From The Dark

by Tobey Alexander

  ‘I don’t know if I can face them, explain to them why I am doing what I’m doing.’

  ‘Then don’t!’

  Vincenzo released Logan’s shoulder and turned away. Moving back to the seat he had occupied Vincenzo removed an ornate wooden box from beneath the seat. Taking his time Vincenzo walked back to Logan with the box held in both hands.

  ‘You will face them when you feel the time is right Logan. You’ve made a tough decision, and I cannot even understand the turmoil you must be feeling.’

  Vincenzo held the box out towards Logan.

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘Open it, and you will understand.’ Logan reached out to the metal clasp securing the lid closed. ‘But this is not the answer to anything, it is just a means to allow you to be comfortable with the choices you have made.’

  ‘Is it the right choice?’

  Vincenzo heard the uncertainty in Logan’s voice. Securing his gaze, Vincenzo stared deep into Logan’s eyes as the young man held his gaze.

  ‘Only you know the answer to that.’ Vincenzo answered. ‘You’re here by your own choice. In time you will understand the gravity of your choice Logan, but for now, this may help you. There is nothing to be ashamed of, you should be proud you have listened to all sides and realised that the twisted perspective they had led you to believe, was in fact wrong. By helping to protect the Magdon you have become part of something far more honourable.’

  Logan’s fingers shook with nerves as he unlocked the clasp and lifted the lid of the ornate box. Given a view inside Logan allowed the lid to drop back against Vincenzo’s arms as he stood staring at the contents.

  Laid on a bed of red material sat a Veks mask, except this was different. Unlike the pale ivory and blood-red cracks, this was a mask of brushed metal. The right eye remained adorned with the spider-web of engraved cracks, but they had etched the details of the line in a dark blood red colour. Against the dark brushed metal, the cracks somehow looked more profound and more pronounced.

  ‘It is yours Logan, to conceal your identity from your family until you feel you are ready to face them.’

  Logan lifted the mask from the padding and was surprised at how light it was. Admiring the craftsmanship, Logan stared at the featureless mask. Only a few years ago he had stared into the face of Viktor’s mask and been filled with hatred yet now he was staring into this mask with wonder.

  The moment was not lost on Vincenzo. Watching Logan, he knew once again the young man was at another junction in his journey. Everything Logan had done since arriving at Aggstein had been done with careful consideration and thought. Vincenzo had never pushed, only guided Logan to this moment and he could barely suppress the overwhelming sense of pride as the young man before him admired the mask.

  ‘It’s strange,’ Logan stammered. ‘Not so long ago all I could dream of was destroying what this represents. In my nightmares, I still see Viktor’s mask and hear him taunting me from beneath it.’

  ‘You are not Viktor, and neither am I.’ Vincenzo answered. ‘Our journey is different from his, he betrayed our Order and risked the Magdon for his own endeavours.’

  ‘We want to protect her and tame her, bring her into our world.’ Logan added.

  ‘Exactly, I know I can never have the connection with her you do, but that has never detracted from my desire to protect her.’

  ‘They won’t understand any of that.’ Logan sighed.

  ‘They will Logan, in time they will and until then you have this.’ Vincenzo looked towards the mask in Logan’s hands. ‘That is if you want it?’

  Logan looked at the mask he held in his hands. It echoed with the past and Viktor but the design and look of the mask was different from that of the silver and gold mask he despised. Peering into the empty eyeholes, Logan knew he had to decide.

  Claudia would never understand what he was doing. Everything he had read and heard since Vincenzo had offered him sanctuary to recover had opened his eyes to a different path. Where Archy and his father had believed the only way to protect humanity was to destroy the Magdon, Logan knew he had discovered another way.

  Viktor had worked against his own Order to wield fear and power with the Magdon behind him. Vincenzo and his followers understood as Logan did that the world could remain protected if the Magdon could be harnessed and tamed. Centuries of evolution and fighting for survival would be hard to address, but Logan knew deep down he had a chance.

  Accepting the mask was more than allowing him to conceal his identity, it granted him a way to find resolve for the time he would have to explain his choices to his family.

