The Horror at Cecil Cove, Part 2
by Una Persson
The Gathering:
Homer was a great mechanic, bodyguard, and go-fer, but he was a terrible cook. Nevertheless, he made a pretty good steak and potatoes, and afterwards Una had the energy to think about the magnitude of what had occurred at the University, while Homer cleaned up the dishes. She retired to her office, formerly her father’s library, and opened two of the windows to air out the stifling hot room. Placing her hands on the sill, she closed her eyes and leaned into the cool night breeze, feeling it wash over her and stirring her hair. After a minute’s refreshment, she reluctantly left the window and went to sit at the huge walnut desk of her father. A sigh, and then a sweep of her arm, and she cleared thirty or so pounds of papers and journals to make a space on the surface. After finding a pen and paper, she began to write out a plan.
An hour later with a skeleton of a plan having been sketched out in her crude shorthand, she made the first of many telephone calls - a call to her banker to confirm the transfers that Zotti had promised. And she was surprised to find Zotti was good to his word, and had transferred $125,000 into her personal account and an equal amount into her expense account. But of course, Una thought, they don’t have what they want yet. That’s when they will betray me.
Or maybe not, she continued on her line of thought. What if they were serious this time? She sighed. One thing she was certain of - the way her life had been going lately, she was bound to make the wrong choice whatever the case. So, she thought, I may as well go on a little adventure, rather than lock myself in the house, or become “Mrs. Una Vixxen” and take up domestic life with Vogue. She reached for the phone again, and placed a call to the one person that almost caused Zotti to reject the entire expedition altogether - her old friend and schoolmate, Haley Stokes. Getting in touch with Haley was an adventure in itself, and required talking to several operators who patched her call across the country. After more than 15 minutes of trying, she finally managed to get the call placed through successfully to Salt Lake City, Nevada.
The phone was answered after three rings with a woman’s voice: “Espinoza and Stokes, Prospectors, Surveyors, and Indian Relics?”
“Haley, is that you?”
After a 3 second pause she heard “Una! Well howdy there! Hey, Jim, it’s Una! The one I told ya about!”
Una lost herself making small talk with Haley, catching up on events since they last spoke the previous Spring. Haley had been trying to put her PhD in Mesoamerican Studies to good use by digging at several sites in the Southwest, and while out there had met her newest man Jim - the other half of “Espinoza and Stokes”. As Haley told Una about Jim’s fantastic skills as a tracker, scout, and excellent guide (and lover, which caused even Una to blush), Una felt like she had hit the jackpot - if she could get Haley to join, she would get Jim also in the bargain.
“Hold on a minute - how would you like to put your education to use here?”
“I’m listening.”
Una spilled the story out to Haley, omitting nothing - especially the behavior of Zotti and Eutychus. Unlike most of the people she would try to recruit, she had no need to worry about scaring Haley off. And Haley had a keen nose for “bullshit”, as she herself would put it, and an uncanny ability to tell if someone was lying or hiding things from her. Must make relationships Hell, Una thought.
Haley sighed a purposeful, melodramatic sigh into the phone. “OK, OK, that’s great Una. You want to go find some people who worship the Octopoid Venus or some other Elder God, and probably die in the process, all to help out the same Cabal that banished me from ever travelling East of the Mississippi “on pain of eternal damnation”, if I can remember what the writing in chicken blood on my ceiling said. Oh wait, yes, that was exactly what it said. That’s aces, I can be a sport. But I have one question - how much does it pay?”
“I’ll give you $20,000 for two months of your time, all expenses paid. And - you will be allowed to go East of the Mississippi again.”
There was a long pause, then Una heard “Yeeeeehaw! Jim, pack our gear, we’re goin’ to Arkansas!” In the background, Una thought she heard a deep voice say a surprised “What the Hell?”.
