by Mike Mannion
“What’s going on?” said Arthur.
Ophelia turned and gazed at them. Her skin was pale and threaded with tiny veins, her cheeks were sunken. Her halo of flickering light was illuminating the van in strange ways. Her gimlet eyes were devoid of any human feeling. Bill knew she was lost to him.
“He's here,” she said and pointed a bony white finger at the church.
The boys looked out the window, peering through the gloom, and could see a number of figures approaching. As they came closer Bill and Arthur could see one of them was Lord Percy, a tall and commanding presence with strange aquiline features and large curled horns. On his left was a young girl who they didn’t recognise, but on his right were Lilith and Professor Jareth. Bill had seen them earlier, at the Manor, but their appearance was now utterly transformed. Lilith’s hair was lustrous and her face seemed to glow with vitality, but it was Professor Jareth that had undergone the greatest transformation. No longer bent and walking with a stick, she looked decades younger. Her hair was thick and full mahogany brown, no longer wispy, thin and greying.
Ophelia smiled. “I have come,” she said, “to my love, Lord Percy.”
“Fight it!” said Bill, but knew it was hopeless. The Vita Dantis was back at the house.
She parted her lips and licked her teeth, then flung open the van door and stepped outside.
“No!” said Bill. Without thinking he opened the side door and followed. He watched join the others. Lord Percy stroked her cheek.
“Leave her alone!” said Bill in an angry yet faltering voice.
“What you doing?” said Arthur. “Get back in the van.”
Bill ignored him. “She’s my girlfriend. Leave her alone!”
Five pairs of ferocious yellow eyes turned on him. This small and skinny young lad was obviously no match for Percy. Bill felt wobbly on his legs and wanted to run away.
“What do we have here?” said Lord Percy. “A foolish young boy.” He turned to Ophelia and ran his hand through her thinning hair. A clump came out and tangled round his fingers. “Look at this dried-up straw! You are surely a most wretched and starved creature. Offer blood to dear Og and she will restore your feminine charms to all their glory. Curse this boy.”
Bill watched this with a mixture of revulsion and jealousy. A moment later Ophelia was by his side, muttering the curse. She grabbed his shoulders and fixed her gaze on his throat.
The horn of the campervan sounded and Ophelia was momentarily distracted. Arthur had sneaked into the driver’s seat and was pressing the horn repeatedly.
“Don’t just stand there like a lemon,” he shouted out of the window. “Get in!”
Bill staggered backwards as Ophelia pushed herself forward onto him, muttering the curse into his ear. Bill fell backwards into van through the open door. The engine clattered nosily as the campervan sped away. Bill pushed Ophelia off and she fell away onto the road. Bill pulled himself up, wondering if she'd been hurt badly, retrieved his glasses and closed the door.
He sat down, panting for breath and shaking, and looked out of the back window. Ophelia was getting up, seemingly unharmed. The others hadn’t moved – they were still watching him impassively from the cemetery gates. Bill’s heart sank as he contemplated what was definitely the most terrible night of his life. Arthur’s entire family and the girl he loved had been lost... probably forever.
Part Four
In which memories long slumbered are woke by brutal means
Chapter Eighteen - Secret Revelations
The edict from the Bishop on this most intractable problem is quite specific. Those cursed by Arddhu Og are NOT to be buried in the churchyard. Their unholy contamination would not rest well on consecrated ground. But as a temporary act of mercy, until somewhere suitable is found, each cask is to be stored in the crypt. The Bishop is most concerned – such abominations are against God’s will and have no place in his house, but the Apostles are most insistent that all casks be removed from Brimstone Manor.
– Extract from Conatus Chapel Church Records – Secret Addendum to the Parish Register of Deaths, 1875.
The campervan sped out of Underwood and off down a dark country lane. Arthur was driving fast, swerving the van from side to side. Every time he changed gear there was a horrible grinding sound. He squinted at the windscreen, finding it difficult seeing much of anything, except trees and farm buildings that flashed up in the headlights.
“I haven’t passed my driving test yet,” he said to Bill, “failed for going too fast.”
Bill nodded and grabbing onto his seat as Arthur swerved to avoid a stray rabbit.
“Can we slow down a bit?” he said. “I think we’ve escaped now.”
Arthur eased his foot off the accelerator and the engine noise changed from frantic screaming to an even clatter.
“Oh Bill!” wailed Arthur. “What are we going to do?” He banged his hand on the steering wheel.
“I guess we go back to our rooms.”
“I mean what are we going to do? I’m trying my best not to get upset, but...”
Bill nodded sympathetically. He was trying his best not to think about Ophelia.
“I keep imaging us all in the kitchen,” said Arthur, “scoffing one of mum’s huge breakfasts and having a laugh.”
A few minutes later fields gave way to the dark and sleeping suburbs of Middenmere. They pushed on into the city centre, navigating its maze of twisting roads. Eventually they drove up Turpin Street and slowed down outside Conatus College. Arthur carefully guided the van through the stone archway and up the long drive that crossed the grounds. He stopped in the car park at the side of the college and turned off the engine. They both sat in silence for a while.
“What are we going to do?” said Arthur tearfully. “We’ve lost everything.”
