Wisdom. The soundness of an action or decision with regard to the application of experience, knowledge, and good judgment. The quality of being wise...or simply having good judgment based on experiences.
If this is the definition of wisdom then we must live in a world full of fools. To commit an action knowing full well that it will cause a problem, either to your health or the health of others. This is dangerous. Though some may say holding vast knowledge is also considered dangerous. In my line of work there are plenty of dangerous people who want to either stay anonymous or they want their sins to stay unknown. And the best way to do that is to cut loose ends.
We in the law use informants. An informant is a person who provides privileged information about a person or agency. In my line of work the official term for them are confidential human sources or CHS. Watch enough crime and mystery shows and you'd probably hear the term CI. It stands for Criminal Informant.
This is an issue, because more times than none CI's are moles surrounded by a dangerous crowd. As you can guess its obvious their knowledge is quite troubling for certain people. Therefore if a CI gets caught...well then...I pray for them regardless.
Continuing from the drive from the river, Carson drops me off at my current home . Upon seeing home, my eyes dart towards what I know only as my gorgeous vehicle. Meet Beth, my ride. Beth is a Red 2010 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible with the family name Written on the left side in italic cursive. Beth must've been brought from my appartment in L.A . Though if I'm being completely honest....its about a few weeks late. I had a friend doing work on Beth after a crash but none the less that was a while ago. Regardless Beth looks smooth and ready to go. She's buffed out and got a new wax and paint job.
Carson whistles, as he should. I exit his silver Ford bronco and glide my hand over the top of Beth's hood. The paint was smooth like oiled steel and the shine the wax gave was magnificent. I can't wait to see how well it drives. I really have to thank Carol for how well she took care of Beth. Carol is the old friend I mentioned and Beth's mechanic.
"You done?" Carson smirks leaning against his vehicle, as he watch my reunion with Beth.
"Don't you have something better to do?"
"I was just about to ask you the same thing " Carson gets back into his vehicle after handing me a cell number. It's not the one he uses though.
"What's this?'' I ask. He sighs as his hand grip the steering wheel. An aged look on his face. I can tell hes seen a lot.
"If you need serious help just call that number. It's a guy I know. His name is Alex."
"You say that as if I cant contact you." he looks me in the face and gave his casual arrogant smile.
"I'll definitely be sticking around. Don't worry. I'm just checking up on some things alone but I do intend to tell you what you need to know later." Carson pulls out. As the window comes to meet he continues "I should be home later on tonight. Come see me then." My partner pulls off down the street leaving me alone with Beth.
I walk inside seeing Ryan on the phone. He seemed to be speaking to someone about something important. The look on his face seems quite serious. I decide not to trouble him with my day.
A young woman storms out of the backroom. Her dark long hair follows her out the door. Cal follows with minor annoyance on his face. I stop him. "What's up Cal?"
"I gotta go bye." He runs off after her.
Son doesn't seem to be present. Actually for the past few weeks they've all been so busy. Including me. I guess we all decided to keep busy because of that thing that was in our home. Spectre? I dont know what to call it. It somehow seemed alive. I write a note to Ryan telling him I'll be heading to New Seyuta for an investigation.
I overhear Ryan speaking to someone about a kid. I love mystery but I cant stand drama. If Ryan's still dealing with women claiming to have had his kid, then he should stop sleeping around. Other than that I'll just get back to work. I leave the house closing the door behind me.
I'll now be heading to New Seyuta. The chief of police over there should have plenty more information to offer than my Chief. I believe his name was Gola. That's it. No last name that I know of...yet.
I fire up Beth. Her engine purrs. Oh she's ready to go on an adventure. Better keep Ryan away from her.
I pull out of the driveway and down the street headed to The next town.
I stop for a bagel at a convenience store across from the high school. And just as I pay for my stuff and get into my vehicle a teenager hops in my ride's passenger seat. Its Leotie. "What the hell are you doing?" she simply smiles at my question like I amused her. "Get out." I say firmly.
"I can help you get information y'know." she attempts to convince me, but there's no way in hell Im dragging a emotional teen in my Beth for something crazy ride. Then again after what I saw...
"Aren't you in school?" I ask. "And what about your parents?"
"Its 5 In the afternoon dude." She shows me her watch. I didn't realize the time. "My sister's having guy trouble and my dad works at the hospital in new Seyuta as a doctor.
"okay, fine." I point my finger "dont make me regret this Leotie."
"aye sir." she gives a me a fake salute and buckle up. I sigh and drive off to New Seyuta
On the drive to the City I wonder how she could possibly get me any info. I decide to speak up. Mostly because I cant stand the crap shes listening to on the radio. it sounds like a mixture of trashy Nsync and bullshit. By the way my opinion is completely biased. I hate modern music.
