Forgemaster (Book 1 in the Spirit Guide Saga) Read online

  “Kanade… don’t tell me it was pointless too?” Ethan saw the answer before the angel, Spirit Guide or whatever replied. Kanade was too pensive.

  “I’m sorry, Ethan, but at the time you died you were actually supposed to tell Rachiel Flemmings to ‘Duck!’ not ‘Look out!’. That is why I wasn’t waitin’ on you immediately. Fate had determined Rachiel would have dropped to the ground like her favorite game and the truck would have went over her. The worst of the injuries sustained would have been one scraped knee, not two. She was small enough that the vehicle would easily go over her…” she blinked and held up a finger as she felt a nudge within her mind as something changed dramatically. She flicked her wrist out again and another sheet appeared. Ethan remained patient and allowed Kanade to read it. “Well I’ll be cow kicked by a mule! Fate has changed her life because of this moment. Rachiel was scheduled to die at twenty six from excessive drinking and run off the road to hit a tree, but now she will forever be changed and will die at twenty five in combat after joinin’ the navy.”

  “How is that better?” Ethan asked, feeling horrified. “Seems I shortened her life. Seems whatever I do turns out wrong.”

  “False assumption. Her death will save the lives of her navy team who will then go on to kill a terrorist organization savin’ thousands more from a chemical attack on a hospital.” The awe in Kanade’s voice made him feel better. “She will later become known as a national hero, sayin’ to most she befriends how her own guardian angel died to give her the chance to save others… Ethan, you’ve saved her future soul from the Lost Lands. That is a place where souls feel sick forever on whatever substance they died ingestin’.”

  “Really?” Hope filled his voice though he didn’t fully understand what she said.

  “Fate himself just changed her destiny from your selfless action.” Her molten gold eyes swam with tears that didn’t spill. “Mind if I can call you a friend? It would be an honor to befriend someone so selfless and genuine as to forever change a person’s outcome. Few humans disregard their own well being for a complete and total stranger.”

  Ethan felt truly uncomfortable under her straightforward personality and looked down. “Umm… I guess we can.”

  The winged beauty squealed like a schoolgirl and hugged him.

  Electricity shot between them. It was so sudden both pulled away and looked at each other with wide eyes. It didn’t hurt, but was foreign, unsettling and oddly exhilarating. Ethan didn’t know if it was being dead or that her breasts rubbed against him so wonderfully, for never in his life had anything felt like that. Kanade also felt it and looked down at her arms that tingled slightly and her breast warmed pleasantly to the point she blushed.

  Before either could speak of the experience Kanade’s head snapped up and in a fluid move, stood. Her wings shot out instinctively, prepared to take flight. Ethan was likewise on his feet and looking down the same street she was. Even standing in front of her, she towered behind by over two feet, easily looking at what he could not. “Kanade, why do you look so scared?”

  “Demons!” she hissed, her kind and beautiful features turned both fearful and angry. “I sense their bloodlust rushing this way. Hundreds of lesser demons. Goblins most likely. They come for you, Ethan. They smell your open and exposed soul. I cannot stay. I protect too many within. If they capture me, they can steal them. I won’t die, but twenty thousand souls will be forever lost.”

  “Then what the hell are you waiting for, Kanade?! Get out of here!” He turned around and smiled up at her, enjoying how she appeared one last time in her full angelic glory. “I’m unimportant compared to them. If the demons want me, I’ll do what I can so you escape. It was a short friendship, but thanks for meeting me. My life might be worth less than crap, but meeting you was worth it in the end.” Ethan turned around and squared off. He didn’t know where this courage came from, but he would do with it what he could.

  A great power startled Kanade as it against brushed hers. An ancient mind greater than all others spoke “Child, danger comes in force. You must fulfill your task for the many souls’ safety. Take Ethan by the hand and return to me. He is worthy to stand in my presence.”

  “But, My Lord, he is not within me. His form remains that of a man! How can I transport him safely?” She asked humbly, staring into the sky.

  Ethan glanced over his shoulder as she supposedly spoke to herself, but he didn’t know another spoke to her mind. “Fear not, Child, he will survive the crossing. You just do not understand what has happened. Be off before Chaos claims him!”

