The sequestered site of the inverted obelisk came into view, as the hunting party made their way uphill through the thick forest. The few stragglers who had been too slow had been ordered to stay back in the forest and keep an eye out for anything unexpected. 

‘We have her right where we need her,’ Abbess Anandil Homa’s voice came crackling through the device in Subeya’s earpiece. ‘She’s headed into Neva’ar’s Dagger.’ 

The giant Poban had been one of the first to reach the verdant gorge. Looking up at the outlandish structure that floated distrustfully above her, she squinted to try and decipher anything familiar. Na! Not going in there. ‘Hey, Anandil,’ she barked into her mouthpiece, hands crossed, still examining the structure. ‘What’s erm… What’s this big floaty thing? It looks like a relic of the…  Divine Purge, maybe?’

‘There are many things in these lands that are remnants of the past,’ Anandil spoke between breaths. ‘You said you will trust me. We have the hellion locked from all sides. She… or it… can’t fight all of us at once if we surround it.’ 

‘Yeah,’ Subeya replied, still standing at a safe distance from the structure. ‘I’m not going ahead until you tell me what this thing is, Lady,’ Subeya turned around to look for Anandil in the ravine, which was dotted with clumsy hunters trying to get to the top. The fog had begun descending from the mountains, quickly shrouding the gorge in hues of gold and white. ‘Visibility’s dropping, boss. Seems like the Ghost’s got us trapped in here.’

Anandil made it over the rise and jogged up to the giant Poban. ‘This is an old facility — unused for several years. The Ghost is probably hiding in the chamber below.’ 

Subeya squinted, trying to make out any movement under the structure. ‘I don’t see it,’ she mumbled. She turned around, looking down at the lean Abbess crossly. Taking off her earpiece, so that they could have a private conversation, Subeya continued, ‘Look, I know I hit you with stuff about me not caring about what the Ghost is and only wanting a ticket out of prison. But seeing that thing in action made me think — what is that monstrosity?’ 

The Abbess sighed and took off her communication device as well. The fog had now blanketed everything around them, and they could feel the cool, soft touch of mist on their skin as the light breeze flurried through the gorge. ‘Explaining what it is will take time, and I will tell you everything once we have captured it. But for now, all I can say is that you are the only one amongst us that can pin it down. Firepower, it can avoid, but brute force is its weakness — at least for a medium-sized one like this one. The bigger ones are a different problem.’

‘Hey, what… the bigger what-now?’ Subeya said, eyes darting in confusion. But Anandil smiled crookedly, put on her communication device again and walked away barking orders. Subeya wiped the sweat from her forehead, ‘What have I gotten myself into?’

The clearing around the obelisk swelled with hunters as the members of Anandil’s party came up from the ravine. It was almost twenty minutes before they were all carelessly clustered in the gorge. The marble tiles were besmirched with a trail of blood leading into the opening of the subterranean chamber. The Abbess gave the orders, dividing the party into four ranks. Each rank formed a quarter-circle and stood at a safe distance from the entrance. As the fog swelled and swirled, the serried ranks lost vision of each other. The hunters grimaced and whispered prayers — the monks to Lady Awynyth and the Kalgezis to whatever gods they believed in. The din caused by willow warblers and thrush had ceased as the light in the gorge faded to an eerie grey diffused effulgence. Only the occasional chirp of a bush-cricket broke the daunting silence. 

Anandil’s rank was on the southern-end of the mouth and when there had been no movement and only hushed voices for a while, she decided to investigate the chamber. Carefully treading towards the opening, following the trail of blood, she peeped within. Fog obscured her vision, reflecting the white lights from the inverted spire of the obelisk above her. 

‘We should wait for the fog to clear,’ Anandil heard one of the monks mutter through the open communication channel . ‘It will…’ Her voice was cut short as a gut-wrenching gurgle emanated from her mouth. Anandil heard her body fall amongst the hunters in the northern rank. A maniacal laughter was heard, and it echoed within the gorge, as if coming from all around them. A scream issued from someone in the eastern rank, and it faded into the distance as he was carried away and silenced. 

