Nigel cocked his head. “No, but they can when they’re a demon and a conjurer.”
Desmond clicked his fingers. “That’s right. Demons can conjure animals, why not a human? It’s called possession. Didn’t we agree there was a cat hanging around with Margaret and Armand? If Benjamin Porter is a demon who can conjure familiars, it makes sense.”
“Wait a second,” Robbie interjected. “That would mean my father, Benjamin Porter, has been raising me all these years. Grooming me to be strong enough to face demons, and grooming me to be strong enough to kill my sister? His daughter. Are you joking?”
Kelsey stared at him sadly. “You had our father all this time and you didn’t even know it. I had my first mother and father and I didn’t know it. Benjamin obviously never cared about me.” She paused for a moment and then stared at Robbie. “Are you close to Master Dov?”
Robbie pursed his lips. “It’s not like he read books to me at night before bed, or played ball with me. He was my teacher and trained me hard. Much harder than all of the other students, but yes, he does seem to care for me.”
“Lucky you.” Kelsey pressed her hand to her temple and squeezed. “Oh, this is such a web. A web that everyone expects to collapse after I die. The irony of the universe astounds me to no end. How do I stop this?” Kelsey held out the stones. “Everyone is helping me get knowledge, but no one is helping to keep me alive.”
Desmond moved over to her and took her face in his hands. “We’re helping. Let’s get to the Bodhidharma Monastery. You feel there are answers there and your gut is never wrong.”
Kelsey nodded. “We’ll leave in the morning.”
Chapter Sixteen
A human life was fleeting. They lived on the Earth for an average of eighty to a hundred years tops, and then their precious, fragile life ended. Humans confused her with their hate and intolerance. With their crass views, their insensitivities and their tactless actions. She had little patience for them and soon hoped she would not have to burden herself with these vulgar creatures much longer. Why the human realm was considered the most coveted of realms mystified her. Humans didn’t seem to appreciate their existence in the least.
The woman had watched Kelsey and her companions make their way over the treacherous trails in the mountains of Tibet. It had been snowing for days and their progress had been exceedingly slow, much slower than she would have liked. From her vantage point she observed them setting up camp for the night. They would not arrive at the Bodhidharma Monastery until tomorrow, and she’d finish her arc in the nighttime sky by then and be ready. She had plenty of time to complete what needed to be done. If her son, Kenmut, would not take the task to completion, then she would. The prophecy must be fulfilled, and she refused to let this new chain of events hurt her family. Kelsey Porter should already be dead, and now, instead, she was working in consort with the man divined to kill her. She would help fix this. Her family had suffered enough.
Tepa-Kenmut turned to the sky. The Egyptian Decan sky goddess mother of the family of Kenmut, one of the thirty six decans in the nighttime sky, raised her hands to the heavens. A flash of color sparked the night as her mate, Kher-Khept-Kenmut, responded. She felt his need to get this over with, and he agreed that there was no way Kelsey Porter should be allowed to return Caim to the Emperor and Empress. It would ruin everything. Her son, Kenmut, had nearly destroyed their family with his libido when he had bedded and impregnated an Earth woman four thousand years ago. For centuries her family had been weakened because of his desires. Sickened with each passing generation as Ustha sought her revenge. And while they were now healed, it could all be put in jeopardy once more if the prophecy was not fulfilled.
There was no qualm in her that Kelsey was one of her heirs. She was simply a human girl and when she died, it would be quick and insignificant in the scheme of life. It had to happen now because when Kelsey died, Tepa’s family would finally be safe.
She watched her husband, Kher-Khept-Kenmut, begin his arc. Like a dot on the horizon he began to move across the sky. Tepa closed her eyes and let her body float. Within four minutes, she followed her mate in the age old pattern as their stars moved across the celestial space. With a glance back, she saw Kenmut, her son, follow. Ustha waited in the wings to follow him. It was a pity what had happened to the goddess. Her jealousy had nearly destroyed her and she was but a fraction of her former self after her confrontation with Kelsey. She had become insignificant and useless, and now her star was a weak spark in the nighttime sky and would be for millions of years to come. Unless the prophecy was not fulfilled. When Kelsey defeated Ustha, part of the Decan sky goddess’s power now resided in the demon side of Kelsey’s spirituality. If Kelsey didn’t die, then Ustha could possibly one die find a way to access that power and regain it again. That potentiality could not be allowed to remain.
