A glass flower vase lay broken across the kitchen tiles; the dried up flower, having been flung from the vase upon impact, now lay next to the kitchen table legs. The vase had been sitting on top of the kitchen table. That much Luke was certain of. Although the wind outside was still quite strong, he couldn’t imagine it being able to knock the vase clean off the table, not with the broken window being so far away.
He crouched beside the table legs and began to pick up what remained of the flower. He’d almost gathered up the final petals when the sound of furniture being overturned broke the evening silence once again. Dropping the flowers’ remains, he spun around, his eyes now on the corridor outside beyond the kitchen door. A second door, at the far end of this corridor, led into a small dining room.
Slowly, not wanting to alert whoever else was in the cottage with him that evening, Luke walked into the corridor. As expected, the door to the dining room sat open. He could hear the sound of someone rummaging in one of the table drawers. He could hear the faint shuffle of footsteps too and quite soon, having stood himself only inches from the door, he could hear the unmistakable sound of someone breathing. He waited outside trying to work out if there was more than one person inside the dining room. There was no conversation to be heard. The sounds of movement then stopped suddenly. Had the person inside sensed his presence? He held his breath for fear that the intruder would hear it. He held his breath for a full minute and when eventually the sounds began again, Luke plucked up enough courage to step into the dining room.
The room appeared empty at first. There was no one to be seen. Nervously, he looked to his left and right. Again, there was no intruder to be found hiding behind the door or behind one of the dining chairs. He took a few steps further into the room. He glanced beneath the dining table, but the space below appeared empty too. He walked over to the table and moved one of the chairs, the chair’s legs scraping against the floor’s wooden boards. It was the same sound he’d heard from outside.
“Luke,” a voice directly in front of him spoke.
He froze, staring straight ahead. He could see an old grandfather clock in the far left hand corner of the room almost hidden from view within the room’s shadows. He peered into the shadows and spotted something glinting next to the clock. It was a blade of sorts. He could see its sharp point clearly now along with the faint outline of a delicate hand which held the knife.
“Luke,” the voice came again. This time the hand moved. The knife was raised and the person raising it left from the shadows. A thin sliver of silver moonlight had crept through the crack in the room’s curtains and as Lena stepped clear of the shadows she found herself bathed in faint silver.
“Lena,” Luke replied genuinely shocked to see her. “What are you doing here? How did you know I was here?”
“Elizabeth told me. We’re close. She’s the only one I can trust. The rest of my family are dead to me, Luke. Do you understand?”
She was pale. Her eyes were glazed over and it looked as though she hadn’t slept for several days. Her hair, once immaculate, now lay in tatters about her delicate neck and shoulders. She’d been crying too, her eyes still moist and full of grief.
“Put down the knife, Lena.”
Lena looked at the knife in her hand and then back at Luke.
“I have to tell you something Luke. I have to tell you everything now.”
“Of course. All in good time, sweet. Why don’t we take a seat and you can tell me everything.”
Luke walked calmly towards her. When he stood a few inches from her he reached over and took hold of her hand. For a second she resisted pulling her hand away and almost slicing one of Luke’s fingers off in the process. Fortunately, Luke still had his wits and more importantly his reactions about him. He dodged the blade by a fraction. Not wanting a repeat, he grabbed the knife by the handle and tore it free from Lena’s grasp. She allowed the blade to be taken and slumped herself into one of the dining room chairs. Luke placed the knife carefully on top of the table and took a seat next to her. For several seconds they sat in silence before Luke said, “We need to get you some help, Lena.”
Lena looked him in the eye.
“I’m sorry I brought you here, Luke. Truly I am. Please believe me when I say that.”
“I do. Don’t beat yourself up. No one forced me. I came here because I wanted to help you.”
“You’re in danger Luke. I put you in danger…”
“I can look after myself. You stop worrying about me, okay?”
Lena looked on the brink of crying but managed to compose herself at the last minute. Leaning forward and taking Luke’s hand in hers she then said, “It’s not what you think, Luke. It’s a lot worse.”
Gently, Luke began to caress her hand. She was frozen and the sooner he could get her into bed and into warmth the better.
“We can talk tomorrow if you like? Are you hungry? We can make you something to eat. Would you like that?”
“Please, Luke. You have to listen to me…”
“I am. I am, sweet.”
Lena removed her hand. She looked around the dining room and began to weep.
“Lena?”
“They brought me here when I was twelve. Can you imagine? The people you trust and love the most.”
“Who brought you here, Lena?”
Her eyes were back on Luke’s. She then said, “The people at the very top. Oh, you have no idea, Luke. You have no idea how sick and evil those people are.”
“Please, Lena. Let me get you something to eat and then something to drink. A glass of water, perhaps. You look like you could do with a nice glass of cold water.”
“They have secret sects. The elites that is. They’re riddled with secret sects and Satanists. If only the people knew. They operate here too, Luke. That’s what I was too scared to tell you in the beginning. You knew I was holding something back. You knew and yet you still wanted to help me,” Lena went on now breaking into a flood of tears and flinging her arms around Luke’s neck. “You have to leave before it’s too late. You have to get out of this village.”
