by Alexie Aaron
~
Murphy moved quickly, trying again and again to move into the blocked-off mine. The massive door sealing off the tunnels was made of iron. This made it impossible for Murphy to move through. It was also secured with an iron chain, but the rust erosion of the years had slackened the chain’s hold, causing it to droop. Murphy studied the hinges on the large door. He smiled, discovering that the long pins holding door to hinge weren’t iron at all. Sure they were dulled by time, but not a speck of rust had formed on them. Using the dull side of his axe, Murphy delicately tapped upwards on the pins freeing the door from the hinge. He worked until the door sagged forward. The chain caught the door before it fell. The motion, however, broke the iron seal. Murphy moved quickly into the mine.
He moved downward, and when he came to where the tunnel forked, he tapped the wall with his axe and listened. Nothing happened. Maybe the spirits were long gone and Brian had only dreamed of their existence. He tapped again and was rewarded with a faint tapping back. Murphy listened to the cadence of the tapping. It was different than what he had done. This was enough proof that there was someone else in the mine. He moved quickly down into the darkness towards the sound.
The deeper Murphy went, the more the tunnel narrowed until it stopped altogether. A massive rockfall blocked what Murphy assumed was the rest of the mine. “Why they thought it was a good idea to mine gravel in this way was nuts,” Murphy thought.
“Looky here, boys. Look what the cat dragged in,” a dusty thin man said, his hand holding on to what looked to Murphy to be a pickaxe.
Murphy looked around him and held his axe at the ready as five other miners joined them.
“I’ve come from the surface. I broke the seal. You should be able to leave now,” Murphy explained.
“Now why would a dirt farmer do this for us?”
“A little boy told me you were down here and trapped.”
“Lots of people knew that. It didn’t stop them from sealing the tunnel off and leaving us to rot here.”
“No, this little boy is up on top of the rock, right now.”
“When is now, brother?” a young man asked him.
“2016,” Murphy answered.
“Lordy, we’ve been down here a long time,” the young miner said, taking off his helmet.
“So, this boy sent you down to rescue us? It doesn’t make any sense. We’re dead,” the pickaxe-holder said.
“I came down here to get you lot to rescue the little boy up there.”
Murphy waited out the murmurs.
“Tell us more,” Pickaxe ordered.
“It all started with a spoiled girl…”
Chapter Seven
“I wish I learned how the Other made the repellent dome from the salt blocks,” Mia said. “I’m sure wizardry is involved.”
Ted looked down at his wife. She was walking the perimeter of the second ring, making sure it was intact. Dieter and Mark were doing their best to explain to the others what had just happened and what was going on. Mark’s word seemed to hold more credence because the group had known him longer, and Dieter tended to wave his arms around like a madman when he was explaining things.
“What would you say if I asked Baxter to give us some wizard lessons?” Mia asked Ted.
“Us as in…”
“You and me.”
“Me?”
“Someone mentioned somewhere that they thought you weren’t just a genius but a wizard too.”
“Are you sure they weren’t making fun of me?” Ted asked.
“No one makes fun of you in front of me,” Mia said.
“Cid does, Mike does, and I think Brian does too,” Ted corrected.
“Um, you’re getting off the subject,” Mia hedged. “You have a good working knowledge of metallurgy already. Half of making a charm is the ability to create the item to hold the magic. Look at all the jewelry you made for me.”
“That was out of love, not in search of world domination.”
“Is that how you see wizards?”
“Maybe. And there’s Harry Potter.”
“Don’t dis the Potter in Brian’s earshot,” Mia warned. “He and Mike are reading them together.”
“Brian is reading Potter?”
“Yes. I told you he takes after you.”
“Mia, I couldn’t read at two.”
“You took apart your parents Sony stereo at two,” Mia reminded him.
“Well, that’s different. It wasn’t making the best use of the speakers.”
Mia shook her head, although her eyes never left the two hooded figures at the back wall. “I would feel better if someone was watching Carmen.”
