A Division of Souls - A Novel of the Mendaihu Universe Read online

  A DIVISION OF SOULS

  A novel of the Mendaihu Universe

  by Jon Chaisson

  Smashwords 2nd Edition

  Copyright 2015, 2016 Jon Chaisson

  Also in the Mendaihu Universe:

  The Persistence of Memories

  The Balance of Light

  Smashwords Edition

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you’re reading this ebook and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. If you enjoyed this book, feel free to leave a review!

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One -

  Chapter Two -

  Chapter Three -

  Chapter Four -

  Chapter Five -

  Chapter Six -

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Bridgetown Tourist Guide to Anjshé

  An Anjshé Glossary

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  CHAPTER ONE

  Nehalé

  dehndarra Né hra nyhndah.

  Nehalé Usarai let out a nervous breath and slowly opened his eyes, fighting back a severe bout of vertigo. The view from the maintenance walkway was certainly breathtaking, more so than he’d ever imagined…he’d seen the vidmat images and tourism apps countless times, but it was nothing compared to seeing the real thing with his own eyes, sensing it with his own soul. He stood on the one hundred forty-second level of the Mirades Tower in the center of the city, the tallest building in Bridgetown, letting his soul take in every ounce of vibrant energy it could. This city was his lifeline, his anchor to everything and everywhere. The northern half of the nighttime Bridgetown Sprawl laid itself out before him, a miles-wide tapestry of boulevards and buildings glowing with life, both physical and spiritual, and he felt each one. Thousands of illuminated thoroughfares laced through the city like golden chains, linking the islands of office towers and skyscrapers and suburbs spread out across the different districts of the city.

  Its citizens were out en masse on this humid Friday September night, hundreds of thousands of souls, awake and aware of the world around them. Masses of people cluttered the sidewalks of the main thoroughfares, keeping the vibe alive. The late summer weather brought out all the myriad walks of life that inhabited this world, a cultural and spiritual interchange of Earther and Meraladhza that made up everyday life on Earth. He could only wonder how it felt to know, to sense it all intimately, to know they were alive and breathing, what they were feeling, thinking. As a Mendaihu empath, he certainly had the ability to do so…but he had not dared to intrude upon their privacy. He could only speak to them, teach them. Awaken them so they could further learn on their own.

  It was almost a pity he wouldn’t be able to enjoy this energy flow for much longer.

  Edha Usarai, he heard within.

  Startled by the unexpected innerspeak of another empath nearby, he instinctively grabbed hold of a nearby guardrail to catch himself. He hadn’t expected anyone to sense him all the way up here. Who is this?

  I am Shirai, the voice said. A female voice, speaking calmly and evenly. Please, edha, take care on the walkway. There are high winds up here tonight, and it is dangerous to be out there without being tethered.

  Somfei, Shirai, he said warily. I know who you are. You must have scanned me wandering through the server banks earlier. I assume you know why I am out here, then.

  Yes, I do, she said, and lapsed into silence. He wondered whether or not he had just been caught, well before he even started. Shirai was a frighteningly strong presence in this area, bound and tethered to this Tower in her own way, and she could have had the Tower security on him in a matter of seconds. She had hesitated, however, and that had made all the difference. She had chosen to be impartial, as she had been programmed to be.

  He let go of the guardrail again and leaned up against the black polycrete surface of the skyscraper. You understand what it is that I must do, then, he said to her.

  Yes, edha, she responded. I understand.

  “Good,” he said aloud, knowing she had already ceased communication. “And so it begins.”

  His eyes darted across the Sprawl. I am doing this for all of you, he thought.

  He took a long, even breath. A second, slower. Centering his thoughts, his emotions, his spirit. Balancing himself between the soul within, and all the souls around him. Becoming one with the Sprawl. And using the strongest innerspeak he could muster, one that could reach vast distances into the minds and the hearts of those who were able to hear him, he began.

  To all who can hear me below, those who can hear me within, I pray you listen and prepare: This is a Proclamation of Cleansing and Awakening.

  He paused to gauge the reaction. Seconds later he felt a fast-growing number of spirits down there in that Sprawl, pricking up their ears and their soulhearing senses, listening closely. Many of them just below in the Main Street Sector, but even more who could hear him to the northeast, in the Waterfront. Enough for those to prepare if necessary. He smiled, and continued.

  I proclaim this Awakening in the Name of the One of All Sacred. I call forth the Spirits of the Mendaihu and the Shenaihu, the Holiest Spirits of Trisanda. I call them both to begin the Awakening.

  Let it begin!