"Do you know what I'm looking for?"
i wait...nothing. no answer. just more crap coming from Beth's speaker. I look over and see her jamming. I turn off the music and she makes a sound of complaint.
"What info do u have for me?" she ponders my question. if she just wanted a ride all she needed to do was ask.
"Theres a person in the hospital known as the Wise Woman. " she begins. Wise woman huh... "She'll be able to answer your questions."
"alright I'll look into it." I tell her. She laughs at my statement.
"Something funny?" I dont look away from the road.
"Yeah. You were gonna talk to Gola weren't you?" She giggles once more.
"Yeah why?"
"He's most likely already spoken to Aiden so he'd just do the same. " I'm getting frustrated. Not exactly at her but more like this crazy situation I now find myself in. Apparently Gola and Aiden are in cahoots with each other. And for some reason they want to keep the knowledge of what's happening a secret from me. After I make my report I'm gonna have a chat with the chief.
"I guess I'll just see about that wise woman then." I calm my head. Leotie smiles
"Yup." She pulls out a pocket vanity mirror.
Come to think of it she definitely reminds of think of it she really does remind me of the girl at our house earlier. The one that stormed out. Huh...maybe they're related.
Carson told me a few days ago that New Seyuta was once apart of the old town I currently reside in. He also said the old tow was the small half of Seyuta. Now that I'm entering New Seyuta I see just how small Seyuta actually is compared to its counterpart.
Its definitely bigger to say the least. It looks like a decent sized city but everywhere. like a small new york or Seattle. I already see the hospital and I spot so many different stores and a few restaurants. To think New Seyuta is just a 15 minute drive from Seyuta. Honestly how big was Seyuta before the split.
"Theres a few schools too." As if reading my mind Leotie speaks up smugly telling me about the 3 schools and college that exists in this city.
I drive up to the hospital and Leotie opend the door. But before I could actually exist myself she stop me.
"I need to see if she's accepting any visitors today. Dont want ya coming in for nothing." she runs into the hospital and I hear someone yell at her about repeatedly running in the waiting room.
After what seemed like an hour I thought about smoking. Or at least how i use to smoke. I dont have a taste for it anymore. To be honest i dont know how i ever had a taste for it to begin with. It was second hand so that may explain it.
I hear a thump my vehicle and look out the window, gun in hand I see Leotie thrown over the back and she blushes as I look at her.
"Dammit girl!" I get out looking at Beth.
"Sorry..." she apologizes "I tripped.
We get into the hospital and up the elevator. We now stand outside of room 305.
"She may go by Wise Woman but her real name is Isabella. "
"Look" I began "dont distract me and dont do anything stupid alright. " I can see the look of annoyance on her face.
"I told you tripped and dont treat me like a child. I'm not challenged. "
"That remains to be seen. " i begin to walk inside but she grabs hold of my arm.
"Shes really old and really sick so....be gentle please. she may seem strong but..after she lost her husband..."
I get the point. I nod assuring her I understand. Yeah....I understood. I knock on the door hearing a "come in" from the other side. Leotie and I enter room 205.
There she was. An old woman who laid up in the hospital bed looking out the window as the sunshine struck her aged face.
She seemed familiar somehow. I just cant put my finger on it but I've seen her before. She looks over at us and smile.
"Hello there again Leotie." she then looks me dead in my eyes. "Detective. "
It was almost endearing but I can tell she knows something.
"Good afternoon ma'am." I stroll over offering my hand. "I am Detective Porter. It's a pleasure to meet you." She shakes it by my forearm. I dont the same instinctively. She then smiles wider. "And a good afternoon to you young man."
She didn't look native American like I expected her to. She was...Caucasian...and very British. White hair braided into a ponytail, blue eyes, and an angular but rounded face. I'll ask about that later. Right now I need to get back on point. I pull a picture from my pocket. I had the profilers at the station draw that thing in as much detail as I could remember. And I remember a lot. The dark veil, the evil that spread from its head to the spiritual bottom that gasped out underneath, the red eyes...heck the overall bloody color fro. its appearance....how it seemed like a woman. Had to be standing 7ft and yes I'm rounding that.
She takes a look and her smile fades. The longer she looks the sadder she becomes. "Mary...." when the name left her lips I felt a slight pain in my head like Walter Freeman took an icepick to my brain. I reach for my head but just as soon as I do the pain disappear. Leotie notices my grunt of pain and gave me a look. I ignore it. Back to business.
