Volume 2 Issue 1 Article 13

December 1987

The Staff of Power

Flora Darling

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Recommended Citation Darling, Flora (1987) "The Staff of Power," Mythellany: Vol. 2 : Iss. 1 , Article 13. Available at: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythellany/vol2/iss1/13

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Abstract Spring time in the Florida Keys wasn't always the best of times. Some days were fair and mild, others were sullen and angry; hanging hot and breathless as the tumultuous storms blew in from the glassy sea.

Keywords Fiction; The Staff of Power; Flora Darling

This fiction is available in Mythellany: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythellany/vol2/iss1/13 Darling: The Staff of Power

entered. She felt a wave of uneasiness wash ovet: her. She couldn't remember the cid womanIcoking so ill. She watched worriedly as the old black woman 12 lowered her body carefully to a hard backed chair. THE STAFF OF POWER Something was wrong. Something had happened By Flora Darling between the time supper was over and the kitchen chores finished. She tried to close her lips, but Spring time in the Florida Keys wasn't always the words forming in her mind slipped rut her the best of times. Some days were fair and mild, mouth in a rush. others were sullen and angry; hanging hot and "What is it Ruby Crystal, are you feeling bad?" breathless as the tumultrus storms blew in from "No, child. No worse than usual. Bring me a the glassy sea. cup of tea and sit here beside me. There ar-e a Ruby Crystal sat on the porch of her weathered few things I would Iiketo say." shanty and gazed out o.rer the gray waters. · She Lamat hurried to get a cup. She filled it with hardly noticed the gulls wheeling and dipping by the strong black tea and returned to place it carefully shore as she rubbed her arthritic knees with thin, on the table, then seated herself and waited expect• gnarled hands. The sun poised on the western antly. Ruby Crystal looked at her over the rim of horizon prepared to slip from sight, its fiery her cup. She saw a woman of thirty with fiery rim flared for a brief second sending a last shaft red hair and green eyes, thin cf body and gentle of golden light acrcss the water before disappear• of voice with a mobile face that registered her every ing from view. thought. What was to become of her, she thought, As the light faded and dusk gathered, she could when she was no longer here to protect her against hear the homely sounds cf Lamat finish tidying up Jojobu's evil? She was untutored in the skills of the kitchen. The dinner had been especially good magic and wruld succanb without resistance to Jojobu. this day, and Lamat's company was all an old Jojobu would attack with her voodoo spells and Lamat black woman could want. Ruby Crystal knew that would become a burned out husk of flesh withrut will. Lamat had cane to visit her today to ask fer a It would then be a short step to becoming a member protection charm and she had planned the very of the living dead. Dead she would be, but at the charm to fill her needs. She fingered the small same time, undead. One more srul would be lost calico bag that lay in her lap and thought what a to Jojobu's evil magic, and that must be prevented small thing it was to give in return for all the kind at all costs. She smiled at Lamat. She must not things Lamat had done for her in these last months. alarm her. The best way to assure Lamat's future She shifted her body in the rocker and peered at freedom and well being was to pretend to her that all the gathering darkness. Something was different - was well. She sat the empty cup on the table, cleared about the sea tonight. There was a strange feeling her throat and said: in the air that caused a sudden shiver to shake her "Child, I have been meaning to tell you that I thin frame. She sat very still and tuned her mind have been planning to take a trip to see some of my to the interior quiet that would enable her to sense kinfolk. I may be gone for quite awhile. " She what was hanging invisibly cif shore. Moments paused when she saw the lodt of alarm 01 Lamat's passed as she held her attention rigidly to the task face. of knowing. "Now don't you worry your head about me, I Slowly an image formed in her mind's eye, then feel just fine, but it bas been quite awhile since I in a quick rush, filled her inner vision. As the have visited with them and you know I'm net getting fuzzy edges sharpened and full realization of its any younger." She laughed and patted Lamat's nature flooded her brain, "sbe gasped and pressed hand, then cmtinued in a cheerful tone. her thin body back against the rocker. She knew "Now I know that Jojobu has been giving you what the strangeness was no.v. Death . • . • Old a bad time. She desires your husband, Aswen. man Death was moving quickly across the water. She will stop at nothing to get him, but you stand Borne upon the gentle breeze, it rode in from the in her way and we must make sure that we continue vastness ci the sea to hang motionless over the to frustrate her plans. I intend totake steps to water, watching her every movement. protect you while I am gme. See this little bag? She sighed in restgnatton then composed her I made a special charm for you last night and it mind. There was nothing fer her to fear from only needs one more thing to complete its magic. death. Witches always slipped effortlessly fran I need three drops of your blood. Give me your their bodies when death came courting. But hand, II there was still me task for her to finish before Lamat stretched out her hand as Ruby Crystal she surrendered to his call. Lamat must be pulled a lmg needle from her shawl. She grimaced protected from her enemy, the voodoo priestess, in pain as the needle probed deeply in her finger. Jojobl,1. She rose and bobbled painfully intothe The blood welled forth in scarlet drops. Ruby Crystal kitchen. smiled as the blood fell ento the small cloth bag she Lamat laid the dish towel aside as Ruby Crystal held beneath Lamat+s finger.

