The Amulets (An 'Amulets of Andarrin' tale) (16 page)

It had been around fifteen minutes since the officers had left and was just gone quarter past six when Jack heard James’ car pull up outside the house. Moving into the hallway, Jack watched as James came in.

“Why was the door locked?” James asked as he shut the door.

“I need to tell you something and I need you to believe me” Jack looked at him seriously.

“Let me get a brew first. Put the kettle on would you, am dying for the toilet” James said running up the stairs.

“Hurry up then this is serious.” Jack shouted after him.

A few minutes later James came down the stairs and taking his mug from Jack, he followed him into the living room.

“Go on then let’s hear it.” James sat down on a two seat couch against the wall; Jack sat on the couch opposite.

“Right remember last week when I went away…” Jack told him the whole story. Delaius, Helena, William, the banshees, Nanantharim and, even the moment with Lily. His brother smirked but Jack just told him to let him finish so he continued on about what had happened earlier that day on the golf course. James looked incredulous but listened until Jack had finished.

“They did nothing?” James said.

“No, crazy isn’t it. Honestly man I thought…”

“Listen Jack, I don’t know about all your fantasies and that but if there was someone trying to break in then that’s another matter.” James admitted.

James leaned forward to pick the remote up off the table in front of him, as he did so someone knocked on the front door. Jack looked at James with fear on his face.

“Relax! I’ll get it.” James said.

Jack panicked “What if it’s…” he said looking towards the window.

The knock sounded again. Jack pulled the metal golf club from under the couch and offered it to James. “I don’t want that. It’s probably Matt, you fool” James told him.

James headed for the door while Jack stood a few metres behind him by the living room door, golf club still grasped in his hands. As James went to open the front door Jack thought he heard a noise coming from the kitchen. After a quick glance round Jack turned back to the front door and saw, standing in front of James, a large man, well-built and mean looking, his eyes were sinister but the thing that stood out was the large scar which went from the man’s temple to the other side of his chin, all the way across his face. There were two scars parallel to each other and a smaller one from his jaw to his neck. It was as if he’d been attacked by some kind of clawed animal. Jack didn’t have time to wonder though.

“Can I help you?” James asked.

“You must be Jack?”

“James” he told him.

The man now looked over James’ shoulder to see Jack standing by the kitchen, golf club in hand. His face, if it was even possible, turned even more sinister as his lips moved to form a smile.

“Who are you?” Jack said, meeting his gaze.

“My name is Balzac, and I’m going to need you to come with me” he told Jack.

“I don’t think so pal.” James replied but before James or Jack could act, Balzac began turning from man to beast.

Within moments Balzac had turned, and he now stood a werewolf, rearing up on his back legs. Jack knew this one was not the one from the woods; it stood much bigger than any Jack had seen and its fur was dark with streaks of blood red throughout, its eyes were a mixture of yellow and scarlet. It stood a monstrosity at the door.

“James!!!” Jack screamed.

It was quick. James tried to step back but Jack watched as a massive claw clasped around James’s shoulder and another around his face. Pulling him out of the door the werewolf sank its huge teeth into the side of his shoulder and neck.

“James no!!!”
Jack screamed again.

He darted towards it; golf club in hand and the wolf threw James back into the hallway and started towards Jack. As it put one foot through the door something hit it from the side and knocked it out of sight. Jack stopped dead, unsure as to what it was. All that could be heard was crashing and growling from the lawn outside. Holding the golf club and having seen what had happened to his brother, anger and adrenaline overwhelmed him. He moved towards the body of his brother who was lying motionless on the doorstep. Helena stepped through the door and knelt by James. She gave Jack a concerned look.

“Are you ok? She asked, worry sounding in her usual friendly Scottish accent.

“Helena, thank god. Is he going to be alright” Jack pleaded hoping for her to perform some miracle recovery on his brother.

“I’m not sure, he’s been bitten by a werewolf. We need Delaius.” she said. “We have to get you out of here.”

Footsteps were coming from inside the kitchen. “Who else is here” she asked quickly.

Worry washed over Jacks face “no-one” he said.

Suddenly Jack watched as the man from the woods stepped into view from the kitchen. “Consorting with the humans are we?” he said to Helena “I knew you lot were up to something but what is it?” He continued “Why these humans?”

Helena faced him “Who are you and why are you here?” she asked.

The man ignored her and moved to Jack. “What is it?” he said staring at him.

