The Return of the Watchers (Armageddon Rising Book 1) (27 page)

              Urieth walked over to him after the introductions.                                           “It's good that you joined us here, Dorian. This is where you belong. We have much catching up to do, but I know you've had a long journey and recent events have been unkind, so I think it best you get some much needed rest and we can talk tomorrow. Good night, my son,” he said with a smile, patting Dorian on the shoulder.                                                        “Oh, okay, good night then,” Dorian replied.                                         

              A young boy about the age of twelve walked over to Dorian and touched his wrist. Warm greetings emanated from the lad. Dorian attempted to return the same, causing Mishka to giggle with laughter at his poor attempt.                                                                                                                               “Okay then. Apparently I've got a lot to learn. Mishka. Isn't that Russian for 'mouse'? Is that where you're from?” he asked.                                           The boy tried to speak with his hand and grunted; more like pushed air through his mouth with a guttural effect. Shaking his head as if to say 'no', he pulled down his scarf to reveal a large scar across his throat.  Yelnisha was standing a short distance away, talking with some of her friends. Dorian looked her way with raised eyebrows and a smile, hoping to get her attention.                                                                                                                 She noticed him looking her way and knew what he was saying without words. “It's all right, he can speak to your mind. You just have to open up to him. Don't worry, just keep your thoughts clean, okay? We don't need any bad influences corrupting him,” she said with a devilish smile. He gave her a mock frown and pursed his lips causing her to laugh out loud. As Dorian opened his mind, the boy was in the middle of communicating to him about where they would be traveling to. Dorian interrupted Mishka so he could start at the beginning.                                          
“Sorry about that, Dyadya. We will drop you off at your house and then we can look around the city tomorrow,”
Mishka said.                            Dorian's eyes widened and he moved his head back a bit. “My house? My house is in Michigan, very far away from here. You mean where I'm going to stay tonight?”                                                                                    
“Come, I will show you. Come,”
Mishka said, motioning with his hand. The boy led Dorian towards a platform that was a some kind of lighted force field; orange in color, that was floating a few inches off the ground. They both stepped onto it and the boy waved his hand around the center in a peculiar fashion, moving his lips but making no sound. The platform raised itself off the ground with the two of them onboard, forming a small enclosure to prevent them from falling out, along with several seats that enveloped them. Looking back at the remnants of the disbursed crowed, Dorian watched several of them wave goodbye as the two sped off into the unknown.                                                                                     The flying vessel was quite fast and Dorian held tight to the seat as it whisked them around the outskirts of the city towards the sections that contained the living quarters. Several other flying platforms could be seen in the distance moving about with occupants on board.                                           From their height above he had a better vantage point to view Anidon in all its splendor. Off to the east, an enormous crystal lattice sphere floated in the air, shimmering with a multitude of colors. The lights from the structure produced a dazzling array of colors on the adjacent buildings and the sky. There were many floating signs near buildings that seemed to advertise various businesses of some sort or another, not unlike billboards found on Earth. The architecture was quite futuristic to his eye, and he felt as if he was in a science fiction movie come to life. As they travelled away from the heart of the city he could see the housing communities lit up with people moving about.                                                        They began to slowly descend as they came closer to the vast series of structures that housed the residents of Anidon. Most were composed of astounding materials of various kinds; some were made of onyx, some of diamond, others of emerald, sapphire, gold, pearl, and  unusual substances found outside of Earth.  A few were arranged side-by-side in gigantic spherical, obelisk, and pyramid shapes; while others were freestanding, similar to castles and other Earth dwellings. It was truly a spectacle to behold.                                                                                                                In the distance, separate from the main housing section, three large structures stood apart from the rest. Equally unique in their construction, they were seemingly comprised of the elements themselves.                             The first had the appearance of solid crystal with lightning arcing about it. The second was the most unusual of the three. It appeared to be composed entirely of black fire; there was no color in the flames other than black with a faint grey silhouette within that danced and flicked about. It was quite striking in its appearance. The third structure was simply made entirely of light, a brightness and beauty that shone all around itself spectacularly. Despite its incredible brightness, it did not seem to illuminate anything beyond its immediate area, which he thought odd until he observed the dwelling with the black flames consuming the light that radiated outwards. It was as if the two buildings were designed to hold each other in check.                                                                                                 
“The Hashmallim live there; that area is forbidden. They frighten me; I mean, they are kind, but their power is terrifying. Eshri'el has watched over me though, I like him. We are almost at your house. I think you will be happy with it,”
Mishka said as he piloted the platform while scouting ahead.                                                                                                                 The area they were moving towards was separate from all the other housing communities. They passed over rolling hills that stretched across a meadow, culminating atop a hill that overlooked a forest surrounding it from all sides.                                                                                                                               There appeared to be a large fire off in the distance.                                          “Hey, you might want to call the fire department. What do you people use to put out fires here? Looks like something is burning,” Dorian pointed out while trying to see exactly what it was that was on fire.               Mishka smiled and laughed a wispy grunt.
“That is your house, Dyadya. Do not worry; I brought some marshmallows and hot dogs.”
              “Everyone's a comedian,” Dorian replied with a sigh.                             They casually approached the giant structure in the shape of a castle which was completely engulfed in flames. The fire itself looked like the fires seen on Earth, but with more reddish hues to the flames. From afar, there wasn't any visible damage to the structure.                             Floating lights, similar to those in the cave he and Yelnisha had travelled in, lit up a walkway that led to the threshold. The walkway itself was made completely of cut chrysolite and emeralds with incredible luster and beauty. The surrounding landscape consisted of an array of tropical flowers and plants that were not be found in Sicily, or Europe for that matter, as well as an unusual assortment of trees from all over the world. Nothing seemed out of place or overdone; it was simply perfect in its beauty. Flames roared off the house with all of the sounds that would accompany an actual fire, yet there was no heat at all, which he found quite remarkable. No source for the flames could be observed, yet they enveloped the entire structure.                                                                                     The two disembarked from the platform and slowly proceeded towards the entrance.                                                                                                                
“Well, what do you think?”
Mishka asked with a smile.                            “Takes cozy fire to a whole new level. I hope everything isn't burning on the inside also,” he quipped. He slowly put his hand out and touched the flames that made up a supporting pillar. “Aaaaaaghh!”  Mishka's face went blank for a moment and his eyes widened like saucers as Dorian quickly pulled his hand away, holding it gingerly.             

