“There we are. Simple,” Greydin left the chicken lying in the widening pool of its blood. “That should do it.”
Danziger asked, “What now?”
“Quiet, both of you,” Greydin ordered.
Professor Greydin began to read aloud an incantation he had translated from The Book of Setopholes. He spoke in a commanding voice, “Oh, hear me, creature of the pit. I, your master, Julius Greydin speak. Accept the Red Offering. I summon. You must obey. Come to me. Obey my command!” Greydin continued speaking, chanting strange words that neither Mellman nor Danziger recognised.
Greydin pointed the bloody knife at his acolytes, his signal for them to join in.
Mellman and Danziger looked at each other, and then feeling somewhat foolish took up their part in the incantation – chanting more of the strange words.
Greydin continued to speak for about five minutes repeating the incantation.
Mellman had had enough. “Well, Julius, you’ve tried your best, but you’ve got to admit …”
An incredibly loud boom of thunder drowned out his words, the house shook as if it had been struck and the light went out.
“Jesus!” Danziger swore.
“Good grief!” Mellman cried. “That must have been close.”
Greydin was performing the incantation again, but shouting the words now. The light flickered back into life, but the pentagram remained empty.
Professor Greydin fell silent.
“Look upon it as a valuable experiment. You’ve conclusively proved that magic does not work. You tried your best, but it was never going to succeed,” said Mellman, trying to console his colleague.
The three men were back in the study. Greydin was slumped in his chair; head held in his hands. Danziger refilling their glasses.
Mellman added some coal to the fire. “Although I’ll admit for a moment, even I thought it was going to work.”
“No, Mellman, it was my fault the ritual failed. I allowed myself to be pressured by you. I should have been more patient: these things work better at their appointed times. In my eagerness to prove you wrong I adapted the ritual as I thought fit. Next time I will perform it correctly.”
“Next time?” Mellman questioned. “You’re not serious, are you, Julius?”
“But of course. I intend to try again.”
“Julius, you proved that sorcery does not work, that demons do not exist.”
“My first attempt was flawed; it cannot be considered a legitimate attempt. I must try again.”
“Julius, give it up,” Mellman urged.
“I must make one more attempt. I have to perform the ritual again, but next time I must do it precisely as it is written in The Book of Setopholes. Though I do not expect either of you to attend.”
Tony Danziger had had no intention of attending Professor Greydin’s next attempt at demonology. Instead, he asked Michelle Chalmers for that date, and she had accepted his invitation to go to the cinema. But when the night in question arrived, she never showed up. After waiting for her for an hour, Danziger finally had to admit he had been stood up.
At a loose end, the student found himself, somewhat reluctantly, at Professor Greydin’s house again.
For a change, he had arrived before Professor Mellman.
“Can you follow this, Danziger?” Professor Greydin handed the student a piece of paper.
The student examined what was written on the paper.
“No! Don’t even mouth the words,” Greydin warned. “You understand it?”
“Yes, I think so.” Not that he understood the meaning of the words.
“Good. Would you care for a drink?”
“Please.”
“This spell certainly seems to me to be medieval in origin. So tonight we perform the ceremony in the original Latin.” Professor Greydin poured Danziger a drink.
“Learn the incantation, but remember do not utter it until I say so. Now, if you will excuse me, I have some things to prepare.”
When Professor Greydin returned, he made an unexpected demand that shocked the student. “Get undressed, there’s a good fellow.”
“What?” Danziger spluttered.
“Put this on.” Greydin threw him a long, red, hooded robe. “We’re doing this rite right this time.” The professor smiled briefly. “Don’t worry we’ll all be wearing them. I’m going upstairs to change into mine now.”
Both men had changed into their scarlet cowls when Professor Mellman arrived.
“Hello? What’s this?” Mellman grinned. “‘The Masque of the Red Death’?”
“Here you are, Mellman.” Greydin handed him one of the garments. “I want you to wear this.”
