Ancient Illusions

by Joanne Pence

  When they reached the village, Taishi asked O-Yuki to join him at his house to rest a while before continuing her journey. After some shy hesitation, she went there with him. Upon entering the house, they rushed into each other’s arms. He couldn’t bear to part with her, and in a matter of days they married.

  Hidden behind the name O-Yuki, the Snow Woman, Rachel came to love Taishi. And soon she learned she was expecting a child.

  In the morning, Ceinwen again could scarcely arouse Rachel. When she did, Rachel looked around, dazed, confused. She drew in a ragged breath. “No,” she whispered, then louder, “No! God, no!"

  “What’s wrong?” Ceinwen was alarmed at this reaction.

  “It wasn’t a dream!” Rachel cried, then burst into tears.

  Ceinwen helped her get dressed and out to the kitchen where she made Rachel tea and cooked her some scrambled eggs. She was a believer that food could cure many ills.

  Michael joined them, and in a hushed voice, Ceinwen told him what had happened that morning.

  Rachel took one bite, then pushed away the plate. Both Ceinwen and Michael tried to get her to explain why the dream had upset her so badly.

  “The dream wasn’t upsetting. The dream was fine,” she said finally.

  “What then?”

  “I don’t know how to explain. When I think about it, I don’t understand.”

  “Tell us.”

  “I was in old Japan. In the dream I was”—she drew in her breath, then blurted out—“I was a demon, a beautiful demonic woman who would pursue men, have sex, and then kill them. But then I met a young man, a woodcutter, who looked like Seiji except that he was healthy and handsome and … virile. His name was Taishi. And I didn’t kill him. I pretended to be a mortal woman, and I married him.” Her words hung in the air until she added, “I loved him. I mean, I truly loved him. And he loved me. No one has ever loved me like that. We were expecting our first child when I was awakened.”

  “That was some dream,” Ceinwen murmured.

  Rachel glared at Ceinwen. “I hate you for waking me!”

  Ceinwen gasped and couldn’t reply.

  Rachel put her fists against her eyes, then to her temples, trying to calm herself. “It didn’t feel like a dream.” She tried to explain. “I spent a night with Taishi and vanished for a long time before coming back as a woman. But then, over a period of three months, I spent every day with him as a lover, a wife, and to our joy, as a mother-to-be. I lived those days and those nights—each and every one of them. And you know what was the strangest part of all?”

  The other two shook their heads.

  “I was so very happy. I don’t know if I’ve ever, at any time in my own life, felt as filled with joy and love as I did for the three months in my dream. To think, to know it was only a dream makes me so sad I can hardly bear it. I want that life not this one. And I ache for all I’ve lost, and the child I will never know.”

  Ceinwen and Michael glanced at each other. “Rachel, I’m so sorry,” Ceinwen said.

  “His name was Taishi Nakamura?” Michael asked.

  “Yes.” Rachel fought tears. “If you told me I’d been asleep for months, I might have believed you because in my dream, I lived that amount of time. And it was all so very real …”

  “Was your name in the dream Yuki?” Michael asked.

  Rachel clasped her hands so tightly her knuckles turned white, and she shouted at Michael. “My dream, my life, was not another of your damned Lafcadio Hearn stories!”

  He didn’t even flinch at her reaction, but stated, “It’s called ‘Yuki Onna.’ It means Snow Woman.”

  “No!” The word was a scream, a loud, heartbreaking, terrifying scream.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered.

  She stood, ready to run from the room when she stopped and stared at him. With a shuddering breath, eyes wide, she asked, “Was that the end of the story?”

  “No. There’s more.”

  “What?”

  “You don’t want to know.”

  Rachel froze there a moment, horrified at the implication of his words, then ran out of the room.

  Michael returned to the Nakamura house to work a little on cataloging the artifacts and to check on Seiji, but Ceinwen felt she needed to stay at the Hearn house with Rachel.

