Finding Real Magic

by Shawn Keys

  “I mean it. Try and remember anything you can. I’ve done my research, but you are probably more aware of gossips and rumors surrounding him than I am.”

  She smiled and nodded, “If it’ll help, I’ll think about it. Maybe make a few phone calls to confirm some details. A few of my friends are real historical buffs and trivia nuts.”

  If he had warm feelings for her already, it only got better as she improved Zahn’s odds of surviving this next relic-dive. “Thanks. I’ve looked at five other locations he was rumored to have concealed it. This one is the last, and I had to translate his personal diary to find it. He wrote the diary in a personal short-hand he created just to confuse anyone who snuck a peek at it. But I am sure this is the right place. That’s why I needed this job. To have access to his Lot without needing to break in every night.”

  He sighed before continuing, “I’ve already broken through three layers of brick and foundation work. As the company adds more technology and infrastructure, the resting place has been sealed under more concrete and mortar. On Wednesday, I was sure I uncovered the original wall. I even swore I saw the first hint of a door. It’s close, Angie. I know it.”

  The lovely movie star was clearly torn between wanting to believe him and deciding he needed professional help.

  Zahn rose up to his elbow. “Come with me. I’ll show you. We’ll go tonight. The police barricade will have cleared by then. If I’m wrong? Well, you can laugh at me. You’ll have a good story to tell friends about this strange guy with some even stranger ideas.”

  “Tonight, hmm? Under cover of darkness?”

  Zahn flashed another grin. “Secrets have to be guarded.”

  “And until then?”

  He curled up to a sitting position and pushed her onto her back. Crawling over her, he leaned down to kiss the taut flesh of her tummy. “You’re still mine, remember?” He crawled higher. His mouth shifted up the delicious mounds of her breasts.

  A good start to the day.

  Chapter 4

  Jake scowled as he peered through the surveillance van’s window. “Well, that didn’t take long. Police took down the tape about ten hours ago, and Zahn’s already back.”

  Ash whistled, impressed. “He wants this relic badly. This might be the one. If it is, we’re going to have to act quickly.” Her teeth glowed white against the darkness as she smiled fiercely. “He’s close. I can sense it.”

  Mike asked, “Why is he in a limousine?”

  Gord was equally confused. “And a purple limo at that?”

  As they watched the Lot parking lot, the limo’s driver door opened. A looming shadow of an epic security guard walked around the hood to open the back.

  Mike choked. “I am not tangling with that guy.”

  Gord snorted. “Coward. No wonder you let me brawl with those bouncers in Atlanta while you snuck off to break into Suzy Elsworth’s room.”

  Ash hissed at her team, “Quiet!” Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Something’s off. There’s Zahn, but the movie star is with him. What, is he giving her a tour?”

  “Could she…know?” Jake asked.

  Ash frowned. “Zahn always works alone. Maybe he needs her to find the relic. Maybe she saw something. Or she knows the combination to some lock standing in his way. Has to be something.”

  Mike huffed, “Maybe he’s in love?”

  Ash rolled her eyes. “Just stay sharp. With that security guard around, we won’t be able to go at him right here. Cops will be on this place twice as fast if we start a fight here. We’ll just have to pick our moment. Until then, Gord, get on the remote computer. Dig up everything on this woman. We may need it.”

  * * *

  Francois stayed outside this time of his own volition. He said he wanted to be sure he could see any danger coming. Zahn was perfectly happy with that. He was going to have his hands full showing Angelica how far down the rabbit’s hole he could take her .

  They walked into the darkened Lot, pausing only to turn on a few overhead lights to brighten the way. Zahn glanced around. “They cleaned up well. Wouldn’t know there was a crime scene here yesterday.”

  Angelica looked mildly guilty. “They were probably trying to get a hold of me to re-start shooting today.”

