The Awakening (18 page)

Then silence.

All I could hear was the frantic beat of blood pulsing in my ears. We continued to blaze downwards into the planet’s atmosphere.

BOOM!

We broke through the sound barrier. The explosion echoed behind me and noise returned as a torrent of wind and my own yells. The ground spun around like a broken fairground ride, rushing up to greet us. We weren’t showing any signs of slowing down. Fear began to rise in my chest. If Faru didn’t do something, we’d smash right into it. For a fleeting moment I considered letting go of his hand, but what good would that have done - I’d fall anyway.

But it’s not real! I can’t die...can I?

Either reading my thoughts or sensing my distress, Faru slowed and changed the angle of our descent. The landscape was now parallel and about twenty feet below us. We rocketed over a carpet of treetops; flocks of birds fluttered out of the dense leaves in fright.

I’d finally managed to calm down enough to stop screaming, when I forced my chin up enough to see ahead and started all over again.

We were heading straight for the Veil.

Up close it appeared to be a shimmering pool of thick silver water. Rising vertically, like a giant liquid wall. We plunged in head first and the chord to my scream was cut. A sensation like slimy, ice cold fingers pressed hard against my skin, starting at my head and rushing down my body. I shuddered. As I slid deeper at incredible speed, the pain began. At first it felt like someone pressing down on me, but the further I was drawn into the Veil, the stronger and more forceful it became. Soon it was an unbearable crushing pressure, like being squashed under a rock. The air compressed from my lungs and my eyes were forced shut. I tried to gasp for oxygen, but couldn’t even part my lips a millimetre to draw anything in.

I can’t breathe!

The thought was loud and clear. An alarm bell which shrieked into every corner of my mind.
I’m trapped in this thing until it spits me back out...alive or dead!

The pressure rolled upwards and collected at my head. The pain amped up to a level I didn’t think possible. It felt as if someone had clamped my skull in a vice and was happily twisting the lever. Bursts of white hot pain seared through my temples and bloomed in yellow patches behind my scrunched eyelids. Just when I thought I would pop, drown, implode and suffocate all at the same time, I felt a new, unexpected sensation - similar to breaking through the surface of water, but denser. The slimy fingers raked my skin again and then the pressure vanished. We shot out of the veil like a bullet. Faru landed on the ground, sliding gracefully along the dirt. I followed, tripping over my own feet and toppling forward. His iron grip snapped me back like a seatbelt, keeping me upright.

I spent the next few minutes doubled over, greedily gulping oxygen back into my aching lungs. I vowed that from then on, I would never take the beautiful gas for granted again.

Faru walked over and placed a hand on my shoulder. Blind with anger, I shoved it away and swung my fists at him. He dodged every punch and caught my wrists, holding them tight. He was surprisingly strong.

“Please calm down.”

“What the hell was that?” I screamed in pure fury. “I almost died!”

Faru’s voice remained placid. “Alexander, please believe me. You were never in any real danger. The sensations of travelling through the Veil are unpleasant but rarely fatal.”

“
Unpleasant?
” I shrieked. “Stubbing your toe is unpleasant! That was horrific!”

Faru nodded. “I apologise. I merely wished to show you the other side first hand. I felt it beneficial for you to experience the whole process as completely as possible to help you understand better.” He paused. “Perhaps it was a little too soon.”

“Yeah perhaps! Or perhaps you could’ve given me some warning before you fed me to a celestial grinder,” I seethed. “Give me my hands back please.”

I tugged against Faru’s shackling grip. He seemed to weigh up the options for a second before releasing my wrists. I glowered at him as I rubbed the sore spots.

“I am sorry. I promise that you will come to no more harm whilst you are on this mind journey.” He attempted a friendly smile.

For a moment I said nothing. Then I softened. It was difficult to stay angry at someone who kept apologising. Plus I was starting to feel more comfortable around Faru. Something about him I hadn’t noticed before; maybe because I’d been so initially shocked by his appearance. He seemed noble - kind even. Even his white eyes appeared to give off a soothing glow.

I sighed. “It’s okay. I’m sorry too. It’s just that all this...it’s a lot to take in you know?” I turned away from Faru and froze. I’d been so busy being angry, I hadn’t noticed the place we’d travelled to...until now.

It was terrifying.

There was no other word that could describe what my eyes could see and even that failed to truly capture the horror. Menacing clouds the colour of fresh bruises dominated the sky, making the scene as dark as a moonless night. The only source of illumination came from the constant stream of jagged lightning bolts, which forked down on the horizon. They were immediately followed by thunderous booms like battle cries from a war God. The ground was as black as midnight, with pale, jagged rocks jutting out of it like broken bones. To the right, an angry sea heaved waves onto a blood red beach. In the distance, I could just make out the twisting spire of a towering fortress. It resembled a gnarled finger, accusing the skyline.

A fierce wind picked up and whipped around us, yanking at my trousers and seizing my hair. Faru’s robes billowed around him as if they were alive.

“W-what is this place?” I shouted above the roaring of the wind.

Faru clicked his fingers and the tempest died down in an instant. He became a statue, staring into nothingness with his dead eyes. After a few moments he spoke.

“This is my world.”

12

Y
our world?” I choked, recoiling in horror.

“Yes Alexander, I am not from Earth.” He gestured towards the grim landscape. “This is Pandemonia, the realm I call home.”

The name seemed fitting for the chaotic world that surrounded us.

Faru looked sad for a moment. “I have not visited it physically for many years.” Sighing he added, “Please stop backing away from me, I mean you no harm and it’s quite distracting.”

