Earth Gate: Cross Gate, #2

By A.F. Roberts

In this new tale, Cassie Severs and crew return from their climactic adventure in Turkey, and get back home to New York. Murro Vogt is sent back to prison, but Sandra NiKells begins concocting a plan for his future release/relocation, as her visions of their coming, greater mission, the Earth Gate, grow ever stronger.

The visions imagine herself, Murro, Cassie and David Severs at four corners of the world, originating from a base point of the Four Corners, southwest United States. A wild ride ensues to gather them all there at the appointed time.

Snares and opposition develop to impede the success of their rendezvous. The plan Sandra devises to get Murro back with them involve Witness Relocation for him. Enter U.S. Marshall, Sylvia Weathersfield, assigned to Vogt as his supervisor in the program. As she becomes more and more suspicious of Murro's true motives, she dedicates herself to putting down anything on his part she perceives doesn't 'smell' right.

And indeed it doesn't, as the time grows nigh. New and old friends join the foursome in their race to meet their destiny – enacting the Earth Gate; a mega-Cross Gate which shall encircle the earth, catching up those of faith within in it, and taking them… beyond this world!

 

A Sci-fi Mashup!

"This was a fun read – the dialogue was entertaining and well written. I did enjoy the story."

- Remy LeClair, Amazon

Earth Gate, Cross Gate 2 – "It's a good read."

- Gabriele, Amazon

• Language: English
• Publisher: A.F. Roberts
• Release date: May 16, 2021
• ISBN: 9781736151648

A.F. Roberts

Charissa, a 200-year-old vampire, lives and works in present-day, Old Town Chicago, only blocks away from the parish of Father Christopher, a dutiful Catholic priest whose only real concern is the spiritual welfare of his community. That is, until the two meet – and are never the same again.  A ‘chance’ meeting brings the Man of God and the Mistress of the Night into a strangely symbiotic relationship – once she feeds upon him – something she initially tried hard to resist. Soon, they are sensing one another’s patterns in odd daydream interludes, building towards a newfound connection neither of them can deny.  Charissa’s cannibalistic vampire origins come into the picture when her maker, a cannibal shaman of the Caribbean, throws out his own tangled web in an attempt to re-connect with her after over a century of silence between them.  Christopher and Charissa find themselves, plus her friend Ariyah and her beau Joe, in the middle of a cross-continental nightmare leading them into the still cannibal-infested islands of the West Indies…

Book preview

PROLOGUE

A Pond in Space

UNDER A MOONLIT NIGHT sky, a forest pond entertained two women leisurely swimming within it. They remain submerged, playfully floating about, enjoying each other's company.

They continue to drift, but are suddenly doing so not underwater, but in outer space, and at a considerable distance from both the earth and moon. This could be to get the best view of both spheres, from afar. The two are similar to those which they observe; the first, larger – the older, and more mature woman; the second – a smaller, younger girl, circling around the first to learn from her.

They are not in space-suits of any kind. The pair glide freely, unprotected – yet do not freeze, nor wither, nor are unable to breathe. The duo nodded to each other as if in anticipation of something – something they are there to witness.

A sparkle is noticed by the girl, upon a certain spot of the globe. From it, a beam of light emitted, shooting upward, then arcing out into space. Its trajectory bent to the curve of the earth, on a path to meet a second spark beaming up and circling across the world. This one began at the spot where the first beam was heading, looping around towards the first’s starting point, as though to make a complete circle when it met. 

The women grab each other's hands, both feeling a personal pull to each beam's point-of-origin, acknowledging the feeling by their firm clasp. They are both familiar, from their mutual experience of each forming half-circles separately, to building complete, perfect circles together. For they are Cassandra, a unified persona made up of Cassie Severs, the girl, and Sandra NiKells, the woman. They dream here together as one, having dream-walked to each other, as they slumbered before returning home from their adventures in Europe. They dreamt to pursue this vision they now behold – seeking a more complete image of that which they'd only glimpsed before. An image of a mission yet ahead, contrasting that of the one freshly behind them.

"We're the beams, aren't we, Sand? asked Cassie. Or, at least, we're that spark where they started from, down on earth, right?"

That's what I'm feeling, Cass, replied Sandra. Yes, somehow, we're the anchor point. The Shepherd does the rest, I think.

