Infinite 01 - Infinite Sacrifice

“It’s so strange that you know me like that.”
    “It takes some time to get used to.”
    I feel self-conscious for a moment, imagining all the things he hears or sees, but then he smiles, and I realize my inner thoughts are pointless.
    Putting his hands up in surrender, he says, “I don’t think either one of us wants to think about those things.”
    Why speak at all? I might as well just talk like this to you.
    “But you’re not in my head, so I must talk.”
    “No fair! That doesn’t seem right.”
    “They’re not my rules. Plus, if you knew what I knew, you’d be too overwhelmed with all my advanced knowledge .”
    Scoffing, I put my legs up on the dashboard but decide to bring us back to the subject. “So you were saying… before you started to pick my brain?”
    “Oh right, your facilator’s incredibly important, though.”
    “I cringe when I see him, father once or not.”
    “Then maybe you should focus on some of the good things he does. Such as by condemning Nun, you and Bastet were freed and Aapep got to get his revenge.”
    “I thought revenge would be a bad thing?”
    “It’s a vice that Aapep had to work through. You learned you couldn’t get away with such lies, and Bastet learned she was not in control.”
    “I see.”
    “When he was the ephor he delivered the message to conceive Kali. He came to collect Kali and hesitated long enough for you both to prepare her. When Kali was sent away, it taught her many things.”
    “I wish I could see others’ lives. I’d love to see what happened after my death.”
    “Later, much later. Let’s stick to yours right now.” He continues, “When he was your father, he left for work and fled when he saw the Vikings, taking his ship to the farther side of the beach and reaching safety in the same cave you hid in later. He didn’t go to help you and your mother, and when he returned to find your mother slain and you gone, he never forgave himself. He devoted his whole life to fighting so he would be ready when the Vikings returned. He lived and breathed revenge, and little did he know he attempted to murder the very son he was avenging. Yet both moments were critical for you to become a slave and choose to die for Thora.”
    “He left us to find his own safety that day?”
    He ignores my question. “And lastly, Ulric performed the important task of clearing away the dead, connecting you to Rowan and Oliver, and even bringing you Gussalen.”
    “Wow, what a treat that was.”
    He raises his eyebrows at me. “Not quite Mother Theresa yet, I see.” Zachariah unfolds my crossed arms. “He saw the humanity in a lowly prostitute and brought her to you. He is not as evil as you want him to be.”
    “If he’s not evil, what is evil, then? Is there a Devil?”
    He takes a deep breath. “The other question I have difficulty answering.” He brings up one of his legs within his intertwined hands. “As pure positivity and light is what some call God, there equally exists pure negativity and darkness some call the Devil. Heaven exists of pure light, while Hell exists of pure darkness. Just as you will feel great in God’s light, you will feel terrible in the Devil’s darkness. Earth is a unique place where both can occur. A soul goes there to choose light over darkness, and sometimes badly guided souls are drawn to the darkness. Some become so miserable and set in such sorrow that they can’t even see the light. Some are so used to darkness and suffering that when they pass on, they don’t go to the light but choose to remain in the darkness.”
    “Is that what ghosts are?”
    He nods. “What we call earthbound spirits. Spirits that have not gone to the light and don’t even know they’re dead. It can take a very long time to help these unfortunate souls. Ghosts can also be spirit guides one suddenly becomes aware of.”
    “Can you tell me the next big lesson I have to learn?”
    “What do you think?”
    “ I have to see it for myself, ” I mimic.
    He laughs heartily. “You’re finally catching on.”
    I laugh and say, “I really wish I could read your mind; we could save a lot of time.”
    “Unfortunately for both of us, it doesn’t work that way.”
    “Why can’t any of these lessons sound more inviting? It can’t be lessons learned from enjoying life too much? Being too rich? Being too beautiful?”
    “Maybe that’s all ahead of you? Why don’t you go and see?”
    “Right.” I scoff, thinking about the next big