Robert turned and walked away, glancing around the cellar. The light created a circle of brightness surrounded by shadowy corners that had him staring into their depths. Why was he so nervous? The only things lurking in the cellar were under his control. He had power and anything down here should be scared of him, not the other way around. Yet still an uneasy sensation had settled in his gut and like a snake it squirmed and coiled and filled him with dread. He wished the Aldona would reappear. Her strength on his side would make things easier, would make anything possible. Nothing must go wrong. He was strong and should not be afraid, but sometimes the dungeon gave him the willies.
He grabbed Ryan and pulled him over to the chains. He pushed down, forcing the man onto the floor. He secured his hands behind his back and through the chains on the floor with more tie wraps. He secured duck tape over his mouth and around the back of his head.
“You won’t get away with this,” Doris shouted.
“Eh, I think I already have. Any more noise from you and you get this.” He waved the roll of duck tape at her.
She sighed, anger fast losing out to fatigue.
He fastened Harrison next to his colleague, hands and ankles secured. Another loop of tape was used to prevent the officer from calling out or making any other annoying noise. Then he released them both, and the relief was instant. He had not realized how much power he was using. He must be careful. If Simple Simon turned up, he might need to fight. He wondered for a moment if Fluffy would attack another who had bound themselves to Aldona. Probably, but then again, the mage may be able to turn the creature against him.
He walked back to Jenny. Should he have a taste? Just a little smidgen wouldn’t hurt. He walked around her, turning at a noise behind him. The policemen were fighting against their bonds.
“Now, now boys behave.” He picked up a bar and crossed to them, hefting it from one hand to the other. They would make a nice snack for Aldona. She preferred females, but damn it, she would have to make do. He swung the heavy bar, relishing the weight in his hands. They didn’t need to be conscious and a good beating would pass the time.
He raised the bar above his head.
Doris cried out, “Damn it, Robert, there’s no need for that.”
He brought the bar down hard. It hit Ryan’s left leg, and the bone cracked loudly as the bar connected. The man’s face was instantly red. His eyes bulged in pain as he thrashed around on the floor.
“Robert, please, don’t do that,” Doris called, tears on her face, a quiver in her voice.
“They keep making noise, and I’m a bit jumpy here.” He raised the bar again. They need teaching a lesson.”
Doris spotted the shadow moving towards him, recognizing the shape instantly. “Oh God, please no,” she mumbled.
Robert raised the bar, bringing it down again with the full force of his weight. The blow was deflected by the swift intervention of Harrison’s feet. Harrison kicked out again, knocking the bar from Roberts’s hands. It tumbled behind him, landing close to the stalker who crept up on Robert’s back, slowly, quietly, inch by careful inch.
Robert kicked Harrison, his rage exploding. He lashed out at the prone man again and again.
The shadow closed in, almost within striking distance, eyes eager, body tensed, careful to make no noise.
“Enough,” Doris called. “If you want to hit someone hit me you bloody coward.” She could see how close Robert was to the coming assault, and did not want him to look towards his attacker.
The words stopped him instantly. “Coward? You dare call me a coward?” He turned for the bar.
She yelled urgently, “You are a coward. If you need an iron bar to beat a little woman like me. That just proves what a bloody coward you are.”
He wheeled towards her as rage engulfed his face. His eyes narrowed his skin reddening; he looked as if he would burst with anger.
He took one step towards her before a striped brown and red ball of fury launched from the floor, landing high on his back. Rosie’s teeth tore at his neck, her five stones of weight knocked him to the floor and pinned him there. Her body was on top of him. Her barrel chest pushed him down, and strong legs clawed at his back.
The thin cotton of his shirt was shredded, and blood erupted from his head and back. Her teeth, clasped onto his neck, the bull type jaw of a boxer almost impossible to break free.
Robert hit the floor, his nose breaking as it impacted with the concrete. Blood splattered to the ground. He cried out, but the cry was cut short as the breath was knocked from him as the dog’s full weight came down onto his back. The shock broke his concentration, and Jenny was freed. She ran forward.
