Onikymn Crystal: The Lost City, #3

By RR Morris

  

To Understand Your Nemesis, You Must First Recognize the Evil that Drives It

Onikymn Crystal- The Lost City - Book Three

 

Embark on a pulsating journey into The Lost City, the gripping third installment of the Onikymn Crystal series. Dutch O'Hara's relentless pursuit of the malevolent entity holding the crystal leads him to Malta. There, he discovers a child prodigy with enigmatic clues planted in her subconscious. As Dutch delves deeper into the puzzle, he faces a race against time to retrieve the crystal before catastrophe strikes.

 

But when Dutch's wife and the child are kidnapped, he's faced with a chilling ultimatum: come or they die. With unwavering resolve, Dutch ventures into an ancient underground labyrinth teeming with peril. Navigating treacherous tunnels and deadly traps, he confronts the captors in a showdown of mortal versus immortal. In the aftermath of the battle, Dutch and his wife mourn the loss of their son, a casualty of the conflict. Yet, amidst the grief, a startling revelation awakens, jolting Dutch to his core.

 

Full of twists, thrills, and heart-wrenching sacrifices, The Lost City is a must-read for fans of high-stakes adventure and supernatural suspense. Grab your copy now and join Dutch O'Hara on his quest to save the world from darkness.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Roy Morris
• Release date: Jun 28, 2023
• ISBN: 9781386914815

Book preview

One

BECK’S ALTERNATE TIMELINE:

After running interference on Nicolai Amadeusz, Beck escorted Brigitte out of the Roussell Nightclub, hailed a cab, and opened the door for her to climb in the rear. He slid in next to her as she leaned toward the driver saying something in French. The cabby pulled away from the curb and she sat back into the seat smiling at him. 

That bartender friend of yours is a real character, Beck said.  

They laughed. 

I liked the story about the old man and the young woman. That was so cute. I could listen to him all night and he tells those stories with such zeal, she said  

He hadn’t remembered a more enchanting evening in a long while. It was as if the stars had aligned for him to meet Brigitte. Three years ago, his wife Julia died from leukemia, and the devastation of losing her left an empty hole that couldn’t be filled. But Brigitte’s presence was solace to his soul. She was so irresistible, so willing to give of herself that he couldn’t help but feel alive again.

At times she reminded him of Julia, maybe from a glancing flirtatious look, the way she beamed when being mischievous or having some light-hearted playfulness. In his original timeline, it hit him hard when Brigitte lay lifeless in his arms at Landsberg.

After he found out she had sacrificed herself to save him from Barsamian, he went to Kymeara. He convinced the Onikymn Overseers to send him back to intercept her before Nicolai approached her. By going weeks in the past, it introduced another Beck O’Hara to the world. The hardest thing he ever had to do was give up his family, friends and the life he had. But there was no hesitation...

The cabbie pulled up next to a chain-link fence and Beck slid out to allow her to exit the cab. They stood facing each other, smiling. 

Thank you for keeping me company tonight. I had such a good time. You are a great dancer too, he said 

I enjoyed myself very much. Would you care to come in for a nightcap? 

Oh, I’d really like to, but I have a business appointment in seven hours, he said looking at his wristwatch. I need to get some rest and prepare for the meeting. Mind if I walk you to the door. 

Not at all. 

Can you tell the driver to wait? 

She leaned over speaking to the cabbie and they strolled through the gate. 

Brigitte, I’ll be in Paris for quite some time. I would like to see you again. 

They stopped at the steps going up to the front door landing, and she reached into her purse for pen and paper. She wrote something on it, turned and handed it to him. Her eyes smiled. My phone number... I’m looking forward to seeing you again too. 

Beck smiled. Terrific, how about Friday at 7PM. I’ll get a cab, pick you up and we’ll have dinner. After that, we can go to Roussell’s if you like. 

Oh that sounds nice. Should I wear a raincoat? 

Is it supposed to rain? 

No. 

So why the raincoat? 

Just in case you dump a glass of water on me. Brigitte laughed.

He chuckled and smacked himself on the forehead. Ouch, I should’ve seen that coming. My advice is to forget the raincoat and take a walk on the wild side; it’s much more fun." 

