by Shane Cogan
He pulled the large ice dog from the house by its back legs. He dragged the creature outside, away from the children’s’ eyes. He looked at the dead creature more closely under the moonlight. Its slight rays hit the animal and he saw it in all its gore and glory. ‘Just like ice,’ he remarked. He did a quick tour of the house. Twice. Looking everywhere. His breath increasing with each step. Nothing. He ran to the shoat shed and looked inside. The shoats were beginning to calm down. But the other ice dog he had killed was nowhere to be seen. He looked at the spot where the carcass lay. There was no blood, just a pile of ashes. Black as the night outside.
C H A P T E R 21
Night Creatures
Fareth was inspecting his face in the mirror. I look exhausted. My body is beginning to ache all over. I’ve not slept in days. He looked at the clock on the wall, its giant face beaming down on him. The hands that moved were stuck on 3. He blew the dust off its face. He held one of his long fingers up to the light coming from his study window. It too was losing its natural colour. ‘Sleep depredation. Something of the old world,’ he said. He used that finger to pull down the eyelid on his left eye. Some puss began to pour out. He rubbed his eye further. He recalled the last conversation with his brother. Am I really getting paranoid? Am I too involved somehow in the crisis? Can I trust anyone on the Vanguard? Or anyone in the palace? I feel alone and isolated. What is that burning sensation in my feet again? He moved away from the mirror and the study space, over to the terrace. I seem to spend all my time in this room and on the terrace. He glanced down at the courtyard below. Some people were moving about, some were sitting and some were chatting. One female stopped and glanced back up at him, her old eyes momentarily invading his space. He gave her a courteous bow. She moved on across the yard. He fell backwards, but managed to fall on the terrace chair, its large cushions breaking his fall.
‘Get up, my King. Get up, my love,’ she said. Fareth reached out to his wife. ‘We need your strength now. Get up. ‘My queen, my love. You have returned. Where….?’ ‘No, my King. I am trapped. I have been imprisoned. You need to get up. They are coming for you.’ Fareth could see a white gown flowing in the gentle breeze. Yet he could only see her face. Her body seemed to be floating - she was off the ground, as if levitating. And her hair was flowing in the wind. He reached out to touch her. He tried to walk towards her but he could not move. He felt pain. I can’t move. ‘The Manith man. You need to trust him. He is our only hope. The planet’s very existence depends on his mission,’ she said. ‘What Manith man? What are you talking about? The planet is not in trouble,’ Fareth tried to shout, but his words were a whisper. He tried to speak louder. ‘He is close to me now. The Manith man. You sent him to find me. Where is he?’ she asked. Fareth tried again to make sense of his surroundings, the sounds and his wife. But he could not move. He tried to put one step forward. His foot would not move. That burning sensation, on the soles of my feet, again. What is it? His wife’s image began to fade and slide backwards. Her voice fading away. Fareth screamed. ‘The Manith man, where is he?’ she shouted. The figure began to shiver. ‘Why are you shouting at me? Who are you?’ he asked loudly. Fareth looked on as the face of his wife started to turn dark black. Black tears ran down her face. Her clothes turned black. Everything was black, except her eyes. ‘Those eyes,’ he said. He rubbed his own eyes, but felt nothing. She began to move towards him, her body now a mere shadow. What is that dark liquid all around you? Those eyes are not yours! He snapped backwards as her hair combusted into a fire. The flames were dancing on her head. Moving. Swirling. Fareth tried again to move. Nothing. I cannot move. Fareth felt a sudden slap on his face. It must be Camellias trying to hold me. Another slap. Then another. He heard a voice. First it was faint, but then an alarming sound hit his ears. ‘Your majesty. Wake up. Wake up!’
