A Tale of the Unnatural: gypsy king

Showing posts with label gypsy king. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Chapter Four Part Seven

Thanks to the voodoo religion the existence of zombies gained credibility. Ironically those aren’t really zombies, at least not the ones that eat people. Creating a zombie, for a voodoo priest, is dispensing punishment for severe misbehavior in the community he safeguards. The transgressor is given a poison that knocks him/her out and dims the wits a little. While unconscious he or she is taken as far away from the community as possible. Actually it’s a more compassionate punishment than the electric chair. More like life in prison.

Zombies have been around for a long time, not forever, but for a very long time. As usual, the very origins are unknown, but if one constructs a timeline from the evidence and references available to us, you will see that their presence is cyclical or in waves. And if you build a similar timeline of catastrophic events, like famines, plagues, wars and things like that, then compare that to the first timeline, you’d have a matching pattern. Death, hunger and zombies seem to go together.

It’s only now that scientist’s are looking into the makeup of a zombie.

(To Be Continued.)

Friday, May 9, 2014

Chapter Four Part Six

Bruël is a large town, large enough to keep the Gypsy Fair going for weeks. But Dante didn’t know if coming to this town was that good of a choice. He had one of those feelings too vague to put a finger on it but for his intuition it’s a very true feeling. He is losing control of something, he thought, but, “I don’t know if I can have control over whatever it is that’s happening?”

Remus, heir to the tribal crown, has vanished. There was occasional evidence of his presence at both the camp and with the horses but he hadn’t been seen by anyone. Dante didn’t want to make an issue of it but he is concerned. Then his niece, Kalina, heiress to the profound magical and mystical powers of Madame Ajándék, scampers off, dressed like a gadjo, to do what? He thought. “And now, we have some kind of police person prowling around... Why?”

“What is supposed to be is no longer.” Dante added. It’s part of an incantation his deceased wife Arissia liked to repeat.

(To Be Continued.)

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Chapter Four Part Three

Oscar’s curiosity teased him with the idea of taking up the free reading Dante had offered. “Could the Tarot deck actually call me out?” Oscar speculated. “The palm reading, with the physical contact, though...?” He knows psychics are for real. He also knows he can’t take that kind of risk. It would endanger him and possibly the other Keepers. Kalina’s arrival at the fair surprised him.

For Oscar, Kalina’s wardrobe was kind of quirky and not very gypsy. But it’s Kalina’s indiscrete smile that keeps his eyes on her. He wondered where she’d been; to do what? “Whatever is was she did, she sure is glad she did it.” Oscar smiled to himself. He got back to his car and turned to leave the fairgrounds.

“It’s just too normal, all too normal. They have to eat sometime... something?” thought the suspicious cop.

(To Be Continued.)

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Chapter Four Part Two

There he was, leaning against a tree with his hands in his jacket’s pockets. “He is so handsome! Almost beautiful!” thought Kalina. Tyrol had the same thoughts about her, “Beautiful; beautiful; beautiful!” A smile opened on his face that almost exposed his fangs. “She can’t know I’m a vampire. That’ll scare her away!” he thought. He closed his mouth into a thin smile and walked to meet her.

Kalina had her own secret to keep. She turned the timid handshake into a kiss on each cheek. Tyrol was a bit colder than she imagined. Kalina couldn’t understand how someone who lived on fresh warm blood could be cold. But, so be it.

A lady walking her dog was the only company they had. Even if she had paid them any attention she would have only seen a couple of kids walking, talking and sometimes sitting.

It was the dog who wouldn’t let her get anywhere near those teens.

(To Be Continued.)

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Chapter Three Part Nine

They weren’t really laughing at Reginald; they were making fun of themselves. Dante’s straight forward answer could put an end any conversation, “What use would we have for a television set? We don’t use electricity!” Reginald stumbled a bit, trying to backtrack on what had practically come across like an accusation.

Dante’s’ courteous nature saved the situation. The short tour around the grounds concluded with an invitation to a free Tarot or Palm reading. The Séance couldn’t be free. The spirits that bridged the realms, making contact with the spirit world possible, required a tip for their help. While Dante was all openness the other gypsies kept very much to themselves. The wrinkled skin, aged women who actually did the readings stepped back into the privacy of their cloth enclosures, a very uninviting gesture.

“Maybe a Keeper should take a look around their camp tonight?” suggested Reginald. Oscar agreed to do the job.

(To Be Continued.)

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Chapter Three Part Eight

The legend tells that the gypsies or Romani, were the children of Remus who fled from the murderous Romulus and for centuries kept away from the Roman Empire. Remus’ namesake was murdered by his own brother; a heinous deed for any gypsy. Family was the only protection they had from the gadje, the outside world. The Roma left behind their wolf ancestry but kept and expanded their knowledge of the spirit world and magic.

Yet, Remus felt that somehow he was betraying his family, his tribe. He was changing, no doubt left about that. He stayed away from the tribe. Remus didn’t want Dante, or any of them, to see him. Even the horses were becoming jittery when he got close. He could still soothe them with his voice but he knew that whatever he was becoming was not the Remus they had known.