“We’ve still got the book,” said Bill, doubtfully holding up the journal.
“Fat lot of use that is! I want to see Mum and Dad! I want to see my brothers and baby sister. Do you think they’re still home?”
“Do you want to go back?”
“We escaped by the skin of our teeth. Underwood a madhouse. How can we ever go back?”
“But we're got to try.”
Arthur took a deep breath. “I can’t help them if I get turned. That’s what’ll happen if we go back.”
“True.”
“So what do we do now?”
“There’s only one person I can think of. She may be able to help... mother.”
“But I thought she was evil. No offence.”
“Well, she is. But the Apostles fight pagans and will get rid of Lord Percy – he seems to be the centre of it all. They can help us round up your family and Ophelia and fill them up with Vita Dantis.” Bill wasn’t entirely sure if the Apostles would be quite so helpful when it came to rescuing pagans. He remembered what they’d done to Professor Jareth and Lilith, but he could think of no other course of action.
Arthur considered this plan for a moment and looked hopeful. “Yeah. They'll have loads of Vita Dantis. So where's your mum? What happened to her when the bikers invaded the Manor?”
“The Rolls wasn’t there, so I guess she escaped. But I think I have a pretty good idea where she might be. And it’s not too far a walk from here.”
“Well, what are we waiting for?”
They both got out the van and Arthur noticed Bill was still clutching the journal tightly to his chest. “Why are you bringing that stupid thing?”
“I don’t know, but I don’t want to leave it behind. One of Beryl's friends may understand it. It may be the only way to find a proper cure.”
Arthur gave him a dubious look.
They made their way across the dimly-lit grounds and left the college via the front entrance. Arthur followed Bill to the top of High Street and they stopped outside the University of Middenmere Sports Hall.
“Remember when we came here for Fresher’s Fair and Frank took me off?” said Bill.
“Ah yes... you
said you went to some creepy doctor’s house.”
“It wasn’t far. I just have to remember where we went. I’ll try and retrace my steps.”
They walked along the road for a couple of minutes. It didn’t look quite the same at night with the buildings illuminated by street lights. Bill was starting to think he’d gone the wrong way but then he saw a familiar looking side road lined with tall Victorian terraces. The road sign said Laburnum Grove. This was it! He remembered the front door had chipped red paint and a gilded number nine. They knocked and were please when it was answered by Mordred, wearing his black butler’s uniform and white gloves. He gave them look of haughty indifference, showing no surprise at them turning up so unexpectedly.
“Good evening sir. I will take you to Madam.”
The boys followed him through the shabby hallway and into the front room. Arthur looked with some curiosity at the wooden display cabinets filled with figures dressed in ribbons and Victorian petticoats. Their smooth white faces stared out through the dusty glass and gave him the creeps.
“What the...” he said under his breath to Bill.
“His doll collection.”
Sitting on the chesterfield was Beryl, wearing her usual white, robe-like dress, diamond drop earrings and red lipstick. She looked surprised to see him and a little bit annoyed. “Hello Darling. I’m glad to see you but you’ve been very naughty. We’ve been looking absolutely everywhere for you and your little chum. Frank had you in his care but you ran off.”
“I went home but you’d gone. I found Lord Percy in residence.”
“Ah yes, quite amusing really. We were going to such drastic lengths to find him and he turns up on the doorstep. I have to be grateful to Mordred, who had the foresight to slam the door in his face and bundle me off in the Rolls.”
As Bill stared at his mother's smiling face he suddenly remembered his visit to the cellar... the terrible contraption holding Professor Jareth... Lilith’s bloody teeth on the table... He realised he was very angry with her.
“I know what you’ve been hiding from me mother. I was down in the cellar, I saw my two friends. I know everything.”
Beryl's smiled instantly faded and she erupted with an anger he’d never seen before. “They are not your friends! They are the Devil’s Bane! Their only desire is to feast on your blood and curse you into following Satan! Consider the people you knew as dead! The vermin in the cellar think of us as nothing but sacrifice!”
Bill was about to argue but he remembered what had happened after he’d freed them. He knew what his mother was doing was wrong but could think of nothing to say to her.
Doctor van Devlin came into the room carrying an Arabic Coffee Pot and two small gold cups on a tray. His was dressed in black and his goatee beard and swept back hair shone with grease. When he saw Bill, he gave a simpering smile.
“Why look who it is! The good Lord has brought you back to us.”
“Sit down Doctor please,” said Beryl.
Doctor van Devlin sat down on the chesterfield, placed the tray on a small table and poured out two coffees. Bill and Arthur sat in chairs by the fire.
“Let’s get something straight young man,” said a still angry Beryl. “You are an Apostle, and that means only one thing – you use whatever means necessary to fight evil.”
Bill was churning up inside. He remembered the terrible things that had happened in Underwood, but knew he could never condone torture and murder. These people were cursed but it was something that could be controlled with Vita Dantis. Professor Jareth had managed to live a normal life for many years. “We’ve just come from Underwood. The whole place is crawling with the ‘Devil’s Bane’ as you call them. But you can’t put an entire village in your cellar.”
“There are other places.”
“They need your help.”
