Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:27:56 +0200
From: Muninn Gypsyraven <m.gypsyraven@gmail.com>
Subject: Crystal Deception, Chapter Two

Authors Note: All characters and storylines are fictional, however all
locations are real and exist.

This story contains sexually explicit gay material, should you be under the
legal age limit in your part of the world or it is completely illegal to be
reading this, the Author takes no responsibility whatsoever in the
consequences that may arise thereof.

This work remains the property of the Author and may by no means be copied
without his permission. And for South African readers the following link
applies: http://www.buys.co.za/publications/cyberlaw/CopyrightAct.htm


Readers Note: To all the readers that enjoyed the first chapter, I do
apologize for the late installment of Chapter Two, As this is my first
story I've actually put pen to paper for, I never knew just how much time
it consumed. However it has been challenging and most enjoyable.

Please feel free to give feed back and your thoughts on the story thus
far. Positive criticism is always welcome. Lood forward to hearing from
you. I can be contactacted at m.gypsyraven@gamil.com



Chapter Two:


Al got home later that morning to his apartment in Salt River. Situated on
the outskirts of the city centre he decided to walk to blow off some
steam. When ever he was particularly angry and confused, such as now, he
tended to stay away from home as much as possible. There where just too
many temptations there, he could easily perform a spell that he'd later
regret.

Al made his way directly to his bed ignoring Greg's advice to drink water
before he went to sleep, but he was too tiered to do anything else but
sleep. He flopped down on the bed in his clothes and tried to sleep. But
sleep didn't come, he was far too restless and the walk home hadn't cleared
his mind sufficiently. He was already impatient for news from the Shade
that he had sent out merely hours before, but it would be futile to call it
back so soon, what could it have possibly learnt in such a short time?

Al had to pull himself together, so he stripped down, and went to take a
hot shower. Letting the hot water rush over him he felt as if all his
worries melted away, except for a nagging aspect at the back of his mind
that was bothering him and he couldn't bring it to the fore and identify
it.

He looked down in frustration and shook his head only to be reminded of his
side-splitting headache. Holding his bowed head, he opened his eyes and saw
the water running down his slim toned body and through the dark path,
leading from his belly button to the nest of almost black hair surrounding
his thick manhood and dripping off the end.

His cock gently flexed and triggered a flood of memories from last
night. Watching it grow and take shape, Al groaned softly giving in to its
temptation. He ran his hand down his chest and over the slight ripples of
his abs, bringing a new sensation to him that he previously would not have
thought of.

Wanting more he let his hand slide over his now erect cock and began
wanking himself. It felt good in the shower with the hot water for
lubricant, but there was something else missing, he searched for a memory
to help him enjoy it more, and there it was in the rush of thoughts that
had just came over him. Focusing on the memory of Greg's eyes and molded
features his pleasure doubled. His hand now moving faster and the other
absently exploring the rest of his body he remembered how good it was to
feel the other body against his not so long ago. Reaching his climax he
couldn't help but utter the word, "Greg," while he shuddered in the heat of
the shower releasing his pleasure on the blue and white checkered tiles.

Once out of the shower Al went to his bedroom, feelings of guilt and
frustration still battled the new found lust inside of him, he wanted to
have more. He wanted to have Greg. But the fact still remained that he dad
been stolen from, something precious.  He had waited a long time to get his
hands on that crystal, but only to have it taken away from him is not how
he saw things working out.

Finding his calling at a fortunate young age, Al had been a Summoner most
of his life – even at the tender age of twenty three he was one of, if
not, the most experienced in summoning that he knew of. It came naturally
to him and he experimented far and wide.

He had been around the block a few times and he knew most of the lore of
spirits, which is what drove him to seek out the crystal and make it
his. Al had, over the recent years, begun to feel at a loss. Summoning
spirits to aid him become a better person or in one of the many dangerous
situations he had found himself had become tedious. What he now sought
after was a Familiar. The fact he hadn't found or been chosen by a Spirit
Familiar by now was troubling him and occupying a lot of his time. He had
worked too long and taken too many risks to let this opportunity pass him
by.

Shill he felt anger for Greg, and in the presence of his arsenal he
couldn't trust himself. So lying, still naked, on his bed, he meditated
himself into a deep sleep.  Al awoke rejuvenated early the following
morning; he went to work and came home. Tuesday came and went too, still no
Shade. The days dragged painfully on.

