by Sean Stone
“My father,” said Arthur. “He was a good teacher.”
“Clearly.” Eddie turned to James. “Your teacher was shit,” he said.
“I was only ever taught the basics. Nick needed me to be powerful not skilled,” James said sullenly, back on his feet.
“Nick sounds like a bit of a user. I’d leave him if I were you,” Eddie said, grinning like a fool.
“A user. One of the nicer ways to describe Blackwood,” muttered Arthur. Eddie’s head snapped to him, full of wonder.
“Blackwood? Nickolas Blackwood? He’s real? I thought he was a legend,” he said in amazement. His darted between Arthur and James looking for an explanation.
“He’s very real. I can introduce to him if you like?” offered James.
“Perhaps another time,” said Eddie, clearly nervous about the prospect of meeting Nick. “I’m just amazed. Can’t believe he’s real.”
“Try not to look so pleased. That man wiped out most of my coven and he’s killed a good deal more people than that,” Arthur said. Eddie was behaving like Nick was a museum piece. Adam had been the same when Arthur had told him that Nick was real and things hadn’t turned out so well. “Are you ready to do what we hired for?”
“I don’t remember agreeing to that job,” said Eddie, no longer quite so happy. “Kidnapping me hasn’t done much to convince me.”
“I’ll pay you double,” said Arthur.
“Done. Where’s the guy you want me to leech?”
“Follow me,” replied Arthur. He led them to the basement door and began descending the stairs. “He’s taken a lot of magic so he’s powerful and he’s skilled too. He’s been studying magic and the occult his whole life. Don’t be surprised if he has a trick or too up his sleeve. I’ve got him chained up in iron, but I assumed you need to take the chains off?” Arthur stopped at the bottom of the stairs and gestured for Eddie to go ahead.
“I do indeed,” he replied. He stopped no more than two steps in. “Unless he’s got the power of invisibility, which I would find highly impressive, we’ve got a problem.”
Arthur followed into the room and saw that the chains were abandoned on the floor. Adam was gone.
“Just do a locator spell and let’s track him down,” said James impatiently.
“I need something of his for that,” replied Arthur.
“Easy enough,” said Eddie. He walked over and knelt by the chains. He lifted one of the chains and began scraping the manacle that had been around Adam’s wrist. “Old chains like this always take the skin off. A bit of DNA makes locator smells easy as pi.” He held up a small amount of dead skin between his thumb and forefinger with a satisfied smile on his face.
“You’re already paying for yourself. Come on, let’s get upstairs,” said Arthur, turning for the stairs.
“Oh no,” said Eddie. “I don’t care how much you offer, I’m not into old men.”
Arthur turned back, his mouth open in surprise. James was laughing his head off. “Old?” Arthur said. “Get upstairs so we can do the spell, you bloody idiot!”
“He’s growing on me,” James muttered as he headed upstairs.
“Shut up,” grumbled Arthur. “Wasn’t even funny.”
Fifteen minutes later they’d tracked Adam to the Occult Museum where he used to work. “This is probably a trap” said Arthur. “We need to make a stop somewhere.”
“Why would he try to trap us? There’s one of him, three of us. Surely the only thing he wants to do is get as far away from us as possible?” said Eddie.
Arthur shook his head. “Adam’s too clever for that. He can’t leave town which means he can’t get away from us. He knows I won’t give up on him which means the only way to get rid of me is to kill me. He’s come to a place he knows better than anyone. He’s probably got some weapons in there too. He’s going to try to use the place and the weapons to even the odds.”
“Right,” said Eddie. “Have you considered just leaving him alone?”
“I have and I decided against it. I was leaving him alone and he lured me into a trap. I can’t trust him not to do it again. And I have to make up for my mistake.”
“Alright, alright, I wish I hadn’t asked. Where are we heading?”
“To find someone he has a soft spot for.” Arthur turned to James. “James, I know I asked you to help, but I need you to sit out of this part. The Coven will never work with you and right now I need at least one of them.”
“You don’t need to explain anything to me. I’ll wait here,” James said, more than willing to sit this one out.
