Ghosts of Perigord

by Marc Lindsay

In the distance a small white truck was parked against the kerb, as they approached an elder gentleman emerged from one of the shop fronts pushing a cart containing what looked like dried dead flowers. Jason and Selene paid the gentleman no attention as they approached, however the delivery man stopped and watched them walk past, his face a neutral mask but his eyes seemed to study them with great interest. Selene was the first to feel his gaze upon them, that sixth sense that lays dormant within every person, alerting them to possible threat dating back to when humanity had to survive against the predators and beasts. Selene craned her neck casually and looked back towards the white truck and the delivery man. Nothing about him seemed particularly exceptional, he was dressed in plain sturdy clothing and shoes, medium height and build and shortly cropped silver hair and moustache. After her early appraisal was done she took closer stock of his features, it was then with great shock that she noticed his eyes and prominent facial scar. A polite smile spread across his face as he tipped his head in a slight nod, he appeared pleased that he had been recognised. Selene tripped over her feet and Jason caught her.

  ‘Whoa, steady up, you need to watch where you’re going,’ Jason said smugly. He then noticed that her face had gone deathly pale. ‘Are you alright.’

  ‘It’s him,’ she gasped.

  ‘Who?’

  ‘Perigord. Heinrich Perigord,’ Selene said with great urgency. Jason’s eyes went wide, he pivoted around only to find the delivery man had packed his cart away and was now climbing into his vehicle. Jason pushed past Selene and started to advance on the truck. Approaching cautiously the vehicle suddenly pulled away from the kerb its’ tyres screeching on the road. As it turned down the street ahead Jason was able to make out the name of the business stencilled on its side.

  ‘Perigord plants and flowers,’ Jason said out loud. Selene rushed to his side having now got over her initial shock. ‘Are you sure it was him?’

  ‘No doubt whatsoever,’ she replied grimly.

  Chapter 14

  ‘Are you sure?’ Ulysses asked with barely held aggression.

  ‘For the last time, yes,’ Selene said tiredly.

  ‘What about you Jason, what did you see?’ Ulysses asked.

  ‘I didn’t get a good look, he took off awfully quick,’ Jason said.

  ‘Goddammit Jason, you need to be more observant of your surroundings,’ Ulysses thundered. Jason recoiled as if stung by his words, he then reddened with anger.

  ‘Are you really having a crack at me?’ Jason replied hotly.

  ‘It’s not their fault, you need to calm down,’ Ms Jax said soothingly, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. Ulysses exhaled slowly through clenched teeth then walked off to one side away from the others. No one said a word, just watching him anxiously.

  ‘From what you’ve told me about his reaction, he knew exactly who you both were, besides we knew he’s been in Perigord at least since the festival and now we also know where he’s been hiding, thanks to you two,’ Ulysses acknowledged.

  ‘So what do we do now?’ Jason asked.

  ‘I confront the bastard,’ Ulysses growled, the singular inflection not lost on anyone in the room.

  After a quick search, they were able to find the location of Perigord plants and flowers. The business was operating out of a small property located fifteen minutes out of town. After another heated argument Ulysses reluctantly agreed to take Ms Jax with him as back up, however he strongly refused to let Jason and Selene accompany them, making them both promise to stay safely within the confines of the library. As childish as it was, they crossed their fingers behind their backs when they swore to Ulysses, having no intention on remaining behind when there was a very real possibility that there may be danger and violence facing the people they cared about. So as Ulysses and Ms Jax raced off to face their nemesis, Jason and Selene followed slowly behind, careful not to be seen tailing them.

  Like most areas in the valley the property was well hidden by the forest. The only access a single dirt road leading in and out. Ulysses raced his truck along it at a dangerous speed, his urgent need to reach his destination overriding his good judgement. Eventually the tight road opened up before a fenced off cleared acreage. Ulysses’ truck came to a screeching halt before a large iron gate held shut with a thick heavy chain. Ulysses jumped out and moved quickly towards the gate, grasping the chain with one hand he transformed his arm into a grey metallic colour. Forming a tight fist, the chain made a grinding sound and turned to dust beneath his grip. Ulysses pushed the gates open and brazenly strode inside.

