Blood Moon, page 27
part #1 of The Wizard's Journal Series
If the partner was here, I would probably have been attacked before reaching Moon, so chances are he’s hiding on a another floor. If not, he could be anywhere in the city.
I was banged up with an assortment of bruises, scrapes, and aching joints. Not too bad though considering I had two overweight fur balls smacking me around like a piñata. I could only hope that Moon’s last partner would not be as difficult to take down.
I started down the corridor to the stairway and heard someone or something running up the stairs. I stopped and pointed my staff toward the door.
“Here we go again,” I muttered, and then the door slammed opened.
It was Alura and Thyzil with their swords held up ready to slice more lycanthropes. I lowered my staff and noticed their swords were dripping with blood.
“Huh, have a visitor come your way?” I asked.
“One of those big doggy lawyers tried to leave without saying goodbye,” Thyzil said. “This is rude, yes? We taught doggy manners. Maybe, we taught it too well,” he said while holding up his bloodied claymore and laughing.”
Alura and Thyzil placed their arms under mine to help me down the stairs back to the 10th floor. Each step I took hurt a little bit more and I groaned from the pain.
“Wizard, maybe we train together soon, yes?” Thyzil asked. “Make you strong like me.”
Alura smiled and I agreed. It was good to be finally done with Moon and his furry pals, but the fight wasn’t yet over. Even so, we could take a breather and bask in the light of victory, at least for a while.
Once we made it to the 10th floor, Alura and Thyzil helped me over to a couch where I stretched out and closed my eyes.
“That’s it … we did it,” I said. “What I need now is a vacation. Someplace with warm beaches and no animals, especially no dogs, or anything that has fur.”
Alura and Thyzil laughed. “Yea, good luck with that dear brother. Sarila has already called us back to Keob for a briefing.”
“Not all bad wizard. You will see Melony,” Thyzil said.
I opened my eyes and smiled showing obvious satisfaction. Melony ... now she was something to look forward to and much better than any beach.
The three of us relaxed while Lieutenant Mack and his men finished packing up and left the building.
“Thyzil, did you take the Zeshtune warriors back to Keob,” I asked.
“Yes, far away from this dark place,” he said, his voice somber and drawn out.
“And the arena … is it gone?”
Thyzil made a circle with his hands and said, “Boom.”
The elevator leading down to the arena was filled in with rock, but the building was still here, and so were we.
“What about the building?” I asked.
“Lieutenant Mack’s team is placing C-4 charges around the building and will set them off as soon as we leave,” Alura said.
I was curious how someone could destroy an entire building without getting permission and permits from local authorities, but remembered how resourceful Sarila is for getting things done. For all I know, the mayor and building inspector might be Zeshtunians. So long as this place crumbles to the ground, after we leave of course, I’ll be a happy wizard.
Lieutenant Mack’s radioed to Alura’s com-link that his them had exited the building and the C-4 would detonate in 10 minutes. Oh boy, another 10-minute death window.
Thyzil cleared a small area away of furniture so I could draw a pentagram. When I was finished, we stepped into the center of it and I crushed a blue magic coin under my foot. We nodded to each other and I said, “Transmati Keob.”
The Batcave team was smiling and bowed their heads as a sign of respect when we appeared in front of them.
“Well done Zeshtunians,” Sarila said.
I looked around for Melony, but she wasn’t there. Sarila picked up on this, of course, and her smile widened.
“Wizard, the white witch is safe and you will see her soon,” she said while inspecting my injuries, and then introduced me to an assistant. “This is Balya, one of our top medical residents who will see to your injuries.”
It was for the best that Melony wasn’t here to greet me given my the way I looked. I’d rather wash up first, get a few minutes rest, and change my battle worn wolf stink clothes to look presentable.
I smiled. “Okay Balya, perhaps a Band-Aid or two, but no needles.”
