‘I see I am entering a tunnel and …’
‘And …?’ I asked, only to see Sarah had opened her eyes and was staring at me, ‘I’m scared Aidan, there tunnel was on fire at the sides’ she continued as she huddled herself and looked down. I walked up to her, place my arms around her and give her a tight hug, ‘I experienced that too, it’s all mind over matter, it’s all an illusion, raise above the pain every time you touch the burning tunnel and … I’m always here for you, as Aidan and as Taran’ I say as I kissed her forehead and continued, ‘please try again’ as I walk back towards the rock, moved my overcoat aside and sat down with my left elbow on my knee. I looked at Jake, Savannah, Mother and Nara, who seemed disappointed that Sarah didn’t transform into Iris at her first attempt, ‘it’s her first time, give her a chance, please’ I asked of them and they all nodded in agreement as if they received my message.
This time, more determined before, Sarah closed her eyes and begins, ‘It’s all dark and I am approaching the tunnel, its flaming on all sides and spinning in a clockwise motion’
‘Enter the tunnel, Iris’ I instruct Sarah as she continues, ‘I am in the tunnel, it seems never ending … wait!’
‘What do you see?’ I asked curiously as I notice she has now stood up from the rock and is standing perfectly straight. ‘It’s me!’ she says excitedly, ‘but, she’s different!’
‘Different, how?’ I asked as I walk towards the standing Sarah, who has become oblivious to our presence. I see Savannah had huddled behind Jake and Jake was behind Nara, who was behind Mother.
Just before I could hold her, Sarah touched her left knee to the ground, and she looked up at me and said, ‘I am in a white flowing gown, it’s light and transparent, like lace, yet, it covers me fully and …’
‘And …’ I asked her as I stop in my steps, with my body standing in front of a bent Sarah.
Without warning, she stood up, her eyes flaming amber and she spreads her arms lengthwise, ‘I have wings!!’
There were indeed wings on Iris’ shoulders. ‘You are the messenger between mortals and Gods; you will have wings’ I tell her calmly. Mother and Nara rushed forward when Iris appeared but I stopped them as I held Iris down by her shoulder, careful not to damage her fragile wings. Our eyes locked, and her flaming amber against my flaming blue. The meeting of our eyes had emitted a ray of golden light behind us which shot straight up to the Realm of the Gods. As I held her shoulders, I could sense she was eager to fly, her powers were great, but my grip on her shoulders was stronger and I held her down firmly.
‘Iris’ I say as I gently release her shoulders and held her face in my palms, ‘we will fly to the Realm of the Gods to meet Dea … calm down’
I turned behind and signaled Mother and Nara to meet us at the Realm of the Gods. As Jake and Sarah were spirits, they could not follow us there. They opted to stay at my cottage and wait for us. ‘She is beautiful, isn’t she?’ Jake said as he looked at Iris, admiringly. Savannah stood behind with her arms holding on to Jake, she was open-mouthed and was speechless. I move to hold Iris by her waist and she caresses my cheek and says, ‘I can fly, you know’
I look at her and say, ‘I know you can fly and I will let you fly to the Realm of the Gods, but we don’t know your capabilities yet’
‘We will know once you let me go’ Iris tells me as she kisses my cheek. Sarah as Iris was more loving and eager to love, which took me by surprise, ‘She is really beautiful and powerful’ I thought to myself to which I receive a reply, ‘you have always said that, always beautiful, always protecting’
I looked at her, shocked and say, ‘I can read your mind!! And you can read mine!’
‘Yes, it’s wonderful isn’t it; can we start now, please?’ Iris said as she locked her arms around my arm.
Using the ray of light as a path, I told a calmed down Iris, ‘yes, we can … follow the ray of light to the Realm of the Gods, I’m behind you’
Iris touched my right cheek and said, ‘I love you, as Aidan and as Taran’ as she kissed me lightly on my lips. I kissed her once on her forehead and once on her lips and said, ‘I love you too dearest, as Sarah and as Iris’
‘Let’s race to the top then!!’ Iris said excitedly as turned and looked upwards towards the ray of light and within a fraction of a second, she shot upwards, leaving me behind, ‘wait up!!’ I shout as I follow her behind.
