Chapter One

A Bridge to Bliss

Hope is the truth of life and hope is the biggest lie

Hope is the foundation of every revolution and hope is the cause of every destruction

Vasilias

Earth (The Valley of Reckoning) EarthYear 989 (11 Years to the First Reckoning)

Vasilias Hazernoth looked at the giant whirlpool, the Abyss of Bliss, swirling below him. He still couldn't believe that he was standing on the Bridge of Faith. No mortal in known history had ever got a chance to cross this bridge.

The Abyss of Bliss magically appeared in the Large Sea on every winter solstice—right below the Elysium Cliff—and opened the gateway to the World of Miracles. Vasilias stopped for a moment to look at the frenetic activity happening behind him. People were leaping into the gigantic swirl, one after another. They were giving up their fears for a belief that a paradise waited for them on the other side. This was the last test a Believer had to pass before entering the Land of Eternals.

Vasilias was also about to take the same route to Bliss with his four friends, but when they approached the leaping deck, a Keeper of Abyss took them aside. He told them that they had been invited across the bridge. Mount Bloom—although located on Earth—was a part of the upper world. So rather than jumping into a scary whirlpool, they had a chance to enter the Gardens of Eternity through a magnificent gateway. Vasilias and his friends promptly accepted the invitation.

They had been given royal passes to the Staircase to Heaven but Vasilias had a gut feeling that they were not going to Bliss anytime soon. And more often than not, his hunches were spot on.

***

Mysha

Earth (London. The Mainland) EarthYear 1984 (16 years to the Second Reckoning)

Alicia was trying to put her daughter to sleep but Mysha was not ready to leave her mother's hand. Alex stepped in to check on his wife and daughter. "Hey, what is the matter? Why hasn't my little princess gone to sleep yet?"

Mysha jumped at her father and embraced him in a tight hug. "Papa, I saw a dark shadow in my room."

Alicia pulled her daughter away from her husband and tried to tuck her back in. "I don't know what has got into her tonight. She just doesn't want to close her eyes."

"Alicia, how many times do I have to tell you not to watch those Evil-Dead-type movies when Mysha is around." Alex made a lame attempt at scolding his wife to divert Mysha's attention. "Princess, there are no dark shadows on Earth because Angels of Bliss guard our world. You have heard those stories."

"Yes papa, but I swear I saw something."

"It is just a piece of your imagination dear. Okay, let me tell you how Lord Vasilias, holy be his name, defeated the Demon Hareeq in the Battle of the Iron Cage. I am sure no shadow is going to scare you when you believe that Holy Pieteous are your protectors," Alex said placing the Star of Faith under his daughter's pillow.

Bits of facts mixed with generous portions of fantasy produce the most gripping tales. The legend of Vasilias—a human who rose over the realms of time and space, mind and matter—was a captivating tale. Good must always triumph over evil in the stories because that is what people want their children to believe. Nobody cares whether that happens in reality or not. By the time Vasilias slew Hareeq, Mysha had reached her dream world. Alex turned off the lights and tiptoed out of her room.

***

Mysha opened her eyes but saw nothing. The whole neighborhood was engulfed in darkness. Rain was pelting down in full fury. However, a chill went down her spine when her eyes got acquainted with the dark. A shadow—darker than the darkness—was lurking in a corner of her room.

She wanted to call her mother, but before she could open her mouth that shadow sprung at her. She tried to scream but no voice came out of her throat.

Everything happened in a frenzy. She snapped her finger in panic and the shadow froze mid-air. In fact, everything froze around her. She couldn't even hear the raindrops. It seemed as if someone had pushed a pause button on this world. And that momentary stall was the death sentence for her attacker. There was a flash of bright light as the dark shadow was blown away in a puff of smoke.

Rain resumed lashing the roof. Electricity returned to the neighborhood and the night lamp in her room came back to life. Mysha saw a shadow hovering near her bed.

Mysha, what the hell is this?

Mystic, how would I know? But it looks cute.

Cute? For God's sake, this looks right out of those scary movies your mommy keeps watching.

No Mystic. This isn't the bad shadow that attacked us, this is the one that saved us. I feel we are, kind of, connected.

The shadow vanished and a young boy appeared by her bedside. "Hello, Miss Mysha, Harbux at your service. He is your Guardian. The Soul assigned to protect you."

