Hellborne

Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

Eva Scott winced as Madden led her around the dance floor of the small inn doubling as the town hall for the residents of Unnaryd, in southern Sweden. A crowd of relative strangers cheered on in approval while a local elder played his nyckelharpa with gusto. Eva had asked for a traditional Swedish wedding and she had gotten it.

Madden leaned in, concerned. She smiled to indicate she was fine. Having him this close, Eva marvelled at the fact he was her husband. He was nothing less than dashing, dressed in a white tuxedo, with his long brown hair tied back. He was so tall she had to crane her neck to see his face. He was her personal hero. That he had been reborn not once but twice was an afterthought. Forgetting herself, she winced once more.

“The baby?”

Eva let her hand drop to her middle. The borrowed dress had been adjusted to cope with her swollen middle. It was unheard of in the village for anyone to be pregnant before the wedding, but these were special circumstances for a unique couple. The baby kicked her hand away in response to the motherly inquiry.

“No, she is fine. It’s these damned coins they made me wear in my shoes. It's the smell of the food. It's all making me nauseous, but I'll survive.”

Madden chuckled. “Well, you did ask for tradition. The gold and silver coins in shoes are a traditional wealth blessing.”

“Invented no doubt by a t*****e merchant.”

Madden twirled her slowly with hands still bandaged and slightly clawed from his ordeal on the mountain in Afghanistan now widely known as ‘Mount Gehenna’, after the biblical destination for those who were wicked. It had certainly earned its reputation with what had been dubbed 'The demon incursion' by all at Anges de la Résurrection des Chevaliers, or ARC.

Eva still woke up sweating many nights, the flames and boundless hordes of Hell's legions almost within touching distance, the demon Behemoth rising above her. She had crossed countries, endured numerous attempts on her life to find Madden, and ultimately they had witnessed the failure of their enemy by a miscalculation that cost them their victory. The demon in Madden had been ripped from within, he had been slow to recover, but recover he had, and now they belonged to each other.

Eva caught the eye of Swanson Guyomard as she completed a slow twirl, and invited him onto the floor. The descendant of the ARC founder, Jerome, and current council member grinned and stepped closer to them.

“If I may interrupt, I believe your wife wants to cut the rug with a fellow who can actually dance.”

Madden laughed and handed her over. The tune changed and others joined them.

“You be careful, twinkle toes. She's delicate property. Besides, I will be in perfectly good hands.”

“Without doubt,” said his new dance partner as Swanson led Eva off in the opposite direction.

Dr Gila Ciranoush, ARC researcher and artifact expert of the Coptic Museum in Cairo, was an adept dancer. She would keep Madden safe. Eva trusted her with her life and certainly with her husband. Caught off guard by Swanson’s skill, she groaned once more.

“Are you unwell?”

Eva threw out a look of mock ferocity. “I am heavily pregnant with the child of a man who used to be part demon, I am wearing coins in my shoes, and I have sore feet. Go figure.”

Swanson laughed aloud. “Reap what you sew, tough lady. Suck it up!”

Eva couldn't help but smile. Since she could not contact her parents, he and Gila had acted as surrogate 'parents' for the coin-giving tradition.

All too quickly, the song ended to much cheering, bawdy comments in Swedish, and the raising of glasses containing what Eva had been told was a brand of local vodka. Eva threw her arms around Swanson's neck and hugged him as much as she was able. Leaving him to the tender mercies of one of the many beautiful young women who had seemingly materialized from the village for the party, Eva made her way to the table set for the wedding party.

Only one person sat there. Elaine Millet was Eva’s friend, confidante, and bodyguard. In this world so readily ruled by men, it was a rare woman who could become all three. With her long red hair and matching temper, she appeared severe, but had a wicked sense of humour and a face that lilluminated when she smiled; she was a joy to be around.

“Not dancing?” Eva asked, letting out a long sigh of satisfaction as she leaned back into the heavily cushioned chair which had been provided for her.

“Not my thing. Besides, I can’t take my focus away from you.”

Unassuming and practical described Elaine perfectly. A former member of the assault squad housed at Mount Gehenna known as Legion, Eva had found her and struck up a conversation as they were returning from the near-cataclysm above. With Madden unconscious, both Gila and Swanson otherwise occupied, she had been very much left alone. Legion had sworn, to a man, to defend her, but Eva had chosen to keep Elaine close. Madden had a burly redhead named Rick Larrion, who lounged across the room from them earning a stare of disapproval from Elaine, he had chosen as his bodyguard.

