culmination.
“Cemel, is our conversation private, you do not have to report back to Kalvich or anyone?’
“Yes, my dear, whatever you say is only between you and me. I have always been your…confidant, if you like.”
She nodded, satisfied.
“As you probably know, I had dinner with Kalvich this evening, he was wonderful, a truly magnificent gentleman. I’ve been short changed by men in my Earth time, and a few have cheated on me.” She paused. “I need your advice. I hate myself for asking but, can you tell me if Kalvich is lying to me or not? I feel I want to be with him, he gives me something that I have never had in my life. He has told me I am the universe’s future, similar to what you told me in my dream connection with you. I‑I think I—” She looked down at her hands demurely. “Oh, I have feelings for him, I don’t know if it is love or what. I think I love him, but I just need to know if I should have him by my side. Is he the one for me? I have heard many bad things about the Trimadians and their tyranny towards races in the universe. But I have not experienced it, at least not in this time. This place, this Casus Belli, I feel different, it has a life force about it. I feel it filling me up with, with power. I don’t know if that is good or bad.”
“And you want to know if you are going to make the right decision, don’t you, Leah?”
“Well, it would be good to talk to someone. I think I am a bit short of friends here, and I just need more information.”
“Hmm, all right. Try this. What does your instinct tell you?”
She took a deep breath, stood up and walked over to the chair opposite, sat down and crossed her legs. “Am I able to make decisions, after I learn more about myself and my abilities?”
“Of course. But you want an answer about Kalvich and the Trimadians now, don’t you?”
She nodded.
“I say again; be honest, what does your instinct tell you?”
Leah sighed. “I guess I should believe in myself more, maybe I am too tense. I should not class all men as the same. My instinct is to let go and be with Kalvich. I feel I can learn a lot from him. But I need a friend, to guide me, help me with my budding powers.”
“How do you feel now you have spoken that out loud?”
“Pretty good,” she said smiling.
br /> “There is your answer my dear, go with it.”
“But is this what the gods back in 4000 B.C. expected of the Chosen One? I mean, I know Sidonio loved me and you told me that Kalvich did too. They both fought over me and when you said they were—”
“If you were in danger, Leah, wouldn’t Harold and Edith, the elderly couple you have met a couple of times, have told you?”
“Maybe, maybe not, no one can interfere with free will.”
“They have given you an insight into your power. Remember your little gift I gave them to give to you? Small steps lead to bigger ones, Leah. With patience, time and knowledge you will look back at our conversation and wonder why you asked me questions in the first place. You are going to receive an incredible gift, and the stones will make you unique, well you are unique. You’re able to be anything you wish, go anywhere you choose. This would have happened in 4000 B.C. if you had not ordered me to–do what you had to do.” He hesitated. “In fact, to be blunt, there is one way to, let us say, to incapacitate immortals…no, you will learn more about that later.”
He held his hand up to silence her. “One thing at a time. If I gave you all the knowledge you need, your mind would not comprehend a tenth of it. Learning is also a process involving time and experience. I can’t emphasize that enough, my dear. I will guide you as time goes on, but you will find you will no longer require my services and grow beyond me, and you will not expect how fast that will happen.
“I should let you know that Kalvich had my Cathexistome removed at no harm to myself as I was granted immortality for my past services to the gods. It was a shame you witnessed me blasted through the door. But I assure you my dear, I have been very much alive and kicking.” He giggled. “Leah, simply being here, in the life force, as you call it, of this great fortress and being with a great leader like Kalvich will be all you need. It is time to accept the decisions you have made-that is all part of what makes a good leader.” He sighed. “I’m sorry, I’m feeling tired.
And no, I do not rejuvenate, as this fine age keeps me humble.”
Leah blushed at his telepathy.
“Please, do not argue or question me anymore, just hear my words.”
Leah stood up and curtsied out of respect to the old man. “I appreciate what you are saying, Cemel. I am a little, I guess, overzealous.”
He smiled and gazed a few more seconds at the beautiful sight before his eyes. Talokta had done a fine job, and he would reward him duly. But it did take tremendous will power not to “look in” on the two of them.
“It is late, and you also need your sleep for the forthcoming events. I think you have something to give me.”
“Oh!”
She reached behind to unlatch her necklace.
