Shizuka Yanagi and the Necropolis of Acheron (Part 3)
The next day, we sat around our hotel rooms. We had given a police report about Professor Anastopolous' disappearance and were trying to figure out our next move. With both the Obolus and the Professor missing, things didn't look bright for us.
"How could it even be possible for someone to steal the Obolus?" Akari asked.
"The police said that someone planted tiny electronic jamming devices on the security devices at each checkpoint," Kurai said. "The checkpoints all deactivated at the same time."
"Yes, but wouldn't you have to get really close to plant them, wouldn't you?" Shinku asked.
"It seems that way," I said. "The real question is who could have gotten through all the checkpoints to tamper with them like that?"
Aki was sitting on our bed, reading a magazine. "That's easy, Anastopolous did it."
I, being deep in thought (and that's the story I'm sticking to), was oblivious to her comment.
"Look, Anastopolous kept behind us when we went to the vault. He must have planted the devices when he was, literally, farting around."
"That's all fine," Kurai said, "but Anastopolous couldn't infiltrate the museum vault and take out the guard by himself."
"Who do you think you were fighting two nights ago?" Aki said. "Anastopolous must have someone backing him and pulled a joint heist. Akari, was there anything else stolen from the vault?"
"Yes, a couple other artifacts. I can't remember which ones, though."
There was a knock at the door. Room service had our food ready. Aki opened the door to let him in. "You see, Anastopolous must have been working with them. They get to sell their loot on the black market, he gets the Obolus."
"Couldn't they have just stolen the Obolus to sell on the black market as well?" Kurai asked.
"It's possible," Aki replied, "but I have a hunch that Anastopolous coveted the Obolus. Did you see his eyes when he saw it in the vault? Dealing with filthy old millionaires back in the day, I know what greed looks like."
Still off on my own tangent, I overheard them mention the black market. "Of course, the black market. I knew it would be a bunch of treasure hunting thieves. Akari, I still think Malpartido has a hand in this." Sadly, my musings went ignored.
"How does that explain us being kidnapped?" Akari asked.
"As far as Anastopolous," Aki said, "it was staged. The hired goons took him to make it look convincing. Right now, I'd imagine he's enjoying his 'abduction', with the Obolus in hand."
"Yes, but, if that's the case, why'd they abduct me?"
"Maybe there was something they wanted from you." Kurai said. "I think I see where Aki's going with this."
"That's all well," Shinku said, stuffing a gyro into her mouth, "but one thing still nags my noodle: what does the Professor want with the Obolus?"
Everyone but me just shrugged. I shouted out, "Malpartido stole the Obolus so he could cross the River Styx without being dragged down by Cerberus! By jove, I've got it!"
"Honey," Aki said to me, "what the hell are you talking about?"
Akari thought for a moment. "No, Aki, I think Mr. Space Case is on to something. We need to head back to the museum."
They left the hotel room as I was coming to my own conclusion. "We need to head Malpartido off before he gets his way. Someone get me a map of the River Styx, I'll have the White Tiger flown over here and..." I turned around to an empty room. "Guys? Aki? Anybody? Where the hell did they go?"
They went to the museum, where Akari had a temporary office set up. She searched through her documents. When I finally got there, she cried out in frustration, "Where are they?"
"Where are what?" Aki asked.
"My notes. I was doing research on necromantic practices, trying to discern what purpose the Obolus served in rituals. I discovered that previous speculation on rituals was incorrect. There were a few details that were missing from what we thought at first. But the notes, they're gone."
"Wait," I said as I inspected her office, "it seems that someone tampered with the locks on these desk drawers. See all the scratches? Someone was picking at them, possibly when the Obolus was stolen."
"Great," Akari said. "That must have been why they kidnapped me. They did ask if I had any information on the archaeological study. They must have wanted my notes. But, if they wanted to know the details of the necromantic rituals, that means... oh no. Professor Anastopolous couldn't be trying to do what I think he is."
"What do you think he's trying to do?" I asked.
"He's trying to contact Hades, land of the dead. You see, the ritualist must first simulate the pains of dying, usually, this was done by constantly eating beans or other legumes."
"That explains why he was so gassy," Shinku said. "Ugh, I just thought he smelled bad all the time."
"Then what?" I asked.
"Then they seclude themselves in a dark room, somewhere where the ritual will take place."
"Well, that settles it," I said. "We need to find out where he's hiding. Like I said, I think he's got himself stationed somewhere along the River Styx."
