by Bryna Butler
Chapter 16: What’s in a Name
Colby finally caught up with Keira at school on Monday. She was at her locker searching for a stick of gum, when he approached. “We’ve got to talk,” he said and she agreed to meet him in their secret room behind the chem lab during third period. Colby waited behind the sunflower and rainbow door for the entire fifty minutes. There was no sign of Keira. At lunch, he scanned the commons and still no Keira.
Ann told him not to worry. “She probably just wants to be alone. That was a close call you two had on New Year’s and she’s not the kind to keep feelings locked up. I’m sure she’s just blowing off some steam,” she said in a failed effort to soothe him.
“Tell ya what, if she’s not outside at the fountain after school, I’ll help you look for her,” Jumper offered. This made Colby feel better. Inside, he knew that they were probably right. In all likelihood, Keira would be at the fountain to walk home with him. She could tempt fate by skipping school, but she would never unnecessarily risk being caught by Nana.
Sure enough, when the last bell rang, Colby found Keira walking the edge of the fountain as if it were a tightrope. He walked past her without stopping. She jumped off the ledge and jogged a few steps to catch up with him. She walked silently beside him.
They walked and walked and walked and were almost home before Colby broke the silence.
“So where have you been all day?” He kept his gaze straight ahead, fearing that he would back down if he had to look her in the eyes.
“Just here and there.”
“Are you ready to talk now?”
“Sure. What do you want to know?”
He stopped. He stared at her in disbelief. “Just start at the beginning,” he finally said. “What really happened on New Year’s Eve?”
Keira looked from side to side to make sure that no other human was within earshot. She spoke quietly and calmly.
“That thing on the roller coaster was a mogdoc. Actually he is, I mean was, sort of an infamous mogdoc. Nana says that he was one of Gammen’s best assassins.”
“Gammen?”
Keira stopped in her tracks. She was finding it very hard to remember what Colby did and did not know about her world. She had opened the floodgates by sharing her secret. Now, she was finding it hard to stop. She would need to explain. “Bov Gammen is the leader, well, technically emperor, of the mogdocs. He’s the third Gammen to rule and I know it’s hard to believe but he’s supposed to be even more ruthless than his father.”
“His father?”
“Bo Gammen,” she offered. He shook his head.
“Gimme a break, Colby, Bo Gammen, was so feared, so evil, that his name was spread across the entire world in warning, never to be forgotten. Ring a bell?”
“I’m telling you. I’ve never heard of him before.”
“Yes, you have,” Keira insisted.
By this time, they had arrived at her front door. He followed her inside. They made their way quickly through the tiny living room and into the kitchen which overlooked the back yard. “We’re home, Nana,” Keira yelled over her shoulder. Colby took a chair at the kitchen table as Keira pulled a couple of orange sodas from the fridge.
Keira continued her story, “I guarantee that you’ve heard of Bo Gammen. You probably just don’t realize it. Let me just jog your memory a little. You know, mogdocs live for hundreds of years.”
“Sure, I think I learned that in mogdoc biology class.”
“Whatever, point is, we’re talking about an ancient evil, before there was internet, television or even, radio. His name was passed by word of mouth, even across the barrier. By the time mutterings of his name reached the Americas, it got a little twisted and the pronunciation changed a bit. You’re smart. Think about it and say his name a few times quickly.”
Colby said it in his head at first. Still searching for the answer, he spoke it aloud, “Bo Gammen…Bo Gammen…Bogam men…Boogam men…Boogeyman.”
Colby was speechless. Keira nodded. “When his name spread, he was weakened. That’s how it goes with the older creatures, their power comes from their true name. Mortals fear the unknown evil; but once it’s named, it loses potency. As his true name spread, he eventually had to step down and his son, Bov, assumed the throne.”
“What? That can’t be right,” Colby rationalized. “Next you’re going to tell me that werewolves and vampires really do exist.”
Keira shrugged but didn’t answer.
After a few minutes of silent thought, Colby decided the best approach would be to get back to the issue at hand. “Do you think that he’ll send another assassin?”
The last trace of a smile disappeared from her face. “No.”
“Good.”
“I think he’ll try to finish the job himself.”
She closed her eyes. She could feel Colby’s hand move to her shoulder. “You’ll be okay. I’ll do whatever you need me to do.”
She kept her eyes shut and could feel his closeness. Her heart began to pound. She wanted to be selfish. She wanted to keep him by her side, even if it put him in danger. She had never wanted anything more. She lifted her hand to his cheek and he moved away, oblivious to the moment.
“I’ve not been afraid of the boogeyman since I was seven and I’m not gonna start now. And at least you’ll see him coming. It’s not like he can just waltz into school and…”
“Actually, he can. The Gammens are powerful shapeshifters. That’s why they’ve ruled for so long. His true form is mogdoc, but he could appear to be anyone he chooses. It’s also rumored that Bov has a special power over humans. Supposedly it’s like mind control, but over just emotions, not actions.”
“You mean he could tell the lunch lady to dose your cafeteria food with poison?”
“Not exactly. It’s not actions, just emotions. He couldn’t order her to do it, but he could make her feel extreme loyalty or love, then, ask her to do it as a favor. She may not be able to resist.”
“Whoa.”
“I know. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to pack my lunch for tomorrow.”
