Death's Dominion

by Simon Clark

  Breathe, Luna, breathe … Despite her best efforts Elsa failed to prevent the mantra running through her head. She glanced at the others as they stood with their heads bowed. West, Paul, Saiban, Xaiyad and the rest. The human girl, Caitlin, hung back as if unsure to be part of the group of monsters mourning a death of one of their own. Another thought chilled her through. We’re all here, she told herself. That means Luna’s murderer must be in this very room. She glanced at Dominion’s impassive face. If he’s right, of course. It could have been an accident. Luna might have slipped. The bruises to her neck might have resulted from the fall. Could it have been suicide? A God Scarer killing themselves wasn’t unheard of.

  The mourners only stirred when Dominion picked up the body encased in the pale fabric. He carried her as a parent might carry a sleeping child to bed with an arm cradling her back and another under her legs. Instead of Luna’s head swinging down this time he positioned her shrouded head so it rested against his chest.

  Paul blocked Dominion’s way. ‘Where are you taking her?’

  ‘She must have a grave.’

  Paul stood aside. Dominion exited the room with the bundle in his arms. Wordlessly everyone followed. No one protested. Elsa sensed they all knew that Dominion would treat Luna with respect. Moments later they entered the medieval chapel at the base of the tower. It was a vaulted chamber with stone columns that must have been ten feet in diameter supporting the structure above. Beyond the dozen wooden pews there was an altar. Beyond that, a cross had been painted in gold on the wall. It was depicted floating in a blue sky streaked with clouds.

  Dominion carried Luna to the far side of the chapel, then he descended a set of steps into the crypt. This is how we monsters bury our dead, Elsa thought. We have to invent our own ritual. No human priest would conduct our funeral rite, because in their eyes we already died a long, long time ago.

  Into the gloom of the crypt the muted survivors filed between the stone boxes that were the sarcophagi. One of the tombs had been opened. Dominion’s work? Elsa saw the alabaster coffin was empty. On its side a tablet of carved limestone stated: Rachel, wife of Zellerby, Earl of Holderness. Departed this life the seventh day of August, 1588. Eternal Rest. In silence Dominion gently lay the white-shrouded body in the maw of the tomb. Then he hauled the marble slab that bore the statue of the long dead Rachel, wife of Zellerby, until it sealed the tomb shut. In the gloom of the crypt silence pressed down on them. With that weight of silence came the weight of years. This funerary chamber had presided over dozens of entombments down through the centuries. Even the inscription on the floor slabs revealed men, women and children had been interred beneath their feet. Of Rosedale, sweet Annie, pure of thought and deed, ascended to heaven Christmas Day, 1726. Another, beneath the etching of a skull: Squire Apollinus Ewart-Brigg died as a result of a visitation of our Lord God, 1822. Peace Unto You Until You Follow Me Into Everlasting Night.

  Surrounded by death, treading on death – we are death. Elsa closed her eyes as tears pricked them. With the smell of dust she caught the faint trace of spices buried with the corpses long ago in the hope it would purify the air of the tomb. At that moment, Elsa heard the song of the ancient dead. Haunting voices ghosted through the atoms of the walls. The elegiac notes reached out to her from another existence in another universe. They’re calling me from the Land of the Dead, she told herself. I cheated them. I should have joined them there. I have no right to be in this world of the living. The dead are calling me back …

  Behind her closed eyes dark forms rose from a deeper darkness. Indigo patterns blossomed. Faces resolved …

  ‘Elsa? Elsa, are you all right?’ She opened her eyes to find herself sitting in the cafeteria. Paul crouched down beside her. His eyes were large with concern. ‘You fainted in the crypt.’ He gave a reassuring smile. ‘It’s a wonder it isn’t happening to all of us. We haven’t slept in days, never mind eaten anything. OK? No blurred vision? Headaches?’

  Elsa shook her head. ‘Just light headed … Luna …’ She couldn’t articulate the emotion. ‘It’s shock. That’s all.’ Elsa caught Paul’s hand. ‘Luna was murdered by one of us. We’ve got to find out who’s responsible.’

  ‘We can’t be sure about that.’

  ‘Her neck was bruised. Someone snapped it.’

  ‘Before you do anything you need to rest a while. OK?’

  She nodded.

  ‘Promise?’

