by K. B. Draper
“Damn it. You two couldn’t have waited five more minutes until my toenails were dry before you went all stalker on me?” Ruby spouted. She walked on her heels to her chair, plopped down, and threw her feet up on her desk.
“You were hiding from me!” Daylen accused.
“No. Just doing my nails in a secret room that you don’t know about,” Ruby countered.
“You’ve been doing your nails a lot lately,” Daylen stated. “While Kanyon and I were collecting the article and getting fireballs thrown at our heads.”
“Fireballs?”
“Yeah. You’d know that if you’d answer your phone.”
Ruby flicked a hand at her phone lying on her desk. “It’s dead. Forgot to charge it.” A chime came from the phone indicating an incoming text. Ruby looked at the ceiling. “Cute, super cute.”
“Aunt Ruby, I’m serious. No half stories or I’ll tell you when you’re ready excuses. Kanyon and I want answers, starting with why you’re avoiding me and why you’re not shielded. I can see guilt dripping off you like an ice cream cone in July.”
Kanyon caught the stiffness of Ruby’s back in reaction to Daylen’s words before she tried to play it off by leaning forward again and attempting to blow one more time on her toes. She dropped her feet to the floor, looked at Daylen, Kanyon, then back to Daylen. “Okay.”
“Okay?” Daylen asked disbelievingly.
“Yeah. Okay,” Ruby repeated, as she stood and walked back over to the bookshelf. “I guess this is as good of place as any to start.” She waved an ushering hand.
Kanyon leaned into the opening and glanced around the pitch-black, secret room as Daylen leaned in behind her. “What’s in there?” Daylen asked.
Ruby gave them both a shove in the back forcing them to stumble forward into the room. “Well go ahead, nosey Nancys, you wanted to know.” Ruby clapped twice and the room was lit by several ornate wall sconces positioned throughout the room. Daylen spun on her aunt. “You can control electricity? What else have you failed to tell me about?”
“Though I appreciate your belief that I have such power, my only power in this case is that I dialed QVC. I had a Clapper installed.” She clapped twice and the lights went out, twice more and the room relit. “I got tired of looking for the dangly string.” She pointed at the single pull-string light overhead while she made her way to the pedestal table that sat in the middle of the room, a thick, bound book open and resting on its surface. “You want answers. You wanted a handbook. Well, here you go.” She slapped a hand down on the book that was about as thick as the A-Q volumes of the encyclopedia and the lights went off. “That kind of ruined the dramatic statement.” Ruby clapped again to illuminate the room.
Kanyon looked at the book then Daylen. “That,” she pointed to the book, “that’s all on you. I don’t even read the two pages of instructions that come with IKEA furniture.” She looked around the room. “Speaking of absolutely no furniture, I’d suggest putting a La-Z-Boy and mini-fridge in, when you go cozying up with that thing.”
Daylen ignored Kanyon, instead focusing on her aunt. “How about the CliffsNotes version for now?”
“Oh, yeah. I can totally do CliffsNotes,” Kanyon said, stepping around the small table.
“Now that you’ve seen it, why don’t we go back out and take a seat?” Ruby offered. “This might take a long while.”
“Like War and Peace long? Titanic long?” Kanyon asked with a pouty whine.
Daylen swatted Kanyon across her arm. “Seriously? You get electric beach balls thrown at your head and you’re worried about the length of the story?”
Kanyon shrugged.
They followed Ruby out of the room. “Before I forget,” Daylen reached into her bag, took out the silver cologne bottle, and sat it on her aunt’s desk.
Despite Daylen having her shields up, her knees buckled. She would’ve hit the floor if Kanyon hadn’t been at her side, catching her and guiding her to a chair.
Kanyon whipped toward Ruby. “What the hell?”
“Too much guilt,” Daylen answered for her.
“I didn’t know he was here,” Ruby whispered.
Daylen straightened, anger fortifying her shields, knowing that Ruby had something to do with Kanyon being hurt. “You would have if you’d answered your phone. You nearly got Kanyon killed!”
Isadora stepped forward from behind them. “Kanyon is strong. She was in danger, yes,” she raised a hand to Daylen’s protest, “but she handled herself well.”
