My heart skipped a beat. Was she listening to my thoughts? A wave of adrenaline pa.s.sed over me. "Why do you ask?" I said, forcing a casual tone.

"You seem quiet, that is all."

"I can talk more if you wish."

"That will not be necessary, unless you care to share with me what you were thinking?"

Did she know? No. If she knew, she would not be reacting so calmly. "I was- thinking about Davata Notrals, considering the Book of Barithimus. Do you think the Hestimites will be able to do what they did in the Book of Hagus. On the last recorded change to the text, it was clear they could not. What are your thoughts?" she know? No. If she knew, she would not be reacting so calmly. "I was- thinking about Davata Notrals, considering the Book of Barithimus. Do you think the Hestimites will be able to do what they did in the Book of Hagus. On the last recorded change to the text, it was clear they could not. What are your thoughts?"

"It is a secret," she said, looking away.

"Then I suppose I shall wait to see. Forgive me for asking," I said in silent relief.

We reached the last bend and climbed up to the final plateau. Kitaya turned and looked down over the thick railing. I stepped up beside her. The architecture was breathtaking. All the way down, beams of sunlight filtered in through thin ornate windows, filling the interior with a peaceful yellow glow. The inside of the tremendous dome surrounding us appeared as a giant honeycomb of marble and granite. Some of the openings were offices, others were meeting rooms, and in each hole there was activity.

Straight before us, cutting through the side of the dome, a circular window lent a view of the Tower of Pisa, which stood on the other side of the river amongst the ruins of old. Funny though, it seemed odd to me now-- as though it should have a lean to it.

"Beautiful view," Kitaya said softly.

"Yes it is. I have stopped to admire it many times. I don't believe there is another one like it in all of Vrin."

She let out a long sigh. "Your people are strong."

"Yes, I suppose we have been through quite a bit."

She looked up and gave a smile. Her brilliant blue eyes scanning my face, and I felt a soft brush of energy wash over me. "Have we met before?" She sounded genuinely intrigued.

"I would have remembered such a meeting, and cherished the memory of it," I replied.

Her smile widened. "So that is why they call you Charm." She winked. Then reaching down and lifted the flowing fabric of her garment, she gracefully turned toward the door. "Is this our destination?"

"Yes," I said, not able to tear my eyes from her delicate form.

"Then let us go have a look."

CHAPTER 22.

PROPHECIES.

001001011001110.

The ma.s.sive hardwood doors opened before us, revealing a pitch black interior. I walked forward into the dark room, to its center, where I knew a tinderbox could be found. I felt for it.

"Are you so proud that you will not ask for a.s.sistance?" inquired Kitaya. The room began to fill with soft light. I looked up and saw a brilliant yellow sphere floating overhead, like a gaseous miniature of the sun.

"Impressive."

"It is the least I could do. I am grateful for the opportunity to look at the scrolls."

"You could easily have taken them," I said, "I don't think we could put up much of a fight."

"Yes, but that is not our way."

"Would you permit me a question, your holiness?" I asked with a gentle bow of respect.

"It depends on the question." She winked.

"The scrolls are enlightenment from the G.o.ds, right? And the G.o.ds are all knowing and all powerful, so why would you require the scrolls? Do you not already know what has been written?"

"You do not ask easy questions, Charm."

"Is there such a thing?" I smiled.

She returned my smile. "I suppose not."

"So why then do you seek the scrolls?"

"If I tell you, you can never tell a soul. Do you accept these terms?"

"Yes."

Kitaya pushed her index finger toward me, and as she did, a pulse of energy spread out to illuminate a pane of ghost-like gla.s.s. "Let me ill.u.s.trate." A glowing dot expanded from under her fingertip. She dragged her finger down, creating a faint iridescent line ending at a second larger dot. She withdrew her finger. "Your people are becoming, and soon will be G.o.ds. It is the natural progression of the universe. Davata Notrals is not a book of our revelation to you. It is G.o.d's revelation to us. Through it we will become what we were fated to be. Do you understand?"

"It is Gaza's revelation?" I knew it was not.

"No. It is the scripture of the G.o.d of all."

"So the G.o.d of Davata Notrals, is the G.o.d of the G.o.ds?"

"Yes."

"Even the G.o.d of Gaza?"

"Even the G.o.d of Gaza. All creation is subject to him. But one day we will be as he is, and one day you will be as we are."

The questions began to flood my mind. Questions I could not ask Kitaya. I felt for the bench behind me, and took a seat.

As Kitaya pa.s.sed through the transparency, it dispersed into gas. Softly she touched my shoulder and sat down next to me. "Why are you troubled?" she asked tenderly.

"It's complicated." I looked up at her.

She smiled sympathetically, her eyes examining every detail of my face.

I wanted to tell her. I wanted to confide in her, but it was too dangerous. I was vulnerable, I no longer had the power of the G.o.ds. My heart sank. Why had G.o.d returned me to Charm? Had I failed? I remembered the cold dungeon. The spirit told me it was time to go home, but where was home? home? This didn't seem to qualify. Why did I return to Vrin instead of exiting the simulation? If what she said was This didn't seem to qualify. Why did I return to Vrin instead of exiting the simulation? If what she said was true, true, why had G.o.d taken away my power? Was I not why had G.o.d taken away my power? Was I not ready ready to be Sam' Dejal? to be Sam' Dejal?

Kitaya's expression of empathy melted away, and was replaced by a look of astonishment.

"What? What's wrong?"

"Jason?" she whispered.

The realization struck me in the chest. In my weakness, I had incited her curiosity. She must have listened to my thoughts! I had unwillingly revealed my deepest secret, and I could not take it back. Why had I let my guard down?

