Desolation (20 page)

“I don’t involve myself in such matters,” Jesper said. “I leave that to Chief Novak and his fine police force.”

“Your Chief of Police has already murdered a man!” Amber said. “He shot him right in front of us!”

“Philip Daggett was a serial killer,” Novak said, sounding bored.

Jesper waved his hand. “I don’t involve myself in such matters,” he repeated. “My police take care of the unfortunate necessities. I focus on keeping this town running.”

“What did you do?” Milo asked, his voice quiet.

Jesper turned to him.

“You know why the Shining Demon is coming after us,” Milo continued, “but why is he coming after you? What did you do?”

“You really want to know, Mr Sebastian? Then answer my question. Are you a demon also?”

Milo didn’t say anything. But after a moment he shifted, and Jesper hurried closer, eyes wide.

“My, my … You’re not one of his, are you? Astaroth’s demons are red and beautiful, but you … You are night itself, and wonderful. Demoriel, am I right”

Milo didn’t respond. Steam rose from his red eyes.

Jesper nodded, more to himself than anyone else. “Definitely the work of Demoriel. You have a car, yes?”

“We have it impounded,” said Novak. “Haven’t even gone through it yet.”

“I’d be careful when you do,” said Jesper. “Demoriel tends to make deals with people with horses or carriages or, these days, cars. These animals or vehicles are linked to his demons. I’d say Mr Sebastian’s car could certainly harbour a nasty surprise or two. The truly interesting thing is, I have read that Demoriel is very particular in choosing those to whom he grants power. What was it about you, Mr Sebastian, that he was drawn to?”

“That’s not what you asked,” said Amber. “You asked if he was a demon. He answered. Now it’s your turn.”

Jesper dragged his eyes away from Milo – reluctantly – and gazed at Amber for a few moments before chuckling again. “Very well, very well. I am a man of my word, after all. Officers, would you mind leaving us?”

Lucy and Ortmann hid their surprise well, and nodded and left. When they were gone, when it was just Amber and Milo standing there with Jesper and Novak and the burned man, Jesper continued.

“This land was not always American, did you know that? When I was born here, it was controlled by Russia. That was nearly three hundred years ago.”

Amber refused to be impressed by his age.

“Back then, things were tough,” Jesper said. “I’m sure you can imagine if you try hard enough. I was born into poverty and I spent my life clawing my way out of it. And, just when my fortunes were beginning to turn, I realised I had become an old man. My life was hardship and bitterness and it was almost over.”

“So you made a deal with the Shining Demon to prolong your life,” Amber interrupted, “and something went wrong along the way.”

Jesper smiled. “You don’t know nearly as much as you think you do, young lady. But yes, that was one of my goals. And so, a little over two hundred years ago, I summoned the Shining Demons.”

Amber frowned. “Plural?”

Jesper nodded. “Brothers, from what I was told. Astaroth and Naberius. They appeared before me and we negotiated. They agreed to provide me with power and success and one hundred more years of life, and they named their price.”

“Which was?”

“An offering.”

“A soul?”

For the first time, discomfort flickered across Jesper’s face.

“It’s usually a soul,” Amber pressed. “That’s what I’m told, anyway. How many were they asking?”

Jesper looked away. “One a year until the contract expired.”

Milo reverted. “So who decided it should be the souls of children, Mr Mayor?”

There was some part of Amber that was aware of how horrible that was, and yet it failed to rouse her anger. She didn’t mind. With her horns on, she was enjoying the look on Jesper’s face too much to bother with feeling outraged.

“I’m assuming it was a practical necessity,” Milo continued. “A man of your age couldn’t be expected to target people who might be able to fight back. Let’s face it, kids are easier to kill.”

“Is that true?” Amber asked. “You agreed to murder one child every year for a hundred years? Wow. That takes commitment, Mr Mayor. Your depravity is impressive.”

“Do not mock me,” Jesper responded.

“Hey, listen, from one monster to another, good going.”

Novak was suddenly at her side, cracking his gun into her skull. The world tilted and Amber fell to one knee.

