The Incubus, Succubus and Son of Perdition Box Set: The Len du Randt Bundle

by Len du Randt

  ‘Tell me,’ Jared said. ‘Tell me how to prevent this from happening.’

  ‘You will have to figure that out for yourself,’ Simon said. ‘When the time is right, you’ll know what to do.’

  Elrisk pointed to a small building near the lake. ‘That’s where we have to be. But we must move quickly.’

  Simon nodded.

  ‘What’s that?’ Jared asked.

  ‘A Church,’ Elrisk said and started toward their destination. ‘Come, we’re running out of daylight fast.’

  The heat intensified as the three neared the lake. Jared looked up at the blaze in front of them, mesmerized at the sheer size of the flames. It was only when they were almost right next to the lake that Jared heard the screaming above the roaring fire.

  ‘There are people in there,’ Jared said and wiped at the perspiration on his forehead.

  ‘Indeed,’ Elrisk said. ‘A foreshadow of what’s to come on Judgement day.’

  Despite the scorching heat, a chill crept down Jared’s spine. ‘This is—’

  Simon thrust out his hand to shush Jared. The two men unsheathed their swords and stood back-to-back with Jared between them.

  ‘Where are they?’ Simon asked in a hushed voice.

  ‘I don’t know,’ Elrisk said. ‘But there are many. I can feel it.’

  Jared was about to ask who they were talking about when he saw them. They came from all over, running toward the three of them; their arms flailing around wildly through the air.

  ‘This is it,’ Elrisk said.

  ‘This is it,’ his companion confirmed.

  The two waited until the zombie-like horde were upon them. ‘Now!’ Elrisk shouted and the two of them slashed out their blades simultaneously. Four of the attackers fell at their feet at once, stopping the rest in their tracks.

  For a moment nothing happened. Then, as if on cue, they all charged again.

  ‘Look,’ Jared said and pointed at something in the distance.

  ‘Not good,’ Elrisk said when he saw the pack of gene-manipulated bears advance upon them in frog-like hops. ‘There’s twenty odd of them.’ Elrisk looked at the building that was their destination. ‘They will be upon us in less than a minute or two. Yuriel, take Jared and make a break for it. I’ll fend them off.’

  ‘You can’t take them alone,’ Simon said. ‘I’ll stay and help first.’

  ‘The sun is setting,’ Elrisk said and slashed down two more attackers. ‘There’s no time to argue. There will be even more of them soon.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Go!’

  Simon grabbed hold of Jared’s arm and pulled him as he slashed a path with his sword. At least thirty of the monstrous people fell before they reached the little Church building. With one powerful kick the door gave way, and Simon urged Jared inside. He slew another attacker and then closed the door and bolted it from the inside.

  ‘Where to now?’ Jared asked.

  ‘Come,’ Simon said and ran to the pulpit at the front. Jared followed as quickly as his aching legs allowed. ‘This is where the door is.’

  ‘The door?’

  Simon nodded and walked to the brick wall behind the pulpit. Loud pounding and banging sounds came from the bolted door at the main entrance. ‘Here,’ Simon said as he gently rubbed his fingers over the bricks. ‘This is it.’

  ‘What are we looking for?’ Jared asked.

  Simon ignored the question. ‘Stand back,’ he said and Jared took a step back. Simon smashed the hilt of his sword into a brick, and it broke out like a loose tooth. A blue shimmering light shone through the hole in the wall, and soon, three more bricks were broken out. Then five. Then seven.

  There was a loud bang on the entrance door and the wood cracked.

  ‘We’re going to have company soon,’ Jared said.

  Simon didn’t answer. He broke out more bricks. ‘Almost done,’ he said, and then broke out another one.

  The door cracked.

  Jared could see arms pressing through the cracks in the wood, groping for the bolt. ‘They’re coming,’ he said. Simon kept breaking the bricks. The door cracked and snapped, allowing the swarm of half-decayed men and women to flood into the building. They advanced upon Simon and Jared at a rapid pace, lashing their arms out as they came at them from all sides.

  ‘Get in,’ Simon said, once satisfied that a man could fit through the gap.

