Elect II—15 Spiders and Webs, part 2 of 3

January 17, 2017January 2, 2017M G Kizzia Leave a comment

Across town, Latasha’s little sister Leah, the early riser, saw the spiders in the pre-light of dawn and screamed. Latasha rushed to the closet and got out her ax while Leah woke the family. Mother corralled the two little ones in the kitchen at the back of the house while Latasha stepped out on to the front porch to face the threat. She dared not send her family out the back door for fear they might have the house surrounded.

The spiders were at the edge of the property and looked like they were waiting for something. It turned out to be someone. It was Carlos, the last person in the world she expected to see.

“I just wanted you to know.” Carlos spoke with a real swagger in his voice. “They are young, but I figure one of them will bite you. I doubt even you can kill them all when they swarm. All right,” Carlos waved to the spiders and laughed as he walked away. The spiders came rushing in. They were certainly smaller than the one she killed in the warehouse, but there were so many of them, Latasha also doubted she could kill them all.

Latasha split the lead spider easily enough, but wished she had a gun, or something. The second also got split and the third lost its front limbs and fell back. The fourth got some webbing on the ax and prevented Latasha from lifting it right away while the fifth jumped.

Latasha heard nothing, but saw an arrow enter the spider’s body and throw it into another one that was about to leap. Then the air was full of arrows, and in only the short time it took Latasha to wrench her ax free of the webbing, the rest of the spiders were dead, full of holes.

“Show yourselves,” Latasha shouted. “I mean it. Show me who you are.” She paused for a second before she shouted the only name she knew and what she knew. “Ms. Riley! Elf!”

There was a rustling in the bushes and one female elf stepped clear of cover. To Latasha’s surprise, the elf went to one knee. “Elect,” the elf said before she rose again. “We were always counted as good luck by the Amazons for just this sort of reason. Lady Boston, Ms Riley, asked me to keep an eye on you.”

Latasha looked around at the dead spiders. “Thanks,” she said as she heard shuffling inside the house. She jumped. “Quick, can you make an illusion?” She had to think of the word Ms Riley used. “A glamour.” The elf grinned a very elfish grin and waved her hand just before Latasha’s mother opened the door.

“Honey? Are you alright?”

“Yes,” Latasha responded. “All over. I had help.” She pointed to a simple girl dressed in human looking clothes. The girl looked Asian in human form.

“Lieutenant Harmony. Pleased to meet you.” She stuck out her hand and Latasha’s mother shook it after only a brief pause. Harmony whispered to Latasha as if Latasha’s mother was not there. “My Captain taught me the human tradition of hand-shaking.” She grinned again. Fortunately, Latasha’s mother had something else in mind.

“Honey. I don’t care if you got elected. This club of yours is too dangerous. You need to quit that club.” That was when Officer Dickenson roared up in front of the house.

###

When Lisa, Josh and the children pulled up in front of the house, Josh paused to stare at the rope that was strung from the top of the open attic window to a tree on the edge of the neighbor’s yard. It looked like a steeply slanted laundry line. “Christmas movie,” was all Lisa said as she unlocked the door and let the children run wild inside the house. It had been a while since they had been home.

Lisa and Josh made holes in the side yard all morning and Josh kept trying to talk her out of it. “We can’t just move,” she said. “They are hunters. They would find us.” Eventually, he gave up and they had lunch.

Lisa sent the children upstairs after lunch so they could pack a few things for the night. The dirty laundry stayed on their beds and Bobby in particular complained about having to wear his cruddy old clothes. “No,” Lisa told him. “I am not doing the laundry. They need to smell your presence strongly in the house to believe you might still be here.” At least she hoped that was true.

While the children got ready, Lisa set a few traps downstairs and then called for the helicopter. It dropped a rope ladder to the attic window opposite the one with the clothesline. Bobby and Adam, with their backpacks, enjoyed the climb. Josh and Lisa took a deep breath when they were safe. They dropped a rope for Megan, to secure her in case she slipped on the ladder. She never slipped, but Josh almost did.

When the helicopter finally took off, Lisa got her book. She opened a romance novel she had been meaning to read for some time. She sat at the bottom of the stairs to the attic, though the light was not the best. She knew the night creatures would have to break into the house and she would no doubt hear that, but she did not want to be too far away from her means of escape. That would not be until after dark, and that would not be for a while, so she read and sipped from her thermos of coffee.

Elect II—15 Spiders and Webs, part 1 of 3

January 16, 2017January 2, 2017M G Kizzia Leave a comment

Saturday morning, the young women met in the gym for their training and workout with Professor Schultz. They were all very quiet, Jessica’s ROTC troop especially so. Sara called them somber. Maria had broached the subject of a possible rogue member of the council with Heinrich two days earlier and as a result, he was not his usual affable self. In fact, he yelled now and then when one of them got it “All wrong.”

Diane and Natasha stood on the workout mats, dressed to wrestle, but did little wrestling. They mostly whispered. Hilde and Greta had the staffs, but it was half-hearted. Mindy and Melissa had spears and took turns charging the practice dummy which Amina moved and jerked around with ropes tied from behind. The dummy moved like a puppet and rolled on wheels, so it was not as easy to hit as one might suppose. Maria kept trying to get one of them to wrestle, but they were not interested. Jessica, the most somber of the lot, stood ten feet further away than normal from the target and kept trying to hit a perfect bulls-eye with her arrows. After a time, she went over to the dart board and started up the same routine.

“Damn.” Heinrich threw his staff down in disgust and turned his back on the priestess.

“What?” She tried to be cheerful, but it was hard given the vibe in that room.

“She may be right, you know.” Heinrich spoke without explanation and lowered his voice. Sara guided him to sit away from the others. “Men are very single minded when it comes to doing one’s duty. I believe the gods may have chosen such men to fill the council. But I recall Father Martin saying that good is only one thing and found in only one person whereas temptation is everything else. There has never been a traitor in almost five thousand years, but I have to admit, there may be a traitor among the council members.”

“The Linear A?”

“The Linear A. There is no language like it in modern times. You cannot get there by deriving it from another tongue, and it is very different from Greek, even the most ancient Greek.”

“Still,” Sara got thoughtful. “It might also be the one who is blocking Amina, and maybe Zoe.”

“Eh?”

