I smiled sheepishly at him. “Go, Team Temple?”
He didn’t smile back. One of his hands held the noose over his shoulder, while the other held his axe. The two other hands were folded on his hips in a most disapproving manner. He let out a quick, frustrated honk from his trunk, closed his eyes, and I distinctively heard him murmuring, “Ohmmmm…” in a deep, calming baritone. The Hindu chant used during meditation rituals. I risked a peek at Krauncha, who split his glare between myself and Tory way back behind us. The mouse lifted a paw as if considering going back to take a bite out of her, but Ganesh suddenly snapped his fingers. I flinched instinctively, because it sounded like a freaking wrist-thick tree limb suddenly exploding. I saw the mouse lower his paw out of the corner of my eye, but I didn’t dare take my eyes off Ganesh, ready to fight if necessary.
Ganesh opened his eyes and stared down at me again, noose still clenched in one of his fists as he now swung it back and forth in a steady swish, swish sound. I wanted to melt into the ground under that godly glare.
Then, ever so slowly, his face began to stretch into a smile, wider, and wider until he began to chuckle to himself, and then pat his belly in great deep bellows, interspersed with more trunk-honking. He wiped a tear from his eye with one hand while the other extended out to help me to my feet. I took it, wary, and he pulled me into a great big hug.
Look, basically, I head butted his great big Buddha belly with a loud slap. And he held me there like a mother protecting her child. And that same warmth and euphoria as I had experienced earlier washed over me again, and I found myself laughing. He patted me on the back a few times, rattling my teeth, and then pushed me back to a respectable distance, wrapping a massive palm around the base of my neck as he guided me back towards Krauncha.
“Your little Beast Master… very clever. I was so focused on racing that I didn’t even think to check for trickery. It’s been so long since I had a good race. I must thank you.”
I nodded in relief. “My pleasure.” I looked up to see Tory approaching astride Grimm. He came to a halt beside the mouse, dipped his head respectfully, and then freaking knelt on his front hooves to let Tory down. Polite jerk. Where was his ejector seat when it came to her?
Grimm gently nudged Krauncha with his muzzle, drawing him away to speak in private. The mouse stared at Tory for a good long while before Ganesh cleared his throat. The mouse blinked, and then let out a frightening toothy smile at Tory. “Do not fear me. I’m not upset with you, my lady. I’m upset with myself for not seeing the power coursing through your veins sooner. It was well done.” And he dipped his head at her politely, then followed Grimm, murmuring words I couldn’t quite catch in his awesome Morgan Freeman voice to My Little Pony.
I growled, and Tory blushed, hearing the sound. She smiled, shrugging. “It’s my dimples, I think. People,” she glanced at Krauncha, “and beasts, I guess, have a hard time staying mad at me. I struggle on as best I can, despite this heavy burden.” She winked before sidling up to me, playfully nudging me with her hip. Ganesh burst out laughing as Tory draped an arm around my shoulders, and planted a big fat kiss on my stubbled cheek. I glanced down at her and she theatrically batted her lashes at me, causing Ganesh to roar again in great big honking laughs.
“Okay, you’re cute. Dimples and all. I get it. But at least Grimm could have catapulted you before he saw your dimples.”
Her expression grew thoughtful as she turned to the elephant-headed god. “Ganesh, I’ve had an epiphany, no doubt thanks to your presence, and the fact that you help me feel at peace. When someone is genuinely nice to another person, I think I’m just beginning to understand that the other person will reciprocate that same demeanor…” her gaze flicked my way. “Actually, that other person will generally reciprocate whatever action you show them. This is just a theory, mind you, but I do seem to have evidence to back it up.” She held up a hand to mimic blocking my vision as she used her other hand to point a finger at me. Ganesh roared in laughter, plucked her up in his massive arms, and settled her on his shoulders like a dad with his daughter. She squealed in delight and I rolled my eyes.
“Can you just give me the belt now? I get it. I’m an asshole.”
