by T. J. Hunter
Chapter 27
“Okay guys, let’s do what we do best and kick more fur ball butts,” I said.
The three of us walked into the Batcave where Sarila and her cohort were busy as usual. Computers were prowling the Internet, large screen televisions were showing the latest news, and hologram programs were being tested.
“Sarila, would you like to be debriefed on my visit with my older self?” I asked.
“No need wizard. Yochi, ‘your older self’ as you say, has already uploaded the transcript of your visit.”
“Transcript … really? Isn’t that an invasion of privacy?”
“Not at all wizard, especially since you designed the library yourself. If you want to keep something confidential, you will have to tell Yochi of your intention to do so,” Sarila said, her face perfectly straight and eyebrow slightly arched. “Of course, anything pertaining to dark beings can not be censored, so be warned wizard.”
Okay then, from now on I’ll be extra careful not to disclose anything personal in my library. If I think about Melony, I’ll just keep saying baseball over and over in my head to drown out all the little Batcave eavesdroppers.
I started to think about Melony and how it would be nice to see her again. Perhaps a short visit before facing off with a Darkzon overlord would be in order.
“Hey guys, I was thinking I’d stop off on Galbria to say hello to Melony and catch up with you tomorrow.”
“I am sorry wizard,” Sarila said. “This is the time of Naril on Galbria. Melony will not be able to leave or receive visitors for a month Earth time.”
“A whole month, seriously? What is Naril?”
“It is a time when the Sisters of Galbria meditate and commune with nature. Melony will be in a deep state of mediation until Naril is completed. You may leave a message for her here and I will be sure she receives it.”
“Nah … I’ll contact her later,” I said, then gave the Batcave a quick scan. “Has anyone seen Sally?”
“Sally is out on the surface playing with Bayla and a few other technicians,” Sarila replied as she turned her attention back to work. “It appears your dog is quite fond of fresbies.”
“Yea, and anything else flying through the air or bouncing on the ground. Well, since she’s having a good time, she can stay and get some exercise.”
“You two go,” Thyzil said. “I get more weapons to fight bad guys. Maybe two hours I meet you.”
Alura grabbed a large duffle bag stuffed with grenades, silver dust, hollow point magnum bullets, and of course her two faithful silver swords. I was the economy version of Zeshtune warriors in my family, but had an arsenal of magic in my wizard bag and a staff coin in my pocket. Even so, I’d like to have some of those grenades with silver pellets if only for the entertainment value.
Alura and I transported back to her apartment. It was 11:20 PM and everything appeared deceptively quiet. We stored her arsenal inside the Porsche and arrived at my apartment a few minutes later, then parked in the rear alley. The fire truck red Porsche looked odd parked along side a large rusted metal garbage bin, but in a way, also made the ally feel a little safer.
Loose newspapers littered the ally and were blowing around randomly creating an eerie setting. I rarely use the ally entrance at night because I watched too many horror movies as a kid. Dark alleys are where monsters hid and ambushes took place. Not my first choice, but there were no parking spots available outside in front, so it was either ally parking or walking several blocks. I was too tired and hungry to walk, so I let my grumbling stomach make the decision for me.
I was about to place my key inside the door lock when I heard a yelp sound. Alura immediately turned around and pulled her compact magic sword out of her pocket and said, “Unclass blade,“ extending it to full size. I was a bit slower and dropped my keys, and when I turned around, I saw a Hunter Demon kneeling on one leg between two soldier wolves. The demon’s long razor finger nails were sticking into the back of both wolves heads while two other wolves lay nearby cut cleanly in halves.
Alura stepped forward with her blade raised to strike. I put my arm in front of her to stop.
“No, wait,” I said. “If it wanted us dead, we’d be dead already.”
The demon stood up slowly with blood dripping from its fingers and reached under its hooded garment, then pulled out the white crystal necklace I had left in the ally the other day. When the demon held up the glowing crystal, I saw its grotesque face and felt a little sad for the creature. The demon placed the crystal back inside his garment and put his hands together inside its sleeves, then bowed its head and stood still.
The demon had giving me something of greater or equal value in return for the crystal – it saved my life.
“I guess this makes us even. I release you from my service.”
The Hunter Demon turned and jumped on a wall of an adjacent building, then raced up like a spider on fire and disappeared into the night shadows.
Alura lowered her blade and asked, “Making new friends brother?”
“Looks like,” I replied, smiling a little knowing my bargain with the demon paid off.
The dead wolves did not burn into ashes until Alura stuck each with her silver blade. Once she did this, fiery ashes floated into the night sky creating the effect of an upside down snowfall.
“Merry Deathmas,” I said which caused Alura to chuckle.
“Come on brave wizard. Let’s get inside before any more surprises come our way.”