"Sit down Detective Porter." She begans. "You too Leo dear. You may be long."
And she begins to tell a story. A story about an upper world. the middle world and an under world. She spoke of spirits and Darkness. The Wise Woman spoke what is considered nonsense and insanity in this day and age about shamans, and great spirits, and.. gods.
"And then came the Spirit warrior. " She now tells a story of what she calls the first spirit warrior. She said the warrior is encompassed light and dark elements. That the warrior was respected but also feared.
"The Spirit Warrior was young but carried great wisdom. And the Great Spirits cherished this trait." She continued as I listened intently. I nearly forgot Leotie was even in the room.
She also listens. Though when I sneak a look at her I realize this is the first time she hears this as well. I guess it does sound a bit too crazy to be just a normal story.
"Creatures from under world eventually came for middle world and the shamans, animal speakers, and the great spirit warrior battled them." Her words seem recognizable to me. it's like a story I've heard before.
She continued, saying as the war between spirips seemed hopeful a mutate came into being. A seraphim (I believe is like an angel)
was dragged into the void and it hatched a new entity known only as the Dark. The dark could do what many could not...it killed spirits. Devoured them whole for nutrition and gained in power.
It seemed impossible at point until the Spirit Warrior summoned all its might bringing forth the spirits of the main elements in a last ditch effort to repel the armies of darkness bat to Under World. Oshun, the great spirit of water created a separation know as the divide. Micha, the great spirit of rock and wood, created mountains and caves to serve as the membrane for the divide. Pyrra, the great spirit of fire welded the great divide and purified the world so that the darkness could not turn any human into dark spirits. And Whisp, the great spirit of wind, cooled the great divide until it was now hard and sturdy. And to make sure the Dark couldn't break through in his weakened state the Spirit Warrior used his power to travel to Under World and made his body into a catalyst that would hold the Dark. And the life on Middle lived without much interference from Under World due to the sacrifice of the Spirit Warrior
The mantle remained...at least up until mankind began warring with itself, cracks formed in the mantle of the great divide. over time during the time British settlers came to the ancient land, a young girl was born due to the rape of a Keetoowan woman. The assailant was a Caucasian settler and the woman bore his child. The woman had been the daughter of the Chief and Shaman of Old Seyuta.
Eventually the child, by the name of Mary, grew to learn she was the reincarnation of the great Spirit Warrior of old and she was also scorned just as he was. She had lived with her grandfather the current shaman and chief of the village. He was good to her unlike most of the other villagers. Time passes and due to the hate and distrust of the villagers cracks open up in the caves and rivers and the Dark along with other spirits from Under World come possessing the village. The shaman dispels as many as he can, summoning spirits from Upper World and using rituals but he sees his granddaughter possessed by the worst. The Dark possessed the Spirit Warrior. Though she was losing her soul, Mary, in a moment of clarity upon seeing her grandfather's face she uses the last bit of strength she possessed and resealed the remaining dark spirits in the Under World. Mary then asks her grandfather to use her body as a catalyst to seal the Dark once more. And though he cries he does so, and Mary's soul reincarnates as her body served as the prison for the Dark and it is sent into Under World and the seal holds.
"It held until recently at least." The Wise woman says looking at the picture.
"you're trying to tell me not only is all you said true..." I look from Leotie who seems a little confused "but your saying the this thing in my house was this 'Dark'?!"
She shakes her head. At this point I'm also confused.
"If this is the Dark then its evolved." my heart shudders. I notice tears drop from my eyes. Wiping them I stand up.
"What do you mean evolved."
"The Dark never had a gender before. This means--" before she could say it I realized this must mean somehow it took Mary's human form. This means it has the body of the Spirit Warrior. I dont know if I understand this properly but I do know what I saw and as crazy as this story sound I cant say it's not true. I'm so confused. What's true and what isn't. Should my brothers abs I move? should everyone move? would it even matter?
"Wait you saw this thing in your house?" Leotie finally speaks up after what seemed like a very long time.
"Yeah. It was. It attacked my brothers and myself. "
At this Isabella stares me down with disbelief.
"How many brothers do you have?" Her words come out like an interrogator.
"Three. I make four." She leans towards me holding my hands. My surprised expression is very visible. "Ma'am?"
"Is your mother's name Seyuta?" Now with a serious tone i answer saying "yes".
Tears fall from her eyes.
"At long last." She released me and lean back against her bed. "I finally meet you. My grandchild---" like lightning it came in a blink of an eye. The window burst open and an arrow penetrates The Wise Woman's heart. Her eyes widen she coughs out blood. The blood splatters on my face and I look in disbelief as the life leaves her through one final breath.