Hellogon

by John Booth

  “Her honourable father would confide to me of Saloni’s many indiscretions. She has a wanton nature and performed sexual services from the age of eleven. I offered her work in The Bird Cage to legitimise it, but she preferred to do it for free. The Vampire Lords will not be happy when all this information leaks back to Hellogon. But no one has ever managed to stop gossip, have they?” Han No sat back in his chair and smiled broadly.

  Sal rocked on her feet in shame and anger. Anger because of Han No’s smug description and shame because it was true. She didn’t want Peter to see her like that.

  Peter turned in his chair so he could see Sal’s face. “Did you find some solace like that?” he asked quietly. Sal nodded her head.

  “Humans are strange people and Sal is human on Earth. Humans cannot be judged by one aspect of their lives. You have to judge them by their lives as a whole. I thank you for Sal’s safe return, even if she was a little battered and bruised.”

  Han No looked irritated. “You have requested a meeting and here I am. What is it you wish to talk to me about?” Han No leaned forward.

  “The four species of Hellogon are heading for extinction. I believe you’re a logical being and it is illogical to allow this to happen.”

  “The Dragons are a long-lived species, unlike the three unworthy species we share Hellogon with. I do not believe my species faces extinction. All that is needed for peace is for the Vampires and Grimms to accept my rule. This would indeed be a logical thing for them to do.” Han No sat back, his hands folded and hidden within the large sleeves of his robes.

  “But is there a Dragon species left to save?” Peter asked, “No one has seen a Dragon other than you in living memory. Perhaps you wish the other species of Hellogon to follow your own into oblivion?”

  Han No’s face contorted in anger. “I did not come here to play the Great Game with an unworthy child. You think you understand the Game but you only understand it here.” Han No pointed at his head. “But the game is played from here.” Han No placed his palm over his heart. “It is too early to talk with you. Had you stayed with me, then I might have been able to educate you, but among the Vampires and the Grimms you have learnt slowly. Learn this lesson now, as a further gift from me.”

  Han No clapped his hands and three people emerged from the portal behind him. Two of them were the Chinese bodyguards Peter had met before. Between them, they dragged a man towards Han No. The man was bent over as if drunk. He looked up and Peter saw a thin drawn face with an unkempt ginger beard whose eyes looked straight past him. The man smiled wanly.

  “Daddy,” Sal screamed. She tried to move forward but Peter and the table blocked her way. Solly grabbed hold of her but she shook his hands away. “That’s my father,” she yelled as Peter got to his feet.

  Han No stood. The two bodyguards had stopped some feet away from him. Peter held Sal to prevent her from clambering over the table.

  “The Game is not only about logic.” Han No said simply and turned to his bodyguards making a slicing gesture across his throat.

  Sal screamed as one of the bodyguards pulled out a long curved knife. Her screams increased in intensity as she fought with Peter to get free. She slumped in his arms as the bodyguard slit her father’s throat.

  Sal struggled to get free as the bodyguards dragged her father’s body to the portal and took his body through it. Han No followed them a few seconds later. He walked serenely through the portal with his two Warlock minders close behind him. Once they were gone Peter let go and Sal scrambled over the table towards the portal, stopping at its threshold and collapsing to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.

  Peter climbed over the table and walked towards her. He stopped for a second at the place where Sal’s father’s throat was cut, and rubbed his fingers in the splattered blood. He put his bloodied fingers up to his nose, almost as though he was going to taste it. He wiped his fingers on his jeans and went to Sal, helping her to her feet.

  “Why, Peter? Why did he do it? You told me Daddy was safe. You promised me.” Sal began to punch and slap at Peter as he held her to him.

  “I don’t know,” Peter said as Sal wept against his chest. “I really don’t know.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Baldan

  A week passed since Sal’s father’s murder. It was a busy week for Peter as he attempted to consolidate his position as leader of the Vampires. Lord Baldan was incensed by his continuing liaison with Sal and by Peter’s refusal to attack Zandar, a stronghold of Warlocks about seven miles to the south.