My defense shield would have protected me from the wolves attack, but Alura may have been seriously hurt being caught off guard.
Make note to self: have staff ready when entering rear door in ally, or walk a couple blocks and use the front door for Pete’s sake.
I picked up my apartment key from the ground and unlocked the door. As always, my wards disarmed then rearmed once we were safely inside. Alura sat on the couch and put her feet up on the coffee table, then tilted her head back letting out a long exhale while I went to the refrigerator for a beer.
“Get me a cold one too brother.”
“It’s going to cost you.”
“Put it on my bill,” she said, then took another long breath and exhaled. “Where did those wolf soldiers come from? Moon’s building and arena were destroyed and Lieutenant Mack would have taken out any strays trying to get away.”
“Elementary my dear Watson,” I said. “There is trouble afoot elsewhere in the city.”
Alura grinned. “And you know this how Sherlock?”
“Simple Watson. I used my superior deductive reasoning. It’s quite simple really. Moon’s pack is destroyed. Ah Chuy Kak, the original grand fur ball is ticked off and wants to kill us. So, you see, papa wolf sent his cubs to check us out.” I frowned and added, “Or to take us out.”
Alura shook her head. “Wow, if I ever become a master wizard like you, will I have incredible intellectual prowess too?”
“Perhaps one day Watson, but first things first,” I said and chugged my beer down as Alura rolled her eyes and smirked.
“What … it helps me to think,” I said, then sat in my chair and put my feet up on the table next to her. “Aha, I have an idea. See little sister, beer actually does help me to think.”
“Spit it out Azul … your idea, not the beer.”
I told Alura about my vision of the Tenochtitlan where my magic barrier curtain sealed Ah Chuy Kak in at the top of the temple. “If I could create this barrier, a sort of impenetrable magic box, perhaps it could trap and hold Ah Chuy Kak long enough for me to banish him.”
“How will you touch the wizard star if Ah Chuy Kak’s inside the barrier while you’re on the outside?”
Good question. “One step at a time my impatient trainee. First the idea, then the plan.”
Alura lifted her head from the couch and said, “Call me a trainee again and I will punch you in your nose.”
“Okay, don’t get your …”
Alura arched her eyebrow and tilted
her head as a warning for me to carefully choose my next words. I decided to turn the conversation in a more productive and safer direction.
“Okay, check my thinking. Assuming I might actually accomplish this awesome wizardry spell, touching the wizard star with my staff will not be easy as you noted. If I am inside the barrier, Ah Chuy Kak could keep dodging me until my magic power weakens and the barrier fails.”
“And then you would have to fight hand-to-hand combat,” Alura said.
“Yea, and there’s that too.”
“So brother, what is your solution?”
Fighting combat style up front and personal was Alura’s and Thyzil’s strength, not mine. The magical barrier is my best option to defeat Ah Chuy Kak, so I took my staff coin out of my pocket to give the spell a try.
“Let’s first see if I can cast the spell inside the apartment.”
Alura nodded, but I sensed she was concerned such a spell may be beyond my current abilities. Or worse, she was more likely thinking I’d screw it up and blow the building up with us inside.
In my vision, I tapped the end of my staff on the temple floor, and with one spoken word, sent a barrier up fifty feet into the air that encircled the temple top. It was fluid and semi-transparent, like thick Saran Wrap, except it had blue-white lights moving up and down.
“Okay, here goes,” I said and changed my pocket coin into a staff causing the amulet to glow brightly. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and felt magic surging through my body. I then tapped my staff on the floor and said, “Cellvari.” Magic flowed from inside me down through my staff and blue-white light covered the floor and walls. And then … all the lights in my apartment blew out, the microwave exploded, and my refrigerator door opened spewing out its entire contents.
Alura arched her brow. “Azul, maybe you shouldn’t use this spell yet. Maybe you’re not ready.”
“Hold on, it wasn’t cellvari, it was cellvarim. Oops, I mispronounced the spell.”
“Oops … that word has killed more wizards that I can count,” Alura said.
“Don’t worry, I got it. Let’s try again with the correct pronunciation this time.”
Alura raised both eyebrows and her mouth dropped. I didn’t mention her hair was sticking up from the electrical discharge. Angering a female Zeshtune warrior about having a bad hair day seemed a needless risk at this point. Besides, ruining my apartment was enough for one night.
I held out my staff and said, “Cellvarim.” Magic flowed from inside me again and through my staff as blue-white light rushed along the floor and covered the walls. This time there was no damage, but my apartment was already ruined, so whatever happened next couldn’t be any worse – at least I hope not.
Alura reached into the top of her boot and pulled out three silver daggers. She placed them together between her thumb and fingers, raised her hand over her shoulder, and threw the daggers at the front glass window. The daggers bounced off without leaving a scratch.
