by R. J. Ladon
“Who is Benny?”
“Benny is a friend,” Grandma said defiantly.
“Friend?” Johnny’s eyebrows lifted.
“Oh, would you just tell him?” Kevin shook his head. “He’s a gnome.”
“A gnome?” Johnny laughed. “You know they can be tricksters. What did he tell you?”
Grandma stared as if surprised that Johnny didn’t make fun of her. “He wanted me to read my tarot.”
“Tarot.” Johnny narrowed his eyes. “Is that all?”
“The cards I pulled made me upset. And I asked Kevin to cast a protection spell.”
“I remember.” Kevin scratched at his palm. He looked at Johnny. “What else do you know about gnomes?”
“Not too much. Gnomes are the best gem cutters in the world.” Johnny tapped his temple. “They like dirt and can help gardeners grow plants.”
“That’s why people have the plastic ones in their yard,” Grandma added.
“You said, trickster. What did you mean?” Kevin felt tricked, but more so by Annie than Benny.
Johnny shrugged. “I remember reading that somewhere, but I can’t think of an example.”
Kevin looked from Grandma to the back door. “I think I’m going to tell Mom that I’m not coming over. I’m tired. I want to rest. And I know they’ll have questions for me. I don’t want to deal with it right now.”
“I need to put Kevin’s report into the police.” Johnny kissed Ruby on the top of her head and left out the front door.
“I’ll talk to Jerry, Donna, and the girls. You stay here.” Grandma put her hand on Kevin’s shoulder. “You look like hell.”
“Ruby? Can I get more National Geographic magazines?”
“Your Grandpa Joe loved those magazines. What are you going to do with them?”
“Not much. Just look and see if they have any information that would help me with my homework.”
“Sure, sure, there are a bunch in my bedroom. Don’t cut them.” She left out the back door.
Kevin went upstairs. At the top of the landing, he turned left to Grandma’s room. He opened the door and stepped inside.
The room was a shrine of sorts; it looked the same way it did before Grandpa died. The bedspread was unchanged. The sports jacket Grandpa wore was draped over the footboard like it always was. Kevin sighed, feeling a twinge of sadness. He missed Grandpa, maybe not as much as Grandma did, but the ache was there.
On the floor near a full-length mirror was an old scale with a dial readout. Kevin took a deep breath, sealing his mind for the worst, and stepped on it. The dial spun, and the red arrow quivered and stopped on three hundred and forty-four pounds. This explains why I couldn't swim and why the lady thought I was heavy. He looked into the mirror at his pencil-thin shape and rolled his eyes. “Kragnor must be a big guy.” Kevin chuckled to himself. Gazing in the mirror, he pulled off his shirt, poking at his chest and stomach, which appeared unchanged. Did Tony break his hand when he punched me? Could I be turning into an akitu? Will I wake up someday and be a monster? He tugged his shirt back on, fears flitting around his mind.
Book shelving covered a full wall, from floor to ceiling. Kevin moved closer to look for the bright yellow bindings of National Geographic. There weren’t any. Then he noticed many faux leather magazine holders that looked remarkably like an old novel. The spine read “National Geographic 2002 Jan-June”. Kevin pulled the holder, impressed with the weight and strength of the case. He grabbed two more and brought them to his room, where he placed them on the floor.
He sat on the bed, opened the shared notebook, picked up a pen, and scribbled answers to Kragnor’s questions.
I cast a spell of protection for my Grandma Ruby. I used a green stone with cuneiform writing on it. The rock melted into my hand, and I passed out. The next morning, I was in the attic. I figure that was your first night here.
What is an akitu? Can you draw one?
There are plenty of gardens in the area, but the growing season is over. Most people plant vegetables. Also, the books you requested are on the floor by the bed.”
Kevin took off his clothes and waited for the change.
Chapter 37
K ragnor’s eyes snapped open, settling on the notebook. He read, pausing at the mention of the stone. The stone was important. But why? He shook his head, trying to remember. An image of the bloodstone flashed in his mind then disappeared. He closed his eyes, willing the memory to return. A friend’s face. Francois, with his dark brown robes. Friar Francois held the stone in his hand. His mouth moved, he was telling Kragnor something important, but no sound came. The memory faded.
