Daniel Taylor and the Scepter of Power

by Monica Davis

  “No!” She put her hand on his chest, digging her fingers into his shirt. “Our meeting was just a coincidence; I was trying to convince Silvan to go back to the underworld with me …”

  Mike was attempting to follow along as best he could. She told him about demons and a magical artifact, and that Marla and Silvan were merely pawns in a game of power.

  “Silvan who?” Mike asked.

  “D-Daniel,” Marla stammered, “in your world, he’s called Daniel Taylor.”

  “Taylor!” He pushed Marla off his lap and jumped up. “Vanessa knows that he’s a demon?”

  Marla stood up as well. “Yes.”

  “This clears up so much,” Mike muttered. Marla’s wild appearance at the party he had chalked up to Halloween, but the exploding light bulb and Vanessa’s strange behavior over the last few weeks … “So you’re Taylor’s sister?”

  She nodded through her tears. “Half-sister. Do you still like me, in spite of all this?”

  Mike was unable to answer her. His mind was racing. He felt somehow hurt and used, because she hadn’t been honest with him. But could he really expect honesty from a demon? Instead of answering her question, he asked, “Can we save Vanessa?”

  Marla averted her eyes. “I thought you might not want me anymore.” She looked so sad that his heart tightened. He raised her chin gently. “Let’s talk about that later, okay?” He had to restore order in his mind before dealing with that.

  She nodded. “But I can’t promise to be here later.”

  What was that supposed to mean? “Marla, please! Vanessa’s down there, and she must be scared to death.”

  “Okay, later,” she whispered, her shoulders drooping.

  “I’ll call the Guild.” Mike started to pull his cellphone out of his pocket, but Marla grabbed his hand. “We have to get to Carpenter; he might be our only hope of saving Vanessa.”

  “Carpenter?” Mike cried. “James Carpenter?” Adrenaline surged through his body.

  Marla nodded and pulled Mike over to the wall by his sleeve. “He may be with Silvan’s foster … uh, Daniel’s mother. Come on!”

  Mike wondered whether this might represent an opportunity to gain respect, to stop being the Guild’s errand boy. “The artifact the demons want — what is it, exactly?”

  Shrugging, she replied, “A scepter.”

  Dear God … The parking lot seemed to tilt under his feet. He could scarcely believe his ears. A scepter! Maybe the scepter? He had eavesdropped on his parents when they were talking about it one day.

  On the one hand, Mike was terribly worried about Vanessa, who was apparently serving as a hostage for the demons. But on the other hand, this could be his big chance!

  “I know the way, I’ll drive!” Mike tried to maneuver Marla back to the car, but she wouldn’t budge. She merely put a finger on the wall.

  “My way is faster.”

  Did she really expect him to walk through a demon portal? They could end up anywhere! What if this was a trap?

  Marla looked at him sadly. “You can trust me, Mike.”

  Could he? Demons were the masters of deception.

  Marla began to draw a big circle on the wall, but then stopped and turned back to Mike. “Back there, you said you were a watcher just to distract the demon, didn’t you?”

  Mike shook his head. “I’m really a watcher.”

  “You don’t have to lie, Mike. I would feel it if you were. With you, I … I don’t feel anything.”

  She didn’t feel anything? Rage rose within him. Of course she didn’t feel anything, she was a demon! Had she been simulating her feelings before? “I’m not lying, it’s just that I have no powers, damn it! I’m a third-grade watcher, born without a spark of magic in my blood, but I still work for the Guild.” He was important, he had his duties!

  “Oh,” was all Marla said. Her eyes shimmered with tears. Her hand finished tracing the circle, and the portal opened with a crackle of sparks.

  I’m such an idiot! Marla clearly had feelings, and he had just hurt them. “I’m sorry,” he said contritely. It was just that he was so sick and tired of having his nose rubbed in the fact that he wasn’t a real watcher. He was privy to most of the Guild’s activities, but he was practically useless. He used to feel like a failure over this until his job at the bank gave him a bit of self-confidence. In fact, he had wanted to break off the ties to his old life, but now he was being pulled back in.

