SIX

The tower room seemed to float fifty feet over the top of the house and almost two hundred feet to the rocky shoreline below. The decagon shaped room was covered in rough hewn black slate slabs encircled by an eight foot wide balcony, totally surrounding the entire structure. Four of the walls faced the true compass points, north, east, south and west.

These four contained giant black marble fireplaces with a thick hewn wooden beam acting as the mantle. The mantles were inlaid with golden sigils and runes; the patterns different for each direction. Two opposite walls held the double glass doors going onto the balcony. More thick hewn wooden beams inlaid with silver sigils and runes topped the walls and went around the vaulted ceiling in a continuous line; no break. No mars in the wood or stops, allowing the sigils and runes to form a continuous loop.

The floor was constructed of the same thich hewn beams, providing unimagined strength to the structure. Carved into the floor was the pentagram, enclosing circle, and special sigils that had been flooded with melted silver to be poured into a smooth design. The pentagram and sigils burned red when the room was used for its intended purpose and the fires roared in the four hearths.

The steel door in the wall leading onto the large metal spiral staircase could only be bolted from the inside. No electricity had been permitted into the room. Instead, illumination in the room came via the eight six candle black wrought iron candelabras that circled the room.

Once the craftsmen had finished their assigned work and returned to their country of origin, it was time to properly christen the room. Devlin had secured several bags of expired human blood from the local blood bank. Using a blowtorch he heated the pentagram and ensuing sigils until they glowed bright red, and immediately quenched them by dousing with the blood. Everything was left to dry and age for a fortnight.

Then the real reason for the construction of the room could commence.

The tower room was now occupied and had been for the last sixteen hours. The burning fires in the raging hearths were the only remaining light, the candles having long since burned to melted puddles. Devlin sat Indian style, legs crossed, eyes closed in meditation. He had remained motionless for the last fifteen of the sixteen hours, waiting. If necessary he would wait fifteen days for his answer. The answer was all that mattered. Who had created that energy surge? And why?

That one word prayed upon his mind and ate at his soul, like a vulture gnawing on the bones of a carcass: Why?

What was this need for so much energy? In his entire lifetime of practice he had never used even a fraction of that amount of energy. Even during his most difficult incantations when he had let Morgona join for the extra boost.

Has this mysterious person discovered the ability of true creation from pure energy? Or transformation? How had he summoned that much energy? And why? Alway why.

The identity of this mystery person was less important to Devlin than the answer to that question: Why?

Eventually he would learn the name of this person and before he was totally destroyed, the answer to this perplexing question would be his. His knowledge would increase and so would his power.

During the course of his long wait, he prayed to every dark god that he knew. That the energy surge had been a fluke of nature without any connection to a mortal, was a possibility that his mind craved. That the person had killed himself when he summoned so much energy, would have been another satisfactory answer. The last possibility that would return life back to normal quickly. The whole thing just an accident.

Nice neat endings; but Devlin knew, deep in his heart, that he would not be that lucky. When the challenge came, Devlin would use every trick and any resource he needed to ensure he was the only survivor.

The fires in the great hearths dimmed to a low glow. The heat that had so recently filled the room turned to a numbing cold. Smoke began to swirl counterclockwise in the center of the pentagram. As the smoke turned, the denser a body formed. The shape became more concrete and suddenly four red eyes appeared. The wait was over.

Slowly, the figure slowed its revolutions to come to a stop facing Devlin. The body of the gaseous form was hunched, deformed, and covered in a scaly skin bristling with thick black, spiky hair. The row of red eyes glared hotly and malevolently.

“Your answer,” came the response in a reedy hiss, “a male from your world has passed through and into the realm of the Seventh Star Gate. He still remains hither. He came from the lands to the west.”

Devlin waved his hand while mumbling an incantation, and a globe of Earth appeared before the demon. “Where in the west?”

A withered hand with a talon-like fingernail extended through the swirling smoke. The finger surged forward to stab the slowly revolving globe causing it to stop on the state of Arizona, in the United States of America.

“There!” came the hiss and nauseous fumes.