“Please allow me.”
He hopped up, quite sprightly for a tired old man and unhooked the delicate wire and clasped the stones in his hand. His fingers lightly brushed her neck and he felt a shock race through him that almost knocked him to his knees. Thank goodness, he was behind her and she did not see that.
He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Goodnight, my dear. I look forward to seeing you again soon.”
Her powers were getting stronger by the hour. And apart from that shock, the one power she had over him was affecting him very badly, the one she would not quite be aware of yet.
As he shuffled back to his study, he smirked to himself, thinking what the real Cemel’s advice would be. “Get out now, away from this power sapping environment. Leave the Trimadians. Save your humans. The Trimadians’ will conquer, rule and destroy. War and misery will be everywhere.”
At last, after thousands of years of having the old fool around, he could finally get rid of him. Put him in a place where he would exist in his own private hell, forever.
The training, ha—she certainly would not need any of that bullshit; pure hype to give her confidence. He had eons ago learnt all the wizardry he needed from Cemel without the old fool even knowing and knew exactly how to pervert it. Once she was through the ceremony, she would have no need of the teachings of Cemel. Instead, there would be Kalvich to offer his encouragement and guidance. And with her stones, the rest would be history.
Then his beautiful queen would be ready‑ready for something he had been waiting a damn long time.
He sighed. Now alone, those past precious few minutes with her made him feel worse than ever. She was almost literally in his arms, and he still had to wait. He closed his eyes and thought back to the start of his leadership; gathering his loyal followers; before Leah had turned his world upside down. How he had single handedly brought the Trimadian tribes together as one force under his might and control. With strict discipline and order, insured they would stop feuding and killing each other. He knew the Trimadians had little regard for the dominating and governing power of the gods, and through that arrogance, held total disregard for anything out of their culture. He was going to have fun.
He had been keeping a watchful eye on the Trimadian race for many years, even subtly disguising himself to visit and mingle among them. He knew the answer to their problem, but their fragile mortality and inflated egos were holding them back. Finally, appearing before their leaders in their domain, he blatantly stated he would be their overall Supreme Ruler and lead them to greatness beyond any expectation.
Naturally, the Trimadians thought he was insane and simply shot him for his brash words. In a space of five seconds, he had shocked, stunned, and captivated his audience, as this so called insane individual would not die. In fact, he stood up with a wicked grin and the most diabolical red eyes. From that point, it took very little time to prove to the Trimadians that this formidable figure was going to be indispensable to them and their quests. He demonstrated an extensive and astonishing knowledge of their way of life. He knew all about their experiments, weapons, and ships; his technical expertise was far superior to any of their scientists. He had plans and suggestions to improve their training methods right through to streamlining the manufacturing of Zymergy. He read their minds as if it were pure conversation. He freely admitted to them that he had been watching them for a long time but from within a dimension that only immortals could dwell. He remembered how word spread through the Trimadian grapevine like wildfire. Indeed he was nothing short of a god, a tangible supernatural being. The Trimadians believed in him wholeheartedly. They had the solution to not only stabilize their race, but be the number one force in the universe…and beyond!
Though he earned the Trimadian’s loyalty and respect, it equally bore many enemies. Even a jealous few close to him who wanted a share of the limelight. And many varied attempts of assassination over the years ensued, not to mention heavy battles all over the galaxies. Everyone against him all reached the same conclusion—nothing could stop this aberration of life!
Once he had finished creating his legendary fortress, he encased it in a force field that would keep his lofty, nosey family out of his way forever and afford excellent protection from outside nuisances.
The Trimadian world now belonged to the Supreme Ruler and the race flourished, expanded, and never looked back. It was the start of true greatness for them, and unfathomed terror to any and all outside worlds, including mankind.
Kalvich smiled, Zakaroid and his inner circle were warned right from the day they were bequeathed their unique powers:
And the rise of the Darkness, will arrive to the unwary, engulf the Light and bring the caretakers to their knees…
***
He opened his eyes and stared at the ugly, sickening reflection. His much loved hobby of dabbling in science and alchemy, at times made him consider himself more a sorcerer than a warrior-warlord. He gave a wry smirk.
The transformation to his nemesis was so damn ironic!
Chapter 41—The Long Walk