Fareth was in his chambers. He counted three palace guards around him. One was holding him. The other two were shouting instructions. He tried to stand up but fell back down again. The guard caught him. ‘My wife. She was here. Where did she go?’ he asked. The guard stopped slapping the King. ‘There is no one here. No one. We are under attack, Your Majesty. The Palace. We cannot contain them any longer. We need to leave,’ he said his breath panting louder and his breathing heavy. Fareth removed his sweaty hands from his back. He said attack. ‘From whom?’ he demanded to know. ‘Night creatures,’ one of the other guards shouted out. ‘No. They are insects,’ the other guard shouted out. ‘It is true,’ the first guard said. They all began to speak at once. ‘Fareth took a deep breath and regained his balance. ‘You, with the black hat. Explain the situation, but slowly,’ Fareth said pointing at him. ‘They are insects. Giant insects. I’ve never seen anything like them before. And they came from the nearby forest. Swarms of them,’ he said, his breath slowing with each spoken word. The King wobbled a little on his feet, before rubbing a hand across his brow. He walked swiftly to the window. He heard a screeching sound in the air. He held his left ear with his hand. And then he saw the swarm. Two of the insects had broken off from the main swarm and landed close to him on the terrace. He waved his hand in frenzy pattern, as a few landed on his fingers. They started to cover his palm. What are they? The two insects that had broken off from the swarm were merely sitting on his palm, looking at him. Still. Almost waiting for a signal. A loud noise continued to pierce the night sky. Fareth spun around to see the guards on their knees, hands over their ears and faces contorting. Fareth blinked his eyes in rapid succession, as he looked upon the insects. I know what they were.
‘These are not insects. These are not even from this world. Run. And run fast!’ the King shouted. ‘But what are they?’ one of the guards shouted, just as he hit his arm on the door on the way out. ‘These are the Kelpie,’ he shouted back. But the guards were already out the door. ‘Everyone to the underground chamber,’ the King roared. He continued to shout this at anyone who was around the grounds of the palace. He waited in the yard. He could see some of the Kelpie were now on top of one of the palace chamber girls. She was rolling around on the ground. Fareth could see that her whole body was covered by the swarm. Its teeth, its fangs, its head, its arms, its legs. Every part of its body was somehow stuck onto the little woman. Fareth tried to move towards the female in danger, but a hand grabbed him. ‘This way, Your Majesty. Now!’ Fareth saw it was the guard with the black hat, but he was holding it in his hand. Fareth followed the guard. He slapped his hand on the back of his neck. One of the insects fell away. His hand revealed a blood splatter. He ran on to the underground door. Fareth stopped and waited. He motioned the last of the palace crowd through the door and down the stairs. He took one last look around at some of the unlucky bodies lying in the courtyard. I sense the worst. Not the woman. She is long gone. Devoured by the creatures. What are the insects doing? Standing alone, at the top of the stairs to the basement door, he could see that the Kelpie, instead of breaking off back into individual insects, were morphed into a new shape. A new creature. Its dark shape began to take on a new form. But the King was already gone. He had reached the underground stairs. He looked around him. All of the staff appeared to have run, or perhaps have been eaten by the Kelpie, or whatever it did to its prey or I hope most are down below. He closed the large metal door and slammed the bolt on the inside.
C H A P T E R 22
Ice Dogs
‘You are not of this world, are you my big friend?’ said Tobo. Tiuus looked at the wound on his leg, as he thought on how best to answer his little friend. The scab was beginning to heal, faster than I expected. ‘You have been patient my little friend and I realise you need answers,’ said Tiuus. ‘You destroyed those ice dogs like nothing I have seen before. No Atisian, big or small, has defeated those mammoth creatures with their hands. Who are you really?’ The entire family were around the table. Some resting and some eating. The girl Tiuus had saved sat beside him, her eyes transfixed on the Manith man and her arms around his waist. ‘I trust you, yet I cannot tell yo
u who I am really. But rest assured, no harm will come to your family while I am here. None,’ said Tiuus. ‘Stop,’ panted Tobo. His breathing was hard as he held his side. He pushed a hand to where the pain was and gave a sharp yelp. ‘Rest, my dear husband. We need our big man to help us. At least until you recover,’ his wife said. Tiuus glanced at all the family members. I sense their anguish and concerns. ‘Tis, true. I am not quite a mountain labourer. I am a Manith and I am here for a specific job. That’s all I can tell you. Nothing less. Nothing more. I can leave tomorrow, if you wish.’ The girl next to him squeezed him with her little arms. He felt her tears fall on his feet. ‘Well, it has been some days since the attack. But I think it best if you leave, my friend, before the next new moon,’ said Tobo. Tiuus nodded in reply.
