Dark Moon Brother
Part Eleven
Elias in Wonderland
Connor yawned widely, before looking around himself in alarm. It was broad daylight, sometime around noon if he could guess that much. Asleep at the post. Damn. He was alone, as usual. There had been no sign of the mysterious Elias, nor the demon. He fingered the phone in his pocket, drawing it out to stare absently at the keypad. He wondered if he should make the call, to the only number programmed into the handset, to Elias. But no. Best to save the batteries until he really needed them, when the demon and it's woman reappeared. He trusted Elias, but he was worried the man had fallen afoul somewhere. His stomach rumbled loudly, complaining about the restaurant scraps he had fished out of a garbage bin last night. Connor had too much pride to even consider attending the soup kitchen across the way, the very one he had helped set up all those months ago. He shifted, his thin bones not finding much comfort on the hard ground under the trees. The passing crowds were oblivious to the half starved, unkempt man in black rags with the horrible scars on his face, but that was just how Connor preferred it. He got up to stretch his legs, peering through a convienient fork in the branches towards that innocuous spot where the creatures from hell stepped through into the real world. He rubbed at his eye, and froze, unbelieving.
They were there. The demon and it's woman. They stood there, openly, talking easily with another man who had his back to Connor. But it wasn't difficult for Connor to recognize the imposing height and stature of the man. It was Elias. It couldn't be, but it was. Connor reeled with the shock. He tried to speak, to shout, to run, but he couldn't make anything work. He gagged, retching. The demon heard him and turned to scowl deeply, flashing it's glowing red eyes. Elias turned also, and Connor thought he saw a faint smile crease his face. Then came the now familiar smell of ozone and the overwhelming urge to close his eyes, look away, but Connor resisted strongly, focussing through the haze to see the demon take the hand of the woman, and she in turn take the hand of Elias. The demon, carrying something well wrapped in front of him, stepped through, followed by the woman and, lastly, Elias, who now had a wide grin of excitement as he felt the portal close over him. Connor forced his feet to move, running forward quickly, diving at the shimmering shape just as it winked out of existence. He hit the bare earth with a thud. He screamed aloud in anguish and betrayal. He was still screaming when, hours later, the men came at last to jab the sedating needle into him and take him away.
Elias closed his eyes tightly as the whirling, flashing mirrors came towards him. Some part of him expected to be hit by thousands of razor sharp shards of glass, and he flinched for an impact. Seconds, or hours, passed and he felt himself to be slowing down, though how he knew himself to be moving at all was a wonder, since there was nothing in this strange portal way to give indication of speed, distance, or time. He opened his eyes to behold a bright rectangle of light, beyond which he could make out a opulant room. Virginia's hand still held his firmly and he gasped in shock as her slender form suddenly warped and disappeared through the doorway. He felt a gentle tug on his hand, and all at once he was lying on the floor somewhere. Rich carpet under his cheek. Sounds, voices speaking in excitement and greeting. He raised his head and the room spun unevenly.
"Hold on there, Elias" it was Virginia's voice. "Don't try and get up just yet. Let your body adjust a moment". Elias rolled over and stared at the ceiling. Gilt framed the ornate cornices. Wolf had said something about coming to a palace, home of their friend, a King no less. He felt someone grip the front of his shirt and he found himself pulled firmly to his feet. Wolf's face grinned at him.
"Hello there! Welcome to the Fourth Kingdom! We are in the castle of King Wendell, in the mirror room, to be exact. You're in one piece, don't worry!" he said exhuberantly, patting Elias on the back. Elias looked to see little Cub wriggling his way out of his father's arms and laughed aloud to see the infants eyes were spinning just as much as his own were. He managed to focus on a richly dressed man standing nearby who was bent over Virginia's hand, kissing it in a courtly manner.
"Welcome home, sister!" said the man in a very upper class accent, before he let go of Virginia's hand and leant forward to kiss her cheeks. There was a barely detectable growl as Wolf stepped forward and somewhat rudely interrupted the embrace. Elias hid his smile at Wolf's reaction. He understood it, and so did the other man, who withdrew gracefully, hands up in defeat, laughing away the tension.
"Now now, Wolf. Surely you do not begrudge me the company of the fair Virginia. She is family, after all, and most beautiful, as you know. It's not my fault!" he smirked.
"Oh stop it, both of you!" said Virginia firmly, but she blushed nonetheless. Elias cleared his throat quietly. Wolf beckoned him forward, gesturing in an exaggerated manner towards the man who Elias now guessed to be the King.
"Wendell, please welcome a gentleman from the 10th Kingdom, Elias" said Virginia smoothly. "He has come here seeking magical assistence for ah, an, affliction, one unique to my world"
"Oh my, is it, you know, is it, contagious?" whispered Wendell, covered his mouth with his hand ever so unobtrusively. Wolf snickered quietly, but looked expectantly at Elias as he answered.
