Fear of Mystics (Saga of Mystics Book 2) (4 page)

CHAPTER TEN

              The flutter of wings flapping in the breeze did nothing to assuage Rich’s astonishment at what he was seeing. He turned toward his group, seeing the same shock on Jack’s face; the abject horror on Kim’s; and the equal level of wonder in Cliff.  Cliff’s smile was almost an opposite mask of the repulsion that showed in Kim’s features.

              “What are we looking at?” Rich asked.

              Cliff ran forward, “Harpies!” he shouted and burst into the nearby clearing.

              Rich and the other two followed him, though Kim kept her distance. Once in the forest clearing, Rich saw an even larger number of “mixed” beings.  The ones that Cliff referred to as Harpies were part bird, part human.  But, there were others.  There was half-horse, half-human.  There were those who looked part cat, part dog, or part bull.  It was an absolute shock, and Cliff had run into the middle of them with glee.  A woman in her early thirties, wearing an earthy garb, walked out to greet him.

              “Centaurs!” Cliff spit out, in a flurry of excitement. “Minotaurs, Were-creatures, Faeries…Faeries, Rich! Do you see them?” His smile was infectious, but Rich didn’t share his enthusiasm. This wasn’t a movie, or a get up. These were real.

              “I do, Cliff.” It was all Rich could think of to say.

              Turning to look at his companions, Rich saw similar expressions to that which he probably bore himself. The look of shock had left Jack’s face, but Kim retained an expression which Rich had long seen in parishioners. It was the cold, distant fear of the other, of anyone who was different. It was a look of judgment.  It brought him up short. He checked his own thoughts, to make sure he did not bear a similar expression, and turned to the woman walking toward them with her arm around Cliff.

              “Good afternoon, Ma’am,” Rich started. “My name is Rich Carson.  This here is Jack Collins, Kim Pile and that young man is Cliff Ko.”

              “I am pleased to meet all of you.” She said in a lilting voice that was instantly pleasant and free of the judgment that his friend, Kim, was currently throwing around. “I am Annie Grace.”

              “Is it your power that does this?” Cliff spurted out, throwing his arms wide like they could encompass the entirety of the fantastic beings.

              “Yes, I guess so.” She replied. “People ask to be changed and I think about it with them for a while, then they change.  It is really up to them. But, you speak of powers.  Do you have powers?”

              Before Rich could stop him, Cliff just vomited out all of their information.  He would have to talk to the boy about that later. “Not cool powers like yours.  I can help people put their powers into stones. Rich sings people calm.  Kim is a pyrokinetic. Jack is a healer.”

              Annie laughed lightly, enjoying Cliff’s enthusiasm and most likely thinking that he was too free with information as much as Rich thought he was. “Those sound like much more useful abilities than mine.” Annie offered.

              “Everyone has something they can do for the greater good, ma’am.” Rich interrupted, trying to shut down the boy’s exuberance before he got them in hot water.

              Annie just nodded at him.  Her face was calm, with a constant smile on her lips. She had laugh lines in all of the places of a person who is practiced at finding humor in everyday life. She had a peace about her that reminded Rich of those who have lived life, lost love and come out the other side a little wiser. He hoped he exhibited that kind of calm. It made him think she probably did what she did for the same reason they did what they did.  She just wanted to help people.

              A thought occurred to Annie that shadowed her face with concern. “We do have a small problem that could use a healer.  One of our centaur mares is near to birthing a foal, and it would be wonderful if you could look at her.”

              “You are breeding them?” Kim asked, aghast.

              Annie turned, a darker look in her eyes. It was clear that Annie had no grace for the type of phobia which Kim was expressing. “No,” She answered curtly, “We are not breeding them. Like all other people, they have relationships, they have intercourse.  Natural things happen.” Annie turned toward Jack, some of her peace returning, “Is this a problem, or do you think you could help?”

              Jack shrugged, “The anatomy will be new to me, but I will see what I can do.”

              “Can I come, too?” Cliff interjected, “Or would that be weird?”

              Annie let out a hearty and refreshing laugh.  “Of course you can come, you are very welcome here, Cliff.”  As they walked toward a hutch in the far side of the clearing, Annie looked over her shoulder at Kim, a cold stare like she was seeing right through her. Rich couldn’t blame her. Kim’s display was bigotry in its purest form. Rich wondered how much of that showed on his face when he had first seen Annie’s group. A little shame crept in from the sides of his mind.

              “I am going to walk around the area.  This place creeps me out.” Kim stated and stomped out into the woods. She was not going to see the good in this community, Rich assessed. He would have to have a talk he had never enjoyed. Many church-goers are victim to this kind of fear of the other, but it isn’t a particularly biblical approach. Contrary to popular belief, the bible preaches a rather accepting view of refugees, the poor, and those different from you.

              “Okay,” Rich called out, “Don’t go too far, we won’t be here long.”

              Kim just waved back over her shoulder; which Rich took to mean that it was okay. He turned and began a mental cataloguing of all he saw.  The Council would certainly want to hear about this.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

              The four robed men walked in single file through deserted streets on the south end of town.  They seemed to be the only people anywhere around. Paul motioned to his four team mates to fan out, as he walked out into the open.  As one, the men in robes turned and walked his way. Their synchronicity surprised and concerned Paul. He saw no communication, nor even notice of him by these robed travelers. They just turned and walked for him.

              “Good afternoon, gents.” Paul began, smiling widely to settle any doubts about his welcome. The thought occurred that they might think they could rob a single person on the road. “It is good to see people out here. I am not from these parts. Are there markets in the area where people get together?  I was looking to trade.”

              The man in front with the dark skin, light eyes and loose curls answered him with only an intimidating gaze. The other three fanned out to his side, creating a human barrier before Paul.

