Yesterday's End-240

The following story is fictional and is intended for an adult audience with an open mind.

It is not meant to suggest anything about the sexuality of the celebrities included in this story.

This story is fiction, meaning not real.

It's all for fun and enjoyment.

If you are under age, or it is illegal in your country, or you don't like stories about gay romance, please stop reading this immediately.

Chapter 240

St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City

Pope Francis knelt before the blank screen, the congregation behind him on their knees as well, the cathedral silent.

He slowly raised his head, staring at the blank screen, then turning his head, seeing his devoted flock's heads lowered, the older man rising slowly to his feet, turning and facing their raising eyes.

"So it has been shown, so it shall be written upon all the hearts of man, forever within all faithful souls." he softly said, all eyes upon him.

"We the faithful of this earth, of this moving world of life, have now seen the hand of God touch our lives. All of mankind has seen God's hand eradicate the evil of this earth. And one soul guided all to that truth. He gave his life to direct the path to its ending truth. To guide the Curucuar's arrow to evil's heart. For love today destroyed evil. He told us–the ten leaders of the Fingers of God's Hand–what was to pass, what was to be. That he would sacrifice his life to guide the Bowman's arrow to its truth. His soul was the most loving of all mankind. I kneel to its beauty, to its love." the pontiff said, going to his knees again, the congregation weeping, all eyes on the blank screen.

"The light of God's love is now the star in our hearts' sky. We all saw the beams of its giving love fly from that hallowed ground. Lucas told us–the sacred ten–of what would happen upon that field. Of love's triumph over evil, and where those lights of God's love would go." the Pope said, rising to his feet again, his hands folding in front of him.

"All of evil upon this earth this day shall feel the light of God's love as it passes upon this earth. And those of total evil will perish from its light of faithful goodness." he said, all the congregation looking at each other, a soft sound now coming from outside the cathedral.

"All must atone for their sins. For their greed and desires." the Pope said, a sudden flash of small lights moving through the domed roof, their brightness hitting several people, a few cardinals consumed by the light as well.

Some screamed, the light totally consuming them, others falling to their knees as the light surrounded them, gasping and wrapped in others' arms.

The lights disappeared as quickly as they came, a few people now just a patch of ash upon the floor.

"They of the greatest sins shall perish under their wrongness. So God shall see it done. It is His will." the Pope said, the congregation on its feet, staring with shocked wonder at the missing people, the Pope looking at the scarred remains of some of his own faithful cardinals.
"Evil enters all devotions, seeps into all nations. Today that evil shall be ripped from all our souls." the Pope said, his eyes moving again to the blank screen.

"God's light cleanses the world of evil today. Only love and faith will remain in all remaining souls of cleansed love." he said, the congregation behind him raising their hands, going to their knees again.
"God is life, God is love!" they screamed, the Pope lowering his head.

He began to recite the Lord's Prayer, the congregation taking up the words with love and faith.

In his own soul the Pope wept for a young man who recharged his faith.

Go with God, Lucas.

You are of His love.

Kurucu's Haven, Vermont

Lance was the first to walk out of the hidden passageway in the library, little Joshy asleep in his arms, Josh following with Justin's arms around him.

Savannah followed with a sleeping little Justy in her arms, Tristan's arms around her, all the others following behind.

"The kids need their beds, Lance." Savannah softly said, Lance nodding.

"We'll put them down, Lance." Vivian said, gently taking the boy from Lance, Lance's arms going around Josh, Justin at his side.

"You need rest too, Joshy." Lance said, Josh staring at him.

"I need my Lucas, Lance. Only then can I rest, rest in his love." he said, Justin's eyes meeting Lance's.
"We all need him, Josh." he said, his eyes wet with tears.

"I don't believe what my eyes have now seen." Finn softly said, Skyler kissing his cheek.

"Let's go to the Receiving Room, everyone. I think we all need to talk of what we've now seen at the end of this." Francesca said, Emerson's arm around his wife.

Everyone moved, Josh guided by Lance and Justin out of the library, Grayson the last to leave, the lawyer closing the hidden entrance, his eyes glancing at the wooden mantle, the wooden bison slowly disappearing, that mantle now smooth polished wood.

The doorway closed with a final thud, Grayson staring at the entrance as he felt an arm go around him.

"Its task is now done, by God's design. That path no longer needs walking." Gabriel said, their eyes meeting.

"I love you, Gabriel." he said, Gabriel kissing his lips.
"I love you forever, Gray." he said, the two men walking quietly out of the room.

Neither saw a soft shadow in the corner, its softness disappearing quietly with a soft smile.

Finn and Skyler walked into the Receiving Room, everyone quietly staring at them.

Finn walked up to Josh's sofa, the man surrounded by Lance and Justin, the Welshman staring at Josh.

