by R L Delaney
Slowly Harry's good mood returned. He would have nothing to do with Justin and Amy. There was a beautiful woman waiting for him in the office. A woman that liked him and, Harrison was now almost certain, she had fallen for him.
He unlocked the door of the bathroom and stepped back into the office feeling refreshed. “What kind of tea would you like… eh… dear?"
She looked up at him with an adorable smile. "You choose, Harry." She let out a girlish giggle and then winked at him. "Did you call me… 'dear?'"
Harry blushed. "I-I did. I am sorry… I—"
Stana interrupted him with a wave of her hand and got up out of her seat. "I am glad you say such sweet things, Harry."
More blushing, and as she walked over to Harrison, a shudder went through the detective's body. The scent of her tempting, lovely perfume, so luscious and pure, became almost overwhelming as Stana stood now before him, their noses almost touching each other.
The urge to take this angel into his arms was so strong now. He had to act… He had to touch those peachy cheeks. He needed…, no he wanted to disappear in these magical eyes that would lead him to a place of bliss where even his wildest dreams would be fulfilled. "S-Stana," he mumbled. "I-eh-I…"
She placed that lovely finger with the beautiful ring with the mysterious carvings on his lips, and whispered into his ear, "Hush, my strong detective. Let's not spoil this sacred moment of intimacy."
Before Harrison could respond he felt Stana's warm lips pressing against his own, and the gates of paradise had opened. At that instant Harrison knew that nothing and nobody could ever come between him and this angelic, awe-inspiring creature from heaven, and that included that proud, pompous nephew of his. Stana was the love of his life.
“It didn’t work,” Justin said as he dropped his arms helplessly alongside his body and began to pace back and forth through the living room. "Why didn't it?"
Amy had planted herself on the couch and pursed her lips.
"I thought we were anointed with the Elixir," Justin continued his tirade. "Didn't Father Hofniel say he wanted to pass the torch of power on to us, to the next generation? I made a fool of myself in front of that horrible woman."
"Is that all you are concerned about?" Amy said as she wrinkled her nose.
"Of course not," Justin snapped back. "But if I am to be a defender of righteousness, I would like it to work when I am in the middle of a battle."
"Maybe we weren't supposed to fight," Amy suggested.
"I don't understand you sometimes." Justin stood still in front of Amy and threw up his hands in desperation. "Of course we had to fight. You saw what a bad woman that Stana Growklowsky is. I bet you, she’s even a Shadow Walker herself. She's as dark as they come, and now she has leeched herself onto Uncle Harry. She's a bad woman, Amy." Justin clenched his fists. "Bad, bad, bad…"
"Of course she is," Amy replied. "To me, she looks like a devil disguised as an angel of light. But Uncle Harry cannot see it. He's not ready to accept that. We should have gone slower.”
“Nonsense," Justin scowled. "If you would have helped me and rebuked her too, maybe it would have worked.” Justin began to pace back and forth through the room again. “I can’t do it all by myself, Amy.”
Amy remained silent for a few moments and then hesitantly said, “I still think we blew it, Justin. The Elixir is not a tool like a hammer or a saw that you use whenever you feel like it. It's really the Spirit of the King of Heaven. As far as tools are concerned, it's actually the other way around. We are the tools, and if we allow ourselves to be used by the master builder at the right time, there will be great results. But what do you think will happen if a hammer or a saw decides it can build a house on its own without the wisdom and the skill of the carpenter? The result will be laughable."
Justin scowled. "So you think I was laughable?"
"No, Justin… Maybe you meant well, but we did get kicked out of Uncle Harry's office. We should not have stood up. Not yet… The time wasn't right. We were leaning on our own understanding."
"We had to do something.” Justin argued. He wasn't convinced by Amy's words. “I know what I saw, Amy, and it wasn’t very pretty.”
He felt like stomping his foot. He wanted to argue that he was right. Waiting, waiting, waiting… why couldn't the King of Heaven just step in and make everything right with one firm bang of his magic wand? Poor Uncle Harry was being deceived. The man needed help, and all Amy had to say was that they had been acting rashly and that they should have waited until the time was right.
