TWENTY-SEVEN AN UNEXPECTED CALL
TWENTY-SEVEN
AN UNEXPECTED CALL
‘ W hat on earth were you thinking?’
Nathaniel’s voice booms around his office. Tariq and I are standing like schoolboys in front of the headmaster.
‘I’ve just got off the phone with Charles. A member of staff at the Wellbeing Centre contacted the Guild because they saw the two of you leaving Heather Willet’s room!’
Tariq eyes me.
‘We were—’
‘You’ve made some errors of judgement in the past, but this,’ Nathaniel says, interrupting Tariq. ‘I’d expect this from Opel, but not you!’
‘If I can just explain—’
‘The woman is unwell, Tariq. The Guild strictly forbids its members, and that includes Keepers, from visiting her. And what did you do? Not only did you go against this rule, but you also brought Liam along with you, putting him in danger.’
‘I’m okay,’ I say, finding my voice at last. ‘Please don’t be angry with Tariq. It was all my idea.’
‘Your idea or not, Tariq should have stopped you,’ Nathaniel says.
I’m about to snap back when Tariq steps forward.
‘Heather wasn’t a problem. In fact, she helped us. If you could put your frustration aside for a moment and listen to what Liam and I have to say, maybe you’d understand the reasons behind our actions.’
Nathaniel studies us both carefully, then sighs and takes a seat. He gestures for us to do the same.
‘Well?’ Nathaniel presses.
Tariq looks at me, and for a moment I don’t think he’s going to say anything at all, but then he turns back to Nathaniel and begins recounting our experience at the Wellbeing Centre. In the subdued lighting of Nathaniel’s office, his eyes shimmer. I’m lost in them.
‘And how exactly did you contact Katie?’ Nathaniel says, snapping me out of my trance.
‘I… er…’ I’m unsure of how to phrase it so it won’t cause Nathaniel to implode.
‘Heather transported Liam to the Everlasting,’ Tariq says, sounding disappointed with himself.
Nathaniel looks at both of us, mouth half-open.
‘Please tell me you’re joking,’ he says, finally.
‘Wait,’ I say. ‘Before you start deducting XP. I found Katie. I spoke to her.’
‘Liam…’ Tariq warns.
‘And the decision to enter the Everlasting was mine.’
Nathaniel leans back in his chair and folds his arms. ‘I hope you both understand the risks you took today?’
Tariq nods, and I do the same.
Nathaniel lets out another heavy sigh, tossing his glasses on the desk in front of him.
‘Are you certain it was Katie?’ he says. ‘For the living, the Everlasting is perilous ground. Not all entities on the other side are as they appear, Liam.’
‘It was her,’ I say. ‘She remembered things. Things only she would know.’
‘Go on,’ Nathaniel says.
I explain what Katie told me in the Everlasting, how she was captured and imprisoned by the Dark Friars, and how she escaped before being tracked down by Draven. ‘While she was captive, she overheard Layla Blyth talking about the night of something… the Night of Al— Alcator?’
Nathaniel stands abruptly. He grabs his glasses and begins scanning one of the bookshelves.
‘I thought you said it was Albazor?’ Tariq interjects.
Nathaniel pulls out a book and retakes his seat, flipping through the pages.
‘It might have been Alstar…’ I say.
‘It’s Alastor,’ Nathaniel corrects, landing on a page.
Both Tariq and I lean in.
‘Who is Alastor?’ I inquire.
‘Alastor isn’t a person, it’s an entity. A demon,’ Nathaniel responds. ‘If Katie’s account is accurate, then we’re facing a dire situation.’
Nathaniel turns the book and points to a sketch of Alastor. My stomach drops. It looks exactly like the thing I’ve been seeing. The eyes, the claws, the skeletal dark limbs.
‘Liam?’ Tariq says.
‘You recognise it, don’t you?’ says Nathaniel.