Arthur and Eddie drove to Toni’s house in Arthur’s cloaked car. Eddie was paranoid all the way there that the cloak would wear off. Arthur was amused every time they passed some soldiers and Eddie tensed up.
“Couldn’t you just have got her to come to you?”
“My daughter has the only way of communicating with the Coven,” Arthur explained.
“Well that’s just smashing. So we get to drive around a war zone with nothing but a weak cloaking spell for protection.”
“Hey, I’m a Winters. My spells aren’t weak,” said Arthur defensively.
Toni did not look pleased at all that Arthur had brought a warlock to her house.
“I was born a warlock so it’s not really something you can hold against me,” said Eddie offering her one of his annoying smiles.
“What does that even mean?” demanded Toni.
“He was born with the power to siphon magic out of people,” explained Arthur. “But we don’t have time for this. We need your help with Adam.”
Toni’s eyes widened hopefully. It was no secret that she was in love with Adam, Marlon had told Arthur when he’d updated him on all Coven happenings. “Adam? You’ve found him?”
“Yes, he tried to kill me so I locked him in my basement,” said Arthur.
Her face darkened. “And you’re only telling me now?” she said accusingly.
“Toni,” said Arthur, apologetically. “He’s not himself. The magic Henry left in him has warped his mind. I didn’t want to upset you,” he explained. It wasn’t the truth. Truthfully he hadn’t thought about Toni once.
“So why tell me now?”
“I think he’s trying to trap us at the museum. I thought you might be able to appeal to his better side.” He should have thought about it before. Taking her to Adam when he was chained up might have done some good.
“I’ll do this, but not to help you because right now I despise you for keeping this from me. I’ll do it for Adam. He needs me.” Arthur wasn’t convinced that Toni was what Adam needed at all, but he daren’t argue. He needed her help.
They all piled into Arthur’s car and drove to the museum. Thankfully, there were no soldiers in sight. They obviously hadn’t deemed the museum as a place worth watching. Eddie climbed out of the car and began feeling around in the air like a mad man.
“What are you doing?” demand Toni. She looked back at Arthur as if he might be able to answer the question. Arthur shrugged cluelessly.
“Feeling for any magical booby-traps he might have left for us,” said Eddie quietly, continuing to work. “I can’t feel anything.”
“I didn’t know that was a thing we could do,” said Toni.
“It takes skill,” Eddie muttered, seemingly oblivious to how offensive that statement was to another sorcerer.
They entered the museum and headed for the main exhibition hall.
“Adam?” Arthur called out. “Adam we want to help you. Please let us help you.”
They entered the hall and saw Adam standing in the centre of the room, the exhibits on display around him. They were in the mummy room. The mummies were believed to have been former witches. Arthur had no idea who they really had been, but he knew that they were not witches. The Coven did not mummify their dead.
“Arthur. Interesting company you’ve been keeping,” he said accusingly.
“Adam…” Toni said, at a loss for words. His dishevelled ap
pearance had clearly stunned her. Not to mention the distinctly un-Adam like look in his eye.
“Oh, trying for emotional manipulation?” Adam asked, looking at Arthur.
“She’s worried about you, Adam,” he said.
“Why? Can’t you see I’m better than ever?” he said loudly, spreading his arms widely and smiling. “I’ve only lost everything and now this bastard wants to destroy me completely.” He pointed at Arthur viciously.
“I want to save you,” Arthur said.
“Save me? How is bringing a warlock after me going to save me?”
“Try not to be too judgemental, pal, from what I hear you’re one of us now,” said Eddie. Adam fixed him with a loathing glare.
“I don’t know you, but I know of you. Eddie Lancaster the natural warlock of Maidstone. Your power is no match for mine,” he said stepping towards him. “I’m warning you to leave. Now.” The last word was said directly into Eddie’s face as the gap closed between the men.
