Veiled (10 page)

It was rumored that both
Cherubs and Seraphs had special powers, but we didn’t know exactly
what these were. The other rumor was, that the Flaming Swords could
only be functional when one of them used it, and that it could
erase a spirit from existence.

Just then the trumpets
ceased playing and the First One approached the Eternals, standing
close by them. They waited there for a moment, and then finally one
of the Eternals turned and looked toward the spot where the Second
One stood. He said nothing—that we could tell—then the Second One
reluctantly approached the Eternals and stood a ways
off.

“
Let each spirit cast a
verbal vote individually, out of their own free will and
choice,”
the Eternals explained.
“One by one you will choose a side, and stand with
the one whom you choose as your leader.

“
Once you choose, your vote
will be final and the consequence for that choice unchangeable and
unstoppable. We are bound by the Laws of the Universe and therefore
cannot change the outcome.”
They looked
all around at us, their eyes looking at each one of us
individually, yet it was done rather quickly.

The voting began; each
spirit had his or her own turn at voicing their decision, each
coming forward and standing next to the one whom they wanted for a
leader. So far most of the spirits had aligned themselves behind
the First One. But now and then a spirit would align itself behind
the Second One.

Our clan voted and each one
of us took our places at the First One’s side. The voting continued
quite uneventfully for a while, but when it came time for the
section where the rebels stood to vote the Second One stopped
them.

“
We are all of one mind.
We reject the proposal laid out by the First One,” he declared. His
last words were acid with hate.

A murmur rose from our
side, in clear disapproval from the Second One’s lack of respect
toward the Eternals.

“
Each spirit has the right
to an individual vote. This is the Law, neither you nor we can
change it,”
the Eternals responded.
“Once a decision is made, these laws are set in
motion and the consequences cannot be stopped, neither whim nor
will can stop them, and each individual must choose and submit
accordingly.”

“
So you admit your
impotence. You have started something you neither understand, nor
control!” the Second One shouted not just to his group, but for all
to hear.

Horrified gasps were heard
all around us. “How could he talk to the Eternals that way?”
someone said in a whisper.

What the Second One was
doing was beyond open rebellion, it was insolence, and a falsehood.
He was trying to twist the words of the Eternals to suit his needs.
If he wasn’t before he was so in trouble now.

The Eternals looked stern
but unperturbed. They simply looked at him, unmoved by his
lies.
“Do you suppose to possess even the
hundredth part of our knowledge and experience? Our worlds are
without number. Earth will be but one of our many. What qualifies
you, Second One, to make these accusations? How many worlds have
you created?”

Silence was his
answer.

“
How many spirits have you
formed then? None? What then, is your claim on us?”

“
What is
his
claim?” the Second
One said in a loud, shrill voice, as he pointed to the First One.
The First One was about to respond, but was signaled by the
Eternals to stop.

“
It is his birthright and
he qualified himself for the job. Furthermore, the First One chose
to follow the laws. He volunteered to lead and asks for nothing in
return.

“
You, on the other hand,
have rebelled and sought to destroy our order. For this, the law is
clear—you must be banished from our presence and be
cast-out.”
The Eternals looked at us once
more. Their voice was stern, but void of any anger.

“
It is your choice, your
consequence.”
Their eyes scanned each of
us, the rebels included. They did this quickly, yet their gaze was
imprinted on my mind, it was penetrating and powerful. When their
eyes locked with my own, they seemed to go straight to my core and
touched the innermost secret chambers of my soul.

“
No one else needs to
suffer these consequences—unless they choose to follow your poor
example.”
They pointed to the Second
One.
“The voting will continue one by one,
as the law demands.”

In reply a group of rebels
shouted in one accord, “We choose the Second One!” And those who
voted glided to the Second One’s side. Some others stayed where
they were gazing down as if fighting an internal struggle,
impossible for me to understand.

“
Continue!” shouted the
Second One, seeing that some of his followers were taking too long
to decide.

Some glided over to the
Second One’s side, while a few still stayed, undecided. “Continue!”
His voice was laden with anger and irritation at their
delay.

“
The consequences of this
choice will affect your eternal progression,” the First One said
encouragingly.

To my complete surprise,
among the undecided spirits were Eros and Agatha. I thought she was
the Second One’s closest ally. What could she possibly be thinking?
Or was she one of the spies? And Eros, was he a spy as well or was
he truly sorry for what he did? I turned to look at Max, who was
intently looking at him.

A few more spirits moved
toward our side, with them Eros, who never looked up. Max smiled
and squeezed Celeste’s shoulder a little as he whispered something
in her ear. Celeste grinned, but I could tell that she was not as
pleased as Max was.

As the voting continued,
more spirits came to our side than the rebel’s side. But their
numbers were steadily growing, and this was a great concern. If
they happen to get even one vote over fifty percent, we would all
have to subject ourselves to the Second One’s rule.

* * * * *

Chapter 8

Agatha was still standing
with those who had not cast a vote yet. The Second One seemed to
have relinquished all other tasks and was focusing all his
attention on her. This made me think that perhaps this was not
expected on his part.

She seemed to take courage
from somewhere and raised her head. With a look that was hard to
read she solemnly glided toward our side, making sure not to look
over at the rebels or the Second One.