Kragnor sighed, sitting back on his tail. “It will come in time. You’ve been asleep for seven hundred years, be patient,” he scolded. He picked up a crayon and requested Kevin write down the words he remembered from the stone. The engraving would tell him more and perhaps allow more memories to flow.
He looked back to the notebook and chuckled at the idea that people would grow vegetables in gardens. Only lords and ladies had gilded gardens filled with exotic plants and flowers, statues, fountains, and hedge mazes. Peasants grew vegetables in their fields. He scratched his smooth head. “The world has changed in seven hundred years.”
The idea that akitu were lost to time made sense. Everyone was frightened upon seeing him. “Why were we forgotten?” Kragnor thought the stone’s engraving would have an answer. He picked up the magazine that had the word Batman written on it. He ripped out the cover image. Batman stood on a roof with the moon behind him, cape billowing in the wind, like an akitu. He used the strange adhesive strip to attach the picture to the book. Under Batman, he wrote: “This man looks like an akitu.”
A gentle knock rapt on the door. “Kevin, I know you’re awake. I can see the light under the door. Johnny wanted me to pass on a message.” The handle jiggled, and the door opened.
Sorceress stood in the wash of light, mouth agape. “Kevin?” Her eyes fluttered. She reached for the door jam and steadied herself. “You’re not Kevin.” She took a deep breath and stepped into the room. Her demeanor changed from helpless surprise to stalwart determination.
“Sorceress. You surprised me.” Kragnor stood and bowed. His earlier assessment of her tremendous power was correct. He felt it rolling off her.
“What have you done with my Grandson?” Her eyes narrowed dangerously.
“I did nothing. It was he who did it to me.”
The sorceress stepped forward, threatening. “I don’t believe you.”
Kragnor stepped back, bumping his tail into the desk. He reached back, grasping the notebook, then held it before him. “Read the truth for yourself.”
Her eyes skimmed across the page and then lowered. “We made a column of power that night. Johnny and I downstairs, Kevin up here.” Sorceress’s pleading eyes locked with Kragnor’s. “All I wanted was protection from harm.” She looked away. “I did this to you and Kevin. It’s my fault.”
“Sorceress,” he consoled
“My name is Ruby,” she barked.
Kragnor waved his hand apologetically, indicating she should continue.
“I chose the spell. I gave Kevin the books and tools. I begged him to cast it.” A look of shock crossed her features. “Benny!” She paced back and forth. “It all started with Benny telling me to read my tarot cards. That little stinker lives in my backyard.” She waved her hands in frustration. “Johnny told us that gnomes are tricksters. He was right.” Ruby sat on the edge of the bed and sighed.
“Gnomes?” Kragnor relaxed, sitting back on his tail. “I like gnomes.” They were an ancient species, almost as old as akitu. They often tricked humans, that was true. But they would never take advantage of an akitu. “If a gnome is involved, then this is a dire situation.”
“Aren’t they trouble?”
“Not to an akitu.” Kragnor huffed. “Although, he did trick you into freeing me.”
“Freeing?”
“I was a prisoner of
that stone.”
“Stone?”
Kragnor studied her. Her moment of strength and clarity seemed to have passed. Ruby’s eyes were glazing, her mind turning quiet. “Sorceress, it is late. You should sleep.”
Ruby stood and patted Kragnor’s arm. “Thank you. What is your name again?”
The gargoyle tapped his chest. “I am Kragnor, your humble servant.” He bowed slightly, extended his hand, took her hand, and kissed it.
She blushed. “What a gentleman. I can’t stay and talk. I need to go to bed.” Ruby smiled and stepped out the door, leaving it open.
Kragnor waited, giving Ruby time to fall asleep. The sound from the portal downstairs went silent. He waited a few moments then crept down the stairs and out the back door.
He looked around the raised beds, searching for the gnome. “Benny,” he called. “Benny, I know you are here.”
A toad croaked.