"No, My Lord. It is a transient thing only, a lunar condition. Insofar as I know, I have never transmitted this thing, but, I must confess some ignorance as to how such a transfer might occur. Be assured, I am well versed in my own cycle and promise to withdraw my prescence should I feel I may endanger someone". Elias spoke slowly, with conviction, and Wendell seemed to accept his words, though Elias had seen the man flinch at the mention of 'lunar cycle'. He wondered just how much enmity and ignorance lay between the human and the wolven races here. Wolf and Virginia had filled him in on many of the details of their adventures and the Kingdoms in general, but evidently things were much more complex than he had come to realise. But, to be truthful, Elias really didn't care whether he had come to a paradise or a wasteland. The past 48 hours had been the most amazing experience of his life, more so even than those first nights as a werewolf. Real, thinking, talking people and half-people from another dimension. It beggared belief, but he could not deny the truth of his senses. He wandered away towards a window, seeing an expansive display of gardens, orchards, pathways winding through the outbuildings. Further off, a distant line of green forest, and further yet, impressive mountains that had never been photographed for any 10th Kingdom magazine. A fairytale land. He pinched himself and closed his eyes, praying fervently as he had never done before. Please, please, let it be so, let it be real. He opened his eyes again, and blinked away the tears. Taking a deep breath, he turned away from the window, seeing his new friends waiting respectfully and smiling at him knowingly. Wendell stirred and drew away towards the door. Like being tugged on an invisible string, Elias followed Wolf and Virginia, impulsively bending to scoop up the toddling Cub. The baby stared at him with his big green eyes, but allowed himself to be carried.
Wendell was chattering away as they traversed the corridors, but Elias scarcely heard, so caught up was he in the strange sights and sounds. He had stared in open mouthed surprise, when, rounding a corner, a tall being with long wings that reached down to the floor had hurried past, a pile of old scrolls clutched in it's hands. No one reacted in the slightest, so Elias had to assume such a sight was commonplace, but he could not avoid gaping at the whateveritwas as it scurried down the hall. Presently, he felt Virginia pull gently on his hand.
"Elias? It's an Elf, Elias. Don't worry, they're harmless, mostly. Great scholars and artistic type people. Long lived, a bit haughty at times. And look, here is a person of the Dwarf folk. Dwarves made all the magic mirrors, you know. They don't leave Dragon Mountain much" Virginia smiled at the wonder on Elias' face. No doubt she had been seen with much the same expression of her face many times.
Sometime during the 'scenic tour' he was being taken on, a large, solidly built man had come rushing up behind them to grab Virginia round her waist, spinning her around, causing her to shriek in mock alarm.
"Daddy!"
"Virginia! Oh how I've missed you, sweetheart" he gushed over her."And you too, Wolf" he added, with just the tiniest bit of hesitation. Elias saw Wolf grin through forced teeth. They had an interesting history, these two, he could see. Perhaps this Tony was one of those fathers who never thought any man good enough for his daughter, let alone a barely tamed half-wolf. He wondered what their conversations were like when Virginia wasn't around. He shook Tony's hand politely when he was introduced. Just a regular New York guy in the highly irregular 9 Kingdoms. Much the same situation as Elias found himself in, actually, although Elias had long ceased to think of himself as a regular guy. He reached out with his senses, trying to get a feel of where the moon was in her cycle. He hoped that she was exactly as she was back in New York. He had barely a week there anyway, but he didn't want to get caught out unexpectedly. He would have to check with Wolf as soon as possible.
"Elias? Elias?" it was Wendells voice. "Here, this is your room for as long as you stay with us. Wolf and Virginia are just next door. I've managed to persuade them to stay a few days here before they return home. They really do need to put in a few more appearances, you know. The nobles like to feel like they're getting their money's worth, after all, and Wolf and Virginia, well, they're heroes here. I hope you'll join us for a banquet tonight. Plus, if we put round the word that, um, magical assistence is required, well, all the great mages will be lining up to help you and they know the best party tricks!"
"You are too kind, My Lord"
"Oh, call me Wendell, good man, at least when no ones looking! No more standing on ceremony for me! I used to be a dog you know"
"I see" said Elias faintly. He felt like he was in book with the characters come to life. His 'room' was more like a lavish suite and it came with it's own butler, evidently, as he nodded to the man near the door. The man came forward and ran a measuring eye over Elias, before disappearing out the door, returning just a few minutes later with an arm load of suits, jackets and ties, all expertly made and very opulent. He thanked the man profusely, before seeing him out and closing the door. He went and laid out on the huge four poster bed. Despite his excitement and all the strange sights he had seen, he dozed off after a while and woke with a start in the late afternoon. Elias tut tutted to himself. Who knew how long this dream would last, and here he was sleeping through it already! He dressed in the suit that the butler had laid out for him, then let himself out and followed his nose and ears to the giant ballroom, already filled with all manner of folk, humans, elves, dwarves all mingling and enjoying the evening. Wendell sat fidgeting on an opulent throne, looking for all the world like he wanted to leap down and run about sniffing under the tables. Elias spotted Wolf dancing with Virginia, who looked divine in a floor length sky blue gown, her hair up, a great diamond necklace gracing her throat. Elias wavered a moment at the image. How like Bella she looked! His beloved Bella. He heard his love's voice again, low and seductive as it had been.
