Lamp Black: Second Edition, Disaster, Preparedness, Survival, Awakening (The Gatekeeper Book 2) (36 page)

But even at matched speed, John had to closely watch Sarrif’s movements to see the details. Sarrif gracefully swung the four-foot blade of silver light as if it was an extension of his arm, and he didn’t stop moving until the last of the demons were gone. The ballet of death lasted less than a few seconds, but in that short amount of time, John saw enough detail to admire Sarrif’s martial skill. Every detail, every attack angle and thrust point, every step and turn of his body as he moved through to engage the demon host, was absorbed by John. With a final flourish of the sword, Sarrif sheathed it and looked at John.

“Nice work, Sarrif,” said John.

Sarrif bowed and smiled. “Yes, nothing like a little combat to wake you up. Are you OK?”

“Yes, I’m fine . . . thanks to you. I was a little startled at first. I wasn’t sure what was going on. It felt like I was being pulled down, but then I was suddenly released. That’s when I saw the leader’s head spinning in the corner,” answered John. “Why didn’t the head disappear with the rest of him?” asked John, as he walked to the corner and tapped the head with his toe.

“To answer your first question, you were released when I removed the leaders head,” answered Sarrif. “His head didn’t leave because I want to use it. I thought we’d send it to the enemy camp . . . as a sign and a warning.”

“Do they really die when you kill them?” asked John.

“A true death, even a final death, will come for some, but it’s not yet time for such as that. But this one here,” said Sarrif, as he bent to pick up the demon’s head by one of its long pointy ear, “is now in exile. He will not bother us again. As for the rest of them,” said Sarrif with a shrug, “when slain, they are merely sent back from whence they came, only with much less vitality. They lose a bit of themselves with every defeat. It takes time to heal, and even longer for them to return and cause trouble.”

“Hell?” asked John.

“Indeed,” answered Sarrif, as he lifted up the demon’s head to better examine it. He wrinkled his nose and said, “We need a basket for
this filth. Here,” said Sarrif, as he handed the large head to John. The beach ball sized head was surprisingly light, and also about as heavy as a beach ball. John bounced it in his hands twice and switched his grip to the demons ear like Sarrif had done.

As John examined the head, bright blue light caught his attention. He turned and saw light rising up from the floor and accumulate in Sarrif’s downturned palms. His guardian chanted something that John couldn’t hear, but he knew the words were sacred. The light continued to pour upward from the ground and collect in Sarrif’s palms, and when he was satisfied with the amount of energy he held, he moved his hands to his front. In moves that reminded John of Tai Chi, Sarrif rotated his hands and arms in a tight circle to form the energy into a ball. Then, with the energy ball resting in one hand, Sarrif began to sweep his arms around in a fluid motion of offering. Before releasing the energy, he brought the ball to his chest before pushing it away.

John was completely mesmerized by Sarrif’s movements, and watched in wonder as he took the ball of energy and formed it into the shape of a basket. He looked at John and said, “Place the head in the basket.” John did as he was asked and dropped the demon’s head into the newly created energy basket. Sarrif handed the basket to John.

“What do you want me to do with it?” asked John, still amazed at Sarrif’s display of energy manipulation and control, but not quite sure what he was supposed to make of it.

With an extended finger, Sarrif pointed downward and said, “Send it down, of course. You’ve been down there. You know where to send it.”

“But how do I do it?” asked John, confused and excited. If Sarrif knew he could send the basket to hell, then it must be possible.

“It’s easy, just send it to where you want it to go,” answered Sarrif.

John did as he was instructed. He released the basket and willed that it travel to hell, to the very dungeon where he had been tortured. He watched it pass through the floor and travel at great speed until it reached its destination. “There, it’s done. I saw it arrive. I saw it in my
mind. It landed on the dungeon floor. But when it arrived the basket disappeared. Only the head remained.”

“Yes, the energy I used to make that basket will not abide the darkness. It will work for you when you’re down there, but you have to be near it, in direct command of it,” replied Sarrif. “Come, let’s walk awhile and talk. We should not disturb more of Jenna’s sleep.”

