Onikymn Crystal: The Arrows of Providence, #2

By RR Morris

Oblivion – The God Forsaken Place to Nonexistence…

The Arrows of Providence - Book Two

Dutch O'Hara is thrust into the past to prevent the destruction of the Onikymn crystal. If he fails, a fracture in the temporal timeline will erase his children from existence… never born, never to be remembered. When he arrives in 1946, his mission to protect the crystal from destruction takes a perilous turn when an evil omnipotent being seizes the artifact.

Recovering the crystal would be nearly impossible while the beast is still alive. But how do you kill something that can't be killed? Legend has it that special poisoned arrows forged with the blood of an ancient Assyrian king may vanquish the entity. Dutch ventures across the Middle East in search of these mystical arrows. Soon, a timeless battle of light versus darkness unfolds within the haunting shadows inside a European castle ruins.

After several failed attempts at destroying their nemesis, a heroic fighter wounded it with a lethal arrow. In a shocking twist, the entity's essence transfers into one of the humans. Which one will bear the burden of this devastating misfortune? The irony is not lost on just anyone… it went to the perfect one. The answer will surprise you.

   Don't miss The Arrows of Providence, the thrilling second part where myth and reality collide. Buy it today!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Roy Morris
• Release date: Jun 27, 2023
• ISBN: 9781386964995

Book preview

One

MEXICO –1946:

Nestled near the base of an ancient pyramid rests the peaceful little village of Cholula. The smell of refried beans and tortillas rode the currents of a gentle warm breeze, rustling the leaves of an old oak in the town square. By midmorning, Kyle Larson crossed the dirt road to the general store and leaned against a sun-bleached post. He tilted his straw hat to shield his face. He had grayed with age and grew a full beard. A disguise was necessary to avoid being recognized by his younger counterparts, Kyle and Grace Larson.

Twenty-three years ago, he promised Grace he would be here this day to destroy the Onikymn crystal. In their original timeline, Grace discovers the crystal buried in the dirt and she vanishes when it was exposed to sunlight. They thought it only fitting that their daughter Helen should have a mother to help raise her.

He felt a flutter in his stomach when he noticed them saunter toward the corner building about a hundred feet away. He gazed at the young and beautiful Gracie. The day I met her was the luckiest day of my life. I wish she had never dug up that damn crystal. As God as my witness, the minute I get my hands on it, I will shatter it into a million pieces.

The sound of footsteps on the wooden deck behind him brought him back to reality. He turned to see the tour guide of the pyramid coming out to greet his group. The moment had arrived. His counterpart and Grace were ready to ascend the pyramid. Kyle stood up straight, took a deep breath, and started to head towards them when he felt something hard press against his lower back.

Hold it, gringo, a voice said. The barrel of my gun is aimed at your kidney. Don’t make any sudden moves. Clasp your hands behind your back — now.

Kyle couldn’t believe it, he waited all these years to carry out the most important task of his life, and he’s being held up by some common thief. You sound American. Take my wallet and leave, no questions asked. There is someplace I need to be, and I need to leave now. The pressure on his back eased, and he could sense the stranger moving around to face him. The young man appeared to be twenty-five-years-old or so, dressed in jeans and a light jacket, dark hair and a mustache.

If you go up there, you will die, the stranger said, tugging on the rim of his baseball cap with a patch that read Navy Seals. He slipped his pistol into the shoulder holster hidden beneath his jacket.

We came here to stop you, a warm female voice said with a British accent. She moved around and stood next to the man with the black hat. Her youthful plump face smiled with long crimson hair flowing over her shoulders, glistening in the morning sun, her dark-green eyes seemed eager to say more but she held back.

The baffling statement caught Kyle off guard, anxiety overwhelming him, pushing him harder to go stop Grace. Who are you and what do you want?

My name is Dutch, her name is Darcy and the fellah behind you is Beck.

Kyle glanced at the man behind him and then turned his attention to the church on top of the pyramid. He rubbed the back of this neck, giving them a glare of impatience. They’re going up the path. I’m running out of time.

Please understand, we’re here to help you, Darcy said.

Help me? Stay the hell out of my way, that’s how you can help me! he said with a growl and ran toward the pyramid.

Dutch rushed behind him and grabbed his arm, twisting him around to face him. Your name is Kyle Larson. You’re here to damage the Onikymn crystal. We can’t let you do that.

The tiny hairs on the back of Kyle’s neck tingled from being stunned. How do you know about the crystal?

Dutch didn’t respond.

I’ll say it again, stay out of this. He pulled free from his grasp and sprinted toward the pyramid.

