Of Introductions and Abductions Read online

“Not bad!” Michiko said.

  Beth grinned. “Hey, I aced Comparative Mythology and Folklore last semester.”

  “But you left something out.”

  “I did? Which part?”

  “It's the part that gets left out of all the retellings,” Michiko said. “It's the part where he helped save the world.

  “It was about a thousand years ago. Magic was at its peak on Earth, and everyone from everywhere was out to take advantage of it, or just take it for themselves. A band of heroes, including the Monkey King, fought to defend the Earth, while its greatest magicians performed a ritual designed to rein in magic.

  “It worked too well. Earth's magic was all but drained away. Many of the races and creatures that depended on it fled; the rest went into hiding. It's been that way ever since…until now.

  “The millennium is coming.”

  “Wait, didn't we have one of those a few years ago?” Beth asked.

  “Things are running a bit behind schedule,” Michiko said with a shrug. “But this is the True Millennium. The spell cast a thousand years ago is wearing off. Magic is returning.”

  Beth's jaw dropped. “Seriously?”

  “When's the last time you saw an ogre? In real life, not in the movies or cosplay?”

  “Point…taken.”

  “And that's just the start. Creatures and beings that haven't been seen here in centuries are coming back. Most of them have good intentions and just want to live quiet lives, but some want to take advantage of people or exploit Earth's magical resources. And a few are set on conquest, or worse. Their goals could endanger people here and on other worlds.”

  “We have police and armies here,” Beth said.

  “Of course,” Michiko said, “but when your opponents can cast spells and recruit monsters and you can't, things can get bad for you real fast, especially when the first thing every wizard learns is the spell that neutralizes gunpowder. That's where I come in.”

  “So you're saving the world.”

  “Yep!”

  “On your own?” Beth said, raising an eyebrow.

  “Well…I'm starting small.” Michiko smiled abashedly. “But it really started with a woman named Grandmother Fox. Many years ago, she and the other members of the Council of Eight, the group she works with, saw it was time to prepare for the True Millennium. One of them told her of an orphaned baby girl destined for great things, and she took that girl in.”

  “And I'm guessing that girl was you.”

  “It was!” Michiko said. “Grandmother Fox taught me about Earth, and the stars and planets, and all the other worlds, and all the peoples and creatures you can bump into on any of them. She told me about magic, and all its good and bad uses, and she did her best to teach me right and wrong. And when I was old enough, she brought the masters in to teach me how to fight.

  “At one point, one of the masters compared me to the Monkey King. I don't think he meant it as a compliment, but Grandmother Fox then joked about me being a Monkey Queen, and it stuck. Then, about a year ago, I was given my staff. They tried to tell me it was Sun Wukong's staff, but that weighed 18,000 pounds, so I doubt it. It can still do some cool things, though.”

  “So I noticed,” Beth said. “But you're not descended from him, are you?”

  “Nope. I'm no relation, and I don't have any of his mystical powers. I'm cuter than he is, though!”

  “Uh-huh.” Beth tried not to smile, and mostly succeeded; still, she had to admit to herself that Michiko's cheerfulness was rubbing off a little.

  “But there is one thing you can do that I can't,” Michiko said.

  “Ummm…remember the words to 'Do You Hear The People Sing?'” Beth said.

  “Besides that,” Michiko said, grinning again. “Beth, you have second sight.”

  “Huh?”

  “Let me explain. Lots of people who come here from other worlds want to blend in, at least a little. It's hard to do when you're, say, seven feet tall and purple, so they have complex illusion spells cast on themselves so they can pass for human. Those spells are called 'seemings'.

  “A couple of weeks ago, I almost lost a chance to stop a faerie who wanted to cause trouble nearby. He had a very good seeming, and I couldn't tell him apart from a normal human in a crowd. I nabbed him later, though.”

  “So…where do I fit into this?” Beth asked.

  “It's your second sight,” Michiko said. “A very few humans are born able to see through and disrupt seemings and other illusions, and with practice they can look past the surface so that everyone else can see what they're hiding. That's what happened with the ogre who was after you.”

