Einstein's Compass a YA Time Traveler Adventure

Raka and the Council of the Sons of Belial

The earth tremor stopped Raka in his tracks. The Atlantean Healer Priest raised his right hand over his violet eyes and searched the landscape for signs of disturbance. He shrugged when he discovered nothing amiss then continued on his way toward the Council Meeting. What Raka did not understand was that the jolt he felt was not an earthly shudder but a spiritual one. He had started walking toward the darkness that was the Sons of Belial, and with his first step the door of the inner Temple of Light had slammed shut to him. And so began his journey as a fallen Angel of Light.

The summer afternoon produced a soft breeze from the east that puffed out Raka’s shoulder-length blond hair. At six-foot tall, the bronzed man of twenty-five was handsome, and he knew it. He smiled as he swept a hand through his hair, then patted a hidden pocket in his cloak to check the vial of DNA he had stolen from the Temple of Healing. 

The feel of the vial brought memories he found less than pleasant. His hands curled into fists as he felt a strange rage build in the pit of his stomach. All I do is run around as an errand boy for Uncle Thoth and my brother Arka, he thought angrily. I have asked and tried to get Thoth to show me how the fire crystal works. But they never include me in the really important discussions. They say that until I can control my “impulses” I can’t be privy to the deeper secrets of Light. His lips curled into a snarl at the thought. My grandfather was the mighty god Atlas. Surely I am meant for greatness like him.

 Raka had been entertaining thoughts like these for months until they consumed him. His consciousness of Light had constricted as the negativity grew. Finally, his anger and frustration had built to the point that they overshadowed his judgment and propelled him to action. Thus, the dispirited prince of Light was on the Island of Aryan to meet with the Council of the Sons of Belial. He hoped to be placed in an elevated position in their council in exchange for betraying his Atlantean brethren.

Aryan was a military complex and the promised land of power, pomp and ceremony. The Temple of Darkness was established by former angels of light who had become jealous of the power in the Temples of Light that they could not access. They had rejected the discipline of the Light of God. The veils of Light that once surrounded the Angels of Light dimmed, and the Angels became as asleep to the Spirit within. The gross heaviness of fear decended around their bodies. 

Over a period of years, those attracted to the Temple of Darkeness increased in number. Their separation from the Light created trepidation among the people of the world. The Council of the Sons of Belial and its army sought to insulate the five islands of Poseidan from outside invaders. The Atlanteans, following the inner spiritual Light, left the struggles for worldly power to The Council of the Sons of Belial and its warriors.

Atlantis, with The Temples of Light, was a Garden of God’s loving and a sanctuary from the stresses of the world, a flourishing place of divine innocence and Healing. People from the surrounding islands and the world at large came to refresh and restore themselves in body, mind and spirit.

The Sons of Belial knew the real driving force was the Spirit of life that lay on Atlantis. The invisible emanation of the firestone crystal was the energy source of the planet. Thanks to it, the circling satilletes in space recharged the temples and cities around the world. The Council of Five of the Sons of Belial had their own ideas of what could be done with the planet’s most potent energy source and lusted after the fire crystal.     

General Tora-Fuliar, was the leader of Aryan Island. Seven feet tall, blond and blue-eyed, the forty-ish man was typical of his race. He and his cohort of four colonels had agreed to meet with the priest-scientest cum spy, Raka, ostensibly to discuss his joining them. But their real purpose was to use his knowledge to wrest control of the firestone crystal from the Atlanteans, who they condsidered weak and inferior. The secret meeting would take in Belial, the cliff fortress with towering walls that overlooked the Atlantic Ocean.

Arriving at the fortress, Raka was met at its twin monumental gates by four Aryan soldiers who had been told to expect him. As they beckoned him inside, the priest of Light saw carcasses of wild boar strewn across an enormous marble altar and recognized what they meant. He held his breath as the stink of foul, stale blood and dark purpose filled the air. The blond, blue-eyed warriors checked Raka for weapons, and he smirked as his precious vial eluded their search.

