by Roy Huff
“Stand back,” Asher warned, as he reached into his bag and pulled out a dagger made from the same material that was used in the construction of the walls of Vermogen. It had a crooked wooden and marble handle with a sharp, four-inch metal blade. Asher lifted the dagger high above his head, and with all his might stabbed the beetle, twisting the dagger between the blades of its armor the moment it made impact. The beetle sparkled and made a loud crackling sound, collapsed inward, and vanished with a POP.
“Our work is done here. We should return and inform The Keeper of the other beetle. With only one beetle being used to transfer the element, things may get a little interesting,” Asher said.
“What do you mean?” Sako asked.
Asher replied, “Well, even with two there are consequences, but with just one, it’s hard to say. The element may get stuck in an in-between place, not quite here and not quite there.”
“We better get moving then,” Kearney said quickly.
The Keeper had continued to keep watch over the walls of Vermogen and saw no change, but he felt it. He sensed that one of the beetles had been destroyed; he also knew what that meant.
In the land of the giants, Oldrik sensed it too.
“No!” Oldrik shouted angrily. The shield protecting him flashed and crackled.
“Hey, look,” Borak said in a deep baritone voice. “His shield, it’s collapsing!”
Borak lunged towards Oldrik, and Oldrik picked up his rod and repeatedly tapped it on the ground in an attempt to stabilize the shield.
“You’re mine now,” Borak bellowed triumphantly as he threw his arm in Oldrik’s direction.
Several of the Fwaylan jumped towards Borak as he approached.
“Now!” General Varrick hollered, signaling to the Archers to resume their firing. Thousands of arrows pierced the flesh of the Fwaylan that had come close to Borak, which kept the path between Borak and Oldrik clear.
Just as Borak’s fist was about to make contact with Oldrik’s now-decaying chin, the shield was restored and Borak was thrown several feet back as it expanded outward forcefully.
“Not just yet, you stupid giant,” Oldrik gloated with an evil grin on his face.
Borak stood on his feet, which took some time due to his massive size, and then turned to Oldrik and said, “We’ll get you before all is said and done. You’d be wise to wipe that grin off your face.”
The collector that Oldrik possessed could no longer maintain the shield without depleting itself. Oldrik made the decision to use the remaining power to fortify the shield, but it couldn’t hold forever; he knew it and so did his followers.
“I’m scared, Oldrik. What do we do now?” Elmer asked.
Oldrik turned to Elmer and struck his face again, knocking him down to the ground. Blood started pouring from Elmer’s slimy, bald head. This time, he was too hurt to cry. Oldrik stared at his other follower, Calvin, who shrank back in terror, fearing Oldrik would strike him as well.
General Varrick walked towards Oldrik. The Fwaylan circled the area and watched intently as the general approached.
“Look at you, Oldrik. To what evil have you given yourself over? You were a Keeper. Now what are you, one of Them? How is it that someone who has seen one of The Pillars of Truth has given in to such deceit?”
Oldrik replied, “You stupid fool! Don’t lecture me about The Pillars of Truth. You’re so naïve, just like the rest of The Keepers and the Fron. I used to think just like you, but now I have seen what I need to know. There is no right or wrong, no good or bad; there are only winners and losers. There are only the weak and the strong. We take what we want or we let others take it from us. That is the only truth. The Pillars of Truth are like any other source of power, and when I find them, I’ll take their power, too.”
“Oldrik, I see The Keeper was right. You have given yourself over to the great lie. I am no worshiper of logic, but even logic and reason contradict what you are saying. You have allowed the pursuit of power to corrupt you. Your actions today have proven that.”
Elmer watched and listened intently, now convinced that he had made a grave mistake.
“We will defeat you, Oldrik. It’s true that there is a constant struggle between good and evil, but in case you haven’t noticed, evil has never completely won out in the end. The laws of the universe cannot be changed, but you seem intent on trying to do so. You may win a few battles here and there, but in the end, the sickness, the lies, and the darkness that infects all evil prevents it from ever winning the war.
“The battles that we fight are not against the greater evil or the greater good that exists in the multiverse; those battles have already been decided, like the rise and fall of tides in a great ocean. The real battles are the ones we fight from within. The real battles are the choices we make every day and what we learn from those choices. As a Keeper you were entrusted with a great power because you demonstrated great wisdom, but no one is immune to arrogance, not even a Keeper, and arrogance will be your downfall.”
CHAPTER 10:
THE FALLOUT
“Clear!” the doctor shouted. She pressed the paddles down over Dante’s chest, and Dante’s body shook in place on the hospital bed as the charge was released into his body.
The doctor looked at the EKG machine to see if Dante’s heart had responded—nothing—flatline.
“Charge—Clear!”
The process repeated a few more times, and then finally—
“Clear!
“We’ve got a pulse!” the nurse shouted as he watched the green line tick up on the electronic screen attached to the EKG.
The doctor and several nurses rushed to check Dante’s status, administering various drugs and taking notes of different measurements of heart and brain activity.
Jack, Anika, and Owen had been waiting in the hospital lobby. Anika paced back and forth as she waited to get word back from the doctor. After about fifteen minutes had passed, Jack and Owen took notice of the approach of the person wearing a white coat walking towards them in the hall.