“What’s all this nonsense then?”
“As I said, this time we do the ritual exactly as it says in the book.”
“Have you got a bushy white beard for me then?”
Greydin sighed. “What are you on about now?”
“So I can be Father Christmas, of course.”
“Have you been drinking?”
“Just a tipple, old boy. Why? Are you offering?”
“Just get changed.”
“Oh, very well. If you insist.”
“I do.”
Mellman went upstairs to change. And Danziger wondered, somewhat concerned, how Professor Greydin would react, when the ritual failed again.
Mellman joined them again in the study. “Well, how do I look?”
“Good. I was worried it wouldn’t fit.” Greydin glanced at the clock. “It’ll soon be midnight, high time we got on with things.”
Mellman eyed the drinks cabinet. “Isn’t there time for a drink?”
“No. I have calculated that midnight is the optimum time to attempt this ceremony.” Greydin opened the door to the cellar.
“Now, down to the basement, both of you. And put up your hoods.”
Mellman led the way, Danziger went next, Professor Greydin followed, locking the cellar door before going down the staircase.
“So, what else are we doing differently this time, Julius?” Mellman asked as they descended. “Oh! I see.” He had reached the bottom of the stairs.
Danziger expressed his surprise more forcefully, “Bloody hell!”
Instead of the electric light this time the cellar was lit by smoky candles that stood on skulls – most were animal, but some looked decidedly human. Black drapes covered the walls, hiding the assorted clutter that was stored in the cellar.
Mellman gestured at the skulls. “Where on earth did you get those, Julius?”
“For heaven’s sake, from the biology department of course. You don’t think I’ve been grave robbing, do you?”
“Isn’t this all a bit Hammer House of Horror, Professor?” asked Danziger.
“I’m following the instructions to the letter this time. Even if it means using all this paraphernalia.”
“Well, I must say it’s very atmospheric.” Mellman was scrutinising a skull. “Monkey?” he queried.
Greydin nodded. “The others are, cat, dog, sheep, goat, horse, and bull, and those three are, of course, human: male, female, and child,” he indicated each in turn.
“Take up your positions as before.” Greydin instructed, crossing the room, pulling back a drape to reveal the cellar’s other door.
Mellman groaned. “Not another unfortunate chicken.”
Danziger whispered to Mellman, “Judging by the lengths Professor Greydin is going to, I expect he’s got the other ten members of his coven waiting in there.”
“You may be right, Tony.” Mellman replied, as Greydin returned accompanied by another red-robed acolyte. Face hidden by the hood of their robe, this fourth person moved slowly and unsteadily. As Mellman had predicted Professor Greydin was again carrying the small crate containing a chicken.
“Aren’t you going to introduce us, Julius?”
Danziger was concerned about the new participant. “Is he all right?”
“Has he been partaking of your wine cell
ar?”
Greydin put the crate down, then leaned close to his companion, and whispered instructions.
Obeying, the newcomer moved to the middle of the pentagram, and allowed their red robe to fall to the ground – to reveal their identity, and their nakedness.
“My God!” exclaimed Mellman, averting his eyes.
Danziger gasped, amazed, “Michelle! What are you doing here?”
Michelle did not reply, just smiled vaguely.
Mellman pulled Greydin to one side. “Julius, what is the meaning of this?”
Greydin shrugged. “She is a vital component of tonight’s ceremony.”
“She’s been drugged!” Danziger had picked up Michelle’s robe, and was trying to get her to put it back on.
“So, she’s not doing this willingly?” Mellman accused.
“Hardly. I couldn’t very well advertise for a young virgin to take part in a black magic ritual, could I?”
“But that’s monstrous!” Mellman was appalled. “Now look here, Julius, I cannot allow this to proceed.”
“Why ever not?” Greydin was surprised by his friend’s attitude.
“You don’t seriously expect us to allow you to sacrifice this girl do you?”
