‘Did Paul kill them?’ D.I. Long asks.
‘I need to speak to my lawyer.’
‘She’ll be here later. You’re not charged with this. You don’t need a lawyer present if we’re asking you a few questions as a material witness.’ The Detective Inspector leans forwards.
Satori keeps silent. He feels the trap close around him.
‘Refusing to help us could make you an accessory. We could charge you with attempting to pervert the course of justice,’ D.S. Cummins interjects.
‘Just tell us, Mr Michaels. Did Paul Foster kill the children whose bones are buried in his cellar?’
‘I’m sorry, I don’t know.’
‘How did Mr Foster earn a living? He seems to have plenty of money and yet I cannot find any record of his ever working.’ D.I. Long flicks through his notes and looks back at Satori.
‘I think he writes. Maybe his family had money?’ Satori says.
‘Was he into magic too?’ D.I. Long asks.
‘Yeah, that’s how I met him.’ Satori smiles in spite of his better judgement.
‘And he took a liking to you?’
‘I guess,’ Satori says.
‘We found some strange things in his house. I don’t know if you’d call them evidence. Do you know what they are?’
‘Which things?’
‘Various things. Are you interested in any of them?’ D.S. Cummins asks.
Satori thinks of the skull and the demons trapped inside. If the police opened it, what hell would be unleashed? He shrugs. ‘Not really.’
The detectives look at each other. A momentary glance, but Satori sees it. What were they expecting? Do they want me to pounce on Paul’s belongings like a greedy relative?
‘I could look at them for you when my solicitor gets here.’ He keeps his voice steady and shades his eyes from their stares.
The detectives shift in their seats. Satori doesn’t understand their discomfort. He wonders whether they feel the power from the objects they’ve collected and are frightened. The power trapped inside the Vessel of Balon alone could destroy us all. Unless, perhaps, it was released when Paul died. He’d like to study it. The oracle might help him on his quest to save Star, but they would never leave him alone with their evidence. Evidence not against him perhaps, but against the man who made it, the man who killed to obtain the skull, trapped millennia old forces inside it and bent them to his will. The man they believe Satori is protecting. Are they worried Paul is still alive?
‘Your friends have told us how angry you were when Miss Brown left? You smashed a panel in her door didn’t you, Mr Michaels.’
‘A witness has made a statement that you told him it was your fault Rhiannon Sanders died. Why was it your fault, Mr Michaels?’
‘I introduced Lilith to Star…I mean Sarah.’
‘Another witness tells us Miss Brown and the woman you call Lilith met in a nightclub. Were you with them at that time, Mr Michaels?’
‘No,’ Satori answers.
‘Then how did you introduce them?’ D.S. Cummins asks.
Satori stares at his hands. His fingers are long and slender. The black nail polish he applied a week ago has chipped off in all but a few patches.
‘Mr Michaels, how did you introduce Sarah Brown to Lilith?’ D.I. Long asks.
‘I opened the door for Lilith. I let her in.’ Satori raises his hands and covers his face. His shoulders shake as he sobs into his palms.
The detectives let him weep. If they ask him any further questions he does not hear them. Star’s words “I don’t see any heroes in this fairytale, do you?” echo around his head. Time collapses. He glimpses the vibrant green earth of Geburah and steps across.
Satori feels cool fingers in his hand. He looks across to Donna who walks beside him. He smiles and she smiles back.
‘What do you think we’ll find?’ she asks.
‘Answers,’ he replies.
As they reach the crest of a hill they gasp. Below them the landscape changes and sanity falls away. The ground is stained with blood. Bodies are scattered, their heads broken open. A crowd of terrified people huddle together, their bodies a shivering mound. Chains encircle them, attached to each ankle.
‘My god!’ Donna cries.
Satori covers her mouth. ‘Shhhh,’ he whispers.
‘Let’s go,’ she says.
‘These people need help,’ he tells her.
‘What can we do?’ she asks.
‘We can try.’
