Morningstar

“In the grand scheme of life, nobody grows old keeping their soul unblemished.”
― A.J. Darkholme, Rise of the Morningstar

~o~O~o~

Prologue

The silhouettes of two hooded figures seemed to step right out of the cavern wall into the dimly lit tunnel.

“Shit, another cave?” the shorter of the two questioned.

Looking around at their surroundings, the taller one once noticed the tunnel walls were not natural but made with tools. Wooden supports held up a makeshift ceiling of wooden boards. The dirt walls showed the tool marks of picks and shovels that had created the underground passage and along the floor of the tunnel a pair of metals rails ran down the center of the tunnel about a foot and a half apart by the by the two by four spacers evenly spaced several feet part underneath the metal rails. In the distance they both could see the glow of a light source, “This is manmade, so there must be an exit.”

“That’s if the tunnel is still in use?” The shorter figure stated.

The taller one of the pair pointed at the metal rails, “No rust so they must still be in use or have been until recently.” Turning and walking down the tunnel, “Air smells fresher this way.”

Within a couple of minutes the two found the light source, a bare incandescent light bulb screwed into a socket that huge from wires attached to one of the upright wooden supports, the wires appeared to be strung from one support to another feeding power to the light. Looking into the gloom beyond it was impossible to see if this was the only light or if there were more. It would be almost five more minutes of walking before they began to notice another light source in the distance. Reaching the new light source, it turned out to be identical to the first, although they both could tell the air had continued to smell fresher and the slightest breeze could be felt.

Continuing on down the tunnel the two soon began to see the brighter glow of another light source. The closer they walked toward this light source, the more they could tell it was different than the light from the incandescence light bulbs that had been strung sporadically through the tunnel. It became obvious that the light up ahead was not the harsh yellowish glow of a naked incandescence bulb, but softer whiter light that did not originate within the tunnel but from above it.

Reaching the end of the tunnel the pair saw first saw the reason behind the rail system in the tunnel. A long wooden wagon with wheels that rode along the rails sat on the tracks like some homemade version of a miner’s cart. Attached to the wagon was the strangest bicycle hybrid they had ever seen. Rather than a front wheel it had two metal bars that connected it to the end of the wagon, from there it still had what could be considered a touring bicycle’s seat and handlebars, although instead of a normal bicycles rear tire it had a much larger and thicker tire that could have easily been a tire for an off road motorcycle.

Looking upward toward the source of the light, the tunnel had turned straight up. A metal extension ladder was leaning against one side of the tunnel granting access to the world above. Above that the bright luminescence of florescent lights told them the tunnel opened inside some sort of building, from the looks of the ceiling possibly a warehouse.

“I’ll go up and check it out,” The shorter of the two grabbed the ladder and went up it faster than one would imagine someone the person's small size could manage. Within moments of the small hooded figure disappearing above the top of the shaft, yells and gunfire erupted. Screams followed along with the sound of automatic gunfire joining the mayhem heard above.

The sound of gunfire would stop at times, only to begin again after another blood curdling scream was released by someone else. During many of the short breaks between the loud reports of automatic weapons, men could be heard yelling, ‘he’s over there!’ or ‘behind you!’ only to be followed by screams of pain and the continuation of gunfire. Eventually the noise from above died down, several minutes later the small hooded figure reappeared at the top of the pit.

Standing at the bottom of the pit, the taller figure looked up, “Was all that really necessary?”

“They weren’t very welcoming, downright hostile if you want to know the truth.” The smaller figure tossed a white package down, “Heads up!”

Taking a step back the one at the at the bottom watched the plastic package arc down, catching the edge of the makeshift wagon and breaking open allowing the powder it contained to explode outward in a small white cloud. “Cocaine?” The tall one looked up at the one who had tossed down the bag.

“Yeah, tons of the shit up here. Lots of cash, guns and other crap too.” The short hooded figure chuckled, “Who would have thought we’d end up in some drug smugglers warehouse! Boss they got stuff up here you got to see. It’s like a toy store for the criminally inclined!”

After climbing up the ladder the taller of the two began walked over and began inspecting a pallet that held several blocks of money the size of a bale of hay, stacked neatly and wrapped inside a clean plastic wrap. Stepping around to the opposite side of the pallet, the taller hooded figure reached over and picked up a severed arm that had been lying atop one of the bales of money tossing it off to one side. Looking over at the smaller companion while gesturing at the bales of money, “This will come in handy. See anything else we may want?”

“Figured you may want that,” A gloved hand pointed to a red Lamborghini sitting near by a large roll up door on the opposite side of the warehouse.”

“And it’s my favorite color too!” the taller figure began walking across the warehouse, careful of not stepping on any of the hundreds of brass shell casings littering the concrete floor. The red cloaked figure ran it’s hand across the hood as it walked along the side of the sports car, “We’re going to need a truck to haul everything.”

“Got it covered boss,” thumbing toward the loading dock to the side where a large trailer was sitting, its rear doors closed.

“You going to drive it?”

“There were a few that had the intelligence not to attack me. I threw them in the trailer, the old one has to be the driver. He’s too old to be a worker and not dressed like a boss.”

Meeting the boss at the doors of the truck’s long trailer, the short hooded one unlatched the door and swung in open. Inside were four men sitting on the floor of the trailer, the three younger ones appeared to be Mexican or Mexican descent? One of the younger men scurried further back into the trailer away from the two hooded figures, staring at the shorter of the two while gasping out the word, “Diablo.”

Looking at the four men, two of them not much more than boys, “Vete a casa con tus familias. Conviértete en un buen hombre o mi pequeño demonio vendrá por ti,” The tall hooded one spoke to men then turned to his partner, “Make sure they take nothing with them.”

Watching the three that looked Mexican hesitantly stand, the shorter hooded waved for them to exit the trailer, “ven, date prisa ya!”

Having no idea what the figure had said the older man spoke, “Look, none of us have seen your faces, we can’t tell anyone anything. Hell, I know less than anyone. I’m just a damn truck driver! I had no idea what they hired me to haul and once I saw what it was I knew if I tried to back out they’d kill me for sure! I’d pulled a rabbit on them a while ago, but they always had one of their damn goons riding shotgun and you can guess who he had the shotgun pointed at.”

“Then you would be in the market for a new employer for your truck and yourself,” The tall one in the red cloak questioned.

“Look, I don’t want to sound ungrateful, I mean you guys probably saved my bacon and all, but you can understand, this was one hell of a bad situation. Hell far as I know you sent your buddy there to kill those kids. Last thing I want to do is make a deal with the devil.” The driver stated while trying to get a glimpse of the face hidden within the darkness of the floor length red Cloak concealing all details of the person standing before him.

“Actually I sent them home,” The tall hooded figure motioned for him to get up and follow, “Come I’ll prove this is what has been done.”

Standing up, he cautiously walked over to the cloaked figure, noticing immediately that the person hidden under the cloak was much shorter than he first thought, knowing he was six foot three he guessed this person could be more than five foot five, five foot six at the most. Following the cloaked figure out of the trailer across the warehouse to the side of the pit that led into the secret tunnel where the shorter figure stood beside a pile of clothing.

Both newcomers leaned over to see one man standing at the bottom of the metal ladder while the other climbed down, all three naked as they day they were born. The red cloaked figure looked over to the other, “You took their clothes?”

“You said to make sure they took nothing with them.”

“Just who the hell are your two?” The driver questioned. “You cops or some rival gang?”

“Neither,” the one he had begun to think of as Red, due to the cloak, answered.

Looking over at the shorter of the two, trying to figure out why the two were dressed so radically different and working together like they were. This one wore baggy black military fatigues with a black zippered hoodie, also very baggy disguising the person’s appearance. “You some kind of feds then, DEA? ATF?”

Everyone remained silent for several long minutes until Red spoke, “If it makes you feel better, I can tell you that we are the good guys.”

Living on the road as long as he had, Don had heard the stories of different black ops law enforcement groups. Groups so secret they are said to answer directly to the White House. Could these two be part of one of those groups? ‘And they offered me a job?’ Don thought how working for the government would set him for life. Even if they parted ways later on, he would be front of the line for some other government driving job.

Don knew he’d be a fool not to accept the offer to drive for them, but he was hesitant. What guarantee did he have they were not as bad or worse than the drug runners? Looking back at the one he thought was their leader, “So about this job?”

“You would provide transport for the two of us,” Red stated. “Where we want, when we want.”

“You don’t need my rig just for the two of you.”

“There would be other things that your trailer would be appropriate for holding.”

“I won’t work for someone that hides under a hood all the time.” Don watched the one in red give the other a slight nod then both reached up to the sides of the hoods that hid their faces.

The shorter of the two was quicker at pulling the hood back, exposing the face of a beautiful young Asian woman with dark brown hair pulled back into what he thought was a single braid, although the hooded jacket made it impossible to truly tell. She looked so young, ‘too young’ Jake thought to himself, ‘She’s got to be a damn teenager!’ But then he remembered what he has seen this girl do not even a quarter of an hour ago, wading through gunfire with some kind of wide blades in her hands that reminded him of some kind of cross between an Alaskan Ulu and those Oriental hand fans. How could anyone so small and so innocent looking be capable of what he had seen her do?

