The Connor Chronicles: Bronze

  ‘Ma’am, I am sorry but there is something I really need to tell you. It’s a confession on my part. Leucetius, Ambisagrus and I were part of a plan to destroy Taran. They do not agree on a new-comer mortal being on the same ranks as them. Ambisagrus especially is eager to eliminate him once and for all. But, is it true Taran is a God??’ Nemesis explained to Dea honestly.

  ‘I have seen his powers but his eyes, they flamed RED!’ Nemesis continued enthusiastically. ‘Gods don’t do that, only demons, vampires and others of the like do that. Is he part demon?’ Nemesis asked curiously. ‘I tried lured him with my sexuality but that man is difficult! He didn’t fall for me. In the end, I had fun with him by removing all his clothes, but NOTHING happened. I went to Taran’s girl friend; at least I think it’s his girl friend, although I can’t read either of their minds, strange! I tried to make her jealous by bragging about how good he was in bed but she didn’t seem interested. Oh! Her name is Sarah and she has a childhood ghost friend named Jake. Anyway, I was suppose to trap him with my sexuality and demobilize him while Leucetius and Ambisagrus killed him and absorbed his powers. Obviously, that it didn’t happen because I backed out. I know I deserve some form of punishment for abetting their crime but please forgive me Dea. I know I did wrong and I’m sorry’ Nemesis continued apologetically.

  ‘Nemesis, Taran is God. He was a mortal named Aidan before. Agrona and I completed the transformation process. He is unique and I guess it shows in his eyes. However, I am glad you have confessed to your mistake when you know you were wrong in abetting them. You are after all the Goddess of Revenge and your namesake means distributor of fortune, whether good or bad. Your actions against Echo and Narcissus are still fresh in my mind. It was not your place to lure him into the river when you knew very well Echo’s love for him. You should learn to control your emotions and focus on doing good. As you have willingly confessed, you will remain as the Goddess of Revenge but your powers and senses are limited. For every act of goodness, your power would amplify and vice versa. Seek forgiveness from Echo and Narcissus as you were a third party who unnecessarily interfered in their lives and then apologize to Taran, Sarah and Jake as your actions may have led to a friction in their relationship. Once you have completed the act of forgiveness, only then would I forgive you’ Dea instructed.

  ‘Yes ma’am, thank you for your mercy on me’ Nemesis took Dea’s hand and kissed it. She then acknowledged the Elders made her exit.

  Chapter 14 - War of the worlds

  A thunderous thump on the ground awoke me. As I opened my eyes, I saw Leucetius and Ambisagrus and their armies had landed at Cape Cornwall. Balor’s additional armies had made landfall at Land’s End Airport and were on their way to meet Leucetius and Ambisagrus. Although it was early in the day, the dark armies had blocked out the sun and it began to become gloomy. I could sense evil and darkness as the armies approached St Just.

  My visions had become clearer now. I heard Sarah shouting ‘Leave us! Leave us alone!’ I saw they had captured Sarah and Jake, I became worried and began sending telepathic messages on location and what was happening but it failed as Jake was not responding to my thoughts as he fought to save himself. I saw Balor had taken a crooked dagger and slashed Jake’s arm, the wound was deep and he was bleeding, though not severe. Any further loss of blood could result in Jake automatically passing on to be reincarnated and the wound would be a birth mark.

  ‘Aidan, Aidan! It’s time!’ Mother said as she appeared in my room. ‘Let’s go get them out of the way. They do not deserve to be part of this, so are the other mortals who are unaware of what’s happening. With the sun blocked out, it looks like apocalypse! Aidan, it’s time you bring out Taran in you!’

  Within no time, I had transformed and Mother and I rushed to the abandoned warehouse where Jake lay down with his left arm bleeding. Sarah was by his side, consoling him, ‘please don’t go Jake, you are the only one I have, Jake, please stay with me. Stay with me!’ she screamed as she tore part of her dress and bandaged Jake’s arm. Sarah was crying profusely.

  ‘Leucetius and Ambisagrus! Leave them alone! Harm them and you will pay!!’ I said as I raised my voice. Sarah and Jake turned and were surprised to see me there. ‘Aidan, how did you know!? Help us, please!’ Sarah shouted as she ducked to save herself from flaming arrows and fire balls. Seeing this, I was enraged.

