by Lawna Mackie
Thalius squirmed to reach the ground with his feet. His small hands desperately pried at Jager’s larger ones around his throat. Guilt flared, but was easily pushed aside. It had been too long since he’d wallowed in such an emotion for him to understand its true power.
“Jager, you will want to hear what I’m going to offer you. Put me down. Don’t forget I can blast you into the oblivion at any moment. You need me if you want to get out of this hole.”
Jager slowly released his grip and let Thalius collapse back into a heap on the ground. “You’ve got thirty seconds, old man, and if I’m not satisfied, your spell is going to have to be quicker than my teeth. Talk quickly.”
“You’re a bastard, Jager.”
“Twenty seconds left, Thalius. Tick. Tock.”
Thalius straightened his cloak and looked Jager in the eye. “I’m going to give you your powers back.”
Jager cocked his eyebrow. “You’ve got my attention, but the hunger in my stomach is louder.”
“I’m not inclined to stand and discuss this out here in this hell hole. Surely, Jager, being the leader, you have a dwelling where we can go to discuss business.”
Jager wavered, his eyes darting about for a moment before he sneered. “You’re on my turf, Thalius. Follow me, and don’t even think of trying anything. Keep up.”
Hiding his glee, Thalius stumbled along as fast as his feet would carry him. A small door on the side of the building stood guarded by two of the ugliest demonic creatures he’d ever seen. The pair gurgled and smacked their lips as Thalius approached, but Jager shouldered the two demons away from the entrance. “Back off, you two. You can eat him later if he doesn’t have a damn good reason for being here.”
A narrow set of stairs took them up to the second story. Jager took a seat and put his feet up on an old, worn-out desk. A crate rested in front of Jager’s desk, and he motioned Thalius to sit.
“I’m getting really hungry, magic man. You’d better hurry up with your speech.”
Thalius shifted uncomfortably on the crate. “I require your services in exchange for your freedom and the return of your power.”
“Why would I believe anything you say to me? Ours is merely a difference of location, not characters.” Jager sneered.
“What have you got to lose? Look at this place! I’ve never seen anything so revolting. Do one small thing for me, and you’ll be out of here, living like me.”
“Tell me what you want, and I’ll tell you if I’m interested.” “I need you to bring a girl to me.”
Jager laughed. “So now I’m a pimp? What’s the hitch? I’m not stupid. Why don’t you just take this girl yourself?”
“The girl is under Kerrigan’s protection.”
Jager pushed himself up out of the chair behind his desk. His face lost all expression, and he slammed his fist on the desk. “Get the fuck out before I eat what’s left of your brains for dinner!”
Thalius held his cool. “I’ll give you my powers to take her.”
Jager blinked. Thalius calculated he’d be wondering what he could do with a Counselor’s powers. Jager’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Who is the Enchanter bitch to catch your perverted eye?”
“That’s the other part of this assignment. This girl is not from our world.”
For once, Jager stood for a moment, unable to speak. “Not from Enchantment. That’s impossible. Correct, Counselor? Our world is pure. No foreigners. It’s what you all want us to believe, isn’t it?
“You’re all a bunch of lying assholes. I always knew there must be a way out of this fucking dimension!”
Jager walked around the desk in contemplation. He rubbed his pointy chin. With his other grimy hand on his hip, he narrowed in on Thalius, effectively backing him up to the wall. “I’ll do it—with just a few conditions. First, I want a guarantee I’ll never be put back in Tombs…ever again. Secondly, I want off this fucking world…for good.”
Thalius considered Jager’s requests. He could pretty much guarantee he would never end up in Tombs again, because he’d be dead very soon. As for his second request, well, he felt no need to lie. Death would remove him from this world, wouldn’t it?
“I agree to your terms. Now, here is what I require of you and your rather impressive talents. “This girl is not of our world, but it matters not. If she be under Kerrigan’s watch, to gain what you desire, it’s simple. Bring the girl to me unharmed, and without Kerrigan’s knowledge.” Jager grabbed him by the chin, and sent his blade-sharp serpent tongue sliding across his cheek, leaving a thin trail of blood, pus, and saliva. Jager closed his eyes and lapped at the warmth of the blood. Then, abruptly, he shoved him away. “I guess we have a deal.” Thalius swiped his cheek with the back of his hand, effectively covering it with blood. I have to get out of here…soon.
