Blood Moon, page 17
part #1 of The Wizard's Journal Series
A few seconds later, I was on the ground with Lupzarro on top of me trashing away with his claws. My eyes widened in surprise, not because he wanted to slice me apart with his six inch claws, but because he was not really on top of me. He was a couple of inches away on top of a transparent green shield that protected my body. Sparks shot out from the shield each time Lupzarro’s claws struck. The shield was my defense magic kicking in, automatically, and it was keeping me alive.
Both my ring and necklace amulets were glowing and heating up rapidly. My strength was draining, so I reached for a green magic coin, but my wizard bag was no longer strapped to my belt. Along with my staff, my wizard bag was on the subway floor out of reach. The strap must have broken when Lupzarro hit me from behind.
I thought for a moment to use my amulet ring to cast a spell, but remembered that wasn’t an option. Magic could not be used while my shield was active. I’d have to drop it, and even then using magic might only squish me like a bug at such a close range. Not that it mattered much either way because my shield was beginning to close in on me with each strike Lupzarro made. He kept trashing his claws wildly while staring into my eyes with a very hungry look.
Lupzarro’s might actually win the fight. I looked helplessly over to Alura who was still motionless. Is she still alive? I never told her how much she meant to me, and now may never get the chance.
Bang, bang, bang. I heard gunfire and saw muzzle flashes coming from the dark tunnel. Lupzarro jumped up facing the gun fire and stretched his head in the air howling. This time his howl sounded like he was in pain as bullets exited his back and struck a nearby wall. Streaks of liquid silver dripped out of the bullet holes is his chest surrounded by trails of smoke. Lupzarro gave me another look with pure hatred eyes in his eyes, and then disappeared down the tunnel to escape more gunfire.
Five armed men wearing special force type military outfits with AK-47s ran past me to chase Lupzarro. Their helmets had white letters painted across the brim: KEOB. They were our guys sent by Sarila. A little late, but late is always better than never. I managed to stand up as my defense shield flickered and died out.
“Alura,” I shouted and ran to her, kneeling at her side and putting her head on my lap. “Alura … Alura,” I said with tears in my eyes, as her eyes slowly opened and a small smile formed.
“Hey there blue eyes,” she said.
I smiled and brushed my hand across her check. Alura’s eyes then widened in fear as another growl came from behind me – it was Lupzarro – he doubled back. His growl startled me and I fell next to Alura. Unfortunately, I did not think to get my staff and wizard bag before rushing to Alura, so magic was not an option and Lupzarro knew it. He raised one arm up slowly to let us know we were about to become his dinner. Just as his arm got above his head ready to strike, a blue-white light stuck out from Lupzarro’s chest. Lupzarro howled in horrible agony, dropped his arm to his side, and looked at the light coming out of his chest. He then looked once more at me, but this time he was dying and the bright yellow eyes dimmed into a dull dark grey as life left his body.
Lupzarro was dead, but he didn’t fall to the ground. He went limp and just hung in the air until being tossed onto the middle of the subway tracks and engulfed into flames. Alura and I looked up and saw a tall muscular built man wearing a metal breastplate. His was holding a large claymore sword that glowed with blue-white light and dripped with blood. It was Thyzil, as he looked during the great battle on Zeshtune, but much younger. The skinny worn out man Alura and I found in the river at OZ was no more and now stood seven-feet tall with broad shoulders and arms that could crush a Volkswagen. His long black hair was pulled back with a leather headband and he had a friendly smile.
“Wizard, good thing for you I was nearby again, yes?”
I grabbed Thyzil’s arm and he pulled me to my feet.
“Now, where have I heard that before?” I asked. “Yes dear friend, I am very glad you were nearby.”
Thyzil roared in laughter while bending down on his knee next to Alura.
“Thyzil,” Alura said in a soft breath and smiled. “It’s you. You completed recognition.”
“Yes my princess, and I once again saved the day.”
The three of us began to laugh as Thyzil helped Alura to her feet. Her legs gave out and she almost fell, but Thyzil picked her up like a baby into his arms.