Balya bowed her head slightly and motioned with her hand to walk into the medical room. Alura made an exaggerated smile while blowing a kiss and wiggling her fingers goodbye thinking, but not saying, ha ha ha. Thyzil was also smiling and pretended to inject needles in his arm as he followed Alura to my apartment.
“Hey you two, better not drink all my beer. I keep an accurate inventory.”
“Don’t worry wizard,” Balya said. “We have plenty of your favorite beer in storage.”
“You do? Good to know,” I said. “Balya, why does everyone except Alura always call me wizard instead of Azul?”
“It is what you are. Wizard is a title of high respect and honor. Your sister, immediate family, and the Zeshtune Elders are permitted to address you informally by your birth name.”
Makes sense, I guess.
After having a closer look at my injuries, Balya had me stand with a towel around my waste in what looked like a round shower tube. I expected water to come raining down on me, but instead, the tube flooded with white light and rushing air. As first it was uncomfortable, but after a couple of minutes, it felt refreshing as if I was actually taking a hot shower. All too soon the high-tech experience ended and Balya checked me over with a handheld scanner.
“You are healed wizard,” she said.
I checked my face in a mirror and was surprised to not see any bruises or cuts. Even the cuts on my hands and arms were gone, and best of all, I didn’t feel any aches or pain.
“Not bad. I have to get me one of these healing showers installed back in my Manhattan apartment. Thanks for putting me back together Balya.”
“You are very welcome wizard.”
I headed to my apartment expecting to see Alura and Thyzil eating pizza and drinking my beer. To my surprise, Sally was the only one there to greet me.
“Hey Sally, what have you been up to old girl?” I asked and hugged her, trying to dodge her slobbering kisses.
I guessed where Alura and Thyzil were when I looked over to Alura’s closed bedroom door. A couple of empty beer cans were on the coffee table. Another can was crushed and placed in the middle of my favorite chair.
What a show off. Thyzil was challenging me again to another stupid can smashing macho game. Really? Give me a break.
I grabbed a cold beer out of the refrigerator and relaxed in my chair to clear my mind. I closed my eyes and smiled. It’s great to be back on Keob where there are monsters trying to eat me. I must have fallen asleep, because when I opened my eyes, my beer was unopened and had become warm.
Holy cow … it was 10 AM. I slept for five hours, which was a three day record.
I suppose I needed the rest after what I’ve been through, but that was a real knockout sleep. After grabbing a fresh cold beer from the fridge, Sally and I shared eating and a bag of chips.
“Nothing like cold beer and junk food to wash away sleep depravation,” I said and scratched Sally behind her ears.
Seconds later someone knocked on the door leading to the Batcave. Odd, I thought since everyone usually walks in uninvited. Sally jumped up and went to the door wagging her tail, which is always a good sign. I opened the door and someone dressed in a full white hooded robe covering their face stood motionless.
“Hello, what can I do for you on this fine day?” I asked.
The hooded figure lifted its head up and pulled the hood back – it was Melony. My mouth dropped in surprise.
“Melony,” I said excitedly.
Melony’s eyes sparkled and she wrapped her arms around me.
“Daniel, I missed you so badly.”
“Me too. I mean I missed you.”
“Really? Did you really miss me?” she asked, smiling and hugging me tighter.
I tried to answer her, but it was as if no air was inside me to make a sound. Her eyes were so beautiful I became unable to speak and all I could do was kiss her for what was the longest kiss I had ever experienced. When it was over, she opened her eyes and placed her head on my chest with her arms still tightly wrapped around my neck.
“I have so much to tell you Daniel.”
I bet. It’s not everyday a dark mist tries to kill you, not to mention going to hidden planet and finding out that you’re a witch.
I took Melony’s hand and we went the couch to sit and talk. I had things to tell her too, but after that kiss, half of those things had already been communicated. Melony was simply more beautiful than I remembered. There was something different though and she had a brighter glow about her. I narrowed my eyes and saw a healthy and much larger than usual aura around her that produced streams of white light.
“Daniel, I’m a witch. Not a bad one, a good one.”
