Post by Nathan Saniti on Feb 13, 2017 20:35:14 GMT -5
The Star of Babylon - Lust - Chapter 03
The Harvesters stood outside the door with the brass placard on it proudly proclaiming the world that lay beyond to be "Hotel California." Kelli blinked at it in disbelief, as if giving it that sort of look would make the thing change its tune. She seemed even more puzzled that the look had no effect, since it was rather useful with Nathan and Neville both.
"Wait..." She blinked some more in a last ditch effort. "THE Hotel California? As in, Don Henley and the Eagles 'Hotel California?'"
Nathan smiled broadly. "The very same, my dear. You see, this place..." he outstretched his arms to indicate the entire Impossible Staircase, "...is a conglomeration of all that has been artistically created. Stories, song, poetry, and other forms of art become their own worlds. Mr. Henley's songs are no exception. It's an archive of sorts."
Kelli blinked a bit less aggressively now as comprehension set in. She began to speak, but was interrupted by a sound of slow, methodical, dragging and thudding that seemed to be closing in on the group. A petrifying moan raised her hackles. Wide-eyed, she spun towards the sound, coming nose-to-nose with a gray skinned, rotting shell of a man carrying what looked like an old fashioned leather tool satchel. Upon the brass plate on the bag was emblazoned, "Tool Bag of Destiny."
Kelli let out a shrill scream that echoed rather nicely within the chamber of the Staircase. She stumbled back a couple of steps into what was either a very soft wall or a large, burly man. Fright set in, as her hand explored the new obstruction without turning around, discovering that part of the wall responded sensually to her touch.
Slowly, she turned her head around and up, locking eyes with a black man with a sugar skull painted on his face and a raven-feathered top hat adorning his noggin. The rest of the man was covered in leather the color of coal, showing signs of the ages it had seen without a bit of weakness or imperfection. She shrieked again, falling to her backside and backpedaling against the bench Nathan had set his beloved volume of the New York City phone book. She picked up the tome, ready to swing for the fences if either of them come even a step closer.
The tall Haitian man sneered menacingly at first, but within a few seconds, he began to belly laugh in a way that was nearly contagious. The rest of the Harvesters looked at the newcomers with a mixture of disinterest, surprise, and delight.
"If you wan' get my attention, gurl," started the man a Caribbean accent so think Kelli could scarcely make out what he was saying, "der's mo' lady-like ways to introduce yo'sef." He guffawed a bit more, offering a hand to help Kelli to her feet. Kellis guard refused to drop, especially toward the animated corpse that had arrived with this... voodoo looking guy.
"Samedi!" pealed Naomi, nearly tackle-hugging the man off of his feet. She smooched him on the cheek like an old friend.
He let out a shocked grunt, one hand flying to his hat to prevent it from falling off, the other grasping Nathan's sister tightly around the waist for the same reason. He slowly let Naomi to the ground. "Now dat's a proper welcome, chil'."
Naomi stepped back, still holding the newcomer's hand, taking all of him in. "You look good. I think you've beefed up since I last saw you."
"Belief be good to me," he indicated, a bit dismissively.
Nathan chimed in after clearing his throat. "And who is the creature..."
"M..." mumbled the zombie. "Muh..." Then his lower jaw shook loose on one side, gaping his maw both horrifically and comically at the same time.
Nathan turned a quizzical eye to the Baron. Finally, he translated. "He be a man, not a creature. He's jus' not fully awake yet. His name is Joey Handy. He be a demon hunter."
"Full..." stammered Kelli, lowering the phone book only slightly, "fully AWAKE?"
"Yes, chil'," Samedi explained, "I jus' brought him back to fulfill his duties not two weeks ago. He gon' get better the longer he awake."
"Get better?" Kelli's mind still wasn't grasping what she was being put through.
Naomi cupped Kelli's chin, gazing at her with that motherly stare. "The longer he's awake, the more of his humanity will be restored. Eventually, he'll be practically human once again. He just won't have the need to breathe, drink, sleep, or eat."
"A zombie not needing to eat is good." She cocked a suspicious eyebrow at the intruder. "Um... Is he coming with us?"
Samedi chortled again, giving Kelli another small fright. "Oh no. He not ready fo' dat. He gon' go to pieces if he meet a Sin. We gon' go afta da Red Dragon. When da time be right, he join ya. Maybe I join ya too. I not had 'dis much fun in a long time."
"Was there something you needed, Samedi?" inquired Neville. "We have our own quest to begin."
Samedi sucked audibly in disapproval. "Yo manners haven't improved, even witchoo gettin' ya own body."
"I have to agree with my brother, I'm afraid," stated Nathan with a grin. "Time is of the essence." Nathan looked at his watch. "We're nearly nine hundred words into this fiasco and I've yet to open the door or even mention my opponent, Eira." Nathan paused, satisfied. "There. I've mentioned her. I hope I win. Her mood may run afoul with her sour luck since her return."
Baron tipped his hat to Nathan and the group, but only snarled at Neville. "Den I be on my way." He broke prior to gazing at Nathan. "You be careful, my friend. Someone gon' cause trouble for you." He glowered at Neville and spun towards the entrance of the Staircase, his less ambulatory friend drag-stomping as fast as he could behind him.
The Harvesters watched in unison as their guests sauntered out of sight. Finally, Nathan broke their trance. "Please don't forget, do your best to avoid giving into the sins, or their power may take hold over you and trap you." He looked pointedly at Rasputin. "No. Brothels."
Rasputin's face scrunched up in a combination of disappointment and rage. Nevertheless, he swallowed it down as Nathan twisted the handle on the door. A gust of cool wind blew past the travelers, knocking the door wide. A vast desert stretched out before them beneath a star-filled night sky. The landscape was foreboding and solemn in its beauty, dotted with cacti, accentuated with tumbleweeds retreating from an unknown foe.
Nathan doffed his hat, spinning it this way and that before tossing it towards the isolated highway. As it came to land, it twisted and morphed into a convertible vehicle large enough to seat the five of them. "SHOTGUN!" shouted Kelli with glee as she raced towards the from passenger seat. Nathan took the driver's side, leaving Naomi to be sandwiched between her other brother and her lover in back. Nathan fired up the engine and inadvertently peeled the sand back as he spun onto the blacktop, driving the Harvesters deep into the horizon.
