Necropolis

by Wendy Saunders

  ‘What is this place?’ she breathed uncomfortably.

  ‘The room of curiosities,’ Pearl shrugged, ‘people pay good money to see weird shit they can’t explain.’

  Pearl stopped beside a huge metal sarcophagus which stood upright against the wall, but as Olivia looked closer, she realized in amazement and not a little bit of sickened horror, that it wasn’t of Egyptian origin nor design, it was in fact medieval. Something she’d never seen outside the illustrations of a history book.

  ‘Is that…’ she whispered faintly, ‘an iron maiden?’

  ‘Call ‘er what you like,’ Pearl murmured with her cigarillo gripped between her teeth as she reached for the complicated handle and locking mechanism, ‘she’ll get you where you need to go.’

  ‘Where’s that, the Afterlife?’ Olivia replied as Pearl swung the front of the sarcophagus open on creaky hinges revealing dozens of long, cruel looking spikes lining the interior. ‘In ya go then,’ Pearl grinned and nodded toward the contraption of death.

  ‘Ah… no thanks,’ Olivia’s eyes widened.

  ‘Olivia,’ Scarlett stepped forward, ‘trust me please.’

  ‘There is no way the two of us are fitting in there, period,’ Olivia replied with raised brows, ‘and I for one would like to leave this life, an old lady in my bed, in my sleep, not going out in an iron box with my body full of puncture marks.’

  ‘I promise you, you will not be harmed,’ Scarlett insisted.

  Olivia stared into her eyes.

  ‘Fine,’ she grumbled, ‘it’s your dress that’s going to get ruined with my blood anyway.’ She gathered her skirts and prepared to step into the ominous box. ‘I must be crazy,’ she whispered to herself as she lifted her foot to climb in.

  Suddenly she felt a hand reach for her arm, stilling her and when she looked up Pearl was studying her in interest.

  ‘What did you say your name was?’ she asked slowly.

  ‘I didn’t,’ she replied, ‘but it’s Olivia.’

  ‘Olivia,’ Pearl rolled the name around on her tongue. ‘Well if you ever find yourself in need of a place to stay, you come and see Pearl. I could always make use of your… talents. I don’t have a witch at the moment.’

  Olivia wisely chose not to reply and instead stepped into the deep shadows of the box. Scarlett was right, it wasn’t exactly like the iron maidens she’d seen in books, this one seemed to be a little larger on the inside, just about allowing Scarlett to step in beside her.

  The last thing Olivia saw was a thin stream of cigarillo smoke as the spiked door closed in on them.

  It clanged shut with an ominous ring of finality and Olivia found herself tensing, but instead of being impaled on several wicked looking spikes, the minute the door closed, and the lock turned in place, the spikes all retracted, leaving them standing in the darkness unharmed.

  ‘Now what?’ Olivia sighed, ‘we head for Narnia?’

  ‘Something like that,’ she heard rather than saw Scarlett smile.

  Feeling Scarlett’s gloved hand slip into hers she turned and saw a pinprick of light. At first, she thought it was a tiny spy hole peeping through into another room but as she reached out, she became aware that there was no back wall, which was crazy because she’d seen it when she stepped inside.

  ‘Come on,’ Scarlett tugged Olivia’s hand.

  They began to walk and much to Olivia’s surprise she found that they were in some kind of tunnel, and the more they walked the larger that pinprick of light in the distance began to grow. After a few minutes she found herself stepping out of a brick archway into a cobbled well-lit street.

  Turning around to see where they’d come from, she found herself staring at a brick wall with several advertisements for miracle tonics and elixirs, and police notices pasted to the bare brick. There was no sign of the tunnel nor the brick archway.

  Olivia glanced across at Scarlett who was watching her intently.

  ‘Where the hell are we?’

  Scarlett’s mouth curved.

  ‘The greatest kept secret in London,’ she smiled, ‘welcome to the Underside.’

  4

  ‘The Underside?’ Olivia repeated as she glanced at her surroundings.

  They were outside, in a narrow, dimly lit street, surrounded by tall sooty brick buildings. The snow continued to fall lightly, hiding the cobbles beneath their feet.

  ‘Come on,’ Scarlett once again took her arm, leading her briskly by the elbow, ‘we need to keep moving.’

