The Strange Cases of Detective Warren Stevens
The Strange Cases of Detective Warren Stevens
Luciano Ricci
The Clock is ticking as Zach is wrapped, packed and sent away.
Meanwhile, Silus looks for a way to slow his pursuers.
He hopes to trick Alex.
Meanwhile, behind the scenes Arista, Jonah and Maggie are now on the move.
The following podcast is a work of fiction. All characters are the creation of Peter Williams. Any resemblance to someone living or dead is purely coincidental. Thank you. Helloes and goodbyes. We have so many in life that sometimes it's better to say see you soon, in hopes for a happy return. But for Arista, a goodbye is all she's allowed. Meanwhile, Luciano has a flashback, and with it, an understanding of what someone was trying to show him. And Jonah, not the happiest of campus, receives some news. How will this shape our story? What will happen if he continues in his current direction? For now, all I can say is that this podcast may contain images of graphic violence, child endangerment, adult situations, and naughty, salty language. Now we look into a glimpse. We look into a race. And we look into a a first kiss. As we tend to our story and chapter 6, Luciano Ricci. If there had been one lesson that Luciano Ricci had never quite seemed to learn, no matter how hard he tried, life was busy. From seminarian to acolyte, acolyte to pastor in training, to paladin and now, he had returned to the Cafe Solfeggio. Not on a permanent basis, mind you. He still had his duties as interim pastor at New Hope, and he still had to attend to that parish and its needs. But for now, for a few days a week, he came back here to the cafe. You're not familiar with the cafe. Well, let me give you a brief description. If you took a picturesque two-story cottage, gave it deep blue slate walls and rich chocolate brown wood trim around the main windows, you'd have the cafe. Under each window sat a large wooden flower box filled with an array of meticulously kept flowers or decoratives depending on the season. It could easily give you the perception that it was too perfect to be real, or to be more precise, that had been lifted off of a postcard and placed here rather than having been built. The cafe is set away from a sparse parking lot where a brick path ran until it reached a small porch and an unusually large white front door. Etched in black, from the left of the door to the handle ran a musical staff and written in gold like notes on the staff were the words Cafe Solfeggio in script. It was perhaps the most unusual place that Luciano had ever expected to go. However, with Caitlin aging, her grandchildren needing a protectant, and not just them, he now had eight new orphans that he found himself caring for. Yes, Luciano's hands were full. He had just finished working on a project with Caitlin in the kitchen and headed out to an expansive flower field behind the cafe. It was a pure delight running for miles to a large stream in a treehouse. Here he could feel the veil between the worlds very strongly and sometimes spy a tower across a gulf that only a few could cross. Sam Kozolba had promised to take him there one day, but right now she was training with Alice. Oh, you should have seen her face last spring when Arista brought her back. She had waited nearly three years for that moment, and let's just say, some stuff has happened. Luciano hadn't gone half a mile when he could hear the children squealing, laughing, and playing. It reminded him a little of when he met Alice and Sam. He could see Tommy Jones 7 crawling around in the bed of flowers, chasing Robin Smith, about eight, who uses the tree as a fulcrum to swing herself around and run faster. To his left, he hears three children ooing and eyeing, drawing his attention to a figure doing a pirouette amongst the flowers. Isn't this incredible, Lucy? Arista's hair swirls behind her like a silver stream as she spins. Her blue eyes radiate light and he catches his reflection in them. To his right, Robin calls over. Look, Reverend Ricci, I'm Arista. He remembers this moment. The ruin of a bluestone chapel attached to a tower, and the flickering realities of this world, and the one that's just a moment out of phase with our own reality. And like what he had seen when he held the apostle, he was a little older and Arista was wearing something unusual. She was in full battle armor and yet dancing with the children as gracefully as a gazelle. Arista, he said as she came to a stop. Hello, Lucy. Her smile lit the sky, and no wonder the children loved her. I wasn't expecting you, he replies. He knows she's been staying on the other side of the rift, watching over Jonah and Maggie, but keeping her distance. Her eyes grow sad and she takes his hand. I need to speak to Rev and Luciano alone for a few minutes. They were the typical aws and come on! We want to play! But she shook them off, being only slightly stern. Now now you all know that I adore you, but I do have other pressing matters. Now scoot. They did as asked, scattering amongst the flowers like butterflies. You've done well by them, Lucy, she remarks, and Lucy just closes his eyes for a moment. I couldn't just leave them. You know that, he replies. And that's why you and I are good friends. But but but it's now time for me to go. Go. Go as in leave us? She turns to him, tears in her eyes. Yes. I have a promise to keep and a mission to fulfill. But she shakes him off. No buts, Lucy. I am not like you. Or Jack, or even Professor White. But I am closer to Sam, if anything. Someone who sits on the edge of time, existing and not existing. An impossibility, but with him with him, all things are possible. Luciano concludes. He can almost hear Professor White giving his approval. He asked me a long time ago to take care of something, and now I will. Is there anything I can do? Yes. Take care of those children and any you meet, she replies. From here on out, it will be you, Alice, and Samuel to lead the Sacred Dawn. Wait, just us? Does that mean I can't answer that, Reverend. There are some things even I'm not permitted to know. And how will I know when Sam? The Auselection will tell you that she has a strong connection to me and several other players. She will know. She will come and get you when the time comes. But Goodbye, Lucy. Thank you. With a flash she's gone, as if she had never been. He wonders what it is she needs to do. And he wonders if this is really the end for so many he's met. It was hard enough losing Terence, but the tower bell on the other plane begins to ring. Something, or someone is moving, and like Arista, seems to be streaming its way across the sky and into the darkening horizon. In the next few days, everything would change forever. Maggie landed on the precipice of the tower where Jonah had paced impatiently. He had changed and not in a way that Maggie was comfortable with. He was sullen, angry, and lately only desired revenge. This was far from the 14-year-old who allowed her to try to kill him so long ago. She lands a few feet from him and he pulls off his hood. His eyes are a mix of Aramisti and Black Onyx. She calls out to him, Max, what news do you bring me? Kaw, she replies. So he's found Silas. I see. She's alive? How? And Warren's hidden that from me. Why? I see. He's afraid this darkness in my heart will cloud my judgment and risk whatever mission he and that Kutchma girl were on. You think so too? Max. Silence arranged for my mother's death. He stole and used that fake apostle and nearly cost us. I don't care. He must be punished. You really think I should stay here too?