With a slash of his hand, Devlin said a single word. The globe unfolded itself into a topographical map of Arizona.

“Be more specific,” Devlin commanded.

“I cannot. He is just from there.”

“Have you seen him? What does he look like?”

“Yes,” came the plaintive wail.

“Show me,” Devlin yelled, as he changed the map into a large floating sheet of white paper, a foot square floating in the air before the creature. A ball of fire shot from the smoking mass to explode into the sheet of paper. The ball of flames seemed to consume the paper leaving large areas of white and black. The face that had been burned into the paper stared back cold and emotionless.

“What is his name?”

“I know not what his name is in the world of man. I know not the names he holds to the Star Gates that he has sojourned. When he came to the Dark Gate, he was called ‘Maguatemia’, ‘The Slayer with Light’!”

“What did he want at your Gate.”

There came a loud crying shriek from the haunched creature trapped in the pentagram, as if in great pain. “He wanted to know why we existed.”

“Did you tell him?”

“Not until he brought the light. Then I had no choice. We exist to have power. We have power to rule. We rule to enslave. We enslave for the torment. We torment for the pleasure.” It was said in a well rehearsed litany.

“What else did he ask?”

“If we could be controlled. If we could be vanquished?” The creature emitted another of its horrible shrieks.

Devlin stared at the messenger; lost in his own thoughts for a moment. He knew how to summon and control the lesser gods of the Dark World, but not the greater gods. He doubted that they could be controlled by any mortal. The practice of dismissing when he was finished with their services, but vanquished?

Wouldn’t that destroy the creature? Why would he visit the Dark Gate and gain the knowledge and never use it to his own benefit? What was the purpose of Knowledge if not to use it? Why hoard knowledge? There was that damn word again: Why?

“What does he seek at the Seventh Gate of the Stars?”

“I know not.”

Devlin rephrased the question, “What did he learn at the Third Gate of the Stars?”

“Knowledge.”

“Of what?”

“The Elders.”

“Anything else?”

“The Ancient One,” and there was another howl of pain, as if the answer burned in his mouth.

“Does he command the Guardians of the Gates, or did he simply pass through the Gates accompanied by other Keepers of the Gates?”

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“I know not.”

“Does he command the Guardian of your Gate?”

“Yessss,” the answer came in a long plaintive hiss, the four red eyes glowing hotly with hate. “As you may command us!”

“What has he asked of the Guardian?”

“Nothing! NothING! NOTHING!”

“Why?” and Devlin regretted asking as soon as he said the word aloud. The question to which he knew there was no known answer.

“Why? WhY? WHY?” with each shriek getting louder and shriller. “How can we fathom the irrational workings of the mortal brain? There is no sense, no common thought. We asked the same question. We offer him the power of control. All we asked in return was for him to share a small part of what he controlled in return. It was the same bargain that you made. He has never commanded us, as you have.”

“Enough,” Devlin said curtly knowing that the wailing complaints would otherwise last for hours. “What does the Great Dark One say of the intruder?”

“Nothing! What is there to say?”

“What of his power?”

“He is strong. He can bring the light to the darkness by his command. He can bring water to the drought by his command. He can bring warmth to the frigid by his command. He can move through other worlds at his command. He can summon the power of others with only a word of his command. He Commands! He is the new Power and has not been seen for millennia.”

“Does he have a weakness?”

“Do you have a weakness?”

“Everybody, everything has a weakness. You have weaknesses.” “But not all weaknesses are apparent.”

“Can he be destroyed?”

“All can be destroyed, but that might not happen alone.”

“What does that mean?” Devlin asked with irritation.

“Nothing more, nothing less than is said.”

“How can he be destroyed?” The hate in his voice for this unknown man was clearly evident.

“I know not,” and the lipless mouth appeared to smile.

Devlin saw the sneer and raised his arm abruptly. The room burst into brilliant white light. Howls of terror and pain erupted from the center of the pentagram. The light disappeared as quickly as it came.

“I command the light also. I command you. Do not play games you cannot win. How can he be destroyed?”

“I know not, Master,” returned the plaintiff hiss.

