Chapter 11
Kane Bishop sat lonely at the RedOak Bar. His lover Sylvia Trundle had traveled to France to vacation and also to see what she could find out about the Legman, Billy Bingo. A friend that she knew who lived in Paris had a rather extensive library on the gods and she thought she might be able to figure out who Billy Bingo is.
Seated as he nursed his drink, Kane watched men and women come and go from the bar. He considered that he would like to fuck around with someone but none of the people seemed very interesting and given no one seemed to be much taking notice of him the feeling of indifference appeared mutual. He was just about to go home when Alicia Silver came into the bar. She was an old “friend,” an old lover, and a very dangerous vampire witch. As she sat down across from Kane, Kane wasn’t certain what he ever saw in her and he equally considered how much he missed Sylvia.
Kane said, “What on earth are you doing here?”
“I was looking for you and here you are. So my old lover, do you want to go somewhere and fuck.”
“We had some good times but I really do not want to start up with you again. We hurt too many people.”
“Oh my, are you still acting all remorseful on how I beheaded your mother. Please. Get the hell over it. We have our daughter to think about.”
“You gave her up for adoption.”
“Only because you made me think she is mortal. You knew I would never raise a mortal daughter. So being the brilliant you, you took it on yourself to fool me and for a while you succeeded.”
“What are you talking about? She is mortal.”
“Please. Kane. If she were truly mortal how would she have ended up with your good friend Billy Bingo. You know in a sea of a million people we witches always manage to end up together.”
“My good friend? Are you insane? Billy Bingo tried to kill me and by the way I now go by the name of Shane Bishop. Call me Shane.”
“Shane. My. How original and different from your birth name. How ever do you remember it?” Alicia Silver laughed and teasingly touched Kane on his nose. “I have missed you. And you can’t deny we were something of a power couple.”
“Power couple. You would use a Hollywood term to describe couples who are total tools, power tools to be used by the elite and the masses alike and then to be thrown away with yesterday’s trash.”
“So you now have an aversion to making money?”
“Now, I just want to live a simple life. I don’t want complications. I don’t want to kill people and I don’t want people wishing me dead.”
“But you know death is just an illusion. No one really got hurt. Not even your mother, though I might wish I did have the power to destroy her so that she might never walk this earth or any realm again.”
Kane shrugged. He sipped his drink. He looked into the eyes of Alicia, her cold eyes. He wondered if she knew. And she looked into his eyes and gleefully realized his puzzlement.
Alicia asked, “Don’t you want to know about our daughter? Or maybe I should say your mother? I know that Janet is the reincarnation of your mother and that is why you convinced me to give her up for adoption by tricking me into thinking that she is a mortal.”
“You are insane. My mother would not be reborn in mortal form. No way. And to all the people she might choose to be her mother, she would never have chosen you. I don’t think she would chosen you in a million years.”
“You know she isn’t mortal. Stop attempting to make me believe that lie. See. I got drunk one night and I got a hankering to see our daughter. Mortal or not I was curious. So I astral projected to her Apartment and she was in the shower. She has the dagger shaped birthmark that you have and Billy has and I have and your mother had. You may have been able to hide the birthmark from me when she was an infant but now I’ve seen the birthmark.”
“So maybe she is a witch but why would you think she is the reincarnation of my mother.”
“Her eyes. She has the eyes, that inner glint, that tell tale that told me so well. Yes, indeed she is your mother. You know it and I know it.”
“Genetics. I am her father. What you saw in her eyes was nothing more than genetics.”
“Do you think I wouldn’t use a spell to prove or disprove my suspicion?”
“So what are you going to do? Kill her again?”
“I have thought about it. You know it is just a matter of time before Janet’s past life personality of your mother, dear Myrtle, emerges and she comes after me.”
“So why are you telling me all of this?”
The Elders are going to have Billy Bingo cure Doug White and risk the gates of heaven forever being closed to the dear mortal boy.”
“So?”
“If you interrupt his spell and cause Doug to die where he can’t go to heaven I will wait at least two years, maybe longer, before I even think about killing Janet.”
“Why? Who is Doug to you?”
