Bane of Brimstone (The Bill Blackthorne Chronicles Book 1)

15 Oct. 1872. – Today I made thegreatest decision I have ever made. I know I cannot go on with this wretchedlife, but before I take it I knew I had to see Percy one last time. Love forhim is all that keeps me sane. At dusk I saddled up Beauty and rode toBrimstone Manor. There I was received into the study and found Lord Percysitting by the fire. At first I mumbled, finding speech difficult, but soon thewords tumbled out and I told him everything, leaving no detail hidden howeverbarbaric. Lord Percy tried to hold me in his arms but I sobbed and moved awayfrom him, feeling a mumbled curse on my lips and a lust of his blood! But whata splendid man he is to understand! He became angry and cursed the name of VictorTainn and the heinous thing that he had done to me. He told me that Tainn’swarlock coven are members of the Etheric Club and how they boast of their plansfor the resurrection of Arddhu Og. The cult is to be spread through curse andblood sacrifice and I am the first of their number! He said tonight wasHunter’s Moon and that gave him an idea. He called his butler and ordered ameeting of the Underwood Hunt. All his friends, twenty strong and truehuntsmen, and the hound pack were to ride out North that very evening toBarleybrook and destroy the foul creature Victor Tainn!

 

Wed. 16 Oct. 1872. – I have mysaviour, but does vengeance make for happiness? I write this in the early hoursof the morning after seeing my Percy. He returned tired, bloodied and splatteredwith mud and told me of Victor Tainn. The creature has been tricky and used hisdark arts! The warlock was wounded in the head most grievously by Percy and hisfriends but he cast a dark spell of confusion and vanished into the night, nodoubt off to tell the rest of the Etheric Club of his attack. Percy isfearsomely angry and has promised by Almighty God that he will make this right.He now curses the Barleybrook Etheric Club, calling it the most evil anddepraved society, and deeply regrets his dalliance with occult and fantasticaldistractions. He and his hunt friends have formed a rival and opposing club,The Ultorius Apostles, who vow to kill every trace of pagan vermin that plaguesthis land, starting with the Etheric Club members in Barleybrook! He alsopromised that I shall be cured of my curse and made his bride! Oh how I wishwhat he said could be true, but this Curse of Og cannot be shaken off like somesummer cold.

Wed. 16 Oct. 1872. – I am afraid Ihave done a most wretched thing. Lord Percy retired to bed and I was shown to aguest room by a maid but I could not sleep. The voice was again wheedling in myhead, giving me a lust for victims. So I got up and went down stairs. I wasthinking of going out to the stables but knew they’d be locked up. Beauty wasnot to hand! What was I to do? My hunger grew and the whispered voice remindedme of the servants, sleeping soundly in their quarters, of their coursingblood... But as I passed into the Great Hall I spied Percy’s huge dog Claude sprawledout by the glowing embers of the fire. I am afraid I did to that poor beastwhat I have done to Beauty so many times. How ashamed I am! Percy will neverlove such a creature as I. Victor Tainn has done his work but I wish he hadslain me!

Opheliaclosed the journal and yawned heavily. As she lay on the pillow, drifting offto sleep, the chilling sound of a long, low howl echoed from the room nextdoor, making break into a cold sweat and wake up with a start.

*

Billwoke up feeling confused and groggy. He was lying in an old four poster bedunder heavy blankets. It was quite dark because the curtains were drawn, but hecould see thick russet wallpaper, dusty old landscapes on panelled walls andthe embers of a fire glowing in a large stone hearth.

Then he noticed a man sitting on achair in the corner of the room. He was thin and dressed all in black, withhigh cheek bones, a goatee beard and greasy swept back hair. When he saw Billstaring at him he got to his feet and drew back the heavy curtains, floodingthe room with soft light through the mullioned windows.

“Let the Saints be praised,” said theman with a crooked smile, “you have survived the night. I will check theabomination.”

The man approached the bed andcarefully folded back the covers. Bill could see that someone had taken off hisclothes and put him in a pair of striped flannel pyjamas. The man startedgrabbing at him with long bony fingers, unbuttoning his pyjama top.

“Get off me,” said Bill, brushing thestrange man’s hands aside.

He glared at Bill and said, “Do notdare obstruct me.”

Bill remembered the terrible woundacross his stomach and felt panic rising. “You’ve got to get me to a hospital.”

“No hospital can help you, myfriend. We have our own treatments here.”

“Who are you?”

“My name is Doctor van Devlin. Andthrough God’s mercy I have saved your life.”

He unfastened the last button andpulled back the pyjama top.

Bill looked down at his stomach,expecting to see a long bloody gash, but was shocked to see that it hadcompletely vanished. He felt no pain. For a split second he wondered if it hadever been there at all.

“Am I home?” said Bill. “Mordred tookus away but I think I fell unconscious.”

“You are indeed at Brimstone Manor.”

“How long have I been here?”

“Since the early hours. I wastelephoned and came straight away.”

The man prodded Bill’s stomach andgrunted his approved. “The Lord is merciful. All is well.” He came away,smiling to himself with satisfaction.

“Where’s Mother?”

“You shall see Beryl shortly. Butfirst you must eat. The treatment asks a lot of the body and you will be veryhungry.”

The Doctor gently tugged on a bellpull near the fireplace.

“Where’s Arthur?”

“I believe your friend was dropped offat his home.”

 Bill sat up and put