THE DEXTER CHRONICLES: UNMASKED

How events transpired are often colored by our perceptions. Black was trying to look out for his sister but that world had yet to know sin or evil.—Dexter Murphy

And all my dreams are torn to sunder. The days of delight are ash upon the waters of creation.—Noah

One heart filled with Love. The tipping point edged ever closer. Silken promise dashed upon the shores of the Splintering. The shattered husk of the Created spiraling into the deep. Typha will pay for its hubris. As will we all.—Notes from the Exodus.

Choice. The Highest incorporated that into everyone. From its very first creations to its last. The Light may fade but it will never diminish. Not as long as we look beyond the abyss to the eternal. That which commands the soul.—Sleeping in Starlight: Arcane Insights Into Convergence (Vol 1)

Olaru Xana

Tri-System of Eden

Human Domain (Everflow Gardens)

Dexter faced White and Doctor Lanis. Black had his hands clasped tightly on the tabletop. Eliza had excused herself. Niner accompanied Eliza, mostly to keep an eye on her. No one wanted to mask any more memory than needed. There were truths here that Unity couldn’t know. Dexter asked flatly, “Will my sister be the last to know everything?”

White nodded. Her eyes darkened. Guilt squeezed at her heart.

Black whispered, “It is required. Because Eliza is the key. No matter the time. Place. Soul. We are the beginning. We are the end. The Path is set.”

Dexter leaned against the wall. The dormant energy sent pinpricks up his spine. He bluntly stated, “Fine. Who are we then? If Souls from the Dawn of Creation have been cycled through the Ouro of Life.”

Black winced, “You are the souls of the first Children. The one’s which Adam and Eve failed to protect.” Dexter eyed the infinity symbol on the idling console. He examined every facet of Black’s countenance.

White stopped his musing with a hard glance, “No. We are not Adam and Eve. Yet the snake did tempt them.” Her shoulders sagged.

The Requilary of Worlds

Creation Cycle (Foundation)

Ouroborous of Life

Lucifer knelt to touch the base of the tree. Unlike all the others within this patch of the forest, it glimmered. It’s apples a deep red. Silver leaves swayed gently. Why had his Father put this here? It was divine within a land of mortality. A boy and girl ran past. Their laughter grated on his nerves. What did those insects have? They barely lived to see 100 cycles. The ones imbued with magic? 500.

A mere blink.

The boy stopped. Placing himself before the girl. Typerian eyes gazed up at Lucifer. The girl was one of the humans. She tugged on the boy’s sleeve, “Our parents expect us!” The sandy-haired Typherian didn’t budge. Those alien orbs would not submit before a higher being. The girl’s deep blue gaze wouldn’t meet Lucifer’s blazing golden eyes.

As was proper.

A petite woman with a silken white dress dashed across the open field. Her hair was a light blond. Eyes as warm as the sun.

Eve shouted, “Elijah! Genevive! Noah is about to lead the…” She bowed. “I am sorry if the children interrupted your musing Holy Host.” She also averted her gaze. The boy did not. Lucifer’s left hand strayed to his sword hilt.

Mongrels.

A figure in a black cloak and golden armor broke Lucifer’s silent regard.

Black, as he was known to the mortals, walked towards Eve. The Father of All.

The Archangel of Death.

Made when Father decided these fragile races needed limitations.

Lucifer called out to Azrael, “Little brother. Why waste the time?” He spoke in the divine language. So the monkeys would remain ignorant. Azrael turned. His 3 golden eyes narrowed. He responded in the standard tongue, “They are my charges. Given to me by our Father. I will not abandon them. What makes you speak thus?”

Azrael’s sister, bedecked in white robes, ushered the children to Eve’s side. Known as White, the Mother of All, to the mortals. Her name was unknown to him. A kernel of a smile grew. He didn’t know her name yet. They controlled the flow of Mortal Souls and Life cycles. White would go beyond the Ouroborous of Life to weave new threads into the monkeys that walked the lands of Eternity.

Brought from various planets to meet Noah. Every 50 cycles a new shard bearer would be picked for each race of sapients. Lucifer masked his distaste as the human girl child handed a wreath of flowers to White. More children gathered about her. J’kua, Litari, a few Icath. One Bardaxian flipped on its side. Presenting its belly to be rubbed. A voice curled around his left ear, >>You wish them brought low dear Lightbringer?<<

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He nodded. Not trusting himself to respond.

>>Perhaps a bargain can be made. I need you to pluck at some strings.<<

Lucifer’s smile bloomed, “A gift indeed.”

*****

Dexter said, “Lucifer seduced you.”

White stared through Murphy. Lorain sat heavily in the chair across from Black.

Azrael. The echo of power danced on the tip of her tongue.

She asked, “Did he ever learn White’s true name?”

White snapped, “No.”

Her eyes remained glued on Dexter. Lorain let out one drawn-out puff of air. “Let’s keep it that way.” Dexter paced about the room. Each step was measured. Calculated. His steel-gray eyes were devoid of warmth. Black interjected gently, “It will not always be so. With Eliza and memory. She will know the full Tapestry. On that day? All burdens and debts will be repaid.”

Dexter eyed all of them warily, “With more of her blood? Or would you take her heart instead?! Hasn’t she given enough of her mind? Her SOUL?!” He was tired of keeping secrets from his family. Eliza above all. He saw Lorain Lanis flinch.

