Goddess, Spellbound - The Goddess Connection 3

Chapter 2

Chapter Two

Darkness stole his vision, though light from the hallway illuminated the outline of the entrance. He needed to escape this prison, make his way through this strange city and find her, but first, he had to be sure his renewed body worked well enough.

He slid his feet to the floor and, keeping hold of the hard table, stretched his legs straight. Like a toddling babe, he wobbled. Regaining his balance would require focus, and hard work. He cruised along the edges to let his muscles re-learn their functions, and then released his hold and shuffled another lap around the table. Only once did he have to catch himself, grip the edges and begin again.

After a few more exercises to stretch and test his muscle memory, he was ready.

Except a strange glass box imprisoned him. He ran his hands along the perimeter until his fingers found a latch. Locked.

A sudden beam of light startled him, shone on him from a small yet powerful source, one that had no fire. In the myriad of images gifted him by the goddess, a specific one rose to the forefront. Flash. Light.

“Hey, you. What the hell are you doing in there?” a man outside the glass called.

The strange words garbled in his head. The goddess whispered, “My apologies, warrior. You will understand English, and be able to speak the language, as well as the others you once knew.”

A whirlwind in his mind whipped the man’s words into an order he recognized.

“I said, how did you get in there?” the man asked more forcefully.

Shielding his eyes from the brightness, he turned. “I must go.”

“You’re damned right. You can’t be in there with priceless artifacts.” Keys jingled and the spotlight bobbed. “I’m comin’ around.”

A moment later, metal jangled, and then an opening appeared. The light shone on him again. He lifted his arms, examining them for any sign of burn. Finding none, it registered that the light produced no heat.

“Let’s go,” the man said and the light swung down the corridor. “This way. No funny business either.”

In a steady gait, he walked past the man.

“What the hell kind of getup you wearin’ anyway? What’s your name?”

He halted. “Iker.”

“Ha ha ha, a real funny guy.”

This man thought his name funny? “What is yours?”

A pause. “Fred.”

Iker bowed his head. “Many thanks, Fred.”

“Sure, sure. I’ll be lucky if you don’t get me fired.” The guard aimed the flashlight inside the enclosure at the mummy on the table. “Wait, did you… Nah.” He closed and locked the door. “Funny, you do look kind of like him.”

He assessed the man’s uniform.  “I require your clothing, Fred.” A bit large, but they would have to suffice.

Fred chuckled. “Get your own, bud. First fill out an employment application, but frankly, the museum’s not hiring right now. I happen to be filling the position, you see.”

He rested his palm against the man’s forehead. His third eye. “Not anymore. You may go home and wait for further instruction. But leave the uniform.”

Fred’s expression blanked. “I keep a spare one in the back.”

“Show me.” He followed the guard down the hall, where the man stopped outside a closet door and pulled out a pressed jacket, shirt and slacks.