The Last Wizard: Case Files (9 page)

The Final Chapter

One Year Later

   Taking another sip, the liquid flowed down my throat and into my veins before I could placed the glass back onto its designated coaster. The cool drink burnt my throat, not a hurtful burn, but a satisfying one. The pub was filled with other Englishmen enjoying their drinks loudly. The room was dimly lit, one lonely light hung from the ceiling in the center of the room and swung as the roof shook so much from thumping that it may collapse at any moment. The exhale of pleasure hummed in the background, at least someone is happy. The bar itself was smooth and polished as the barkeep continued polishing each corner possessively in between servicing his tonics. Taking a look at the mirrored wall behind him, I could see myself, but I didn’t recognize the person staring back at me, a cloaked stranger wearing a long coat and a cowboy hat big enough to conceal his face.

    "Bartender." I said grabbing his attention from his precious bar, "Could I have another one of these poisons." I tell him, staring at the empty glass.

   "Sure, chap, they are good huh." He said as he poured another into my glass.

   The way the drink flowed into the glass reminded me of water threading off a watermill into the grassy lands of an Egyptian farm I once tilled. Truthfully it’s possible I simply saw what I wanted, I couldn't tell, but I didn't care. This land is strange, it is big and layered, it is structured. The concrete jungle allude its patrons to believe they are living a bigger and better life, but it is simply a manufactured idea. As I look around the bar, this country doesn't have the beauty of people, everyone here is taught to feel the same way. There is no color in their emotions, no art in their history and an absence of a beautifully enriched culture formed over centuries. What I can tell you is a piece of me was left in Egypt, but I will not fail myself. This is just another place to conquer, as I am the conqueror of worlds and I will find my way back home, wherever it may be with my new ally.

   As I was about to swallow my second sin, I see in the mirror that a woman in a chair hidden in the shadows of a large pillar couldn't break her contact with me. Her appearance was foreign, she had dark crystal green eyes that were highlighted by her caramel skin. Her stare wasn't filled with lust; it was more of a professional arbiter type of look. Putting my glass into its final resting place, I turned to face my admirer. Her reaction wasn't what I expected, rather than looking away and looking inconspicuous, she held her gaze and simply pointed to a gentleman that approached me from my left.

   "Oy lad." The man said spraying half his alcohol onto my coat, "you fookin' rag heads ain't welcom' in my pub."
   "Its a tan calm yourself old man." I said pushing past him, tripping on himself, he fell over crashing into a table spilling a couple drinks by a few other pub goers.

   "He pushed me, he fookin' pushed me." The man said holding onto his leg.

   Dramatic much...

   "Oy champ, you going to pay for these drinks?" Another said standing up by the fallen table.

   "No, he toppled your drinks, not I." I said to him. He clearly wasn't pleased, him and his friends stood up and approached me as I backed out of the pub.

   Entering the always damp streets of London, I gained some distance between my foe. The gray skies hovered over us with an almost eerie feeling, it craved my attention, but I couldn't look. I had to keep my senses about me or I will hit the darkening brick road like the rain showers falling in spurts throughout the city. The overly muscular young man and his gents shuffled in a semi circle around me, their boots hitting the floor rung like spurs on a cowboy's boot in the middle of good ol Sunday afternoon showdown.

   "Do we really need to do this?" I said to them, I fear not for my safety. With Al Shayir infused in me, that thought rarely crosses my mind anymore. Although, I do fear for what he does to others, as he does not seem to hold back one bit.

   "Come on now boys, lets all be civil." A woman said exiting the bar, revealing herself in the light, it was the other that was staring at me.

   "You know this guy Sam?" One of them said.
"No, but he doesn't look like one to mess with. His eyes are not normal."

   "Eyes? What do you mean woman?"

   With that, I took off my hat, rested it on my chest and gave them a slight bow. "With that, gentlemen, I must take my leave. Have a good day." I said to them while giving Sam a smile. Placing the hat back atop my head, my body vibrated enough to shake the wetness from my skin. I will never get use to this feeling, it was as if I was crawling out of my skin. A dark smoke seeped out of my pours as I rose from the ground in a shadowy mist and darted into the sky. The looks on their face were unforgettable, one of surprise and utter fear. I think one of the gents even though he was in the john and wet himself.