"Yes," Amy answered in a calm voice. "It wasn't pretty. I saw it too, but what we should have done, was listen to the nudges of the Spirit. Ever since we have been anointed with the Elixir it seems there's a passageway that has been opened between us and the King of Heaven. The anointing has enabled us to communicate freely with heaven. Heavenly help, strength, power… you name it, everything streams down from heaven to us, as long as we make sure that the channel is uncluttered and open."
Justin let out a sigh, and plopped down next to Amy. "While I was facing Stana, and I felt the anger rising up, something Brother Perpetiël told me once spoke to my heart. It was almost as if I heard his voice and he told me, 'Never act rashly, Justin. Wait for the nudges of the Spirit.' You think that was the Elixir too?"
Amy pursed her lips. "Could very well be, Justin. It sure sounds like it. If we are to fight with the power of the Elixir, we will have to learn how to listen and become much more sensitive to the Spirit. We can’t face the enemy in our own power. If we step out on our own, and we lean on our own understanding, even though we are anointed with the power of the Elixir, the enemy will take us for a ride.”
Justin shook his head, as understanding began to slowly sink in. "I really blew it, didn't I. The only thing I accomplished is that Uncle Harry threw us out. We most likely drove him only further into that woman's arms."
"Don't worry, Justin," she said while squeezing Justin's hand. "Nothing is lost."
"I know," Justin shrugged. "It just hurts. I wish I was better at this."
Amy smiled. "Brother Perpetiël said something that made an impression on me."
"What?"
"In the service of the King every fall is actually a fall upwards."
Justin frowned and stared at Amy.
"I suppose it means that mistakes help us to grow. Learning how the Elixir works… making mistakes… having to face up to the truth… It's all part of becoming a better person."
Justin smacked his lips. "I-eh… I mean…" At last he nodded and gave Amy a smile. "You are right, Amy. I am afraid I still have quite some learning to do."
"We all do," Amy replied. "When I saw that awful woman, I felt just like you. I too wanted to do something, but in our own strength we are just no match for such people." She leaned her head against Justin's chest and looked up at him with a playful smile, causing Justin to chuckle.
“It must have been quite shocking for Uncle Harry to hear me shout like that. You think he'll understand?"
"One day, he will," Amy replied as she caressed his hand. "But I was thinking about something else…"
"What?" Justin leaned back.
"Maybe we should visit Father Galvéz again. It would do us good to talk to somebody who knows and understands what we are going through. He might have some ideas as well."
Justin's face lit up. "That sounds like a great idea. I can use a bit of encouragement from somebody who doesn't think we are weird.
"But, before we go," Amy said, "there's one other thing on my heart.
"What's that?"
"Be still, Justin," she placed her hand on Justin's head and pulled him closer until their lips almost touched. "I love you, Justin Ames. It's great fun knowing you." Right after these words, Amy planted a tender kiss on Justin's lips. Instantly, his anger, frustration and confusion melted away. He closed his eyes and did not allow even the slightest thought about Shadow Walkers, Stana Growklowsky or his own failures to spoil the beauty
of that moment.
A joyful smile appeared on Amy's face when she and Justin saw the small white-washed house of Father Galvéz, next to the chapel on Thompson Avenue. Whenever she came here her mind was filled with endless happy memories of her youth. The Father had always been so good to her, and her admiration for the old priest, who had been her one true link to the heavenly world in her youth, had not diminished over the years. Both she and Justin looked forward to seeing the gentle, fatherly face of the man again, sharing thoughts and ideas with him, and thinking back on their victory over the dreaded Disastrotrax. After all, he too had played a rather decisive role in clearing Dewsbury of the stifling darkness that had held the town in its grip.
The giant chestnut tree right next to the house, was adorned with fresh, pink spring blossoms and underneath the branches, Father Galvéz' priestly garb was hanging to dry, so he would have it ready for Sunday mass.
