Abode of the Damned: A Dark Supernatural Fantasy (2 page)

Clancy and Lucy had been companions for years. They
had now been re-captured for the eleventh time together. Each
escape had been an attempt to find a portal to another dimension,
rumored to be hidden in a cave in the Black Mountains. With each
escape they had searched a different region of the Black Mountains
for this doorway into the dimension of Lavendor. This time they had
covered considerable ground as the legions of Hell were currently
pre-occupied by an uprising spearheaded by a demon known as Dregan,
which could very likely escalate into all out war for control of
Hell.

“This place, Lavendor?” Cole asked, leaning forward,
one hand on an iron bar to sturdy himself. “What do you know of it?
Have others escaped through this portal?”

Clancy, admitted very little was known of Lavendor
and what little was known was more legend than factual first hand
account. Nonetheless, it was said Lavendor was a dimension ruled by
a council of exiled gods – those deposed and or no longer
worshipped. Legend had it that none who made the journey were
turned away.

Yes, few others had escaped in search of
this portal, who had not been returned to the bowels of Hell. And
it was these escapes that fuelled Clancy and Lucy’s own ambitions.
It was a thin hope, for sure. But the promise of Lavendor
was
hope, which had given them a purpose that supplanted the
everlasting and miserable reality of Hades.

* * * * *

As the carriage descended the other side of Black
Mountains, they came upon the Chambers of Sorrow: thousands and
thousands of cells haphazardly cut into the mountain rock, each
housing one lone wretched soul. Weaving among these chambers, the
carriage was accosted by grey fleshy arms that grasped at nothing
while emaciated faces pressed up between heavy iron bars cried out
for leniency.

The hideous fiends driving the carriage were numb to
these cries and stayed their course.

Clancy nudged Cole and gestured at one ancient shell
of a soul in a cell close by as the carriage passed, an unwavering
and haunting gaze in her eyes like that of a starving child. “They
are the forgotten. There is nothing for them.” Cole held her stare
until the carriage descended a steep switchback and her eyes sank
beneath the dry amber dirt. “Nothing but time.”

Soon the carriage again wrapped around the face of
the mountain side, descending along the narrow and treacherous road
toward the river Acheron. Above, the sky was more and more crimson
as they inched closer to Pandemonium.

“Clancy, there!” Lucy exclaimed as she pointed
through the carriage bars at the mountain opposite them. A pale
blue shimmering light emanated from - and hence betrayed - a cave
located near a secondary peak of the mountain.

“Yes, yes” Clancy said moving closer to that side of
the carriage. “Yes,” he said again studying the radiance. “Well
done child. This could indeed be our portal.”

Cole studied the cave’s entrance and the azure sheen
radiating from it - thought for a moment a dark figure could be
discerned moving across the belly of the light.

“Remember, Clancy. Remember where it is so we know
for next time,” Lucy said.

“What is the source of the light?” Cole asked.

“Perhaps the portal is open,” Lucy exclaimed, her
green eyes widening.

“It may be our portal; it may not. We’ll surely find
out on our next outing, Child,” Clancy said with a reassuring
smile. “As for the light-“

“Gaaahg!” one fiend screeched from above as
he struck the side of the carriage with a spiked flail.

* * * * *

As the molten river of Acheron and the golden palace,
Pandemonium, came into view, a collective wailing rose from the
depths of the valley – the agonizing cries of thousands. Below,
these dammed were bound to stakes row upon row as far as the eye
could see.

“Jesus,” Cole muttered peering down into the
valley.

“
What are those things moving
among them?”

“Rycans, horrible things,” Lucy said, “they devour
the poor souls by day-“

“By day - every day?”

“Quite right, Clancy interjected. “They are doomed to
relive the same fate, a ghastly fate at that.”

“Well, remind me not to get in line for
that,” Cole said shooting Lucy a smirk.

* * * * *

At the shore of the river Acheron, the charred
demi-demons pulled their captives from the carriage and forced them
to their knees, facing the golden fortress. There, they awaited the
ferry.