  He started with a summoning. Nehalé closed his eyes and held out his hands, fingers wide, and took another very slow and deep breath. He let his spirit reach out to the thousands below him, as if silently asking for their assistance. They responded without question, sending their own gentle wave of life energy towards him, knowing full well what was to come, and welcoming it wholly. He could not suppress a smile as the energy flowed into his open hands, at first a trickle but growing exponentially until he could feel the weight in his fingertips. It felt like he’d dropped his hands in a swift river, the force consistent yet never destructive.

  …allei aiya, he said in gesture of thanks. I bless all of you.

  He stood there for a good few minutes, taking in all of the energy that he could safely handle and balancing it within himself. He’d summoned this kind of power in the past, having performed countless Awakening rituals throughout his calling, but none to this magnitude. He had faith in himself, knew he’d be able to keep this delicate balance of life and spirit within his own mortal skin, despite the pain and the damage he’d feel after the ritual was completed. He had to have this faith…for he had faith in the one he was to awaken this evening. This was all for her.

  I do this for you, he said. I do this for all of you.

  His fingertips ached and his palms began to burn from the constant energy intake. He was coming close to overflow at a frightening pace. He’d summoned much more than he’d exp
ected, but it still felt far from adequate. Could he make this ritual happen with such a paltry amount? He needed just enough to start it, enough to prime the cycle and get it flowing. That had been his mission all along, and the reason why he was up here at this insane height. He was going to use the natural flow of the spirit winds that used the Mirades Tower as its river. All he needed to do was prime the Rain of Light and set it flowing at a faster pace. The acceleration would do the rest for him. Confident in his thoughts and actions, he closed off the summoning by balling his hands into tight fists. Slowly he drew them back until they were directly in front of his heart.

  dehndarra Né hra nyhndah, he said. It is time to open your eyes.

  He nodded once to himself, and pushed opened hands out into the air. A shockingly intense wave of spiritual energy blasted out of them, the strongest he’d ever projected in his lifetime, enough to forcibly push him up against the Tower wall and nearly knock all the wind out of him. The pain in his palms was exquisite...it stung like all hells and he'd have scars afterwards.

  Almost immediately the Tower began to tremble in response. It began as a subtle vertical shifting, but seconds later it grew in intensity to the point where he could feel a thick vibration under his feet, the plates of polycrete scraping and windows rattling all around him. He crouched slightly and adjusted his aching arms for balance, riding the vibrations as they passed. He couldn’t let go, not just yet.

  Suddenly, and a hell of a lot quicker than he’d been expecting it, his inner sensing felt a surge of spiritual energy welling up within the Tower, pressing against its black polycrete skin, threatening to burst. The rattling intensified, an earthquake within the walls that could explode and cast Nehalé off with it. Skittering a little to his left and shifting the energy flow to one hand, he grabbed a railing with the other and gripped it tight. This was all expected, however. It wasn’t going to be a quiet ritual, not by a long shot. He shut his eyes and prayed to the One that his strength would hold out. Minutes ticked by as the spiritual energy swelled and fused and pushed, frantically searching for an escape. He couldn’t disconnect until the Rain of Light increased the flow on its own.

  Not yet… he whispered within. Not…yet…

  Down below, the thousands of spirits whose calm attention he’d attracted had begun backing away, taking and guiding others with them. They may not have known what was coming, but they understood the consequences of being too close to the Rain right now. They were protecting their own souls and those around them. They were embracing this Awakening, just as Nehalé had expected. They knew what was going to happen, any moment now. They knew the importance of this ritual, and anticipated its outcome. They would not deny themselves the pleasure and the rarity of sharing this with the spirit it was so obviously for. If she was to be a part of this, they would also be, without question.

  Finally, far away in a quiet northern sector of the city, Nehalé felt something shift. He felt it within, a movement of Light and spirit, a soul stirring for the first time like an unborn child kicking within the womb. He shivered, first with surprise and then with elation. It was time, now. He let go of the handhold and lifted his hands one last time, palms open, and slashed through the air with a violent downward thrust, severing his own connection with the Rain.

  Awaken! He cried out, to all who could hear. Awaken!

  And the Rain of Light responded, furious and unrestrained. The air tore around him, slamming back into place with such force it sent a shockwave out into the city. Nehalé screamed, a guttural, primal scream of pure emotion he could not hold back. His soul felt as if it was being forcibly torn out of his body. He had anchored it the only way he could, to the Tower and the Sprawl…and he did all he could to make sure it stayed anchored until this was over. Down below, he felt hints of confusion and fear; lights flickered, transformers blew; windows rattled and shattered. Cars and transports stopped quick, tires squealing on pavement. Pedestrians stopped midstride and nearly fell. Then —

  First came the spirits...and for a brief second, the pain. Oh, Goddess, the pain! Within the ancient spirits, and within the spirits of the millions of lives surrounding him, the release of forgotten barriers crashing down before him. It sent a wave of unbridled energy shooting up into the night sky. It washed over him, through him, coursing through his nerves, pulling at his own soul and threatening to tear it free. He let out a cry, doubling over, fighting it before the pain claimed him.