I stopped moving and pointed a shaking finger at him instead. “So that’s the reason you can do all this crazy mind stuff, because you’re not...human.”

He made an agreeing noise. “I am indeed what you would consider to be a supernatural creature.” He inverted the last two words with his fingers. “In fact most of the creatures from your legends and folklore are actually Pandemonians who passed through the Veil.”

“You mean like that woman in the waiting room - Iralia?” I said. “She’s a Succubus right?”

Faru frowned. “I see Gabriella has been revealing more than her role permits.” He waved a hand. “No matter, you are correct. Like myself, Iralia’s true home lies on this side of the Veil. However, unlike me, she is Umbra.”

In the same way I knew what the description on the Temple doors meant, I knew the word mean shadow. I said it out loud.

Faru folded his arms behind his back. “Yes. The
Liberi Umbra
or
Children of the Shadow
are the darker creatures of our world. You see, Pandemonia has countless different species and sub species just like your world. Instead of mammals, invertebrates or reptiles etcetera, ours have been categorised into three main types or classes. The first is the Umbra, as I already mentioned. The second are
Liberi Luminar
-
Children of the Light
. They are the Umbra’s natural enemies. Finally, the third...neutral type if you like, are the
Liberi Fera
-
Children of the Wild
.

I folded my arms across my chest. “Okay, so if Iralia’s a Succubus, then what legendary creature are you?” I said, not really sure if I making a joke or not.

Faru looked a little deflated. “Hmmm...well no of course you don’t, Seelians have always been very careful to keep human exposure to a minimum. Allow me to explain. Seelians are the nobility of the Luminar. More specifically the Seelian are a species of Fae.” He scanned my face for a reaction. “Or Faerie,” he offered finally.

“Actually you are incorrect. Several species of Fae do have wings. I myself possessed a magnificent set at one time. Unfortunately Seelians shed them after their prime years, when they are no longer of any use to us. I lost mine many cycles ago.” He smiled at me. “That is one element of your legends which is actually based on fact. However, much is inaccurate.”

“How do you mean?”

“You see Alexander; Pandemonians prefer to remain anonymous to the human race. It’s easier that way. Nonetheless over the centuries the inevitable sightings have been made, or humans have fallen foul to rogue predators. As nothing was known about their true nature, guesses were made. These rumours warped over the ages - akin to Chinese whispers I dare say - and became legends. Some have factual elements to them, others are simply just nonsense. Most of what fills your books and television screens are based in pure fiction and are the result of nothing more than wild imaginations. Others are based on misinformation. Take werewolves for example.”

“Skinshifters are a species of Fera similar in appearance to Earth’s canines, although far larger. They have the ability to metamorphosise into other animals, via a method known as imprinting. That is, they can alter their appearance and actions to perfectly impersonate another animal. This includes humans. But whereas a Skinshifter can emulate an animal indefinitely, they run into difficulties when acting as humans.”

“Exactly and thus the legend of the werewolf was born.” Faru laughed as if the stupidity of how such a mistake could be made was beyond ludicrous. I stayed quiet, arms folded, heart thumping against my chest.

Most?
I thought
. What does that mean?

“Hivemind Vampires are the most common,” he continued, “but by contradiction are the least known in your folklore. This is presumably because it is very unlikely any human would ever survive an encounter with them. They are lethal creatures who travel and hunt in packs. Hiveminds are indigenous to the Darklands, an area of Pandemonia completely devoid of natural light. As a result, they evolved to be effective night hunters and developed intolerance to sunlight.”

Faru turned and placed an arm around my shoulder. He began to walk as he talked, gesturing me forward. I moved like a robot, scanning the ground to make sure I didn’t cut my bare feet on sharp stones. I needn’t have bothered though, when I did manage to stand on one, it squashed down under my feet as if it were made of foam. When I lifted my foot back up, it sprang back into shape.
I guess Faru wasn’t lying about me coming to no more harm.

I had a suspicion that it would be a very different story if I were in Pandemonia for real.

“In every Hivemind litter, one Vampire will always evolve further than its siblings,” he explained. “They become another type of Vampire known as a Bloodseeker. Fully formed Bloodseekers are intelligent, humanoid creatures which look and act very similarly to humans. Typical to most evolved species from our world, they have a lifespan on average about five times that of humans, but are
not
immortal. They too are susceptible to sunlight, but nowhere near as much as their feral counterparts.

“Whereas Hiveminds are carnivorous and will consume their prey until nothing is left, Bloodseekers only require blood to survive. Therefore a normal Vampire attack would consist of the leader draining the prey’s blood then leaving the carcass for their pack to devour. Furthermore, male and female Bloodseekers can mate with one another. Their offspring become Hiveminds and thus the cycle continues.”

We walked closer to the shoreline. The roar of the sea grew louder as we drew nearer. In each burst of lightning, I watched as the waves smashed against rocks in the distance, sending dark spray spitting high into the air.

I frowned. “So something I don’t quite follow. You said most Vampires come from Pandemonia.”

“Indeed I did. But I fear we are getting off track. Rest assured you will learn everything in time, but for now we must concentrate on what is most important.”

“Okay. But can I just ask, are all Vampires evil?”

Faru shook his head. “Alexander, I fear you misunderstand me. Vampires are not necessarily evil. They simply do what is in their nature. Just like humans, all the sentient creatures of Pandemonia have free will. When presented with a choice, some chose to be benevolent, whilst others choose malevolence. Only then are they evil, not before. Do you understand?”