Pandemonium stood far from shore, surrounded on all
sides by the slow orange-black current of Acheron. Domed and
gleaming amber towers stood at three corners of the original
stronghold; a great rectangular edifice with a flat fortified roof
deck loomed over the fourth. Between these towers laid thick walls
ornamented with the likenesses of the celebrated champions of Hell.
Situated behind these walls, massive in circumference, was a domed
building. An opulent and spacious balcony wrapped around its upper
level, which showcased immense columns. Later additions of towers
and other structures - a magnificent fusion of architectural styles
- adjoined the golden walls on three sides via bridged passageways.
On the fourth side of Pandemonium, that which Cole and his
companions now looked upon, three gated tunnel entrances lay
beneath the wall accessing the molten river. Over the centre
tunnel, a lesser peaked structure stood and extended outward,
flying the banners of Hell. And there, before Pandenomium itself
and arising from the depths of Acheron, was the golden likeness of
the patriarch of all Hell. Held in its outstretched arm was the
captured sword of the archangel, Michael.

Cole could see some activity: creatures above the
palace, moving against the crimson sky, flying to and from this
tower and that building, while others walked the terraces and
causeways as if human.

“Our host’s residence,” Clancy said, “ever
transforming.”

“Nice – a little showy, but–“ a blow thundered down
on Cole, collapsing his chest to the ground.

Spitting dry dirt from his mouth and not returning to
his knees too soon, Cole watched as the gate to the middle tunnel
slowly rose and as the ferry emerged from the demonic fortress.
Lucy and Clancy took notice as well and exchanged a look of
foreboding, the elation of spotting the cave now evaporated in the
face of agonizing sentence.

Cole cautiously surveyed the scorched creatures
towering behind him: wiry, slick and black. With each hiss of
expiration, their mouths opened, lips curled back, exposing their
tiny sharp teeth. Their luminescent eyes fixed on Pandemonium and
the approaching ferry. The flail twirled by the side of one
fiend.

“Clancy,” Cole said under her breath, “where
will-“

Suddenly, from above, a high pitched resonance
flooded the atmosphere as a purple vortex formed in the gory
sky.

The fiends were immediately unnerved - the demonic
horses startled. The vortex quickly grew. Then, a blinding flash of
white light and a swarm of thousands of demons poured out of the
vortex and descended upon the golden fortress. A fireball struck
the ferry as Pandemonium’s inhabitants took to the sky to meet
their attackers. Two monstrous roars ripped into the sky as several
black winged beasts approached to join the battle – the sky ablaze
in fire and blood!

The scorched fiends, unable to defend themselves,
abandoned their captives and fled toward the mountains, but were
quickly consumed by a fireball from the sky. “It’s Dregan’s army!
Quickly to the carriage!” Clancy called to Cole, scooping up Lucy
in his arms. “They won’t attack us.”

Cole made it to the carriage and atop, took
hold of the reigns. A flaming fiend fell from the sky and struck
the ground only yards way. Two others entwined in mortal combat
spiraled into Acheron. A great winged black beast torched a half
dozen of Dregan’s faithful in a single breath while fending off a
half dozen more who hacked and pierced the beast with sword and
lance. Clancy and Lucy scrambled atop of the carriage with Cole,
and the battle for all Hell at their backs, they raced for the
Black Mountains.

* * * * *

The carriage took Cole, Clancy, and Lucy well into
the Black Mountains, but when the terrain became too steep and
cumbersome, they abandoned it. From there, they climbed slowly and
methodically over the stone and lava rock, edging their way toward
the peak that housed the cave. At times their ascent became
inaccessible and they were forced to inch around the mountain face
until they could ascend once more. Several times they had to
backtrack and search for another route.

“There!” Cole said as he pulled Lucy up onto the crag
he was standing. The cave was now back in view, about seventy
meters above and to the right of them. A cave which otherwise would
have been nearly undetectable save for the blue-white sheen
emanating from it.

Clancy followed up onto the crag just as the sky
trembled with two monstrous roars. “Get down” Cole said as he
crouched down, his arms over Lucy. He then peered upward and
watched as two of the black winged beasts flew overhead toward
Pandemonium.

