by Lola StVil
“Yeah, once with my dad.”
“Good, think about the French Quarter. Think about the sights and sounds and the energy around the Quarter. Place your hand on the stone and focus on that.” I do as he says.
The world around us swirls and swirls into a blur of colors. Just when I’m about to throw up, everything stops spinning. We are now on Bourbon Street, the heart of the French Quarter. Colorful French-inspired, two-level homes with balconies surround us. There’s jazz music coming out of the nearby club, and the street is flooded with drunken, happy tourists wearing beads and party hats.
“Good job, Seeker. Let’s get him inside my office,” Pest says. I help him drag Kane’s body down an alley and through the back door of a small two-level home. It’s a cozy home with dark furniture with ancient relics throughout. We take him into the back room, where a makeshift exam room has been set up. We place Kane on the table, and Pest quickly gathers various tonics from around the room.
“What is this place?” I ask.
“I’m a doctor, and this used to be a clinic many years ago. I closed it down so I could devote my life to studying the complex anatomy and culture of the various species in the Shadow world. I’ve treated a lot of Shadows here,” he says as he tends to Kane’s wounds. It takes him over an hour, but he’s finally able to get Kane to stop bleeding.
“Can you wake him up?” I ask.
“No, he has to do it on his own. The tonic that I have given him will take time to kill off the poison in the werewolf bite. If it works, Kane should wake up shortly,” he says.
“If? You mean you don’t know if we got to him in time?”
“We stopped the bleeding, but Santos werewolves’ bites are particularly toxic. All we can do now is wait and hope we arrived in time,” Pest says as he looks over his patient. I start biting my nails and pacing up and down the sterile room.
“Maybe you should have some tea while we wait,” Pest suggests.
“I’m fine,” I lie.
“Come on, let’s go,” Pest says, gently placing a hand on my shoulder. I look over at Kane one last time and walk out of the room with the doctor. He heads towards the front of the house. I sit on the sofa and focus my attention on the room we just walked out of.
“There’s nothing we can do right now,” he assures me.
“I know…”
He makes me sit on the sofa and wait for him to come back with a tray of tea. I’d much rather have coffee: black and strong. But I don’t want to be rude, so I agree to the tea. Actually it doesn’t matter what he brings me to drink. I’m too exhausted to care. I didn’t realize how tired I was until I sat down. But I don’t want to go to sleep until Kane wakes up.
Maybe I can close my eyes for a few minutes…
***
I hear someone calling my name repeatedly as they tap on my shoulder—it’s Sadie. I look around and spot the pot of tea on the table by the sofa.
“Pest got you the tea, but you fell asleep when he came to give it to you. So, he left you alone and went back to look in on Kane,” Sadie explains.
“Is Kane awake? Is he okay?” I ask, bolting from the chair.
“There’s been no change,” Sadie assures me.
“I’m so glad to see you,” I reply as I hug her. She embraces me and tells me I was crazy to worry about her.
“Of course I’m alright.”
“But the wolves…”
“It’s fine, Atlas. It takes a lot more than that to kill a witch like me,” she vows.
“Sadie, Kane got hurt trying to protect me. I should have used the powers you gave me to save him but I didn’t and now… I’m the worst Seeker that ever lived! I have powers and I don’t even know how to use them,” I reply.
“Not using them was wise. You need to be trained. You could have hurt Kane or yourself. Don’t worry; I have added more help. In addition to the Maitoe, the five angels sent to protect you, I have also called upon a witch to train you.”
“Sadie, can you help Kane?”
“There’s nothing I can do. Pest has given Kane the best care possible. Now it’s a waiting game. Besides, he isn’t the one I’m here to help. I came to take you to the Hall of Grace.”
“No, I’m not leaving Kane. He risked his life for me.”
“He did what he needed to do in order to get the spell he’s after. Try not to mistake obligation for affection.”
“What? I’m not doing that. I don’t feel…he doesn’t…it’s not like that, Sadie,” I insist. She frowns but doesn’t say anything.