“That is how the girls put it. They believe it may be one of the ancient gods.”

Heinrich frowned. “They are all gone,” he said.

“There is Zoe,” Sara argued.

“Special case,” Heinrich responded. “But some of the Spirits are very long lived, if not immortal. I suppose it might possibly be one of them. We do seem overrun with spiritual creatures of one sort or another.”

“Yes,” Sara said, thoughtful again. “And I am beginning to wonder if all of that may be a distraction to keep us from getting at the real problem.”

“Yes, I have begun to wonder the same. We need to find apples and a recipe, and keep whomever from making ambrosia. I have known thousands in all of my years and I would not trust one of them to become a god, not even Father Martin.” He stood and picked up his staff.

Emily came in a short while later. Everyone felt glad to see her, but she seemed more somber than the lot of them. She said nothing, went straight to the weapons cabinet, and took out her sword. She strapped it on her belt, and made sure her knife was well tied to her calf. Then she stepped over to Heinrich and whispered.

“Ashish just called. Lisa is going to act as bait tonight.”

“What?” Sara got a bit loud. Heinrich said nothing. He simply went to put on a bamboo chest protector. He added a helmet and fingered a sword made of Damascus steel. It had an edge that could cut through a tissue in mid-air. He chose a short broadsword. It was far more solid and less likely to snap in battle.

Emily hushed Sara and whispered again. “I need you to keep the troops busy. I have no intention of letting any of the others near a night creature. They would get themselves killed and distract me for worry which might get me killed. Besides, Bernie just informed me that Sergeant Valenko appears to have vanished. We need to find that door and close it, and Jessica and Mindy’s work last night is our best bet.” She looked at the priestess with big eyes. “Please.”

Sara nodded. “I will.”

Heinrich returned to the private conference. “Does Latasha know?”

“No. And I asked Ashish not to tell her.”

“Good. She is too young and not strong enough nor skilled enough for this.”

“I worry about her too,” Sara said as she turned to the others who were all stopped and staring. Emily walked out, Heinrich beside her, and without a word while Sara clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention, which she already had.

Elect II—14 Creatures Strike Back, part 3 of 3

January 11, 2017January 2, 2017M G Kizzia Leave a comment

The kids were in the seventh floor rooms getting ready for bed. Josh stepped down to the hotel lobby for a coffee and a moment of quiet. He imagined Bobby and Adam were likely watching some action movie on the television, but eight-year-old Megan needed a bath. He sighed and wished Lisa was there. He pushed the button for the elevator, waited, and sipped his coffee slowly because it was hot.

The window behind him cracked, and as the elevator doors opened, the window shattered. People screamed as something like a lion bounded into the room. He watched as a woman stood in the wrong place at the wrong time. The night creature tore the woman’s arm off like a person might bite off the arm of a gingerbread man. Two other creatures followed the first through the broken window and the elevator doors closed.

Josh pushed the buttons for the seventh floor and the top floor and got out his phone.

“What?” Lisa yelled into his ear. “Get the children to the roof. I’ll call you back.”

The elevator stopped at the seventh floor and Josh stuffed his shoe into the door so it would not close. They had this planned, but he feared the creatures would be on them before they could execute the plan. He banged on the door to the boy’s room and yelled. Bobby came to the hall. Adam followed. Josh told them to hold the elevator while he slid his card in the lock and rushed into the room he and Lisa shared with Megan. She was being a big girl. She was already in the tub.

A moment later, he ran to the elevator with a very upset Megan wrapped in a towel. The elevator doors closed, but not before they heard roars in the stairwell. Once on the top floor, Josh rushed his little troop to the door that gave access to the roof. It was only a wood door, but it opened into the hall so unless the creatures could turn the knob, they would be slowed breaking down the door, he hoped.

Megan looked over her father’s shoulder as Bobby reached for the doorknob. She screamed as the door to the stairwell crashed open. The creature roared. They got in, slammed the roof door behind them, and began to climb the ladder to the roof even as there was a different sort of crash on the door at their backs. It cracked the door on the first bang. Adam had seen something. He went up the ladder like a rabbit. Bobby was motivated by the splintering door behind him. Megan balked. She had no clothes on, but Josh threw her to his back like a backpack and threw the towel over his shoulders to cover her. She strangled his neck with her small arms, but he was too scared to care. Even as they slammed the roof hatch shut, the creatures burst into the small room below. He hoped they could not climb ladders.

The police helicopter was just landing and Bobby and Adam knew enough to get down. The helicopter door swung open as they heard a tentative clunk on the roof hatch. No one waited for the blades to stop. Indeed, the pilot never turned them off. They barely got in when the roof hatch sprang open and the first creature emerged. They went up. The beast leapt, but missed by inches and fell off the edge of the roof. Josh prayed the fall would kill the beast, but it was never proved. The body was not found.

###

Officer Tom Dickenson pulled his patrol car into the driveway and stopped the engine. He just sat there for a while. He had spiders on the mind and he was afraid he might have that nightmare again. He hated feeling helpless. The problem was he did not understand what was going on. He only understood enough to be scared. He got out slowly.

Three years ago, back in the academy, even a year ago, he would have shut his eyes and his mouth and done his job. He was not a snitch, and he always found it safer to not know in the first place. They called it plausible deniability. Five years ago a man died. He might have been able to stop it before it went that far. Now? He put his hand to the front door knob and got out his key. Now, he was not sure. He unlocked the door and went in.

This time he felt certain there was far more than one man’s life at stake. He felt afraid to imagine what the consequences of his inaction might be. “Hell.” He said that out loud as he shut the door behind him and turned on the light. He went straight to the kitchen. He got hungry, even if he could not sleep.

Dickenson got out the cereal and milk. The clock said 6 AM, on Saturday. The sun rested on the edge of the horizon. Why not breakfast? “Hell.” He said it again. He was going to have to see Detectives Schromer and Moussad. They would know what was going on. They always seemed to be at the center of spooky things. He would ask. He would ask how he might help. Maybe knowing what was happening might at least get rid of the nightmares. Then again, actually knowing might make them worse. He paused. He heard a scratching noise above his head.

Dickenson drew his gun without making any sudden move. When he finally managed to convince his eyes to look up, he sighed. Whoever or whatever it was, it was upstairs.

