Soulless: The Story of Shayan (Prequel to The Soul Quest Trilogy) (2 page)

“Lord Hala, did Shayan try to protect them?”
asked Tracy, a young Guardian Seeker.

“No, I’m afraid not my child. Instead,
Shayan became tempted himself. You see, Shayan became very jealous
of mankind’s free will. I can still remember the day he came to see
me with great clarity.”

“Lord Hala, may I have a moment of your
time? I have something very important I wish to discuss with you.”
Shayan said respectfully.

“Of course, Shayan. What can I do for you?”
I had wondered.

“I’m afraid that I am not happy, my Lord. It
is frustrating to watch human kind stumble over what would appear
to be such an easy path to follow day in and day out.” he
began.

“I’m afraid I don’t understand Shayan.
Perhaps you could be a bit more specific.” I encouraged.

“They have everything, don’t you see? They
can do anything, be anything… and they waste this gift.” Shayan
pleaded with me now. His eyes begged me for understanding.

“This is why you must show them a better
way, an easier path.” I started.

“They won’t listen. I have tried time and
time again. They simply do not care. How can this be?” His former
frustration was morphing to anger.

“Shayan, you must be patient and persistent.
You can not give up. You must continue to try.” I persisted.

Shayan’s head hung heavy and his eyes
shifted away from my gaze. “I do not think that I can do this
Hala.” He barely whispered.

“You can and you must.” I said firmly. “It
is your commandment as the Oracle of Humanity.”

Shayan fell silent for a moment. He was
contemplating his next words. I was flabbergasted when he finally
delivered them.

“Then I no longer wish to be the Oracle of
Humanity… I wish to be human.” Shayan looked me in the eye.

I did not understand his logic. “What good
can this achieve? Humans can not influence one another the way
Oracles or even Guardian Spirits are capable.” I explained.

“No humans can influence one another better
than Oracles and Guardian Spirits are capable. I have witnessed it,
Hala. They can’t see spirits. Therefore, they do not see or hear me
on any level.” Shayan ranted in resentment. “I wish to become one
of them. I wish to possess the free will they take for granted. I
want to be human and partake in the gift they care nothing
about.”

“Shayan!” I yelled. “I will not listen to
another second of this blasphemy. You are the Oracle of Humanity, a
noble commandment. You will submit to your duties and help the
mortal world find their path in life and you will find personal
solace in doing so.” I demanded.

Shayan bowed his head in shame. “I am sorry,
my Lord. I have grown weak. I will go to the Wishing Well and pray
for the souls of human kind. I will repent my temporary lack of
duty toward them in the Maze of Mirrors. I will gaze into the power
of the Light in hope that it may heal and strengthen my weary
soul.”

“That’s awful, but he said he was sorry. Did
the Light cleanse his soul, Lord Hala?” little Tracy beckoned
again.

“It did for a time, my dear.” I attempted to
sooth her.

I remember watching Shayan in the weeks
passing our conversation. To give him his credit’s due, he had
tried very hard to make amends for his weakness.

Chapter Three

Shayan

Year: 1620

Place: Arcadia

Abandonment

“Religion is a matter of the heart. No
physical inconvenience can warrant abandonment of one's own
religion.”

~ Mohandas Gandhi

“What is the matter, dear?” Anastazja
attempted to comfort me.

I looked deep into the crystal blue eyes of
my soul mate and felt a twinge of sadness in the recognition that
she could not understand my sorrow.

“I do not feel whole, Ana. I feel as if I am
missing something very important. It is a very unsettling feeling,
love.” I tried to make her understand.

“What could be missing? You are an Oracle,
Shayan. What could give one any greater sense of purpose or
wholeness? I can think of nothing, my sweet.” She smiled tenderly
at me.

No, Ana would never understand. I felt a
part of my soul shattering in the bitter realization of this
truth.

“Whut is it dat ye feel is missin’?” my
friend Andre persisted.

“I feel… insignificant. I can’t explain it
right.” I breathed in frustration.

