Tag: Supernatural

Old Inflicted Flame

Viridiania was the younger sister of Queen Ordessa and a former lover of Vadiim. They had spent several centuries together before he left her. Her Celestial beauty was unmatched within the Emerald kingdom, but her unyielding apathy and hellish tantrums made her undesirable. Once she learned of his relationship with the human girl, she made haste to the court to witness the fiasco. She was consumed with jealousy and spite when she laid eyes on Keinah, because of her striking allure. Viridiania took the human form of a beautiful princess with long strawberry-red braided hair with freckles on her milky white face.
The Queen was not a particular fan of her sister because of her tantrums and honestly hoped that she would not even attend the trial. She sternly rebuked her sister. “Young Viridiania, I will allow you to speak, but I will not permit you to ramble on in unnecessary outbursts. You are only to stay on the topic at hand!”
Viridiania smirked devilishly as she approached the center of the room. Before she spoke, the Queen quickly ran up to her and place her hand over her younger sister’s forehead. The virtual reel of Viridiana’s relationship with Vadiim was revealed, but the Queen altered the sequences so that everyone appeared in human form to remain consistent with Keinah.
Viridiania and Vadiim’s first formal introduction was at the coronation of Queen Ordessa. Viridiania was shy and almost afraid to meet the General because of his highly revered reputation. Vadiim himself appeared ill at ease. He never enjoyed going to royal banquets, even though he often had to attend as an honored guest. Viridiania sheepishly walked up to him and offered him a small vial of wine for relaxation. The pair walked out to the palace calla lily garden and talked for a long time. They flirtatiously laughed, and when the royal orchestra played her favorite song, she enticed him to dance with her.
Viridiania was not ashamed of her reel of interaction with Vadiim. However, she was gravely wounded in pride; he was not provoked into displaying a passionately rash act of concern on her behalf. More than anything, she was attracted to his machismo. His indifference caused her to fume with a smoldering rage. As she looked in his direction, all of his attention was on Keinah. He desperately sought to make eye contact as he surveyed her reaction. Keinah intently contemplated the material as it played. Though she knew that most eyes in the room were on her, she could feel Vadiim’s intense gaze. She smiled sincerely to ensure that she was not uncomfortable with the revelation of his past relationship with his ex-lover.
The Reaper slammed his scythe on his podium in protest. “Come on, let’s hurry this along! I haven’t got all day,” he roared.
Queen Ordessa rolled her eyes and fast-forwarded the reel to what seemed to be a heated argument between the lovers.
Viridiania was seen having a tantrum in her manor on the Emerald palace grounds. She screamed, wept, and threw potted flowers all over their bedroom in a fit of rage. “I just don’t understand why you can’t stay,” she raged at Vadiim as he patiently packed his gear.
“My Princess, we have gone ’round in countless circles about this very matter. I am the General of the Emerald clan Legionnaires. I cannot simply skip out on a mission just because of your beckoning call,” Vadiim replied in a calm, but an irritated voice.
“You can’t or you won’t? Which is it?” she screamed in his ear and attempted to remove some articles out of his duffle bag.
Vadiim remained silent and continued to repack his belongings.
Viridiania ran across the room and threw more items at him. “How is it you always find yourself in charge of stupid and ceaseless expeditions during all the Queen’s festivals?” she demanded.
He blocked all of her attempts to hit him with objects and said, “Princess, surely by now you understand that when our emissaries trace reports of threatening activity, it is my job to snuff out the evidence.”
 “That would not be the case if only you had accepted at least 1 of my 728 proposals by now and became a nobleman,” she hissed with venom in her voice.
Vadiim embraced her and said, “For me, that would never suffice. It would be like having me ask you to renounce your position to the throne. We are who we are. I would never ask you to change. Why can you not understand this?”
She broke away from his embrace and grabbed an emerald dagger to attack him. He snatched her by the throat and held her up to the ceiling. She let out a yelp and dropped the weapon. He gently but angrily released her, and she sank to the floor. With that, Vadiim collected his duffle bag and charged out of the room. That was the end of their relationship.
The Queen addressed the courtroom. “Now we have seen for ourselves the nature of their dealings. My young sister, Princess Viridiania, the floor is yours.”
Viridiania was not only angry with Vadiim and Keinah but the Queen for putting her in an unpleasant viewpoint to the audience. Both the Queen and Vadiim knew that to most in the room, this was old news. Nevertheless, Viridiania stood before the court to testify against Keinah.
She indignantly began, “Humans are a wasteful bore. They either fall ill from disease or long-term sicknesses or shrivel up like leaves from old age and perish. Of course, that is only if they are not plagued by calamity or murdered by their own kinsmen. They are continuously affected by outside circumstances, seasons, economic standing, and their temperament. This notion of love is far too vain to even consider. Through the ages, we have been spectators of the same pitiful scenarios as they endlessly repeat.”
Keinah became infused with wrath. She pounded a fist on her podium and countered with, “How are the celestials any better? You boast of your immortality, but to what end? Similarly, like humans, you feel rage, pain, and pleasure. These emotions drive you through your existence. Those situations are indeed recycled within the span of human life, but for celestials, there is no pause. In fact, if you are rejected, you carry that burden of unhappiness for eternity. I pity you. That must be a weighty reality.”
Viridiania caved under the piercing gaze of the courtroom. She knew that since she did not have good standing with her kinsmen, nothing would make Keinah look bad to them. The human girl had single-handedly won over the entire Emerald clan. A fiery ball of rage hit the pit of her stomach, which prompted an attempt to assault Keinah. “How dare you insult our kind, you lowly human!” The Triad guards quickly stepped in and held her back as she continued to pursue Keinah. “Your tiny, feeble brain could never comprehend our way of life. That is why there are laws to protect us from the likes of your kind,” she shouted.
Queen Ordessa chastised her sister. “You must be removed at once! I will not have you lay fault or blame solely upon this girl! There are others to accept responsibility as well.” The guards dragged Viridiania by her arms as the courtroom jeered.
 