"The kids are all sleeping, we've put ours with yours. They're hugged together in friendship and love." Skyler said, softly smiling at Lance.

Finn went to one knee, taking Josh's hands in his.

"Why, Josh? Why did he do that?!" he said, his eyes now showing flowing tears, Skyler's hand going to his shoulder, rubbing his back.

"He was always a soul of love, Finn. He gave all to save all. He saved the world today, I have no doubt in that." Josh softly said, Finn's eyes meeting his blue.

"Why did he have to go? Why did I have to lose him? I loved him so much!" Finn sobbed, Josh's arms going around him, feeling the mans' total love for his soulmate.

"He loved you, Finny. His best friend of love. His love is still with us, and will always be with us." Josh said, Lance rubbing his back, Justin in tears beside them.

"I want him here, Josh! I want him to see our kids grow, for all of us to feel his giving happiness and love." Finn said, backing up a bit, wiping his tearing face.

"I want that too, Finny. I just don't know if that's what awaits us or him." Josh said, the man rising from his seat, walking up to the fireplace, staring up at the portrait of Tristan above it.
"He promised me that he would always be with me, would always be in my arms of love. I have to hold him to that promise. He promised me. I won't give up on his love." he said, everyone in the room feeling the man's total love for Lucas.

Colton rose from his seat, his soulmates watching him, the young man walking to Josh's side, his arms going around him.

"He loved us, Papa. He was the father of my soul. I loved him so much!" he said, Josh's arms going around him.

"He loved you, Colton, his son of his heart." he said, Colton crying against his chest.

"Why did he give all his magic to me? Why did he face evil as only his loving soul?" he cried, Josh holding him close.

"He guided you to the truth, Colt. The truth of what lay in his and your magic. The magic to unite love, to rid the world of evil. I sense that that magic when combined with that stone ignited a greater love. A love that destroyed evil. I sense my Lucas always knew that the answer lay within that stone and you. The magic of a lifetime." Josh said, Colton raising his head, staring around at everyone.

"I felt it the moment I wrapped the stone around that arrow. I felt the immense magic coming from it and from myself. I truly believe it was a magic Luke sensed I had all along. I think he gave me that magic, when he gave me the stone. Oh God, he knew!" Colton said, Josh tightening his arms around him.

"He knew everything, Colt. I felt he knew that for a long time. And it didn't stop him from making that sacrifice." Josh said, Lewis rising from his seat, Jacques and Frederick staring at him.

"Love he always was, Josh. He held a greater love and magic, I believe, than any of us ever suspected. And I believe he knew much. I felt it all in that final voiced love. I just don't understand what he meant by his last words." the minister said, Jacques at his side now, his arm going around him.

"That final voice, mon amour? What voice? Lucas was the only one who spoke upon that field before the destruction of evil." he said, Lewis' blue pools meeting his brown.

The minister looked around the room, all wet eyes upon him.

"You didn't hear his last words?" he said, Lance rising from his seat, walking up to Josh and Colton, his arm going around Josh.

"'Their love is stronger than everything. Unite it, Bowman.' that was the last thing he said, good Reverend." Lance said, Lewis looking surprised, looking around at everyone.

"I heard his voice clear as day, just before he reached the knoll upon which the evil stood, before evil embraced him." Lewis said, Jacques' arm pulling him close.

"Lance is correct, Lewis. He never spoke after those words to Colton." Jacques said, Tristan rising from his seat, walking up to his old friends.

"What did my son say, Lewis? If you heard it then perhaps it was for you alone." Tristan said, Lewis' hand going to his old friend's shoulder.

"I can't understand why you didn't all hear it, it was rather loud in the silence upon the field." he said, Tristan staring at him, Lewis patting his shoulder.

"'See not my death, only see the righting of life. Time is all we have. Golden wings mean better things.'" the minister said, Tristan looking confused.

"See not my death? The righting of life? Golden wings?" Tristan said, Savannah's arms now around him.

"I think he was trying to tell you something, Lewis." she said, Lewis nodding.

"But what, dear friend? I don't understand why he'd say that at that moment. He was focused only on the evil ahead of him." he said, everyone nodding.

Adam rose from his seat, Lance looking at him as he rose up.

"I think I know." Adam said, Josh staring at him.

"You know, Adam?" he said, breaking his hold on Lance and Colton, walking up to the singer.

Adam nodded, his soulmates staring at him.

"I still feel Lucas' love in my soul, Josh." he said, Josh's hand going to his shoulder, his blue eyes meeting his blue.

"What of his magic, Adam? Do you still feel that? Is my Lucas somewhere in your soul?" he said, Adam seeing the emotion and longing in Josh's blue pools.

