The Amulets (An 'Amulets of Andarrin' tale) (17 page)

Delaius’ kitchen was a site of panic. Delaius had managed to get help from his friend Hobbins and they had rescued Jack’s friends from Kalerum’ lackeys and Hobbins was now keeping an eye on them until Delaius returned. Frankie, Lily and Aaron were there though so was Lily’s boyfriend Ben, and Aaron’s roommate Clive. Hobbins was gazing out of the kitchen window waiting for any sign of Delaius whilst the rest of them were stood around discussing what had happened.

Aaron joined the discussion. “This thing came straight through our front door…never seen anything like that.”

“Something chased me and Lily down the street.” Lily’s boyfriend explained until Frankie interrupted.

“I’m not being funny but why is this happening to us. What’s going on?” she asked hoping someone knew but no-one had a clue. One minute they were being chased the next they were being saved by a man who somehow brought them there.

Delaius came through the front door followed by Helena and William who was carrying the still limp body of James.

“James” Aaron shouted as Delaius signaled William to take him upstairs. Delaius followed leaving Helena with the others.

“Who’s James?” Frankie asked Aaron.

“Jack’s brother.” Aaron said with worry.

“Don’t worry about your friend, Delaius will tend to him.” Helena said softly.

Ben moved towards Helena. “And who’s he…who are any of you?” he voiced angrily.

“He saved your lives and I…I am a friend. Now are any of you hurt?”

“Ok then what the hell were those things chasing us in the first place” Ben continued frustrated and scared.

Hobbins stepped in and he and Helena tried comforting them and began explaining what happened.

Upstairs Delaius sat on a stool examining the teeth marks in James neck and shoulder. Wiping away the blood he placed his hand over James’ wounds. Seconds later they began healing though Delaius didn’t look any happier. He turned to William. “You need to keep a close eye on him whilst I’m gone. The fever will start shortly and if it doesn‘t then he‘ll be dead.”

William looked at James feeling sorry for him. “Is there nothing else we can do?” William said.

Delaius pulled some straps from under the bed. “I’m afraid not.” He passed the long straps to William. “Now I must see Sabula.” He said distractedly.

“I don’t think that’s wise Delaius.” William said softly. 

“There is no other way. You know what to do.” he said glancing at the straps in Williams’s hand.

“Yes” William acknowledged “but Sabula can‘t be trusted.”

“I have to try.” Delaius said before turning to leave.

“Good luck” William replied as Delaius headed downstairs.

Delaius came to the bottom of the stairs and heard the chattering of the group in the kitchen. He looked to Helena who passed him a black shirt.

“That’s Jack’s isn’t it” Aaron said to Frankie.

Delaius heard and turned to them. “Yes this is Jack’s” he said with sorrow. “I’m afraid your friend has been taken.”

They all shouted questions at him but Delaius ignored them and continued talking. “If I do not find your friend soon then I’m afraid he may be killed so I must beg of you to allow me to search for him. Helena and William are here and so is Hobbins, they will look after you until I return.” he said.

“Is James ok?” Aaron asked.

“James’ wounds are bad.” Delaius said “but I must go. When I return I will answer your questions.” he said sympathetically.

He gave Helena one last nod before turning to Hobbins “may I have a moment?” he said guiding him outside.

“Hobbins I cannot thank you enough for what you have done” he began “I mean to track Jack by using the Fraeir” he said seeing Hobbins’ eyes light up in shock. “I have no choice, he will be able to tell me where he is, but he may lie and it may be a trap.”

Hobbins nodded as Delaius continued “if I do not return I want you to get this lot safe. I have a house in Cumbria, Helena knows where it is,
they will be safe there. I hate to ask this of you my friend but I have no one else I can turn to, there isn’t enough time.”

“Say no more my friend. You’ve done a great many things for my family, and saved my life many a time. Waste no more time, go, I will watch over them.”

“Thank you.” He said as they both gripped one another by the arm, moments later Hobbins nodded and headed back inside.

Delaius stood in front of the dark brown shed which was behind his house, the black shirt clutched in his hand. The padlock unlocked itself and Delaius entered the empty shed. Kneeling down in the middle of it, he placed a hand over a gold and diamond plated padlock. Moments passed until the lock unlocked itself. Delaius pulled the hatch on the floor of the shed open and walked down a small set of steps. As he reached the bottom it became light. The cellar was cold and damp. Delaius stood in the middle of the square cellar looking towards a creature bound in chains.

