With a terrible roar Razgul charged once more, smashing into the barrier and unleashing a focused blast of dark energy at the same time. The barrier collapsed and Daniel was thrown backwards down the entrance tunnel, tumbling several times before coming to a stop.
“See!” Razgul bellowed. “This is the man you feared? This is the man you ran from? He is nothing. Nothing! And now he will die.”
Razgul stomped into the tunnel, dark power already gathering to deliver the fatal blow. Daniel managed to climb to his knees but could do no more. Shaking his head to clear it he tried to focus on the massive vampire’s charge. He managed to raise his arm. Focusing intently he gestured and another barrier sprang to life, this time surrounding Razgul rather than just blocking his approach.
The mighty vampire simply laughed, then charged the barrier - unleashing the power he had gathered at the same moment. The barrier held firm. The dark power was deflected and Razgul was flung backwards. Angry now he stood then charged the barrier again, confident in his ability to wear down and break through anything that Daniel was able to conjure. Once again the barrier held and Razgul was thrown back. He immediately climbed to his feet and charged again. And again. And again. With every failure his anger became more intense, the power he threw against the barrier increased too. Yet every time he failed. Razgul knew that Daniel couldn’t possibly stand against his powers, yet the barrier remained intact time after time.
Daniel climbed to his feet, wincing as he did so. Razgul’s power had been enormous. It had easily battered through Daniel’s defences, and only his amazing strength and ability to heal allowed Daniel to stand. There was no way he could survive against such power, let alone contain it. So he hadn’t.
All night long Daniel had worked, priming the very stones of the entrance tunnel to draw energy. Josef had mistakenly thought Daniel would use them all as a source of power. Daniel had used a few for that purpose, but most had been primed for a very different purpose. Those had been prepared as a trap. Using the energy the keep could pull in from the world around he had prepared barriers far, far stronger than anything he could generate himself. Then he had set out to find a suitable victim, one who would know of Rafael’s plans for Mary. It was all based upon a hunch that Rafael would want to ensure the trap succeeded, that he would want someone to oversee events. The hunch appeared to have paid off. All Daniel had to do now was to get that information from Razgul.
Not yet though. He would need time for that, time without worrying about being attacked. He had to deal with the other vampires. Slowly he made his way back down the tunnel towards the keep. The trap that held Razgul didn’t quite fill the width of the tunnel. Daniel had left enough room to walk past on the right. As he did so Razgul repeatedly flung himself against the barrier trying to reach Daniel. All to no avail. Daniel knew the trap could take far more than Razgul was throwing at it.
Once past the trap he stepped out into the large room, once again summoning a barrier to keep the vampires at bay. He needn’t have bothered. Once they had realised that Razgul was not only defeated but actually trapped, most of the vampires had bolted for the stairs again. When Daniel stepped into sight those that were left turned tail and followed the others up the stairs. Daniel smiled grimly. Maybe he had a chance of surviving this after all.
Daniel quickly covered the ground to the stairwell, wanting to keep the fleeing vampires off balance. Once into the stairwell the barrier covered a much smaller area, allowing him to strengthen it significantly. He needn’t have bothered. He reached the next floor unchallenged, then stepped out into the room there. The doors leading from the room still stood open. There had been no chance to seal them when Daniel and the others fled the keep. Many of the vampires had run to this floor, and most of those were fleeing through the open doorways already. Once the flow slowed to a trickle then stopped Daniel reached out and triggered the switches for all the doors but one. Then he steadily advanced into the room, barrier projected before him. The few vampires that hadn’t fled already were forced back towards the open door.
Several threw themselves against the barrier — trying to emulate Razgul’s success. None succeeded. None had anywhere near the power of Razgul. Soon Daniel had cleared the room, forcing the final few vampires through the open doorway. He reached out and closed that door, shoulders slumping tiredly. He could feel how much energy he had burnt, how low his reserves were of the reddish tinged power that powered the barrier. He knew other vampires remained in the floors above, though he suspected there weren’t many. The doorways above were sealed too — the only place they could be waiting would be in the main room off the staircase on each floor.
Wearily he returned to the staircase but went down, not up. From the bottom of the stairs he reached out towards the tunnel entrance and the stones within it that were primed with the reddish energy. A minute or so later he turned and walked up the stairs, brimming with power and with a spring in his step once again.
Daniel quickly confirmed the first floor was clear then moved on to the second. That too was clear, though he thought he heard footsteps retreating above him. The third floor was clear but Daniel paused. Once again he felt drawn towards one particular corridor. Something lay in that direction, something that called to Daniel so strongly he nearly forgot where he was, what he was doing. Shaking his head to clear it he stepped back, turned and started climbing to the next floor. He knew he would return, would find out what lay down that corridor, but not now. Not until the keep was safe and he had the information he needed.
The fourth floor was clear too, but now he definitely heard footsteps above. He knew that any remaining vampires must be on the fifth floor. The sixth floor was the highest and it boasted a huge, and amazing, domed ceiling. Or it had until Daniel triggered the switch that controlled it, causing the entire dome to flow down into the walls and disappear. Now the huge central room at the top of the keep was bathed in bright sunlight. No vampire could survive being in that room. Many had been caught in the sunlight when Daniel opened the roof, all were destroyed. So the only place left for any to hide was the fifth floor.
