Man of Mystery – 5
Jennifer stood at her bedroom window and watched the young people out on the lawn. Justin stood in front of them leading them all through some strange exercise. She wondered if it was tai chi, something she’d learned about on the internet.
Molly was slower than the others were, this must be her first time, but she did well, Jennifer smiled. The dance lessons her daughter had received since she was three were obviously paying off if the grace she was demonstrating was any indication.
Jennifer could see that there was a connection between Molly and the young man she stood next too. It was almost as if an invisible shield bound the two together. And again she smiled to herself. All that she’d been through would be worth it if her children could find peace, happiness and love. While Jennifer watched, her hand stroked a medallion she wore on a chain around her neck. So many years it had been hidden away in her room only to be taken out when she was alone. It had come to represent her soul mate and lover and just touching it made her feel like he was with her. A fanciful idea, but one that had kept her sane enough to watch over her children without Craig Taylor realizing that her care was more than just the usual desires of a mother.
“Aubrey” she whispered to the air. “Aubrey my love.” The medallion was warm to her touch as it lay between her breasts. It had been constructed in love from gold found deep in the hills of Wales. And given in love and worn with love binding the two souls that were meant to be together, but were forced to live apart. She looked away from the window and at the room she’d made her retreat. Each thing inside it, each piece of furniture, article of clothing, she’d give up in an instant if it meant she could be herself the way she was meant to be.
In fact if this house burned to the ground it would be just fine with her. She’d have it covered with dirt and plant a garden over the grave of what had become her prison and the prison of all the Taylor wives since the day it had been built. But now it had been passed on to Justin as the son and heir. For nothing in the house was truly hers except this. Her hand caressed the delicate woven gold of the medallion.
She hoped that she’d raised him to do the right thing. That the years away from here had instilled goodness in him rather than the evil of his father and this very house. It was nothing she could ever voice aloud. She’d always thought that the house was listening like some giant being. The only time she’d felt free was when she was on the computer. The Taylor evil hadn’t been faced with electronics when it was born and she knew instinctively that it had no idea that they could release her from bondage.
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Justin tossed and turned in his large hotel bed. He wished he was back home, at least then he could call any one of a number of fuck buddies and at least use up some energy that way.
He’d led the tai chi session and had been surprised and pleased with how quickly Molly had learned the sets they were doing that evening. He smiled when he thought of how she’d been motivated by the presence of her admirer who had stood beside her that whole evening. He hoped again that she’d find happiness. At least one of the Taylor children should be happy in love and why not have it be Molly.
Finally, he drifted off to sleep, but it was a restless sleep filled with strange dreams. He could see Brian for some reason and the man was lost in a maze of immense proportions. A maze that chose its own path never letting the man trapped within come close to winning.
And then suddenly, he was lying on a bed in the center of the maze. He was the goal – like some kind of prize – winner take all. All he could do was lie on the soft down filled bed among a myriad of bright silken pillows. He could feel warm air brushing over his naked body and he wondered who would win. Would it be the man who had shadows filled with writhing creatures from hell surrounding him as he walked methodically to the center of the maze? Justin shuddered knowing he was unable to escape his heart fell. And then he could see another man enter. This one stood tall and Justin almost giggled at the image of Brian riding on a white horse, surrounded by the white light of love and goodness. Even in his dreams he dreamed fairy tale romances. It had always been like that for as long as he could remember. But this dream, this dream seemed clearer, more real and somehow Justin knew that it was going to be the most important dream of his life.
He watched helpless as the black clouds mixed with the white ones. He shouted out to Brian “Get out, get out, leave me. You have Gus who needs you.” As the words left his lips, Brian was at his side in the way of dreams that can’t be explained.
“I have you to look after.” The other man spoke softly and Justin could hear the love in his voice. A sound he’d never really heard before from anyone though his mother and sister came close. But nothing, nothing like the love that emanated from this man standing by his bed.
