The Kidnapping
-1-
Danica carried the plain wooden chair into the middle of the private mediation room. She was careful not to scratch the hardwood floor. Father Mitchell had readily agreed to her use of one of the small rooms at the Church of Pelor. The tall, aging priest had even taken time out of his Saturday morning duties to assist.
“Mummies, you say,” Father Mitchell repeated, shaking his head in dismay. “Any idea of who sent them? Animating the dead is serious business, not done lightly or without intense training,” the priest said worriedly.
As she shook her head, Danica's long gold and copper hair swung behind her. A long scarf held her hair back like a headband. “Mr. Langford never said who sent them, but just before the attack he was telling us how the world was changing, something about a shift in Shadow occurring decades ago and now getting stronger every day. And the mummy attack probably had something to do with the monstrous spider we killed earlier yesterday...and that half elf, Neda, that we saved.”
Father Mitchell had heard an abbreviated version—which was enough detail for him considering all that the four young people had been through—of the previous day and night while assisting Danica. He briefly lay his hand over the Medallion of Faith that hung around his neck and over his pressed, white shirt. The one inch gold disk with a platinum image of Pelor—a sun with a face—was endowed with healing powers, and the medallion was a comfort to the priest when he touched it.
“This could all be very dangerous, Danica,” the priest commented to the young dragonblooded woman. "Do you suspect someone wants to get rid of all of you? If the four of you ever need a safe place to...,”
Danica quickly glanced up from the floor where she was lighting six, white pillar candles arranged around the chair. The flames danced across her sharp, golden claws. Her short but modest flowing dress pooled around her knees. “Oh, now I never said we'd formed this team that they...whoever “they” are...supposedly want us to form,” she corrected hastily. “But, no, Mr. Langford doesn't think our identities are known.”
She still hadn't fully decided about Baron Langford's suggestion. “We've not even discussed it yet...Zane, Adam, Rhianna, and myself. I mean, I can't really see it working out anyway. We're simply meeting here to remove the mummy rot from Zane so he doesn't die.”
Father Mitchell's expression wavered between deep concern for his employee—and friend—Zane, and the small smile that threatened to form on his lips. “Of course, my dear. Zane's immediate health is of utmost importance.”
But Neil Mitchell knew...or more accurately felt...that the decision of the four working together was out of Danica's—and the others'--hands. He himself knew this influence from firsthand experience. The old gods, including Pelor, had a way of working to combat the dark side of Shadow whenever the need arose.
Danica turned off the ceiling lights and with the practiced eye of an Acolyte—as well as the low-light vision of a dragon-- took a final look around the small room—the hardwood floor with the single chair, the six lit candles flickering in the dimness, and the single representation of Pelor, the Sun god, hanging on one wall. Her spells for this morning required no special props beyond her holy symbol, which was the sun medallion hanging around her neck. She had three divine spells ready within...her committed meditation at dawn had allowed Danica to access the higher powers of the Universe around and within her.
“That's it then, I'm ready,” she announced to Father Mitchell, then glanced at her watch. It was close to 10:00 now. “Zane should be here shortly.”
“I'll go watch for him,” the priest offered and fumbled for the door handle in the darkened room. Unlike Danica, he couldn't see clearly in the low light.
“Mummies, you say,” Father Mitchell repeated, shaking his head in dismay. “Any idea of who sent them? Animating the dead is serious business, not done lightly or without intense training,” the priest said worriedly.
As she shook her head, Danica's long gold and copper hair swung behind her. A long scarf held her hair back like a headband. “Mr. Langford never said who sent them, but just before the attack he was telling us how the world was changing, something about a shift in Shadow occurring decades ago and now getting stronger every day. And the mummy attack probably had something to do with the monstrous spider we killed earlier yesterday...and that half elf, Neda, that we saved.”
Father Mitchell had heard an abbreviated version—which was enough detail for him considering all that the four young people had been through—of the previous day and night while assisting Danica. He briefly lay his hand over the Medallion of Faith that hung around his neck and over his pressed, white shirt. The one inch gold disk with a platinum image of Pelor—a sun with a face—was endowed with healing powers, and the medallion was a comfort to the priest when he touched it.
“This could all be very dangerous, Danica,” the priest commented to the young dragonblooded woman. "Do you suspect someone wants to get rid of all of you? If the four of you ever need a safe place to...,”
Danica quickly glanced up from the floor where she was lighting six, white pillar candles arranged around the chair. The flames danced across her sharp, golden claws. Her short but modest flowing dress pooled around her knees. “Oh, now I never said we'd formed this team that they...whoever “they” are...supposedly want us to form,” she corrected hastily. “But, no, Mr. Langford doesn't think our identities are known.”
She still hadn't fully decided about Baron Langford's suggestion. “We've not even discussed it yet...Zane, Adam, Rhianna, and myself. I mean, I can't really see it working out anyway. We're simply meeting here to remove the mummy rot from Zane so he doesn't die.”
Father Mitchell's expression wavered between deep concern for his employee—and friend—Zane, and the small smile that threatened to form on his lips. “Of course, my dear. Zane's immediate health is of utmost importance.”
But Neil Mitchell knew...or more accurately felt...that the decision of the four working together was out of Danica's—and the others'--hands. He himself knew this influence from firsthand experience. The old gods, including Pelor, had a way of working to combat the dark side of Shadow whenever the need arose.
Danica turned off the ceiling lights and with the practiced eye of an Acolyte—as well as the low-light vision of a dragon-- took a final look around the small room—the hardwood floor with the single chair, the six lit candles flickering in the dimness, and the single representation of Pelor, the Sun god, hanging on one wall. Her spells for this morning required no special props beyond her holy symbol, which was the sun medallion hanging around her neck. She had three divine spells ready within...her committed meditation at dawn had allowed Danica to access the higher powers of the Universe around and within her.
“That's it then, I'm ready,” she announced to Father Mitchell, then glanced at her watch. It was close to 10:00 now. “Zane should be here shortly.”
“I'll go watch for him,” the priest offered and fumbled for the door handle in the darkened room. Unlike Danica, he couldn't see clearly in the low light.
-2-
Zane remained in his black Ford Pickup for several minutes after he'd pulled into the Church of Pelor's back parking lot. His dark sunglasses hid his eyes which were busy seeing the church without the veil of denial clouding his “vision” and thoughts. Everything that had become familiar to him over the past couple of years now appeared completely different without his mental block against Shadow. His “reality” had been shoved aside by the wall that was Shadow...the real “reality”? But, it felt right...frightening but right. As if he had finally found what he had been searching for all his life, Zane thought as he slowly shook his head. He'd spent most of last night wide awake and thinking intently.
Again he asked himself why he'd denied his true self all his life...and again had no answer. Perhaps the church would help him find the answers...just as it, or perhaps even the sun god, Pelor, had forced Zane to admit Shadow and Shadowkind existed while he'd brooded in his office yesterday afternoon before going to the bookstore. He winced at the remembrance of the good sized dent in the wall. He usually didn't throw his phone around his office.
From inside the truck Zane saw Father Mitchell peer out of the heavy, wooden back door and glance around. He laughed as the old priest saw his truck and waved heartily...Zane even noticed that the priest seemed different. How could he not have ever noticed that the man glowed with the magic of Pelor.
Zane jumped down out of the truck as he did every morning. Just then Jakob, the tall man who worked in the donation section of the church shambled out of the darkness of the small warehouse. Zane inhaled sharply and stared. Jakob's unhealthy, gray colored skin, Neanderthal features, and large teeth were no longer just the features of a very ugly man; but instead Jakob was obviously some sort of Shadow creature. Father Mitchell spoke briefly to the man then waved Zane over to him. The two watched as Jakob shuffled back into the warehouse.
