Divinity: Immolation: Book Three (The Divinity Saga) (10 page)

catastrophic disaster. Most importantly, do no forget where all of our initial targets lie.” Morning Star then said softly.

Ammon nodded and then quirked a brow inquisitively. “Even now? I’m not sure I quite understand, my lord. We currently outnumber all of them, angels and divine warriors combined.” He

asked, regretting it instantly as his eyes cut to the remaining pile of ash that still smoked where Och had been sitting. He shifted, wishing to take back his reply but to his surprise, Morning Star didn’t react the way he had thought he would.

“Always anticipate the unlikely,” Morning Star lamented, “We must be ready to move. Call it a hunch.” he finally sat back down with a smirk. “I’m leaving you in charge of all of my children and the others. My purpose will be complete once Starling is in my possession. I’ll be expecting Cam`ael then.” He then said.

Ammon was speechless, gaping at his long-time Master because he now understood what he was preparing
for and what it would mean.

“Baal was a fool. I could have intervened to save him but his conceit clouded his judgment. Never underestimate Cam`ael or any of those in his legion, let alone those irksome warriors. It deals a great blow to our army but we will compensate and prevail. Xyn will be able to handle what’s left of his dwindling group. Now,” Morning Star inhaled as if perusing his own thoughts and fancies. “Let’s see, after that meeting I could certainly use some enlightening entertainment of my own to take off the edge. Bring me two female virgins, one male, some soul infused wine with a plate of rare steak and liver, a large screen television with videos of that television show that I really like, and a six of the biggest serpents we have.” He grinned diabolically at Ammon.

XIII. Cam`ael

T
he look on her face was of utter astonishment. I knew this would definitely be one of the planets that would take her breath away. Though it was completely uninhabited by any living creature, it was nonetheless a most spectacular sight to behold, minus the extreme and mounting heat. The heat waves bending from the gemstone encrusted earth created a mirage of both water and prisms of multi-colored, fractal light.

The entire planet was a giant ball of different grades, weights, and colors of what humans and several other races of beings called, Rhodium, iridium, black opals, palladium, raw diamonds, and many other colored, pure gemstones. Actually, the gems and stones here were far more pure and valuable than the stones of Earth and many other planets. This unnamed planet was one of the hardest to find and get to for many beings, so the value of just a few chips was immeasurable.

Starling gasped in wonder as she took in all the sparkling stalactites, stalagmites, large boulders, and the tips of the vast forest below made up of precious stone columns; all full of shiny, twinkling, bizarre rock formations. Rivers of magma and oil bubbled and churned, branching out like macabre, spidery fingers across the landscape. Even the red and white sand glittered under a mirage of water beneath the light of the three suns facing the north.

Hardly any beings ever ventured here and if they did they didn’t stay very long. We wouldn’t either. The heat was unlike any other place, past the surface of the actual sun itself. No life could be sustained on this planet whatsoever, regardless of the many pools of boiling water scattered across the unpredictable landscape.

I produced three small pouches, similar to the one she carried her portal gems in.

“This is…incredible.” She marveled.

“I know and we don’t have much time. The heat will become beyond bearable in a matter of minutes.”

She looked up at me quizzically as I handed her the pouches. She took them from me questioningly. “It’s already intense. One sun is bad enough.” She breathed, fanning her face.

Sweat was already beginning to bead across her forehead and above her upper lip, and a rivulet streamed slowly down her temple. I moved faster. This climate was toxic and way too hot for her. I wouldn’t have even brought her here at all but I wanted her to have a chance to see with her own eyes, one of the millions of phenomenal planets that no human has been able to see let alone knows exists.

“I know. There’s constant sunlight to the third power here. Your boots will eventually melt into the ground, literally.”

“I’m pretty sure my bare feet wouldn’t last more than a second after that either. It’s like being inside a furnace or fireplace.”

“They’d be pulpy burned stumps before you know it.”

She scrunched up her face and lifted up each foot, checking out the soles of her black laced up boots. “I believe you. So, what are these for?” She held up the pouches.

I nodded my head for her to follow me.

Scoping a few trunks of diamonds and rhodium, I moved in between them, and created a wide canopy of shade above her using magic.

“Open the first bag and hold it right here.” I pointed to a trunk of shiny, green, purplish black metal.

She was still perplexed but she did and I wasted no time slamming my fist into it with all my strength.

The rock shook and cracked as chunks instantly broke away, falling into both the pouch and onto the obsidian streaked ground around her feet.

Her mouth fell, I assumed because she was impressed with what I had done.

“Turn the pouch inside out and use it as a glove to grab those on the ground before they get too hot.” I pointed. Then, I sought out a black opal trunk next, and proceeded to do the same thing.

We had managed to gather quite a few different stones and metals before the heat nearly cooked us. We were both drenched in sweat, so it was definitely time to go.

“You just demolished several trunks of pure diamond, dark metal, opal, and solid silver…with your bare fists.” Starling pointed at my hands incredulously, looking for some sort of bruising or torn flesh.

I flexed my unscathed hands. “I know. A pickaxe would have worked better and faster. I’ll remember to conjure one up next time since I’ve managed to impress you already.” I winked at her, “Again, hold onto me tightly.”

