The Chronicles of the Four Heirs: WAR

Chapter 10

Michael and I sat within the temple on the rocky floor, the setting sunlight illuminated, the pool of crystal-clear water between us as it swirled by the swimming fish contained within it. 

“Thus far you have been trained to impart your will into objects and how to manipulate the elements,” Michael said staring across the room at me, “now I will teach you how to impart your will into living beings.” 

I didn’t say anything, but rather nodded my head and waited.

“The great ability of the Arch Angels and their offspring the Nephilim is to perform an ability we call Commandment.” He spoke.

“Kind of like thou shalt not kill?” I asked almost jokingly.

“Yes and no,” he said, not changing his posture or his gaze, “the Commandment ability is something that is unique to you and you are alone. It is essentially who you are at your very core, what you desire above all else. For me my Commandment is Fear. It allows me to instill an overwhelming sense of fear in those before me to where they no longer wish to fight.” 

I stared for a moment waiting for him to continue. He grinned for a second and stood up walking closer to the pool. 

“Wait,” I said confused, “I thought angels didn’t have free will or desire?” 

Michael’s gaze met mine and there was almost a painful look in his eyes, “you mean to tell me in all the time you’ve worked with angels you never thought for once that we didn’t act of our own volition.” 

“We’ll no,” I replied, “every angel I’ve ever met acts like they don’t really have a choice in what they do, everyone acts like fighting alongside humanity is a chore, but they do it.” 

“Ah, see that is the great mystery,” he chuckled, “while it is true, we are essentially forced to fight in these wars and assist with different worlds in their battles, we are performing the will of god, however our actions are our own.” 

I thought about all the angels I had met, and their behavior made more sense. It’s not that they didn’t want to help it’s that they didn’t have a choice but to help. I imagine the Angels had what I perceived as a hive mentality; they’d have probably helped us of their own choice had they been given that option. 

Michael interrupted my thoughts as he walked about the open temple hall, Returning the focus back to my training. 

“This place is special; you see there are only a few places on this planet that help us determine your commandment and that is why I have brought us here to this exact pool of fish.” 

“Ok, how do I determine what my commandment is?” I asked as I knelt by the pool. 

“You must meditate, search within yourself and find what your soul craves, what it is you wish to do with that power,” he said as he stood behind me. I could feel his eyes locked on the back of my head almost terrified of what the outcome could be.

 “Once you speak this phrase the weak minded will have no choice but to obey,” he whispered in my ear, “total control over another being, they can’t say no, they can’t fight it, they obey.” 

I took a deep breath and sat on the cold floor next to the pool. I entered my scry state in order to arrange my thoughts more comfortably. 

As I stared into the dark abyss of my mind, I began to think. What is it that I would want to make people do?

Why would I want to do something like that? What purpose would that serve?

Why force people to obey a command who don’t want to, that goes against The Whole point of having free will.

Because sometimes it is necessary to get people to rise up against an oppressor. I heard my voice answer back from the abyss. 

But why, not everyone can fight. I said becoming angry. 

Sometimes those that can are not enough, my voice said back. 

That’s why we find help, we always find help, we never just roll over. I shouted into the abyss.

There was no reply, just the sounds of whispers. It started soft but began getting louder.

They can’t do it without you, they must have a leader, there is no reason to doubt who you are, your mistakes will be your undoing, you are weak, you must command those who want this nightmare to end, you will never beat anyone in combat, only you can raise an army, who would follow you.

The whispers soon became almost deafening.

You will fail to protect your home, you will give in.

 I must find my strength to endure.

 how will you do that?

I will command a Legion. I will impart the desire to fight back in order to protect everything, A legion made up of everyone. All of those who wish to end this war and rebuild! 

I opened my eyes and stared into the pool, and only one thing came to mind, “to arms.” 

As I said the word the fish stopped circling and gathered in front of me and faced towards Michael.

“It seems that no matter what life you are in, you will always be a warrior. You are meant to command the people in order to lead them into liberation.” Michael said not changing his tone or posture. 

As I stood up not taking my eyes off Michael, I asked, “why though, why do I desire the people to be able to fight for themselves, why could I not have the power to do so?” 

Michael sighed and lowered his head turning his gaze to the small pool and locked eyes with the fish still facing towards him. He almost made a face as he stared but he replied, “it is not the place of the Angelic kind to win wars for the mortals of the universe, we have always been a guiding hand, however when we intervene in situations such as this war it is because the enemy the mortals will face can only be defeated by beings such as us.” 

He c****d his head to the side and made a face as he continued to stare at the fish in the pool, “mostly we deal with the traditional demons of whatever world we are on, sometimes they are weak sometimes they are strong.” 

I stopped him and asked something I had been wondering for a while, “you and Silas have both mentioned other worlds and have both worded it the same way,” I stated, “what do you mean the demons of whatever world?” 