“Ms Hartman!” He called out to his landlady, a sweet old woman. The scratching sound stopped. “Ms Hartman!” He called again, but no one answered. He became concerned. If the woman was trying to move the furniture or something, why wouldn’t she answer. He pictured her on the floor, face down because of a stroke or something, unable to move more than to scratch with her nails.

He started up the stairs one at a time, carefully. “Ms Hartman. Mildred?” He took the last few steps two at a time and yanked open the door to her room. Spiders had covered the room with webbing. Ms Hartman lay there, mostly shriveled looking, dead eyes staring at the ceiling. He saw one spider and fired his gun. It let out a high pitched shriek and fell to its back on the floor. The spider legs wiggled in the air. There was another, and a third. He emptied his revolver and slammed the door shut. The stairs proved no obstacle, and neither did the front door. He slammed that door as well and ran for his patrol car. As his tires squealed on the driveway, he saw a spider crash through the living room picture window. Several more followed, but by then he was gone.

************************

Next Monday, The Elect II-15 brings us to Spiders and Webs. Until then, Happy Reading.

Elect II—14 Creatures Strike Back, part 2 of 3

January 10, 2017January 1, 2017M G Kizzia Leave a comment

Jessica found three different sets of tracks in the slush and mud of mid-winter before the week was out. She remained unconvinced that she was much of a hunter, but she was willing to let Artemis guide her eyes, just in case.

The first set of tracks were too small for a student. She found it where it crossed a plowed and paved campus path. It did not follow the paved paths that snaked from building to building, but walked across country instead. She lost it somewhere between the science building and the library and guessed it followed the paved path after that. She considered looking to see if it left the main path again, but it got late and dark, and she had studying to do.

The second tracks were a group of prints. It looked like three orcs. This time she felt fairly certain they were orc prints because one was barefoot and the print looked more like a monkey print than a human print. She followed these orcs to the walkway that circled the library, and lost them between the library front doors and a small stairwell that went down to a basement door. She checked. The basement door had no outside handle and had words on it that said, “Emergency exit only. Do not enter.” She put her hand to the door and felt there might be some connection there, but she could not say what, and there was certainly no way in.

Her third chance came just after sundown on Friday when she was hurrying home to change. Jack wanted to go out. He promised to take her to the Hive for a night of dancing and general carousing. But as she hustled past the library, she smelled something. Something felt wrong. She froze and turned her eyes slowly to that basement door—what she could see down the well. It looked like a creature as big as the door, and it looked strong enough to rip the door off its hinges. Instead, it appeared to walk right through the door, which was a bit of a shock for Jessica.

As soon as it was gone, Jessica rushed down the well. The door was still solid. She already knew that. The door had no way of being opened except from the inside. She knew that, too. She imagined it had one of those bars on the inside that would set off the fire alarm. But this big and ugly ogre of an orc went in from the outside all the same, and Jessica stepped back and spoke to herself.

“No, it can’t be that easy.” A moment later, she had Mindy on the phone and found her, as she suspected, still down in the sub-basement with the archives and missing dinner.

“I’ll be right up,” Mindy promised and very few minutes later they found their way inside to the door. It turned out to be located in a dark hallway at the back of the building, behind the circulation desk and near the library offices. It also stood near the loading dock and the freight elevator.

“I didn’t know we had one of these,” Jessica said, as she put her hand to the elevator doors. They also had words written on them that said, “Restricted access. Key needed for use.”

“Of course, we had to get the big stuff down to the archive room somehow.”

“Of course.” Jessica said, but her eyes and mind followed some path, backwards. She got back to the hall and wondered if there was more light. Mindy found the light switch, but then she had a question.

“You say it went through the door. Do you think it was a ghost?”

Jessica shook her head as she got back to that emergency exit. “It was substantial enough to drag some snow and mud in on its feet.” She knelt to examine the floor. “In fact I would say any number of feet have come in this way and gone straight to your freight elevator. See here, and here.” Jessica pointed out some things and Mindy saw enough of it to be convinced.

“But from all I have studied, any opening to Avalon would have to be focused on something that has been to Avalon. Something that came from there and, in a sense, wanted to return would be even better. I doubt this freight elevator has been to Avalon.”

“No,” Jessica agreed. “But your archives are two flights down. Don’t you think one of your artifacts might have been there or come from there?”

“Likely, but which one?” Mindy wondered and added a thought. “Of course, if it was a small thing it might be moved from place to place and the door might move with it. That could make it very hard to find unless you know what you are looking for.”

“Something more for you to do. It is circumstantial evidence, but the signs suggest the door is somewhere in your underground.”

“I hope Bill isn’t the one moving the artifact around.”

“What? Where did that thought come from?”

“Well, Amina lost Joel, Maria lost Owen, Emily had to kill Pierce. Our record with boys has not been good.”

“Things not going well with Bill?”

“No, I mean we are going well enough, he is just so slow.”

“I like it when they are slow.”

“Jessica!”

Elect II—14 Creatures Strike Back, part 1 of 3

January 9, 2017January 1, 2017M G Kizzia Leave a comment

Second semester started like the first, only this time everyone pledged to work hard to get ahead of the game, not just Emily. They knew now they were a team, a tribe of women bound together with a common purpose and they never knew when something might come up. The night creatures were still out there, and though the creatures were quiet through the holidays, everyone figured it was only a matter of time.

As soon as they all got back to school, Sara came by. She added her voice to their sense of urgency as they unpacked. Mindy shared her conclusion that the golden apples of youth were certainly the main ingredient for ambrosia.

“I studied it as well as I could when I was home,” she said. “The old record is clear. Consuming ambrosia not only confers immortality, it makes one a god.”

Anna in New York came out of her coma just before Christmas and confirmed Mindy’s suspicion in a phone call to Emily that the scroll stolen from her was the recipe. The scroll contained the recipe of Hera herself, and while Anna never figured out the Linear A, she did understand that the golden apples of youth were indeed the key ingredient.

When the women had everything put away, they sat around the lounge area in their proper places except for Emily who paced. This time, Sara had the orange soda. Melissa had the water.

“Bernie the campus cop was at the airport when I arrived,” Emily said, as she ran her hand once through her hair and Maria wiggled her glasses in response. “He was decked out in a trench coat and sunglasses.” Emily smiled. They could all picture it. “He said he was in a stall in the men’s room in the security office just before break. Sergeant Valenko came in with another man whose voice Bernie did not recognize. Bernie assumed they thought the room was empty, and he kept quiet.”

