The Power

Short Story | Fantasy

The case arrived this morning. Next to it laid a note from Carla. ‘It was sitting outside. I removed the contents for you. Headed to meeting.’ I placed the note back on the table and studied the case.

Two bronze hinges held the box together, fastened along the back. I ran my fingers across the wooden frame before tracing the etched leather. My eyes drifted toward the padlock. Three rows of digits forced my eyes to widen.

I shuffled through the shipping box, fingers pulling out shredded paper, until I came across a notecard with three digits–three, five, seven. Placing the notecard on the table, I lifted up the padlock and slid my fingers across the first row of numbers.

A wave of hesitation ran through me as I set the last number. I backed away, rubbing my hands together as my eyebrows knitted. A surge of excitement pulsated in my gut, traveling up to my heart as it pounded against my chest.

I took a deep breath, placed my hand on the padlock, and pulled it down. The click radiated through the palm of my hand as a puff of dust released from the sides of the box. I lifted the top as the cloud cleared. Inside rested a small black book.

Pulling open my desk drawer, I yanked out a pair of gloves, placing them on my hands before reaching inside the case and pulling out the book. Black leather. Bare cover. I flipped the book over, running my fingers across the spine before placing it on the table.

A light breeze swept through the room. I turned toward the window. It was closed. The chill dissipated as I sat in my office chair, clicked on my desk lamp, and opened the book.

The very first page bore the Eye of Heru. I ran my fingers across the image, feeling every curve. The ink sunk into my flesh, radiating up my arm. Faint whispers crashed against my eardrum as I shot up from my chair and looked around the room. I was alone.

I took a deep breath before returning to my chair, eyes darting around the room as I flipped to the next page. More images appeared–hieroglyphics etched into the paper. My hand resisted reaching for the designs but lost the fight as an unrecognizable language swirled around in my head, pulling my fingers toward the ink.

Fear hovered over me, but I lost the battle as my will shattered. My fingers touched the ink. Lightning surged through my body. My eyes fluttered as my head raised toward the ceiling. My body jerked. An energy rushed out of my body as glass shattered behind me.

I jumped out of my chair and turned toward the window, grabbing hold of the desk behind me. A crow laid on the floor, surrounded by glass. Its black coat sprinkled with red as its body flailed against the tiled floor.

I moved toward it, eyes darting back and forth between its body and the window. Kneeling in front of its body, I lifted it off of the floor, snapped its neck, and placed it on the windowsill.

A light breeze trickled in through the shattered window, caressing my skin as my eyes closed. A pit of darkness swallowed me as she came into view. Her dark skin clashed with the blackness. A crown rested on top of her head, flanked on both sides by long antelope horns. She walked toward me, clearing out the darkness and bringing with her a radiant light.

My breath grew heavy as my fingers clutched onto the edge of the desk. Beads of sweat ran down my forehead. My mouth opened, but no words fell.

Within the light appeared multiple symbols–ankh, sceptre, bow and arrow. But it was the brewing storm that disturbed me. Her eyes darkened as thunder roared with her footsteps and lightning shrouded her every move. The vision disappeared as the phone rang.

My eyes shot open. My breath returned to normal as I reached for the receiver. “Hello.”

“Darren, I tried to call you twice. They canceled the meeting. Seems Paul came down with something. Headed back to the office.” She hung up before I could answer.

I placed the phone on the receiver before returning my attention to the box. Every part of me begged to dive deeper. A slight tremble traveled down my spine as I sat down in my chair and turned the page. A light brown stone appeared. Etched in the center—a thunderbolt.

I shuffled around in the empty case, running my fingers along the inner lining. A lump rested underneath the fabric. I grabbed my letter opener and peeled back the layer. My eyes widened as the stone came into view. I rubbed my fingers together and licked my lips. Temptation enveloped me. The faint whispers returned as another breeze traveled into my office, brushing against the nape of my neck.

My eyes darted back and forth between the book and the case. Without hesitation, I wiggled the stone loose from the fabric, sweeping my fingers across the thunderbolt. A dark presence stood behind me. Her breath caressed the side of my neck as she looked over my shoulder.

The pages of the book turned, flapping in the breeze, before landing on a page. I studied the text–‘This discovery demands a sacrifice. For knowledge and power are never free’. The book slammed shut as the front door opened.

“Darren, I’m back.” Carla pulled open my office door and hurried over to the desk, placing a cup of coffee in front of me.

“Thank you!” I pulled the lid off and took a sip.

She removed her scarf and untied her hair. “Man, it’s a cold one today.” Her eyes focused on the window. “What happened?”

“Oh, a bird crashed into the window.”

“Oh my, poor thing.” Carla lifted the bird up from the windowsill and cradled its body in her hands. “I’ll bury it out back.” She scurried toward the office door. “Oh, before I forget. Your ex-wife’s on her way.”

A smirk peeked through as she exited the office. My eyes fell on the opened page as I read the message once again. “Knowledge and power. This could be my chance.” I paced up and down my office, concocting a plan to rid myself of her forever.

A wave of laughter crashed against my eardrum as a voice peeked through. “Be careful with your choice. You only get one sacrifice.”

“I understand.”

“Who are you talking to?”

I turned around to face Carla as she stood in the doorway. “No one. There’s not much to do around here today. Take the rest of the day off.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Anyway, I don’t want you to witness another argument.”

“Ok. Thank you.” She scurried out of the office as I set up everything.

I covered the window with a black blanket resting on the chair. Grabbing the broom from the closet, I swept up the shards of glass scattered along the floor. The book slammed close as the front door chimed. I picked up the stone, rubbing my fingers across it, concentrating on the power surging through my body.

“Darren.”

My eyes shot open. She stood in the doorway wearing her covetous smirk. Pale flesh. Rosy cheeks. Her blue eyes traveled up and down my body as if disgusted by my presence.

“Darla, what brings you here?”

“Don’t play with me. The check bounced.”

“Oh, that!” I walked over to her. She hurried away from the door as I closed it, placing her purse on the desk. “I was going to call you.”

“Really? You don’t expect me to believe that.” She removed her gloves and jacket, tossing them on the chair. “I’m not leaving here without my money.” She turned and looked at my desk. Her nostrils flared as she studied the case. “What’s this?”

I sneaked up behind her, sliding the letter opener off of the desk while she was preoccupied with the case.

“This is exquisite.” Her eyes darted around the outside of the case as my heart pounded in my chest.

“Now!” the voice shouted.

I moved closer to Darla, but hesitated.

“Was this a gift?”

I took a deep breath. Gripped the letter opener. Took another step.

“Oh, look at this beautiful stone.”

My eyebrows knitted as she stretched forth her tendrils, reaching for the stone. The closer her hand got to the piece, the more the power released itself from my body. “No!” I wrapped my arm around her neck and drove the letter opener into her carotid artery.

She choked, gasping for air, turning in my direction as blood shot out of her wound. Her feet shuffled toward me before her body collapsed to the floor.

A sense of freedom fell over me as I stood over her lifeless body. I moved toward my desk, collapsing on top as my knees buckled underneath me. Pain surged through my abdomen. I straightened my body, feet shuffling toward the other side of my desk as I crashed to the floor.

My body thrashed against the tile as my eyes closed and then opened. The office door squeaked. Heels clicked against the tiled floor. She stood over me–Carla. “You poisoned me.”

“Yes, I did.” A smile spread across her face as she walked over to my desk, placed the book and stone into the case, and locked it.

“You’re not going to get away with this.”

“I already have.”

---

© 2023 Rena Aliston. All rights reserved.

---