When he reached the fifth floor he found around twenty vampires cowering at the back of the room. He had already faced all those that were brave enough, or stupid enough, to stand against him. These had all fled as far as they could. There was no fight left in them. Daniel knew he could destroy them but chose not to. Instead he opened one of the doors leading off of the room. Immediately the vampires ran towards it, fighting each other to be first through. Daniel caught glimpses of other vampires within the room, most looking surprised but one or two trying to reach the door. Their attempts to escape were futile, the influx of vampires fleeing Daniel forced them back then Daniel sealed the doorway.
Daniel returned to the stairwell and climbed carefully to the top floor, knowing it must be clear but unwilling to risk being wrong. Sure enough the room was empty of living vampires, though tens of blackened corpses lay where they had died. Ignoring them Daniel moved to stand in the sunlight, feeling it recharge not just his powers but also his will. He drew the bright light into his body, binding it to his soul. Preparing himself for what must come next. Preparing himself to tear the information he needed from Razgul, piece by piece if needed. Whatever came next he was determined to find out where Rafael had taken Mary.
Before heading back down the stairs Daniel triggered the switch controlling the roof, watching as the ceiling flowed up out of the surrounding walls to cut off the bright daylight. Some light still spilled through the one open doorway but it did little to light most of the large room. Daniel stared at that doorway, remembering how he and the others had been trapped within the room beyond before making their escape. Then he turned and made his way down the stairs.
Once again something pulled heavily on him when he reached the third floor, urging him to investigate. Dismissing it he stayed on the stairs and headed down.
When Daniel stepped out on the ground floor he heard Razgul cursing f
oully. As soon as Razgul saw Daniel he threw himself against the barrier with renewed fury, unleashing blasts of dark power that would have flattened Daniel in a moment. The barrier absorbed it all. Daniel checked and confirmed that despite Razgul’s efforts the barrier was being recharged faster than the vampire could deplete it.
Daniel crossed the room and stood near the powerful shield he had created. Razgul abandoned his efforts and paused, studying Daniel with hate filled eyes.
“The Cursed One,” Razgul spat. “I know you. My master warned me of your dangers. You may have trapped me but it will do you no good. You cannot kill me, you cannot even harm me. I am immortal. I will remain here until I am freed, then I will find you and rip everything you care about from you before killing you oh so slowly. That is if my master doesn’t get to you first.”
“Just words,” replied Daniel calmly. “I do not fear you. However I do need you, or the knowledge you hold at least. I need to know where your master is.”
Razgul chuckled. “And you think I will tell you? I know what you seek. You seek the girl who is with my master. I will say nothing on the matter. You won’t trick any information out of me.” Razgul chuckled again, amused at the situation he found himself in.
“But you already have,” replied Daniel with a smile. “You just told me that you do have the information I need, and that Mary is still with your master. Thank you.”
The smile left Razgul’s face, replaced by a snarl. Before he could answer Daniel frowned in concentration. The barrier collapsed inward, shrinking rapidly until it was like a glowing outer skin covering the vampire. Razgul’s muscles strained and his face locked in a grimace but he was unable to move.
Daniel stepped in close to the vampire, placing one hand on each side of Razgul’s head. Then he focused his powers and stretched out for the vampire’s mind.
Daniel’s head snapped back and he let out a howl of pain. As soon as the connection was made Razgul had attacked, trying to follow the channel back and force his will into Daniel’s mind. Daniel snapped the connection, then stood panting with effort.
Razgul laughed again. “Try it again little man. Please. This game is fun.”
Daniel stood in silence for a time, ignoring the taunts from Razgul and contemplating what had happened. Then he spent some time building defences in his mind, mental equivalents of the physical shield he had used to trap Razgul. Once again he used power drawn from the keep to strengthen his own abilities.
Daniel reached out with his powers once more, forming the mental bridge with Razgul’s mind. Razgul pounced immediately, using his power to drive Daniel’s probe back and trying to follow it in. This time Daniel left the connection in place. He could feel Razgul’s joy as the vampire thought he had won, followed by confusion as his assault became mired in the mental traps Daniel had created.
While the vampire was off balance Daniel attacked again, this time forcing his probe deep into Razgul’s mind. Boosted by power from the keep he was able to override Razgul’s will with his own, forcing the vampire into a docile state. Deep down a spark of Razgul’s will still raged, but it no longer held sway over the vampires mind. Daniel started to draw in the vampire’s knowledge. He shivered as he did so, the dark thoughts and feelings he was absorbing sending ice down his veins.
The process seemed to last for an age — the vampire was many hundreds of years old. Daniel couldn’t begin to absorb the huge numbers of thoughts and memories, instead he filtered them — only retaining anything that related to Rafael’s current plans or location. All the time the chill built in Daniel, settling into his chest like a lead weight.