Brian’s clothes disappeared and he put one knee on the bed, his hands reached down and began to trace the outline of Justin’s body. With each touch of his finger tips the pain Justin had felt in his heart all his life began to leave him. Each scar that had been made in hate, shimmered and disappeared, every bruise that had lain beneath the surface of his skin on his very soul, vanished until one by one Justin felt whole. It was then that Brian’s lips began to trace that same path his fingertips had taken. And this time what had been pain-filled memories were now memories best forgotten and life lessons learned. And Justin knew as clearly as if words were spoken, that he would never again be alone. That he would be loved until the end of time.
“Don’t cry Boyo,” Brian whispered as he kissed away Justin’s tears. And for once the word Boyo didn’t sound patronizing in Justin’s ears, but rather he heard the word for what it was, an intimate promise of better things to come. He smiled up at Brian who was now lying beside him propped up on one arm.
“I love you?” it was asked as an astonished question.
“You will.” Brian promised as his lips descended claiming Justin’s for his own.
“You will.” Words whispered into his neck between kisses and gentle bites just under his ear. “You will.” He heard again against the kindled flames of passion as the same lips moved lower to his breast.
“You will,” the sound fainter as the kisses moved lower.
“You will.” Justin’s hands found their way into Brian’s hair, clutching and kneading as his body slowly melted with each kiss.
“You will.” Words heard in the air over the groan pulled from deep inside of him, his dripping cock, the end licked and then sucked once, twice, three times before plunging into Brian’s mouth.
Over and over the words filled his need to hear what he’d always dreamed of. Faint sounds whispered as his pubic hair was nuzzled, faint sounds when his balls were gently tugged one and then the other, by Brian’s mouth. Faint sounds as cool air breathed against his zealously guarded and tightly clenched hole before a hot wet tongue traced the words around the edges, loosening, probing, demanding entrance willing given.
“I will.” Justin whispered back, his body arching from the bed in need.
“I will.” He shouted loud enough to make the sound fill the room as Brian’s latex shielded cock probed the edge of his hole that opened demanding to be filled.
“I will.” He moaned with pleasure when slowly he was filled, “I will.” The sound heard as each rocking thrust took him closer and closer to the edge. Each thrust punctuated with a fleeting touch of Brian’s lips, a probing of his tongue. Justin’s own swollen and leaking cock, caressed by the pressure of their bellies.
“We will” both voices, an urgent prayer as wave after wave of orgasmic heaven shook their bodies as one.
Loud ringing in Justin’s ears made him open his eyes. He was in his hotel room. His breathing ragged from being made love to for what had seemed like hours. He sat up and reached for the telephone, it was after seven, he should have been back at the house an hour ago. “Hey” his voice hoarse.
“Justin.” Molly whined. “Where are you? We’re waiting.”
“I’m coming.” Justin said before hanging up the phone. He wiped his hand over his naked body that glistened with sweat and cum. “I did cum.” He laughed to himself. He struggled to remember the dream, but like all dreams it drifted away to where dreams hide during the day.
Justin made himself get out of bed. He felt strange this morning. He felt that he’d achieved a goal but he wasn’t sure what. Shaking his head he moved to the shower.
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Brian and Emmett stepped through to door into a swirl of mist. “Fuck where’s the floor?” Brian asked. “I feel like we’re floating.”
“It is a bit strange.” Emmett clutched Brian’s hand tightly. He wasn’t taking anymore chances on being separated. “I wonder how long we’ve been here. I’m starving and I have to pee something terrible.”
“Would you let go of me.” Brian tried to shake the other man’s hand out of his. “What are you glued to me?” he looked at his watch on the other hand. “My watch has stopped. I paid thirty five thousand dollars and the fucking thing stopped.”
“Are you out of your tiny little mind?” Emmett asked still refusing to let go. “No one pays that much for a watch.”
“Well it isn’t a fucking Timex.” Brian shook his hand. “Will you let go?”
“No way.” Emmett tried to look through the dark swirling mists. “Brian I have to pee.”
“Well pee.”
“Where”
“Does it really matter? I mean do we care if we ruin the décor with piss?” Brian laughed. “Find a corner or a fire hydrant or something.”
“A bathroom would be nice.”