Looking over as the other one pulled back the hood of the red cloak, Don’s mind lost all train of thought about the Asian woman. If Don hadn’t known it was impossible, he would have sworn he was now staring into the face of an angel. Her raven black hair seemed to shine with a radiance that made it look like her whole head was surrounded in an angelic glow. Her eyes, framed by dark lush lashes, appeared almost golden in the bright florescent lighting of the warehouse.

Realizing he was staring Don looked down at the top rungs of the ladder that protruded from the pit in the floor. “Sorry, I, I wasn’t expecting you two to be so young.”

“We’re a lot older than we look,” extending a hand out from her cloak, “I’m Lucea Morningstar, but please call me Lucy.” Nodding her head in the direction of the Asian girl, “And this is my friend Shiki.”

“I’m Don, Don Chapdelanie,” Don stated as he took her hand. “Your driver if you still want me Miss Morningstar?”

Morningstar

“Always hear others out and remain open-minded; the day you think you know everything is the day you have the most yet to learn.”
― A.J. Darkholme, Rise of the Morningstar

Don had taken a break from moving all the drugs that had already been loaded into his trailer back out of the trailer when he spotted Lucy had driven another forklift loaded with the pallet of money around to the side of his truck. Shiki’s upper body was sticking out of the open side door of his cab’s sleeper dragging a bale of the money into the sleeper. Climbing off the forklift he was using, Don stepped over to the edge of the loading dock, “You can’t put that in there!” Don raised his voice so they could hear him.

“Why?” Lucy yelled back.

“Won’t be any room left for us if you pack all that in the sleeper,” Don explained. “Let me put it in the trailer.”

“It won’t be a problem, Shiki has quite the ability to pack things in small places.”

“No, you don’t understand, there won’t be any room left!” Don knelt down, placing on hand on the concrete floor of the loading dock to aid his jump down to the pavement. Walking over to then around forklift Lucy was operating, Don opened the driver’s door of his truck and climbed in as he watched Shiki reach out from the open side door of the sleeper and begin dragging another bale of money into the sleeper. One knees on the driver’s seat, Don leaned in and pulled the heavy fabric curtain aside that separated the cab from the sleeper, “You can’t…” Don stopped in mid-sentence when he saw the sleeper was exactly as he left it, no bales of money and no cute little oriental girl dragging the bales in.

Twisting around so he could sit on the seat, Don leaned out of the open door so he could see Lucy, “What the hell? She’s not back there, nothings back there?”

Smiling over at Don, Lucy raised her voice to make sure she was heard inside by her smaller partner, “Shiki, Mr. Chapdelanie is in our employ. I believe it best you show him what you have done now, rather than at a time when it could cause a problem.”

“Chikushō!” Shiki could be heard from inside, a moment later she leaned out of the side door to the sleeper glaring at Lucy, “Must you ruin all my fun?”

Grinning at Shiki, Lucy spoke softly to her friend, “My life would not be complete without doing so.”

“Alright give me a moment,” Shiki dragged another bale of the money in with her as she disappeared back into the truck’s sleeper. It was close to a full minutes later that Shiki stuck her head out from behind the curtain that separated the sleeper section of the truck from the cab area, “Come Chapdelanie san, I show you.”

“If I’m going to call you girls by your first names then please call me Don, not Mr. Chapdelanie okay?” Don asked as he spun in the driver’s seat so he could follow her through the curtain. Ducking down into the sleeper while Shiki held the curtain to one side Don stopped in mid-step, “What the hell?”

Instead of the narrow bed with compartments under it attached to the rear wall of the sleeper Don was looking at some kind of small village. Several small buildings all rose a few feet above ground on what appeared to be large bamboo posts. The architecture of the buildings made Don think of early Oriental homes he had seen in the movies. Wide covered verandas encircled the buildings while thick thatching covered the gentle sloping roofs. Don noticed that they seemed to be standing in some sort of Oriental garden.

Flat stones laid out in front of them forming a walkway curved back and forth between shrubs and bushes that made Don think of the small bon-sai tree his mother had when he was a kid but larger. Off to one side Don could see two men dressed in what appeared to be ancient samurai armor carrying one of the bales of money into one of the larger buildings off to his left. To the right a good twenty feet away Don spotted a wooden archway built in the same Oriental style as everything else here, a stone laid path lead away from it that intersected the path in front of them, what surprised him the most though, was that it had a door that opened and through the doorway he could see the pallet with the remaining bales of money held aloft by the forklift outside his truck.

Turning around Don saw a similar archway behind them that they had stepped through, although this one had an ornately decorated tapestry covering its opening. Reaching over, Don pulled the tapestry partially open to see the inside of the cab of his truck. Don shook his head, “This is impossible! It’s like I’m on that Dr. Who TV show.”

“Dr. Who?” Shiki cocked her head to one side inquisitively, “I thought Who was an American baseball player?”

Realizing she was talking about the old comedy skit, “No that was, ‘Who’s on first’ Dr. Who was on TV. Had a hat and this big long multi-colored scarf…” seeing the look she was giving him Don gave up trying to explain. Wanting to know how this is possible Don figured the worst she could do was refuse to answer him, “How is all this possible,” Waving his hand out signifying everything he was seeing. “My sleeper isn’t this big.”

“Your sleeper is but a doorway,” Shiki bowed deeply, “This place is known as Nogami-ji, Welcome to my home Chapdelaine san.”

“My truck has a doorway to Japan!” Don gasped.

“No, this is not Japan,” Shiki tried to explain, “Nothing exists beyond the walls. The only way to leave is through one of the Torii,” Shiki pointed at the archway to their right that Don could see the forklift and money through. I give you warning, do not pass through any torii that I have not given you permission to use, there are those that are not safe. The one behind us of course you may use, along with the one you see opens to the outside of your truck. Although I would not suggest using that one when your truck is moving,” Shiki giggled.

“But how can you do this?” Don begged for answers, “What are you?”

“I am the last of the Nogami.” Avoiding further explanation, “Now we must speed our departure of this place before anyone arrives to find what has occurred.” Shiki gently guided Don back toward the tapestry, “Go through the weapons left by our enemies, take what you deem worthy for your use, along with ammunition for them. Once I have finished storing the money that has been so graciously provided for our use I will assist you with the loading the back of the truck.”

Once finished unloading the trailer, Don began going through the crates in the warehouse inspecting their contents to see what was useful and what was not when Lucy and Shiki joined him. Lucy took over inspecting the contents of the boxes and crates while Don and Shiki moved the ones they wished to take with them onto an empty pallet that Don would use the forklift to move into the trailer. One thing they found that Don found startling was military grade weapons.

When Don had found out about the drugs he had neither looked nor questioned further, his only thought was to get away from the people he worked for as fast as he could so he never knew about the guns they also smuggled into the country. Reading the stenciled labels of what was in the various wooden crates Don couldn’t believe the types and quantity of the various firearms in the warehouse. Opening one of the crates Don pulled out one of the rifles, after checking to make sure it was empty, he laid it to the side.

“What are you doing?” Don was startled when Lucy walked up from behind him.

“Shiki told me to pick some of these weapons to bring with us.”

Lucy sighed, “We don’t have time for you to open each box and cuddle each one. Just take the boxes with the ones you wish to bring.”

While many of the firearms were only ones Don could dream of owning he began to wonder why they would want him to have the guns. Don thought to himself, ‘Am I jumping out of the frying pan into the fire here? While I’ve dreamed of having some of these guns to mess around with at a shooting range or even hunting with, will I have to use them working for these two women?’

Seeing his hesitation Lucy spoke, “It is much better to have and never need, than to need and never have isn’t it?” Nodding his agreement Don pulled one of the heavy wooden cases into an empty pallet, thinking to himself, ‘I’m too old to be doing this shit,’ while doing his best to ignore the pain in his knee and lower back.

Over an hour later Don was inside the trailer as he finished securing the pallets when Lucy pulled the bright red sports car across the loading dock and into the back of the trailer. Within the following twenty minutes Don had rechecked the load in the trailer and everyone was climbing into the cab of the truck. Shiki stood between and behind the two seats giving room for Lucy to take the passenger seat while Don climbed in to drive. Turning the key to the on position, Don watched the dashboard until the glow plug light indicated he could start the engine. Turning the key further, Don started up the big Cummins engine hidden under the floorboard as he looked over at Lucy, “So boss where we going?”

“North, but stop at a pay somewhere with a pay phone before we get on the highway. I want to make an anonymous call about the warehouse.”

“Not a lot of pay phone around anymore with everyone having a cell phone,” Don informed her. “Best bet for one of those is at a rest stop on the interstate. Problem is the way the cop’s call centers are set up they can tell where you’re calling form before they answer the phone.”