Finally the flow of information slowed to a stop. Daniel staggered back, swaying and nearly falling. He sat down heavily. Razgul couldn’t collapse, he was held up by the flickering power of the barrier, but it was the only thing keeping him standing. Where a huge warrior had stood before there was only a shrivelled old man now. A last chuckle escaped the creature’s lips, more a choking rattle, then life faded from its eyes.
Daniel bowed his head. He hadn’t known what would happen when he extracted the knowledge and certainly hadn’t expected it to suck the life out of Razgul. The results were uncomfortably close to how the vampires fed — draining the life force from a victim. Daniel knew he’d had no choice but it didn’t make him feel any better.
Staggering to his feet he considered what he had learnt. The memories were fragmented but he thought he could piece them together. Razgul had indeed known where Rafael was headed and Daniel now had the chance to follow.
Daniel became aware of a feeling both alien and familiar. A hunger ignited deep in his soul. A hunger he hadn’t felt since the darkness had been burnt from his body at the end of his transformation. It surged within, urging Daniel to feed. Urging him to seek out a victim and drain their life. Daniel fought the desire, feeling like he was being battered by a storm. This was far more powerful than anything he had felt before. Somehow the darkness in Razgul’s soul had been drawn across with the vampire’s memories. Darkness that had developed and strengthened through decade upon decade of dark deeds.
Horrific visions of violence flashed through Daniel’s mind. He fought the desire to recoil, to draw back, knowing he’d be lost if he did so. At the same time the hunger was gnawing at his resolve, and he could feel the pulse of the dark power within his chest as it tried to spread through his body. This was a battle he couldn’t hope to win alone. Concentrating hard he tried to reach out to the keep, seeking to strengthen his resistance. Nothing happened. He tried again. And again. Every probe of power he sent out was tainted with darkness, preventing them joining the power of the keep. Daniel started to panic. Without untainted power he couldn’t open any door or window. He would be trapped within the keep and overwhelmed by the darkness roiling within.
At that moment he sensed a change in the darkness. A sense of satisfaction, of enjoyment. He realised with horror that the dark power trying to take over his soul had an awareness. That it was alive in some way, alive and exceptionally dangerous. Several memories from Razgul played through his mind again, but with this new knowledge he understood them properly. Razgul had been aware that the darkness was sentient, but he had welcomed it. He had worked with the power, revelling in the dark acts it demanded. Fed by such a willing accomplice the power had grown strong. Willing or not it intended Daniel to be its new accomplice, and there was nothing he could do to prevent it.
Chapter Three
The assault eased a little, though Daniel wasn’t fooled. He could feel that the dark power was toying with him, watching to see how he would run before it chose to overwhelm him. Daniel snatched his chance, rushing towards the stairs then mounting them two at a time. He felt the darkness within laughing, taunting, mocking. It knew there would be no escape.
Daniel charged up the stairs, floor after floor. This time there was no pull from the third floor, the darkness had submerged that part of him which responded to the call. He reached the fourth floor, the fifth and finally the top floor. Not stopping he charged across the huge room, seeking the safety of daylight. Running so fast his feet barely touched the ground he flew towards the one open doorway, towards the daylight pouring through. While the sun was now too high to shine into the room he hoped the daylight would be sufficient to weaken the darkness.
He reached the doorway at full speed — then stopped dead. Agony flared through his shoulders and arms which had shot out sideways and locked, preventing him making it into the room. The darkness inside had returned with a vengeance, snatching control of his limbs. All sense of play had left it. Realising what Daniel had planned it had acted to foil him.
Now Daniel stood before the doorway, with dim daylight washing over him. It made the darkness uncomfortable, a reminder of the much greater power sunlight represented. A power that could destroy it. It was taking no chances now. Every time Daniel tried to draw the daylight into him, to draw in its power, the darkness blocked his efforts. With every passing second Dan
iel’s strength faded, as did his ability to fight. Both Daniel and the darkness knew it would all be over in a few moments.
Suddenly Daniel lurched backwards, managing to get enough control of his legs to rush away from the doorway then tumbling to the floor. For a brief moment the darkness was caught out. The last thing it had expected was for Daniel to run away from the daylight, to run away from his only faint hope. That confusion gave Daniel his chance. He threw out a probe, desperately focusing on keeping it free of any taint. The darkness caught on almost immediately and managed to overwhelm the probe, corrupting it before Daniel could use it to draw any strength. Daniel flopped onto the floor, completely spent. The darkness exulted and prepared to complete the possession of its new vessel.
A sliver of light flashed down into the room, striking the floor nearby. The darkness paused, confused. The sliver of light rapidly expanded, spreading across the room and washing over Daniel’s body. Too late the darkness realised what Daniel had done. His desperate last probe hadn’t been an attempt to draw power, it had been an attempt to flick the switch which controlled the roof. An attempt that had worked. Trapped in the bright sunlight, with no shelter close enough to reach, the darkness started to scream. Daniel screamed too. The darkness was twisted around his mind and soul now. In the short time since it had infected him its power and experience had allowed it to soak deeply into Daniel’s very substance. The taint was far deeper, far stronger, than when Rafael had tried to turn him. Blinding agony flooded through him, heat and pressure growing both in his body and his mind.
Dark Soul Silenced - Part Two Page 2
