Story (abandoned project)

PROLOGUE:

The shutters lashed loudly against the frame, as if aroused by some unseen force of anger. As the darkness grew, an ominous gloom set in. The wind picked up momentum and brought with it a strange, inhuman coldness. The entire village was silent, except for muffled screams which were carried on the wind. In a dimly lit room in the Beckham House, a solitary figure lay cringed in a corner; quivering and petrified with fear. Soon, the sound of footsteps filled the passageway. A pale, well-manicured hand pushed open the partially closed door. Madame Foree stepped inside and looked around the room. She jumped at the sight before her. There on the floor lay the corpse of Dr. Schmidt. The body was sprawled out and the head was turned to the side so that it faced her as she entered. Madame Foree seemed almost unable to overcome the inexplicable sight. The doctor had died a most gruesome death….His eyes were wide open, the pupils bulging out as if they were ready to explode. The veins in his forehead were swollen, and only a thin layer of skin kept them from protruding. A thick stream of blood trickled down the side of his head. The doctor had been injected with multiple needles in his cranial nerves. Madame Foree could see the position of the needles and knew that the vagus and accessory nerves had been mutilated. His face was twisted and frozen; indicating the prolonged agony and horror he felt before dying. It was almost as if he had come face to face with the Devil himself. The blood had stained the imported peach carpet, and a stench slowly began to fill the room. Suddenly aware of a second presence, she whirled around and gave a startled scream. Aware that Death itself was before her, she started to step back. The petrified figure suddenly began to look different; it seemed oblivious to its surroundings, and the frightened look started to fade. Sensing what was about to transpire, the woman finally overcame her astonishment, and re-entered the realm of reality.

“Dear God! The cards were right!” she exclaimed to herself. But it was all she could say, as the figure inched its way towards her, a wry smile on its distorted face.

Meanwhile, at the driveway a blue 1984 Chevrolet Corvette pulled up and a young dark-haired girl jumped out and ran to the house. The wind howled as she fumbled with a skeleton key to open the huge oak door that stood in her way. When she succeeded, she hurriedly stepped inside. As the door slammed shut behind her, she heard a blood curdling scream coming from upstairs. She raced up the stairs and onto the passageway. As if guided by an unseen hand, she rushed towards the open door. Her heart grew heavy as she could feel his evil presence all over the house. With caution, she stepped into the room and looked around. On the floor lay the twisted bodies of Dr. Schmidt and Madame Foree. Again she surveyed the room. She could still feel an evil presence, but nobody else was there. The murderer had already disappeared. Then something caught her eye. There on the floor next to Madame Foree’s body, lay a single black rose! It was just like the ones that were left near to the other seven dead bodies. Odessa sank to her knees in anger, a yellow glow emanating from her eyes. She was too late…Callum had struck again!

Aware that she was suddenly engulfed in a flood of light, she slowly struggled to her feet. Instinctively she held her hands to her eyes as if trying to convince herself that what she was seeing was real. Could the priest have been right all along? She continued looking at the mirror; overwhelmed not by what she saw but by what she had become. She was no longer normal. Nor was she untouched by Callum’s evil. In her mind, she relinquished all lingering doubts as to her mythical identity. She now knew who she was… and she knew what she had to do.

CHAPTER ONE

His long fingers ran sensuously down the long stem, oblivious to the sharp tips of the protruding thorns. He closed his palm around the black petals and caressed them. In the same manner, he meticulously inspected each bud and opened bloom. They were exquisite, and he glorifies in the pride of his creation. For a while, his draconic features softened as he focused all his attention on his black roses. They were the only sign of real life and true beauty within the Dionyss. Everything else seemed heinous in the subdued gloom.

