The Chosen

“Don’t…be…hasty, Paul.”

“Why?” Paul snapped. “I know all about you now, and all I gotta do is bust this big rock and you’re out of here.”

Feldspar composed himself, managed to rise to his feet. He donned the sackcloth hood, and spoke like an incantation. “Why not, first, consider your options? If you destroy the fount of my protection, I’ll still kill you. Or…you can desist. And join me.”

“Fuck you,” Paul replied.

“You can join me forever, Paul.” Feldspar’s eyes seemed to widen in circumference, something beneath them reaching out… “Forever, Paul. Some of us are born to serve—”

Magwyth, Paul remembered from the book. Servant of Demons.

“—and those who I serve are immortal.” The stolid stare focused, sharpening to an awl-like glint.

Paul felt adrift.

“Be immortal with me, Paul. I will show you wonders.”

Paul froze, the sledgehammer poised. At his feet lay the amethyst, large as a goose egg, its purple facets sparkling. All he need do—

Immortality, came an intruding thought.

All he need do—

Live…a voice seemed to whisper…forever…

Paul blinked. “I said it before and I’ll say it again. FUCK YOU!”

Feldspar howled.

Paul brought the sledgehammer down so hard he nearly came off his feet.

The amethyst shattered…

Feldspar fell to hands and knees, roaring. He seemed to be convulsing within the muck-brown frock, while his endless bellow buffeted high into the night.

Finish him off! Paul’s instincts shouted back.

He dashed up the steps, took a deep breath, and again raised the heavy sledgehammer. Then he brought it down—

From somewhere a hideous chuckle rumbled. Feldspar’s hand snapped up, caught the sledgehammer just under its head…

Then he rose back to his feet.

The sledge was jerked away and flung into the trees. The awful, black chuckling rose.

And Paul was left to stand staring into the face of the real Feldspar.

The real Magwyth, Servant of Demons…

««—»»

All the accesses, she knew, were barred now. Vera scrambled across the silent atrium, then back into the kitchen. The elevator! she remembered. In the pantry!

From the basement she knew she could escape out the back, through the long bogus sewer pipe that emptied out behind The Inn.

Her heart beat insanely fast. She sprinted back through the RS kitchen, barged into the pantry, and pressed the down button on the elevator plate.

Then she heard the screams.

God Almighty…