“The Ambrosia will not be easy to make,” the unknown man said. “You may need to fetch a second supply from that place.”

“Understood,” Sergeant Valenko answered, and that was the whole conversation.

“But I thought you told me Anna said the recipe was written in Linear A,” Mindy’s eyebrows cocked and her face looked curious, like there was something she was not grasping.

“What is Linear A?” Jessica asked, and added, “Tell me in English so I might understand.”

“Same here,” Melissa said, and when the others looked at her, she added, “or math. I might be able to understand the math.”

Mindy spoke softly. “Briefly, Linear A and linear B are ancient forms of writing that may be related but no one knows how. Linear B is also called Mycenaean; it is a most ancient form of Greek. But Linear A is older. It is Minoan and no one in modern times has been able to translate that dead language. We have modern Greek, but there is no modern Minoan to compare.”

“There is one person,” Sara sounded hesitant. They had to encourage her to come out with it. “At the Christmas luncheon Lisa had for Latasha, Heinrich told us about a report he got on a night creature some twelve years ago. He read from a letter. He said it was in Linear A. He said the council corresponds in that language because no one else can translate it.”

Emily stopped pacing and put her hand to her head. She did not want the headache, but suddenly she understood why Lisa had such hard feelings for the council. Heinrich just moved to the top of her suspect list. Emily paused, sat, and tried to get a handle on it all. She spoke when she was ready.

“Last semester we ran around like chickens without heads. We looked for apples. We looked for a door. We tried to figure out the circle with three squiggly lines society. We fought defensively and reacted to the things thrown at us. This semester, I want us to be proactive. We need to forget the things we can’t find or figure out and focus on the people we suspect may be involved. Your thoughts? Jessica?”

Jessica sat up a bit straighter. “I agree. Next time we see an orc we should not be so quick to fight it as to follow it. It might lead us straight to the door.”

“Track the orc,” Emily smiled. “Spoken like a true hunter.” Jessica returned the smile but dropped her hand to her side where she had been wounded by an orc arrow. No scar remained, but she remembered. Emily moved on. “Amina?”

“You know I have no real control over what I see and cannot see,” she hedged. “My sight regarding apples and doors and even people has been blocked. I can feel the block. I think I would be upset if I did not know that Zoe herself must be blocked or she would have told us more of what is going on. All she says is it is a mystery.”

Mindy interrupted. “But the only one who could block Zoe would be another god or goddess. I can’t imagine anything we can do about that.”

“No,” Jessica agreed. “But we might be able to identify who it is.”

“That might help,” Emily also agreed. She looked at Amina who simply looked down, so she moved on. “Melissa?”

Melissa looked thoughtful. “Doctor Piedmont,” she said, and then she explained. “I know you said no one has translated Linear A, but Piedmont is brilliant in a way I have never seen before. He is writing all the software for the robot Doctor Harper is building and he just might break through to sentience or a sort.” Melissa fell silent like she was thinking something through.

“I don’t get the connection,” Amina admitted.

“Well. It’s just, before he came to the university I understand he worked for the government in encryption. That’s code making and code breaking. He has access to the most sophisticated decoding software on the planet. I know a language is different from a code, but I suspect he might be able to figure out a recipe.”

“One to watch,” Emily said and turned to the other side. “Mindy?”

“Papadopoulos, definitely,” she said. “I looked up to him all last year because he is a real genius, but now I am not sure I trust him. I think he is hiding something. That tattoo. I showed it to Professor Schultz right away, but hesitated on showing Professor Papadopoulos. I don’t know why, but when I did he said he did not know anything about it, and I think he is lying.”

“So you think he knows something?”

Mindy nodded. “And I think if there is anyone on earth who could translate Linear A, it would be him.”

Emily mirrored Mindy’s nod. “Maria?”

“I guess that leaves Professor Schultz for me, though I can’t imagine Heinrich being one of the bad guys.” Everyone agreed with that. “That would require him to play one of those games he could not possibly keep straight. I mean, he helped kill orcs and freely gave Mindy what he knew about the tattoo.”

“And shared with Lisa what he knew about the night creatures,” Sara added.

Maria held her hand up for quiet. “But I was thinking about what you told me, Emily, about the members of the council keeping an eye on the elect in case one should be tempted to go rogue, and what I was wondering is who watches the watchers? I mean, what if there is a rogue member of the council out there tempted by immortality, not to mention possibly becoming one of the gods?”

“I hadn’t thought of that,” Emily admitted. The thought made her feel better, though she knew she could not remove Heinrich from the suspects list for the time being. “Follow that line of thinking.” Maria nodded and Emily turned to the priestess. “Sara?”

Sara took a deep breath. “You all know you have left the most suspicious name off the list. President Batiste. Emily, you said he was up to something at the beginning of last semester. I don’t think that anything has changed.”

“He may be behind it in some way,” Emily agreed.

“At least I work in the same building. I could keep an eye on him and I think Nancy, his secretary might help.”

“Good,” Emily nodded. “But I have revised my thinking on that a little. There is also Captain Gouldos, head of campus security and the ever present Sergeant Valenko, the only one we know who has actually used the word ambrosia. Right now, I don’t know if Batiste is in charge or maybe Gouldos is pulling the strings from behind.”

“Oh, I have no connection to the security office,” Sara said quickly.

Emily waved off her concern. “We have Bernie to keep an eye on security. But now I want to add one more name because the name keeps coming up, and because he was likely behind the attempt on my life over Christmas. Ferdinand Franco. I think I need to have a talk with Lisa.”

“So we all have our jobs,” Jessica said. “Though I don’t know where to start looking for signs of orc passage.”

“That’s easy,” Maria said. “Just follow the orc droppings.”

Amina put her hand up as Jessica made a face and a comment. “Eww, that’s disgusting.”

“What?” Emily ignored the exchange.

“How can I possibly find out anything about a rival god or goddess if they don’t want to be found, and it seems to me they don’t want to be found.”

“Just focus on what is blocking you. You may have more control over what you see than you realize.”

“But I don’t want to look there.”