"I wish he was, Josh. His love and magic was all-powerful, a part of myself. But that magic left me the moment Colton shot that arrow. I felt that magic move on its own, heading right for that arrow. I think Lucas left that magic in me for that single purpose. I think all magic was drawn to that arrow."

"He's not within you?" Josh softly said, Adam kissing his cheek.

"His love is Josh. It's within all of us." he said, Josh nodding, his head going against Adam's chest, the man holding him close.

"I need him so much! I need him so so much!" he softly said, Justin and Lance now at his side, Adam releasing him to their love.

"We all do, Josh." Justin said, he and Lance guided him back to his couch, everyone else returning to their soulmates and seats, Adam remaining standing.

"What do you think he meant, Adam, of those words Lewis heard?" Emerson said, his arm around his wife.

Adam looked around the room, everyone staring at him.

He was about to speak, Haven and Hudson walking into the room, everyone looking towards them; Anderson, Jake and Natalie walking in behind them.

The reporters had left the room earlier, going in search of what was happening outside.

"It's amazing everyone! The world's thunderstruck in so many ways!" Jake said, looking at Anderson, the reporter nodding.

"Those lights that we all saw upon the field? The ones that shot everywhere?" Anderson said, Cardinal Santiago rising from his seat.

"What of them, Anderson?" he said, the newsman looking around.

"They were beams of truth. They flew around the world, hitting lost souls of evil. Every evil soul upon this earth felt that light. Many were turned to dust. God's light has destroyed all evil!" he said, his face showing awed wonder.

Everyone stood, looking shocked, Lewis walking up to them.

"God's light would destroy all of evil. His light is love!" he said, looking awed.

"It has done just that. Some were floored, confessing their evil ways to others, the evil sucked out of them. Others were beyond redemption. God's justice comes to all." Jake said, lowering his eyes, Natalie's arm around him.

"No evil can stand against God's love." Cardinal Santiago said, his hand upon the cross hanging from his neck.

"The world's exploding, the religious leadership are calling it the Day of God's Justice." Hudson said, Frederick looking at the young man, smiling.

"All are redeemed under God's love. The world may never be the same. Lucas has guided all to God's love. He truly was the Messenger of God's Love." the cardinal said, everyone nodding.

"We were just discussing what happened today ourselves." Lance said, his eyes meeting Adam's again, the singer softly smiling at him.

"Continue the conversation, Adam." he said, guiding everyone back to their seats, Lewis and Frederick talking to the five who'd just entered the room, they caught up to speed on the discussion.

Adam walked up to the fireplace, looking up at the portrait above it, the man stepping back in shock.
"Oh my God!" he said, everyone following his rising gaze.

Everyone rose to their feet, staring at the painting.

"That's. . .that's not me! That wasn't there a minute ago!" Tristan said, the man walking up to Adam's side, staring at the portrait.

The painting was not the one that had stood there for years, the one of Tristan in his youth riding horseback, the one his mother had painted.

All eyes were now on the painting, a different scene showing.

Josh walked up to the fireplace, staring at the new scene before him.

It was of a grass-covered field, a small knoll in its center, a solitary figure standing upon its top, staring towards a light further behind the knoll.

The man's face was turned away, a soft golden shine surrounding him as if the sun was shining behind him.

Josh stared up at the painting, his eyes going over every inch of it.

He felt Lucas' features in the man's form, in his muscled strength behind the soft white clothes he wore, his eyes drawn to his right hand, an object laying in it.

It appeared to be a book, weather worn and plain.

"I think it's Lucas, standing upon the knoll of his death. And I think that's the Book of Life in his hand." Josh said, Justin's and Lance's arms going around him.

"He never stood upon that knoll, Josh. The evil destroyed him before he could." Justin said, tears in his eyes.

Josh pulled Justin close, feeling his emotions.

"What does it mean? What are you trying to tell us, Lucky?" Lance said softly, feeling a hand go to his shoulder.

"He's trying to tell us that he's alright." Adam said, four sets of eyes meeting his blue, Tristan staring at Adam.

"My son's alright? You know what's going on?" he said, Adam staring at him.

"No, Tristan. I only sense what I feel and in what I see." he said, Lance staring at him.

"Please tell us what you feel and sense, Adam. You have our undivided attention." he said, Adam nodding, his own soulmates' arms around him.

"Let's sit down everyone. I'll try to voice Lucas' continuing love." he said, everyone nodding, returning to their seats, their total focus on the singer standing before the new painting, two sets of eyes staring at him.

"I'm alright, my love. Please sit wrapped in my love." he said, Pierce and Usher kissing his lips, returning to their seats, their arms around each other.

Adam looked up at the portrait, his eyes scanning the turned face of its central figure.

He smiled, turning and folding his hands in front of him.