  They would struggle to understand, he knew the stubbornness of his father and sister. The mask would allow him the sanctuary to act. Turning it over in his hand Logan admired two leather straps that attached to either side of the mask so it would be worn.

  The brown leather was embossed on both the straps with three letters. Peering at them Logan realised they were his own initials.

  ‘You knew I would take this didn’t you?’ His voice was accusatory and defensive.

  ‘Not at all,’ Vincenzo countered. ‘I knew you would need it. I can’t understand your confusion but from the moment you agreed to join me I knew you would, at some point, need this.’

  ‘Whose was it before?’

  ‘Nobody’s.’ Vincenzo confessed. ‘I had it made when you arrived in the hope I could help you realise the truth of my journey, of our journey.’

  ‘You manipulated me?’

  ‘Not at all,’ Vincenzo replied. ‘I only looked to offer you an open perspective and discover alternatives to the path of destruction your bloodline had forced you upon. The young man that stands in front of me is there because of his own choices made in his own time.’

  Logan looked from Vincenzo and down to the upturned mask in his hands.

  Without thought, acting on instinct, Logan unfastened the two leather straps on the back of the mask. As the leather hung limp, swaying in the gentle motion of the aircraft, Logan lifted the mask to his face.

  The metal felt warm against his skin as he reached back and secured the two straps around the back of his head. Logan could feel the heat of his own breath as he breathed in and out. Cooler air passed through the small opening that was the mouth of the mask, and for a moment Logan struggled to regulate his racing heart.

  It took a moment to adjust the slight distortion in his vision. The masked sat snug against his skin, feel an almost perfect fit to the contours of his face and features. As the metal sat a few millimetres above his skin, it did little to obscure the periphery of his vision.

  The craftsmanship was amazing, and Logan allowed himself to adjust to the sensation of the mask against his skin.

  ‘Would it be wrong to say it is perfect?’ Vincenzo smiled.

  Logan said nothing as he stood there, his face hidden beneath the mask, an air of confidence brewing in his stomach as he allowed himself to adjust.

  33

  Rukoko To The Slopes

  The morning sun peeked through the shutters of the hotel window. Gabe’s face was painted in the bright light, and it stirred him from his slumber. Half hanging from the single bed he rolled over and shielded his face from the sunlight.

  ‘It’s later than you think.’ Archy’s voice declared as Gabe tried to focus on his watch.

  ‘What time is it?’

  ‘Almost six.’

  ‘And you call that late?’ Gabe groaned as he pulled the flat pillow up onto his face. ‘I could sleep for at least another few hours.’

  ‘Not likely,’ Archy huffed as he stood from the battered armchair. ‘That aeroplane yesterday, locals have said it was filled with people in masks.’

  Gabe pulled the pillow from his head and sat up, ignoring the bright sunlight.

  ‘Veks?’

  ‘We will know in a moment, Nahem has gone to the airport to see if she can find out.’

  ‘I can’t imagine many other people flying here wearing masks.’
>
  Gabe swung his legs from the bed and stood up. The tiles were cold against his feet, but he paid it no mind. Scooping together his clothes Gabe moved into the small bathroom and dressed.

  ‘How long has she been gone?’ Gabe hollered from the bathroom.

  ‘An hour or so.’

  ‘You should have woke me.’ Gabe said as he washed his face in the lukewarm water. ‘I could have helped.’

  ‘You were asleep before your head hit the pillow; we all thought it was best to leave you.’

  Gabe peered around the doorframe as he towelled his face dry.

  ‘Where’s Claudia?’

  ‘She’s arranging transport to the mountain.’

  ‘Alone?’ Gabe snapped. ‘Rwanda is not the place for a young white girl to be walking around alone!’

  ‘She’s fine,’ Archy countered. ‘She’s making calls from the lobby; the manager is quite helpful.’

  Unconvinced by Archy’s assurances he dressed and stalked towards the door to his room.

  ‘Give her some credit Gabe, she’s capable of looking after herself.’

  ‘I know, and that’s what worries me.’

