The Wizards of Central Park West_Ultimate Urban Fantasy

by Arjay Lewis

  Jacobs pulled out his cell phone and gave it to Eddie, who pushed in the number and waited for his home phone to ring.

  It was picked up on the first ring.

  “H-Hello,” Cerise said.

  “Baby, it’s me.”

  There was a deep exhale of breath on the other end of the phone. “You must stop doing this to me, Eddie.”

  “‘Fraid I didn’t have a choice. I’ve been arrested.”

  There was an equally sharp intake of air.

  “Where’s Luis?”

  “He’s been arrested too.”

  “Oh my sweet Lord,” Cerise said.

  “Baby, it’s all a big mistake. I’ve got to get it cleared up, but I don’t know when I’ll be home.”

  “Do you need me to come in and get you?”

  “No, baby, but call Maria for Luis, she’ll be worried. Then get some sleep.”

  “No chance of that.”

  “Try. Make excuses to the kids. I’ll call you when I’m out of here.”

  “Take care.”

  He closed the phone and returned it to Jacobs.

  “I’ll leave you with the lawyer, Eddie.” Jacobs rose from the table.

  “Captain, you can stay. I have nothing to hide,” Eddie said.

  And once again, Eddie went through the carefully edited rendition of the previous evening’s events. He concluded with the arrest and the ride down to Federal Plaza in handcuffs.

  The two men both listened, though what was keeping the tired young lawyer awake was beyond Eddie.

  As he finished, his captain crossed his arms, sternly. “You had no business meeting Cuccolo without checking with me, lieutenant.”

  “You’re right, sir,” Eddie admitted. “I made a judgment call, and it was the wrong one. But I didn’t kill Cuccolo, and I didn’t see who did.”

  At least that was true. Eddie had followed Abraxas and fought him. Someone else hid in those woods.

  The warlock.

  And Cuccolo had that talisman on him, even after Eddie told him not to bring it. And now the warlock had it, as well as the blood sacrifice to activate it.

  The whole thing made his head ache.

  “Wrong place at the wrong time, lieutenant. I have to take your shield and weapon. You are suspended until further notice.”

  “Captain, it was a logical part of the investigation,” Eddie defended. “Cuccolo was my only connection to Yamasuto.”

  “And now he’s dead and the Feds are screaming,” Jacobs snapped. “Look, Eddie, I have to take action. You and Vasquez are suspended and I’m turning these homicides over to Manhattan North Homicide and the Urban Crime Task Force.”

  Eddie stared at the floor to keep his temper in check.

  Jacobs went on. “Look at it this way, Eddie, now it’s their problem and you get some time off.”

  “I’ve filled out the paperwork for your release, lieutenant,” Antés finally entered the conversation. “At least you’re not stuck in a holding cell until tomorrow.”

  He held forth a short stack of papers and pointed to places for Eddie to sign.

  Then, business done, they left the room, and Eddie sat alone for another half-hour until Agent Conners came in to tell him he could collect his personal effects at the front desk.

  There, for the first time since their arrest, he found Luis.

  “Hey,” Eddie said, as a large envelope was passed to him.

  “Hey yourself,” Luis mumbled sullenly.

  “I told Cerise to call Maria.”

  “She hears I’ve been suspended, she gonna blow a gasket.”

  “I don’t see why they suspended you. I was the one who followed Cuccolo—”

  “I’m your partner, remember? They want to charge me as an accessory.”

  They stood without speaking as they replaced their belongings in their pockets. Then they walked out of the building and headed north into the unlit morning.

  “Do you think we can get a cab?” Luis asked.

  “What were you doing in the park last night?”

  “I was following you.”

  “Following me?”

  “Yeah,” Luis said. “You’ve been acting strange. Now I know why.”

  Eddie exhaled.

  “Who were those people?”

  “My group. They’re kind of…training me.”

  “Training you for what?”

  Eddie stopped and faced his large partner. “To be something more than human.”

  Luis stared at him for a long moment, then turned and began to walk again. Eddie followed.

  “Like that guy with the fangs?”

