Wormwood

by G. P. Taylor

  ‘I will, my mother,’ said the faint voice that struggled gruffly to find tone. It whispered softly: ‘Your desire … is my desire.’

  Tiger-mask stood up and took a small dagger from her pocket and held it towards the creature in her bloodstained hand. ‘Sekaris, go find the man! Destroy him, and bring the Nemorensis to me!’

  A crack of blue fire shot from the creature and earthed along the blade of the dagger. The woman dropped the knife to the floor as the electricity quaked through her, making her legs tremble and feet shudder. The jackdaws flooded the air around her in a black mass, pecking at her hands and face as they swirled back and forth, lifting the Sekaris from the ground. The creature began to change, turning silver-blue in a vortex of bright coloured light. It screamed as if it were being dragged to another world, a cry so shrill that it pierced the hearing and scattered the birds in their flight.

  The Sekaris hovered above the ground, and then without warning a deep black fissure appeared in the air above and fell like a black curtain, consuming the creature and all the birds. The four sat motionless, looking to the place where the creature had departed the world. The floor of the chamber was thickly covered in black feathers and scattered with tiny black beaks and thin, spindly bird legs.

  ‘It’s dead,’ said fox-mask, brushing himself clean of a thousand feathers. ‘The magic was too much for it. We need serpent to be here, there was no balance in what we did.’

  ‘It’s alive,’ said tiger-mask as she wiped the blood from her hand with her black cloak. ‘I know it’s alive, I can feel it.’

  ‘We saw it destroyed with our own eyes – taken into some black hole like a fly into a web,’ fox-mask replied.

  ‘Does not a mother know when her child lives? The Sekaris is of my breath. I know it lives, I can hear him calling to me.’

  *

  Agetta Lamian snuffed out the light on the final wick of the seventy candles that had burnt for the last five hours. They had sooted the brass chandelier, coating it in a fine oil of dried tallow. She took the cloth from her apron and wiped every stem clean before pulling each of the hot stubs and dropping them into the candle bucket that she had carried from room to room. From the morning room the sound of Blake and Bonham crept through the thick oak door, their sharp tones hinting that they were locked in argument.

  Mrs Malakin had told her they were not to be disturbed, and by that Agetta knew she would have plenty of time. Quickly, she ran down the ladder steps, propped it against the wall and picked up the candle bucket. She looked up the long staircase that led from the hallway to the observation room. She thought of her friend, Thaddeus, and knew she could fulfil his dream. If the Nemorensis were in the house then it would have to be there. She had seen Blake dressed in his scarlet cuffs and strange silk cap, one foot slipshod and the other bare as he chanted incantations and mixed the elements in clay jars and silver goblets that spewed dark flames. Somewhere in the attic of the house the Nemorensis was hidden, and Agetta knew she had to find it.

  Taking two steps at a time, she ran up the stairs to the landing at the top of the house. She constantly looked over her shoulder, but there was no one following. Stepping into the top corridor with its delicate white plaster cornices and hand-etched walls, she stopped yet again. This time she waited as she tried to regain her breath. She listened to the sounds of the house.

  From far below, Agetta could hear the muffled sound of shouting. Carefully she stepped along the soundless, finely woven carpet that ran like a deep blue pathway to the observation room. In the distance she could see the candle that lit the doorway to the room. It was a daunting, gloomy, narrow corridor, the width of a man’s shoulders. It led into thick blackness like a tunnel taking her to hell. She knew that if caught there would be no escape, there was only one way out. Her imagination mixed the shadows to conjure creatures that did not exist yet were so real they tore at her soul, and her daylight reasoning battled with the ogres that invaded her every thought.

  Turning quickly, she looked behind her, convinced she was being watched. She again heard the voice of Blueskin Danby rattle through her head. In her mind’s eye she saw the figure of the ghost with the black serpent weaving through his rancid flesh.

  Beads of sweat trickled down her spine like a procession of long white slugs. Brushing her hands against the sides of the corridor to steady herself as she walked, she tried to banish all fear from her mind, to think only of Thaddeus and what she could do for him. She was determined to succeed; she would never let him down.

