Fillet of a fenny snake
In the cauldron boil and bake
Eye of newt and toe of frog
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog
Adder’s fork and blind-worm’s sting
Lizard’s leg and howlet’s wing
For a charm of powerful trouble
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble
Armando Stokes never liked challenges. He preferred to be an observer and a judge. It was easy. There weren’t any challenges in critiquing how others took them on. When he went in on the boxing gym with his boxer friend he knew all he had to do was sit back and judge for the rest of his life. The first case awaited him that morning as he was about to open the gym. A woman tried to look inside through the gated windows. She wore a headpiece of onyx beads with one ruby coming down her forehead and a long slinky wool dress under a shawl. She was accompanied by a very tall man dressed in the dark canvas clothing of a military man who carried a duffel bag. He looked fearsome with his beard and bald head. He was around tough men every day and this man would earn their respect by his demeanor alone. This fearsome look was nothing compared to what he saw when he approached the much smaller woman and she smiled.
“Hello, sir. When are your opening hours?”“Hi, i-,” Armando stammered as he took her in. She had a lithe form and her skin was almost chalk white. Her hair was dark and sleek and it framed an alien face. She had ritual scars on her forehead, cheeks and chin. Her ears that poked through were pointed. Her eyes were purple and not in the pupils. The colored scleras were the things that made her seem inhuman. He couldn’t resist the expression that came over his face but she smiled.
“Sir. When do you open?” She was more forceful this time and liked her lips with her forked tongue to tease him.
Armando quickly opened the door and let the two in. He put his stuff down and prepared to listen. Her thick Spanish accent was understandable but it required all his attention.
“So, What can I do for you?”“Yes. My name is Socorro. I would like some time in your ring for my… friend.” She spoke to him but not at him. She scanned the room like she was in a museum and took everything in with the fascination of a child.
“Is he a boxer? Would you like to fill out the membership-”She puts a few hundred dollar bills on the counter and smiles at him.
“Just for today and for a few hours. What is your name?”He looked back down at the money. It was a damned challenge.
“What is your name, sir?”“A-Armando, ma’am,” he stammered. She pulled the need for him to be polite with her knowing expression even though she seemed too young for that. He avoided her friend’s face that was just stern hatred. That made him want to be polite too.
“Will you be getting other members in, Armando. My friend has a fight soon and I would like to blood him before the night comes. If you would allow.”Armando considered her question. It wasn’t unusual for a pro to step into the gym and want to get some sparring in but that was usually done by his partner. He knew people. Armando didn’t have as much respect but he was sure he could get some of the eager new fighters in. He glanced at the man and he considered who would be able to stand with him. A few names came to mind and he reached for his phone.
“Yeah I think I can get some people in. Just have him warm up.”“Excellent.”The man led them to the locker rooms.
“Wait. what’s the guy called?” He knew that he shouldn’t address him. She was in charge and all it took was a smirk.
“Se llama Furia de la Merced.”It was then that he knew that this was going to be a very challenging day.
He watch with Socorro as Furia hit the bags. He changed into shorts and a tank top. He punched with taped up hands but Armando knew he shouldn’t say anything to him. When his guys came in they stopped to get a view of who they were helping. This Furia with the runes and symbols tattooed on his body put on a show. The bags bounces, the punches thundered and he didn’t even break a sweat. When they were ready it was time for the bouts. Socorro went up to Furia and lit a cigar. Armando ran up to them as she blew smoke into Furia’s face and muttered some words in Spanish.
“What are you doing?”She kept going.
“Just a small ritual to please Ogún, the war god.” She pulled out a flask and drank some but spit another swig onto Furia. He then growled and got into the ring. Everyone froze as he paced and glared at the other like a lion eyeing the gladiators.
“You know, like eye of newt and toe of frog. You know, yes? Everything begins with a ritual, Armando. Whether it is a morning routine or a job assignment, we always prepare our minds by performing a set of actions to start on the task. Over time these actions are refined and repeated until we have our habit. These become rituals. It may not always deal with elaborately named plants and talking to the spirits but it is a ritual all the same. So this is not so strange, yes? Come. Call your first man.”She puts out the cigar and directed him to sit by two chairs like it was her place and he motioned for his first member to get in. It was a seasoned journeyman that the pros liked to spar with. He wanted to test Furia and see what he was about. He went up and put the gloves on the journeyman, Bill, and his headguard. Furia paced without any gear on and Armando walked up to Socorro.
“Where is his stuff. He is going to get hurt.”“He does not need such things. Sit.”She motioned for him to start and Furia dashed at Bill and kicked him in the stomach. He pummeled him on the back and continued to do so when he falls. Bills covers up but managed to run and cover up in the corner. Furia followed and tried to get a few punches past the guard.
“What is he doing? This is boxing!”Socorro laughed.
“There you go putting rules and names on something so pure as violence. That is a problem I have seen ever since I came into the Outworld. People have diluted everything.” She got up and pointed at two men staring in awe at what is happening in the ring.
“You two! Help that man.” They looked at Armando who just shrugged. She kept talking at him as Furia focused on chasing the two new opponents around the ring.
“Everything used to be so simple. The rituals that meant something were replaced with technology. The old ways of conduct with dishonesty and the ways of combat were well..” She pulls at Armando’s sleeve and he dodges a body tossed out of the ring. It is the now bloodied form of Bill.
“What is the word? Desensitized? Yes. That is what fighting should be.”“What are you people? What kind of match is that man going to have?”“A simple wrestling match against a lost little girl. She is nothing but a vessel for our message. We want to show what unrestrained power feels like. We want to reintroduce honesty back into this modern world. Do you see, Armando?”Armando cringed as Furia knocked over the last of his opponents with a clubbing right and blood flew from his mouth. He sat down next to a smiling Socorro.
“Another. More fighting!”“Get out of my gym.” Armando stood but his posture was weak. She didn’t even see him anymore.
“No.” “What?!”“I am sorry, sir. I payed handsomely for this time and I will have my ritual. This is beneficial for you, too. Perhaps you can take off the protective gloves and get your hands dirty. That is the only way to get in touch with the lost knowledge. After today is done I will make you a believer in the old ways.”“I don’t want to.”“That is not for you to decide. Sometimes, Armando, fate comes for you fast and opens your eyes to new possibilities. Fast and without mercy. That is what is going on today. Sit.”She smiles and puts a hand on his shoulder and the last two sparring partners enter the ring. Armando closes his eyes before they begin.
