Talisman of El

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN



Wasteland

AS SOON AS CHARLIE’S feet touched the ground, he felt himself falling backwards, but Terra wrapped her arm around his back, holding him up. Charlie had recalled from the last time he teleported that deep breathing was vital, so this time he didn’t feel so nauseated, and the feeling of vertigo didn’t last long. It took him seconds to recover. It took Alex, Derkein and Richmond longer.

The land of Koura comprised of three sectors. On the outer edge were the quarters of the four kingdoms, parted by four waterways that ran into a main river, which surrounded the centre of commerce, training and administration – the midsection. Finally, bang in the centre, where the Hall of Records and the garden were located, was the city of Eden.

The gang had to travel across The Ocean – the only ocean in Arcadia – to get to Koura. It would have been easy to teleport all the way to the Hall of Records, except, no one could teleport in or out of Eden. Therein lay the problem.

‘Archons tend to keep to the air kingdom in the east,’ Avaran explained, as they headed through the woods, ‘but it is not unprecedented to find them scouting the lands of the other kingdoms, as you have witnessed in Ardenen. Now that their leader has returned, his loyal servants are re-emerging. You may have noticed the increase in disasters over the last few months. These are not coincidences. They are only the beginning.’

Charlie felt a sharp jolt of energy deep in his gut. He recognised it immediately. It was guilt; something he had been feeling a lot of recently. He hadn’t spoken a single word since they left Ardenen. From the time Candra had entered his life, he had expected things to change, but he could never have guessed the scenario where he suddenly became the Chief Ruler of Arcadia. He wasn’t a leader. Richmond’s theory of him being psychic was starting to sound good right about now.

Avaran and Isis were leading the way, followed by Alex and Oren, then Charlie and Richmond, Ash behind them, and finally Derkein and Terra, whom, Charlie observed, were getting on rather well. He had caught the two of them smiling at each other now and again, though he couldn’t picture a romance between them since Terra was an Aeon, and Aeons didn’t fall in love.

Charlie’s mind wandered on Alex, who had barely looked at him since Candra’s big revelation. He had told himself she was just in shock, that she knew he was still the same person she had met all those months ago. After he thought that, he only wished he believed it.

Ash fell into step beside him. ‘Hey,’ he said. ‘If it turns out you are King Sol, do I have permission to call you Dolittle?’

Charlie rolled his eyes. ‘Considering you did save my life, you can call me whatever.’

‘“Whatever”,’ Ash mused. ‘Catchy, but I prefer Dolittle.’

Charlie couldn’t help but smile. He always forgot how literal Arcadians were. ‘About the whole saving my life thing …’ He didn’t look at Ash when he spoke. ‘Thanks.’

‘It’s my duty to help mortals in danger,’ Ash said with an air of nonchalance, ‘so don’t go thinking you’re special or anything.’

‘Noted.’ Charlie’s gaze fixed on Alex, who was wearing baggy jeans and an Earth Is Full, Go Home t-shirt. He glanced at Oren in her tight getup, her hips swaying from side to side. She was definitely older than she looked. When he looked back at Alex, he caught her staring at him, her eyes gloomy. She turned her gaze back to the front.

‘Are you and Alex an item?’ Ash asked.

Charlie looked at him, taken aback by the question.

‘What?’ Ash said in a low voice. ‘She’s a babe.’

‘Aren’t you, like, five?’

Ash’s eyes flared. ‘I’m a hundred and eighty-seven – over three thousand years in your world. I’m almost old enough to reproduce.’

Charlie grimaced. ‘Too much info. So when you’re three hundred, will you still look like a five-year-old?’

Ash narrowed his eyes at him. ‘We do age, just not as fast as humans. By the way, heads up.’

Before Charlie could figure out what he meant, he collided into something and grabbed onto it. When he saw that he was clutching onto Oren, he released her and straightened up, a rush of heat rising to his face. Oren smiled. Charlie met Alex’s gaze. That tad bit of sadness he’d thought he had seen had vanished, replaced by anger. He glanced sideways at Ash, who didn’t even try to hide his amusement.

Looking ahead, Charlie saw three armed Arcadians speaking to Avaran and Isis. He had perfect view of one in particular, who also noticed him. The boy looked about seventeen, tall, muscular, dark-haired, with angst burning through his big blue eyes. Dressed in black, he was wearing a sleeveless vest top, tight pants, hard boots, and fingerless gloves. These Arcadians had the Goth look down to a tee. The boy’s face showed no emotion, but his hard eyes read anger. Charlie had no idea what he had done to upset him, but he didn’t care to find out, especially after he spotted the sword at his side.

