Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Supernatural Demon Slayers : Chapter 24 - The Book of Magi ( 賢者の書 )

Ye Olde Magi Shoppe is right on the Upper East Side. It is actually a shop for Wiccans who wish to purchase spell ingredients or so called spell books to cast spells to hex or charm their enemies. The only that is decent about the shop is that it sells valuable herbs and trinkets for the basic spells.

Mia was browsing through the shelves. Most of the books are pretty much useless. Basic Wiccan 101. Teach Yourself Wiccan. Wiccan Made Easy. Silly stuff really.

She blamed her Aunt Pru from her mother's side. Pru is a constant embarrassment to the whole family that they had shun her, with the exception of Mia. She lives in a small beach house that stood on top of a cliff in Malibu. She is what we call as a diviner, a person who ascertain their interpretations of how a querent should proceed by reading signs, events, or omens.

That time when Glenn was knocking on Mia's for the Greek textbook that he had borrowed to her, she was visiting her Aunt Pru at Malibu. It was actually thanks to Aunt Pru that she is able to study Medicines in Columbia University. Before she had board back the train to Manhattan, her aunt had insisted on reading her fortune.

"No." She had said flatly.

"Come on, puella. There's no harm in knowing your fortunae, doesn't it?" Aunt Pru is part-Latin and part American-Asian, unlike Mia who is from American-Asian parents.

"Well, I guess not." Mia said.

Her aunt then brought out an Ouija board, a flat wooden board with a planchette that spells out messages from the spirits, or legends has said it.

"Go on then, puella, ask the Ouija what you want to know."

Mia gave a sigh. This is just for fun anyway. She then asked, "Will he ever notice me?"

She didn't want to say his name out loud, but she pictured him in her mind. His messy nature green hair that sticks out in tufts because he is always sleeping. His pearly grey eyes that often makes him resemble a dreamy puppy. His tanned skin that makes him looks like a Herculean God despite the fact that he's lanky.

The planchette spun around. After a moment or so, it stopped at the word MOST LIKELY.

Despite the fact that it's just for fun, Mia felt a thrill of happiness. Most likely means she has a chance.

But then she noticed her aunt Pru staring up at her strangely. It's not an expression of horror, but...excitement.

"Puella, you have it." She whispered excitedly.

Mia stared back at her. "Aunt Pru?"

"No one in our family have the genes, puella. No one at all. But you puella, you have it. Divining."

Mia stood up so abruptly, panting hard. Only Pru sat calmly. The Ouija board in between them.

"I'm not a diviner, Aunt Pru." She said stiffly. "You know I'm not."

"Puella, you may deny it but there is no disguising the fact that you also carry the genes."

At that moment, the planchette of the Ouija board spun around so rapidly that neither of them could nearly spell out the words it formed.

YOU CARRY THE GENES IN YOU

Mia, furious, slung her bag over her shoulder and said, "I'm going back now, if you don't mind."

Pru didn't say anything, however, she got up and handed over the Ouija board to her. "This'll protect you."

Few days ago, she had, out of interest used the Ouija board. She had held her palms over it, letting her mind clear and relax as she focused on it. At first, the planchette didn't move. Shrugging, she was about to put it away when the planchette suddenly jerked and spelled out the words.

MAGI

And that is how Mia found herself rummaging through books after books in Ye Olde Magi Shoppe. Frustrated, she was about to leave the shop when a hard cover book caught her eye. It seems long forgotten by others, since it's still in near-mint condition unlike the others which were touched and held. This one is never touched before, the cover is freed from scratches and torn. The pages still razor sharp at the edges.

It was the cover that caught her eye. The illustration of a dragon, its eyes encrusted with rubies and had a gold clasp. Although the words are written in another language, the gold inked words seems to jump out at her.

BOOK OF MAGI

Is this it? Mia thought. Magi.

Hesitantly, she brought the book up to the wooden counter.

