Necrophobia (40 page)

Reiner?
She looked towards her saviour and saw Veronica ripping weapons off the wall with her superhuman strength. She effortlessly lifted a huge two-handed broadsword and threw it as though it were a throwing knife at the dragon.

“I don’t know why it wants you but you’ve got to keep moving!” Veronica shouted as she ripped open a display of weaponry and heraldry.

Claire obeyed and glanced down the corridor blocked by the dragon. It was the right way but several tonnes of furious undead dragon blocked her path. Veronica appeared beside her in the blink of an eye and with a flick of her skinny wrists threw a crate of weapons at the dragon in desperation. Broadswords, spears and halberds clattered off the blackened scales and forced the dragon to close its flaming eyes. That was all the opportunity Claire needed to slip past the dragon. It’s head close enough to touch, she could smell the corruption and rot emanating from the once noble ancient dragon as she ran down the corridor. A stream of fire chased after her igniting the carpets and curtains as she ran towards the library. Behind her the dragon snarled in pain as Veronica hacked into it hoping to distract it but to little avail. With a bat of its tail it threw Veronica across the hall and towards Claire. She righted herself in midair and landed on her feet with catlike agility. Claire pulled her bow free and nocked an arrow, aiming as best as she could she aimed for the green flaming eyeballs and fired. The dragon responded by snorting flame at the arrow and incinerated it in midair.

“I’m out of ideas.” Claire’s heart sank. Whatever Morana had done the dragon would not leave them alone and she ached all over from running and fighting. It was just a matter of time.

Veronica exchanged a dark look with Claire and reached for a fallen broadsword. She lifted the huge iron sword closer to her face with one hand as though it weighed nothing at all.

“You gave me a good one.” Veronica replied with a smile. Her skin shimmered and she dissolved into mist along with the sword.

“Veronica?” Claire’s voice quavered as the dragon ripped apart more of the wall and crawled across the floor to reach them. It’s back end drooping over the second floor and digging deep into the support walls. The tail flicking and lashing at the air as it tried to gain purchase. The mist flew across the corridor and reformed around the Valdgeirr’s head. It flamed impotently at the mist in fury, its burning hateful eyes staring at the mist. Veronica reformed on top of Valdgeirr and drove the iron broadsword into the dragon’s open eye with one arm, the other clinging onto the thrashing dragon for dear life. It reared back reaching for its eye with one massive claw causing spectral flame to spill forth. Blinded it thrashed around and struggled to steady itself. Veronica tried yanking the sword free but the dragon’s claw tore into her throwing her with sickening force into a wall. She slid down the wall leaving a bloodied dent on the plasterwork. Valdgeirr reached for the sword and pulled out the tiny sword from its eye and ate it out of spite. The ruined eye stared at them accusingly, seeping green energy rather than blood. If dragons could smile the undead Valdgeirr attempted it as it dragged itself closer to the injured Veronica. Claire loosed another arrow but for all intents and purposes she might as well have spit into the wind. The arrow shattered against the hardened scales and fell to the floor. She stared at Veronica, too far to reach and there was no way she could reach her without getting incinerated or eaten. There wasn’t anything she could do.

Lightning flashed overhead and the thunder rumbled throughout the hall. The storm intensified directly over them and wind ravaged the ruined corridor sending glass shards and debris flying across the room. The sudden intensity drew even Valdgeirr’s mindless interest. Veronica stood up on unsteady legs, somehow despite everything she managed to retain her gracefulness. Valdgeirr looked upwards and roared in protest at something in the sky flame erupted out of its mouth in long streams.

“What’s it looking at?” Claire asked as Veronica hurried over to her blood dripping from her mouth. The roof over them was still holding and shielded them from most of the wind.

“That’s academic. Let’s get out of here!” Veronica replied shoving Claire firmly back.

Lightning exploded around the mansion and Valdgeirr became frantic, clawing and swiping its wings spread. A figure surrounded by electric discharge descended in front of the dragon on wings of lightning, purple cape billowing out in the wind. The Caelite illuminated the area around her and the spear in her hand crackled with energy.