  Agetta edged her way towards the door. The candle stub flickered on the small table. With each step, the lump grew in her throat. Her hands began to tremble as the darkness of the house began to creep around her.

  13: Sui Sudarium

  The door to the observation room had a large, round brass handle with a polished brass fingerplate that shone like gold in the candlelight. Fresh, deep scratches had been cut into the surface, and flakes of metal littered the floor. Agetta pressed against the door, which quickly sprung open. Inside she could see the large telescope pointing through the open window to the sky.

  At the far side of the room she saw that the large cupboard door had been left slightly open, as if by someone who had been disturbed. It rocked slightly back and forth. She had never seen inside before – Blake had been secretive as to its contents, this was his magical room and not for those whose minds were earth-bound. Thinking only of the Nemorensis and how Thaddeus would be so pleased to get it back, Agetta opened the door further and looked inside. There on the only shelf was the book. She rubbed her hand over its old skin and traced her fingers around the strange shapes etched into the cover. Slowly, she slid the book from the shelf and lifted it to her chest, squeezing it as tight as she could, wanting to absorb the book deep within her. Dust fell from the pages as if a bright white cloud were billowing forth from each chapter. It fell around her like a growing fog as she retraced her steps to the door.

  It was then that she heard the muffled sound of breathing coming from behind the curtains. Agetta paused, unsure of what she heard. The sound came again as the curtains rustled, and the solitary candle cast long shadows across the wooden floor. She clutched the Nemorensis, completely transfixed. From where the sound of breathing had come there appeared a long, thin, webbed hand that slowly began to pull the curtain away from the window.

  Moonlight flooded the room, and Agetta dared not move as she stared into the face of the Sekaris. The creature’s golden eyes glared at her like two glistening lanterns.

  ‘My book …’ it said softly, holding out its long webbed hand towards her.

  Agetta’s mind raced. She knew she could not fail Thaddeus. ‘Nemorensis,’ she replied defiantly. ‘It’s the Nemorensis and it belongs to Thaddeus Bracegirdle.’ She took short, precise steps backwards towards the door, drawing on every ounce of strength to defeat her fear.

  The Sekaris walked awkwardly towards her, dragging its heavy feet across the wooden floor, its eyes flashing. Agetta clutched the Nemorensis tightly with one hand, turned and ran as fast as she could, slamming the door to the observation room behind her. She stopped outside the door, her eyes searching for some way to block the creature from following her. Seeing the key in the lock, she quickly turned it, securing the door. Then she leant against the wall of the long corridor and took a deep breath as panic rushed through her body, setting every nerve and sinew on fire.

  ‘Agetta,’ shouted a voice from the hallway far below. ‘Is that you?’ It was Blake. ‘What’s going on, girl? It’s nearly midnight!’

  ‘I’m fine, Doctor Blake, it was a breeze that slammed the door,’ Agetta called down, knowing that this was her only chance to escape the house with the book. These were just words, and deception came so easily that they fell from her lips like honey. She stood in the darkness and listened – there was no reply, no sound of footsteps from the hallway. She looked back at the lock, which began to move slowly as the creature attempted to pull the door open with
its clumsy hands. She began to edge away from the doorway.

  It was as she turned that there came an ear-splitting sound of rupturing wood and, faster than a shot from a gun, the long, strong arm of the Sekaris blasted through the broken door and grasped her by the throat, pulling her to the splintered hole. The creature tried to pull her through the fist-shaped opening before it thrust her away and then pulled her back again, slamming her against the door again and again like a rag doll.

  Thick, sharp splinters stuck into her face as the Sekaris smashed her back and forth. Agetta gripped the Nemorensis even tighter, knowing in her heart that she would never let go. She kicked against the door and with all her strength she smashed the book against the creature’s hand, hoping against hope that its ever-tightening grip would be broken.

  ‘In the name of heaven, what’s going on, girl?’ shouted Blake from far below as he and Bonham began to climb the stairs.

  Agetta could feel her legs growing weaker and her eyes bulging from their sockets. The creature’s arm was squeezing the last remaining breath from her. A thin red mist began to numb her mind and she slipped down the door, but with one last effort she lashed out with the Nemorensis, thrusting the book as hard as she could against the hand that gripped her so tightly.