"Good 'thread,' Sand. We're linked up nice and tight to see this, and it's so much clearer than what we'd seen before. I still don't completely get it, but that's okay. I don't feel like I even have to right now. Just getting this awesome look at it kinda gives me a peace about it, y'know?" commented Cassie.

I have that 'at-peace' feeling too, Cass. I like it. I think now we can run with this and not be as stressed as to what it exactly means.

Run with it. Like how one half-circle of light chased the other across the earth. And as Sandra and Cassie go back under the water of the pond, they swim after one another in circles.

CHAPTER 1

Coming Home

ATurkish Airlines Boeing 777-300ER soared into the sky out of Istanbul's Ataturk International Airport; it's destination: New York City, JFK Airport. Among its many passengers, five of them in particular, felt as though they have already arrived. Father and daughter, David and Cassie Severs, plus their entourage of officers Sandra NiKells and Charles Bennett, with their charge, Murro Vogt had traveled extensively previous. By ground from Amaysa to the Capitol of Ankara, then by commuter into Istanbul. This, not accounting for their riverboat trip on the Kura, previously from Astra back to Amasya. Lastly, not even considering their trip from beyond this world, back into the Caspian Sea itself!

Both worldly – and other-worldly travelers, the Severs and company fell into the exhaustion of mundane, earthly travel modes. Methodical and cumbersome, mere flight seemed to them now, as a dream. The Cross Gate portals they're accustomed to using to travel across planes of existence were nearly instantaneous.

Generally talkative beyond measure, none of the group had words, save for Cassie, only momentarily, before she dozed off again. Told you guys gating would have been a whole lot faster, Dad! With that, the five fell into well-deserved, restful and dream-filled sleep.

Dreams – being at the center, the core of their powers to cross over.

David dreamt of he and Cassie’s ancestor, Peter de Severy, the Grand Master Templar Knight; who first sought to utilize the Cross Gate, a sacrificial portal to pass to the other side, via its maker, the Shepherd, the Christ.

Sandra dreamt of Cassie, falling into prodigy-like skill in wielding the gate – dreaming to, and joining with herself, becoming the dual entity of Cassandra.

Murro dreamt of Cassandra seeking him out and turning their prior adversarial relationship around, from when he was a cult leader, coveting the Severs as a prize for their ancestral-line. Then ultimately, joining their side, to rescue the souls of his own massacred congregation from a dark limbo in the beyond.

Cassie dreamt on of the great rescue of those souls, including her mother and brother, from their imprisoning captor, the beast, Khalil; with the aid of David and Vogt, seeking redemption for his own association with Khalil, to whom he’d sacrificed so many.  She dreamt too, of the Shepherd himself, heralding the victorious conclusion of that mission.

Sandra continued dreaming of another mission yet to come for them, planted in her’s and Cassie’s psyches by the Shepherd – with mysterious images of the whole earth surrounded in cross circles. She dreamt further of their final return to the earthly plane, with a remnant of the rescued ones; souls to be re-introduced as re-incarnates to this century's time-line, for a second shot at salvation – her own proposal to the Shepherd to implement, on Cassie’s behalf.

Charlie dreamt of the Turkish boatman/river-guide, Peroz, whom he waited with for the Severs to return from across realms upon the Caspian Sea. 

This same Peroz who has seen these five through all of their return travels to reach the plane upon which they now slumbered. This oceanic flight which took them from night into morning, a new day. Finally, as the morning just peeked into afternoon, the Atlantic once more reached landmass, the metropolis that is New York, their home.

Initially upon their return to the city, the first order of business was getting Murro back into custody for his previous crimes. A tall order, in that the true details of what occurred could never be submitted by officers of Charlie and Sandra’s caliber and taken seriously, without their probable dismissal as having lost their minds. Thus, their reports merely reflected that they had re-apprehended him overseas, after his ‘unexplained’ escape. As his processing back inside neared completion, his two apprehending officers were allowed a moment.

Well, Murro, began Sandra, it’s been quite a ride. I’m sorry it has to be like this, in the end of it all –

"From what you’ve shared in our return home, it’s not really the end, is it?" replied Vogt.

"No, likely not, sir. But I’ve no idea how long until this event. In the meantime, I’d like you to have this," handing him a hand-crafted little necklace, a gift from Peroz at their departure. The pendant was a small circle with a cross in the middle.

"Peroz gave this to me when we left. I guess our adventures made a lasting impression on him. You should have it, if they’ll allow you to. Draw upon it, for us to dream to you. You’ll be the fourth corner when the time comes. This could act as a talisman for me to connect to you as I become privy to its advent."

