EPISODE 5: Fates Aligned
After Orem Black vanished in front of the Order of Wormwood, time was of the essence. What happened to Orem, where did he go? The other mystery would be the MAN appearing in Orem’s place. Who was he? Dressed in a fashion a few centuries removed. The unconscious stranger was whisked to a secure wing of the estate to rest, guarded by members of the Order.
Banerjee would lead the investigation to find out what else had transpired. Orem recited an incantation. He’d never shown any interest in magic, had no natural abilities and certainly wasn’t aware of the true purpose of the Order. The spell came from somewhere...and why was he so hell-bent on proving that his father Reginald was a fraud?
Everyone knew of the disharmony between Orem and Reginald, but no one knew the reason. It happened when Orem was just a boy, but seemed more than just natural teenaged rebellion. Rounding up Reginald and Orem’s inner circle, Banerjee interviewed those closest to the father and son...and quickly discovered a shocking and heartbreaking secret. Fredrick Frost, Reginald’s oldest friend, knew what had happened…Reginald held a strong belief otherworldly powers were responsible for his prophetic dreams. There were agents of the shadows, bleeding into our world. Hoping to tempt and steer mankind towards darkness and destruction. Saving the world was the driving force behind the creation of the Order.
Paramount to building a legion large enough to fight whatever dark army that may be coming, was keeping it a secret. The element of surprise, developing capabilities and tactics to take on a faceless enemy, was built into the genius of the Order of Wormwood. But operating covertly, meant abiding by the rule of concealing the group’s true meaning from everyone. The result would put strains on relationships. Reginald was no exception. His wife Diane, couldn’t understand why his secret fraternity held more importance then his own family...the couple would fight about it often.
But one night a heated argument turned tragic, as during one of their fights, Diane became physical. Reginald defended himself, pushing his wife away, and she hit her head... resulting in Diane’s accidental death. Even worse, was Orem, then just a bright-eyed boy, witnessed the whole thing... As a stage magician, part of Reginald’s act consisted of him resurrecting a dove. A feat performed in reality by his assistant, Banerjee, standing offstage, using his real powers to restore life to the squab. Seeing his mother dead on the floor, Orem expected Reginald to bring her back to life. He was young and naive enough to believe in magic...but it was then Reginald had to reveal he was unable to perform the trick.
Protecting the Order, Reginald couldn’t tell Orem who he really was or why he must conceal the truth. And to Orem, his father was a fraud, and so was magic...their wounded relationship divided them further, as Reginald maintaining operational secrecy, perpetuated the Order being more sacred than blood to his own son. It was no wonder animosity existed between them.
Armed with what fueled the fire of Orem’s estrangement, the Order needed to find out how he, of all people, came to posses a real form of magic. Orem left London at 16, joining the Royal Army. Both Veera and Joseph had waining contact with him in the decades following. Orem briefly returned when Reginald took ill in 1888, but left the day following his father’s funeral. No one had seen him since.
But it was discovered Orem had quietly returned a year prior. Discreetly taking up residence in the east tower of Black Manor, the very building the Order conducted it’s business. Swearing the house’s caretaker, William, to secrecy, Orem snuck in during planned renovations, sheltering in Reginald’s former private study, moving under the cover of night, living like a hermit. He was there for the express purpose of studying something, planning for his big to-do in front of the Order. The mystery was deepening.
Gaining access to the private study, Banerjee, Veera, and Joseph, scoured the large room for clues -- discovering a series of correspondences amongst Reginald Black’s personal effects. Letters back and forth, between father and son. The oldest missive was dated 1881, while Orem was serving in the army during the Boer Wars. After being wounded in battle, Orem witnessed something uncanny.
OREM: Father, we haven’t spoken in some time, but I warily seek your counsel. By now, I’m sure you’ve heard I was shot in battle...this entire campaign has been a bloody mess. We had no business being on that hill. Sitting ducks without a plan. I took a bullet in the side, bled all the way to the medic, but I’ll survive. Father, something profound happened. I remember you once told me, life showed you your destiny. Today, mine was revealed to me.
Volksrust, South Africa, 1881. Night's fallen, but the sounds of war still rage in the distance. In a darkened corner of a medic’s tent, Orem lies in a cot, stomach bandaged, quietly resting.
OREM: There were so many wounded, the field hospital was full. Lacking room, I was placed in the Officer’s tent to rest. All was quiet, until General Colley was brought in, a gaping bullet wound in his chest. They forgot I was there...
A field doctor works by lantern light to revive the General, but it’s a lost cause. Orem, in the corner, beyond the lights reach, watches. Just then, the second in command, Colonel Ashdown, storms in.
COL ASHDOWN: What the bloody hell happened?
FIELD DOCTOR: I was told a sniper got him, Colonel...
COL ASHDOWN: Fix him.
FIELD DOCTOR: There’s nothing I can do, sir. He likely died a quick death.
The Colonel grabs the Doctor’s collar from across the table pulling him over the General's lifeless body.
COL ASHDOWN: We’re at a breaking point. General Colley can’t be dead. If you can’t do anything, then fetch the boy.
The doctor sprints from the tent. Alone with the General’s corpse, the Colonel’s shoulders slump, near defeat. From his cot, Orem stares at the expressionless face of the dead General...Moments later the doctor rushes back in with a young African boy in tow. MENZI, 13. The Colonel points to the General.
COL ASHDOWN: Use your hocus-pocus, and bring him back.
Orem sits up in disbelief...but Menzi, staring at the General’s lifeless body, shakes his head, unwilling to follow the Colonel’s orders.
COL ASHDOWN: I’ve seen you do it before with the horses.
MENZI: It’s not the same with a person.
COL ASHDOWN: Bring him back and your family will be rewarded by the King of England himself. Defy me and I’ll kill you.
The Colonel pulls his sidearm aiming at Menzi. Reluctant, the boy steps to the table, raising his hands, holding them over the General’s body. STATIC emanates from Menzi’s fingers. SPARKS of electricity snap and fire, glowing brighter between his hands and the corpse.
OREM: Father, I’d seen you perform your trick a thousand times with the dove, but, this, this was different -- It was real.
The General suddenly sits up, gasping for air. The doctor jumps back in terror. The Colonel watches in awe. Menzi crashes to the ground, collapsing, unconscious.
COL ASHDOWN: General Colley, sir?
The General sharply looks up, his eyes, hollow. His movements are strange, inhuman. He hisses at the Colonel.
COL ASHDOWN: Sir, are you alright?
The General tries to stand, but crashes to the floor. Rushing to his side, the Colonel attempts to help him -- but the General grabs hold of the Colonel, viciously attacking. The possessed General rips at the Colonel, tearing into flesh, feeding on tissue and muscle. Blood is everywhere. The doctor flees from the tent, calling for help. The Colonel’s screams transform into a hideous gargle as the General rips his throat out.
Terrified, Orem softly rises from his cot to retreat. In his haste, he trips and tumbles to the ground -- the sounds rouse the attention of the General. Frozen with fear, Orem stares into the deep, dark abyss of Collie's eyes...then, the General speaks to him in a demonic voice.
GENERAL: OREM BLACCKKKK. YOU WILLLL...FINDDDD...THE BOOOK OF AMARRR...
The doctor rushes in with soldiers, pointing at the General.
FIELD DOCTOR: Kill it!
The General’s re-animated corpse hits the ground, dead again.
OREM: Father, my calling is to find “The Book of Amar”. And despite being a phony parlor magician, surely in all your travels you must know someone who has knowledge of real magic. I ask for your guidance. It’s the least you can do to make things right between us. Yours truly, Orem.
TO BE CONTINUED…