‘You could have run,’ Beth said.
‘Thought about it, but they made me feel special here. Kept telling me I was destined for something amazing. That my blood and lineage was special.’ Beth cocked an eyebrow at that, confused, but Josh went on, ‘Alicia seemed to love me for it even more. But then the time came when they pushed me to do something evil. They wanted me to kill for them. Murder someone, in a cave on the beach, just to start all this madness.’
She held her breath, then asked the question she had been dreading. ‘Did… did you do it?’
He turned to look at her, and in his eyes, Beth saw hurt. Josh didn’t answer the question, however. Instead, William stepped in.
‘He didn’t.’
Beth felt relief wash over her.
‘He took a stab at me, though,’ William went on. ‘And a few more of our brethren. Cut one of them very badly, then ran out of the cave and into the night. We didn’t find him until the next day. And then, lo and behold, you show up, Beth. Someone carrying the same blood and lineage. So, we no longer need your brother, and he can instead pay for what he’s done.’
‘Fuck you,’ Beth said, and spat at him.
William leaned closer to her and stared intently. ‘Fuck me?’ He laughed. ‘Sorry to say, I don’t fuck anymore. It is beyond mundane when you have seen and experienced what I have. You’ll see soon enough.’
Beth wanted to reach out and claw the arrogant prick’s eyes out. She wanted to cause pain to this entitled parasite who though that he and those like him had the right to shape the world. But she couldn’t—she was still restrained, and she was still outnumbered. Instead, Beth asked him a question, one that had been building.
‘What is it about our lineage? I mean, I’m pretty sure you have the wrong people here. My dad was a journalist and my mother… well, she believed in God, but not the type of God that you people seem to believe in. There is no way she was part of this. So, you need to rethink, because whatever you’re planning isn’t going to work. You have the wrong people.’
William shook his head, as if addressing a foolish child. ‘Trust me, my dear, we are not wrong. When our Master met Josh, it sensed what was in the boy and in his blood immediately. And, while it’s true that your mother is in no way special’—Beth bristled. Who was he to say she wasn’t special?—‘your father is a little different, though he would never have been aware of it. Tell me, did you know your grandparents? From your father’s side, I mean.’
Beth shook her head, but a horrible realisation started to creep up in her. ‘No,’ she said softly. ‘Dad was raised in an orphanage.’
‘Indeed. And do you know how he got there? In fact, let’s go back. Do you remember that file I showed you earlier? It had a name on it. Adrian James.’
Beth nodded. ‘I remember.’
‘Well, Adrian James was your grandfather. A prisoner of the Order, at a facility that no longer exists. It was there that our Master was born into this world, not that we knew it at the time. We considered the whole thing a failure. Adrian James was the only survivor of what happened there, thanks to a terrible tragedy that he caused. We were so close to greatness. However, during his time there, Adrian was infused with a certain… substance. The blood of the things we worship. After he was relocated following the incident, we had him breed.’
‘You had him breed? You make him sound like a fucking dog!’
William shrugged. ‘He was little more. But yes, my forebearers wanted to see what would happen if he sired a child.’
‘And he went along with it?’
‘Not willingly. But we have ways of getting what we want, as you will see. We didn’t need him to commit the act, we just needed some of his swimmers, if you take my meaning. A member of the Order, thought to be trusted, was impregnated. It stuck. We were keen to see what the child would become. Human or… something else. But we never got the chance. The mother was unwilling to give up the child. Our child. She hid the offspring when it was ours to own. Even though we found her, she never did give up the baby’s location. Additionally, your grandfather ensured we could not try again, as the fool found a way to take his own life. We thought the whole thing lost. Not that it mattered—we had other avenues to explore. This town was one of them. Then, years ago, the Master returned to us, made us aware of his presence. Something to celebrate, considering we had thought Arlington Asylum to be a complete failure. And then, another miracle. Josh here wandered right into our midst. The Master sensed what was inside him, in his blood, and we were able to figure everything out from there—who he was and where he had come from. Josh swore blindly he was an only child, however, and that both parents were dead. He plays fast and loose with the truth, that one, doesn’t he?’
William kicked out at Josh angrily. Josh took the blow, but he didn’t raise his head.
‘Leave him alone!’ Beth snapped. ‘Or I’ll rip out your throat.’
William threw his head back and chuckled. ‘I do like the fight in you, Beth. And I’m glad you found us. Another miracle from the failure of Arlington. Great things are upon us. It’s as if it were all meant to be.’
‘None of this was meant to be,’ Beth said. ‘It’s horrific. And you people are blind.’
‘Oh no,’ William said with a sneer. ‘That’s the point, dear Beth. Our eyes are open. Yours will be too.’
‘We’re here,’ a voice called out from the front.
Beth turned to Josh and saw tears streaming down his dirtied face. ‘I’m sorry,’ was all he said as the three of them were pulled from the van.
30
The grass beneath Beth’s feet came up to her ankles. She felt the night air rush around her and could hear the crashing waves of the sea. Looking around, she saw that they were on a grassy plain, and in the distance behind them she could spot the back of a row of small houses. A larger building stood on the end of these dwellings. Beth knew it to be the Overview Lodge. Turning the other direction, she saw the ground simply stop up ahead, and beyond that drop, the sea met the dark of the night sky on the horizon.
