Slawter

by Darren Shan

  holding my hand.

  “And this is June,” Dervish says, drawing my attention to a third person in the room, sitting in a chair to my left.

  “Juni,” she corrects him, getting up. “Juni Swan.” Davida Haym finally releases my fingers and I shake hands with the other woman. She’s small too, but slightly taller than Davida. Thin. Pretty. White hair, very pale skin, pinkish eyes. An albino. Her hair’s tied back in a ponytail. Hard to tell her age, because her skin’s so white and smooth.

  “Juni is Miss Haym’s assistant,” Dervish says.

  “Davida,” the producer corrects him. She tuts loudly. “I don’t stand on ceremony.”

  “And I’m not her assistant,” Juni says, almost apologetically. She speaks very softly. “Although I am here to assist.”

  “Let’s sit down,” Davida says, as if this was her house. She leads us back to the chairs and pats the space on the couch beside her, forcing me to sit with her and Dervish. “I’ve been telling your uncle about my problems on my other movies. As I’m sure you know — I can tell you’re a horror buff — I love monsters. LOVE them! Fangs, tentacles, bulging eyes, slime... all great stuff, right? Right! But getting them to look real... believable... scare people to the max... that’s hard as hell. But I’m telling you nothing new. You’ve seen loads of terrible monster flicks, I’m sure. Where the creatures are about as scary as a baby in a stroller?”

  “Right,” I grin. “Most horror films are crap. That’s why they’re fun.”

  “I agree!” Davida shouts. She thumps Dervish’s knee so hard that he gasps. “I like this kid! He knows his thorns from his roses!” She turns back to me. “We all love schlocky horror, where the effects are lame and the monsters tame. I grew up on old Universal and Hammer pictures! And that’s fine. Sometimes you just want to sit down to a corny bit of hokum and have a laugh.”

  She raises a finger and lowers her voice. “But there are times when you don’t want to laugh, right? When you want to be scared, when you want your world turned upside down, when you want to sit there in the dark and really feel fear bite. Right?”

  “Hell, yeah!” There was a period, after my battles with Lord Loss and his familiars, when I didn’t enjoy horror. Life was fearful enough. But as the months passed, and the memories of the real horror faded, I rediscovered my love of fictional terror.

  “That’s where I want to go with my next movie,” Davida says, loud again. “I’ve been off the scene for a while — almost four years since my last film. That’s because I’ve been researching and planning. I want to do something big with my next one, not rehash an older story. I want screams, not laughs. I want to go for the jugular and shake audiences up, send them home shivering.”

  “Coolio!” I exclaim.

  “Which is where your uncle comes in.” Davida smoothes down her skirt and turns her smile on Dervish. “Will we talk business now or do you want to wait?”

  “Now’s good for me,” Dervish says.

  “OK.” Davida glances around, to be sure nobody’s eaves-dropping. “I’m about to shoot my new film. Everything’s set. I’m not only producing — I’ve written the script and I’m directing too. Can you imagine? Me — a director!” She throws her head back and laughs. Dervish and I laugh too, even though we’ve no idea what the joke is.

  “I’ve kept the project secret,” Davida continues. “I keep quiet about all my films, but I’ve been especially hush-hush on this one. Everyone connected signed a lips-sealed contract. The monster designs are locked in a state-of-the-art safe, and only two other people besides myself have seen them in their entirety — everybody else gets a small piece to work on. We won’t be shooting in any of the established studios. I’ve created my own, far away from prying eyes. Most people aren’t even aware that I’m at work again — they think I’m sitting on my ass on a beach, twiddling my thumbs, creatively defunct.”

  “Sounds like you’ve given yourself a lot of headaches,” Dervish says.

  “Are you kidding?” Davida snorts. “I’m having a ball! It’s the film I’ve always wanted to make. I love intrigue, suspense, secrets. It’s a game, the best in the world, and I’m the only one who knows all the rules. I wouldn’t trade places with anybody right now, not for anything.”

  “I’m glad you’re happy,” Dervish says. “But I don’t see why...?” He leaves the question hanging.

