by Phil Price
“Tea?” Jake said.
“Can I have one of those Milo drinks, please?” she replied. “Could I have a cuddle first, though?” He knelt next to her and buried his head in her curls. She responded by wrapping her arms around his back, pulling him into her. They didn’t move for a few minutes, both enjoying the moment. “We’re complete now Jake. We have everything in life.”
“We do. And nothing will ever change that. We’re a family.”
“Are you happy with your new family? Does it feel the same as it did before?”
Jake pulled himself out of her embrace and looked at her. It had been over five years since his wife and daughter had been killed by a hit and run driver. Not a day went by that he didn’t think of them. Megan would be nearly reaching double figures. They would always be a part of him. Nothing would ever take away the love and memories he had for them. “I guess it feels the same Kath. I can’t really remember how it felt the day we came home with Megan. I know that Katie was in a bit of a state because of a horrendous birth. She was stretched out much like you are now. But she stayed in that position for a few weeks. You handled birth so well.”
“Well I’m used to delivering animals in Heronveld. I know it’s tough but a bit of grit and you get through it. My ankles are sore though. I don’t suppose you’d give them a rub, once the drinks are made of course.”
“Yes Ma’am,” he said getting to his feet. He looked down at his daughter, who was still fast asleep. “She’s so beautiful.” Katherine smiled.
“Of course she is. She takes after her mother.”
☨☨☨
An hour later Katherine and Alicia were asleep. Jake knew he had a window of time to get an important errand done. He locked the front door, heading off towards Tintagel’s Methodist church. Autumn was coming on a pace as a wind whipped in from the sea. He saw a few overturned bins, whose contents were now blowing around the surrounding streets. He pulled his collar up and quickened his pace. He exchanged friendly greetings with a few locals as he walked up the high street. A high street that was getting ready for the winter shutdown. He turned right onto a side street and walked the hundred yards to the church’s entrance. It was a small and squat, built from grey stone. A modern glass frontage had been tacked on, that Jake thought looked out of place. He ducked inside, closing the door behind him, the wind’s roar silenced instantly. He turned to the look into the church for signs of activity. Satisfied that there was no one about, he took two small glass bottles out of his jacket pocket. He walked over to the font and filled them with water, screwing the lids on tightly before putting one in his jacket and one in his jeans pocket, close to the old wound. His leg immediately started tingling. He felt the same feeling every time. It was almost comforting to feel his leg go numb. It was as if the small bottle was somehow pushing whatever infection was in his body out through his pores. He walked into the cool dim confines of the main building, sitting himself in the front row. The wooden bench creaked as he got comfy. He sat in silence for a few minutes until he heard a noise behind him. He turned and stood as he saw an elderly man approach. He was dressed in dark trousers and a grey pullover. His dog collar fitting snugly into his weathered neck. His grey hair was thick and coarse, giving him a few extra inches to his five foot seven. Jake always sensed coolness about him.
“Hello Father Adams.”
“Jake, isn’t it?” The younger man nodded. “What brings you here today?” Jake was suddenly at a loss. They had both been regular visitors to the church since moving to the village. No one knew the real reason. The local parishioners were friendly enough, with Katherine becoming quite popular with many of them. Jake always felt slightly removed from the crowd.
“I, err, we’ve had a baby. A girl. I thought I’d just pop in and say thanks for her safe delivery,” he said, pointing to the ceiling.
“A baby girl you say,” his soft Yorkshire accent barely echoing off the stone walls. “What a blessing to the world. What name have you given her?”
“Alicia.”
“Oh, what a lovely name,” the vicar said, still emitting a coolness towards Jake. “You must bring her to church. I sincerely hope she is to be christened in the presence of our Lord.”
“Of course. We’ll have to make arrangements whenever you can fit us in.” Jake was suddenly at a loss for words.
The vicar sensed this, deciding to quickly conclude the conversation. “Well I’ll be seeing you both very soon. Give my regards to Katherine and little Alicia.” Jake went to offer his hand but decided against it as the older man started to move away.
“Goodbye Father,” he said as the old man walked over to a small wooden door at the rear of the church. He sat down once more and sat in quiet contemplation, a serene expression washing over his face.
☨☨☨
Father Adams walked over to his desk and pulled out a small silver hip flask. He unscrewed the lid and took a long pull on it. The fiery rum warmed his throat and chest. He welcomed the burn as he sat heavily in his chair. He was sweating, his breathing ragged, his heart thumping. His mind was cast back fifty years to his native Yorkshire. He’d just joined the church and had been sent to a remote farmhouse with his mentor, to visit a young boy whose parents had claimed was possessed. Back then he didn’t know much about possession, but knew that his mentor worked for the wrong branch of the church to do much about it. However, visit they did. The young Mark Adams had felt evil pouring out of the youth, who was strapped to his bed with crude ropes. Standing over him, looking at the sunken pits of his eyes had made the young vicar’s head swim. He’d vomited out of the window as the half naked youth soiled himself in front of them. He was muttering a language that was alien to him. He’d found out later from his mentor that the language was an Eastern European dialect that he’d managed to pick up on. They never returned. The youth had chewed through a rope but then had somehow managed to strangle himself in his bed. Looking back now in the sanctuary of his church, Father Adams had felt a similar evil radiating from the fair looking man sat on the front pew. He had no idea why. Jake was polite, friendly, and seemed well liked by most. However, his instinct could not be assuaged. He’d invited Jake and his family back to his church, with a possible christening in the near future. He took another swig of the rum, shivering at the thought of letting an unknown evil into his church.
