We carefully ascended a staircase and the sniper’s shots were much clearer the further we went. My heart was in my mouth and I felt the sweat run down my face; the adrenaline was unreal.
We got to the closed door and Miller peered through the keyhole. He instructed us again by signalling with his hands and it was I, who was the one to do it; the assault rifle was perfect for a confined space. I agreed and waited until the Sargent counted to three and Kowalski kicked open the door. I didn't waste any time and I squeezed the trigger as hard as I could. The sparks from the barrel were like a dance of party poppers.
The magazine was empty, and we walked in through the smoke. The Sniper was down, and Miller gave his troops the all clear, using his radio.
This was not the first time I had killed for my country; I was part of the defensive in Scapa Flow when the U18-boat attacked. A few German’s had climbed onboard from the sea, and even though we promised them safety and the right to surrender, they attacked anyway and left us with no choice. My superiors said, ‘it would get better,’ but I’ve been taunted by the lives that I’d extinguished in both worlds. There was not much difference in killing an animal and a human; life is a life. My soul had hardened over the years and I tried to not let it bother me too much, but what kind of person would I have been if I had no sense of remorse. At least my allies were safe, and I could carry on with my mission, to bring the balance of light and darkness back to clarity; I hoped the return of the animals would be enough to correct things in Eve.
All worlds are connected, I thought; repeating my grandfather’s odd phrase.
I hadn't noticed the day coming to an end and I felt an uneasiness stir. The rest of the troops were summoned up the street towards our building and came inside. I heard their jeers and celebrations, shouting their Sergeants name, who called down the stairs for them to take a breather. There should have been a response, like a ‘yes sir!’ but everything was silent…
Millers’ face dropped when there was no word and he repeated himself, “Boy's? Did you hear me?”
Kowalski looked to me and I shrugged at the confusion.
We went downstairs to feel a chill and we passed by the reflection from the light of a lamppost, cast across the staircase. The marines were faced down and as pale as the moon. There was a suckling noise coming from under the stairs and I saw a pair of feet shaking in horror. I bent over the top step and looked down…
Under the staircase, a pair of red eyes met mine and the shadow hissed at my presence. Miller's head appeared next to me and he witnessed the strange creature smile and disappear.
“What the hell was that!?” he questioned.
I didn't have the time to explain, but he could see the fear in my eyes, and it was enough for us three to run!
Kowalski was confused and was commanded to do what he was told. We found ourselves pursued through four abandoned buildings that had been through the wars, literally. There were man-sized holes in the walls that went through the block of semi-attached houses and we came to a dead-end; half the building was destroyed, and the floor had collapsed, creating a slope.
We jumped and slid through the structure and into the street. I had a quick look behind me and wished I hadn't; the creature was flying towards us. Miller had jump-started a wrecked military vehicle, which had shrapnel holes all over the bodywork. I quickly got into the passenger seat and Kowalski leapt into the back. Miller floored it and we went the only way we could go; fortunately, towards my destination.
We felt like we had gained some distance from our foe and the questions from the soldiers came flooding in, but I was still reluctant to reveal all. Despite what they had seen, I didn't think it was wise to share my strange second life.
Miller had his own theory. “Is that why you’re here? Investigating that thing?” he asked.
“You could say that...”
“Right... you can keep your secrets, whilst we try and survive this thing,” said Kowalski.
I got the feeling they’d blamed me for the creature’s presence, and I was the cause of their comrade’s demise. I couldn't have been blamed and I felt their judgement was unfair; they hadn't a clue what I was trying to accomplish and what was at stake. I could only presume our enemy was a servant of the dark; a shadow from Maylok who pursued the key for probably the same reasons as me or something much worse…
I couldn't shake the inkling of Dante returning to earth, but surely it would’ve contradicted the prophecy.
We had travelled further east and passed by the village of Estrée-Blanche on a small country road, used by the local farmers. I could see the tops of houses and a church amongst the electrical glow of light. I had noticed a sign directing us to the Chateau Creminil, but we drove past the turning.
“Where are you going, Miller?” I panicked.
“I'm going to the camp outside of Reims. I need to tell our superiors about the enemy’s new weapon”
A weapon? I thought. The typical human mind can't grasp reality and has tried to find false logic to protect themselves from going mad.
I couldn't pity him; I was used to the insanity of the supernatural and my mind never felt more at home.
Before I could argue my point, the tyres popped from under the truck. We slid across the mud and hit a tree; we were stranded on the outskirts of a small woodland, which bordered the castle.
We were fine, but our transport wasn't.
We sat in the dark, not daring to open the door, but we had no choice. I managed to pursued Miller to head for Creminil, not only because I needed to get there, but it was the closest building to us. I didn't know what to expect, I was in that part of France on a whim and was trusting in someone who was born centuries ago; William Frankfurt was the only lead I had.
We moved through the forest quietly and halted, every time we heard the smallest of sounds, from afar. The creature was not the only evil we had to watch out for. The German troops from Therouanne had been pushed back by my allies, but for how far…
Miller found the path that led up to the building, but we kept to the shrubs and out of sight. The trees encroached the little road and had the illusion of walking through a tunnel. The castle came into view and it was a spectacular piece of architecture. It was encircled by a deep mote, full of Bulrushes. The building looked old, at least 12th century; it certainly gave me an insight into William Frankfurt's age.
