Relics- The Chronicles of Solomon Drake

by Robert York

  “Why did you do that,” Orm spat the question at his co-conspirator.

  Energy swirled around Orm’s clinched fists. The Yeti’s and Bogeymen tensed for possible action.

  “Balancing the scales Wizard... Balancing the scales,” Bart spat the words. “Blood for blood,”

  “You shouldn’t have killed them uselessly. We could have used their abilities,”

  Bart turned to glare into Orm’s eyes.

  “The same could be said of my people Wizard. “We’ll be the ones to spill the most blood in this revolution while you Wizards remain relatively unscathed. However, this is not the time, nor the place to have this discussion. Let us finish our business and talk about this later,” Bart said placating his partner.

  Orm struggled to bite back the words poised on his tongue. He seemed to compose himself as the magic around his fists faded. He nodded once turning his attention back to us. Their relationship it seemed was built on mistrust. Perhaps that could be used to our advantage. I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned finding no one to my right or left. I heard the clearing of a throat. I caught a few of my cellmates staring at me wondering what the hell I was doing. I gave an embarrassed smile. Then I realized it was Merlin attempting to get my attention.

  “What?” I thought ungraciously.

  “Did I not tell you to taunt him,” he asked.

  “I’m working up to it,” I replied.

  “Work harder and make haste our window of opportunity grows ever shorter,”

  I shook my head attracting more stares from my cellmates.

  “And how do you fit into all this Orm,” I asked. “What’s your angle, are you the boss of this little drama or just someone’s errand boy bitch,”

  Orm, Olivia and Bart leveled their eyes at me. To be completely honest everyone assembled was looking in my direction. Except for Glum and Oswald that is, for obvious reasons.

  Orm chuckled hatefully.

  “I’m the mastermind of this so called “drama” you insignificant cretin, but I serve one more powerful than myself.” He said with reverence. “One who will deliver us from the insanity, destruction and greed of man,”

  “Oh,” I said. “You’re a do Gooding nut job then,”

  “Nut job,” Olivia spat. “You know nothing,”

  Orm silenced her once again.

  “It was I who thwarted the great Barnabas Blackmane and it is I who will deliver these weapons,” he indicated the three wooden boxes that now contained the signet ring, crown and Excalibur. “To my Master,”

  Orm moved closer to our cell standing directly in front of Barnabas.

  “You thought yourself so clever, but I figured out how to beat you… Death was the only way you would allow us to escape this spell. Oh sure… I could have come to you all and said I wanted to leave the Order, but you would’ve taken my memories of my time spent guarding these relics… If I did that I wouldn’t have been able to profit from my unique knowledge and experience… Do you know the shame of being poor Barnabas,” Orm asked with contempt in his voice.

  “All of you, save myself were wealthy beyond belief and you kept me poor for years living out there in that godforsaken wilderness away from the cities which is where I wanted to be… None of you compensated me or allowed me to make money as to not draw attention to our organization,”

  He laughed harshly.

  “No Barnabas, You wanted me to remain penniless and wanted us all to take our secrets to the grave,”

  Orm made a wide dramatic wave of his hand.

  “Who better to speak with about death than a Vampire and an ambitious one at that,”

  He turned inclining his head to Bart before addressing the assembled gallery of baddies.

  “Blood,”

  His voice reverberated around the ruins.

  “Vampire blood was what I needed to make my plans… The only problems with that were how to get the blood I needed and how to keep the monitoring stones you had in place from notifying everyone that something was a miss,” he said sweeping back to face Barnabas.

  “For three years I drank small vials of Vampire blood that I received from Bartholomew which acted as a protective shield against your binding spells, camouflaging my intent,” he said. “If anyone was looking at the monitoring stones when I drank the blood all an observer might see is a faint change in color for the fewest of seconds,” he finished with a smile.

  “The plan was ingenious, my Lord,” Olivia said awe dripping from her every word.

  Orm turned to his accomplice placing a gloved hand affectionately against her cheek. She closed her eyes leaning into the touch.

