Enigma of the Soul - Book 1 - Pieces (5 page)

Dimitri lies on the altar, weeping in fear of what is next on the list. Belial walks over to him and grabs Dimitri’s face.

“Did you enjoy the stabbing and cooking of your bodiless soul? Or would you like to hear the truth behind all of this?” Belial asks as he runs his claws down Dimitri’s chest.

“The truth? There is some kind of sick truth behind all of this?” Dimitri cannot believe what Belial is saying.

“You humans are all alike when it comes to what happens to you in the afterlife. Do you think what just happened to you was real or fake? What would you tell me if I told you that all you had to do to get off that altar was to believe that you could do it and then you could do it?” Belial stares at Dimitri, waiting for an answer.

“You mean everything that just happened to me was a trick? But what about all the pain that I felt?” Dimitri tries to move his hands without success.

“You’re still thinking that you have a body. Your body is long gone, but your mind still thinks that it is there. That is why you still feel the pain. Dimitri, you need to detach your mind and soul from your dead body to be free-to make it to the next and final level,” Belial turns around to sit on his throne.

Dimitri lies there for a short time, absorbing what Belial just told him. It makes perfect sense, but then it doesn’t. He begins to think about the hooks that are sticking through his feet and hands.

‘They are not real’ he says to himself.

He repeats it until he does not feel the pain. He holds his hands in front of his eyes to see that there is no scaring whatsoever. In complete amazement, he leaps off the altar and stands in front of Belial.

“Congratulations, boy, you have made it to the final test. This is the hardest, not just anybody can pass it. If you can make it past this test, you will have a ticket straight to heaven. However, I will warn you about this test. Very few ever pass it, due to its severity.” Belial grins wickedly ear to ear.

“Nothing can hurt me now. Bring it on and try to do your worst,” Dimitri says with immense confidence that it could scare any demon that stood in front of him.

David walks the burnt ruins of his aunt and uncle's house. He looks through all of the sifted rubble for any clue as to what had happened on that awful afternoon. Standing in the middle of the ash-covered house remains, he can clearly see his aunt’s and uncle’s two graves. David turns his head away, trying not to cry. Then something that should not be there catches his eye. A figure that David has not seen since his birthday appears to the left of him. The vision in David’s left eye is still cloudy and he turns his head to see it better.

'Dear God, its you.’ David thinks.

“I know I should have visited you earlier, but I had many things to do. I also thought that you needed time to heal; so I didn't want you to get all worked up just for nothing,” Merlin replies making David believe that he read his mind.

“Where have you been? I have been thinking to myself that one person that I would love to see would be you. You could solve so many questions that I have in so little time. You are the greatest wizard ever to walk the face of this earth,” David walks towards Merlin trying not to fall over the rubble.

“I cannot solve any of your problems nor help you with them. You are the one that must solve your own problems, not me. I am only here because I heard about the tragedy you experienced. I am very sorry about your loss and send my deepest regards,” Merlin helps David out of the burnt remains of the house.

“So my problems are my problems. What about the fact that nobody has any clue to what had happened to Markus and Wendi?” David tries to hold back the tears for his brother and sister.

“Markus and Wendi are in a good place. I have a good feeling that you will cross paths with them again, but not in this lifetime. Your strong connection with them will guide you to them.” Merlin leads David to his aunt and uncle's grave so they both can pay their respects.

“Merlin, can I ask you a question.”

“Yes. What is it?” Merlin stares at the graves, hoping its not the obvious question so many ask.

“Can you heal me? I don't want to look at myself anymore. I feel like a monster.” David's eyes start to tear up.

Merlin replies in a deep, quiet tone, “No, I cannot,” he is surprised by the question asked.

“If you cannot heal me, then can I become your apprentice so that I may heal myself when the time comes?” David tries a different approach.

“I take on no apprentices, and there is a reasonable answer why I do not.” Merlin tries to quash any come back.

“Why?” David demands. “Don't lie to me either!”

