by Namita Singh
‘you’re in trouble, buddy’. I am hell curious to know how come Aakir knows about this, but like the good brother I am, I motion to divert the topic to spare Aakir the awkwardness. But my diversion skills are not required. Immediately, a therian aura enters the confines of the library. As one, all of our heads turn in the direction of the entrance of the library. As the therian comes into view, I feel myself immediately tensing up and scowling with derision.
“Got it.” David says, ignoring my glare and moving over to grab a seat right next to my father. He raises three vials of clear liquid in his hand and projects them towards my father. Father pointedly looks at Aakir, as if saying, ‘we’re not done yet’, then he turns to David and carefully holds one of the vials and raises it up to inspect it.
“Twenty four hours, you say?” father says to David.
“More or less. Side effects are least with this one as well. Only slight feverish feeling. Slight warmth,that’s it.”
“Hmm.” Father says, still inspecting the vial and grabbing another one from David’s hand and passing it onto Mikhail.
“What is it?” Aakir asks, while I am still busy glaring at David who, weirdly, hasn’t taken notice of me. Or maybe he is just ignoring. Asshole.
“This is for you.” Mikhail says, throwing the vial in my direction. I catch it and end up frowning at Mikhail’s words.
“What is it?” I repeat Aakir’s question.
“Thank you, David.” Mikhail says gruffly, nodding at David and completely ignoring Aakir and I.
David nods back, “You don’t have to worry about Jennifer anymore. I’ll keep a watch on her.”
“Like you’ve been doing all these years whilst she was planning at your back?” I taunt.
That gets me the attention I am seeking. Mikhail and father turn to look at me stoically. I avert my eyes from them and instead focus on David, who, ironically, is keeping his eyes on my father, refusing to look at my direction.
“I should leave. If you need any other assistance, I’ll be happy to oblige.” David says to my father and Mikhail. He gets up, nods at them and makes way to move out of the library, without sparing me a glance. Coward. Or maybe he thinks I am not worthy of his attention. The thought just pisses me off.
An extending silence prevails as we wait for David’s aura to disappear from our senses, an indication that he has gone enough far away to not eavesdrop on our conversation, if perchance he plans to do so.
“I can’t believe you guys are consorting with him.”I say to my elders, making sure to express my disappointment, if not complete anger.
Father sighs, “He is not with Jennifer, Josh.”
I huff, “Yeah. He is just her boyfriend; he is not really with her. I get it.” I glare after my sarcastic remark.
“Do not use that tone with your father.” Mikhail says to me in a strict voice, “He wanted to repent for what Jennifer did. And he had something that would be useful for us. End of story.”
I have many retorts right on the tip of my tongue, but the tone of Mikhail’s voice is like death to my voice. Mikhail gets up, removing his spectacles and haphazardly placing them on the desk. He closes the book on the desk that was in front of him, also forgetting the computer screen, which now that I notice is blank. The information on Taymyr that was displaying on the browser just moments before is nowhere in sight anymore.Apparently, even Mikhail doesn’t trust David enough to remain logged on that particular page in his presence. And they blame me for being severely antagonistic. Mikhail turns around and takes the two vials from my father and inspects them again, while standing. Father gives me a pacifying look, as if conveying to not take Mikhail’s rebuke seriously. I simply avert my eyes.
Aakir clears his throat, “What is it?” he asks again, though his voice is much timid as if he expects Mikhail to chide him too.
“They call it a ‘repellant’.” Father starts, “Remember Jennifer telling about instilling repellant in you when she left you in the forest?”
“Like, when she left me for good?” Aakir asks, as if Jennifer has left him in a forest millions of times. I roll my eyes.
“Yes. She had instilled this in you.” Father nods towards the vial in my hand. “I don’t know why David and Jennifer call this a ‘repellant’,when it’s actually just a suppressor. It will delimitate your aura, forbid it from radiating out of your body. In short, it will suppress your aura.”
My eyes slightly widen as realization hits me. I remember Neal telling me about this same chemical back at the hotel in the outskirts of Krasnoyarsk; the very same chemical with the help of which Jennifer was planning to sneak Neal out.
“So…Josh will be drinking that?” Aakir asks dubiously.