“Gnomes need not hide from akitu.” Kragnor directed his voice to the toad’s location. “Come now. Toads sleep at these temperatures. I know you are a gnome.”
“Fine,” said a deep grumpy voice. “Over here.”
Kragnor moved to the voice and sat back on his haunches. “What is going on that you needed to set me free? Why did you involve humans?”
The gnome climbed onto the gargoyle's knee and sat. “Found out, did you?” Benny wiped the end of his bulbous nose. “Humans have forgotten too much. I knew you were in Ruby’s house, but I couldn’t get in there, and even if I did, I don’t have the power to reverse the spell that put you in that stone.”
“Rapscallion is protecting Ruby from you?”
“Damn cat.” Benny fidgeted and pouted.
Kragnor nodded. A good familiar will protect its master, even if the master is ignorant of the danger. “Why, Ruby? Why now?”
“I could have waited until the cat died, sure, but Ruby deserves to be set free. She’s a good human.”
“Set free? What are your intentions?”
“I wasn’t going to kill her if that’s what you’re insinuating.” The gnome folded his arms defensively. “By freeing you. You’re going to set her free.” Benny shrugged. “You may have done so already.”
Kragnor leaned closer to the gnome. “Explain.”
Benny stood and pointed at him. “You are akitu, Ancient of Ancients. Your magic runs deep and true. Your presence is enough to revive those who have become physically and mentally weak. You can break spells that corrupt and hide the truth. I knew you slumbered in that stone; I could feel your strength. Simply by being free from your stone prison, you have rejuvenated this area. Have you not noticed?” The gnome spread his arms wide.
Kragnor huffed. “What have you done?”
“I have done nothing other than influence a human. You did the rest.” Benny pointed to the house where the girls lived. “You broke their spell. I didn’t know they had one.” The little man shrugged. “What’s done is done.” He smiled. “At least it’ll be a bit more exciting around here.”
The gargoyle reached down to grab the little man. Benny dove from Kragnor’s stone knee into the exposed soil of the raised bed, disappearing as quickly as if the dirt were water. Kragnor growled, cursing himself for forgetting that gnome ability. He could outwait and outlast a gnome.
He looked at the girl’s house. I can’t undo the damage I made, but I could tell Ruby. She might be able to correct it. Especially if her mind is becoming whole again, and her power is returning.
Kragnor returned to the house, entering through the back door. In the room with the silent portal, Rapscallion studied him from Sorceress’s lap. The cat yawned and stretched, indifferent to the gargoyle’s presence. Kragnor had not harmed Ruby. The familiar would have attacked if he had. Perhaps the gnome was right. She needed her power reawakened.
Chapter 38
K evin closed the shared book. He closed his eyes, trying to remember the marks on the stone. Was the first mark a short line or long? Did it have one arrow shape or three? The only way to get the words that Kragnor wanted was to request the rubbing from Megan. Kevin rolled his eyes. Oh yes, I can imagine that conversation. “Megan, can I have that rubbing from the stone? I need to show someone.”
“Who?” She’d ask.
“Oh, no one in particular, just the monster I turn into every night.”
She’d call the insane asylum, and an ambulance would take me away. Kevin pulled his shirt on, grabbed his book bag, and went downstairs.
He cast a glance at the grandfather clock. “Late again.”
“It’s no big deal,” Grandma said. “You have an excuse today. Yesterday you were almost killed. In fact, if you want to stay home, I’ll call you in.”
“No, I need to be there today.” He microwaved a breakfast burrito.
“Well, if you ever need assistance, I can wake you up at seven.”
“Seven?” Kevin looked into the microwave and watched the burrito spin. What would happen if Ruby saw Kragnor? Or the change? Would her mind snap? He swallowed. He couldn’t risk it. “No, I’ll pass and take my chances with the ladies in the office.”
“Suit yourself.”
Kevin wrapped the hot burrito in a napkin and left out the front door. He ate and ran to school, finishing the burrito as he stepped in the door.
He entered the office. “Good morning, ladies.”
“You’re late, Mr. Arkis.” Mrs. Renfro frowned at him.
