The Return of the Watchers (Armageddon Rising Book 1) (22 page)

              In the remote desert just south of Ayn Qazzam in Algeria, thirty- nine men were working late into the night, digging into the Earth with heavy equipment. The deep blue night sky gave way to the lights emanating from the In Guezzam airport about five miles to the north. They had reached a depth of approximately 120 meters when several of the workers began shouting.                                                                                                   “All work is to cease immediately. All workers are to report to the command tent for further instructions. I repeat, all workers stop what you are doing and report to the command tent,” the site foreman announced over his handheld loudspeaker after the discovery.                                                        A faint glowing blue color could be seen radiating from down below along with a low frequency, 70 Hertz hum. A chill swept over everyone in the camp, with the exception of a few who were making their way to the edge of the pit. Three of them stood tall, their faces shrouded with linen.
T
he eerie glow of their eyes shone through the slit in their wrappings as they walked forward. The spirit guides of the workers took notice, many out of curiosity as they were unaware of what had been discovered. What they were aware of was the unmistakable presence of evil emanating from the three beings who were casually striding towards the anomaly.

              “Mr. Cassi. You and the others, wait for me in the tent. I will be along shortly,” the fourth one said to the foreman as he observed his brethren making their way towards the pit. Cassi meekly nodded in acceptance and made his way inside, his spirit guide glaring from a distance at this being who stared back in defiance.                                                         Inside, multiple tables were set up holding an array of computers and technical equipment. Maps of various design were laid out, some very ancient, depicting long lost cities which many of the locals viewed as dubious since no such landmarks existed where they were displayed. Dry erase boards stood in the back, listing the worker's names and job site listings for the day. Outside, several tents belonging to the workers were pitched around the main tent, a short distance away from a cluster of vehicles. Local music blared on a small portable radio sitting outside, competing with the rattling sound of the portable generators.

              Several minutes passed as the workers began pouring into the tent in small groups and within short order they were all accounted for. Acrid body odor combined with the local cuisine filled the air inside the tent, mixing with the fumes of diesel exhaust that permeated the surroundings outside. The workers began talking amongst themselves as to the nature of the discovery; some thought it was an alien craft, while others believed they had stumbled on the dwelling of a Jinn, as local folklore would tell. There was a general feeling of uneasiness amongst the workers, as they had been told their purpose for digging the hole was to search for ancient artifacts. Discontent began brewing amongst them.

              As the site foreman made his way inside along with his two assistants, he caught the eyes of the workers, who were visibly upset. Mr. Cassi nervously looked over the group of men and wondered how he was going to ease their concerns, as the discovery was just as puzzling to him. The tall, covered figure entered the room and all eyes focused their attention towards the menacing being. The spirit guides of the workers arraigned themselves in a defensive formation.

              “Is this everyone?” the tall figure asked, looking down on Mr. Cassi with his softly glowing eyes. All Mr. Cassi could muster was a nod in the affirmative to the question asked. The tone of the speaker's voice was quite eerie and Cassi wondered what land would produce such an accent. The presence of this being caused a shiver to go down his spine as well the others nearby. Cassi had dealt with other project managers and assistants of his boss, not nearly as mysterious nor as foreboding as the one standing before him. Dantanian had phoned in advance and advised of the stranger's arrival; still, this was not what he expected, and with their precipitous discovery, Cassi's imaginations and fears began to take hold of him.

              Several individuals in the back of the group did not seem to be affected as much as those standing closer to the glowing-eyed being, and they began shouting their disapproval.

              “What is going on here?”                                                                                      “What in the name of Allah are we doing here?” a sweaty, bearded man covered in grease and dirt asked.

              The tall stranger's eyes narrowed, his face still shrouded by the dark shemagh wrapped around his head. Beneath the wrapping his skin barely showed, but from what little could be seen in the dark it appeared scaly and leather-like. The sound of grinding teeth and what could only be described as leather being pulled tight exuded from him. Several men nearby gasped and all fell silent as the tension in the air became palpable.

