Chapter 15: Orchid Lore
"You're telling me Lutar poofed away like one of the ghasts in my Arkham Files stories?" Diana stared at him incredulously as Neal described Lutar's last moments.
When he and Peter returned to New York, they went straight to the office. The team hadn't been idle while they were away. Travis discovered that Lutar's past was a fabrication. There were no records of him at the university he'd supposedly attended. As for Nesarat Holdings, the company which had purchased Lutar's estate, they'd been provided the funds through an agent acting on behalf of a client in Italy. It would take time to follow the money trail, but so far Jones had found nothing suspicious in the transaction.
The flash enclosure left in the castle confirmed identity fraud for over two hundred names. The attacks appeared to have started three weeks ago, tying in with Lutar's arrival in Shepherdstown. Crowley's link to the frauds gave Jones a new mission. He'd been the agent to initially report the Dutchman they later identified as Hagen. He now had his sights on Crowley's fraud operation.
When Hagen had been an art forger, it had taken over a decade to bring him to justice. Realistically what were their odds of success with a demon? Should Jones apprentice himself out to the Winchesters? Would the brothers need to conduct hunter boot camp for the team?
And then there was the gigantic problem of Astrena. Dean freely admitted he didn't know how to neutralize a Greek goddess. Crowley's involvement with identity fraud implied she could be linked to the operation as well.
During the briefing, he and Peter discussed what happened to Lutar and the other vampires. At Peter's insistence, he also described the image he'd seen in his head. The events of that day sounded so incredible, he was surprised Diana didn't tease him about it. Instead, she later cornered him in the breakroom for a detailed description of the gory details, as she put it. Was she taking notes to use the ideas in her stories? Plot bunnies she called them. Would Angela enjoy being thought of as a plot bunny? He'd warned everyone not to disclose to her and Michael the Gothic horror tale they'd starred in.
"You realize that when I had a ghast disintegrate into a column of smoke, I never expected that something like that would actually happen," Diana admitted.
"Dean's seen it happen before with certain types of demons." He poured himself a cup of coffee from White Collar's ancient coffeemaker. At the inn, they'd had freshly roasted coffee from the Lost Dog Coffee Bar. He could still taste the dense aromatic aroma of the Papua New Guinea blend they'd had this morning—
Diana snapped her fingers. "Focus, Caffrey. Tell me more about this Van Helsing character."
He stared at her. "Is that what you call Dean?"
"Sure. Did you see the movie Van Helsing with Hugh Jackman? The way you described Dean makes him sound like a modern version."
Neal plastered a smile he didn't feel on his face. This was one conversation he'd never repeat.
"I was thinking, I should take a break from Arkham Files," she continued. "I could write the White Collar version of Dracula instead. We're short on women, though—a lamentable oversight. Tricia could play Lucy. I guess you'd have to be Mina."
"Not happening," he insisted. "Jones would be much better."
She snorted. "I'll tell him it was your idea."
"Who'll be Dracula?"
"That's obvious, isn't it? White Collar's resident Vulcan, Travis."
"He'd probably love the part. Will you play one of Dracula's sisters?"
"Not me," she scoffed. "I'm claiming the role of Van Helsing."
#
On Saturday mornings, Neal practiced martial arts with the owner of the Aloha Emporium, Billy Feng. Billy had started teaching him as therapy to counteract the Mansfelds' brainwashing. Now Neal hoped Billy would help exorcise any lingering traces of Astrena.
Billy instructed him in the Way of the Orchid. He'd developed the technique with his daughter Maggie. Martial arts and orchids appeared a mismatch to most people but not to Billy. In addition to being Mozzie's business partner in the Hawaiian organic honey business, he was also an expert on orchids.
Maggie was teaching a variant of the technique to a women's group. Among the participants were Sara and Mozzie's girlfriend Janet. For the upcoming con, Sara would play a key role where she'd pretend to fall for Neal in order to spy on his activities while he'd pretend to take advantage of her. The Way of the Orchid, which was all about the art of deception and concealment, could prove useful for both of them.
No one knew that he and Sara planned to test the actual dating waters. To foil the would-be matchmakers in their lives, they decided to keep their dates a secret. Only a couple of weeks ago, he'd disclosed his criminal past to Sara. What would she say when she heard about vampires and witches? Or Astrena? Sara knew he had secrets, but nothing like this.
The bamboo door chimes tinkled softly as Neal opened the door to the emporium. In the back of the store, space had been carved out for a small café and that's where he first looked. Saturday meant that waffles with lilikoi butter were on the menu and Mozzie would undoubtedly be acquiring sustenance for the upcoming workout.
