Tales of the Shadowmen 3: Danse Macabre

by Jean-Marc Lofficier

  When these two left her alone in her quarters, she’d be free to explore and locate Ilona. Then back to the parlor to rip the Eye of Dagon from where it hung around Elisabeth’s translucent neck.

  The whole place had a freakish ambiance to it. Noël had briefed them all before sending her in. The mansion used to be the clinic of Doctor Felix Benet. Benet had used a new source of radiation–Radium-X–to cure blindness and other illnesses, and had been brutally murdered here. It still stank of death.

  Add in the mansion’s current occupants: Trollish Le Chiffre snorting his amphetamines. Languid Elisabeth… fascinating in a menacing sort of way, like a flame drawing in the moth that cannot resist. Did she have a slight Hungarian accent? And her two escorts, they were quite a pair. Denis with his bulging eyes and bluish-green, almost oily skin emanating a squalid fish smell; he was in serious need of a shower. And silent Plaster, a girl of no more than 20 with a shock of white hair. Was it the fear permeating this place that robbed her hair of color?

  As they passed a large mirror hanging in the hallway, Adélaïde caught a quick glance in it and could have sworn… Had she really seen only her own and Plaster’s reflections? No, she must have missed foul Denis’ reflection because he was lumbering a few steps ahead of them.

  No matter, she’d be in and out of here quickly. Free Ilona, snatch the jewel and disappear. It was a bit of a trek to Room 13, though, and they seemed to be headed toward the basement…

  As they approached a heavy wooden door, Plaster’s hand clamped over her mouth and nose with a chloroform-soaked rag. The last thing she saw was her friend, Ilona, shackled and hanging in the dank cellar.

  When the Sun declined, the ladies of the Cordon Jaune were brought down for their evening lineup before Le Chiffre and Elisabeth. Counting the new girl–had anyone met her yet?–there were ten women currently working at this establishment. Last night, before Jeannette had come on board, so to speak, there had also been ten, but Claudette had left.

  People came and went in this line of work, and the ladies weren’t concerned. They might have been if Madame Elisabeth allowed them newspapers or radios–Claudette’s body had been discovered nearby just that afternoon. Her corpse was completely depleted of blood, and the police, as usual, were baffled.

  Le Chiffre, conversely, was concerned. Of the ten, only nine appeared at the lineup.

  “Elisabeth!” he shouted, then turned back the women. “Back to your rooms, all of you! Now!”

  Several of the girls, lead by the waif Cabiria, protested but complied on further threats from Le Chiffre.

  After the ladies dispersed, he beckoned to his two looming bodyguards, and faced Elisabeth.

  “Where is the new girl? Where is Jeannette!”

  Elisabeth smiled at him lazily. “Ziffre, you really must learn to control your temper.”

  “Woman, you’ll be the end of us all. Denis, Karl–” He snapped his fingers at the bodyguards “–take Madame Elisabeth to her room and lock her there.”

  Elisabeth began to giggle softly. She raised one elegant arm and pointed behind him, urging him to look.

  Le Chiffre slowly turned and almost fainted. Denis and Karl’s dark tailored suites were splitting at the seams. Eyes swelled in their sockets. Snouts elongated. Webs formed between fingers and toes of feet which no longer fit in discarded shoes. Oil seeped from bluish skin showing through the splits in once stylish clothing.

  Thick red lips opened, showing row upon row of razor-sharp fangs. The incisors were particularly lengthy.

  The jewel at Elisabeth’s throat glowed momentarily with ice-blue intensity, and then softened.

  “Gentlemen, Herr Ziffre is becoming a nuisance. Take him to the cellar. No, no! Don’t hurt him–yet. He may still have his uses.”

  Karl punched Le Chiffre in the face, and the two fish-men started to drag him away, gibbering quietly to themselves.

  “Oh, and gentlemen?”

  The two creatures paused.

  “Better stay out of sight. We wouldn’t want to frighten the girls, would we, darlings? I’ll call them down for this evening’s lineup.”

  The two fish-men gesticulated in parody of a human nod, and continued to shamble away, dragging Le Chiffre and leaving a faint trail of fish-slime in their wake.

  It had been too long. Adélaïde should have been out over an hour ago. Time for Plan B.

