by S. C. Stokes
Ernesto replied embracing Sarah, “Thank you. It’s not set in stone yet, but we expect it will be in the summer.”
“How charming,” Sarah replied as she stepped back. She gestured at Kasey. “Ah, forgive me, Ernesto. This is my sister Kasey. Kasey, Ernesto. Ernesto’s son William and I were in the Academy together.”
“I should have known!” Ernesto exclaimed, embracing Kasey. “The resemblance is unmistakable. A Stonemoore if ever I’ve seen one.”
Kasey returned the embrace. “Ernesto, a pleasure.”
He glanced from sister to sister. “So, what brings you both to The Emporium? How can I be of service?”
“Ernesto, no need to trouble yourself. We’re just looking for a few supplies. Kasey has a little bit of a pest problem,” Sarah explained.
“It’s no trouble at all. Mornings are usually our quiet time anyway.”
Kasey’s eyes wandered while Sarah spoke. Old timber shelves formed aisles stretching as far as the eye could see. The Emporium must have covered more than a city block. Dozens of patrons bustled through the store. Kasey didn’t even know where to begin.
Ernesto placed an arm around each sister and steered them into the store. “Now, what is it you are looking for? A pest problem you said. I take it is of the magical variety?”
“Sure is, Ernesto,” Sarah said. “Some Pest-Kill Plus just isn’t going to cut it.”
Ernesto rubbed his chin. “So, what are we dealing with? A sly little leprechaun? Maybe some Chameleonic Garden Gnomes? Whatever it is, we’ll have just the thing.”
He set out down the aisles.
Kasey had to take a few quick steps to keep up. “Ernesto, I don’t know what a Chameleonic Garden Gnome is, but we need something that will kill a Werewolf.”
Ernesto stopped dead. He turned slowly to face her. “Miss Stonemoore, a Werewolf is not a pest. They are accepted members of the magical community. They have rights, have had for almost 400 years. The killing of a Werewolf is criminal conduct. It is punishable by the Council. I’d advise you to reconsider.”
Kasey stepped closer to Ernesto to not be overheard. “Look, Ernesto, I don’t want to kill anyone, but this Werewolf is stalking me. He has already killed two other young women and there is every chance that I’m next.” Kasey pointed to her wounds from Hudson Road. The bruises had faded somewhat but the cuts were still fresh. “He threw me through a window. I need something that can stop him before he finishes the job.”
It sounded like begging, and Kasey hated it. Unfortunately, the last few days had drained her, both physically and emotionally. “Ernesto, please, it’s a matter of life and death.”
Ernesto examined her, his expression unreadable. “Very well, Miss Stonemoore. I don’t condone the use of violence, but one must be able to protect themselves. What you need, however, cannot be found among our normal magical supplies. We’ll need to go to the Beastiary.”
“The Beastiary?” Kasey glanced at Sarah. “Where and what is that?”
Ernesto leaned closer. “The Beastiary is where we keep our more exotic items, those that would not be smiled upon by our more discerning clientele.”
“Sounds like what I’m after,” Kasey replied, she was anxious for any advantage over the beast.
“Very well. The Beastiary is no place for children. Sarah, you will need to leave Simeon in the creche with the other youngsters. It’s for his own safety,” Ernesto said as he waved over one of his clerks.
Sarah hugged Simeon tight before handing him to the clerk. “Have fun. Momma will be back soon.”
“Follow me,” Ernesto said. He turned on his heel and led them deeper into the Emporium.
Kasey stared in wonder as she passed row upon row of shelves labeled with goods she had never even imagined: Potions and Powders, Arcane Artifacts, Bathista’s Bites and Meals for Mythical Beasts, Self-Reading Papers, Destiny and Divination.
She supposed she could spend hours exploring the wonders of The Emporium and her curious nature wanted to do just that. She regretted neglecting her heritage. It had been easy to turn a blind eye to magic after leaving the Academy. It wasn’t until she was striding down the aisles of the sprawling store that she realized just how ignorant she was of her own people.
There will be a time and a place to fix that, but right now, I need to stay alive.