The clock had no sooner registered twelve a.m. Friday morning when a sleek
black apparition appeared at the foot of Al's bed. It waited patiently for
him to awake. Al was in a shallow sleep and woke quietly and lay still. He
was vaguely aware of a presence in his room though he couldn't be sure it
was benign. He cast his mind out to find out who or what it was, when he
found the traces of the infinite patience of the Shade he quickly sat up
eager for news. Still pulling himself out of his sleep he gained control of
his lame tongue.

"Hi there, it's about time you came back." Al thanked the Shade, but it
made no reply. Al looked at it collecting his thoughts.

"What is the name of the target?" He prompted, wanting to make sure the
Shade followed the correct person.

"He is the one with the name you already know." The ethereal voice touched
on Al's mind skipping his ears.

"Yes, that is the one," satisfied with the cryptic answer, Al
continued. "Where does he live?"

"He lives on the shores of the South Seas, high where winds blow and..."

"Yes, thank you," Al cut the Shade short. Questioning a spirit could last
for hours if you aren't specific enough. So Greg could have lived anywhere
between the Strand to Simons Town which spanned a little less than sixty
kilometers. Although the word "High" did catch his attention. So that
indicated on a hill or in a block of flats. So he followed his gut with the
flats idea. "What is the number of his, um, abode?" Al ventured.

"The number on the door of the one you love is 808." The Shade said
matter-of-factly.  Al stared in disbelief. He couldn't have heard
right. "Stop talking in circles and only answer what I ask!" he scolded the
Shade pointing his finger at it. He pushed the absurd idea of love to the
furthest reaches of his mind. "Now, you where there for a long time, what
are his movements like?" Bracing himself for a lengthy answer he waited.

"He rises an hour after the crow of the cock." That sent Al's mind thinking
a little off track, but the Shade continued, "And cleanses his body in
water and then his mind. Every day passed there after he feeds and communes
at length with his master over an unknown device."

"You bugger." Al thought to himself without letting the Shade hear, "you
know damn well what a cellular phone is."

"And," the Shade went on, "Every day there after his movements are never
the same save for one."

"And that is?"

"He comes down from his perch on high immediately after having communed
with his master."

"Usually what time?"

"Never the same time, for it always depends on how long he and the master
speak."

Al had already gathered enough knowledge for a confrontation, enough to
intercept him in the morning. Al questioned the Shade further with regards
to the crystal only to find that Greg had hidden it in his flat and it
remained there. However the Shade refused to look directly at the crystal
because of the energies it gave off and therefore it did not know where
precisely it was hidden. Al wasn't all too concerned with that, it was a
simple matter of finding it once he was there.

They spoke for quite some time still, Al wanting to know as much about the
thief before he confronted him. He was going to be as ready as he could
be. Once he had gotten as much information as possible (he knew this
because the Shade began repeating the same answers to his questions, a sign
that it generally didn't know the answer). Learning all he could, he
released the Shade to think about a how to confront Greg for the crystal.

What he had learnt was that Greg was a sales person of sorts, and that he
always ran things though his boss. He lived alone and that he was quite
sociable meeting friends or acquaintances in the evenings, Al wasn't sure
of which because the Shade wasn't sure, just that he went out almost every
night to meet someone. What Al was happy to hear is that he wasn't having
any sexual relations of any kind, so he was put to ease about at least one
thing.

Categorizing all the information he had received into something he could
use to get the crystal back, Al realized that the Shade hadn't quite left
his room although he couldn't see it. Not that it bothered him, but he did
enjoy his privacy. When something he overlooked earlier became suddenly
apparent, the Shade was giving off the feeling of a raven.

Shades generally felt like any other low ranking spirit, but not this
one. Spirits that gave off emanations usually had powers of their own or
where higher ranking, something like a creature of myth or a God. The Shade
was very placid in his presence, but it made Al feel uneasy all the same
that it could do this.

                                                            ***************

The night wore on. Not long before sunrise, Al was no where closer to
making a plan than he was when he released the Shade. So he decided to be
as resourceful as possible. He got dressed and made his way down to the
train station where he caught the first train of the morning at
05:10. Getting on board the train heading outbound to the southern suburbs
he settled in for the near hour ride.

Coming up to the Southern coast line of the peninsula Al was aware that the
Shade was following him. He couldn't be sure why, but was sure he'd find
out soon enough. He was staring out of the window at the sea as the train
pulled into Muizenburg train station. He heard a whisper, but it wasn't
sound. It was thought, the Shade was trying to get his attention, Al let
his mind open for the message.

