Apotheosis of the Immortal (46 page)

Chapter 93

Khalid was completely
overwhelmed by guilt; he had just betrayed one of his oldest friends and now he had to face him. It wasn’t going to be easy to explain why he had just given an outsider the very thing they had guarded with their lives for the last few millennia, or how there was a fair chance it would end up in Adol’s hands.

Khalid took a deep breath and walked back into the house, his heart pounding. Arhan was in the library; he was leaned back in an armchair reading a book. He turned and looked at Khalid as the door slammed behind him.

“Khalid, I already told you there is nothing I can do. You know how sacred and dangerous that rite is. I really wish I could help, but I’m sorry.” Arhan’s voice was firm but apologetic.

Khalid’s face was somber as he hung his head in shame. Tired and sad, he said, “I’m sorry, Arhan. I had to; I couldn’t let Emira die. I couldn’t lose her.”

Arhan jumped to his feet; shock and fear suffused his face as he ran to a bookshelf and opened a copy of
Of Mice and Men
. He flipped through the pages frantically, but didn’t find what he was looking for.

“What have you done, Khalid?” Arhan’s voice was shaking. He ran to the door, looking for Elijah, but saw nothing.

“He’s gone, and you’ll never catch him; he’s too fast.” Khalid’s tone was still apologetic but certain.

“I hope you understand, there will be serious repercussions for what you have done here.” Arhan turned from the door, running his fingers through his hair as he spoke. “I have to call the council. You sit, and stay right here. I can’t help you; after what you’ve done, you will have to face the council’s judgment.” His voice vibrated with anger and frustration.

Arhan walked into the living room across from the library and retrieved a telephone. Khalid listened while he made one call after another. He said it was an emergency and called for an immediate council meeting.

Khalid knew where they would meet. It wasn’t far, and was actually on the way back to Virginia. With a lot of luck he could convince his brothers to help him before handing down their judgment, if for no other reason than to retrieve the ME. He knew he would probably be executed for what he had done, but he didn’t regret it. He wasn’t worried for himself; he just hoped he could make it back in time to help Elijah and to rescue Emira.

“Come with me Khalid. We are going to meet with the council, where your fate will be decided.” Arhan’s voice was filled with sorrow. Khalid was his oldest friend, and he was now escorting him to a grim fate. Killing an immortal like Khalid in the traditional manner was a difficult and gruesome task.

“All is well, my brother; please feel no shame or regret for your actions here. You are only doing what you must.” Khalid tried to console the man he had loved as a brother since millennia past. Arhan embraced Khalid once more and then stalked through the door; Khalid followed close behind.

Arhan was strong and fast, but Khalid kept pace with ease. He knew this could be his last hour, and a million thoughts raced through his head. Most of all, he hoped Emira would be safe; his life meant nothing compared to hers. Khalid had lived long enough, but Emira was still just a child in his eyes.

He was comforted when he thought of Elijah; he had been wrong about him. He knew Elijah would do whatever it took to see to Emira’s safety. He was strong and fierce. Khalid could think of no one he would trust more with her life. She and Khalid were both lucky to count him as a friend. Still, Khalid knew Elijah’s fate. After turning over the rite, he would die, and then there would be no one left to protect Emira, not unless Khalid made it back in time. Desperation consumed him.

For the first time in centuries Khalid thought about his youth and his mortal family. He remembered his mother and his sisters; he could almost see their faces, see them smiling and splashing him as they played in the Indus river. All kinds of memories popped into his mind and stirred his emotions, memories he hadn’t realized were still vivid.

Khalid remembered the first time he went hunting with his father. He still had the bone blade his father had fashioned for him as a gift to celebrate his first kill. He had many lifetimes of memories, but only a few that mattered.

His short mortal life had been infinitely more meaningful than all the ages since. The vastness of his immortality dulled everything. His life had become unlivable until the day he met Emira. That was the reason he wanted so badly to hide her aura from the council. She had brought him back to life, and he didn’t want to lose her. Watching her play as a child had given him new eyes, her eyes. When he was around her he could see the world as she did, as new and beautiful, like he was experiencing things for the first time, just as she was. His love for her had nothing to do with what she was.

