by J. P. Rice
“Maybe in a few years, I’ll treat him to those delights,” she commented as she peered through the cracked blinds. “For now, I’m just happy he set down that electronic.”
“Me too.” I shifted around so that I could face Alayna. “So I need to talk to you about something.”
Alayna was part nixie, part pixie, but somehow her body grew to be six-feet tall. She was the Queen of Sleepy Willow until her husband tried to kill her five-hundred years ago. The king’s enforcer had clipped her wings and she’d shrunk to about three and a half feet, which was her current height. She had short, dyed red hair, icy blue eyes like Dante and wore her signature purple dress over her ivory skin.
Alayna asked, “What do you need?”
“I told you about the implant and not to tell the Gods about it. You didn’t tell them, right?”
“No.” She thought for a moment. “They may have asked Artoise for a progress report on you. Unlikely, but there is a chance.”
“Hmmm. Between unlikely and the strong likelihood that Artoise was passed out drunk, I’ll take my chances.” Artoise was my guardian angel. He basically watched my life in real time and jumped in to save me when I got in trouble. Although extremely unreliable due to his excessive drinking, he had helped me out of a pinch in a few circumstances.
“I was wondering, you know, if you could maybe mention a little something to the Gods about it.” I lowered my head and avoided eye contact. “I’m kind of embarrassed.”
Alayna reached out and lifted my chin until our eyes met. “Don’t be embarrassed. I could probably help you out on this. I still owe you for our last adventure.”
“Speaking of which, have you heard any news about Burn?” There had been conflicting reports coming in about her. I didn’t know whom to believe.
She shook her head, tightlipped. “I have not. Sorry.”
“Well, what do you really think?”
“It doesn’t matter what I think,” she said slowly and carefully as she twisted her short hair with her pinky finger.
I spoke firmly, “Come on. Seriously. Just be straight with me.”
Alayna stopped toying with her locks and looked me in the eyes. She set her palm on my knee and said, “I think you may need to prepare for the worst.” She continued in a hopeful tone, “On the other hand, you are doing a wonderful job with Dante. I wasn’t sure if you had it in you when we first met, but over these past few years, you’ve grown up so much.”
Although she’d basically said that Burn was dead, I felt a warm glow steal over my cheeks from the compliment. It meant a lot because I was worried I would turn into a deadbeat dad, like my father. “You gonna pinch my cheeks and tell me how proud you are of me?”
I tried to lighten the tense mood, but it was tough to forget about someone I cared about greatly.
Alayna smiled, showing off her perfect ivory teeth. “No. No cheek pinching for you. What’s that you brought in with you?” she asked pointing at the map on the coffee table.
“A map of a mountain. Some guy tried to fight me for it outside the comic book store.”
“What? Why?” she asked, cocking her head to the side. Fire and fury danced around her eyes and a rosy glow washed down from her forehead to her chin. She didn’t like when people messed with me.
“Let me back this story up. So I told you about Cyclone Woman earlier today. The clue left in her cave was written in Japanese. The same writing that appears to be on these maps. And the guy looked Japanese too. Felix knows a wizard who can translate it but he won’t be available for a few days. You can’t read Japanese, can you?” I threw the comic book on the love seat.
Alayna laid out the two maps, covering the entire coffee table. She stared for almost a minute as she tapped her chin in thought, and then said, “Sorry. I know a few languages, but that isn’t one of them. What is the golden X marking?”
I shrugged and looked up from the maps. “I have no idea. Sure looks like the prize, whatever it is. I just don’t know where it is.” I laughed. “So it looks like I don’t know anything. I thought about using Google to translate, but I don’t even understand Japanese letters.”
A wry smile came over Alayna’s face and she leaned back on the couch. “The beginning of a supernatural case. Always more questions than answers. You know how this goes. Two things. Use a trusted translator. I’m still not sure about trusting Felix. And don’t forget you have Blodeuwedd at your disposal.”
Blodeuwedd was a Celtic Goddess. She often shifted into the form of an owl. The shifter had been organizing and communicating with the birds in and around Pittsburgh to provide information for me. Pretty sweet perk.