“Because. I am special individual due to who my parents could be and what I might be to the human race. Also, if I told you the truth, you would never believe me. Sometimes, I don’t believe it myself,” Merlin becoming a little bit more caring towards David wellbeing.

“Then what are you?”

“I cannot tell you that right now. There will come a time and a place for more answers, but this is neither the time nor the place. The only hint that I can tell you is I am not of this earth,” Merlin turns his head and smiles at David then disappears leaving David to think about all that has happened. A single tear rolls off his cheek and falls resting on a single blade of grass between his aunt and uncle's graves.

Dimitri stares at Belial, waiting to see what will happen next. Belial signals all the demons to leave then signals Dimitri to follow him. Dimitri nods his head and walks right behind Belial into the abyss. They walk for a while when Dimitri begins to realize that there is nothing around him.

“Where are we going?” Dimitri is becoming more troubled with the way Belial is acting. Everything is too calm.

“We are almost there,” Belial shows no concern for Dimitri's thoughts.

Then Dimitri sees what they have been walking towards all this time. A doorframe stuck in the ground without a door to hold. There are no walls holding it up or even a room to go into, just a doorframe in the ground in the middle of nowhere.

“We are here,” Belial points to the doorframe.

“There is nothing here, but this doorframe. That has no door on it or even a room to go into.”

“Ye of little faith, through that door is your final test,” Belial points to the door that is not there.

“But there is no door!” Dimitri shouts back at Belial.

“Knock and the door shall open.”

Dimitri cannot believe what he is hearing. There is no door. Belial waves his hand for Dimitri to proceed.

Dimitri looks down, shakes his head, and thinks 'I cannot believe that I am going to do this.’

He walks over to the doorframe, peers back at Belial, and proceeds to knock.

Tap… tap… tap...

A grin comes to Belial's face as he sees Dimitri freezes in place.

“Well, go ahead and open it,” Belial walks to Dimitri and starts to put his hand on the knob of the door. Dimitri knocks Belial's hand out of the way to put his own hand on the doorknob. He turns the knob to reveal a room that he could not perceive. Dimitri takes a couple of steps back, looks around the doorframe, and sees nothing. Walking around to the back of the doorframe, Dimitri looks through to see only Belial looking back at him. Belial shakes his head and holds out his hand for Dimitri to take. Dimitri takes Belial's hand as he walks through the open doorframe. Belial turns Dimitri around, and they proceed to walk into the room that was never there.

“Where are we?” Dimitri stands in the middle of the room staring at all the different pictures on the walls. Before Belial could answer, Dimitri sees a picture of his stepmother and father holding him in their arms when he was a baby.

“Are we in my memories?” Dimitri asks.

“How about your soul.” Belial replies.

“My soul? You mean this is my soul?” Dimitri looks around at the other pictures that are on the many walls. He sees pictures of everyone that he has known or touched his life in some way or another. His birth mother's brother, who took his own life the day that Dimitri was born because he thought that he and his father was monsters for doing what they did to his birth mother. Dimitri sees his step uncle that took him in so he could have a safe place to stay. Looking back on his life, he wishes that he never ran away to do those awful acts to those kind people. The boy that he stole from was up on the wall too, but he had seen his face before. Somewhere before but he could not place it.

A picture on the wall replays his birth and Dimitri watches it.

Across town, at the same time David Turner is being born in a little broken down shack of a house, another child was born. This birth did not go so well or as planned. Archangel Elijah watches on, invisible to the humans within the shack.

A heartbroken father kneels over his wife, sobbing. His eyes, once gushing with tears, are now dried up. Just like the wasteland that he thinks he lives in. His tears have washed away most of the blood that was once covering the baby. The boy reaches for his father’s face, trying to comfort him. His father smiles back at him trying to pull himself together for the sake of the new child.

“James, what are we going to do with Jennie’s body?” his only brother asks him, shaking with fright to what just happened. He sits on the pine floor staring at his sister-in-law in disbelief.