Tepa had to help make sure all of it was destroyed. The Goddess Tepa slowly descended to the far horizon and when she finished her arc, she was released and free to now travel to the Underworld.
“Good luck, my Goddess…” echoed her mate. Tepa removed her sandals and let her feet touch Mother Earth. Her toes sunk into the dirt and when she raised her hands to the sky, the goddess descended. Down and down she traveled through the planes of earth, past hell realm after hell realm. None of them gave her pause. None of them interested her. Only when she reached the Naraka Palace did she cease her downward trajectory. The golden palace doors opened to let her in.
A stunning seductress met her. “I heard your call, my Goddess. You know where Caim is? My sister Raga is eager to get him back.”
The Decan Sky Goddess nodded. “I will show you Caim once I get your father’s assurance that Kelsey will be stopped. She must die in this lifetime for the prophesy to be completed. Will he comply?”
A deep, resonating voice boomed from inside the palace corridors. “Consider it done, Decan Goddess Tepa. I’ve been waiting centuries for this. It’s time Tanha finally came home where she belongs.”
The Goddess nodded and returned to the nighttime sky.
A man moved around the curtains behind Mara’s throne. Mara glanced at him.
“Your mother is taking things into her own hands,” the Buddhist Devil said.
Kenmut smirked. “Let her play her games. It won’t matter. When Kelsey dies, she will come here to rest. You will have your daughter back.”
“And after four thousand years your family will be free for eternity.”
Chapter Seventeen
Kelsey’s cell phone rang and she gave Desmond an uneasy look. There was no reason anyone should be calling her right now, in the middle of the Tibetan mountains.
She rummaged in her backpack, entirely unsure how she even had any cell service. The caller ID was Julia’s. Kelsey swiped to answer and put her on speaker. “What’s up, Jules? Is everything okay?”
Julia was screaming and Kelsey could barely make out her words.
Kelsey raised her voice. “Will you slow down? What’s going on?”
Julia sounded frantic. All Kelsey could make out was, “Ambushed, your family, kidnapped.”
Kelsey got cold and it had nothing to do with the frigid temperature outside. “Julia, what happened to my family?”
“They took them! Ari, right from his office. And Patricia at the dance school. They have your brother and sister!”
“Who took them, Julia?”
“A man. I don’t know who he was, but I saw him materialize right in Ari’s office, grab him by his wrist and disappear. I was right next to him. He touched his ring and they vanished! Really tall older guy in a navy blue robe.”
Robbie leaned forwards, his eyes blazing. “Did he have blue eyes and a scar on his chin?”
“Yes, he had a jagged scar across his chin! You know who this was?”
At that moment, the line disconnected.
“Jules! Are you there?” Kelsey glanced at Robbie. “Who is he?”
Robbie glowered. “My teacher, Master Dov.
It fits his description from his height and scar to how he portalled away with your family using his ring.
Kelsey’s heart rate escalated. “You said others said Master Dov was different after he came into your life, right? That his personality changed when he became your teacher when you were five years old. You know why?”
Robbie seethed. “Because he’s Benjamin Porter. Because he took over the soul of Master Dov. He’s a demon and possessed him. It’s him.”
“A conjurer,” Desmond uttered.
“And now he went after my family, Robbie. We have to stop him.”
But Robbie had turned away and was staring warily at the sky.
“What is it?” Kelsey turned and sucked in her breath.
No, this can’t be happening. Not again.
Across the horizon a black spot punctured the darkening sky. It reminded her of a tick with little spindly legs, where the appendages began to spread.
