Dee: A Wyrdos Tale

by Gwendolyn Druyor

  “He wouldn’t have anything to do with her. He spit on her and spoke a short sentence that ended with ‘Yaksha.’

  “In the cold of imminent death, I easily felt heat coming off of my boss, Captain Yaksha Morioka standing close behind me and I shook my head, trying to tell her to stay hidden. When Diejuste started talking to Onioka, Bailey snuck backwards, looking around the floor by the broken table. Junior was still on the floor, shaking his head at Diejuste. Orin was looking around the room, searching for a way out or a weapon. I don’t know which. But then the white glow of the pallor around Jukebox Beth snapped into definite reality and demanded my attention.

  “Onioka turned and grabbed the old woman. Several people cried out but Onioka brayed, drowning their voices. He held the toll taker easily over his head and gave another incomprehensible speech, directed, it seemed, at Yaksha whichever one of us she was. He drew one of his horns along Beth’s exposed thigh almost negligently and smiled as she screamed in pain. Her blood dripped on his head and he tipped his head to catch drops on his tongue. He waited for only seconds after his speech, looking around to see if Yaksha would reveal herself. Then he cracked Jukebox Beth in half and tossed her over his shoulder, where she landed on her beloved jukebox, now playing Dance With Me.

  “That is when I lost my cool.”

  “You did your thing.” Anne guessed.

  “Oh you bet I did. I looked at the body of that woman who hadn’t hurt anyone in years. She found her joy and she found people who put up with her joy. And this jerk just broke her in half? No. I keened like I have never mourned before. Storms raised in all the corners of the bar, growing and converging up there at Onioka’s eye level. The lights blazed. Bottles shattered, spraying alcohol everywhere and I got his attention.

  “He considered the possibility for a moment but decided I wasn’t his mate. He raised a hand, turned it, and created a ball of fire in his palm. He drew his hand back and made to throw the fire at me.

  “But, Anne, he had killed an innocent person and his karma was crap. The brownies all snapped their fingers and his fire fizzled out. This threw the monster for a loop and while he was confused, Diejuste made her move. She took all the fear in the room; fear of Onioka, fear of me, and she wove it with Onioka’s own fear of his mate, Yaksha and she overwhelmed the monster with it.

  “He shook his head, opening his mouth to pant, unfamiliar with this feeling. Diejuste told Junior it was his turn and the skinny guy got up. He walked around Onioka, searching the floor openly. Onioka didn’t see him. Junior was invisible to the guy and he found the box. He picked up and then went to stand right in front of the demon. In a flash, I saw through my tears that Onioka saw the man and though his eyes were burning fire, he couldn’t seem to move his body.”

  “He was paralyzed with fear?” Anne asked.

  “Exactly. Once that was obvious, Laylea leaped for the bar. She missed and fell to the floor but my brother was there and he gave her a boost. She searched out the padlock and came vaulting back over the bar in the form of a little dog. She dropped the lock on the bar and slid it down to us with her nose. Then she bounded off a barstool and over to where her brother was searching under the tables for the key. She smelled it under the rude kid’s shoe. She barked and when the kid didn’t move, she bit him. Orin wooshed to her side as he can and wooshed the key back to where Junior had the box. I grabbed the padlock but held my concealing position.

  “Morioka found her breath and whispered for me to ‘go.’ I couldn’t ignore that quiet order. I ran over to Junior’s side with the lock but then Morioka yelled for us to get behind Onioka and then, she turned into a dragon.”

  Anne sat frozen, saying nothing while Dee drained her drink and poured another.

  “So we got behind Onioka while Yaksha Morioka, the dragon, flamed her mate, shrinking his powers and shrinking his form. Junior and Orin jumped on the monster and physically shoved him into the box when he seemed to be overcoming the paralyzing fear and began fighting back. I reached out and pulled my sorrow storm from the ceiling and used its power to help entrap Onioka. Orin and Junior fell to the ground, nearly dropping the box when I pushed my storm at Onioka. Diejuste was there though, under the box, holding it steady and upright. Morioka felt her mate filling the box and when she yelled ‘clear’ Junior and Orin dove out of the way. Both Morioka and Diejuste with words of power and with brute physical effort, slammed the lid shut. The lid continued to buck and jump as Onioka tried with everything he had to escape.

  “Laylea bounded over and stood on the lid which threatened to throw her off until she transformed back to human form to add extra weight. I sidled in through all the bodies and slipped the hasp of the small lock through the tree branch shaped hooks on the front of the box. Diejuste got a tiny hand in and squeezed the lock shut. Then Orin was there with the key. He slipped it in and turned it.

  “The box fell to the floor, inert, unresisting. My storm died away. The temperature in the bar returned to normal. Morioka looked human again although I could still see the shadow of her wings folding against her trench coat. I looked over at the other customers who were still frozen in terror and disbelief. Orin pulled himself up and peeked over the bar as I looked carefully into every single face I could see. Then I pulled myself up beside my brother and leaned over the bar to see Seb’s face. I smiled at Orin and told him to relax. All of the possible pallors had dissipated. No one else, in the bar at least, was going to die tonight. On Wednesday, I mean. That night.”

