Necrophobia

by Devaney, Mark

  “—Get back!” Thorn shouted raising his sword towards the door. Split seconds later the door burst off its hinges and a towering hunched figure lumbered towards them. Even with the poor lighting Claire could see the grey mottled skin coated in a viscous grey slime. Its poor posture compounded by overgrown muscles bulging out of its skin and spines forming along its arms and shoulders. Most distressing however was its face. Though once human it was a shrunken and stretched face with haunting eyes. It’s mouth twisted and elongated dropping outwards from its skull and hanging down. A brief flash of many, many overlapping rings of teeth within its distorted and dripping mouth told her all she needed to know.

  “Vamprey…” She breathed in disbelief. The picture she’d seen with Adrian was nothing compared to the formerly human horror before her. Twisted by the vampire curse it was transforming into a creature straight from the deep sea.

  It advanced towards the trio with its mouth closing and sucking at the air. The Vamprey’s beady eyes flickering between each of them sizing up its first meal. Gone was the sophistication, allure and nuance of the elder vampires of lore. In its place only an unquenchable hunger, a malformed predator adapting further to its new and debased thirst. Thick slime congealed and dripped off its scaled skin in thick droplets. As one they opened fire: Hayley and Niklaus with their silver crossbows and Claire with her last phial of holy water. The bolts bit home but their effect was greatly diminished, only the faintest trail of steam issued from its wounds. Claire’s phial smashed upon its rippling muscular chest without slowing it down. The blessed water shimmered and mixed with its grey slime giving it a sickly sheen.

  “Water’s not going to work.” Hayley shouted as she tried to surround it; fumbling with her quarrels to find another bolt.

  Claire nodded and threw herself backwards as the Vamprey’s swollen and webbed claws slashed at the air near her. The creature looked as though it had crawled up from the bottom of the sea; little wonder water failed to harm it. Heart-racing in her chest she stumbled backwards trying to stay out of its sizable grasp. As Hayley and Thorn drew its attention with another round of crossbow bolts she drew an arrow from her quiver and lined up a shot. If her arrows failed to kill fledglings there was little chance of hurting the scaled and slime coated horror before her. She breathed out as she fired. The arrow struck deep within the creatures’ stumpy legs and it faltered with a pained sucking-roar. Inspector Thorn threw himself under the Vamprey’s flailing arms and sliced into its underbelly. The silver hissed upon contact with the shrieking monster and it countered with a titanic punch to the man’s breastplate. Claire winced as she saw the impact. Thorn grunted in pain and fell backwards.

  “Get clear!” Hayley shouted. She walked towards the feral vampire and discharged yet another crossbow bolt into the creatures malformed and shrunken head. As the Vamprey reeled and shielded its face Claire and Hayley pulled Thorn free. Already the wounds he’d caused were sealing together on the slick grey flesh. She watched in horror as the vampire’s flesh knitted itself back together and her arrow fell out of its knee.

  Isobel’s voice was faint and distorted.

  “Not without the noble!” Niklaus Thorn grunted looking around him. “She’s not getting away from us again.”

  “Don’t be a bloody fool Niklaus we’ll be killed!” Hayley ducked under blind swings and threw herself into the stumbling Vamprey with all her weight. The Vamprey slid backwards and smashed into the smoking and burning machine with a tortured crash. Lightning tore free from the dying machine and arced across the slime-coated vampire with a deafening shriek.

  Isobel’s voice was now much louder and clearer. Her psychic projection no longer blocked by the burning machine.

  Thorn grunted and spat blood.

  “We’ll lead it outside then! You find Natascha.” Claire’s suggestion slipped out and took her by surprise. The last thing she wanted was for the impossibly muscled Vamprey to chase after her.

  “Are you insane?” Hayley glanced back at her hoping it was a joke. “Look at that thing.”

  The Vamprey twitched and spasmed as electricity ravaged its disgusting flesh. Electrical burns spreading and fading across its exposed chest as it trembled in pain. Thorn sized Claire up, his granite face unflinching and serious.

