Phoenix and the Dark Star

by Gerald Pruett

  “Says the tall skinny woman standing next to two men holding wooden stakes and mallets,” Ellen quipped.

  “These stakes will only paralyze vampires,” Winona informed. “We will then take them somewhere to be killed.”

  “Okay, well, hold off!” Ellen ordered.

  “Are you nuts, girl?!” Brad demanded.

  “The name’s Ellen, and these two claim that they don’t feed on humans.”

  “They’re vampires though, Ellen,” Galvin pointed out.

  “So?” Ellen retorted.

  “Vampires are evil,” Galvin continued.

  “And according to movies, so are witches and wizards,” Ellen pointed out. “I’m not evil and I’m willing to give these two vampires the benefit of the doubt that they’re not evil.”

  “I’m not,” Winona said as she and her group continued towards the vampires.

  “Protect them!” Ellen ordered the dogs.

  The five dogs moved quickly and positioned themselves between the vampires and Winona’s group. When the dogs growled threateningly, Winona’s group came to a halt.

  “Girl…!” Brad was only able to get out.

  “It’s Ellen,” she strongly reminded him.

  “Whatever!” Brad quickly retorted. “Those crystal balls’ effects are going to wear off in less than eight minutes. When that happens, we can all be killed.”

  “You broke my fricken arm!” a male voice was heard from the mongrel looking dog’s direction.

  Ellen, Harris, Devon and Galvin heard gasps from Winona’s group as everyone turned to look towards the voice and saw a twenty-six-year-old nude man walking their way. The man had Native American features, a similar russet skin tone as Winona and was about the same height as her as well.

  “Liken!” Ellen uttered in a tone as if she was proven right. “I knew it!”

  “At this time of the month?” Galvin questioned as the man limped closer.

  “Ellen, is he the wizard who practices Immortal Magic?” Harris quickly asked.

  “No,” Ellen quickly replied. “I don’t know who the hell he is.”

  “The name’s Cory Knox,” he informed while cradling his broken arm with his other arm. His genital area was exposed, but no one dared to look. “And I’ve been waiting for two days for you, Winona, to show up.”

  Winona gave Cory a surprised look before uttering, “You’ve been waiting for me to show up?”

  “You’re a psychic,” Ellen accused as she glanced at Winona.

  “I’m not a psychic,” Cory said while joining them. “But I am a powerful shaman—like you, Winona.”

  “People!” Riley strongly interjected. When he had everyone’s attention, he continued to say, “The crystal balls’ effects are going to wear off soon and when that happens, these two vampires are going to get up and rip out our throats.”

  “They won’t,” Ellen insisted.

  “You said that those wooden stakes wouldn’t kill them?” Harris asked Winona before Riley could respond.

  “These wooden stakes have been magically enhanced to paralyze vampires,” Winona informed. Ellen glanced towards one of the crystal balls. “The only thing that can kill a vampire is by restraining one within a flame until the fire has completely taken hold of him or her.”

  “Ellen, call off the dogs,” Harris ordered.

  “I know they’re vampires, but I won’t let Winona kill them when they’re peaceful,” Ellen retorted stubbornly.

  “I agree, Ellen,” Harris quickly said. Winona, Riley and Brad gave Harris curious looks. “But I want to be damn sure that these vampires are peaceful, and I want them restrained just in case they’re not.”

  “We will be fair about it,” Devon assured Ellen. “Harris is correct though. They need to be restrained until we can be damn sure that they are no threat to us or anyone else.”

  Ellen sighed, and before she could verbally give the command for the dogs to back off, the dogs laid down with a heavy sigh as if to sleep.

  “I didn’t give them the command for them to do that,” Ellen quickly informed. “So what happened?”

  “As you can tap into their senses, they can sense your desires,” Devon supplied while gesturing for Winona, Riley and Brad to do their job. “However, it usually takes a wizard or a sorceress weeks to achieve what you had just achieved in less than an hour.” Devon grinned. “You’re a natural beast master.”

  “Awesome,” Ellen said indifferently as she watched Brad place the point of the stake above the female vampire’s heart.

