Return of Philon (The Image Maker Series Book 1) Read online

  The Return of Philon

  by Michael R. Zadai

  Chapter 1

  “The sight never wearies my eyes, brother,” Meliose said. “More than its splendor is witnessing his life emanating from it…and finding expression in it.”

  Abriel agreed, “I am humbled beyond words Meliose, for you are the only one among the Chayil who is privy to my true origins. And to think that I, a mere Destiner, would have the privilege of beholding this sight…the Image Maker, in council.”

  From the highest tower in the celestial city of the Chayil, the princely pair gazed in awe to the western sky. A Cumulonimbus Incus rose into the atmosphere of Zenith. Emerald flashes of lightning streaked through its billowing majestic crown. For it was within this effervescent cloud that the Image Maker dwelt.

  Within this cloudy sanctuary, three figures of light darted and danced through each other, generating crackles of thunder, howling winds, and streaks of colored light, filling the cloud with all the hues of the rainbow.

  Abriel inquired, “How long will he abide in council, Meliose?”

  “Until his dreams are satisfied and his purposes are sure,” Meliose replied.

  Then, suddenly, a roaring sound filled the atmosphere around them, filling them both with a foreboding they had never experienced before. No sooner had the frightening blare burst upon them, that now, for a brief moment, there was an impending silence, then an explosion of blinding radiance! The light sent the two Chayilian princes stumbling backward, shielding their eyes.

  All seemed to slow down into a surreal reality, as the two witnessed what seemed to be the disintegration of all things around them, including themselves.

  Meliose fell, blinded, to the ground.

  Abriel dared to open his eyes long enough to see a figure resembling Philon filled with what seemed to be a steady stream of sunrises and sunsets until one sunrise appeared, and then the light completely blinded him. And just when they were fading into oblivion, all was suddenly normal.

  “Meliose?” cried Abriel, still recovering his sight from the blast, “are you safe?”

  “I’m here, brother!” he nervously patted himself to verify his presence. “I have no idea what just occurred. And we cannot petition the Image Maker while he is in council.”

  “I think I know someone who can tell us, Meliose.”

  “And who might that be, Abriel?”

  “Strophe!”

  The two hastened in flight to the Field of Blossoms, so named for the myriad of flowers covering rolling fields as far as the eye could see. And, it was also the home of the Noma, a butterfly race, whose sole responsibility was to care for the Field of Blossoms.

  It was here, that Strophe made her home.

  Meliose and Abriel landed gently on one of the many walkways that wound their way through the fields, for any of the Chayil were permitted to enjoy its sublime beauty. Alighting to the ground, the two were greeted by the Noma, who immediately welcomed them in their native language: music.

  Surrounding the pair, the Noma sang:

  “Dance with us today.

  Tomorrow can wait.

  Dance with us today.

  In the butterfly, butterfly dance.”

  And so, Meliose and Abriel danced and danced among the Noma, for their music was pleasant to the soul and refreshing to the spirit.

  Then, the two watched as the Noma formed a magnificent, spiraling column that rose into the sky. Its loveliness touched them both deeply, until tears ran down their cheeks at the sheer joy of the sight. And no sooner had it rose that it burst apart revealing Strophe, descending to the ground amidst the fluttering, singing, Noma.

  The two Chayil bowed their heads in respect as she stood before them.

  “And what brings two of Abba’s renowned sons to my home?”

  “We ask audience with you, dear Strophe. For the sight we beheld earlier today when the Image Maker was in council was nothing that we have ever experienced before,” petitioned Meliose.

  Strophe inquired, “What did you see Abriel?”

  Puzzled, Meliose asked, “Did you see something brother? I saw nothing but blinding light.”

  Abriel attempted to explain his vision, “Yes, I did see for a moment a figure, which I sensed was Philon. And in him were quick moving sunrises and sunsets until there came a sunrise and no sunset followed. And a terrifying sense we were fading into nothingness. Then, I could see no more. What does this mean Strophe?”