  What had he achieved, really? He sat at his desk and monitored the accounts of Carpenter’s parents, just in case there might be a clue one day as to the man’s whereabouts. But the Carpenters weren’t dumb enough to transfer money to their son. At least, Mike hadn’t been able to find any proof that they were sending him money. But now everything could change for him!

  “That’s okay.” Marla sighed. “If you’re really a watcher, then I trust you. But you have to trust me, too. I’m on your side.”

  Mike took her hand. “This demon — will he hurt Vanessa?”

  “He won’t kill her as long as he still needs her.”

  That didn’t sound so good. They had to hurry!

  As Silvan walked down the stairs, he made himself invisible and tried to step carefully so that the old wooden boards wouldn’t betray him by creaking. It was unusually quiet in the house. He almost believed that no one was at home, until he focused his demonic senses and heard the quiet sound of two hearts beating, calmly and evenly. He knew from the hectic pounding in his ears that it couldn’t be his own heart that he heard.

  His mother wasn’t alone.

  Silvan entered the living room and came to a sudden halt as he saw two people asleep on the couch, wrapped in each other’s arms. He couldn’t quite see either of them, the man or the woman; they were semi-transparent. The woman was his foster mother!

  Quietly, remaining invisible, Silvan came closer to the couple. The man was very tall. He was lying behind his mother, his chest against her back, his face half-buried in her hair. The little that Silvan could see was sufficient to recognize the obvious: This man, whose features were so similar to his own, except for the hair, must be James Carpenter … his father!

  Silvan could feel the pure goodness that James radiated, a benevolent power that disconcerted him.

  He held his breath. Why was Carpenter here now — why hadn’t his father come when he had wanted him to?

  Anger smoldered within Silvan, because he never got what he wanted.

  Take the amulet! the voices in his head commanded. But don’t touch it with your hand!

  Silvan took the black cloth out of his pocket. There was in fact a silver chain around James’ neck that disappeared under his shirt. Silvan sensed an ancient power emanating from his father. Magic …

  The high lords had been right. James Carpenter wore a magical amulet that made him and others near him invisible to demon eyes, but not those of Silvan the half-blood, as the demons called him.

  He was hesitant to tear the amulet off. As he stood there and watched the two of them, he was seized by a sudden fit of jealousy. What had Vanessa said? They were sick with fear and worry?

  It didn’t look like it, the way they were cozily nestled together on the couch.

  He reached out a hand toward James’ chain, but before he could touch it, his father opened his eyes.

  Damn it! Silvan backed away and hid himself behind the armchair. He cautiously peered out around the back of the chair.

  James sat up abruptly, grasped the amulet, and pulled it out. The red stone was dimly glowing. Yes, that was it! The ruby amulet!

  His father quickly placed the eye of Horus under his shirt again.

  “James?” his mother murmured. “What is it?”

  “Someone’s here, Anne. Stay close to me!” James hugged his mother and said quietly, “I think it’s Daniel; I saw him. His color … He’s changed!”

  “Changed?” his mother asked.

  “I can feel the evil, Anne,” James whispered. “We have to get out of h
ere!”

  “No!” Anne pushed him away from her and stood up. “Danny? Are you here?”

  Silvan peered around the chair and saw the dark circles under her eyes. She looked tired and much older than before. Her blue eyes were reddened from crying.

  Your humanity makes you weak, Silvan! Defy her! The voices in his head grew louder as they commanded him. He tried to suppress them, as they seemed to be giving him a headache.

  “Please, Daniel, if you’re here, show yourself,” Anne said, her voice shaking. She couldn’t see him, but his father spotted him.

  “He’s behind the armchair.”

  James got up from the sofa and positioned himself next to Anne. She looked extremely sad and confused, and Silvan felt a sudden pang in his heart. He could scarcely bear to look at her in this state.

  “I’m getting us out of here as soon as the trouble starts, whether you like it or not,” James whispered to her. “Daniel has changed; he’s not the same son you know. Think about what Vanessa told us!”

