Posted by AlOmega on July 06, 2004 at 17:58:17:
“What we as witches consider the elements, Naomi, is vastly different from what scientists believe and know. For us, there are at basically the six primary elements of Air, Fire, Water, Air, Love, and Spirit. The Greeks almost had it right when they came up with their four elements - an accomplishment in my opinion for a people with little magical knowledge. As far as I know, only Circe knew the true magic of elements and elementals.”
Mystique was making this explanation as they waited for a parking place to open up. The current occupant had been refreshing her makeup only stopping to answer her cell phone. Naomi had become angry. To assuage her anger, Mystique had started another short lesson.
“Each element is independent but can react with one or more of the others to create something new. Earth and Fire react to create Lava while Water and Air create Ice. Each is necessary in the creation and can be used to set the level of the incantation and magic requested. If I use Runes in conjunction with selected herbs and powders, I restrict the magic to a much smaller result. Thus if I invoke Water and use sulfur, I can create a small steam vent which only lasts a short time. You can also use invocations for the spirits by using colored sands and song. For example creating a spiral using blue sand while singing to the Rain. I have done this using sage and lapis candles and requesting the assistance of Hino, the Iroquois thunder god who’s consort is the Rainbow. Although this works for me, it may not work quite the same as the spirits of one area might not be the same as in another. Many of the spirits are known by different names, however. That is how I know of Coyote. He is brother or cousin – I’m not clear on the relationship – with the Celtic/Norse god, Loki. Both are tricksters for example.
“Regardless, if you request the assistance of spirits, you must temper your needs. For example if you want to summon water to a place, you must temper this with either the sands or herbs or talismans. Otherwise you may bring on floods, tempests, and other dire happenings.”
“Ah,” Mystique added, “she’s finally gotten herself together. One reason I hate cell phones is that they interfere with such things as meditation and the enjoyment of the day.”
The trio with Tooth in Mystique’s arms found the Archeology Department after a few minutes of wondering aimlessly in the general area Naomi thought it was located.
“Hi, Naomi,” said a coed as they entered the Department. “What can I do for ya?” There were an unasked questions written in her eyes.
“Hi, Karen. These are my friends Sam and Mystique. We’re looking for Professor Lamons or if he’s not around, Marty Two Shoes.”
“The professor’s out at a site. Not sure which though. Think it might be the one in the Superstitions. Donno if I’d want to go there. Bad Moon rising, if you know what I mean. But Marty’s here. Want I should get him?”
“Naw. Just tell us where he is and we can find our way.”
“Not hard really, Go down the hall about three doors to a door with the sign, “Indian Archeology” on it and just go in. He’s probably still working on the latest artifacts. Seems he’s got a thing for ‘em though I don’t know why. There’s writing on a couple and he thinks maybe he can decipher ‘em.”
“Okay. Will do,” responded Naomi.
It didn’t take long to find Marty bent over a magnifying glass around which was a florescent bulb providing illumination on an artifact sitting on a pedestal. It was rounded and shaped like a mildly squashed football.
“Hi, Marty. Whatcha doing?”
“Oh, it’s you, Naomi,” replied Marty looking up. His expression was a bit miffed. “You shouldn’t be here. You know that.”
“No need to get sulky about it. I’ve got questions that only you can answer - questions about the dig you’re involved with.”
“Why you wanna know? And who’re your friends?” he asked not convinced.
“Mystique and Sam. And…”
He pushed back from the table knocking over the stool.
“What’s that thing? You know pets aren’t allowed.”
