The Pearl Ch. 11

Dakota tossed her book bag into the back of her car and slammed the door. The parking lot was three-quarters full, given it was just past one in the afternoon. She had just enough time to grab a quick bite before her next class, and then it was off to a shift at the library.

She wanted to squeeze in a visit to Sebastian, but it was looking like a no-go at the moment. She sorely wanted to go, and was more than tempted to blow off her class, but she had done that a few times before and while it hadn't yet affected her grades, she knew it would if she kept it up.

Still, there had been an uneasiness earlier that had crawled on the edge of her awareness, like a spider too quickly skittering across her skin. Then it was gone, and she had felt nothing more. In fact, she hadn't even thought about it until just now. She stood and attempted to analyze her feelings. It wasn't the uneasiness coming back. She was just suddenly thinking about it again.

She leaned against the driver's side door, uncertain. She tapped the car door key against the door frame as she thought. She was pretty sure Sebastian would not be happy to be the cause of her grades dropping. Come to that, she wouldn't be too happy about her grades dropping either. So, lunch, class, work; decision made. She slid the key into the door lock, then paused.

Go to him. The thought impressed itself upon her consciousness.

"But I have things to do," she said aloud, though to who she didn't know. There was only herself in the parking lot. She thought about her schedule. She wouldn't be working too late. "After work. I'll go after work."

NOW! GO TO HIM NOW!

She jumped, and looked around. She saw no one there. She was still alone in the parking lot. She shivered for a moment, then ducked into her car and headed off.

Perched on a lamp post, his body shaking from effort, Chad watched Dakota drive off. Once he felt able to, he flew off in the same direction.

Dakota stood on the bank of the river. She had the strangest feeling the river was trying to tell her something. The water was moving much faster than she had ever seen, and she could almost pick out words in the sound of its rushing. The more she tried to focus, the more it faded away. With a growing sense of anxiety, Dakota called out to Sebastian.

Back in her den, the spider was surprised when Sebastian raised his head. He blinked several times, then stared as if trying to focus or remember something. He heaved himself up and wandered back towards the river.

"Where are you going?" She drew her hand along his tail as it moved past.

He looked back at her. Though glassy-eyed, there was a look of elation.

"To see Dakota." He walked towards the river. The spider frowned and set to weaving her spells.

Dakota waited for what felt like much longer than the normal wait for Sebastian to appear. When she saw his familiar shape coming down river, she was relieved. It was short lived; his gait was all wrong. Normally he seemed to move with the river, as if a part of it. This time he seemed to be fighting his way through the current. With dread she also noted the water seemed to be driven away from him. When he stopped in front of her, his eyes where dull and empty. He smiled at her, but it was vacant.

"Hey, Dakota, what's up?" He seemed to try to summon his normal enthusiasm at seeing her, but it fell flat.

"Um, not a lot. Are you all right?" She reached out to touch him. The skin felt clammy, and she shuddered.

"Yeah, I'm good. Why?"

"Well, uh, I'm not sure." She swallowed in a dry throat. "You look a little, I don't know, peaked. And the river seems to be upset."

He cocked his head and his smile brightened. "That's sweet of you, to be worried about me. But really, I'm cool." He nodded, then his head jerked around as if on a string.

"I'm sorry, sweetie," he said without looking back. "I'm afraid I've got to go. See you around." Like an automaton, he turned and walked back the way he came with the same jerky gait.

"Sebastian!!" she called out after him. He kept walking away.

Dakota drew in a ragged breath and let it out in a trembling sigh. Something was not right here. She looked around, as though she would find the answer in the river or on its banks.

The river continued in its frenetic state. She knew there was a reason for it, a communication, but she couldn't figure it out. A flash of a wave caught her attention as it washed something into the water. As she continued to survey her surroundings, she realized dozens of spiders were gathered around. The ones by the river were scuttling away, but the rest were still. They were big spiders and more than she had ever seen congregating in one place. Weren't spiders solitary by nature? That was certainly weird. Not as weird as the sense that they were all watching her. And not in a good way. Dakota shook her head.

OK, she thought.Something is obviously wrong here, but now I'm jumping at spiders. Get a grip.

Dakota took a moment longer to reach a decision, then headed back to her car. Class would have to wait, and work, too.

High on his perch, Chad also saw the spiders and he knew enough to know theywere watching her. A sudden sense of dread worked its way up his spine as he realized he had inadvertently put Dakota, if not in the spider's web, at least on its radar.

After a rush of broken speed limits and blown red lights, Dakota pulled into the parking lot of the Dragon's Garden. Fortunately, without a traffic ticket. She bolted out of her car and to the door of the restaurant. She entered and was greeted by a member of the wait staff that she didn't know.

"I'm sorry, but may I speak with Mingzhu? It is very important."

The young woman looked at Dakota for a moment, then smiled and replied, "Of course." She walked back into the restaurant as Dakota waited impatiently in the front. The young woman returned with Mingzhu. As soon as Mingzhu saw Dakota's face, she rushed over, her concern evident.

"What is the matter?" she asked.

"Something is wrong with Sebastian. Is there any way I can speak with Qiang?"

