16 The Gates of Hades

AFTER TWO DAYS of walking, the desert turned barren, the small trees and shrubs, the rocky outcrops all vanishing to be replaced with gravelly plains. Myral Azarm and her two companions reached Hades shortly before sundown. Wither hurried them on despite the heat. He was worried about something, but refused to explain what. The mountains had drawn inevitably closer until they were walking in their shadow.

A wide stone archway greeted them at the end of a long gorge cut into the foothills of the mountains. Nothing appeared to grow beyond the archway, no sign of life, or unlife for that matter. It did not look like a place anyone would want to stop at, for any reason.

‘There is no one here,’ noted Myral, with hands on hips over tired legs. They’d had some water with them, and that had run out a few hours earlier. Part of her felt relief there was nobody there, because she didn’t like the look of the place.

She glanced at her companions, and recalled trekking with Wither across another desert not so long ago. The man was always so driven, and never seemed to tire. He was also stubborn.

‘They are here,’ he answered, as they passed beneath the arch. ‘Stay close to me.’

Hazine looked worn down, but she seemed in decent spirits. ‘There are tunnels and caves,’ she said, taking Myral’s hand in hers. At first, the former priestess felt irritated, though she didn’t know why. Maybe because she wished Wither had taken her hand instead? Ridiculous, foolish, and yes, childish. She didn’t feel any attraction to him, or well, not exactly.

No, this was a job, a final mission. Anyhow, the touch of another person felt nice as they walked deeper into Hades, and she was glad of it. ‘They hide in the rocks above ground,’ Hazine added, ‘but they don’t know us, and so they watch. They want to know us first, you see. I don’t think they will hurt us, though.’ She didn’t sound convinced.

Myral noted the caves dotting the rocky walls on either side, and realised Hazine was correct. The undead were watching. Barely noticeable, but there was movement up there.

When they neared the far end, where the gorge opened into a wider area, a figure emerged from a tunnel mouth to their right. He was gaunt, his body wiry with skin like old parchment, where there was skin at all. Where there wasn’t, there was sinew and bone, and shrivelled muscle. She had seen mummies in Valtar, dried out husks. This viral reminded her of those except he was upright and walking.

Myral saw a gathering of the undead, dozens which clambered through the rocks, tens of feet above them on their left. None appeared armed or aggressive, but neither did they appear welcoming. Well, why would corpses ever be friendly? Even walking, talking ones?

The viral grew larger as he approached, and Myral realised this individual wasn’t an undead human, but an undead Nephilim. She hadn’t known any existed, but then why not? Perhaps the giants had hunted down the undead among them too, and so few remained.

‘Maybe,’ said Myral, as she hurried to reach Wither’s side, keeping the girl behind them, ‘we should not have come here. I’ve got a bad feeling. Can’t we go somewhere else? I can walk forever, you know.’

Wither shook his head. ‘We have no choice. A clot of vampires started following us yesterday. Even now, they wait outside.’

‘Why didn’t you say anything?’

Wither gave a slight jerk of his head in the girl’s direction, and Myral felt her brows lift. Maybe there’s still some humanity left in him. There’d better be, or Adal’s plan will never work. Although at this rate, I don’t think it’s going all that well. Now, we’re trapped.

She turned to look back at the archway, and Wither took her hand in his, fulfilling her wish, while at the same time freaking her out. She’d never held his hand, and now felt uncomfortable. ‘You will not see them unless they wish you too,’ he whispered. ‘Remember, one of their gifts is the ability to go unseen.’

‘Yours too, if I recall correctly. So, that’s how you tracked them without getting yourself torn to bits.’

‘They will not enter this place.’

‘Why didn’t they attack us when we were outside?’

‘Those who followed us are not the problem, and there are just eight. The rest remain in Keen and ... elsewhere. These will be returning to the horde. They feed like this, but eventually the entire horde will move on to devour city after city. It is inevitable.’

‘So, the ones following us are scouts?’