  Sal had become withdrawn since their return and barely spoke to Peter during the day. At night she was completely different in her need for him. He found it strange she could be so insatiable for physical contact and so remote the rest of the time, but he had bigger problems and couldn’t afford the time to get to the bottom of her behaviour.

  A big bonus in Peter’s struggles to take control was the surprising capabilities demonstrated by his Castlemaine. Lady Ilarna took her job seriously and proved excellent at castle management and intrigue.

  A demonstration of Ilarna’s capability was her handling of the plumbing. The water system and bathrooms were less than ten years old, installed at the instruction of the last Lord Cragus. He visited Earth regularly, took a fancy to hot baths, showers, and plumbed-in toilets. He ordered the appropriate materials shipped in from Earth. He paid a team of plumbers from Earth to come over to Hellogon and fit out the castle. Naturally, they killed the plumbers once the work was complete.

  Over the years, faults had developed and Ilarna wanted to visit Earth and kidnap some plumbers. When Peter suggested she might pay the plumbers instead, Ilarna took to the novel idea like a duck to water. She saw that this would make it much easier to solve future problems as she could call in people who already knew the system.

  The Vampires of Castle Cragus were wealthy. Their vaults were filled with gold and precious gems. Their collections of paintings, carvings and other works of art created by Earth artists went back over a thousand years.

  Ilarna also provided Peter with information about which Vampire lords were most likely to act against him. Her fate was inextricably linked to his. She was well aware her life would also be forfeit the moment Peter was killed.

  Despite all this, Peter found it tricky to meet to discuss matters with her. For some unknown reason, Sal hated Ilarna and objected to Peter talking to her. Despite restricting her dialogue with Peter to the bare minimum, Sal managed to make her views on the subject beyond misinterpretation.

  Peter took to holding clandestine meetings with his Castlemaine, much to Ilarna’s amusement. She knew very well why Sal feared her, but she wasn’t planning on letting Peter into the secret anytime soon.

  * * *

  It was established practice to behead one of the servants in the courtyard at the beginning of every month. The Lords claimed this kept the servants properly cowed and obedient. This month, Lord Baldan selected a twelve year old girl who spilt red wine on his lap. Peter found out what was going to happen and forbade the execution taking, the girl into his retinue as Ilarna’s dresser.

  Lord Baldan regarded Peter’s actions as an insult to his power and authority. He stormed into Peter’s private apartment.

  “How dare you countermand the execution?” Baldan raged. Peter stood up from behind his desk and tried to mollify the man.

  “We can’t keep replacing the slaves you keep killing. I decided it was best the girl should come and work for me. Can I offer you some wine? It’s an excellent vintage.”

  Baldan knocked the glasses and bottle off the table with one sweep of his hand. The glasses smashed when they hit the floor while the bottle rolled spilling its contents.

  “A pox on your wine,” Baldan turned towards Peter and sent the force of his will against him. Peter felt as if a psychic gale struck him. “Kneel before me, half-breed scum.”

  “No.” Peter forced the words out. It took all his power to resist Lord Baldan and he nee
ded to act quickly before it ran out. He spun on his heels and back kicked Baldan in the groin.

  Baldan flew across the room and landed against the wall, his legs spread-eagled on the floor. Baldan shook his head and got to his feet. He pulled his sword and ran towards Peter.

  Peter’s kick destroyed Baldan’s concentration and he found himself free. As Baldan launched his sword blow, Peter flew upwards and rotated through ninety degrees to end up lying across the ceiling.

  The force of the sword strike sent the vampire crashing into the desk. Before he could recover, Peter dropped to the floor and thrust a paperknife from the desk against the back of Baldan’s head, ready to strike from beneath the skull into the brain. The blade cut deep into Baldan’s neck.

