Nocturnal University 3: Killing by Degrees

Nocturnal University 3

Killing by Degrees

By

Ethan Somerville

Copyright © 2017 Ethan Somerville

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Chapter 1

The cyborg necromancer Professor Icarus Abbacus sighed heavily as he sat down at his computer to continue Violet Hollingworth’s search of the Nocturnal University’s database. Before sacrificing herself to close the rift the demon lord Oradhur had caused, she had managed to eliminate a whole two thirds of the fifty thousand people currently residing at the giant floating university. It was a formidable effort, but Icarus still wasn’t looking forward to continuing the tedious search. He massaged his forehead with the fingers of his human hand, wishing there was some program he could write that would do the whole thing for him.

The only thing he now knew beyond doubt was that Violet’s daughter was still alive. When Victoria died in his arms the ancient, cursed necklace disappeared from around her throat. Had little Vicky Hendrickson been dead, the necklace would have remained with Victoria and the curse would have died with her. He had tried to lift the necklace from her throat, but it vanished from his grip.

It contained an entity that was far stronger than he was, and nothing was going to stop it from fulfilling its duty.

The Professor suspected Violet’s daughter was already at the university, so he decided to change his tack. Instead of searching the remaining profile pictures for Del’s distinctive blue-eyed gaze, why didn’t he just travel there himself, take a good look around, and question a few people? Do some good, old-fashioned sleuthing? He doubted any image that had been captured of Vicky would do those intense eyes justice anyway. He had some time up his sleeve – Madam Nocturna had granted him several weeks of leave to recover from Violet’s death. He had been freed of all academic duties. Yes, a journey to the Nocturnal University would be far more interesting and give him the chance to get out and about for a while, away from this gloomy, underground laboratory and memories of Victoria. Even though she had only been here for a short while, he still felt Lady Frankenstein’s presence here with him. She of all the gestalt creature’s personas had enjoyed this place the most.

And it had been her gemstone that was destroyed when Victoria gave herself up to close the rift. Now that distinctive chain had only five stones left; the Invisible Woman, the Swamp Girl, the Spider Queen, the Wolf Woman and the Vampiress.

But much as he wanted to, Icarus couldn’t just rush off on a whim. He had to do some preparing first. He clicked on the Nocturnal University’s newsfeed to check for any unusual occurrences. If Vicky really was there, then she would have had the necklace for several days now, and be thoroughly confused as to what was going on. She would have already shifted into several different forms. She could even have gone berserk trying to figure out what was happening to her.

Icarus remembered Del telling him some things about Victoria’s history. Back when she first inherited her necklace after her mother’s death, a family lawyer named Crimpley had helped her to acclimatise to her various forms. But Vicky didn’t have anyone, and could be attracting attention to herself.

Unfortunately, because the Nocturnal University was so large and diverse, strange things happened there all the time; fights, deaths, disappearances, weird monsters escaping from the laboratories. It was like a small city; a kilometre wide by a kilometre long and almost five hundred metres thick in places. It was thousands of years old, with an entire subterranean eco-system only a few people knew about and dared to explore. Ancient classrooms, graves and catacombs were slowly subsiding beneath the increasing weight of new structures.

Icarus had been down there himself, conducting illegal necromantic lessons, and he had seen the damage caused by the huge, earth-elemental worms that thrived on stone. Large wererat clans also lived down there, along with mutant bugs and cockroaches. Dr Nigel Ashe had also told him all about the adventure he, Dr Muriel Primus, Malcolm McAllister and Kim Long had gone on, looking for that accursed Lonely House. They had stumbled across all manner of subterranean plants and corrupted fungi.

If Vicky decided to go into hiding down there, then there would be little chance of finding her. After the Martian Invasion of 1895, Victoria had lost her mind and run off into London. It had taken days to track her down, and the combined efforts of Felina and Suresh to finally follow her scent down into the Underground.

But as Icarus searched the newsfeed he found a number of interesting articles that warranted further scrutiny. Students reported seeing a strange tentacled creature splashing about in one of the ponds, but which disappeared under the water as soon as they approached. They waited for it to reappear, but it didn’t. Another report mentioned a huge, batlike monster, which was unusual because although vampires could change into bats, they nearly always became small creatures. Only a select few actually mastered half man, half bat forms, and at the moment only one person at the Nocturnal University could actually do it. His half-bat form was quite small, only about one metre twenty in height. The creature from the report, however, had been enormous, over two metres tall, and perched on the side of an ivy-covered tower like a gargoyle. When someone flew up for a better look it leapt off and flapped away. Was it a werebat, maybe? Such weres were rare, but not unheard of. However, a quick search of the Nocturnal University database revealed no werebats currently in residence.

A third article mentioned a large, multi-limbed creature scuttling about on the rooftops. Could it be a spider? Icarus wondered. Spiderweres were still rare, but another search of the database revealed four currently living and working there, including a megarantula.

Still – all the reports were worth checking out.