A tall, white-haired woman in a flowing white corset gown along with a petite, purple-haired woman led the group the rest of the way.

The dark-haired boy fell into step beside Oren, his expression now pleasant. ‘Looking beautiful as always,’ he complimented her. Charlie knew he was from the earth kingdom, because he was flirting with Oren, and Elementals, according to Ash, only lusted after members of their own kingdom. Why? He couldn’t understand, since every Arcadian he had met had been beautiful.

‘Demetrius,’ Oren greeted the boy. It might have been wishful thinking on Charlie’s part, but he sensed she wasn’t as enthusiastic to see Demetrius as he was to see her. ‘How is the surface world treating you?’

Demetrius replied, ‘It would be more pleasing if mortals were a little more appreciative. Even when they witness a miracle they claim it is anything but.’ He glanced back at Charlie, his layered, shoulder-length hair swept across his forehead to frame his face, and narrowed his eyes, but Charlie held his gaze. Demetrius turned back to Oren. ‘So that’s the impostor?’

‘He is not an impostor.’ Oren’s tone sounded harsh. ‘If it turns out Candra is right, then he is our king, so be nice, or you may live to regret it.’

Demetrius looked back at Charlie, his expression revealing two things: ‘Don’t count on me being nice,’ and ‘You, King of Arcadia. On what planet?’

Half an hour later, they came out of the woods atop a cliff over a winding gorge with a stream running through it. The moment Charlie laid eyes on the city, he knew Candra had been right. He had been to Arcadia before. This was Natvia ... The city in his dreams.

It was a remarkable sight; an ancient Middle Eastern-type city characterised by temples and fortresses built on asymmetrical cliffs hidden within misty, white-capped mountains. He was astounded but not merely from the sight of the city.

The group headed across an arched stone bridge positioned between two cliffs about forty metres above the ground. Charlie not only knew where to look, he also knew what he would find.

Although it wasn’t cold, one would’ve thought otherwise by the look of the place. The air was moist and sticky, and the sky was grey.

Richmond tugged on Charlie’s sleeve. ‘Look at that kid,’ he said, pointing at a young girl who was running at lightning speed away from them.

The group headed along a narrow winding path with moss covered buildings on either side of them. Half of the city lay in ruins. It was evident some war had occurred here. At the core of the city, where they were heading, stood an enormous seven-tier tower – four tier since half of the walls from the fifth tier upwards had crumbled – constructed with steps on the exterior that led to each level. The tower seemed to reach to the heavens.

The Tower of Pir, Charlie remembered from his dreams. The building was made of solid gold, resting on a pyramid base that rose about fifty feet off the ground with parallel steps at the front parted by a narrow gap that led to a dark entrance at the foot of the base.

Even as damaged as the building was, it was still striking to look at.

Charlie’s heart skipped a beat when he saw what was standing at the foot of the tower. There must have been over two hundred Arcadians, young and old. It was strange, he thought, how Arcadians could look almost intimidated by humans. They looked as nervous as he felt. Charlie had to remind himself that these were the good folks. Whichever way he looked, it seemed there were eyes watching him, whispers following.

After what seemed like forever, they finally made their way along the narrow entryway and then plunged into a dim passage, their footsteps echoing around them.

Soon, they entered a wide chamber with a low ceiling lined with twelve ornate stone pillars. At the other end of the chamber were a set of stone steps leading upwards.

As they headed towards the steps, Charlie heard a distant droning noise that was getting louder by the second. Glancing to the right, he saw a semicircular arch that led to a platform inside a tunnel. It looked like an underground train network, minus the tracks. A group of wires trailed along the side of the tunnel wall.

‘It is the UniTran network,’ Terra said to Charlie. ‘We use it to get around Arcadia. There is also a similar construction on the surface. Lightworkers make use of it to get to their destinations faster.’

Charlie barely caught Terra’s last words as the droning noise intensified. Then something flashed past so quickly – sweeping the group with a gust of wind that ruffled their hair and clothes – one need not blink to miss it.

‘You have to try the shuttle,’ Ash said to Charlie, grinning with excitement. ‘It will blow your mind.’

As they headed up the spiral steps, Oren glanced back at Charlie. ‘The shuttles are not as safe to travel in as they once were,’ she said. ‘Archons have access to the UniTran network. I would advise against it.’

‘Did he ask your opinion?’ Ash retorted. ‘Stick with me, Dolittle. I’ll teach you the ropes.’

Oren glowered at Ash before looking away.

Ash rolled his eyes, and, in a low voice, he said, ‘Women.’

Charlie smiled. Avaran had been right about elementals. They were just like mortals.

