Vrin: Ten Mortal Gods (39 page)

“But some have chosen obedience,” I added. “They’re not perfect, but they trust in the promises of God, and use
his
strength to protect themselves from evil thoughts. These were the ones the angels led into Vrin, to help your father complete his work.”

“Why would God do that?”

“Because he
loves
your father.” I leaned in toward her. “God's ways can sometimes be difficult to understand.”

“God's ways are perfect,” said Humphrey, clearly annoyed by my choice of words.

“What I'm saying is, God has a plan meant for our good, even though sometimes we don't understand it.” I looked at Humphrey as if to say,
Will that work for you?

He gave a little shrug.

Constance looked at Humphrey, then at me. “So-- why did you bring
me
here?”

“If he succeeds,” Humphrey continued, “the explosion will send a tremendous shock wave up those threads. And
millions
will die in their sleep.”

Her face twisted in horror. “
Why
would he do that?”

I looked at Humphrey, but spoke to Constance. “Because your father doesn't understand God's plan.”

Humphrey scowled.

I looked back at Constance. “Your father believes wrongly. He thinks God is cruel. He doesn't understand his own failings, and he doesn't understand that everything occurring is actually for his good. He wants his family back, he wants
you
back, and he is willing to destroy and rebuild Vrin a thousand times to get what he wants.”

“By bringing him a message. --But there is a catch.” He reached out and gently lifted her chin. “You may not pass beyond the threshold into Vrin to be with your father.”

A MESSAGE FROM ETHRAL

001001011001110

The living cannot pass into Ethral, so we stood at the barrier between. Shimmering transparent silver separated us from a brilliant city of crystal. In this place, God's love was overpowering, and Constance struggled with it. It was almost more than she could bear.

Three figures in white flowing robes were walking toward us along a golden path. Long hoods shrouded their heads. As they neared, Constance covered her face with her hands.

Reaching the barrier, the one in the middle removed her hood. She was beautiful, with crystal blue eyes and fiery red hair that touched her shoulders in curls. Her expression was one of overwhelming compassion, and her gaze was fixed on Constance. “You do not need to be afraid, little one. You are loved.”

Constance dropped her hands and looked up. “Mom?” Her voice quivered.

“Yes, honey. It's me.”

Constance tried to run forward, but the barrier’s energy held her back. The woman placed her hand on the barrier. Constance did the same.

“When the time is right, but first you must do this.” She looked at Constance intently. “Tell him, he is a great man, and that great men must make great sacrifices.”

“I have said as much as you are able to bear, my darling. Come home, Constance.” She covered her head. And the three turned and walked back down the path.

I helped her to her feet and the three of us headed back down the stairs to a grassy field. The sun sat high in the sky. I looked directly at it. But it didn't hurt my eyes.

We traveled across the meadow and into a leafy path through a wood where we wound our way in and out of massive oak trees, until Humphrey stopped us at the edge of a clearing. He motioned for us to duck down. In the center, beings of light swarmed around a circular structure, floating in and out amongst each other. I noted that the light emanating from them was weak and faded.

Suddenly, the air filled with light and the ground trembled. I looked up to see the massive form of Magnus descending. As he landed in front of The Circle, the ground split. And the lesser beings retreated.

“I AM MAGNUS! I STAND IN THE PRESENCE OF THE ONE TRUE GOD!”

“Go!” said Humphrey, gesturing wildly.

Constance and I bolted toward The Circle and Magnus allowed us to pass. In the shadows of the trees, the glowing demons paced like wild animals.

“Quickly! The fallen ones are coming!” Humphrey called after us.

I looked up to see bright flickers of yellow fire burning down through the atmosphere. And from them a haunted screech filled the air.

I looked at Constance. “Ready?”

She gave a quick nod. “I'm scared, but I'm ready.”

“Remember, Thomas!” called Humphrey. “Time does not exist in Dantra. You will enter Vrin precisely the moment you left, which will give you the element of surprise.”

“Got it.” I gave him the thumbs up.

Magnus stepped forward and gripped the structure, and in a flash of light, we found ourselves standing inside The Circle on Gaza's platform. Through a ghostly yellow veil, I watched, as if in slow motion, as the body of Charm collapsed onto the metal floor of the platform.

Kitaya, still holding the gun, also watched him fall. She turned and looked directly at me.
How did she know?
An evil grin appeared on her face as she threw the pistol aside and raised her arms in surrender.

I stepped through the veil.

Gaza's face showed anger then confusion. I was dead-- and yet there I stood. At first his eyes bore into mine, but then he looked past me-- and his expression changed.
“Constance?”