Mystique wondered whether that was a sneer or fear in his voice. Only witch-kind could recognize Tooth for what he was. Rare was the ordinary human that could. However, two types of humans could and she needed to know if what she suspected was true. Mystique, without consulting the others, decided to perform a test. Opening her purse she removed a small hand mirror, what looked like lipstick incased in silver, and a flat round box that could have contained rouge. Opening the lipstick – or what looked like lipstick, she smeared the content on her thumb. She then opened the flat round box and dipped her forefinger into the orange powder. After she closed the box replacing it and the lipstick within her purse once more, she looked at Marty’s reflection in the mirror. At the same time she whispered some words and rubbed thumb and forefinger together. As she did this, the reflection changed subtly. Mystique smiled at the result. The process had eliminated one type of human and confirmed the second.
“Marty Two Shoes?”
Marty, still upset at Naomi and the poodle-dog, was startled on hearing her voice. It was as if Mystique’s voice had changed – become something different.
“And you’re…?” he questioned recovering.
“Mystique. I’m an archeologist from the University of Texas. Although my specialty is Mesoamerican, I may be able to decipher that writing for you.”
“What writing?”
“The one you can’t understand. Aw, come on. It’s obviously something not local. Even I can see that. Have you ever seen anything like it?” She put Tooth on the floor. Tooth under her silent instruction drifted behind the nearby desk. Mystique softly shoved Marty aside.
“Look here. See these markings? They’re runic if I’m not mistaken. There is a Navajo pattern surrounding them but all sides are closed. I’d be surprised if there aren’t more.”
“There are but how…”
“Obvious from the writing – if you know where to look. Where are the others?”
Marty produced three more objects. One was oval and non-flattened permitting it to roll from side to side - only a sharp protuberance in the middle limiting the distance it could move. The second was a ball from which three protuberances projected. The third was cylindrical with three holes at one end. All had writings of some sort as well as stylized representations of what could best be described as earth, fire, and water. The one Marty had been inspecting also had a hole and a stylized representation of a heart. That perhaps more than anything had piqued Marty’s interest. That plus the material each was made from.
“Have you tested the material?” queried Mystique rolling the football-shaped object in her hands.
“No. I’ve been afraid to. Professor Lamons specifically told me not to get the other departments involved.”
“Sam, Naomi, do either one of you recognize these or what they represent?” She was not surprised to see that they had never seen anything like them other than the stylized representation of the elements.
Mystique handed the object back to Marty.
From what I’ve been able to ascertain, there should be two more of these objects. I suspect there was a container as well. When you found them, was there a considerable amount of dust under them – not on top?”
“I didn’t find them. Professor Lamons did. But the photos show exactly that. Lots of dust as if they were eggs laid in a dirt-nest of sorts. You’ve seen these before?”
“Not exactly. I’ve seen a couple, yes. The cylinder for one; and, one like a four-sided pyramid for another. The cylinder had dissimilar writings but these aren’t that much different from the one’s I’ve seen. That’s why I’m familiar enough with these to be able to read each. That’s why I know there are two others. One has to be pyramid-shaped. The other probably will be a cone with a five-sided base. I can read these if you wish. However, the reading won’t make much sense without the other two because there are major gaps in the message. What I can say is that these objects were used as a means of protection, From what, I don’t know. That’s what the other two will disclose. Could you take us to the site where you – Professor Lamons – found these?”
Marty was excited. “Yes, of course. We’ll use the department’s van. It’ll hold all of us plus equipment if we need anything.”
“Could you bring these four artifacts?”
“Sure. No problem, Professor Mystique. Just a few minutes while I find a box to contain them.”
As Marty rummaged through some boxes to select the one he wanted, Mystique silently gathered two other objects – one in the form of a marble, the other in the form of a box neither having writings - that Tooth had ‘discovered’. Those also went into her purse.
Mystique’s purse was a plain black bag unadorned with anything other than a strap. Perhaps a quart of water would have nestled inside if it was empty. However like much of her accruements, there was more to it than met the eye. The bag could hold a surprisingly large amount of objects.