Mindy nodded. “That tells me that what Sara said is true. Whoever it is, they don’t want you to look too close. You might not have to do anything but look. You might not be able to do anything about it, but maybe you can identify the block. I can show you all sorts of renderings of the ancient gods and goddesses. Maybe one will ring a bell.”

Amina started to nod, but then froze. The look on her face was like one whose hair suddenly stood on end and she shivered like a ghost just walked through her. Amina sprang up and tore the door open. There was no one there.

“Who is it? Who is out here? Show yourself.” No one answered, and no one crashed the door to rush down the stairwell to escape either. The women were stymied, but no one doubted that someone had been there. No one doubted Amina.

Elect II—13 Christmas Too, part 3 of 3

January 4, 2017January 2, 2017M G Kizzia Leave a comment

The following day, Emily got packed and Riverbend pulled her carpetbag out of the closet. They went to the airport where Riverbend, not surprisingly, had a ticket to New Jersey. She also had the required identification to go through the TSA checkpoint and to the gate, so they said good-bye to the family, Riverbend lingering on hugging David, and David looked like he did not want to give her up either, but after that, they walked to the plane. They had an hour.

They sat quietly for some time until Emily finally spoke. “So do you really love him?’ Rivebend nodded. “And does he really love you?” Riverbend just got that elfish grin on her face. “You know you neglected to return that dress.”

“I’m going to keep it. David likes it on me.”

Emily sat up. “What? You showed it to him? Well no wonder.”

“No wonder what?” Riverbend sounded innocent. The truth of the matter was not always easy to discern with an elf.

Emily did not answer right away. Her plane was pulling up to the gate and would board as soon as the luggage was aboard. “I wish I knew what that felt like,” Emily said wistfully.

“What what felt like?” Riverbend asked. She was eating ice cream. It was about the only thing she ate apart from salads.

“Love.”

“Oh. I think it probably feels the same. Maybe I’m an elf and he is human, but I think love is just love.”

“Not what I meant.” Emily said as Marion walked up from security and sat on Emily’s other side.

“They were hired guns,” Marion said without preliminaries. “The FBI figures they were hired by one Ferdinand Franco who runs a drug syndicate out of Atlantic City, but there is probably no way to prove that.”

“Franco? I’ve heard that name. Where have I heard that name?”

“The question is; why would they be gunning for you? I thought you told me your friend Latasha was fighting the drug people with your Detective Schromer.”

“That is a good question.” Riverbend leaned into the conversation. Marion had tried to whisper but Riverbend had elf ears.

“All I can say is you better keep your eyes open when you get back to school. I don’t know what all you are into, but if they think you are getting close to whatever it is, they will probably move the kill Emily plan to Trenton.”

Emily nodded. She knew that, but she had apples to find and a door to close and a mystery to solve. She did not see that she had much choice. She was thinking, Marion was sipping her latte, Riverbend was flipping through a magazine when a little person in overalls with a clipboard stepped up.

“Miss Emily Hudson?” The man asked.

“Yes?” Emily looked up as the man looked down at his clipboard.

Marion stopped in mid slurp. “Friend of yours?” She looked over at the elf.

Riverbend looked up from her magazine, squinted and spoke up. “Mister Picker. I didn’t expect you.”

The Little Person squinted in the same way. “Why, Captain Riverbend. It is a small world after all.”

“Please don’t start,” Riverbend put her hand up as if fending off disaster. She confessed to Emily and Marion. “Danna, the one you know as Zoe, accidentally sang that song about three-thousand BC when she was around some fee, that is, fairies. They say for the next two thousand years you could not go anywhere on the planet without hearing fairies, dwarfs, imps or some others singing. It must have been maddening.”

“Report,” Mister Picker coughed and frowned at the interruption. He got to business as he checked his clipboard. “Airplane has been checked left to right, top to bottom, front to back, round and round, wing tip to wing tip. No explosives or other potentially offensive materials found.”

“You checked the baggage?” Riverbend asked.

“Of course.” Mister Picker looked offended. “All is fine. You should have a smooth, safe trip.”

“You checked my bags?” Emily sat up.

“Of course, with all the others. How do you think you got your sword back and forth this year and last without the TSA stealing it?”

“Don’t you mean confiscating?” Marion asked.

Mister Picker grinned for her, and it was a startling face. “I am an imp, if you don’t mind. I know stealing when I see it. I’m not bad on lying and cheating, too.”

“Could use you on the force,” Marion said as she sat back and returned to her latte.

Mister Picker pulled two business cards out of his pocket and handed one to Marion and one to Emily. “Picker, Block and Bluetooth. Reconstruction and restorations are our specialty.”

“Poor Block,” Riverbend said.

“Yes,” Mister Picker said. “Died in 1973 along the Jersey Central when the Kairos was disarming that atomic bomb.”

“What? Marion sat up again.

“Kairos?” Emily asked.

“The one you call Zoe,” Riverbend answered quietly, and then they called to start boarding the flight.

Riverbend did not board. When Emily was away and Mister Picker had blended back into the background, Marion turned to the elf.

“What now for you?”

“I will meet her there, but disguised. She won’t know me, but I have been told to shadow her. I know it is ludicrous to think anyone can guard an elect, but a second pair of eyes never hurts.”

Marion just nodded as a shimmer of light appeared in an unused corner of the terminal. She was getting used to that kind of coming and going. “Hope to see you again.”

“Oh, I hope so. I mean I plan to.”

“David?”

Riverbend wrinkled her brow. “How did you know?”

“I’m a detective.”

“I’ll have to remember that.” the light flashed when the hole between here and there closed. Two TSA agents came running. Marion just showed her badge and walked passed them as she finished her latte.

************************

Next Monday, everyone is back at New Jersey State University in Trenton, and it seems despite the snow and cold, things begin to heat up in the Elect II-14, Creatures Strike Back.

Happy Reading

Elect II—13 Christmas Too, part 2 of 3

January 3, 2017December 8, 2016M G Kizzia Leave a comment

Lisa paced. “Nothing. Nothing. Nothing!” It was the only word she said for the last two days. Every lead, substantial or remote was followed, eagerly, by anyone who witnessed the bloody mess the night creatures made, but they turned up nothing. It seemed like the historians might be right. The creatures of Set did not actually exist,

“Maybe the night creatures are taking a break for the holiday season,” Ashish suggested. Lisa frowned, but did not respond. Ashish got glib when he was frustrated.

