by Lady Ellen
Persy’s eyes widened, but Thaddeus was just staring back at Krak Ling with black, fuming looks, not showing a touch of intimidation.
“Oy,” croaked Benson in Silent Speak. “We’re in for it.” He cowered even lower into Persy’s pocket. Luckily, the sparkles also remained in her pocket.
Krak Ling stood up straight and sneered, “Allow me to show you WHY you will never steal from me.”
“Father, No!” shouted Sniv.
“Silence,” screamed Krak Ling. “If you weren’t of my flesh, you would meet the same end.”
“Huanshu, bind them,” demanded Krak Ling.
In a blink of an eye, Persy and Thaddeus were bound from shoulders to knees in magical silver ropes, one on Persy, crossing right over Benson.
“ ‘allo, allo, allo! What’s this then? Trying to make Dragonfly Pate, are ya?” howled Benson, without the Silent Speak, totally forgetting himself.
“Girl,” snapped Krak Ling. “What’s in your pocket?” He pointed his wand at her and Benson, who was now completely ticked. He came zipping out, buzzing around Krak Ling’s head.
“Ah,” smirked Krak Ling. “A tasty treat for one of my other darlings. Come here,” he yelled at Benson.
“Yeah, right, guv...like that’s what I’m gonna do. Top of me list, now ain’t it?” Benson soared up to the top of the ceiling and vanished from sight.
“Bah,” bleated Krak Ling. “Huanshu, take them to Necromina’s room.”
Thaddeus glanced at Persy, raising his eyebrows, “Necromina? That can’t be good.”
Huanshu got up immediately, grabbed Persy and Thaddeus by the ropes at their waists and dragged them to the first large red door on the left side of the room. He pointed his wand and the door swung out with a loud moan, revealing a dimly lit room.
He hauled them into the room which appeared to be some sort of laboratory. The walls were lined with shelves that were stacked with stone crocks and glass vessels filled with powders, dried herbs and it seems dried animal (or worse), body parts. Except the wall on the left which was a expansive fireplace with a walk-in sized hearth. Along its sides various sized cauldrons were stacked neatly. On a bench straight in front of them was a tank half-filled with water. Something was splashing quietly around inside, the only visible part was its yellow hooded eyes. The water was covered with frog scum and Persy figured she probably didn’t want to know what little beastie was in there.
From the right side of the room, in an extremely darkened corner, a series of loud squawks bleated followed a rattle of chains. Both Persy and Thaddeus jumped, squinting to try to see what it was. Benson, however, in yet another display of his heroic tendencies, dove nose first back into Persy’s pocket as soon as he followed them into the room.
Krak and Sniv Ling entered the room. “Ah, allow me to enlighten you two,” Krak cackled. He walked into the darkness and lit a candle. There, resting on its baseball mitt-sized feet and talons was a massive bird . Its black-purple body was the size of an ostrich, but its head, or rather heads, all nine of them, were distinctively like those of a vulture. Each head seemed to take a turn squawking, while the others appeared to sneer at them. It felt as if the eighteen red, glaring eye slits were burning holes in them, and nine beaks drooled slightly, anticipating dinner.
The beast was held by a metal collar on each of its necks, attached to a length of heavy chain, which were gathered together and tethered to a large ring embedded into the stone wall behind it. Directly to its right side was a four foot pedestal on which rested a red and black lacquered box. To the left side was an area of about six by ten feet covered with straw, a basin of water and a small pile of bones.
“Necromina, my sweet,” Krak Ling purred and looked into her den. “It would seem you are in need of your next meal. Well, look what I’ve brought you,” he sneered, waved his right ringed hand in front of her and then tickled her under a couple of her beaks. He turned to face Persy and Thaddeus, smirking.
“My Necromina guards the Hagstone, which is in that red box. I see no reason not to tell you this as you won’t be leaving here. Heh, heh. You see, when I let her out for a bit of fun, a good hunt, she invariably brings back young bodies, her preference runs to the female, but...,” he leered, looking at Thaddeus, “she’s not that picky when hungry. She likes to watch them starve to death and then very neatly peels off the flesh from their bones, enjoying strip by strip until the bones are as clean as if washed in a vat of acid. Very tidy girl, is my Necromina.”