The boy extended his hand toward the little girl. Mysha held the boy's hand and felt the warmth. Her eyes became heavy and she fell asleep. She had never felt safer in her life.

This was Mysha's first encounter with the worlds of Malaks and Soulments—more commonly known as Angels and Demons.

***

Earth (London. The Mainland) EarthYear 1997 (3 years to the Second Reckoning)

"Harbux is a djinnnn—a Marid to be precise—but certainly not a djinni." Harbux wrinkled his smoky nose to remind Mysha for the umpteenth time.

"Mister-I-Don't-Like-to-be-Called-a-Djinni, What difference does it make? Djinn, djinni all are the same."

"The Djinnnn, with those extra Ns, has a ring to it. It sounds stronger, more powerful, and even terrifying. Djinni sounds too friendly and doesn't fit the stature of Harbux, the Greatest Marid of Inferna. Already a certain cartoonist has ruined the image of the djinns by showing that bluish comic thing."

"Well, Aladin is my favorite cartoon. And his djinni is so cute."

"Djinns are not meant to be cute. Humans must be frightened of them. That is why Harbux hates the word djinni — too soft, totally girlish."

"For God's sake, don't be a male chauvinist. And if your dark smoky form with those fiery eyes can't scare people then removing an I from the end of your spelling is not going to make much of a difference."

Harbux puffed his chest out. "You haven't seen Harbux's real form. Harbux can grow taller than Mount Tenebra. Humans are nothing, Harbux can even scare the hell out of those false Angels of Bliss."

"Well, you aren't supposed to reveal your true form to the people."

"Unless you order Harbux to do so."

"Why the hell would I do anything as idiotic as that? My mother fainted when she saw you roaming around in my room in your smoky avatar. It took me weeks to kind of convince her that she hallucinated and that there was no demon in my room. She is still seeing a psychiatrist."

"That wasn't Harbux's mistake. Alicia entered without knocking. And Harbux can't remain in that stupid poodle avatar for too long. Harbux feels itchy."

Mysha made her trademark angel face—a charming smile complimented with deep dimples on her cheeks followed by a playful fluttering of her eyelashes. "Oh baby, you look so cute as a poodle. And by the way, you chose that form."

"Cute is the last thing on Harbux's looks criteria. And Harbux didn't know that poodles have itching problems. It is time you changed your pet."

"Well, any suggestions?"

"How about a ferocious lion? Or a mighty mammoth? Maybe a Tyrannosaurus. That would suit Harbux's personality."

"Mister-I-Don't-Want-to-Look-Cute, have you ever heard of a whole neighborhood dying of simultaneous heart attacks? That will surely happen if they see a T-Rex roaming their streets."

Their chitchat was interrupted by a knock on the door. Harbux quickly turned into a poodle.

"Come in."

Max, Mysha's childhood buddy, her unofficial boyfriend—but more importantly another Poten—greeted Mysha with a hug. He put his heavy Omega on the bed and the next second it transformed into sparkling golden smoke.

Mysha waggled her eyebrows. "Harbux, you need to learn a thing or two from Stokes. He never complains about being a watch."

"That is because this poor thing is a level-three jann and can't take the form of any living thing."

"Excuse me, I am a level-four djinn," Stokes retorted. "I can turn into a living being but I prefer this avatar. It is a lot more discreet."

Harbux ignored Stokes altogether. "Miss Mysha, it doesn't matter what level he is. Harbux, one of the greatest Souls of Inferna, is a level-five Marid. There are only four of his kind. All creatures in Inferna tremble upon hearing his name. You don't expect Harbux to behave like this weak little spirit."

"Harbux Harbux Harbux." Max was never a fan of Harbux's I-Am-Great rants. "Someone just keeps blowing his own trumpet. Let me tell you Mysha, you must be given a bravery award for enduring this terrible headache every day."

Harbux turned into a red smoldering smoke. "Endure Harbux? You mean to say Harbux is a disease. A problem. Master Max, you should think twice before insulting a great Soul." Harbux let out a puff of smoke, switched back to his poodle avatar, and retreated into a far corner of the room.

Max cast a furtive glance at him. "Mysha, why is someone always so grumpy?"