“What...?” Zane began, looking after the creature.
“An orc,” Neil Mitchell replied in a low voice. “Or rather, half-orc. If he were full-blooded, he'd be too dangerous to work here...frankly he wouldn't want to work here. Orcs are usually nasty, combative, and deadly. Luckily for us, Jakob inherited the appearance not the personality of the orcs...or at least a toned-down version,” Father Mitchell amended.
“I always thought he was...I mean, I never...how could I not...damn!” Zane finished in amazement. “I have a lot to learn, don't I?” the tall, black man asked simply.
“Indeed you do, my boy, indeed you do,” the priest answered heartily, feeling in good spirits despite the somberness of why Zane was here. “But before that, there's an Acolyte who's awaiting your arrival.”
Again he asked himself why he'd denied his true self all his life...and again had no answer. Perhaps the church would help him find the answers...just as it, or perhaps even the sun god, Pelor, had forced Zane to admit Shadow and Shadowkind existed while he'd brooded in his office yesterday afternoon before going to the bookstore. He winced at the remembrance of the good sized dent in the wall. He usually didn't throw his phone around his office.
From inside the truck Zane saw Father Mitchell peer out of the heavy, wooden back door and glance around. He laughed as the old priest saw his truck and waved heartily...Zane even noticed that the priest seemed different. How could he not have ever noticed that the man glowed with the magic of Pelor.
Zane jumped down out of the truck as he did every morning. Just then Jakob, the tall man who worked in the donation section of the church shambled out of the darkness of the small warehouse. Zane inhaled sharply and stared. Jakob's unhealthy, gray colored skin, Neanderthal features, and large teeth were no longer just the features of a very ugly man; but instead Jakob was obviously some sort of Shadow creature. Father Mitchell spoke briefly to the man then waved Zane over to him. The two watched as Jakob shuffled back into the warehouse.
“What...?” Zane began, looking after the creature.
“An orc,” Neil Mitchell replied in a low voice. “Or rather, half-orc. If he were full-blooded, he'd be too dangerous to work here...frankly he wouldn't want to work here. Orcs are usually nasty, combative, and deadly. Luckily for us, Jakob inherited the appearance not the personality of the orcs...or at least a toned-down version,” Father Mitchell amended.
“I always thought he was...I mean, I never...how could I not...damn!” Zane finished in amazement. “I have a lot to learn, don't I?” the tall, black man asked simply.
“Indeed you do, my boy, indeed you do,” the priest answered heartily, feeling in good spirits despite the somberness of why Zane was here. “But before that, there's an Acolyte who's awaiting your arrival.”
-3-
Adam was fascinated with the church as he and the dark-haired celebrity—one Rhianna Sheridan—met up in the parking lot. He pulled his nondescript, gray van next to Rhianna's fancy Aston-Martin Vanquish. To her credit she didn't even seem to care one way or the other what he was driving. As he had driven up the long driveway, Adam had felt the comfort of the sanctuary close over him. The trees, grass, and multitude of flowers nearly drowned out the sounds of the city traffic. The soothing white and tan building beckoned him to come inside. The large, brass sun-shaped symbol of the Sun god above the glass doors caught Adam's attention for a few moments.
“You feel it, don't you,” Rhianna commented, taking off her expensive sunglasses and dropping them into her purse. “Only the good Shadowkind are drawn to these churches,” she explained as her dark-haired companion opened the front doors. The elf could see by the expression on Adam's face that he was at least “in tune” with the church.
As they entered the building and walked along the light blue carpet, Adam nodded. “Yeah. I guess I've been too busy working and...well, to pay much attention...,” he began then trailed off. No need to bring up his failed personal life right now.
Rhianna spoke with Katie, the red-headed receptionist, for a moment and signed herself and Adam into the church. She simply said they were here to meet Danica Owens. They were given a room number.
Adam pushed opened the double swinging doors for his elf companion, and the two passed into the main hallway. They began to keep an eye out for the room Katie had told them Danica would be in. Coming upon the correctly numbered door, Adam reached for the knob and gave it a turn.
“Oh, hey, it's dark in here,” Adam said in surprise to Rhianna as the door swung inward. “You sure this is the right room?”
“Let me see,” the elf said, pushing past the taller man to peer into the darkness. “There's Danica right there, so yes, this is the right room,” Rhianna confirmed and entered the room.
Adam followed. “What? Where? I can't see a thing except for candles on the floor,” he said in slight annoyance, his eyes taking their time to adjust. Then he remembered. “Ah...elves...you can see in low light, can't you?”
Rhianna just laughed, a light musical sound that Adam was finding quite pleasing.
“Nice shirt, Adam,” said a familiar voice from the dark room.
"You can see in low light, too?” he asked in the direction it seemed as if Danica was standing. The Shadow Hunter was intrigued by this ability. He could do with seeing in the dark himself sometimes. The possibilities flashed through Adam's mind, and they all involved creeping around in the dark chasing Shadow creatures.
Danica nodded, then laughed softly. Rhianna joined her, having seen the unintended non-verbal answer to someone who couldn't see in the dark.
“I mean, yes...I can, as well as see in complete darkness, but then only in black and white.”
Suddenly a deeper voice interrupted. “Hello...man dying of mummy rot here, can we discuss Shadow powers later?”
Adam's eyes were adjusting to the darkness now, and he could faintly make out Zane's large form near the candles. The chair the black man was sitting in seemed to be the only one in the room. Adam felt Rhianna take his arm and pull him away.
“Zane's right,” she said softly. “We should let Danica cast her spells. There will be time to talk later. Here, stand by the wall. We need to be out of the way.”
Adam felt sideways and his fingers crept along the wall. He turned around and leaned back, folding his arms across his chest. He could smell Rhianna's hint of perfume next to him and see the outline of her petite form. Now that he'd been in the dark room his eyes had adjusted so that he at least didn't feel blind. He could faintly see Danica standing in front of Zane.
“You feel it, don't you,” Rhianna commented, taking off her expensive sunglasses and dropping them into her purse. “Only the good Shadowkind are drawn to these churches,” she explained as her dark-haired companion opened the front doors. The elf could see by the expression on Adam's face that he was at least “in tune” with the church.
As they entered the building and walked along the light blue carpet, Adam nodded. “Yeah. I guess I've been too busy working and...well, to pay much attention...,” he began then trailed off. No need to bring up his failed personal life right now.
Rhianna spoke with Katie, the red-headed receptionist, for a moment and signed herself and Adam into the church. She simply said they were here to meet Danica Owens. They were given a room number.
Adam pushed opened the double swinging doors for his elf companion, and the two passed into the main hallway. They began to keep an eye out for the room Katie had told them Danica would be in. Coming upon the correctly numbered door, Adam reached for the knob and gave it a turn.
“Oh, hey, it's dark in here,” Adam said in surprise to Rhianna as the door swung inward. “You sure this is the right room?”
“Let me see,” the elf said, pushing past the taller man to peer into the darkness. “There's Danica right there, so yes, this is the right room,” Rhianna confirmed and entered the room.
Adam followed. “What? Where? I can't see a thing except for candles on the floor,” he said in slight annoyance, his eyes taking their time to adjust. Then he remembered. “Ah...elves...you can see in low light, can't you?”
Rhianna just laughed, a light musical sound that Adam was finding quite pleasing.
“Nice shirt, Adam,” said a familiar voice from the dark room.
"You can see in low light, too?” he asked in the direction it seemed as if Danica was standing. The Shadow Hunter was intrigued by this ability. He could do with seeing in the dark himself sometimes. The possibilities flashed through Adam's mind, and they all involved creeping around in the dark chasing Shadow creatures.
