by Sarah Coley
Eleanor leaned in and paused before whispering in his ear, "That would be correct."
The vampire stirred at Eleanor for what seemed like an eternity before he broke his eye contact and looked at the floor for a moment. From the pain etched on his face Eleanor could tell there was some inner turmoil taking place. Time seemed to slow down. Eleanor had played her only card. If it failed, Astel would have to destroy this creature without their information she needed.
It seemed like an eternity before he answered but eventually he looked back at Eleanor. Anguish was on his face. "If I agree to co operate, do you give me your vow you will spare my life?"
"Not bloody likely,” announced Owen.
"Agreed,” Said Eleanor without taking her eyes off the vampire.
"You can't agree to this. He's a liability Eleanor. If we let him go, he'll kill us all,” Astel declared desperately.
"You said we'd come through the portal to save Rogardium. Correct?"
"Yes." Answered Astel.
"Well what if by sparing this creatures life, we've created a path to access. Nothing is ever black and white. We won't free him but he has to come with us. I'll take responsibility for that,” Eleanor answered.
"Have you completely lost your mind?" Brennus exclaimed. "The only good Dearg, is a dead Dearg. You bring that thing with us, he'll either break away in the night and kill us all, or there will be more of them looking for him that will kill us all. Leaving him alive is not an option."
"Well that doesn't really give me an incentive to talk then does it Rogue,” The vampire replied in a matter-of-factly tone.
"Nobody was asking your opinion,” Brennus snapped.
"Yes I can see that,” the vampire mumbled before looking across to Astel.
"Am I right in assuming mage, that you know the incantation to withhold a demons heart?"
"Yes,” Astel replied hesitantly.
"Well, you perform the incantation, giving you an advantage over me, and in return I'll take you to the bonny Prince. Deal?"
"You just said the Prince is dead,” Owen retorted.
"I lied."
"Wait a second,” Eleanor shook her head. "What the hell is this incantation. Please tell me you're not literally going to have a piece of his heart?"
"No dear Eleanor,” Astel chuckled, "When a human becomes a Dearg, their soul become corrupted and it is said that they give their spiritual heart completely over to Balor. I can perform a spell that would bypass Balor’s hold on his spiritual heart, meaning if I chose to, I could sever the link completely thus rendering the Dearg deceased."
"But how do we know that even with the incantation, the creature won't betray us and kill you before you can sever the link?" Brennus asked. “What does he get out of it?"
"Well, for a start I get to live a little longer which is always a bonus, and although I was sent here to kill you all by Lord Balor, I failed in my task. If I return alive now, I'll wish I was dead, so there really is no win for me at the moment. The longer I stay away from Balor, the longer I'm free, plus your group of individuals interests me greatly."
The vampire looked at each one of them individually, as though waiting in feigned anticipation of their answers.
Eleanor looked across to Astel. "Astel, what do you think?"
"I don't like the idea of having a creature of darkness following our path, but at the same time he's our best chance of finding the Prince. With his spiritual heart linked to me, he'll be less than inclined to finish his task for Balor."
"Good," Eleanor responded. “ Owen, what do you think?"
"I'll follow you and Astel in whatever you decide,” he responded.
"Ok, and Brennus?"
"I don't like this idea at all. It puts us a great risk, but I've learnt to be constantly looking over my shoulder since I met you three, so it won't really make a difference."
"Ok, lets do this then. Astel, what do we need to do?"
Half an hour later, the group had set everything up for the incantation. Owen had collected earth from the forest, and Eleanor had found water in a nearby stream. Astel had said that all five elements had to be present to perform the ritual, although how it would work and what the fifth element was, Eleanor did not know.
When she returned to camp, she found Astel drawing a pentagram on the forest floor with salt she was conjuring out of thin air. She then placed the bowel of water, the bowl of earth and a burning stick from the fire on three of the points and went to stand on the top point. "This point to the left of me is for air, and I will stand at the top point to represent magic. The others will represent the elements of fire, water and Earth. We need the Dearg be in the centre of the star, because it takes the combination of all the elements to complete the link,” Astel explained.