"Blessed be." The girl behind the counter greeted her in the traditional Wiccan greeting.

"Hi, um, I would like to purchase this and some ingredients for good sleep." She said nervously.

"Sure." The girl reached into the shelves behind her and brought down some delicate jars filled with herbs, fine coloured powder and roots. "Rose petals, rosewood, lavender, and lemon honeysuckle for tranquility." She scooped some of those into a small paper bag. "Fresh gardenias, jasmine and some white herbs for calmness." She then took out some forked roots. "You're Asian, are you not? These are rénshēn. Ginseng. It's usually used for healing, but there is no harm in adding it into your tea. Mix it well in pure water and you're done."

As she scanned through the purchases, she caught sight of the book and frowned. "I don't remember seeing this book."

"Pardon?" Mia said.

"This book is not in our list." The girl said.

"But I found it at the corner of that bookshelf." Mia said, pointing at the shelf.

The girl shrugged and said, "It's not in our list, but I suppose we can give it to you for no charge since it's not ours."

Minutes later, she stepped out, carrying two bulging carrier bags.

I so blame aunt Pru for getting me hooked up to this stuff, she thought bitterly. I guess I can always ask the Ouija board if I never need to know about my future.

As she's standing waiting for the bus to take her back, she didn't notice the book, the two gleaming ruby eyes shone brightly.

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

A black rose....

With midnight black petals....

With its leafy green stems....

On her sleeping bag...

V.V. gave a frown. Who on earth would send her a black rose? It seems so silly. Shaking her head she dumped it into the bin just as the phone rang.

"Hello, Supernatural Demon Slayers (S.D.S.). Lloyd Anderson is out at the moment. How may I help you?"

"I didn't know Mr Anderson hires a girl." A voice said suspiciously.

"He had recruited me a long time ago." V.V. said coolly. "How may I be of service?"

"Daimones-ranked demons are destroying my warehouse by the port." The voice said calmly, V.V. had to give him the credit. "How fast can you get here?"

"Well..." She took out a pen. "Just give me your address and I'll be there as soon as possible."

V.V. jotted down the address, took the spare key that Lloyd had gave her and left.

As soon as the door had shut behind her, a figure swooped in through the window and placed a black rose on her sleeping bag.

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

Lloyd was running through an alley way, chasing after a group of Legions. Gosh, it's been a long time since he slay those. As usual, they're in a group, and recognized by their purplish brown skin that are tough and as hard as marble, freakishly long limbs and legs and that devilishly-feature face.

The Legions ducked around a corner and he followed them, managing to cut one in to half. The others, clearly tired of running, turned back and readied their claw-like nails.

Without stopping, he just dart through them like a blur and just behead them all off. Their heads bounced all over the floor, green blood oozing out of the stump.

"That takes care of that." He nodded just as his phone rang.

"Hello."

"How's your area doing?" Glenn asked, dodging a Daimone's blast.

"I just got them all." Lloyd said, sheathing his blade back. "From the looks of things, you aren't done yet."

"It's a Daimone. Not Legion." Glenn spun his Sauer, cowboy style and shot three times at the Daimone. Two bullets hit it in the arm and one hit it on the chest. "Hold up, V.V. is calling."

Lloyd nodded and pressed the Link Call button. He had been saving up to afford a decent mobile that has linked calls. That way, they all get to stay linked together.

"V.V.?"

"Oh, hi. I was just on my way to the port."

"The port?" Both Lloyd and Glenn echoed.

"Uh-huh." She was sitting on Arnie's cab. Yep, speedy Arnie. The only person V.V. who could think off to run fast is him, or rather, drive fast.

"Good to see you again, Vivian." Arnie said to her while speeding, as always. "How's Lloyd and Glenn doing?"

"I'm on the phone with them..." She muttered.

"V. Seriously, why the port?" Lloyd demanded.

"This guy....Goodman, says demons are thrashing his warehouse." She said.

