The Wizards of Central Park West_Ultimate Urban Fantasy Page 22

  “We did not yet reach this level in your training,” Drusilicus elucidated.

  “So, where are we?” Eddie put forward.

  “Summit Rock,” Marlowe disclosed. “One of the places of power within the park.”

  “Yes,” Drusilicus added, “and it appears to be close to twilight.”

  Eddie turned to see a group of young people clad in unusual clothing, who carried a twelve-foot wooden pole five inches in diameter, which was gaily decorated with ribbons.

  The women wore dresses from a bygone era, with hanging sleeves, bodices, and skirts that covered their legs. The men were likewise fancifully outfitted, wearing tights and loose Renaissance shirts with caps and cloaks.

  A woman led the procession, clad in a deep green velvet dress, which contrasted the auburn fire of her hair.

  “Who are they?” Eddie pointed to the revelers.

  “He really doesn’t know anything, does he?” Caleb scoffed.

  Marlowe turned to Eddie. “On May first, there is a holiday, a very old one, known as Beltane. Those who keep it light a bonfire and put up a Maypole.”

  “A Maypole?” Eddie considered this. “That’s from a holiday? I thought kids did that.”

  “They do, but it is based on an ancient rite, just like the Yule log or a Christmas tree.”

  “A Christmas tree?” Eddie repeated.

  “It has a basis in ancient pagan rituals.”

  “I’m on the move.” Caleb watched his double rise from the stone bench and walk off.

  “Let us go,” Marlowe directed, and the group followed.

  A woman walked toward Eddie, and he tried to avoid her, but couldn’t get out of her way.

  She passed right through him.

  “What the…” Eddie touched himself to make sure he was there.

  Marlowe moved next to Eddie. “This is only a memory. Nothing here is real. No one can see us and we cannot intervene.”

  “A memory?” Eddie gulped. “Then how come I can hear the people talking, and the noise of cars?”

  “We experience all my apprentice remembers,” Drusilicus asserted.

  They strolled a few hundred feet north of Summit Rock to a fenced-off area. The Caleb who lived the events glanced about and snuck through an unseen opening in the fence.

  “I can’t fit through there,” Eddie indicated.

  “No need.” Drusilicus, ghostlike, walked right through the fence.

  The others went through as well, Eddie last. He checked himself on the other side to make sure that he was untouched by his egress.

  The real-time Caleb hid near a bush, as they looked down on a young man who sifted through the dirt. He was dressed in jeans and heavy shirt, covered with a layer of dust. He sported a Van Dyke beard and mustache and several rings passed through his earlobes.

  Sod was removed from the lawn, and several rectangular pits were excavated in patterns suggesting walls and remnants of long-ago habitats.

  “That is Alex.” Drusilicus pointed at the young man.

  A supervisor, dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt that sported its own layer of dust, came over. “We’re done. The sun is going down.”

  Alex looked up. “Just a few minutes more, Charles? I’ll be careful.”

  “This is an archaeological dig site.” Charles sighed. “We have to secure the area, replace the tarpaulin, to make sure our findings aren’t contaminated!”

  “I know the drill,” Alex said. “Please? I’ll clean up everything myself.”

  “What’s the big deal?” Charles grumbled.

  “I feel lucky. If I find something of significance it could help with our funding.”

  Charles sighed again. “Okay, but if you do find something good, leave it so we can photograph it in its original position.”

  Alex nodded and gave Charles a quick smile. He continued to dig as the other man put tools into a small shed, and pulled out a large tarpaulin, which he placed on the ground near Alex.

  The Caleb in the scene remained hidden.

  “Good night,” Charles said with a wave, and was off without a look back.

  “Night!” Alex watched the man leave.

  Caleb rose and crept over to Alex. “I was afraid that fool would never leave.”

  Alex looked up and spoke in a whisper. “Careful, he might hear you.”

  “If we get lucky, you don’t need to work this crummy job after tonight,” Caleb murmured.

  “It would be easier if you worked here, too,” Alex argued.

  “I influenced them to hire you, I did my part.” Caleb double-checked to make sure they were alone. “I’ve also helped you dig after hours.”

