Uttuku

The Books of Darkness

by Robert N. Stephenson

Chapter 37

The Ta’ibah

“She held the horse before, taunted me,” he said, enlarging himself to consume a whole wall of the Mummy room in the museum. This was part of the history of where it all began. A reminder of the first Uttuke, his major mistake. “I could not take it from her. There is more to the symbol, much more.”

“I got the book,” I said, trying to calm him. “It has been destroyed.”

“You didn’t take Diana?”

“I couldn’t. Not yet anyway.”

“Good. There is still something that must be done.” He formed into human shape lying inside the sealed case holding the mummy of a woman. His black fingers traced the edges of the wrapped face.

“I found Uri’s murderer.” He nodded.

“Do what you must, then; get the horse, use Diana.”

I watched as he flowed through the glass to reform standing before me. The soft lighting of the room sucked at him like an exhaust fan. The museum was closed for the night. For now it was our domain.

“I don’t think Diana will bring us the horse. She is too close to Sarina, too involved.”

“She will. There is no choice for her.” His eyes became brilliant, almost blinding blue. “Lure her away so I could take her, use her.” He spoke so loudly one of the cases cracked. “She trusts you.”

“That trust is thin,” I said. Sarina knew what I was, she wouldn’t let Diana go so easily.

“I am taking steps,” The Dark One said turning his back. “I will make the ultimatum, there is a way to influence Sarina’s decision and to motivate Diana to do what we ask of her.”

“It is a simple task to touch her mind,” I said. “She will take the horse.” It was simple, though she also had to be away from the influence of the Uttukes.

“I will have Sarina give her up, you complete what is on your mind.” He left. He had set the game in motion, he created my next move.

* * *

I walked through the wall of the lawyer’s office, surprising him on the phone. I leaned across his desk, took the phone and placed it in the base. I could see he was finding it hard to put words together. The shock of seeing me appear like this does it every time.

The office was typically ego-boosting. One wall floor-to-ceiling legal books, all show, no meaning. The picture window behind the desk was bad Feng Shui; it still gave a good view over the houses. Two leather buttoned chairs sat in front of the overly large, polished wood desk. This man wanted to show strength and power. Where was it now?

“Who... who are you?”

“Someone you don’t want to know.”

His mouth worked a few times before he could find more words to use. He looked like a puppet without a master.

“What do you want?” He gathered himself. “How did you get in here?”

I slid over the desk, pushing myself between him and his power. Before he could cry out I wrapped my hand around his brain and squeezed until he began to cry. I knew what I wanted him to do and I showed him what would happen if he didn’t follow my demands. As I released his brain and dragged my fingers from his forehead, he slumped forward. Gasping, struggling to breathe, he slowly raised he head to look at me.

“You know what to do?”

He nodded.

“If you see me again it will mean you are about to die. Do you understand?”

Another nod.

I left the same way I arrived. The action should drive home the point. The statue came next, it wouldn’t be as easy.

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