"He called me his confidant, his most trusted friend. It was a pact that I took upon my soul. For his love and magic was etched there deeply. Written into the love I had for him myself. There were two moments of that uniting love that I feel were the forbearance of the coming truth. That Lucas had chosen myself as more than a friend. I truly believe in my heart he chose me to carry a greater truth. A truth needed further down the path. That truth he surrounded in my soul with his love and magic." Adam said, all seeing the tears in his blue pools.

"What two moments, Adam? And what was that truth?" Finn said, staring at his friend.

"Let Adam talk, my love." Skyler said, kissing his cheek, Finn blushing.

"Sorry, please continue, Adam." Finn said, Adam smiling at him.

"You wear your love in your eyes, Finn. As Lucas always said." he said, Finn smiling.

Adam looked around the room, the man sighing.

"The first moment was the morning after the last marriages on Embrace Island. The morning after Lucas' own wedding.

I followed Lucas early that morning. I'd seen him stopping at every cabana, as if he were sensing the love within. I followed him up the hill to his pool."
"Yes, you said, you followed him up there and then didn't remember anything after that. You never knew what happened between you both up there." Josh said, remembering Adam telling them of that day.

"Yes, Josh. I, for the love of me, couldn't remember what we'd done that morning. Not until today." he said, his eyes moving, looking up at the figure in the painting.

"Until today? What made you remember today?" Tristan said, staring at the younger man.

Adam's eyes met his, Tristan seeing the emotion there.

"The moment your son was destroyed by that evil, the memories came flooding back into my soul. I think the magic Lucas had hidden that truth behind was gone. I felt that instant truth." Adam said, his eyes turning and staring at Josh, Lance and Justin.

"You had his total love, he was always yours, forever." he said, the three nodding, smiling at him.

"He still is and always will be." Josh said, Adam nodding.

"On that morning of your wedded bliss, he gave me only a small part of it, and perhaps more." Adam said, turning and looking at the painting.

"I had forgotten the love. And the greatness of his giving soul." Adam said, the man turning around and voicing the truth.

Embrace Island, Earlier

Adam followed Lucas, watching the young man walking ahead of him, his muscled beauty moving with grace and strength.

Lucas crested the hill, walking forward, Adam a few feet behind him.

Lucas walked out into the clearing, his violet pools staring at the waterfall in front of him.

"In the dawn's light, God's beauty draws love to it. Good morning, Adam." he said, not looking behind him.

Adam stared at him, walking up and stopping a few feet behind him.

"Good morning, Luke. How did you know I was behind you?"

"I felt your love as I walked by your cabana. Your beauties sleep wrapped in it, but I felt your own love awake."

Adam smiled walking up beside him.

The man stared at the waterfall before him, seeing the sunshine dancing across its wet surface.

"The pool looks so beautiful in the dawn's light."

"My love shines as each new day begins."

The man smiled, taking in the handsome smile on Lucas' young face.

"And why are you not back there with the three of your heart? I'm sure their love was beautiful last night. I wouldn't ever leave it."

"You left your own twosome of love to walk up here to mine. I think we both were overcome by what's before us."

"Their love last night moved me, Lucas. It felt so genuine, so real. I love them so much!"

"I know, Adam. I feel your healed love for each other. It is as great as the healed love the four of us have."
"I feel like a new man, Lucas. Your love, your friendship, it has guided me to my happiness." Adam said, Lucas patting his shoulder.

"Your own love and heart have guided you to that happiness. I only had to show you the real you inside."

"Thank you for that, Lucas. For making me see me."

Lucas smiled, leaning forward and kissing his cheek.

"You're welcome, Adam. You're now seeing the man I always saw. A man who's now one of my dearest friends."
"I am your friend forever, Luke. I would do anything for you."

Lucas smiled, staring at him.

"Then shuck those clothes and get into that pool. I need to lick some tattoos."

Adam stared at him, Lucas bursting into laughter.

"I don't need your beauty, Adam, although I know it would be delicious. I only need your friendship. I need it greatly."

"Your beauty would be divine, Lucas. I see the happiness in Josh's, Justin's and Lance's eyes. It must be consuming. I'm happy for all three of them."
"They are your friends as well, Adam. The past is the past. Our future together will be total friendship. And honesty."

"I'm all for that, Luke. And the eye candy of your beauty will soothe all our souls."

Lucas smiled, staring at the pool before them.

"I love you, Adam. And I now need that friendship. I need to be honest with someone."

"Aright, Lucas. I am here for you in any way."

Lucas smiled, staring into his blue pools.

Adam saw a thousand stars staring back at him, sparkling in their violet centers.

Lucas' hand moved, touching Adam's cheek, Adam feeling a warmth surrounding him.

"In you, I find friendship, Adam. In you, I find a confidant. In you, I voice my truths."

