Blood in the Marsh

by Ciana Stone

  As one, all the people fell to their knees, bowing their heads to the ground. Leo stepped through their ranks, followed by a smaller figure in white. He walked to stand in front of Lyra and smile at her, and then turned his back to her.

  The smaller figure stopped in front of him and held up a golden chalice. He accepted it and drank deeply. “Rise, devoted servants.”

  Everyone stood and pulled back the hoods of their robes. Lyra couldn’t believe her eyes. Standing around her were people she had seen all her life. There was the man who ran the ice-cream shop and the president of the bank; schoolteachers and doctors and businessmen and women. But the biggest shock of all was the person who had followed Leo into the circle—Lexi.

  “Lexi!” Lyra looked at her mother in shock. “Please tell me this isn’t true! Help me, please!”

  Lexi smiled coldly and turned to the Seneschal. “The drug is wearing off. Give her more.”

  Leo turned to Dan and whispered something to him. Dan took a flask from his robe and tried to make Lyra drink. But she wouldn’t open her mouth. He hit her in the stomach and she gasped. He grabbed her head and forced it back, pouring the liquid in her mouth. “Swallow or I’ll cut your throat!”

  Lexi walked up to them and held Lyra’s nose until she swallowed. Lyra choked and spit, screaming at them. Leo snapped his fingers and Dan disappeared into the darkness as Lexi took her place in the outer circle.

  Lyra looked up as Leo turned to her. “My darling, the time has come.”

  She was too frightened to speak. But a gasp emerged as she saw the Seneschal lead Michael and Chelsey into the circle. Behind them, another man carried the limp form of a young girl. Michael was bare-chested and stone-faced. Chelsey was dressed in a white robe like all of the others.

  “Michael! Chelsey!” she screamed.

  Michael looked at her and she saw the anger stamped on his face. His hands were tied tightly in front of him and Dan held a gun on him. Chelsey looked as if she didn’t even know what was going on. Her eyes were glassy and unfocused and she could barely stand.

  Dan pushed Michael and two men took charge of him. They led him to the western point of the pentagram and secured his wrists to a short post that had been driven into the ground with a metal ring set in its top. Dan led Chelsey over to stand beside Lexi, then helped the man carrying the young girl stake her out on the ground in front of Lyra. Lyra looked from the girl to Leo to Michael and his eyes met hers. She didn’t understand what was going on.

  The Seneschal stood and ordered the man assisting him to assume his place in the circle, then bowed to Leo.

  Leo smiled and walked to stand beside him. “You have served your master well. Know that he has smiled in favor on you. To you will be left the responsibility of maintaining loyalty in his servants.”

  The Seneschal smiled and bowed his head, then took a place in the outer circle. Leo smiled and raised his hands over his head. Sparks flew from his fingertips, dancing like fire flies around them. “It begins,” he said in a voice that was oddly amplified.

  The wind picked up abruptly, whistling through the trees, and Lyra felt a cold chill pass over her. Leo turned and picked up a long slender knife from the altar.

  “No!” Lyra screamed in horror at the same time Michael shouted, “No! For god’s sake—she’s just a child!”

  Leo ignored him and raised the knife high above the girl. Lyra could see the terror in her eyes and knew that the girl wanted to scream. But whatever drug they had given her made it impossible for her to move.

  She looked at Michael and saw him struggling to break free. This isn’t supposed to be happening! she thought. He’s suppose to kill me! So why is he killing the child?

  “No!” Lyra screamed and shook her head. “Stop!”

  He turned and smiled at her and Michael yelled at him. “Leave her alone you rotten son of a bitch! Damn you! Leave her alone!”

  Leo turned and laughed. “Or what? What will you do?”

  Just then, the wind increased to a muted roar. A sound like the noise of huge wings could be heard in the middle of the rumble. Leo raised his arms and turned around in a circle. “You see, you pathetic mortal. Even the forces of nature are under our power.”

  He stopped and looked at Lyra. “Now it is time, my darling.”