“If you see one, let me know.” Brian shook his hand again but Emmett held on tight. “I’d like to sit down, but I don’t think we have a floor.” He leaned down to touch where his were placed. His hand went past his feet and he fell forward pulling Emmett with him.
Emmett screamed but held on tight. Brian wanted to scream but refused, Emmett could have that pleasure. They seemed to fall forever, landing finally on what appeared to be a bed of immense proportions. Before Emmett could say a word Brian fell into a deep sleep.
“Brian, Brian. BRIAN.” Emmett shook him but he continued to sleep. A soft nasal snore punctuating his regular breathing.
Brian stood in front of a maze. He looked at his hand; Emmett was no longer there. He looked around to see if the other man was near but he couldn’t see him anywhere, just more swirling mist and a maze from hell.
“Okay who ever you are, I’ll play this game.” Brian stepped inside the maze not even flinching when the bushes closed behind him. “Now what? Is there a prize? Can we get the fuck out of here if I find it? He shouted to the sky. A black cloud formed, one row over. It filled with beasts from hell twisting and turning, snapping and biting. And Brian knew that it was important that he win this game. It was something that was going to determine the rest of his life, good or bad he had to win.
Brian began to sprint down the corridor formed by the hedges made from twisted thorns. He wasn’t going to be going through them. He had to find his way around them. At the first bend he turned and ran right into Niko. “Hey Niko, how the fuck do we get out of here? Brian asked.
“It’s easy, you just have to through that archway. The way out should be about a hundred feet down.” Niko laughed. “I can’t believe you’re here. Doc is going to be surprised we found you.”
“Where are we anyway?” Brian asked.
“In the Heritage Park Maze, where did you think we were?” Niko put his hand on Brian’s arm and Brian shuddered. Niko’s hand was ice cold, almost slimy. They were standing between the arch Niko had indicated and a straight run of corridor.
Brian passed the archway and began to run the other direction. Niko appeared in front of him and Brian passed him again only this time he shoved him with all the strength he had into the thorns. The man dissolved in thick black smoke. It hadn’t been Niko after all. Brian laughed to himself as he continued to run toward the center goal. If there was one thing Brian knew – that was men – and he had realized right away that something was hinky about the Niko look alike.
“Hey Brian, where you running?” it was Emmett this time, but Brian had learned his lesson he barely paused before pushing him into the thorns, this time taking the right turn the pseudo Emmett was blocking. Vaguely Brian heard the snap of the fake Emmett turning to black dust. He glanced behind him and with each step he took the black cloud from hell fell back a little bit more.
Something was controlling his steps, was leading him forward toward a goal that was going to be important to him. Until finally he stepped out into a clearing, the maze faded from view and all he could see was Justin Taylor, naked and waiting for him on a down filled bed. His body like an alabaster statue posed against an array of jewel toned silken pillows.
As Brian sank to one knee on the bed, all he could think of was he wanted this man for the rest of his life.
Emmett lay continued to watch Brian sleep. He could tell that the man was dreaming by the fluctuation of his eyelids and the eye movement under the lids. But when he began to mutter words that made now sense, you will, you will over and over combined with the fact that he was aroused more than Emmett had ever seen until to Emmett’s amusement Brian finally stopped moving when it was apparent by the stain on the front of his jeans, that he’d orgasmed copious amounts of jism. And then astonishingly, the man’s voice, hushed with awe, murmured, I love you more than life itself Boyo.. Emmett promised himself he was never going to forget this moment and he vowed to ask Brian about his dream as soon as they both woke up. For Emmett’s eyes closed and he too slept, only sadly any dreams he had were forgotten.
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Justin showered quickly and headed over to his mother’s house. He refused to think of it as his despite what the papers in his father’s office had told him. Who ever had heard of a more than two hundred year old will still being valid? The fact that the house and property that was tied to it could only be left to the first-born son was ridiculous. He didn’t want it and he wasn’t going to have any children to pass it on to even if he did take it. This was going to be something for the lawyers to sort out. Maybe he could deed it to the city and make a park.
As he drove over he thought about stopping by Brian’s to see if the man had come up with anything about his father. He wasn’t stupid, he knew that Brian was intrigued by Craig Taylor and wouldn’t be surprised if the other man was using his company to dig up what he could.