“I sense a lawsuit ahead if anyone tries to restrain her,” Ted warned.
“You’re probably right.”
The air seemed to thicken. There was a mass explosion of light and lightning. The rainwater that had accumulated at the far end of the building started to boil. The rising steam hid the arrival and the amount of entities for a few moments. When it cleared, twenty guards stood around a tall creature with another ghostly guard on a chain.
Aosoth stood seven feet tall with leathery wings outstretched. She folded them back, and as they did, her cowl settled to expose her goat-horned head. Her hair was coarse, thick, knife-cut, and ragged. She had golden, goat eyes and a very long, noble chin. She motioned for her followers to part. As they did, Aosoth moved on cloven feet. Her choice of gown was made up of sewn human hides.
“Where is she who summoned me?” she asked, drool spattering from her mouth. Where the acid-laden droplets landed, they burned holes and steamed.
“Some role model,” Mia murmured.
“I’m here, I’m here, oh mighty… Oh my God, you have to be kidding,” Carmen said, taking one look at the monster before her.
“Where is the virgin you promised me?” Aosoth asked, looking at the group before her. Her eyes moved over the teens and settled on Lucy. “I see her. Come to me, Princess. You will make a beautiful meal…”
Lucy fainted. Wes hovered over her.
“There are others that will fill my belly. Come to me.”
“Stay away from them,” Mia said, pulling off the hoodie and drawing her sword. She stepped over the salt lines and stood before Aosoth.
Carmen looked at Mia, in what had to be a cosplay Valkyrie costume, and regretted her demon’s choice of clothing. Couldn’t Aosoth have found something better in her closet, or visited a beautician?
Mia stood there locking eyes with the creature.
“Go away. You’re no virgin; you’ve lost your appeal. This isn’t about you.”
“The hell it isn’t. I’m Mia Cooper Martin, and it’s always about me, bitch!”
Ted swore he saw the creature take a half-step backwards. Either Mia shook her mentally or her name alone did.
“The assassin lives?”
“Now,” Ted said into the satellite phone.
The Opticals started a light show that ended with the symbol used by the ancient dragon killers. A very large dragon hovered over the depot.
“I am Mia Cooper Martin, dragon killer, mate of Ted, friend to Abigor, healer of the birdmen, and banisher of demons.”
“I am Aosoth, worshiped by the Order of Nine Angels, eater of virgins, slaver of spirits, enemy to all who do not bend a knee.” She looked at Carmen, and the girl fell to her knees while she peed herself.
“Why don’t we work this out between us,” Mia said. “You leave, and I don’t kill you with this sword, which will turn you to ash before your spirit is forced to walk with the mortals in the dark world.”
Aosoth laughed. “Nothing can kill me.”
“Except an angel’s sword,” Mia said, taking a battle stance. “I just so happen to have one.”
The dragon above morphed into a very good representation of Michael. Even Mia felt ill at ease.
Aosoth, impressed by the spirits that seemed to guard the human, started to see Mia as a worthy adversary. “Give me the promised virgin, an
d I will leave. My guard, however, have their pound of flesh to fetch. “Except this one.” Aosoth lifted the chained spirit up.
Dieter called to the spirit, opening his jar. He stood outside the ring and sang the song of the attrpeur-âme.
As Aosoth dangled the astral body of the ghost, Dieter pulled the soul out of it. When Aosoth set the ghost on fire, the soul was already contained in the mayonnaise jar. Dieter screwed on the lid and stepped back in the ring with his prize.
The other guards fell in supplication to the demon. They didn’t see the rescue of their comrade; they only saw what was their fate if they too failed.
“I have a job opening. Come, Carmen, you’ve been chosen.”
“No!” Carmen said, crawling away.
Ted saw two spirits move towards the girl. He took aim and fired the shotgun.
The spirits screamed in agony as did Carmen who was peppered in the leg with salt. “I’ll sue you, fucker!” she screamed at Ted.
