by Sean Stone
“Who are you?” Adam asked. Utterly terrified.
“The master of the house.” Came the reply and at the same time, Adam lost all feeling in his limbs. All he could feel was Henry Montford inside him, dominating him. His presence felt like a lump of tar, like a cancer eating away at him. Adam could see through his eyes, hear through his ears, but those were the only senses left open to him, everything else belonged to Henry.
He watched Henry bend over with his body and lift his cracked phone from the floor. He gave it a once over and then tossed it aside again. Then he began searching Adam’s pockets.
No, no, please don’t find it, Adam thought, hoping he wouldn’t find the athame and knowing that he would.
“Find what?” Henry asked. He could hear Adam’s thoughts.
Then Henry found the athame. He pulled it slowly from Adam’s pocket and although Adam couldn’t see his face he somehow knew that Henry was smiling.
“Oh, old friend, we meet again,” he said out loud. It was odd for Adam to hear his voice without having said anything. “So, you came here to steal my own power with my own athame?”
Adam didn’t reply.
“Not to worry. I’ll just-”
Henry was cut off by a high wailing sound that surrounded them. The wind raged, kicking up dust. Luckily Adam could not feel it stinging his eyes, but Henry could. Henry cried out and shielded his stolen face. The wailing wind had come from nowhere but it was now deafening. There were several voices screaming something but Adam couldn’t make out what.
“Leave me be!” Henry screamed but the wailers ignored him.
Adam felt Henry reach out inside his head, probing for something. Adam knew he was after his power. Adam’s power. Adam imagined his power as though it was in a box and he quickly slammed the lid shut. Henry hit the box and rebounded off. He screeched in frustration and tried again, but Adam used what little will he had left to keep the lid down and it worked.
Henry hissed out loud and ran for the door. The wind pushed against him and Adam could see him struggling. He deduced that the other spirits in the house were fighting Henry, trying to tear him from the body before he escaped. Adam could feel Henry’s essence growing and shrinking within him as he struggled against the spirits. Adam tried to help them but as soon as he shifted his concentration Henry went for his power again and Adam only just managed to stop him. He decided to guard his power and let the spirits fight Henry. But they failed and when Henry made it out into the garden the spirits did not follow. They were unable to leave the house.
Adam hoped that Henry would be unable to leave the property even with a living vessel, but he was bitterly disappointed when Henry stepped over the threshold with ease and slammed shut the gate behind him. Henry looked about for a moment as if trying to decide where to go and then headed off toward town.
“What are you going to do?” Adam asked but there was no reply. “Where are we going?”
“Give me your power,” came the sulky reply.
“Never.”
“Shut up then.” And Henry did not communicate with him for the remainder of the journey.
Henry stopped a few times on the way, not sure of where he was going. Adam thought he might ask for directions but he never did. Eventually after turning back only twice, they arrived at Wiccan Wares. Adam had only been to Alistair’s shop once and the feeling he got from Alistair was so disturbing that he never went back again. Now, here he was being forced into the shop against his will. The door swung open of its own accord before Henry even touched it. At first, Adam thought that Henry had somehow managed to use his powers, but he quickly deduced that it was magic from the shop itself. Henry gave a little giggle and then stepped inside. Almost as soon as the door closed behind them the bead curtain behind the counter parted and Alistair entered the room.
“Henry Montford,” Alistair said and smiled. He stepped around the counter to meet Henry. Adam didn’t know how Alistair knew it wasn’t him but he hoped that other sorcerers had the same ability.
“You know it’s me?” Henry asked and Adam got another chill at hearing his voice being used by someone else.
“Of course, I do, but that doesn’t mean I’m not surprised. To what do I owe this pleasure?” Alistair asked, looking at Henry fondly. The pieces suddenly clicked and Adam realised that Alistair was the one who had taught Henry how to steal powers in the first place. Student and teacher were reunited. What he didn’t know was why.
“I need your help,” Henry said.