"Ah, my love, my Elias. What is it you fear so much? Do you not trust love's strength?"
He stirred himself back to the present, the music and laughter intruding on his memories. He picked his way down the stairs, making his way across the tiled floor, but he resisted his first impulse to cut in on the lovers, stopping finally at the edge of the throne dias. Wendell nodded to him politely.
"They are a beautiful couple, are they not?" he said, tilting his head as they swirled past. "And something of a rarity. In some other Kingdoms, they would be pariahs, both of them. Even here, where wolves have some protection, not all approve. You can tell which ones" he continued, and Elias, peering about surreptiously, saw that it was indeed true. Many eyes followed Wolf and Virginia across the dance floor. He saw envy, lust, jealously in some. But for the most part, he also beheld awe, gratitude, hopefulness and love. Wendell smiled at him.
"Yes. We are a people forever seeking 'happily ever after'. I hope that you find it also, Elias, and that the price may not be too great" he said cryptically. Elias glanced back at the King, but he had left the throne and was surrounded at once by the courtiers and young women trying none too subtly for his attention. A small bell rang, a signal for the start of the feast, and the wide doors were thrown open, revealing an immense table. Elias found himself seated next to Tony and opposite Wolf and Virginia. Course after course of exotic dishes came their way. Elias was somewhat startled to see Wolf devour very nearly an entire roasted lamb, but Tony and Virginia just rolled their eyes, obviously used to the scene. As the meal continued. Elias made polite small talk with Tony, learning that the man was working on several 'projects' for the King, using his 'extensive' knowledge of 10th Kingdom inventions. Elias, on his part, was able to update Tony on recent world events and, more importantly, football scores. After some hours of dining, the feast ended and selected guests withdrew to a smaller, more private chamber. Wendell reclined on a more comfortable version of the throne and cleared his throat.
"Esteemed guests, please join me in a toast, in honour of our national heroes, Wolf and Virginia!" he said loudly, and the group complied readily. Elias saw Virginia blush and squirm under the attention, but Wolf basked in it without the slightest sign of embarassment. "My dear friends" Wendell continued, "we have with us tonight a man in need of magical assistence". The crowd oohed and aahed expectantly. "This gentleman asks for the best and wisest amongst you to consult with him, that a cure might be found for his, ah, problem". Wendell gestured in Elias' direction, and Elias both saw and felt, several curious pairs of eyes turn his way. He felt a sudden unease. Would they expect him to reveal his nature now, here? He cringed inwardly, but Wolf came to his rescue unexpectedly.
"Now now, most esteemed magickers, I know just how keen you are to test your skills, but, this is an affliction of a, umm, personal nature. If I may suggest, a more private setting would be more suitable?". The crowd sighed in seeming disappointment. Evidently they were going to be denied seeing the strange man turned into a frog, or whatever, which is what the bulk of the populations of the 9 Kingdoms associated with the term 'magic'. But the true magickers, the mages and witches, knew better. They lowered their wands and put back their pouches of potions. They gathered together in the darkened corners to whisper and place bets on what the exact nature of the 'personal' problem was.
Before the evening's end, Elias had an extensive collection of small slips of parchment, given him by all manner of strange looking folk. The business cards of wizards, witches, fairies, mirror makers, herbalists. He stuffed them all in his pocket. Wolf nodded and winked at him several times, but Elias could see a strange tension in the half-wolf's face, sense his wary unease. Yet another thing to ask him about, but he didn't get an opportunity. Wolf and Virginia left early, hand in hand, and an hour later, when Elias excused himself and retired to his room, his quick ears caught the unmistakeable sounds of them making love in the next room. He went to the window and gazed up at the moon hanging low in the sky. She was three quarters full, so he had but a few days to either affect a cure, or get the hell away from this place. No way would he put his friends at risk. Never would he make that mistake again.
Presently, he heard a long, soft howl from far away in the forest and he shivered, feeling his blood quicken in anticipation. Then from the window ajoining his own, another howl, much closer and louder. Wolf. Elias leaned out and saw the glitter of green eyes in the darkness of the room next door. He heard a low chuckle, and Wolf answered the howl again. Then he whispered across the glass.
"They say to you, welcome, brother"