The Angel Of Darkness (Novel)

Synopsis:

Extract:

His Adam’s apple bobbed, and he might have tried a witty comeback had the phone not started ringing. He shot me a desperate look and turned away, intent on his call.

Huh. Weasels.

I took a quick visit to the ladies (much against my better judgement), and was just about to leave when my heart lurched to a halt. Over in the corner sat a man - a man who must have been sitting there the whole time. He wasn’t actually hidden, just… unassuming. I feigned checking my pockets as I noted details from the corner of my eye; dusty old fatigues, navy and white shirt covering a modest build. His dark hair fell unconcerned across his eyes, and two days’ worth of stubble fuzzed the edges of his goatee. His unsmiling gaze was absorbed on the paper spread in front of him. A shoulder rig for a small side-arm hung at his side, glaringly empty. He was maybe in his late twenties - early thirties tops.

I caught a tapping sound from behind me, and spun to see Pierre gesturing to a cup of coffee-to-go steaming on the counter. Still deep in his call, he nonetheless mouthed ‘on the house’.

I picked it up without thinking, and was still preoccupied as I made my way to the door.

And caught the stranger looking at me.

For a moment our eyes locked. I was chilled to the marrow - so violently I felt my heart skip a beat. He recognised me. I had no idea who this man was, but he knew me the way a stalker would know its victim or a predator know its prey.

Then just as quickly he sighed, and turned the paper over, sipping his own coffee as though I was no more important than Pierre’s phone call.

I left, slamming the door behind me.

Delivery (Short Story)

Synopsis:

A convoy of delivery drivers get more than they bargained for when they, and their mysterious cargo, arrive at the Strahov in Prague.

Extract:

The dour old Slovak chuckled, "Welcome to the glorious city of Prague. Our escort will be with you shortly, courtesy of our host, Joachim Karel of the Strahov. Have a bloody good day."

"Finally someone with a sense of humour," Ivan yawned. "God I can't wait to get back. This damn thing's freaked me out for way too long."

Wild Life (Short Story)

Synopsis:

As humanity struggles to survive in a nightmarish far-future, can Lara hope to find the lost city of N'phal and save her people?

Extract:

A shadow fell across Lara and she was running before she had time to think, feinting and dodging. A stitch tore at her ribs but she kept going, turning with a howl to empty both pistoles at her attacker.

The clockwork whirred, clicked, and hot little pellets lodged themselves in the Norveg's outstretched hand. The Norveg hissed, more out of shock than pain, and made a second grab, but Lara dodged right between its legs.

Metal tripped her, sending her rolling and bouncing into the waiting cage. The trap snapped shut behind her, and she felt herself being raised, higher and higher… so high!

A face regarded her - pointed snout and whiskers, chittering in satisfaction, with beady black eyes larger than Lara's head - a face and a creature right out of every human's sweat-soaked nightmare.

A Norveg.

An Angel In The Darkness (Short Story)

Synopsis:

Lara wakes up, grievously injured, beneath the Pyramid after her battle with Seth. Will her determination help her survive, and will her newfound life among the Tuareg ever help to heal the scars of betrayal?

Extract:

The cavern was fully dark now. No sunlight, no starlight or moonlight, not even a glimmer of that pure and awesome blue nimbus Horus had cloaked himself with back underneath the pyramid. I could see his burnished golden face hovering in front of me, regarding my wounds with ruby-coloured eyes. It was good to see him again, even though I'd never got a thank you for all that work I did salvaging his armour.

  My apologies, Lara Croft. I never thanked you for all you did for me. His voice was glorious, and smoother than Winston's cocoa.

  "Oh, you're welcome," I murmured, smiling. "Saving the world and running errands for Gods are my forte. I'd offer you a drink but Winston would kill me if he knew I kept a spare key for his decanter."

  A touching gesture, but unnecessary. The voice was right beside me now, and I felt warm hands holding me so I could see the black water. See? I have all that I need to drink right here. It is you a drink should be offered. Go now; sup your fill of the life-water. And have my blessing, always.

  "Anything you say, Horus." I felt giddy, shuffling towards the inky pool, but grateful. "You're the politest God I've…ever…..met."

  I hit the water.

  And so did a bucket on a chain.

Into The Labyrinth (Short Story)

Synopsis:

Lara ventures into an abandoned chapel on a storm-swept island in the Irish Sea, and learns to believe in ghosts!

Extract:

Unconsciously I folded my arms, tucking in my hands to keep them warm. I'd not expected to be here at all, otherwise I would have worn something more sensible than shorts and a T-shirt. My ears twitched at every noise. I wished I still had my torch, but it had spluttered and died moments after I'd left the gallows tree. A shiver of revulsion thrilled in my belly as I remembered the heart I'd found, shrunken with age yet curiously heavy, as though malevolence had taken the place of blood.

Had I really done the right thing by returning it?

A rat scurried across my boots, making me jump. Wretched things! I darted out of my private puddle, wringing the rain from my hair, when the flesh of my neck rose to a creeping chill.

Something was behind me.

The Road To Angkor (Short Story)

Synopsis:

(2nd place in the 4th Village of Tokakeriby competition, 2009)

A young Lara Croft sets out on a landmark journey to meet her future mentor and adversary, Werner Von Croy.

Extract:

"Translate. If you please."

Lara cleared her throat, pride swelling in her breast. He was taking her seriously - something her father hardly ever bothered to do.

"They call him Indra, Mitra, Varuna, Agni, and he is heavenly nobly-winged Garutman. To what is One, sages-"

"Enough, enough, I'm convinced! Well, well, I do not think I need fear your lack of intellectual skills, my dear."   Werner grinned, returning the paper to its pile.

"Soon be catching you up Werner, if you don't watch your back," Guenther hiccupped, waving a conspiratorial finger. "Archaeology may seem a gentle pursuit my girl, but you'll soon learn you need to have your wits about you! Treachery, death and failure all await the unwary. But do not fear… Werner is an excellent teacher. After all, he's had plenty of experience!"

"Naturlich," Werner answered gruffly, but Lara again saw the blue flames spark in the depths of his eyes. Despite the room being bathed in sunlight, she felt goose pimples race across her skin in a sudden chill. No matter how polite his words, it was clear Von Croy was not a man to cross lightly, and that his anger, once roused, would be formidable.

Untameable (Short Story)

Synopsis:

Lara receives a curious artefact, and an unexpected mythological visitor, from a baffled Middle Eastern professor.

Extract:

"Winston? Winston!" Lara jabbed the intercom, as the screech of tires and a long, drawn-out cry of terror were quickly cut off, leaving only static. She was out the door in an instant, padding down the carpeted staircase in her bare feet. Her hand automatically cocked and slipped the safety off the pistol grabbed from her bedside drawer, and her damp hair swung in a brunette curtain as she vaulted the banister and shot out the main door, into the snow and the darkness.

She tracked the tire marks round the side of the house, gun held low, eyes alert. Coldness scrabbled to find purchase on her, raising goosebumps already awoken by the old man's shouts. In the gloom the grounds were the colour of steel, except for squares and patches of sparkling gold spilling from the manor windows. The car had braked hard, opening deep ruts in the snow, and stopped abruptly short of a raised flowerbed.

Winston sat like a lump of stone - gloved hands clutching the wheel, eyes stretched wide in disbelief.

From its perch amongst the juniper bushes, the unicorn tilted its proud head and whickered softly at Lara.

These works by J. R. Milward are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License