  For one moment she felt the creature loosen its grip. Agetta twisted away and fell to her knees. The Sekaris lashed out with its arm, trying frantically to get hold of her. She crawled along the carpet, clutching the book with one hand, as the beast tried to smash the door from its hinges.

  ‘What are you doing, girl?’ Blake shouted, his voice getting closer.

  Agetta got to her feet as the Sekaris destroyed the wooden panels, showering the corridor in fine oak splinters. She ran, panting, towards the light and Blake’s harsh shouting. Two paces in front of her was the door to the scullery stairs that spiralled down three floors to the kitchen and the servants’ entrance. She could hear Blake and Bonham pounding across the landing below her, their heavy feet clattering across wood and carpet. She looked behind her – the Sekaris was about to shatter the last panel from the door, which shuddered in its frame. Agetta jumped the last step and grabbed the handle of the door to the stairway. It opened easily, and the smell of boiled cabbage billowed upwards. She stood on the narrow step at the top of the stone staircase and hurriedly closed the door, leaving a narrow opening through which she could see the corridor.

  She had a view of the stairs and the doorway. She could see the Sekaris beating out the panels and trying to drag itself through the hole. It fell clumsily on to the carpet and rolled into the table, knocking the candle to the floor.

  Blake raced ahead of Bonham and was the first to see the creature. ‘Isaac!’ he screamed, as Bonham struggled to run up the last few steps as he gasped for breath. ‘Get your pistol, man!’

  Bonham fumbled awkwardly in his pocket for the small dandy gun. The Sekaris got to its feet and looked at the two men. It stared at Blake and shuddered, then looked at the fingers of its hand. It held them to its thin mouth, which was almost hidden in the vibrant foliage that covered its face, and slowly tasted each one.

  ‘It is you …’ the beast said as it stepped towards the men. ‘You can make this easy for yourself and I promise I will kill you quickly, or struggle and it will take a little longer.’

  Bonham took the gun from his pocket and aimed it at the creature as Blake stepped back. ‘One more step, demon, and I’ll shoot!’ Bonham shouted, holding out the small pistol in front of him.

  ‘Don’t talk to it!’ Blake shouted in despair. ‘Shoot it!’

  ‘It’s not you I want,’ replied the creature as it took slow steps towards them. ‘It is him.’ The Sekaris pointed to Blake.

  Bonham hesitated and looked at Blake. ‘Shoot the thing!’ Blake shouted again, backing away. ‘It wants to kill me.’

  Bonham cocked the pistol, raised his arm and fired. The narrow corridor echoed with the blast as the dandy gun spewed forth shot and red, burning wadding that together hit the beast, knocking it backwards to the floor. The Sekaris lay motionless, a growing patch of skin turning back to white baked clay.

  ‘Is it dead?’ Bonham asked, reloading the pistol from the dandy bag he carried at his waist.

  Blake leant out from where he had cowered behind him. ‘It doesn’t move and makes no sound. Wait here and I’ll get my sword,’ he said, and he ran down the stairs to the room below.

  Agetta slipped quietly down the spiral staircase walking in complete blackness, knowing each step from the thousand times she had walked them before.

  Bonham kept guard, keeping his pistol pointed at the prostrate beast that filled the floor of the narrow passageway. Blake quickly returned, clasping a sea cutlass given to him by his father. ‘I never thought I would see the day when I would want to use this,’ he said eagerly as he approached the beast. ‘This creature is surely stranger than anything we have ever seen, and not the product of a menagerie.’

  Bonham stood at the end of the passageway as Blake edged closer to the creature holding the sword out before him. He prodded the body of the Sekaris with the sharp tip. It didn’t move. Taking strength from the brightly polished blade, he stabbed the beast firmly in the leg. The razor-sharp tip cut deep into the mud-like flesh. Blake watched as the wound began to dry like baked clay.