He was tall. Jack hadn’t realised before but he must have been at least six foot two. The man continued. “Your friends don’t seem to know much” he smirked.

“What have you done with them?” Jack said as anger built up inside him.

“He’s lying Jack, they’re safe.” Helena said reassuring him.

He raised his hand a few metres from Helena in Jacks hallway. Helena began rising off the floor. Suddenly she flew towards him. Grabbing her by her neck he looked at her as she struggled. “Pathetic” he said.

He then threw her down the hall and into the kitchen. She flew at least six metres before crashing into some cupboards. Jack heard people rushing around outside, screaming, at the sight of the fighting werewolves. The man turned his attention to Jack.

“Now.” he said as he moved his hand out towards Jack. Seconds passed as nothing happened. Jack couldn’t understand what he was doing.  “So this is what he was holding back. Who are you” he screamed at Jack.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Jack said frantically.

Jack didn’t know what to do; he looked at his brother in despair. Was he dead? All he could tell was that he wasn’t moving. The man noticed his gaze.

“Touching” he said sarcastically.

Jack felt a rage build up inside him. He threw himself forward, striking the man on the side of the face with the golf club. As he went to strike him again the man hit him with the back of his hand, bouncing him off the wall.

“Enough of this.” he said spitting a bit of blood on the floor. “It’s time we left?” He grabbed the unconscious body of Jack up off the floor when a voice sounded from the kitchen.

“Stop!”

The man turned to the source of the voice, wariness in his eyes as he held Jack in front of him.

“You thought you could hide this boy from me? You’re a fool Delaius.” Delaius looked closely at the man standing in front of him; there was something familiar about him. Delaius started as he recognised, hanging from the man’s neck, the stolen amulet; oval in shape, it had a red crystal in the centre which seemed to glow beautifully, similar to how the amulet Jack had given Lily glowed.

“Kalerum? Give yourself up to the council now.” Helena began getting back to her feet and steps came from outside where William had chased off Balzac.

“Your insight serves you well but it is the council that will give itself up to me.” Kalerum laughed.

William dived through the doorway towards Kalerum but, before he reached him, Kalerum and Jack seemed to disintegrate into a cloud of dust which shot out of the door and into the sky.

Helena limped to Delaius’ side. “We canny leave him to be used by that monster. Who knows what he’ll do to him”

“What’s his brother’s condition” Delaius asked, walking towards James.

“It’s not good” Helena replied as William joined them.

“Then there’s no time to waste.” he said.

“What about his friends?” Helena asked. “Are they safe?”

“For now they are safe with Hobbins at the house. Kalerum has what he wants. Jacks friends are of no concern to him now, though they’ll stay with us until Kalerum is dealt with.” he said. “Where’s Balzac?” he asked William.

“He got away.” he told him angrily.

“And Firghzar?”

William shook his head and with it sadness swept over Delaius for
Firzghar had been a friend of Delaius’ for many years, but mourning would have to wait.

“What about Jack?” William said as Delaius knelt next to James.

“Helena,” Delaius said, “we need a piece of Jacks clothing. Worn if possible and hurry there’s little time” Delaius said signaling Helena to search for one.

“No one will be able to track him now.” William stated.

“Sabula will” Delaius said picking the limp body of James up.

“You can’t be serious” William said, concern in his eyes. “He’ll likely kill us all.”

Jacks eyes opened. He was in a daze; his stomach felt as if it was sinking and his head was pounding. He was being grasped around the shoulders by the man who had bested Helena with ease, Kalerum. He focused his eyes and noticed that he was no longer in his hallway. Instead he was outside an abandoned house which was sat at the edge of a cliff with only grass surrounding it. Kalerum was standing next to him facing the old house with a malevolent look in his eyes. He dragged Jack towards it by his shoulder.

“Why did you kill my brother” Jack shouted at him as he stumbled along.

“Quiet boy, you’ll need your energy for what’s to come.” Kalerum said as he threw him against the wall.

Jack slowly got to his feet as Kalerum opened the door. “What is this place?” He asked looking into the dark house.

Kalerum pushed him inside. “Hell!” he said as he slammed the door behind Jack, locks springing into place by magic it seemed to Jack.