             
“Oh my! Are you, what happened? Are you injured?”
Mishka asked in shock.                                                                                                                “Got ya, didn't I? Hahaha,” he replied, pointing his 'burnt' hand in the shape of a gun at Mishka.                                                                                                  
“That was pretty good. I can usually tell when someone is trying to fool me,”
Mishka replied with a smile and a slight giggle.                             “I've been practicing a bit. Can't have that Yelnisha reading my mind whenever she wants, you know. So how do we get in? I don't see any door handle or do we just walk into it?” he asked, feeling around for a mechanism to enter.                                                                                                               
“Like this. Put your hand up and bend your last two fingers. Like I am, see? Now put it toward the door and say whatever you want to say to get in. It will only open for you. I cannot open it. You try now,”
Mishka said, stepping back.                                                                                                                “Okay, does this look right?  Just put my hand out and say whatever I want? All right then, open up.” The door was unchanged. He looked over at Mishka who simply pointed at the entranceway.                            
“Go in now.”
               

              Not taking any chances, Dorian used his foot to feel if the doorway gave way after remembering the prank Yelnisha had played on him. It went right through the burning door much the same way as he had entered Anidon for the first time. He slowly slipped through the wall of fire to the other side and found a large open space adorned with all sorts of curiosities.                                                                                                                 
“
Mishka, are you coming?” Dorian asked as he peeked his head through the door, having a sense of d
éjà vu
.                                                                       
“You have to invite me in or tell the house to let me in,”
he replied.              “Oh. Sure, come on in.” He slipped back inside as Mishka followed through.                                                                                                 
“Whoah, Dyadya, this is so cool!”
Mishka exclaimed with amazement, stamping his feet in place as if preparing for a jog.                            “So you've never seen something like this before?”                                          
“I have seen a holovision program about this kind of place once, but I've never seen one in person. Let us look around.”                                         
The interior was well lit throughout by soft white light that did not seem to have a source, yet the brightness illuminated everything perfectly. There were no wall switches of any kind that Dorian could see; the walls themselves appeared solid with a shimmering luminescence to them. Dorian approached a wall and touched it, lighting up a display that conveyed the status of the dwelling, including the number of occupants, where they were, options for climate control, hydration, sleeping quarters, food sources, in addition to personal messages, travel, entertainment and many other useful items as well. It was as if the entire house was a living butler.             
“Try walking through the walls. You just have to tell it to let you pass,”
Mishka said while running about.                                                                      Dorian looked straight ahead and said “Pass” and he was able to walk through a wall to an adjacent room that was completely empty.                “All right, nothing to see here. Pass.” Closing his eyes, he slowly slipped through the way he came, returning to the main entranceway             
“You can change the color of the walls and what they look like. Tell it to turn into green watermelon,”
he said with excitement.                            “So, what do I do? Just say 'walls turn in to green watermelon'?” As soon as the words left his mouth, the surface of the walls transformed themselves just as Dorian had pictured it in his mind. He touched the wall and the texture was that of watermelon skin, including its fragrance.               “Incredible. Wow, I don't know what to say...except... I don't want to live in a house full of watermelons, so walls turn back please.” A second later they returned to normal.             

             
“The house will become whatever you want. If you want a pond over there it will make one. If you want stairs made of balloons it will become balloons. You will have to decide what you want. I have to go home now so I will let myself out. Goodbye, Dyadya, it was nice to meet you.”
                                                                                                                                              “Oh, all right, I suppose it's late; thank you, Mishka. Hey, before you go, how do I call you if I need help? I have so many questions.”              
“Don't worry, you will figure it out. The house will do everything for you. Goodbye,”
Mishka said and slipped out the way he came in.              Dorian let out a sigh. “Great, where is the bathroom? I really have to go. House, where is the bathroom?” Instantly he was surrounded by a small enclosure where he stood. A floating holographic screen appeared before him asking what function he would like to accomplish. It had a myriad of options, including showering, bodily functions, oral hygiene, music, preferred air scent, seating, infotainment, even food choices which he found rather unappealing.                                                                                                   “I would like to pee. How do I tell it I want to pee? Do I press this or what? Urinate. Number one. Are you listening? Comprendo?” The screen disappeared and a small, flower-shaped cup appeared out of the ground with an energy tube attached that extended to the floor.                             “I'm supposed to make it in that? Hope this thing comes with a maid, because my aim isn't that good.”  After he had completed his business, the option to wash his hands came up. Placing his hands into the receptacle he felt a rushing of water, micro-scrubbers, drying and emollient application within seconds.