Father nods.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” I deadpan.
Mikhail’s eyes flicker towards me at my tone, but I don’t give a damn, not right at this moment. They want me to drink whatever hobo-jobo that David has randomly handed over? This is stupidity at the penultimate stage.
“We cannot risk you hanging around near the land of flames while flaunting your aura, Josh. You’ll need the repellant.”
“No, that’s not the point of discussion.” I reply indignantly, “I’ll drink whatever the hell you tell me to, dad, provided you’re strictly aware of the source of it. I am not drinking whatever the hell’s in that vial, when you don’t even know where David got it from. For all I know, he has acid in those.”
“Don’t be dramatic.” Father says, tiredly rubbing his forehead.
“I am being pragmatic. How can you even trust David?”
“David was not aware of Jennifer’s plans, Josh.”
“Yeah, and a few hours back even Jennifer was a harmless hassle around us. Look at what she did.”
“Josh-”
“No, don’t ‘Josh’ me, dad. I am surprised you have put your trust so easily in him. How can you trust anyone apart from our family at a time like this?”
“You’re paranoid because Neal’s not around.” Father says, now speaking sternly, “Just calm down for a second.”
I scoff, “I am not drinking this.” I idly wave the vial in my hand.
“Then you won’t be going on this ‘rescue mission’.” Mikhail drawls out, not looking away from the vials in his hands.
“Excuse me?” I snap.
Mikhail turns towards me, glaring, “You mind your tone, boy. I will not be repeating myself over and over. Talk with civility or get out of the room.”
I briefly close my eyes, feeling irked beyond words. I rove my hands over my face once, then look up to see a nervous looking Aakir, my stoic father and a stern-as-hell-looking grandfather.
“I am sorry, okay?” I say, exasperated, not sounding sorry at all. “But you guys have to agree that you do not make sense in this case.”
“Is he always like this?” Mikhail snaps at my father.
Father sighs, “He doesn’t have his partner around.”
“Neither do I.” Mikhail thunders.
“Proves why you two are the only ones who are pissed beyond reasonable facts.” Father states calmly, neither looking at me nor at Mikhail. Father suspires and straightens up, “Just,” he starts, “Calm down both of you, for a moment.”
“I am not-” I start.
“Yes, Josh,” father interrupts, “I know you do not want to drink it. And I am aware of your reasons. Just let me speak now.”
“Instead of quipping like a brat.” Mikhail adds, glaring at me.
“I am a teenager.” I babble, “Sue me.”
Father raises his hand, palm facing me. He gives me a stern look, “Enough, Josh.”
This time his tone is enough strict to make me shut up for good long moments. I am glaring though, not at all pleased with where this is going. An air of reticence builds up, almost extending to the point of getting awkward. Eventually, father quits his glaring match with me and placidly looks at all of us.
“Alright,” he begins, looking sideways at Mikhail once, then
turning his eyes at me, “We have planned a course of action. And it would be essential that your aura doesn’t radiate as a red signal to anybody who can sense it where we are going. So, quit complaining about it. Jennifer is too scared to leave the Ninth Realm, lest she encounters the First Occultist and even though David doesn’t approve of what she did, he is still not going to leave her side-”
“Exactly.” I say.
“Which means,” father sternly says, indicating that I don’t interrupt, “that he will not be leaving this Realm till Jennifer is here. Father will be keeping an eye on him. David is not a fool to antagonize us, not at this stage, not until he is staying here where father can keep an eye on him. So, you can stop worrying about those vials containing ‘acid’. Trust our judgment.”
I still have plenty of contradicting responses, but I know they will have double the amount of responses for my response. Trust their judgment? Their judgment, howsoever wise, has been unintentionally landing us into severe situations. But at the end of the day, my judgment will be worse than theirs. Besides, despite my temper tantrum, I know somewhere deep down that I’ll eventually end up listening to father. I sigh in defeat. I slightly nod at father, indicating my complacence. Father nods in return, looking relieved.
“Okay.” He says, “You should know that you do not compulsorily need to drink the repellant. You can stay back. The course of action that we have decided doesn’t necessarily require you to be a part of it.”
“Of course I’ll be a part of it. I won’t be left behind.” I say instantly.
