Surviving Prophesy: The Immortals

by Frances Howitt

  ‘Zach!’ Megan gasped and he turned from replacing the panel to find one of those beetles creeping into the lounge doorway. It suddenly rushed forward and he leaped clear of Megan, swinging his sword as he went. His blade screeched and slid across the hard armour casing on its back, making them wince. The force of his blow drove the beast flat however, but hadn’t pierced the shell.

  ‘Cut its head off,’ Megan cried. The creature shrieked for a brief moment before he’d silenced it.

  Beetles suddenly began to appear behind it in the lounge doorway and he dashed about, hacking the heads off three others. Seeing more in the room, he backed up, taking Megan with him. The other beetles, blocked by a wall of bodies of the fallen, stopped to eat them, including the one he’d cut the legs off but not killed. Zacharias didn’t watch further but took the opportunity to get them outside while the beetles were briefly distracted. With an arm around Megan they ran to where he’d left his horse. He hoisted her up then quickly mounted behind her, immediately urging his horse away at speed.

  ‘The beetles came this way,’ he said, as they followed the lane from his house and then joined the main road a mile further on. The roadway was picked bare on either side.

  ‘Where are we going?’ she asked, trying to catch her breath.

  ‘Your healer hall,’ he responded and noticed how white her face was. He slowed down from the mad gallop to a less dangerous pace.

  ‘Yes, we need to check all is well there. The ones left behind in your house won’t find it so easy to follow if there’s nothing for them to eat immediately along their path. Hopefully they’ll get distracted and forget about you. Of course the speed we’re going at and that you’re not actually setting foot on the ground should also help dilute your scent.’

  ‘I should have listened to you and avoided going home, at least for a few days. But then they’d have found Ginger and eaten her,’ he said patting his horse absently. ‘How long do those beetles live?

  ‘I’m sorry, I don’t know. I don’t know if they can reproduce themselves either.’ He suddenly tensed and started swearing in a strange language. ‘What do you see?’

  ‘The swarm circled the healer hall’s walls before carrying on along the road. There are two people outside the gates.’

  ‘Dead people? Can you tell who they were?’

  ‘No, they’re almost skeletons. I’m glad you can’t see this,’ he added clutching her close reflexively. The remains were grotesque and Ginger was shying away from the scattered gore.

  ‘I wonder if any got inside and were left behind like at your house,’ she murmured anxiously.

  ‘I truly hope not,’ he responded and jumped down to open the latch to the solid wooden gate. He led her, still safely mounted on the horse, through the gate and re-secured it behind them. Not seeing any beetles or devastation, he let her dismount and tied Ginger to the hitching rail nearby before opening the big door to go inside.

  ‘Where is everyone?’ he murmured as they went inside.

  ‘I hear people upstairs,’ she told him.

  ‘Where’s your room?’ he asked, a little reassured that there were no bodies, nor screaming. He let her take the lead, watching the way she walked with one hand trailing along the wall. He didn’t distract her progress, guessing she was counting side passages and then doorways. He was glad that the door she opened was solid and had been shut properly, but he came in with her to make sure nothing lurked, closing the door behind him.

  ‘It’s not very big in here,’ he couldn’t help observing glancing around in dismay. There was just room for her narrow bed, a small wardrobe and chest. There were no pictures, nor books, nor ornaments of any kind. This truly was a barren existence.

  ‘What should we do?’ she asked sitting down on her bed. ‘I’m sure there are Stritchers here somewhere. Not many, but it feels like your home.’

  Suddenly they heard screams and he jumped up.

  ‘I’d better go and see. You’ll be safe in here?’

  ‘Yes. Go. They need you,’ she told him, aware he was hesitating.

  He hurried out the heavy door, closing it properly behind him and ran up the stairs towards the sounds of pain, drawing his sword. At the end of a corridor, three students were cornered by a pair of Scritchers. One girl was being supported by another and had obviously been bitten. Zacharias noticed the beetles’ antennae go up and they turned around to face him. Megan’s assertion that they would prefer to eat him, seemed correct. He didn’t hesitate, but leapt forward to lop the head from one and then the other, before it could actually sink its teeth into his shin. Behind him more of the creatures appeared, probably alerted by the death cries of their fellows and then by his scent.