Madden approached, and instantly Elaine sat straighter, a smile touching the corners of her mouth. He spared a grin for Elaine, oblivious to the fact she had taken a shine to him.

“My parents are leaving. Want to come see them off?”

“I would love to,” she replied, holding her hand out and allowing him to help her stand.

“Coming, coppertop?” Madden added to Elaine, offering her his other hand.

“I don’t need your help standing up, thank you very much,” she replied, bristling at the comment.

Outside, it was a pleasant May afternoon. The sun was dipping behind a horizon of spruce and pine, the dark green of both creating the illusion of an impenetrable wall of green. There was a hint of a chill in the air, but Eva had Madden to keep her warm. Next to a range rover, an older but clearly active couple waited patiently. Christopher and Jana Scott were guests because they were ARC affiliates. They could be trusted to keep a secret, having been part of the organization for decades. They also worked for an American Senator.

Upon seeing her son, Jana let out a noise of pure delight and hugged them both. “Don’t you two look like a picture. The perfect couple, and what a place for it.”

“One could almost forget it’s a glorified safe house,” Christopher Scott said as he leaned on the car. “You kids stay safe.” He got into the back of the car and waited.

The hurt on Madden’s face was plain. “I understand,” he said to his mother.

“You are a good man, Madden.” Jana reached up to touch his face. “We are so very proud of you. Of you both. He just has difficulty sometimes accepting the truth.”

To Eva, she said, “I was the ARC agent. He came from the Government. Chris will listen, but he sees Madden as the embodiment of everything that should be unreal. You have a demon in you.”

“Had, Mother. Had.”

“Be that as it may, everything that has happened in the last year has overwhelmed him. Cathy's death was almost too much for him. It was a major step for him to come here and he only did so because you are his son, or rather, you were his son. It is too much for him to imagine his own flesh would die and come back in such a way. Eva, you look out for Madden. I have been in the organization far too long to give any credence to the idea this is over.”

With a kiss for her son, Jana Scott joined her husband and the Range Rover departed.

Madden stared after them, his face pale, his eyes wide.

Eva nudged him. “You coming back in, husband?”

Madden sighed. “No, I think I am going to walk for a while. Don't worry, I'll be back. Go on in. I don't want you catching a chill, not after all we have been through.

Madden wandered off, the stocky form of Rick Larrion detaching from the shadows of the hall to trail him.

“He should not have done that,” Elaine cautioned.

“I understand.”

“No, you don't,” Elaine replied with a mysterious smile. Let's get you back in and you will find out.”

In the hall, it very quickly became apparent to Eva that without Madden at her side, she was a target for all the local men. A line began to grow as more and more of them sought to give her a kiss. Rather than protect her, Elaine encouraged this with a smug smile. Eva began to panic as one elderly gentleman planted a kiss squarely on her lips and then began a lecture in Swedish, punctuated with many gesticulations. Not understanding a word of Swedish, Eva smiled graciously and nodded when she thought it was the right time.

As he shuffled off beyond the red and white banners draped about the tables, Eva looked at Elaine for an explanation.

“Don't ask me,” she shrugged. “My Swedish isn't much better than yours.”

“He said he admired your gusto in shouting louder than your husband during the ceremony, and he wishes he had a wife like you.” A small rotund woman with elaborately braided brown hair and a mischievous twinkle in her eye sat down beside them.

Eva beamed a smile, recalling the declaration of their vows, and how the partner with the loudest voice was considered dominant. “Rikke, there you are. Was there more to what he said?”

“That is all I want to translate for you, Mrs. Scott.” Rikke was nothing if not proper. “Still, your husband should re-join you before the next tradition of young men claiming an abandoned bride happens.”

Eva began to panic glancing around the room for signs of movement. Nothing. She looked back at her two companions, and Elaine began to tremble with suppressed mirth.

“You monsters,” she exclaimed, and both women burst out in peals of laughter.

“Were that true, my Eyvind would not have stood a chance.” Rikke added, after they’d had a chance to catch their breath.

The door opened and Madden strolled in, to cheers and the raising of tankards. He spoke something in Swedish, and received more of the same. Grinning, he sat down and joined them. Eva took his hand and held it in her own. She couldn’t remember ever being more at peace.

