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LENGTH: Full Novel
SENSUALITY: Sensual

Cover art (c) Jenny Dixon 2007
ISBN 1-58608-
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She is the Sabol, and yet she has no memory her past or her place in the world she awakens to, no idea how she is to go about the destiny that awaits her and fulfill the prophesy.

Shakir is the Guardian of the Sabol, last of his line in a generations old heritage of guardianship. And when the Sabol at last awakens, it is his honor and duty to guard her--even from himself.

Rating: Contains violence, adult language and situations, and sexual content.

Kinetic:

THE AWAKENING OF HOPE

By

Suzanne Embree

© Copyright Suzanne Embree, March 2007

Cover art by Jenny Dixon, March 2007

New Concepts Publishing

Lake Park, GA 31636

www.newconceptspublishing.com

This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and places are of the author's imagination and not to be confused with fact. Any resemblance to living persons or events is merely coincidence.

This book is dedicated to

My sister Angela

My hero.

Prologue

Shikar's dark head was bowed as he leaned over his sword and took long methodical strokes down the blade. The sound of the hard rock sliding against the cool steel reverberated in the silence. He let his mind wander to the past, recalling the first time he had seen the Sabol as a child. Shikar remembered the sheer awe he had felt for the icon. He could not wait to grow up and receive the Guardianship passed to him by his father.

He lifted the sword to inspect the blade. It glinted in the sun's rays that peered through the thickly leafed trees. His birthright at that moment felt more like a curse than an honor, a very long and lonely curse.

Looking back toward the entrance of the cave where the glass-encased sleeping body of Sabol lay, Shikar questioned the importance of the idol. The Sabol had been around since the dawning of his world. Nobody knew from where she came, just that she had always been a part of their existence. He was the last in the long line of Guardians of the shrine. He was surprised that his ancestors had not gone mad from the isolation of the duty. But then there had been a time, Shikar reminded himself, when the Sabol had not been in hiding. His forefathers would have had their kinsmen with them.

Swinging the sword from hand to hand in movements taught to him by his father and warrior uncles, he stood up. He lunged and parried with an imaginary foe, thrusting and slicing the blade through the air with his muscles rippling with every move. He frowned. At least when Cali was there to clash with it hadn't seemed such a chore.

His thoughts returned to the Sabol. It was time to tend the icon.

He laid his sword down and took up a torch, lighting the tip with the ever-burning fire he kept alive. Shikar entered the dark cave's mouth, holding the torch high to spread the light. Before he placed the torch in its sconce, he lit smaller ones surrounding the cask. His father had told him the fires around the tomb held the air back from escaping. The elements in the icon's atmosphere were needed to keep the Sabol timeless. He did not know if such things were true but after the story of an ancestor temporarily suspended in time from inhaling the air from the cask, Shikar was not about to take any chances.

He stood at the head of the glass crypt and pushed the heavy lid forward with a grunt. The flames of the torches spiked as the air, which preserved Sabol, rushed out to meet them. Shikar undid the tie to her thick, coppery hair and ran his hands through her hair to comb out any knots or mats. He parted her hair into three strands, braided her hair, and retied the hide string to hold his work in place.

His gaze rested on her cream complexion. He wondered about the sound of her voice, would it be as soft as the one he imagined in his dreams? He laid the braid over her shoulder, brushing his fingers against her skin that still glowed from the bath she had received the day before. Shikar's body ached. He wanted to feel her beneath him.

Abruptly, he shook his head of such thoughts. It was not allowed as her Guardian. Shikar was there to protect her from such things as a man's lust. He grabbed the lid and pulled it back into place and extinguished the small flames. Picking up the large torch, he backed away from the cave, asking for blessings from the Sabol and her forgiveness for his impure thoughts. A twig breaking outside the opening in the bushes caught his attention as he stepped out of the mouth of the shrine.

He slowly put the torch into the fire keeping, his gaze moving to the greenery where the sound had emerged. Slowly, Shikar reached for his sword and readied himself as a hooded figure stepped out from behind very broad leaves. The man used a walking stick to aid in his crooked steps. Shikar put away his blade and bid greeting to the elderly man. He was glad of company as the bent figure took a stump to sit. The visitor's faded blue eyes locked with Shikar's green ones. He knew this stooped man to be the Keeper of the Words, the sole protector of bound pages that held the mysteries of their world's history.