   Traveling to nearly the other side of the city, I landed on a rooftop skidding across the wet clay shingles. Leaning against a chimney erupting out of the rooftop, I crossed my legs and watched Sonia below, I can pretend that this is coincidence, or I can just admit that she comes here every Tuesday at noon to buy her favourite fruit from this particular vendor. Partially hidden under her umbrella and like clockwork, she dropped the usual silver into the vendor's hand before they took a parcel out hidden below the stand out and handed it to her.

   Her healthy glow reminded me of the never ending days we had, the ones where she tortured me, not in the gruesome way, but in a way that couldn't be seen. Her hair was different, the bright golden shade shined even on this dank day in a way I only could've dreamt of. It was longer too, falling slightly below her waist. I stared at her red moist lips long enough for people to think I'd be a lip reader, but like hell if I could. It was just an uncontrollable urge, like flinching at an unexpected punch that clearly would have never landed its mark. Her smile that couldn't be matched and the way she laughed, covering her mouth to be modest, wasn't her. She's being reserved, like a trained animal obeying the rules of captivity. This wasn't the same girl I met on the bay boardwalk late at night in Alexandria, dancing and laughing for the crowds of cheers.

   Moving on from the vendor, she ripped open the parcel paper to reveal freshly cut fruit in a small container she picked from. She headed down the roadway away from me, again, this is where I must say farewell. She has no place with me, especially after nearly killing her. It's better this way, its safer.

   "I am surprised she's alive." A voice said behind me, a familiar voice, a voice I thought I'd never hear from again.
   "Fatima?" I said turning around to see her standing above me in her robes. Pieces of her black outfit were torn and charred from Al Shayir's attempt to claim her life.
   "Yeah." She said guarded.

   My inner self pleaded to escape, it senses the looming danger that I may face and wanted to protect my body. Its body. I couldn't have him interfering right now, I have questions, Fatima owes me answers. "Why did you do it?" I said to her facing her fully, I crossed my arms easing her a little bit.

   "I am Hashashin Jinn." She said, "It is my duty as part of the ancient syndicate to protect the world from entities like yourself."
   Her words hit me like an elephant, the person I was with is part of the notorious assassin group. Worse yet, she claims I am something from a mythical child story used to simply scare them to behave. "Entities?" I asked her, feeling the stir within.

   "You were possessed by something in that monastery. The syndicate buried that church long ago, trapping something in it." She said, "I am surprised you are still alive honestly, the elders say it usually fully takes over the host's body."

   "I see..." I said trailing the edge of the roof with my feet, something else ran through my mind, but my tongue couldn't hold back. "So you were just spying on me the entire time huh?" I asked trying to hide the scorn in my voice. My legs couldn't stay still, I had to move, I started to walk along the roof top. Fatima trailed right behind me, like a balloon following behind a young boy holding it in its grasp.

   "What? No, Jinn what we were... was more than this." She said stepping forward.

   "Doesn't look that way, it really doesn't Fatima."

    "It only turned into work when you wouldn't give up with that damn monastery."

   "It was my way out."

    "How'd that work out for you?"

   "Well I’m out... and I have a new friend that I talk to, in me... that sounds weird doesn't it." I said with a laugh, "There is no need for you to do what you have to. I will control it and make sure he doesn't hurt anyone, I promise."

   "Jinn, there is no way you can control such a power. I am sorry... but this only ends one way." She replied, more than ever I could feel the demon raging within me. But I had a promise to keep, I couldn't let him hurt her. She is still the girl I trust, someone who had my love. As I turned to face her, maybe one last time, she leaped into the air without warning. Two metal blades shined the magnificence of the sun as it flew towards me burrowing themselves firmly into my flesh just below my shoulders. My arms dropped to my sides instantly as the energy coursing through my veins seemed to have ruptured. Red, for a moment, it was the color I couldn't understand no matter how much of it I saw. The force that transferred through the blades was enough to push me off the roof. Not to mention, Fatima landed a kick squarely into my chest to put the star on top of the Christmas tree. Now, the only thing in sight was the hidden sun peaking between the cracks of the clouded sky like someone sneaking a peak of their crush, it risked that one moment to take in their everlasting beauty. And it was always worth it.

   Hitting the empty paved road felt like it was all about to end, there was so much pain coursing through my body that I felt nothing. My vision blurred, either from the tiredness or from the blood flowing into my eye. I couldn't hold it back anymore, I gave in to my other self. I can't die here, I have yet to prove myself and make something of myself in this life before I move to the next. Al Shayir may be the demon that wrought destruction on the world, but he is now my savior. Slowly, I could feel the darkness carry through me taking over every inch of myself. The pain was more excruciating as it worked on fixing our mangled body. Fatima leaped off the rooftop, she managed to arm herself with two daggers that it looks like she wanted to land on.

