Prophecy Series 1 Pages 3 - 8

VII. And she awoke in a bare white room. Her mind cleared and upon taking notice of it, her eyes beheld a bright light streaming through a single pane of glass. At once a being stood at the end of her cot. "Beware the new coming. He has sent me with this." And a glowing sphere was placed in her right hand. "You will know. He has not been vanquished." And the room vanished as she sat, once more, upon the desert. Visions of past disasters circled the abandoned plain before her. At her left she noticed movement and slowly turned toward a tall hill from which a small ledge projected. An immense leopard lay on the ledge, grinning down at her. "What say you wayfarer?" "Why should I speak to one such as you, slaughterer of the innocent?" "It is true, but is it not my right to survive?" He paused, then, "To other discussions, have you any water? My thirst has seen little to quench it in these past few days of journey. His power has diverted the rivers from their true courses." "No, not He but the one who follows in deep shadows has done this." "Ah, so Loki again walks fair Terra?" He considered this. "Now back to my inquiry, have you any possession to drench this parched tongue?" The sphere pulsed, twice. Extending her hand she gestured to a small patch of green behind the great beast; from this spot a fountain of pure water sprang. "You are one of His servants?" "Yes, He will return." At once a shadow crossed the once bright plain, causing her view of the leopard to be hindered. The omen passed and the ledge was bare; a slow trickle where the leopard once stood.

VIII. And the young woman rose from her crouch in the dark corner of the ancient tabernacle. Approaching the altar, now bent and broken, she bowed her head and knelt upon the cold, damp stone floor. Crossing in the Roman way she lowered her eyes, speaking the words, "Bless me Father; I have sinned against you." And a great wall of bright light shone before her. And a voice called unto her soul: '"Believe and you will not die.' You spoke these words unto the children. How is it you have sinned against me?" "Father, I am unworthy. My faith is..." "Your faith is as a young child, my dear one. No sin has come from your heart. Arise in peace, young one. Know that I am always at your side." And the light faded as she lifted her eyes to the symbol on the wall. Rising silently she turned and walked with new confidence toward the open door. Pausing at the entrance she spoke a prayer, learned long ago, to Him who had guided her steps to the place. Facing the forces of night she moved swiftly into the desert. Destiny lay before her.

IX. And she sat, motionless, as the birth pains subsided; viciously aware the beast was near. Even as her children fought for life she knew what would be: she of mother and father mother to children with no father, they of light and darkness together with the Creator for all eternity. She must... .no NO NO NO why must it be I and not another! And the eagle carried the children safely and with all speed to the Watcher where they would grow, learn to appreciate, and, one day, destroy their common enemy. And the dragon moved before her sitting impatiently in anticipation of its meal. "I have given this that they may live." And the beast descended upon her tearing flesh from bone as above her cries of the host sang of her deed welcoming her soul.

X. And as she sat upon warming sands the demon arose before her. "What do you wish from me?" the crafty spirit inquired. "My bidding was of silence borne. How have you responded to a command, as yet, unvoiced?" "Ah, a question with no answer. I know you from before, do you not remember?" "You are Mephalon. Yet we have not received one another until much later. Until such time has eclipsed, your countenance is foreign to me." "Elektra, goddess of light and storm, why have you hidden yourself from scrutiny? What are you seeking?" "Go from me, strange creature of night. Do not return until my spoken invitation." And a swift wind arose from the surf, pounding on a barren shore, sweeping Mephalon, shrieking his hideous curses of death, toward the silent heavens. And she weeps knowing the time is ever nearer.

XI. And in the light between dusk and dawn she sat beside a mirror pool. In its cool surface her face, weary, yet complacent, was reflected back to her questioning eyes. Visions floated beneath the water: the tabernacle, the new birth, and the leopard in the desert. All so near yet distant. And her face became a blur as the guardian of the pool rose to float silently before her. "You have traveled a great distance, Elektra, to be at this place so soon. What do you wish from me?" "Counsel." "Counsel? I should have thought...." "Yes, Mephalon? Go from here." And a violent tremor shook the earth as flames from the once silent pool rose in raucous unity to engulf the demon, trapped by her gaze. And the true guardian of the pool was released from her captivity to kneel before Elektra. "Arise, water sprite, resume your proper place. I request your counsel. How far will his craft extend?" "Until all has been lost of the old world, until all intervention can no longer be of any use." "Is mine a futile search?" And a shadow crossed over her brow plunging the guardian beneath churning waters, sealing her in frozen mist. And a rider appeared beyond the pool his stallion snorting tepid clouds of dense steam. "Are you the one?" the stranger inquired. "Yes, I am Elektra." "May you live in interesting times, Elektra." And the shadows retreated as the new dawn arose over silence. The time had come.

XII. And as dawn eclipsed the dark skies of evening, Elektra rose from the cool earth to resume her journey toward the tower of the Watcher. Her arrival expected, the Watcher kept vigil at the Oracle: an ancient book of living knowledge. He patiently monitored her progress along the rocky terrain. '

As the Tower emerged from darkness Elektra raised her right hands while reciting words to transport her the short distance remaining to join the Watcher within the Tower. "Elektra," the Watcher exclaimed as he embraced her, "you have at last arrived!" "I only wish my entire journey could have been accomplished as swiftly as my transport to this room." "Loki has affected all of us. Come, you must be tired. The others wait for us below." "Have you found my brother?" "Come, see for yourself." Exchanging silent conversation we traveled the inner corridors of living rock down through the Tower toward larger chambers. I so longed to see my brother among those who waited. Far too much time had passed since our last meeting. "Elektra?" A voice ahead floated toward me in the darkness. "Yes? Griffin, is that you?" And a bright light surrounded the Watcher and I as we recoiled from the horrors before us. Screams were muffled as those who owned the voices were entombed within the damp walls of the Tower. A powerful dark energy flowed through the room. Loki stood within a tight circle of lesser demons that absorbed energy, from the Tower, dangerous to their master. "So Elektra you are as beautiful as Mephalon described and as clever also in your elusive journey to this place. You are a worthy adversary." "Where is my brother?" "Your brother? Tell me, why did he not fight as you have? You were able to cast off my most powerful ally as if he were but a minor annoyance." "My brother is not bestowed with the same gifts as I, Loki. I ask you again. Where is my brother?" "He is mine now."

"Never!" "Yes, Elektra. See for yourself." And a portal opened into an endless abyss. A form appeared, falling without end yet held immobile. "He will come to no harm, yet. Your Watcher however." And the life force of the Watcher was absorbed into a pulsing sphere of dark energy. "He will be held, safely, until I decide to release him." "And I?" "You, Elektra, shall remain here. This Tower is mine once more. You cannot leave." And Loki vanished taking with him his band of dark angels and the Watcher. And here I remain unable to escape held fast by Loki's dark charms. My only hope lies in the arrival of another wanderer.

XIII I am locked within a tower. Simple brick, mortar, living rock. A silver lock enchanted by dark magic contains me, my sorcery rendered impotent. Your knock awakens me from deep sleep. As guardian of this place I am held to answer a stranger's inquiries. Has your journey tired you? Come, lie and rest. Satiate yourself on food and drink while warming yourself by the fire. As cool walls are warmed by heat of flame and pleasant conversation my heart recalls the time. Speak your query. Another page turns.

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