“I’m not a monster!” Jesper shouted down at her. “I was scared! I didn’t want to die and I was scared, so yes, I agreed to it. But I’m not that person anymore.”

“If you say so,” Amber said, glaring at Novak. She looked back at Jesper. “But if the contract was for a hundred years, and that was two hundred years ago, what happened?”

Jesper calmed himself before answering. “Naberius returned to me five years before my contract expired – alone this time. He offered to extend the deal to twice its length if I would help him trap his brother.”

“Family back-stabbing,” Amber said, getting to her feet. She could relate.

“He instructed me to build a cell in the caves beneath the town, and in the middle of that cell I was to carve a circle inscribed with ancient symbols. Then I was to collapse all tunnels that led to it. He provided the keys that would form a bridge of sorts between the cell door and any other door.”

“I’ve seen one of those,” said Amber. “A brass key, right? Dacre Shanks used one.”

“Perhaps,” Jesper said. “Naberius made three such keys. I only know for certain where one of them is, the one that had been given to me. I constructed the cell. He constructed the keys. All we had to do was fool Astaroth into stepping into the circle, which would trap him for eternity.”

“But Astaroth found out,” said Milo.

“Yes,” Jesper said ruefully. “He appeared, told me he had known all along, and then explained the new plan. When the day came, he played along until the final moment, when he pushed his brother into the circle instead.”

Amber smiled. “This is all so treacherous. I love it.”

“Once Naberius was trapped,” Jesper said, “Astaroth chained him and left him to spend eternity underground. As for me, I began thinking of the day when Astaroth would come to claim my soul. So I stopped delivering the offerings to him, and instead delivered them straight to Naberius. I siphoned off his power and used it to construct the barrier around this town.”

“You’re using Naberius as a battery,” said Milo.

“It’s the only thing that will keep Astaroth at bay.”

“So the offerings,” Milo said, “the kids you’re killing, they’re being used to keep up Naberius’s strength?”

“I’m not killing them,” Jesper said quickly. “I couldn’t keep doing it, so I passed on the key to someone who could. I just … I don’t concern myself with that side of things anymore.”

Amber look at Novak. “Is that your job, then? Killing the kids?”

“We keep the peace,” he answered. “That’s not our department.”

“Is it you?” Amber asked, now looking at the burned man. “Do you kill them?”

“It is no one in this room,” said Jesper.

Amber frowned. “So who does it? Is it someone you hire? Is it a freelancer? Are you seriously saying you’ve outsourced your blood sacrifice?” She laughed. “This is crazy! I love this goddamn town! It’s all so messed up!”

“Do not mock us!” Jesper yelled in his quavering voice. “Do not mock the sacrifices made by our young people!”

“That
you’re
killing, asshole.”

Novak jammed his gun into Amber’s neck.

“Change back,” he said.

“Screw you.”

“Your smart mouth is getting you in trouble,” Novak said. “It’s going to get you killed right here and right now. Do yourself a favour and change back.”

Amber glared defiantly at Jesper, but when she looked at Milo he was nodding to her calmly. She gritted her teeth, and reverted.

There was no more pain from her healed fingers, but the headache kicked in immediately and she could feel the bruise from where Novak had struck her even as he tightened the cuffs. If she shifted now, she’d probably break her own wrists, so she stayed as she was. She’d had enough of broken hands for the time being.

“For the good of the town, the sacrifices must continue,” Jesper replied. He was much calmer now. “This is regrettable. What is also regrettable is your presence here, as it endangers the lives and well-being of the people of Desolation Hill. As a conciliatory gesture, I’m afraid we must give Astaroth what he wants, and hope that he’ll be satisfied with that.”

“You’re going to hand us over?” Milo asked.

“For the good of the town, I must. Chief Novak?”

Novak levelled his gun at them. “Walk,” he said.

I
T WAS SOMEWHERE AROUND ELEVEN
, and they drove back the way they’d come, then veered off, took a bumpy trail that someone had worn down through sheer stubbornness, until they got to the spot right on the edge of town where a police cruiser was parked, headlights on, facing the five Hounds.

