Reflecting Equation - 12. Taking a Break from All Your Worries

I once read that you can never remember the beginning of a dream.

I vaguely recognized this place from a distant memory that I couldn’t quite grasp. It was a flat, empty floor in some brightly lit space that nonetheless didn’t echo its emptiness as if there were no walls from which sound could reflect. It was blindingly white along with the ceiling, too, was bathed in an aerial ocean of illumination.

I finally looked at the man across from me. He was sitting crossed-legged upon the floor like me. Of course, he managed to look dignified in such a position. I looked into his blue eyes, so like mine because they were. He was me. Or rather a different version of myself. Not like my clone. Call him my subconscious, my id, the voice of my inner self, I don’t care. He was the spirit of my past incarnation.

Prince Emrys was in a form fitting suit made of a soft blue-gray material that hugged his body and readily displayed all his muscles. Metal bracers covered his forearms, and black war paint drawn in twin angular triangles covered his cheeks. He looked ready for battle.

I hoped it wasn’t with me. I fixed him with a smirk. “What happened to the circlet?”

He didn’t return my smirk. He was me. But with better manners. “Humor is an inadequate coping mechanism. The time has come to make your stand.”

“It’s worked out well so far,” I shot back.

He gestured to the chessboard sitting between us. The black pieces faced me. Emrys tapped a finger to a pawn. “You have finally opened your eyes. The final circle is almost complete.”

My mouth fell open. “You knew about Entropy. All this time and you didn’t say anything?”

“It was clear to you, but you couldn’t see the forest for the trees.”

I gave him a tight lipped smile. “I will slap you right in the mouth.”

“I have been trying,” he said, traces of annoyance in his tone. “This isn’t the first time we’ve talked like this in dreams. It’s the block on your memories. Time and time again you have forgotten my warnings when you awake. The block is weakening and soon will be gone.”

I blinked. “So, I’m going to remember this?”

He nodded. “You’re in the time of revelation. You’ll remember this, your dreams, our past life, Atlantis. Everything.”

As scary and exciting as that fact was, it wasn’t news. Being in Atlantis triggered something. It was almost like something was shook loose. Too bad I had bigger things going on then sorting through the new...old memories.

“You might have turned aside from your godhood, but destiny waits for no one. Entropy is almost free and then...”

“Then what?”

“Then comes the War for Life.”

Chills went down my spine. “You’re talking about Alpha Armageddon.”

“Everything will die. The universe will cease to be. The pits of hell will go cold. Heaven will be unmade. It will be as if all life never came to be. Mortal, demon, fae, angel, first god. Everything and everyone will go screaming into the abyss.”

“How do you know all of this? I’ve looked through the Videum Crystallus, and there’s no record of Entropy in its data drive. The closest thing I found was a corrupted video file King Oriens encrypted in the mainframe.”

The Prince frowned heavily. “It was in those last days that Gaius began having nightmares. Precognition was rare but not uncommon to our family. We assumed his dreams were prophetic. Now knowing of his nature as Heaven’s Trumpet, I believe they were memories. Our research didn’t reveal much, but it was the night of the Fall when Gaius made a breakthrough. I was supposed to meet him...”

I remembered finding the incomplete log entry entered by Gaius. “Since it’s inevitable, do you think we can take him?”

“If all of the Chosen were at the height of your powers, with Halo bringing to bear his heavenly authority, and if you utilized the World of Elegance in concert...” he contemplated. It was a long moment before he said, “Maybe.”

I gaped. “First off, we’re still not at full strength from our former lives. Second, I don’t have the World of Elegance. The pendant was lost when the Three Keys were used to activate Heaven’s Trumpet.”

Emrys moved his knight on the board. “The Chosen have a way of accomplishing the impossible.”

“You believe we can do this?”

“I’ll always believe in our friends.”

We shared a quiet moment in the white room. I looked down at the board and frowned. I was losing. Huh.

“Entropy is still only a second worry. Our first priority is the clones. The Power Rangers are the immediate threat.”

“A silly name for a formidable threat,” Emrys chastised me with a frown.

I rolled my eyes. “I was the one that got stabbed in the gut. I know how formidable they are, thanks. It’s just a name, chuckles.”

“You defeated one in the faerie realm. Three remain. Four against three are favorable odds, but I fear it may not be enough.”

“What kind of math are you doing? It sounds like we win. They lose.”

“For ordinary enemies. These foes have all of your strengths and know all your weaknesses. Weaknesses they will exploit mercilessly.”

It was a fair point. As much I hated to admit it, the psychos had gotten the jump on us way too many times. If we were going to win, then we had to hit them fast and hard.

I grinned with more confidence than I felt. “We got this. Let them bring it.”

Emrys chuckled. “You have become the leader they needed you to be. I’m proud.”

“Be proud after,” I said, my grin turning wolfish. “When we win.”

A spark appeared in Emrys’ eyes as he mirrored my grin, learning forward to declare, “Give them Hell.”

And then he was gone along with everything else.