“I’ve got a better idea.” Eddie grabbed Adam’s wrists with surprising speed and Adam started to shake at once. For a second he looked confused before he cottoned on. The siphoning was happening. The lights flickered above them and then Eddie went flying across the room. Adam stood with his arms outstretched and look of fury twisting his features.
“Did you really think I would let you do that?” he screamed.
“I thought you might,” Eddie said, rolling on to his front and getting up. He rubbed his spine where he’d hit the floor.
“Adam please, this isn’t you,” said Toni. “You’re not the man I shared a bond with.”
Adam turned slowly to face her. “Shared a bond with?” he repeated each word with agonising slowness. “Is that what you think we did? Maybe we did. Who knows? Who cares? What’s important is now and let me tell you Antonia, I feel nothing for you, whatsoever.”
‘You don’t mean that,” she replied shakily.
“You. Mean. Nothing. To. Me.”
Toni shook her head, not taking her eyes from him. “Do what you have to, Arthur. Adam isn’t in there anymore.”
“Adam, you’re outnumbered. Stand down and let us help you,” said Arthur, stepping forwards.
“Am I outnumbered?” he asked.
Arthur heard a crack to his right. He turned, dreading what he might see, and saw the glass display case breaking open. All the cases were cracking. “You see, having a ghost inside you leaves a mark on you. It gives you a sort of communion with the dead. And now the incredibly tricky art of necromancy comes rather easily to me.” The shattered glass fell as the mummies started to rise from their displays. Arthur couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Several corpses wrapped in brown decayed cloth sat up and began to climb to their ancient feet.
“You never said we was going into a horror film!” Eddie shouted from across the room.
“Fire! Use fire!” shouted Arthur. He cast a jet of orange flame at the nearest mummy and watched it go up in flames. Even as it burned it staggered toward him. It was just a few steps away from him when it finally fell to its knees and crumbled to ashes. Before he could get the next mummy a spell hit him in the side of the face, knocking him into one of the broken display cabinets. Blood was dripping from his face as whatever curse Adam had thrown sliced him open. Arthur got a shield up in time to block the next curse.
“The mummies are for them, Arthur. You’re mine,” snarled Adam as he advanced.
“Can you hear yourself?” shouted Arthur. He threw a spell of his own which Adam dodged. Adam took Arthur by surprise and ran at him. He smashed through his shield and tackled Arthur to the floor, savagely punching him in the face and chest. Arthur couldn’t stop the attacks because he was in too much shock at the animalistic fury coming at him.
“You did this to me!” Adam screamed as he placed each punch on Arthur. Mummified hands grabbed Arthur’s arms and held him down. Arthur tried to release spells at them but Adam’s attacks kept breaking his concentration.
“You trying to take my magic from me has really opened my eyes to how despicable you really are, Arthur. And now there is nothing holding me back from exacting true revenge on you.” Adam flicked his wrist and fire sprung to life next to him. The mummy nearest it flinched away. Adam drew out the Montford Athame.
“Henry, no!” Toni screamed across the room, having finished with her attackers. Adam froze, his anger was replaced by horror. A look of purest revulsion twisted his features as he turned to her.
“What did you call me?” he said in disgust.
“Well, you look more like him than Adam right now,” she spat. “To think I came here looking for the man I love.” Arthur noticed that Eddie had dispatched of his own mummies now. The only two which remained were the ones holding Arthur.
“I’m not…” Adam said, shaking his head. “I’m not him.” Adam stood up and stepped toward Toni.
Arthur took his opportunity. He set the mummies either side of him ablaze and rolled out of the way as the flames ate them up. Adam was oblivious to what was going on behind him, completely wrapped up in what Toni had said.
“You’ve got me fooled,” said Toni.
“How dare you,” Adam whispered. “That man murdered my family. He made me watch as he did it using my own hands.” He held his hands up furiously.
“And now you stand there holding the same weapon he used on them,” she accused.