Danica nodded, then laughed softly. Rhianna joined her, having seen the unintended non-verbal answer to someone who couldn't see in the dark.
“I mean, yes...I can, as well as see in complete darkness, but then only in black and white.”
Suddenly a deeper voice interrupted. “Hello...man dying of mummy rot here, can we discuss Shadow powers later?”
Adam's eyes were adjusting to the darkness now, and he could faintly make out Zane's large form near the candles. The chair the black man was sitting in seemed to be the only one in the room. Adam felt Rhianna take his arm and pull him away.
“Zane's right,” she said softly. “We should let Danica cast her spells. There will be time to talk later. Here, stand by the wall. We need to be out of the way.”
Adam felt sideways and his fingers crept along the wall. He turned around and leaned back, folding his arms across his chest. He could smell Rhianna's hint of perfume next to him and see the outline of her petite form. Now that he'd been in the dark room his eyes had adjusted so that he at least didn't feel blind. He could faintly see Danica standing in front of Zane.
-4-
“Everyone stay quiet now, please,” Danica requested.
She crossed her hands at the wrists and gently lay her palms against her upper chest. Her golden claws sparkled faintly in the glow cast by the candles. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes and accessed the divine spells she had prepared.
Danica found herself in an empty white room with a container of sorts floating in the air. It was made up of small boxes or compartments – the bottom row contained five boxes, which were her level 0 spells. The next row up had four boxes that contained level 1 spells, and on top of that were Danica's level 2 spells with three boxes. The final row, the top, contained two spell boxes for level 3 spells. Her spells always manifested themselves as swirls of light and color inside the boxes. Throughout her studies, Danica had watched her spell “slots” increase in number as she gained power. She learned that as her belief and powers as an Acolyte grew, the spell levels increased along with the number of boxes. The young woman was only a fifth level Acolyte, but it was possible to increase her power to the tenth level. She would be a power and force to be reckoned with at that point; but it didn't seem likely. Danica had been a fifth level for several years now—it would take a great deal more practice and experience to move forward.
Zane risked a quick movement to wipe his hand over his face, including his dark mustache and goatee. A sheen of perspiration had formed from his nervousness and the too-warm room. Or maybe his body was just heating up from the deadly mummy rot coursing through his blood.
“I'm first going to remove any fear you have, Zane,” Danica began in a soft but firm voice, her eyes still closed. In her mind she reached out and touched the spell she desired to cast.
She opened her eyes and began to walk slowly around Zane.
“Hey, who said I...,” Zane began defensively, then realized he was a little scared, and there was no denying it.
He'd seen more than his share of danger as a Navy Seal, but never had he not felt the fear of venturing into enemy territory. Anyone who didn't experience some level of fear was either a fool or a liar. By fear, Zane never meant nervous or high strung or panicky, but scared by the thought of not knowing what to expect.
And right now he definitely didn't know what to expect...either from these spells of Danica's or the thought of dying of some cursed disease that surely didn't exist in any medical books.
Danica continued as if she hadn't heard the big man in front of her. Her voice came from behind him as she slowly walked inside the circle of the six candles.
“You'll feel relaxed, as well as courageous...something you already have deep inside you. Since I do my spells in Draconic, I'll tell you now this is a protective spell. You'll feel as if there's some sort of barrier around you. That's perfectly normal, alright?”
“Um, yeah...yeah alright,” Zane replied, wanting to just get this over with.
Again standing in front of Zane, Dancia began to speak in the language of the dragons. The sound was both harsh and flowing. Words like “afzenat” and “leor l'gra” and “martivir” intrigued Rhianna and Adam as they remained still and listened.
As she made the shape of an “S” in the air with her palm facing him, Zane suddenly felt as if the weight of all his problems were lifted. He felt as if he would float right out of the chair, so exhilarating was the feeling of relief and courage. He felt a peace descend over his mind and heart.
“Wow!” the snake-blooded man whispered, wanting to reach out and see if the sensation that now flowed through him had substance.
Danica exhaled slowly. “Well, I can tell that worked,” she said with a smile in her voice. “But it'll only last for ten minutes so we have to move on.”
The dragon-blooded young woman glanced up at Adam and Rhianna standing against the far wall. Rhianna smiled encouragingly. Danica noticed that she could see more of Rhianna's elf characteristics even more clearly; soon that's how she would always see the actress. Adam seemed to be trying hard to see what was going on, his face open and fascinated with the spell casting.
“Now, I'm going to have to perform two more spells, Zane,” Danica explained.
“No problem,” he replied calmly. So far the first spell was working just fine, so he felt more confident about Danica's abilities.
“The second is going to delay the poison, it's moving quickly through your system and I have to stop it from going further. I can't reverse any damage caused so far, but I can stop it from harming you from here on out. The final spell will actually remove the disease from your body. Both of these are healing spells.”
“Great...then I'll be immune from mummy rot from now on,” Zane said confidently.
“Uh no, you won't. This won't give you immunity, just take it out of your body. Sorry,” Danica replied as she held up her holy symbol.
“Oh...oh well, at least it'll be gone then,” he said, still feeling peaceful and confident.
Zane did wonder what sort of damage had occurred, though; although he wasn't sure who to ask what those damages could be.
Briefly closing her eyes, Danica reached out for the level 2 spell to delay the poison. The box containing the spell suddenly emptied of its swirling colors. Hearing someone breathing, she glanced over where Zane would have been if her eyes had been open. Danica nodded to herself. Zane was with her in her white room, but his body was nearly translucent. She could see a thick black rope of liquid mixed in with his blood, which she could also discern through his skin. Although she had known this would happen from her studies, the young dragon-blooded woman briefly opened her eyes to see a solid and not see-through Zane sitting in the chair, watching her in the candle-lit room.
Danica had neglected to inform Zane that the next two spells would probably be painful. While remove a curse was a healing spell, not all healings were painless. But she knew she had to continue for the sake of the man in the chair. She took a deep breath.
“Is everything alright, Danica?” Zane asked curiously. He didn't feel afraid, just wondered what the delay was.
Danica nodded. “I'm going to continue now...but I have to confess that this might be...well, it might not feel so pleasant,” she admitted with hesitation.
“It doesn't matter, just do it,” Zane replied, his feelings of peace and courage giving him extra confidence.
Closing her eyes once again, Danica held up her hand sharply in a “stop” motion and recited the words that would delay the mummy rot coursing through Zane's blood. In her white room, she saw the black substance halt its movement on its journey to merge with Zane's blood. She heard Zane gasp sharply. Without opening her eyes, Danica kept her hand up and with the other reached to touch the third and final spell. Slowly she began to approach Zane and lay her slim, open hand on his chest. In her white room her hand went through him and touched the frozen black liquid. She closed her hand firmly around the strand and began to pull.
Danica now knew there was no stopping what she had started...and she knew what it would do to the tall, dark man in the chair.
Those in the room saw Danica hold up her hand and speak in Draconic. The candle light glinted off her golden claws. It was then that Zane gasped as he felt as if the blood in his veins simply stopped. His body froze for a second in shock and his limbs and torso went rigid.
Adam and Rhianna moved forward out of instinct but stopped themselves. Both sensed they couldn't interfere, no matter what happened. Adam clenched his fists, and Rhianna held a hand to her mouth.
Before Zane could react further to the sensation of his blood not moving, he saw Danica close her open hand to make a fist and pull it slightly toward her. That was when the bolt of pain shot through his body. It was all Zane could do to stay in the chair, although he jerked backwards sharply. He had to hold on to the seat of the chair to steady himself against the fire that was now racing through his veins.
