James looked up at the giant, unsure what to make of him. He flowed with the energies and knew the man’s name. “Chilvar,” he said.
“Yes, I was known by that name once. If it pleases you to call me by that name, I will not object. In turn, I shall call you Men Tet.”
James cocked his head. “That’s a weird name.”
“It is the name I knew you by when we were focused in physical reality together. That connection inspired you to choose me as your guide during this manifestation of your lower self.”
“I chose you? How? I had no idea you existed.”
Chilvar smiled. “Not for nothing do we call this your lower self. It’s not accurate, of course, but a useful abbreviation. Now: how may I be of service?”
“I need to save Agnes.”
CHAPTER 41: GOODBYE KISS
Syed Hassan bowed to Tobias and ascended the steps to his golden throne. Tobias nodded genially to the man and gestured for him to sit on a stool to his right. Syed sat down, frowning. Tobias stiffened his posture to appear kingly.
“What news do you bring me?”
Syed touched two fingers two his forehead and looked down. “By the gods, and by the will of Tobias, the west wall is nearly complete.”
Tobias nodded. “Marc serves me well. I am pleased.”
“Yes… he has worked tirelessly to bring forth your glorious kingdom. A more loyal servant you could not find,” Syed said, with a hint of envy.
“Yet you do not seem pleased at this. Speak. Tell me of your troubles.”
Syed bowed in servitude once more. “Your highness, I mean no offense when I say this, but I have examined the kingdom the people are building, and it does not appear to be… correct.”
Tobias cocked his head. “What do you mean? Do not the walls measure in length, width and stature as I have instructed? Are they not in the shape I wished them to form? I too have examined the progress of this kingdom and have found no fault in it.”
“By the gods, your highness, all appears to be as you say. And yet… forgive my asking this, your majesty, have you seen it from afar?”
Tobias snorted. “Afar? Is not my perch upon this throne not a lofty enough perch to oversee all I command?”
Syed looked out at the visible expanse of territory Tobias commanded. Much could be seen. Inanna’s bedroom could not. “I have been out beyond the walls of your kingdom, your highness, and something struck me as odd. The walls do not suggest a great kingdom lies within.”
“Pah. The armies of Nineveh shall not see our approach. This shall be a fine home while I prepare to lay siege upon hated Nineveh. If it appears plain to the common man, let it be so. It is of no consequence.”
“S-sire, forgive me for saying this, but I must speak truth to my king. Nineveh has fallen. There is no kingdom to conquer. It lies in ruins. No armies have occupied that land for centuries.”
Tobias sat back, stunned. This was not in accordance with Inanna’s assurances that Nineveh was ripe for slaughter, their armies lusty and waiting for battle with a worthy adversary. This was not the revenge he was promised. “What treachery is this?”
Syed slipped a cell phone from his suit coat. Tobias leaned forward. Syed held up the device. “Your highness, see as I produce the evidence. You will see Nineveh lies in ruin, never to rise again.” He swiped his finger across the screen and intently tapped buttons.
Tobias slapped the phone out of his hand. His eyes flashed with fury. “Lies! Betrayal! Inanna has shown me glorious Nineveh, filled with armies, laden with riches, and unaware of my plans. Am I to believe you over the word of my own blood? Go, and live your days in exile.” He thrust a finger toward the far end of the kingdom in progress.
Syed knelt and pleaded with Tobias. He pressed his palms together as he beseeched his king. “Please, your majesty, I have spoken only the truth. My family has been loyal to you for thousands of years, to the last of us. I swear to you I have not broken our holy oath to serve you faithfully and with honor. Please, your excellency, let me prove the truth of my words.”
Inanna stepped out from behind a red drape that hung behind the throne. She wore a green dress and chunky copper adornments. Her eyes pierced Syed. He trembled at the sight of her. She flashed a wicked smile before crouching beside Tobias.
“Hush, traitor! Tobias does not hear your venomous words. Go, now, while he gives you life. Go.”
