The Maiden Medallions: Beastkeeper

by Edward Shawn

  Watching the glowing trails of waning green, James then turned his attention to the jaguar. Partially concealed in the encroaching darkness, he sensed its contentment with the arrival of night as it relaxed beside a tree.

  The crows flocked together on a low hanging branch and were soon joined by their absent brother. Galen gazed at the new arrival, the bird cawing and then becoming silent. “James guessed correctly,” he said. “I’ve been told of others within the temple, and they have the medallion.”

  “We need to deal with the armed men before they come out,” Micah said.

  “I will deal with them.” Galen shifted into his crow form, his body convulsing and contorting as it shrank into a black winged shape.

  “I can help,” James said, watching Galen transform. Fascinated and slightly disturbed by what he just witnessed, he knew this wasn’t the best time to discuss the finer points of shape-shifting.

  “How?” Micah asked.

  James nodded at the jaguar resting comfortably.

  “I forgot about him. He lies so quietly.” The shaman nodded. “Go ahead.”

  James approached the jungle cat. “Do what you can to help us. After that, you can return to the jungle.”

  The jaguar growled softly, then slinked off into the darkness. The crows, led by the altered form of Galen, flew up into the shrouded sky.

  Crouching, James moved closer to the edge of the clearing. Counting six men in all, he saw them standing around a campfire engaging in small talk and sharing cigarettes. Kay joined him as Micah concealed himself behind an adjacent tree. Without a sound, they observed the men gathered around the flames. One of them started talking over the others, and James suddenly noticed the headset he had on.

  The man began to yell, and even though James didn’t know the language, he got the gist of what he was saying. The men now alert, they aimed their weapons at the surrounding jungle until the man with the headset pointed in the direction where they hid.

  As the mercenaries advanced on their position, one of them started waving his hand as if warding off an insect. Seconds later, they all were shouting as small black shapes darted around their heads before disappearing back into the night, then returning again. One pointed his rifle but before firing a shot, he fell over, his face crashing into the ground after a large crow collided into the back of his skull.

  In the midst of the panicked group of mercenaries, the jaguar appeared within the campfire light. Leaping at one of the men, he knocked him down, snarled in his face, then bounded off towards the trees. Hidden from sight, the jungle cat roared a warning as the men continued fending off the attack of Galen’s crows.

  “The gods are angry with us!” a man cried out. Swatting away a bird, he turned and ran into the jungle.

  Micah stood up. “Wait here,” he said before running off in pursuit of the man attempting to flee. Holding his staff with both hands, he aimed it at the man trying to escape. The end of his staff flashed a dark blue, then a golf ball sized, midnight-blue globe rocketed away. Speeding towards the frightened mercenary, it passed through the back of the fleeing man’s neck and immediately turned him into a stumbling figure of crumbling ash that broke apart with each forward step until nothing remained.

  The crows maintained their assault against the remaining men. Shedding his crow form, Galen landed behind Charlie, and with one quick motion snapped the man’s neck.

  Watching the temple entrance, James saw shadows moving towards the opening.

  “We must get the medallion,” Micah said as he returned and noticed what the young man was looking at. “Now, while we can take them by surprise!” Pointing his staff, Micah unleashed a second sphere towards the figures by the entrance, the orb closing rapidly on its arbitrary target.

  Everyone heard a woman’s cry of warning before someone stepped in front of the others. The globe penetrating her chest, the woman crumbled into ash within seconds. As rain began to fall, the ash washed away until nothing remained. Aiming his staff once more, the remaining figures retreated into the temple before Micah found another target.

  James touched the medallion and gained the black squirrel’s speed. As he stepped out from behind the tree, Kay grabbed his arm.

  “One moment,” she said, reaching into her pouch. “Do your stuff, Halodust,” she whispered. Withdrawing her hand, she lobbed a shining blue powder into the air above him.

  The sparkling residue fell onto his hair and shoulders, and soon, a tingling spread throughout his body.

