Chapter 19
Okay Kyiel, let’s do this. I took one the white crystals from my lab and invoked an incantation according to his instructions. The crystal glowed like my amulets, minus the magic of course. I hung the crystal on the outside door knob of the ally door and hoped it would work.
“That takes care of that,” I said and dismissed Kyiel.
A few minutes later I started thinking about the vanity plate I mailed to Moon. Surely my message that he was next to get dusted irked him, at least a little, especially since of Lupzarro was taken out. Maybe not … Moon is probably the new alpha now, unless some other uppity fur ball hasn’t yet introduced itself to me. My curiosity got the better of me and I had to call his office.
“Moon, Stillman, and Kragen. How may I direct your call?”
“This is Daniel Zane. Is your boss in?”
“Please hold sir. I will see if Mr. Moon is available to take your call.”
A few moments later Moon picked up his phone.
“Good afternoon Mr. Zane. I was just thinking about you.”
“Hey Moony-boy, did you like my present?”
“Yes Mr. Zane. I found your gift to be helpful for sharpening my teeth. Unfortunately, the materials used in the manufacturing process must have been below standards because it tore up rather easily and I swallowed it.”
“Oh yea, well I hope you choked on it fur ball.”
“I’m sure you do Mr. Zane, but there is more urgent business for us to discuss at the moment. Apparently you have engaged in trespassing and breaking and entering at one of my client’s properties near the waterfront. I don’t need to tell you such actions are illegal.”
I instantly felt anger rush inside me and had to focus on not letting it get out of control. Alura told me that wizards need to be careful about mixing anger with their magic because the wrong mix could level a building. Since Sally and I live here, I didn’t want to find out is she was right, so I gritted my teeth and tried to relax.
“I should have known you had something to do with those bodies at Sunset Park. I wouldn’t be surprised if you orchestrated the whole thing yourself.”
“Mr. Zane, I assure you that I’m a businessman and very successful lawyer in this city. To step outside the boundaries of law is not something you will find me doing.”
“What you really mean is that you believe I won’t catch you in the act of doing something outside the law. Unfortunately for you, I operate on a different set of laws that don’t work in your favor. You see, I don’t need to catch you doing anything to dust you. You’re one of the bad guys, and that’s all it takes.”
I never liked attorneys and thought of a line in Shakespeare's King Henry VI: ‘the first thing we must do is kill all the lawyers’. Sure, there are some lawyers who are probably decent human beings and we all know stereotyping in not a good thing to do. In my own defense, no pun intended, I simply have never met a decent attorney. In fact, Moon was the only attorney I have had the misfortune of dealing with, so it’s not surprising I developed some bias towards lawyers.
“Hey Moony, have you ever read any Shakespeare?”
“I hardly see what a dead writer has to do with our business Mr. Zane. But if you must know, I found my conversations with him somewhat boring.”
Moon had conversations with Shakespeare? If true, Moon would be at least 400 years old, and since Shakespeare’s cause of death is somewhat a mystery, I bet he might know something about it.
“I will get to the point Mr. Zane. My client is becoming increasingly concerned about your continued interference in his business. He feels it is unlikely you will listen to reason and leave the city, and as a result, believes a new approach is necessary to convey his concern.”
“Moony-boy, your song keeps getting older each time you sing it. By the way, isn’t threatening someone also against the law?”
“I don’t make threats Mr. Zane, nor does my client. Think of it as free advice, a courtesy extended among professionals such ourselves. Of course, you could avoid any negative outcome if you would simply leave the city. I encourage you to take this advice Mr. Zane.”
“It’s not going to happen Moon, so go tell Ah Chuy Kak if he wants to keep breathing air, he should find a cozy cave to hide in and leave people alone.”
“Yes, I have already informed my client knowing what you would say. Very well Mr. Zane, this concludes our business. One more thing, my client wants to know if you would recommend being a customer of the Magical Herbs Shoppe. He plans on visiting soon to sample their products.”
Moon was making an implied threat to harm Melony. A chill ran down my spine and I nearly lost my temper again.
“Moon, if you …”
The phone disconnected. I raced out of my apartment to Melony’s place while trying to call her. No answer. Damn it.
I swear, if anything has happened to Melony, I will skin Moon his two partners alive.
I leaped up the stairs to Melony’s apartment and pounded on the door.
“Melony, are you alright? It’s Daniel. Are you alright?”
I heard the door unlock and Melony appeared in a bathrobe and had a towel wrapped around her head.
“Daniel, what’s the matter?”
“Are you alright? I thought you might need help.”
Melony became confused and frightened. I could see she was not in immediate danger, but that didn’t mean trouble wasn’t coming.
“Help? What kind of help? I just got out of my bath Daniel, what’s wrong?”
