“Be careful,” the raven said. “The only liquid you got left is gin, it wouldn’t exactly douse the flames if your back was on fire.”
Brian’s knees were wobbly but he was able to stand there and he pointed a finger at the bird once more. “A talking bird? You can’t be real. I must be so wasted that I’m just hearing things.”
“You are somewhat wasted, but not so much as a few hours ago,” the raven said. “You may need another drink soon.”
“Get outta here,” Brian said as he picked up a small stone from the gravel driveway and threw it at the bird. The rock narrowly missed the raven as it bounced off the roof.
Another voice, this time coming from somewhere to his side, made him jump. “Daddy, where’s Timmy?”
Brian turned. “Tara, is that you?”
Tara Weiss was standing near the side of the mobile home. The firelight made her reddish brown hair seem as if it was glowing. She was dressed in a brand new pair of jeans and wore a denim jacket over her pink t-shirt. It was his daughter alright, but there was something different about her. It must have been a year since he last saw her, when she was fifteen. He detected a certain confidence, a power within her he had never sensed before. “Yes, it’s me. I’m asking you where Timmy is. Where is he?” Tara said.
By this time, his surprise had turned into contempt once more. He always felt that way about her. Tara reminded him of his wife. “I thought you were outta here, why did you even come back?”
“I told you, I came back for Timmy. Where is he?”
Brian scratched his thick stubble. He needed a drink. “It’s none of your business. He’s my son and I’m his legal guardian. I could do whatever I want with him. You’re nothing. Go away.”
Tara started to fidget. “I want Timmy! I’m the only one who cares about him. I want to take him out of here. I’m asking you again, where is he?”
“And I’m telling you it’s none of your business where he is. He’s my son and I can do whatever I want with him.”
Tara’s mouth trembled. “You’re nothing but a drunk and a bum! I hate you! Tell me where is he is right now!”
Brian laughed. “You think you can come back here and insult me in front of my own house? You wanna start this again? I’m been pretty patient with you, but this is the last time I will allow you to talk to me like that! Now get outta here before I lose my temper.”
Tara took a step forward. “I’m not leaving without my brother! Up yours, Daddy!”
A sharp flash of anger overtook Brian as he started moving towards her. One of his hands was held high so he could do an open hand slap once he got in close. “Why you goddamn little bitch! I’ll teach you to talk to me like th—”
He suddenly stopped in mid stride, just a few feet in front of her. The hand that he raised up seemed to be suspended in the air and he couldn’t move it. When he turned and looked at his arm, Brian noticed that another hand had grabbed a hold of his wrist. His arm was tiny compared to the huge fist holding it. It was thick and leathery, like the skin of an albino crocodile, and its fingers ended in black claws. As he twisted his neck even further, his anger gave way to sheer terror as his own eyes stared into the creature’s blood red pupils.
Within less than a second, the pale creature twisted his arm backwards and threw him against the side of the mobile home. Brian’s back hit the wall of his house with a loud crash and he slid down, groaning. His legs had buckled and he was sitting in the dirt with straightened knees, like a little child. He let out a short moan as the pain in his back shot up like a rocket to the front of his brain.
Patrick Gyle stood over him. He had been transformed by the last of the magical flower that once gave immortality to whoever possessed it. He was naked since he didn’t need any clothes over his hairless, waxlike body. His armored skin was pretty much impervious to anything, so the cold night didn’t bother him at all. His long, sinewy arms were unnaturally long, and his catlike feet had doubled in size. His genitals had sloughed off along with his skin a long time ago so modesty wasn’t important to him anymore. “Stay down, and don’t ever touch her again,” he said softly.
Brian looked up at him with a blank stare. “W-what are you?”
Gyle’s voice was guttural, like a cross between a foghorn and a lion. His grimacing mouth was full of razor sharp fangs. “Answer the question. Where’s her brother?”
Brian took a minute to catch his breath. “H-he’s not here.”
