Untitled (39 page)

       "Where's the child?" Megan interrupted.

"Such impertinence," Ellen sneered, turning her head in acknowledgement. "It will not be tolerated, not even from a first born."

       Megan took two steps forward, placing her almost nose to nose with Ellen. "I said where's the child."

       Ellen's reply came in the form of a backhanded slap and Megan reacted without breaking eye contact, grabbing Ellen by the wrist and holding it fast. The women stared at each other, Ellen's jaw tensing in anger, infuriated by Megan's lack of respect.

       "You don't want me to ask a third time," said Megan, her voice steady, her tone calm.

       "He is here." Ash stepped from the circle holding the naked form of the new born boy.

       "What are you doing?" spat Ellen. "How dare you answer to her."

       "Father Jacob had faith in her," Ash replied. "That is good enough for me."

       The doorway to the chamber had filled with Slavis. They moved over and around each other but made no attempt to enter, held off by the whispered chanting.

       "Give him to Harrison," Megan ordered and Ash nodded.

       "What the hell am I supposed to do with it?" Harrison asked.

       "Give him here," Kaci said , holding her arms out to take the child.

       "How dare you?" Ellen screamed in Megan's face and then turned to Samantha. "She is your daughter... punish her."

Samantha held her ground with stoic silence, looking from Ellen to Megan and then back to Ellen.

       "I said punish her." Ellen's face turned red and spittle flecked her lips.

       Samantha reached inside her robe and brought out two small knives, the blades curved and razor sharp.

       "I'll deal with you later," Megan stated, releasing her hold on Ellen's wrist and turning to face the mother she'd never known. "You don't have to do this," She passed her knife from one hand to the other.

       "I can not allow you to take the child," replied Samantha. "His blood must be spilled."

       Harrison and Kaci watched helplessly as mother and daughter began to circle each other, knives raised and bodies tensed ready to strike. The baby began to cry and Kaci held him closer to her chest rocking him gently as she turned to Ash.

       "Give me your robe," she said and Ash looked at her questioningly. "The baby's cold."

       Ash nodded, pulling the robe over his head to reveal his naked upper half. Every available inch of skin was tattooed with the same symbols Chappell had cut into his own flesh. He saw the look on Kaci's face and blushed, handing her the robe.

Samantha broke the stand-off, sweeping from left to right with the first knife. Megan ducked below it and then stepped back as the second blade came from right to left.

       "This isn't how I pictured it," said Megan, shuffling around carefully.

       "Pictured what?" Samantha's eyes narrowed, expecting a trick.

       "Meeting my birth parents," replied Megan. "I don't know why but I always hoped for a loving reunion.

       "Kill her!" screeched Ellen and the Slavis cheered her on.

       Samantha responded to the order, coming in low with both knives in an attempt to gut her opponent. Megan saw the manoeuvre coming and retaliated, stepping around the attack and, with little more than a flick of the wrist, opened a wound on the side of Samantha's face, a deep gash running from the corner of her mouth to her ear.

       The Slavis grew restless, fighting amongst themselves, tearing and gnawing at their own flesh as their blood lust flared.

       "You fight well." Samantha raised a hand to the wound. "Under better circumstances I would be proud." Without warning she spun, both arms wind milling around her flailing robe.

       Megan refused to give any ground, waiting in place until she felt the breeze from Samantha's attack. Only then did she drop to one knee, at the same time punching upwards with the knife, powering the blade into Samantha's kidney, twisting it from left to right before pulling it clear again. It was like someone had flicked off a switch, Samantha's face falling slack as she slumped to the floor, blood already seeping through her robe and pooling around her.

       "You little bitch," Ellen screamed, arms outstretched as she lunged for Megan.

       Megan spun on her knee, releasing the blade with a precision aim. Ellen stopped in her tracks and reached up with one hand to investigate the handle now protruding from her forehead. Blood ran down the bridge of her nose and her mouth opened and closed silently several times before she collapsed in a heap. The chanting stopped and all eyes now rested on Megan.

       The first of the Slavis sensed a change in the balance of power and crossed the threshold of the chamber. It looked around and sniffed the air cautiously as others started to join it, growling and hissing as they entered.

       "The words," Ash yelled. "Do not stop the words," he ordered and the chanting began anew, instantly bringing the Slavis to their knees, clawing at their own heads.

       "The blood of the first born is still needed," Ash said, turning to face Megan.

       "And you're going to get it." Megan prised the knives from Samantha's dead hands and walked over to the edge of the pit.

       "What the hell are you doing?" Harrison stormed over to Megan and grabbed her arm.

       "I'm doing what needs to be done." She turned on him, her expression set with determination.

       "Are you fucking crazy?" Harrison shook his head. "Think about this for a minute."

       "We don't have time," shouted Megan. "How long do you think the choir can keep those things at bay? How long before they come in here and rip us apart and wear us like fucking party hats?"

       Harrison glanced over at the Slavis. They had returned to the staircase but their numbers had doubled, joined by more from above. If the chanting stopped they wouldn't stand a chance against the creatures.

       "There has to be another way," said Kaci, still rocking the baby.

       "I won't let them hurt an innocent child and I don't see any other first born offering to step up," snapped Megan.

"And I'm not letting you commit suicide." Harrison refused to release Megan.

       "Who said anything about suicide?" Megan almost laughed as she pulled free of Harrison's grip. "I've got no intention of dying for these bastards."

       "What about all of this blood of the first born crap?" Harrison asked.

       "Answer me this," Megan said, turning to face Ash. "Does it say the first born must die?"

       "I'm not sure," stammered Ash. "I can't remember."

       "Well start and make it quick," barked Harrison, sweeping a hand through his hair.

       "It says that an offering must be made... That the blood of the first born must be spilled on the seal," Ash explained hesitantly.

       "But it doesn't say anything about the first born dying?"

       Before Ash could supply an answer an all new hell broke loose and it started with Samantha's corpse sitting up with a dislocated rictus on its now deformed face.

       "Our time has come," slurred Samantha's dead lips, the head swivelling around from left to right before the body launched from the floor with the speed of a greyhound leaving the trap.

       The attack was planned well and the circle of chanters didn't see it coming until the circle was broken by a screaming Samantha. She clawed at three of her once fellow brethren, claws raking flesh as she forced them over the lip of the pit, the Slavis within her sacrificing itself for the greater good.