Dark Realm 63
Brax swung his axe over his shoulder. “Maybe we can use Herman’s boss for some answers. Whatever Herman has is getting worse.”
“I know. I know. He’s pretending he is okay. I can read it all over his face.”
“What’s our net step?”
“We must find Fina, she should have some answers.”
“How do we find her?”
Joy shrugged. “I’m not sure but I think I know someone who might be able to point us in the correct direction.” Joy walked to the garage.
“Where are we going?” Brax strapped in.
Joy strapped up, started the engine, and pulled out of the garage. “Have you ever met a kitsune before?”
“A kin-what?” Concern etched the lines across his forehead.
Joy laughed. “A kitsune, babe. Emmaline is a fox shapeshifter from Japan. Brinley found her when she searched for a cure for me. By the way, she says ‘interesting a lot’.” Joy winked at Brax.
“Okay.” Brax reached over to hold her free hand. “You are amazing, you know how much I love you, don’t you?” Brax kissed the back of her hand.
Joy squeezed his hand.
“I’m happy to have you in my life… no matter how it is.”
Joy pulled her hand away. “Let’s not talk about it.”
“Joy.” Brax took her hand. “We won’t know who is to survive and who will die. If I am to die, I die gladly with love in my heart.”
“With love?” Joy parked the car and then shut off the engine.
“I love you, Joy Van Helsing.” Brax leaned over to kiss her lips.
“I love you, Brax.” Joy hugged him. “Let’s get inside. We have a family to put together.” Joy got out of the car. She reached out with a clenched fist to knock but before she could the front door swung open.
Brax grabbed his axe.
“It’s okay.” Joy pushed his hand away from the handle.
“Come inside.” Emmaline smiled and then stepped aside. “A dwarf. Interesting.”
Joy smiled at Brax.
“Please sit down.” Emmaline gestured to the room on the right. A blazing fire cast strange shadowy images along the walls. “Where is Brinley?” Emmaline sat on her beige couch.
Joy licked her lips. “I can’t find her. She went on a date with a guy and never returned. We came here to see if you help us find Fina.”
“Fina? The leader of the Zen Chi. Why do you seek her?”
Joy cleared her throat. “Herman is sick. I don’t know what’s wrong. Without Brinley here I thought maybe you know how to contact Fina.”
Emmaline raised her thin eyebrows. “And what of Brinley?”
“Brinley is a grown-ass woman. She can take care of herself.” Brax groaned.
Emmaline laughed. “Yes, you are right. Brinley can take care of herself. Follow me, let’s see if we can summon Fina.” Emmaline led Joy and Brax to a large room with ancient runes glowing in white chalk on the floor.
Brax stopped before entering the room.
“What’s wrong?” Joy whispered.
Brax stared at Joy. “Those sigils on the ground are a summoning spell.”
Joy turned around to stare at Emmaline. “Who are you prepared to summon?”
“Do not be afraid. Come inside the room.”
Slowly, Brax walked inside the room.
“You ask who I plan to summon, the answer is Fina. I have never met a being from the higher realm before. I don’t want any of us to get hurt in the process. Brax you can look down to read the runes, you will see I mean you no harm.”
Brax nodded. He whispered to the runes meaning to Joy. “She’s right. It’s a protection spell and a summoning chant.
“Interesting.” Emmaline. “Shall we continue?”
“Yes, please.” Joy smiled stepping into the circle.
Emmaline stepped close to the circle and closed her eyes. She mumbled swaying side to side as a thick drifted upward from the runes on the floor. Joy glanced up at the ceiling to notice a swirling portal. Inside the portal, small dark particles rushed to the floor forming into a female figure.
“What is this?” Fina squeezed the hilt of her shadow sword.
“Wait, wait.” Joy waved her arms. “Please, Fina. It’s me, Joy Van Helsing. We’ve met before.”
“I remember. Why did you summon me here?” Fina glared at Joy.
“Herman is sick. We need your help.”
“Sick?” Fina raised her eyebrows. “Who summoned me here?” Fina glared at everyone in the room. Slowly, she released the hilt of her sword.
“I summoned you here.” Emmaline took over the conversation.
“Release me from this cage.” Fina pointed to the glowing runes. “You were never meant to call upon me again, Kitsune.”
“You two know each other?” Joy glanced at Emmaline and Fina.
“We don’t have time to rehash past events, Fina, but they need your help. We all need your help. Brinley’s missing. The darkness is spreading through the town like the plague. Their watcher needs your help and considering the background the two of you share I figured you’d want to know.”