"I welcome you Keeper," Shikar placed a muscular leg up on an upright log. "I want to hear the sound of a voice other than my own. Even if it is an old man's." A slow smile crossed his face, and then he chuckled.

"You have carried your guardianship well." The Keeper ignored Shikar's jest. His old eyes slid toward the cave. "My Seeker's mission for my heir as been set aside. A greater one has been placed in his hands. This new quest, to bring calm over a land in fear, will carry you both through the night of the endless stars to places that only your mind has visited. Your time will be spent in preparation once Cali the Seeker returns to your side."

Shikar knew the Keeper had not traveled a great distance only to tell him of his friend or the journey ahead.

"Soon," the Keeper's voice croaked. "The rising of our suns will bring about a shift that will change our world. Soon the powers of the Sabol will be awakened." He looked at the warrior standing in front of him.

"Sit Shikar." The command was soft. He waited until the younger man sat. The Keeper cleared his throat and stared into the flames in thought before speaking. Shikar waited patiently.

"I have gone to all, far and wide to bring them the words of the Prophecy. You, my son, are the last to hear the words. After this, I retire unseen until the words I am about to speak unfold." The Keeper paused for a moment. He took a deep breath and repeated the words taught to him by his predecessor.

"In a long time past the Suns were one. Upon the birth of the second sun, Sabol was created. And we the Elements who serve Her, write these words of what will come from the forgotten waters of the Cerridwen Cauldron

In a Time not yet known, the younger will move above its Brother, and the Sabol will open her eyes. The Awakening shall begin.

The Baneful One steals the land, power lust fills his heart. His poison reaches all, reaping what he cannot sow.

One Great Leader, with her he stands. The One to be Monarch, by the Ancient's ruling.

Her voices heard. touching far and wide led by echoes of the past, into the dawn of tomorrow.

Into the stars with friendships unknown Sabol will find the seeds to grow One with the Powers. Elements thrive, to triumph over terror. Tame she, the Weapon of Fear.

The named Beast. Her reflection. Her ancient symbol. The demise of evil. By her Monarch and Regiment.

Lead them, she will into their hearts Following into the ways of new. The Trinity of Hope.

When the darkness falls, Without Luna Regiment will lead The Battle of Night …

Chapter One

When she awoke, her head pounded as if someone had beaten her with large, blunt object. The brightness of the room stung her eyes, causing her to squint until they grew accustomed to light. She felt she was held down, although her hands or feet weren't bound. She could barely move her head from side to side when she attempted to raise herself up. She was able to wiggle her fingers and toes, testing her limits, only to discover she did not have much room to stretch. She desperately wanted a glass of water.

All she could hear was silence. She began to wonder if she had become deaf. She tried to speak, but nothing came out. Panic started to consume her. She shut her eyes tightly, taking deep breaths to force herself to calm down. Once the cold fear waned, she opened her eyes and tried to evaluate her situation. She wasn't even sure what day it was, let alone where she was. She struggled against her invisible bonds for a few minutes only to come to the conclusion that it was no use. She was only exhausting herself. Silently, she cursed her lack of strength and the restrictions of mobility in frustration, that and the throbbing pain in her head.

As she lay panting from her efforts, she glanced around at the room. To her right, there was a wall with slats down the middle. She wondered if those were the doors, as she could see nothing else. Lifting her head as far as she could to look over her feet, she could see a panel with levers on a smooth surface marked by square indentations. Above it was a large screen, flashing symbols unfamiliar to her that looked like a cross between Egyptian hieroglyphics and Chinese characters. There was another large viewer wall on her left. This one showed the muscular make up of a small human, a skeleton and a brain. It seemed to be monitoring someone. As she watched the screen, she realized it was her being monitored. Unnerved, she tried to tilt her head up to see what was behind her. All she saw was a silver beam joining the wall and ceiling.

She tried to remember who she was and how she had gotten where she was and couldn't. Her mind frantically reached into a black hole, searching for something that she could hold on to. Everything was blank. She could recall nothing.