‘They will not attack me, but they will report where I’ve gone. As for you two, I cannot say what they’d do, but it is best not to find out. This was the only place I could think of where you might be safe until I can fix things.’

‘You are not welcome here, Red Prince,’ boomed the undead giant, as he halted some eight feet away. It stood perhaps seven and a half feet tall. Not huge by Nephilim standards, but then being undead might have cost him some height.

‘I seek sanctuary for these women,’ said Wither in a loud voice, ensuring all the undead could hear. ‘Yes, I am the Red Prince, but I am not responsible for what occurs beyond Hades. There is one, more terrible than any in history, who has usurped me. I need your help.’

‘You need your eyes opened,’ said the giant, ‘for the one you speak of isn’t whom you think he is.’

‘What does he mean? Who are they talking about?’ asked Hazine. Myral shrugged in answer. It seemed the undead had access to information, which might prove useful if they were willing to part with it.

The viral then let out a booming laugh, which shocked her. She’d never heard a Nephilim laugh, though she had seen one, but she had heard they had no sense of humour. Perhaps it was different if they were undead?

‘His pets stalk you like wargs,’ said the undead giant, ‘sniffing and scratching in the dirt like animals for all their intellect. An insult to all viralic kind. What use is such intelligence when all they seek is to kill, to destroy?’

Wither then shocked her, which she had thought impossible; he got down on one knee, and bowed his head before the viral. ‘It is not my task to lead the vampires,’ he said. ‘It was mine to control them, to keep them from destroying the world. A task I would see completed with your help.’

‘And were they not controlled within the Darklight?’ asked the viral giant. ‘You released them, and brought pain and suffering and death. It is your mess to clean up, not ours.’

‘No,’ Wither muttered with vehemence, ‘I never released them, but I was there to prevent a disaster when they escaped.’

Myral placed a hand on his shoulder as she spoke, ‘It was the Grim Master and Reaper of Souls who let them out, his vanguard to an invasion. If not for Wither, and another of your kind, the invasion would now be under way.’

The giant growled, the sound echoing through Hades. ‘I am Skinbone, a name I earned through forgetfulness. Yes, I am that old, surviving even the purges. Hades has been our refuge for centuries.’

Skinbone took several steps forward and stabbed a finger at Wither who remained on one knee. ‘I was there when the vampires were imprisoned. I knew the guardians, each as a brother and sister, and I knew the Grim in his youth when he was a man. He created the vampires as he created all of us, from blood and magic, as reavers and destroyers. In the vampires, he succeeded.

‘I know you,’ he continued, ‘Gratalan Vanthyr, son of Tuldal. I also knew your ancestor. A powerful sorceress and Rasnal Nalrost murdered her. The act alone imbued the vampires with hate and the desire to kill. You tried to lead them and you failed.’

Wither’s voice was hoarse, as he whispered just loud enough, ‘Help me stop them, or if that is impossible then help me direct their hate where it will be of most use. Against the Darkness.’

Skinbone paused, staring down at the Red Prince, once also a prince of Tharonis. The giant seemed lost in thought. It was difficult to make out any expression on the face of a viral whose body had been ravaged by wind, sand, and time.

Skinbone knelt, bones creaking, and with a skeletal finger, he raised Wither’s head. ‘Red Prince, I knew you would come, but I did not know which version of you. The future has been foretold, but like all futures, it is not set in stone, and many paths are possible, but ... I believe your path is a dark one. Another will rise to lead the vampires against the Darkness once you have earned your name. This is all I know. I can do nothing for you.’

Myral had no idea what the giant was talking about, and from the look in Wither’s face, neither did he. Nor did he like what he heard.

‘You are welcome to remain in Hades,’ said Skinbone, ‘but I warn you, there is trouble here.’ He removed his hand and stood. ‘Whatever you do, all of you, remain above ground if you value your lives. Do not enter the caverns below. As we speak, our sanctuary is being undermined. I am not certain Hades will exist for much longer.’