“I’m fine,” Kanyon added for Daylen as much as Ruby. She didn’t need Daylen’s powers to see the torture Ruby was putting herself through.
“Something or someone nearly beat her to death,” Daylen protested.
“To death is a little strong. I’m–” She cut off her words at Daylen’s fierce look. “Fine, it might have stung a little,” she mumbled instead.
Isadora stepped closer to lay a hand on Kanyon’s shoulder. “I am sorry for what you endured.”
“It’s okay. It wasn’t your fault.” Kanyon gave her a reassuring smile.
Ruby finally spoke. “Kanyon,” she looked at her niece, “sweetheart, this is my fault. None of this would’ve happened if it wasn’t for me. I made a poor decision and unfortunately you,” she laid heavy sorrow-filled eyes on Kanyon, “had to pay the price for it. Please let me know what I can do to make it up to you.”
Kanyon shrugged lazily. She didn’t care what exactly Ruby had done, but she did know it had brought Daylen to the set and back to her. For that, she’d endure a thousand more lashes. “Still waiting for that dental plan.”
Ruby let out a weak chuckle. “Done.”
“Unlike my partner here, I’m not bought off so easily,” Daylen interrupted.
Ruby nodded. “And the price for your forgiveness?”
“I want freaking answers. We have these powers, we have articles out there that can do,” she flipped a frustrated hand toward the silver bottle, “all kinds of weird crap, and now we have some guy that …” She stopped before her voice cracked on the next words.
Isadora moved to Daylen. “I agree. You deserve answers.”
“Let’s start with that. Who is this guy?” Kanyon asked, taking the lead, allowing Daylen to take a moment to reel in her emotions.
Ruby glanced at Isadora for permission, but it was Isadora who answered. “Herod.”
“Harold?” Kanyon scoffed. “Really? I have to say, I’m a tad disappointed in the nemesis naming program. I feel like I’m fighting the guy that bags my groceries and has a hard time pushing the train of carts in from the parking lot.” She crossed her arms in mock frustration. “Harold. What is his grand plan to take down the world - to bag the meats with our ice cream?” Kanyon muttered, stopping when she noticed all three women staring at her.
“Seriously? How does your brain work?” Daylen asked.
“He – rod,” Ruby pronounced clearly.
“Herod,” Daylen repeated. “As in kill all the babies that might be Jesus, Herod?”
“That would be his great, great grandson, Herod. That Herod was possessed by an article of ego and greed,” Isadora offered. “This Herod is actually Heroduorus.”
“This name thing is still not working for me. Now I’m fighting a boring college English professor.” She dropped her voice to a stuffy English accent. “I’m Heroduorus, here to take over the world one boring story at a time.”
Daylen wiped exhausted hands down her face and sighed. “Would you feel better if his name was Snake-eyes? The Joker? Dr. Doom, maybe?”
“It would make it easier to identify him,” Kanyon replied matter-of-factly.
“And the blue fireballs thrown at your head isn’t a good enough indicator?” Daylen asked. Not waiting for an answer, she turned back to Isadora and her aunt. “Heroduorus?”
“Heroduorus is the First Soldier,” Isadora started.
Without looking, Daylen shot out a warning finger at Kanyon, whose mouth was already open for com
ment. “Okay, geez.” Kanyon mumbled.
“The First Soldier works for the soul judge of the Dark. Her name is Ammit.” Isadora continued as she moved to the window. “Ammit is the counter to Ma’at, who is the soul judge for the Light.”
“Ma’at, as in?” Daylen asked.
“Yes. Eye of the Seeker.” Isadora smiled. “Ma’at fights for the souls of humans, tries to keep them untainted so they can pass through to what you would reference as Heaven. Ammit however, tries to tempt and corrupt so she can take souls to …” She pointed to the floor. “You know.”
“We’re fighting a chick villain? That’s so EOE of the bad guys,” Kanyon inserted.
“The First Soldier. What’s his purpose exactly?” Daylen asked.
“Ammit is bound to the dark, the spiritual world. Her First Soldier can pass between the spirit world and this one, so she uses him to collect articles. Much like we ask of you. However, Ammit uses the articles for–”
Kanyon raised her hand as she bounced in her chair like an excited kindergartener after two juice boxes. “Ohhh, I know, I know.” When Isadora lifted a brow, Kanyon blurted, “EVIL!”
