Book and Blade: Book One of the Hand of Perdition (15 page)
"You know, I don't feel any different," Christopher said. "I was expecting, I don't know, some sort of closure maybe, some sense of accomplishment with my family, but I’m not sure I feel that."
"There is never closure with death. Vengeance seems like enough, but it never is in the end," Hamlin said. "But that doesn't mean it doesn't need to be done."
Christopher had to admit the house seemed a little less dark, little less final. Maybe he would stay for a while.
"What do you make of what Rath said? That stuff about his brethren? About some sort of war?" Hamlin asked.
Christopher just shook his head.
"I'm not sure, but I think we will know soon. It can't be good."
"Well, I hope it will be a while. I don't know about you but I need a break after all this shit."
Christopher smiled. It made him feel a little bit better that he wouldn't be doing this alone.
"Yeah, Hamlin, a break is just what we need."
A knock at the door startled them both. It was late, only trouble would be on his doorstep this late.
Christopher got up slowly and cautiously approached the door. Behind him Hamlin drew his weapon. He looked through the peephole, but could barely make out the figure in the doorway she was so small.
"It's the girl," Christopher whispered.
Hamlin nodded, but didn't put away his gun. Christopher opened the door.
She looked up at him nervously. She moved from foot to foot as though she would run at any moment. Despite the fear in her eyes, Christopher thought she was quite pretty.
"Um, I ah... I need your help,” she said almost too quiet to hear.
Remembering how she had a tendency to run from him Christopher asked, "Are you sure?"
Suddenly her demeanor changed. Her face grew fierce, and she no longer looked like she wanted to run.
"Bitch said she needed your help, didn't she? Damn I need a drink,"
And with that she shoved past him and into the house like he wasn't even there. And just like that Christopher realized there was no vacation in his immediate future.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
The four members of the Alliance of dark souls sat around the large conference table meant to seat thirty or more. The dim light obscuring their faces and the distance between them gave them some sense of comfort. They remained quiet while waiting.
When the room was full, tension lay thick in the air, arguments erupted and violence was often the norm. Although many are part of this thing they called an alliance, it is always better to work with just a few at a time.
And that was why Golyat had arranged this small gathering with only four of the most influential members. Although, what influence any of them had over such a fiercely independent group was questionable.
They were all different. They all had different ideals, different goals, different fetishes. They also all had different strengths, different weaknesses and different gifts. Each had learned different lessons both in mortal life and then in the afterlife.
But they all had one thing in common. They had all had their trial by fire. All had been condemned to hell, all of them had shed their mortal coil and been re-forged in that hottest of furnaces. They had each made it through their own personal hell and escaped.
In each had grown the seed of hatred. The hatred might have been different in each of them. Some hated mortals most of all, some just hated everything, some just hated the concept of life. But it was hatred pure and simple that formed the tenuous bond between each of them. Even those that secretly hated what they had become.
And this bond, this hatred, is what Golyat sought to exploit as he stepped into the room. He did not sit.
"Ladies, gentlemen, we have a problem. Rath has failed. There is a new Hunter,” Golyat said.
There was a sudden intake of breath around the room.
"What do you mean Rath has failed? He killed the ancient one," hissed a voice from the back of the room.
Despite the dark lighting Golyat knew it came from Andre Lavolier. He was actually thankful the dim light kept him from seeing Andre's scale-covered skin. The Alligator King he had once been called.
"He did indeed kill our old nemesis, but the Beast was able to pass on his task and abilities to a successor. A mortal child."
"And he was unable to kill a simple child?"
This came from Anabelle, or as she was called behind her back, the dragon lady. She did lean forward into the light, and it was all Golyat could do not to dwell on her beauty.
"Worse, dear Anabelle. The boy was able to defeat him. Rath has been confined once again to Hell's dominion."
The silence was complete as though they had all stopped breathing. It was their kind’s greatest fear, the thing rarely spoken of, to return to that eternal damnation.
"So this boy is not so much a child if he was able to defeat Rath," Anabelle said. "He has come into his full power?"
"No, I do not believe so. A mortal has never held this position, it has always been the aspect of Lucifer that hunted our kind. I think the boy was able to defeat Rath with a combination of dumb luck and our colleague's own arrogance. I think this boy is only scratching the surface with no idea what he really is."
"Then what do you suggest?"
"Spread the word to the others, we must make plans," Golyat said. "We must destroy the boy before he masters the Book and Weapon and sends us all back to hell."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Erik Lynd is the author of Dark Fantasy and Horror novels and short stories. You can learn more about his writing at www.eriklynd.com.
ALSO BY ERIK LYND
NOVELS
Asylum
The Collection
THE SILAS ROBB SERIES
Silas Robb: Of Saints and Sinners
THE HAND OF PERDITION SERIES
Book and Blade
COLLECTIONS
The Long Fall Into Midnight Vol. 1
SHORTER WORKS
The Hanging Tree
Dark on the water
His Devil
Dreams
Siege of the Bone Children
In the Pit
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, settings, and dialogue were created by the author and should not be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Book and Blade: Book One of the Hand of Perdition
by Erik Lynd
Copyright © 2016 Erik Lynd.
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