  ‘What about you?’ Jared asked. ‘And your friend?’

  ‘Never mind us,’ Simon said and pushed Jared toward the wall. ‘We’ll be all right.’ He raised his sword in the air and a flame engulfed the blade. With one majestic swoosh of the weapon, Simon dropped six of the humanoid creatures.

  ‘Go!’

  ‘Will I see you again?’

  Simon nodded and slashed down with his sword and then sideways, dropping two more and setting fire to three others. More were swarming in through the main door, followed by three bear-like monsters.

  ‘Thank you, Simon,’ Jared said, and stepped into the blue light.

  Chapter 9

  ‘It’s been a month now, Lord,’ Rebecca prayed. ‘I don’t know how much more of this I can take.’ She made no effort to stop the tears that flowed from her eyes. ‘I need to get back to my husband and daughter.’

  Although she received no answer, a certain sense of calmness seemed to settle over her.

  ‘I’m sorry, Jared,’ she said. ‘I tried, my son. But there’s no more fight left in me.’

  She didn’t want to tell him that a transfer to the hospital in the city where she and Justin lived would bankrupt them. She didn’t want to tell him that the doctors believed that even if he one day did manage to wake up from the coma, that he would have severe brain damage. So instead she spoke to him about how he grew up. She described the events that she wanted him to remember as happy moments. When they were at the park together. When they went out for dinner as a family. She wanted to remember him as her little boy, before they switched off the life support machines.

  * - - - *

  At first Jared could see only blue. Apart from the howling of the wind, he couldn’t hear anything else. The blue faded and revealed an image that made Jared gasp. He was floating above golden-orange clouds. In the distance hovered a majestic castle made entirely of gold. It radiated light in every single direction.

  Jared’s heart beat heavily in his chest. The castle was built in layers, each floor with outer passageways that led around it. If only I could get there, Jared thought, and in a flash he was closer to the castle. He tried to move closer, and in another flash, he was. Another flash and he could make out more details of the magnificent building. One thing that struck him as odd was the fact that there were no people walking around, almost as if the castle had been deserted, or had been prepared for someone not here yet.

  Another flash and Jared stood inside one of the outer hallways. He was now distinctly aware of another sound. A soft humming coming from the walls itself. Jared looked closer and noticed that the gold in the floors and the walls was swirling, almost as if it were alive. He looked out over the clouds, and tears of amazement stung his eyes. The scene in front of him was one of such beauty that he wanted to cry out. He composed himself instead and moved down the hallway in three consecutive flashes until he stopped in front of a door. For an instant, he saw an image of a beautiful golden throne in his mind. Somehow he knew that the door was locked, so he turned left to follow the hallway instead. He flashed twice more down the hallway and stopped. Right in front of him at eye level hovered three rotating golden keys: the smallest on the left; the largest in the middle. Each key had a golden thread tied around it. The hallway stretched away into eternity, but his focus remained, instead, at the three keys. Jared examined the fine craftsmanship as the keys slowly rotated around and around.

  I will bless you; a voice spoke from all around Jared. The voice was calm and gentle, yet packed with authority. I have established my covenant with you, and you will be a blessing
to others.

  Jared looked around, but couldn’t see the speaker. The voice was everywhere. It radiated from the walls, the floors, the keys. The voice also spoke from within him. ‘Who...who are you?’ Jared asked. He didn’t care for the quiver in his voice.

  I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the voice answered.

  Jared closed his eyes.

  I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the voice echoed softly.

  Jared took a deep breath.

  I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the voice faded away.

  Jared opened his eyes.

  Once again, Jared was surrounded by nothing but black.

  * - - - *

  ‘Hello?’

  Darkness.

  ‘Is anybody there?’

  ‘Jared?’

  It was his mother’s voice that answered. Jared cried out when he heard it. ‘I’m here, mom.’

  ‘Nurse,’ he heard her call from somewhere in the distance. ‘Come, quick!’

  ‘Mom? Where are you?’

  ‘I’m right here, Jared. Please lie still. Save your energy.’

