A brilliant white light emanated from the abandoned Croft Manor. The run-down home sat on the outskirts of Pineboro, New York and had been the source of many mysterious events and sightings over the last several decades. But none of these chance encounters had ever been as strange as the one currently taking place.
It was the haunted nature of the Croft Manor that had first attracted reporter Kari Donovan and cameraman Peter Ramsey to this place. Together, they were an investigative reporting team for Supernatural America, a syndicated television show that covered all things that 'go bump in the night'. Kari thought the Croft Manor to be nothing more than the latest in the string of imaginary haunted houses. Peter was the believer hoping that this was going to finally be the real thing.
Legend had the house tied to a enigmatic being Peter called the Purple Phlox. During their first night at the house, the Phlox did appear in a blaze of blinding white light. But the Phlox was not alone. A second figure could be momentarily seen within the light, but it seemed to melt into a pile of ash and was blown away on the wind.
Peter and Kari went to investigate and found a man in an odd multi-purple costume with his face on fire. The Phlox appeared to be dying and with his last strength, he held Kari's arm. Peter was uncertain at first what had occurred, but later deduced that some portion of the Phlox had been passed onto and into Kari.
This was proven to be true that very same night as Kari sleepwalked through the Croft Manor, her head ablaze with purplish fire. Peter tried to interfere, but the force that controlled Kari would not allow it. The run-down features of the mansion changed while Kari was present. Ruined rooms were restored to their original grand, if not slightly ghoulish, appearance. The possessed Kari proceeded to draw some sort of magical circle and then collapsed, the Phlox's influence leaving her.
Nervously, the reporters waited for the next night. Kari was sure that the Phlox would return once more while Peter was convinced that this was going to be the end of their involvement with the Purple Phlox. Peter postulated that the Phlox and some unknown foe had been moving forward in time, occasionally appearing and lending credence to the legend of the Croft Manor being haunted. Furthermore, the Phlox had used Kari to lay a trap for his enemy; the strange magical circle Kari had drawn. Both were certain the end of the story was at hand. Neither one was aware just how wrong they really were.
The brilliant white light that heralded the appearance of the Phlox and his foe appeared once more. A fierce wind blew about the inside of the Croft Manor, sending dust and debris flying. Kari and Peter climbed the stairs to the house, shielding their eyes from the bright light. Kari's pet cat, Snowball, followed them, seemingly as curious about what was going to happen as they were. The reporters circled the room to be closer to where they had guessed the Purple Phlox was going to appear. Sure enough, two figures could be made out inside the bright light.
Clad in his purple costume and very much alive the Phlox appeared, a crystal headed staff in his hand. Encased inside the crystal was a purplish flower-- a real purple phlox. The Phlox was immediately aware of the pair's presence.
"You again!", he yelled in anger, pointing an accusing finger towards a startled Kari and Peter. The Phlox's blazing red eyes seemed to grow darker to match his anger. The man's real facial features could just barely be seen underneath the fiery mask. The flames were thicker than when they first had seen the Phlox. "Are you trying to destroy me?!"
This was definitely not what the reporters had expected and they shared a worried glance. They had thought the Phlox to be their friend, or at least neutral in outlook towards them. Never did they expect to be treated like an enemy! More by reflex than intent, Peter put his arm around Kari in a vain attempt to protect her.
"I don't know what you are planning, but by all that's holy, I will stop you!" Enraged, the Phlox pointed his staff towards the startled reporters.
An inhuman scream pierced the chamber before the Phlox could carry through on his threat. To Kari's surprise, the scream was not her own. Nor was it Peter's. Even the Phlox seemed surprised by the unearthly wail. All three beings turned to view to the source of the dreadful noise. Kari's eyes grew wide in fear and she finally did scream in utter terror as did Peter.
The second figure in the white light of this supernatural event came into view. In the earlier encounter, it had crumbled into ash, so the reporters had no idea just who it was. Or rather, in this case, just what it was.
"Gallifrey!", the Phlox announced as he turned to face his momentarily forgotten enemy.