I opened my eyes and saw the moon in the clear night sky. I was lying down with datapads and crystal drives stacked on either side of me. It was quiet on the pier except for the waves of water lapping against the city’s edges. I stared around the deserted port, absently wiping grass off my hands. I must have fallen asleep researching. I didn’t even remember drifting off. I was a mess and needed to get my shit together.

I got off the ground and wobbled for a minute, then began picking up the clutter I made. Kevin walked up just as I stacked the pads in my hands and stood looking at me, his expression worried.

“You are such a nightmare,” he said. “I had to use the biological sensors to track you down. No one has seen you since this afternoon.” He narrowed his eyes. “Have you been here all day?”

“No,” I lied. “Maybe.”

He pursed his lips and shook his head. “You’re team leader, but no one is going to blame you for not finding some critical weakness of Entropy. Hell, man. We’re all in this mess. Let us help you.”

I wiped my hand down my face. “I just... Without my pendant I don’t have an ace up on my sleeve. The Giga Annihilation Programs have always been my Hail Mary.”

“Those spells have also had you knocking at death’s door.”

“As my memories come back, I feel like I’ll have better control. It’s kind of hazy, but I’m actually remembering how I made the Programs!”

He grinned at my excitement. “But,” he said, holding up a finger. “You said it’s hazy. So you don’t totally remember. Even then, if you could tap into the Programs you’d need an artifact of power on a scale as the World of Elegance to initiate it.”

“Listen up, Hermione Granger. Merlin is talking. I’m not thinking about using the Giga Annihilation Programs. That’s a no go. But...If I can create a spell with as much destructive power, then we can turn Entropy into paste.”

Kevin frowned. He rubbed at his arms as the wind picked up. “You have no idea.”

It was my turn to frown. “What are you talking about?”

“I was there, Chad,” he said, his voice barely audible. “Heaven’s Trumpet wasn’t just a weapon. I was an angel. I fought against Entropy with the rest of the Host. You can’t even imagine...” There was a far off look in his eyes. A sadness that I’ve never seen. “He decimated Heaven’s army with a smile.”

I dropped the pads down on a bench. I grabbed Kevin’s wrist and pulled him down to sit on the seat next to me. I was glad we were alone now because I didn’t want anyone to see the open expression on his face. It made me want to hug him and never let go, and promise to protect him forever and ever.

“I’m sorry,” I said, pulling him in close. I buried my nose into his hair. “Sometimes, I forget you have all these experiences. You never talk about it.”

Kevin pulled back a little. The tips of his fingers touched my left cheek. “You are so young.” It was said with a note of wonder. “This life hasn’t been kind but that innocence, that imperishable spark of hope - you still have it. You all do. I won’t extinguish it. I would sooner set fire to my soul then see it go out.”

I barely noticed his voice was more Gauis now, his tone regal, and syllables accented, a soft lilt that enunciated his vowels. I punched his shoulder.

“That’s noble of you and all, but I’m your brother. Talk to me.” I shook my head. “I see stubbornness runs in the family, asshole.”

“Well, you know us. Always doing the stupid thing.”

“I mean. I know you’re the older brother, but we’re there for each other. Lean on me if you need to. I’m not going to fall.”

A triumphant grin split his face. “And the same goes for you. You need help, ask for it. None of this solo cowboy shit. You’re not Batman.”

My mouth fell open. “You pretty bastard. You just played me.”

His honey eyes were twinkling like a Hogwarts headmaster. “That, dear brother, is why I’m the eldest.”

I rolled my eyes. “Also, you were born first. So there’s that.”

“You really should have some respect. I’m kind of like an angel.”

“Yeah, you’re Heaven’s sweetheart. Got it.”

Kevin nudged me. “Feel better?”

“I’m still worried,” I admitted. “You just said that Entropy tore through all of Heaven and decimated the Host. What hope do we really have exactly?” I pulled at my hair a little. “This guy sounds unreal.”

“Entropy means lack of order; gradual decline into disorder,” Kevin said, tapping at the skin of my wrist with his finger. “At least that’s what it means on Earth. To the people on the other side of the galaxy, it means ‘Mighty Destroyer.’ For Heaven, it means ‘Calamity.’ Different definitions, but the meaning is the same. Doom. We took it from him. It’s what that word’s come to mean.”

My mouth had gone dry. “We need to work on your pep talks. You’re not Oprah. Let’s be real. You are barely Doctor Phil right now.”

He flicked my knuckle hard. “I wasn’t finished, dick breath. You have to realize we designed Entropy’s cage to not just trap him but keep him weakened. When the last Dread Barrier falls we won’t be dealing with a supernatural being at the peak of his strength.”

I gasped. “He’ll still be weak.”

Kevin nodded, staring hard into my eyes and trying to make sure I understood. “Even then, it will be hard.”

Hope flared for the first time in a while, and I felt warm all over. It pulled my lips into a triumphant smile. “But we have a shot? There’s a chance we can beat this guy.”