Robert felt the teeth in his neck, pushing his face further into the floor. His mouth hit the floor, shattering two teeth and blood poured from his lips. He tried to speak. “Si…” But Rosie pushed his sodden face back into the concrete. He rolled, trying to shake her free, and she slipped for a moment.
“Sis…”
Rosie regained her footing and forced his face back into the floor.
His throat screamed with pain, where her teeth had shredded skin and tissue and muscle. With her weight on top of his, he could feel his arms becoming numb. He had to get control. “Sist…”
Jenny brought the bar crashing down onto his skull. The force jarred back through her arms. She threw the bar away, watching as Robert sank to the floor, a red dent in his head. He was still at last.
Rosie released his neck and looked up at her mistress before rushing to her. Her head was bleeding as was a gash above her left eye, which was closed and swollen. She limped as she walked, but she was alive. Jenny pulled her into her arms and hugged her close. She cried into the dog’s wonderful, warm fur, rubbing Robert’s blood from her jowls. Standing and fondling the dogs head, she breathed in the warm biscuit smell. “Oh baby, I’m so pleased to see you.” She kissed her face.
They hugged for a long time, the still form of Robert behind them. Jenny released Rosie and headed across to Doris, via the altar.
She grabbed the knife and the discarded altar cloth. Placing the cloth delicately over Doris their eyes met, emotions were high and both fought back tears.
“Let’s get out of here,” Doris said.
“Yeah.” Jenny moved behind her, slicing the plastic ties with the sharp knife.
Doris pulled her hands free. Rubbing her bleeding wrists cautiously, she pulled the velvet cloth over her nakedness.
Rosie was sitting in front of Robert, her expression watchful. She panted slightly as her strength recovered.
Jenny rushed across to the policemen, cutting their hands and ankles free, pulling the tape from their mouths. Both men winced as the tape pulled clear. “Can you walk?” she asked.
“We’ll walk out of here.” Harrison smiled up at her.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Doris led the way back up the steep steps to daylight and freedom. Following, Jenny struggled willingly carrying the heavy dog. She constantly leaned forward and placed little kisses on Rosie’s head. Rosie grunted in discomfort at the indignity of being carried, but her tail almost wagged her out of Jenny’s arms. Behind Jenny, Harrison supported his fellow officer, keeping his weight off the broken leg.
Doris pushed open the door, sighing as she stepped out. The conifers were a welcoming sight, even though they hindered their escape. Doris shuffled out of the gap, allowing Jenny to place Rosie down at the top of the stairs. The dog jumped quickly to her feet, and walked tenderly out into the open garden. She moved onto the grass, squatting to relieve herself. Jenny laughed. “God, I need to do that too.”
Doris blushed. With the red altar cloth tied around her, she shuffled back down to help the two officers.
They all walked slowly back to the house, reveling in the sunshine, birdsong and the clean, pure air. It was early morning and the light was good enough to see, the damp air a welcome relief after the dank stuffy cellar. No one seemed to know what to say. How do you explain a sacrifice
and mad old men?
No one noticed Simon’s car as they entered the kitchen. “Let’s get you comfortable before I call for an ambulance.” Jenny pointed the way, guiding the officers into the little lounge. They walked past Simon, not noticing him and placed Harrison in a chair. He called out as his leg was bent, sweat lining his haggard face. “Sit here,” Jenny said, “I’ll call an ambulance. She turned to Ryan. “Do you want to call for back up?” Jenny spotted the mutilated Simon and rushed to him, past the confused Ryan. She bent down, her hand inches from his face, tears formed in her eyes. “Oh God, Simon, what happened?”
His eyes were open, sightless. A milky substance had formed on them. The bones of his jaw and teeth pushed out through purple flesh. He looked like a macabre mask for some hideous Halloween party. Boils had formed on his face. His arms and chest showed huge lumps of bleeding raw skin that was hanging off in places. Other areas were simply burned through to the bone and he smelt of burnt skin, sickly sweet like bacon.