  ‘You fools! It’s Taran! Obviously he hasn’t told you who he really is!’ Ambisagrus laughed as Sarah gave me a confused look. I telepathically whispered to Jake, ‘I’ll explain later. All is well’ I re-assured Jake.

  ‘HAH!? What can you do? What WILL you do, Taran?’ Leucetius said as he flashed a lightning bolt, barely missing Sarah, who jumped in fright while Ambisagrus threw a fire ball at her. I used my shield and the fire ball bounced back to Ambisagrus who diverted it to the wall.

  I knew this was not a place for war and motioned Mother to take them out and we would meet at Cape Cornwall. I contacted Poseidon telepathically who responded and would provide the required assistance.

  I created a shield around Sarah and Jake and Mother appeared in the shield shocking Sarah and Jake further. ‘Calm down dears and close your eyes’ Mother said as she held their hands and vanished into a mist taking Sarah and Jake with her.

  With all three out of the way, ‘Follow me, if you dare!’ I told Leucetius and Ambisagrus who were stunned at my change in attitude. ‘It’s show time!’ I thought to myself.

 

  ~~

  We re-united at Cape Cornwall, Sarah placed Jake’s head in her arms while crying. Mother did not have the power to heal but provided Jake with positive thoughts and told Sarah to continue talking to him. Sarah gave him water and he drank heartily. Jake, who gradually felt much better, he barely sat up, with Sarah by his side, stunned, shocked and confused at the turn of events on what was to be an average day at the antique store.

  ‘Mother, if it’s war they want, I’ll give them war. Please bless me. I did not seek this war but it was thrust upon me’ I said as I kneel down on bended knee. ‘You have my blessings as Aidan, my son and as Aidan, the God of Thunder. Go get them!’ she says as she places her right hand on my head and raises me up gradually. Mother then sits next to Sarah and Jake, silently watching the events that had unfolded before them. I stood a few meters in front of them. I then transform into my true full form with my powers and senses at their optimum levels. Sarah and Jake turn to look at each other, ‘Sarah, what’s happening to Aidan?’

  ‘Taran, I am with you’ Poseidon says as he appears from the ocean. There were signs that a huge storm surge was on the way. ‘Thank you Poseidon’ I say gratefully as I watch the waves lap the sides of the levees, barely rising over them. The winds were blowing but at a moderate speed.

  With my Mother’s blessings and Poseidon’s assistance, I closed my eyes and envisioned my shield, which was now our safety bubble. I envisioned the silver ball, expanding and encompassing us. I had stretched it to its maximum, which covered South West England, from top to bottom. I firmly secured the shield in its place by visualizing a map of South West England and randomly placing imaginary pins along the coastline on the shield.

  With the shield in place, I saw the Leucetius, Ambisagrus and Balor leading the way, their armies not far behind. They had no idea that my shield was in place. Mother, Sarah and Jake had seen them too and gladly, Mother had calmed Sarah and Jake down. I walked ahead just as they had landed. Their armies were flying above us although the winds Poseidon had created caused staying in one place difficult. The armies began swaying and some flew to a higher level. When I opened my eyes, I saw Leucetius, Ambisagrus and Balor.

  Within seconds, Leucetius created a storm which appeared out of nowhere. Winds were howling at 140 km/h, trees were being uprooted; it began raining heavily as I envisioned people running for safety in the towns and cities. Leucetius then stopped the rain just as fast as he had brought it on.

  ‘Now that you have seen what I can do, YOU wan
t to take my place?! That’s impossible, you barbarian!’ Leucetius shrieked. Ambisagrus then released a heat wave making it extremely hot, I saw leaves dying, lakes and rivers evaporating and people becoming thirsty. I saw that Balor and his men had invaded St Just and were feasting on unlucky souls, murder without fear of reprisal. The feast they had longed for but were always disrupted by my presence.