Ted raised the gun again after loading the next shot.
Mia raised her hand to stop Ted. “Don’t bother. Aosoth, take her.”
“What!” Carmen squealed.
“It’s evident you don’t want to be saved,” Mia said, pretending to look at her manicure, but she was watching the spirit movement to her left side.
Mia tossed a handful of salt stars in the air and then tossed Varden’s knife, slicing them in half. The raining salt pierced the hide of the two, causing them to twist in agony. Mia stopped the knife’s progress with her mind and called it back to her.
Ted had never seen her do anything like that. Brian clapped in appreciation of the stunt. He was still too young to understand that it was better not to call attention to oneself by cheering on his mother.
Aosoth looked at the child. She didn’t eat babies - her followers did - but she liked her meat seasoned with age. But this child, there was something appealing about it.
“I want the child and all of us will leave,” she said.
“No,” Mia said firmly.
“Then you’ll have to fight me for him. But not here…”
Mia, Brian, and Aosoth disappeared.
The sixteen spirits surrounded the first circle and pushed through. Ted took aim and shot two at a time, but still they pushed through.
There was a loud sound of hammer on metal. The remaining guard turned to address what they thought was a threat. The silo reverberated from the constant hammering by Murphy’s axe and the pickaxes and sledgehammers of the lost miners.
Dieter used this diversion to collect the souls of the six struggling guard. He had seven of the twenty-one in his jar. Don, who witnessed this, was more than convinced Dieter was a voodoo priest, and made sure he stayed as far away from him as possible.
Clench gathered the teens together. “When whatever is out there breaks through, you run for the opening. Don’t stop for anything. Mr. Martin and I will bring the wounded with us.”
“Where is the lady and the little boy?” Lucy cried.
“I don’t know. She wouldn’t want you to worry about her,” Clench said.
The satellite phone rang. Ted answered, still keeping aim at the approaching guards.
“We found Mia,” Cid reported. She is in the pit with Aosoth. Brian is being held by another creature on a stone island in the middle of the pond. We haven’t identified it yet.”
“She’s got to fight the demon to win Brian back,” Ted said.
“I can hardly hear you. What’s going on?” Cid asked.
“I think Murphy is bringing a rescue party. They are currently beating the hell out of the silo.”
“Jake’s got control of the robots. When I asked him what he was doing, all he would say was that he’s going to rescue Brian.”
Ted’s eyes watered. “God I hope so. Mia’s never fought anything like Aosoth before. She only briefly remembered her name. She has no idea of the demon’s powers. She’s fighting blind down there.”
The ringing stopped as the scream of metal ripping echoed against the wet stone walls.
Murphy pulled the battered steel back, and the miners pushed their way in.
The men rushed forward, swinging the tools of their trade at Aosoth’s guard.
Clench waited for them to move the guard far enough away from the opening before shouting, “Run!”
Don ran full out and was climbing out of the building. Wes picked up Lucy, tossed her over his good shoulder, and ran. Cliff and Nev all but pulled Zip off his feet and brought him along with them. Dieter stood ready to collect the souls of any of the fallen. Mark stood beside him. Clench and Lena each took one of Carmen’s arms and dragged her past the fighting ghosts and out of the building.
“Come on,” Ted urged the boys.
“Sorry, Dad, but I can do better here than out there. Go to Mom. Give her your strength. Bring my little brother home,” Dieter said.
“Mark?”
“I’m with him,” Mark said.
Ted gave him the shotgun and the remaining ammo. “Just yell ‘salt,’ shoot, load and repeat.”
Mark nodded.
Ted ran out, thinking of his friend who was always with him. Cid had seen him through more than paranormal investigations. Cid had his back and was forever his friend.
“I’m heading for the pit,” Ted yelled into the satellite phone as he passed the others who were being herded into rescue vehicles.
“Good, because that’s where I moved the truck,” Cid informed Ted. “I’m coming down the old road. Father Simon called. He’s on his way. I told him about Carmen. He will do his best to convince her parents to let him have a private chat with her.”
