The Blood Line by Ben Yallop Page B

he had seen the possibilities, the culmination of everything he had learnt. And he had realised that he would eventually be successful. If he was doomed to fail then how would he have found the results of his plans already in place? But he had also realised the risks.
    His new recruits had done well so far. In the far future he had found a big man called Ferus with a strong presence. Ferus had become the perfect tool for seeking out and recruiting others or destroying those who might have presence but could one day threaten Allende’s authority. Allende had found Pech too, not as big, not as strong, but no less dangerous for all that. Pech had proven himself to be the perfect counterfoil to Ferus. Pech was intelligent and cunning and, above all, malevolent. Allende had used him to gather all sorts of information. Allende had learnt of new sources of power, the doorway they called the Blood Line not least amongst them. And Pech was searching for it, and one day, he would find it.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER EIGHT
     
     
    Somewhere in Mu
    The future: date unknown
     
    S am walked all the next day but was no closer to finding anything like shelter before the sky began to darken again. During the day he saw nothing and no-one with the exception of a flock of black birds which circled high above him briefly before changing direction and speeding away. Despite the empty plains he could not shake a feeling that he was being followed. He could feel a faint presence which seemed to get stronger as he walked. The ground began to change and he realised he had already begun to climb slowly above the flat grassy meadows towards the high hills which had seemed so distant. Should he cross the mountains? Would he be able to? What would he find on the other side? It was both exciting and scary at once. He had no doubt that different kinds of monsters would call the high places home.
    He had long finished the meagre provisions given to him and his stomach complained constantly. He worried about how he would feed himself. But he pressed on, there was nothing worthwhile behind him. He kept walking though he felt weak. He had tried using presence to leap along to make faster progress but it just wouldn’t come. This really frightened Sam, without his telekinetic abilities he was defenceless. Yet, despite his powers waning Sam could feel the presence of another. It was so faint as to be almost invisible. The words of the woman back at the village echoed in his thoughts ‘ You’re getting ever closer to the Rivenrok Complex ’. Getting ever closer to the Riven King, thought Sam ruefully. But he didn’t know what else to do other than walk. There was nothing behind him worth seeing, that was for sure. Perhaps if he got up into the mountains he would be able to see something below worth heading towards.
    The sun was again already under the horizon when Sam finally found a place to stop his seemingly endless trudge. It was an old ring of stones, a small henge. It would offer no shelter but at least the standing stones were something he could put his back to. He sat, his knees drawn up to his chest as the sky grew darker, trying not to notice how the long grass was flattened in places. Clearly something visited this lonely spot. Sam just hoped that it didn’t come tonight.
    He must have dozed off, exhausted as he was. He awoke to the sound of sniffing. He moved with a start and something leapt away with a strange bark. He was full awake then and on his feet. The animal approached again, curious. It was one of the weird hairless dog-like creatures, known as chupacabre. It approached warily staying just out of reach, a low rumble sounding in its throat. It showed long teeth as the growl grew louder. Sam raised a hand towards it. His presence came and the animal let out a yelp as Sam lifted it and threw it away out into the grass. He heard it land with a thump some distance away. Two more canine faces appeared around one of the standing