The Color of Gothic

by Joel Q. Aaron

  “Who said anything about being used to it?” Blair said. Tolerate it. Ignore it. Let it haunt your dreams.

  “We will enter a large tunnel occupied by numerous humans possessed by my fallen brethren,” Mr. Tab said. “The men we seek are sheltered nearby. There are only a few left alive.”

  “Let’s hurry,” Blair said.

  “Mr. Jones, continue in your prayers,” Mr. Tab said.

  “I will.”

  “In forty feet, we shall veer left and see the demons. Prepare yourselves.”

  The group moved slowly toward the fight.

  Blair followed Mr. Tab. Jones stayed behind him and Jerry kept their backside guarded. The angel paused. “Mr. Jones, can you kill?”

  The pastor put his hand on the revolver holstered to his hip. “I don’t know.”

  “Hell of a time to tell us,” Jerry said.

  “Calm thyself,” Mr. Tab said. “I understand.” He motioned for Jones to come over to him. “Sit here.”

  The indention in the rock wall was probably started as another shaft, but only went in a few feet. The hole was large enough for a man to hide.

  “I shall come back for you after we clear the tunnel,” Mr. Tab said. “Until then, pray. Shoot anyone else.”

  Jones climbed in and disappeared into the rock wall.

  “They know we’re coming, so why not charge in there?” Jerry whispered as they moved toward the larger tunnel.

  “Patience.” Mr. Tab swept around the corner.

  Blair and Jerry kept right behind him. In the distance, they could see the possessed moving back and forth. Several dead men oozed blood onto the coal-covered ground. About ten yards from the junction, Mr. Tab held out his arms, touching both sides of the narrow shaft. He spoke in his language, then slapped his hands together at arm’s length. An invisible force moved from his body, down the shaft, and into the larger tunnel knocking the possessed down.

  “Now.”

  They rushed the demon’s den. Blair moved to the left. Jerry moved right. The possessed jumped back to their feet. Blair started with the creature to the far left shooting it in the head, then blasted the next one in the heart. He continued purposefully with the cluster of demon possessed.

  Jerry took a haphazard approach, shooting the closest one to him then the farthest. He swung the rifle around each time, which wasted precious time. A demonic man leaped in front of him and grabbed the rifle barrel. Jerry cocked the gun against the creature’s grip and fired. The bullet blew a fist-size hole through its belly. The creature shrieked. Jerry chambered another round and shot the man in the heart. He tossed the empty rifle to the ground and reached for his first pistol.

  The possessed stayed clear of Mr. Tab. The angel attacked the creatures by hand, using his supernatural power, reaching into the bodies and ripping out the demonic shadow forms.

  A dozen possessed men fell before Blair heard gunfire coming from the other end of the tunnel.

  “Watch the crossfire,” he yelled.

  Gun smoke filled the tunnel, blocking Blair’s sight. Even his angelic vision could not penetrate the murky air. He moved back against the rock wall behind him, protecting his ass. The gunfire stopped. He reloaded his Remingtons, switching the cylinders, as he watched for motion in the smoke.

  “Is it clear?” an unknown man asked.

  “I don’t know,” Jerry said. “I can’t see much.”

  “Three remain,” Mr. Tab said.

  “Where are they?” the man asked.

  “Behind you,” the angel said.

  The man screamed as the creatures seized him. A hail of gunshots rang out near him.

  “All clear.” The voice had a Hungarian accent.

  “That you, András?” Blair asked.

  “Igen.”

  Mr. Tab waved his arms, causing the air to circulate, blowing the smoke out of the tunnel. András Kovách, Victor, and six other men appeared carrying two lanterns.

  “Are you the cavalry?” Victor asked.

  Jerry bent over to pick up one of his empty pistols. “No, more like the suicide brigade.” He found a clear spot on the ground and reloaded the chambers.

  Blair finished reloading too. “Where are the others?”

  “We’re all that’s left,” András Kovách said. “At least all that are still human. The vampires slaughtered us. We retreated and got trapped in a dead-end tunnel. But there was enough rock in there to stop them from attacking as a group. We could stop them one at a time.”