  Her lips tightened into a tired smile. ‘I promise.’

  She cradled her head on the table. How long she slept she didn’t know but when she opened her eyes Dominion stood over her. Drowsy, she stared up at his dark head with the sheen of short blond hair covering the massive skull. His eyes had a glossy blackness to them. They were like orbs of polished black marble.

  ‘You remember your old life?’

  ‘I can,’ she assented. ‘But I do my damndest not to.’

  ‘Your family?’

  ‘I remember them. Also I know I lost them just as much as they lost me when I made the transition. You can’t return to your family in a physical way. To return to them through memory is just too bloody painful. Take my advice, Dominion. Even though you can’t forget the people you love don’t think about them. Especially not when you wake up in the middle of the night. That’s mental torture of the worst sort.’

  Dominion’s dark gaze held her. ‘Elsa, I don’t remember my family. Or, who I was before I died. I’m frightened, Elsa. I know I’m different from the rest. I think I am the first man.’

  ‘The first man? What do you mean.’

  ‘The first man. That’s what I am. I know I have to do something that you and your people will hate.’

  ‘Dominion. It’s an effect of the transition. Remember, you should still be convalescing. All the connections in here.’ She touched her temple. ‘They aren’t complete yet.’

  ‘I’m the first man. I never existed before my transition. I have no past.’ His dark eyes seemed to grow even larger. They were mesmerizing and terrifying all at the same time. ‘I’m going to act in a way that no one can predict. That scares me, Elsa.’

  ‘Dominion. I’ll fetch Paul. You’re confused. It’s a reaction—’

  He loomed over her. ‘Elsa, I know you and your kind were once dead. I’m not dead … I am Death.’

  The armed force laid siege to The Pharos in the afternoon. Paul saw them scaling the 400 steps from the town up the cliff face to the fortress. He took a moment to count the men and women who were armed with rifles and shotguns. He saw no military uniforms but there were half-a-dozen police in that crowd of thirty or so.

  He called to West who walked across the courtyard, ‘West, there’s a bunch of saps coming up the steps. They’re armed so keep out of sight.’

  ‘We need to lock the portcullis down.’

  ‘I’ve already jammed some timber into the hoist. They won’t be able to shift it in a hurry. Can you pass word to the others?’

  Of course, it had only to be a matter of time before they came. The citizens of Scaur Ness wouldn’t rest with a gang of God Scarers taking up residence in their castle. Bang goes the neighbourhood, was his sour thought as he returned to the cafeteria. He found Saiban in the doorway.

  ‘So you’ve seen them?’ The man’s sad eyes fixed on him. ‘If it comes to surrendering peacefully or waiting for them to force us out I know which I’d chose.’

  ‘And I know which you’d chose, Saiban.’

  ‘Then accept my advice: negotiate a peaceful surrender with these people before they attack.’

  ‘If they capture us they’ll kill us anyway.’ Paul met Saiban’s cold stare. ‘Are you going to let me through the door, Saiban? Or don’t you want me to warn the others.’

  ‘After you.’ Saiban stood back to allow him through.

  ‘Thank you, Saiban. You’ve got a heart of gold.’

  A sneer curled Saiban’s lip. ‘I know you don’t like me, Marais. But I am the most senior member of staff here. We must
discuss a peaceful surrender. If we wait the army will arrive then they’ll dynamite this place with us in it.’

  ‘Go ahead, Saiban. Hand yourself over to the saps. Nobody will mind. But close the gate on the way out, won’t you?’ With that Paul went into the cafeteria. Most of his sorry band were there including Dominion and Caitlin. When he saw her there in the nightdress the blood tingled in his veins. ‘Can I have your attention for a moment, please?’ He clicked his tongue. ‘That sounds crass. Like I’m calling a meeting to order. Anyway, I’ve got to tell you that there’s a group of people coming up from the town. It’s mainly civilians with a handful of police. They’ll never be able to raise the portcullis. Although they can fire through it of course, so keep out of sight and we’ll be fine.’

  West walked into the cafeteria with the rest of the God Scarers. Saiban crept in behind them with all the poise of a phantom.

  Paul continued, ‘My proposal is we stay here inside the castle. We’re relatively safe. It would require artillery to make a dent in those walls. But I know there might be some of you who prefer a different course of action. Now’s the time to ask the question: does anyone want to surrender themselves to the people out there? A show of hands, please?’