  ‘I don’t understand where we are,’ Olivia replied allowing herself to be towed along at a smart pace.

  ‘We’re still in London,’ Scarlett explained, ‘but not exactly. The Underside is an in-between place. It attracts mostly people of magical descent, ones that can’t or won’t fit in with the rest of London. It’s where our kind go when they don’t want to be found, or if they’re looking for something in particular.’

  ‘Such as?’

  ‘Let’s just say if you were looking to purchase some really dark magic, this is where you’d come,’ Scarlett looked around warily. ‘But be warned, this place may be filled with our kind but it’s even more dangerous than the rest of London.’

  ‘And this is where the fortune teller lives?’ Olivia asked.

  ‘For the moment it seems,’ Scarlett nodded. ‘She moves around a lot. Sometimes she stays with Pearl and works the circus rounds, I think it amuses her, but regardless of where she is, Pearl always seems to know where to find her.’

  ‘Do you think she can really help us?’ Olivia chewed her lower lip nervously. ‘The fortune teller I mean, not Pearl.’

  ‘If anyone can, it’s Eden,’ Scarlett mused. ‘She’s not really a fortune teller, that’s just the name of her act when she’s traveling with Pearl.’

  ‘Is she a psychic then?’

  ‘No,’ Scarlett frowned thoughtfully. ‘I don’t really know what she is, no one does. I don’t think there is a name for her. All I know is, she’s the only one of her kind.’

  ‘Not human then?’ Olivia tilted her head as she watched Scarlett.

  ‘I have no idea,’ Scarlett shrugged. ‘Maybe she started out as human, but she’s so old now, nobody knows. She’s been around since the beginning.’

  ‘The beginning?’

  ‘There’s a reason her name is Eden,’ Scarlett’s mouth curved as she turned her head toward Olivia.

  ‘Shut up,’ Olivia whispered, ‘you’re not seriously telling me she’s been around since ‘THE’ garden of Eden?’

  Scarlett shrugged again.

  ‘That’s the rumor,’ she smiled, ‘but I’ll let you make up your own mind. She’s… unique.’

  ‘That sounds a little ominous,’ Olivia chuckled as they left the alley and stepped into a tiny courtyard.

  There wasn’t much light, only what was spilling from windows high above in the crooked, shanty-like buildings surrounding them. Washing lines crisscrossed above their heads, strung between the houses and devoid of any laundry, save the odd clothes peg topped with snow.

  Olivia paused for a moment, glancing back into the alley they’d emerged from.

  ‘What?’ Scarlett asked quietly, sensing Olivia’s disquiet.

  ‘Nothing,’ she shook her head. It felt like they were being watched. ‘I think we’d better hurry.’

  Scarlett nodded in agreement as they moved forward. There was another alley opposite but as they reached the opening a huge figure suddenly appeared, blocking the stone archway. Scarlett gripped Olivia’s elbow as the man stepped further into the dim light. He was bald beneath the flat cap he wore, his face stubbled and grim, with unattractive pock marks.

  Olivia and Scarlett glanced at each other and turned back toward the alley they’d just emerged from only to find it similarly blocked. This time, it was a smaller, more reedy looking man, with thin, matted iron gray hair, which hung about his shoulders like rats’ tails.

  Olivia drew in a slow breath, her eyes darting nervously to the sides, asse
ssing the danger. She could feel the adrenalin flooding her body and she clenched her fists to stop the trembling in her hands.

  This wasn’t good. These men, whoever they were, didn’t look like they were just out for an evening stroll. She briefly cast her eyes up to the windows above them but there was no one about to come to their aid. She hoped there weren’t any witnesses, because she had no doubt, she’d have to use her magic, and the last thing she wanted to do was announce her abilities to anyone happening to glance out their window. Unfortunately, she was pretty sure she wasn’t going to have a choice.

  The thin man stepped forward, peering at them in undisguised interest from below his low crowned, top hat that was threadbare with age and slightly dented from wear. He lifted one hand, covered with a moth-eaten fingerless glove, which revealed grimy nails and peeling skin, and tipped his hat to them mockingly. He smiled, a weaselly ingratiating kind of smirk revealing a row of broken, brown teeth.