"Alright. I'll come over. Glenn, you head back and order some Western food."

"Alright."

And they all disconnected.

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

Mia was brewing some calming tea when a red light glow from her living room. Nervous, she turned off the hob and slowly made her way to the room. There's nothing except for the Book of Magi which she left there.

As she was about to turn, the light shone again, and it's coming from the book.

Slowly, she made her way to the book. Beside it, the Ouija board started to shake. Terrified, Mia stood still, holding her breath as he planchette spun wildly, spelling out the words so fast til she could barely make it out.

WHATAREYOUDOINGSTAYAWAYFROMTHEBOOKOFMAGI

"You were the one who told me to get it." Mia said defensively.

The planchette spun again, this time even faster and wilder.

NOIWASTRYINGTOWARNYOUABOUTMAGINOTGETIT

"But-"

NOBUTSGETRIDOFITNOW

The while time the Ouija board was talking suddenly the book glowed again, brighter than before. Without warning, the book define gravity by floating above the couch.

Horrified, Mia tried to run but the door suddenly slammed itself shut, locking her in. The Ouija board was spinning wildly again but this time no one's paying any attention to it.

A sound of laughter came from the book. "You were the one that brought me? I thank you."

"W-Who are you?" Despite the fact that she's scared, her voice didn't break.

"I was once known as the Magimaster Ira." The voice said. "But a witch sealed me into this book and sealed off my powers. Only a witch can set me free."

Mia shook her head. "No, I'm not. I'm just an ordinary girl."

"I can sense your ability. So small and innocent." The book floated closer to her, the dragon seems truly alive, like the blazing fires of hell. "Not a fully matured witch yet, I see. But the genes are inside of you."

"No, you're wrong. I'm not a witch."

"You can't fool me, silly witch. You were able to communicate with the Ouija board."

The book suddenly opened itself and stopped at a page with an illustration of a mage. Blond and handsome with olive skin. His eyes are like chips of ice and he wore an ancient robe that mages wore.

"You will set me free, witch. And I shall reward you in return." The book said.

"No. I am not one. Get away from me!!!"

The book suddenly flung itself into her hands. Struggling, she tried to flung it away from her but the book shone brightly and enveloped her into a glow of light.

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

Glenn was heading up the stairways when he caught sight of the light at Mia's apartment.

Mahler? He thought worriedly, sprinting up to her door. There seems to be a shouting and laughter coming from the inside.

"Mahler!" He hammered on the door. "Mahler!"

No one came to the door. Glenn shook his head and kicked the door open, splintering the wood near the door knob.

I knew that fire training will be useful someday, he thought happily. But the happy bubble was only for a short while as he ran inside just in time to see Mia being enveloped in a bright light.

"Mahler?"

The light suddenly vanished, and Mia was on the floor, head faced down and her hands clutching a book called the Book of Magi.

"Mahler? You okay?"

Mia turned slowly to face him, then she laughed. Not the soft laugh she always laugh. This one is a sinister laugh, like sharp glass in the wind. It's sickening.

"You are...the one?" A man's voice came out from her mouth. "The one that she cares about?"

"What are you?" Glenn demanded.

"I am the Magimaster Ira." The voice said. "This girl's body belongs to me now."

"Let her go." Glenn said, pulling out his Sauer.

Despite the fact that Mia is shorter than him, she seemed to have been blessed by Ira, because she grabbed his wrist and twist it behind him, causing to go, "Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!"

"What's the matter, too hard for you to handle?" Ira-Mia cocked his/her head to one side.

Glenn spun his body around and threw a back kick at Ira-Mia who went crashing onto the sofa.

"No, just caught off guard." Glenn said.

Mia picked herself up and painted a Wiccan symbol in the air. Flames appeared out of nowhere and Glenn yelped as his sleeve got on fire.

"If you were a vampire, you would've been dusted." Ira-Mia said. "I have a use for you, so I'll let you live."