  “Good thinking,” Jerry said.

  “There are more vampires up in Shaft 35,” András Kovách said. “We blew the support timbers and it caved in.”

  “How many are up there?” Jerry asked.

  “Too many.”

  “You’ll be happy to know János made it out,” Blair said.

  “Jó.” András Kovách closed his eyes and let out a deep breath while shaking his head. “Very good.”

  “He was going for more help when the dynamite accidentally went off closing the east entrance,” Blair said.

  “Then how are we going to get out?” Panic filled Victor’s voice.

  “János and Burdett are leading the dig,” Blair said. “They need at least another hour. But by then they are going to shut off the fans.”

  “We’ll die breathing that gas.” Victor kicked at a pile of rocks. “What are we going to do?”

  “Not give up, you fool,” Jerry said. “We didn’t come to the pit of despair just to give you the bad news.”

  “You going to lead us out?” Victor asked.

  “Nope.” Jerry fingered bullets as he reloaded another pistol.

  András Kovách pinched bullets from a dead miner’s leather gun belt. “Collect the weapons and ammunition. We’ll need all we can get.”

  “Mr. Tab, what’s next?” Blair asked.

  The angel called for Jones to join them before answering.

  “Deep into the cavern, Stone strengthens his army on the fear coming from the people of Gothic. We must stop him before they can leave this tomb.”

  “Tomb?” One of Kovách’s men repeated the word, pronouncing a curse upon himself.

  “Having second thoughts?” Blair asked.

  “Several of you are,” Mr. Tab said. “The east entrance is your best chance for survival. The possessed will block your path.”

  “I’ll take that chance instead of going in any farther,” one said.

  “Me too.” Another joined him.

  Kovách’s six men decided on the east passage.

  “Clear the way for us, boys,” Blair said. He held no ill will toward the men. They entered on their own free will and had seen enough. There were no guarantees everyone would make it out. They chose the best option. “We’ll want an easy exit.”

  “We’ll wait for you at the entrance,” one of the men said then started up a shaft. They helped steady the two men the angel saved.

  “Cowards,” András Kovách whispered to himself. “Leave us a lantern.”

  Victor held on to his.

  “Don’t bother,” Jerry said.

  “Then how will we see?”

  Jerry chuckled. “You’re gonna get a kick out of this.”

  “Let him touch you,” Jones said to the Hungarian.

  Mr. Tab put his hands over András Kovách’s face. András blinked and rubbed his eyes. “I can’t believe it.”

  “Seeing is believing.” Jerry laughed at his own joke.

  The angel hesitated before trying to touch Victor’s eyes.

  “Back off, man.” Victor put his hand out to hold him off. “Don’t touch me. I don’t know what the hell you did, but I’m fine with the lantern.”

  “So be it.” Mr. Tab walked to the end of the chamber and paused before entering another tunnel. “Come.”

  * * *

  With his lantern held high, Victor led the group through two small tunnels. Blair didn’t care for his lack of caution. Victor would pass man-size openings in the walls without chec
king or warning the others.

  “That’s it,” Blair said. “Either slow down or let someone else lead.”

  “You scared?” Victor asked.

  “No.”

  Victor held the lantern to Blair’s face. “Well, you should be.”

  “Why?”

  “Do you have any idea of what is down here?”

  “More than most.” Blair pushed the lantern away. “Shut up and keep moving.”

  “Watch it.” Victor pointed at the bounty hunter.

  “What’s with the pissing contest?” Jerry asked.

  “Shh.” Pastor Jones cocked his head and cupped his hand around his ear. “What’s that noise?”

  Mr. Tab brushed past the men and continued on. “The demons are closer than you think.”

  “How close?” Blair asked.

  “Watch your back.”

  András Kovách let the others pass. “I’ll guard our tail.”

  The angel guided the five men to a T-junction.

  “Right or left?” Jerry asked.

  András Kovách studied the tunnels. “I don’t know. I’ve never been this far in.”

  “There could be a trap,” Jones said.