Tara’s frustration nearly boiled over. She was in near tears as she crouched down so their eyes met. “Where is he? What did you do with my brother?”
Brian looked away in shame. “H-he didn’t want to stay here with me. He wanted to leave so he could find you. He kept crying and whining and just wouldn’t eat. I-I couldn’t stand it anymore.”
Tara grabbed him by his shirt collar. “What did you do?”
“O-one of our neighbors,” Brian said. “The O-Olsens. T-they said they were leaving and their son was Timmy’s playmate. Timmy wouldn’t shut up so I finally said they could take him with them. They weren’t sure at first, but then they finally said yes. So they all left.”
Tara let out a sob as her hands shook. “How long ago was this?”
Brian shook his head. “I-I don’t remember. I stopped counting the days already.”
“How long!”
“A few days after you left. F-five or six days after that, I think.”
“That would mean that they left about the same day we found each other,” the raven said as it continued to perch on the roof above them.
Tara was sobbing now as she stood up and took a step back. She balled up her fists but they wouldn’t stop shaking. “Where did they say they were going to?”
“I-I think they were gonna go up to Kansas,” Brian said. “They were gonna go and join up with that church up there I think. Yeah, that was it.”
Tara took a deep breath. “They were going to the Rock of God Church? Are you sure?”
Brian blinked a few times. The pain and his hangover was making things look blurry. “Y-yeah, I think so. They got an SUV from somewhere. I’m guessing they might’ve stolen it since Mike Olsen’s car was an old stationwagon. They packed it up with everything and they just took off. That was the last time I saw Timmy. I swear.”
Tara wiped her tears away using the sleeves of her jacket. “Oh god, I was on my way to that place too. What kind of car was it?”
Brian placed a hand over his throbbing forehead. “I-I’m not sure, I think it was an Explorer. It was black with tinted windows. I didn’t read the license plate.”
“So that’s it then,” the raven said. “Now what?”
Tara turned and started to walk out into the darkness. Gyle glanced at her before looking back at her father. The raven flapped its wings and flew up slightly before landing on Gyle’s shoulder.
Brian put his arms up in a gesture of peace and submission. “I’ve told you everything. Please don’t hurt me. All I wanted to do was to be left alone. I-I’m not a bother to anyone.”
Gyle snorted at him before turning around and began to walk in the same direction that Tara took. “You’re pathetic.”
Brian wanted to say something, but he wisely figured that keeping quiet would be a better alternative. Within a few seconds, Gyle’s deathlike, hulking figure disappeared into the night and all he could see was the dying embers of the bonfire in front of him.
They were in an abandoned parking lot a few blocks away. The full moon cast vague shadows over them. The whole city seemed quiet other than the occasional howl of a coyote out in the distance. Tara was sitting by the curb as she buried her head behind her bent knees. Gyle stood a few feet away as the black bird moved around him, its claws hopping daintily along the pavement. For a long time, nobody said anything.
It was the raven who finally broke the stillness. “So, where do you plan to go next?”
Gyle looked at the trickster god. “You talking to me?”
“To both o
f you.”
Tara stood up as she wiped the dust off the bottom of her jeans. “We go find my brother.”
Gyle turned to look at her. Despite the darkness, he could see perfectly since his vision now extended not only into the ultraviolet spectrum, but in the infrared one as well. It was like daylight to him, but in different hues. “I get it. Your brother is the only real family member you got left. I would do the same.”
Tara continued to stare out into the night. “Thanks for understanding. He’s all that matters to me now.”
Gyle nodded. “Then we need to hurry. Who knows where he’s at right now.”
“I can’t believe how badly I screwed up!” Tara cried. “It’s my fault he’s not here. I should’ve stayed in the trailer park with him. Now he’s all alone out there and I have to go find him. He’s only six!”
“It wasn’t your fault,” Gyle said. “Your dad was beating on you and you had to leave. I would have done the same thing.”
