A Fiend in Need
Part Four: Abject Humiliation
Dondi and Eden had stared at the library for a good minute. The books have been scattered across the floor, victims of the sorcerer's wrath.
"I still think we should just try to find a way out of this dump," Eden said as Dondi made a beeline to the lone table in the room. "Or at least a way to get those things off you."
"Maybe there's something in these books," Dondi replied, climbing up the chair next to the table. She reached across the table and pulled the green book towards her. Looking at the cover, she could read it was a cookbook and began flipping through the pages. "Hey, there's a recipe for tobouli in here!"
"You think so?" Eden asked as she waved her finger and the books on the floor began to levitate and flew back into the bookshelves. The djinn then flew up, thumbing through the selections.
"Let's see, 'How to get your skeletons their whitest', no, 'How to manipulate people and obtain lackeys', no," She muttered such things as she pulled books out and pushed back in with disappointment. She finally sank back down to the floor when she found her search unfruitful.
"Hey, Don?" The little girl looked up from the page on hummus. "I'm gonna go look elsewhere. Odds are he's got a laboratory in this dump. Do you want to go look too?"
"Okay!" Dondi said. "Go on ahead! I'll catch up!"
As Eden headed towards the door, a small and quick rip! could be heard that was soon followed by pattering of feet. The djinn scooted a few steps away as the girl joined her. Dondi looked around as she walked with a considerable space between herself and Eden. After gazing at a long shelf of vases of varying sizes, she noticed there was an elaborately ornate sarcophagus at one corner; its golden sheen gleamed dully under a layer of grime.
"You know," Dondi started walking towards the sarcophagus, "he's got a lot of stuff here."
"He probably stole it," Eden replied, "seeing as he's making a big deal about paying off a library fine."
Dondi reached up to touch its metal chin when Xerxes slithered out of his hiding place and nipped the girl on her finger. The child let out an ouch when Eden suddenly grabbed the eel-like familiar by the throat, slid the lid of the sarcophagus open and threw Xerxes in, slamming the lid shut.
"Obnoxious flying tube sock," Eden growled as she turned to Dondi who was sucking on her finger. Her expression softened. "You okay?"
Dondi nodded. She pulled her finger out of her mouth with a pop! and placed her hand on her chin.
"I was thinking," she said finally. "Maybe we should help him."
Eden had a stunned look on her face. "Uh, Baby? Did you just say that we should help him?"
"Well, yeah-"
"I hope that just Stockholm syndrome talking, 'cause Mozenrath's a bad guy! People don't help guys like him! I don't help guys like him!"
"But it's because that he's bad that he needs help," Dondi explained, "and you've once said that in order to stop being bad you have to get rid of the bad influence." Dondi then spread out her arms. "And this place is just chock full of bad influence."
Eden looked around and a sly grin appeared on her face. "What do you have in mind?"
"Garage sale," Dondi said simply, "or something like that."
"That is a great idea!" Eden smiled broadly as she spun around and reached to hug Dondi, only to be met with a painful shock. She quickly shook it off. "Okay, we need to scour the whole Citadel for stuff, write up prices and display the merchandise in the Main Hall. I'll take care of advertising."
"And I can haggle with the customers!" Dondi added with delight.
"I know you can handle it, my little genius!" Eden squealed. "Come on!"
The pair began to take down the vases off the shelf next to the sarcophagus.
"When do you think he'll be back?" Dondi asked, struggling with two terracotta vases.
"Oh, him?" Eden shrugged. "Don't know. Just as long he's not here. Now, come on, Babes. We still got a lot to do."
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"Number 47? Number 47?"
Huddled over the clipboard, Mozenrath was snoring. Judging by the intensity of his snores, it seemed like it was the longest amount of sleep he had recently. A string of drool was trailing down his chin. Suddenly, an ear-shattering blast from a gong unceremonious prompted him to sit up straight. As the teenage sorcerer looked around, shaken and perplexed, he found a sheet of parchment stuck to his forehead.
"Number 47!" the voice was shrill. Mozenrath growled agitatedly as he peeled the parchment off. "You're next!"