~~
Sarah’s transformation to Iris had caused a tremor at the Realm of the Gods which had caused fear among the Gods and Goddess. The Gods and Goddess came to Dea, asking for an explanation.
‘Dea, what’s happening?’ Arawn said. ‘Is this connected to Taran?’
‘Gather around everyone, the tremor we received just now, signaled the meeting of The Chosen One and The Protected One, there is nothing to fear, please disperse to your palaces’ Dea said as she motioned everyone out of the Stately Hall. ‘Details will be given in due time, but for now, please be patient’
Mother and Nara had arrived after the crowd had dispersed. Nara said excitedly, ‘Sarah has transformed, Iris will be coming with Taran! Please bless them Dea’ to which Dea said, ‘calm down Nara, I know they have met’
‘That tremor caused a scare here, didn’t it?’ Mother asked as she looked at Dea worriedly. ‘Yes, we will have to make an official announcement later. The tremor was caused as The Chosen One is now with The Protected One. They are together and nothing can separate them now’
Emerging from the Western Estates where the ray of light ended was Taran and a beautiful maiden with wings on her shoulders. They walked calmly towards Dea as Dea greeted them at the stairway of the palace.
Mother and Nara stood on either side of Dea. Nara gestured Iris to bow down, as a mark of respect towards Dea, which Iris gracefully did. ‘Ah! Iris, you have finally arrived. Welcome, welcome!’ Dea said as she hugged Iris tightly. ‘Taran, it’s good to have you back as well’ Dea said as she gave me a hug and kissed my cheeks.
‘Come dear, let me have a look at you’ Dea said as she gestured Iris to stand up. Iris stood perfectly straight and looked Dea straight into her eyes and said, ‘you feel pain, why?’ while her amber flamed eyes had now changed to a striking red flame. I immediately recognized the change and placed my arms around Iris’ shoulders, which takes her by surprise. Iris, who had stood perfectly straight was now hunching slightly and her wings began to wither. Iris’ question took everyone by surprised and Nara held Iris’ arms and said, ‘Iris!’
‘It’s alright Nara. I’ll answer your question next time but now it’s my turn to ask the questions, is that understood?’ Dea said sternly. Iris looked towards me, as I nodded and told her, ‘Iris, be good!’ as I stood behind Iris.
‘I should have known!’ Dea said exasperated with her hands up in the air, turned her back and began walking away, ‘known what?’ I asked curiously as a stunned Iris looked at me. Dea then pulled me aside and said, ‘A demon has possessed Iris, obliterate the demon and bring her to me for a cleansing process afterwards. You knew she was possessed, didn’t you?
‘Dea, I couldn’t read her mind as Sarah and sure can’t as Iris but she did read my mind, consider demon obliterated!’ I say as I walk towards a fuming Iris. Dea turned and looked at me as she stopped a short distance away, ‘one cannot live without the other. Iris is still new and could be easily influenced by evil forces at this stage, I would suggest you let her release the tension and anger that has built up inside her and Taran, she is your weakness now. Bring Iris to me, once again, after she has calmed down, remember, Iris has been dormant for too long’
‘Dea, Sarah or Iris is my weakness to you and to other but she is also my strength’ I look at Dea who gives me a warm smile.
‘I will get your rooms ready for the overnight stay. Once, she is ready, we will make an announcement, I don’t want the other Gods and Goddess jumping to conclusions and speculating unnecessarily’ Dea said as she held my arms. ‘Come, Marella and Nara, we have a lot to
talk about this time, it’s been a while since I sat down to a good chat’
~~
Once Mother, Nara and Dea had left, I turned to Iris and said angrily, ‘what was that all about?’ to which Iris answered, ‘she is hiding her emotions, she is always in pain, I don’t know why. Do you know what pain is?’ as her voice changed from a sweet voice to that of a demon.
I grabbed Iris’ hand and in an instant we are at the Eastern Fieldss. Iris was resisting, scratched and bit me in a bid to escape, but I held her firmly. It was clear Iris had become an angry spirit as her soul lay dormant in Sarah’s body. Her angry spirit was now possessed by a demon. Once the demon was obliterated, the true Iris would remain, Sarah’s Iris.
