Moonblood

by Martin Ash

  ‘Yes, Lady, but – ‘

  He might have let us pass but he would also have informed a superior immediately. I placed Stupefaction upon him. His eyes glassed over. His shoulders relaxed and his expression became somewhat vacant.

  ‘Come.’ I urged Moonblood on along the passage. ‘He’ll recover within five minutes. He may remember nothing, but if he does he will surely sound the alarm.’

  We passed a window. I glanced out, and a sudden cold fear raced through my innards. High in the night sky was the sight I’d prayed not to see: the lower horn of the new moon’s bright crescent had been truncated, as though its glowing tip had been swallowed by a monstrous dark maw. The moon hung awkwardly now, without balance or symmetry. Something unseen, as black as the surrounding night, was advancing inexorably to devour the entire crescent. And the moon itself had changed. No longer radiant silver, its colour had begun to change into a deepening red flush.

  Moonblood seemed not to have noticed, and I did not draw her attention to it. We descended the stairs that led to the cellars. The air was stifling. A foul stench assailed our nostrils like a cudgel blow, almost knocking us back. Moonblood glanced back over her shoulder as, faintly, the sound of a scream, cut short, came to us from somewhere back in the castle.

  ‘What was that?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ I replied, though I suspected that Mososguyne’s spawn had returned to renew their assault upon Ravenscrag’s occupants.

  As though to prove me right there came more distant shouts, and another frantic scream. Mayhem had been initiated in the levels above us, and only now did I become aware of a change in the air. A sickly illumination part-lit the passages, that same lurid seeping greenness that had seemed to ooze from the very stones and earth of the castle the previous night.

  From somewhere ahead of us came a terrifying sound – a low, inhuman wail, which set my teeth on edge and sent tremors along my spine.

  Moonblood came involuntarily to a halt. She was shivering, despite the dreadful warmth. One hand covered her nostrils and mouth as she struggled against the assault of that unspeakable stink which hung like a vapour in the stifling air. I propelled her on, my hand at the small of her back, fearful that she might falter now. My throat was dry, yet sweat streamed from my pores. I glanced at Moonblood; her face, too, gleamed damp in the dim torchlight, long strands of hair stuck fast to her skin.

  I found it necessary to apply more and more pressure to keep her moving forward. Perhaps unconsciously, she was willing herself away from this place and the confrontation awaiting her. That loathsome voice from the cellar issued forth again, a moaning, spine-tingling monotone, imbued with hate-filled menace. Moonblood pressed back against my hand, her whole body trembling. I prayed that she would not let me down now. I looked again at her pale young face. She was wide-eyed with terror. Suddenly my own terror swelled. What was I doing? Was I insane – pushing this poor girl-child to a certain death?

  I forced down my fear, instilling a semblance of calm upon my mind. I knew – within myself I knew that there was no other way. Something demonic had been unleashed upon Ravenscrag. Unopposed, it would destroy us anyway.

  I had no time to think further. A movement caught my eye. Out of a narrow fissure in the wall beside Moonblood came a squirming, reptilian thing, similar to that which had last night crawled from my mirror. I leapt at it, drawing the sword I had taken from the soldier in the woods, and slashed hard. The blow took the creature’s head from its neck. Its body withered before my eyes; I found myself staring at the decapitated corpse of a huge black rat.

  I grabbed Moonblood’s arm. We turned the corner into the hot, reeking passage at the end of which the prison-cellar lay. As we did so, the wail rose to become a frenzied shriek, shocking, mocking, filled with dreadful, malevolent lust.

  Did the creature sense our presence? Or did it sense its power growing as the Shadow crept forth to engulf the moon?

  Moonblood halted with a strangled gasp.

  ‘Be strong!’ I urged.

  There was evil here. The very air, close and suffocating, held a tension, as though something was striving to manifest. The barricaded door loomed in front of us. To the side was the meat barrow, laden with raw, bloody flesh. Swarms of flies buzzed and crawled. The stench was appalling.

