I looked around the corner once more. Lord Snetton stood near a mound of ten or twelve naked cadavers, and even now Edgar raised a bloodstained knife to slaughter the latest victim. Edgar's scar gleamed in the light from the portal, and fresh blood soaked his shirt from wrist to shoulder. Once more, I drew my head back around the corner. "Oh for a rifle, and one trained in its use," I muttered.
The professor shook his head. "Lord Snetton is possessed, and shooting him would only kill the unwilling human host. The demon inside him would break free, seeking another to inhabit."
His meaning was clear. Kill Snetton, and one of us would likely be possessed by the spirit now occupying him. "What if we knocked him unconscious?" I asked.
Roberta snorted. "Your last throw was a miracle. Do not expect a repeat."
I looked down at the wooden sword in my hand. "Professor, are you certain this will keep those spirits away?"
"I built that weapon myself," said the professor, in a stuffy tone. "Of course it will work!"
"Then I'd ask you both to wish me good fortune," I muttered, and before they could stop me I shrugged off the haversack and charged around the corner into the chamber.
– — Ω — –
"No!"
"Stop!"
I heard the professor and Roberta cry out, but I was beyond caring. If I could subdue Lord Snetton somehow, the other two could use their traps and devices to draw the evil out of him. If Edgar came at me with his dagger, I promised myself I would shoot him dead. As for the spirits whirling around the chamber, I could only hope that the professor's faith in the wooden swords was not misplaced, and that I would be able to keep them at bay.
As I ran, I suspected that none of the above would come to pass. Deep down, I guessed that I was sacrificing myself, but as the cause of so much trouble I felt that my loss would be worth it… as long as it tipped the scales.
I had barely entered the chamber when I was beset by spirits, and I held up that fragile wooden sword to meet them. To my surprise, the runes scratched into the blade glowed with fierce light, and the spirits were quite unable to pierce the invisible shield surrounding me. By now I was running fast, and the angry phantasms circled me like huge moths around a lantern,
Ahead, Lord Snetton and his depraved, murderous assistant had become aware of the disturbance, and they both turned to face me. Snetton seemed entirely unconcerned as I closed the distance between us, and my confidence faltered at his look of disdain. As for Edgar, his expression was intensely ravenous, as though his very soul cried out for fresh blood.
At this moment I realised my plan could have done with a little more thought and a little less action. I carried the revolver in my left hand, but if I shot either of the men I would quickly be overcome by the evil spirit inhabiting them. And as for the sword, I might as well attack them with a sheet of parchment.
Snetton's smile widened at my approach, as though he'd read my mind. Edgar, meanwhile, had abandoned his victim and was coming for me with his knife. He was five or six paces behind Lord Snetton, and I was running headlong towards both of them.
With only a split second left before reaching them, I decided to use the only weapon remaining to me. Lowering one shoulder, I charged the slender figure of Lord Snetton, and as we collided I hurled him backwards. His top hat went one way, his cane the other, and then we were both tumbling over and over in the dirt.
I ended up face-down, and a fast-moving shadow alerted me to the danger. Rolling over, I was just in time to avoid Edgar and his bloodied dagger. The force of his thrust drove the blade into the dirt, and I lashed out with my shoe, kicking his hand as hard as I could. There was a satisfying snap as the blade broke off, and I regained my feet and backed away, revolver at the ready as Edgar tossed aside the haft of his knife.
I had lost my wooden sword in the melee, and all of a sudden I was surrounded by glowing phantasms, their hollow eyes and wide open mouths screaming of their past lives. Their hands grasped for me, and I found myself frozen to the spot, unable to move an inch as glowing fingers passed through my clothes and into my chest. There was a wrench deep inside, and then I could only watch in horror as a fine, bright strand was pulled twisting and turning from my chest. My vision began to fade, and I was on the point of collapse when I heard a roar of anger.
"Back, you foul demons. Back, I say!"
The spirits scattered as though blown by a gale, and my vision returned as the twisting strand of glowing light snapped back into my chest. The chill that had been upon me was dispelled, and I turned to see Roberta and the professor either side of me, their glowing wooden swords held high.
By this time Lord Snetton had recovered, and he took up his black cane and pointed it at Roberta. "Come closer."
I laughed, for he might as well have ordered her to fly.
Edgar was on his feet, and he crouched as though he were about to spring. Lord Snetton stilled him with a gesture, then smiled at Roberta. "Come, my dear. Join us."
To my surprise Roberta took a step forward, and quickly I reached out a hand to stop her. She shook me off and took another step towards Snetton, somehow under his power. She was fighting