Mia then bind him with a binding spell and disappeared with him.

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

V.V. stared at the Daimone that is thrashing the entire warehouse. It's roaring and smashing crates after crates, spilling its entire content out. The client, a gruff-looking man wearing a grubby delivery outfit, was staring at her with a glare.

"You're late by 5 minutes, girl."

"I'm sorry." She muttered. "There was a massive jam."

The man just jerked his thumb at the warehouse. "Go and get it, then."

V.V. headed towards the Daimone without fear, her hair twisting into sharpened blades. The Daimone gave a roar and flapped its wings, throwing a typhoon at her way. V.V. leapt into the air and let her hair blades danced around, swiping at the Daimone. Two of the hairs caught the Daimone in the arm and turned into hooks, flinging it into the sea.

"Ah, I missed the fun." Lloyd said, heading towards her.

"Why are you here?" V.V. asked.

"I thought you could use a hand or two." Lloyd shrugged.

The Daimone emerged out of the water and roared, wings flapping and arms bloodied. It charged an energy orb and blast it towards them. They both ducked out of the way, but the warehouse was not fortunate. The whole place exploded and burst into ruins, with nothing left but flickers of ember and debris.

The man who had been watching all of this and smoking a cigarette, dropped his cigarette to the ground in shock and stuttered, "W-What???"

"Eh, terribly sorry about that." V.V. said, binding the Daimone. Lloyd went cleaving the Daimone's head and it exploded with the force of a small bomb.

"That's done." He said.

"What about my warehouse?" The man demanded.

"It's not our fault." V.V. protested.

"And I want the pay check." Lloyd said, sheathing his blade.

The man grunted and dig into the pocket of his coat and pulled out a small wad of dollar notes in fifties. "Here."

Lloyd counted out the notes and handed back the remaining amount. "Thanks very much."

As they both walked off, Lloyd picked up his mobile and dialed.

"The person you called is unable to answer at this time. Please leave a message-"

"What's up?" V.V. asked, getting into the front of the passenger seat.

"Glenn's not picking up his phone." Lloyd said, getting behind the wheel. "He was suppose to be calling me back after he reached back."

"He'll be fine." V.V. assured him. "He got that scary vamp's blood in him."

"We should head back and see." He pulled the car in reverse and sped off.

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

"What on earth just happened here?" Lloyd gasped.

They were both staring at the corridor. The wall is blackened and some part of it were blasted. Their apartment is alright, thank God, but the door opposite theirs was blasted off its hinges.

Lloyd turned to V.V., who nodded and they both went in cautiously.

Mia's flat was utterly unrecognizable. The door opens to a living room that is partially destroyed. The furniture were blasted into pieces of cloths and woods and a large hole showing off the spectacular view of the New York skylights. Chunks of cements and boulders were still falling off slowly on the broken wall. Some china ornaments were smashed onto the floor, among the rubble and wood.

""My God." V.V. whispered. "What on earth just happened?"

Lloyd was moving among the debris, scanning for signs of clues, evidence, anything. His fingers touched something hard and cold among the rubble and he pulled out a gun.

Glenn's Sauer.

V.V. had spotted something among the debris too. An Ouija board. It looks like a wooden board game, except it is covered with letters and a planchette in the middle.

"Look at this." She said softly.

Lloyd went over to her and stared at the Ouija board in her hands. "Is that an...Ouija board?"

V.V. nodded.

"But why would someone like Mahler keep an Ouija board in her flat?"

V.V. examined the Ouija board. It certainly doesn't look pretty. It's ancient and faded, well worn from use. Even as she watched, the planchette began to jerk.

"Whoa." Lloyd said, jerking the Ouija board away from her.

The planchette spun around the letters, spelling a message.

THANK GOODNESS YOU'RE HERE

"It's...talking to us." Lloyd said faintly.