“Tonight, as the blue moon crosses the path of the purple moon, you need to be at the entrance of Tombs. The moons will hide the disturbance of your freedom and renewed powers. You have a week to bring her to me. Meet me in the Forest of Limbs before midnight on the last day.”
He turned to Jager, his voice as cold as a tomb. “If you fail with this assignment, you won’t need to worry about coming back to Tombs; you won’t have a life. Now, escort me out this wretched place.”
Chapter Thirteen
Kerrigan materialized in the living room area of this parents’ home and waited for his mother. “I’m in here,” he called out.
Paddy turned toward his voice and walked into the room to sit on the loveseat. “Did you really have to vanish in front of Meeka like that? The poor girl has seen enough oddities in one hour to last a normal person a life time.”
Kerrigan sat down in the large chair across from his mother and let a large breath of air escape his lungs. “I don’t know what’s up with me. I’m not myself around her. I seem to be able to feel everything she feels.”
He could see the concern on his mother’s face. He always had the ability to close his mind and feelings off to everyone—almost everyone. He seldom showed signs of caring.
Todd wandered into the room and scratched his damp fur, which was quickly drying due to a magic spell.
Kerrigan looked up at his father. His little brown eyes were half their normal size. He looked exhausted.
He shook his head at his father. “Dad, you have been up there way too long. Look at you; you’re dead on your feet.”
Todd walked over to Paddy and kissed her little nose.
“Still telling me how to do my job, son, or was it a suggestion that I can’t do my job?” Kerrigan let out a frustrated sigh. “Dad, I’m just trying to do my job.”
“I know, son. I don’t know why I failed you where the two interlopers were concerned. I guess I wasn’t myself, either. What did the Counselors decide?”
“Those old crones underestimate me if they think they can order me to do their bidding. I’ve been the Enforcer for over 180 years! Who do they think they are to be giving me orders?”
Todd’s tail began to thump, a typical action when worried. “What is my punishment, and what are we do to with the girl and her…urr…cat?”
“I told the Council there would be no punishment for you. You have kept their little fortress of Enchantment a secret for longer than most Enchanters can count.”
Paddy intervened. “Our guests are both awake and well. Catz is a charming being from a species call Lemrens. The female human is absolutely adorable. But Kerrigan is having a problem with her. It’s making him testy.”
“Mom, it’s not a problem. I just seem to be unable to clear my mind and close it when she is near me. I just need more sleep.”
Todd looked at the bedroom. “Well, I would like to meet these visitors.”
Paddy jumped in front of him instantly with a tsk tsk. “Not right now. The poor girl needs her rest, just like the two of you.”
“Mom’s right, Dad. She had a shower, and the bath brush scared her to death, then she had to learn my mother and father were
beavers. She knows I’m almost two hundred years old, and she discovered she’s a flame thrower.”
Todd’s whiskers twitched with a smile. “I suppose that would pretty much do anyone in.” “The Counselors are interested in her. Meeka has special powers. Mind-control powers that only accompany sorcerers, or in her case, a sorceress. I believe they know she is extraordinary somehow. We all know that even though you cocooned them, they should have perished. Oh… the Council did have a minor punishment. Meeka and Catz are to remain here for three days, while I watch her and report back to them.”
Todd cringed. “They have to stay here! They know how I hate others in my home. Spiteful old wizards! Why can’t she stay with you?” He paused then asked, “What kind of mind control does she have?”
“Don’t worry; I won’t leave you alone with her. I don’t for a moment think she’s dangerous. Frankly, she’s in more danger than you are.” His mind darted back to the experience of her mind control, and he ducked his head to hide his reaction.
Kerrigan looked over at his mother. She beamed with happiness. “Oh, this is great news. Finally somebody to look after! Todd, you really will like the two of them.”