Ooh, that sounds adventurous. She smiled and twisted around to open the screen door. "Thank you for a wonderful evening, Monsieur O’Hara." 

You made it wonderful... 

Brigitte unlocked her door and twisted around to look at him. Goodnight. 

Goodnight. He turned and headed to the cab. The Panache Hotel, please. The first part of his plan to protect Brigitte was a success and now he had to get an anonymous letter to his counterpart Beck at the Gabriel Hotel. Since Nicolai never wooed Brigitte, and he and Gavin didn’t have to rescue her from Sirus, they end up going back to the Gabriel after tailing Nicolai tonight. 

The cab pulled up in front of the Panache Hotel, and Beck handed him ten francs waving at him to keep the change. He hurried up to his room, sat at the kitchenette table to type the letter on a manual typewriter. One aspect of being an investigator was the capacity to pay close attention to details. If he wrote the letter in cursive, his counterpart would recognize the handwriting and deduce who wrote it.  

He typed his message and once finished, he slipped it into an envelope and typed on the outside ‘For Beck O’Hara — Private.’ The Gabriel Hotel was within walking distance and he still carried a key to the back door. When he approached the alley, he glanced around to make sure no one was close by. He headed up the stairwell, through the hall and stuck the envelope between the door and jamb. The only thing left to do now was to disappear and pray that fate will be merciful on all of them. 

BECK’S ORIGINAL TIMELINE:

Nicolai left the Roussell nightclub furtively followed by Beck and Gavin. He reverted to his tried-and-true methods of stalking beautiful woman after the disappointing attempt to entice a young woman at the Roussell. The expected confrontation at the Chateau of Landsberg in the near future required him to build his energy reserve by consuming a life force and adding a wife to his ethereal harem. The third nightspot he visited turned out to be the Le Carmen on the outskirts of Paris’ business district.  

Unlike the Roussell, this club attracted the lower middle-class. The attire for the male patrons was casual slacks and tee shirts with short-cropped haircuts. The females wore long skirts, cotton blouses with their hair tied in ponytails or curled around their shoulders. Eyes and lips called for heavy mascara and lipstick.  

What made this location ideal for Nicolai was the local businesses were closed at that time of night, which meant the area had very few people along the sidewalks. Across the street from the club, he found a darkened recess between two buildings to cover his presence, a place where he could watch women come and go. 

We should have never wasted our time going to Roussell’s highbrow club. Meat is meat, and it doesn’t matter whether she is rich, poor, intelligent or stupid. But she must be beautiful, Bahbad grumbled with displeasure, or at least appealing to the eyes.

Patience... all in good time, we will have our reward soon enough, Sirus said. 

A young dark-haired woman exited the club followed by a man with the sleeves of his tee shirt swollen from bulging biceps. Emma, he shouted. He grabbed her by the arm, twisted her around and scowled, spitting angry obscenities at her. She jerked her arm free, slapped him twice across the face, and cursed him. He threw his hands up in aggravation and returned to the club. She continued walking and glanced up and down the street as if searching for a cab. 

Sirus transformed into a black crow, flew to the opposite corner and turned back into the handsome, well-dressed Nicolai. He knelt on one knee, hung his head low and placed a hand on the corner of the building to steady himself. It was an act to convince the woman he wasn’t well. As she approached, he let out a painful sounding groan. 

She gasped from being startled placing a hand over her mouth, staring at him for a few seconds and spoke to him in French, "Are you all right, monsieur?" 

Two men beat me, robbed me, and one of my ribs feels like it might be broken. 

Do you want me to call an ambulance?  

She turned to go back to the club, and he grunted. Wait, they will be too slow to get here. My car is parked in the alley just ahead. If you could help me, I can drive there in a few minutes.  

I don’t know, she said with a tentative tone to her voice. 

The pain will get worse the longer we wait. Please help me. 

She threw her purse over her shoulder and knelt, grasping his arm to help him stand. 

He winced and groaned when she supported him while they walked toward the alley. I don’t know how to thank you, miss. My name is Nicolai, what’s yours? 

Emma... does it hurt much? 

Yes it does, Emma... we’re almost there. 

