by Peter Oxley
“Five in total,” said Byron.
“Correct. And they were scattered so that they could not be reunited in one creature’s hands: to Almadel, Tir na nÓg, Earth, the Aether and the afterlife. If we can get hold of the one that is here, then Joshua can use its power to take us back home.”
“So the power I felt in Almadel,” said Joshua, “that was due to those runes? And that was the power I drew on to bring us here? But if that was so, why haven’t the Warlocks followed us here?”
“Because it needed more than just two runes,” said Andras.
“I have felt such power in smaller quantities when I have performed spells before,” said Joshua. “Not always, but… the Fulcrum: is that another rune? Or is one buried somewhere in St Albans? That would explain…”
“No,” said Andras. “You need to look a lot closer to home.”
I felt a chill run down my spine as I drew the runic sword, examining the strange symbols etched into it. “It is this, isn’t it?” I asked. “My sword.”
Andras nodded, a broad grin splitting his face. “Masterful, was it not? The way I ensured that the rune was kept safe, and it turned you into the perfect warrior to protect it.”
“You used me,” I said quietly, glaring at him.
Andras stifled a yawn. “Please, we have been over this plenty of times; I have been using you your whole life. I thought you had grown accustomed to the idea.”
“It changed me, it turned me into…”
“And you wondered why I don’t share things with you lot: without this endless debate and tedious naval gazing we could have the rune in our hands by now!” Andras turned and started to march off around the side of the mausoleum, consulting his pocket watch again. Joshua followed him, a little too eagerly for my liking.
Byron and I glanced at each other, torn. “We cannot let Andras get hold of that rune,” Byron said. “We need to make sure that it stays out of his control.”
“If he wanted to snatch it from us, it would take all of us combined, including Joshua, to resist him,” I noted. “And even then…”
Byron nodded. “And I am not really sure that we can rely on Joshua to make rational decisions at the moment.”
I looked back at the open doors. “But what about Kate and Pearce?”
Byron rubbed his chin. “There is nothing we can do for them until they emerge from that place. I suspect that, if we tried to enter, those creatures would do their best to stop us.”
I shuddered as I looked around at the silent masses of the dead, imagining their pale hands pulling us back. “So we go with Andras?”
“I don’t like it, but I’m not going to leave Joshua and the rune to his mercy. Come on.”
We ran to catch up with the others. “Here’s a question,” I said as we drew alongside them. “If there is something powerful enough here to allow a portal to be created, then why have the creatures around us not used it already?”
“What makes you think that they have not?” asked Andras. “In any case, remember that it takes more than one rune to generate the power required. Your magic sword is the missing ingredient.”
“If the creatures here realise that they have another rune in their grasp,” said Byron suddenly, “then they wouldn’t need us to escape from here, would they?”
Andras shot him a scared glance. “Which is why we need to hurry.”
“But how do you know that it is still here?” I asked.
“Oh, I know,” he waved his pocket watch at me. “I can sense it. And besides: what do you think gives that old crone back there her powers?”
I felt a slow sinking feeling that I could see mirrored in Byron’s incredulous expression. “You are going to take the source of her power? Do you not think she will mind?”
“I think she will mind a great deal, which is why we need to move quickly while she is distracted.”
I glanced at the ever-present forms around us. “What about them?”
“They will only act on her orders, so while she does not realise what we’re doing they are essentially harmless.”
“And as soon as we get the rune?”
Andras flashed me a grin. “Then we need to run. Very quickly.” He held the pocket watch to his ear and then nodded. “Clever, clever,” he breathed.
“What is?” I asked.
He ignored me, bending down to examine the stone at the base of the building. “Joshua, touch the mausoleum.”
“Where?”
“Anywhere; it does not matter.”
Joshua did as he was told and immediately let out a low gasp. “It’s incredible,” he breathed. “The power…”
Andras grinned as he straightened up. “The mausoleum is the rune,” he announced. Stepping to Joshua he asked: “Can you sense what she is doing in there?”
“I can feel them and see them,” he replied with awe in his voice. “She is still freeing the Wraith from Kate. It looks like she is nearly there; I can sense the creature resisting, but the power from this place is too strong.”
“Then we have very little time,” Andras said. “As soon as the Wraith is free, I want you to focus all of your energy on the mausoleum. You need to concentrate on bringing it into your hands, all of it. It does not matter what form it takes, as long as it is small enough for you to handle.”
“What are you scheming now?” asked Byron.
“Do you want to save both Kate and Pearce? Then let us do what needs to be done.”
“You are going to steal the rune before she has a chance to use its power to possess Pearce,” I said.
Andras grinned. “All being well.”
Joshua shouted: “It is gone.”
“Do it, now,” Andras barked. “And be ready to create a portal out of here as soon as I say.”
I stepped back as the building started to glow under Joshua’s hands, knots of muscles and blood vessels standing out in stark relief on his neck and arms as he performed Andras’ mad task. I felt the sword at my back vibrate once more and looked at Byron, seeking some reassurance from him that we were doing the right thing, or at least a hint of what we should be doing instead. He just stood there, looking as confused as I felt.