“Nothing!” Lisa spouted and slammed the papers down on her desk.

###

Latasha rolled her eyes. Preston Caine was even on the cartoon channel. Mama stopped cooking to watch. James, who was home from the marines paid attention. John and Leah, of course, stared dumbly like it was still their favorite cartoon. Even Latasha’s older brother, Leon, stood by the kitchen counter and watched.

“There is one white man even I would vote for,” Leon said.

“Why should his being white matter?” James asked as the cartoon came back on.

Fortunately, for Latasha, the doorbell rang. It was Mini and Wendy, and they brought Keisha with them. Keisha shuffled inside and looked at her feet as she spoke softly.

“I heard it was a spider that killed Janet.”

“That’s right,” Wendy said. “The city medical examiner confirmed that.”

Latasha reached out and hugged Keisha. “Merry Christmas,” she said. Latasha and Keisha both found some tears, and some of those tears were for Janet.

###

There was no more trouble after the mall because Emily only went to Molly’s house for lunch with Molly and Cathy. They refused to go to the bowling alley, and Emily could not blame them. Otherwise, she hardly went out at all, and mostly because Riverbend wanted to stay home where David was. It got sickening. If Riverbend was not following David from room to room, he was following her.

Emily finally retreated to the back step, cold as it was. She could not stand to watch them dance anymore and she did not know what she could do about it. Riverbend came out after a short while and sat beside her.

“You shouldn’t disappear like that,” she said. “I was worried.”

“I thought you were busy,” Emily responded a bit sharply. She was jealous, truth be told. She had not found a man attractive since Pierce, and it was beginning to frustrate her. “I thought you and David were playing some kind of game.”

Riverbend looked away and spoke frankly. “We eat and sleep and fall in love the same as humans, only I don’t know how you humans do it.”

“What, eat or sleep?”

“No, love.”

“Well, how do elves do it?”

Riverbend grinned a very elfish grin. “If I was home and he was an elf I would just walk up to him and tell him I love him.”

“Do you, love him I mean?”

“Yes. Very much and I can’t seem to help it, though Lady Alice, the one you call Zoe would be very angry with me if she knew.”

“Isn’t she like your goddess or something?”

“Yes, goddess of all the little spirits of the earth, air, fire and water.”

“So what makes you think she doesn’t already know?”

Riverbend’s elfish grin got even bigger, if that was possible. “But how do you do it?”

“It is always different, but I would say it would not hurt to try it your way. But what if he doesn’t love you the same?” Emily had to ask.

Riverbend looked upset for a moment. It was the first time Emily had seen the elf upset. “That is why I haven’t said anything,” she said. “He isn’t an elf. I can’t tell what he is thinking or feeling, exactly. The human body reads differently.”

“Everything okay?” David stuck his head out the back door and then he stepped out to stand on the top step.

“Just fine,” Emily said as Riverbend stood up beside David. Emily thought they looked like a very fine couple, despite her misgivings about the whole thing.

“I was just wondering if Captain Riverbend needed help keeping an eye on you.” He gave Riverbend a little salute.

Riverbend stomped her foot and looked up. “David,” she said. “I don’t want you to salute me.” He needed no other invitation. Riverbend’s left foot stomped the ground several more times after that, but it was softly. Emily got up and went around front to get back into the house.

Elect II—13 Christmas Too, part 1 of 3

January 2, 2017December 8, 2016M G Kizzia Leave a comment

Emily’s obligatory trip to the mall with her rich friend Susan started out well, but Riverbend seemed determined to touch everything. “The fairy weave,” she whispered when she had the chance. “It imitates shape and color just fine, but I have to have a feel for the dress for it to imitate texture.”

“Uh-huh,” Emily said and then she decided she was saying that way too much. She ran a hand through her hair and decided not to say “Uh-huh” anymore. It was then that Riverbend picked the skimpiest designer outfit off the rack.

Emily followed her into the dressing room, went into the booth next door and stood on the bench to look down on Riverbend’s head. She watched the elf finger the super mini-dress, one that was so short it came with pants. When Riverbend hung up the dress without taking it off the hangar, Emily watched the elf’s fairy weave clothing shape itself into a perfect replica of the dress. Even from that angle, Emily could see Riverbend had the legs for the outfit, and as for the outfit being low cut, Riverbend had nothing to be ashamed of there either.

“Don’t let Susan see. She will die of jealousy.”

“What? Let me see.” Susan’s voice came from the third booth.

“Too late,” Riverbend said. Her fairy weave was already turning back into the jeans and shirt she had been wearing. “But I am going to buy it.”

“What?” Emily was surprised.

Riverbend looked up. “I know how this game is played. A girl finds the sexiest, most expensive outfit she can that she thinks makes her look super good and sexy. She buys it and takes it home to her closet. After a week, she returns it because it is not something she would ever wear in public.”

“Time honored tradition,” Susan shouted from the next booth.

“Don’t forget your glasses,” Emily said and she got down.

They went to the food court when they were good and tired. “Last time we got shot at,” Susan told Riverbend. “You do know that Emily is dangerous to be around.”

Riverbend nodded and only got a salad. Emily had her usual burger and fries. They were laughing this time when they heard the shots fired.

“Damn!” Susan swore when Emily pulled her under the table. “I was just about to snitch a french-fry.” Emily was not listening. This time there were five men with guns, and they were moving out to encircle the food court so Emily could not escape. The sound of a different kind of gun rang out and one of the men caught a bullet in the shoulder. The others returned fire, but Marion had already moved.

Everyone stopped when there was a shrill, loud whistle followed by a brilliant flash of light. A hole formed in the air between the Chinese and Italian food places. A dozen elves poured out of the hole. They were all armed with bows and they came firing. The people in the food court were already down or running away so the five men stood out. Two elves were wounded, neither badly, but all five men were finished. The elves could hardly miss at that range.

Marion was on her hand-held when Emily crawled to her, Riverbend and Susan on her heels. “Back-up?” she asked. Marion nodded.

“Captain,” one elf raced up, and it was one that made Susan gasp. The elf wore no glamour so there was no denying what this young woman was. “How else may we be of assistance?” She did everything but salute.