I swelled with pride. A poor kid from West Virginia now had the assistance of the Celtic Gods. It did feel pretty good. “You make me sound like so much of a bad ass. Having a God at my disposal.”
“Well you do. I know you are still frustrated about not being related to Merlin, but I don’t recall him ever having the services of a God at his beck and call,” she added with a wink.
Alayna was right about the beginnings of a new case presenting many questions. Finding the maps inside the comic book hadn’t answered anything yet. I knew that Cyclone Woman was missing, probably kidnapped by the person I’d fought outside the comic book store.
I didn’t know who the man was or why he’d wanted the maps so badly. I didn’t know why he’d kidnapped Cyclone Woman. I didn’t know how to read the writing on the maps.
Fukutama was the one man who could shed some light on the subject. I couldn’t wait to see him to get this case progressing faster. Patience was not one of my better virtues.
Chapter 7
I made Felix go into the tree house first this time to avoid another surprise attack. Fukutama, smiling and nodding, welcomed us in. Felix and I bowed lower than the elderly man to show our respect.
As Felix rose up from the bow, he said, “He’s probably going to be explaining a lot about this map. So I won’t say, he says, or anything like that. Or at least I’ll try not to. I’ll just repeat his words verbatim. You can interrupt me with questions, if you need to.”
“Sounds good. Can’t wait.” I handed the maps to Fukutama.
Felix and Fukutama sat on the ground facing each other. Both men rested their upturned palms on their knees and took a few deep breaths. It appeared they were going to forgo the smoking session.
Felix’s head started to twitch as he stared at Fukutama. The young mage’s eyes rolled back in his head, he stopped the twitching and appeared ready to start the conversation. He said, “I’m asking him about the maps and the writing.”
Fukutama laid out the maps on the floor in front of him and his eyes widened with excitement. He pointed at the map and Felix spoke for him, “This is the symbol for the Seven Sorcerers. I knew they were lurking in the area. I could feel their dark power.”
“Who are the Seven Sorcerers?” I asked as I sat down and leaned back against the wall.
Felix translated, “He says he’ll get to that soon. The map is of a mountain called Cheat Mountain. The other map is marked Thorny Flat.” Felix had already forgotten about his promise to just speak for Fukutama.
I’d heard those names somewhere before. “That sounds familiar. Does he know where this place is?” It felt weird talking about the man like he wasn’t in the room. I wondered if I should just ask him directly. I still didn’t know exactly how this procedure worked.
Felix said, “No. He’s not sure. It appears that there is something buried in this spot marked with a golden X. Most of the other writing is directions detailing how to get to the marked spot. You need to go up Cheat Mountain to a peak named Thorny Flat. From there, the directions on this map will guide you to the treasure.”
That word intrigued me. “What treasure?”
“He doesn’t know. It doesn’t say.” Felix paused as Fukutama ran his hand over the map and leaned down for a closer look. “Aha. Wait. There it is. It can’t be. No, yes, somehow it is the Blood Goblet
.”
“Okay, what is the Blood Goblet?” I had to know.
“He says, get ready for a story.” I tried to kick back and relax as Felix continued, “It was once a possession of Shuten dōji, the demon whom the Seven worship. He was an orphan sent to the local monastery. Due to his drinking and rowdiness, the life of a monk didn’t seem to fit him. The name Shuten dōji actually means little drunkard.”
Felix stopped for a second and scratched his ear. “He enjoyed playing pranks too and during one festival, he put on an oni mask so he could scare everyone else. The mask somehow fused to his face and he couldn’t remove it. After facing ridicule from his fellow monks and the abbot, Shuten dōji went to the mountains and lived a life of solitude. He studied black magic and grew to hate the world. He became a violent cannibal and his legend began to grow.”