The Far Side of Hereafter, Ch. 10

Trial Commencement

On the appointed day of the trial, the courthouse was filled to maximum capacity. All the citizens of the Emerald kingdom, from the royal family, nobles, high-ranking officials, to the low-bred commoners, waited outside in the courtyard. Each was mandated by the Queen to transform into a suitable human form. This measure was taken to give the human in question the opportunity to feel like she could somewhat be kept abreast of the ongoing trial.
Keinah was escorted by four Celestial Triad guards from the holding cell, through the courtyard, and inside the courtroom. They marched across smooth cobblestone that was embedded with emeralds and surrounded by a lush botanical garden. The onlookers took note as they were seated that the human girl’s fragrance of the sweetest honey and lavender heavily surpassed all the flowers in the garden. She wore a golden silk robe that covered her from head to foot.
 The courtroom itself was a fantastic large room that dazzled with emerald gems and, from floor to ceiling, was coated in marble. Once inside, Keinah was instructed to remove her headdress at her podium. Her halo was a remarkable ring of crimson fire, and she had a spectacular radiant glow. The spectators were stunned by the light and her potent fragrance that filled the entire room. Her soul had finally been released from her body, never to return to the realm of the living. Therefor her essence was in full bloom.
The Reaper entered the room on his own accord. The participants jeered and scowled at his presence. Even though The Reaper had high standing and was revered among all the entities in the universe, but because he took issue with the great General of the Emerald clan, he was not welcomed in their realm. He scoffed at their mocking and stood indignantly at his podium.
Vadiim entered the room with his counselors, Lord Orcel, who appeared as a stout, bald man with a long brown beard, and Lord Bilal. He was advised not to so much as glance in Keinah’s direction. It was a task that even his counselors could not help in doing themselves. Like all the others, they were in awe of her presence. Vadiim grinned to himself, knowing full well that everyone could witness how magnificent she was and that he was not in an isolated delusion about it.
A guardsman walked to the front of the room and struck his staff on the pavement twice before announcing, “Make way, make way! The Queen holds court this day!” All the participants stood up as the Queen entered and stood at her podium.
“Noble citizens of the Emerald Kingdom, I hope this day finds you in good health,” she said.
They all responded collectively, “And you as well, my Queen!”
She addressed the court as everyone took their seats. “This day is unlike any other, in that an unusual occurrence has taken place. We have encountered all kinds of species in countless realms of the living through our endless journey in time. Our interactions with mankind have always led to disappointments and sorrows. Their connections are often dysfunctional and brief, to say the very least. Our elders established laws abolishing relationships with humans for that very reason. On this day, our kinsman is being held in contempt for violating those laws. We hold court to determine the outcome of our kinsman and the human girl he has consorted with. Counselor Orcel, please plead your case on his behalf.”
Lord Orcel approached the center of the room and began his speech. “We beseech you to pardon our kinsman, a great warrior and General of the Emerald clan’s Legionnaires. General Vadiiamonial has been at the helm of many wars waged against our kind for more than a dozen centuries. He valiantly served his post at the Emerald capital until he was suddenly bewitched. Tell me all under the sound of my voice; who can resist the captivation of this nymph? We are all but drowning in the depths of her aroma, even as I speak. I dare say that we have all unwittingly become intoxicated under her spell. I surmise she cast a spell and seduced him all at once. He had no chance of acting in his right mind, just as we barely have the wit ourselves!”
The courtroom clamored and gasped in the factual revelation that they each had become drunkenly intoxicated by Keinah’s radiance and fragrance.