  “That should keep you safe for a while.” Kay quickly kissed his cheek. “Now go and get the medallion. I’ll be right behind you.”

  James sprinted across the clearing, arriving by the entrance in seconds. Peaking inside, the crows flew past him and down the hall, the sound of gunfire soon erupting within the temple. Pulling his head back, he bumped into Galen.

  “The guards have all been dealt with,” he said, his voice grimmer than usual.

  “How are we gonna get inside?” James asked. “They have guns and can shoot us if we try to enter.”

  Micah and Kay arrived and took up positions on either side of the entrance.

  “You have Halodust on you,” Micah said. “Their weapons cannot harm you. You and Galen enter the temple and locate the thieves. Kay and I will follow in one of her shields.”

  James looked at each of his companions in turn. “Okay. I’m ready.”

  Galen changed form and flew on ahead. Stepping through the entrance, James entered the temple.

  ***

  Evelynn couldn’t target the crows flying around the chamber. They vanished into the shadows between dives at their heads, the continuous screeching creating chaos for everyone. Wasting her initial volley of bullets, she needed to conserve her remaining ammunition. With her coat left behind in the jeep, she was deprived of her usual assortment of gadgets, including extra ammo clips.

  After witnessing Sandra’s death and the manner of how she died, Evelynn struggled keeping the images of her former partner’s demise at bay. Knowing they had grievously underestimated the enemy, she felt powerless to prevent more death, at least not without some help. To make matters worse, they were trapped within the temple with an unknown number of foes ready to kill them for the medallion Jeremiah carried. Of the remaining people in the group, only Marcus was on the verge of losing his composure. Jeremiah and Susan kept their cool even though Sandra had disintegrated right in front of them.

  “What the hell is going on?” Marcus screamed.

  Ignoring his hysterical friend, Jeremiah ducked as a bird flew past. “My dear,” he said to Susan, “I believe you’ll be needing this.” Reaching into his suit, he handed her the medallion.

  Susan accepted it without hesitation, then produced a second one from her jacket’s inner pocket.

  Evelynn wanted to ask why she had them both, but before she could, a huge crow swept into the room.

  “Look out!” Marcus yelled, the crow flying directly at her.

  She recognized it right away. It was the same one that attacked her in Charmington, the one she killed, only to see it disappear in a swirl of purple smoke. Now, here it was, thousands of miles from where she saw it last and eager to return a measure of revenge. Stepping aside, Evelynn avoided the bird’s talons.

  Susan made a move to help, but Jeremiah stopped her. “No! I want you to deal with him,” he said, pointing up the hall towards the main entrance.

  Evelynn risked a quick glance. Someone stood by the entrance of the temple, a green light gleaming from his belt buckle.

  “As you wish,” Susan said. A medallion in each hand, she left the chamber and strolled confidently down the hallway. One of them began emitting a golden light, the other medallion giving off a reddish glow.

  A crow flew at Marcus, but Evelynn shoved him clear. Using her gun as a bludgeon, she sent the crow spiraling to the floor, the impact reducing it to a puff of indigo smoke.

  The remaining crows descended on her. Raising her arms to protec
t her face, their talons scraped across her skull. Her panic mounting, Evelynn wished for her leather coat as she ran to escape the beaks tearing at her exposed flesh. Peaking out between her fingers, the gun partially shielding her face, Evelynn searched for the exit leading out of the chamber.

  What she saw instead was a stream of pure darkness spewing from her grandfather’s mouth.

  Evelynn collapsed in front of Jeremiah, her gun clattering off the stone floor as she succumbed to the shock of what she was witnessing and the relentless assault of the attacking crows. His head thrown back as if laughing at the heavens, black tentacles snaked outwards from the seething mass above Jeremiah’s head. Knocking the crows away from her, the tentacles of dark matter smothered the birds, each one turning to purplish smoke. Now, only the large crow remained.

  Evelynn saw her grandfather crumple to the ground, his body shuddering as he fell to his hands and knees. Not more than a few inches apart, they gazed at one another. Evelynn never experienced terror like she felt at that exact moment. Her mind spinning, her world falling apart, she looked up at Jeremiah who regained his footing, his sinister smile letting her know he was quite aware of what dwelled inside him.