The lights were on in all the rooms, including the four towers and turrets.
“It doesn't look like it’s been occupied by the enemy yet. I can't see any guards and the windows are closed,” observed Kowalski.
“We should still be careful. Hopefully, we can hide out here until morning, then re-join our company.” Miller looked to me: “At least you can get your work out of the way, whatever it is. Do you think that - thing will follow us here?”
Loud breathing came from Kowalski and there was fear etched into his eyes. We turned to see a red gaze, and fangs smiling within the dark.
“I think you have your answer Sergeant... run!!!” I commanded.
Our footsteps were heavy, and my boots squelched in the mud. The hairs on my neck were standing up and I felt the shadow closing in.
Kowalski was just in my line of sight until he was picked up off the floor and vanished with a short scream.
Miller instantly stopped and fired his handgun in all directions. He reloaded his firearm and kept shooting until it was silent again.
“Miller! Come on!” I shouted.
I felt a faint brush past my shoulder, and I fell to the floor; I had a gash on the side of my arm, and it bled. The creature had dived for the sergeant and grasped his neck with its teeth. He was gone and I was alone.
The Maylok servant had the sergeant clutched within its mouth and seemed to slurp at his veins. I had the sudden realisation that this thing had similar traits to a fictional monster; one who every person feared after reading, Dracula. Its features were of a large bat and had the same motives as the immortal dead. I
felt the same sensation that caused me to freeze when I met Dante's shadow in the courtyard of Thea's library; I couldn't move a muscle.
It approached like a ghostly apparition and peered at William's journal, which poked out of my inside pocket. My blood stained the ground and the minion swooped down and intensely sniffed the grass. It licked the red liquid and looked up at the journal again. It went for the book and not my neck; it seemed desperate to know the location of the key.
Out of the corner of my eye, a short blurry blob came into view and I turned towards the small being. A huge flash of light came from the unknown source and the bat screeched in discomfort.
“Be gone beast!” commanded the voice from the luminosity.
The creature hissed and my helper responded with another flash-bang. The blue orb floated above our heads. We were encased in artificial light and I was safe from the vampire's clutches. It returned to its shadowed plain, and disappeared, defeated.
I looked round to thank my ally and met the gaze of a strange individual.
“You're tiny?” I rudely blurted; it was the first time I’d met a human with dwarfism. He looked unhappy from my response and spat on the floor.
“I take offence to that, sir... technically I am a dwarf, but prefer the term, gnome. My name is Sedgwick; Guardian of the ley-lines, and I know all about you - Lucius Domhill.”
Chapter Four - The Ley-Line Rider
I was inside of Chateau Creminil and was led to a certain tower. It kept a very old secret.
My new companion looked like he’d raided a museum; the Gnome sported a rather tamed beard, which had rings and clips that supported his long Viking goatee. Sedgwick wore a mix of century clothing that would have confused any historian, in guessing the era he hailed from. His flat-cap was pick-pocketed from a Spanish market in the 1800s; his woollen coat came from the 17th century, stolen from a pirate named Captain Blackfoot; his trousers were pinched from the French revolution, whilst they were hung up to dry, for an injured soldier. Finally, his boots were modern and came from a tailor’s shop window in London. His impressive attire of history screamed a question I had to ask, “Are you a time traveller?”
“I do venture through time when I need to. The timelines are part of the telluric waves that connect the worlds in each dimension,” replied the Gnome, as we came to a painting of a former Lord, it opened up to a secret room.
We continued our conversation as we moved into the dark space and Sedgwick created the same blue glow, he magically used from before. He recovered a small orb from his trouser pocket and chucked it up into the centre of the room. It hovered like a fly on the roof and spilled a light, which was intense.
“What is that?” I asked, curiously.
“It’s from a time that hasn't past us by yet, and I cannot say much more than that...”
I didn’t pry any further, I didn't dare because of the Gnome's grouchy nature. He must have been a tad socially inept from travelling alone, but I still needed more knowledge to understand, what we were dealing with. I knew the ley-lines were ancient pathways to other realms, and I wondered if there was more to it.
“They are more than just doorways to other worlds; they are the earth's energy. We can harness and manipulate the planet's energy into traveling between wondrous places.”
I asked if it included Eve and Sedgwick revealed, the doorways I fumbled through all those years ago, were in fact, ley-lines.
“The space between the realms of Eve is much shorter than the earth's energy that revolves around the lands,” said Sedgwick. “Unfortunately, the way to Eve is closed because of Dante and his eagerness to return to earth. Ullpli is currently conducting his methods in healing Eve from the devastation, the shadow had inflicted.”
“So, he's okay... that’s good; I was worried about his current status.”
“He has a humungous task ahead of him.”
“Eve was created by Light, why can't Ullpli have its help?”
Sedgwick looked undecided on whether to share any more information, not because of the subject; he was untrusting towards people and for a good reason. Although we were formerly introduced, he had revealed in later years that many humans have tried to acquire the power, which he guards. It must have been a heavy task to uphold and a hefty burden, to keep out all kinds of evil.