“Go then and find out. Find his weakness or know your weakness; I’ll use it!”

The swirling smoke started to spin clockwise and quickly disappeared back into the floor. As the smoke disappeared, so did the gastly figure with whom Devlin had been conversing.

She was bored. For almost twenty hours Devlin had been locked in his tower. The real question was how much longer would it take? How much longer was she going to wait for Devlin? What could she do on her own while she waited?

The answer would take however long it needed to take, and she knew in her heart that she would wait the exact same amount of time. Idly she added another book to the inverted pyramid she was near completing in the center of the library. Another two books and the boredom overtook her ability to wait. The tremendous mound of books collapsed onto the floor. With a wave of her hand, the misdirected energy was put to work in a different fashion. One by one, the books rose in the air and placed themselves back on the shelves in their correct order.

Mentally she scanned the house for something, anything to occupy her mind. She stopped in her personal maid’s room. She was dreaming. Reaching with her mind, she saw that the maid was dreaming. A man slowly walked towards her, naked. The man was handsome. Tall, muscular, dark hair, dark eyes, classically good looking, he kept getting closer. Morgana loved the cruelly voyeuristic opportunity this dream offered.

The man continued to approach. The closer she became, the clearer the finer details became, the more aroused the maid became. Finally the man stood in front of her and reached for her. The maid became excited. His strong arms encircled her, pressing his engorged and throbbing manhood against her. The maid became wet. His tongue invaded her mouth. The maid sighed with desire and she pushed her hips against his.

Fingers closed to play with one of her nipples. She moaned into his mouth. His mouth moved from her’s to her nipple. Sucking and gently biting increased her excitement. Her body flushed, and started to sweat. His mouth covered her in a passionate kiss. The excitement began to move and centered in her breasts as well as between her legs. She held onto him tighter, loving the feel of his body against hers.

Fingers squeezed her nipples tighter and tighter. He pulled on her nipple as he squeezed more and she yelped in a little pain, but overwhelmed by the accompanying pleasure. She gazed lovingly into the dark eyes as he kissed her again. His eyes were alight with lust, an unwonton desire for her and her alone. His eyes conveyed the urgency of his needs. She felt the large throbbing penis wedged between their bodies. His hands roamed over her back. The heat had turned to fire, a wet fire between her legs.

Strong hands gripped the back of her thighs just below her buttocks and raised her into the air. Her legs moved to circle his waist. She had to sit up, pulling her lips from his in order to breathe. The heat was consuming. With a gasp she felt herself being impaled on his penis. The suddenness took her breath away, and his size caused a moment of searing pain. Then the pain was gone. In its place was pleasure like she had never felt and a burning heat, the wet heat.

Slowly his strong hands moved her up and down on his throbbing penis, until she started to move herself along the pole of pleasure. Her head rolled back, as she moaned in her excitement. Eyes closed to savor the pleasure. Moans filled the room, along with the sound of slapping flesh. Faster and faster, she moved her body. Harder and harder she pushed herself down. Her moans rose towards the heavens. The heat and wetness between her legs threatened to ignite her world. She bent forward to lay on his chest allowing him to thrust hard.

He thrust deeper, harder and faster, reaching places that had never been touched before. She closed her eyes in ecstasy, clinging to him in desperation to reach a certain point. Tighter and tighter she felt herself being stretched, as the throbbing pole repeatedly buried itself into her. The world transforming pleasure turned to pain as she was stretched and he thrust deeper and deeper. She wanted to scream, but only moans of desire escaped her throat. She was on the edge of something incredible.

She opened her eyes to gaze upon the handsome face with the lust filled dark eyes. Terrified screams burst from her, and continued hysterically. Struggling, she tried to lift herself off the man’s body and run. Red glowing eyes beneath huge curved horns mocked her screams. Strong hands with talon like fingernails bit into her flesh, as he kept her firmly seated and exploded into her body.

The maid fainted limp from terror and layed still alone in her bed.