It all looked peaceful enough, and yet… something was off. Something was different, although Amy couldn't tell what it was. Somehow, very faint, a foreboding feeling crept up through Amy's spine.
She looked at Justin. "Do you feel that?" she asked.
"What?" Justin did not seem to have noticed.
"I don't know," Amy answered. "It feels dark here."
As they approached the front door and Justin wanted to swing the clapper in the corroded copper bell next to it, Amy gasped. "Something is wrong, Justin."
Just glanced at Amy. "What's the matter?"
"The door," Amy pointed to it. "It's open."
Justin shrugged his shoulders. "So what? Maybe Father Galvéz is working in the garden behind the house." In order to prove his theory he tilted his head backward and placed his hand near his mouth so he could have more volume. "Father Galvéz…," he yelled, "… it's us. Justin and Amy. We would like to talk to you."
A scared dove fluttered away from one of the branches of the chestnut tree. The panicked sound of the bird's wings caused Justin to shudder. Other than that there was no sound.
Amy wrinkled her nose. "You feel it now too, Justin?"
Justin smacked his lips and gave her a short nod. "Let's ring the bell and then, if Father Galvéz doesn't answer the door, we'll go in."
Without waiting for Amy to respond he grabbed the cord that hung from the copper bell and pulled it. The sound of the clapper banging against the copper was loud and harsh and it was clear that if Father Galvéz was inside, he would hear it.
But nobody came.
There was no sound, other than the slight creak of the front door as the wind pushed against it.
"Let's go in," Amy said. She looked with questioning eyes at Justin, and when he gave her another small nod, she pushed the heavy wooden door wide open.
The hall was semi dark, and the familiar musty smell that Amy remembered so well from her youth still hung in the air. Years ago, people had told Father Galvéz to insulate his house better, put in double glass windows, and generally give the place an overhaul, but the priest always claimed he couldn't be bothered. He was just too busy with his work, and the place the Good Lord had given him suited him fine.
But this time Amy detected another scent too. A strange, unfamiliar odor, very faint and yet, at the same time stinging and pervasive. She stuck up her nose and as she stopped Justin with her hand, she sniffed deeply. "Smell that?"
"I do," Justin replied. "What is it?"
Amy shrugged her shoulders. "I am not sure, but my best guess is fear. I would say, it's the smell of fear. Something has happened here."
"Fear?" Justin whispered. "I didn't know fear has a smell."
"I didn't know either," Amy replied without looking at Justin, "but since we have been anointed with the Elixir, a lot of things have happened to us that we didn't know before."
Justin nodded. "Then let's find out."
After these words, both of them cautiously stepped into the hall and moved towards the door to the living room, the same room where they had first heard about the existence of the Shadow Walkers.
That door was open too.
But what they saw when they entered was shocking. Justin had expected to see walls that had been plastered with bookcases full of dusty, old looking books, and that rough, wooden table with the scratches and peeling paint, but what he saw was a literal disaster. The table was overturned, and so were several of the book cases, one of which had cracked in half. Books were strewn everywhere in a giant, dusty mess. Covers were ripped off, papers were everywhere, pages were torn, and there, in the corner right next to the overturned plant with its shriveled, brownish leaves, and covered by a heap of books, lay the miserable figure of Father Galvéz.
Amy was the first to reach the old man and knelt down beside him.
"Father Galvéz…," she urged him, "… are you all right?"
"Careful," Justin cautioned her as he knelt down too. "Don't move him. We may need to call an ambulance."
But then, and to Amy and Justin's great relief, Father Galvéz opened his eyes and gave them both a glassy stare. "Amy? I-I am so glad to see you."
"You want some water, Father?" Amy asked.
He nodded, and Justin ran off to get a cup.
The priest cautiously began to move his arms to examine his limbs. Everything still seemed to function the way it was supposed to, but when he tried to lift his head he let out a soft yelp. "My head… it hurts."
"No wonder," Amy said, while she gritted her teeth. "There's blood on your head. Somebody knocked you out, good and hard. We'll get you an ambulance."