  There came a subtle whisper of shifting air behind us. I wheeled. A flapping, hopping thing was bearing down upon Moonblood’s undefended back, horny beak open, cruel talons extended. I threw myself forward, lunging with the sword. The blade pierced its breast, puncturing a lung. The creature lurched and fell with a harsh croak, its body transforming even as it twitched in its death throes.

  I pushed Moonblood on. Six terrified guards stared wide-eyed as we halted in the wider area in front of the cellar door. None tried to challenge us; they seemed scarcely able to move.

  ‘Defend the passage!’ I yelled. ‘We are attacked!’

  None obeyed. Did they have orders to arrest me? It didn’t appear so. I yelled at the sergeant-of-the-guard. ‘It’s like last night. We’re under assault. You must defend this passage at all costs.’

  He was plainly confused, but the weird light and the memory of the previous night left him and his men in doubt of the danger. He barked an order and three men ran to guard the corridor. I stared for a moment at the barricade of sandbags and nets.

  Be ready, Yo!

  I turned again to the sergeant. ‘Have two of your men removed the barricade. We are going in.’

  He gaped at me incredulously, then at the girl-child beside me.

  ‘There is no other way! If we enter this cellar, Ravenscrag may be saved. Hesitate, and its destruction will be on your head.’ As I spoke I mentally invoked the rapture I had prepared for this moment, spurring the man’s mind with thoughts of doom and accountability. ‘Clear the door, sergeant! Now!’

  There were cries from the men in the passage. I glanced their way, to see another blood-hued lizard-thing advancing upon them. The three guards, swords drawn, were retreating before it, plainly terrified.

  I leapt between them and hacked at the thing. It reared, hissing, lunging with snapping jaws. I jumped back, then charged. The creature recoiled. My blade ripped across its soft belly, which opened, spilling ichor and guts. The thing fell, and withered.

  ‘See? These things are not invincible!’ I yelled at the men. ‘Now, do your job. Defend this passage!’

  The three, shamed as much as heartened by my display, moved back to their places. The howling within the cellar rose in pitch. There was a muffled thump against the door. I turned back to the sergeant. ‘The barricade!’

  He signalled. ‘You two, do as he says!’

  I communicated silently to Yo. Go, Yo. Enter there and keep that creature distracted until we can enter too. It can’t harm you, but you must keep it away from the door.

  I am your servant, Master.

  Yo was gone. The two guards dragged aside the netting and began heaving at the sandbags.

  ‘Quickly, now!’

  At this moment there came a frightful din from within the cellar as the monster responded to Yo’s entrance. The men fell back, stricken with fear.

  ‘The creature cannot escape,’ I shouted. ‘It’s my magic that distracts it now. Be about your task. Make haste!’

  The men fell with reluctance back to their task. I glanced at Moonblood, who stood stock still beside me. I couldn’t judge her state of mind. She seemed transfixed, whether with terror or some other, less identifiable emotion, I couldn’t tell. I forced myself to concentrate, fighting down my own rising fear. The last of the sandbags was dragged away.

  ‘The timbers!’ I ordered. ‘Pull them free!’

  Using jemmies, the two guards began to lever frantically at the boards that were nailed across the door. There were shouts from the passage behind us. Suddenly there was a resounding crash. The door shuddered violently and almost gave. One of its central timbers splintered. The insensate caterwauling within rose to a maddening cr
escendo.

  So close!

  The two soldiers fell back with terrified shrieks. The door shuddered again. Something dark and monstrously clawed scraped along the gap at its base. The men turned and fled, gibbering in terror. I glanced back. Their panic infected the other three, who also took to their heels. Only the sergeant remained, hesitant, but then the door shook again and he too made off as fast as his legs would carry him.

  We were alone.

  I swore, and leapt at the door, taking up a jemmy and prising furiously at the last remaining timbers of the barricade.

  Yo, draw the creature away from the door. We’re about to enter!

  Flies buzzed, settling on my face, crawling into my mouth. I wrenched hard. The door no longer shuddered, and with some small relief I heard those blood-curdling sounds move away, deeper into the cellar.

  The last plank came free with a groan. I gripped my sword, and reached out to take Moonblood’s hand. ‘Be strong!’ I screamed. ‘You must do this!’