Una made her other calls then - to Troy, now a restaurant owner in New Orleans, of all things! Max, her father’s old trusted researcher and archeologist, now semi-retired and growing championship-quality roses in Pittsburg. And Woody, who had a keen mind and although he certainly did not like to use it or even admit he had it, a little magick talent himself. She was somewhat surprised when they all accepted, but then again, she thought, she was offering a lot of money. Only Troy fussed about the amount, demanding double what she was willing to offer, but giving up and accepting her figure in the end. Woody took some more delicate handling, as he had to be convinced of the possibility of pursuing his newest hobby by discovering some new exotic fauna in the Arkansas woods. And like Troy, she knew that he did need the money. In fact, Una knew from another casual friend that Woody had tried to use his talents to beat an underground gambling hall, and had instead been blackmailed for a tidy sum. Then, because she needed to find a Sensitive of some kind, she made a call to her old friend Cheri in Washington, who passed on the name of a woman named “Rasa”, who she assured Una was a highly gifted psychic from India who was looking for further employment in the United States.
The last call would be much harder.
“Yes?”
“Coldfire?”
“Sigh. Hello Una. I hope you’ve been well.”
“More or less, Coldfire, thank you. I need you to go with me on a little expedition. I think I’ll need your special abilities for this one, and I’m a little unnerved being there without you.”
There was another sigh over the line. "Why do you ask this of me? You know what I did to your Father - "
“Stop it. For God’s sake, stop it. You were no more responsible for his death than I was. I don’t know why I have to keep telling you this.”
“Of course I was responsible for his death. I’m the one that shot him.”
“Yes, but you and I both know you had to. I’ve always believed that, and always will. Will you now lose this opportunity to protect me? You’re the best there is, still. Even if you don’t know it, I know it.”
Una could almost hear the shrug over the line. “If you want me, I’ll be there. You know the debt I owe your family. If you choose now to call it in, just tell me when and where.”
She gave him the details, doing nearly all of the talking herself, and hung up the phone. As she sat there making notes, she was distracted by a tingling in the Elder Symbol against her breast. She drew it out on it’s chain from under her dress, and examined it. It gleamed dully in the gaslight, but seemed unchanged since Handy had given it to her. I need to see if Kristen knows exactly what I do with this thing., she thought to herself. She made a call to Kristen’s house, and set up an appointment to see her the next day with her maid. Una sat back, rubbed her eyes, and then started writing down and cataloging all of the provisions she would need, and planning the logistics of how to get everyone to their destination in Arkansas. She had risen to get a map from a leather map case when she heard a knock on her door. She turned to see Homer standing in the hallway, drying his hands on a dishrag.
“Miss Persson? Excuse me, but I couldn’t help overhearin’ you was fixin’ to take a trip somewhere?”
“Yes Homer, a pretty nasty one too - to the Ozarks.”
“I know all about it ma’am, I was listenin’ to you while I did the dishes.”
“Well, then you know it’s going to be pretty hairy down there. I know I can always depend on you in these adventures, but I wasn’t sure if I should ask you to go this time. After what happened on the last trip.” Una shook her head wearily.
“Well, ma’am, the Ozarks were my backyard, so to say. And you’ll need me to come along to protect you - I never have taken to that Coldfire character, and I don’t trust him. I don’t trust him one bit. I mean, I can also be your driver, and fix things, and run errands, and such. And you know I know how to deal with spooks.”
“Homer, are you sure? This isn’t like one of those radio dramas you listen to, or our spookhunting expeditions - there’s a very good chance we could be in for some serious business down there.”
Homer blushed a little, and dug his foot into the carpet. “Yes ma’am, but you don’t worry about me - I can take care of myself. And you know it’s my duty to see you is OK, and to help you out. I also got me a younger cousin that would be just perfect to bring along - he lives in Arkansas, as a matter of fact, but is up here visitin’.”
Una frowned. Just how many cousins does Homer have, anyhow? “Who would that be? Do I know them?”
“My second cousin Punha. Well, I think he’s my second cousin, I reckon he might be my first. Anyhow - he’s just come of age, and I think he should start to learn somethin’ about the family business.”
“Homer - I don’t think this is the right time.”
“With all due respect, ma’am, there’s never really a right time. You remember the first time you and went huntin’?”
Without wanting to, Una smiled to herself. That was a high adventure indeed, and Homer had certainly risen to the occasion. He saved her life, and the lives of a score of people by killing those zombies in Nashville. Homer continued:
“Well, Punha has three things goin’ for him ma’am - he knows woodcraft better than anyone else I know, he’s an expert at survival skills, and he has no fear whatsoever.”