A breeze played at my face, growing stronger so it became a gale blowing out from the walls of the building. And then it was gone, revealing Kate, Pearce and the crone in the middle of an empty space, looking around in bewilderment. The crone was on her knees with her back to us, with Kate slumped in Pearce’s arms. Something rushed past us, something cold, white and angry.
Joshua turned and beamed at Andras, holding a large disk-like object in his hands.
“Now,” said Andras. “We need a portal, now.”
“Where to?”
“I do not give a shit where to, just not here!”
I drew my sword as Joshua started the now familiar incantations, looking around in anticipation of the chaos that was doubtless about to follow. Sure enough, the crone whipped round to glare at us.
“You,” she hissed. “You dare…?”
Andras ignored her. “Come to me, now,” he shouted. Pearce lifted Kate and ran towards us, giving the furious crone a wide berth.
“You have no idea what forces you are playing with, the consequences of your actions,” she shouted, her face twisted with rage.
“I am only too aware,” replied Andras. “For I am—”
“I was not talking to you,” she snapped. She raised her hands above her head. “The deal is now forfeit, as are your lives and your world.”
My sword was vibrating madly in my hands in response to Joshua’s magic, such that I feared it would be precious little use to me as a weapon. The shuffling hordes around us had been sparked into action by the crone’s fury and they advanced on us, adopting recognisable forms as they did so.
It was as though we had been in a protective bubble all of that time, a bubble that the crone had swiftly burst. The stench of death and decay seeped over us, whilst the once-silent creatures now erupted in a c
horus of moans and yells. Dark eyes twinkled at us from deep sockets within faces, the skin on which—where there was skin—was stretched tight over angular bones and pulled back from yellowing teeth. As I stared at them I imagined the lives they had led: a miner here, a young chimney-sweep there, a schoolteacher, a soldier…
“Come, now,” shouted Andras. “We cannot hold this open much longer.”
I spun round to see the swirling vortex of a newly created portal in front of Joshua. Pearce and Kate were already stepping through, with Byron and Andras not far behind. I rushed to join them, stepping aside to let Gaap go through and then wondering for a fleeting moment at the stupidity of my manners in such a situation. I looked at Joshua, his face twisted with the effort.
“Go,” he said through clenched teeth. “I will be right behind you.”
I stepped backward, our eyes meeting before he glanced up and beyond me in surprise.
I emerged into the familiar crepuscular landscape of the place we knew as the Red Desert, that place where we had lost Kate all those days before. I staggered away from the portal before collapsing in a heap onto the cold sand, squinting into the light of the three over-large suns looming low on the horizon as I looked back at the portal, willing Joshua to emerge.
“Where is he?” asked Andras.
“He said he would be right behind me,” I said. “He seemed distracted by something though.”
“He needs to come now,” snapped Byron, starting for the portal, “before those creatures—”
A form appeared in the centre of the portal, growing larger until it exploded towards us, blasting the portal into nothingness as it did so. I flinched and covered my face with my arms in anticipation of a gale that never arose.
I lowered my arm and blinked to see Joshua staggering forward, his arms round a large bundle. Andras darted forwards and grabbed the disk-shaped object from his hand, the rune Joshua had created from the power emanating from the mausoleum in the afterlife. He stroked and examined it as though to check that it was real and undamaged.
Byron snatched it from him. “I think it best that someone else look after that,” he said.
Andras started towards him with a snarl but I was at Byron’s side, my sword ready. Andras glared at the point of my blade, then at each of us before shrugging. “Just wanted to check he’d not left it there,” he muttered.
Our attention was yanked back by Pearce. “What have you done?” he shouted at Joshua.
We looked up and realised that the bundle he had brought with him was in fact a person.
I looked over in shock at the sight of Lexie Bradshaw, blinking at us in confusion.
Chapter Fourteen
It took a few moments for my eyes, brain and mouth to coordinate properly in the face of this fresh insanity.
“That’s… that’s… what?” I stammered.
Byron and Andras were rounding on Joshua, although I noticed they were keeping a wary distance from him. In turn, the young man was clutching his sister close as though he feared that we intended to snatch her from him.
“What have you done?” asked Byron. “This goes against all laws… it should not be possible.”
“As you always said,” replied Joshua. “But I knew that I could get her back.”
“Do you realise the implications?” asked Andras. “Not only have we stolen their rune, but now you have taken one of their own.”
“What implications?” I asked.
Andras glanced back at me, a look of helpless exasperation on his face. “We are dealing with beings of immense power. There is no telling what they could do.”
“But we have their rune,” said Joshua. “Surely that makes them a fair bit less powerful.”
“Granted,” said Andras. “But you do not know anything about that… creature.” He pointed at Lexie.
“She is my sister,” said Joshua defiantly, holding her tighter. “Isn’t that right?”
“That’s right,” croaked Lexie, as though she had not used her voice in a long time. “Where are we? What happened?”