It was a moment before my brother mirrored my smile. “I believe we can win. I might not have been Chosen in our last lives, but I know exactly how strong we are.” He looked into my eyes and said, “Look at what I remember. See what I saw.”

I met his gaze head on and couldn’t look away. I was pulled into the light brown eyes of my brother, beyond my own face reflecting in the irises and into the depths of the soul I had never quite fully comprehended before.

And then I felt power. Sheer, mind-blowing power.

It was holy.

It was eternal.

No, Kevin’s voice echoed around me. It’s too much. You’ll burn. He whispered into my mind.

I turned away from that power that glowed like the night and the storm in the heart of the sun. It was ice and fire and love and vengeance and ancient and forever. It was terrifying and awful and so very beautiful. It was Kevin’s soul.

A gentle force steered me into a cloud-strewn coliseum in a sea of memory. The haze cleared as the sights came into focus, and I was in a well lit laboratory.

“Ceremonial knightsuit?” King Oriens arched an eyebrow, eyeing the holoimage of the suit projected into the open air. He considered the chain mail and tunic combination with a frown. “It seems a little ostentatious?”

“A little?” asked a teenage version of Prince Gauis, circling the projection with a critical eye.

“It’s only temporary,” Nat’ahn reminded them from a nearby seat. He was reading figures scrolling down the slim crystal pad in his hands. “The chameleon wards will change the suit to fit the environment, and right now a little flash is just what the public needs.”

Gaius cocked his head. “I don’t follow.”

“To date, the crown has been involved in twenty nine acquisitions of territory, landed marines on sixty two planets, and destroyed four demon-claimed planets via thermonuclear induction.”

King Oriens cleared his throat. “I was bringing those planets into the empire. The Lords in Shadow still have a stronghold in the Beta Quadrant, and half the Delta Quadrant remains under their control...”

“And the other half fears you and is just waiting for the other shoe to drop,” Nat’ahn continued. “Too long galaxies have been kept in fear. They don’t know anything else, even with the freedom you’ve delivered them. It’s why we need this. Need them.”

“The Chosen are meant to be champions of the realm,” Gaius pointed out, looking at him with reproach. “They aren’t some public relations coup.”

“Be that as it may, this will quiet all the politicos in the freed sectors,” said Nat’ahn.

The king laughed. “Thorns in my side. All of them.”

Gauis snorted. It was no secret his father despised the louder factions of the Separatist party. Every time Oriens brought some war torn sector out of the dark ages, they’d interpret it as his imperialistic drive to conquer the galaxy. Of course, Atlantis and its people were voiceless peons in this dictatorial endeavor. It was an unfounded argument.

“Trust me, your Grace,” said Nat’ah, tapping at his pad to read through the specs. “The suits will do the job.”

“That and more.” Ethos, one of the weapons facilities lead techs, stepped forward, having witnessed the entire exchange. He was indistinguishable from the hologram of the city’s AI he developed in his own image. “We’ve managed to upgrade the reactive circuits by seventy five percent and doubled the damage absorption capacity of the shield spells woven into nanofibers.”

“…while increasing the offensive throughput to the armor by nearly fifty percent,” Nat’ahn read off his screen with an impressed tone. “Once bound to a celestial force, a Chosen will be able to tear through a Behemoth class cruiser in their stage five state with ease.”

Gaius’ eyes widened. “Really?”

“That certainly is impressive,” muttered Oriens, sending Ethos an appreciative smile. He eyed the heavy armor disguised as a knightsuit.

Ethos bounced on the balls of his feet with a giddy grin. “We’re also very close to solving the glitch linking sub-spatial pockets in the celestial bindings.”

Oriens nodded, pleased. “Excellent.”

He waved his hand; the projection sank into the floor and winked out. His face lost all cheer and the vibe in the room immediately reflected his mood.

“Where are we on Project Wonderland?”

Nat’ahn ran a hand through his hair absently. “We’ve followed the signs and narrowed it down to the three. Clow Reed, Dylan Piper, and Emrys Cor.”

The room was silent.

“Prince Emrys was the only candidate to successfully complete the Pillars of Dawn,” continued Ethos. He watched the king’s reaction closely. “His capacity of magic is immeasurable.”

Gaius shook his head. “He’s ten years old.”

“And he’s already more powerful than some of the recently graduated mages,” Nat’ahn explained. “He’s it. The first Chosen.”

Oriens nodded, his face deep in thought. “So it appears.” He let out a sigh that was a touch wistful. “Emrys is going to be powerful. It’s in his blood. He will be the Chosen’s leader, and his spirit will become their strength. Together they will lead the War for Life.”

“The War for Life?” Gaius asked, staring at his father, curiously.

“Circles within circles, my son,” the king replied. He turned back to his advisors. “Start binding the ley-lines immediately and begin preliminary power-up test. Follow the signs to find the rest of the champions. We’ll need to bring the other celestial powers online as soon as possible.”

I felt a powerful aura radiate from King Oriens even in the memory. It was strength and conviction and had a deepness to it. I felt the memory fade, the light and strength of my brother’s soul withdrawing. The cord snapped between us. I pulled my gaze away, breathing hard but smiling.

