Eduardo's Tales
Story 11: The Sinister Spinning Wheel
Chapter 2
(Rated T for violence, adult content, and mild language)
(DISCLAIMER: No, I do not own Eduardo Rivera and Kylie Griffin from Extreme Ghostbusters, nor do I have the right to copy the anime series, Mushi-Shi, which has inspired me to bring our favorite slacker and Goth girl into a strange world that exists beyond time. So, enjoy the show!)
The spinning wheel remained in its sphered prison as it was waiting for a host to free it. The demon from earlier had returned as it was waiting for the right moment to strike at Eduardo for driving it away from the farmhouse. It waited well into morning as everyone was all asleep in their homes. The demon would stop at nothing to reclaim Aurelia and make her spin thread for a much darker purpose. The selection for a host was limited, but the demon needed to find one to free the spinning wheel and spin the dangerous thread that would ever entice someone to much darker tendencies.
"You will pay for this, Eduardo Rivera," it snarled.
The demon scampered off into a tree as it saw a hefty man with black hair walk out of an inn as he was on his way home. He never saw the demon in the tree, but the demon saw him as it was ready to strike. Just as it was about to possess the man, it was being drawn away from its hiding place as it was being pulled back to the farmhouse. The demon saw the spinning wheel resonating from its prison as it wanted to be free. The demon needed someone to free it as it was glowing with a terrifying black aura.
"Don't worry," said the demon. "I'll be able to free you! You'll see!"
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Eduardo began to meditate on the floor as he was still in Aurelia's room keeping watch. Earlier, he told Suomi that he'll keep watch over his wife as he was ready to go into the dream state. The kodama were waiting for him as they had the sake bottle of chrysanthemum wine on hand. With a wine cup filled with the contents that were feasible, Eduardo took the wine cup and drank it as he went into a strange void into the past. He was in the past as he saw himself all dressed in his old Ghostbuster uniform being possessed by the dark aura that manifested in the spinning wheel.
He was horrified when he saw himself spinning the thread that was as dangerous than the demon that he encountered as it was glowing with such an eerie aura. The demon that was possessing him in the past was the mother that resonated in the spinning wheel as it was controlling him with a motive for power. He was powerless to resist the mother demon as it was telling him to spin more thread until he dies. To his shock, he saw Kylie running toward him as she yanked him away from the spinning wheel, but he was in a very deep sleep just like Aurelia. Horrified at the sight of this incident, Eduardo was staring at himself as he was seeing that his own past life was never going to wake up until the demon was caught.
The demon's mother resembled Eduardo's current form very well as it was as evil and scary in her own right from long ago. She showed no mercy for Eduardo's past life as she had complete control over him to spin the thread. To his surprise, Eduardo saw Kylie with a book in her hands as it had the same incantations that were in his spellbook. He wished for her to use the book as it had the occult book stamp of approval on it. Eduardo had been many things: a slacker, a ghostbuster, and a warlock as he came to terms to his powers after being possessed by the notorious Lita Smith from long ago.
It wasn't long until he was thrusted into a room where the demon's mother was trapping his old friends from the past in an old warehouse as she was about to absorb their spirits. It wasn't long until he saw Kylie blast the spinning wheel with her proton gun as it destroyed the demon's mother entirely. Everyone was saved as the demon was vanquished forever. Eduardo even saw himself wake up from the demon's influence as he later emerged from a long meditative state. He was in the present once again as he was still in Aurelia's room. He had to lure the demon back to the farmhouse as he was ready to do battle with his adversary.
"Excuse me," said a girl with blond hair. "Are you going to fight the monster who did something bad to my mommy?"
"The demon still has a hold on your mother," said Eduardo in a grave voice.
"Will she ever wake up?"
"When the spinning wheel is destroyed, then she'll wake up."
"What is your name, mister?"
"My name is Eduardo Rivera from Ryuzaki. You must be one of Suomi's daughters, aren't you?
"My name is Gudrun. My big sister is sleeping upstairs, but I hope that you save Mommy."
