by Karen Binnie
Chapter 24
Dallon returned to the clouded cell with his precious cargo held fast between the palms of his hand, Cooper had warned him the plant would die once detached from the earth unless the air was allowed to circulate the bulbous root.
Kroil looked up as he entered but Tadge raised his hand to stop the boy from approaching any closer.
Kroil looked from the boy to the board between them as Tadge made his final move.
“Check Mate.”
Dallon was distracted by the state of Kate, she was still slumped in the same position as when he left, her skin paling to grey, he could not believe Tadge would leave her like that whilst playing a silly game with the demon.
Kroil lifted his hand under the board and tossed it away in frustration, the pieces falling away through the fluffy wall of cloud.
“Still a sore loser I see.”
“You have been practising! Besides we have pressing things to attend to”, Kroil retorted.
Dallon danced behind them shifting his weight from each foot, desperate to rid himself of the horrid stench which the plant emitted.
“First you release the girl”, commanded Tadge.
Kroil eyed him warily, “and what is to stop you taking her and the Khlandra plant?”
Tadge looked weary from the games.
“I thought we had come to an understanding, you have told me where to find the girl’s body and I have told you the best plan of attack against Clarintor, the time for games has passed, as much as it pains me to deal with a demon, it is time we trusted each other, do you not you think?”
Kroil merely clicked his fingers and the clouded cell fell away from them, releasing Kate from her invisible shackles, they stood in a dank dark room of rock, the wet walls glistening from the gentle glow of Tadge's body, the last trace of the heavenly being he once was. With his left arm he scooped up Kate's body in one swift effortless movement as he commanded Dallon to place the Khlandra plant on the rock which had served as their games table. The two great men eyed each other with a long look of gratitude, both fallen from grace in their own unique way, before Tadge bade Dallon to leave.
Outside the cave the air filled once again with the cloud of the heavens and they quickly made their way across the passages on the shortest route following Kroils co-ordinates.
“Where are we going?” asked Dallon.
“If I am to save this Kate of yours, we must first locate her body.”
Kroil was not a fool and despite their past he had listened to the fallen angels advice, he no longer had Pete as an ally, ready to subdue her with his poisonous venom, perhaps the plan he had discussed with Tadge could actually work.
Tadge and the ghostly image of Dallon, stepped from the cloud onto the lonely hillside, dawn was breaking and cast brilliant orange fingers through the pale blue sky as the sun rose to welcome them. Luckily Kroil had chosen a desolate spot save a few scattered sheep busying themselves with their breakfast of dewy grass.
He held the fragile frame of the young girl in his arms aware of her deteriorating state, she had less than the day before them to be saved and he knew he would not be the one to save her or Dallon for that matter. He could not bring himself to tell the boy their true fate but to allow her to rest in peace he would need the body, this he could do for her.
Dallon looked around them frantically, searching for her body.
“The demon has tricked us!” he cried.
Tadge stood still and breathed in the fresh morning air unperturbed by his young friend’s desperate state. Walking to the edge of the hill, Kate's ghostly body shuddered in his arms, at his feet he could detect the trace of rubber from the car tyres as it was cast over the side, he peered into the trees below, the carnage that awaited them would not be pretty.
“Dallon, come here my young friend, we must descend into the trees, her body lies hidden in the darkened canopy below.”
Clarintor’s heels clicked across the stone floor as she approached the huge oak doors, so tall she could not detect their height and flanked by two demons she had yet to make acquaintance with. She stood proud in her best satin aqua blue dress and high black leather boots only purchased the day before, holding her head high, with her red tresses bouncing behind her, she announced herself to the two omnipresent looking guards, they did not move or acknowledge her and she wondered how easy they would be to take down.
Behind the motionless guards, the great doors began to open in on themselves, they did not creak or groan with the effort, no sound at all, just darkness beyond. From the darkness an image evolved, the cloaked figure approached, his evil shroud reaching her before he did, a sense of foreboding overwhelmed her, breaking her resolve. With a sneer the demon looked down his nose as he circled her body closely, detecting any sign of weakness. The tall demon wore a grey silk suit of the finest cloth under his cloak, he was immaculately dressed almost like Kroil she thought. He glided around her, his strong smell permeating her brain, the stench of burnt chocolate.
He stopped and brought her hand to his lips, kissing the back of it, his brief touch unusually burned across her skin.
“Clarintor, you are on time, please accompany me to my chamber.”
Unable to see him clearly except for those burning eyes she smiled at him sweetly knowing all too well this was not a request but an order. She followed him along the darkened corridor not realising the doors behind were closing until the boom echoed through the cavernous walls, sending a shudder down her spine. The skin on the back of her hand began to pucker and blister from the touch of his lips, a precursor of what was to come.
As the sound passed through and beyond them, the room they entered lit up, a great chandelier hovered over the grand regency style table. The furnishings she could detect were opulently dressed with a rich heavy fabric of red, gold and orange, the drapes pulled together where windows should have been, the walls she could see were panelled in rich mahogany.
The demon stood on the other side of the table and gestured to the seat which pulled out from under the table, inviting her to sit. Clarintor preferred to stand where the full effect of her presence was at its best, she stood firm.
“SIT” he commanded as he turned his back on her.
His gloved hands removed his cloak which he draped over the back of the chaise longue.