From her bag, she extracted two square boxes. One contained a yellowish powder; the other contained black powder. She gathered a pinch from each and placed them within her left palm before returning the containers to her purse. She then drew a glowing orange symbol in the air which quickly vanished as Marty finished placing the objects within the box. As he turned, she dropped her handkerchief. Sam started to pick it up but stopped on seeing Mystique’s head shake. Marty, on the other hand, saw it as well and picked it up. As he did so, he passed through the area where the rune had momentarily been visible. The rune became faintly visible once more as Mystique let the powders from her palm fall to his head.
“Oh, thank you,” she replied to Marty’s return of her handkerchief.
“By the way, Marty,” ventured Naomi. “We’d best follow you. We’ve got Sam’s Land Rover and all our stuff’s in back.”
“Sounds good. Just keep close is all or you can get lost.”
As they got into the SUV, Sam ventured, “So what was that all about, Mystique?”
“Not now. Later, Sam. I’ve gotta look at these things first.”
And with that, the party followed Marty’s department van.
Mystique turned the two objects over and over. Then she looked at them closely with her own magnifying glass. As she turned the square box over, she noticed a line of tiny words at the edge of one side. She added another word to her incantation and a third. Silently she looked once again at the square box nearly two inches on a side. It was silver but not silver. Round the edges of each side were tiny words. None of these words could have been seen without the aid of a specific incantation plus the use of her glass – a glass that magnified magical as well as mundane words. Returning the box to her purse, she extracted the marble. Applying a different incantation along with the scrying mirror (for that is what it was), she saw the marble-pattern begin to shift as if they were cloud patterns across a moonlit night sky. With the mirror she was able to see small dots which seemed to twinkle as the patterns shifted. She waited a few minutes before returning the marble to her purse. A smile lit her eyes for a moment.
“You knew, didn’tja, Tooth.”
The German Shepherd seemed to laugh. For one thing he was glad not to be a poodle any longer. But for another, he was overjoyed to have assisted Mystique once more.
“The Pattern, Tooth?
A silent nod as he placed his head on his paws.
“Okay. No more poodle dog. How about a dachshund?
Tooth sighed letting his tail lay silent.
Mystique knew Tooth never liked being small. He preferred something large such as a mastiff or pit bull – something that shouted, “Warning” or “Danger”. But he hated even more being cooped up in a portable kennel. After four times, he had effectively said, “no more” and so they had agreed on the ‘toy poodle’ idea. Mystique knew also that sooner or later Tooth would tire of being a small dachshund. That eventuality she would meet when it happened.
“So can you let us poor mortals in on what you did back there?” Sam said with a twinkle in his eye as the SUV bounced once more.
“I’m pretty sure you’ve ascertained that the objects Marty had been working with were elemental object representations. The patterns representing each of the elements are universal. That’s clear enough. There had to be more because I couldn’t read everything clearly. That enclosure for the words on that flattened football for example created something very similar to an Egyptian cartouche. That is, it gave a name to something evil. I’m not quite sure what that evil is but I’m going to find out. I think it will take all three of us to work this out.
“The objects also had a gees placed on them. A gees in this instance is like an evil curse. I’m not positive if this was intentional or not nor whether it was placed thereon recently or when the objects were first placed in their reliquary. I say ‘reliquary’ for that is what that dust in reality was. You see, the objects within the reliquary were used to block something evil from entering this world. What this is, I don’t know. However with the knowledge you possess, Sam and the raw talent that Naomi has, I’m positive we can figure this out. My initial concern – primarily because of the sand blowup – that what we’ve got is a clear and present danger. From what I can see, it could impact everyone on this world.”
“And…?” Sam’s request hung in the air like so much silence.
Mystique hesitated. Her concerns were not so much for Sam as for. “What I’m about to tell you is something Sam knows little of, Naomi. And for the moment you must not speak of it except when we three are alone. Do you understand?”
“I guess. But how will I know if I don’t know?”
“You’ll know, Naomi,” Sam said.
“Well. How to begin cause there’s no ‘beginning’ to this as far as I know. Hummm. Have you ever heard about vampires or shape-shifters, Naomi?”
