The Rulers Above: Volume 2 Awakening Of The Hearts

By Del Winterbottom

Marriet was staring at the Heart, clueless as to what was going to happen next. She suddenly heard strange whispering noises in both her ears. The three Hearts of Colspo appeared to her: the face of the first Heart looked mean, frowning, and grunting; the face of the second Heart looked kind, smiling, and sighing peacefully; the face of the third Heart looked boring, as it let out a dull sigh.

Marriet Sworn doesn’t know it yet, but she is about to encounter the three Hearts of Harlay Colspo and their power to manipulate love, she is going to meet the greatest healer in the world – Evento – and learn of the great fire that happened in the village of Glidegalga. She will meet the High Elders of the Steps, and she will help the angels to try and save their world from Normandis Hindelor.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Del Winterbottom
• Release date: Sep 30, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005687861

Del Winterbottom

Author of The Silent Sheriff, The Rulers Above series, Take Me, Fable King, The Wishes In The Stones, Connie, and Fable Queen.

Book preview

THE RULERS ABOVE: VOLUME TWO

AWAKENING OF THE HEARTS

BY DEL BILLY WINTERBOTTOM

COPYRIGHT: 2018

All books written by Del Winterbottom

The Silent Sheriff

Take Me

The Rulers Above: Volume 1 The Traitor’s Fool

The Rulers Above: Volume 2 Awakening Of The Hearts

The Rulers Above: Volume 3 Eternity’s Glow

Fable King

The Wishes In The Stones

Connie

Fable Queen

Many miracles have entered the world above

But

None are as powerful

As the three Hearts

Of Harlay Colspo

CHAPTER ONE: GLIDEGALGA’S MIRACLE

Evento was beautiful; her willowy body was dressed in white robes; she had pristine skin, the charming long face of a young woman with glistering straight white teeth and sleek light shoulder-length blond hair, with eyes green and blue. She was sitting in a chair with her head laid back in the small narrow living room of her bijou home, thinking about the latest news spreading throughout the three Steps.

Normandis had left Melthom, and had most certainly gone missing, but no one had any idea as to his whereabouts. It was then that she heard the front door open ahead. She sat up straight, stern-faced, crossed her legs, crossed her arms, and tensed up as she faced the arrival of an angelic man in white robes. The angel entered, turned mindfully, and gently shut the door while Evento peered at him. The angel was holding a black briefcase as he walked towards her – she wondered what was inside. The angel looked around the room; there was a shelf to his right on the wall. He lifted the case and placed it on the shelf, which was in line with Evento’s neck as her eyes shifted to the case, then back to the angel who was looking at her.

Well – not what I was expecting, the angel said, looking surprised as he surveyed the room’s austerity.

When the angel glanced back at her, the mean stony look on her face made him feel incredibly uncomfortable as his eyes turned away into his bubble, and then the next moment, they turned out of the bubble, reluctantly meeting back with her stare.

May…may I…may I sit down? the angel asked, looking nervous.

Evento wasn’t saying anything, she remained still, rage in her eyes as dread overcame the visitor. The angel welcomed himself onto a chair in front of her.

I understand you are the one that I’m looking for? the visitor said.

How do I know what you are looking for? Evento snapped.

I am looking for Evento of Glidegalga…am I in the right place? the visitor asked.

Yes, you are, she said grumpily.

Well, we had best get to it then, the visitor said with a sly smile.

You will answer my questions first of all, Evento said demandingly.

I’m surprised you have decided to emerge from your shell, the visitor said.

Don’t be clever with me, I know what you are, you’re a beggar, that’s what you are, nothing more, nothing less. I saw you coming, the moment your friend walked out of here with that disappointed look on his face yesterday, said Evento.

Hinus Etrona has sent me. I am separate from Bibible, and I play no part in Highlow, the visitor said, giving Evento a friendly look.

The answer is still no. You know the way out. If you will, said Evento harshly, gesturing him back to the front door.

The visitor’s friendly look suddenly turned steely, as he showed no sign of leave.

