Chapter 3

The Enchantress of Bliss

A very fine line separates a hero from a tyrant

Vasilias

Earth/Bliss (Mount Bloom) EarthYear 989 (11 years before the First Reckoning)

Vasilias's breath was taken away by the surreal beauty on the other side of the bridge. He could now see why Bliss had a thousand names. The Garden of Hereafter, the Staircase to Heavens, the Land of Angels, and so on. Even these attractive names didn't do justice to the enchanting surroundings.

Hundreds of silvery streams cascaded from Mount Bloom creating numerous waterfalls that fell into the whirlpool below. The whole place was a majestic garden that stretched for eternity. Flowers of different shapes, exquisite colors, and exotic fragrances blossomed in every corner. Fountains—which seemed to have lives of their own—danced to mystical tunes. Birds sang songs that were never heard on earth. The sun gave just enough light to keep them warm and the comforting breeze did not just caress their bodies but soothed their souls.

Vasilias had never experienced such peace ever before. All anxiety, fear, and worries were gone. Some surreal calmness and unending joy had lightened and enlightened his Soul. He could feel that this wasn't Earth. Had he entered the Valley of Supremes or was he strolling the famed Garden of Eden?

Vasilias saw the peak of Mount Bloom hidden in the clouds. The legends said that it connected Earth and Bliss on the Bright Days. No one had climbed it to ascertain whether this was a fact or a myth. In fact, no one had ever gone back from the Valley of Reckoning to tell tales about what happened behind its magical gates.

That was about to change. And that change was about to alter the course of human history.

***

Ryan

Earth (The Scottish Highlands. The Mainland) EarthYear 1997

Hundreds of thoughts went through Ryan's mind as he waited for the acidic liquid to dissolve his flesh and bones. How did it feel to be a Soulment? Neither solid like a human nor free like a true Soul—somewhere in between. What effects did the chains have on a Soulment? Did they actually crush it with their weight or was it just an exaggeration?

What kind of a Soulment will he become? He had seen quite a few in his life, from poor imps to powerful djinns—and a rare one that he had kept hidden from everyone's sight. How will he react to his new form? Will he be a good-spirited djinn like Wavey or a grumpy one like Lahab? Will he quietly accept chains or will he join the rebellion? All his questions were about to be answered very soon.

He felt a tingling sensation in his body, but there was no pain. Was death this swift or did Hubbert somehow mellow the effects of acid on him? The chap murdered him in cold blood still Ryan felt a bizarre connection with him.

A gush of fresh air hit his face. Wow! The serene breeze of Bliss. Wait! Wasn't he supposed to go to Inferna? He hurriedly opened his eyes and found himself on a grass bank. A tall girl, around six feet, was standing in front of him. Her radiant face shone like a spotless moon. Her green eyes twinkled like a sparkling lagoon. Her dazzling black hair was like a midnight dream. Her tall body—with all its beautiful curves—was sculpted by the hands of the most skilled angels. When their eyes met, Ryan felt his world come to a standstill.

"Holy Angels! The Enchantresses of Bliss are a reality. Dying wasn't that bad actually."

"For someone's information, if he had died he would have opened his eyes in Inferna, not in Bliss." A throaty voice corrected Ryan from behind. "And if someone is done checking her out we have certain urgent matters at our hands."

Ryan turned around to have a look at the annoying idiot who was not letting him lose himself in the enchantress's magic. An average-looking guy—slightly heavy build, below-average height, a stern face, a firm jaw, and a no-nonsense look—was standing behind him. The chemical plant's ceiling chose that exact moment to complete its collapse with a series of loud explosions. Everything in and around the plant went up in flames.

Ryan breathed a sigh of relief. "Bless the Souls! Saved by a couple of seconds."

"A couple of frozen seconds or someone would have been buried alive—you know."

"How did I come out of the building?"

The enchantress gave him a long scathing stare. "Mister-How-the-Hell-I-Survived-the-Foolish-Suicide-Mission, don't tell me we have to explain everything to you. Is your brain as thick as your body?"

