Chapter 32
Determination flooded the group and they began to search for the witch. Lauren knew she was close but she just couldn't see her. Lauren grabbed Cartrell and Tom then moved to the center of the henge. MaGayla, Levi, and Davis stood within the stones waiting for instructions or a fight, it didn't matter to them.
Lauren sat down with her back leaning against the centre stone. She pulled Cartrell and Tom down with her. "I feel the witch or at least an evil presence. I don't want them to know I feel them." She whispers. "We are going to create a trap for them, lure them into the stones so we can capture them. Wait, now there are two, no three. Sit with me so I can create the trap." They sat down and she closed her eyes. Soon their heads were resting on her shoulders. They looked fast asleep. MaGayla cast a cloaking spell over herself, Levi, and Davis. As far as anyone could tell Lauren and her two men fell asleep and were alone.
The three malice-filled beings moved closer to the henge. The grass rustled and the wind blew but other than that, there didn't seem to be anything else there. "This doesn't feel right. Did she use all her power and drain them too? No. This doesn't feel right." A female voice said. Lauren didn't move. They weren't all in the trap yet.
"They are asleep. Weak beings get tired quickly and can't endure like the strong. We should just kill them and continue with our task. We are too close to ruling this planet to be sidetracked now." A male deep voice replied, stepping closer.
"Yesss. If we delay, we will have to wait until the next solstice. Everything is in place. We must do this now. We can just siphon their power and we perform the ritual." The other male said.
Lauren was waiting for just the right time. She could feel the power rolling off of the three intruders. If they were to attack before the intruders were in place, someone she cared about might get hurt. Patience.
The intruders moved closer and closer to the centre stone. One of the males kneeled down and looked at Lauren closely. Lauren could feel his breath on her face. When he reached out to touch her, that was her cue. She opened her eyes and saw that all three were within the stones, created a force field trap, and dropped the cage over the henge. Tom and Cartrell got up and shoved the male away from Lauren. Then they stood protectively in front of Lauren. The rest of the team became visual and were ready to fight if they had to.
"Oh. So, who might you be? The male intruder that seemed to be the leader asked.
"I'm the Keeper of the Keys of Imagination. And you are?"
"I am Resheph. I'm a god of this planet and soon to be its ruler." Resheph replied standing taller and puffing out his chest.
Tom recoiled and Lauren could feel his nerves, his anger. She reached for his hand and he took hers, helping her to stand up off the ground. She kept holding his hand and his nerves calmed.
"I think I know that man," Resheph stated. "Yes. That is one of my sons. You have grown into a fine man. Why are you standing against me? You should be by my side as the only one of my sons to become an adult. You survived your birth, how much ever time you were in my, um, care, and your escape from that same care. So, who are you? Which of my sons will inherit my god powers whenever I decide to give them up or someone kills me?"
It was like Resheph was trying to rile Tom up. Trying to cause Tom to show his angry, evil side, or at least his hurt. But Lauren didn't let go of Tom's hand. She didn't let him speak or react. She had put his mind in a form of stasis that allowed him to hear and see everything but not react. She would not allow Resheph to get the satisfaction of seeing Tom's reaction. "No, Resheph, you are talking to me. You will only address me. No one else will answer your questions but me." Lauren stated firmly.
"Fine. I see you have all of your minions tamed." He replied, trying Lauren's patience. "You tell me who my heir is then."
"That's none of your concern. He doesn't want anything from you." Lauren replied. "How about you tell me why you are trying to send this planet into chaos and take it over? You have got to have better things to do than to keep causing me and my entourage problems."
"Me? Causing you problems? What does any of my business have to do with you? I am not of the world of imagination. I am a god." Resheph made a small circle strutting around with arms out as if to say "look at me". "I do not answer to you." He turned around and looked right at Lauren. His extremely tall stature and lean muscular frame cast a shadow that touched the edge of the stone henge.
"Um, right." Lauren walked Tom over to Cartrell who immediately rested his arm around his neck as a way to make sure he stayed put. "What you don't seem to understand about yourself is that if people don't believe in you and your power, you cease to exist. Your existence is tied to imagination and belief. I hold the keys to imagination and belief."