              The exit to the tent was enticing many of the men as fear began to lend wings to their feet. The spirit guides were warning their hosts to run and raised their Shi in unison. The light they created was blinding to those capable of witnessing it, yet the dark figure was not even moved in the slightest.

              Suddenly the air became much cooler, to the point of frost forming on the computer screens. Terror filled the hearts of most of the men, yet their bodies would not comply with their demands to run. All they could do was to watch what they knew in their hearts to be the inevitable. One of the spirit guides began to open a portal to call reinforcements, but was too late.

              “You have all done well,” was the last thing they heard.
A
brilliant light filled the tent, as well as the harrowing sound of thirty nine bodies dropping to the ground simultaneously. A purplish-black light was faintly glowing from the tall being's outstretched hands that held a large sword. The hilt had numerous markings and symbols on it and its edge was emitting a bright white light which was slowly turning black. From a distance it appeared as if it was made of obsidian.  Upon closer inspection the blade displayed various flashes of lightning, along with a misty gaseous apparition of changing colors.

              “But none as well as you, Alal,” the profane being said, admiring the work of his demon blade. He focused his concentration on the sword and it seemed to be swallowed up into another dimension, leaving just the hilt, which wrapped itself around his hand like a glove.

              Making his way outside the tent he saw his three companions standing at the edge of the pit staring at the scene below. The worksite was a bit quieter now, with only the sound of a few generators off in the distance, the wind, and the mesmerizing tone coming from the pit.                             “It has finally come to pass, the event that I promised long ago. I knew I would eventually find it and thus I have,” Vassago said triumphantly.                                                                                                                               “In truth, a mere six thousand nine hundred ninety eight years later. Were it not for the ring and the blade we would still be waiting,” Ornias said with slight condescension.                                                                       “What that I could give for Solomon to see this day, and moreover yet be in throes; it would impress this one to bid him dig every hole in our pursuance and take great pleasure in seeing him humbled thusly,” Kludun stated with a smile, her sharp teeth exposed beneath the wrapping of her head.

              “Five grasshoppers loosed him of his stature for the ravishing Jebusaean, and he possessed much greater wisdom than all who dwell upon this plane now. Our victory is wholly assured once we release the others,” Vassago said, looking at Kludun who was staring down into the pit.                                                                                                                                             “Do not be promiscuous with conjecture, Vassago. Our triumph is yet to be realized. Had Beelzeboul not caused the humans to destroy the temple, you would still hold fast the pillars. Underestimate our condition at your peril; we have yet to meet their forces in battle. Come now, our repose must be hastened; even with the sword thus infused with the power of the ring,
the spirits within stir.”

              With his last proclamation, Bernael leapt into the pit with his sword drawn and plunged it into the wall. 
An enormous
eruption sprang forth as the spirit energy of the human and spirit guides was released all at once, disrupting the barrier of the prison. The other three remained at the top and peered down. Darkness filled the pit as the blue glow faded into nothingness and the humming dissipated. Many glowing eyes shone through the darkness below as loud shrieks of unnatural origin filled the night sky. Eighteen would be added to their number this night.  At that moment a large earthquake in the Red Sea shook Egypt, Sudan and Saudi Arabia, causing massive infrastructure damage and devastation, leading to untold numbers of casualties.

Ten hours later:                                                                                                   “What's the current situation?” Dantanian asked Dina, one of the fallen deceivers.                                                                                                                 “Kokav'el and Barak'el were recovered, along with sixteen others, which adds three leaders and thirty-three followers in two prisons. Unfortunately, the captured Hashmallim of Rapha'el's regiment could only give us the Amangeldi District site in Kazakhstan. Vassago was quite auspicious with Algeria and he delivered, although Vassago would argue his skills discerned the location. Therefore, I have appointed him to assist Kokav'el and Barak'el with the next site. Kludun believes the signs of the constellations may reveal one additional site. So far, we have Algeria and Kazakhstan as our two reference points. Ar'tekif points out that if a Pentacle of binding was used it would need equidistant points, so he has provided possible options for the location of the others and has calculated seven, possibly eight total sites. We also have several teams dispatched to capture Lystad, now that his Shi has been awakened. After consulting Ramt'el, signs indicate he may in fact be the one we are searching for.

