asked nervously as he cowered in front of his brother, then noticed Zachonier standing in the corner. His demeanor was quick to change. He stood straight holding his head up high.
“Secrets of Dark and Evil,” Shadel announced glaring at his brother. “I want it back now,” the King insisted.
“Well that’s not going to happen,” Avadon smirked. “It’s gone, this time and I’ve hidden it,” he shouted contemptuously as a chilling smile came across his face. “You know the power of the book belongs to the one who has possession and I have possession. You would have to locate it to regain possession. It’s in a place where you’ll never find it,” he bellowed feeling all-powerful.
“You may have acquired some power, my brother, but remember, I am the King! I have the ultimate power,” Shadel avowed staring into his brother’s glazed eyes.
“The penalty for using spells and potions from the Secrets of Dark and Evil is death, Avadon,” Zachonier proclaimed moving from the corner of the room to face the younger sibling. Avadon’s mouth fell open.
“You wouldn’t, you couldn’t kill me,” Avadon shouted in defiance, knowing Shadel was the only one with the power to change an immortal into a mortal.
“I will give you three options to choose from my brother. Be put to death, imprisonment for eternity or banishment. The same goes for our sister,” Shadel vehemently declared. “The choice is yours.”
“Knowing he had already hidden many thousands of people who were under his spell in a world of Egoshen, Avadon agreed to banishment,” Myadora revealed to her young companion who sat spellbound by the story unfolding before him.
“Does King Shadel, I mean did King Shadel know where his brother took these people.” Winston queried not having the patience to wait for the answer “Did he? Uh!”
Laughing at his enthusiasm Myadora responded, “Yes Winston he knew.”
She continued. “King Shadel traveled to the other world and removed the veils of illusions from the minds of all the people. He explained to them what his brother had done and why and the choices he gave Avadon. The people understood if they were to return to Luminatia, Avadon would no longer have a kingdom to rule.
They realized as long as he was still in possession of the book ‘Secrets of Dark and Evil,’ Avadon would find ways to return to Luminatia and persist in generating havoc. Shadel could never allow that and eventually would have no choice but to put his brother and sister to death. The Luminations knew having to execute his siblings even to protect his people; the King would be tormented by that act for eternity. Their love for their King was so unwavering they would not allow Shadel to be put that position.
The people were aware despite what he had done the King still loved his brother and sister. They knew as long as Avadon believed he had a kingdom to rule, he would leave the rest of the people in Luminatia alone. Those who were taken asked the King to return the veils of illusions to their minds. Shadel was so overwhelmed by these people and their sacrifice he vowed to find a way for them to return home.
Allowing Avadon to believe he had the upper hand, Shadel agreed to have his brother and Angeen banished to Egoshen. Avadon would be allowed to retain and rule over the people he had taken. But the younger sibling wanted more. Avadon wanted a bigger kingdom.
Shadel further authorized only three of his brother’s representatives from Egoshen would be allowed to come once a month, two hours before dawn on the day of the new moon. They were permitted to take anyone found on the streets during those two hours back to Egoshen. Avadon in return agreed if any of the people brought to Egoshen were able to lift the veils of illusions from their minds without Shadel directly removing it for them, they would be permitted to return to Luminatia.
When Avadon consented to all the terms of the agreement he made with Shadel, he was convinced that his subjects would never be able to get their true memories back without Shadel’s direct interference. After all he believed he was now omnipotent and invincible. Therefore, in his mind anyone who he wanted to remain in Egoshen would never return to Luminatia.
Avadon’s error was in deluding himself into imagining he was so almighty it would be impossible under any circumstances for those he had taken from Luminatia to break any of his spells on their own. Feeling confident of his power over his people, Avadon agreed to Shadel’s terms. Shadel categorically cautioned Avadon, were he to break any of these rules, no matter how difficult it would be for him, the King would remove their immortality and immediately put his brother and sister to death.”
“I know we have a strict law where no one is allowed on the streets at that time, but why did the King agree to let Avadon take more people from Luminatia? He should have said no to that,” Winston said adamantly.
“He had his reasons,” she said. “The only people who purposefully go out into the streets at the restricted times, are guardians or beings from the Kingdom of Lights who are sent by the King to go Egoshen to help the people learn what they needed to know in order transform themselves and remove their veils. Very, very rarely do actual residents of Luminatia get kidnapped.”
“Those are the people my father has been helping to return to Luminatia,” Winston gasped as he realized there was the answer to the mysterious mission.
“Yes,” Myadora replied acknowledging Winston’s long-awaited epiphany as she continued.
“Let me talk with our sister,” Avadon begged. “She needs to agree to come with me.”
“You’ve got one day,” the King replied.
In Angeen’s apartment a short time later after explaining what had transpired with Shadel, Avadon bellowed in his overconfident manner to his sister. “We’re going to kidnapped the Queen and bring her to Egoshen. I’ll show Shadel about power.”
“Kidnap Suri, that’s impossible. I’ve heard our brother has sent her away from the castle and we leaving tomorrow,” Angeen said as she began to pace nervously about.
“Oh, my sister, you have so little faith in your new king, ME!” he declared as he pranced and ranted about the room. “I’ve placed some of my subjects within the castle walls. Our brother is not as smart as he would have everyone believe. He fears me. I’ve tricked him into letting me send my representatives back to Luminatia to retrieve more people,” he announced with great pride, “and when I do, my moles in the castle will assist in the kidnapping of the Queen. They will bring her to my emissaries who then will transport her to me.”
“Does the Ancient One fear Avadon? I thought he was, is fearless, Winston asked Myadora seeming somewhat baffled by Avadon’s ranting.
“Not at all,” she reassured him. “Remember, Avadon’s spell backfired. One of the effects it has on him is he’s become delusional. It’s what he believes not what’s true. Unknown to Avadon, beings from the Kingdom of Lights have been with him and Angeen ever since Shadel ordered their banishment. He’s aware of everything they say or do.”
Winston observed as the vision introduced a new scene. Shadel and Suri, now noticeably pregnant, were seated on a floral sofa in what appeared to be cozy cottage in the forest. Images of dancing light filled the darkened room lit only by flickering flames of the roaring fire in the fireplace.
Holding Suri’s hand, Shadel gazed warmly into her emerald green eyes insisting, “No! You cannot allow yourself to be kidnapped, I absolutely will not hear of it.”
“My
