vampires
moved the stone without actually touching it, using only the combined power of their minds.
Nothing exploded, the floor did not collapse, the only sound was the disgusted exclamation from Roger.
“It’s empty. The son of a bitchin’ thing is empty. There’s nothing in there but sand.”
“What?” Tommy ran to stand by Andrew who could not hide his expression of
disappointment.
“That’s it, then,” he said with despondence. “Someone must have removed it.”
“If it ever existed.” Tommy squeezed Andrew’s hand. “Maybe it was just a ruse all
along. Some practical joker from ancient times.”
www.total-e-bound.com
BLOOD TALISMAN J.P. Bowie 69
Marcus knelt by the empty sarcophagus and ran a hand over the sand. “Look. Bits of
bone, and this finer, greyer sand—ash. The remains of Prince Ashelak perhaps?” Marcus
stood and pointed at the rows of urns. “The writing on the stone is indecipherable to us, but perhaps contains a clue as to where the scroll is secreted. If so, the one marked with his name may just contain that scroll.”
Andrew scanned the rows of urns with his vampire vision. “Not the one with his name
engraved on it. The one next to it—the plain clay pot.” He strode over and lifted it from its place on the shelf. “I’m almost afraid to open it. What if it turns to dust after being in here so long?”
“There’s only one way to find out,” Tommy said, in what was almost a whisper.
“And be quick about it!” The strident voice that filled the chamber and the rush of wind that accompanied it pulled the urn from Andrew’s hands and sent it crashing to the floor where it broke into jagged pieces. A small roll of papyrus lay at Andrew’s feet.
“Read it and see what is revealed!” the voice rasped again.
“Dakar,” Andrew growled as he picked up the scroll. “You will not benefit from
whatever is revealed, Dakar. I told you I would not share this with you.”
“After I guided you and your vampire compatriots every step of the way? You owe me
this Andrew, and I will hold you to our bargain.”
“I made no bargain with you, Dakar, and I will not. You didn’t guide us, you followed
us. Not once did you mention the Scroll might be found in these ruins. Pure chance brought us here—that and vampire power, owed mostly to Marcus. Why are hiding anyway? Show yourself as you did before.”
“I—I cannot…” Dakar’s voice had lost its demanding edge. “My time in this alternate
space grows short. I am not immortal like the Fallen Ones. That is why I need you to share the secret of the Talisman!”
Andrew glanced down at the writing on the Scroll. As on the stone, it was a mass of
hieroglyphics he could not decipher.
“I’m afraid I cannot read this. We will have to take it to someone who can translate it
for us.”
“There is no time for that,” Dakar screeched. “Marcus, he who knows all, or thinks he
does, must surely be able to read it.”
www.total-e-bound.com
BLOOD TALISMAN J.P. Bowie 70
Marcus shrugged. “I can read only a few words, and it brings me no sorrow to inform
you that I am unable to help you, Dakar. Perhaps Azazel, your forefather, can help. The
writing is from a time of his existence on earth.”
“He will not help me. He disowned me a long time ago. Now I find myself begging for
help from vampires.”
Tommy chuckled. “Yeah, and how’s that working for ya?”
“Listen to me, Dakar,” Marcus said, “there is no help for you here. We cannot decipher
enough of the writing on the Scroll, and even if we could there is no surety that it would reveal the existence of the Talisman, even if it does exist. You must accept your fate, whatever it is…”
A horrendous wailing sound filled the air around them.
“What a drama queen,” Roger muttered. “Can we get out of here now?”
“Fools!” Dakar screamed. “Don’t you know what this is? This is the great burial
chamber of the City of Ardocan,
moved the stone without actually touching it, using only the combined power of their minds.
Nothing exploded, the floor did not collapse, the only sound was the disgusted exclamation from Roger.
“It’s empty. The son of a bitchin’ thing is empty. There’s nothing in there but sand.”
“What?” Tommy ran to stand by Andrew who could not hide his expression of
disappointment.
“That’s it, then,” he said with despondence. “Someone must have removed it.”
“If it ever existed.” Tommy squeezed Andrew’s hand. “Maybe it was just a ruse all
along. Some practical joker from ancient times.”
www.total-e-bound.com
BLOOD TALISMAN J.P. Bowie 69
Marcus knelt by the empty sarcophagus and ran a hand over the sand. “Look. Bits of
bone, and this finer, greyer sand—ash. The remains of Prince Ashelak perhaps?” Marcus
stood and pointed at the rows of urns. “The writing on the stone is indecipherable to us, but perhaps contains a clue as to where the scroll is secreted. If so, the one marked with his name may just contain that scroll.”
Andrew scanned the rows of urns with his vampire vision. “Not the one with his name
engraved on it. The one next to it—the plain clay pot.” He strode over and lifted it from its place on the shelf. “I’m almost afraid to open it. What if it turns to dust after being in here so long?”
“There’s only one way to find out,” Tommy said, in what was almost a whisper.
“And be quick about it!” The strident voice that filled the chamber and the rush of wind that accompanied it pulled the urn from Andrew’s hands and sent it crashing to the floor where it broke into jagged pieces. A small roll of papyrus lay at Andrew’s feet.
“Read it and see what is revealed!” the voice rasped again.
“Dakar,” Andrew growled as he picked up the scroll. “You will not benefit from
whatever is revealed, Dakar. I told you I would not share this with you.”
“After I guided you and your vampire compatriots every step of the way? You owe me
this Andrew, and I will hold you to our bargain.”
“I made no bargain with you, Dakar, and I will not. You didn’t guide us, you followed
us. Not once did you mention the Scroll might be found in these ruins. Pure chance brought us here—that and vampire power, owed mostly to Marcus. Why are hiding anyway? Show yourself as you did before.”
“I—I cannot…” Dakar’s voice had lost its demanding edge. “My time in this alternate
space grows short. I am not immortal like the Fallen Ones. That is why I need you to share the secret of the Talisman!”
Andrew glanced down at the writing on the Scroll. As on the stone, it was a mass of
hieroglyphics he could not decipher.
“I’m afraid I cannot read this. We will have to take it to someone who can translate it
for us.”
“There is no time for that,” Dakar screeched. “Marcus, he who knows all, or thinks he
does, must surely be able to read it.”
www.total-e-bound.com
BLOOD TALISMAN J.P. Bowie 70
Marcus shrugged. “I can read only a few words, and it brings me no sorrow to inform
you that I am unable to help you, Dakar. Perhaps Azazel, your forefather, can help. The
writing is from a time of his existence on earth.”
“He will not help me. He disowned me a long time ago. Now I find myself begging for
help from vampires.”
Tommy chuckled. “Yeah, and how’s that working for ya?”
“Listen to me, Dakar,” Marcus said, “there is no help for you here. We cannot decipher
enough of the writing on the Scroll, and even if we could there is no surety that it would reveal the existence of the Talisman, even if it does exist. You must accept your fate, whatever it is…”
A horrendous wailing sound filled the air around them.
“What a drama queen,” Roger muttered. “Can we get out of here now?”
“Fools!” Dakar screamed. “Don’t you know what this is? This is the great burial
chamber of the City of Ardocan,
Similar Books