He was without friends in a dark and cold house that felt as if it had been abandoned for centuries. The furniture was covered in musty white cloths. Cobwebs covered the walls. The ripped wallpaper which once may have been white was now filthy and streaked with damp and fungus. Jack didn’t know what to do. Kalerum had sealed the door and Jack’s attempts to get out were useless. What was in there that Kalerum had sent him to face. He was cold and scared. As he stood in the hallway he heard a creak upstairs. Quickly stepping back from the stairs he stared up into the dark with nervous focus. Nothing was there. Another creak came from the floorboards in the living room followed by a loud bang. His eyes wide open and his heart racing Jack ran to the exit and banged on it for Kalerum to let him out. It was useless.
Jack had no other choice but to confront whatever it was. He slowly stepped towards the living room, approaching the open door he peered inside. Everything was quiet and nothing was in there apart from the covered furniture. Another loud crack came from behind him. He quickly turned but nothing was there. He was so scared he could feel his heart beating against his ribs as he scanned all around him. Footsteps came from upstairs as if someone was walking around one of the rooms. Jack mustered the courage to head upstairs. As he slowly walked up the old wooden steps, each step creaking with the weight of his body, Jack wished he’d never watched TV as all the scary films he’d watched began racing through his mind, amplifying his fear. Another creak came from a room on the left of the landing. Jack felt something behind him, turning quickly he looked down the stairs and into the darkness of the hall. It was empty and silent. He continued up the stairs, as he did so he felt his head get warmer and warmer and then a pressure build at the back of it. He rushed to the top fearing there was something following him but still nothing. The noises coming from the room had stopped. Jack was consumed with fear as he moved across the landing and into the small, dark room made even darker by its black wallpaper. A small gap in the roof allowed the moonlight to light up a small line across the room. By its light Jack saw a small bed resting against a wall. There was no mattress; all that was left of the bed was its rotted wooden frame. Apart from the bed, the room was empty. The uncomfortable cold of the room gave him goose-bumps and he decided to get out. Closing the door he saw three doors at the far end of the landing. Jack walked to the first as a sickly smell began to fill his nostrils. As he was about to open the right hand door, loud bangs from the middle door made him jump. The noise was as if someone was banging on the door from within. Jack took a few steps back. Unable to bring himself to open the door, he looked around in vain for something to use as a weapon. The bangs became louder and the door shook. Jack was petrified, he couldn’t open it. Knowing he had nowhere to run, he shakily mumbled “Who’s there?” After a few seconds he repeated himself more loudly.

The banging stopped, leaving the house momentarily in silence. Jack leapt back as the door flew open revealing a small bathroom with what looked like blood oozing slowly down the walls. The door slammed shut again. It repeated over and over again and then the door to the right began to do the same and then the left joined in. Jack panicked and moved backwards towards the stairs. Reaching them he watched as the doors slammed shut again. This time staying shut. Jack felt as if something was watching him. He looked behind him and then back downstairs. What he saw made him quiver with fear. There, crouched like an animal at the bottom of the stairs, was what looked like a little girl draped in a dirty white shift which covered her legs leaving her feet bare. Jack looked at her face. Her long ragged hair looked dirty; bits of it were missing leaving bald patches. Her head was tilted revealing pure white eyes. Her skin, where visible seemed to be burnt and falling off. One side of her mouth had a gaping slice through it showing the left side of her teeth which were yellow and black and appeared sharpened to points, definitely not human. Jack panicked as it tilted its head left and right, staring at him. Suddenly it raced up the stairs on all fours, pounding on each step as it thundered towards him. Jack turned to run, his foot caught on the side of the wooden banister making him trip. He hit the floor and turned as the monstrous little girl reached the top of the stairs and pounced towards him. Jack started as its face and body went straight through him. Quickly standing up; the first thought on his mind was that it was a ghost and he turned to see if it was behind him, but the landing was empty. Jack ran down the stairs fearing for his life. He rushed to the door and began banging on it.

“Let me out!” he screamed. “Please let me out.” but it was useless.