“I can’t leave until I know he’s okay,” I reply.
“I figured that. That’s why the Maitoe are coming to you.”
“The angels are coming here?” I ask.
“Yes. Since you’ve officially agreed to be the Seeker, their duty to protect you starts now. We have selected the place where all your quest information will be given—the bookshop. An unmistakable sign will point you to the object you and the Maitoe team need to find. They will help you find the object. But while you research and find the best possible route to getting the first item, you will also be learning the art of witchcraft. That way, you can handle yourself in the Shadow world,” Sadie says.
“That’s fine, but everything will have to fit in with school. I know it’s crazy, but it meant so much to my mom that I get into college. And I know that at the end of this quest I won’t be around, but while I’m still alive, I can’t bail on her dream for me. I have to graduate,” I reply.
“Yes, but how will that be possible with no money?” she asks.
“You know about that?”
“Your father is predicable. Weak. It was only a matter of time before he went back to his old ways. That is why I insisted your mom set aside some money in a safety deposit box that he knows nothing about. There’s over one hundred thousand dollars in there.”
“No way! My mom didn’t have that kind of money.”
“She may have found a few trinkets here and there that may have been worth a good amount,” Sadie says with a sly smile.
“Sadie, did you give her money?”
“No! I just made it easier for her to find lost treasure with a spell or two. The point is, school is still on the agenda.”
“You don’t know how much this means to me! Thankyouthankyouthankyou,” I shout.
“And there’s one more thing. I know how you feel about New York City. You and your mom have so many memories there; I didn’t want to take it away from you and seal you up in the Hall of Grace. It’s a big drafty castle and not a Starbucks in sight. So, the Alliance arranged for you and the team to live in a loft near the bookshop.”
“That’s amazing but…I don’t want any charity. I can manage, really I can,” I reply.
“Nonsense, you are giving up so much, it’s the least the Alliance can do.”
“Thank you, Sadie, for everything.”
“We’re family. Always,” she says.
“Wait, what about my dad?”
“I took care of him. I called and told him you are in an advanced program to get you ready for college. And that you would be moving in with kids from the same program. He was so relieved to know that your chances at a good education weren’t completely gone. Now, I know you don’t want to leave Kane, but he’s not the one who is being hunted. So, I will have the team meet you here, and when they get here, you will go with them to your new house. Is that clear?” she asks.
“Yeah, okay.”
“Are you coming with us?” I ask.
“I have a lot to do to make sure you’re protected. Lots of favors to call in. Promise me you will go with the Maitoe.”
“I promise, just as soon as Kane wakes up.”
***
When Sadie leaves, Pest enters the room with a large mug of coffee. He tells me he’s more of a “coffee bean” guy and that he hates “Starbucks”.
“I’ll try not to hold that against you,” I reply as I take the coffee and take a long sip.
&nbs
p; “It’s just the way I like it, thank you.”
“Did you know that there’s a group of scientists who are on the verge of proving that coffee beans can combat the effects of dementia?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“I can see by your eyes, I’m boring you. Never mind about the coffee. How did you and Kane end up…”
“We were headed for the Hall of Grace and we ran into the Santos werewolves,” I reply, biting down hard on my cuticle.
“Sadie isn’t easy to kill. I’m sure she’s fine,” he says.
“You know her very well?”
“Everyone in the Shadow world knows Sadie. I know her better than most…” he says, sounding lost in thought.
“How do you know Kane?” I ask.
“I got into a little trouble with very unforgiving fairies. He helped me in exchange for medical care.”
“Fairies?” I reply.
“Yes, nasty bunch. They make all Shadows look bad,” he says.
“Aren’t they all bad? I mean, for the most part?”
“No, not at all. ‘Shadow’ is a general term; like humans. There are some that are good and some that are not so good,” he says. He then leans in closer and begins to talk as if he’s in front of a small class, lecturing.