  “Understood.” Kanade felt the foreign power recede and looked down to a good and kind soul. “Ethan, take my hand! Hurry!”

  Not bothering to question her, he spun around and took her soft hand slightly larger than his own and they felt the electrical, tingling sensation return where they touched. Her finger’s curled around his tightly and neither would release. He watched as her wings lifted high, her knees bent and as she jumped her blue wings shimmered in the sunlight before slamming down. The power of her wings shot the two of them fifty feet skyward. She looked up into the sky as she powered her way ever higher.

  Ethan looked down and saw the emergency vehicles leaving the site of his physical death, but before things became too small to identify he noticed hundreds of dark hairy forms running at inhuman speeds not even a car could contend with. Then came the city of Orlando which led to seeing the whole Floridian state. Still Kanade ascended higher till the bright blue atmosphere turned to blackness of space.

  He eventually looked up at his hands gripping Kanade’s with all he could so he didn’t fall, but his fear vanished as he saw her smile down in his direction for a moment before looking up. Shoulders ached from his own weight, but she didn’t even seem fazed by carrying a passenger.

  It was a marvel to see her still flying straight up, but then he noticed a ball of silvery light in the sky that resembled a pulsating star. She flew right at it and didn’t slow. As they entered, Ethan was blinded as he felt his body feel itself get jerked painfully. Then he closed his eyes to darkness.

  Just as the gut wrenching pull came to an end Ethan heard her lovely voice. “It is over now, Darlin’. Open your eyes.” He felt her take her hand back.

  Wholeheartedly trusting her, he did and it made him gasp.

  Further than the eye could see was a lush forest of green grass swaying in the breeze with grand trees of lustrous ivory that held reddish golden leaves as if Fall were in season. A truly crystal clear lake gently lapped at the grassy bank and made sweet music with the placid wind. Rolling hills teemed with frolicking animals. A herd of horses were running for sheer enjoyment while deer were hopping with mirth. All around was a calm beauty. The sky was bluer than any Ethan had ever seen with a pair of suns high above the wisps of clouds. It was so hard to describe, Ethan couldn’t fully comprehend the depth because of his limited human mind.

  That wasn’t all as he saw thousands of Spirit Guides either lounging in intimate pairs in the grass, soaring on the winds, some under the shade of a tree reading or making music with instruments or their voices. His jaw continued to drop as he realized no two had the exact wing color and their hair matched. Like Kanade, each winged being was a giant at eight feet or taller, especially the men who were all no less than nine. But what really was awesome to see is some were playing with light at their fingertip and creating lines in the air which did things beyond belief.

  “Kanade, are they doing magic?” He pointed to a group over by the lake.

  She smiled down at him, seeing how quickly he can recover. What she found most endearing is his honest smile that was filled with intrigue. “You may call it magic. It is the simplest word to understand it. This is the Spirit World where all souls come to live. From the tiniest plants to the greatest of whales throughout the entire universe. Those are other Spirit Guides, my kin. Most stay comfortable, maintainin’ this realm’s order of peace. Those you see doing ‘magic’ as you called it are merely usin’their Spirit Energy to invoke their unique and individual talent to help the lost or in danger find their way. Some use the ancient runes to invoke an idea into existence, but all Spirit Energy is meant to benefit.” He looked up into her eyes and she felt pleasant and unsettled at the same time. Though she spoke as if nothing was wrong, her hand still tingled from his touch. “Ethan, a very important being wishes me to bring you in his presence, but first I must release the souls I contain.”

  “Then lead on, Kanade. I’ll follow you wherever you wish to take me… since I don’t really have a choice or have an idea where to go… Wait, an important person? God? Is that who you speak of? He exists?” Ethan asked quickly when her words sunk deeper into his mind.

