by R. J. Wolf
“Eric!” Gary’s voice boomed. “Eric, stop now!”
The desperation in his words cut through the nonsense in Eric’s head. He stopped and the fire around him dimmed. With a confused face, he looked at his hands then turned back to Gary.
“What is happening to me?”
CHAPTER 27
LAST GOODBYE
Eric sat at the table and sipped the foaming ale from a glass mug. Gary sat across from him, staring at his empty glass with longing. An impossible task sat before them and there was no roadmap they could use to figure it out.
Eric caught Gary’s eye then looked away. He took another drink and tried to swallow down the shame that was eating away at his soul like it was carrion. Frowning, he took a deep breath and cleared his throat.
“Just say what you’re thinking,” he told Gary.
“I’m not thinking anything.”
“I know you are. You’ve been looking at me weird since we got back. Just say it, say what’s on your mind.”
“Fine! You’re scaring me Eric. This stuff you’re doing, it’s not you.”
Eric leaned his head forward into his hands. He closed his eyes and wished he was dreaming, but reality was waiting for him on the other side.
“I don’t know what this is. There’s this voice in my head. It’s, it’s so angry and sometimes I can’t control it.”
“You don’t think you’re possessed anymore, do you?”
Eric shrugged. “That’s your department. Besides, I thought that was the whole reason Anna did what she did.”
“I guess you’re right,” Gary replied then waved his hand to order another drink. “What we really need to do is figure out where we go from here.”
“I don’t know. That was a lot to swallow. Did you believe all of that?”
“Enough of it. And who knows, maybe we can figure out your split personality on the way.”
“Here’s to hoping,” Eric replied.
With a forced laugh, they clinked their glasses together and finished off the ale. Gary slammed his mug back onto the table then stood up.
“Wait,” Eric called.
Gary knitted his brow and slid back into the seat. Eric looked away from him and fidgeted with his empty glass. The waitress walked by and he waved her away then cleared his throat.
“I need to know,” he said with his head down.
“What?” Gary asked.
“The commission, what the oracle said about the shade…what can’t I remember?”
Gary nodded his head several times and rubbed the stubble across his chin. Mumbling to himself, he laughed then looked up at Eric. “Guess I can’t keep running from it, huh? The commission is dirty, Eric. Plagued, rotten, corrupt and you found that out. I can’t be sure, but I think that’s why you were dragged to hell by that demon.” He paused to let his words soak in. “The night you were taken, you called to meet me. Said you’d found out something that was gonna bring the whole system down.”
“What was it?”
“I don’t know. You never made it to the spot we were supposed to meet. And then you were gone.”
“So, so the Oracle is right.”
“We make our own destiny, Eric. And I’m sorry I haven’t been all in. You’re right though, we have to fix this, it’s up to us.”
Eric looked down at his hands and closed his eyes. “Yeah, yeah we do,” he mumbled.
Gary clapped his hands together and stood up. “Come on. We’re supposed to meet your favorite sister-in-law and her annoying pet.”
They left the bar and headed toward Central Park. Noll stayed down a narrow street, half a mile from the bridge, of course he apparated back and forth so one was just as good a meeting place as the other. But he liked to pretend he was civilized when he had house guests.
His house was small and not in the magical sense that it only looked that way on the outside. The entire structure was a little bigger than Gary’s living room. But that was the way Noll liked it, like most dwarves. Too much room made them go mad, dwarves needed a constant sense of claustrophobia just to feel safe.
“Come in, come in,” Noll said as he opened the moss-covered door.
Gary and Eric dipped their heads and stepped inside of the warm living room. A fire stoked from a rusted, metal furnace where Zoey sat, staring into the flames. A musky smell wafted into the air from a kettle on the stove and a tray of oblong shaped cookies sat on a coffee table.
“Noll, you really outdid yourself,” Gary said as he took a seat on the cramped sofa. “Maybe I won’t curse you as I’d planned.”
“Try it warlock,” Zoey growled as she turned to face them.
“Oh, come on. I thought we were all friends here.”
Zoey shot him a scathing glance. “What news do you have from the Oracle?”
Eric looked away and shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Gary reached out and grabbed a cookie then took a tiny nibble.
“What are these made from?” he turned to Noll and asked.
“Ginger, wheat grass, lemon zest,” Noll started.
Gary grinned and took a bigger bite.
“Flour, brown sugar, shredded coconut, shredded mice tail and minced bat wing.”
Gary gagged and spat the chewed cookie into his hand. “Noll, you’re a disgusting creature,” he barked.
Noll laughed. “They weren’t really for you, Gary. I do have other friends.”
“Warlock!” Zoey snapped in a frustrated tone. “Did you see the Oracle or not?”
“I have a name, Zoey…I don’t call you witch, or something else.”
Zoey swallowed then ground her teeth, attempting to maintain her composure. She forced a smile onto her face then twisted her long, brown hair into a bun. “Gary, Gary…Gary,” she started. “My sister, the only thing in this despicable world that I care about is gone.”
“Hey!” Noll retorted.