  Zahn stepped behind her and drew her to a stop, sliding his arms around her. He had suggested she dress for an adventure, like going on a hike or camping. So, she was in loose-fitting jeans that still managed to hug her tight ass capped by a dark purple shirt with long sleeves made from a breathable cotton blend. He tucked her neatly against his body. The thick soles of her boots were as high as her killer heels from the night before, so she stood a little taller than him. That put his mouth right near the nape of her neck. He kissed her sweetly, then nibbled under her ear. His one hand slipped up to cup her right breast, while the other swam down and brushed over her sex hard enough for her to feel it through the denim. He whispered into her ear with a sensual, possessive ferocity, “They can’t have you back. Not yet.”

  Her head sank against his shoulder and moaned into his touch. She hadn’t denied him anything all day, and she showed no signs of changing. Letting his hands roam where they wished, she spoke around her soft sighs of pleasure, “They… mmmm… had… ahh… other options. Other scenes to film… hope they… carried on… without me...”

  He kissed her earlobe, giving it a small suckle, then one last embrace on her neck. “You’re due for a vacation, right?”

  “Mmmhmmm. I’d say so.”

  He kissed her again, then backed away with real regret. Shivering a little, he chased away the rush of desire he felt every second he was near her. “Alright, enough of that. We need to focus.”

  Angelica’s mouth formed that cute smirk of hers. “You started it.”

  Zahn admitted with a grin, “Which is why I’m yelling at myself to cool it. I’d tell you to stop being so blindingly sexy, but you can’t help yourself.”

  That earned him a glowing smile.

  A sexy smile. Zahn laughed at his own weakness. If she was going to be around more often, he was going to have to learn to focus despite the distraction. Focus, hot shot. You’re the bad-ass relic diver, remember? Show this woman what you can do!

  They approached the concealed stage, and Zahn paused to activate the lighting he had rigged underneath.

  Angelica noticed how extensive the set-up was. “You weren’t kidding around down here.”

  Zahn nodded. “Relics are guarded jealously. That hasn’t changed in their entire history. Even the oldest ones being discovered have some sort of protections around them. The only difference is how modern the defenses will be. Puzzling your way past them with the lights off is a good way to find trouble. The smallest detail might matter.”

  He pushed aside the heavy plastic sheet on which he had hung a sign. He had posted other signs as well:

  “Danger: Watch for Falling Objects”

  “Exposed Electric Circuits: Caution”

  “Qualified Engineers Only – Exposed Machinery”

  Zahn had scattered as many signs as he could without making it look excessive. He’d picked the ones most likely to chase away anyone wandering aimlessly. He tossed a smile Angelica’s way, “These are better than any door with a lock. Locks have to be explained. These? People just go somewhere else. No one has to be under this stage that badly.” He added, “Even though they are fake, watch your head and elbows. There are lots of things to smash against. It’s a tight space.”

  She smirked. “Ah, the truth at last. You’re trying to get me into a spot you can squish up against me.”

  Zahn allowed himself a soft laugh. “How dare you accuse me of such villainy. Such a naughty girl. I’ll have to spank you later for being so brazen.”

  Angelica’s reaction blended a laugh, a blush and a quick gasp of excitement that made her breasts quiver. Zahn drank in every detail of that beautiful combination.

  Then, he ventured a little deeper. Taking his own advice, he side-stepped
through the narrow access point, making sure nothing sharp bit him. Snaking past the obstacles, he emerged into the small open space up against the rear wall of the Lot. “And here we are. ”

  Angelica drifted past him, stepping up to the wall with the natural reverence that comes from being in the presence of something very old. Zahn had indeed revealed the original foundation’s brickwork. The aging mortar was still solid enough. Though it was not all uncovered, they could both make out an old mural painted onto the stones. Once the backdrop to this room, it was now faded and worn. Zahn figured it had only survived because it was sealed away from any air and light.

  Angelica ran her hands over one exposed element, “I think this is the top right corner of the first Visionary Studios logo. Circa 1945 or so.” She didn’t try to suppress her smile. “This is a treasure all on its own. Such a shame no-one preserved this!”

  Zahn took up a crowbar from where he had laid it down. “Only a few people even knew it existed. This wasn’t a public space. Klein used this area as a private retreat. He probably had a directive in his will to build the first seal on this wall after his death.”