  Lyra screamed but suddenly stopped. The noise of the wind was like a hurricane, driving everyone to their knees with its fury. A nebulous red glow gathered above the tops of the trees like an angry mass of whirling electrified plasma. The ground shook as a fork of fiery lightning struck the ground.

  “Behold!” a woman’s voice shouted above the roar.

  Lyra’s head jerked around at the sound of the voice, as did Michael’s. As she looked, May-May Carter lowered the hood of her cloak and smiled at her.

  “May-May!” Lyra breathed. “Oh god, no! Not you!”

  The old woman threw back her head and laughed. “Foolish girl,” she sneered at Lyra.Lyra screamed and pulled at her bonds. She saw Michael struggling, pulling at the metal ring in the top of the post that held him prisoner.

  Another bolt of lightning struck the ground in front of Lyra and she screamed again, turning her head and closing her eyes. A sudden stillness descended and she opened her eyes to look around.

  One lone figure stood within the edge of the circle across from her. Nick. Dressed entirely in black, he seemed larger and somehow menacing in his dark beauty.

  The ring holding Michael broke free and he whirled around. “Nick! Get Lyra!” Then he struck out at the closest man.

  Pandemonium broke out as the followers saw the man Michael struck go down. They began to converge on him and he fought like a man possessed. Leo took one look around and ran to Lyra, hitting her once in the temple.

  She felt like she was going to black out from the blow. He unfastened her, slung her across his shoulder, and ran in the opposite direction they had come. She was dazed and fought to stay conscious as he ran with her into the trees.

  Michael didn’t see Nick. Nor did he have time to look. He was too busy fighting for his life.

  Nick saw Michael but made no move toward him. His eyes scanned the area. “Lyra!” he shouted.

  Michael heard him and yelled to him. “Leo took her! They went in the direction of the river!”

  Nick took off, leaving Michael to battle his way alone. At last, Michael broke free from the crowd. He ran as fast as he could in the opposite direction Nick had gone. If he could get to a phone, he could call for a helicopter and try to track Leopold and Lyra from the air.

  Leo reached the edge of the water where three boats were tied. Throwing Lyra into one, he jumped in and started the engine. The water foamed as he backed up then threw the boat in gear. Lyra scrambled up, holding her head. “Where are you taking me?”

  “Shut up and sit down!” he shouted at her.

  “No!” she yelled and dove at him, trying to turn the wheel.

  Leo cursed and took a swing at her. He missed and she jerked the wheel violently to one side, causing the boat to turn sharply. Leo smashed his fist down on her fingers and made her lose her grip. Then he jerked the wheel back the other way. Lyra was tossed across the boat and her head banged against the side as she fell. She screamed once then darkness closed in around her.

  Lyra opened her eyes and looked around, trying to make her eyes focus. Her head hurt and everything appeared blurry. She was in a bedroom. The bed was covered with a black satin spread and aside from it, the room contained only a small black chest beside the door. She pushed herself up and reached out to steady herself as the room seemed to tilt. Hearing voices from outside the door, she stumbled across the room and tried to open it. It was locked but she could hear Leo and another man talking.

  “We must get underway immediately!” Leo said in an urgent tone.

  Yes, sir!” the man answered.

  Lyra backed away from the door. “What now? Where’s he taking me? Come on, Lyra, think!”

  She sat down on
the bed and felt a wave of dizziness pass over her. Falling back, she closed her eyes. She heard Lucius’ voice. It sounded like it was speaking in her ear. “Listen carefully, Lyra. Remember what I told you. And most of all, remember who you are. You are the only one who can do this. You can’t fail.”

  “I wish you were here with me now,” she whispered. “I’m so afraid.”

  The door to the room opened and Leo walked in. Lyra sat up and stared at him as he walked over to her. Lucius was right. She couldn’t fail. The Adversary had to be stopped.

  She stared at Leo as he walked across the room to her. Just as he started to speak, someone knocked on the door. He opened it and one of his men stepped inside the room. “We should be underway in minutes, sir.”

  “Excellent.” Leo smiled. “Now leave us.”

