by Rita Vetere
"Silence! Your miserable existence is of no importance to me. And your insolence tells me you have outlived your usefulness."
"No ... please, do not—"
He hears the sound of a blow and his mother's frightened scream. Terror lodges in his throat, but he peeks inside. His father holds his infant brother in one arm. His mother lies on the floor, her face smeared with blood. But what happens next sends his young mind teetering on the edge of insanity. One by one, he sees them arrive, dark spirits whose faces he mercifully cannot see, but who radiate a malevolence he can feel in his bones. He should run, but he remains rooted to the spot, unable to move. Ahriman directs the groveling phantasms to his mother, still helpless on the floor. By the time he recovers from the shock of seeing the dark sprits, they have surrounded his mother. The shrieking sounds they make mingle with his mother's screams and the sound of the rending of her flesh, as they tear her limb from limb. It is over in a matter of seconds. His mother's blood is everywhere; her remains, no more than broken bones and torn flesh, are scattered on the ground. Time seems to stop as the terrible scene brands itself into his young mind. He sees the smirk on his father's face as he surveys the scene of her destruction. In the silence that ensues following the departure of the black souls, he hears his newborn brother crying, and the sound of his father's soft laughter, a sound that buries his tender heart in snow. His mind begins to shut down, but not before his father detects his presence and turns his wrath on him, commanding him to return to his bedroom, away from the hellish scene. All that night, he lies awake in the dark. The tears he sheds are silent, but his mourning for his beloved mother runs deep. He is eight years old and powerless to avenge her murder. But he will not remain so. His father will pay for what he has done...
Thomas blinked the memory away, returning his thoughts to the here and now. He glanced over at Nathaniel, sitting next to him, looking uncomfortable, the way he always did as a child whenever their father arrived for one of his visits, up until Ahriman had disappeared.
"Why have we been summoned, father?” asked Thomas, taking care not to betray the angry thoughts the old memory had stirred up. It had taken much practice, but both he and Nathaniel had perfected the art of parallel thinking, and their subconscious thoughts did not interfere with those they allowed to surface.
"An event of great significance has occurred,” Ahriman said, visibly swelling with pride, “one which I feel compelled to share with you both.” He paused a moment before continuing. “It has come to pass that a child, my offspring, has been born to a female Cambion. My daughter, whom I have named Pandora, was birthed last week. Since her coming, I have remained incarnate. I am now a permanent fixture in the physical plane. I have accomplished what no other being who has heretofore walked the earth has been able to. I have achieved immortality."
Thomas cast a sidelong glance at Nathaniel, and caught the look of shocked surprise that crossed his face at their father's words. Ahriman's egotistical tone notwithstanding, he had succeeded in rendering them both speechless with the news.
After a moment, Thomas found his voice. “A female Cambion has given birth?” Neither he nor Nathaniel had any idea a female Cambion even existed, let alone that Ahriman had mated with one.
"Yes,” said Ahriman. Thomas could tell his father was delighted at the incredulity with which Thomas had uttered his question.
"It's already become obvious to me that Pandora will be very powerful,” Ahriman continued. “Now that my energy will remain concrete in the physical world, I have certain plans with which I am ready to move forward. It is my intention to repopulate the earth with others of Pandora's kind. It is my decision that the two of you return here, with us,” he said, glancing at Christopher, “to assist in my new endeavor.
"Christopher will track down the younger ones, those that were sired over the past twenty years. There are six of them, all males, of course. You and Nathaniel will have charge over them until they are able to start reproducing. Their offspring, as well as yours and Christopher's, will form the second strata of the new order and will be placed in key positions. My offspring with Jasmine, and eventually, after her demise, with the second generation, will step into the positions of power for which they will have been groomed. All of them, once in place, will answer to me and to me alone in the process of decision-making."
