Part 38 (1/2)
”When the time is right, but first you must do this.” She looked at Constance intently. ”Tell him, he is a great man, and that great men must make great sacrifices.”
Constance nodded and wiped away a tear. ”Yes, Mom. I will remember.”
”I love you, Constance. Be a good girl.” She gave a gentle smile.
”I will, Mom,” Constance whispered. ”I will.”
One of the robed figures reached out and placed his hand softly on the woman's shoulder.
”I have said as much as you are able to bear, my darling. Come home, Constance.” She covered her head. And the three turned and walked back down the path.
”I will, Mom! I will!” Constance called after them. She crumbled to the ground and wept.
We stood by quietly for a moment, allowing her to grieve.
”We must travel back to The Circle,” said Humphrey over her sobs.
”Yes, I know.”
”Are you ready?”
”I am.” I looked down at Constance.
”It is not going to be easy,” he said quietly.
”Nothing important ever is.” I knelt down next to Constance. ”It is time to take you to Vrin. Are you ready?”
”Yes,” she said, wiping away tears. ”I want to see my father.”
I helped her to her feet and the three of us headed back down the stairs to a gra.s.sy field. The sun sat high in the sky. I looked directly at it. But it didn't hurt my eyes.
We traveled across the meadow and into a leafy path through a wood where we wound our way in and out of ma.s.sive oak trees, until Humphrey stopped us at the edge of a clearing. He motioned for us to duck down. In the center, beings of light swarmed around a circular structure, floating in and out amongst each other. I noted that the light emanating from them was weak and faded.
”Who are they?” I whispered.
”Malignant spirits,” said Humphrey.
”Is that The Circle of Ghosts?”
”Yes.”
”How do we get in?”
”Hold on. You'll see.” He winked.
Suddenly, the air filled with light and the ground trembled. I looked up to see the ma.s.sive form of Magnus descending. As he landed in front of The Circle, the ground split. And the lesser beings retreated.
”I AM MAGNUS! I STAND IN THE PRESENCE OF THE ONE TRUE G.o.d!”
”Go!” said Humphrey, gesturing wildly.
Constance and I bolted toward The Circle and Magnus allowed us to pa.s.s. In the shadows of the trees, the glowing demons paced like wild animals.
”Quickly! The fallen ones are coming!” Humphrey called after us.
I looked up to see bright flickers of yellow fire burning down through the atmosphere. And from them a haunted screech filled the air.
I looked at Constance. ”Ready?”
She gave a quick nod. ”I'm scared, but I'm ready.”
”Remember, Thomas!” called Humphrey. ”Time does not exist in Dantra. You will enter Vrin precisely the moment you left, which will give you the element of surprise.”
”Got it.” I gave him the thumbs up.
Magnus stepped forward and gripped the structure, and in a flash of light, we found ourselves standing inside The Circle on Gaza's platform. Through a ghostly yellow veil, I watched, as if in slow motion, as the body of Charm collapsed onto the metal floor of the platform.
Kitaya, still holding the gun, also watched him fall. She turned and looked directly at me. How did she know? How did she know? An evil grin appeared on her face as she threw the pistol aside and raised her arms in surrender. An evil grin appeared on her face as she threw the pistol aside and raised her arms in surrender.
I stepped through the veil.
Gaza's face showed anger then confusion. I was dead-- and yet there I stood. At first his eyes bore into mine, but then he looked past me-- and his expression changed. ”Constance?” ”Constance?”
I turned and looked back through the veil. Constance was standing in The Circle, appearing as a little girl.
”Yes, Daddy. It's me.”
He brushed past me and stood before the veil. ”Where's your mother, sweetheart?”
”She died in the crash, Daddy. But it's okay. She is in Ethral, waiting for us.
”In Ethral?” His voice was hollow. ”But-- why didn't I go with her?”
”Because, Daddy, you are still living. The living may not pa.s.s into Ethral.”
He crouched down. ”Are you you alive?” alive?”
”Yes. I am in Dantra.”
”Why aren't you here? I thought I drew all the souls into Vrin.”
She looked at him warmly. ”You didn't draw the souls into Vrin, G.o.d sent them in to help you, so you could move beyond the pain of the void. You don't have to hold on to that pain anymore, Daddy. You don't have to hang on to your anger. G.o.d did not do this to you. It just happened. Sometimes we think because G.o.d created everything, that he is responsible for all the bad things that happen to us. But the reality is, we cause darkness and pain by making bad choices, choices that go against the will of G.o.d. But G.o.d can take even our bad choices and use them for our good.”
”I've been searching for you,” he said softly.
The little girl's eyes filled with tears. ”I was but a breath away. You couldn't see me, but I was there. --For many years I blamed myself for what happened. I convinced myself that if I had stayed by the car, they would have found you quicker and rescued you. But I was afraid, and I ran away.”
As she continued to speak, she began to increase in years. ”I carried the burden for such a long time, every day, cursing G.o.d for what happened. And I hid from him. I didn't want his pity, I wanted you you back. But it's clear to me now, I don't have to fear. All things are working out as G.o.d promised. And you, Daddy, you have a purpose here. There's something G.o.d needs you to do. --Then someday we can be together in eternity.” back. But it's clear to me now, I don't have to fear. All things are working out as G.o.d promised. And you, Daddy, you have a purpose here. There's something G.o.d needs you to do. --Then someday we can be together in eternity.”
As he contemplated her words, I interjected cautiously. ”Perhaps, you were meant to stop Kric' tu.”