by Aiden James
“You think so, my friend? And here, all this time I’ve been thinking you were more their type!”
He laughingly stopped his pursuit, and tipping his cup to me, said “Not bad, Willie Boy! You go on and eat, and when your blood sugar’s up, I’d love to hear if what happened to you relates to what took place along the castle’s perimeter while we slept.”
“What are you talking about?”
“We were attacked last night,” said Francisco, turning his attention to me. Roderick did the same, and both wore worried expressions.
“By Viktor Kaslow?” I asked, thinking of my nocturnal conversations with Jesus and the angel Moroni. “Why didn’t someone wake me sooner?”
A better question would be…why weren’t we hunkered down inside a bomb shelter deep below the castle?
“No…Viktor is not here,” said Roderick, pausing to look over at Francisco before continuing. Francisco gave him a subtle nod. “It was the demons Cedric was joking about—and it’s no laughing matter.”
He shot an angry glance at Cedric, who mouthed the word ‘sorry’. Not sure it was heartfelt.
“Bochicha’s Emissaries attacked us?” I tried to understand the seriousness of the act, compared to the expected assault on us from Kaslow. With the so-called Tesla cloaking device in full force, it looked like the fortress protecting system had failed to stop it happening. “You don’t think Kaslow has aligned himself with them somehow? …Or do you?”
I grabbed a handful of donuts, poured myself some orange juice and wondered briefly what happened to our young servants from last night. I took my seat next to Alistair, who along with Amy, was mildly amused by my glib response. Not so our host, whose face clouded at the possibility a wicked, human immortal, could effectively negotiate a partnership with Elohim’s demonic children.
“They would just as soon dine on your enemy’s flesh and blood,” said Tampara, drawing everyone’s attention. He had hardly spoken since yesterday evening…at least in my presence. “Bochicha and all who serve him in his realm despise all forms of humanity…immortal or not.”
“If angels can have human servants—such as these Essenes—then isn’t it possible a powerful entity like Bochicha could have similar assistance?” asked Alistair. He was as nonchalant as if he were back at Georgetown, presenting a hypothesis to a class of history students for discussion. “Just like the benefits you told us of last night, Francisco. Surely these demons would have use for the influence on world governments and technological development their former brethren now enjoy.”
Though his expression remained stoic, Francisco nodded thoughtfully. Only the disbelieving glint in his eyes gave away the extent of his skepticism. Many centuries of indoctrination giving the winged warriors of Elohim a distinct advantage over anything hostile to the Almighty, made it hard to believe. Truly, it seemed sacrilegious for anyone to consider anything other than the one-sided view the Essene Order had always assumed.
“Maybe it has more to do with Elohim and what He allows and doesn’t allow. Perhaps angels and demons have very little say in this,” I said, as nonchalantly as my son, while spreading something like cream cheese on my bunuelo. “Maybe…just maybe we are all unwitting pawns in a much bigger design that cares not one iota what we plan, do, or even believe.”
I admit it was a confused sounding pile of manure, as the part of me still rough around the edges emerged in all of its hated glory. I acted an ass with no real reason other than I was nervous. Getting up late threw me off my game, and I was still reeling from my nocturnal messages from the wee hours of the morning. If Viktor Kaslow were to come bursting into the dining hall, my only instinctive act would be to shelter the kids from Kaslow’s kill shots and wait to be whisked away to another time and place.
Alistair elbowed me, snapping me out of the trance I had fallen under from revisiting the warnings of Jesus and Moroni. Their powerful words were clear as if just uttered.
“So, how was your meeting with the archangel, Judas?” Roderick asked with a sly grin, in an obvious effort to humble me. I searched my recollection back to the previous afternoon, in hopes I’d locate an exchange between him and me that had offended him so.
“What archangel?”
Francisco’s tone sounded alarmed and he looked genuinely worried. It wasn’t enough that Essene-munching demons had visited the premises. This completely validated my opinion of the man’s angel-influenced worldview.