“AHHHHHHHH!” he yelled, unable to contain the agony. Beads of sweat popped out on his dark skin and began to run in rivulets down his face.
In her mind Danica saw his pain and instinctively tried to let go of the black string that she was extracting from Zane, but she couldn't. Once the remove curse spell was active, it must be seen through to the end. Or Zane would die for sure. Tears began to spill down her cheeks but she continued to drag the curse out of his body.
In the room, Danica was also crying but kept her hand clenched.
“I'm sorry!” she whispered. “Oh..., Zane. I'd stop...but I can't.”
Zane gasped for air. “No!” he panted. “Don't stop...get it...out...just get...it out!”
For a moment there was only the sound of Zane's agonized gasping for breath, Danica's silent tears, and the harsh breathing of both Rhianna and Adam as they helplessly watched.
Then suddenly it ended.
Danica's eyes flew open to find the bald-headed man slumped over in his chair.
She crossed her hands at the wrists and gently lay her palms against her upper chest. Her golden claws sparkled faintly in the glow cast by the candles. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes and accessed the divine spells she had prepared.
Danica found herself in an empty white room with a container of sorts floating in the air. It was made up of small boxes or compartments – the bottom row contained five boxes, which were her level 0 spells. The next row up had four boxes that contained level 1 spells, and on top of that were Danica's level 2 spells with three boxes. The final row, the top, contained two spell boxes for level 3 spells. Her spells always manifested themselves as swirls of light and color inside the boxes. Throughout her studies, Danica had watched her spell “slots” increase in number as she gained power. She learned that as her belief and powers as an Acolyte grew, the spell levels increased along with the number of boxes. The young woman was only a fifth level Acolyte, but it was possible to increase her power to the tenth level. She would be a power and force to be reckoned with at that point; but it didn't seem likely. Danica had been a fifth level for several years now—it would take a great deal more practice and experience to move forward.
Zane risked a quick movement to wipe his hand over his face, including his dark mustache and goatee. A sheen of perspiration had formed from his nervousness and the too-warm room. Or maybe his body was just heating up from the deadly mummy rot coursing through his blood.
“I'm first going to remove any fear you have, Zane,” Danica began in a soft but firm voice, her eyes still closed. In her mind she reached out and touched the spell she desired to cast.
She opened her eyes and began to walk slowly around Zane.
“Hey, who said I...,” Zane began defensively, then realized he was a little scared, and there was no denying it.
He'd seen more than his share of danger as a Navy Seal, but never had he not felt the fear of venturing into enemy territory. Anyone who didn't experience some level of fear was either a fool or a liar. By fear, Zane never meant nervous or high strung or panicky, but scared by the thought of not knowing what to expect.
And right now he definitely didn't know what to expect...either from these spells of Danica's or the thought of dying of some cursed disease that surely didn't exist in any medical books.
Danica continued as if she hadn't heard the big man in front of her. Her voice came from behind him as she slowly walked inside the circle of the six candles.
“You'll feel relaxed, as well as courageous...something you already have deep inside you. Since I do my spells in Draconic, I'll tell you now this is a protective spell. You'll feel as if there's some sort of barrier around you. That's perfectly normal, alright?”
“Um, yeah...yeah alright,” Zane replied, wanting to just get this over with.
Again standing in front of Zane, Dancia began to speak in the language of the dragons. The sound was both harsh and flowing. Words like “afzenat” and “leor l'gra” and “martivir” intrigued Rhianna and Adam as they remained still and listened.
As she made the shape of an “S” in the air with her palm facing him, Zane suddenly felt as if the weight of all his problems were lifted. He felt as if he would float right out of the chair, so exhilarating was the feeling of relief and courage. He felt a peace descend over his mind and heart.
“Wow!” the snake-blooded man whispered, wanting to reach out and see if the sensation that now flowed through him had substance.
Danica exhaled slowly. “Well, I can tell that worked,” she said with a smile in her voice. “But it'll only last for ten minutes so we have to move on.”
The dragon-blooded young woman glanced up at Adam and Rhianna standing against the far wall. Rhianna smiled encouragingly. Danica noticed that she could see more of Rhianna's elf characteristics even more clearly; soon that's how she would always see the actress. Adam seemed to be trying hard to see what was going on, his face open and fascinated with the spell casting.
“Now, I'm going to have to perform two more spells, Zane,” Danica explained.
“No problem,” he replied calmly. So far the first spell was working just fine, so he felt more confident about Danica's abilities.
“The second is going to delay the poison, it's moving quickly through your system and I have to stop it from going further. I can't reverse any damage caused so far, but I can stop it from harming you from here on out. The final spell will actually remove the disease from your body. Both of these are healing spells.”
“Great...then I'll be immune from mummy rot from now on,” Zane said confidently.
“Uh no, you won't. This won't give you immunity, just take it out of your body. Sorry,” Danica replied as she held up her holy symbol.
“Oh...oh well, at least it'll be gone then,” he said, still feeling peaceful and confident.
Zane did wonder what sort of damage had occurred, though; although he wasn't sure who to ask what those damages could be.
Briefly closing her eyes, Danica reached out for the level 2 spell to delay the poison. The box containing the spell suddenly emptied of its swirling colors. Hearing someone breathing, she glanced over where Zane would have been if her eyes had been open. Danica nodded to herself. Zane was with her in her white room, but his body was nearly translucent. She could see a thick black rope of liquid mixed in with his blood, which she could also discern through his skin. Although she had known this would happen from her studies, the young dragon-blooded woman briefly opened her eyes to see a solid and not see-through Zane sitting in the chair, watching her in the candle-lit room.
Danica had neglected to inform Zane that the next two spells would probably be painful. While remove a curse was a healing spell, not all healings were painless. But she knew she had to continue for the sake of the man in the chair. She took a deep breath.
“Is everything alright, Danica?” Zane asked curiously. He didn't feel afraid, just wondered what the delay was.
Danica nodded. “I'm going to continue now...but I have to confess that this might be...well, it might not feel so pleasant,” she admitted with hesitation.
“It doesn't matter, just do it,” Zane replied, his feelings of peace and courage giving him extra confidence.
Closing her eyes once again, Danica held up her hand sharply in a “stop” motion and recited the words that would delay the mummy rot coursing through Zane's blood. In her white room, she saw the black substance halt its movement on its journey to merge with Zane's blood. She heard Zane gasp sharply. Without opening her eyes, Danica kept her hand up and with the other reached to touch the third and final spell. Slowly she began to approach Zane and lay her slim, open hand on his chest. In her white room her hand went through him and touched the frozen black liquid. She closed her hand firmly around the strand and began to pull.
Danica now knew there was no stopping what she had started...and she knew what it would do to the tall, dark man in the chair.
Those in the room saw Danica hold up her hand and speak in Draconic. The candle light glinted off her golden claws. It was then that Zane gasped as he felt as if the blood in his veins simply stopped. His body froze for a second in shock and his limbs and torso went rigid.
Adam and Rhianna moved forward out of instinct but stopped themselves. Both sensed they couldn't interfere, no matter what happened. Adam clenched his fists, and Rhianna held a hand to her mouth.
Before Zane could react further to the sensation of his blood not moving, he saw Danica close her open hand to make a fist and pull it slightly toward her. That was when the bolt of pain shot through his body. It was all Zane could do to stay in the chair, although he jerked backwards sharply. He had to hold on to the seat of the chair to steady himself against the fire that was now racing through his veins.
“AHHHHHHHH!” he yelled, unable to contain the agony. Beads of sweat popped out on his dark skin and began to run in rivulets down his face.
In her mind Danica saw his pain and instinctively tried to let go of the black string that she was extracting from Zane, but she couldn't. Once the remove curse spell was active, it must be seen through to the end. Or Zane would die for sure. Tears began to spill down her cheeks but she continued to drag the curse out of his body.