Riverbend looked at Emily. Emily spoke right up. “We have police coming. It would be best if you went back to Avalon or wherever you came from.”

The elf looked at her Captain. “Do it,” Riverbend said, “And thank you Lieutenant.”

The Lieutenant turned and waved to the others. The bright flash came again and they were gone before Lieutenant Anthony burst through the mall doors followed by all sorts of police.

When Emily and the others got up, Emily went straight to the dead men. She tore the sleeve of each one, and Lieutenant Anthony did not stop her, but there were no tattoos of a circle and three squiggly lines.

“So who are these jokers?” Lieutenant Anthony asked at last, after being assured that Riverbend was with Emily. Susan he remembered.

“Some New Jersey goons,” Emily shrugged.

Lieutenant Anthony put his hands to his hips and tapped his foot. “That narrows it down to what, six or nine million people?”

“We will run them for Identification,” Marion assured Emily.

“So what killed them?” Lieutenant Anthony was looking closer.

“Arrows,” Susan spoke up and Lieutenant Anthony frowned as he went to one knee for an even closer look because the arrows were no longer there. “You know,” Susan turned to Emily. “If it wasn’t for you my life would be so dull I cannot tell you.”

“Glad to be of service,” Emily responded.

Elect II—12+ Christmas Break, addendum…

December 26, 2016December 6, 2016M G Kizzia Leave a comment

Lisa and Ashish took Latasha out to lunch—a Christmas treat, and she also invited Sara and her boyfriend Paul. Paul had a court date and could not make it, but Latasha made up for it when she asked if Wendy and Mini could come along. At the last minute, Lisa bit her tongue and also invited Heinrich Schultz. As an elect, she was never comfortable around the member of the council, but she knew the subject of the night creatures would come up and she thought he might have some insights.

They went to a pub known for its burgers and desserts. They just got seated when the local congressman, Preston Cain showed up on the television screens scattered liberally around the room. Everyone paused to see what the man had to say. It was all about love and peace and healing the rancorous discord in the social and political fabric of America. The man practically dripped apple pie, and in a way where most conservatives would applaud but no liberally minded person would object. Ashish, Wendy and Mini were completely taken in. Sarah kept her mouth closed. Latasha squirmed a bit and Lisa agreed with her. Heinrich noticed and spoke to the three of them.

“There is a great deal of anger and condescension in this man.” He pointed at the screen. “But he hides it almost perfectly and his way with the English language is just about perfect too, though I will bet it is not his native tongue. I ought to know a scoundrel when I see one. I have seen and heard the best of them. Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Lenin, Robespierre. I wonder what his real agenda is.” Lisa and Latasha nodded, but the television moved on and Ashish turned back to the table.

“I think you are being a bit cynical,” he said. “The man makes sense. We need someone who can heal the divisions in this country, not another divisive one.”

“Preston Cain has a messiah complex,” Lisa said, and Sara started to nod, but neither could speak further because the waitress arrived.

While they ate, the others got to know Wendy and Dominica. The girls seemed like nice, normal girls, but Latash said she spoiled them by telling them about her being an elect and some of what she had experienced.

“Real Zombies?” Mini asked several times with her eyes as wide as they could go.

Lisa asked about Keisha, but they all said Keisha was struggling. “She is still living in the 1960s,” Wendy said.

“She thinks every time she doesn’t get her way someone is oppressing her.” Mini rolled her eyes.

“This is a new day, like Mister Cain says.” Wendy spoke again. “I can do anything. I’m going to be a lawyer.”

“I think Keisha needs to listen to Mister Cain,” Mini agreed.

Lisa was going to say something, but Ashish stepped in first. “What kind of law are you thinking about?”

“Well,” Wendy hedged and looked briefly at Latasha. “I was thinking business and real estate, but Latasha has me thinking about criminal.”

“Stick with business,” Sara said. “Criminal is too frustrating when the worst of them keep walking out with time served. My boyfriend is a District Attorney.”

“My boyfriend is a football player,” Mini said.

“You wish,” Latasha and Wendy echoed each other.

“Detective Schromer. Detective Mousad.” A woman’s voice interrupted. It was Courtney Chase, Eyewitness News. “What brings you here in the middle of the day?” She didn’t have cameraman Joe with her, but she looked around carefully and no doubt made a mental note of all the faces.

“Christmas?” Lisa suggested the obvious before Sara interrupted.

“Sara Michaels, University Chaplain.” She put out her hand to shake. “Professor Schultz, my dear old history professor. We are here trying to encourage these fine young women to do well in their studies. We have a future lawyer, an accountant and a future police officer with us today.” Sara waved slightly at the detectives as if to suggest that was the reason for their presence. “Would you be interest in doing a story about all the good work the church is doing, especially over Christmastime. Sort of a human interest story.” Sara smiled a big smile.

Everyone saw Courtney’s nose turn up ever so slightly. She did not report good news and especially good news connected to Christian churches. “Actually, my docket is full. I just stopped by to say happy holidays.” She smiled, backed away and waved before she turned and left like her shoes were on fire.

“Excellent,’ Lisa said.

“We could use you in the PR department downtown,” Ashish added.

Sara’s face reddened. “I try not to get that close to lying.”

“Not an untrue word in the whole thing.” Heinrich patted her hand.

“Wait a minute,” Wendy spoke up. “You mean part of this lunch is to encourage us in school?”

“That is part of it,” Sara turned her smile on the girls.

“Of course,” Latasha said. “Why do you think I invited you?”

“Well,” Heinrich also smiled for the girls as he took everyone’s attention. He was not one for small talk. “It seems to me we have some business to discuss. Call it the other part.” Everyone quieted to listen to what Heinrich had to say. He pulled out a piece of paper. “I wrote to some friends to see if any of them ever encountered such a creature. I got the one reply I expected, from a man in Nepal. He said about twelve years ago one wandered down from the mountains. It was only a stray, probably brought here by accident. It ate or killed half a village before he cornered it and destroyed it. He still bears the scars.” Heinrich looked up and scanned everyone’s faces. “He is missing his left arm from the elbow down. He says he is surprised I have not been activated, well, etc.” He folded the paper and put it back in his vest pocket.

“What language was that written in?” Sara was reading over his shoulder.

