‘Come Sarah, come join us, don’t be shy’ Dea said as she gestured Sarah, who was standing behind me shyly, holding on to my shirt.
‘I didn’t mean to interrupt Dea’ Sarah said to which Dea immediately answered, ‘no interruption at all!’
‘So, tell me, both of you, what are your plans for the future?’ Dea asked curiously as we sat down on the double sofa opposite Dea.
‘Well, we’ll take it a day at a time, there is still so much to learn about ourselves and each other and our combined abilities’ Sarah said confidently.
‘No marriage on the cards?’ Dea asked curiously. ‘None, as yet’ I answered as I held Sarah’s hand. ‘But, one day, definitely!’ Sarah said as she looked into my eyes. ‘Definitely!’ I said as we gazed into each other’s eyes, only to be interrupted by Dea, who jokingly said, ‘I wonder what James has been up to!?’ to which we all erupt in laughter.
Chapter 25 - Search for the Nectar of Immortality
After the White Flag Truce was signed by the Gods and Demons, this new truce superseded the earlier Peace Truce which had been broken by Balor. I sensed that with Kelly’s presence on Earth, the demons were now more cautious. There had been no new attacks on mortals and their demon activity was brought down to a bare minimum.
Kelly and I had become good friends. We would spend time going fishing, trekking all the routes in Cornwall and spending good old man-to-man talks with him, something I didn’t have earlier, being surrounded by women, in my recent years. Kelly had introduced me to his generals, Zephyr, the General of the West Winds, Alexi, the Protector of Mankind and Marin, General of the Seas. I was impressed that he had an army of one hundred thousand and expanding, though they were scattered across the globe, all Kelly needed to give was one distress signal and the others would be by his side. Dea had also begun to trust him and was allowed visitation rights into the Realm of the Gods. Mother, Nara and Sarah had also begun liking him and would also send pastries, through me, whenever we met. However, due to the immense protection placed in and around my premises and its surrounding land, Kelly was still off-limits. Mother told me that, ‘once a protection spell is in place, there is nothing which can break it. And, remember, Dea increased the potency of this protection. It’s all for the best. As much as we all like Kelly, the fact remains that he is a hybrid demon’
‘I have no issues with that and point noted’ I answered Mother. ‘Aidan, Dea wants to meet you and Kelly at the Realm of the Gods, she left a message saying that it was urgent. She specifically said that it’s just the two of you, Sarah need not come but you may tell her after the meeting’
‘Thanks Mother, I’ll get Kelly and we’ll leave as soon as possible. I wonder what the urgency could be?’ I said to myself.
I meet Kelly outside and within a matter of seconds; we are at the main entrance of Dea’s palace, a place where I had become accustomed to. Dea’s butler, Frank, greeted us with a smile and gestured us to sit while waiting for Dea.
‘Welcome, boys! It’s a pleasure both of you. Frank, get Aidan, our finest mead and Kelly, what would you like to have?’ Dea asked courteously.
‘I would take your finest red wine, ma’am’ Kelly answered politely.
Once Frank was out of sight, Dea turned to look at us and said, ‘the reason I called for a meeting is because …’
‘Because …?’ I looked at her, wide-eyed. ‘Because, I want the both of you to work together to located the Nectar of Immortality’ Dea finished her sentenced and looked at us. ‘Can we do it?’ she continued enthusiastically.
Kelly and I looked at each other and confidently answered in the affirmative. ‘Yeah, shouldn’t be a problem locating it, but what do you want us to with it once we have it?’ I asked curiously as Frank placed our drinks on the table.
‘Let’s not go that far. We must make sure the Nectar does not fall into the hands of the demons, no offence, Kelly’ Dea said as she looked at Kelly and continued, ‘I trust you with this task, that is why I called you here and more importantly, I trust you just as much as I trust Aidan’ Dea finished her sentence. ‘None taken’ Kelly answered with a wide smile.
Kelly looked at Dea, took a sip from his glass and said, ‘I am honored that you trust me. I shall not disappoint you and would not hurt you in any way’ Kelly said as he placed his glass back on the table.