Ernesto led them into an aisle filled with mirrors. Kasey made her way down it, glancing in the glass as she went. Each had a different effect on her reflection. Some made her appear thinner, others taller or shorter. One in particular made her pause: an ornate full-length mirror in a polished bronze frame. The frame itself had elegant silver and gold inlay in a Celtic pattern. It was beautiful. A sold sign rested at its base.
Kasey stared into the glass but no reflection greeted her. She could see Sarah and Ernesto but not herself. It was more than a little disconcerting.
“Come here, Kasey,” Ernesto called from farther down the aisle.
Kasey glanced back at the mirror, then hurried to catch up with the others.
Ernesto was standing in front of a large full-length mirror with a beautiful polished silver frame. It had no label or price tag.
He reached out and placed his palm on the mirror. Closing his eyes, he chanted, “Revelare!”
The surface of the mirror swirled before disappearing entirely. Instead, a stone chamber became visible, as if the mirror had somehow become a window.
“Come now, we must hurry.” Ernesto tested the portal with his hand. Its surface rippled as his arm passed through. Satisfied that all was in order, Ernesto plunged through the fluid surface, small waves rolled outward until they struck the edge of the frame.
Not wishing to be left behind, Kasey approached the shimmering surface. Following Ernesto’s lead, she tested the portal. As her hand returned safely, she mustered the courage and leaped through the portal.
Kasey felt like she had been submerged underwater, then in an instant the feeling passed and she found herself standing in the stone chamber with Ernesto.
Reflexively, she gasped for air.
Seconds later, Sarah emerged behind them.
Ernesto swept his hand across the surface of a matching mirror.
“Celare,” he said, his heavy English accent reverberating around the chamber.
The portal vanished. Bricks re-materializing where it had just been.
“Where are we, Ernesto?” Kasey asked.
The cold gray stone walls were markedly different to the elegant Emporium they had been standing in only moments earlier. Kasey wondered where the portal had taken her.
“Welcome to the Beastiary,” Ernesto said. “It is where I store items that are not fit for general consumption or use. It wouldn’t do to have a child stumbling upon a cursed artifact, now would it?”
“Why would you even keep a cursed artifact?” Kasey asked. The whole notion seemed backwards.
“Because, Miss Stonemoore, each customer has a different need. What one sees as a curse, another might see as a blessing. Shoes of ceaseless wandering might be torture for one patron, but for someone who has been lame their whole life, might provide them the giddy joy of a sensation they had never hoped to experience.
“My business is to meet my patron’s needs and wishes. Understanding and identifying the inherent value of an item is fundamental to my family’s success. The item you seek, for instance, Werewolves would shun, but to you it will be the instrument of your salvation.”
Kasey surveyed the chamber. The shelves in the dimly lit room were of a sturdy steel construction. They were covered in a bizarre assortment of objects: a pair of dirty running shoes, a glass egg-timer, a seemingly empty snow-globe. There was even an entire plastic skeleton resting on a shelf in the center of the room.
“Ernesto, what is the skeleton for? It’s obviously not real. What purpose does it serve?”
His mouth peaked into a smile. “That is my security system, Miss Stonemoore. Should anyone attempt to gain access to the vau
lt without me, an alarm will trigger and Bagabones will ensure they do not steal anything.”
Kasey studied the crumpled skeleton resting on the shelf. It looked like it had been kicked down a flight of stairs.
That’s about as dangerous as a wet paper bag.
Her doubt must have been evident, as Ernesto continued. “I assure you, he is quite capable, Miss Stonemoore. In all my years as the owner of this establishment, I have never lost an item from this vault. Do you wish to see him in action?”
Kasey was intrigued. “Sure, bring it on.”
“Very well,” Ernesto answered. “If you wouldn’t mind taking a few steps forward, I’ll trigger the alarm.”
Kasey took three steps toward the skeleton. Without conscious thought, she took up a ready stance.
“Terrorem!” Ernesto said from behind her.
