Convocation, page 17
“Is that Marcus?” Ulrika said, breaking Jarek’s web of thoughts.
“Yes, he said he’d meet us near the park,” Jarek responded. As soon as they got closer, he saw Marcus nod.
“Good evening, everyone,” he said as he gave them all a forced smile. He stared directly into Jarek’s eyes. “You were right.”
“Good . . . well, not good. But it is good to have that validated.” The other three turned their head toward Jarek, clearly perplexed by the conversation.
“All thirteen were there,” Marcus said. “Well, from what we assume. It looked to be that way, I mean.” He shook his head. “And you were right about them. No one has seen them all day.”
Jarek lowered his head. “Shit,” he mumbled. “Sorry, forgive me.”
“What’s going on, Jarek,” Ulrika asked, cheeks getting a bit redder.
“I . . . I can’t say yet, for sure. Once we get to the park it will all make sense, I believe. Unfortunately.”
“Come, let’s get this over with,” Marcus said as he extended his arm, gesturing for them to keep moving.
A sign for the church came into view. Jarek recognized it. The graveyard was lit up with activity to Jarek’s eyes. Unusually active. Shadows jaunted around the headstones while several orbs bounced about in the night sky. It reminded Jarek of the people dancing in Martin O’Connell’s ballroom . . . no, the more he stared it reminded him of the chaos that ensued shortly after. The dead and other entities being drawn to this world.
The park adjacent to the graveyard was becoming more visible by the faint light off a streetlamp. Four figures stood in the back, near the tree line. The tall natural wooden structures towered over the park ominously.
As soon as the figures came into view, the five of them slowed their walking. Jarek began to dart his eyes about to make sure it wasn’t a trap and that it was truly only four people waiting for them. He glanced at Marcus—he was clearly doing the same.
Five sets of feet crossed the entrance into the park, Jarek and Marcus in front with Ulrika, Agatha, and Hamish close behind. As they got closer, a flick of a tail caught Jarek’s eyes. Pacing on the ground next to one of the figures was an all too familiar feline from the O’Connell’s, which he had thought was a stray Jarek gazed at the figure—Rose. Her dark eyes contrasted against her pale skin were unmistakable. Viktor stood tall and proud next to her. His broad shoulders cantered just right to cover the other two figures standing behind them.
As the five got closer, Viktor shifted his stance. The two shapes hidden behind him and Rose came into view.
“Mother . . . Father?” Ulrika let out in a quivering voice.
“What . . . what is going on?” Agatha asked so quietly that Jarek barely even heard her.
“Ulrika, come here to Mother, darling,” Ursula said as she summoned with her hand.
“What the hell is going on?” Ulrika let out.
A hawk screeched overhead as it flew from one of the ponderosas to another one closer to Viktor’s group.
Viktor let out a laugh, soon followed by Rose. Ursula let out no laughter, but she had a small forced-looking smile on her face. Erik stood as still as a statue. Jarek had yet to see his face until now. His rugged features had several days of scruff, along with the dark markings of a blacksmith.
“Ulrika, come here,” Ursula demanded.
“I will not. Not until I know what all is going on.”
“Jarek,” Marcus interjected as he placed his hand on Jarek’s shoulder and pressed. “You need to tell them what you told me earlier today. They . . . she deserves to know the truth.”
Jarek’s heart was racing. As he never broke eye contact with the four figures in front of him, he could see the dark shadow domineering behind them. His core remained ignited, but this surrounding energy was weighing him down heavily.
“Ah yes, Jarek, share with us all what you think you know,” Viktor said in a booming voice, clearly mocking him. His laugh confirmed it.
“First things first, Viktor. You said you would let Erik go if we came here tonight,” Jarek said.
“I said if we met here tonight and we reached an agreement, I would let him go.” His dark eyes narrowed as if trying to read Jarek.
Jarek felt a chill run through him. As he stared back, his gaze drifted to Erik, who seemed to be still . . . no, he too was breathing heavily. His chest moved up and down, while the remainder of his body seemed frozen in time.