  Lord Baldan stopped moving and thrust his arms out in a gesture of surrender. His only hope for survival if Peter still thought him useful.

  “Lord Baldan, I’d like to thank you for the fight demonstration. Perhaps in future, you’d give me time to get my papers off the desk as it’s going to take some time to pick them up.” Peter withdrew the knife from Lord Baldan’s neck and stepped swiftly away from the man. This proved a sensible move as Baldan swung his fist around in an arc that would have smashed Peter against the wall, had it connected. “But enough of this fooling around. Did you come to ask me something specific?”

  Lord Baldan saw Peter was giving him a way out. If he chose, they could return to the status quo. Otherwise, it would be a fight to the death. For the first time, Lord Baldan became aware the outcome of such a fight would not be a foregone conclusion.

  “I beg your pardon for the horseplay, Lord Cragus. I would like to remonstrate with you over my slave. I paid one hundred pieces of gold for her only three months ago.”

  “As you decided to cut her head off, making her value zero, I don’t see how you can have a valid complaint, my Lord Baldan.” Peter returned to behind the desk and picked up his overturned chair.

  “She was my property, Lord Cragus. However, she is prone to clumsiness. I sought to make an example of her for the good of the other slaves.”

  Peter looked Baldan in the eyes. “I find such examples to be counterproductive, my Lord Baldan, and I’ll no longer allow them. However, to show that Lord Cragus doesn’t resort to theft, I’ll ask Ilarna to draw one hundred pieces of gold from the vaults. You may tell your fellow Lords I made a fair payment for the slave and you found payment more profitable than her death. Will that satisfy your honour, Lord Baldan?”

  Lord Baldan nodded. Peter’s death was inevitable anyway and he saw how he could turn this incident to his advantage. He knew that for the direct approach to work against Peter he would need at least one good fighter at his side, preferably two.

  “Is there anything more you wish to discuss?” Peter asked politely. Lord Baldan shook his head and left the room, limping slightly. As the door shut, Peter let out a huge sigh of relief. His voice was getting steadier during these confrontations, but behind the desk he hadn’t been able to stop his legs shaking. I ought to kill you, Lord Baldan. You’re giving murderers a bad name, he thought.

  The problem with Hellogon was if he applied Earth laws to these creatures they would all be in jail. It was a cultural problem, and the Vampires needed years of retraining.

  The door opened and Peter left his chair ready to fight. Sal walked in and gave a short laugh when she saw his pose, “The Kung Fu Kid in action. Typical.” She ignored the scattered documents, smashed glasses on the floor, and went to stare out of the window. Peter got the idea she was waiting for him to tell her something, but he had no idea what she wanted. He’d already told her a thousand times he was sorry for her father’s death. It didn’t seem to help.

  “I’m bored. Can we go out somewhere?” Sal asked distantly.

  “Where would you like to go?”

  Sal made no attempt to answer his question and continued to stare out of the window.

  “How about Tellus? I need to meet with the Warlocks, and Tellus is regarded as neutral ground. Nothing more than the odd fist fight allowed, apparently.”

  “If you want,” Sal said, as if the whole thing was his idea and she was doing him a favour. “I’ll meet you at the stables in half an hour.” Sal walked out of the room without looking at him.

  “If she keeps this up much longer, I shall go mad,” Peter told the room. “What does she want from me?

  He began to pick up his papers. A servant entered the room and helped him. A couple of minutes later, another servant arrived with a dustpan and brush, incongruously made of bright yellow plastic, and began to clean up the glass. Peter suspected the servants had a grapevine superior to any bugging system. They always seemed to know about everything that happened.

  * * *

  Sal walked back to her room and closed the door. Mary White rushed to her side. “Is he all right? Lord Baldan didn’t hurt him, did he?”

  “He’s fine. By the time I got there, Lord Baldan was limping off looking as though he had a groin strain. Peter was doing his usual trembling thing and trying to hide it by being macho. I don’t think Lord Baldan laid a finger on him.”