I was smiling so hard. “Dad believes in me. He believes in us.” I grabbed Kevin’s hand and he ruffled my hair. “We were Chosen for a reason. This is it.”

I looked up at the moon, feeling my muscles pull loose and the mounting stress fall away. My whole body felt lighter suddenly.

***

The following days were calmer. It was far easier to relax without feeling like we were on death row. I enjoyed being here. It was like coming home. It felt more like home than anything in the waking world. I know the others agreed.

Nathaniel personally spent a lot of time with the Centennial refugees trying to get them to feel comfortable in the strange environment. Some were restless, anxious to hear news from loved ones left behind. Most were content to lay down their burdens. The fact that time moved slower helped a lot with their worries.

Ryan was getting reacquainted with his family. They were Atlantean nobility, and everyone in House Eldana missed him terribly. If he wasn’t attending to his lordly duties in Eden Circle, he was with the military scientists experimenting in the testing facilities. Killian was either at his side or touring the academies and visiting the students there. They loved having the Champion of Light attend their schools. Seminars were packed every lecture.

Adam and I spent a lot of time together. I took comfort in being together with him in the blissful city. So much was coming back to me with every passing day. Walking with Adam through the gardens was often accompanied by déjà vu.

“This place still feels so unreal,” My mother said, as we walked along a walkway with the warm sun beaming down on us. Morgan followed on mom’s left side. “It’s like being in some far off magical future.”

I laughed a little. “History called this place a city of magic. Modern humans would say we’re an advanced scientific society. Magic and science. Different terms. In reality here they are one and the same.”

“What we need to be talking about is what’s in the water that makes the boy’s here so hot,” Morgan chimed in. She fanned herself after a young man smiled at her in passing.

Mom pulled her along when Morgan stopped to watch his backside walking away out of sight. “Reel it in.”

She pouted. “Mom that could’ve been your future son-in-law.”

“Jesus, Morgan, lay off the Teen Mom episodes,” I said.

“How about you focus on getting your grades up,” said Mom, looking like she was one second away from blowing a blood vessel. “Future son in law, my ass.”

“Okay!” I chimed in and raised my hand for a high five.

Mom stared at my hand with a flat glare. “I didn’t ask for the cosign, Chad.” She pushed her finger into my chest. “You’ve still got a long lecture coming your way when this is all over.”

I winced. “Still holding on to that, huh?”

“What? That my son is a superhero and has been lying about it the entire time.”

“So is that a yeah or nah?”

Morgan cackled. “You are so grounded.”

I held up my hands and stated the obvious, “Let me make sure there’s still a home to come back to and then worry about groundings later. “Today is a celebration. It’s the Founding.”

“The Founding?” Mom asked.

I nodded, smiling a little. The memories were startling clear. “Today’s the anniversary of Atlantis’ inauguration. Think Columbus and Independence Day combined if that makes sense.”

“It doesn’t,” replied Morgan.

I smiled sweetly at her. “Maybe you should stop skipping classes then.”

She mirrored my smile. “You would know all about that, huh?”

“I was saving the world.”

Morgan rolled her eyes. “Excuses.”

“And moving right along,” Mom cut in, striding across the plaza with confidence like she had been here before. “Let’s steer the conversation right back on topic, please. Where are we going?”

“Oh, right,” I said, leading her to a Farpoint at the plaza’s edge. “We’re headed to Polaris Garden.”

“What’s that?” Mom asked.

The Farpoint activated, and we were whisked away across space and time. In the blink of an eye, a park stretched out around us bordered by towering trees with deep green leaves, and beyond them, the city’s towers climbed into the sky. It was reminiscent of Central Park with its lake in the distance and walkways and benches scattered throughout. The structures were made from a quartz like crystal that gleamed under the setting sun. Flowers of every color bloomed in artistically cut bushes in the green garden.

“This place is packed,” said Mom, as we stepped into the growing crowd of people.

It was like being in Times Square on New Year's Eve. I grabbed her hand so I wouldn’t lose her in this crowd. The park was filling up like crazy. People were standing shoulder to shoulder, and there was a feeling of excitement in the air. I wrapped my fingers around my mother’s wrist and began squeezing through wherever I saw enough room to move forward. It wasn’t even a minute before eyes flickered to the circlet around my head and the crowd parted.

“Must be nice,” Morgan muttered, as I swept us through the cleared space.

Heads dipped in respect as I passed, and the whispers and murmuring were intense. This must be what celebrities felt like. At least there were no flashing lights or grabby hands. So hey, plus.

“There we go,” I said as the front lines became visible.

I nodded at familiar faces in greeting. I had been reintroduced to the nobles in court in an informal ceremony earlier this week. It was sort of like an episode of MTV’s My Super Sweet Sixteen only I didn’t get a car in the end. Kevin loved it. He spent the entire time reconnecting like it was a high school reunion (“I’m networking. Take notes, baby bro,” he said, pinching my cheek and easily dodging my slap). By the end of the event I ended up in a corner buzzed on wine and leaning on Adam like a goddamn geriatric. I needed to get my shit together. I was a prince.