When they turned the corner, he shoved her farther into the alley. 

What are you doing? she groaned with a nervous quiver. 

Bahbad’s deep raspy voice traveled through her head. Emma, our sweet Emma, you will be with us soon... hee-hee-hee.

She grabbed her head between both hands, her eyes showing panic. Oh my God! There was nowhere to run as she back stepped deeper into the shadows of the alleyway. Her eyes widened in disbelief and terror tore through her nervous system watching as the handsome gentleman’s eyes turned coal black. His clothing melted away exposing pallid gray skin and a spindly thin muscular body that crept toward her, snarling with sharp needled canine teeth protruding beneath his lower lip. Crimson and black wings stretched to his sides preparing to wrap her in a cocoon to feed. She screamed and fainted. 

Oh what a joyous sound, Bahbad moaned as his crazed eyes gazed down upon her with overpowering bloodlust. Without warning, two bright lights appeared from behind growing in size the closer it got. A car crashed into him, forcing his body hard against the brick wall and fell to the ground twisted and bent. 

Get the girl, hurry! Beck said holding a powerful flashlight to Sirus’ eyes. 

Gavin picked her up, stuffed her in the rear seat and yelled, Get in, you’re driving, I’m too shook up. 

Beck backed up to the driver’s side door, tossed the flashlight to Gavin, climbed in, put it in reverse and stepped on the gas. The rear tires squealed as he backed out onto the main road, slammed on the brakes and put it in first gear heading south at a fast clip. 

Gavin panted and glanced at Beck. What the hell was that and why do I feel like I’ve done this before? 

That was Sirus Barsamian and I can’t answer the second question. 

"But — 

Shut up and listen. That bump with the car won’t stop him for long. He’ll be after us for certain. All that did was throw his joints out of kilter. It’ll only take a few minutes before he can move around so we need to put some distance between him and us. 

What’s with the flashlight in the eyes? 

A powerful light disorients him... confuses him. Do you know of any covered parking garages near here? 

Sure, take the next left, go three blocks, turn right and there’s one mid-block on the right. 

Beck did as directed and drove inside the parking garage, pulled into a spot and turned off the engine and headlights. We’ll be safe here for the time being. 

How long should we wait? 

About an hour and then we’ll catch a cab, drop the young lady off, and head back to the hotel. We’ll need to leave your car here until tomorrow morning. Beck got out inspecting the damage. A new bumper and grill is in order. I’ll follow you over to Alphonse’s shop so he can get that fixed pronto. 

What’ll we use for transpo’ in the meantime? 

Lucille or a cab. 

Can I drive Lucille? 

Sure.

Yesss, Gavin hissed, clinching his fist.

Beck leaned against the front fender. It’s time to fill you in about this operation. You’ll have a hard time believing what I’m about to say, and you can’t speak of this to anybody. Lives will depend on total secrecy, including your own. 

After what I just saw, I’d believe in the Easter Bunny and good ole Saint Nick if you told me they are real. Who and what is Sirus Barsamian? 

The first thing you need to get a grip on is Nicolai Amadeusz and Sirus Barsamian is one and the same. 

Huh?  

What you saw a while ago was the embodiment of Sirus Barsamian. He uses the façade of Nicolai Amadeusz to appear human. Nicolai has three distinct personalities — Asa, who is intelligent, rational and calm and then there’s Bahbad who is irrational, impulsive, reckless and blood thirsty. These two are Sirus Barsamian’s consultants and Sirus is in there too. He is the alpha that makes all the decisions, controls the situations and wields extraordinary power. Sirus is the one you rammed with the car. He’s an evil immortal that possessed the earthly body of Nicolai Amadeusz. He consumed Nicolai’s essence and used his memories to interact with present-day humans. Some refer to him as a changeling; he can transform himself to replicate any animal or human.  

Thousands of years ago, an Assyrian king tortured him, beheaded him and the high priests performed a ritual that sent his soul into the netherworld. He is obsessed with avenging his torturous death, and he has a special crystal that will allow him to travel through time and space to carry out just that.

Gavin paced in front of the car, trying to absorb what he just heard. He couldn’t decide whether to believe Beck’s story or what he witnessed with his own eyes. What now? 