  ‘Quick, down the stairs,’ he called to the girls and they hurried past him. A door down the hall was open and the academy’s Head, Madam Turner was watching. Behind her were four students. Zacharias beckoned and she turned to urge them out and past the beetles trying to encircle Zacharias. He couldn’t spare them any further notice but leaped forward, taking the fight to the beetles before they could back him against the wall and trap him. The thought of falling amongst them scared him badly. He aimed for the heads for a quick and decisive kill, concentrating on keeping out of range and despatching them before they could bite him. His blade flashed, hacking at the creatures clustering around him. He kept moving as quickly as he could, whirling around to avoid the lunges of the beasts and trying not to trip on the dead.

  Suddenly it was over; he’d dispatched the last one. He leaped over the heap, wary in case any might not be completely dead yet. The corridor was deeply shadowed and they were so dark, it wasn’t easy to be sure they were truly dead. He alertly scrutinised in all directions in case any more of the damn things appeared before sucking in a breath in relief.

  ‘Zacharias, your timing is impeccable,’ Madam Turner said, joining him where he stood well clear of the beetles, checking them for movement.

  ‘Is anyone left up here?’ he asked peering down the corridor of closed doors.

  ‘No, everyone else is safe in the dining hall. I came up to get the last few stragglers to safety, but then we all got trapped. Thank you for rescuing us. What are those things?’

  ‘Megan calls them Scritchers. We saw a swarm of them when we were coming back. Most have carried on down the road,’ he added as they headed quickly down the stairs.

  ‘Megan’s with you?’ she asked noticing he looked worried and was walking fast enough for her to have to jog.

  ‘Yes, I’d just escorted her to her room when we heard screaming. I thought she’d be safer there in her room.’ He reached the door and opened it. The room was empty! On the bed was a large bag, neatly buckled. ‘Where is she?’

  ‘She’s not here?’ Madam Turner repeated peering around him into the room.

  ‘MEGAN!’ he shouted.

  ‘She could have gone to her workshop. That’s usually where she’s to be found.’

  ‘Where?’ and she pointed down the long corridor. He began jogging, not caring what the woman thought. All he could think of was that Megan might be in danger. The number of Scritchers he’d just killed proved there could be quite a few more of the damn things lurking unseen.

  ‘MEGAN,’ he called again once they’d turned the corner and he could see dozens of doorways opening off another very long corridor.

  ‘HERE, Zach,’ she called and he ran in to the room, his presence glowing.

  He rushed over to her but skidded to a halt before her, reconsidering sweeping her up in his arms. She couldn’t see; he shouldn’t grab her without warning.

  ‘Why did you leave your room? It’s not safe. There are Scritchers everywhere.’

  ‘I know, I heard, but I wanted my things. What’s wrong Zach? Your aura is pulsing like a beacon.’

  ‘My aura?’

  ‘Did killing the Scritchers upset you?’

  ‘No; I’m fine, but we might not be safe in here,’ he added.

  ‘Why have those thi
ngs come here?’ Madam Turner asked having followed him into the room. ‘Zacharias said there was a swarm of them that had gone on somewhere.’

  ‘They must have come from Caerton. I’ve no idea why someone released them; they are a real menace. They will eat anything in their path including people and unfortunately, the healer hall was too close to their path. What I don’t understand is why only some got inside. You’d have thought that if there was a way in, the whole swarm could have come in too. I’d have thought the presence of many people would draw them.’

  ‘Do you think the swarm expects to return this way and pick them up?’ Zacharias asked.

  ‘It’s possible, but then anything is,’ Megan admitted and glanced sideways. ‘Zach, while you’re here, can you take care of this one?’ She heard his sharp intake of breath and the whistle as he drew his sword. ‘Didn’t you notice it?’

  ‘No.’ Zacharias admitted, disgusted with himself. A beetle stood motionless on the shadowed worktop not ten feet from where she sat. It waved antennae but didn’t otherwise move. He couldn’t help noticing that its beady eyes were fixed on him and him alone. ‘Why isn’t it attacking? What have you done to it?’

