“I’ve just seen another one! A woman,one of the professors I think, with those horrible eyes and the horns! Justlike that night when I came down. It can’t be normal mother to see things likethat.” Bill was very agitated. Who exactly were these horriblecreatures? What were they doing here, living amongst us? Why couldn't Arthursee them? Why was Beryl leading one into the cellar? Was he losing his mind?
Beryl put up a firm hand to silencehim. “It will all make sense in time, my darling. Just ignore these creaturesand think of your studies. They will do you no harm in their current drugged-upform.”
Bill noticed Beryl didn't deny theirexistence, and this made him even more afraid. “But they may attack! They’redevils!”
“I told you to forget about them. Doas I say! I order you!”
“Yes mother,” said Bill, who could seehis mother's anger building and knew he didn't want to provoke her. Andbesides, he wanted more than anything to forget about lurking yellow-eyedmonsters. He felt like he was going crazy. Maybe seeing strange beasts was partof his condition? He took a deep breath and tried to calm down.
“Focus on your studies!”
“Yes mother. It’s just… The lecturesare going to mean nothing. I’m sure Miss Spital did her best, but she didn’treally tell me anything. It’s not just going to be hard, it’ll be impossible.”
“You’ll be fine darling. There’s a lotyou know, a vast amount, more than any other student here. If you only knew,had some glimmer of it…”
“I’m scared mother.”
She gazed at Bill with eyes filledwith evangelical zeal. “There’s a certain society you must join, the ChoralSociety. The people you will meet there are our people. They willprotect you from Bane, vanquish your enemies.”
“I haven’t really thought about clubsand societies.”
“We’ll be going to Fresher’s Fair,”added Arthur.
Beryl gave Arthur a ferocious glarethat silenced him immediately. “Let me give you a little word of warning,darling,” she said to Bill in a sinister voice. “If you don't join the ChoralSociety you will be forced to join.”
“What?”
She sighed and puckered her fat redlips. “I’ve got something for you.”
She handed Bill a yellow envelope.Arthur noticed a tattoo on her arm that was identical to Bill’s – a writhingsalamander.
“I want you to give this to ProfessorNox. He’s an old friend of mine and will guide you in your task.”
“Guide me in what task?”
“You are very important to us, Bill.You must do exactly what Professor Nox tells you to do. He will inviteyou to his rooms each night – remember I said you are to have treatments? Youmust attend. He will give you medicine that you must take. He will give youinjections that you need to bear without complaint. Be a brave boy.”
“Injections? What injections?”
“A complex mix of chemicals requiredto restore your mind's balance. He's a very learned man who has inventedcertain electro-convulsive and hypnotic procedures that will force you torecollect you past.”
“Electrocon-what?”
“Your memories must berestored,” said Beryl seething with anger.
“I agree mother,” said Bill. “Butisn't there another way?”
“No! Promise me you will go and seeProfessor Nox. If you do not go then you will be brought back to the manor andseverely punished.”
Bill was starting to feel veryapprehensive about his future student life. Who was this sinister soundingProfessor Nox with his ‘medicine’ and ‘treatments’? What exactly was the‘Choral Society’, and why did she want him to join so badly? What were thesehorned, yellow-eyes creatures?
“Yes mother, you win,” he said whenhe realised this fearsome woman would take no other answer.
Beryl suddenly relaxed and smiled, cuppedhis cheeks in her hands and stared into his eyes. “You have a momentousdestiny, my dear sweet child. When memory is restored you will be given a greatand important job, a very difficult and dangerous job that only you can do. TheApostles need you.”
Bill was freaked out. He backed away;trying to free himself from his mother’s grasping hands. He realised that goingoff to university with Arthur was going to be nothing like he’d imagined.
ChapterTwo - The Coven
Midnight on each Hallowstide –
yon daemon folk do rise.
To take a young girl’s maidenhead.
Their ill deserv’d prize.
– Old English rhyme.
Opheliaand Lilith were over near the college entrance, not far from Bill and Arthur,sprawled on a long wooden bench beside an ancient oak. They were dressed in adaringly eccentric manner, completely different to all the other girls, withlong black figure-hugging dresses, black velvet jackets, many silver rings,bangles and necklaces. Their eyes were caked in mascara and their mouths wereplastered with red lipstick. Lilith was pale-skinned and originally blonde, buthad dyed her hair black. Ophelia was mixed-race, so her hair was already blackand slightly frizzy. They wanted a look as ‘witchy’ possible, but had decidedto draw the line at broad-brimmed pointed hats and broomsticks.
Ophelia was clutching a smallleather-bound book with yellowing pages. The girls had acquired it fromWoodworms, the university book shop in town. Ophelia had been quite daring whenshe asked the assistant – a bespectacled young man who obviously fancied her –if he had any Dark Pagan books. At first the man was shocked and said it wasillegal, but then he got something from under the counter wrapped in brownpaper and handed it to her. The girls were very excited as they rushed back totheir rooms.
It turned out to be a journal writtena hundred years ago by a young woman called Rowena Ramsbottom. She lived in thenearby village of Underwood. It told of her adventures, especially herburgeoning romance with the dashingly handsome Percy Valentine, Lord ofBrimstone Manor. He was tall, well dressed, very rich, but most importantly wasinterested in befriending pagans, as he found their way of life fascinating.This was what the girls loved about him. People today wouldn’t dare admit tobeing interested in such things, much less to court their company.
“I’d love to see a picture of him,”said Ophelia.
“It might describe him somewhere.”
Ophelia opened the book and both girlsread eagerly.
Tue. 3 Sep. 1872. – Today has been themost exciting of days! As I write this journal tucked up in my bed I amtrembling all over! Lord V. came to Briar Cottage just after tea to see Fatherabout some business with