  “Why I’m telling you.” Davida looks at me and winks. “Why I’m telling the two of you.” She lowers her voice again. I don’t think she’s capable of whispering, but this is as close as she gets. “What I say now has to remain between us. I haven’t asked you to sign a confidentiality form yet — you’ll have to do it later, if you agree to my offer — but from what I’ve heard, you’re a man of your word. I’m not sure about Grubbs...”

  “I can keep a secret,” I huff. “You don’t have to worry about me.”

  “Excellent.” She gives my right knee a squeeze and almost crushes it. “So, when I ask you to keep what I’m about to say to yourselves, not tell anybody, even your best friends... can I trust you?”

  “I won’t speak, even under torture,” Dervish laughs.

  “Me either,” I back him up.

  “Great!” Davida beams. “Then listen close and keep it quiet. The film’s called Slawter.”

  “Slaughter!” I echo. “Brilliant!”

  “I think so too,” Davida chuckles. Slawter — which is spelled wiht a ‘w’ instead of a ‘ugh’ — is the name of the town in the movie. A bit obvious, maybe, but I’ve always liked a gruesomely over-the-top play on words. I think it’ll look great on the posters — ‘Welcome to Slawter!’ or ‘Let the Slawter commence!’” She squints. “Maybe we’ll have to work on the tagline, but you get the picture. Now, here’s the good part, the reason I’m here, and the bit I know you’re going to love the best. Slawter is going to be all about . . . demons!”

  She sits back, grinning, and awaits our response, unaware that she’s just dropped the mother of all bombshells.

  Davida can’t understand why we’re not excited. Doesn’t know what to make of our shifty glances and awkward silence. She keeps talking about the movie. Tells us that demons take over the town of Slawter. She describes some of the characters and scenes. Dervish and I listen stiffly.

  “OK,” Davida finally says, “what’s wrong?” She sniffs at her armpits. “Do I stink?”

  Dervish forces a thin smile. “There’s nothing wrong. It’s just...We’re not fond of demons, are we, Grubbs?”

  “No,” I grunt.

  “Why not?” Davida asks. “Demons are the scariest monsters of the lot.”

  “Too scary,” Dervish mutters, then laughs edgily.

  Davida frowns. “But you’re supposed to be a demon expert. The more I research, the more your name crops up. I’ve been told you know all about their ways, their habits, their appearance.”

  “You’re talking about them as if they were real,” Juni Swan chuckles.

  “Of course they’re not real,” Davida snorts. “But there have been loads of stories and legends about demons, plenty of descriptions and paintings, and Dervish knows more about them than most. He has some of the hardest-to-find demonic books and manuscripts in the world. Right?”

  “I know more than many, not as much as some,” Dervish answers cagily. “What I can say is, demons aren’t to be taken lightly. If you want to make stuff up, go ahead, use your imagination, have fun. But I suspect you want to do more than that.”

  “Damn straight,” Davida huffs. “I want the real deal, the fiercest demons on record. I want this to be believable. I’ve got most of what I need — as I said, I’ve been working on this for four years. My demons are ready to go. But I want them to behave realistically. I want to get every last detail right, so even the greatest demon scholar won’t be able to find fault.”

  Davida points at Dervish. “That’s where you come in. I want your expertise, your insight and knowledge. I want you to come on set as an adviser. Te
ll us when we make mistakes, suggest different ways we might stage the demon scenes, help us pin the images down.”

  “You’ve got the wrong guy,” Dervish says. “I don’t do movies.”

  “There’s a first time for everything,” Davida insists. “I’m not saying you look on this as a career move — just a break from the norm. You get to see a film being made... hang out with the actors and crew... tell us what to do when we’re messing up... and the money’s not bad either!”

  Juni coughs politely. “Davida, have you seen this place? I don’t think money is an issue. Correct, Dervish?”

  “I have to admit, I’m not hard up,” Dervish says, smiling at Juni.

  “So don’t do it for the money,” Davida shrugs. “Do it for the experience. You can bring Grubbs along too, if you wish. You’d like to see a movie being made, wouldn’t you, Grubbs?”

  “You bet!” I reply enthusiastically. Then I remember what the film’s about. “But demons... they’re...it sounds silly, but . . .” I make a face.