That did not make Kerrigan feel the least bit comfortable. He could feel the weight of his father’s questioning gaze. This topic had to change, but Kerrigan was filled with apprehension. “Mom, Dad, tell me about the day I came here? Thalius instructed me to ask. It’s time I know.”
Both Todd and Paddy froze, uncertainty in their faces. He had to start the dreadful conversation, one he wasn’t sure he wanted to hear, but had been waiting to hear since he was a baby.
Paddy gasped, and Todd reached for her paw. They both stopped and looked at one another as if wondering where and how to start. The couple both sat in the loveseat. Their expressions made it clear that this was not something they had looked forward to.
“Kerrigan, please understand we love you. There is nothing that we wouldn’t—”
“Mom, I need to know. Thalius thinks that this woman’s arrival is putting everyone in danger like last time. Please.”
“Paddy, no. He needs to know.” Todd shifted, his nails scratching at his fur. “In the third drawer, there’s a letter. Please fetch it.”
He flashed to the den to retrieve the old worn-out letter. “Read it,” his father instructed.
Carefully and slowly, Kerrigan opened the letter. His mysterious life was about to unfold with a letter. He sat stoically and read the letter from so long ago, the letter from his biological parents. Time seemed to stop. He meticulously read each word twice. His confusion turned to a warm glow as he read their declarations of love, but quickly replaced the emotion with anger. What a joke! Supposedly, his parents loved him, yet they left him. What a way to teach love. Magic or no magic, power or no power, you didn’t abandon people you loved. He never wanted to see them–ever.
“Sweetheart, are you okay?” Taking a deep breath, he stood up. “I should go. I need to go get Threeo and grab some stuff from home so I can stay here for a few nights. I just need some time to think.”
* * * *
Before he even got up the stairs to the first landing, he could hear Threeo.
“Kerrigan where have you been? It wasn’t very nice of you to leave me alone for so long. You should have taken me with you.”
He couldn’t help but smile, imagining Threeo’s indignant look.
On the last step, he rounded the corner into the den. Threeo was sitting on his desk, scratching his grey skin with his beak. “I shouldn’t talk to you. Here I’ve been, sick with worry, despondent with loneliness, but you just left me here for hours on end. Why do I bother?” With a huff, Threeo puffed up his feathers and narrowed his large yellow eyes at him.
On the inside, Kerrigan laughed. The silly little Hipodogwl always made him laugh. He could tell Threeo was dying to speak. The creature couldn’t possibly hold his tongue for more than half a minute.
He did feel bad for leaving Threeo for so long, though. “Come on, Threeo, I know you can’t stay silent. Everything is rather hectic for me at the moment.”
With another huff, Threeo puffed his feathers once more, but Kerrigan noticed the small tail wag. “Okay, Threeo will forgive you.”
Kerrigan knew he couldn’t spend much time there. He needed to return to his parents’ house. “Threeo, do you think the babies will be okay if you accompany me to my parents’ house overnight?”
Three squealed with excitement. “Oh, yes, the babies will be just fine. They tell me I fuss too much over them, anyway. They will be fine in the hatchery overnight. Threeo loves Paddy and Todd. This night is getting better already. Can we go right now?”
“I just need to do a few things. Then we can go.” Kerrigan raked his fingers through his hair and let out a sigh.
“I’ll be right back I’m just going to tell the babies. Don’t leave without me, okay?” “No, I won’t leave without you, Threeo. I’ll meet you right back here in a few minutes.” Threeo shook his tail and vanished in swirling tunnel of glitter.
Kerrigan reached into his pocket and removed the letter.
I can’t read it anymore tonight.
He placed it in his desk drawer. Each word was imbedded into his head, anyway. He didn’t think he’d ever have to read it from paper again.
Pulling up a chair, he held out his hands, prepared to do a quick scan of his world. An arch of light extended between his palms, and he slowly pushed it toward the large mirror. The world appeared, with a wave of his hand. The gargoyles guarded the Counselors’ Realm. Finally, he did a quick survey of Tombs. Everything seemed to be normal.