Normandis, where is he? the visitor asked.

Evento sharply turned her head to the visitor in disgust.

How would I know? Evento snapped, outraged.

Would you like to find him? the visitor asked, looking deadly serious, staring her square in the eye.

Evento twitched her head and squinted – the visitor’s eye suddenly caught a curious spark on her face.

Why now? she asked.

Well, you see...Hinus Etrona has always kept its suspicions close; it’s the reason it remains so strong to this day. Normandis has been hiding in the ruins of Melthom for over twenty years, and the other day, he shows up to fresh air after all that time. He jumps off Melthom and tries to kill a twenty-one year old woman named Marriet Sworn. They ended up fighting all the way down into a place called England. You’re an Archangel, Evento, that is what you are, and we both know that if you wanted to be, and you agreed to the rulers’ insistent requests for your service, we both know that you could flaunt the title…Archlord, the visitor said.

Archlords have too many responsibilities, said Evento.

Precisely why they are famed, Archlords – they can handle it, the visitor said.

No, they cannot, that is where you are wrong. The rulers pile too much on their soul. I would never serve as Archlord because I would never accept the responsibilities granted for that title. Yes, I would be given the chance to save more lives, but let’s be honest, that’s not what I need, said Evento.

What is it that you need? the visitor asked.

I need people to help themselves, said Evento passionately.

They won’t, not while they have a miracle to rely on. How many miracles are there in the Steps? the visitor asked.

I don’t know, said Evento, slightly deflated, glum.

I don’t see any lately; I’m betting on this day however, that I will see a miracle rise; I’m hoping that you will be that miracle. Nine Elders died in England, I’m sure the news caught your attention like it did everyone else? the visitor said.

Of course, said Evento.

Rumour has it that every Elder killed in that same room, was murdered so by Angelica – you remember him? the visitor asked.

Of course, Evento said coldly.

We have our suspicions as to what truly happened. Hinus Etrona is asking you to lead a group of emissaries, to investigate, and discover the truth of what really happened below the Steps, the visitor said.

You know, I get messages – every day I wake up to a new message – sometimes, there are lots of messages, and sometimes there is only one—

Let me just stop you for a moment. If you are still unsure, whether you should agree to this request, then allow me…to show you something…that might convince you; if you agree to this investigation – then, I suppose, you could take this as…your first clue. Something to get you started on your way, the visitor said, as he got up off the chair.

He grabbed the briefcase, entered the right combination, unlocked, and opened it.

Evento was trying to see.

This was found in a headquarters in London, the same headquarters where eight of the nine Elders were found dead, the angel said, then he turned around and walked close to her, hiding it in his hands. One of the analysts noticed it, it was an anomaly among the others – it was planted at the scene of a crime. He brought his face close to her – Evento’s heart was racing, as she wondered what was in the angel’s hands. Now, if this is what I think it is, then this is going to be extremely difficult for you, but I need you to tell me if it is what we think it is, the visitor said.

He showed Evento what he had in his hand – Evento gasped, her eyes were burning.

It was a quill, but it wasn’t like any of the ordinary snow-white or light-grey quills – this one was distinctive-looking: sapphire, glimmering like a jewel, smooth and soft to the touch.

Evento felt choked.

Does this belong…well…you know, the angel said, with heartfelt sympathy.

The sight of this sapphire quill brought back her distant memories……

Evento was standing in Glidegalga – her true home. She was younger then, a teenager, thinner, and half the size of what she is now; her hair was thicker and much tidier. She wore a short skirt of smooth silk and a breast-band covering her flat-chest.

Glidegalga was a peaceful loving village, which had never interfered in any wars or battles in the Steps’ history – a village known for its seclusion within the angelic world.

