The Lurker at the Threshold : A Horror Mystery by Brandon Berntson (books under 200 pages .txt) 📗

again.  “I don’t like it any more than you do.”

—

“Quite the art gallery you have down there, toots,” Macky said.

“My name is Asenath,” the woman said.

“I’m Devlin Macky.  It’s nice to finally be introduced.  I know I’m relieved about it.  A load off my back in all the wrong ways.  But you’ve been such a Hollywood starlet about the whole thing, just call me Excelsior.  Or Punjab.  I like Punjab!”

“I don’t find you the least bit amusing.”

“This is for my own benefit.”

“I found you amusing sometimes, Dev,” Millie said.

“I agree,” Capshaw said.  “I find you amusing sometimes, too.  Maybe not all the time.  You have a tendency to go to extremes.  Like that Valhalla bit you screamed in Sarnath.  But sometimes I find you amusing.”

“Valhalla?” Millie asked.

Macky raised his eyebrows and looked at Armitage.

“I’m afraid I’m with Asenath on this one, Dev,” the doctor said.  “As much as I hate to admit it.”

Macky shrugged.

Asenath sat in the chair looking at them.

“Where is Amelia?” Macky asked.

“She’s safe,” Asenath said.  “For now.”

“You could return her to us safely.  Then we could get out of your hair.  Everybody wins.  You get some brownie points for turning over a new leaf.  Whattaya say?”

“That’s impossible.”

“Why?”

Asenath smiled.  Macky didn’t like it.

“Papa wants her,” she said.  “He didn’t get enough last time.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Yog-Sothoth wants more children.  But he needs a mate.”

Macky raised his eyebrows.  “Don’t these Outer Gods have any other desires?”

“As a matter of fact, they do.”

“What’s that?”

“The eradication of the human race.”

“What did we do to them?” Macky asked.

“You were born,” Asenath said.  “You’re irrelevant.”

“And yet here we are.  Who’s getting the best of whom?”

“Well done, Dev,” Millie said.

“He’s catching on,” Armitage said, nodding.

“Where is she?” Macky asked.

“She’s being groomed,” Asenath said.

“That doesn’t sound very pleasant.”

“It’s a matter of perspective,” Asenath said.  “She’s in a place many women would dream about.”

“Speak for yourself,” Millie said.

“I am speaking for myself.  It would be a privilege.  She doesn’t know how lucky she is.”

“The gates,” Macky said.  “Once they’re open . . .”

Asenath smiled again.  Macky was starting to hate it.

“The Outer Gods will enter the city and begin the eradication.”

“What’s with all these gods?  Outer Gods, Old Ones.  What else is there?”

“I can answer that for you, Dev,” Armitage said.  He was perusing the book, his glasses reflecting the dim light.  He pointed to a passage with his index finger.  “Yog-Sothoth is an Outer God and affiliated with such—along with Shub-Niggurath.  You remember her?  The Elder Gods, on the other hand, oppose the Outer Gods—Yog-Sothoth, Cthulhu, Azathoth.  Those monsters.”

Macky turned and looked at Armitage.  “Elder Gods.  C-what-lu?  Aza-who?”

Armitage nodded.  “Cthulhu.”

“What on earth is a Cthulhu?” Macky asked

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” Armitage said.

“Is that all you have?  What did you say about the Elder Gods?”

“They’re benevolent.”

“That means they’re nice, Dev,” Millie said, smiling.

He frowned at her.

“Kind,” she said.

“I got it, Mill,” he said.  “So how do we get to the Elder Gods?”

“That’s the question,” Armitage said.

“You are no match for the Outer Gods,” Asenath said.

“Oh, my gosh, my head is starting to explode!” Macky said.  He clenched his eyes shut and grasped his head with both hands.  “This is madness!”

“Where’s Amelia?” Armitage asked.  He seemed out of patience.

“That’s not important,” Asenath said.

“Then why are you here?” Macky asked.

“I’m the messenger,” she said.  “The Gatekeeper.”

“Gatekeeper?”

She smiled again, unnerving Macky.  “Yes.  You have just witnessed the opening of the Ninth Gate.  Congratulations.  Sefora thanks you.”

Chapter 16

“I’m really starting to hate that woman,” Macky said.

“You got my vote on that one, too, Dev,” Capshaw said.

Asenath moved off the chair.  The blanket slipped from her lap and onto the floor.  Mr. Kalabraise barked loudly.  Armitage took a sharp intake of air.  It sounded like a hiss.  Millie gasped.  Capshaw said, “God in heaven,” and his eyes went wide.

It didn’t faze Macky, but he took a step backwards.

From the waist down, Asenath was a spider.  Long, segmented legs unfolded, settled gracefully onto the floor.  She moved with fluid grace.

“This city needs to be purified,” Armitage said.

“Maybe that’s what we’re here for,” Capshaw told him.

Asenath continued toward the nearest wall.  She was hissing as she moved. Her eyes turned a deep, smoldering red.  Her nails were exposed on each hand, a shiny, glistening black.  Macky wondered if it was something other than nail polish.

“Sefora thanks you for opening the gate,” she said.  The grin never left her face.  She was sticking to a wall of books.  She was soon on the ceiling, hanging upside down in front of them.

“Who is Sefora anyway?” Armitage asked.

In answer, the room shifted, warping, a reality that bubbled the air.  The bookstore was undergoing a metamorphosis.  They were looking at a scene during the day, the light coming through the window, something that had taken place earlier.  Macky saw the Mad Arab, the book in his hands.  He was showing it to Amelia, reading something from it.  Amelia was looking at it fascinated and somewhat repulsed.

“Dev, are you seeing . . ?” Millie asked.

“Uh-huh,” he said.

“The Mad Arab got to her.  Just like he got to you.”

“Thanks for the reminder.  I feel stupid enough as it is.”

“No, Dev.  I’m just saying.  It would’ve happened regardless.”

“I was certain my sure-fire wit, cunning, and supernatural ability to deduce beyond reason would’ve prevented all this.  I guess it wasn’t to be, Mill.”

Millie raised her eyebrows.  “Your confidence isn’t lacking, at least.”

“I’m a warrior of light in the darkness.”

“Whatever makes you feel better, slugger,” Millie said.

In the scene, Amelia was haggling with the