Resheph scrunched his forehead, deep in thought. "No. That's not true. I have been in this world since the fallen angels came to Earth and survived after the almighty destroyed them. I have been here since the first gods walked the Earth. You have no power over me, child."
Lauren looked Resheph squarely in his eyes. All she saw was evil. There was no remorse for his wrongdoings, for hurting people, or for his destruction. She weighed him and had mentally cast her judgment. Dismissing him from her mind, she went to the female intruder, "And who are you? Why are you here?"
"I am Sybil, queen of the Earth witches. I am here to finish my ritual so I can draw the power I need so I can rule this world with Resheph. I am a real person too, so you have no power over me either." Sybil stuck her nose in the air.
Okay, so, now Lauren knew that the Earth's ley lines crossed at this henge. She closed her eyes and felt for the Earth's power. Sure enough, it was there in full force. She could also see the tether line that was connected to her. Cartrell, Tom, Her mom and dad, and her own personal line. She saw a line from the fairies, animals, and humanity as well. She could see that she was very deeply connected to the Earth, even more than she thought. She pulled on the power and it responded to her. It filled her like she was a pressure cooker needing a release. She held onto the power because she had to question one more intruder.
"And you?" Lauren asked the other male.
The witch took offense to Lauren not reacting to her saying who she was. "How dare you ignore me! I am not someone to be trifled with. Who do you think you are anyway?"
Lauren didn't acknowledge the witches' rant and kept her attention on the last man. "I am Deber. I…" He began to give details of who he was but the witch interrupted.
"You came here for me!" She yelled. "I am the one that bound this world to me! I am the one that can destroy this world! I have the ley lines under my control! How dare you treat me like this!" She went silent and raised her hands to the sky. She began to gather clouds and electricity. It looked like she was about to put on a devastating show of strength. She chanted and did a bunch of hand gestures and the power around her continued to build. Finally, she yelled "Deviosellios!" She stretched her arms completely out and … Nothing. Nothing happened. Well, something happened but not what the witch expected. The clouds dispersed and the sky calmed with the sun shining brightly. "What? What happened?"
"I nullified your spell," Lauren said calmly. "It looked like it was going to be a doozy, but I can't let you unleash something like that. You would destroy way too much of the good in the Earth and cause an imbalance. Now, would you please sit there and be quiet while I speak to Deber? I will deal with you in a minute. My sorceress will keep you company until I am ready." MaGayla moved closer to the witch.
Resheph laughed and leaned against the centre stone of the henge. He was fascinated and wanted to see what would happen next. He was a god and he knew the keeper couldn't do anything to him. Many other keepers have tried before. This one would be no different. She would, however, get rid of some nuisances for him, namely, Sybil and Deber.
The witch continued to try to perform her magic, not understanding why she couldn't. She screamed and hollered. Conducted her spell over and over but still, nothing happened. She made so much noise, Lauren never got a chance to talk to Deber.
"Okay," Lauren looked at MaGayla, "Do it now." All of a sudden it was quiet. MaGayla had raised her hand and snapped her fingers and now the witch was silent. "That's better. Now Deber, Why are you here?"
Deber finally spoke, "Like I said, I am Deber. I am here to support Resheph. I will aid him in his rule, sort of an enforcer."
"So, you agree with Resheph?"Lauren asked.
"Of course," Deber replied.
"Ok. That's all I needed to know." Lauren said. "Because all of you are causing chaos on this planet and plan to cause even more, I am going to have to remove you. I can't put them all in the same place. That would be too much for me to control. I think it would be better for them to be separated." She looked around at her entourage and saw that they agreed with her. She looked at Tom. He locked eyes with her and gave her a bright smile and sighed in relief. "Very well." She stood in the middle of the henge and tapped into the ley lines of the Earth. The power flowed effortlessly and gathered around her. A swirl like a hurricane surrounded her, but there was no wind. It sparkled and flared with flames, but nothing burned. "As of this day, this second, you are not a part of this plane." When she made the statement, Resheph, Deber, and Sybil began to float off of the ground.