  Here full ruby lips quirked again and he enjoyed how the two suns made her skin glitter even more than the last time on Earth. “Keep thinkin’ that.” She laughed as she hid it behind a hand. “No, the gods of human religion are wrong in almost every way. But there is a ruler of the Spirit World, Spirit King. He was the first life to be born from Chaos’ darkness.” She began walking slowly from her sculpted long legs would out distance Ethan’s effortlessly. He matched her pace, never looking from her unless it was to see what was ahead. What he didn’t notice were the other Spirit Guides realizing who walked with her. Fingers started pointing, drawing attention from everyone to Ethan. None had apparently seen a human spirit retain form either and it was the greatest spectacle of her kind recently. She felt a sense of pride and accomplishment that she was the one who got to be by his side. “Spirit King has but one son created from his own essence, Fate, as he has always been called. From Chaos’ darkness sprung Order’s light. But god or gods is nothing more than a figment of twisted truths human religion has used to control and poison the minds of naturally good humans. So your disbelief of god and angels is somewhat true. Those myths do not exist as believed. Religion is as useless as breasts on a boar.” That made them both laugh. “Fate is the one who wishes me to bring you. As soon as the souls go to their final rest we will meet him.”

  “Still, thanks for the clarification. I’m just glad you are my angel.”

  Kanade stopped too suddenly and Ethan hit the brakes to notice her expression hardened, wings stiff and her posture tense. Her golden eyes were narrowed and as she spoke he could feel the sting of each syllable. “I am not your angel. Watch what you say for you know nothing of my kind or culture. Friends are all we can be, nothin’ more. Never, ever, call me your angel or hint there is somethin’ more. Do not ever say it to another Spirit Guide unless you wish to be sent to the realm of Torment for two thousand years.”

  Ethan could see she was furious, but no other person was near enough to hear her though he noticed others gawking in his direction. “Kanade, forgive me for upsetting you. It wasn’t my intention. I don’t have a clue what brought on your anger, but it was an ignorant statement. Yes, you are more beautiful than any I’ve ever seen, but you need to cut me some slack. I’ve had one hell of a day if you haven’t forgotten? I lost my job, a girlfriend, a brother and died for nothing. And in context, you saved me from demons like an angel. It’s not even been an hour so tell me how I know what and what not to say? And what is so wrong saying my angel anyway? Is it bad or derogatory? A curse?”

  “I’m sorry, Ethan. I didn’t bean to snap your head off.” Kanade closed her eyes and sighed. But inside her head she couldn’t get out the comment he said of her being more beautiful than any. She knew she couldn’t fancy it, but it sounded so wonderful coming from him. He was too honest a person to lie. Ethan, why do you make me feel so? She asked herself privately. If only your words knew what they do to me. No, I cannot indulge in this. I need to find out what is wrong with me.

  Molten gold eyes reopened and first looked at her shoes in the firm grass before slowly meeting Ethan’s gaze. “I had no reason to jump to a conclusion so defensively. And I’m not angry. I’m worried for if an Enforcer heard and misunderstood, he would not care as he threw your soul into Torment. And I’m also sorry your day has been so sour. For a good person, it shouldn’t have happened.” She walked on.

  “Well, are you going to explain why what I said was so bad?” He inquired as he caught up. “And what is an Enforcer?”

  “An Enforcer” She began. “is the only ones of my kind that can intentionally harm another being of flesh or spirit. Enforcers wear a helmet of burning gold and hold a spear or sword of light. They protect Spirit World from the outside as well as within. Any infraction will incur their Just wrath. There are few Enforcers, but they have power equal to a great demon lord and will never stop till their judgment is completed. Only Spirit King controls them. They are unequalled in battle and have the power to kill a Spirit Guide or any other creature.”

  “Frightening.”

  “Indeed we are.” Came a deep bass voice.

  Ethan and Kanade gasped and spun around. Behind was an Enforcer and he stood just as Kanade described. A full knights helmet covered his head and was aflame with power, but it did not hide two soul piercing violet eyes. The man stood ten feet tall and was ripped with so much muscle that not even a hint of fat touched his shirtless chest. White pants held a sheathed sword at his left hip, but in his left hand was an actual lance made of light with a height similar to the Enforcer. But not one scar or blemish marred the being. Without waiting for them to recover the Enforcer said “Fate wants Ethan immediately after the souls are freed, Kanade. No more walking. He says it is important and time is wasting.” Enormous violet wings spread and the Enforcer jumped into the sky without another word.

