Thaumatology 08 - Ancient

by Teasdale, Niall

  Ceri steeled herself and asked the question she was dreading the answer to. ‘Do you want us to stick around in case it comes back?’

  The captain smiled bleakly. ‘You’re civilians, Doctor. Apparently very capable ones, but still civilians. It’s our job to deal with things like this. You’re better off getting back to civilisation.’

  Ceri nodded, her eyes on the gate. She had a strange feeling that that would be better for the soldiers at the base anyway. She had a strong feeling that whatever the thing was that had attacked, it had come after her and Lily. Something had been waking in Hamburg, and somehow they had caused it to finally rise. She looked at Lily and saw a little hint of fear in her dark eyes; the half-demon thought the same thing. This was not the last they would see of the monster in the dark.

  Part Five: Raynor

  Kennington, London, May 21st, 2012

  Despite the new moon, Michael seemed like a rather happy young werewolf. Shifting into human form, he was wearing a broad grin as he slumped onto the bed between Ceri and Lily. ‘I’m glad you’re back,’ he said as he wrapped his arms around them and pulled them in close.

  Lily giggled. ‘Yeah, no sex for a week. I bet you were really grumpy.’

  Michael’s cheeks coloured, which probably meant he had been, but he said, ‘It’s not just that. Alexandra was worried about you. She said something about an ancient shadow following you.’

  ‘We’ll come back to Battersea with you later,’ Ceri said. ‘Something attacked the base we were at. I don’t know about ancient, but it was weird and shadowy.’

  ‘I’m not going to complain about you spending more time with me,’ he replied happily. ‘Later? You don’t want to go now?’

  ‘Later,’ Ceri said.

  ‘We’ve been busy,’ Lily explained. ‘We haven’t had sex all week either.’

  Michael let out an exaggerated puff of air and a sigh. ‘You know, I’m just one wolf…’

  Lily started to move almost immediately. ‘Oh well, I’m sure we can find a few extra ones willing to…’ She was cut off as a strong arm pulled her back down against his chest.

  ‘Mine,’ Michael growled amid giggles from the girls.

  Battersea

  Alexandra, enigmatic Alpha of the Battersea werewolves, smiled warmly as Ceri, Lily, and Michael walked toward her across the little clearing which was her main base of operations in Battersea Park. It was on an island in the boating lake, screened by trees all around, and while they did get the occasional tourist in the summer rowing across from the boathouse, it was generally very private. There was always a fire burning in an old oil drum in the middle, which the old werewolf usually sat beside, and when there were “guests” there was invariably a small gas stove with a kettle on it. Alexandra had a sometimes annoying habit of anticipating people’s needs.

  ‘How was your trip, dears?’ Alexandra asked as she prepared the china teapot which seemed incongruous in an open-air werewolf camp. Well over a century in age, the Alpha looked a young sixty. Her age was starting to tell on her face and figure, but she kept fit and what had obviously been considerable youthful beauty was fading very slowly. She had the most gorgeous hair Ceri had ever seen on an older woman; not grey, but a shining silver which seemed to glow in moonlight, not that there would be any of that tonight.

  ‘Successful,’ Ceri replied, settling down to wait for the inevitable mug of tea. ‘Cheryl is still in Groningen. Carter and Alec have gone over to keep her company until Wednesday. We’re getting ten megawatts out of the trial generator and Cheryl thinks she can squeeze another five out of it without adding extra units along the line. The Army is already talking about installing one at the Bremen monitoring station so they don’t have to ship fuel for the generators.’

  Alexandra poured the tea, handing a mug with flowers on to Ceri, and a second mug with “Werewolves do It in the Woods” printed on it to Lily. The half-succubus grinned, her fingers stroking over the words on the pottery and her tongue running over her lips. Alexandra’s cheeks coloured and she looked a little flustered; Lily was the only person Ceri knew who could disturb the Alpha’s poise. She suspected it was a simple matter of Alexandra becoming used to not being desired, which Ceri had to admit was a crying shame.

  ‘There was something… disquieting however?’ Alexandra resorted to business to cover her mild embarrassment.

  ‘Intelligence was saying that people were moving out of the Hamburg area before we got there,’ Ceri said.

