Chapter 13
The Mummies and the Chimera, and a Surprise
Mummy A didn't need to think twice. He slung Mummy B over his shoulder like a sack of rice and followed the huge wolf monster out of the abandoned property. As they ran down the road, bolts of lightning and spears of ice flew over their heads. One spear flew straight towards Mummy A's heart, but it got blown off-course by a ball of fire coughed out of the Chimera's mouth.
By the gateway, the Wealthy Son shouted, "Come on! After them!"
But the Secretary stopped him. "Sir, look!"
She pointed up to the sky just as a dark shape flew across to a nearby rooftop.
"It's them!"
The Wealthy Son didn't need explaining who "them" were. He understood perfectly that dark shape was actually two certain people holding one certain something: the thieves and the Pearl.
Forced to choose between getting revenge on those hideous monsters for the humiliation they brought him or getting back his father's precious pearl, the Wealthy Son chose the latter. But he didn't choose quietly.
"Aaah!" He kicked the wall, and then whirled around to snap at the Secretary. "What are you waiting for? After them!"
The Secretary gave back a stone-faced nod and then transformed into a giant bird again, taking to the skies with a flap of her enormous wings.
Before following after the elephant-sized bird, the Wealthy Son looked back one more time where the monsters had fled and promised under his breath, "I swear I will make you pay for this insult! All of you!"
And then, with a huff, he turned and jumped to the clouds.
**********
Mummy A stuck with the Chimera as he led the way down a zigzag route, taking many twists and turns that were impossible to keep track for the former law man. Finally, the Chimera chose a house to stop and take shelter in so they could all catch their breaths.
Since there was no couch or bed in the house they could use, Mummy A spread his trench coat on the floor and gently laid Mummy B down on it.
"Is he okay?" asked the Chimera.
Mummy A gave his partner a quick examination before replying, "Yeah. He's just out cold. A quick nap and he'll be as good as new. Thanks."
"Mmh." The Chimera accepted Mummy A's gratitude with a grunt and a nod.
"Why did you save us though?" Mummy A couldn't help but wonder. "I don't think we've ever met before, and I'm pretty good at remembering faces."
Not to mention a face like the Chimera's would be very hard to forget.
"It is because you and I are the same," the wolf-like monster answered. "There is no deeper meaning than that."
Honestly, he should have just gone after the pearl instead and left the pair to their doom. It was pretty clear to him that the Mummies were also his rivals and enemies. But he couldn't help but feel sympathy for them. He could tell at a glance that the Mummies were fellow Chimera just like him and under the control of a wicked sorcerer. It would have been wrong to leave the duo to their doom, even if they do end up fighting over the pearl later on.
Mummy A raised an eyebrow. "We're the same?"
"You and your companion are victims of evil magic, aren't you?"
Mummy A's eyes grew wide. "You too? You're . . . human?"
The Chimera nodded. "Once upon a time."
With a grunt, he sat down on the floor, cross-legged. Mummy A did the same.
"Sounds like you got a story behind you."
"As do you," said the Chimera.
"I'll share if you will. Can't think of a better way to spend time while waiting for Sleeping Beauty here to wake up."
"Hmmm." The Chimera stroked his chin thoughtfully. "There is little I can say about myself right now, but if you're okay with that, I am willing to tell my story."
So, the Chimera and Mummy A exchanged stories. Mummy A explained how he was transformed and enslaved by a wizard while investigating that wizard's crimes, while the Chimera regaled the former police officer with the tale of his own transformation and how he was rescued by a more benevolent sorcerer.
"I don't suppose that sorcerer taught you how to help other people like us to break free from magical slavery, did he?"
Mummy A was disappointed when his question got a head shake from the Chimera.
"The only way for Chimera like ourselves to be free is if their master is defeated . . . For good."
As a former police officer, Mummy A should have a problem with the Chimera's phrasing. But after suffering for so many years, he could not help but also think it would be great if the same thing happened to his own master.
"I know another way."
Both the Chimera and Mummy A whirled around in surprise. Neither of them noticed that there was someone else in the room with them. They looked around, but couldn't see the speaker even though she sounded like she was right next to them. And yes, the voice belonged to a 'she'.
The Chimera growled. He could smell nothing apart from himself and the Mummies, which is, itself, unnatural. Whoever that voice belonged to, not only was she good at hiding, she could erase her scent so thoroughly, it was as if she didn't exist.
"Show yourself!"
The invisible woman indignantly sniffed. "Being rather rude, don't you think? Treating me like an enemy and all."
"Well you are the one hiding," Mummy A pointed out.
"You have a point," the woman admitted. "But then again, aren't you, yourselves, hiding?"
The Chimera growled some more, but Mummy A remained calm and shrugged his shoulders.
"Listen, Lady," he said. "This is not, as Americans would call it, my first rodeo. We can waste time going in circles all day, or you can get straight to the point."
"Hmm," went the lady. I've never heard of an American or a rodeo before, but I understand the meaning. It seems you're some kind of experienced negotiator. Or are you closer to an interrogator?"
"Depends," said Mummy A. "So? Mind showing yourself?"
There was a short pause, and then the lady said, "Oh, very well. Normally, I would smite you for making insolent demands to me, but I will humor you this one time."
The back corner of the room shimmered pink. And then, out of that curtain of light stepped - no, SLITHERED - a lady in a grand, black gown with long flowing sleeves. Adorned on her head was a crown with branches, from which sets of beads dangled from. Where her feet should be, a long, scaly tail stretched out all the way around the diameter of the room until barely an inch away from the front door. Her fingernails and the fan she unfurled in front of her powdery white face were also black.
Assuming she's thorough in the single color theme, Mummy A guessed her lips might also be painted black as well. The snake tail made it pretty clear to him that the lady was not human. But the police officer got the feeling that something about her was different from him and the Chimera. Apart from the obvious.
"You," the Chimera snarled. "You don't smell like someone from this world. Are you in league with that Giant?"
Mummy A turned, confused. "Giant? What Giant?"
The lady squint her eyes a little. "You have some impressively sharp senses, Beastfolk of Earth. And you are correct that I am not from this world. But nor am I in league with any Giants. However, I do know of one. Tell me, Beastfolk of Earth, is the Giant on your mind someone with green skin?"
The Chimera growled some more.
"I'll take that as a yes."
"Okay, I'm really confused right now," Mummy A cut in. "All this stuff about Giants and other worlds is really making a mess of my head. Just so we're all on the same page, and for a fair trade, why don't we each start from the beginning and give out whatever we're willing or can."
Mummy B draped his arm around Mummy A and said, "Good idea, partner."
Everyone looked at him.
"How long have you been awake?" asked the lady.
Mummy B replied, "Since the dog dude said something about a Giant."
"I'm a wolf," said the Chimera, but Mummy B acted like he didn't hear.
And then, without anyone asking for it, he started telling his life's story. "It all started twenty-odd years ago in the next city over. I was born in a hospital that recently opened up where a shopping mall used to be. My mom was a yoga instructor and . . ."
Mummy A rolled his eyes up and groaned.
<== Chapter 12 Chapter 14 ==>
No comments:
Post a Comment