Dutch looked at Beck, saying, I’ll chase him, you head him off.

Kyle reached the path leading up to the church and he became winded, glancing over his shoulder at the one with the black cap closing in on him. The serpentine trail up to the church on top of the pyramid zigzagged with radical turns so he took a shortcut straight up the steep incline of the hill. By the time he reached the upper path his legs burned and turned rubbery, but determination from twenty-three years of thinking about this day kept him going.

Adrenaline reinforced Kyle’s second wind, but he feared that his legs might fail him before he reached Gracie. On the final turn he saw her, his flared nostrils sucking in wind as he approached total exhaustion. Within earshot of Grace, the one named Beck appeared out of nowhere and blocked his path. Damn, the young snot ain’t even breathing hard. He rested his hands on his wobbly knees, panting and glanced up at Beck. Where did you come from?

We have to talk, he said. 

Kyle took a couple more breaths and rushed up the hill to skirt around Beck, but he got tackled before he could get any farther. The tour guide appeared curious over the disturbance and separated from the group, asking, What’s the problem here?  

Dutch pulled out a fake brass badge. I’m Agent O’Hara from the FBI. Who am I speaking with, sir?

Mateo Ramirez, I am the curator here at the Cholula Pyramid.

I apologize for disrupting your tour, Mr. Ramirez, but this man is wanted back in the States for questioning. Dutch expected the possibility someone of authority might question him so he had fake extradition papers made. He reached in his pocket and presented him with the document.

Mateo looked the paper over and handed it back to him. Continue on, Agent O’Hara but try to control your prisoner so that he doesn’t disturb these nice people.

I will, sir, and thanks for your cooperation. Have a nice day.

Dutch and Beck each grasped an arm and started to lead Kyle back down the path.

Come with us, and don’t resist, Dutch said.

Doesn’t look like I have a choice. What does the FBI want with me? I’ve done nothing wrong. Kyle dragged his heels in the dirt. Please, let me watch this. I promise I won’t cause any trouble.

All right, but don’t try to run, Dutch said.

Kyle turned to watch the scene unfold before him just as it did in his original timeline. The tour group approached the last flight of stairs going up to the church grounds. Grace peeled off after noticing an unusual looking rock in the dirt. She picked it up to look at it. A speck of twinkling light reflecting the sun caught her attention.

She knelt on one knee and reached into her purse for something to dig it up. After she had it in her hand, she hurried to catch up with the group, wiping the object with a tissue and stashed it away in her purse.

For Kyle, it seemed so surreal. Both time lines were about to touch on one spot in space–time and it was then he realized there would never be another chance again. A tear rolled down his cheek. Queasiness and jitters squeezed his stomach into a tight ball as he pivoted to be escorted down the path.

Darcy met them at the bottom of the pyramid.

Dutch glanced at her and said, Let’s get back to the car.

No arguments from me.

Kyle pulled against their grasp and glared at Dutch, his eyes dark with anger. Nobody is going anywhere until I get an explanation about what just went down. You had no right to restrain me.

Dutch glanced around the lazy little town. We are not the FBI.

What? Kyle growled. Do you realize what you’ve done?

Yes we know, we are old friends so please be patient, everything will be explained to you in a little while, Darcy said.

No — now. He turned to Dutch with a defiant expression, his brows pinching toward the center, leaving a deep furrow. You said I would die if I went up there. What did you mean by that? 

"Die was the wrong word. All of us would’ve ceased to exist, including Grace and your daughter Anne."  

How so?

Think back in your memoirs. You must’ve written something in there about meeting a Mr. Mahgee. From the Onikymn portal, he can see events in both the past, present, and future, Dutch said. "The Onikymn alerted him this timeline in history was approaching when Grace discovers the crystal for the second time. He saw you destroy it, and your action caused a cataclysmic time displacement event." 

The line between Kyle’s brows deepened. A what?

"It’s like a temporal fracture — a break in the timeline. When you and Grace reunite in 1923, you two were placed in an alternate timeline. But, according to Mr. Mahgee, the original timeline and your alternate timeline converged on this day in this year 1946 when Grace repeats the event. By interfering with Grace’s action, the original timeline is reset. So, let’s say you accomplished the task of damaging the crystal, and Gracie never made it through the rift. Since Grace didn’t go, you didn’t either, and the contract with Mr. Mahgee to find the lost crystal never took place. That means you never meet me and we don’t meet Darcy, so she and I never get married to raise our children. Since you and Grace don’t travel to 1923, Anne was never born. 