“It was only a dream,” I said, hoping to downplay the events that had left me somewhat shaken. “It involved Moroni sitting by a fountain atop your roof.”
I figured a vague and less than elaborate description would serve me best at this point.
“We have a walled garden area at the very top of the castle,” said Rafael, who had just stepped in to join us. He wore a yellow slicker that was dripping wet. Apparently it wasn’t all sunshine outside the castle, as well. I hadn’t noticed any storm clouds upon waking, or during my rush to join everyone downstairs. “There is a fountain in the middle, featuring marble angels.”
I felt a lump form in my throat.
“Does it have a golden canopy above it?”
Rafael shook his head, giving me hope it might’ve been an interesting dream with no significant meaning. Perhaps, the entire thing was based on my fears and the very real threat of Viktor Kaslow.
“Did the canopy look like swirling gold bands of vibrant, living color?”
Everyone looked at Francisco, likely because…well because what in the hell is ‘swirling bands of vibrant, living color’ supposed to look like anyway? Except for the fact that’s exactly what it looked like. I called it a canopy because it reminded me of one, if not for the solid gold streamers that were pliable enough to twirl like tinsel in a slight humid breeze blowing across the rooftop garden.
“That would be one way to describe it,” I said. “Is there some significance to that description?”
Francisco stood up. Unlike yesterday, he was dressed in jeans and a light khaki shirt. Only Tampara was dressed in B.C. fashion, wearing a pristine white tunic. Everyone else donned jeans and either short-sleeved polo or sport Ts.
“Gold is always Moroni’s preferred color when warning of impending trouble,” said Francisco. With a napkin he brushed a few random breakfast crumbs from his hands and pants, then threw it down angrily on his plate. As uncomfortable as he appeared, it was nothing compared to the storm I sensed building inside of him. “What did he say to you in the dream?”
“He told me to leave my coin here, in the castle, and see if I can lure Kaslow far away from this place,” I said, amazed at how easily the truth flowed out of me. It was yet another trait shared by Francisco and his Nazarene ancestors. Holding back the truth was incredibly difficult in dealing with Jesus and his brothers, which by itself almost thwarted my betrayal plot. “I was planning to tell everyone we should be on our way back to La Paz by noon.”
Really, I wasn’t sure when I’d tell them, since I rarely change course based on a dream’s interaction. But, Francisco’s ‘swirling bands’ statement changed the complexion of the dream’s message. Everyone, except for our Essene hosts, looked at me in surprise.
“So, just like that you’re really going to give up on collecting your coin, huh, Pops?!” said Alistair, fuming. “Don’t you dare tell me that you brought us down here for nothing!”
“On the contrary, I spent the better part of three hours trying to convince you and Ms. Golden Eagle not to take this journey,” I said, more weary than irritated. I knew this wasn’t going to be easy. “And, what about me? No one told me that Jesus and the patron angel of the Bolivian Essenes would tag-team me with the same advisement to get out of Dodge before the gun battle starts.”
“What?! That makes absolutely no frigging sense!”
“Actually, it does,” I maintained, though sharply.
My boy was seething…and here I thought Cedric and Roderick would be the ones hammering me. Cedric looked more amused than ang
ry, while Roderick’s expression was peaceful resignation. One of the few times I didn’t mind that he could peek inside my head. If nothing else, he would understand the dilemma I faced. Surely he heard the coin’s fervent call increasing in volume and pain as Francisco’s questions became more pointed.
“Senor William…may I impose on you to wait until we verify our sentries are all set up in the two kilometer radius we spoke about last night? I would greatly appreciate your patience,” said Rafael. “We have enough firepower to protect you while Tampara takes you back to La Paz’s city limits.”
His request sounded logical and reasonable. Still, I struggled with giving him my blessing. Although, the right to grant this request belonged to Roderick or Tampara instead of me.
“Let me go with you, Rafael,” said Tampara, rising from his seat.