‘Any clues on where we may locate this Nectar of Immortality?’ Kelly asked to which Dea replied, ‘the only clue I have with me is that it is located in a gigantic river encircling Mide. It is located deep within Mide and that no mortal has ever found it due to its depth. It is in a vial which emits a ray of golden light. That’s all the information I have. I’ll let you know if new information becomes available’ Dea said as she sighed.
‘Dea, we’ll find the Nectar, that’s definite’ I said. ‘It’s what’s going to happen after it is found that worries me, Aidan’ Dea said as she looked at me and smiled. ‘Please explain, you lost me Mide’ I asked Dea as she said, ‘it is said that whoever drank the vial would have eternal immortality. Since Gods are already immortal, drinking the nectar would enhance their longetivity while demons who drank the nectar, would be immortal, their demonic powers would enhance and they would go on a high, as mortals say’ Dea continued.
~~
Back on Earth, at The Art Café in Truro, Kelly and I began discussing about the Nectar and it’s possible location.
‘Mide means land, right?’ Kelly said as he asked me curiously. ‘Yeah’ I answered pensively. ‘You aren’t thinking of Sarah, aren’t you? I mean, I know you guys love each other and all, but we are supposed to be thinking about the possible locations of the Nectar!’ Kelly said as he patted my shoulder.
I laughed and answered, ‘Kelly, she is always on my mind. Actually, Mide could mean anywhere. All the realms have lands, but only Earth has one place which can be considered a gigantic river’ I answered as Kelly looked at me confused.
‘Where exactly?’ Kelly asked as he brought his head forward and rested one elbow on the table.
‘Atlantic Ocean’ I answered Kelly who then pulled his head back and said, ‘Atlantic Ocean?! What makes you believe it is there?
‘If you spread out the world atlas on a table, Atlantic Ocean does look like a giant river, passing through continents. I believe it’s there and somehow I’m sure of it’ I answered as Kelly said, ‘I’ll go with your guts, what do you want me to do, boss?’ Kelly asked playfully.
‘Get Marin to scan the Atlantic Ocean, its width and depth and let me know the details. I’ll decide from there’ I answered as Kelly paid the bill and we walked out of the café. ‘Keep me updated on your progress. I’ll get Sarah involved soon’ I answered.
‘Yes, boss!’ Kelly said as we bid farewell and walked in opposite directions. I headed home while Kelly walked into a secluded alley and disappeared into thin air.
~~
‘Hey, there you are!’ Sarah said as she hugged me as she greeted me at the doorway. ‘I hope your meeting with Dea went well’ Sarah continued as I held her waist sat her down on my lap.
‘Meeting was good. It was about the search for the Nectar of Immortality. Kelly would rope in Marin to locate the nectar, in the meantime, we wait’ I answered as Sarah moved and sat next to me. Mother and Nara walked in and said, ‘oh! you’re back. Guess what?! We saw these scarves and had to buy them for you. It’s made of wool and black and would blend in with Taran’ Mother says as she sits next to me and starts adjusting the scarf on my neck with Sarah wanting to burst out in laughter.
‘Sarah, I got this for Iris’ Nara said as she handed Sarah a wrapped bag. ‘What is it?’ Sarah asked as she opened the bag. Sarah lifted a knee length lace dress, with matching camisole. There was a slit on the right side of the lace. ‘I would really like to see you in that!’ I looked at the dress and at Sarah to see her cheeks turn crimson pink. Mother and Nara then asked, ‘do you like what we have got for you?’
‘Yes!’ Sarah and I answer in u
nison as Mother and Nara continue with their chatter and head to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Sarah, then turns towards and with her eyes flaming amber, she transforms into Iris, without the wings and stares at me. Iris then lifts up the dress Nara had bought and said to me, ‘one day … one day, you just wait!’ Iris said as I place her on my lap and hold her waists tightly. Her hair falls to my face and we are about to kiss passionately when Mother appears and says loudly, ‘dinner is served!’ as she clanged the pans at the kitchen doorway.
‘Oh! Iris, I didn’t know you were here, am I interrupting something?’ Mother says as Iris immediately transforms to Sarah, stood up, adjusts her dress and walks to the kitchen, blushing all the way.
