THE LAST JOURNEY
THE LAST JOURNEY
A short story by
Ian Ritchie
WARNING - THE FOLLOWING STORY FEATURES BAD LANGUAGE, EXTREME VIOLENCE AND FLARED TROUSERS. THOSE LIKELY TO BE OFFENDED HAD BEST LOOK AWAY NOW!
BRENTWOOD, ESSEX 1975
How did this happen? How did everything go so wrong so quickly? Lewis Dominico scampered up the main tower of his sanctum, the metallic set of spiral steps issuing a staccato patter off the walls. He peered out through the cracked window pane at the surrounding roads that snaked their way through the woodlands. No sign of them yet, but his mystic senses had lit up like a Christmas tree. There was more than one of them, bearing immense power ... and there could be no doubt they were coming for him!
Dominico's' hand went to the amulet around his neck, feeling its power silently throbbing in his grasp. It had all been going so well ... this abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of London made for the perfect hideout, set away from any prying eyes. All he had to do was lie low and carefully, subtly, build his power, growing steadily in strength and influence. Except of course, he had become greedy and careless. He'd fed too often, choosing his victims sloppily. Now, they were onto him, coming to slaughter him like some wild, rabid animal. Well, he'd be damned if he'd go quietly.
Dominico made his way back down the stairs and entered the chamber where his latest subject still lay stretched out on the workbench. His dark skin had turned a pale grey, his toned, muscular body emaciated and shriveled. It would only take a few more minutes before the entropic cascade sequence moved to the final stages and the cadaver would crumble to dust, just like all the others. The black man had been strong, bold and confident. He remembered the sneer of contempt on his face when Dominico approached him in the empty alleyway. Well, he soon lost the smirk from his face after the amulet went to work, converting his life energies to raw mystic potential, a power that now surged through Dominico. It was intoxicating and thrilling, almost narcotic in its beguiling exhilaration. Small wonder Dominico's careful plans had been discarded.
The rumble of a powerful engine throbbed and growled from outside, growing steadily louder as it drew near. Great Gaia - they were there already! Dominico stepped over to an armchair that he had salvaged from the local dump and fell into it, directing his forces inwards, relaxing his neural pathways to channel the requisite energies that cast his astral form out of his corporeal body.
The strange sense of dislocation swept through Dominico before his senses adapted to their new parameters. After he adjusted to his new form, Dominco peered down to see his meat body slumped in the chair beneath him as though in deep sleep. His disembodied consciousness floated free, like some balloon filled with helium. Dominico's astral essence issued a stream of psycho-kinetic impulses that sent his ghostly incarnation sweeping out through the wall, he hovered in the air to observe his enemy's approach.
The sleek, bronze Maserati Bora rumbled to a halt before the deserted warehouse, the car door swung open and the dark haired woman climbed out, clad in long leather raincoat that seemed almost sculptured around the curves of her voluptuous body. He recognised her at once, of course - the Lady Magister Miriam Blaine. Dominico remembered the first time he ever saw the witch, several years ago at some gathering or other. Like everyone else he had been struck by her beauty and poise, the sense of power and confidence that radiated from her. It was no surprise she should take it upon herself to dispatch him. In his current, disembodied state, Dominico's astral essence was beyond the visible spectrum, but he dared not approach any nearer, or she would detect him with ease.
A shiver resounded across his mindset, Dominico adjusted his perceptions to translate the sound-waves; another car was approaching, this time from the east! Dominico guided his astral-plasmic form over to the rear of the building where sure enough, the headlights of a second car gleamed through the darkness as it drew near. He identified the vehicle as a Vauxhall Victor, looking a particularly grimy shade of pale blue - or was it lime green? Even if his ocular senses had been more finely attuned, it would have been difficult to be sure, with all the filth staining the battered bodywork.
He continued to watch as the car drew to a halt. Two men climbed out, one tall and lean, hair cut short, clad in a long raincoat. His craggy features were set in a dark scowl, he seemed ill at ease with the situation. Dominico recognized the other man at once. Everyone in the mystic community was familiar with the squat, wiry frame squeezed into baggy tracksuit bottoms andT-shirt. His weaselly eyes peered out from beneath bushy eyebrows, receding hairline casting a sharp "V" on his high forehead. Everyone knew about Charles Patrick Mafferdt, the thuggish hoodlum possessed by a demonic entity. Which meant the man with him had to be John Tolan. Merciful mother Medea - the warrior, the witch and the demon! The Thaumic Triad, no less! Perhaps Dominico should have felt honoured to be hunted by such a formidable force?