  Riley had placed the point of his stake above the male vampire’s heart.

  Brad and Riley drew back their mallets simultaneously; however, Riley was a split second quicker as he swung downward with as much strength that he could gather and striking the stake square on the head.

  Ellen flinched as the sound of a hard shell cracking was heard, and then immediately flinched again when she heard another hard shell cracking after Brad had struck his stake square on the head.

  A distasteful expression immediately came across Ellen’s face just as Brad and Riley struck their stakes once more while hammering them deep into the vampires’ hearts.

  Both vampires flinched, and then—as if going through withdrawals—began to mildly shake.

  “The vampires are now completely harmless,” Riley informed as he and Brad were standing upright. Riley turned towards Ellen. “As long as none of you pull out the stakes from their chests that is.”

  “They can’t move at all?” Galvin asked.

  “Determined vampires can find the strength to move at a speed of a turtle,” Brad informed while pulling out handcuff ties from his pocket. “So we bind their hands.”

  “Those two didn’t attack us when we walked up on them,” Ellen said in the vampires’ behalf. “If they fed on humans, why didn’t they attack?”

  “We’ll find out why through the ‘Memory Talebearer’ spell,” Harris said.

  “And what if the ‘Memory Talebearer’ spell doesn’t work on vampires?” Ellen questioned.

  “Then we’ll find another way to prove or disprove their claim,” Harris replied. “But until then, we’re going to error on the side of caution.”

  “Fine,” Ellen grumbled.

  “In the meantime, I’m going to guess that Ellen and her friends are a witch and wizards…” Winona was only able to get out.

  “A sorceress and wizards,” Ellen strongly corrected.

  Winona glanced at Ellen before turning towards Cory and continuing with, “And you are what, Cory Knox?”

  “I’m a shape-shifter,” Cory replied, “and I’m here to teach you how to shape-shift, Winona.”

  “You’re here to teach me how to shape-shift?” Winona asked curiously.

  Cory ignored the curious looks that he was getting from everyone while saying, “You have the criterion of being able to shape-shift.”

  “What criterion?” Winona asked.

  “And how do you know she meets it if you’re not a psychic?” Ellen added.

  “Answer Ellen’s question first,” Winona requested while giving Ellen a slight grin.

  Ellen slightly grinned as Cory replied, “You don’t have to be a psychic to get visions.”

  “You’re casting an incantation to get your visions,” Ellen guessed.

  “I don’t know any incantations,” Cory claimed.

  Everyone gave Cory a curious look before Winona guessed, “A Vision Quest.”

  Cory gave an agreeing grin before sharing, “My first Vision Quest was at age eight—the day I died.”

  “You died?” Riley echoed incredulously.

  “Twice, actually, on the operating table,” Cory began. “The first time for slightly more than three minutes, and before the operation was complete, a second time for two minutes.”

  “What happened?” Winona questioned.

  “Having an appendicitis during the time that you have the flu doesn’t mix,” Cory replied. “By the time my mom took me to
the hospital, the doctors had a short time to remove my appendix, and I died twice as they were operating. When I woke several hours later, the spirit of Spotted Pelt… one of my ancestors from the 1600s was next to me, and I could see and hear him.”

  “You can see ghosts?” Ellen and Brad asked.

  Ellen and Brad glanced at one another as Cory said, “There’s only one spirit that I can see; however, he hasn’t been coming around as much lately unless I summon him or that he senses that I really need his guidance.” Winona gave Cory a polite grin. “One of your ancestors comes to you, Winona.”

  Ellen gave Winona her complete focus as Winona replied, “He only comes to me in my dreams. Anyway, how do I meet the criterion for being able to shape-shift?”

  “Through a Vision Quest I learned that you had died recently,” Cory supplied.

  “I can’t remember the date, but on the second Tuesday of last June…” Winona said before Ellen interrupted her with the correct date.

  When Winona gave Ellen a curious look for her knowing that, Ellen said remorsefully, “My mom’s funeral was the Monday before.”