"Well, that is how one of the most powerful entities in the universe vents out his frustration on being shackled by the chains. Just ignore him, he will be alright. Did you make any kind of progress?"

"Let me tell you, I almost forgot why I had come because of the latest episode of the grumpy Harbux melodrama." Max hurriedly took out his laptop and turned its screen toward Mysha.

"Someone needs to check out these articles."

A tourist bus falls into a gorge in the Alps. Forty-eight killed.

An overloaded ferry sinks near the northern coast. More than fifty dead, many more missing.

A fire in a cinema hall in London kills eighty.

"Well, is there anything that connects these incidents?" Mysha asked.

"You tell me? Any guesses?"

Mysha shook her head.

"The Dark Night!" Max's eyes had a different spark whenever he knew something that others didn't. "Each of these accidents—and many others—happened on the night Inferna made its tri-monthly appearance above the Earth—you know."

"You think these are not accidents but, kind of, deliberate killings?"

"I hope someone knows that the only way to splinter a soul and create a Soulment is by killing someone."

"For God's sake Max, I know that. That is the most basic fact of this whole Soulment saga."

"Okay okay take a deep breath. For someone's information, the Reckoning is near and Soulments need more and more recruits to wage another war. You don't need to put a sword through someone's heart every time. There are other—more effective and subtle—ways of killing. Let me tell you, Soulments are mass murdering people during the Crossing of planets."

Mysha, your boyfriend is overthinking once again. Blindly connecting some random dots to create a picture.

Mystic, he is not my boyfriend.

Tell this to someone on the outside. I can feel the butterflies in your stomach when he is near you. And honestly, it makes me sick. Max? Seriously? Can't you find someone better than this nerd?

Mystic, just shut up. We are not discussing this anymore.

Mysha pulled herself away from her echo. "Well, these could all just be some unfortunate coincidences and nothing more."

"For someone's information, our planet is very safe. Accidents don't happen very frequently on the Earth because Supremes have made it this way and you know why?"

"I am sure it has something to do with the Symphony of Souls." Mysha joined her palms in front of her chest, closed her eyes, and chanted in a sing-song voice. "O Almighty, guide my soul on the path of faith and guard it from eternal doom. Help it pass its Earthly life and save it from Infernal gloom. Lead it to the door of Bliss and shield it on the Darkest Night. Bless it with your blissful face and house it in the realm so bright. Amen." Mysha paused to perform the Holy Gesture of Faith with her right hand. "May the Almighty shower the Splendid Supremes and Heavenly Pieteous, holy be their names, with all his bounties in the highest echelons of his Paradise. Amen."

"I never thought someone was such a firm Believer. You don't look like the praying type—you know."

Mysha tucked a lock of hair falling on her cheeks behind her ear. "My mom didn't let me sleep until I recited the Holy Journey to the Eternal Bliss."

"Quite understandable after she had seen a grisly ugly demon roaming around in your room," Max said tongue in cheek.

"Don't needle the poodle any further Master Max," the Poodle said with a bark. "You don't want him to bite you."

"Mister-Taunting-Harbux-is-My-Favorite-Timepass, no more jibes at my cute pet. Get to the point."

"Do you understand the references in this prayer? Eternal doom, Infernal gloom, the Darkest Night."

"Well, I am not a nerd like you. I have a life beyond the books."

Max had donned his professor avatar and was now pacing around the room. "Some dumb people like to hide behind the mask of cool and happening to cover up their ignorance—you know. Anyways, Save It from Infernal Gloom refers to how an untimely death on Earth screws the whole Journey of Souls. A person has to start his journey all over again on Earth—and from Inferna if he is deliberately killed. Quite obviously, the Supremes don't want that to happen very often."

Mysha shrugged. "Well, still this doesn't prove your point and rule out my theory of simple coincidence."

"Let me tell you that these are far too many tragedies to pass as coincidences. Also, look at the timings. All these so-called accidents happened on the Dark Nights, the only night these demons can use their powers on Earth. You can't ignore these facts—you know. And there is something more?"

"What?"

"The situation is getting worse all around the world. People are protesting against their governments. Relations between the Mainland and America are at an all-time low, experts even fear a full-fledged War. And war will give the dark side thousands of recruits just before the Reckoning."

