Mephiston: Blood of Sanguinius by Darius Hinks

Author:Darius Hinks
Language: eng, eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2017-01-24T08:48:29+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Tarn Abbey, Divinus Prime

The sound of Mephiston’s shot echoed around the city and Pieter Zorambus toppled backwards towards the doorway of the sacristy, arms flailing as the force of the headshot lifted his feet from the ground. Rather than collapsing, however, he remained suspended in mid-air, juddering like an oversized marionette. It was as though someone had paused a playback on a pict unit, looping the moment of his death. Antros had reached the other Librarians by now and saw what happened next with disturbing clarity. Zorambus shook with increasing violence until his outline began to shimmer and he started to vanish from view.

‘My lord,’ said Antros, but before he could say more, Zorambus’ violent fit ceased and the Blood Angels were left facing two Unbegotten Princes instead of one. They both smiled.

‘I understand your concern,’ said the two identical Pieters. Neither of them showed any sign of a head wound and both held up their hands in the same placating gesture. ‘But I believe we are trying to achieve the same goal. If we could exchange words rather than gunfire I could explain how we could work–’

Captain Vatrenus muttered an oath and unloaded several bolter rounds into the two warriors, sending them staggering backwards. Again, rather than falling, they shook violently for a few seconds and then duplicated.

‘We are all sons of the God-Emperor,’ said four Pieters, wearing matching smiles. ‘And we all desire to see His treasures unearthed. Whatever differences you imagine we might have, they can so easily be–’

There was a roar of bolter fire as the battle-brothers of Squad Seriphus unleashed a barrage of shells.

‘Wait!’ cried Antros, but his voice was drowned out by the gunfire and, when the smoke cleared, they were facing dozens of Unbegotten Princes, all shaking their heads with identical expressions of disappointment as they raised their falchions and pistols and strode down the steps.

Ceramite clashed against ceramite as the white-armoured knights met the crimson ranks of Tactical Marines.

‘To me!’ growled Captain Vatrenus over the vox, summoning the rest of his men to the square.

The Space Marines formed a wall of armour in front of Mephiston and the other Librarians, fighting with brutal efficiency. But for every warrior that fell, two more appeared. They were gradually filling the courtyard with ranks of identical, white-armoured knights whose smiles had been replaced with determined scowls as they forced the Blood Angels back across the mounds of corpses.

Antros sought Mephiston out in the melee, wondering if he would act as he had on Thermia, when the sepolcrali surrounded him.

Mephiston powered up the steps, flinging the white knights aside with ease. When he reached the doors of the sacristy, he turned to face the battle below and raised Vitarus over his head. The sword’s blade vanished, replaced by a column of vermillion fire.

Antros gasped in shock as heat pulsed through his gauntlet, causing him to drop his bolt pistol. He saw that all the other Blood Angels had been stricken in the same way, forced to defend themselves with their swords and combat knives as the enemy piled into them.

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