“Which of you are Dante’s family?” the doctor said as all three approached her.
“I am, but they are more than welcome to listen,” Jack said.
“It was touch and go there for a while, but we’ve stabilized him. He’s still in serious condition, though, and I’m a little concerned about his brain activity. Dante is still well within the range where a return to normal functioning is possible, but the activity has decreased with this latest episode. I don’t anticipate any immediate change, but the hospital will contact you in the event that there is.”
Anika turned to Owen and started crying on his shoulder. As she did, Drusilla and Zee walked into the waiting room.
“Is everything okay?” Zee asked.
“He’s okay for now,” Jack replied.
“Thanks for coming, guys,” Owen said to Drusilla and Zee.
“Don’t mention it,” Drusilla said.
“I’m sorry to hear about your father, Zee,” Owen said.
“Yeah. Me, too,” Anika said after she lifted her head off of Owen’s shoulder.
“Thank you, and I know everything’s crazy right now, but we need to talk,” Zee said, looking at Anika and Owen.
This was not the moment that Owen wanted to be pulled away to Everville, but he felt himself drifting and knew it would be just seconds before he arrived.
“Owen, I’m sorry to bring you back at this moment, but I had no choice,” The Keeper said.
“There were two objects used to transfer the element to Oldrik’s collector. One was in the secret cave behind the walls of Vermogen, and it’s been destroyed. The other object is somewhere in the earthly realm. You need to find it, and soon. With only one object transferring the element, it’s unclear what the consequences will be, and Dante’s condition is likely to get worse if we don’t find the other object and destroy it as quickly as possible. The object you are looking for is in the form of a beetle.
“Zee and Dr
usilla have become aware of our realm, and Zee can point you in the right direction,” The Keeper told Owen.
“Are you sure we can trust them?”
“Owen, I know you sense some darkness in them, but they have yet to determine their own fate. At the moment, Zee can help you. He has seen a truth that will help reveal the location of the other object. Find it, and destroy it at all costs.”
There was no time for niceties. Owen was thrust back into the waiting room, and Anika could tell where he had been.
“Is everything okay, Owen?” she asked.
“Everything is fine.”
Owen turned to Zee. “You’re right, we need to talk. Let’s do that while we walk back to my dorm.”
Anika turned to Jack. “Thanks for calling us. Please let us know if anything changes.”
“I will, Anika. You guys take care now. And Zee … you have my condolences.”
“Thanks, Jack.” And with that, they left the hospital and started walking back to Easton Falls University.
Roughly twenty minutes passed and they were about halfway back to the university and walking through the center of the art district in downtown Easton Falls. By that time it was early evening and darkness had just settled in. Owen and Zee were in the most important part of their conversion, as Zee had just mentioned the name Jacob.
At the moment Zee uttered that word, Anika and Drusilla saw a pair of eyes lurking in the shadows of one of the more elaborate art galleries downtown. They turned to get a closer look, but the eyes had vanished.
“I think we’re being watched,” Drusilla murmured.
“I think you’re right,” Anika replied.
They quickened their pace as they continued walking back towards campus. After another ten minutes had passed, they decided to stop in the campus café, which had just reopened that morning.
Anika and Owen bought their usual drinks, and Zee bought a regular cup of coffee, black. They sat down and took a few moments to sip their coffee, then Owen took notice of the Egyptian scarab carved into the wall.
“Hey guys, you see that?”
“See what?” Zee asked.
“That beetle,” Owen replied.
“You mean the scarab,” Drusilla said.
“Yeah, that thing. Well, The Keeper said that the object we’re looking for looks something like a beetle.”
“You know something, Owen, now that I think about it, there may be another beetle I’ve seen. The symbol on the map of The Other In Between is remarkably similar to a beetle. More than that, the symbol of The Other In Between is the symbol that’s carved into Jacob’s bo staff.
“When the images were flashing in my mind, I got the sense that Jacob was aware of what was going on and that he was somehow working with Them. If the object we’re looking for is a beetle, I think we should start by looking at Jacob’s house, and I know the perfect time we should go.”
“When is that, Zee?” Owen questioned.
“At my father’s funeral. I know Jacob is going to be there. I’ve already spoken to him. Before the funeral is over, maybe halfway through, you and Drusilla could sneak into Jacob’s house and search his room. His adoptive parents will be there and you can tell the butler that Jacob asked you to wait there for him. Then, Drusilla can distract the butler, who I know has a weakness for beautiful young women. While Drusilla is talking with the butler, Owen can search Jacob’s room.”
“Sounds like as good a plan as any,” Anika remarked.
“You don’t think it will look too obvious if we leave halfway through the service?” Owen said.
“Just stay in the back behind everyone else. No one will be paying that much attention,” Zee replied.
“I guess it’s settled then. Now, it’s time for me to get back to my dorm. I have a new roommate who is supposed to arrive today, so I’d better go get acquainted before I crash for the night.”
“I’ll walk with you, Owen,” Anika said.