“While we await that to materialize, my recommendation is to wait for the global destabilization effort. The templates for the new currency have been completed and await your approval. The European campaign is underway in Germany and Mullah Xul's name is being spread there. I expect things to pick up momentum in the near future. As you know, Nivel has his operatives in thirteen cabinets amongst the nations that rule, and they are sowing discord among the humans. With the attack on the New York Stock Exchange, along with the Chinese manipulating their currency to crush the US, large scale war is imminent, so we should seize the opportunity to unify the nations under our command.

“Also, a fortuitous event occurred with the earthquake in Egypt: The Egyptian government is blaming the earthquake on the fracking in the Red Sea by British and US oil companies. We can use this to our advantage. With the Iranians and Iraqis forming a unified coalition along with Turkey, Libya, Egypt, Lebanon, Yemen, Oman, and now Saudi Arabia, the tension against Israel can easily be escalated,” Dina noted while flipping through her holographic screens.                                                         Dantanian smiled while signing documents as his assistant April handed them to him. “I like the way you think. Temple Mount?” he asked.              “Precisely. The destruction of the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque would be the perfect spark for the tinder. We have procured multiple short range ballistic missiles that should level the area. Our operatives are positioning backups in the event the Israeli military shoots one down. We should be ready by the New Year,” she said.                                          “Right when the clock strikes twelve would be the best time, I should think. Make it happen,” Dantanian ordered. Then he asked “How goes the training?”              

“Byleth has her legions prepared, although we will have multitudes of new recruits when flesh forms can be restored to the spirits who walk the earth. For that Asa'el will have to be freed,” she said.                                          “Find Lystad,” he ordered.

“It is assured,” she replied.             

Twelve

              The following day Dorian awoke early; his thoughts about the past events along with his looming future kept him from getting adequate rest. No sounds could be heard save the occasional creaking and howling of the wind outside. It was still dark outside, allowing the aurora borealis to take the stage, casting an eerie glow over the frozen valley onto the lake. He looked over his surroundings in the room. Yuki's Christmas present was sitting in a box that had arrived at the doorstep the day before, along with his mother's gift, a snapshot of life's simple rituals that grounded him in the previous reality he had comfortably enjoyed.                                                         After quietly going through his mother's bedroom to find something to wrap them in, he returned to his bedroom to finish the task, despite the fact his heart was not invested in the undertaking. Afterwards he sat upright on the edge of the bed to attempt a meditative state in an effort to gain greater control over his newfound abilities. Willingly opening his mind to his surroundings, he began to pick up thought-feelings of neighbors engaged in various activities. Some were just waking up to Christmas day with concerns over whether gifts would be appreciated, stress over food preparation, feelings of resentment towards spouses, and siblings bickering over one trivial issue after another. The thought crossed his mind that the attitude and mood of the people around could somehow be projected onto his so he decided not to push his luck. He had enough baggage of his own right now and he didn't need the weight of other's concerns added to his. Instead, he chose to focus on Yuki's gentle breathing and heartbeat. With this came an inner peace that had been sorely lacking, and he relished the feeling.                                                                       Several hours later, Yuki awoke to the sounds of Dorian clanking pots and pans in the kitchen as daylight began to slowly creep in the house.                                                                                                                                            “Good morning and Merry Christmas,” he said with a smile that seemed a bit distant.  “Please, sit.”                                                                                      The smell of breakfast filled the air as he removed a fresh potato cake from the pan onto Yuki's plate. Shuffling over to the table like a zombie she sat down and muttered something inaudible in Japanese akin to 'thank you' and 'good morning' rolled up into one word. The chair attempted to drain what little energy remained inside her until she sipped the cup of tea he had prepared, which seemed to bring her back to life. They both ate without speaking until Yuki broke the silence.                            “Thank you for breakfast, that was nice. Merry Christmas,” she said with a weary look on her face. The phone began ringing shortly thereafter with neighbors and family members wishing Dorian a Merry Christmas and offering continued condolences over the loss of his mother. Yuki took the opportunity to get dressed and bring out his gift while he was tied up on the phone.