The guards escorted Raka to the southern tower, through a second gate inside the fortress. He was led into a great, foreboding windowless chamber that had been carved out of the island’s living rock. His eyes narrowed at the pentagram painted in blood in the middle of the torch-lit room. The dark energy of the animal sacrifice held during the full moon of the previous night lingered in it.  

At the far end of the war room, the symbol of the Black Sun hung behind the General’s massive desk, hewn from murky obsidian that had been formed in a volcanic cataclysm possibly eons ago. Covering the walls on the right of the fifteen-foot high room lay maps of the world. The General and his colonels were seated on rigid straight-backed wooden chairs around a polished marble table. Dressed in black linen trousers and shirts with the Black Sun symbol on each collar and black alligator boots, the five somehow managed to appear casual.

Raka walked over to greet the ruling council of the Sons of Belial. Taking in the scene, he thought to himself that while the five appeared relaxed, there was a tension in the room. To Raka, they resembled nothing more than a pack of wolves ready to pounce. He straightened his golden silk garment and smiled, nodding to the General. “I am honored that you agreed to meet with me.”

As the General stood, he sniffed as if taking in Raka’s scent, then inclined his head. “Welcome. We have been looking forward to this meeting.” He motioned to Raka to sit down across from them.

Raka’s eyes scanned the room as he shifted nervously in his chair. The murky and barbarous energy of the Council made him uncomfortable. The General broke the silence saying, “We understand you want to help us.”

Raka inhaled deeply, and adjusted his energy field to withstand the negative force emanating from those present. Nodding, he replied, “If you recall, I used energy healing stones to alievate your pain at the Temple of Healing a few months ago for a back injury you sustained in a rather unfortunate incident.”

The General frowned but grunted in agreement.

“You stayed with us on Atlantis for several days to recuperate, and each time I came to treat you, you questioned me about the firestone energy crystal.”

Again the General nodded. “I did.”

“Its value is obvious, but tell me what your interest in it is.”

The General hesitated to reveal his true intention to an untested outsider, so he said, “The firestone crystal is possibly one of the most important artifacts on the planet. You Atlanteans are focused on research and your sciences and arts. You are ill prepared to defend the firestone from those who would use it for their own gain.”

Raka nodded in understanding as the General continued. “We Aryans are strong. The firestone should be guarded by our soldiers. After all, it’s the energy source for all of the planet.” The General leaned forward to add force to his argument. “The Council and the Sons of Belial are best suited to protect the crystal and you healers of Atlantis. We know that unless we are taught the mysteries of the Crystal, disaster could be immanent.”

Raka saw the energy around the General’s body turn dark with flares of red and he recognized the lust for power. He was also aware the General was not telling him everything. The healer was not some ignorant novice; he knew the warrior wanted to use the firestone crystal to enhance their military might. He was aware that with the firestone, they could be invincible. Despite his hopes for forming an alliance with the Sons of Belial, Raka now accepted that it would be a long time before these people trusted him–if they ever would. He wondered if he would even survive after he delivered what they wanted. He sighed inwardly, knowing that this was not going to go the way he had hoped.

Still, he would play out his plan, though with a slightly different ending. Anticipating just such a turn of events, Raka had come prepared. Looking the General in the eye he said, “General, I believe I could assist you in gaining access to the firestone crystal.”

The General and his colonials nodded with interest, as Raka continued. “But there are other things I might do for you. I noticed the beasts you have sacrificed in order to absorb their power. What if you could have even greater physical power than what you leech from the boars you kill?”

The colonels murmured and the General’s eyes widened. He glanced at his minions who could barely conceal their grins as each entertained his own twisted fantasy of power.

Raka continued with a sly smile, “If I were to assist you, then I would want something in return.”

The General leaned forward and his eyes narrowed,”Of course. What do you want?”