Syed shook his head and bared his teeth. Tears streamed down his cheeks. Fury burned in his eyes. “I know what you are. I know what this is. This is no kingdom. I will devote my life to ending you.”
Inanna showed a flash of fear, then her features hardened. “Does Tobias stand for such treachery? Does Tobias show this dog mercy? Make an example of him, brother. Show the world your justice comes swift and terrible!”
Tobias flinched. “No, exile is enough. There is no place for him here. He is cursed, now and forever. Go. Leave us at once.”
Syed staggered to his feet. He took heavy steps down the stairs that led to the throne. When he reached the bottom, Inanna ran her fingers through Tobias’s hair. “You are a wise and merciful king. May your kingdom stand as a testament to your kind heart. I will see him out. He will trouble you no more.”
Tobias nodded gravely. “As you wish, though my guards shall support you.”
Inanna smiled. “Thank you, my king. This insect shall never buzz in your ears again.” She walked quickly down the steps and two guards flanked her as she approached Syed, who stumbled toward the exit. She hooked arms with him and pressed her free hand to his bicep. “Your service will be missed.”
Syed scoffed. “Not by you. And my service compels me to tell the others the truth. They have a right to know what they’re really building, and who they truly serve.”
“The others need only to know Tobias is good and just. He gives them food, shelter, and work, as he promised. Your words are but poison to them.”
Syed tugged to free his arm from Inanna’s grip, but he couldn’t shake it loose. “I’ll go quietly, but I swear to the heavens, I shall always work to free Tobias from your clutches.”
Inanna looked over her shoulder at the guards. “Your work is done here. But let us not part as enemies. Let us part sweetly.”
Syed contorted his face. “We shall always be enemies. I will never side with you. Tobias does not know the truth about you. He believes you’re his sister. But I know better. I’m a learned man, Inanna, and I know what you are. Your legend has faded from the land. We both know why. I curse the day I brought you here. Death to Inanna, dark goddess of—”
Inanna pressed her lips to his. Syed’s eyes widened as he struggled to free himself from her iron grip. He let out a muffled scream before dissipating into a pile of ash.
The guards stepped back in horror. They looked at the sooty heap, then at her.
Inanna gazed at them intently. “Swear your loyalty to me, now. Your life for Inanna.”
The guards looked at each other and fingered their spears. “It is Tobias we serve.”
“Tobias will be saddened to hear of your treachery. He will know you ran off with the traitor when we reached the gate. He will curse your names and vow revenge upon you. Or,” she said, licking her teeth, “he will hear of your loyal service, and how you prevented the coward from slinking back in, begging for forgiveness. He will know the kingdom of Tobias is well-guarded and well-served.”
The guards looked at the ash pile once more and gulped. They knelt before Inanna and beat their fists to their hearts. “Our lives for Inanna,” they said.
Inanna smiled. “I command you to serve Tobias faithfully, as you have always done. But, not one word of what you have seen and heard shall leave your lips. Swear this to Inanna.”
“We swear. None shall know of this.”
“Return to the king. Tell him the traitor is gone, never to return. That shall be truth enough for his ears.”
The guards bowed and rose to their feet. They marched back to the throne ro
om while Inanna watched. She walked leisurely toward the west wall and soon found Marc directing the placement of a large sandstone brick. She put her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek against his back.
“Inanna is lonely. She misses her Marc. Come to bedroom.”
CHAPTER 42: THE LESSON OF THE BLACK TOWER
Chilvar laughed. “Save Agnes? What do propose to save her from?”
James frowned. “She’s in danger. Those… things got her, and they’ve taken her powers away. I need to rescue her from those… black blobs.”
Aubra shook her head, embarrassed. Chilvar nodded to her, then knelt beside James. He patted James on the back as he spoke. “This child has experience with those black blobs, as you call them. You were afflicted by them before; how did she save you?”
“Um, I don’t know. They just sort of… went away on their own.”
Aubra crossed her arms and stamped her foot. “No, they did not.”
