Jack of Ravens(197)

Moan, moan, moan,’ Church said. A faint blue light rose up. Mallory realised it was coming from the sword which Church held aloft like a lantern.

Down two flights they hurried, stumbling and cursing, until small objects began to fall on Mallory’s head and shoulders, each igniting a burning sensation that made him yell. Church brought the sword closer. In its glow, Mallory was horrified to see spiders clinging to him, eating through his thick overalls and into his flesh. More were raining from above.

‘Get them off!’ he shouted; ‘I hate spiders!’

The others helped tear them off as they stumbled down the stairs. The spiders felt hard, almost metallic, and they writhed sickeningly under the fingertips. His overalls sticky with blood, Mallory hurled them away. Some burst against the walls, but the majority merely bounced and renewed their attack.

They were only a few steps ahead of the cascading spiders as they reached the windows that looked out over London’s glittering cityscape.

Was this supposed to be some kind of rescue?’ Mallory snapped. Because if it was, it’s the worst one ever.’

They made it down three more floors, their injuries mounting with each level. Finally they could go no further. The volume of spiders behind them was so great the stairwell was covered – floor and walls – apart from a small semi-circle where the four of them had been backed against the window.

How many of them are there? ‘Sophie said, aghast.

‘About ten billion,’ Church replied,’ give or take.’

‘I’ve got to say, you seem pretty blase about this,’ Mallory shouted.

‘You’re taking it in your stride too.’

Mallory was surprised to realise this was true.

Give me your hand,’ Ruth said to Sophie. If everything’s right, you should still have some vestige of ability to manipulate the Craft.’

‘I have no idea what you’re talking about.’ Sophie bristled, unable to take her eyes off the advancing black line. Ruth took her hand nonetheless.

Try not to make things worse this time,’ Church said.

Ruth mouthed some insult, but her attention was already focussing internally.

What am I supposed to do?’ Sophie asked.

‘Don’t think. Just feel.’

Mallory was surprised to see Church was now oblivious to the threat of the spiders. He had returned the sword to a scabbard strapped across his back and stood with his hands pressed against the glass, looking out over the Thames and the lights of the City.

Mallory kicked out at the nearest spiders. The tip of his boot hung ragged where it made contact. Some help.’

‘I am helping,’ Church said quietly. ‘You need to lighten up.’

Behind the skyscrapers of the financial quarter, the clouds were lit with lightning. ‘Okay,’ Church said. ‘Do your stuff.’

Ruth bowed her head so her hair fell across her face. The stale air of the stairwell took on the freshness of the seaside. The advancing spiders came to a hesitant stop. In the entirety of the stairwell, there was no movement at all. Far outside, a rumble of thunder; another flash of lightning.

Sophie stiffened, her eyelids fluttering. A flush had risen to her cheeks. Her hand was unresponsive where Mallory held it.

Now would be good,’ Church said.

Ruth threw her head back and said a single word. Mallory was thrown to his knees by a force that came from nowhere. With an eerie silence, it blew the windows out, shards glittering as they fell to the rail transit far below. Standing on the brink, Church was unmoved by the powerfully gusting wind that raged inside, threatening to pluck them all out.

Sophie staggered, shook her head. Oh. What happened?’ As she came to her senses, she noticed a curious thing: the spiders had moved back several feet. They’re scared,’ she said, puzzled. Of us.’

It’ll pass.’ Ruth grabbed Church’s shoulder with what Mallory noted as tenderness. This would not be a good time to screw up.’

Don’t worry. Look.’

Mallory followed Church’s pointing arm to a strange motion in the sky far away over the City. The lights of the Lloyd’s building were briefly obscured before appearing again.

The spiders are moving again,’ Sophie warned.

Mallory was fascinated by the shifting patterns of shadow and light outside. Gold and red flared briefly against the towering structures. Deep in the dark at the back of his head, where his true self had been locked away for too long, memories stirred; feelings of danger, awe and wonder.

Church saw the thoughts play across Mallory’s face. The world doesn’t have to be like this,’ he said.

‘Church, we can’t wait any longer.’ The urgency in Ruth’s voice jolted them both from their reflection.