The Great Arising

Chapter 43

Nine stone menhirs had stood silently upon the bleak Scottish moor in a perfect triangle. Large, vaguely octopoidal shapes floated about, issuing strange gibbering sounds not meant for mortal ears

They were The Spawn of Hastur, and they had come to bring their father to earth.

Tek had found that, though his father had ordered cooperation with the small Resistance Torren-Wraeth, he and Eikichi had formed, his siblings were still wary of their 'mad' brother who openly served The Elder Gods. Bringing their father bodily to earth would allay some of their scorn and elicit more aid for the cause.

Unfortunately, this was no easy task. He was still tied strongly to Aldebaran and Carcosa, and it would take much more to call Hastur to earth permanently.

Of course, Torren-Wraeth had not, could not, come. Though he had no malice toward his uncle, he recognized that his presence would be an affront to his father, the ultimate insult against The Lord of R'lyeh, and he was still human enough to love his father.

As the ritual reached its peak the winds began to howl with the unfathomable cold that can only be felt in void between the stars and the fog blanketing the moor turned to ice and was swept away before it could fall to the ground. The stone triangle began to glow bright yellow as it aligned with Aldebaran in astronomical perfection. The Gate to Carcosa began to open.

Then it all went to Hell.

A hideous bellow of rage and oily, guttural curses tore through the freezing winds as a bloated, green-skinned monstrosity of incredible size swept down upon thunderous bat wings. His red eyes glared with unbridled rage, his facial tendrils curled, twitched and flailed in alien wrath. Great Cthulhu shattered six of the menhirs with a single swipe of a blubbery paw, breaking the mystical bond to Carcosa. The wind and light immediately vanished, though a howl of unspeakable rage was heard as the Gate closed. The Spawn fled, knowing they held no power, even in numbers, to face the full fury of Cthulhu.

Tek stood his ground, assuming humanoid form, albeit a gigantic humanoid form. Cthulhu crushed the remaining monoliths beneath his feet and turned to the rogue Spawn of his most hated enemy. "Hastur will not tread upon this world as long as I live, and I shall live forever!"

Tek was shaking with a mixture of fear and rage, "Don't be so sure. There are powers that can crush you as easily as you have crushed these stones." Cthulhu drew back to strike the impudent creature, but restrained himself. The Elder Gods hung over his head like a hangman's noose, and Yog-Sothoth had still not answered his prayers through signs or omens.

Still, he would be damned before he allowed Hastur free reign upon his world.

"The Elder Gods hate Hastur even as they hate me. Did you really believe that they would allow him purchase upon this world?"

Other bloated figures descended upon the site, and Tek saw Ked among them. They began weaving spells to desecrate the land for Hastur and consecrate it for Cthulhu.

It was clearly time to leave.

Tek opened a Gate and stepped through, back into the forest that served as their base. Bitter cold followed his passing, wilting and freezing greenery too close to the gate. Ked moved to pursue him but Cthulhu held him back.

"At least Torren-Wraeth still has some measure of respect for me," There was a hint of sadness in Cthulhu's voice, "He could not bring himself to aid Hastur . . ."

Ked seethed with ill-concealed rage, his father still cared for that pathetic, human-loving traitor! He turned and stormed off in disgust.

Great Cthulhu watched his son go, and felt a sharp pain within himself. As much as he loved his hybrid children, he knew that he could never truly understand them.

"Hey . . . Over here . . ." Ked heard a child's voice ring out from the thick mist, and turned to see a little girl in a blue and white dress. She was holding a teddy bear by the arm, "If you really want revenge on Torren-Wraeth," She smiled sweetly, "We can help. . ."

To be continued . . .