At the centre of the field of gore a man rides a silver horse. On his head he wears a crown of gold and rubies. In his hands he holds a spear and a mace. Both weapons drip blood. Around him men fall. They tear at his horse and pull on his clothes. Their screams fill the sky.
‘What’s happening? Who’s good and who’s evil?’ Donna asks.
‘Too abstract a question to ask here,’ Satori replies. ‘But we know who needs help.’
They skirt silently around the killing field towards the prisoners. They keep close to the ground, trying to avoid the attention of the warriors. Their fingers brush against the soil. Ahead a child looks up at them through chipped-mirror eyes. A protective arm pulls her back into the cairn of bodies.
‘Come with us,’ Satori whispers to the nearest figure.
A woman, who could be any age between twenty-five and fifty beneath the grime, turns to face them. She shakes her head.
‘You cannot protect us.’ Her voice is full of resignation.
Satori feels empty. What now? A spark of anger reignites his desire to help. ‘You cannot stay here. It isn’t safe. Think of the children.’
‘If you must help, then aid our king,’ she replies and turns away.
Satori looks towards the battle. The king is outnumbered and yet he keeps swinging and stabbing, completely unaware of the apparent futility of his battle. Every blow he offers his enemy is a killing blow. His hands are death, his mantle strength.
‘I’m going to help him,’ Satori tells Donna. ‘Don’t wait here. Run and hide. I’ll find you again.’
‘You can’t Steve. It’s suicide. There’s too many of them.’
‘I’ll be okay,’ he promises.
He sprints towards the horde picturing the black letters and a word of power. He pushes his arms in front of him and the wall of men breaks open to let him pass. With his back against the huge horse’s belly he looks around him at the hate-filled crush.
‘Can I help?’ he calls up to the rider.
A hand lifts him as if he weighed nothing at all. Satori twists to seat himself on the horse’s flank.
‘Here,’ the king says, thrusting his spear into Satori’s hand.
Satori watches in silence as the man pulls a scourge from his belt to replace the loaned spear. The whip cuts through the crowd of maniacs who surround them. Satori lifts the spear and stabs downwards at the closest foe. With a wail the man crumples and falls. Satori pulls the bloody tip back and stabs at another.
‘Who are they?’ Satori shouts above the wails of anger and pain.
‘Men who would tear people from their families for profit,’ the king replies.
‘Slave traders?’
The king nods.
‘I tried to aid their escape, but they wouldn’t leave you,’ Satori says.
‘They fear me,’ the king tells him.
‘But you’re saving them.’
‘That makes no difference. They will always fear me.’
Satori turns to concentrate on the battle. However many men he slaughters more take their place. His arm aches and actions that frightened and thrilled him at first, become repetitive. His mind strips the creatures of their humanity before he thrusts at them. It feels like he’s merely collecting litter on a spike.
‘How many are there?’ Satori asks.
‘There are always more.’
‘How do we win?’
‘We can never win. We can only keep fighting,’ the king says.
‘I can’t stay. I
have somewhere I need to be.’
‘Then make them leave,’ the king tells him.
‘How?’ Satori asks.
‘You know how,’ the king answers.
Satori remembers the storm he created and lets it build inside his mind. He sends waves of power through the maelstrom of malice. Lightning crashes into the bodies around them. Wind pushes men to the ground. A circle of confusion surrounds the horse and widens as panicked bodies push and pull each other out of their way. The warriors flee, leaving their dead to rot or be consumed by carrion birds.
‘You’re a useful fellow to have by my side,’ the king tells Satori. ‘Thank you.’
‘Will you free the prisoners?’
‘So they can be captured as easily next time? No, they must free themselves,’ the king replies.
Satori nods. The cruel words make sense to him. He hands the spear back to its owner and climbs down from the horse.
‘Where are you travelling, friend?’ the king asks as he tucks the spear into a sheath attached to his saddle.
‘Binah. I have someone I need to save.’
‘That woman?’ the king asks, gesturing towards Donna who watches them from the hill beside the prisoners.