“Yes. Though I always thought of it as a myth.”
“Long ago, there were some of the medicine lodge who could change themselves from man to beast,” injected Sam. “Few could do this, I’ve been told although I once knew of someone. He Who Walks Tall was one of these according to my own grandfather.. He was a legend when I was growing up even though he had died before I was born. He Who Walks Tall could change into the mighty bear. A strong totem I’ve heard but a taskmaster.”
“Well, Sam, Naomi, Marty is such a one though I suspect he’s not aware of the fact being modern and a scientist. Those elemental talismans have activated something that lie fallow in his subconscious. What shape he takes, I’m unclear on – the exact shape that is. I suspect he could change into one of the family of dogs such as a fox or wolf. It doesn’t really matter which. The powders I sprinkled over him will hold that change in check for a while. That will last only so long. My main concern is whether he can control himself when in his animal form. You’ve heard about the problems werewolves have created. Marty may prove to be such a creature.”
“I thought werewolves were something for campfires and movies,” said Naomi.
“True enough. But like vampires, ghosts, and things that go bump in the night – in other words, the demons that walk in our sleep – werewolves are real. They’re shapeshifters as I said before. However in this day and time, such beings are very rare or dormant. However something has awakened the animal manifestation aspect that’s always been subdued within Marty.
“And now, folks, it gets a tad scary. I think this evil creature is a kind of vampire. And it’s hungry.”
“You can’t be serious,” Naomi said. Just then the SUV swerved to the right.
“Watch it!” shouted Sam.
“You’ve heard of blood sucking vampires, Naomi. Sam’s seen the real thing but in bat-form. That is there use to be vampire bats in this area. Why, I’m not sure. A biologist would say their existence in such an arid place with few animals would be impossible. However from what I felt, I suspect they were attracted to an evil vampire-like creature that dwelled and may still live somewhere within the Superstitions. There are many kinds of creatures-of-the-night, however. Think of this one as a sucker of souls or at least the minds of whatever creature it can capture.”
“’Beware the creature that it trapped beneath the earth.’ That’s what I received from the sands before they were thrust back in my face,” Sam said as various emotions played their scene within his mind.
“Very true,” added Mystique. “These two artifacts Tooth brought to me are part of the key. The box gives instructions on how to utilize the various elemental devices. If we look hard enough, I believe we can even replace the reliquary. However, we must find those last to elemental pieces for this to work. I’m guessing here but I believe that these objects have kept a being encased deep beneath the earth that should never have been loosened. To all appearances, these archeologists discovered these objects. However, I suspect that all is not as it seems.”
Sam, who initially had been lost in his own thoughts, spoke up. I feel that Coyote was involved. He’s ever the trickster. He just might have done this just to see if he could.”
“If he did, I suspect he’s one very scared godling. Whatever he’s awakened…”
And all three shuddered at what was left unsaid.
When she wakened, her first thoughts were for escape to her world but the thing obstructing her passage was still there. She had known many fell creatures and evil spirits that had haunted ruins and caverns where she had made her homes. However this spirit was more powerful than any she had ever encountered. She suspected it was a banshee. However she could not wonder that far down the passage to ascertain if that were true. As she awakened to her full power, she had to obtain sustenance. Her initial victims had been the local animals that had wondered in. However that was soon to change.
Her concern, however, was with what she had seen in her scrying crystal just before it had shattered. She had seen power such as she had never encountered. For her, something wicked this way came.
“Yes, Sam,” Mystique said throwing the backpack over one shoulder. “The signs are there. Marty’s reaction to Tooth as well as Tooth’s own senses confirm it. That’s why I used a rune. That particular rune is old and not commonly used. You knew that there are around fifty commonly used runes. However over five thousand runes exist that I know of. There might be as many as ten thousand. I’m still learning myself. While runes can be used as letters, many are symbols as well. Consider Japanese. The language is simple consisting of around 60 basic sounds. Thus, Japanese in their early history created sixty basic symbols to represent those sounds. However there are many inflections within the Japanese language that cannot be defined by those basic symbols. Therefore, the Japanese borrow from the Chinese Conge which consists of more than ten thousand characters. And Celtic runes have a longer history than any including Egyptian writings.
