Chapter Eighteen

The Two Bridges

To live forever is not always a blessing

Vasilias

Bliss (Sky Chamber) EarthYear 1978

Vasilias sat down on one of the golden chairs in the Sky Chamber. Tears were streaming down her great-granddaughter's face. Elizabeth was the best choice, there was no second opinion about that, but Vasilias was having a hard time explaining the situation to her mother.

"My child, guarding these worlds is my responsibility. If war reaches the shores of Bliss, we all will end up in Inferna. And once those Dark Souls take over the Earth, you can forget about seeing Bliss ever again. This whole magnificent system set up by the Supremes will be destroyed. Remember, we had taken a vow to protect this Symphony at all costs."

Cylia glared at Vasilias. "Why should my daughter risk her very existence for some lofty vows taken by his ancestor."

Vasilias's face turned crimson. The fury in his eyes burned into Cylia's flesh. "Stop being a selfish witch. That vow has helped our families rule these worlds for a millennium. Our generations after generations have seamlessly ascended to the Hereafter because of that vow. And now you feel the price is too high because you have to make a small sacrifice."

"That vow made you eternal in Bliss. Do you really worry about these worlds or are you sacrificing your child just to save your kingdom?"

Vasilias raised his hand to slap Cylia but got hold of himself. When he spoke his voice was barely audible. "To live forever is not always a blessing, you will not understand that. You can't even guess how much I want to leave for the Hereafter but I can't. And you know the reason."

"I know the reason, and that is the very reason for this whole rebellion. Holy Father, this can't go on forever. For your own sake, you need to find some other solution."

"These things are way beyond your understanding, so leave it to those who know how to deal with it."

"For Creator's sake, handle these things however you want, but don't send my daughter back to Earth," Cylia pleaded. "Choose anyone else. There are hundreds of your descendants present in Bliss. Send me if you want."

"Cylia you were a very apt Scion on Earth, but you come nowhere close to Liz. She is the best choice, our last hope."

Cylia stood up and stamped her foot so hard it shook the whole Sky Chamber. She was one of those rare Scions whose powers had not diminished in Bliss. She stared into the eyes of her forefather and Vasilias could now see why people feared her anger during her reign on Earth. "Believe me, my revered Father, I will revolt against you. I will bring down your empire."

Vasilias had had enough. He slowly walked towards his Scion and hissed in her face. "Your threats don't bother me. I will do what is necessary. Liz is going back to Earth, whether you like it or not. Great legacies are built on sacrifices and some vows must never be broken."

Vasilias had a long last look at her great-granddaughter, and then he disappeared from the Sky Chamber with a loud whoosh. Cylia sunk to the floor, sobbing hysterically. She had tried her best but to no avail. A dangerous future now awaited her daughter where any mistake could consign her to eternal darkness.

***

Mysha

Earth (The Mainland) EarthYear 1998

The aftereffects of Harbux's outburst of the previous day still lingered in Richmond. Everybody was having their breakfast in pin-drop silence as if someone had died. Max tried to break the ice. "Let me tell you, we need to reach out to other Pieteous Scions and seek their support. I have already started my research on how to contact the RightHearts."

Brendon put down his fork on the table. "I've been lookin' at the pictures n clips of Roger Hardhomme, the former Supreme of Australia, but nothing's clicked so far. Absolutely nothin'."

"Seriously? Why were you doing that?" Tri asked.

"I'm tryin' to remember somethin' about my last birth. Harbux said Souls store memories, but I couldn't find a single memory of Roger inside me."

In a complete departure from her normal routine, Olivia was still in the same dress she had worn the day before. She was fidgeting with the golden chain around her neck when Brendon's wayward comment caught her attention. "My boy, Souls store only their own memories. What made you think that you will have Roger Hardhomme's memories?"

"Jeez, ya're so slow. Mysha's Elizabeth, the last Hazernoth ruler who leaped just before she was born. The last Hardhomme ruler who leaped before my rebirth was Roger, so it's obvious that I'm him."

"I can't believe this. Too much thinking may cramp your little brain but I didn't know it doesn't even have space for a little general knowledge," Tri said while polishing her nails. "You, the ruler of Australia? Honestly, that would have been a huge disaster."

"I've certainly got some royal qualities that I'll show ya some other time, but did I miss a very obvious point?"

Harbux was still not ready to talk so Max had to give the monotonous lectures. "For someone's information, Australia and America are not ruled by the Scions of Pieteous. America scrapped that policy when the historic Vasilias Bridge caused its rapid development. Australia followed suit a few cycles later."

"But why'd they do so?"

