20)
Unforgiving boulders towered above them as Alex climbed the treacherous path lagging behind Onyx. The forest had given way to a jagged, rocky hill with sharp outcrops and slippery shale strewn on the ground making the trek arduously slow. Alex rubbed his complaining thighs and breathlessly asked, “How do you manage to walk so fast? Aren’t you tired?”
“My strength doesn’t come from my physical body, Creator.” Onyx explained. “Nor does yours, besides…” he continued, smiling, “I know how to walk correctly.”
“But I am walking correctly!” Alex argued, “And it doesn’t make any difference!”
“Compare your posture, to mine.” Onyx said. Alex noticed that Onyx lent slightly forward with his spine straight and his knees a little bent. “Now watch.” he continued and walked away from Alex at a brisk, but relaxed pace and then returned with speed and agility. “Notice I raise my knees almost up to my chest when I run.” He continued. “Keep an eye on your surroundings and, most importantly, don’t forget to curl your toes.” Alex laughed at this causing Onyx to raise an eyebrow, and thoughtfully scratch at an antler.
“How can curling my toes help?” Alex asked, sarcastically.
“It forces you to keep focusing on where you are and what you are doing.” Onyx explained, patiently. “Walking, for you, is automatic: you don’t think about it so your mind wanders. Your normal way of walking, therefore, allows you to indulge in your daydreams and whims and you need to be aware at all times.” Seeing Alex struggling with this new concept Onyx finally said, “Don’t take my word for it, Creator, try it for yourself.”
Alex was surprised to find that it did work, although initially he stumbled and tripped over himself (much to Onyx’s amusement) but before long he had mastered the new way of walking and no longer felt his tired, aching limbs despite the increasing gradient.
The new posture also allowed him to become aware of his peaceful surroundings; the crispness of the air, the beautiful warbling conversations between the invisible skylarks and the azure sky. Ahead the path became steeper and it seemed inevitable that they would have to climb before too long; but that didn’t seem to worry Onyx who was still quite a way in front. Alex then realised that his mind had started to wander and was about to check his toes when he tripped over a loose bit of shale and fell. “Did you lose your grip, Creator?” Onyx chuckled.
21)
A scream suddenly pierced the air. Alex rapidly climbed to where Onyx stood and, following his gaze, he could see two people grappling with each other on an outcrop, perilously close to the sheer edge.
“It’s a man wrestling with a woman!”
“Don’t be too hasty.” Onyx cautioned, but it fell to deaf ears.
“But he’s going to push her off the edge!” Alex scrambled towards the outcrop before Onyx could stop him.
Alex was out of breath by the time he reached the top but saw the man wrestle the woman. Her loose green blouse flapping about as she struggled, her fiery hair thrashing as they both teetered dangerously close to the edge.
Throwing himself at them both Alex knocked them away from the edge, the man bore the full force of the fall and landed with a dull thump. Pushing himself off the ground Alex barely managed to catch the woman again before she rolled towards the edge. He was shocked to find her convulsing; her arms and legs flailing, her eyes screwed shut; he tried to hold her down. He then felt Onyx’s hand on his shoulder and was surprised when he was forcibly pushed away from her.
“Tend his wounds.” Onyx said firmly, indicating the man lying slumped on the ground. “He’s cracked a couple of ribs so he’ll be in a great deal of pain. Sit him up carefully, he’s not got concussion, so you’re lucky this time.”
Alex gently helped the man into a sitting position, and placed the sword down on the ground next to him. He could hear Onyx sing a gentle song to the woman until she quietened and was finally still.
“It was a seizure of some kind.” Onyx explained, sensing Alex’s unspoken question.
“Which means.. “ Alex couldn’t face what he had done, but Onyx completed his sentence.
“It means that the man was not pushing her off the edge at all, he was actually trying to keep her from falling!” Alex looked at the man, and then at the woman. He had jeopardised both of their lives.
“Yes, Creator.” Onyx agreed, solemnly. “You misread the entire situation!”
22)
Horrified by the implications of his actions Alex was unaware that the woman had regained consciousness. He couldn’t believe he had totally misjudged the situation and the slap across his face came as a complete surprise.
“You bloody idiot!” The woman shouted at him, “You nearly killed us both with your damn meddling! Who the hell do you think you are?” Alex didn’t know how to react, but from within he felt a righteous anger that he couldn’t place. No one treated him like that. Onyx sensed his imminent reaction and diffused the situation.
“Allura, please.” He said, placing a hand on her shoulder.
“Old one.” Allura acknowledged as she turned and recognised him. Onyx now turned to Alex again.
“Creator; I know you feel quite justified in your reactions, however extreme, but I would caution you to think about what has happened.” He waited for Alex’s reply, but Alex was confused: although the slap across the face was understandable, the more he thought about it the more he wanted to retaliate. However he kept quiet for a voice deep inside him now whispered caution:
“Patience.” It said. “Not yet.” He didn’t question where the voice had come from but it felt so right.
Onyx sighed. “I had hoped that you would be able to look on this with the eyes of an adult and not continue to sulk like a child who has just been chastised.” Hearing Onyx’s words Alex understood that this was no time to indulge. Sensing the change in his demeanor Onyx continued. “Creator, I know that you felt Allura was under attack and sought only to save her; so in your eyes you were acting with the best of intentions. However, it was a reaction, none the less. You reacted on the spur of the moment, and had you assessed the situation correctly – as I had – you would have reached a completely different conclusion, and would not have put their lives in danger.”