We have to kill him and find the Onikymn crystal. 

"Kill him. . . Who are we?" 

In ancient Assyria, the king had nightmares about Sirus returning to torture and murder him. Six arrowheads were forged with the blood of the king making them toxic to Sirus Barsamian. The high priests called them the Arrows of Providence. My parents found the arrowheads in Amman, Jordon and I’m having them fixed to arrow shafts now. He paused in thought and said, We may need help in this fight. Do you know anyone that could help us? 

Yeah, myself... and Alphonse at the auto repair. He and a few close friends were in the French Resistance during the war. 

After what you’ve seen and what you’ve heard, you still want to be involved? 

Gavin reached for a handshake. I wouldn’t miss it for love or money. How many people can say they helped kill pure evil? 

You’ve already done that. 

Oh? 

Adolph Hitler. 

Yeah, I had a tiny role in that, but this is a whole other ball game. 

When the time is right, we’ll meet with Alphonse and his friends to see if they are willing. At that point, all of us will go over a mission plan. 

They heard moaning coming from the back seat of the car. Beck looked through the rear door window to see the girl waking with her hand on her forehead. Miss, are you all right? 

The woman yelped from being startled, pushed against the opposite side of the car, opened the door, and backed out onto the parking area. 

Beck raised his hands. Everything is all right, you’re safe. 

Gavin translated into French. 

Fear flashed in her eyes, her voice quivering. Who are you and where am I? she said in French. 

My name is Gavin and my friend here is Beck. We are private investigators. What’s your name?

Emma... Emma Bordon. 

Well, Emma, you’ve had an extraordinary experience tonight with a being not of this world. 

Not of this world . . . what are you saying? 

It nearly killed you, but we had been tailing this creature, and we managed to surprise it long enough to save you. 

Emma rushed to Gavin and hugged him. "Thank you, monsieur Gavin... thank you so much. She turned to Beck and gave him a hug, Thank you, monsieur Beck. Merci beaucoup." She covered her face with her hands and sobbed. 

Beck grasped her arm and helped her to the fender of the car where she could steady herself. 

Gavin faced her. We are going to get a cab. Is there someplace we can take you? 

Can you take me back to the club? I have friends there. 

I wouldn’t advise that. The creature may still be lurking around the area. 

Yes, of course. She looked out of the garage and read a street sign. I live a couple of miles from here. Can you take me home? 

That would be best and don’t worry about that thing finding you. We hid here to lose it and I believe we are safe. 

Tell her to never go back to that club; Sirus will visit there again sometime and he will remember her, Beck said. 

Beck said not to go back to that club — ever. That thing may come back and it will recognize you. 

Never, thank you. 

All right, let’s go. They walked toward the garage exit. Gavin looked at Beck and said, You’ll have to tell me more about that special crystal, traveling back in time and I’d like to learn about your parents. 

My parents and Uncle Kyle had an amazing adventure. It was filled with danger, other worldly beings, devilish creatures and of course, Sirus Barsamian. 

Gavin gasped with delight. Can’t wait. 

Two

AFTER DROPPING EMMA off, the cab took them to where Beck’s black 1946 Ford coup, Lucille, was garaged. They sauntered through the alley to the Hotel Gabriel’s back exit, unlocked it, climbed the steps to the second-floor, and walked down the hall leading to the stakeout room. Gavin reached the door first, snatched the envelope stuck between the doorjamb and looked at it. 

It’s addressed to you. 

Curious, Beck studied it wondering who besides Gavin and his parents even knew where to locate him.

Gavin unlocked the door, pushed his way through, throwing his jacket on the back of the couch. If you hear me rustling around in my bedroom in the middle of the night, it’s me having flipping nightmares. I’ve never been so freaked in my life. I need a beer, want one?

No, not right now. Beck opened the letter and read. Beck O’Hara — for your eyes only. I have important information to pass along and I am betraying a close friend’s confidence in doing so. Say nothing about this to anyone, especially your parents.

Within the week, Gavin will tell you about a friend that has a schematic for a new electronic listening device that he will plant in Nicolai’s hotel room. He forgets to turn the device off and Sirus traces the radio waves back to your room where he murders Gavin. 

