A Brief Moment of Insanity Ch. 02

"Let it rip," I said.

Willow nodded and opened her mouth and out came a singular note of such beauty and power that it I felt it in my chest. I raised the hammer and waited. I stared at the spike and in my head I was shouting 'come on' over and over again. Without thinking the big brother came out in me and I sang out the very same note, only an octave lower and only then did spike show signs of moving. I smashed the butt end of the spike with the sledgehammer and the shriek of stone was deafening. Willow fell back and was silent as a jagged scar ran across the face of the monolith. Then we all shouted at our triumph, even old man DeClue.

"If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears," he said. "That was one swell duet you put on."

"Duet, what are you talking about?" I asked.

"It was the two of you." Sophia said slapping me on the back.

"Yeah, if it hadn't been for you backing me up, I never would have managed it." Willow added.

"I don't recall singing," I said.

"I imagine you were so focused on the task at hand," the old man said.

"Yeah," Sophia nodded. "You just jumped in unconsciously and helped your sister out."

"What a team we make Warren."

"Yeah, I hope what's underneath isn't damaged."

"I guess you should proceed with caution then." Mr. DeClue suggested.

"A good idea, we will keep the blunt force trauma to a minimum. I will look through the journal a bit more before we continue and then make a plan after that. Well I better go exchange these for a hammer and chisel."

"I'll go with you," Sophia offered.

"Oh hell no," Willow said. "I mean, why don't you just stay here? I am sure Warren can find those things by himself."

Taking Willow's wisdom to mind I went alone to get the tools I needed. But I still had company, the old man, who walked beside me and offered me his own advice about the monolith.

"Leave it be lad," he said as we entered the shed. "Charles had a very good reason for locking away the damned thing."

"You know that is the first time I have heard his name is my entire life. Speaking of names you haven't told me yours yet."

"You never asked," he said. "It's Darryl by the way, since you asked so nicely."

"Well Darryl, I really don't feel I have a choice in the matter. As you said earlier I am Charlie's heir. I have to solve this no matter what."

I gathered up what I needed and headed back out with Darryl right behind me. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised to find Willow and Sophia cuddled up on the ground chatting like old friends in my absence.

"...he loves a good tit fuck," Willow was saying.

"We're back," I announce.

"Welcome back," the two said in one voice.

"You my boy are in for some interesting times ahead," Darryl said laying a hand on my shoulder.

"Yeah, that's what has me worried." I said laughing.

I unfolded the stepstool and placed it next to the crack we had created. But before I could climb up to examine our handiwork Sophia was up and running her hands along the granite.

"Mind telling me what you are doing," I asked.

"Sophia spent six months working in a quarry undercover," Willow said.

"Oh," I said. "That makes perfect sense. If anyone here can pick out the strike point it would be her."

"Exactly," Sophia said. "Do you want this thing cut or shattered?"

"I want it gone so I can get at the thing underneath," I told her.

"Ah, ok then hand me the chisel and hammer I found what we need."

I dutifully handed up the tools and then grabbed her hips to hold her steady.

"MMMMM thanks, that'll make this easier and more enjoyable." Sophia purred.

"In my day women weren't so vocal about such things," Darryl said blushing.

"In your day women couldn't suck..." Sophia began but I cut her off by shaking her hips side to side.

"Enough of that soldier," I said.

"Yes Sir," she said with a wicked grin. "Found it! Okay here we go." She set the chisel into place and without hesitation struck the butt end with the hammer and the granite split into six uneven pieces and fell to the earth. I had to catch Sophia as she jumped free. As the rock dust cleared there was a pristine piece of obsidian awaiting our examination. Despite the granite being placed over it there wasn't a single scratch on the surface of crystal shaped relic. Darryl dragged a hose out and was washed the granite dust off of the glassy black block. Where the water hit imperfections on the surface could be seen now, but they were in precise patterns and seemed to form celestial designs similar to solar systems. Once the stone was clean we all took a closer look.

"So this is it," I asked.

"Yeah," Darryl replied handing me Charlie's journal again. "It's all in there. All his copious notes and how he solved the riddle. But please don't do this; he locked the Keystone away for a reason."