At which time, what? We 'gate' me out of here, like before? I’m sure they’ll be watching me a lot closer this time.

No doubt. We’ll just have to figure it out. Maybe we’ll concoct relocation or something. Bust you out in transit. I don’t know.

Charlie frowned adamantly at this, shaking his head in disbelief. You just can’t stop trying to make more trouble, can you Sand? Just like this last outing, I’m not technically one of your ‘four,’ so I’ll end up being your fall-guy, holding the bag, while you all are out gallivanting through your circles and gates somewhere!

She rolled her eyes with a sigh, looking at him, then back to Vogt.

Or we’ll figure out something that doesn’t put Charles on-the-hook, all right?

At that, Murro reached out to shake Charlie’s hand in good-bye. You’ve done above and beyond, sir. I thank you for all your efforts. Beginning on opposite sides as we have, I’m honored now, to call you ally.

You too, nutcase. I don’t know whether to call it an ‘honor’ or what, but like she said, it’s been a trip. Always nice to see somebody come around and become one of the good-guys. Take care, man.

With their farewells completed, Charlie and Sandra departed the facility, driving off. Charlie commented, "Y’know, Sand, the longer I’m involved with you and all this, the more I feel like we’re Mulder and Scully from The X-Files. But I don’t know if I’m as into it as they were."

"I know, and I’m sorry. I figure you’ve done more than your share. I don’t know how or when it will happen, and what’s left isn’t your

problem. I don’t want to make it such. I so appreciate what you’ve done already. I mean, no one could ask more, right?"

Right, Charlie replied. Still, after being on the merry-go-round this long, and you’ve got something even bigger to come – well, I might feel left behind if I bowed out completely.

Well, just book-mark it, my friend. I think we’re in ‘the eye of the storm' just now. It should stay calm for a while. So I'll tell you what – I’ll give you a ‘weather-report’ as I see us moving back into it, okay?

Deal, agreed Charlie.

CHAPTER 2

The Park

MEANWHILE, IN NEW YORK City Proper...

Two others were enjoying being in that ‘storm’s-eye.’ Having returned home, Cassie and David strolled along the path to the nearby lake-side park, simply taking in their familiar surroundings. They walked in quiet for a while, gazing about, basking in being back home. Yet, home was different somehow. The journey they’d made before had forever changed them, making even the known kind of – sideways.

So, Daddo, Cassie began, feel like having me show you a little more of what Sandy’s been dreaming to me? What she’s picked up from the visions from Shepherd? I’m sure you’ve been getting bits n’ pieces of it anyway, right?

I have – but I’m not sure I’m ready to delve into more just now, really, he replied.

Aw, c’mon, don’t be a sour puss, it’ll be fun! Let’s go sit n’ ‘meld’ for a spell, huh?

Reluctantly as ever, he sighed, going with her over towards the middle of the park, where they picked a spot and began.

You know I’m going to be ’monitoring’ you, in case things get out-of-hand, reminded David.

"I know, I know! I always need a babysitter when I sleep now. But you guys don’t give me much credit, I’ve gotta say. I got outta any trouble I caused myself at the Caspian Sea pretty much on pure instinct, y’know."

It’s not you I’m as worried about so much. You could cause a lot of havoc beyond yourself, maybe to others, if we’re not careful, ’y'know!’

Yeah, whatever. But, I’m ’the Caspian’ now, 'you know'! Now let’s get to it already.

Thus, they proceeded into the known routine; eyes closed, cleansing breaths and relaxing. Letting go, to let the images come freely, unrushed and unhurried. And so, the imagery came.

In the middle of a desert land lay a monument, with a platform of some fashion. And within it, a circle and inscription on the rounded ends of each quarter. Lines jutted out from the circle in four directions; north, east, south and west. The Four Corners, a specific, real place, though neither of them had ever physically been there. But it was as if they had as dust blew, indicative to weather patterns there.

Cassie appeared at circle’s center, dancing about in her own unique style. Until, from out of the dust, Sandra walked inward from one of the four points. Then, David from another – and Vogt entered from the side opposite of him. At which point, Cassie backed out from the center, out into the curve opposite Sandy. They all looked to one another in acknowledgement. They nodded, as if everybody knew what they’re doing there, even though, as yet, they actually didn’t. All extended both arms simultaneously towards each other, and as they did, the circle ‘rippled,’ and a ring of light rose forth from the platform. In a flash, a burst obliterated everything visible. As the blinding light faded back to normalcy, all four were gone, having vanished.