Subeya hurried to where Anandil was standing and looked around attentively, putting her hands up, ready to make a dash towards the next location of attack. The next one came from the south, and the two of them dashed towards the rank as a monk opened fire, shooting upwards. Through the fog, they could make out the silhouette of a crazed creature balancing on the shoulders of the helpless monk, tearing his face to shreds and then darting away. When Subeya reached the spot, the monk was already dead, with his face smashed in like a crushed cantaloupe. 

More screams came from the fog as warriors and monks alike fell one by one to the frightful Ghost. Shots were fired at random by terrified hunters. Some were killed in friendly fire. Anandil realised they were at a disadvantage. Had the Ghost anticipated this? She could catch glimpses of it — dark vapoury body, white hair, grey eyes — dashing to and fro, culling the weak. This would surely be their doom. 

‘Abbess…’ came Friar Dew’s voice through her device. ‘Abbess what’s the plan?’ 

‘Into the mouth of the dagger! Everyone! Now!’ She made a quick decision — whether it was right or not was not important now. A decision had to be made before everyone was killed. 

‘Have you lost your marbles?’ Subeya bellowed. ‘That’s the worst plan I’ve ever heard! We’ll be sitting ducks!’ 

‘We need to get away from the fog,’ Anandil replied placatingly, already dashing towards the opening. ‘The chamber hatch closes from the inside. We’ll be safe there. Live now, fight later.’ 

Subeya grunted disapprovingly, ‘No, I’m staying up here. Let the Ghost come to the last one standing!’

‘Good plan,’ Anandil had reached a spot where she found a ladder descending into the chamber. She produced a handheld flare from her belt and pulled off the cover, which instantly lit it. With a sizzling sound it burnt red as sparks flew out of it onto the floor, bouncing off the smooth marble tiles. ‘Everyone to the flair. Take the ladder!’ One by one the rest of the party made their way into the triangular-shaped opening. The screams of those being picked off could still be heard around them. Anandil counted twenty… twenty made it in. ‘Subeya?’

‘I’m staying!’ Subeya spat, glaring southwards, where she had last heard the cry of a fallen hunter. ‘Shut the hatch… I’ll deal with this little hellion of yours.’

Anandil did not descend the ladder immediately. How could she leave Subeya on her own? She would surely die — not instantly like the others, but fighting the Ghost alone would surely be her end. The maniacal laughter had stopped, and the gorge was silent again. She saw Subeya through the fog at a distance — turning every direction, the Poban hopped on her toes, warming up for the brawl. 

Then there was a blood-curdling scream — so loud and horrendous that Anandil felt her heart leap to her mouth and her knees felt weak with terror. She shut her ears with the palm of her hands and tears rolled down her eyes. Subeya had gone down on her knees. A sentinel death cry! Anandil remembered reading about Astraleids fabricating this sound to instil fear in their enemies or trespassers on their lands. She had never heard it until now. 

Out of the fog the Ghost charged at Subeya, bringing the giant crashing down on her back. But Subeya had expected this. She grabbed the Ghost by the neck and rolled to her side to pin it down. The Ghost was wriggling under the Poban’s weight with eyes so wide they looked like they would pop out. The shrill death cry issued from its mouth again, which made Anandil retch. The Ghost had long bloodied razor sharp fangs that made it look like an angler fish. Its claws were much longer than it had initially produced in the woods, thrashing at its attacker and sending the giant’s blood and pieces of skin and flesh flying everywhere. 

Subeya looked towards Anandil who was standing at the edge of the entrance, frozen in fear. ‘Go!’ She mumbled, smashing the Ghost’s face with massive fists.

Anandil quivered as she turned around and slid down the ladder to the base, where the rest of her party were waiting, all aghast at the sound of the death cries from above. She made her way towards a wall with a big white triangular panel, but she tripped over something lying on the floor. In the gloom of the chamber, she thought it was the body of a fallen hunter but soon realised that the rest of the party was standing away from it. Looking more closely, she gasped when she realised that it was a woman with white hair, lying unconscious. 

‘What in Awynyth’s name?’ Anandil mumbled. ‘She’s not… the Ghost?’ 