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"There. It is done. Wear this charm about by waving the same st aff that now stood before her. your neck and you will never have to fear the likes She shook her fist at the circle and then walked of Jojobu again." She bound Lamat's wounded around it for the tenth time. Occasicnally she finger with a bit of clean clcth and sat back in her reached out to test the strength of the invisible chair well pleased. force that resisted all her efforts to cress the Later that evening after Lamat had gone, Ruby enclosure. It was no use. She strode across the Crystal sat at the small kitchen table with pencil cavern and lowered her fat body down on a large and paper. She wrote slowly, forming each word rock and looked about her. The cave wasn't large. carefully. There must be no mistake. Each It's diameter was perhaps forty feet, but the message that she wrote must be simple and clear ceiling reached into the darkness far above her. if her plan was to succeed. When finished she The sea's incessant nibbling at the land, plus sealed each letter in a plain envelope and scrawled ground water trickling through frcm above had the names on the surface. Her task done, she hollowed rut the undergrrund space. Limestone hobbled out to her porch and called to one of the dissolves onder prolonged attack from water and urchins playing nearby. She gave him careful the same sea that carved this cpening rdled lazily instructions as to where he was to deliver them, in the morning light. The beach lay exposed and then placing a silver dollar in his hand, she hurried littered by seaweed and rocks, while the receding him off on his errand. tide reduced the once plunging surf to a gentle wash. When the child sped out d sigh~ she laid Gulls skimmed over the water's edge, soaring and herself on her bed and ccmposed her skirts about dipping on the fringe d the ccean breeze. Sand pipers her skinny legs. She was ready now. Off shore, ran to and fro chasing waves, now being pursued ·old man Death came flowing in. He slid ncise• by waves in return. lessly into the shanty and touched Ruby Crystal's The cave was dim, lighted cnly by the glow from hand. Stillness enveloped the room, but she had the sun's rays reflecting fran the water. The splash time for one small laugh before His darkness of the surf scanded lazy and peaceful like the beat descended. of a large beast's heart, but Jqjobu didn't feel peace• Late the follo.ving morning, Jojobu rounded the ful. Full of rage, she pulled Ruby Crystal 1 s letter bend of shoreline and found the cave Ruby Crystal from her pocket and skimmed the page to the mocking had mentioned in her letter. If luck was with her, words that so infuriated her. she would be able to get to the staff that had been "Aswen has the remaining key to the ritual. He hidden inside before Aswen would have time to knows of your skills and will assume that I have given arrive. First on the scene meant that she had the the necessary incantations to you. If yru both week best chanced obtaining Ruby Crystal's famed together, you may break the circle of protection I staff, and that was exactly what she intended to have set about my staff and gain it and its immeas• do. She chuckled to herself as she waddled over urable power, that is, IF yru are clever enough ... " the littered beach. She entered the cave and Jojob!J sn

