Dead Sky, Black Sun (Ultramarines Book 3) by Graham McNeill

Author:Graham McNeill [McNeill, Graham]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2015-06-03T13:57:18+00:00

Chapter Eleven

The journey through the darkened archway was one that Uriel knew he would never forget. The sensation of being spied upon by every square centimetre of wall was intolerable and he was sure he could hear a susurration of whispered voices, just on the threshold of hearing. Their words, if such they were, were unintelligible, but on some primal level, Uriel knew that they whispered of vile, terrible things.

…dishonour, disgrace and failure…

This at least he felt he could bear, having already seen the most terrible things imaginable in the presence of the Nightbringer, but still…

The twilit darkness seemed to go on forever and Uriel soon lost track of how long they had been travelling along the damnable tunnel.

…it doesn’t ever stop, it goes on and on…

‘Imperator! Does this ever end?’ growled Vaanes as they delved further and further into the never-ending darkness.

‘I know,’ said Uriel. ‘I get the feeling that we do not travel normal paths here. We can trust nothing, not even the evidence of our own senses.’

‘Then how will we find what we’re looking for?’

…you won’t…

‘We will have to trust that the Emperor will show us the way,’ said Uriel, irritated by Vaanes’s constant questions.

Vaanes shook his head in exasperation. ‘I knew I should have never come on this mission. It was doomed from the start.’

…yes, doomed, only death awaits…

‘Then why did you come?’ snapped Uriel, rounding on the former Raven Guard, his temper fraying.

…he hates you and will betray you…

‘Damned if I can remember,’ snarled Vaanes, his face centimetres from Uriel’s. ‘Perhaps I thought you had more of an idea about how you planned to get in here and find what we came for!’

…he doesn’t, he will see you dead soon…

‘Damn you, Vaanes. Why must you always undermine me?’ said Uriel, hearing soft, malicious laughter and the whispers of the walls growing louder in his ears. ‘Every step of this journey you have done nothing but tell us that we are on a fool’s errand. That may be so, but we are Space Marines trapped on a daemon world and it is our sacred task to fight the enemies of mankind wherever they may be.’

…not any more. Give in, you are worthless…

‘Don’t you understand? We are not Space Marines,’ shouted Vaanes, the reflected blue light of the tunnel glittering in his eyes. ‘Not any more. We are all outcasts, shunned and banished from our Chapters. We owe neither them nor the Emperor anything any more. And I, for one, am getting sick of hearing your sanctimonious voice telling me what I ought to be doing.’

…yes, kill him, what is he to you anyway…?

Uriel shook his head as Vaanes slapped a gauntleted hand on his shoulder guards and said, ‘Where is your Chapter badge, Ventris? I don’t see it. Does anyone else?’

‘What happened to you, Vaanes?’ asked Uriel, angrily shrugging off the hands on his shoulders and gripping the hilt of his sword. ‘How did you become so damaged?’

…because he has no honour, he deserves to die…!

‘Because I let myself get put in situations like this once too often,’ hissed Vaanes.

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