“What is it that you believe can make you
feel significant?” encouraged Gaea.

Maybe Gaea could understand. She is a
Guardian Spirit whereas Ana and Andre are both Oracles just like
me. Gaea wanders into the mind of her human charge every day.
Surely, if anyone can understand my frustration, she can.

“Does he listen to you, Gaea?” I pleaded
with her. Gaea searched my face for clarification. My words
confused her. “Your human charge, what is his name?”

“John Carver.”

“Does this, John Carver respond to you,
Gaea? Does he follow the path you guide him toward?” I
wondered.

“It isn’t exactly like that, Shayan. You
know humans have a will of their own. John is free to choose his
own path. I can only hope that my wanderings and inductions serve
as a positive influence.” Gaea confirmed my suspicions.

“So, he doesn’t listen to you either.” I
said with disgust.

Gaea sighed. “John makes his fair share of
mistakes, like anybody, but overall he is a good man.” Gaea
vowed.

“…but how can you say that he is good if he
does not obey you?” I said with chagrin.

How can this John Carver be anything but
awful if he does not heed the influence of his spiritual
mentor?

“Obey? Is that what you think John is meant
to do, obey me?” Gaea laughed. “I am not his master, Shayan. My
purpose is to demonstrate to John that he has choices to make in
his life. At the very least, by showing him the path of the Light,
I can feel some sense of peace from knowing I have attempted to
serve my purpose in his life.”

“So, that’s all we are, just whisperers of
wisdom whose superior insight may be cast aside with out as much as
a second thought? What’s the point?” I ranted.

Gaea’s passive words angered me. I could see
that my sharp retort hurt her feelings but I was not about to make
apologies for voicing my own.

“Shayan! Listen to yourself! This is
madness!” Ana scolded me.

I could not take the look of disapproval on
her beautiful face or the disappointment and betrayal in her icy
blue eyes. I made one last plea to my friends.

“What should I do? I have heeded Hala’s
words only to be continually ignored and disregarded by the humans.
I have truly attempted to honor him, Arcadia and my human charges
but I am entirely helpless to help anyone and effectively carry out
my commandment as the Oracle of Humanity if no one will listen to
me.” I cried.

I had been reduced to tears but I felt no
sympathy from my companions of spirit. I only felt their intense
disapproval and shame in my opinion.

“I do not understand you anymore, Shayan. I
can not condone your selfish words and controlling ways. You must
amend your darkened soul or I can not be a part of your life
anymore.” Ana warned.

Her shoulders tightened. Tears bled from her
sparkling blue eyes and streaked her porcelain face. My words
crushed her every bit as much as hers shattered me.

“If that is the way you feel, then go!” I
yelled.

“Shayan…” Gaea made one last attempt to
reach out to me.

“Furget it, Gaea. He’ll not hear us.” Andre
whispered in Gaea’s ear.

His eyes were both saddened and disgusted as
they pierced through me.

“Just go! I don’t need any of you!” I
growled.

I watched the three spirits turn and walk
away from me. I never felt more rejected and abandoned in my entire
existence. The pain seared a wound in my soul that will never
heal.

Chapter Four

Shayan

Time: 1620

Place: Plymouth

Wampanoag

“In this world a man must either be an anvil
or a hammer.”

~ Henry W. Longfellow

Upon considering Gaea’s words about her
human charge, John Carver, I decided to see for myself if this man
was as good as his Guardian Spirit believed him to be. It would
certainly appear as though the good people of the new Plymouth
Colony were in agreement with Gaea. They chose him to be the mayor
of their humble home. The question is, did they choose John because
he is a good man or because of his standing in society? After all,
it was John who chartered their vessel, The Mayflower, and bore the
financial expenses. This fact alone could explain their choice in
selecting John as mayor. John may have even used his financial
status as a means to be chosen. What if he bribed them?