"Get off the train now!" The Shade said urgently. Without hesitation Al was
out of his seat and out of the train on the platform. Not too soon either
as the train pulled away for its destination. Left alone on the empty
platform he became aware that he didn't know where Greg's flat was. Not
knowing where to start, something caught his attention to his left. Turning
to get a better view, he squinted a little only to realize that it was the
Shade. It promptly disappeared again from sight before he could make it out
clearly, only to leave him with a direct view of the only building for
miles to have eight floors or more.

Al could have kicked himself. It was quite obvious that it was this
building, there where few other possibilities and even so, they were sixty
kilometers away. Checking his watch he was ahead of schedule by a little
over an hour. Enough time to make his way to the building and wait for
Greg. Al looked in the general direction of where the Shade was last and
said, "Thanks." Then he headed for the exit of the train station at a
leisurely pace.

He made himself comfortable over the road from the lobby entrance to
Killarney Heights and waited. Time went by faster than he expected and he
still wasn't ready when he saw Greg leaving the front doors of the
building. Greg didn't see him as Al made his way across the road to get his
attention.

"Greg." Al called as he stepped on the pavement. Greg turned to see who was
calling his name.  "You, oh... uh, hi." Greg flustered not knowing where to
start.

"Yes, me." Al mocked him. His anger rising. Quickly Greg reassessed the
situation and regained his confidence.

"I was wondering if I'd see you again."

"Well fancy that, here I am."

"Yes you are," Greg said with that dashing smile of his that rocked Al's
defenses, "I'm going for some breakfast, would you like to join me?"

"No thank you, I came to talk to you about something important."

"Surely not here on the street, coffee perhaps?" he persisted.

"No thank you," Al stood his ground, "I'm sure your breakfast was filling
already, after you showered and did your Yoga."

Greg's smile faltered but he bounced back, "What you mean? We had a great
time the other night and now that I finally do see you again, I can't take
you for coffee?"  Even though his exterior was cheery, Al knew his mind was
working in overdrive.

"You took something from me and I want it back."

"Al, I really don't know what you are talking about." The use of his name
gave Al a shiver of pleasure. He admired Greg for keeping his
calm. "Admire?" thought Al, "You are here to claim back what is yours!" He
reminded himself.

"Don't try and pull the wool over my eyes, I know you pick pocketed me at
the club and I know you got my crystal, I need it back."

"Al..." Greg began in his calming voice.

"Damn it Greg, stop fucking around and cough it up!" Al lost his temper, "I
know you got it and if you even think of doing something stupid like
selling it you are going to regret it." He instantly regretted his words as
he saw Greg's features steel. Al had an on the spot idea that he might sell
the crystal and hit the nail on the head, and seemed to push a dangerous
button too.

"Look here, so what if I got it? It's now mine and mine to do with what I
want." Greg didn't want to be nasty, but this guy already knew too much
about him. How he wasn't sure, he always kept his movements as random as
possible even though he enjoyed his little private routines that he had at
home. This guy had gone too far, to meddle in his work was dangerous for
uninformed people. He'd seen those kinds of people disappear all to easily,
not to return to their lives. "Go now and leave me alone, if you know
what's good for you."

They stared at each other for a moment, the other not knowing entirely what
to say.

"Just give it back, and no one will have to find out what's good for them."
Al spoke first.

"Its too late, I've already got a buyer and I'm on my way to close the
deal" Greg fell right into Al's trap and practically confessed to his
intentions.

"You're a terrible liar, Greg." Al said sadly, he could see that Greg was
bluffing though he wasn't sure if he had a buyer lined up or not.

Seeing the change in composure, Greg dropped his guard for a moment, Al
looked like a tragic hero. His features strikingly attractive, he felt his
groin give a throb. "Its done and there's nothing I can do about it. It's
out of my hands." And as if that was final and an answer to everything he
turned and walked away.

Al watched him walking away. Desperate for a more substantial conclusion to
their argument, he went after Greg. "Please." He called before he could
stop himself, "You don't know how important it is." Al had promised himself
that he wouldn't beg. He never begged, he found it degrading and
embarrassing and never saw himself portrayed by either.

Greg stopped and looked back. "You don't get it do you? Its over and you've
lost. However important it might have been, I'm sure its not life
threatening, or else you wouldn't be begging." Greg was right and now his
turn to hit some buttons.

"You want to do this the hard way, fine!" Al flared up, he knew that it
wasn't life threatening and if he had stopped to take the time he would
have realized that he didn't need the crystal at all. But he was blinded by
the craving for power and anger for being proven wrong. It hurt, especially
that it came from Greg. And he still couldn't put his finger on why this
man made him tick and it added frustration to the mixture of his feelings.