  ‘Ulysses, don’t let your rage cloud your judgement. We need to remain focused and on guard,’ Ms Jax said. Ulysses gave her a brief nod as he scanned the immediate vicinity. They both continued on foot cautiously surveying the property, they passed compact greenhouses that lined the track in, each one bursting with foliage within. This information was not lost on either one of them, the realisation that it would have taken months, possibly years to establish this setup and right under their noses was unsettling.

  Ulysses continued to walk around the property searching for Heinrich but it was obvious that the place was currently unoccupied.

  ‘HEINRICH!…. HEINRICH!….. Show yourself,’ Ulysses roared. His taunts were met with silence, frustration and anger was etched onto his face. Despite this he continued to look, storming through each greenhouse with no success.

  ‘I’ve never seen him so unhinged,’ Jason whispered.

  ‘I know, he’s always so together like nothing could possibly throw him off his game,’ Selene whispered back.

  ‘He still hasn’t explained the situation concerning Heinrich.’

  ‘I’ve got a really bad feeling about this. Ulysses has this burning hatred concerning Heinrich and have you noticed Ms Jax whenever the name is mentioned,’ Selene said. Jason nodded.

  ‘She winces and avoids eye contact.’

  ‘You see that too?’

  ‘It’s hard not to notice. Those two are probably the toughest beings on the planet and if Heinrich can illicit such reactions from them, then I think we can’t afford to underestimate him,’ Jason said. Before Selene could respond the sound of a car engine cut through the air. They both looked at each other, matching looks of concern and apprehension plastered on their faces.

  Ulysses and Ms Jax had heard the engine as well, ceasing their search they walked slowly towards the track leading in, Ulysses at the front his stance that of barely contained rage. They waited like that for several tense minutes until the small white truck eventually came into view. It was obvious that the driver saw the two figures waiting to meet him, but there was something in the way the vehicle approached that suggested that the driver wasn’t particularly concerned with this confrontation.

  The truck pulled to a halt roughly twenty metres from the pair and after a brief pause that seemed to last an eternity the driver’s side door cracked open and a lone figure stepped out and moved to the front of the truck, then leaned casually against its grill.

  ‘This is an unexpected pleasure, if I’d known guests would be arriving I would have prepared refreshments,’ Heinrich said politely.

  ‘What the hell are you doing back in my town?’ Ulysses growled.

  ‘Your town. I’m sorry my boy, I didn’t realise I’d moved to Ulyssesburg,’ Heinrich said with a chuckle. Ulysses went red and his eyes narrowed darkly.

  ‘We’re not the welcome wagon, you psychotic piece of crap,’ Ulysses said. Heinrich ignored the diatribe, the smile never leaving his face, he adjusted his gaze towards Ms Jax.

  ‘Amelia, I’m surprised to find you still living here. I’m so glad to see you my beautiful girl, looking as lovely as ever,’ Heinrich said.

  ‘ENOUGH!’ Ulysses roared, stepping between them. ‘You don’t look at her, you don’t address her and as far as you’re concerned she doesn’t exist. Any variation from that and I’ll rip your bloody head from your shoulders. ARE WE CLEAR!’ Ulysses said slowly and deliberately. Hein
rich chuckled again.

  ‘I have to admit, I’m curious, don’t get me wrong as pleased as I am to have you here, what brings you to my neck of the woods. Literally,’ Heinrich said with a twinkle in his eye.

  ‘This is a onetime courtesy visit…’

  ‘Ah, a courtesy. What does this courtesy entail,’ Heinrich interrupted?

  ‘You have until sundown. Get out of Perigord or so help….’

  ‘Oh, so this isn’t a happy reunion, how disappointing,’ Heinrich said with mock sadness.

  ‘Sundown, take whatever you can carry and leave this valley never to return,’ Ulysses continued.

  ‘I’m sorry that my presence is causing you and Amelia anguish but….’

  ‘RRRaaggghh,’ Ulysses roared, transforming into a large bear-rhino hybrid. Large, hairy and muscular. The beast bared savage teeth, claws and a horn atop its head, eyes blazed red with fury. Ulysses prepared to leap at the seemingly defenceless old man. As his feet left the ground in an aerial assault, Heinrich casually pushed his frame from the grill of the truck and stood square on towards his attacker. Ulysses’ form hurtled towards Heinrich then with mere seconds and metres between them a thick thorny tendril erupted from Heinrich’s chest and rocketed towards Ulysses, striking him mid-air. The dark green tendril both encapsulated and sent him soaring back. Heinrich’s posture never changed and it seemed as if there was no end to the tendril pouring forth from his chest, that and the fact that he never stopped smiling was unnerving.