If you had destroyed the crystal, everything and everybody reverts to that point in the original time line. By doing so, our alternate time line fades to oblivion. That’s why the Onikymn rule to never interact with your counterpart, or anyone you know, must be obeyed.

Kyle felt pressure on his chest, his expression sagging, haunted by the sheer magnitude of that potential disaster. He sat on a stump, rested his elbows on his knees and cradled his face with his hands. Man, am I glad you stopped me... I had no idea.  He looked at Dutch. What happens to Gracie since she went through the second time?

"She will be given a choice to stay there in internment or be sent to another part of the world, promising to follow the law of avoiding contact with anyone she knows. But I can guarantee she won’t be here the third time because your counterpart won’t go back the second time."

Why do you say that?

He will never see that crystal again as long as he lives. In a week, your counterpart goes to the Cholula jeweler with the crystal that Grace dropped before entering the rift. He has to leave it there because a tight-fitting cap must be molded around the butt of the crystal in order for it to be mounted on a necklace chain. One night after the store closes, Sirus sends his minions to break into the store and steal the Onikymn crystal. Beck and I will be there to stop them, but we will take the crystal and return it to Mr. Mahgee.

Why wait, why not break in now and steal it before the bad guys get there?

It is destined to happen that way and if we take it before that night the thieves break in, there’s the danger we create another alternate timeline. The consequences good or bad are not known about that event. We must recover the artifact at that time.

Two

DUTCH LOOKED TO THE heavens; clouds were growing darker and he could smell rain approaching. We best get back to town; a bad one is coming." They approached a four-door, navy blue 1944 Ford. Dutch and Darcy jumped in the back while Kyle climbed into the passenger side front. Beck opened the driver’s side door, sat behind the wheel, started the engine and pulled away, heading toward Mexico City.

Kyle turned in his seat looking at Dutch. I was preoccupied back there, but I’ve had time to think on it. Even though we’ve never met, you two seem very familiar. She said we were old friends. Where?

Not so much where but when, Dutch said.

Darcy smiled. Yes, we were close friends over twenty three years ago.

Kyle’s mouth loosened in surprise. Oh? He couldn’t remember any relationship with these people, plus they were way too young to be old friends, especially that long ago.

Does the name Vatu Mahgee ring a bell? 

You mentioned a name sounding something like that a while ago and that I might have written something about him. Mahgee — Mahgee, he said at a near whisper. My memoirs... yes, I do remember now. His daughter Reagle gave me this engraved medallion. It’s been so long since I read it, I had all but forgotten. He gazed at Darcy and then to Dutch, his eyes glinting from the sudden revelation. Oh my God... Daniel Dutch O’Hara — Danny Boy? 

It’s me, old man. I’m glad to see you again, my friend. 

I was so distracted it never dawned on me who you two were. They shook hands, and then Kyle turned his attention to Darcy. 

Happy tears welled in her eyes. Kyle, we missed you so. Her voice quivered. I got a huge lump in my throat when I saw you standing outside the store. I couldn’t believe it was you. She laughed. It was a miracle we even recognized you with that hillbilly beard and those bushy eyebrows. 

The eyebrows are fake, and the beard is coming off first chance I get. He shook his head in disbelief. I suppose there was only so much I could write about you guys on just ten sheets of paper. The most memorable thing I wrote was you were my family. I can’t explain it, but that feeling is overwhelming me right now. Kyle turned to look at Beck. And who is this young man? 

Dutch put his hand on Kyle’s shoulder. "This young man is your godson, Becker Kyle O’Hara."

I have a godson? He turned to face Beck. The first thing that caught his attention was how clear his greenish-gray eyes were when he looked at him, and smiled. They reflected intelligence, kindness, and strength. His medium reddish-brown hair was styled in a contemporary side-parted cut, and along with possessing his parent’s good looks, he was a fine specimen of a man.

Hey, Uncle Kyle, it’s good to see you again. I apologize for tackling you. Hope I didn’t hurt you too much, he said while facing the road ahead.

No, I’m okay.

The last time I saw you, you were on a beach in Mexico with your dog, Smitty. My sister Katie and I used to look forward to visiting you in the summers; we always had so much fun. You taught us how to ocean fish and took us to an amusement park, spoiling us with all that popcorn, candy and sodas.  

Sorry, as sad as it is, I have no recollection. You guys are so young I thought you might be brothers. At some point you need to explain that too.

The short of it is Mr. Mahgee promised to reunite you as a young man with Gracie who was sent to 1923. At the time, the technology wasn’t developed well enough to do it, but his scientists worked years to develop it. He used that same technology on us for this mission. He felt we were the only ones uniquely qualified, but being in our senior years, He chuckled, we could’ve never chased you up that pyramid mountain."