  Angelica backed away, giving him space. “He didn’t have much in the way of family. They all abandoned him as he got a little crazier.”

  Zahn jammed the crowbar in behind the stone he had already broken open. “Not surprising that he was getting worse. Relics are powerful items with strange stories. The more you learn about them, the more you have to accept the world isn’t what you thought it was. Can make some people seem crazy. Can push others over the edge for real.” He leaned into the effort and crumbled a little more of the blocking wall to the ground.

  Little by little, the pair unearthed the painted wall. Eventually, they were looking at an eclectic piece of artwork that seemed like a collection of all the things Klein loved flowing into each other. Zahn asked, “Was he an artist?”

  Angelica nodded. “He was a little of everything. But he was able to paint.”

  “This might be his work, then. He could come down here whenever he felt inspired. Anyone who wonders what he is doing would find him painting. Meanwhile, he was building a place to store his relics behind it.”

  Angelica looked doubtful. “You said you thought you saw a door. I don’t see a door anywhere.”

  It was Zahn’s turn to tease her a little. “Why, it’s right in front of you. After a while, you learn to recognize the marks around secret doors. This technology he used to hide it was built over half-a-century ago.” He blew along the dust covering the brick mortar. Brushing a little more away, he slid the pad of his finger along the stone, searching for the catch he knew was there. Snagging it, he activated the lever and stepped away. It was one thing to know how to spot the doors. It was another to know how they might react when triggered.

  Meanwhile, Angelica’s eyes were opening wide in wonder as the door revealed itself. The stonework parted, rolling inward on rails to unveil a whole new chamber cut off from the world for decades. “This is amazing! An actual secret door! He built this?”

  Zahn shrugged, uncertain. “Or he took advantage of a natural cave system that was already here. Might be why he chose the location for the studio. Hard to say. I’ll have to get deeper inside before I’ll know if it’s natural or man-made.” He pulled a half-dozen chem-sticks from his pocket. Cracking them, they started to emit a cheery yellow-green glow. He smiled. “Relics are amazing, but modern technology has its own charm.” He tossed them in, scattering them across the floor inside.

  It was enough light to see what they were getting into. The entry chamber was large, maybe the size of a corner coffee shop. The ceiling was a concave oval, soaring above and then falling toward what looked like the only exit: a tunnel on the far side. To the left and right, there were carved statues filling the space. Each of them was a life-like representation of a bear. Some standing in a threatening posture. Others on all four paws as if grazing. Others caught in a lumbering, walking stride. There were at least a dozen of them, though not all carved by the same sculptor.

  Zahn released the breath he’d been holding. “You weren’t wrong about how much he liked bears.”

  Angelica agreed, “At least we know we’re in the right spot.” She paused. “Hear that?”

  Zahn stepped a little closer to the entrance without going in, canting his head to listen. A soft series of musical notes were playing inside the chamber. They echoed off the acoustically perfect ceiling, adding an eerie quality like it was coming from everywhere. “I can’t place the instrument. Hollow, like an old harpsicord with an automatic scroll recording.”

  Angelica was about to comment when the music faded away. “Over so soon?” Then, thirty seconds later, the strains of music picked up again to fill the air. “Oh, that must have been the recording resetting!” She looked out into the gloomy space. “Can we go in? I’d love to hear the music in the center of the room.”

  With a careful nod, Zahn suggested, “Just watch where you put your feet. Floor pressure plates and trip-wires are relatively cheap and easy to make since ancient times.” He held up a hand to get her to pause. “Hold on, I need to get ready.”

  He reached into his pack and pulled out a large glove. The leather was old beyond measure. Originally, it might have been black, but it had faded into a charcoal grey so well-worn that its surface was smooth as butter to the touch. All along the surfaces, black thread had been stitched into the material to form runic symbols unlike anything seen in thousands of years.

  Angelica watched him tug it onto his left hand. “Not quite as bad as rhinestones, but that’s still an odd fashion statement.”