“Ulrika, I’m not going to ask you again. Come here,” Ursula said, breaking Jarek’s concentration.
“Ulrika, don’t. Your mother is one of them,” Jarek said as he held his arm out, even though Ulrika hadn’t taken a step yet.
“What do you mean?” she asked, her voice shaking. “Please tell me, I beg of you. What is going on?”
“I’m sorry to tell you this, Ulrika. Truly I am. These women disappearing, when did it start?”
“About twenty-eight years ago . . . why?” she asked.
“And . . . and when did your parents meet?”
“It’s been twenty-eight years this year,” she responded as Jarek stared back and saw her wiping a tear from her face. “But what . . . what does that have to do with it?”
“This man, Viktor, and Ms. Smith . . . and . . . and your mother are all working together on something dark. They are followers of the dark arts. Viktor must have some abilities that they believe the demons can enhance. His blood runs with it. They think his blood is special, but it needs a connection to the other side to reach its full potential. I don’t know exactly how it all works, but they believe that you can help them with their plan.” Jarek paused as Viktor’s face grew a wide smile . . . almost as if he was proud of Jarek telling the truth.
Jarek turned and placed both his hands on Ulrika’s shivering shoulders. He stared deep into her eyes. “You are special, Ulrika . . . your blood is special.”
“I still don’t understand,” she said as Jarek raised his hand and rubbed away a tear from her cheek.
“I . . . I hate to tell you this. I truly do.” Jarek filled his lungs with air before slowly exhaling. He began to realize Ulrika’s emotions were pulsating through him now. His eyes started to pool with tears from the pain she was beginning to feel. “Your mother is not who you think she is. She is an accomplice to these murders. She is a part of this . . . of this group. And these murders . . .” Jarek paused. Ulrika’s eyes were exploding with fear and sadness. “These murders were committed by the direction of that man standing right there . . . Viktor Eideen.”
“You almost have it right, boy,” Viktor let out, obviously pushing Jarek.
Jarek’s gaze turned sharply toward Viktor, looking deep into his eyes. “I wasn’t finished yet.” He looked back at Ulrika. “These women were murdered, from what I can tell, by two different men over the past twenty-eight years. Viktor used his knowledge to have this . . . this unholy creature possess these men and then kill the women. He enslaved them to feed his thirst for more power and supernatural gifts.”
“I . . . I still don’t fully understand,” Ulrika stuttered.
“These creatures lust after mortal blood. It is what Viktor uses to draw them here, and to entice them to do his bidding. But what he fails to realize is they do his bidding just to gain a foothold into our world. They have no loyalty to him. They never have, and they never will.”
Viktor let out another chuckle.
“But what does my father have to do with this, and why does he look like that?” Ulrika pleaded.
Marcus raised his arm from behind Ulrika and placed it on her shoulder too. Jarek knew that he fully understood now.
“Because, Ulrika, your father has been violated and used by Viktor . . . by your mother,” Jarek said. “He is not himself, and he hasn’t been for several years. The first man to murder the women was Mr. Clark’s brother, until he must have one day realized the atrocities he had committed and took his own life. Then . . . that woman, your mother, allowed Viktor to move on to your father as the next man to become their executioner. I’m so sorry, Ulrika, but your father—”
“He’s possessed,” Ulrika said softly, cutting off Jarek. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she looked over toward her father. He was still standing motionless, as if his gaze were a million miles away. “It . . . it all makes sense. It was several years ago when he changed, but I got so busy with work and Grandmother . . . I tried to ignore his erratic behavior.”
“Oh, Ulrika, it had to be done. You will see, my child,” Ursula said, taking a step closer to them. “He never was a good father for you anyway. He only cared about his own work.”
“Did you have to poison Erik’s mother too?” Jarek asked sternly.
Ursula stopped in her tracks.
“What . . . ?” Ulrika asked.
“Yes, I saw the vials of mercury down in the chamber. Right next to all the other blacksmithing tools. Easy access from Erik’s shop. The tools and the mercury. It is highly poisonous, and I am guessing you had some of the food intended for your grandmother the other day, Ulrika . . . hence the sickness.”