He turned back to face the empty hallway. Feeling queasy he stumbled to his knees. Something wasn’t right. He felt as if there was something moving inside him. His eyes felt
droopy and his face numb. He got up slowly and walked over to a mirror which hung next to the open living room door. He placed his hands on the wall either side of it in an attempt to hold up his now weakened body. Barely able to see himself in the mirror due to the grime and dark, he was just able to make out his face. He placed a hand on his face, feeling to check the numbness of it. As he did so the projection from the mirror showed bits of his skin fall off as his hand moved across his face. He pulled himself away from the mirror in shock. Feeling his face again it felt normal but the reflection in the mirror showed a different picture. He saw something reflected in the mirror; on the roof behind him, two arms seemed to be clawing their way through the ceiling, a large chunk of it fell down, the arms disappeared and blood dripped from the hole in the ceiling. Jack suddenly turned around to see for himself, as he did so the arms returned, followed by the rest of the demonic girl. She dropped to the floor and shot towards him, he yelled in terror as it reached him but again it seemed to vanish through him. He turned but it wasn’t there. A pain shot through his stomach making him fall to his knees. Suddenly he was no longer in control of himself, he felt pinned to the floor. His back arched, all he could do was cry out in agony for help as his body bent and was dragged across the hall to the stairs. His eyes turned white as his body was dragged up the stairs. Halfway up he felt himself rise off the stairs into mid-air. It was fast. As quick as his body had left the stairs it had hit the ceiling. His body flat against the ceiling facing the floor, he writhed in pain and his bones felt as if they were cracking inside him. Moments later his body dropped and Jack hit the floor face down. He was in so much pain he couldn’t think. He rolled over and saw the monstrous demon girl come thudding towards him across the floor. Unable to move with pain he cried out as she sprung towards him. Reaching him she was gone again. He felt something inside him again, pulling on his insides and twisting his mind. Images ran through his mind of everything that had happened during his life. His body arched again as he tried to scream but the only sound he made was a croak. His arms and legs pulsed as he lay on the floor. The white in his eyes turned to black. He felt as if he was dying and saw images of the monster inside him and he knew only death would follow. He knew that whatever this demon was, it wanted to consume him; leaving him empty as if taking his soul. It fed on his fear though Jack couldn’t do anything but fear.

As he lay there in agony he heard the door smash open. Bits of wood flew in all directions. Kalerum came through the door. He waved his hand in the direction of Jack and Jack felt himself gain control of his body again, although he couldn’t move, his body was too bruised and battered for him to do anything. The monstrous demon girl was now perched on the ceiling seemingly in agony as Kalerum held his hand in the air towards her, searching the demon’s eyes.

“Blood of my blood!” he said moments later as if the demon had told him something that had shocked him.

The demon squealed as it struggled to free itself from the ceiling but it was useless. A minute passed until Kalerum broke eye contact with it. “It cannot be.” he said towards Jack who was a wreck on the floor.

“Please don’t leave me here. Help me” Jack croaked at Kalerum.

“So the girl has it.” Kalerum said as he moved his hand away from the demon; however the demon still seemed to be pinned to the ceiling.

Kalerum knelt down next to Jack. “Delaius thought he could use you against us. He has only brought death upon you” he grinned.

Jack struggled as he faced Kalerum. “You’re doing all this…just because I’m resistant?” he asked still unable to move properly.

Kalerum laughed “Is that what the old fool told you.” He mocked “There are hundreds, humans and creatures alike, who are resistant to spells and you’re no different. Delaius lied to you! He couldn’t stop you from saying anything and he knew if you thought you’d be in danger then you dare not say anything.” He explained grimly. “It is not because of your resistance that you are here but the blood you possess. He was right to try and keep you from us.”

Jack looked confused. “But that’s why you brought me here isn’t it?”

Kalerum stood up and looked down at Jack. “He never told you did he.” he said “Then you should know why I brought you here and why you‘ll die here. Your ancestors held the blood of the guardians, which good Agnieszka here has revealed to me. Your existence is a problem. With you out of the way I am free of those problems and now that your brother is dead, soon you shall join him, ending your line. I had to be sure of who and what you are.”

Jack looked at him confused. “No your wrong I’m just a normal person! My parents are normal people!” he tried explaining through the pain.

“No” Kalerum howled “you’re an abomination, but I have to thank you for leading me to something much greater; something that now rests around the neck of your precious little Lily.”

“The pendant!”
Jack said surprised. “It’s just a necklace, it’s meaningless.”

“Oh but it’s not. There’s more at work here than you know boy. Enough of this, it’s time for me to pay little Lily a visit and for you to die” Kalerum finished.

“You stay away from her” Jack howled at him.

“Before you die know this boy. She will die because of you. She has something that I need and when I have it she will join you in this hell.”

Jack strained with anger and struggled to get up but he couldn’t. He managed to lift his upper body up, leaning on his arms. “Stay away from her!” he howled at him but Kalerum wasn’t paying any attention. He walked towards the door to leave the house. Before he disappeared from view he turned back to Jack.

“You were always destined for hell, Jack. You’re no better than I.”  Smirking he raised his hand towards the demon struggling on the ceiling.

“No!!!” Jack screamed as Kalerum released the demon and vanished.