  The man nodded and left. Leo turned to Lyra. “You see, my darling. Everything is working out just as I planned.”

  She chewed her lip for a moment, trying to decide what to do, then looked up at him. “I don’t understand. Maybe you could explain it to me.”

  Leo walked over and sat down beside her. “Do I detect a change in attitude, my dear? Or is this merely a ruse to try to trick me into trusting you?”

  “Neither,” she said as she turned to face him. “It’s curiosity. See, I’ve read all about you—well I know some about you. I know as far back as the year you left Syria and went to Lebanon.”

  She brushed her hair back over her shoulder and leaned on one arm. “Did you know that I’m a parapsychologist? Well, I am, and I have to tell you that you’re the most interesting case I’ve ever heard of. Before I found out about you, I didn’t think such things were possible. But now I’m sitting here with a genuine paranormal creature and I’m curious to know more.”

  Leo smiled and shook his head. “Lyra, things are not as they appear.”

  “Oh?” she indulged him.

  The smile disappeared and he nodded. “You see, I am not the man you think I am.”

  “Oh sure,” she agreed sarcastically. “You’re not a Count—just like you aren’t Alkharad and all the others.”

  “No, I am Leopold,” he said. “But I am not the Adversary, Lyra. It’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.”

  She didn’t reply but stared at him with a frown. He stood up and walked across the room. “You see, the truth is I am a member of an organization known as the Apologists. For centuries we have kept track of the Adversary and his fellow creatures, and when the opportunity arises, we destroy them.”

  Lyra’s eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment, she didn’t know what to say. She But maybe he’s just trying to trick me.

  “Is that so?” She decided to test him. “Then when was this organization formed and who founded it?”

  Leopold smiled. “I see you do not believe me. Very well, our order was founded by a man by the name of Akmal in the year 1098 A.D. His body had been stolen by the one you call the Adversary and his intended was murdered. Akmal died, trapped in Alkharad’s aging body but his need for justice was too strong for his spirit to depart this world. His spirit migrated to the body of an old man who was dying of disease.. He was feeble and frail but his determination was strong. He left Lebanon and went to Egypt, the place of the beginning. There he discovered that the Adversary was but one of a race of extraordinary beings. Beings that could exist on the blood of others, or, if highly advanced, could transfer their consciousness, their very essence into another body. Armed with this knowledge he set about forming our order, for he knew that these creatures of darkness had to be destroyed.”

  Lyra jumped up and paced back and forth for a few moments. Leopold had just told her the exact same story Lucius had. She didn’t know what to do. If he was not the Adversary then why had he taken her to the ceremony? And what if he really was the Adversary but was just trying to trick her into giving in to him?

  She stopped and looked at him. “So, you know about the Apologists and their history. That doesn’t prove anything.”

  He nodded. “Yes, I suppose you’re right.” He pulled a wad of folded paper from the inner pocket of his robe. “Perhaps this will convince you I speak the truth.”

  Lyra stared at the papers in his hand then hesitantly stepped forward and took them. The pages to Luciuss diary!

  St. Simon’s Island

  Michael made it back to the car he had been brought in and jerked the door open. The keys were inside. Jumping behind the wheel, he started the engine and floored the accelerator. Black smoke boiled from the tires as he pulled away, headed for the nearest phone that was at the Cloisters, a resort just miles up the road.

  The short drive seemed to take hours but at last he pulled up in front of the main building. People stared at him as if he was a creature from outer space, and he ran inside. With his hands still tied and his bare chest dirty and streaked with blood, he imagined he was a frightening sight.

  “Police!” he yelled as he ran to the reception desk. “I need to use your phone. It’s an emergency!”

  The woman at the desk stared at him wide-eyed as she slid the phone over to him. He dialed quickly. “This is Santera. I’m at the Cloisters. Send a chopper. There’s a kidnapping and attempted murder in progress. Also, send men to the old Ebo Landing in the marsh. You’ll find a group of people there. Arrest them all in connection with the disappearances and murder of those girls.”