“Dear God, we are animals. We are not fit to live in a normal, civilized world. What is going to happen to us after we die… after we have done this, this horrible act?”

“I’ll tell you what we are going to do. We are going to bury the body. No, better yet, we are going to burn her body to respect her and my new son. Dimitri would not have made it to this hellhole of a world, if Jennie was not willing to die for him,” James tells Dimitri as he tries to smile about what to do with Jennie’s body.

Picking up the bloody knife, Jacques breaks into a crying rage of fear and lowliness. He stands still for a couple of minutes, trying to make sense of what to do next. Looking down at Jennie, he rubs his eyes trying to wipe the tears away but more come to replace themHis hand twitches with unknown direction as if it had a mind of its own. Doing a C-section with a sixteenth century butcher knife is not the art of childbirth.

“I can’t do this. I, I, I c-c-can’t go on living with the kno-kno-wledge that I, I, I j-j-just helped k-k-kill a h-h-human being to save a b-b-baby. I, I, I”

Jacques' stuttering returns, after being conquered for ten years, in full force but it also starts to control his body, too. Uncontrolled jerks within his arm makes his fist fly up to his neck.

“Jacques, no!” James screams out while holding baby Dimitri in one arm and reaches for the knife with the other.

“I’m so sorry, brother,” Jacques cuts his throat from jugular to jugular. His body collapses to the floor, limp, with blood spaying everywhere. Jacques lies in a pool of blood gasping for air as he chokes. James stands over his brother’s body looking down at him as his soul slips away. His eyes become still and hollow.

Standing in horror and disbelief, James is disconnected from what just happen.

He glances down at the baby lying in his arms, “Dimitri, don’t you worry about a thing, little one. I’m going to get us a better life and a better house to live in. I'm going to take good… no… great care of you.”

James picks up everything that he can carry. He takes it outside along with the baby, sets everything on the ground a safe distance away from the shack, picks up a bunch of sticks and brush lying around the outer perimeter, and spreads it all inside of the cabin. James kicks over a lantern as he leaves and walks to get his son. James picks him up and their things off the ground then walks off into the woods towards a better life.

Unknown to the humans, Archangel Elijah looks on and thinks to herself, ‘Maybe, maybe this is the one that God was talking about.’

David, Markus, and Wendi are out shopping with their stepparents at the local shops in town. The men decide to split up from the women and go their separate ways to see if they can do something exciting. Zebedeo tells Marnina that they will not be terribly far away from them and not to worry.

Marnina replies, “Now you boys don't go getting into any trouble because then I will not know you.”

Zebedeo smiles and leaves to go looking around with David and Markus. Wendi glances up at Marnina to find out where she would like to go next. Marnina winks back at Wendi and points in the opposite direction of the men.

“Let’s go that way and see if we can get into some trouble of our own.”

“Dimitri, where are you going today?” Mr. Quinn asks as he helps Mr. Johnston, his head cook, in the kitchen prepare today's lunch for all of the children at the orphanage.

“I thought that I would explore the town. You know, get to know the place a little bit more. Might find a favorite place to hang out at,” Dimitri replies as he picks up an apple to munch on before hitting the road. “You know, I overheard a couple of the other kids talking about a little shop that I might go check out.”

“Okay, just don't be to long. Lunch is almost done. This is going to be a very special lunch because we will be welcoming a new kid to the family,” Mr. Quinn chops up a couple more carrots and puts them into the stew pot.

Dimitri nods as he takes a couple of bites of this apple and then says with a full mouth, “Okay, see you soon.”

Dimitri walks to the back door that lets out to the alleyway to take a small shortcut to the little shop that he wants to check out. He comes across a couple of street vendors on the way there selling food to local town people at a discounted price. One of them has his favorite food; grilled apples. He share this with his father when they walked around his old town together laughing and telling jokes. He wipes away a small tear running down his cheek and then puts on a smile so that no one will see him cry. Dimitri arrives outside of a local shop that specializes in handmade clothes.

