Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
Maxwell remained silent.
Baba directed her view to me.
The smile left her face. The disapproving glare returned. “Emily’s healing is directly related to Paolo’s healing.”
What?
I tensed.
Could that be true?
Baba pointed at me. “Do not tamper with their connection again.”
My heart boomed in my ears. The pain in my chest reappeared.
I spoke through clenched teeth, “Is that what the cards say or is this your love for him overshadowing everything?”
“It is the cards. It is my love.” She sneered. “And it is common sense, Lion.”
The line of my jaw twitched. “Then, let me truly see what the cards say.”
Having the boy around us would make things difficult in Moscow. But as Maxwell had said, I was the Lion. If Emily needed Pavel’s son to heal, then I would change and reshape the Brotherhood’s ancient philosophies to keep him safe and my mouse’s mental balance restored.
In the end, nothing would be too much for my mouse.
I would destroy most of the Brotherhood to ensure this.
But first. . .let us see what the cards say. . .
“Here.” I began to hand my lit joint to Maxwell. “Take this.”
“No, Kazimir.” Baba shook her hand. “Bring it.”
“What?”
She walked off. “By the time I am done reading, we will both need that joint.”
Chapter 34
But then the Lion met the Mouse
Kazimir
Baba remained quiet the whole journey to her office.
To keep my nerves down, I twisted the joint in my fingers.
What will she say? Will it be good or bad?
I didn’t think I could handle anymore darkness this evening.
Let it all be good.
Once we made it to the office, Baba opened the door and entered, but didn’t turn on the lights. Darkness loomed through the room, hiding her from my view.
Squinting, I entered. The carpet muffled my footsteps.
Seconds later, she struck a match and lit four candles one by one. The candles sat on a large wooden desk in the center of the room. Once the match hit the wick, the candles crackled and flames appeared, spreading an orange-red glow across the entire space.
Why not use your lamps?
Then, I studied the candles. They were black and in the shape of human skulls—all with gaping mouths as well as holes for their eyes and nose. Each skull rested on a corner of the desk.
I inhaled the fragrance rising from them. The skull candles had a distinct scent, but I couldn’t identify it.
“What is this scent?”
“Palo Santo. It means holy wood.” Baba put the matches down and went over to one of the many boxes stacked against the wall. “The tree that it comes from is native to Peru, Ecuador, and other South American countries.”
“Holy wood. Is there a spiritual significance?”
She rummaged through a box. “For thousands of years, the wood, resin, and even oil have been used for medicinal purposes as well as clearing away negative energy.
Not wanting to sit yet, I took the space in. My view fell on all the packed boxes in the room.
“Baba, do you want me to have some of my men come in here and help you unpack?”
“That is unnecessary, Kazimir.”
“Why?”
“We will not be at this hotel for long. The time to head back to Moscow will be soon.”
Good.
Several paintings hung on the walls, telling stories of medieval Italian times—knights in silver armor on horses, princesses wandering through candlelit halls.
Hmmm. What is this?
I walked over to a painting of dueling dragons.
Baba snickered.
“What?”
“The Mouse was also drawn to that same painting. She kept looking at it the whole time she was in here.” Baba continued to search through the box. “What do you see?”
I stared at the image.
Two dragons of white and black faced each other, preparing to duel.
The white dragon had bright scales that gleamed like steel in the sun. Each scale was a perfect circle.
The black dragon’s scales were different. They were sharp, the shape of triangles, and the color of an eclipsed night sky. This dragon’s tail was coiled, ready to strike.
“I see dragons about to fight each other.”
“Look closer, Lion.”
I leaned forward to get a better view.
It was in that moment I realized that the dragons actually stood on a large mirror.
What?
I squinted.
In the mirror, the white dragon’s reflection was black and the black dragon’s reflection was white.
Baba spoke, “Now what do you see?”
“Perhaps, these dragons are reflections of their own souls.”
“Then, could they ever really fight themselves?”
I moved my view from the mirror and truly studied the creatures. Earlier, I assumed that they were about to duel because they seemed to be facing off. Now I peered into each dragon’s eyes.
“They are assessing each other.”
“Why?”
“Perhaps. . .to understand the unknown part of themselves. The part that is hidden away.” I swallowed. “The part only reflected in the mirror.”
“Very good. At times, you can be a great thinker, Kazimir.” She yanked out a large bottle of vodka and then grabbed two glasses. “It is unfortunate you were put on the path of crime. You might have been the most famous philosopher of our time.”