Nicolai’s hatchet man will kidnap Kyle Larson’s daughter, Anne. He will send instructions to Larson where and when to meet over Anne’s release but that will not be his intention. He wants her dead. The O’Haras will confront Sirus in a fight at a place called the Chateau of Landsberg, an ancient fortress ruins near the border of Germany. (Map enclosed) You will solicit help from some of Gavin’s friends.

Sirus will hold Anne in the fortress’ dungeon while you and your parents face an onslaught from Barsamian’s army of demons. And you will never get the chance to shoot the Arrows of Providence because Sirus’ demons will restrain you in an open courtyard. 

The northeast tower gives you a safe, unimpeded shot at Sirus. Go there to survey the ruins before he arrives. There are no stairs or platform to stand on in the tower so set up a means to climb to the upper window. You need to shoot him before he creates his army. 

Burn this letter the second you read it. Don’t mention this to anyone, EVER. Good luck! 

Gavin plopped down on the couch and took a couple of gulps of beer. "At first, I thought Nicolai was trying to pick up a woman at Roussell’s . . . didn’t know he wanted to feed on one. If a certain friend of mine told me he fed on a woman last night, I’d draw a totally different image in my head about what he meant... if you get my drift.

I can’t reconcile what I saw tonight... just goes to show we’re not alone in the universe. I’m just this tiny speck God put on this earth to become part of a larger picture. It’s rather humbling if you ask me — I smell something burning... He turned to see Beck setting a piece of paper on fire in a cereal bowl and jumped up out of curiosity. What’s up with that? 

Beck shot him a sober stare. What did you do with classified information during the war? 

Most of the time we burned it, but that was to keep it from the enemy. Last I checked, I’m not the enemy or at least I don’t think I am. 

No, you’re not. He stared at the cindering letter. Something must’ve gone wrong in another timeline and we are skewing into a new one or maybe vice versa. He shifted his shoulder away from Gavin, pulled up his short sleeve, and pressed the center of a scar. A green light flashed beneath his skin showing that the Onikymn electronic portal-key was still functioning; he lowered his sleeve.

The furrow between his eyes deepened as he gazed at the floor. Did I write that note, or did something happen and I passed that information on to someone I trusted to write it? Do I save Gavin and Anne from their impending deaths? The whole theory of changing future events by altering current ones is an argument for those more qualified to debate that than I.

All I know is Gavin is my friend and Anne is Uncle Kyle’s daughter... to hell with it, what the right thing to do and what my gut tells me are two different things. I can save him but how can I protect Anne; she’s thousands of miles from here. A solution came to mind. Gavin...

Are you okay? Gavin asked. You looked a little spaced out there for a minute. 

Circumstances have changed, and I have to go out of town for a few days. I have an important assignment for you in the meantime. 

Shoot. 

There is reason to believe that Kyle Larson’s daughter will be kidnapped. We have to prevent that. 

Where is she now? 

Kyle and Grace lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana. They own a car dealership called Larson’s Chrysler Motors. Anne Larson, not married, lives nearby and works for a CPA firm. There has to be a way to get her out of the area for a couple of weeks.

Should I touch base with Kyle about this?

No. I don’t want to worry him at this point. If it becomes necessary, I’ll talk to my dad and we’ll decide then. 

I have a friend that has a cousin in the States who is a police detective in Ohio. She’s been on the force for twelve years. I think it’d be easy to convince her to watch Anne. 

A female officer . . . that’s even better yet. Anne would most likely trust a woman stranger over a man. I want that officer to stay with her twenty-four/seven no matter what it costs. Make it happen, Nicolai might be close to kidnapping her as we speak. 

Right, me lad, I will sleep in my office tonight and get to work on it first thing in the morning. Gavin reached for his jacket, saying, I’ll have the information I need on the Larsons by lunch and be on the phone with my cousin within the hour after that. He stopped at the door and turned to Beck. Oh, and I’ll have Alphonse pick up my car at the parking garage. See you when you get back. 