  Vanessa? Silvan’s ears pricked up. What had she said?

  Carpenter mustn’t escape — play the good son routine! You have to win him over and get the amulet, and then we’ll take over!

  That was right, he had a mission. He could worry about Vanessa later. “I’m here, Mom,” he answered quietly, standing up and making himself visible.

  Anne flinched. She stared at him, mouth half open, and was about to run to him, but James held her back by the arm.

  “Anne, no, it could be a trap!”

  She tore herself away from him and threw her arms around Silvan. “My baby!” she sobbed, her body shaking. She was shorter than him, so she had to look up as she took his face in her hands. “Where were you for so long? I was so worried! Are you okay?”

  Tears ran down her cheeks, and she hugged him again.

  Deep within Silvan, emotions welled up that bewildered him. He didn’t want Anne to cry.

  Defy your feelings! She was only your foster mother — she’s nothing!

  James was standing near him. Out of Anne’s line of sight, an energy sphere sparked in his hand.

  Lull Carpenter into a false sense of security!

  Anne stroked his hair. “I thought I would never see you again. If Vanessa hadn’t called us to say that she had seen you … I think I would have gone crazy.”

  Silvan became suddenly alert. “Vanessa … How is she?”

  Anne let him go to blow her nose. “We haven’t seen her since yesterday, before she met up with you.”

  Then she’s in safety … Silvan exhaled. He was watching James out of the corner of his eye. The sphere slowly shrank in size and finally fizzled out. Good, the plan was working well so far. Silvan tried to start a conversation to put them at ease. “Vanessa told you that we were planning to meet?”

  “No, I just happened to see her leaving her house. She only called us later,” Anne said. “But I can explain all that to you later.” Anne pulled James closer. “I’d like to introduce you to your father.”

  “Hello, Daniel.” James reached out a cautious hand.

  Silvan automatically took it. The moment he looked into his father’s green eyes, he was hit by a memory from his childhood: He had seen James before!

  He blinked. James was still semi-transparent to him, like a ghost.

  “Sorry,” said James. He pulled the amulet out from under his shirt so that it lay on top of the fabric. Immediately, Silvan could see his father and Anne properly.

  Take the amulet!

  “You can see me,” James smiled. “Then you’re my son.” Silvan felt himself being pulled toward the tall man, who hugged him and clapped him on the shoulder in a companionable fashion. “I’m so glad you’re okay!”

  Silvan shut his eyes, inhaled James’ scent, and felt the scratch of his father’s stubble against his cheek. It was all so familiar … “You were my imaginary friend, weren’t you?” he murmured into his father’s shoulder.

  His father … His real, honest-to-goodness father! A storm of emotions raged within Silvan. He made a colossal effort to ignore the voices in his head, ordering the high lords to be quiet, but he just couldn’t concentrate. He needed time — he had to think.

  James nodded and released him. “I hope I didn’t confuse you too much, but I had to know how my son was doing.”

  His father had actually been his “imaginary” friend. Many children imagine a playmate for themselves, especially when, like Silvan, they have few real friends. James had called himself Zefir; he had played with him in the forest and visited him on every birthday. Of course, Zefir had told Danny not to speak to anyone about him. He had thought that his imaginary friend was a ghost.

  Zefir had appeared for the last time on his twelfth birthday, saying that it was time for them to part ways — Daniel had become too old for friends like him. Daniel had been very sad.

  “It became more dangerous as you grew up,” James explained, “but I had always been right there.”

  Anne stared at him, astonished. “The gifts without a return address that suddenly appeared under the Christmas tree or on the birthday table … Those were from you, weren’t they?”

  James nodded. “I had to be so careful that no one would see me when I translocated. Humans can see me, even with the amulet.”

  “I always thought they were from Peter.” Anne looked depressed again. “He made the strangest excuses when I asked him about them.”

  James quickly put his arm around her. Was there something going on between the two of them?

