The Artifact of Dissium (Demona Book 2) (9 page)

“How odd that he is keeping it a secret from his kind. Scholar Elder, will you please explain Dissium to our guest?” Madam Elder said.

“Certainly… Dissium is a shadowy realm on earth. It is a place where magic thrives. A place where many dark and light beings have found a home away from the human world,” Scholar Elder said.

“So, it’s like Terra Hollow?” Demona asked.

“No, Terra Hollow exists within the human world, just belowground where dark and neutral beings reside and trade. Dissium is almost like a different plane of existence, but is still part of this world. No one can find it or simply enter it. It is a location of magic, but also a dangerous place where dark and light continuously battle for dominion. The residents of Dissium choose to remain there, because in Dissium one can gain easy access to magic. This makes it easier from some creatures to live and to survive.

“You will find some of the foulest beings there who attempt to drain the magical energy from the land with greed and attempt to rule the land. The light beings struggle to maintain some control in Dissium, because access to its purest spiritual energy brings them a closer connection to
Aleph
. As a result it is a land of civil war. The dark seek control and the light try to protect their sacred land.”

“Okay. I think I get it now.” Demona glanced at Felix uncertainly.

“I’m sure that I can give Demona more information on Dissium later,” Felix said. He returned her gaze in a reassuring way.

“We have an idea of where Fotos is living, but because of the constant warfare it is possible he has relocated since our last contact with him,” another elder said.

“Demona we are sending you to one of our best guides. You will journey to Dissium to find Fotos and the artifact,” Madam Elder said.

“Me? Why me?” Demona asked.

“We feel that given your special situation, you possess the best qualities to make this journey. You have had experience with both dark and light beings. Your neutrality between them gives you more of a right to negotiate between the residents of Dissium.”

Felix stood from his seat. “I ask that I be allowed to accompany Demona on this journey, if the Council approves.” Felix looked at his feet and waited for a response.

“Molony thought you might. We have already agreed that you will accompany Demona. You may go and prepare for your journey. Pack lightly with only necessities. You have a long trip ahead of you. You will meet here tonight as the town sings praise to
Aleph
,” Madam Elder said.

“Thank you,” Felix said. He grabbed Demona’s arm and led her away from the Council Chamber.

They made their way down the spiral staircase.

Demona followed quickly behind Felix. “Can you please give me a better explanation for this Dissium? I kind of get it, but I’m confused,” Demona said.

“This is how I think of it. Imagine the world as we know it, this big circular planet floating in the universe. There are continents that are divided into territories, by country or state and so on. Dissium would be like one of these territory boundaries on a map, except for there are actual magical borders separating it from the rest of the world. These borders are invisible to people and technology. The only way to access them is through a portal guarded by a race of angels called Powers. The Powers summon the portal into Dissium for people to cross over into the land,” Felix said.

“If Dissium is like a country, why can’t we just travel to it like any other country?” Demona asked.

“Because, only Powers have access to the portals and Dissium’s location is unknown to any other type of being. It is a hard concept to grasp. I’m not even sure that Dissium is a specific location at all,” Felix said.

“And after we get into Dissium…”

“It is pretty similar to here from what I’ve learned, but there is a stronger magical presence. It will be easier for you to access your
mageia
. Most of the dark beings are unapproachable. The light beings will be mostly the same as they are here, except for the fact that they might be more spiritually connected to the land and more warlike. There are some neutral beings, but most have decided to live among the human world in order to avoid the chaos between the dark and light.”

“Have you been there?” Demona asked.

“No, but it’s kind of like a pilgrimage for GLC members. If I make a journey there it will give me some experience to put under my belt. Being in Dissium and fighting to protect spiritual magic is like a badge of honor. Plus, it is possible that being there might help me access my own abilities and help me to develop them quicker than if I were here in the human world.”

Demona had speculated before that Felix’s ability might be trying to break through, but sometimes she was uncertain. She knew that Felix’s ability was developing later than usual. Most GLC members discovered their abilities soon after the initiation ritual was completed. Demona knew that Felix was trying to be patient, but that not having developed his ability was also disappointing.

They found Ileana flipping through an old leather bound book at one of the tables on the bottom floor. She stood and closed the book as they approached her. “How excited are you?” Ileana asked. She tugged on Demona’s arm. “I’m so jealous.”

Demona looked confused.

“Molony told me everything,” Ileana responded to her expression.

“Come on, Molony is waiting for the volunteers on shore. He wants to speak to you before he leaves.”

They found a group of volunteers hanging out near five vehicles close to the entrance of Gleannbroch. Molony left a conversation and walked towards Demona.

“We’re getting ready to leave here soon. Ileana, do you want to come with us?” Molony asked?

“Nah, I would rather stretch my wings.”

“Suit yourself.”

Ileana winked at him.

Molony turned to Demona and Felix. “Be safe,” Molony said.

“Will you be alright without us?” Felix asked.

“Don’t worry we will be fine. I’m still waiting on two more volunteers. We’ve got some seasoned men and women going back with me to headquarters. Just get that artifact and bring yourselves back to us in one piece.”