‘Nothing at all’ I tell Mother as I stood up and walk behind Sarah and gently grabbing Mother and taking the pan away from her while trying not to laugh out loudly.
~~
After dinner, we had our dessert of cream cheese cake at the patio. Mother and Nara sat down on the swing while Sarah and I sat by the stairs.
‘What a year it has been!’ Nara said thoughtfully as she looked at Mother and I. ‘It’s glad that you two are here, at least I have company’ Nara continued.
‘You will always have us, Nara’ I answered as Mother gave her a side hug and I brought Sarah closer and gave her a side hug and kissed her on her forehead.
We remained silent. Sarah leaned her head against my chest and placed her arms around mine as I brought her tighter and closer towards me. Mother and Nara soon retired for the night and gave us our customary good night kisses.
Once they had left, Sarah asked, ‘can we stay here a bit longer?’ to which I answered, ‘as long as you want’
We sat there silently as Sarah drifted into sleep. I began thinking of where I had been and what I had become. I had been born as a mortal barbarian, trained in warfare and defense and I had killed many innocent people, thought some deserved their death. After my mortal parents had been killed by the Romans, I was adopted by Donal and after he passed on, I was alone. I didn’t have a woman to call my own and neither had I any friends who would be there for me.
All that had changed the day I passed on, Agrona had appeared to my soul as I lay dead on the ground where Erbin had, unexpectedly, struck a dagger into my stomach and thighs, stabbing me until he was certain I was dead. Agrona introduced me to Dea and my life changed forever after that. I was given the name Taran and assumed the role of the God of Thunder, unofficially, which had provoked Leucetius and Ambisagrus who took revenge on me soon after. I defeated them easily and then, I was given a thought provoking revelation that Leucetius was my true blood father. After Leucetius passing, I assumed my role as the legitimate God of Thunder. I had become the defender of mankind. My duty now, was not to kill but to protect the weak and the innocent. I had devotees too. Michael prayed constantly for Uncle Rain to come and we made occasional visits to Michael and his farm.
The woman, whom I had fallen in love with, was now sleeping beside me, a mortal named Sarah, but destined to be Iris, the messenger between mortals and Gods. Iris was The Protected One, who held the Eternity Amulet and would one day replace Dea’s role in the Realm of the Gods. I had made friends, with ghosts Jake and Savannah, who decided to move on and with a hybrid demon, Kelly. With our presence in St Just, Kelly and I had detected that demon activity had greatly reduced. Peace was now coming to St Just. I had finally found peace and a companion to call my own. Life is good!
Epilogue
On an oceanic tectonic plate located between the boundaries of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, a pale golden liquid in a transparent glass vial emitted a pale golden ray of light. The ray of light did not reach the surface and had no contact with sunlight. It was buried deep into a trench, twenty seven five hundred feet below Earth’s surface. It had been untouched for since the ocean was formed, mankind had not reached those depths to locate the vial. Mankind only knew of its existence after a United States Navy ship, USS Milwaukee discovered its depths in 1939. This area was now known as the Puerto Rico Trench, this trench is associated with a subduction zone to its south and a major fault zone which extends west between Cuba and the Cayman Islands. The beautiful island of Puerto Rico lies immediately to the south. This trench, if triggered, is capable of producing an Earthquake greater than 8.0 magnitudes and a tsunami. The search was now on for the vial which had eluded mankind, gods and demons. It was rumored that one who drank the Nectar of Immortality would live forever.
~~
‘I have heard rumors that the Gods have begun their search for the Nectar of Immortality’ Balor told Ambisagrus as Ambisagrus held his son for the first time.
‘Shhh … look at my boy! Isn’t he a handsome young one?’ Ambisagrus asked Balor as he held out his son to Balor, who reluctantly held him. Balor, being a bachelor, all his life, had no interest in kids and despised them.
‘Congratulations Ambisagrus! What’s his name?’ Balor asked curiously. ‘Loki!’ Ambisagrus said proudly as he kissed his wife, Lilith on her forehead. ‘He is a unique one, I know it!’ Lilith said as she looked at Balor.
