IGMS Issue 35 by IGMS

Author:IGMS
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Hatrack River Enterprises
Published: 2013-08-31T16:00:00+00:00

To her right, the eyeless things parted, making way for Dontur. He took in the situation with a sweeping glance, from Mackenzie to Ellie to the evidence she held in her hand.

"Did your homework, didn't you?" Ellie said. "Got your talisman and knew who it belonged to. You knew the final challenge would be on Halloween night, figured it would have something to do with the Granting. And you hatched a little plan. You had some extra talismans made, so you could sneak a few plants in here tonight as bait. No wonder you were running late. How many did you give out, Mackenzie?"

His eyes, wide and bulging, darted in their sockets like frightened fish. Mute, he shook his head in weak denial.

"You went to each of them disguised as me. You told each one some version of the story you gave the priest. You had it all rigged perfectly, didn't you? Nothing left to chance."

Mackenzie continued to shake his head. "No no no --"

Dontur took one of the talismans from Ellie's hand, examined it. "Pretty shoddy workmanship, actually. Like it was made in a hurry." He sighed. "Oh, Brian. Under other circumstances, I might actually have appreciated your creativity. But this" -- he held up the talisman -- "this is a major security breach." He glanced around. "I can't have it. My lieutenants need to be people I can trust. And here you have filled my house with who knows how many enemies." He chuckled. "None of them would be a match for me, but that's not really the point, is it?"

Mackenzie swallowed hard. "Lord, I . . . I . . . please --"

More of Dontur's creatures appeared in the doorway, flowed into the chamber. There were hundreds of them.

Dontur's hand closed around the talisman he held. With his other hand, he executed a little overhead flourish. Startled cries went up from the assembly. Ellie glanced around; floating talismans -- some loose, some on chains -- filled the air over everyone's heads. Some of the guests reached up to grab at them, but the medallions danced out of range, levitating ever higher.

"Sorry, folks," Dontur said. "I have neither the time nor the inclination to question each of you individually. And I can't have word of this event leaking out. I'm afraid I'll have to revoke your invitations. And as for you, Brian --"

Mackenzie buried his face in his hands.

"-- you're fired." Dontur gestured again with his free hand, and the floating talismans vanished with a flash -- all except for the ones Ellie still held.

The keening went up again from Dontur's servants. Their jaws opened wide. And the screaming began.

Ellie stood in the middle of it all, untouched, as the ballroom became an abattoir. Some tried to fight. Some tried to hide. Some tried to flee. The eyeless things battened on all of them, decapitating, eviscerating, snapping off limbs

. . . and feeding. A group of them swarmed around Mackenzie; Ellie heard wet crunching and rending noises. To his credit, he didn't scream.

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