  Doc Ardan and Jens Rolf had come into the Cordon Jaune with the evening’s first round of customers. They had both noted the Eye of Dagon hanging from the Madame’s neck, but the first order of business was to locate and liberate Adélaïde and Ilona. The Madame had made cooing noises over Doc, murmuring over the handsome bronze giant and making a point to caress his shoulders and biceps.

  Elisabeth was undeniably mesmerizing, but Ardan could sense something vile and repellent at her core. He stoically bore the indignity of her touch, but when Elisabeth prattled on about what a lucky girl Plaster would be that night, Rolf kept things in motion, playing his part perfectly.

  “Fraulein Elisabeth,” the German snapped, consulting his watch, “if we could proceed, our time is limited.”

  “Of course, Mein Herr, forgive me. This girl’s name is Manon. I presume she is acceptable?

  “Quite, thank you.”

  Now both men were in separate rooms with the girls. Doc had broken a small glass tranquilizer under Plaster’s nose and eased her into a comfortable position on the bed. As he exited, Jens Rolf silently came from the room across the hall. Through the open doorway, Doc could see the girl Manon sitting straight up in a chair, eyes open and yet vacant.

  “A slight trance, she’ll come out of it shortly,” Rolf whispered.

  Doc nodded, and scanned the corridor in both directions.

  “That woman, Elisabeth,” Rolf continued. “Something evil and depraved owns her soul.”

  Doc nodded again, and raised a hand for silence. After a moment, he pointed and the two men made their way toward a butler’s staircase at the back of the house.

  Nestor Burma was stationed out back of the Benet mansion at a basement window. His associate, a reformed burglar called Zavatter, worked at the lock.

  “Voila,” said the cracksman as the lock came loose. Burma paid him off, sent him on his way, and held his position.

  After 30 minutes, Ardan and Rolf had still not appeared with the women and the Eye. Burma emptied out his pipe on the pavement. He sauntered casually from the back alley and down the block to the idling Citroën.

  He said a few words to Noël, then retraced his steps, crouched, and went in the open window.

  Adélaïde’s wrists were shackled to chains hanging from the cellar ceiling. The room was featureless save for the tendrils of greenery which snaked the ground around her feet.

  Adélaïde had been stripped down to undergarments and pumps. Her red wig was gone. She yelled at Ilona to wake up, but her friend was unresponsive. Adélaïde quieted when she heard the click of footsteps on the wooden stairs descending from the cellar door.

  Elisabeth appeared, wearing black riding pants tucked neatly into black patent leather riding boots, and a white blouse cut low at the neckline. She held a riding crop behind her in both hands. Out for a day at the races.

  “Welcome my dear, welcome!” She smiled broadly at Adélaïde, then whispered conspiratorially in her ear. “I knew it was you earlier today, as soon as you came into the parlor. I have an unusually strong sense of smell, and I could never forget your alluring scent.”

  “What do you want?”

  “What? What do I want?” Elisabeth asked innocently. “Why my dear, shouldn’t it be obvious? I want you.”

  Adélaïde shook her head in confusion.

  “Oh, I admit, I probably should have left Paris long before now, but once I met you when you delivered the Eye–isn’t it just exquisite, by the way?” She gestured at the luminescent jewel hanging between her pale breasts. “In any event, once I saw you, I knew it would be worth the risk of remaining a
while longer. And I was right! Here you are, pretty as a package.”

  “I still don’t understand. This was all a trap? For me?”

  “But of course! When I met you, I could tell right away if I kept the Eye, you’d come here looking for Ilona. I’m a very good judge of character, you know.”

  “Why me?”

  “Do I have to explain everything? Dear Adélaïde.” Elisabeth pouted, puffing out her lower lip, then caressed Adélaïde’s cheek with the end of the crop. Adélaïde stiffened.

  “Oh, don’t worry, this is just for show.” She pointed at the cuts on Ilona’s neck and wrists. “You see, no crop made those cuts.”

  Adélaïde shook her head.

  “Oh, very well, I’ll explain, though it doesn’t matter in the end. Soon you’ll be pleading to join me. So. Your friend, Doctor Natas. Remember him? Once you had escaped from Oran with the Silver Eye of Dagon, he was able to piece together what really happened. He discovered the true thief of his prize. And–surprise! He put a price out on your head and a reward for the Eye’s return!” Elisabeth’s smile illuminated the room.