“You know what I mean, Noll,” Zoey snapped then bore down on Gary. “I will call you warlock, I will call you idiot, I will call you whatever name I choose. Your sensitivities mean nothing to me. Don’t forget who I am you filthy blooded drunk. Now the two of you will either be my allies or my enemies. Choose your next words carefully.”
Eric suddenly shuddered then clenched his fists as he felt the darkness rise. Wincing, he shut his eyes and fought against the evil that whispered destruction in his ear. “I need water,” he stammered then ran into the kitchen.
“That’s a real weird friend you got there,” Noll said.
“You don’t know the half of it.”
Zoey followed him with her eyes, watching him skeptically. She twisted her face in concern then turned back to Gary. “How long has this been going on?” she asked.
“What?”
“You know what.”
Gary looked toward the kitchen where Eric was bent over in the sink flushing his face with water. He shrugged. “That, that potion did a bit more than restore his memories. It awakened something in him, something I’d only seen a glimmer of before.”
“Possession isn’t simple. Its seldom a clean break. Whatever evil lingers inside of him is very old and very strong.”
“I’m good,” Eric announced as he took his seat back on the couch. “What were we talking about?”
“You’re the devil,” Noll said then ducked as Zoey sent a spell screeching toward his head. It sailed above him then bounced off the wall and returned to her like a boomerang.
“The Oracle,” Zoey corrected him. “What did she say.”
“Have you ever heard of the shade?” Eric asked.
Zoey sighed. “Yes. The veil between our world and hell, bla bla bla.”
“Apparently it’s thinnest in California. That’s where we’re headed.”
“And then what?”
“And then I’m going to get my wife back,” Eric replied with a bit more force than he meant to.
“So, you’ll just what, walk into hell and ask if anyone has seen Anna? This is hell Eric, and you m
ay not remember your time there, but many a hero has ventured through those gates and never returned.”
“I don’t care,” he raised his voice as his eyes flashed a shade of black darker than night. “Understand this, Zoey, I’m going to get my wife, and nothing is going to stop me. Nothing!”
Zoey leaned back as the fire in the furnace rose. Turning her head, she whispered into the writhing flames then waved her hand and the inferno died. Ash smoldered in its place and a thick, white smoke swirled around the coals before vanishing.
Gary watched Eric carefully, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. “Any more questions?” he asked with a laugh.
“I believe you, Eric,” Zoey said then stood up and headed to the door. She gripped the handle and pulled it open then stared back to the couch.
“Guess that’s our cue,” Gary said as he jumped to his feet. “Don’t suppose you have some brew you’d like to send us on our way with, Noll? You know, my imbued flask was stolen.”
“I’ve got a few bottles of elfish malt,” he replied. “Been saving them for friends.”
“Lucky me.”
Gary followed him into the kitchen and grabbed a case of the stubby brown bottles. Reluctantly, he shook Noll’s hand as he wished him good luck then headed to the door.
“Keep an eye on him,” Zoey whispered.
Gary gave her a curious look but didn’t respond. “Come on Eric, let’s go,” he called as he stepped outside.
With his mind spinning, Eric stood up and looked around the room. Slumping, he walked toward Noll and grabbed his tiny frame, pulling him into his arms.
“Um, Eric?” Noll squirmed and awkwardly hugged him back.
Eric felt a sadness wash over him and even though Noll wasn’t remotely a friend, he was familiar to Eric. And for reasons he couldn’t explain he felt like he needed to hold on to what was familiar.
With Noll glaring at him wildly, Eric turned to Zoey. He stared at her face and for the first time, saw her as Anna’s sister, his sister. A bit wary of her response, he leaned forward and wrapped his arms around her. She didn’t pull away, instead she dropped her guard briefly and fell into his embrace.
Their happiness, their future was intertwined. Whether or not their friendship lasted it didn’t matter. For now, they were united, and both would move hell and earth to find Anna.
Eric straightened up and smiled. Zoey wiped a tear from her cheek then turned away to hide her face.
“Well, I’ll see you around,” Eric said and his voice broke as he headed out of the door.
“Rabelial,” Zoey said and grabbed his arm to stop him.
“What?”
“Rabelial. It’s the demon’s name that possessed you.”
CHAPTER 28
ROAD TRIP TO HELL
“You sure about this?” Eric asked. “I can do it alone.”
“You’ve never done anything alone. Besides, I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life. If the commission is going down, I’m definitely gonna help.”
Eric smiled then swallowed his regret and guilt. He needed Gary’s help more than Gary knew, but he was also afraid. He didn’t know what he was capable of and he was scared that whatever dark force existed inside of him, he wouldn’t be able to control.
“You know you don’t’ have to, right?”
“Enough Eric! I told you I’m going.”
“I know, I know, it’s just…what if this isn’t what we think? What if we’re wrong about everything?”
“I’d be happy if you were. Hell on earth isn’t my kind of party. But you heard the Oracle. This is happening, and the commission is so wrapped up in it even if they weren’t corrupted before, they deserve to burn all the same.”
“This is going to change everything.”
“It’s about time. I let you go it alone before and that nearly got you killed. This time, we save Anna and we’ll take down the commission once and for all. Now, get your game face on and let’s get in an get out.”
