Chapter 26

"Arrian, every person who lives has a purpose. Most of us don't know what that purpose is until certain event's play out for each of us."

"I don't understand, Dad," said a young Arrian.

"I know, Son. I half expected you not to. I guess what I am trying to say is that, when the time comes, if you have any questions as to why you are here, you will find your answers."

"Dad, I want to be like you, big and strong." Arrian raved.

"No, Arrian. You should never want to be like me. I am me, and you are you. If you want to be something like me, then be better than me. Learn from my mistakes and become a better man than I am or possibly ever will be. I've known you were destined for greatness from the moment I showed you the basics of using a katana. Skills like the ones you possess manifest when they are needed for a higher purpose."

"Dad, do you think I'm going to be better than you?" A still perplexed Arrian asked.

"Yes, Son. You will be. A man is always judged by his actions and choices. You will see this as you grow older. There will come a time when you will have to take a place that you are not familiar with. The road will be full of surprises and challenges, but as long as you remain true to yourself and the ones you love, then the sky is the limit."

"That sounds hard, Dad." Arrian said.

"It is, Son; life isn't a ballad, you know. "

"What's a ballad?"

"A song. Usually they are very simple and deal with romance and love. But they can also deal with sadness and loss," Derek smiled as he looked at Arrian. "The Ballad of Arrian Michaels; that sure doesn't sound simple, does it."

"But Dad, I told you, I was going to be a samurai when I grow up. Samurai's aren't simple; I know that."

"You're still on that? I shouldn't be surprised with how you took to the sword. The Ballad of the Samurai; damn, that sounds like it would be a hell of a movie. Oh and don't tell your mother I said 'damn' when we were talking."

Arrian grinned and pick up his bokken.

"I won't if you can knock my bokken out of my hand, Dad."

Arrian revved the bike up and flew down the streets drawing closer and closer to the wastelands.

"YOU?" asked Helen.

Ashley looked on in fear.

"Hello, Helen. Kailynn, you have grown into a desirable young woman," Stuart said with a lecherous smile on his face. "Ashley, I thought you were dead or at least making some pimp money down at the Koran District. You want to remember old times?" he asked, grabbing his crotch.

Ashley looked at him, terrified, as her body shook.

"You raped her and killed her father?" roared Helen.

"Guilty as charged. I have to admit she was not a very good fuck, but some sex is always better than none, I guess. Now, where is Arihah? He should be here soon. "

"I'm going to fucking kill you!" roared Greg as he broke the restraints on his hands and feet. He charged at Stuart and went into full offensive mode. He put all his strength into his fist and delivered it right at Stuart's chest. Stuart caught the punch in his hand and felt the impact push him back, but not really doing any damage. The ground where Stuart had caught the punch was cracked; it looked as if a tree branch had made its way to the surface and had broken the compacted dirt up.

"You are strong, but you are not Arihah." Stuart said as he squeezed Greg's right fist in his hand.

Greg dropped to his knees and used his left hand to try and pull his fist away. He screamed as he felt some of his bones break. Stuart released his fist, only to kick him in the chest and send him back to the rest of his hostages.

A man ran up to Stuart.

"Sir, we finished our task. Can we fuck them now?"

"No, I want Arihah here and powerless to stop it. He will be forced to watch before I take his life."

I hope I get there before anything really bad happens, Arrian thought to himself.

Up ahead he could see the Wastelands coming into view. They were not named as such because waste was piled high; the name came from the dull color of the trees. Everything there, trees, weeds, rocks, and even the swamp- like marshes were a light brownish, sandy color.

He knew without question where his family was. They were in the biggest clearing in the Wastelands, a plain looking, colorless, moor style field completely surrounded by trees in the same style. He made his way through the trees and came upon two empty SUV's.

Interesting. Well, I knew he wouldn't show up alone. It's difficult to say how many people he has with him. This isn't going to be easy.

Arrian pulled the bike to a complete stop and shut it down completely. He would be going the rest of the way on foot.

"Why are you doing this, Stuart?" Helen asked. She was shaken and scared but she would never give him the satisfaction of seeing her trembling in her boots.

"Stuart as you knew him no longer exist. Due to some events which do not concern you, we... I took over his body. So, my reasons are simple and two fold. I want revenge on Arihah for not only sealing me... us in Farael... but also I want his power. Since you won't live for much longer, I guess I can reveal a few more details. I... we... no, part of me is like Arihah; an Elemental. The other part... the dominant part, is known as a Harbinger."

"Are you trying to say Arrian is Arihah? What is an Elemental?"

"An Elemental is a being with control over the basic elements of life; fire, water, earth and wind. Arrian is Arihah, but you could say he is currently in a cocoon of sorts. He and Arrian are most likely not completely merged yet. How do I know? Well, I'm not sure really, but I can sense Arihah and while I can sense him in Arrian, I know he isn't fully awakened yet. I plan on making him suffer while I have the chance, and all of you just happen to be the instrument of choice. It will pain him to see you harmed and that is pleasure to me."

All the women looked scared; Brandon could not believe his ears at some of the things he was hearing. Sarah was hanging tightly to Cindy, who seemed to be holding it together by the smallest of strands.

Arrian made his way closer to where he felt the others were being held.

<Master, please call me to you>, Larelle called to him.

He held his hand out, palm up, and with a small shimmer the book was there.

In the time before Stuart Kelly had been taken over by the souls of Azrael and Zareas, he had been a normal man. But upon their take over, his soul was ingested into the great evil that was Zareas. Azrael existed as a second soul only because he had been the originator of the bonding. However, in recent times, Zareas soul was overtaking Azrael and soon Azreal was sure he would be completely taken over.

Azrael thought back to the times when he and Arihah were inseparable and in tune as only brothers could be. Brothers; that's what they were. Not brothers in the human sense, since they were not human. No, they were brothers because they were from the original Elementals that were the purest in form that made Arihah. Arihah then, showed great power and promise when he spawned me only one eon after being spawned himself.

However, while Arihah had been spawned from all four Elementals, Azrael was only formed from three. Arihah didn't have the power to make him using all four. Then they left the plane inhabited only by the Elementals and made their way throughout the universe, plane after plane. They met all kinds of beings; some were friends, others where enemies and some were just not interested.

It was around this time, that another Elemental found them and delivered the message to return to their home.

Once there, the Sacred Four, a council of Elementals that were the oldest of all Elementals, informed Arihah and Azrael that there was a war coming and they would be needed.

And war came, in the form of betrayal. The Caliph, the Elemental King or Emperor, had grown tired of the Sacred Four and attempted to have them killed. He sent a group of Elementals to seek council with them and had the Elementals self destruct. Although none of the Sacred Four were killed, they were fatally injured.

Arihah and Azrael came upon them first, and with time running out, the Sacred Four gave Arihah a parting gift. They transferred their remaining strength and abilities to him before they faded from existence. It was there, Azrael had to admit, he began to feel what he now knew was jealousy. Arihah led the faction that went against the Caliph.

After an eon of fighting, the Caliph was defeated, the traitors stripped of their abilities and exiled; all except for the Caliph himself, who was killed in the final battle by Arihah.

The remaining Elementals banded together with Arihaha and Azrael and left their home world after Arihah, as the newly elected Caliph, sealed the entrance to their plane.

They left in search of a better place, and after eons of searching they found a nice universe and a decent world to inhabit; a world which wasn't devoid of life. When the Elementals came, they were revered as gods. There it was that Azrael let loose his jealousy and attempted kill his brother.