  She recovered sooner by wrapping her arm around Ethan’s body and displayed great strength as she lifted him to hold at her side. She then immediately took to the air in haste, not wanting to tempt those to wait any longer if they sent an Enforcer.

  Trees, grass, adorable animals, lakes, hills and other Spirit Guides blurred below as Kanade flew.

  “If I wasn’t already a dead man I swear that guy would have made me wet myself.” Ethan said and she felt him shiver in her arm. She agreed with a nod while looking forward. “Let me take some of the burden off you.” He said and reached his right arm around her bare back, beneath her wondrous wings as she started to glide. He didn’t intend to feel her warm, silky back as he tried to make her flight easier or enjoy just how good she felt. He did feel more at ease holding her, but watched as the ground below them pass by so she didn’t see him blush.

  “I’m far stronger than I look. Your weight is nothing to me, like other souls I hold.” She said, but lied some for never had she carried another in this way before. Only mothers carried young in such a way, but the way she enjoyed his arm around her felt so right, but was forbidden. If not for the orders of the Enforcer, she would rather have enjoyed the walk and longer conversation with her human friend. The threat is all that kept her from reveling in Ethan’s touch.

  In another minute they came upon a place where it could be seen of other Spirit Guides flying in and out of a domed building made of the purest marble Ethan had ever seen. The building was more of a supersized stadium with over a hundred open entrances. Kanade aimed for a patch of soft grass and landed with such ease that he didn’t feel any jarring sensation. The grass crunched as his weight returned and he released his hold reluctantly. Others were so busy flying around and landing also that none looked at them, of course he seemed a child beside her. “Quickly, stay by me. If you get lost inside, run back to this spot and wait.”

  “I promise.”

  Fear of another Enforcer sitting on the very top of the stadium roof made Ethan jog to match Kanade’s lithe steps. They made it to the marble building, but now at a closer inspection showed gold veins running all over the structure. The Enforcer wasn’t looking their way, but it was clear he was the guardian. Once they passed the opening, he found the room echoing with conversation. He found himself in a room full of giants. If not for Kanade’s metallic blue coloring, he would have been instantly lost. Just to be sure he wasn’t, he grabbed the side of her wing. She immediately stopped and looked down to shake her head. With all the noise she couldn’t be heard. He released his hold and nodded with understanding.

  Touching was a no no.

  Deeper she moved and he tried keeping pace, but he found quickly that now that he was dead, he didn’t get winded. Cool! Ethan thought, but kept focus on her wings. He got smacked in the face by a green winged woman, but when she turned, whatever she felt was gone. The hard marble ground was oddly spotless especially since everyone walked in off the grass, but he realized that his guide’s high heels didn’t show any signs of walking on dirt or grass. In fact her shoes remained spotless. Must be a Spirit World thing. He guessed.

  It felt like a half hour passed as he followed her, sometimes she would glance back and find him weaving though the crowd and felt sorry. She eventually passed the thickest part of the crowd and strolled up to a desk where a Pixie sat. She was no more than four inches tall with the wings of a Matriarch butterfly and the body of a woman with green skin and purple eyes. She wore a breast strap and loincloth. The Pixie smiled and waved. In a crystal clear voice as if someone made of glass could sing the Pixie said “Kanade! Hello girlfriend! I was getting worried. You’re late. Did you run into trouble again?”

  “Good day, Floa. My day has never been so interestin’ before, but I do not have time to chat. I carry a little over twenty thousand. The first group goes to the Realm of Peace, second to Fields of Rest, third belong to Endless Gardens and the last batch go to Torment.”

  “Torment?” Floa’s face scrunched up like she smelled rotting eggs. “Let me guess, terrorists from Earth again?”

  “Nope, rapists and pedophiles from China. Two hundred and sixty eight of them. Eleven from America and two from Zimbabwe.” Kanade shivered and her feathers fluffed just thinking about it.

  “Two thousand years isn’t long enough for the likes of those humans.” Floa commented. Her wings fluttered as she flew up to an open space in the open heart of the room and slapped her hands together to open a space for the souls to cross to their reward.