‘But can you tell me more about what other foul creatures live on this mountain? What else am I meant to encounter on my mission here? I would greatly appreciate that,’ said Tiuus. The family all came closer. The night had fallen and they crawled around the fire as the wood cracked and hissed out the last of its internal steam. The children were rubbing their eyes, yawning. The mother held them closer. Tiuus listened as first Tobo, then his wife and the little girl he had saved told the Manith about the tales of Glow Mountain. Tiuus heard about its inhabitants and the creatures that roamed the mountain at night. Food and drinks were scattered on the ground, around the family. Plates were piled on top of each other. Tiuus grabbed some meat and bread as he listened carefully to every word the family said. ‘These Naiads creatures you speak of, are they dangerous?’ Tiuus asked. ‘They live in the far big streams. And linger around where the greybird sits and waits on the big stones, waiting to sink and kill the fish, its prey. The greybird are the only creatures the Naiads tolerate in its waters. These Naiads are not to be trusted. They are but mere water nymphs and dirty ones,’ said Gobo in broken words. ‘I’ve seen them,’ said the little boy. He was resting his head on his mother’s lap. His legs kicking out, as he laughed at the sound of his own voice. The other children joined in with his laughter. ‘Hush. They are real. They have been known to steal the common folks, little ones,’ said Gobo. She paused while looking at the children, before adding.
‘The Naiads are sexual predators; they will seduce all living males. And even known to kill and eat them,’ she said. ‘But…,’ she said. Her smile returned as the story was progressing, the flames of fire crackled, the trees whistled outside, the children crawled closer to the adults. And the little girl grabbed Tiuus even tighter. ‘Legend has it that, if an Atisian, the size of a giant with the utmost strength of an ice dog, managed to conquer the female leader of the Naiads, then these creatures will protect that man forever,’ said Gobo.
Everyone sighed at Gobo’s last words. All eyes in the room then locked on Tiuus. ‘But I am no conqueror. Nor giant. I was lucky. I but killed only one ice dog,’ he said. ‘But you killed one of them. No one has done that around here before,’ said Tobo. He added, ‘and the Naiads will have heard this news. The creatures of the mountain talk. They share their stories. Especially the greybird. He will have whispered your presence and defeat of the ice dogs in the ears of the leader of the Naiads. They will be expecting you,’ said Gobo. Tiuus stood up. The little girl reluctantly let go of him. She slid closer to her father. The Manith stretched his big body and moved to the fire. He rubbed his hands close to the flames and let out a purring sound. He turned to face the family. There was no movement from any of them. They are really scared. The Manith’s shadow towered above them as he stretched with the fire flames dancing behind him. ‘Then I shall have to meet these Naiads and conquer its leader. I have but no choice now,’ Tiuus said. He sighed deeply and rubbed his hands over his face. ‘And these other creatures you speak of…what did you call them? The ghost of death or something,’ but Tiuus was cut off by Tobo. ‘Stop now. These other creatures are but evil and have not been seen for many an Atisian year. They are of the old world, the deep underworld. The forgotten ones,’ said Tobo. His wife jumped up at these words and ushered the children to get ready for bed. ‘Enough of spirits tales for one night, children. Off you go. Or the hungry spirits will get you,’ she said. The children screamed and laughed at its name and ran off to bed. Tobo edged closer to Tiuus. He grabbed his hand and pulled on it. Tiuus bent over and moved his head closer to the little man. Tobo arched his neck upwards towards the Manith’s left ear, but at a stretch. He whispered in his ear: ‘The Balor is the king of the underworld. He is but death. Drought and famine. No one can defeat him.’ And then he pulled away and walked back to the table. Tiuus said no more. He closed his eyes and held his breath while he stood.