  “Are you sure?”

  She nodded. “Yes.” Apparently I am. “We’ll lure it away.”

  The lights in the operating theatre dimmed and flickered as the creature began to recover. Thorn gave a curt nod before sprinting past the stunned vampire and out of the theatre. The Vamprey fell forwards; its burned flesh smoking and rippling as wounds healed before their eyes. Her hands trembling despite her earlier confidence she nocked and loosed another arrow. The arrow caught the Vamprey in the upper thigh and it turned its beady hungry eyes upon her.

  “I think we got its attention…” Claire’s voice seemed empty in the now silent operating theatre. The sheer hatred and hunger within the malformed predator’s sunken eyes was unnerving. It served as all the motivation she needed to be as far away from it as possible.

  “So what now?” Hayley took a step back from it and raised her crossbow.

  “We run!”

  With a gurgled roar the Vamprey lunged towards them smashing aside a bench of medical tools with a clatter. Claire turned and didn’t look back as she sprinted down the corridor they’d entered from. She could hear Hayley’s frantic footsteps and cursing behind her and most concerning was the thundering stomps of the charging vampire. They ran as fast as they could; motivated ever faster by the murderous creature sprinting behind them. It smashed aside fallen crates and tables with reckless abandon. The warehouse basement was a blur of flickering lights, bloodstained halls and clutter as they ran for their lives. Claire avoided another swipe by sheer luck as she turned and threw herself around a corner. The Vamprey’s webbed claws tore great gouges into the wall sending plasterwork flying.

  “Can’t keep running!” Hayley wheezed. “Never was a good runner!” The Night Guard faltered behind her struggling to keep moving and clutching her chest.

  “I’ll buy you some time!” Claire shouted and drew her rapier. Heart-beating in her chest and every instinct screaming for her to run she paused. “Go!”

  Hayley coughed a feeble protest before staggering up the stairs to the first-floor basement. The malformed vampire slowed and raised its drooping lamprey mouth in anticipation. Spittle and grey slime spat out at her as its mouth undulated and the misshapen yellow fangs clicked against each other. She realised with solemn clarity there was a good chance she was about to die. It was an odd yet sobering thought. She backed away keeping her sword drawn and held between her and the approaching beast. I won’t go down without a fight. She swung her rapier in a short arc, the blade bit deep but drew no blood. Sensing no threat from the steel blade the Vamprey ignored it. The wound sealed itself together the second her blade tore free. It was as if she’d slashed at water. It’s toying with me.

  The Vamprey clawed at her again. She managed to parry most of the force but the impact still left her reeling. It was almost upon her now the pungent stench of slime and fish brought a tear to her eyes as she gasped for breath. She exaggerated her exhaustion as the Vamprey leaned closer flexing its funnel-shaped maw. With one final deep breath she inhaled and lunged out with her sword swiping aside its mouth. The creature reeled back on instinct; the natural urge to avoid attacks aimed at the face swung it out of reach. She kicked her knee into its legs with all her force. The silver making contact through the tattered trousers that preserved what was left of the vampire’s modesty. The creature hiss of pain mirrored the searing of silver on warped flesh as it looked down with renewed hate. Claire punched upwards with her left hand. Regret formed in an instant as pain twinged up her hand as she struck its hardened flesh and slime coated her knuckles. The silver ring bu
rning into the drooping maw distracted it as she lashed out again with her foot. Hardened silver alloy plated boots struck the knee joint and the creature fell forwards to one knee howling in frustration. With a satisfied grin hidden beneath her mask she turned and ran up the stairs as the Vamprey struggled to rise.

  The hunter bounded up the steps and onto the ground floor of the warehouse as the Vamprey stomped upstairs behind her.

  “Now where?” She shouted into the open air.

 

  Claire yelped in shock as the Vamprey launched a crate of supplies in her direction. It smashed through the storage crates in frothing rage to reach her. Its huge fists denting and tearing into anything in its path.