“Yes, sir,” Felix said.

Demona chewed on her lip. “Molony, what about Darius? I won’t be there to set the terms of the alliance.”

“You have the most important task ahead of you. Darius can wait until you get back. I’ll send word that you are seeking said,” Molony replied.

Demona nodded her head in understanding.

“Before I leave, I want you both to remember that you cannot trust the dark beings in Dissium. Demona, I know you have been around many dark beings before, but remember at TGHC there was a certain level of behavior the dark beings needed to maintain in order to keep their identities secret. In Dissium, they have no need to control themselves, unless they feel that they have something to gain from you. Allow
Aleph
to clear your judgment if you are uncertain about anyone,” Molony said. “Let him guide your soul.”

Chapter 9:

Dissium

After Molony and the volunteers had left to go back to the northeast headq
uarters, Demona and Felix purchased supplies from the various shops around Gleannbroch. They proceeded to place the supplies into their packs. Ileana had been exhausted from her flight and could now be heard snoring from the other room in their quarters.

“I still don’t understand why you need half of that stuff,” Demona said.

“We don’t know what we are getting ourselves into when we get there. We might be living off of the land. Some of this stuff could save our lives,” Felix replied.

“How long do you think we will be in Dissium?” Demona asked. She carefully folded an extra set of clothing and put it in her pack.

“I don’t know. Time moves differently there, it’s slower than it is here,” Felix replied.

“How much slower?” Demona asked.

“It’s hard to say. Remember how I mentioned that I wasn’t sure if Dissium even really existed at any specific place on earth?” Felix asked. “Well, time works kind of sporadically there too.”

Demona stopped packing to think about it. “So, we could be in Dissium for a minute and it would be an hour here?”

“Yeah, we could be in Dissium for what seems like three days and it would be a week or more back here. Or it could be shorter or longer, we just have to hope that time works in our favor and that we can get what we need there and get back to the northeast headquarters as soon as possible.”

“I would hate to think what would happen back home if we were gone too long,” Demona said.

“I agree. Let’s just hope we don’t run into any problems.” Felix watched as Demona placed her last three bags of rations in her pack.

“Let’s hope I can find a way to get rations or I don’t know what will happen.”

Felix did not respond to her comment. They both knew that it could end up being a serious situation, but at that moment the only thing that mattered was being ready to leave. “Do you want to wake Ileana? It’s going to start getting dark soon.”

Demona went into the next room and gently shook Ileana. Ileana was startled by Demona’s movement and squawked at her suddenly. Demona jumped backwards at the loud awkward noise.

“Sorry,” Ileana said. She rubbed her eyes. “I do that when I wake up sometimes.”

“We’re getting ready to leave. Do you want to see us to the portal?”

“Absolutely!” Ileana said. She threw the wool blanket from her body and jumped up from the cot.

The three of them left the quarters after Felix and Demona had gathered their belongings. They walked out of the quarters to find that the sky had begun to grow dimmer. They descended the mountain and made their way across the unstable docking system to the Gleann Tower.

Madam Elder and the other six elders stood on the dock that wrapped around the tower’s base. They wore their pure white robes and watched the sun sinking below the mountains. A few of the town residents stood waiting with them with instruments in hand. Demona saw several bagpipes and fiddles in the hands of a few of the townsfolk. One woman held a hand over her throat and proceeded to hum a series of vocal exercises.

Demona heard the sound of feet pounding wood and before she knew it a little boy ran into her with his arms spread wide. Demona almost fell backwards with the impact. She looked down to find Benen clinging to her with a look of sadness on his face.

“You’re leaving,” Benen whined.

“Yes, I have to,” Demona replied. She pulled the little boy from her waist.

“I don’t want you to leave,” Benen said. He looked up at Demona. His bottom lip protruded farther than the top as he pouted.

“Listen, little one. Remember, I made a promise to you earlier that I would try to make sure that nobody else would die?”

Benen nodded.

“Well, I have to go now, so that I can keep that promise. I have to go on a journey to find something that can help all of the people from my hometown,” Demona said.

“Okay,” Benen said. He still looked unhappy with the thought.

“Will you promise me something?” Demona asked.

Benen nodded his head. “Promise me that you will play with the other kids while I’m gone?”

Benen continued to pout. “Okay, I will.”

Oakley had walked up behind Benen and placed his hands on the boy’s shoulders. “We need to go stand back there, so we don’t interfere with the summoning.”

Benen gave Demona one last squeeze around the waist and she patted him on the back. Then, he quickly darted around her and did the same with Felix before following Oakley down the dock.

The sun’s rays turned the clouds pink and the blue sky grew deeper. One of the bagpipers started blowing a long whining tune. The other bagpipers and the fiddlers jumped in, and before long the drummers added a beat to the rhythm.

Ileana hugged both Demona and Felix before stepping back. She seemed lost as she stood away from her friends. Demona was worried that Ileana’s journey to Gleannbroch had been too much for her and that a second flight would be impossible. Demona turned to wave to her once more before focusing her attention to Madam Elder.