David, Markus, and Zebedeo are checking out a local shop where the owner makes everything from scratch. Zebedeo checks out some specially dyed dresses for Marnina, hoping that he can surprise her for her birthday. Markus and David are acting like they are shopping but are ogling at the girls that are shopping. Markus winks at one of them and she waves back. David whispers hello to her dark haired friend standing next to her, making her blush back at him. Zebedeo glances over at the boys to check on them and notices what they are looking at.

Zebedeo thinks, 'That's my boys.’

Dimitri inspects some clothing that might or might not fit him. He looks down at the price of the shirt and knows that he does not have enough money to buy it. Just then, he catches a glimpse of a boy paying for a couple of new outfits. The boy takes the coins and puts them in a little blue change bag hanging off his belt. Dimitri knows that he had to have this little blue change pouch. He had to get it, even if it meant breaking the law. He devised a plan in a split second and knew that it would work because he had seen other people do it back at his old home when they thought that no one was looking.

‘This was it, here we go.’ Dimitri thinks.

Dimitri watches the boy leave out the front door of the store with two other men and turn left. Dimitri races out the back to cut them off at the pass. He knew that he had only one shot at this. As he turns the corner, he bumps into the boy, and they almost knock each other to the ground. Dimitri slips the pouch away from the boy.

“I'm so sorry. Are you okay?”

“I'm okay. Are you okay?” the boy asks, startled by the fall.

“Ah, I'm okay. Sorry about that,” Dimitri hides the pouch. The two boys turn and go their separate ways. Dimitri cannot believe that it was that easy to take a bag of money from someone. Dimitri cuts into an alley and hides behind a stack of wooden boxes to count the money.

David, Markus, and Zebedeo start to head towards where they think the ladies could be. The three men are carefree as they carry the gifts for Marnina and Wendi. Looking around, the ladies are no where insight.

Zebedeo says, “This is going to be harder than I thought.”

Zebedeo sees all the people bustling about, going from store to store, and not paying much attention to him or the boys.

“Where do you think they are, Zeb?” Markus asks.

“God only knows.”

The three men set out to find the girls as they walk up and down the busy street stopping to peer into each store they come across.

Dimitri is hunting through a new store trying to find something. All he sees is the same old stuff that everyone has been wearing for months now. He wants something different. Dimitri makes it to the corner of the store where no one is standing or looking. He sees a long black robe-like coat that screams out to him. He tries the coat on and finds that it fits him perfect. Putting the hood up, he acts like the Grim Reaper coming back for the men that killed his parents.

The storeowner says, “Son, I think that coat suits you just fine.”

“How much is it?” Dimitri asks still holding out his hands.

“Four dollars and it’s yours,” The shopkeeper extends his hand. Dimitri drops four dollar coins into the storeowner’s hand and walks outside into the pleasant, sunny day. He hangs the pouch on his side and proceeds down the street back to the orphanage to have lunch with the new boy. Turning the corner he bumps into three people that he has seen before.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t watching where I was going” Dimitri says as he tries to hurry along.

“Its okay; we were trying to look for someone else ourselves,” Markus says jokingly not paying much attention to Dimitri. David just glances the other way as he peers into another store still searching for Marnina and Wendi. Zebedeo steps aside to let Dimitri pass. Dimitri rushes through as he hangs his head down to avoid making eye contact. Getting about ten feet away from the three men, Zebedeo notices something different about Dimitri and the change pouch on his hip but just nods it off as coincidence.             

Wendi and Marnina come out of a store carrying bags of clothes for themselves. They start to walk towards Dimitri with large smiles and laughter barreling out of their mouths. The girls are oblivious to what is about to happen. Marnina looks right pass Dimitri to wave at Zebedeo, David, and Markus to get their attention. Zebedeo sees her hand waving in the air with the bracelet that he gave her for her birthday.

“Hey, boys. I think the girls are over there,” Zebedeo points in their direction and starts walking to them with David and Markus trailing behind him.

