Lang suyar blood of the.., p.1
Lang Suyar / Blood of the Aztecs, page 1
THE NEXT FILES
DOUBLE PUZZLER
LANG SUYAR
And
BLOOD OF THE AZTECS
by
G L Keady
ALSO BY
G L Keady
DREAMRAIDERS
SONS OF STEEL
CHANNELING BO
THE INCARNATE
Axis Stone Mysteries
SUICIDE BLONDE
LEG MAN
SMUGGLER’S HOLE
HORSE ARM CASE
GOD’S DOOR
THE SACRED THREE
THE GIRL WITH THE LUNATIC FRINGE
CAT STREET
THE ZIGGY STARDUST DEAD RINGER
Sons of Steel Saga
FUTURES END
CYBERWARS
DARK ENERGY
BLOCKCHAIN
AL AND THE ID
TABLETS OF DESTINIES
DOMINION
ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD
The Next Files
EIGHT DRAGONS
MIN MIN
Published in Australia in 2024
by Big Island Publishing
Copyright © Gary Keady 2024
The right of Gary Keady to be identified as the moral rights
author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance
with the Copyright Amendment (Moral Rights) AD. 2000
This book is copyright.
Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study,
research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act,
no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission.
Enquiries should be addressed to the publishers.
All rights reserved.
No portion of this work may be copied by any means without
prior written agreement of the publishers.
Big Island Publishing
PO Box 3027, Tuross Head, 2537, NSW, Australia
www.bigislandpublishing.au
ISBN:
E-book: 9780975633069
Print: 9780975633076
Edited by: Canon Doyle
Cover design: Brandon Evans-Keady
CHAPTER
ONE
The thatched-roof hut, perched on stilts to escape Sabah’s heavy seasonal rains, was home to a family of six. They sat on the floor inside, finishing their dinner. That night, a wild wind stormed through, rattling the hut and howling like a thousand wolves.
Lani, eighteen and five months pregnant, felt sleepy. After drinking a cup of water, she stood up, gave her parents a goodnight kiss, and walked to her bedroom. Being the eldest, she had her own small room.
Outside, the wind was a force to reckon with, bending the coconut palms surrounding the hut and whisking mist through the trees, enveloping the hut. The night was pitch black, with only the full moon occasionally breaking through the storm clouds to cast eerie shadows. It was the kind of night that made the superstitious villagers stay locked up tight in their homes.
Clawed hands parted the hut’s thatch, allowing the candlelight below to reveal Lani on a woven bed. Dressed in shorts and a loose white T-shirt, she lifted the garment to tenderly touch her pregnant belly. A solitary tear meandered down her cheek, a silent testament to her affection. The candle’s flicker dwindled as the wick burned out, plunging the room into darkness just as Lani’s eyes closed, surrendering to sleep.
Malevolent yellow eyes, with elongated, cat-like pupils, peered down at Lani, filled with a sinister hunger. The Lang Suyar, sniffing the air like a hound, detected the foetus within Lani. It opened its mouth, revealing rows of sharp teeth, and extended its serpentine tongue through the thatch. The tongue slithered downward, inching towards Lani’s exposed belly. Amidst the howling wind, lightning illuminated the room, and a thunderclap shook the hut, yet Lani remained asleep, oblivious to the ghastly appendage nearing her.
A brighter lightning flash, followed by an even more thunderous clap—Lani jolted upright, she screamed in terror, a sound that echoed through the night, before collapsing back onto her bed, unconscious.
Friday nights were always buzzing at the Friend in Hand Pub, but this particular evening saw an even larger crowd. The reason? The Electric Roses, an all-girl teenage band, were playing. Despite their debut record ‘Take Me’ rocketing to the top of the charts, they still cherished these intimate pub gigs, staying connected with their fans.