I waved to Ryan standing with a group of tall men and women that were of lean build, all with light brown hair and gray eyes. Their clothes were all in shades of blues, purple and deep greens--House Eldana colors. Ryan beamed at me, looking immensely happy amongst his family. He stood next to his father both in matching summer tunics without sleeves and with a deep swooping collar. They were one of the great houses of Atlantis, and their family was lords of Eden Circe, ,the district responsible for the city’s military.

“About time,” said Kevin, striding up to us.

He was wearing his circlet too, and his ceremonial coat was a duplicate of mine. It was mainly midnight blue with gold trim, the colors of House Cor, cut in a military high-collared style. Morgan did a cute, passable curtsy in her glittery dress. Kevin tapped her on the nose.

“Looking good, baby girl,” he said, letting her swat him on the shoulder.

I rolled my eyes. She liked him more than me, I swear. You would think she was his baby sister… But in a way, I guess she kind of was. This whole reincarnation thing was doing things to all of our family trees.

“It’s starting,” Kevin said, turning to the setting sun.

The last rays of twilight struck the base of a twenty foot pillar that loomed before the gathered crowd. The pillar looked like it was made of diamond but reflected the light all wrong and shined silver in sunset like liquid mercury. The masses grew silent, watching the entrancing glow.

There was a flash of light at the tower’s base, and King Oriens appeared in all his majesty. The King of Atlantis was resplendent in his full ceremonial garb with pristine dark blue robes with gold cuffs. His cape was honey gold and looked spun from molten stars. He took in the crowd with such somberness that it left me holding my breath, and I found myself leaning forward in anticipation.

His staff was two pronged, and a glittering blue gem hovered between the sharp tips. With little effort, he banged it on the ground and it sounded like two icebergs colliding. All went still. Then his voice rumbled through the air amplified by sheer will.

“Today I stand before you with so much joy and love in my heart I fear words could do them little justice. As I look around at all your faces, I remember that moment over 16,000 years when we arrived on this great planet. Potential- I remember thinking. There was so much I saw for the future of Earth, and all that walked upon it. I have yet to be disappointed,” Oriens’ smile swept us all up in its warmth. “We have been through so much and even still in these land of dreams we have endured and kept our mission, kept guiding the earthlings to hope in their wonderful dreams, and staying on course to the Omega Point.”

“Omega Point?” Mom whispered.

“Later,” I replied softly.

“There were dark days in that bygone age. Terrible and dark, and yet even then, there were glimmers of light. Some of those lights are gone, but now the brightest ones stand once more among us. It’s not just the Founding but a homecoming as well. A twofold celebration that will be marked in history as the day our people reunited. As we look toward the future that’s so very bright, let us remember the past. Our beginning. And there is no one better to lead us in remembering than the Champion of Light, Apollo, Second Priest of the Sol System and Chief of the Legion of the Seven Stars.”

A person broke away from a group of hooded figures in pristine white cloaks. I recognized the robes as belonging to members of the clergy, the Legion of the Seven Stars. The knightly order dedicated to preserving our holy heritage. It was a moment before the hood was pulled back and Killian’s face was revealed. Oriens clapped and the crowd followed in an explosion of noise that made his face flush.

“You don’t know how happy I am to be standing here,” Killian began once he took my father’s place. His voice carried clear across the air just like Oriens. “I never thought I would see any of this again. Every day I thank the stars that this is possible.”

Kevin’s hand wrapped around my wrist and squeezed. I smiled at him and looked at my father standing next to Killian with wet eyes. He looked at Kevin and me with so much fondness and love that I knew these years had been long and so very hard for him.

“We all know our origin, and I want to tell it again. Let’s all remember our history. In the darkness of the Void there was only Aon, the Creator, and he existed before time majorum. There was nothing else and it was lonely. Then one by one, seven stars shined in this audient abyss and awoke. They were the First Gods, the Divine Ancients, that were made first by Aon, and they were the offspring of his thoughts. Aon made others after them, but they knew his will best because they were borne of his mind. And it came to pass that Aon spoke to them of a Great Vision and for a long while they didn’t understand, for each only comprehended that part of Aon’s mind from which they came. Slowly their understanding deepened as Aon gave to them the sight of stars born in fire and cold vacuums, great planets spinning through time, and life spreading throughout the cosmos. It was beautiful as they saw the roads of fate played out terrible and awful in its enormity.”

Killian’s voice gradually changed until it was the familiar cadence of Apollo’s deep baritone weaving the tale.

“The vision moved them to tears and Aon arose, and the First Gods perceived that he smiled, and he lifted up his hands and gathered their tears. These tears were precious and the Great Vision was woven into their depths in a sleeping creative force. Then Aon spoke, and he said: ‘Behold your desires come of my will. This decisive power, this Power Creation, is the wonder that is the beginning of everything.’ Aon breathed onto the tears and said, ‘Be.’”