Adam looked at the athame in his hand and then screamed, dropping it to the floor. Arthur and Toni leapt for him. They grabbed an arm each and locked him in place. “No, no!” Adam screamed as Eddie planted his hand over Adam’s heart. Adam tried to summon a spell, but Arthur conjured a shield over him, keeping his magic inside. Adam shook as Eddie began to suck the stolen magic out of him. The lights flicked and buzzed angrily. “Arthur please,” Adam begged, like a junkie being relieved of his stash. The lights grew in brightness and the buzzing increased until Arthur could barely hear Adam’s protests. It was taking all of Arthur’s strength to hold him in place. The bulb above them smashed, showering them with glass. Every window in the room imploded in unison and then the room was still. Eddie stepped back, his hand glowing with the power he’d taken.
“Wow!” Eddie screamed. “I see why he didn’t wanna give this up!”
Adam was silent and limp in their arms, the fight gone from him. Despite knowing that he’d done the right thing, Arthur couldn’t help feeling bad for his friend who’d now lost the one thing he’d been clinging on to.
“Sorry, buddy,” Eddie said, giving Adam a pitying look. “It’s just business.” He snapped his fingers in Adam’s face and Adam fell asleep, collapsing in Arthur and Toni’s arms completely.
“Let’s get him home,” said Arthur quietly, taking no pleasure in their victory.
Chapter 17
Arthur sat alone in his living room, brandy in hand, head tilted back against his chair, staring up at the ceiling. James had gone home; Eddie and Toni were in the kitchen and Adam was back in the basement. Arthur wanted to be by himself to reflect on the first victory they’d had so far. It didn’t feel like a victory at all. Stripping his friend of magic and then locking him in the basement felt more like a betrayal, but he knew it was the right thing to do.
Adam needed to be dealt with, but Arthur had no idea what to do next. He was no harm to anyone now, but letting him go still didn’t seem right. Arthur wanted to somehow rehabilitate him. There was no time for that, though and he could hardly keep him locked up until after Eloise was dealt with. There was also the matter of Apophis. Adam had said Apophis wanted Arthur dead. Arthur didn’t know anybody by that name and he definitely wanted more information before he let Adam go free. Who was Apophis? What was Apophis? What had Arthur done to offend him?
He heard the front door slam shut and a few moments later Dean came into the room, looking agitated. Arthur was still not used to a member of the Tenson family having full access to his house. Even though Dean had never done anything to harm his fami
ly it still unsettled Arthur. The look of worry on Dean’s face made him forget that, though.
“Everything alright, Dean?” Arthur asked, lifting his head from the chair.
“Eloise is attacking the vampires today. We need to get Richie out of there,” he said. He didn’t sit down, but remained standing, fidgeting on the spot.
“Shouldn’t we save a few more vampires than just Richie. I mean, Richie alone isn’t going to be much help,” said Kegan as he followed Dean in.
“There’s only a small number of vampires living underneath Morgan’s,” said Arthur. “The rest are all over the town. I assume the attack is just on the club?”
Dean nodded. “Once me and Kegan get in, I’ll tell Jacob to get his people out and he can help me get Richie. Clara told me to ask if there’s anything you can do to make it easier for us?”
“Where’s Clara? Why isn’t she helping you with this?” asked Arthur, noticing his daughter’s absence.
“She’s trying to sort out the meeting with Eloise,” Dean said. Arthur noticed that he looked at Kegan shiftily. There was something being kept from Arthur, but he didn’t have time figure it out.
“If you go in there and get caught Ramsay will link you to the Coven,” said Arthur, focusing on the matter at hand.
“Our hope is that Ramsay won’t survive the attack,” replied Kegan.
“Even so, we have to plan as though he will. My father always taught me to plan with the worst outcome in mind.”
“That’s depressing,” said Kegan.
“What are you suggesting?” Dean asked Arthur.
Arthur considered his options. There weren’t many, but he had an idea. It wasn’t a great idea but it was the best he could think of. “You two stick to what Clara’s told you to do. Go in and find Richie. I’ll make it as easy as I can,” he said. He put his drink down and then hurried into the kitchen. Eddie was sitting at the table levitating grains of salt in the air like he hadn’t a care in the world. Toni was sitting with her head in her hands wallowing in pity for Adam.