  “Word spread–I am somewhat well-connected in that area,” she said modestly. “Natas’ head of intelligence, Pao Tcheou, also sent out a personal dossier on you. Information on your parents, your friends, anything that might be of use. You can imagine my astonishment to find Ilona Harczy listed as one of your closest friends.”

  Adélaïde stared at her blankly.

  “No? You are still confused?” Elisabeth sighed. “I once knew another Ilona Harczy. I was forced to kill her in Vienna, long ago. I counted it a stroke of good fortune to learn my late nemesis had a distant namesake! Out of curiosity, I sought her out, and discovered she was a chanteuse at the Calyx Bar–yes, the very place I took delivery of the Eye from you! I must say, the latter Ilona is much more beautiful than her predecessor, and once I saw her, I decided to keep her.

  “Killing two birds, as the saying goes, I contacted you and arranged to exchange her for the Eye. After all, why not still collect on Natas’ reward? When we met, I knew I’d have you as well. I was smitten, I confess. It’s extended my Parisian stay a bit, and I probably should’ve moved on by now, but adding you and the lovely Mademoiselle Harczy to my stable will be well worth the risk and undue attention.”

  “Undue attention?” Adélaïde asked. “It’s you. You’ve been killing those girls.”

  “Well, one needs to replenish, after all. I think I’ve been pacing myself quite nicely, but you’re right, it is time we leave this place before the day breaks.”

  “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

  “Oh, you will,” Elisabeth said softly, and kissed her cheek gently. “You’ll beg to come with me.”

  In the upper cellar, Burma had discovered and released Le Chiffre from his cell. The small man was volubly cursing Elisabeth and Denis and Karl.

  “Where is Madame Elisabeth, Monsieur? I must locate her.”

  “I have no idea,” the other man growled, “and I don’t aim to find out.”

  “Not so fast. You know your way around this chamber of horrors. You’re going to help me find her, and the new girl–a redhead–who came here earlier today.” Burma began to reach inside his trenchcoat, then stopped, slowly withdrawing his hand.

  Le Chiffre had anticipated Burma, producing a gleaming Eversharp razor blade from the heel of his left shoe. “I’ll flick this blade in your eyeball. Don’t twitch, don’t sneeze, you understand? Nod slowly if you agree.”

  Burma nodded, and Le Chiffre took off.

  Ardan and Rolf approached the late Benet’s laboratory. The scientist held up a hand, tapped his nose and raised two fingers. His sense of smell, akin to an ape’s, far exceeded that of a normal human.

  There were two… somethings… waiting in the laboratory.

  Rolf understood Ardan’s signal, and the two went in.

  Nevertheless, neither was prepared for the ferocity of the attack. Sharp claws extending from rubbery webbed hands embedded in the wall inches from Ardan’s head. Razor sharp teeth with exceedingly long canines snapped at his face. The scientist dove past the creature, and the creature’s other set of claws raked across his chest, drawing blood. Doc jabbed a strong elbow into the creature’s back.

  The other fish-man backhanded Jens Rolf across the room, knocking him almost senseless. The second creature then leapt for Ardan, who rolled to the side and bounced up lightly on his feet.

  The first creature freed its claws from the wall, and now both approached the scientist, backing him into a corner.

  Four sets of claws came flying at Ardan.

  “Never,” said Adélaïde, “never will I willingly accompany you.”

  “You will, darling, but let us not argue. Soon you will love me.”

  “You’re delusional. What you’ve said makes no sense. You decided to collect on Natas’ reward, and yet you still have the gem and I’m hanging in your dungeon.”

  “As for you, I thought I had made myself clear. I have decided to keep you for myself. As for the Eye… I quickly discovered its special properties, and how to tap into them. One as well-traveled as I picks up quite a bit, you know. Human servitors are tedious; with the Eye I have created two completely loyal, relentless servants.”

  Her expression became wistful. “As the years have passed, it has become increasingly difficult to stay ahead of the forces of so-called ‘justice,’ moving from town to town, city to city, stopping only long enough to rejuvenate once or twice and then moving on. Now I can stop running, return home to Čachtice Castle. The Carpathians are particularly beautiful this time of year, as autumn approaches. As you’ll see.

