The Untold Tales of Dolly Williamson: An Occult Steampunk Thriller: Prequel to The Guild Chronicles (The Guild Chronicles: A Steampunk Fantasy Book Series 0)

by J. M. Bannon

  Rose looked him up and down, she had never met a Necronist let alone one of the six Guild Masters. "What's your business here?" she demanded.

  "I could ask the same of you, but I’m sure that you, like me were asked by Detective Williamson to act as a spiritual scent hound to find the murderer of Chilton and the Moyas, am I correct? One of us is the backup plan.”

  Angelica flipped a new Tarot. "The Hermit, the law bringer is here.

  “I don’t need the power of premonition to tell you that the English detective is coming. She would have given him your location. We need to leave now and return to Paris where we will have the protection of the Emperor,” retorted Gerrard.

  “I have no intention of going to Paris.” said Angelica.

  I am your way out of this mess you started. They will kill you.”

  “Gerrard that’s the difference between you and I your so restrained and scientific, the son of the age of enlightenment and I embrace the chaos and natural flow of the Aether. How long did it take your city of Paris and solemn brothers to sap you of the primal power you discovered when we were together?”

  His stoic stance melted. “Less than a year, but it wasn’t the city that diluted it. It was no longer being with you. If you came to Paris we could continue not where we left off. I know that would be too much to ask with what has passed but we could start anew,” replied Gerrard.

  “Gerrard, it is your turn to pick a card,” implored Angelica.

  Gerrard walked into the parlor and stood before her tarot table. “Angelica, I am not here to play games,” looking up to meet Angelica's gaze something caught the Seer’s eye “Is that a fifth skull on the Staff, is that Papa Lafayette?"

  “He passed when France sent the Foreign Legion in to the village. We had kept our side of the grand bargain Gerrard. We never left the Village of the Falls.” Angelica touched his hand. Rose assumed that Gerrard was getting a vignette of the carnage in the village just as she had experienced Hernando’s death.

  Without sitting down he touched a card on the table with the hand that held his Necronist beads.

  Angelica put her finger on the card "You broke the bargain."

  Gerrard lifted his finger "I had no part in that, I never knew until now” Rose observed a loss and sadness in the Guild Master as he spoke “I left my heart there it was our sacred place.”

  He pulled his hand away "I had no idea Angelica,"

  Angelica flipped the card "Death, the pale rider, the end of a phase of life that has served its purpose. How do you read the cards, Seer?"

  The Voodoo Queen stood up, grasped the Ju-Ju Staff and made her way towards Rose, passing Gerrard as if he did not exist.

  When Angelica stepped up to the hearth and looked at the orb, then at the spot where Rose had taken the siphon from. "Rose, you have played your part and now you must go. The crossroads you face are of no consequence to what happens here, please take your leave."

  Rose advanced towards the parlor exit. She had what she needed and now must decide if she was prepared to take the consequences for using the ritual to free Preston. Rose looked back at Angelica and Gerrard then turned to exit only to be startled by the presence of another Necronist standing at the front door.

  Rose withdrew a reliquary from her belt sheath and incanted the invitation to Raziel a guardian angel, protector of Adam, and chief of Erilhiem. As the Enochian call rolled off her tongue she felt in her bones that Angelica’s wards dampened and hindered her summoning call. No supernatural power would intervene to help. She would be on her own.

  "White Witch spare me your summoning,” said Seer Thomas as he grabbed her arm and pulled her into the parlor, “Witness those that truly practice the craft.”

  Angelica turned to Gerrard. "How did you see the conclusion, Master Seer?"

  “Angelica, our offer still stands. Come with me to Paris and we can continue our studies again.”

  “Our offer?” she questioned.

  “My offer. my plead.” Gerrard begged clasping his hands together.

  “There is no going back to those young lovers in the jungle, and you can offer nothing I wish to learn. The best option for you Master Seer is to leave with your minions before there is more death by my hand.” Angelica’s tone invoked efficacy and resonated beyond the sound of her voice and into the aether as she began to glow with eldritch energy.

