Barnabas observed Gerry cautiously, taking great care not to let any stray thoughts slip through the barriers placed by Deiform’s fragmented spirit. Every so often, his face contorted in a grimace of agony. Within his mind he felt that the battle did not go well. With Apollyon growing in strength every second, a degree of that increased power passed on to each of his children, including the Maleficent Man.
Deiform’s fragmented soul and the raging spirit of the Maleficent Man sought to control their host, fought to defeat the other. Within the mind of the young man Barnabas, they struggled endlessly for supremacy, and Deiform grew weakened by the ferocity of the Maleficent Man’s unflinching onslaught.
Barnabas could do little to help, save maintain a degree of control over his mind, attempting to halt any of the Maleficent Man’s stray thoughts from seeping through the cracks that began to appear. He knew he could not allow any of Apollyon’s other children to learn of their sibling’s presence.
In the distance, he could hear the approach of their quarry. He could feel the presence of his natural father, and it bolstered his waning strength, especially as he knew Deiform’s almost whole soul accompanied the Chosen One and the Custodian. He sensed the fragment of Deiform within him call out to the approaching remainder.
And in an instant, the battle within his mind was won.
* * *
With Dolores and Deiform bringing up the rear, Lilly and Rob crept cautiously along the shadow filled tunnel, the flickering flames ahead illuminating the next right-hand fork.
If there was to be an ambush, Rob reasoned, it would be here. His heart pounded violently in his chest, echoing in his head, and he idly wondered whether the others could hear it too.
From behind, a groan escaped Jonathan’s lips and he staggered, collapsing against Dolores, who cried out in alarm in spite of herself. ‘Rob, Lilly, wait. Something’s happened to Deiform.’
Halting in their tracks, Lilly and Rob turned, backtracking as they saw Jonathan collapsed in an undignified heap on the ground, with Dolores bent in a concerned manner over him.
‘What happened?’ whispered Lilly, indicating frantically that her mother should keep her voice down.
‘He just collapsed,’ whispered Dolores.
Jonathan groaned again and opened his eyes, staring up at the three anxious faces that peered down at him. ‘What’s going on?’ he muttered through dried lips. He cleared his throat noisily, eliciting a grimace from Lilly. ‘Where am I?’
Rob placed a finger over Jonathan’s lips, silencing him. ‘We’re in the catacombs beneath Naghene Hall in Dorstville. It’s the Night of Madness, and you’ve been under the spell of some higher deity.’
Lilly stood upright. ‘Deiform has left him for another purpose. We’re on our own now. Come on. Help Jonathan to his feet. We must keep going.’
* * *
Barnabas smiled to himself as he felt the rest of Deiform’s soul invade his head, joining with his final fragment, becoming whole once again. The evil spirit of the Maleficent Man retreated once more into the darkness of his subconscious, allowing Barnabas to think clearly.
He readied himself for what was to come, knowing it would not be pleasant, knowing there was no other way.
As stealthy footsteps approached the entrance to the tunnel, he and Gerry poised for battle.
* * *
Rob and Lilly approached the right-hand fork with mounting trepidation. The main tunnel stretched endlessly ahead of them, receding into shadow. Further along, they could see more tunnels to both the left and right, some in total darkness, some dancing with the amber light of flaming torches. Anything could be hiding in any one of them, but they knew they had to leave this tunnel at the first right turn.
Upon reaching the fork they paused, motioning for Dolores and Jonathan to remain where they were.
Rob took a steadying breath and peered around the corner.
And came face to face with his brother.
Rob reacted before he could stop himself. ‘Gerry!’ He stepped fully into the tunnel, even as Lilly hissed a warning to him. Rob ignored her. ‘Gerry, it’s me, Rob… your brother. Can you hear me?’
‘I hear you!’
The voice that came from Gerry’s lips was his, but the words unmistakably belonged to Val.
‘Val, I know you’re controlling my brother. Return him to me and I shall come quietly.’
‘You will willingly allow yourself to be sacrificed, so that the Great Lord Apollyon may walk once more amongst us?’