Jax elbowed her way to the bar, ordering a beer. She was on the lookout for her work partner, Doc Lee. His unique blend of Filipino and Chinese heritage, combined with his tall, handsome stature, usually made him easy to spot in a crowd. But tonight, with everyone dancing and swaying to the music, finding him was like searching for a needle in a haystack.
The band’s lead singer, a slim figure with long brown hair, commanded the stage. Clad in a black T-shirt adorned with a red, battery-powered rose that pulsed to the rhythm, her barefooted stance and tattooed arms gave her a rough, edgy look. Yet, her voice was pure magic, rumoured to span four octaves. As one song ended, the pub fell into a hush of anticipation. The lights dimmed, a spotlight enveloped her, and as she closed her eyes, the crowd erupted in cheers. They knew what was next. With a confident air, she launched into their hit song ‘Take Me.’
When I close my eyes ... take me....
Lately, I’ve been dreaming of
All the things I’d love to do, with you
Take my hand and we’ll go walking, aha
High above the clouds just me and you
Lights blazed across the stage, and a dozen rotating spotlights swept through the audience with beams of white light, slicing through the darkness like a scythe.
We’ll fly so high into the night sky
Tears of ice will fill our eyes
We look down and see tomorrow
And we’ll make believe that
everything’s all right…
Maybe I am guilty of
Building castles in the air
But dreams alone can colour darkness, aha
A light shining bright will guide us there…
We’ll fly so high into the night sky
Tears of ice will fill our eyes
We’ll look down and see tomorrow
and make believe that
everything’s all right…
The lead singer reached into the mosh pit, grabbing a guy’s hand and yanking him up onto the stage. Jax wasn’t shocked to see it was Doc. He jumped right into the chorus, jamming with the singer as if they were an item.
We’ll fly so high into the night sky
Tears of ice will fill our eyes
We’ll look down and see tomorrow
and make believe that
everything’s all right…
Jax found herself swept up in the moment, dancing and singing along. The tune was just too catchy.
Introduce me to a higher plane
Take me, teach me something new, ahaha
I will give my love - in return
Lead the way I’ll come with you…
As the last chorus hit its peak, the whole audience joined in, singing their hearts out.
Take me around the world, oh yeah
Make my senses swirl, oh yeah
I wanna feel your love inside me
Take me, take me, take me…
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh yeah...!
Take me around the world, oh yeah!
Make my senses swirl, oh yeah!
I wanna feel your love inside me
Take me, take me, take me…
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah … Oh yeah...
The song reached a dramatic musical climax and then, boom—the stage lights snapped off. By the time the house lights came back on, the band had vanished.
Jax thought Doc had disappeared backstage with the band, but suddenly, there he was, weaving through the crowd towards her. Jax grabbed a couple of beers from the bar, and as she turned around, Doc was right there. She handed him his drink.
“Looks like you could use this,” she said, clinking her glass against his. “Cheers, big ears.”
“Hey, I’ll have you know, I get loads of compliments on these ears,” Doc shot back with a smirk. “All the better to hear you with, little girl.”
“Cut the fairy tale gags, they weird me out. So, what’s with the sudden stage debut?” Jax asked, a twinkle of jealousy in her eyes.
“Renee, the lead singer, thinks I’m eye candy,” Doc grinned.
Jax rolled her eyes. “Well, not everyone’s got great taste, do they?”
As the place started to empty, a few people recognised Doc from his gigs, nodding or waving at him.
“Look at you, Mr Rock Star. Soon you’ll be signing autographs.”
“Jax, get with the times. It’s all about selfies now,” Doc laughed. “But seriously, what brings you here tonight? You didn’t just come for the music.”
Jax tried to brush it off, but Doc cut in. “Come on, Jax, spill it.”
“Okay, okay...” she sighed. “We’ve got an early flight to Kuala Lumpur, then connecting to Kota Kinabalu in Sabah.”
&nbs
TWO
Doc was buzzed by the sleek, modern look of Kota Kinabalu International Airport. He’d pictured something way less fancy. Jax, on the other hand, wasn’t surprised. She’d been to Kota before on a family diving trip when she was younger.