Isadora chuckled. “Correct.”
“Yes! This is so late-night, bad movie right now.” Kanyon smiled excitedly.
“It gets worse.” Ruby picked up the story. “Herod collects articles for Ammit’s waking.”
“Waking? That’s a little overused, don’t you think? I mean with all the vampires and–” Daylen slapped a hand over her eyes, held it there for a second, then dropped it to cover her mouth. “What? Come on. You can’t say you’re not just a bit over the whole vampire deal too. Well, I mean except for Underworld of course, ‘cause, duh, that’s just pure badass.”
Daylen looked at Kanyon for a long moment, then slowly lifted her hand from her mouth. “No, I absolutely agree. The Underworld movies are the only tolerable vampire movies made in the last decade. I do wish Hollywood would switch to something else, succubus maybe. I could watch a good succubus movie or seven. Oh, wait. How about wizards? I mean, I know there’s the whole Harry Potter thing, which no one could top ever, but I was thinking about more modern day. Or maybe ghouls? Ehh, that might be too close to zombies. ‘Cause talk about being overdone. Am I right?”
“You’re mocking me right now, aren’t you?” Kanyon asked flatly.
Daylen held up two fingers pinched together. “Little bit.”
Kanyon waved a hand at Ruby. “Fine, back to your Ammit and her First Soldier articles of evil made for TV story.”
“Okay, back to Ammit wanting the articles for her rising?” Daylen asked, a finger up to try to hold off Kanyon’s comments.
“Please tell me it’s a possessed article frequent shopper card. She collects ten articles and she gets world domination for free?”
“Sadly, you’re not altogether wrong. She collects the articles for power, yes, but her short-term goal is that she collects articles, strips the powers from them, and re-channels them,” Ruby answered simply.
“Re-channels?” Daylen asked.
“She channels the powers into human vessels.” Isadora offered.
“I don’t understand. How’s that different than what already happens when someone has an article, besides corrupting one human? That’s bad obviously, but in the grand scheme of things, there are bad guys everywhere, all the time. Why all the …”
“You have to know that the one thing that neither side can override is freewill. Just like the two of you can choose your fates, so can,” she waved a hand, “the vessels.”
“So, the vessels chose Team Evil?” Kanyon asked.
“Yes.” Isadora agreed simply. “They chose to embrace Ammit and the promises of power and wealth she offers.”
“I still don’t get why this is different than,” Daylen picked up the silver cologne bottle on Ruby’s desk, “someone picking this up and getting affected by it.”
“The difference is,” Isadora’s voice softened to a whisper, “each time Ammit offers a vessel an article, she is not just offering them the article, but the actual sin itself.”
Kanyon was starting to see the bigger picture. “And like a bad game of Trivial Pursuit, what happens if they collect all seven pieces of the sin pie?” Daylen looked at her confused. “One vessel, seven deadly sins; lust, greed, wrath, sloth, envy, pride, and gluttony,” she ticked off. “Am I right?”
Isadora moved to the window again, staring out as she spoke. “Yes. And you are sadly all too aware of the results, just not the cause. The vessels have become false prophets, dictators, serial killers …”
“We’re talking Manson, Jim Jones, Hitler, Stalin, Herod,” Ruby clarified.
“Okay. So, we’re up against a wicked Judge Judy who uses articles to corrupt humans to do her evil bidding and become huge flaming assholes. Now what?” Kanyon asked.
Isadora moved to Daylen. “Does this knowledge change your decision to become a Seeker?”
“No, of course not! If anything, it solidifies my decision.”
Isadora nodded in satisfaction and pride. She then looked at Kanyon. “And you, Guardian. You wish to change your choice?”
Kanyon scoffed. “I’m so in and ready to kick some First Soldier ass.”
“Then we best get to training,” a deep male voice said from behind her, causing Kanyon to nearly fall sideways out of her chair.
“What the–” Kanyon righted herself quickly, jumping to her feet as she spun to see Marcus standing behind her. “Seriously, we need to hang a bell around your neck.”
“Or you could remain alert and aware of your surroundings and there would not be the need for such a thing.” Marcus countered. At Kanyon’s “whatever”, he continued. “We have much to catch up on, Guardian. You have been gone from my guidance too long.”