  “The sunrises and sunsets were the times past, times present, and times yet to come. The last sunrise was the dawn of a new age. And the fading into nothingness that you sensed was the fading glory of this age.”

  “A new age!” Meliose shouted.

  “Yes Meliose, when all things in this era will find their consummation in Philon and given new life in the eon to come.”

  “Strophe, will all reach this new age?” inquired Abriel. “Will he make all things right once again?” For his heart ached over his errant brother, Raeh.

  As was her way, Strophe slowly rose into the air around them, surrounded by the Noma. “What does your heart tell you Abriel?” Then, she disappeared into the living symphony of fluttering Noma.

  Now equipped with a sudden sense of urgency, Meliose and Abriel struck out for the massive cloud that shrouded the Image Maker’s domain.

  Upon entering in the lower altitudes, they came before the crystallite walls that towered above them. Coming upon the entrance, they were greeted by the Sentinels, Guardians of the Gate.

  The Sentinels of the Gate were massive Chayil, standing twelve feet in height, dressed in a mail coat of gold, armed with broad swords, and wearing gleaming onyx helmets.

  “Hail Meliose! Favored of Philon!” bellowed one of the sentinels.

  “Hail Abriel! Watchman of Mankind!” thundered the other sentinel.

  Bowing low in respect, Meliose and Abriel acknowledged their brother’s high station.

  “We have come to petition council with Philon, my lords.”

  One of the Sentinel’s responded, “To that you must see Kalandra. Enter now, His Rest.”

  The great gate dissolved, allowing the two to enter, rematerializing behind them. Once inside, the brothers stood in awe, for one could never experience enough of His Rest.

  The Image Maker’s domain was a world within the world of Zenith. Before them was a shimmering jeweled pathway of apatite, orthoclase, and quartz, that wound its way through rolling green fields. Ever-changing shades of color washed the forests, giving way to crystal clear lakes and the most pleasant experience of all, the warmth of the light of the Image Maker’s presence touched all with His life. And His life is rest.

  “I delight in this part Meliose, the simple joy of walking in His presence.”

  Meliose, already refreshed by His Rest agreed, “Let’s walk slow Abriel.”

  And so, the two Chayilian princes entered what was aptly named the Pathway of Life, enjoying every moment of complete assurance of soul that seemed to saturate them with every step they took.

  Soon, they came upon a wall, not made of stone or granite but of miniature stars, so clustered together that it seemed a gleaming wall of light. The stars were a menagerie of color and fragrance, celebrating a life that does not weary or weather nor does it fade but endures always.

  No gate or guard stood at the lofty archway, for all were welcome therein. Upon entering, Meliose and Abriel noticed how the glittering walls to their left and right seemed to go on to the horizon, and before them was a vast field of lilies swaying ever so gently in a soft breeze. Directly overhead the heavenly bodies seemed so close they could touch them.
Shooting stars and comets lit up the cosmos. An azure sky bent toward the horizon, then faded to purple, oranges and reds.

  Arriving before them, a pulsating, golden aurora hung suspended in the air before them. And it was from within this aurora that two enormous auburn-feathered eagles thrust out their wings launching into the sky in majestic twirls, until finally landing before them. Bowing low, they invited Meliose and Abriel to mount their mighty backs, and off they flew into the dazzling aurora.

  The aurora transported them deeper into His Rest, until it stopped, allowing the eagles to whisk their two passengers on the final leg of their journey. Landing on a beach, and bowing their regal necks low, the two Chayil dismounted onto soft, white sand. They stood in awe and gazed at the Endless Sea. For it was here, that the Person of the Image Maker has always been, and always will be.

  Kalandra met them. “Hail Meliose and Abriel!” she welcomed her brothers with hugs and kissed them on the cheek. “It is so good to see you both! The Image Maker grants you audience.”