Melony invited me in and we sat of the couch. She was visibly shaken by my freaking out – who wouldn’t be? What should I tell her? Would she even believe me?
Anything about lycanthropes or the supernatural would not only make her more frightened, but if she didn’t believe me, I’d become the village idiot in her eyes.
“Melony, do you trust me?”
She smiled. “Yes Daniel, of course I trust you. Please, tell me what’s wrong?”
“We have to leave right now, this instant, and no questions. Can you do this Melony?”
“I guess so, but I don’t understand Daniel.”
“I’ll explain later. Right now you need to get dressed quickly and we have to go to my apartment. Hurry Melony.”
Melony got up without saying a word to get dressed. She was shaking and had tears in her eyes. I had to protect her. Something bad was coming soon, tonight I’m sure.
Ancient Mayan gods and their overlords are known throughout history for horrific acts against mankind, and whatever was coming, it would be much worse than any lycanthrope.
Melony finished putting on her jeans and a maroon hoodie while I called Alura for help. Before I could select her number, my phone rang. It was Alura.
“Azul, you and Melony need to get out of there right now. Sarila is tracking something very dark coming your way. You have less than five minutes to get back to your apartment.”
“We’re leaving right now. Meet us at my apartment Alura.”
“Keep your phone on Azul and engage the global satellite tracker. Sarila is sending the satellite feed showing where this thing is as it approaches. I’m on my way.”
I touched the global tracker icon on my phone and saw a real-time satellite image of the neighborhood. Whatever was coming for us was moving fast. I took Melony’s hand and we ran down the stairs and street as fast as we could move.
“Hang on Melony, we’ll be safe in my apartment. Just keep running as fast as you can.”
Melony was terrified, shaking, and crying, but remained quiet. We were running as fast as possible and I hoped it was good enough to reach my apartment in time. As we turned the last corner, I looked up and down the street and everything appeared normal. My apartment was in sight now and I thought we would make it.
“Okay, just a few more yards Melony.”
What was that? I saw something at the end of the street moving towards us. It was a dark green mist about the size of a bus and moving quickly.
br /> Only a few more feet now. I took my keys out of my pocket to unlock the apartment door. We didn’t look back, but there was something very close, moving fast, and almost upon us. I didn’t have time to think, only act.
Get the door open … get the door open.
“Daniel,” Melony said in a shaken voice.
The lock on my apartment door turned and Melony and I pushed forward falling to the floor. I looked up and saw the dark mist just a few feet away before I kicked the door shut rearming my wards.
The mist hit my door hard enough to shake the walls and floor as my wards delivered a punishing array of energy. Blue-white bolts of light shot out from the door and window frames, like a Tulsa Tower. Whatever chased us was being struck repeatedly by my wards. It made horrible agonizing noises, unlike anything I’ve ever heard before. A minute latter, the attack stopped and there were no more sounds.
Melony was lying next to me with her face pushed in my chest crying and shaking uncontrollably. Sally barked furiously the entire time, but then laid down next to Melony and I after the attack ended.
“Melony, are you okay?”
“I … I think so. I think I’m alright. Is it over?”
I rocked Melony in my arms.
“Yes, it’s over. We’re safe. It’s okay now.”
“What was that thing Daniel? Why was it chasing us?”
“I don’t know, but whatever it was, it’s something really bad. It’s okay now Melony, we’re safe here.”
Sally got closer to Melony’s face and gave her a couple of slobber kisses. Melony put one of her arms around Sally and hugged tight.
A car screeched to a stop outside and a moment later my door lock turned – it was Alura. Melony, Sally, and I were still laying on the floor hugging each other. Alura pushed the door open and stood in the doorway staring at us with her two swords in hands pointing to the ground.
“Is everyone alright?” Alura asked.
“Yea, I think so,” I replied.
Alura closed the door rearming my wards and placed her swords into the straps on her back. I helped Melony get to the couch and Alura placed a blanket around her for comfort. Sally put her head on Melony’s lap while I sat in my chair, exhausted, heart pounding, and shaking with fear.
“Alura, she can’t go back to the shoppe. She’ll have to stay here.”
Alura nodded. “How about making some tea while I get Melony more comfortable?”
“Yea, good idea,” I said.
Alura put her arms around Melony and rocked her, trying to make her relax as best possible.
“We need to get her to Keob,” Alura said. “She’ll be safe there until we can sort things. Right now though, I’ll ask Sarila to have one of our doctors come here and make sure she’s alright and give her a sedative. The tea your making will help relax her until the doctor arrives.”
Alura called Sarila and filled her in on what had happened.
What did just happen? What the heck was that thing chasing us?