It didn't help her pulsating headache.

She turned her thoughts returned to the large screen displaying her structure. She wondered why she was being monitored and why she was held down.

The slats to her right opened with a loud swish like the sound of rushing air into a tight seal. Four silver figures came in. They moved with ease, but she couldn't determine if they were of flesh or metal. They were of human shape and at least six and a half feet in height. Their bodies looked as though they were made of liquid mercury clothed in a thin gauze material. They didn't appear to be of a defined gender. One stood by the door as the other three approached her. She had two on either side of her with the third at her feet. They didn't seem to have any eyes, just little hollow slits with a small speck of light. She couldn't help but wonder what they were.

"We are androids, designed to service and protect the Domain, Sabol," the one nearest her shoulder answered in a smooth but monotone voice.

She couldn't tell if the words had entered her head or were spoken out loud since the android's mouth never moved and she stared at the rectangular opening, puzzled. The android pushed something on the platform she was on. She felt a wave of energy enter her body then whatever held her down, released. She wondered at the name Sabol, if it was in reference to the Domain or her.

She tried to speak, asking for water but her voice was a bare rasp. Her throat felt gritty as though she had swallowed sand. The one who spoke helped her sit up and steady her as she fought off the dizziness over taking her. She sat for a minute or two, fighting a wave of nausea, before attempting to swing her legs over the edge of the metal table.

"There is no need to speak. Your voice will come back. We communicate by thought waves," the android spoke to her mind as he handed her a large glass of water.

She could barely manage getting the glass to her lips as she tried to coordinate her arm and hand muscles. Her brain seemed three steps ahead of her body. The water dribbled down her chin as she tried to control the tipping of the container into her mouth. She wiped it roughly away with the back of her hand, managing to slap herself in the attempt. The cool clear liquid felt good sliding down her throat, taking some of the roughness away. She tried to soothe her hurting head by rubbing her temples with her fingers.

"This will help with the weakness and your pain."

Another android came forward and pressed a metallic tubular item against her arm before she could protest. It released an icy fluid which she felt travel throughout her veins in a matter of seconds. She was amazed at how quickly the medicine took care of her headache. She was grateful the pain was gone as she drank the rest of the water this time with a little more ease.

She wondered what had happened to her. Looking at the silver attendants she questioned where she was.

"We are prohibited from answering your questions." An android stood in front of her. "The Overlord will explain all to you."

She nodded wondering what an overlord was. To her relief the droid moved to a panel and started pushing buttons leaving her unattended for a moment.

She brushed back a few wisps of hair from her face. Her hair was braided, she discovered, allowing her hand to continue down the dark red hair braid to where the it ended just past her shoulders, bound by a leather tie at the bottom. She looked at her hands and feet as if they might help her adjust to the void in her mind, thinking it was odd that she didn't have anything on her feet. For some strange reason she felt she should have her feet covered.

Taking a deep breath, she slowly lowered herself onto the floor using the table as support. Her legs were rubbery as she put weight on them and her arms were of no use either.

"I ... I ...." She tried using her voice. She clutched the table as she slowly slid to the floor unable to stop herself. Immediately, she had one android on each side supporting her. She was amazed. Their touch was not cool like metal, but warm as a human's. They escorted her out of the room as she tried to gain use of her legs. Her first step was wobbly like a baby just learning to walk. She would have fallen if the androids hadn't been holding her. She wondered at the level of technology that could produce a robot both telepathic and warm to the touch, as they guided her out of the room.

On the other side of the door, she saw a lush, rich jungle domed in glass. She didn't know where she was but she knew it wasn't anywhere that was familiar to her. She bit the side of her cheek, trying to wake herself up from a bad dream. The metallic taste of blood in her mouth proved she was wide awake. She was going to ask if it was morning but held back the question. She didn't know if they would understand. Realizing she had remembered what morning meant, she felt a glimmer of hope that her mind wasn't as blank as she first thought.