He hovered above them, listening intently as they made their way towards the warehouse, while Mafferdt's voice issued with a weary whine. "You sure this is the right place?"
"According to Miri, this is where he's hiding."
"Bleedin' typical! Another shit hole out in the middle of nowhere! How come none of these Herberts ever hide out in a Five star hotel? Be nice to 'ave some room service and a few beers once we sort 'im out."
"I wouldn't get too confident, Chas. According to Miri, this character's bad news."
"Wot, old dummy Dominico? Little wanker aint even a proper warlock. Just a third-rate adept with a few tricks up his sleeve."
"Maybe, but right now he's got his hands on that mystic amulet ..."
"Ah, bollocks! All them magical knick-knacks and sacred artefacts are a load of old hooey! Might as well use summing out of a Christmas cracker!"
"Apparently, the amulet of Zeravante is the real thing. Miri said he's already used it to suck the life force out of at least six innocent victims - possibly more."
"Ah, so wot? We're the Triad, aint we? The dog's bollocks! Now the old band's back together, there aint nuffing can stop us!"
"I keep telling you, Chas, this is temporary. Soon as we take this joker down, we go our separate ways again."
"Leave it out - wot's the matter wiv ya? Dontcha know when yer onto a good fing? I mean, it's ordained, innit? Ancient prophecy and all that! The witch, the warrior and the demon will come together as the Thaumic Triad and assert dominion over all this crazy shit!"
"Yeah, yeah, I know the spiel, but I'm in no hurry to assert dominion over anything! Like they say, power corrupts."
"Well of course it does, yer twit! That's the whole point of getting yer hands on the stuff! I suppose all this means you and Miri still aint getting along?"
"I don't particularly care to discuss my private life - least of all with you."
"I dunno ... how'd ya let a piece of skirt like that slip through yer fingers? Scotland Yard's finest? You couldn't detect yer way out of a paper bag!"
"Y'know, Chas, every second I spend in your company reminds me why I'm so determined to turn my back on all this lunacy in the first place."
"Ah, piss off! You ask me, I reckon big, bad Johnny Tolan's just a scared little boy. All this macho "lone wolf" shit is to disguise the fact that when a powerful woman like Miriam Blaine comes along, ya crap yer pants and wanna go running back ... to ... mummy ..."
"Chas? What is it?"
A shiver of fear reverberated along Dominico's sensorium where the ugly little thug peered straight at him. Even as a human, his demonic aspect could detect the presence of Dominico's astral-plasmic form. He had made the classic mistake of underestimating the little creep!
"Summing's watching us! Up there!"
A loud rasp issued, a metallic peal rang out as Tolan reached into the folds of his loose raincoat and drew the sword from its scabbard, raising it before him. In his disembodied form, Dominico could sense right away it was no ordinary weapon. The blade emanated rainbow auras where the thaumaturgical essence reacted with the dull, coarse parameters of the material world. Scores of energized tendrils and filaments stretched from the sword hilt, glowing through Tolan's body like a network of luminous veins, boosting his strength and skill, none of which would be visible in the normal spectrum.
"Yeah, I sense it too," muttered Tolan. "Has to be our friend Dominico."
An organic crunching, squelching noise issued where muscle, bone and tendons distorted and reorganized themselves. Mafferdt was leeching a residue of the demon's power into his mortal body. His torso swelled and expanded, muscles bulging taut against the material of his T-shirt, ridges forming over his brows, twin horns sprouting from his forehead to curl out before him, eyes glaring fiery red as his voice growled out through the array of fangs and jagged teeth sprouting from his mouth. "Awlright, yer little fucker! Stop pissing about and give yerself up! Otherwise, this is gonna get very messy for ya!"
The little monster had to be joking! Dominico called on the full forces at his command, forming a third order discharge. The bolt of plasma spat from his invisible form and struck with a blast that hurled the human-demonic hybrid tumbling through the air.
Tolan muttered a curse and fell into a crouch, sword held at the ready. Dominico issued another force bolt - but Tolan was already in motion, his enhanced instincts enabling him to swing the blade across to strike the bolt before it could hit home. The sword of power blazed a dazzling crimson where it absorbed the energies as Tolan cried out. "It's no use, Lewis! I carry Demonsbane - the sword of power! You know what that means - your magicks are no use against me!"