Rob nodded. ‘Yes. Anything to have my brother free.’
Through Gerry, Val laughed. ‘What use would his freedom be to you once you are dead? I sense deception.’
Lilly came around the corner. She ignored both Gerry and Barnabas, who stood some feet behind Rob’s brother. She caught a glimpse of white light behind Barnabas’s eyes, confirming her suspicion as to where Deiform had gone. She decided it best not to draw attention to the fact, concentrating her thoughts on closing her mind. ‘Come on Rob, we must get out of here. He’s not your brother any more. We can do nothing for him here and now.’
‘But we can’t just leave him!’
A subdued cry from behind them in the main tunnel caused the pair whirl to around, in time to see two figures wearing hooded robes sail silently past, taking up positions either side of Gerry and Barnabas.
‘Mother!’ Lilly called out in alarm.
Too late, she realised the ambush she had sensed was false; the threat came not from Gerry, but from the walking cadavers whose minds were blank. With no thoughts filling their minds, they had remained almost undetected by Lilly until it was too late.
She hurled herself around the corner, back into the main tunnel, in time to witness a couple more cadavers plunge daggers into Dolores’s chest, whilst the remainder held tight onto Jonathan, restraining him with little effort as he struggled against them.
‘No!’ Lilly screamed, rushing down the short distance towards her mother’s inert body, not caring for her own safety as she shoved the dark cloaked figures out of the way.
Blood trickled from the corners of Dolores’s mouth, bubbling slightly as her last breath escaped her. Her eyes pierced those of her daughter imploringly. ‘Make it right!’ she gasped, and then lay still.
At that instant, Lilly screamed in anguish.
At that instant, Val screamed in triumph.
In a flash, the incantation entered Lilly’s mind, but as the maelstrom of words flooded her thoughts she did not have the power to prevent Val’s mind swooping in, stealing a copy of the Key to Gehenna.
In a flash, Gerry stepped out of the side tunnel, grabbed hold of Rob in a superhuman grip, calling to the walking cadavers to retreat.
When Lilly tearfully looked up from her mother’s corpse, only she and Jonathan remained in the tunnel. ‘We have failed.’
Barnabas stepped out from the side tunnel, staring down at her. ‘Not quite,’ he said with authority, his eyes shining bright. ‘There is still a chance of success. Rob Tyler is not the Chosen One… I am!’
Twelve
Night of Madness
Dorstville lies somewhere in the heart of Dartmoor, a village closed off to the outside world. Only those with direct links know of its existence; those who discovered it by accident quickly forgot about it, or perished.
It was a quiet village at the best of times, almost devoid of life, totally at home with its own aura of death. On this night of the full moon, on the Winter Solstice, it was dead to the world.
The night sky was cloudless; the full moon shone brightly down upon the village. Nothing stirred in the stillness. No life caused ripples amongst the decay. Those who once called it home were long gone, snuffed from existence by a single stray thought from deep beneath the ground. Their life force gave strength to the Beast as He slowly awakened.
A shadow began slowly to move across the bright face of the moon, gradually at first, but then with increased urgency. The shadow of the Earth passed a
cross its satellite, and the blood-red shadow of the lunar eclipse fell fully upon Naghene Hall.
The ground trembled, cried out its anguish at what lay in store for those foolish enough to have remained in the vicinity.
But there were no witnesses to the eclipse that night.
The remaining few were deep beneath the ground, far down in the bowels of the earth, in the catacombs and in the inner sanctum, where they would witness something far more terrifying than a mere lunar eclipse.
Rob had struggled against his brother’s frighteningly strong grip, for which one of the cadavers had rewarded him with a blow to the head, plunging his world into darkness.
He regained consciousness to find himself bound and gagged, chained against a rock wall. He struggled for a moment until it became clear he would not free himself, so he stared around at his surroundings.
He was in a small antechamber, barely illuminated by a single flaming torch. In the shadows, he could just make out several other manacles hanging limply from their chains at intervals around the wall, but Rob was the only prisoner. Through the open entrance, he could see the larger, better illuminated chamber beyond, and chillingly, the sacrificial altar right at its heart. He knew this was the deepest point of the catacombs, and that it was directly beneath the exact centre of Naghene Hall.