“Okay, guys. I’ll see you at the funeral Sunday morning. Good luck,” Zee said as Owen and Anika left the café.
“Do you think it’s such a good idea, Owen? What if you get caught?”
“Well, I guess it’s a risk I’ll have to take, but I think we don’t have much of a choice. If Jacob’s working with Them, and if he has the object, it’s going to be the only time we know that he won’t be there. Not to mention the fact that we’re running out of time, and so is Dante.”
“Yeah. You know, you’re right. Screw it. Let’s find that beetle and bring Dante home. I hope your roommate’s nice, by the way. I’ve heard tons of horror stories about roommates.”
“Thanks, but I’m sure he’ll be fine. I’ll catch up with you Sunday morning before the funeral.”
“Sounds good. I’ll see you then.”
Owen continued walking to his dorm and opened his door. A few extra boxes were neatly stacked on the floor, ready to be unpacked, and then he saw his new roommate standing there, putting some clothes in one of the three drawers on his side of the dresser. He was tall and thin with bushy eyebrows, brown eyes, and jet-black hair.
Owen stuck out his hand and said, “Hi, I’m Owen.”
“So far, this place is great. It’s nice to meet you, Owen. My name is Adamo.”
Owen and Adamo chatted for a while, talking mostly about the usual history and introductions before Owen started fighting back fatigue.
“All right, I’m gonna go to sleep. I’m exhausted,” Owen said.
“Okay, then. I’ll turn off the light pretty soon. I won’t be up much longer.”
About ten minutes later, Adamo had turned out the lights.
CHAPTER 11:
THE FUNERAL
While General Varrick and the giants continued to prevent any movement by Oldrik, The Keeper sensed Elmer’s uncertainty in the decision that he had made, as well as his growing dissatisfaction with Oldrik. The Keeper decided it was time to approach Elmer, and so he entered Elmer’s mind.
“Elmer, you were once a great asset to Everville and the Fron. Why have you abandoned us?”
“Oldrik said that we were stupid to listen to you because there is something out there that is coming for us. He said we needed to shore up our power to protect ourselves from whatever it is that we might face in the future.”
“What did he say we might face in the future?” The Keeper queried.
“Well … he didn’t say exactly. He just said that there were more dangerous things that awaited us beyond the heres and nows somewhere off in the borderlands.”
“Do you really believe that, Elmer, and do you believe that whatever darkness you might face is worth betraying the truth that you have always known? Is the promise of a little safety worth the price of betraying your land, your people, your values? Let me ask you, Elmer, do you feel safer now than you did before you left?”
“I’m not so sure anymore, Keeper.”
“I’m going to give you a choice, Elmer. When the time comes, you will be presented with an opportunity to stay with Oldrik or to go with the giants. You’ll know when it’s time for you to make up your mind. It will be completely up to you which choice you make, but be warned: whatever you decide, you will have to live with the consequences.”
The Keeper left Elmer’s mind, and Elmer looked up to see if Oldrik could tell what he was thinking. If Oldrik knew something, Elmer couldn’t tell the difference. Oldrik was more concerned about the collector being depleted and the eventual loss of the shield.
Despite the setback, Oldrik’s reach had been growing. He could now sense creatures that were much darker than the Fwaylan. He could feel the evil, insidious races that had succumbed to the darkness. Them had started to sense Oldrik, and Them were looking for something in particular in Oldrik’s mind, something Oldrik wasn’t yet ready to share and was keeping to himself.
Back in the earthly realm, at Easton Falls University, the campus was starting to come back to life. The university had hired hundreds of workers to clear the debris tha
t was strewn across the campus after the Nor’easter had slammed ashore. The workers who had been there over the past few weeks were gone; only the scaffolding on the damaged dorms and buildings remained, along with a few ‘Do Not Cross’ signs near newly-planted trees and grass.
The morning of Professor Samil’s funeral had arrived, and several people could be seen wearing black dresses and suits and getting ready to enter Town Cars that were parked along the side of the main street next to campus.
Owen was waiting downstairs by his dorm. Like most everyone else headed for the funeral, he wore traditional black, along with an unassuming blue and grey-checkered tie. He had finally gotten a haircut and was clean-shaven. Drusilla approached Owen in a long, black dress.
“Look at you, Owen, all handsome and stuff. You ready to do this thing?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Let’s get going then. The car is parked over there.”
Owen and Drusilla got into the backseat of the car and the driver took off in the direction of the Easton Falls Memorial Cemetery. They arrived in about fifteen minutes, and after getting out of the car, they scoped out their position behind the people who had come to pay their respects to Professor Samil.
Owen looked around the cemetery at all the people who had arrived; it was a much larger number than he had expected, several hundred, perhaps more. Drusilla and Owen both spotted fellow Art Club member, Jacob, who was wearing a black suit with a surprisingly showy purple tie. Jacob was with his new family, who were the only people who were not wearing black. Owen and Drusilla then spotted Zee and Anika on the other side of the cemetery. Zee and Anika looked back at them; their eyes acknowledged what they were about to do.
“Owen, when I give you the signal, we’ll turn around and head back towards the car. I think the best time will be right after Zee makes his speech.”