  ‘Leucetius and Ambisagrus, I did not ask to be put in this position. You leave me no choice!’ and with that I closed my eyes. This time I was going to create a super storm with storm surges and destroy their armies. I would deal with Balor later. I focused on creating dark clouds with the clouds gathering and forming a funnel. Winds were blowing and howling at 150 km/h. Roofs were flying above as glass shattered by the sheer strength of the winds. It began to rain heavily, people had their umbrellas fly away and I could see mortals holding on to lamp posts, for their safety, ‘I’m sorry mankind, this is not what I had wanted, I’ll protect you as much as I can’ I thought to myself. I felt raindrops falling on my head, my arms and my body. I brought on the lightning and the thunder roared continuously. The clouds began getting darker as it absorbed the water from the ocean. I increased the intensity of the storm surges. The waves were hitting against the levees, causing the boardwalk area to be flooded with rainwater and seawater. As I raised my arms from my side, I could feel the winds in my hair and my overcoat swaying backwards as the strength of the winds blew my overcoat behind me. I created a hurricane by funneling the clouds from the ocean and directed it towards Darkness Club avoiding innocent people and homes, minimizing the path of destruction. As it hit land, I decreased its intensity.

  The super storm had taken Balor and his army by surprise. He and his men had stopped feasting and were now on their way to join Ambisagrus. ‘Just what I had wanted!’ I thought to myself. Now, Leucetius, Ambisagrus and Balor had gathered and were now directly facing me. With my eyes flaming red and feeling enraged, I opened my eyes and straighten my arms, releasing fire arrows from my palms and eyes. Their armies vanquished and evaporated in a matter of seconds. Now, it was only Leucetius, Ambisagrus, Balor and myself.

  Ambisagrus then released his multiple five arms, each holding a different weapon and made of various metals. The first arm was holding a mace made of stainless steel, the second arm had a sharp sword while the third arm was made of steel while the fourth arm held a sharp dagger which was made of iron and the fifth arm had a spear with the sharpest tip I had seen was made of aluminum. The multiple arms were continuously pinning at my shield. For a moment, I felt pain and felt my grip on my shield waning. ‘Raise above the pain’ Mother whispered in my mind. My grip on my shield strengthened with my Mother’s words. I then blazed a fiery thunderbolt straight into Ambisagrus’ heart while at the same time, chopping off his multiple arms with simultaneous bolts of lightning. He sank to the ground and lay there, traumatized, in a daze and barely conscious.

  After Leucetius had seen what I had done to Ambisagrus, I saw fear in his eyes. He could see my eyes were still flaming red and just as I was to finish him, ‘STOP TARAN!’ a familiar voice commanded and with that my shield burst causing ruptures on the ground from the tremors caused by the breaking of the shield unexpectedly.

  I looked up and saw Dea in front of me. She was not alone and had brought the Elders along with her. They were whispering among themselves, ‘This is Taran’ one said, another said, ‘Yes, Pythia mentioned him’ said another. ‘Ah! There she is, so beautiful, she looks exactly like her mother, doesn’t she?’ said another Elder. ‘Who is “she”? Are they referring to Sarah?’ I thought to myself, stumped that she was of interest to the Elders. They looked at me suspiciously just as I looked at them curiously. It was my first meeting with the Elders and it obviously wasn’t a good one.

  ‘LEUCETIUS! I should have known! I never expected this from you two. Bullying a new-comer, is that what you really are?? And you call yourself GOD!!’ Dea continued while Leucetius hung his head in shame.

  ‘AMBISAGRUS! I am not surprised, this is what you really are, aren’t you? There is no point behaving like a God when your act today has proven that you are a demon, always was and always will be’ she said sarcastically as Ambisagrus slowly rose up and stood beside Leucetius.

  ‘BALOR! Balor! We meet again! You have been warned and now your actions have broken our truce! I hope you contemplate on your actions today. You and your men will be waging a bigger war soon. You will bear my wrath but your time has not come! Go NOW!’ Dea says angrily as Balor evaporates into thin air.

  ‘Taran’ Dea says as she looks at me. ‘You have shown your compassion. You have placed others before you which have resulted in a reduced mortal casualty. I would like to praise you but I want you to see the results of your actions today. Go to St Just and see for yourself and do what is needed to help. You have been brought into this due to the greed of these two men. It is not your fault. Remember that’

  ‘As for you Leucetius, I am now stripping you of your powers. You will remain as the God of Thunder but in name only. Due to your age, you will continue to remain at the Realm of Gods and will not have the power or will to come down to Earth’ Dea pronounced her sentence to Leucetius. ‘You have brought shame to your lineage!’ she continued as Leucetius was on the verge of crying.