“Not bad,” she said.
I was surprised by her action, which clearly showed in my face. Alura grinned at my response knowing what I was thinking.
“Hey, did you ever consider that someone might be walking by that window? If the spell didn’t work …”
“Not that kind of a dagger brother. These neat little weapons won’t piece human flesh. At worse, they might leave a nasty bruise.”
Not fair. Alura definitely has all the cool weapons. I appreciate my magic, but saw no harm having a few toys for myself, just in case, and for pure fun.
“Anyway, congratulations brother. You are bonding with your staff better than I expected.”
“Bonding with my staff? What does that mean?”
“Your staff amulet has unlimited magic. Your body, however, is weak as are all physical bodies. Magic coins are needed to recharge your body’s magic and channel it through your staff and amulets. Bonding means that your staff and mind are becoming more connected, which allows for magic to be used more efficiently. More power, bigger spells, less coins.”
Alura was right. I didn’t feel any drain of strength and the barrier was holding.
I grinned while tapping my staff on the floor and said, “Celldos,” causing the barrier to recede and disappear into the floor.
“Don’t get too cocky brother,” Alura said while picking up her daggers off the floor. “You almost destroyed this place, remember?”
I continued grinning. “You’re such a nitpick,” I said, then opened another beer to take a well deserved drink in celebration of my magical bonding.
“Hey, I think I have another idea. Each time we transport from a pentagram, the perimeter of the base shoots up light. Remember in Iraq when I made a pentagram in sand for us to escape Lupzarro and blue-white light rose up all the way into the clouds? Is the light solid?”
“It is not only solid, but also impenetrable so nothing can interfere with the transportation spell.”
“I thought so. What if we had a second pentagram high above, say a ceiling, and cast a barrier instead of a transportation spell that connected to a pentagram on the ground. Would it enclose both pentagram?”
Alura’s eyes perked up. “It just might, and that would give you a magical box, or can so to speak. Good thinking brother.”
I grinned with satisfaction while holding my beer can up and proudly said, “Never underestimate the power of hops and barley dear sister.”
A second later, something moved near the front door and my wards lit up. Someone, or something, slid something under the door. I slowly walked toward the door pointing my staff ready to let hell loose on anything that might get past my wards, as unlikely as that might be. As I got closer, I saw that it was an envelope. I hesitated for a moment in opening it as my imagination conjured up all sorts of booby traps. To my surprise, inside was a backstage pass for a concert at a nightclub not far from Alura’s apartment. The words written on the envelop read: Important – 7:00 P.M. – ask for Tommy.
“What is it?” Alura asked, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.
“Looks like I’m invited to a concert tomorrow at Penzdor’s Theater.”
Alura laughed. “You’re invited to a concert? Why would anyone invite an old man like you to a punk concert?”
“Hey, I’m not that old sister, at least not physically. Besides, I don’t think it has anything to do with the concert. The note says it’s important and to ask for Tommy.”
Alura grabbed the pass. “This band is very popular. Not my type of music, or yours, but they have been around for a couple of years and always sell out their shows,” she said, tapping the pass on her chin. “Hmm … only one pass. Which of us should go?”
I snatched the pass out of Alura’s hand and said, “Why me of course. If who ever left this wanted you to go, they would have slid it under your apartment door.”
Alura frowned. “Could be a trap you know.”
“At a sold out concert? Not likely.”
“Just the same, I’m coming with you. I may not get backstage, but I can get awfully close should you need me.”
“Okay, but don’t expect me to get you any autographs.”
“Oh please, spare me the late night humor,” she said, then put her coat on and opened the door. “I’m going home to take care of few things and sleep. Goodnight Mr. Punk.”
“You’re just jealous,” I said and waved the pass at her as she shut the door.
I finished my beer and soon fell asleep in my chair. When I woke up the next morning, my neck was killing me from sleeping slouched over to one side. Nothing a good breakfast can’t cure.
I made both coffee and tea along with my usual supply of eggs, bacon, and toast. The coffee was to wake me up. The tea from Magical Herbs was to help relax my neck muscles. Melony told me her special tea had healing properties, and since there was no aspirin in my cupboards, her tea was the next best thing.
I drank down the tea like I take medicine, in one big gulp. It didn’t taste bad, but for me mor
ning time was for coffee. Tea didn’t fit into my morning repertoire. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: “Sleep is the result of caffeine deprivation.”