SPEAKER_00:But a boy in Ekmalak?
SPEAKER_01:You really think it's a trap for me, don't you? She flies over to him and lays her head against him. I know. And I appreciate the concern, but she knew he was going to go anyway, in spite of Warren's warning. Her concerns and every indication that this was a trap, he would go. She had decided a long time ago she'd stay with him until the end. Whatever that end may be. Deep down, she had hoped for something more, but she couldn't lie to him either. The men of Mutt carried Zack's body to a waiting vehicle. They needed the transport in someplace where the veil was thin. Some place old. There was no such place in West Hollow. And the nearest place was over half a day away. Do they need to be so rough with him? The husk main Dot asked as they shoved Zack into the pockets of a fox. Don't stop playing Braxyball now, Husk. Silas growled. Or I'll have Cassandra dissolve you. Yes, Master. Actually, Silas takes away, grabbing at his chin as he looks at the boy and then Dot. If I recall correctly, he approaches Zach's body with a knife and cuts it from a fingerprint. The boy doesn't move. The blood gleans on the knife, and with a quick turn, he shoves the blade deep into Dot. Nina Ek Kola Basha. He recites his dot's shape and form coalesced, her ash and skin becoming a healthy glow, her frame expanding for broader shoulders until a near-perfect replica of Zack stands before him. Go and take the place of that boy at school. Speak little but be present. This should delay that Kuchman girl long enough. Will I finally get to my family? Of course, he lies. Cassandra would award a good little hospital long life in family for doing her master's bidding. He hands her, well, now him, Zach's backpack. You'll need to hurry. School is starting now and you'll be late. However, late is not absent. He pauses one moment and avoid that Kuchma girl. She may figure it out if you say too much. I want to be at Ipschwitch long before she catches on. The newly transformed Dot makes haste. The infusion of Zack's blood making it easier to how should I put this exist? It only added to the confusion Dot felt about Zack, though. If she obeyed, she got a life. If she didn't, she thought about the darkness she was made from. She didn't want to return there. She arrived at the school, just as Silas predicted. She, or I should say, Zack, was late. Mr. Howard almost seemed to drip with anticipation as the faux Zack entered the classroom. Oh look! It's Mr. Tyler! I'm glad to see you decided to join us. Did you have a nice birthday? Sheepishly, Zack looks over and tries to give him a half grin, and then the countenance of Mr. Howard changes. And with a sweeping motion, he points to Zack's seat. Please, take your seat, Mr. Taylor. That confirmed everything for Alex. She had seen this behavior before. That confirmed that Mr. Alex was an agent of the Kedrick Order. And this wasn't Zack. If she waited for school to end, it would be dire for Zack. If she acted now, it would create a store that would probably be legendary in the school's history. But how? She didn't have any weapons. Time was ticking. Every second she waited, Zack's fate would be closer to being sealed. It was time for the Pretty Girl Act. As Faux Zack made its way to the desk, she took out some lipstick and put it on. Standing, puckering, she grabbed the Foz Zack and pulled him in for a kiss that made the entire class erupt with disbelief, not just at the kiss, for what it revealed. Fo Zak couldn't hold its form, and the ashen features of the poorly constructed doll known as Dot stood in its place. Yuck is all that Alex thought. Gross is what all the students thought, or said as Mr. Howard was losing his mind in the front of the classroom. That's enough out of you, Miss Stevens! I what? Her voice thundered across the classroom. She was now using the skill command. It was a voice art that Warren had taught her. Mr. Thomas froze. Dot stood dumbfounded and frozen, and now she needed to clear the students. Holding onto the gooey neck of Dot, she turned to her classmates and gave them a second command. Leave! Take your belongings and leave! Dot, Mr. Thomas and I have some things to discuss. And with that, all the students went quiet, gathered their things, and left the classroom. Mr. Howard began to slink away, figuring that Alex couldn't deal with them both. Alex shoved the husk into Zack's seat and picked up a stray desk, aiming it to land between Mr. Howard and the classroom door. Class isn't over for you yet, she barked. Her cover was blown, a missing boy in a lousy first kiss. Sorry, Dad, she said quietly. I won't be home tonight. The clock is now ticking, and Zack is the proverbial bomb, wrapped and placed in a box, and shuffled on his way to Ipswich. Meanwhile, Alex, nice going, playing Pretty Girl, using those lips to charm the enchantment straight out of dot. What will happen next? Will Alex be able to save Zack or Silas get away again? Tune in next week for chapter 7 Dark Preparations.