"Holy Angels! Will you stop flashing your spotlight-like eyes at me? And change your shocked expression as well. I just survived a well-planned, multi-pronged attack on my life and I have a right to look a little out of sorts."

"Okay okay, calm down, take a deep breath. Don't mind her. You know how girls are. I have been enduring these same deadly stares since... Mysha, when did we first meet?"

"Mister-I-Like-to-Say-Atrocious-and-Unacceptable-Things-about-Mysha, you will have all the time in the world to badmouth me. First, tell him to take care of the gas leak."

"Oh, I forgot that." Max turned to Ryan. "Let me remind someone that a poisonous gas is moving toward Edinburgh and only one person can stop it."

"Good Heavens! Another bout of unseasonal rain?" Ryan asked, mostly to himself.

"Yes, and maybe some reverse winds as well, to divert the gas away from the city."

Ryan sank to the ground. "I am drained. And my Unseens must be no better."

"But someone will have to hold the fort till the emergency services take over. If this gas reaches the city you know the consequences. And don't worry about being tired, Mysha can give your powers a little push."

Now it was Ryan's turn to stare at the girl with wide eyes. "Bless the Souls! You are the One, the Bond?"

Mysha ignored his starstruck expression and spread her arms toward him. "Come closer to me."

A flush rose to Ryan's cheeks that made him look like a giant turnip. "Holy Angels! Don't you think that things are moving a little too fast? Aren't we supposed to take care of the gas first?"

Mysha's scorching glare almost burned into Ryan's flesh. "You Unsurmountable-Mountain-Of-Stupidity! Mister-I-Am-a-Huge-Unwanted-Burden-on-Earth, I am not asking you to come close for... That is all you guys can think of even in this situation? Baby giant! Do you want my help with your powers or not?"

Ryan turned a darker shade of pink. This wasn't the first time someone had mocked him for his huge build but for some unknown reasons, this time they hurt him. He quietly adjusted his glasses and turned to Wavey. "We still have work to do."

"Well, first, we need to get a little away from these premises."

The three of them moved into the woods just beyond the boundaries of the Chemical Plant.

"Now hold my hands," Mysha ordered Ryan.

Ryan didn't move. Mysha shook her head and tightly clutched his hands. Ryan closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and let out a loud grunt. His body started to emanate a blue hue. Wavey's ominous dark blue avatar hovered behind him. Harbux's pitch-black form engulfed Ryan and Mysha and then merged into Wavey. Strong winds began blowing from southeast to northwest taking the gas away from Edinburgh, towards the sea. A minute later heavy rains began lashing out all around them.

Max stood guard over the two as they directed all their energies toward controlling the weather. They heard loud sirens of the fire trucks a few minutes later. Police cars, ambulances, and other emergency vehicles started streaming in. Once things were under control, Max whispered to Ryan, "Okay okay, it is time to go."

Ryan opened his eyes. He tried to steady himself but his body didn't respond. He collapsed to the ground and passed out.

***

Ryan heard the sounds of waves crashing against the rocks when he opened his eyes. A fresh sea breeze was entering the room through a balcony where his saviors were sipping some hot coffee. Ryan got up from his bed and walked towards them.

"Well, the baby giant is finally awake."

"How long was I knocked out?" he asked the Enchantress.

"A couple of days."

Ryan's legs were still shaky and his head felt like a boulder. This time he was stretched to his limits and—if not for the timely intervention of these two—his soul would be fluttering somewhere in Inferna right now. "I assume my life-saving angel is called Mysha."

"Someone shouldn't forget that there were two angels," Max interrupted. "And it was me who did the heavy lifting, quite literally."

"Sorry, I don't remember your name. Did you introduce yourself that night?"

"Even Mysha didn't introduce herself but you somehow remember her name. Anyways, I am Max. And you are?"

Ryan held his head in his hands. "Holy Angels! You don't even know me? And I thought I found my partners. Don't tell me you are ghosts who haunt empty buildings at night."