"First of all, you know we're not talking about Malpartido, right?"
"Of course. We're talking about Anastopolous. I got that."
"Okay. Second, there is no River Styx. It's a mythological river. It's not like the Nile or the Ganges. It doesn't exist on Earth. The only river I can think of that's closest to Styx is the river of Acheron, and that... runs through this area. That's got to be it. He's somewhere along the Acheron, but where?"
"Actually," Kurai said, "I remember these ruins that were beneath the monastery of St. John the Baptist. I went there while we were looking for you."
"Of course," Akari said, "the Necromanteion. If I'm not mistaken, it should be about a mile away from the mouth of Acheron, off the shore of Lake Acherousia."
"What is this Necro... mantain?" Shinku asked.
"The Necromanteion," Akari said, "was an oraclar shrine of the dead, discovered by the famous archaeologist Soltirios Dakaris. It was believed that necromantic cults convened there before it was burnt down by the Romans."
"Well, then," I said, "I say we convene there ourselves."
We arrived at the monastery of St. John the Baptist as dusk had fallen. It was a bit hard to see, but I made out a light guard detail around the ruins (and I don't mean security guards). About ten thugs kept watch, safeguarding what may have been happening within. As it was, we didn't want to attract attention too early, so Shinku, Kurai and I had to make our way in by stealth. Akari still had trouble with her ankle, so Aki stayed with her. Before we left, Akari did give us a rough outline of the ruin's chambers. We stole past the hired guns and made our way into the damp, catacomb-like passages beneath the monastery. The passage led to a three way split. In one of the lantern lit chambers at the end of the hall, we saw one of the armed thugs casually smoking. I crept up behind him and struck his neck, knocking him out. Shinku helped me drag him to a dim part of the ruin where she relieved him of his gun. We scoured the ruin. It was not as large as I anticipated it - only a few rooms. In the central chamber, where the guard was stationed, we heard voices emanate from the floor. Akari mentioned that there was a trapdoor beneath this room. For a while, we listened. At first, the words carried a metered, ritualistic cadence. Then, silence. Soon, we heard another voice beneath us.
"So, is it done?"
"Yes, my contact with Hades has succeeded, no thanks to your interruption."
"Good. Er... look, there's been a change in plans."
"What do you mean?"
"You see, we got a pretty good score of loot, and..."
"They are more than just loot, Mr. Vitelli, they are artifacts. Nonetheless, I'm sure they'll suffice as payment for your assistance."
"Yeah, of course, but, you see, I think I can get a better deal out of this."
"A better deal?"
"You see, that coin you have could fetch us quite a sum by itself. So, you see, we decided..."
"What do you think you're doing?"
"Yeah, we decided that you don't need that coin after all, Mr. Anastopolous."
"I suggest you put that gun away, Mr. Vitelli."
At this time, we found the hidden door and pried it open.
"You can't stop me. Hand over the coin."
There was a long pause. "If you insist, Mr. Vitelli." Then a loud hum filled our heads. Dust fell from the ceiling from the slight tremors.
"Wait, wait a minute. What's that glow?"
"That, Mr. Vitelli, is part of what I'm giving you."
A scream pierced through the droning hum. We finally got the door open and dropped down into the secret chamber. We saw Professor Anastopolous, clad in gray and black robes, standing over a kneeling man, his right hand clutching the man's forehead. An eerie light, a ghostly bluish white, radiated from Anastopolous' hand, piercing into the man's head. The screams died out and the man's body fell limply to the floor. "So much for our deal, Mr. Vitelli," Professor Anastopolous said, "but I should have anticipated this mutiny." He turned his gaze to us. "Ah, so you have found me, how inconvenient. But, no matter. It only means more bodies to fill my army."
Suddenly, Mr. Vitelli's body stirred. Slowly, it stood. His eyes were vacant, devoid of life. He slumped and wavered like a marionette guided by a clumsy hand.
"What have you done?" Kurai shouted.
"Why, I have made contact with the other side," Anastopolous said, "and brought it back with me."
Wordlessly, Shinku lifted the gun she pilfered. She took aim and unloaded her clip into Professor Anastopolous. The bullets tore through cloth, through flesh and bone. Shock filled Professor Anastopolous' face, but he did not fall. His pained expression twisted into a sinister grin, then to a maniacal glare as he cackled.
"Now, now, you should know better. Do you really think you can kill death itself?"
To be continued...