His biggest concern, though, was the emptiness he felt inside. Like a hole where his stomach once was. Remus remembered: its hunger!

(To Be Continued.)

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Chapter Three Part Six

It was a plan only a vampire could be successful with. Window shopping until finding the set he liked. Mesmerizing the apartment’s owners into oblivion and calmly floating out with a 55” HDTV was the plan. It took Tyrol a couple of trips to get the complete Home Theater and all. The female looked scrumptiously tempting but Tyrol was very careful not to leave a drop of evidence. The robbery was not reported until late the next morning when the robbed couple woke out of their stupor.

By the time Reginald got to the apartment, the preliminary search for evidence and interviews of the victim had concluded. His deputies and investigators had nothing. Nothing at all! The victims fell asleep watching TV and when they woke up in the morning it was missing, all of it. No sign of a break and entry. Front and back entrances were still locked from the inside. The crooks left no marks outside any of the windows or doors. Baffling!

“I guess they live up to their reputation,” thought Reginald. “Let’s go see the gypsies!” The deputy he called Oscar left with him.

(To Be Continued.)

Monday, March 10, 2014

Chapter Three Part Five

Reginald’s description of the gypsy encampment led everyone to call it The Gypsy Fair. People started to trickle in, for the most part retirement age women. They always had some deceased loved one they wanted to speak to or they wanted to know the future. Dante knew Saturday and Sunday would peak. The early clientele would pay for services; magical, mystical or otherwise, but would buy very little. The trinkets moved better with younger generations, specially the kids. They couldn’t sit down for a full Tarot reading but they’d go for the short-cut of a magically powered charm.

Kalina organized her table by usage. All the love amulets were together same as the good luck charms. The assortment included almost every variable of love interests and potential economic success. Kalina would swear that they worked. The peerage lent credibility to her claim even though Kalina was much older than any of them. Dante continued his walk hoping to bump into Remus.

Remus was kind of missing-in-action. He’d be there and then he’d be gone. “Strange,” thought Dante, “but in a wrong way...”

(To Be Continued.)

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Chapter Three Part Two

Reginald parked by the side of the road and comfortably stepped down from his 4x4. This ‘whatever-it-is’ he stared at was nothing like he expected. The flimsy stalls, roofed in brightly colored sheets, looked more like a County Fair than some gypsy thing. “This is not like in the movies...” he thought.

“I’m the Investigative Magistrate here in Bruël,” Reginald said, extending his hand towards Dante. “I know you don’t need a permit in these parts of town but I like to get acquainted when someone new comes around to visit.” he continued. They shake hands. “I’m glad you’ve come by. Please, take a look around, it may dispel the terrible rumors that follow our gypsy tribes.” Dante leads him to the stalls.

It was busy time for the gypsies, setting up tables, setting up cloth dividers that create private spaces for consultations. Signs were hung on tiny nails that appeared to have rusted in place. “How long do you expect to stay Mr. Dante?” he asked without looking at Dante. “Our clientele is like a wave that peaks very quickly and soon peters out. Sometimes we’re lucky and stay around for a while.” Dante answered. Reginald wasn’t listening. The sign read: Good Luck Amulets and the young lady who stood beneath, is preciously beautiful.

“That’s my grand niece on my wife’s side, Kalina.” Dante explained.

(To Be Continued.)

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Chapter Three Part One

Bruël is a large town. It could soon become a city; it has schools, churches, sport stadium, a mayor, a magistrate and low taxes. All that was needed to grow. One of the best things about Bruël is also its best kept secret. A vampire nest lived right in their midst. You see, if the vampires kept to the Code, it was the safest of towns. Reginald, Morrison’s counterpart in Bruël, is one of the very, very few who knew about the nest. Once in a while he’d run into a vampire or two taking a walk, mostly at night. They didn’t know him as a Keeper but he kept an eye on their whereabouts and comings and goings. Reginald never felt he could truly trust a vampire.

Today, something new, gypsies! Reginald drove his fully loaded Ford Expedition to the outskirts of town, down by the wooded area that later became forest. That’s where he was told the gypsies had set up a tent. He had to take a look. Crime always went up when gypsies were around. At least that’s what’s always said.

(To Be Continued.)

Friday, January 31, 2014

Chapter Two Part Thirteen

It was a recitation. The Keepers went on and on in that growling deep voice. Most of what they said no one cared about and some of it just couldn’t be figured out. When the recitation changed wolf, close attention was required again. Reconciliation was the word repeated and understood by most.

Kalina couldn’t keep her eyes off the young vampire. He looked alive. She was thankful he never looked towards her. She wouldn’t want him to see her like that with such putrid skin. Kalina had been taken beyond death as a teenager. Her heart and mind were still there. She never made much of her ancestry, witchcraft and all that; it kind of didn’t matter anymore. Maybe when she got older, they’d say... But she won’t get older, ever.

Agros is very comfortable by now, so he cockily hopped on the largest rock on his side of the glade and sat with his legs crossed. Remus, who had stayed in the shadows until now, appeared to feel the need to show off; especially in front of Argos. So he also skipped and hopped agile onto the opposing rock.