The seven elders stood in a line with Madam Elder centered among them. They bowed their heads. Then, with their pointer fingers they tapped their foreheads, their breast above their hearts and joined hands. She noticed their mouths moving as they muttered some kind of prayer. Demona could not hear the words the elders spoke, because the surrounding music muffled their voices. The sounds around them seemed to be sucked up into the song so that the only thing that was heard was the constant pulsing of the bagpipes.

The elders unclasped their hands and knelt with their right knee on the wooden surface below. They tapped their forehead and heart as they continued in their soundless chant. From out of nothing, two feet in front of the elders, a strange oblong shape began to take form. The oblong form grew into a brilliant white ball, like a swirling light. As it became more solidified, Demona thought she saw feathers.

The elders rose to their feet with their heads still bowed. The glowing ball began to shift awkwardly. Demona could make out the distinct shape of folded wings as they began to stretch outwards. The feathered wings unfolded to reveal a man in his natural form. He stood as still as a statue, with wings outstretched. His hair was as bright and pure as his white wings.

Madam Elder approached the figure and spoke to him. The Power did not move. Madam Elder turned and beckoned to Demona and Felix to approach her.

“Are you prepared?” Madam Elder asked over the humming bagpipes.

Demona crossed her arms over her chest. “As ready as ever.”

“Give him your hand before you enter the portal,” Madam Elder said. “Your intentions for crossing into Dissium must be understood. When you appear in Dissium you will be in a remote location; the safest place to appear in the hostile land. Your guide will meet you.” She placed a hand on Demona’s shoulder for a moment, bowed her head, and mouthed some words. She released Demona and took her place among the other elders.

“What port—”

Before Demona could finish her sentence a swirling mass of fog grew out of nothing behind the Power. Demona stepped towards the angel slowly. The Power raised its arm in her direction and turned his hand so that his palm was facing upwards.

Demona trembled as she watched the intimidating figure. She felt Felix’s hand rest on her shoulder reassuringly. Demona’s confidence grew and his touch eased her fears. She stretched out her own hand and rested her palm on top of the waiting hand.

The Power’s fingers wrapped around her hand and a moment later released her. The magnificent creature’s left wing folded and allowed Demona access to the portal.

Demona turned to look at Felix and he nodded to her in reassurance. Demona stepped toward the portal. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, reopened her eyes, and stepped inside the mysterious fog. Demona had expected to instantaneously be transported to another place, but instead something else happened.

****

Demona sat at a picnic table in a park. Gray clouds that floated above her continued to grow darker. They billowed upward and threatened to release a pouring rain. A gust swept through the trees that made the atmosphere cool quickly. Demona watched the trees sway in the wind. She watched a few joggers pick up their pace with the sight of the ominous sky above.

A man came from around one of the large oak tree trunks and began walking in her direction.

He looks familiar
.

The man grew nearer. Demona did recognize the bald head and the cold calculating eyes. He was too well dressed to be strolling through the park on such a dreary day. He was the man who kept coming to see her, but she could not remember why.

Brennan
. The thought startled her. Demona quickly stood from the table and began to back away. She pointed her finger at him. “You!”

“Me?” the man said. He continued to approach her.

“You make me forget...I’m not a Bower, I’m a Brennan. Where are my parents?” Demona demanded.

“I see that I need to increase my visits,” the man said. He gave no indication of an emotion.

“Stay away from me!” Demona said.

Lightning flashed through the sky and the atmosphere filled with static. The pounding boom of the thunder echoed around them.

“You can’t make me forget forever. I know it was you. What have you done to them?” Demona continued to back away. She was terrified to turn her back to this man. She knew it was better to look on to whatever came her way, but her heart pounded in her chest.

“Come dear, let’s not make it difficult this time,” the man said. He was only feet from her.

Demona bumped into a tree trunk and could not back away any farther from the man. “Help!” Demona looked around frantically in hopes that there was someone she could call out to, but no one was there. The oncoming storm had driven everyone from the park.

“Look at me Demona,” the man demanded.

Demona resisted with all of her will.

“Look at me,” the man said.

Demona’s eyes disobeyed her heart and mind. They turned to meet the eyes that seemed to bring an end to everything she once knew. Her mind slowed and all thoughts ceased to flow. Then, her mind was silent.

****

Demona came back to the present to find herself on her hands and knees in the dirt. It was too dark to see anything around her. Felix tripped on her legs and almost fell beside her. Demona tried to crawl to her feet, but the darkness disoriented her.

After gaining his balance, Felix turned to her. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, fine. I had a flashback as we came through the portal,” Demona said.

Felix grasped her arm and helped pull her up. After, Demona brushed the dirt from her clothes and bent to pick up her backpack.

Demona was about to ask Felix a question, when someone knocked into the two of them almost causing them to crash back to the ground. After steadying themselves they turned to see who the third person was in the dim moonlit night that poured through the surrounding trees.

“Ileana is that you?” Felix asked. He squinted in an effort to see through the darkness.

“None other.”

“What are you doing here?” Demona asked.

“I couldn’t let you go on a quest without me,” Ileana replied. “Where are we?”