shaman chapter2
THE MYSTERY OF THE TRIOKA
The moon was in the crescent, and the clouds were dark and filled with warning.
Nicole unfurled a parchment under the stars. She placed three tapers on different points and then struck a match watching the candles blaze to life. The language on the scroll was archaic, the purpose of the words known to few. Nicole breathed a silent prayer and set up her incantation. “Selaz da Vuctum notrus veti pa sala Ecta mum Dalusni cur glensi.” The dark lake moaned, and the moon’s face hid beneath the clouds. The candles burned; spilling over the borders of three brass holders while an antique parchment blazed. From faraway, a vortex detected her lamenting mistress and slowly stirred from a long dormant sleep. This was an antediluvian being named Selaz
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Morpheus toyed with his prey; nightmares were consuming his night of rest. Will turned in an uneasy sleep and reached for Nicole. Finding her gone, he pulled on a pair of jeans he left hanging on a chair earlier and raced outside. The clouds turned into purple hued monstrosities that hunted one another like enraged dragons They exhaled hellfire and brimstone across the firmaments. The potent voice of Mjollnir roared. A single cloud endured overhead, wailing out like a wounded beast.
Will watched as a vortex formed above Nicole and lightning struck across the lake. He called out Nicole’s name while he raced across the lawn. The vortex became a tempest of crimson and ebony fury. He watched her stretch her arms overhead to meet the cold embrace.
The night-lights flicked on at the lodge. The cabins by the water cleared, the guests stood on the lawn. They watched in confusion and fear at this freak storm of nature.
Will was only a few yards away when the eddy absorbed her. He charged the remaining distance and the vortex lifted him off the ground, pulling him inside the sweeping fury. Next the vortex spun close to the dock, before hurling him away then vanishing in an array of flashing hues. Will staggered back up to his feet before several of the braver guests dare to rush over.
“Are you okay?” a young man asked. Will stared into the man’s eyes, for a minute, the former detective believed that he knew him. A small crowd gathered, ruining his concentration, while the questions all repeat. “Are you positive that you don’t want an ambulance? Have you ever seen a storm like that before?” Josh and Steven push their way through the throngs, rescuing Will by their arrival.
“The shows over now folks.” Steven said calmly. “It would be best if you all just returned to your cabins.” Steven placed his hand on Will’s shoulder.
“What just happened?” Steven asked
“Nicole just left to save Mark.” Will turned dejectedly then began walking away.
“Why don’t we head for the lodge?” Josh asked. Will shrugged his shoulders and then headed for the building. He stopped in his tracks and glanced behind him. The man who had seemed so familiar was trailing them, a few yards off.
“Aren’t you going in the wrong direction, there, boy?”
“I don’t think so friend, Nicole Richards is my sister.”
After reaching the lodge, everyone headed for the lounge. They sat around the counter by the bar and the questioning began.
Nicole never told me that she had a much younger brother.” Will questioned doubtfully.
“Well, she never told me she liked elderly men.” the kid answered back.
Will turned red in the face but Josh broke out with a laugh. “You’ve got guts kid but why should we believe you? Josh asked. “For all we know you found Nicole’s name on the guests’ registry and this is just a sick joke.”
“The name’s James, James Richards.” the kid responded, pausing between each syllable as if he had seen too many Bond films. Everyone around the table started to laugh. “I guess this is what I should have expect from a gang of old fossils.”