Forming a phalanx on the jetty for their guest, they waited silently as she too stood up, placed a silver coin to pay for her ride then disembarked and faced the Guardian standing on the narrow wooden pier.
“Toomak, I thought that this day would never come.”
The Guardian began as he reached out to take her by the arm and escort her to the shore.
“Get your hands off me!”
Toomak snarled and yanked her arm away from his grip as she turned and marched down the jetty.
“I see time has not mellowed your demeanour.”
The Guardian added, to no one in particular as he fell into step behind and to complete the cordon as it headed down the jetty and onto the shore. Luckily the place was deserted and the procession marched swiftly towards the gates sited on the horizon.
It was obvious to everyone involved that Toomak would not need an adjudication for her sins, only to be deposited directly through the gates of Hell and put to an end two thousand years of trouble.
The surprisingly ornate golden gates loomed large as they approached and the chilling sounds of pain and anguish grew increasingly louder with every step. Suddenly and without warning, they swung open and the angel cordon allowed Toomak to walk unescorted through into what appeared to be nothing at all. The Guardian watched carefully as the gates clanged securely shut then satisfied that Toomak could not escape; he turned and joined the rest of the angels walking back towards the jetty.
All Toomak could do was listen to the wails and screams as she wondered what lay in store for her soul as punishment for failure. Thinking of escape she turned back to face the gate only to find that it had disappeared and whichever way she ran, the noise only grew louder so Toomak finally stopped to await her fate.
Absentmindedly watching the cold mist swirling around her knees, Toomak’s heart skipped a beat as she heard the ominous sound of cloven hooves echoing through the darkness. Snapping her head from left to right trying to home in on the direction of the sound, Toomak felt her chest tighten as she could now hear her master’s heavy breathing, adding yet another level of fear. In the blink of an eye Satan appeared, looming large and terrifying before her. Toomak immediately fell to the ground, supplicating her body and kissing Satan’s blood soaked hooves.
“Please forgive me master, I did everything I possibly could and more. Success was only a breath away.”
Toomak wept openly and wondered what punishment lay in store, but what happened next was totally unexpected. Satan stooped over and gently lifted Toomak to her feet then wiped away her tears with the tips of his bony fingers, scaring Toomak even more as his razor sharp talons grazed over her closed eyelids. When he stopped Toomak found the courage to open her eyes and look her master directly in the face. Surprisingly he looked calm, not a trace of anger could be gleaned from his malevolent features.
“You have done well my child, since the dawn of time I have sought a way out of my incarceration and never before have I come so close to liberation than with you, and for that I thank you.”
Toomak stared wide-eyed and dumb struck as Satan continued.
“We may have lost the amulet of the ancients but there are many equally powerful artefacts lost on the surface world that could help me succeed in my eternal quest. If you are willing to try again I would like to enlist your help.”
Stunned, Toomak nodded silently as Satan continued.
“As for now I refuse you entry to my domain, leave now and await my call.”
Satan looked over Toomak’s shoulder and spread both arms outwards and then up. She turned around to witness Hell’s gateway rising silently through the mist. When it stopped, Satan clicked his fingers and she watched as the gated portal swing open. Turning back to face her master for further instruction, she found that he had evaporated into the mist leaving behind his stench of death hanging in the air. Toomak did not need any more advice so she quickly spun back around and as a fugitive once more, she ran out through the gates into the darkness.
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born in Nottingham, England in 1964. I have been married for over twenty-five years to my beautiful wife Alison, and we have two grown up children. I have owned and operated a Greeting Cards shop just outside Derby for the last twenty years, and my ambition is to leave the daily grind and become a full time author.
At the time of publishing, I am currently working on my second e-Book, a Sci-Fi/Horror novel called Hologram Dreams.
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http://www.russellknightonbooks.blogspot.co.uk
TOP REVIEW
***** Timelock - absolutely brilliant
By: Alex Sparasci
July 28, 2013
This is an excellent book containing two novels - one leading from the other so you get the whole story spaced out over time. I would highly recommend this to anyone and everyone.
Timelock Page 39