  Stalking through the door, Gabe moved through the small hotel and located Claudia. She was stood leant against the reception desk speaking to a large African woman. The two were deep in conversation when the woman fell silent as Gabe walked across the reception towards them.

  ‘Dad!’ Claudia beamed as her father walked towards her, her smile faded when she noted the stern look on his face.

  ‘What do you think you’re doing? You shouldn’t be going anywhere alone!’

  ‘I’ve only been down here; Nahem has gone to the airport. I’m fine, and besides, I’ve had company.’

  The woman behind the desk looked at Gabe and threw him a nervous and toothless smile.

  ‘Gabe,’ Archy’s voice echoed. ‘Cut her some slack, she was only trying to help.’

  Gabe glared at Archy but deep down knew the old man was right.

  ‘I’ve sorted us a way to the volcano.’

  ‘What makes you think they haven’t gone somewhere else? We are already days behind, they could be anywhere by now.’

  ‘Sir,’ the woman behind the reception whispered. ‘Your daughter asked about strange things, says you are explorers.’

  ‘That’s right.’ Archy added.

  ‘My friends who help the scientists on the mountain returned two nights ago speaking of shadows on the mountain.’

  ‘Shadows?’

  ‘Strange monsters moving in the night. One spoke of two things climbing into the mouth of the mountain in the dead of night. He thought it was one of the scientists and when he called to them, he saw...’ she trailed off, her face an expression of fear.

  ‘She says they described a monster that looked half dead, tattered skin and bones.’ Claudia continued. ‘The villagers have refused to go back to the crater, they think it’s a sign of another eruption.’

  ‘Nivags.’ Archy said as he moved to stand beside Gabe. ‘Without prompting, she told us this.’

  ‘Two days ago you say?’

  ‘The same time you saw the vision with Yebot.’

  ‘I don’t like it!’ Gabe declared. ‘It’s too coincidental, we travel halfway all this way on the whim of some strange vision and happen to speak to someone who can point us in the right direction almost straight away.’

  ‘Places like this are not tainted by technology Gabe. Everything is spoken, they share stories, and news travels fast.’ Archy spoke from experience, from his decades of travelling all corners of the globe. ‘People will always talk, and there is no coincidence to the fact you are of a bloodline linked to all of this. What seems like a coincidence is your subconscious connection to a larger world.’

  ‘I still don’t like it.’

  ‘You may not, but it is what it is Gabe.’

  He wanted to argue but didn’t see the point. Gabe knew there was so much about all of this that made little or no sense. That Archy was stood beside him was proof of that.

  ‘The order comes to seek the prize, they seek to find what is alive.’

  Yebot’s musical voice silenced the room as all eyes turned to look at Nahem as she entered. The pint-sized Nivag stood on her shoulder and as she stepped into the artificial light of the reception, the woman behind the desk shrieked.

  ‘Oh no, it’s all right!’ Claudia interjected, but the woman had backed away and hurried around the side of the reception desk and past Nahem.

  As the portly woman waddled out of the door, she did not take her eyes off the small Nivag perched on Nahem’s shoulder.

  ‘Guess that means we need to get moving.’ Gabe chuckled as the receptionist disappeared from view.

  ‘The Veks stayed on the plane last night, making whatever preparations they need to. When I left, they were gathering their things together.’ Nahem explained as she joined them in front of the reception desk.

  ‘You’re certain they were Veks?’ Gabe asked.

  Removing a battered phone from her pocket, Nahem unlocked the screen and held it up for Gabe to see.

  The images were blurred and dark, but he could make out enough detail in the pictures. In the picture the Hercules aircraft sat on the far end of the runway with a handful of masked soldiers gathered around the rear ramp that stood open. Although blurred, the masks were recognisable.

  Swiping the image aside Gabe watched a short video as a handful of Veks unloaded crates and boxes from inside the aircraft. Two of the masked Veks seemed to be the centre of attention, and one of them appeared to be directing the actions of those around them.

  ‘Who’s that one?’

