The curse was gone and she felt truly free. Kalara still wore Leaf for final healing but her mood was good and her thoughts turned to a total recovery. She called Annette to her.
“Yes My Enchantress?”
“Enough time has been wasted.” Kalara said. “I want you to recover my memories now. Give them back to me. You ought to be able to, now that you’re away from Black Blade.”
“Yes. I want to. We’re out of that mist, my medicine works out here.” Annette thought for a moment and then grabbed an old pack of crackers from her pocket. She took one out and broke it on a rock into several pieces. Then as she carefully put the little puzzle back together again she concentrated on broadcasting clear thought and total memory recall to Kalara.
Instantaneously Kalara thought more clear than ever before. So clear were her thoughts that she knew Annette’s medicine had not brought back her memories. She gave Annette an unimpressed stare.
Annette grimaced in the darkness of failing her Enchantress. “That didn’t work did it?”
There was no answer and Jeremy knew to keep quiet as well.
“It should have worked.” Annette went on, “What went wrong?”
“When you figure it out tell me.” Kalara replied sourly. She had no idea how to get her memories back now. First Ravanan failed, now Annette herself failed. Somehow she was going to have to fix herself if it was even possible.
At night the three of them explored under darkness. One night they heard voices on the wind and moved in to investigate.
They came upon some hills that rose up from the flat land, river-bottom flood plain land – the hills didn’t belong to it. Annette knew about the ancient peoples of Central America and hill-building was their thing as a lot of her own ancestors were – this had to be an archaeological site. Sure enough as they circled wide around the voices they came to a sign that read: TAMTOC ZONA ARQUEOLÓGICA Patrimonio Cultural de San Luis Potosí y de la Nación. The voices were young and laughing, speaking English. There were three of them.
A girl’s voice said “I said, ‘You shouldn’t mess with that’!”
There was a boy’s laughter and another said “You worry too much, it can hold my weight.”
“Whatever. Don’t blame me if it breaks.”
“It won’t. - Man! This place is awesome.”
“Don’t you guys feel the sacredness of this place? We should be more careful!”
“Oh ho! So now you believe in magic? Does Pastor Joe know?” More laughing followed.
“I say we sleep on top of that highest mound!”
The girl objected “Just because we missed the bus doesn’t mean we get to sleep here. We should look for a phone and call Yolanda.”
“Oh come on! What’s the harm? It’s not like we’re ruining the ruins. They’ll get us in the morning and we’ll get back in time for class.”
“Yeah. Besides, Yolanda’s probably already asleep. Come on, race ya to the mound!”
Kalara backed away, she’d heard enough. “Jeremy, feel like hunting?”
“I’m ready.”
She smiled “Get to the mound and take the winner.”
Jeremy took off at full speed and got there in less than a minute. He could hear the student running in the night, his laughter growing louder as he neared. He was ready to lunge... waiting..... when he saw it..... a spirit in the shape of a dragon swoop down and take the guy. It was dark but there was no mistaking the spirit he saw, a dragon but it had no body. It wasn’t his Enchantress either, she had a body like all living spirits did. Along this journey to save Kalara he had seen a few other dragons but they never killed humans and never got that close. This one was different. Why didn’t it have a body?
The girl saw her friend vanish and was screaming about it. But her screams were cut short when she met the same fate. Jeremy raced to the last student before he vanished too.
The student screamed when he saw the mummy running towards him in the dim moonlight. He tried to fight but was no match for Jeremy’s speed and strength. With ease the mummy tore his head clean off.
Jeremy brought the body and head back to Kalara who evoked Siphon to drain its blood.
“That was the second boy, a dragon ghost beat me to the winner and the girl.”
“Dragon Ghost?” Kalara laughed. “I saw them disappear too.” She looked around. “I didn’t see a ghost but that doesn’t mean there isn’t another dragon here.” She looked around them and tried to sense an aura but there was nothing.
Jeremy explained himself “I saw its spirit just like I see yours but there wasn’t a body attached. Doesn’t that make it a ghost?”
“No. There are such things as invisibility enchantments.” She scanned the area again but knew she wouldn’t see anything. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”
The mummies carried the body and head until its blood was drained and then Kalara burnt it to ash to leave no trace. She was an Acama and she would follow the law.
Kalara felt exhilarated. They followed the nearby river upstream. She wanted to fly which she hadn’t done since ending the curse. So she took it slow and her mummies ran with her, watching constantly to avoid any humans even though it was night. They passed farms all the way until coming to the mountains. They feared there would be tourists at such a beautiful place and so the trio swung south over the forested mountain tops, trying to follow the river when possible but keeping to the southeastern side.
They ended up on a high mountain that was being cut by the river as it swung around another mountain to their north.
In the quiet night Kalara heard a hum, more like she felt a good vibration in her head. The sound was so subtle it could easily be ignored; but out in the middle of nowhere and with a burning drive to explore, she could not help but follow it. She got up and her mummies followed her as she flew towards whatever it was down the mountain to the southeast.
Ten minutes later Kalara found where the resonance was strongest – at a giant hole in the ground, known to humans as the Cave of Swallows.
