by Sean Stone
“What’s your surname?” Clara asked.
“I don’t have one,” he replied. He spoke so softly that she barely heard him.
“You don’t have one? How?” she asked. Everybody had a surname.
“I am older than surnames,” he said simply.
“How old are you?”
“I do not know. Older than I can remember.” Every word he spoke was void of emotion and his face remained neutral throughout.
“How long have you been with Nick?” It seemed that she had finally found someone willing to give her some answers.
“Three-hundred and ninety-one years, I believe,” he replied. “I met him in 1623.”
Clara nodded. She didn’t attempt to check his maths. “Is that when he made you immortal?”
“No.”
“When did he make you immortal?” she pushed.
“He did not. I was immortal when I found him.” Clara leaned forwards in her chair.
“How did you become immortal?”
“I do not remember.”
“Do you know how to kill an immortal?” She knew it was highly possible that he’d close up now but she had to risk it. It was the one answer Sidney wanted above all others.
“I know how to kill some immortals. Not all are the same.”
“Do you know how to kill Nick?”
“Yes.” At least that confirmed there was a way.
“How?”
Casper regarded her cooly. “I will not tell you that.”
She nodded again. “I thought as much. Why are you all so loyal to him?”
“Each of us has our reasons. Some of us consider him a friend. Some of us need him for something that nobody else can provide.”
“Which are you?”
He considered the question. “Do you know, I am not all that sure. Emotions have long been absent from me. I do not remember what friendship feels like so I do not know if I have any friends.” Although he spoke without any emotion Clara pitied him all the same. He was little more than an empty shell.
“So what is it that only he can provide for you?” she asked.
He looked down at his hands and then back up again. “I think I would like to return to my cage now.”
1623
Nick was discussing with Jamal and Kristen where they would take their ever-growing coven next in the hunt for more warlocks when Cole entered the room. Cole was their newest recruit.
“There’s a gentleman here to see you, Nick,” he said.
“Who?” Nick replied looking up from the maps.
Cole shrugged. “Said his name was Casper and that he needed to speak with you.”
“Casper?” Nick repeated. He looked at Jamal and Kristen but they both shrugged. “Casper who?”
“He said he is just Casper,” Cole said and shrugged.
Nick chuckled. “Send him in.”
A moment later a plainly dressed man stepped in and Cole closed the door behind him. Casper approached Nick and the others silently. He did not smile or show any expression.
“Mr Blackwood?” he asked quietly. He took off his hat and held it to his chest.
“Yes, and I presume you are Casper?”
“I am. I’m afraid I do not have a surname. Not one that I can remember at least.”
“Not one that you can remember?” Nick said with intrigue. He looked at Jamal and grinned.
“I am very old. I cannot remember how old. I cannot remember ever having a surname,” Casper replied. If he was offended by Nick grinning then he didn’t show it.
“Have a seat, Casper.” Nick flicked his wrist and a chair slid out from under the table.
“Thank you, Mr Blackwood,” he replied as he took his seat.
“Call me Nick. This is Jamal, and Kristen. My friends,” Nick said. Casper nodded to both of them in turn before returning his attention to Nick.
“A pleasure to meet you,” he said.
“That is an odd accent. Where are you from?”
“I cannot remember. I travel so often.”
“I see,” Nick said. He didn’t bother masking his disappointment. If there was one thing he disliked it was not getting answers.
“Word of your power has spread far and wide,” Casper said. It was not in the last bit congratulatory. Simply stating a fact.
“Has it now?”
“In the right circles it has. There are people who make it their business to keep up to date on these matters.”
“Those people sound very interesting,” Nick said. He’d like to know more about those individuals. Maybe even pay them a visit. “I suspect you did not come here just to tell me that?”
“No. I came here to ask something of you.”
“Go on.”
“As you have probably guessed, I am immortal.”
“Yes,” Nick said.
“I have lived for so long that I am numb to everything. I no longer feel even the slightest emotion. I see things happening around me and I take no interest, no pleasure in them. I read but find no joy. I watch the theatre and experience nothing. I saw a woman raped in the street three nights ago and felt not a thing. Not anger, nor pity.”
“How tragic,” Kristen said mockingly. Nick waved her to be silent.
“Did you intervene?” Jamal asked, his eyes wide with shock.
“I considered it,” Caspar said plainly.
“So, what would you have from me?” Nick asked.
“I wish for you to end my life. I have tried in every way I can imagine to kill myself but I simply will not die. I have heard that you have a weapon that can kill an immortal,” he did not say it as a question.
“The ambrotos dagger. People usually offer me something in return for my assistance, Casper,” Nick said expectantly.
“Indeed. And I mean to. It is known to me that you are gathering power. I too spent a good while gathering power. I cannot remember all my adventures so to speak, but I do know that I have amassed more power than I could possibly need. If you kill me then you will be able to claim my power for yourself.”
Nick smiled. The deal was too good to be true. There had to be a string attached. “Allow me to clarify, Casper. You are offering to give me all of your magic and in turn you want me to kill you?”