  ‘I assume that is Vincenzo Della Morte, he has assumed leadership of the Veks since Viktor, and the Trident crumbled.’

  ‘That was a quick ascension.’

  ‘Hardly, Vincenzo has always been there. When the Trident was showing its weakness, Vincenzo refused to follow Viktor. There was a rift between them, and Vincenzo was expelled, it would seem since then he has returned with vigour.’

  ‘How many of them?’ Archy asked as he watched the video over Gabe’s shoulder.

  ‘Twenty or thirty, all of them armed and they are gathering their things as we speak.’

  ‘If we have heard the stories, then they will have heard the same.’

  ‘We need to move.’ Nahem exclaimed.

  ‘Our rides will be here in half an hour.’ Claudia interrupted.

  ‘Rides?’ Gabe raised an eyebrow as he looked at her.

  ‘There’s not much that can get us to the mountain, I’ve got us four quads to get as far up the volcano as we can.’

  ‘I’m too old for quad bikes I can tell you that for nothing!’ Archy argued.

  ‘Well you’re not staying here on your own, the Veks will know we’re here, and it won’t be safe.’ Gabe knew they were in a dilemma. ‘We have come this far together, we aren’t separating now.’

  ‘Get your things together, we won’t have much of a head start.’ Nahem declared.

  Without another word, the group returned to their rooms and collected their belongings. Twenty minutes later they reconvened in the still empty reception to the battered hotel.

  Gabe emerged from the staircase holding Archy’s sword in his hand. As he looked at Claudia, he saw she had her own weapon sheathed across her back. Her long hair was tied in a tight ponytail, and for a second he could only see Sara in her face.

  ‘I don’t suppose laws around here stop us from carrying these.’ Gabe chuckled as he looked at the roman gladius in his hand.

  ‘Most people drive around with AK47s, I don’t think they’ll look twice at swords!’ Archy answered.

  Gabe looked across to the main door as Nahem stood looking out towards the street. She had plaited her black hair, and it hung down the middle of her neck, coming to rest between her shoulders. There was something about her that caught his attention and the more they journeyed together, the more he felt something
he thought he had lost.

  ‘Be careful.’ Archy whispered, and Gabe snatched his attention back.

  ‘What do you mean?’ Gabe asked, his cheeks flushing for a moment.

  ‘Nothing good will come of it, not because it shouldn’t but because of the world we find ourselves in.’

  Gabe turned to look at Archy and saw a look on the old man’s face he had never seen before. The old man’s face reflected the sadness that Gabe had felt since they had taken Sara from him.

  ‘It doesn’t mean we have to be alone does it?’

  ‘All those I have ever loved are gone, Gabe. Some were taken from me, some I abandoned for their own protection. But in the end I have watched them all die.’

  Tears welled in Archy’s eyes as he looked at Gabe.

  ‘It isn’t fair.’ Gabe sighed.

  ‘Life often isn’t fair Gabe, there will be many more losses on your journey, and I don’t want you to lose your ability to love.’

  ‘Meaning what?’

  ‘I see the way you look at her and the guilt you feel every time you realise it.’

  ‘It’s not like that, it’s...’ Gabe trailed off, he could feel the heat of his own cheeks as he blushed. ‘I don’t know what it is.’

  ‘It’s human nature Gabe, and you’re not wrong for feeling it.’ Archy smiled as he looked at Nahem who remained oblivious of their conversation. ‘I can see why maybe when this is all over you’ll know if it’s right.’

  Gabe was about to speak when the air was filled with the rumble of engines.

  ‘They’re here.’ Nahem declared and turned away from the door. ‘We had better get moving.’

  She retrieved her backpack from the floor and tucked a wayward piece of hair behind her ear as she looked at Gabe and Archy.

  ‘What’s wrong with you two?’ She asked, and both struggled to answer.

  ‘Always mumbling your secrets hey Archy?’ Claudia chuckled, and both men were grateful the women left the reception to greet the arriving quad riders.

  ‘This journey will be the death of me, one way or another, I’m sure.’ Archy sighed as he watched Nahem disappear through the door.