              Paul snorted to himself. “Look, I know there are four of you, but I can take care of myself.  Don’t try to take what is mine.” He pointed at the chest of the closest man. Their silence was annoying at the least, oppressive at the most. He continued, “Are you going to tell me where the survivors’ market is, or should I just move on?”

              The dark man stood in silence, the other three looking at him, rather than at Paul.  The dark man leaned forward and sniffed, giving him a look of disdain. Paul knew the tactic, they thought he was going to pay them off to leave him alone. Hell, Paul had used that tactic many times in the past.

              Deciding not to let this continue, he grinned at them and decided to show his ability a little.  Lord Marshall Fine had directed them not to take anything but information from people, but it couldn’t hurt to knock these idiots on their asses.  Gathering his chi, he pushed out with his hand toward the four men. Nothing happened.  Gathering his strength, he once more pushed toward them.  Nothing.

              In succession, each of the robed figures turned their head toward him and said one same word.

              “Witch.”

              “Witch.”

              “Witch.”

              “Witch.”

              Paul looked back for his team, searching frantically for some aid. For some reason, his powers did not work. He needed the help of his team, but they were not quick enough.  The four robed men brought cudgels out from within their sleeves, as quick as the wind itself. Paul felt weak in his legs, and had not realized the level to which he counted on his ability. All four men raised their arms, and the dark leader smashed his cudgel over Paul’s left eye, tearing a gash across his face as he fell to the ground. His head bounced off the asphalt, and his gaze dimmed for a moment.

Paul could not see any longer with his left eye, but with his right, he saw his men running to his rescue. Unfortunately, he also saw them get torn to shreds.  His head was light, and his legs felt like lead. He could not raise himself to help. These four men, dressed like monks and bearing no more than short clubs, quickly dismantled one of the best Bandit teams in all of Manitou. But Paul could see there were only three of his team, where was Steve?

              Gathering all the strength he could muster, Paul began to crawl away as the robed men beat his companions. He didn’t go far, unable to garner the slight energy it would take to get up and run away. He did not feel the smash into the back of his head, he only blacked out with its force.

              How long he had been out was a mystery, but when he awoke, things had slightly changed.  Struggling to regain his focus, he noticed the scent of burning wood and opening his eyes, saw the swirling smoke. Gasping and sputtering on the smoke, he tried to make out where he was. It had been in the street. He had faced four men. The memory rushed back to him, and he realized his own doom. His only thought was that he needed to get away from whatever this fire was.

Trying to stand up, he found he was bound to a pole in the ground and surrounded by branches.  Had those men tied him up? Gaining a little clarity in his mind, he was able to see that his team was tied to the pole with him.  The smoke was furling up around their bodies from somewhere below. His eyes came into focus as the dark man in the robe stepped before him, just out of the growing fire’s range. Next to him was a stocky, bald man with a goatee. He had not been there when they had fought. The man shouted over the crackling fire.

              “You have been judged, evil doers!” The man had a fervor on his face that Paul found startling. What was he shouting about? “You will burn for your sins, and meet your father, the Adversary, in eternal damnation. The Lord has seen you; the Lord has judged. He has sent his Hammer to deal with you.  Die in agony!”

              Paul watched each of the four men he had faced, and the other man who wore a priest’s collar, turn their backs on the fire, just as the heat reached him.  He frantically tried to release himself from his bonds and get away from the fire. When he could not get loose, the searing pain of flames licking at his legs made him shake violently. His own screams of pain drowned out any other sound.  But just before fading out, Paul saw a figure at the edge of his vision. He beheld the horrified face of his friend, as Steve turned and fled at the end of the block. The group of executioners took off after him, but Paul burned to death knowing what a great runner Steve was.

CHAPTER TWELVE

              Her repulsion only surpassed by her anger at being made to commune with these abominations, Kim stomped through the edge of the woods away from Annie Grace’s clearing and the monstrosities that abounded there. She would occasionally look over her shoulder and up into the trees to make sure none were following her. It was disgusting. They had mixed their God-given bodies with those of base animals. How could Rich abide this?  He is a pastor for God’s sake. It wasn’t right; it wasn’t natural.

              This was just another sign proving her belief in what had occurred. In the year and a half she had lived at the Bluffs, Kim had become overwhelmed at these powers.  She herself exhibited a sign of this apocalypse in the ability to call fire forth from out of thin air.  It had helped occasionally, there was no doubt about that. But, the number of men she had killed in the Hilltop assault was too horrific to think of.  Some estimated it to be almost two hundred.  She had burned them to death.  Who could cleanse her of the blood on her hands?

              Now this.  Beyond having to accept the demonic powers of the people remaining in this godless world, she now had to deal with people who mixed their breed with animals?  It was just too much.  She would certainly talk to Ted and the Council.  They must see how terrible the shame and judgment they were cursed with for not trusting in God for their redemption. This could not stand!

Hearing a twig break beneath someone’s foot, she turned to see which of the creatures was following her. But, it was just an ordinary man. He stood staring at her, breathing heavily.

              “What?” She asked exasperated. “I am sorry, but that is disgusting.  It is abomination. They aren’t even human anymore.”

              A change came over the face of the man, he smiled slightly, kindly.  Then he spoke in a deep, but carrying whisper.

              “You are not one of them. You are of the light.” He rasped out, “You must come with me. Leave the sin behind.”

              Kim felt the warmth of the tear running down her cheek. Her redemption had arrived, and just at the time she had asked God for it. “Thank you,” she said quietly, “The Lord has answered my prayer.”

              “Indeed he has, woman.” The man waved her over, clearly being careful to keep quiet and relatively out of sight.

              Kim plucked up her courage and followed this man out of the woods, away from those she had come with.  She saw the Lord’s hand in recuing her, perhaps she could redeem herself in this end of time.