"How exactly are you going to create air?" Eleanor asked, "Last time I checked, it's kind of everywhere."
"I trigger each element one at a time in clockwise motion. For air, I'll create a small vortex to represent it. Nothing too strong mind you. Now, I need Brennus to escort the prisoner to the centre, and then the three of you need to pick an element to stand behind. Think carefully where you want to stand. It has to be one that represents who you are the most for you to draw the power from it."
Brennus stood up and roughly helped the vampire upright to position himself in the centre of the pentagram. He was still bound by magic that made movement difficult, but he eventual landed in a slumped heap in the centre. Then Brennus walked over to the earth point and stood facing into the centre towards the prisoner.
"I grew up in these woods," he announced. I lived off the land and feel happiest in the forest. It makes me feel grounded, as does this land so I pick earth."
"Good Brennus,” Astel praised, "Ok Owen, your turn."
Owen paused for a moment before walking over and standing at the water element. "When I was younger, I would visit the lake near to our home. My dad took me fishing there. For a long time, I wouldn't go near water because I was afraid, but now I’m older, I share a great respect for it as the giver and taker of life. So I chose water."
"Good Owen,” Astel turned to Eleanor. "It's your turn."
Eleanor didn't need to think this through. Ever since she'd come through the portal all those weeks ago, she'd realized she'd never felt more alive than when the electricity from the portal had raining down on them. "I chose fire. I can't explain why exactly but it gives me strength." The vampire and Astel both looked at Eleanor with wonder and surprise. Eleanor wasn't sure what she'd said that could cause such a reaction, but as she approached the point, the pendant she'd found in the woods, started to heat up again.
"Ok, now we are all in position, we may begin."
"Wait, what about the last element?" Eleanor exclaimed.
I will take magic as this is the element that flows through me and I control. I'll create a vortex for air that will surround a symbol of the Pendragon for Prince Elian, our missing companion, although the purpose of us being here isn't to make the magic work. The elements are linked to us whether we are present or not. The purpose of our participation is to bind the spell to us here,” Astel responded. She began to chant the same Gaelic phrase over and over
"yr elfennau rhwymo ni. Mae calon i ymuno fel un."
Every time she said the incantation, she struck one of the elements with her staff . Great flashes of blue lightning shot all around, soaking up the atmosphere as they moved. The wind became stronger, blowing Eleanor’s hair and taking her breath away, and the trees began to creak and groan as they swayed.
As Astel finished the last incantation and struck the point of magic, the white salt pentagram began to light up, sending white rays of pure sunshine into the sky, until the vampire couldn't be seen in the centre and everyone shielded their eyes. For a moment, Eleanor wondered whether he had been consumed by the light, but as the energies grew, the creature began to scream in agony. This continued for what seemed like a lifetime before the light shot back into Astel’s staff
as fast as it had come, leaving only a bright glowing blue crystal at the centre of her staff.
The wind died and the forest returned to its peaceful slumber. As the silence of the night returned, everyone at once remembered what it was they were trying to achieve and all turned their attentions back to the vampire.
He was lying on the floor in a fetal position, breathing heavily and shaking, but otherwise unaffected. Eleanor might have felt sorry for the creature if he hadn't deliberately tried to kill her.
"I have the link to your spirit now Dearg,” Astel announced. "Balor hopefully did not feel the energy, but I control your fate now. Remember this in the days to come. Now speak your name and let the link be sealed."
The vampire, still shaking from the spell slowly sat up and faced Astel. In a broken, almost human voice he gave his name.
"Vincent. My name is Vincent."
Chapter 20
Vincent had collapsed shortly after the spell had finished, and Owen had dragged his unconscious body into a makeshift tent that Astel had created with magic. She had then explained that as Vampires combust if they come into contact with sunlight, they would have to wait until the following evening to question their new companion.