  No one raised their hand. Paul turned to Saiban. His hand wasn’t raised. ‘I thought that’s what you wanted?’

  ‘What I believe is right,’ Saiban began, ‘is safe passage for all of us out of this place. But more importantly, I have a duty of care to those human beings out there. Dominion here has proved he is capable of harming our mortal betters. I have to ensure that he passes into the care of the police without committing any further violence.’

  Elsa spoke up. ‘Saiban, if you think Dominion will just walk out of here to give himself up you’re out of your mind.’

  Paul turned to the giant figure. ‘Dominion?’

  ‘I will speak to the townspeople.’

  ‘There. You underestimated him.’ Saiban sounded pleased with himself.

  Dominion began to move. Instead of heading for the door he went to the trestle table against the wall where the curtain had been left last night. He opened it up to tip out the food he’d taken from the grocery store. Cans rattled down on to the tabletop.

  ‘We don’t have enough food,’ Dominion told them. ‘We also need clothes. They can give us more candles, too.’

  Saiban’s chuckle was a dry one. ‘Dominion, you’ll get nowhere making demands of the townspeople. Offer to surrender peacefully.’

  ‘We’re staying here,’ Dominion responded. ‘This place belongs to us now.’

  Saiban shook his head, his lips pursed in disapproval. ‘I think you’ll find the property is vested in the—’

  ‘We’re stronger, Saiban. We took it away from them. That makes it ours.’

  ‘Dear God,’ Saiban breathed. ‘He is insane.’

  Even Paul tried to block Dominion’s exit. Not that he could delay the giant for more than a moment if he decided to keep walking. ‘Dominion, we need to discuss this first.’

  ‘I’ll talk to them.’ Dominion continued moving. Paul backed off, yet he still kept himself between the man and the door.

  ‘Dominion, the saps’ll open fire the moment they see you.’

  ‘I want them to see me. They won’t have forgotten what I did to their town in a hurry.’

  West clapped his hand together in triumph. ‘See, Dominion wasn’t acting crazy last night. He had a plan.’

  ‘That won’t stop them firing on you,’ Beech called out. ‘OK, they might not kill you but they can make a hell of a mess of your head.’

  Caitlin ran forward. ‘I’ll come. They won’t dare shoot if I’m with you, in case they hit me.’

  Beech grunted. ‘Don’t bet on it; it didn’t stop them last night.’

  ‘Then I’ll go first.’ Caitlin ducked through the door before anyone could stop her.

  The rest followed at a distance. They were wary in case their presence in the courtyard was greeted with a hail of lead. Paul emerged from the doorway to see Caitlin run barefoot across the cobbles to the criss-cross structure of the portcullis. Through the spaces in the woven steel he glimpsed the armed phalanx of citizens, including the face of the man who owned the grocery store. Caitlin stopped twenty paces from the portcullis; she deliberately put herself in the firing line. More than once she glanced back to make sure that she’d interposed herself between the gate and Dominion.

  Voices rose from the far side of the gate. ‘Caitlin.’

  ‘Come out.’

  ‘What are you doing in there, girl?’

  ‘Your father’s here. Tell him you’re all right.’

  Caitlin called out. ‘Dad. I’m fine.’

  ‘Come out here, Caitlin. Tell them to open the gate.’

  ‘I’m staying here, Dad. I want to.’

  The buzz of voices sounded angry.

  ‘Caitlin, I understand you’re not yourself. You’re not thinking straight. Come home with me.’

  Dominion walked slowly to stand by Caitlin. With a determined sidestep she put herself in front of him, her head protecting his heart. Even so, Paul heard rifle bolts being drawn.

  Caitlin called back to the others. ‘This man is my father.’ She pointed at the face beyond the gate. ‘He’s the mayor of Scaur Ness. Tell him what you need.’

  ‘They’ll get nothing from us, Caitlin.’ Her father grew angry. ‘Now leave there while you still can.’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Don’t you know what those things are? They aren’t even alive. Scientists take corpses inject them with drugs, fill them with radiation and God knows what. They only appear to be living.’

  ‘You don’t know them. They’re kind and gentle.’

