Abel Hayes and the dark phoenix

'Altjira,' I said. 'Daramulum, Yhi. You mean them.'

And suddenly— The air stilled, the cloud froze and for brief moment the world darkened.

'Boy,' Lord Marmoo said. 'It is unwise to call upon the names of the most powerful beings in the universe it one's mere famcy.'

'But they only exist in legends,' I said. 'They are what people used to believe in when there were no explanations for why it rained. Or why the sky was blue. Saying the exists in real life..is imposioble.'

'And how impossible are you Abel Hayes!?' Mr D scoffed. 'Or have you forgotten, that you ripped apart the jaws of beast dozens of times your size with your bare hands!? –'

I flinched slightly at his intensity, it was like he had taken a personal offence to whay I had said.

'– This is what I hate about human. They think they are so evolved and important. –

They can never understand just how little of the universe they truly understand.'

I was definitely liking the stubby little less and less, but there was something eerie about the way he disdainfully said the word 'humans' like he wasn't one was a little creepy.

It was definitely enough for me to regard him with a few more cautious looks.

Perhaps there was a good reason why Vere was sweating buckets while handing him the bucket of spiced chicken, then standing in the corner, trying not to draw attention to himself.

'Abel,' Chiron said, 'It is foolish to choose to stay ignorant when your reality is unchanging. The truth is, and shall always be, that great beings, powerful immortals, safeguard our existence.

Can you imagine that? Never aging? Staying as you are, for an eternity?'

I was caught of gaurd by his question. What kind of question was that? Who wouldnt want to stay srtong and young forever?

But then I saw something in the sad, ancient look in his eyes. Eyes that had accumulated the grief of the thousand years?

'You mean, existing, whether life was good or not,' I said.

'Exactly,' Acacius agreed. 'All the celestials carry an ancient burden and a grief that comes with an eternal existence. It is by great resolve that they continue to sustain existence as we know it. How then, do you think they will take to being called myths by the very humans they protect?

What if you, Abel Hayes, sacrificed everything for the good of other without ever asking to be appreciated, only for those you helped to disregard your existence?'

His words caused to be silent for a while before I replied, 'I wouldn't like it very much. But how can beings like those you described exist and go unnoticed.'

'That just goes to show how stupid and ungrateful you mortals are,' Marmoo sighed. 'If only I'd done my job right and exterminated you all the first time.'

Vere said, 'Please, my lord. He's grieving right now, his shock is understandable.'

'Doesnt make it any less annoying,' He grumbled, playing a card. 'Bad enough I'm confined to this miserable place, this cesspool of hormonal delinquents, now I have to protect ungrateful kids who don't even believe!'

He got so upset that his body began to glow like he would explode.

My jaw dropped, but Acacius only gave him a stern look.

'Marmoo,' he warned, 'your cannot.'

Hearing the warning in Acacius's voice, Marmoo seemingly came back to his senses. He took a look at his glowing form.

'Oh dear.' He said as the mysterious glow faded.

'Marmoo here offended the other Celestials when he he tried to destroy humanity with plagues. As his penance, he protects the world that you see.'

'You tried to kill all humans,' I stammered, staring at this ugly dude who was practically inhaling buffulo wings.

'Several times,' He confessed in between bites. 'And my siblings must torture me for it. The first time, they revoked my premium access to Celestial TV!

The second time – well as im sure you'll agree, your kind are really annoying (sadly, I did agree. After all, I had met Sansa Ellis) – the second time, they sent me here to godfall peak.

Safe haven for the worst creatures to ever exist: Teenagers.

"Love them," they said. "There is more to humanity than meets the eye."

Ha! Absolute rubbish.'

Marmoo sounded like a brat being bullied by his siblings.

'Your siblings…' I said in wonder, 'They are the Celestials…'

'For f*ck sake, Acacius,' Marmoo said. 'I have seen gerbils catch on quicker than this boy. My siblings are the celestials you just spoke of.'

So then, this thing, that I could barely look at was actual an immortal being with godlike power?

What was his name again?

'Marmoo'

It was one I had heard before. I ran through all the lessons Mr Kamau had taught me back at school.

'You're the God of Evil and bringer of Plagues. Marmoo the hated,' I recited.

Marmoo rolled his eyes. 'Well its about time, I thought I'd have to spell it out for you.'

Vere, you left the Buffalo sauca again!?'

'Sorry Marmoo.'

'You're a Celestial.' I asked

'Yes, dummy.'

'A godlike being. You.'

I think he found my surprise insulting, I don't know, his face was too ugly for me to be able tell.

He made eye contact with me and I saw a green fire in his eyes, a hint of what lay underneath his mortal form. I saw hordes of locust devouring entire fieds. Those enduring his weath wailing in agony as they were devoured alive by insects.

Men woman and children fell to disease. Their bodies riddeled with boils, coughing and hemorrhaging blood as they fell dead. He had done all of that. And he could do it to me if he so desired

'Do you wish for me to show you, boy?' he asked menacingly.

'No my lord.' I followed Veres example.

He turned his gaze back to the holographic display. 'Ah, ireland won. How wonderful.'

'It seems so,' Acacius said. Looks like you have triumphed in your wager with Eorey.

'Hmph, he should have know to never challenged me.'

Marmoo smiled Like he was really happy with himself. He got up, and Vere got up too.

'Im going to rest,' He said. 'Vere, I believe I'll be awake in time for you to give your witness.

Then I and the council will discuss what to do with you after your recent shambolic perfomance.'

Vere shuddered. 'Yes my lord.'

Then Marmoo turned to me. 'You will stay on the tenth isle for now, Abel Hayes. And unless you wish to force me to incinerate you, you shall not give me any trouble.'

I thought he would vanish or teleport, but he merely walked with his stubby feet on out of the pavilion, Vere keeping close behind him.

'Is he in trouble?' I asked Acacius.

Acaius new I was talking about Vere and nodded sadly. 'At the very least, Old Marmoo has always had a soft spot for him. If anything, he shouldn't be jusdged too harshly…

Marmoo us only bitter about stuck here for several millenia.

He cannot weight for another billion years before he is allowed to leave, and return to his home on Titan.'

'Titan,' I said. 'The home of the gods, you're telling me that it really exists?

'Yes, it has existed as long as your earth has, only it occupies a different layer of reality just as this world does: The dreamtime.

The world of immortals and demons, separate from but tethered to the mortal worlds.

At several points, the two worlds intersect. The entrance at the moutain you used to come here is one such example. And only special beings like you can use them.'

'So you mean thag this place is not eaeth?'

'No, as a matter of fact, it isnt. Though it does share the same origin.'

'Origin?'

'Come now Abel, have you so quickly forgotten my class about the primal age?

Do you think that too is a mere myth?

The ancient world was one filled with Chaos. All powerful beings, both divine and demonic walked upon the earth unhindered.

Humanity, was unable to contend with them and so they were nearly driven extinct.

That was until the Celestials separated reality into two distinct realms: The mortal realm that humans could live peacefully in, and then the mystic world of immortals: The dreamtime.

But this new form of existence was far too strained, fragile. It required the Celestials to carefully maintain the delicate balance, or it would all come crashing down.'

'And they do this even till this day?' I asked.

'Yes they do. This your world knows as it shadows the realm of the divine. You see Abel, all you must do is look carefully. Look beyond the veils that abstruct the vision of mortals and you will see evidence of the divine even in the smallest aspects of life.

But at the same time, you will see proof of vile demons such as the creature that attacked you.

But it is for that reason thay you are here now!'