“Kelsey, it’s just like what happened in Xanadu!” Desmond grabbed for his gun. “Something is coming through. Where the hell is my bow and arrow when I need it?”
Kelsey grabbed her bag. “We have to get off this part of the mountain. We’re trapped here.” They’d made camp at a crevice with a large rock wall behind them and an overhang to protect them from the elements, but they could only run forward or backwards. In front of them stood the edge of the mountain, and if they moved too far, it was a drop of a hundred feet down onto jagged rocks.
She desperately tried to pack, but Robbie grabbed her arm. “There’s no time. Demons are coming through it right now!” He readied himself for battle, standing at the lip of the overhang with his flying darts and his sword at his side.
Desmond pointed his gun at the creatures that soared through the rift, following them as they flew directly towards them.
Kelsey was frantic. “I can’t fight them here! I’m not powerful enough on Earth. Let me take you both to Xanadu!” She began to wiggle her fingers.
“There’s no time!” Desmond yelled. “They’re coming fast and your body will remain here and they’ll kill you!” He fired a shot. It hit the first flying ogre-type creature to reach them. It shrieked and tumbled off its monstrous steed, falling to the ground below.
A different creature soared past that one. This one had red-orange hair and black skin. Kelsey recognized it as a Begtse demon, a lord of war. She pointed her fingers towards it, concentrated and directed a volley of flames at the demon. The energy flew from her body and she hit it squarely, but the flames bounced off its armor.
Of course, how could I be so stupid?
“It’s wearing chainmail! Hit it in one of its three eyes, Desmond!”
As the creature rushed towards them, Desmond aimed and shot at the demon, but missed. The Begtse Demon was on top of him in seconds, and Kelsey could see its crown of five skulls from where she stood. She and Robbie sent flames and flying darts at the demon, but in seconds it had grabbed Desmond, hoisted him onto the back of the creature it rode, and whisked him back towards the rift. Seconds more and they had flown out of range.
“Desmond, no!” Kelsey shrieked, but she could not see Desmond any longer as more demons descended upon them. She whirled to help Robbie, who was getting deluged.
“Robbie! Watch out!”
Robbie threw his flying darts at a demon Kelsey recognized as Hayagriva with its one human head and one horse head. Robbie hit the creature, yet it still flew towards him. He then drew his sword and sliced into the creature’s side when it collided with him. Hayagriva took another hit, and blood poured from numerous wounds on his brilliant white skin. The demon retreated and readied himself to try again.
Kelsey tried to run to Robbie’s side to protect him, but other creatures surrounded her and blocked her vision. Her world became a swirling fog of blackness as shrieking ghosts spun around her like a maelstrom, preventing her from seeing or hearing anything.
Kelsey stilled herself, closed her eyes and concentrated. She pushed outward with all her might, sending the energy from her body the same way she’d pushed Raga across her apartment. The demons shrieked and fled from her in a burst of power, scattering away in a massive burst. Kelsey whirled around to help Robbie, but he was no longer by her side. She looked to the sky and her heart hammered in her chest. She saw her brother being carried away by the demon Hayagriva, who disappeared with him into the rift.
She watched, horrified as the other demons escaped through the rift. Then the rift closed, rapidly shrinking until it was nothing more than a black dot in the sky.
Kelsey shook with the realization that demons had come after those she loved most, and yet had left her alone on the mountain without even touching her. Why?
She tried to slow down her beating heart, but she couldn’t. She fell to her knees, still shaking, desperately wondering what to do next. Should she go to Xanadu and confront the Emperor and Empress and ask them for help? Should she go directly to the Naraka palace and confront Mara? Who was behind this?
I have to get to the Bodhidharma Monastery. Even though they used me, they’ll know what to do.
Kelsey fled the mountainside with just her bag, abandoning her tent and leaving her other supplies behind. She had to move as quickly as possible. There was no more time.