“That is correct.”
“Nothing else? No other requirements?”
“None. I just want to die.”
“Well in that case you have a deal.” Nick stood up and crossed the room. He opened the cabinet and retrieved the ambrotos dagger.
“There was a time when I would have appreciated the beauty of such a thing,” Casper said when Nick returned to the table. The dagger was marvellous to behold.
“Would you, like to do this sitting or standing?” Nick asked.
Casper stood up. “Standing. It seems more dignified,” he replied.
“I would tell you this will be painless but I have never died permanently so I do not know. I suspect it will not be, however.”
“I would welcome pain,” he replied. Nick wondered if he would become like Casper given enough time and how long it would take?
“Do you wish us to record any final sentiments?” he offered.
Casper shook his head. “Thank you, but I have no-one who would read them.”
“Very well.” Nick placed the tip of the dagger over Casper’s heart. Casper closed his eyes and nodded once. Nick eased the dagger in. Bit by bit the blade sunk into his flesh. Nick forced it in right to the hilt and then waited. Casper did not scream. He didn’t even flinch. He wasn’t lying about feeling nothing. What was more disturbing was the lack of blood issuing from the wound. Casper open this eyes again and looked emptily at Nick. Nick looked back down at the dagger in disbelief. He had killed immortals before and this is not what happened. There was usually a lot of blood and a lot of screaming.
“How disappointing,” Casper said.
“Quite,” Nick replied. He pulled the dagger out and examined the bloodless blade. He wished that Casp
er could remember more of his history because Nick had a lot of questions. “Would you like me to have another stab at it?” he said. Pun intended.
“I believe it would be a waste of both of our time.”
“Time is something that both of us have in abundance. However, I see your point. Perhaps I could offer you a new proposal?” said Nick.
“Please do.”
“I am gathering power, you were right, but I am also gathering people. I need thirteen powerful sorcerers. I am gathering enough power to raise the dead. Now, I would be willing to wager that if I could raise the dead then putting down one immortal would no longer be such an issue,” said Nick.
Casper nodded. “I would be inclined to agree.”
“If you join us and help me achieve my goals, I promise to find a way to kill you and end your suffering.”
“And are you sure that you will manage to find a way.”
“I intend to kill an ancient. Do you know what that is?”
“I have heard of the race and how difficult they are to kill.”
“Exactly. If I find a way to kill one of them then you can rest assured that I will be able to kill you,” said Nick confidently. Killing was something he’d grown rather efficient at.
“Very well, Nickolas Blackwood. I agree to your proposal,” Casper said and the two men shook on it.
15
Henry had spent the previous night searching for Adam. Magically of course; he hadn’t been searching the streets like a fool looking for a lost dog. When the sun finally began to rise again he gave up and went to bed. Wherever Adam had gone he did not want to be found. He must have cloaked himself and he currently had more power than Henry did so there was no way of overriding his spell. Luckily Adam had not taken Henry’s athame. He hadn’t yet realised that he commanded all the power it had collected and therefore knew nothing of its importance. Henry had decided to keep it close in case Adam came for it. It was very uncomfortable, knowing that someone was out there who could kill him if he wished.
When Henry woke up in the afternoon he hung his legs out of bed. As soon as his feet hit the ground a blinding pain shot up his left leg and he fell off the bed screaming. He sent a little magic to relieve the pain but it didn’t help in the slightest. Already suspecting what it might be he rolled up his pyjama leg, peeled off his sock and looked down at the gangrene which had claimed half his left foot. He started to shiver at the sight of it. The illness was progressing fast. He looked at his right hand and saw that all his fingers had now been claimed. No spell could stop the spreading of the disease. The only thing that could stop it was him vacating the stolen body but he could not do that until his own body was restored and he could not do that until he had the power that currently resided with Adam. He hated feeling so helpless. The more he tried to get control of his situation the more out of control things became. It was time to get on top of things.
He washed and dressed quickly, hunting out a pair of gloves to hide the gangrene from anyone he might encounter. Then he headed to the spare room to once again try and trace Adam. When he got there he was reminded of his newest guest. Frederik Montford, his descendent was laying strapped to one of the tables. His eyes were wide with panic and he was mumbling something from beneath his gag. Henry sighed and pulled his gag out.
“What did you say?” he asked brusquely.
“Where am I?” Frederik asked. He was surprisingly calm all things considered.
“You’re in my house. Well, it’s not really my house, but it is for now,” Henry said.
“What are you; sorcerer, vampire or werewolf?” he asked.
“Ghost actually,” Henry said with a sly smile.
“I am the deputy mayor and unless you release me you will very quickly find yourself in very deep water,” Frederik warned. His red face was coated in sweat.
“I doubt that. Nobody knows you’re here. This house is cloaked so nobody can find you here. Not to mention the fact that you won’t be alive for much longer.”
“What? Why? Why would you want to kill me?” he asked hurriedly. The look of fear on his face was almost amusing.
“I don’t want to. I need to. In order to restore my body to a living condition I need to sacrifice a living relative. You’re my only descendant,” Henry explained.
