The Tales of Tikum Kadlum

3 DEALS WITH DEVILS

5.3 SNIFFS AND HOWLS

Inside the town hall of Ulay, a dry gust of wind from the yawning doors extinguished the bright torches, blanketing everything in black. But before the darkness permanently swallowed everything whole, an eerie blue glow emanating from the runic patterns on the wooden paneled-floor pulsated like a dying star.

It was clear that something vile was afoot. Something that should not be there was coming to join Amburukay and the others. It was in the palpable quiet that hid deep in the shadows. It was in there with the soundless creatures that fled away in terror. The people inside the town hall felt it in their bones. For a span, a veil of anticipation and dread spread as the faint whispers in the shadows grew.

"What's that?" Datu Magung's eyes bulged in fright, lips trembling. "Can you hear it, too?" His face twisted into a pale grimace. "Oh, that awful sound. Do you not hear that voice?"

Karas and her sister, Tihol, stepped away from the fearful chief as the rending sound turned a pitch higher into a moan of agony. And then, Datu Magung's body shook and writhed as an unseen force drew him up and suspended him in the air. His lips mouthed a plea for mercy before his back arched violently and the sound of bone snapping followed suit, snatching the light in his eyes away in an instant.

Silenced stretched in the hall as fear struck everyone's heart. As this unfolded, Amburukay began weaving spells and whispering incantations. When she finally stopped a creaking sound from the floor boards began. It was followed a breath later by the wood itself erupting to pieces. Next, a fetid stench akin to a dead man's breath spread all through out the hall. Then, the paneled floor at the center of the magical circle split apart like cut skin opening a bigger hole. Dust and debris filled the room and everyone began coughing.

When all the commotion settled, the hole revealed something so awful that even Amburukay's blood ran cold. For upon closer inspection, the opening revealed a great and most hideous eye, staring back at them. It's ruby-red pupils began regarding the people in the room with an evil, piercing gaze that sent everyone's skin crawling. Tihol's instincts overrode Amburakay's control, and for a split second she drew her kampilan sword to blind the lidless eye. But before she could take a step Amburukay raised her hand.

"Do not strike. Do not cut it. Whatever you do…do not make it bleed here," the manghihiwit said, a note of fear in her admonishing tone. "You do not want a high gadlumanon's immortal ire. It is not like its lesser shadow-kin. This one will curse you if its blood stains your bare skin... It will curse us all if you do so."

Tihol retreated out of necessity just as the malevolent eye gave out an ear-splitting shriek, shifting focus towards Amburukay– following her soft voice. The manghihiwit raised her hand to weave a warding spell but she was too weak to finish it. Controlling Karas and Tihol while opening a channel from Gadlum was exhausting, even with the babaylan's help. Amburukay was about to step closer to the eye, but something stopped her in her tracks.

"It is nice to see you once again my pupil," a cold mocking voice said.

Amburukay almost fell over with shock, but she caught herself in time when she heard the familiar tone laugh. It was an unwelcomed one, a voice she loathed– a voice from a man she hated but respected, the voice of her master, the Lord of Manghihiwit himself.

"And you are not alone," Sri Kihod added in an almost casual tone. It was only then when Amburakay realized it was not a sound coming from someone's throat, but a voice that spoke directly to her mind.

Amburukay sat on the throne and raised her chin as the evil eye regarded her with hate. "Ah, my master. You look better than the last time we met. Are you planning to keep that on? And how is your eternal prison? Does it match your lofty standards?" She smiled. "I did not expect that you'd become the Bone Gates' keeper. The Lord of Shadows, Saragnayan, must hate you that much to relegate you in such a low position."