Al turned and walked away, a complete bundle of confusion. The only thing
he knew for sure was that he was going to get the crystal back, one way or
another, tonight.

					                      *********

Al returned to Killarney Heights that night. From what the Shade had told
him, he gathered that Greg was out socializing or at least on his way
out. Breaking and entering was not one of Al's weaknesses, or the guilt
thereof. Keeping well out of sight under the invisibility of a summoned
spirit, he moved in short stages making his way up to the eighth
floor. Once there he searched to locate flat 808.

Finding the door, he summoned the Shade he had used to tag Greg before, but
it would not come. Not seeing the significance in this, he merely shrugged
and called another Shade, all the while remaining out of view of possible
prying eyes.

"Go inside this dwelling," he commanded, "And tell me if the master is home
or not."

The Shade slipped through the wall obediently only to return less than a
minute later.

"The master is home." It reported simply.

"What is the master doing?"

"He has only but finished washing."

Al's thoughts drifted at once to what Greg might look like in a towel,
tall, dark and smooth. As stated earlier, Al never really took the time to
analyze his sexual preferences not to mention racial groups he may be
attracted too. Honestly he never saw himself attracted to a person of
colour. But make no mistake, of his few friends they where diverse over the
colour spectrum and his closest, most dear of these was an African
Witchdoctor thrice his age.

Living in a country with a broken background marred by violence, it is
difficult not to adopt your parents points of view and tendencies. Not Al,
he rebelled against all their teachings from political standings to
spirituality. He was his own individual.

"Thank you." Al dismissed the new Shade. After a moment of tying to come up
with a plan, to do at least something, he found himself raising his hand,
not knowing why, to ring the doorbell.

Greg stepped out of the shower and reached for his towel. As he was leaning
over to reach the towel rack a movement caught his attention in the
mirror. It wasn't him as it was totally steamed beyond clear reflection. It
was like a shadow moving past, he could have sworn he saw something, but
instead he brushed the idea to paranoia. He was a little shaken from a call
he had a little earlier from one of his buyers.

The lady on the other side of the line was quite persistent that she was
looking for something of value. But in his line of work, it depended on
what a person thought as valuable. A painting may just be a painting to one
buyer, however to another it may be a priceless work of art. It all came
down to perception. This lady had been different; she was looking for a
jewel or something along those lines and was adamant that Greg had it. Or
at least knew someone who may have an artifact to her liking. It was almost
as if she was trying to get him to confess to having the only thing that
came to mind, the crystal.

It was the only item he currently possessed (that was for sale) that fitted
the description criteria. And to make matters more puzzling, Al was looking
for it too. Actually he had had it in the first place and that was
troubling too. His attention fell on his cell phone that was under the
mirror on the basin cabinet, where he left it before he got into the
shower. When the idea occurred to him that he should sell it. Get it off
his hands and Al's, he was sure Al would understand in the long run.

Wrapping the towel around his waist he picked up his phone and texted the
unknown lady that he had come across some information that may interest her
, and that she should contact him as soon as possible if she was still
interested. As he pressed the send button the doorbell rang, being his
usual confident self he made his way to answer the door not bothering to
put anything else on.

As he opened the door he put his phone down on the small table next to the
door. He didn't see anyone outside. He poked his head out the doorway and
looked left and right, but the corridor was deserted. Not seeing anyone his
thoughts returned to his evening's entertainment – the Twink from last
week Saturday. He slowly pushed the door closed, only for it to be stopped
by a hand.

The door opened in front of Al. A feeling of déjà vu washed over him, he
had been in this situation before, a corridor, a door opening and he being
invisible. But the feeling quickly dissipated as his heart skipped a beat
and got stuck in his throat. Greg had opened the door in all his glory and
only wrapped in a towel. Al's eyes wondered over the half naked body in the
good light, the abs and pecs where not overly defined but toned.  And there
were traces that he enjoyed life and food too. Sparsely filling the gaps of
the hard muscles was thicker skin, fat not entirely burnt off. The well
proportioned body was for lack of anything else, perfect. Al goggled
forgetting that Greg was not able to see him, but as the door began to
close he was brought back to his senses feeling robbed of the sight now
hidden from him.

Al quickly stepped forward out from under his concealment and placed his
hand firmly on the door. Greg pulled it open again to see who had stopped
it. Again they found themselves staring at each other for a moment.

"Hi, may I come in?" Al broke the silence.

"I don't know. Are you going to behave yourself?"

"Now why would you think otherwise, I just want to talk."

"You just wanted to talk this morning too."