Two blue orbs appeared in the skull’s eye sockets, the skeletal jaw extended and retracted as if the creature was stretching. There was a clattering noise as the skeleton unfurled itself. It rested its weathered arms on the shelf and propelled itself clear. The skeleton landed deftly on the stone chamber floor and lumbered toward Kasey.
Bagabones took two more steps before dropping into a lunge and launching itself at her.
As the skeleton sailed toward her, she nimbly side stepped the enchanted skeleton. Bagabones snarled. She dipped left and delivered a punishing roundhouse kick to the creature as it sailed past her. The kick struck Bagabones in the hip, sweeping his legs out from under him.
He came down hard, landing on his side and skidding into the wall. His skull struck with enough force that it would have knocked out a boxer. Sarah gave a victory whoop, and Kasey broke into a satisfied grin.
Her smile faded as the skeleton shook its head as if it were waking up. Slowly, it raised itself off the ground and got back to its feet.
“Got a little fight in you huh?” Kasey asked as it approached.
“Miss Stonemoore,” Ernesto said from where he leaned against a shelf. “Rest assured he’s not delicate, despite his appearance. No need to be gentle.”
His reassurance sounded like a taunt. Time to up the ante.
She waited for the creature to close once more. As it neared, it flexed its hand. Then it swung its fist at her. Kasey dodged left once more. Bagabones launched a vicious right-handed hook.
Kasey ducked under the blow and grabbed the creature’s left wrist. Using Bagabones’ momentum against him, she turned and, dropping her shoulder into his bony torso, brutally flipping the creature.
Bagabones thundered head first into the stone floor.
Kasey, still holding the creature’s arm, twisted it violently. The movement would have left a human opponent in agony.
Bagabones arm snapped clean off at the shoulder. It was a bizarre scene as Kasey held the disembodied skeletal arm while the creature struggled to its feet once more. This time, the creature was slower as he struggled to compensate for his missing limb.
Kasey looked at Ernesto who just stared back impassively.
No more playing it’s time to end this.
She sized up the skeleton before her. She had no reference for fighting magical creatures, but the skeletal guard must have a breaking point.
As Bagabones rose from the floor, Kasey flipped the skeletal arm so that she was holding it by the bicep. Gripping the bone with both hands, she swung it with all her might.
Chapter Fifteen
There was a deafening crack as bone struck bone.
The skeletal guard exploded in spectacular fashion. The skull with its glowing eyes burst free from its neck like a baseball soaring for the grandstands.
It struck the rear wall with a gratifying crack. The headless skeleton tottered for a moment before crashing to the ground in a noisy heap.
The skeletal arm in Kasey’s hands snapped at the elbow.
She tossed it aside, then turned to face Ernesto, dusting her hands as a satisfied smile spread across her face. “It’s outta here!”
Ernesto simply pointed at the rear wall.
Kasey spun to see Bagabones’ skull, lying on its side on the cobblestone floor staring back at her.
The blue orbs that served as eyes faded and went out.
Kasey let out a grunt of satisfaction.
Then the empty sockets blazed red and the skull began to shake.
“Oh…” Kasey cut herself off as the skull skittered across the floor toward her.
She leaped backward as the skeleton’s bones gathered together. She watched with dread as the conjuration reassembled itself, reattaching its arm and hand as it stood up. Reaching down, Bagabones picked up his skull and reattached it. Staring Kasey down, he went to take a step but stopped. He grabbed hold of one of his skeletal ribs. With a sickening snap he broke the rib free and, brandishing it like a knife, charged at her.
Kasey’s heart pounded as the creature closed, its weapon raised for the kill.
“Prohibere!” Ernesto’s voice rang out.
Bagabones stopped dead, turned on the spot, and marched back to his shelf. Upon reaching the shelf, he collapsed in a heap, the flaming eyes fading to empty sockets once more.
“Well, I think that is quite enough of that,” Ernesto exclaimed.
Kasey shook her head. “What on Earth was that?”
“A skeletal sentinel,” Ernesto replied. “Perhaps not the smartest of conjurations, but you just can’t beat them for durability.”