  Rose watched in amazement as Angelica drew deeper upon her power. At the same moment Lord Oswald phase shifted through the parlor wall from outside of the house in hopes of surprising and surrounding the Voodoo Queen. However, her defensive wards alerted her and slowed his ability to pass into the room. Still it was a fantastic feat to phase shift into the room, a sure sign of power and control of the arcane.

  Angelica spun around to face the Lodge Occultist, one arm outstretched with a subtle twist of her wrist. Her extended index and middle finger threw a hex that spewed an inky, smoky mass coating the wall with what initially looked like tar but transmuted into multitudes of spiders, every type and size crawled all over Oswald and the wall he was passing through, it was enough for him to lose concentration and begin to rematerialize amid the cracked wall plaster. Blood splattered, as Oswald’s internal organs were pulverized and intermixed with-in the parlor wall. Angelica's spider illusion disappeared leaving a more horrifying vision of the dead Lord trapped in the wall.

  Guild Master Saint-Yves desperately manipulated his beads,muttering an arcane incantation. Slowly a sigil began to surround and glow on the floor around Angelica. Rose could divine from the arcane writing it was some type of defensive binding spell.

  The Voodooist made a mopping motion with the Ju-Ju staff over the eldritch sigils Gerrard was conjuring. The sigil broke apart into a grey green cloud of dust. Angelica slammed the staff down while uttering a chant to manifest the spirits of her predecessors. Gerrard gazed in awe as the apparition of Papa Lafayette spilled from the eyes of the dead Hougan's skull.

  The phantom of Papa Lafayette moved across the room and grabbed Gerrard by the throat. The Guild Master dropped his beads, as his life force was drawn out into the apparition. The ghost let out a hearty laugh, pushed out his chest and stretched his free arm towards the Ju-Ju staff channeling Gerrard's soul into it. Gerrard screamed as he began two wrinkle and age.

  Angelica never saw Seer Thomas enter the room as she worked her spell. The Seer plunged a dagger between Angelica’s shoulder blades with both hands assuring full penetration. With the blade buried to the hilt he twisted the handle to actuate a mechanism. With that twist, a valve opened releasing the contents of a crystal vial, a potion pressurized with aether, the soul serum, was the name the Necronists gave it. This potion was designed to inject through the center bore of the blade and into the victim, not a poison but an arcane reactive fluid that initiated the coagulation and collection of the spirit force back into the vial in the weapon’s handle.

  The instant the dagger plunged into Angelica’s flesh, she released her staff and the spell was broken. Gerrard fell to his knees racked with pain.

  Rose stood frozen in silence. Torn and confused she was sharing her memories just moments ago and now Angelica lie prone and lifeless on the floor. Seer Thomas hovered over the dead body of Angelica. Gerrard arose to his feet with some effort, he was visibly older. He limped to the mantle and put the orb into his coat pocket. The ex-nun watched the Guild Master as he steadied himself on the mantel, Rose felt a tap on her upper arm, it was Detective Williamson standing behind her in the archway with his pistol drawn.

  10:31 PM Pilton Road

  “Drop the knife.” instructed Dolly, his gun pointed at Seer Thomas who was still standing over Angelica, holding his dagger. As if in a trance, Thomas let the blade fall to the floor. He quickly surveyed the room Rose looked worn out but safe at his side, the woman on the ground had a stab wound to the back and there was Saint-Yves and one of his cronies with what had to be the weapon that stabbed the woman.

  "Dear Detective how timely of y
ou to show up.” Said the Guild Master who turned to face Dolly, pointing to the floor. “The Murderess you have been seeking. She was attempting to kill me when my colleague stopped her."

  Dolly waved his pistol at the gruesome scene of Lord Oswald. "Christ, what the hell happened to that poor fucker?"

  Rose spoke “The remains of occultist Lord Oswald who failed a phase shift attempt, not a direct attack by Ms. Du Haiti,"

  Burton entered the hall from the back of the house with the driver in cuffs and his pistol drawn “Detective Sergeant I nabbed this guy going in the back door”

  "Burton, get outside with that one and blow your police whistle to alert the uniformed constables and request a paddy wagon," barked Dolly, his attention back to the parlor where Gerrard had moved from the mantle to the body of the priestess. He was reaching for the Ju-Ju staff.