"I understand but we have been down this road already, I am going to unlock this stone and get the Keystone and anything else that's in there. It's my heritage not yours."

I found a dry spot and sat and skimmed through Charlie's notes. He had begun his quest to unlock the stone when he was a child. An elder cousin had brought him to the property and shown him the 'farm' as he had called it. Then he had taken him back and revealed the black crystal jutting from the earth. The strange markings called to him even as a boy of ten. It wasn't until a chance game of hide and seek in the house that he stumbled upon his father reading a strange book that he recognized the same markings. When he had asked his father what the symbols were he had told him they were his legacy, they were alchemy. Now burning with a single word in his mind he would discover the meaning behind each and every character and solve the black stone's mystery. It took him twenty long years and the theft of the Keystone to do it. The symbols on the black stone are like a combination lock. Charlie had found how to move them to unlock the safe hidden inside. That is where the Keystone was kept safe all these years. Then on the last page was a message for me.

'If you are still with us and reading this Warren my boy your legacy is inside the black stone. Darryl is a good and trustworthy man. The next words are the hardest I may ever write in my entire life. My sister who I loved the most in the entire world put me in the earth. Do not let the same happen to you, beware the women in your life and guard IT well.'

Guard what well? Guard the Keystone? Or was there something more valuable in the safe that I didn't yet know about? Thanks Charlie for such a cryptic warning! I trusted Willow with my life she would never kill me. I stood up angry at even the suggestion that Willow would betray me. I used the combination in the journal and everyone stood back and watched. One by one I pushed and shifted each of the symbols on the six sides of the black stone until they were in the correct celestial position. The thing rumbled as the ancient tumblers shifted into place and with a loud clang the safe unlocked. The door didn't open, but then there was forty years' worth of crap collected around the seam and so I reached down and took out the knife I always carried with me. The moment the blade cleared the sheath it was wrenched from my hand and now clung to the surface of the safe. Willow stepped forward and her necklace was ripped from her throat in a similar fashion. Sophia worked her way towards the thing but nothing happened.

"It's just those two items, weird," I said as I walked towards the black stone.

"I agree, but why those two," Sophia asked.

"I think the answer is in the safe." Willow said. "Warren if you will do the honors."

"Here lad, use this," Darryl said handing me the chisel to clean away the crap that was keeping the door from opening.

I used the sharp edge of the tool and cleared away the stuff clogging the safe's door. There was groaning and moaning then suddenly it violently swung open. My knife and my sister's cross were still stuck to the door of the safe. I decided to completely clear out the contents of the safe to see what my legacy entailed exactly. My first glance at the interior spoke volumes about Charlie's state of mind at the time he closed the safe. It appeared he had shoved at much in as quickly as he could; in a word it was a mess. I gently pulled the papers out and flattened them as I set them on dry ground. Then came a dozen or so hard bound books along with a singular leather bound case. Below those were something wrapped in black cloth. When I removed that from the safe, my knife and the cross flew towards me. Instinctively I turned away and felt the sting of the knife as it stuck into my back. I unwrapped the object and saw a huge leather bound book. Upon the cover of the book was a black crescent moon and I knew this was the thing drawing the knife and cross to it. I tore the crescent shape from the cover and only then could Sophia pull the knife from my back.

"The cut isn't deep, you're lucky." Sophia said as she stitched me up.

"These three things are somehow connected," Willow said. "...But how?"

"Willow do you have a fingernail file in your purse?" I asked. I got a raised eyebrow at that little question.

"Of course I do but why?" She asked.

"When is a knife not a knife?" Sophia asked.

"Exactly," I said. Willow handed me the file and I unscrewed the screws that held on the handle of the knife. Once the screws were removed the handle still remained. It wasn't until I pushed the two halves away from the blade that the secret was revealed. Two powerful magnets, one in each half of the handle held it on. The blade itself was one long solid piece of metal, but there was no manufacturers mark anywhere on it.

"It's a beautiful blade," Sophia said. "Looks wicked sharp; you must take really great care of it."

"Actually I can't remember the last time I sharpened it."