"Wait. What's happening?" Sybil squeaked out. "No, put me down!"
Lauren focused her power on Sybil. She moved Sybil towards her and left her hanging almost touching the ground but not quite. "You tried to ruin a world and put it under your thumb. You will now feel the results of what you would have done to the world if I would have allowed you to succeed. Live your future now. Sybil was sucked into the tunnel of power and disappeared.
Lauren then turned her attention towards Resheph and Deber. "I don't think you will ever change. As you said, you have been around since the beginning of time. It might be very hard to destroy you."
Resheph smiled a sneaky, knowing smile, "You are not the first keeper I have met. No other keeper has been able to destroy me and neither will you. The only being that can destroy me is the Almighty and he hasn't shown his face in years. Why do you think I am able to do all I do." He laughed the last of his words and waited in Lauren's magical hold for her to try to destroy him. He was so fascinated by this little woman that thought she could fix everything.
"No. You would be hard to destroy. I will get back to you. Let me think things through, okay?"
"Sure," Resheph said and he relaxed under her magic.
"Deber, you, I can handle easily. Do you want to stay with Resheph or should I separate you so that you can have a chance to change? That is my only thought. Sorceress, what do you think?" The team agreed not to use any names because, as Valentina said, names carry power. A god knowing your name means he can take over your mind.
"I think you should separate them. He is being controlled by Resheph and he doesn't even know It. Resheph would kill him if he wasn't useful." MaGayla answered.
"Separate it is then." Lauren didn't even wait. She waved her finger and sent him through the magical tunnel.
"Wow. You are a bit ruthless." Resheph stated. "No mercy at all." Lauren turned back to him, not saying anything. "Oh, so, now I get the silent treatment."
"No. I am thinking about, well, you. See, you expect me to try to destroy you and you have yourself all geared up for a fight. Except, I don't like to fight." Cartrell giggled and Lauren looked over her shoulder at him. He tried to stop the laughter and become serious. "Well, I like to spare but not fight or kill. I am all about life." She looked at Cartrell and this time he winked at her.
"Really? Then how do you plan to destroy me or stop me?" Resheph yawned and stretched while still under her magic. It was like he didn't care that she could control him. Then it dawned on her that he thought he could leave anytime he wanted to.
"It's your turn. Are you ready?"
"What are you talking about?"
Everyone was watching Lauren. They knew she was going to put him in a book and had been stalling while she prepared the book by making it super strong and thick so he couldn't break out. He would be the most powerful being she imprisoned in a book. "Resheph, you have been found in need of being removed from this plane of existence. I don't know if you can ever change but all beings deserve a chance. I hope you take this opportunity to relearn life and change your ways." She waved her magic tighter around him and began to move him toward the tunnel of magic.
"Okay, I am not going into that washing machine you have going on there." He began, finally, trying to fight against the magic, only to realize he couldn't get free.
Lauren continued to move him closer and closer. He fought harder and was able to free one of his arms. "Sorceress!" Lauren yelled. MaGayla stepped up and shot her magic at him in order to help Lauren. Tom saw Lauren struggling and moved behind her. He held her up and supported her arm. He fed her his magic and she continued to move Resheph closer to the magic tunnel.
Resheph seemed to get angry. "This is not funny! Let me go or I will destroy this planet!" He began building a ball of magic. It grew in his hands and he filled it with anger and pain.
Lauren held him in front of the tunnel and tried to force him in. He resisted and continued to build his magic ball. Cartrell, and Tom saw he might get free. Lauren and MaGayla were struggling. After one look at each other, they took a running start and ran towards Resheph. Levi and Davis saw them and joined them as they set their sights on their target. The guys began to attack Resheph and distract him while also pushing him into the tunnel. Tom gave the final blow, kicking Resheph on the top of his head and knocking him out cold. With the loss of consciousness, his ball of magic disappeared and he fell into the tunnel. Lauren closed the tunnel behind him.
They all fell out on the ground, huffing and puffing, drained. Lauren didn't think she could move. But then she heard a rustling to her left and opened her eyes to see what it was.