"Scions had a lot of secret responsibilities and as rulers, they got so engrossed in worldly matters that they were unable to pay attention to them. So King Albert Windster split up the two things. He crowned his younger son Alfred the king and made his elder son Arthur, the one with true powers and Soulments, the chief of the Holy Army. Now there are two distinct lineages in America and Australia, the Rulers and the Scions."

"Like the Healers n the Wardens in India? Jeez, that's why nothin' connected. Coz I was lookin' in the wrong place. I should've been searchin' about the chief of the Holy Army of Straya."

Max shook his head. "Someone should listen to the whole story before jumping to conclusions. For someone's information, some decades ago in America, a few fanatics, who were against the Symphony of Souls, assassinated the chief of the Holy Army. They believed that if they killed the Scions all the Soulments would be gone and this whole system would collapse."

"Strewth, then what happened?"

"Of course, the system can't collapse due to such incidents but the Scions became more cautious. Since then the chief of the Holy Army is just a face. The real person works behind the scenes. Only a selected few know his identity. And the same is true for Australia too."

"My boy, it is not necessary that only a Pieteous Scion can be chosen for the Pente Potens," Olivia further elaborated on Max's point. "The five Pieteous can choose any of their direct descendants present in Bliss, the person they think would be the most suitable to wield their powers, and send him to Earth."

"If that's true then how was Harbux so sure that Mysha's the reincarnation of Elizabeth? She could've been anyone else."

Harbux was still grumpy. He had been prohibited by Mysha from going out of the cottage so he stayed put in the farthest corner of the room. He did his best not to hear, he practically put fingers in his smoky ears to turn himself away from this discussion but the questions kept reaching his ears. He put his palms over his mouth to keep it shut but couldn't stop Professor Matthews from making an entry. "Elizabeth's opponent called her the old hag, the witch, the demoness but no one could deny the fact that she was the strongest leader of the Mainland after Vasilias himself. The Iron Lady. Dominating, ferocious, absolutely ruthless, but very firm and dedicated to the cause."

Mysha, is that why you banned Harbux from going out? Your trick worked.

Yes, Mystic, I hate to give him a binding command but I knew he couldn't stop himself from showing off.

Mysha, Besides showing off, the Soulments are bound to tell their masters everything they know. They can't hide anything, can't keep secrets.

Yes Mystic, and that is why Harbux's knowledge becomes his weakness. He has to tell what he knows and can't avoid the discussion.

Mysha looked at his Guardian and raised an eyebrow. "Harbux, was this a praise or an insult?"

"It depends on which side you are. But Elizabeth was the most obvious choice for Vasilias."

"Let me tell you something, if you read about Elizabeth you will see that someone still has a lot of Elizabeth within her. Their profiles match perfectly." Max immediately regretted his statement because he knew what was about to come.

Bredon gleefully accepted the full toss offered by Max and hit it out of the stadium. "Crikey, you mean to say that'er bossy behavior, bad temper, contempt for others, violent streak, n horrible manners, aren't new? She's been messed up since'er last birth. Jeez Max, if that's true then ya poor girlfriend deserves our sympathy."

Mysha glared at Max. "For God's sake Max, if I am that bad why the hell do you stick around me?"

Max came running near his girlfriend. "Mysha, I didn't say that. It was Brendon." He had just returned to his full health, barely got any quality time with Mysha and the last thing he wanted was to irk her.

"Well, he just put your thoughts into words. Max, go to hell." Mysha stormed out of the cottage. Max made an angry gesture towards Brendon and hurried behind her.

Tri threw a cushion at Brendon. "You are wicked."

Brendon gave a triumphant smile. "Strewth, that's so satisfyin'. Now Harbux, how'll I find out who I was in my last birth."

"Harbux doesn't think it is possible. Even if we somehow find out who you were, your children might not be as accommodating as Alexander."

"Then how'll we get the help of other Pieteous Scions?"

"Seriously? When will you unpack your brain and start using it? Only Alexander can get us help from other Holy Armies. He has to reach out to the remaining Pieteous families, Scion to Scion. For this, Mysha needs to carefully handle her son. Honestly, it would be a great help if you stop pissing her off."

***

Mysha fixed another appointment with the King of the Mainland. Tri got a chance to see Buckingham Palace for the first time and she was stumped by the extravagance.

Alexander was waiting for them in his office."That is bad news but if you see the brighter side, this means we have fewer demons to worry about here," Alexander said when Mysha told him about the Hubbert incident in India.

"Well, it is not us and them. We all are in this together."

Alexander switched on the television in his office. A large crowd was shouting slogans near the American end of the Vasilias Bridge. They were holding placards that read Death to the King, Mainlanders go back and some spicier ones were laced with a heavy dose of profanities.