The thing the Purple Phlox called Gallifrey was beyond hideous in appearance. It was vaguely humanoid, but had large tentacles in place of arms or legs. The creature had no neck and only one blood red eye sat upon its forehead. What passed for its mouth was huge and filled with many sharp, pointed teeth. Whatever this thing was, it was not of this earth.
The monstrosity called Gallifrey continued to wail in agony, its tentacles flailing about haphazardly. The creature erupted into purple flames as the magic circle Kari had drawn blazed a golden light. The golden energies surrounded Gallifrey, momentarily shining brighter than the white light.
"A Circle of Destruction!", the Phlox noted in astonishment. "How is this possible?"
The reporters couldn't answer, as they continued to stare in awe and fear at Gallifrey. Whatever the creature was, it now appeared to be in its death throes. The smell of what passed for the monster's flesh burning was nauseating. Snowball backed far away from the inhuman thing, its back highly arched as the cat hissed at the monstrosity.
"I was right!", Peter thought to himself. "The Phlox used Kari to set a trap for his enemy! To have her draw that circle to destroy that-- that thing!"
"Yeow!", Peter screamed as he felt his arm burning. Pain filled his limb as he hastily withdrew it from around Kari's shoulders. To Peter's astonishment, the Phlox's purple flames covered her features once more! Perhaps the essence of the Phlox that had been implanted within Kari was now going to be removed. Her possession was coming to an end.
Confidently, the Phlox flames playing about her head, Kari strode forward towards the Purple Phlox. "No time to explain," Kari informed the Purple Phlox. "The end is near. The circle has been broken. The demon has been destroyed. Give me the staff so that I may complete the chain of events."
Puzzled, the Purple Phlox just stared at the Kari-Phlox. "Then you are not my enemy?", the Purple Phlox finally stated as he tried to comprehend these strange events. In spite of all his powers and experience, not even the Purple Phlox could truly comprehend what was transpiring here. "My service has come an end?"
"Gallifrey's Time Reaving spell thrust you several hundred years into the future. With the spell broken you will age rapidly and perish. I am sorry." With that, Kari-Phlox grabbed the crystal-headed staff from the Purple Phlox's hands. Reluctantly, the Phlox relinquished his staff. As he did, the flames covering his face faded ever so slightly while those around Kari's head grew in intensity. "Farewell. Your service will not be forgotten. You go to join those who have also served."
Kari stepped back as the white light started to fade once more. The screams coming from Gallifrey had all but ceased. The demon would be nothing but ash in a few more moments. Then all at once, it was over. The white light was gone; the howling wind had ceased. Peter and Snowball were alone with Kari now. The reporters flaming head was the sole source of illumination and she held the Crystal Headed Staff firmly in her grasp as if it now truly belonged to her.
"The sequence of events is nearly complete," the Kari-Phlox announced to no one in particular. "The obligations of destiny shall soon be met. Gallifrey shall be no more and the Purple Phlox shall be reborn to contend with evil in this new era."
"What about Kari?", Peter wondered, daring to step closer to the Kari-Phlox. He had thought that this was going to be the end of all this. But mysteriously, Kari was still under the influence of the Phlox. Was she to be the next in a long line of Purple Phloxes? "What about her?"
"She will come to understand in time. The transference is not yet complete. I am not yet whole." Kari-Phlox mused on that for a few moments. "I do what is necessary, Peter. When I am whole, I will be able to explain everything to Kari. Fate has chosen her to carry on the work of the Purple Phlox. Were she not a willing host, I would not be able to exert this much control over her."
Peter didn't know what to think. With Kari under the influence of the Purple Phlox once more, the room had changed back into its pristine, if not overly gothic state. The Circle of Destruction that Kari had drawn was no more. Its work had been completed; the magic held in the runes spent.
"But those are things to speak of at another time," the Kari-Phlox stated. "Our drama has one final act for which I must prepare. Please take Snowball and wait outside. I'll be out shortly and you shall have your Kari back."