I loved this part.

“He fused the tears with energy and life, with magic, and there was an explosion that poured into the Void. The wheel of time began to spin, darkness to light, the cosmos sang its first song, and the great realms unfurled dazzling in their glory, and the universe took its first shuddering breaths. Time moved onward, and the First Gods gathered to watch both enamored and fascinated by the awakening life forms. To protect and guide the cosmos, some of the spirits descended into the young universe. These were the Angels, and they were of the same order as the First Gods but of less degree. They became the chosen guardians of the universe and kept peace. For a time, it was good.”

Killian’s voice grew quieter, somber. “There were days—many dark days where hope ran dry. The Last Great War unmade galaxies, snuffed out stars, and the people cried out for help. The First Gods or the They Above All mortals called them because they were the holy ones, watched them struggle through the storm of ruin, and heard their prayers. It was Oriens, who was first of Aon’s children and dearest of all, that pledged his aid.”

Mom looked at me, and I nodded at the question on her face. Yep. They were one and the same. Dad was older than dirt.

“Aon decreed to Oriens and the spirits that joined him that their divinity be contained and godhood forsaken. It was a condition of love for the universe wasn’t made to withstand their might, and their very presence would undo reality. Oriens was appointed, in the new dawn, first of all Kings, and he descended from the Celestial Realm with his people and built a bountiful and benevolent empire that stretched across the stars. And its capital was Atlantis. He brought order from chaos and the darkness could not stand.”

Killian smiled widely, and it made him look so young. I hadn’t seen him this happy in a long time. It was a welcome change from just a few weeks ago. I sneaked a glance at Ryan to see him just as happy with a big dopey smile on his face watching Killian like he was the only thing that mattered in the world. I felt lighthearted witnessing it. All that pride and love that he felt was apparent in his smile and it was beautiful. Kevin saw me watching and jabbed his elbow in my ribs and waggled his eyebrows. He looked like an idiot.

“Heir to the throne, everyone,” I deadpanned.

“You betcha.” He winked badly. Like really bad. One eye twitched, and the other closed in an exaggerated movement that made me snort.

I refused to acknowledge him on principle. I tuned back into Killian.

“...thus it will come to pass, our people will pave the golden way at the Omega Point. We will stand at the edges of the Celestial Realm and rise so much further. We will be limitless.” He stepped to the side and Adam dropped down from the sky and landed softly with a flutter of his cape. He lifted his chin and beheld the crowd with the smile I loved. “Lord Admerion is a beacon of things to come. His bloodline will lead us on the golden path and into the future.”

My heart was beat wildly as Adam clasped his hands together and bowed his head as if in prayer. Adam hummed a deep note that resonated like a hundred voices at once. It was terribly eerie and beautiful. I was spellbound. I wasn’t the only one. The crowd was deathly silent.

The haunting note was awful and sweet, it was hope, and I started to cry. It was the faintest echo of love, which moves the sun and stars, and it was the mad, inconceivable cacophony that some called the music of the spheres. I had never heard anything like it was before. It gripped us all held us like a tight embrace.

Light fell from the sky and struck the Prayer Tower behind Adam and it pulsed once, twice, and then lit up like the dawn. The warmth of the light swept us up, and there, for just a moment, I glimpsed mighty Aon himself, the Creator of All Things, sitting upon a golden throne listening to the glorious music sung by the Divine Ancients that echoed through all of creation in an eternal melody.

It was only a moment, but it was a moment of infinite width. It was fading. Adam’s humming was a piece of this great music, a drop of eternity, and it could not last. Something lifted when Adam’s humming ended, some great weight fell away, and I let out a sigh feeling lighter. Free. I smiled. I wasn’t the only one. Everyone wore big smiles.

Adam lifted his head, and his eyes were burning amber, twin stars set upon his face. “Amen,” he breathed.

King Oriens started to clap. There wasn’t the barest hesitation before the park filled with applause. There was cheering and celebrating that shook the ground. Some teenagers lifted their hands letting loose fireworks into the sky. An older group of magicians saw they had the right idea and conjured massive animated dragons of flame and light to join the show.

“This is crazy!” Mom laughed as a random guy kissed her on the cheek and danced arm and arm with another woman.

Morgan eyed a trio of boys stripping off their tops. What kind of Guys Gone Wild mess was going on? They span the tops above their heads like helicopters. There was an explosion of feathers as cloth smoothly transformed into a host of phoenixes. It wasn’t a true summons, but it was a hell of a nice pass. The sleek birds flew above our heads, dancing on feathers of flame, and I couldn’t shake the ridiculous grin from my house looking around at the celebrations. It was a full on party.

“May I have this dance?” one of the shirtless boys asked Morgan, bowing low. His skin was russet brown, and he had the lightest brown eyes I’d ever seen.

Hell, even I would’ve said yes.

Morgan’s eyes were wide and she nodded, taking his offered hand getting swept up amidst the other revelers. She gleefully waved back at us, letting him spin her around. Flute and pipe music started up, kicking off the festivities in earnest. Some of the dancers levitated off the ground to enthusiastically dance midair with wild moves that had some people ducking out of the way of stray feet.