  Anne smiled but said nothing, letting Dee catch her breath.

  “We, the supernatural beings, the wyr-with a y-does, the fey, fairy, sidhe of the city all sat and started breathing again. Morioka took off her trench coat and tossed it to Laylea who was naked except for her collar. Junior helped Diejuste sit up and they pushed the box away. It slid along the floor until it hit the base of the bar and came to a rest, looking harmless.

  Lucio and Amal had just lifted Beth off the jukebox and were resting her on the ground when the twenty-something jerks started complaining. They demanded to know what had happened and threatened law suits, stuff like that. Bailey, still on the floor under the remaining tables, crawled out and away from them as quickly as he could.

  Yaksha Morioka took three small steps towards the tables. Her wings became more solid, started to spread a little. She tilted her head and I could clearly see the ridges of her dragon form fading back into existence. She put a thumb behind the badge on her belt and said, quietly, “Bar’s on Irish hours. If you don’t know the name of the dead woman, get out. Don’t forget to tip.” And she didn’t move until all the non-regulars had gotten up, put money on the table, and walked out the door. A quiet coffee-skinned girl and the one who had been embarrassed by her friends stopped by Beth and set some quarters at her feet. The quiet girl asked Amal, ‘What was her name?’ Amal told them. The other one turned to the rest of us and choked out a thank you. Then they followed the others out.

  “Morioka turned to the regulars then. She told them she’d have to call it in and they should be gone before the coroner got there or they’d have to answer questions. About a half hour she said. They all sat, not ready to leave. Morioka came over and took the bar stool next to me. Seb had pulled himself to his feet behind the bar. He’d found a surviving bottle and poured a glass of gin. Then he slowly pulled six beers and a seltzer. He poured one glass of milk. After he put all these on the bar for us, he cradled a bottle of tequila and went back to crouching on the floor behind the kegs.”

  The doctor and the detective sat quietly for a few moments, finishing their drinks. Then Anne who could see the bar clearly in her mind’s eye said, “It’s gonna take Seb forever to clean up the place.”

  Dee raised her eyebrows at the doctor. “Seb has amassed some great karma.” And she waited, even though she knew time was getting short.

  Anne reviewed all the details of Dee’s story and got to the key word, karma. “The brownies can fix it?”

  “Al
ready did. That night. When the police got there, Morioka and I told the coroner that Jukebox Beth had slipped on a quarter while dancing. We let him find the broken beer bottle that would have to account for the slice on her side. Morioka made it clear to them that it was an open and shut accident. Seb’s big concern is telling the regulars she’s gone and finding someone new to keep the tunes playing.”

  “He didn’t get in trouble for having minors in the bar?”

  Dee smiled again at the doctor’s eye for details. “Laylea and Diejuste were kicked out before the cops who would care got there. I tried to corner Junior but Diejuste promised she’d have him at his mother’s office the next day when I was meeting her at ten and Morioka helped them slip out before I could find out how she knew I had an appointment with Councilwoman Leo, who, I think we all know, has no children.”

  Anne asked eagerly, “Do we have time? Can you tell me what happened at that meeting on Thursday at ten?”

  “I don’t know what happened at the meeting on Thursday at ten. Morioka took it. She promised to share whatever she learned with me. She threatened to have me kicked off the force. She assured me that she had been keeping her lands demon free since before she’d trapped her mate in the box and she could handle the councilwoman.”

  “I’ll just bet she can. Tell me something, Dee, how do you differentiate demons from the rest of the supernatural?”

  “Demons usually require a sacrifice of human life in order to live. Basically.”

  “I know we don’t have much time. But one more.”

  “Absolutely.”

  Anne considered. “Vampires are demons, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay.”

  Dee leaned forward and set down her glass. “Thank you so much for letting me talk, Anne.”

  “It was a good story. And I know that it helps to talk through a mystery sometimes, to hear what your brain has ignored and maybe get a new perspective.”

  “And what is your perspective?”

  “Well, if I can trust what I’ve read about vampires, I’d say that your seductress found Kyle and turned him while you were chasing Councilwoman Leo and her son. Kyle killed or at least destroyed his maker and then walked away. I’d say you were upset when you first walked in because you thought this hour would be a waste of time that you could be spending trying to find him. And I think you have to find him before Morioka does if as she says she keeps her lands demon-free.

  “But here’s what I really need you to listen to. You are lonely. You have a big secret that you definitely can’t share with everyone but you still need some connection to the people around you. Find someone you can talk to openly. Number two; your gift is bringing you down. You spend so much time mourning the loss of life and that’s not healthy. If I may make a suggestion,” she edited herself, “and I may because I’m a highly trained psychological professional, do some good. You wanted to make Kyle’s last moments good. You wanted to get him to his family. Do that for others. Be intrusive. Ask personal questions. Don’t make their last moments about their sins and debts. Make their last moments happy if you can. I think that’ll make you happier.”

  “This has been a surprisingly good hour.”

  “It’s been three hours, Detective.” Anne took her pad of paper from the table and made a note. “The sun is about to go down.”