The creature was known as a Fraeir and Fraeir were distant relations of the species known as Banshees and the Borlin Fraeir, though the Fraeir, being evolutionary products of a dying species, had adapted and were much more advanced and intelligent than their counterparts. The Fraeir before Delaius wore a shimmering black cloak which covered its body. Its face was like something from a nightmare. It’s only features were two slits, which seemed to perform the function of nostrils, above wide thin lips. To anyone else it would have sent shivers down their spines, it was a thing of pure horror. The creature sniffed the air as Delaius approached it.

“You are going to help me Sabula.” Delaius said eyeing the creature. The creature didn’t respond, instead it just sniffed the air. Delaius knelt in front of it. “Sabula, you can redeem yourself for your crimes here and now. I will testify on your behalf. Your sentence will be lowered significantly.”

Sabula tilted its head back and Delaius heard a voice in his head. “
Shuifs ala blaje ka”

“I have little time Sabula if you do not help me now I fear it will be too late. I know there is good in you and I am asking for your help.” Delaius explained with sincerity.

Sabula held out for a few seconds before responding. “Kala” it said in Delaius’ head.

Delaius held the shirt he was holding in front of Sabula’s slits. Sabula sniffed it for little more than twenty seconds. Slowly Sabula sniffed the air around him until finally Delaius heard his voice in his head once more. “
Khanasa fwae demonjahrad” he said.

Delaius looked stunned. The horror on his face made Sabula’s voice sound in his head though this time there was no words. It was laughter. Delaius turned and made his way up the steps, sealing the padlocks on the hatch and the door as he left the shed. Outside he glanced through
the window and saw Jack’s friends looking distraught and talking in the kitchen. Helena stood comforting them. There was no time to linger, Delaius had to hurry.

Kalerum stood outside the house, his back to the door. Suddenly through a cloud of dust another man in dark black robes appeared before him. The man’s face had faded scars over it, and he looked sinister, his dark eyes showed no good would come from him. “Everything is in place” the man told Kalerum.

“Good, this had better work Larcus. We cannot fail. We have searched too long for this and he will not tolerate failure this time.” Kalerum told Larcus.

Kneeling down he placed a hand on the grass and closed his eyes and whispered an incantation.

The ground shook as if a force from his hand had sent a shockwave through the earth.  “Come and tear him limb from limb” he finished standing up. “Hold him off as long as you can.”

“I mean to do more than that.” Larcus replied happy to obey.

Kalerum nodded to Larcus and, without wasting another moment, Kalerum’s body suddenly disintegrated into dust and shot up towards the sky. The only sound as he left was a loud scream coming from inside the house.

“
Aarrrghh!” Jack screamed as he felt his body twist and turn. Leaning on his arms with his back bent he struggled. If it bent anymore it would surely break. His nose and ears dripped with blood, eyes bloodshot and the veins all over his body were nearly bursting through his skin. Suddenly a translucent smoke flew up out of Jack’s body before forming a figure in the shape of a young girl. Though this was no young girl; her face was burnt and as wrinkled as a ploughed field, her white eyes looked down on him as she smiled, revealing pointed teeth; sharp and yellow. She began laughing hysterically. Jack rushed back at the sight of it so he was leaning on his hands behind his back.

“Your soul is mine” it screamed as it dived into Jack again. It went into him without leaving a mark, hurling Jack back and sending him crashing into the lower banister on the stairs. Jack writhed in pain as he fell back to the floor. Jack knew there was no bargaining with the creature and that there was nothing he could do. He’d surely die there.

Outside, Larcus stepped back as a cloud of dust in front of him began to solidify.

Delaius appeared, his gaze fixed on Larcus.

“Larcus” he said having expected to find Kalerum “you are part of this?”

“For too long have the High Council shunned me. I have done everything they asked and what have I received for my dedication, being sent to this hell to watch over the humans of Earth.”

“You have betrayed everything the council stands for; tell me, how easy
was it for the enemy to twist your mind.”

“I will rise higher than I ever I would have been allowed by the High Council. And when we have taken the worlds for ourselves, I will be amongst the rulers.”