  “No, I don’t bite people in the neck.”

  “Then what?”

  They walked on in silence while Eddie tried to get his mind around everything and put it in a way that would make sense. “You saw that demon?”

  “Sure did. Uglier than my mother-in-law.”

  “But not meaner?”

  “No one’s meaner than my mother-in-law.”

  “I have to be able to defeat that thing,” Eddie stated matter-of-factly.

  “What are you training with? A bazooka?”

  “That stick I was holding.”

  “That’s it? What are you supposed to be? Robin Hood?”

  “The stick is special. It’s magic.”

  Luis came to an abrupt stop again, and stared at Eddie. “You mean that?”

  “Yes. The stick, it was the cane of the decapitated homeless guy. Turns out he wasn’t homeless. He was a wizard.”

  “So who killed him?”

  “The big-ass demon.”

  Luis nodded. “That stuff Beverly found, giant hands, strong enough to pull off the limbs. Now, it fits.”

  “I’ve been living with the crazy stuff since I touched that cane.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” Luis’ tired eyes were intense.

  “I could barely believe it myself. How could I burden you with it?”

  “Because, I’m your partner.” Luis turned away from him and looked at the tall buildings. This part of the city was totally empty at this hour. Even the traffic for the Brooklyn Bridge was sparse. “You tell Cerise?”

  “I was not to tell anyone. I’m not supposed to tell you.”

  “So why did you?”

  “You saw Abraxas.”

  “Whatsis?”

  “The demon,” Eddie said. “Then my mentor—”

  “You have a mentor?”

  “The old guy with the beard.”

  “Oh?” Luis began to walk again. “He has been hanging out with you a lot.”

  “He said he was going to make you forget you’d seen it.”

  “He can do that?”

  “Yes. And I-I couldn’t let them. I said I wanted to tell you the truth. Then it would be your decision.”

  “Why? Didn’t he think I could handle it?”

  Now it was Eddie’s turn to stop short. “I’m living it, and I can’t handle it. Luis, I’m stuck in a damn fairy tale. Add the fact that if I screw up, this demon could bring about the end of the world.”

  “Really?” Luis smiled.

  “What are you grinning about?”

  “I’m hanging with a celebrity.”

  Eddie shook his head in disgust. “Glad you’re impressed.”

  “Let’s get a cab,” Luis lifted his arm as one drove up.

  A few short minutes later, they were dropped off outside Marlowe’s townhouse.

  As they paid and got out, Luis started to talk again. “So all those other guys, they’re what?”

  “Wizards. Except for the guy with the fangs.”

  “He’s a vampire?”

  “Now you’ve got it.”

  “Happy freakin’ Halloween,” Luis said, as they reached the top of the steps and Eddie knocked.

  Frisha appeared at the door and peeked out.

  “Who is it?” she whispered.

  “It’s Eddie and…” Eddie gave a glance to Luis. “My apprentice.”
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  “When did I become your apprentice?”

  “Work with me, Luis,” Eddie whispered.

  The door opened and Frisha came out and took Eddie in her arms. “We were much worried about thee. Come in.”

  They stepped into the majestic entrance hall, and Luis’ mouth fell open as he stared at the high ceilings, the marble floor, and the huge spiral staircase wrapping around the wrought iron elevator shaft.

  “Madre de Dios!” Luis exclaimed. “How did…I mean…it’s bigger inside than outside.”

  “Fourth dimensional physics,” Eddie was too tired to explain that he didn’t know how it worked either.

  Frisha was at his arm, and led him toward the stairs. “Everyone else has gone to bed, but I sat dozing near the door, in case ye came. I was tol’ there are rooms for both of ye.”

  Eddie nodded. “I’m glad. We’re pretty tired.”

  Frisha brightened. “Do not march up all yonder stairs, Fred. Take the elevator; ‘tis much easier and faster.”

  “Thanks, Frisha,” Eddie said, as the older woman returned to her spot near the door.

  Luis asked, “Ain’t that the lady from the park?”

  “Yes.”

  “She’s a wizard, too?”

  “A prophetess.”