“How do you stop something like that?” she demanded.
“You don’t,” Ernesto answered calmly, “but then again, I believe that’s the point. That particular sentinel has been in our family for three centuries and he’s still going strong.”
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Kasey admitted.
“Most people have not,” Ernesto answered as he straightened his suit. “They are extremely rare. Originally crafted by a family of Persian artisans around 500BC. Unfortunately, the family were put to death by Cyrus the Great for Necromancy. Fortunately for us, the sentinels were far more durable than their masters and several of them still survive to the present day.”
“Fortunately?” Sarah shook her head. “That thing was terrifying. We could do with a few less of those in the world in my opinion.”
“Oh, the sentinel is nothing to worry about. He’s only a threat to those who break into the vault. You’ve come as welcome guests, so fear not! Now let us see what we have to help you with your Werewolf issue.”
Ernesto moved along the shelves and began searching for something. “I know it is here somewhere.”
He rifled through the shelves, his pace increasingly frantic.
“Do you need a hand?” Sarah asked following Ernesto along the shelf.
“No, thank you, Sarah,” Ernesto replied holding up his hand, “I’m sorry. I never lose anything. I simply need to remember precisely where I left it.”
Kasey and Sarah looked at each other and smiled. Together they waited as he made his way through the chamber, simultaneously sifting through and sorting the relics as he went.
“Aha!” he exclaimed, lifting a small box into the air. “I knew it was here somewhere.”
He made his way back to Kasey and Sarah, clutching the small box protectively in both hands. The ornate case was carved from a dark timber. On its surface it had three intricately formed interlocking triangles.
“What do you know about Werewolves, Miss Stonemoore?” Ernesto asked.
“Only what I’ve seen firsthand. Hulking great beasts that are lightning quick, not to mention the mouthful of teeth that could tear me to shreds. Oh, and they can take a punch. Kinda why we are here, Ernesto. Not sure what I can do to stop one should the need arise.”
Ernesto nodded. “I see. Well, they certainly are impressive, but they aren’t immortal. They can take a beating and they may seem infallible. Fortunately, experience has taught us that they do indeed have a weakness. Silver.”
“Silver?” Sarah asked. “I thought tha
t was an old wives’ tale.”
“Based in reality, I assure you,” Ernesto replied. “The quickest way to slay a Werewolf is to strike it in the heart with pure silver. The beast’s heart will stop beating immediately. In the 1800s, the Europeans dealt with their Werewolf scourge by fashioning silver balls for their muskets and pistols.
“When the Treaty of Thames extended sanctuary to Werewolves as accepted members of the magical community, the manufacturing of weapons designed to kill them all but dried up. Fortunately, this artifact has its origins in a time far before that, when men didn’t have the luxury of a gun to put distance between him and his lupine foe.”
Ernesto opened the small box and produced a glimmering shard of silver. It was almost the size of a pen. The shard fit neatly in his fist as he held it aloft.
“What precisely am I meant to do with that, Ernesto?” Kasey asked, distinctly underwhelmed. “Hope he eats it by mistake?”
Ernesto’s face fell. “My mistake. I keep forgetting, history is a subject often eschewed in the schools of today.” Tapping the top of the box, he said, “This is the Valknut, ancient and sacred symbol of the Norse. It is the mark of the god Odin. If you want a lesson in dealing with Werewolves, you best take it from those who triumphed over them in the first place.
“Scandinavia was where the lupine disease first appeared and spread. The Norse were a fiercely proud people. Unwilling to abandon their homes, they banded together and drove the beasts out of their lands. Unfortunately, their victory was Europe’s condemnation, as the dreaded curse spread like wildfire among the Vikings’ less hardy neighbors.”
“That’s fascinating, Ernesto, but I still don’t see how a silver pen is going to make much of a dint. He’ll tear me apart before I can get close enough to shank him with that,” Kasey replied.
“Patience, Miss Stonemoore, I will not entrust you with a relic of such historic import unless you understand both its cultural significance and its priceless nature.”
Kasey conceded the point. “My apologies, Ernesto. Please continue.”