Thomas turned his attention to Christopher, Ahriman's favored son, despising him for the smug look that crossed his face at his father's words. Christopher had always been proud to align himself with Ahriman. Thomas knew he'd stop at nothing to support their father in this mad enterprise. Unlike Thomas and Nathaniel, Christopher had inherited Ahriman's dark soul. Like Ahriman, Christopher had no conscience, and little of the human emotions that Thomas and Nathaniel shared. Even after Ahriman had destroyed Christopher's mother, the little bastard had turned over his inheritance and this estate to their father without a second thought.
"Is it necessary, father?” asked Thomas, feigning humility. “You know Nathaniel and I have never been as adept as Christopher in our abilities, and not to the extent you would require for such an undertaking. Although we support you,” he lied, “we may not be of much use to you in your new endeavor."
Ahriman's voice turned stony. “It is not a request. You will remain here, as will the younger ones once Christopher has located them and brought them to me."
When neither Thomas nor Nathaniel spoke, Ahriman said, “I expect total compliance with my instructions. Up until now I have permitted you both to reside in the mortal world as you deemed fit. Now, it is time for you to take your places at my side. You will both be actively involved in carrying out my plans."
Thomas discerned the unspoken threat in his father's words. Anyone who was not with him was against him. And Thomas knew Ahriman would take lethal action if they expressed anything other than complete loyalty to him.
Nathaniel, who up until now had remained silent, opened his mouth to speak, but Thomas stopped him with his next words. “As you wish, father. We are at your service, of course."
Thomas was relieved when Nathaniel hesitated only a second before following his lead. “Of course,” his brother echoed.
"It's settled then,” said Ahriman. “Your rooms have been prepared. Welcome home, my sons."
Ahriman rose, studying them both with eyes of granite. It was all Thomas could do to keep his expression bland and his inner thoughts from surfacing to where they could be detected. He prayed Nathaniel was doing the same.
At that moment, a knock sounded and a tall, balding man entered.
"This is Doctor Stronik, the physician who presided over the birth, and who oversees the child's mother,” Ahriman said.
"Why does she require a doctor?” asked Nathaniel before taking Stronik's outstretched hand.
"She remains in need of medical treatment,” came Ahriman's curt reply.
Thomas also took Dr. Stronik's hand when he offered it. Medical treatment. I'll just bet.
After exchanging pleasantries with the strange-looking doctor, Thomas excused himself to use the lavatory. Once the door closed behind him, he walked quickly to the main staircase, intending to have a quick look around in the hope of running across the female Cambion. As he reached the second floor landing, he noticed the door to the suite closest to the stairway was ajar and the sound of movement from within. He stepped inside and, seeing no one in the sitting room, he moved to the open door of the bedroom. In an adjacent room, he spotted a woman, rummaging through a wall of cupboards, her long dark hair streaming down her back.
* * * *
"What have we here?"
Carla froze. Her heart pounding, she whirled around and came face-to-face with one of Ahriman's sons. Fear at having been found in Stronik's rooms momentarily paralyzed her. Ahriman would not take lightly what she'd done, and panic bit into her at the thought of being subjected to the dark souls for a second time. She capped the vial, the contents of which she'd just replaced with water, and returne
d it to the shelf, feigning nonchalance.
"Who are you?” he asked in a beguiling voice that was not unlike Ahriman's. Up close, Ahriman's fair-haired son was even more stunningly handsome than he'd appeared when she'd glimpsed him earlier. He stared at her with piercing blue eyes.
"I'm nobody,” she said, summoning her courage and attempting to sweep by him as if she'd been doing nothing wrong. He reached out and took her arm, turning her around. As he looked her up and down, his gaze lingered on her enlarged midsection.
When she refused to meet his eyes, he said, “I'm Thomas."
She raised her eyes to his, unable to hide the venom in her voice when she spoke. “Another Cambion. How fucking delightful."
He surprised her by saying nothing in response to her defiant words. Her surprise turned to disbelief when he delivered a thought telepathically to her. I am not my father's son. And whatever you were doing in here, your secret is safe with me.
Carla ran from the room, expecting him to raise an alarm. But he didn't call out, nor did he follow her.