As they stepped out into the arrivals, a driver was already there, holding up a ‘NewsLine’ sign. Jax introduced themselves and followed him to the car, ready to head to their next stop.
Walking out of the airport, they got hit by the humid tropical air, so different from Sydney’s cool autumn vibe. The city had its own unique buzz.
During the air-conditioned drive, Jax struck up a conversation with the driver. Turns out, he worked for the owner of Hunto Pulp Mill. Apparently, the owner was buddies with NewsLine and had offered them a lift.
Doc was totally caught up in the scenery. The lush rainforests and the jagged skyline of Mount Kinabalu in the distance were just amazing. Soon, they were cruising through the narrow streets of Lobong-Lobong village. The busy market square made them slow down.
Doc, catching the locals’ curious looks, asked the driver, “Why are they looking at us like we’re vampires or something?”
The driver laughed, “In this part of Malaysia, magic and superstition are part of life, sir. There’ve been some Lang Suyar attacks lately, so people are a bit jittery.”
“The Lang Suyar, that’s the flying witch that preys on unborn babies, right?” Jax chimed in.
“Yes, ma’am. The Lang Suyar is feared. The attacks have left many grieving and scared.”
A few minutes later, the car swung into a long driveway lined with neat gardens. At the end, a huge, white, three-storey colonial mansion loomed. It was obvious to both Doc and Jax: the owner was rolling in it.
They were greeted at the front steps by a steward who led them through the impressive mansion to a patio beside a swimming pool. There, a small man in a white suit introduced himself as Mr Hantu, the owner of the mansion and the Hantu Pulp Mill. As they settled in for morning tea in a setting that looked like something from a posh magazine, Jax brought up the Lang Suyar.
“I used to think all this was mumbo jumbo until my daughter, Dina, was attacked,” Hantu confessed.
Jax and Doc exchanged looks. “So you’re the one who contacted Des Carter at NewsLine for us to investigate?” Jax asked.
“Yes, but I expected someone older, not teenage cub reporters. When he mentioned de Ville, I thought of Henry.”
“Mr Hantu, my father disappeared in 2017. And for your information, we’re not just cub reporters.”
After Hantu’s confession, the air felt heavy. Doc shifted the conversation. “When did Dina get attacked?”
“A few days back. I was at the pulp mill.”
“Where’s the mill?”
“On the Kota Belud River, a half-hour from here.”
They had gone past the river on their way to the mansion. Jax, getting fed up with Hantu’s attitude, pressed on, “Can we see Dina?”
Hantu looked uneasy but eventually agreed, with one condition. “But you’ll keep our name out of your story.”
“Understood,” Jax replied, her tone icy.
After a quick chat with the steward, Hantu had them follow a maid named Rosa upstairs. As they went up, Doc asked, “Was Mr Hantu aware that Dina was pregnant?”
“No, sir,” the maid answered, a bit uneasy.
“Did you see the Lang Suyar?” Jax asked next.
“No, miss.”
“So, he only found out about the pregnancy after the alleged attack?” Doc checked.
Rosa looked confused by the word ‘alleged’, so Jax broke it down for her.
“Yes, sir found out then.”
“I bet that shook him up,” Doc whispered to Jax as they walked into Dina’s room.
Dina, a pretty seventeen-year-old, was propped up in bed, glued to her phone. Jax gently drew out Dina’s story, while Doc quietly chatted with Rosa about her take on the incident. Dina was clearly upset after talking to Jax. Jax patiently held her hand, giving her time to settle down, then asked Doc to step out for a bit so she could check on Dina privately.
After a while, Jax called Doc and Rosa back in. Rosa helped get Dina comfortable, and Jax gave her a reassuring kiss on the cheek before they all left the room.