He walked over to the pedestal and picked up the lacquered box, flipping the lid back. “I suppose you’d like to see the Hagstone, before you die,” he said, showing off that he had it, and them, at his mercy.
Krak Ling lifted the leather thong that the stone hung on and dangled the Hagstone from the end of his finger, allowing it to swing back and forth. It was a perfectly round granite and quartz stone with a hole the size of an eyeball directly in its centre. A fine specimen, indeed.
“With this I will be able to see past all protection and hiding spells on the rest of the items I’ll need for the Potion of Eternal Life. Then Melanthios will no longer be a barrier to me dominating this world. And I have Necromina to guard this precious stone, far more useful than her sorry Repfemicap. A shape-shifter. What good is that, really?”
“Repfemicap?” Persy asked.
“That pathetic red and black creature she so highly regards. Melanthios herself created her when she was a younger witch, using very old and very dark magic,” Krak Ling replied.
Persy narrowed her eyes. He’s jealous. Note to self.
Krak Ling turned to Persy, “I can assume then that the meddling gypsy, Vadoma, sent you here to collect her Hagstone back. Huh. Stupid woman. Her traditions and habits made it so easy to figure out when I could best take the stone. Like candy from a baby.
And that idiot Irenie, so easy to manipulate. Show her how to mask the powers of the ring, so Vadoma became cursed. Lovely. Vadoma doesn’t deserve to own the stone, if she can’t protect it. She and that blood-sucking sidekick put magic to shame.”
“What blood-sucking sidekick?” asked Thaddeus.
“Oh, you didn’t meet him? Too bad, good for a laugh, that’s about it.”
Thaddeus was done with this “Krak”-pot. He’s embarrassed to have been caught and tied like a common, non-magical criminal, and then to have the actual evil-doer lording over them was more than he could stand. He started to struggle against his bindings, muttering releasing spells, but couldn’t reach his wand to make them effective. Persy, caught on and started to twist, turn and mumble as well.
“Silence you two,” shouted Krak Ling. “You have no hope of breaking those bindings.”
“Like we’re just going to stand here and let you feed us to your overgrown, flea-bitten poop-hawk Master Ling? More like Babb-Ling if you ask me,” Thaddeus snarled.
Krak Ling’s face went fiery red with anger. “You insolent little maggot,” he screamed at Thaddeus. “Well, let’s have you take a look at what is happening at home--shall we?” With that, Krak Ling arced his right hand in front of Thaddeus and Persy. The air around them misted and then cleared. They saw the horror of their lives.
Angelica and Robert were bound back to back sitting and supporting each other on the living room floor in Persy’s house. Both were bleeding profusely from their faces and heads. Angelica appeared to have an oozing wound in her right abdomen. She was groaning and Robert was unconscious. Around them were three guards like the ones Persy and Thaddeus met up with in front of the Forbidden City walls. They were pointing blood-covered spears and swords at Angelica and Robert, circling them and waiting for the moment of the final attack and the death of both of Persy’s parents.
Persy let out a wail and collapsed on the floor of Krak Ling’s lab, sobbing her heart out. Thaddeus’ face blackened and he lurched toward Krak Ling, bellowing “You animal! You filth! You vermin! You don’t deserve to live.”
Krak Ling broke into uproarious laughte
r and Huanshu cackled by the door. Sniv bowed his head into his hands, not wanting to watch any of this.
Krak Ling was about to say more when a clamour was heard outside the door.
“Oh, Great One. Please I must speak to you,” a voice rose, muffled by the door. Then further pounding. Huanshu opened the door where a guard stood, obviously in fear of his life, but knowing he had a message to pass on.
“Please Sire, the streets are in an uproar. The Ghost Festival is almost upon us and The Guei have entered the City, causing chaos. I’ve been sent to tell you,” whimpered the terrified guard.