As she did this a loud
howl was heard from the Second One. It was filled with rage and
fury. I turned to look at him, in shock at his response. He in turn
lifted his gaze and met mine dead on. He stared at me, with a look
of utter loathing and vileness. His message to me was
clear—
You will pay for this.

I looked back at him
terrified. How could this be my fault? Why would he think I had
something to do with this? I turned and looked all around me. Was
he really directing this look to me, or was there someone else
responsible for Agatha’s decision? Was she truly deserting him? Or
was this a show? I couldn’t tell, and apparently no one else seemed
to be alarmed like I was. No one seemed to notice even—well almost
no one.

“
Tess, why is the Second
One looking at you?” Alex was cutting through the crowd to get to
me, turning his head back and forth between me and the Second One,
to be sure of what he was seeing.

“
I…don’t know,” I
stammered.

“
What did you say to
Agatha? I saw you talking with her earlier. Think, Tess, think!” he
bellowed. “You weren’t trying to convince her of switching sides?
Were you…Tess?” Some of the spirits around us turned to look at us,
confused by our conversation.

“
I wasn’t. I just asked
her why. That’s all.”

Valerie was hovering a ways
off from us and could not have possibly heard our conversation, but
she suddenly turned her face and fixed her large violet, alarmed
looking eyes on mine. There are few looks that I detest to see, and
alarm on Valerie’s face is definitely one of them, especially when
that alarm is on your behalf.

“
What?” I grimaced back to
her.

She made her way to my side
and looked at me for a moment. “I’m not sure what just happened,
but it is not good for you. Darkness…is gathering all around you.
Someone has it out for you, Tess, and they will not give up
easily.”

“
Thanks, Val,” I said
sarcastically.

“
Hey, don’t get mad at the
messenger, I call them like I feel them,” she said on the
offensive.

“
Sorry, you are right. I
shouldn’t get after you.”

Alex and Valerie exchanged
glances that I didn’t see because I turned my face toward the
center where the Eternals were. I tried to focus on the
proceedings, but my mind kept going back to that look on the Second
One’s face —that look was meant for me. Of that I was
sure.

Once the last vote was
cast, it was obvious who had won—yet horrifying. Exactly one third
of the host chose to follow the Second One. One third of our fellow
spirits were going to be banished and spiritually die with no hope
of ever returning. How could this have happened? Our clan exchanged
mystified glances with each other. The enormity of the outcome was
hard to grasp. I tried not to think of the screams and the choking
feeling I got right before I lost consciousness and fell through
space. I tried not to think about the horror that these rebellious
souls would have to endure.

The Eternals had given them
so many chances, and they chose to oppose them time and time
again.

The Eternals looked at
them, their countenance shone with power but they didn’t look as if
this particular task was tasteful to them. They were bound, just
like they said, by the laws of the universe. The rebels looked
insolent and defiant. They stood their ground as if this was their
plan all along.

“
You have chosen your
path, now you must endure it.” They stretched their hands and as
they did so, the Second One and his followers turned in one accord
as if brutally repelled by that gentle movement.

I felt the disconnection
right away. I never even knew that I was connected with them, until
now that they were gone. In spite of their anger, and hate toward
us, there was a general feeling of sadness for them. I am not sure
how long the silence lasted, no one even stirred. We all seemed to
be fully aware now of the outcome.

Then, we heard them, the
Eternals…weeping, a sound so terrible, it was hard to describe.
They were no longer among us, but we heard them through the link.
Our little group looked at each other again. Our faces reflected
what we heard. The Eternals had never wept before, and for once the
social rule of speaking through the link one at at time was broken.
Many other spirits joined in the grieving, millions upon millions
now crying together and we could hear them all.

And so, heaven
wept.

*****

We were reluctant to leave
the solar system because of the great loss we had just experienced.
For some, like Katie, they had just lost loved ones, clan members,
and friends. Spirits all around me had lost friends or someone they
knew. I, on the other hand, had only gained an enemy—or
two.

No matter how we looked at
the events that had just transpired, we had some recovering to do,
and we did this by staying close together, and holding quiet
conversations. But our somber mood could not and did not last
forever. After a while spirits here and there seemed to perk up.
Some started laughing timidly and then others joined them. Pretty
soon most of us were our jovial old selves again.

Speculations and rumors as
to where Earth would be placed in the solar system was the first
topic discussed by all. The general consensus seemed to point
toward an empty spot between Venus and Mars, putting Earth in the
third position from the sun—a good spot to be—not too hot or too
cold. Some other spirits thought it would be at the very end next
to Neptune and that it would be a huge planet, not a small one like
Mars. While some spirits still considered this subject, other
groups, the more playful ones, started a competition on Saturn’s
rings. I tried to get interested in the games and some of the
conversations, but a mixture of Valerie’s premonition, Agatha’s
decision to stay, and the Second One’s piercing look of hate filled
my thoughts. I am not sure how these events will change my future
life, and I can’t help but wonder if any of this is my fault and
what to do about it.

I moved among the spirits
that surrounded me with no particular interest in any of their
pastimes. I felt weighed down by these thoughts and images, then
that choking feeling came back. I looked at my clan and envied
their happiness. They seemed free, and I felt…trapped.

“
He blames you,” Agatha
said with an acid voice. Our auras looked the same on the outside
and this made my bad mood even worse.

I stared at her. “So…what I
said hit a chord?” I said without betraying my out of control
feelings.