The Infernal Aether Box Set: All Four Books In The Series

by Peter Oxley

  Mama frowned at him. “I have no idea what you mean.”

  “Yes you do,” said Joshua. “You know what state our friend will be in when we find her, and you also know how we can cure her.” When she stared at him in open astonishment he grinned and tapped his head. “I saw everything while I was being afflicted by the Warlocks’ spell, all of your visions. But I was also able to span the divide to your head, Mama. I know your thoughts too, and what you intend, how we can all help each other.”

  “That is not possible,” she muttered, holding her hands up.

  “Problem is,” said Byron, “that the extent of young Joshua’s powers never cease to amaze me.”

  “And so you know what we need, and what I am going to do,” Joshua continued, staring levelly at Mama. “And you know why we need Andras.”

  Mama’s mouth opened and closed a few times before she nodded her head with a steely glint in her eyes. “It could work even better, a much broader distraction. Very well.”

  “Good,” said Joshua. “I was hoping you wouldn’t make me threaten to trap you here with Andras if you didn’t help.” He gestured towards the writhing demon. “Shall we?”

  Mama nodded and they both turned and walked to where Andras was being held. A sibilant chanting filled our ears before the world exploded in a painful flash of light.

  We found ourselves back in the corridor, blinking and rubbing our heads.

  “Are we awake now?” I asked.

  “Very much so,” said Joshua. He nodded to Mama. “You know what needs to be done. Take them there; I will be back.” Before we could react, he mouthed a series of words and I felt my runic sword hum in unison with the spell that transported him from that place.

  We stared at the empty space where he had just been standing. “He can do that?” I asked. “Why didn’t he just pop open a portal right where we needed to go, rather than us having to do all of this the time-consuming way?”

  “Because,” said Andras, “that is akin to blowing a very loud horn announcing our existence to every creature with magical powers in this building. And there are a lot of them. We need to move quickly. Now.”

  Chapter Twelve

  I felt the oppressive atmosphere close in on me the further we ran, finding myself jumping at shadows as I imagined them stocked full of demons and revenants waiting for us to drop our guard so they could devour us. There had been no time to question where Joshua had gone or formulate some kind of plan; the only option we could see was to keep moving lest we be ensnared once more.

  The corridor looped around impossibly again and again until we finally came upon the entrance to a large antechamber. In point of fact, ‘large’ was a term completely unsuited to describing the cavernous space that we now found ourselves at the threshold of, for sounds did not bounce and echo around as much as stretch away into infinity, as though we were at the top of the tallest mountain. Walls and ceiling were lost to us in the distance, and yet they were also close enough that I felt we could cross the space in a matter of minutes. I blinked and shook my head; if I had a lifetime in that place I would still not be able to comprehend the physics that held sway there.

  “Where now?” asked Pearce.

  Mama pointed with shaking fingers to our right. “Over there,” she said.

  Andras nodded. “The Birthing Chamber, where the subjects for conversion are stored and observed.”

  I looked around. “Am I the only one slightly unnerved that there is no one here?” I asked. “Given that by now they must know of our presence, should there not be at least a few guards milling around and getting in our way?”

  “You misunderstand the nature of the Warlocks,” said Andras. “They do not see the need for physical security when they have such an impressive amount of magical tools at their disposal.”

  I shrugged. “But we broke through them, didn’t we?”

  “We did, and that is hopefully something they did not foresee, which should hopefully buy us some time so we can rescue Kate and then get out of here. Hopefully.”

  “There are a few too many ‘hopefullys’ in there for my liking,” I muttered.

  “It is what it is,” snapped Pearce. “Let’s go.” He darted out of our meagre cover in the direction that Mama had indicated. Wordlessly, we followed.

  It was a peculiar sensation, making our way through that cavernous space. The lack of perspective or any landmarks meant that it was nigh on impossible to gauge our progress and I had the unsettling sensation that I was running through a dream. Eventually the structure hove into view, and a short time later we came to a halt in front of it.