  “These servants will go forth and gather the sustenance I require. All they’ll need is the lake nearby the castle in which to replenish themselves. No more vagabond lifestyle. Home.

  “So you see, I too have reason to keep the Eye for myself, and fully intend to do so. I am tired of running.”

  She went over to Ilona and began releasing her chains. “By tomorrow, we–the three of us–will be home.”

  Ilona slumped to the cold floor, senseless. Elisabeth left her there and returned to Adélaïde, made a swift cut above her left breast, and began to sup. As the blood flowed into Elisabeth’s mouth, Adélaïde began to go into another world; it was pleasurable, but another part of her mind screamed silently in resistance.

  Uncounted minutes passed, and Adélaïde came back into focus. She saw Ilona approaching Elisabeth from behind. Her approach seemed somewhat stealthy, and Adélaïde surged with hope. Elisabeth had made a tactical mistake in releasing the other girl. But she was weakened and pale… Would she be able to immobilize Elisabeth?

  Ilona crept closer and closer, reaching in toward Elisabeth, who still was bent over Adélaïde, draining her life-blood. Adélaïde faded out and in once more again, and now Ilona was impossibly closer, about to grab the Madame and thrust her away from Adélaïde. Ilona took her shoulders, and Elisabeth reached back an arm, slipping it around her waist and pulling her in toward her victim.

  Elisabeth kissed Ilona, covering her lips in Adélaïde’s blood, then made another cut above the girl’s right breast. The blood started to pour out, and she pushed Ilona’s mouth down to the wound.

  Ilona drank greedily of Adélaïde’s blood.

  The now-healthy and budding greenery which snaked around her feet seemed to be moving slightly, as if intercepting any stray falling droplets of blood.

  Elisabeth returned to her victim’s breast and joined Ilona in the feast.

  Doc Ardan’s superfirer pistols hummed busily, shooting hundreds of rounds of anesthetic “mercy bullets” at the two misshapen amphibians.

  To no avail. The creatures advanced upon him. And advanced. Then stopped.

  Rolf had regained his senses. He chanted words in an ancient and arcane language.

  “Ph’nglui mglw’nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah-nagl fhtagn. Iä!”

  The two monsters who had been K
arl and Denis strained. Their eyes swelled in their sockets but they were otherwise immobilized.

  “Hurry!” the German mystic yelled at Doc. “This hex will not hold them long!”

  Doc nodded once and went for the opposite corner of the laboratory, an area he had not been able to reach during the pitched battle.

  Moving faster than most humans could conceive, the bronze man began to gather and piece together large pieces of old, dusty equipment.

  “Faster!” Rolf yelled.

  “I am,” came Ardan’s curt reply. Finishing the assembly, he hefted it under his massive, cabled arm. The object was black and conical, the tip coming to a rounded point of glass or some other transparent substance.

  Doc reached inside his equipment vest and pulled out a small rectangular box. He wired the box to the cone, which came to life with a high pitched whine. The transparent emitter at the tip illuminated. He pulled out two pairs of goggles, put one on and tossed the other to the German.

  Ardan nodded at Rolf, who released the spell and collapsed.

  The two fish-men came toward them, moving faster than their deformed shapes gave them any right to.

  Doc flipped a switch on the black cone, and the light of a thousand suns, powered by Radium-X, burst out from the emitter.

  The beam hit Denis, then Karl, and both fish-men shrieked and burst into flames. Within moments, both had dissolved. All that remained was two piles of ashes on the floor, and a stench.

  Burma came running into the room, pistol in hand, and stopped short at the sight and smell. “Mmm. Burnt rancid fish. My favorite.”

  Elisabeth and Ilona were still bent over Adélaïde. She became more and more pale, but paradoxically felt a strange warm sensation exploding out from the center of her body.

  Mercifully, she had almost passed from consciousness when Ardan, Rolf and Burma burst into the dungeon.

  “She’s almost there! Don’t stop!” Elisabeth ordered Ilona, and turned to face the men.

  Ardan held the Radium-X projector under his left arm, a superfirer in his right hand. He sprayed Adélaïde’s attackers with mercy bullets, but Elisabeth laughed it off, while Ilona continued to draw the remainder of Adélaïde’s blood.