  “How long are you going to keep punishing Lord Cragus, milady?”

  “He’s not sorry enough yet.” Sal looked Mary in the eyes. “You’re certain he’s not fucking that slut Ilarna?” It was a question she asked Mary a lot.

  “He never touches her, milady. I would tell you if he did. He’s completely professional at all times.”

  “The trouble is she’s a professional too, the sort that knows exactly how to bide her time to catch a man. And she’s not getting her whorish fangs into Peter if I have anything to do with it.”

  Sal pulled herself together. After the death of her father, she felt Peter was the only friend she had and was terrified she might lose him. The trouble was she got angry with him whenever they were in the same room.

  Still, a trip would calm her down and it would be good to get away from the castle, if only for a day. Mary helped her change into a pair of jeans and a tee-shirt. Sal wasn’t sure how she coped before Mary came into her life.

  * * *

  It was almost time to meet Peter in the stables. Sal and Mary exchanged kisses and Sal ran down the stone stairs of the castle.

  When Mary was sure Sal had left, she walked down the corridor and entered a small room. “It’s been done, just as you requested,” she said.

  “Excellent,” said Lady Ilarna, “You’ve done well, Mary.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Tallus

  Peter greeted Sal warmly when he reached the stables, but she turned her back on him. Peter took his cue from her response. He mounted his horse in silence, rode out into the yard, and out of the gate. He didn’t bother to see if Sal followed him. If she chose to ignore him he would do the same to her.

  Sal had trouble controlling her horse. A high spirited grey mare, it was eager to be off. When Peter confidently rode out towards the gate, Sal’s grey decided that was where she was going and broke into a canter. Sal lost her stirrups, leant forwards and clung onto her horse’s mane.

  Learning to ride was compulsory at the Establishment and Peter was naturally good with horses. Brought up in the Establishment it never occurred to him Sal might not know how to ride.

  When Sal’s horse broke into a gallop and sped past him, Peter thought Sal was simply showing contempt. It was only when she wailed that he realised she was in trouble. Peter brought his own horse up to a gallop and soon caught up with her. They’d left the road and were racing over grassland. They were heading downhill as the castle was on the top of a hill and all routes led down. The grass was clearly protective landscaping as it was cut short.

  Sal’s arms clasped her horse’s neck clinging on for dear life. Peter called out as their horses ran side by side.

  “Pick up your reins and turn your horse’s head. She’ll slow down if she’s turning.”

  “You pick up the damned reins,” Sal screamed. “I never eve
n touched the accelerator.”

  Peter realised Sal wasn’t going to do as he asked and it was up to him. This would be dangerous as Sal’s leg might be crushed between the two horses. Peter edged his horse towards Sal. Taking his right leg out of its stirrup, he raised it along the back of his horse to get it out of the way. Reaching for Sal’s reins, he pulled her horse’s head to one side bringing the horses to a staggering halt.

  “That was fun,” Peter said brightly. “Do you want to do it again?

  Sal almost dived into his arms before she remembered she was still punishing him. “I’m quite all right now, thanks very much.”

  She took her reins and directed her horse towards the road without a backward glance. Peter sighed and used his knees to encourage his horse to follow her.

  They travelled the road to Tallus in silence, Sal still trying to recover the poise she had before her horse ran off with her. After riding for over a mile, they came to a crossroads. There was no sign indicating the way to Tallus. Peter showed no hesitation and took the left hand fork.

  “How do you know it’s the right way?”

  “Lady Ilarna gave me directions.”

  “I hope that’s all she’s been giving you.”

  Sal’s comment was too much for Peter. He dismounted and before Sal realised what he planned, lifted her down from her horse. The two of them stood toe to toe in the middle. Sal put both her hands on her hips and waited for Peter to start.

  “There’s nothing going on between Ilarna and me. She works for me, is all.”