“How can we disturb her sleep when I’m on this side?” asked John with a glance at his wife. As if on cue, Jenna stirred softly and rolled to her opposite side.

“Her spirit is open to yours, John. You can talk together . . . but she would not remember it when she woke.” Sarrif looked at John and continued, “And, like your first experience, she would feel very tired. But that should wait. We have work to do. Come . . . let’s go to the kitchen and not disturb her.”

John watched as Sarrif walked straight to the kitchen. He passed through walls and furniture without deviating from his direct route. John wasn’t as comfortable passing through the shadows of physical things, so he assumed a more traditional route to the kitchen. But when he reached the bedroom door he was forced to pass through it, finding that he couldn’t open it with the doorknob. Passing through the door was a strange experience for him. The door felt alive, and since he wasn’t sure what to make of it, he passed through quickly.

When John reached the kitchen, Eli was talking with Sarrif. “Hello, Papa. Sarrif said you had some unwelcome visitors,” said Eli.

“Unwelcome, yes, but I wouldn’t call them visitors,” replied John, dryly.

“Well . . . we’re going to take care of that right now. We’re going to put protection up around your house, and we want your help,” said Eli.

“OK,” said John, “what do you want me to do?”

Sarrif and Eli looked at each other and smiled. Eli turned to John and said, “That’s one thing I love about you, Papa, your ability to adapt to new things. First, we’re going to set a beacon of light. It will be set
here in your kitchen. You and Sarrif will anchor it on this end, and I will run it up. Are you ready?”

“I’m ready,” replied John.

“Stand opposite of Sarrif, about three feet apart, and kneel. As you form the light with Sarrif, I will pull it up. Continue to build up the light until I return. Ready?”

John nodded and said, “I’m ready.”

“Good. Then here we go.”

John knelt across from Sarrif and followed his instructions. Then suddenly, rising up from the ground, there emerged a beam of the brightest azure light John had ever seen. The beam filled the space between them and began to quickly shoot high up into the sky. It grew brighter and stronger with every passing moment. John remembered the beacon of light at the gate of illusion, but this one was cleaner, stronger, and brighter. He also felt the intensity and purpose of it, as if it was meant for much more.

Sarrif met John’s eyes and said, “We will now anchor the light. When I say three, bring your palms to the ground and hold them there. Ready . . . one, two, three.” At the count of three, Sarrif and John brought their palms to the ground and leaned into them. They held the position for several seconds until Sarrif said, “OK, it is set. Eli has returned. We are done.”

Eli stood next to them and said, “The beacon is set. It is now an open line to heaven. Now for the shield.” Eli moved like Sarrif did when he made the basket, but Eli’s movements seemed more pronounced and exaggerated. When he finished, Eli held a ball of energy in his hands, but he held it for several seconds before releasing it. The ball of energy hovered in the center of the room, to one side of the beacon, before it began to expand. Like a giant bubble, the energy grew past the three men, and continued beyond the kitchen, the house, and out into the yard.

John watched in fascination as the barrier expanded, and he wondered how big it would grow until Eli stopped it about fifty yards from
the front door. Eli then went to the barrier wall and began moving his hands over the surface. The wall went from a fluid state of energy, to one of solid interlocking crystal panels. It was very beautiful, and John had a thousand questions about what he had just witnessed. He opened with his most pressing question, “Can I do that?”

Eli and Sarrif both smiled, but it was Eli who replied. “Papa, everything we have done with Ka, with energy, as you call it, you already know how to do. We learned it together . . . from the same master.”

John was confused. How could he know how to use energy to create things, but not know? “I don’t understand? How can I know how to use energy . . . Ka, and have no memory of it when I’m with you on this side?” he asked.

Eli nodded and said, “It’s a matter of convergence . . . and acceptable allowances,” replied Eli. “You’re not at a point yet where everything you know about yourself is available to you. You knowing all about yourself would upset the balance between both sides. And it would affect your lifeline. But is it not true that knowing you know will make it easier for you to work with it? You don’t need your remembrance to use Ka, the Earth’s energy, like we do,” replied Eli. “With time, everything will return to you, papa, but for now just know that there’s a reason, and a season, for all things when it comes to you and your life.”