“Naturally. Few people come through that door for a social visit.” Adam watched and listened to the conversation unfold, hoping that he’d hear something useful. Something he could use to take his body back.
“There are two things I need. The first a list of the descendants of those who murdered me, with their addresses of course.” If Adam had been in control of his body he would have shivered. Henry was going to resume hunting the coven, but this time, it wasn’t just for power, it was for revenge. Adam had to find a way to warn them.
“Easily done. And the second?” Alistair enquired.
“My powers have not returned to me. I need them back.”
“I’m afraid that the powers you spent so long collecting are now trapped in the place that you died. They are part of the house now. You could attempt to channel them back but it might not work.”
“The spirits in the house won’t leave me alone for long enough to channel them,” Henry said bitterly.
“Indeed,” Alistair said sympathetically.
“I’ll have to start again then. It’s a good thing I already had a witch hunt planned,” said Henry.
“Indeed. However, completing the ritual will be difficult because these witches do not trust you and you are powerless against them. Not to mention your current embodiment problem.”
“Surely this face will grant me some trust?”
“Ah yes, that is the face of the coven dynast. But his coven is currently experiencing a lack of respect for him. And as I said, you have an embodiment problem.”
“What problem?”
“One wrong step and you will be expelled from that body. Now that you are outside your house even I cannot be sure what would happen to you should that occur.”
“What’s the solution?” asked Henry. He sounded worried which made Adam happy. Any problem for Henry was a good thing for Adam.
“Once you have acquired some power you should be able to make that body a little more permanent. Here.” Alistair passed him a folded sheet of paper.
“These are the descendants?” Henry asked, unfolding the paper and looking. Adam looked but Henry quickly folded it before he could see any names. Alistair must have known that Henry was coming if he already had the list written down.
“Correct. The first name; Nicole is a rather powerful witch. Sadly, she has been suppressing her abilities,” Alistair said.
No.
“Silence,” Henry hissed in his head.
“She’s recently been having… marital problems, shall we say?” He looked into Henry’s eyes and Adam could’ve sworn that the old man was actually looking at him somehow. “I believe her husband; Adam Kent is the key to your success.”
Nicole had done everything she could to stay out of this, to keep her and Tommy safe but Adam had dragged her into it anyway. If he managed to get free of Henry, he would take Nicole and Tommy and get as far from Cedarstone as they could. He’d never ignore Nicole again. If he could break free.
“Who is Adam Kent?” Henry asked.
“You are. You took his body. Now all you need to do is go home and kill your wife. I will need something from you of course, in exchange for one more item,” Alistair said. “When you go on your killing spree, I need you to stay out of the shadows so to speak. Draw attention to yourself.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Henry replied and laughed sickeningly.
Alistair opened a draw and took out a pair of metal handcuffs. “These should spice things up in the bedr
oom. Now go and make some noise.”
Nicole was not home when Adam and Henry arrived. Adam hoped that she’d finally had enough and taken Tommy away from town. Henry heard Adam’s hopes and a quick check of the house proved that she had not left. Adam watched idly as Henry went through to the kitchen and rummaged around until he found a bottle of red wine. Several times Adam tried to take control of his body, but every time Henry shut him down with ease.
Nicole did not return for about three or four hours and when she did she found Henry waiting at the kitchen table. As soon as she walked in he began pouring the wine. Again Adam tried to battle the warlock, but again he proved inferior.
“What do you want?” Nicole muttered. She threw down her handbag aggressively. She always did things aggressively when she was in a mood. Adam concentrated all his will on taking control of only his mouth and for a second it worked, but Henry stopped him just in time and all he did was make a weird garbling sound. Adam tried again, but Henry was more guarded now.
“What?” Nicole demanded, looking at him as if he was an idiot.
“I’m sorry,” Henry said. “For how I’ve been.”
“Really?” she said dubiously, stopping what she was doing and looking at him.
“Really. I truly am,” Henry assured her. He held out the glass of wine like it was some kind of olive branch.