“Is that what he promised you?”

“I’m did not linger here to bandy words with you; I stayed to end you.”

They could both hear Jacks screams causing Delaius’ gaze to flicker past Larcus to the house.

“You can’t save him Delaius, your too late.” Larcus told him.

Delaius didn’t respond in words instead his long brown wand shot from his sleeve and as soon as he clasped it in his hand he flicked it out in front of his body causing Larcus to bring his own wand up and force Delaius’ spell away with a counter of his own.
Delaius again sent another towards him, and another, Larcus parrying each, but Delaius was moving towards him with each spell cast.

Larcus quickly sent three bolts back towards Delaius, causing Delaius to stop in his tracks and deflect them away.

They reached an impasse and paused for a moment:

“This is your last chance Larcus, step aside.”

“I’ve been waiting for this day to prove myself your superior Delaius. Prepare to meet your end.”

“So be it” Delaius said through gritted teeth and as the words left his mouth he began swirling his wand as he muttered a spell. A flame shot from his wand, it was a small ball of fire, as small as a flame on a lighter and it floated in the air next to Delaius.

Larcus wasn’t worried and he wasn’t waiting any longer, He sent a bright violet beam towards Delaius who quickly stepped aside as fireballs continued to leave his wand until there were at least a dozen of the small flames floating around Delaius.

Larcus howled a curse and a spell shot from his wand so fast that Delaius could not defend against it and it hit him straight in the chest causing him to hurtle backwards through the air and crash to the ground. As soon as the spell hit Delaius all the small fireballs that had surrounded him disappeared from view.

A victorious smile spread over Larcus’ face as he strode over to him, wand in hand, pointed towards Delaius as he rolled over to get to his feet.

“Look at you, you were regarded so highly and yet here you lie, defeated.” Larcus said looking down at the stunned Delaius, his fists clenched, seemingly from the pain.

Delaius rolled to face Larcus, fists clenched. Slowly, a smile came to his lips as he opened his hands and spoke the word to complete his spell.

Larcus’ victorious expression soon turned to fright as all the small fireballs reappeared around him.

Larcus turned quickly to defend himself but he wasn’t quick enough, the fireballs shot towards him flying into him, covering him in flames and sending him hurtling back through the air.

Delaius got up and picked up his wand, he knew a few fireballs wouldn’t defeat Larcus. He watched Larcus bring his hands up his body as if removing an invisible blanket and as he did so the flames went out leaving Larcus unharmed.

Delaius however had his wand in hand and sent a spell hurtling towards him, it connected and sent Larcus crashing to the floor. As soon as he hit the ground, Delaius flicked his wand in a semi-circle to the left and then the right, as he did so, the grass under Larcus began thickening and wrapping itself around his arms and legs.

Larcus tried rising up but Delaius flicked the point of his wand towards him and Larcus crashed back to the ground, unable to move.

Another loud scream came from the house and Delaius didn’t have time to waste with Larcus.

He flicked his wand at the wand in Larcus’ trapped hand and it spiraled away from him.

With Larcus helpless and imprisoned by the grass, Delaius rushed over to the house leaving Larcus’ screams of anger behind him.

“You think this can hold me, I’ll kill you.”

Delaius knew it wouldn’t hold him for long but he hoped it would hold him long enough to save Jack. Once Jack was safe he’d deal with Larcus but there was no time to waste.

Meanwhile inside the house Jack struggled. All he could feel was searing pain all through his body as the creature took control of it. It felt as though his bones were being cracked and his organs stabbed. His thoughts went to his friends and the knowledge he would never see them again. The creature seemed to know everything he was thinking. His mind became filled with thoughts of death, guilt and hate. He thought he could see a small room in which Lily was talking with Aaron and Ben. Suddenly a translucent figure flew into the room dimming the fire as it glided past it. The three of them began to panic when suddenly it flew into Aaron knocking him unconscious to the floor. Everything went quiet. Lily stood behind Ben who moved towards Aaron to see if he was alright. “Aaron?” he said quietly but there was no reply. Ben bent down over his body. “Aaron….”