  ‘People actually live there?’ Michael asked, sounding surprised.

  ‘Bandits mostly,’ Lily told him. ‘It seems like it was bad dreams. Always of something evil rising from somewhere underground.’

  ‘When we stopped for the night before going in we had the same sort of dreams,’ Ceri continued. ‘Even the soldiers with no sensitivity to magic had them, or something like them. When we got back to the monitoring station it was attacked. Two guards were killed. It was humanoid and it seemed to have the ability to shroud itself in darkness. Lily said it felt demonic, our guide said it smelled undead. It looked like it drank blood from the guards, but it moved like no vampire I’ve ever seen.’

  Alexandra sipped her tea thoughtfully. ‘Hamburg…’ She pronounced the name the way Strauss did. ‘I recall some rumours after the war… You should ask Alec about it when he gets back. He was more involved with Intelligence and such then.’

  Ceri frowned at her Alpha; the old wolf was not saying something in a pointed matter. ‘Michael said you were worried about something shadowy and ancient coming after us. What did you dream?’

  ‘An army,’ Alexandra said, her voice growing distant. ‘Faceless men in black shirts marching. At their head was a man in black, surrounded by darkness.’

  ‘Why were you worried about us, Alexandra?’

  The Alpha looked down at her tea as though the answer was there. ‘Not all of the men in his army were men or faceless. You two were in the front rank. Your features were indistinct. Clear enough to recognise, but… blurred. I think I saw a possibility rather than a sure outcome, but it’s the first dream like that I’ve had about either of you in months.’

  ‘I’m beginning to feel like the portents of doom are ganging up on us,’ Lily commented.

  Ceri shrugged. ‘What’s new?’

  Mayfair, May 22nd

  Valerie walked toward Ceri and Lily with an odd combination of purposeful strut and uncertain expression. She was dressed in one of her exquisite, embroidered corsets and a long, flowing skirt, and there was no Philip following behind her. She paused beside the table where Ceri had chosen to sit and it was clear that she was unsure about what to do next.

  ‘Evening, Valerie,’ Ceri said to break the ice. ‘Did you want something?’

  ‘Some advice?’ the older woman asked. ‘You know a fair bit about werewolves, don’t you?’

  Ceri smiled. ‘It’s amazing what I don’t know sometimes, but I probably know more about them than most humans do. Sit down. What’s the problem? I assume this is about Philip.’

  Valerie settled into one of the other seats, crossing her legs and leaning toward Ceri. ‘In a way, but it’s more me. I feel I don’t understand him as well as I could. I… I’m afraid I might lose him. When we met he had just moved to London from somewhere near Cambridge, I think. He was very insecure. I don’t think I took advantage. He seemed to need someone to take charge of him.’

  ‘Has he ever mentioned the Fenlanders?’

  ‘That was the pack he belonged to. He doesn’t like talking about why he left and I’ve never pressed him on it.’

  Ceri nodded. When Remus had come to England he had gone first to the Fenlanders. Their Alpha had handed over a large number of his pack and they had been converted into demon-possessed monsters, a process which had involved extreme torture. Most of the ones who had survived to return to their real form did not really remember much of the experience, or their time as demons, but they knew what had been done to them. A lot of Fenlanders
had left after that, either joining other packs or becoming lone wolves, ronin. Not all of them were probably suited to a solo life.

  ‘I’m guessing a little,’ Ceri said, ‘but I think Philip has formed his own little pack with you. Given the relationship, you’re basically his Alpha… Do you mind if I ask a very personal question?’

  ‘I’m asking your advice…’

  ‘Do you love him?’

  There was not a second’s hesitation. ‘Yes. He’s a perfect sub, but he really seems to care about me as well. He’s beautiful and I’m not exactly in the flush of youth, but he genuinely seems to like me and that’s hard to ignore.’

  Ceri looked down at Lily, sitting at her feet. ‘Lily, any thoughts on his view of Valerie?’

  ‘It’s more like Stefan and Catherine than, say, Dane and Aleena, Mistress. Love, but love of a superior.’