"Finally." The teenage sorcerer got to his feet and, with the parchment filled out and rolled up, walked through the door on the other side of the room. He came into a small room, a pair of cushions laid across from each on the floor with a low table between them. On the table was a pile of scrolls much like the one in his hand, a round brass inkpot with a matching square seal, and an assortment of quills, varying in length and points. Mozenrath looked up at the wall to his right. There was a hanging scroll bearing the image of a cat hanging on a clothesline, looking straight at him. It was so sickeningly adorable and the only thing that kept the young man from retching was the comforting thought that the feline was dangling over a pack of rabid manticores and would soon lose its grip and then plummet to a very certain death. He chuckled when he then heard humming coming from the curtains on his left. Out from behind the curtains came a very short, bearded man, dressed in a sky blue and had a very tall white turban perched on his head. Upon seeing him, Mozenrath formed a disgusted sneer on his face.
"You!" the teenage sorcerer pointed his finger at the man accusingly. The man looked up, unfazed.
"Yes, me," he replied when he suddenly chuckled genially. "Oh, yes, you're the one who buy the combination hookah/coffee-maker which also makes julienne fries. So how did it work out for you? Fries were tasty?"
"Oh, I wouldn't know how they tasted," Mozenrath growled. "The blasted thing broke the moment I got home!"
"Well, if you don't have the receipt," the man replied as he sat down in front of the desk, "I can't do anything for you. Of course, if you need employment, that is why I'm here. Entrepreneurship puts bread on the table, but career counseling is my passion."
Mozenrath frowned, but resigned his exasperation as he plopped down on the cushion across from the man. He crossed his legs Indian –style, but the length of his legs caused his knees to stick outside the cushion's width and appear very awkward.
"Now then," the man said as he unrolled Mozenrath's scroll, "let's see." He held it up and began reading it, occasionally making sounds of interest. The teenage sorcerer sighed impatiently and began tapping fingers on his left knee. "Your name is Motzenroth? Funny, you don't look Jewish."
Mozenrath opened his mouth to protest, but a flash of insightful thought made him answer, "Yes, that's me."
The man went back to reading the scroll, Mozenrath relieved that he wasn't going ask more questions. He couldn't really afford to get caught today.
"Ah!" the man announced as he got up and skittered into the back room. "I think I may have a job opening available for you!" When he reappeared, he had a small scroll in his hand. He approached Mozenrath and, giving it to him, sat back down in his seat. No sooner did Mozenrath unroll the scroll and read it, a disgusted look appeared on his face.
"Are you sure this is the only one available?" he asked, trying to hold back his irritation.
"Well," the man explained amiably, "they've just opened today and they are in need of qualified people like you and, well, it was…rather difficult to place you..." The man trailed off as the sorcerer looked at him, poisonously. "I'll tell you what. To make up for the broken hookah, I'll give you a sample of next year's products."
The man then dug into a bag next to his desk and pulled out a white, lacy band with a pair of cups. Mozenrath looked at the product, very perplexed, as the man handed it to him.
"At what point did I ever imply that I was woman?" the sorcerer asked, still in shock.
"Oh, nonononononononono," the man replied. "It has many uses." He placedanother one like iton his head. "It's a double yarmulke with straps! A double-barreled slingshot! An attractive vest that both lifts and separates!"
Mozenrath looked at the man as if his face was melting as he got up and backed away out of the office.
"Tell them I sent you!" the man called after him.
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People turned and watched in curiosity as Aladdin was dragged along, gripping a leash attached to a sky blue German shepherd with its nose to the ground and sniffing. Carpet was flying over head, also searching. Abu clung to Aladdin's shoulder, also feeling the pull. The monkey suddenly reached his hands towards the boy's cheek, but the hand of his friend pushed him back. Abu chattered in protest as Aladdin shook his head, mouthing a "no". Knowing why, Abu climbed back to Aladdin's shoulder and crossed his arms, sulkily.
"Genie," Aladdin turned to the dog, "are we any closer to finding Pestor?"
Suddenly, the blue canine's ears perked and suddenly darted through the marketplace, Aladdin and Abu failing along like a kite.
"Genie!" Aladdin yelled. Abu screeched frightened.
"I got a hot trail, Al!" the dog replied, "and it's coming from that crowd!"
Aladdin looked up. "It looks like the Falafel Hut! Come on!"
The trio, sans Carpet who continued his search, approached the Falafel Hut establishment. Outside was Gammy al Camel, though this one was evading children more swiftly than the last one.
"Can you smell him?" Aladdin asked the blue dog.
"No, Al," Genie replied, morphing out of his disguise. "I lost the scent. I think it might be the gyros overpowering my doggy senses."
Suddenly, Gammy al Camel fell over with a thud.
"Hey!" Aladdin rushed over to the fallen mascot, Genie redirecting the children elsewhere with several colorful balls. Abu looked over Aladdin shoulder in curiosity as his friend pulled the camel's head off. Abu suddenly let out a screech, Aladdin jumping back as well. Mozenrath was panting heavily as large beads of sweat ran down his face.