 

  Don’t have to tell me twice! She rushed towards the huge metal doors at the front of the warehouse. Blood red light filtered in through the high-rise windows forming stark columns of light. With a strangled roar the Vamprey leapt off the ground with superhuman force; gaining several metres on her within an instant. It smashed into stacked metal girders to cease its moment and swung out at her. She felt the displaced air whoosh past her ear as she half-stumbled, half-crouched under its claws. With an awkward roll she sprung up onto her feet again and sprinted towards the open door.

  Why did I volunteer for this!

  Running on all fours the Vamprey sprinted at her dragging itself forward with its over-sized arms. She slammed into the door and out into the open. Pain lancing through her shoulders as she cursed the lack of pauldrons. Ahead of her she could see several Night Guard stationed around the courtyard crossbows at the ready. Hayley waved her clear as the Vamprey burst out into the sunset. To her disappointment the creature did not burn up in the sunlight instead it shielded its eyes from the harsh glare. Bolt after bolt impacted into the dazed creature knocking it off-balance. It fell backwards from the repeated impacts and the Night Guard charged as one stabbing and slicing downwards into the fallen vampire. Their silver swords dazzling in the setting sun. Claire welcomed the fresh sea-side air into her lungs as she wheezed to regain her breath.

  “Thanks. I owe you one.” Hayley slapped Claire on the back as she doubled over to catch her breath.

  “I’ll say.” She managed in response.

  Isobel chimed in.

  “Nice of him to help out.” Hayley rolled her eyes and stared at the warehouse doors.

  “Any sign of that other vampire?” Claire managed to steady herself. “The doctor?”

 

  “Figures.”

  With the Vamprey killed, Natascha apprehended and the Night Guard picking through the warehouse, Claire and Hayley limped towards the station for debriefing.

  Blindfolded and tied to a chair Sevaur struggled against his bindings. He could feel a strong breeze and sunlight hitting the back of his neck as he sat, around him someone paced loudly upon a stone floor. Now he was blind and bound in room with an unpleasant yet distinctive smell. The journey had been rough, disorientating and humiliating. At one point Sevaur recalled a distinct sensation of vertigo and weightlessness as wind rushed past him.

  “Relax.” Sevaur recognised Falkner’s weary voice.

  Someone moved closer to him and removed his blindfold and gag, an ageing dour face appeared before his eyes as his vision returned. Sevaur found himself face to face with the cold blue eyes of the traitor Inquisitor Haures. His sharp face and harsh gaze bored into the captured Knight-errant. Sevaur could make out a flash of white around his neck beneath his platemail underlining.

  “Your brother doesn’t make things easy does he?” Haures spoke with a quiet and measured voice, his expression of calm almost eerie.

  Sevaur snorted despite himself. “You’re telling me.”

  Haures nodded and stood straight. Placing his arms behind his back his vision lingered on the view of the city. Sevaur realised he was caught in an aviary tower overlooking most of the city, fading blood-red light poured in through the exposed windows. Pigeons roosted within cages and watched them with curious beady eyes.

  “What do you want from me?” Sevaur asked as the silence became unbearable.

  “Nothing.” Haures replied without looking at him.

  “I’m bait then.” Sevaur struggled against his bindings but they were fastened too tight.

  “That’s right. Reiner’s like a dog with a bone, he won’t give in.” Falkner turned his back on them both and pressed himself against the window holes surrounding each edge of the circular tower. No longer wearing his dull long coat Sevaur could see his worn and defiled Caelite armour. The finer ornamentation and sigils filed off and whittled down perhaps to hide its origin. Even despite crude attempts at disguising his armour there was no hiding the Caelite craftsmanship. “That’s where you come in.”

  “What are you going to do with him?” Sevaur hesitated as he watched the impassive stone face of the traitor Inquisitor.

  “I have the utmost respect for the Caelite order.” Haures turned his gaze back down to Sevaur.

  “You’ve got a funny way of showing it then.” Sevaur tried to move the binding closer to his open palms, perhaps he might be able to burn them apart. So I can fight these two unarmed? That won’t work.