As I sat on the ground with Sophia working on the wound in my back, I examined the knife blade, the cross and the book. Willow sat beside me and watched as my mind worked on the problem, my legacy lay in the palm of my hand literally. I set my knife aside for the moment and looked at her cross. It wasn't your typical cross you would buy in any store today. It had been given to her when her Aunt Sandy had been killed in a car crash. The cross part itself was about four inches square but it was the wicked looking sickle below that, that added another three inches to its total length. When I turned the crossover I saw that the gold that had been added to it had been scratched off the back. The cross was made of the same odd dull gray alloy as the knife and the crescent.

"I need a wire brush and a bucket of water, sorry Willow," I said.

"Warren!" She said then calmed down when I showed her the back of the cross. "Oh, it's not really mine at all but part of your legacy, I see."

"That makes it part of our legacy silly," I told her. "We are family."

"Yes we are," she said smiling. "I'll help find the brush."

"You are cruel to lie to her like that," Darryl said.

"I meant what I said. I mean to share this legacy." I said.

"And if you can't." Darryl replied.

I didn't reply. He was right of course. It was quite possible that this was something I couldn't share with her. But if I could I would. Willow returned with the wire brush but she stretched out her hand for the cross. I understood of course if anyone was going to scraped the gold from that cherished item, it was going to be her. She took the bucket and brush and moved off by herself to do it. There were times I thought I heard her sob but I knew if I went to her it would only make things worse.

I delved into Charlie's papers while Willow was busy and discovered they were land deeds and mineral rite claims. I didn't understand them so I guessed I was going to be hiring a lawyer. That was until Sophia looked over my shoulder and explained them to me. I was correct about the land deeds. There were twenty or so properties that now apparently belonged to me now, if they hadn't been lost due to back taxes. The other papers were indeed mineral rights to fifty or so properties all over the state. I would have to do some research to see if any wealth could be had from said properties.

Next I turned my attention on the small leather case. I opened it and found six small bottles stoppered and sealed with dark wax. The interior of the case was lined with what appeared to be ruby silk and in the lid was stitch a single word in brilliant white letters Amaranth.

"Amaranth," I said aloud.

"An exceedingly rare species but I have a sample of them here in your garden Warren, if you'd like to see it?" Darryl said.

"Yes, yes I would," I said getting up with help from Sophia, so as not to tear my stiches.

"Follow me," he said. I pursed my lips together and sent out a loud clear whistle.

"Hey sis, come on," I shouted. She got up, dried her eyes and ran in our direction.

Darryl led us deep into the garden and the flowery scent was amazing. Then the trees gave way and there was a single rose bush. Even though the roses weren't blooming their color was amazing! Their petals were a silvery white and had an untarnished quality to them.

"They only bloom at night and usually only under a full moon," Darryl said.

"I have never heard of them before," I said.

"That is because they are legend," Sophia said. "They don't really exist."

"What?" Willow said.

"The Amaranth is a tale that is told in the Middle East. When God cast Cain out into the land of Nod, it is said he took pity on him. The Almighty plucked a single perfect bloom from the Garden of Eden and gave it to him, a sign of hope for all mankind."

"So are you telling me that this bush is a descendent of that very rose?" I asked.

"I am," Darryl said.

"Bullshit," Sophia said storming off.

"She has no faith," Darryl said.

"She is a soldier," I replied.

"What do you believe Warren?" Darryl asked.

I paused and looked at the rose, leaned down and took in its scent. It was part of the fruity drink I had drunk earlier. I reached back and felt where the knife had struck me. It wasn't even tender to the touch. My eyes much have betrayed me. Willow grabbed me and spun me around.

"Warren, your back," she shouted. This brought Sophia sprinting back.

"What's wrong... oh my fucking god! How the hell," Sophia asked.

"Faith young lady," Darryl said.

"Here," Willow said handing me her cross. "Even if you can't share your legacy I want you to have it."

"Speaking of faith," Darryl said. "You do your family proud Willow."

"No, I love my brother more than anything." She said. "...More than family, or legacies or anything."

"Thanks Willow," I said hugging her fiercely. "Now let's see what these three things make up, shall we."