“Anyway, the symbol I used is called, To Temper the Beast – a taming rune originally. Its origins go back before the Celtic contact with the Chinese.”
“And how do you know this?” asked Naomi.
Mystique chuckled. “I could say I researched it. But no, I learned this along with many other runes from my teacher’s teacher. She remembers back before the time of the Slow Collapse from what is now the Sahara to what became known as Egypt.” Mystique stopped her before Naomi could ask another question. “This was when the Sahara was a grassy plain with scattered forests. People living there called it a paradise I suppose. Rains were more frequent at that time. They built most of their temples out of wood unless stone was available. Then they would carve out temples from the stones. I believe that was when an outcropping of rock in what is now Egypt was first carved. There came a time, however, when the rains did not come as frequently or at the right time. This plus their obsession with wood for construction, overgrazing and faulty farming techniques began their descent into barbarism for a time. Many of them moved to the Mother River – or what became known as the Nile. My teacher’s teacher was born when these people were masters of the Sahara forests. She remembers this and more besides for she was there when the first Pharoses rose to power. I know her by many names for she has been many people. It was much more difficult to maintain one’s anonymity then so she finally sailed to an island in the Mediterranean Sea. You might know of her as Circe.”
“Hey, need help?” shouted Marty from above as Naomi digested this tidbit of information.
“Naw, we’ll be there in a minute,” Sam replied. The trio followed by Tooth in his German Shepherd shape took a little over three minutes to ascend to where Marty was waiting.
“How much farther?” asked Naomi readjusting her backpack.
“As far as it is,” replied Sam.
“Sorta,” answered Marty with a chuckle. “’Bout a mile further.”
“Why the gun?” asked Mystique wondering at his weaponry.
“Well, we’ve got permission from the state to excavate the site. However one can never be sure that they might come foul of one of the local prospectors. They think they own the Superstitions. Mostly they’re looking for the Lost Dutchman.”
“Lost Dutchman?” followed up Mystique. “Someone get lost up here?”
“You must be an Easterner. ‘Most everyone’s heard of the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine.”
“I’ll explain later, Mystique,” said Sam just as his shoe slipped for a second time on the sandy rocks.
The pathway narrowed to barely three feet before widening as they reached the top. In two places they had to remove their backpacks and hand them through the narrow crack gouged out by water. Then they descended into a dry ravine that hadn’t tasted rain for perhaps a year. Abruptly as they turned a corner they stumbled on a metal ladder which extended perhaps twenty feet up. Well above where the water could never have traveled was an irregularly shaped hole.
The metal ladder led to a narrow shelf whereupon the party moved to a second ladder and then a third. At the top of the third ladder was a wide shelf where three tents had been pitched. Outside of one lounged an older man. Unlike Marty who had a full head of hair, his was in the process of vanishing. He had a peppery mustache which matched what hair he had.
“Hi, Marty. Found what you wanted about those artifacts?” he asked while getting to his feet. There was something about his demure that bothered Mystique. However since Tooth remained unmoved, she didn’t think it mattered.
“Yes and no, Geoff – Professor Lamons. I’ve brought a couple of friends and another archeologist from the University of Texas who might be able to help. Have you found anything interesting since I was last here?”
“Nothing much,” Geoff answer mopping his brow with a blue and red handkerchief. Mystique thought that odd also since the air was so dry. “although we seem to have found another passage. Ron - he’s that geologist from Queensland, Australia - and Frank from Goshen are down there clearing out the entrance. Kathy Jo’s with them making sketches of the writings and drawings we found there. Darn things don’t come out when you photograph them. We tried using lights and a flash but all that came out was the rock itself.”