Father complacently nods at me and looks at Mikhail again. The latter, looking oddly smug, sits back down in his seat, “Told you he wouldn’t sit back.” He says, his eyes still on the vials.
Father discreetly rolls his eyes, “Well, he is my son. If I am not sitting back, then I don’t expect him to either.”
“I am not sitting back because it’s my partner we are talking about.” I drawl.
“You’re not sitting back because, as you just pointed out, you’re a teenager who is having a temper fit.” Mikhail says.
“The course of action?” Aakir asks, interrupting the odd exchange between myself, father and Mikhail.
“Yes.” Mikhail straightens up, “So, the course of action is that my stubborn son and his even stubborn son are going to head towards Taymyr. The land of flames has always been believed to be up that north. So, you’ll be heading that way.” He looks from father to I. “Aakir, it’s upon you to decide if you want to accompany them or not.”
“Of course I will.” Aakir spontaneously says, without hesitation.
“Good. Because out of everyone, you’re the only enough competent person for this task.”
Father and I share a look. I am looking exasperated obviously, a little ticked off at Mikhail’s words. But Father is slightly smirking; just a little quirk of the corner of his lip. Though, I fail to see the point of amusement when your father is declaring you incompetent in front of your nephew.
“He is pissed that we haven’t left the realm with the rest of the family.” Father answers my unvoiced question.
I see. So, Mikhail is being a child and routing towards insults just because we didn’t obey him. And he is accusing me of throwing a temper fit. Figures.
“You bet I am pissed.” Mikhail grunts, but continues his pep talk, “So, you three will be going to Taymyr, leaving tomorrow morning. You need passes to approach that region. I’ll make sure they are available by tomorrow morning. I’ll just book the tickets for your cruise-”
“Cruise?” I exclaim, “And passes for what?”
“Foreigners are not allowed in the northern cities. You need a pass for that.”
“And we’ll get that overnight?” I say, my voice doubtful.
“I have my sources. You don’t have to worry about that. Now as I was saying…Dudinka is the last city before complete wilderness up north. You’ll reach the city on the tenth day. After that-”
“Tenth?” I exclaim again.
“You’re pissing me off, boy.” Mikhail grunts.
“Tenth day?” I confirm.
“Yes.” Mikhail replies and this time he pauses to let that sink in.
I am already feeling so anxious, desiring to sense Neal’s aura, and this man is telling me that I won’t be able to accomplish that for more than ten days.I feel my chest constricting when I think of Neal. Is he even going to be fine for so many days? Amidst the flames and with an Occultist? More than anything, I cannot think of spending so many days without him around. It’s a punch in the gut to realize how used to I have become of his presence. But with the tension of my own predicament, I am now severely worried about Neal’s wellbeing. Ten days will not pass in a jiffy.
“Isn’t there a way to reach there earlier?” I ask in a meek voice. “I mean,” I clear my throat, “Is it even safe for Neal to stay there for so many days?”
“Neal is the safest person in this world, anytime, anyplace, Josh.” Mikhail says, “He may be used unethically, but no one will ever harm him. Not physically at least. And never by the occultist. So, stop worrying about his health. Just worry about getting him back. And for that you need to traverse on a cruise ship. There are no roads, and no airports that can deliver you there. Now, listen up. Once you reach Dudinka, you will have to proceed towards north, out of the city. I don’t think any vehicle can manage to move that north, in the wilderness. So ask for ways and proceed. Ask for the colony of the shamans. Or the colony of the Samoyeds. They live more or less in the wilderness. I expect you to reach them by the night of the eleventh day, or the morning of the twelfth. If later than that, then you guys are being lousy. Don’t be lousy,” Mikhail stresses, glaring at each one of us, “Once there, ask them for the land of flames. Fair warning, they will not be pleasant. But persuasion is going to be your job.
“I am also not sure if your mobile networks will be working there. So, don’t rely on contacting me once you reach the land of flames. Since we may not be in contact, remember that you should only and only breach the land of flames after seven pm on the twelfth day. That will be…” Mikhail mentally calculates,“fourteenth of September, on Tuesday. Do not forget that. Do not be late, that you don’t reach the land of flames by twelfth day, seven pm. And do not step through the flames till seven pm, in case you arrive early.”
