Part 23 (1/2)

”Who are they?” Kane asks pointing to the three caskets.

”My guess...it's the Atlantean priests.”

Everyone looks up at me like I just called Mother Teresa a bad name, but I'm serious about my a.s.sumption.

”They said that they are still here and so his he,” I say gesturing to where Nannot is being held. ”Kane, you asked me earlier where they were. Plus, they've only used their mental gifts to contact me. I'm guessing their physical forms died, or they're in a form of stasis or hibernation.”

”So you think their minds are still active and that's how they contacted you?” Nicole asks.

”Yes, I do.”

Kane walks up to the crypt and brings up his flashlight. He then begins to examine it.

”Not a single tool mark or seam anywhere. It's one solid piece of the orich-stuff.”

”Amazing,” Dad whispers.

I walk up to the ma.s.sive coffin and rest my hand on it. It may be just my imagination, but I could have sworn I felt a slight tremor underneath my hand.

Then the answer comes to me. I'm not sure from where though, ”I think I know what they did...” I close my eyes now seeing another vision. I describe what I see while it happens.

”They sacrificed their immortal bodies, using the power in them to contain their brother longer, hoping for a chosen individual to come and aid them. They knew one day that Nannot would be set free and that this chosen one would be all that could save the world from his wrath.”

”How?” Asks a distant voice. ”How was he to be freed?”

”All he needs is a human host. The more willing the person is, the stronger his power would be,” I answer, eyes still closed.

Kneel. A soothing voice resonates through my mind, coaxing me to listen. I do. I know who speaks to me.

”Rahji-itza, is that you?” I ask mentally.

Yes, it is I. You have been chosen by Lord Thoth himself to defend the world against his fallen son. Do you accept the burden of saving all of mankind?

”So I have a choice?” I ask honestly a little surprised.

You always have a choice. You chose to fight against our brother. You chose to let us into to your mind. And you have a choice to accept or deny us now.

”The will of the chosen to deny...so it's not just a prophecy against your brother, it's for you too.”

Yes, you are correct. If someone with darkness in his heart wanted to free our brother then they would be able to. Like I said, you always have a choice.

You always have a choice, I think to myself.

I choose...to kneel.

43.

I kneel, touching my forehead to the orichalc.u.m sarcophagus. The light vibration I felt in my hand is now a buzzing in my head. I try my best to stay relaxed, but it's a little difficult under the circ.u.mstances.

Thousands of visions-no not visions-memories fly by. Every single one of them is being absorbed into my mind at light speed. And it's not just one person's memories, its three sets of them.

I see the four twins playing as children in the king's palace. I see Thoth educating the kids as well.

I see the brothers as grown men-maybe in their early twenties-arguing.

I see Thoth again, this time entrusting the four brothers with the elixir, making them immortal, like himself.

I see chaos and destruction.

I see heartache and loss.

I see Thoth on his knees weeping for his lost child, the three loyal defenders standing beside him, consoling their father...their king.

I see the king cry out in anger and frustration and strike down Nannot, the same way the priests did in my second dream. He used an unbelievably strong energy beam to subdue him and then used the very Earth itself to entomb him.

Then all at once, I feel the love these three brothers share. I feel their hope for healing and their continued forgiveness for their sibling.

Wow, they never stopped loving him, I think. Then a warm, tingling sensation consumes my body, almost like I'm fully immersed in the most relaxing hot tub in the world.

You are one of us now, son. You have been given a power-a gift greater than anything you could ever dream of.

This is a different voice...an older voice.

”Thoth? Is that you?” I ask continuing in my mind.

Yes, my son. It is I, Thoth. The Last King of An'tala. Use these gifts well and do this world justice. There's a pause in his statement. But, could you please tell him that he is forgiven. Please, tell him that.

”I will, my...king.”

The last part was awkward and strange, but it felt like the right thing to say.

Then I'm released, back into the real world. I'm not even violently thrown back into reality this time. I'm just freed from the mental incursion, which included none other than Thoth himself.

He is forgiven. After all he did to his homeland and to his family, they still ultimately forgive him. Humanity could learn a lot from this.

I stand and remove my gla.s.ses, rubbing my eyes, removing some of the built of tension and face the others. They all gasp and take a large step back away from me.

”What?”

”Hank...your eyes,” Nicole says her face pale. She stares at me with fright and what looks like a hint of wonder. I'm not quite sure what's happening. Everyone is just staring at me, mouth agape.

Nicole digs into her pack, producing a small compact mirror. She offers it to me, stepping back a few feet. I take it and look into its reflective gla.s.s and see myself, looking normal. That is except for my...