Morgana sat in her deeply upholstered chaise, feeling the warmth and glow in her own body. What she had done might have been seen as mean and cruel by most people’s standards, but she had stopped worrying about others opinions more than a decade ago. The most important thing is it entertained her for a few minutes, breaking the numbing boredom. Now she would have to find something new; the maid being finished for the night.

The library door banged open, and Devlin rushed into the room.

“Get dressed and packed for about a week, we’re heading to Arizona.”

“You found out who he is?”

“Not exactly, but I know the disturbance was created by a storm, and the storm was centered in Arizona. I also have a picture of him,” Devlin proudly displayed his trophy. “He is still at the Seventh Gate, which means we can get ahead of him if we hurry. I’ve booked the private plane and talked with Kirkland. He’ll be ready to assist in the search as soon as we arrive.”

“How did he get to the Seventh Gate? You haven’t been able to return without Goodman?”

“I don’t know how he got there. The only thing that matters is being there when he returns and ending him!”

“Do you know how?”

“I will by the time we confront him.”

SEVEN

It may have still been a dream. Now she was not sure. Dreams had become reality. Reality had blurred into dreams. She was standing next to him in the vacant lot. The ground once again dry and trash strewn. They stood before the large copper brazier. His body tall and strong, but semitransparent, like a ghost. Looking down, her own body had the same spectral quality.

Evan waved his hand over the brazier, the gold bracelet glinting in the sun, and fire sprang up from the brazier as if from a high powered jet. His voice was clear, yet soft, as he spoke the incantation. She knew that he was thanking some entity for their safe return.

The huge black dog ran up to sit opposite of them across the brazier. All evidence of the pentagram, sigils and runes having been washed away long ago. She heard him thank the Watcher for his diligence and protection. He was allowed to leave now. He would be summoned in the near future again for his assistance, and he was enjoined to abide his calls and command, as was his right to ask as a Guardian of the Gates.

Barking twice, the dog dipped his head at each of them, then took off in a run, out into the deserted miles of open land to the Catalina mountains. A feeling of comfort, knowing that something would always be standing guard, if asked, swept over her.

Valarie could not feel the warmth of the fire which should have emanated from the brazier. She could feel the power radiating from Evan’s body. She basked in the feeling. It made her feel strong, powerful, and comforted all at once as it washed over her body in waves.

As one, they reached down to the hilt of a blade buried deep into the ground. Her hand over his. Together the sword was pulled from the ground, and her mind immediately thought of the story of the sword and the stone. King Arthur. Together they raised their arms to hold the sword aloft. Instinctively she knew to recite the words flashing in her mind together with Evan.

“Barra, mass saaratu! Barra Inanna!”

Evan’s voice continued alone.

“Nanna, Nebo, Inanna, Shammash, Nergal, Marduk Kurios, Adar, O’ Great Elders of the Gates, hear me and remember, for I am the Keeper of your Gates, the Guardian of the Power, Vanquisher of Darkness, and hand of the Ancient One. Your wisdom, favor, power, knowledge, understanding and temperance I command as is my right of passage and ascension. In return I shall honor and protect the Code of the Gates, as is your right to demand.

“Hear me O’ Great Elders. Grant and confer these same gifts upon my Other, as is her right through me. In return, she too shall honor the Code of the Gates.

“Grant to us then all of the powers for the benefit of my race, and my world so that the Gates may not be breached. Grant to us, Thy wisdom so that this power shall not be abused, and used only for the benefit of mankind. Grant to us Thy temperance and the faith of the race shall remain as one.

“These things which I ask and command from You, as is my right through my position in the Order of the Universe. Hear me O’ Great Elders and obey.”

She watched as a single white billowy cloud passed overhead in an otherwise clear and beautiful sky. A single bolt of lightning rushed in a nano second downward to strike the tip of the blade held high. Fire burst into life at the tip, traveling down the blade, down their arms to encompass their entire being. The feeling that she could stretch out her other arm and touch the stars in the heavens above filled her. Power surged through every cell of her body, welding her soul to the man’s standing beside her. He belonged to her and she to him.

One now and forever. A single united force in the universe that could not be laid asundered.

The flames died away, as did her dreams.