by Alan Scott
An annoyed expression flickered briefly on Solomon’s face. “Masochists - they are such a pain.” Raising his left hand slightly, he made a fist and whispered a single word, “Burn,” before uncurling his fingers and thrusting his palm in the Guard’s direction. A small ball of fire no bigger than a thumbnail shot forth and hurtled towards Karl Talon.
Just as the huge Night Guard made it to his feet, the fire hit his chest and erupted in a blaze of red-hot destruction. Karl’s screaming did not last long, as the heat and the flames roasted his lungs, and melted the flesh from his face.
***
Chris Hardwick shielded his eyes as he tried to watch his second-in-command roast to death before him. The heat was unbearable and he was forced to look away. Drawing his own sword from its sheath, he shouted, “Kill the bastard!”
The Night Guard surged forward towards the dark figure standing on the damaged ramparts.
***
Solomon watched indifferently as the Night Guard rushed toward the crumbling stone stairs, which led to where he was standing. Lightly tapping his cane against his shoulder, he took a long deep breath and came to a decision. “So sorry, but you will have to excuse me, as I am required elsewhere. However, rest assured that I shall meet you all again and we shall discuss the true meaning of pain.” Solomon Pace turned on his heel, opened a shadow-door, and stepped through.
***
Back in White Tree
Kimberley collapsed backwards onto the sofa. She had never felt so weak before in her life. The room was spinning and she felt physically sick. From far away, she could hear worried voices, and then blackness overcame her.
She felt pain on her cheek. There it was again. Lifting her hands, she tried to bat away whatever was hurting her.
“There, I told you she needed a slap.”
“As long as she is okay.”
“Shall I slap her again?”
“No, no,” murmured Kimberley as she tried to open her eyes.
“Maybe another slap.” Kimberley recognised Lindsey’s voice.
“No. Sod off,” replied Kimberley as she finally managed to get her eyes open.
“You had us worried there, Kim,” smiled Adele.
“Really worried,” added Mandy.
“I’m fine, honest.” Kimberley pushed herself upright. “I just need…” Kimberley froze.
“What is it?” asked Adele.
Kimberley said nothing and just stared past them.
The three women followed Kimberley’s gaze and took a collective deep breath. There, standing in the doorway between the livingroom and kitchen, stood a handsome middle-aged man casually leaning against the doorframe. A walking cane was held playfully in his right hand as he watched them with an amused smile. “You called, Mistress Weir?”
“Solomon!” whispered Kimberley.
“Correct, and mine is a glass of red, if you have any.”
***
Daniele Weir sat in her room and stared out the window at the darkening sky. Kimberley had popped out again, but had promised to be home before dark. These Brethren of the Night were nasty people. They had killed her parents, and forced her and Kimberley out of the castle and into the town itself. They had said the Weirs were not important enough to kill.
Neither the words nor the deeds had hurt Daniele, for she was still numb from the rejection of Solomon Pace. He had just stopped coming - no word of explanation, no letter, no messenger ...nothing.
If only he would return, he would deal with the Brethren. They would dance again and the numbness that had replaced the deep pain of total rejection would lift. She would be able to feel again.
With a reflective smile, she thought, “Damn you, Sol! Why was the price you demanded so high?” Daniele closed her eyes. “And damn me, for I would willingly pay it again.”
Shifting her position, Daniele massaged the bridge of her nose before staring out the window again. “Please,” she begged the world, “please, for one last time!” Taking a deep breath, and with all her heart and soul, Daniele cried, “Solomon Pace! Solomon Pace! Solomon Pace...”
***
Kimberley watched as Adele handed Solomon Pace a glass of red wine. It definitely looked like him. He moved as she remembered, but there was something missing - something she could not quite put her finger on.
“I hope it will be to your liking, my lord,” fawned Adele.
Solomon took a sip and gave a tight smile. “It is adequate.”
Adele beamed. “Please, take a seat, my lord,” indicating the now empty sofa that Mandy and Lindsey had been sitting on.
“I’ll stand, thank you.”
“Oh.”
Solomon turned his attention to Kimberley. “Now, will you tell me why you called me?”
“Why have you not danced with my mum?”
“Pardon?”
“I said why have you not danced with my mum?” repeated Kimberley.
Solomon narrowed his eyes. “I was... unavailable.”
“You were unavailable…”
“Be quiet, Kimberley,” interrupted Lindsey. “Master Pace, you saved this town of White Tree many years ago. We ask that you do it again.”
“They want to use the Grimoire Mort,” sulked Kimberley.
“The Grimoire Mort? Really! Where is it?”
“Here, my lord.” Adele reached under the sofa on which she was sitting and pulled out a medium-sized book. Solomon quickly moved to her, handed his glass to Mandy, and took hold of the evil tome. With a flick of his wrist, he threw it into the cold fireplace and set it alight with a single thought.
“My lord!” declared Lindsey in despair. “What have you done?”
“Saved your souls. Where did you get it?”
“The book!” Tears fell down Lindsey’s cheeks.
