A Darker Shade of Sorcery, - [top ten ebook reader txt] 📗

could get a look, however.

“Oh, another female, eh,” the unnaturally high voice continued.

“Yeah and she’s an exotic beauty too.” Lok chuckled.

As Arantay entered the castle, a gargoyle grinned up at her and the eyelids on his craggy face blinked.

They entered a cavernous chamber bedecked by luxurious carpets and embellished with paintings, tapestries and decorations of all kinds. The walls themselves were of many colours and design, from lurid gold and violet to vivid green. The many stairways leading off in every direction appeared to be made of solid silver and gold.

Brooke noticed the entrance chamber held an army of statues, each wall lined by dozens, all clasping swords or other weapons. Many of these statues resembled the orcs and elves she’d seen in movies.

Everything was alien to her, but it was all captivating.

Without a word Arantay proceeded up the nearest staircase, leaving her little time to take in the strange surroundings. Brooke lost count of how many staircases and different floors they travelled, (although it was impossible not to notice the glow-in-the-dark escalator) until she was carried into a small, plush room with a king-size bed.

“You’ll be safe here,” he reassured her one last time.

As he set her down on the bed she noticed Tyrell and Lok had departed.

Arantay looked at her once more, holding her large amber eyes with his own, then he turned and left the room in silence.

57

For some strange reason she felt lonely without him, even though she was frightened of him and everything happening to her.

As soon as Arantay left, she ran to the door and tried to yank it open. They couldn’t keep her here against her will. If she could just get to a phone she could contact the police, or home.

The door was locked.

She sagged against it, her breath coming in short sharp gasps.

Her emotions trickled back now Arantay was gone. She tried desperately to open the door, again and again, but it didn’t work.

Brooke sank to her knees. Tears ran down her face once again, this time in defeat.

*

“Hello dear.” A cheery voice startled her.

Brooke raised her head from where it had been resting on the carpet; she must've dozed off sometime in the night. She was curled up in a ball on the floor, her eyes bleary and a dull ache at the back of her head. Last night.

She remembered everything in an instant, letting out a scream as she saw the tall man standing over her. He looked like a badly made scarecrow. He was very thin, and possessed bright emerald eyes and the most elaborate jacket she’d ever seen. The left half was green, whilst the right was blue. The jacket was adorned with pink fluffy shoulder pads and its zip was humming softly, the metal teeth wriggling. His earring was a red feather, and he wore purple mascara.

He chuckled at her reaction, hands behind his back as he rocked on the balls of his feet. His smile was warm and framed by a ridiculous French moustache.

58

“Good morning,” he said. “Sleep well? Although it does appear you missed the bed.”

“W-who are you?”

“Padrake Poniferous, Master of Illusion and famous Rockstar, at your disposal.

Who might you be?”

“Brooke Carn,” she said, trying not to meet his gaze.

“Well, Brooke, welcome to Veneseron.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“Ah,” he said, unclasping his hands to stroke either end of his moustache. “How much did the boys tell you?”

“Nothing,” Brooke cried. “What do you want from me? You can’t do this!”

His smile retreated. “I am truly sorry, but it was necessary, for your own safety as well as those you hold dear.”

“What do you mean?”

Padrake sighed, running a hand through black hair that fell to his shoulders. A few strands of his bangs were streaked bright green too.

“Perhaps you should sit down.”

“I’ll stand,” she refused, both angry and scared; she didn’t know which she felt more.

“Very well.” Padrake bowed his head. “I think it’s best to just come out with it.

You see, Brooke… you’re special.”

“Are you patronising me?” she said, anger drowning out her fear now.

“Not at all. Sorry, that was a rubbish way to start. Um, well basically, Brooke, you are what we call a Venator, a demon hunter if you will, a…”

“Are you mad? This is a sick joke.”

59

Padrake grimaced. “I know it sounds ludicrous, but…”

“No! You’re messing with me.”

“Perhaps it would help if I showed you.” Padrake wiggled his fingers. Brooke shrank away from him, shielding her face with her arms as she felt a subtle change in the air.

Padrake chortled, raising his hand slightly. Brooke felt herself rising off the ground and into the air.

“Stop it,” she yelled. “Put me down.”

Padrake waved his hand again and Brooke dropped to her feet.

“How did you-- what kind of trick was that?”

“It was no trick.” He grinned. “That’s what we call magic.”

“Magic… isn’t real,” she blurted out.

“Who says so? Sorcery is all around us. The only trick is knowing how to use it.”

Brooke shook her head violently.

“Haven’t you seen anything bizarre that no else saw? Sometimes a potential Venator will use sorcery accidentally. Second-sight is the most common power that’s triggered fleetingly.”

Brooke remembered the glowing purple worms she’d seen wriggling in the garden one night, or the man she’d seen in the supermarket whose tattoos had winked at her.

“Well…maybe, but--”

“I know it will take some time adjusting to and I’m sorry it had to be this way. If only we had gotten to you at a younger age…”

“Why did you get me?”