Mingzhu nodded and took Dakota's hand, leading her to the back. She caught the attention of her sister, Bao, and indicated with a gesture of her head where she and Dakota were heading. Her sister nodded in return. Mingzhu guided Dakota back through the kitchen and to an office door. Dakota received many questioning looks, but nobody said anything directly.

At the office door, Mingzhu knocked.

"Enter," came Qiang's voice from the other side.

Mingzhu opened the door and lead Dakota in. A look of surprise crossed Qiang's face. He rose to greet her, ducking his head in a brief bow while directing her to a seat. Dakota bowed in return and took the proffered chair. Qiang sat down as Mingzhu left the room.

"What is the matter?" His voice was neutral, but not unkind.

Now that she was here, Dakota was uncertain what to say. She looked down and twisted her fingers together as she gathered her thoughts. After a moment she raised her head and met Qiang's gaze.

"Something is wrong with Sebastian."

He leaned back in his chair. "All right. Can you tell me why you think this?"

Dakota recounted her experiences of the day, from the uneasiness during class, to the sudden urge to visit him in the parking lot, and then the actual conversation with Sebastian on the river. During her explanation, Qiang rested his elbow on the arms of his office chair and interlaced his fingers with his index fingers pressed against his lips. He was attentive, but gave no indication of what he might be thinking.

"I see," he said when she finished. "Was there anything else amiss? Anything around him that seemed, even if just slightly, out of place?"

Dakota thought of dozens of spider eyes appraising her with predatory inclinations. "Well, there was one thing, but I don't know if it means anything."

"Every detail is important. Please, what did you observe?"

"Well...there were spiders everywhere. On the bank, on the trees, just scattered around. But I don't know what normal spider population is."

Qiang perked up. "Spiders? Were they large?"

"Actually, now that you mention it, they did seem pretty big. A lot bigger than I remember seeing before. And it felt like they were watching me."

"I see." Qiang rose from his chair, walked over to the office door and locked it. He then walked over to a brightly-colored tapestry hanging on the wall and gestured for Dakota to follow him. He laid his hand on the tapestry and Dakota jumped when it flared into life as moving flames. The flames parted, revealing his inner lair. He bowed slightly and indicated Dakota should enter. She hesitated, then stepped over. Qiang followed after and the doorway fell closed.

The overwhelming heat of the place struck Dakota full force, and she removed her jacket. But she also sensed something else in this place. There was power here, but also a certain kind of beauty. It sent a small tremor through the piece of Sebastian that was becoming more ingrained in her. She rubbed absently at it and looked around in awe struck silence for some time before speaking.

"This is beautiful."

"Thank you." Qiang looked at Dakota over the open book he had pulled out of the bookcase he stood in front off. "Needless to say, I don't bring many here. But time is of the essence, and I must trust you as you have trusted me." He went back to his book and flipped through it in silence a few moments longer.

"Here it is." He went over to a table and laid the book open, indicating for Dakota to come join him.

"Jorogumo," he said, as she approached. She looked over the book, which was hand-written in Chinese characters. There was a picture of some sort of spider-human hybrid on the page.

Dakota looked over the image in disgust. "What's a Jorogumo?"

"It means 'whore spider'. The Jorogumo hunts humans and other spiritual creatures and feeds off their life force not unlike a true spider feeds off the fluids of other insects. It does this primarily through sexual intercourse. It's a henge creature." He paused at Dakota's non-comprehending look. "A supernatural animal, essentially. The word is actually Japanese in derivation. Though the Japanese dragons will tell you Jorogumo came from China, the Chinese dragons will tell you they did in fact come from Japan."

"Where do you think they came from?"

A harsh look came to Qiang's face. "I say them came from Hell and their migratory patterns after that are not of my concern. In fact, my only concern with Jorogumo is sending them back to Hell."

At the tone of his voice, the fires in the room flared up and Dakota jumped. When she looked at him again, Qiang was more relaxed, and the fires died down.

"I am sorry," he said, his tone much calmer. "Though I have not dealt with a Jorogumo in at least forty years, the memories are still fresh. If a Jorogumo does have Sebastian in its web, and I think that is distinct possibility, it needs dealt with immediately and with finality."

Dakota gathered herself. "OK, what do we need to do?"

Qiang shook his head. "Not us, me. This is far too dangerous for you." Dakota was about to protest when Qiang continued. "This creature will not hesitate for a moment to kill you if it feels you are a threat to its hunt. And you are unquestioningly a threat to its hunt. I do not care to explain to either Sebastian or Chang upon his return that I allowed you to engage in this sort of operation."

"But..."

"I am sorry, but no. Absolutely not."

Dakota crossed her arms and was about to engage in the unstoppable force-immovable object portion of the discussion when it occurred to her this was wasting time. Yes, she wanted involved but Qiang clearly didn't think she should be. Whether it was due to sexist viewpoints or the simple fact he was far more powerful than her was immaterial. The argument could conceivably rage for hours and, whatever the outcome, precious time would be lost.

"Fine. I'll head back home," she conceded. "But if there's anything I can do, let me know."

"I will do so. I will arrange for Mingzhu to stay with you."