The Turning (The Forsaken Series Book 2)

by Phil Price

  “Where did you go?”

  “Into the forest,” Elias said as he strode over towards the two sleeping vampires. “Wake up,” he commanded. Alison stood next to him as Eddie and Karaa roused themselves. They stood, looking expectant. Elias walked over to the coffin, three sets of eyes following him. “Stephen is gone. He broke himself out of his cell. I’ve checked the forest. There is not sign of him.” The three stood, not moving or reacting in any way. “We need to leave this place, forever. It’s not safe here for us. Jake has proved that on more than one occasion. You all saw how he kept us pinned against the wall with his cross. He will be back tonight, of that I’m sure. He will bring allies, who will try and destroy us. We need a new home.”

  “Where?” Eddie said.

  “Mantz,” was his reply.

  “What is Mantz?” Alison asked.

  Elias placed his hands on the cool stone. “Mantz is a vast forest to the west. Eddie found Karaa there. This young boy is also from there. It dwarfs the forests here. The clan that attacked us are also from Mantz. Most of them are now dead. I know the forest. It has buildings and places to shelter. It’s not as closed in as the Vale. We could go there and use it as our new home.”

  Eddie nodded. “We will be able to see humans approach. Not like here. I agree.”

  Elias looked at the three of them. “Eddie, go and bring a human for the boy. He will wake very soon and he will be hungry. Be as quick as you can.”

  “What about Karaa?” Guzman asked.

  “I have work to do here. Karaa and Alison will be busy while you’re gone.”

  Thirty

  Wilf tied the bag with some string, putting it next to the bike. He looked at the track that led to Fingles. The tide was dropping. They were ready to go. “We must make tracks,” he said to Jessie and Mima. The two women hugged Wilf briefly, before heading over to one of the other houses.

  Jake walked out of the main building, clicking his backpack into place. “Is it time to go?”

  “Yes. It’s time. How long will it take to get there on this thing?” Wilf sat, slapping the saddle.

  Jake checked his analogue divers watch. It was almost seven. He could see that the sky was growing dim. “Two hours or so, which doesn’t mean much I know. It will be dark by the time we get there, which means they will be awake. You sure about this?”

  “I am. Let’s go,” Wilf said with authority.

  They made their way down to the bridge, Wilf going across on foot. The frigid waters roiled beneath his feet. He could hear the drone of the Orgas under the dark surface. He knew they could sense him and Jake. He cast the thought from his mind as Jake headed across behind him.

  “Climb on,” Jake said as a fierce wind blew in from the sea. Wilf did as he was asked, holding the sack between tight. He wrapped his free hand around Jake’s waist as the bike set off.

  ☨☨☨

  A little while later they came off the track, passing Fingles on their right-hand side. “I’m going to speed up now Wilf. It’s a clear run all the way up to the gorge. If you need me to slow down, just shout.”

  “You’ll hear no shouts from me. I’m looking forward to this.” Jake smiled as he gunned the throttle, taking the bike beyond forty miles an hour. The track was flat and easy to navigate, even with the added weight. They climbed quickly, passing farmhouses that were dotted sporadically across the land. The two men spotted a few animals, wandering aimlessly. Bison and horses nibbled at the stunted grass as they passed by at speed. The gorge started to loom over them as they drew nearer. Wilf looked behind him, barely able to see Fingles. He knew they were making good time. And he was having the time of his life, sat precariously on the back of a steel horse as it sped towards the split in the massif ahead.

  “Gonna slow it down through the gorge. The track is a bit dodgy here and there,” Jake said as he navigated the fallen boulder.

  “You do what you think is best,” Wilf said as the wind suddenly died. The bike sounded loud in the confines of the gorge, the echo of the engine bouncing off the red walls. They passed through without incident, coming out of the gorge as the sun was about to kiss the mountains to the west. Jake looked past Culnae, towards the forests beyond. Something looked odd. He pulled the bike to a stop, signalling for Wilf to climb off. The old man obliged, dropping the sack on the grass.