“And, I would like to join you, as well,” said Roderick, and then he turned his attention back to me. “We can be back here by eleven, which would allow enough time to leave by noon, Judas. It would also give us time to secure a new hiding place for your ‘Singing Coin’, as Francisco suggested last night.”
It sounded more and more as if I had missed an interesting discussion about my prized shekel and me.
“The three of you should leave now,” Francisco advised. “I would like for you to start with Juan’s station, behind the old wagon house. “Since I placed the radio calls at six this morning, I have heard back from everyone but him.”
“It shall be done,” said Rafael, bowing slightly and motioning for Roderick and Tampara to follow him from the dining hall.
“I guess the plans for touring the grounds have been totally nixed, huh?” said Amy.
“At least until we know our protection is in place,” said Francisco. “The cloaking that you and Alistair asked about last night operates on a pulsing current, which makes it much harder to decipher and interrupt. But one of the conductors was damaged during the attack, so now it’s running intermittently. Only the castle’s main structure is hidden at present…and not continuously.”
“So, if Viktor Kaslow makes it into the general area, then this structure is not camouflaged right now—is that what you’re telling us?” I asked.
“Yes…unfortunately,” said Francisco. “But, there is no reason to believe we are in immediate danger inside the castle. And, we have our escape route ready, which runs through an elaborate cave system in the adjacent mountain.”
“You said last night the caves were also here before your ancestors arrived,” said Alistair. “Have you ever needed to stay there for an extended period of time?”
I could almost see the wheels turning in Alistair’s mind. My son deeply feared Kaslow—and justifiably so. Having a plan of escape and resources to hide out for days, if not weeks, would certainly need to be part of one’s emergency plan when dealing with an immortal fiend like this one.
Francisco smiled and nodded thoughtfully. “Don’t fret, Alistair,” he said. “We have long prepared for this kind of crisis.”
With a few hours to kill while waiting to hear back from our trio of bush scouts, Francisco took Amy and Alistair upstairs to view a number of ancient Essene texts in the castle library. Cedric decided to catch up with them when my company proved to be less than affable. Despite our differences over the years, and the fact I still believe he debated on executing my boy and me in Hong Kong last year, I like Cedric, overall. Truly I do…. But as often is the case when something ominous is coming my way, I prefer solitude, while I try to hone in to it. To use my spirit’s essence to gain full access to the danger.
Francisco and Rafael were wrong. And, whatever Tesla cloaking nonsense they believed in, I knew in my heart it would prove at best to be a mere nuisance to my enemy. Kaslow would be able to see through it, or at least discern with his keen intellect what was actually there. My heart told me one other thing, as well, and it did so as Rafael, Roderick, and Tampara shouted while sprinting down the long corridor toward where I stood alone in the castle’s reception area.
Viktor Kaslow wasn’t just coming for us. He was already there.
Chapter 13
“Where is Francisco!” shouted Rafael.
He was nearly out of breath running to where I stood waiting, near the foot of the stairway. On the verge of collapsing he bent over, trying to take in as much oxygen as possible. Meanwhile, Tampara and Roderick worked both sides of the corridor, on the lookout for some unseen menace. Their heightened senses on edge, they glanced repeatedly over their shoulders toward the main entrance.
“He is upstairs with Amy, Alistair, and Cedric,” I said, increasingly alarmed by their behavior. “What in the hell’s going on?”
“Kaslow is here now, and he has been making the rounds out there,” said Roderick, his volatile eyes aglow. “An attack on the castle may come at any time.”
“Rafael? Are you all right?!” Francisco descended the stairs swiftly with Cedric by his side. My boy and Ms. Golden Eagle were right behind them.
“Juan is dead!!”
Rafael fell to his knees in grief as he said this. My heart immediately sank, as it surely meant their Essene brother had met up with Kaslow.
“What?! And the others?”
Francisco’s voice sounded hollow, as if his worst nightmare had just arrived. Truly, it had.