"So Mister-I-will-Anyhow-Prove-My-Point wants to say that the demon army is working overtime to create chaos."

"Don't call them demons," The poodle said jumping into Mysha's lap. "They are Souls, like Harbux. They didn't choose to become what they are, they were killed. No one wants to get his soul splintered."

Mysha gently patted her pet. "Well, but they did pick a side. They could have become like you, but they chose darkness."

Harbux turned back to his smoky self. "Miss Mysha, not all choices are that straightforward."

"Yes, it is really very hard to choose between light and darkness—you know." Max scoffed.

"Master Max, in these worlds of mortals there is no supreme light or absolute darkness—just different shades of grey."

"Let me tell you something, all these poor suffering Soulments had to do was to agree to serve their time on Earth and quietly ascend to Bliss. What is the big deal?"

Harbux held the heavy chain around his neck. Whatever avatar Harbux took—his natural form or the poodle or any human avatar—the chain was always there. "You know nothing, Master Max. You know nothing. It is not easy to wear these chains. They bring an unbearable burden."

"Okay okay, now I understand the dilemma," Max sniggered. "Taking a vow to help people is so much harder than trying to kill them. Right?"

"There is a thing called free will. Master Max, you are head over heels in love with Miss Mysha but imagine if Harbux binds you in chains, throws you inside a dark cell, and tells you that your only way out is by marrying her. Although your biggest wish is coming true, you will not like it. You will fight back. People don't like to be forced into something."

Hell, Mysha. How can this plump little nerd even think of loving you? Can't he see you are way above him?

Mystic, Harbux just gave an example.

Even a heartless djinn can see the vibes between you two. I feel like throwing up.

Mystic, just stop the melodrama and shut up.

"Harbux, your example is way out of context. You can't force Max to marry me even if I wanted." Mysha immediately regretted that sentence.

An old lady, well past her Earth age, appeared in the room. She was wearing a dirty apron over a clumsy gown and her freckled skin was full of wrinkles. "My little cutie pie, your grandma can surely do that if you command her to do so," Cynthia said pulling Mysha's cheeks. "In fact, she would love to bind this little brat into chains and toss him around the room."

Mysha took a long deep breath. "For God's sake Harbux, you look terrible as my grandma. And you know I hated it when she pulled my cheeks."

Harbux was at his annoying best. "Cutie pie, you broke my heart. Cynthia thought you loved her."

Harbux always used such theatrics to diverge from sensitive discussions but Max never gave up until he proved his point. He dragged him back to the topic. "Okay okay, so your friends use free will as an excuse to jump to the other side and do what they love. Create chaos and kill people. Harbux, your justifications for these murders make no sense you know. They are as hollow as your smoky form."

The Granny trick didn't work so Harbux switched back to his dark black avatar. "You talk about Chaos? Yes, the Souls have started this war. However, it is not fueled by some grudge or anger, but rather by a dream that they have seen with open eyes and such dreams never die. This fight is carried by a hope that powers their passion to stop at nothing. For the weak and the oppressed, hope is oxygen that keeps them alive. Hope lets them see the stars when the sky is filled with gloom. Hope feeds their souls when food is costlier than life. Hope eases their pain when no remedy is in sight. Hope keeps them going without knowing their destination. Hope keeps them alive without having a true life. Hope lets them believe that one day things will change, one day someone will listen to their pleas, one day someone will end their miseries, one day someone will raise them from the ashes. Hope is the foundation of every revolution and hope is the cause of every destruction. Hope is the truth of life and hope is the biggest lie."

"When dreams shatter and hopes are crushed it leads to chaos," Harbux continued after a long pause. "A chaos that feeds on rage and despair. A chaos that wants to tear down every system, every rule, every person that crushed that hope. A chaos that consumes everything in its wake, all it wants is blood and destruction—just more and more destruction. A chaos that knows no friends or foes, only annihilation. But when all orders fail, you need chaos—unimaginable, uncontrolled, unadulterated—true chaos. This is not a war between good and evil—so step down from your moral high ground—this is that chaos arising from those unfulfilled dreams and hurting hopes."

"Oppressed! The Demons? Let me tell you that is the best joke I have heard in a while," Max tried faking a chortle but failed miserably.

