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Where We Left Off:
The Winchester-Nabu detectives uncovered a surprising treasure that connected this land to one of Oliver’s ancestors.
The Skulls in the Basement:
Happy Imbolc and Groundhog’s Day!
During an aggressive cleaning and organizing episode last Fall, there were opportunities to find treasures among the mouse excrement in one of the cellars. Gus helped a lot due to his Super Smeller kicking into overdrive. Oliver relayed information from us to the elders on the main floor. I did not take the time to plan and prepare for such organizing. I should have been wearing a mask and gloves.
All of this came about when it was time to bring the fae folk in for their seasonal assignments indoors during the winter. It was also the time when The Grumpy Old Man wanted to spray some insulation foam in areas at the top of the cellar walls where it was block on every side because of shelving units and a mounted clothing rack.
Discovery #1:
Among many military items and model railroad stuff, I found a key. This was no ordinary modern, mundane key. This was a skeleton key.
I think they’re fascinating. They weren’t the best way to secure anything, but in a time when it was use a skeleton key or be an expert in complicated wooden joinery, a little key was more accessible. This isn’t the first time the detective agency has had a mysterious key pop up. Back in our fourth year of investigating, a key on a lanyard was found in the back of my car. In that case file, the mystery key held significant importance:
The magical key could only be used by cats! Oliver read the script carving. “Property of the United Cats of the Hemsut Society.”
Would this skeleton key lead us on another adventure about a secret society?
Gus wove his flexible body through the shelves and came to a stop which I realized as he clawed at something. I know the sound well because Gus frequently uses those claws to pull things off tables when he wants attention (treats). It sounded similar to when he reaches up and flicks his sharpened nails on the edge of my wooden nightstand.
Discovery #2:
“Gus, did you find something?” I said.
“I have. An antique crate. Looks like it could have come from your grandfather or maybe something the Grumpy Old Man acquired,” Gus said.
“There are several old military storage boxes in different rooms of the house,” I said.
Gus activated his Super Smeller. “I detect more than old newspapers, medals, wool, and dust. There’s something else.”
I needed a break, but I knew if I took one at that moment, there was little chance of me getting the motivation to go back into cleaning and organizing mode. We waited until I was finished and took the wooden box from the dark corner of a bottom shelf and pulled it into the middle of the floor of a cellar with better overhead lighting.
Oliver was only willing to go halfway down the cellar stairs. He wanted us to bring the box back up to the offices. I told him I wasn’t going to carry it up all those flights of stairs until I knew what was inside.
“It’s locked,” I said.
“Use the key you found,” Gus urged.
“Oh yeah. Maybe that’ll fit.” I went back and retrieved the key from the model railroad where I left it. The train set wasn’t functional.
Gus and I closed in around the crate and opened it. We let out a harmonious, “Whoa!”
“Well, what is it? Bring it up,” Ollie demanded.
I wrapped my hand around the two objects inside, put the box back in the other room, and all of us ventured up to the offices. These objects were going to require some examination.
Artifacts Examination:
Our first stop was in Oliver’s office. I opened my hand and laid the objects on the floor. The artifacts were two different size crystal skulls that looked like there was fire trapped inside. Besides Indiana Jones’ discovery, crystal skulls are commonplace. That doesn’t mean all of them are the same thing.
Ollie squinted with nose practically touching the bigger skull. “I think that fire is alive.”
“Wait, wait, wait,” I said. “Let me get the fire extinguisher before we go on.” While the boys didn’t feel that was necessary, I’ve created enough accidents and would rather be safe. I almost blew up the kitchen making something for Thanksgiving. I grabbed goggles too. My hair was already pulled back and gross from cleaning in the cellar.
“They didn’t burn your hands,” Gus said, “so we know they’re safe to touch the way they are right now.”
We could have been looking at a weapon. The world around us (not exactly in our town but not that far) is a disaster with government officers trampling innocent people and doing horrible things. As much as we need a RESET, I don’t want to be responsible for the destruction.
After handling the skulls with care, Oliver was certain the fire inside them could be safely accessed. I asked him why would want to do that and his reply was, “Why not?” We tried mundane approaches to open the skulls without breaking them to no avail.
“I guess we have to move on to magick,” Gus said.
Oliver knew that meant he could utilize his favorite ritual ingredient. CATNIP, of course! Ollie is a probably an ascended master or some fancypants level of sorcerer. He loves practicing witchcraft. He hates my chanting though. Ollie has something against people’s voices. When he has serious business going on like traveling, no one is allowed to talk or he yells. His exception for this is when he’s getting a ride in his carriage and when he’s playing.
I grabbed my athame and wand. The catnip was distributed. We sat around to summon our guides, stars, and elementals.
In no time, we felt a stronger amount of the fire element and the power of the salamanders. A whoosh circled around us. In the center of our circle (triangle?), the skulls sizzled and popped with energy. Magickal flames danced on top of them.
“We did it, guys!” I waved my fingers near the magickal flames (not real, mundane world fire!) and it felt less hot than bath water, barely warm. I’d say it felt like holding warm toast.
We asked the guardians to dissolve the flames and protect them until they were called upon again. That way the magkical energies wouldn’t be accidentally released by anyone else.
Case Findings:
As Galadriel told Frodo, there are ways to keep light contained until you need it. Gus, Oliver, and I discovered a couple of enchanted miniature skulls which contain ethereal fire. We made sure to cast a spell to keep them from igniting accidentally on their own or by anyone irresponsible.
Case Status: Closed
References:
If you’d like to see the “movie magic” of the creation of the crystal skulls, I made a video mostly about a bigger project, but the skulls were used with extra resin it wouldn’t be wasted.