The Seven (Fist of Light Series) (36 page)

“Same here. But as of now, I think we should focus on staying alive long enough to return.”

“We’ve been missing for who
knows
how long, and the Clan will be meeting tomorrow,” he continued stubbornly. “They might think we’re injured or dead.”

I sighed. “That’s if they’ve even noticed we’re gone. They’re probably occupied with their own problems at the moment.”

“Point taken. What do you think those buildings are made of? And what’s with everything in this place glowing?
Seriously
.”

We had progressed close to the end of the road. Hopefully, that was just a physical representation and didn’t possess a metaphorical significance. If this was the end of the road, my sentiments would be made known to our guide. Chances are I would be incredibly dissatisfied with her services, and she would definitely not be receiving a tip. I doubted the trees would be the end of us, though, because I was soon to be confronted with a mover and shaker in a completely different ball park. Through the arch that marked the end of the enticing, carnivorous forest, a portion of a building was visible. Or at least, in this world, it seemed to pass for a building.

In a vague sense, it did fit into the human idea of a castle, partially. My neck craned upwards as we exited the forest, soaking in the details. I revised my previous assertion as the battlements came into view. Although there was no wall to be seen, the structure before me was no mere castle. It was a stranglehold, and there was no doubt that many had died trying to broach its walls. This was most definitely a fortress, and from where I was standing, it looked near unassailable. Not that I had any experience in storming bastions, excepting childhood adventuring. It seemed we had happened upon the gardens, and that was to be where we would remain for the duration of our stay. The emissary went ahead of us, most likely to inform our host of our imminent arrival. I hoped so at least. I wasn’t too keen on spending the rest of my days in some outlandish garden.

Jeeves stayed behind, although he didn’t do much more than browse the foliage, utterly ignoring us. I wasn’t going to be the one to admit that I was even the tiniest bit interested in what lay inside the monolithic, impregnable structure before us. There were far more interesting things to be seen outside, where you can enjoy nature. The sky, for instance, was a deep, royal blue, unblemished and untarnished by pollution. Instead of enjoying the ambience of the vibrant, and yes,
glowing
plant life, I continued to study the exterior of the fortress.

I called out to a browsing Jeeves. “Jeeves!” No answer, no reaction whatsoever.

“Maybe she put a spell on him,” Jas said.

“Not likely. There’s an indescribable amount at stake here. I have suspicions that his inability to speak is related to how he wasn’t at liberty to tell me the things I wished him to disclose. That’s starting to get really annoying.”

Jeeves began to cough, as if he was trying to throw up a lung. “I hate,” he paused for another coughing fit, “that damned compulsion!” He inhaled deeply, as if experiencing the world fully for the first time.

Jas and I spun around to confront another being that held many similarities with the world in which it inhabited. It was beautiful, unique, and exotic, and quite feminine, but radiated danger like a landmine right before you get blown to a gazillion pieces and right after you step off. Its lithe body glowed with vitality and strength. It possessed canted eyes of deep purple and lipstick closely resembling that color. Its curves drew in Jas’ eyes, and spit them back out faster than he could scream “Mercy!” The clothes were human in nature, although I doubted they were truly physical. I had the feeling of being distracted from the true nature of the being in front of me, in order for it to get under my skin.

That did it for me. “I don’t think I’d had the pleasure of making your acquaintance, although your guide seemed to know us well enough.”

Jas was a lost cause. “I’m Jason, and I’m honored to have witnessed your unparalleled beauty.”

Jas couldn’t keep his attention on the task on hand for the life of him. I resisted the urge to slap him out of his stupor but couldn’t squander the time. My attention was focused solely on getting information out of the being in front of me, and then getting the hell out of here. If Jeeves had been under a compulsion until now, then it only made logical sense that it might be under one as well. That wouldn’t stop it from trying to get me killed along the way, but it would eventually enable me to make clear the obscure situation relatively unscathed.

A tinkling laughter filled the air, enchanting and enticing. “You mortals and your obsession with names. You throw them about as if they have no meaning, no power.”

Jeeves appeared semi-responsive. “Jeeves, what, and who, is this?” I figured it would be a useless gambit, to speak to Jeeves within my mind. She would have sensed it in a heartbeat and might have taken offense.

“Her origin is Fae,” Jeeves cleared his throat then massaged it delicately with one hand. “She is one of the Elder kind, masters of their race. Devious, manipulative, murderous, powerful beyond imagination, and radiant, despite this illusion she casts to distract you. She has been more than successful, thus far.”

“Jeeves, what a curious name.” She tasted the name, testing its flavor. “And yet, it has a ring to it. You have always been so generous, in providing compliments.” She smiled showing her teeth like a predator. “You may call me Aurelia, if it pleases you.”

“Aurelia then,” I said, slightly apprehensive.

Jeeves snorted at her choice, although I was at a loss as to why. “There are important matters to be taken care of, I believe. Let us be done with mind games, pitfalls, and unfeeling pleasantries. I won’t allow you to lead this one to his death. Do as you are required, and tell him what is required of you.”

“You know of my parents?” I inserted quickly, before Aurelia responded.

“I know much of your parents,” she said. “But am in no way obligated to divulge that information.” She sized Jas up. “If you give me the shape-shifter, I will tell you all there is to know about them.”

I spluttered, flabbergasted. “Did you just offer to trade me information for my friend’s life?”

Jeeves sighed knowingly. “You have much to learn, boy.”

“That knowledge holds much meaning for you. It is not unfair to call for equal compensation,” Aurelia explained patiently.