“Then I must use a phone close by,” Lucy looked out the windshield at all the other large buildings in the area around them. Being a Sunday afternoon none of the buildings showed any signs of cars or trucks parked in their lots. An idea came to Lucy so she pointed down the road between the large buildings, “go that way and stop when I say.”

Don followed her orders slowing down and since the road was deserted, stopped in the middle of the roadway. Lucy climbed down out of the passenger side of the big truck and jogged over to the entrance of one of the closed businesses. From where Don sat it looked as if the door had been left unlocked as quickly as Lucy was able to get inside. Less than two minutes later she was trotting back out to his truck and climbing back into the passenger seat.

“Okay that’s done, put this place behind us,” Lucy said as she snapped the seat belt in place around herself.

Don had tried to get either of the women to give him their story, where they were from, and more to the point what they were. The best answer he got was from Lucy, who told him it was not a story she could relate while he was driving. Most the drive north was spent with the only noise coming from the radio. It was only a few minutes before midnight when Don pulled the big rig into an overnight spot in a rest stop just south of Denver. Setting the brake then shutting down all but the engine and the air conditioner Don turned in his seat to face Lucy, “I don’t know about you, but nine hours of driving after loading the trailer has done this old man in. I need some rest.”

Unlatching her seat belt, Lucy turned sideways and stood between the seats, “Then let’s go to Nogami-ji, where you can rest and I can answer the questions that have been plaguing your conscious today.”

Nodding as he released his own seat belt, Don used the steering wheel to help him rise out of the seat as he tried to ignore the popping and cracking noises the arthritis caused his knee to make. Taking a moment to straighten his sore back he moved toward the curtain that Lucy held aside for Don to enter first. First thing Don noticed was the little village, compound or whatever it was called in Oriental was lit by several dozen paper lanterns hanging in strategic locations throughout the area. He could tell these were not modern light bulbs in the lanterns but the flickering glow given off by a candle within the lantern.

Following Lucy down the stone path they crossed a small but beautifully crafted arched bridge that spanned across a slow moving stream or pond. Looking closer Don could tell it was some sort of circular pond with a small island in its center. The pond’s size was difficult to tell, although it narrowed any place one of several of the ornate wooden bridges spanned across to the small island. In the center of the island was a small structure maybe ten feet square, there were not walls and the four rounded corner posts held up yet another of the sloped thatched roofs similar to the other buildings. Inside on a wooden floor elevated a couple feet above the ground Shiki sat in the center with her knees together and her feet underneath her. At each of the four corners outside of the pagoda, a figure stood unmoving. Each dressed in the armor of ancient samurai warriors with full helmets and masks hiding their faces, each held a long pole that was tipped with a wide scimitar-like sword on the end.

Standing when she saw the two approach, “Welcome again to my home Donald-san,” Shiki bowed deeply. “I am sure an elder such as yourself is tired form the day’s activities. If you will follow me I will give you a place in which you may rest while we provide answers to all your questions.”

Shiki led them across another of the small bridges that arched up and over the water surrounding the little island and over to one of the small buildings, Stepping up onto the Veranda Shiki to face Don and bowed again, “I give you this home to use as your own for as long as you are employed by Lucy.”

As Shiki slid the door open Lucy leaned over and whispered to Don, “Watch and do everything she does when she enters. Their rituals are simple but very important to them.”

Don followed Shiki inside and watched as she slipped off her shoes one at a time and placed her feet into slippers that were placed at the edge on top of a small step up into the rest of the house. Don followed, removing his shoes then putting on the slippers before following Shiki further into the house where she had sat down on a one of the cushions that surrounded a low table in the center of the room. With the exception of sitting Don tried his best to do everything he had seen her do.

Lucy came walking up behind him, “Please sit Don, I have a feeling this will take a while.”

“I’d love to, but between my knee and my back, if I get all the way down there I won’t be able to get back up.”

Shiki looked up at Don, “Please Donald-san, sit. Having heard Lucy’s story I know it will take some time in the retelling. I also believe it is only fair that you hear my story as well, so as Lucy has stated this will take some time. We can give you assistance if you require it later.”

Don listened to Lucy doing his best not to interrupt with questions until she was finished but he found it hard. The story she told him was so outlandish, so utterly unbelievable how he could even begin to believe what she told him was anything but some perverted fairy tale. Before he could even begin to formulate the words for his first question, it was as if she could read his mind when she told him that she could give him proof. But then again it wasn’t hard to know what he was thinking as the story she had related to him had to be utter hogwash.

Leaning over toward him Lucy kissed Don on the lips. “What was that for?” Don asked.

“Your proof,’ Lucy grinned.

“You think a pretty girl willing to kiss and old fart like me is proof of what you told me?” Don couldn’t believe she would think kissing him would prove anything. Don began to feel a warmth on his lips where she had kissed him. The warmth spread out quickly covering his face, migrating down his neck into his body. It felt good, almost like the warmth of a smooth single malt scotch but instead of the warmth sliding down his throat it was very quickly spreading throughout his whole body. The warmth lasted for several minutes before it began to fade.

What, what was that?” Don finally gasped.

“Your proof,” Lucy reached into the pocket of her cloak producing a woman’s compact that she opened facing the mirror at Don. Taking the mirror form Lucy Don inspected his reflection. While it was difficult to see in the small mirror, it was obvious he looked much younger. Reaching up with his free hand Don touched his face, the stubble was there from needing a shave, but the wrinkled sun-baked skin was gone, in its place younger healthier skin. “I’m, I’m a kid!”

Smiling from ear to ear, Lucy said, “Check your driver’s license.”

Fumbling to pull his wallet out, Don finally opened it to look at his driver’s license. It showed a picture of him or what he thought was him at a much earlier age. Reading the date of birth he looked up at Lucy, “It says I’m only thirty-five!”

“Haven’t you always wished that you could be young again but with the knowledge and wisdom of you have acquired through your years?”

“But, I don’t know, I mean why me?” Don was at a loss for words.

“You are a good man Don,” Lucy explained, “I need a good man to help me set things right, to help me aid those that deserve our help and to punish those that have lived a life as an abuser.”

Morningstar,

Morningstar

Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. — Confucius

Shani had been trapped and alone for months in the walled Oriental village that she had secretly entered with the two females after the one had created the door. Her whole plan of escape had hinged on following the two out of the prison she was trapped in. Her plan was a simple one, once she had let the two lead her out of her imprisonment Shani would quietly slip away to freedom. Simple as her plan was it had backfired. Shani has stayed in her smallest form and after the two females had left using the same doorway, she began exploring this new place she had followed them into, increasing her size only long enough so she could open doors to look beyond them. Days became weeks, the only doorway she could open that led anywhere was the one she had followed them through into this place and it only led back into that infernal place she had escaped.

Shani had been perched atop one of the dozen buildings when she saw one of the arched doorways, identical to the one she had first entered the area though, appear out of nowhere in the garden area. Digging backwards into the thick straw thatching that protected the building from the rain, Shani buried herself into the straw to conceal her white fur and wings from being spotted. She watched as the plants and rocks in the garden shifted and moved around as a stone paved path began forming at the new archway and as plants and rock moved out of its way the new path made its way down to the pond where a wooden bridge formed over onto the small island in the center of the pond. ‘A new door?’ Shani let her sharp teeth show in what her kind would have considered a smile.

Shani watched as the smaller Oriental came through the new archway, then after walking halfway to the water on the new stone path, began yelling in a language Shani couldn’t understand. At first Shani worried the Oriental female knew she was there and was yelling her discovery as there were no other living creatures there. Shani would have known if there was any living in this place as all her kind could sense living creatures no matter how well they may hide themselves and with the time she had spent alone here exploring as she looked for other ways out with the only living presence the fish that lived in the pond.

Shani noticed the female was not looking her direction, but toward the center of the small island that lay in the middle of the pond where a small roofed area was surrounded by the four suits of armor. Before Shani’s eyes two of the suits of armor turned toward the female and began walking toward her. Still feeling nothing living from the animated armor Shani had to wonder what kind of magic the female possessed to have the ability to animate nonliving things in this manner. Watching the golems for a moment, Shani turned to see what the female would do with them only to find she had disappeared, ‘Probably back through the new portal,’ Shani reasoned.

Realizing this new portal could lead to her freedom, Shani fought the decision to come out of her hiding spot and fly over to it now. ‘Doing so right now, the Oriental one may see me and I do not know how powerful her magic is,’ Shani reasoned. ‘It would be better to wait until it looks like she will not be back for some time, that way I won’t have to deal with her or her magic.’ Shani nestled down into the straw and observed.

It was a good thing she decided to wait, as Shani witnessed yet another of the arched portals appear less than twenty-five feet away from the last. The newest stone path merging with the other that had appeared less than a third of the way between the portal and the bridge that crossed the water. The oriental reappeared through this newest arched doorway, this time dragging a large rectangular item. Shani could make out green and off white paper wrapped in some clear shiny material. Shani reasoned the paper concealed the package’s true contents and while curious, Shani was much more concerned as to where these two new portals would lead.