“If you do this, Astaroth will kill us,” Milo said.

Novak ignored him.

“Please,” Amber said, leaning forward, “at least let us have a fighting chance. Take the handcuffs off.”

“Sit back,” Lucy warned.

“Chief Novak, please.”

“Sit back!” Lucy snapped.

Amber sat back. The handcuffs bit into her wrists.

The SUV stopped beside the cruiser. A cop was waiting for them, the guy they’d seen the previous night. They sat in silence for a moment, just long enough for Amber to start hoping that Novak would change his mind.

“Let’s get it done,” Novak said, and the car doors opened. Officer Duncan pulled Amber out into the cold night air. She didn’t struggle as she was walked towards the Hounds. There was no point.

Beyond the invisible barrier, the Hounds waited. They made no move. They didn’t say anything. They just stood there, with their beards and their stubble, wearing their sunglasses even now, as the gloom rushed in. Silently waiting. Expectant.

Duncan’s grip was solid. Amber could have shaken it off if she broke her wrists and shifted, but all it’d take would be the slightest of pushes and she’d be stumbling into the arms of the Hounds. Novak was beside her. Beside him, Milo, held by both Ortmann and Lucy.

Novak looked at each of the Hounds and they looked back.

Ten seconds dragged by. Fifteen.

Novak chuckled drily, and shook his head. “Oh, this is unfortunate,” he said at last, to the Hound right in front of him. “I would have handed them over, I really would have. If only you weren’t so smug about it.”

The Hounds, with their expressionless faces, didn’t react as Novak turned to Lucy. “Put them back in the car,” he said. “Release them somewhere else along the boundary. Your choice.”

“Sir?”

“There is no reason I can see why we should make it so easy for Astaroth’s pets.” Novak returned his attention to the Hound. “You’re going to have to sing for your supper, dog.”

Suddenly Amber was being pulled backwards to the SUV. Duncan opened the door, practically threw her in, as Milo was shoved in from the other side. Lucy jumped in behind the wheel, Ortmann beside her, and she gunned the engine and they kicked up pebbles and dirt as they turned. Amber looked back as the Hounds got on their bikes and prepared to give chase.

“You could let us out at our car,” Milo said. “Let us lead them away from here.”

Lucy didn’t reply. Keeping a firm grip on the steering wheel, she took them through the outskirts of Desolation Hill at a blistering pace that snapped branches and almost tore the axle off the SUV. The headlights sweeping round the town’s perimeter could now only be glimpsed in the distance.

They found a small road and swerved on to it, jamming Amber hard against Milo. They straightened up and Amber was sent the other way, and cracked her head off the window. Lucy killed the SUV’s headlights and put her foot down, and trees blurred against the darkening sky.

Then Lucy braked, and Amber cursed as she almost slid off her seat entirely. Next thing she knew the door was open and Ortmann was dragging her out.

“Go,” he said. “Run.”

She broke from his grip, looked around, tried to get her bearings. Lucy took her by the arm, led her to Milo. She pointed at a tree stump ahead of them.

“That’s where the boundary lies,” she said. “Better start running.”

Milo turned to her. “Give us the keys. Let us drive out of here.”

“You run,” said Lucy.

“Give us a fighting chance, for Christ’s sake.”

“You run,” said Lucy, taking a rifle from the SUV. “We see you trying to double back, we’ll shoot you in the legs.”

They could hear it now. A motorcycle.

“You’re killing us,” said Amber.

Lucy turned to Ortmann. “Drive to the edge of Mill Farm,” she said, “headlights on full. Give a blast of the siren if you have to. Get the Hounds to follow you.”

“On it,” Ortmann said. He got in the SUV, flicked on the lights, and peeled out of there, and Lucy took a small key from her pocket and pressed it into Amber’s hands.

“Go,” she said. “Now.”

Milo started running, and Amber followed. The moment she passed the tree stump the instinctive urge to shift drained from her body. They sprinted for the trees ahead, barely making it before a Hound roared by, following the SUV.