"See, I already have a lot on my plate."

"Who are these people?"

"Protestors. They think the Mainland constantly interferes in American affairs and gobbles up its resources. We are somehow responsible for all their plights. Pathetic. It is all a conspiracy."

"Why don't you just kind of ignore them? They will shout and then disperse."

"No, they are planning a massive protest on 30th September."

"Anything special on 30th September?"

"It is the birth-anniversary of Henry, the first person to revolt against the Pieteous. They want to raise their voice against oppression, like their hero Henry, by cutting off America from the Mainland. They are looking to block the Vasilias Bridge and the Sherwin Bridge. "

"Well Alex, you must concentrate on the Soulments. I am sure Hubberts are planning something big."

"Mysha, can you bring my mother to the fore? She handled many such crises during her time. People didn't call her Iron Lady for no reason. How would she deal with this?"

"I don't remember much about then, but right now I would send my most iron-fisted general there to nip this in the bud. Lock their leader up and scare the hell out of him. You don't want this to blow out of proportion."

"Strewth, truly spoken like the blood-thirsty witch," Brendon said tongue-in-cheek. "Violent streaks never go away."

"Mister My-tongue-is-a-wild-beast, if I do someday turn into a blood-sucking witch, I will stick my teeth into you first."

"Sweetie, I know ya wanna have a taste of me but this isn't the right place to express ya naughty feeelin's," Brendon said in his most licentious tone.

Alexander stopped Mysha from having another go at Brendon. "Okay, I will appoint General Fairfax to look after this matter." He picked up his phone and pressed a button. "Hello. Call General Fairfax and ask him to meet me tonight... Yes, tonight... Listen, I want to see him tonight even if he is vacationing with his family on the moon. And if he fails to arrive tonight tell him he is going to Inferna. Am I clear? Now get to work idiot," he shouted into the receiver and slammed it down.

"Jeez, ya son has inherited ya temper."

Mysha took a deep breath and tried to stick to the topic. "Well Alex, we need to meet the other Pieteous families and chalk out a plan against these Hubberts."

"Yes, I am about to meet the Windsters in Washington in the first week of October. You and your friends can join me there. I would have arranged the meeting earlier, but the environment is not suitable for such talks right now. Let me handle these protests first."

"Can't we do something low-key? Kind of just me and my friends going there and having a secret meeting."

"Lately, our relationship is too formal and they won't entertain offers of any low-key meetings. Our best bid is to go through these channels. I don't think you remember, but it was you who drafted this SSCT and made America, Australia, and the African Coastals sign it."

"What is SSCT?"

"Soulment Sharing and Containment Treaty. Everything regarding Soulments, the sharing of the Armies of Unseens, containment of the rogue ones, and all the anti-Soulment weapons and technologies, has to be shared through official channels of the Holy Armies. Everything must be written, agreed and signed upon. Now there is a lot of red tape."

Mysha sighed. "Why the hell did I create all this mess?"

"You couldn't let RightHearts walk away with all the gold and petroleum they got from India. The Soulment deal was an agreement between all Pieteous families so everyone must share the kickbacks. You arm-twisted RightHearts, Windsters, Hardhommes, and Sunbornes into signing many clauses which they didn't agree with."

"Jeez, sins of past haunt ya even in ya next life. Someone's now fallin' in the holes she'd dug for others."

Mysha, why did you bring this moron with you?

Mystic, Brendon is a Poten and I can't leave him behind.

Why don't you put tape on his mouth before taking him with you?

Mystic, I will surely keep it in mind for the next time.

"Well, my dear son," Mysha said flashing her cute-innocent-baby-smile that was reserved for asking favors. "Will you please push hard to get a meeting fixed, with the Windsters and the Hardhommes, as early as possible."

"Surely I will, my dear mum."

***

Septembers were wet, but the September of 1998 unleashed the rain with some vengeance. There was some unprecedented rainfall during the month and the masses were quick to link it with their beliefs. People associated the downpour with Soulments and the internet was flooded with legends about the Reckoning, its omens, and its signs. Some facts mixed with wild fantasies.

Television shows started giving Reckoning theorists good air time to rack up their TRPs. Some of them reported a few bizarre incidents and tied them to the demons. The technology boom had made people forget the paranormal, the Hereafter, and many had even started to doubt the existence of Bliss but as the date of the Reckoning came closer, people's interest was renewed in these stories.

The weather relented in the last week of September and its last few days were very pleasant. Crystal clear skies, no clouds, no winds, and perfectly bearable temperatures. But that was the last thing the Holy Armies needed. A good climate meant larger crowds for the protests near the Vasilias and Sherwin Bridges.