  “Occasionally,” Alex whined.

  “You want me to get a shovel?”

  “Give me a minute.” Alex took a small trowel and pulled the dirt away from a spot he’d avoided while Charles stood near. He scraped and dug, finally dropped the tool and clawed at the soil with his bare hands.

  Alex pulled back his hands as if he’d been dealt an electric shock. “It is here.”

  “Like you were told?” Caleb expressed with excitement.

  Alex nodded, pulled a leather glove from his pocket, put it on, and carefully brushed away the dirt to reveal a thin chain.

  Caleb hunkered down on his haunches and pointed at the revealed chain. “That’s gold, and look, each link is made by hand.”

  Gently, Alex pulled. The buried line of gold began to expose like a hidden ground snake, burrowed deeply in its secret pit.

  The chain caught.

  Breathing hard with excitement, Alex gave an additional yank and a round metal disk slipped loose from the earth.

  A giggle of joy escaped from both Alex and Caleb, as they stood with their prize held high in Alex’s gloved hand.

  Caleb extracted a paintbrush from Alex’s kit and delicately wiped the caked loam from the medallion.

  Slowly, a figure was exposed. The creature bore the head of a rooster, chest and arms of a man, with legs that were snakes. This mythical creature held a whip in one of the outstretched hands and a round shield in the other.

  “That’s it!” Caleb announced. “The Amulet of Abracadabra!”

  “I can feel the power, even through my glove,” Alex exulted. “It’s warm in my hand.”

  “So, who told you to look here?”

  “Sorry, bud.” Alex looked quickly left and right. “I’m sworn to secrecy.” Alex carefully put the amulet in his pants pocket.

  “What are you doing?” Caleb questioned.

  “We can’t do anything here,” Alex explained. “Let’s clean up and take it to my apartment. I have an enchanted circle.”

  “So do I! Why not my place?” Caleb insisted. “Hey, you need me, I’m the one who knows the release spell.”

  “I could look it up!” Alex put his tools and the leather gloves into a small basket.

  “You don’t have the resources I do,” Caleb wheedled. “Look, if it is as powerful as you said, we can share it.”

  Alex replaced his basket in the shed. “That was the plan, dummy.”

  “Watch it, lame-oh.”

  As Eddie, Marlowe, Drusilicus, and Caleb watched, the two young men laid the tarpaulin out over the dig. The thick, plastic sheet locked down to stakes planted in the ground with heavy hasps that ran through metal eyes.

  Eddie spoke to Marlowe. “What is that amulet about?”

  “The Amulet of Abracadabra is a powerful talisman. It was lost for over a hundred and seventy-five years,” Marlowe told him. “Somehow, someone brought it to this country and buried it in the park.”

  Eddie said, “But who told these guys where to find it?”

  “It was not I,” Drusilicus speculated. “Last anyone heard of the damn thing, it was in one of the Caribbean Islands.”

  Twilight deepened and night descended as Caleb and Alex finished their work, locked the shed and the gate, and began to walk south.

  “What’s that light in the distance?” Alex pointe
d.

  “There are pagans on Summit Rock, lighting the Beltane Fire,” Caleb told him.

  “How perfect is that?” Alex said. “Let’s go watch.”

  “I thought you wanted to—”

  “Best time would be midnight, right?” Alex interrupted, as they walked up the winding path. “Let’s see what rituals the wannabes are doing.”

  As they drew closer, they could hear singing, and a large bonfire blazed on the rocky incline.

  A pole was fitted into one of the large stones near the top of the hill. A group of festively dressed figures held ribbons and scampered about the wooden totem.

  The woman in green ascended the flagstone steps to the top of the hill and approached the fire. She held up her hands. The others stopped dancing and faced her.

  The group of the visible and invisible stayed in the shadows near the edge of the hill that descended to Central Park West.

  “Blessed be,” she spoke and the others replied the same. “We are here this Beltane night to give thanks to the god and goddess and call them to our…our…”

  She stopped speaking, her mouth open, and her eyes glazed over. Murmurs of concern went through the small crowd, as she stood unblinking.

  “Did you do that?” Alex turned to Caleb.