Onyx gestured to Allura and Anjinn; he knew that this was a difficult lesson for Alex to learn, but it was also one of the most important. “You had doubts right up to the last, didn’t you, Creator?” Alex nodded. “So what if I were to tell you that Allura is one of the Wyxann: she has the gift of true sight. And what if I were to tell you that she was the victim of a psychic attack when you, ahem, blundered in.” Mortified by what he had just been told Alex asked the next question even though he knew the answer.
“And the man?”
“I was trying to stop Allura from falling off the outcrop.” Anjinn interrupted. Alex turned to face him and although Anjinn had regained consciousness he still looked visibly shaken, his face drained of colour.
“I could have killed them both.” Alex whispered, the weight of comprehension forcing his head into his hands.
“Yes, you damn fool!” Allura snapped. “You nearly killed me, and successfully incapacitated my bodyguard. He can scarcely look after himself, let alone me!”
“I said I was sorry!” Alex snapped back. The voice inside made him feel so angry; it wasn’t his fault... she should feel grateful!
“Leave us be then!” Anjinn remarked cuttingly, his voice cracked with pain.
“Don’t be too hasty.” Onyx interrupted. “The boy is trying to make amends – do not let your pain blind you to your situation. Let the boy guard you both.”
23)
Consternation swept the words from Allura and Anjinn’s mouths. Alex, too, reeled from Onyx’s statement. He didn’t know what angered him more, Onyx’s presumption that he would help or being called boy.
“I do not wish to be disrespectful, Old One.” Allura said. “But I wonder if you are being completely serious. How can you suggest such a thing after what has happened?”
“Even you must acknowledge that what has transpired was far from deliberate.” Onyx explained. “This has really just been the result of a mis-understanding.” Anjinn made a gesture of dismissal, but Onyx continued. “The boy is deeply remorseful for what has happened but is now under obligation to you both.” Alex couldn’t believe what he had just heard and interrupted.
“What obligation? I’m under obligation to no one!” His voice was deeper and more forceful than his normal speech, darker somehow. Onyx was seemingly unaware of the change and simply shook his head.
“Responsibility does not sit well with you, Creator, I can tell.” He said, scratching his left antler. “You do everything you can rather than take ownership of either the situation or yourself. You became responsible for this the moment you attacked Anjinn.” Alex reacted harshly to Onyx’s recriminations –his pulse quickened and he involuntarily flexed his fingers, making fists. “I told you not to rush headlong into anything,” Onyx continued, “but you were too busy acting the hero to think about the consequences of your actions. If you had assessed the situation correctly then none of this would have happened.”
With each of Onyx’s recriminations the presence within Alex grew in power and he finally relinquished himself to it. Its voice became more tangible; its tendrils snaking into the depths of his mind, rooting out all the hurt and fear; feasting on the doubt.
Onyx lectured him further, and with each word the presence grew stronger, more prominent. “For all your foolhardiness,” Onyx continued, “Allura and Anjinn could be dead and yet here you are wallowing in self-pity. You indulge far too much. I can scarcely believe that you are the one to save us – you have no courage, you give in when the path becomes difficult. Why, you even lack the humility to apologise for what you have wrought! Creator? I couldn’t have been more wrong!”
24)
“It was not my fault!” Alex exclaimed. “And I will no longer be spoken to like that!” Alex snatched Anjinn’s sword before he had a chance to react. Alex had no idea what was happening; he no longer felt in control of his own body, rendering him little more than a marionette as he brandished the sword wildly. Onyx remained impassive, his antlered head nodding gently.
“So we see your true colours at last.” He said, staring through the fear that lined Alex’s face. He was speaking to the Presence itself.
“It is so, horned one.” The voice within Alex spoke, the thick, dark tones grating. “I had hoped we would meet again, if only so I would have the pleasure of killing you myself.” Alex held the sword to Onyx’s throat, hate showing where there was so much confusion minutes before. “Though this is the next best thing and will set the strapling firmly onto my path.”
“Now is not the time for killing, but for reflection.” Onyx stated calmly and nodded his head once more. Suddenly Allura knocked the sword from Alex’s hands as Anjinn pinned his arms behind his back. Onyx picked the sword up and held the blade directly to Alex’s eyes so he could see the contorted reflection staring back.
“SEE!” Onyx commanded. “Look with better eyes than that of your adversary! Connect with your still point and throw off this foul oppressor. Do not give into your baser self for you are stronger than that. Feel your own strength. Look into the heart of yourself!”
Alex thrashed wildly but Allura and Anjinn held him still –despite his pain Anjinn remained resolute for too much was at stake. Onyx angled the blade so the light danced in his eyes. Seeing his own hate filled stare, Alex realised what he had allowed: he had totally relinquished himself, allowed the presence to take control and threaten his companions.
He had come too far, sacrificed too much to give up now. He would not be defeated by this thing. Onyx was right, he was stronger than this. There was no way he would allow this presence to control him any longer.
Focusing on the light he saw in the heart of the sword Alex felt the power refracting back deep inside himself. The light surged through his body, saturating his very being. “I deny you.” He whispered, but still he could feel the Presence struggle. “I deny you!” He uttered louder this time. On the third time he shouted it. “I DENY YOU!”
He felt the light burst forth, dissipating; the effort drained him and he slumped to the ground.
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