Felix paused again, as if he was waiting for Fukutama. After a few more moments of silence, Felix went on, “Evil people rushed to his cause, giving Shuten dōji a small army of underlings. They built a castle on Mount Oe. It’s called the vanishing castle because only a certain number of people can find it. Eventually the Emperor grew tired of Shuten dōji’s nonsense and sent his greatest warriors to eliminate the problem. They poisoned the sake to take care of Shuten dōji’s minions and rushed the castle. They beheaded Shuten dōji and buried his head outside city limits. Nobody knows for certain whether the head went to the body or the reverse. But the head and body reconnected and he went back to the vanishing castle on the vanishing slope where he lives by himself to this day.”
My back started to tighten up and I shifted around to alleviate the pain. I listened as Felix finished the story.
“Only one person was permitted to enter the castle and learn from Shuten dōji. His name was Kobayashi, the leader of the Seven. He imparted this knowledge to the other six sorcerers, and together, they became unstoppable. Shuten dōji became increasingly paranoid that Kobayashi was going to turn on him and banished him from the castle. However, Kobayashi had already picked up all the skills he needed. The Blood Goblet belonged to Shuten dōji, but Kobayashi took it with him. They used the ceremonial cup to drink the blood of their enemies. Thousands and thousands of enemies. Where did you get this map?”
I looked at Fukutama and answered, “It was in that comic book written on that scrap of paper. And someone with three eyes attacked me for the comic book.”
Felix scratched his cheek and said, “Hmmm. Kobayashi wants his Blood Goblet back. But why bury it on this mountain? That doesn’t make sense. Why would they leave the instructions out in public like that? Seems sloppy for Kobayashi.”
“I said the same thing. Maybe they aren’t familiar with how things work in Pittsburgh. The only other thing I could think of was that these guys were still up in Tionesta performing the kidnapping of Cyclone Woman and their friend called with the map. It doesn’t make sense to me, but maybe their friend stashed the map inside the comic book because they couldn’t get back to the city for a proper exchange. Still sounds crazy.” My back was still locking up so I stood up again.
Felix rolled his neck around as he spoke, “I agree that it doesn’t make sense to do that, but your theory may be close to being correct. You two must track down the Blood Goblet before they get a second map and find it first. It might be the only chance to counteract their black magic spells and curses.”
I wondered if we really needed the Blood Goblet, and said, “I don’t know if we need to defeat them, more than we need to rescue Cyclone Woman.”
Felix turned toward me and looked up with his freaky, all-white eyes. “If they cast a spell on Cyclone Woman, you will need the Goblet to reverse the curse. Unless you can get one of the sorcerers to call it off.”
I rubbed the scruffy hair on my chin. “That doesn’t seem likely at all. And defeating seven powerful sorcerers doesn’t sound very easy.”
Felix immediately said, “It isn’t seven anymore. At least three have died over the years. As far as I know, there are only four remaining. Kobayashi, Tamamo no Mae, Yabe and Sakai. It must be a big plan if they are all in Pittsburgh. I will explain the sorcerers in more detail if you two can find the Goblet. Otherwise it will just be wasted details. Find the Goblet and return for more instructions.”
“Fair enough,” I said as Fukutama motioned with his right hand for me to come closer to the maps. I sat down next to the wise wizard. Through Felix, he explained the directions to us, pointing out all the details as he went. Fukutama provided me with a pencil and paper so that I could write the directions in English.
We both thanked Fukutama, bowed graciously and climbed down the ladder inside the tree trunk.
As Felix and I walked through the woods to get back to my car, I pulled out my phone and hoped for Wi-Fi service. Miraculously, in the middle of the woods, I had a signal. I fired up the internet and searched for Cheat Mountain.
I looked at the phone as I dodged branches and bushes, and said, “So that place is right down in West Virginia. I can’t help but think they are setting up some sort of crazy ritual with Cyclone Woman and the Goblet. Just a stab in the dark.”
Felix almost tripped over a fallen tree branch until I grabbed his coat over his shoulder and stopped him from falling down. “Thanks.” He brushed off his coat, focusing on the part where my hand had touched him. What a dick. “That’s possible. I don’t expect them to stay in Pittsburgh for long.”