For a few moments, Peter just stood there, not knowing what to think. Obviously, the Phlox was in much greater control of Kari than it had been the first time. It was now asking him not to interfere while it simply could have forced his compliance like the night before.
Peter calmly picked up Snowball and headed towards the exit. He stopped and turned back towards the Kari-Phlox. He could see another piece of chalk in her hand. She intended to draw another magical circle, he surmised. "Just one question. What happened to the other Purple Phlox?"
"He goes to face his final destiny," Kari-Phlox answered simply. "Just as we do."
Without another word Peter, Snowball in hand, departed the Croft Manor. His mind was awhirl, trying to comprehend the events of the last few minutes. Just like the first encounter with the Purple Phlox, nothing had gone as expected. Peter let go of Snowball and the cat scampered off. Sitting himself down on a tree stump, Peter watched the Croft Manor and waited. What else could he do?
"Peter?", Kari Donovan cried out, the flames of the Purple Phlox fluttering about her head like a fiery crown. Still bearing the Crystal Staff, Kari walked down the stairs to the grounds of the Croft Manor. Peter Ramsey looked up with a start. Nearly twenty minutes had passed since he had left the house at Kari's request. "It is done."
With that, the flames faded from Kari and she collapsed, the Crystal Staff falling free from her grasp. Peter was off the stump like a shot and quickly collected Kari. "Don't worry, Kari. I've got you. You're safe now."
"If only that were true," Peter grimly thought to himself. He wasn't sure just what the Phlox was doing to her, just how much control it held over her. Just what were the Phlox's intentions? Was Kari truly to be the new Purple Phlox? If so, then that would explain one mystery of the Phlox: their powers were passed down from successor to successor. It appeared that Kari was to be the latest in a long line of Purple Phloxes.
Gently Peter carried Kari back to the RV and laid her on top of her bed. She was so lovely to look at. Her face seemed almost angelic while she slept. For now she was free of any fears or worries that would inevitably envelop her once she awoke. Satisfied that she was safely asleep, Peter went back outside.
Cautiously, he approached the Crystal Staff. It remained right where Kari had dropped it in the high grass. Tentatively, he nudged the staff with his foot. Nothing happened, so Peter bent down and gave the staff a quick touch with his finger. Still nothing. His bravery increasing, Peter grasped the staff and picked it up off the ground.
"So far, so good," Peter mumbled to himself. He hadn't been burned or otherwise harmed by the staff. Once back in the RV, Peter examined the staff closely. It appeared to be very old, borderline ancient. "It would have to be, given the history of the Phlox."
Weariness overcame Peter and he set the staff aside. He plopped into his bed once more and turned out the light. For a few short hours, Peter Ramsey had not a care in the world.
Peter's eyes flickered open with a start. The tantalizing aroma of food being cooked had roused him from his slumber. Sitting up, Peter could see Kari diligently working on the morning meal. Snowball was contentedly eating a can of tuna on an adjacent counter top.
"Morning!", Kari announced with a bright smile once she was aware of Peter being awake. "Breakfast is just about ready."
"This is a surprise," Peter announced and he slipped on a T-shirt and donned his glasses. It was like what happened last night had been completely forgotten by his partner. It was something that Peter would likely never forget. Seeing Kari like this worried Peter more than it reassured him. "How do you feel?"
"Wonderful," Kari sighed happily. That made Peter feel even worse. Something was definitely wrong. The Crystal Staff remained where Peter had left it the night before. Kari whistled a happy tune has she loaded up plates with her cooking and then placed them at the table. "There, all done."
Peter just watched this spectacle unfold for a few moments. Kari seemed oblivious of him and his concerns as she sat and ate. This was just too weird.
"Don't worry," Kari told him in a reassuring tone. "Everything's going to be alright. The Phlox spoke to me last night while I slept. I understand most of what's going on here now. I also accept the responsibility that has been given to me."
'Possession' and 'mind control' were the first words to come into Peter's mind. He stood up from his cot and slowly approached the table. With very mixed emotions, Peter sat down and took an experimental bite of the food.