“I said where did you get it and when?”
“Lindsey found it in the Churchyard about four days ago. She thought it was a godsend,” answered Adele.
“The book!” wept Lindsey as she fell to her knees.
“It is but a cheap mass-produced tome, which teaches minor parlour tricks and takes control of the weak-minded or disenfranchised,” sneered Solomon.
Lindsey looked up at him. “What are we going to do now against the Brethren of the Night?”
Solomon looked annoyed. “You have me.”
“Sorry, my lord. I do apologise for my dim-witted friend,” stated Mandy.
“Mmm.” Solomon took a sip of his wine. “Tell me what is going on.”
“It’s the Brethren of the Night,” said Mandy. “They came to our town seven days ago. Our soldiers tried to stop them. It was pathetic, really.”
“It was a massacre,” added Adele.
“We lost nearly all of our men folk,” continued Mandy. “The Brethren then swept into the town raping, killing, and looting. However, they very quickly stopped and their commanders reigned in their troops.” Mandy nervously took a sip of her wine. “A day later at twilight, we were all called into the market square upon pain of death. Their leader, a vampyre called John Grass, told us that with All Hallows' Eve fast approaching, he was planning something very special for White Tree - something that people would remember for an eternity. He said that a number of fellow members of the Brethren would be joining them.” Mandy nervously played with her wine glass.
Adele smiled sadly at Mandy and took up the story. “John Grass told us not to run or he would kill those that did, slowly and painfully. The first night, a few families tried to run; they were all caught.” Adele paused for a moment and composed herself. “We could take the nailing to trees or buildings; it was the slow roasting of the children that will haunt our dreams forever. They tied them up and placed them over roaring fires. It took ages for them to die and they screamed from the start to the finish.”
“The bastards then ate the children,” added Lindsey.
“That they did,” confirmed Kimberley. “No one ran the second night.”
“However, the sadistic
swine continued to play their games,” continued Mandy. “They made two-year-olds crawl along the street, throwing stones at them if they did not, before releasing dogs on them.” Mandy looked into her empty wine glass. “They passed around a sixty-year-old woman for their own sex toy, along with her fourteen-year-old grandson. By the time they had finished with them…” Mandy covered her mouth with her hand.
“You don’t want to know what they looked like,” finished Lindsey.
“I am getting the picture,” replied Solomon and finished his wine. “Another?”
“Sure.” Mandy took the glass and made her way back into the kitchen.
Solomon felt Kimberley’s eyes bore into him. Ignoring her, he continued, “So tonight, you were going to call upon the living dead to attack the Brethren of the Night and destroy them.”
“Yes,” answered Lindsey, “if Kimberley’s attempt to call you failed.”
“It’s a good job for you that it did not fail.”
“Your wine, sir,” said Mandy, handing over the glass.
“Thank you.” Solomon took the glass. “Now, what do we know about the invited guests?”
“The invited guests?” queried Adele.
“He means the extra Brethren that are arriving tonight,” explained Kimberley.
“We know nothing except that they will be coming from the north,” said Lindsey.
“How do you know they are coming from the north?” asked Adele in disbelief.
“Because that is where the people are being crucified. They are creating an avenue of dead people to greet their sick and twisted Brothers.”
“Oh,” replied Adele.
“Intelligent thinking,” said Solomon.
Lindsey smiled.
“What is the Brethren’s plan for tonight?”
“At dusk, whoever is still alive within White Tree is to report to the village square. That is all we know,” replied Kimberley.
“So things will start just after dusk?”
“Yes,” said Kimberley.
“And the main barracks of the Brethren is near the market square?”
“Yes, they took over the pub there.”
“Excellent. Now, where is the bedroom?”
“The bedroom?”
“Yes, the bedroom.”
“It’s the door over there,” said Mandy.
“Thank you.” Solomon made his way towards the door.
“You are going to bed?” asked an astonished Lindsey.
“Yes. Please wake me an hour before dusk and bring a cup of tea with you.” Solomon entered the room and closed the door.
The four women looked at each other in stunned disbelief.
Solomon Pace lay down on the bed, placed his cane next to him, and called out with his mind. “Sister!”
A few seconds later came the reply, “Yes, brother?”
“I am in White Tree and the situation is serious. I will require you and your husband’s help.”
“When?”
“Three hours’ time.”
“We shall be ready.”
“Until then, sister.”
“Until then, brother.”
Solomon closed his eyes and went to sleep, to be awakened three hours later by the sound of the door being opened.
“Are you awake?” asked Adele.
“Yes,” replied Solomon as he sat up and swung his legs off the bed.
“Your tea, sir.”
“Thank you.” Solomon accepted the teacup and took a sip.
“Is there anything else I can get you?”
Solomon thought for a second. “Yes, there is. How good are you at running?”
“I’m quite good,” said Adele, hesitantly.
“That is good enough, young Adele; that is good enough.”
Mandy, Lindsey, and Kimberley watched as the bedroom door opened and a pale-faced Adele walked past them, followed by Solomon.