  “This is incredible,” Davida snaps. “I thought you guys would be dying to get in on this. There are others I can ask if you’re going to be ridiculous about it. I’m not —”

  “Davida,” Juni interrupts calmly. “You won’t convince them to get involved by antagonizing them. If they don’t want to do it, you’ll have to accept their decision and move on.”

  “I know,” Davida mutters. “I just don’t get why they’re turning me down!”

  “It’s nothing personal,” Dervish says, then looks at Juni. “What’s your role in this, Miss Swan?”

  “I’m a psychologist. There are lots of children involved in this movie. I’ve been hired to look after them on set.”

  “Do you do a lot of this type of work?” Dervish asks.

  Juni shakes her head. “This is my first time.”

  “I brought Juni along because we’re going to interview a young actor later,” Davida says. “I like her to be involved with the kids as early as possible. She can spot a problem child a mile off.”

  “What about problem adults?” Dervish asks.

  “I don’t think you’d be any problem,” Juni responds with a shy smile.

  “I’m not so sure about that,” Davida grumbles. Then she suddenly turns the full force of her smile on Dervish. “Dammit, Grady! I don’t care if you’re a problem or not. I want you on my team. What can I do to convince you?”

  Dervish starts to say there’s nothing she can do, then hesitates, glances at Juni, and frowns. “Do you have a copy of the script?”

  “No,” Davida says. “And I wouldn’t show it to you if I did. But I’ve got some excerpts on a DVD, along with a rough plot outline and descriptions of some of the demons — I needed something to grab the interest of potential investors. But I don’t like revealing even that much, especially to someone who hasn’t signed a contract yet.”

  “I understand,” Dervish says. “But if I could have a look, I’d be able to tell you whether or not you need me. I don’t want to waste your time or mine. If there’s no reason for me to be there — nothing I can help you with — then...”

  Davida doesn’t look happy. “I have a few copies of the DVD,” she says, nodding at her handbag on the floor. “They’re digitally protected, so you shouldn’t be able to copy the material or send it to anyone by e-mail. But...”

  She thinks it over, then reaches into the bag and produces a boxed DVD. “I don’t know why I’m trusting you with this. You’re not that important to me. But you’re the first person to turn me down on this movie, and I don’t like it. People aren’t supposed to say no to the fabulous Davida Haym.” She laughs shortly, then rises.

  “You can have it for twenty-four hours. Juni and I have that interview tonight. We’ll be passing back this way tomorrow. We’ll drop in to collect the DVD. I’ll ask — just once — if you’ve changed your mind. If you don’t want to do it, fine.” She beams at Dervish, nods at me, then heads for the door like a person of noble birth.

  Juni gets up, smiling. “She’s a drama queen, isn’t she?” she says when Davida is out of earshot.

  “And then some!” Dervish laughs.

  “But she’s sweet,” Juni says. “And a natural with the children. She treats them like a mother. Not a bad bone in her body, despite the horrible films she makes.”

  Juni starts for the door. Pauses. Looks at Dervish. “I hope you change your mind. I . . .” She stops, clears her throat, smiles quickly, and exits. Dervish hurries after her, to see the pair out. I remain in the TV room, staring at the DVD on the couch, sensing trouble of the very worst kind, though I’m not sure why.

  Don’t Go Down the Cellar!

  DERVISH is humming when he returns. “Nice people,” he says.

  “Especially Juni,” I note drily.

  “Yes.” He picks up the DVD and looks at it silently.

  “What made you change your mind?” I ask.

  “I haven’t,” he says.

  “But you’re thinking about it, aren’t you?”

  “Yes. This is probably nothing to worry about, just a film maker conjuring up the usual smorgasbord of hysterical fakes. But I got the feeling Davida knows too much for her own good. She wants the film to be realistic. Maybe she plans to dabble where she shouldn’t, use old rites that might backfire. I’m a hard man to find. I’m worried that she was able to root me out. It makes me wonder what else she might know.”

  “So you want to check the plot and demon descriptions, make sure there’s nothing questionable going on?” I ask.

  Dervish nods. “Except, I got the impression you only agreed to think it over when Juni smiled at you.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous!” Dervish protests. “She had nothing to do with it.”

  But by the strength of his reaction, and the way he storms out of the room in a huff, I’m sure she did!