  ‘They’re monsters, Caitlin. Even Jesus Christ Himself would turn His back on them. They’ve brought ruin on this country. Why do you think the town is a shambles?’

  Dominion took a step forward. Despite the people being armed they flinched backwards. Dear God, they remembered Dominion all right. And his violent entry into the town.

  Once more Caitlin used her body to shield Dominion. ‘Dad, listen to what he wants.’

  ‘Caitlin. No. You tell them to come out of there without causing trouble or we’ll destroy every last one of them. They’re parasites, don’t you see that? Last winter our own people were starving—’

  ‘Listen to me.’ Dominion projected his voice at them as if it were a weapon. Caitlin’s father clammed up. Clearly, Dominion’s explosive entrance into his store a few hours ago was still raw in his mind. ‘We need food, clothes, candles. For a while we intend to stay here. You will not attack us.’

  A woman’s voice rang out. ‘You bastards. Who do you think you are to make demands of us?’

  Rifle muzzles appeared through gaps in the portcullis.

  Dominion didn’t even appear to notice them. ‘For your own safety listen to me.’ His booming voice echoed from the castle walls, ‘I’m going down into your town. You will give me what we need.’

  ‘You can’t make us.’

  ‘My name is Dominion. If any of you attempt to stop me I will hurt you. If you refuse to give me what I ask for I will take the youngest child I find and drown it in the ocean. Then, if you do not yield to my demands, I will take another child and do the same. I will keep drowning your children until you give us what we need.’

  Paul’s heart lurched painfully in chest during Dominion’s speech. He could hardly breathe. The group beyond the gates blanched in shock. In the castle the God Scarers were equally stunned.

  One of the God Scarers stammered, ‘Dear Lord, he can’t be serious.’

  West was grim faced. ‘You saw what Dominion did last night. He told the town to ‘Wake up’, they saw what he’s capable of. And I believe he’s capable of anything.’

  When nobody spoke beyond the portcullis Dominion advanced until he was face-to-face with the saps through the gridiron. ‘So? Whose child is going to be first? Will it be one of yours?
’

  Paul watched the portcullis being raised. Most of the townsfolk that had marched on the Pharos had vanished back down the steps into the town. A group of policemen remained on the walkway, perhaps there to monitor what happened, then report back to the mayor later.

  Saiban stood beside Paul. ‘So the almighty Dominion got his way.’

  Paul found a smile breaking on his face. ‘Something told me he would.’

  ‘I wish I could say “be it on your head” when it ends in disaster, but it will be on all our heads.’ With that Saiban turned away.

  Paul watched Dominion stand at the top of the steps. He gazed out over the town as if he’d conquered it.

  A moment later, Dominion began the descent. Behind him followed West, Elsa and Caitlin. Paul had argued with her not to go, but she possessed a steel will. She said she wanted to choose her own clothes. After all, she couldn’t live in her nightdress. Paul began to wonder about her. Was that the real reason for accompanying Dominion? Or did she want to strut through her town in the company of the giant?

  18

  Scaur Ness

  That afternoon the air was still. The water beyond the mouth of the harbour didn’t have a wave on it. As they walked down the 400 stone steps that led from the Pharos to the town, the sky was a misty grey. An uncanny silence pervaded the scene. Dominion led the way. Then Caitlin walked barefoot. She still wore the bloodstained nightdress; her arm in the sling. Then side-by-side came Elsa and West.

  Despite the equilibrium of her surroundings Elsa’s mind boiled with random thoughts. Why are we doing this? They’re bound to ambush us as soon as we’re in those narrow streets. It’s madness. But if we don’t get food, how long before we starve to death? OK, we’re monsters. We’re hard to kill, but we’re not indestructible. Just look at what happened to Luna. Good grief, what did happen to Luna? How did she fall off the castle wall? Did someone throw her over the side? Who could have done that to her? Why? The only one capable is Dominion. Where was Dominion when she died? Dominion descended the stairs with a slow, deliberate step. The gold stubble shone against his dark scalp. What’s really happening inside that head of his? Did Luna refuse to do what he wanted, so he snapped her neck then threw her body away as if it were trash? Is he deranged? As the mood takes him, will he kill us all one by one? If that’s the case, what can we do about it? If we leave the castle the townspeople will kill us. If we stay locked inside …