  Ulysses struggled as the vine continued to wrap itself around him, now holding him aloft. He roared again this time in frustration and pain. Ms Jax during this was frozen in an almost childlike fear, it wasn’t until she heard Ulysses’ roar did she tentatively start to move towards Heinrich.

  ‘Amelia please,’ Heinrich almost whispered, and held out a hand near his mouth and blew like he was blowing her a kiss but instead a yellow dust like substance bellowed out like a mini sandstorm and engulfed Ms Jax. She tried valiantly to cover her face with her hands but the dust appeared to be everywhere. After a few seconds Ms Jax fell to her knees clutching her throat as if she couldn’t breathe, her eyes clenched shut.

  Meanwhile Jason and Selene watched on in horror from their vantage point high in the trees. The violent altercation happening before them taking mere seconds to occur. Ms Jax’s imminent demise being the crux to shake them from their stupor. Jason leapt from the tree and transformed mid-air, wings sprouting from his back, his face and body taking on a demonic visage as flesh became hard and unyielding grey stone. An unholy sound erupted from his now gargoyle form. At the same time Selene let loose with a barrage of arrows, each one gliding through the air, their target Heinrich’s head.

  Heinrich turned his head casually towards the sound of Jason’s attack.

  ‘Ah, the little ones, I was wondering when they were going to make an appearance.’ He watched as Jason swooped down, appearing oblivious of Selene’s arrows flying towards their target, four in total with mere metres between them, they were about to strike their mark and at the last second Heinrich’s hand flashed out in a blur snatching each arrow with the one hand, then tensing shattered them under his iron grip. Selene watched this as she descended the tree, her athletic form leaping easily from branch to branch. As Jason approached, Heinrich flung the struggling Ulysses into his path, the pair colliding in a thunderous crash hitting the ground in a mess of tangled limbs. Selene was now on the ground and racing towards Heinrich with an arrow notched. As she prepared to fire Heinrich turned and pointed his open hand towards her, thin black thistles, three inches in length flew out from his fingertips. The thistles struck the ground near Selene’s feet causing her to come to a skidding halt. Jason and Ulysses were now once again on their feet and preparing to attack when they watched Heinrich turn his thorny tendril onto the unconscious form of Ms Jax. The thick vine coiled around her throat and lifted her limp figure from the ground. The three remaining combatants were now frozen in place awaiting Heinrich’s next move.

  ‘I see we’re caught in a stalemate, but it doesn’t need to be so,’ Heinrich said. Ulysses reluctantly reverted back to his human form followed quickly by Jason, Selene was statue still, an arrow aimed at Heinrich.

  ‘Ms Jaeger, lower your weapon please and let’s discuss this like civilised beings,’ Heinrich urged. Selene didn’t move until signalled so by Ulysses, she then slowly lowered her bow.

  ‘What do you want?’ Ulysses asked evenly.

  ‘Excellent, now we can open a dialog. What I want is my library back, with Amelia at my feet and you and your kiddies dead. But I’ll settle for just you and the boy dead and I’ll take the girl as well,’ Heinrich said. Ulysses’ jaw tightened. ‘I realise though that this is an unrealistic goal, for now. So what I propose for now is that we part, go our separate ways today….’

  ‘And,’ Ulysses growled.

  ‘And you remain out of my way,’ Heinrich said.

  ‘Why would I do that?’ Ulysses asked.

  ‘Well, for starters if you don’t, Amelia here will never wake up. Then Helen Page and Ursula Jaeger will be my next targets, their deaths will be slow and painful,’ Heinrich said emotionlessly. Jason and Selene looked stricken at the mention of their loved one’s names.

  ‘You rotten sonofa…,’ Ulysses said.

  ‘Tsk tsk tsk, are you now reduced to petty name calling?’ Heinrich asked.

  ‘Wake her up, NOW!’ Ulysses said.

  ‘I knew we could settle this like gentlemen,’ Heinrich said, as he lowered Ms Jax to the ground the thick thorny tendril retracting back into the old man’s chest. He then kneeled at her side and once again raised his hand and blew, this time a green dust flew forth and enveloped Ms Jax’s still form completely obscuring her from view. This lasted only a brief moment, the dust evaporating before their eyes. Ms Jax stirred then slowly opened her eyes, upon seeing Heinrich she tried to crawl back away from him.