"Perhaps somewhere deep inside, you wanted me to know," she said softly, still reading my mind.

I gripped my head in my hands. "I am in danger in this body, terrible danger."

She took my hands into hers and squeezed them warmly. Quietly she examined my face. "You don't need to worry, I will not betray you."

"Will you withdraw your thread?"

"Yes. I am sorry. I was only trying to help."

"Thank you."

She sat staring at me. "It is really you."

"Yes. I don't know how, but it is."

"So, you are now, a character in the program?"

I looked at her intently. The others must have told her about the program and our communication with the outside. "Am "Am I just a character, or is something more going on? There's a I just a character, or is something more going on? There's a connection connection between these two worlds. I just can't put my finger on it." between these two worlds. I just can't put my finger on it."

She rubbed my back. "It will come."

The touch of her hand was comforting. There was something about this young lady that set me at ease. Perhaps it was the lack of pretense her youth afforded her, or maybe it was her innocence. Either way, I felt I could trust her, and with so many questions on my mind, I needed someone someone I could trust. I gave her a warm look. "I missed you." I could trust. I gave her a warm look. "I missed you."

She smiled. "I missed you too."

"What happened to you anyway? I couldn't contact you."

"I traveled to Jahazmad to find Tiko, but ended up-- being detained."

"What happened?"

"I thought I saw Tiko exiting the bazaar, but the area was crowded," she said, shaking her head. "I could not get a clear look at him. He disappeared into a building, so I followed, and found myself in an enormous room, and it was dark. On the other side was an open doorway, so, thinking that was where Tiko had gone, I headed towards it. But when I reached the center of the room, a figure stepped in front of the door. At first I thought it was Tiko, but then I realized, to my horror, it was Rath!

Of course I tried to use my power. I swung my arms around searching for the web, but there wasn't a single thread anywhere." She looked down at the floor. "And that's when he sealed me in."

"I had a similar experience."

She gave a sympathetic nod. "He left me there to rot, and I did, for a long long time. But then I figured something he missed. I could still control time. But then I figured something he missed. I could still control my my threads. First I made my hands glow so I could look around. I knew I could not activate the threads in the room, but I figured I could break out manually. So I removed my cloak and transformed it into a sticky putty, then pressed it onto the wall. Once I had a firm coating, I pulled a thread out and stepped back. On my command the putty turned to acid, which made a large hole in the wall. threads. First I made my hands glow so I could look around. I knew I could not activate the threads in the room, but I figured I could break out manually. So I removed my cloak and transformed it into a sticky putty, then pressed it onto the wall. Once I had a firm coating, I pulled a thread out and stepped back. On my command the putty turned to acid, which made a large hole in the wall.

"How long were you in there?"

"Oh forever." Her brows furrowed. "It reminded me of the void."

"What happened next?"

"I found Tiko and brought him to the others."

I gave her a deep examining look. "Have we stopped Kric' tu?"

She shook her head. "We have lost ground. There seems to be no end to Kric' tu's forces. But we now have the aid of most of The Ten."

"Who?"

"Corel, Armadon, and Lorna, as you know. And Tiko joined us, but there is much tension between him and the others. Then there is Hamjin. I do not believe you know him. He is the ninth."

"Why didn't he come with Lorna?"

"He was unreachable by the mortals. It was Armadon who enlisted him."

"Armadon? Did he get in contact with Gaza?"

"No. He was unable to find him."

"Do you know about his wife and daughter?"

"Yes, our sources inside Rath's fortress informed us. They are both dead."

"So..." I stood up. "Why are we still here? here? It's obvious Rath and Kric' tu wish to force Gaza's hand, and Gaza has lost what stands between him and his threat." I shook my head. "So It's obvious Rath and Kric' tu wish to force Gaza's hand, and Gaza has lost what stands between him and his threat." I shook my head. "So why why are we still here?" are we still here?"

"I do not know."

"Is that why you're here?" I turned. "Does the Book of Reason hold the key?"

"It may. After our last defeat, we gathered for an emergency meeting. Although we believe your theory that we are in comas, we were all in agreement that there was more going on. None of us can speak to the outside, so I offered to go to The Circle of Ghosts to see if I could learn more about Kric' tu. It was my first time there, and it was very very unsettling. At first nothing happened, but then as I was getting ready to leave, a man appeared in the center of The Circle. He was transparent, like a ghost, and he said unsettling. At first nothing happened, but then as I was getting ready to leave, a man appeared in the center of The Circle. He was transparent, like a ghost, and he said G.o.d G.o.d wished to speak with me!" wished to speak with me!"

"Wow."

"He warned me not to look at G.o.d, because if I did, I would be destroyed. I was terrified! I dropped to my knees and did not not look up. The ground shook and a brilliant light appeared. When he spoke, I could not tell if it was coming from inside my head, or from The Circle. But I will never forget what he said. First, he said, we are greatly loved, and second, that Vrin is important, even though it is imperfect. And finally, he said there are answers in his book. And that is why I am here." look up. The ground shook and a brilliant light appeared. When he spoke, I could not tell if it was coming from inside my head, or from The Circle. But I will never forget what he said. First, he said, we are greatly loved, and second, that Vrin is important, even though it is imperfect. And finally, he said there are answers in his book. And that is why I am here."

"He didn't mention us becoming like him?"

"No." She bit her lip.

"So-- what was with the whole, we are becoming like G.o.d, speech?"

She feigned a smile. "I made that up. I thought you were Charm. I figured it would give you hope."

"A hope that one day we could rise to something greater."