  Yuck.

  Orm was a heck of a lot uglier than Bialek as men go. How could she be attracted to him? Either she was into him for his big brain or something else equally as big...

  Like, his enormous ego.

  Yeah, you thought I was going somewhere else with that didn’t you.

  Pervert.

  Then again maybe she was one of those people attracted to power and money. Though Orm already said he wasn’t very wealthy as Wizards went. In point of fact he didn’t have a pot to piss in. So it couldn’t have been his money that she was attracted to.

  “The effects of the Vampire blood were astounding,” he said letting his hand fall to his side, again turning to Barnabas.

  “Not only did it allow me to converse with other parties about the members of the Octagon, the relics, possible locations of the items in question and the means to obtain them, I was intrigued by my increased strength, heightened senses and speed.”

  A flash of movement barely perceptible, followed by a sharp sound carried to my ears. Orm stood over a fist-sized hole that appeared in the stone. A fine mote of dust rose from the newly formed depression.

  “I couldn’t let this new power slip through my fingers.” I am now the most powerful Wizard in history,” “More powerful than you Barnabas and even more powerful than Merlin himself… It was then I decided to turn, but not before I knew Bialek was dead… That was the only way you see that I could’ve had an unshakable alibi, if both he and I were dead then who was the betrayer,”

  His head dropped in remembrance.

  “Sadly James wanted no part of my scheme and I had to kill him,”

  I laughed, a rich mocking laugh.

  “You aren’t even in the same class as Merlin.” I said. “If you two were cars, Merlin would be a Bentley equipped with all the bells and whistles while you Orm would be a YUGO. Both are cars, one is luxurious and awesome in every way, the other however, just sucks,”

  I looked in Olivia’s direction.

  “Or are you the one who... Sucks,” my question laced with innuendo.

  Her shocked reddening face gave me the answer that I was looking for. A triumphant smile played on my face.

  “Does Orm have an impressive wand,” I asked moving my hands up and apart indicating the possible length of his unseen member. “Or is it not regulation sized equipment.”

  I brought my out stretched hands closer until they were about two or three inches apart.

  “What do you know of Merlin,” Orm spat. Judging by the hue of his skin I’d say he was past the point of being pissed.

  “Happy now,” I thought.

  “Yes,” Merlin replied through what sounded like a grin.

  “I know, because I’m the new vessel for Merlin’s spirit,” I said like he should have known this fact all along.

  “You are the new vessel of Merlin’s spirit?” He asked mockingly.

  “Yep,” I replied. “I thought that the most powerful Wizard in the world would’ve been able to detect the aura I now project.”

  Orm’s eyes narrowed as my subtle insult registered in his brain.

  “One second,” I said holding up a finger turning my head to pretend to listen to what Merlin might be saying.

  “Uh huh, Yeah, Uh huh... Are you sure?”

  I leveled my gaze back on Orm.

  “Merlin says that you
are a tiresome prat that isn’t good enough to polish his staff... So to speak,”

  Orm’s hands clenched into tight fists, I was hoping he was about to blow a gasket.

  “Oh, he also says that you’re a douche bag and that you won’t leave this place alive.”

  If that statement didn’t get a reaction, nothing would.

  Chapter 26

  Orm’s arms flashed out. Thick bands of energy exploded from the fingertips of his outstretched hands piercing the containment wall. They coiled around my arms, upper chest and waist drawing me in tight constricting my breathing. Barnabas, Wilmar, Race, Adrianna and Tilly rushed to my aid, but the writhing bands of strong energy kept them at bay thwarting their efforts.

  “Expertly done young Solomon,” Merlin cried out in my head.

  “Thanks,” I managed. “Glad I could help.” I couldn’t conceal the sarcasm, but I didn’t think Merlin picked up on it.

  Pain coursed through my body. I felt blood rushing to my head as the bands tightened, I dared not exhale for fear of passing out. Perspiration welled from my skin running into my eyes. I struggled to no avail. I knew that if the pressure on my body continued my head was going to pop like an overinflated balloon. Suddenly, a thought occurred to me. One I had not entertained before, mainly because it hadn’t crossed my mind.