The Queen approached Keinah. “It is fitting that we examine the human girl’s experiences to help give insight into her case.” She touched Keinah’s forehead, so a virtual film of her life span played for the entire court to see. They came upon an image of a night that Keinah and Vadiim swung on a makeshift swing he had built for her when she was a child. She faced him as she straddled his lap, and they rocked back and forth over the sea. He leaned over to kiss her neck and whispered in her ear, something that made her giggle.
Gazing into her eyes, he whispered, “I plan to stay by your side for eternity. There is no place that I care to be if you are not there.” He placed an emerald stone in her hand, which, unknowingly to her, was a customary tradition among the Celestials to break a piece of themselves off and offer it to their eternal mate.
Keinah marveled at his luxurious gift, “I cannot accept this! It is finer than anything that I own,” she exclaimed.
Vadiim kissed her reassuringly and then said, “You are finer than anything I own. You are mine, and I am yours—forever.”
She indicated she wanted him to love her, so he lustfully savored a mouthful as he suckled her breast. Again, they passionately intertwined while rocking on the swing.
The image made Keinah falter at her podium with mortification. Vadiim was crushed by her anguish, to where he entered a feverish rage and picked up the giant marble podium in front of him and threw it across the room. It crashed so hard against the wall that it demolished half the wall and hit a hundred onlookers in the courtyard. The court hollered in disbelief, amazement, and awe at his awesome display of might. The crowd cheered and whistled with excitement to praise their great General.
The Reaper rolled his eyes in disdain and demanded that the Queen bring the court back to order.
Lord Orcel rebuked Vadiim, “You will not speak! If you value the state of your freedom and do not wish to be turned to stone, allow us to testify on your behalf with no more ridiculous disruptions!”
Lord Bilal calmed the attendants, then addressed Queen Ordessa. “My Queen, you seemed aroused by this scandalous affair. Am I incorrect?”
“No, you are not, and indeed I am.” She smirked. “The extraordinary quality of our kinsman’s skills and techniques as a passionate lover appears to have more than exceeded the age-old rumors. He is so tender and yet attentive all the while,” she marveled.
The courtroom was shocked by the Queen’s open confession, but the female attendants swooned in agreement.
The Queen continued, “You called it a scandalous affair, but I beg to differ. Just as you have rightly described the General as a mighty warrior who has conquered scores of foes in his time, do you mean to say that he became so weak that he could not ward off the charms of a human girl?’
Lord Bilal quickly responded, “Perhaps the awareness of his immortality caused him to believe that she was no threat.”
“Perhaps,” The Queen stated.
Lord Bilal continued, “This scandalous affair began as a stir in curiosity but should not end in his doom. The General is needed to ensure that our kin will continue to thrive in our existence and remain undefeated among other clans and species.”
The Queen interjected, “I agree he should not be relieved from his post over this incident. Ah, but one cannot say that the affair was, in fact, a scandal. The distinction between a taboo is the appearance of genuine affection. The General has never made qualms about staying true to his dedication to our kingdom and his clan. It is unlikely that he would carelessly toss his allegiance to the side for a meaningless affair.”  
Lord Orcel brashly interrupted, “My Queen, do you mean to say that because they shared a mutual affection that all is well? I am for certain our elders who experienced the same type of luxury with humans but found the relationship to be unsustainable would disagree.”
Queen Ordessa laughed heartily, and the court attendants laughed along, without truly understanding her amusement. She chimed back in. “Lord Orcel, I only imply that it is imaginable that the General would be drawn to this human girl, and she likewise to him. There is obviously an impenetrable bond between the two, known as love. I hardly call that reason to list their interaction as a scandalous affair.”
The court attendants murmured amongst themselves, until a regal female voice from a row several seats back rose, “I disagree!”

