From The Dark

by Tobey Alexander

  Gabe dared not turn to look at the frenzied tiger as it rattled the cage with its powerful claws. Feeling the shiver down his spine, and accompanying goosebumps, Gabe moved for the access door and was glad to slip into the shadowy darkness.

  ‘What was wrong with that thing?’ Nahem’s voice startled Gabe and he jumped when she spoke.

  ‘I do not understand, but this thing seemed to upset it.’

  Gabe held out the sack containing the Nivag head. Nahem reached for it and grabbed the rope securing the neck of the bag. As she did her fingers grazed across the back of Gabe’s hand, and they both felt unsure and uncomfortable in the darkness.

  Neither spoke for a moment, both feeling nervous in the other’s company but not wanting to break the strange tension.

  From the side of the room, having been peering out of the glazed window, Claudia turned to see the awkward moment between the two. She had sensed something between the two, and she could also see the worry on her father’s face as he realised it.

  Claudia knew now was not the time, neither to let their interests blossom or to raise the issue with him. Not wanting to appear discouraging she made enough noise to break the tension without it being too obvious.

  ‘Is everything all right out there?’ Gabe asked, releasing the bag and allowing Nahem to take it.

  ‘All looks fine,’ Claudia replied as Gabe moved to her side. ‘What about we find out what that thing can show us.’

  ‘I’m curious how it will show us if I’m honest.’ Gabe said, trying hard to break the odd tension that hung in the air.

  ‘Yebot can show you thoughts of a Nivag’s mind, it is the curse of all from our kind.’

  Moving with haste they exited the impressive structure through the insecure access door and walked across the car park towards Archy. The jet-black Jaguar sat silent on the stones, and Archy lay dozing in the front passenger seat.

  Walking to the car Nahem placed the bag on the bonnet as Claudia approached the door to rouse Archy.

  ‘have you found it?’ The old man barked as Claudia opened the door.

  ‘I thought you were asleep.’ Claudia jumped.

  ‘I was, but you don’t live as long as I have by sleeping too deep,’ Archy chuckled. ‘So, did you find it?’

  Gabe allowed Archy’s attention to move to him and at last the shrouded head resting on the bonnet of the car.

  ‘Was it where I said?’ Archy asked as he hoisted himself from the car. ‘Was it flooded, how bad was it, did you find it ok?’

  ‘It was all right,’ Claudia answered as Archy, aided by his walking stick, moved around the front of the car.

  ‘Have you seen it?’

  They all shook their heads, amused by Archy’s boyish excitement.

  ‘May I?’

  ‘All yours.’ Gabe answered and took a step back.

  Yebot tapped Gabe’s shoulder, and he helped the small Nivag down onto the metal of the car. Dropping to the bonnet his bony foot clanked against the smooth metal as he stepped up to the bag.

  ‘It’s been a long time my friend,’ Archy whispered, staring over the crumpled material at Yebot. ‘Why do I feel this sense of dread that we are risking everything to once again go in search of the beast?’

  ‘Because it is our charge, it is our quest. Of all the people you know it best.’

  Resting his weight against the vehicle Archy reached out and untied the cord around the neck of the sack. Slowly, carefully and a little timidly Archy drew down the material as Gab placed his torch on the roof of the car and directed the beam towards them.

  Inch by inch the severed head came into view. Claudia shuffled closer to her father’s side and wrapped herself around his arm.

  ‘Amazing,’ Archy gasped in admiration. ‘It hasn’t changed since the night I killed it.’

  ‘Not dead at all it slumbers in a state, its mind is alive and filled with hate.’

  ‘Gabe, can you help?’

  Gabe moved forward and gripped the grotesque head in his hands and lifted it. Archy scooped the bunched fabric from underneath, and Gabe replaced the head onto the bonnet. Stepping back Gabe wiped his hands on his trousers having felt the moist flesh and warm bone pressed against his palms.

  Bathed in the artificial light of the torch the head looked a fearsome sight. A clear divide between the left and right of the head was split between discoloured flesh and exposed bone. I firmly shut the eyelid that remained intact, and the hollow recess of the eye socket looked dark. Whatever magic or sorcery that kept the skin attached to the bone had done its job as Gabe could see the muscles and tissue beneath the surface.