I pushed Iris down and immediately a bloodthirsty red-eyed demon sprang from Iris’ body. The demon was on its hind legs and its horns were as sharp as a sword. It bore similarities to a dragon with huge serpent like tail and body. It had huge wings, like a bat. As Sarah lay motionless on the ground, Iris was gone as the wings disappeared. The demon looked at me but protected Sarah’s body. The demon then said, ‘what would you do if I harmed the woman?’
I placed my shield around Sarah and with both arms outstretched, palms facing out; I flashed flaming fires in a continuous straight line, impacting the demon at its stomach, bringing it to the ground. The demon looks at me, stunned, ‘you are not from the lair of demons, WHO ARE YOU?’
‘I am Caliban but you can call me Kelly’ the demon said as I answered, ‘Caliban? Kelly?’
‘Yes, I am an offspring of a demon father and mortal mother, our race is known as Cambion’ Kelly elaborated as he transformed to his human form. In his human form, he was a man, as tall as me in height, with jet black shoulder length hair, which was tied in a pony tail. He wore a black overcoat, similar to mine when I became Taran. He wore dark sunglasses and when I asked him to remove his sun shades; his eyes were green with shades of black. ‘Why do you wear sun shades when you have normal human eyes?’ I asked curiously. His green eyes suddenly became black, as if a black cloud had come over the green eyes, ‘that’s why’ Kelly answered as he said, ‘humans get scared when they see that and hence, the sun shades’. Kelly did have a mystical aura, one that was a gentle and soft human being and the demon side of him, which was the dominating aura.
‘Why did you enter that woman?’ I asked as I pointed to Sarah, still lying motionless on the floor. Kelly fell down to my feet and held onto my legs.
‘That woman’s scent is amazing. The aroma is just sooo …’ Kelly said as he began to drool. I picked him up and flamed my eyes striking red and warned him, ‘keep away from her and Iris!’
‘Ah! Iris is a pleasant woman, so beautiful too, but she was dormant for so long she didn’t know how to fight and submitted to me without resistance but nothing happened, I just wanted the body, not the soul’ Caliban continued as he thought of Iris while looking at me. ‘You wanted the body and nothing happened?’ I asked furiously. ‘Yeah, yes, believe me, nothing happened, I wanted the body, to feel what it’s like being a Nephele, but without the soul of Iris, even the body was useless. I have a mortal form and I didn’t occupy her body permanently as I have a mortal body of my own’ Kelly continued pleadingly.
I was stumped and didn’t know what to do. Kelly was unlike any other demon I had known, he intrigued me and for once, I felt that there was hope and Gods and Demons could be friends. ‘Iris won’t be dormant anymore! Keep away from her! With her full capabilities, we could exterminate your race in a second!!’ I tell him sternly.
‘Please have mercy on me! I will do your every bidding and will not harm you or your woman anymore, Sarah or Iris, whoever she is! We are an extinct race. Please have mercy!’ Kelly said as he fell and held onto my legs, which surprised me as other demons moved aside when I came near them. Kelly didn’t tingle as he held me. ‘You don’t feel a burning sensation when you are near me?’ I asked curiously, this fellow was full of surprises. His grip on my leg was tight but with one kick, I could easily overpower him.
‘Noo, I am unlike other demons. Only Gods can destroy our race, other demons are no match to us. We can slash and burn them and if we get injured, we have the capability to heal ourselves. We can destroy them, but they can’t touch us, one of us equal to one hundred of them. Unlike other demons, when we transform, we have the ability to breathe fire and fly, although, we can’t catch up with God’s speed when it comes to flying, which other demons don’t have’ Kelly said as he held on to my shirt, still frightened.
Dea then slid down gracefully next to me and patted my back, ‘Stay here and don’t move!’ I instructed Kelly. Sarah was also showing signs of consciousness. We both walked towards her and when she awoke, ‘where am I? Aidan, what happened?’
‘Shh, we’ll talk later, love … stay near me. I want you to meet Caliban … Kelly’ I told Sarah who looked at me quizzically, ‘Cali … who? Kelly?’ as I brought Sarah to Kelly.
‘Sarah, this is Kelly and Kelly, this is Sarah’ I introduced them with Dea standing behind, observing Kelly and his every move.