   "Work faster!"

    "Next time do not resist me."

   As my body transformed into its shadowy state, it grappled Fatima by the throat in the air. Words couldn't be formed as she held onto my arm, clawing at my skin for her life. It was too late, I couldn't help her now. I could feel her skin on the tips of my finger, the same skin I felt nights so long ago. Her skin slowly began to chap, "Do you know what a thousand years of life feels like? You are about to." My voice echoed to her. I could feel the heat in my body being transferred through my arm into her, she tried to scream in pain yet her voice was muffled in pain. The tears in her eyes, staring right at me without quit, ran dry as soon as they left until everything turned black. Her body turned to ash as it floated through my fingers down to the street below.

   "No! Stop. I don't want this."

    "It is too late, the deed is done."

   "Leave!”

    As quickly as it began, it was over.  No matter what I do, I seem to always find myself crawling along a deserted street in hopes of finding what I want, yet it is never there. Blood dripped from my mouth onto the road, and my shoulders ached as fuck as the pain returned from its recess. Another day has passed where I had grown in more ways than I have imagined, the trails of this life can be onerous. Alas, like the beats of a warring drum this won't be my last, this is just the beginning, as I may have found my spark to life. And with this newly spark I wield, I pray that only greatness awaits. I extended my hand into oblivion, clawing at anything in its wake, it landed at the feet of a stranger.

   "I was told you need some help, young chap.” An older man said standing over me, my vision fading.
   "Who are you?" I said in a voice that struggled to breathe.

   "Balan."

Winter Wonderland

By Allen Brown

"The mind is everything. What you think, you become."

                                                                 - Buddha

SIX
Alice

   Clouds hovered from my breath as my chest heaved uncontrollable to stabilize my racing heart. Hiding behind a tree, I took a peak from the corner, my face plastered against the cold bark. My palms sweaty, knees heavy from snow sticking to my pants, I must run, I cannot stay here. If he catches me, he will kill me.

   By the time I stopped running, I didn't know where I was. It was down in a valley, over a land bridge into an opening in the forest. I remember the frozen pond in the middle of the expanse because it perfectly echoed the light blue skies and the grand mountain towering over me. Walking up to the pond, a frog sat frozen in place atop a lily floating on the half frozen water. Thick trees surrounded the entire enclosure, void of life. The stillness of the forest scared me.

   Crouching behind a tree, I hugged my knees, I sank my head into my puffy snow pants, enjoying the darkness. I waited, for what? I’m not entirely sure. I only wished this day to be over, maybe it is but a dream, a nightmare.

   “ALICE!" A voice echoed in the distance, "Get the fuck out here Alice."

   Holding my breath, I squeezed my legs until my knees cracked. I could hear the snow crunching beneath the weight of his feet as he got closer. I had to run again, but what if I stayed still and he went by me, what if he didn't. Why is this happening to me.

   It wasn't until I heard his breath, and his shadow penetrating the treeline. It was almost instinct, I ran. I turned and ran to the other side of the pond with every ounce of strength I had left. The cold wind touched my cheeks making them glow a hot red. My boots sunk into the ground with each stride, I could no longer feel my fingers. My vision blurred, the only thing I could see was the opening to the forest ahead of me, just a few yards away.

   Then everything shifted, the world turned onto itself, the ground fell from beneath me as the sky came into view, the clear blue sky with only a single puff of a cloud to be seen. Jake sat atop of me, holding me firmly to the ground. My hands moved all over, I'm not sure where, they were moving of their own accord. Once to his face, then to his hands, they attempted to push his body away, and then retreated under the snow.

   "Why!" He yelled at me, "why did you do it?!"

    "Please... Jake, please don't hurt me." I pleaded from him, yet his eyes of rage, and face of steel looked down onto me like a cold hearted executioner.

   "You're crazy... I can't..." He said with fear, his hands trembled as they crept up my body onto my neck. His grip formed around my throat and got tighter.

   My ever searching hands rose from the pure white snow and plowed to his head knocking him over. Jumping onto him, I raised the rock above my head and slammed it down again and again watching his blood pollute the ground beneath me.