  ‘What now?’ Nahem muttered as they all stared at the Nivag’s severed head.

  ‘A time for Yebot to show his worth.’ Yebot declared and stepped around to the front of the face.

  His diminutive size seemed disproportionate as he stood in front of the sleeping face. Yebot only came to the height of the Nivag’s eyebrows as he explored the crevices of the Nivag’s face with his own trembling fingers.

  Although they looked the same, for the first time, Gabe noticed how different they were. Unmoving and for all intents and purposes dead, the head still looked angry. The taught tattered skin looked contorted in an almost snarl while Yebot looked calm and peaceful in comparison.

  ‘How will you do that?’ Nahem pressed but fell silent as the head moved.

  The movements were not noticeable at first. As Yebot’s delicate hands explored around the face of the Nivag, the movement became more significant and clear. Eliciting a gasp from most, the slumbering eye snatched open.

  ‘Why do you wake me from my sleep, betrayer of honour?’

  Claudia’s hand gripped Gabe’s as the harsh voice reminded her of their last encounter with Nivags on the Skeleton Coast wreckage.

  The voice was scratchy and monotone but filled with menace and hatred. The electric blue eye looked around taking in each of its audience before it settled on Yebot.

  ‘Betrayer of our master, why do your hands touch me?’

  ‘We are here to use you to find the remaining Magdon.’

  The Nivag turned its attention to Archy and weighed up the old man for a moment.

  ‘You are the one who fought me, the one who slay my master.’ The half-lips curled into a hateful snarl. ‘Life has taken its toll on you.’

  ‘The years haven’t been kind, but I have lived them.’ Archy bit back.

  ‘I will not betray My master, return me to the ground for I will offer you nothing.’

  ‘You speak well for a Nivag.’ Archy quipped.

  A look of confusion appeared on the Nivag’s face, mirrored by Gabe and Claudia who realised the same thing.

  In all their previous exposure to the Nivags, they had been creatures of few words. Guttural voices forming the harsh and simplistic sentences yet this thing was conversing with them.

  ‘So, if you are refusing to share with us your connection to your master, how is it you can say that to us?’

  ‘Trickery.’ The Nivag barked.

  Yebot turned and looked at Archy with a knowing and playful look of pride.

  ‘The connection is made, and the words will form, I sense him fighting, but it tears him.’

  ‘Great work my friend,’ Archy said and rolled his hand across the top of Yebot’s head. ‘You’ve done well Yebot. Now let us see what this thing can tell us.’

  ‘Am I missing something here?’ Gabe interjected. ‘What’s going on?’

  Archy smiled and offered Gabe, and the Nivag, an answer.

  ‘You see there is life in the Nivag I fought here but there is nothing but another of its kind that can share its connection. Yebot here has formed a link with it which allows it to speak.’

  ‘None of this makes sense.’ Gabe sighed.

  ‘Gabe, you’ve been carrying a half-skeleton on your shoulder all night. You’ve just retrieved a severed head from an abandoned military fort and are now staring at that same head talking to you.’ Archy
could not suppress his amusement. ‘What could make any less sense than this?’

  ‘Fair point!’

  ‘I think it’s time Yebot encouraged this relic to share with us what it knows about the Magdon and where your son is heading.’

  All attention returned to the Nivag that glared at them in frustration. Yebot, on the other hand, stood with both hands raised towards the Nivag.

  ‘Time to talk,’ the little Nivag sang, and the severed head told them everything they needed to learn.

  28

  See The Order

  Logan had packed what little he had after his conversation with Vincenzo. The suave Italian was very much an encouraging host and Logan needed space away from it all.

  ‘With Viktor gone, I need to finish this!’ He had growled to himself, throwing his belongings into a tattered bag.

  That had been three days earlier, and yet still he had remained within the walls of Aggstein Castle.

  Much to his annoyance, Logan could not pull himself to leave. On the surface, he had convinced himself that it had been a conscious decision to stay based on his need to find out enough to aid him. Deep down, however, he knew Vincenzo had said something that had sparked an ember of curiosity in him.