He turned the corner and then thought better of it. He’d better get to the house before Molly and her gang got themselves into trouble in his father’s rooms. The day was bright and sunny already and he was reminded of the last day he’d been in town with the weather much the same.
He’d been hanging out with Jody, a friend from school, in the gazebo, when one thing led to another and they were jerking each other off. For reasons Justin had never understood, his father appeared just as they were shooting their loads. The man was purple with fury. Jody was sent home and within a few hours he was being shipped off to Preston Military Academy in Virginia. He father didn’t even have the common decency to drive him himself. Instead he was sent with the chauffer a man Justin couldn’t stand. He’d never forget his father’s last words. “You’ll learn to be a real man. I won’t have you back here until you do.” And the slam of his father’s office door dismissing him like he was a servant.
His mother carried one of his bags to the car with him. He remembered her kiss and the furtive glance she made toward his father’s windows. Her last words were whispered so that the chauffer couldn’t hear, “It’s the best thing for you, because you’ll be away from here, from him.” Before closing the car door.
He turned into the long driveway that led to the house. Nothing had really changed in all the years since he’d been away. Oh things had grown taller and wider. The house was just as brooding as ever though and just as unfriendly feeling. That is if houses could impart feelings. He glanced toward the back of the house. He needed to call a landscaper today and get the hillside cleared to the warehouses. There was something about the three joined structures on the wharf that drew him to them. But they’d have to wait.
“JUSTIN, JUSTIN.” Molly called. She ran toward his car like she hadn’t seen him in ten years. Gus and Seiji strolled behind her. “You’ll never guess what.” She was breathless when she finally reached him. “Gus’ dad didn’t come home last night.”
“I thought Gus stayed here.” Justin shut and locked the door. He linked his arm through his sister’s and began to steer her toward the house.
“I did stay, but I called dad today and he didn’t answer, so I listened to the messages just in case any were for me and my message was still there. So it means he didn’t pick it up.” Gus kicked at a high piece of grass.
“I called The Company and the guys haven’t seen him this morning.” Seiji added.
“Has he ever stayed out all night before?” Justin asked, not really concerned, the man was single and gay.
“Yeah, but.” Gus began.
“Well there you go. I’m sure he’ll call you later today.”
“If he doesn’t will you drive us to look for him?” Molly asked. “I mean some of the places he goes we can’t get into.”
Justin rolled his eyes heavenward. “Yes I’ll drive you.” It would be the only way he’d get any peace.
When they were back in Craig’s office, Justin pulled out a phone book and made a list of lawyers. He was going to need one to probate the will when it was found and to deal with his dad’s lawyers about the ancient will and all it meant. There was no way he was dealing exclusively with his father’s lawyers. He would need a mediary. Justin thought for a moment, he’d call his friend Sandy and ask his advice. Sandy had a law degree, though he didn’t practice he was too busy with other things.
“Justin, what about all the money, what are we going to do with it?” Molly asked. “Can I buy a car for me?”
“We aren’t doing anything with it. If you want a car, I’ll loan you the money. But I would expect you to get a job to not only maintain the car but to pay me back.”
“You mean I’d have to pay for the car with my own money?” she stuck out her bottom lip. “That sucks. There’s tons of money in that safe.”
“Molly, I don’t have a car. Walking is good exercise. “ Seiji said with a laugh. “And earning your own car is good for your well being.”
“Yeah Molly, that money looks okay, but to me it kind of smacks of being dirty money.” Gus had to add. “I mean like maybe a bank robbery, or selling women for white slaves.”
“Or selling babies, or robbing orphans and widows.” Seiji continued in the same vein.
“You guys, he was my dad you know.” Molly glared at them.
“Yeah, no shit.” Gus pretended to shudder. “I’m sure glad you got your mom’s genes.” He ducked when Molly threw a small box
The box hit a library table and fell to the floor. All four of them stared at the table. The force of the box hitting the corner must have triggered a switch. The entire wall began to move back leaving a three foot gap.