“So what did you say?”

Madden looked across at Rikke, who nodded in approval. “I asked the gents here if they had all managed to get enough of you. It seems you are very popular.”

“You could say so. Still, now you are here, I only have my eyes on one man. Would you ladies excuse us, please?”

A brief look passed Elaine’s face indicating she was less than pleased with this idea, but she rose from her chair. “Rikke, let us leave the lovebirds alone and see what trouble we can find for ourselves.”

When their companions had moved away and been pulled onto the dance floor, Eva pulled Madden closer for a kiss, causing yet more riotous cheering. Yet, what she had sought she had found. A hesitancy. The passion was there, but it was forced, as if for her benefit.

“What is it?”

Madden blinked, caught off guard. “I don't understand. What is what?”

Eva pointed at herself. “Psychologist. I can tell these things. Besides, I have this magical little bundle of joy telling me there's a problem.”

Madden balled his fist, thumping the table with repressed frustration. “Since Gehenna, since you saved me, I haven't felt right; it’s as if I am connected to something just out of sight. There is an absence, Eva, if I am brutally honest. I think despite all the trouble it brought, despite all done to save me, I miss the demon.”

“Do you regret how it has all turned out?”

“No, of course not. We are going to have a child. A beautiful child who, by all accounts, has something special going on already. Marrying you is the best thing I have ever done. It's just hard to adjust at times.”

“And yet it’s the reason we are here. We have the time to adapt to the world as it now is. You are unique. Not even Jesus was resurrected twice, and you are still here.”

Madden raised his glass. “A toast, to Janus, wherever he may be. May Hell spare him eternal torment.”

That was the crux of the matter. Madden was crippled and helpless while Janus had saved them, stabbing the demon Iuvart with the obsidian dagger before jumping through the portal to hell. It was a large cross for any man to bear, but they had all played their part.

“Eva?”

Her thoughts interrupted by the sound of his voice, she came back to the present. Madden was in front of her, glass still raised.

“To Janus. May he rest in peace.”

Eva raised her own glass in silent tribute and nodded. Janus Lohnes had saved her skin many times during the past year. She never truly understood him, but he was the one person missingshe would have had here. He was a guest of honour, absent or not.

Done with dancing, Swanson and Gila joined them. For two people so utterly different, they made a great team. Swanson, with his mousy blonde hair lounged, indolently in a seat, while Gila, wearing her usual black bob clipped up, missed nothing. Eva suspected this was by design.

“Is it really over?” Eva asked the select group around her.

“We have no reason to suspect otherwise,” answered Gila, trying to be sincere. “Events are moving on. They don't appear to be hunting you any more, though you pop up in the occasional interest article. Everybody is aware that monumental events threatened to overtake us, but we are still here, and people are quick to forget. ARC has a good handle on the funnelling of information to the public.”

“And what of you two?” Madden asked. “Do you go back to the same jobs?”

“There have been opportunities,” Swanson admitted. “As you know, the Coptic community was heavily involved in the recent insurgency. A new Pope has been elected. They wanted me to stand.”

Madden grinned. “Pope Swanson. Well, wouldn't the appointment have been nice.”

“There’s more. There is a great amount of interest in promoting Gila to the Council of Twelve. We shall see how that pans out.”

The conversation continued, and Eva let her mind wander, comforted by the presence of those closest to her. She looked out of a nearby window, enjoying the sight of a healthy forest. But something was wrong. The sky darkened. A flock of starlings burst from the trees. Everybody around her was oblivious to this fact. Eva pointed, but they ignored her and carried on talking, the sound of their voices blurred and indistinct.

Outside, the darkened sky had become a deep, angry shade of red. Eva stood and walked to the window. The sky had begun to swirl, collapsing in on itself not fifty yards down the road from the hall. Cars left furrows in the dirt, as a force stronger than gravity sucked at them, pulling them in. The swirling became a vortex, a yawning maw screaming her name as it devoured everything it touched. The reek of carrion assaulted her nostrils, and the vortex flexed.

A titanic presence loomed on the other side of the hole in space. It exuded menace, directed solely at her. Even though the vortex was too small, it tried to shove its way through, roaring with unbridled rage. Eyes blacker than night beheld her. Fangs longer than she was tall gnashed from beneath snarling lips.

It roared, and she flinched. Hulking shoulders forced their way through into her reality, and it bellowed one word.

“EVA!”