Ben didn’t finish. Aaron rolled over and clutched Ben’s neck. His eyes were as white as milk. Lily screamed for him to let Ben go but it was no use. Aaron was possessed. He snapped Ben’s neck with one hand letting his body drop lifelessly to the floor. Lily screamed as Jack cried out for her to run, but he was helpless as he watched the vision play out in his head.

Aaron dived at Lily and brought her to the floor. “I’m going to peel your flesh from your body.” He said happily, but it wasn’t Aaron’s voice that was heard, it was the creatures inside Jack.

“What do you want from me!?” Jack shouted. The vision faded.

Jack was back in the Dark hall with only his pain, and the evil enforcing it, for company. “See the future!” the voice inside him said.

“Why are you doing this? Just kill me.” Jack pleaded.

Clive and Frankie were tied to a tree. Their bright and happy faces were now pale and fearful. Shock filled their eyes as they watched two pale creatures crawling down the tree towards them. The creatures had vaguely human bodies but they were thin, bald and naked with large heads which seemed to mostly consist of a wide mouth full of sharp teeth, set beneath empty eye sockets and two slits for nostrils. Their hands and feet were thin and clawed and they snarled like animals as they clawed their way down the tree to where Frankie and Clive cried and screamed in vain for help. When they were level with the captives’ heads, the creatures screamed in triumph before digging their teeth into their victim’s necks and faces.

Jack shouted but again it was hopeless. Another vision flashed in Jack’s mind.

Lily stood in a large dimly lit room, tears were in her eyes. Her neck no longer bore the pendant instead a burn mark disfigured her skin where the pendant had been. The room was filled with men dressed in robes. One man stood out amongst them, Kalerum, wearing a long dark robe, walked over to Lily. He stroked her hair away from her face and grinned at her. “I want you to know, you wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Jack” he smirked. Slowly he turned until he seemed to be looking directly toward Jack.  “Now witness what you’ve caused” Kalerum said before turning to Lily and slicing her neck open with a knife.

“
Nooooo!!” Jack screamed and it seemed as though Kalerum heard it. Blood spread over Lily’s clothes as Kalerum’ blade left her neck. Kalerum watched as she fell to the floor then turned and faced Jack through the vision. “So young…pity. And yet this is all because of you. YOU killed her boy, you!” he said matter-of-factly.

Jack, enraged, stood up. The vision disappeared again and now he was back in the house. Within moments of getting to his feet he was straight back down after being flung across the room and into the wall next to the door where he’d entered with Kalerum. He was battered and broken. Could the vision really be the future? Would Lily, Clive and Frankie die because of him?

A loud laugh interrupted his thoughts followed by a painful pounding in his head. Jack’s hands went to either side of his head as he rocked from side to side in agony. Tears welled up in his eyes. “What…do…you want from me” he stuttered in resignation.

The demon was in front of him again, the gaping hole in the side of her face showing her teeth and jaw. “Your soul!!” she screamed as she began to fly back towards him. Suddenly the front door flew across the room. The demon stopped short of Jacks body and turned to the
entrance. Delaius walked in and the demon quickly made for him but came to a stop before she reached him. It seemed as if she was rooted to the spot as Delaius moved over to Jack. He was a mess. His body was bruised and broken. It felt as if his insides had been crushed.

“Delaius it’s a trap…” Jack muttered “they never wanted me…they want the pendant.” Jack said as Delaius held his head up.

“Where is the amulet Jack?” Delaius pressed.

Jack coughed and clutched his stomach from pain. “I gave it to…Lily has it” he stuttered.

“Sabula” Delaius said with clenched teeth. “Come we must go, there isn’t much time.”

Delaius helped Jack up and headed outside. He carefully sat him on the steps leaving him to lean on the railing before turning back to the house. The demon was still rooted to the spot in the house when Delaius turned his attention to her.

“You’ve lived too long demon” he said angrily.

“You cannot stop me” she shouted and laughed hysterically.

Delaius didn’t respond with words he was beyond that now. Filled with anger he placed a hand on the entrance to the house where the door used to be. After a few moments a fire started burning where his hand had been. Delaius looked at the creature whose face was still hysterical, “There is no escape for you now demon. You shall burn in your own hell.” Delaius turned back to Jack and helped him onto his feet before making their way away from the burning house, all the while the screams from the demon echoing into the night in counterpoint to the muffled cursing coming from Larcus’ verdant prison.