Krak Ling practically flew to the door. “Huanshu, come, I will have need of you. Sniv, stay here and watch these two. I shall return soon and personally feed them to Necromina. I love to watch her play with her food.” He smirked at Persy and Thaddeus and bolted out the door with Huanshu at his heels.
As Krak Ling left, three thin bursts of mist entered the room. Persy didn’t notice, still lying in a heap on the floor, crying so hard, she could hardly breathe.
Benson climbed out of her pocket and was trying to wrap his little legs around her neck to console her. Thaddeus was just plain furious, but grief was starting to settle in. He was the one who watched Ling leave and observed the gossamer blobs entering the room.
Sniv looked up from the corner. “Guei. Father must have sent them to keep watch as well. He doesn’t really trust that I can handle anything,” he cried, putting his head back into his hands.
A faint moaning and sighing came from the Guei as they circled the room. Necromina started squawking again. The ethereal visitors were upsetting her, swooping over her heads and around the room.
Thaddeus bent down and knelt beside Persy. With his arms tied, it was difficult to offer any comfort. “Listen, Persy, remember your Mom told us to try to befriend the Guei. I know it’s hard for you to think about it right now, but we’ve got to figure a way to get these bindings off. They can probably help with that. Do you still have the bottle of water and the biscuits in your pockets?”
Persy lifted her head and nodded. “But I can’t get to them, they’re in my side pockets. I can’t get my hand in there.”
“Right.” Thaddeus said, as he struggled to his feet again. “Oh, revered spirits..,” directing his voice to the floating mists, “Listen to me. We have food and water to relieve your hunger and thirst. We can lessen your torment. Free us from these bindings and you will be rewarded.”
For a few minutes, there was no answer. The spirits completely ignored Thaddeus. He tried again, “Please, allow us to help you. Your misery can be abated, really, we can help.” Again, nothing.
Persy, sniffing, stood up clumsily, realizing that Thaddeus needed some help. “Thaddeus, remember when we were reading about the Guei. They live in the next dimension and in order to get things to them, we have to burn it to send it over. I think they’re ignoring us until we let them know that we’re aware of that.”
“Good point, Persy.” Thaddeus nodded and turned back to the floating, moaning Guei. “Spirits, please release us from our confinements and we will pass through a rite of fire, your gifts of water and food.” That did it. Immediately, one of the Guei swooshed around Persy and Thaddeus and their ropes fell off and vanished.
Persy and Thaddeus stretched their arms and legs, and Persy hurriedly searched for the water and biscuits in her pockets and put them on the bench.
Sniv was watching everything from the corner he was cowering in. “That’s it,” he sniffed. “The Guei make me very nervous and if Father sent them in here to do what he thought I couldn’t, I’m gone.” He got up and walked to the still partially opened door. He walked through and then poked his head back into the room.
“Oh, by the way, Father is a famous Manipulator of Reality. Chances are, your parents are fine Miss Persy. Check on that if you can.” He slipped out of the door and was gone.
Persy stared at the back of the door, amazed. The relief poured over her like a tidal wave. Could it be possible? Were Angelica and Robert fine?
“C’mon Persy,” said Thaddeus. “We have to burn this food and water.” Thaddeus found a smaller burner on a bench at the side of the room. He then found some small bits of wood in the hearth and snuck up to the side of Necromina’s den and stole some dry straw. Persy collected them all and put them into the burner as Thaddeus ran around the room gathering what they need. He came back to the bench, aimed his wand at the burner and said, “Infernos!” It all burst into flame. Persy put the biscuits in first and after they burned through, added the water which immediately turned to steam, passing into the realm of the Guei.
The wisps of energy clouds increased their speed and finally landed in front of Persy and Thaddeus; three fully formed, although still see-through, bodies, all male.
“Thank you,” announced the first and tallest. “We are very grateful to be out of our hunger and thirst misery. It is the worst thing to experience in the spirit world. I am Heng and this is Liang.” Heng said pointing to the spirit beside him, who was slightly shorter and much more heavily built, or at least had been, in life.
“He, over there is Longwei, who has a special spirit connection to dragons.” Longwei was the shortest of them all, but much thinner than Liang.