Jenny reached towards him, hesitating as more grief hit her. She closed her eyes. The tears ran down her face to land on his hand. At last she fought for control and leaned forward, hugging him gently. “Oh, Simon I’m so sorry. You came to save me. Please, please don’t be dead.”
Simon woke from his trance and put an arm around Jenny. Feeling her and holding her took away all his pain, and he wanted to stay like that forever. He pulled her close, “I’m ok, I just need to weal,” he stuttered, pulling back a grin formed on his ravaged face. “Is this a mug you could learn to love?”
Jenny laughed a nervous laugh and hugged him tight. She knelt beside him, oblivious to the policeman waiting behind her.
Harrison glanced at Simon’s ravaged face, averting his eyes and looked like he had the urge to vomit. He walked past them, heading back to the hall to call for an ambulance. He met Alex in the doorway, and the two men eyed each other warily.
Alex reacted quickly, changing his appearance with a glamour. “Hi, I’m John, a friend of Simon’s.” He extended his hand towards the battered looking policeman.
The officer took the hand, shaking it firmly. “I’m Officer Harrison. I need to call for an ambulance.”
“This way, the phone’s in the hall.” Alex guided the shell-shocked man out of the lounge and towards the phone. Watching the man speaking rapidly into the headset, he sent a message to Simon. My name’s John, a friend of yours.
He heard the word, OK, clear in his head and turned to go back to the room.
Walking down the hall, he thought of all the times he had been to this house, all the times he had laughed and joked with Sophie, Robert and their kids. All these years they had been friends, and he never suspected the straight-laced Robert could be… The thought drifted off as he entered the lounge, seeing his daughter knelt with Simon, his ravaged face in her hands. Rosie was cuddled up besides her mistress, her kind head on her paws, her battered eyes watchful. The dog looked at Alex and raised her head. She stood and padded across to him, pushing her face into his hand, asking for a stroke. He had found out a long time ago that animals could see through glamour’s. He was never sure if the magic did not affect them, or simply that they used their sense of smell more that their eyes. Either way, it was lovely to see the dog was still his friend. He knelt and hugged her, not caring how she knew it was him, but so glad to be able to express his feelings. She sat down beside him, sighing.
Doris walked into view, and a wave of joy washed over him. He knew Jenny had to be alive, but feared the worst for Doris. She looked good, albeit a little haggard, with a hole bleeding at her shoulder and wearing a velvet cloth, but alive. Doris looked at him, and concern crossed her face.
He wobbled a little and stood in the doorway, wanting to run and hug his daughter. How do you explain that you’re alive when she had witnessed you dead? Shame rushed through him. He would have to confess he committed murder. Would she ever forgive him? He caught Simon’s eye, and shrugged his shoulder to express his concern. How do they stop the police taking Simon to a hospital? The man should be in a coma, but he was sitting there laughing with Jenny, both behaving like they were on a first date. And Doris looked tired and hurt but alive. He wanted to hug her too.
“Who are you?” Doris asked. Seeing Rosie at his feet obviously confused her. The dog was always cool towards strangers.
“He’s my mate, John,” Simon mumbled through his ravaged lips. “He came to help me.” He turned to Alex. “We need to get out of here, mate.”
Harrison walked past Alex, pushing into the room. “I’m sorry, but you need to stay here, until the ambulance and backup arrive.” He eyed Simon. “Are you okay? Is there anything I can get you?
Simon moved his jaw. The wounds had stopped bleeding and were starting to scab over. The healing rate was much faster than natural and Alex knew he wanted to leave before the policeman could realize things were wrong. Wrong, he thought. Things couldn’t get much wronger.
“I’m fine,” Simon finished the words, just as the policeman was launched backwards, shock on his face, blood breaking out all over his chest. They heard the bang after they saw PC Harrison blasted off his feet. He landed against the wall with a crash, blood pouring from his chest. He slid down to slump onto the floor, an obscene red smear left behind on the yellow wall.
Robert walked in, brandishing the shotgun. He cocked the weapon and pumped another deadly cartridge into the chamber. Then he deliberately pointed it at Jenny. “Don’t even mumble you two, or the girl dies.” The gun was short, the barrel having been sawn off to make it more compact and deadly at such short range.