“Missing?” Fina stared at Joy. “How long has she been gone?”
“Over a month.”
“Over a month.” Fina stamped her sword on the ground shaking the house to its foundation. “I can’t help you from here.”
Emmaline blew smoke rings over the runes to allow Fina to step clear.
“What a simple trap.” Fina snapped.
“Simply enough to catch you in it?” Emmaline responded with a smile.
Fine spun around to stare at Joy. “Now tell me everything.”
After filling Fina in on the events the room fell silent. “I thought watchers couldn’t die.”
Fina’s voice softened. “That is not true. We can die but slower than humans. If Emmaline is correct about the darkness, it may already be too late.”
“Why?” Brax asked.
“Think of it like this. What happens during an eclipse? Darkness covers the planet only for a short time before the waves of the sunlight can push the darkness away. What would happen if the darkness lasted longer each time until there was no light at all? Everything, everyone dies. The deaths of Maggie, her mother, and then Asher have awakened something that until recently we thought we had erased. Asher’s death has awakened tribes of different beings all struggling for that top spot. But there is nothing like what’s awaking in the dark.”
“What is this darkness?” Brax asked.
Fina stared out the window. “For centuries, no one would mention the things hiding in the void. A balance was struck between the fighters for the light and those who chose a darker path. One power cannot exist without the other and so the realm walker was made.”
“How many beings are hiding in the dark?”
Fina shrugged. “No one knows the answer to that question.”
“If you are connected to Herman, how come she didn’t sense his illness.” Joy rubbed her throbbing forehead.
“I am not connected to Herman in that way. My job is not to protect him.”
“What is your job?” Brax asked.
“Do you think you have the right to demand answers, Mister Dwarf?”
“What gives you the right decline to help when you can?”
“Stop. Both of you, it’s not just about us, it’s about all of us.” Joy stepped between them. “Please, Fina. Help me.” Joy reached out for Fina’s hand. “What hunts us in the darkness.”
“Your question should be what doesn’t hunt you in the darkness.” The room fell silent. “The dark world is promising, it tempts you at your very core. It is the job of the Zen Chi to help track humans who are gifted with powers from beyond. Either good or bad. We are sworn not to meddle in human affairs. See Herman made a mistake. He grew attached to the Van Helsing clan. Herman stopped obeying orders and was stripped of certain abilities. Herman knew the price.” Fina turned to stare at Joy. “Has he ever told you about how he became your watcher?”
“No.” Joy shook her head from side to side.
“I wasn’t always his boss. Herman was the leader of our squad. He knew our rules front and back. Herman loved his job.” Fina scratched her temple. “When he got caught telling Abe about the realm walkers, he was… well for lack of a better term he got fired. Herman can never return to our realm.”
“How did he meddle?” Joy folded her arms.
“When you were about three you got lost in woods on the heel of a big snowstorm. Your family searched high and low for you. Herman saw past his job and became a free thinker. You were missing for three days. On the fourth day Herman brought you home safe and sound, and because of this act he was not allowed to return, so he stayed with your family.”
Tears ran down Joy’s cheeks. “I thought it was a dream.”
“I begged him not to do it. I told him but he didn’t listen. Herman never listens. He knew the risk. My anger lasted a long time, but not Herman stayed to watch the family he’d grown to love. I am beginning to understand the awe he has for you.”
“Is that why you were helping Brinley?” Brax stared at Fina.
“Yes, I am not as strong as Herman. I’m here now. I will help fight for the light.” Fina skipped over Joy’s question about Brinley.
“Before when you mentioned the coming storm being a ‘her’?” Joy squeezed Brax’s hand. “What did you mean?”
“Yes. The storm rumored to be taking over isn’t a weather anomaly. We are talking about the Blood Countess.”
Emmaline gasped upon hearing the real reason for the rush.
“Who is that?” Joy shrugged.
“A powerful avenger of darkness. She is the queen of demons. Her true power is legendary.” Fina whispered.
“So, we need to make sure we find Brinley. We need to get her back on track.”
“Wait, if you’re a watcher why can’t you see Brinley?” Joy asked Fina.
“I do not have answers for everything. Take me to Herman. I will try my best to make him better.”
“But what about Brinley?” Emmaline asked.
“We’re already working on that angle,” Joy said.
“Good, now take me to Herman.” Fina curled her fingers around making the three of them vanish, leaving Emmaline alone with her books.