The Bane of Existence

Published: 10 Aug 2020

“Walk with me, son,” Brigit sighed deeply turning onto one of the many trails that cut through the woods surrounding the cavern where the Z’s lived and trained their troops.

Drew hesitated as he determined whether he should call for Karl to join them. Decision made he hurried to catch up to his mom he could always tell Karl about it later. Once caught up he looked toward her expectantly.

“I’ve always been vague whenever you asked about your father. Just telling you that we were no longer together,” Brigit began quietly. “The truth is we were never really together; we weren’t married. We came together for the express purpose of creating a child; you.”

“So, who is my father?” queried Drew. “Do I finally get to know?”

“Yes, Drew,” answered Brigit. “We are going to meet with your father in Ireland. Sean, the Druidic High Priest, is your father and he wants to see you.”

“Is that a good thing?” asked Drew anxiously.

“Yes, I’m pretty sure it’s a good thing.” replied Btigit with a smile. “He probably wants to see if you’ve been taught magic and to see how strong you are magically. I think he’s going to be pleased. I know I am and I’m very proud of you.”

“Thanks, mom,” Drew said, drawing Brigit into a hug. “Let’s get ready to travel. I wonder who all is coming?”

“Well, if you’re going I’m pretty sure Karl will be, “ laughed Brigit. “And if I’m going that means Grayson will probably go. With Zane you always get Zander and I don’t think Rogan and Radesh will stay behind. Other than that I’m not sure.”

“Milady,” bowed the Ancient vampire starting his report. “I am happy to report that we are making gains in much of Europe and Asia along with slight gains everywhere except North America. However, we have been holding our own there in the last couple of years.”

“That is acceptable for now,” responded Lady Bane. “We must keep my brat of a son too busy to take any notice of the rest of the world until we have a firm hold of at least Europe and most of Asia. Once we have the upper hand in a good part of the world we can bring down more on him than he and his little band can withstand. Then we can crush him and take his power. After that no one will be able to stop me from doing whatever I want.”

“We shall endeavor to achieve those ends, milady,” simpered the vampire general with another bow even lower than the first.

“Be sure that you do, Rufus,” commanded Erika. “Especially if you want to keep your position . . . and your head. Now, be gone!”

The Ancient general, Rufus, backed out of the room keeping low until he was out of the Bane’s sight. Then he straightened to his full height and stalked away to relay the commands to his underlings with just as dire consequences for failure as had been given to him.

After meeting with Z-Troop Zane decided on who was to travel to Ireland to meet with Sean the Druid High Priest and leader of the Druidic Council. The ones going were Zane, Zander, Rogan, Radesh, Brigit, Drew, Karl, Grayson, Marko, Zach and Derek. Shayn and Gavin would stay behind to watch over the caves and the house with help from Duncan, Thomas and some of their mage friends. Donnie and Simon also promised to check on the house from time to time since Zane didn’t know how long they would be gone.

Everyone going on the trip packed a few things they would need in a backpack then gathered in front of Zane and Zander’s cave. Brigit looked around at the gathered group then commented, “I hope they don’t think it strange that so many people are traveling without any real luggage.”

A few of the guys giggled at her statement while the rest managed to stifle their mirth. When all of them had themselves under control Zane addressed her comment, “We won’t be taking any normal means of traveling like a plane. If you can provide a mental picture of where we need to go we can provide the magical power to go straight from here to there.”

Brigit unsuccessfully tried to hide her surprise as she questioned, “You can get everyone who’s going? Just like that?”

“Yes, I have the power to do it,” quietly replied Zane with a solemn expression. “But all of us will do it together so that I am not almost drained of energy in a foreign place.”

“O-okay. That makes sense,” she muttered, still not totally convinced.

“You’ll see, mom,” asserted Drew. “Zane’s the strongest mage I’ve ever met and Zander, Grayson and Marko aren’t far behind. The rest of us are pretty good too.”

“It’ll be fine. We’ll get there just fine and easily,” added Karl wrapping an arm around his mother-in-law.

“Alright! Alright!” laughed Brigit as she shook her head. “I believe you! Now let me clear my head so I can give us a good place to appear.”

After a couple of calming breaths and a moment of deep meditation Brigit was able to make a mental picture and project it to the others traveling to Ireland. The place she chose was a field next to her grandfather’s old house near the border of Counties Cork and Kerry.