  Ceri nodded, smiling at her pet, and turned back to Valerie. ‘Lily has unique talents for determining things like that. All right, so he’s basically viewing you as a superior wolf who graciously accepts him into her bed. You probably aren’t his mate, as such, because he’s not “good enough” for you, but the relationship can be as close as a mating without the formality of it. Werewolves have quite a hierarchical structure. Females of the same rank are generally subservient to males, but you’re a higher ranking female so psychologically he has no trouble dealing with you as a Domme, so long as you respect him.’

  ‘I do, but can I do more to be… better at being like the women he knows?’

  ‘Get him to teach you a little wolf,’ Ceri suggested. ‘I assume you’ve made love with him in fur. Those growls and barks mean something and communication is always good. It takes a little practice to learn and you’ll never be able to speak it, but it’s useful. Werewolves are tactile. You must have noticed he likes to touch and be touched.’ Valerie nodded; well, a good dominatrix should be observant. ‘Speak less, use more body language and touch to communicate. One trick you can work up to, females offer themselves to males by lowering their eyes and turning their backs. Werewolves love doggy-style, clichéd, but true. If you’re really worked up and he’s figured out that you’re trying to be more wolfish for him, try doing that. Brace yourself, you’re asking him to jump you on the spot. If you’re wet enough to take it that’ll be an extra cue for him. His sense of smell, even when human, is better than yours.’

  Valerie sat up with a sigh. ‘You could keep telling me stuff for hours and I wouldn’t get it all, couldn’t you?’

  ‘I’ve been spending two nights a week as a member of a pack and they still surprise me. I think people see werewolves as being kind of simple, a bit primitive. They’re a lot more complex than people realise. I mean, I’ve rationalised his submission to you, but until I met him I’d never have considered the idea of a submissive male. Werewolves never wear collars, but Philip does to fit into the culture here. A lot of werewolves are rather hidebound, but individually they can be as adaptable as any human.’ She grinned. ‘And just as kinky if they swing that way.’

  ‘Thanks. I’ll try some of that. He’s worth it.’

  Ceri smiled. ‘I feel the same way about Lily.’

  Valerie looked down at the half-succubus who was risking an adoring glance at her mistress. ‘You said she had unique talents…’

  ‘Lily is a half-succubus. She reads people’s desires.’

  Valerie’s cheeks coloured a little. ‘Really? That’s a little embarrassing.’

  ‘Ma’am need never be embarrassed of her desires,’ Lily said softly, her eyes on the floor.

  The Domme rose to her feet with a smile. ‘I’d better go get Philip out of the Open Room and have a word about learning how to growl.’

  ‘Good luck,’ Ceri said as Valerie strutted off toward the staircase. ‘She wants you?’

  ‘Yes, Mistress, but she was embarrassed about wanting you. I don’t think she’s ever felt that way about another mistress.’

  ‘Ah right,’ Ceri said. After a second she realised she was surprised to discover she was not surprised. ‘I think I may be starting to believe all your encouragement about me being awesome.’

  ‘Good, Mistress. You are awesome.’

  Ceri chuckled softly. ‘I’ll have to try not to let it go to my head.’

  Holloway, May 24th

  ‘Fifteen point three megawatts,’ Cheryl said, grinning as though she was announcing she had won the lottery.

  Ceri grinned back across Cheryl’s desk in the High-energy Thaumatology Building at London Metropolitan University which was where they worked when they were not gallivanting around Europe. ‘Repositioning some of the collector nodes worked then?’

  Cheryl nodded. ‘We didn’t know the exact cross-section of the tunnel so I built it wider than required. Shifting some of the outer nodes into the stream worked perfectly. The Army wants a small unit to install in Bremen. I agreed because it’ll be a good test. If we can place multiple collectors along the lines without noticeable loss of power, it makes them far more useful. The Ministry wants us to look into building a line from Munich to London.’

  ‘Across the Channel?’

  ‘Yes. I said I wasn’t sure it was possible with the salt water, but we would run the maths. And by we, I meant you.’

  Ceri giggled. ‘I’ll run it. Hoofer did a paper on the relative transmission of thaumitons through various saline solutions, didn’t he?’

  Cheryl’s eyes narrowed slightly. ‘Hoofer and Pellman, eighty-five, I think. Does it actually apply or does the tunnel effect insulate the stream?’