The undead giant lumbered away, the virals upon the rocks above vanishing. Nothing but moaning wind and blowing dust in their wake.

‘I like Skinbone,’ said Hazine. ‘We’re safe here.’

‘What did he mean?’ Myral demanded. ‘What’s going to happen? What was that all about?’ Her bad feeling had gotten worse.

Wither rose and turned to face her, and she was shocked to see his cheeks streaked with tears. ‘I had not expected,’ he whispered, ‘for one such as he to welcome me. I had not dared to wish for it. He honoured me when I did not deserve it.’

‘You always underestimate yourself.’

‘No, I do not.’ Myral saw the dark look crossing his face. ‘The one who usurped me has followers, worshipers. Some of them are here below us. We need to be careful.’

‘Yep,’ said Hazine, giving a twirl of delight. ‘It’s all going to be okay. We’re as safe as angels right here in the pit of Hades.’

‡

MOVING BEYOND THE ROCKY plateau, they discovered several shallow caves. The sun had sunk below the mountains, and though it wasn’t night, it might as well have been. After a brief investigation of one cave, Wither deemed it safe, the deepest section eleven feet from the entrance, although the back wall was in darkness. There were no torches and nothing to light a fire with.

They crouched together, and eventually Myral heard Hazine’s soft rhythmic breathing. She felt responsible for her since the young woman had no one. Wither then disappeared for half an hour, and returned with bread and cheese, both hard as rock, but welcome all the same.

Myral wasted no time eating her share. She finished off the cheese, licking her fingers, while taking a proffered cup of water from Wither. ‘Where did you get all this food from and the water?’

Despite the gloom, they could just about make each other out. He was watching her. ‘Skinbone has harboured people before,’ he eventually said. ‘He keeps food here and water too, warded by viralic magic so it won’t spoil. The virals themselves survive on cacti and similar things.’

‘Huh, I see. I thought you weren’t staying?’

‘I’ll go in the morning. I’ll speak to Skinbone, make sure you have everything you need while I’m gone. Like I said, you’re not the first refugees he’s taken in. He may be a viral, but he knows how to take care of the living.’

‘So, what? We’re stuck here? Won’t you be coming back for us?’

For a few moments he didn’t answer, and then with a sigh, said, ‘The vampires outside will follow me. Just to be safe, though, remain here a week. If I don’t return by then, head to the coast. Find a boat going west. Go anywhere, the island of Krank, Tage, or wherever, but leave this land.’

‘What would be the point? If the vampire horde will eventually spread, will the ocean stop them?’

‘Probably not. They came here after all, from Eladaldor.’

‘Yes, how did they manage that? I don’t think they swim, do they?’

‘Undead ships, or as some call them, death ships. They are unsinkable and have survived centuries. They were once used to transport virals to the island of Aidaril and their Necropolis.’

‘Oh, right.’ Death ships. Well, why not? ‘What is going to happen to you?’ asked the former priestess. ‘If you go after Wormwood, can you defeat him?’

Again, he didn’t answer for several moments, as though weighing up what to tell her, until he whispered, ‘He challenged me. I fought and lost. Truth be told, I barely escaped with my life. I don’t know what I’m going to do, but that shouldn’t be your problem.’

‘If you fail, I think it’s going to be everybody’s problem. I can help.’

‘I’m a lost soul. Damned as my family has been damned for centuries. Forget about me, Myral Azarm.’

The unexpected honesty came as another shock, for Wither had always kept his mind closed to her. He had changed since they’d last met. ‘What does this Wormwood want, anyhow?’

‘What’s with all the questions?’

‘Well,’ said Myral, ‘it’s usually how I get answers.’

Wither uttered a long sigh. ‘The vampires are like a vicious pack of hungry wargs, and the rest of us are prey. Only Wormwood shows any individuality, which makes me suspicious. His appearance is just enough to possibly be a vampire, and yet something about him suggests he’s a fraud.

‘Nor, can I guess his mind. I expect the vampires will spread across the world, killing everyone. What else would they want?’