“But you’re not going to do what I want?” she asked. She looked at the wine but didn’t take it.
“What do you want?” It’s not me Nicole, you must be able to tell the difference!
“The same thing I’ve been saying for weeks now. I want us to leave town. I want to put all this coven nonsense behind us and get away from it all,” Nicole said, looking pleadingly into Adam’s eyes. Adam wished he’d listened when he’d had the chance. They could be anywhere right now, enjoying life. Enjoying each other.
“Let’s do it then,” Henry said. He stepped toward her.
“Don’t mess me about, Adam,” she said.
“Adam?” Henry questioned and then realised his mistake. Adam hoped that Nicole would pick up on it. As things were right now, Nicole had her powers and Henry had nothing. She could beat him with ease if she would just use her power before he could get the cuffs on her.
“That’s your name,” she said giving him the “idiot” look again.
“Of course. I’m not messing with you, Nicole. I’m serious. Let’s go.”
“What changed your mind?” she said, and then she took the glass from him.
Henry stepped forward and took her in his arms. He moved awkwardly as if he’d never touched a woman before. It had been a long time Adam supposed. It sickened him to see another man touch his wife, let alone that man, even if it was with Adam’s hands. “I realised how close I’d come to losing you. You’re all that matters, Nicole.” Henry didn’t let her reply. He forced his mouth on hers and kissed her. Henry closed his eyes and Adam couldn’t see what was happening, but he could hear Henry laughing in his head and knew that Nicole was kissing him back. How could she be so stupid? How could she not tell the difference? When Henry opened his eyes again, Adam saw that they were on the move, heading for the bedroom. NO! He screamed, trying to get the word through his mouth, but it was no use.
“You really mean it? We’ll go?” Nicole asked when they reached the bedroom, her eyes full of hope. Hope that would soon be destroyed.
“Absolutely,” Henry said, and she was won.
Not long later Henry was standing in Adam’s kitchen and Nicole was tied to the table, completely naked, her wrists in the handcuffs and her own knickers shoved in her mouth. If he could, Adam would have cried. Henry was heating his athame using the flames from one of the hobs on the cooker. It would be over soon. Adam searched his own mind for a way to stop Henry but he kept coming up blank.
“You may not know who I am,” Henry said as he worked. “Your ancestors and their coven murdered me. In my own home.”
Nicole said something, but through the knickers, the words were just a noise. It sounded like Henry’s name, though. Everyone who had once been in the coven knew the name, Henry Montford. He was the biggest threat they’d ever faced, until now of course. With both Henry and Nickolas hunting the coven Adam doubted that it would survive much longer. Unless he could drive Henry out.
“That’s right, Henry Montford. In the flesh. Your husband’s flesh. The ignoramus wandered into my house this afternoon. I suppose I ought to thank him really. I didn’t fuck you, let’s call that thanks enough.” Henry turned to Nicole and Adam saw that she was struggling to free herself. Henry waggled the knife disapprovingly at her and said, “Stop that or I will fuck you, and I’ll use this knife.” She stopped at once.
Adam saw Nicole push the knickers from her mouth with her tongue. Seeing her in such a degrading position made him hate himself. It was his fault after all.
“Please. Please don’t kill me. I’ll do anything,” she begged, tears running down her cheeks. Adam wanted to look way, but he was doomed to watch.
“There is nothing I want from you. Except your power and your life and the only way to get those is by killing you,” Henry said and then chuckled.
“I’ll help you hunt the others. The other witches,” she offered and in that moment, Adam felt an unbridled hatred for his wife that completely overpowered his pity and his shame. Turning her back on the coven was one thing, but outright betraying them was another matter entirely.
“I’ve sacrificed a good many witches in my time and not one of them ever made me such an offer. I suppose my generation had a greater sense of loyalty.” He sat down in the chair next to her, athame in hand. Adam knew it was time but he didn’t want to see. He closed himself off, curling himself into a ball in his head, trying to block it all out. It didn’t work and he could still see and hear everything.