  Not waiting for her response, I kicked at the door. It flew open. I released her hand. Mad with fear, I rushed in.

  ~

  The sight that met my eyes was enough to freeze my blood.

  The cellar was a long, rectangular chamber with an arched ceiling of damp, ancient brickwork. It had been used for storing ale, and the remains of a couple of barrels could be seen, smashed to pieces and flung across the floor. In the weird viridescence I could see that the floor was also strewn with discarded offal and shattered bones. Flies were even thicker in the air here than outside, and the floor seemed to writhe with a sea of maggots. The stench here was overpowering, far worse, though I would not have believed it possible, than in the passage. I could barely breathe.

  But what truly commanded the attention, striking sheer horror into my heart, was the sight of that maddened creature at the far end of the room. Its back was to me, and it leapt and scrabbled furiously at a spot within the ceiling close to one corner. Though the ceiling was more than ten feet high, the beast reached it with little effort. Bricks and mortar were clawed and pounded till they fell away as it vented its mindless fury.

  The last time I had set eyes on this thing it was the size of a newborn baby. Two days ago I had held it in my arms! Now it was huge; its broad, leathery back was mottled grey and black, ridged with thick muscle and gleaming with an unwholesome oily sheen. A column of tough, bony plates ran the length of the spine. A long, powerful, thrashing tail bristled with savage, hooked barbs. Arms and legs spoke of colossal strength, and the hands and feet were each armed with three murderous curved claws.

  In its frenzy to get at Yo the monster seemed unaware of my entrance, which was as I had hoped. Taking advantage, I gathered all the power at my command, concentrating it into a single rapture of calming.

  It was a desperate ploy, but I had thought it through and could envisage no other course. I had no power to enter direct combat with this thing. My one hope was to distract it – lull it – for a brief space, giving Moonblood time to respond. Her potential – for death or life, corruption or light – would be realized now, or never. The fate of us all lay in this moment.

  And it was only now, as I cast the rapture, that I realized that Moonblood had not come with me into the cellar.

  ~

  She stood outside in the passage, that poor young girl, rooted to the spot, staring sightlessly, transfixed as she had been moments before.

  ‘Moonblood!’ I screamed, for the creature had wheeled to face me.

  She gave no indication of having heard. It was as if she was held in some unnatural stasis. The thing lowered itself onto all fours. Hooded, malevolent yellow eyes, their pupils reflecting deep crimson, settled on me. The heavy brow, a mass of deep folds of skin above which sprouted long red hairs, seemed to knit in concentration. The lips drew back, revealing bright pink gums and twin rows of vicious yellow fangs. Two sharp, ribbed, curling horns protruded from the sides of the wide skull, their tips pointing forward.

  As far as I could tell, my rapture had been wholly ineffective. Though the monster’s frenzy had abated, the manner in which it eyed me and, now, began to advance, made it plain that it was in no way becalmed. Rather, it moved with slow, deliberate calculation. I sensed its cunning, and had the horrible impression that it was taking pleasure in my helpless terror.

  Again I cried. ‘Moonblood! Now! Help me!’

  She seemed to snap back into an awareness of herself, but she merely raised her fingers to her mouth, shaking her head as she stared in terror at the scene before her. In her eyes was utter, dreadful hopelessness, and she spoke, faintly, ‘I have no power.’

  ‘You have! You must!’ I was backing slowly towards the door, expecting the beast to pounce. ‘It’s yours! Find it! Find it now!’

  The monster moved suddenly to one side, barring my retreat. It lifted its head a little, its nostrils dilating, then licked its chops with a distended purple tongue.

  ‘Please!’ I cried, for I knew I was about to die.

  The creature sprang.

  Its movement took it past me. One long arm was extended, reaching out for the young girl beyond me as it smashed heavily into the frame of the open door with a force that shook the room. Leaping back, I slipped and fell into maggot-coated ground. I heard Moonblood scream.

  Now the monster’s frenzy was renewed. Too bulky to pass through the door, it tore and pounded, wrenching away frame and surrounding brickwork. Its terrible voice lashed and roared deafeningly, a sound of sheer rabid fury. Its body blocked my view outside the cellar, so I could not see what had become of Ravenscrag’s daughter.