The Far Side of Hereafter, Ch. 9


 
 
 
 
 

Apprehended Hearts

The Celestial Triad guards comprised the finest and strongest members of three of the Celestial clans (since the entire Ruby clan had become defunct). The Captain of the guard ordered several of his kinsmen to detain the subjects in question.
The Captain decreed, “General Vadiiamonial, you are under arrest for trespassing and breaking other spiritual laws!”
The other guards were dumbfounded by Keinah’s powerful aroma, and she easily slipped away from their grasp. She ran to Vadiim and buried her face in his chest as she wept.
He buried his face into her hair to kiss the top of her head and whispered sweetly, “Do not fear, my love. No harm will come to you where we are going. We just need to sort out all our affairs.”
She looked him in the eyes and kissed him passionately on the lips before the other guards were ordered to snatch her away.
A very disgruntled Reaper could be heard tussling and arguing with the guards, who cuffed him. “What in damnation do you think you’re doing? I cannot be arrested; I have done nothing wrong,” he howled.
“You all must come to the Emerald capital to sort this out,” The Captain of the guard said as he uncorked a potion that caused Keinah and The Reaper to pass out. Within an instant, all the entities vanished from the room.
 
It was Lord Bilal who had reported Vadiim’s misdeeds to the Emerald Queen, Ordessa. He felt justified in sending the General on that long expedition because the result brought defeat to the Sapphire bandits who indeed intended to attack their beloved kingdom. Lord Bilal became wary when he realized Vadiim could not be held under control. He felt that this put the entire Emerald kingdom at a disadvantage because their great General could not be counted on in times of emergencies as he had always been before.
Queen Ordessa was the 12,444th successor to the Emerald throne, and the coronation of her sovereign reign was 50 million years ago in human terms. She had spent her entire life span mostly inside the palace grounds. She was only called outside the Emerald castle to serve as a judge in the Emerald capital courthouse. The Queen was a connoisseur of literature. Through her exposure to other species was limited, she felt connected to them all by reading as much about other life forms as possible. She had never met an actual human and only could rely on her books and reports from her kinsmen. Queen Ordessa was thoroughly intrigued by the human girl who had captured the heart of their well-revered General. His loyalty to the Emerald Empire had been steadfast before then. 
The Queen paid Keinah a visit inside the holding cell, where she awaited trial. She transformed herself into a statuesque beauty with long blonde hair and creamy ivory skin. When the guards announced the Queen before opening the cell door, Keinah humbly knelt at her feet.
Queen Ordessa was almost breathless at Keinah’s arousing fragrance and striking beauty. “Arise, my child,” she commanded.
Keinah stood before the Queen with a disheartened demeanor. The heaviness of her spirit moved the Queen. It was obvious that the girl was distraught and had been crying for a while.
The Queen cautiously took her hand and said in a kind voice, “I know all of this must be unsettling to you, my child. Take courage; this is all new to my kinsmen and me as well.”
Keinah’s breathing trembled. “What is going to happen next?” she asked.
The Queen answered with care, “A trial will be held to sort out this entire matter. We will take every measure to understand it all.”
Keinah sighed heavily as if to take in the Queen’s words. “I do not think I can do this,” she said as a single tear fell and clung to her thick eyelash.
Queen Ordessa brushed the tear away. “My dear child, everything that you are feeling right now is all the more reason to go through with it,” she replied.
After an hour, Queen Ordessa made her way to her chariot to return to the Emerald castle. She affectionately pondered her encounter with Keinah. This human girl was unlike any she had read about, nor was ever mentioned by her kinsmen. Her delicious fragrance made it impossible not to take pleasure in her presence. Her sorrow was so moving that the Queen could not shake the urge to stay in the holding cell to console her longer. According to Celestial knowledge, part of the reason humans were considered weak was because of their inherent nature for codependency. Attachment causes fear or the fear of loss. Though the Celestials were in constant pursuit of objects that they desired, there was never any kind of sentiment that could bring an onset of fear behind it. From that moment, Queen Ordessa understood why the General treasured this human girl.

The Farside of Hereafter, Ch. 8


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Scuffle With Death

As they left the schoolhouse hand in hand, Vadiim did not follow behind. Instead, he drifted through the village, lost in his thoughts. He did not see that Keinah walked her friend back to his shop. The shopkeeper kept her longer than she intended, and after receiving a bag of expensive fabrics and spices, she went alone.
Over time, a high rate in crime-plagued the village. Vandals and robbers were always on the prowl at night. Keinah took a longer route to her home to stay off the main road. Unfortunately, she put herself in even more danger by taking a back alley. She was approached by a swarm of thugs who attacked her for her goods.
As Vadiim left the village, he saw a crowd of villagers frantically headed towards the alley’s direction. He paid no mind to it until he heard a woman scream Keinah’s name. He ascended over the crowd to see Keinah’s body beaten to a pulp. As her neighbors shrieked in horror, she lay half-naked in a pool of blood. The women wailed louder as the men carried her body off to the infirmary.