Her mummies stood guard while Kalara faltered on what to do.
Standing on the edge of the pit she cast “REVEAL” when the blue glasses extended over her eyes from her hairpiece she looked to see a home, nothing more, no threats or traps, no dragon or inhabitants. “I’m going down. You need to hide here. DRAPE NAUGHT! EVOKE SIPHON!”
The mummies watched her body disappear so that all was left for them to see was the giant dragon of Kalara’s spirit.
“I wish she would have taken us with her.” Jeremy remarked – even though he didn’t have to say it. He could have just put his thought into Annette’s head but he still was used to using his mouth.
“Nah, she’ll be alright. Some journeys have to be walked alone.” Annette replied quietly and pulled out her pipe; she lit it and sat down. “I’m so glad I found more tobacco.”
The pipe smoke swirled up to the stars as she handed the pipe to Jeremy.
“Well, being with her would be something to do. Waiting sucks.” He took a puff. “I’d much rather go into that cave with her. I think that is the Cave of Swallows and it’s on my bucket list.” He laughed. “Bucket list! What should I call it now? I’ve kicked the bucket already.”
Annette laughed with him. “True.”
Jeremy looked out across the big hole “Still it would have been nice. I’m so close....”
Annette knew his mind was turning. In hushed tones she scolded him “Don’t. You may still get the chance. Besides, you want to try to navigate that in total darkness? You’d fall.”
“Would not. Remember who the trained climber is here.”
“And what would you see?” Annette challenged him.
Jeremy couldn’t argue, knowing he’d see nothing in the dark of disobeying.
Annette nodded and tended the ash in her pipe. “Do you think what you’d see down there is anything more powerful than what you see here, around you?” She looked around and beckoned Jeremy to do the same.
To the mummies the night forest was beautiful with all its spiritually vibrant colors of life. Even in a new moon they could see a lot of life happening about them and also see the glowing spirits of sleeping birds nesting in the tree tops.
“No.” Jeremy admitted. He puffed and let the smoke leave his dried up lips, listening to the sounds of the night.
In the dark light of the night Jeremy glanced at Annette as he handed the pipe back to her. This was as good a time as any to tell her about his telepathy. He searched for the words to say. He didn’t want to scare her by just putting his voice in her brain. He thought about their relationship if you could call it that. They were friends he assumed. More like they were soldiers who had been thrown together in service. And they were the only two of their kind.
He cared for her, yes, and he admitted to himself that in life certain thoughts had crossed his mind. How could they not? You can’t stop thoughts of that nature. The medicine woman had been a beauty, everything about her was perfect, her breasts, her hair and face but now in death her rich-colored skin had leathered and receded. She wasn’t juicy at all. There was no healthy life in her. Or in him. Come to think of it now, he hadn’t thought about sex since he’d died. How strange. And he never even saw his dick now, never had to urinate, never undressed never pulled it out. He subtly shifted himself and - sure enough – it felt like a piece of jerky down there. He lamented the loss. Could he even do anything with it if he tried? What would come out? Dust? He chuckled at that.
“What?” she asked.
He ran his hands through his hair, the only thing on him that still looked good. “Oh nothing, just thinking how pitiful we look.”
Annette raised her eyebrow and took another puff.
“Hey Annette. I want you to know something.”
“Okay.”
“After you left and our Enchantress was working on that spell. She couldn’t sleep well.”
“What of it?”
“Well, she made me able to help her sleep by letting me know her mind. And I can say things inside her mind. Yours too I think.”
“Really? That is amazing!”
“Can I try it?”
“Well sure. Like I’m gonna say no to magic..... Go ahead!”
And Jeremy did just that. He asked her to hand the pipe back to him.
Annette smiled and complied without a word.
Kalara flew down the dark hole letting the reverberating hum guide her. It wasn’t hard to find the spot on the cave wall where the lair’s entrance was. She trusted Heed that there were no traps and put her hand forward.... and sure enough it went into the fake rock wall. She flew inside.
The hallway lit up with ice sconces in her vicinity and it seemed to go on beyond several gentle bends and dipping all the way, some places steeper than others. Kalara couldn’t see the end so she proceeded quietly. She wasn’t sure of the distance but it took a great deal of time and all the while the soft crystalline light stayed with her, extinguishing as she passed.
The question crossed her mind as to how the lights knew she was there when she was wearing Naught but ultimately she continued on, following the odd hum.
The long hallway ended at a huge pyramid-shaped chamber. It was lit from a bright lavender crystal high at its top and then smaller ones on the walls. The four walls were perfectly smooth. Near the top where the walls came together they were tiled with a white shiny metal, below that were gold tiles. Kalara could see markings in the gold, possibly they were pictures but she would have to get closer if she wanted to see the details.
The chamber had three rooms attached on the other walls. At the center of it was a raised dais. Taking up most of the dais was another platform of rock that rose up with a map of the world etched in deep relief on it. The map had moveable markers on it strategically placed and every continent was depicted in its whole form. Four chairs were casually placed around the map table. The alcove to her left was cold with ice in its dark corners while the one to her right felt warm. She headed for the warm alcove, it was empty of life, the whole place was.