"Max, I told you that this Mister-Aren't-Things-Moving-Too-Fast-Between-Us is as dumb as a mountain."

"For someone's information we of course know who you actually are but that doesn't mean we know your name."

"If you don't know my name then how did you find me?"

"We followed the trail of mini miracles someone was performing over the last couple of years. It brought us to the Highlands and thankfully Harbux tracked down the supernatural disturbances in record time or else we would have only found someone's mortal remains."

A black poodle sitting near Mysha turned into a thick dark smoke. "Master Max praising Harbux? Did Harbux hear that correctly?"

"Don't grow horns. They won't look very pretty on a poodle—you know."

"Curse the Demons! Is that your djinni?" Ryan asked Max. "Isn't he too dark?"

The smoke turned red. "Don't be a racist, master... What is your name?"

"Ryan. Ryan Mclean."

"Master Ryan, never ever call Harbux a djinni. You can call him a djinnnn—with a couple of extra Ns— but actually, Harbux is a level five Marid who can take any form, shape, or color but he prefers black, dark, and gloomy. It suits his ferocious image. Rest assured, you will never come across any more spectacular and mighty individual than Harbux during your lifetimes on Earth and Bliss."

"And let me also tell you that this annoying person can't just shut up, his self-glorifying rant doesn't have a pause button, and rest assured that you will never come across any more obnoxious and irritating individual than Harbux during your lifetimes on Earth and Bliss."

"Master Max is an egoistic brat who has nothing better to do than insult Harbux," Harbux turned into the poodle, barked at Max, and retreated into a corner of the balcony.

Ryan chuckled. "A ferocious grumpy poodle."

"Well, he saved you and most of your Unseens so you better be thankful to him," Mysha said patting her poodle. "However, Wavey says you still lost some of your invisible friends in the ambush."

"Bless the Souls. Where is Wavey?"

"Still recuperating. He is kind of too weak to guard you hence we have been bestowed this great honor, Your Highness," Mysha said, playfully bowing her head.

"Where are we by the way?"

"In an unreasonably overhyped resort in the town that we saved a couple of nights ago." Max's tone suggested he wasn't happy with something. "And let me tell you, the price of a room here is ridiculous and they won't even give their heroes a discount."

"For God's sake, why don't Mister-I-Love-Bragging-About-My-Powers go and tell the manager that we are the Potens—some humans with superpowers sent to save the Earth from a demon invasion? I am sure he will give us the presidential suite for free. You say Harbux is an annoying, obnoxious, self-boasting brat—why don't you, kind of, have a look in the mirror first."

"Okay okay, take a deep breath, calm down. However, you gave a great description of Harbux. And no matter what, someone has to agree that the prices here are still exorbitant." Max would never concede an argument.

Ryan walked to the front of the balcony and felt the wind on his face. The fresh breeze from the Small Sea filled him up with energy. Elements were his strength and being close to them was the best medicine for him.

"So Max pulled me out of that factory?"

"Yes, he can twist the realms of space."

"I would like to take all the credit but let me tell you this wouldn't have been possible if she didn't freeze time to provide me that little window to whoosh with you."

"So you are the Mover?" Ryan asked Max.

Mysha crinkled her nose. "Mover? Yuck! That sounds like a truck or a home-shifting assistant. And what do you call yourself? Winder, Rainy, Earthen?"

"Elemental. That sounds a lot cooler," Ryan replied. "And if I am right, then you are the Bond. The heiress of the Lord of Bliss. The Chosen One."

"Bond. You mean like James Bond." Max was a fan of Agent 007.

"Bond, that connects the powers of all the Potens. One who can control everything—time, matter, space, and minds."

"Mister-I-Am-Obsessed-With-Useless-Names, first tell me are you seriously that dumb to have walked in there all alone?"

"Holy Angels! If you guys had sent me a friend request on Facebook or added me to the World Saviors WhatsApp group I would have surely invited you to my death party. Although I am glad that you guys gatecrashed at a very good time."