“Linear A, the old language of the Minoans and probably one even Mindy does not know. I am sorry I have nothing more to tell you.”

“No, you told me a lot,’ Lisa said. She sounded pensive. “You told me they can be killed.”

“How did he kill it?” Ashish asked.

“He beheaded it,” Heinrich answered. “And before you ask, I know it is the same creature. I saw your photographs, and he drew a picture of his. He called it a cross between a bear and a tiger, but much faster and much stronger. He said, when it walked, it walked very stiffly, like it was used to walking over thorn bushes.”

Lisa nodded. “The trouble is we have no idea where they may be hiding. And I don’t suppose your friend said anything about something or someone else controlling the creature.” Heinrich shook his head.

“How is your family?” Sara asked Lisa, not entirely off topic. She had not seen Lisa in a week so she did not know how the woman was holding up.

“Fine. As far as I know the children are safe at school during the day, and thus far their school busses have not been tracked to the hotel. Josh can work from his computer, so that is not a problem for now, but someday he will have to go into the office, not to mention we can’t afford to keep them in the hotel indefinitely.”

“I bet Jessica could find the creatures,” Latasha suggested. She was in awe of the girl after the spider incident.

“There is always bait,” Lisa mumbled. The young ones stared, but the older ones all shook their heads.

“No. Can’t do that. Too dangerous.”

They talked for a long time that afternoon, but no one came up with a better idea.

************************

Next Monday, the last days of Christmas vacation begin to wind down in the Elect II-13, Christmas Too. Emily needs to get back to school, dangerous as that sounds. I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas, and..

Elect II—12 Christmas Break, part 3 of 3

December 21, 2016December 6, 2016M G Kizzia Leave a comment

Emily and Riverbend went for a walk while it was still light out. It was cold, but Emily felt she had to school the girl quickly in certain human behaviors before they got too far along.

“Don’t worry,” Riverbend said. “I showed up an hour before we came to the airport. I told my sad little tale and your mother asked if I would like to come and fetch you since Tyler was not home yet. That was all.”

“Good, now about the lying.”

“I know. Humans don’t lie, unless they have to.”

Emily could not really argue with that. “Good, then you understand it would be best not to talk about you being an elf. You must try to appear human as much as possible. I think we can use the idea that you were raised in rural china to our advantage, but even that can only go so far.”

“I understand.”

“Of course, I have to think who I might share the truth with, and I have to watch out for Tyler. You realize he will probably follow you around.”

“I think he is cute.”

Emily’s eyes got big before she squinted at the elf. “You are not allowed to encourage him. He is at a very vulnerable and impressionable age, is that clear?”

Riverbend lowered her head for a second. “Yes, majesty.”

Emily paused on that word majesty, but decided, “Good.”

They were coming back to the driveway when a car raced up to a stop across the street. A man got out of the passenger side and a woman out of the driver’s side. She shouted, “Emily.” Emily blinked and Riverbend was thirty feet away with a bow and arrow pointed at the man and one eye on the woman.

“These are armed,” Riverbend said.

“Captain Riverbend!” Emily shouted. “That is my brother David and My friend, Marion.”

“Oh,” Riverbend straightened out and the bow and arrow appeared to vanish. “Pleased to meet you,” she said and held out her hand for David to shake.

“Pleased to meet you, Captain.” He saluted before he shook her hand.

“And pleased to meet you,” Riverbend stuck her hand out again for Marion.

“And you,” Marion shook the hand but looked at Emily. Riverbend also turned her head as Emily walked up.

“I practiced that,” Riverbend said, proudly.

“Uh-huh,” Emily responded as she gave her brother a big hug. “We didn’t really expect you.”

“I didn’t either,” he said. “I saw Marion at the bus depot and she kindly brought me. So who’s your friend?” He could not take his eyes off the elf.

Emily did the introductions. “My big brother, David. My friend on the Columbus Police Force, Marion. My assigned by Zoe protector, Captain Riverbend. She is an elf.”

“Really?” Marion was excited. David just stuck his hand out again.

“And pleased to meet you.”

“Pleased to meet you,” Riverbend said and shook his hand again while she managed a slight curtsey in her slacks which was surprisingly graceful. They lingered in the handshake and looked eye to eye.

All Emily could say to Marion was, “I don’t think that was supposed to happen.” Then she tried for Riverbend’s attention. “David is in the real army.”

The hands separated with a bit of awkwardness on both sides. “National Guard, not the real army,” David said. “But I have been deployed oversees so much it might as well be the regular army. In fact, I am thinking of a career.”

“Were you in actual battle?” Riverbend sounded interested.

David nodded. “But behind the lines. I work in surveillance.”

“I’ve done some of that work,” Riverbend responded with a smile. “Of course, it was a while ago. Back in the Second World War, in fact. Doctor Mishka, the one you call Zoe, needed some help with a delicate situation in London.”

“Riverbend, you’re babbling.” Emily said.

“Oh, sorry. I never knew humans could be so gorgeous.” David turned red, but recovered nicely.

“I was just thinking the same thing about elves.”

“Were you?” Riverbend looked up into his eyes again.

“Alright soldiers,” Emily said. “Now is not the time for fraternization. David, into the house. Hug Mom and Dad and beat up Tyler.”

“Yes, ma’am,” David saluted, picked up his duffle and started toward the house.

“Riverbend, no one said you were dismissed.” Riverbend, started to follow David, but turned to face Emily just as David took one last look back.

“But I like him.”

“I can see that.”

“A real elf?” Marion asked, not that she doubted it.

Riverbend lifted her hand and her glamour fell away. She was skinny, though not terminally so, and still carried her attributes well. She also had the pointed ears and the long legs, arms and fingers one would expect. “Do you think David will like the way I really look?” She raised her hand again and the glamour returned.

“I’m afraid so,” Emily said.

“Not my department.” Marion grinned. “Though I would not mind another look at that Roland fellow.”

“Oh, no,” Riverbend said. “Sir Roland is very married, and to someone who was once human.” She looked again at the house.

“Coffee?” Emily looked at Marion.

“That would be nice, thanks.” Marion said as they got Riverbend between them with the better hope of keeping an eye on her.

************************

Next Monday, just a single post for the week, an addendum to chapter 12, Christmas Break. It might be called Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch… In your meanwhile, enjoy the holidays and Happy Reading.