  “Look!” Jake said. “The forest.”

  Wilf strained his eyes to see what Jake was looking at. Even he could see it. The Vale was blanketed in smoke. Both men could tell it wasn’t mist. It was a mixture of black and grey, billowing out through the trees. “The forest is on fire.”

  “It is,” Jake said, feeling uneasy. “Why would it be on fire?”

  “I’ve no answer to that. Let’s get down there and find out. I need to take care of something first,” Wilf said as he walked away, unbuckling his trousers. Jake followed suit, relieving himself as he watched his possible escape route go up in flames.

  ☨☨☨

  “What do you want for tea?” Doug called from the kitchen.

  Katherine was getting Alicia ready to for her bath, gathering up her toys from the carpet. “I’m easy. Whatever you fancy. I’ve got to bath missy first though.”

  Doug walked to the doorway and smiled. Katherine was tidying up, Alicia was sat in her bouncer, her feet in the air. Doug had gotten used to children’s television. He knew that the program being shown was the last one before it turned off for the night. Strange fluffy characters danced through a green forest. It looked safe and inviting as a blue figure with a red blanket danced through the trees. He thought of his son, who would be in a very different forest. One full of ghosts and vampires. He tried to banish the thoughts, concentrating on the girls. “Does steak and chips sound good?”

  “Sounds wonderful. I’ll be down in a bit.” She reached down, unclipping her daughter from the bouncer, lifting her into her arms. Alicia cooed, nuzzling her mother’s neck, making Katherine giggle. She walked over to Doug, turning so the baby could see her grandad. “Give grandpapa a kiss,” Katherine said. The baby smiled at Doug, melting his heart once again. He took her head in his hands and planted a kiss on her curls. She looked at him, her deep brown eyes blinking, her eyelashes fluttering.

  Doug smiled, kissing Katherine on the head too. “I’ll get things ready. Don’t rush yourself Love.” He walked back into the kitchen, opening the fridge. He pulled a can of Old Speckled Hen out of the door compartment, cracking the ring pull. He selected his favourite pint glass from the glass fronted cupboard above the worktop, taking his time pouring the ale. He took a good glug, savouring the dark ale. He would only have a few, wanting to be clear-headed in case anything happened. He set to work, chopping onions and mushroom, setting them aside on a plate as he pulled two steaks from the fridge. He approved of his son’s choice. Ribeye. My favourite, he thought as he went in search of rock salt and black pepper.

  ☨☨☨

  Both men watched the smoke as it poured into the sky. The whole forest was ablaze. It lit the darkening land in a warm orange glow. Jake clicked the bike into neutral, letting gravity take them closer

  “This is not by chance,” Wilf said. “It’s been done deliberately. They knew you were coming back.”

  Jake felt dread settling in his stomach. He could see as they approached that it would be impossible to even penetrate the tree line, let alone gain access to the catacombs under the forest. His thoughts went to Father Stephen, hoping that he’d either managed to escape, or the vampires had taken him with them. The bike came to the track that split the forests, Jake applying the brakes. The heat was unbearable, forcing him to turn the bike around and ride to a safer distance. He noted with dread that Amatoll was also on fire. “I’m in trouble. If the fire spreads to the doorway, I have no way of getting home tonight, if ever.”

  “You need to take the track to Heronveld,” Wilf said. “We may be able to outrun the fire.”

  Jake checked his watch. “We have just over three hours u
ntil the door opens. What do we do?”

  “Head there now. Forget your friend. He is either dead or someplace else. Whichever it is, you cannot help him on this night.” Jake nodded, twisting the throttle, aiming the bike towards Wilf’s old home.

  ☨☨☨

  Eddie and Karaa sat at the north edge of the Vale, looking out at the inn from the tree line. The flames were still a way to the south, giving them enough time to snare a prize.

  Karaa looked at her companion, noticing for the first time how handsome he was. She was curious. “So where did you come from before this?”

  “A place called Puerto Rico.”

  “How do you remember this? I remember nothing.”