Astel had offered to take the first watch during the day while the rest of the companions had got some rest, and to ensure Vincent didn't decide to break his vow.
Eleanor now felt different somehow. Almost as though she was charged full of electrical energy, ready to explode at any moment. Her hands and feet tingled and she was convinced that the pendant around her neck occasionally buzzed, like it had done back in Glastonbury, although when she tried to focus on it, she couldn't pick anything up. Frustrated and confused, she'd decided to retire to her tent and get some rest. She made a mental note to ask Owen in the morning if he was experiencing anything similar.
When she awoke the next evening, she could hear the crackling of a camp fire and the smell of cooked meat. It felt like an eternity since she'd last eaten and her tummy growled with yearning. As she turned over to sit herself up and join the rest of the group, she became distinctly aware that she was not alone. Fearing that her new travel companion was about to strike and try and finish the job, she turned and saw with some relief a familiar brown hair sticking out of a crumpled, lumpy blanket.
"Brennus, what the hell are you doing in my tent?”
He turned sleepily and smiled up at her. "Well I was concerned that the Dearg might try and attack you again so I decided safety in numbers and all that."
"How long have you been laying there?" Eleanor could feel the anger burning brighter in her. Her tent was her personal space, and Brennus being there felt like a violation of that.
"Most of the day apart from my watch, although to be honest I hadn't intended on nodding off. Guess I hit my head harder than I though. Wonder boy thought the same so he's outside near to Astel. Astel thought we were being idiots more than usual and stayed up most of the day anyhow."
"Well I'd be inclined to agree with her."
"Yeah. Hey did you know you snore?"
"Brennus."
"Yes Eleanor."
"Please remove yourself from my tent this instant or I will be forced to do something that will effect your ability to function on a daily basis." Eleanor was visibly twitching with anger now.
"Well that's one way of putting it love,” Brennus winked.
"BRENNUS GET THE HELL OUT OF MY TENT!"
"Ok, ok. Wow, the thanks a man gets for trying to be chivalrous."
Eleanor kicked him in his back and then proceeded to get quickly out into the open air. She would have to have words with the men of this company later.
As, Eleanor stepped out of her tent, she found Owen, Vincent and Astel already sat round the fire. Owen had a huge smirk on his face and Eleanor figured that everyone must have heard her shouting at Brennus.
She sat herself down next to Astel feeling both humiliated and disheveled, and Brennus followed shortly afterwards. Vincent looked over to Brennus and gave a sly smirk.
Vincent was sat by himself opposite the rest of the group with one of Astel’s brews in one of his hands. Eleanor absentmindedly wondered whether vampires even drank tea.
"I've already made introductions to Vincent for Owen and yourself on your behalf,” Astel announced whilst pouring both Eleanor and Brennus a drink.
"And I take it the wild looking idiot over there is Brennus,” Vincent piped up. "You’ve got quite a reputation for yourself Brennus. Deflowering Lord Quinn’s daughter and then escaping over a balcony window. I see you still like sneaking into unsuspecting women’s bed quarters."
"Better than trying to eat them,” Brennus replied, “and as for Lord Quinn, the whole thing was a complete misunderstanding."
"You seem to know a hell of a lot about us Vincent,” Eleanor interrupted. “Tell us, how much of what we're doing do you actually know?"
"Let me see. The Prince is missing, Astel traveled to Rogard about a week ago, got in an argument with the King over the Prince’s whereabouts, and now your heading to Brackon. Is that about right?" Vincent finished in a matter- of-fact manner.
"How do you know all that?" Owen asked.
"My dear boy, we have spies everywhere. That and Balor has the all seeing eye."
"I'll have to address that if we ever get back to Rogard,” Astel muttered to herself.
"Well you seem to know a lot about us, so let’s hear what you've been up to,” Eleanor said.
"Recently or the last five hundred years?" Vincent replied mockingly.