"Well in that case I believe you offered me coffee too, and breakfast," Al
reminded him and stepped over the threshold, "But I'm not greedy, I'll
settle for coffee."

Greg let him pass and closed the door behind him. He went to the kitchen
followed by Al. Al couldn't but let his eyes wonder over the odd
assortments that was placed around the flat. Too many paintings hung on the
walls and many rested against walls and furniture, there where one or two
rhino horns and a few laptops and two computers. There were many other
items, too many to mention even and he thought he even saw a complex part
of a rifle half concealed. But even though the place was cluttered, there
was a definite order of sorts and it looked quite neat and
acceptable. Stopping in the kitchen, Greg began to make coffee.

"Two sugars, milk?" He asked.

"Yes please." Al said not paying much attention.

"See anything you like?"

"Pardon? Um..."

"You know something; you're actually cute when you're out of your depth."

Al flushed red, he never did handle complements well. "I... er, see you
really are in the selling business."

"You want it, I get it." Greg boasted, smiling as he walked over to give Al
his coffee. "I got a lot of buyers and if you came for what you wanted this
morning, I'm afraid you are going to be disappointed."

Al wasn't sure whether or not to be angry; he was far to occupied by
sneaking glances at Greg's body. Which weren't going unnoticed, Greg was
getting turned on again by the innocence that was in front of him.

"Come, sit." Greg suggested as he led Al to the lounge. He cleared a place
on his couch for them to sit down, a space so that they were not too far
apart. "So tell me, why you wanted this crystal so badly?" he said lounging
back on the deep couch making Al all the more nervous. "I just wish he'd go
put something on so I could concentrate." Al thought angrily.

Al tried to pull his thoughts together, thinking up a legitimate lie to why
the crystal was so important to him, when they were interrupted by a loud
knock on the door. Frowning, Greg got up to answer it, "Don't go anywhere."
He said with a suggestive wink. Greg had no sooner opened the door when he
shouted loud in surprise and there was commotion as he was led back to the
lounge at gun point.

Al stood up quickly in shock wondering what was going on. Two men in suits
wielding guns came barging in. One pointed at Greg.

"Don't move!" Said on of the men and he aimed his gun on Al. He jerked his
gun indicating that he must sit down; the other man did the same to
Greg. "Where is the crystal?" He spoke again, this time to Greg. But Greg
didn't answer. "Don't tempt me, I'll take a knee cap at a time." He looked
serious enough and he had a silencer on the end of his gun, so his threat
wasn't entirely empty.  "I don't know what you are talking about." Greg
answered, his features stony serious. The second man fired his gun into the
back of the couch to make their point clear. That was the final straw for
Al, he was about to summon something as nasty as he dare, without harming
Greg in the process when the tables really turned completely out of their
favour. He couldn't believe who just walked in.

"Now, now, I'm sure we won't be needing any of that." A third man said as
he came walking in fast, speaking to the two men in suits but his gaze was
fixed on Al. He stood nearly a full two meters high and was dressed like
something out of a silly vampire movie. He was wearing a pair of dark khaki
pants that had way too many pockets and a black shirt that had a sash of
rifle bullets draped form one shoulder to the opposite hip like Rambo, all
covered by a dirty brown trench coat that was unbuttoned. "You boys go look
for the crystal and I'll watch these two."  The men in suits exchanged
uncertain glance. "Now." Said the third man in a tone that was final.

The two gunmen left the room in search of the crystal. Al, Greg and the new
presence were left in a temporary awkward silence. Al was uncertain if he
should give himself away that he knew this third man, but that was all
decided for him.

"So, Alfred, are you going to introduce me to your new friend or should I
just ask him myself." He asked.

Greg looked at Al with big demanding eyes. "You know this thing?"

Al practically withered under Greg's stare, "I wouldn't refer to him as
such while he is in our presence." Al advised. Greg was about to protest at
being treated like this in his own flat when the man took a menacing step
forward.

"You better listen to your friend if you have any sense at all." The big
man threatened.

Al laid a hand on Greg's knee to give him some reassurance, a gesture that
Greg accepted but was lost on the big brute. "This is Clayton," Al
explained, "The Knife." He added mockingly with a sneer.

"We have a certain history together." Clayton said narrowing his eyes.

"Ha! You poaching on my collections or meddling in business that's not
yours could hardly be called history." Al scoffed.

Clayton took three long, quick strides and stuck Al with a backhand across
his face. Greg launched himself at the attacker only to receive a quick
blow to his stomach. He doubled over and fell on the couch wheezing for
air. Al quickly forgot his own demise and put his arm around him. Al
narrowed his eyes as he glared at Clayton..