  “They told me. Elias and his former kin. When I came through I was a young man. They wanted my blood, but I was too clever. I fought them off until the boy vampire bit me. I managed to escape, although I don’t remember how. I don’t remember being snatched from the other world, or anything about my life there.”

  “Who was I?” Karaa asked inquisitively.

  “You came from the forest to the west. I saw you and the boy Coop. You were kin. I took you and turned you. It was for the best, Karaa. As you can see. Elias is heading there now. Any humans that dwell there will die. I managed to find you before that.”

  She reached across and touched his hand. His eyes were trained on the inn, trying to find someone to snatch. The contact made him smile, reaching his feral eyes. He reciprocated the touch, squeezing Karaa’s hand. The contact made her smile too.

  A young woman staggered out of the inn, followed by an older man. They made their way towards the vampires, giggling and swaying. Eddie and Karaa shrank back silently as they drew nearer. The woman lifted her skirts before squatting next to a tree to relieve herself.

  The man stopped in front of her, unbuckling his trousers. “While you’re down there, ave some of this,” he said, offering himself to the woman.

  “Can I finish me business first Seth? You’re a mite eager ‘ent ya?”

  He walked past her, leaning against a tree. “I’m always eager with you Lucy. All men are.”

  She scoffed at his remark. “You’ll be giving me a bad name, Seth Biddle. I’m not like this with all folk you know.” She stood, straightening her skirts before sashaying over to him. He was old enough to be her father. He reeked of ale and sweat. His face was pock-marked and flushed as he leered at her. This was not the life she had chosen for herself. She dreamed of being taken away by a handsome stranger. To live in a castle or farm to raise a family and be happy. But she knew that fairy tales were just that. At least she’d have a warm bed and a belly full of food at the end of the night. He pulled her towards him, kissing her roughly. She had picked up a few tricks over the years, using them to great effect with each customer. This one was old and smelt like dung to her. Lucy wanted to finish the job quickly so she could get back inside to peruse the rest of the revellers. Her hand went into his open trousers, grasping his hardness. She worked him back and forth, keeping the pressure intense.

  “Oh! I’ve missed that touch Lucy. You certainly know how to make an old man ‘appy,” he said as she dropped to her knees.

  “Well, let’s see how you-“Lucy’s voice died in her throat as a set of eyes appeared from the forest.

  Seth’s eyes opened, looking down at the top of Lucy’s head. “What’s up girl?” he said, his eyes following her gaze. Karaa came out of the tree line, her eyes locked on the young woman’s. Lucy let go of Seth as she watched the strange creature walk towards her.

  “Hola Amigo,” a voice said to Seth’s right. His head turned, coming face to face with Eddie. His bodily functions took over as he pissed over the Lucy’s dress. She never reacted. She was smiling up at the vampire above her. Karaa offered her hand, which the young woman took readily. They stood, eye to eye before the vampire chopped her across the neck, knocking her unconscious. She fell silently to the floor as Karaa turned her attention to the old man against the tree. He was trying to get his words out, a hacking sound coming from his throat.

  “He will have to do for us,” Eddie said as he stood back. Karaa walked up to Seth, grabbing the front of his shirt. Her other hand grabbed his head as she pulled him towards her. In one swift movement Karaa launched him back into the tree trunk, shattering his spine and skull. She let go of him as he slid down the tree, leaving a red smear on the bark. They both instantly tasted the blood in the air, their thirst boiling to the surface. They knelt down and feasted on the dead corpse of Seth Biddle as revellers enjoyed their evening a mere few feet away. They would not give him a second thought as flames and smoke consumed the inn. An inn that had stood at the north edge of the forest since any human could remember.

  ☨☨☨

  Jake and Wilf pulled up outside the former Bathurst’s residence. It was unrecognisable. Only part of the front porch and side rail still stood. The rest of the structure was ash. The other buildings were largely untouched. Both men knew that it would change very soon. They climbed off the bike, stretching their limbs. Smoke was pouring into the clearing, being blown by the eastern winds.