Mozzie had called the previous night that he'd returned home. Luchino, his friend in Rome, had searched the Vatican archives for accounts of Astrena. Mozzie was convinced Vatican authorities had expurgated many of the reports as blasphemy.
Neal found his conspiracy expert as expected with a plate of waffles in front of him, but Mozzie wasn't having breakfast alone. That Billy was there too wasn't a surprise but Chloe?
When Billy spotted Neal, he stood up and waved him over. "I just made a fresh pot of Kona coffee. Come and join us." Billy called out to his assistant Steve to fetch Neal a mug. "Our lesson may be delayed. I've been having a fascinating conversation with Chloe."
"I called her last night and suggested she join us," Mozzie explained.
"Peony hadn't heard of Astrena," Chloe said, "but she'd read about the ancient Greeks' belief in the magical properties of wildflowers. Supposedly orchids are particularly potent. Peony reasoned that if Astrena has a connection to orchids, then they could be instrumental in breaking any psychic link she establishes."
Neal looked at Billy warily. "Do you know about Astrena?"
A smile crossed Billy's face. "I do now. Mozzie's brought me up to speed."
"Luchino told me about a report from a Jesuit priest writing in the seventeenth century. He believed the goddess could bewitch flowers. Even more relevant is one account that she could place someone's soul into an orchid bloom."
"What are you saying, Mozz? That I'll turn into a flower?" Neal asked incredulously.
"Of course not. Although, with Astrena, who knows? Now pay attention. You remember, I assume, those fire orchids we found last month in Jenny Jump State Forest. They could have contained pure-blood vampires who emerged from them like butterflies from their chrysalis."
"And we have other evidence of orchids being used," Chloe added. "An orchid was found in the hex bag which was used to free Curtis Hagen from prison."
Neal took a large glug of coffee. This was heady stuff for first thing in the morning. Had Lutar's essence been placed back into an orchid from where he could once more emerge?
"When I asked Peony for help with orchids, she referred me to Billy," Chloe said.
"Peony's a dear," Billy said. "She's opened my eyes to the healing properties of herbs. I never researched the magical properties of orchids, although I'd heard about the legends. In Greece, there are tales of how orchids can be used to determine the sex of your child, increase your fertility—"
"—and strengthen your sexual prowess," Mozzie pointed out, interrupting. "I've heard the legends as well. So far, I must admit the jury is out."
Neal eyed his friend warily. Mozzie was constantly tempted to experiment with drugs. Had he embarked on a new line of research with his girlfriend Janet? Compared with some of his other experiments, this one seemed fairly innocuous.
"When you came in, I was telling them I may be able to assist," Billy said, wisely refraining from any comments on Mozzie's experimentation. "When I lived in Macao, I studied under a master orchidologist. He told me about a Japanese botanist of the late eighteenth century named Ono Ranzan."
"Ah yes," Mozzie said. "The Japanese Linnaeus."
Billy nodded. "The very same. Ono traveled throughout Asia and reportedly had access to botanical works many of which are now lost to us. He wrote a book on the occult uses of orchids."
Chloe was scribbling notes at a furious pace. "Do you know of any copies?"
Billy shook his head. "The book my teacher had seen was destroyed during the bombing of Tokyo in the Second World War."
At Chloe's look of dismay, Mozzie patted her arm. "Don't lose hope. Some of Ono's works exist in translations."
" I may have more about the book in my notes," Billy said. "They're upstairs in my study."
After Billy and Mozzie left to check, Neal thanked Chloe for her vampire-masking oil. "Angela and I are both in your debt."
"Dean and Sam arrived yesterday and filled me in on what went on." She lowered her voice. "Dean asked me if there was a way to detect a psychic connection to Astrena."
"I never thought I'd need to consult a psychic but if I were convinced they were trustworthy, it might be worth a shot."
She smiled sympathetically. "I know what you mean. When I began writing urban fantasies, I didn't believe for a minute that any of the magic I was describing could actually exist. But now sometimes I feel like I'm writing documentaries rather than fiction. Peony has the reputation for being a psychic with a remarkable success ratio. If you'd like to have a session, I'm sure something could be arranged."
Neal hesitated. Had he sunk that low? "Have Dean and Sam had a chance to evaluate her?"
"Not yet. Why don't you come over this afternoon? Bobby's coming to town. He has some news to report."
Neal didn't have any other plans. If Peony pronounced him curse-free, it might not be that significant but Peter wouldn't worry so much.
"Dean told me about those bottles you found in Lutar's room. Have they discovered anything more about them?" Chloe asked.
"The lab's never seen that particular formula before and frankly doesn't even know how to classify it. Perfume? Flavor extract? Drug? I told Angela that it was a new designer drug, and that may be true."