Michael still not breaking his gaze with the fish began walking from one side of the pool to the other, I looked down noticing they were following his movements, “well as you know there is most definitely a hell,” he started saying, “however, I suppose what you don’t know is that each planet in the vastness of the cosmos has its own Hell. The worst beings are imprisoned within the core of each of their respective planets and their souls feed the planet.”

         “Hold on, we have detailed images of the inside of our planet, how would we not know that the core is Hell?” I asked.

“What you have are scans, you have never been there,” he said lowering his head, “the immense pressure of the center of a planet is exactly why souls go to there, and it is that pressure that keeps the evil souls contained.”

         He paused for a moment and returned his gaze to fish, “The inferno of the core, mixed with the pressure of being that far down, has a peculiar effect on a soul that is sent to reside within that evil inferno. However, over time there are too many souls within that planets hell to contain which leads to what you here called judgment day, the rising of the dead, all that stuff.” 

He stopped pacing around the pool and dropped one of his hands down from behind his back. 

“So, no two planets Demon races are the same?” I asked

“More or less,” he replied, “there is a distinct difference in their looks, but the mentality is pretty much the same.” 

He was still only paying half attention to me and for some reason he was focused on the fish as well, “what are you doing?” I asked sternly as he made quick jumps side to side.

“Your commandment abilities are still in effect,” he stated as he crouched down and nodded to the pool.

I had noticed that the fish had been sitting in place this whole time, I had just assumed that was normal, so I didn’t comment. Seeing the confusion on my face Michael began to explain.

“Your ability is supposed to have a limited effect time, what that time limit is we are supposed to learn here.” He began to say as he stood back up adjusting his waist belt, “sufficed to say, your ability seems to be more powerful than most, which means that not only did you find your commandments ability you found it’s true expression as well.” 

I had no context, I had no prior knowledge of anything he was trying to tell me, Again. I just sighed and rubbed my fingers against my temple. 

“Michael,” I started to say frustrated, “I have no idea what any of that means, and I think you know that I don’t know, which means you’re either playing around or you have no clue either.” 

Michael stood there for a moment with arms crossed and began muttering to himself as he moved his head from side to side. He was troubled by something but even he didn’t know what that was. He began pacing around making hand gestures as he muttered to himself. Every few seconds he looked back at the fish in the pool. After a few minutes He stopped and straightened his back as he lowered his head and turned towards me giving me a very suspicious eye.

“What happens when you alter the make-up of your sword or armor?” He asked cautiously, moving his hand to his side.

“Ummm, let me think,” I began, “the first time I imbued anything it was a sword and it turned black and red then it grew in size.” 

“Of course, it did,” he said as he rolled his eyes, “I must have council with the Dominations, go back to Silas and do not use your commandment ability no matter what.” 

“Ok,” I said as I eyed him, it’s not the first time that I had been told not to do something but now I had more questions than answers.

Michael left without saying a word, he headed towards the opening in the temple and leapt in the air spreading his wings on the way out. As I chased him down, I watch as his hand began to glow and he opened a door in the air and flew through, my guess is he went back to Heaven. as I stared at the midnight sky, I wondered what that was all about, they keep hinting that I might be more powerful than all of them but from what I can see I’m no stronger than a brand-new angel. 

It was a long walk back to the cabin, I again cursed Kanan for taking my wings from me. However, I soon realized I didn’t have to walk. I searched and found a nice sized smooth rock surface that I could use as a door. I placed my hand on the rock and spoke, “odo.” 

Sparks danced around my hand and lit up the rock and opened a portal, I had never tried it before, but it seemed to have worked, as I stepped through, I found myself back in my room at the cabin. 

As I stood in silence in my room, I had no thoughts, I was just tired. Tired of all the deception and the half-truths given to me by the angels. Was there something they all knew that They won’t tell me? I went to walk towards my bed, and as soon as I went to lay down my bedroom door opened.

“John?” Norma Jeans voice called out through the darkness of the room; I didn’t say anything I just stood there in silence.

“I know your upset, John,” she said softly, “I can feel your thoughts and emotions.”

“Why am I being lied to all the time?” I asked her, staring out the window next to my bed. 

I looked over to the doorway and saw Norma Jeans face illuminated by the moon light coming from one of the windows. Her eyes glowed, not with intensity, but with concern.

“After hearing you contemplate all this, I can only conclude neither of us is being told the truth,” she said quietly as she walked into my room closing the door.

“Why?” I asked her almost whisper shouting, “why can’t anyone explain who or what I am, it’s always half-truths, and withheld information.” 

“I don’t know the answer,” she said looking down, “I’ve asked Silas several times why they were pushing you so hard with your training, normally the process of training a Nephilim takes several hundred years.” 