Ganesh carefully set Tory down, who was smiling from ear-to-ear, and then turned to face me. He quickly shot one hand beneath his robes – which looked wildly inappropriate, let me tell you – and withdrew a giant scaled belt from beneath his giant belly. The buckle was the size of a dinner plate, and the belt itself was as wide as one of those boxing champion belts. And it looked ridiculously heavy.
So, of course, he tossed it at me.
I yelped, throwing up both arms and firmly planting my feet, but the belt shifted in midair, leaving me to catch what looked like an expensive snake-skin belt.
“What’s so special about your belt?” Tory asked, grinning at my overreaction.
Before he could respond, I felt a sudden warmth wash over me, as if someone had poured warm oil over my head. It flowed all the way down to my toes, and then was replaced by a cooling sensation. And my previous injuries itched for a moment before fading away.
I gasped as the sensation faded away entirely.
Ganesh folded down into a sitting position, crossing his legs, identical to every Ganesh statue everywhere, not acknowledging my reaction, although Tory was staring at me curiously.
Not knowing what else to do, we sat down before him, even though I had already read a version of the belt’s origin story. “I was once traveling when I injured my stomach. Sliced it open entirely, as a matter of fact. I killed this snake – more like a dragon than a snake – and bound my wound. It healed me. Since then, the belt has been sought by many to cure injuries, ailments, and diseases. Nate needs this to cure Baba Yaga’s pain.”
I held the belt in my palms, blinking wonderingly.
Ganesh chuckled. “It changes to suit the wearer.” He looked up at the trees above. “If you want to heal the Familiar, you’d best be on your way. Time is almost up for the creature.” He locked eyes with me for a long second. “Take heed.” I nodded, momentarily frozen. “You may also have need of the belt in the days to come. Like you just experienced, and for other reasons… You will need assistance with all the pain that must be healed. And that healing starts with your pain…” he said, levelling saddened eyes with me. But he didn’t give me time to ask what he meant before he continued. “There is no harm in using the belt, as long as you do not abuse this gift,” he added in a meaningful tone. “Even the briefest touch from my belt is enough to delay lasting harm for the Familiar. For three days.” He nodded once, and looked about to leave before another thought hit him. “One more thing. I think it goes without saying, but I must get my belt back. I know the desires of such an artifact, and that many would want it, even abuse it.” He didn’t point fingers, but I couldn’t help but feel like he was referring to my character. “For example, if one were to give the belt away, or put it in an extremely well-guarded Armory, the rightful owner would then be obligated to burn those buildings down to their foundation…” He levelled me with a calm look despite his threat. “Even if one were compelled to steal the belt by a… close friend.”
And I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was referring to both Baba and her House, and the Dark Presence inside me. I knew the latter, because the Dark Presence instantly grumbled unpleasantly.
Ganesh smiled, and stood, nodding his head as his great big trunk curled and uncurled restlessly. He shook our hands, and then began walking over towards his mount, Krauncha. “We shall meet again, Temple, Tory. I do not wish to be here when they show up.”
His hand touched the mouse, and they disappeared.
I turned to face Tory, wondering what the hell he had meant. “You no longer have a skid-mark on your face.” She grinned, jarring my train of thought. “You do have the most interesting companions,” she murmured, wrapping her arm through mine and leading me back the way we had come. “Let’s go see your witch.”
> “There she is! Get her!”
And we turned to see that Grimm had abandoned us, and two tiny green goblins were suddenly firing arrows at us from a dozen paces away.
And I suddenly realized why Ganesh had bolted.
Chapter 22
I threw a violet dome up around us, and the arrows struck with sizzling crackles of electricity. The sudden drain of power was enough to make me shiver as my vision abruptly pulsed blue from calling upon my power. Something so simple shouldn’t have exhausted me so much, but thanks to Doofus, I wasn’t playing with a full deck.
At least there were only two of them.