* * * *
Sometime later, Nathaniel unpacked his bags in the second floor suite he'd been shown to, his mind still reeling from the information imparted by Ahriman earlier. A knock sounded at the door and Thomas entered, shutting the door behind him.
Nathaniel eyed him, managing a weak smile.
"That was quite a performance earlier."
"Glad you enjoyed it,” Thomas retorted. His face became serious. “We need to talk."
"Yes,” Nathaniel said, trying, but not succeeding, in keeping the worry from his voice. “How the devil could this have happened? No female Cambion has ever survived birth. And Ahriman—immortal! What a nightmare. And now he expects us to help him carry out his mad scheme, along with that little weasel, Christopher.” He looked squarely at his brother. “What are we going to do?” Thomas would think of something. He had to.
Instead of answering his question, Thomas said, “I ran into someone earlier, when I left the room to nose around a bit."
"I thought that's what you were up to. What did you find?"
"A woman. Not the Cambion—a mortal. I was able to penetrate her thoughts. She's pregnant. And very beautiful. No doubt one of Ahriman's women."
"Oh?"
"What's interesting is when I discovered her, she was pilfering through medical supplies in what I believe was the suite of rooms belonging to that demented-looking doctor. I got the distinct impression that she might turn out to be a useful ally, but I didn't have any luck getting her to talk to me. I didn't glamour her, naturally, but I did probe her mind. I didn't detect any loyalty to Ahriman when I scanned her thoughts. I thought maybe you could try to speak to her. If she sees we're all together in this, she might talk to us, give us information."
Nathaniel considered his brother's words. “I'll try, if you think it'll help,” he said finally. “I'll do anything at this point. I don't know about you, but the idea of spending the rest of my life in the service of our father is insufferable."
His brother clapped him on the back. “Don't worry. That won't happen. We won't let it."
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Chapter 33
Carla sensed someone behind her as she made her way back to the house along the path running through luxuriant gardens, and turned. She was surprised to see Ahriman's son, not the one she'd run into earlier, but the dark-haired one, Nathaniel, observing her from beneath the low branches of a Hawthorn tree. Unlike Thomas, this one bore an uncanny resemblance to Ahriman. Even though Thomas had apparently not turned her in, she remained distrustful. They were, after all, Cambions, like Christopher.
"What do you want?” she asked, unable to keep the hostility from her voice.
"I'm Nathaniel,” he told her, “Thomas's brother. I want to talk to you, nothing more."
"I wouldn't advise it. Ahriman's probably on his way to my suite right now. He usually comes to me around this time of day. I don't think he'd take kindly to you moving in on his turf,” she said bitterly.
Nathaniel probed her mind. What's your name?
She remained stonily silent. No way was she going to trust one of them.
He spoke out loud again. “Listen, there's not much time. If Ahriman really is on his way to see you, I don't want him to wonder where you are. Thomas and I need information. My brother seems to think you may not be a willing participant in all of this. If that's the case, and you want to help yourself—and us—meet me after Ahriman leaves you. I'll return to the house now, but I'll meet you back here, at whatever time you say."
Carla looked directly at him. “Why should I trust you?"
"Because,” he said, “we need each other. As Thomas tried to tell you earlier, Ahriman is our father in name only. We have no love for him."
Carla did not respond, studying him silently. Was it possible? Could these two Cambions be different? Jasmine, she reminded herself, was also a Cambion. And she was nothing like Christopher.
Nathaniel probed her mind again. Will you come?
"I'll think about it,” she said. “If I do decide to, I won't be able to return here for another four hours."
Nathaniel smiled and gave her a quick nod. “I'll be waiting.” He turned and walked back to the house without saying anything else.