As Kalara entered the warm alcove she saw four beds in the corner closest to her. There was more to the warmth that was radiating from the room, it truly did feel like it was healing her. She dismissed Leaf and let the room do its job.
The alcove across from the entrance passageway was a seer pool and fully stocked wizard’s alcove. Lastly Kalara headed for the cold room and in it she found frozen food of all kinds, and not just raw meat either, there was everything from vegetables to pizzas.
Back in the main chamber Kalara looked over the map. She didn’t know what the markers meant. She stood there wondering why no one was there in the middle of the night when most of the world was sleeping. Then she flew up to the apex to look at the golden pictures.
The light from the lavender crystal shown on the golden surface. The ceiling was a treasure in itself! All the stunning gold from four walls reflected warmly back to her. It wasn’t just a vast expanse of gold sheeting but rather meticulous craftsmanship. There were obvious sections, pieces of hammered gold in a variety of two-dimensional shapes that fit together with near puzzle-piece precision. Between them there were dark grooves where the host rock shown through. Refocusing her gaze she saw the entire shape of the golden puzzle made one whole depiction of a dragon rising above others while each of the four walls told their own story of a dragon rising.
Kalara noticed each of the four dragons looked a bit different and pieced together the clues around her starting with the resonating hum that drew her to the cave in the first place. There were ice lamps in the hallway, a world map, a chilled alcove.... this lair had to be for the Acamas and at that thought she flew down to leave immediately.
Before she made it to the hallway the resonance grew a little stronger and a coldness entered the room followed by a purple dragon. Kalara’s eyes widened in panic. What was he doing here? Which one was it? Her mind raced, thinking quickly she moved out of his path. She hid her thoughts in the dark corner of her heart and was so glad she was wearing Naught so she could sneak out.
The dragon looked her way. “Hello Kalara. Its been a long time. How has the hunting been here?” Tristan asked.
Her mouth fell open – how did he see her? “Why do you ask?”
He gave her a weird look. “You’re wearing an invisible suit.”
“Oh yeah. I forgot I was. It’s so comfortable you know.” She dismissed it and draped Heed. “The hunting has been good.”
Now Tristan took a step closer and sat down, he was studying Heed as she was studying him. He looked way different than Ravanan. This dragon’s wings were nearly invisible and he had four of them – two sets of feathered wings. He had feathered whiskers and different shaped horns that were encrusted with fashionable lines of diamonds, his talons had diamonds also in a neat row. All of his talons had glistening diamonds.
“Wow.” he said “You’ve been busy lately. That thing must be full of enchantments.”
Kalara was about to comment when a purple-eyed wizard entered the room wearing casual jeans with a comfortable shirt. His face was scruffy and rugged.
“Hi guys.” Kadd looked around and did a double-take when he caught sight of Heed. “So.” he smiled “I didn’t see Ravanan outside....”
“He’s not here.”
“This must be pretty urgent, it’s dark outside, what is it... just after midnight?” he walked around the dais, looking at the map, trying to look like he wasn’t staring at Kalara.
Nobody was saying anything.
Kadd turned to Tristan and asked him something about ocean currents while they waited.
Tristan started telling him all the latest on the subject. As they went on killing time Kalara looked down the passageway again, thinking on how to leave and wondering how that Acama had seen her.
Kalara did feel the resonating hum get stronger when he appeared and still more when the second Acama showed up. She wondered if maybe she was giving
off a hum too and that was how he had detected her. Kalara tried to feel the directions of the humming without staring and thought maybe she could feel something. It was such an odd thing to sense, like a vibration or phantom sound.
She had to get away and headed out towards the exit.
Kadd called out “Where are you going? I’m sure Morada will be here anytime.”
“Out. I won’t be long.” But it was too late, as she felt another vibration and a warm aura enter the lair.
A voice came from the cave and the hum got stronger “I’m here now Kadd. I know. You beat me again.”
Kadd and Tristan laughed.
Morada came in, she looked sparkly. Kalara looked at her talons and horns, they had flawless quartz crystals extending from their tips – even her spikes and fangs had them! They’d started growing at birth and in 800 years some were nearly three inches long, the ones on her fangs looked to be only dew drop size from wear and tear. The quartzicles would continue to grow as her aura melted and fused desert sand grains to them. They were beautiful.
When Morada saw that Kalara was in human form she shrugged and morphed to a dark-skinned human while walking to the table and chairs. By the time she was sitting down she was wearing her favorite robe.
The Acamas got comfortable. Kadd grabbed a drink from the chilled alcove and threw another one to Tristan who had also switched to his human form. The oriental wizard Tristan looked wise with age, his diamonds hug magically in his hair while the others were embedded in his long fingernails.
Kalara was trapped.
“So Kalara,” The Amethyst Wizard Tristan began. “Why have you summoned us here?”
Chapter 23
It was a warm humid morning, Todd had his shirt off, wearing only his jeans, his neck was adorned with his bone choker and wearing his turtle shell necklace rattle – he had painted a bull over Annette’s gray snake.
The Cursed Dragon Page 35
