Before he reached the oak tree, Dominic raised the rabbit aloft and plunged his teeth into its exposed neck. Biting deep into the soft flesh. The rabbit squirmed and squealed out loud. The noise caused Ethan to recoil with dread as blood spurted from its wound. Dominic kept his jaws clamped tight as hot blood trickled down his chin, droplets cascading onto his robe. The rabbit became tired and reduced its struggle. Dominic pulled his jaws free from the rabbit's neck and spat a mouthful of meat out onto the darkened floor.
Dominic smiled crazily and continued walking to the oak tree as the rabbit hung limply in his hand, its once white fur now drenched in blood.
Chapter 9
Frozen to the spot, even unable to move his head or shoulders, Ethan watched as Dominic stood before the makeshift altar. With madness in his eyes, he picked up the silver goblet closest to him. Placing it under the rabbit's open wound, he tilted the dead animal until a small stem of blood flowed into the cup. After shaking the last few drops free, he placed the goblet back onto the altar and marched straight past Ethan without glancing in his direction.
Dominic stopped close to the campfire that was still burning fiercely. He paused for a few moments in silence, then carefully lowered the dead animal into the flames as if he was placing a fine piece of steak onto a grill. The fur of the rabbit immediately ignited. Dominic watched on with a cruel smile etched on his lips as the fire engulfed the offering. Greedily swallowing it up and dispatching it onwards, thick smoke curled upwards into the darkness of the night.
Ethan heard him return to the altar. He was quietly humming a mantra under his breath.
‘The goddess is alive. Magic is afoot.’
Stopping at the altar Dominic inhaled deeply, closed his eyes and raised his hands to the skies. He opened his eyes and looked at Ethan; excitement danced around his face. He lifted his gaze and looked beyond Ethan into the distance.
Ethan could hear further footsteps but struggled to turn his head around. Trying to squint out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Alex come into view.
A drugged Alex, naked and unaware of his surroundings, was prodded towards the altar by Mrs Mae who was dressed in a white see-through cotton dress that clung to her hips. Her hard nipples were clearly visible pushing up against the thin material, and her shaved vagina was there for all to see. She was barefoot, overcome with insanity, swaying her head magically. With his ankles crudely manacled together, Alex clumsily staggered past Ethan. Oblivious, he stumbled to a halt just in front of the altar and stood, head bowed, with saliva drooling from his lips.
Ethan watched on, unsure and afraid of what was going to unfold. He slowly felt his senses return to normal but still he sat numbly in his chair. A silent observer to the macabre proceedings.
Dominic nodded masterly to Mrs Mae who was still in her trance. She brought herself up close to the naked body of Alex and pressed her breasts and thighs into his back, seductively grinding her body into his. Her hand reached around and gingerly cupped his youthful testicles. She teased them with the palm of her hand and Alex could do nothing to prevent himself from groaning in pleasure. His flaccid penis started to twitch from the arousal. Mrs Mae could sense him stiffen. She placed her mouth onto the side of his neck and started to place delicate, sensual, wet kisses onto his erogenous zone, sending him even wilder.
Dominic stood fascinated, watching on as his princess performed flawlessly. They had planned this moment for years, and she was performing her job to perfection. Mrs Mae lifted her hand and grasped Alex's stiffening penis. With a professional touch, she started to stimulate it, gripping it stronger and pumping it faster and faster until it was fully erect and solid in her hand. Alex's body trembled and his moans became louder.
Sensing Alex was close, Dominic picked up the goblet with the fresh rabbit's blood inside and placed it only inches away from his throbbing member. With a loud groan, Alex drove his hips forwards and ejaculated. The hot fluid flew from his tip and the majority of it landed in the goblet where it lay on top of the thickening blood while the remainder came to rest on Mrs Mae's hand.