"I'll do what I can..."
Eduardo went downstairs as he saw Kylie and Dr. Uchihino standing at the door. He found that something was wrong outside as he was ready to lure the demon back to the farmhouse. Both Kylie and Dr. Uchihino were waiting for his assistance as he was well aware of the trap he has prepared for the demon in the spinning wheel. With his staff in his hands, he was ready to put his life on the line to stop the terrible monster. It wasn't the first time that he had to deal with such a spinning wheel demon, but he had to end it right now before anyone else would get harmed by its influence.
"You're gonna need some backup," said Dr. Uchihino.
"I've already got plenty of spells and incantations at my disposal," said Eduardo.
"Eduardo," said Kylie as she had her staff in her hands. "Let me come with you. I can't let you do this alone, you know."
It wasn't long until Eduardo grasped Kylie's hand lovingly as he was ready to have help on hand. With Dr. Uchihino following them out the door, they noticed that Suomi was standing at the sealed spinning wheel as he was about to break the seal and set it free. Eduardo had to stop him as he twirled his staff and drew the farmer back. The sphere that held the spinning wheel began to crack as it wasn't able to hold it much longer. Eduardo and the others had to hurry as they scattered around the spinning wheel. They pulled no punches as they saw the demon return to the farmhouse. It had a new basket in its hands, but it was empty as the spinning wheel was about to get free from its spherical prison.
"So, you're trying to destroy my tool of operations!" snarled the demon. "You'll never defeat it this time, Eduardo Rivera!"
"Watch me," he said as he drew out his staff.
"It was you who gave that Goth girl that incantation from long ago to enslave my mother before you were possessed by her and go into a deep spell!"
"That was in the past, but you are nothing but a manipulative fiend who preys on the innocent!"
"So that's the way you want to play it! It's you and me!"
The demon dropped its basket as it flew out and began to attack Eduardo. It wanted to make him pay for his involvement in trapping its mother long ago as it seized him by the scruff of his collar. Eduardo threw it off as he began to get out his book of incantations in order to do battle with his opponent. Kylie and Dr. Uchihino aided him as they also got out their books of incantations in order to trap the demon and put it in its place.
"I call upon the power of Amaterasu," said Eduardo.
"I call upon the power of Tsukiyomi," said Kylie.
"I call upon the power of Susanowo," said Dr. Uchihino.
"Bring forth all your strength and wisdom to vanquish this malignant horror," they all said.
The incantation was very potent as it struck the spinning wheel with such a full force. The demon didn't hesitate to attack as it seized Eduardo by the throat. Its grip was strong as it wouldn't let go of him. Kylie and Dr. Uchihino stopped what they were doing as they stood face-to-face with the demon who wanted vengeance for the involvement of enslaving its mother. Even a possessed Suomi was useless to resist as he grabbed Dr. Uchihino and pinned her down. To Eduardo's shock, he saw Aurelia come out of the farmhouse as she even pinned Kylie to the ground as well. The demon has set the turn of the tide in motion as it began to bring out its evil plan.
"Well, you're not so tough after all," it snarled. "Very soon, you'll be possessed to my spinning wheel and you will do the same thing that you did long ago."
"You planned this from the beginning, didn't you?" asked Eduardo.
"It was such a clever plan that would never fail because I wanted to finish what my mother had started from long ago. Oh, look at the brave slacker! Look at how worthless he is! You'll never amount to anything in this world because the witchsmellers will kill you in the very end!"
Rage had boiled over Eduardo as he threw the demon off and aimed his staff at it. He was angry at it for taunting him about the remarks as he threw blue fireballs from his hands. He even destroyed the spinning wheel in its prison as it shattered to pieces. He hated being worthless and he didn't want to be like that as he finally destroyed the demon and its wicker basket as they burned into ashes. Putting down his staff, Eduardo became angry with himself as he was even shaking with guilt. When he turned around, he noticed that Suomi and Aurelia were free from the demon's spell as they released Kylie and Dr. Uchihino. Even Suomi's daughters had come out of the farmhouse as they noticed that both he and Aurelia were free from the demon's influence.