‘Unique, how?’ Balor asked. ‘Unlike us, who only have two forms, human and our demon form, our son, is a shape shifter, he is able to transform from human to wolf and his true demon form in a matter of seconds’ Lilith answered Balor proudly as she looked at Ambisagrus.
Although Loki was just a few hours old, he was tall, about a meter in length, had blood-shot red eyes and fangs protruding from his mouth. Loki was born bald but the little hair on his head showed that it was going to be black. His eyes, like a demon, alternated between empty black and green. It was obvious Loki was not aware of the tremendous powers as he held on to his father. As Ambisagrus returned Loki to Lilith, looked at Balor and asked, ‘what is it you were saying? Something about the Gods?’
‘Yes, there are rumors that the Gods are looking for the Nectar of Immortality and Dea was said to have had a closed door meeting with Aidan and Kelly’ Balor told Ambisagrus, who was listening attentively.
‘Well, we will let the Gods look for it then! What’s the big deal? Once they have found it, we will follow them to its location and snatch it from them. I can’t read Aidan’s mind or those closest to him, but Kelly, the Cambion has been lying low. I assume he has returned to where he came from’ Ambisagrus said as he placed his hands on Balor’s shoulders, ‘what about the white flag truce?’ Balor asked. Ambisagrus turned and said excitedly, ‘now, let’s play with my boy!’ as they entered Lilith’s room and played with Loki.
~~
Kelly had returned to his army in Devon. They were preparing to move to St Just, although Marin sensed it was not going to be a permanent move.
‘Zephyr, Alexi and Marin, I have met and spoken to Aidan. Marin, he has a specific task for you’ Kelly said as he looked at Marin.
‘Yeah, go ahead, what’s the task?’ Marin asked curiously.
‘Aidan wants you to scan the Atlantic Ocean, line by line, inch by inch, its depth and width. Look for any abnormalities and let me know and I’ll convey the findings to him’ Kelly said as he looked at Marin with the two looking on. ‘Am I looking for anything?’ Marin asked Kelly.
‘Yes, you are searching for the Nectar of Immortality. It’s a huge task but it isn’t impossible!’ Kelly said as he answered Marin’s question. ‘That nectar has eluded us for ages, no one where it is! What makes you think it’s on Earth, that too, in the Atlantic Ocean, the second largest ocean in the world!’ Marin gasped as he raised his arms in the air.
‘Aidan has a hunch it’s there and I have to agree with him after flattening out the world atlas!’ Kelly said as he placed his hands on his waist. ‘There is no time limit, just keep me updated occasionally, that’ll be good!’ Kelly said as he patted Marin on the shoulders. ‘Zephyr and Alexi, you two can help each other out’ Kelly said as he instructed Zephyr and Alexi.
‘And, what will YOU be doing?’ Zephyr asked jokingly.
‘I’
ll be talking to our army. I’m releasing them, until further notice, all is calm now. It’s best they meet their families too. Then, I’m going for a holiday, in Playa de Roda. Sarah was praising the beach there. I want to check it and out and then, I’ll be back with you guys scanning the ocean floor!’ Kelly said as he looked at Zephyr, Marin and Alexi. ‘Any more questions?’ Kelly asked in a relaxed tone.
‘None!’ Zephyr, Alexi and Marin said in an authoritative tone, ‘Dismissed!’ Kelly said as all three of them relaxed and headed their own ways. ‘Hey, boys! We’ll have a farewell party tonight, let the army know. Tonight, we’ll celebrate peace!’ Kelly shouted as the three of them turned to face him and then hugged each other.
~~
‘The Nectar of Immortality belongs to the person who wears The Eternity Amulet. It is kept by the owner of the Eternity Amulet for safekeeping’ Pythia continued as she looked into the bowl of sacred water. ‘One is not complete without the other! Pythia said as she looked at Dea.
‘What if it falls into the hands of the demons?’ Dea asked, worried.
At that point, Pythia had come out of her trance-like state and was ushered out of the room. Dea, as left without an answer, once again.