  ‘Well lads,’ he stepped further into the courtyard and from somewhere behind him followed two more men, only they stood too far into the shadow to be identified. ‘What do we ‘ave ‘ere? A couple of right fine ladies; must be our lucky night.’

  One of the men standing behind him chuckled.

  ‘You must be lost,’ he smirked, ‘to ‘ave strayed into these ‘ere parts.’

  They closed in slowly, fanning out into a semi-circle and forcing Olivia and Scarlett to back up against a wall. Olivia reached for Scarlett’s hand and pulled her protectively behind her. She wasn’t sure exactly what Scarlett’s skills were when it came to a fight, but she still wasn’t fully recovered from the horrendous injuries she’d suffered during her imprisonment in Heaven.

  ‘Okay,’ Olivia’s eyes narrowed dangerous as she flexed her fingers and felt her magic ripple beneath her skin, ‘you’re gonna wanna back up there, Fagan.’

  ‘Ear that lads?’ he barked a laugh.

  ‘She sure is a pretty one Benny,’ one of the men standing behind him growled, breathing heavily, ‘but I want a go on the redhead.’

  ‘Patience Tom,’ the one called Benny smirked. ‘Got ourselves an American unless I’m mistaken,’ he licked his grotesque teeth suggestively. ‘Ain’t never ‘ad no American whore before.’

  ‘And you’re not going to have one now,’ Olivia replied flatly. ‘I’m going to give you one chance to turn around and walk away or…’

  ‘Or what?’ Benny smirked.

  ‘Or,’ she smiled sweetly, ‘I’m going to hurt you.’

  He doubled up laughing, slapping his knee as his companions snorted and laughed beside him.

  Olivia lifted her arms and as she pulled her hand back, her bow burst into bright incandescent flames. She aimed a bolt of pure black fire edged in silver directly at him, as she felt a sudden weight on her shoulder accompanied by a familiar heat. She didn’t need to turn her head to know her firedrake Manny was perched menacingly on her shoulder glaring at the assembled men, with coal black eyes, his flaming wings spread aggressively, and long pointed teeth bared as he hissed in warning.

  Benny fell instantly silent, the laughter dying on his cracked lips as his eyes widened in shock.

  ‘Not so funny now is it?’ Olivia murmured as she drew her fingers further back, preparing to let go and allow the arrow to split the cold air. ‘Can I shoot them?’ she asked quietly.

  ‘Murder is still kind of frowned upon, even in the 19th century,’ Scarlett replied regretfully, ‘I suppose as long as you don’t kill them… maybe just maim them slightly.’

  Olivia watched his eyes fill with fear as he stumbled back, colliding with one of his companions. Her lips puckered thoughtfully, and she sighed as she allowed her bow to peter out and dissipate.

  ‘Next time may I suggest you try treating women with a little more respect,’ her eyes narrowed, ‘because if you don’t, I’ll find you and I’ll make sure you live just long enough to smell the flesh burning from your body.’

  Satisfied they’d got the message she twitched her shoulder.

  ‘Manny,’ she smiled slowly, her voice flat, ‘get them.’

  His claws gripped her shoulder as he flapped his wings and launched himself forward, spraying a wave of flames toward them. They ran flat out, smacking into each other in their haste to escape down the narrow alleyway, their clothes smoking as they attempted to beat out the flames licking at their coats.

  ‘You’re a little scary,’ Scarlett smiled slowly, ‘do you know that?’

  ‘I have no tolerance for men who prey on helpless women,’ Olivia replied.

  ‘Helpless?’

  ‘You know what I mean,’ Olivia smiled as Manny swooped back toward her and landed comfortably on her shoulder, letting out a sound that was somewhere between a whine and a purr. ‘Hey baby,’ she cupped his face lovingly as he rubbed his head against her cheek, nuzzling her as his flames grew brighter. The flames didn’t hurt her, just the opposite, they felt warm and comforting sending a pang of homesickness straight to her heart.

  ‘How did he get here?’ Scarlett wondered aloud.

  ‘I think he’s been here all along,’ Olivia drew back, still stroking his head. ‘Although he’s separate, he’s also a part of me. We’re bound to each other in a way that can never be broken, so I guess it makes sense that he’d be wherever I am.’

