The Gathering. Carl Read
Renae advised her. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Kalareena.”
Moving forward, Kalareena gently embraced Renae. “The pleasure is also mine, Renae,” Kalareena informed her warmly. After they had exchanged pleasantries Nathanial spoke, “What did you wish to discuss with me?”
“About whom you really are and the life you chose,” Kalareena replied gently. “You had to be sheltered from the depth of your spirituality so it wouldn’t influence your decision-making in life.”
“Are you saying I have spiritual abilities?” he asked, stunned.
“Oh yes, my love,” Kalareena announced proudly. “They’re quite exceptional.”
Nathanial ran his fingers through his hair, gazing at Kalareena then Renae. “If I’m understanding you,” he began, slowly circling while deep in thought, “I have similar attributes to you.” He stopped in front of Kalareena. “But I chose not to have them in this incarnation so I could refine my material skills. Is that correct?”
“Yes,” Kalareena replied happily. “It was our next stage of evolution to be separated. My spiritual body travelled to the realms of enlightenment, while yours travelled the realms of matter. We were refining our skills until we became the embodiment of spiritual truth,” she explained.
“To what end?” he asked, feeling as if he had denied himself something important.
“For you to become the epitome of the material realms and I the personification of the spiritual realms. Then we allow our male and female spiritual essences to coalesce into one and mature into our next stage of enlightenment.” Kalareena paused, observing his reaction. “Do you understand what I’m saying?” she asked attentively.
“I believe so,” he responded. “You’re saying that you hold within your being the wisdom of the enlightened realms, while I’m holding the wisdom of the material realms. But for either of us to be complete, we must become one. Right?”
Kalareena looked questioningly at him as she approached. “Yes,” she answered hesitantly.
Renae had been watching him closely and knew it hadn’t sunk in that he and Kalareena were soul mates. Placing a comforting hand on his arm she spoke. “I don’t think you truly understand the gravity of what Kalareena is saying, Nathanial. You two are soul mates,” she endeavoured to explain. “This goes far beyond being mere lovers. Soul mates share the same essence of spirit,” she informed him compassionately.
“What do you mean the same spirit?” he enquired puzzled.
“When we were on the disc of light, I was shown a vision,” she explained.
“That sounds ominous. Why didn’t you tell me before?”
“You were a little preoccupied talking about Kalareena,” Renae clarified.
“Oh yes,” he said, blushing.
“Really,” Kalareena said excitedly. “What did he say?”
“Never mind about that now,” he interrupted feeling embarrassed. “I want to hear about Renae’s vision.”
Kalareena and Renae looked at each and laughed. “As you wish Nathanial,” Kalareena responded knowingly, winking at Renae.
“My vision was thus,” Renae began. “I was standing at the edge of a beautiful glade. In the clearing I saw a dwelling entirely constructed of light. I was shown a newborn child, not of flesh, but spirit. The child appeared to have a dual personality, two distinctive auras within the one. As I watched, the auras divided, forming the outward appearance of a male and female child. They remained connected through the mind by a golden thread of awareness. The female was relocated to a green portal where she disappeared with her guardian. The male was moved to a gold portal and likewise transferred with his guardian. The denser spiritual reality that the boy incarnated into was the realm of Matter. A voice then filled my head intoning a prophecy:
The millennium of the prophet has arrived.
An essence of light will be born and divide,
Flowing through rhythms both dark and light.
Reuniting again when day becomes night,
Cloaking the shadow in everlasting light.
“This was followed by an equally strong vision that the forces of the Unbalanced were striving to prevent the two from becoming one.”
Nathanial looked at Renae in disbelief; this was all getting a bit much. Kalareena quietly moved to face him.
“Renae is correct, Nathanial. We are the spirits of the prophecy,” she confirmed. “Our destiny is to reunite our male and female halves into a union of one once more, thereby becoming the new Keeper of the Astral Plane. To do that you need to come with me so I may protect you while realigning your consciousness to its full potential.”
Nathanial looked at Kalareena dumbfounded. What was she talking about? His mind was in turmoil. Laying her hand on his, knowledge flowed from her spirit to Nathanial’s in a never-ending stream of awareness. At that moment he knew all that had been revealed was the truth. Regaining his composure he spoke. “If I am understanding you correctly, Kalareena, you’re saying that by going with you my spiritual capabilities will be restored to me.”
“I wouldn’t have said it quite like that, but yes,” she agreed.
“Nathanial,” Renae interjected. “What was it you told me Phillips and Conway said before they died? To enter the Woodlands you need an invitation from the Keeper. Kalareena is a Keeper, and that disc,” she said, pointing to the floor, “is an entrance to the Woodlands we inadvertently activated. This Slegna knows your whereabouts now and will stop at nothing to kill you. If you don’t go with Kalareena your life will be in jeopardy.”
“I hear what you’re saying, Renae,” he reassured her, then turned to Kalareena. “I don’t know how to explain it, but I know I’m meant to be with you. How long would I be gone?”
“If all goes as it should, you’ll never return,” she replied.
“What!” he exclaimed. “But I have a life here,” he said, indicating his bookstore. “I can’t just up and leave.”
“I’m sorry, Nathanial, but this isn’t your life,” Kalareena stated. “It’s simply a stepping stone to our future.”
“Kalareena,” he said with concern. “I have responsibilities to Renae and my staff; there are legal matters that must be attended to before I can leave.” A mixture of anger for being told what he could and couldn’t do, laced with fear, brought out his stubborn streak. “I will be ready in two days,” he proclaimed.
“You don’t have two days!” Kalareena exclaimed. “You must come now.”
“Must!” he said, remaining resolved in the matter. “I don’t think so.” He could hear the defiance in his voice and wondered what he was doing. He knew it wasn’t safe here anymore, but he couldn’t stop himself.
Kalareena looked at him sadly. “Then I will return for you in two days. But please be careful; Slegna knows where you are.” Kalareena nodded to Renae, then vanished leaving a shimmering aura of concern behind her.
“Of all the pig-headed, knuckle-brained nitwits I’ve ever met, you take the cake,” Renae exploded. “Remember that perilous journey I saw you going on and now this warning from Kalareena. Nathanial, I’m frightened!”
He knew Renae was right. “Oh Renae, don’t let your imagination run away with you,” he replied knowing how pathetic he sounded.
“Nathanial!” she said, exasperated. “Your soul mate enters our reality to warn you of impending danger and then asks you to accompany her so she can protect you, and you think my imagination is running