A short time later Shani saw the Oriental female bring a male in through the first of the new archway portals. Shani couldn’t help but notice how brighter the male’s life force burned compared to the female, if it has been a true light Shani would have found his life force blinding. Shani thought such a bright life was familiar to her, a thought came to her mind, ‘The brighter the flame, the faster it burns out.’ Pondering that thought while spying on the male she realized the only race this male could be. ‘The portal leads to the human world!’ Shani could not believe her luck, with patience she would be completely free in a world richer in life than she could ever dream for.

~o~O~o~

Waking up, Don found himself on the thick woven mat lying on the floor that Shiki had shown him to the previous night. Knowing how painful getting up from the floor was at his age, Don rolled over on his stomach then using his hands pushed himself up onto his hands and knees, surprised that his knee chose not to complain painfully as he expected. ‘It wasn’t a dream!’ Don thought to himself when he saw his much younger hands on the floor below him. The wrinkles and sun damaged skin replaced with younger healthy skin. Memories from the previous night came forward in his mind, ‘It’s real, I’m younger.’ Don rose to his feet carefully, not out of necessity as his revitalized body rose with the youthful ease and none of the aches and pains he had become accustomed to. Hearing voices in the main room Don dressed quickly and after remembering to slip his feet in the house slippers went out to see his employers.

Sliding the door open Don saw both Lucy and Shiki sitting on cushions at the low table. On the table sat several bowls, one held various fruits, another what he thought was probably rice, two other bowls held contents he was unfamiliar with, one was some kind of soup while the other while the other, he could describe as lumpy and brown. Tea cups like the ones Shiki had used the night before also sat out along with the matching earthenware teapot she had used before. Lucy must have made a trip out to the cab of the truck late last night or early this morning as she had the road atlas that he carried in the truck, spread out on the table.

Pointing at the map Don asked, “Planning where we’re going next?”

“Actually I was looking for a good place that the truck can be parked for a few days,” Lucy looked up from the map.

That’s simple,” Don walked over and knelt beside the table. He could see that Lucy had the atlas opened to the city just north of where they had stopped for the night. “Right up here at this interchange,” Don placed his finger on the map, “There’s a large truck stop with plenty of space for truckers to park their rigs. We can top off the fuel tanks while we’re there too.”

“Good,” Lucy smiled, “Then once you have eaten, we will unload the car and you can drive the truck to that truck stop. Shiki and I will meet you there in a few days.”

“Okay but there isn’t a dock around here for me to back up to where you can drive the car out of the trailer?”

“That won’t be a problem,” Lucy grinned.

Don couldn’t imagine how Lucy would drive the car out of the trailer, but then he was almost thirty years younger and sitting in a building in a feudal Oriental compound that he entered by walking into the sleeper of his truck, Whatever either of these two women said they could or would do should not surprise him.

Shani waited for close to twenty minutes to make sure the three would not reenter before she made her way back up through the thick thatching of the home’s roof where she had hidden herself over night to spy upon the three. As her diminutive form clawed its way free of the thick straw Shani knew her opportunity to free herself of this place would be coming up very soon.

~o~O~o~

Shaking his head as he craned his neck to see the television above the bar, Jake did his best to hear everything being said. Owning his own small bar, the news report was an important one for him. Over the past year seventeen young women had been drugged and gang raped. The police were certain that at least half the young women had been drugged while out at bars. While the police had collected DNA evidence they had yet to match the DNA to any suspects, this fact didn’t surprise Jake with the amount of people coming and going around the university campus.

For all Jake knew the group of rapist may in some small nearby town and only come into the city to hunt their prey. To the Ex-Marine this theory made the most sense of any theory Jake had heard on television. It was times like this that Jake questioned his decision to open the bar instead of joining the police. Although he knew he had made the right decision because if he caught someone like these lowlife rapists, the temptation to take justice in his own hands would be too hard to resist.

Jake’s bar had been a dream of his since he had become old enough to drink himself. It had started as a joke between friends, but the more he thought about it the more he liked the idea. And once retired from the Marines, Jake took his savings and opened ‘He’s Not Here.’ A name that came about from watching so many married men in the different bars he had visited over the years say to the bartender after the phone rang, “Tell her I’m not here!” Jake had hoped the catchy name would draw in a mostly older crowd of regulars, but being so close to the campus his place had quickly turned into a college hangout.

Having the younger crowd in the bar was not without its benefits. The college crowd spent a lot more money in his bar than older, more mature people would. Of course older customers couldn’t phone home and ask for more money when they were broke.

The way the young college girls dressed that came in was also something Jake thought of as a benefit. Jake appreciated their youthful beauty as much as the next guy although unlike the majority of his male customers, Jake held a strict hands off policy even when the young women sat at the bar flirting with him. The downside of having a younger crowd of customers was the underage ones that tried to pass off fake IDs.

Jake eyed the two young women in mini dresses suspiciously as they walked across the floor to the bar. It wasn’t like he minded beautiful scantily dressed women in his bar, it was the fact that all too often underage kids came in with fake IDs and tried to order alcohol. In the case of the women he had to be especially careful that the men in the bar, all too ready to buy a pretty girl a drink, did not buy any alcohol for one that was underage. Jake watched as the two young women walked over and sat at the far end of the bar, ‘If their ID’s even hint at being fake I’m throwing them out, I don’t give a shit how good looking the two are,’ Jake thought to himself as he hurried over to the new comers.

“Evening ladies, can I see some ID please?” Jake carefully watched the two girl’s expressions for any signs of nervousness. Jake had a knack of reading people’s tells, those little facial expressions that gave away a person’s real feelings. He was so good at reading a person’s tells that looking at the ID was only a formality, he would already know if the person was legally old enough to drink by the way they looked as he inspected their ID.

The darker haired girl in the red minidress passed her driver’s license over first. Jake watched for any facial expressions out of the corner of his eye as he looked at the Texas license. It wasn’t uncommon for Jake to see an out of state license from time to time, although usually not one attached to one that looked so young. Studying her face, Jake found it unusual for someone from that area to have such a light complexion, no sign of any tan at all. Furthermore her facial features and dark brown eyes made him think that if her complexion was not so light she could pass for full blooded Native American.

The tells he saw in her face were not what he was expecting. Jake had expected her to show some nervousness if she was underage, or at the most annoyance if she was twenty-four as her driver’s license told. Jake knew most that were just over the legal age grew tired of always showing their ID. The expression on her face was one he would have expected from a woman many years older. It was an expression of gratitude he saw in her face, as if she was saying, ‘Thank you for pretending that you think I am younger than I am.’ Handing her license back, Jake took the one from her companion.

The smaller, younger looking oriental in a similar but black mini dress held an expression that could have been seen by a blind man. She looked well beyond annoyed, something Jake would have thought such a look impossible on such cute Asian girl. Jake’s first impression when he saw them walk in was that if either of the two were underage it would have been the Oriental girl, although according to her license, which was from the same town as her friend, she was actually her friends senior by almost three years. Handing her license back, “What can I get you two ladies?”

Refilling a couple pitchers of beer for the group of guys playing on the pool table in the corner as he poured the two their drinks, “So you two ladies starting college here or just visiting?”

“Passing through,” the first one answered.

Bringing their drinks over, “So you’re from Texas? I’ve heard there are some interesting names of towns in Texas. Even heard there was a town there called, ‘Earth’ but don’t think I’ve ever heard of Inferno?”

“The place sucks!” the Asian girl spat out downing the drink he had sat in front of her in one gulp. “Refill!” the pretty Asian ordered, slamming the glass down hard on the bar.

Taking a step over Jake reached down and brought up a bottle labeled, ‘Demon’s due’ that he used to pour a measured shot into the young woman’s empty glass. Reaching into her clutch purse the Asian girl slapped two crisp one-hundred dollar bills on the bar, “Leave the bottle.”

“I take it from the way you’re drinking, you must be really glad to be gone from there?”

Nodding in agreement the darker haired woman explained, “She’s right about where we’re from, it’s not a place anyone would want to be.”

“It can’t be that bad?” Jake speculated, and then had to run off to take care of other customers.

“He’s has no fucking idea!” the Asian mumbled into her glass before throwing her head back, emptying the glass once again.

“Slow down Shiki,” the first woman scolded. “You don’t want to draw unneeded attention to yourself.”

“Fuck that shit Lucy!” the Oriental spat out venomously. “It’s only a matter of time before that bastard finds us and drags us back. I plan on having as much fun as I can until then!”

“And if your ‘fun’ makes him notice us sooner, what will that accomplish?”

Morningstar,

Morningstar

“There is stability in walking an uncertain path, because you never allow yourself to be misled by what you think you know.”
― A.J. Darkholme, Rise of the Morningstar

~o~O~o~

Shani waited for some time after the human male had gone into the small room for the night before she made her way back up out of the thick straw thatching that worked so well to hide within. Knowing the two females would not be returning for several days this was her chance. Spreading her large white feathered wings she took flight toward the curtained portal the three used most often.