Chloe nodded, looking wistful. "I wish I could have had a chance to test it."
"Then I'll make your day. I didn't give the lab all the bottles I'd discovered. I held a couple back, hoping I could coax you." He assumed a stern expression, cutting short her delighted thanks. "But you have to promise me to keep them out of Mozzie's hands. He'd likely want to test the drug on himself."
"But we may need a volunteer," she pleaded. "Under controlled conditions?"
From out of nowhere Mozzie appeared behind them. "Controlled conditions?" His nose was twitching like a mouse sniffing the aroma of Camembert. He pulled up a chair next to Chloe, and before Neal could say Roquefort, the two were deep into herbs, potions, and infusion techniques.
The fact that Billy had found the name of the book, The Magical Properties of Orchids, only added to their enthusiasm. Mozzie promised to scour the planet in his quest to find a copy.
Billy and Neal headed to the back of the café to refill their coffees. "Mozzie told me about the fire orchids you encountered," Billy said. "I've heard some amazing tales, but his account of vampires being spawned from orchids will take me a while to digest."
"It wasn't difficult for me to believe vampires are real," he admitted. "I've seen my share of horror movies, but that flowers could transform into supernatural beings is hard to accept."
Billy shrugged. "There are legends about just such a transformation. Are you familiar with the tale of Orchis in Greek mythology?"
"The satyr who was turned into an orchid by the gods? Mozzie told me about him."
"There are similar legends in Asia. There can be much wisdom in those old stories." Billy was called away to wait on a customer, leaving him to ponder his words. Souls trapped inside flowers. Had Bobby heard of any cases?
When he returned to the table, Mozzie and Chloe were deep into a discussion of flower ingredients and potions. Once they began describing the effects they wanted to achieve, Mozzie's eyes took on the rapturous glitter of the newly converted.
Was this the start of a new passion? Mozzie had been fixated on all things honey-related since December— a long era in his warped space-time continuum. Potions would have a natural appeal for a man who'd been fascinated by the effects of drugs for as long as Neal had known him. If it wasn't for the threat of a curse hanging over him, he would have gladly kept Mozzie at arm's length from anything associated with alchemy and the occult. Why couldn't this continue to be Mozzie's Golden Age of Bees and Honey? Would Chloe's arrival in town act like a devastating asteroid, crushing bees in its wake and ushering in the Age of Potions?
He wouldn't be able to rely on Janet for help. Like Chloe, she was a wildflower enthusiast. Initially, Chloe researched herbs to provide authenticity to her novels. That was also why she'd joined a Wicca coven in New Haven. More than likely Janet had joined Peony's coven along with Chloe. They were both interested in wildflowers. Could Mozzie be next? Were men even allowed in covens or did warlocks have their separate man covens? Although alchemy might serve to dampen Mozzie's enthusiasm for cave slime and space aliens, Neal doubted it. Mozzie would simply merge the interests.
But that was a problem for another day. Chloe had volunteered to investigate the contents of Lutar's bottles. She'd lent a sympathetic ear to his concerns about Astrena. If she could figure out a way to banish the goddess from his mind, she'd earn his undying gratitude. He could put up with Mozzie being a warlock.
"If Janet and I didn't have tickets to a matinée, I'd join you at Peony's," Mozzie said. "She got us tickets for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, an intriguing take on reality and illusion." He glanced at Neal. "It could be instructive for what's to come."
Neal caught the reference. The con was about to begin. All they were waiting for was Peter's permission to offer the Braque for sale.
Chloe looked at them curiously but didn't pry. Neal liked that about her and suspected Dean appreciated it even more. She respected boundaries. "Maia's arriving this afternoon," she said, switching topics as if to prove she knew theirs was off-limits. "We thought it would be fun to double date tonight. Dean's into rock music. We'd love you to join us. Any suggestions for where to go?"
"There's a new club in the Village, called Riffs. I've played there some."
Chloe's eyes widened. "I didn't realize you play too. Does Dean know?"
"I don't think so. Riffs has open mic night on Saturdays. You could give him a chance to redeem himself after that rather disastrous karaoke performance in Buttonwood."
"He does have a good voice," she said with a grin, "even if he refuses to ever sing 'Happy Trails' again."
"There's a music shop next door. The owner's a friend of mine and could supply him with a loaner guitar if he needs one."
Could Dean be coaxed to perform? Neal intended to make sure of it. Everyone else would have a date. Sara was out of town. Bianka had been too sick to go to the concert last weekend. This could make up for it. They'd never discussed rock music. What would she think if she knew he used to perform professionally as a member of Urban Legend?
Notes: Ono Ranzan is indeed the Japanese Linnaeus but only Billy knows of his interest in the occult.