The androids escorting her stepped onto a conveyor traveling along the glass walls. Holding her hand up to shield her eyes, she gazed up into the brightness and saw not one, but two suns in the sky. The brightness was blinding as it bounced off the dome's ceiling. It dawned on her then that it was they who were encased, not the jungle.

They came to a large foyer underneath a windowed and beamed dome. Everything was white--the floor, the ceiling beams with the exception of the glass walls.

"So...." She couldn't think of the word to describe the unwelcoming feeling at first. "… clinical," she said out loud. Her escorts stopped and looked at her. When she didn't speak again, they continued guiding her across the foyer.

It reminded her of a place with people in white coats. The word came slowly to her. Hospital.

Her mind grabbed on to that word as she thought about it. She knew what it was, a building for the sick and wounded. Her mind could not get past it. As a woman dressed in white coat hovered over her, a glimmering memory of herself as a child sitting on a white bed entered her mind. She remembered something being placed around her elbow before the memory faded.

She looked down at her elbow. There was no indication of a wound.

One thing at a time she told herself. If she could remember a hospital, then other memories would come back, memories that would help her remember who she was.

Whatever happened to me, she silently surmised, my mind did not want me know about it.

The conveyor hummed as it moved along. Other life forms began to emerge out of nowhere, it seemed. She tried to not to gawk at the tall, thin beings with large black pools for eyes. Their naked, willowy bodies seemed to glide as they moved. Others, with green-tinted skin and about as high as her hips, walked past. They emitted high-pitched shrills that hurt her ears.

They paused and stared at her. She somehow knew the squeals from their oversized lips were laughs as they pointed at her. One figure that scuffled by had four arms, jaundice yellow skin, and one eye in the centre of its forehead. It left a trail of foul smell behind that caused her to gag.

Humans also were about, but they seemed almost unrecognizable as humans. They were taller and paler than most people. She heard a whisper and saw a finger pointing out from a long flowing sleeve. She wanted to know what he was saying about her. It struck her he was pointing to her clothes. She looked down at herself. She suddenly felt very out of date in her jeans and t-shirt, considering the flowing, long garments the people wore.

I'm the one out of place, not these people. She smiled inwardly.

The conveyor stopped just at the edge of a large center dome. Five other conveyors branched out from the rim of the glass sphere. The androids guided her across the foyer to another moving belt. Others moved about, avoiding collision with one another--but she kept apologizing for stepping on everyone's feet. She let out a sigh of relief when she stepped onto the black moving belt. She couldn't step on any toes there.

As the conveyor moved along the steel and glass at an idle speed, she glanced outside. Huge trees with spiked leaves bowed over the transparent ceiling. She passed massive trunks with vines hanging from the thick, low branches. Even the forest outside seemed vaguely familiar, yet mysterious at the same time.

Where am I? she wondered. She rubbed her temples as if she could squeeze forth memories. She tried even harder to recall how she had come to this place but everything remained blank. She searched for something to read to test herself and finally lifted a slender finger poised in the air to write, searching for a word. 'ME' she scrolled out. She tried thinking of another word but the sudden stop of the conveyor brought her out of her thoughts.

As her foot touched the gleaming white floor of another smaller, dome, she instinctively brought her hand up and touched the topaz pendant around her neck. Stroking the smoothness of the stone relaxed her taut nerves.

She remembered someone putting it around her neck and looked down at the pendant, a Topaz encircled by sparkling diamonds.

Here, Darling. She could hear the melodious voice before it faded.

The droids steered her through an archway into a passage lit with amber light. Foliage enwrapped the metallic blue and clear construction. With each step her sense of balance grew stronger and her reliance on the two droids lessened. A small smile formed on her lips. Pleased with her little achievement, a small smile formed on her lips.

The foliage outside draped over the ceiling of blue-tinted glass that curved down to a cream marble floor. She tried to peer into the jungle outside to see if there was any animal or bird life. Out of the corner of her eye she thought she saw something move but when she turned her head, she could see nothing. She could hear no sounds either. Everything was sealed tightly into this container the droids referred to as the Domain.