  At the Nakamura estate, Michael could scarcely believe how strong Seiji appeared—much more so than Michael had ever seen him. Even Lady Nakamura was thrilled as this sudden recovery.

  “Perhaps just being around interesting people close to his age is doing wonders for him,” Lady Nakamura happily exclaimed. “And his obvious interest in a certain young woman also seems to help his blood flow more strongly.”

  Michael had to wonder about that, along with Rachel saying her lover was named Taishi – the same name Seiji used for the daimyo thought to have become a demon.

  Michael went into the temperature-controlled building and tried to concentrate on some interesting pieces of pottery, but his mind wasn’t in it.

  In Rachel’s eyes, Michael saw the early stages of possession. He hoped he was wrong, but he was especially troubled when he saw how strong Seiji looked while Rachel grew weak. If Taishi was the demon possessing Seiji, and the creature was using Rachel to draw strength, she was in grave danger.

  Sexual demonic attacks were well known in Greek and Roman mythology. The most common were succubi, female demons who used men for sex and drained their energy from them. But incubi also existed, male demons who would lie with sleeping women and have sexual relations with them. Sometimes the male demons would appear as satyrs or fauns, but they could take on any form—even that of a handsome Japanese wood cutter.

  Michael's mind raced with things he’d read about such creatures. Rachel had dreamed she was pregnant, and many believed incubi had the ability to father demon children.

  One of the many legends about the wizard known as Merlin, advisor to King Arthur of Camelot among others, was that he was a cambion: born of a mortal woman, and sired by an incubus. It was said he inherited his supernatural powers and abilities from the incubus. He was also said to have been an alchemist.

  Michael tried to remember everything he’d ever heard about incubi. He couldn’t remember much except that the Malleus Maleficarum, the Hammer of Witches, suggested such creatures had no fear and didn’t respond to typical exorcisms.

  He wondered if everyone was right, and that the only thing that could stop this demon was the pearl.

  Demons were attracted to it. They couldn’t prevent or stop that attraction and so would do anything to get it, including attacking a young woman who didn’t deserve any of the horrors they might inflict on her.

  He could feel the demon around Seiji, but couldn’t see it.

  Why could Rachel see it and not him?

  And Ceinwen … why did she seem immune to these demons?

  Just then, the door to the room burst open. It was Ceinwen.

  “When I returned from the grocery, I found Rachel asleep. And again, I can’t wake her up.”

  Chapter 36

  As Ceinwen and Michael rushed to leave the Nakamura house, the family doctor stopped them. “Nakamura-sama has once more slipped into a coma. Is Miss Rachel all right?”

  “No,” Ceinwen said. “I came to tell Michael I can’t wake her. Will you come and see what’s happening?”

  The three hurried to the Hearn house. The doctor didn’t hesitate to give Rachel a shot of adrenaline. But this time it had no effect.

  “We should take her to a hospital,” Michael said.

  The doctor shook his head. “A hospital will be of no help to her.”

  At Michael’s puzzled expression, the doctor added, “I have taken care of the Nakamura family for years. I understand the situation, and your friend has somehow become ensnared in it. I believe the best thing is to move her to the Nakamura estate. There, she will be given the best care, and I will be able to watch over both my patients at the same time.”

  “Do
you have any idea how long this sleep might last?” Ceinwen asked.

  The doctor rubbed his chin in thought. “Maybe an hour. Maybe a week. Who can tell? I will make sure they have nourishment and remain hydrated.”

  Ceinwen nodded and looked at Michael. He met her gaze and agreed.

  “If I may,” the doctor said to Michael, “Lady Nakamura confided in me that you have access to something that could deal with whatever is possessing her son and your friend. If true, and I leave it up to you to decide, I hope you are willing to do what is necessary to help these young people.”

  Michael’s shoulders sagged. His expression grim, he nodded.

  After the doctor left, Ceinwen sat alone in the main tatami room, worried and forlorn. Michael entered with two open bottles of beer.

  “I’ve decided,” Michael said as he put a bottle in front of her and then sat on a zabuton. “I’m going back to Idaho to retrieve the pearl. It might be the only thing to help Seiji and Rachel.”