  I was sitting up, scrambling to my feet. A piece of brick, hurled randomly back, struck me hard on the forehead, and almost simultaneously a section of woodwork slammed into my chest. I fell back again, dazed and severely winded.

  Desperately, I rolled over onto my knees. The room slewed; blood ran into my eye. But I could see that the doorway had gone, leaving a large, ragged, dust-fogged gap in the wall. The creature pushed through into the passage. Beyond it I saw Moonblood, frail and petrified, pressed up hard against the far wall.

  Advancing upon her, the monster’s voice dropped to a loathsome purr of quiet menace. I heard shouts, screams, then another sound, a deep, furious bellow. Two of the guards suddenly appeared, running back towards us along the passage. I did not understand. Why had they returned?

  Then a shadow loomed behind them. It filled the corridor. At the same moment the two guards set eyes on the monster confronting them at the cellar door. Before they could react, the monster, momentarily distracted from Moonblood, was upon them. In a spray of blood and savaged flesh and bone they were ripped to shreds.

  I crawled towards the ruined door, in such pain that I could barely breathe. The creature discarded the guards’ mangled corpses and turned back to Moonblood again. She had sunk into the corner, a small, helpless girl, cowering, terrified. The thing reared above her, seeming to relish its easy victory. In desperation I cried out to her, but she seemed not to hear.

  The monster’s head turned and it cast me a glance, hatefully intelligent but contemptuous, which shook me to the core of my being. Then it lowered itself and pressed its massive head up to her so that the glistening snout nuzzled her fragile body. Moonblood was paralyzed with terror, wide-eyed, pushing her head back into the wall, her lips stretched in a soundless scream.

  The monster opened wide its murderous jaws.

  Then I heard again that furious bellow from the passage, louder and closer this time. I saw that the passage was blocked, and now I saw what it was that had sent those two soldiers running back to their deaths.

  From the mouth of the passage a huge hand reached out. It fastened hard upon the monster’s upper limb and slowly dragged it aside.

  The creature spun around with a roar, then craned its neck to snap at Moonblood. Its jaws closed just short. Thwarted, it tore with claws and fangs at the hand that pulled it away from her, towards the passage. A
nd Moonblood half rose, crying out, ‘Toromdar!’

  Toromdar hung on, even as his flesh was ripped and torn. He was on his knees, too bulky to stand in the confines of the corridor. His head was thrust vulnerably forward. His upper arm and breast were bloody, and I saw the stubs of two crossbow bolts jutting from the flesh. He strove to edge further into the wider area where there was more space to move, but now his monstrous opponent realized the giant’s disadvantage, and fought with terrible savagery to prevent him emerging from the passage.

  Toromdar’s other hand had come forward to grasp the monster’s throat and squeeze. His face was white with effort and pain, blood pouring from a wound on his skull. Razor teeth and talons ripped mercilessly into his hands and arms. The barbed tail swung around, lashing his shoulders and flank again and again. His injuries were terrible but he did not let go.

  Measure for measure the two were arguably of similar strength. But Toromdar lacked weapons or armour, as well as the space to move. His adversary, not confined, and with its cruel barbs, teeth and claws, was doing appalling damage to the giant. It had brought its rear legs beneath it to kick and slash at its opponent’s chest, while its taloned hands tore at his face.

  Still, Toromdar maintained his grip, horribly bloodied and torn, remorselessly squeezing his assailant’s windpipe. Slowly the monster’s threshing grew less. It hissed and gurgled, but it was weaker as it failed to draw air into its trapped lungs. With his colossal strength Toromdar forced it down until he was kneeling over it. Blood poured from his many wounds, but he continued to bear down with all his remaining power to throttle the life from the thing.

  And then came Moonblood’s voice: ‘No! Toromdar! Please! You mustn’t kill it!’

  The giant looked up in surprise, as did I. Moonblood was on her feet, one hand extended, sobbing. ‘It is my brother!’

  Instantly, Toromdar eased back, lessening his grip upon the creature’s throat.

  Moonblood cried out, ‘Hold it there. Just for a moment more. Please!’