“Mum and Dad! My brothers and sister!” exclaimed Arthur. “You’ve got to help them, please!”
“Have you got Vita Dantis? We could round everybody up-”
“We know all about the unfortunate situation in Underwood and it is in hand. There will be no Vita Dantis. That is not a cure. One missed dose and Satan is back in control.”
“But my family!” exclaimed Arthur, almost standing up in his chair.
“Silence!” snapped Beryl.
Arthur was about to launch into a long plea for mercy but could see that he was wasting his time.
The tense stand-off was broken by Doctor van Devlin. “God has truly blessed us with your timely arrival.”
Beryl turned to Mordred and said, “The Doctor is right. Go and telephone Professor Nox and tell him to bring the equipment. The treatment is to be done tonight – in full.”
“Very good Madam,” said Mordred, gliding off into the hallway.
She turned back to Bill and smiled. “Don’t look so worried. It won’t be too painful.”
“What won’t be painful?” said Bill.
“You know all about it darling, your treatments to aid recollection.”
Bill eyed her with suspicion. “What do you get when I get my memory back?”
“I have told you darling. You have a very important job to do.”
“Nox said I know a secret.”
“You certainly do,” said Beryl. “It's a great and very powerful secret, lost long ago.”
“Stop speaking in riddles! If I am an Apostle like you say I am, then I demand to know Apostle business.”
Beryl pursed her lips and considered for a moment. “Around two years ago the British nation suffered a terrible disaster. The most important person in the country, the highest authority in the land, was bitten and cursed by one of her servants. Of course this was kept secret from all but the top echelons of government and academia. If it ever got out it would damage our international relations and bring down one of the greatest institutions in the world.”
“Who is this person?” said Bill.
“I cannot say. We are sworn to secrecy. But what I can say is that it changed the work of the Apostles forever. Obviously this person could not be bugled away and forgotten about. A cure had to be found. But no work had been done on this since the late nineteenth century. Throughout the twentieth century Dark Paganism was made illegal, hushed up, suppressed and generally eradicated. So we had a bit of a dilemma.”
“It’s the Queen, isn’t it?” said Arthur.
Beryl and Doctor van Devlin glared at him.
“The highest authority in the land,” continued Arthur, “got servants, a British institution. Who else could it be? Who’d have thought it, eh? Our Queen a pagan Arddhu! I hope Prince Philip is safe in bed at night.”
“You will speak of Her Majesty with a little more respect!” snapped Doctor van Devlin.
Beryl and the Doctor looked at each other with some embarrassment.
“You are correct,” said Beryl at last. “But if you ever breathe a word...”
“Chill your boots Beryl! I’ll not tell a soul.”
They sat in silence for a few moments, with Beryl and Doctor van Devlin sipping their coffee.
“We had a cabinet built,” said Beryl at last. “It’s called a Scrinium Regenerationis, which means Cabinet of Rebirth. The subject is placed inside and the cabinet purges the body of the Devil’s Bane. Unfortunately, it proved to be faulty on the test subject.”
Bill remembered the brass fronted box he’d seen in the laboratory at Brimstone Manor. A cabinet to cure paganism! So that’s what William Whitebeam’s journal is all about…
“We were tasked with curing Her Majesty for her silver wedding anniversary,” said Doctor van Devlin, “but could not risk putting her inside.”
They were interrupted by a loud knock at the door. Mordred went to answer it. He came back with Frank, who glared at Bill and Arthur, and Professor Nox, who was wearing a long green and gold kaftan. His thick black beard had been plaited under his chin and secured with tiny metal rings. His huge domineering presence and thoughts of the ‘treatments’ he was
about to administer made Bill feel very scared.
“Hello William,” said Professor Nox in a deep voice. “I’m so glad we have finally got you, a rabbit in a snare so we might say. We’re not going to pussy foot around any longer. I have grown tired of your games. You will have the full treatment, tonight.”
Professor Nox opened a large suitcase. He took out a belt with many wires attached, a number of metal boxes, straps and a packet of swabs.
“I’m not doing this,” said Bill, watching wide-eyed as the Professor took out a large syringe from one of the boxes.
“You must help Her Majesty,” said Doctor van Devlin.
“It’s going to happen,” said Beryl, “either voluntarily, or by force.”
“Of course it is William,” said Professor Nox. “We have wasted enough time on you.”
Bill watched Professor Nox plug a lead into a mains socket. The lead was attached to a grey metal box filled with dials and ammeters.
“I said I’m not doing it!” exclaimed Bill standing up. Professor Nox placed a large hand on his shoulder and pushed him back down into the chair with a force that Bill couldn’t resist. He snatched the journal out of Bill’s hands then strapped his wrists to the arms of the chair and tied his feet together.
“Leave him alone,” shouted Arthur, moving to protect Bill.
Frank grabbed him forcibly by the arm and pulled him back. “Be quiet you.”
Professor Nox removed Bill’s glasses, strapped the belt around his head and plugged the ends of the wires into sockets on the side of the box.
“Now we have you all prepared,” mumbled Nox, “I think I will start with three milliamps.” He turned a dial on the box and Bill felt a tingling in his head.