Landing on the stone path in front of the wooden arched structure, Shani began to grow. As she grew her long thick tail became smaller and thinner as I retracted into her body. The rear legs of her feline like body began to straighten and her large feline thighs shank. Her clawed forelegs also began to change as she rose to stand on two legs. At the same time her elongated snout receded and her lengthy neck began to shorten. Finally as her form increased upward reaching five and a half feet tall, her new form became recognizably human in appearance with long straight white hair hanging down past the small of her back partially covering a tattoo like image that bore a striking resemblance of the creature she had been before the transformation. Her wings were the last to change as they wrapped around the nude human female and promptly transformed into an ankle length Grecian style dress.

Walking into the archway, Shani reached out with her now very human hand to pull the curtain to one side. The small room Shani saw on the other side of the curtain was unlike any room she had seen in her life. Two seats covered in heavy woven cloth faced a short wall one side filled with gauges of some sort, the center of the short wall contained rows of buttons and knobs while the opposite side was bare. On the left side between the chair and the gauges was a large circular wheel that put her in mind of the helm’s wheel used to control sailing ships, although positioned at a steep angle instead of vertically as they are on a ship. Above the short wall two large panes of glass separated the small room from the outside, where she could see many long wheeled metal machines. Seeing the helm’s wheel inside and the machines outside Shani determined that the small room must be the control room of one of these machines. While still considered young by others of her kind, Shani having passed her six-hundredth year was now an adult. She had heard the stories of humans and the machines they built but never heard any stories about anything like the machines she saw before her.

Still staring out at the strangeness of the machines before her, Shani spotted one of the machines moving without any animals or sails. ‘The story tellers were wrong, Human do have magic!’ Shani thought to herself, ‘What other stories has she been told about humans that are also untrue?’ Stepping forward, Shani was stopped abruptly from entering the strange control room by an invisible barrier. Nervously glancing around, it appeared that she had not set off any alarms so Shani opened her senses to determine what kind of magic held the portal closed to her.

Feeling the intensity of the magic powering the barrier, Shani could see it was no simple magical ward that could be overpowered, no this felt as if the world itself blocked her from entering. Shani studied the barrier’s magic for several minutes until she felt she had gained as much knowledge of it as she would be able to, she hoped it was at least enough to figure how it could be circumvented. Knowing the longer she remained at the portal the chances of her being discovered grew, Shani changed her form back to that of the small winged creature before flying off to hide within the thatched roof of one of the small homes to begin contemplating her next move.

~o~O~o~

Their third night back to the same bar both Shiki and Lucy could tell something was bothering Jake as he kept watching the door, it wasn’t much longer when the phone rang. Jake had a worried look on his face when he hung up the phone.

“Problems?” Shiki grinned over at Jake.

Leaning over against the bar toward the two women, “Yeah, Two of my help were late and I just got a call from them. My bartender and her roommate are both sick so I’m down one waitress and my help behind the bar tonight.”

“Shiki is a great bartender,” The darker haired girl saw Shiki glaring at her out of the corner of her eye, “and I can fill in for your waitress.”

A bartender huh?” Jake looked doubtful at the Asian girl, “How do you make a White Russian?”

“Tell him the Chinese have invaded,” Shiki grinned playfully. Seeing the looks on both Jake’s and her friend’s face she sighed, “Get it? Chinese invasion scares the Russian white?” Shiki sighed heavily, “Oh alright, it’s one shot Absolut, one shot Kahlua over a rocks glass full of ice then a splash of cream poured over the back of a spoon.”

Jake had been nodding until she mentioned the spoon, “Back of a spoon?”

Shiki rolled her eyes, “Yeah, that’s how you get that layered effect that you could never figure out how to do.”

“How’d you know I never could get that right?”

Shiki rolled her eyes, “Hello, I’ve been sitting here for the past two nights.”

“Alright girls, your hired.”

“I’m Lucy and this is my friend Shiki,” Lucy held her hand across the bar.

Taking her hand, “Pay sucks but tips are good and I need you to start five minutes ago. Looking over to Shiki, “Get that cute butt of yours on this side of the bar and start helping kid,” Jake ran off to help customers that had come up to the bar while they were talking.

Shiki leaned over whispering to Lucy, “Had I known this was what you planned, I’d never have sneaked into those girls’ rooms like you asked.”

Whispering back, “We needed those two to call in sick. Look at the bright side, you get to play around mixing things together behind the bar.”

“Why do we have to work?” Shiki whined, “It’s not like we need money, not after we took all that money from those drug smugglers.” Shiki got a faraway look in her eyes as smile spread across her face, “Not like they’ll need it or the car anymore.”

“Because I need us both working here right now, don’t worry you’re going to have plenty of fun later.”

A smile spread across Shiki’s face as her eyes opened wide, “You had a vision?”

Lucy smiled, “And you were behind that bar.”

Grabbing the edge of the bar, Shiki did a forward flip over top of the bar landing on her feet behind the bar. After taking a bow to the applause from some of the men sitting at the bar she began taking orders and making drinks.

Several hours later, Lucy had been running back and forth between tables, the bar and the pool tables when one of the group of young men playing pool handed her the cash to pay for refills on several pitchers of beer. What would appear to be a moment’s hesitation to anyone watching Lucy actually seemed like several minutes for the young woman as images appeared in her mind.

Lucy watched as the short brown haired youth looked around nervously right before entering the men’s restroom. Quickly walking into the room he opened the doors to the two stall to make sure he was alone before going back to the door and sliding the bolt, locking himself in. Going over to the counter with the two sinks, he pulled a small zippered case from inside his jacket. Sitting the case on the counter after unzipping it, he opened it and pulled out a small short syringe that had no needle and a larger bottle.

Opening the bottle, he stuck the syringe in and used it to suck some of the fluid into the syringe. Holding the syringe up to the light, he carefully inspected the amount it held before placing the bottle back in it case and putting the case back inside his jacket. Picking up the syringe he palmed it so that no one could see what was in his hand.

The scene flashed forward in her mind, now the young man was squirting the contents of the syringe into a young blond woman’s drink while the woman was talking to one of his friends.

The images flashed again, now Lucy saw the young blond naked lying on a bed unconscious with several young men in the room also naked, one of them on top of her grunting while the rest stood in a crude line waiting their turn.

“Keep the change,” the young man yelled over the noise of the bar, snapping Lucy out of her vision.

“Um, thanks,” Lucy yelled back as she began searching for the blond from her vision. Spotting the girl, Lucy’s scanned the boys playing pool trying to see how many of their faces matched the faces in her vision. Lucy knew without a doubt these young men were what drew her to the bar. Lucy thought about how she would deal with them as she picked up empty bottles and glass and placed them on her tray as she began taking orders from other customers while making her way back to the bar.

Placing her tray up on the end of the bar, Shiki came over and began taking the glasses and stacking them by the sink under the bar, while Lucy tossed bottles into a large trash can for recycling. Catching Shiki’s attention Lucy stated, “I saw something.”

“Vision?” stopping what she was doing, Shiki focused on her friend that stood on the other side of the bar.

Nodding in reply, “Those guys at the pool table.”

Looking across the busy bar at the immaculately dressed guys wearing tailored slacks and shirts surrounding the pool table, Shiki snorted, “Yeah they look like real criminal masterminds. What’d they do, take a spin in Daddy’s Royce Royce without permission?”

Leaning over the bar as close to Shiki as she could, Lucy said as quietly as she could and still be heard over the loud bar, “Gang rape.”

Shiki’s eyes widened, then her expression became cold and deadly, “Should I do them now, or get them as they leave?”

Shaking her head, “No, I’ll deal with them, you stay behind the bar. I’ve got a delightful idea of how to teach them about acceptable and unacceptable behavior.” Out of the corner of her eye she saw the one guy walking towards the short hallway where the restrooms lay. “Got to go,” Lucy spun on her heels and walked quickly through the crowded bar on an intercept course, leaving her tray behind. Giving the young man enough time to be checking if the stalls were empty at the far end of the small restroom, Lucy barged in.

“What the fu…” Will jumped at the sound of the door banging shut, and then relaxed when he saw the beautiful black haired woman in the red mini dress standing with her back against the door. “Hell-looo,” he purred at the vision of beauty.

Lucy turned and bolted the door shut, smiling sweetly at the young man, “That way we’re not disturbed.”

William Linares, Will to his friends, had heard stories from guys about getting it on with some beautiful stranger in the restroom of a bar or restaurant, but up until now he had always thought them to be complete bullshit. But looking at the gorgeous waitress walking toward him he had to wonder now if those stories the upperclassmen told were actually true. ‘Thank you God!’ Will mumbled under his breath as his eyes drank in her heavenly beauty.