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artful cunning revealed itself to her. That was him how badly she felt about the old woman's death, it. Ruby Crystal had turned the spells away, how frightened she was, and ho.v fiercely she and she had not been aware of her interference needed him to take her in his arms and comfort until now. her. Instead, he answered irritably. But why would she do it? Lamat was ncihing "Of course, do you take me for a fool? Jojobu to her, and Aswen was only an old man puttering is probably at the cave now trying her voodoo about in his laberatory progressing from one rituals, but she can't succeed without my help. failure to gain magical powers to the next. There I'll convince her to cooperate with me and when I had to be a reason for Ruby Crystal to bother with lay hands upcn the staff there will be nothing I can't other people ~s troubles. What could the reason be? acccmplish with "its power. Now run almg and Jojobu smiled bitterly, shock her head, and let me work, I'll let you know when it's time dismissing the thoughts cl Lamat, bent her attention to go. 11 to the staff once more. It stood erect and serene with• He paused and waited patiently for her to go. in the s.afety of the circle, pulsing. with a soft green• Lamat rose without protesting and went out the ish light, and she knew that unless she could con• door, closing it softly behind her. He watched vince Aswen to give her his half of the key to the her leave. She was a good woman, he thought. ritual, the staff of power wwld remain forever He was more than twice her age, but she didn't beymd her reach. seem to notice. Their love making was still As Jojd>u labored to gain the staff of power, intense enough to turn his body to jelly. She was Lamat watched Aswen lay a letter aside. It had a fierce performer in bed and continually sur• been delivered early that morning by one of the prised him with the easy way she arwsed his urchins who frequented Ruby Crystal's home. He passion. He grinned smugly. There was no doubt reached fer his mortar and pestle. She knew from about her love for him and she need never kno.v how past experience that he would putter abwt the lab• he had arranged her brother's· death so she, being oratory for the next several hours. She sighed left alone in the world, would be forced to accept and picked up the discarded letter. She scanned the his offer cl marriage. He giggled to himself softly. words, disbelief growing, and then she read the She had believed him when he had told her that signature. She felt the tears rise in her eyes and Jojobu was responsible for her brother's gruesome blinked them savagely away. Ruby Crystal, the death. She had never suspected that he, Aswen, protector who stood between her and Jojobu was had poisoned him with an unknown herb that had dead. She felt a sci> tear at her throat, but crying shrivelled his strong body to the size of a small was useless. Ruby Crystal had been an old, old mummy before he had finally died. No, she need woman and the time had come for her to embark never know how she had been deceived. He laughed upon that last mysterious journey of all. and reached for mere ingredients, dumped them Lamat's fingers caressed the small calico into the mortar and ground them furiously as a pungent bag suspended from her neck. The dd black aromatic scent began to fill the rmm. woman had given it to her. It held a powerful Lamat sat on the beach watching the clouds scud charm of protection she had told Lamat as she bad in from the sea. She had never seen such strange pricked her finger with a sharp pin. She had shapes as they were forming tcx:iay. Dragon shapes frightened Lamat when she muttered a spell under yawned at each other, followed close behind by man her breath as the scarlet drops fell mto the little forms, now befcre her outlined in glittering silver, bag and disappeared into the cloth. Then, the charm then gone as the wind grabbed them and rolled them finished to her sattstacttcn, she had fastened a silver to fermless globs. One particular cloud, blacker chain to it, and with her skinny old bands, placed that the rest, fascinated her as it gathered itself it about Lamat's neck. It had been a strange cere• into a huge fist and drew back as if to hammer the mony. As the blood was absorbed into the charm, very land upm which she sat. Lamat thought the room in which they had sat She shivered in the cool breeze; It was becoming became full cl tension, as if some thing fran the chilly. She was wcnder ing how long Aswen wwld wcrk black night sat upon it's haunches, and watched. when she saw him coming down the path toward her. She could still hear the old woman's words echo in He was in a hurry and strode silently past her, her memory. waving for her to follCM". She hurried to catch up. "Remember child, do not r-emwe this charm A half hour's walk found them rounding a bend until Jojobu no longer exists. She will never cease of shore line and soon she could see the cave before to plague you until you are dead and she has made them. Small rocks and dead seaweed littered the Aswen her own. " approach. The wind was becoming cooler as it blew Lamat wiped her eyes and rose to lean over landward from the sea, forcing Lamat to clutch As wen's shoulder. her sweater close about her thin shoulders. She "Are you preparing the incense Ruby Crystal grimaced in distaste as she clambered over the 11 said was necessary for the ritual? • slimy rocks. Aswen was burring to gain the She usually didn't intrude in bis work or bcther shelter of the cave and didn 't notice that the beach him with unnecessary conversation, but this time was crowded with crabs. They scuttled from the she felt she had to talk to him. She wanted to tell sea's edge ignoring the harassment from gulls