They were on the cliff top, above Hollows Cove.
The vehicle she had just been forced out of cut off its engine, and another three vans rolled unevenly across the grassy earth behind, their engines humming and growling. They stopped as well, then other people spilled out, all dressed in hooded robes.
She thought again at how angry William had gotten when Beth had insinuated he was part of a cult. What the fuck else would you call this?
Most of the robes were simple and dark, made of a thick and itchy-looking material. Some, however, were much more grandiose, such as William’s, which was silk red. William was the only person to have his hood down. Beth guessed that the others dressed in red robes were the same people she had seen back at the Heritage Centre.
The Dark Priest was present as well.
‘Prepare the seal,' it commanded, and those in the dark robes immediately came to life in a buzz of activity. Shovels were pulled from the vans and the grassy earth was dug up. It took close to an hour, but a large, circular section of the ground was scraped away, leaving an area of exposed clay and soil, which was flattened out as much as possible with the flat faces of the spades.
Beth looked to the edge of the cliff and peered into the dark, wondering if the police were still down on the beach below. If so, perhaps they would hear what was going on up here, and come to investigate? The zealots who toiled were not particularly loud, but still it was a hope. However, there was every chance the police were now long gone. Beth turned to the houses behind them. Perhaps someone would wake and look out to the sea and notice what was going on. Surely four vans parked on a clifftop and a group of strangers in robes digging into the ground would be enough reason to call in the authorities?
Though what if the police did come? Could they really stop what was happening?
If it was just William and his followers, then they likely could. But with that dark entity here—the Dark Priest who strol
led around with his arms behind his back while watching on like a general—would the police even have a chance? Beth’s body had been manipulated by that thing like a puppet on a string without even being touched. She had no clue what else it was capable of.
Once the area was free of grass and topsoil, the lower members of the Order then set to work on their next task. Bottles of red liquid—blood, Beth could tell—were then brought from one of the vans. There were also many vials retrieved that contained something quite different: a dark, viscous substance that sloshed around within clear glass containers.
‘Careful with that,’ William snapped. ‘It is a gift from our Master.’ He then looked over the pale monster with a look that sought approval.
Snivelling dog, Beth thought to herself. The Dark Priest continued to stroll around and watch the lower members of the Order work, but did not respond to William—or even acknowledge his comment. The cult members then began to mark out symbols on the exposed ground in white chalk, delicately working from an image sketched on an old and crumpled piece of parchment. Three large circles were drawn, with concentric rings within each. Other markings were added: shapes and symbols that Beth had never seen before. The three circles were spaced equally apart, in the form of a triangle, with the one forming the tip pointing inland. Lines were drawn between each of the rings, and, finally chalk was poured around the circular perimeter, encapsulating everything.
‘Occult bullshit,’ Beth said, looking over at William. ‘It means nothing, you know. You're just a wannabe Alistair Crowley. He was bat-shit crazy too.’
She felt a sudden blow as William slapped her hard across the cheek. The temporary pain of the strike, however, was overcome by an anger that surged up. ‘You shouldn’t comment on things you know nothing about, bitch.’
Beth had no way to strike back at him. However, she sure as shit could antagonise him. ‘Those are just patterns. Stupid shapes and gibberish. Utter bullshit.’ She might have believed that to be true, once, but given what she’d seen…
Still, if she could upset William, then it was a thread worth pulling. She had already seen he was quick to lose his temper when questioned. And, in doing so, he could perhaps be pushed into doing something stupid that might create an opportunity for her.
Of course, it might just push him to kill all three of them instead. But then, would that be any different to what they had planned already?
‘This seal is far more than that,’ William said, clearly enjoying the sound of his own voice. ‘I asked you once before what you thought about geometry. You were just as simplistic back then. It is a shame that, after all you’ve experienced, you cannot open your mind enough to see the bigger picture. Mankind has not grasped the true nature of reality. Of how it works, what bore it, and what brought it about in the first place. The space around us that we take for granted is a façade. These ‘stupid shapes and gibberish’ are important. They are an equation. No, a language. A language of things far greater than us. We try to use this language, spoken with flesh and blood, to commune with a place of chaos. We are only capable of basic communication, in truth, but it is a first step. Enough to open the gateway. And now, with the Master’s blood added to our words, along with his wisdom, we speak ever more clearly. We will open the door. And when you birth a new Great One, the Great Vao—the Madness of Eternity—will gaze upon us. That gaze will connect the worlds and keep the door open. Netherwell Bay will become a permanent gateway to paradise.’
‘As I said,’ Beth replied defiantly, ‘Bat-shit crazy.’
Another slap. Beth only smiled, enjoying the anger and frustration she was causing him.
‘Enough!’ the Dark Priest said in a loud, ethereal voice. William stepped back quickly and held his head low.
Beth stared at the thing that scared William so. ‘I won’t go along with this,’ she said. ‘Whatever you had planned for me and my brother, I won’t let you—’
Beth was quickly forced to her knees, again with a simple hand gesture from the entity. She strained against the invisible force, but it was no use. Beth could still talk, however, just as she had been able to before.