He demanded, “Aren’t you vexed more than anyone? Even me?!”

Her blazing green eyes met his gray ones. She shouted, “YES! I wish I could say everything!” Her fists slammed on the table, “Yet I was commanded not to!”

Dexter frowned, opened his mouth to inquire further, she beat him to the punch.

“By whom? The Arbiter of the Arcane Order!”

Dexter shifted to lean in closer, “Who is the Arbiter then? Noah?”

Lorain retorted hotly, “One of them. Eliza is the Arbiter who commanded it.”

An image blazed to life within the room.

An ancient Eliza Murphy glanced up from a silver globe. Her hair was completely gray. Her eyes were bright. No sign of gold within the irises. Just that same steel gray as Dexter’s. Her hands gnarled with advanced age. Knuckles that were covered with old scars. Her back remained strait as she stood. She fixed the gold-rimmed glasses on her head, “Yes. I am the reason. I have always been the reason. Keeping secrets from myself to save us all.”

The suit she wore was a strange mix. White, silver, and bits of golden armor around the waist and feet. A silver, white and gold sash around her waist rippled. A Defender Belt. Not White. The cape of Old Glory the one familiar sight from her Banner uniform. A giant silver ghost dog sat beside her. She clicked and his head came up, “This is Sentinel. Within these files you will know certain events. You must let them happen. I must become the Arbiter.”

Dexter watched as she activated the spear at her side. It wasn’t the one she currently wielded. Or Matarn’s for that matter. She grinned widely, “I know. It’s a lot to keep track of. Time Travel isn’t my best subject either. That is for the Highest.” It moved as liquid silver. Three points at the end of the spearhead. While the pole was entwined with silver leaves. The butt of the spear held a simple golden imprint. The symbol of the Arcane Order.

An infinity icon.

She continued, “Not only for my sake. But for the sake of us all. The Highest will require much of my body and soul. I will be forged into a weapon yet….” She nodded at Lorain, “I will not succumb to the ultimate deceit if you remain true. Trust the Highest my dear.”

Lorain reached out. Her hand was mere centimeters from Eliza’s face.

She said, “Yet I will not die. I’ll be alone.”

Eliza leaned in, “I do appear advanced but….” A look of disbelief played across Lorain’s features. Doc whispered, “Truly? That is….”

Dexter realized belatedly that Eliza was talking mentally to Doc. White said, “This place is more than just situated in the here and now. That is Eliza as she will be. Reaching across the threads. The Highest picks its moments well.”

Black cleared his throat, “Well then. Let’s weave more of this Tapestry!”

Silver Fox Eliza took a seat, speaking into the relay to Niner, “Take me over to the Library. Let me take a gander at all the Dreaming Lore recorded in this place.” Niner responded with a cheerful, “As you wish Arbiter. It will be quite fun to see you get stuck within the Folds of….”

Eliza murmured, “Yes. 532 times. Yet I need that training. Do it. If not for me then our Boss on High.”

Silver Fox sighed as the power transferred to the training rooms. “Complex: Relay healing array to temporal point 2-89.Alpha. I am gonna need it. Or rather young me…”

Even with her eyes closed, she smiled brightly, “Yes. You can all record the fun.”

Black sprang up from the seat.

At least this would keep his mind off the past or the future.

Lorain frowned, “I could heal….” Her eyes widened as she caught an image of herself in the temporal feed behind Murphy.

“Oh. OH. R'ylaris Ayeer! YOU CORNFED TEASE!”

Silver Fox Murphy opened one eye and winked.

Eliza motioned to Dexter, “It’s rather odd what the Highest will let me get away with. I thank you for putting up with all the Swiss Cheese to the Ends of Tomorrow.” He could feel the truth in her words.

Dexter rolled his shoulders, “I’m gonna go watch current you practice. I might do the same.”

Silver Fox replied, “Just watch out for the Twilight folds. With everything ramping up? A whole metric ton of materials are fusing to become more Living Stone.”

Lorain groaned.

Then began to scan through the data packets being downloaded to her HUD.

Silver Fox reached out to pat Doc’s hand. “I'll be with you every step of the way.”

*****

I spotted the tomes that Niner indicated. She buzzed around me excitedly, “OH yes! I see. The Dreaming ones of Typha had the basics down pat. But this?” She bobbed around the room as if keyed up on all the caffeine in the universe.

“This is how you will truly fight and master movement within the Weave! The Layers of Creation!” I peered through the Weave space around the room. Connecting to the Dreaming with relative ease. My right arm froze. Amber coiled about my hand, wrist, and forearm.

My feet joined soon after.

This was going to take a while.

Black flowed around me, stepping lightly through the Dreaming. As graceful as his Tiger form.“This part is much more powerful. Master this and the regular levels of the Dreaming and Weave Space will be greatly enhanced.”

I pitched forward. Landing directly on my nose. The amber flowed against my lips.

“Hgmhff!”

I calmed my breathing.

The vibrations of the area around me sang in unison. I was out of sync.

I flexed my fingers first. The Amber slowly receded.

Excellent!

*****

White waited until Lorain left the room. The question burned deep, “Who is Unity? One of the Holy Host?”

Silver Fox replied, “Much worse.”

White listened with growing horror.

That Great Beast continued to slouch towards Eden.