Overwhelmed by the euphoria released from his orgasm, Alex was oblivious as Dominic reached forwards and picked up the sheath from the altar. In a deft movement he pulled the razor-sharp blade free. With his eyes closed, Alex failed to see the glint of steel in the air as Dominic, with a calculated slice, neatly slit his throat.
Alex went limp as a fine jet of blood erupted from the thin incision. He sank to his knees. Ethan watched on as the life drained from him in seconds. Mrs Mae and Dominic eagerly leant over his body and collected yet more blood in the nearly full goblet.
They stood next to the rigid corpse of Alex and looked at each other in awe. Ethan could see the madness in their eyes and knew for them there was no turning back.
Selecting the second silver goblet from the altar, Dominic poured half of the vile fluid into it and handed it lovingly to Mrs Mae. In unison, they lifted their drinks and gulped greedily from their goblets. Blood and semen ran from their mouths and onto their clothing as they embraced the madness together.
Chapter 10
Clive Charles ended the call and slammed his mobile phone down onto the hard surface of his expensive granite worktop. He stared blankly for a few moments before picking up his cup of lukewarm coffee. He angrily pushed himself up off the kitchen stool and walked to the window with eyes blazing; his breath came deeply as the rage welled up inside him.
He did not know what angered him the most: the patronising phone call from the college's biggest donator, Mr Ashton, or the knowledge that his deceitful bitch of a history teacher had taken his history class away for the weekend on a field trip without even asking his permission. It was even worse that the parents would probably think the college had endorsed such a trip. Heaven forbid if something were to happen to them. There would be hell to pay and if word got out about this misdemeanour he would be summoned before the college governors. Parasites, every one of them.
Clive Charles had been in charge of the Sixth Form college for the past six years and was well respected by peers and parents alike. He had worked hard to turn the reputation of the college around. He was dammed if this incident was going to bring him down. He sipped at his coffee and winced as the cold fluid passed his lips. He spat the coffee out into the sink and launched the cup through the air into the sink where it disintegrated into hundreds of tiny shards.
Luckily it was a Friday night and his wife was at the bingo. She was not due back for another hour at least. Clive Charles knew he had to get cracking if he wanted to sort this problem out. He was thankful in a way that Zoe's father had called him personally or he may have not heard about the worrying issue until it was too late. Mr Ashton had been concerned that his daughter, the precious Zoe, had not been answering her mobile and he was just checking in to ensure everything was OK on the field trip. Thinking on his feet, Clive Charles had lied and told the relieved father that Mrs Mae had just rung him less than an hour ago to let him know that everything was going to plan but to also let him know that the mobile phone coverage was sporadic at best. This seemed to do the trick, leaving Mr Ashton appeased at the end of their conversation.
All became clear after ten minutes of frantic phone calls. It transpired that Mrs Mae had only taken three pupils, which was not as bad as the entire class. She had taken only Zoe Ashton, Alex Earle and Ethan Appleby; the class bimbo, the class cool boy and the new weird kid. They were supposedly on a field trip looking at a new burial site that had been uncovered.
The penny dropped for Clive Charles the moment he absorbed the new information. He knew exactly where they were and what Mrs Mae's plans were.
He had seen Mrs Mae and her sickly looking partner enough times, dancing naked around the bonfire at one of their many midnight rituals performed on the remote beaches of Northumberland. Of course, they had never recognised him or understood his power within the circle. How could they be expected to. The Grandmaster always k
ept his identity hidden, covered by an ancient horned mask, handed down from leader to leader. He checked the date and time and understanding the significance of the day, knew he had to act quick.
He hastily scribbled a note for his wife, explaining that he had been called away on urgent business and that he would call her in the morning and picked up his car keys from the bench. Before he left the house, he climbed into his loft to collect his hidden bag, packed for such emergencies
It was time for him to bring his own plan forwards.
Chapter 11
‘Alex, no! Please, God, no.’