In the room, Danica was also crying but kept her hand clenched.
“I'm sorry!” she whispered. “Oh..., Zane. I'd stop...but I can't.”
Zane gasped for air. “No!” he panted. “Don't stop...get it...out...just get...it out!”
For a moment there was only the sound of Zane's agonized gasping for breath, Danica's silent tears, and the harsh breathing of both Rhianna and Adam as they helplessly watched.
Then suddenly it ended.
Danica's eyes flew open to find the bald-headed man slumped over in his chair.
-5-
“Oh no! Turn the lights on, please, someone!” she exclaimed, wanting to have light to see by.
Rhianna was quicker than Adam and suddenly the room was bathed in a warm glow.
Zane blinked several times even though the lights were muted. He realized he was leaning over his knees and staring at his feet. He inhaled deeply and slowly sat up with a groan, fighting the urge to vomit. Feeling large hands on his shoulders, he was conscious of the steadying influence of Adam.
Then Zane glanced up to find the copper and brown haired girl who'd just saved his life watching him with a mixture of horror at what she'd put him through and concern. The big, black man tried to smile, but it came out more of a grimace.
“Holy crap, what the hell was that?” he managed to ask.
“I...I didn't know if I should tell you how painful it could be, Zane, I'm sorry,” Danica said quietly. She wondered if the man would now hate her for putting him through that experience. “I didn't know the spell would be that traumatic.”
A delicate white handkerchief was pressed into his hand by Rhianna. Zane stared curiously at the strangeness of the fancy fabric in his large, dark hand, until a drop of sweat plopped onto his jeans. He realized his face was covered with a light sheen of sweat from his ordeal.
Instead of ruining the offered handkerchief, Zane yanked his t-shirt of his jeans and swiped at his face.
"Thanks anyway," he said to Rhianna with a grateful nod and handed her possession back.
“It was a curse,” the dark-haired elf actress said in answer to his question, walking around to stand next to Danica. “It stands to reason it would be painful coming out, now that we've seen it. You had to do what was necessary, Danica,” Rhianna added.
"How do you feel?” Adam asked. "You look like you're gonna be sick."
How did he feel, Zane thought to himself? The burning in his veins was dissipating somewhat, but his blood still tingled. “I...well, I'm not sure...the pain is actually subsiding, although I feel as if there's little sparks of electricity buzzing through me,” he said. He wanted to make the dragon-blooded Acolyte feel better. “But other than that, I think I feel the same as I usually do...when my body's not tingling,” he added, unsure of exactly what he felt.
“Oh no!” Rhianna exclaimed. “It didn't work?”
Danica's forehead began to furrow as she began to believe she'd failed. But she'd seen the curse come out, she'd dragged it out herself.
Zane held up a large hand. “No...no, that's not what I meant,” he said. “I don't feel any different than I usually do, I feel normal. Like there was never any mummy rot or anxiety or, well, fear of dying. It must have worked!” he said. "Besides, I felt something come out."
Everyone breathed a sigh relief at this outcome. Zane found himself unselfconsciously reaching up for Danica's hand and held it in his own.
“Thank you,” he said, his voice heavy with gratitude.
“Then you don't hate me?” she asked quietly.
Zane looked up at her in puzzlement. “No, of course not,” he said. “You did what you had to do to save me. Besides, it just took me by surprise. I'm fairly tough when it comes to pain usually,” he said with a wink. “I'm grateful you cured me, Danica.”
Adam clapped Zane on the shoulder and nodded, and Rhianna actually let out an excited “yay” as she clapped her hands in front of her. The elf unconsciously placed her hand on Adam's arm. Danica reached out as well and her free hand brushed Rhianna's and without thinking the two women clasped hands.
In this way, with the four of them touching during an emotionally and magically charged moment, a wave of energy passed from one to the other in a circle. A bond was formed that would now be hard-pressed to break. However, the moment lasted only mere seconds; and all that Danica, Rhianna, Adam, and Zane felt was the relief that all this was now over.
Rhianna was quicker than Adam and suddenly the room was bathed in a warm glow.
Zane blinked several times even though the lights were muted. He realized he was leaning over his knees and staring at his feet. He inhaled deeply and slowly sat up with a groan, fighting the urge to vomit. Feeling large hands on his shoulders, he was conscious of the steadying influence of Adam.
Then Zane glanced up to find the copper and brown haired girl who'd just saved his life watching him with a mixture of horror at what she'd put him through and concern. The big, black man tried to smile, but it came out more of a grimace.
“Holy crap, what the hell was that?” he managed to ask.
“I...I didn't know if I should tell you how painful it could be, Zane, I'm sorry,” Danica said quietly. She wondered if the man would now hate her for putting him through that experience. “I didn't know the spell would be that traumatic.”
A delicate white handkerchief was pressed into his hand by Rhianna. Zane stared curiously at the strangeness of the fancy fabric in his large, dark hand, until a drop of sweat plopped onto his jeans. He realized his face was covered with a light sheen of sweat from his ordeal.
Instead of ruining the offered handkerchief, Zane yanked his t-shirt of his jeans and swiped at his face.
"Thanks anyway," he said to Rhianna with a grateful nod and handed her possession back.
“It was a curse,” the dark-haired elf actress said in answer to his question, walking around to stand next to Danica. “It stands to reason it would be painful coming out, now that we've seen it. You had to do what was necessary, Danica,” Rhianna added.
"How do you feel?” Adam asked. "You look like you're gonna be sick."
How did he feel, Zane thought to himself? The burning in his veins was dissipating somewhat, but his blood still tingled. “I...well, I'm not sure...the pain is actually subsiding, although I feel as if there's little sparks of electricity buzzing through me,” he said. He wanted to make the dragon-blooded Acolyte feel better. “But other than that, I think I feel the same as I usually do...when my body's not tingling,” he added, unsure of exactly what he felt.
“Oh no!” Rhianna exclaimed. “It didn't work?”
Danica's forehead began to furrow as she began to believe she'd failed. But she'd seen the curse come out, she'd dragged it out herself.
Zane held up a large hand. “No...no, that's not what I meant,” he said. “I don't feel any different than I usually do, I feel normal. Like there was never any mummy rot or anxiety or, well, fear of dying. It must have worked!” he said. "Besides, I felt something come out."
Everyone breathed a sigh relief at this outcome. Zane found himself unselfconsciously reaching up for Danica's hand and held it in his own.
“Thank you,” he said, his voice heavy with gratitude.
“Then you don't hate me?” she asked quietly.
Zane looked up at her in puzzlement. “No, of course not,” he said. “You did what you had to do to save me. Besides, it just took me by surprise. I'm fairly tough when it comes to pain usually,” he said with a wink. “I'm grateful you cured me, Danica.”
Adam clapped Zane on the shoulder and nodded, and Rhianna actually let out an excited “yay” as she clapped her hands in front of her. The elf unconsciously placed her hand on Adam's arm. Danica reached out as well and her free hand brushed Rhianna's and without thinking the two women clasped hands.
In this way, with the four of them touching during an emotionally and magically charged moment, a wave of energy passed from one to the other in a circle. A bond was formed that would now be hard-pressed to break. However, the moment lasted only mere seconds; and all that Danica, Rhianna, Adam, and Zane felt was the relief that all this was now over.
-6-
The conversation was subdued as the four left the meditation room. They were avoiding the question of what to do next. No one knew what to do or say, yet they felt a reluctance to part from each others company. It was in this somewhat vulnerable state of mind that Father Mitchell came upon them.
“I take it all went according to plan?” asked Father Mitchell.