With this case being right up Felix’s alley, it presented a unique opportunity for me. “Why don’t you take the lead on this? I’m still waiting to hear word on Burn and if I get the signal, I need to go rescue her. With this being close by in West Virginia, it seems like you just need to dig up the Goblet. Take a few friends that own shovels. Or take someone from the media for an exclusive. You don’t need me for that.” I tried to play into his vanity.
His head bobbed around in indecision and he stopped. Turning around to face me, he asked, “What if I run into the sorcerers on their way to dig up the Goblet?”
I hadn’t thought about that obvious issue. I probably shouldn’t have brought up the ritual possibility earlier. “I’m doubting that theory. I’m convinced there’s only one map and unless they saw it beforehand, they have no idea where this place is. Kobayashi, the Sorcerer I know nothing about, attacked me for the map. There isn’t another one.”
If playing to his vanity wouldn’t work, time to throw down the trump card. “Maybe I could make it worth your while. Monetarily.”
He cracked a smug smile. “Perhaps we can work something out.” He turned around again and continued on the dirt path toward his purple hearse.
I’d figured out his true weakness. Money, money, money, muh—ney. Muh—muh—ney. “I’ll give you five-grand. Take it or leave it. Pretty hefty payday to dig up an artifact.” I conveniently left out details about how horribly wrong things had gone every time I’d tried to uncover a supernatural artifact.
We broke out of the woods and entered the green meadow where Felix had parked. He turned to me and extended an open hand. “Deal.” I shook his hand, and he said, “I got a few people I can bring with me. I just hope nothing breaks out.”
“I think you will be just fine.” As those words escaped my mouth, I couldn’t help but think I’d just jinxed myself. “I just need to be available for that call. You understand, right?”
“Understand, yeah.” Felix pressed the remote lock button and I heard them open in unison. For a classic car, Felix had restored it with modern perks. The mage looked up at the sky as he said, “Would I try to save her?” He turned away from me and mumbled, “I just don’t think it’s a possibility. No offense.”
Despite the mage’s bleak outlook, I still planned to bust in to Sleepy Willow to get Burn back. With Felix taking the lead on this, I could harass Jonathan enough to annoy him into submission. I’d have to go in disguise, rather than kicking in the door, which was always my preferred method. It felt refreshing to take a small step back from a problem in Pittsburgh
, rather than being the lead man.
I did have one major worry hanging over my head. Could I trust Felix not to fuck this up without me?
Chapter 8
As I was dozing off on my couch, my phone buzzed on the coffee table. I picked it up and swiped to see who it was. Incoming call from Black Hoof’s connection, Terry. Maybe he had some information about Cyclone Woman.
I swiped accept. “Hello.”
“Hi Mike,” his voice came through hoarse and scratchy, “This is Terry, Catahecassa’s friend.”
“Yeah, I remember. What’s going on?” I asked, nervously.
“Did you hear about the tornado in Tionesta?”
My heart sank into my shoes. “Can’t say as I have.”
Terry explained, “It was a bad one. Came as such a surprise that the weather people didn’t even see it coming.”
“Is Black Hoof and his family all right?” I asked, fearing the answer.
“I’m not sure,” he responded, leaving a glimmer of hope. “I’m heading over there right now. Would you want to meet me up there?”
I thought for a second about whether I had any plans today. “Yeah. It will take me a few hours, but I’ll meet you up there.”
Terry cleared his throat and said, “Okay. I’ll see you when you get here.”
I hung up the phone and rounded up Dante and Colossus. I worried about Black Hoof and his lovely family on the ride up. Dante played on the laptop with his earbuds in and Colossus continually ran across the backseat, spying out both sides of the car.
Entering Tionesta, I got a small taste of the destruction from a distance. Random areas on both sides of the road had been wiped out. I could see the jagged, winding path the tornado had followed.
As we got close to Black Hoof’s house, the damage was overwhelming. The tornado had tracked through the woods, corn fields and the green plains, leaving an utter wasteland behind. We passed a house that had been hit. The roof was missing, every window had been blown out and the covered porch was broken off and lying on its side.