The Simian Witch:
Chapter 1: An Early Meeting
Twelve years ago, at the Walter E. Convention Center
It was a grand day for many archaeologists from all over the globe. Today was the day of the Ancient Civilization Convention at the newly built convention center in Washington DC. So many professionals had come to share their expertise with fans of their works, from successfully published books to presentation of rare relics found during diggings. All in the hopes of inspiring future generations to study and live the joys of a career like the one of an archaeologist.
Among the rows of tables full of those experts talking to diverse fans and individuals interested in the field, an archaeologist representing England occupied one table. He had been rather successful: graduating at the age of twenty from Oxford and spending the next four years traveling around the world, digging up artifacts related to simian history, and recently getting an award for upcoming scholar, this man made almost all of his fellow archaeologists of his age envious, for he kind of stole their spotlight.
Well, who could blame them? From the way fans and archaeology lovers (especially the youngest ones) saw it, Lord Montgomery Fiske was the realistic, adventurous, and rather handsome depiction of Indiana Jones. They just loved to hear of his adventures, listen to facts they never knew of but now do thanks to his passion for simians, especially monkeys, and were nearly fighting to get his signature for the latest and first book describing his work. Most of the female crowd had wanted to get a glimpse of the handsome man that was Lord Fiske.
By the time the convention nearly reached its end, Bates, the young lord's valet, came back with a cup of tea for his master, Fiske was rubbing his head in tiredness from having to deal with all the crazy attention.
"The amount of youth today fascinated by your excellent work seem to tire you, milord," Bates commented.
"Don't mention it, Bates," Fiske said as he got up and stretched himself. "While I do admire the respect I'm getting for my work, I find it rather meaningless compared to my latest research."
"You mean the idol you recently found in..." Bates didn't finish his sentence after getting one of the lord's hands to cover his mouth and silence him.
"I thought we agreed to not speak of the Jade Monkey in public, Bates," Fiske scolded.
"My apologies, milord." Bates handed the cup of tea to his master, who drank and enjoyed its Earl Grey flavor. Their conversation had been about a mysterious Jade Monkey idol that Lord Fiske had covered in a monkey temple hidden in the deepest forest of China the archaeologist had ever traveled. The idol had come with a scroll about three other idols spread throughout the world that would give 'Mystical Monkey Power' to whoever gained access to the four idols altogether. Such a treasure hunt was irresistible to Fiske's hungry blue eyes, which is why he chose to keep his discovery of the first idol a secret...for now.
Fiske nearly finished his tea until something bumped on his back: a young girl, barely older than twelve, had tripped, sending the papers and books she was holding. Bates managed to recover the teacup before it smashed on the ground while Lord Fiske grabbed the girl before she fell on the floor.
"Are you alright?" he asked in a concerned tone as he helped her get up.
"I'm so sorry!" She blushed in embarrassment. "I wasn't watching where I was going!"
"No matter," Fiske said as he helped her pick up her possessions from the ground. He had a brief glance at her. Her hickory brown hair was tied back in a ponytail while she had some bangs covering her almond shaped eyes. Her lavender over-blouse covered her peacock blue pants while the girl wore black flats. Her cheeks were covered with faint, but visible freckles, and braces could be seen on her teeth. What really stood out about the girl was her very dark and sharp denim blue eyes, which nearly contrasted Lord Fiske's icy blue ones. Such orbs were...hypnotizing.
The lord's unnoticed glance then moved to the possessions he had helped the girl gather. Much to Fiske's surprise, ninety percent of them were monkey themed.
"The religious symbolism of monkeys throughout history, man's history with his distant tailed cousins, the Chinese Zodiac, and the truths of simian depictions..." Lord Fiske smiled as he briefly went through some of the books the girl had. "I see you share my same field of interest, my child."
"The passion of monkeys?" The girl forgot her recent embarrassment and had a visible, but well-controlled glee projecting itself from her eyes. "Then you're Lord Monty Fiske, the current leading expert on all things simians!"
"Indeed." Lord Fiske mentally mused on how this young child had just called him 'Monty Fiske'. Most of his fans and colleagues called him by his full title, which was a personal mouthful, so hearing a twelve-year-old calling him by a shorter name was quite...interesting. "And you are?"
"Silvia. Silvia Winterfields."
"Charmed," Monty smiled as they shook hands, unaware that his valet was secretly smiling at the scene.
"I read your newest book," Silvia said as she pulled out a brown covered book with a monkey- illustrated cover from her collection. "It was interesting the way you described the ancient worshiping of the god Hanuman just by analyzing the mural carvings...I suppose you've been to the Jakhoo Temple in Shimia?"
"You know about the Hindu temple dedicated to Hanuman?" The lord was now fascinated by how attentive and clearly informed this youngster was in his field.
Silvia pulled away a loose strand of hair from her face and slightly blushed. "My parents and the rest of the older members of my family have been there, but my sister and I have yet to go. You can sort of say that the family has this...hereditary obsession for generations. It might sound ridiculous..."
"Not at all," Monty Fiske reassured her.
"Seriously? You would if you found out that it's kind of a tradition for everyone to be born on the year of the monkey, which makes every member of my family twelve years younger or older than one another. Even my own older sister is twelve years older than me."
"And we are currently the year of the monkey, so shall I correctly assume your twelve-years-old and, according to the zodiac, a water monkey, which is said to be smart, quick-witted, and fond of being in the limelight?"
"Yes, and if I'm correct, you're my sister's age, so you must me a gold monkey, which shares similar traits to the wood one, only confident," Silvia joined in.
Now she was really impressing the archaeologist. "Quite the intellectual chap, aren't you? Would you care for a signature?"
Honored of getting an autograph from the respected expert on all things simian, Silvia accepted and handed the book discussing Lord Fiske's work. Just as he finished signing the first page and handed it back to the child, a voice was heard from nearly half the room away.
"Silvia! Hurry up, we're leaving!" a female voice called.
"Coming!" Silvia said. "Thank you again, Lord Fiske. It was great to meet you."
"Of course," he nodded.
"Good luck with your research!"
He smiled and watched as Silvia rushed with her belongings to join a woman who, judging by her age and interaction with the twelve-year-old, could only be her older sister.
"Quite a pleasant fan," Lord Fiske commented. "Such an youngster informed in monkeys is what makes the respect for my work meaningful."
"For a peculiar child, Ms Winterfields lost one of her possessions," Bates remarked as he picked something from the floor and handed it to the young lord, who examined it: it was a golden brooch of a monkey with its arms and legs in a circular motion. When flipped backwards, one could see Japanese characters and English words carved on it.
Present day
"'Toshimu, founder of Tai Shing Pek Kwar'."
Monkey Fist had found the brooch from his old days in the large trunk where he kept a majority of scrolls in order to find information of any monkey idol that would help him become the Monkey King. He just happened to run into the brooch while digging through the ancient papers and took the time to look at the brooch again and see the words behind it. Right now, he had just finished reading the words written in Japanese characters.
"'Heirloom of the Winterfields'," he then read the words in English.
He wondered what happened to the twelve-year-old Silvia Winterfields. Had she still continued to be a monkey passionate? Or had she done the same thing most humans did: move on, forget her old interests, and chose to follow a career in science rather than one of those 'magic nonsense lunatics' as some non-believers referred?
Monkey Fist placed the brooch on his desk. He'll go back to his old thoughts later. Right now, he had a new monkey idol to steal in another pathetic American museum.
"Monkey Ninjas, we're going to Washington DC!"