He was coming up the hall from his office with the intent of checking in on the healing. He peered at Zane with interest and concern, then introduced himself to Adam and greeted Rhianna. The priest then received the full story with everyone trying to talk at once, although Dancia was more subdued. It was as if everyone needed a release for the emotions they felt.
Father Mitchell listened intently until everyone had had their say. “Well, well...everything's back to normal then, yes? That's great news...so I think an early lunch is in order...if you feel up to is, Zane. My treat. The next services aren't until 12:30, so we have time.”
There was some discussion, and surprisingly no refusals or excuses, about where to eat. Zane actually found he was starving now that his nausea had passed. The feeling they should all stick together was strong, although none of them brought this up. Perhaps enjoying something as mundane as a meal in a restaurant would bring answers to the unanswered question hanging at the back of their minds: What were they to do about this team they'd been asked to form? It was decided they would walk across the grounds of the church to a nearby diner on a side street.
“Just give me a minute to tell Katie where I'm going and finish one piece of business in my office. Why don't you all wait outside for me, I'll not be long,” the older man said
“I take it all went according to plan?” asked Father Mitchell.
He was coming up the hall from his office with the intent of checking in on the healing. He peered at Zane with interest and concern, then introduced himself to Adam and greeted Rhianna. The priest then received the full story with everyone trying to talk at once, although Dancia was more subdued. It was as if everyone needed a release for the emotions they felt.
Father Mitchell listened intently until everyone had had their say. “Well, well...everything's back to normal then, yes? That's great news...so I think an early lunch is in order...if you feel up to is, Zane. My treat. The next services aren't until 12:30, so we have time.”
There was some discussion, and surprisingly no refusals or excuses, about where to eat. Zane actually found he was starving now that his nausea had passed. The feeling they should all stick together was strong, although none of them brought this up. Perhaps enjoying something as mundane as a meal in a restaurant would bring answers to the unanswered question hanging at the back of their minds: What were they to do about this team they'd been asked to form? It was decided they would walk across the grounds of the church to a nearby diner on a side street.
“Just give me a minute to tell Katie where I'm going and finish one piece of business in my office. Why don't you all wait outside for me, I'll not be long,” the older man said
-7-
Twenty minutes later, the priest and the younger men and women stepped out from the tree-lined path that led from the church grounds and onto the sidewalk of the small side street. Coming into the hot sun from the soothing, protecting shade of the path caused their conversations to cease as the morning heat enveloped them.
“Ah, now that feels good,” Danica murmured almost in a purr. She luxuriated in the heat that warmed her unusually cool body temperature.
Father Mitchell still had on his white shirt and dark dress pants, as well as his Medallion of Faith that proclaimed him a priest in the Church of Pelor, and felt himself begin to sweat slightly. He waved his hand in front of him to stir some air onto his skin. “Pelor can be mighty powerful,” he commented.
At first no one noticed the unnatural quiet of the side street. There was no longer the sound of any cars that traveled on the two main roads on either side. The street was also empty of all other people. It was Zane with his military training that first heard—or didn't hear—what should have been there.
“Wait! Listen,” he ordered, puzzlement in his voice.
He held up one hand to stop everyone but it took them all a moment longer to react. Father Mitchell and Rhianna had already stepped a ways into the street, and Adam was just putting a foot down off the high curb.
“What?” Adam asked, staring around. His cop instincts were alerted by Zane's tone. “What do you hear?”
Zane shook his head. “Nothing.”
“Then what...?” Danica began, confused. She unconsciously stepped off the curb and into the empty street, save for a dull, dark-colored car parked at one end.
“There should be the sounds of cars from the main roads,” Zane explained, hastily glancing up and down the street.
He could see the traffic passing at either end, along Parma and Sanctuary Roads.
“Not to mention other people,” Father Mitchell added.
He turned back toward the trees that bordered the church's property with the intention of bolting back to literal safety.
Rhianna's voice broke through Adam and Zane's concentration. “Um, why is there mist...or fog...rising up from the ground?” she asked. “It must be at least 80 degrees out here by now.”
Looking down at her feet, Danica gave a little dance step as she tried to move out of the strange, growing mist. Her short dress billowed out slightly from the movement of air.
Father Mitchell suddenly cried out, “No! No, this can't be!”
But before anyone could escape the mist rose rapidly until it whirled all around them as well as reaching over their heads. The whiteness spread out around them fast and thick. All their sight was obscured in whiteness. Everyone began to lose track of where they and each other were standing. It felt as if there were miles between them instead of mere inches, and the group of five became confused. They began to shout to each other—heedless of who might hear them--but felt like they were wandering blind. They groped around in the mist, stumbling over their own feet. They couldn't seem to reach or figure out where the others were. Voices came from all directions and disorientation quickly set in.
Somewhere outside of the mist the engine of a car was heard starting up and moving closer. The engine sound reached the mist.
“Ow! Hey!” Danica cried out, then felt herself being roughly shoved aside. She hit the ground hard, badly scraping her hands and knees. “Who did that?” she nearly screamed.
“Did what? Are you okay?” Adam called out, then grunted as he was slammed into from behind. He fell forward onto the ground, the wind briefly knocked out of him.
Rhianna tripped over someone that hadn't been near her when the mist rose around them and stumbled further into the whiteness. She cursed her heels as she tried to keep her balance. As she groped frantically to find something with which to steady herself, an arm covered with hair brushed against her skin and knocked her off her feet.
Zane merely stood his ground, knowing not to move. He listened and tried to hear what was going on since he couldn't see. He tried in vain to peer through the mist in all directions.
“Well now...what's going on? What are you doing? Put me down--!” Father Mitchell began as large, hairy hands grabbed him roughly. The last thing the priest felt before everything went from white to black was a sharp pain on the back of his head. Drops of blood dripped slowly through the mist and began to pool on a smooth spot of the asphalt.
“Father Mitchell!?” Zane shouted, having heard what sounded like trouble for his friend and boss.
The only thing he, and the other three heard, was the slamming of car doors and an engine revving.
“Ah, now that feels good,” Danica murmured almost in a purr. She luxuriated in the heat that warmed her unusually cool body temperature.
Father Mitchell still had on his white shirt and dark dress pants, as well as his Medallion of Faith that proclaimed him a priest in the Church of Pelor, and felt himself begin to sweat slightly. He waved his hand in front of him to stir some air onto his skin. “Pelor can be mighty powerful,” he commented.
At first no one noticed the unnatural quiet of the side street. There was no longer the sound of any cars that traveled on the two main roads on either side. The street was also empty of all other people. It was Zane with his military training that first heard—or didn't hear—what should have been there.
“Wait! Listen,” he ordered, puzzlement in his voice.
He held up one hand to stop everyone but it took them all a moment longer to react. Father Mitchell and Rhianna had already stepped a ways into the street, and Adam was just putting a foot down off the high curb.
“What?” Adam asked, staring around. His cop instincts were alerted by Zane's tone. “What do you hear?”
Zane shook his head. “Nothing.”
“Then what...?” Danica began, confused. She unconsciously stepped off the curb and into the empty street, save for a dull, dark-colored car parked at one end.
“There should be the sounds of cars from the main roads,” Zane explained, hastily glancing up and down the street.
He could see the traffic passing at either end, along Parma and Sanctuary Roads.
“Not to mention other people,” Father Mitchell added.
He turned back toward the trees that bordered the church's property with the intention of bolting back to literal safety.
Rhianna's voice broke through Adam and Zane's concentration. “Um, why is there mist...or fog...rising up from the ground?” she asked. “It must be at least 80 degrees out here by now.”