  “So it is in Idaho,” Ceinwen said, reaching for the beer. “I think it’s time you explained what this pearl business is all about.”

  “You still don’t know?”

  “Not for lack of trying! To tell me it’s a ‘philosopher’s stone’ means nothing. My meager study of alchemy tells me the whole thing is a hoax and its supporters charlatans.”

  He looked dismayed. “I can see where you’d think that. Most people do.”

  “But you don’t?” Her gaze was skeptical.

  He didn’t answer for a long while. “It all began last year. I was in Florence, and an old priest showed up at my door with something that looked like a reddish-pink pearl.”

  Michael explained that the pearl was an ancient Chinese artifact from the Shang dynasty—a dynasty so old historians had assumed it was mythical, until modern archeologists proved it really once existed. The pearl was a philosopher’s stone. Demons desired it so that they could have power over mankind. Those demons destroyed the Shang empire, but eventually were defeated and captured within the pearl.

  All remained quiet for centuries until Marco Polo made his famous travels to China over the Old Silk Road. He discovered the pearl, stole it, and then brought the pearl—and the demons within it—back to Europe, where the demons did much damage. Eventually, the pearl reached Michael with instructions to return it to the place from which it had been stolen. The demons battled to stop him.

  Michael and others managed to overcome the demons and then he and Jianjun buried it deep in a mountainous area of Idaho with no roads, no people, few animals, and an abundance of rare earth elements. The ancient Chinese knew those elements somehow neutralized demonic power.

  “I’ve heard of rare earth elements, but I’m not sure what they are,” Ceinwen admitted.

  “They’re metals—ones you’ll find listed near the end of the periodic table. They weren’t valued until recently and now become more valuable each day. They’re used in cell phones, computer hard drives, wind turbines, hybrid cars, solar panels, catalytic converters, and so on. Also, since they make other metals even stronger, they’re used in airplane engines.”

  “They sound amazing,” Ceinwen said.

  “They are,” Michael agreed. “Right now, China is heavily invested in mining the elements in what’s called ‘Inner Mongolia.’ Whenever another country makes progress in mining their own supply, China drops the price until the competition goes bankrupt. Then, China once again raises the price of the elements.

  “Also removing them from the ground is dangerous since they’re often connected with toxic low-level radioactive elements that can be airborne as dust or leach into the water supply. In the US, mine operators must follow strict, expensive rules. That’s why most rare earth elements there remain left untouched and unmined.”

  “And do they drain demons of power?”

  “I’ve seen it work. Jianjun and I were certain the demons that we placed in that ground would be stuck there forever. But, perhaps, they weren’t drained of as much power as we had hoped.”

  “You mean the demons might continue to be powerful?” Ceinwen cried.

  “It seems something, perhaps demonic, is going on in Salmon. It might be because of the pearl, but I won’t know until I’m there.”

  “That doesn’t sound good,” she murmured. “Is the pearl in a remote location?”

  “Quite,” Michael said.

  “In that case, I’m going with you.”

  He grimaced. “Sure you are.”

  “Really.”

  “No. You aren’t coming with me.”

  “If Rachel wakes up while we’re in Idaho—”

  “We? Didn’t you hear what I said?” he asked. “It’s dangerous.”

  “Obviously.” Ceinwen looked at him as if he just didn't get it. “If it was a walk in the park, I’d let you go alone. But it’s not.”

  “You’d let me?”

  “You heard me.”

  He threw up his hands. “But what if Rachel—?”

  “As I was saying,” Ceinwen interrupted, “if Rachel were to wake while we’re gone, she’ll be well taken care of. And if she remains asleep, what good would it do for me to be here? Should I sit around here twiddling my thumbs? I don’t think so!”

  “First, since there are no roads out there, it’ll be necessary to hike to the spot.”