  “You’re going to bring the field down once you’re free of my body aren’t you,” the question hung in my quickly clouding head.

  “That is my intention, yes,” Merlin responded.

  “Would you be able to make the others hear me,” I thought through blinding pain.

  “Of course,” Merlin said amused. An exceedingly simple spell.”

  “Good,” I said. “I need to talk to them,”

  A faint light flared to life in the depths of my mind, steadily growing in intensity until finally the light filled my field of view. Then, the most amazing thing happened. I could see simultaneously through my cellmates’ eyes. The alien sensation was unsettling at first, but after a few short moments I became accustomed to the feeling.

  I said. “Don’t panic, it’s me, Solomon,”

  Sensing everyone’s bewilderment at hearing my voice in their minds I took the opportunity to grin even though my mind and body were a flame with pain. I’d been hearing the same voice in my head - along with quite a few others - for years now and it’s time they got a taste of what I’ve had to put up with.

  “No questions please, when the containment field drops… That’ll be the time to make your move… Good luck,” the connection broke as I felt my stomach churn and roil, bile rising in my throat.

  Behind me off to my right, I thought I heard Wilmar cracking his knuckles. I dared a glance to my right. I saw the big man glaring murderously at the assembled clutch of Yeti’s. Race must’ve been feeling better because he had changed into his wolf form arraying himself in the direction of the Bogeymen. Tilly, appeared as though he were going to follow him into the impending fray. I glanced to my left catching a glimpse of Adrianna. Her eyes fixed on something ahead of her. Bart I thought. I hadn’t a clue as to what she was going to do to him, but I was pretty sure it wasn’t going to be pleasant. Barnabas stood a short distance away from Adrianna. A pained expression haunted his features. He remained silent, only inclining his head in my direction.

  A violent jerk pulled me through the magical field depositing me roughly onto the stone floor. The coils however, still held me fast, the pain was indescribable. Muffled cries of concern came from Adrianna or Tilly or maybe Barnabas, I wasn’t sure. Blood poured from my eyes and nose, the coils continued to tighten. I choked out a breath unable to hold it any longer and wasn’t able to take another. My lungs had no room to expand; the coils drew ever tighter around me.

  “So Merlin is inside you is he,” Orm spat scornfully. “Whether he is or not we will soon find out.”

  Orm glanced obliquely in Olivia’s direction. She inclined her head. Without a word she produced an object wrapped in a dark cloth from one of the pockets of her coat. She pulled the cloth from the object revealing a crystal sphere the size of a racquetball. Orm made a gesture with his hand and I was once again upright hovering a few inches above the stone floor facing her. She lifted the crystal ball holding it in front of my face as Avery, Bart’s Vampire security guard pulled a pistol from the inside of his coat placing the muzzle against my temple. An icy chill ran through me, but I didn’t panic. The barrel felt cold yet pleasant against my skin despite knowing that was to be the instrument of my death.

  “I wish I could say that I hate to do this to you, but I would be lying,” Orm said, emotionlessly.

  I closed my eyes waiting for what was to come next. I thought of...

  Nothing.

  Absolutely nothing came to mind.

  What a jip.

  I cannot tell you how many times that I’ve read stories in which there was always a character facing his or her own death. More often than not a doomed character recalled memories of relationships not yet realized, long lost loves, missed opportunities, children or a favorite toy. Why I even read a story once where the last thought on one of the characters mind was of his old faithful, yet dearly departed Beagle.

  A Beagle.

  And what have I decided to look fondly back on? Nothing!

  So unfair.

  Why couldn’t my last thoughts be of the view I was able to get looking through the top of Adrianna’s glass desk at her delicious bare legs and slightly opened robe. Because the universe sucks that’s why.