The Dionyss rose majestically to touch the dark heavens above it. It was a lengthy connection of towers, buttresses and pinnacled roofs. Stationed along the tops of the high walls were stone statues of primaeval beasts. Though they were merely gargoyles, a strange evil seemed to be lurking behind their dead eyes, making them silently alive. The huge structure was surrounded by a moat, in whose stagnant and muddy waters nestled venomous reptiles. The only means of access within its walls was through the twenty five foot drawbridge which was made from the trunk of an old sequoia tree. Like the dark clouds that hung over it, the Dionyss dominated the region. It looked grotesque and devoid of all life. Even the ogres on guard at the drawbridge were as expressionless as the stone walls.

Beyond the Dionyss was an impenetrable maze of high mountains. It was a barren region with no vegetation anywhere for miles, and death lurked behind every rock, every peak, and every shadow. This area was known as Dresdenn, and many armies had perished while attempting to penetrate it to get to the Dionyss. To the south-east of the Dionyss was the Krauss; a meandering river that stood in stark contrast to the castle, as it welcomed lush greenery on its banks, and supplied fresh water and food to the inhabitants of the Fidora; a region one hundred and eighty miles to the east of Dresdenn. Inside a private chamber in the Dionyss, an old man slowly hobbled across the room.

“I have been expecting you, Akron.” A metallic voice rang out to break the silence of the chamber. “What have you found out about the Child’s existence?”

“My lord, the Child was born on the night of the seventh lunar eclipse. The powers of the dark spirits were not strong enough to penetrate the Methyst camp, but I know the Child is alive and getting more powerful everyday. The legend foretold is indeed true.” Akron answered with hesitation, knowing that if Callum did not get the answers he wanted, he would unleash his wrath upon him.

Clearly, a perilous rage was growing in Callum, but he remained composed, and for a while he was deep in thought.

“Tell me Akron, what do you know of the Child’s weakness?”

“My lord, a blow to the Third Eye will prove to be most effective as it will destroy the power source. That is the most vulnerable point of attack….It is the only way, but it must be done with a specially prepared dagger.” Akron replied in his feeble voice. “I shall prepare the dagger.”

“Then so it shall be.” Callum silently rejoiced at the thought of defying the Legends and killing the Methyst Child.

“Gather the Varkian warriors immediately.” He waved his right arm to Akron, who humbly obeyed and disappeared into the dark corridor beyond the door.

Shortly after, three warriors entered the chamber. They were all clad in black, with weapons hanging like ornaments at their sides.

“You sent for us, Master?” asked a slim but strongly built woman.

“Yes, Khiva.” Callum looked at them with a gleam in his eye. They were his best warriors, and he charged them with duties of overseeing the army and devising war strategies.
“Khiva, Marek, Nikdai… prepare the armies for battle as soon as possible.” Callum rubbed his hands together, relishing the thought of defeating the Child. “In three days we launch an attack on the Methysts… and I want no survivors!”

“Does this concern the Methyst child, Great One?” asked Nikdai.

“Yes it does…” Callum answered thoughtfully.

Khiva’s eyes followed him as he paced the grey floor. “My lord…does this mean that you know of a way to destroy the child?” she asked in her cold voice.

“Yes…I shall defeat the child! I have defied Nature itself in creating my black roses. I have conquered great armies, and my name brings fear to all who hear it…Yes! I SHALL obliterate the existence of the Methyst for once and for all.” Callum’s eyes glowed red with rage. The glow created an eerie red ring of light around him. For a fraction of a second, the unadulterated evil that manifested itself in him seemed to suffocate the presence of the threesome in the dark chamber. Then he spoke again.

“See that the army is ready for battle. Nothing must go wrong this time!” he finished.

The three warriors took their leave, and left Callum standing at a window overlooking the Dresdenn; arms folded across his chest and eyes deep in thought. As if looking through a window of time, the memories of the past resurfaced and seemed to unfold before his eyes. The picture before him made him flinch, as he clenched his fists tightly so that his nails dug into the flesh of his palms. He had no control over the Past, but he was determined to control the Present, and not only hold the key to the Future, but rule it as well….

© 1995 Radica