"Five hundred years old and you still haven't developed decent manners. There's clearly no hope for you at all,” Eleanor spoke in a fainted casual tone. "I meant, what have you and this Lord Balor been up to recently, and what have you done with the Prince?"
"And you speak to me of decorum in conversation. In response to your first question, Lord Balor has been amassing an army of dark spirits, Dearg and Goblins, although I've tried to stay away from it all as much as I can."
"What, you had a prick of conscience?' Owen asked in mocked disbelief.
"No, I just don't like people,” Vincent replied as though that was the most logical thing in the world.
"And the second question?" Astel asked.
"Ah, the Prince. He's being held in Sleugh’s layer for the time being, although I'm sure Balor will want him moving at some point."
"I knew it,” Astel declared.
"Wait a second. How would you know where the Prince is? I thought you stayed away from Balors plans,” Brennus asked whilst fidgeting slightly in his seat with frustration. Vincent gave him a sideways glance without even flinching.
"Because Lord Balor was there when he summoned me to come and dispose of you four. He created a portal for me to get here quicker."
"And nothing else? You didn't play any part in the Prince’s capture or treatment?"
"No, not in the slightest,” Vincent replied. Despite his cool demeanor, Eleanor could tell by the way his eyes twitched and how he began to play with the sleeve of his jacket, that Vincent wasn't being entirely honest.
"So, where do we go from here?" Owen asked no one in particular. "We can't exactly go into a human town with a vampire in tow. We could split up and two of us go in for supplies."
"That would be ill advised human,” Vincent piped up.
"And why would that be?"
"Because Brackon fell three days ago and the town is over run with Goblins. Any humans that where there have either headed south toward Rogard or have been killed. I would advise you avoid the main roads if you like breathing."
Owen looked like he was about to stand up and lunge at Vincent, and Astel had her head in her hands. It was clear that the news about Brackon had hit her hard.
Brennus looked uneasy before stating what they’d all been thinking. "I was under the impression that our destination was Brackon, where we'd split up and go our separate ways. Eleanor and Owen did their part in your little experiment mage,
and should be allowed to return to Albion if that's what they want."
"Is that what you want?" Astel asked, concern etched on her face. "I always keep my word and if you want to leave, I'll understand."
Eleanor and Owen looked at one another quickly before Eleanor spoke. "I wasn’t sure what to do. We had a life back home and Owen has a family. We’ve talked ,and we’ve decided to come with you to get the Prince back at the very least. We'll wait to leave until the Prince is back in Rogard. It would feel wrong to leave now, like this, and we've both grown rather fond of the place."
Astel’s face lit up. She went and hugged both Eleanor and then Owen. Eleanor noticed how Owen blushed with the embrace. “Brennus, will you follow us or go your separate way?" Astel asked.
"Is it even worth asking if there will be payment? I am a mercenary after all."
"If you help me find the Prince and bring him safely back to Rogard, then I can guarantee that you will be paid handsomely." Astel responded.
"Isn't that what you said last time?"
"That was a complication. It won't happen again."
Brennus looked at the floor in front of him, appearing to ponder his options, although Eleanor had already guessed what his response would be.
"Brennus is coming with us,” Eleanor announced.
Brennus shot a glance her way. "I didn't even give my response yet.”
"You already had an answer before you said it. You're coming with us because you have no were else to go. The rather unattractive rogue you were with is dead, you're on the run from the king again, and the whole of the north has been lost to the Goblins. You have nothing to lose Brennus." Eleanor declared.
Brennus smiled
."What?” she said.
“You're stuck’ with me. To be honest I'm growing quite fond of you all. Even wonder boy over there, but don’t let it get out. It might ruin my reputation!”
"And me?” Vincent smirked sarcastically.
“No, you're just a pasty, demonic arsehole."
"Charming!” Vincent answered with indifference.”Well, I don't have a choice so it looks like I’m in if anyone was wondering,” Vincent surmised.