  “And with the Professor?”

  “Who?”

  “Ummm…one of my teachers?” Beth said. Michiko raised an eyebrow. “Okay, his name's Puck. You probably don't know him, though.”

  Michiko nodded. “I talked about this with Grandmother Fox and she said that I needed to find help, because otherwise every bad guy would try to hide behind a seeming. She cast a spell to track down someone with second sight, and that's how I found you.”

  The Monkey Queen smiled. “I need you, Beth. How would you like to help me save the world?”

  Beth had not expected to hear that. “M-m-me?” she said.

  “Yep!”

  Beth stared at Michiko. She saw the scarf drifting in the evening breeze, Michiko's smile, the excitement and joy in the Monkey Queen's eyes. The geek girl part of Beth stirred, the part that wanted to chase Golden Snitches, stand with the Browncoats, ride on the Catbus, the part that wanted to take the wheel of an airship and set a course for the second star to the right. And that part almost said, When do we start? But the realistic side of her spoke up first.

  “Michiko, I don't know,” Beth said. “I'm no hero. I'm not a fighter or a wizard. I'm just a college student. Okay, maybe I'm a college student who's read every Discworld book and watches way too much Doctor Who, but I'm nothing special. The only things I'm good at are sewing cosplay outfits, diagramming sentences and finding plot holes in bad movies.”

  “Seems like you're qualified to me,” Michiko said.

  “But it sounds dangerous…it sounds crazy…oh, this is all too much.” Beth shook her head.

  “Maybe it is, but do you know something, Beth?”

  “What?”

  “You haven't said 'no' yet.” Michiko grinned and winked.

  Beth was about to reply when she realized that Michiko was right. She turned things around and around in her mind for a moment before giving up. “Can I sleep on it?” she said. “I really need more time to think it over.”

  “Got it. Let's get you off this roof.” Michiko grabbed Beth around the waist, moved in close to her and held her staff out over the roof's edge. It stretched downward until the tip hit the ground below. Michiko, holding Beth and the staff tight, stepped off the roof.

  Beth tried not to panic as the staff slowly shrunk, carrying her and Michiko down to the sidewalk. The sun had set, and the wind was blowing stronger and colder, as their feet touched the ground.

  “One more thing,” Michiko said as she let Beth go. “If you're still not sure I'm telling you the truth, you should talk to Puck.”

  “Puck?” Beth said. “You do know him?”

  “Everybody knows Puck. See you soon!” And with that, Michiko sprinted down the alley and out of sight.

  “Um…bye?” Beth shook her head and started down the alley, trying to take everything in. Then, she saw Puck on the far side of the quad. What a coincidence, a cynical part of her thought, but she still ran towards him, shouting, “Professor!”

  He stopped as Beth approached him. “Lass? What are you doing out this late? Is anything wrong?”

  “Oh, Professor! I just had the weirdest, craziest thing happen!”

  “You found a new roommate. And she's sane.”

  “No! Not that! Listen…I just met a woman named Michiko who calls herself the Monkey Queen! And she rescued me from a thug who turned out to
be an ogre! And she says that magic's coming back, and that she needed my help to save the world, and—” Beth stopped and took a deep breath. “And I sound like a complete lunatic right now, don't I?”

  “To other people,” Puck said, “yes, you would. Now, lass…this ogre you saw. He was disguised as a human?”

  “Yes.”

  “Magically?”

  “I—I think so,” Beth said.

  “And you disrupted his disguise?”

  “Yes.”

  Puck nodded. “And when we were talking earlier…did you notice something different about me?” Beth blushed and looked down, too embarrassed to speak.

  “Beth.” She looked up again, almost in shock; she couldn't remember the last time Puck had called her by her name. “Michiko had told me she was looking for help. I had no idea it would turn out to be you, and I'm both worried sick and overjoyed that it is.

  “It could be dangerous, make no mistake about that. But it will also be the greatest adventure you could ever hope to have. You will see sights no one else from this world has ever seen, go places you never thought you'd go. And you'll have friends, allies stout and true.”