“Sacrifice? Really, Mellman, don’t be so absurd. Do you really think I’m going to plunge my knife into this young girl’s heaving bosom?” Greydin snorted. “Now who’s being all Hammer House of Horror?”
Mellman asked, “Then just what is Miss Chalmers role in all of this?”
“Yeah, just what are you intending, Professor?” Danziger snarled.
“Calm down, both of you. She is part of the lure to bring the demon into our dimension. The scent of the chicken’s blood and virgin flesh, don’t you see?”
Danziger was angry. “And what’s to stop the demon from devouring her when it obeys the summons?”
“The creature will be disorientated on appearing, I have only to speak the word of power, and the creature will be utterly under my command.” Greydin smiled. “She will come to no harm, and will remember nothing.”
Mellman shook his head. “Have you taken leave of your senses?”
“I won’t allow it. It’s too risky.”
“I don’t need your permission, Danziger.”
Danziger’s hands were clenched fists. “What about Michelle’s permission? You haven’t got that either. You could be charged with kidnapping.”
Mellman pulled the student away. “Calm down, Tony. It’s all right. No harm will come to Miss Chalmers. After all it’s not as if the incantation is going to work now, is it?” He smiled reassuringly. “She’ll be perfectly safe.”
“God! How stupid of me. You’re right, of course. All of this black magic paraphernalia had me thinking it might actually work. Talk about getting carried away, it’s just that I really like Michelle, the thought of anything happening to her …” The student shrugged, embarrassed.
“I understand, but she’ll be fine.”
“Nevertheless, he shouldn’t be doing this without Michelle’s say so.”
“Please, Tony; I think it will be better if we let Julius carry on. No harm can come to Michelle; I assure you. As for Julius, he is obviously unwell; I’m worried what he will do if we try to prevent this going ahead.”
The student considered, and decided that Mellman was right. There was no real danger to Michelle if they carried on with what he now realised was a madman’s farce, but there was no knowing how Greydin would react if they attempted to prevent him enacting this ritual. “Okay then, Professor, but he’s crazy, and you better make sure he sees a shrink.”
“Don’t worry; I’ll make sure he gets the help he needs.”
“Well? Are you two taking part?” demanded Greydin, impatient to begin.
Mellman looked at Danziger. “Tony?”
The student nodded in response.
“Very well, Julius.”
“Good,” said Greydin. “Then let us proceed.”
Naked, Michelle lay in the pentagram, head and limbs corresponding with the five points of the star. Mellman and Danziger each stood by her hands, whilst Greydin stood at her head.
As before Greydin sacrificed the chicken, allowing the blood to flow freely onto Michelle’s body and splashing himself in the process.
Michelle writhed and groaned softly.
Tony realised how aroused he was, and hoped neither of the other men would notice. He was thankful that candles rather than the more powerful electric light lit the room at that moment.
But in the light of the candles, the blood-splattered Julius Greydin looked decidedly sinister. The student had doubts about the man’s sanity, and had second thoughts about allowing him to continue. Would it be worse to try to stop this now or let it proceed, only for Greydin to fail in his sorcery?
Professor Greydin began to read the incantation, speaking first the words in Latin, and then the strange words of an unknown language.
Mellman started chanting at Greydin’s signal, but Danziger missed it, joining in slightly after the professor. The student was unable to keep his gaze from the beautiful Michelle’s bloodstained body.
Mellman realised he was sweating. It seemed unnaturally hot, and there was an unpleasant smell coming from somewhere. Yes, the air smelt decidedly sulphurous.
Suddenly darkness descended as the candles went out, inexplicably extinguished. Professor Greydin stopped speaking in mid-sentence.
Something growled.
“Julius? What was—?” Mellman’s sudden scream was shrill.
Danziger shouted, “What the hell?” as something wet splashed him. “The lights, Professor. Where’s the light switch?” He started to move towards the foot of the stairs; taking a chance on a light switch being there. He collided with someone. “Professor Greydin is that you?” Or something!