Father Galvéz' lifted his hand and ever so carefully moved it over his head. At last he whispered, "No need for an ambulance, dear Amy. A good rest should do it. If you and Justin can help me to my bedroom, I'll be fine."
"Sure?"
"No doctor, Amy."
After Justin had returned with the water, and Amy had helped the priest to take a few sips, they moved him, with great difficulty, to his own bed where they gently lowered him onto the blankets and covered him with a colorful bedspread that Amy found in his closet.
"Now, Father," Amy asked while she curled her lips, "what happened?"
Father Galvéz licked his lips and closed his eyes for a moment to collect his thoughts. Then he whispered, "They came… three of them."
"Who?"
Father Galvéz slightly shook his head. "They wore masks. They rang the bell and when I opened the door they pushed me to the floor and hauled me off to my library, all the while screaming, 'Where is the key?' "
"The key?" Amy looked up at Justin. "They said that?"
Father Galvéz gave her a small nod. "I asked them what key they were talking about. Other than my own house key, the key to the chapel, and the key to my truck, I don't have any keys." He shook his head and rubbed his forehead. "I told them they could have those, but they hit me and screamed that I was lying."
"Was one of them a woman?" Justin asked.
Father Galvéz shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know, Justin. Only one of them spoke, but he was male. His voice was dark and low. Never heard it before."
"And then?" Amy asked.
"They dragged me in front of one of my bookcases. That same man shouted in my ear that I needed to give them the book that would tell them the whereabouts of the key. I didn't have the faintest idea what they were talking about, so I screamed back that I did not know. That's when they hit me on my head and I fainted… It was so scary, Amy. They were so evil."
Father Galvéz heaved a long sigh, closed his eyes again, and mumbled, "Dear Mother of God. What's this world coming to?"
Justin cleared his throat. "Did you ever hear about a man called Cipher Flux?"
Father Galvéz opened his eyes again and stared at Justin. "I think so… Wasn't he a wicked occultist from some centuries ago?"
"So you've heard about him? Have you heard about something called the key of Cipher Flux?"
Father Galvéz shook his head. "Never."
"Well," Amy said, "we believe that that'
s what these evil intruders were after. Since you have such an incredible library of old books, they must have concluded you could help them."
"But who would be looking for something that obscure?" Father Galvéz' eyes grew wide. "Are the Shadow Walkers back?"
"We don't know, Father," Justin answered. "We only know of a strange woman that is interested, and she has hired Uncle Harry to find that key."
Father Galves blinked and let out another tired sigh. "Harrison would never break into my house like that. He's a friend."
Amy nodded. "I believe so too, but we have no idea who that woman is connected too. We believe Harrison Ames is in trouble."
"Help me up, Amy," Father Galvéz demanded. "I need to think."
"You are wounded, Father," Amy protested, but when Father Galvéz cast her an angry stare, Amy nodded. While Justin propped up his pillow, Amy gently helped the man up and leaned him with his back to the pillow.
"I need to think," the priest whispered as he rubbed his head again. "There's this one book that talks about this Cipher Flux. It's a rather small volume, so it's quite possible these crooks haven't found it." He looked with hopeful eyes at Amy. "Would you mind looking for it?"
"Of course I wouldn’t mind, Father," Amy replied. "But…," she said with hesitation, "we've heard that this key is very, very bad. Maybe all knowledge about it should remain unknown."
"All the more reason to find the book," Father Galvéz replied. "If it's really that bad we could possibly destroy it. On the other hand, if the wicked people are searching for the key, I believe we need to stay one step ahead of them. We can only fight them if we know what we are dealing with."
Amy stared at the aging priest. He was right.
"What's more," he continued, "if we can find that book, at least we have the certainty that the burglars haven't found it."
Amy nodded. "All right, Father. It's a big mess in your living room though, but Justin and I will give it a try. What are we looking for?"
"As I said," Father Galvéz replied, "It is rather small, only half the size of a regular paper back, and it has a brown leather cover. There are no words on the outside, but on the inside it says: 'Wolves on Fire.'"