“Not this times my princess, not this time. I will never let you go,” Thyzil said and he gently kissed her cheek.
Alura smiled as she wrapped her arms tightly around Thyzil’s neck and rested her head on his shoulder.
“Don’t worry wizard. My princess will be fine. I have seen many battles and know when someone is badly hurt. She has healing magic in her. Soon, she we be healed and killing more big doggies.”
The five military men that chased Lupzarro down the tunnel returned and looked over at the pile of smoldering ashes on the tracks. One of the soldiers then looked at Thyzil and made a slight grin.
“Sir, all quarters have been secured. No enemy present,” the soldier said.
“A good battle and good exercise, yes?” Thyzil asked, and the soldier smiled, then ordered his men to return to base.
Thyzil walked over to my staff and wizard bag and tossed both to me using the toe of his boot.
“See wizard … no hands.”
“Showoff,” I said and Thyzil let out another boisterous laugh while Alura squeezed him tighter.
I took out the chalk from my wizard bag and drew a pentagram big enough for all three of us to stand inside on the platform floor. I dropped a blue coin on the floor and crushed it, then placed my hand on Thyzil’s shoulder and said, “Transmati Keob.” The pentagram lit up with a wall of blue-white light rising to and pouring across the ceiling above. Seconds later we were back at Keob facing a smiling Sarila.
“Well done wizard,” Sarila said. “I see by your blue eyes that recognition is complete for you as well.”
“Yes wizard, you are officially Zeshtunian,” Thyzil said, then slapped me on my back, nearly knocking me to the ground. “Come my friend, first beer is on me. Of course, it is your beer, so maybe on you, yes?”
It’s good to be back on Keob. It’s better yet to have a sister and old friend with me, who by the way are the best wolf butt kickers ever.
This night was for celebration. Even Sarila and her lab assistants joined in as we ate pizzas and opened a keg of beer. We even summoned Kyiel to join us, even though he just stood there watching us like a party pooper.
“To the victor go the spoils,” Thyzil said and raised his mug of beer.
“Here, here,” Alura replied, still very much banged up, but healing nicely.
It was the best night of my entire life. I felt love, friendship, and a real sense of belonging to something bigger than myself. We were all safe now and Lupzarro was dead. While many more bad guys were out there waiting for us to stomp them, tonight was for us.
It’s amazing that Alura and Thyzil’s love stayed alive after all these millenniums. If that by itself was not enough, I gained a family, which until now was not complete. Life is good.
Chapter 16
Keob felt like a real home and things were beginning to make sense to me, at least until the bedroom alarm went off. Seconds later my magic window was shinning bright and the roster was back with his annoying wakeup crow. I threw my pillow at him and he flew away, shooting feathers into my room.
Interesting … a hologram roster afraid of pillow fights. Good to know.
My memory had improved significantly, but I was drawing blanks in about why a roster alarm clock was ever created. I must have had too much to drink when coming up with this crazy idea. Still, I have to admit the annoying thing did wake me more quickly than other traditional types of alarms.
I entered the living area and was surprised to see everything in immaculate order. While we didn’t have a wild party last night, the place did get messy with empty pizza crust and spilled beer. Who cares, at least it’s clean. I decided to cook some breakfast as Alura and Thyzil were coming out of her bedroom.
“Are we having company for breakfast?” I asked.
Alura rolled her eyes. “If you’re cooking, we’re eating.”
I was about to make another wise crack when my phone rang.
“Mr. Zane, I suppose congratulations are in order.”
“Moony, is that you buddy? Tell me where you are so I can come there and kick your furry butt.”
I put my phone of speaker so Alura and Thyzil could hear the conversation.
“Mr. Zane, there is no need for a personal vendetta. After all, I only provide legal representation to powerful individuals. I have no interest in increasing hostility between us.”
“It’s a little late for that now fur ball. You may not have killed those people with Lupzarro, but you helped nonetheless. In my eyes you’re just as guilty, and the next time I see you, I’m going to turn you into dust.”
“As you wish Mr. Zane, however, there is something you should know. My new client wishes for me to express his curiosity about your activities in the city. He believes it would be in everyone’s best interest for you to leave before other people get hurt, such as loved ones or other innocent people.”