A man stood next to her. He shined like the sun. His black curly hair and bronze golden skin was beautiful. His hazel eyes were captivating. He sat on the ground next to Lauren. "Hello." He said in a weird but soothing accent.
He helped her sit up and she answered, "Hello."
"I'm sorry. I guess I should tell you who I am." He said and smiled. "Don't worry. I'm not here to hurt you or anyone on your team."
Lauren let out a breath. "Good because I wouldn't be able to stop you right now if you were."
He laughed. "You did well, but I thought, in this case, you might need my backing. I'm the Almighty by the way. Can I see the book you put Resheph in?"
Lauren was in shock. She slowly handed the Almighty, God, the book. He looked it over. "Very good construction. He would have had a hard time getting out of it. Yes, he would have gotten out over time." God took a band off his arm and wrapped it around the book, top to bottom then side to side. He tied the band in a bow and finally, placed his seal in the middle of the bow. A box materialized and he placed the book in the box, closed it, and locked it. A second of his seals was the final touch.
"Pretty," Lauren said. And it really was. The embossed box was gorgeous.
"I thought he deserved a nice resting place even though he won't be resting. These are wonderful by the way. Books as prison cells. The prisoner never feels the loss of living and could possibly change enough to be reborn through your magic. Very nice."
"Thanks. Did you come down from heaven to tell me that and to make sure Resheph couldn't get out of the book? Or was there something else you wanted?"
"I guess the novelty of meeting the Almighty has worn off," God said.
"No. I'm in awe of you but I'm also drained and need to get back to the imagination realm so I can rest."
He touched Lauren's head and immediately, she was better. I mean, he is God. He sent his power out to everyone else and they began to rouse. He then brought everyone in Lauren's entourage to the henge. Gerald was stunned and ready to fight until he saw Lauren. He moved to her side and gave her a kiss.
"Please, sit." Everyone looked at Lauren and once she nodded her head they began to sit around her. "Oh, I love that. You are so accepted and loved by your team. Wonderful."
Demeatral and Edmon moved to their places on each side of Lauren and sat down. "What's going on? Our parents are going to flip."
"No, they won't. They won't even know you are gone. I stopped time." They gave Lauren a "who is this look". "I am the Almighty." He said before Lauren could say anything. "I felt that you deserved to meet me since you achieved a task no one else could. Capturing Resheph was no small feat. If you had tried to fight him or kill him, you would have lost."
"Would you have stopped him?" Edmon asked.
"Maybe. I don't interfere with mankind. I do my best to allow them to choose their own adventures. I watch and leave clues. I send guides or give them opportunities, but I don't usually step in."
"You see. I have been trying to stop that slippery god for ages. He's not a "god" like I am. He is a being that has been worshiped and has lived forever. Even though all gods and goddesses came from me, He did not."
"Okay. Where did he come from? So, who are you to me, my mom, and my grandparents? What about the gods and goddesses in the heaven realm?"
"I think he was created through the imagination of a god or a titan. As for you, As I said, all gods and goddesses come from me. To have God-powers, you come from me. Since we are in mixed company, I will not say more about our origins. We will talk later about that. I just wanted to secure Resheph and celebrate with you and your team. Where can we do that?"
Everyone looked at Tom, "Harrah's penthouse suites in Las Vegas."
"God, I still couldn't believe the Almighty was with us, transporting all of us to Tom's hotel and casino." Everyone settled in the couches and chairs. Food and drinks were brought up and we ate our fill. Laughter, conversation, and a wonderful feeling of a family filled the room. Lauren truly loved and trusted these people.
"I appreciate you making sure Resheph couldn't get free. I'm still new at all this. You said you would tell me more about gods and goddesses." Lauren said.
"Don't worry. I will not leave without talking to you and answering many of your questions. I talk to all keepers within their first year of service but your success so quickly drew me to you. You are powerful and you have powerful bonds and future bonds to come. If you open your heart and follow your heart instead of your mind, you will be the most powerful keeper since the first." He squeezed Lauren's shoulder as he walked to the balcony.
Lauren followed him and they sat down. Lauren looked at the panoramic view and sighed. It was beautiful. She smiled and looked at God.