"Lucas. . .your. . .your eyes?" Adam softly said, feeling a hand go in his.

Two blue pools of ocean blue stared back at Adam now, a soft smile on a handsome face.

"Let's bathe in the waters of my love. Let's bathe in the truth."

Adam moved, Lucas guiding him to the pool's edge, their eyes locked on each other.

Adam's head turned, staring at the pool, sensing a soft newness to it, a more vibrant warmth surrounding it.

He turned back, seeing only fog behind him, the man feeling a set of lips on his cheek, turning and staring into those blue eyes.

"Give into my love, Adam. Give into his love."

Adam felt soft hands on his chest, then his waist, the clothes leaving his body, then he felt the moving warmth surrounding him, water touching all of him.

Two arms wrapped around him, Adam staring into two blue pools.
"He is love, is life. He is all. He needs your love to be even more." Lucas said, his lips meeting Adam's.

Adam felt himself being lost in the waters of Lucas' love, a new feeling entering his body, his eyes closed against the love.

He opened his eyes as he felt the truth now deep in him, staring into two violet wet pools.
"I give all to you, Adam. I love you." Lucas said, Adam suddenly felt a deep warmth of exploding love, the man seeing thousands of stars in front of his eyes.

He saw someone materialize in front of him in the darkness of those stars, two golden wings spreading wide behind him.

"For him, for all, their love is truth. Carry his truth within your own worth." the young winged vision smiled, Adam closing his eyes.

Adam opened his blue pools, feeling the wet warmth around him.

Lucas swam in front of him, his arms around Adam.

"I need to tell you my truth, Adam. Time will see its reality." Lucas said, Adam listening to Lucas opening his soul.

He felt the warm water around him thickening, two hands rubbing his back, the man closing his eyes to the voice entering his soul.

He opened his eyes, feeling a different warmth.

Pierce pulled him close, Usher's arms going around both, Adam looking around the room, finding himself in their cabana, the day's light now higher in the sky.

"It's early, love." Usher said, pulling him closer.

"Love is never early." Pierce said, kissing Adam's naked chest. Adam looked at both.

"Sorry, I woke to your love." he said, the two smiling, pulling him close, both closing their eyes again.

Adam stared at the ceiling, feeling the truth growing in his soul.

Kurucu's Haven, Present

Josh rose from his seat, walking up to Adam, the singer staring into his blue pools.

"You. . .you and my Lucas. . .you bathed naked in his pool?" he said, Adam nodding.

"Yes, Josh. Only I sense it wasn't only him. It all felt so different. I don't think we crossed any line of decency, I never felt his physical love." he said, Josh's hand going to his shoulder.

"I trust you, Adam. I trust him even more. I think it wasn't Lucas' pool you were in. I think you were both drawn to Kurucu's pool." Josh said, Adam nodding, Lance and Justin now standing beside Josh.

"I think so too, Josh. The pool felt different, but it looked the same as the pool we walked through to get to the Plains of Life. I think Lucas drew me to Kurucu's pool. And there I met Kurucu and Lucas together."
"I think you met someone else as well." Colton said, rising from his seat, walking up to the men.

"The man with the golden wings? The man Hudson said he met." Josh said, looking towards Hudson.
The young man rose from his seat, staring at all of them.

"I was naked as well, swimming in that pool with Lucas. He said there was no modesty in God's embrace." Hudson said, Haven's arms around him now, Anderson staring up at the young man and hidden angel,.

Adam nodded, his eyes meeting Josh's.

"I now realize the truth of his spoken words, at his own pool, Josh."
"His words?" Josh said, Adam nodding.

"Yes, Josh. What I have to say may shock all of you, but it holds a great truth within my soul." Adam said, Josh nodding, everyone looking at the singer.

"What did Lucas say to you? What truth did he tell you that day, then washed it from your mind until now?" Josh said.

Adam looked around the room, his soulmates again at his side, both staring at him.

"I should have realized the truth when I first walked up behind him, by his words spoken." Adam said, Pierce kissing his cheek.

"What words, my love?"

"`In the dawn's light, God's beauty draws love to it.'"

Everyone looked confused, Adam looking around.

"He said that God's beauty draws love to it, as he drew me to him that morning. He was stating that he was God's Beauty. That he was a creation of God's love." Adam said, his hand going to Josh's shoulder, looking at Justin and Lance also.

"He told me as we swam naked in that different pool that he was the creation of God's beauty and His resolve. His resolve to see evil perish." Adam said, Josh staring at him.

"He. . .he was only created to see evil perish?" Josh said, Adam nodding.

"Yes, Josh. Lucas was a weapon of God's creation. From the day of his birth until the ending of that revelation. That is the truth that Lucas told me."
"So. . .so he never was real?" Finn said, now standing beside Lucas' soulmates.