☨☨☨
Katherine flicked off the bedside light and snuggled into Jake’s back. He was lightly snoring, his one leg hanging out from the side of the bed. It was close to midnight. Katherine had just fed her daughter. She’d marvelled at the little infant, suckling at her breast. A little girl, totally dependent on her and Jake. She felt so protective already. The baby had drank greedily from Katherine, the caring mother stroking the baby’s palm with her free hand. She was smitten. Too far gone to ever go back. She loved her daughter with every part of her being. Katherine settled her in the crib before climbing back into bed. She smiled as she closed her eyes, letting sleep take her. Alicia lay there, her breathing steady. Her little breaths visible as she exhaled. The clothing and sleeping bag keeping her warm in the cool room. The curtains were open a few feet, the top window open a crack to let fresh air in. As Alicia slept her breath became more visible as the temperature dropped some more. Mist pressed and writhed against the window pane, a deep drone carrying on the wind into the room. Jake stirred, pulling his exposed leg back under the warm covers, unaware of the mist seeping into the room. Two pools of red light appeared at the glass. Elias hung there, looking into the bedroom, his eyes searching. He could make out the scent of Jake and Katherine. He knew it well and knew they were asleep in the bed. What he didn’t expect was the baby’s scent to hit him so strongly.
“Reggan,” he murmured. She has the blood of Reggan in her veins. How can this be? Jake must have come into contact with him, being bitten somehow. He then passed this on to his daughter. A smile appeared on his face. His lips parted, revealing small sharp fangs. She is perfect. Just pe
rfect, he thought, dropping away from the window. Alicia murmured lightly, making Kath wake from her slumber. She looked down the bed at the crib, smiled and went back to sleep. The swirling mist at the window unnoticed.
☨☨☨
Back in his sea cave, Elias lay propped between the two large rocks. The plan he was forming in his mind would need a few adjustments. He felt confident that it could be done. He would stay close by for a while to keep an eye on his little treasure. He would drink in her scent as much as he could before traveling north to the doorway. Then the next stage of his plan would begin. He knew what he needed, and he knew whom he needed to find to help him.
Eleven
A few weeks later on a blustery Friday, a removals truck pulled up at Alison and Doug’s new house. They approached the truck as it pulled half onto the pavement in front of the property. Doug’s Micra pulled up behind the truck, leaving enough room for the men to get on with their job. They stiffly climbed out of the car, the sea air ruffling their clothes and hair.
“Hiya,” Jake called. They looked past the truck to see Jake and Katherine were heading their way. Katherine pushed a black pram in front of her, a huge beaming smile on her face.
“Oh my Granddaughter! Let me see you,” Alison said as she headed around the side of the truck, almost colliding with the driver who was also stiffly climbing out of his cab. Jake’s mother embraced them both before peering into the pram. Alicia lay looking up at her, a serene expression on her little pink face. “Oh what a little smasher,” she cooed.
Doug tapped Jake on the shoulder from behind, embracing his son and Katherine as they turned to him. “Hello you two. Sorry. You three.” He tried to get a look at his new granddaughter; quickly realising he would not get within three feet while his wife was making stupid sounds at the poor infant.
“How was your trip?” Jake said as Katherine turned to Alison to coo in unison with her at Alicia.
“Slow. We had to follow this big lump all the way from Birmingham. Took four hours. But we’re here now. I just need to pop into the village to get the keys from the estate agent. Fancy a stroll? I’m sure these two can keep themselves entertained.”
Alison looked at them both before they could move. “We will go and get out of the cold. I’m sure Alicia is due a feed anytime now. We will pop back to yours and let you boys get stuck in.” Katherine expertly turned the pram one hundred and eighty degrees before they both took off towards Jake’s house.
“She’s just had a feed,” Jake said.
“Your Mom hasn’t though Son. But I’m sure she will remedy that very quickly.”