“Okay, how did you save me?”
“I didn’t,” she said.
James reeled. “Uh, come on, Aubra. You did something to make them better. I remember shaking hands with Mister Gene, and suddenly I felt fine. Did I pass them on to him? Are they like parasites, and need someone to feed on?”
Chilvar interrupted them. “Perhaps a demonstration will illustrate your predicament.” He pointed to a tower rising in the distance, encircled by dragons at the highest spire. The gates flew open. A fearsome army marched from the tower, heading directly for Aubra. Chilvar stood aside as three soldiers clad in dark, battle-worn armor draped a chain around Aubra’s neck and gave it a tug.
James was surprised to find he didn’t feel panic or fear, rather, he was annoyed. “She’s not anybody’s prisoner. She can lift that right off.”
The enemy commander thrust a finger toward the imposing tower. “You are helpless. Off with you to the black tower.”
Aubra shook her head. “I prefer to stand here.” She lifted the chain from her neck and let it fall to the ground with a thud.
A solider picked up the loop of chain and placed it around James’s neck. “Then you must take her place. You are helpless to resist. You will spend eternity in the black tower.”
James lifted the chain from his neck and tossed it aside. “Not going to happen. And how exactly does your stupid loose chain make anybody helpless?”
Chilvar laughed. “Yet you believe you must save Agnes.”
“Well… yeah. She’s helpless against those… blobby things. I got them away from her for a little while. But they’re back inside of her now. She’s suffering, and I need to help her.”
“Your friend was taken prisoner before you, and you did nothing to save her,” Chilvar said. Aubra crossed her arms and glared at James.
“Yeah, well, I knew she wasn’t in any real danger. I knew she was smart enough to take that stupid chain off.”
“But you don’t think your friend Agnes is smart enough to do the same.” Chilvar clapped his hands. The army and the tower vanished.
Aubra corrected him. “Girlfriend.”
James huffed. “You weren’t there. You didn’t see the way she glowed white when those blobs came out of her, or how she turned blood red before they came rushing back into her.”
Chilvar smiled. “I am your spirit guide. I am always there.”
“Then… why didn’t you help me? Why didn’t you tell me what to do to save her?”
“You didn’t ask. I must say I was very impressed with how you intuitively did the right thing… at first.”
James reeled. “Huh? What did I do? I remember stroking her back, and I said I loved her, which was weird because I don’t even know her,” he shot an admonishing glance at Aubra, “and she said she liked that… then, she got angry with me and those blobs attacked her again.”
Aubra stamped her foot. “That isn’t everything that happened.”
“No,” James said quietly, “it isn’t. But I don’t understand why she’s angry with me. I only asked her an innocent question, and—” Aubra and Chilvar laughed. James felt rage stir within him at the sight of them. “It’s not funny!”
Chilvar knelt and patted James on the back again. “Purity of motive, Men Tet. You have heard the words, but you have not taken them into your heart. When you visited your friend, was it love that led you to her? Or simply desire?”
“Well, I mean, I don’t know if it was love at first sight,” he waved dismissively to Aubra, “but yeah, I did feel a love for her.”
“Be honest, Men Tet.”
“Well, I did want to know about the gold thing. When I asked about it she asked why I wanted to know, and things… didn’t go so well.”
“Do you love Agnes?”
“I, um, I mean, by that, if you’re asking if I have a love for her as my fellow human being—”
“Answer the question: do you love Agnes?”
“I… don’t know.”
Chilvar turned to Aubra. “Do you love Men Tet?”
Aubra tightened her arms across her chest. “Yes.”
James felt ill, even in his ethereal form. Aubra was just a kid. There were laws, and lists, and things were just plain going to end badly if he barked up that tree. He needed to shut this down.
Chilvar turned to James. “Do you love Aubra?”
“No. I… like her as a friend. Just friends, that’s it.” Aubra glowered at him as the words left his mouth.
“He thinks love is bad unless we’re grown-ups.”