One of my favorite past-times, as well as Edanai’s and Rahab’s, was dimension or planet hopping. Something no human has ever known or will ever experience…while human anyway. Of course, I’d never take Starling to any of the raunchier cesspools of fleshly pleasures, or any of the dangerous, carnivorous creature infested places. There were many of those out there too. I secured her against me and then we were off to our next destination.

~~~~****~~~~

Starling took in a deep breath once we landed, tickled by the sudden pop of atmospheric pressure. She immediately began to smile as she opened her eyes.

“Is that barbecue?” She asked with excitement as she eagerly panned the landscape.

“Something like that.” I grinned.

She glanced up at me. “Where are we?” She was looking at the entrance of a small hidden city, built below the flat of orange and yellow sand that made up the earth’s floor. The street down below teemed with activity and music but was clearly devoid of any voices and laughter.

Starling’s brows furrowed. “What are these beings? And why aren’t any of them speaking?”

“They’re Luminae. Their delicate, nearly see-through skin is why they live underground. They aren’t able to withstand ultraviolet rays for very long. The sunlight here remains constant for several years and then it goes dormant for several afterwards, leaving perpetual moonlight. When that happens, they return to their homes above ground to ready crops, livestock and stuff like that before the next phase. Their food supply is actually fed by the power of their moons rather than sunlight, believe it or not.”

She was definitely impressed by the extent of my knowledge.

“They can hear but they choose to only speak telepathically, in the same way that we as fallen do—and of course, you and I now.”

“You can’t speak to them that way?” She inquired.

“No. We don’t have any kind of similar wavelength or link. Their language is only known and shared among each other. Gestures and facial expressions are very easily read and interpreted here, so communication with other beings isn’t really an issue. Some gestures and symbols are universal no matter where you are or what language you speak.”

Starling was fascinated, listening intently to all that I explained to her and at the same time, observing the new beings that were in turn, observing her with keen, welcoming interest.

I continued to give her a quick rundown on them, “These beings have existed for a very, very long time. They’ve remained undetected by much of the other universe because they keep to themselves. If they had a means of transportation to other worlds, I’m pretty sure that they’d attempt to visit Earth first—like many other beings have been doing for a while now. They are one of the few docile and peace loving races in the entire universe. That’s hard to find anywhere these days.” I told her.

“So, they won’t be hostile being that we’re different and crashing in on their city?”

I shook my head no. “They actually welcome visitors of all types.” I grabbed her hand and we walked hand in hand down the firm, dirt-carved road that led into the heart of the underground city.

“Do they know what I am? I mean, aside from human?” She then asked.

I nodded. “Yes, and they know what I am too.”

“Really? They’re all staring but they don’t seem afraid of you…of us.” She noted.

“I’ve never given them a reason to be. I keep my wings hidden when I’m come here. They’re excited to see them though because they’re enchanted by them. The angels sometimes visit here too, so they make the connection but they know that I’m definitely not an angel. Trust me, they aren’t staring because of what you or I are.”

She glanced down at our interlaced fingers and then back up at me. I know she understood exactly what I meant and she gave my hand a light squeeze in response.

The Luminae’s were excited to see us and maybe just a small part of that was actually bewildered confusion, seeing a Divine Warrior and a Fallen holding hands affectionately. The women and children were awed by Starling, not just by her beauty but the powerful essence and aura that she emanated along with her intricate, silver brandings. Or it could have been the fact that I stand at nearly seven feet tall and she’s around five feet and barely a couple of inches.

Naturally, she was awestruck by not just their city but the fact that they had three arms; one on each side, and a smaller one on their backs. The extra arm, their oblong shaped heads, their choice of telepathic communication, and their all-white, translucent skin, were the only main differences between human beings and their people.

The melody of a pleasant tune being played on what resembled a large lute, floated through the crowd of pedestrians. A babbling, shallow river flowed through a small canal that split the yellow, dirt packed streets down the middle. Small children were playing alongside the waters’ edge, taking turns pushing each other in small boat and smiling with genuine happiness. My thoughts immediately went to our child and I squeezed Starling’s hand this time, catching her watching them with adoration too.

The scent of freshly cooking food was drifting out of one of the many open market eateries. Numerous places of business lined the streets with wares from clothing, food, farming tools, jewelry, and toys.

“Hungry?”

“Um, what do they eat here?” She asked.

“It’s edible and mostly vegetables. The meat is similar to beef and chicken.”

“Similar?” She raised a brow.

I laughed. “I’m pretty discerning about cuisine myself but it’s actually really good. They have several native species of animals that they raise for food.”

“Species of animals? That doesn’t sound very appetizing but you know this place better than I do and I trust you.” She gave a smirk.

“Well, first things first. Cleanliness and order is extremely important to me. I’d really like to bathe and change, so I say we hit up a few clothing vendors and see what they have to offer.”

She laughed. “Important or an obsession?”

I looked down at her and smirked. “Very important. There are far more valuable things that I choose to place on my personal pedestal of obsession.”

A flirtatious fire lit up her sapphire blue eyes.

“As long as I return to the hall in my field wear.”

“Speaking of, I failed to tell you just how sexy you are in the entire ensemble.”

Her cheeks warmed, turning a soft pink blush at my compliment.

“Thanks.” She smiled.

We stopped at a market stand, full of an array of prepared foods. The two females were already smiling pleasantly upon our arrival.

I gave a gentle bow and smile and Starling followed suit. The females instantly took to us, now beaming. The younger one of the two offered Starling a native flower, and I retrieved the pouches of jewels that we had collected.

I pointed to an entire basket of freshly baked breads, fruit, and bottles of juice, and then shook out several different chunks of gems and stones into my palm.

Both of their eyes widened, giddy with excitement and surprise and the older of the two females eagerly nodded, trading the whole basket for the handful of the priceless stones I offered her.

“Ah, monetary exchanges.” Starling quipped with a smile, and then she inhaled the sweet fragrance of the slender dark purple and blue petals of the flower she held.

“A little is worth a lot out here.” I grinned, taking the basket in one hand, and interlacing the fingers of the other with hers as we held hands once again.