He crouched down. “Are
you
alive?”

“Yes. I am in Dantra.”

“Why aren't you here? I thought I drew all the souls into Vrin.”

She looked at him warmly. “You didn't draw the souls into Vrin, God sent them in to help you, so you could move beyond the pain of the void. You don't have to hold on to that pain anymore, Daddy. You don't have to hang on to your anger. God did not do this to you. It just happened. Sometimes we think because God created everything, that he is responsible for all the bad things that happen to us. But the reality is, we cause darkness and pain by making bad choices, choices that go against the will of God. But God can take even our bad choices and use them for our good.”

“I've been searching for you,” he said softly.

The little girl's eyes filled with tears. “I was but a breath away. You couldn't see me, but I was there. --For many years I blamed myself for what happened. I convinced myself that if I had stayed by the car, they would have found you quicker and rescued you. But I was afraid, and I ran away.”

As she continued to speak, she began to increase in years. “I carried the burden for such a long time, every day, cursing God for what happened. And I hid from him. I didn't want his pity, I wanted
you
back. But it's clear to me now, I don't have to fear. All things are working out as God promised. And you, Daddy, you have a purpose here. There's something God needs you to do. --Then someday we can be together in eternity.”

As he contemplated her words, I interjected cautiously. “Perhaps, you were meant to stop Kric' tu.”

He looked at me, then back at Constance. “Is that it? Is that what he expects from me?”

Constance closed her eyes and lifted her face toward the sky, as if in silent communication. Her eyes opened. “Yes,” she stated with certainty. “That is what you were meant to do.”

His face contorted. “You don't understand. I
can't!”

“You have to.”

“
I CAN'T!
” His eyes were desperate. Then, all of a sudden, a look of realization appeared on his face.
“You!”
he said, spinning to face Kitaya.

She took a step back.

Gaza suddenly raised his arms, causing a tide of distortion to push outward. This sent Kitaya crashing back against the railing. Energy washed over her in torrents, crushing her violently against the metal rails.

She cried out, but it was not
her
voice that came out of her. It was in the voice of a man! Her body vibrated and her physical form melted away in the stream of electricity. And when the energy subsided, it was not Kitaya who lay on the metal grid of the platform. It was Rath!

Gaza's eyes glared.
“I'll destroy you for this!”

“Go ahead! Destroy this body! And I will become a true god.”

“Ha! Is that the
lie
that abomination fed you?
”

“Kric' tu understands more than you ever will!”

“He's a
glitch
in the program. What could he
possibly
know that I do not?
I created
Vrin out of the essence of eternity.”

Rath laughed. “Fool! Vrin is a
delusion.
Kric' tu is the reality. You
know
the people of Vrin are real. I know you do! You've searched
pathetically
for your wife and daughter in the program you yourself created. You
think
you know so much, but you’re such a pathetic
loser,
you can't even figure out what Davata Notrals
is.
You don't have a clue!”

“It is also a glitch.” Gaza sneered.

Rath laughed again. “It told us everything you would do. God thought himself clever to hide future events within the very structure of his book. But we found the code,
and
the code breaker.”

They found Hazel?

“We can't allow you to destroy Vrin. The code revealed how we would stop you, and for now we have allowed it to be as it is written. But God will one day see that he is
wrong
about humanity, and his code will be useless. Then
I
will become a true god!”

“Not before I
break your FACE!”
That
was
Kitaya's
voice.

Materializing in front of Rath, her foot recoiled and smashed him on the jaw, sending his head back with a jolt. Rath's hand shot out, bringing her to the floor with a crash. He rose above her with a clenched fist, but Kitaya's fingers became long metal pins, and he let out a blood curdling scream as she pushed them deep into his sides. He pushed himself away and blood trickled from the wounds.

Anger flared in his eyes as his fist came up again.”

“
Stop!”
screamed Gaza.
“
Or I will send you
both
back to the void!”

Rath's hand stopped. He looked up at Gaza. “You have no real power!”

“Test me.” Gaza leveled his eyes at him.

Rath hovered for a moment, then slowly lowered his hand. “It doesn't matter.” He rubbed his chin with his knuckles. “You’ve lost. Even now Kric' tu prepares his forces.”

I looked out across the barren plain. There was movement in the black ranks.

Gaza turned back toward his daughter. His features racked with anguish. He knew what I knew, that closing The Circle would kill her. Rath and Kric' tu had set it all up. It was in the code that I would bring her here, and now Gaza was trapped, held hostage by his love for Constance. Kric' tu was betting that Gaza would not allow his daughter to die, that he would leave The Circle open, so the forces of chaos could take over Vrin.