As he raked a hand through his hair, a gossamer thread of moonlight filtered through the sylvan canopy, illuminating his features in a silver sheen. He had to be the most dazzling of men. Was he really mine?
“Well, three murders and the most incredible thought-transference abilities, yet you still haven’t worked out who I am?”
That took a minute. A full minute. I stared at him openmouthed.
“You really don’t know?”
He didn’t seek you out, did he?
“What? I don’t—”
He lunged forwards and grabbed both my arms, his accent no longer northern but cut-glass home counties. “Come with me to London and you will have everything you want – your own flat overlooking the river, more money than you can ever spend, a chauffeur to anywhere you want to go, exotic holidays and beautiful clothes. You’ll have the best education money can buy so you’re comfortable in the highest of circles. Eva, you know who I am! You know!”
“Der Orden der schwarzen Sonne?”
“The Order of the Black Sun here in Blighty, sweetie, but yes. Welcome to the most exclusive, elite club in the world. You have no idea how fantastic and exciting life is about to become. You will thrive. You need never be ill again, and, frankly, you’ve looked a bit ropey lately, so don’t tell me your demons don’t make you ill.”
“You’re not from Leeds, are you?”
That made him laugh. “Tell me what you have to do to keep the demons away, Eva. Are you going to go on murdering old ladies? And how long do you think it will keep those demons at bay for? You haven’t got a couple of dozen to supply, you’ve got thousands!”
“So you’re a Satanist!”
I couldn’t help it; I started to cry.
“Eva.” He pulled me into his arms as the tears burst out. It was all too much – all of it. He stroked my hair and whispered into my neck. “It’s not as bad as you make out. You’re just conditioned to believe Satan is bad and God is good, that’s all. In reality, we all have both good and bad in us. Really, this is simply a wonderful club to be in – we have a lot of fun, and I’m asking you to join.”
“Why?”
He held me away a little. “Look at it this way, then: you can either have the most incredible life with us or you can get sick and stay poor, and believe me you have no idea how bad that is going to get. A few decades down the line you are going to wish you’d made a better choice. So think about it and think hard. For a whole year, before you’re even asked to attend a single meeting, you get to live in an exclusive West London townhouse with personal tutors and a wardrobe to die for. We have a female assistant all lined up for you. She specialises in the occult and can help you with that. You’re going to feel and look incredible. We will take care of you, Eva. Proper care.”
The thought of never seeing him again, of being left there on my own, was piercing my heart. Everyone has their weakness.
“All right,” I said. “I’ll come.”
His smile switched back on as quickly as an electric lamp. Instantly enthused, he kissed my forehead and took hold of my hand. “Good. Come on then, let’s get you home. I think you’ve had enough for one day.”
“When will be going?” I asked as we walked back through the park. I was already picturing the new life in London, wondering what the house would be like and if he would live there with me.
He put his arm around my shoulders. “Let’s go tomorrow, shall we?”
“Tomorrow? But my job, my mum—?”
“You can visit. Come on, let’s go tomorrow, let’s do this – strike while the iron’s hot, as it were!”
By the time we left the park, it was dark. There were no stars, and the moon was obscured by brooding storm clouds. A wind had blown up, shaking the full-leaved trees in a bouncing shimmer, and our footsteps echoed on the deserted street. Coming towards us, on the opposite pavement was a woman. It didn’t register immediately. In fact it was a while before the significance hit me, but by then of course, it was far too late. My mind had been on being looked after, being safe. One hand was in her pocket, the other partially hidden by the lapel of her jacket. The middle two fingers were tucked into the palm, and secured by the thumb. The horned one…
When we reached the end of my road, he turned to face me, dipping his head to kiss my lips. As he did so, an icy breeze fluttered against my cheeks, as soft as the wings of a bird.
“All roads lead to the Order of the Black Sun eventually, Eva. There is no escape. Not for any of us. You know that, don’t you?”
Covering Letter
My dearest Nicky,
You are the only person I can send this to because you will understand and know that I am far from crazy. You’ve probably wondered where I got to? I know – it’s been a year! Suffice to say, the decision was a quick one with no time to say goodbye. I’m in London. Tomorrow is my initiation ceremony, and after that I can no longer be sure what will happen.
I’ve been writing this for a long time, months, scribbling during the hours set for ‘homework’. Incredible as it is, I swear all I have written here is the truth This really is happening – all of it – and although people won’t believe it, largely because they cannot comprehend other people behaving in this way, that doesn’t mean it isn’t true..
As mentioned, my initiation into the Order is tomorrow. I’m hoping to get to the post office this afternoon on the pretext of a medical appointment, but that could be scuppered. I’ll be honest, I’m nervous. I’m not scared of dying, but I am of the punishment, something at which they excel and which will happen if I’m caught. However, I think there is a way to make it harder for them to inflict on humanity what they’re planning. It will have to be at the very last second, at the moment they hand me the sword for sacrifice, because that is the way black magic works. Believe me, I have studied this, and with the advantage of Lenka’s warning, I am no longer ignorant but have risen beyond ego and the importance of my own life. If it works, you’ll know because their objective is another world war, only this one will be the end because of what they will use and how it will be done. I had to study biochemistry and psychology, Nicky. I will be catapulted to the top of a major television corporation within a few short years. Do you see?
The Order has infiltrated every walk of life and is already drip-feeding people so they will accept what is coming. The public is absolutely unaware of what is working in the shadows, totally oblivious that creatures such as these even walk among them. Look at the most glittering, the most successful, the richest and most powerful on a global scale – and that is where you will find them. It’s a clandestine club closed to anyone other than the elite – Satan’s servants are rewarded well. But the aim above all else, is to extinguish our spirit, that which makes us human. Hence the Black Sun. Always the Black Sun.
However, without me, they will lose a powerful force that’s been carried through my family for generations. Don’t shed a single tear. This is a good thing. I intend to take my chances with repentance and forgiveness in the hereafter, and drop the illusion that I have no choice.
Nicky, please will you look out for my mum? She’s at Silverfields Psychiatric Hospital. Tell her I’m okay because I woke up just in time. And one more thing – you were, are, my dearest friend. I wish to God I had been able to follow a different path. You, though, well, you are the full sun. Shine on full wattage, Nicky, and don’t ever think for one moment that you can’t.