David blinked, "Whoa!"

He closed his eyelids again and held them shut for a moment. Opening them once more, he half expected his daughter to have disappeared. But no, she was still there in front of him, thankfully.

Cassie! I’ve seen that all before, yes, but really broken and undecipherable. That was so fluid. We were all there, at the actual Four Corners of the southwest, weren’t we?

Yup, that’s the place, I think, she said.

And, that’s a future insight, isn’t it? We’re all supposed to go there?

I wasn’t sure at first, but now, I’m thinkin’ so.

"Why sure now?"

Look around you, she said flatly.

They both turned their sights around themselves, looking outward from where they sat. They saw that they now rested within grass burnt in crop-circle fashion, with the pattern they just saw in their hypogopic state. A circle and the four lines dashed out from it. Cassie bowed her head as though busted. And indeed, she was.

Uh, oops. My bad!

David said nothing. No rebut, no scolding, no nothing. He stood, moving out from where they’d sat, giving himself distance to investigate it further.

Dad? Cassie muttered meekly.

Still no word. David pulled out his cell, dialing. The seconds ticked by as it rang. The other end picked up, and he greeted, Hi Sandra. If you’re not busy at the moment, you should come down here to the park. You remember the thing with the tree in Ardarhan in Turkey? Well, we’ve got another one here.

What? You guys ‘raised’ another tree or something? she asked, confused.

No, not exactly. Something else, David replied.

Her mind raced through things she’d channeled to Cassie recently; but coming up stumped, simply concluded, I’ll be right there.

See you soon, b’bye David signed off.

"What? exclaimed Cassie, still feeling a little guilty, but also put off by how she perceived he was dealing with the situation. You’re not sure about this, so you just call her and tattle on me – that’s your default?"

He cut her short very quickly, "I am sure – that she needs to see this. That’s all, that’s it, pull the claws in, Cass."

Oh – oops. Sorry, again.

Soon, Sandra arrived, coming up to David and Cassie standing together, partially blocking her line of sight into the park. Though she was far from frantic, her face did betray concern. What is it? Have you two done something? she asked, mostly knowing already that they had.

Cassie simply offered, Well, sorta –

David remained silent, as he and Cassie parted, so that Sandra could see beyond them.

Once she spotted it, there was no more to be said. Sandra slowly, methodically, moved towards the impression in the grass, as if she were magnetized to it. She let out an ‘Oh my’ on her approach.

They watched her as she drew in closer.

Reaching it, she knelt down to touch and feel it.

As Sandy was doing so, Cassie extended her arm to her mentor's direction, seeking to ‘thread' to her. Suddenly, Cassie saw the auras Sandy was picking up on as she ran her hands over the lines in the grass. Following through from her gesture, Cassie began walking over to her, but quickly stopped short, surprised. 

Sandra began brokenly weeping. Composing herself, she cleared her throat and spoke again to them. "Well, this confirms it. This symbol’s presence verifies every dream, every vision. I now know where we go, and when. In this last utterance, she glared at both of them, And I didn't want to know that!" sniffling some more.

They were taken aback.

"That was the last shred of foreknowledge I didn’t have as yet! When! And I liked it that way! She stood, going over to both David and Cassie, taking their hands. You’ve known me as your ’guide’ and more. In that more, I’ve grown to care about you guys more than I thought possible. Life as a psychic isn’t a normal one, by any stretch. And for the first time in years, I’ve felt something other than the things I generally feel. A yearning for family – yours. I just wanted to spend the time we have left enjoying it. And frankly, I wanted that time without knowing when that next phase of what we do comes. And thanks to your screwing around here, I don’t have that luxury anymore."

"And when is that?" David inserted.

"Dad!" Cassie scolded for his insensitivity.

No, it’s okay, Cass, responded Sandra with melancholy. "You know it now too, I sense – he may as well. It’s next year."

That still gives us plenty of time to enjoy the break, David said as he

back-peddled.

"Not the same as not knowing, you fools," Sandra scorned. She turned from them both, sighing for a moment.

David cradled her from behind, trying to find some words of encouragement. "I’m sorry. I wanted you to see this – thought you should; but I never meant to bring this upon you. I’m still pretty ignorant to the heights you and Cass have gone to. And I guess I sometimes don’t get how much you’ve seen – all you know."