“Sons,” Oriens said, striding forward elegantly through the crowd. He swept himself in a bow before my mother. “Will you honor me with a dance, milady?”

I don’t know what kind of relationship they had forged here lately, but I was surprised Mom didn’t blush a little. After all, it wasn’t every day a king asked you to dance with them. She looked ridiculously amused by the request. A wide smile split Mom’s face, and she laughed with a little shake of her head.

“Charming will get your everywhere, O.”

Dad winked at us before whisking my mom away in an echo of twin laughter. I let that marinate in my mind for a hot minute. Kevin seemed to be in a similar state of disbelief. We stood there in a sea of partiers focused on the king and my mother pulling out moves like they were in Save the Last Dance.

Arms wrapped around my waist from behind, and I didn’t tense when Adam pulled me back into his chest. “Your parents look friendly.”

That broke the spell of silence. Kevin blinked. “Did she call him...O?”

I didn’t take my eyes off them. “When did I wake up on the set of the Parent Trap?”

“I think they look cute.”

Kevin and I slowly turned to look at Adam. I stepped away from him and crossed my arms. My eyes narrowed.

“Did you Lindsey Lohan them on the slide?”

“Lindsay...what? No.” Adam sighed.

Kevin glowered at him. “You’re on diaper duty for the new baby.”

“Don’t you think you two are jumping the gun?”

I considered that. “Wise words, sir. Wise words.”

Honestly, I would love it if my parents did forge some type of bond from this whole getaway, be it friendship or more, and mostly if it was more. I wasn’t knocking the idea of a new sibling. It would be kind of wonderful.

We moved to the outskirts of the crowd receiving claps on the back (“Wonderful to see you again, my lords”) and enthusiastic handshakes (“So glad to have you back. This is truly a blessing”). There were was food and drinks here at the edges of the park. I helped myself to one of the glasses of hot spiced wine that lined the serving tables. Another table was filled with freshly baked bread, oatcakes, ocean salad, sweet biscuits, sherbet, strawberries and sweetgrass, cheese stuff peppers, purple olives with flatbread, cheese and chickpea paste, and it went on and on many other Atlantean fares that smelled delicious.

“I still can’t believe this is happening,” Kevin said, raising his voice over the noise. He looked around with a little fond smile.

I shared the feeling. “It’s a miracle.”

“Close enough,” Adam said, lacing his fingers through my right hand. “I didn’t realize I’ve always missed this until we came.”

Ryan and Killian burst from the crowd wearing wide, silly grins. Ryan’s hair was wet with sweat hanging on his face like he just escaped from a mosh pit. Killian had lost his robe somewhere, leaving him in a pair of tight tan breeches. His naked upper body was decorated in neon paint. I stared at Ryan’s name, crisscrossing across his bare chest. Killian tripped, spilling a bit of the liquid in the glass he was holding. I could smell the strongwine from here. Ryan snorted and steadied him with an easy grip.

“Easy, Killer.”

“There you are!” said Killian, waving at us like a lunatic.

I charmed the area with a privacy spell. Immediately, the party grew quieter so we could hear each other better without shouting. I gape at Killian’s swaying and half naked body.

“Aren’t you a priest?”

Killian smiled wolfishly, baring teeth. “It’s not kind of church, Glinda.”

My eye twitched. “Did you just call me a witch?”

“Better than a b-”

Ryan slapped his hand over Killian’s mouth, shrugging at me. “Blame it on the alcohol.”

Adam lifted a tall silver flute of persimmon wine, humming the Jamie Foxx song under his breath, and doing a shoulder jig. He downed the glass. I gave him a look and he wisely pretended he didn’t see it.

“If we beat our clones and manage to survive Entropy…” I winced at the last reminder. “We have to make this a reality.”

Adam stared at me with a tilt of his head. “What do you mean, darling?”

“I’m gagging,” Kevin muttered at the affectionate term.

I pointed my finger at him. “You can shut your mouth with the homophobia. I don’t need this hate speech. I’m a good person.”

“Oh, cool it, brokeback,” Kevin replied. “I’m practically the president of GLAAD.”

I side eyed him. “That’s a reach.”

Adam looked between us. “So, about that comment from a second ago?”

“Oh right,” I brightened. “I’ve been thinking about it. When it’s all said and done, we’re going to bring this back. We’re going to restore the empire.”

The gasp that left my friends was expected; however, Kevin didn’t react. His facial features didn’t outwardly change. He just nodded his head and turned back to gaze out at the crowd dancing around us. When he did speak, it was with a smile.

“You’ve been thinking about what Dad told us at the presentation assembly the first day, right?”

“He said you’ll be king and I’ll the light to show you the way.”

Killian made a face. “I thought it was metaphorical like on some Arthur and Merlin shit.”

“I can’t get the idea out of my head,” I continued, not bothering to reply to that mess. I looked at Kevin. “You have to admit that you’ve been thinking about it, too.”