Evento stood on the smooth surface of chalk-white rock in one of the many streets astir with the angelic public; rows of grey straw huts, and tall dwellings of stone, and wood, with chimneys letting out shiny steam, and large circular holes in the dwellings’ walls, as well as small windows, all lined the sides of busy streets. All the happy children flying over the huts and around the dwellings, playing games of hide-and-seek, and racing one another within the parental boundaries of their neighbourhood, laughing, and chuckling. Evento looked around merrily – her neighbours smiled warmly at her as they passed by in the joyous atmosphere. There could truly be nothing to fear or panic about as she embraced the happiness shared by everyone in the village. In her elation, her wings unfurled and sang her a blissful hymm, which only she could hear.

Glidegalga was a large village in the second Step, built on top of a floating pale, spiralled mountain, with parts of the mountain decorated with snow.

Angelic neighbours halted around Evento as she stood in oblivion. Now she detected the silence; she looked at her neighbours, all frozen, staring upwards, and no more were they smiling; now they all looked fearful; the look of fear, Evento was fascinated by its rare appearance. Her smile faded – she frowned – she felt dread’s creep for the first time.

Myriad small flames ignited the night-sky above. Evento’s eyes reflected the wave of firelights as they spread towards her and the village – screams of panic now as a barrage of flaming arrows streamed down towards Glidegalga. Innocent angelic civilians, all drunk with fear. Some were scampering; some tripping and falling; some hiding in the flanking alley shortcuts in the streets and neighbourhoods; some launching into the sky, racing to leave the mountain – families in mayhem, caught in the tempest of fire and sharp-pointed steel. Angels in despair, flailing, plummeting over the village from the sudden impact-thrust of the searing impalement of arrows and spears. Evento stood still, head back, face lifeless, wide eyes up in the hail of the injured. Thuds: bodies crashing upon the mountain, upon the village. Thuds as angels separated from their families in the heights and crashed through the roof of a friend’s home. Thuds as bodies landed on angels on the grounds of the village. Thuds every second. Straw blowing down the many avenues, down the many alleys choked with families, down the frantic streets and neighbourhoods. The storm of flaming arrows crashed into the village, the glow of the flames now lay over the mountain. Arrowheads landing in straw roofs, arrows smashing through the windows of countless homes, kindling the insides, arrowheads flying in the necks, shoulders, wings, and legs of running angels; bodies collapsing over the streets, over the countless wounded that failed to escape with their wings. Arrows landing all over the streets – heaps of wounded angelic men, women, and children all over, like small walls blocking off parts of the streets. Heavy smoke appearing, spreading fast, pouring out the shattered windows, rising from the holes in the roofs, fluxing, advancing, increasing, obscuring, enveloping the village, its fowl stench filling the decaying air – everyone smelling fire – everyone breathing poison. Angels floundering, choking, coughing, crying, wheezing, croaking, screaming weakly, scattered, lost, alone, with painful rheumy purblind eyes peering ineffectively in despair. Flames bursting all over, fiery lights and fiery shades spreading, like expanding red suns deep in smog’s ubiquity. The many flames came together – a great blaze was born, and it grew, and it rose to meet the angels, draining them with its wicked heat, blanketing them in a thick sweat as it tore down their homes and swept its living sparks and embers all over, throughout the obscure. This fiery giant hissed so loud that you would think a huge snake was close. All these thriving red lights, with their violent glows, children to the flames, and quills burning too, burnt black quills, white quills, and grey, all wondering, everywhere, dancing in all this fire, and all this smoke; you could smell the burning flesh, you could see the ash pouring from above this obscure world, storms of soot sweeping, covering the streets. All this ash, all this soot, all this darkness claiming the mountain’s peak, slowly burying the village and its angels.

Glidegalga was east of Bibible, and because it resided in Bibible’s region, it had been caught, then, in the war between Normandis of Eraliva and the High Elders of the Steps. The attack led by Normandis on one of the High Elders’ territories in the second Step was a shocking unexpected move by the Traitor. Normandis’ petty soldiers flew past Glidegalga, having succeeded now in their sweeping devastation of the peaceful village.