  “Not me,” smirked Caleb. “But it looks like it might get interesting.”

  Her mouth moved slowly, like a fish taken from water. Then her face underwent a transformation, which the firelight seemed to emphasize.

  It was a shocking change. The woman no longer looked lovely; in fact, she resembled a hideous hag.

  “Alsi ku nushi…” she began in a strange, deep and powerful voice.

  Alex and Caleb looked at each other.

  “Isn’t that—” Alex said.

  “She’s calling upon the gods of the night, asking them to do her bidding,” Caleb explained with a frown.

  Alex leapt up.

  “What?”

  “Ah!” Alex yelled as he pulled the heavy fabric of his pants away from the skin of his leg.

  “What is the matter with you?” Caleb demanded in a hoarse whisper.

  Muttering, “Hot, hot.” Alex slid behind the bench and down the grassy side of the hill that faced the dark street. He shucked off his pants, and fell to the mossy grass.

  Alex got to his knees, turned his pants over and shook them. The golden medal and chain dropped out, yet it glowed brilliant red, as if just pulled from a forge.

  Caleb peeked up the crest of the hill to see that the woman still spoke in the deep, hoarse voice. Eddie watched completely puzzled. “What's going on?”

  “It is a spell,” Marlowe explained. “She just said, ‘It is finished,’ the part of the conjuration designed to complete an enchantment.”

  The woman visibly relaxed, shook her head, and returned to normal.

  The invisible witnesses and Alex gazed down at the amulet on the ground. It no longer glowed. He carefully reached down to pick it up.

  “It’s okay,” he hissed to Caleb.

  “I see you found it,” a deep voice intoned.

  Alex, both Calebs, Eddie, Marlowe, and Drusilicus all looked at the bottom of the hill next to the stone wall that surrounded the park. There stood a creature that was at least ten feet tall. Even in the shadows, its body was a dark red, strong and muscled, like a bodybuilder. But the feet were red snakes writhing with black eyes scanning and tongues darting. There was a fierce red whip in one of the huge hands, and the face— was not a face at all.

  It was a rooster.

  Not a cartoon rooster, or the blank face of a domesticated hen, but the fierce stare of a fighting cock.

  “Abraxas!” Marlowe whispered. “That is one of his many forms.”

  “Man,” Eddie decided, “he is one ugly dude.”

  “Good of you to assist in my release,” the creature said. It moved its head side to side like a bird of prey, the eyes going quickly from object to object. The beak moved in time to the words, as if to talk was a normal occupation for a bird.

  “I…uh…” Alex stammered, then looked at the amulet, which bore the same configuration. He held it up and offered it to the monster.

  In the background they could hear the revelers sing at the top of the hill. Some foolish tune about the turn of the seasons, and praise to the goddess of the earth.

  The creature moved toward him. Not so much walked, as slithered, the snake legs wriggling as their beady eyes watched Alex intently. One taloned hand casually reached and plucked the talisman from the boy’s open hand.

  The bird head stared at it, and an expression of pleasure—you couldn’t call it a smile—crossed the cockerel’s face.

  “You must forgive me. I am weak, or I would do this right,” the beak moved to enunciate each word. “Rip you to pieces, slice you up, something like that. I need a sacrifice, boy, nothing personal. I’m sure you understand.”

  In a panic, Alex rose unsteadily to his feet, turned, and ran back up the hill, completely forgetting he wore no pants. He sprinted to the clearing where the peaceful pagans sat around the huge fire and chanted their bland song.

  However, Alex ran far too fast and possessed no control over his legs.

  He ran onto the concrete pathway as fast as his legs could carry him. The group leapt to their feet, and the red-haired woman turned to him. Seeing him pantless, she yelled, “Put your clothes on! That’s not what we are about.”

  That was all Alex heard, or would ever hear again.

  With a scream, Alex ran past the circle and leapt onto the huge bonfire.

  Twenty-Nine

  They were back in the living room, each in their chairs, as Marlowe removed his hand from Caleb’s head.

  Woozily, the boy opened his eyes.

  “What happened?” Eddie queried, surprised that they were back in the living room.