  It was a rectangular, cabin-like construction with a windowed wall facing us, interrupted only by a large door inlaid with symbols and a large cog mechanism attached to a lever. Through the glazing we could see three figures strapped to the walls, each of them wearing a long, shapeless white robe. Around them spun and shifted what I at first took to be Aetheric mist but on closer inspection I could make out shrieking skulls and malefic eyes within the swirling forms. I took an involuntary step backwards as I realised that these were the Wraiths that created the Mages from innocent flesh.

  “There,” said Pearce, nodding at the figure on the left. I gasped as I made out the form of Kate, her face pale and drawn, lips pulled back in a silent scream as she struggled against whatever battles were being fought within her mind and body.

  “The Wraiths,” I pointed out to him. “They are outside, not inside their host bodies. Maybe we’re not too late?”

  He grunted. “In any case we should move quickly before we are discovered.”

  “Too late,” said Andras from behind us.

  We turned to see the Warlocks starting to materialise. At first there was just one, on its own a sight to chill the blood. It solidified into existence to the side of the Birthing Chamber, malevolent eyes glaring at us from a round face. In spite of the situation I found myself surprised by the creature’s condition; I had become accustomed to fighting demons and the ones we had always encountered were battle-hardened, muscular and toned. This creature, by contrast, showed all the signs of a softer life, much less used to exercise. Its arms were grotesque in their size and shape, reaching out from a body that quivered with roll upon roll of fat. The Warlock regarded us hungrily as others shimmered into existence around us, a crowd of Almadites beginning to fill the room.

  “Andras,” boomed a voice. “Do not be a fool. You of all people should know the risks involved in breaching the Chamber before the appointed time.” A familiar figure stepped forwards through the throng of Warlocks.

  “My dear old friend Gaap,” replied Andras, his voice dripping with malice. “I had hoped that you had perished after our last meeting, possibly executed for gross incompetence. But then again, that never seems to happen, does it? I wonder why.”

  “We achieved our objective,” Gaap said, stepping from the ranks of Warlocks. “Do not forget: we always play the long game.”

  “As do I,” said Andras.

  We glared at Gaap, the demon that had once impersonated Maxwell’s doctor to kidnap my brother. He had then compounded this crime by using a Mage to force my brother to create the portal through which the Almadites had attempted to invade our world. Gaap was the lackey of the Four Kings, their right-hand and a manipulative schemer who had turned our friend and ally N’yotsu back into the demon Andras, and then used his Mage to almost kill us all. Worse: he had commanded the creature that had killed Lexie.

  I nodded to Pearce and he put his hand on the lever set in the door.

  “Don’t!” barked Gaap.

  I looked round and noted that he and the other Almadites had taken a step backward. “They are scared,” I breathed.

  “With good reason,” said Mama, appearing at my side. “You see those Wraiths in there? They are hungry for living flesh to inhabit. If the door is opened without the proper precautions, they will swarm out here, and…” She paused, and then shrugged.

  I looked at th
e creatures inside the Chamber. They were milling around behind the glass and pressing against the door, clearly sensing that something was about to happen and keen to take quick advantage when it did. I shuddered, remembering what I had seen such creatures do to people back in my own world, the devastation they could wreak on living flesh. And yet…

  “The Wraiths I previously encountered always made short work of their victims,” I said. “They ripped away their souls and sucked the flesh from their bones in seconds. And yet Kate and those others in there seem still whole.”

  “That is because these Wraiths have been bound to act as parasites, not predators,” she said. “But such an action is against their nature and so they are very very upset, to say the least.” She looked back to Gaap and the Warlocks. “That is why they are afraid.”

  Gaap laughed, a mite uneasily to my ears. “You underestimate us, Slave. I would remind you that you are a lot closer to the Chamber than we are. If you were to open the door then you would be the first to be attacked. Surrender yourselves now and the Four Kings may choose to be lenient.”