  Jared stuck out his hand. At first there was nothing, and then he could feel her soft hands folding around his. Someone said something in the background. Although he couldn’t hear everything, he did detect a sense of urgency in the voice. He heard the words doctor and awake and tightened his grip around his mother’s hand. ‘Please don’t leave me,’ he begged softly. ‘I don’t want to be alone.’

  ‘I’m not going anywhere,’ Rebecca promised him.

  ‘Mom?’

  ‘Yes dear?’

  ‘Where are you?’

  ‘I’m right here,’ she said. ‘What’s wrong, baby? What’s the matter?’

  ‘It’s dark,’ he said and slight panic seeped through his voice. ‘I can’t see a thing!’

  Chapter 10

  ‘He’s awake, Justin.’

  ‘Who?’ Justin asked. ‘Jared?’

  ‘Yes, our son. He is awake!’

  Justin sat down. He shot up a quick prayer of thanks and took a deep breath. ‘How is he?’ he asked. ‘Are there any complications?’

  ‘So far it’s difficult to say. He can’t see me, but he did recognize my voice. The doctor is busy examining him as we speak.’

  ‘I’m sorry that I can’t be there with you at this moment, Becky.’

  Rebecca smiled. It didn’t matter. Her son was going to live. ‘Any news from those agents you sent your queries to yet?’

  ‘Not yet, no,’ he said. ‘But I’m expecting a rejection any day now.’

  She giggled and for a moment neither of them spoke. Both were content that everything was slowly returning to normal again. The novel was finally completed and Justin now just had to find someone that would be interested in representing it. Five hard years of sacrifice might finally start paying off. Jared had awakened from his coma and soon, Rebecca would be with her husband and daughter and everything else would be back to normal.

  ‘When are you coming home?’ Justin finally asked.

  ‘I don’t know,’ Rebecca said. ‘It all depends on Jared’s condition. I think it might be in a few weeks or so at most, give or take.’

  ‘It’s lonely here without you,’ he said. ‘We miss you, you know?’

  ‘And I miss you too. Both of you. But I’ll be home soon.’

  A man in a white coat walked up to Rebecca and stood still next to her. It was clear from his body language that he wanted to speak to her. ‘Hold on,’ she told Justin and covered the mouth piece in her hand. She looked up at the gentleman next to her. ‘Yes?’ she asked.

  ‘Ms. Greene?’ the man asked to confirm.

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘I’m Doctor Cunningham. Would it be possible to see you in my office for a moment?’

  Rebecca held up an index finger and spoke into the phone again. ‘I have to go, love. I’ll call you if there are any new developments. Please send my love to Monique.’

  ‘Okay,’ Justin said. ‘We’ll talk later.’

  When she hung up, Rebecca smiled at the doctor. ‘Sorry about that.’

  ‘It’s quite alright,’ the younger man answered and motioned for her to follow him. The two of them didn’t talk at all as they walked down a long and dark corridor. A sense of coldness followed the clicking of her heels. Finally he stopped at a door and opened it, allowing her to enter first. ‘In here,’ he said and followed after her. ‘Please, have a seat.’

  She complied, sitting down in the hard chair in front of his desk. The doctor walked around the desk and sat down in his leather seat. He interlocked his fingers and sighed deeply, trying to formulate the words in his mind before speaking them out loud.

  ‘Is it Jared?’ Rebecca asked softly. ‘Is something wrong?’

  The doctor didn’t answer at first, but merely rocked back and forth in his executive chair. ‘Jared has recovered from his coma,’ he stated the obvious. ‘From his earlier diagnosis this in itself is a miracle. Although his brain appears to be functioning at a normal level, there does however, appear to be another complication.’ The doctor picked up a fountain pen, removed the cap, re-clicked it shut, and tapped it on the desk. ‘It appears that Jared might never be able to see again.’

  Rebecca choked. ‘Are you sure?’ she asked, grasping at what she could. ‘Isn’t this just a temporary thing because of the coma? Won’t it come right with time? Aren’t there operations that could fix this?’

  The doctor lowered his eyes and shook his head. ‘I’m afraid not, no.’ He dropped the pen and interlocked his fingers again, tapping the knuckles of his fists against his chin. ‘But we have to keep looking at the positive and not succumb to the negative. The pressure on Jared’s brain has cleared up, so at least he will be able to function normally. His brain suffered no permanent damage.’