Zebedeo, David, and Markus get closer to Marnina and Wendi; and closer to Dimitri. Dimitri stands in front of a fruit stand trying to blend in with the crowd. Zebedeo and David are staring ahead while Markus has his eyes wondering all around, looking at all of the different people.

Then Markus notices something unusual and questions himself. ‘Why would a person have a change bag that appears to be just like David’s change bag?’

Markus taps David on the shoulder to get his attention.

Pulling David closer to him, Markus asks, “David, what color and shape are your change bag?”

“It’s my favor color, blue, with a gold string that is laced through the top of it holding it closed. Why?” David replies starting to reach for his change bag.

Markus butts in, “Because I think that kid has it.”

David feels for his change bag. “It’s gone! What happened to my change bag? I know I put it right back in the same place every time. It never leaves my side. It’s always there. Maybe I dropped it or maybe it fell off by getting untied…” David tries to figure out what just happened.

“Or maybe someone just stole it and maybe that someone is standing very close to you right this second,” Markus adds and points to Dimitri standing with his back to David and Markus. David watches the boy with the hooded coat walk away with the pouch.

David and Markus wait for the right time to accuse Dimitri of stealing David's pouch. Then, Dimitri takes the change bag off his belt and fishes out some coins to pay for some fresh fruit. David catches sight of his initials that he had Aunt Marnina sew on the side of the change bag. He and Markus were waiting for that clue. They approach the unknown boy to question him about the change bag that he has in his position.

“Excuse me, I was just wondering whose initials are on the side of the exquisite change bag that you have in your hand,” David asks Dimitri. Markus grabs Dimitri's hand carrying the bag. Dimitri tries to resist.

Markus, trying to be the bad cop, locks eyes with Dimitri, “I think that you owe my brother an apology and some money that you just stole.”

Dimitri wiggles away from Markus’s hold and throws the bag to the ground to buy himself some time. David reaches for the bag as Markus tries to regain his balance. Markus watches Dimitri escape down an alleyway next to the building. David jumps to his feet as Zebedeo, Marnina, and Wendi come strolling up to them.

“What happen? Did you drop your change bag?” Marnina asks not noticing the hatred that appeared on David and Markus’ faces.

“Yes, something like that. I’ll be right back,” David starts to sprint down the alleyway after Dimitri with Markus fast behind him. David and Markus watch Dimitri turn the corner at the end of the alley, barely missing a couple of people unloading a wagon. They are only a couple of seconds behind Dimitri when they make it to the end of the alley. They come to a new street filled with people in their own little worlds. Markus and David glance around, trying to locate Dimitri, but the sea of people cloak him.

Dimitri stands at a window, peering from the orphanage’s front office. He hears a voice behind him clearing their throat to get his attention.

“Playing hide and go seek with someone?” Mr. Quinn smiles at Dimitri knowing that he is up to no good.

“Something like that,” Dimitri rubs his forehead trying to make himself cooler. “I’m not late am I?”

“No, you’re not, just go freshen up and meet me in the dining room.”

In disbelief, Dimitri stares at his uncle because he is not going to ask any more questions or even scold him.

“Thanks. I’ll be there in a couple of minutes.”

As Mr. Quinn walks away, Dimitri turns his head and notices David and Markus standing right out front with their backs to the window. Dimitri walks to the other room nonchalantly.

“Damn, he just gave us the slip,” Markus yells.

“When I find out just who this guy is, I'm going to…” David punches his hand into his other hand mumbling a few words under his breath.

“You’re going to do what?” Zebedeo asks with Marnina and Wendi standing right next to him with their mouths hanging open after seeing a totally different side to David.

Marnina speaks up. “I think that it is time to go home and fix dinner before we have any more excitement.”

With that, everybody grabs their things to head home and call it a day. David is the last one to walk away. He has a strange feeling that he was just steps away from the thief.

Markus yells over his shoulder, “Are you coming?”

“Yes, I’m coming,” David says as he looks at the window to the orphanage’s office and then walks away.