“More threats, huh Moony? It didn’t work out so well for you last time, nor did it for your pack leader Lupzarro who is now a pile of burnt out ashes in a city subway.”
I must have struck a nerve because there was a long pause, and then Moon surprised me.
“Mr. Zane, or should I call you Azul?”
Moon knew my real name. How does he know my name?
“How about not calling me at all. There are better things for me to do than have meaningless conversations with a soon to be dusted flea bag.”
“I will come to the point Mr. Zane. My client has informed me that you both last saw each other a very long time ago, about 25,000 years to be precise. He tells me it was a glorious time in those days among the Mayans and other lost civilizations.”
“Cut to the chase fur ball.”
“My client told me you would recognize his name. Those of us in my pack call him by his ancient name Ah Chuy Kak. He hopes not to see you anytime soon, but should things work out differently … well, I think you will find the outcome quite different from what you experienced last evening. Good day Mr. Zane.”
Ah Chuy Kak was the Mayan title for god of war. I knew this name from Manco’s archeological research in Peru, but that was it. Recognition or not, I don’t remember anything about meeting Ah Chuy Kak.
Legends say Ah Chuy Kak was a bloodthirsty killer with supernatural powers who preyed on innocents. Some believe he was responsible for destroying the entire Mayan civilization. No one knows much about his reign of terror because the Mayans vanished without leaving a trace of what caused their disappearance. If Ah Chuy Kak has been hanging around on Earth for 25,000 years, one could safely assume he has had a hand in large scale enterprises involving wars and misery.
“Why would Ah Chuy Kak stay behind while his Darkzon superiors left Earth long ago?” I asked Alura.
“We know some underlords among the Darkzon stayed behind after the last battle on Earth, but no one has heard anything from them all these years. If Moon is telling the truth about Ah Chuy Kak, then the rules of this game have changed.”
Alura looked concerned, and given her fighting skills, if she was concerned about a monster, so was I.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“To remain secretly in the dark for so long means Ah Chuy Kak has risen into power among the nations of Earth. It will be difficult to find him, and even more difficult to destroy him if found.”
“That may explain all the corrupt politicians and Wall Street bankers,” I said in a sarcastic tone.
“No, that would be too obvious. These monsters hide in the dark out of view from people. Politicians and businessmen may be their puppets, but their masters operate in the shadows. They are secretive and powerful enough to destroy entire nations without ever leaving their hidden chambers.”
“Great, now I have to worry about beings that can destroy entire nations. Doesn’t matter, I’m still going to turn Moony into dust no matter how many bad guys are out there.”
Alura smiled. “Of course you are dear brother, and I’m going to help.”
Thyzil took a bite out of an apple and said, “Me too.”
I was anxious to get back to Manhattan and take care of Sally, who was probably hungry and needed a walk. I excused myself and went to my bedroom for my wizard bag and staff. The bed was gone from inside the pentagram and did not appear when I stepped inside the circle. Must be on a timer. I took a blue magic coin from the wizard bag and twisted it under my foot saying, “Transmati domas.” Moments later I was back in my Manhattan apartment lab.
When I entered the living room, Sally pushed me to the floor and slobbered all over my face. It reminded me of Dino on the Flintstones cartoon tackling Fred when he came home from work.
“Yaba-daba-do to you too,” I said. “Come on, give me a break Sally. Okay, okay, I missed you too.”
Sally ran to the door and pulled her leash off the wall peg with her teeth. This routine was showing some stress on her lease, judging by all the teeth marks, but hey, no big deal. If new leashes had to be purchased occasionally, it’s worth every penny because she never left me guessing when nature was calling.
“Okay you win. Let’s go for a walk.”
My wards rearmed as I locked the apartment door behind us. It was nice day with a cloudless blue sky and lots of sun. Best of all, the full moon cycle had completed. Frankly, I was all wolfed out and needed a break from the flea bags.