******
Kassobra awoke panting. Her heart was racing two beats at a time. She saw her legs were shaking. She unbuckled her arms from around her naked frame. She tried to stretch, but failed. She pulled her hand across her forehead and splashed its contents on the bed sheets. She placed her hands on the bed sheets as she attempted to get up but pulled them away rapidly as she felt its cold liquid stick to her skin. She tried to slide out of the bed, but its new layer of sweat prevented her from doing so. Naked, she walked to the window. She flicked a light on and saw her body gleaming with droplets. She felt her breath panting even faster. Kassobra left her hand on her heart and counted its beats. ‘Too fast,’ she sighed. ‘What was that dream that I had? Who or what was that creature?’ she said aloud. Still naked, she walked to the wardrobe. Bending down she pulled out a drawer and inspected its contents. She picked up an item. A small bag made a ruffled noise as she inspected its contents. She walked back towards the terrace. Opening its doors, she walked gracefully to a chair and landed on it with a thump.
She found what she was looking for on a table and a spark lit the dark night in front of the item that was placed in her mouth. She drew a deep breath, held the air in her lungs in longer than usual, followed by a big puff of smoke that left her and penetrated the night colours. She repeated the exercise and stood up. A noise below startled her. Probably a guard has seen the light. She reached for a small garment that was hanging on a hook. Its soft fabric stuck to her body. She pulled at it to cover her breasts. Kassobra closed her eyes and chanted ‘kuru kuru kuru.’ She remained in her semi naked posture and stance for some time. She continued to chant the words over and over. Her eyes opened. She stared at it for a while before reaching out her right hand. The skies were dark and silent. My terrace is dark. Everything is dark. Kassobra stood up, yet her body could be seen in the dark. ‘Kuru,’ she whispered. ‘You came to me.’ She turned her head slightly to the right and caught its faint yellow light. She saw it forming a pattern. Kassobra moved closer to it, its light turning to a shadow. It arched over her. Kassobra’s heart was no longer beating. Her breath had slowed, the sweat on her body dried. She stepped closer to the yellow shadow. She could see that a face was forming. Oh, those eyes, the nose, and your ears, but still your face is yellow. She curved her neck and looked up to its yellow face. ‘Kuru. You have come back for me. But why now?’ murmured Kassobra. ‘Come with me, we do not have much time. They have unleashed the old evil and we need to confront it,’ whispered the shadow. ‘But…,’ Kassobra was cut off halfway. ‘It is time, daughter, follow me now.’ Kassobra let her garment slip to the floor and walked into the yellow shadow. The terrace went dark.
C H A P T E R 23
The Kelpie
Aluum tried to say something but only a scream came out. She felt a sticky substance hit her face as she rubbed her eyes. She forced her body up, one arm overlapping the other, but her eyes would not open. I think I am standing up, but I cannot see. Aluum reached down and touched her feet and the substance and rubbed some of it on her face. Then she placed her hands over her ears and screamed. ‘Where am I? I cannot see! What have you done to me?’ she shouted. She recalled the last vision of the room and the chanting people. Aluum crawled on all fours as she tried to find a way out. Her left leg hit an object. A rock. And again, she hit another object. Sh
e touched where the pain was with her hand and pulled it back. ‘I’m bleeding,’ she shouted. ‘Everywhere.’ She carried on and dragged her body across the surface. It is hard, hot and dusty. With each movement, she felt rocks and sands scratch her body. She let out another scream.
I’ve found it. She splashed the water on to her face. She rubbed her eyes. She forced them open. Below her, Aluum could see green trees. Her feet were in the pool of water, but she was high above the surface below. They dotted the landscape. I’ve seen these green trees in my dreams, but never on the planet. She watched them dance with the wind that was swirling around the area. Each tree seems identical in shape, and height. They are in straight lines. Exact and precise. She inspected her body and rubbed the fresh wounds into the old ones. She arched her head to the swirling grey clouds above and shouted. ‘I no longer know what is real, or not’. She washed the blood from her skin. The water ate the blood up and its colour texture darkened. Tears ran down Aluum’s face, as she cleaned herself. She watched as the blood, tears, dirt and the dark water all began to mix and become one. A deep colour. Looking up again over the mountain ledge, she stared at the lines of tress below. I have to get down there. She proceeded to walk down. Her body limped step by step. She started to hum out loud. ‘The trees are the keys. The trees are my bees’, she uttered out. Startled, she stopped and questioned the words. What was that different tone?