I threw a quick javelin of the purple power at the closest goblin, but it deflected at the last second, a wooden cuff at his wrist suddenly flaring with blue light, somehow repelling my attack. Tory was shouting something at me, but I didn’t hear the words against the sound roaring in my ears, like crashing waves. My power was struggling against the curse. Like trying to force an ocean through a pipe.
I growled at the hideously pale green-skinned figures, all of four feet tall, and looking malnourished. They looked like identical twins. Entirely bald, and wearing sleeveless pelts that hung down to mid-thigh. The drain of power was making me slightly dizzy, as if I had been at it for hours. I wheezed, opening a gateway behind one goblin. Sparks flared into existence around the circle, and were immediately sucked into the darkness like a draining bathtub. Then I hammered him with a blast of air to send him screaming into the darkness as the other goblin continued firing arrows at my shield.
This, too, was deflected without any effort from the goblin.
Although he did dart away from the gateway as fast as possible.
Tory was suddenly standing beside me and threw her hands into the air. Tree branches rained down on us as if a tornado had just touched down, the explosion of twigs, bright leaves, and earth swirling about us like a hurricane, causing the goblins to halt their attack to shield their eyes. But my shield protected us. Tory’s eyes were green fire.
Living fire.
I noticed a large branch on the ground, and with a burst of power, picked it up to swipe at the goblins like a game of whack-a-mole. I missed the first time, but swung again in a lateral motion, sending one of them flying towards the gateway.
He hit directly on the ring of fire surrounding it.
And was abruptly torn in half.
His upper body went screaming into the darkness while his legs flopped onto the ground, twitching for a moment before they turned into a pile of compost that was sucked up into the vortex of power Tory was somehow controlling.
“And it burns, burns, burns… the ring of fire!” I cackled madly as the Dark Presence tried to take over my power, judging me unfit. I fought back, still grinning.
The surviving goblin gasped in terror and turned to flee. But branches and vines suddenly lashed out from the corridor of trees, stabbing through his chest, legs, arms, and even his neck as if he had been struck with a dozen arrows all at once. He cried out as he fell, thick green blood marking the wounds before he, too, turned into a pile of compost.
I let go of my power immediately and forcefully gripped Tory’s arm, suddenly terrified.
But she didn’t stop. I squinted my eyes and shouted her name three times, using her true name as the fires in her eyes grew brighter, like a venomous snake or a nightmarish monster.
“Tory Marlin, Tory Marlin, Tory Marlin!” The vortex instantly stopped, and the debris rained down around us. The canopy was destroyed.
Tory wobbled slightly, and then her now normal eyes fluttered closed, and she collapsed.
I caught her before she struck the ground, but I, too, was dizzy, so I fell to my knees with her in my arms. I panted heavily, struggling with sudden exhaustion, but was relieved to feel her breathing normally.
“What the hell?” I whispered to myself, stroking her cheeks in wonder.
I gently settled her onto the ground and approached the remains of the goblins. The smell of compost was fresh and pungent, but inside each pile was a wooden wristband, etched in whorls and curlicues of an alien language. “You seeing this?” I asked the Dark Presence inside of me.
Yes. Fairy make. Typical armor for those who hunt wizards.
I frowned. “They have a regular crew of wizard hunters?”
They did in the old days. Seems the Queens reenlisted them.
I opened my mouth, but a voice interrupted me. “Who… are you talking to?”
I discreetly pocketed the bracelets, not wanting to leave them out where anyone could find them, and turned to see Tory staring at me with terrified, and concerned eyes.
“No one. Just thinking out loud,” I said with a faint grin, hiding my troubled thoughts at the Dark Presence’s answers.
She nodded after a second. “I’m so sorry, Nate…” she sobbed. “I should have reacted sooner. I didn’t mean for you to use your power.”
I waved off her concern, approaching. “Don’t worry about it. Didn’t take up very much power at all,” I lied. “Can you stand?”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s get the hell out of here,” I said, extending a hand to help her to her feet. “And I think we just had our first reaction from you using your powers. Just like the sprites warned.”