  Refusing the hand he offered, her feelings for the man who raised her–the man that had given her every opportunity she ever had in life–died inside. She no longer cared what his plans were and wanted nothing more than to leave this place and this jungle forever.

  Helping Marcus up from the tumble he took after shoving him away, she pointed at the undulating mass churning above her grandfather. “You see that?” she said loudly. “That is what your friend is all about! That...thing was inside of him!” Evelynn didn’t know how long it had occupied his body, but in her opinion, even one day was much too long. The familial bond they shared now broken, she knew she could never trust the man again; everything about Jeremiah was a lie.

  The large crow turned and headed for the exit. A spear-like appendage stretched out from the black cloud and penetrated the crow, the purplish residue left behind dissipating rapidly.

  Marcus stared at the retracting ribbon of black ash. “I don’t understand.”

  “Then I’ll explain it to you,” Jeremiah said, the wicked grin appearing once again. “That, my friend, is Ebondust. It helped me achieve everything that I have. My money, my status, without its assistance, well, I wouldn’t be the man standing before you today. And now, with its help and guidance, together, we will inherit the Earth!”

  “You’re insane!” Evelynn forced away the tears threatening to flow down her face. She refused to shed a single one in front of Jeremiah, the man she once loved and regarded as a father. Looking at him now, she no longer wanted any part of his world of lies and secrets and dark ambitions.

  “Now, now, my daughter, I’m sure I taught you not to be rude to your elders. I did just save your life, or at the very least, kept you from being hideously scarred.” Jeremiah paused as he reached down and picked up the gun Evelynn dropped. “So, who’s going to stand with me as I become king of the world?”

  ***

  James saw a figure slip out of the chamber, the torches revealing the contours of a woman striding towards him. Closing the distance, her hands shimmered with unearthly light, and even though the colors were not the familiar shade of green, James knew what she held in each of her hands. The fact both were active indicated her ability to wield more than one, unlike him. When he got the chance, he would have to ask why no one informed him that the woman with the gun was capable of using them. He would have thought this was important information to know.

  The golden light brightened, the medallion unleashing a shimmering ray that blew past him and through the entrance into the jungle beyond.

  Entering the temple, Micah and Kay stood on either side of James. Raising his staff, the shaman summoned another dark sphere of death.

  The woman was much closer now. As she passed by another flickering torch, James caught a brief glimpse of her face.

  He inhaled sharply. He felt certain he was mistaken, but knowing the end result of Micah’s weapon, James needed to be sure. “Wait,” he screamed. “Pull out the Stardrop! I want to see her face!”

  “Why?” Micah asked, his aim wavering.

  “I think that’s my mom!”

  Kay and Micah exchanged a look. Reaching into his pouch, the shaman pulled out the orb. “Reveal her to us.”

  Flying towards the woman, the orb hovered out of reach above her head, its glow driving back the darkness.

  James couldn’t believe it. How was this possible? “Mom? What–what are you doing? Why are you here? How–” His voice choked off, his heart splintering at the sight of her. A scowl twisting her mouth, she raised her hand and held out the red medallion.

  “Let’s all step back.” Micah took hold of James’s arm and pulled him back through the entrance.

  They all heard the faint buzzing noise coming from behind. Micah turned and gazed at the jungle. “Kay, time for a shield,” he said, summoning the orb with a wave of his hand.

  “Whatever’s happening is because of that woman,” Kay said. Reciting her charm, she tossed powder into the air. As the bronze tinged bubble began forming around them, they stared in the direction of the approaching sound.

  That is, but for James. “Mom! It’s me, James! Please, stop what you’re doing,” he begged as he watched her standing just beyond the entrance, the medallion sheathed in gold held high above her head, the other gleaming softly in her lowered hand. He studied her face but her eyes were shielded by dark sunglasses. In the end, though, it didn’t even matter. He clearly saw his words hadn’t made an impression whatsoever.