Vadiim remained in the infirmary room as he observed a doctor and three nurses clamor to save Keinah. They shouted over each other and brought in dozens of tools to aid her. Suddenly, Keinah gasped for air as she abruptly sat up on the cot that she had been placed on. She watched as the medical staff and other guests somberly left the room. She plunged herself off the cot and went over to the window. It was pitch black outside, and she could not see a thing. She was startled when she turned around to see Vadiim standing in front of her.
“I did not mean to frighten you, my dear.” He said in a calm voice.
“Vadiim, is that really you? Where have you been all this time?” she asked in a frenzy.
“My dear Keinah, I know that I have been gone a long while. It was unintended that I had to stay away. I came to see you as soon as I could.” He said with great remorse.
Keinah smiled and hugged him tightly. She buried her face in his chest, just as she had always done before. He breathed in her aroma, which was 10 times stronger than it had been in the past.
She looked up into his eyes and said with a quiver, “You hadn’t been at the ocean shore for a spell. I waited there for you all along. It made me quite sad, so I found a doctor who fixed me. I haven’t been back since.”
Vadiim pulled her closer to him and trembled. “It could not be helped. I will not leave your side again!” He declared.
Keinah looked at him with a puzzled glare and asked, “Are you going to stay here in the village with me?”
“Quite the contrary. I am taking you away with me.” He chuckled while cuffing her face with his hands.
“Why can’t we stay here, or are we going back to the beach?” She asked in confusion.
He directed her sight towards the cot and somberly stated, “My dear Keinah, your time has finally come. You cannot remain here any more, nor do I believe the beach will suffice.”
There she could see her dead body wrapped in bandages from head to toe. Keinah doubled over into his arms with shock as she remembered her final encounter with the thugs in the alley.
Keinah wept, “What does this mean; am I dead?”
Vadiim kneeled on the floor to embrace her. Suddenly, a fluorescent light encompassed the room. Draped in a long, thick burlap black robe that covered his entire face and holding a sharp silver scythe, The Reaper appeared before them and was stunned to see Vadiim holding the girl.
“Just what do you think you are doing here?” he asked in a fit of rage and confusion.
Vadiim did not respond, but continued to console Keinah.
The Reaper took great offense at being ignored, so he banged his large scythe on the floor and asked again. “What are you doing here?”
Vadiim took an indignant tone. “I have come for Keinah.”
The Reaper cackled, “Nonsense! You have no jurisdiction here!”
Keinah clinched Vadiim’s arm tighter as The Reaper reached his boney skeletal hand out to her. “Come with me, my child. We mustn’t be too long,” he said in a creepy voice that echoed throughout the room.
Keinah cried, “Vadiim, please don’t let him take me!”
Every aspect of the entire scenario infuriated Vadiim. He stood and briskly pulled her out of the Reaper’s grasp. “Can you not see the girl is frightened?” he huffed.
The Reaper’s outrage boiled over. “Damn you! Release her this instant—this is no business of yours!”
Keinah lodged herself between the two entities and said, “I beg you, Sir, please let me go back to my body. I don’t want to die!”
The Reaper grinned with twisted satisfaction to hear her plea.”That is not possible, child;Come with me now,” he replied.
Keinah knelt at his feet. There was no tremble in her voice this time. “Then please let me go back to the beach with Vadiim. Let him take me there.”
The Reaper contemplated her request, then looked at Vadiim. “That is not possible, either. That was merely a holding place, or what you humans call purgatory. It is time for you to cross all the way over to the other side,” he hissed.
This revelation caused Keinah’s grief to peak, and she cried out even more. “Please, I’ll do whatever you want. I am not ready to die yet.”
 Her tearful plea moved Vadiim and reminded him of the time she cried when she was a young child. He could never bear to see her in such agony. His anguish turned to wrath as he lunged toward The Reaper to strike him. He repeated several blows, and the entities wrestled about the room before the sound of trumpets could be heard in the distance. Vadiim knew he had run out of time, and the Celestial Triad guards had come for him. Scores of emerald clouds ascended into the room and took on human forms.

The Farside of Hereafter, Ch. 7


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Absence, Abandonment, and Lost Love

In the time that Vadiim spent away on his mission, Keinah visited the isolated beach only to find herself alone. She searched the seemingly endless aisle for her lover in vain. Her feelings of abandonment and despair drove her to contact a doctor who prescribed medicine that kept her seizures under control. She resumed her roles as a nursemaid and housekeeper to make money. Keinah’s life thrived like never. She was encouraged by a wealthy employer to attend school with his daughter so she could learn how to read. She even found companionship with the shopkeeper’s nephew, who suffered from hay fever as an infant and had a weak heart.

Vadiim was dedicated to defending the Emerald kingdom and completing his assignment, though he longed to see Keinah. He resented Lord Bilal for tricking him, knowing that her condition had been unstable before he left. He feared she would perish and go with The Reaper without him having the chance to reach her. The thought of eternal separation nearly caved him in. Fortune turned when the Emerald emissaries located the Sapphire bandits, and they waged a long, gruesome battle to disarm them.

Vadiim forwent reporting at the Emerald capital but made haste for Keinah’s beach. To his dismay, it looked desolate, as if no one had been there in ages. He relentlessly combed the beach for any traces of her. At one point, he stumbled across a small sand mound. When he uncovered the sand, it revealed Keinah’s book of fables rolled inside her sleep mat. Vadiim cradled the cherished articles to his chest and shouted in grief so loud that his voice echoed throughout the beach. All kinds of crushing thoughts raced through his mind. He wondered if she was indeed dead and that he was too late, after all.

Vadiim began going mad, trying to decipher what had happened to Keinah. He broke another decree and visit the realm of living humans to solve the mystery. He shape-shifted into a small cloud, making himself hardly perceptible to the human eye. In no time at all, he reached the province. He remembered every aspect of Keinah’s village as she had described it to him. His first stop was the hut that she used to live in. It had long been torn down, but there was a makeshift gravestone in what used to be the backyard. The notches on the stone showed the deceased had been buried for two years.

This gave Vadiim quite the terror. His worst fear had been confirmed. Just then, he overheard a group of children approaching while laughing and humming a familiar tune. His interest piqued when he realized it was Keinah’s song. He followed them towards a raggedy building that looked like it was their schoolhouse. Inside, he saw a very good and grown-up Keinah writing on the chalkboard. The children entered the room and greeted her warmly. Vadiim marveled at how lively and well she appeared. He knew right away that it must have been her grandmother’s grave back at their old hut.