He reluctantly replied: “The Light cannot interfere with these matters for reasons beyond me. It seems the Maylok realm is stronger than ever. The Green Man needs his animals to return and help correct the balance.”
“All worlds are connected,” I muttered.
“Correct - the ley-lines are those strands that hold everything together. They are like roots of a tree, a network; if one is infected then the rest will follow suit until everything becomes total darkness.”
End of days, I thought; the event that has been predicted by many factions and cults for centuries.
The vampire bat came to my mind and the mental picture caused me to shiver. “What was that creature?”
“I think the beast has somehow escaped with the animals, who’d passed through to the real world. I do believe it is a servant of Maylok; what it wants... I can only speculate.”
I remembered its fixation on the journal, and I held it close to my chest.
“There is a map of a key, I believe can open the door to Eve. I think the shadow's intentions are to either return or free someone - something from Maylok.”
“Maybe so… in that case I will have to help you. There will be a few stops along the way, it’s not a one-way journey unfortunately; even the ley-lines are affected. I believe the key you seek is in Alaise; I've heard tales of a large Crow, who guards an ancient item, powerful enough to unlock the heart of realms.”
“Indeed.” I agreed. Coincidence or not, this is my only lead... I thought.
The Gnome turned to me with a serious expression. “You still have a part to play in this fiasco, Lucius Domhill – now, follow me.”
The blue glow revealed a small passage in the stone wall, and I had to duck as we passed through into a tunnel. I felt the clang of metal under my shoe and looked down to see a railway track.
“How long has this been here for?”
“A long time,” replied Sedgwick and I watched the Gnome jump into a crate, which reminded me of a northern mining cart. There were two seats fitted inside that could’ve easily accompanied two gnomes; not a human. I had to squeeze into the back and my legs draped out of the sides. It had a lever on the front, between Sedgwick's legs, and there was a very familiar symbol carved into the mysterious metal.
“The pentagram on your lever... I've seen it before...” I said, out loud, remembering my journey to Maylok with Flit the hare and Sammy. The same pentagram was used for transportation between the two upside-down realms of water and earth.
“You will have done, Knight of the light. It is the symbol of all ley-lines,” replied Sedgwick, whilst he flicked the top of his lever. It revealed a red button. “Hold on Lucius; this will be a completely different experience, compared to the previous short telluric waves you've passed through.”
He pushed the button and catapulted us into a high-speed frenzy; the G-Force was harsh across my face. The walls of the tunnel became translucent, with swirls of dark colours that created a vortex. I felt we were being sucked into a hole and my body was heavy and fatigued.
“The rider is being none responsive! We must stop now!”
I hoped we hadn't travelled somewhere random and the trip would have been straight forward, but it was too much to ask for...
I asked the Gnome on where we had ended up.
“It appears we have travelled on the southern ley-line as I hoped, maybe things will be okay after all...”
The hypnotic wave of illuminations faded, and the cart came to a stop. We were still inside the tunnel and it felt like nothing had changed and it was all an illusion.
Sedgwick jumped out first and pulled the leaver from the cart. It looked like a perfect walking
stick for someone so small. I struggled to get out and ended up falling on my face. The ride had disrupted my sinuses and my head felt like a balloon.
“You okay?” smiled the Gnome; I sensed a slight amusement from his tone.
“Fine...” I lied.
We followed the stairs out into a catacomb, which was filled with entombed skeletons. They were wrapped in linen and laid to rest in the carved walls.
The air was stale and potent; I caught a slight movement from the corner of my eye and saw a huge rat staring back. Sedgwick had lit a torch nearby and looked slightly confused with his surroundings.
“Are you okay?”
The Gnome nodded and gestured for me to follow. We came to some stone steps that led us out into a graveyard.
“Okay we might have overshot it - a tiny bit,” said Sedgwick.
I looked about to find nothing out of the ordinary, but as we left the cemetery, I understood completely. We were in Saint-Quentin, a major French city, south of Aizecourt. There were screams in the air, fire blazed from buildings and the smoke coated the blue sky. I looked to the floor and saw no cobbled streets or pavements; mud filled the roads and the stench of waste was ripe in the darkened medieval town.
“Sedgwick... what year is this?”
“If my calculations are correct... we’ve arrived in 1557; this is not a good year for Saint-Quentin.”
We had unintentionally travelled into the past and to a time when the Spanish army had surged a once prosperous city of France. It was the beginning of a long two years of desertion and looting. The Spanish King Phillip 2nd had declared a state bankruptcy; although it was the golden age of Spanish rule.
“The ley-lines are in an even worse state than I once thought. We must be cautious, don't speak, touch or even look at anything; to change history could be catastrophic,” warned the Gnome. “Come, Lucius, there is another way to our next stop and let us be quick about it.”
We were inconspicuous and we’d made sure to stick to the shadows like the creature who hunted us. There was no sign of our foe and I hoped, it would stay that way. Sedgwick was unsure of whether it could travel the ley-lines and we hoped it was stuck in the present.
Lucius's World Page 3