YES IM TALKING TO YOU

He set the Ouija board down and it began spinning furiously again.

YOUR FRIENDS HAS BEEN TAKEN BY THE MAGI MASTER

"Did you mean...Glenn?"

NOT JUST HIM THE GIRL TOO

"Girl, you mean...Mahler?" Lloyd asked.

YES SO STOP DILLY DALLYING AND GO AFTER THEM

"Er...okay." He nodded.

TAKE ME WITH YOU I'LL HELP YOU TRACK THEM

"It seems so odd communicating with an Ouija board." Lloyd said dazedly as V.V. picked up the board.

"Uh-huh." V.V. nodded, tucking the board under her arm. "Well, are you ready?"

He nodded in response.

As they were turning to leave, something caught her eye.

A black rose.

Again? She thought with annoyance. That's the second black rose I found today.

Shaking her head, she ignored it and left.

As soon as she was out of sight, a laughter echoed from the inside.

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

Glenn woke up to find himself bound tightly into place by a metal pole. Oh dear, he thought. This is not good. Not good at all. Even with his vampire strength, he can't break free.

"Don't bother. I bound you magic. You can't break free."

Possessed Mia was drawing a pentagram made out of blood red sand, a common symbol favoured by Wiccans for spell casting and protection. Five different coloured candles are placed at each point of the pentagram. Ranging from dark colours such as scarlet red, midnight blue, burnt orange, old gold and of course, black, the most powerful colour in Wiccan that repels all negative energy and enhance one's spell.

"You're not Mia..." Glenn said weakly, thrashing against the bonds that held him.

"I never said I was." Ira's voice came out of Mia's mouth, which makes him sickened. Taking in his surroundings, he realized he was in a abandoned warehouse, somewhere near the port. He could smell the ocean water drifting into the cracks and holes in the walls. Cloth-covered crates stood all around the walls, and rusted metal pillars stood in every area.

So not a good sign.

Possessed Mia finished drawing the pentagram on the concrete floor and turned. The Book of Magi is laying on top of a crate, together with a bottle of Evian, a box of matches, a earthen bowl filled with what looks like earthly soil, a rune dagger and a wooden wand. In addition to that, she is wearing a robe in earthly brown tone with hems of gold. He looks though he's trapped in some kind of whacky ritual, which, in a way, he is.

Telekinetically, she moved the items from the crate, muttering each item as she say so.

The bottle of Evian doused itself in a circle around the midnight blue candle. "Water."

The earthen bowl did exactly the same as the water. It slowly tipped out the soil in a circle as well. "Earth."

Glenn felt the back of his neck tingling. She/He is calling the power of the elements to break the seal. But why does she/he needs him for? What is his role in all of this?

Possessed Mia was suddenly right in front of him, holding the rune dagger in her hands. The blade looks threatening in the fiery light.

"The power of the elements is not strong enough to break the seal. Oh no, do you know what is most important in a seal-breaking ritual?"

"I have the feeling you're going to tell me." Glenn said sarcastically.

"You are right. I AM going to tell you. Blood. It's the most vital ingredient in all rituals. But these days people are being discouraged from blood and sacrifice ritual. A blood of a young boy guarantees the best result." There was a manic light in her eyes. "But another guaranteed result is the blood of a half-vampire."

Oh, crud. Glenn thought. I knew it's something bad...

"Rest assured. The spell cannot be done without the full moon." She waved at the unlit candle wicks. "Why else do you think I haven't take your blood and light the wicks yet?"

"Mahler, snap out of it." Glenn said, struggling against the bonds, though knowing it is futile.

Later on, she turned back to the pentagram, apparently waiting for the catalyst of all of his/her plans.

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

"Where are they? Where on earth are they?"

Lloyd and V.V. are in the Land Rover, driving through streets after streets. The Ouija board is on V.V.'s lap, the planchette spinning wildly to spell out its messages with rapid speed.