"Not real in the sense of all of us. Not human in the birth and life of all of us. His own words." Adam said, Josh shaking his head.

"No, I refuse to believe that. He was real to me, to all of us." Josh said, Adam nodding.

"Yes, Josh. To all of us he was our Lucas. To his own self he was himself. He stated that truth to me. When he went down onto the Pathway of Stars that first time and met a vision of Godly greatness, he himself refused to believe that statement. He voiced that to the apparition he saw. 'I am more than destiny, I am love, I am a man. You created me, you instilled in me your loving magic. And I have taken that magic and added it to my own love. I am more than what you created.'"

Lewis stared in shock at Adam.
"He. . .he saw. . .he talked to God! He saw the Lord!" Lewis said, crossing himself, Jacques' arm around him.

Adam nodded, looking around at everyone.

"Yes, Good Reverend. Lucas told me he talked with God." Adam said, everyone looking shocked.

"When did he tell you that last part? That happened long after our weddings on Embrace Island." Lance said, everyone looking at Adam.

"That was the second moment of love I spoke of. He said that last part to me on the last night we were back home. I had awoken in the middle of the night, standing out on the balcony catching my breath against my soulmates' love. He walked up beside me and said that he stood upon the edge of destiny. That the last truth needed to be voiced before he was lost in life, lost in love."

"What did he mean lost in love? He lost his life." Justin said, Lance rubbing his back.

"I don't know, Justin. I believe it has something to do with what happened in the middle of the battle. When Lucas disappeared into that falling white starlight."

"Where did he go, Adam?" Tristan said, Adam looking at Lucas' father.
"I don't know, sir. I only know what I saw when Lucas reappeared just before his final rush to that knoll."
"That we all saw his usual self, his black haired normal soul?" Lewis said, his hands clasped in prayer.

"No, Reverend. It was his eyes. He stared directly at me just before he ran towards his death." Adam said, the man looking up at the changed portrait before him.

"His eyes were blue, the bluest I have ever seen."

Rosa Sharon rose from her seat, her form changing, walking up to Adam.

"Bluer than all the oceans upon this earth. You saw the eyes of my Kurucu." she said, Adam nodding.

"I believe so. I don't think it was Lucas we saw in those final moments." Adam said, everyone looking shocked.

"You mean . .you mean it wasn't him? That Lucas didn't sacrifice himself today?" Finn said, a look of hope shining in his blue pools.

"I don't know the truth of that, Finn. I only know that his eyes were different. It could have been him carrying the soul of Kurucu." Adam said, looking into Josh's blue pools.

"I'm sorry, Josh. I wish I could give you that truth." Adam said, Josh embracing him, kissing his cheek.

"You've given me something, Adam. You've given me hope that my Lucas is still out there somewhere." he said, Adam smiling.

"I hold onto that hope as well." he said, Lucas' soulmates smiling at him.

"You are his confidant, Adam. Thank you for telling us the truth." Lance said, Adam nodding.

"I don't think this is over in regards to Lucas. I still feel his love within my soul. It's as strong as it was in those warm waters of Kurucu's love." he said, Meresankh smiling.

"His love. . .their love. . .is the warmth of God's love." she said, everyone nodding.

Colton stared at Josh, the young man smiling at him.

"I will always hold onto the hope of Lucas' love returning to us. And I now remember something we've all forgotten." he said, Josh walked up to him.

"What, Colt?"

Colton smiled, kissing Josh's cheek.

"Remember just before the battle began and Lucas went and changed in his tent, walking out in those black briefs?" he said, Josh nodding.

"Yes, Colt. We were all surprised by his showing beauty and the magical marks upon him." Anderson said, Colton nodding, looking at the reporter.

"He disappeared before us, appearing again on the plains below us."

"Yes, he did that." Finn said, looking at the young man, his blue eyes suddenly widening.

"That was an image of him! His walking soul! It wasn't the real Lucas who walked upon the plains!" he said, everyone widening their eyes in shock.

"Yes, Finny. I think Lucas has played a masterful game of bait and switch." Colton said, smiling widely.

Josh's hand went to Colton's shoulder, staring at him.

"You mean his walking soul went upon that battlefield, his real self remaining hidden?" he said, Colton nodding.

"Yes, Papa. I think our Lucas is alive and well. Just hidden within the love. I think it was only his walking soul he sacrificed against evil."

"We need to go back to the plains. He has to be in our tent." Justin said, Grayson walked up to him.

"The hidden room is sealed off again, my friends. The entrance is no longer accessible." he said, Emerson staring at his brother, Grayson sighing.

"The buffalo's head is gone, Em. The mantle is now plain wood. We can no longer access the Pathway To The Stars." he said, Josh staring up at the portrait, Justin and Lance's arms going around him.