“We found the remains of three,” said Tampara, while maintaining his vigilance directed toward the front of the castle. “The rest we didn’t find…except for their blood.”
That sounded like something the demons we had been discussing would leave behind, as apparently ‘Bochicha’s Emissaries’ like to devour men whole, and are known to only leave torn, bloody clothing and not much else in their wake.
“It’s what I thought, too, Judas,” said Roderick, drawing confused looks from everyone but Rafael, who continued to weep as Francisco rushed over to his side. It’s truly difficult for most observers to keep up with Roderick’s commentary on my silent musings. “But then we saw Kaslow moving toward us. He seems bigger, faster, and obviously a helluva lot meaner.”
“And, he’s carrying an arsenal of weapons in a sack strapped to his back,” Tampara added.
Just like a mercenary Santa. Well, so maybe it didn’t sound like a demon attack. I hadn’t yet ruled it out the possibility that our nemesis had somehow struck a deal with the menace most feared by our Essene hosts.
“So, are y’all planning to do battle with this asshole once he invades your home, or do you have a place in mind where we can hide out until we can come up with a plan to counterattack or escape?”
Cedric’s question brought to mind the collective folly in thinking an outdated Tesla device would protect us to any significant degree. No one—not even I—had devised a ‘Plan B’ in case the damned thing failed. Granted, I would lay most of the blame for that at the feet of our hosts, since it’s their home. But then again, being innkeepers for the Almighty’s most powerful protectors could easily make someone feel invulnerable.
“We have several options,” said Francisco, gently helping Rafael to his feet. “There is a hidden hall upstairs, behind the library where we just came from. Or, there is another haven inside the mountain adjacent to us—”
“What in the hell’s that?” Amy asked, shrilly, interrupting Francisco when a loud thud reverberated outside the main entrance.
She reached for Alistair, who brought her close to him. He whispered something to her, but it did little to ease her panic. Especially when the door and the beautiful stained-glass windows on either side of the main entrance began to disintegrate into thin air.
“Holy shit!” whispered my boy in amazement, though he and Amy had seen this sort of thing before, inside a certain sacred Alborz Mountain in Iran.
“Francisco, I believe we’re out of time to consider your options,” I said, instinctively backing up and ready to run. “One will do—just pick one. Now!!”
* * *
Viktor Kaslow would be entering the castle at any
moment. The anticipation of that event only heightened the terror of how he planned to carry out his invasion. Francisco glanced upstairs longingly, perhaps thinking the protected hideout there would be more desirable than what we would encounter within the mountain caverns. But when I pressed him again more urgently to choose an option, he motioned all of us to follow him down a hallway, next to the fireplace in the reception area.
“It will be safest in the cavern bunker!” he said, picking up his pace until everyone sprinted to another immense door at the end of the hall. “Rafael, we will need at least two lamps.”
“I have them already!”
Rafael lifted a pair of miner helmets with halogen lamps attached to the front. He hurriedly put one on, while handing the other to Francisco.
“You should go first, Rafael, since you know the path better than anyone here,” said Francisco. “I’ll bring up the rear.”
An explosion suddenly rocked the front of the castle, and several enormous pieces of granite crashed down from the foyer. I could clearly see the dreary haze from outside behind us. We were seconds away from Kaslow’s entrance into the castle, and unfortunately, the door leading to the caverns wasn’t open and was in direct line with the main entrance that had just dissolved into nothingness.
Tampara seemed to have the same thought as me, that we would be discovered and soon after trapped in the hallway. Up until then, I had only seen a few of his unusual traits that marked his preternatural status. He moved to the front of the line as a blur, picking up the pole device needed for the door on his way to overtaking Rafael. Before any of us understood what was happening, he had unlocked and pushed the door open, sending a cool gust of earthen mustiness upon us. Roderick and Cedric seemed just as impressed as me. Perhaps Alistair would’ve been even more so, but Amy had pulled his attention back toward the front of the castle.
“Oh, my God…someone’s coming!”