Everyone was fighting to stay alive and they knew they didn’t have long left as they all hoped for a miracle. Valleys of fire streamed towards Evento as she collapsed onto her knees in this ash-storm, holding herself up with one arm, head down, her smutted body as black as can be. A tear covered a dimple on her left cheek as she lifted her head, faced the oncoming bulging light ahead in the smog, shut her eyes, and concentrated. The tremendous flames burst – a fiery whip was inches away – the heat about to scald.

Evento, with her eyes closed, raised the palms of her hands up just past her shoulders – the flames perished. A miraculous bright white glow appeared around the young teenager; the flames tried to spread beyond the glow, but extinguished whenever they touched the brightness. Then – shimmering white lights in the shape of eels appeared and shot into the flames, deleting the fire, pushing back all the fiery shades and all the fiery lights – there were vast swathes of steam following the shuddering blaze. These eels of dazzling brilliance charged further into the pyro wave, stopping it from spreading further – projectiles of sparkling light shot out the blaze and into the heights, rising in this smoky world, leaving narrow smoke-free trails as they drifted like ambling distress signals shining through the obscurity out into the smoke-free mystic world of the Steps. The eels of light morphed into great waves of dumbfounding beauty, constricting the blaze, draining its heat, shrinking it to its end. Rivers of light poured from the white waves and ran in many directions across the village, clearing the smaller flames. Suddenly, all the light came together and blasted much of the soot and ash away from the mountain, freeing the angels of Glidegalga, the soot on them fading in light’s embrace. The tiring flames, now small and withered, fading, and all the sparks, too, fading. The smoke, clearing. The heat was gone, the light as well, and the angels, still flooded with shock, still wracked with thoughts of death, opened their eyes to a calming wonder. They were all glowing brightly, their pain now absent, and they wondered where it had gone. They all stood up; girls and boys; men and women, their eyes on their hands, fascinated by the sparkling glow around them. The angels were all staring at Evento with flameless arrows still impaled in different parts of their bodies, but no one could feel any more pain, and they knew that they were still alive because they could smell the purified air, and could feel a gentle breeze. The glow, created by Evento, had made the residents of Glidegalga impervious to harm. The angels standing on the mountain pulled out the charcoaled smoking arrows, gazing solemnly at their saviour and miracle. Arrow by arrow, they ripped out, and as they pulled an arrow out of their gut, or their shoulder, or their neck, or their leg, or even their head, their wound would then heal perfectly. Glidegalga’s miracle lowered her arms and opened her eyes to thousands more, all staring, then her own bubble of light faded. She smiled humbly, and for Evento, it felt normal to smile, after all, she had just saved the lives of many angels, plenty of which were her friends. The families around her joined hands, taking deep breaths, as they held on tight, sorrowful. Evento couldn’t understand why everyone still looked sad. She had saved all of them. They continued to stare, and then she realised that they were actually looking past her. She turned – crestfallen – there was a short path of sapphire quills, and at the end of this beautiful glittering path – her sister – she lay on the floor. She looked much like Evento, but her hair was naturally curly-blond, and she was much younger and looked much more frail, her skin as pale as the mountain through the severe loss of blood. Evento ran to her sister as quickly as she could, snuggled her arms around her baby sister’s neck, and comforted her as she came close, face-to-face. She held out her hand in front of her sibling, who was beginning to tremble; a light shone in Evento’s hand, she made sure it was the most powerful healing spell she had ever created, just to ensure, absolutely, that her sister would be okay. Her sister’s eyes closed, the trembles intensified. The healing light engulfed her sister’s whole body; everyone in Glideglaga closed their eyes and joined in one hope. The light faded. Evento opened her eyes and smiled at her sister, convinced that she had saved yet another life with her magnificent power. She prepared to lift her up – she felt dead weight – her sister’s little arm went limp. She erupted into tears, holding her dead sister close, screaming, piercing the hearts around her, but not the heart she screamed for. Evento just kept squeezing her sister’s head against her aching chest, as she laid her head back, her face full of despair, the anguish blaring from her gaping mouth, her deranged eyes up in a now empty night-sky. If you could see the measure of pain in Evento’s eyes, you would know that she wasn’t aware of anything, that she didn’t know where she was, and that she was trapped in a moment of madness, for the love of her sister. She felt her sister’s snug skin turning ice-cold, as a deathly-grey shade started covering her sister……

Evento?