  ‘The equations don’t consider the medium the tunnel is transiting through,’ Ceri mused. ‘Theoretically the physical medium shouldn’t matter, but I’d like to go over the equations with that in mind.’

  ‘Which is exactly why I’m giving you the job. That stuff was insanely advanced.’ She frowned as if remembering something. ‘Oh, one of the military types said I should tell you that the two guards who were attacked at the base woke up.’

  Ceri blinked at her. ‘They were dead!’

  ‘He said they rose the following day. They’ve put the attack down as vampires. Would you believe they have procedures for people being turned while on duty?’

  ‘Boss, there was just one attacker. Have you ever heard of a vamp who could turn people like that?’

  ‘My knowledge of necromantic effects isn’t too good, but I didn’t think the process was that reliable, no. Peter may know more.’

  Ceri nodded. Peter Mallow was a cryptozoologist, but he was one of those people who liked to widen his areas of research. If he did not know about the way people became vampires, he might know someone who did. ‘I’ll go ask him later. I want to dig up that paper first.’

  ~~~

  ‘The actual mechanism of turning is very poorly understood.’ Peter Mallow looked over his half-spectacles at Ceri with an intent expression. He was in his forties with a receding hairline, but little in the way of wrinkles. If you engaged him on one of his subjects he tended to become pretty intent; he was the kind of man who got very involved with his work. In fact, in one way, he was far too involved since he had been bitten by a lycanthrope on one field trip and had to spend three nights a month locked in a cage. Unlike werewolves, lycanthropes became little more than beasts under the full moon.

  ‘Anything you can tell me would be useful, Professor,’ Ceri replied.

  ‘Well, there has been very little academic study on the subject. Vampires tend to be rather private about it, for obvious reasons.’ He frowned. ‘There have been a couple of papers on the subject. As I recall, the author was a vampire. Let me see… Uh, generally a “victim” must die soon after a vampire has fed on them. Obviously that means that if they are being turned on purpose, the easiest way is for the vampire to drain them entirely. The suggestion is that the initiation of the process requires one of the chemicals they secrete into the victim to be present and active.’

  Ceri pursed her lips. ‘Maybe a minute and a hal
f of grace after they stop feeding.’

  ‘You’ve been bitten.’ It was a statement rather than a question.

  ‘A friend needed feeding and I wasn’t having a hungry vampire under my roof. It wasn’t as bad as I expected, but we were careful about it. I didn’t suffer any withdrawal symptoms.’

  ‘Anyway, after death it seems to be something of a lottery. The stronger the vampire, the more likely it is that it will work. If it does the corpse will start to reconstruct itself after a time and when it’s sufficiently complete to support life, or unlife, the original spirit will return.’ He frowned slightly. ‘Though I believe that process can fail. The victim is left in a comatose state, a mindless, undying husk, if you will.’

  ‘It sounds very hit or miss.’

  ‘It is. Some vampires never manage to turn anyone.’

  ‘So, something turning two people in one night after two attacks would be unusual?’

  ‘Not exactly a statistically valid sample, but unusual, yes.’ He gave her a slight grin. ‘This happened on your trip into Germany?’ Ceri nodded in reply. ‘Not a particularly statistically valid location then.’

  ‘We were well outside the higher field area, but I think whatever it was came out of Hamburg.’

  ‘Ah well, the intense fields and wild magic in that area can produce all sorts of aberrations. Take this, for example…’ He picked up a folder from a pile on his desk and flipped it open, showing Ceri a photograph of what looked like a large rabbit with deer antlers growing out of its head. It was a little blurred, but fairly obviously real. ‘They started appearing in Virginia in the US a month or so ago. The cryptozoologists over there are in uproar over them. They’re calling them Jackalopes.’

  Ceri felt her cheeks heating up. ‘Uh… there was an incident over there a little while ago. A brief wild magic effect. I think they were created in that.’ The incident had been Ceri using vast amounts of magical power. The magical residue left in her system had produced a huge wild magic effect localised around her body and had almost killed her. Discovering she had spontaneously manifested antlered rabbits had been a little embarrassing at the time.