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swooping to peck at them as they made their way She could take her time. Revenge corld wait at inland. Lamat thought they were heading for the least until he had gained possession of the staff, same cave themselves. She thought that was· and revenge is a dish that tastes better when it strange, but she dismissed them from her mind is cold. She retreated farther back almost to as she and Aswen entered the cave's morth and she the cave's entrance and sat down on a rock to wait. spied Jojobu. She would watch and see what happened. Lamat's hatred and fear surged to the surface of Aswen felt the laugh roll out his mouth before her. mind. How could Aswen have anything to do he could stop it. He was dismayed. He had no with her? Fat and black, swaddled in a garish red desire to anger the fat woman. He smoothed the Kaftan, bare feet planted firmly in the sand, Jojcbu laugh lines from his face with an effcrt, and replied stood with arms upflung, chanting gibberish in a in what he hoped was a soothing voice. sing-scng voice. Her attention was focused on a "Surely yru jest, woman. We both know our tall wooden staff thrust upright within a circle. combined efforts must be used to gain the staff. I The surge of the receding surf echoed within the see your footprints all around, have you tried to cavern, lending an eerie melodic sound to the · break the circle?" Jojobu nodded. strange scene before them. Lamat hung back as "Yes, many times, but it fails to yield to my Aswen hurried to Jojobu. efforts. Suppose you try. Go on, apprc:ech it and "So, you've come, "the black woman said as see what we are up against. 11 She waved invitingly she lowered her arms to her sides. to the circle as she stepped back to make room for "Indeed, my dear." Aswen replied in a honeyed him. voice. "You know as well as I that neither you nor Aswen walked fcrward to tile circle and reached I alme can breach the circle protecting the staff. out his hand for the staff. A pulsating wall of energy Without this incense, your incantation to negate the repelled him as if a large hand had forcefully shoved staff's defensive forces will surely fail. Come now, him backwards. He was unable to cross the barrier. let us put our personal interests aside and work Frustraticn.filled him with a mounting anger. He together. We can both use the staff and be equal approached once more and this time tried to hurl partners. What do you say, shall we join forces?" himself bcx:lily across the line, but it was no use. He pulled the small vial of incense from his shirt Each attempt was thwarted with increasing force. pocket and h~ld it befcre tier. His last try exhausted him and he, fell limply to his Jojobu eyed Aswen as she listened. She saw knees beside Jojobu's feet. The words burned his before her a small man, medium of stature, slight throat as he spoke, but he was defeated and he of build, gray as a morse ts whiskers and just as knew it. He needed her. The forces were too strong nervous. His nose twitching in eagerness, he held for either of them alone. the small vial in his slender hands, smiling. "You win. Help me to my feet and let's do it Alchemist, faugh ! Why in the world had she properly. I have the incense, you have the words. ever desired him? He was old and weak. His Let us begin the ceremony and be done with it. " pale sheep's face glistened with a sheen of nervous The black woman grinned maliciously, then sweat, and hiding in the gloom behind him was his taking Aswen 's hand she pulled him to his feet. skinny, green eyed slut. Why had she come? She "Very well, let's clear a space in the sand. could feel Lamat's hatred filling the air. She That rcx:k will make a good altar. Help me get it smiled lazily, her ivory teeth flashing in her dark into position here. " She squatted and smoothed face and then replied in a low, rich voice. a wide space in the soft sand, then .sne and Aswen "Perhaps you are right, but has it occurred to lifted the rock and placed it gently into positim you that Ruby Crystal may not have had the means before the circle. to pass on her staff and the demon that it enslaves? "So it is done, " she grunted. "No.v my gocx:I You are a greedy little man and I, I am greedy, too. man, pour ywr incense and let me get started. " We both tried many times to wcrm our way into her She watched impatiently as Aswen removed the confidence, little the gocx:I it did either of us. You stopper from the vial and dumped the ccntents upon brocx:ledov er each of her rejections. Remember the surface of the stone. He searched his pockets the last time she laughed at you? Ya.i took to your for a momnet, found a packet d matches, lighted bed for a week. Another failure- will finish ya.i, so one and touched it to the chemicals. Jojobu walked give me the vial and begcne; take your lanky whore forward to the _altar and raised her fat arms above with you. 11 her head as the strange fragrance began to fill the Lamat listened to Jojcbu 's words with rising cavern. Aswen stepped to her side and she began anger, her fear was now completely gone. It was the ceremony. The sound of her voice rose and strange but now she felt strong and almost invin• fell, the words rolled forth sonorcas and heavy as cible in the presence of her enemy. No longer she spdte the magical phrases. A moment passed would she cringe at the sight of the fat, black and then the space within the circle began to thicken woman. She would have her revenge upon the with a greasy smoke. Aswen began to tremble. witch. She looked abort her for a weapm, _any• Lamat began to feel uneasy as the words of the thing would do to crush her hateful black face. fat woman rolled through the smoky incense. She She heard As wen chuckle and stopped. Why hurry? felt the skin at the back d her neck begin to prickle