John quietly considered Eli’s words. He had so many questions, but he didn’t know where to start. He wondered if that was their intention, to give him so much to think about that he couldn’t focus on any one subject. John laughed and said, “Well, I can see I’ve got a lot of catching up to do. But tell me, will the barrier you just put up keep the enemy out?”

Eli nodded and said, “The barrier will hold . . . at least long enough to allow us to make additional preparations for your protection. The enemy is interested in you, so that means things will probably get interesting around here, but you’re safe now.”

“What’s the purpose of the beacon of light?” asked John.

“It will serve many purposes, but it is designed to attract attention. It will draw many here - many who are lost and looking for the light,” replied Eli.

“Lost spirits?” asked John.

“Yes. Those who left their earthly bodies but remained down here. They are lost in that they have not returned home.”

John remembered what he learned about LS’ before, but was grateful for the refresher. Still curious, he asked, “Were they the same spirits that attacked me?”

“No,” answered Eli, “You were attacked by evil spirits . . . those who serve the enemy. They are those who were cast out of heaven for rebellion. But some lost spirits do serve the enemy. Those who have lead foul and evil lives on earth are his minions. But most lost spirits are just that, lost. Your beacon is already calling to them.”

“But if it calls to the lost spirits, won’t it also call to the evil spirits?” asked John.

“Yes, but not as an attraction. They will come to torment, deter and hinder the lost spirits who are seeking the light. That means you, your home anyway, will now be a target. You and Sarrif will devise a contact plan for when you are in your body, but you will need to learn how to leave your body without being pulled from it. To do that you will have to achieve a meditative state very quickly, and that will take practice. That will become an important part of your gatekeeping responsibilities, to learn and teach others how to reach a meditative state,” said Eli, as he stepped close and embraced John.

“But I must return now, papa. I know a lot has transpired for you in a very short amount of time. I wish we had more time to prepare, but time is short. A lot of important events are in motion, and we have to keep pace with them or we will fail. Practice your meditation exercises. I will see you again as soon as I can. I have to attend to other matters and I’ll be away for a while, but Sarrif will remain with you. He will help you. I love you.” And with that, Eli slipped into the beacon of light and disappeared.

John turned to Sarrif and asked, “So . . . about meditation?”

“It’s easy, really. You already know how, but once you understand what you’re actually trying to achieve through it, it will be much easier. The link between spirit and body is through the mind. When you learn to control your mind, then you will control your body . . . even leave it at will. Your spirit doesn’t need controlling because your spirit is you, your true self. When you’re in your body the struggle for control begins. The body is natural. It belongs to the earth, and it craves all things of the earth. Because it craves all things physical, it must be controlled. You learned this when you traveled the gates,” said Sarrif.

“But how is it that I am able to separate from my body in the first place?” asked John, “It can’t be common. Have I always been pulled out and now I’m just remembering the experience? And I thought you had to have a near-death experience to be able to leave your body,” said John, excitedly.

“Oh, John, but you did have a near-death experience. Don’t you remember the head injury you received when you were a young boy?” asked Sarrif.

John remembered the accident. In fact, he remembered it so well that he often relived it in all its detail. The cause of the accident was a white aluminum swing set accented with red and blue stripes wound around the main pipes like long flowing ribbons. The set supported a simple aluminum slide, a swing that hung from chains, and a hanging bar. But John’s favorite piece of equipment on the set was the swinging, two-seat carriage. John loved swinging in the hanging carriage. He would stand on the middle of the platform as he held on to the uprights, and then swing the carriage high into the air until his body was nearly horizontal with the ground.

One day, while playing alone out back, John had an overwhelming urge to low-crawl under the carriage as it hung slack on the center beam of the set. While sliding low on his belly, he crawled easily under the stationary carriage. But that wasn’t challenging enough. It wasn’t daring enough for young Johnny, so he stood up and gave the carriage
a really big push. He then dropped to the ground and began to low-crawl under the swing while it was moving.