  “Don’t be ridiculous.” Victor took three steps into the left tunnel. “It’s just rock. It has to lead somewhere.”

  Blair didn’t like any of the choices, including going back. He closed his eyes—letting his gut direct which way for them to go. It didn’t work. “I don’t want to split up, but that might at least give us an idea. Meet back here in five minutes?”

  Jerry moved to the right tunnel. “I’ll go with the Hungarian.”

  “I’ll wait here with Mr. Jones,” the angel said.

  “That leaves you and me,” Victor said. “Let’s go, buddy.”

  Blair followed Victor for only a few moments. Again the man moved too fast. “I’ll lead.”

  “Whatever you say, buddy.” Victor gave a sarcastic bow. “I’ll try not to make too much noise.”

  Blair grew weary of him. Victor was weak when they rescued him. Now he was all talk. The man was either scared, stupid, or playing an angle. Either way, Victor was dangerous.

  With every step toward the unknown an awkward feeling grew in Blair. Neither fear or anxiety, but he couldn’t figure out the emotion. If Mr. Tab was correct about the demons being close, maybe that was the feeling? The supernatural, the demonic, no longer hid from his soul.

  * * *

  Pastor Jones leaned one of his shoulders against a wall. The rock’s cold touched him through his wool jacket. “You don’t like me, do you?”

  The angel stared at him. “Why do you ask such a question?”

  “You belittle me.”

  “I have spoken the truth and your soul groans. Your lack of understanding transforms that to guilt.”

  Jones stared at his boots for several moments, thinking of the past few days. “You and Professor Worthington have seen through me like no one ever has before.”

  “What have you learned?”

  “That I’m not the man I profess to be.”

  “Is that why you are here in this mine?”

  “The people of this town came to me for spiritual guidance. I failed them. I should have seen this coming.”

  “Religion has a way of blocking truth.”

  “I know that now. That is why I needed to help end this. I didn’t prevent it, but maybe I can help stop it.”

  “Then go now, before it is too late.” Mr. Tab pointed down the tunnel through which Blair and Victor disappeared.

  “What’s going on?” Jones glanced down the passage, then back at the angel.

  “Go now.”

  The tone in the angel’s voice sent worry into Jones’ mind. Blair needed him. Jones ran as fast as he could into the darkness.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Requiem

  Blair and Victor came to the end of the tunnel. Within a five-foot span the shaft went from man-height to a rat hole. Several abandoned pickaxes and pry bars littered the ground.

  “Let’s go back,” Blair said.

  “Why? We got a few minutes. We should rest.” The miner set the lantern on the ground.

  Blair maneuvered around Victor. “I’ll rest when I’m dead.”

  Victor palmed Blair’s chest to stop him. “Wait here.”

  “Move.”

  “Wait.” Victor shoved Blair against the wall without touching him. “Here.”

  Blair struggled to move. A force pinned his body, arms and legs to the rocks. Victor moved in close. His sulfur breath stunk.

  “Got me where you want me, huh?”

  “Shut up.” Victor put a gun to Blair’s head. “You should be dead.”

  “I’m hard to put in the ground.”

  Victor’s eyes were solid black. “You’re deep enough here. I’ll leave your body for the rats. They should keep you from coming back.”

  “Try cutting off my head. The Hungarians say it’s the only way.”

  “Pruitt failed to kill you. Milly failed. It’s now my chance to receive the dark blessing for the deed.”

  The hurried footsteps startled Victor. He spun around and fired four shots into the tunnel. Pastor Jones tumbled and rolled into the lantern, knocking it over. Light bounced on and off the walls until the lantern came to a stop.

  Victor kicked Jones. “Failed again, Preacher Man.”

  The demon’s attention on Jones transferred the focus of its power off Blair. He forced an arm up, raising his pistol to Victor’s head and fired. “Not quite.”

  The demon shrieked, unable to escape Victor’s sudden death, sending the shadow creature to the abyss.

  Blair knelt beside Jones, who took all four bullets. The pastor coughed and cringed. Blood covered his lips. Blair reached under the man’s arms and lifted, but stopped when he screamed in pain.