She was ushered into a large room. It was carved from an ivory white rock with rich green-and-bluish plants in a center garden. Hearing the sound of water trickling, she reached into the leaves, pushing them aside and saw a small waterfall. Trailing along each side of the little brook were delicate fragrant flowers of pink and violet. The petals appeared to be round and covered with soft fuzz, emitting a spicy scent. Near the garden was a small table set for two. The glasses spiraled up in blue crystal. Beside plates were two pronged forks like fish forks. She marveled for a moment that she remembered a fish fork through her muddy haze that was a memory.

She turned when she heard a door open behind the plants. A very tall and slender man emerged from the thick leaves. He was cloaked in a purple velvet robe, which brushed the floor. His face was gaunt, pale, and lacked warmth when he smiled. He bore a fu man chug mustache that draped down his chin at least eight inches. Around his neck hung a very heavy gold rope containing a large ornate cross. A Christian symbol, but somehow she doubted he believed in a God. His black eyes swept over her curvy figure in appreciation. She wanted to shrink back but she had nowhere to hide. He reminded her of a comic book character.

Her mind clung to the thought knowing what it was. She envisioned herself turning the colored pages. She knew there was more in the room she sat in but her mind would not get past the cartoon faces. Her headache was returning as she fought to keep the image alive in her head.

"Did you have a good sleep?" His voice was very deep with a clipped edge to it.

She was annoyed that he interrupted her memory.

"You have survived a very long time, my dear."

She wondered what he meant by that.

"I trust my servants looked after you well enough, despite the one little mishap."

She realized he had been watching.

"I am the Overlord of Acerbic Uhdas."

He bowed slightly to her. She stood chewing her bottom lip, wondering what an Overlord was. He lifted his head and smiled at her. She was about to ask when he cut her off.

"Once we have returned from your tour, we will share nourishment and I will answer your many questions, my dear." He stepped closer, his eyes bored into hers. "I do hope you like what you see."

She didn't like the look or his menacing tone.

"Come, I will show you the rest of my humble home," he commanded rather than invited. "Can you walk?" He asked as an afterthought.

She nodded. She could tell he didn't like her silence. She didn't trust herself not to make a sarcastic comment, though, and her throat still felt like the Gobi Desert. At least, she thought wryly, he didn't call me 'dear' again.

"There is no need to fear me." He smiled, but his voice held a menacing edge that made her feel uncomfortable. He resembled a snake ready to strike.

She smiled and looked away.

Those who say they need not be feared are just the ones to fear. The words inside her head were from a voice not her own. She could feel his intense gaze as the thought flickered through her mind.

"This way." He spun on his heel and headed for the door expecting her to follow him. Her first few steps were wobbly but after a few more she was able to walk normally. She was determined to move without any assistance from him or anything else.

The Overlord led her back the way she had come. Two androids appeared behind her from nowhere, startling her. They were dressed in a red uniform with gold bands around the cuff. Both carried large oval weapons that hung from gold belts at their hips. The weapons were coiled at the bottom and the top was impressed with square pads.

"My protection," he reassured her, placing a hand at the small of her back and gently pushing her beside him. "Even a fair leader like myself has enemies. We use the transporters between the domes since it is so vast."

His thin, bony hand helped her onto a conveyor that led them to the central exchange. All moved aside as he stepped off. Nobody moved until he had chosen the direction to turn.

"This leads to the docking bay," he informed her. She gasped when she caught sight of a sleek oval space shuttle landing outside. "These are Launchers, used to travel to other worlds. We have others that are used for the Domain's purposes that are smaller," he explained.

The next set of hallways led them to the entrance of the Domain. Branching off from different corridors were spheres used for the official business of the Domain. The Domain was open to other citizens.

Through another maze of moving floors and corridors, he led her to a grand dome sparkling with crystal-cut columns that joined a large, circular table. A droplet chandelier, above the table, promised soft lighting for a grand occasion.

"When we entertain during official visits, we serve food and drink. We no longer have the means to supply food to so many who live here. Nourishment is provided by tablets that supply what the body needs."

"What about water?"

"Water, the life giver." He smiled at her. "We have learned to extract what is needed from the clouds without taking too much from the world. There are areas that rely on wild water but we do not have such luxuries." With a majestic sweep of an arm, she was ushered out of the room and led on to another transporter.