☨☨☨
As the sun kissed the western horizon, the village of Tintagel once more succumbed to night. In her bedroom, Kerry sat cross-legged, controller in hand, eradicating the virtual world of zombies. In a little bar on the high street, Jeff and his wife Debbie seated themselves at a little nook in a far corner. The fire was giving of a nice glow and even nicer warmth as they clinked their respective drinks together, signalling the end of a good week. Jake walked back home from the chip shop, a large brown paper bag heaving with Cornwall’s finest fayre. Ajay Desai, a local handyman, should have been unloading the tools from his van to store in his garage overnight. He had always made a habit of doing so after having his van cleaned out by thieves one night in his native Leicester. He’d been struggling more and more lately unloading the van, due to his expanded waist line and high blood pressure. He wouldn’t need to worry about it tomorrow night though. Because he was dead. He lay on the floor of his garage staring up at the fluorescent strip light. A few minutes before, his heart had given out on him. He’d known for some time that he was at risk. He was mid-fifties, lived alone, and existed on a diet of ready meals and takeaways. It wasn’t how he’d thought he’d go though. It had crossed his mind on numerous occasions that he would either cark it halfway up a ladder, or stood in the Cornishman’s arms whilst enjoying a pint or seven. He didn’t ever think he would die of fright. He would be found a few hours later by a man taking his dog for a late night stroll. No one thought to notice that his van wasn’t on the driveway. When Ajay was discovered, his van was far to the north, rolling along the M5 towards the Midlands. The driver drove sedately, knowing he had a few hours before he crossed over. His red eyes masked behind dark glasses.
☨☨☨
The blue doorway blinked out behind Elias as he stood in Amatoll. He knew it was a different forest from the one he’d been in a few months ago. It was alive. Wraiths and spirits writhed and floated around the trees above him. He was unsettled by this. Korgan is no more. And if Reggan met the same end, what evil now resides here? he thought as he made his way to the village. The spirits knew he was different. They kept their distance from him as he neared Banners Gate. He vaulted the wood and headed towards the largest building. The place looked deserted. As he entered the farmhouse he noticed the porch had been smashed by something. What has happened here? Elias thought as he bent to look out of the window. All the other buildings were in darkness. Maybe they all perished, but no bodies lay strewn across the village. Maybe this new evil drove them away. The night seemed to press itself against the window. He could see mist oozing from the forest onto the grass. He sat down at the large gnarled table to think. Before he could, a noise outside snapped his head to attention. He sat frozen in the darkness, waiting. The door creaked open. A pair of yellow eyes peered in from the porch.
“Eduardo,” Elias said.
“You! What are you doing here?” Eduardo Guzman said as he entered the room.
“I came back to plan. While I was away much has taken place. I had hoped to track you down so you could enlighten me. You have saved me a search.”
Eduardo walked across the room, pulling a chair out from the table and sat down. “What do you want to know?”
“Everything.”
“When you left, I travelled to Reggan’s land. They made a pact with me to bring the girl to them. They said they would welcome me into their coven if I was successful.”
“And?” Elias leaned forward, elbows on the table.
“I captured the girl and took her to them. He followed me like I knew he would. He bought the old man with him along with a strange creature?”
“Creature?” Elias breathed.
“Yes. Smaller than them. It had flaming eyes. It was formidable. It killed many of them as the battle raged.”
“Tamatan,” Elias said. “The demon. He can be found mostly out west, towards Monks Passage and the huge forests beyond. Where he came from is unknown. Many many moons ago Reggan’s minions took Tamatan’s sister prisoner. They forced him to do their work. He’d travel to Jake’s world and beyond, drawing the fear from humans and beasts. He is indeed formidable. What happened at the end of the battle?”
Eddie’s eyes looked at the table. “I fled. I could see all was lost,” he said, ashamed. “The last thing I saw was Jake, locked in battle with their master. I took off out of there. I caused their ruin. I thought they would hunt me down. I wandered for a while, trying to feed where I could. I’ve kept close to the mountain to the south.”
Elias nodded. “How long has the forest been like this?” He motioned with his hand towards the window.
“Since Reggan met his end. The whole forest is full of evil now. Even during the day. There is a blackness that hangs over the land. Worse than before. Do you know why?
Elias shook his head. “No. I thought that with both brothers gone, the land would return to normal. Something else is at play here.” He looked out of the window to see misty shapes circling the building. Elias almost shivered. “Whatever it is, it came from Reggan’s land. When Korgan was destroyed was the forest like it is now?”
“Like I told you. Since Reggan was destroyed.” Silence took over for a few minutes, both vampires lost in their own thoughts.
Finally, Elias looked Guzman in the eye. “I have a plan. The last time I saw you I offered you an accord. That accord still stands. It’s
time I took over this land, with you at my side.”
“I’m listening,” Eddie said, also seeing the gathering malevolence outside. The giant explained his plan to Eddie. The stocky vampire sat listening with interest and gathering excitement as plans were laid out to him.
“It will take time until we make our move,” Elias said. “I will go back to their world soon to make sure all is well. Before then we have harvesting to do. And I know the perfect place to start.”There is one more thing,” Eddie said.
“Go on.”
“I was here recently. In this very room. A human was here. A holy man. From Jake’s world. He was dressed like him.”
“What happened?”
“We fought. I knew I couldn’t drain him, but I wanted to have some sport with him. Turns out I underestimated the human. He drove me away with his cross. I fled into the forest and left him here. I kept an eye on him from afar. He spent the next day exploring the surrounding forest. I tracked him after the sun had set. He went back through the doorway to his world. I thought at first that maybe it was by chance he turned up here. But now I think different.”
“Why?” Elias asked, intrigued.
“He had a cross. He came here with a cross. It was a big one. Why would he come here randomly with such a thing?”