Abdi'el's eyes widen as they meet Bridge's. "A long; long time ago when the Earth was new and her people old; men came from the stars," Bridge says in a soft, dreamy voice; all the while stroking Abdi'el's face with his head tilted to one side. "They built a beautiful city and bases for their armies who were fighting a war that was none of our business. We showed them the gateways to the wheel of destiny; gave them access to our Universe and all her wonders." He tilts his head to the other side and Abdi'el shivers.
"Walking the spokes of the wheel the star men won their war and then they came back and settled in their white city on the cliff. The People lived side by side with the star men for a very long time and during that time a new race rose. They were nurtured and cherished by The People and their brothers from the bones of the earth-- the ancient dragons, whose breath is the breath of the wind and whose fire is the fire of the stars and whose bones are the bones of the hills and whose tears are the depths of the oceans."
Bridge's voice has taken on a singsong quality as if he's speaking the words of a poem or a story that has been passed down generation to generation as history. It doesn't take me long to realise, that is exactly what it is.
"But the star men did not cherish the Children of the Earth; they exploited them, enslaved them when the backs of The People were turned and the eyes of the Dragons were averted. Our children were scorned and used." He drops his hands and lowers his head to glare at Abdi'el; his eyes burning.
"And then came those who did cherish The Children of Earth. They loved and were loved. In the name of that love they were torn down. The rulers of the star men were jealous with the power they had gained. They were angry that their own kind had shared it with The Children. They punished The Children and their own star men in the most terrible way. They tore souls from bodies and opened the Void to cast them into.
"The People and the Dragons were horrified when the very fabric of their reality was torn apart. The Wheel was tilted and broken. The spirals of birth and death were twisted. The very essence of The Universe herself was spilled like blood on a battle-field. The People and brother Dragons were shut out of their own lands; caught on the wrong side of the gateways when they were closed. The balance of the universe was upset and great evil came upon us." Bridge shakes his head as if he is coming out of a dream and when he speaks again he uses his own voice.
"Your little war caused more suffering to The Universe than you could ever atone for. Your Council and those who served them raped our world and our people, in the name of a God who does not exist and a power that was not yours in the first place. You tore and broke and twisted and we were helpless to stop you, because we were trapped on the wrong side of the gate. You leeched the magic out of the bones of the land and used it to dominate; to enslave – when it was always available for you to share. The Source: the life force that binds all and makes it whole was spilled from the bowl in which it was contained and the Earth became barren and devoid of magic and spirit.
"But no more. The People are coming again. I am their forerunner and I am here to give you a message to take back to your Council. This Earth; this Wheel; this Power is OURS and we are taking it back. You are no longer welcome here. Take your Council and what remains of your people and walk the path of the stars back to where you belong. It is no longer here."
For a long; long moment Abdi'el stares at him and then he starts to laugh. He is well over a head taller than Bridge and of a much larger build. He looks down on the delicate, fey boy and roars.
"You," he sputters finally, "you dare to say this to me? You and your People were never more than an irritation to us. There was never a time when we 'lived together in harmony'. You lived the life you led because we allowed you to. And as for the Dragons..." he flicks a scornful glance across the river to Star. "I thought we had wiped them out millennia ago. They are beasts; little more than the horses we ride to war."
My heart thuds in my chest. Even I know he's treading a thin line now. When we first came to Earth it was inhabited by races far stronger than we were. It was meant to be a temporary base for our forces, but when we realised there were gateways here that could take us to a whole new universe we made permanent bases here. We knew full well we were the lesser race and there were contracts; agreements. I've no idea whether it was by accident or design that The People, as they called themselves, and the true dragons were trapped outside our reality, but neither the Council nor their followers would have been able to do what they have done since, if they'd still been around.
The Morning Star had tried his best to repair the damage and look where that got him.
A horrible suspicion is rising in my breast and, when Star steps forward I feel proud and sick and terrified all at the same time.
"I am no beast, Abdi'el." He walks slowly across the river to stand beside Bridge. The two 'men' who are holding Sacha take a step backwards and look at each other uncertainly.
Bridge looks up at them. "Make him comfortable on the couch," he commands. After glancing at each other again and failing to meet Bridge's eyes they back away and disappear into the mists which linger at the back of the summerhouse.
"You've had your moment, bitch. Now turn around and walk away, while you still can."
"Not this time, star man." Bridge spits back with as much venom and scorn as Abdi'el, if not more. "This time we're taking back what's ours. Your Council is in disarray; your people scattered, while ours are coming back. You can stand and fight if you wish but this time it's a battle you can't win. Take that message back to your people. Those who wish to remain with their feet on the wheel can petition our Council and if we so decide they may remain but they are subject to our will and not their own. There will be no more dominating and demanding. You will follow the rules of The Universe as we do, or leave and make your own rules elsewhere."
"Your Council? And what, pray would that be?" He sneers.
"You are standing before it, Abdi'el and I would suggest you do nothing to piss us off or yours will be the first ass sent spinning off the wheel."
Now Abdi'el looks even more uncertain and there is definitely a tinge of fear in his eyes. "Enough of this. You tire me, you pathetic creature."
Abdi'el reaches out and grabs Bridge by the shoulder. Star steps forward but before he can do anything Bridge says softly. "Not anymore star man. Your time is past and mine has come again."
Before Abdi'el can say a word or move a muscle he is lifted off his feet and slammed backwards through the mist and into what sounds like a solid object.
"If you think that you can come to our world; take its resources; use it's people like animals; punish them and pervert them at your whim; drive away The People and their Brothers; dominate its development and twist its history for eternity then you are sadly delusional my friends. Your reign is over and ours has come again.
"Leave this place freely and never return. If you don't then the only thing waiting for you will be death. Release our people; release those of yours who loved them and leave. Take a message back to your Council or those who now govern in their stead. The war is over; the time of the star men is over; it is our time now. The People have returned."
Together Taz, Bridge and Rapha'el move forward. Before them the mist and smoke retreats. Star and I glance at each other and hurry to follow.
When we reach the far wall we are surprised to find that Abdi'el and his friends have gone. All that remains is Sacha; lying on the couch; cold and still and pale.
Without a word Rapha'el kneels at the side of the couch and lays his hands on Sacha; one on his forehead and the other on his stomach. He begins to glow. The light grows so bright I cannot look at him. When the light fades and we can see again Sacha is already stirring. Rapha'el moves back and we all draw closer.
When Sacha opens his eyes they are clear but confused. "What happened? Serif? What...? Why...?"
Bridge throws himself into Sacha's arms and hugs him, laughing. "It wasn't Serif and his name isn't Serif; it's Rapha'el and he's an angel... well kind of. So is Taz... and Luma. And Star is a dragon. Me? I don't know what I am but I think I might have been possessed for a while but I'm alright now."
Sacha looks deeply confused and I don't blame him because so am I. "Possessed, Bridge?"
"I think so. At least something was speaking through me. I heard what I said but it wasn't me saying it. It was cool though, wasn't it... when that power flowed through me? Heck, I wish it was here all the time."
"Are you sure it's not?" Rapha'el asks softly.
"Um... it's never been there before; at least I don't think so."
"Try."
"But I don't know how."
"Concentrate on something you want to move and then move it."