“No one. See. Here is the thing. Billy Bingo is a god who controls a realm that is locked. I am not sure how or why it is locked. To me, it is a mystery.”
“So you know who Billy is?”
“I do and I don’t. The ancient times are a mystery. Regardless. Besides his main realm he has another realm in the outlands. He will not let me into the main part of his outland realm. I’ve tried to enter his realm in the past but he refused to allow me even into the outer area. I want to see if what I have been told about its wonders is true.”
“What does any of that have to do with Doug?”
“If Doug can’t go to heaven then the Legman, Billy Bingo, will show him the way into his outer realm and through Doug, if I bind him, I might learn enough to be able to access what I have been told is a most wondrous place.”
“So who is, which god is, Billy Bingo? What is the name of his realm?”
“You do not know who he is?”
“No. What is the name of his realm?”
“If you play my game, that is conspire with me, then I might someday tell you. Hell, we may someday visit his main realm together. Wouldn’t that be fun? Shoot. You and I together, we might even be able to gain control of the place. Imagine us as gods with our very own realm.”
“I am not going to conspire with you against Billy Bingo. Use your own magical powers.”
“I can’t both stop Billy’s spell and bind Doug at the same time. I need an accomplice to accomplish that, which I desire.”
“Find another accomplice. Billy and I have a truce and that truce is going to stay in place, especially now that I know for sure that he is one of the gods and with two realms.”
“What about your daughter that is your mother? Don’t you want to keep Janet safe?”
“I think if you try to hurt her then either she will kill you, Billy will kill you, or I will kill you.”
Alicia stood up. “You are as bad as your mom. These humans have made you soft.”
“In your darkest and most vile dream you wish that I were soft. Cross me, threaten the people I love, and see how soft I will be.”
“Fuck hell, I thought surely you would want this as much as me. We could become gods.”
“We can not even manage a sub-coven without causing damn blood baths and you want us to control a realm. No!”
“If you do not go along with this, I will have to kill you this night. I will not let you warn Billy.”
Kane Bishop stood up and slammed what was left of his drink hard against the table, shattering the glass. “Then to the caves. Get your damn sword and let us fight it out. You do not scare me.”
“I was able to kill your mother. I am that good.”
“In your story you were that good but your story was a lie. See, I now know it was not an honest fight. You drugged her and you fought her as she was struggling to fight the herbs that you had used to poison her. It was not an honest sword fight. You could not beat her in an honest sword fight and you sure as hell can not beat me in an honest sword fight.”
Alicia Silver screamed, “To the damn fucking caves. We will see who is the better sword fighter. I don’t know why in the hell I thought I could trust you with my plan.”
“Because you knew that there is no other witch with the power to do what you were asking. The only chance your plan stood was with me at your side and that is not going to happen.”
Kane rushed out of the bar as Alicia followed soon after. They both rode their motorcycles hard and fast toward Hotville and the caves to have their fight. The other witches in the bar had heard enough of the argument to know there was about to be a sword fight and where the action would be. As they crawled on their bikes to rush toward the caves in Hotville, they called on their phones to let others know of the impending duel to the death. Witch friendly mortals who rode with the witch bikers joined in the frenzy, joined in the mad dash, toward Hotville as word spread. Police watching the roads were puzzled as they saw the sudden flurry of traffic on I-20, bikers in all their glory, going to witness what many if not most had never witnessed before: two witches fighting to their death. Hotels in Hotville were shocked by the sudden over loaded reservation phone lines and how quickly they had been booked to beyond capacity. Word spread to the press that something major was happening in Hotville but no journalist could figure out exactly what. Some decided that there must be some event connected to the college in Hotville causing the huge flow of traffic, but most sources on the campus could not offer an explanation.