“Having no fear is not a good thing in our sort of business.”
“I know that, ma’am, but it’s a better start than most folks have. I’m sure you can rustle up something to scare the Hell out of him, can’t you?”
Yes, Una thought, I’m sure I will. “How good of a shot is he?”
“Well, there may be folks that are better shots than Punha, but I’ve not had the pleasure of making their acquaintance. Now are we goin’ to keep banterin’ about this, or are you gonna say yea or nay?”
“Alright Homer, but he’s going to be your responsibility. If he endangers us in any way, I expect you to handle it. And if the worst happens - are you willing to kill him?”
“Just as much as you would be. Yes ma’am, I wouldn’t have it any other way myself. Well, if you’ll be excusin’ me, I gotta run home and start getting’ him prepared.”
Una called out to Homer as he left the room. “You’re not just coming with me to get away from your Uncle, are you?”
Homer stopped in the hallway, and flushed a little, and scuffed the rug with the toe of his boot. I wish he would stop doing that!, thought Una. “Well, Uncle is so all-fired mad at me it is scary. I mean, he used to yell at me all the time and curse at me every chance he got, but now he don’t say nothin’ - he just glares at me, silent-like, but I know what he’s thinkin’…so yes’m. I do think it would be best if I got away for a spell, but that’s not the whole reason I aim to go with you. I just want to…well, to make sure you’re safe and all. And it’s my family duty as well.”
Una sighed, knowing that she would feel better with both Homer and his cousin there to watch her back. Although she did worry about an untrained person being along, Homer had pretty good horse-sense for judging people. “OK Homer. You’re in - both of you. And I’ll even pay you extra for it. Tell you what, if we both make it back alive, I’ll buy you one of those new Chevrolets you want so badly.”
“Wow, you will? That’s great Miss Persson, I mean, that would be mighty nice of you! Can I get a silver one?” Homer was almost hopping with excitement.
“Any color you want. Now head on home, and tell your Uncle the two of you are going on a little trip.”
And within a minute Una heard Homer’s tires spinning gravel in the driveway as he raced on home. I wish he would stop doing that too!, thought Una. She closed the window in the study, killed the lights, and walked upstairs to her bedroom. Such exuberance, she thought, I wonder if he’ll make it back alive? I wonder if I will?
The shop was hidden so well between a butcher’s and an import/export company that most people were not aware it even existed. If one was to ask the proprietors of the neighboring shops about the shop in between, they would claim ignorance of the middle one’s existence. And it certainly would never be found in any phonebook one could leaf through to look for it. The sign over the door read “Kristen’s Magick and Curios”, if one took the time to squint long enough at the badly faded blue paint. The windows of the shop were curtained, dark, and incredibly filthy, and the entire frontage of the shop gave the impression of not having been occupied or even opened since the Gay Nineties.
A small bell tinkled as Una pushed the door open, and walked into an extremely cluttered, but surprising clean little store - almost spotlessly clean. It reminded her of Zotti’s chambers at Miskatonic University, except that here there was a fresh, pleasing scent of newly-cut herbs and flowers. Baskets, cases, trunks, and chests filled the room and were piled into precariously-balanced towers throughout the area. Each wall featured numerous shelves, each shelf bowing under the weight of innumerable jars, vials, philters, and packages wrapped in brown paper. A long, snow-white marble counter ran along the length of the rear of the shop, and curtains separated a back room - or rooms - from the rest of the establishment.
A young woman - maybe just 22 or 23 - waited behind the marble counter at the far end of the shop, looking very pretty in a light blue dress with matching kid gloves. Her eyes seemed to burn into Una with an unrecognizable emotion - disgust? - as Una approached. Una walked to the counter and said "Hi. I’m here - "
“I know why you are here, as does every Sensitive within a mile!” The girl hissed. “You are an incredibly stupid woman for wearing that ‘thing’ unbound to yourself! I should kill you just for polluting our haven by bringing…that!..in here!” She jabbed her finger at Una’s breast, where the Elder Symbol lay hidden.