In addition to being wealthy he is well
educated and believed to be the most affluent member of the group.
One may conclude that the members of the colony would invest a lot
of confidence in his judgment but do they respect him I wonder. It
has also become apparent to me that his human peers regard him as
being open and fair. They do not see him as being as overbearing as
some of the more vocal members of the group. Again, does this fact
convey respect for John, or does it imply the opposite? Perhaps the
people of Plymouth prefer a leader who is easily manipulated.

Currently John is attempting to bring peace
to his colony. He has been speaking to the Massasoit, or chief, of
the Wampanoag.

“Welcome Englishmen.” Samoset spoke with his
strong tribal accent.

Samoset is a native interpreter for the
Massosoit. The Englishmen appeared to be surprised at the native’s
ability to speak their language.

“You can speak English. I am impressed. How
have come to learn our language?” John wondered.

“Fishermen come through… teach words.”
Samoset nodded. “…and Squanto.”

“You can speak our language as well?” John
now faced the Indian named Squanto.

“Yes, I traveled the seas with your
merchants to England. I learned in your home land.” Squanto
explained.

“Squanto has been a tremendous help to the
colonists, John.” smiled a Plymouth man named Miles.

The amicable conversation continued this
way. John was trying to make peace with the Indians. I felt he was
being naive. What if the natives turned on the colonists and their
families? It is John’s responsibility to protect his colony. He
isn’t making good choices so how can he be a good man? John’s
ignorance is a threat to the people who have entrusted him with the
safety of their lives and future. He is carelessly befriending a
group of people he knows nothing about. He should be calling the
shots and making the rules. Certainly, he should not harm the
Indians or deny them their fair share of the bounty this fine land
offers but why should he allow them to be in charge? They will not
look out for the welfare of his people. He should stake his claim
on this territory so he may fairly serve as mayor to everyone,
keeping both his colony and the natives safe.

John’s intentions may not be bad, but the
end result will not be good. If only I could interact with the
humans in a more tangible way. If only I could be one of them. I
could make John see the error of his ways. I could keep the people
of Plymouth safe. There must be a way!

Chapter Five

Shayan

Time: 1620

Place: Arcadia

Alone

“Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who
practices it will have neighbors.”

~ Confucius

“…but my Lord, why do you refuse me when you
know that I have done everything within my power to attempt to
reach the mortals? Can’t you see that all is lost where they are
concerned? Someone must intervene. I am willing to do that. I will
sacrifice my immortality to become human so that I may stand the
smallest chance of reaching and protecting human kind.” I
pleaded.

Why was he being so stubborn? I explained
everything I had observed in the mortal John Carver’s life. I
showed him how very reckless the mortal’s choices could be. Didn’t
Hala care for the safety of the colony?

“I don’t believe you are truly concerned for
the safety of the colony, Shayan.” Hala admitted. “I’m not sure
what is happening to you, but you leave me no choice but to attempt
to save you from yourself. You will never return to Earth, Shayan.
Until further notice you are relieved of your commandment as the
Oracle of Humanity.” Hala spoke firmly as he raised his hands and
severed the strands of the Light from my soul that once commanded
me to my Arcadian honor.

I was crushed. How could he do this to me?
He was punishing me for carrying out my duty.

“No! You can’t do this to me. How can you
doubt my concern for the humans? It has been my sworn duty and
singular purpose in this life to watch over them and I have done so
with out hesitation for ages.” I reminded him.

“I am sorry, Shayan. I believe that you
think you know what is best for human kind but somewhere along the
way your perceptions have been warped. You are confused, my son.
You must undo these disconcerting thoughts. You must free yourself
of these troubling contradictions to what you are and what your
purpose is in this world. Until then I must remove you from your
post and keep you out of harms way.” Hala persisted.

“Harms way? What do you mean? What will
become of me now? What am I to do?” I demanded.

“I will not allow harm to come to any human
as a result of your confused state. I shall council you myself,
Shayan. I will help you to see the error of your ways. I will guide
you back to the path of the Light.” Hala promised.

He looked at me with pity and grave concern.
He felt I was a danger to mortals. How could he possibly imagine me
involved in such a blasphemous scheme? I felt my frustration morph
to shock… to anger …to betrayal …to rage.