"Okay, Al," Genie said as he hovered back, "the kinderlach are out of the way so we're free to rescue-whoa!" Genie jumped back as well at the sight of Mozenrath. "Maybe we should have just let him face the kids."
"Hold on, Genie," Aladdin said. "He's dehydrated. If he's left like this, he'll die."
Abu made a puzzled sound.
"Listen," Aladdin reassured him, petting his head, "when he comes to, we'll make sure he doesn't do anything." He then turned to Genie who then poofed them to the back of the restaurant. Genie then transformed himself into a hose and a fire hydrant and let a stream of water hit the unconscious sorcerer in the face.
"That's enough!" Mozenrath, now awake, sputtered angrily. "That's enough." The now very drenched sorcerer stood up, his camel costume sagging to the ground, and looked around, alarmed and furious.
"Not you!" he seethed. "Oh, Angel of Death, I'm ready. Take me now, anybody but him!"
"Mozenrath," Aladdin asked, "What are you doing here and why are you dressed up like a camel?" The last part of his question had a tint of confusion in it.
"Perhaps it's another of your dastardly plots!" Genie exclaimed.
"Oh, yes," the sorcerer replied sarcastically, "I'm planning on taking over the Seven Deserts wearing a camel."
"Hey, Motzenroth," a gawky teenager, dressed in a yellow and orange uniform, approached them, "the manager wants you on grill duty."
Mozenrath groaned as he turned to his fellow employee. The younger of the two took a jump back as he saw the sorcerer's foul expression.
"I'm on my break," he seethed.
"Well, he's gonna get mad at you again," the teen said. "Mr. Iago doesn't seem to like you that much."
Aladdin glanced at Mozenrath, amused. Mozenrath returned it with a bitter scowl.
"Fine," Mozenrath pouted, returning his attention to the teenage employee, "I'll be there in a few minutes." The gawky teenager then dashed off.
"Let me guess," Genie spoke up, "you owe The Interdismensional Cosmic Library money because you didn't return a book on time and they took your powers as collateral and so you have to work for the parrot?"
"Is that all you pests ever do is watch me?" Mozenrath asked angrily. "I'M NOT A LAB RAT TO BE STUDIED!"
"Well, you're about as pale as one," Aladdin remarked, when suddenly Mozenrath threw his fist into the boy's cheek. The youth stumbled backward. As scrawny and dependent on magic as the sorcerer was, it was foolish to assume that he was, physically, a weakling. Of course, the sorcerer began to shake his hand, now throbbing in pain.
"And now my hand hurts," Mozenrath said. "I hope you're happy, street ra-" He didn't finish his sentence. He looked with curiosity at the blue spot where he hit Aladdin. Aladdin touched his cheek, the make-up leaving an imprint on his black gloves. He sighed, realizing the futility of hiding his condition, and wipe the make-up off with his sleeve. There he stood, face with the color of overripe juniper berries. Mozenrath gawked at him for a minute before erupting with jeering laughter.
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The Citadel in the Land of Black Sand was situated in a hostile and a decidedly dreary landscape. Destane and Mozenrath saw this as a both godsend and a drawback. The overall aura of land, right down to its seemingly perpetual twilight, discouraged outsiders to settle in, so the two were free to plot, experiment, and live in peace, or as close to peace as a pair of misanthropic human beings could get. However, it was for this same reason that they felt disadvantaged, for those who want to pursue global totalitarianism. However, despite the reasons, now the throne room of the Citadel was swarming with people. Assorted people in lavish cloaks, robes, and tunics were browsing the selection of various objects, ranging from the deceptively simple and benign-looking quartz stones to the down-right menacing daggers. Dondi, standing out with her unimposing appearance, was conversing with a tall, dark-skinned man in yellow. Eden had been gone to distribute flyers for the sale.
"The dagger is forty dinari," Dondi explained.
"It's much too high for the Dagger of Agrippa," The man scoffed. "Twenty."
"No, it's about the right price," the girl countered. "It's the dagger that the sorcerer Agrippa used to fight-uh, I forgot his name, but it's a very famous dagger. It can slice through anything." It was fairly known in most wizarding circles that the Dagger of Agrippa had the ability to slice through anything and they meant anything, but less well known was that the only was to access that power was in the special technique in holding it. Unless the holder pressed down the two gemstones on the hilt while having his thumb on the wide side of the blade, the dagger would be duller than lecture night at Agrabah University. Dondi knew this as she haggled with the man in yellow. Eden, in their scouring for magical items to sell, briefed her in the way that they worked, but then asked her young master to lie about them. Odds were that the people that came to garage sale were just as nasty as the teenage ruler of the Land of the Black Sand.