The Far Side of Hereafter, Ch. 6

Crime of Passion

“You have brought shame and dishonor to our clan! Tell me, comrade, how does one go from a state of taking pity on a deadly creature to thoroughly ravaging her body at your discretion?!” Lord Bilal raged.

“If it is the will that is at stake, then mine could not be bent away from hers. She was a helpless flower planted in a garden of destitution. I only meant for her to flourish elsewhere. My love came to manifest over time as I saw her demise was indubitable in the living world. I did not wish to see her suffer!” Vadiim proclaimed.

Lord Bilal sat at his marble desk and put his hands over his face and said, “You are not her overseer! You became over-indulgent and allowed her plight to guide you into a doomed fairytale. There is no romance in death. For you to meddle as if to be a savior is ludicrous. The fact is, your paths might not even cross after she takes her final breath. Take stock of the entirety in this situation; you lie in wait for her to expire from her living existence like a ghoulish stalker. You are not The Reaper. Therefore, you cannot claim possession of her soul once it has been released. You have violated many spiritual taboos. The verity that you love her is of no consequence.”

“I will take the brunt of the fallout of my actions! All I ask is that you allow me the opportunity to set this right.” Vadiim indignantly stated.

“You are mighty bold, expecting me to allow you anything. The only way to make this right is to end your tawdry affair with the human girl this instant. Is that what you intend to do?” Lord Bilal chuckled.

“It is not. If I leave her now, she will only suffer more at the cruel hands of her human counterparts. Her life has always remained between there and the spiritual realm. She can successfully pass over to the other side. Even if she is not to be with me as my lover, it would be far better for her to dwell in peace.” Vadiim retorted.

Lord Bilal stood to his feet. “Are you then going to contend with The Reaper to take her life away?” He asked.

Vadiim paused before speaking. “No, I would never make such a heinous mistake. I will wait as I always have. The time is coming for her to choose her own. Whatever has kept her bound to that feeble body must be loosening its grip. She has visited me more frequently in the past few days than ever in the decade since we met.”

Lord Bilal placed his hands on Vadiim’s shoulders. “Tell me this; if you wallow with her in true blissful love, why have you never revealed your real self?”

Vadiim also placed his hands around Lord Bilal’s shoulders. “Keinah has lived a condemned existence. She was never afforded the pleasures of stability, happiness, or love. Her world is consumed with despair, cruelty, and lack. In all of that, her heart has never been hardened. She freely accepted my offer of companionship without question. Not one time has she ever asked anything of me other than to see me again. It is almost as if it has never occurred to her to ask for a better life. As you said, there is no romance in death. I do not want to burden her knowing that our encounters are only because of her dances with death.”

Lord Bilal looked in amazement, “In all this time, has the Reaper been nearby to reproach you?”

“Never once have I sensed any other entity when we are together, nor has she,” Vadiim replied.

“I still cannot understand how you could dare to touch her, even if you say you love her.” Lord Bilal snapped at him while releasing their embrace.

“She has always been beautiful to me; her soul is so pure. That rag doll of a child became an exotic young woman. She freely gave herself to me, and I could not deny my desire for her. Our lovemaking is quite exquisite. Nothing can compare to my feelings for her.” Vadiim softly revealed.

Lord Bilal huffed, “Nothing you say; with all the scores of species you have known, this lowly human girl is the one you want to take the sword for?” 

Vadiim reminiscently spoke, “From the beginning, I was overwhelmed by her virtuous soul. I watched her from afar until the moment she crossed the first threshold of life and death. It seemed like a good time to take her with me then, but alas, I could not. I knew she would be back sooner than later. Her condition continued to deteriorate with each encounter. She was the first to declare her love for me. I had never imagined such an interaction. I was drawn in by her promise of love until before long, I was enthralled to the point of no return. Tell me, old friend; with all the species that you have known, have you ever realized such a thing as love itself?”

Lord Bilal thoughtfully replied, “I cannot say that I have. I have heard the word thrown around on occasions by the humans, of course. It never seemed to resonate with my stream of consciousness. To love this or that; it just causes a lot of commotion.”

Vadiim chuckled, “That, my friend, can only be because you have never loved or been loved. Keinah is that opportunity for me, as I am for her. That bond that ties us together is miraculous.”

Lord Bilal took a more serious tone. “What will you do if The Reaper decides you must part ways?”

“I cannot know for sure that will happen. If it does, I will have to return to my original state and love her from afar. It pains me to think such things, but grieves me even more than her suffering has not yet end.” Vadiim painstakingly replied.

Lord Bilal sighed with exhaustion, “Entangling yourself with humans only seems to bring calamity and despair. Ah, but what of it? Ultimately, you may find pleasure in your eternal existence.”

“Does this mean you will help me?” Vadiim asked with excitement.

“I must be going soft. In any matter, you have intrigued me with your delight at this human girl. I am not one to stand in the way of good success. I will not turn you into the Celestial Triad guards. However, you must reveal your identity to your lover so that she can plead her case to The Reaper if she deems to do so. That way, it will be settled whether she will choose life or death, love or not.” Lord Bilal asserted.