So that’s why you came, to stop me from destroying the crystal. Apprehension filled his eyes as he gazed at the ground. All this was for nothing... I have failed, and Helen is still without a mother. What am I going to tell Grace? 

Beck placed his hand on his shoulder. We had to come to save you and all of us, Uncle Kyle. All those years of anticipation must have stressed you out, and now this has to be a huge disappointment. 

I understand all that but Gracie and I were hoping we could right-a-wrong and little Helen would grow up with her mother around.

That’s an honorable sentiment and we all feel the same way but it wasn’t in the cards, Kyle. She did have a great dad to raise her, and this time when your counterpart goes home, he will remarry to a lovely woman in a few years. She could never replace Grace, but she and Helen became very close.

Lady Luck can be awfully cruel at times; it seems I’ve seen a lot of her bad side in my lifetime.

I know that feeling, Uncle Kyle, Beck said.

Say, by you two coming here and revealing your identities to me, aren’t you going to cause some kind of time-cataclysm or something?

Dutch chuckled. Our visit is sanctioned by the Onikymn committee. We came to prevent a fissure, not cause one, big difference. Did you write anything about Sirus Barsamian in your memoirs?

Not that I can recollect, Kyle said.

In our original time line, we had a nemesis by the name of Sirus Barsamian, alias Nicolai Amadeusz, an evil ethereal from the spirit world. He wanted the Onikymn crystal to travel back to ancient Assyria to unleash fear and torture onto his king that murdered him. Sirus escaped the Afterworld and possessed the mortal body of a Nicolai Amadeusz. You, me, Darcy and Nev, assisted by Darcy’s mother Angela, battled Barsamian and his army of demons at Deir el Bahri near Luxor, Egypt. 

Every time I hear these stories, it sends shivers up my spine, Beck said, glancing at Kyle. Dad always described you standing tall, gun in one hand, and the Onikymn crystal in the other, facing down the evil that surrounded you. You were ready to give up your own life, the life you wanted with Grace to save Mom, Dad and Nev. I can’t fathom the courage it took to do what you did. 

Kyle’s eyes widened from disbelief and from a touch of embarrassment. What Beck described wasn’t in his memoirs to himself and it was something he could never comprehend doing. Well now, this is the first I’ve heard of this. You’re saying I did all that? 

The three of them nodded. 

Kyle chuckled. That’s a lot to swallow. That can’t be me. 

True love is a powerful weapon in the heart of the right person, Darcy said. For whatever it took, you were committed to being with Grace. Your strength and your resolve was something to behold. 

Dutch gazed at Kyle, thinking back and smiled. I remember when we first met at the dig site in the Badlands and then at the beer joint. You asked for my help to find the crystal. I didn’t believe you had it in you, a car salesman going on this type of operation. But, you turned out to be a real badass warrior. As an ex-military combatant, it was an honor to work with you. 

Kyle’s eyebrows stretched high on his forehead. Well, my little memoir was shy of a few bits of information.

Heavy rain pelted their car while approaching the hotel Regis on Juarez Avenue in Mexico City. Beck pulled to a stop in front. Dutch, Darcy and Kyle jumped out, hurrying toward the entrance, their hats and clothes soaked before making it under the canvas awning. Beck left to find a parking space. 

Darcy fluffed her matted wet hair as they walked inside the foyer to the half round staircase and stopped. It’s good fortune we happened to check into the same hotel, Kyle. We are just up the steps, room 205. Why don’t we get dried off, cleaned up and let’s meet for dinner? 

My room number is 412, how about five o’clock? Kyle said and headed toward the elevator.

See you then, Dutch said removing his hat, slapping it against his pant leg to shake off the excess water. 

Three

EARLY THE NEXT MORNING, the phone rang. Darcy rolled over, startled out of her slumber, grasped the handset, and said, Hello.

This is Kyle, I’m sorry for waking you, but something terrible has happened. We need to talk.

Give us ten minutes to get ourselves together. Darcy placed the phone on the hook and smacked Dutch on his backside. Get up, Kyle is coming.

Huh? he moaned.

She jumped out of bed, jammed her feet into her slippers, and put on her robe. Dutch, get up, she said at a near shout.

Leave me alone. I stayed up late drinking with Beck, he groaned. Try back after you make some coffee.

She rushed around the bed and shook him. That was Kyle, he sounded despondent. He’s coming over in ten minutes... something’s wrong.

Dutch sat up and rubbed his eyes. Why didn’t you say so?