“Amelia?” Claire breathed in disbelief. The woman did not react but she had the same build and hair as Amelia. The distinctive Caelite commander armour glowed with eldritch power. Claire felt warmth radiating from her sword sheathe and pulled out her rapier. The blade felt warm to the touch and pulsed with energy in proximity to its former owner. Valdgeirr lashed at her with a powerful crushing swing of its huge claws but the Caelite Commander stood her ground and caught it one handed. Light burned out of her palms and the dragon recoiled in pain, green flame and real flame merged as its wounded forelimb burned and tore open. Valdgeirr reared back its head and flame exploded out of its mouth enveloping the woman before it with a flash of heat and light. As the flame receded Amelia shimmered in the air unharmed and stabbed out with her spear driving it into the dragon’s ribcage. The spear drove deep and tore into muscles and atrophied organs before it ripped out illuminating the room with a pale green glow. Valdgeirr backed up away from the Caelite Commander and surveyed the gaping wound in its chest with surprise as an inferno of green flame poured out. Amelia swung her spear in a wide arc that missed the dragon’s head by a hair’s breadth. It snorted in both confusion and fear and took a step back from the radiant Caelite before it. Amelia walked towards it without worry or concern. Valdgeirr took one last look between Claire, Veronica and Amelia before it spread its huge wings and kicked off the building. The floor shattered beneath it as it took to the skies. The Caelite Commander did not react as the floor disappeared beneath her she carried on walking across empty air as she watched the dragon take to the heavens. With a rumble of thunder lightning framed her back becoming wings of energy. They kicked down and Amelia vaulted into the sky after the fleeing dragon without a word. The wind swirled around her as she disappeared into the storm clouds after Valdgeirr.

“She’s become an Avatar of Caelus!” Claire gasped. “I never thought I’d live to see one.”

“By the gods…” Veronica breathed. After a few seconds they came to their senses. The awe faded with each passing second. “I must find Morana. Take care out there.” Veronica flashed a warm smile at her before transforming into mist and disappearing into the night.

Wish I could do that.
She thought bitterly as she dragged her aching legs and body down the ruined corridor. The library had to be close now. One way or another she’d get answers from Haures.

Claire edged closer to the library seeing the massive pine door ajar. Glancing at the bodies of servants and librarians at her feet she was close. Unlike the other bodies she’d encountered they were killed with magic. Shards of ice stuck out of the bodies and glistened in the flickering light and icicles were embedded deep into the walls and doors. Hearing muffled conversation coming from the library she eased herself closer and peered through the gap. A small group of figures surrounded a tall male figure, each of them carrying books.

“Master, our reserves are almost gone.” A woman’s voice said. From a distance it was hard to tell which cloaked figure was speaking. “The mercenaries are faltering against Lord Strigoi’s guard.”

“I am no-one’s master.” Haures turned to face the assembled cult.

“All are equal in death.” They intoned their voices in unison.

“We have what we came for. Pull our forces out, save as many of our brothers and sisters as you can. No sense wasting any more of our number.”

“And Lord Pavlovich’s men?”

A cold smile crossed the traitor-Inquisitor’s face. “Leave him to his fate.”

The cultists bowed their heads in mumbled agreement before filing out of the opposite end of the library carrying bound tomes and research journals with them. Haures lingered and stared at a ransacked bookshelf with his back to Claire, tracing his fingers across the spines of the shelved tomes. She could kill him right now with an arrow to his exposed head. She could — but then she’d never get the answers he held. She had to know. Claire drew her bow and nocked an arrow before sneaking into the library as quietly as she could manage. The thick carpet beneath her feet worked wonders to silence her footsteps and she kept her breathing shallow. Years of stalking and hunting prey afforded her a silent walk and careful approach.

“I’ve got an arrow aimed right at your heart. Don’t do anything stupid.” Claire announced keeping her bow drawn.