  ‘I’ve imprisoned it within a shield.’

  ‘What have you discovered of its intentions Megan?’ Madam Turner asked her.

  ‘You want me to try and read its mind?’ Megan asked in disgust.

  ‘You must already be connected to it, to be holding it so efficiently,’ she reminded her. ‘I’m certainly glad you’ve heard about such evil things. At least we have some idea what they are and what they do. Try and read it, we need as much information on what’s driving them as possible.’

  Megan nodded reluctantly and glanced over at Zach; his aura, which had calmed a little, had just begun pulsing again.

  ‘Keep watch please, you two,’ she asked, and then turned towards the insect. ‘This one doesn’t feel evil anymore; not like the intentions I sensed from the swarm. It’s a dangerous predatory insect, but just a creature. I wonder if the swarm was under someone’s influence?’ She gulped in dismay, ‘it wants to eat you Zach. It wants to take you to his queen and, ewww,’ she trailed off refusing to give voice to it. She was getting a good idea now why they sought immortals. An immortal would live through their queen paralysing him, then laying her eggs in his flesh. He would survive being the fresh meat for the developing larvae to feed on and would probably survive the young eating their way out of his body. Several hatchings could be achieved using an immortal host before he failed. But then the whole family would be allowed to feed on immortal blood and flesh. Such food bestowed extended life that mortal blood simply did not. They had been promised an immortal and he had found one. She abruptly felt a jolt of jealousy but also joy pass through the simple mind and she hastily withdrew her senses from the creature.

  ‘Zach, the door,’ she called. His aura spiked, he cursed and he immediately darted away from her. She heard his sword clatter but also crunch on something. By the sounds of it, several of its brethren had turned up.

  ‘Please let me get rid of this one too,’ Zach said coming close to her again. ‘I don’t like it looking at me.’

  ‘Be my guest,’ she said, glad to be rid of the thing. ‘It’ll go for your throat,’ she warned him and stepped well back from the table. ‘Ready?’

  ‘Yes,’ he bit out through gritted teeth. As soon as the Scritcher moved, indicating she’d dropped her shield, he swung his sword and killed it.

  ‘I thought you were keeping watch?’ she asked, frowning at him.

  ‘He was distracted; too busy watching you,’ madam Turner told her.

  ‘What? Why?’ Megan asked aware of amusement in her tone.

  ‘Why does any man look at a woman?’ Madam Turner commented; then asked more briskly, ‘so, what did you discover?’

  ‘They have a queen somewhere close. They’re here to start a new hive, where there are plenty of people to act as food. They also need a host for their queen to paralyse and lay her eggs in,’ Megan said, deciding they should both know in case someone went missing. ‘It’s remarkably gruesome. I couldn’t tell where the queen is, but I imagine she’s already in the building. I suggest everyone is evacuated immediately. There’s no telling, with a place this big, if Zacharias has killed them all. Having said that, I would suggest if at all possible, that the corpses are taken outside and burned in case one of those was the queen and babies hatch.’

  ‘Zacharias, will you take Megan with you?’ Madam Turner asked, watching him closely. His gaze had barely left Megan in all the time she’d witnessed them together.

  ‘I cannot guarantee her safety. My home is on this road and has been similarly compromised by these creatures. I am going to have to travel far and fast to find a new refuge.’

  ‘You’d rather leave her behind because she might slow you up?’

  ‘No,’ he denied.

  ‘You’re telling me you wouldn’t worry about her on the road with us, miles from your sight?’ Madam Turner asked.

  ‘I would worry about her, yes,’ Zacharias admitted, bowing his head in defeat. Damn, the woman had sharp eyes. He hadn’t liked being upstairs tackling beetles knowing Megan was unprotected and alone. He’d actually been terrified to find her gone.

  ‘You barely know me, yet ask me to take a young woman on the road with me? I don’t have comfortable transport and such rough and fast travel will be difficult. You also know I am not immune to her charms,’ he added and realised Megan was surprised by that. But he already felt possessive of her and travelling alone together he certainly couldn’t guarantee he wouldn’t give way to temptation. He’d rather be honest and warn her of that possibility before all other options were closed to her.