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as she felt herself succumbing to the sinuous chant. The saliva drooled fran its mouth as she redwbled She began to weave back and forth as the incantation her efforts, but soon her voice faltered and trailed rose and fell. It was then that she felt something away. The demon was still there. It looked at scuttle across her feet. She looked down then her fondly as it said to the dd black woman fastened hastily drew them under her. Below her seat a to the golden chain, "You have kept your part of number of crabs crawled clumsily toward the our bargain, Ruby Crystal. I find the sacrifices couple engrossed in the ceremony, their numbers you have provided, acceptable. Our agreement increasing as the chant rolled on and on. The air is ended and you are free to go. " was becoming close from the cloying odor of incense Larnat watched fearfully as the form of Ruby making it difficult for her to breathe. The smoky Crystal began to fade, then the demon leaned lei• fragrance stung her eyes and made them water surely ·over the confining circle, snapped Jojobu furiously. She rubbed them and peered at the circle up in its mouth, and began to chew. Blood flo.ved where Aswen and Jojobu worked their magic. At from its jaws, splattering the coarse sand and first she could see little through her teary eyes and splashing over the body cf Aswen now hidden under• then dimly she saw a form begin to take shape with• neath a hoard of voracious crabs. Lamat screamed in the circle and materialize. Lamat was horrified. in terror and reached for the staff that had fallen Forgotten was the sting cf the smdce, forgotten the at her feet. She snatched it up in her trembling iumbering crabs, and forgotten was her hatred of hands and ran blindly to Aswen's body. She forgot Jojobu as she tilted her head back on her shoulders her fear as she began to beat the crabs away from and stared up at the solidifying figure. him with the help of the staff. Aswen began to moan The figure was huge and vaguely resembled a and stir. She reached do.vn and grabbed him by his man's form, but it's head was the head of a cr oct• shirt then tried to pull him to his feet, but the demm dile. A Ieng heavy tail covered with steel gray wiggled a claw in the air and Lamat found that it scales whipped about its legs, and its hands and was impossible for her to move. Her feet were feet were clawed with yellow talons. In one hand held fast in the bloody sand and her muscles refused it held a thin, golden chain. At the cppostte end to obey her mind's frantic commands. She was of the chain was fastened an aged black woman with caught fast in an icy stillness and forced to watch as a glowing collar about her neck that glittered in the the demon casually picked its teeth, then it pulled dim light. the shrilly screaming Aswen into the circle with Lamat stared awestruck, then recognition blazed its powerful tail, and crushed him beneath a taloned within her mind as her blood slowed in shock. foot. "Ruby Crystal I" Lamat shrieked in horror and Silence closed thickly around where Lamat stood. cowered back as the demon flicked a glance at her The only sounds within the cavern were the ones made before fastening its smoldering red eyes upon by the demon as it chewed and swallo.ved, then chewed Jojobu and Aswen who stood quaking before it. again. Eternity paused as the demon finished its "Who dares to call Bapohetazel?" It spoke in gory meal. Lamat stood, a frozen fleshly statue, a thunderous voice. as the crabs scuttled about the bloody sand searching Aswen felt terrcr expand within his brain to an for bits of meat. Outside the gulls screamed at the unbearable, white hot, intensity, then he mercifully advance of the returning tide that marched relent• fainted and dropped across Jojobu 's feet. who con• lessly toward the empty beach. temptuously kicked him in the face. She was fright• Lamat waited in dispair. All that was left for ened, but so was Jojobu. Demons she had met her now was her turn in the demon's jaws. Her before and they had always yielded to her commands. heart slowed and faltered several beats as her blood Therefore, there was no reason for her to think congealed in helpless fear. that this demon was any different. Assuredly this Bapohetezel regarded her with a glint of amuse• was no place for a fool or coward to be, and knowing ment in his red eyes. He yawned and stretched, that, she gathered her courage and replied, "I, then slowly began to dematerialize. Lamat fwnd Jojobu, command you. Give me the staff and then that she could move once again. She clutched the depart." staff in her cold hand and ran rapidly toward the Silence fell and the minutes dragged painfully by. cavern's entrance. Her feet pounded over the sandy The demon considered her words a moment as it surface and seconds later she plunged through the fiddled with the golden chain attached to the shade of cave's mouth, but she halted when she heard the Ruby Crystal. mocking voice of the demon behind her. She turned "Oh, you mean this?" The demon replied and slowly and peered into the dim recesses of the slapped the staff of power with its scaly tail, grinning cavern while she listened. a toothy smile all the white, "Remember, Lamat. I will serve yw faithfully, Jojobu saw the staff fly over her head and dis• but when your time on earth is over, I will require appear into the darkness behind her. She shouted two sacrifices ••. " in anger and began a chant to force the demon to depart. Sweat rolled down her face when she paused and saw the demm grinning at her with its sharp teeth. •

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