  ‘Ambisagrus, like Leucetius, I am stripping you of your powers. However, as an extra measure, I am now banishing you and your likes to the Lair of the Demons where you can make merry with Balor. Have fun!’ Dea says sarcastically.

  ‘What about Nemesis? She was part of this as much as we were? Ambisagrus argued. ‘I know and she has confessed. She will receive her punishment when I return to the Realm of the Gods’ Dea continued.

  ‘Both of you GO NOW and I hope not to hear any more trouble from you two. Take this as warnings as if there is a next round, believe me, only I would be walking out alive!’ she said in a calmer tone. ‘Ah! Yes, your plan failed in one major point. Didn’t you guys do your homework? Aidan is The Chosen One, The Delphic Oracles have spoken. He has been kind to you by leaving you alive. Now, GO!’ Dea instructed as Leucetius and Ambisagrus bid each other farewell. Ambisagrus caught up with Balor and both made their way to the Lair of the Demons. Leucetius vanished into a shrouded mist.

  After they had vanished into a mist of thin air, Dea looked at Jake, whose arm was still bleeding. She went towards him and sat beside him. Sarah looked confused and was crying, Dea consoled her, ‘Don’t cry, my child, your friend would be fine’ she told Sarah. ‘You can see him too!! Oh my God! What’s happening?’ Sarah looked towards me as I transformed into my human form. As if needing support and comfort, she lay her head against my chest as I placed my arms around her.

  ‘Wow! You can see me!? Aidan, I love your company, man! Everyone can see me’ Jake whispered as he dozed, while the commotion was going on, Jake failed to realized that he was losing blood fast, Dea held on to Jake’s arm. ‘It’ll be fine?’ Sarah asked while holding back her tears.

  ‘Sarah, he will be fine’ I consoled her as we watched Dea heal Jake’s arm. His slash wound was deep and it was almost the length of his arm. All of us sat beside Jake. Mother was next to Dea and I had Sarah in my arms. Dea placed her palms facing downwards the length of the wound and while chanting a healing mantra, white rays begin to emit from her palms as she moved her palms up and down the wound, slowly erasing traces of it. With every movement of Dea’s palms, Jake’s face began to brighten. Eventually, Jake’s arm which once had a deep slash wound was now back to how it was, clean and clear, with no traces of any injury. Dea had absorbed the wound and the wound now appeared on her left palm.

  ‘The wound, it’s on your arm now!’ Jake said, alarmed. ‘Don’t worry Jake, it is only temporary, I will cleanse this healing process once I am at my abode. You arm is now healed. Do take care of yourself’ Dea continued as we all arose. Jake was turning his arm, unable to believe that as a ghost, he could bleed and it was healed at the same time.

/>   Seeing his curiosity, ‘Jake, although you appear as a spirit, you are still human. Your mind and body has not accepted the fact that you have passed on. Plus, you are bound by your commitment to Sarah, which holds you back from moving you. Your time will come and you would have to be reincarnated once your soul, mind and body are in harmony with your thoughts and accepts the tragic event that resulted in your death’ Dea explained with Jake thanking her. He had never been in contact with any other higher being, although he did have encounters with other evil spirits and survived those dreadful meetings.

  Dea then placed a hand on Sarah’s cheeks and wiped away her tears. Sarah is gently released from my grip as Dea hugs her, ‘Jake is fine now and Aidan has a lot of explanations to do, doesn’t he?’ Dea says as Sarah begins to smile and nod in agreement. Dea wishes Sarah and Jake farewell and approaches Mother and I. ‘Marella, you should be proud to have a son like Aidan. Always keep him in check, his mind does tend to wander once in a while’ she laughed. ‘His heart is fluttering, but it is uncertain. Do keep me updated Marella and Aidan. Oh! Agrona and Mars send their love to the both of you, they miss you a lot Taran. Do make frequent visits to the Realm of the Gods’ Dea said as she kissed Mother and me on our cheeks.