“Am I just that quick about this,” I asked, then the thought popped into my head, no I can’t be that quick about it, I haven’t even fully mastered how to imbue objects. So, if Norma Jean is wondering what is going on maybe neither of us knows what our purpose is really here. 

Before I could say anything, I heard Silas call us from downstairs, I grudgingly turned to head towards the door only to be stopped by Norma Jean. We stared into each other’s eyes and we hugged for a moment before heading downstairs to Silas. 

We found Silas sitting at the dining table and the tension was profound. 

“Both of you sit down,” he commanded, not making eye contact or turning his gaze away from the flowers sitting in center.

Norma Jean and I sat next to each other opposite of Silas, I was concerned about this very serious feeling I was getting from him, almost instantly Norma Jean reached over and squeezed my arm under the table almost as if she agreed with me.

“John, is it true?” He asked me, staring directly into my eyes, “that upon issuing your commandment at the temple the Seer Fish did not stop following that command?” 

“Yes,” I replied not breaking eye contact, “they still were following that command when I left.” 

“Gather your things,” he said sternly and expressionless, “Norma, I don’t have to stress to you the importance of presentation when we arrive.” 

“Where are you going?” She asked 

“We are going to see the Dominations,” Silas stated as he stood up.

“You’re not serious,” Norma Jean gasped.

“I am,” he said, turning to me, “John clean up, I mean shave, whatever you must do, this is a rather serious matter and what we don’t need to happen is you being obliterated from existence because one of their Lordships found your appearance irritating.” 

Silas moved from the table and began heading to his room, “Norma help John prepare I will be getting ready as well, Raviel wanted to see John and myself specifically.” 

“Who will be speaking for you?” Norma Jean asked.

“Hopefully it will be Michael,” Silas yelled as closed the door to his room. 

There was silence as Norma Jean dragged me back upstairs. The tension from Silas earlier was justified from Norma’s reaction. When we arrived back into my room she closed and locked the door, when I looked at her I could see tears in her eyes, she was absolutely terrified. 

“Can you please tell me what’s going on,” I quietly asked.

“The only reason that the Dominations would be summoning you to their domain is to…,” she paused for a second trying to catch her breath, “they are going to destroy you.” 

I stood there for a moment, realizing the gravity of the situation, because Norma and I were Linked if I was to be destroyed she would die as well. So I made a decision, if that was to be my fate I would not allow myself to be destroyed, I would fight if I have too. 

“You could try,” she said as she walked over to begin assisting me with being presentable. 

“The Dominations are some of the most powerful angels in existence, more so than the Arch Angels. Do not show fear but above all else do not show arrogance, many an angel called before them have not returned all because of the lack of respect they showed.” She said as she took my clothes and weapons.

She spent the next hour cleaning me up, and helping make sure I was presentable to meet the Dominations. 

I was unsure of what to expect, but from the tone of the conversation between Norma Jean and Silas that this was rather serious.

After my armor had been put on, and my sword was at my side, I stood in front of the mirror making sure that silver was clean and that nothing looked out of place. we walked back downstairs to find Silas staring out the window into the night. 

“John, I need you to promise me that you will not speak out of turn, and that if you are asked a question you give your whole and honest answer,” he said turning to face me, “their Lordships are offended by lies and insulted by half-truths, whatever questions they may ask you, give them YOUR answer.” 

I nodded my head as I swallowed my nervousness. 

“Ok,” Silas said as he let out a sigh, however it didn’t feel like it was a sigh of relief. He turned his attention towards Norma Jean.

“Be prepared for anything, you know as well as I do, that if the Dominations are in anyway dissatisfied with this meeting something could happen,” he told Norma who stared directly back at him but did not say a word or move an inch. 

Silas motioned for us to follow him outside as he went to walk out the door he paused for a second.

“You’re out of uniform, john,” he said as he turned back towards me, “with how far you are in your training it would be disrespectful to appear before their Lordships in plain armor.” 

I nodded and turned to face the mirror in the doorway, as I imbued my armor, it turned from a reflective silver, to a dark red and black. I had a dark brown leather belt that draped over my right shoulder. As I finished I gave myself a small cape, because honestly I’ve always wanted to wear one. I still didn’t know why everything turned those colors, I would have chosen green but I guess that’s what I’m stuck with. 

Silas raise his sword in the air and his hand glowed bright blue,

“odo,” he commanded as he brought his sword down opening a gate.

As the portal cracked and sparked I felt a cold chill crawl up my spine. I didn’t feel afraid and then I turned back to the cabin and saw Norma Jean standing in the window, I realized I wasn’t afraid but because of our link I could feel her fear. 

She must be terrified about this, I thought to myself, should I be worried too.

Silas stepped through the portal and I followed without hesitation.