“I will do it. I promise. Just let me live,” she pleaded.
Henry stood up and walked slowly to the other end of the table. He stroked her naked leg from thigh to ankle and then without warning stabbed her in the leg. She screamed loud enough to pierce an eardrum. “I’m not open to negotiations my dear.”
Adam heard the front door open and realised what he’d forgotten. Tommy. He was home from school. Nicole noticed too. She opened her mouth to scream but Henry punched her so hard her head cracked back against the table and she fell silent. Broken teeth fell to the floor and blood trickled through her lips.
Henry moved lithely, hiding behind the door and waited. Again Adam tried to fight, but again he achieved nothing.
“Mum? Mum are you home?” Tommy shouted. Just go. Run. Get out.
Tommy stepped into the room and saw Nicole tied naked to the table. His mouth fell open and his eyes widened with fright.
“Tommy run,” Nicole mumbled through broken teeth and congealed blood.
It was too late. Henry shut the door, trapping him in the room.
“Please, don’t hurt him, I’ll do anything,” Adam begged.
“Watch,” Henry said gleefully. Adam had no choice in the matter.
“Dad, what’s going on?” Tommy asked, mistaking Henry for Adam.
“I’m just doing a little surgery on Mummy,” Henry said and then sniggered.
“He’s not your father,” Nicole said. That’s true either way, Adam thought, it’s what she’d been saying all along.
Tommy went to run but Henry attacked. Adam closed himself off again, refusing to see what was happening but again he was forced to watch. Henry backhanded the boy across the cheek, sending him crashing to the kitchen floor. Nicole screamed shrilly and the sound hurt Adam’s ears, even Henry recoiled. Henry grabbed Tommy by the collar and dragged him over to the table. Tommy had no fight in him, he was still in a daze from the hit.
“Please, no! He’s a child!” Nicole screamed, struggling against the ropes.
“He’s your child. The last of your family line. And every ritual needs a sacrificial lamb,” Henry said coldly. He raised the athame.
Adam had an idea. He lifted the lid on his power and tried to access it himself. He felt it flow into him and make him stronger. He focused on Henry, on driving that black, cancerous entity out of his body and to his amazement he felt it working. Henry was growing weaker and he was growing stronger. He could feel a tingling in his fingertips as he regained sensation of this body. The feeling spread, up his arms to his spine.
“Stop it. You stop it now,” Henry hissed at him, even as he did he was growing weaker.
“Never, you bastard,” Adam replied.
Henry didn’t waste any more time. He took hold of Tommy’s hair and yanked his head back, then he brought the athame down before he lost control and slashed Tommy’s throat wide open. Adam, who had regained some feeling in his hands and arms felt every stroke of movement. Tommy let out a hideous gargling scream as his blood shot out, covering his mother's body and she too screamed. Adam stopped fighting and watched as his son’s screams turned to choked, spluttering sounds in front of him. Henry flung Tommy aside like he was nothing and his body fell down in a heap on the floor. And just like that, Adam stopped caring. He stopped fighting and let Henry have his body. There was nothing left now. There was no way he could go on living knowing that his son was dead and it was all because of him. Everything Nicole had predicted had come true. Adam’s involvement in the supernatural affairs of the town had brought about the death of his family. Adam felt Henry take complete control and he let him. This time, Henry even took his powers. Adam let himself diminish into the depths of his own mind where he would become nothing more than abstract thoughts. The last thing he saw was Henry stabbing Nicole and then setting his house on fire. As Adam sunk into the background he heard Henry matter a soft goodbye, and then he went right back to cackling like the depraved madman that he was.
*
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Victor did not have much faith in Lydia’s plan. Mainly because he didn’t know what it was. They hadn’t seen Lydia since she’d left the house this morning. Richie didn’t hold much hope either, and so the two of them once again made their way to the castle, this time alone.