“Holy shit.” Gus finally said. “A secret passage or something.”
“A secret room is more like it.” Seiji already stood at the entrance. “There doesn’t seem to be any kind of trap. I don’t think your dad ever expected this to be found.”
Justin’s heart was beating fast, his stomach had clenched and he could feel the beginning of a panic attack start to flow through his body. With a presence of strength he hadn’t needed for a long time. He focused his breathing, slowed his heart rate, and quelled the rising panic. It was all done so fast that none of the teens noticed. But Seiji knew Justin was going through something. He turned away from the room and stared at Justin. And Justin smiled at him reassuringly. He stood up and walked toward the gang. “Is there a light switch?”
“Not a chance Justin.” Gus laughed. “This place smells really, really old. It’s lantern and candle power all the way.”
“Or flashlights – I bought us each a high powered flashlight. They’re in the trunk of my car.” Justin tossed Gus the keys. “And extra batteries.”
“No flies on you Jus.” Gus grinned as he sprinted for the door with the keys. He’d forgotten about his missing father.
Everyone was soon outfitted with a hand held flashlight and a light attachment to wear on their heads. “This is so cool.” Molly laughed as she pirouetted.
“You are getting far too much fun out of this.” Justin laughed. “I’m going in first Mollster. The rest of you follow carefully.”
“How come you go first?” she whined.
“I bought the lights.” Justin grinned at them all.
“Plus he’s old; the old guy always gets to go first.” Gus snerked.
“I’ll let that pass.” Justin turned on his flashlight and stepped through the door. “Watch it guys, there are steps in here going down.” Justin took the first step down. It felt as if he was going into a black velvet pillow. Sounds were deadened, light was absent, he could smell dust and decay and something worse, the smell of sulphur.
“Geeze, this place is weird as hell.” Gus was right behind him.
They reached the bottom of the stairs. The room seemed to suck up the light and even with all of their powerful flashlights; they could barely see a thing. “We should spread out, but not far, see what we can find.” Seiji’s voice was muffled though he was only steps away.
“I found some books and stuff.” Molly yelled. “They look old, but this one has dad’s business card stuck in it marking his spot. I wonder how he could even see enough to read down here?”
A skittering of feet made Molly gasp, but she refused to squeal like a girl, Gus did that and she giggled. “It’s only a mouse or something.” She drawled.
“Yeah, well, you don’t know how big it is. It could be enormous.” Gus looked around. Seiji snickered; Justin only smiled in the dark.
“Fuck look at this, it looks like some kind of black magic thingy.” Seiji’s voice had risen in horror. He was usually polite with his way of speaking but this was too much for him. He’d aimed his light down to search for the mouse or rat or whatever it was and had found an large pentagram drawn on the floor. The center of which was the mask of a horned goat with the face of a snarling man.
“Now that’s gawd damned creepy.” Justin stared at the floor. “Do you think he was into …. Witch craft or something?”
“Well, I don’t know, he was creepy and he always wore black.” Molly admitted. “But I somehow can’t see him in a robe and a tall pointy hat.”
“Mollster, they don’t wear pointy hats.” Justin laughed.
“No they’re much more insidious than that.” Seiji said. He walked around the pentagram looking at it carefully. “this is very old.” He bent down, the fingers of one hand not quite touching what was drawn on the floor. “Blood has been mixed with this.”
“Lovely.” Justin shook his head. “Don’t walk on it.”
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to.” Molly held Seiji’s hand. “OH MY GAWD, it’s just like the book in that TV show.” Molly had found a heavy book that sat in a place of honor on a carved pedestal. “Do you think it’s filled with magic stuff?” she reached for it but Seiji pulled her hand back.
“Don’t touch it Molly. It’s evil.” Seiji looked on the book with horror. “Can’t you see it?”
“No.” she leaned forward. “It’s just a book. It’s the people who use it for evil that makes it that way.” She looked at the cover and opened it to the first page. “Book of Shadows – Adam Taylor. I wonder who that was?”
“I don’t know, and I don’t care.” Justin had found another set of books. “You guys have to see this.” He sat down at a table and placed the books in order of years. Some contained as many as twenty years of entries, others less. “I’m not sure, but I think these are lists of things that my family has stolen.”