  I felt a slight motion of the pistol as Avery pulled the trigger. The heart stopping sound of the gun firing was deafening in my left ear. I think my very last thought was I hoped that the Bogeymen choked on my bones.

  As I waited for an angelic light to appear to guide my spiritual departure, something strange occurred. I heard the faint sound of a small metallic object hitting the stone beneath me. Followed by a round of gasps that came from the arrayed group of bad guys, shortly after that many pairs of feet shuffling away from me. If that weirdness wasn’t enough the constricting coils of dark magic that were strangling the life out of me disappeared. I had the briefest of moments to ponder that fact when gravity and its unforgiving nature abruptly drop me heavily to the stone floor.

  My eyes popped open. A figure bathed in warming ethereal light stood mere feet from me, a slender Wizard’s staff held firmly in his left hand while the other was up, fingers out stretched. Orm, Bart, Olivia and the rest of our captors looked scared. I had the impression based purely on their body language that none of them expected this turn of events. Hell, even I didn’t expect this.

  It was Merlin; he appeared to be angry and ready for battle. He glanced down at me flashing a smile and a reassuring wink. Without warning or preamble, Merlin turned to his left launching himself into Avery’s body. Avery convulsed immediately on contact with Merlin’s spirit, dropping the pistol he held. Orm along with most of his entourage took a few more unsure steps away from the man. Bursts of random intense white light escaped from Avery’s eyes, mouth and ears as he jerked violently in response to what I assumed was a monumental struggle going on inside his body for possession of it. The battle lasted for the briefest of seconds until it culminated in what could only be described as an explosion. Everyone standing outside the containment field was rocked back on their heels by an unseen force. The blast caused all assembled to shield their eyes from flying dust and debris.

  When I was able to focus on the scene again, Avery stood examining his hands. A satisfied smile playing across his features, beside him laid a spirit, which wasn’t that of Merlin. The spirit that lay upon the ground looked like Avery, sort of. Where Merlin’s spirit was bathed in pure brilliant white light, this spirit was shadowed in a dark blood red color appearing to be sort of deformed. Not that Avery looked like the Elephant Man or anything, he just looked odd, unfinished. I realized that the bad guys were creeping closer to Merlin, morbid curiosity on their faces. Avery’s spirit stir
red, attempting to get to a sitting position, but was having trouble. Not because he was weak I surmised, but because he had no actual practice with his new intangible form. After some fruitless efforts, he ran a hand over his face in frustration. Startled he drew it away staring at it befuddled. Then he held up his other hand to compare it with its mate. His eyes roved over his body panic setting in, he scanned frantically around searching. Surprised eyes locked on the standing figure of Avery a few feet away. He groped feverishly trying to get back to his body, back to safety. Unfortunately his fingers and hands could not find purchase.

  As I watched this sad scene a sound echoed around the hushed silence of the skeletal remains of the church. A sound that didn’t originate from anyone or anything assembled here, distant rumbling sounding like the bellow of an angry bull elephant moments before it charges. Only this particular bellow sounded deeper in bass like it came from something far larger and the sound came from beneath our feet. Fear skittered down my spine like a dachshund puppy running to and fro on a hardwood floor. My eyes were fixed on Avery’s spirit as a thick reddish black tentacle resembling an appendage you might find on an aquatic animal residing in the deep unexplored canyons of the Pacific Ocean erupted from the ground. Boney hooks flexed hungrily as I watched it slither across the stone floor seeking out prey.

  If that sight wasn’t disgusting enough, another rose up next to the first followed by six more tentacles all blindly groping along the stone toward Avery’s spirit leaving a thick mucus like trail.

  Avery tried his best to scuttle away from the probing tentacles; sadly his efforts were in vain. Fear and horror consumed him as an unworldly tentacle latched onto his ankle jerking him violently toward the other seven. Terror filled his eyes. His mouth frozen open in what looked like a blood-curdling scream though no sound issued from his lips. The other tentacles wrapped around him covering most of his body except for one pleading eye peering through a gap between two tentacles as he was pulled down into the hellish realm where the beast existed.