Beck smiled and gave him a casual salute as he left. He pulled the map out to glance at it and walked to the bedroom to put together an overnight bag for the trip to the Chateau of Landsberg.

THE FOLLOWING MORNING, Gavin sat at the phone and dialed the long-distance operator. Can you connect me with a Larson’s Chrysler Motors in Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States, please, he said in French. 

"Oui, please hold." 

After a minute of waiting, the phone rang and someone picked up. Larson’s Chrysler, may I help you? 

My name is Gavin McGregor; may I speak to Kyle Larson, please? 

He’s not in at the moment? 

When do you expect him? 

Mr. Larson had an emergency and will be out of the country for a while. 

Oh, can you tell me where he went? 

Paris, France. Is there something I can help you with? 

Yes, I’m a friend of the family. It’s urgent that I talk with Anne. Can you tell me where she works? 

A company called Peterson and Finch. They are a CPA firm. They represent us here. 

Thanks for your help. Gavin hung up and dialed the operator. Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States, Peterson & Finch CPA, please. 

Thank you, please hold. 

Another minute passed, the phone rang. Peterson and Finch, a female voice said. 

Hi, may I speak with Anne Larson, please. 

Just a minute, I’ll patch you through. 

The phone rang and a female voice answered. Roberta Harris. 

Anne Larson, please. 

Sorry sir, Anne is out today. 

It’s important that I speak to her. Do you know where she is? 

She hasn’t showed up for work for three days now. 

Did she call? 

No, and the owner is angry. If you talk to her, tell her to get in touch with me immediately. 

Thanks Roberta, I will. Gavin hung up and pondered the situation. We may be too late. There’s a good chance she’s been kidnapped already. I could call Ben and have him check on her; after all he is a cop near there and he has the best shot of finding out... On second thought, I’d better touch base with Dutch first.

He picked up the phone and dialed 3251. It rang and Dutch answered. Hello. 

This is Gavin; Beck suspects Nicolai may take Anne Larson hostage. I called her company, and she didn’t show up for work, no phone call, no nothing. I called Larson’s Chrysler Motors and apparently Larson is on his way here. 

Yeah, I just got off the phone with him a little while ago. He received instructions saying they had kidnapped Anne and for him to come to Paris to negotiate her release. He is to meet Nicolai at some fortress ruins called the Chateau of Landsberg. Things will happen very fast now, and we will be going there with Kyle to face Sirus Barsamian. We need help to contain Nicolai’s hired thugs. Do you have any friends that are combat qualified to apprehend and secure these men? I will pay them well. 

Yes, Alphonse at the auto-repair shop. He and a few of his friends were in the French Resistance during the war. Beck and I discussed this earlier. I’m going there now to check on my car. I’ll talk to him. 

Good, I’ve devised an initial plan and I want to have a meeting when Beck gets back in town. 

Did Beck get in touch with you about leaving town for a few days? 

Yeah, he was rather mysterious about it. Do you know what’s going on? 

No, there was a note on the door when we got back last night and he burned it. He didn’t seem to want to say much. 

Hmm, well, I won’t press him on it then.

He said the arrowheads you uncovered near the Black Sea should be fixed to shafts by the time he gets back. He’s been practicing for hours every day at a park east of Paris.

Good, then we’re right on schedule. 

After I see Alphonse, I’m heading to the Gabriel to surveil the Molitor Paris Hotel.

I’ll meet you there, Dutch said." 

Alphonse’s auto repair was a half mile away, so he walked there to check on his car. As he went through the front door, he called out, Alphonse. 

Coming, he said from the closest work bay. What’s up, Gavin? 

Remember when I told you about working on a case with Beck.

"Oui."

Well, he and his people need help and he assured me you wouldn’t be involved in any combat. You and three of your Resistance buddies can make good money for a few hours of work." 

That can be arranged. Doing what?

To apprehend a few thugs guarding a trail.

I have Marcel and Theo for sure, maybe one other man. When and where? 

Dutch wants to meet after Beck gets back in town. We’ll find out the particulars then. 

All right. 

Is my car ready? 

"The parts haven’t come in yet, what do you think I am a magician? I can’t just snap my finger and wham; everything is fixed and ready to go. Hey,