“I’m not going anywhere. Not until I’ve found your mother and your brother. We’ll make sure they are safe before we leave, okay?”
“I think…I think it could be too late.”
“What do you mean, sweet?”
“They have rituals, Luke. At the Chatterton Estate. They come from all around the country. That’s what you don’t understand. That’s what I couldn’t tell you.”
“Rituals. What rituals?”
“Satanists. Bad people Luke. They all come to the Chatterton Estate. You have to believe me. You’re in great danger. I should have never gotten you involved. You’re such a sweet man. I’m so sorry Luke. I’m so sorry.”
She collapsed into his arms once again, this time unable to stop her sobbing. Luke held her tight and waited until she calmed down. He then went into the kitchen and poured her a glass of water.
“Here. Take this.”
She took the water but didn’t drink.
“You believe me, don’t you, Luke?”
Luke didn’t answer her question. Instead, he sat down next to her taking her hand in his once again.
“I’m going to find your mother and brother. I’m then going to get you all out of here. Do you hear me?”
“Yes. But…”
Luke put his forefinger across her lips.
“Be quiet. No buts. I’m going to make sure everyone is safe. I’m going to make sure no one gets hurt. You’re my responsibility now. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Then we’ll talk tomorrow. I promise.”
“But what about them? What about those people? The ones I told you about. What are we going to do about them, Luke?”
“You don’t worry about that. I’ll sort it out. I know you’ve been through a lot. I spoke to a few people. I know you haven’t been well and I…”
Lena pulled away sharply, throwing the glass to t
he floor smashing it.
“Lena!”
“You spoke to a few people? They said I wasn’t well? Who did you speak to? What did they say?”
“Look, it doesn’t matter now. It’s not important, sweet. We can talk tomorrow.”
“They said I was crazy, didn’t they? They said you wasn’t to listen to what I say, didn’t they?”
“No. That’s not it at all…”
“Don’t you see? That’s how they get away with what they’re doing. That’s how they’ve always gotten away with it. They shut people up. They cover everything up!”
“Lena, please, you’re getting upset again.”
She grabbed Luke, her fingernails digging deep into his arms.
“Don’t listen to them. They don’t want people to know what’s going on here. Doctors. The police. They all know. They’re all involved. You have to believe me Luke! They’ll try to tell you that I’m crazy, but you’re not to believe them. Do you understand?”
“Lena, you need to calm down. You’re going to make yourself ill, girl.”
“I should know, they brought me here after all. This is where it happened. This is where they’ll bring others too if they have their way.”
She pulled away from Luke for the second time. He tried to hold her close, but she was too determined. Standing up, Luke went back into the kitchen. He found a bottle of port and unscrewed the cork. He needed a drink and poured what was left in the bottle into an old beer glass. He sank the pint in one go and flung the empty glass into the basin. He wasn’t sure who was telling the truth anymore. He didn’t know who to trust and now, for the first time, he was beginning to regret helping Lena. He walked calmly back into the dining room. Lena was still sobbing. She was still slumped at the table, her head resting in her arms. He put a comforting hand across her shoulder and whispered, “Whatever happens Lena, I won’t let anyone hurt you again. Do you hear me?”
She continued to sob, not even willing to raise her head. From somewhere upstairs, Luke heard his mobile ringing. Not wanting to leave Lena by herself for too long, he jogged back up the flight of stairs and into the bedroom. He’d left his phone on the bed and it had rung off just as soon as he picked it up.
“Damn it.”
He stood beside the bedroom window checking his missed calls. Through the window he could see that the rain had picked up once again. The storm clouds had also returned. Quite soon, Luke reasoned, there would be thunder and lightning bursting overhead. Benny’s number flashed up on his dial pad. He’d called twice in fact. Luke was punching in Benny’s number when the first bolt of lightning exploded, its flash briefly illuminating the distant rooftops of Chatterton Village. He began to recall Lena’s words downstairs. He pictured a long line of men and women dressed in robes winding their way across the fields and towards the village. He recalled the strange symbol he’d seen in the soil those moments after he’d tripped and knocked himself out. He suddenly recalled his train journey into Chatterton too and the peculiar gentleman who’d sat opposite him. Had he not seen the beginnings of a purple robe hanging loose from the man’s suitcase?
“Luke? Is that you, Luke?” Benny spoke having answered Luke’s call.
The line was bad and Luke now found himself wandering the bedroom trying to find a spot that would pick up his mobile’s signal.
“Benny? Can you hear me Benny?”
Again, the line crackled. He could hear Benny’s voice way down the line. Luke stood himself beside the window. The signal improved and now Benny’s voice was clear.
“How’s it going, mate? I haven’t seen you in days. Are you coming back any time soon?” Benny asked.
Resting one arm against the window’s pane, Luke said, “Maybe in a few days, Benny. There’s a lot I need to do here. It’s complicated. How are things at your end? Did you clear your debts?”
A pause.
“Yes. I mean, sort of…”
“It’s either a yes or a no, Benny. Sort of doesn’t really answer my question.”
A second, longer pause.