  Rebecca felt elated that her son would live, but she wanted to laugh out and weep at the same time. She was torn between gratefulness and denial, pulled between the two forces that were her emotions. Images of a young Jared flashed through her mind, memories long buried. Jared ran on the grass outside their house and fell. She could recall how she wanted so desperately to help her crying son to his feet, but how she allowed him to do it on his own. When she first heard that he was the victim of bullies at school, she wanted to grab the little mongrels by the ears and drag them to their homes to have it out with both the kids and their parents. Instead, she stood back and watched as he learned to fend for himself. She remembered the sparkle in his eyes when he graduated from University, Cum Laude. And now, that bright young boy who learned the hard way to stand up and fight back would never see again. The sparkle was gone. He would never know what his children would look like. She felt utterly useless, unable to do anything but look on helplessly as her son would try to come to terms with this new reality.

  ‘You may see him if you wish,’ the doctor said. ‘He had a certain amount of short-term memory loss, but that was caused mostly by the confusion between the accident and the recovery of the coma. He has no sense of time yet, but he should be back to normal in about a week or so.’

  Rebecca nodded. She thanked the doctor and slowly made her way to the door.

  ‘He’s a fighter, you know,’ the doctor said and she paused. ‘What happened to your son, despite the blindness, is nothing short of miraculous.’

  Rebecca smiled. ‘Thank you, doctor,’ she said and then left.

  * - - - *

  When she saw her son lying on the bed with the patches stuck to his eyes she almost broke down and cried. A sob escaped her mouth, but that was all that she’d allow. She had to be strong, not just for herself, but also for Jared.

  ‘Hello?’ Jared asked and lifted his head somewhat. ‘Is anyone there?’

  Rebecca took a step closer. ‘It’s me,’ she said and bit her lip. She had to fight hard to stop the tears from breaking through. Pain stabbed in her forehead and her throat constricted. ‘How…how are you?’ she asked.


  ‘It’s dark,’ he said. ‘I feel so alone.’

  A tear trickled down her cheek. ‘You’re not alone,’ she said. ‘I’m here with you.’

  Jared raised his hand. ‘Come,’ he said. ‘Sit here next to me.’

  She sat down on the chair next to the bed and took his hand in hers. ‘You were in a coma,’ she said.

  Jared smiled faintly. ‘So I heard.’

  ‘According to the doctor, it’s a miracle that you’re still alive.’

  Jared didn’t answer immediately. He turned his head towards the window as if he could see through it and allowed the sunlight to kiss his face. ‘It doesn’t feel like a month, you know,’ he said. ‘If feels like I’ve gone to bed a little too early and overslept. You know when you wake up more tired because you’ve overslept?’

  She nodded but realised that he couldn’t see the gesture. ‘Uh-huh.’

  ‘Well, that’s what it feels like.’

  ‘Did you dream anything?’ she ventured.

  Jared turned his face away from the window. ‘I want to say no,’ he answered, ‘but I do have flashes; incoherent images coming and going. I think that I might have dreamt something at least.’ He rubbed his face and sighed deeply. ‘Perhaps I’m just remembering dreams I had before the accident…’

  ‘Don’t strain yourself too much,’ Rebecca said. ‘Try to rest. You have a rough time ahead of you and will need all your energy.’

  Jared pushed himself up on his elbow and tried to look at the spot where he thought his mother was sitting. For a long moment he didn’t say anything. ‘I’m never going to see again, am I?’ he finally asked.

  A tear slapped down on her hand and she wiped it off. ‘No,’ she said and choked. ‘It doesn’t appear so.’

  Jared sighed. ‘It never just rains, does it?’

  She didn’t answer. Somehow she knew that there was going to be a certain amount of resistance and denial. She closed her eyes and tried to imagine what it must feel like for him. She shuddered at the thought. Tears forced their way from her eyes and she finally couldn’t keep them locked up any longer. The tears rushed through relentless and unstoppable. Rebecca tried to speak, but she couldn’t. Instead, only loud sobs managed to escape her mouth.