I drank my java in cherished sips and polished down my breakfast in record time. It had been a long time since I ate so much food, mostly because Sally wasn’t here bumping it off my fork with her cold wet nose
The rest of the day was all mine. I caught up on my reading, watched an action movie, and organized my apartment a little. It was a great day with no monsters – just pizza, beer, and quiet solitude. Later, I heard Alura’s Porsche come to a screech. I looked at my watch as she entered and noted that it was already 6:00 P.M. She smiled and then poured herself a cup of coffee, took a sip, and spit it out into the kitchen sink.
“Yuk, how old is this?” she asked, then continued spitting into the sink. “Are you trying to poison me brother?”
“You are always welcome to make a fresh pot.”
Alura smirked and took a beer from the refrigerator.
“No thanks, this will do,” she said and sat next to me on the couch. “I bet you got a lot of rest, didn’t you?”
“Sure did. It was the best do nothing day ever. Does it have to end?”
“Yup, sure does,” she said, then proceeded to tug me off the couch. ”Come on lazy wizard, we have a concert to attend.”
Penzdor’s Theater would normally be a five minute drive. Alura made it there with her Porsche in two minutes – so much for my relaxing day. I showed my backstage pass and ZWC credentials to the concert security. They gave me a look up and down and waved a metal detector wand over me. I had already changed my staff coin into a walking cane in the event some quick magic was needed – the guards barely noticed it.
“He’s good. Let him pass,” a guard said.
A young girl opened the door and led me down the hall to another guard.
“He’s here to see Tommy,” the girl said.
The guard stood aside and we walked into a worn out room right out of an old black and white movie script. Three young people were plucking away at instruments and barely glanced at me before playing some unrecognizable tune.
The young girl who led me into the room shouted, “Tommy, he’s here.”
A man in his mid-twenties came out from behind a curtain. He was completely punked out. Orange and purple spiked hair, piercings in his ears, nose, eyelids, lips, and I don’t even want to guess where else. He wore jeans, a black t-shirt, and blue sneakers with orange laces. He smiled and then held out his hand to shake.
“Thank you for coming Mr. Zane.”
I shook his hand. “No problem. How could I resist a cultural experience like this?”
The girl who led me down the hall giggled and placed her hand over her mouth.
“Let me introduce you to my band. This is Grover, Miles, Brandy, and of course you already know Robin who is trying to hide her beautiful smile.”
Each band member nodded during the introduction and went about plucking away on their instruments.
“So Tommy, what’s this all about?”
Tommy told me to make myself comfortable and offered a can of beer, which I gladly took, but decided not to sit down until I knew why he wanted to see me.
“Mr. Zane, we are in desperate need of your help.”
“You need my help? What is it that you think I can do for you?”
“We first saw you at the Sunset Park warehouse. At the time, we weren’t sure you could be trusted.”
“You were at Sunset Park?”
“Yes, watching from a distance. It wasn’t until you destroyed Robert Moon’s building that we were sure our enemy is the same.”
“Saw that mess too did you? Who are you people?”
“We are friends Mr. Zane, or at least not enemies, and seek the destruction of the same demon.”
Tommy raised his hand up and changed it into a hairy lycanthrope paw and back to a human hand. I looked around at the others were grinning and flashing their bright yellow eyes.
“Don’t be alarmed Mr. Zane. We are also human, and I am happy to say, mostly human – hybrids to be exact.”
Maybe Aura was right about walking into a trap, but I didn’t sense any danger. The hairs on the back of my neck did not stand up and I didn’t smell anything wolfy. I raised my walking cane up across my chest and the handle glowed bright blue-white.
“You see, I told you he was a wizard,” Robin said. “He is the one we have been told about all these years.”
The other hybrids eyes turned normal and they looked at Tommy waiting for his response.
“Yes, it’s true,” Tommy said. “Mr. Zane, we are the children of lycanthrope fathers who took upon themselves human wives – some willing, some not. The children of this unholy union took on characteristics of both parents, but not all retained their humanity. Those you see here in this room are mostly human and able to control the beast within them. We do not harm humans and have continued to live among them as friends for many hundreds of years. I am the eldest of my pack, 826 years old. Robin is the youngest, a mere 63 years old.”
“Okay, so we’re not enemies, I can sense that. What do you know about Sunset Park?”
“It is where the bodies of our brothers and sisters were piled to rot. You see Mr. Zane, in the eyes of full blooded lycanthropes, we are a disease and embarrassment to the perfection they see in themselves. Many of the bodies you saw in the warehouse were hybrids like us,”
“What happened to them? I mean, how did they die?”
“Our ancestors have prophesized of a great evil feeding on human and hybrid souls. I have seen it happen only once, more than four hundred years ago. This creature gets close to its victims and sucks their life out. In a few seconds the victim’s body shrinks to a lifeless shell of what they once were. Our ancestors also prophesized about a great wizard who would appear during the Galactic Alignment to defeat the great evil.”