“I know Melony. How do you feel about being a white witch?”
She made a huge smile. “Wonderful. I feel simply wonderful Daniel. I always felt different in some way, as though I didn’t belong in a world of automobiles, technology, and skyscrapers. I suppose that’s why I liked working at Magical Herbs so much and being surrounding by herbs and books.”
Melony arched her eyebrow and said, “And you’re a wizard, aren’t you Daniel?”
“Yea, about that …”
Melony grabbed my hand pulling me up from the couch before I could finish the sentence.
“Latter Daniel, you can tell me all about being a wizard later. I have something special planned.”
Alura and Thyzil conveniently walked out of Alura’s bedroom smiling.
“Melony, I’m so happy to see you,” Alura said as Melony rushed over to hug her and Thyzil.
“I’m so happy to see you both too.”
“Little butterfly, you hug like Zeshtune warrior. How you get so strong?” Thyzil asked.
“Never as strong as you Thyzil. That will never happen,” Melony said.
“Perhaps not little butterfly, but who knows. Maybe Zeshtune children will sing songs about you too someday.”
“Unlikely,” Melony said laughing.
Alura gave me her coy look. “Well, I’m sure you too have a lot of catching up to do, so don’t let us stop you.”
Melony took my hand and pulled me toward the Batcave.
“Yes, I have a wonderful surprise for Daniel.”
Alura wiggled her fingers up and down and said, “Bye now. You two have fun.”
Melony led me to the Batcave pentagram where there was a picnic basket, blanket, two glasses, and a bottle of wine. She began swinging our hands gently back and forth smiling while waiting for my reaction.
“Are we going somewhere?” I asked.
Melony laughed and pulled me into the pentagram as Sarila approached.
“Good day wizard. I trust you have rested well.”
“Well enough I suppose.”
Sarila lifted her hand and blew a powdery substance at us and said, “Transmati Galbria,” causing blue-white light to rush from the pentagram to the Batcave ceiling. In a blink of an eye, Melony and I were someplace else very different from Keob or Earth.
I could not believe what I was seeing. The sky was yellow, orange, red, and crimson along the horizon with deep cobalt blue high above. There were mountains and valleys with meadows, flowers, and fruit tress everywhere I could see. A gentle breeze carried the sweet fragrance of lavender while beautiful birds of all colors sang in the tress and flew above us. Deer, goats, bears and other animals walked around barely noticing us as the warm sun shimmered on a lake below and a nearby stream.
“What is this place?” I asked, mesmerized as I gazed into the sky.
“It’s Galbria, my home,” Melony said.
“Your home?”
“Well, it’s my new home. Like your home on Keob.”
“Is this place on Keob?”
“No Daniel, it is not on Keob,” she said, pointing her finger at a large disk in the sky. “That’s Keob.”
I looked to where Melony was pointing and saw a cream colored circle half set along the western horizon.
“Why does Keob look so big?”
Melony explained that Galbria is the smaller of two moons orbiting Keob. She told me her kind made all the nature here from what was once a lifeless rock. The Sisters of Galbria, as she calls her kind, has maintained this moon for thousands of years and live here in peace with nature.
The entire population of Melony’s coven totaled only 76 white witches, including her. Most have mates, who are lifelong companions, but only the coven could live on Galbria permanently. Melony also told me that companions can visit as often as they liked.
Chapter 25
“Does being a man on Galbria mean one of those bears might eat me?” I asked.
Melony laughed. “Of course not, you are perfectly safe here Daniel. My sister’s companions visit here often, and not one has ever been eaten by a bear. Everything here is part of nature and lives in peace.”
Good to know, but I couldn’t help feeling like I was walking in an open zoo.
“Come Daniel, I want to show you something.”
Melony kneeled down and placed her hand on a patch of green grass.
“Watch this Daniel.”
She closed her eyes and small white flowers spouted up from the grass all around us. When she opened her eyes, she could barely control her excitement and started laughing as she jumped into my arms.