"Okay." He giggled. "Now I know your sin. Impatience." Lauren blushed. "It's fine." I am God, the original being that created, well, everything. I was a youth when I started. First, making planets, stars, galaxies, and, my favorite, comets. I had no guidance or lead, so I had to learn on my own."
"Why comets?" Lauren asked. God looked at her funny. "Why are comets your favorite/"
"Because they were designed to travel through all of the universes. Of course, all of the universes were empty. That's why I started making things. I was lonely. This was the first galaxy I decided to create living beings in. The first sentient being I created were angels. I saw the flaw in making them too compliant and not giving them free will. That's how I ended up with Lucifer and the rest fighting me and becoming the Fallen. I created the hell realm for them, but since they had never lived real lives, they didn't know what to do with it and started destroying it. Lucifer did it because he was throwing a tantrum. I'm like you. I don't kill beings if I can help it. I created the gods and goddesses next. I loved that they had powers and would watch them as they created beauty all around the galaxy. Some mixed with the angels and bore children. The children became a tribe called Titans. They seemed to be okay, but they didn't seem to need me."
He leaned back and stretched his legs out in front of him, crossing his legs at the ankle. "And that brings us to the creation story. It happened just like it was told. Only before I placed humans on Earth, I had like a holding room with them in it. I made Adam. He looked like a younger version of me. I made him intelligent and he named all the animals and creatures I made and sent to him. While he was busy doing that, I created him a woman so he wouldn't be alone. I gave her intelligence and strength so she could help him, but she ended up being more like one of the goddesses. I don't know why she didn't come out like I wanted her to. I mean, I didn't have anyone to teach me how to do things. I was the first being after all. Go ahead. Ask me if I know where I came from. I mean, I am the beginning."
Lauren laughed. "So, God had a learning process to deal with. I mean, it makes sense."
"Yeah, I put Lilith in the hell realm and then created Eve from Adam's rib. The rib grounded her and drew her to his care. I gave Eve the ability to reproduce and they started creating more humans. I guess the sex was wonderful for them because they were multiplying like rabbits. The garden was another mistake of mine. I wanted to test the humans to see how loyal they were to me. I didn't want them to be like the angels or gods. Lucifer found out about the test and came to talk to me. He challenged me saying that he knew the humans wouldn't pass the test and would want freedom without worshiping me. I didn't really want to be worshiped. I don't think I did. I wanted to be wanted. So, Adam and Eve were tested. I wish I had never done that. I lost and now the world is like it is. It's like this throughout the universe, all of my creation." He looked a little stressed about it all but he went on. "Humans are my masterpieces. I have never been able to replicate what I did to create them. They affect everything around them and over time they began telling stories and then writing books of fiction. Then, the creatures they wrote about began to be real beings. The first was a fairy. It was seen in England and was first described by the historian Gervase of Tilbury in the 13th century. Brownies were helpful and magical. The stories of shoemakers having shoes made for them because they left treats for the brownies were real. Pixies, unicorns, and elves were next. I couldn't figure out how they were created until I watched a little girl dream one night and saw a flower fairy be born. It was so special. I allowed the fictional creature creations to continue and watched as they interacted with my creations. I then started seeing humans mistreat fictional creatures. They would use them and take advantage of them. I saw a need to make them a place where they can be safe. So, I created the imagination realm. The different realms started to cross each other's borders, trying to rule over one another. It was total chaos and I was overwhelmed."
Lauren could see his pain. "I felt like a failure and didn't know what to do. Then, Lilith came to visit me. She suggested the separation and the keys. I thought about her suggestion for a while and started trying to make it more. I made the imagination realm the center because it was full of beings created by my favorite creation. I called back all of the gods and goddesses to discuss the development I was about to enact. I wasn't asking their permission, but I thought they should be given the choice of what they wanted to do. There was a little resistance but everyone agreed that things weren't working the way they were. I gave them a month to get to the realm they wanted to be in or should I say, get their things in order. It also let me put the final touches on the barriers and locks. While I was working, Gaia, you might know her as mother earth, came to see me. She is also a being I created that is much more powerful than I thought she would be. We talked about the keys and how if I kept the keys and policed the whole system, I would never be able to enjoy my creations. She always understood me. She volunteered to build a team so the keys will be kept safe and problems could be monitored and stopped. She was the first Keeper of the Keys and she created the keeper's keep, the town, and revamped the imagination realm. You remind me of her. You are the first keeper that seems to have creation magic as strong as hers. You know you can update the imagination realm, right? Bring it into the 21st century. Doing so will help you build the skill."