“You have to think of it like this, Atlas: There are witches, warlocks, angels, demons, everything you’ve read about in fantasy books. But while there are all kinds of magical beings, they generally belong to one of two political parties. Some are ‘Arks,’ which means they believe in Arken’s dream of a world without humans. And others are ‘Ny,’ meaning they still hold out hope for humanity and thus side with Nyten.”
“So the Shadows who are ‘Arks’ want to end us humans?” I ask.
“Yes. Some think we humans have outlived our usefulness. And some think we should die because we have forced them to live in hiding. It’s a raging debate. But in the end, everything will hinge on the final quest.”
“Yeah, so I heard,” I mumble, trying to quiet the frenzy of self-doubt in my head.
“It also depends on who the Keysu will be,” he says.
“The Keysu is the demon that Arken chooses to lead the underworld, right?”
“Yes, but he’s more than that. He’s Arken’s second-in-command. Both Arken and Nyten are only allowed to visit once before a quest is about to take place. Arken has to ensure that the Seeker fails the quest. Arken’s second-in-command is all-powerful. He’s the one that will deliver the final victory to evil. The Keysu is Arken’s right hand; his eye on Earth.”
“Does Arken appoint a new Keysu for every quest?” I wonder.
“Yes.”
“How do you know when he’s selected his Keysu?”
“There’s a circular mark placed on the wings of the demon. And so far, no one has been spotted with Arken’s mark on them.”
“Can any being be a Keysu?” I ask.
“Yes, there was one cycle where the Keysu, or second-in-command, was a vampire. Her name was Verona. She was as ruthless as she was beautiful.”
“What does Keysu actually mean?” I ask.
“Devil.”
“Pest, you’re saying the Devil is coming after me?”
“Yes.”
“Awesome.”
“But on the bright side, our patient is awake,” Pest says as he looks over my shoulder towards the exam room. We rush over to Kane and watch him slowly try to sit up. He’s too weak to do it, and judging by the look on his face, he’s still in pain.
“Take your time. One of your wings is badly damaged and you will need a few more hours before it heals. And don’t even think of flying until then,” Pest warns. Kane swears softly under his breath. Pest leaves the room to get hot water to make more tonics. He calls out from the kitchen and asks me to help him. As I head for the door, Kane softly calls out to me.
“The tonic crap Pest gave me is gonna knock me out again, I can feel it.”
“That’s good. You need to rest,” I reply.
“I heard Sadie telling you to go back to New York. Are you gonna take off while I am knocked out?”
“Would you like me to stay?” I ask.
“I don’t think I want you to stay; I think I need you to…”
I want to ask Kane to elaborate. But I’m afraid of what he’ll say. And in the end it doesn’t matter because he’s knocked out again, just like he predicted. I walk into the living room, where Pest has gathered oils, powders, and leaves. This looks more like witch stuff than doctor stuff, I point out.
“I can see your point. But there are many points in which magic and science meet. For example, you see this petal right here? It’s from the red clover plant—it’s native to Europe, parts of North Africa, and Asia. It’s both a detoxifier and a blood cleanser. I’m adding a good dose of this into the tonic for Kane. Along with these white oils here that will magnify the power of the red clover,” he says. I watch him work and I marvel at how much he enjoys it.
“Did you always want to be a doctor?” I ask.
“I have always wanted to know…everything about the world around us. And when I grew up, my eyes were opened to a whole other world when I realized we were sharing the Earth with Shadows. So, I decided to learn everything I could about them. Being a doctor is only the beginning. I love research, exploration. Heck, I’d go into space if I could.”
“Pest, can I ask you about Kane?”
“You can ask, but as you probably already know, he’s not exactly an open book,” he says, shaking his head.
“Yeah, I know. I was hoping you could fill in some of the holes for me.”
“Sure, I’ll try. But I’m taking my life in my own hands right now,” he says.