"What's going on my love? Why have you done this?" Josh said, Colton kissing his cheek.

"He's done it for his love, Josh. He may have sacrificed his magical soul, but his love still shines."
Josh smiled, nodding.

"He's alive, I believe that in my soul." he said, hugging Colton, the young man smiling and stepping back.

"There's something else, everyone." Colton said, the young man's hand going to his throat.

He pulled a necklace out of his breastplate, it lying flat against the silver.

"The Blood Teardrop! It wasn't destroyed!" Emerson said with shock, Colton nodding.

"The moment Lucas disappeared into the white light with Azrael I felt it around my neck again. It has been returned to us." he said, everyone seeing the soft violet glow within its center.

"But why, Colton? It did its destiny by destroying evil with your magical arrow." Jake said, Colton nodding at the reporter.

"Yes, it did its destiny. But it was also the destiny of the Belmont soul. I think it's returned to finish that final path." he said, looking at Emerson and Tristan.

"That final path was for all the Belmonts' souls to be consumed by evil." Tristan said, walking up to the fireplace, staring up at the changed portrait.

"What have you done, my son? The evil has perished. What of our souls?" he said, a new voice entering the silence.

"He has changed destiny, my grandson. Our souls are now our own."

Everyone turned, Joshua Belmont standing in the Receiving Room's doorway.

Everyone rose to their feet, staring at the man standing in the doorway.

He wore his uniform, its blueness strikingly clean and unblemished, its golden buttons gleaming in the late afternoon sunshine beaming in from the side windows.

What took everyone's breath away was his changed looks, his youthful face smiling with so much love.

"Father! You are as young as in the days of my youth!" Emerson said, his father smiling at him.

"I am at the start of my true soul, my son. Your grandson has released me from the bondage of our oath." the man said, walking into the room, standing before his son, the two embracing.

"What do you mean, Father?" Emerson said, when the two broke their embrace.

"I am real, my son. For once in my long life I feel real. It happened when Lucas collapsed in front of that grassy knoll. I felt myself materialize within the room of golden truth." he said, his grandson walking up to him, the two embracing.

Tristan felt the realness of the man holding him, the strength and masculinity of his grandfather.

"It really is your true self, Grandfather! You look younger than I've ever seen you!" Tristan said, Joshua smiling at him.

"I am myself, Tristan. I am real." he said, Josh walked up to the three men.

"You have been released from the Trinity?" he said, Joshua nodding, looking at his grandson and son.

"Yes, Josh. Your Lucas, I believe, has destroyed the Trinity of evil's intent." he said, Emerson's hand going to his father's shoulder.

"I feel no difference, Father."
"Nor I, Grandfather." Tristan said, Joshua kissing both on the cheek.

"I believe I am the first to feel freedom. I sense we all will walk free from destiny. So the figure told me." he said, Josh looking at him.

"Who told you?" he said, the soldier looking around the room, his eyes meeting Hemi's brown pools.

The man moved, walking up to the soldier, his form changing, Almira Carlisle standing before him, the man smiling at her.

"You are so beautiful, Joshua. Even more youthful than our first meeting." she said, the two joining, their lips meeting.

Everyone stood in silence watching the two lovers unite.

The two parted, their eyes meeting, Almira's face changing, Carlotta Belmont staring at her husband.

"As beautiful as the day we married. I love you, my Joshua. We all love you." she said, the two kissing deeply, everyone quietly staring at the two united soulmates.

Joshua broke the kiss, smiling, that look making his features more youthful.

The woman stepped back, Hemi's muscular form now showing, the man smiling and returning to his soulmates.

"Thank you, my beloved. It is wonderful to be back in this life." he said, his eyes meeting Josh's, Lance and Justin now at his sides.

"What has happened, Joshua? And who did you speak to?" Lance said, the man smiling at the three.

"You love was always his, will always be his. Please everyone. Return to your seats. I have much to say." the man said, Anderson and Jake looking at the soldier, awed by his showing self.
"You. . .you're. . .real?" Anderson muttered, Hudson's arm going around him.

"He's the magic of Lucas' bloodline." the young man smiled, Joshua smiling at him.

"That I am, Hudson. And Lucas' love always moves." he said, Hudson guiding the reporter to the couch Haven had returned to, the three men sitting down together, Jake joining Natalie beside them.

The soldier looked around the room, his eyes going to the portrait above the fireplace, their greenness widening a bit.

"It appeared moments ago, Father. We believe it shows Lucas in a moment of devotion." Emerson said, Joshua nodding, looking at the portrait.

"It shows him in a moment of hopeful life, my son. A moment he'd hoped to see. Destiny changes paths for all of us. He always knew that. He is the greatest change on the path." the man said, turning from the fireplace, his hands folding in front of him, the man's masculine form radiating a youthful love.