  But he wasn’t going to give up on her. “Mom–please, please remember. I’m your son, James. We’re a family–you, me and dad...” James stopped talking and approached the inside of Kay’s protection bubble. Touching it, he tried pushing his hands through to the other side.

  “What are you doing?” Kay yelled. “Whatever’s coming will be here soon!”

  “I don’t care! I have to try and reach her, no matter what!” Drawing on the strength of a horse from his medallion, he forced his way through the sphere.

  “Mom! Please, look at me,” he said, coming towards her. Watching her wield the golden medallion, he tended to believe what Kay had said about his mother causing the disruption in the jungle.

  Susan gazed down at him. “Your mother doesn’t live here anymore,” she said before shoving him away.

  “It’s coming!” Micah shouted.

  James lost his balance and hit the ground. Rolling onto his stomach, he stared at the jungle, the buzzing noise filling his ears. A large shadow flowed out from between the trees as hundreds of flying insects swarmed into the clearing. Joined by ants, beetles and a variety of other bugs scurrying along the ground, the protective shield was soon covered by legions of insects searching for a way in.

  They were out of time. James couldn’t waste anymore of it trying to reach his mother. He needed to knock the medallions from her grasp.

  “Don’t move, James.” A well dressed, elderly man appeared behind Susan. “Did you enjoy your reunion with your mother?” he asked, pointing a gun at him. “Bit of a surprise seeing her here, I bet.”

  “What have you done to her!”

  “Oh, nothing much,” Jeremiah replied. “I replaced her soul with a more compliant one. And now, if you don’t mind, I’ll take that medallion you have.”

  “Over my dead body!” James screamed in rage.

  “If you insist.”

  Jeremiah pulled the trigger and James flinched at the sound. Expecting blinding pain as the bullet passed through his chest, he was surprised he was able to stay on his feet. Gazing down at the front of his hooded sweatshirt, there wasn’t any blood or even a hole. It was Kay, James remembered. Her magical dust had protected him from the bullet.

  “Something wrong with this gun?” Jeremiah muttered, his gaze shifting between the weapon and James.

>   A green shooting star streaked through the stormy sky. Changing trajectory, it arched downwards and then straight towards the mouth of the temple. Passing through the insect swarm, the emerald bolt scorched hundreds of tiny wings while scattering plenty of insects into the rainy night. Continuing its forward path, it went straight through Susan, then vanished within the depths of the temple before shooting through the top of the pyramid and disappearing into the night.

  James recognized the shape at the forefront of the emerald light. It was the head of a dog, a breed he was quite familiar with. “Castle?”

  Thrown back violently by the force shooting through her, the medallions flew free from Susan’s grasp. Landing hard on the floor, the back of her head cracked heavily off the stone. Her opaque glasses now askew, James saw golden eyes shining through rapidly fluttering eyelids.

  The strength of a horse still coursing through him, James charged forward, collided into Jeremiah and sent the old man flying uncontrollably down the hall and back into the shadows. Kneeling beside Susan lying semi-conscious inside the entranceway, he cradled her head in one hand while adjusting her sunglasses to conceal her eyes. “Mom! Can you hear me? Are you okay?”

  “James! The medallions–get them!”

  He heard the urgency in his mentor’s voice. Spotting them lying on the floor, the glow from each had already gone out. Grabbing the one closest to him, he neglected to secure the second medallion; it was further away and he wasn’t going to leave his mother’s side to get it.

  The insects were retreating, the protective bubble coming into view as they crawled off and dispersed into the jungle. “Kay, drop the shield but stay alert,” Micah said. He ran towards the remaining medallion, but before he could wrap his fingers around it, something yanked it out of reach.

  “What is that?” Kay yelled out, pointing inside the temple.

  James saw the old man suspended inside a floating mass of swirling black dust. He looked injured and in a great deal of pain, yet he remained conscious, his lips still moving. A slithering, black tentacle pulled the medallion along until it hung inside the cloud alongside the broken man.