"You'll pay for that Clay." he threatened.

Clayton stepped back and took in the scene, there was something amiss to
see Al holding a half naked man, shielding him so fiercely. But before he
could make the connection that there was more to the eye a noise from the
back of the flat broke his attention. "Don't go anywhere." He chortled and
turned to investigate what had happened. From the back there was a muffled
conversation as the three men continued to ransack Greg's flat.

"We have to get out of here." Al whispered to Greg.

"We? More like me. You bring these people..."

"Hey," Al cut him short, "I brought nobody but myself." He continued
struggling to keep a whisper in his anger. "Just because I know one of them
doesn't make us accomplices.

"Then you tell me how they came here."

"If I can find you, I'm sure other people can too. Besides, Clay is very
resourceful and you don't want to cross him." Al warned.

"Seems to me like you two have history."

"Probably not the kind you're thinking of."

 "Then how? He's here in my flat and you two seem to have unresolved
issues."

Al tried to suppress his laugh, Greg wouldn't even be able to guess the
colorful history that Al and Clayton shared. "Lets just say that I've
crossed him one too many times and lived to tell the tale." Greg tried to
protest the vague answer he received, but was cut short again. "Lets leave
it at that for now, we have to get out of here," he stressed, "I'll tell
you another time." He then promised to get Greg to at least cooperate.

"Fine, what do you propose?"

Before Al could make the proper connection in his mind, Clayton came
storming into the living room. "Just make sure you find that fucking
thing." He shouted over his shoulder. "Now, I thought I heard some
laughing. Care to share the joke?"

Just then the phone began ringing.

"That's my sister," Greg explained, "and it I don't answer she'll know
something is wrong."

Clayton hesitated briefly with his thoughts, "Answer, but if you mention
anything that I don't like," he said slowly pulling a miniature crossbow
from the inner recesses of his coat, "she wont ever know what happened here
before we leave." He ended pointing the barbed arrow in the crossbow at
Greg.

Greg lifted the portable receiver and answered. While he spoke to his
sister Al waited to catch Clayton's eye.

"You so much as try and pull that trigger and you're ass is as good as
dead." Al said trying to maintain his temper.

"Really, I got some new toys that I'm dying to try out," Clayton said
wiggling his fingers, indicating the new rings on his free hand.

"Careful what you wish for Clay." Al retorted.

Clayton's eyes flashed back to Greg, "Get off, you taking too long." Greg
brought the conversation to an end and said goodbye and hung up, but he
remained standing with the phone in his hand.

"Now, who's first?" Clay droned, "We can't have any loose ends now." He
went on, now swinging his aim back and forth between Al and Greg. Al looked
at Greg and for the first time showed fear in his eyes. He knew that one of
them was certainly going to get hit by the arrow, but he feared more for
Greg. But something was different about Greg, he stood feet apart in his
towel and shoulders back with a slight smirk on his face.

"Well who's it gonna be?" Clayton asked again.

Al wasn't sure what was happening until he saw Greg give him a barely
perceptible wink. Instantly he took his cue, or so he guessed, trusting
Greg he gathered what courage he had left in the hopeless situation.

Greg timed it well, he waited until Clayton's hand aimed at him and was
then on its slow track back to aiming at Al. As fast as he could he threw
the phone at Clayton. Caught off guard, Clayton swung his aim back at Greg
growling with anger. The phone flew a little wide of his head and he didn't
even flinch. Al seized his opportunity and reached for his coffee and flung
the contents at Clayton, this time he did flinch as he the hot liquid
rained over him. He threw up this free arm to cover his face and
involuntarily pulled the trigger of the crossbow at the same time. It
launched from the string at blinding speed directly for Greg. Al let out a
low scream and Clayton looked bewildered wondering why the cold coffee
wasn't burning.

Before Greg had time to react he heard the arrow thud into the cement wall
behind him, all that he felt was the fletching brush his right side as it
flew between his right arm and his chest. Al swung his head from Clayton to
Greg taking in what had just happened. He eventually stopped and focused on
Greg searching for blood, but he saw none and neither did Clayton.

"You fuck! You could have killed him." Al shouted, Clayton responded with a
grunt and moved forward to attack Greg, this time with his hands. On his
second step Al flicked his empty mug at Clayton and it crashed on the side
of his head in splinters. Clayton dropped to his knees heavily and then
toppled forward, blood flowing freely form the gash behind his left temple.

"Come let's go." Al blurted in what sounded like one word.