With a firm picture in mind and everyone touching at least one other person in the group to be sure they all landed in the same place and not on top of one another Zane started the spell with Grayson and Marko joining him verbally and the rest silently. There was a brief build up of magical power and a moment or less later they stood on a grassy knoll in the corner of a small meadow. Just past a low stone wall stood an old farmhouse with a few straggly apple trees in the yard.

“That was my grandfather’s house when I was a girl,” remarked Brigit wistfully. Past memories caused her to fall silent.

Drew stood quietly taking the sight in with Karl’s hand still clutched in his. A couple of minutes later he asked, “So, you played here as a little girl? Why did we never visit here when I was a boy?”

“My parents weren’t happy that I got pregnant before being married and were even less happy when I refused to tell who the father was and refused to get married. My grandfather, Andrew O’Hurley, paid my way to America and helped me get set up with a house and job.”

“Was I named for your grandfather?” asked Drew thoughtfully. “But why are we just Hurley if his name was O’Hurley?”

“Yes, you were named for your great grandfather . . . well, except for your middle name. It comes from your father,” answered Brigit with a small smile. “The O was dropped when I came to America at my grandfather’s insistence. There are two reasons we never visited; one-I really didn’t have the money to travel and two-before you turned five my grandfather sold this place and moved in with my Aunt Macha.”

“So, who owns it now? And won’t they get mad at us being on their land?” interjected Radesh with his head on a swivel trying to see in all directions.

“It now belongs to Sean and the Druid Council except for a couple of fields that belong to the Witch’s Council,” replied Brigit turning toward the open meadow. “We will be meeting privately with Sean and a few others in a grove of trees over that way then we will meet the local Druid and Witches’ covens in a different field.”

“When do we meet with him? Do we need to head that way now?” inquired Zane in a slight take charge manner.

“Sean has asked us to meet this afternoon then we will meet the others in the early evening and probably spend much of the night there,” responded Brigit. “For now we have the use of the house and food is there for the ones who need it. He also has some animal blood if it is needed.”

“Lead the way,” said Zane with a subtle bow and a sweeping hand gesture.

Following Brigit they all trooped across the field through the gate in the wall and through the yard to the front door of the old farmhouse. They were met at the door by one of Sean’s assistants and welcomed into the house. Inside they spent the time until the meeting resting and snacking while the assistant, Fiach, provided them with a little more information about the upcoming meetings.

Zane asked for a room to use to meditate and was told by Fiach that any unlocked room was available for their use while visiting. With a nod toward Zander, Zane rose from his chair and went up the stairs. Zander followed close behind and caught him before he reached the top of the staircase. Hand in hand they entered the first room with an open door and closed and locked it behind them.

About an hour and a half later they came back down the stairs holding hands and with contented smiles on their faces. They did spend some time in meditation but also used another couples relaxation technique. They were not the only couple to avail themselves of a room. Marco never left the sitting room and spent his time conversing with Fiach, while Zach used a downstairs room to relax and review spells and Derek spent some time exploring the large yard around the house.

Finally it became time to meet in the grove with the Druids. Fiach and Brigit led the way with Grayson right behind her. The others mixed in the middle with the Z’s and their wolf guards bringing up the rear. It only took the group five minutes to reach the trees and just over that amount of time to reach a small glade within the woods.

Around the opening were several large tree trunks placed like benches for sitting. As they entered four people rose from one of the six foot long trunks and stepped forward. There were two men and two women in robes of differing colors; forest green, light brown (that matched what Fiach was wearing), olive green and black.

Fiach waited until Zane and Zander had made their way to the front before starting his introductions. He started with the man in the Forest green robes who several of the group quickly assumed was Sean when he lowered his hood for the introductions. Drew bore a striking resemblance to the man.

“This is High Priest Sean Murphy, Priest Patrick O’Donald, Head Druidess Fiona and the head of the witches’ coven, Hecate,” Fiach gestured to each one as he said their name. Since there were so many of Z-Troop the four merely nodded in greeting to save time.

There was a moment of silence when he finished as no one was sure who should do the introductions for Z-Troop. Zane quickly sent a mental message to Brigit telling her to introduce herself and him then he would introduce the rest. She gave a slight nod and began. Soon all had been introduced and the group got down to business, although Sean and Drew were constantly eyeing one another.