Myral wasn’t so sure. This Wormwood didn’t sound right. ‘You must find a way to kill him.’

‘No kidding.’

‘Don’t challenge him this time. Assassinate him!’

Wither snorted. ‘Quit telling me what I already know. You speak as if it was a foregone conclusion. You have not met him.’

‘Why did you lose control in the first place? How was he able to challenge you? You stole my magic, remember? Shouldn’t that have been enough to keep the vampires on your side?’

‘How can I forget since you keep reminding me.’

‘It’s a sore point.’ She waved a hand at him. ‘Fine, I’ll stop bringing it up.’

‘For what it’s worth, I am sorry. It was ill done, but I was in a dark place, and I heard their voices in my head. I had to act. I felt them respond to me and with your power, I had them in the palm of my hand. My birthright.

‘When Wormwood first appeared, I failed to recognise the threat until too late. His individuality proved to be the problem. I couldn’t control him. I’ve no idea where he came from, but they accepted him instantly as their leader. In truth, I don’t know what happened.’

‘If he’s an imposter,’ mused Myral, ‘and I think he is’ ... she lowered her voice as Hazine turned in her sleep ... ‘he might have used magic to achieve it.’

‘Maybe.’

‘I won’t stay here,’ said Myral. ‘They will rampage from land to land while I sit and die in this hole. If you abandon me, I will follow you.’

‘Skinbone would not allow it, not if I ask him to keep you here.’

‘I’ll find a way. I’m resourceful.’

Wither looked worried. ‘There is no other way except for those caverns beneath us, and you heard what Skinbone said. You go down there, you might as well just hand yourself over to the vampires. I doubt there’s any directly below us. They wouldn’t come so close, but follow those caverns and you will find them.’

‘Why won’t they enter Hades?’

This time, Wither’s voice came in a faint whisper. ‘On this ground a long time ago, one hundred thousand vampires met their end in white angelic fire. It was the survivors who were imprisoned. Angelic wards now protect this place. Other undead can enter, but not them. Unfortunately, the wards are failing. Another reason you should not remain long.’

‘You seem to know an awful lot about all this.’

With a grimace, he lay down to sleep, and Myral lay beside him, staring up at a rocky ceiling she couldn’t see, wondering if she’d been better off back in the city. Then again, everyone there was dead now, so perhaps not.

Well, whatever happens, he is not leaving here without me, and that oversized bone sack can just try and stop me.

‡

WHEN MYRAL OPENED HER eyes, the first thing to bother her was a strange sound. As though someone was digging close by, grunting with effort. Several diggers by the ruckus though it was somewhat muffled, which made no sense.

A faint orange dawn lit a section of the cave entrance, although the rest of it remained in gloom. She sat up, as Wither awoke beside her. He’d been tossing non-stop all night, not that she’d gotten much sleep either. It had been cold during the darkest hours, and sleeping on rock was near impossible. Although, it hadn’t bothered Hazine, who’d snored the night through.

The digging grew louder, and she realised it was coming from behind them. Instantly she knew what was happening, and as quick, knew she could do nothing.

The rocky earth at the back of the cave fell away, dirt and dust flowing into a dark opening, and with it went Hazine who’d awoken too late.

Myral managed to grab hold of the young woman’s hand, as she screamed for help. Wither dived to grab hold of the girl’s other hand. Between them they fought to haul her up, grunting and cursing. Myral gritted her teeth, and pulled with all her might.

Hazine was ripped from their grasp and swallowed by darkness. The ground gave way beneath Myral too. Something was also pulling at her, as though an invisible force had grabbed hold of her from the waist down. Wither tried to hold on to her as he had with the girl, and she realised she was wailing. His grip on her was like iron, but she knew in her heart it was futile. He was condemning himself with her.

‘Let go,’ she cried, fighting to overcome her fear. He didn’t reply, just grunted as he held on.

Then a powerful tug forced his grip loose, and Myral felt herself falling in a tumult of rock and dirt, down into the darkness.