“You’re safe,” said Joshua.
I walked forward, ignoring the hissed warning from the others as I knelt down in front of her. “What do you remember?” I asked her gently.
“We were in St Albans,” she said slowly, “at the portal, after the demons had tried to invade. I was working on Maxwell’s device to contain the portal and needed to activate one final lever and then…” She frowned. “…I do not remember anything else until just now.”
“And you remember your name?” I asked.
“Lexie Bradshaw.”
“Where were you born?”
“Sheffield.”
“Do you remember who I am?”
“Gus Potts,” she said. “Really, is this necessary?”
Andras chuckled. “Well, she certainly talks like Lexie.”
She glared at him. “I remember enough to know not to trust you, demon,” she spat.
I allowed myself a grin.
“By the way,” said a voice from behind us. “I’m fine, in case any of you was wonderin’.”
I gasped and spun round, running over to Kate. “You’re…?”
“In one piece, if a bit sore,” she said, her defiant glare giving way to a grin as I hugged her. “Good to see you ’n all. Thanks for comin’ for me.”
We huddled round her, hugging and patting and smiling while Pearce loomed in the background, her guardian angel.
“How do you feel?” I asked. “Are you…?”
“As far as I can tell, I’m demon-free,” she said.
“Are you sure?” asked Joshua.
She raised an eyebrow at him. “Trust me, when you have one of them things in your bonce, you know about it.”
“Of course. Was it…?”
“Like somethin’ was trying to pull my insides out through my skin while rummagin’ round my head with a hot poker. Not fun, let me tell you. Right now I’d kill for an ale and a good meal.” She pulled her arms tight round her body, shivering.
I chuckled and then looked up to see Byron beckoning me away. When we were out of earshot he said in a low voice: “We need to keep an eye on her. What she’s been through would be enough to break the strongest person.”
I stared at him. “That’s not the only reason you’re worried, is it?”
He took a deep breath. “I’m not convinced the Wraith is gone,” he said. “Such things are incredibly tenacious; expelling it seemed far too easy.”
“He’s right,” said Andras, appearing at our side, the gagged and bound Gaap still trailing miserably behind him. “That was suspiciously easy. But Kate appears to be relatively free of any demon possession.”
“Such things can hide very well.”
“Granted. But sooner or later it will need to show itself. As you say, we need to keep a close eye on her.”
“And if it’s still in there?” I asked. “What then? Do you mean to say that we went through all of this for nothing?”
“Well, not quite for nothing,” said Andras, jiggling the rope around Gaap’s neck. “We have stopped Kate turning into a Mage, at least for the time being. Although we have managed to make some pretty formidable enemies.”
“Meaning?” I asked.
“We’re not going to be very popular in the afterlife when we finally do die. If I were you, I’d take a leaf out of my book and avoid that outcome for as long as possible.” He turned and looked at the others. “And then there’s the question of our new stray spirit.”
We both followed his gaze to Lexie, who was still standing close to her brother.
Kate looked up at us, sensing our eyes on them. “What you lot cookin’ up? And what’s with the new pet?”
Andras chuckled, pulling Gaap along with him. “You remember Gaap? Lackey to the Four Kings and general pain in the arse?”
“I remember him well,” Kate said. “Why’s he still alive?”
“It suits my purposes for the time being,” Andra
s said.
“What purposes would them be, then?” she shot back.
Andras chuckled. “I have missed you, young Kate.”
“It is a fair question, though,” said Byron. “You have kept us in the dark at pretty much every single point of this endeavour. Not that I would expect anything less from you, but the time has come for you to tell us exactly what it is you have been plotting.”
Andras shot him a cold look. “You are always so keen to see the worst in my motivations.”
I stifled a chuckle and Andras turned to glare at me. “Please,” I said. “Do not presume to think that any of us trust you. You have always acted in your own interests.”
“And you would not do the same? Are you trying to tell me that your actions have been all been purely in the interests of charity?”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
He gestured at Lexie. “Bringing her back from the afterlife is the most egregious act of stupidity, and incredibly selfish. It was her time to die; what gives Joshua the right to subvert the ways of the universe? And as for Kate, the safest thing to do would have been to kill her outright, but there is no way you would have accepted that. Do you have any idea of the risks if we had not managed to get Pearce away in time before being forced to fulfil our side of the bargain?”
“What do you mean?” asked Kate, staring at a sheepish-looking Pearce. When he did not answer, she looked back at me. “Gus? What have you buggers gone and done?”
“There was a price for healing you, for expelling the Wraith,” I said. “The… whatever she was… wanted a vessel to possess, through which the dead could visit the land of the living.”
She turned and glared at Pearce. “And you thought you’d just offer yourself up, eh? Like some bloody stupid knight wanting to save every bloody damsel in distress whether she bloody well wants it or not? No, I know what it is: you were thinking of makin’ some grand sacrifice, so you could be all noble and stuff.” She shook her head. “You made a deal and then you all broke that deal. Anyone think that’s goin’ to end up well for us?”