She was back in the room, staring at one of her sister’s elegant quills.

The visitor was giving her a sympathetic look; he had been staring at the pain in her eyes for too long before she returned from her memories.

I know this is hard for you, the visitor said gently.

What does it mean? she snapped.

He lowered the quill and sighed.

You’re being called, said the visitor.

By who? she asked.

That is what we want you to find out. Help us, please, the visitor asked.

Evento was thinking.

The visitor was waiting.

Okay…I’ll help…but should anyone need saving…I will do my best, but there’s no guarantee that I can save a life, said Evento sadly.

Very well, the visitor said solemnly. Now, before we begin, there are a few others I would like you to meet, they will be your followers; after you have greeted your followers, you can start your mission.

Where should I begin? Evento asked.

Well, the woman who fought Normandis, she is currently in England. If I were you, I’d start with her, said the visitor.

CHAPTER TWO: CONFRONTATION

Marriet Sworn, Angelica, and Elliot Wilson had arrived in the three Steps. Marriet was dumbfounded by the vast cities and landscapes ambling in the high skies as they flew upwards. The first angelic kingdom she saw was Highlow; suddenly stunned she was, her eyes studying the super granite architecture – colossal was the motionless kingdom, from afar it looked like a giant’s open eye, staring down at the island of Great Britain. Highlow’s frame was a giant ring, and sensationally built in all directions, even upside-down, on the inside and outside of that ring were curved villages, towns, cities, and landscapes. Cities tight against cities with conurbations, within the monumental ring of the incredible kingdom; hundreds of areas, countless zones, thousands of angelic homes; large circular holes in the multifarious stone towers, high walls, house-like structures, and small huts. There were three vast depths of megalopolises around and in the centre of the eye’s pupil, and in the deepest, sunless parts of the chasms, lamps hung over the walls and homes, glowing elegantly with white lights. The lashes of the eye were extensive bridges reaching out miles away into the sky, clouds, and light of the sun or moon. From afar, the evening sun could be seen shining on Highlow’s back, adding a corona of dazzling radiating splendent light.

Wow, this is amazing, Marriet exclaimed.

These are the towns and cities of the first Step. Also, what you see there is Highlow, the greatest kingdom in the first Step, said Angelica, as Marriet smiled in amazement.

Do you know all these places? Marriet asked.

Sure do, I wouldn’t mention my name in any of them though – I wasn’t particularly well-liked around the Steps, said Angelica.

Do you think the message that I asked Linedee to write got to Bibible safely? Marriet asked.

I’m sure it has, said Angelica.

I suppose it’s up to them then – what happens to us while we’re up here, I mean; we did tell a lie in that message though, didn’t we? said Marriet.

You mean, telling them that you are the reincarnation of Trance of Skyrise? said Angelica.

Yep, that’s the one, said Marriet.

That lie should help get things on our side because we’re going to be pretty busy up here, said Angelica.

Hey, whereabouts am I going again? said Elliot, as he flew

aimlessly, flapping his wings and rising further through the first Step, with Marriet holding onto his shoulders.

What should I say? Marriet asked.

Tell him to keep going; we’re nearing the second Step now. Remember, when you see the guard, show him the silver piece of Colspo’s wing and he’ll let you through – you won't have to say anything, said Angelica.

Gotcha – Elliot…we’re getting close to the second Step, do you still have that silver piece I gave you? Marriet asked.

Elliot patted his pockets.

Erm, yeah, yeah I do, Elliot said.

An angelic guard was hovering in the sky above and was about to stick the palm of his hand out in Elliot’s face.

Elliot quickly brought out the silver piece of Harlay Colspo’s wing and aimed its shine at the guard; the guard’s hand immediately jerked away from