Satori sighs. So she didn’t run and hide. ‘No that’s Donna. She’s helping me.’
‘It looks to me as though she’s the one who needs to be saved. She shouldn’t be here.’
‘Why?’ Satori asks.
‘She’s needed elsewhere. She’s fading. Can’t you feel it?’
‘She’s in a coma, back in Malkuth. She met me on my journey.’
‘You have to send her back,’ the king tells him.
‘How?’
‘Kill her, my friend.’
‘What? No! I couldn’t,’ Satori says.
‘Sometimes mercy is brutal,’ the king replies.
‘That can’t be the answer. There must be another,’ Satori insists.
‘Why must there be another? Answers cannot always be to your liking.’
‘I won’t kill her. There’s already enough blood on my hands.’
‘As you wish,’ the king answers.
‘What will happen if I don’t?’
‘She’ll never go home.’
‘And if I do?’
The king smiles. ‘Take this,’ he says handing Satori a dagger.
Satori stares at the steel in his hand. The metal feels cold. He shakes his head and walks back to Donna and the prisoners.
He takes her hand and walks with her away from the red field.
‘What?’ Donna asks him.
He looks at her ragged face and worried smile.
‘He’s riding away. What about them?’ she asks, pointing at the chained prisoners still cowering.
‘We have to leave them,’ Satori tells her.
‘Why?’
‘They have to free themselves,’ he says.
‘How?’ Donna asks.
‘I don’t know,’ he admits.
‘What happened, Satori? What did he say to you?’
Satori shakes his head.
‘Was it about me?’ Donna asks
‘Why do you ask that?’
Donna shrugs. ‘I can’t help you, can I?’
‘He says you’re fading, but you’ve already helped me. I’m scared to go on alone.’
‘Then don’t. I’ll come with you,’ she says.
‘He said if I don’t send you back you’ll never go home.’
‘How can you send me back?’ Donna asks.
He looks away.
‘Tell me! For fucks sake, Satori, tell me how to get home.’
‘I have to kill you.’
Donna takes a step back. She stares at Satori’s face then looks down at the knife cradled in his fist. She shakes her head. ‘Are you sure?’
He shrugs. ‘It’s what he told me, but I’m not sure of anything.’
‘Will it hurt?’ she asks.
‘Probably. Here you do it, Donna. I can’t.’
‘He said you had to do it, didn’t he? What if he really meant you?’
‘Donna.’ Satori’s eyes plead with her.
Her chest rises and falls. Her eyes are hooded and her skin is slick with sweat. She stands there waiting for his blow.
Satori coughs. The knife feels heavy in his fingers. His body aches. ‘Donna,’ he says again.
She nods and looks at him. Her pupils are pinpricks and tears glisten like crystals in the corner of her eyes.
Chapter 44
‘You and this…’ Lorraine looks tired.
‘Rob,’ Deya says. She smiles at her mother’s pale face pressed into the pillow.
Lifting the woman’s shoulders, Deya fluffs up the pillow before softly lowering Lorraine’s head once more.
‘Uhh Rob, yeah. You seem to be getting close.’
‘Mum, I wanted to talk to you about that.’
Lorraine blinks and smiles.
‘He’s leaving for York. Should I go with him?’ Deya asks.
‘Does he make you happy?’
Deya smiles. ‘Very.’
‘Then perhaps you should. Life has never been easy for you. I should have noticed…Go with him.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘If it doesn’t work out what have you lost?’
Deya shrugs. ‘Apart from my crappy job?’
‘You can always come back,’ Lorraine says.
‘And Dad?’ Deya asks.
‘Leave him to me.’
‘I’m sorry, Mum.’
‘I’m sorry too. I had one daughter stolen and pushed the other away.’ Lorraine’s face creases into a mask of pain and regret.
‘I’m still here, Mum.’
‘Yeah you are, but that’s in spite of me, not because of me.’
‘You were right though,’ Deya says.
‘Maybe you were too. Perhaps we should forget it,’ Lorraine says.