“I’m surprised Santos isn’t coming.”
“Dude, he’s already here. Angelo dropped him off at the command center and flew down into the pit.”
Murphy and the six miners faced off with the fourteen ghosts.
“There’s two apiece!” crowed Pickaxe. “This is the war for The Rock, men. Let’s show these foreigners off our property!”
The other five roared their approval before charging the ghosts. Murphy battled alongside the miners. With each swing of his axe, the guard before him was weakened. The guard fought back with talons of steel and teeth that would make a dentist cry. They had no weapons, but their strength and tough hides were formidable.
Dieter kept calling for the souls of the guard. It caused them to be confused, and it slowed their movements.
Mark watched Dieter’s back as there were a few spirits that skulked away, not interested in fighting the miners. He spied something on the top wall of the building for a moment. He could have sworn he saw an angel. But when he looked back, it was gone.
Chapter Eight
Mia’s mind was full of information. “Remember, she will come from above,” Mia said to herself. “Seems to me, I fought a dragon with and without wings. But I had help. Come on, Mia, you asked for this fight. She’s got a pal with her, but she seems to be following the honor code. She could have just taken Brian, but she is determined to win him honorably… Yeah, by killing me.”
The life within her stirred. “Us, killing us, are you happy?” she asked the child within.
Aosoth flew at Mia.
Mia waited until she was directly overhead before she plunged Varden’s knife into the demon’s belly before returning to her hand.
Aosoth tumbled to the ground puzzled by the pain she was in. Mia advanced upon her. “Leave my son, and leave now. I have no liking for wasting such a magnificent life.”
The pandering bothered Aosoth. She righted herself and pulled out her seven-snake whip. The weapon was created in the underworld. Each snake head held the poison of a thousand of its brethren. The asp, cobra, viper, adder, mamba, krait, and the sea snake wound around each other waiting for Aosoth to guide them to their prey.
“I hate snakes,” Mia said as she dodged the attacks. Twice, her shield took direct strikes that would have been death blows to Mia.
Brian looked
up at his minder. “Are you a demon?” he asked.
“Yes,” Mbengar answered him.
“Are you going to eat me?”
“I don’t eat little boys. I’m here to make sure you go to the winner of the fight.”
“Are you a bookie?”
Mbengar’s eyes lit up. “How would a child so young know about bookies?”
“I have a colorful family,” Brian said. “Are you a sir or a ma’am?”
“I am both.”
“Wow.”
This seemed to please the demon.
“Would you mind if I colored. I have some crayons and stuff.”
“You have no paper.”
“I’ll use the rock, okay?” Brian asked sweetly.
“Don’t go too near the edge.”
“I promise,” Brian said and held up two, then three, and back to two fingers.
The demon gently reached over and showed the child how to hold his hand.
“Thank you, my name is Brian.”
“I am Mbengar.”
Brian’s eyes twinkled.
Mia jumped back and sliced off three of the snake heads. The heads fell to ash.
Aosoth surged upwards and let her wings take her above Mia again. Her whip started to wind around Mia’s legs. Mia jumped up with her shield above, and she crashed into Aosoth and knocked the wind out of her. Mia landed and ran as fast as her legs would take her as the demon flew in pursuit.
Ted watched from the overlook. His tri-spectrum glasses let him see the combatants on the floor of the deep pit. He could see that Mia was outmatched. He wanted to help her but knew that he could also be a distraction. Ted spotted the PEEPs truck parked just beyond the fenced-off entrance to the mine floor. Cid approached the fence, examined the locks, and shook the gate in frustration.
It was then that Ted heard the sound of little wheels. He turned and watched as Curly led the Opticals down the side of the overlook and into the pit. They moved slowly but with purpose.
Jake stopped Curly as his small but mighty army faced the water. Scanning the area, Jake spotted a good-sized piece of castoff wood and urged the Opticals to push it into the water.