Peep, peep, peep, “Bye, Kerrig.” A high-pitched cheeping filled the room.
Kerrigan smiled. What would the guys on the training field think if they knew he had a house full of needy little babies?
With a small thump, Threeo appeared on the desk again. “Threeo’s ready to go. The babies say good-bye. They grow so fast. They’ll be gone soon.”
“I heard them, Threeo. I should have gone down to say good-bye.” “No worries, Kerrigan, they’re all busy playing in the water, anyway.” “Threeo, are you sure they are secured properly?”
Threeo jumped up and down on the desk, knocking things on the floor. “Yes, they are secured. Let’s go now.”
Kerrigan grabbed Threeo around the belly and tucked him under his arm.
Chapter Fourteen
Kerrigan put Threeo down, knocked loudly, and walked into his parent’s home. Threeo dashed through the open door. He rolled his eyes at the critter’s enthusiastic entrance. Closing the door behind him, he followed more sedately, listening to Threeo’s exploration.
Thump. Thump. Thump. His stumping footsteps thundered throughout the house. “Paddy, Threeo’s here, where’s my treats?” His tail swiped the small corner shelves, sending the ornaments and pictures crashing to the floor. Through the turmoil of the day, he couldn’t help but smile at Threeo and his exuberance.
Threeo had spied Paddy standing on the far side of the kitchen. Unable to stop, the critter slammed right into her, almost knocking her off her furry, padded feet.
She looked down at Threeo. “Oh, you’re such a little brat.” She laughed while scratching the feathers on his head with her little claws.
Kerrigan began picking up the ornaments and pictures. “Why do I keep him?” Threeo turned and gave him a dirty look. “You love me, and you know it!” “Yeah, keep dreaming, stumpy.”
Todd entered the kitchen and encountered the same welcome from Threeo as Paddy had received. “Hi, Threeo. It’s good to see you. How many ornaments did you break this time?”
Kerrigan finished picking up the last picture and putting it back on the shelf. “I think we got lucky this time. No casualties.”
He noted the look of concern on his father’s face. Anxiety returned. He didn’t think he was ready to talk about his real parents yet.
“Are you okay, son? Your mother and I are worried about you. I hop
e you know we never meant to hurt you. We would have shown you the letter a long time ago, but the Counselors would not allow it.”
“It’s not your fault, Dad. You and Mom have always cared for me, even when everybody else shunned me. I have always been different, but you and Mom didn’t see that. Just because I know who my biological parents were, doesn’t mean they’re going to replace you. They can’t.”
Paddy fed homemade treats to Threeo, who stood up on the island. “Kerrigan, your father and I love you dearly. We did meet your biological parents, and I believe they loved you very much.”
Kerrigan’s anger flared. The air around him snapped with electricity. “They made their choice, as I have mine. I’ve no interest, even if they were to appear before me.”
Paddy, Todd and Threeo stopped what they were doing. The fur on Paddy and Todd’s bodies stood straight up from the electricity traveling through the room.
Stop it!
Kerrigan took a deep breath and forced his energy back into the calm. “Dad, can we talk about the problem at hand? I need to figure out a way to get Meeka back to Upper World without killing her.”
Todd nodded his agreement. “Why don’t we head into the den and discuss what we know for sure about the situation?”
Kerrigan turned to his mom and picked up Threeo. “Threeo, we could use your point of- view on the subject, since you had the vision you keep talking about. Especially if it means the end of the world.”
He followed his father into the den with Threeo tucked under his arm. Threeo’s happiest place was on a mantel, though Kerrigan had never known why. That’s where he deposited his companion.
Todd started the fireplace and walked to the curved wall where shelves popped out to reveal an array of bottles. He poured himself a glass of Moskal, a healthy drink made of mostly plant matter. Reaching for a second glass, he poured Kerrigan a glass of Swish. It certainly wasn’t the quality you’d sell your soul for, but it did the trick if a person wished to dull his senses. “I thought you might need something a bit stronger than usual.”