Reaching the top of the steps, they headed along another dark passage, the only light coming from ahead. Seconds later, they emerged out of the darkness and into a vast square room.

The first thing Charlie noticed was the giant statue at the back of the room. It was made of the same gold as the tower, seated in a royal chair raised off the ground by a stone base. The heavily bearded man had a stern look on his face. The only things not made of gold were his bright crystal grey eyes. There’s no way I’m that guy, Charlie thought, gazing up at the statue of King Sol.

Balconies surrounded each level, light shining through the large gap in the roof. It was cooler inside the building than it was outside. From the marble pillars around the sides and the carvings on the walls, right down to the white marble floor, the room was in pristine condition. Twelve cubed seats sat in the centre.

The group formed a circle around Avaran and Isis.

‘Welcome to the Tower of Pir, the watchtower of the earth kingdom,’ announced Avaran. ‘I would like you to meet Gemini’ – he indicated at the white-haired woman – ‘Elder of the earth kingdom. She is the High Priestess of Natvia’ – he looked at Demetrius – ‘Demetrius, Lightworker of the earth kingdom’ – he then glanced towards the purple-haired woman dressed like Lara Croft in a black tank top, black boots, and green shorts with four throwing knives attached to a holster wrapped around her thigh – ‘Akana, Lightworker of the air kingdom.’ Avaran then introduced Charlie and the others to the new members of the group.

‘As you know, it would be a risk taking you all to Eden, so I shall leave you in Gemini’s care,’ Avaran continued, addressing Derkein, Alex and Richmond, who, although they weren’t pleased with the decision, had agreed to stay behind.

Derkein pulled Charlie aside. ‘You stick with Avaran, you hear,’ he instructed. ‘Don’t you go looking for the garden, Charlie.’ Derkein’s expression showed concern, but his voice was firm. ‘Look at your watch.’ Charlie complied. The time was 1:20 p.m. ‘If you’re not back in the next three hours, I’m coming to get you, you got that?’

Charlie nodded. ‘Three hours. Got it.’

Derkein rested a hand on his shoulder. There was a stir of noise in the room, and Charlie glanced at the group. Avaran was looking in his direction. It was time to leave. ‘No matter what the outcome,’ Derkein said. ‘I won’t think any differently of you.’

Charlie said, ‘I’m not leaving here without you.’ Derkein looked as if he was about to say something, but Charlie beat him to it. ‘We came together, we leave together. You better be here when I get back.’ It was an order. Charlie had never been more assertive in his life, and it surprised both he and Derkein, who, for a brief moment, looked at him as though he was seeing him for the first time. But Derkein’s expression was not shock. It was … admiration.

They rejoined the group. Charlie didn’t feel the need to say goodbye since he would be seeing them again shortly. As he turned to head off, Alex grabbed his arm. She stared at him for a moment then wrapped her arms around his neck.

‘Be careful,’ she whispered into his ear.

Charlie gave her hands a squeeze before joining Avaran, Isis, Terra, Oren, Ash and Demetrius in the centre of the cubed chairs. He looked down at the encircled, black, fivepointed star they were standing on.

‘It’s a pentagram,’ Oren said. ‘It symbolises the unity of the four elements.’

‘Do we have to stand on it to teleport?’ he asked.

‘We’re not teleporting.’

‘We’re not? But I thought we could teleport to the border of Eden.’

‘We can, but it’s best they don’t see us coming.’

The pentagram started to descend. Charlie glanced back at the others, who all had anxious looks on their faces, and then they vanished from sight. He expected to plunge into darkness, but as they descended into an underground chamber through a transparent tube, the wall-mounted lights allowed him to see clearly.

He glanced around the circular room, spotting three archways positioned in different directions. They touched ground, and as soon as they existed through the open doorway of the tube, Charlie caught a whiff of an unpleasant mildewed odour. It was as if the tube had sucked up all the fresh air.

The gang followed Demetrius through the archway ahead of them. After a few turns through a dark, narrow passage, they came to a vast chamber.

Charlie’s jaw dropped when he saw what was before him. It was a storage base for … spider helicopters?

‘What are those?’ he enquired.

Demetrius led them over to one of the vehicles. ‘They’re called Cyphers. We began building underground passages around Koura over two thousand years ago.’

Charlie examined the object. The transparent dome-shaped capsule consisted of seven seats with a propeller attached on top. Beneath the capsule were four mechanical spider legs that held it six feet off the ground.

Demetrius walked under the Cypher and pressed a button under the base. A small, circular platform descended to the ground. Ash stepped onto it, and it rose with him into the capsule. One by one, they boarded the helicopter. Charlie sat behind Avaran, who had told him the journey to Eden would take half an hour.