  ‘I noticed that, yes,’ Madam Turner said with a faint smile, ‘and earlier you would not rest until she was in your sight again. I cannot think of safer hands for her to be in. However, Megan, this needs to be your decision. What do you choose?’

  ‘Zacharias, please don’t feel obliged to take me with you,’ Megan said turning towards him. ‘I know you’re an honourable man, but don’t feel pressured or pity me in this. I’m well aware I’m like a lame dog and my disability will inevitably slow you down. Madam Turner, I will not have you take such advantage of his kind heart. It’s not fair on him.’

  ‘Megan you are not remotely lame,’ Zacharias interjected, surprised she would defend him. ‘You’ve been taking care of me all day, just as much as I was you. Do you think I let you because I pity you? No. I admire your courage. Did I give you the impression I was annoyed with you in any way today?’

  ‘I didn’t think so, but how would I know?’ she responded uncertainly. All this talk suggesting he’d been secretly watching her with a man’s interest was unsettling; he was a lofty immortal and she was a common crofter’s daughter. Surely there were better bred, prettier and whole women out there for him to choose from?

  ‘Megan I enjoy your company. I’d actually prefer to take you with me, but the choice is yours. Please say if you would rather stay with your friends.’ Zacharias trailed off as she moved towards him. Her head tilted to one side as she seemed to consider him.

  Megan could tell his aura was pulsing again, not as vividly as earlier, but she decided it was an indication of strong emotions. ‘Can I take one of the hall’s horses?’ she asked Madam Turner. ‘I’ll need it to keep up with him,’ she added and heard his breath hitch. ‘My bag is already packed. It’s in my room.’ He took her hand and pulled her into a quick hug, his lips brushing the top of her head.

  ‘Stay there for a minute and I’ll run and fetch your bag. Is there anything else in your room you want?’

  ‘No, it’s all packed,’ she responded and watched his aura rush off, accompanied by the sound of running footsteps down the corridor.

  ‘You’re lucky Megan to have snared such a man. Take a horse from the stables and run before the others see you. Many witnessed Zacharias slay those beasts; he was very impress
ive. They’ll want to come with you, get him to protect them too. He won’t want that. It’s always been you he comes here to see. Did you know he specifically asked for you when he broke his arm?’

  ‘What? That was the first time he’d ever spoken to me. No-one was treating him when I arrived. I thought I’d been called because it was a bad break.’

  ‘As it turned out, that was the case and everyone was glad to let you handle it. He instigated calling you though. For months he’s been going to sit in the gardens before returning home. I used to wonder why, but then noticed he’d only go out there if you were there working. He watched but never approached you, so I let him be. What has happened between you? Has he made any advances?’

  ‘No, he’s been a complete gentleman. I thought he was just curious about me because I nursed him and his interest would quickly pass. But you’re saying he was interested beforehand? That’s completely different. Ah, he’s nearly here,’ she added.

  ‘You can feel his presence?’

  ‘Yes, especially when he’s rattled,’ Megan admitted just as he rushed back into the room.

  ‘Take care,’ Madam Turner said quickly and gave her charge a brief hug before turning her over into the care of a man she respected but admittedly knew little about. Zacharias took Megan’s hand and led her out and she wondered if she’d ever see either of them again.

  2

  ‘Where are we going?’ Megan asked. She apprehensively rode the horse Zacharias had picked out for her from the hall’s stables. Everyone else who’d ever travelled with her had automatically led her horse. Why didn’t he? Was he testing her or did he assume a wizard would have some means of magically keeping to a safe route? Well, maybe she ought to think on that one. Perhaps she could figure out how to see through her horse’s eyes to know where to head and what was around them? But the long and the short of it was that spells took strength to maintain. A wizard could not keep a spell running for hours without being drastically drained of strength and certainly not all day long. So she kept her horse abreast of his, guided by her perception of his proximity and also her awareness of whereabouts the road was. She would have to leave it up to him to guide and warn her of hazards.