Khalid didn’t know how, but he was determined to make it back home tonight. Judgment could wait till morning. The landscape around them was beginning to change and Khalid knew they were getting close. He didn’t know how many would be able to make it to this emergency council gathering, but he hoped for a large number. He was already seeing signs of the others, tracks and trampled paths merging as they grew closer.

Chapter 94

Elijah was still
worried, but now a bit of hope crept into his soul. He was grateful to Khalid; he had an inkling what it must have meant for him to make such a sacrifice. He hoped Khalid’s brothers would understand, because Elijah knew he needed Khalid at his side when he faced his father. But after the way Arhan had reacted, he doubted it was likely.

He raced back along the path Khalid had trampled out, pushing himself as hard as he could. He was fast; he just hoped he was fast enough. After all these years of searching and longing for vengeance, he had finally found his father. And he was surprised to realize revenge wasn’t the only thing on his mind.

His thoughts were about Emira. He had seen how ruthless and savage his father could be, and he didn’t want Emira to meet the same fate as Sara. He couldn’t let that happen. Buried in the depths of his subconscious was the idea that, in some small way, saving Emira might make up for how he had failed Sara. The thoughts drove him forward, each step becoming a leap more powerful than the last, rocketing him forward and into the air. It was almost like he was flying.

Although his anxiety and fear made the trip feel like an eternity, his passion had driven him with such speed he made it back to Rallo with more than an hour to spare before dusk. He was filled with relief. He was in time to make sure Emira would be okay, even if it meant making the trade.

Now back at the cabin, he discovered it was the last place he wanted to be. He was anxious to see Emira and get this over with. He hoped Khalid would make it in time, but either way, he would do what he had to do to see Emira safe.

He couldn’t stop thinking of Solomon, and the conversation they had the night before. It still didn’t make sense to him; he still couldn’t get his mind around his brother’s story.

Was it all true? Had his brother really been infused with some kind of evil he couldn’t shed? Emira’s question last night was poignant, but Elijah realized something was off about his brother’s story.

If Solomon had really wanted Elijah to kill him, if he really wanted to be freed from his misery, then why would he still fight at his father’s side against Elijah? If he thought it best for Malaki to be freed by death, why would he not kill their father himself?

Elijah was missing a piece of the puzzle. There had to be something else, something Solomon hadn’t told him. He was hiding something, or he was just lying altogether? Could it be even the bit of decency Solomon had shown at the church was just a charade? Had he really been the one to follow Elijah and discover their hideout at the cabin? Had his big brother once again betrayed him?

Elijah was growing more furious and confused as the questions raced through his mind. In many ways, Elijah was a simple man; he didn’t like to complicate things. He saw life mostly as black and white, good and bad; although his life was filled with gray, in his mind there wasn’t a lot of room for it.

Elijah tried to push the questions and frustrations out of his mind. He was alone now, with only these tiny pieces of parchment. The top line was all he could read; it was in Aramaic. It seemed unimaginable these bits of paper were so precious to so many. What could these tiny inscriptions say that could be so important, that could mean the difference between death and life, man and god?

He didn’t care. This rite was a means to an end. It might have the power to destroy the heavens, but he would surely give up heaven to see Emira safe, and to finally see an end to his father.

Elijah rose from the steps on the cabin porch. Although there was still nearly an hour before dusk, he wasn’t going to spend it here. His brother had said he could no longer find peace in the temples, but he still kept going, hoping to once again feel the bit of warmth that had once settled his uneasy spirit.

A sudden urge came over Elijah, and he decided to make one last stop before he met his most probable ending at Khalid’s house. Moving as fast as his legs could carry him, he passed the large pond on the other side of the hill from Khalid’s cabin and had soon made his way back to the highway. In just a matter of moments, he was there.

Looking up at the building before him, Elijah tried to figure out his purpose for being here. As he walked up the stairs to the front door, he hesitated for just a moment before pulling it open and walking inside.