Chapter 23
I sat in my study, staring out the window at the large silvery tree, waiting impatiently. I had sent Tory home to check on the Reds and to get some rest from our sausage party. Hell, I could use a good rest after our fight with the goblins. I felt hollowed out, as if my soul was starving. I guessed that Othello was still sleeping, because I hadn’t seen anyone upon my return.
I growled to myself, impatience getting the better of me as I waited on my guest. Where was she? I needed her help, and I needed it now. It was early afternoon, so if she got me the information soon enough, I could gather the crew and set up a trap. Maybe even catch the kidnappers, or even the Beast Master himself, if he participated in these abductions. I fiddled with the wooden bracelets in my pocket as I waited, the Dark Presence growling in displeasure at the contact. They didn’t feel any different from regular wood, but their ability to nullify magic definitely put the Dark Presence in a mood, and I could sense that he was examining them like a scientist, despite his grumblings. I ignored him as I focused back to the matter at hand. If she would just hurry the hell—
“Where is it?”
I jumped, spinning in my chair. Baba knelt before my desk, cheeks stained with fresh tears as she begged without shame. And my office suddenly reeked of offal, blood, and death.
The Familiar towered behind her, hunched low as it glowered in my direction. It was almost as if Baba was experiencing the same pain as her Familiar, as she was clutching her abdomen and grimacing. The Familiar had already had bad posture, but now…
The Familiar was practically folded in on itself, barely standing. And the violet glowing cracks were brilliantly lighting up the room, almost as if a force was trying to break free of the bone mask, like a chick trying to break free from its egg. And Baba didn’t look to be doing too well either.
I stood slowly and approached the pair. I began to unbuckle my belt, and her hands began to reach out for it pleadingly, like a beggar on the street reaching out for a coin.
And that’s when my Butler walked into the room. Dean took one look at me unbuckling my pants, then at the gnarled, old woman kneeling before my crotch. He didn’t even acknowledge the Familiar.
He blinked.
He blushed.
His mouth opened once, then clicked closed.
Then he turned on a heel and left without a word.
Baba didn’t even notice. She stared at the belt hungrily, desperately, hope brimming in her eyes as she clawed for it in desperation.
I groaned, imagining how that must have looked to Dean.
“This isn’t a show. Give me the belt,” she whispered. “He doesn’t have much time. I don’t have much time.”
I nod
ded, pointing at the couch. “Put him there. This is specific magic. I can’t just hand it over. It doesn’t work like that.” Baba’s eyes instantly grew skeptical, but I kept my face open and honest. “Well? Hurry up, if you want me to help him!” I urged.
That made her move. She groaned to her feet, stumbling slightly, and touched the Familiar’s shoulder. The creature hissed, and was instantly lying on my couch, breath wheezing with pain at the sudden motion. I walked closer, began to murmur unintelligible things under my breath, and placed the belt over the Familiar’s body, careful to make sure I touched both his body and the mask.
The room suddenly flashed purple and then yellow, and the cracks slowly began to tighten closed. I continued chanting, closing my eyes, and papers began flying about haphazardly. The Familiar was locked rigid, gasping for air, and Baba was frantically wringing her hands, tears streaming down her face.
I pulled the belt away suddenly, and the Familiar went slack, motionless. Several seconds went by before it sucked in a large gulp of air, gasping for a few more seconds before falling back asleep with one word on its lips, “Misssstressssss…” Baba shoved me out of the way and collapsed onto his chest, hugging him tightly. Then the room was silent, except for her sobbing and his breathing, which sounded heavy, healthy, and deeply, deeply asleep.
There wasn’t even a trace of a rattle in it anymore.
Cracks still marred his bone mask, and in places, a bit of purple still shone through, but the cracks now looked old, and mostly healed. Still, I knew this was only a temporary reprieve. Baba lifted her head, placed a hand on the Familiar’s chest, and then slowly turned to face me, cheeks still wet.
Beast Master: A Novel in The Nate Temple Supernatural Thriller Series (The Temple Chronicles Book 5) Page 13