Each one took a book and began to pour over them. “I think you’re right.” Seiji finally declared. “I have a book that takes in most of the seventeen hundreds. It looks like four different sets of handwriting. They start of with small things, a few chickens, a cow, three bags of grain and by the end of the book we’re talking gold and jewels.”
“It’s the same with the book I have.” Molly said. “Only they didn’t take any chickens, this guy was into good stuff.” She looked at Justin, “Do you think that’s where the money in the floor came from?”
“It could be.” Justin said.
“Hey in my book this guy is taking whole farms, I wonder how in hell he did that?”
“Maybe he held their mortgages and foreclosed.” Gus offered. “My book has a list of paintings.” He held it out to Justin. “It’s from the forties, do you know anything about art?”
Justin chuckled. “I’ve been known to.” He had a fine arts degree but he was sure that no one knew it. He’d been off their radar for years. Justin took the book and began to look through it. “I’ve seen some of those pictures in the rooms upstairs. I didn’t know they were stolen.” He looked at the kids. “We have to return what we can.”
“But there’s stuff here from like a hundred years ago.” Molly said. “I mean look at the room upstairs, it’s full of old stuff.”
“But it can be returned to the families it was stolen from. With these books we can trace back everything. I bet we can even replace the early stuff to the families that are left.”
“Won’t it use up all dad’s money?” Molly asked.
“So?” Justin shrugged. “I don’t want any of his money. It’s dirty. Mom has money of her own. And Molly I have more than enough to get you started in life.”
“You mean that, you’d help me?” Molly asked.
“You know I would. But I’m sure mom is going to help you too.” Justin smiled, reached over and gave her a hug.
“Let’s make a kind of pact or club or something.” Gus looked at all of them. “We found all this together, so we can return it or the money that the goods brought to everyone who had something stolen.”
“Like the Taylor Gang” Seiji laughed.
“How about the Let’s Put it all Back Gang.” Gus laughed. “LPIABG” or just to confuse people – BIGLAP.”
“You’re full of good ideas.” Justin messed Gus’ hair surprised when his touch brought a blush to the teen’s cheeks. He was going to have to channel the affection Gus had for him into someone else before either of them got into trouble.
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Brian slowly woke up. He felt like he’d been run over by a truck. Everything ached, not to mention he apparently had shot his load, if the stiff front of his pants were any indication. He was wrapped around someone and couldn’t move. He opened his eyes, only to find himself looking deep into Emmett’s. “What the fuck? Brian backed away. He was on the floor of the warehouse that for some reason was looking like any derelict warehouse would look. No weird shadows, no strange sounds, just Emmett grinning at him.
“Good morning.” Emmett cooed. “Was it as good for you as it was for me?” he asked pointing to Brian’s crotch.
Brian himself glared at the offending part of his anatomy. “I haven’t done that since I was in my teens.”
“It must have been some dream.” Emmett stood up, brushing himself off. “Last night was a dream wasn’t it?” he asked looking around the empty warehouse.
“I’m not sure.” Brian rolled on his back, not caring what he was lying on. All he could see was blue eyes and blond hair. All he could feel was soft pink lips being bruised and swollen under his. And all he could hear were whispered words of promises made. His cock hardened and Emmett laughed out loud.
“Oh you’ve got it bad.” Emmett was almost chortling. “I hope I get to meet him before you toss him to one side. Maybe you could toss him my way.”
“I just want to get the fuck out of here.” Brian had no sooner uttered those words when he and Emmett once again found themselves in another dimension. This time the room they landed in was filled with tables piled with fruits and berries. Jugs of wine and loaves of bread were scattered about.
Emmett’s stomach growled as he made a beeline for the closest table.
“EMMETT, DON’T TOUCH.” Brian shouted a warning. It was almost too late, but Emmett stopped, an apple close to his lips. “Look at what you were going to eat.” Brian picked up another apple and held it out to Emmett. It was the right color, but when you looked close you could see the wormholes. Brian threw the apple on the floor where it smashed into a number of pieces, dark black worms crawled out of the tainted fruit.