"I know you're worried about me," Kari continued. "I think it's really sweet, but I am going to be just fine. After tonight I will fully become the new Purple Phlox."
"How can I be sure that's what Kari wants and it's not the Phlox influencing you?"
"Valid concerns," Kari admitted. "You're just going to have to trust me on this one. I know, I found all this hard to believe at first. I mean, I was the skeptical one, right? But there's just something about this that feels so right. It's hard to put into words. I've always been searching for something-- for some purpose in my life. At one time I thought it was to be a reporter and to be famous. Now I realize that this is what I was meant to be. None of this happened by accident. It was my fate-- my destiny to be here at this time at this place to become the next Purple Phlox."
For a few moments Peter was deathly silent as he took in Kari's words. "I think I'm starting to become the skeptic," he finally stated with a small laugh. "This is just--- so sudden, so strange that I don't know what to think."
"I know," Kari answered. "After tonight it will all finally be over with."
"So you keep saying. If you now have inside information, then you won't mind telling me just what is really going on?"
Kari took several more bites of her breakfast and washed them down with a large gulp of orange juice. "You're very bright and perceptive, Peter. You've put most of the puzzle together, but you have a few pieces in the wrong place."
Peter almost blushed at the compliment. It was perhaps the nicest thing Kari had ever said to him. He was almost starting to like the new Kari Donovan as opposed to the old. "Please enlighten me."
"The Purple Phlox has existed for thousands of years, longer than recorded human history. They-- We are here to aid mankind against things magical in nature. Magic and monsters were once more common in a long forgotten chapter of Earth's history. They were forces that existed without restraint. Those who would do evil ran rampant. In those dark times, a group of good sorcerers banded together to deal with the problem. They created powerful magical artifacts to contend with this evil: the Crystal Staff of the Purple Phlox and the Armor of Astegor, just to name two. In time they did succeed. Monsters and demons were either imprisoned or destroyed and the world became a much safer place. Knowledge of all of this was suppressed from the general populace for their protection."
Peter took a few minutes to digest what Kari had just told him. Many of the things he had read in various ancient tomes clicked together, forming a much larger picture. Seemingly unrelated happenings suddenly formed into a chain of events. "Fascinating," was the only response he could muster.
"Far more interesting than I could ever imagine," Kari said with a laugh. "If you had told me that I'd be buying into this nonsense so deeply yesterday, I would have said you were nuts."
"A lot has changed."
"Yes, Peter. A great many things have changed." Kari gave Peter a reassuring smile as she placed her hand on top of his. "All of my perceptions of reality have changed and I imagine that they are going to continue to change once I am made whole. I can see things that I never saw before; appreciate that which I once never gave a second thought."
Again, Peter was surprised by the forwardness of Kari. She had never been like this with him before. It also made him feel as if there could possibly be something between them. But now that she was becoming some type of magical guardian, what need would Kari have for him?
"Uhm, what was that thing we saw?", Peter finally stammered out, trying to change the subject.
"Gallifrey?", Kari answered matter of factually. "He's a demon who can manipulate time. Or rather was a demon who could manipulate time. He had been imprisoned by one of my predecessors. Somehow Gallifrey escaped and ambushed the previous Purple Phlox within the Mobius House. The two battled and their combined magicks sent them hurtling into the future. Sort of like skipping a rock across a pond."
"Then I was right," Peter interrupted excitedly. "They kept reappearing inside the house every so often, lending credence to the legend of the Croft Manor being haunted."
"Exactly. But that all ends tonight and the house will become mine."
"Now I'm really confused," Peter admitted. "I thought the Phlox and Gallifrey were moving forward in time. But when we encountered them last night, he thought you were his enemy? He almost attacked us."
"That's where things get complicated," Kari explained. "I have vague memories of what the Phlox endured, including things that we haven't lived through yet. The problem is you're thinking of things in linear terms."