A dark mist without physical form, and it was alive. When it hit my door and triggered the wards, it screamed in pain. The only thing I know for certain is that it felt pain, and if it feels pain, it probably could be killed.
My wards are designed to compensate for kinesthetic energy and returns it with greater force. Basically, if something goes against my wards, it will kick back 10 times as hard. Whatever that thing was, it was definitely hurt and retreated faster than it had pursued Melony and me.
After pouring two cups of tea for Melony and Alura, I grabbed a cold beer for myself and sat back down on my chair. Alura still had her arms around Melony’s shoulder and was softly rubbing her back. Melony stopped crying, but she had a distant look on her face that was filled with fear and confusion. I knew now that she would have to be told about me, Alura, and her being a white witch. The truth is the only way Melony can be protected now.
How do you tell someone you’re a wizard and they’re a witch? How can anyone explain the existence of dark creatures in the world that would eat your face off given a chance?
Melony had an innocent spirit, until tonight, and now she’d never be the same. It wasn’t fair. A moment later my thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the front door followed by a man’s voice.
“Hello, I am Doctor Herick. Sarila sent me here.”
I opened the door to find an old man with white hair and thick glasses. I knew he wasn’t Zeshtunian because his eyes weren’t blue, and also because he wore glasses. Zeshtunians have excellent vision and don't need glasses. I invited him and locked the door, but this time the door and window frames did not glow as brightly. The wards must need to be recharged after tonight’s attack, but this can wait until Melony was better and safe of Keob. Doctor Herick performed a brief examination and then gave Melony a sedative to relax her.
“Your friend has mild shock and needs plenty of rest. It’s alright to send her to Sarila though, and I encourage you to do so.”
“Are you a regular doctor?” I asked.
Herick smiled. “Yes, I certainly am. Sarila uses my services whenever special circumstances came up in the neighborhood. I work for ZWC, so I am your employee Azul and available any time you need me.”
“How much do you know about what we do?”
“Details of your work are not normally discussed at the office, but I am aware of what you do and am most certainly happy to help when needed,” he said, then looked at Melony. “Your friend will sleep like a baby through the night and wake feeling much better.”
“Thank you very much for everything doctor,” I said.
“Mr. Zane, you are aware there is a fully equipped medical facility on Keob with technology far superior than anything here on Earth?”
I didn’t know, but thought I’d sound foolish saying so and replied, “Yes … of course I know.”
Doctor Herick smiled in a way telling me he knew I didn’t know.
“Very well then, I bid you all a good evening, or I should say a better evening,” he said, then exited the apartment.
Having a personal on-call doctor is something I did not expect. Good thing though because it would be difficult explaining to the police and hospital staff how some injuries come about. Better to keep our business on the low as much as possible.
I smirked at Alura. “Medical facility … when was I going to be told about that?”
“When you needed to know,” Alura replied. “We have a bowling alley too Azul, but knowing about it now is not a top priority.”
Why is there a bowling alley on Keob? I don’t bowl, or maybe I do and don’t remember.
Alura was right. There were more important matters to deal with at the moment. For now, I was grateful the night didn’t end in a worse way.
“Come brother, help me get Melony up and to your pentagram. We need to transport her to Keob for safekeeping and medical care. Sarila is expecting her and has things set up to attend to her needs.”
For a petite girl, Melony felt like a ton of bricks and we barely managed to get her to my bedroom without throwing our backs out. While still wrapped snuggly in a blanket, we put Melony in the middle of the pentagram and Alura took a blue coin from a jar on a shelf and handed it to me.
“Remember Azul, only you can make your pentagram work.”
I took the coin and crushed it on the floor, then stepped out of the circle and said, “Transmati Melony Keob,” and Melony was transported safely to Sarila’s lab.
Alura and I returned to the living room and I noticed something on the couch. When I got closer, I saw that it was the two Broadway tickets for the show Melony and I was going to see. They must have fallen out of Melony’s pocket. I picked up the tickets and placed them on the end table knowing such a date won’t be happening anytime soon. Our lives are now forever changed, especially for Melony.
We sat on the couch watching flames flicker back and forth in the fireplace. Alura tucked her arm under mine and placed her head on my shoulder. Sally also felt sa
d and put her head on my lap as she often did when seeking comfort. I stared into the fireplace in silence.
It wasn’t long before Alura fell asleep. I placed a pillow under her head and a warm blanket over her. Sitting in my chair watching her sleep, I reminded myself how fortune I was to have Alura in my life. She is always there for me no matter what trouble comes along, and knows I’ll always be there for her.
In every way, Alura looked like any ordinary young woman one might meet at a coffee shop or college campus. That’s what made it hard to believe she could turn into a monster killing machine in a blink of an eye. She’s a perfect sister and battle proven warrior, which is a bonus in our profession. I not only trusted Alura with my life, but I’d give it up in a second to protect her. Our bond is more powerful than any dark creature could ever imagine.
