30 day challenge-Day 8: Lost in Time
“I can’t believe I’m actually doing this.” All her life, Kalika had spent hours poring over her grandpere’s diaries, blueprints and other things in his study. She had gone in and out of portals while I was in Hollow Earth and traveled far and wide. Nothing, however, had prepared her for this. She knew she wasn’t invincible and had embraced death, but finally getting to use a time machine she had spent thousands of years, several realities and other dimensions trying to build was indescribable.
“You’re not. Doing it alone, that is.” a man said as he interrupted her thoughts. “Why are you here?” Kalika wasn’t angry,she was just surprised. “Do you even know why you’re finally allowed to fulfill Gabriel’s dream? Something you’ve never been able to do, but suddenly get to?” he asked. He was a tall, muscular blonde with pricing blue eyes. He had the stature and the build of a greek god and large, impressive wings.
“No, I don’t. I honestly thought your brother would be here,” she said with a sigh. Kalika had once been married to Uriel, but she was much closer to his younger brother, Malachi. He was also tall and blonde, but he was lean and his wings weren’t retractable. As a herald, Malachi was used to traveling. Unlike Uriel, Malachi went to through time as well as space. It was his gift, even if it had been tested several times.
“If you don’t go, you’re going to die,” Uriel said as he gazed at her intently. “I am dead. How much worse can it be?” Kalika joked. “You’ll evaporate and every single trace of your existence will go along with it,” he said as he crossed his arms. “What, why? That’s impossible! The only way someone could do that is if…” It hit her like a ton of bricks and she was truly shocked. She and her uncle had several violent conflicts, but they had made peace some time ago. She knew that her grandmere was angry, but eventually, she’d learn the truth.
“It’s a perfect solution. If you aren’t born, Lilith won’t get attached to you. You and Agares will have never had such violent battles, you’ll never have met and married into my family, you’ll never have saved your city and you wouldn’t be able to save the elementals. The bases won’t be built, but I doubt he cares. You’ve become too much of a problem and he has other grandchildren,” Uriel explained.
“That’s low and Lucius is a good boy,” Kalika said as her voice cracked. “He is,but he’s one of hundreds. If you were never born, you can’t be a good influence on anyone. Lives will be saved, but more will be lost. Every single psychic imprint you placed will vanish and so will the people created by it. One of those people is Alara,” Uriel said, a pensive look on his face.
“Ah. So that’s why you give a shit,” Kalika said as she formed a cynical smile. Reptile Aliens were mortal enemies of the Pleidians, especially the Draconians. Things had become slightly more peaceful through marriages in her family, but people still saw Kalika’s race when they looked at her. “Do you honestly think I’m that petty? I’m following orders, but every stupid, selfish, violent and awful thing you’ve ever done is drastically less than the good parts. You’re still one of the only members of your family who’s sane, you’re one of the voices of reason and you put your own needs last. Besides…I’m happy. Alara isn’t your daughter, but Abina was created when you all went on your first mission to the surface. I’m not losing my family and not everything between you and I was that bad,” Uriel said as he formed a faint smile.
“No, it wasn’t. You just couldn’t accept the fact that I’ll always be pro-surface and anti-Elohim. I’d like to think an archangel of all people would understand why I insisted that everyone pick a god who loves unconditionally, but it was probably stupid to think you’d ever stop hating my family. Malachi screwed up, but he gets me and accepts me,he just doesn’t get that we’re not good for each other,” Kalika said with a sigh. If she did die, she’d miss Malachi. They always had secret talks, no one else understood her science babble and she struggled to try and be who she was supposed to be.
“You never believed in god and even if you said everyone needs to pick, the rest of your family disagrees, with the exception of Avara and Amara. I hate your family, but I couldn’t separate it because you were different then. It made you dark, you had a stain on your soul and you’ve come a long way. I honestly think you’ve earned the right to live a normal life and die again. My brother can’t save you, I can. I defeated Agares before and I can do it again. The question is, are you prepared to go through every single thing all over again?” Uriel asked.
“What about grandma? Will she die? I’m not even sure if she’s my grandma or my aunt, you know.” Kalika wished she could know, but she had given up. “That’s up in the air, which is why I’m here. I love her dearly and I’m more privy to things like this than you are. I do know who your father is, but it’s not time yet. If we get through this, I think you’ll earn the right to know,” Uriel said.
“I can’t do it alone. Why is it just us?” It didn’t feel right and Kalika always traveled with an entourage. “It’s a machine. Can’t you make pit stops?” Uriel asked. “You’re right…I can. Grandma matters more and if she dies, it’s easier than killing me. It also kills my father and grandmere hates him.” It was a daunting task, but Kalika was ready. Her grandmother’s safety mattered more than hers, even if she had a few stops to make.