“No, not stupid Jen. Una is a very brave woman, just a little ignorant and careless sometimes.” called a soft voice from the curtained rear of the shop. The voice was followed in a second by the proprietress herself. Another young woman in her twenties, she was dressed entirely in a white sun dress, almost as if she was going to a church picnic. Una noticed that both women wore matching necklaces of Tanzanite and silver. Kristen placed a hand gently on Jen’s shoulder and whispered in her ear. The young girl scowled at Una one final time, turned on her heel and stalked into the back of the shop.
“You must forgive Jen, but she is correct. I’m not going to ask where you found a genuine Elder Symbol, as I have not seen one myself in my entire life. Nevertheless, I can fathom the reason you wanted to see me so badly. I’m assuming you came here to have it be bound to yourself?”
“I…guess so. I’m not completely sure of the procedure.”
Kristen sighed, like a mother who is about to explain to a child for the thousandth time why the sky is blue, or where babies come from. “Well, let’s just be thankful no one and no thing killed you yet to get it. Unbound, it offers you almost no protection at all.”
“How difficult is it to bind it to me?”
“Not difficult, since you are already somewhat prepared physically, and are certainly prepared mentally. In fact, the mental preparation is normally the hardest part. But I know that won’t bother you any, with the sort of life you’ve had!” Kristen laughed. “I must emphasize this to you, and warn you yet again - binding it to you for life is permanent. You cannot just give it away unless you are truly dying. Or dead.”
Una sighed. “I know, but what can I do with this? Who would I turn it over to? Would you want it? Could we destroy it?”
Kristen almost took a step back involuntarily from Una, then pursed her lips. “No, I think Jen would murder me if I took on that responsibility. And, it would completely taint my magick, and require me to re-learn everything I’ve learned my whole life. As much as I would like the power, it’s just not a good idea. And you can forget about destroying it - that would be…unpleasant for all involved.”
“So what Jen thinks is more important than your magick? I thought your magick was your life?”
Kristen sighed. “So did I, but people change sometimes. Priorities are rearranged. Now let’s sit down here.” Kristen motioned to a small round table and two chairs to the side of the counter. Una took a seat, as Kristen rummaged under the counter for some items. She sat down at the table across from Una and laid out what she retrieved: a large silver knife with lapis lazuli handle, a small silver bowl, and an old, cracked small leather pouch. A scent of sandalwood - or perhaps Frankincense? - reached Una’s nose. At least it’s not lemongrass, she thought.
“Lay the Symbol on the table, but do not touch any of the items on the table with it.”
Una reached behind her neck and unfastened the clasp, and drew the Elder Symbol from under her dress. She started as she heard a gasp come from behind the curtains in the back room, and saw the curtains move. One curious, very wide eye peeked out at her from behind them. She laid the Symbol on the table.
“Now give me your hand, Una, and repeat after me…”
An hour later, feeling very sad, unsteady, and nauseous, Una sipped catmint tea at the small table, while Kristen patted her hand.
“There…don’t cry anymore. It won’t hurt from now on, I promise. In fact, it will give you quite a bit of strength when you need it. At the cost of your soul, of course.”
“Of course.” Una sipped her tea, and dried her tears.
“So…Jen tells me you are going on a trip? To someplace dangerous?”
“Oh she told you that, huh?” Una looked hard at the curtains behind the counter, and stifled a laugh. “Yes, as a matter of fact I am. Is she that good?”
“Even better.” Kristen winked. “Well, Jen wants you to be very careful tomorrow - you are going to have some very nasty visitors, that want to kill you.”
Una shrugged. “Story of my life. Thank you Jen!” She yelled at the back curtains. The curtains gave no reply. “She is a quiet one, isn’t she?”
“Not all the time.” Kristen winked again. “Take care dear, I really don’t want anything to happen to you, although it is almost certain something will.”
“I know. I’ve resigned myself to it.” Una finished her tea, gave Kristen a hug and $1000 in twenties, and left the shop to continue her errands. Damn, she thought as she walked to her car, it’s been a Hell of a day so far…
“So you’re Punha? Well, I hope you can stay out of trouble. It would be annoying to have to take time to bury you.”