Kanyon lowered her head. “I’m sorry for that.”
“I am not worried. You are of strong mind and body, but we have much to do, much to work on.”
Kanyon lifted a hand. “I got this little trick down.” She lit her fingertips with fire and just as quickly extinguished them.
“So you do.” He gave a quick head nod then raised his own hand and let the fire start at his own tips. “But is this within your skills?” The fire danced and as they all watched, the flames twisted into a hand-held tornado. Marcus flicked his wrist as he shot his hand forward and the fire shot out in a tight spiral that hit a ceramic lamp like a flaming spear. The lamp exploded.
When the last piece of glass hit the floor, Ruby spun on Marcus. “That was an antique.”
Kanyon looked at the demolished lamp, Ruby, then Marcus. “And totally badass! Let me try. Let me try.”
“Why do I feel like this is going to end badly?” Daylen muttered as Kanyon lifted her hand and her fingertips ignited.
Kanyon threw her hand out like Marcus had, only to have a small flame, the size of an ember from a campfire, float lazily from a fingertip down toward Ruby’s desk.
“Or maybe not.” Daylen chuckled, but her laugh was cut short as the ember dropped onto a piece of paper.
Ruby grabbed her glass of water and dumped it on the desk. “This is my office, not a gladiator training facility.”
Isadora walked over to Marcus. “We are almost finished here. I will meet you back at home.” Marcus nodded once, waved a hand at the lamp, and all the pieces came back together as if he had just rewound the scene.
“Thank you.” Ruby offered.
Marcus gave a slight bow.
“Mystical superglue powers! Badass. I wonder if I have those,” Kanyon flicked her hands out as if she was a theatrical stage magician.
Ruby grabbed a book from her desk and smacked Kanyon’s still outstretched hands. “Not in the house!”
“Ouch! That hurt,” Kanyon whined.
“Not as much as it will if you light my house on fire.”
“Like I’d burn down a whole–” Kanyon narrowed her eyes. “Whatever. That happened like one time, geez.”
&nbs
p; “I will search for you later, Guardian,” Marcus said, stifling a laugh as he faded out of the room.
Isadora waved a hand at Kanyon’s chair. “Please. We have more to discuss.”
“We need to discuss the First Soldier. If he’s here, then Ammit has found her vessel.”
“So, what, they put an ad in the newspaper? Wanted: one human vessel to recruit souls for the dark side. If interested, please reply in person to …” Kanyon let her sarcasm die off.
“They’re more like baseball scouts,” Ruby offered. “Look for someone that has potential, then bring them up to the big leagues.”
“Okay, so we need to beat this First Soldier guy to all the articles and bust some wannabe back down to tee-ball. Shouldn’t be a big deal.” Kanyon slapped both armrests and popped out of her chair. “No time like the present to start saving the world.”
Daylen raised a hand. “Humm, I have just a few more hundred questions.”
Kanyon sighed, as she dropped back down into her seat. “I knew I should’ve gotten a bag of popcorn and gone to the bathroom.”
An hour later, Daylen and Kanyon headed back to their office. Daylen dropped into her chair. “You okay?” Kanyon asked as she took a scan of the office. It hadn’t been changed since she’d been gone.
“I’m not sure.” Daylen picked up a pen. “I mean, I knew there was something more out there, something bigger than just articles with supernatural powers, but I didn’t ever …” she began nervously tapping the pen against her desk, “… I didn’t ever really let myself think about it. It was just this weird job that was passed down in my family.”
“And now you know we’re center stage in the ultimate good versus evil story,” Kanyon stated.
“Well, yeah. I mean, there’s no pressure or anything. Just if we fail, you know, people could die apparently.” I don’t even want to think about it. “Why aren’t you freaking out about this? Why don’t you ever freak out? You didn’t freak about the whole Guardian Seeker thing. I mean, you have fire-throwing fingertips for God’s sake.”
Kanyon sat on the edge of Daylen’s desk and shrugged. “I don’t know. People have all kinds of special skills. I once saw this guy solve a Rubik’s cube behind his back in like five seconds while downhill skiing.” She got a narrowed-eyed stare from Daylen. “My mom says I have avoidance issues. Probably an overdeveloped avoidance gland or something.”