Chapter 55
Kevin’s point of view
I found myself on the roof, watching the sun
slowly rise as the hours passed. I had been there for three hours,
contemplating what to do. Beneath the crimson sky, four possibilities repeated
themselves over and over.
The first: choose neither of them.
This was eliminated immediately - they would
both be heartbroken, and unless I wanted to be alone for the rest of eternity…
The second: choose both of them.
Again, impossible. My own moral beliefs and
vows forbade this…
That left the third and fourth: to choose
either Kristin or Solin.
Yet, I didn’t even know whom I belonged with
anymore. Closing my eyes to the world, I signalled my deceased counterpart.
“Fotuf, are you there?”
“Right beside you friend.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Is it possible to be in love with two people
at the same time?”
A low, spectral chuckle filled my mind
amiably.
“Don’t waste time with such questions: of
course it is! You are yourself, aren’t you?”
“So it is love I’ve been feeling for her?”
“Indeed.”
“That just proves I can’t decide. If I love
them both, I can’t reject one of them. I can’t betray Kristin, but I can’t hurt
Solin. She’s done so much for me.”
“Then listen to what she’s been trying to tell
you.”
Fotuf’s voice was urging yet calm as he
continued.
“Heed her words: if you truly care for her, do
what she wishes you to do.”
Nodding gently, I gratefully sighed, becoming
more and more convinced.
“Thank you, Fotuf. And thank my dad for me.”
“Yes, but remember this, old friend… ... Hate,
revenge and violence are the tethers that bind us to misery... hope and compromise
are the blades that will cut us free...”
Fotuf’s words echoed into the darkness of the
afterlife, and I was left alone again to my sharpened thoughts and purpose,
intent on finding my true place.
Solin’s point of view
“I will not leave this planet until we find
his daughter,” I stated firmly.
AJ gave me a grateful glance, which was once
again swallowed up by despair. Flyer landed hastily on my shoulder, as anxious
as ever.
“Solin, please. You cannot face an Ancient
alone! It’s far too dangerous!”
“No, I’m not leaving. The round trip to Karnak
takes at least 7 Suns at full speed. Even if I signalled them now, it would
take 3 Suns for the other Soul Creatures to get here. By then it may be too
late.”
Flyer sighed. “If you cannot leave, them we
must come to, however hopeless.”
“Now that is definitely out of the question!”
I snapped. “You and the others on the ship would be as much use as a brick to a
swimmer! That lot even more so!”
I pointed over to the teary-eyed band of
humans. Two or three of them shot me a very nasty looking glance.
“No offence,” I added, inclining my head.
“So you’re going alone?” Flyer stated flatly,
with an edge of accusation to his voice.
“Yes.”
“And when you get yourself killed? How much
use will you be to Julie then?”
“I must try, for their sakes,” I gestured to
Brian and Leighanne, locked in a distressed embrace.
“Even one more of you would help,” Flyer
implored. “Won’t you risk a Sun or more for another to travel here?”
I blinked in realisation. Why had I not
realised this sooner?
Even one more…
There is already another here…… and this is a
situation he cannot ignore…
“Only one more…” I muttered.
“What?”
“I have an idea. Stay here, and keep watch for
our new adversary.”
I darted towards the exit to the house. Flyer
and AJ followed me, bewildered.
“Where are you going? What about Julie?” AJ
demanded.
I half turned to them both, “To an unresolved
situation. We won’t be long!”
“We?” I heard Flyer repeat as I shifted to
spirit form and flew northwards.
Flyer’s point of view
A mere hour had passed since Solin left so
suddenly. Whatever she was planning, I had no clue to its nature. I could only
hope she found her solution in time. As the seconds passed, her absence left me
feeling even more vulnerable, despite having signalled Monsoon and Dommur to
join us. I sat on Nick’s shoulder this time, deciding I would soon give AJ a
bad arm if I persistently sat on him. He didn’t seem to like it much, but there
was too much worry in all of us to complain about anything.
“Aaack!”
Dommur…
Monsoon flew down from upstairs, breathless
and fearful. Dommur came tumbling down afterwards, crashing to the floor
ungracefully.
Soon, an eerie blue mist followed.
“Get back!” I ordered sharply, herding the
group away from the staircase.
Silence reigned as the mist continued to seep
into the room, swirling unnaturally and congregating in front of us. A low
chuckling signalled the mist to begin forming into a shape… a figure… until it
finally took a physical form.
The visage was unmistakable, even to me.
The long black muzzle…
The tall, dark ears…
The lengthy, draping blue cloak…
The malicious grin…
In the flesh, finally…
“Anubis.”
Anubis merely raised his brow.
“Murderer!” I spat. “What do you want with
her?”
The jackal Ancient cocked his head, ignoring
my question, and replied arrogantly.
“Ah, if it isn’t Captain Flyer. You made a
grave mistake in accepting Zakkar – I may yet teach you not to consort with our
kind again, mortal…”
“Answer me, fiend!” I snapped, my anger and
sorrow rising in turn.
“Do not worry,” he answered slyly, “as she is
unharmed. Yet, if you wish for her to stay that way, you will do as I say.”
“Must you hound them? Haven’t you caused
enough damage already?” I bellowed, on the verge of tears.
“Silence!” Anubis retorted. “We discuss terms
under my conditions.”
“We aren’t going to walk into any clever
traps, you evil-”
“No.”
My head shot around swiftly. It was Brian who
had spoken.
“Anything. I’ll do whatever it takes to get my
daughter back.”
“Brian, no! He’s trying to-” I began, but a
sharp glare cut me off.
“Flyer,” he rebuked harshly, “I don’t care!
I’m getting her back! I don’t care about whatever’s been going on in the
universe – I just want my daughter!”
I sighed, unable to keep up my defence of this
being a trap. What if Anubis did plan to give her back? I only knew of his
misdeed through others – exaggeration might have been present.
“Very well, Anubis.” I declared. “What is it
that you want?”
“All of you will meet me at this place at
midnight tonight,” he flicked a small piece of notepaper at us. “I will tell
you then. No tricks or deceptions or my ally will dispose of the child.”
He disappeared in an instant, a flare of white
light nearly blinding us all.
Recovered, Howie picked up the slightly
crumpled notepaper, squinting at the words.
“McColl’s?”
“Hey, Bri, isn’t that where you get your
groceries from?”
Solin’s point of view
Leon’s apartment was now is viewing distance.
In half a Sun, I had reached it. Now all I had to do was convince Kevin to help
remedy the situation –he couldn’t abandon his cousin’s daughter.
Pausing to rest momentarily, I spotted a
figure on the roof, and could see it was Kevin. It was as if he was surveying
the area around the apartment. His head stopped moving when it was facing me.
What is he up to?
Waiting to tell me he’s not moving?
Before I could even begin marching forwards,
he jumped down to the ground, slipping into spirit form. He approached me with
a purposeful stride, gaining speed with every step. I sighed readying myself
for another argument. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath as I felt his
Aversion approach. I waited for him to make the first comment. He approached…
closer… he passed by my side… he got further away…
I opened my eyes and turned to look at him.
“Kev?”
He looked at me oddly, as if I was missing the
obvious.
“Come on, then!” he gestured. “Wake up: you’re
going in the wrong direction!”
“What? What are you talking about?” I quizzed,
bewildered. “What are you doing?”
He turned himself to fully face me, his long
trenchcoat swirling about him grandly. The ghost of a euphoric smile tugged at
his features.
“I’m going back.”
--
“I can’t stand the distance, I can’t dream alone,
I can’t wait to see you, ‘cause I’m on my way home.”
- ‘I Will Always Return’, Bryan Adams
***
