Alpha&Omega-The Path

The maze lay before him, his only guide the inner beacon that shone through his heart. Through the maze he would go, through any trial, facing whatever the maze chose to test him with, his greatest prize lay on the otherside. The ones for whom he had labored so long and shed so much. A burning flame was said to reside at the heart of the maze and he must set eyes on it before leaving. The threshold was unremarkable, a plain wooden door made of oak, with an old fashioned handle better suited to a castle then any modern edifice. The lock had no keyhole, for it would only open for the chosen one. For three days he sat before the door, the silence was absolute, deeper than the blackest abyss. The images came and went, his body wracked by sobs, his face burned by tears, his hands stained in blood. A soft click was all that he heard as the door swung open, he remained kneeling eyes shut and stood slowly so as not to lose his balance. The mind was clear now, emptiness was coiled within, he strode foward, only his third eye open. A burning fire crawled across his skin as he crossed the threshold, both eyes shut.

The smell of charred flesh rose into his nostrils but he ignored it, the flesh was nothing. The vessel was here to be used, the precious had to be extracted, purified then pounded into the desired shape. It would be a painful process but he would emerge tempered and ready or he would not emerge. Soon there was no skin left, only the corded muscle and sinew, bright red and overly sensitive. Pausing he breathed deeply, his eyes no longer had lids, the passage before him wound into the distance. Doors lined the first few meters of the passage, open one or proceed deeper? The doors were each different, one made of gold, one made of wood, another of stone, fire, water, air, earth. He paused before the door of earth, it moved within itself as though it lived and breathed. There was no obvious way to open it. Reaching out it gave beneath his fingers and started to engulf him. Dirt now covered his form, he stepped through and immediately heard the wails of the confused, the unaccepting. Those who had been swallowed by the earth, they could not return but they had yet to be set free, their time approached. A few stood calmly, waiting, some he recognized and two he loved. Grandmother and Grandfather from opposite sides of the family. A small smile crept through him, his Grandfather gestured him forward with a wink and a smile. The earth spun and heaved, a great crack wailed and three great stone angels fell, shattered upon the ground. The whole scene heaved and his soul heaved with it. The burning and shaking images filled his mind, the cries of the dying rang in his ears. Somehow he was on his knees, his body began to coil in on itself, lungs collapsed, blood poured from his eyes and ears. A great explosion rent the air, bodies fell and buildings burned. A light shone deep in the distance, it changed colors too fast for mortal eyes to follow, only after images remained. He stretched his hand to the horizon grabbing the peak of a mountain that towered above him, he tried to pull himself up but the great peak gave beneath his hand and now its shattered remanants beat him back down to the earth. A piece of jagged stone pierced his belly and he went cold inside. Great voices deep and mighty echoed all around him though he could not make out the words in all the confusion but one voice he recognized, his Grandmother, it was just a whisper, faint and barely discernible amidst the tumlut. More stone fell and pounded into him, his flesh burned white hot with agony. No sound escaped his lips, his form finally unfolded. Staring up at the star speckled night, he tried to rise and fell over. The ground continued to heave, the horizon continued to spin. "Close your eyes." It came from nowhere a voice he knew but could not place. No skin, no eyelids. No way to shut it out so he grabbed two sharp stones and plunged them into his eyes. More blood, more pain. Great wracking sobs swept through him, threatening to coil him once more, he tried to tense, to keep the body from coiling again but it began to anyway. Slowly, painfully he was folded up again and earth covered him. The force exerted against him was to great to resist, so he let it consume him. Round and round it went, he had to pick his moment. Finally the earth settled, he unwound. As he rose he cast about with eyes of stone. The devastation was absolute, where once there had stood three great cities now there was only rubble and fire. A few forms he could see moving amongst the ruin. Slowly he picked his way down to the scene, bodies lay scattered everywhere, people screamed and clutched at the unmoving forms. Every step was pain but proceed he must and proceed he would, they were counting on him. He pushed the thought of them from his mind, first the task then the reward but not if he failed. He could not fail. Over the rubble and bodies, through the devastation, he made his way to the lake to slake his thirst. A great crack split the air as his hands plunged into the icy waters. A rumbling came from his lips, it grew slowly in intensity, the first drop of water touched his lips and now the sky lit with white fire, massive steel grey clouds took shape from his exhalations. The first handful of water passed his lips and the clouds opened, a great rain fell. All who remained scattered in confusion, they ran, the waters rose, another great shake moved the earth. He hesitated through tears and continued to drink. Thy will be done. Soon the streets and homes were covered with water and even fewer remained, clinging desperately to the debris. White fire lit within him and the clouds began to slowly recede, the great rain tapering off. His thirst was quenched, now he was hungry.