  ‘Move away from her,’ Ulysses ordered. Heinrich raised his hands as a symbol of mock surrender taking several paces back as well.

  ‘I’m a man of my word,’ Heinrich said. Ulysses gave him a seething glare. ‘Now is there anything else.’ Ulysses didn’t reply. ‘Good, now I’ll only say this once. Get the hell off of my property,’ Heinrich said, and for the first time that afternoon his ever present smile was gone, replaced with a look of barely held contempt and loathing. Jason and Selene moved forward and helped Ms Jax to her feet.

  ‘We’ll be on our way, but you can be assured that this is far from over,’ Ulysses said, he motioned for the others to withdraw. They slowly followed behind keeping eyes locked onto Heinrich until they were at a safe distance away.

  Chapter 15

  They entered the staff room of the library, Ulysses leading the way followed closely by Selene and Jason helping Ms Jax, who appeared to be a little wobbly on her feet.

  ‘What the hell just happened,’ Ulysses roared kicking a chair and sending it flying the length of the room and crashing to pieces at the far wall. Jason and Selene looked on uneasily and they assisted Ms Jax onto the couch.

  ‘I think…’ Selene started.

  ‘What the hell were you two doing out there?’ Ulysses asked.

  ‘We were just…’ Jason replied.

  ‘You disobeyed me is what you were doing, I distinctly told you to remain here,’ Ulysses said.

  ‘You need to calm down,’ Jason said.

  ‘Calm down? You have no idea how many years I’ve waited for that moment. And when it finally arrives I’m stuck babysitting you two,’ Ulysses thundered. Jason jumped up his face red with anger.

  ‘We only went to back you up. And it was a good thing we did. You’re obviously in some sort of denial,’ Jason said.

  ‘You’re out of line,’ Ulysses shot back.

  ‘He was kicking our ass,’ Jason screamed back.

  ‘Both of you stop,’ Ms Jax said weakly, her voice struggling to be heard. They both turned and looked at her reproachful
ly. ‘You went off half cocked.’ She said pointing to Ulysses. ‘And you should have listened to us. We left you behind for a reason.’ She said to Jason. Ulysses cleared his throat and was about to interject.

  ‘We weren’t ready for him and what he’s become,’ Ms Jax said simply.

  ‘How has he become so powerful?’ Ulysses said suddenly awed by this realisation. Selene and Jason appeared confused by this statement.

  ‘What do you mean?’ Selene asked. Ms Jax averted her gaze from the others.

  ‘In the past, Heinrich has never been much more than a schemer. Yes he’s had an affinity with a planet’s vegetation, due to his own alien genetic makeup which is botanical in nature. But he’s never shown this sort of power before,’ Ulysses said shaking his head.

  ‘But how can that be?’ Jason asked.

  ‘That and his mysterious return raises so many unanswered questions,’ Ulysses said slumping down into the nearest chair.

  ‘What now?’ Jason asked, clearly uncomfortable at seeing his mentor confused and vulnerable.

  ‘I don’t know. My earlier intent was to kick his ass and send him packing. Now I’m not sure,’ Ulysses said. Ms Jax cleared her throat, everyone stopped and regarded her.

  ‘We do nothing, for now,’ She said.

  ‘Nothing,’ Jason said incredulously.

  ‘Well not entirely, covertly we watch and learn, see what he’s up to, patience is going to be the key here. Between the four of us, we’ll get to the truth behind his return,’ Ms Jax said plainly. Everyone including Ulysses seemed more than impressed with her level of calm pragmatism. ‘Selene can you ask Ursula what the guild can dig up on Heinrich concerning his past activities. In particular, the last five years.’

  ‘For you, she’ll be willing to do almost anything,’ Selene said with a grin.

  ‘Excellent,’ Ms Jax replied. Despite her weariness she managed to return a big toothy smile.

  ‘Thank you Amelia,’ Ulysses said humbly.

  ‘Don’t thank me, promise me when the time comes you’ll deal with him in the appropriate manner,’ Ms Jax said with a sudden ferocity that shocked Jason and Selene. Just then Kava entered the room and after a quick look around concluded how things had turned out.