Chilvar shook his head sadly. “Men Tet, you have much to consider. Meditate. Truly meditate on your motives. Then meditate on the nature of love. If you do not reach this understanding, you will never succeed in any of your ambitions.”
“That’s it? Nothing about the meaning of life, while I’m at it?”
“Have you meditated on the meaning of life?”
James looked down. “Not exactly, no.”
“Then by all means, do so. You must return to your studies. Heed my instructions, Men Tet. The answers will come only if you are at peace and open your heart to receive them unconditionally.”
Yes, sir.”
“Oh, and one more thing, Men Het. Aubra loves you. Accept her love as a blessing. Do not withhold blessings out of fear or spite.”
“But—”
“Unconditionally, Men Tet. Perhaps not now, but in time.”
Aubra grabbed James by the hand. “Come on. Let’s get back to the manor.” Before James could reply, he found himself back in the meditation room. He fumbled for his glasses and put them on in time to see Aubra stomp out of the room and slam the door behind her.
CHAPTER 43: INVASION
“There. That did the trick.” An elderly man dressed in a plaid shirt and jeans got to his feet and pushed the apartment door open. He frowned when a chain lock impeded the door’s progress. He turned to Jacqueline, looking puzzled. “I thought you said you locked yourself out.”
Jacqueline struggled to maintain her cool demeanor. “I did. Is there a problem?”
“What, did you climb out the window? You can’t set the chain lock from the outside,” he said.
“Can you open it?”
He ran his finger along the brass chain. “I’m afraid not. This one just screws into the wall. Sometimes they have a locking mechanism, so you can pop it open if, say, your child sets it on you and won’t let you in.”
Jacqueline swallowed hard and raised her chin haughtily. “That’s what happened. My daughter locked me out. I was hoping to keep this confidential, and having said that, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t share that information with anyone else.”
The man shrugged. “Not sure who I’d tell, if it’s all the same to you. Anyway, well, if you don’t mind the inconvenience of minor repairs later, I can have this door open in a jif.”
“Yes… yes, of course. I will compensate the management for any damages. It’s only fair.” Jacqueline caressed her purse as she spoke.
“That’s good enough f
or me. Here goes.” The man stepped back, then drove his right shoulder into the door. The chain lock base tore away from the wall, revealing Gracie’s apartment. Candy wrappers were strewn on the floor. The sofa cushions were askew. A bottle of soda pop laid on its side, soaking a puddle into the carpeting. Jacqueline surveyed the scene, aghast. She had expected much worse from Lauren. Agnes must have been working diligently to maintain some semblance of order.
The locksmith blew a low whistle. “Someone’s gonna get it.”
“Yes, well, I intend to deal with this quickly, and with authority.” Jacqueline dug around for her wallet. “How much?”
“Fifty even,” he said. Jacqueline handed the locksmith a Business Black card without a second thought. His eyes widened. “Huh. Never seen one of these before. Not sure if the card reader will take it, but I’ll give it a shot.” He plugged a card reader attachment into his smartphone and tapped the screen slowly. A moment later, he gave the card a determined swipe and made a satisfied grunt when the screen displayed the signature pane.
Jacqueline used the tip of her finger to sign the receipt. She declined having the receipt emailed to her, then thought better of it. She gave him her professional address, then closed the door behind him. She set her purse down on the dining room table and put her hands on her hips. “Lauren, come out here this instant.”
When nobody responded to her summons, she made a tch sound and walked to the first bedroom door. She pushed it open and frowned at the sight of Lauren’s room. It was about as unkempt as usual but didn’t appear to have been occupied for several hours. That left Agnes. Jacqueline pushed her door open and gasped. Agnes was lying in a fetal position on the floor, dressed in tan pajama bottoms and a beige shirt.
The front door banged open behind her. Gracie’s voice rose shrilly as she rattled off a list of charges. “What the hell, Ag? You ate more of my candy? And… dammit, why is this on the floor? Ugh, come clean this up! And… who’s bag is this?”
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