Outside, Rosa paused and then shared something with Jax in a low voice, “Miss, this is the third attack in as many weeks. The villagers, and I too, think the Lang Suyar is a woman named Esmerelda Kucing. She moved into a place at the top of the Kota Belud river a few months back.”
On their way back to Kota, Jax and Doc reviewed everything they’d picked up. Jax didn’t spot any clear signs of an attack on Dina, but what Rosa said about Esmerelda Kucing really got them thinking. Jax figured their next move should be to visit Esmerelda’s place. They decided to book a room in a Kota hotel and rent their own car for the investigation. They had a hunch that Hantu’s driver might be more than just a driver—maybe even a spy.
On their way in a rental car to visit Esmerelda Kucing, Doc was driving with Jax next to him, navigating. They covered the first twenty kilometres towards Mount Kinabalu and the upper reaches of the Kota Belud River quickly on the surfaced road. But the journey to Esmerelda’s house required a detour onto a narrow, bumpy track through dense tropical rainforest. As they neared their destination, Jax, while trying to read aloud from a book on Malay folklore, warned Doc about the potential dangers of encountering a Lang Suyar. “In its human form, a Lang Suyar can be incredibly beautiful and deceptive,” she explained. “Just remember, inside she’s a horrible monster.”
“It’s just superstitious garbage,” Doc dismissed her concerns.
Jax quipped back, “Keep thinking like that, and you’ll lose your underwear.”
Doc smiled smugly, “I don’t wear any underwear.”
Jax made a face, “That’s it, never mention your underwear or lack thereof to me again.”
They arrived at a clearing where an unexpectedly charming log cabin stood. “Well, that I didn’t expect,” Doc remarked as they got out of the car.
The front door was surrounded by peculiar charms and trinkets. Jax’s eyebrow raised in Doc’s direction—for her, these were clear signs of witchcraft. As they approached the porch, a curtain moved slightly, and they saw a shadowy figure peeking at them. Doc, trailing behind Jax, let out a “Boo!” startling her. She turned and playfully punched him in the bicep. Their light mood got a jolt when the front door creaked open just enough for a black cat to sneak out, glaring at them with a growl.
Jax took a careful step back, knowing all about the link between a Lang Suyar and her familiar, a cat. The door then swung open more, showing a stunning lady in her mid-twenties with flowing black hair. She had bare feet sticking out from under a long, dark green caftan. Doc seemed pretty taken with her, but Jax was more focused on her unusually long nails.
“Hello. We’re looking for Miss Kucing,” Doc said, sounding pretty friendly.
“I am she,” she answered back in English with an accent, sounding sweet and kind of inviting.
“I’m Doc Lee, and this is my associate Jax de Ville. We’re conducting an investigation and have some questions for you,” Doc introduced them.
Jax rolled her eyes at Doc—his crush on Esmerelda was pretty obvious.
“Please, come into my home. Call me Esmerelda,” the woman said, leading them inside.
The place was dark, filled with stuffed animals and weird symbols—total witchcraft vibes for Jax. Esmerelda got them to sit in the lounge, pulled back a curtain for some light, and then sat down across from them.
“Your home is very interesting. Are you originally from Lobong-Lobong?” Doc asked.
“No, I moved here from Kota Kinabalu six months ago. I inherited this house from my uncle,” Esmerelda shared.
“I’m sorry to hear about your uncle,” Doc said sympathetically.
Jax didn’t beat around the bush, “Are you aware that the villagers accuse you of being a Lang Suyar?”
“Yes, I’ve been dealing with that since I came here. It’s common for newcomers, especially lone women, to be suspected. But the truth is I’m being targeted by Mr Hantu, the owner of the Hantu Pulp Mill,” Esmerelda opened up.
“Why would he do that?” Doc inquired.
“He wanted this property because it includes the source of the Kota Belud River, which is vital for his paper mill. My uncle was a hermit, and Hantu didn’t expect him to have a niece. So, he concocted the Lang Suyar story to scare me off,” she explained.