  Winona gave a sympathetic nod before finishing, “Anyway, that Tuesday, I was struck by lightning.”

  “Ooh,” Ellen couldn’t help saying while cringing.

  Winona slightly grinned as Cory explained, “Because you had touched death, you now have a connection to the spiritual world and that connection is what will allow you to shape-shift.”

  “Of course,” Devon uttered in an understanding tone.

  “Of course?” Ellen echoed curiously.

  “Wizards who practice Immortal Magic have to establish a connection to the spiritual world first,” Devon began. “Winona and Cory have established a permanent connection during their near-death experiences, which allows them to shape-shift.”

  “What’s Immortal Magic?” Brad asked.

  “It’s the magic that comes from the spiritual world,” Devon shared. “For most witches and wizards it’s borrowed magic, and it is also very dangerous to perform as the witch or wizard performing it greatly risks spiritual possession; however, if the wizard or witch could pull it off without becoming spiritually possessed, he or she could emulate God-like powers.”

  “God-like powers?” Riley questioned.

  “After the witch or wizard obtains the borrowed magic, he or she would have twice the power that Merlin had, and he or she could be capable of shape-shifting, teleportation, levitation, alchemy, resurrecting the dead and limb regeneration.”

  “You’re comparing the fictional character of Merlin to how Immortal Magic works?” Riley questioned.

  “Merlin existed and we are his descendants,” Ellen insisted while indicating to herself, Harris, Devon and Galvin.

  “Okay,” Riley said skeptically.

  “Anyway,” Devon continued while ignoring the interruption and the skepticism. “Winona’s and Cory’s magic are being funneled safely from the spiritual world. In their cases, there are no risks of spiritual possessions—at least I don’t believe so anyway.”

  “Okay, well, we need to get these vampires to the van,” Riley pointed out while gesturing.

  “To our car,” Ellen insisted.

  “We might be able to squeeze one of the vampires in, in the backseat of the car, Ellen, but there’s not enough room for both of them,” Harris pointed out.

  “I’ll ride with Winona,” Ellen insisted.

  “Ellen, we’re currently driving a van,” Riley informed.

  “Apparently your job is to go around and kill vampires,” Ellen pointed out before laughing slightly without humor. “Uh, no! Neither vampire goes with you.”

  “Galvin and I will ride with Winona’s group,” Devon suggested. “There will be enough room in the car then.”

  Winona looked towards Devon before saying, “Ellen, I’ve been hunting vampires since June, and I haven’t met a vampire yet that didn’t drink human blood.”

  “I want to be absolutely certain,” Ellen insisted. “And if it turns out that they do kill people then I’ll be the one who sets them on fire.”

  “Alright,” Winona agreed in a defeated tone. “We’ll do it your way.” Winona then gestured towards Devon and Galvin. “You two will ride with us while the vampires ride in the car with… I’m sorry, what are your names?”

  Harris, Devon and Galvin introduced themselves as Harris and Devon went to help the female vampire to her feet. Winona went to retrieve the crystal balls.

  Riley and Brad introduced themselves as well, as those two went to help the male vampire to his feet. Brad then secured the vampires’ hands behind their backs with handcuff ties.

  “Winona?” Ellen began while grabbing her attention. “How did you become a vampire hunter?”

  “Let’s get these two vampires to where you want to take them, and then I’ll tell you that story,” Winona suggested.

  “Alright,” Ellen agreed.

  “Do you have clothes anywhere around here, Cory?” Devon quickly asked.

  “My Harley isn’t far from here,” Cory supplied. “And my clothes are inside a saddle bag.”

  “I’ll give you my address, and you can meet us there once you are dressed,” Harris informed.

  “I won’t be able to ride with a broken arm,” Cory said. “And shape-shifting is a son-of-a-bitch with a broken bone as well.”

  “I’m willing to bet that you have the ability to self-heal,” Devon suggested. “And I’ll show you how to do it.”

  Cory gave Devon a skeptical look before cautiously saying, “Okay. I’ll give it a try.”

  “Close your eyes. Imagine that the break in your arm is healing, and repeat after me,” Devon instructed.