Gary pushed open the doors to the precinct and made a beeline for his office. Eric trailed behind him, both uninterested in anything going on inside. Their minds had already left the city.
The phones were ringing off the hook. Officers frantically rushed up and down the halls, shouting and screaming like the building was on fire. The SWAT team bumbled through the lobby and nearly broke the door off the hinges as they bolted outside. It was complete pandemonium.
Gary walked into his office and slammed the door behind Eric, dampening the hysteric jeers. He jumped over a stack of boxes and stepped behind his desk. Mumbling under his breath, he tossed loose items into the air and yanked open drawers. He grabbed a leather bag from the ground and threw it to Eric.
“There’s ammunition for your gun behind that chair. Fill the bag up, we’re gonna need it.”
He turned back to his search while Eric pulled the boxes of enchanted bullets out and stowed them in the bag. The massive shells were longer than his finger. The glass casing exposed a swirling red liquid and the golden tip was sharp enough to carve meat. Eric could feel the power humming through the magical cartridge.
“Found it!” Gary jolted and held up a tarnished bronze key.
“What is that?”
“A backup plan I hope we don’t need. Let’s get out of here.”
Eric started toward the door. He grabbed the handle and the desk phone suddenly rang. Pausing, he looked back at Gary.
“Just leave it,” he said.
“It never rings,” Gary replied and picked up the receiver. “Hello,” he answered hesitantly.
“Hello Gary,” a familiar, gravelly voice boomed. “Going somewhere?”
“I…I, um…good evening Councilman Langston,” Gary said and shot a dangerous look toward Eric. “I, I do plan to head west. Is that a problem?”
“Depends. Will you be taking Agent Strange with you?”
“Yes sir. It’s regarding the task you gave him. We have a lead.”
The councilman didn’t immediately respond. Gary could hear his heavy breathing on the other end of the line. It was short and labored like he’d just finished running a marathon.
“Councilman are you there?” Gary asked.
“Yes…yes. That’s good, check in with me when you get there.”
“Will do.”
Gary hung up the phone and sighed deeply.
“What’d he say?” Eric asked.
“He knew we were leaving.”
“How?”
“I don’t know.”
“Well, what did he say about it.”
Gary shrugged. “Told me to check in with him when we got there. Let’s just get out of here.”
They rushed through the manic lobby with their heads down and hurried back to the car. The door creaked as Eric pulled it open and flakes of rusted metal fell to the floor. He stared into the backseat at the pile bags and groaned.
“Why can’t you just apparate us there?” he asked.
“Apparating that far is very dangerous and not allowed by the commission. You can’t just go popping into other folk’s jurisdictions like that.”
“You should really consider getting a new car then.”
“Don’t offend her like that. She’s been through a lot and never let me down.”
Eric laughed. “I don’t understand why we didn’t fly.”
“I hate flying!” Gary snapped. “That’s a last resort.”
Eric turned around and looked out at the city. He took a deep breath, tasting the scents of the place he called home. The magic here is weak. His inner voice grumbled, but he ignored it. At his core there was an excitement, a yearning for California. He didn’t know why, but the last few days he’d been itching to leave.
“Hey!” Gary called out and snapped his fingers. “Did you hear me?”
“What?”
“You got first shift,” Gary said and tossed Eric the keys.
CHAPTER 29
CALIFORNIA DREAMING
The mas
sive stone structure glowed in the dark. It was more castle than hotel, like it was plucked from a medieval scene. Lights flickered from the windows like eyes, watching the world as it crawled by. The dense, oak doors with wrought iron trimming were better suited to keep things in than out. Hotel California was the last place you wanted to be, unless you wanted to be there.
Gary stopped the car along the side of the road and put the shifter in park. He sighed then rubbed his weary eyes, exhausted after driving for eight nonstop hours.
“This doesn’t feel right,” Gary said and gave Eric a skeptical look.
“How should it feel?”
“I don’t know…not like this.”
“It’s sitting right on the border Gary, and who knows what kind of creatures call it home. If it didn’t feel wrong, I’d be worried.”
Gary swallowed and put the car back into drive. “I hope you’re right about this.”
He looped around, then slowly crept into the nearly empty parking lot. Passing the ominous entrance, he found a spot off to the side several spaces away from the door.
They stepped out of the car and the salt-soaked wind smacked them in the face. Yes. Eric closed his eyes and smiled as he sucked in a deep breath and absorbed the tendrils of magic that stretched from the building like vines.
“Don’t do that,” Gary warned.
“Do what?”
“Tap into that evil.”
“It’s not evil, it’s just power. We choose how we use it.”
“Well, until we figure out exactly what you are, I don’t think you need any more power.”
Eric ignored him and turned his attention back to the building. Gary was right, there was something evil, but it was inside, and Eric could feel it trying to get out. The hairs on the back of his neck stood and he second guessed his decision. The better part of his mind was screaming a warning of caution.
The whispers of hell floated across the wind. It was unlike the city, where there were so many voices and noises to drown out the low rumble. The desert was like an amplifier and Eric had his ear to the speaker.
“So, are we doing this or not? I’m okay if you want to turn around and go back to New York.”