"Thirty-five," the man in yellow continued.
"Forty and I will throw in one of those pretty rocks," Dondi answered.
"Done," the man agreed, reaching his hand out to shake. However, the girl held her back. The man raised his eyebrow.
"I don't like touching hands," she explained quickly, covering the manacles with her sleeves. "I'm kind of superstitious."
"Very well," the man replied, dropping a satchel of coins into her hand. "You keep on doing a fine job." He turned to leave, tucking the Dagger of Agrippa into his sash and picking up a sky blue stone. "Oh, by the way," he added, "how are you related to Mozenrath?"
"Oh," Dondi replied, "he's my dad."
The man in yellow stared at her baffled as she turned to help a lady in a violent pink outfit, holding a black kettle.
"I didn't know Mozenrath had a son," he wondered as he walked past a short and rotund man with a peppered beard. Pestor looked at the selection laid out in the throne room and grinned wickedly.
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Mozenrath's face was now flushed pink. He was panting and grasping his chest, yet he managed to let out another string of sniggers. Genie and Aladdin both had disapproving expressions on their faces.
"Are you quite done, Chuckles?" Genie asked.
"This has made my day a WHOLE lot better!" Mozenrath laughed. "I may never beat you, street rat, but, oh,your humilationis gonna be imprinted in my memory forever!"
"Will you stop it, Mozenrath?" Aladdin demanded, angrily as he grabbed the sorcerer by the collar of his costume.
"Oh, don't go all blue in the face!" the sorcerer quipped.
"Stop it, you son of-" Aladdin growled, clearly not amused by Mozenrath's "pun".
"Al, there's no need to go blue," Mozenrath continued. "There are children-" Before he could finish, Abu leaped into his costume and began to scurry around. The sorcerer contorted and yelled, trying to get the monkey to stop. Finally, Abu climbed out and jumped back on to Aladdin's shoulder.
"When I get my powers back," Mozenrath seethed, his good humor now disappearing, "I'm going to feed you to Xerxes."
The monkey blew a raspberry as Mozenrath icily glared at him. Just then Carpet flew down, gripping what appears to be a yellow flyer.
"What do you got there?" Aladdin asked, taking the flyer. Genie, Carpet and Abu looked over the boy's shoulder, reading the flyer.
"'Good deals, great merchandise'," Aladdin read, Mozenrath rolling his eyes indifferently. "'Catch it all at the Citadel in the Land of the Black Sand'."
"What!" Mozenrath screamed. Aladdin looked at the sorcerer and smirked
"What, Mozenrath," Aladdin asked, mockingly, "did you forget a little something in your little laugh?" Mozenrath ignored him, instead fuming and clenching his fists angrily.
"A certain little girl is going to die," Mozenrath growled quietly. Aladdin, hearing this, grew alarmed and grabbed the sorcerer by the collar.
"Who are you talking about?" Aladdin demanded. Mozenrath merely sniffed.
"Al," Genie interrupted, "Rug-man said that he bumped into Eden and apparently Dondi's being held at the Citadel."
"Oh, and now the game's been given away," Mozenrath said. Aladdin glanced back at him. "The kid was collateral. I would have used her genie's magic to get the money to pay the fine, but then she had to go all 'concerned mother'."
Aladdin then pushed Mozenrath away and, along with Genie and Abu, climbed on Carpet.
"I'll deal with you later," Aladdin said to the sorcerer and the group flew out of the alley and into the sky.
"Fine!" Mozenrath yelled at them, walking out of the alley. "Go!" He then dug into his pocket and pulled out a transportation stone. "I'll just get there first," he whispered, nastily.
However, before Mozenrath could utter a word, a large burly man grabbed him by the collar, causing him to drop the stone.
"The manager says that your break is up," the burly man bellowed, pulling Mozenrath along, "and there are customers to be serviced!"
Mozenrath reached out for the stone longingly as it rested in the sand.
"No!" he wheezed as he was dragged back into the Falafel hut establishment, humid and swimming in the smell of lukewarm food.
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A/N: Finally, I've finished this chapter after many, many delays. Thank you for all who have hung on to that sliver of hope that I would update.
So are they all in character? Which parts did you like? Which ones didn't you like? Leave a review if you have any questions or comments. I will read them.