Two dreams:
One where Jim was a WWII hero. Upon his return to the US he tells us how he singlehandedly thwarted the enemy by leaping from his plan to land on a huge missile and wrestle it off its trajectory. It explodes mid-air with him still attached to it, but somehow he stays intact without a scratch as his co-pilot flies beneath him and catches him before he reaches ground. A miracle they say. I do have to admit he looked pretty snazzy in that era uniform.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
It's very early morning hours; still dark out and the Keep is silent. Calling it a house wouldn't quite convey the vastness of this place, though. My guide leads me through many rooms and many halls with enough turns to where like a maze, I'm sure I may never find my way out again. Before I arrived I was instructed to refer to him as Father, though upon meeting he resembles anything but a father figure. We pass through living quarters where pallets are lain on the floor for the residents. Feeling the presence of someone not of their collective, many peer up from their rest to watch as I pass. I'm sure they wonder why a female has been granted permission to come among them, but knowing all questions will be answered in time, they return to their slumber.
After I feel extremely lost from where we began this journey, we come to a stop and I take in my new surroundings. Hardwood floors beneath my feet, though not a whisper from them as we've been walking. Thick, heavy curtains on distant windows in the massive chamber we now stand in; the first lights of dawn pressing against the curtains trying to fight back the darkness within.
Before me is a small pallet of stacked blankets and Father gestures for me to sit. Given the wood floor base, the seat is surprisingly more comfortable than it had looked and I begin to relax. A few feet away my guide takes a seat across from me and in the dim light I get a better look at his features. Dressed in a long robe of black, he is covered entirely had to foot except his face. The heavy linen appears to protect him the chill that seems to emanate from the stone walls around us. Even a black hood adorns his head, framing a gaunt and sunken face. His features are striking with his skin appearing in this light to be an ashen grey with eyes sunken so far that only black holes show they were ever there at all. His head is long and narrow, lips matching color to his face so that they nearly blend in and can hardly be made out in his features. He waits patiently as I take in not only him but my new home.
Closing my eyes, I nod respectfully to him letting him know I'm ready to proceed. Without a sound in the chamber, I hear in my head, almost feeling his deep voice resonate through my body, the question of 'Are you ready?'. Keeping the goosebumps under control and the silence unbroken, I reply mentally that I am.
I have come here to train. To gain knowledge and wisdom beyond this age. To learn to control my powers over mind and earth. To find ways to not hurt others with my gift; or curse as it has been called most of my life. The Brethren in an unheard of moment of pity and perhaps also curiosity took me, a woman, in amongst their ranks. Never before has one such as I shown the gifts that for men they are quick to bring into their fold and save from the superstitious and cruel outside world.
I have been told that learning anything here is a painful and dangerous prospect; not everyone survives the training. But I have to. I have seen what is beyond and I thirst for more. To see without eyes and feel realms open before me that I only dreamed existed. This is my one chance to come into myself. To find, greet and embrace a destiny I cannot fathom. I am ready to become whole.
Closing my eyes, clearing my thoughts and stilling my body, I prepare for whatever my first lesson may be. I do not have to wait long. At instruction from Father, I open my eyes and concentrate on the open space between us. At first, nothing. Frowning, I force myself to a near painful stillness, focussing on the suave between. Satisfied, Father then tells me to open a Way. The slightest touch of fear enters me. I had only toyed with this on my own and it never ended well. Taking a deep breath, I send my will into the empty space separating us and call beyond. Ever so slowly, a pool of light begins to grow between us. The light is incredibly bright and hurts my eyes, but I dare not look away. The light pool grows to a few feet and I will it to stop and hold steady. Curiosity begins to build and I chance to sneak a peak within the pools depths to see what it holds. Unfortunately, this breaks my concentration on keeping the portal open. And just as in previous tries, it ends poorly.
Pain begins to build and the calmness within and without begins to shatter. A piercing scream rips through the silence of the hall that I can not seem to quell. Doubt fills me and I curse myself for being weak and unworthy to have come here.
Gently my now mentor places his hand on my head, whispering 'peace' within me. The pain is instantly gone, the screaming is silenced, and a drowning darkness begins to pull at me. The calm voice of my mentor fills me, telling me not to fight it. Easier said than done when you feel like you're drowning.
As the last bits of consciousness fade away, his voice returns to me once more of 'You will do nicely. You're the one the Master had between waiting for.' Perhaps this was a thought only meant for him that I intruded on, but there was no time to ask or think upon it further. I had chosen my path and there was no going back.
Releasing my fear, I wrapped the darkness around me like a warm blanket and slept a dreamless sleep. The sleep of one whose dreams now only resided outside sleep and only I could bring them to fruition. And I would. Of that I was certain.
No comments:
Post a Comment