Then a snitch came into the office of Detective Joseph Face. The snitch was a mortal and had not really fully understood the ramifications of what he had heard but just from the clamor he knew it was important. What had happened in the bar was not an ordinary argument and what was going to happen in the caves was not going to be an ordinary fight. Bug Carlisle understood that much. Bug Carlisle had been kicked out of Detective Face’s office more than once trying to help out his friend Olivia Destone but this time he just wanted a little spending money for his down low on the info. When Bug mentioned Shane Bishop, Detective Face was all ears. When Bug mentioned that Shane had an argument with Kane Bishop’s old girlfriend Alicia Silver, Detective Face pulled out a couple of twenties to give Bug. When Bug told Detective Face that people were rushing to Hotville to witness a sword fight in the Caves between Shane and Alicia, Detective Face felt a sinking feeling in his gut. He screamed, “Holy fuck.”
Detective Face quickly got on the phone with Billy Bingo. “Yo, Billy. I need you to get to the caves in Hotville. Kane Bishop and Alicia Silver are about to have a sword fight. I know Kane is not your friend but trust me, you and the Legman do not want Kane Bishop to lose this fight.”
Linda walked over to where Billy was talking to Detective Face. Billy said, “I do not understand. Why is Kane Bishop and Alicia Silver going to fight?”
Linda asked, “What is going on? Who are you talking with about Alicia Silver?”
Billy said, “Kane Bishop and Alicia Silver are about to have a sword fight in some caves here in Hotville. Detective Face wants me there to make sure that Kane does not lose.”
Linda said, “Alicia Silver was Kane’s girlfriend. They were a bloody pair back in the day. Then she murdered Kane’s mother; my mother.”
Billy asked, “She murdered your mother and she also murdered Kane’s mother?”
Detective Face remained on the phone listening to both Linda and Billy.
Linda wasn’t sure how Billy was going to take what she was about to explain to him. Still she knew she had to tell him. “See Kane is my half brother. Myrtle Claven was our mother. She saw the bad influence that Alicia was having on Kane and was trying to get Kane to see the light. Mom never liked Alicia cause well, Alicia is a damn fucking monster; a vampire witch as you know. Mom could have beaten Alicia in a fair fight but Alica used herbs to drug mom and mom lost her sword fight with Alicia.”
“You and Steve have always helped me and I trust that. Do not mistake my shock that you and Kane are half brother and sister for doubting your friendship. I’d never doubt that but still, shoot. Kane is your half-brother. God.”
“I know. I should have told you.”
“No. I needed to get to know you and Steve first. You were right to wait until we were better acquainted.”
Linda said, “I am glad you understand. We have to get to the caves. Detective Face is right. If Kane needs our help we have to help him. We can’t let Alicia win.”
“How can I help him? I don’t…”
Detective Face said, “Let us hope that if necessary the Legman will come out and help Kane.”
“Yeah, let us hope. Bye.” Billy hung up with Detective Face. He walked over to Janet. “I have somewhere that I have to go.”
Linda stared at Janet. This was the first time she had seen her up close. Linda realized there was something familiar about her but she could not figure out what.
Suddenly Tess Favor walked up. “I just heard something amazing. Janet, we have to get to the Hotville Caves.”
Billy said, “No. You do not want to go there.”
Tess grinned. “So you know about the sword fight.”
“No. It is just the caves are dangerous.”
Tess looked at Linda and Billy. “You know where the witches are going to meet, don’t you?”
Linda said, “No.”
Tess said, “I am so torn. Should I tell Sheriff Baskerville what I have heard and get him to send police to the caves?”
Janet stared at her aunt. “What on earth are you talking about? Witches? Caves? You tell Sheriff Baskerville about witches and he is going to think you are insane.”
Linda said, “Whatever. Billy, we’ve got to get out of here.”
Billy and Linda began walking just as fast as they could walk. Tess grabbed Janet’s arm and pulled her as they followed after Billy and Linda. They followed so far and then Tess and Janet disappeared down a corridor that was a short cut to the parking lot.
As Billy got in Linda’s car he pointed to the headlights of Tess’ car coming up behind their parking space. “They beat us to the parking lot and now they are set to follow us.”
Linda shrugged. “We can’t worry about that now.”
“I am not ready for Janet to figure out that I am witch.”
“So get the Legman to erase her memory but we can’t waste time dealing with them right now.”
“Okay. Hit the road Jack.”
Linda sped out toward the Hotville Caves just as fast as she could drive.