Sally walked over to her favorite light pole, relived herself, and then headed right back to the apartment door. She must be hungry. I put my key into the front door lock and heard a caw. Great ... just when things were looking up, the creepy watcher bird was back and sitting on a sign across the street. For a moment, I was tempted to extend one of my fingers, but thought doing so might only encourage the nasty hell pet. Sally looked at the bird and growled.
“Come on girl, the day is too nice to let that dirty bird annoy us,” I said, then scowled at the bird as we entered the apartment.
“Bet you’re hungry, huh girl?”
Sally woofed, then sat next to the kitchen table watching me cook up twice the normal size breakfast of eggs, beacon, and toast. I tossed a few sausage links into the frying pan as a treat.
The food couldn’t cook fast enough for us, and once it was ready, we both ate like it was our last meal. A few minutes latter, I stretched out on my couch and Sally flopped down next to the fireplace. We both let out a satisfying exhale.
I got a little antsy after awhile and decided to do some shopping – maybe even for a new car – but first wanted to do a special errand. I left Sally in the apartment and waived down a cab to take me to the motor vehicle department. It occurred to me that vanity license plates would make excellent gifts, especially if they reflected the recipient’s personality. Alura’s plate read: BAK-OFF to reflect her heroine fighting skills. Thyzil’s plate read: WAR-MAN for obvious reasons. For me, I got one to help motivate my interest in buying my own car – it read: MAGIC.
Moon got the best plate of all. I wrapped his up after placing a sticky note inside with the words ‘very soon fur ball’ written on it. What I wouldn’t give to see his face when he opens the package. Instead of BITE-ME as I first thought when watching him drive off in his Mercedes, his vanity plate gift read: DUST-ME. A fitting plate that predicted his future.
On my way home, I got to thinking about what it would be like being stuck inside a car during city business hours. Traffic jams in Manhattan are as close as it gets to being stuck in a Wal-Mart cashier line during the holiday shopping season. Hmm … perhaps owning a car could wait for the time being. I decided that I would hang my vanity plate on the apartment wall and continue using city transportation, at least the next few months. After all, being able to snooze while someone else was driving is a big plus.
Sally was snoozing away herself when I returned home, but did wag her tail a little. She was doing well as a New Yorker and needed no adjustment period. Her life for the most part consisted of going for walks, sleeping, and eating. By far, eating was her favorite thing to do and she made no qualms about it. Her appetite was extraordinary.
After eating her own food, Sally always focused her attention on my breakfast, lunch, dinner, or anything in between. She doesn’t beg for food – she demands it – and uses annoyance strategies, such as pushing her head into my arm when I raised a fork to my mouth. Not hard enough to poke out my eye, but enough to throw food from the fork onto the floor.
I planned ahead today for lunch and fed Sally first thinking it might help to solve the problem – it didn’t. By the time I got my own lunch to the kitchen table, Sally had already finished hers and was waiting for a sympathy snack.
“Darn it Sally, just because you wolfed down your food doesn’t give you a right to have mine.”
Sally titled her head and gave a lazy look pretending not to understand. I did my best to eat in peace, but she managed to nudge a few pieces of food to the floor. Some things just never change.
Not much time passed before I got to thinking about Moon and his new client Ah Chuy Kak. I wanted to teleconference with Manco, who knows everything about Mayan lore, but Alura warned me not to contact anyone from my past. I couldn’t take the chance of putting Manco or his family in danger under any circumstances.
Kyiel or Yochi were the obvious choices because they knew everything about my past. I figured I’d be checking in with them about Ah Chuy Kak sooner or later, but for now was feeling nostalgic about my old profession. Instead of taking the easy ‘tell me all about Ah Chuy Kak’ tutoring lesson, I decided to spend some time at the New York City Library.
Not being in any particular hurry, I rode a bus to the Library and was looking forward to spending quality time with what use to be a big part of my life – books, and lots of them. After hauling as many books as I could carry to an obscure corner of the library, I spent several hours pouring over Mayan lore and various legends and myths about ancient deities. Surprisingly, there wasn’t much information about Ah Chuy Kak other than short descriptions and a few drawings. The one drawing that caught my attention showed Itzam-Yeh sitting on a throne with several beings kneeling at his footstool.