His face was covered with dried blood, his nose bent at an odd angle, and when he talked, a gap showed between his teeth. He rubbed at the crusted blood on his forehead and his torn and bloodied throat. Pieces of missing flesh left ragged holes that wheezed as he breathed. He was a disheveled mess but he walked across the room with a swagger and kept the gun pointed at Jenny. “I mean it, no more Mr. Nice Guy. Any of you move and Jenny loses a leg.” His voice grated and wheezed but the meaning was clear. He placed the barrel of the pump action against her knee, and pulled her backwards, leaving the room the way he entered. “I can feel you.”
Simon and Alex shared a glance there was nothing they could do. Despair threatened to pull Alex down but he knew he must keep his wits about him. The ceremony could not take place yet and Robert had to keep Jenny alive until it could. He started to raise his hand as Robert reached the door.
“Don’t move,” Robert said as he backed out of the room. Jenny’s face was lined with anguish and shock. She wanted to do something but the sight of the policeman shot at almost point blank range had frozen her and she offered no resistance as Robert pulled her out the door. “Remember I only need her alive,” he shouted behind him. As he walked from the house, he muttered, “Duratus,” and waved at the room. The spell wouldn’t hold once he was out of range, but all he needed was time.
He rammed the barrel into Jenny’s leg, grazing her skin and forced her to walk to the car. Opening the door, he shoved her in. She fell into the seat. Her face was almost green from shock but her eyes gave away her intentions. She was looking for a chance to escape, or to lash out at her attacker.
“Duratus.” He pointed at her, and Jenny froze. He fastened her seat belt, pushing her back against the seat, before closing the car door.
Skipping round to the other door, he got in the car and smiled across at Jenny. “Come on daughter, darling, let’s go for a ride.” Grinning maliciously, he gunned the car away from the house.
Chapter Thirty-Four
The spell broke, causing Alex to stumble and fall into the room. At the same time, it cancelled his glamour, and he stood before Doris and the unconscious policeman as Alex Stephens. Doris gasped, and ran to him, hugging him tight. “Mr. Stephens, you are alive, oh thank God.”
“Thank Aldona,” Simon interjected.
Hugging her tight, Alex whispered, “Alex, Doris. Please call me Alex.
”
She laughed, rubbing her head against his shoulder. He hugged her once more then pushed away.
He walked across to where Harrison’s bloodied body was lying against the wall. His chest was covered with red, a sizeable hole exposed. Shotguns were great weapons for close range, but luckily the pellets didn’t have the penetrating power of a handgun and the officer had been wearing a stab vest. Alex could see ribs and puncture wounds, blood trickling down, but only a couple of the pellets went all the way through. The man was lucky. His shirt and jacket were torn to shreds, his chest open, and blood ran down onto his trousers and had formed a puddle around his legs. The wound was red with darker purple smudges, and a flash of white bone poked out grotesquely.
The policeman was unconscious, his breath faint, a bubble of blood formed on his lips. The bubble filled with air at each exhalation, a tiny indicator that the man survived.
“Can you help him? Simon asked.
“I’m not sure. This is really bad.” Alex concentrated. “Sanare.” He looked down at the officer, and nothing seemed to have changed, and again he closed his eyes, concentrating hard. “Sanare.” He opened his eyes, willing the man to heal and to live. He thought the blood was slowing. He could see it becoming more viscous, darker. He sighed and turned.
He walked over to Simon. “We have to go.”
Ryan coughed behind them. “Look, go. I don’t know what’s going on, but go, catch that bastard.”
“Will you be all right?” Alex asked.
“The ambulance will be here any minute, just go. I doubt our lot could do anything against him. I will make a report that he kidnapped the girl, beat me, and shot Ryan. I am not going to mention the cellar, that creature, or you three. Just go, before I change my mind.” He finished breathless and leant back onto the sofa, eyes closed, perspiration running down his face.
Flee Page 19