“Clever young man you are,” Viktor said.
Ignoring Viktor, Jarek continued. “Unfortunately the amount she has given your grandmother over the years is likely fatal.” He drew a breath and huffed before looking at Ursula. “Why’d you do it? Was she catching on to you, so you thought it best to slowly make her go mad?”
To Jarek’s surprise, Ulrika pushed away from him and bolted toward her mother. He could see the anger radiating from her body. Her entire body was surrounded by red and pink energy. Snow kicked up as she ran through the white powder.
“Ulrika, no!” Jarek shouted as he was about to run in pursuit of her.
“How could you!” she yelled as she approached her mother. Viktor nodded, and Erik moved in front of Ursula and reached out, gripping Ulrika tightly by the neck with one hand.
“Ulrika!” Marcus shouted as he and Jarek slowed and walked side by side to get closer.
“Now everybody, let’s just stop,” Ursula said.
“Oh, be quiet,” Rose let out softly, but Jarek heard it clearly.
Hmmm, disorder in the ranks.
Jarek and Marcus stopped a few paces away from Ulrika, who was still held by her father.
“You see, boys, I think I have the upper hand here,” Viktor said. “You are no match for the gift of pure strength that now flows through Erik’s body.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Marcus said as he reached into his jacket and drew his Colt revolver.
Oh shit. He eyed Marcus. “What the hell?” he whispered. He looked back to see Hamish had an arm around Agatha, who appeared terrified. They were moving slowly closer to the others.
“Let her go,” Marcus said pointedly.
Viktor laughed. “Oh, young man, it doesn’t work like that.”
“I will shoot him,” Marcus said.
Ulrika was beginning to choke as she seemed to be trying to say something.
“Don’t push me, I will do it. Let her go,” Marcus demanded.
“Viktor, have Erik release her,” Ursula said.
Suddenly a dark energy projected directly out from Erik’s body. The already dim park grew darker, as if a storm were quickly rolling in. The cold air became still and heavier. Erik slowly turned his head back toward Ursula. “Shut your mouth, you adulteress whore,” he said slowly in a low voice. “This girl was bred to unlock the vessel. Don’t you dare command what I do or don’t do with her.”
Chapter 16
The Five
January 2, 1925, 11:37 p.m.
Adark fog now filled the park. The haze was so thick no one would be able to see what was happening in the center of the park if they passed by. Ulrika was still gasping for air as her own father’s hand, controlled by the beast inside him, gripped her neck. Marcus’s revolver remained drawn on Erik. All while Jarek stood feeling helpless. Hamish and Agatha stood directly behind the two men, Hamish embracing the elderly maid. Across from them, Ursula had an air of concern, but both Viktor and Rose wore vindictive smiles. Erik’s eyes of fiery orange penetrated Jarek’s core as he stared at him.
“Time to let her go,” Viktor commanded. The beast released the grip on Ulrika’s neck. She dropped to the ground in a heap. Marcus lowered his Colt and ran over to her, kneeling on the ground beside her as she coughed while inhaling fresh oxygen.
“Are you okay?” Marcus asked while rubbing her back. She nodded without saying anything.
“See, they do have loyalty to me,” Viktor said smugly.
Jarek continued to concentrate on the possessed man in front of him. The energy surrounding the man was pure darkness, with the exception of a hint of yellow at his exact core. There he is. There’s Erik. “I wouldn’t say that. Your arrogance blinds your own eyes. You might have some authority over the beast because you know its true name, but you are not its master.” The energy pulsated from Erik in ripples. Jarek could tell that made the creature inside angry.
Viktor began to laugh. “Oh, Jarek, trust me, I am its master.” More ripples in the energy.
“Maybe you are. I guess you might have true power that I will never know. You must, after all, if it must do anything you command of it.” More ripples. But now the dark haze was billowing up from the ground around Erik’s feet. His eyes grew more intense with fire.
Viktor’s composure completely changed as Erik’s body began to vibrate rapidly.
“You foolish human, you are not my master,” the creature said with Erik’s mouth.