Dominico tried to stifle the panic that thratened to rise within him, when Tolan leapt forward, swinging the sword high over his head. The tip of the blade cleaved through the adept's astral-plasmic form. A sharp, icy jolt of agony coursed through him and he felt himself falling into gravity's embrace as he sank to the ground.
Then the thing that had been Chas Mafferdt clambered to his feet and came bounding over. "Wot the fuck izzat?!"
With a shock of dismay, Dominico realized his astral-plasmic form had begun to register in the visible spectrum. It must have presented quite a spectacle - a cloud of iridescent vapour churning and swirling a few inches above the ground where he had sunk before them, crackling streams of energy flickering and darting through it, almost faster than the eye could follow.
"I've seen something like this before," scowled Tolan. "I think it's Lewis Dominico - or at least, his disembodied life essence."
"When I'm finished with the little git, he won't have no body left ter float back into!"
Dominico struggled to calm his raging thoughts. He had already expended too much power and as long as Tolan held that wretched sword, he was helpless before him ... unless ... Mafferdt! The demon was the wild card, his only chance to escape!
The disembodied adept focused all his energies and concentrated, breaking down the little thug's psychic barriers, burning away all conscious restraint.
"Ah, shit! Johnny-boy, ya .... ya better get moving, mate!"
As Mafferdt reeled, Tolan cast him a look, his features turning pale. "Chas? Jesus - what the hell are you doing?"
"It aint ... aint my fault! I can't ... can't hold him back! Fer Chrissake, don't just stand there, yer berk! FUCKING RUN!!!"
But Mafferdt's panic-struck cry came far too late. Already, his body was suffused with an unearthly glow as his mental suppression melted away and the demon rose up from within, to assert full control over his material form.
This time, the transformation was far more extreme. His flesh cast a golden luminescence as though converted to some malleable substance unfettered by the laws of physics. His body bulged and swelled until it loomed some nine feet tall, whereupon the glow faded, reverting to solid mass and the brutal creature emitted a savage roar. Twin tusks jutted up from its lower jaw, skin gleaming a purple, metallic sheen. All traces of Charles Mafferdt had been swept aside as the demon roared its primal fury upon the face of the earth.
"Ah, shit!" snarled Tolan in grim despair, hefting his sword where the demon turned angrily towards him, then pounced with a lethal speed and grace.
Tolan clasped his sword with both hands and lashed out, the demon leapt clear, obviously wary of the power held within the mystical blade. It reached out to snatch up a heavy branch, swinging it across to ward off Tolan's sword blows. Tolan hacked out with numerous strokes that sliced through the creature's wooden cudgel.
Dominico decided to give the unwitting beast a hand; a pile of scaffolding lay nearby, the adept reached out with his mind, sending a length of metal pole sailing through the air into the monster's grasp.
Demon and cop exchanged blows, darting back and forth where they hacked and slashed away at each other. Much as he would have enjoyed staying to see who won, Dominico was gripped by a new sense of danger. He impelled his astral essence away, coasting back into the warehouse with a silent hope the duo would slaughter each other.
Another lurch brought Dominico back to the material world as his consciousness resumed contact with his material form. His dazed wits reverted to their former condition as once again he inhabited his mortal shell of flesh, blood and bone. Dominico rose to his feet, moments before the figure entered the chamber and Miriam Blaine stood before him. But of course - while he was preoccupied with the other two, the witch had clamly hunted down his corporeal form.
"Hello, Lewis. I see you've been a busy boy. Nice pendant you're wearing. How about handing it over?"
Dominico found his voice, relieved to hear it issue in calm, urbane tones that failed to betray the unease he felt. "Lady Blaine. I do hope you haven't come all this way just to insult my intelligence?"
"I'm here to put a stop to your madness. I remember Lord Magister Cevantes telling me how proud he was of his protege. How much it pleased him to have found someone worthy to pass on his knowledge. Is this really how you repay that trust?"
"Cevantes was a fool! You know how many decades he had the amulet hidden away? Buried and forgotten in the darkest reaches of his sanctum?"
"Because he recognized the foul nature of the power it bestows."
"Because he was a coward! He was too frightened to use those forces in the way they were intended!"
"So you murdered him, like all the others? How many more innocents have to die before you realize you don't control the amulet - it's controlling you!"