“I bet the money you gave me Luke. I bet all of it. I had a sure thing. I was going to pay you back with interest. I was going to pay off the Gallagher brothers. I…”
Luke held the mobile close to his chest and sighed. This was a conversation he’d had many times before with Benny.
“Luke? Are you there, mate?”
“I’m here Benny. I’m still here.”
“I need to get out of London, Luke. I need to get away this evening. Can I come and stay with you, Luke? I’d do whatever I could to help out. You know I would.”
“Benny, I…”
“Luke. Please. It’s serious this time. It’ll be more than just a beating. I’ve really screwed up this time. I mean, I’m scared Luke. They know where I live and I’m all out of ideas.”
Luke was looking out the window and into the fields. He was looking at a coppice of woodland which lived not a hundred meters from the cottage. Something had caught his attention. Through the torrential rain and the gale force wind he’d spotted movement within the coppice. The trees and their branches were being battered every which way. Yet something else was present, living and moving within the foliage. He could see the figure of a woman stumbling her way through the overgrown vegetation.
“Christ…” Luke whispered still holding the phone to his ear.
“What? What did you say, Luke? Was that a yes?” Benny questioned. The line was breaking up once again.
“I’ll call you back,” Luke replied throwing the mobile across the bed and racing back down the stairs. Lena had left the cottage.
~ ~ ~
“Lena!” Luke yelled. He stopped running, trying to find her delicate shape shifting within the coppice. It was no use. Without torch light he could see very little.
“Lena!” he yelled again this time sprinting towards the coppice. For a moment he caught sight of her picking her way carefully through the coppice’s undergrowth one pitiful step at a time. It was clear she was trying to hide herself within the trees, perhaps trying to shield her unprotected body from the building storm. Once again, Luke began to sprint. Within a minute he’d reached the beginnings of the coppice. Having seen him approaching, Lena had picked up her pace too. She’d abandoned the trees and was now jogging as best she could across the fields, often stumbling between the soil’s deep furrows.
“Lena!”
For a second she stopped and turned back to look at Luke. The rain had plastered her thick, black hair firmly across her forehead, with the occasional strand covering her eyes. She wiped them away. Her eyes were red and bloodshot from tears. Her jeans and white shirt, once dry and immaculately ironed, were now drenched and clung to her skin like glue.
“Stay away from me Luke. Just stay away!” she yelled back. A sudden sheet of lightning lit up the night’s sky. Momentarily, Lena jumped with fright and almost stumbled in the mud. Seeing this, Luke took his chance and made a sprint at her.
“Lena. Just stop running, for Christ’s sake, girl!”
He was tired and sick of the rain. His temper was now at breaking point. Within a matter of seconds, he found himself within arm’s reach of her. He made a grab for a piece of her shirt and struck gold on his first attempt. He yanked the shirt hard and for a second Lena was brought under control. He was certain she’d stop, but she had other ideas. Spinning around and using all the power she had left, she kicked Luke hard in the shin. He cursed loudly instantly letting go of the shirt and collapsing into the mud. Once again, she began to sprint across the field. Luke had had enough. Tired, wet, hungry and now in great pain, his temper finally snapped. Quickly dragging himself up from the mud, he bolted across the field. Lena was no match for his speed and within ten seconds he’d caught up with her.
“I said stop, damn it!” he yelled at the top of his voice, throwing himself into a rugby tackle. Flinging himself through the air, Luke’s arms wrapped themselves neatly about Lena’s legs. Together, with the rain and lig
hting at full pelt, both were sent careering into a nearby ditch. The ditch was full to the brim with filthy rainwater. Thankfully it was only a foot deep and Lena was the first to emerge immediately beginning to crawl her way out. Luke had managed to wind himself upon impact and It had taken him a few seconds longer to regain his bearings. Now soaking wet and covered in mud, he made one last grab for Lena who’d very nearly managed to escape the ditch.
Her shirt had been ripped open upon impact with the water and now Luke found himself grabbing at her bra strap. Somehow, he managed to pull her back into the water. Again, she wrestled with him, kicking and lashing out as best she could. In one swift but violent movement, Luke managed to turn her over. Then, throwing her against the ditch’s bank he pinned both her arms hard into the soft mud.
“Don’t you ever listen, damn it?”
Lena was out of breath. She couldn’t reply. She tried to struggle free, but Luke was now straddling her. He placed both her wrists together and with his free hand wiped the strands of hair from her face.
“Are you listening to me?”
“Get off me.”
“I’m trying to help you!”
She managed to lift one of her legs from beneath Luke’s weight and smashed her knee hard into his ribs.
“Christ!”
He held firm, this time placing his own knees across her legs, preventing her from moving. Pressing his face against her own, he then said, “I’m on your side. Stop fighting me Lena.”
“You were talking to the others about me. You didn’t believe me. You think I’m crazy too.”
“I believe you. Okay? I believe every word you’ve told me.”
“You’re either with me or against me, Luke. There’s no middle ground here. The stakes are too high.”
“I’m with you Lena. I’ll do whatever I can to get your brother out of here. I promise,” he continued.
“I trusted you Luke. I thought…I thought you were the only one who could help us.”
The Devil's Blue Eyes Page 15