Without saying a word, Viktor knelt quickly to the ground and pulled up the sleeve on his black wool coat, revealing several tattoos on his pale forearm. He drew a small dagger from his hip pocket, so small it looked like a letter opener to Jarek. Viktor removed a glove and made a quick slice on his hand. The creature began to laugh as the black fog continued to grow, hindering Jarek’s line of sight on what Viktor was doing near the ground.
Suddenly Viktor stopped and studied Erik’s body standing there. The creature stood frozen, its eyes still aflame. Jarek could see the tattoos on Viktor’s arm were circles with unknown symbols inside. The demon’s seal. It seemed familiar to Jarek—he had seen it below the earth in the chamber. Viktor released another smile across his pale face. Jarek’s eyes spotted blood smeared on the symbol directly over Viktor’s wrist. His wrinkles grew deep near his eyes and mouth as the smile got bigger. He looked back at his arm again.
“What . . . what is he doing?” Hamish asked over Jarek’s shoulder.
“He’s regaining control over the demon,” Jarek replied, unsure how to proceed. In his mind he wanted to grab Marcus’s Colt, but he knew if he did, Erik would be as good as dead. “You said you would play by the rules, Viktor. No fooling. What is it that you want?”
“Isn’t it obvious, boy?” Rose said through her cruel grin.
“What do you want, please?” Ulrika finally said out loud through her tears and confusion.
“They want you, my child,” Agatha said, right as Jarek was about to say it. “They won’t let him go until they have you . . . and him.” She looked directly into Jarek’s eyes as he stared at her.
“Very smart, old woman,” Viktor said, looking up from his newest design in the frozen dirt. “You both will help me greatly in bringing about what this world so desperately needs. But if Jarek isn’t willing to come with, at least Ulrika can join us.”
He gave a soft laugh and with one clean jerk, he sliced his hand again. Jarek could see the blood drip down onto the symbol on his forearm. Viktor slid the glove back on his hand as he stood back up. A hum of energy began to hit Jarek’s ears as a circle on the ground appeared, glowing a familiar blue. However, unlike his experience in the library at the O’Connell home, this symbol grew to be so bright so quickly it was unexpected. As it grew its brightest, Viktor laughed louder. There was a flash of bright light, and then suddenly it went dark. Jarek’s eyes turned quickly toward the graveyard. Even through the thick black fog he could see entities moving all about, almost resembling a stampede of animals making their way in circles around the headstones.
The air sat still. Complete silence as no one made a noise. Not even the sounds of the town were heard through the thick wall of unholy mist. Slowly, total darkness crept in. Jarek’s vison was gone. Pitch black. He waved his hand in front of his face and couldn’t see a thing. Total silence and absolute darkness consumed the park. Jarek could only hear his own breathing, which was growing more rapid as he stood still. Then a low rumble broke loose. An all too familiar rumble . . . or rather, a growl. It’s here.
“Jarrrek . . .” a whisper echoed. “Jarrrek . . . Donn’t leeaave me . . .” The voice trailed off.
Jarek’s heart was pounding. His mind was going wild from not knowing what was happening or even where he was anymore.
“Jarrrrek . . .”
The growl, followed by the sound of large jaws snapping shut, made Jarek jump. He froze as he felt something brushing against his leg. Not brushing—sliding. His shoulder ran cold. Even through the thick coat he was wearing, he could feel the icy-cold fingers of a corpse rubbing him ever so gently.
“Whhhy did you leaavve meee?” The words were spoken directly into Jarek’s ear. The wet, slimy spit on his lobe confirmed it.
This isn’t real. This isn’t that man. Jarek’s mind ran wild. I had no other choice.
Jarek attempted to ignore the corpse next to his right ear, but as he kinked his neck toward the left, he soon realized it was no better. Without actually seeing it, he knew—the beast with no eyes was there. Even in the darkness Jarek could feel the hollow, oozing eyes looking into his soul. His breathing was rapid as tears began to roll down his cheeks. So much pain pierced his body, and his leg ran numb where the bullet had injured him years prior. As the breath of the undead and demon hit Jarek’s face from both sides, he dropped to his knees.