Emmett threw his own apple on the floor and jumped back when the worms began to crawl out of it. He looked in horror at the delightful set up on the tables. The bread, works of a baker’s art, were mouldy. “I suppose the wine is vinegar.” Emmett grumbled. He poured some out on the table and it burnt and bubbled like acid. “Oh, that’s damn mean.” He jumped back.
“Apparently this freak has a sense of humor.” Brian stomped on a worm that was crawling toward him.
“Ewwwwee.” Emmett hated the crunch it made. “Brian this is getting old fast. I’m filthy dirty, I smell, I’m hungry and I actually had to pee on the floor. Do you realize how traumatizing that is?”
“Cry me a river.” Brian started to explore ignoring the fruit that was combusting behind him.
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“Okay, I tried dad again and he isn’t home and he isn’t at The Company. I called Uncle Mikey and all I got was a lecture.” Gus threw himself on the floor, his back against the podium where the Book of Shadows sat.
“Maybe there’s a locator spell here.” Molly began to leaf through the book.
“Molly please don’t touch that book.” Seiji had gone home to tend to his business and Molly only had her brother to ride herd on her.
“I’m only looking.” She could barely make out the writing on some of the pages. It was done in old copperplate and the spelling wasn’t what she was used to. “But I’m sure there has to be a locating spell.”
“This isn’t television.” Gus laughed. “But have at ‘er.”
“Molly black magic isn’t something to fool around with.” Justin cautioned.
“I would never do black magic.” Molly looked outraged. “Anything I’d do would be white magic.”
“You aren’t doing any magic.” Justin said in a voice that brooked no argument.
“I’m just seeing if I can find Gus’ dad.” She defended. “Look at this.”
loaunai magrini semi dotay
Marigoj jenit sasini
Semi dotay, semi dotay.
“And this is supposed to do what?” Justin asked with a laugh. “You don’t even know if you’re pronouncing the words right. You don’t even know if they’re words or a recipe for chocolate cake.” He snickered.
Gus and Justin laughed. “I’m starving, let’s break for lunch.” Gus stretched. “We should put these journals on a spread sheet of some kind so that we can make a plan for returning stuff. And we also need an inventory of what’s around here. The stolen shit we can return and the black magic stuff we can burn.”
“I think that’s a great plan Gus.” Justin stood up and stretched as well. “I want to get some electricity down here. I hate reading by flashlight.”
“I hate listening to the wildlife in the shadows. A cat or ten might be a plan.” Molly headed for the stairs. “I’m ordering in lunch.”
“No, let’s shower and go out for lunch.” Gus grinned at them. “We can go to the diner on Liberty Avenue. We can not only get lunch, but you can meet my Grandma Deb Justin, and maybe dad will show up.”
“Great, I’m starving and I don’t want pizza again.” Justin followed the two kids up the stairs. “I actually thought ahead and brought a change of clothes.”
“Good, because I was running out.” Gus smiled at Justin, “Though I like the idea of you being in my pants.”
“Ewwww, will you give it up.” Molly hit Gus on the arm and then ran up the stairs with him following her leaving Justin to close up the secret room for another time.
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Brian was in the middle of queening out completely. He couldn’t find a way out of the room of rotten food and he ready to knaw through the walls to the outside. Emmett was following him around wringing his hands and trying to calm the man down when the words
loaunai magrini semi dotay
Marigoj jenit sasini
Semi dotay, semi dotay. filled the room
With a growling roar of thunder, Brian and Emmett found themselves sitting in the front seat of the Lexus staring at the outside of the warehouse.
“Uh, Brian, GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE NOW.” Emmett screamed.
Brian didn’t need another word, he had the car started and backed around until he faced the road. He roared up the hill not looking in the rearview mirror for fear he’d end up back in the warehouse.
If he had looked, he would have seen the warehouse shimmer and shake with fury at losing its playthings. Only calming down when the heavens opened and thick rain drops fell cleansing the earth and in turn, cleansing the pile of stone and wood that was a warehouse from hell.