  Zahn chuckled, “Let’s just hope I won’t be needing it.”

  “Needing it? Does that mean…that’s a relic?”

  “Yes. It’s helped me make a name for myself. It’s quite powerful.”

  “I’ve never seen material like that. What’s it made of?”

  “Well, stories differ on the matter. Most claim it’s dragon. Could be a manticore, though.”

  Angelica’s eyes narrowed as if suspicious he was mocking her. “Very funny.”

  “Not trying to be.” He flashed her a grin. “I told you, nothing was going to convince you until you see it. But be ready. Things might get a lot weirder from here.” He ghosted out into the room, eyes darting left and right in search of dangers.

  Deciding it was better to follow him than stay, no matter how crazy he might be acting, Angelica trailed behind. She was even more fascinated by the bear sculptures up close. “These are huge. They must have cost thousands, even back then.”

  “Not to mention getting them down here. He wouldn’t want just anyone to know this was here. So, he either he struggled them down here all by himself, or maybe he had one or two trusted assistants.” Zahn had bee-lined for the exit from the room, wanting to see the next step.

  He reached the tunnel. There was an extra-wide staircase leading down. He bent to one knee, squinting at the empty space above the stairs from different angles. He let out a sigh. “Great. A freaking death trap.”

  Curious, Angelica appeared at his side. “What do you mean?”

  “Well, staircases as a whole are easy to trap. So many possibilities. But he’s gone the extra mile with this one. Watch.” Zahn picked an apple out of his pack and tossed it down the stairwell. Halfway down, it caught on an edge and was sliced in two.

  Angelica blinked in surprise. “What happened?”

  “There’s a glass or a crystal blade protruding from the wall. Whoever put it there angled it so we are seeing it edge-on. Walk toward it, and you could slice fingers off before you knew you were on it. Run toward it, and you could cripple yourself. Fall? That would cut you in half. Problem is, I can only see one so far. I’d bet there are more. And there’s nothing that says he couldn’t have other kinds of traps in there as back-ups. In fact, I’d bet he does. That way, you would be busy dodging those and end up falling onto the blades you never saw.”

  �
��That’s… mildly diabolical.”

  “What did I tell you about how jealously people guard their relics?” He sighed. “This is going to take a few nights. Sorry, Angie. I told you I might have some answers tonight. But I want to stay alive long enough to show you. I’ll have to map out what I can see, then spend a day or so trying to figure out how to work around these traps.”

  Angelica scrunched up her face as her brain crunched through the puzzle. “There has to be a key, doesn’t there? If this is Klein’s private retreat, he wouldn’t have to creep past all these traps every time he came in.”

  Zahn was impressed. “You’d be a natural at this.” He placed a soft kiss on her cheek.

  Her lips grew a warm smile, but then teased him, “Stop sweet-talking and just answer the question.”

  Deciding that tickling her next to a death machine might not be the smartest idea, Zahn resolved that such a fitting punishment could come later. For now, he said, “Short answer: you’re absolutely right. Long answer: whatever the key was, it is likely lost. I had his journal, remember? He didn’t mention anything like this. No riddles to solve. No underlying code to break. Nothing.”

  “So, it could be anything.”

  Zahn waffled a little. “Well, not anything. Even today when people know passwords are super-important, a lot of people choose ones that they will remember because it is important to them. Whatever it is, we would find the key by thinking like him. Zeroing in on what he would find amusing.”

  A silence fell between them as they pondered the riddle.

  Angelica’s face suddenly brightened with a smile. She pointed up at the ceiling, and lolled her head in time with the harpsicord music. Then, as it reached the end, she pursed her lips and whistled clear, sharp notes into the air. She had a talent for it; her own addition sounded more like birdsong than the strangled warble Zahn could make when he whistled. She hit the notes crisply and cleanly.

  Ahead of them, the stairwell leading down illuminated. A half-dozen glowing orbs on each side went from darkness into a brilliance equal to fluorescent bulbs in an office building. Every detail of the stonework became crystal clear. Under the added light, they watched as the glass blades retracted into the walls.