  Andras pulled out a pocket watch and examined it. “Tempting, but no,” he said, snapping it shut and then licking a finger and holding it in the air as though testing the direction of the wind. “I think you are the ones running out of time. Captain Pearce, get ready to open the door on my command.”

  “But the Wraiths?” asked Pearce, his eyes flicking over the glass.

  Mama stepped over to Andras. “Do you remember our deal?” she asked.

  He nodded. “I do.”

  “Swear a blood oath. Now.”

  He sighed. “Really, do you think that this is the time?”

  “I do not trust you, Almadite.”

  Andras laughed. “Trust? You were the one who betrayed me just a few moments ago!”

  “Then we are even.” She glared at him and he relented with a resigned shake of his head. He ran one of the clawed fingers from his right hand across his left wrist, causing a line of black blood to bead on his skin. He glanced nervously at the Chamber as the Wraiths grew more agitated at the sight and muttered a series of phrases that I could not comprehend. Mama held out her own left wrist and Andras deftly—almost gently—scored a cut there also. After muttering a further series of phrases of her own she pressed her wound to Andras’ so that their blood flowed together. I felt that I was witnessing something profoundly intimate, which was over as soon as it had begun.

  Mama stepped away and nodded at Andras, blood dripping from her wound. “Then it is done. I believe it is about time, don’t you?”

  Andras looked at her for a moment and I thought that I could perceive something that approached sorrow in his eyes. Then it was gone, as he cocked his head and pulled out the pocket watch once more.

  “Captain Pearce,” he barked, “you will open the door on the count of three.”

  “No,” hissed Gaap. “You fools. You will all be killed. The Four Kings will—”

  Andras held up a finger to quieten the Almadite and glanced back at Mama. “One condition: you leave Gaap for me. I have need of him.”

  “Agreed,” she said in a firm voice completely at odds with her shaking body. “I am ready now. Do not delay any further please.”

  “Of course,” Andras said, holding his pocket watch up to the light. “Captain Pearce: three, two…”

  I felt my sword tremble with the familiar warm energy of a magical spell in the offing. But not just any spell: this was the same vibration I felt whenever Joshua summoned a portal.

  “One!” shouted Andras, throwing himself at Gaap.

  Pearce pulled down on the lever and the mechanism of cogs and wheels that it was connected to started to whir and turn; an unstoppable dance had been put into motion that would no doubt end in our deaths. Pearce threw himself to the side around the corner of the Chamber.

  I felt a tug on my sword arm and allowed myself to be pulled out of harm’s way by Byron.

  Mama was now standing alone in front of the door to the Chamber, her arms held aloft as dark, slick blood dripped to the floor. The door swung violently open and the Wraiths screamed out, a curtain of malevolent fog that streamed towards her.

  I opened my mouth to shout a warning to her, but the shrieks of terror instead came from the Warlocks. I looked around to see some of them starting to weave magical spells in the air and my sword’s agitation grew as a result. A few of them looked at their hands in wonder, as though they were achieving much more than they had expected.

  Andras grabbed Gaap and pulled him aside, mere seconds before the Juggernaut popped into existence, sliding across the hall from left to right and carving a bloody path through the ranks of those Warlocks unfortunate enough to be standing in its way.

  I let out a whoop of victory as I saw Joshua at the helm, his face set in a determined grimace. Then I remembered the Chamber, the Wraiths, Kate.

  Mama stood rigid in front of us, her arms stretched to either side as the Wraiths swarmed in and around her, drawn to the fresh blood and open wound. As I watched, a couple of strands twisted away, tempted by the carnage that the Juggernaut had created. A nearby wounded Warlock saw this and screamed, dragging himself backwards across the ground as the Wraith reached for him.

  A flicker of movement at the Chamber entrance caught my attention. Pearce ran inside and pulled at the bindings that held Kate in place against the wall. I sprinted to help him, using the point of my sword to slice through the rope at her ankles and waist. Pearce released her final wrist restraints and she slid limply on top of him.