  “Thank you, Doctor, for listening.”

  Anne stood and extended a hand. “I’m glad if I was of any help.”

  Dee stood. “You’ve been a great help.” She took the doctor’s hand in both of hers. “But I have to give you some bad news.”

  “I know, Dee."

  "You know?"

  "I have the heat on but you’ve never taken off your jacket or your hoodie. I took my sweater off an hour and a half ago because it was so hot in here.”

  “What do you mean?” Dee was thrown.

  Anne put her other hand on Dee’s reassuring her. “I read people for a living, Dee. I saw how you reacted the second time you looked at my face. I knew what you had seen when you told me what you are. It’s okay.”

  “Do you want to tell me anything?”

  “I’ve always told my cats everything. They’re pretty good listeners. I think my soul is plenty unburdened.” Anne released her hands and picked up the pad from the table. She tore the top few sheets off and handed them to Dee. “I don’t think it would be a good idea for anyone else to see my notes but you might get a kick out of them. I’ve written down my address and how you can reach my girlfriend. No one else would think to let her know.” Anne stopped awkwardly not knowing how to go on.

  But Dee understood.

  “You want me to go take care of your cats, don’t you?”

  Anne smiled sheepishly. “Maybe the brownies would like them for the shop. They are fabulous mice hunters.”

  Suddenly Anne’s eyes went glassy and she grabbed her head. The pallor around her sparkled a glowing imminent white. For a split second, Dee saw fear with the fierce pain in Anne’s eyes. She shoved the papers into her inner breast pocket and stepped forward to hold the psychiatrist. But the fear disappeared and Anne’s sense of humor took its place.

  “Those would be some incredibly stupid last words. Tell my girl I said something profound.”

  “Doctor, are you allowed to counsel me to lie?”

  “We all lie all the time. How else do we keep society functioning?” Her face contorted in pain again. “My head. There’s something wrong in my head.”

  Dee lowered Anne to the ground and held the doctor huddled in her lap. When she was safe from falling, Dee pulled her phone out. “I’m gonna call 911.”

  Anne reached for the phone. “Wait. I don’t want to die in a hospital. So typical.”

  “You’ll be on your way before they get here.”

  “People will wonder what you told me to make my brain explode.” Anne murmured as another bout of pain racked her head.

  Dee made the call. But when the operator told her to stay on the line, she hung up and turned her attention back to her friend. “How can I make these last moments happy for you?”

  “Ah, you just did. Good application.” Anne tried to sit up on her own but some of her muscles weren’t responding. “I think I’m bleeding into my brain. I’m not gonna come up with those genius last words.” She slurred the last part of the sentence.

  “Well, you’re not a talker, Doc.” Dee spoke as if they were meeting for coffee. “You’re a listener.”

  “Observant.”

  “I’m learning. Would you like me to tell you another story?”

  Anne nodded. Then she closed her pain-filled eyes and lied down in Dee’s lap beside her comfy chair. And Dee told her about the time sixty years ago when she’d rescued a cat off a roof while his owner accidentally electrocuted himself with Christmas lights. It was a funny story and she thought it would reassure Anne that her cats would be well taken care of. And when Anne’s light went out, Dee keened with a smile on her face for the first time ever. She mourned for the world but she rejoiced in her heart that she’d had the opportunity to meet Dr. Anne Pershing before she died.

  •••

  Thank you for reading my book. I hope you enjoyed it. If you had a good time with this story, please take a moment and leave a review on Amazon. Reviews make a big difference and I love to hear what my readers think.

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  To learn more about Dee’s fellow wyrdo, Junior, and get a sneak peek of the next book in the Wyrdos Tales series, read on!

  Junior

  A Wyrdos Tale

  By

  Gwendolyn Druyor

  Wyrdos.net

  Text Copyright © 2017 by Gwendolyn Druyor

  All Rights Reserved

  1

/>   DON’T SLEEP

  Don’t sleep with your closet door open.

  When you were a child, you believed there were monsters in the closet. You watched your mom or dad or legal court appointed guardian leave your bedroom. They’d snake a hand back in through the doorway and flip off your light. With no consideration for the sliver of light they could leave you through the crack of that door, they shut it with a click. In the dark—no matter how many siblings share your room, in the dark you are always alone. You try breathing quietly, but he can hear the beating of your heart. You stare at the closet, thinking that if you don’t blink he can’t sneak up on you. But the dark is his ally. He can see your eyes glowing in the dark. And he can move invisibly through your room, under your bed. He’ll paralyze you with fear so that you cannot escape. So shut your eyes tight and pull the covers over your head if it makes you feel better. But it won’t help. If you leave the closet door open, the boogeyman can get you.

  2

  The Trap

  “Sorry, wrong room.” Junior turned to flee back into the bedroom closet.

  He rebounded off a shimmering, intractable wall of air. The force sent him tripping backwards, avoiding the wailing infant that had drawn him into the room.

  A few feet beyond the magical circle, under an outdated mobile of the solar system, a dusky boy of about ten sat cross-legged on a rag rug, his hands poised over the shuttle of a Ouija board, his jaw hanging open.