This time she was led to the medical ward. Again she applied the word clinical to the sparse dome. There were a few beds wrapped in white sheets with a slender robotic arm extending from the ceiling. She watched a patient holding a limp wrist enter the ward. He sat himself upon a bed. A red light from the robotic arm scanned over his body.

"The scanner is looking for the wound." The Overlord leaned over to her. The arm twisted and turned around the man before settling on the wound on his wrist. A tiny yellow light beam concentrated itself on the wound and blasted several times.

"Most ailments are healed by lasers. We no longer suffer the plagues that haunted your world. Disease and illness have been eradicated." Another man, with a gash on his knee, approached. "This facility is mainly for self-imposed injuries or treatment for those wounded during a conflict with the Domain." He smiled and patted her arm. "Those do not happen often and every effort of diplomacy is used to avoid it."

She bit her tongue to keep from asking how many wounds he had caused.

"There are some areas I cannot show you for reasons of security. I would hate for you to wander into a dangerous situation. Once we have returned to our quarter of the Domain, you will be safer to stay within its confines."

From his last remark, she wondered if he was keeping her prisoner or keeping her safe as she was led into another passageway. The walls were made from darkened glass that, to her amusement, held works of art. It was the only splash of color she saw on her tour. Even then it looked to her like someone had spilled the paint and let it dry. None had any form or shape merely splotches. She hadn't noticed the walls faded from glass to dulled steel. Something inside of her started to prick at her nerves as someone from behind joined them.

"Ours is a peaceful, perfect world, Sabol." Her host smiled at her.

Somehow she doubted his statement. She wondered if the name was in reference to her or to where she was. He abruptly turned before she could ask.

"You will have to excuse me, but I have matters I must attend to. My personal aide, Loufic, will guide you for the rest of the tour." He took her hand, brushed his lips to it, then bowed and excused himself. His touch was repulsively cold. She tried not to withdraw her hand too quickly. Insulting this man was not a good idea, she decided. "We will have a long talk afterwards." He left her, giving his aide a curt nod.

Loufic was a nervous obese fellow with beady eyes. She was unsure if she wanted to follow this little man as he sneered at her. She watched with curiosity as he pressed a pudgy finger to his silver wristband. She moved back, unsure what to think when the wall began to slide back, revealing a dimly lit chasm. She peered into the opening hesitantly and saw a metal bar enclosure.

"After you." He waved an arm, gesturing toward the cage. She could feel him leering as she stepping inside. The floor moved beneath her feet, giving her a start. Loufic's demonic chuckle echoed against the steel. The pen slowly brought them down far under the surface. She could smell a musty, wet odor as the cage came to a stop. The uneasy feeling at the back of her mind grew worse. She knew somehow she wasn't going to like what was coming up.

She stared around at the bizarre green hue of the fire on the torches lighting a chiseled out tunnel. The light cast was only enough to see where she stepped on the cold, damp floor. A pungent, sweetly sickening odor grew stronger as she neared a large opening, diverting her mind from the odd colored flames. It was as though death hung like a thick fog in the air.

She was led to a ring of laser bars framing a deep cavity. A foul, rotting stench rose up from the depths. The cavity spanned the entire width of the hollowed out cavern. Peering down, she saw two glowing eyes at the bottom and heard a shuffling hiss. She could not see the shape of what was at the bottom but she knew without a doubt, it was very big and very ugly. She stepped back, wanting to run but the aide moved, blocking the only way out from the cavern. She quivered when his lips curled into a smile as he saw that he had her trapped.

Across from where she stood, a door opened and two androids in blue uniforms escorted a struggling man out onto a disk where they placed him. His hands were bound behind his back and his feet were held a short distance apart by shackles. One android held him in place while another attached his shackles to the disk. He was screaming and trying to break free from his bindings.

She glanced behind to see another man escorted up to the small deck. He did not seem frightened as he caught her gaze in his. She thought she saw him smile at her, not in arrogance but as if to reassure her. There was something about him that made her catch her breath. The man's gaze darted behind her. She felt something at her back and instinctively stepped aside. She wasn't sure if she should be relieved that it was only Loufic who had moved closer for a better view.