“They’re gone?” Clancy asked.

“Yes” Cole answered, rising and again taking Lucy’s
hand – then suddenly dropping to a crouched position once more.
“Wait.”

A demon had come out of the cave and stood at its
entrance. The thing stood upright and fanned its wings, then with
two powerful steps propelled itself into the sky and took after the
black winged beasts.

“The sentinel’s gone. We must hurry,” Lucy
exclaimed.

“Could there be another?” Cole asked, taking the lead
once again.

“It matters not. There’s nothing left to lose – go!”
Clancy said, giving Lucy a boost ahead of him.

They moved quickly, there eyes on the golden light
above them. Suddenly - a nose from below.

Clancy paused and looked beneath him and spotted two
creatures climbing up the face after them – the red exoskeletons
unmistakable. “Rycans” he called out, “hurry.”

They hastened themselves, scrambling to broaden their
distance from the advancing creatures. Cole reached the ledge at
the cave’s entrance and pulled himself overtop, then quickly spun
round on his belly and reached over for Lucy. Below, white fingers
and cherry hair, but still out of reach.

Well beneath Lucy, Cole saw Clancy ascending quickly,
frequently turning to gage the rycans’ distance.

“Take my hand,” Cole said as Lucy approached. And as
she grasped his hand, he heaved her up onto the stony ledge.

“The portal,” Lucy said as they both stood and looked
back into the cavern. A pool of azure light lay surrounded by a
short barrier of polished granite blocks.

Just then, Clancy’s right hand reached the lip of the
ledge. “Clancy,” Cole called as he lunged for the ledge and
extended a hand. Clancy’s head emerged.

“Hurry, they’re right-“ Blood spewed from Clancy’s
mouth in one powerful torrent.

Lucy grabbed Cole’s hand and pulled him back.
“Quickly, we must-”

Cole quickly turned and scooped Lucy up and ran
toward the portal. In one quick instant, looking back at the cave’s
entrance, Cole saw a rycan tail extend above Clancy, thrust down
and pierce his skull, and fling his head from his shoulders.
Clancy’s decapitated corpse dropped beneath the ledge.

Before them, twelve feet in diameter, the
pool shimmered as if liquid and filled the cave with an azure
sheen. “Dive in!” Lucy said, as they approached the portal, her
arms around Cole’s neck. Cole eyes were open as he fell into the
portal, Lucy tight in his arms. Suddenly they were weightless,
overcome by concentric waves of cerulean light, and then they were
gone.

* * * * *

A young physician struggled to maintain his
balance as he stood on the last rung of a stepladder and held a
stethoscope to the prisoner’s chest, reaching into the standard
issue red jumpsuit. He listened for about a minute in the chill
cold, then withdrew the instrument from Cole Sunger’s chest and
gave a solemn nod to warden Decker. “Bring him down,” Decker
directed the executioner upon the gallows, and Cole’s body was
lowered into the arms of two attendants who removed the noose from
his neck, the black hood placed over his head, and the shackles
from his hands and feet. The body was placed into a plain pine
coffin and loaded into the back of a hearse, which rolled out of
the Arkwood death house into the night and the pouring rain.

THE END

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About The Author

Matt Cole was born in Vancouver, British
Columbia in 1967. He earned a undergraduate degree in kinesiology
at the University of British Columbia and a masters degree in
exercise physiology the University of Victoria

He was first inspired to write speculative
fiction while in college, during a speculative fiction literature
course. Since then, Matt has experimented with writing screenplay
and a graphic novel scripts as well as short stories.

Matt enjoys the company of exotic, smart,
confident, and funny women; red wine (or the nectar of the Gods as
he believes it to be); time spent with his extended family, IPSC
competitions; keeping physically fit; reading dark and epic
fantasy, and writing speculative fiction in various forms.

He currently resides in Burnaby, British
Columbia

His author site and blog is
http://talesfromthedark.wordpress.com

Matt Cole on Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/mattdeancole

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closes in on the deserters, intending only to feed his thirst. Yet,
Lazarus’is soon overcome by the supernatural awareness that one of
these soldiers may be worthy of the immortal gift.