Tara let out a shriek. “But can’t you see? I left my little brother behind! All I ever did was to think about myself. If I wasn’t so self-centered, he would be safe and sound with me! Why did I ever leave the house, why did I ever get into the van with Larry, why did I ever meet that brujo?”
The raven hobbled over to them as it ruffled its wing fathers. “I told you when we met the first time that each of us chooses their own path, and each path chosen leads to other roads. Such is life. Once your path is forged in time, it cannot be undone. Some believe in destiny, others in chance. Once you tread on the road you’ve chosen, there is no reverse gear, so to speak.”
Tara’s tears were streaming down her cheeks again as she stared at the black bird. “I hate you! You’re the one who kept leading me on like this, and all the while you made me lose my brother! You keep talking in riddles … a-and your stupid sayings but it is all just crap! You didn’t even do anything when Ilya got hurt trying to rescue me! What kind of a god are you anyway? You’re more like a devil than a friend!”
The raven showed no emotion as it titled its head from side to side. “You are the ultimate chooser of your life path. I am here merely to guide and advice. When we met the first time, I told you of the choices you could have made. It was not I who made you get into the van with Larry. That was all your doing. Every choice you made has ultimately led you to this parking lot and to this conversation we are having now. I cannot interfere with the choices you make. Ilya made his choice, just as Gyle made his choice. Now you must make another choice.”
Deep in her heart, Tara knew the Trickster was right. “It’s just not fair,” she said softly.
“The world does not grant any special blessing on the weak,” the Trickster said. “It is only through the power of mercy and compassion that determines the survival of those that are helpless. You have a good heart, but there may be times that your own kindness may abate you.”
Tara stood up. “I’m going to find my brother. If you want to help, then I would appreciate it. If not, that’s okay, I’ll go look for him by myself.”
Gyle remembered seeing his wife once more. “You both helped me to find Marie and I got to talk to her. That meant a lot to me. Alright, let’s get this done.”
Tara looked at him with a glint of determination in her eyes. “Then we need to hurry. When I rode with Larry, we took the northern route going out of state because of the flooding.”
Gyle nodded. “That would be the logical way to get to Kansas. The other way would be through the south, towards Tucson. That would have meant getting close to the frontlines, and then going north through New Mexico. Then again, since their journey started months ago, if they succeeded, they would have made it to Kansas by now.”
“Well, now we’re getting somewhere,” the raven murmured.
“We should go to Kansas first,” Gyle said. “The separatists there seem organized and if we can find a source of information, we ought to locate them very quickly.”
“That’s assuming they made it there,” the raven said.
Tara moved quickly until she stood over the black bird. She felt like grabbing the Trickster by the neck and throttling it. “I’m tired of your games! Do you know where my brother is?”
The raven looked up into the night sky. “The way it works is a little more complicated than that.”
Tara hissed. Her eyes were dry and her patience was gone. “What do you mean? You’re a god for chrissakes! I can’t believe you have all these rules and limits to your powers. You’re making things harder than it is!”
“I may be a god but I’m not all powerful or all knowing as you humans think we all are,” the raven said. “I’m somewhat limited from what I hear. The animals speak and I can hear them for miles. Same with people. Even the trees, the rocks, and the rivers speak to me sometimes as well. From their voices I receive knowledge. As far as your brother, yes, your father did speak the truth. From what I have heard in this area, the Olsen family did take little Timmy with them when they began their journey. In order for me to know more then, we must travel as well so I can hear more voices and listen to the tales that they tell.”
Tara took a deep breath. “Okay. Then we go to Kansas first and have a look around.”
“Agreed,” Gyle said.
As the two of them started walking out of the parking lot, the raven looked around for bit before it started to preen itself once more. “Ah, here we go again. Our small band of stalwart heroes going off on another quest, with more soul searing tests until they reach their final destination. I haven’t had this much fun in a long, long time,” it said to no one in particular.
