The Seven Keys of Korath

Evening mists hung heavily in the air, giving an ethereal appearance to the rocky landscape.  A clatter issued from stones dislodged by a careless footstep, echoing in the stillness.  Luther Julius did not look like he belonged here.  He wore a dark business suit and cloak, and carried a fancy walking stick.

Julius looked around carefully, then felt along the base of the boulder nearest him.  His deft fingers found a slit in the stone, and brushed the dust from it.  He quickly twisted a jeweled wolf head from his walking stick, and pushed its sharp shaft into the slit.  There was a metallic click, and the jewel assumed the color of the stone.  The earth began to shudder.  He tossed the stick aside, and fled back into the mists.

~*~
 

The whole world seemed immersed in a red mist: Beau reached out with shaggy arms and yanked an attacker to him.  The inertia of the move instantly broke the man's neck.  Another man lunged with a knife, and Beau grabbed his arm, tossing him across the alley into a brick wall.  There was a dull splat, and the man slid down the wall, streaking blood.  Suddenly, a policeman jumped into the alley with a bell ....

Rinnng!

Beauregard Ellis sat up with a shout, a look of fear on his sweating face.

Rinnnng!

He struggled to slow his breathing, and picked up the telephone: "Hello?"

"Beau?  It's Anne Wentworth.  Did I wake you?"

Beau wiped the sleep from his eyes.  "Yeah, but it's okay.  You interrupted a dream I didn't want to finish.  How are you Anne?  I haven't seen you in a while."

"I know.  I'm staying in Kingston, now, doing some postgraduate work."

"Kingston ... Jamaica?"

"Yes.  Just a short field exercise.  Maybe six months, tops.  Listen, Beau, I didn't call to exchange pleasantries.  Are you free for a few days?  I need your advice."

"My advice?  You're a Sociology Professor, Anne, I'M a Vulcanologist...."

"Precisely!  We've been having tremors for the last four days, here, Beau, and it's not supposed to be a seismically active region -- and there've been sulfurous fumes near the quake areas."

Beau sat up.  "Sulfur fumes?  Really?  That should not be ... not in Jamaica."

"Will you come and take a look, Beau?  I'd appreciate it.  I don't know what's going on, but I'd hate to see these beautiful people caught unaware."

Beau looked at the calendar.  The red zone was still several days away.  "Sure, Anne.  I'll fly down tomorrow."

There was genuine relief in her voice.  "Thanks, Beau.  Email me the flight schedule, and I'll meet your plane."

 

~*~
 

Kingston is not the traveler's paradise that tourists picture when they think of Jamaica.  The resorts they see are on the North coast.  Kingston is in the South, and it is hot and dirty.  Beau had just showered and dressed, and his clean clothes were already damp with sweat.  Anne had promised to meet him in the lobby of the Kingston Arms Hotel, and take him to dinner.

When she arrived, he thought she had to be kidding.  They had to jam themselves into the back of a tiny taxi, and bounce through the narrow, primitive streets to the Magic Candle nightclub.  The place looked like a dump ... but then, everything looked like a dump in Kingston.

The air was cool inside the club, that was a plus for Beau.  Being with Anne again added to the pleasure.  The place was smoky and dark, but the food was supposed to be really good.

"Anne, hello."  The stranger was sitting at a table by himself.  Beau felt an inexplicable shiver run through his spine.

Anne squinted through the dimness: "Luther!  How are you?  I have someone I'd like you to meet."

"Please, will you join me?  I hate to eat alone."  The man's smile was mirthless and cold, as he removed a curious walking stick from the table, and gestured to the chairs.  The knob on the walking stick was an elaborate carving of a shark's head.  The teeth looked especially vicious.  Beau could not repress a second shiver.

As Anne made the introductions, Beau shook Luther's hand.  Something sparked between them, and Luther's head jerked up.  He stared for a long time, then said, "Death often slips into one's life like a thief, or crashes into it like a drunk, but never did it walk in the door and shake one's hand -- until today."

Anne looked puzzled.  "What?"

Luther winked at her, then laughed genuinely.

They all laughed politely, but Anne was still puzzled -- and troubled -- at the words.  Beau was silent.

Dinner seemed to take forever, and Beau began to feel lightheaded.  The candle at their table seemed to smoke rather than burn, and it eminated noxious fumes.  While Anne was gone to the ladies' room, Beau decided to end the candle's pitiful life by pinching it out.  Julius moved like lightning, clamping his wrist in a grip of steel.  He leaned forward, the mirthless smile once again on his thick lips.

"I know what you are, Mr. Ellis," his eyes were compelling, "are you afraid of the moon?"