"I stood upon the hill back from the plains, watching all that unfolded, seeing the sacrifice of Lucas' love. I wept at the beauty of his giving soul. My shadowed soul felt the reality of what that young man did. For all of us, for the world. Moments later I felt the trueness of what his sacrifice was in regards to my own self. I felt a cloud of light surrounding me, its rays coming from the light of the falling star. It consumed me, its warmth like the breath of God. I felt a release of my soul's love, it joined with a greater love. I closed my eyes, wrapped in its giving embrace." the man said, his eyes moving back to the portrait, staring at it.

"It was his total love and God's love, united in a breath of life." he said, everyone quietly staring at him.

"I opened my eyes moments later, finding myself standing within the chamber of golden treasures." he said, his eyes lowering.

"The troughs of golden goodness were gone, empty of their hidden treasures. The troughs were barren, the golden throne and sarcophagus behind it gone as well. The room was empty of life and magic." he said, everyone was surprised by that.

"It was as golden as it always was when we walked back into this world a short time ago." Josh said, rising from his seat, walking up to the soldier.

"I believe we all walked separate paths back into life, Josh. Mine was a path of absolution, you were all guided back to the real world." he said, Josh nodding.

"Who did you meet there, in that barren room?" he asked, Joshua's hand going to his shoulder.

"I met a man of unbelievable beauty and life. A man with the bluest eyes I have ever seen." he said, Rosa Sharon rising to her feet, Meresankh the angel now showing again.

"You saw my Kuri?" she said, Joshua staring at her.

"Your love name for him. He had told me that Lucas called him that name moments before." Joshua said, Josh staring at him.

"Kurucu met Lucas?" he said, Joshua nodding.

"Yes, Josh. Kurucu said that he and Lucas had met moments before the battle's beginning."

"That's where Lucas went when he disappeared from the plains! He was pulled to the golden throne room!" Lance said, he and Justin had joined Josh, the three and Meresankh staring at Joshua.

"Why was Lucas drawn there? He'd already passed through that room to enter the Pathway of Stars." Justin said, Joshua nodding.

"He was drawn there on another plain of time. As I was also. He was drawn there to meet the real Kurucu." Joshua said, Josh's hand going to his shoulder.

"For what reason, Joshua?"

"For the destiny of all of us. Kurucu's soul was always within Lucas, as Lucas himself stated. I think in that final moment the two souls were pulled apart, meeting each other for the first time. And Kurucu sat down upon the stone throne floor and wept before me. For he said that he had seen an even more unbelievable truth." Joshua said, Josh seeing soft tears now showing in the soldier's eyes.

"What truth, Joshua? What did Lucas tell him?"

Joshua's hand went to Josh's shoulder, his green pools looking at him, Lance and Justin

"'For true love any path is walked with hope. Never give up on my love. Time means nothing when we walk into love's paradise.'" he said, Josh looking confused, Joshua smiling at him.

"He then told Kurucu the truth of what his soul had created. A magic of unbelievable resolve. Kurucu's amassed treasures were the magic of Lucas' soul." Joshua said, looking around at everyone.

"The troughs were now empty because Lucas had taken all their magic, honing it into himself, creating a being of unimaginable magic and love. That is the being that walked upon the Plains of Life. A being of total magic." Joshua said, Josh nodding, staring at the handsome soldier.

"What of the real Lucas, Joshua? What happened to him?" he said, Lance's and Justin's arms going around him.

"Kurucu rose to his feet staring at the emptiness around us. His blue eyes staring into my own, only saying a few words before the darkness consumed me, myself opening my eyes in the library upstairs, finding myself real."

"What did he say, Grandfather?" Tristan said, his green pools filled with hope.

Joshua looked around at everyone, the man smiling a soft smile.

"'To find life one has to bathe in the pool of my love. To find him one has to walk paths once walked. Where united love began he shall walk out of the waters of life. All lost will be found, all paths will unite. Destiny lies before all of you.'" Joshua said, his hand squeezing Josh's shoulder.

"Where did united love begin?" Josh softly said, Lance's eyes widening, Joshua smiling and nodding.

"Yes, Lance. I sensed you've reasoned out the riddle as I have." Joshua smiled, Lance nodding, Josh and Justin's blue pools meeting his green.

"Embrace Island, my loves! Our Lucky is hiding on our island of love!"

End of Chapter 240

Hello, everyone.

I hope you didn't think I wouldn't end this?

Time took a hold of me, passing too quickly.

I'm back with a hopeful resolve to finish this.

Just need to search my own soul to find an ending to this.

The next chapter I hope won't be so long in coming.

The path has to end for all of faithful love.

Let's follow that path back to the island of love.

I hope to surprise all of you.

Hugs, Angel.

Email: music-fan-1@hotmail.com