by Phil Price
“You’re too late,” a voice said in the dim room. Elias span around, coming face to face with Father Stephen. “You lose Elias. Jake has them. They are out of your reach.”
Elias glowered in the darkness, his eyes twin pools of red fury. “We’ll see about that Shaman. I will find them and finish them all. No more games. No more plans. Death to them all. But you first.”
“I was hoping you’d say that,” the vicar said as he brought his hands from around his back. In one he held a cross that was glowing a faint white hue. In the other he held on of Jake’s wooden stakes. Fear crossed Elias’s face. An uncertainty that he rarely felt. The vicar almost matched him in height and was much heavier. It was not just his size though, the vampire could feel the evil seeping out of him, through his black clothing. Stephen advanced slowly, his cross aimed at the giant’s chest.
Elias feinted left, letting Stephen commit himself to the attack. The vicar did so, momentarily out-foxed by the vampire. Before he could counter, Elias took him down to the floor, smashing his fist into Stephen’s chest.
“AAAAAAAGH,” the vicar hollered as the fist crashed through flesh and bone, obliterating the dying black heart in his chest.
“You die, Shaman,” Elias said, smiling down at him.
“Join me,” Stephen said as he buried the stake into the vampire’s sternum with the last of his strength. Elias’s eyes opened wide in shock as the crude tip buried itself deep in his cold white flesh. Stephen shoved him off, rolling on top of him, letting his bulk settle on top of him. The stake sank further, piercing the vampire’s heart, ending his millennia’s spent on different worlds. Stephen died on top of him, smiling as he welcomed the end. His last thought was of his beautiful Denise, whom he hoped was waiting for him on the other side.
Epilogue
The black saloon pulled up outside the house. January was heading into February, as a western wind blew across the Cornish coast. Rick climbed out of the car, the wind ruffling his sandy hair. Marlies climbed out the other side, closing the door as she too was buffeted by the cold wind. She pulled her long brown coat tight, tying the sash around the waist as she walked up the driveway holding her boyfriend’s hand. They rang the bell, standing there for a minute as a light rain started to fall. Frustrated, Rick walked around the side of the house, walking up the driveway towards the car port and garage. He looked through the window, seeing an empty kitchen. No signs of life could be seen. He placed his hands to the window, peering in. It looked orderly. Nothing seemed out of place in his brother’s house. He walked back towards the front door, where Marlies had rang the bell for a second time. She pointed to the pile of unopened mail in the porch.
“Where the hell are they?” he said, starting to feel panic setting in. Before pulling up at Jake’s, Rick and Marlies had visited his father’s house. They had let themselves in with Rick’s key, checking the house over. Everything seemed fine there too. Except something in the garage that caused them concern. They had found a piece of wood, wickedly sharpened at one end. It reminded them of something seen in 1960’s horror movies. They had left it on the counter top, before locking up the house, heading to Jake’s.
“Maybe we should call in at the police station and let them know they’re still not home.” She wrapped her gloved hand around his, pulling him close.
“Hello,” a voice said behind them. They turned, seeing a young woman stood on the pavement, chewing her thumb. She was dressed in baggy jeans, trainers, and a hooded top. Her unruly black hair was being blown about by the increasing winds. Her glasses were spattered with rain drops. “Are you looking for Jake?”
“Yes we are. I’m his brother Rick. This is my girlfriend, Marlies. Are you a friend of Jake’s?”
Kerry stood, kicking the fence post with alternating feet. She looked uncomfortable as they approached, her brain frantically working out what to say. “Yes, I am a friend of Jake and Katherine’s, although I’ve not seen them for a few weeks. Are they not home?”
“No,” Rick said offering his hand. Kerry took it nervously, briefly shaking it before doing the same with Marlies. She warmed to the woman more, liking her freckled nose, which almost matched her own. “I’ve been calling them for almost two weeks now. I live in Hamburg. Germany. I was getting concerned so I thought I’d visit. It looks like they’re missing. Did they say anything to you the last time you saw them? Anything unusual or did they seem concerned about something?”
“Shit,” Kerry said, twirling her hair impulsively. “I probably shouldn’t tell you what I’m about to tell you. You’ll think I’m crazy.”
“Please. Tell us,” Marlies implored, taking Kerry’s hand in hers.
“I need to pop home first. There is a tea shop, just off the high street, opposite the public car park. I will meet you there in twenty minutes.”
“Okay. Thank you,” Rick said. “We really appreciate this.”
“Just one thing.” She said, getting their attention. “Have an open mind as to what I am about to tell you.”