  ‘You killed it, Bonham, come and see.’ He looked at the leaf-covered face and cold, gold eyes. ‘This is a creature from hell if ever I saw one. Now do you believe we are more than just flesh and blood? My science will prove it, now that I have a creature to show to the society.’ He looked at Bonham. ‘I’m convinced all this has something to do with the comet. It is as if the whole of the underworld is being stirred up by its presence. We will have to be careful, Bonham. The closer the sky dragon gets to the world, the more strange things will assault the senses.’

  ‘Do you think it has eaten your servant girl?’ Bonham asked as he looked around for Agetta.

  ‘Whatever has happened we shall soon find out. I care not for her welfare – servants can be replaced and we can explain to her father that she lies in the belly of an angel from hell. Oh, to see the look on his face when he hears that!’ Blake laughed. ‘Knowing her, I’m surprised the beast was still alive for you to shoot it. We will soon find out her fate, for I intend to cut the creature in two and anatomise every piece. A chance like this may never happen again.’

  Blake knew that something had brought the Sekaris to him. He quickly scanned its flesh, looking for any sign or talisman that would speak of its origin. His mind raced with avarice for understanding. This was a gift from heaven, a child of another world sent by the comet to broaden the mind of man.

  ‘Help me carry it to the table and then we’ll cut it to pieces and dine on the knowledge.’ Blake was overcome with desire. He visibly glowed as he took hold of the feet of the Sekaris and began to drag the creature into the observation room. Its body felt cold and clammy, like damp earth covered in morning dew, and its silky fluid covered his hand in a bright emerald green like thin paint. ‘Come on Isaac, the thing is heavy.’

  Bonham stood rock-still, holding the dandy gun and pointing it, finger ready, at the Sekaris. He had an air of melancholy about him, and appeared to ignore what Blake had said. He looked at the phantasm before him and eyed each feature as if it reminded him of someone he knew well.

  ‘Isaac, it is dead,’ Blake snapped. ‘You don’t need to shoot it again.’ His voice was edged with anger. ‘I don’t want to wait all night, Isaac.’

  Bonham snapped out of his dream. He looked at Blake and he put the gun back into his pocket. ‘What kind of creature is it?’ he asked, as he took hold of its heavy arms as together they dragged it into the observation room. He studied the creature’s face. ‘It looks like it has been hand-made, like a statue come to life.’

  Blake was speedy in his reply. ‘If I am right then the creature is something that I have longed to see. I heard of one created in Prague, but rumours of its birth
were quashed in the pogrom. They destroyed half the city trying to find it and killed anyone they felt had been involved in its creation. Some say it is still alive, locked in the high vault of a hidden temple, away from prying eyes.’ Blake laughed to himself as they dragged the creature to the middle of the room. ‘I never thought I would see the day when a Sekaris would call upon me for supper.’

  ‘It said it was going to kill you,’ Bonham said.

  ‘It would, if you hadn’t been such a good shot. This creature was sent to kill me by someone who wants me dead or wants what I have.’ Blake looked at his hand, examining his fingernails. ‘Last night I lost my fingernails, cut to the quick while I lay unconscious in the grave.’ He looked to the hand of the beast. ‘If I am not mistaken and remember the formula correctly, I should find them imbedded in this creature’s hand.’

  Blake examined the hand of the Sekaris, and from the tip of each finger he picked out a single piece of human nail. ‘I told you, Bonham. There is my evidence, I rest my case.’ He nodded smugly in self-approval.

  ‘Who would want to do that to you? You’re a man of science,’ Bonham asked.

  ‘I have my suspicion, Isaac, and one thought especially that I do not wish to believe. It is best for your sake that I keep it to myself. You are my only friend and companion, but I would not want to share something with you that could result in your death.’ Blake smiled at Bonham. Here was a man for whom he had deep affection, a friend loyal to the last, and even in anger and difference they shared a bond that nothing could break.

  As they lifted the corpse of the Sekaris on to the table, Blake looked towards the cupboard where he kept the Nemorensis. The door swung fractionally open. Blake dropped the corpse on to the table with a loud thud and looked disbelievingly at the open door. ‘It’s gone,’ he said in a murmur. ‘The Nemorensis has been stolen from me.’