  Puck laid a hand on Beth's shoulder. “Whatever you decide, lass, remember what I said earlier about change. Your life is in for quite a bit of it.”

  Beth nodded, almost dizzy from everything Puck and Michiko had told her. “I should get home,” she managed to say.

  “Of course. It's late. But one more thing, lass.”

  “And that is?”

  “Do try not to wreck my seeming here on campus. I have enough trouble with the dean as it is. Good night.” Puck turned and walked away.

  “Night,” Beth said. She hurried off, hoping the burrito place was still open.

  It was, and the to-go order with an overstuffed burrito and a bag of freshly-made tortilla chips helped clear Beth's head. She walked briskly down the street, heading for her apartment. She wasn't sure what Saturday might bring, but at least she had her dinner, and no matter how weird things were getting, they could be put off just a little longer. The front door to her building opened as it always did due to the lock being broken, the mail was waiting, and nothing out of the ordinary lurked on the three creaky flights of stairs that led up to her apartment.

  That part came when Beth got to her apartment door. Michiko was sitting on the welcome mat, calmly sipping on a smoothie, a bag of chips nearby. “Um…hi?” Michiko said with a smile.

  Beth sighed. “You know,” she said, “I should be surprised, but I'm not.”

  “Chips?” Michiko held up her bag.

  “Got some already. How…how did you find me?”

  “We should talk inside,” Michiko said as she stood up. Beth nodded, slipped past her, and unlocked the apartment door.

  As roommates had come and gone, Beth had moved more of her stuff into the small living room, to the point where her next roommate would have to squeeze any plants and decor she had in with the bookshelves, posters and DVD racks. It was cluttered and crowded, especially with the huge couch taking up the middle of the room, but it was clean and cozy. “I like your place!” Michiko said as Beth locked the door behind them. “Hardwood floors!”

  “It's nice,” Beth said. “So…”

  “Oh, right.” Michiko turned to face Beth. “It's the spell that Grandmother Fox cast. She didn't find out everything about you, but she did find your address and that you were going to Cooper.”

  “She doesn't work for the NSA, does she?”

  Michiko giggled. “I hope not!”

  “So why are you here?” Beth asked.

  “If Grandmother Fox found you,” the Monkey Queen said, “so could others. Like that ogre did.” Her tone was suddenly serious, and Beth had to hold back a shudder. “I want to be sure you're safe. If I'm making you uncomfortable, I'll wait outside.”

  Beth didn't have to think it over. She was worried about unwelcome visitors, and she also had to admit to herself that she was reassured, and even a little bit glad, to see Michiko. “Okay,” she said. “You can stay here tonight, but no loud noises and no company.”

  “Okay!” Michiko said, the seriousness gone again.

  “If you get cold, there's a spare blanket in the closet in the empty bedroom. There's a bathroom next to the kitchen.” Beth pointed towards one side of the living room, across from the bedrooms. “If you get bored, the TV remote is on the table by the couch. Remember, not too loud.”

  “What about you?”

  “I've had a long day,” Beth said. “I just want to go into my bedroom, eat my burrito, and go to bed. We'll talk tomorrow morning.”

  “Okay. Good night!” Michiko said with a smile.

  “Night.” Beth went into her bedroom and closed the door. She thought about locking it, but she then realized it probably wouldn't do any good anyway.

  Beth downed her burrito, her chips, a can of diet soda she kept in the tiny fridge in her small bedroom, and a dark chocolate bar from her secret stash for good measure. She checked her e-mail, her Facebook page, and a dozen other websites. Finally, her thoughts started to drift away from everything she had seen and heard during her long day. Michiko was keeping quiet, thankfully, and Beth changed into her pajamas and got ready for bed.

  Then she heard the scratching at her living room window. A chill crept down her spine as she quietly opened the bedroom door and peeked out.

  MythBusters was on, but Michiko wasn't watching. She was standing at the window, staff in hand. Outside the window, Beth could see the outline of a large black bird, possibly a crow. It glared at Michiko, and something sinister and shadowy lurked in its glowing red eyes.