Danziger staggered away from whatever he had bumped into. Groping in front of him, he found the wall, running his hands over its surface he found the light switch. He flicked it on, and turned around.
Professor Greydin was crouched over the fallen Mellman; there was more blood on the floor than just the chicken’s. There was no sign of a demon.
“What the hell happened, Professor?”
Professor Greydin turned and looked up. He was drenched in blood, his mouth smeared crimson. Greydin stared at the student, chewing on something as he did so, drool dribbling from between his lips.
“Jesus!” Danziger caught a glimpse of Mellman; blood spilled freely from the gaping wound in the archaeologist’s neck. “Oh my God!” he gasped.
In horror, Danziger began to back up the stairs; Greydin had been so obsessed with summoning a demon that he had finally flipped. Then he remembered Michelle – he could not leave her at the mercy of a madman.
Greydin ripped Mellman’s robe open, stroking a hand over the archaeologist’s plump belly, watching the student as he did so.
Danziger slowly came back down the stairs. Michelle lay oblivious. Greydin swallowed, then bent his head and began lapping at Mellman’s blood.
Danziger edged his way around Greydin. “It’s okay, Professor; me and Michelle are leaving now.”
The student crouched down next to Michelle, warily watching the professor, afraid that at any moment the lunatic would leap at him.
Michelle opened her eyes, “Oh, hi Tony,” she said, slurring her words. “Where am I?” she mumbled, a confused expression on her face.
Danziger smiled at her, “It’s all right, Michelle. I’ll soon have you out of here.”
Michelle’s eyes closed again.
Greydin raised Mellman’s limp arm, and sank his teeth into the flesh, chomping noisily.
Danziger lifted Michelle, and began to rise. Greydin snarled. The student paused a moment, then continued to stand up. Greydin snarled again, releasing Mellman’s arm.
Danziger crouched back down, lowering Michelle gently to the floor. The student considered the situation. Obviously, Greydin was not about to let him ta
ke Michelle. Would the professor let him go alone? Could he risk it? Would Michelle be safe? There was plenty more meat left on Professor Mellman, enough for the maniac to dine on, surely he would not need to start on Michelle. There had to be enough time to get help. He had to try. Then he saw Greydin’s knife. It lay discarded on the floor. Of course, he could always overpower the professor. Greydin was in shape for an old guy, but he would be no match for the student. But just in case, he began to reach for the sacrificial weapon.
Greydin watched him, smiling again, and still gobbling human flesh – pieces of Professor Ernest Mellman.
“You crazy bastard,” Danziger muttered. The student felt sick.
The knife was almost in his grasp when Greydin leapt at him. Danziger was fit and healthy, and physically Greydin’s superior, or at least he should have been. He struggled against the elder man who was possessed a strength far greater than a man his age should have.
Danziger was grappled to the ground. There was no trace of the professor in the man who lowered his face towards him. Madness shone in his eyes; the mouth came closer to Danziger’s throat. His teeth were fangs, and he could smell the foulness of the possessed man’s breath.
The student screamed as he felt searing pain in his body – nails grown sharp and long, ripping and tearing through his bloody red robe and lacerating his chest.
Danziger locked a hand in a stranglehold around Greydin’s throat, and squeezed. And squeezed. His other hand scrabbled for the knife.
And then it was in his hand, and again and again he stabbed, plunging the blade into the professor’s back.
The professor howled, and the student managed to throw his tutor off. Greydin landed with a crash in a pile of splintering crates.
Gasping for breath, Danziger realised that incredibly Greydin was rising. The student got to his feet, and ran up the stairs. He told himself he was not running away but luring Greydin away from Michelle.
Behind him he could hear the professor in pursuit, could almost feel the maniac’s breath on the back of his neck. He reached the top of the steps and the door, he turned the handle, but the door was stuck and refused to open.
Black Ceremonies Page 13