The waters were already receding. The hunger gnawed at his gut. He turned back to the nearest of the cities, he spied the mound in the distance. Slowly he moved forward, a few faint cries rose to his ears, he ignored them. They begged for mercy, for succor, he pressed on. They would find their way or they would not, it was out of his hands now. The change had begun and he must see it through no matter the cost. In the distance above he spied the lights, soft, glowing, moving with unnatural speed and precision. The eyes of stone touched them and they scattered and vanished. He ruled here, they were not welcome. The way must be prepared, the path carved, they would learn to hear or they would perish. He could not be bought ,he could not be swayed, the path was before him. The shattered stone and glass dug into the soles of his feet but he barely felt it. His bloodly footprints scorched the earth, smoke rose behind him, obscuring the vision of any who dared to follow and should they dare to brave the smoke?

Cresting a small rise, he saw something glimmering amidst the rubble. More curious than hungry for a moment he stayed his advance and took a long look. His vision was of a small disk, intricately carved, adorned with many symbols. It lay beneath a mound of rubble, no mortal could have spied it from such a distance not with their eyes alone. His vision had changed, eyes of earth he had now and so he could see all things laid upon it. Carefully he turned his march toward it, the earth rumbled slightly now with every step he took. It was all he could do to keep from running, knowing the earth itself might split if his gait was to heavy. A deep breath he took, strecthing his hand before him, thumb and forefinger touching, the three remaining pointed skyward. He exhaled through the gap between thumb and finger. The wind howled and spun, lightning cracked across the sky. A great tornado leapt forth, the rubble went dancing skyward. He advanced, the wind pressing him back slightly so he had to lean forward a bit. The twister remained in place, rock, glass, and twisted metal shot skyward. A faint sparkle caught his eye and he reached into the maelstrom, it tried to pull him upward but he rooted himself to the ground. Hand closed over the disk, it burned his palm, seared through flesh and bone and immolated itself. The twister abated and for a long moment he saw the sparkling dust of the talisman floating upon the air. He brought the closed fist just below his navel, he did not look for he did not need to, he opened his palm and pressed it against his flesh. Wisps of yellow, red, green, blue and purple rose like smoke from an oily fire. There was just a small faint pulse and it was done. He turned back toward the mound.

Halfway to nowhere, upon a hill top she sat. Clothed in a purple robe, unadorned save for a small clear crystal that held it shut at the waist. Nothing could be seen of her face, there was no way to guess who she might be. She sat alone, aloof and above. No more would she entertain the curious. They had gathered at her feet, eager for some bit of light in the darkness that was descending. Tired she was, lonely and afraid. One thought and one thought only kept her steady. It had begun and so he would come. She would bear the fruit of their long labor at last, always she had known. Hidden in the recesses of her mind, she had both anxiously awaited and dreaded the arrival of this day. The trembling of the earth and twisting of the wind on the horizon sang to her, it told a tale both beautiful and sad. Still they came and still she refused to see them. The key had arrived and soon the messenger would come. His pain was sharp in her belly, all that they had sacrificed, would it be in vain? Petulant children they were, she shooed them away and they refused to go. She did not wish to be cruel, she wanted only peace. A dancing flame came to her mind's eye, her husband's face took shape in it, just about any other would have fled in terror but she knew him and that in the end he was the gentlest of them all. Only she had the power to truly raise his wrath, she did not mean to but he sensed her anxiety, such was there bond. Now though her mound was still and her family safe, she saw the earth begin to tremble all around, nine great cracks rent the earth and nine shapes emerged from them. They encircled her and turned to her smiling. Filled she was with joy, so consumed by the sight of them that she did not notice the creatures that lumbered out of the ground behind them. All around the people fled in terror, screaming and dying. The creatures ignored her and the nine. The foolish mortals had disturbed she who was holy, the master now sent them to clear her path. A garden she deserved and a garden she would have, the blood of those who had dared to approach her before her time would nourish the new life that would spring around her. So it went, she was calmer now, the nine were as delighted with her as she was with them. All around the world fell into chaos but it would not touch her. Not again. They had hounded and tortured her for long enough, the nine had come forth and it was time for the reckoning.

Motes of dust Rising lust Moonlit night full of spite Thunder, lightning, and rain The great serpent rises again Thrashing to and fro Turning the ships upside down Shaking the deaf, dragging them down

Once upon a moonlit night I spied a beauty who restored my sight A direction she gave and away I went Sad to go though drawn I felt Inside, outside, upside down We circled and fell apart till now

Now upon the silver wind She comes to dance with me again This time our lust consumed Setting me free to walk my doom Oh Silver Goddess of the Night Light my way and once again restore my sight

Upon the wind tossed sea I have seen the last of the three Guided by shadows and carried by wind Coming at last to restore my sin Oh innocent son, twas not your plight But never did you turn away from the night If true you remain as true you've been then she will come back to you in the end