“Is there a catch?” I ask, frowning at the specific timings.
“Yes.” Mikhail says, “I will be summoning the Occultist here at exactly seven pm. It will ensure that the Occultist is not around the land of flames when you breach it. Also, Jermaine will most probably come here as well, so you wouldn’t have to worry about someone stabbing your back at the land of flames.”
“Jermaine was not there.” Aakir says.
“He can be where the Occultist is. If the Occultist is there, even ifnot in her physical form, then even Jermaine can be there. I’ll call the Occultist here, so you don’t have to worry about both the things. You people should hurry once it’s seven pm, because I am not sure how long I will be able to hold back the Occultist. Of course, only Aakir, and maybe Nikolai can pass through the land of the flames. Josh, you’ll be remaining back of course. You cannot use your stubbornness here. You have nothing that can make you immune to the flames.”
“Why can dad go?” I ask, confused.
“It is not certain that Nikolai can go.” Mikhail clears, “But he will be bearing the scimitar. And by certain tests, it is somewhat safe to guess that the flames are going to be harmless to the bearer of the sword. Nikolai will obviously have to test the theory before stepping through the flames,” Mikhail waves towards father, “And before you say it,” he turns back at me, “No. You cannot take the sword for yourself and walk through the flames instead of your father.”
“Why not?” I ask, indignant.
“Because I am saying so.” Mikhail replies sternly, “Nikolai has earned the status as the bearer of scimitar. It’s not in everyone’s power to sustain handling
that weapon. Moreover, I am certain your father is a better combater than you, if it came down to something like that. So, do not question over this.”
I find my stare directed at the floor, glaring.
“But the main job will be yours Aakir.” Mikhail turns towards Aakir, “Your astral form can cross the flames for sure, and I believe by your side, Neal will not face much problem in coming out. But if it does pose a problem, then I am afraid you people will have to improvise.”
“Um, wait.” Aakir says, “Am I, um, well, how am I supposed to get Neal out of there?”
“You’re the protector.” Mikhail says, his usually stoic voice taking an obvious turn.
“Well…” Aakir says, “I didn’t really get the memo, or at the least, a job description.”
“Do you have a problem in doing this?” Mikhail straightaway asks.
“No.” Aakir replies, feeling slightly insulted, “I just want to know how to go about it.”
“As I said, you’re Neal’s protector. You both will have to figure it out on your own. I don’t know the quirks of the bond between you two. But I am quite sure it just doesn’t involve happy gossipy time in your astral forms. So, deal with it. It is anyways not our business to know the ups and downs of the bond you share. You find something, utilize it and help yourselves. Do not tell it to other people, and that involves us too. Keep things pertaining to your bond between yourself and Neal.” Mikhail pauses for effect, “Understood?”
Aakir, looking slightly dumbfounded, nods to Mikhail.
“Alright. Go and get sleep then. You’ll leave near sunrise tomorrow. Better not be moody about the timings.” Mikhail grumbles as he gets up from his seat. “Keep these with you. And keep them safe.” He hands over the two vials to father.
“What am I supposed to do with this?” I say, lifting the vial in my hand.
“Drink it when you reach the land of flames. Precautionary measures. The rest will have their auras undetectable. You’re the only one who would be standing out. So drink it when Aakir and your father go to fetch Neal. And stay alert. And remember, that it takes around ten-fifteen minutes for the effect of this chemical to take place.” Mikhail pauses again, “Any other questions?”
None of us say anything, making Mikhail look somewhat pleased.
“Good.” He says, “Now get lost and let me be in peace.”
22.Colliding The Debarred
My home country, Latvia, is a pretty cold country. Not the ‘I’ll freeze you to death’ cold, but an ‘I’ll be a pleasant cooling sensation’ cold. Especially in Liepāja, which is right next to a sea, the temperature is pretty much on the downside. The summers are also pleasantly cold, the temperature hardly going above twenty five degrees, hell it hardly ever goes beyond twenty, and the wind coming from the sea just adds to the pleasing cooling sensations. All in all, I am pretty accustomed to the cold and even enjoy it to quite an extent. Better than the skimpy, sweaty humidity that is characteristic of summers in some of the