Beau's blood ran cold.  He simply stared into black bottomless pits that made him feel like he was falling.  Suddenly, but only for an instant, he saw himself ripping a man's throat out in blind fury.  The taste of blood was very real.  He shook his head, dispelling the vision, and Julius let go of his arm.  "You need to go home."  It was a command, not concern.

Just then, Anne returned, chattering about the people, the city, and the quakes.  There had been another one last night.  "That makes five quakes in as many days," Anne quipped.  "It makes me wonder if it's unnatural.  Could it be explosions?"

"Not likely, " Beau concluded.  "From what you've told me, the epicenter isn't far from town.  It would take a good deal of preparation for explosions of this magnitude.  That kind of activity would be noticed by someone.  Can we go see the area?"

"Sure!"  Anne gushed.  "Oh, yes.  I'm so glad you'd do that.  We'll go tomorrow evening.  With any luck, we can get there before the quake happens -- if there is one."

Luther wasn't happy with their conversation, but there was nothing he could say to dissuade them from their plans.  As they were preparing to leave, he once again grabbed Beau's wrist.  "Don't meddle in this," he warned, "it can only end in trouble for you."

Beau had had enough.  "It's a chaotic world, Mr. Julius.  I can take care of myself."  He brushed the man's hand from his arm.

Luther leaned closer.  "Chaotic?"  He hissed.  "You haven't seen chaos until I release it."  His smile was pure malice.

Beau's head was spinning, there came alternate flashes of darkness and light, then he felt immersed in hot, putrid darkness.  He smelled sulfur and feces, and sensed movement.  A feral snort blew fetid breath across his face.  He grabbed the table to keep himself from falling, and the vision slowly cleared.  When he looked up, Luther was gone, and Anne was valiantly attempting to support him.

"Come on, Beau.  I think we need to get you to your room.  Was it the wine?"  Her voice espoused real concern.

"Yeah.  I guess that must be it."  He wobbled on unsteady legs toward the door, while his mind raced.  Who is this guy?  He wondered.  How does he know me?

 

~*~
 

Anne had no answers for his questions the next afternoon, as they hiked into the desolate jungle.  She'd met Luther Julius during the course of her work here in Kingston, and he'd always seemed the polite sort, yet a bit distant.  He usually steered conversation away from himself.

The evening mists were deep, tonight, creating an eerie glow from scattered moonlight.  The moon was nearly full, now.  As they worked their way across the treacherous terrain, Beau heard a distinct metallic click.  The ground began to shudder and a crack appeared a few feet in front of them.  Sulfurous steam wafted into the air.  He quickly grabbed Anne's hand, and yanked her away from the deadly fumes.

The quake stopped, and Beau raced in the direction of the noise he'd heard.  He could just see a dark form disappearing into the mist, but not clearly enough to identify the person.  There was no sign of anything or anyone else.  It was, in fact, unnaturally quiet -- as it often is after a quake.

 

~*~
 

Although without proof, Beau had a premonition that Luther Julius was behind these strange occurrences.  He talked Anne into going to the Magic Candle again that evening.  As he suspected, Luther was there, sitting alone.  He was not happy to see them.

"Mind if we join you?"  Beau surprised Anne by his uncharacteristic forwardness.  "We'd like to tell you of our adventure this evening."  He winked conspiratorially, and it seemed to incense the big man.

"By all means."  Luther knew he was cornered.  He'd nurtured this unlikely friendship, himself, and now he was trapped by it.  He moved his walking stick down to the chair beside him.  It was topped with the jeweled head of a man, with his lips twisted into a sneer.

"Isn't that a different walking stick?"  Beau asked, "It's an interesting design."

Luther's face darkened for an instant.  His expression was guarded.  "Yes, it is.  I collect them.  This particular design is from the Canes of Korath."

Anne brightened.  "Oh, I remember reading about them.  Isn't there a legend about them?  The Seven Keys of Korath?"

Luther remained somber, but his eyes twitched slightly.  "Are you going to tell me about your adventure?"

"What kind of legend?"  Beau was watching his suspected adversary closely as he queried Anne.  Luther glared at him.

"Oh, I don't remember, exactly.  I think the keys are supposed to release some kind of demon to wreak havoc upon the land.  Something like that."

They were interrupted by the waiter.  As he took their order, Luther's cell phone beeped.  He excused himself, listened a moment without saying a word, then told the pair that an emergency had come up, and he must leave.  He apologized, and headed for the door.

Anne stared after him.  "I didn't even know he had a cell phone," she said.  "He never liked the things."

"I don't think he needs one."  Beau mumbled to himself.

"What?"

"Oh.  Oh, nothing.  Let's eat, I'm starved."  Actually, he had just lost his appetite.  That wouldn't last long, though.  He was beginning to feel the pull of the moon.

