THE
THREE KEYS
Part Three: The Key of Mind
Chapter 2: Return to the
Heavens
Space steamed by as rivers of light and swirling eddies of cosmic energies.
The energy cascaded over the curving space, a cataract of light plummeting a few
light years, only to be caught in the gravity well of a nearby world. The
light danced as the sea upon the shore. A spray of photons splashed
Black16 as he skimmed above the limits of the world's space at speeds unheard of
by humanity.
"It really is beautiful from this side," he mused to himself.
"So much wonder that cannot be seen from within the confines of space.
But if Soddom succeeds in his endeavor... No! It won't be allowed!
I must make haste to the Eternal Realm or all may be lost!"
Black16 increased his speed even more, spraying the light in a wake behind him.
He had just been disembodied by the demon Corpsefire when he felt a summons to
return to his Master. It had to have been of great importance to leave the
Agents at the hands of the Garai Tai. He could feel within himself that a
great conflict was about to begin.
The journey from the Earth to the Eternal Realm took only two hours, but it may
well have been two hundred years. Black16 feared not only for the Earth,
but also for all of creation. If what had been told to him while on Earth
of Abbadon wasn't an exaggeration, then all the worlds were in great danger.
A beast with the power to remake worlds... such a power could not be allowed to
fall into the hands of one like Soddom.
Black16 could feel the Eternal Realm before he could see it. The power of
his Master radiated from that place, filling the surrounding space with an
eternal light. Such was the power of Elohem, brilliant beyond a galaxy of
stars. He could see the spires and towers of the city through its
translucent outer wall. As Black16 neared the great city, the Eternal
Realm, he decreased his speed, the energy burning about him dying down. He
slowly coasted to a stop and landed at one of the city's south gates.
The guard of the gate raised his hand above his head, and with a booming voice
that shook space itself declared, "Holy is the Almighty, who was and is and
is to come!" Black16 turned to the Nephim and did the same.
After the greeting was completed, Black16 took the Nephim's hand in his.
"Peace to you, Meginah. I returned as quickly as possible. And
yes, it is true, the Garai Tai do indeed seek once more to free Abbadon."
As the two friends spoke another Nephim, more brilliant than Meginah, approached
the gate. The being would have walked past the two if not for Meginah's
greeting of "Holy." The Nephim stopped dead in its tracks and
looked about nervously. It raised its hand and began to speak.
"Holy... holy is...rraaagghh!" Its beautiful form was suddenly
cast aside, revealing the hideous form of a Khawlal. "There is no
master but Levah!" the demon shrieked as it unsheathed a blood-red blade
and rushed at Black16. Black parried the demon's sword with his own,
energy dancing on the blades. Before it could strike another blow the
demon found itself cloven in half by Meginah's broadsword. The demon
slumped into a heap as the bits fizzled away into a wisp of black vapor.
"How many have there been?" Black asked. "The third this
cycle," Meginah answered. "Our enemy is increasing their
efforts." The two were quiet for a time, and then Meginah looked at
Black16. "Elohem has called for you Black16. He has said He
shall tell you all you must know of this matter. Now hurry!"
Black16 made his way through the city, passing many Nephim who gave him the
normal greeting of "peace." As he neared the temple
housing the throne of Elohem, he stopped dead. Standing in the midst of
the Sea of Glass, to the east of the temple, were the other Milchmah.
His kind.
Then he knew.
The war was about to begin once more.
