I raised my pistol, intending to shoot Snetton no matter the consequences, but the revolver's grip glowed with searing heat and I was forced to drop the weapon. Despite the terrible pain I was fully aware it was a trick, an illusion, but it was so real I could almost smell my own flesh burning.
By now Roberta was close to Lord Snetton, and he had her turn to face us. Then, very deliberately, he raised a gloved hand to her throat, pressing his thumb and fingers to the arteries in her neck. "I shall starve the blood from her brain," he told us conversationally. "Once she has fainted, my associate will bind her to the bench you see behind me. Then, with great pleasure, I shall observe while he cuts her throat."
I took a step forward but Lord Snetton's cane jerked instantly, and a wave of sheer force hurled me backwards to land in the dirt. As I lay there, ears ringing, I heard his final words as though from afar.
"Her sacrifice will be sufficient to open the portal you see behind me, and then this pathetic world of yours is finished."
– — Ω — –
I raised my head, and to my dismay I saw Roberta's eyelids fluttering as she began to lose consciousness. But it was the pleading look in those eyes that struck me the hardest, and I knew that I must help her no matter the cost. Then I frowned, for she slowly closed one eye before opening it again. What madness was this?
Her head dropped forwards, her body instantly going limp. Lord Snetton was supporting her, and he staggered as her weight came to bear. That's when I recalled the pleading look, and I realised she had not been pleading for me to save her, but instead had been warning me she was about to fool Snetton!
I cast around me, and saw a gleam of metal nearby. It was the pistol, and it was lying half-covered in the dirt nearby. I stretched out a hand and took it up, then looked to the professor. He was two paces away, his face haggard as he watched his daughter's supposedly-unconscious form, since he was completely unable to help her. "Professor!" I croaked.
He glanced at me, then at the gun in my hand. "You cannot harm an evil spirit with that," he hissed.
"A distraction. Please."
He turned to look at Lord Snetton, and I could read his thoughts. We were done for, even if he saved Roberta. But then his jaw tightened, and he nodded.
I expected him to run at Snetton, but instead the professor reached into his coat and took out a hip flask. He took a decent draught, smacked his lips, and then drew his arm back and hurled the silver flask directly at Lord Snetton. It flashed past his head, causing the man to start, and in that instant Roberta elbowed him firmly in the stomach and broke free. He made a desperate grab for her, and I rolled onto my haunches, brought the gun up and fired three shots.
The first bullet missed completely, but the next two caught Lord Snetton in the chest, and red blossoms appeared on his crisp white shirtfront as though by magic. The cane fell from his grasp and he dropped to his knees, a trickle of blood already forming at the corner of his mouth. Then, slowly, he fell face-forward into the dirt.
There was a howl of dismay, and I turned the gun to cover Edgar, whose face was a twisted mask of hatred. Then I became aware of two things. First, the portal had just widened appreciably, and twisted limbs and clawed hands were already reaching through as the denizens on the other side strove to enter our world. And second, a glowing red cloud was pouring from Lord Snetton's mouth and nose. It whirled this way and that as it rose into the air, before it selected its victim and darted straight towards me.
– — Ω — –
I was still on my haunches, gun in hand, and saw I had no chance of escaping the advancing red cloud. Roberta, however, had not given up. Reaching into her pocket, she took out a handful of infused discs, and with a series of rapid throws she managed to land several between me and the approaching phantasm.
It continued to advance, and for a second I thought the specially-crafted discs would have no effect. But then, at the last second, the evil phantasm drew back. Then it abandoned me and darted towards the professor. Roberta threw more discs, quick as a flash, and they fell in the dirt in a rough circular pattern, until the spirit was completely surrounded.
I heard a thin howl of frustration that set my hair on end, but there was no time to think. Edgar had picked up a second knife, and was advancing on Roberta from behind. There was murder in his eyes, and I had no doubt that one more death would open that terrible portal. I stood, raising my gun, but I knew it was no use. Shooting him dead would be just as effective, and the portal would open all the same.
In all of this, I'd forgotten the professor. That worthy now ran past me, pronged weapon in hand, and Edgar turned from Roberta to face this new threat. I could see the madness in his eyes, could see his desire to slaughter this new enemy, but there was something else