Greg didn't budge though, he was processing the fact that Al had probably
killed this stranger in his flat. His mind was running through the legal
implications that this now created.

"Let's go!" Al stressed again, this time grabbing Greg's hand and making
for the door. And just in time too, the two other men that were ransacking
the other rooms came to see what the problem was, only to find Clayton on
the floor bleeding and the two young men running out the front door.

Al and Greg had just gone through the front door and turned down the
corridor to find an escape when the where given a farewell shower of 9mm
bullets to speed them on their way.  They ducked down the first flight of
stairs next to the elevator to go down to the seventh floor where Al
stopped.

"I came for the crystal and I'm not leaving with out it."

"Now's a fine time to be thinking about that." Greg replied angrily.

"And besides, you're half naked, how far do you think we're gonna get?"

"We can go to my sisters."

"In what?"

"My car," Greg began, but quickly saw the error in this plan. He was still
in his towel and that he didn't have the car keys on him either.

"Wait here, I'll be right back." Al winked.

"But you don't have a weapon." Greg protested grabbing Al's arm.

This went on for a moment or two until they hit a stale mate that they were
just as stubborn as the other. Al knew he could handle two goons with
guns. So he moved forward to kiss Greg but he hesitated, he wasn't sure how
he'd receive it. So he did it any way. He leaned forward and kissed Greg
deeply, but briefly.

"I'll be right back." He promised. Bewildered, Greg let go of his arm and
watched him dash back up the stairs to the eighth floor.

					                              *****

Al inched quietly towards the open door, he wasn't sure if the two suits
where still in there or not. So quieting his mind, he called a spirit, one
which he had used many times in the past; it was a slightly disturbed
spirit which usually left weak minded people stunned or fast asleep in its
presence. He gently guided it with his mind to enter the flat, where it
would no doubt find the two men and render them fast asleep or standing
stupid.

However, the spirit stopped in the kitchen and wouldn't go any further into
the flat like it was being told to. Angry and puzzled, Al took a chance
peek around the now bullet ridden door frame. From just that glance he saw
the new problem. The spirit wouldn't work where there was a crowd.  Al had
seen at least five or seven more suits running around, throwing things over
and a few attending to Clayton. "They must have called for back up when
they heard the noise," Al thought, "And coming up in the elevator, missed
us when we were on the seventh floor." He concluded.

"Right." He said softly, "They want to be business like, I'll give them
business to deal with."

He released the spirit in the kitchen and crouched down to trace a symbol
on the floor in front of him and softly chanted an invocation. The symbol
glowed red then went hot and as white as ice. Al backed off to watch the
Djinn appearing in front of him, keeping well out of its grasp.

"Inside there is the debt that I owe you." Al said simply, indicating to
the open door behind the Djinn. It stared at him, turned and went inside
Greg's flat. The general silence from inside the flat was short
lived. Blood curdling screams at unnatural pitches came from the open
doorway. Sounds of unknown objects or possibly bodies being flung this way
and that, also punctuated the screams. Eventually of what seemed like hours
to Al of the actual minute or two that he waited, it got quieter as each
scream , one by one came to an abrupt end.

Al walked in quickly, he wanted to banish the Djinn before it killed all of
the suits. He knew that it got more pleasure out of hurting or sadistically
playing with their minds before it actually killed and took their souls for
its own personal slaves. That was the worst part of all, the Djinn was
quick and efficient, but messy. But Al needed the job done.

The flat was littered with bodies everywhere, eight to his count including
Clayton on the floor, who knows how many else? But they were all still
alive, unconscious, but alive. They didn't carry the death trademark of
this Djinn.

Al moved so he could look into the bathroom, here he saw the back of the
Djinn, busy with one of the suits – clearly he was bringing them here to
finish his work.

"At least you're punctual for a change," Al said, "and practical." He added
sarcastically.

The Djinn turned to him and advanced. Al backed away saying the banishing
spell, but he tripped over a body and landed full on Clayton who moaned and
began waking up.

"Give it, give it, give it, give it." The Djinn motor mouthed.

"Give what?" Al said getting worried.

"Give it, give it, give it, give it." The Djinn repeated.

"What!"

"Power, power, power, power, give it power!" It screeched with the look of
death in its eyes.

Al then realized that it was feeling the energies of the crystal and was
getting greedy, so he repeated the banishing exorcism, but it wasn't
working.

"Give it, give it, give it, give it." The Djinn persisted getting more
aggravated and angry with Al for not giving it the increase in energies
that it was feeling. It moved forward to take its anger out on him, not to
mention that he would make a fine and powerful slave, allowing the Djinn to
accomplish some difficult personal goals.

