They didn't know what had hit them. One minute they were outside the now empty pub clanking their equally empty tankards to Tak, the next the world exploded into light. Druin Forgesson was killed instantly, but his brother Bruin managed to crawl away a short distance until he succumbed.
"You have seen the light," the hooded figure intoned before disappearing into the shadows.
###
The Wizards had cleared up the red using a well-contained team of chromodemons, just one step up in size from the imp. They had the uncanny ability to absorb colour but they were hard to control. So much so, the section of alleyway had become a lot more monochrome than it had previously. The same technique had been used on Reg Shoe's arm, but as he was already a dull shade of grey there was no discernible difference.
The demons also removed the infra-black in Dazzle's dorm room after which they made a grisly discovery. There had been another person present in the room when Dazzle had presumably unleashed the colour from the tome, a young lad of no more than twelve. The bucket beside his feet indicated he was under the employ of Sir Harry King. Perhaps it was while he was doing his regular nightly collection he'd had the misfortune of meeting Uthan Dazzle.
The Librarian, who was still very much bereft at the loss of one of his books, was a little more calm in his demeanour*. He theorised that simply opening the book would be enough to let out the light within the pages.
*He was no longer throwing things at least.
The Wizards had only just returned to the University for a well-earned late-night feast when the Watch summoned them again.
This time Otto was also at the scene and was taking pictures of the streaks of colour that Bruin had made in his death throes.
"We'll need copies of those Mr Chriek." Captain Carrot Ironfoundersson cautioned, aware that there was little possibility it would be kept out of the papers. The vampire nodded, before leaving to burn the midnight oil.
The Captain looked solemn as he looked down at the livid orange remains of the Forgesson brothers. "I will personally inform the family."
As the clean-up demons were released onto the splashes of colour, Sergeant Angua asked the Wizards if they had any more to tell them about the possible motives of Uthan Dazzle.
Ponder told them what they had found in Dazzle's room and that they believed the book may be in possession of Dazzle more than he in possession of it. "So far infra-black, red and now orange have been let out. In theory it will be yellow next."
"So we're talking a rainbow here?"
"The spectrum yes, leading through green, blue, indigo, violet and ultimately to Octarine." Ponder stopped there, although there was more to tell. They were definitely not ready to hear what would happen if things got that far.
Angua's jaw worked angrily, magic was so much more trouble than it was worth. "So you're saying Dazzle keeps going until he reaches Octarine? What we want to know is how we can stop him and where he will strike next."
"And we would like to know why. I am sure the Forgesson family will be asking that." Carrot added.
"Why? I can't answer your other questions yet, but that one's easy Captain. Books wish to be read. Otherwise, what is the point of them existing? And this book, was so determined to be read that it brought itself into existence." Ponder looked over at the fallen brothers sadly.
"And we," the Captain responded, "will do our damnedest to put it back out of existence."
###
COLOUR KILLER
STRIKES ON OUR
STREETS!
The Times can exclusively report that there have been a series of murders of a magical nature in our fair city. The Watch are working day and night to solve the case and urge citizens to stay vigilant, or rather more vigilant than usual…
The Rainbow Murders, as they were being referred to, were the topic of conversation wherever conversation was to be had. Fact blurred seamlessly into fiction, everyone was suddenly an expert and knew someone who knew something but no, they hadn't told the Watch because what do they know about it anyway eh? But the funerals of Arthur Albertine and the Forgesson Brothers sobered up the revelry people en masse tended to make of situations like these. And the boy in the dorm was identified, a lad named Billy Lord, or Lord Muck as his mates had called him. Harry King himself led a procession down the length of the Golden River. It was both defiantly proud and painfully sad.
After that everyone was a lot more wary, avoiding going out after dark unless they really had to. Real people had died and it wasn't safe out there.