Looking down at her feet, Danica gave a little dance step as she tried to move out of the strange, growing mist. Her short dress billowed out slightly from the movement of air.
Father Mitchell suddenly cried out, “No! No, this can't be!”
But before anyone could escape the mist rose rapidly until it whirled all around them as well as reaching over their heads. The whiteness spread out around them fast and thick. All their sight was obscured in whiteness. Everyone began to lose track of where they and each other were standing. It felt as if there were miles between them instead of mere inches, and the group of five became confused. They began to shout to each other—heedless of who might hear them--but felt like they were wandering blind. They groped around in the mist, stumbling over their own feet. They couldn't seem to reach or figure out where the others were. Voices came from all directions and disorientation quickly set in.
Somewhere outside of the mist the engine of a car was heard starting up and moving closer. The engine sound reached the mist.
“Ow! Hey!” Danica cried out, then felt herself being roughly shoved aside. She hit the ground hard, badly scraping her hands and knees. “Who did that?” she nearly screamed.
“Did what? Are you okay?” Adam called out, then grunted as he was slammed into from behind. He fell forward onto the ground, the wind briefly knocked out of him.
Rhianna tripped over someone that hadn't been near her when the mist rose around them and stumbled further into the whiteness. She cursed her heels as she tried to keep her balance. As she groped frantically to find something with which to steady herself, an arm covered with hair brushed against her skin and knocked her off her feet.
Zane merely stood his ground, knowing not to move. He listened and tried to hear what was going on since he couldn't see. He tried in vain to peer through the mist in all directions.
“Well now...what's going on? What are you doing? Put me down--!” Father Mitchell began as large, hairy hands grabbed him roughly. The last thing the priest felt before everything went from white to black was a sharp pain on the back of his head. Drops of blood dripped slowly through the mist and began to pool on a smooth spot of the asphalt.
“Father Mitchell!?” Zane shouted, having heard what sounded like trouble for his friend and boss.
The only thing he, and the other three heard, was the slamming of car doors and an engine revving.
-8-
From where she'd been roughly shoved to the ground, Danica fought off enough of her anxiety to make a decision. She did her best to ignore the burning on her hands and knees for the time being. She traded some of her energy and a preplanned spell for one that would dispel magic. Surely this unnatural mist was of a magical source, she thought.
Making flicking motions with all her fingers and both thumbs, the Acolyte began to “push” the mist away. “Ge gethrisja bakmada. Spical ekess svaklar wux confna,” she chanted quietly, casting the spell to blow away the mist from all around them.
The magical force behind the spell was powerful, and Danica began to tire against its resistance to dissipate. But suddenly the mist cleared--sucked up into the blue-again sky above them--revealing Rhianna and Adam rising awkwardly from the ground, and Zane looking disoriented. It took them only seconds to realize they could see, but almost not in time to save their own lives. Danica began to climb to her feet but grew faint in the middle of the street. She collapsed back to her scraped knees. Having lost her scarf, her long hair hung down on either side of her lowered face.
The sound of the car became louder and the other three stared in disbelief as the dark-windowed vehicle began to race toward them. Adam yelled for everyone to watch out. Zane risked his life by running across the path of the oncoming car and enveloped Danica in his powerful arms. He yanked the slim girl toward the far curb and tripped. He hit the ground and rolled while Danica landed on the grass.
Adam pushed himself to a standing position. He glanced around for Rhianna and saw her pulling herself up with the use of a car door handle. Adam dove out of the way of the fast approaching car toward Rhianna. He lifted the elf up and onto the hood of the car where they both landed with a metallic thud. Everyone watched from prone positions, breathing heavily, as the car raced past them. A darkened rolled down window was being raised, and Adam and Rhianna caught a glimpse of the passenger.
A bugbear—yellow-brown flesh and thick, coarse brown hair hanging down from and around its face. Greenish-white eyes with red pupils stared back at them as the window closed. The last thing the elf and shadowkind human saw were the long, sharp fangs and large, wedge-shaped ears of the bugbear. Adam tried to get a look at the back of the car for the plate number or kind of car but it went by too quickly. All they all saw was that it was dark and large.
"Father Mitchell! Where's Father Mitchell?” Danica suddenly cried out, struggling to rise up from the grass.
“He must have been in the car,” Rhianna replied, climbing off the dented hood with Adam's assistance and brushing off her torn clothes.
Zane growled and stared in the direction the car had gone. He should have tried to save Father Mitchell somehow. “Damn it! He's been kidnapped! How the hell did they do that, how did they know where he'd be?”
“But why?” Rhianna asked in astonishment.
“And he's bleeding...or someone is,” Adam declared, gesturing to fresh blood spots on the ground.
“Oh no, look,” Danica gasped.
She ran shakily to the middle of the street. She closed her fingers over something and picked it up. Zane was close behind to steady the young woman as she stood upright. The other two joined them and watched as Danica opened her scraped hand. Father Mitchell's Medallion of Faith lay in her palm.
“But they never come off on their own,” she protested. “Only the wearer can remove it...but why would he do that?”
Adam, Danica, Rhianna, and Zane were stunned. Who would kidnap Father Mitchell, an aging priest, and why? They needed answers and they needed them now.
“Baron Langford,” Adam declared quietly. “He got us into this...in a way. Surely he'll have some answers.”
The ex-policeman ushered them all back onto the sidewalk as the noise of cars could be heard once again from the main streets. They appeared a completely different group from when they'd started out for breakfast: Zane's jeans and black t-shirt were covered with a good amount of road dirt; Rhianna's snug tan trousers and a blue-hued, silk sleeveless top were torn in places; Adam looked disheveled with his now half-untucked, button down shirt and dirty jeans; and Danica's dress was covered with grass stains and oil.
They were also different in that the four of them now had a shared purpose.
Making flicking motions with all her fingers and both thumbs, the Acolyte began to “push” the mist away. “Ge gethrisja bakmada. Spical ekess svaklar wux confna,” she chanted quietly, casting the spell to blow away the mist from all around them.
The magical force behind the spell was powerful, and Danica began to tire against its resistance to dissipate. But suddenly the mist cleared--sucked up into the blue-again sky above them--revealing Rhianna and Adam rising awkwardly from the ground, and Zane looking disoriented. It took them only seconds to realize they could see, but almost not in time to save their own lives. Danica began to climb to her feet but grew faint in the middle of the street. She collapsed back to her scraped knees. Having lost her scarf, her long hair hung down on either side of her lowered face.
The sound of the car became louder and the other three stared in disbelief as the dark-windowed vehicle began to race toward them. Adam yelled for everyone to watch out. Zane risked his life by running across the path of the oncoming car and enveloped Danica in his powerful arms. He yanked the slim girl toward the far curb and tripped. He hit the ground and rolled while Danica landed on the grass.
Adam pushed himself to a standing position. He glanced around for Rhianna and saw her pulling herself up with the use of a car door handle. Adam dove out of the way of the fast approaching car toward Rhianna. He lifted the elf up and onto the hood of the car where they both landed with a metallic thud. Everyone watched from prone positions, breathing heavily, as the car raced past them. A darkened rolled down window was being raised, and Adam and Rhianna caught a glimpse of the passenger.
A bugbear—yellow-brown flesh and thick, coarse brown hair hanging down from and around its face. Greenish-white eyes with red pupils stared back at them as the window closed. The last thing the elf and shadowkind human saw were the long, sharp fangs and large, wedge-shaped ears of the bugbear. Adam tried to get a look at the back of the car for the plate number or kind of car but it went by too quickly. All they all saw was that it was dark and large.
"Father Mitchell! Where's Father Mitchell?” Danica suddenly cried out, struggling to rise up from the grass.