Chapter 95

As Khalid and
Arhan reached the top of the mountain pass, their destination burst into view. In the distance there was a giant cliff that recessed just a bit as it met the ground, forming a shallow cave. They were close enough for Khalid to see the twelve large stones positioned in a circle at the base of the cliff. Three men and two women sat waiting on the rocks. Their faces showed confusion and condemnation as they watched Khalid approach and take his place in the circle beside Arhan.

“Although the entire council should be present for such decisions, I believe the gravity of this situation requires us to act now; we have no time to wait.” Arhan stood and spoke forcefully.

Ubaram, the man sitting directly across from them, stood and glared at Khalid. “Tell us Arhan, what exactly is the situation?”

“Yes, explain exactly what our brother has done, and then let us hear from him,” Ku-aya demanded. She was a beautiful woman who had long favored Khalid. Arhan stood once more to speak, but Khalid motioned for him to sit.

“I know I have a lot to explain. We have spent what seems like an eternity guarding this rite and, not only have I handed it over to an outsider, but I also stole it from a brother. I have betrayed you all.” Khalid spoke apologetically, but he did not regret his actions, not even if it cost him his life. Shouts of outrage and condemnation swarmed like wasps around him.

“I know the consequences of my actions will be dire; I know my punishment must be severe. But I urge you to postpone this judgment, for there is no time to waste. You all know, or have at least heard of, the girl in my care, Emira.”

The group seemed to nod in unison.

“She has been taken by a group of blood-letters, and they are threatening to kill her unless I give them the ME. I gave the rite to a man I trust entirely, and he is meeting them tonight to negotiate for her release. If we leave now, we may still make it in time to save Emira and the ME.” Khalid spoke with urgency; they needed to act now.

“We all know what happened to your family, Khalid, and to your daughter,” Ubaram stood and spoke. “We sympathize with you, Brother, but it does not give you the right to do what you have done tonight. Your betrayal is unforgivable; the only suitable punishment is death.” He spoke with fervor, as if to rile the council.

The reactions to Ubaram’s words were mostly in agreement. Ku-aya seemed to be the only one willing to give Khalid a chance. Still, he wasn’t worried about the judgment; he was worried about the time. It would take more time to reach a consensus, time they didn’t have.

“How dare you? Kill me if you like, but please don’t share your false pity with me or the council. This has nothing to do with my family!” Khalid jumped to his feet and was screaming; he was outraged and disgusted. “What would you know of family, anyway, Ubaram?” Khalid sat back down and dropped his head in frustration and disgust. They were running out of time.

“Ubaram is right; he has broken our most sacred law. Not only has he betrayed, us, he has betrayed our purpose. He has betrayed the reason we exist and he has betrayed Odam. He can’t go unpunished; we must kill him now.” Ditanu was a man of few words, so when he spoke, the council paid attention.

Khalid respected him very much; they all did. His words stung Khalid sharply, partly because he respected the man so much, and partly because he knew Ditanu was right. Shouts of agreement went up all around the circle; not even Ku-aya could disagree. Khalid himself couldn’t disagree, but having a chance to save Emira, even if it was just a small one, made it all worth it.

Ku-aya stood up and walked over to Khalid.

“I’m sorry.” She said, as she kissed him gently on the forehead. Her face was filled with grief; it was no easy task to kill one of Odam’s immortals in accordance with their traditions, and the scene was about to become gruesome. Knowing his fate was sealed, Khalid stood up and walked to the center of the circle.

“I know your judgment here is righteous and just. I have no arguments, and I absolve all of you of any guilt you might feel when this is over. Just please listen to my final plea. Once this is over, I beg you, rush to my house in Rallo as quickly as you can; you still might have a chance to save the ME and Emira.”

With that, he kneeled down and hung his head in submission. As the council crowded around, he looked up once more at Arhan. “You know my friend Elijah; please go and help him. There is not much time left. Emira is
The Key
. You have to save her; you can’t let our enemies get their hands on both the rite and
The Key
.” Khalid lowered his head in peace. Now they knew Emira was
The Key
, he was fully confident, after killing him, the council would help Elijah.

Khalid could feel his brothers next to him; he remained silent and still as they grabbed his every limb and began to pull ferociously. He didn’t fight back; what they were doing was just.