  Logan had seen nothing of Vincenzo since their encounter in the depths of the chamber. The haunting image of the vine-covered cage replayed in his mind. When sleep had come, it had been filled with the echoing voice of the Magdon he had faced with his family.

  On the afternoon of the third day, as he had emerged from the main structure and out onto the open courtyard, Logan caught sight of Vincenzo.

  From his distance across the grass, he could see the man was deep in conversation with another. Choosing to watch Logan moved to a small seating area and allowed himself a seat as he watched.

  Logan was too far to hear anything that was being said. Neither of them had noticed Logan’s arrival, more virtue of the fact they stood with their backs half turned to him. Vincenzo’s companion was dressed in a familiar robe. Their hood was pulled up over the wearer’s head and as the conversation continued Logan caught sight of the mask that covered the face.

  A disturbing featureless ivory mask shimmered in the sunlight and sent a shiver down his spine. The familiar zigzag of jagged lines stretching from around one eye looked deep. As the conversation came to a close, the robed Veks motioned in Logan’s direction causing Vincenzo to face him.

  Offering a curt yet dismissive nod, the Veks bowed their head and disappeared across the courtyard leaving Logan and Vincenzo alone.

  ‘Logan my boy,’ Vincenzo declared. ‘May I join you?’

  Not moving from the seat Logan watched as Vincenzo walked across towards him. Not wishing to appear too keen on conversation Logan shrugged his shoulders.

  ‘it pleased me when the staff informed me you stayed after our last meeting. I trust my choice to give you space was what you preferred?’

  ‘It helped,’ Logan scorned himself for answering. ‘I mean yeah, probably best. I had a lot to think about.’

  ‘And I trust you have come to some conclusions?’

  Something stained Vincenzo’s voice with contained curiosity as he waited a little way off from Logan.

  ‘Not as many as I would like but I suppose there’s no harm in learning what I can before I leave.’

  ‘And you’ve been to visit the library I believe?’

  ‘How do you know that? I’ve not seen a single person in three days.’

  ‘But they have seen you, my boy,’ Vincenzo replied with a playful grin. ‘Only to make sure you did nothing silly.’

  ‘Such as?’

  ‘Many things but I am glad to see you didn’t.’

  ‘Why don’t you dress the same as them?’ Logan changed the subject, referring to the robed Veks he had seen.

  ‘In public view it is best we present a less fearsome image in today’s age. Who would accept faceless masked people wandering around everywhere?’

  ‘Viktor seemed to like it.’

  ‘I think we have established that Viktor’s methods and mine are very much different have we not?’

  ‘Suppose.’

  ‘And the reason I dressed her that way is that there is a gathering tonight to discuss our intentions.’ Vincenzo had baited the hook and watched as the curiosity grew in Logan.

  ‘Moving forward?’

  ‘Ah yes, it would appear our coven in Africa have received information of much benefit to us.’

  ‘The Magdon?’

  ‘Considering your intention to return to your quest, I doubt it wise to share everything with you.’ The smile on Vincenzo’s face was rather disarming. ‘I’m sure you can understand.’

  Vincenzo slapped Logan’s shoulder and turned to walk away. It caught Logan, the frustration at Vincenzo’s dismissal frustrated him, and before the older man could take a handful of steps, Logan called to stop him.

  ‘Wait!’

  Vincenzo stopped and turned to face him with an air of theatricality. Caught in the bright light Logan could not help admire his poise and grace. The Italian man held himself well, posture powerful and tall with no stoop to his back or shoulders.

  ‘What is it Logan, I must be ready for the meeting, it is one of the rare occasion I must dress in the robe of my order.’

  ‘What are you going to do?’ Logan pressed. ‘I mean, when you find her, what are you going to do?’

  ‘Why are you so interested?’

  ‘Because,’ Logan paused, the myriad of thoughts in his head flying like a swarm of flies. ‘Are you going to release her, do the same as Viktor?’