Una sized up Homer’s cousin. He was a little short for a man, in fact 2 inches shorter than Una herself, but he was extremely wiry and strong - muscles seemed to cover his badly sunburned arms like steel cables. He has a windswept and outdoorsy look about him, as if he was a person that was completely at home running through the woods under the moonlight. His long, dirty-blond hair tended to give him a look that was attractively androgynous. In fact, if Una liked men at all, she would have found him attractive - even in his dirty and dusty cover-alls, which he had been wearing all day as he helped Homer dig up gear out of the basement for the trip.
“Thank you kindly, ma’am.” Punha replied, tipping his hat, “I’ll try not to get kilt so you have to bury me. In fact, just leave me where I fall, don’t matter none to me.”
“Can do.” Una replied, and turned away to get the phone.
“Hello, Una dear?” It was Eutychus.
“Hello Euty, what do you need?”
“I just was checking to see when you would be leaving. You know, time is of the essence…”
“Yes, you are correct. It is essential that I take time to prepare such that I can accomplish this mission properly for you, and stay alive in the process.”
“Well, of course, that is precisely what we want. I merely want to impress upon you the urgency that you leave…” Una ignored him as she heard tires crunching gravel in her drive. She said “Goodbye” and placed the receiver on the hook. She walked over to peek out a front window.
A large black car had just pulled up outside her front door. She saw Homer walk forward to get the door, only to be brushed aside by a large chauffeur in a black suit. The chauffeur opened the back door of the car, and a large, dark man dressed in a huge black greatcoat and a top hat stepped out. Una walked to the front door to greet her visitors, remembering oh-so well the warning from Jen the previous day.
The chauffeur knocked on the open door, and announced “The Count Chronos, of the Russian Empire, to see Miss Persson.”
Former Russian Empire, Una thought smugly to herself. “I’m Dr. Una Persson. Please, come inside out of the sun.” She stepped aside and motioned for them to enter.
The Count was a large man, seeming even larger in his out-of-season greatcoat and hat. The coat was wool trimmed with sable, and was obviously extremely expensive. He must be broiling under all that, Una thought. The Count’s large fingers were busy working nervously inside mink gloves, as his eyes darted with a feverish, nervous energy beneath his busy black brows. A long black beard and spiky, unkempt black hair completed the effect - it was obvious to any that looked upon him that the Count was dangerously mad.
Una escorted her two guests through the house and into her study, and offered them the two seats in front of her desk. “I’m sure you must be burning up in that coat - if you’d like, you can hang it on the wall.” Neither man made a move to undress, so Una shrugged, sat down behind her desk, steepled her fingers, and waited. The Count took the seat opposite her, while his chauffeur remained standing behind him with his hands hidden inside his coat.
“Please allow me to introduce myself. I am, of course, the Count Chronos of the Cabal.”
“So. The legendary Chronos. I’ve heard about you - your specialty is Astrology and the Cosmos, yes?”
A random titter broke from the Count’s lips. “Yes, yes, that is Chronos. I study by the grace of Azathoth the spaces between the stars. And the music from the spaces. But mostly just the spaces themselves. Yes?” He twitched once in his chair, as if suffering from a small seizure. “Please forgive me, my English is not so good, yes? But let us pass on to business, woman. I have come to retrieve something.”
Una leaned back in her chair, keeping her fingers steepled in her lap. “Oh? Have you lost something? Maybe it’s with my good looks.”
Chronos shifted in his seat, and a puzzled look passed over his features. Which was replaced in seconds by a frighteningly insane grin. “Yes. You have an Elder Symbol. It was…stolen from it’s rightful owner. You will give it to me!”
Una paused. “Well, an Elder Symbol was given to me by Manhattan, also of the Cabal, but I don’t remember stealing one…” She looked up at the ceiling, as if trying to remember where on Earth she could have stolen an Elder Symbol…
Chronos seemed puzzled for a second, then anger washed over his quickly changing features. “Manhattan is DEAD! His time was passed, and I killed him myself, with my own hands! The Symbol is to be MINE!” The Count took off his gloves and waved his fingers theatrically in front of Una. She clenched her fists and steeled herself from recoiling, as she swore she saw blood under his nails.