Shetland
The sun bathed the craggy peninsular in warm spring light. Katherine sat on the stoop on Wilf’s farmhouse, feeding Alicia. She looked across the grass covered ground, seeing the villagers going about their daily routine. Animals were being led around on leashes by children as men chopped fire wood. It was a carefree scene that would ordinarily have warmed her heart. Not anymore though. Her heart was heavy, leaden down with the loss of Jake. Wilf walked out of the front doorway, handing her a steaming mug of tea.
“Get that down you Kath,” Wilf said, gently folding his ageing frame into the wooden chair next to hers.
“Thank you, Uncle. Just what I need,” she said as she took a sip of the sweet brew. She looked across at him, a tight smile on her lips. “What are your plans for today?”
“We have two lambs that are ready to birth. I will head over to Pat’s stable to check once I’ve drank this. What about you? What are your plans?”
Katherine took another swig of her tea, placing it on the table next to her. She lifted Alicia from her breast, gently winding her. The baby, burped loudly, drawing a smile from her great uncle. Katherine stood, placing her in a wooden pen that Wilf had made especially for his great niece. The sides were cladded, giving protection from the wind. Alicia lay there as her mother covered her over with furs. By the time Katherine had sat back down, taking another swig of tea, the baby was drifting off to sleep. “I’m going to continue to plot my search Uncle. He’s been gone almost a moon’s cycle. I have to believe that he is somewhere out there, trying to get back home.”
“I agree Kath. But the where’s and the how’s are lost on me. We’ve no idea where that hell hole was in relation to where we are now. Jake could be anywhere. There must be doorways scattered around this land, leading to who knows where. Maybe one day he will find his way here. But for now, you have to concentrate on your child. Don’t go running off on some fancy escapade, never to be seen again. I’m too old for looking after her on my own. And I’m definitely too old to be running through strange lands, fighting monsters and murderers. Our place is here. Let Jake find you. I’ve never met a man as resourceful as him. He’s got the cunning of a fox and the heart of a black badger. He’ll never give up love. If he’s out there, he will be trying to find us. Hold that tight to your heart. But hold your kin tighter. Because they need you. Jake doesn’t. I only hope that he and Tamatan are still together. That gives them a much better lick at getting home.”
“I know you are right Uncle. Really, I do. I will try a few things though. Zeebu and Zeeba have told me about doorways along the northern coasts. When the time is right I will leave Alicia here and take a trip up there. I only hope my old uncle will come with me.” She leaned across and squeezed his knee.
“Well. If you put it like that. I suppose this old wreck can take one more monster hunt.”
Katherine hugged him, her emotions spilling over into sobs. Her skin used to the salty cascades of tears since she’d lo
st Jake. “Thank you Uncle. Dad would be so proud of how you look after me.”
Now Wilf started crying, squeezing his niece with all his strength. “Stop it girl. This old man cannot take all these tears.”
She broke away, looking at his red-rimmed eyes and smiled. She kissed both cheeks and his forehead, placing her head on his. “He’s coming home. He’s out there. Searching for me. It’s only right and proper that I search for him too, wherever he may be.”
They sat together, holding hands. Staring out across Shetland, towards the sea beyond. Hoping.
THE END?
Many thanks for taking the time to read my story. I really hope you liked it. If you feel like leaving a review, wherever you fancy, I’d be thrilled. Is it the end of the story?
Not yet…….
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Phil Price was born in Sutton Coldfield in 1974. He lived in various places until his family settled in Rednal, Birmingham in 1979. Growing up with and older brother and sister he always flirted with reading as there were always books lying on shelves around the house. Then in 1997, he embarked on a travel expedition that took him from Greece to Thailand, via East and Southern Africa. Sitting in dusty bus stations in Kenya, Tanzania, and Malawi gave him the opportunity to ignite his imagination fully. Since those far off days he has never been without a book to read.
He toyed with the idea of writing a book in 2009. After writing a few short stories he caught a whiff of a story in his head. It grew and grew in 2010 until he had enough to begin. Marriage and two children came along, with the story being moved to the back burner for periods of time. However during those periods of writing inactivity the story continued to evolve until it just needed to be written down.
The book was littered with places that had influenced Phil's life. From the Lickey Hills In Birmingham, to the Amatola Mountains in South Africa with other locations, in-between and far beyond.
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Table of Contents
Prologue
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty-one
Twenty-Two
Twenty-Three
Twenty-Four
Twenty-Five
Twenty-Six
Twenty-Seven
Twenty-Eight
Twenty-Nine
Thirty
Thirty-One
Thirty-Two
Thirty-Three
Thirty-Four
Thirty-Five
Thirty-Six
Thirty-Seven
Thirty-Eight
Thirty-Nine
Forty
Forty-One
Forty-Two
Epilogue
ABOUT THE AUTHOR