  No sooner had those words came from her mouth that the sea opened, and rising out of its glimmering, turquoise depths came a sphere of energy, and within it, three figures floating within in it, radiating with light.

  The three Chayil bowed low in deep respect and utter love for their Creator.

  “What is in your heart dear, Meliose?” asked Abba.

  “Abba! I love you so! Whenever I see you, I must say so!”

  “And you brave Abriel, what is in your heart?”

  “My heart ever longs for you Abba!”

  Then Abriel noticed something he had never seen in the Image Maker’s presence before. Philon radiated as he always had, but he was clothed in flesh as well!

  “Ah, you see before you a truth long hidden, now revealed, don’t you Abriel?” The Life Weaver asked.

  “Philon…you…you are still clothed in flesh!”

  Philon announced, “I am more than clothed in flesh, I have taken up humanity in myself. Mankind will always be included in the circle of our life.”

  “Wonder upon wonders!” proclaimed Kalandra.

  And immediately, there arose from the sea those of the Chayil who were bred to live and serve before the Image Maker. A great host of them sang in perfect harmonies, with words beyond known dialects, speaking of the marvels of the Image Maker.

  The joy was intoxicating and the peace was rapturous as all were taken up in a great dance around the sphere, until the three broke from the sphere and filled the dance with their presence. Who knows how long the celebration lasted, for there is no time with He who is beyond it. The celebration resembled shooting stars, interspersed with explosions of light.

  Suddenly, Abriel was taken up and held by a power greater than himself. He came face to face with Philon, who said to him, “Because you demonstrated courage to open your eyes, you have seen a vision of the birth of a new age. But, what you do not see is how powerfully necrotic the Netherlife has become. Let your heart be strong Abriel, always remember that I will never leave the seed of Valerian and Aurea.”

  Then, all was still, and he found himself standing at a portico with Meliose, within his quarters in the great Chayilian city.

  “There is much heartache ahead Meliose,” lamented Abriel.

  Meliose put his hand on Abriel’s shoulder and said, “I know Abriel…I know.”

  Chapter 2

  “Damios!” an irritated Satrina shouted.

  “Yes, my lady?”

  “I have been awaiting a report on the construction of the Ziggurat! Why is it not in my hands?”

  “Begging your pardon Satrina, but since I must drive in a car instead of fly, things get done much slower than they would have otherwise.”

  “Do you or do you not have it?”

  He handed the report over to her.

  “Thank you, Damios,” Primus said, “that will be all.”

  “Yes, my Lord Primus.”

  With that, Damios left the room.

  “I love the ring of that name, Primus. I am so weary of Prince Lucius.” Summoning all her charm, Satrina said, “Soon Primus, our plan will come to fruition and all will acknowledge you!”

  “And you as well, my sweet!”

  Satrina opened the hologram, which contained the report on the construction of the Ziggurat.

  And there, appearing before them, a huge pyramid under construction in the middle of Noab. It glistened golden in the sun, for the stone was overlaid with gold.

  “From there, Satrina,” relished Primus, “atop the ziggurat, we will usher in a dark age for the inhabitants of earth. Our plans to bring all the inhabitants of earth under the power of the Netherlife and unite them as our subjects will succeed.”

  ◆◆◆

  Meanwhile, in downtown Noab, onlookers stopped in awe and gawked at the construction of what appeared to be a pyramid looking structure displacing a whole city block.

  Nate, Chad, and Emma were among the curious onlookers.

  “It’s not another mall, is it?” Emma commented with a tad of sarcasm.

  Laughing, Chad remarked, “Judging from those armed guards stationed all around it, I doubt if they are staving away would-be future shoppers.”

  “The construction of this, ummm, whatever it is, has been well into a year,” Nate observed, “and I must say, I’ve never seen anything like it, except for in…”

  “Except in what, Nate?” asked Emma.

  “I recall in school, which by the way, was a long time ago, reading about similar structures in ancient days.”