  ‘This again?’ Vincenzo’s voice raised a little, the frustration clear in his words. ‘We have been over this before Logan, and I’m not sure what I can do to convince you that my intentions are far different from my predecessor’s.’

  ‘Then tell me one more time you’re not in this to release it on the world, to do what Viktor tried to do.’

  Vincenzo stepped back to Logan and stood before him. Staring Logan held the older man’s gaze for a moment until Vincenzo spoke, his words calculated and meaningful.

  ‘I intend to bring her back here and return her to a place of safety.’

  ‘The cage below us?’

  ‘Indeed. Once she is there, we can find a way to communicate with her, to educate her that the world has changed, humanity has evolved, and it is more than a case of hunter and prey.’

  ‘But how?’

  ‘We will find a way,’ Vincenzo sighed. ‘We continue to recruit into the ranks, and soon enough we will find a bloodline that can communicate with her when we have her here.’

  ‘What about me?’ Logan’s voice was above a whisper.

  ‘Meaning what?’

  ‘I can communicate with her, well I could with the one we killed.’

  ‘And what’s stopping you doing that again?’

  ‘Viktor wanted to control The Magdon himself, use it to become all-powerful.’ Logan sighed. ‘You don’t seem to want the same things he did.’

  ‘Why trust me?’ Vincenzo asked, the answer surprising Logan. ‘You have every reason not to trust me.’

  ‘You gave me your word.’

  Logan’s mind was overcome with confusion. Vincenzo had stood in front of him saying all the right things, comforting all the concerns he had been having yet he was now thrown into turmoil. What if Vincenzo was lying? What if all this was a game?

  But why would he do that?

  ‘You need to make your own choices Logan, make those choices based on everything you have seen and experienced in your own life.’ Vincenzo rested his hand on Logan’s shoulder, like a father speaking to his son. ‘I cannot convince you or force you to decide. Your life is yours, and I will respect whatever you choose. It is your right, it is your life.’

  Logan was lost for a moment. As Vincenzo’s hand lifted from his shoulder, there was a strong need for it to be back. For the first time since leaving the church at his mother’s funeral
, he felt he needed a friend. Logan had done everything to this point alone. Sure he had received support from Nahem, but his journey had been very much alone, isolated and without a hand to guide him.

  ‘I don’t know what to do,’ Logan said as tears welled in his eyes.

  ‘Then do nothing until you know.’ Vincenzo declared. ‘I must prepare for the gathering. Perhaps I will speak to you when it is over?’

  ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘Or perhaps I will see you there.’

  Vincenzo did not give Logan a chance to reply as he turned and walked off towards the main building.

  Standing alone in the courtyard Logan watched Vincenzo as he disappeared through the open door and into the castle. For the first time, Logan felt the bitter chill from the breeze that whipped around him in the open.

  Strolling, Logan crossed the open grass and moved towards the far wall of the castle grounds. Reaching the wall, he rested his elbows on the rough stone and stared out across the spectacular landscape that sprawled before him.

  Hillsides painted with the creeping branches of rich-green pines spread as far as he could see. Far below the turbulent surface of the water glistened in the sunlight.

  Now shielded by the giant structure the world was silent. An occasional whistle as the wind whipped between unseen cracks and fissures in the rock was the only sound. After a moment a flutter of wings caught Logan’s attention as an enormous black raven flew through the wind and landed on the wall a little off to his side.

  ‘Whoa!’ Logan gasped as the bird preened its wings ignoring him.

  The oily black feathers shone in the light as Logan watched the bird. After a few moments, the bird lifted its head and turned its attention to Logan. A pair of black beady eyes stared at him as the bird tilted its head giving it a look of curiosity.

  Without warning the bird stretched out its wings and launched itself from the wall. Tumbling into the wind, Logan watched over the wall until he could no longer make out the silhouette of the bird.

  ‘If only I could be that free,’ Logan sighed as he decided what he would do.

  Scanning the view below one last time for any sign of the raven Logan eventually turned from the wall. Filled with determination he walked towards the massive rock standing proud in the courtyard. Even more importantly, he moved toward the open door leading to the cavern and the gathering of Vincenzo and the other Veks.