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A Story in 4 Installments:
Lost Souls: Birth of the Messiah
Installment 3by David Brookes
Copyright 2001 All rights reserved
davidbrookesuk@yahoo.co.uk
Three weeks had passed. Such a short time to learn so much, Mikhyl Rhuzovich thought. He sat in the snow outside of the cave he had chosen to inhabit just inside the desert of the Netherworld. Raising his hand and looking through the semi-transparent skin he felt tears form.
"The skin was a vessel for the soul," he had heard someone say. An old Chinese proverb, perhaps. Now his skin and body was fading, the effects of his prolonged visit to this plane, this world-between-worlds. He wondered how he looked to other eyes.
He asked the angel so, who wandered nearby. The silver armor glittered in the faded light from the sun of the Earthly plane. "You appear like usual to me, Mikhyl," it said.
Rhuzovich had softened to the angel. His way of speaking was strange and unusual, but finally after a few weeks of knowing the being, it had started to call him by his first name. He remembered asking if the angel had a name, or even a sex - it had said they were things long left behind with it's body, long buried.
The angel's face didn't seem to lean either way, and while it looked feminine from one angle, it looked masculine from another. Rhuzovich decided that if he ever found out which, the angel would look fully like that of its gender to him.
"I don't seem discoloured? Transparent?"
"Slightly so, Mikhyl. But to me it is nothing I have not seen before."
"They are not common. That is why the beast hungers so - there is not enough food for it to devour."
Rhuzovich shuddered at the mention of the beast. He was supposed to destroy it, but how? What powers did he have against a thing that no one knew looked like? He repeated his thought for the angel.
"You will know it when you see it, Mikhyl. As the prophecy says."
And that ended the discussion for that time.
* * *
He didn't have to eat in this dimension. Food had become a distant, fond memory in Mikhyl Rhuzovich's mind, but he ignored the lingering hunger. A leftover from his Earthly needs, the Angel had told him. Phantom-hunger syndrome.
They wandered through the desert plane and looked up at the night stars, dimmed by the haze of the Netherworld.
Hissing suddenly entered his ears, sounded like it was coming from the inside of his head. He turned to the angel, who smiled. "You hear it also."
"What is it? Is it from this plane?"
"Beyond all plains. There is another part of the prophecy I have yet to discuss with you, Mikhyl . . ."
The lost soul ignored him, looking beyond his form towards the lighter end of the horizon. "It's like screaming," he said. "Moaning . . . But it's in my head."
"In your very being," the angel said. "It is the call of another lost soul."
Rhuzovich looked at the blue-skinned being and let the words sink in. Another lost soul . . .
He started running towards the distant sounds of the wailing. His feet made no sound against the ground but he had become accustomed and ignored it. Finally a faint figure could be made out, and the Angel, flying elegantly beside him, said it was the soul.
As they neared another form could be seen, a darker, frightening shadow against the horizon, the coming sun ready to pour out from the landscape and over them as night became dawn. The larger shape . . . Rhuzovich knew it immediately.
It was the beast.
The Angel said that the beast might vanish at the sight of it, but maybe not. It could be swayed by sudden out-numbering, but might also decide to over indulge itself and feed until its hunger neared quenching . . . They were all in danger.
The other lost soul was a young boy, about fourteen of age. He was on the ground, legs in front of him, arm outstretched as the monster advanced.
I am your destruction, it said into their souls, the voice filling their heads. Do not fear, child, you will be in a much better place than you are now!
It wavered for a second before pouncing, sensing the other souls present. It whirled around and began pacing towards Rhuzovich.
I know you, soul. You are the one, the one with the angel companion! Where is your escort, soul?
Rhuzovich noted the Angel was gone, but suddenly was with the boy, helping him to stand. He knew that the Angel was taking this lost soul to Heaven to be placed where he belonged.
The Lord of the higher plane believes you to be the Messiah, soul, is this not correct?
Rhuzovich didn't feel like talking to the giant shadow towering over him. It was gargantuan, a shifting mass of collected souls, a large open mouth with jagged teeth-like protrusions, eyes that glowed with colours, but at the same time colourless. He stepped forwards.
You meet me in battle? it chided. You are foolish, though I know your intent.
"Then you know I am destined to challenge you, beast."
I know.
And then the shadow-creature leapt at him, claws slicing at his face. Wind harsh and musty passed through him, and the beast stepped back.
I am capable of harming you, it said. But I may also pass through you. Only when you have existed in this plane as long as I will you be able to conquer me!
It lunged again, this time the shadows hitting Rhuzovich full force in his stomach, knocking him back. The creature lumbered over him, pouring the foul breath of dead souls over his being. It leaned back and prepared to strike . . . Rhuzovich felt power inside of him. Something like tears welling up in his stomach began to fill him, and it rose through his soul until it reached his skull, a searing half-pain that felt agonizing yet harmless to him at the same time.
Light poured from his mouth and eyes, washing over the beast's face, knocking it back. It cowered like a creature metres away, rubbing its face like a hurt dog.
What . . . What have you done? It cannot be!
Rhuzovich knew not what he had done, or how he had done it, but before he or the creature had any time to attack again, the Angel returned, its wings silvery in the autumn-dawn light, and advanced on the beast.
It began pacing backwards away from it, not in fear but in exhaustion. It looked pained and tired.
"Leave us be, monster," the Angel said, looking up at the massive creature. Tired and confused, it left.
The Angel looked to Rhuzovich and asked if he was hurt, and when he had a reply, said, "You have had your first victory. Be warned - there is much more to come."