"Don't bore me with your petty morals! I'm not interested in that sentimental drivel about the sanctity of life! Human life is the cheapest commodity on the fucking planet! Those greedy, dismal, pathetic fools were an irrelevance! This time year next year, none will ever know they even existed!"
"Well - fun as it's been listening to you rant and rave, I believe this is where we bring things to a close."
"You can't threaten me, witch! My powers are greater than ever! Even the mighty Thaumic Triad is nothing to me!"
"Lewis, you have to understand, the only reason you're still alive is because we've been going easy on you."
"Is that a fact? Well, give it your best short, Lady Blaine. See how far it gets you."
"Time to wise up, Lewis. Last chance - give me the amulet."
"Why don't you try taking it?"
"That's how you want it? Fine ..."
She reached into her leather raincoat and produced the slender black knife. Dominico knew all about her obsidian blade, how it acted as a mystical nexus to focus and amplify the powers at her command. Even as she thrust the ancient, stone blade before her, he was already generating a defence. A pulsating nebula flickered gold and indigo around her hand before the stone knife spat an intense crimson beam that broke apart in rainbow flares where it struck the force barrier he had erected around him.
Dominico brought up his hands, fingers curled in casting semeiotics where he issued a response; scores of crimson therma-spheres spat from his fingertips.
Moving with lithe grace like a dancer, Miriam shifted her stance, holding the black knife before her where it radiated an intense purple aura. The therma-spheres buzzed around her like a swarm of mosquitos to cancel out where they collided in a blaze of strobe light.
The witch stepped forward, changing her stance once more. The obsidian blade issued a loud oscillating drone, a fierce olive glow enveloped Dominico and he fell to his knees with a gasp, feeling his strength and power ebb away, much as water is soaked up by a sponge. It was nothing he hadn't been expecting, and he had prepared a nasty little surprise for the arrogant bitch. He released the spell, hurling it back through the absorption field she generated. As soon as it reached Miriam, the forces grew active and discharged. A thaumaturgical counter-shock erupted through the witch's defences, Miriam Blaine was flung through the air to lie splayed out on the floor.
A thrill of triumph sang through Dominico where he watched her clumsily scramble to her feet, but he was already moving in to issue the optimum disruptor burst that would fry her nervous system when a loud pounding shuddered through the chamber. Plumes of dust rained down from the quaking ceiling as the floor jogged beneath his feet.
Miriam whirled as John Tolan came running through the doorway, sword in hand where he gave a tremendous yell. "MIRI - DOWN!"
The witch could only gawp dumbstruck before Tolan flung himself at her, hurling them both aside.
Then the doorway ceased to exist as the wall exploded, a purple skinned monstrosity crashed through amid tons of shattered brick work and pulverized masonry, bearing down on Dominico like an express train. The demon had no concern as to who fell victim before it, so long as it had someone to rip apart. A snarl of berserk fury stretched across its grotesque features as it raced towards Dominico who unleashed the full measure of his power at the beast, his spells bouncing harmlessly from its hide like water from an elephant. Then its clawed talons were tearing through him and agonies beyond reason assailed his wits.
It took all of Dominico's skills and disciplines to cast aside the fear, panic and torment to summon his forces once more, soaring aloft as a disembodied entity where he could only gaze down in mute anguish as the demon reduced his body to a bloody heap of pulped flesh, shattered bones and shredded offal.
His tattered remains were scattered in a bloody spatter across the floor as the demon gave a triumphant bellow to the ceiling. Nearby, Tolan and Miriam Blaine painfully hauled themselves to their feet. The demon turned on them with an angry snort, its bloodlust unchecked, eager to claim more victims.
Tolan raised the sword with grim determination and stood before the monstrosity. "Get out of here, Miri - while you can!"
Instead, the witch cocked a disdainful eyebrow, gently drawing her would-be protector back. "I don't think so, John ..."
She clamly stepped forward, the black knife held at the ready, while Tolan winced in panic and frustration. "You don't want to kill me, do you, Astoreth?"
It seemed the demon - Astoreth - had other ideas as it emitted another bellowing roar. "Now, now! Manners, Astoreth!" chided the witch as though scolding a dog. "Tell you what - why don't you take a little snooze?"
Miriam raised the knife before her where it radiated shimmering auras of green, crimson and gold. The demon gave a grunt, gawping in dazed awe, then shook its head and slumped to the floor.
