Revelation

Cassandra’s Dream The waves broke far beneath her as she leaned into the wind at cliff’s edge; the blow was fierce at her hair, filling her ears, with the roar of the surf creating a wailing din that threatened to completely consume her. Beneath the dark low-scudding clouds the foam-licked sea stretched endlessly into the pre-dawn mist. But she was neither cold nor afraid, and the wind held her from going over, countering perfectly the forces of gravity that would have her dashed against the rocks far below. The earth was still warm beneath her feet, offering comfort and grounding as she peered through the maelstrom seeking other signs of life. None were to be found; no bird crossed the sky, no tree bade farewell to the land as it yielded to the thrashing sea. Nothing moved save the wind-tossed waves below, and the robe that clung with gossamer grace around her entire being, suffusing it with lightness. Despite the darkness of the ominous sky there was no rain, though the air was damp, auguring imminent change. Lightning flashed in the distance, illuminating tendrils of ocean that rose to meet the clouds from whence the searing bolts threatened to tear open the heavens. Just as the shrieking of wind and water would seemingly tolerate no other sound, peals of thunder rumbled underneath, a basso profundo underscoring the powerful strains of nature’s roiling symphony. Still she was unafraid, and peered across the gates of hell toward the horizon, where an almost imperceptible brightening presaged the dawning sun. With the light came an ever so slight quelling of the storm, affording the opportunity to look down, where the growing brightness revealed a tiny pool of water in which she had been standing. She knelt beside the pool and reached into the warm water, cupping it in her hands and bringing it close. As she did so, the first ray of sun escaped between clouds and sea, illuminating the liquid, now teeming with crystals of brilliant reflection. She peered still closer into the clear water, and as she did so a potpourri of crystalline shapes became visible, ever-changing, and despite their almost infinitesimally small size, she was able to see them with absolute clarity. The warmth of the elixir grew steadily within her hands, spreading a soothing calm throughout her entire soul. Her concentration was so complete that she failed to notice the rapid dissipation of the storm around her, as the demons who had stirred such havoc amidst the elements were driven off by first light of the sun. The ever-increasing brightness augmented the clarity of her vision, and she brought her hands directly to her eye. Within the nascent liquid the crystals could be seen to organize into discrete entities, assuming a roundness of shape, and as these tiny globes began to multiply she became aware of the presence around her. She was not alone. As she turned to look, the tiny pool suddenly evaporated from her hands, and she peered into the mist. Still adapted for near focus, her vision failed to accommodate for distance, and whether it was this failure to adjust or the diffusion of the surrounding haze, she was unable to make out the precise nature of the form that was very near her. Unafraid, she began. “Where am I?” “You are everywhere,” came the reply, soundless yet perfectly audible. “But this cannot be. I can see outside myself, to otherness.” “You are everywhere in time; do not think in terms of space.” “How did I get here? Is this a special place? Why have I not heard of this before?” “You have brought yourself here with the power of your persistence. You seek answers to questions you have not yet learned to articulate.” “I do not understand.” “Of course you do not understand. You are still human, after all.” She said nothing; I am what I am, she thought. “Yet you seek to become what you are not,” came the voice, startling her, for she had made no attempt to communicate. Who was this? “What do you mean?” she asked. “I cannot recall having...” “It is the mark of your species. Though you are looking where none has searched before.” “Am I looking in the right place?” “I must warn you. All things have their cost, and for this knowledge you will pay the ultimate price.” “I must tell you, I’m not certain what I am searching for.” “Another mark of your species. But think of it...you seek the fingerprint of God, do you not?” She had been unaware of this, until now. “Yes.” “You are looking in the right place, though you may never see it. An interesting challenge for you, but beware the cost.” “Do we go on?” she asked suddenly, sensing that the presence was fading. “Remember where you are,” came the reply, and suddenly it was gone, leaving behind a profound sense of longing such as she had never known. As she turned to walk from the edge of the cliff, she became aware of the noxious odor of powerful chemical, assailing her senses, bringing her back, though she would have stayed a little longer.