The four Irish magic leaders related the concerns they had about the rise of vampire activity and the openness of Dark magic users in Ireland, the rest of the British Isles and mainland Europe. “The lead priest of the Scottish druids and I have been in almost constant contact over the last six months. We’ve set aside our usual rivalry during these times so we can survive. I’ve also had contact with the Spanish druids and they have been practically under a siege from Dark Druids with some vampiric help,” relayed Sean.

“The witches in Spain have been aiding the Druids the same as we have here. It is rumored that some wolves have stepped in a time or two also,” added Hecate.

“All the magical forces on the side of good and mankind have to work together in order to survive this apparent war,” Fiona supplied her input.

“That is why we wanted to meet with you,” Patrick explained. “We know you have been helping magic users in the US.”

“We hoped you could help us bring together not just all the Druids, Druidesses and witches but mages, sorcerers and wizards too,” elaborated Sean. “But more than that we hoped you could find some good vampires in Europe that would be willing to help our cause.”

Fiach cleared his throat before speaking, “I and a few others also wondered if you knew how or why this war got started.”

Zane looked to the ground then blew his breath out through his mouth in a large sigh before answering, “Yes, we know. It started with a prophecy by one of my ancestors, a mage named Rinaldo. One of his descendants would be known as Rinaldo’s Child and would have a close companion called Samhain’s Son. Together with some others they would take on another known as Rinaldo’s Bane. The Bane would use dark magic to try to undo what Rinaldo had accomplished with his books of magic. The Child and the Son had to stop her or evil would win.”

“We are familiar with Rinaldo,” cut in Sean nodding. “He wrote one of the Druid books of arcane knowledge. Just how are you involved though?”

“My mother wanted the power of Rinaldo but she couldn’t find the main book because she wasn’t Rinaldo’s Child. She had me and then left and had my brothers with another Rinaldo descendant hoping one of us could get the book for her. When that didn’t work she stole a dark magic tome and eventually became Rinaldo’s Bane. She fashions herself Lady Bane.”

“But is that all that involves you?” queried Hecate quietly.

“No, it isn’t,” replied Zane just as quietly. “I was almost killed on Halloween of my sixteenth year. Zander saved me by turning me. After that I began to come into my magical power and finally I found the book. That proved what Zander already suspected; I was Rinaldo’s Child. What Zander didn’t expect was that he was Samhain’s Son.”

“You said there were others besides the two of you in the Prophecy?” Fiona wanted to know.

“Yes, we think we have gathered them all now including your son, Sean,” Zane responded then changed subjects. “As to vamps to help you I don’t have any contacts in Europe. What about you, Grayson?”

Grayson thought for a moment before saying, “I might be able to find a few if they’re still around. Let me do some checking and get back to you.”

“That would be much appreciated,” acceded Sean with a slight bow.

“What about help getting all the different magic users to come together?” reiterated Fiach.

Zander took this question, “If you have some good computer people we can put them in touch with our computer people who can tie them in with others online in Europe.”

“Well, I guess that takes care of all our concerns and hopes for this meeting,” summed up Sean smiling. “Now for some more pleasant business. We’re having a get together in another field over the way and all of you are invited.”

Zane glanced around at his group and getting nods from everyone he agreed they would join Sean and his group. As Fiach and Patrick led the group Sean dropped into step with his son, Drew. They quietly talked as they traipsed through the fields occasionally bringing Karl or Brigit into the conversation. By the time the two groups arrived at a field with at least a hundred people and dozens of fires with large circumferences but low flames Sean and Drew were on easy terms with one another.

Their guides led them around several campfires introducing them to several people gathered around them. The younger members of Z-Troop were inserted into a group of younger druids, druidesses and witches so they could interact with people their own ages.

While they were meandering around and enjoying some small talk the smell of food being cooked wafted through the air. Looking around they saw several of the fires now had huge grates over them with various types of meats and vegetables being cooked on them. The aromas were so enticing it even made the vampires of the group long for food.

Before long all who wanted some were seated on logs, rocks or on the ground with huge plates of food. The light conversations continued between bites of food and drinks of water, tea, or beer. Soon everyone was as full as could be and the clean up began. With so many helpers it didn’t take long and they were settled down by the fires relaxing once again. By now the sun was setting and darkness started settling in. It was quite peaceful.

Are you enjoying Jeikor’s tale? Let him know you are reading: Jeikor at CastleRoland dot Net

25,518 views