Part 64

The demon's first words had frozen the room in place. But Gerald's gruesome fate sparked an exodus that put the previous mass panic to shame. The screams of men and women became a single horrified sound as human cattle stampeded in flight from the predator. The only exit became clogged once again with would-be escapees. Any at the front of the crowd who could not reach the door or pass through it quick enough found themselves slammed against the stone wall by the incessant push from the rear. Screams of terror became muffled cries in the cacophony as even strong men were crushed or trampled.

The demon took in the scene with an expression that could not be rendered on its rotting face. Pleasure? Disgust? Hunger?

Burning eyes sought out one fleeing figure, and again the arm rose.

Jesselle Doyle vanished in a spray of sparks and fluids... her scream lingering but unheard in the panic.

A second later, Riman Kharl and David Grieves became vanishing towers of smoke and gore.

Rinius Thorwold's body eased forward. Limp legs dangled with the tip of Rinius' boots scraping the uneven ground. Leathery scraps of dried entrails trailed behind the hovering demon as it moved to the front of the altar.

Not far away, Oscar Bartleby crawled frantically for the crowd at the rear of the room.

"YOU HAVE FAILED ME" The demon's voice burned. "YOU HAVE BROKEN THE COVENANT"

Oscar looked back.

"NO! NOO-"

His scream became a wet gurgle; the last sounds escaped his melting throat as a hiss of smoke. Oscar Bartleby's face slid from his skull like a damp rag. An instant later there was nothing left but a half-burnt robe amid a puddle of steaming goo.

The demon then swept his arm in a short arc before him. The rear of the crowd... those furthest from the door... vanished. What remained of them splattered the robes of those in front of them, but in a moment, they too, were gone.

Dozens more died in the next instant... not from the demon's hand, but from their wives, husbands, brothers and friends crushing them against the wall in a frantic attempt to escape.

The demon moved forward again. There was a snapping sound, and one of Rinius's legs fell free of the scorched robe. The demon glanced at it, then moved on.

It appeared not to notice Lowell Vern, who had pressed himself against the wall to one side. Lowell's eyes darted from the crowd to the demon and back again. He would have been one of the first to die if he'd followed them. Only those in the very front would get away... the rest-

Lowell winced as the demon devoured another dozen souls with the wave of one burning, decomposing arm. That was going to be him, soon. Maybe the damned thing would rot to pieces before it spotted him. But he couldn't hope for that... he wouldn't be that lucky. Oscar hadn't been. Simon... he hadn't seen what happened to Simon. Rietta...

"...Rietta..."

He had to do something. He had do-

Lowell's eyes stopped on the altar, which was now several long paces behind the demon. A few bodies lay strewn around it. Most were dead. Elias Vigars was pretending to be, and maybe a couple more were as well.

But behind the altar... peering out at the crowd....

Lowell's lip curled into a smile. Quickly... and as quietly as he could manage... Lowell darted for the altar.