Page 60 of Waifs And Strays
I stared at the lectern. Although it was simple in design, it appeared to be made out of solid gold that was glinting against the light. I gaped at Trilby; with wealth like that, I couldn’t think of a reason why they needed to wake up at the crack of dawn every day to run a small market stall.
Trilby must have felt my stare but they didn’t react; they simply bustled towards the lectern.
On top of it was a closed book; it looked ancient, with a cracked black leather cover and a fae rune etched on the surface. Was Trilby one of the fae? Full fae? I watched agog asthey reached out and gently caressed the book’s surface then they looked up, their clever, dark eyes crinkling at the corners at my expression.
‘Don’t ask questions to which you do not need the answers,’ they said. I inclined my head in understanding; knowledge could be very dangerous indeed.
Alexander MacTire didn’t appear to give a flying fuck about the strange house or Trilby’s heritage. He folded his arms and growled, ‘Let’s get on with it. My nephew has been captive for far too long.’
‘You’ll get your answers,’ Trilby told him and stroked the book again. ‘This isn’t a grimoire and it doesn’t contain magical spells. Think of it as an encyclopaedia of knowledge.’ They paused. ‘Ancient knowledge that this modern world often forgets.’
They dipped their head and their lips moved. I couldn’t hear what they were saying so I glanced at MacTire, but he had pursed his lips; apparently this time he couldn’t hear what Trilby was murmuring either.
After several seconds, Trilby stepped back, their eyes glowing golden. Without any help, the book juddered and the pages flipped while motes of old dust flew up into the air. Even from the doorway I could smell the ancient parchment. The book rose an inch, hung suspended for a breath then fell open back onto the lectern.
‘Cool, huh?’ Trilby grinned and beckoned to us. ‘Come and see.’
My feet stumbled forward as if of their own accord until I was standing by their left shoulder. MacTire moved to their right and all three of us leaned forward to gaze at the open page.
Words danced across the yellowing paper before settlinginto legible paragraphs. There was a single heading,Demons. A shiver ran through me.
MacTire read the words aloud. ‘Beware of demons.They cometh from the netherworld and they art not to be trusted. Hunters art they, first and foremost: natural predators equipped with sharp claws, keen senses and a most terrifying agility. They are highly adaptable and can thrive in many a clime, yet make no mistake: a demon is a killer and may murder up to three thousand souls within its own lifespan. This predator is capable of conscious manipulation and can twist unwary mortals into subservient stations whereupon the demon's will alone doth become law.However, anyone who canst bind and command a demon shall wield power most formidable, far beyond the ken of mortal men. Such mastery over the infernal arts doth grant dominion over forces unseen, and with it the might to shape the very world to their will.’
Great. I ran a hand through my hair. ‘I think we can be certain we don’t want to meet any damned demons,’ I said. ‘And we don’t want anyone to gain authority over one.’
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Trilby’s mouth twitch oddly. ‘Go on, MacTire,’ they said. ‘Keep reading.’
MacTire did as he was told. ‘There be many ways to bring demons forth from the netherworld. In times long past, oft there would be a simple rent in the fabric that held the netherworld at bay. Through this rent, demons couldst and wouldst sneak. In time the breach was sealed, yet this doth not mean that demons are wholly contained. They can yet be invoked into existence through diverse foul means.’
I licked my lips. Here we go.
‘On the seventh night of the seventh month at the seventh hour, mayhap seven witches shall gather and chant the seven scriptures with seven tongues. 'Tis said that in so doing they may invoke a demon and bring it forth into this world.’
MacTire paused and looked at Trilby. ‘The seven scriptures?’
They waved a hand. ‘Nothing to worry about, they’ve been lost for generations. Besides, the seven tongues include three languages that haven’t been heard for more than a thousand years.’
MacTire grunted then continued. ‘'Tis also believed that demons may be brought forth by harnessing the power of the werewolf.’ He sucked in a sharp breath.
‘Keep going,’ Trilby said. ‘Keep going! We don’t have all day.’
The werewolf stiffened but he did as Trilby demanded, though his voice was tighter, darker. ‘If thirteen pints of fresh blood, newly harvested from a werewolf with no kin, be scattered upon sacred ground on the day of the solstice, then mayhap a demon shall emerge.’
Trilby snapped their fingers. ‘There we go. That’s what you wanted, right? That’s the information you were looking for?’
I half-closed my eyes. Shit. Sadly, it was.
MacTire raised his head. ‘How many pints of blood would the average teenage werewolf hold inside their body?’
I used to be an assassin and I knew the answer. ‘An adult werewolf typically has around ten to twelve pints,’ I said dully. ‘A teenager would likely have slightly less – between nine and ten. But they’ve had Nick for several days and they could have drawn several pints of blood already. He’ll still be alive and generating more. Umbra have already advertised their presence at Crackendon Square. There’s an old church on the western corner – I guess that counts as sacred ground.’
A muscle throbbed in MacTire’s cheek. ‘I guess so.’
The words on the page started to move. I stared at them, unsure at first if I was imagining things, but thenthey coalesced into a black shadow that expanded until it covered the whole page. ‘Watch,’ Trilby whispered.
The page altered again, only this time there weren’t words. Staring at us from the cloud of blank ink were two elongated eyes, the pupils narrow vertical slits. The eyes blinked and I gasped, while MacTire reached out and slammed the book closed.
Trilby appeared unperturbed but my heart was hammering. I’d seen a lot of weird shit in my lifetime but I’d never seen anything like that.