Lucy began walking seductively toward him, licking her lips as she approached. Reaching up Lucy wrapped her arms around the back of his neck, “We wouldn’t want anyone to interrupt us would we?”

Unable to speak, Will shook his head as Lucy leaned in and gave him a kiss.

Morningstar

“You and I keep looking for light in the darkness, expecting it to appear. But it already has.” I touch his shoulder. “We’re it, boyo. Broken and cracked and stupid as we are, we’re the light, and we’re spreading.”
― Pierce Brown, Morning Star

~o~O~o~

“Your friend said he had to leave and to give you this,” Lucy handed a folded note to one of the young men at the pool table.

Opening the note, he quickly read it and then asked, “Did you read this?”

“Nope,” Lucy shook her head, while thinking to herself how easily it was to tell the truth. Of course she didn’t need to read the note since she was the one that had written it.

Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a twenty and handed it to Lucy, “Thanks.”

“Thank you,” Lucy snatched the bill out of his hand as would any other girl working her way through college would have done. Smiling as she walked back toward the bar.

Looking over at his friends, “Doug go get the car and bring it around back.”

“Sure but why Chris?” Chris handed him the note the waitress had passed him so Doug could read it. “Fuckin-A man!” others crowded around to get a glimpse at the note as it was passed around to each of the guys.

“We got to be cool about this,” another spoke up.

“Yeah, me and Curt will slip off to the bathroom and meet the rest of you guys at the side door by the bathrooms.”

~o~O~o~

“Hey,” Shiki motioned to get Lucy’s attention as Lucy approached the bar. Leaning across the bar as far as she could, “if you’re going to do something you better do it now, those guys are leaving.”

“Already done,” Lucy gave Shiki a devilish grin.

“But they look fine?”

“Taking out the correct foundation stone, ensures the wall will crumble.”

“This is another of your bizarre metaphors about doing indirect things to get what you want?”

“You’re learning Shiki,” Lucy reached across the bar patting Shiki on top the head.

“Wrecking balls bring down walls too,” Shiki grumbled, “And they’re a lot more fun to use than metaphors.”

Several hours later as closing time approached the customers still left in the bar began making their way out the door toward their homes, apartments and college dorms. A couple of cabs had to be called before the last customer left and they were finally left with an empty bar in need of serious cleaning. With all four girls and Jake working on the cleaning, it didn’t take long for them to get tables wiped down, all the chairs turned upside on on them and the floor swept. Jake walked the four girls to the door, letting them out.

Outside the bar Lucy turned to the other two waitresses, “Where’d you guy park?”

“Our apartment is only a few blocks from here. Pam and I walk to work. Dee, the girl you replaced for tonight, usually gives us a ride home after work.”

“Guess Barb and I are walking tonight,” Pam joined in the conversation.

“I’d give you a ride,” Lucy motioned toward the lone red sports car in the small parking lot, “But I don’t think all of us would fit.”

“Wow, that’s yours? It looks expensive,” Pam gasped.

“Wish my dad would buy me a car,” Barb sighed as the memories of the talk her father had given her before she had left to go to college. He had promised to pay her tuition and for any books and materials she needed for her classes, even pay for an apartment. But for him to do all this she had to keep a part time job and she was responsible for her everyday living expenses, such as food, clothing, insurance, car payments, etc. He father had told her it would help build character. Barb wasn’t sure it did anything to help her character, but she did know it kept her from going out partying and spending money like it grew on trees, like so many of the students did.

“My father didn’t buy it,” Lucy stated. “Shiki and I came into a substantial acquisition not long ago, the car was part of it.”

Barb snickered, “You sound like my dad, acquisitions, mergers, hostile takeovers and all that stuff.”

“So which direction is your place?” Lucy asked, “Maybe we could walk with you?”

“What about your car?” Pam’s concern evident in her voice, “Someone could try to steal it or vandalize it?”

“That could be fun,” Shiki grinned.

“What?” Barb’s eyes widened at Shiki’s comment.

“What Shiki means it has a really good alarm system,” Lucy quickly redirected. “One so painful and scary it would make them wish they had never seen the car.”

“Damn right I would,” Shiki mumbled under her breath.

“Anyways my car will probably be safer here with the lights and that security camera from the bar. So which direction?” Lucy asked again.

Pam pointed to their left, “Next corner then down a couple blocks.”

“Perfect,” Lucy smiled, “We’re going that way too.”

“We are? Oh yeah, we are,” Shiki tried to quickly hide her confusion of Lucy’s statement. Shiki had no idea why Lucy would wish to make these two believe they needed to go in the same direction, but then Lucy was not in the habit of telling Shiki all the details of what Lucy saw in her visions. Going with the two waitresses could easily be something to do with the vision that brought them to this town in the first place. It was quite possible that walking with the two would lead to the fun Lucy promised.

Walking with Lucy and the two waitresses down the street, Shiki was comforted by the fact that no matter where she followed Lucy tonight, she could always open a doorway to her uchi, her sanctuary. Her uchi existed outside of the mortal world, it resembled the large multi-generation family walled encloses of feudal japan. It was the one place that she was so strongly connected to that she could create a magical doorway to no matter where she was.

Only able to leave her uchi from existing doorways was how she had become imprisoned by her enemies when they had discovered this vulnerability and destroying all her doors back to the mortal realm had trapped her there. If not for Lucy she would still be trapped in her home turned prison, although that had only expanded her prison as Lucy had been in the same situation, trapped, imprisoned herself by those she once called family. Reaching the corner Shiki was brought out of her thoughts by the flashing lights of multiple police cars and emergency vehicles.

Seeing the flashing blue and red lights, curiosity drove Barb and Pam to hurry across the street so they could get to the next corner and get a look at what was going on. Shiki kept pace beside Lucy, who had sped up slightly to keep barb and Pam from getting too far ahead of them. From the look on her face, Shiki would have sworn Lucy had been expecting this. Turning the corner the four young women spied several police cars and an ambulance parked haphazardly in the front yard and the street of one of the two story homes. Walking up to the small crowd that had begun gathering as the ambulance pulled away, Pam voiced her question to no one in particular, “What happened?”

“One probably OD’ed,” A man who looked old enough to be her father answered Pam’s question. “I knew they were trouble the moment they moved in.”

The woman leaning against him, his arm wrapped protectively around her spoke, “We knew something like this would eventually happen. Gallivanting in and out at all hours of the night, loud music and parties they always had going on.”

“Hey I recognize those guys!” Everyone looked in the direction Barb was looking to see police officers leading several young men, hands cuffed behind their back, out to place them in the back of the several squad cars there. Turning to Lucy, “They were over in your area at the pool table.”

Lucy nodded, “Yes, I believe you’re right, those do look like the same guys that were at the bar tonight.”

“I don’t know about you guys,” Pam interrupted, “But I need to get home, I have a class in the morning”

“Yeah,” Barb nodded, “Nothing really to see here, and I’m pretty tired too. Let’s get going.”

Lucy and Shiki walked with the two waitresses the rest of the way to the apartment building the two girls lived at. Saying their goodbyes at the front door of the building, Lucy and Shiki waited until the two girls could no longer be seen before turning and walking further down the street. Halfway down the next block Lucy turned, walking up the concrete path onto the wide front porch of a single story home. Reaching out to the door handle, which was apparently left unlocked as it turned without objection allowing her to open the door, Lucy walked in.

Shiki closed the door behind her after following Lucy inside, “So now that you got to play with those degenerates, we back on the truck and heading out tomorrow?”

“Yes as my father will eventually notice the shift and send someone to investigate,” Lucy answered as she continued walking across the room into a short hallway. Turning to Shiki as she opened the door of the bedroom she had been using during their short stay, “We want to be long gone by the time anyone does that.”

~o~O~o~

Inspector Dawson placed his coffee cup down on one of the only spots on his desk not filled with papers before sitting in the accompanying chair in his office. He’d been up since he got the call around 3 AM that there had been yet another suspected gang rape or a young woman. Although this time they got lucky, two uniforms had responded to a noise complaint and the girl had staggered out in the buff and rudely propositioned both uniforms, one of which was a female officer, then collapsed unconscious on the floor. The young men had tried to tell the uniforms she was only drunk, but once some of the young men began attempting to leave the offices suspected more was going on than they were being told and summoned back up and an ambulance.

Dawson truly hoped this was the break in the case he had prayed for, as one of the earlier victims had taken her own life less than a month ago, after discovering the rape had left her pregnant. Right now all he had to link this crime with the others was the toxicology report, although it did show with any doubt that the drug used was the same one used in the earlier rages. This was a relatively new street drug that Dawson figured had to be manufactured in small quantities by someone here in their city as its use had not become widespread, at least not yet. Dawson hoped that one of the guys they had in lockup to roll and give them their source so that narcotics could bust the lab manufacturing the new drug and stop its production.