“He must have been in the car,” Rhianna replied, climbing off the dented hood with Adam's assistance and brushing off her torn clothes.
Zane growled and stared in the direction the car had gone. He should have tried to save Father Mitchell somehow. “Damn it! He's been kidnapped! How the hell did they do that, how did they know where he'd be?”
“But why?” Rhianna asked in astonishment.
“And he's bleeding...or someone is,” Adam declared, gesturing to fresh blood spots on the ground.
“Oh no, look,” Danica gasped.
She ran shakily to the middle of the street. She closed her fingers over something and picked it up. Zane was close behind to steady the young woman as she stood upright. The other two joined them and watched as Danica opened her scraped hand. Father Mitchell's Medallion of Faith lay in her palm.
“But they never come off on their own,” she protested. “Only the wearer can remove it...but why would he do that?”
Adam, Danica, Rhianna, and Zane were stunned. Who would kidnap Father Mitchell, an aging priest, and why? They needed answers and they needed them now.
“Baron Langford,” Adam declared quietly. “He got us into this...in a way. Surely he'll have some answers.”
The ex-policeman ushered them all back onto the sidewalk as the noise of cars could be heard once again from the main streets. They appeared a completely different group from when they'd started out for breakfast: Zane's jeans and black t-shirt were covered with a good amount of road dirt; Rhianna's snug tan trousers and a blue-hued, silk sleeveless top were torn in places; Adam looked disheveled with his now half-untucked, button down shirt and dirty jeans; and Danica's dress was covered with grass stains and oil.
They were also different in that the four of them now had a shared purpose.
-9-
The phone at Langford's Used Books for a New Age rang continuously at the other end of Adam's cell phone as he held it to his ear. He shook his head slowly at the others gathered around him at the back of his van to indicate there was no answer. He jabbed irritably at the red End button to disconnect the call and flipped the cover shut. The phone disappeared into his jeans pocket.
“Nothing,” he announced. “No one's answering, and I didn't want to leave a message. At least not yet.”
Adam's nondescript investigator's van was parked in the church's front lot. They back doors were open and partially hid the four from view, in case anyone was looking out the front windows. Danica was sitting on a recently cleared spot on the floor amidst all of Adam's 'tools' and other interesting appearing items.
Zane was looking at the front of the church from around one of the van doors, not really hiding but not in plain sight either. “We should go in and tell Katie what happened," he said, thinking the receptionist would be worried when Neil Mitchell didn't return.
Rhianna shook her head. “Not yet.”
The others looked at her questioningly as she handed over the cleaning of Danica's scraped and bloodied hands and knees to Adam. With the first aid kit from his van, Adam continued the minor medical care. The elf went to stand next to Zane and peered around his large form.
“Don't worry,” Adam whispered to the dragon-blooded girl in front of him, “I was an EMT when I first moved to Crownpointe...I know what I'm doing.” He winked at Danica.
She smiled slightly and nodded, then turned her attention back to Rhianna. She winced at the sting of the antiseptic but didn't say anything.
“I just mean we should try to get some answers first. Calling the police is out of the question, at least for now. What would we say, a Shadow creature...a huge, ugly bugbear...probably kidnapped him?” She shook her head and her dark, wavy hair flowed with her movement.
“And a mage,” Danica added.
Zane turned around to stare.
“A mage?” Zane asked, his brow furrowing. He wiped at a small cut on his forehead then transferred the blood on his fingers to his dark jeans.“What's a mage...and how do you know?”
"Well, someone had to have cast the obscuring mist spell...that's what all that was, I finally figured it out. And it certainly wasn't me...so there must have been another spellcaster around. And I'm fairly certain it was a mage because the magickal power behind the spell was so strong...and it didn't feel like the person had pledged themselves to “good”. There was resistance against me in the spell.”
The others also stared at Danica for a moment.
“Excellent,” Adam said finally, opening one last generic adhesive bandage. “That's good information to know...so a bugbear, and maybe more in the car, and a mage.”
“We still need answers,” Zane reminded them. “What we know so far won't help us yet.”
Rhianna reached into her purse—which looked a little worse for having been thrown around earlier and felt around—and finally held up a business card. “The townhouse, that place we were supposed to visit if we decided...well, you know. Anyway, maybe whoever is there can help us.”
“If they're there,” Zane added cautiously. “We weren't scheduled to show up for four days...if we decided to help with this whole Shadow business.”
“We're the ones that need help now,” Adam said. “I say we at least give it a try. There's no place else I can think of to go for answers right now. Anyone?”
Rhianna, Danica, and reluctantly Zane himself, shook their heads. Rhianna declared they should only take two vehicles as it would be better for the environment. It was decided that Adam would ride with Rhianna in her car, and Danica would go with Zane in his truck. They all quickly consulted a map for the location of the address, then parted to head to the two vehicles.
to be con't...
“Nothing,” he announced. “No one's answering, and I didn't want to leave a message. At least not yet.”
Adam's nondescript investigator's van was parked in the church's front lot. They back doors were open and partially hid the four from view, in case anyone was looking out the front windows. Danica was sitting on a recently cleared spot on the floor amidst all of Adam's 'tools' and other interesting appearing items.
Zane was looking at the front of the church from around one of the van doors, not really hiding but not in plain sight either. “We should go in and tell Katie what happened," he said, thinking the receptionist would be worried when Neil Mitchell didn't return.
Rhianna shook her head. “Not yet.”
The others looked at her questioningly as she handed over the cleaning of Danica's scraped and bloodied hands and knees to Adam. With the first aid kit from his van, Adam continued the minor medical care. The elf went to stand next to Zane and peered around his large form.
“Don't worry,” Adam whispered to the dragon-blooded girl in front of him, “I was an EMT when I first moved to Crownpointe...I know what I'm doing.” He winked at Danica.
She smiled slightly and nodded, then turned her attention back to Rhianna. She winced at the sting of the antiseptic but didn't say anything.
“I just mean we should try to get some answers first. Calling the police is out of the question, at least for now. What would we say, a Shadow creature...a huge, ugly bugbear...probably kidnapped him?” She shook her head and her dark, wavy hair flowed with her movement.
“And a mage,” Danica added.
Zane turned around to stare.
“A mage?” Zane asked, his brow furrowing. He wiped at a small cut on his forehead then transferred the blood on his fingers to his dark jeans.“What's a mage...and how do you know?”
"Well, someone had to have cast the obscuring mist spell...that's what all that was, I finally figured it out. And it certainly wasn't me...so there must have been another spellcaster around. And I'm fairly certain it was a mage because the magickal power behind the spell was so strong...and it didn't feel like the person had pledged themselves to “good”. There was resistance against me in the spell.”
The others also stared at Danica for a moment.
“Excellent,” Adam said finally, opening one last generic adhesive bandage. “That's good information to know...so a bugbear, and maybe more in the car, and a mage.”
“We still need answers,” Zane reminded them. “What we know so far won't help us yet.”
Rhianna reached into her purse—which looked a little worse for having been thrown around earlier and felt around—and finally held up a business card. “The townhouse, that place we were supposed to visit if we decided...well, you know. Anyway, maybe whoever is there can help us.”
“If they're there,” Zane added cautiously. “We weren't scheduled to show up for four days...if we decided to help with this whole Shadow business.”
“We're the ones that need help now,” Adam said. “I say we at least give it a try. There's no place else I can think of to go for answers right now. Anyone?”
Rhianna, Danica, and reluctantly Zane himself, shook their heads. Rhianna declared they should only take two vehicles as it would be better for the environment. It was decided that Adam would ride with Rhianna in her car, and Danica would go with Zane in his truck. They all quickly consulted a map for the location of the address, then parted to head to the two vehicles.
to be con't...