  He slammed down the phone and looked at the clerk behind the deck. “Do you think you could find something to cut these ropes with?”

  She nodded mutely and picked up the phone. “Kitchen? Could you send a large knife to the front desk?… Yes, a large knife… No that’s all. Thank you.”

  Off the Coast of Georgai

  After several minutes, Lyra looked up at Leopold. “Where did you get this?” she asked, clutching the pages tightly.

  “From your godfather,” he replied, and then smiled at her look of surprise. “Yes, I know Lucius, Lyra. We are very old friends.

  “No.”

  “Yes. We’ve long battled this Adversary.”

  “Battle, my ass. You’re in cahoots with him.”

  “That is what I needed everyone to believe. It was necessary for him to believe that I was his to command, that I would aid him in his quest.”

  “Yeah, right.” Lyra didn’t think she could believe anyone at this point. Everyone had lied to her, from her mother to the old woman May-May.

  “I know you feel as if no one can be trusted,” he said. “That you’re seeped in an ocean of lies, but what I am telling you is true.”

  “What you were told by Ms. Carter —May-May—was true. But it was not her life she told you of, but that of Lucius’ family. It was his great grandmother’s life May-May spoke of. Not her own.

  Lyra found herself paying attention. It made sense. But what is this was just another trick, another lie to gain her trust?

  “That’s impossible!” she argued. “You’re trying to trick me! See, I know your secrets, too! I know you can’t join with me unless I give myself freely. And I’m not about to do that so you might as well kill me.”

  “I have no desire to harm you, Lyra,” he said pleadingly. “Please, you must believe me. We had to make the Adversary believe in my loyalty. That’s why I became involved with Lexi. She’s been a devotee since before you were born. It was her devotion that caused your pa’ents' death. She paid someone to sabotage the plane and cause the crash, thinking she would inherit the family fortune and use it to aid her master.

  “When you lived, at first she saw it as a misfortune, but later, when it was discovered that you were the one the Adversary sought, it elevated her position among his followers.

  “The only way the Apologists could think to save you was for one of us to gain a place of importance among these followers. I was chosen to serve that role.”

  “And obviously you fell victim as well.”

  “No. Believe me. Every ritual I endured was a type of death for me as well. I cannot
begin to describe my revulsion at what I have experienced. But I did it in an attempt to save you,a nd stop him.”

  She shook her head and ran to the door. Leopold caught up with her and took her by the shoulders as she pulled the door open. “Please, Lyra, listen to me!”

  “No!” She turned on him screaming.

  “Please!” he implored. “You have to believe me!”

  “Don’t believe him, Lyra,” Nick’s voice came from the doorway. “He’s trying to trick you.”

  “Nick!” She whirled around then yelped in fear when Nick strode to her and took hold of her arm.

  He smiled over her head at Leopold. “It looks like the game is over, Count. And you lose.”

  Leopold backed away with a fearful expression on his face. Nick held Lyra at arm’s length and smiled down at her. “It’s okay now, Lyra. You’re safe. I’ll protect you. You know that, don’t you?”

  Oh yes, she knew exactly what he felt and what he wanted. And the only chance she had of surviving his desire was to play along and not let him know she was on to him.

  “I do now. Nick, I’m sorry. I thought you were going to sell me to him. I followed you to Lexi’s and heard you talking and I thought you were just using me as a way to get rich. Can you forgive me?”

  “Yes, of course,” he said as he looked down into her eyes.

  “I love you, Nick,” she whispered.

  He smiled brightly. “Enough to be with me always?”

  “Yes.”

  “Will you swear that on your soul?” he asked.

  Does a swear count as true if you’re lying through your teeth when you say it? She hoped not. “Yes.”

  “Lyra, no!” Leopold gasped from behind her. “You don’t know what you’re saying!”

  She turned around and faced him. “Oh, yes I do. I love him. More than you can even imagine and I’ll do anything for him.”

  Leopold took a step toward her. “Please don’t say that. You don’t understand what you’re doing—what you’re committing to.”