General Fairfax's vacation in the Scottish Highland was ruined by this sudden call of duty. He was in a foul mood when he summoned his subordinate into his office inside the Army headquarters overlooking the Vasilias Bridge.

"Commander, you asked for me?" Captain Shepherd asked saluting his boss.

"What is the situation out there?"

"A few hundred people looking to block the bridge at midnight. I talked to the Captain on the other side and he said that they have received orders to let them vent their anger for a few hours and disperse them in the morning."

"Don't they think the situation will get out of control?"

Shepherd pointed to the television in the office that was showing the live news feed from the bridge. "They look pretty harmless, sir. Some frustrated people, nothing serious."

"You never know what lurks behind these innocuous faces." Fairfax picked a file and gave a photo to Shepherd. "Keep looking out for him."

"Holy Five's Blessings, who is he?"

"He or rather they are an enigma. A Soulment, or rather the leader of some very dangerous rogue Soulments. Our king says he is enemy number one. Why the hell are you looking so shocked? Have you seen him?"

"I am seeing him right now," Shepherd said pointing to the television. A young man, tall and muscular with deep green eyes was addressing the crowd.

"Hubbert. One of them is right there."

"Commander, are you sure he is a Soulment? He looks so human. Is he a level five?."

"This is magic beyond our understanding. Damn." Fairfax slammed his hand on the table. "Now I get it. Tonight is the Dark Night. These protests are just a pretext. Hubbert is behind all this. We have to stop him. Are those new Anti-Soulment guns from India ready?"

"Yes, they are always on standby."

"Will they be able to hit the targets across the strait?"

"Yes, but they are meant to target human-free areas. Their shells shoot out iron shrapnel to annihilate Soulments that could prove fatal for humans as well."

Fairfax came near the television screen and started scanning the faces on the news feed. "If Hubbert is here there could be many more Soulments amongst the crowd in human form."

"We can send our Armies of Unseens to check that out."

"No. If he intercepts any other Soulments he will set off what he has planned and flee. We can't take the risk."

"So what do we do?"

"Wait outside. Let me talk to the king. He has to take the call."

Five minutes later Fairfax stormed out of his cabin and rushed towards the command room. Shepherd came running behind him. The room had many control panels and screens and ten officers there were monitoring the controls.

"Lock our guns at the protest location across the bridge," Fairfax ordered.

Every head in the room turned towards Fairfax. "Commander, are you sure?" Shepherd asked.

"I just talked with the king. He said we can't let him slip. He is sure there are many more like him in the crowd."

"But there are hundreds of clueless people there. There will be massive casualties."

"We have intel that the whole protest ground is covered with explosives. He is just waiting for more people to gather there to blow them all up. These people are dead one way or the other, but we can't let this demon slip from our hands."

"Commander, the target is across the border. We may end up starting a war with America."

"Officer, our king, the son of the Iron Lady says he knows how to beat the Windsters into submission. Slaying these Hubberts is our top priority right now. Are the guns ready?"

"Yes sir. Ready to fire," one of the lieutenants shouted.

"On my command, fire them all at once. No one should escape." Fairfax looked at the screens behind the control panel that were displaying images from the protest ground. Hubbert was still addressing the protestors. Fairfax tightly shut his eyes. "It's time to act." He opened his eyes and shouted, "Fire."

His Lieutenants pressed the buttons. Tens of missiles flew across the strait. However, Shepherd's eyes fell wide open when he saw what happened on the screen. The moment Fairfax shouted fire, Hubbert disappeared from the crowd. One moment he was there and the next he was gone. Vanished in thin air. Shepherd rubbed his eyes and scanned the screen again. He wasn't dreaming, Hubbert wasn't there. He turned around to ask Fairfax what were they supposed to do now but the commander wasn't there in the room. Just like Hubbert, he had disappeared without a trace.

The innocent protestors were still trying to make sense of where their leader had suddenly vanished and were oblivious to the death flying towards them.

Shepherd trembled as he saw the shells simultaneously hit different parts of the ground. Many people were blown away directly by the explosions. Hundreds of others were pierced by thousands of iron shrapnel thrown up by these bombs. Ear-shattering explosions shook the Earth and the sky. That was followed by a ghostly still. The silence of shock, grief, and death. And then the agonizing cries of the injured filled the air. But hundreds of people didn't even get a chance to scream when death ambushed them in the most gruesome way.

Shepherd's head was spinning. He held onto a table for support. He had been foxed, and how. He had no idea how he was going to explain what just happened. He had been at the front and center of the biggest human tragedy of this millennium.