The Inquisitor did not flinch in surprise and turned around keeping his movements slow and obvious.

Upon seeing the arrow aimed right at him a smile crossed his face. “Ah. Very good.”

He kept both empty hands held high in the air and their eyes met. He flicked his right hand out by the wrist hoping to tear the bow out of her hands with telekinesis. Nothing happened. Her pendant grew colder and colder upon her chest as it blocked out his powers. He tried again with an irritated flick to no avail. Haures smile faded and he reached out with an open hand aimed at her throat and closed his empty fingers. Rather than feeling an invisible force tighten around her throat she felt the pendant freeze ice cold. Claire drew her bow further and aimed it between his eyes forcing him to keep his hands in the air.

“That won’t work.” She allowed a flicker of satisfaction to cross her face.

Haures tilted his head in amusement. “You’ve done your research I see.”

“I need answers.” Claire circled around him keeping just out of reach. “Give me what I want and I won’t turn you into a pincushion.”

The Inquisitor laughed without humour. “But of course, I should have known. You’ve come alone not to kill me but to bargain with me. What is it you desire? Power? Immortality?” He leaned closer with a cold smile. “Resurrection?”

“No.” She snapped. In truth she’d considered resurrection more than once as anyone who’d lost a loved one might. It was tempting beyond words and one of her darkest most secret desires. Haures grinned at her as he watched her struggle internally. Even with the pendant blocking psychic power he could see into her heart and mind. “Just answers.”

“To try and cheat death is the most human thing a person can do.”

She shook her head in defiance.

“Ask then.” He replied, his voice laced with disbelief.

“You were right, I did my research.” Claire circled behind him keeping her bow drawn. Her hands were trembling with a mixture of fear and anticipation so she hid just out of his line of sight. “I know about your promotion to full Inquisitor. I know who sponsored you and why. I know about the death cults twenty years ago.” She circled around so he could see her. “Isn’t that when you turned your back on the Inquisition?”

Haures raised an eyebrow. “That’s a leading question. I prefer: Isn’t that when the Inquisition turned its back on me?”

“I’m not here to argue semantics.”

“Perhaps you should. I was taken against my will and bound to the service of another. The Inquisition as it always does, sought to destroy.”

“Ironic then that you would seek to destroy the Inquisitor who promoted you. One Inquisitor Eleanor Acestes.”

Haures laughed and shook his head. “You think I killed her? Eleanor was the only one to understand.”

“What do you mean?” Her hands wavered as she kept her bow drawn.”

“I didn’t kill your mother, Claire.” He leaned closer his voice serious. She could feel the conviction in his words. It was the truth. “Because she’s not dead.”

“Liar!” Claire’s arrow flew forwards as he lunged toward her, embedding deep into his chest with a grunt. He knocked aside her bow with the back of his hand and reached for her chest. Her ripped and torn armour failed to obscure the pendant she wore. Haures fingers wrapped around the ice-cold pendant and snapped it away from her neck. Haures stared at the pulsing stone within the crystal before tossing the pendant across the room. It landed on the carpet somewhere with a muffled thud. Before he’d finished Claire had already drawn her rapier. She stabbed forwards deep into the Inquisitor’s gut. As the rapier bit deep into him the blade came to life and an electric discharge coursed through his body with a snarl of pain. Before she could do anything else his empty hand flicked up and telekinesis threw her backwards into a bookshelf near the door. She landed hard. The impact knocked the wind out of her lungs and she fell forwards gasping for air. Haures stared down at her with a disappointed look on his face.
“I speak the truth.” He pulled the rapier out of his stomach and allowed it to fall to the floor. Blood ran down onto the carpet but something else caught her eye. A flickering green light burning within the wound. Unlike the undead thralls the flame was smaller and more controlled. It burned brighter than the raging wildfire that fuelled their unholy undeath. The wound sealed itself closed over several seconds — far slower than any vampire Claire had encountered.