The Keepers, the zombies and the vampires all turned their heads. Remus, with a strange smile on his face, also sat crossing his legs. Zombies can’t be able to do that. Remus was so full of himself that he didn’t notice a thing.

And all that were looking noticed that Remus’ skin was not rotten anymore.

End of Chapter Two

(To Be Continued.)

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Chapter Two Part Twelve

Actually very few creatures have ever been to a Consiglio. Only the parties concerned are invited. Anyone could attend but no one ever knew when or where it would happen. There is no need for a fire, all of the creatures could see perfectly well in the dark. In a way, a fire only made everything outside it darker.

The vampires arrive. The assembly is complete. The wolves sat like sphinxes on the slightly higher ground. The zombies kept to their side of the woods and the vampires took what was left. The Keepers could speak but their voice is very much like a growl. It took a few beats to become accustomed to the tone and be able to understand the words. It also became very boring for Tyrol. “Mumbo jumbo.” he thought to himself.

After a couple of minutes it became obvious that nothing bad was going to happen there. The gypsies are the first to relax and look for a spot to sit. The vampires follow. Tyrol simply wanders along the edges of the glade, bored. It seemed that the full moon willfully followed him around.

At least it seemed that way to Kalina, Madame Ajándék’s great granddaughter and Dante’s niece.

(To Be Continued.)

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Chapter Two Part Ten

Surrounded by oaks on one side and a grove of ancient pine on the other, the glade is perfect for a Consiglio. The clearing formed a semi circle. The flat side was slightly elevated and the circular part had stones arranged like an amphitheater, following the outline made by the trees. The very center was flat and spacious. The exponents and its audience each had its place. A few of the stones are large enough to hide behind or sit on top and be sort of above it all.

The gypsies were the first to arrive. With enough time before night fall they set about finding a place, not too close by, to corral the wagons, and another place to tie and feed the horses, still farther away. The horses had no problem during the day when the zombies look human. It’s at night when they transform into the monsters they really are, that the horses panic. So horses were kept at a safe distance until morning.

Had Madame Ajándék not given up her life for the sake of all, the tribe eventually would have self destructed. “She was the greatest of witches,” remembered Dante, “the grandest of them all! The power she had!” he marveled.

(To Be Continued.)

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Chapter Two Part Eight

Dante received the message. An enormously beautiful Great Dane carrying a leather pouch had brought the parchment. It sat patiently at Dante’s feet waiting for a response. From a slight arching of an eyebrow it knew Dante had understood the message. The beast turned on its hind legs and was gone the same way he came. The gypsy left in Dante was spooked by the dog. It felt like the animal was channeling some other mind. He wondered, “If I followed that dog..., where would it lead me?”

He looked at the message again. The script was quickly fading in the sunlight. But he had a good idea of where the glade was. It was about mid distance to a town he wanted to visit for some time.

The paper was the greater mystery for Dante. He had never seen parchement like that before. In a few more moments it granulated into a bluish dust. He called the tribe to a brief counsel.

“The issue with the demons will find resolution when the moon fills. The place to meet is a three day ride from here. We should collect all our things. After the arranged gathering we’ll continue on to Bruël and tent there for a while.” he said loudly.

(To Be Continued.)

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Chapter Two Part Four

The gypsy zombies, you could say, were picking up the pieces. Literally. Dante, the undying gypsy king, had the feeling, a feeling that somehow, something was going on, something beyond his tribe. Beyond all creatures, he felt, beyond the Keepers themselves. The attack made no sense at all. It hurt a lot of people and a few of his gypsies had actually been destroyed. Brains burnt in the bonfire can’t come back.

There were too many with pieces missing. Their skin had not yet healed. Not even in the daylight. If you happened to look upon the wreckage, the only thing absent would be the groans. Zombies felt no pain.

The old man, Dante, had the knowledge of his ancestors plus the wisdom acquired from decades of being undead. He wondered for how long he would continue to be king. He must keep an eye on his nephew Remus. His skin healed the fastest and he had taken to strutting around the camp, “Much too agile for a zombie; even for a young strong one.” He thought.

The Keepers kept creeping back into his mind. Why?

(To Be Continued.)

Friday, November 29, 2013

Chapter One Part Five

The young and powerful Remus, the gypsy king’s nephew, roared his fellow zombies into action. Men, women and children, ferocious, step up to face the vampires. A zombie’s strength is a match for any vampire’s, but where the vampire’s strength is channeled into speed and nimbleness the zombie’s is pure power. Steadfast like statues of stone a swing of an arm could knock anyone’s head off, human or undead alike.

Remus went straight for Agros. The zombie children though smaller were just as strong. In groups of three and four they climbed all over their chosen vampire. The gypsy women also worked in pairs or threes. Proud of the heritage of their earlier time as humans, the men preferred the individual confrontation. Actually there weren’t enough demons for everyone in the tribe.

Argos’ nest was small and overwhelmed.

(To Be Continued.)