Her hands were shaking. ‘I have your name. I command you by right. Harm my mum and…’ What? What the hell was she going to do? Then inspiration struck. ‘I’ll leave this castle and shout your name from the mountains, so every other being here knows it.’
He paled, though she hadn’t thought it possible, and his hand dropped. She had him. She had him! Trying hard to look casual, she turned her back and walked across to Martin, shaking him gently until his eyes cracked open. He sat up quickly, hands out to brace himself, and shook his head, blinking furiously. She helped him stand, then was thrown forward as mum crashed into her, arms wrapping around. She managed to turn and return the hug, clinging to her like a wino with his last can of Special Brew.
The three of them looked at the demon, stood further away now, eyes shadowed, face expressionless. His voice was the sound of the dying– enough already, just, he sounded creepy. ‘You will destroy any evidence of my name. Should you fail in doing so, I will hunt you. You have made an enemy today, Scarlet Parker, be careful next time you step this way.’
‘Yeah, ‘cause I was really planning on coming back to hell soon.’
‘You’ll be back.’
She shivered, and he was gone. The torches guttered, as though a wind blew through the hall, then one by one they went out. As the darkness grew, Martin grabbed their hands and dragged them toward the door through which they had entered. They ran down the corridor, chased by a blackness far darker than the simple absence of light, and racing with it the laughter of the dead, newly awakened and angry. She snorted, shaking her head, even as her hands shook.
Before them, the dull light of the sky flowed lazily in through the front door and they ran harder. Her sides were hurting, her breath coming in gasps and she slowed. Martin yanked at her, nodding over her shoulder. She glanced behind and saw the demon, his face emerging from the darkness, huge and fierce, and she shrieked and sprinted for the door.
They burst out onto the plain, and kept running, ignoring the laughter that chased them toward the mountains. Back between the cliffs and through the valley, and finally they paused, her hands on her knees as she bent over, sucking in air. She pulled the book from her waistband, cracked it open at the page, and spoke the words, until the light blinded her and she stepped forward.
Final instalment: Wednesday 6 November