Zoe's voice shattered the surreal silence. Her high pitch tore through the woods, kick-starting everyone back into reality. Ethan desperately tried to turn his head, but the rope he had been bound with pulled tight and burnt against his skin. He ignored the searing pain. He had to see for himself that Zoe was OK and unharmed.
Through gritted teeth, Ethan felt some slack come free. He applied additional pressure and managed to swivel his head a few degrees before the rope pulled taught for the final time. The few degrees were enough and allowed Ethan to look upon the girl's tent where Zoe was stood at the entrance. She was sobbing silently as her whole body physically trembled. Her eyes rolled about her head. It was clear that the drugged mead had affected her more than the others and was still present in her waif-like body. She struggled to take in what she was witnessing; her body began to shake more violently.
‘ZOE!' Ethan screamed in desperation. ‘Don't look at Alex. Look at me. Look at me, Zoe.’
Ethan may as well have been on a different planet as Zoe ignored him and continued to stare at the sickening sight.
Ethan tried again. ‘ZOE!' he shouted, finding an inner strength that made him louder. ‘Fucking look at me. Look at me, now!’
This worked, and a startled Zoe turned around to where Ethan was strapped in his chair. She shook her head, then some sort of recollection dawned on her face. Scared, she looked young and vulnerable. She was dressed in a similar see-through white dress as Mrs Mae. Her blonde hair had been straightened.
Now was not the time for Ethan to lust after Zoe. Their eyes met, and Ethan could clearly see the questioning and desperation in her face.
‘Run, Zoe. Get the hell out of here and don't stop,’ Ethan encouraged.
Zoe hesitated. She turned her look away from Ethan and took in the dead body of Alex and the haunting figures of Dominic and Mrs Mae who looked as if they were glued to the spot. Zoe turned and sprinted away, taking everyone by surprise. She had covered perhaps twenty metres before anyone realised what she had done. She was close to entering the woods when Mrs Mae snarled at Dominic.
‘Well, go and get her, you prick. She can't be allowed to escape.’
Dominic looked at his partner and Ethan could see he was livid.
‘Don't worry, the bitch won't get far.’
He took off and bounded towards the woods in pursuit.
Ethan sat in his chair, knowing that at some point tonight he was going to be killed. There was nothing that could be done to prevent it. It was inevitable and the thought saddened him. Sure, he had a fascination with death. Which goth didn't? But there was no way he had a fascination about pain; who in their right mind would?
Mrs Mae approached Ethan and laid a hand gently on his shoulder.
‘Don't be afraid, Ethan,’ she cooed. ‘You are the chosen one, the one we have all been waiting for. You are a tortured soul destined for greater things; immorality and domination. After tonight, you will be revered for an eternity.’
Before he could fully comprehend what she had said, a loud scream erupted from within the woods. A few moments later, Dominic and Zoe appeared at the opening. Dominic was dragging Zoe firmly by the hair. Zoe's face was etched with pain; exhausted and defeated, she remained silent. As they got closer, Ethan could see that Zoe's lips were bleeding and swollen. Two vicious-looking scratches were visible on Dominic's cheek. At least Zoe hadn't given up without a struggle, he thought. Good on her.
Breathing heavily, Dominic unceremoniously flung Zoe to the ground where she landed in clump, inches from the corpse of Alex. She lifted her face up from the ground and scurried further back, her eyes closed tightly, waiting for the inevitable.
‘She is one angry little bitch, this one,’ barked Dominic gingerly rubbing his injured cheek.
‘Give her some more mead. That will sort her out.’
Mrs Mae scurried away into her tent and brought out the half-empty bottle that she had used to drug them all earlier. She unscrewed the top and forced the neck of the bottle into Zoe's mouth. After resisting initially for a few moments, Zoe coughed and spluttered, allowing some of the mead to slip down her throat. Satisfied, Mrs Mae let Zoe's head fall heavily back to the ground where she lay unresponsive.