“What’s the matter?” asked Mandy.
“Adele is going to be our lookout for the reinforcements. She is going to head down the road for a couple of miles or so, and then, when she sees the reinforcements coming, she is going to run back here and tell me,” replied Solomon.
“Adele?” queried Lindsey.
“It’s okay. I will be okay.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“See? She will be okay,” said Solomon. “Right, on you go.”
Adele took one last look at her friends, tried to smile, and then walked out of the house.
Solomon gave it a few moments, as he looked out the window. “It will soon be dusk and the people of White Tree will be making their way to the market square,” he said.
“Yes,” responded Kimberley, “and then they will die.”
With a playful smile, Solomon responded, “Maybe, or maybe not.”
Kimberley carefully studied the man before her, before asking, “Who are you?”
Solomon smiled. “I am the person you need at this precise moment in time.” Straightening his jacket, Solomon continued, “Stay here and do not follow me.”
“Where are you going?” asked Mandy.
“To say hello to John Grass.”
***
Adele’s heart was beating as if it was going to explode. She was now roughly two miles outside White Tree and hiding behind a tree, watching the road ahead in the gloom. Looking up at the clear sky, she noticed that the moon had a strange red tint to it. “Now, that’s not good,” she whispered to herself. “A blood moon never bodes well.”
“No, it doesn’t,” said a male voice from behind her right shoulder.
Adele screamed, but her scream was cut short as the man touched her once on the neck. She froze in place. “If you scream again, I will kill you.” The man touched her neck once again.
Adele felt herself able to move. She turned her head to look at the man. “Oh, shite,” she managed, before fainting.
***
Solomon Pace stepped out of Mandy’s house and made his way slowly down the middle of the street. “Sister,” he called out with his mind.
“Brother,” came the almost instant reply.
“It’s time to play.”
A shadow-door opened next to Solomon and out stepped a stunningly beautiful woman with long luxurious green hair, perfect high cheekbones, and bluish-gray eyes. She was dressed in a flowing loose gown that changed colour as she moved. One moment, it was deep blue - the next, green - the next, a stormy gray. Behind her came a huge man dressed in a simple shirt and trousers.
“Good evening, Oceania, and to your husband, the Kraken.”
“Good evening, brother.” Oceania smiled as if to a private joke.
***
Adele awoke with a stinging slap to the face. “Don’t scream, little girl. They might hear.” Staring into hard green eyes, Adele whimpered, slightly. The man snorted and slowly stood up.
“You are Solomon Pace?”
Solomon looked down silently at the prone girl.
“Or should I say, you are the real Solomon Pace?”
“The one and only.”
Adele pushed herself into a sitting position. “You really are Solomon Pace.”
Solomon rolled his eyes.
“There is another one of you in town. He looks like you, but does not…”
“He does not have my presence.”
“Yes, that is it. He does not have your presence,” agreed Adele with a nod.
Solomon gave a quick smile. “And he never will.” His eyes snapped to his right as a dark humanoid shape leapt, snarling, from the gloom. Pace flicked his wrist and then clicked his fingers.
The creature stopped suddenly, as if hitting a brick wall; then, with a terrible snap, its neck broke.
“Oh, shit! Oh, shit!” managed Adele as she stared at the dead body.
“You should be quiet. They are closer now,” said Solomon as he looked around.
“Who?” squeaked Adele.
“An unholy alliance between th
e Brethren of the Night and the living dead.”
“What! How do you know?”
Solomon smiled a cold clinical smile. “I had a very interesting conversation with a member of the Brethren.” Solomon waved his hand vaguely to the left of himself. “You can find what is left of him somewhere over there.”
“Oh, shit,” repeated Adele.
“It seems that the Midnight Man,” Solomon continued, “has managed to gain some allies among those once loyal to His Imperial Majesty, Holc of the Eternal Desert.”
“And the alliance is going to be sealed on All Hallows' Eve, the Night of the Dead, here at White Tree,” gasped Adele, in a sudden understanding.
“It seems that way. The Brethren and the living dead will sacrifice the village and its inhabitants to complete their pact.”
“We must warn the others.”
“It’s too late for that.”
“We must do something,” pleaded Adele.
Solomon looked out at the road thoughtfully, as he rolled his shoulders. “I was once a man of great power.” He rolled his head. “I commanded kingdoms and kings.”
“I am sure you did, but that was in the past,” said Adele. “What are you now?”
“That is a very good question, young lady.” Solomon looked at Adele. “Take cover and witness.” Solomon started to make his way towards the road.
“Wait. Where are you going? Master Pace, get back! They will see you!”
Solomon Pace ignored the girl’s words. “I was once an important man. Let’s see what I am now,” he said to himself.
***
Alone in the dark, Solomon leaned casually on his cane, his head slightly bowed. He could hear the skirmishers as they moved ahead of the main pack, which consisted of roughly two hundred creatures. He could sense their confusion at seeing a single person standing in the middle of the road.