  A wry smile flickered across Haures’ face. “However, they’ve become a nuisance. Your brother won’t back down until he’s metered out justice upon my comrade here and myself.”

  “You’ve got half the city after you.”

  “Yes, that is a problem.” His voice trailed off as though he was deep in contemplation. Falkner shook his head and continued to stare outside. Though Sevaur couldn’t see his face he had the distinct impression Falkner was rolling his eyes.

  “If you kill my brother they’ll just send more Caelites.” He turned as much as he could towards Falkner. “You know they will.”

  “That’s one option yes. We have several.”

  Sevaur gritted his teeth as the tightness around his wrists and legs began cutting off some of his blood flow. “Capturing me won’t stop him. Stopping you two is his number one priority.”

  “That’s debatable.” Falkner replied.

  “Depending on how co-operative you are.” Haures began with a pointed look at Sevaur. “We may simply elect to wipe clear his memory of the past few days and send him off on his merry way.”

  The bound Knight-errant paused and stared right back at the Inquisitor’s impassive face hoping to see the truth behind his words.

  “On the other hand.” He raised his left hand for emphasis. “Perhaps he might serve our needs better if we enthralled him. We’d assure his compliance, and loyalty.”

  “Perhaps we can teach the old dog some new tricks eh?” Falkner spoke with a feigned levity, the bitterness beneath his words came right through. He turned and leaned against the aviary window with his arms folded in contemplation.

  “What about me?” Sevaur’s voice felt small and childlike as the two armoured men exchanged a knowing look.

  “What about you?” Haures shrugged and stepped closer. “We have no interest in you. Behave yourself and we’ll let you live. The sooner we can quit this miserable town the better.”

  The implicit slight that he was no threat to them at all was difficult to hear after all they’d done in the past few days to chase him. He realised it was the truth in that statement that hurt the most. He was little threat to them. They had greater experience, greater training, superior weapons and armour and more manpower. He didn’t even register on their city-wide conspiracy. He bristled as they stood judging him like disapproving parents. So what if I’m not an elite Caelite or an Inquisitor I can still be useful. I can still be dangerous. His hands shifted in position and the bindings loosened over his exposed hands cutting into his flesh. With his messy black hair dangling across his eyes and face he was grateful they couldn’t see his expression. He began to heat up his hands with a fai
nt warmth, increasing the intensity of the fire little by little as he grew bolder. With any luck the unpleasant smell of hundreds of accumulated bird droppings would mask the smell of burning leather.

  “Do you accept our terms?” Haures pressed a finger underneath Sevaur’s chin and turned his face upwards. Sevaur allowed the magic gathering around his hands to dissipate so as not to draw attention.

  “I do.”

  “Good.” He removed his hand with a smile. “You’ve made the right choice. Your freedom is perhaps the most important right you have. Don’t squander it. Most people only get one life.” He stepped back with a wider smile and almost an aside said. “For now.”

  So much for freedom if you’re coercing me.

  Sevaur waited with bated breath as the Inquisitor surveyed him once more with those cold eyes of his. He seemed genuine in both his threats and his promises and beliefs. He was beginning to see how the man before him could stir up and manipulate large groups of people into cults that hung onto his every word.

  “Your brother will come for you because he aspires to be an icon, a role model and a leader. He has a sincerity few people do and such people must be treasured. If all goes well we get what we want and you both survive. Everyone wins.”

  Sevaur nodded in agreement, still unsure what to make of the situation but he could feel resentment bubbling beneath the surface.

  A knock on the wooden door startled him as an owl-masked man wrapped in a black cloak stepped into the aviary. “Sir.”

  “Yes?”

  “The Night Guard have raided the warehouse. Natascha has been captured and Morana is wounded.”

  “What a shame.” Falkner muttered.

  Even beneath the owl mask the cultist faltered, unsure of how to react to Falkner’s barbed comments. Haures dismissed Falkner with a wave of his hand and folded his arms.

  “How many of us are left?”

  The cultist shifted and scratched the back of his neck through his robes. “Not many.”