“Ah, but I avoided that fate last night.” Kevin smirked at his joke.
“Excuse me?”
“Didn’t you hear? I figured it would be all over the news and school this morning.” Kevin smiled at the women. “Well, then, ladies, let me tell you. Last night Annie Brown hit me in the head and tossed me into Millers Pond. I almost died.”
Mrs. Renfro stared at him, not knowing what to say. “I think I heard something about that.” Her fingers danced on the keyboard, and she looked at her computer. “Here it is. It says you pressed charges against Annie for attempted homicide. Well, that’s not very nice.”
Kevin frowned. “Neither is almost drowning.”
“She just loves you, dear. You shouldn’t take it so personally.”
“What?” Kevin cleared his throat. “Can I get a pass, please?”
Mrs. Renfro handed him a slip of paper. “You ought to give Annie another chance. I’m sure she didn’t mean anything by it.”
He took the paper and turned away. Another chance? That was the last thing I would ever do. “Thank you,” Kevin said over his shoulder. Why did she always take the girls' side?
When History rolled around, Kevin was relieved to find Megan. He sat directly behind her. “I need the rubbing you made the other day, of the rock.”
“I left it at home. I wanted to try a different tactic.”
“I found someone who said they could read it.”
“Impossible. You know we tried Acadian, Sumerian, and many other languages.”
“He seemed certain of his ability.”
Megan crossed her arms as if offended that someone could succeed where she didn't. “I’d like to meet them. I’d love to know where they learned Cuneiform. Maybe they can teach me a thing or two.”
“I’m not sure you should.”
“Not sure of what? That I shouldn’t meet him or that I shouldn’t learn from him.”
“I don’t know this guy. He could be a creep.”
“A creep who knows how to read Cuneiform?” She laughed. “I think I’ll take that chance. I can bring the rubbing over tonight. I’ll need your address.” Megan looked Kevin in the eye. “This isn’t some stupid joke, is it?”
“Not after yesterday.” Kevin scribbled his address on a piece of paper and handed it to her.
“The rumors are true?”
“Many of them are. Annie tried to kill me, and I pressed charges against her.” He sighed. “Rumors and people suck.”
“The first rule you need to know, people are assholes. If you find one that isn’t
, hold on.” Megan smiled at him.
“Thank you,” he said, feeling relieved that someone was in a decent mood. “Ruby and I usually have dinner at my parent’s house. I’ll be at that address by seven.” Kevin pointed at the paper in Megan’s hand.
“Pizza? That’s unusual.” Grandma whispered to Kevin. Three white boxes sat on the dining room table. They had a poorly rendered map of Italy on the top. She reached into the box with pepperoni and removed a slice.
Kevin pulled a slice from the works pizza. He took a small bite and dabbed at his mouth with a napkin, trying to hide his comment. “She only orders pizza when she’s too upset to cook.”
“So, what happened?” Mom asked Kevin, “There are so many rumors going on that I want to hear it from the horse.”
Kevin explained how Annie hit him and pushed him into the pond. He watched his sisters as they ate their cheese pizza slices. Were they blinking in unison?
“Well, son, you’ve got to be careful. Some women are dangerous. Isn’t that right, Donna?” Dad folded a slice and shoved half of it into his mouth.
Mom stared at Dad but said nothing.
Dad continued eating, chasing the pizza with gulps of beer. “I’m glad you weren’t hurt.”
“Really, Jerry? He was hurt. Do you have any idea what kind of mental abuse that is? His girlfriend tried to kill him.” Mom cut her slice with aggressive sawing motions.
“She wasn’t my girlfriend at that time. We broke up a few days before,” Kevin said. “It was a strange relationship anyway.” The triplet’s eyes bounced from Mom to Dad. They seemed to be enjoying the discontent between their parents.
“Is that why she attacked you?” Mom asked.
Kevin nodded. “I think so. Right before she hit me, she said no one leaves me. Like I insulted her by breaking up.”
“I hope that bitch rots.” Mom stabbed the section of her pizza with a fork and put it in her mouth.
“Donna, are you alright?” Dad stared, shocked that his wife would swear.