Her back still to him, she reached her arm around to his neck to return his affection. "Kind of ironic, actually, you being the one more schooled in the tenants of the faith. And yet, you’ve really glimpsed so little. Then again, I’ve had the sole privilege of traveling with the Shepherd to the Father. Unmatchable. Unbelievable. But hey! We should scoot before this symbol you guys burned into the park gets discovered, and we’re still milling around it." 

Acknowledged, they headed back toward the parking lot.

Cassie grabbed Sandra by the arm, swinging her around to speak privately, "Waitaminute, Sand. About knowing, and not wanting to: You only got the year – I know that, I saw it too. But you don‘t have an exact date or nuthin.‘"

"You did see – very good – but what you missed was my interpretation. Not that it matters really, but I saw the numbers of the year come out of the cross-crop-circle; a sign of that year, quartered into its seasons. I surmised the time to be dead center, putting our time-frame at the beginning of summer. Which makes sense, considering the actual time of Christ’s birth was in summer, not winter – correct David?" 

Why yes, Sandy, I believe that’s right, he concurred.

Wow, Sand, said Cassie. "That’s incredible how you do that – see things, within things that way. I gotta work on my skills more I think."

"Exactly, Cassie! You do need to make greater effort to sharpen them. You hold awesome powers now, dear. This is what I’m saying: We all need time to regroup and refresh. To be ourselves again. You need to be a teenager once more, young and free. But at the same time, not be reckless with your abilities, as is the tendency of youth. With what you can do, you’ve got to be mindful of the consequences."

"With great power, comes great responsibility, right?"

Why yes, where’d you quote that from? The Constitution?

"Nope, Spider-Man! Listen Sand, I just got an idea. Why don’t you and Dad roll out to one of those ‘corner states’ – Arizona or Colorado – and just go kick it by yourselves? Relax, do a little vaca – maybe go run a youth camp or something? I know you’d dig that – Dad would too."

What? What about you? Sandra queried.

"Forget about me! I’ll chill here, work on my skills like you said. I'll stay with my aunt, hang with your cop-buddy, my friends, whatever, and join you out there later, closer to the time."

Sandra paused, clearly taken by the notion – but really unsure how to respond, Cassie being her charge and all. Not to mention how Cass’s ideas can catch one out of left field so quickly.

Oh Cass, I don’t know –

Hey, you two! shouted David at them from Sandra's car. Are we going or what?

Hold up just a sec, David, answered Sandy. We’ll be along in just a moment. Pausing once more, she turned back to Cassie, looking at her squarely. Listen, you’ve caught me by surprise here, but the idea isn’t without some merit. I’ll think about it, okay? And I’ll talk to your dad. I’m not sure if we should, really, but – then a smile beamed across her face. "I like it! she exclaimed quietly, hugging Cassie. Thank you, my dear."

They both grinned widely, eyes closed, basking in the embrace, as soul-sharers would.

Good grief, thought David. Hey ladies! While we’re young, huh? Thought you said we should get out of here!

They both began to giggle. "We’re coming, we’re coming, keep your shirt on, Dad!" Cassie cackled.

They all piled into the car, as Nikells was the only one having driven there; the Severs had walked from home to here.

As they pulled away, in between reverse and drive, Sandra said to them both sternly, "I’m serious you two, no more of this stuff, at least not in public places like this – please?"

Yes, Ma’am, they responded in unison.

Okay, where to for dinner? Sandra asked in closing, as they drove off.

CHAPTER 3

A Dream Vacation

AN HOUR OR SO LATER, after a hearty meal of their varying tastes, they all returned to the Severs’ brownstone. Walking them in, Sandra was prepared to call it an evening.

In the doorway, David offered, You’re welcome to stay for a while, of course, if you‘re not sick of us by now.

I should probably go, yes, she replied, somewhat reluctantly.

Cassie caught this and mouthed silently to Sandra, Stay, cocking her head at her, then towards David, unseen by him.

All right, I guess I can stay for a spell.

Sit, relax, invited David.

Sandra mused over the difference she felt in being here with no agenda to attend to, regardless of her familiarity with the place. It was a little awkward, but nice nonetheless.

Can I get you anything? David inquired, in proper host fashion.

No, no, you guys go ahead, change or whatever. I’ll just make myself at home.

Good then, David replied.

Passing in the hall, Cassie informed her dad she would retire from here, to give them some