 

~*~
 

Beau spent the next afternoon at the library, researching the Seven Keys of Korath.  He was terrified by what that legend could mean to these people.  Earth, wind, fire and water, beast, fish and man.  Each key set the earth in motion.  When the seventh key was inserted, a door would open, releasing a terrible demon upon the world.

Anne could not believe his concern.  "Oh, come on!  It's just a silly legend.  You don't believe in magic, do you?  Demons?  Witches?  Werewolves?"  Beau jerked his head up, his eyes locking with hers.  She blanched.  "Is there something you're not telling me, Beau?"

"Stay indoors tonight, Anne.  I mean it!"

She smiled coyly, and leaned close, "You could keep me inside, Beau."  Her eyes lost focus as she neared his lips.

Beau kissed her -- slowly, deeply, tasting her lips, her tongue.  She grew more aggressive, cutting her lip on his tooth.  He tasted blood, and electricity ran through him.

"No!"  He pulled away, holding her at arm's length, fighting the raging hormones within him.  "I need to go."  He turned and walked out the door.

Anne stood there with her mouth agape, staring after him.  Then the amazement turned to anger, and she ran out to follow him.  He was gone from sight.

 

~*~
 

Anne had a pretty good idea where Beau was planning on going.  She took a jacket and a flashlight, and trekked into the jungle toward the setting sun.  The last rays of the sun seemed to sigh into the rising mists, turning the air around her to gold, then peach, then amber, then darkness crept in with it's foreboding chill.

From somewhere -- from everywhere -- came a whisper.  A warning that echoed in the mist.  "What?"  Anne stopped and shined her light around.  It was useless in this fog.  Was that a movement?  "Is someone there?" she called, not really wanting an answer.

Someone stumbled up ahead.  She heard the stones clatter.  The sound seemed to echo.  Then came the whisper again -- echoing from everywhere.  It terrified her.  She froze, and listened.  The only sound she could hear was her heartbeat.

Click!

The ground began to shudder.  Anne grabbed for a boulder to support herself.  It seemed all creation was moving, bucking ... then all was still.  Still as death.

"Oh God!"  A stench swept around Anne, causing her to gag.  She fell to her knees retching.

A snort emanated from the mists, then another.  Huge red eyes were peering at her with unmistakable hunger.  With a roar, the creature charged.

"Noooo!"  With a snarl of rage, a huge wolf attacked the creature, his jaws a vise of steel as putrid blood began to flow.  The wolf gagged and spat while the demon howled his rage.

The demon whirled, lashing out with its barbed tail.  The wolf dodged, and attacked again, hanging from the huge creature like a snarling necklace.  With a toss of its head, the demon threw the wolf against a boulder.  There was a yelp of pain as he hit.  He landed on his feet, though, and leapt again into the creature's path.  With a lunge and a sudden twist, he broke the demon's neck.  The bones made a sharp cracking sound as the creature slumped into a gurgling heap.

Anne sat in complete terror, her back against the boulder.  The wolf looked at her for a long time.  Was that hunger in his eyes?  Then he turned and limped toward the trees.

"Not so fast, Ellis!"  The voice filled the mists ... echoed.

The wolf turned, and cowered, snarling.

"Did you really think you could defeat me?"  Luther Julius stepped from the mists as the echoes faded.  "I am your lord, creature of darkness.  Bow before me."

The wolf snarled again, slavering and twisting his head.

Anne tried to move, and Luther's head snapped around.  "Stay where you are, Anne.  It's a pity you had to see this.  Pity for both of us, eh, Ellis?

The wolf snarled again, then whimpered.

"You know that I must kill you both," Luther exclaimed.  "I can't be defeated."

"Enough!"  The word came like white lightning, sizzling through the mists, and stopping Luther cold.

He whirled to face this new threat, snarling, himself.  A dazzling figure stood there, his clothes setting the mists ablaze with light.  He held a glowing sword in his hand.

"Michael!"  Luther spat the word.

Michael raised his sword.  "You are wrong, Luther.  Not only can you be defeated, but you have already been.  You have this one opportunity.  Go now."

With a snarl, Luther turned and raced into the mists.  His howl of rage echoed as he ran.

Michael wasn't finished yet.  "Beauregard Ellis, come here."  Michael reached out his hand.  "You have been bound for long enough."

The wolf whined, creeping toward him with his tail between his legs.

"For your selfless act of heroism, you are healed."  Michael reached out and touched him.  Lightning crackled, and the wolf became a man.  He fell unconscious to the ground, panting with irregular breath.

The glowing apparition disappeared, and Anne crept toward the man.  It was really Beau.  He was wounded, naked, and unconscious, but somehow she knew that he was going to be all right.  She curled up against him to keep him warm, and waited for morning.

Dallas D'Angelo-Gary - 02