“Then let it be so. Thank you for this gift.” Vadiim said with gratitude.

Lord Bilal shook Vadiim’s hand with a smirk and said, “Do not thank me now. We will see if fortune and mercy are in your favor.”

Lord Bilal had drawn his conclusion that Vadiim had no intention of revealing his true identity to Keinah, nor would he sever their ties. He kept them apart by tricking Vadiim into taking an assignment that sent him far away into the vast wastelands of a realm outside Imuiir. Reportedly, there was a host of rebel bandits from the Sapphire clan planning to attack their city. Vadiim was stuck in the trenches of this mission for approximately three years in human terms.

The Far Side of Hereafter, Ch. 5

The Emerald Kingdom

Vadiim and his kinsmen were known as Celestial beings. Their origin remains unknown, but there were four clans (Diamond, Ruby, Emerald, and Sapphire). These clans existed within both the spiritual realms and among other species for eons. Their immortality allowed them to survey and analyze all aspects of life. Gifted with shape-shifting abilities, they could emulate any other species of choice, even if it was down to every single physical behavior.

These beings sought all aspects of pleasure as a coping mechanism for eternal life. Romantic intimacy was not an unfamiliar trait. Most clan members pursued an eternal mate or mates to fulfill their desire to connect with another. It was because they considered humankind to be fretful, delicate, and weakest among all species that laws prohibiting relations were created. This was a crime punishable by a crystallization sword that could turn them into stone.

Vadiim served as the General of the Emerald clan legionnaires and was considered a mighty warrior. His high rank and talents made him the most sought after among his clan for those seeking a mate. Though he had scores of lovers, he spurned them all by choosing not to commit himself to any of them. Instead, he dedicated himself to protecting and preserving his countrymen in the Emerald Kingdom.

 The Celestials had apathetic views on most things, but were always drawn to the possibility of discovering new life prospects. The essence of Keinah’s pure soul appealed to Vadiim’s interest, beyond the surface of amusement. He knew he would need to convince Lord Bilal, who was the newly appointed High Chief of the clan, that no harm had been done. The state of Vadiim’s eternal existence would be jeopardized otherwise.

The Emerald kingdom was a realm far across the sea from Keinah’s beach. The capital, Imuiir, was a magnificently picturesque city with buildings, infrastructures, and a majestic castle. Lord Bilal maneuvered his way into High Chief’s position by outsmarting the former chief and bribing the officials.  The two were comrades in arms with a genuine affection towards each other. Lord Bilal had intended to appoint Vadiim as his right hand, but he became enraged to learn that his long-time friend had abandoned his post.

The Far Side of Hereafter, Ch. 4

In the Still of the Night

By this time, Vadiim had fallen into a mad obsession with her. There was no limit to the lengths of effort he took to keep the ruse of being a young fisher going. A simple transformation of his appearance from a boy into a robust man with an athletic physique completed the task. He had broken many divine laws from his country land just to be with her, and knew that upon their first encounter, by partaking of the meal she prepared, he became bound to her. Their relationship had matured to where they often made love on the old sleep mat she brought with her.

Their time spent together on the black sanded beach was almost endless. The exception, of course, was always when Keinah’s tortured body retrieved her soul back to the living human realm. One night after a long swim, the lovers nestled together under a large palm tree. A shooting star blazed across the dark skyline like a firecracker. The pair indulged in the light, salty aroma, which drifted everywhere. Vadiim calmly stroked Keinah’s hair as she rested her head on his bare chest. “Do you ever desire to sleep in a bed?” he asked.Keinah broke from humming her tune and slightly perched her head up. “Why do you ask?” she replied.Vadiim gently cuffed the back of her head to pull her back to his chest. “No reason. I just wondered why you insist on bringing your old sleeping mat to rest on,” he said.

Keinah sat straight up with her arms folded in protest. “Does my old sleeping mat offend you?”

He sat up attentively once he sensed her displeasure at his dig.
 “I am not offended at all. I just wondered if you desired to have nicer things,” he said and quickly tried to diffuse the flame he caused with a tug at her hand.

Keinah refused to entertain his playful gesture. Instead, she turned her back to look out at the ocean.
“What is the point of desiring nicer things when there is no personal attachment to them? You mock my old sleeping mat; you didn’t know that my dead mother made it a long time ago. This item miraculously has been passed down by all my older siblings. It is the only thing I have left from her; and it is the only thing that is truly mine,” she said with a tearful strain.  

Vadiim pulled her closer to him and whispered in her ear. “My dear, I meant no harm. I did not intend to mock your precious sole earthly possession. I merely meant to imply that you deserve to have more.”

Her irate glare at him clarified he had not smoothed the slip of tongue. “More than what?” She demanded. “If this is all the happiness that I am allotted, who am I to begrudge it?”

He cuffed her face with his hands and smirked indignantly. “You cannot possibly be serious.”