Frederik looked at him as if he were mad and then realisation dawned. “Henry?” he said.
“In the flesh. Not my flesh obviously. This is a girl’s body and I am a man.”
“I thought that the coven got rid of you?”
“They thought so too. Look how wrong they were.”
“Henry listen to me—”
Henry shoved the gag back in his mouth. “I’m sorry Freddy, I really don’t have time to listen to you beg. Trust me when I say it wouldn’t do you any good. You’re my only option.”
After half an hour of attempting to track Adam, Henry once again gave up. He even tried tracking the power using his athame but that brought back zero results. He was just contemplating searching the streets manually when there was a knock at the door. He peeked through the eyehole and saw Toni standing on the doorstep. He was really starting to loathe her. Asking him annoying questions and turning up at ill-timed moments. He opened the door.
“Adam’s missing,” she said as she barged into the house. Rude.
“What’s that now?” he said, pretending not to have heard her.
“Adam is missing from the hospital,” she said slowly.
“That’s dreadful,” he said, not even bothering to add much enthusiasm.
“Yes. And you were seen at the hospital last night.” It wasn’t a question it was a statement. Henry readied himself for a fight. This was it. She’d figured him out. “Did you see anything?” she asked. She hadn’t figured out anything. Fool.
“Anything?” Henry repeated stupidly.
“Yeah. Did you see anyone lurking around or anything? Someone must’ve kidnapped him. He couldn’t have got up and walked out could he?”
“No. Everything was normal,” Henry lied.
“Damn. I was hoping you might be able to help. Maybe this is the wolves trying to get some leverage because Eleanor won’t back down over this full moon accident,” she said bitterly. Her phone rang and she held her hand in his face before answering the call. She then proceeded to have the entire conversation right there in from of him. Her manners were so poor. To do all this in his hallway without the slightest consideration for him. Her parents must have raised her very poorly. She finally got off the phone and turned back to him. “That was Eleanor. I left her a message when I left the hospital. Can’t believe she’s only just got back to me. She’s calling a meeting for this evening. Until then let’s go to the hospital and see off we can track him.”
“Actually, I’d rather not. I’ve got a lot going on,” Henry said. He knew very well that trying to track Adam would be a waste of time and did not want to spend precious hours following Toni around on a fool’s errand. He certainly did not want to attend another dreadful coven meeting.
“What have you got going on?” Toni asked. He found he could think of nothing quickly enough. “Nothing important then. Get your coat it’s chilly outside,” she said and then walked back through the front door. Henry considered killing her but it really wasn’t worth risking exposure. Best just to go along with her and hope that Adam didn’t make anything worse in the meantime.
Clara finally bit the bullet and walked into the interrogation room. Kegan and Charlie had brought Jamal in a while ago. None of the others were going to give her any information but maybe she could get something out of Jamal. He had claimed to love her after all. She’d been too afraid to face him because of her own feelings. Now that she was in front of him, however, she found it surprisingly easy. She’d thought she might have loved him but now realised she did not. There was some tenderness there but it was dulled by her anger and disgust for the man. He’d lied to her, tricked her and led her astray. If that wasn’t bad enough he’d ev
en taken her to bed. The former made him bad, the latter made him scum.
He looked at her pleadingly as she took her seat but she she kept her face stern. She would remain professional.
“Clara, I’m so glad I’m finally getting to see you,” he said in a gentle voice. That voice used to make her feel warm. Now it made her cringe.
“What can you tell me about Nickolas Blackwood?” she sad formally. This was not a social call.
“Don’t be like that,” he said.
“How long have you been in his service?” she continued. She deliberately avoided meeting his eye.
“Clara, don’t pretend we don’t share something,” he said.
“Mr Rasul, this is not a social call. This is an official interrogation,” she said matter-of-factly.
“Mr Rasul? Come on, Clara, I was on the other side of this table a couple of weeks ago. Don’t be like this.”
“If you will not answer my questions then I will have to return you to your cell,” she threatened. Hoping that it would make him cooperate.
“I know you feel something for me, Clara. Just like I feel something for you.”
“Mr Rasul,” she warned.
“I love you, Clara.”
“If you loved me then you wouldn’t have betrayed me!” she snapped. She looked him in the eye and saw him shrink away from her anger.
“I didn’t betray you, Clara. I was helping you,” he said. How could he sit there and lie to her face?
“You were stopping my powers from developing. You were keeping me weak.”
“I was doing that to stop you from fighting Nick. Because I knew that he would kill you,” Jamal said emphatically. She almost believed him.
“You did it because he told you to,” she countered.
“He never told me to do anything other than keep an eye on you. He is the most powerful warlock in the world. He never had anything to fear from you,” Jamal said. He spoke softly but his words still stung.
“Evidently that isn’t true. He is at the bottom of the ocean because of me,” she said proudly. Jamal didn’t seem bothered. She’d hoped he would be disheartened but that.
“And you did that all on your own did you?” he asked and Clara looked away. “Nick wanted me to kill you. I refused.”