  Having shrugged off my foolish sense of unease, I try convincing Dervish to let me have a look at the DVD — I want to know what a David A. Haym film looks like at this early stage. But he refuses and locks himself in his study. Back downstairs, I fall asleep on the couch. Wake sometime during the night, cold, shivering. Think about hauling myself up to bed, but I’m too lazy. Instead I grab a few pillows and stack them around me for warmth. Starting to drift off to sleep again when I suddenly snap wide awake.

  Dervish is in trouble.

  Not sure how I know — gut instinct. I slide off the couch, scattering the pillows, and race upstairs. Dervish isn’t in his bedroom or study. Nowhere on the second floor. Or the first. I wind up back on the ground floor. A quick search — no sign of him. That means he either went out...or down to the cellar.

  Before descending, I go to the kitchen and make sure Dervish hasn’t broken into the cutlery cupboard and stocked up on knives. Then I head down the stairs, automatic lights flickering on as I hit the bottom steps. The cellar is where Dervish stores his wine. I don’t come down here much. Nothing of interest for me.

  Listening to the hum of the lights, watching for shadows, trying to pinpoint Dervish’s position. After a minute I take the final step and explore the rows of wine racks, fists clenched, anticipating an attack.

  I don’t find Dervish in the cellar. Search complete, I want to go back upstairs and try the area outside the house. But there’s one place still to look. It’s the last place I want to try — which makes me suspect that’s where Dervish is.

  One of the walls houses a secret doorway. I head for that now. It’s covered by a giant wine rack, mostly containing normal bottles. But one’s a fake. I find it and press hard on the cork with a finger. It sinks in. The rack splits in two, and both halves slide away from each other, revealing a dark, narrow corridor.

  “Dervish?” I call. My voice echoes back to me, unanswered.

  I start down the corridor, breathing raggedly. The halves of the wine rack slide back into place. I’m plunged into darkness. But it’s temporary. Moments later, lights flicker on overhead, the glow jus
t strong enough to see by.

  The corridor runs to a secret underground cellar. It’s where Dervish keeps his most magical and dangerous books, where he goes if he wants to practice magic. It’s where we fought Lord Loss all those months ago. Where I almost died.

  I come to a thick wooden door with a gold ring for a handle. The door stands ajar, and there’s a pale light coming from within. “Dervish?” I call again. No answer. I really don’t want to go in, but I have to.

  I push the door all the way open and enter, heart pounding.

  A large room. Wooden beams support the ceiling. Many torches set in the walls, but none are lit. A steel cage in one corner, the bones of a deer lying on the floor within. Two broken tables. A third in good repair. Chess pieces, books, charred pages, and other bits of debris brushed up against the walls. A stack of weapons close to the rubbish, lined with dust, riddled with cobwebs.

  And Dervish, squatting in the middle of the room, a candle in one hand, a book in the other.

  I approach cautiously. Freeze when I catch sight of the book. There’s a painting of Lord Loss on the cover. Just his face. And it’s moving. His awful red eyes are widening, his lips spreading. Dervish is muttering a spell, bending closer to the book. Lord Loss’s teeth glint in the light of the candle. His face starts to come off the page, like a 3D image, reaching for Dervish, as though to kiss him.

  I hurl myself at Dervish. Knock him over and punch the book from his hand. The candle goes out. We’re plunged into darkness. Dervish screams. I hear him scrambling for the book. I thrash around, find Dervish, throw myself on top, and pin him to the floor, yelling at him, keeping him away from the book, calling his name over and over, using all my weight to keep him down.

  Finally he stops fighting, pants heavily, then croaks, “Grubbs?” I don’t reply. “You’re squashing me,” he wheezes.

  “Are you awake?” I cry.

  “Of course. Now get off before . . .” A pause. “Where are we?”

  “The secret cellar.”

  “Damn. What was I...?”

  “You had a book about Lord Loss. You were chanting a spell. His face was moving. It looked like he was coming alive — coming through.”

  “I’m sorry. I... Let’s get some light. I’m awake. Honest. You can get off me. I promise.”

  Warily I slide aside. Dervish gets to his feet. Stumbles to the nearest wall. I hear him rooting through his pockets. Then he strikes a match, finds the nearest candle, and sets the wick aflame. The room lights up. I see the book, lying facedown. No movement.