  Finally he heard — and felt — the second clap of thunder, much louder and deadlier than the first, created by the displacement of air as spiritual energy suddenly became an enormous physical, bleeding crimson cloud, threatening to rain down on the sector below. The shockwave pushed Nehalé flat against the tower. It held him fast, forcing him to take short breaths until the pressure weakened. Eventually he managed to push himself up and off the wall, coughing and reaching for the railing again. He looked out over the city, his heart racing and his head spinning. The crimson cloud still held its place, circling quickly around the Tower, just a few levels below him. It held there like a thick fog, translucent yet no less ominous. This was pure spirit surrounding him now, a force beyond anyone’s imagination…and it was angry.

  And for a second, again, he felt the pain. Nehalé felt the pain of spirits, Meraladian and human alike, screaming, writhing —

  Then, just as quickly, the pain of spirits lost. The feeling of essence ripped, siphoned out of him in an instant. He doubled over again, and did not lift his head again for many more minutes.

  I...I apologize, dearest beloved spirits…

  Time started again. He regained his bearings, and felt the sudden change in wind direction and temperature. The chill had been replaced by a stifling heat, nudging him against the Tower's side….and doubled by the bitter sting of the taken spirits. A sting that would stay with him forever.

  But he felt it. Love.

  Thousands, millions of Bridgetown citizens…suddenly waking out of slumber, or slowing in the street, or stopping in their workspaces…millions of citizens, feeling something, but not quite understanding what it was they felt. A curiously warm, protective feeling, but with a darker edge. A sudden awareness of their surroundings. A humbling compassion, but for what or whom they did not yet know. Then, just as quickly, it faded into their subconscious, before they could find a name or an emotion for it. But something had been altered…they knew something was there now. They were aware.

  They had been Awakened.

  Yes…yes! Nehalé trembled with joy. He could sense each of them now, fully and clearly without any hindrance. A veil had been lifted…the gauzelike barrier that divided so many souls in this world had dropped away to nothingness, revealing the true spirits within. Each one of them could see now…truly see, for their inner senses had been cleansed and their eyes opened. They could now understand the true familial and spiritual connection between the Meraladhza and the Gharné. They were truly free, these followers and protectors of the One of All Sacred.

  And now they, each and every one of them, could sense him as well. And they would be following him soon, eager and hungry for direction. And he would be there for them, always.

  ...and out there, somewhere in one of the sections outside the shockwave’s reach, past the cacophony of newly found inner voices down below, he felt her. The young woman, stirring and waking out of slumber, had crawled out of her bed with a feeling of sleepy disorientation, and stopped in her tracks halfway down the hallway, unsure of why she’d gotten up. He felt her growing concern, a nagging in the back of her mind that something had happened, something that had affected her deeply, yet she couldn’t quite understand what it was. But she would, and soon. She was awake, like many of them now. Through his tears, he smiled again. His ultimate mission had been successful after all.

  The One of All Sacred, he thought. You have awakened…you are among us now!

  CHAPTER TWO

  Caren

  Caren Johnson found herself in a faded version of the
den in her childhood home again, sitting on the wide couch against the southern wall, hands on her lap, waiting for everything to fall into place. She surveyed the room and recognized each item from her past—the tall windows to her left that looked out over their meager back yard, the old lopsided recliner her dad loved so much, the family photos that hung over the mantel on the north wall. One of the windows was slightly open and a cool draft swirled around the room. The house was quiet, other than its usual clicks and creaks as it continued to settle on its foundation. She was in her spirit world again, her lumisha dea of memories and emotions, and her place of inner peace.

  Across the room, the translucent ghosts of her parents stood side by side in front of the brick fireplace, just underneath their family portrait, Celine’s arm resting in the crook of Aram’s right elbow…a rare physical showing of love. She warmed to this view, desperately happy to see them again each and every time. She had always wanted to join them in that embrace whenever she met them here, but she never dared. Instead she stood up and waited, reverent and patient. She knew this recurring visitation well. She had healed enough from their passing that this reunion had become a rite of passage. She had grown to accept it, even look forward to it. It was her last remaining connection with them.

  Karinna, her father said. They always used innerspeak, the voice within. The true voice of the soul. The voice that could not lie. We’re so proud of you and Denysia.

  Our lovely daughters, her mother said. Aram…they’ve done so well.

  I miss them dearly, he said. I wish we could just be with them again.

  I wish I could bring you back, Caren said, wiping a stray tear away from her eye. Damn it all, why did she always cry when she saw them? She was so much stronger than that! I love the both of you so much.

  Her father held up a hand. Shh, Karinna...it’s okay, we know.