  Suddenly, an electronic message appeared on a large screen in front of the construction site:

  COMING SOON: THE ZIGGURAT OF NOAB

  “Well then, there you go Nate,” teased Emma, “it is going to be a ziggurat, but who is building it and why?”

  “I have a bad feeling about this you guys,” Chad lamented.

  “Yeah, like Prince Lucius kind of bad feeling.”

  “Maybe you three should mind your own business,” interjected a gruff voice, interrupting their discussion, “or better yet, leave Noab.”

  The three turned around to see Sledge and two henchmen confronting them.

  Not to be intimidated, Nate quickly responded, “Look what came up from the sewer…Sledge.”

  Now standing a hair’s breadth from each other, the two men, with clinched fists, stared at each other, and waited for the other to take the first swing.

  Sledge backed off chuckling, and staring at Emma, snarled, “Let’s put it this way, if you wish to ever see your Ivy again, I’d better not see you three near this place.”

  Then, he and his two companions turned and walked away.

  Emma uncharacteristically spouted, “I would love to see somebody kick that guy’s behind all the way back to Barnsville!”

  “Noted!” Nate concurred.

  Amidst the pedestrian traffic, clogging the sidewalk around the Ziggurat, a stranger somehow found his way to them.

  “Nate?”

  Nate had no idea who this person was. He came walking toward him with a slight limp, but then again, nothing was a surprise to him anymore.

  “Yes, that would be me.”

  “My name is Historus, I am your ally in the struggle against Prince Lucius. Please, come with me to a place where we can safely speak.”

  The threesome followed their new acquaintance away from the throng and into a waiting vehicle and off it sped to an undisclosed location.

  Not to be upstaged this time, Nate asked, “Historus, are you human?”

  “No.”

  A broad smile spread across Nate’s face, with Emma and Chad looking on. Seeing them, he pressed, “What?”

  Emma just smiled and Chad rolled his eyes.

  Continuing to question him, Nate asked, “Are you Chayil?” While to himself he was thinking, please say yes!

  “I am appearing in this humbler form, but yes, I am Chayil.”

  Their vehicle pulled up to a group of townhomes on t
he outskirts of the city as night fell in Noab.

  Inside, Historus, always hospitable, led them into his living room, and after having sat them, called out, “They are here!”

  Nate, Emma, and Chad gave each other curious looks, not having a clue who they were about to meet.

  Two men, tall in stature, muscular in build, walked into the room. Their gait radiated a certain unearthly dignity, and their faces confident nobility.

  Historus introduced them, “My humans friends, meet two of your most faithful partners in the ongoing struggle against Prince Lucius, Abriel and Meliose.”

  The three sat speechless, not knowing how to respond to such heavenly dignitaries.

  Abriel broke the awkwardness, “Oh come on Chad! I’ve been watching and protecting you for a long time now!” And raising Chad to his feet gave him a bear hug.

  “And you, Nate,” Meliose joked, “you’ve been on a few strange, fishing adventures, haven’t you?”

  “Well, yes sir, I have!”

  “Infinitum is a jokester, he’s always pulling pranks like that back on Zenith!”

  “And you, Emma,” Abriel declared, “are a courageous woman! Aurea would be proud of you!”

  “Why thank you, uh, Abriel,” she said, blushing.

  And so, new friendships were established that night, as they shared stories and adventures well into the evening.

  Finally, Historus brought the meeting into focus.

  “Now my friends, let me explain why you have been invited into this circle.”

  “Long ago, the Image Maker created this good earth with the intention that it was to be inhabited by the human race. The womb, if you allow me to use that metaphor, the place wherein it would all begin, was in a place called, The Garden of Delight.”

  He motioned to Abriel, who continued, “It was there he placed the first two human beings, Valerian and Aurea. All was good. No blood was shed. There were no diseases, or killing, or darkness of mind or heart. There was no death. Why, even the animals comprehended and communicated one to another.”

  “Awesome!” Chad interjected, as Nate, embarrassed, put his head in his hand.