‘Abbess?’ Friar Dew said through heavy breaths, who was among those who had successfully climbed into the chamber. ‘What is happening? If this is the Ghost, then who’s Subeya fighting outside?’ 

Anandil dared not turn the body to see the face. The security of her people was more important than comprehending the matter. She frowned and turned towards the white panel and placed a palm on it. 

‘Genetic analysis successful,’ Came an automated voice speaking in the Aewylen tongue that was spoken in Neva. All the systems around them blinked on. Dozens of screens lit up, with lines of scripts written in some forgotten language. ‘Awaiting voice recognition confirmation.’ 

‘Secure the hatch!’ She commanded. 

‘Voice recognised. Anandil Homa, Abbess of the Order of Saint Awynyth. Personnel identity confirmed. You have level two clearance. Level four clearance is required for any command.’ 

‘What?’ Anandil growled. ‘Why?’ 

‘This station has been unused for more than five years. Level four clearance is required. Hatch will remain open,’ the automated voice said in a calm demeanour.  

‘Kyrytth’s nuts! There are no Astraleids left on the surface of this planet to give you level four clearance!’ The Abbess shouted over the raucous from above. But then she heard sudden cries of astonishment among the party, and as she turned around she saw the woman lying on the floor stir awake. Everyone tightened their grips on their weapons. Zov’ha raised her bloody head and looked at them. All she could see was a blur. ‘Who.. who are you?’ Anandil, being closest to Zov’ha, whispered shakily. 

‘Zov… Zovha…’ she managed. 

‘Voice recognised,’ came the automated voice again. 

‘What?’ Anadil barked, her eyes wide in surprise. 

‘Zov’ha Svao,’ the system’s automated voice continued. ‘Seventh Daughter of Zura, the Forty-Fifth. First Contact and Ambassador of Asenya to Orbita Cygnus. Honorary Guardian of Xerbia. Last known location: Asenya. Last known designation: Captain of the Duskwatch. Genetic Analysis required.’ Anandil looked at Zov’ha, then at the others who had equally surprised expressions on their faces. She hastily marched to the bloodied woman, put her hands under Zov’ha’s arms and hauled her towards the white panel. She placed Zov’ha’s bloody hand on the triangle, which soiled it thoroughly. ‘Genetic Analysis complete. Personnel identity confirmed. Zov’ha has level four clearance. Hatch closing.’ 

Everyone looked up as three metal plates converged from the edges of the triangular opening, slowly sliding close. ‘Subeya!’ Anandil said into her communication device. ‘The hatch… it’s closing!’ 

‘Coming…’ Subeya blurted. They heard the wail of the Ghost fade into the distance, as if the giant had simply flung it somewhere far away. A few seconds later Subeya’s thunderous footsteps were heard overhead and she dove into the closing slits just in time. She crashed on to the dias and made no effort to get up again. The hatch closed tight and shrouded them in darkness. Lights from the screens shone dully on their faces as they stood, slightly relieved, yet silenced in surprise.

‘Oh, now what?’ Subeya said, pointing at the dazed white-haired woman at Anandil’s feet. The giant Poban was bloodied from head to toe, exhausted from the fight. Her right eye was swollen, and she could barely open the other one. ‘I thought I got rid of that devil. Anandil?’ 

‘Help me get her on to the lift,’ Anandil whispered. Some of the hunters reluctantly obeyed, carrying the woman on to the dias. Zov’ha was still conscious, but barely so. To everyone’s surprise Anandil kneeled in front of Zov’ha and bowed her head. ‘Monks… kneel to your goddess. She… is an Astraleid.’ The monks looked at each other in disbelief, but slowly, one by one, they kneeled and bowed their heads. ‘What is your command? Zov’ha, daughter of Zura?’ 

Zov’ha only stared blankly at them, her face bloody and hair dishevelled. 

‘Anandil,’ Subeya croaked, her voice barely audible. ‘What now?’ 

When Zov’ha did not reply for several minutes, Anandil realised it was time to move on. ‘Activate lift,’ she commanded the system and got to her feet. 

‘Activating in five… four…’ 

A grinding sound shook the chamber. The screeches of the Ghost could be heard again from above. Anandil, with only a score of her hunters left alive, started on the long lift ride to the underground.