  “Okay,” Cory agreed while closing his eyes. “I’m now imagining my arm healing.”

  Everyone watched and listened intently as Cory echoed Devon, one verse at a time, for sixteen verses. At the end of the sixteenth verse, Devon’s broken arm had properly positioned and healed itself as if it had never been broken.

  Cory opened his eyes and flexed his arm before saying, “Thanks, Doc.”

  “That’s a handy incantation to know,” Ellen took note of.

  “Unfortunately, only a person who practices Immortal Magic can make that incantation work,” Devon informed.

  “You practice Immortal Magic?!” Ellen quickly demanded to know.

  “No. Of course not,” Devon quickly assured Ellen.

  As Cory and Winona’s group were giving Ellen and Devon confused looks, Ellen pointed out, “You know the incantation.”

  “I learned the words to a few incantations that I can’t and/or won’t perform,” Devon quickly defended.

  As Ellen stared suspiciously at Devon, Winona asked, “What’s going on?”

  “I don’t have a connection to the spiritual world as you and Cory have, so I would have to temporarily create one, and the only method that I know of to do that is through human sacrificing rituals,” Devon shared. “And I don’t do sacrificing rituals.”

  “Okay,” Ellen finally said before letting the issue of Devon knowing certain incantations drop.

  “Harris, you had asked Ellen earlier if Cory was the one who practices Immortal Magic,” Winona pointed out.

  “I’ll explain on the way to the car,” Harris said before gesturing. “And the car’s this way.”

  “Alright,” Winona said.

  “Anyway, Cory, my address is…” Harris was only able to get out.

  “You definitely don’t want vampires to know where you live,” Brad assured Harris.

  “Okay,” Harris said skeptically. Harris then took a moment to think. “I know of a place. It’s a burnt out house and it’s somewhat out of the way.” Ellen saw a disconcerting expression on Winona’s face. “We can take the vampires there.”

  “Are you okay, Winona?” Ellen asked.

  “I’m fine,” Winona lied unconvincingly. “Where’s this house, Harris?”

  Ellen had allowed Winona’s lie to
drop as Harris gave everyone the address and the directions to the house.

  Cory shape-shifted back into a dog and ran towards his motorcycle.

  Before everyone else could escort the vampires towards the car, Ellen asked, “How do I release the dogs?”

  Devon slightly grinned before saying, “You can’t…”

  “Wait!” Ellen quickly uttered. “You had made a statement earlier that as long as the command link is maintained, I would inherit their senses.”

  “That’s true,” Devon said in a tone as if he didn’t know where Ellen was going with her inquiry.

  “If I can’t release the dogs, then how can I lose the command link?” Ellen questioned.

  An acknowledging expression came across Devon’s face before replying, “Any and all wizards from the Clover Coven who are magically more powerful than you, and had cast the beast master incantation will steal the command link over the animals from you—whether it’s intentional or not.” Winona’s group listened curiously. “At that point, you’ll no longer be telepathically connected to the animals.”

  “Who would have the command link over the animals if two wizards of equal power would cast the beast master incantation?” Ellen quickly asked.

  “Strangely enough, the animals can sense the Alpha wizard among a group of wizards of equal power,” Devon began, “and the Alpha wizard will be the one who will have the command link over the animals.”

  “Oh, okay,” Ellen uttered. “I understand.”

  “Oh, and the Alpha wizard is not always the ranking wizard,” Devon added.

  “Okay,” Ellen acknowledged in an uncertain tone while pondering what was said.

  “Anyway,” Devon continued while regaining Ellen’s focus. “As I was about to say, just tell the dogs not to follow. Their primal needs—hunger, sleep, finding shelter and defending themselves—will kick-in, and they’ll eventually go about their business as if you had never showed up.”

  “Okay,” Ellen said while looking at the lounging dogs.

  As if commanded to do so, the five dogs got up, went up to the deer and began eating.

  “Did you tell them to do that?” Galvin asked.

  Ellen shook her head before saying, “I was just thinking that they could go about their lives as if we weren’t here.”