“Yeah right, like talking about Kane’s past can get a person killed.” I laugh. He looks over at me, and there is no joy or glee in his eyes. In fact, he is dead serious.
“Pest, I don’t want to get you in trouble.”
“It’s okay. He’s tried to kill me a few times before; once with an enchanted machete. But here I am. What do you want to know?”
“Who’s Ella? What happened to her? Why did he kill her? Why is he trying to create a spell to talk to her again?”
“I thought you were gonna ask…”
“Sorry, I’m just trying to figure Kane out,” I reply.
“Figure out Kane? Good luck. I’ve known him forever and I still don’t get him.”
“Okay, well tell me something—anything,” I plead.
“Kane was hunting a demon though the south side of Chicago. The demon ran through an old lady’s apartment and out the back. Now humans don’t normally see Shadows. They can look at witches, werewolves, angels, and such and never see them for what they are. But Ella was like me: she was ‘sensitive’ to paranormal beings. And what’s more, she wasn’t afraid.
“So when she saw a dark-winged demon run through her apartment and out the back, she didn’t lose it. Instead, when Kane came running by seconds later, she shouted out to him, ‘When you’re done with him, I will be waiting for you to come back and fix my damn door.’ He turned and looked at her, and she was dead serious. So, he caught and killed the demon. Then he flew back to fix Ella’s door.
“Kane didn’t really like humans. In fact, he didn’t really care for Shadows either. But that old lady was so damn fearless he couldn’t help but admire her. Every time he came around she’d cuss him out for being late or trampling her prize roses. He’d bitch that she nagged too much and needed to die already so the landlord could rent out her unit. That was all talk. Those two were like family.”
“How did she die?” I ask.
“They had a standing date. Every Thursday, they’d play poker, drink together, and ‘not talk.’ It was the craziest thing to see. He was supposed to be at her house at five in the afternoon. He’d always come at six. He’s always late. She’d open the door, roll her eyes, and act like she wouldn’t let him in. Then she’d put his Sum on the table for him.”
; “What’s Sum?”
“Alcohol for Shadows.”
“Shadows drink alcohol?”
“All the damn time,” Pest says.
“Okay, sorry. Go on,” I insist.
“After she’d hand him the bottle of Sum, she’d pour herself a shot of whiskey. He’d look over at her and say, ‘Old woman, that’s gonna kill you. You can’t mix whiskey with your meds.’ And she’d look over at him and say, ‘Mind your damn business and pour me another one!’ Then they’d sit for hours and play poker and drink. They didn’t talk much, but they understood each other.”
“Why do you think they got so close?”
“She never asked any questions. She never pushed. She didn’t know the sum total of everything he’d done, but she knew that he was into some heavy stuff. Her place was robbed one summer and they took all her jewels. It wasn’t worth much, just a few family trinkets. But it meant a lot to Ella.
“There was a sliver necklace with a cross pendant and a small pearl in the center. Everyone in the neighborhood knew the thief because he had just come out of prison when things started to disappear. A few days after the robbery, they found the ex-con with his face bashed in, propped up against the wall of an empty parking lot. Later that night, during their card game, Kane slid the pendant across the table to her. She looked at it, nodded, and kept right on playing cards. Ella was a badass!”
“She sounds like it. Did Kane really hurt the thief?”
“Hurt? He killed him. Kane doesn’t really do well with working things out with people. He’s quick to kill.”
“But he’s not that way with everyone. He’s nice to you—I’ve watched you two together.”
“I look after him if he’s hurt. But I know he could just as easily kill me if he had to,” Pest says.
“I don’t think he’d hurt you.”
“Atlas, Kane isn’t a puppy you take home to Mom. He’s a pit bull that has been abused and denied genuine affection to make him wild and dangerous. Life has taught him to be vicious, and he’s mastered it. Ella was able to sit beside the pit bull and not get bitten. But make no mistake about it, that old lady didn’t tame him,” Pest adds.
“I’m almost sorry I asked,” I reply.