The Soul Prophecy, page 29
‘Tasha!’ I cry as I dive for the altar and hit the sun icon. The capstone flares with Light. Burning brighter than a supernova, it pours out beams in all directions, the shafts of Light reflecting off the pyramid’s glass panels and creating a blinding intricate web. The intensity grows so white-hot that the air itself shimmers and I feel my whole body crackle with energy. Even my samurai sword appears to glow from within as if freshly forged. Then the capstone overloads and detonates in a last burst of incandescent Light, blasting out the pyramid’s panels and pushing back the night.
53
I hear a crunch of glass and cautiously open my eyes: Phoenix’s grinning and glittering face greets me.
‘When I said, “ignite the spark”, that isn’t exactly what I had in mind,’ he says, helping me to my feet. ‘But it sure as heck worked!’
Shell-shocked, I gaze round at the devastation. Only the pyramid’s frame remains. A carpet of powdered glass fans out in every direction, glistening like snow. Tanas and all the Incarnates lie, lifeless, on the ground. Goggins is gently picking glass fragments out of Viviana’s white hair, while Kohsoom checks on a bewildered Tasha; Steinar carefully helps Thabisa see to her surprisingly calm baby; close by, Santiago and Sun-Hi are picking themselves up and brushing themselves down.
Everyone appears to be fine. In fact, their skin is literally radiating with the Light and any injuries are all but gone. I’m most relieved to see that Phoenix’s painful collection of cuts and bruises have either healed over or disappeared entirely.
Jude leans casually on her bo staff. ‘So … anyone care to explain what just happened?’
With an appreciative whistle, Tarek examines the obliterated altar. ‘We just let off one epic Light grenade!’ he says in an awestruck voice. ‘Although, to be honest, it was more like a Light bomb. At that intensity, the blast had every chance of killing us too.’
‘Well, that’s comforting to know,’ replies Jude drily. ‘Still, I’m glad I’m not an Incarnate.’ She taps Thug with her foot and gets no response. None of the other Incarnates is moving either. Damien lies beside his master, his dark glasses cracked, his body motionless.
‘It’s over!’ I sigh, dropping my katana and sinking with relief into Phoenix’s arms. ‘It’s really over this time, isn’t it?’
Phoenix gazes deep into my eyes, into my soul. ‘Yes, I believe it is,’ he says with the first truly carefree smile I’ve seen since I’ve known him. ‘Your life with mine, as always?’
A warmth radiates through my heart, and I know this feeling has nothing to do with the Light. ‘Always,’ I reply, sensing the barriers that have held him back before are no longer there.
As Phoenix leans in, I hear an insistent meow and glance down. Nefertiti, her sandy-coloured fur sparkling with powdered glass, rubs against my leg, demanding my attention. I look at Phoenix and roll my eyes. Great timing, Nefe! I think, but nonetheless I pick the loyal cat up and dust off her coat. ‘How did you ever survive?’ I ask her, stroking her fur. She purrs loudly in response.
‘I guess she has nine lives,’ chuckles Phoenix, giving Nefe’s ear a friendly scratch.
‘I think we all have nine lives – if not a lot more!’ says Tarek with a glance at the handful of healed and softly haloed survivors.
His joke breaks the tension and I laugh out loud. My happiness ripples round everyone, and soon we’re all laughing, even Goggins. The feeling is joyous after so many days and nights of running, fleeing and fighting. I can’t believe that barely a week ago I was celebrating Prisha’s birthday with Mei, talking about seeing the Rushes live and getting excited about my holiday in Barbados. To think that I had dismissed my true nature as a First Ascendant, explaining away my Glimmers as mere figments of my imagination!
In reality, I am more than I ever dreamed or imagined possible.
I have conquered Tanas. I have defeated the Darkness. I have saved the Light.
A wave of relief floods through me as I realize I’ve more than made up for putting Haven at risk in going to save my Protector. The magnitude of what I am and what I’ve done with the help of my fellow Ascendants and Protectors starts to sink in …
As does my awareness of the repercussions of my actions.
My elation fades as I look round at the litter of lifeless bodies amid the debris of the explosion. So much death and destruction. In his fallen, pitiful state, Damien once more appears like the teenage boy he once was. Raven-haired and pale, his face lean and youthful, he isn’t very different from some of the boys in my school.
‘What about the Hunters? And these other Incarnates?’ I ask Caleb hesitantly. ‘Are they all … dead?’