  The Monkey Queen spoke. “Go. Tell whoever commands you. Tell the world. Beth is under my protection. You will not have her, you will not harm her. Go.”

  The bird cawed and flew off, darkness trailing in its wake. Michiko sat back down on the couch. Beth softly closed the bedroom door and dropped into bed, staring at the ceiling. Sleep took a long time to come as one thought played over and over in her mind—What in the world have I gotten myself into?

  Chapter Three

  Beth opened her eyes, rolled over in bed, and squinted at her alarm clock. She scowled sleepily. It was Saturday, and she'd earned the right to sleep in. She snuggled back under the covers.

  Then, Beth sat up as she remembered she had company. She gave up on going back to sleep and reached for her glasses with a sigh. She got out of bed, wrapped an old black and white plaid bathrobe over her blue flannel pajamas, and stuck her feet into a pair of pink bunny slippers. She opened the bedroom door and cautiously poked her head out.

  “Good morning!” Michiko shouted from the small kitchen.

  “Morning,” Beth mumbled as she shuffled into the living room.

  “Cute slippers!”

  “Hey, I like these slippers—” Beth stopped. Her nose twitched. “You…you made coffee. You made coffee! Thankyouthankyouthankyou!”

  Michiko smiled as Beth dashed into the kitchen, grabbed a mug and fixed her coffee. She took her first sip, and was about to have a second when a thought made her pause. “You've already had some, haven't you?” Beth asked.

  “Two cups!” Michiko said cheerfully.

  “We're doomed.” Beth took a longer sip. “Oh, by the way, all I have for breakfast is stale oatmeal and your leftover chips. And bread, but I'm out of jam.”

  “That's okay,” Michiko said. “Sooo…”

  “Your offer.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well…” Beth took another sip of her coffee and stared down into the cup. She still hadn't decided. She had no idea what the right decision was. “Michiko…I…”

  There was a knock at the door. Beth glanced up. “Were you expecting anyone?” she said softly to Michiko.

  “Nope. You?”

  “No.”

  Michiko nodded, crept to the door and glanced through the peephole. “Did you know the men in black are after us?” she asked as they knoc
ked again, harder. “You need to get that front door fixed.”

  The apartment shook slightly from the third knock. “Let them in,” Beth said with a sigh. “I'll probably get a noise complaint if we don't.”

  Michiko sprung to the couch, grabbed her staff, jumped back to the door and swung it open. “Good morning!” she said as three men pushed past her into the apartment.

  As one of them shut the door, Beth understood why Michiko had made the “men in black” reference. They were all dressed in matching black suits and ties, and they all wore identical sunglasses. They all stood stiffly straight, and they all scowled as they glanced around the living room. “Where is he?” one of them said.

  “He?” Beth asked.

  “Beth, are you hiding something?” Michiko said.

  “Monkey Queen—” the man said.

  “She's just full of surprises.”

  “Enough!” the man in black shouted. “We want answers, Monkey Queen.”

  Michiko grinned and leaned against the back of the couch. “I don't even know what the questions are. Do you, Beth?”

  “I think someone here is hiding something,” Beth said, kicking herself mentally for not getting the hint earlier. She took a breath, reminded herself of what Michiko had said about looking below the surface, stared at the men and blinked.

  The air around the three men wavered for a moment. Then, their seemings vanished.

  The men were actually tall, blond and slender, wearing elegant red tunics with gold trim over what appeared to be chainmail. Emblazoned on their tunics was the image of a diamond, bordered with gold. All three had swords, sheathed but close at hand. Their eyes were a deep green, and their ears came to perfect points. They glared at Beth, who barely concealed her surprise.

  “So, you're from Duke Wrexham's court,” Michiko said.

  “I am Cantwick,” one of the men said. “We want to know the whereabouts of Puck.”

  “He left the Courts of Faerie long ago. Why is he so important to you now?”

  Cantwick folded his arms. “Because he was abducted late last night.”

  Beth gasped. Michiko's eyes narrowed. “How do you know this?” she asked.