"You won't be laughing anymore if you end up in Inferna someday."

"For someone's information, Inferna is not on my bucket list."

"None of the million Souls in Inferna wanted to go there, but destiny is a tyrant. Beware, Master Max, a great war is upon us. You never know where you will end up."

The verbal boxing match had reached a critical point and it was time for Mysha the referee to step in. "For God's sake, my mom will be calling us for dinner anytime soon. Can we leave this debate for some other time? Max, what do you want to show me?"

"Some ugly nasty annoying creature always succeeds in diverting us from the topic—you know." Max landed another verbal punch on Harbux. Harbux's eyes turned as red as burning coal but, since Mysha had signaled time-out, he quietly returned to his grumpy poodle corner.

Max opened a tab on his browser and showed it to Mysha. "Okay okay, now have a look at this."

Miraculous tides save a cruise ship from crashing into rocks.

Unseasonal rains put out wildfires around a crowded resort averting a disaster.

"Let me tell you what happened. The cruise ship's cabin crew died mysteriously. It was heading straight for rocky cliffs when unusual tide movements halted its progress and the backup crew took over just in time. The forest fire was started by some unidentified protestors who wanted to burn down a resort where a few high-ranking government officials were holidaying with their families."

"So both incidents were, kind of, deliberate acts of sabotage that could have led to huge losses of life."

"And both were prevented by some divine or rather supernatural interventions—you know," Max said with a glint in his eyes.

Mysha gasped. "Are you trying to say that..."

"Miracles are countering magic. The list of such miracles is growing."

"Well, unusual tides and unseasonal rains. Someone is controlling the elements."

"Bingo. And someone is finally using her brain to connect the dots," Max said faking a sigh. "This means we are close to finding our third partner. The wildfire, the ship incident, and a few other unverified miracles have all happened in the Scottish Highlands."

"Another trip up north? Can't Mad-Dash-Max whoosh there and check it out for us."

"Let me tell someone, I am not adept at such long jumps. My best is a few miles."

"Even superpowers can't compensate for the utter uselessness of certain inept individuals," the prickly poodle growled from his corner.

Max ignored the jibe. "I am still recuperating from the injuries of our last demon encounter—you know. I got a bruise for every dash. I had a hard time explaining to my doctor what kind of fall gave me such completely unsynchronized injuries."

"Eighteen wasted years of existence and this guy can't even use his primary powers without getting hurt." The Poodle wasn't passing a chance to get even with Max. "Harbux can't understand why a man—as learned as Gilbert RightHeart—would choose a dimwitted snob to become a Poten."

"Stokes, next time when we come here, just remind me to buy that itching powder. We can certainly use it on a wild dog—you know."

Before Harbux could shoot back, Alicia barged into the room. She held a huge Holy Star of Faith in her hand. "Demon, where are you? Come out. I will burn you with the sacred powers of the Pieteous." She cautiously walked around the room, thoroughly scanning every corner of it.

"For God's sake Mom, what happened to the unbreakable rule of our house? Knock before you enter," Mysha complained.

"Idiot girl, I heard a demon in your room and you are worried about manners? This house is haunted."

"Mom, there is no demon in my room."

"Then whose voice was that?"

"Well, Max and I were practicing for a college play. He is playing the Demon Hareeq."

Alicia burst out laughing upon hearing that. She looked at Max, from top to bottom. "Him? A demon? How will a five-point-five, chubby, nerdy, innocuous guy scare the hell out of people? You guys need to change your casting director. No wonder no one turns up to watch your plays. Now, will you please join us for dinner? Your sister is very hungry."

"Tell me, did your mom subtly insult me?" Max asked Mysha, once Alicia had left the room.

"There was nothing subtle about that," the Poodle said, fanning the fire. "Harbux would have drowned in a glass of water if his only friend's mother had insulted him like that."

Mysha tried to salvage the situation before Max thought too much about it. "Well, she called you a nerd which is kind of a compliment for how knowledgeable you are. And she said you can't scare people because you are, kind of, cute."

"And what about the jibe on my height."

"Well, she has issues with your height. She thinks we make a bad couple because I am about six inches taller than you."

"So someone is suggesting that we are a couple."

Mysha took a deep breath. "Let us have our dinner before it gets cold."