  As though his father had read his mind, he took his arm away and turned back to Silvan. “You’ve grown into a real man, Silvan.”

  James’ words sharpened his focus. “You know my demon name?”

  “Of course. Your mother, Kitana, gave it to you the day you were born.”

  Don’t be swayed by him — ask him about the amulet.

  “Did Kitana give you that medallion?” Silvan pointed to the chain around James’ neck.

  James nodded. “Would you like to see it?”

  “Yes,” Silvan said, trying to keep his voice casual. He was still holding the cloth in his hand. As soon as he had the eye of Horus in his hands, he’d disappear into the underworld. Silvan was fast; he’d snatch it away from James at lightning speed.

  Don’t touch it directly! the high lords warned him.

  What would they do to his father?

  We only want some information from him, they said. Then he’s all yours, and you can do what you like with him.

  Okay … Silvan tried to stay calm as James pulled the chain over his head, but every nerve in his body was tingling. Then his father said, “Look, out the window — isn’t that Vanessa?” As Silvan turned his head to look, he realized that James had tricked him. Before Silvan knew what was happening, his father had pressed the eye of Horus against his forehead.

  Carpenter outsmarted him completely! The moron!

  Silvan screamed. The pain was almost unbearable. It felt as though someone had rammed a glowing-hot iron rod into his skull and was stirring it around in his brain.

  Fight back! Use your powers!

  Silvan wanted to, but couldn’t. His body was no longer his to control. The pain took his breath away.

  “James, stop!” Anne cried. “You’re killing him!” Silvan felt her trying to pull his father away from him.

  “I’m freeing him. He’s possessed! His mind has been poisoned.”

  Silvan slumped to the floor. He was paralyzed, and his head threatened to explode at any second. The voices within him screeched louder and louder and then suddenly fell silent. The pain eased at once.

  Daniel gasped for air and took hold of his father’s arm. James was towering over him, still pressing the symbol onto his forehead.

  “Dad!” Hot tears ran down his face, burning his skin like acid.

  James hastily wiped them away with his shirtsleeve. “It’s okay, the connection is broken! As long as you’re touching the am
ulet, they won’t be able to get into your head so easily!”

  Crying from pain and fear, Daniel clutched at James’ shoulder. He blinked, and as his vision cleared, he saw that tears were also streaming down his father’s cheeks.

  Daniel looked over at his mother and reached out an arm to her. “Mom.”

  “Danny!” Sobbing, she pulled him to her. “I was so worried about you!”

  James embraced the two of them briefly and remained crouched down close to them. When his mother had finished covering him in kisses, Daniel asked, “Dad, why are you here now — why didn’t you come earlier, when I wanted to see you so badly?” He rubbed at his forehead, feeling the imprint of the eye of Horus.

  “The danger that the demons would find me and get what they’ve been searching for was simply too great.”

  “The scepter,” Daniel whispered.

  James nodded. “Vanessa told us that you were asking about the amulet and the scepter. Did they tell you to retrieve the artifacts for them?”

  “Yes, and they somehow inserted themselves into my head, but now their voices are gone.” They had lied to him, and with their combined forces, they had broken his will and forced him to try to steal the amulet.

  Frustrated, he tore off his robe. He had never set aside his human clothing, as though something deep within him suspected that he would never properly belong among the demons.

  He rubbed his forehead again. The imprint still burned slightly.

  James placed the chain over Daniel’s neck and put the amulet beneath his sweatshirt so that it touched his skin. The medallion was warm to the touch. “It’s better for you to have it — that way, they won’t be able to manipulate you again.”

  “But now you’re not protected!” Daniel didn’t want anything to happen to his father. No harm should come to any of them. But what would happen next? The demons certainly weren’t going to give up.

  “I’m still within its range; we all are,” James said, pulling Anne to him.

  Daniel swallowed. “They know where you are,” he whispered.

  “That’s why we have to get out of here. The danger that they’ll get their hands on the scepter is greater than ever!” James raised his head abruptly. “Quick, Anne, hold on to me. I sense that we’re not alone!”