  “Dolly, don’t let him touch that,” yelled Rose.

  “Guild Master, you just stop moving right now,” ordered Dolly, realizing Burton had not left the hall yet. He looked to the young detective and saw him standing dumbstruck. At first, he chalked it up to the gruesome scene but then he heard the murmuring of the two Necronists.

  He turned to see them both chanting then he felt something warm on his left-hand side. It was the amulet that Rose had given him, he could see it glowing through his pocket. He then saw Rose’s necklace charm glow.

  "You two shut your traps now."

  They continued with the mesmerism.

  “Rose, they are trying to hex us do something to protect Burton.” Yelled Dolly. She and Dolly were safe at the moment with the wards she had made to defend them, at least he thought they were since he felt like he was thinking clearly. Rose turned, pulling off her coat. “This will afford him some protection” said Rose as she threw the coat over Burton, diving on him like he was a man on fire.

  No way will I become a mind slave under someone’s control, or be made to fight Rose or Burton. “Alright, let's give this a try" he shouted.

  He placed a bullet into Seer Thomas's thigh. Blood and gristle flew and the Necronist when down with a howl.

  The report of the pistol broke Gerrard's concentration. Gerrard bellowed "you can't shoot him, we are diplomats, guests of your government!"

  Dolly squared his gunsight on Gerrard's head. “One more move from your lips and I'll let this next chamber go.” As Dolly stared at his head through the sight he realized how ill and haggard the Guild Master looked.

  “Now Guild Master you look like you need a lie down. Why don't you just have a seat and keep your arms in the air and palms facing me, don't –say- a -word.

  The detective lowered his pistol and looked at the other Necronist, he was passed out and losing blood fast. “Looks like I may lose my badge but your mate's going to lose that leg.”

  “Burton get outside and start blowing your whistle to get some uniforms in here. Burton snapped out of his haze as he collected himself after Rose’s body tackle.

  “Rose, come here.” He handed her the pistol. “You get close to the Guild Master and point this at his head and if he tries to summon anything, pull that trigger and conjure a hole in his head.”

  Rose took the pistol in both hands and stepped next to Gerrard.

  Dolly took off his belt and grabbed a candlestick to fashion a tourniquet. Thomas would certainly lose the leg, staving the blood would be his only chance at living through the night. While he worked on the leg he considered Saint-Yves seated in the chair, "I know what you’re up two, you were trying to mesmerize me and Burton. You two are under arrest for the murder of Angelica du Haiti”

  “So that's how the Metropolitan Police work? We do your dirty work and now you arrest us?” retorted Saint-Yves.

  What's he talking about? asked Rose.

  "Never you mind Rose. He opens his mouth up one more time you just pull that trigger, and point it a little more to the left if you do shoot him his brains won't be enough to stop that ball and you could hit me."

  "Dolly were you working with them?"

  In a manner of speaking, my boss requested I collaborate.”

  “The Detective authorize me to hunt her down,” replied the Guild Master.

  “And I also told you to make sure I was on hand. Funny thing is that you weren't the one that tipped me off to Angelica's whereabouts it was Sister Rose here that sent me a wire-type of the address.” Dolly was struggling to get the bleeding to slow on the Seer. It started to sink in the that bullet may end his career.

  “So, I'm prepared to bring you in and let the Crown decide you were defending yourself or here to commit murder,” said Dolly as he gave Gerrard a smile while he twisted the tourniquet tighter.

  Burton came back in with a constable. "Jesus Christ is that guy been blasted through the wall, bloody hell"

  "Constable put some irons on the Guild Master."

  MONDAY THE 27TH OF JUNE

  Monday June 27th 1858 Königsberg Prussia

  “Deiter, are the plans complete?” inquired Duke Gorber.

  “Yes, your Grace, as best as I can tell” The Chief Engineer replied.

  “Excellent, when do you expect to get started on the construction?”

  The Engineer looked as if he wanted to speak but lost his words.