She nudged his hands away and asked, “Can’t I?” Suddenly, she stabled the tremble in her voice. “I know there is supposed to be more to life. More money, more food, more everything. I see people all around me who crave that or even have that. Most of them are miserable. They lie, cheat, and steal from one another. It’s never enough. Which is precisely why I feel like whatever is given to me is my just due. At the very least, I have your devotion. You have stayed with me for ten whole years, and never once looked down on me. I love you for that. I feel rich in being with you. The love from the storybook can’t touch what we have,” she said.
Vadiim sat quietly in awe of her. As always, Keinah was sincere. The nature of her pure essence intrigued him even more. He knew she truly loved him with all her heart. Their expressions of affection towards each other over the years grew into an unchangeable pattern, which always gave him an unusually warm sensation that he was not accustomed to. He conceded and cradled her in his arms as she resumed her tune. He heard this same distinctive melody over the entire span of observing her. Earlier on, she mentioned she believed her mother sang it to her as an infant. Keinah’s song was soothing to him, for he knew she only sang it when her heart was content.

From the far side of the shore, waves of Grandmother’s calls out to her echoed loudly. The couple buckled under the weight of their anguish. Their time to be together had once again concluded. Like always, he resisted the urge to ask her to stay with him. It was not her time to die, after all. She passionately kissed him goodbye and went on her way. He remained listless as he watched her vanish in the mists.

Suddenly, a fanfare of trumpets rang in the distance. Vadiim looked above his head to see a cluster of Emerald clouds forming. He instantly bowed onto one knee and said, “Lord Bilal, High Chief of the Emerald Clan; to what do I owe this unexpected call?”

A thunderous voice roared back, “Vadiiamonial; General of the Emerald Clan Legionnaires, you have rashly forsaken your post. Return to the capital at once!” 

With that, Vadiim transformed into his Emerald celestial form, and the clouds departed from the beach.

The Far Side of Hereafter, Ch. 3

Sweet Slumber

Upon their second encounter, the Presence was inaccurate in his supposition that their reunion would be swift. In fact, after that brush with death, Keinah’s grandmother reached out to anyone she could find in the province. An older sister took heed and sent money for medicine to heal her.  Keinah became a well-child and entered the domestic duties of helping her grandmother clean houses.

One evening, Keinah attempted to wash windows in a rich man’s house with a high vaulted ceiling. She did not make sure the balance beam was stable before walking across. Her weight caused the structure to collapse, and she hit her forehead on a large stone once she crashed to the floor.

In the meantime, the Presence waited patiently for Keinah’s return to the ocean shore. It was of no consequence that nearly a year and a half had passed. Suddenly, the evening breeze brought in a familiar, vividly sweet honey-dew fragrance. The Presence immediately recognized that Keinah had finally returned. It was a startling revelation to see that she was no longer the frail tot in a dingy blue dress. She was lanky and wore proper undergarments for a girl her age. She no longer had matted braids, but a few loose plaits on top of a crown of frazzled, flowing long curls.

Impulsively, the Presence almost revealed himself to her without taking human form. She turned to see where the noise came from. He hid behind a tree, then consciously transformed his appearance to imitate her physical development. Once he felt satisfied with the improvements, he eased from behind the tree and quick-stepped after her.

“Perhaps she has passed away by now.” He thought to himself.

Keinah skipped over to the water.

“I’ve never seen the water at night. The stars shimmer like a thousand diamonds.” She marveled.

He stood beside her and grabbed her hand again. “Do you like gems? Emeralds are by far superior if the dazzle effect arouses you,” he boasted.

She tilted her head with squinted eyes in confusion. “You are not from around here, are you?” She asked.
 “No. I am from far away, on the other side of the se, “he chuckled with delight. She tightened her grip on his hand and pressed for more answers. “What is it like way over there?”

He pulled her into the warm water until they were waist-deep and replied, “It is majestically beautiful and mostly peaceful. You would love it, I am certain.” 

He had become intoxicated by her scent. To his kind, it would be blasphemous to concede that he was now infatuated with this human girl child. He resolved to hide the truth from her for as long as he could. “I am a fisherman. I rake this side of the sea for fish,” The Presence answered and hoped his false tale would quench her curiosity.

Fear was not an emotion that he had ever confronted. From this encounter alone, he considered the risk of revealing his dispiriting secret. He did not have the courage to break her heart. “If she knew the whole truth, she might distrust me, and thus refuse to journey over the other side of the sea.,” he thought.  

Abruptly, a loud cry drifted from all over the beach. It was Keinah’s grandmother. The gut-wrenching wails rested heavily on their hearts. Keinah leaped to her feet, sorrowfully looked at Vadiim and said, “I must go now, Grandmother is calling for me.” As she turned to walk away, Vadiim stopped her for a last embrace. She tearfully said goodbye and pulled away from him. Not long after, she vanished into the air.

Unbeknownst to them, Keinah slept in the local infirmary, knocked unconscious for nearly five days. Soon she would learn that the blow from her fall brought an onset of epilepsy because of the brain trauma.

The Far Side of Hereafter, Ch. 2