LEFTLEFTLEFTLEFT

Lloyd spun the wheel sharply to the left, earning him a four colourful swear letter from a SUV driver.

"V, you wouldn't mind punching him with your hair or something?"

But apparently she didn't hear him. She was too focused on the Ouija board on her lap.

WE MUST HURRY THE NIGHT OF THE FULL MOON IS WHERE SPELLS AND ENCHANTMENTS ARE AT THEIR FULLEST

"Full moon?" V.V. asked.

DON'T YOU KNOW? WITCHES OFTEN PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO ASTRONOMY WHEN THEY WANT THEIR SPELLS TO WORK AT ITS HIGHEST

"Better step onto it, Lloyd." V.V. said.

Lloyd gave glance at the digital clock display.

11.5O P.M.

He gave a grunt and accelerated, speeding through a red light. If something happen to Glenn, he would never, ever, forgive those who harm him.

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

The full moon is slowly appearing.

Glenn could make out its round circular shape through the fluffy white cloud. Its milky silvery white light glowing softly through the holes of the building.

Such a beautiful thing could also be deadly.

As the sliver of the moon appeared, Possessed Mia went back to the middle of the pentagram, this time, lighting the wicks of each candles, throwing light into semi-darkness. "Fire."

Then she raised the wooden wand.

In this ancient night of the full moon
I call upon the ancient power of the elements
Earth, Water, Fire and Wind
As mote as I'll be
Set me free.

The pentagram began to glow into a bright fiery red, with some sort of flame-like lights. Each of the candle winks were put out as a strong howling gust of wind suddenly swept in, puffing all of them out, throwing the whole room into semi-darkness. Fissures started to crack in concrete as the energy became overwhelming. The water near the port, which was originally calm, started becoming wild.

Possessed Mia then pulled Glenn over to her, the rune dagger in her other hand.

"With this rune dagger, I draw his blood as a tribute."

Glenn had to hold his tongue as the dagger pierced his arm, drawing blood. When she had enough, she drew ancient symbols on the floor, written with his blood.

Thunder and lightning boomed loudly as the blood-written symbols glowed brightly. His hair was flying all around his face when a storm suddenly appeared above him.

No, he thought dazedly. Not a storm.

It's a maelstrom.

"The sea of time has pass the core, the seal holds no more."

There was a blinding flash as the chant finish. Possessed Mia's eyes glowed red for a moment and then from somewhere from the depths of the maelstrom, what looks like a network of criss-cross bars made out of magickal energy. Something, or someone is trying to get out.

"Don't do it, Mahler." Glenn shouted.

Possessed Mia took no heed of him. Instead she levitated the book into the maelstrom together with the wand.

"Stop!!!"

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

Lloyd and V.V. arrived just in time to witness a possessed Mia levitating the objects into the maelstrom. There was a booming laughter and the storm increased, ripping at
the tiles of the building and making the sea go wild. There was the loudest boom that caused them to clap their hands over their ears just as there was the sound of electricity zapping and something emerged out of the maelstrom.

A large dragon, with black scales and slightly crumpled wings, emerged. The eyes are pale pink and milky like an albino's, but it's not blind. The claws looks worn out, although there's no way to ignore the fact that it's sharp. One of its horn is broken and there are marks all over its body.

"Please tell me this is a dream." Lloyd muttered to V.V. who was looking dumbstruck.

Possessed Mia suddenly levitated Glenn into the air, much to his astonishment as the dragon glared at him.

"Your blood is not strong enough to break the seal." Ira's voice emerged from the dragon.

Glenn looked down to see Mia, who seems to be freed, crumpled onto the ground. Lloyd and V.V. were crouching by the doorway, unable to get in any closer.

"Not good enough for you? I didn't sign up for this, you know." Glenn sneered.

"You are of no use to me." Ira roared. "I realized now. If the seal is going to be broken, then I just know what to do."

"I'll take her blood instead."

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