Icarus continued searching, delving into darker articles about a disturbing murder that had the Nocturnal University’s police force baffled. A were had been found dead in a back alley, attacked and eviscerated, minus several important internal organs. Since weres had phenomenal regeneration, and could recover from the most grievous injuries, this killing was highly unusual. An autopsy revealed traces of wolfsbane and silver in the wounds, indicating that the slaying had been undertaken by someone who knew exactly how to inhibit this particular supernatural’s regeneration and make sure they couldn’t recover.

But what did the missing organs mean?

Icarus shivered, reminded of a series of murders from well over a hundred years earlier, committed by one Jack the Ripper. He had removed organs as well. But Icarus knew that infamous killer had been after a specific talisman of power. After all he had been a member of the Circus Infinitus for a while – until he joined the Martians during the invasion and Icarus had to kill him.

But what was the motive behind this murder? Icarus checked the date. The crime had been committed only a couple of days ago – just after Victoria’s sacrifice. Could Vicky have committed it in an attempt to understand the bizarre changes that were happening to her? The Vampiress persona had been quite evil at times, able to kill without compunction. But that had been her previous incarnation. This one could be completely different.

He undertook one last search of the database for missing persons. Perhaps, now Vicky had gone into hiding, she was one of them and her distinctive image would appear. But the small list that appeared did not contain anyone matching her description. He frowned. If she was indeed resident at the university and missing, then after three days wouldn’t someone have noticed?

No, he eventually reasoned. Missing persons were usually reported by close family members. Most people residing at the uni were on their own. Students could disappear for days on end before anyone noticed. Lecturers didn’t care who showed up, and tutors just marked missing students as absent.

And even fewer cared if their teachers disappeared!

Icarus picked up the phone from his desk and called Madam Nocturna to explain his decision.

Yes, of course you can go, she told him cheerfully. A holiday away from here will do you the world of good. You spend far too much time lurking in that gloomy old laboratory of yours, working on your weird little projects and seeing how much further you can burrow under the foundations!

I do not!

She ignored that. So when will you be leaving?

As soon as I have everything packed. It shouldn’t take me more than a few hours.

In that case I will be down to see you shortly. I have something for you that might help you.

Really? What?

A book, she answered mysteriously, and hung up before he could question her any further.

His insatiable curiosity started eating him up as he bustled around his lab collecting various compression cubes and tossing them into his trolley. He still had a lot of supplies shrunk down from when he’d been packing to leave with Rhys Kelly, and hadn’t gotten around to restoring them yet. Then, as promised, Madam Nocturna appeared at his door, dressed in her usual dark and flowing gown, the white streak in her hair almost seeming to glow in the dim overhead lights. He hurried over to greet her.

Ah, there you are, she said. I never know where you are in this place anymore.

Icarus rubbed his mismatched hands together. What’s this about a book?

Smiling, she held it out. It was bound in blood-red leather and looked more like a diary. The picture on the front depicted a very familiar amulet with seven crystals.

Icarus took it with shaking fingers. What … what is this?

Beneath the image were embossed the words Memoirs of Annabel Hollingworth the Cursed.

I thought the name Hollingworth was familiar, said Madam Nocturna.

Icarus opened the book to the front page. On it was written in very small, crimped cursive; For my daughter, Violet. He turned the page to find a lot of tiny, very closely-packed, script. He had to adjust the focus of his artificial eye to be able to read it:

"Dear Violet, I write this memoir to you in the hope to make up, in some small way, for the dreadful curse I suffered from for most of my life, and which I sincerely hope will die with me." He closed the book and stared at Madam Nocturna in confusion. This belonged to Victoria’s mother! he gasped. "Where the hell did you get it?"

She spread her hands. It isn’t mine. It belongs to the school. It was here when I arrived. When I accepted the post of headmistress I made it a point to read all the books we had on vampires. I’m surprised you haven’t read it, actually. It was up in the Seniors’ Section.

I’ve read everything in the Libris Maleficarum and all the spellbooks and demonological texts in the Seniors’ Section, but none of the supernatural-themed tomes. I don’t believe it! He gazed down at the blood-red book. Such a shame Victoria never got to see it when she was alive.

I’m sorry too, she admitted, shame-faced. I read it way back in 1926, and unfortunately, unlike some people in this room, I don’t have an eidetic memory. All I remembered about it was that it had been written by someone with the ability to change into multiple supernatural forms. It never occurred to me that she might be like Victoria. Then you just happened to mention that her last name was Hollingworth and it clicked. But I had a devil of a time tracking the diary down. The last person who pulled it out didn’t put it back in the right place. But now you can make things up to Victoria’s daughter.

Thank you, Elliana.

I do hope you find her and let her know how brave her mother was.

I will. Icarus felt a tear sting his human eye and quickly wiped it away. Madam Nocturna put her arms around him and gave him a hug.

"Take care, and please don’t get yourself arrested again! I doubt Harmon will bail you out a second time!"