Taking a sip of his coffee, Dawson spun around in his chair to a filing cabinet behind his desk. Opening one of its drawers he retrieved a thick manila folder that he laid on top of other papers on one side of his desk. Opening the folder a picture of a pretty young blond woman was attached to several pages with a paperclip, the latest prior victim of the gang rapes. Under those pages were sixteen more stacks of pages and pictures, each one a victim of the gang of serial rapists. Logging into his computer, he began typing his report. Dawson knew he should go home and get a little more sleep but he wanted to get this typed out while everything was still fresh in his mind and so that it would be available if anyone began questioning the suspects early that morning.

The shy was beginning to lighten outside when Dawson finished typing out his report. Using a paper clip to attach all the papers along with the pictures taken at the hospital of the girl, Dawson laid the stack of papers and pictures in the now empty manila folder on his desk. Folding over the top half of the folder, he wrote the case number on the tab along with the girl’s name, ‘Willow R. Linares’ before picking it up and turning around to the file cabinet. As he filed the folder away Dawson thought to himself, ‘Toxicology report shows definite signs of Rohypnol in her system. Thank god they caught the guys. Rohypnol being the most common of the date rape drugs without the arrest being made like it was those guys could have gotten away with it.’ Dawson shook the thought out of his head, ‘The last thing we need was for this bunch to get away with it and end up with a string of gang rapes in the city.’ Dawson thought back to the last rape case he had to investigate more than three years ago. ‘Thank god that doesn’t happen often here.’

~o~O~o~

Before he opened his eyes Will could tell something was wrong. While he wasn’t a stranger to waking up in strange places or having lapses in his memory, those were always accompanied with a throbbing headache and the other symptoms of a hangover that he could attribute to having too much to drink the night before. This was different, his whole body felt off, strangely different to him. He knew he hadn’t drank too much as last night he and his friends were playing pool at this bar they were scoping out.

Will remembered that there has been this one girl that wasn’t paying attention to her drink very well. He had slipped off to the bathroom so he could load the small syringe he used to squirt the correct amount of ‘Easy Lay’, the hottest new date rape drug on the market. A drug that had not only allowed him and his friends to have sex with some of the hottest women around campus, but made him a small fortune since it was his own formula.

Will had never planned on using the drug on anyone himself, only selling it for a hefty profit. That plan lasted until his roommate had bought a dose off the dealer Will supplied it to and brought a girl back to the house he had used it on. The new drug he had developed had two main effects on the one who swallowed it. First it lowered their inhibitions while raising the person’s libido to insatiable levels for a couple of hours. Secondly it blocked short term memory from becoming intermediate or long term memory for up to six hours, which turned even the most prudish of women into a sex starved nymphomaniac that would later not remember anything that they did.

Opening his eyes, will found himself lying on his back in a strange room. Soft pastel blue walls gave way to ceiling tiles that were only broken by an off white curtain hanging from a metal rail that would allow the room to be partitioned into two. From the light coming through the single window in the room Will could see that it was daylight outside. Will also noticed someone was holding on to his hand. “She’s awake,” Will thought the voice sounded like his mother. Turning his head to the other side of the bed, Will saw both his parents there. His mother was sitting in a chair that had been pulled up beside the bed, her hand threaded through the bars on the side that kept one from accidentally falling out of bed, holding on to his hand. His father, dressed immaculately as always in a dark three piece, suit stood behind his mother to one side with his hand on her shoulder.

“Its okay honey we’re here,” Will’s mother reached up with her free hand to brush some hair that had falling across his face when he turned.

“Mom, what happened? Why are you and dad here? Why am I in the hospital?” noticing his voice sounded wrong Will tried to sit up, stopping when he felt a strange weight shift on his chest. Looking down at his chest Will’s eyes grew wide with terror. Freeing his hand from his mother’s grasp he pulled the hospital gown neck opening out looking down at his chest, “What the hell,” Will screamed in a very girlish voice, “I’ve got boobs!”

“Willow!” her mother scolded, “I’ve taught you better than that, that’s no way for a young lady to talk.”

Her father cleared his throat, “I’m sure it’s the drugs those degenerates gave her honey. The doctor said it messes with memories and would leave her disorientated for a few days.” Stepping over to the bed he patted Will’s lower leg, “Don’t worry baby girl, Daddy’s going to take care of everything. Soon as the docs say you can go home, you and your mother are taking the company jet back to LA. I’ll be along in a few days as I want to make sure the DA out here has all his ducks in a row. Those bastards could have killed you with the amount of that drug they gave you, I want to see them rot in prison, not get off on some technicality.”

“Mom, Dad? What is going on? What happened to me?” Will couldn’t understand why he was now a girl and why his parents acted like he had always been one.

His mother took his hand once again, “Honey I know this hard, especially with that nasty drug the doctor says they used on you. Maybe it’s best that you can’t remember what those, those monsters to you.”

“I don’t understand.” Will’s voice became a shrill very feminine scream as the fear of waking up in a girl’s body merged with his mind trying to figure out how something like this could happen to him, “What happened to me!”

“I’ll see if the nurse can give her something to help calm her down,” Will’s father turned and walked quickly out of the room.

“Honey calm down please,” Will’s mother took his hand again.

Looking into his mother’s eyes as tears began running down both his cheeks, “Please mom, tell me what happened to me.”

Choking up herself, Will’s mother squeezed his hand, “Honey you were raped.”

Morningstar

“Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.”
― Lazarus Long, Time Enough For Love

~o~O~o~

It was a few minutes past ten in the morning when Lucy and Shiki left the small two bedroom house they had been using over the past few days. The two had not walked more than 30 paces down the sidewalk in the direction of the bar they had been working at when the house began fading from view. By the time they reached the corner the house had disappeared leaving only a vacant lot with a ‘For Sale’ sign stapled to a stake driven into the ground, just as the property had appeared before their arrival three days ago. Lucy wearing a red pleated mini skirt with a sleeveless white tee shirt with the words, ‘The horns are there to hold up my halo’ in fancy script. Shiki turned just as many heads wearing a porcelain blue silk cheongsam with white flowers, that resembled cherry blossoms in bloom, embroidered in clusters on it. While it came down to just above her knees the slits up both side exposed her legs, which were covered in tights that matched the white embroidered flowers, up to the top of her thighs.

Arriving at the bar they had been working at the past few days Shiki noticed Lucy veered toward the bar’s entrance instead of the car they had left in the parking lot. Stopping she turned toward Lucy, “Thought we were leaving?”

“I thought it would be polite if the both said goodbye to Jake,” Lucy answered while she continued toward the door. Then under her breath Lucy stated, “I still have one promise to keep.” Lucy waited for Shiki to catch up once she reached the front door of the bar. Holding the door open for Shiki, Lucy followed her in.

Both women immediately spotted that Jake wasn’t alone. Three men, their face obscured by a ladies stocking pulled over their heads, stood in a half circle around Jake in front of the bar. Two held pistols in their hands, one of which was pointed at Jake’s head, the other had one tucked inside his belt the handle protruding out of the front of his pants.

The one not holding his gun on Jake pointed it in Lucy and Shiki’s direction as Lucy turned back toward the door, her hand reaching toward the lock, “Nu-un ladies, you’re not going anywhere. You by the door, lock it, then both of you get over here!” he demanded.

Completing her movement to the lock, Lucy twisted the dead-bolt’s inside latch securing the door from being opened, “All locked up, no one else can get in,” then just loud enough for Shiki to hear her, “Or get out.”

Walking over near the gunmen Lucy raised her hands, “Please don’t kill anyone.”

Pointing the pistol at Lucy, “Shut up bitch, do I look like I give a shit about what you want?”

“I wasn’t talking to you, I was talking to her,” nodding her head toward Shiki who had used the distraction to move behind him with a burst of inhuman speed, striking the base of his neck with her hand before he knew she was there. His body still falling as the next would be thief met Shiki’s fury. Before he could bring his pistol even close to a point he could try to aim at her, three fingers held like a spear point by the small oriental girl struck his in the armpit of the arm that held the pistol. The gun falling out of his now useless hand as Shiki’s other hand, fingers folded back so into a partial fist, rose toward his face. His eyes rolling up and back as the knuckles of her pointer and middle finger struck him in the center of the forehead. Confident in her abilities, Shiki never slowed or looked back toward the previous as she continued toward the last gunman.

Seeing the last thief raise his gun to the approaching Shiki Jake yelled a warning, but the loud crack of the pistol firing in the enclosed space drowned out his words. Jake cringed knowing the young girl was dead, even though the gunman had no time to aim, Shiki was too close to miss. Then to his amazement Shiki’s hand came up in a flash of speed appearing to swat the bullet as if it was nothing more than an annoying fly, while she spinning her body in in a 360 degree circle giving the appearance that she could dodge the bullet. He never had the chance to fire a second shot as she collided with him with enough force to drive him back and down to the floor. Using the momentum she had, Shiki flipped head over heels off the gunman’s prone body landing on her feet. Turning around Shiki looked back at the three gunmen, two lying unconscious on the floor while the last lay curled in a fetal position with both hands between his legs moaning.