“Wow, that’s pretty cool,” I said. “You learned how to do this in a couple of days?”
“Over a week in Earth time. Isn’t it wonderful?”
“Yes, it sure is. It’s wonderful and very beautiful.”
Melony spun in circles with her hand stretched out.
“I knew you would love this place Daniel. I couldn’t wait to show you how beautiful Galbria is. It’s truly a magical place.”
Melony jumped into my arms again and gave me another long kiss, weakening my knees as usual, and then picked up the picnic basket and began pulling my arm.
“Come with me Daniel. I have a very special place for us to picnic.”
We walked down a path under branches of willow trees to a meadow next to a pond and waterfall. Swans and ducks were wadding up and down the shoreline without a care in the world, or moon in this case. The waterfall poured into the pond from a granite cliff 100 feet high and set the stage for a truly majestic view.
Melony spread out a red and white checkered blanket and began organizing plates, glasses and containers of food all the while smiling and telling me about Galbria. She was always cheerful, more so than anyone I ever met, and had recovered remarkably well from the horrible night when I last saw her. Watching her now so happy and full of life, well, she looked as perfect as nature itself. The nightmarish reality we faced back on Earth had become a distant memory.
We finished our lunch as it was beginning to get dark. The setting sun reflected off Keob providing a twilight ambient atmosphere – I wished this day would never end. Melony and I were lying on our backs looking up at the sky, and a few moments later, we found ourselves in a romantic embrace.
The strangest thing then happened. Flowers began blooming all around us and the branches of the willow trees swayed back and forth even though the air was still. I didn’t want any of it to end, but it did when my phone buzzed telling me I had a text. I looked at Melony and pouted. She laughed and so did I as we sat up to read the message.
“I have to go Melony. Sarila says Alura and Thyzil are waiting so we can be briefed on a new problem.”
Melony got up and started packing things up.
“Okay Daniel, but you must come back to me very soon,” she said with a big smile, then wagged her finger at me to emphasize a note of seriousness. “Wizard or not, I won’t take kindly to your absence if too much time passes.”
Sarila had placed a blue coin in the lunch basket to use for my transporting back to Keob. I placed the coin in the center of the pentagram and Melony kissed me goodbye.
“Remember Daniel, for every one day on Earth, four days pass here. Please come back to me soon.”
“I’ll be back soon Melony. I promise.”
I wonder if she knows that Daniel isn’t my real name.
“Melony, you should know my real name is Azul.”
Melony put her hands on her hips and tilted her head.
“I know wizard, but I like Daniel better.”
I crushed the coin and said, “Transmati Keob,” and was transported back to Keob.
“Welcome back lover,” Alura said.
Thyzil had his eyebrows raised and was rubbing his chin hiding a smile. Sarila made no effort to hide her smile and Alura was the worst of the three.
“Did we interrupt anything important dear brother?” Alura asked in an attempt to embarrass me, which worked because I felt flush and was sure my face turned red.
“Ha ha, very funny. If you three are going to stand around and make jokes all day, I’m going back to Galbria.”
“Very well wizard,” Sarila said. “Let us begin.”
Sarila nodded at one of her assistants who then placed a blue crystal into an opening on a console. The crystal lit up and a hologram of our sun and planets appeared above our heads. There were more suns and planets outside our solar system as well as asteroids and a host of other objects moving in a circular pattern like clockwork. It was quite beautiful to see the Earth in relationship to other galaxies.
Sarila nodded again and her assistant turned the crystal more which made the hologram separate into nine squares having various Mayan symbols appeared along the edges.
“I’ve seen this before at the Gate of the gods,” I said. “In fact, I have this same map stored in ancient tubes at my apartment.”
“Yes wizard, you made the map a very long time ago, about 25,000 years ago to be more precise,” Sarila said.
“I made it?”
“Yes, you did so to help design the technology you are now looking at. The map was your blueprint. Don’t worry wizard, in the centuries to come your human mind will adjust and remember how to perform the same complex mathematics and physics as before.”