Peter grappled with the concept that Kari was presenting him with for a few moments. "So what you're saying is that the first time we met the Purple Phlox was not the first time he had met us?"
"Precisely. From his point of view, tonight will be the first time the Purple Phlox laid eyes on me. It will really make sense once you think about it."
"I'm starting to get a headache," Peter announced. He leaned back in his chair and tried to concentrate. When the Phlox and Gallifrey had first appeared, Gallifrey had seemingly collapsed into a pile of ash and was destroyed. The Phlox appeared to be dying and thanked Kari for saving him. He had said that it all now made sense and that he was finishing something. Then the Phlox appeared to have perished.
"Then the first time we met the Phlox, he really did die!", Peter realized in a bolt of clarity. It wasn't part of the effect of time travel, it was his true death.
"That's right Peter. As he was dying, the old Phlox gave me the last of his powers."
"But where were the rest of his powers?", Peter wondered aloud. "And how come he didn't have his staff?"
"Because he had already given them both to me," Kari answered matter of factually. "From his perspective, at least."
"But you didn't have them at that time. You still don't for that matter."
"I will. That part of the chain of events has yet to occur for us. They already have for the Phlox."
"It's a paradox!", Peter realized. "Like all things, we move forward in time. We have no choice in the matter. But the Phlox and Gallifrey have been moving backwards! After we saw them last night, they moved backward one day to where we saw them for the first time! That's why he didn't have the staff then, because he gave it to you the day before. So as you said last night, tonight the circle will be ruptured, the spell will be broken, and your transformation into the Phlox will be complete. The paradox will be resolved."
"You knew what to do yesterday," Peter continued, "because it had already happened to the Phlox part of you. You knew exactly where to draw that circle and you knew that you had to take his staff away. The old Phlox didn't realize this until his very end. So what you're going to do tonight is what's going to make him so angry at us last night."
"That's the gist of things," Kari admitted. "It's a difficult concept to grasp, but like I said, you're a very bright man." She smiled sweetly at Peter and he found himself lost in her enchanting eyes.
The clock on the wall read 11:57 pm. "Show time," Kari announced as she rose from her chair at the table. Absentmindedly, she sat down Snowball whom she had been stroking on her lap. The rest of the day had passed very slowly. Kari decided to not go back inside the Croft Manor, or the Mobius House as she now called it. Whatever magicks she had prepared the previous night she wanted to leave undisturbed. There was too much at stake to mess up now.
Peter rose as well. "You have to stay here, Peter. You too, Snowball. This is something I have to do alone." As she spoke the flames of the Purple Phlox came over Kari's features. "I mean it, Peter," Kari added before Peter could object. "I know what I have to do and you're not involved in this part of it. I'm sorry, but it has to be this way. Don't make me force you to stay here."
"As you wish, Kari," Peter finally said dejectedly. It was rapidly becoming clear that Kari no longer needed Peter in this partnership. Their travels together were nearing an end. It made him feel empty and rather sad inside.
Seeing his disappointment, Kari placed her hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry. Everything is going to turn out all right. As soon as the white light fades, you can come in. Okay?"
Peter just nodded his understanding. Kari turned, took up the Crystal Staff in her hands and walked towards the house with purpose in her stride. After a moment, Peter exited the RV and observed Kari as she climbed the stairs and disappeared inside. He hated feeling helpless like this.
Just seconds after Kari entered the house, the blinding white light appeared, momentarily blinding her. The wind howled about her, sending the flames on her head fluttering. Figures started to appear in the light. Of course, Kari already knew who they were. She had seen all of this before, but from the point of view of the old Phlox. All she had to do was duplicate what he had observed to complete the chain of events.
The Purple Phlox and the demon Gallifrey were still locked in combat. A moment after they had fully appeared, a golden energy surged through the white light as the spell circle Kari had drawn the night before surged to life. It would blunt the effects of Gallifrey's spell, changing its parameters. Instead of traveling randomly forward in time, the spell would fling those caught up in its magic backwards in time where they would appear every twenty four hours until no one remained alive within the spell.