  Scarlett glanced up nervously at a small pale face pressed against one of the frosted windows above them.

  ‘Damn it,’ Olivia breathed realizing whoever it was had probably seen everything.

  ‘We need to get out of here,’ Scarlett told her urgently.

  Olivia nodded, watching as Manny shimmered and disappeared. She could still feel the weight of him on her shoulder despite the fact she couldn’t see him, and it was comforting.

  Scarlett took her hand and pulled her into the other alley. They hurried along in the near darkness until they reached the end. It opened up into a square surrounded on all sides by tall thin houses, and in the center was a rather sparse looking winter garden surrounded by iron railings.

  They skirted around the edges to the far side where they finally stopped in front of a tall black door. The address above the door read, ‘34 Garden Square’ in cracked golden lettering. Scarlett reached up to the brass knocker, a thick tarnished ring of metal mounted in a serpent’s mouth and knocked loudly.

  They stood for a moment, surrounded by silence and the muted hush of the snowflakes drifting down, before the sound of slow, measured footsteps could be heard from beyond the black door.

  Olivia drew in a breath at the sound of the bolts unlocking and the slow whine of the door as it creaked open. Standing in the doorway was an old man. Once tall and slim, he now stood bent over, his spine curved with age. He was smartly dressed, with polished shoes, Olivia noted as he stared first at her then at Scarlett with cloudy eyes.

  Scarlett opened her mouth to speak but he answered before she could utter a word.

  ‘It’s snowing,’ he remarked with a hint of surprise, as if he hadn’t been aware that it was even winter. ‘The mistress has been expecting you,’ he stepped back very slowly and carefully as if it caused him great pain to even move an inch. ‘Please come in, you must be very cold.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Scarlett nodded and indicated for Olivia to step in as she followed.

  The door closed behind them and the steely hiss of the bolts being shot back into place echoed through the silent air.

  The old man skirted around until he stood in front of them, beckoning them to follow. He walked at a painfully slow pace, his shiny shoes scuffing along the floor as if he didn’t quite have the mobility to pick up his feet properly. The guy needed a walking frame, Olivia decided, as they followed behind him at an eccentric pace. They took one step forward and would then have to pause, then another and pause. It was like some kind of weird wedding march.

  Still, the slow progress they made as they followed him through the house at least allowed them to get a good look at their surroundings. Str
angely enough, the place was almost completely empty. There was not a single stick of furniture, doily, ornament, painting or mirror anywhere. Just bare wooden floors and the odd gas light emitting with a warm glow.

  They entered into what must’ve been the main parlor but again it was bare, save for a couple of plain brass candlesticks sitting atop the mantle of the cheerfully burning fireplace.

  ‘If you wouldn’t mind waiting,’ the old man rasped, ‘the mistress will be with you presently.’

  He bowed and left the room, closing the door behind him.

  Olivia moved closer to the fire, feeling the heat saturating her frozen bones. She glanced up at the two candlesticks on the mantle as she warmed her hands in front of the flames. There were two fat beeswax candles pressed onto the candlestick spikes, half burned down and melted into misshapen globs of wax.

  Olivia felt a sudden breeze brush past her cheek, so faint she would’ve missed it, if it wasn’t for the tiny curl of hair by her ear which twitched slightly. She turned her head and looked but nothing seemed out of place.

  Strange, Olivia thought to herself.

  The room was empty, devoid of anything but herself and Scarlett and the candlesticks, but the room felt… full somehow. Maybe full wasn’t the right word. Heavy, she decided, the air felt heavy. The inexplicable breeze brushed her cheekbone once again, slightly stronger this time and with it came the scent of exotic flowers and succulent fruits, before once again disappearing.

  She turned and frowned, once again surveying the room. From the silence came a strange sound, not quite a hiss. It was more like dry, dusty scales rubbing together.

  ‘Do you hear that?’ Olivia whispered, but even as she spoke the room flooded with the strong scent of plants and damp loam. Beneath the dusty hiss was the faint ripple of the wind through towering trees.

  Olivia swayed slightly on her feet, feeling a peculiar displacement of the air as the room in front of them rippled like a mirage. She blinked and suddenly they were no longer standing in the dimly lit, empty parlor but instead they found themselves in a warm, bright, exotic looking garden.