‘You can throw me around all you want, but I still won’t fall in line.’
‘You do not have a choice,’ the Dark Priest stated as it turned its focus on to the working minions.
‘We’ll see,’ Beth said. ‘I don’t care what you want me to do. I don’t care how much you hurt me. I won’t comply.’
The entity did not answer. It just continued to watch as the dark-robed figures worked. First, the cultists poured red blood over the chalk outlines, careful not to spill a drop. As this was being done, others worked behind them, pouring the dark, thicker liquid over the original blood. Beth could see the blood of the entity ooze over the chalk, which had soaked red from the initial liquid.
Eventually, everything was complete.
The Dark Priest looked over its followers. ‘It is time to complete the ritual.’
A man was then dragged from one of the vans, naked save for the burlap sack over his head. He fought and mumbled in defiance, but was forced into one of the circles and held down in a kneeling position. His hands, like Beth, Josh, and Jim’s, were restrained behind his back. The hood was removed and a terrified young man, not even in his thirties, was revealed. A filthy gag stopped him from crying out.
‘Don’t resist, Martin,’ William said. ‘This is an honour.’
But the young man didn’t appear to see it that way. He shook his head and looked pleadingly at William.
Whatever this organisation was, it obviously cared little for its members. Or, at least, those who were of a lower rank. They were simply lambs to the slaughter, to be used—and even sacrificed—as needed.
‘Bring the others,’ William said. Then, to Beth’s horror, Josh and Jim were hauled to their feet.
‘Wait!’ Beth screamed. ‘Wait, no, not them!’
‘You don’t have a voice here,’ William said. ‘Think yourself lucky you aren’t joining them.’
But Beth ignored him. She did not want to talk to the monkey. She wanted to persuade the organ grinder.
‘I’ll comply!’ she shouted to the entity that now turned to look at her. ‘If you let them go and use someone else, then I won’t fight you.’
‘You cannot fight me anyway,’ it replied, but started to walk closer to her.
‘Maybe not. But whatever it is that you need me to do, or need to do to me, I’ll let it happen.’
The Dark Priest cocked its head to the side and smiled. ‘What I need from you… is to drink my lifeblood. Then, to devour my heart.’
Beth’s mouth fell open. ‘Are you… are you fucking serious?’ She wasn’t sure what she’d expected, perhaps having this thing force itself onto her, especially given the sickening talk of birthing some new entity. But this? Her stomach lurched. ‘How would that work?’
‘Don’t question the Master’s wisdom,’ William admonished.
‘Well someone should. Doesn’t it know how the human body works? How would that get me—’
‘Silence,’ William hissed. ‘What will happen to you is not something you can understand. You are not going to be carrying a child. It will not grow in your womb. Why do you think we were planning to use your brother before we found you? We are perfectly aware how the human body works, girl.’
‘It wouldn’t surprise me if you didn’t,’ Beth replied. The entity just watched on, actually smiling, seemingly amused at the exchange. In that moment, it seemed like a parent watching two bickering children.
William shook his head. ‘Your sex doesn’t matter. Not with this. Only your lineage and your blood. It will help you survive the imbedding process where others have not. At least, I dearly hope so. It would be a shame to see what happened to the others happen to you. It was not pleasant.’
‘And why do you think it will work?’ Beth asked. But it was the entity that replied.
‘Because I have communed with my creator. The blood i
s the key to everything. And our blood is part of your make-up. The Old Blood is part of who you are.’
Beth looked again to Josh and Jim. Both appeared terrified, held down within those circles drawn in blood. She focused on her baby brother, the one she had come here to protect. She felt helpless.
Then, she thought of her exchange with the dark entity back at the Heritage Centre, and how it mirrored what was happening now. It could control her wider movements, but she was still able to talk. And if it expected her—and her stomach lurched at the thought—to eat a fucking heart, she doubted it could control her movements enough to make that happen.
Perhaps she had a bargaining chip after all.
‘Then let Jim and my brother go. Replace them. Don’t sacrifice them and I’ll comply. I’ll do what you need me to. Eat your fucking heart and drink your blood. But if they die, then I won’t swallow a drop.’
William shook his head and went to speak, but the entity simply held up its hand to silence him. It stepped closer to her. ‘No tricks.’
‘No tricks,’ Beth confirmed. ‘I swear.’
‘Very well,’ the Dark Priest said with a smile. Beth suddenly had a horrible feeling that she had just been played.
31
At the command of the dark entity, Josh and Jim were pulled free of the circles. The cultists who moved the pair away were careful not to disturb the carefully drawn markings, just as they had done when putting Josh and Jim into position in the first place.
‘But Master, we need sacrifices to complete the ritual,’ William said.
‘Replace them,’ it stated simply.
‘With who?’
‘I do not care who the lambs are. Replace them. Unless you wish to give your own life?’ The entity gave an evil sneer and William’s eyes went wide. He looked around, panicked, and his focus fell on two robed figures close to him.
The Netherwell Horror Page 16