  He hoisted her onto his shoulder and started out of the Chamber. I followed, wondering if we should do something to assist the other two poor creatures. They were both pale and emaciated demons, not unlike the Slaves we had seen in the market earlier. One of them opened an eye and what I saw in there made me back away in shock, for they were pits of despair and loathing, greedily seeking me out. I quickly decided that the other victims were lost and hurried after Pearce, hoping that Kate was not as far gone as they clearly were.

  We ran around Mama, who was locked in a horrifying battle against the Wraiths that besieged her ravaged body. I wanted to help but I knew that, however powerful it was, my sword was little more than a toy to those creatures.

  “There’s no time,” said Byron, pulling me onwards. “She has made her choice; let’s not waste the chance she’s buying us. Come on!”

  With one last glance back, I ran after my friends and leapt up into the cab of the Juggernaut. Andras was pinning a struggling Gaap against the far corner, while Joshua was already starting the incantations that set my sword pulsating anew. Pearce was lowering Kate’s motionless form gently to the vehicle’s floor.

  A clang like the chiming of a thousand bells rang out, heralding the appearance of four vast shapes at the far end of the room, silhouetted in the light from the now-open doorway. Gaap laughed hysterically as they approached us, four huge demons mounted on dragon-like beasts. “Now you’re done for!” crowed Gaap. “The Four Kings are upon us!”

  Andras punched Gaap in the face as I gaped at the creatures making their unhurried way across the vast space. The Four Kings: Asmoday, Abaddon, Bileth and Belial—names that had haunted entire species since the dawn of civilisation. The evil and capricious rulers of Almadel, and Andras’ mortal enemies.

  “It’s about time,” Andras shouted to them. “I was beginning to think you’d never get here.” He turned to Joshua. “That should give you the extra energy you need: can you feel it?”

  “I can,” he said, his face lit up with a fiery energy. “I have never felt so much power. But how…?”

  “There will be time to explain later,” said Andras. “Just take us there before that lot try to disembowel us!”

  Joshua bent over and recommenced his chanting. My sword vibrated so much in response to the incantations that I feared it was trying to shake itself loose of my grasp. Gaap let out a low moan as the world melted away from around us.

>   The darkness of the Aether folded into existence on all sides of the Juggernaut, but before we could settle into the accustomed terrifying inertia of that space, everything jerked and whirled around us. My breath was pummelled from my body by a gale that beat at every fibre of my being, pushing me out and through the very fabric of reality.

  The runic sword was a blur in my hands as it reacted to this fresh, strong magic, a frantic motion that made my wrists and forearm ache with a red-hot pain. I dared not release it, though, in case it spun off into the void to be lost forever.

  I had the sensation of being undone. I realised that I knew where I had felt that feeling before: when Andras had started to tear my soul from my body all those years ago. What trickery was this? Had Joshua not been able to spirit us away in time before the Four Kings reached us? Or was this the work of the Wraiths that we had released from the Chamber?

  Then, after both mere seconds and a whole eternity of that unbearable sensation, it was over. We collapsed, dazed, to the reassuringly solid floor of the Juggernaut.

  “Where are we?” I gasped. “Is this the Aether?”

  “No,” said Andras. “We are beyond the Aether. Way beyond it.” His voice sounded thin and shrill in the emptiness.

  Gaap tried to fight his way past Andras, staring wide-eyed around us. As Andras struggled to pin him back to the side of the cabin, Gaap managed to gasp: “The Druj! You fool, you have doomed us all.”

  Andras finally managed to subdue the demon, silencing him by pressing his hand firm against Gaap’s throat before turning to shake his head at us.

  Joshua rose to his feet as I looked questioningly at them both.

  “We’ve made it,” said Joshua with a broad, triumphant grin on his face. “This is the afterlife.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  For a moment, we stared at him in mute disbelief.

  “You mean the afterlife as in the spirit world?” asked Pearce. “As in the Aether?”