‘It’s the thing I’ve been seeing – that took over Katie’s body, and appeared in my daydream in class, and in the hospital… it’s Alastor.’
‘You’re sure?’ Nathaniel says.
I nod. ‘It was in the Everlasting too, right after Katie vanished.’
‘Liam, you didn’t say anything about a demon…’ says Tariq.
‘Sorry…’ I say, noticing the worry all over his face. ‘I was a bit jet-lagged. Then there was the vomit situation, and I just wanted to tell you about what Katie said…’
Tariq nods. I hope he understands.
‘This is deeply troubling,’ Nathaniel says, spinning the book back around and scanning the page.
‘You guys deal with demons all the time, don’t you?’ I say. ‘Why is Alastor any different?’
‘Alastor isn’t just any demon,’ Nathaniel says. ‘He’s one of the ancient ones, part of the original cohort of demons that once roamed this world.’
‘The ones that the original Keepers banished to the Crossing?’ I say.
‘Yes,’ Nathaniel confirms. ‘My assumption is that the Night of Alastor is a window for the Dark Friars to summon him from the Crossing. My meeting with the Guild today didn’t provide any new insights.
Their historians were at a loss. However, now that we know it’s Alastor, I expect progress will rattle ahead. ’
‘But we can face a single demon, right?’ Tariq says.
‘Alastor would be unlike anything you’ve encountered from the Crossing,’ Nathaniel says.
‘A pure demon. This passage here depicts Alastor as “the most malicious and sadistic of the ancient ones”. It revelled in torment, not just physical, but psychological. It excelled at astral projection, infiltrating the dreams of its victims and laying the groundwork for suffering and despair.’
‘Astral projection?’ I say.
‘Yes, it’s how Heather transported you to the Everlasting.’
‘Hm.’
‘What is it?’ Tariq says.
‘If Alastor is trapped in the Crossing, physically unable to get out, could he astral project himself out? You said he excelled in it, that he infiltrates dreams. Is this how I have been seeing him?’
Nathaniel seems vaguely impressed at my deduction, raising both eyebrows in surprise.
‘Well, yes, I suppose that could be the case,’ he says.
‘But why Liam?’ Tariq says.
Nathaniel ponders for a moment, then turns to me. ‘When we first met and you told me about your dream… do you remember me telling you how unusual it was to see beyond your predecessor’s death?’
‘Yes. There was chanting and then a fire.’
‘It’s played on my mind ever since. It’s unusual for the Dark Friars to be so ritualistic in their killings, but perhaps that is what this was, a ritual.’
‘A ritual for what?’ Tariq says.
‘The summoning of Alastor,’ I say. ‘In the Everlasting, Katie mentioned that the Dark Friars were preparing for something, and that a sacrifice had to be made. What if that sacrifice was…’
‘Katie Ford,’ Nathaniel says. ‘I do believe you’re right. Many sacrificial rituals need to happen in advance of a summoning, so timing wise it makes sense. It may also answer why Alastor has formed a connection with you.’
‘Okay, now I’m lost,’ I say.
‘Alastor has been trapped in the Crossing for thousands of years,’ Nathaniel begins. ‘Think of the sacrifice as a way of awakening him, bringing him to the surface. He is not yet able to escape, but he’s had a taste, and knows freedom is on the horizon.’
‘So, Liam witnessed Katie’s death,’ says Tariq, ‘and because he’s a newly awakened Keeper with a link to the Crossing’s energy, Alastor was able to establish a connection with him.’
‘Exactly,’ Nathaniel says.
‘That’s why Draven wanted to be sure that all I saw in my dream was what a Keeper would usually see, the death of their predecessor,’ I say. ‘He didn’t want me knowing about the ritual.’
Nathaniel nods. ‘And you were wise to hide that information from him, otherwise he may have offed you there and then.’
That thought alone sends chills over my body.
I clutch at my wound, knowing Draven’s attempt since then was painful enough.