  “Why’d she call you Fred?”

  “Long story.”

  Luis was staring at the huge staircase. “Look at all those steps!”

  “Don’t worry, we’ll use the elevator.”

  “Thank God!”

  As Eddie led them, Luis examined the decorative iron cage and found the gate, which perfectly blended into the rest of the structure. Eddie opened it, and a light went on automatically in the cylindrical box suspended in the shaft.

  “You sure this thing is safe?” Luis glared at the open cage.

  “This elevator shaft is as stable as a concrete tube, Luis,” Eddie remarked. “Five of us rode in it the other day.”

  Luis stared at the top of the iron rails that went up the center shaft of stairs. “The top of this fence looks like spears.”

  Eddie stepped easily through the gate and Luis, with a combination of turning and ducking, barely got on. Eddie pushed the button marked “2” and the car rattled and slowly began to rise.

  “So your ‘mentor’ lives here?”

  “He owns the building.”

  Luis shrugged. “Who says you can’t find a place in Manhattan?"

  “He’s got some cool things.” Eddie was warmed by the idea that he could talk freely. “He has this tea set that serves you by itself. You tell it what you want, and the coffee pot and cup float in the air and pour themselves.”

  “That’s pretty cool,” Luis agreed with a nod.

  The elevator shuddered and came to a stop.

  “That didn’t sound good,” Eddie worried.

  “Maybe I’m too heavy.”

  They looked out through the gaps in the ironwork. They were about three quarters of the way up, but not at the top.

  “How do we help it along?”

  “I think I can,” Eddie gestured and his staff flew into his hand.

  “Wow!” Luis said. “That is awe—”

  He didn’t finish the word, as with one violent shake, the elevator came loose and plummeted toward the ground.

  Thirty-Nine

  Eddie and Luis were thrown to the walls as the box around them fell.

  Eddie raised his staff and tried to focus. He was exhausted and bone-weary, but suddenly had a rush of adrenaline.

  He forced himself to remember the feeling when he’d floated the tea cup at the breakfast table. This was the same thing, just on a larger scale.

  And he needed to do it fast.

  “Stop!” Eddie yelled, his staff high in his hand.

  Instead of their descent being gently slowed. He found himself being thrown to the floor by the sudden cessation of movement, and for a moment he thought they’d hit the ground.

  As Luis fell down on top of him, the air in his lungs whooshed out under the weight of his large partner.

  “Up!” Eddie gasped, his hand still firm on his staff.

  Luis’ bulk was suddenly no longer resting on him and Eddie felt himself rise off the floor and into the air.

  They were like astronauts in zero-gravity. He wasn’t quite sure what was up and what was down.

  Above him, Luis began to laugh like a big child. “Oh man, if my kids could see this!”

  Eddie focused his mind on the second floor and the elevator getting to it. He could sense the lift move, but wasn’t sure which direction. He didn’t want to try to undo what he’d done for fear that they might fall and he wouldn’t be able to stop them a second time.

  He glanced out through the wrought iron bars and tried to establish up from down. He could see the first floor, and the elevator indeed rose, but with a slow, dreamlike quality.

  Eddie tried to push past Luis, and the two of them spun in the air, making Eddie feel nauseous. He concentrated on the second floor, and on the gate opening. His staff glowed fiery red. A moment passed, then the elevator stopped and the protective fence moved aside to expose the second floor hallway.

  Which was upside-down.

  Eddie panicked for a moment, and then decided he must be the one turned the wrong way. He grabbed for the doorway, and pulled himself through.

  It was like swimming under water, except he could breathe. His entire body was buoyant, supported by the air currents like a balloon.

  Eddie kicked his feet to push his way into the hall.

  “Luis, come on!” Eddie braced his feet against the wall to reach into the elevator for his partner.

  Luis grabbed his hand and Eddie pulled him free. Then he kicked off the wall, and waved the staff in a counter clockwise direction.

  He and Luis dropped to the floor.

  The elevator noisily fell down the shaft. With a resounding crash, it landed somewhere far below in the basement.

  Eddie crawled to the open gate and looked down as a cloud of dust rose up.