I began reminiscing about my old life as a professor. It was a lot easier teaching, hanging out at pubs near Harvard Square, and studying things that were long dead and not trying to kill me. Somewhere in the universe many millenniums ago, I apparently decided to be a hero and beat up bad guys to save the Earth from destruction. Now, when I finally meet a girl who I liked being around, a dark mist tried to eat us. Doesn’t seem fair, but no one ever said life was fair. It should fair be though, especially for people like Melony.
Exhausted, I fell asleep in my chair and woke up to the smell of beacon and eggs. When I opened my eyes, I saw Alura smiling as she moved a plate of food under my nose.
“Rise and shine brother.”
Sally already had her face in her own dish chowing down breakfast and wagging her tail in delight. I sat at the kitchen table with Alura who was eating more food than anyone could imagine possible. I wasn’t actually hungry, which was a first for me. My mind was unfocused and all I could do was stare at my plate. Alura looked at me for a sign of life, but after a minute of silence, she started a conversation.
“So big brother, what are we going to do today?”
I kept staring at my breakfast and muttered, “Shakespeare had the right idea.”
Alura stopped eating and narrowed her eyes, not sure she heard me correctly.
“What did you say?”
“The first thing we must do is kill all the lawyers. It’s a line from King Henry VI, and it’s exactly what we’re going to do, kill all the lycanthrope lawyers at Moon’s office.”
“Now that’s the spirit of a master wizard,” she said and slapped her hands on the table causing Sally to bark. “You see, even Sally thinks it’s a good idea.”
Melony was now safe on Keob so that’s one less thing to worry about. I had a score to settle with Moon and his fury pals. Moon’s lineage automatically qualified him for a silver bullet, especially after what happened last night. I felt more than happy to help him along to his final destination. In fact, that is all I could think about.
“Moon will be expecting us to come after him,” I said. “It won’t be easy. We’ll need a plan because his building surely has been fortified since our last visit. We’ll also need a lot of weapons and magic.”
We looked at each and both said, “We need Thyzil.”
“Thyzil is always ready to beat up bad guys,” Alura said, then she wiped the corner of her mouth with a napkin before calling Sarila. “Finish your breakfast Azul. You will need all your strength more than ever.”
The thought of having Thyzil help us dust Moon’s furry pals was enough to restore my appetite. It also put a big smile on my face as I imagined Thyzil counting off his kills.
“Sarila, have Thyzil put together an arsenal to take out Moon and his lycanthrope pack,” Alura said. “We also need to destroy his building, so make sure Thyzil has plenty of C4 explosives and crystals.”
I waved my fingers gesturing for Alura to give me her phone. She finished listening to Sarila for a minute and then handed it to me.
“How is Melony?” I asked.
“Do not worry wizard. Your dear witch is being cared for by her own kind. Soon, she will understand what has happened and who she is. It won’t be long before you will see her again.”
“Thank you Sarila. Thank you very much.”
“It is what we do wizard, but you are welcome just the same,” she said and the call ended.
“Are you ready to go fry some wolf butt?” Alura asked.
“As ready as ever,” I replied while stuffing wolfsbane into my pockets. “We’re not in any particular hurry are we?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean you don’t have to rush to Moon’s place in your Porsche like a bat out of hell, right?”
Alura smirked. “You’re not going to start complaining about my driving again, are you?”
“I’m just saying, it won’t kill you to obey the speed limit for once. Besides, I’d like to keep my breakfast in my stomach.”
“Close your eyes you big baby,” she said, then shaked her head and smirked. “What’s the point of having a Porsche if you can’t rev it up a little?”
Along the way, Alura and I discussed ideas about gaining entrance into Moon’s building. None our ideas were particularly encouraging because we knew Moon had fortified his building with mercenaries that would be on high alert. We fully realized it wasn’t going to be as easy as the last time we paid Moon a visit, which come to think, wasn’t all that easy.
Alura parked her Porsche a block away out of sight and we found our way to a nearby rooftop. We kept low and moved to the roof edge facing Moon’s building to check his defenses. Luckily, the edge of the roof had a three foot wall section that kept us concealed from view.
“Now what?” I asked.
“Now we see what we’re up against,” Alura said while pulling out a small spyglass from her pocket to scope out the perimeter.
“He has two snipers on the roof and five armed men patrolling outside. There are probably more I can’t see and definitely more inside.”
“Lycanthropes?” I asked.
“Doubt it. Military trained human mercenaries most likely. The bad kind who got dishonorable discharges or did time at Leavenworth Penitentiary. The lycanthropes will be holed up together somewhere inside the building.”