She sat perched on the edge of the chair and watched as he collected a silver tray containing a crystal decanter and two matching glasses, placing it on the table between them. She could see his features clearly now, long silvery black hair tied back from his pointed face, a large scar ran down the left of his face, from his forehead to the corner of his lips, he did not sit as he glanced over her body. She uncharacteristically felt nervous, the waft of cherry deepened as she shifted her position, it would have no effect on the demon but so much was her fear she was unable to control her scent.
“You know who I am?” he demanded.
Keeping her voice calm, “You are the master” she replied.
He slammed his fist on the table, the delicate glass tinkling under the pressure.
“NO! I am the Grand Master.”
She could not hide the surprise on her face as he continued.
“It is the duty of the Master to reign in the unruly among us, I have the unfortunate pleasure of dealing with you myself.”
Clarintor considered his words carefully, aware that her very existence now hung in the balance, “I do not understand” she replied.
His eyed burned as he glowered at her, he un-stoppered the decanter and began to pour one large measure of the orange whiskey, the smoky smell strong against her nostrils, sickening to the stomach, mixed with his own aroma of burnt chocolate. He savoured the taste, dragging out the silent pause between them until at last he replied.
“Your actions have not gone un-noticed, if you wish to survive this meeting then you will agree to my terms.”
So there was a glimmer of hope, he was offering a deal, a one side
d deal - that or eternal death, she shuddered at that thought, she had become accustomed to her demonic life, she spoke softly yet determined.
“Your command is my wish.”
“You will not harm the one who has fallen from grace.”
“But...”
“I COMMAND IT!”
“Yes, Grand Master.”
“The High Lord is not impressed with your actions, for years we have tolerated your existence among us, until now.”
His words did not bode well, her desires were crumbling around her and there was nothing she could do, her fighting spirit pushed her from complete submission as she dared to question him.
“Why have I angered him so?”
“Bold words from the condemned, I shall indulge you for my own amusement.”
He did not move from his position, still standing like a statue he continued.
“You are not one of us even though you pretend to be, I know what you are and you will never enter the inner sanctum, a witch who merely rose from the ashes of the angel’s wrath! What a pity he did not complete the task. Witches are rarely tolerated, you are no demoness Clarintor, you are not worthy of such a title.”
His words cut through her vanity and anger forced her reply.
“Why not kill me then all those years ago, why have you tolerated my existence and even allowed me to kill your own?”
“You have served your purpose well, a harpy raised from the ashes eager to belong, who do think fuelled your ambitions? What better way to dispose of the unruly than to have them dispatched by you, yes I see from your expression this surprises you? I have to admit you have been a valuable servant.”
Clarintor was momentarily lost for words, her mouth opened and then closed, she had been foolish to believe in her powers, Magore had warned her she would never belong, just before she had cut off his head.
“You have lasted longer than expected, why did it take you so long to re-awaken the All Seeing Eye?”
She processed his words, if that was what he had been waiting for then perhaps he would need her to command it, this could be the deal.
“The power was lost to me, the angels signal re-awakened it and allowed me to see once more, if I am the only one who can wield its power, is that what I am needed for?”
The Grand Master, turned his back on her and approached the panelled wall behind him, with his back to her she considered her options but of course she had none, if the rumours of the Grand Master were true then she would never be able to vanquish him, there was no turning back from this, her survival. He pressed his gloved hand against one section of the wall, the panel slid to one side and from the recess emerged a glass fronted cabinet, he stepped aside as the doors opened to reveal its contents.
There were only three shelves, on the top, a stone pyramid, the size of her fist, the front edge marked with an eye, the tales of this had been muted among the demons, the pyramid of Karenus held extreme power within. Beside it a tangle of static electricity glowing all colours of the rainbow, she had heard the Grand Master was the only one who could command the magic of the Struartis with the touch of his hand, the power enough to burn away the dead flesh of any other. The bottom shelf housed a bronze goblet encrusted with jewels, she had no idea of what it could be or do and beside this a small plain wooden casket yet another esoteric object. The centre shelf contained a leather bound book with a golden clasp holding its secrets within and beside it, an empty space, waiting for her possession, the ‘All Seeing Eye.’
She could not hide her contempt for what he was showing her.
“You would leave it to rot inside a trophy case!”
“I am disappointed you did not bring it with you, but no need I have despatched Jason to collect it from your lodgings, an interesting choice, did you believe you could hide on the surface?”
“No Grand Master, I merely chose that location for the shopping.”
She was growing more confident now, Jason had a reputation of seeking out anything, nothing could be hidden from him, or so they thought!
His bellowing laugh reverberated across the walls, as the ground began to shake beneath her.
“You have but one choice Clarintor as my obedient servant to command the eye at my will.”
He poured two glasses this time and handed one across the table, she had no liking for the liquor but drank out of respect and fear, the warm whiskey burned at her throat.
“It is settled then”, he concluded downing his glass.
He placed the glass back on the tray and moved closer around the table towards her, raising his gloved hand he pulled back the red curls from her ear as a shiver of fear ran down her spine at his whispered threat.
“And to be sure there will be no question of your loyalty, I leave this as a gentle reminder.” He breathed slowly onto her ear, his warm whiskey breath spread across the skin which burned as before, she winced with the pain as she felt her ear melting into a bubbled mass against the side of her head, the burning sensation beginning to spread.
Fear for her vanity, she pleaded with him.
“Please stop, I am your loyal servant.”