We walked up to the safe and I picked up the book and tore the crescent moon from its cover. I could see Darryl wince when I did that. I felt more than a little satisfaction seeing that. I held the crescent in one hand and the blade and cross in the other. With an instinctual move I tossed the three of them to the ground and like three magnets they stuck together as one piece in one cohesive shape. I leaned down, picked it up and we all looked at it. The blade formed the base of the shape, at the top half of the blade was the crescent moon with its horns facing upwards and a bit of the tip of the blade bisecting the bowl of the moon. At the bottom half of the blade was the cross with the sickle facing downwards towards the tang or base of the blade and the cross itself pointing up at the bottom of the moon.

I decided legacy for one day. I placed all the deeds and mineral right papers inside Charlie's Journal that I would keep. The Keystone and the leather case went back into the safe, minus one tube I kept for myself out of curiosity of course. The sacred symbol, as I call it, I put in my back pocket and would my due diligence to discover its meaning. Darryl informed me he was retiring but his niece was taking over after she graduated in the fall. He did however slip me a small hardbound notebook.

"That is the recipe for the contents you drank when you first arrived," he said cheerily. "It's an old Family secret and should remain with the Family. Please feel free to stop by anytime and have a cup of tea, I grow my own by the way."

We said our goodbyes and Sophia got behind the wheel of her car and was glad to be leaving. She started the engine, shivered then shoved it into gear and floored it. We put on some lively music, put the top down and relaxed. While the others were chatting I reached into my pocket, pulled out the vial of 'Amaranth', popped the wax sealed cork and downed the contents. Both Sophia and Willow had both seen what I had done.

"What did you just do?" They both cried out.

"Just a little experiment," I said.

"Little experiment," Sophia said her protective anger rising.

"God damn it Warren, that stuff could kill you!" Willow screamed.

It didn't kill me. It didn't make me sick. That made them breath a huge sigh of relief after ten minutes had passed.

"Oh thank goodness," Willow said after I didn't start to wretch or foam at the mouth. But Sophia wasn't so kind, she pulled the car over and bitch slapped me for all she was worth.

"That was for being so god damn stupid!" She snarled.

"You care," I said and she went white, then red and then looked at Willow who nodded.

Sophia grabbed me and kissed me as if it were the very last kiss she would ever give or receive. Then she broke the kiss and slapped me again for good measure.

"Don't do that ever again, got it?" She said smiling now.

"I got it," I said holding the tender side of my face. "Damn the Irish are hot headed!"

"I am French," she roared and then grinned at Willow.

"Damn Redheads," I spat as Sophia gunned the car forward again.

"Oh hell," Willow said. "He's in lust."

"I know," Sophia said.

The Fuck Off:

The time went by faster than imagined it would. Sophia became a part of the household with little or no fuss once her place in the pecking order was established. She was to be a live in maid and be my secretary as needs be. With those papers from the safe in hand her services proved quite helpful indeed. While I was off on morning runs, Sophia was off running down addresses and taking copious notes about each and every one of them. Only after she had finished the entire lot of them did she say a single word to me. But sadly that was going to have to wait because by that time the Old Vampire had summoned me for my final visit before the Fuck Off.

I arrived at her mansion and it was as overwhelming as ever. She was unchanged at the ancient tree out front, withered but unwilling to bend to Mother Nature's call to the grave. As on each prior visit she was dressed in a different fashion, this time was far more regal.

"Grandmother you look absolutely stunning," I said kissing her hand.

"Liar, but I do appreciate the compliment Warren. You on the other hand look amazing! But that would be all the physical training you have been doing for the upcoming event."

"I have been working my ass off," I told her.

"All your hard work will be worth it. Follow me I have a treat for you." She said.

She led me on a complete tour of the first floor including the library. I couldn't help but notice a certain volume of books with one book missing. It was the Codex and the missing item was the Keystone. I tried not to stare but I think she caught me looking at the blank spot on the shelf.

"Oh you noticed," she said sadly. "It is sad but that is the tome my brother stole. We never managed to recover it."

"Was it valuable?"

"Priceless," she said. "...As are many of the works on these shelves. But that set is incomplete because of his treachery."