* * * *
Exactly four hours later, Nathaniel paced back and forth along the same section of the garden path where he had spoken to Carla earlier. Thomas had asked Ahriman and Christopher to join him in his suite on the pretext that he wanted to go over some details, and the three of them had entered Thomas's rooms ten minutes ago. Nathaniel had asked to step outside for some air before joining them and was expected to return shortly. Worried that they might notice his absence if he remained out here too long, he was about to head back to the house when he spotted Carla walking toward him, glancing around stealthily. He breathed a sigh of relief. She's certainly an attractive woman. But then, Ahriman has impeccable taste. He felt foolish, but the dark-haired beauty had not left his thoughts for a moment since he'd met her earlier. She was, he thought, one of the most beautiful mortals he'd ever laid eyes on.
"I'm glad you decided to come."
"Where are Ahriman and Christopher?” Carla blurted out, suspicion apparent in her voice.
"Thomas is keeping them occupied so we can talk. What's your name?” he asked her gently. “You didn't tell me before."
"It's Carla,” she said, lowering her eyes.
"All right. Carla, I don't know how to convince you that you can trust us, except to repeat that my brother and I want to find a way to put a stop to what Ahriman's doing.” He pressed a thought on her. It's what you want too, isn't it?
"Yes. But I don't see why—"
Why we would go against our father? I despise him, as does Thomas. We have good reason to. He's a murderer. He's killed countless people over the course of his time in the mortal world—including our mother. If, as he claims, Ahriman has succeeded in achieving immortality, there's no telling what destruction he'll cause. Although he has chosen to remain incarnate, he is completely devoid of human understanding and seeks only to empower himself. And he will not wield his power mercifully. His plans involve havoc for humanity, trust me. He must be stopped.
"How?” she wailed. “Nobody can stop him now that Jasmine's given birth."
"Is that the name of the Cambion—the female—who birthed Pandora?"
"Yes. She's my friend. And she's in big trouble, worse than you or me. Ahriman's keeping her drugged up, using her to produce offspring. The more children she bears for him, the sooner he can get his new race underway."
Nathaniel looked away. A startling thought occurred to him. As of now, the Cambion, Jasmine, had produced only one child. If that child were to die...
He turned back to Carla, voicing his thought. “Pandora is what's permitting Ahriman to remain incarnate. Until the Cambion bears him another child, he's vulnerable."
"Her name's Jasmine.” Carla
frowned at him. “She may be just a Cambion to you, but she's my friend.” When Nathaniel nodded apologetically, she said, “So, what's your point?"
Thomas paused, knowing how what he was about to say would sound, especially to a woman who was herself about to give birth.
"I don't know how to put this, but if Pandora ceased to exist, it would put an end to Ahriman's plan ... and his immortality."
Carla wrapped her arms around her belly in a protective gesture and stepped back in surprise. “Kill the baby?” she said, shocked. “No fucking way, Jose. I may have my faults, but I'm no baby-killer."
She turned to leave, but he took hold of her arm, stopping her. “I'm sorry ... I realize that's the logical solution, not necessarily the right one. I'm not a killer. I was just thinking out loud."
Carla studied him, no longer convinced she could trust him in view of the logical solution he had presented. Perhaps Cambions didn't look at things the same way mortals did. At least he'd admitted it was the wrong way to go about putting a stop to Ahriman. And he hadn't tried to glamour her. There was that.
Carla hestitated. She was desperate to find a way out of this nightmare, but could she really trust one of Ahriman's sons? She studied Nathaniel closely for moment and then made a decision.
"Help me get to Jasmine,” she said. “But first, she's got to get off the dope, so I can talk to her. When Thomas discovered me in Stronik's rooms, I was trying to switch some of the medication with water, but I only got one of the vials switched before he found me, and I don't know if it was even the right medication. Jasmine might be able to come up with a solution, or maybe if the four of us put our heads together, we'll be able to come up with another plan."
It was Nathaniel's turn to voice a suspicion. “And what assurance do Thomas and I have that we can trust this Cambion?” he asked. “After all, she's the mother of Ahriman's child. How do we know he hasn't secured her loyalty?"
"Because I'm telling you, that's why,” Carla snapped. “I saw her the night they brought her here. She was drugged and kidnapped. She's here against her will. I guarantee you, she wants no part of this."