* * * * *
Kelsey arrived at the Bodhidharma Monastery at dawn and rang the bell frantically. The clanging gongs sounded hollow and forlorn in the cold winter air. She waited a full minute, but no one came to greet her. With a grunt she pushed her shoulder into the door and leaned against it with all her might and was shocked when it opened under her effort. She stepped quickly inside, prepared to confront the guards, but no Shaolin Monks were there to block her way. The courtyard appeared eerily empty.
Something was terribly wrong.
The monastery was a fortress in solitude and had been protected for centuries. Kelsey moved into the first courtyard and traversed the temple paths quickly, her way led by her memories of studying there when she was a child. Her destination waited deep in the heart of the monastery, in the meeting room where she could speak to the Abbott of Abora.
Kelsey moved down one pathway and then the next, still passing no one. The entire massive temple appeared deserted.
Her mind raced with furious thoughts and she picked up her pace. She tried not to think about what might be happening to her family and why they’d been targeted. She knew deep in her bones the Begste and Hayagriva demons had been sent to take Desmond and Robbie for a reason. And Benjamin Porter had taken Ari and Patricia. Had someone snatched Jay, too? It wouldn’t surprise her now. It all came down to her. If they died, it would be because of her, and their deaths would be her fault. She knew she might have to make some kind of choice soon, and someone planned to use her family as the bargaining chip or collateral.
And the choice may be whether I live or die.
She turned the corner where the school stood, and its door was open. It moved slowly back and forth with the breeze. She’d studied for two years here with the monks. Kelsey jumped up the six steps and peeked inside. No children were here today and the open door showed the one large schoolroom to be deserted. She went back down the steps and skirted the little garden where she’d sit and study. A quick walk took her to the tiled patio where she used to have tea with Bantu Shingen. She stopped short at the simple benches and tables and her blood ran cold. Two Shaolin Monks lay on the ground with their own broadswords embedded in their sides. Kelsey bent down to them to see if they still lived, but their bodies were cold and frozen.
They’ve been dead for hours. Someone attacked them first and then went after my family.
She picked up her pace and continued her search. She passed the dormitory, the refectory and the library, and finally came upon the building housing the meeting room. She ran up the steps into the room and uttered a strangled cry. Monks lay on the floor as if dead. In desperation she bent from one to the other, feeling for heartbeats. They thudded weakly, but all the m
onks were still amazingly alive.
She found the Abbott of Abora, bent to him, and placed a nearby robe under his head for comfort. “Good sir, please wake up.” She gently rubbed his cheek, but he did not wake.
She took a step back and thought. She saw no evidence of bloodshed, and the monks didn’t appear injured. What had happened to them? A sudden thought came to her. They are not here. They took themselves someplace. Or were taken.
Did they go to Xanadu?
Kelsey sat down on the floor and frantically began to wiggle her fingers. Over and over again she wiggled them, up and down, like waves coming in and out from a tide as they came to shore. One finger, then another, again and again until she heard the longhorn sound from the monastery where the Empress and Emperor resided.
She arrived not at her hut in the woods, but in the far reaches of the kingdom where Josh had been sent to live with the Bhikkus and Bhikkunis. She moved quickly among the sparse, simple village dwellings, and those who saw her fell to their knees and bowed in reverence as she passed.
Why are they bowing to me?
She came upon a woman braiding rope for robes. Kelsey bent to her, addressing her respectfully. “Ayya I’m looking for my friend Josh. Do you know where he is?”
The woman stared up at her with sad eyes. Eyes that Kelsey could peer into and see her soul. The woman had been human in her last lifetime, but had lost both her life and the lives of her husband and daughter in a terrible auto accident in which she’d been the driver. She had come to Xanadu and remained because she was not yet ready to move on. Such sadness and despair filled her expression that it hurt Kelsey’s heart to gaze upon it.
“He is no longer here, Tanha.”
Kelsey froze. “My name is not Tanha. It’s Kelsey.”
“Are you sure?”
Kelsey stared into the woman’s eyes and saw her reflection mirrored back in them. She went rigid and felt like she was looking at someone else. Someone she hadn’t seen in a very long time.
The Search for Starlight Page 20