I did say so, she said with a harsh tone. I might as well be talking to a zombie first thing in the mornings, especially after the zombie has been drinking all night. She threw his robe at him and it landed on his head. Call Beck, and I’ll get us some coffee.

Darcy came back, sipping her coffee and shook her head, setting their cups on the table. Mother Mary and sweet Jesus you are a sight, Dutch O’Hara. You look like the son of Frankenstein with your hair spiking everywhere. He yawned, more or less ignoring her as she stood in front of him combing his hair with her hands.

Dutch wrapped his arms around her waist, closed his eyes, and laid his head on her bosom, using them for pillows. "Sleep, I need to —

A knock came at the door.

She squirmed out of his grasp and opened it. Come in, Kyle. What’s the matter?

Dutch waved his hand at the cushioned chair. Have a seat, partner.

I’m sorry to bother you so early, but I’ve been pacing for three hours. I couldn’t wait any longer.

Dutch sat on the bed and patted the place for her to sit next to him.

Kyle was about to explain when they heard another knock on the door.

Come in, son, the door’s open, Dutch said in a loud tone and took a couple of gulps from his cup.

Got here as quick as I could, Beck said, sitting adjacent to Darcy. Mornin’, Uncle Kyle, are you okay?

Kyle stood and paced in front of the chair rubbing the back of his neck. Three hours ago, I got a phone call from Gracie. Anne didn’t come home from work yesterday. She called Anne’s friends and the place she works. Anne told a coworker she was going by the bank, and to the grocery store. It’s unlike her not to call if she had plans to go somewhere for the evening.

Did Grace call the police? Beck asked.

Yes, but they won’t fill out a missing person’s report for seventy-two hours.

Please sit, Kyle. I know how upset you must be but try to relax a little.

Oh my God, do you think it has anything to do with us being here at Cholula. I mean, what if that Sirus character saw us and kidnapped her?

Let’s not jump to any conclusions. It’s my experience that when a loved one disappears, they will usually show up within twenty-four hours with some lame excuse, Beck said.

You need to catch the next flight home, Dutch said. Go get packed; we’ll make reservations for you and drive you to the airport. Can I borrow that gold pendent Reagle gave you? I want to take pictures to show someone. I’ll give it back when we leave for the airport.

Kyle removed the pendent and handed it to him. When I read Reagle’s inscription translated in my memoirs, I always felt it was my lucky charm. I’ll be ready in about thirty minutes.

MEXICO CITY INTERNATIONAL Airport — 9:35AM

The three of them made their way to the ticket counter where Kyle checked into a flight to Fort Wayne, Indiana with one stopover in Dallas, Texas.

Would you two like a cup of coffee? Darcy asked.

Dutch looked at her with tired eyes. I could sure use one.

Kyle glanced around for a public phone. Not for me, thanks, I’m going to call Gracie to let her know I’m on my way.

Okay, we’ll meet here, Dutch said.

After ten minutes, Dutch finished his coffee and stood to throw the Dixie paper cup in the trash when he noticed Kyle hurrying toward them. Darcy stood to see what Kyle had to say.

Good news, guys, the police found Anne.

Oh, what a relief, Dutch said.

Darcy was breathless, placing her hand on her chest and smiled. Oh Kyle, that’s wonderful.

I have to sit, my legs feel weak, Kyle said with a relieved grin. We have a cabin on a lake about fifty miles from the house. Anne went there after work to stock up on groceries and the car broke down on the way home.

Your flight is ready for boarding. The gate is this way, we’ll walk with you, Dutch said, grabbing his bag. 

Darcy walked arm-in-arm with Kyle as they sauntered through the terminal. It’s been so good seeing you, again.

This trip has been a disappointing and fantastic at the same time, I must say. Wait until Gracie finds out who I ran into at the Cholula Pyramid, Kyle said. I can’t get over having a godson. Next to Helen and Anne, that’s monumental, even if I don’t have any memory of it. Well, here we are, he said, embracing Darcy. Stay safe and when this is over, you guys please come to see us.

Darcy pulled away and smiled. We will.

Kyle turned to Dutch. Wish I were going with you, though I wouldn’t be much help. He stretched out his hand. Danny Boy.

Dutch grasped it. Old man.

They smiled, hugged with a quick pat on the back, and Kyle turned to walk down the ramp, never looking back.

Dutch glanced at a quiet Darcy while strolling toward the front entrance. She seemed melancholy. It’ll be all right, sweetheart.

ONE WEEKS LATER: CHOLULA - 8PM

We’ve been surveilling this place for two days, Dutch grumbled, glancing