Chapter
31
Kevin’s point of view
The fourth day dragged on now I was alone. Space was silent all
the time. Sound can’t travel in a vacuum, and the only reason I could talk to
Solin was because it was mentally. It’s not like in the movies when a
ridiculously large cruiser sails past with a low rumbling sound: there is
absolutely nothing at all.
I lost track of time, but the day dragged on and on. That star was
getting close though, so I was definitely making progress.
The silence that surrounded me for hours on end was disturbed by a
low, inaudible whisper. I looked around desperately. It had to be a spectral
creature like me, as I would have noticed a ship coming from the crew’s
Aversion.
That whisper. I couldn’t understand the words it was saying, as it
was far too faint. It creeped me out though. Soon an Aversion unfamiliar to me
appeared far off, and started getting closer. It was weak, weaker than a Soul
Creature’s Aversion. Maybe it was a mortal on a ship?
I cautiously let it approach. It got very close but I still
couldn’t see it. Unnerved, I raised an energy shield around myself, and shouted
to my unseen observer:
“Show yourself!”
With a flash of bright energy, another creature appeared. It
wasn’t a Soul Creature. It was an Ancient. A very unwelcome Ancient…….
“You scum, Anubis!” I screeched. “You’ve got some nerve following
me!”
Anubis just grinned. “Nice to see you too, Kevin. Or would you
prefer Zakkar?”
“It’s Zakkar to you, you trash!”
“Temper, temper!” he chided disapprovingly and mockingly. “Foolish
child….”
I charged a lighting attack to unleash at him, feeling my rage
building.
“You’d better watch your mouth, Ancient!” I warned.
“I pose no threat to you, Zakkar.” He claimed, with more
humbleness. “My Aversion should tell you that.”
He was right. His Aversion was even weaker than the race he
created.
“What do you want? You came here for a reason.” I probed.
Anubis inclined his head thoughtfully: “Understanding. Perhaps
forgiveness.”
“Liar!” I snapped, grabbing his throat. He made no move to stop
me. “You can drop the benevolent disguise, Anubis! I know who and what you
are!”
I threw him away from me, adding: “You tricked them all! All of
the Soul Creatures were your unwilling pawns for some stupid quest for power! I
should kill you!”
“Maybe you should, but I think you won’t.”
“Are you so sure of that?” I raised my arms, ready to attack.
“All I ask of you, Zakkar, is that you listen.”
I grumbled, lowering my arms but keeping my shield up. I was in no
mood, but Anubis was too weak to try anything and I wanted to know what he was
up to.
“This had better be good…” I growled.
“I am a banished creature now, Zakkar. I created the Soul
Creatures as I tried to find a legendary figure called the Soul Warrior: One
who is supposed to rise as the most powerful single entity in the Universe and
become the saviour of civilisation. All of my attempts failed badly. You were
my last attempt, and like the others you abandoned me…..”
“Driven away by desperation for freedom!” I interrupted angrily.
“Let me continue!” he begged, and I calmed down. “Eventually the
Ancient’s Council voted against me trying to find the Soul Warrior. I was
paranoid and tried to ensnare you again out of desperation. In the end I became
a danger to the other Ancients so they took away my power and banished me from
the Council.”
I smirked with amusement. “I’m not usually one to laugh at other
people’s misfortune, but on behalf of the rest of the Universe….. HA!” I
sneered. “Couldn’t have happened to anyone more deserving!”
Anubis made a great effort to look hurt, and I soon let him carry
on some more.
“I shouldn’t have come. You have your views immovably set. But
consider this: isn’t the whole ideology of the Soul Creature’s new society
based on the fact that a person can change?”
I looked away guiltily. Anubis was right. The Soul Creatures had
spent years reforming and building their new society, and now they were even
becoming friends with the mortals through Flyer and his team.
“If they can change for the better, is there anything stopping me
from doing the same?” he persisted.
I immediately pitied him. There was a flicker of doubt within me
of his true intentions, but what if he really
had changed? If I destroyed him or turned him away, I’d be eliminating the
second chance he was entitled to.
Anubis was looking pleadingly towards me. I was filled with
empathy for him now. He was much like I was about 15 years ago – alone, no
companions, hated for what I was. I didn’t want to run the risk of killing a
changed soul.
“Alright!” I sighed. “If it’ll make you leave me alone. How can I
help?”
Anubis sighed gratefully. “When the other Ancients took my powers
away, they forgot one thing: the Blue Flame.”
“Blue Flame?” I echoed doubtfully.
“A gift of the Ancients. I still have the Blue Flame, and it is a
versatile tool. It is an antithesis in itself: it can both scorch and freeze,
harm and heal. Another useful ability is that if you summon the Blue Flame
while holding a weapon, it will infuse that weapon with its power and allow you
to use both weapon and Blue Flame at the same time. Yet, you can only use it in
physical form.”
“What has this got to do with me?” I asked cautiously. “What
possible use do I have for it? I can do anything I want anyway!”
“Zakkar, I am no fool.” He stated wisely. “Soul Creatures are
incapable of summoning Blue Flame. Try it yourself – it is quite impossible.”
I did try, but every time I tried to summon a flame like Anubis
had just described, I just got regular flames licking and flickering around my
hands and wrists.
“Blue Flame is a gift only Ancients can bestow.” Anubis held his
palms out, and an icy blue flame flicked up around his paws and wrists. “Take
it.”
“Why?” I questioned nervously, eyeing his flame-engulfed paws.
“Don’t worry, Zakkar. It’s quite cool.” He insisted. “This is a
token of my gratitude, for listening to me and not killing me. I hope things
between us will go a little more smoothly should we meet again.”
I hesitantly reached out with my own hand and grabbed at the
flames. I gave a cry of shock as it unwound itself from Anubis and crawled up
my own wrists, then settled happily there. I waved my hands about testily, but
it didn’t go out. I willed for it to die down and it obeyed, like a loyal
servant to my orders. I looked back to Anubis.
“Is this some sneaky plan to make sure I don’t kill you in future,
no matter what you get up to, because if it is-” I began suspiciously.
“Is it so hard to believe that I’ve changed, Zakkar?” Anubis
appealed. “Look beyond you doubts!”
I considered the Blue Flame once more. A very handy tool and
weapon. I wasn’t sure I’d need it since I was going home now, but I knew it was
insulting to refuse a gift of gratitude.
“OK, deal. This Blue Flame for listening to you and not killing
you.” I agreed hurriedly. “I’m a bit busy, so if you don’t mind getting out of
my sight……?”
Strangely he didn’t seem insulted. He bowed his head, and I just
waved in his general direction with indifference. I didn’t plan on ever heading
back this way, so what did I care about whether I was going to kill him next
time he crossed my path?
“Farewell, friend…” he
said as I turned away. He said it with a kind of certainty, even amusement. I
shuddered: friends with Anubis indeed! It was a repelling thought. Why did he
even assume he was? Maybe he just wasn’t sure what a real friend was? That I
could believe from his past behaviour. Ignoring him, I started off again
towards the ever-nearer Orion’s Belt.
***