Walking over to the first one Shiki took down, Lucy knelt over him, then looked over at Shiki, “I asked you not to kill any of them!”

“He’s still breathing isn’t he?”

“Yes but you broke his neck!”

“You never said I couldn’t hurt them, and it’s only one vertebra.”

Jake who still stood wide eyed at what he saw his temporary bartender just do finally spoke, “You, you dodged that bullet. You weren’t more than five feet away and dodged the bullet he fired directly at you.”

Walking up to the bar beside Jake, “I didn’t exactly dodge it,” Shiki grinned as she carefully placed the bullet in her hand on the bar.

Jake gasped, “YOU CAUGHT A BULLET!”

Shiki used her hands to hoist herself up where her waist was level with the top of the bar, leaning over as she did then reaching behind the bar coming up with a bottle of her choice whiskey in hand. Sitting the bottle of whiskey on the bar, she plucked two shot glasses from behind the bar before twisting back around and sitting on one of the barstools. Pouring out a double shot into each glass, Shiki sat the bottle down then handed Jake one of the glasses, “Catching the bullet is easy, bleeding off the Kinetic energy is the difficult part.”

Taking the glass, Jake downed its contents in one swallow before sitting in back on the bar, “people don’t catch bullets, it's impossible! Who, no what are you!”

“I’m a master of Sinanju, although my skills are nothing compared to what she can do,” Shiki redirected his curiosity by pointing at Lucy who after pulling the stocking off the unconscious man’s head planted a kiss on his lips. As Lucy stood up Jake could see the stubble on the man’s face had disappeared while his facial features began to soften. While Lucy walked over to the next unconscious gunman, the first one’s body had begun to shrink and change at an incredible rate. Kneeling down, Lucy gave that one a small chaste kiss on the lips before standing and moving on to the last gunman Shiki had taken down.

Completely engrossed in the changes he saw happening to the three men that tried to rob him, Jake failed to notice the pool tables fading away into oblivion to be replaced by tables and chairs while all the tables now held, Ketchup, mustard, salt, pepper and other condiments placed in the center of each table, along with paper placemats situated on top the tables by each chair. The liquor behind the bar vanished and the bar itself-changed to look like a lunch counter.

Shiki sighed heavily as the bottle of whiskey she had placed on the bar became a pitcher of ice water. Jake saw the one that Lucy had kissed first was stirring, although no longer showing any resemblance to the thirty something man. In his place Jake saw a small girl of no more than ten or eleven years old struggle for a moment then get up from the floor. Dressed in jean shorts and a lighter blue top the young girl walked over to the booth nearest the counter to sit down on the bench beside an open pink backpack. A large hardcover book lay open in front of where she sat with some papers to its side.

Jake felt a sense of pride as he saw the small girl dig into her homework from school. Shaking his head at the thought Jake knew that girl was one of the men that tried to rob him, but he also remembered that she was Annie, youngest daughter of him and his wife Mary. But those memories could not be right as Mary, the love of his life that he had already asked to marry and at their parent’s request were waiting until after both graduated, had died in an accident months before they graduated high school. Her death was the reason he had joined the military, he needed something to occupy him and at the same time get him away from his hometown. Jake felt very confused as he could remember when both their children were born, but in his mind he knew that he never had the chance to be intimate with Mary before her death as they both wanted to wait until their wedding night.

Looking over to Lucy for an explanation he whispered one word when he spotted the woman Lucy was helping to her feet, “Mary.” While a much older version of her, Jake imagined this was exactly what she would look like if she had lived, but then the other memories came flooding forward in his mind. Memories of the summer after graduation, the summer they had become man and wife, although the memories of her death and the pain he felt were still there, both sets of memories just as real to him.

“I know this is confusing for you,” Lucy said as she walked up to Jake.

Jake gasped, “What, what are you?”

“Let’s just say that I’m someone who cares, “Lucy answered cryptically. “I’m sorry I can’t remove the old memories. Your old life, the life that created those memories has been manipulated for most of your life. I can’t erase everything they have done but I can change enough of it to make things right.”

“Something you can’t change?” Shiki feigned surprise, “Now I need a drink!” reaching over to the picture of water, she filled the water glass that had been a shot glass before everything begun to change. Holding the glass full of water out toward Lucy, “Please?” Rolling her eyes at her friend Lucy stuck one finger into the glass. The clear water took on an amber color. Raising the glass to her lips Shiki took a long swig of the amber fluid. Grinning as she brought the glass down, “Ahh, much better than that lame wine trick.”

Reaching over, Jake took the glass away from Shiki. Bringing it up her smelled the amber liquid, “This is whiskey!” Turning to Lucy, “You turned the water into…”

“No,” Lucy interrupted, “Not even close. Let me try to explain, do you remember the story of Job?” Lucy continued once she saw Jake nod, “Okay well part of the story is correct, he was put through all kinds of terrible things in his life. The parts about who did it and why are not exactly correct.”

What do you mean?” Jake asked, “God and the Devil didn’t have a bet?”

Shaking her head, “No, there was never a bet nor any involvement from the Devil. Of course you know that God is immortal, well he gets bored and occasionally sends his angels down to manipulate people.”

“Why would he do something like that?” Jake gasped.

With her glass raised to her lips, Shiki answered, “Entertainment.”

“Like I was saying,” Lucy changed the subject, “I can’t get rid of the memories caused by their manipulation, but I am able to give you another set of memories, better memories. Jake I want you to enjoy your life, your wife and your children, the life you would have had if there hadn’t been any interference.”

~o~O~o~

As Shiki sat down in the passenger seat of the car beside Lucy, “he can remember before the change, so why didn’t you tell him who you are?”

“The less he knows the safer he and his family are.” Lucy explained, “If any angels see his life changed he can’t accidentally tell them by whom.”

“Yeah but they’ll figure your father had something to do with it.”

“And which one do you think will go ask dear ole daddy about it?” Lucy giggled, knowing none would dare enter his domain.

Thirty minutes later Lucy had driven them to the truck stop and with Don’s help they loaded the Ferrari back into the trailer. Shiki then Lucy climbed into the truck, Lucy looked back to see Don standing there holding the door looking around, “Something wrong Don?”

“I was just looking to see if Shani was back yet.”

“Who’s Shani?”

“Yeah who’s Shani?” they heard Shiki from inside the cab.

The geisha girl you had taken care of me while you were gone.” Jake explained, “The one with the white hair and dragon tattoo.”

Shiki shook her head, “I have no geisha.”

“Dragon tattoo?” Lucy asked.

“Yeah well it was white at first but yesterday it began turning brown and getting darker,” Don explained further.

Lucy’s eyes went wide, “This tattoo, were the dragons wings leathery like a bat or feathered like a bird?”

“Feathers, that what I found so unusual about it. I thought dragons were supposed to have leathery wings.”

“You know who this one is Onesan?”

“I got a good idea,” Lucy answered, “I just don’t know how she would have gotten past the wards protecting Earth from her kind.” Motioning for Don to enter and follow her, Lucy led her two friends back into Shiki’s compound.

Once inside the house Shiki had given for Don’s use and everyone was comfortable Lucy had Don explain everything, begging him not to leave out any detail of the time he spend with this girl Lucy and Shiki had not known about.

As Don began describing how she had disrobed and joined him in bed Shiki interrupted, “That is not like a geisha, more like a Baishunpu.”

“So you had sex with her?” Lucy’s question was more of a statement.

“Um yeah,” Don’s face became flush, “a lot actually, she was quite insistent on it.”

“And it was after this you noticed her hair began changing color?” Lucy continued her questions.

“Yeah, Then last night she asked me to show her the outside, and while out there asked me which direction was the tallest mountains.”

“I know how she got past the wards,” Lucy stated.

“What are wards,” Don asked, “You said something about them earlier?”

Lucy explained, “A long time ago the dragons were lured away and magic was used to keep them from every returning.”

“Dragons?” Don gasped, “They’re real?” raising his voice as he realized what he had done, “I was sleeping with a dragon!”

“Not a true dragon but related to them even if the true dragons don’t claim them to be.” Lucy continued, “Your Shani is a tarragon. They would be best described as half dragon, half faerie. They are much smaller than a dragon and are unable to breathe fire, but they do have the ability to change size and form.”

“Okay but how does that get her past those ward things?” Don asked.

“Her white hair,” Lucy began, “only an unmated tarragon has that color fur, once the female chooses her mate her fur darkens to match their mate’s. You have brown hair so her darkened to match yours.”

“Mate, you mean she’s my wife now!”

“Tarragons like all drakes mate for life, so yes.”

“So why’d she run off?”

“While the female is the one to choose who she mates with, she must always obey her mate after the mating is complete,” Lucy explained further. “By mating with you, she is now part of your world and can get past the barriers that stop her kind, but by mating with you she must obey you in all things. By leaving she has avoided any rules or orders you may give her.”

Don looked at both the women with him carefully, “So what do we do now?”

“We travel west toward the mountains and start searching for her.”

The End