‘Are you going to be okay?’
‘With my two men to look after me? I’ll be pampered. Once they get the medication sorted out I’ll be back on my feet.’ Lorraine forces an awkward smile.
‘Will you visit me if I go to York?’ Deya asks.
‘Do you want me to?’
‘Of course I do, Mum.’ A fat tear encapsulating years of sorrow rolls down Deya’s cheek.
Lorraine watches its progress until Deya licks the saline trail away.
‘Then I’ll come visit you, as soon as I’m better,’ Lorraine promises.
‘Do you need anything, Mum - water, something to eat?’
‘I’m fine. I just need to rest.’
‘Okay. I’ll check on you soon.’ Deya bends across to kiss her mother’s forehead.
Lorraine’s eyes are already closed.
***
‘I’m coming with you.’ Deya’s smile is open and trusting. She lays her heart on the carpet and waits for him to nurse it or crush it. ‘If you still want me to.’
Rob sits in silence. He swallows air, opening and closing his mouth like a drowning fish. ‘Do you mean it?’
‘Of course,’ she says.
‘You’ll come to York?’
‘Yes.’ She laughs.
‘But, but…I thought…Oh god, that’s wonderful Freya. I’d resigned myself to having to choose between you and the job.’
‘Well now you don’t.’ Deya grins.
‘I haven’t sorted out anywhere to stay yet. I wasn’t sure…’
‘I know. Look we’ve both got this weekend off. Why don’t we…’
‘Yes. We could. I’ll book somewhere for the weekend. Freya…’
‘Yes?’
‘Thank you.’
She smiles again. ‘It makes sense, doesn’t it?’
‘Since when has love made sense, Freya? If it makes us both happy that’s all that matters.’ He leans towards her.
Rob’s kisses reassure Deya that it does make sense. She needs to leave. My friends are all dead or dying. My brother would be better loved f
rom a distance, and my mother will have time to heal, and maybe…someday…I can be the daughter she always wanted. Rob can give her all this and more: escape and love. He completes me. She strokes his face and his skin warms her fingers. Yes this makes perfect sense. So, why am I terrified?
He breaks away from her lips. ‘Let’s go out and celebrate.’
‘Can’t we stay in and celebrate,’ she whispers. Her lips cover his again. Her tongue anchors him to her side.
He doesn’t use words to answer. Words are superfluous. He wraps his arms around her and pulls her body closer to his. His breath is hot in her mouth. It tells her all she needs to know. He loves her and he wants her. The rest will work itself out.
She opens her eyes and watches Rob’s face move against hers. Detachment settles in her chest where excitement danced a few moments before. What am I giving up, nothing of any value? My freedom. Words stick in her throat, pinned there by his love and his tongue. What choice do I have? I said I would go and now I must.
He undresses her. His hands bruise her. She tries to cling onto the desire she feels for him, but it is overshadowed by doubt. She closes her eyes and searches for the answer between his lips. Her body warms and his hands soften. She sighs.
Chapter 45
Donna opens her eyes then closes them again. The light is too bright. Where am I? She touches her face and feels lumps on her skin. No pain. She rubs her cheeks. Skin peels off in her hands. She opens her eyes, a mere crack this time. Strips of angry red skin cling to her fingers. Rubbing her hands together, she watches the flakes fall onto the blanket. Her nails claw her cheek. She sloughs clumps of skin from her face.
The door opens and she hears a gasp. Then hands hold hers.
‘Shhhh,’ a voice whispers. Is it Satori?
She looks up and sees a face obscured by a mask and cap. One hand leaves hers and reaches over her to touch the wall.
Donna closes her eyes and falls asleep.
***
‘Baby?’
Donna opens her eyes. Her mother’s face provides a match to the familiar voice.
‘Mum?’
‘How are you feeling?’ The woman’s eyes look tired, red-rimmed and shadowed.
‘I’m okay. Where am I?’
‘In the hospital. You had an accident. You’ve been in a coma, Baby. I didn’t know…’
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