Kevin nodded. “We used to be a guiding force on Earth. The empire was a beacon of hope. With everything that’s going on I think we could all use a little more of that.”

“Ain’t that the truth,” Adam agreed.

Ryan wrapped his arm around Killian, supporting him a bit more. “Do you really think we could do it? Rebuild Atlantis.”

I considered the question and said slowly, “I think it was a hint. I haven’t confronted him about it yet, but I think my dad was trying to tell us something of the empire remains.”

When I said it, I knew it to be true because there had always been a little part of me that knew this. I remembered that bar in LA all those months ago filled with people who could do magic. Magic that came from Atlantean ancestry. The stories and conspiracies that were still circulating about the destruction and renewal of the world by the Elder Spawn and Heaven’s Trumpet. Centennial was in ruins, and the rest of the planet poised to become next. It was only a matter of time before the world would demand answers. They needed a reason to believe the darkness wouldn’t smother them.

“One, this is totally killing my buzz. Two, how could anything of the city survive?” Killian frowned and took a sip of his drink. “I remember, Chad. They threw everything they had at Atlantis.”

Ryan nodded. “He’s right. Even if something had survived the self destruct would’ve activated and vaporized whatever was left. Our technology could never be allowed to fall into enemy hands.”

“The Zero Protocol,” said Kevin, naming the security measure.

“The empire was started from nothing,” I reminded them. “It can be rebuilt the same way.”

I crossed my arms taking a moment to admire the holoscreens projected in the air. Each screen was the size of a billboard and showed footage of celebrations taking place in other sectors of the city. In the south pier of the Eden Circle district, it was raining faerielight, and in the north sector of Evenfall children flew on conjured wings of moonlight, they charmed water to dance in Summercrown to the northeast, and Sunset’s End was filled exhilarated laughter as they celebrated through smoke and half truths. Fantasies came to life in the form of enchanted gardens that bloomed singing white roses and fantastical beings of legend, like nymphs and sprites and satyrs.

Kevin picked up a bottle of pear brandy off the serving table. “You guys want to have our own little party?”

“Is he talking about a gang bang?” Killian tried and failed to whisper to Ryan.

Killian gave him the finger. “I’m not that kind of girl.”

“Should we talk about the fact you referred to yourself as a girl or,” I trailed off at his nonplussed expression.

Adam snorted. “I’m all for a change of scenery.”

Ryan snagged a bottle of sweet cider and shook it a little. “I think this will help to kick things off, too, boys.”

Things were beginning to lighten up around here. I laughed and hitched a thumb toward the thick of the woods behind me. “I know just the place we can take this.”

We grabbed a few more bottles off the tables and ducked off into the shadows of the trees. I remembered playing in these woods as a kid. It hadn’t changed one bit. I knew the paths like they were second nature. The others stuck close as I took us deep into the forest. My footsteps were surefooted as I ducked branches and stepped over roots without thought. Emrys had been here so many times. It was all coming back to me now.

The trees parted, giving way to a circular clearing with blooming lilies. A small lake filled with silvery water glowed in the moonlight. I kicked off my boots and wiggled my toes on the grass.

“Looks like we have the place all to ourselves,” I said, finding my grin mirrored on their faces.

Kevin popped the cork on the brandy. “Let’s party!”

“I’ll drink to that,” Killian cheered, taking a long pull of the wine bottle in his hand.

Killian handed the bottle to Ryan and leaned in to press a kiss to his boyfriend’s lips. In a flash, he kicked off his boots running to the lake in a sprint. He let out a “Geronimo!” before diving in with a splash.

“Such a show off,” I muttered.

Adam stripped off his top revealing his impressive torso. “Can’t say he doesn’t have the right idea.”

I dropped the extra bottles on the ground and Ryan and Kevin followed suit as we took off our tops. Kevin laughed and his abs flexed with the movement. He slung his arm around me, pulling me in to rub his knuckles into my scalp.

“Let’s tear it up, baby brother.”

I swatted at his hand, fighting back a smile. “You’re not older than me in this life, asshole.”

Ryan and Adam high fived each other and joined Killian in the lake. I pulled away from Kevin and flexed my fingers. I whispered a word and with a bit of will, multicolored orbs of light floated in the air. They swirled above in a swarm of color and light and with a nifty bit of sonar spellwork I amplified the music from the park into the clearing. It was like our own little VIP section—a neat little bit of magic, I’d say. I couldn’t fight the grin on my face even if I wanted to.

“Don’t forget about me!”

I ran across the clearing and leaped into the lake. Adam immediately swam into my arms as Kevin jumped on us with a war cry. Killian joined my brother to dunk us under in some kind of ninja sneak attack. I barely saw Ryan sweep his arm out, using his super strength to send a huge, unbelievable wave to knock us over.

Oh hell no. It was on. It turned into a full blown water fight. I couldn’t remember the last time we ever had so much fun. My stomach hurt from laughing. I had to admit this was the best day.

Tomorrow was for the war to come.

But today wasn’t that day.