He gave her an awkward pat on the back and she released him. I’ll try to behave myself!

She departed and he looked down at Annabel’s book again, wondering how on Earth it had ended up here. He flipped through the pages of tightly-packed text, skimming for clues. He found various intricate colour illustrations Annabel had made of her alternate forms; the initial seven forms of the curse. They were different to Victoria’s – the Vampiress was taller with wavier hair, the Swamp Girl was larger and more muscular, both Lady Frankenstein and the Mummy were far more cadaverous, the Spider Queen’s body was red instead of black, and the Wolf Woman thinner and grey instead of brown.

But these visible forms were all still recognisable. Those Nocturnal University news reports had described far more bizarre creatures. Still … how would the curse react to someone like Vicky? Because she was still alive after all this time, she was quite obviously not even human anymore.

It could have messed her up completely. It could even have driven her to murder.

Professor Abbacus reached the last page and there he found what he’d been looking for; a neat stamp on the blank back cover:

Property of the Intelligent Gentlemen’s Club, London.

He frowned, realising who had managed to acquire this volume. He’d had some dealings with the IntelliGent, leader of this club, back in the late eighteen-hundreds. They had been enemies for a while, but during the Martian Invasion they’d had to work together to thwart the invaders. How had this book ended up at the Australian Nocturnal Academy? Perhaps a supernatural member of that exclusive club had brought it here at the turn of the twentieth century.

Professor Abbacus closed the book and dropped it into his trolley. Its colourful history was a moot point. It had been given to him to finally deliver to its rightful owner and he would do so … after he’d read it from cover to cover, of course! He zipped the trolley shut and collected a new long leather coat to wear, a plain black one that Alice would have approved of. He wrapped his grey scarf around his neck, slapped his broad-brimmed hat onto his head, collected his trolley and departed.

* * * *

Chapter 2

Professor Abbacus travelled through the permanent open portal connecting the Australian Nocturnal Academy to the Nocturnal Council headquarters in Geneva, and then through the portal connecting Geneva to the Nocturnal University. Not a lot had changed since his last visit. The ancient entry hall was still lit by Magick globes of light hovering near a high, vaulted ceiling held up by tall Roman columns. Dusty paintings of past deans and alumni graced the walls, each solemn face seeming to frown down at Icarus as he marched across the foyer, pulling his battered old trolley along behind him. An eerie wind continued to howl through the place, making sure no-one stuck around for too long.

Since Icarus wasn’t here to teach, he’d had to arrange his own accommodation. He could have set himself up in the underground, where he wouldn’t have had to pay rent or be disturbed by nosy neighbours. But he didn’t entirely trust the wildlife down there, and those pesky stoneworms were always remodelling, constantly changing the layout of the tunnels. So he’d deliberately chosen a place at the nastier end of town, where his comings and goings at odd hours would not be questioned. It didn’t matter that the rooms were small and dirty and overrun with cockroaches, or the neighbours were loud, smelly and perpetually drunk. All he needed was a single dedicated space to set up his portable laboratory.

Like he had during his previous visit, he walked around the perimeter of his little room, making sure of its exact dimensions, then he extracted a glass compression cube from his trolley and placed it on the floor.

He uttered the activation sequence and snapped his fingers at it. Then he grabbed his trolley and dashed from the room. Scarcely had he closed the door behind him and leant against it when a colossal explosion thundered through the building and nearly blasted the door from its hinges. Had he not been pressed against it, it would have flown across the corridor. Paint and plaster flaked from the ceiling. He winced. Should have picked a slighter larger room, he thought. Decompressing wouldn’t have made quite such a racket then!

People came running from all directions to investigate. "What the hell was that?" demanded a large werewolf in a filthy apron.

Sorry, just unpacking my luggage! Icarus yanked open his door to reveal the huge laboratory that had just appeared.

What the hell? The werewolf stepped forward for a better look.

Nothing to see here! Icarus darted inside and slammed the door in the werewolf’s face. He removed another cube from his trolley and placed it on a desk. He snapped his fingers at it and his computer appeared, its power-cables immediately extending to link up with external sources. He unpacked a few more cubes, setting up additional equipment he thought would help him in his investigation, including an electron microscope and a spectra-analyser. When he felt he made himself sufficiently at home, he made an appointment to see the new dean.

He wasn’t looking forward to the upcoming meeting. He had never liked talking to new people, and he didn’t know the current dean of the Nocturnal University at all. But he felt he had to explain his presence just in case something horrible happened.

Dean Piskine’s replacement was a gruff old tree spirit from Austria named Stefan von Stumpf. He was hard and gnarly with broad shoulders and, like most trees, possessed an enormous head of thick, bushy hair that looked like it hadn’t been combed in the last hundred years or so. He had previously headed the Literature Department. Where Dean Piskine had kept tanks of colourful exotic fish around his bright, airy office, Dean von Stumpf liked weird potted plants. They crawled up indoor trellises, snaked across the ceiling,