"Is the nightmare over?" asked Aurelia.
"Yes, it may be over, but there could be more dangers ahead," said Dr. Uchihino.
"I should thank your friend, Eduardo," said Suomi.
"He'll know, Suomi. Right now, you and your wife need to get some rest after what you've been through. In the meantime, I'll be on my way soon, but I have to check on an unresolved matter that needs my attention."
Dr. Uchihino spotted Eduardo as he was as silent as the walls of the farmhouse. When she noticed that Kylie was there next to him, she knew that something was wrong with Eduardo as he picked up his staff and walked away from the farmhouse. The demon's remarks had hurt him than a knife to the chest as he felt guilt wash over him. He was desperate to shake off those remarks as he began to think to himself that he wasn't worthless at all. He was reliable to everyone who respected him as he was trying not to think about the awful matter.
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Eduardo was asleep at the inn as he was dreaming into the dream state. There was no kodama waiting for him to give him a cup of wine. There was no sake bottle of flower wine to welcome him as he noticed that the room was silent. Where were the kodama? Why weren't they here? To his shock, he saw a knife that was on a small table as he was instantly drawn to it. When he sat down at the small table, he picked it up as he aimed it toward his chest. What was he doing? Was he about to kill himself in his dream? Just as he was about to do the dangerous mode of suicide, he was stopped by a kodama that popped out of nowhere.
"What are you doing, Eduardo?" it cried.
"I can't take the fact of living forever anymore," he answered tearfully.
"You can't hurt yourself like that. Think about Kylie and think about the friends that helped you along the way. Please, don't take your own life. You have a lot to live for."
Eduardo put down the knife as he began to cry. He felt sadness in his heart as he began to feel a small ray of confidence beam down on him. The kodama was concerned for him as it began to shake its head like a bobble-head. Dozens more of kodama began to surround Eduardo as he was comfortable of their presence. It wasn't long until he woke up in his bed. Morning had set in as he got up and walked towards the window. With Kylie still sleeping, Eduardo later walked towards the bed and kissed her on the cheek as he left the room and went downstairs to get some breakfast. It wasn't long until he saw Suomi's daughters sitting at the table as they were waiting for him.
"Good morning, Mr. Eduardo," said Gudrun.
"Good morning to you, too," he answered.
"Dette and I wanted to thank you for helping Mommy and Daddy last night."
"The pleasure's all mine with the help of Kylie and Dr. Uchihino."
Both girls laughed at Eduardo's sentiment as they were both as patient as their parents. There was something in common about the two as they waited patiently at the table. Something changed inside Eduardo as he was feeling calm at ease. He wanted to start a family, but he had to wait until he was able to have a real home of his own. Speaking of home, he was all packed up to return to Ryuzaki as he saw Kylie and Dr. Uchihino all ready to go home from Sakkinoven.
"Hey, Goat Boy," said Dr. Uchihino. "Suomi and Aurelia wanted to thank you, but they had to start going to work on the fields near their house."
"If only I saw them sooner...," said Eduardo.
"They'll be alright," said Kylie. "The spinning wheel is destroyed and the demon is gone forever. In the meantime, please don't get too angry, okay?"
"I can't wait to get back to Ryuzaki."
"If you think that we're going home empty-handed, think again. Suomi and Aurelia brought us some bread and fruit jams for helping them."
The thought of food had entered Eduardo's mind as he went outside of the inn and saw the carriage full of bread and various berry jams. The food was a simple mode of thanks as he stepped in along with Kylie and Dr. Uchihino as they left the village of Sakkinoven. The girls stepped outside as they waved goodbye to their unlikely heroes. On their way out, Eduardo, Kylie, and Dr. Uchihino saw Suomi and Aurelia working out in their garden as they also waved goodbye as well. The simple task of stopping the demon in the spinning wheel was over as the travelling party was ready to start another adventure, but they had to get home first!
The End