Jas mooned after the possibility. “I’m all for staying with her for eternity, Caleb. Feel free, but I think you’re getting the worse end of the deal, personally.”

“Snap out of it.” I smacked Jas roughly on the face.

“Ouch, Char-ley! That really hurt!” He grabbed at his reddening face, looked at me, and then looked at Aurelia. Then he looked at me again. “Why does this keep happening to me?”

“You’re too easily distracted,” Jeeves suggested, “even if it is by the finer things in life.”

It seemed some things were back to normal, at least. “There are more important things to discuss than my family, at this time,” I said.

What I really wanted to ask of her involved a plethora of questions, and some choice words about common courtesy. Who tries to barter their friend for information? If that was common practice in this place, I was out of my depth and then some.

“As you wish. The information pledged involves your past, although it has no connection to the family in which you previously inquired.” Her alien eyes focused on Jeeves, waiting, a cat prepared to pounce.

Jeeves’ input was much appreciated, although if he kept up his tone I had a feeling we weren’t going to make it out of this place intact. “You have stalled this coming long enough. It is past time for this farce to be through.”

Creases appeared at the corners of her eyes but disappeared as quickly as they came. “Very well. You, Caleb Holden, are a force of Nature, one of Seven. Chosen by virtue of natural selection and Nature’s unfortunate and extensive jurisdiction, you have been fashioned of her will. You are a weight upon the Great Scale, a representation of part of a singular side of the balance. Forged within darkness and a rallying point, the Fist will decide the outcome of a battle in a war that has raged millennia. You are a slave to your nature, and forced to serve that which spawned you. Death, Destruction, Chaos, Darkness, Light, Peace, and Healing; these are the components, the mechanisms of control through which Nature has deemed to show Her hand.”

“Everyone is a slave to their nature,” I said, nitpicking the only statement I could possibly hope to respond with.

“Belief is power. The more fervently you believe in that thing, the more power said being wields. Humanity’s religion is a prime example of this concept. Do you know how many mortals believe in the basic concept of nature?”

“A lot,” Jas said.

“As you would say, ‘a lot.’ In one form or another, each and every person on that clod of dirt you call home, believes in Nature.”

“So… every religion has power? And all of them are true, respectively?” Jas interrupted.

“That is correct. A portion of humanity worships every religion, and the factions within them. The more prayers, and devotees, the more clout that god or pantheon gains. Many times, however, there is a slackening in belief at some point in a religion’s history. Many pantheons have been forced to desert Earth and retreat to their respective dimensions that border your own. There they stay, for better or for worse.”

I couldn’t help myself. “Did you just say that there are multiple dimensions, and they all border our own reality? And when the level of worship drops to a certain level, gods take up residence in them?”

An amused laugh escaped Aurelia. “No, my dear, innocent child, not quite. There are infinite dimensions that border the realm of Earth. Gods hold sway over their own dimensions upon their birth, however and whenever that may have come about. Within these dimensions, you would find the heavens, and hells that you mortals so wish to travel to, when the spark of life within you has been extinguished.”

Jeeves butted in, to give us some perspective. “If you didn’t yet realize, you are no longer in the land you were raised in. This is the Realm of the Fae.”

“I’m utterly flabbergasted.” Jas smacked his forehead, pinched his nose with his hand.

“And rightly so. Talk of the divine and alternate dimensions is not for a mind so undeveloped. Would you care to hear more upon the subject, or will that be all?”

“That’s—” I began.

“That’s all regarding the subject of adjoining dimensions and their hosts.” Jeeves glared at Aurelia. “Now if you please, continue to explain what we have come here for. Do not attempt to fall short, or shirk your duty. Clear parameters were set, and they are to be followed.”

Aurelia’s voice gained a bitter quality. “Nature has an immeasurable store of power, and Her meddling can be seen whichever direction you gaze. There will be a reckoning, as well as a shift in the power upon Earth. It is never clear which way the coin will fall, but it is best you fear for your life, and all of those you care about. Darkness has enshrouded and entangled your world, and it has no inclination to let go its prize, not when it is so close to its goal. It is likely that there will be much demand for the Light to expunge that Darkness, to an extent where the Light can once again assert dominance over the Denizens of the Dark. The mortal races have short memories, and they have brought another apocalypse to their doorstep.”

“Another one?” I asked

“Foolish boy. You think that the Light triumphs over the darkness, because that is how Nature wills it? Your world has been brought to ashes by the Dark more than the Light has been able to save it.”

“I would think that would be taught in history class, at some point,” I said.

“Your histories tell only a portion surrounding the truth of the events, as is their wont. Your ancient books tell of destruction many times. Those countries and alliances that wrote them down taint them with their involvement. A dating system can only explain a fraction of a war or event, and there is hardly any credence in your books of prophecy. The only way to accurately record each facet of an event is to experience it, and the human race is far too short-lived to do any such thing.” A delicate hand plucked a flower from a nearby plant, stripping it of its bizarre petals one by one.

I thought I heard a faint screeching emitted from the plant, but wasn’t sure. “Am I supposed to be the one who fights at the front line of the coming battles? How is one supposed to survive that kind of abuse?”

“It is not in my prerogative to provide you with an action plan. You must find your own way to succeed, or your failure will likely bring death to your world once more. I would recommend fighting at the front of a war party, rather than in a solitary manner.”

“Damn, dude, that blows. At least you have your one-man war party, right here.” Jas waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

My voice pitched upward. “The Seven mechanisms of control. Which one am I?”

“You are the Fist of Light, as you no doubt have already determined. I believe you are already acquainted with Peace and Healing.”