  “I once did a story about yeti in the Himalayas, and I had to go to where they might be. I’m not some delicate flower, Michael. I can do this.” Ceinwen gazed at him, then placed her hands on her hips. “I’m worried about you. You can’t go there alone. Something strange is going on, and demonic or human, two would be safer than one.”

  “But you’re no demon slayer.”

  “I’m better than nothing. I haven’t been to war zones and other shitty places without learning how to protect myself. I’ve spent hours at a gun range, and I’m a good shot. A damn good shot actually. But," she hesitated, her mind at work, "what about your assistant? Maybe we should ask Li Jianjun to join us.”

  He sighed in defeat. She was headstrong. Determined. And maybe too brave for her own good. She was like no woman he had ever known... and mind-boggling as it was, he liked each and every one of those traits.

  Taking her with him would be risky, but it appeared she wouldn't take no for an answer.

  But was she wanting to go to debunk another mystery, to put another feather in her cap? Or, did she really want to retrieve the pearl in the hope that it could help Rachel?

  He leveled a questioning stare at her. “Do you finally believe Rachel and me?”

  “Ninety-five percent convinced." She grinned. "And weakening on the other five.”

  Chapter 37

  "Pack your bags and meet me in Seattle. We’re going to Salmon, Idaho.”

  Michael's phone call, made from the Izumo Airport, filled Jianjun with relief. His boss—his friend—was still alive. Jianjun had been on the verge of giving him up for lost, or maybe even dead. He barely heard Michael's rushed explanation about the power outage that made it impossible to receive or make calls. He was more interested in learning why they were going back to Salmon, only to hear Michael say, "I'll explain everything when I see you."

  "You'll see me sooner than you imagine," Jianjun said. "I haven't been sitting around Vancouver wondering where the hell you've been, I've been in Japan looking for you. In fact, I'm not more than twenty minutes from the airport now, so reserve me a seat on your flights and you can start explaining within the hour." He didn't bother to tell Michael that he'd been searching for a place called Kamigawa, or that no one he'd met had ever heard it. There were too many strange things going on, all of which he hoped Michael could explain when they met for their flight.

  Jianjun easily found Michael in the Izumo airport, and was stunned that Ceinwen Davies was traveling with him. But on the long flight home, he came to understand why. Outwardly they acted like exasperated colleagues, but Jianjun saw the attraction between them. He found it fascinating that
she wasn’t the least bit intimidated by Michael, when most everyone else who came in contact with the archaeologist found him formidable. Michael obviously cared about her thoughts and reactions to all that was going on.

  Jianjun wasn’t yet sure how he felt about her, but he loved that she had gotten Michael interested in helping with the situation in Salmon. He wasn’t crazy about going into the Idaho backcountry, but it was preferable to returning home.

  As he sat with them on the plane from Seattle to Missoula, Montana, the closest major airport to Salmon, Idaho, he couldn’t help but think about the last time he went to that area. He had just received a message from Kira Holt saying goodbye. He understood why she sent it. It was his fault, not hers, but it broke his heart.

  The ironic part was that he never really understood how they became a couple in the first place.

  To call him a “nerd” was an understatement. He’d always been shy and awkward around women. His marriage had been arranged in the Chinese way, and he always felt that, had his parents not found him a wife, he’d probably still be a bachelor.

  He was born in Beijing. When he was eight years old, his parents moved to Hong Kong, and later emigrated to Vancouver, Canada. Jianjun was now a proud Canadian citizen, but the Chinese tradition was strong in his family, and he had grown up with Chinese sensibilities.

  He had been taught that women must be petite with smooth-as-silk jet black hair, ivory-toned skin, almond-shaped black eyes, and a tiny mouth and nose. Much, in fact, the way his wife, Linda, looked.

  Kira Holt had everything wrong with her. That she was his height was bad enough, but on top of that, her hair was bright red, curly, and fly-away, her skin so pale it was almost translucent, and to make matters much worse, she had freckles across the bridge of her nose. Any Chinese woman would have died of shame, or at least gone somewhere to get the bizarre dots removed. And her eyes were big and blue.