Lauren looked at him in shock. "Don't worry. You will not make things worse or cause problems by changing the keep. Evandalyn started to make the changes and then she got sick."
"Weird that a goddess could get sick," Lauren said.
"She was not in her goddess form. She was on Earth and had dropped into a human form when she was attacked. I don't know who attacked her. I saved her but I couldn't do anything for her because she was in human form instead of a goddess. She was unconscious for 6 months and when she awakened she had fabricated the story she told you about your grandma's accident. I needed her to come to the heaven realm, but she refused to leave her claimed station as keeper. I tried to convince her that she could leave for a little while and every time we saw each other, we grew closer." Lauren began to sense the importance of what he was saying. "We fell in love and had you." Lauren stared at him. "This is why I wanted to talk to you alone. Evandalyn didn't remember one day to the next. She would look at herself sometimes and scream because she didn't remember getting pregnant. Finally, we ended up putting her back asleep for her entire pregnancy and once you were born, she didn't believe you were hers. She struggled a lot through those years. I had no choice but to seal her memories so she wouldn't go crazy. Once you came of age, I suggested she send for her replacement so she could get medical help. And you know the rest of that story."
He stopped talking. Lauren had heard everything he said but was still stunned. Her father was the Almighty. She was the daughter of the Almighty one true God. Oh my Go… Well, he is God. My dad. God looked at her waiting for her to speak. She said nothing.
"Are you going to say anything? I have been waiting for years to tell you all of this."
Still nothing. Lauren couldn't think of what to say.
"I hope you are not angry at me for not making myself known when you were a child. I can't interfere with humans and you were being raised human. I don't want to lose my precious creation forever. My son died and was resurrected so that some of them can be saved…so…" Lauren thought about that and accepted his excuse. It was the past and couldn't be changed. But she still didn't talk. She was still in shock.
"And I didn't even know what to do for Evandalyn. I was so broken that I couldn't figure out what to do. I mean, I am God the creator of all and I can't figure out how to fix the woman I love." He looked distraught. "I hope the treatments we are using will help her completely. She is a Goddess after all. Zeus and Panacea should be able to help her. I mean why be called the king of the Gods and the goddess of healing if you can't heal? I just wish I could do something. I really wish you would talk."
Lauren had to get out of the shock she was in. She needed to speak.
"Please, Lauren. I wouldn't be able to bear it if you were angry at me or hated me."
That finally broke the shock. "I don't hate you and I am not angry. I'm just shocked. I mean, how often does anyone learn they are the child of the Almighty. Um, God is my dad."
"Well, yes." He said with a smile. "I am your dad, but no one can know, except for your grandparents, mom, and dragon."
"What about the rest of my mates and bonds? I don't want to keep things from them. And my team."
"Okay, I understand that you don't want to keep things from those that love you and I guess it will be okay, but you will have to bind them so they can't tell anyone else. It is dangerous for you and me if others like Lucifer or Hades find out."
"Okay, but I want you to help me do the binding that way it will be strong. I don't want to put you or myself in danger but I also don't want secrets."
God walked over and gave Lauren a hug and kissed her forehead. "I'm so happy to have met you in person."
We walked back into the main room of the penthouse and called everyone in. Once everyone was settled, Lauren took a head count. Everyone was there except those in the heaven realm. God said he would take care of them later. Gerald, Cartrell, and Tom were sitting together. The baby dragons sat on Cartrell's shoulders like they had just stopped playing so they could listen. "Okay, first, I have to bind everyone in this room to secrecy. What I am about to tell you can't go anywhere." Everyone agreed, MaGayla surrounded the room with a security protection, and they performed the binding. "Now, um say hello to my dad."
"Hello," God said. No one said a word.