  “I need to get you to Tab. He can heal you.”

  “No.” Jones said in a whimper.

  “He can fix this.”

  “This is what I was here for.” Jones struggled to speak. “To save you. To save Gothic. To end this demonic reign.” Spasms shot through Jones’ body. He groaned.

  “You don’t have to die here.”

  “To die is gain.”

  Blair knew what Jones meant. Jealous, he sat against the rock wall. He held Jones’ hand. Once again, someone had saved his worthless ass.

  “Tell my family I love them.” Blair said. “Tell them… I’m sorry for what I’ve become.”

  Jones squeezed Blair’s fingers twice, and then his grasp wilted. Blair wiped the tears from his face before standing up.

  * * *

  Mr. Tab, András Kovách and Jerry waited at the T-junction.

  “Mr. Tab,” Jonathan Blair yelled as he stormed into the group. Fury filled his blood.

  “What happened?” Jerry asked.

  “Victor was possessed.” Blair couldn’t stand still.

  András Kovách cursed in Hungarian. “That explains a lot. He led my men into a trap. I thought he was stupid.”

  “I told you the demon was close,” Mr. Tab said. “You didn’t listen.”

  Blair shouted in disgust. “You could have saved him.”

  “Mr. Jones is in a better place.”

  “Why are you always messing with people’s lives, their destinies?” He clicked the hammer on a pistol. His will power was stronger that he expected. Or maybe killing no longer filled the emptiness in his spirit.

  “So, you have accepted the fact you have a divine purpose.”

  “Enough of the future crap. What about now?” Blair held up his hand and pointed down as if to gesture an exclamation point. “He died.”

  “Saving you was his destiny.” The angel began walking down the right tunnel.

  “Why are we here?” Blair raised his hands. “Is this my destiny?”

  “Mr. Blair, I did not leave Heaven to save you solely for this moment in time. Your destiny is something you will have to live out to disc
over. But for now, I cannot defeat this demon and his horde alone. His strength grows as mine wanes. I have left the cover of Heaven. The sin of the earth delivers power to him and his kind.”

  “Are we the bait?” Jerry asked.

  “No. He’ll kill all of us if we don’t attack together and destroy his flesh to weaken the demon’s hold on the soul. Then I shall vanquish him. I know you want to be a part of this demon’s death.”

  The angel was right. Blair had wanted to kill the demon ever since Stone walked into the Buck Snort. He’d give anything to be the one to do it. “What about the others?”

  Mr. Tab slashed his hand across his throat. “Kill them all.”

  * * *

  In single-file, the three men followed the angel deeper into the cold mine. Claustrophobia or the wickedness in the atmosphere fed the dread in Blair’s spirit.

  The crack of distant gunfire echoed behind them in the mine. The men turned to the empty tunnel as if the fight might return. The shooting lasted several minutes.

  “Think that’s your men?” Blair asked.

  András Kovách nodded. “They must have found some vampírs on their way to the east entrance.”

  “Think they made it?” Jerry asked.

  “I don’t know.”

  Mr. Tab snapped his fingers. “Gentlemen, our goal lies ahead of us. There is nothing we can do for them.”

  “How much farther?” Jerry asked.

  A gust of warm air blew through the tunnel.

  András Kovách stuck his nose up. “Rotten eggs.”

  “We’re close,” Blair said.

  “Clear your minds, gentlemen. Aim to kill.” The angel continued on.

  Fifty more yards brought them to a natural cavern five times the size of the Maroon Saloon. Blair’s supernatural vision allowed him to see all the way to the other end. The ground consisted of dangerous drop-offs and crevices.

  They moved in slowly and jumped the first gap.

  “Something ain’t right.” Jerry spun in circles searching high and low. “They’re here.”

  “So is Stone,” Blair said. “I can feel him.”

  “Welcome to your deaths,” Daniel Stone’s dark voice echoed from the far end of the cavern.

  From above, the rumble of gravel gave way to the crushing of rocks as large boulders and mine tailings fell behind them, closing off their only exit. Possessed men leaped from behind stalagmites and rock formations.