On lonely Mount Faizon, Tarik busily hauled some thick wooden planks down the porch ramp. After a quick trip to his storage closet, he thumped down the ramp with some cans of paint, wood stain, and a brush clenched in his teeth. Tarik rubbed his hands together and tugged down the sleeves of his tattered sweatshirt. With a grunt, he stooped down to grab his hammer, his hand shaking a little while steadying it. Stupid jackass…up and leaves for two months without even a phone call! Tarik clonked the hammer into the nail and kept working. If his parents ever do come back… He hefted up another board and aligned it alongside the other.

“They will not come back, Tarik,” a voice said in his head.

The board dropped from Tarik’s hand, and an unusual sensation shook him like a full-body spasm. He looked all around the perimeter, but nothing around him appeared out of the ordinary. “What was that?” Tarik held a hand to his chest, still reeling from the odd feeling. His knees started shaking and his field of vision blurred, then came back into clarity. “What are you? Why do you keep talking to me?” Some birds passing overhead caught his attention. They abruptly shifted direction, cawing frenetically. Everything fell quiet while Tarik’s eyes darted along the field by the lonely road, his feet creeping through the grass. As he turned, he met eyes with a frightening mirage. “Niko?”

The washed out apparition hovered before Tarik, the boy’s vexing stare rattling him. He reached out to touch Niko, only to cause the hallucination to dissipate into nothingness.

“Greetings, Tarik. I am Ontius, the old Lord of the Sky.” The voice swept through Tarik like a cold winter wind.

“What? Ontius? What…how is this happening? Where are you?”

“You cannot see me, for I am merely his spirit. You, however, are connected to me.”

“To you? How?” Tarik asked confusedly.

“Within you rests the spirit of one of my angels.”

Tarik looked himself over. “I don’t understand.”

“I watched you grow from a distant world. I know you once questioned where you came from.”

“You do?” Tarik said in surprise.

“Indeed, but I’m afraid your son may be in danger.”

Tarik clutched his fists. “Niko? What’ve you done to him?”

“Please listen, Tarik. His sudden departure spurred me to confer with you! I need your help.”

Tarik started pacing in circles, digging his fingers along the sides of his head. “You can’t be serious…this is…Niko’s right, I do read too much!”

“The spirits are closer than you think, Tarik. Were these not the very words you said to the boy?” Ontius said.

Tarik dropped his arms. “H-how did you know that?”

“I was among the gods, my friend. I was the Lord of the Sky, an all-seeing god with ties to the spirit world. The world’s safety and prosperity could not have thrived without me.”

“This is unreal…but what’s all this got to do with me?”

“I was murdered by one of my subjects, a man named Ravus. After his betrayal, my friend Izaan stood up to him when I was gone, but to no avail. Now Dark Lord Ravus has spawned his own armies across Ithea—you are my link to stopping him.”

“But what can I possibly do? I don’t even know who this Ravus guy is.”

A heavy pressure filled Tarik’s head, making him drop to his knees. His head throbbed with a sharp pain clamping the sides of his head, unmercifully drilling within him.

“He speaks the truth, Tarik. I am Izaan’s spirit. I’ve been reaching out to you for years!”

“How? How can this be?” Tarik shouted. His body shook as a clammy film slowly seethed through his skin. Steamy puffs of breath poured out of him. I don’t feel right. There’s something in there… Tarik stood up wobbly legs, gripping a wooden board to steady himself. He peered through squinted eyes as he stumbled toward the house. “My damn hair’s standing on end…you can hear me, can’t you?”

“I’m part of you, Tarik,” Izaan replied. “My spirit was placed in your body, but you never seemed to realize it.”

“But why? Of all the people in the world, you picked me? I know nothing about any of this!”

“I never intended to burden you, Tarik. Izaan was revived so he could defeat Ravus, but somehow you lost your memories,” Ontius said.

“I’m afraid he’s right,” Izaan added, “which is why your son could be a target for the dark forces.”

“Niko has yet to come to his own realization, that I exist within him,” Ontius said.

Tarik’s mouth hung open. “Oh my God! Are you saying he’s like me?”

“Did you ever wonder how Niko just appeared in the woods?” Izaan asked. “He wasn’t abandoned, he was reborn…as the Lord of the Sky.”

“Impossible! You mean to tell me my kid is some sort of ancient god? He still picks his nose!”

“It’s true, Tarik. All I can do is speak to you through Niko. He doesn’t know how to connect to me yet,” Ontius continued.

“Why are you telling me this, after all these years?”

“I’m calling on you to defend the new world. With your son gone, I fear the dark forces will find him. You two must be brought back together before that happens,” Izaan said.

“What would I have to do?” Tarik asked.

“I would advise you seek out the five sacred stones,” Ontius said.

“Sacred stones?”

“Before confronting Ravus, I came to Ithea seeking the Earth Gods—five beings who represent the planet’s natural forces, wielding power of Earth, Wind, Fire, Water, and Metal. I sealed them inside five stone pieces to bring them into the Nether Haven,” Izaan said.

“Unbelievable. It’s like I’m living in that damn storybook.”

“You are still much like Niko, quick to dismiss the other realms around you,” Ontius said. “Spirits are very real, Tarik, and so is the magic they possess.”

“Magic?”

“That’s how Ravus is able to summon these demons,” Izaan said. “He draws his power from the underworld and infects people, turning their blood black and warping their hearts! That’s how he obtains his dark angels.”

“Why does he need so many evil forces?”

“Ravus was once human before he became an angel. He underwent tremendous anguish to open his spiritual gateways, something no one else would risk. That’s why he resented people so much—they gave up on themselves,” Izaan said.

“Wait, what about those crazy people I’ve been seeing, the Hexors? Do they tie into this?”

“It appears so. Without my intervention, the world populations became segregated. Those people were born with dark magic abilities passed down from previous dark beings. What’s left are groups who worship the black arts and those who serve the earth gods,” Ontius said.

“They said somethin’ about killing off non-believers. Is that part of their plan?” Tarik said.

“They will snub out anyone who stands against the Dark Lord, even ordinary humans. I hate to say it, but death is a safer escape than being possessed.”

Tarik’s head drooped. “What if I run into one of them?”

“You possess the ability to destroy the dark angels, but that doesn’t make them any less dangerous,” Izaan said.

“Remember, Izaan, even without the dark angels, as long as those demons exist on Ithea they can still possess other humans. The pathway to the underworld must be sealed so those hellions cannot escape!” Ontius said.

“Ontius, what do I have to do?” Tarik said.

“The sacred stones must be returned safely. With them in Ravus’ hands, nothing is safe.”

“And where are they now?”

“I suspect they’re buried in the Dagona Valley, at the foot of Mount Kandron.”

“Mount Kandron? Where’s that?”

“It’s located in the northwestern reaches of Gesnia. Reaching the mountain will be no easy feat. In my ancient language it means ‘to touch beyond’. You’ll know what I mean when you see it.”

Tarik bit his dry lip. “Is Ravus there too?”

“No, but I’ve sensed a disturbing amount of sinister energy in that region. Heed my warning, Tarik: The Dark Lord’s black magic is horrific. The evil spirits can plant the seed in your heart. Don’t allow negative feelings to feed them, that’s how they’ll take you.”

The lord’s voice vanished and left Tarik alone. He trudged up the porch, clinging to the rail as he slumped over it. Sweat beads dripped over the wood, his eyes looking to the sky. Clouds swirled above him, darkening the sky before the sun’s rays penetrated through them and lit the landscape. I don’t know who I am—now I’m two people!

* * * * *