‘Ma’am’ Kelly said as he bowed down and took Sarah’s hand and kissed it. I glared at him, while Kelly said, ‘ma’am, I apologize for my uncalled for intrusion. I assure you, I will not harm you or Iris anymore’
‘Sarah’ Sarah said as she took out her from Kelly’s grip and came closer to me and looked at me. ‘I’ll explain everything. We are at the Realm of Gods now; this demon had possessed Iris in you. If only I can read your thoughts, love!’ I thought to myself. Sarah looked at me, gasped and whispered, ‘I heard everything you said. He possessed Iris, which means I can try again to be Iris. Oh God, this is too much’ Sarah thought to herself and for the first time, I heard and read her thoughts. We looked at each other, surprised at the sudden revelation.
‘Stay here Kelly … we’ll be back’ I told Kelly sternly as I looked towards Dea. The three of us moved aside.
‘Dea, thank the Lords, you are here. I couldn’t kill him. I didn’t want to kill. He could prove useful to us, if not now, later’ I told Dea who shook her head and said, ‘Aidan, you know we don’t make alliances with demons. We had a truce with them and Balor broke it. They are lying low and somehow I sense that this fellow is different. And you feel we should give him a chance?’
‘Yes, who knows, he could be our greatest ally. And, if he does play us out, I could easily destroy him and his race. Please, Dea. I will be responsible for him and his actions’
‘You have a point there and you have my blessings but please let this remain with the four of us and Sarah, you need to show the true Iris to us. Iris is much awaited’ Dea said as she held Sarah’s cheeks.
‘Dea, Iris will be here tomorrow, I assure of you that’ Sarah said as she hugged and kissed Dea. ‘Aidan, can I leave with Dea, I’m feeling drowsy, and I need more rest’ Sarah said as she looked at me. I nodded and kissed her on her forehead before Dea held Sarah’s hand and they vanished into a cloud of mist.
I walked towards Kelly who was kicking a fire ball on the ground, making sure that the fire ball didn’t touch the surface. ‘Kelly!’ I say as we face each other. ‘Yes sir!’ he said as he stood straight and gave me a salute. ‘That salute and the salutations won’t be necessary anymore. I’ll let you live, for now. Maybe, just maybe, we can work together, what do you say? Friends?’ I tell him as I give him my outstretched hand which he gladly accepts and say, ‘Friends!! Wooo hoooo!!’
We gave each other a hug and then he asks, ‘can I stay to watch your woman becoming Iris? Please?’ to which I reply, ‘yeah, that shouldn’t be a problem. Come tomorrow. You can’t stay here, for obvious reasons, but back on Earth, you are most welcome to my humble abode and what was that stuff about pain when you met Dea for the first time?’ to which Kelly replied, ‘Ah, that, I was pulling her legs, but she is hiding something, for sure, I can sense it am surprised you couldn’t’ Kelly said as he looked at me, surprised. ‘Who are you anyway?’ Kelly asked curiou
sly. ‘I heard that woman calling you Aidan, but I haven’t heard of any God named Aidan’
‘That woman has a name, Sarah is her mortal name and Iris is her true form. Aidan is my mortal name and Taran is what they call me here’ I answered to his bewildered look. ‘Taran, THE God of Thunder, THAT Taran??’
‘Yeah, that’s me’ I answered with a wide smile. ‘Oh God! I knew I shouldn’t have messed around with Iris, I had a strange feeling when I entered her, but you, I have heard of Taran … the mention of your name and all the demons, my race and others would run in all directions!! Look, I didn’t mean to harm Sarah or Iris, really am’ Kelly says apologetically.
‘Point noted. So, I’ll see you here tomorrow and back on Earth and how is it you are capable of staying this long on the Realm of Gods’ I asked him.
‘I’ll be here tomorrow and definitely back on Earth. Well, as for I can be here for so long, I am thankful and grateful to you for that. Your mercy and kindness is truly appreciated’ Kelly says with a wide grin as he transformed into his true form and fly with the speed of light back to Earth.
~~
The next day, Sarah, who was sleeping in room next to mine, was up, bright and early. She knocked on room door and we walked down together to the dining hall. Mother, Nara and Dea were already seated and gestured for us to be seated and have a hearty breakfast.