  “When can I tell Prince von Bismarck that Prussia will have its first Air Dreadnought?”

  “Your Grace, may I speak freely?”

  “Go on,” the Duke needed updated information on the progress even if he must listen to the Engineer whine about his staff, material and working conditions.

  “While my engineers and technicians have the plans we still need time to grasp the technology of the Mechanists. I am informed daily that we require more documentation to unravel the complexities of a subassembly, that confounds us because we do not comprehend the process they use to craft a specific part. I know it pains you to hear it, but this is the most sophisticated airship ever to be built and we need more time. Before we lay the hull, we need to understand the metallurgy process. For the ship to fly we need to master the design of the solar and stellar-scopic registers that drive navigation.”

  “What can I provide to make this project meet my schedule?” asked the Duke.

  “I need a proper Mechanist team and industrialist leaders such as Bessemer, Whitworth, and Clooney. Likely I require intelligence from each of them” demanded the Engineer.

  “I will be back in one week’s time, Dieter. I want your plan to have a keel laid by winter” demanded the Duke.

  “May I make a suggestion, your Grace?” asked the Engineer. He wanted to provide solutions not cry about poor resources.

  “If it moves our plan forward I will hear it, if it’s more excuses then keep it to yourself.” Gorber was at the mercy of the Prussian engineers but did not want to show that weakness.

  “If we were to follow these plans and build a replica of the British ship it would be obvious that we have spies in the London works. Instead my engineers can take the innovations and integrate them into Prussian designs. In fact, some of these concepts could be retrofitted to naval ships and ground artillery immediately,” The Engineer knew he had to deliver some progress given the risks taken to secure design drawings of the HMS Victoria.

  The Duke was intrigued, “Continue.”

  “For example, we have the specification for Professor Honeysuckle’s flexible armor. One of my engineers postulated that we could line the interior of our dirigibles an immediate improvement to the existing fleet,” followed the Engineer.

  “Dieter, strike my request. Upon my return, I want you to have a list of the upgrades and time frame for the implementation of the items you suggest.” The Duke could use this idea to show progress. The Engineer did have a point, that a duplicate of the dreadnought would leave no doubt there had been espionage.

  “Affirmative, your Grace.”

  The Duke left the factory located on the outskirts of Königsberg and returned to the city center to report to Prince von Bismarck.
As the Minister for Internal Affairs, Duke Gorber’s title was an innocuous term for his real purpose as the head of the Prussian spy service.

  Operation Braunbär was the Duke’s critical plot, essential for the game at hand of the Minister President of Prussia Otto von Bismarck.

  When Duke Gorber entered The Minster President’s office, Kiefer the High Elector Guild Baron of the Alchemists was seated having a coffee with von Bismarck.

  “Guild Baron, Minister-President,” greeted the Duke the two gentlemen with a curt bow and click of his heels.

  “Have a seat Gorber, may I call for a coffee or other refreshment for you?” queried Minister President von Bismarck.

  “A brandy Sir, we should all have a brandy to celebrate the success of our operations in the British Empire” suggested the Duke.

  “Very well, while we await the bottle let’s begin with a briefing on the home front. What can you report from the Palace?” inquired von Bismarck as he walked to the door of his office and opened the door, “Hans, bring three glasses and a bottle of Brandy.”

  When Gorber knew had the attention of Bismarck again he began, “The King’s health continues to deteriorate. While none of the doctors have openly speculated on the King’s demise it appears there is little chance of him recovering from this stroke.” replied the Spy Master.

  “Very well, do you have a summary on the Prince Regent?

  “Not now.”

  “How about our Danish friends?”

  “Nothing more than you read in the papers, I am afraid. The Danes are sensitive to our disputes to the hereditary claims on the two duchies.”

  A steward knocked at the door carrying a tray. “Excellent timing,” said Gorber. “Pour the Minister-President and Guild Baron a snifter for we toast the success of our agents and the illustrious Alchemists of Prussia.” The men touched glasses and drank. “The Guild Baron and I am keen to be updated the results of Braunbär?” von Bismarck inquired.