Looking at Dominic, Mrs Mae commanded, ‘You know what we need to do. Let's get this over with; its already taken too long.’
Mrs Mae went and lifted one of the camper chairs and positioned it under the oak tree as Dominic momentarily disappeared before he reappeared in a flash carrying a long heavy rope with a noose already prepared. He flung it over the thickest branch and tied it off securely to the base of the tree. The loop hung loosely about three feet above the camper chair.
Ethan desperately wanted to close his eyes or turn his head away to block out the scene but he strangely found himself drawn towards the whole macabre proceedings.
Together Mrs Mae and Dominic lifted the prone body of Zoe up off the floor. She was gone, her eyes had rolled to the back of her head, and she was mumbling incoherently. Her white dress was creased and littered with grass stains. Her tears had washed away her once immaculate make-up, leaving her face streaked with dark mascara.
They lifted Zoe upright and manipulated her legs so that she was soon positioned on the camper chair. Dominic stood on his tiptoes and fitted the opened noose over her head, pulling the knot tightly into her neck. Satisfied that Zoe was in position, he stood back and looked at Mrs Mae encouragingly.
Mrs Mae selected the opened blade from the makeshift altar; it was still sticky, fresh with Alex’s blood. She looked up into the sky and then at Zoe who had no understanding of the deadly situation she was in.
Unexpectedly and loudly, Mrs Mae began to chant.
‘Kiss me and I shall make you
As an eagle to its prey
Touch me and I shall make you
As a strong sword that severs and stains my earth with blood
Taste me and I shall make you
As a seed of corn that grows
Towards the sun and never dies
Plough me and plant me with your seed and I shall make you
As a gate that opens to our gods.’
With a powerful kick, Mrs Mae launched Zoe from chair where she stalled momentarily in the still air before dropping a few inches. The knot of the noose contracted tightly into her thin neck. Her eyes almost popped out of her head and her feet kicked out as she swayed gently in the air.
As her face began to take on a tinge of blue, Mrs Mae stepped forwards with the bloody blade in her hand. She did not falter as the first slash tore open the thin material of her dress, fully exposing Zoe’s youthful body. She followed up quickly with a second slash. This dug in just below her collar bone. Mrs Mae slowly dragged the knife down to just above her belly button, tearing away at the soft flesh.
Mrs Mae stepped back to look at her handiwork and was joined by Dominic. They both stood looking at the butchered Zoe in silence. The incision immediately opened up in full, fresh blood seeped through the cut, after a few more seconds the tear parted, and Zoe's organs burst free. They fell out as one in a sloppy mass and crashed onto the ground with Zoe’s sausage-like bowel connecting everything together like an umbilical cord.
Zoe stopped twitching, she no longer swung in the air, her eyes were still open, staring out blankly, free at last.
Ethan was unable to mo
ve, his whole body had become rigid. He did the only thing he could think of, he prayed to God and cried like a baby.
Chapter 12
Ethan awoke with a thumping headache and dry mouth. He looked around trying to get his bearings. He could vaguely remember having more mead poured down his throat and then nothing, just total darkness.
His heart tightened as he recalled the fate of both Alex and Zoe and tears began to well in his eyes. He fought hard to prevent himself from crying. He knew he had to find courage if he wanted to survive this nightmare ordeal. He was determined to see that the two deranged killers were brought to justice for what they had done.
He tried to move but found himself bound against the old oak tree. His heart sank as he saw that he was again tied up. A brand new thick rope had been lashed around his ankles and waist. Biting into his skin, the tight knots failed to relax even an inch as he strained against them.
Ethan guessed it was early morning as the sun was just lifting above the treetops and the birds were at last chirping from deep within the woods, heralding the start of a new day. Bizarrely, Ethan found himself enjoying the scene. He could not remember witnessing such natural beauty before. It was going to be a beautiful day that was for sure, but sadly he also had a sickening feeling that it was also going to be his last day alive.
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