“Perhaps I can help,” Mystique said. She was intrigued. Only certain writings couldn’t be photographed. “Are these writings next to that blocked passageway?”
Lamons nodded. “Say how’d you know?”
“I’ve encountered writings that reacted like that in the Carpathian Mountains.” She neglected to add that she had encountered vampires at the same site. Still, she thought in passing, there wasn’t that evil smell here. That had been so strong that they had almost strangled her mental senses. This wasn’t the same.
As an aside to Sam, she whispered, “We need to get to that passage quickly and check out those writings before any more excavation takes place. The last time I encountered something like this was just before…”
But before she could continue, Lamons assisted her with her backpack and led her, with the rest trailing behind, through the small opening. She and Naomi were able to remain upright although the men – especially Marty – had to duck. Touching the sides of the entrance as they entered a long, narrow passage, Mystique reaffirmed that the opening at least had been carved although that had been thousands of years in the past. She was wondering if it had been only widened for entry by humans – made by slaves, she realized just as the unbidden sense of slavery vanished as quickly as it had arrived.
As they emerged into a large cavern, she slipped back to Sam. “Did you feel something as we traveled that passage?”
“Yes,” he whispered to her. “It was as if the Spirits were saying something. I received the clear impression of imprisonment. Yet the people imprisoned were unknown to me.”
“Clearly something is at work here, Sam,” she whispered back. “We need another sand painting. Also in this, we must work in conjunction. I’ll use candle, chalk, and powder in union with your song and sand. Tell Naomi. She must be the focus to bring our two magics – that of sand and song; candle and powder - fire, air and earth – together as one.”
“There is wisdom in what you say. I believe soon is better than late. Tonight while these people sleep may be our best time.”
“If necessary, I can prepare them for sleep,” added Mystique.
Lamons led them to an alcove which hid another entrance that two men were attempting to uncover. Near them, a young girl – perhaps Indian or Mexican – was setting with pencil and paper creating lifelike sketches of faded pictographs within the large alcove but to the left of the workers. The pictographs were silvery with fainter lines of gold lacing through them.
The two men stopped working just as the woman, Kathy Jo, said, “Oh, hi Marty. These darn things are getting extremely difficult to see.”
Mystique opened her small purse and removed a long but tiny brush. After making several flourishes (during which she muttered faint words in a language unknown to the others), she lightly touched the primitive picture-writings. As she finished, the pictographs began to glow once more.
“What didja do?” Asked Professor Lamons softly.
“I only applied some basic cleansing solution to remove some of the grime that’s accumulated.” She neglected to add that this wasn’t precisely what she had done. She studied the symbols intently for several minutes before stepping back.
“It would help if I had less light but then I don’t suppose…” she left the rest unsaid. Turning, she looked hard at the professor before continuing, “I’d wait on opening that shaft, if I were you. These are warning signs. Something is down there that you really don’t want to loosen. Perhaps in the morning would be best.”
Professor Lamons became angry at this. “There’s no need to wait. We’ve come this far and I’ll be dammed if I’ll wait another hour, let alone another day.”
“Professor, if it came to it, I would wait forever to open this if it’s what I think it is. In the morning would be fine but now is NOT the time!” She said this last with such force that Lamons backed away. However he was as determined as her.
“This is MY project, Whoever You Are. You weren’t invited and I don’t really care what University you came from – even Podunk UT. Now you get your ar…” Just as he was about to continue, Lamons collapsed.
“Whatja do to the professor!” demanded Frank.
“You were watching,” Mystique said exasperatedly spreading her arms. “I wasn’t even near him so I couldn’t – and wouldn’t - touch him.”
“Then what happened?” insisted Marty.
A thought brushed Mystique’s mind. Looking down, she saw the laughter in Tooth’s eyes.
AlOmega