3. The Ritual of Skins
Tenochtitlan
Even though it was a special day, the constant rains and thunderclouds overhead gave it a gloomy mood. The day of the calendar was that of the 13th eagle, and the patron deity to be worshipped was Xipe Totec, the Flayed One. Of all the days that had begun since the return of the gods, this would be his most blessed day since it was to be the time that he would finally ascend the ranks of the priesthood, so this day meant more to him than any other so far.
He used to be called Ramon Miguel Ortiz y Cabrera. Ever since the great Aztec gods returned to their sacred valley near the capital, it was decreed that all the people within the city would revert back to their ancient, traditional Nahuatl names. This was not just a renewal of the old faiths, but as a living symbol that they would reclaim their lost destiny as an all-conquering people once more. Ramon’s family used to be quite influential, and so when it came time to choose their names, he deferred the final decision to his very powerful uncle, who was now the chosen avatar to Xipe Totec. His uncle had decreed that the Cabrera family was no more. The new family name was Tlanextli Itztli, the majestic house of the Obsidian Knife. Ramon’s true name was now known as Tepiltzin, which meant privileged son. Everywhere in public, he was to be referred to as Apprentice Tepiltzin, junior priest to the temple of Xipe Totec, the god of harvests and rebirth. When he returned to the house for rest though, his old mother still affectionately called him Ramon.
Apprentice Tepiltzin was almost thirty. His family had been so rich that he had spent much of his youth in equestrian riding competitions and maintaining the family haciendas at the valley foothills. It was his uncle who was the big moneymaker of the family, but they had rarely seen each other until recently. Ramon never married, despite the disappointment of his parents. He preferred to sort through half a dozen girlfriends and party the night away. It didn’t help that he was spoiled by his uncle every time he came to see them. Ramon idolized his uncle, so much so that his own parents were jealous of their relationship. The only other person that Ramon did care about was his younger brother Jorge. Even though there was almost a ten year difference in their ages, Ramon always treated Jorge as his equal, and his brother loved him back for it. Even when their parents would chastise Jorge for being a spoiled teenager, Ramon would always back his brother. For many years they were inseparable. The only thing that d
isappointed Ramon was that his uncle didn’t favor Jorge as much as him.
Of course, that all changed when the Aztec gods returned. At first, it was nothing more than a seemingly unending series of thunderstorms that swept into the valley of Mexico. The flooding in the city streets didn’t seem important at first but as the days turned into weeks, it soon became dangerous, since a lot of the streets were now underwater. Days after that, much of the outskirts of the city along the edges of the valley were completely flooded. The ancient lake had once again risen up and Mexico City was now surrounded by water once more. That was when things took a turn for the worse. Less than two weeks after the rains began, a massive earthquake struck the city. Many buildings, especially the churches, had toppled and were completely destroyed. But for some strange reason, the most ancient of constructs such as the pyramids of nearby Teotihuacan stayed miraculously intact. By then, hundreds of thousands of people were either killed or injured but the strange events didn’t stop. The Federal government of Mexico seemed powerless to do anything. For many days, people seemed to be struck by some sort of trance as a strange mist would seep into the city at night, making everyone forget their memories and responsibilities. Ramon could remember the time when the military swept into the city in an attempt to restore law and order, but soon they too were affected by the strange mists. Everyone would wander aimlessly in the rain drenched streets under some sort of psychotic daze that lasted for weeks.
By the end of the first month, everyone still living in the entire valley was trapped. The rest of the country was in a state of panic as the bizarre mists began to expand. Anyone from outside of the area who would dare to enter the zone was immediately overcome by its spell. That was when many people in the valley began to change. At first it was just a few individuals who claimed that the Aztec gods were speaking to them. Then these people started to gain followers, as each one professed an allegiance to a specific god and became very powerful priests. Slowly but surely, every living person soon began to take sides as the cults of their respective gods became stronger. Then the war began.
A World Darkly (Wrath of the Old Gods Book 3) Page 3