The sudden intrusion caused the Phlox and Gallifrey to separate. Neither could comprehend what was going on. Who had dared to interrupt their battle?
"Your time has come, Phlox!", Kari-Phlox thundered as she strode forward, Crystal Staff in hand. She had to draw the Phlox further away from the demon, so that he would not be caught up in the Circle of Destruction waiting for them after their next time jump.
Inadvertently, the old Phlox took several steps backwards, his own Crystal Staff locked securely in his hands. "Who are you?! What is the meaning of this?" His own purple flames were thicker and completely obscured his facial features.
"Your power is now mine!" Kari swung her Crystal Staff hard at the Phlox and he used his staff to block the blow. The two staffs connected and a tremendous burst of energy shot out from the white light. By touching the two Crystal Staffs together, the paradox was both created and sealed at the same time. The same object now existed twice at the same moment and they touched.
The paradox overcame Gallifrey's magic and the spell was broken and twisted to the new configuration supplied by the Circle Kari drew the night before. Energy flowed rapidly out of the old Purple Phlox, his personal flames rapidly diminishing while those around Kari increased in strength. Here at this moment, at the beginning and the ending of the paradox, Kari received the last of the Phlox power while the Phlox lost the first portion of his power to Kari. And then all hell broke loose.
Peter witnessed the arrival of the white energy, but did as Kari instructed. There were shouts and then suddenly there was a great explosion of energy! It blew out those windows that still had glass in them inside the Croft Manor. The force of the explosion threw Peter from his feet. His equipment closest to the Manor was destroyed, the rest of it thrown to the ground.
His ears ringing loudly, Peter struggled to his feet as Snowball ran past. Promise or no promise, he had to make sure that Kari was safe. Ungainly, Peter rushed towards the house and up the front steps. The white light was gone. Peter skidded to a stop inside the front room of the house. It was once more in the old Victorian style that could only be viewed while the Phlox was present.
The chamber was empty, save for the Purple Phlox. Peter did a double take as the figure wore the multi-purple costume of the Purple Phlox, but most definitely had the shape of a comely female.
"Kari?", Peter wondered aloud. Obviously, the transformation had been completed. Kari Donovan was now fully the Purple Phlox. Her face was completely obscured by the purple flames. Her eyes were now fiery blobs of reddish energy. The Crystal Staff rested in her hands.
The Purple Phlox threw her hood back and willed away her mask of fire. Kari's lovely features emerged as the flames subsided. "It's over, Peter. Our work here is finished."
"This is it, then...", Peter mumbled.
"What's wrong?", Kari asked, concern in her voice as she picked up Snowball and started to scratch his right ear. The feline purred contentedly. "Please tell me what's bothering you."
"Now that you're the Purple Phlox, you're not going to be a reporter any more. You've got a higher duty to perform. I-- I guess I'm trying to say that I'm going to miss you." For one of the few times since he had been with Kari, Peter had allowed his true feelings to emerge. He stood there, feeling alone and vulnerable.
In response, Kari chuckled heartily. "Peter, you're real knucklehead at times. Do you think I ever considered performing this new responsibility alone? And give up being a reporter? Not on your life. Covering stories for Supernatural America is the perfect cover for me now. And it gives us a pretense to investigate things that need our attention. We're a team, Peter Ramsey and don't you forget it. The Purple Phlox needs your expertise in the weird stuff." Softly, Kari put her arm around Peter as she balanced Snowball with her other hand. "And I need you to look after me."
Peter just smiled clumsily, not knowing what to say. Maybe he did have a future with Kari after all. What he once deemed as unreachable was right there in his grasp. All made possible by the enigmatic Purple Phlox.
Arm in arm, the reporters walked back towards their RV. Kari willed away her purple costume and now wore normal clothing. "It's funny," she observed wistfully. "We came to Pineboro to find the Purple Phlox. I never imagined that the Purple Phlox would end up being me." The couple shared a hearty laugh, each wondering just what the future would bring for them.