“We have been under Krak Ling’s control for decades, hoping at each Ghost Festival to be offered food and water, giving us the strength to exorcise ourselves from him. You have our undying gratitude and service. How can we help you?” Heng asked.
A bright, glorious smile suddenly appeared on Persy’s face. While the ghosts are speaking with Thaddeus, she contacted Angelica through Silent Speak and both she and Robert were indeed fine. The whole torture scene was a clever mirage created by Krak Ling.
After she told Thaddeus, he gave a thunderous look indicating what he’d like to do to Krak Ling. Liang confirmed, “Master Ling has done this thousands of times to people, putting them into deep grief and depressions, thus enabling him to overpower and destroy them. His evil knows no boundaries. The control of the mind and the secret to his illusions is the red ring on his right hand.”
“I thought so,” replied Thaddeus. “He always waves that hand over whatever he wants to affect. Now, in order for us to get the Hagstone, we need it to subdue Necromina, otherwise we’re dinner.”
“Hmmmmm,” said the three ghosts together.
“Well she’s not going to just toss it to you on asking, is she?” Benson stating the obvious, flew over to one of the counters.
“Truer words, Benson...truer words,” mumbled Thaddeus. He was busy looking around the lab. Somewhere there had to be something useful to solve their problem. Persy was leaning against a bookshelf, hand moving slowly along the rows of book spines.
“Interesting,” she murmured, reaching for a tall, dark green book.
“What is?” asked Thaddeus.
“Magicians’ Magical Manipulation.”
Thaddeus walked over to have a look, and of course Benson was not far behind. “Well, I’d say that’d be his “Guide to the Universe,” Thaddeus said.
Persy flipped through the sections. Toward the end of the book she lingered over a particular page, and then showed it to Thaddeus.
“Look. Crap,” whispered Persy, disappointedly, and read aloud, “The only way to overcome a talented Manipulator of Reality is to render him or her unconscious.” How the devil are we going to do that?”
“Dunno.”
Both of them were scanning the shelves, sizing up the jars’ contents, books, labeled herb pots, etc. The Guei were hovering near the door, instinctively knowing to watch for anyone coming.
“Wait.” exclaimed Persy, looking up at one of the top shelves.
“What?” Benson and Thaddeus chorused.
“Cryogenics! Man, Krak Ling has been all over the Universe, obviously looking for answers in the future, too. But this gives me an idea.” She began rummaging through cupboards in the lab.
“What? What are you looking for?” as
ked Thaddeus, hoping upon hope Persy really had something.
“I need an air-tight stone vessel of some sort. Maybe a couple of litres in capacity.” She stated, pushing boxes and glass jars out of the way.
Thaddeus was scouring the shelves on the other side of the room and cried out, “Here. How about this?”
He pulled a heavy stone jug off the shelf in front of him, turned and placed it on the counter nearest to Persy.
Persy checked it out and smiled, “Perfect.”
“What are you doing?” asked Thaddeus, still completely in the dark.
“The Cryogenics book reminded me. In science class we talked about the effects of liquid nitrogen. You can create it from air by freezing it to -196 degrees Centigrade, really quickly,” explained Persy.
“Sooooo?” said Thaddeus.
“So, see Necromina’s area over there? It’s an alcove. If we can get Krak Ling to open this container filled with liquid nitrogen, in that space, I think we can knock him out.”
“How? Why?” stuttered Thaddeus, no ‘ka-ching’ kicking in yet.
“When the nitrogen wafts out of the opened container, it immediately displaces oxygen in one’s blood vessels, causing the person to pass out. It’s actually a cause of a considerable number of lab accidents, even deaths, in my time.
I’m thinking we can knock the Hagstone off the pedestal, by throwing something at it. We put this container in the alcove. Tell Krak Ling that we somehow managed to hide the stone in this stone jar. He’s going to look right away, not believing us and that’s all we need.”
“I’m liking this,” grinned Thaddeus.
“So how y’think you’re going to get the jar into her alcove?” asked Benson.
“Well, that’s where you come in, my flighty friend,” smiled Persy.