He also knew it was immediately above Apollyon’s burial chamber; the sacrificial altar was the gateway to Gehenna, and when he was finally sacrificed, that could be it: the end of the civilized world.
He felt sure the plan would fail, though. He was now a firm believer; how could he not be? Surely that would be enough to prevent Apollyon’s rebirth? Was this, perhaps, the way it was meant to be after all? He was the Chosen One; his task, his whole reason for existence, to be a believer; to be sacrificed and to ultimately prevent the rebirth until the next Night of Madness enshrouded Dorstville.
I do so willingly.
His apparent bravado took Rob by surprise, and he wondered fleetingly whether perhaps it was genuinely his. Unconscious, his thoughts might have been freely accessed by Val. She might now know too much. She might decide his was not the body to be sacrificed. He had no way of knowing how much information he had unwittingly given her whilst knocked out; he did not even know how long he had been comatose.
It could not have been long; the sacrifice had to take place when the blood-red shadow of a lunar eclipse fell upon Naghene Hall. That had to be during the Night of Madness, when the moon was full. He could not see his watch, but he knew that the eclipse was due at midnight. If he was still alive then it must still be before that witching hour.
There would probably not be another Winter Solstice like this for centuries, he thought. For the Night of Madness to take place there had to be a full moon on midwinter’s night, accompanied by a full lunar eclipse at midnight, which would bathe Naghene Hall in its demonic light. The chances of all the elements falling exactly into place again must be billions to one; if the resurrection failed, mankind might survive for hundreds more years, providing they did not destroy themselves first.
If the resurrection succeeded, this was the last night the human race would exist.
And Rob was alone.
* * *
Bestial Val and Bestial Stan stood slavering upon the dais on which rested the sacrificial altar, crowing their exultation. Gathered around them, the ten remaining disciples, their minds still as lost as their souls, knelt facing the altar, heads bent low in supplication to their god, whose resurrection they prayed for.
‘All goes as has been ordained,’ growled Val. ‘I have the Key to Gehenna. The midnight hour fast approaches. Father’s rebirth will not be prevented.’
‘What of the Custodian?’ roared Stan.
In response, Barnabas strode into the inner sanctum, dragging a violently struggling Lilly by the arm. ‘I have the Custodian. She tried to escape, but was no match for me!’ He threw her to the ground and she collapsed at the foot of the altar dais.
Lilly stared up fearfully at the two monstrous beasts above her. Even in their natural state she recognised the arrogant stance of Val and the vindictive gait of her ex husband, Stan. She touched her bruised and bleeding face gingerly. ‘What are you going to do with me?’ she whispered.
Val stepped down from the dais, lifting Lilly to her feet by placing a single razor sharp talon beneath the young woman’s chin. ‘So, you are the Custodian! All this time you have been a part of our lives, and I never knew! You are a most worthy adversary, but in the end, you proved no match for Father! He will enjoy devouring your mind, causing you endless agonies as you watch the world you sought to protect blister and burn.’
Lilly recoiled at the burning sensation caused by the touch of the talon, choking on the overpowering scent of honeysuckle that filled the chamber like sickly incense. ‘I am the Custodian. I will do everything in my power to prevent Apollyon’s awakening!’
Stan swung his mighty arm at Lilly, sending her sprawling. ‘Do not dare to utter the name of our father with your foul tongue!’
Lilly tasted fresh blood in her mouth. She grinned. ‘As you wish, Stan, but remember that you have lain with your enemy; remember that you did not sense who I am when we were husband and wife, and then tell me, who will your father be most displeased with when He awakens?’
Stan growled menacingly, his spittle spraying into Lilly’s hair. He raised his hand to strike her again, but his sister restrained him.
‘Enough. She will learn the folly of her misdemeanour when Father awakens, and she will beg for a swift death.’ She turned to Barnabas. ‘You have done well, and shall be suitably rewarded when our Great Lord Apollyon awakens.’ She pointed at Lilly. ‘Remove her; chain her next to the Chosen One.’