Now towering over Al, its attention was broken by a movement in the night
outside the window. Al turned around to see what it was. There on the
windowsill, was a rather large Raven, perched majestically and so black
that it almost blended with the darkness behind it. A look of fear took
hold of the Djinn's face and it disappeared hastily scorching the carpet
where it was standing.

"Muninn! What are you doing here?" Al said angrily, standing up and backing
away from the burn marks left on the floor. "I had everything under
control." He ended lamely facing the Raven.

The Raven didn't move, it just looked at him. Then as before with the
Shade, the words skipped his ears and appeared in his mind.

"Do not make me have to save your life again." The Raven hopped off the
window ledge and disappeared into the night.

The fact that the Raven was just here and had spoken to him had left him
more shaken than the close encounter with the Djinn. His mind was
racing. Muninn didn't speak to humans let alone appear to them. Something
big was happening, bigger than the crystal, himself or the fact that
Clayton was involved.

His concentration was broken by Greg entering the flat and picking his way
through the debris.

"What the fuck happened to my flat?" He demanded.

"I'll tell you later." Al said looking sheepish.

"More to the point, what the fuck did you do to these people?" Greg carried
on indicating the bodies that littered the floor.

Al wasn't sure how to answer to he turned and faced the now semi-conscious
Clayton, who was struggling to his knees. Al aimed a kick to the side of
his head and Clayton fell again like a stone with a thump.

"All I can say," Al said turning to Greg, "is that I'm as scared as you and
I don't want this to happen to me." He made a gesture to the floor then
ended, "To us."

"Oh no, you mean you, I'm not getting involved."

"Its too late for that, you're already involved, you have the crystal and
that's all these people care about. They'll stop at nothing to get it
back."

Greg was going to object that he could take care of himself, but Al
continued: "Speaking of which, this is a pretty big unit that was taken out
here, there will be more on the way and cops too. I'm sure someone called
them with all the gunshots."

This made more sense to Greg and convinced him that it would be best to
leave and deal with everything later.

"Quickly go get dressed." Al urged.

Greg hurried to his room but stopped short when he passed the bathroom, he
backtracked and stared in disgusted awe at the new paint job that the now
red bathroom had received. He looked at Al for an explanation.

"Yes, seven liters can go a long way, please hurry."

Greg continued to his room.

Al waited for a few minutes when Greg came back to the lounge wearing a
pair of black utility cargo pants and a khaki T-shirt that had very short
sleeves, exposing his upper arms well. He had a bad slung over a shoulder
that came down to his opposite hip. He walked past Al to the corner of the
lounge next to the wall unit where there was a display of antiques. He
picked up a fair sized box and clipped open an unseen latch that let a
hidden drawer slip out of the base of the box. He took out a Cryptex and
tossed it to Al.

"Hey." Al exclaimed catching it, "I thought you're supposed to be gentle
with these things."

"So you watched the Da Vince Code eh?"

"Who hasn't?"

"The password is `P.I.K.I.E.'"

Puzzled, Al clicked the five dials until they reflected the word. There was
an audible click and the right side opened easily. Al tilted the cylinder
and out slid a wand crystal. It was so beautiful, it refracted the light of
the room and threw out the seven colours of the rainbow and more vivid
shades in-between without even having to turn it. Al just sat and stared at
its beauty, it was the first time he had seen the crystal in good light.

"Isn't there supposed to be a vial of vinegar inside?" Was all he finally
managed to say.

"Is that all you can think about?" Greg chided him gently, "But yes, now
lets go."

Al slid the crystal back into the Cryptex, jumbled the lettered dials and
slid it into his pocket. As they walked at a brisk pace through the front
door, Greg picked up his cellular phone and pocketed it.

They made their way down to the basement in silence. Getting out the
elevator, Al remained a respectful step behind Greg for him to lead the way
to his car. Arriving at the correct parking bay, Greg pressed his remote
deactivating the alarm to a dark red almost, but not quite maroon Opel
Astra. Still in silence, Greg drove them to he exit, pressed another remote
and the roller-shutter gate cranked open. Turning onto the street they
heard the sirens of approaching police, Greg pushed a little harder on the
accelerator. They had barely gone 200 meters when a string of blearing
police cars came streaming around the bend, heading in the direction from
which they had come.

Here ends Chapter two of Crystal Deception. If you have any feed back I
would like to hear from you. There are 2 more chapters on the way so if you
enjoyed it, keep an eye out for them.  GypsyRaven.