Demetrius, the pilot, took off.

The helicopter lifted off the ground, heading towards the tunnel ahead. Charlie had never been in a helicopter before, but the ones on the surface were nothing like the Cypher. The vehicle produced little noise as it moved with ease through the tunnel, the swaying of its spider legs directing the course of its travel. Whenever they came to an upward tunnel, the propellers would fold away, and the spider legs would take over, sticking to the walls as it climbed up the passage.

‘Charlie.’ Avaran turned his head to the side so Charlie could see half of his face. ‘Once we arrive in Eden, we cannot stop for anything. No matter what you see or hear, just keep moving.’

Charlie did as Avaran had told him. He didn’t stop when he heard the shrill cries erupting in the distance. Goosebumps pricked his arms, and as much as he wanted to turn around and head back to the manhole they had climbed out of ten minutes ago, his heart overruled his head, and he pressed on, half-walking, half-running to keep up with the others.

He stared in shock at the damaged buildings around him, the bare bone remains of dead animals, the lampposts, and shards of glass and blocks of stone strewn over the ground. All it needed were some burnt vehicles and a few traffic lights and it would look like a post apocalyptic London.

In an attempt to block out the overpowering smell of death, Charlie breathed through his mouth. The deserted streets and a company of armed warriors should have made him feel secure, but his heart thundered with a nervous twang.

It is hard to picture Eden as the paradise it once was, Avaran said to Charlie. He was in his spirit form. Gaddis and his army corrupt everything they touch. For years, we have wondered if there could ever be peace on Earth again. At times, it seemed as if we were fighting a lost cause. Every century that goes by cultivates in more evil spreading across the world.

‘Why doesn’t God do something about it?’ Charlie fought to keep the edge out of his voice.

What you have to understand is that the Creator granted us free will. It is up to us to do the right thing. What we break, we fix. It was an angel that brought evil to Earth, and it is our duty to protect mankind.

‘But what if I’m not him?’ Charlie wanted to say. He cast his gaze around the desolate city then at the group, all armed and ready for whatever came their way. If I’m not him, Charlie wondered, is this what will happen to the surface world?

It was only mid afternoon but the black clouds overhead cast a dark shadow over the city. When Charlie saw Demetrius with one hand in the air, his heart gripped with fear. It was a signal.

The group huddled against the side of a building.

‘Archons,’ Demetrius confirmed. ‘I count five, but there could be more.’

It is a chance we have to take, Avaran said. He looked at Oren. Do not hesitate. When you see a clear path, make your move. Oren nodded. Avaran addressed Charlie. Remember, stop for nothing. You will be safe once you are inside. Following Avaran’s lead, the others took off.

Charlie glanced around repeatedly, feeling unsteady now that it was only him and Oren. She must have noticed his edginess for she gave him a reassuring smile, saying, ‘It will all be over soon.’

No sooner had she spoken than an eruption of screams catapulted into the air. Charlie poked his head around the wall, glancing over Oren’s shoulder. Energy balls were flying back and forth between Isis and a dark-haired demon, who had to have once been an Aeon, and the only one among the group of Archons, it seemed, as only angels could discharge energy balls.

Avaran switched between his spirit and physical form as he fought a red-haired, muscular woman. He could only see in spirit form but could only battle in physical form.

When only three demons remained fighting, two taken down by Ash and Terra, Oren seized Charlie’s wrist, her claws strapped around him like cuffs, and they took off.

Charlie expected the demons to charge at them as they bounded along the street, but they were busy defending themselves. He managed to catch a glimpse of the building they were heading towards. With its symmetrical brick structure, decorated pilasters, and hemispherical dome, it looked like a museum, inscriptions of its history carved into the ancient stone wall. It stood out from the rest of the buildings, as it was the only structure devoid of damage. It was as if there was a protective halo around it.

A shrill cry interrupted Charlie’s thoughts, and he glanced around and saw the demon Avaran had been fighting on fire. Avaran slashed his sword through the woman, who shattered into dust.

Charlie and Oren dashed up the front steps, passing two statues – a lion and a lioness – as they headed towards a large arch entrance that led them to double wooden doors. The noise of the battle diminished as the doors closed behind them.

For a moment, Charlie and Oren stood in darkness. He felt her squeeze his hand, and then her body pressed against his. ‘Say rozeltip,’ she whispered in his ear.

‘Rozeltip?’