  “It’s spreading quickly,” Wilf said. “How long until the doorway opens?”

  Jake looked at his watch, a cold dread seeping through him. “Two and a half hours. That’s too long to wait. The doorway will be in the middle of the blaze by then. What do we do?”

  “The only thing we can do. Get out of the forest. We can head west, towards the glades. The forest thins out there. That’s as far as it can reach.” Both men could now see flames in the forest. Wailing sounds carried to their ears, making the hair on their necks stand proud. “The spirits are being cooked. I’ve never seen a spirit cooked before, but I’m thinking we should not linger here.”

  “Shit!” Jake said. “I left two can of petrol next to the doorway. I need to move them before the flames reach them.”

  “Why? What is petrol?”

  “It’s like your cane spirit. It is the fuel my bike needs. If the flames get to it, it will explode. It could destroy the trees on either side of the doorway. We’d struggle to find it again, especially if the forest is ravaged by fire.”

  Wilf nodded. “Follow me. I know another way to the doorway that will not take long.” Jake climbed back in the saddle, pursuing the older man as he disappeared into the tree line.

  ☨☨☨

  Elias sat at the far western edge of Amatoll. He too could smell the smoke and see the flames deeper in the forest. He had let Alison head west with the boy. Eddie and Karaa would meet her at gorge with some food, leaving Elias to carry out the next part of their plan. He knew when the doorway would open. He knew its location. He could run towards it with his eyes closed. It had a power and pull to it that he didn’t fully understand. Elias always thought his former master’s magic kept the doorways working. That was not the case. He knew that now. Either someone else controlled them, or they were naturally occurring phenomena. It didn’t matter to him. They served his purpose well. He would wait until the last moment before moving towards it. He wondered where Jake was, hoping he was far away, beaten back by the raging fire. He laced his hands behind his head, closing his red eyes to wait for midnight.

  ☨☨☨

  Alison laid Coop on the straw mattress with care. He was stirring slightly, uttering light moans from his mouth. She could see the new teeth protruding beneath his lips. They looked like hers. Curved, grey in colour. He is ready, she thought as she walked back to the shack doorway. She looked to the east, seeing a dark cloud hanging over the forest. The faint smell of smoke drifted over the grassy land towards the passage. She wondered where the two others were. They had food for the boy. She hoped they arrived before he woke. She was hungry too. Maybe there would be some left over, she thought, smiling in the darkness.

  ☨☨☨

  “There they are,” Jake said as he climbed off his bike, propping against a tree. The single headlight on the front of the bike lit the forest in front o
f them. He picked up one of the panniers that he’d left in the forest when he’d come through the doorway.

  Wilf picked up the other one. “It’s quite heavy. What shall we do with them?”

  “We attach them back to my bike. We can always leave them out in the glades if need be.” A noise behind them made both men spin around, looking towards the east.

  “Looks like the flames are on our tail,” Wilf said. “The fire’s moving quickly. We must hurry or we’ll never leave this place.”

  Jake nodded, carrying the one pannier over to his bike. Wilf followed him, laying the other on the forest floor. He left him to his work, walking several steps towards the trees that framed the doorway. He walked around them, taking a blade from his boot. He slammed it into the bark, leaving a marker in case they had to leave the forest on this night. Satisfied the blade would not move, Wilf walked towards the advancing blaze. The forest was eerily quiet. No animals could be heard, running for their lives. No birds in the trees, issuing warning cries. The forest is dead, he thought. And the fire will finish it forever.

  “Wilf. Let’s go,” Jake said as he started his bike.

  The older man walked over to him, shaking his head slowly. “All my life has been spent here. Now it will be destroyed on one night.” He looked west. “If we head out to where the forest fans out, that should be safe enough.” Jake nodded as Wilf climbed on behind him, holding on to his jacket. He gently twisted the throttle, propelling the bike forward at a steady pace.

  They rode in silence until the forest started to thin. Jake couldn’t see much except what his headlight reached. “Are we getting close?”