  “We have seen all we need to know of that incident,” Marlowe explained.

  Caleb nodded, still a bit unfocused. “When I went back, the demon and the talisman were gone.”

  “Drusilicus,” Marlowe accused, “you neglected to tell any of the coven that your apprentices sought such a dangerous talisman!”

  “I didn’t know!” Drusilicus responded, anger burning just below the surface. “Alex was headstrong, but I expected more from this one.” He gave a nod toward Caleb. “Who told them where to look? Even a wizard would have a hard time finding it.”

  “How about an enchanter?” Eddie suggested.

  All heads turned to Eddie.

  “The lady at ‘Magickal Cherub’ said that Caleb was an enchanter.”

  Drusilicus and Marlowe turned to Caleb.

  The young man reached for the collection of talismans he’d worn that rested on the floor.

  Marlowe’s staff slammed down and pinned Caleb’s hand in place.

  “Ow!” Caleb gasped.

  “I would advise, young man,” Marlowe threatened, “that you not touch those. There are three wizards here, and any of us could destroy thee with but a thought.”

  Sweat appeared on Caleb’s forehead.

  “I…I…” Caleb stammered, obviously in pain, “I merely wished to show that these are protective charms.”

  Marlowe lifted his staff and the young man pulled his hand back and caressed it with the other.

  Eddie reached down and slid the amulets toward himself, out of Caleb’s reach as Drusilicus looked at his apprentice with annoyance.

  “What is worse, Abraxas has attained another powerful charm, the Kami of Amatsu Mikaboshi.” Marlowe picked up the drawing Eddie brought to hold it out for Drusilicus.

  Drusilicus’ eyes narrowed, and he leaned back in his chair. “If he has two empowered talismans of his ancient forms, that could be very dangerous indeed.”

  “Hold on, Marlowe” Eddie turned to the older man. “If a warlock or enchanter is helping him, what do they get out of the deal?”

  “Once the power of a talisman is unleashed, a wizard can tap into that en
ergy, increasing his own abilities exponentially.” Marlowe glared intently at Caleb.

  Eddie, however, looked pointedly at Drusilicus. “I think I know a wizard who seeks more power.”

  “You dare!” Drusilicus came to his feet in one swift move. Although Eddie did not know where it came from, he saw a staff appear in Drusilicus’ hand.

  Eddie felt a rush of adrenaline and leapt up as well. He fumbled for his wallet. He wanted his staff—needed his staff.

  He was shocked when he felt it jump by itself into his hand, and expanded as it did. By the time he was fully to his feet, he held his own wood rod tightly. He shot a look to Marlowe, who also stood at the ready, a full-sized staff in his hand as well.

  Caleb grabbed the arms of his chair in panic.

  “Back down, Drusilicus Greywacke,” Marlowe ordered, his voice calm but firm.

  “This Newling is no concern to me,” Drusilicus responded, his features contorted in a terrible scowl.

  “This Newling is going to kick your lily-white ass all the way back down to fashionable Fifth Avenue if you don’t put your damn stick down.” Eddie aimed the top of his staff at Drusilicus’ head.

  Drusilicus looked from one man to the other, then dropped into his chair. He lowered his staff and released it, so it clattered to the floor by his feet. “I see no reason for me to be insulted in this way.”

  Eddie and Marlowe sat as well and placed their own staffs on the marble floor.

  “Perhaps we should discuss this calmly,” Marlowe proposed.

  “Very well,” Drusilicus agreed, and Eddie could almost see him shift gears into “politician” mode. “Are you certain that a warlock is in league with the Great Evil?”

  “You saw in the memory. That woman became possessed and recited the spell of release,” Marlowe recounted.

  Drusilicus shrugged. “Perhaps she was possessed by Abraxas?”

  “He doesn’t have the ability to manifest his own release. Someone else put the conjuration on her lips. Alex was thrown into that fire by one with the power to make him do so.”

  “Is that something wizards do?” Eddie frowned. “Take people over, make them move where and how they want?”

  “Possession is possible in many ways,” Marlowe stated. “A spirit can inhabit and take dominion over an individual. However, a wizard can make a person do his will, like a puppet.”