Even though she had anticipated every word, Una was still shocked to hear the words spoken out loud. So this confirmed her worst fears. Oh, poor dear Manny! It also explains why the Elder Symbol was not bound to anyone when she received it. In fact - he would have had to have been dead when it was given to her. Then who gave it to me? And who was at the window of the Museum? Her shock and wondering began to turn to cold rage, as she remembered how much Manny had meant to her.
Her questions would have to wait. She leaned forward in her chair, and stared hard at the Russian. “Well, if you must have it back, then here.” As she reached her hands behind her neck to undo the necklace, Chronos’ chauffeur brought out a pistol from under his coat and pointed it at Una’s heart. “Easy now, do not be making any of the sudden moves, Miss Persson.” He told her in a raspy, foreign voice that echoed of whooping cough.
Una smiled sweetly at him, and slowly, carefully, drew the Elder Symbol out from under her shirt. Chronos’ eyes lit up with a strange, hot fire that almost made Una hesitate, as she set the Symbol on her desk and pushed it over in front of the Russian Count.
Chronos looked at the symbol for a full half minute, just staring silently. Una fidgeted in her seat. Then, looking around the room from side to side like a kid checking for the store owner before shoplifting some candies, he snatched the Symbol up.
His scream was a long and bloodcurdling howl that seemed to rise from his very soul, and made Una’s hair stand on end even though she was prepared for it. His chauffeur stepped back away from the Count, gun still pointing at Una but uncertainly now, as he did not know whether to keep Una covered or help his master.
The Count fell out of his chair, his body caught in a tight spasm like a grand mal seizure, and the Elder Symbol fell out of his nerveless fingers. His hat came off and rolled across the floor as he thrashed about. A smell of burning flesh wafted through the room, making Una choke and bringing bile to her throat. The Count’s spasms subsided in a few more seconds, and his scream faded to a low whine.
Chronos lay on the floor gasping for breath, recovering quickly once his grip on the Symbol ended. “You…you…you…BITCH! You BOUND it to yourself! Oh, Chronos does not like this development, no. Chronos knows that the binding is good for life, and Chronos intends to TAKE WHAT IS HIS!”
He shot up to his feet and slammed his fists down on Una’s desk, cracking the walnut under the force of his powerful blow. His eyes blazed an unholy fire, and his face seemed caught in a horrible rictus of animal rage. His chauffeur stepped forward, and raised his gun to point directly at Una’s right eye. Una raised her left hand as if to toy with her left earring. Across the room, a curtain moved slightly in the still air.
Chronos’ mouth opened as he started to give a command to his chauffeur, when suddenly a new emotion took the place of rage. He became suddenly deathly calm, and his eyes darted from side to side, his face taking on a pinched and apprehensive expression of deep thought. He raised his left hand and placed it on his chauffeur’s right, dropping the barrel of his gun such that it pointed to the floor. The chauffeur looked at the Count with a silent question.
“Oh no…no…no.” the Count said softly, and started to laugh, shaking his head. “Oh no, we will not play her game, my faithful Odieman. This one is like the spider - and I will not be her prey today. I will have what is mine, little spider. Chronos promises you this.” He wagged a finger in Una’s face, like a grandmother admonishing a grandchild.
“If I believed that, Count, you would be dead right now. Scram.”
The Count stared at Una for what seemed an eternity, but was only a few seconds. His eyes blazed cold fury, then inexplicably softened and relaxed. The chauffeur retrieved the Count’s hat from the floor, dusted it briefly and handed it to him. The Count tipped his hat and made a silent bow, turned on his heel, and the strange pair walked out the study and through the front door of her house. As soon as they exited, Homer stepped from an alcove behind a curtain at the end of the room, a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun in his hand. From behind an overstuffed couch, his cousin Punha stood up and stepped around, two .38 revolvers drawn and cocked.
“Thank you Homer. And thank you, Punha. You showed some composure being able to wait for my signal, both of you. It would have been bad to kill them right now, even though it might have been necessary.” She looked at Punha and gave him his first smile from her.
“Well, like I said, ma’am. I can vouch for my cousin.” Homer set his shotgun down and wiped his brow with a handkerchief. Punha ran over to the window. He called out:
“Miss Persson? Do you want me to kill that Russian and his guard? I can do it for you today if you need it.”
Una walked to the window and watched the dust settle from the Count’s retreating car. “No, not until we get back.”