“Because you are one of us,” he answered. “A Venator.”

60

“What?” She didn’t know what else to say. She couldn’t digest a single thing. It was madness.

“Hmmm, how to explain? You could say a Venator is a mix of sorcerer and warrior. A Venator is someone who has the power to combat demons and other dark creatures. In addition to hunting monsters, Venators protect all humans and other races in need. We neutralize problems between creatures all over the many worlds.

We…”

“I don’t understand a single thing you’re saying,” Brooke interrupted. “You’re saying I’m one of them, a… a Venateer.”

“It’s pronounced Ver-nay-ter, dear, and yes you are,” he said, as if awarding her a medal. “Of course, many in the other worlds refer to us colloquially as Realmers, because a Realmer means someone who travels between the worlds…”

“Wait, what? Why is this happening? Why am I a Venator?”

“Who knows why? The powers that be maybe, the gods, or perhaps sorcery itself chooses you.”

“So you’re telling me…I can do sorcery? Like a witch or something?”

“Wizard, druid or shaman, they each have different forms of magic, but we Venators have our own brand of sorcery, which we use primarily to destroy demons.

This Fortress acts as a school for demon hunters, and you’re our newest recruit, Brooke.”

Brooke decided this Padrake guy was certifiably insane.

“You’re lucky our Arch-Realmers found you when they did,” he continued.

“You’re quite powerful. You could've become a danger to yourself or others if we hadn’t located you.”

61

Padrake’s smile melted. “And there are others besides us who might’ve found you.”

Brooke struggled to process everything.

“Arch-Realmers?” She picked out one of the stranger terms Padrake had used.

“Indeed. We sent three of our best after you. They're high-rank Venators. Well, Arantay is a tad more than that, but let’s take things one step at a time, eh?”

“Arantay,” she whispered, thinking back to the scarlet haired youth with eyes like rubies.

“Yes, we often send him on recruitment missions. His calming powers come in handy, as you can guess…” He cut off when he noticed Brooke staring at him blankly.

“My dear,” Padrake boomed, throwing his arms wide, “you’re in Veneseron.

Outside these very walls lies the greatest city in all the realms.”

He strolled over to the window and pulled back the curtain.

The window overlooked an immense valley where a vast, glistening city sprawled.

It was the most ludicrous and at the same time most wonderful city she'd ever seen.

Scintillations of colour splashed beautiful buildings of all variety. Towers and cathedrals, forty-storey inns and brilliant mansions; all kinds of alien and amazing architecture gleamed with a proud pulchritude.

The lower buildings clustered and leaned against their gigantic brethren, and wide roads sliced through it all, heaving with an unimaginable population.

Brooke saw a multitude of strange flying things weaving amongst the clouds.

Creatures of legend, and some she'd never even heard legends about, filled the city to bursting. The many creatures caused the panorama to surge and ripple, moving along like thousands of tiny ants in a multi-coloured kingdom.

62

“That,” Padrake beamed, “is Veneseron city, city of multiplicity, city of sorcery.”

“Multiplicity?”

“Why, yes. Veneseron city is the only metropolis in all the realms that welcomes every race in existence. It’s a safe haven from the countless wars. And a fantastic site for shopping too.

“Of course, the city is predominantly orcish with some Djinn architecture, but it’s all beautiful, don’t you think?”

He turned back from the startling view, smiling at her.

“Where is this...Veneseron? How do I get home?”

He raised one dark eyebrow. “Don’t you understand, dear? Veneseron is far from your old home.”

“How far?”

“Why, it’s another world. Didn’t you guess that when you went through the portal?”

“No, I didn’t guess that,” she snapped. “I didn’t know what that thing was. I thought I was going mad, seeing things-- I still think I am.”

“Oh, those feelings will pass, don’t you worry. Many newcomers feel that way when they arrive. I assure you, you're not going mad, this is real.”

“This is happening,” she rasped. “This is really happening.”

“If it wasn’t, it would be quite an elaborate prank, don’t you think?” He chortled.

“So-- I’m a Venator, or whatever? I can do magic, but…” Something dawned on her through all the confusion. “Demons, you said demons, what do you mean?”

“Ah, yes. Well, there are other beings who can use magic, and some are bad, very bad.” The lanky man frowned.

63

“But not to worry.” He smiled again. “Veneseron is guarded against all evil and you won’t have to worry about demons until you're fully prepared to face them.”

“Face them!” Brooke repeated.

Padrake waved the statement away. “Let's not dwell on the future.”

“But what happens to me now?” Brooke urged. So many thoughts and questions swirled in her mind.

“We at Veneseron will train you. Make sure you don’t accidentally hurt yourself or your allies. That’s the most significant thing first of all.”

She asked the most important question burning inside her. “What about my home, my family?”

“Well, that depends on your choice. Probably the most imperative choice you'll make in your life. After a week at Veneseron, you may decide whether you want to stay and learn how to harness your magic, one day battling demons and saving countless innocents