As soon as the word flew out of Charlie’s mouth, the floor, walls, and the ceiling came alight. Charlie’s jaw dropped as he gazed around the great hall, inscriptions everywhere. The white light seemed to be shining through the stone interior. He spotted eight cubed seats in the centre of the square room, arranged in the same circular fashion as he had seen inside the Tower of Pir. Past the seats, at the far end of the room, he saw a large golden statue sitting with its legs crossed. When he glanced up at the statue’s head, he paused. It had no head. Instead, a large yellow disc rested on its shoulders.

Charlie glanced at Oren, who was gazing at him with a mesmerised look on her face. ‘Rozeltip means lights,’ he guessed.

Oren smiled and nodded. ‘We are safe in here.’ She let go of his hand and advanced into the room. ‘Demons cannot enter.’

‘Why not?’ Charlie glanced up at the first floor balcony lined with columns.

‘We are standing on sacred ground,’ Oren said. ‘Welcome to the Temple of El. Only those with pure intentions may enter. There is a shield around it, protecting it from harm.’

Charlie moved towards Oren, his eyes surveying the inscriptions on the walls. There were so many. It was strange, he thought, how he could understand French and Spanish but not Arcadian, the language of his so-called homeland. ‘So, this is where the Hall of Records is.’

‘The doorway is here, somewhere.’

‘It’s not inside this building?’

Oren shook her head. ‘You can think of this place as the road to the Akashic Records.’ Her eyes lowered, and her expression turned to shock. ‘Stop!’

Charlie froze. ‘What?’

‘Look down.’

Charlie glanced down at his feet, and his eyes widened. A smoky yellow light was issuing out of the floor, swirling around his feet. ‘Why is it doing that?’

‘I have never witnessed such a sight,’ Oren hissed.

Charlie looked at her. ‘What do I do?’ he asked in a strained voice.

‘Remain where you are. You are standing on the symbol of protection. It is a good sign.’

Charlie looked back down at his feet and observed the symbol.



For a split second, he thought he saw the swirling light transform into a snake, and he blinked. In that moment, a sudden feeling of calm washed over him. His body started to feel less tense, and he relaxed his shoulders. ‘Come here.’ He glanced up at Oren and saw the hesitant look on her face. ‘It’s okay. I want you to feel this.’

Oren approached him with caution, her gaze on the floor. She stopped just outside the circle. Charlie stepped forward and took hold of her hand, pulling her inside the circle.

‘Do you feel that?’ Charlie asked.

Oren looked up at him with a smile. ‘I feel safe.’ ‘I feel invincible.’ He smiled. ‘I can do this –’

The double doors burst open, and Charlie spun around.

The others – all five of them – marched into the room. Some had their clothes torn in places, ichor, and blood seeping through open wounds. To Charlie’s surprise, they appeared to be unfazed by the event that had just taken place. Glancing back down at his feet, he saw that the swirling light had vanished. He and Oren stepped out of the circle.

Send out a signal, Charlie heard Avaran say. He turned round and saw him addressing the Arcadians. We are going to need assistance. Avaran’s eyes fixed on Charlie. Shall we?

Charlie glanced at Oren, who gave him an encouraging wink. The others were silent, and for the first time, they seemed uneasy. He followed Avaran back towards the double doors and through to the atrium, which he noticed was relatively quieter. The street outside the entrance looked deserted.

Charlie, Avaran called.

Charlie glanced to the left and saw the Guardian standing at the bottom of a set of steps, his spirit form illuminating the passage. Charlie followed him up to the first floor. ‘How do we get to the Hall of Records?’ he asked.

Just keep an open mind.

As they headed along the upper landing, Charlie glanced down at the others, who were sitting on the cubed seats.

What do you see? Avaran asked.

Charlie turned to him and stopped. He hadn’t realised Avaran was no longer beside him, for his spirit body produced no footsteps. He turned round and froze when he saw the blue door in the wall.

Astonished, he looked from Avaran to the door.

Avaran must have been smiling for his eyes brightened in an instant. A prophesy untold. His voice was so low it was barely audible, but Charlie heard the excitement in his words.

Charlie walked over to the door, white light shimmering beneath it. For years, he had wondered why it was he never seemed to fit in anywhere. Now he was about to find out the truth. He raised a shaky hand towards the doorknob and pushed it open.

He stopped breathing.

It was just how it had looked the first time he’d seen it inside the crystal ball. Before him was a passage with a misty floor. It had the same pillars and a background of stars with intermittent bursts of purple energy bolts.

‘What does this mean?’ he asked, though he knew the answer from the moment he saw the door – the door that wasn’t supposed to be there. He glanced at Avaran and was surprised to see him in physical form, down on one knee with his head bowed.

Avaran looked up at him. ‘It means our king has returned.’