Barnabas grabbed Lilly, dragging her from the inner sanctum without a word.
* * *
Rob glanced up fearfully as he heard footsteps approaching, but through the opening into the sacrificial chamber he was shocked to see his son dragging Lilly towards him.
‘Are you all right, Lilly?’ he cried as Barnabas secured her in manacles directly opposite him. Even from here he could see the blood dripping from her mouth.
‘I think so,’ gasped Lilly through a haze of pain.
‘Where’s Dolores and Jonathan?’
‘Mother is dead!’
‘What? But that means…’
‘It means that they have the Key to Gehenna, yes.’ Lilly sighed through her tears. ‘But all is not lost.’
She linked her mind with his, and Rob was surprised to find himself also sharing the thoughts of Barnabas.
We have a plan, but you must not interfere. Val and Stan must remain unaware that Barnabas is controlled by Deiform now, and that the Maleficent Man is trapped within his subconscious.
So Barnabas is on our side, thought Rob.
I am. Making it appear that Lilly is my prisoner was a necessary deception. I cannot risk discovery at this stage now I know what has to be done.
What does have to be done?
It is better that you do not know. That way, your thoughts cannot betray me.
What about Jonathan? Where is he?
Barnabas has shown him a secret way into the inner sanctum. When the time is right, he will be there to release us from our bonds.
What are you planning to do, Barnabas?
I must go. I do not wish the children of Apollyon to grow suspicious. Stay alert, and be ready to run when the time is right.
Barnabas left the antechamber, and Rob watched his son cross the sacrificial chamber, where he took up his position beside Gerry.
‘What is the plan. Lilly?’ whispered Rob. ‘What’s Barnabas going to do?’
From across the antechamber, Lilly sighed, her eyes filled with a sadness that Rob could not see. ‘Deiform is the one with the plan. Now Val has the Key to Gehenna, He is the only one amongst us with the power to defeat Apollyon.’
‘But what’s He going to do?’
Lilly did n
ot respond, leaving Rob with a very bad feeling in the pit of his stomach.
* * *
From his hiding place on the periphery of the immense rock chamber, hidden from view by several large fallen boulders and shielded by the powerful mind of Deiform, Jonathan watched as the two beasts, which to his mind resembled werewolves, went about their business of preparing for the sacrifice that would bring forth the Destroyer.
Jonathan still could not fully comprehend what was going on, but he knew that he would do whatever it took to prevent the death of the man he loved.
He could not see Rob anywhere in the chamber; presumably he was being held prisoner elsewhere, awaiting the appointed hour. He glanced at his watch. It was five-to-midnight.
Five minutes till doomsday.
Have courage, he told himself.
Creeping slowly around the edge of the chamber, using shadows and further boulders as cover, he made his way closer to the sacrificial altar, not entirely sure what he was expected to do. He reasoned that he would know what had to be done when he saw the opportunity.
* * *
Bestial Val turned to Gerry and Barnabas. ‘It is time. Bring the Chosen One and the Custodian.’
Walking in perfect unison, the pair retreated to the darkened antechamber, returning moments later with the two captives. Barnabas held onto Lilly, restraining her some distance from the others, whilst Gerry dragged his struggling brother up to the dais. Bestial Stan held him down as Gerry secured him to the altar, binding his wrists and ankles tight with stout rope.
Gerry then stepped down, returning to stand beside Barnabas and Lilly, and the brethren, who had not moved from their kneeling positions, threw themselves prostrate against the ground, their faces pressed against the rock surface as they began chanting a prayer for the safe return of their master.
Val threw aloft her arms, her talons glinting in the flickering torchlight. ‘Harken to my voice, oh Dark Lord Apollyon. Beast so ancient and all powerful, we call upon thee by the powers of the earth and of the air, and of fire and water; we offer to Gehenna this sacrifice and ask thee to accept the blood of this unbeliever, all powerful Father!’
The Five Tors Page 25