Caleb slides his slender sword back into his lion-headed cane. Kneeling down, he examines an Incarnate sprawled at his feet. The man’s eyes are blank and unseeing. ‘Such an intense burst of the Light will have obliterated the Darkness in their souls,’ he explains. ‘And with so little left of their true selves, I’m afraid it will have taken their lives along with it.’
I swallow hard, tasting the bitterness of guilt. ‘Will their souls come back?’ I ask.
‘It’s hard to say,’ replies Caleb, rising to his feet with the help of his cane. ‘But I’m hopeful their cleansed souls will reincarnate in future lives. And when they do, they’ll be freer, happier and more grateful for life than they’ve ever been before.’
This eases my conscience a little. Then my gaze falls upon Tanas’s body, her mane of black hair covering her face like a death mask. ‘And what about Tanas? Is she ever coming back?’
Caleb turns to me with an assured and deeply proud look on his wrinkled face. ‘Beyond doubt, Genna, you are the one foretold in the Soul Prophecy,’ he declares, his blue eyes gleaming like diamonds. ‘The one that lights the Darkness when no other can provide the spark! Just as the sun pushes back the night, so too has your Light sent the Darkness back from whence it came. Tanas’s twisted soul is gone forever.’
The Soul Seer raises his hands in tribute to the night sky and the heavens appear to burst with stars, as if every lost and living soul now burns pure and bright. My fellow First Ascendants and Protectors join in his celebratory ritual. Setting aside their weapons and holding their arms high, they softly chant like a heavenly choir.
As I gaze up in wonder, Nefe suddenly hisses and tenses in my arms. ‘What’s wrong?’ I say, trying to calm her. But she leaps from my grasp.
‘Praise the Light!’ sings Caleb with unbridled joy as everyone turns their eyes to the heavens. ‘For Genna is the one true sou–’
He chokes, his gleaming eyes widening in shock as he coughs up blood. The sharp point of a jade-green blade protrudes like a poisoned thorn through his chest. As Caleb slumps to the floor, Tanas rises up behind him, a scornful smile on her face.
‘So much for the Soul Prophecy!’ she snarls.
Acknowledgements
The Soul trilogy is proving to be the most challenging story arc that I’ve ever written. Each past-life Glimmer is a book in itself, requiring deep research and careful thought to ensure that the facts are accurate, the names are true to the time period, the locations are interesting and real, and any cultural references are respectful and appropriate. At the same time, I must endeavour to make each Glimmer exciting, relevant to the plot, logical within the timeline so there’s no overlap, and a complete story in itself with a beginning, middle and end. This complex interweaving of history and present day means the Soul trilogy has become an immense plot puzzle set across time. I just hope I can solve it with the next book: The Soul Survivor!
Accompanying me on this epic journey are my editor Emma Jones, my excellent copy-editor Sarah Hall and my ever-constant managing editor Wendy Shakespeare. I thank you all for being supreme ‘Word Hunters’!
Thank you also to my ‘Protector’, Charlie Viney. I truly value your advice, support and belief in me. I do hope you’ll be my agent in the next life too!
I also wish to express my gratitude to all my friends for their support, love and wise counsel – life is best when shared with good friends. Among those I’m blessed to know are Hayley, one of my guardian angels; Karen and Rob (yes, you get two mentions in this book to make up for last time!); my dear friend and healer Mary; Mark, Kate, Thomas, Jasper and of course my goddaughter Lulu; my walking buddies Charlie, Matt and Geoff; Brian, my guru, running partner and fight-night organizer; and the fine gentlemen of the HGC – Dan, Dax, David, Dean, Larry, Siggy, Riz and Andy. Long live the HGC!
Para Marcela, tu amor es la Luz en mi corazón. Gracias por proteger y cuidar la llama que arde en ambos.
To my mum and dad, this has been another tough year thanks to the pandemic. While we couldn’t be with one another much, you’re always by my side in my heart and mind.
To my two boys, Zach and Leo: it is your strength, laughter and joy that gives me strength, laughter and joy. You mean the world to me, and I cherish every second I spend in your company. Each moment is a Glimmer to remember!
Finally, a heartfelt thanks to all my fans, librarians and avid readers. While I write the books, you breathe life into them every time you read my stories. Keep the Light burning …
See you all in another life!
Chris
Any fans can keep in touch with me and the progress of the Soul Prophecy series on Twitter @YoungSamurai or via the website at www.thesoulprophecy.co.uk
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First published 2022
Text copyright © Chris Bradford, 2022
The moral right of the author and illustrator has been asserted
Cover art by Paul Young
Cover images © Shutterstock
ISBN: 978-0-241-32673-2
This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorized distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.
Chris Bradford, The Soul Prophecy