‘So, now that we know it’s Alastor, we can defeat him, right?’ Tariq says.
Nathaniel doesn’t reply. He reclines in his chair, rubbing his trimmed beard.
‘Nathaniel?’ Tariq prompts.
‘I’m not certain,’ Nathaniel says, finally.
‘You’re not certain?’
‘To my knowledge, an Old One hasn’t successfully traversed the Crossing since the original Keepers incarcerated them there. Back then, there were six highly trained Keepers. It took them years to…’ Nathaniel trails off, his gaze locking onto mine.
‘What are you saying?’ Tariq questions.
‘Right now, I don’t think we possess the same strength.’
He’s not wrong. There are currently only four active Keepers, and of those four, only two stand a chance – Tariq and Opel. Heather is confined to the Wellbeing Centre, and me, well, I’m barely two weeks old, in Keeper terms.
‘So, what? We just let Alastor spring from the Crossing and hope he’s having a good day?’ Tariq says.
‘I say we don’t allow him to spring forth at all. We prevent the Dark Friars from executing the summoning ritual,’ says Nathaniel, once again scanning the text. ‘If this text is correct, this might be their sole opportunity to release Alastor from the Crossing, at least for a century or two.’
‘We stop their plan, we stop Alastor,’ Tariq says.
Nathaniel nods.
‘What happens now?’ I ask.
‘I will present this revelation to the Guild before we undertake any action. Now that we know it is Alastor we’re dealing with, they may have more insights. Plus, I prefer none of us taking impulsive steps… again.’ Nathaniel glares at us both.
Nathaniel’s phone rings, vibrating across his desk. The screen reads: Opel Everleigh calling .
‘Hello?’ he says, answering.
There’s a muffled reply, and Nathaniel’s whole demeanour changes. He shifts uncomfortably in his chair.
‘Who is this?’
Tariq and I exchange glances while Nathaniel’s conversation continues. The voice on the other end is distorted; I can’t make out what is being said.
‘What’s going on?’ Tariq says, now looking just as uneasy as Nathaniel.
Nathaniel raises a hand to silence him.
After a few moments, Nathaniel hangs up, tossing his phone onto his desk.
‘Nathaniel, what’s going on? Who was that?’
‘That was Draven Blyth. The Dark Friars have Opel.’
‘What?’ Tariq says. ‘Where?’
‘At the church. There was a confrontation, and she was captured.’
‘Is she still alive?’ I ask.
Nathaniel nods. ‘He assures me she is, but who knows. He wants the Guild to stand down, or he’ll kill her.’
Tariq moves for the door. ‘I’m going to the church.’
‘Draven will be expecting that,’ Nathaniel says, throwing on his coat. ‘Please, wait until I return from the Guild. We will know our best course of action then.’
‘But what about—’
‘I mean it, Tariq. You’ve risked enough today already.’
He rushes out the door, disappearing down the corridor.
Tariq kicks one of the chairs and it clatters into the other. He rests his hands against one of the units, taking in deep breaths. At this point, I’m not really sure what to say. I’ve never seen Tariq look this angry.
‘Tariq…’
He pushes himself away from the unit and heads for the door.
‘Where are you going?’
He stops abruptly. ‘The church.’
‘I’m going with you,’ I say.
He vigorously shakes his head. ‘No way.’
‘I can’t just stay here,’ I say.
‘It’s too dangerous.’
‘Draven killed Katie, and he nearly killed me…’
‘That’s exactly why you can’t come, you’re still recovering.’
‘I feel fine,’ I say, firmly. ‘Look, if you’re going, then so am I.’
I can tell Tariq wants to argue, but we don’t have time, and he knows it.
He sighs. ‘Fine. But you follow my lead. No matter what. This isn’t the Wellbeing Centre; it’s Dark Friar HQ.’
I nod.
‘Let’s go,’ Tariq says, reluctantly. And together, we depart from the Seven Angels.