Once more, its swollen body emanated the strange glow before flowing like syrup, beginning to contort and shrink. Dominico realised he had to act swiftly. Though he managed to preserve his life essence, with his material body destroyed, he wouldn't be able to survive in a disembodied state much longer. Not only that, but once the demon was no longer there to distract them, the others would surely become aware of his presence.
He scanned the chamber in desperation - then he detected the amulet where it had been cast to the floor in the course of his violent evisceration. It was something of a desperate gamble, but he didn't have much choice in the matter. Dominico impelled his astral form over to the amulet, carefully reaching out to infiltrate his astral essence into the energy matrix that still charged the artefact.
Even as his life force merged with the amulet, the demon continued to diminish and ceased to glow, until in its place, Chas Mafferdt lay stretched out on the floor. His T-shirt had long since been ripped to shreds, but the stretch pants of his baggy tracksuit bottoms still sagged around his legs. Tolan and Miriam Blaine stood over him as he issued a pained moan then sat up, rubbing his head and gingerly flexing his arms. "Bloody hell ... those metamorphic shunts are fucking murder on the old joints and tendons ..."
Miriam reached down and helped Mafferdt rise to his feet. "Welcome back, Charles. How are you feeling?"
"Bit out of it, like usual. Where's ol' laughing boy Dominico?"
"I think you're standing in him," grimaced Tolan.
Mafferdt peered down at the bloody mess and chunks of meat scattered around on the floor. "Ooop. Don't seem like we'll be hearing from him again. Another great victory for the Triad, eh?"
"The last victory for the Triad," snapped Tolan. "Miri, it's been great to see you again, but I am so done with all of this. Please don't ask me to do this any more."
"Oh, come off it, ya miserable twat!" exclaimed Mafferdt. "It's like destiny and kismet and all that! We belong together, an' yer know it! Yer can't just bloody walk away from all this!"
"Oh no? Just watch me. And for the last time - will you do the decent thing and get that bastard monster out of you? Sooner or later it's going to kill an innocent civilian - if it hasn't already!"
"Yer, alright! It's just ... it aint that easy, y'know!"
Tolan paused and gave Mafferdt one final glower, brandishing his sword. "I can make it all very easy, Chas. Just say the word."
For a moment, Dominico thought the cop was going to lash out at him, but then he just turned and stomped out of the chamber. After he had gone, the silence was broken by Mafferdt's irritated voice. "Sour faced little ponce! He needs a good kick up the bum, he does! Cantcha talk some sense into him, Miri?"
"You know our John, Charles, and this aversion he has to mystical forces. I'm afraid I don't have much influence over him these days. Besides, he does have a point. You can't allow Astoreth to run loose like that."
"Don't you start! I'm telling yerz, I got me other half under control, it's just ... y'know, it woz ..."
"Extenuating circumstances?"
"Exactly. Anyway, don't suppose you can give me a lift back to the Smoke, can ya? I don't think Johnny-boy wants me company anymore."
"Given the circumstances, it seems the least I can do."
From his "worm's eye" view on the floor, Dominico watched as the bizarre duo wandered out of the chamber, their voices fading in the distance.
"Just out of interest, you ever watch the wrestling on the telly by any chance?"
"I'm afraid that's one sport that's not exactly my cup of tea."
"Pity that. I woz just wondering, you heard of a geezer called "Doctor Demonic"?"
"Should I have?"
"Funny you should ask, as it turns out ..."
From his safe haven within the confines of the amulet, the life essence of Lewis Dominico took stock of the situation. Despite everything, he had survived a confrontation with the fabled Thaumic Triad. Now they thought him gone forever, his first order of business was to try and organize some means of creating a mortal vessel able to sustain his astral form on a permanent basis. Then ... well, then he would set about exacting his revenge on those bastards!
As he continued to scheme and make his plans, the life essence of Dominico became aware of footsteps returning to the chamber. His visual senses registered the form of Chas Mafferdt where he sauntered over then crouched down to peer at the amulet on the floor.
"C'mon, matey - yer didn't think you could put one over on ol' Chas, didja? Yer, that's right, pal - I know yer in there."
A dizzying lurch surged through Dominico as the demon host plucked up the amulet. "Seems only right that ya get ter go where no man has gone before. Cheers, matey!"
The adept could only emit a silent scream of rage and horror as Mafferdt swallowed the amulet and Dominico embarked on his final journey towards the thug's formidable digestive system.
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