"For God's sake, you should have waited for us to come together before attempting such stupid stunts."

"Good Heavens, I waited for fifteen years. I saw the darkness rapidly spreading around me and at last decided to act. I tracked down these monstrous demons in America—and annihilated a good chunk of them without any trouble—before I performed your so-called stupid stunt here."

The poodle suddenly started growling and barking at Ryan in the middle of his sentence.

"Okay okay, calm down," Max said to Ryan, ignoring the poodle's irritating growls. "Now will someone tell us why he shifted his base to the Mainland?"

"These miracles made headlines in America but no one contacted me. Wavey suggested we should try our luck on the Mainland. Even here it took you almost two years to find me."

"For someone's information, the bloodthirsty old hag—I mean our infamous late queen—made strict laws to regulate news referring to supernatural activities on the Mainland. It took me a lot of effort to unearth those articles lying in dark corners of the internet."

"Holy Angels Max, RightHearts are the custodian of Pieteous knowledge. You—being Gilbert's heir—need to fare far better than this if we have to even assemble our full team before the Reckoning. I had to send tens of demons to hell for you to finally locate me." The poodle again started barking aggressively at Ryan. "Demon's curse! What is his problem."

"Mister-I-Tried-Suicide-Because-You-Didn't-Find-Me don't use any bad words for Soulments. Harbux is, kind of, touchy when it comes to that."

"Bless the Souls, but isn't demon a form of Soulment?"

On cue, Harbux returned to his smoky form. "That is a name given by nasty humans to Souls who don't abide by their rules. There are many forms of Souls—Spirits, Jaan, Djinn, Marid, to name a few—but a demon is not one of them. Master Ryan, Inferna hides many secrets—way beyond the demons."

"Tell me, why is someone so fussy about names? Ghost, Djinni, demon, how does it matter? It doesn't change what you really are—you know."

"Master Max, names do affect people's perceptions. Your face does look like a rotten tomato, but you don't want people calling you that."

"How dare you call me a rotten tomato?"

"Weren't you the one telling Harbux not to get fussy about names?"

"That hurts. Bullies in my school called me a rotten tomato due to my pimples."

"Demon is a dark word created to make people hate Souls. It also hurts."

"Someone needs to say sorry right now," Max's voice was rising with every word. "I command you to apologize."

"Mister Rotten Tomato, you are forgetting that you are not Harbux's master." Harbux was as cool as a cucumber. "He is bound to Miss Mysha, not you. You can't give him a Binding Command."

"Okay okay, so someone wants to play by the rules then?" Max turned to Mysha. "Mysha, command him to bow down to me and apologize."

"Max, you know I don't like Binding Commands." Mysha was stuck between his best friend and his Guardian. "You need to, kind of, calm down."

"Calm down? Your lowly ignominious slave dares call me names and you want me to calm down? This ugly monster has crossed the line today and he needs to be shown his place. He must be taught how to respect his masters."

Max's outburst was followed by an awkward silence. Everyone knew who had crossed the line. "Master Max, that day you asked Harbux why is it hard to wear the chains?" Harbux's every word felt like a hundred pins being poked into Max's body. "Harbux thinks now you know why. It gives some flawed humans total dominance over beings way more powerful than them and this absolute authority intoxicates them."

Harbux closed his fiery eyes—the next moment a handsome young man was standing there. His radiant face filled the whole place with its light. His flowing golden robe shone like rays of the sun. His physique was so perfect that he looked more than a human—maybe a Malak or even a Supreme if they ever took human forms. Harbux had never taken this avatar before.

He went down on one knee and bowed his head to Max. "You ordered an apology and Harbux will save his mistress the trouble of issuing a Binding Command. Harbux is sorry to hurt your feelings." Harbux stood up to leave the room but then stopped at the gate. "Master Max, power corrupts human minds. They just can't handle it. Remember, a very fine line separates a hero from a tyrant and when you demand an apology—from someone who cares for you—rather than earn it, you need to check on which side of the line you are."