  “Madre de Dios,” Luis whispered.

  “Sweet Lord,” Eddie intoned.

  “By Zoroaster!”

  Eddie rolled over to see that Marlowe stood over them. He was dressed in a red bathrobe that was trimmed in burgundy velvet and was covered with flower patterns woven into the design. He wore a matching old-fashioned stocking cap, whose top hung down on the right side of his head.

  “Are you all right, Eddie?” Marlowe’s face reflected concern.

  “I’m fine,” Eddie responded.

  “Someone's been messin’ with your elevator, man,” Luis pointed out.

  “Ah,” Marlowe’s eyebrows went up. “Sergeant Vasquez, isn’t it?”

  “Yes,” Eddie said, “my apprentice.”

  “I see,” Marlowe offered his hand to help Eddie up. Eddie took it, got up, and the two men pulled Luis to his feet with some difficulty.

  “I’m no prophet, but I have a feeling that elevator was booby-trapped,” Eddie brushed off his rumpled suit with his hands. “Who could’ve done it?”

  “I’m as shocked as you, Eddie,” Marlowe brooded. “We came here straight from the park as you requested.”

  “Including Drusilicus and Bankrock?” Eddie asked.

  “Yes.” Marlowe closed his eyes and sighed. “Bankrock felt an overwhelming need to tell us how many regulations you broke tonight with the use of your abilities in public. Then he spent another half-hour fretting that we don’t have a plan to stop Abraxas.”

  “Do Ahbay and Eugenia understand now how dangerous he is?” Eddie said. “I know I got my eyes opened.”

  “We must face the truth. We have never gone up against the demon at his full power.”

  Eddie stared into the older man’s eyes. “Marlowe, that’s a tough thing to accept. I mean, you guys took him on for what, centuries?”

  “Yes,” Marlowe worried. “And now, we must find a new way to defeat him.”

  “Well, add to th
at the fact that there is no doubt that a warlock is working with Abraxas.”

  “Why?” Marlowe asked.

  “While I chased the demon, someone murdered Alfonso Cuccolo and cut off his hand.”

  “Really?” Marlowe considered this carefully. “His hand. How extraordinary. Tell me everything you know and leave out no detail, large or small.”

  With a glance at Luis, Eddie retold the story: the beaver that became a wolverine, that became an Indian chieftain. He was surprised that his tired mind could recall the events in great detail, and even the names that Cuccolo called out, “Lox” and “Malsum”.

  The whole time they stood in the hall, Marlowe listened, running his fingers through his beard with one hand, as his other rested on his cane.

  Eddie finished by describing the intricately carved wooden box inlaid with turquoise and silver. Marlowe’s eyes flashed as Eddie completed his version of the events.

  “I have to agree with you, Eddie. You were led off by the Great Evil so that this man could be killed in a very specific way. A blood sacrifice to activate the talisman’s power.”

  “Which leads me to a rather nasty conclusion, Marlowe,” Eddie announced. “Abraxas has committed four murders, each killed in a different way: burned in fire, ripped apart, sliced with a sword, and hung.”

  Marlowe looked at the ceiling in thought. “Four blood sacrifices. Yet we only knew of three talismans.”

  “Exactly, and last night Abraxas said that when he unleashes the power of the fifth talisman he’ll conquer the world.”

  Marlowe’s eyes shifted to Eddie, and he said in a hoarse whisper, “You believe he currently possesses the fourth talisman?”

  “He killed Riftstone, but Trefoil he only put in a coma. If blood is needed to activate the talismans—”

  “By Zoroaster!” Marlowe barked. “He could have the fourth talisman and be using it!”

  “These talismans and sacrifices have all taken place in Central Park,” Eddie said.

  “That is true.”

  “There’s got to be a reason,” Eddie affirmed. “I think I might have it. Luis and I found out that Mayan artifacts were stolen from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.”

  “Right, right,” Luis spoke up. “And in spite of all the alarms and things, the thief snuck in and out without being seen or caught on video.”

  “What were these artifacts?” Marlowe said.