ã€ŠDecedent Duesã€‹


 1 - Through the Painted Window

    Some say looking down on others comes naturally to the destitute¡ªthat once you¡¯re at your lowest, as desperation takes root, you will learn of the instinctive need to find someone you can point to and say: ¡°Aha! That person is worse off than me, aye!¡±

    If this is truly part of human nature, a coping mechanism or a trained behavior, no one has proven capable of backing such a claim with evidence¡ªbut all should heed how, if there were, indeed, a case study for it, should it not be that of the damned, those who¡¯ve sold their souls?

    After all, there is naught but one truth someone who shall one day burn in hell for eternity can tell themselves to sleep at night: ¡°At least I¡¯m not the poor sap the Devil¡¯s feasting on tonight!¡±

    <hr>

    Tap. Tap. Tap, tap, tap.

    ¡°Oi, Zuzen!¡± Benjamin¡¯s raspy voice joined the noise, a rotelike tapping that could be traced back to the rolled-up newspaper in his hand. From within the candlelit room, with only that small stained-glass window separating them, the man looked a shapeless shadow in the night. Had the irksome voice not been so recognizable, he would easily be mistaken for a robber or worse.

    Nikola let out a sharp sigh, pondering for the briefest moment whether anyone would believe him if he accused the man of trying to shatter his windows as the tapping grew in its intensity. Neither the building¡¯s age nor the intricate patterns upon it appear to clue Benjamin in as to its historical significance.

    Insufferable, was all his middle-aged workmate was. Had he no need for silver, Nikola would have sought alternative employment long ago. Adianoeta paid too well for him to quit over mere interpersonal relationships¡ªthe only path forward was that of resilience. Benjamin was a hassle to deal with, but they were paired off infrequently enough. Other senior employees were far from amicable, but they were bearable.

    As a particularly loud thud followed the tapping, Nikola retrieved his leather bookmark from the far end of his desk, reaching over just enough to feel his back stretch from the motion. After hours of reading, his cramping limbs required a break.

    Not that the columnist would have the opportunity to rest at any point in the near future¡ªthey¡¯d be expected to board shortly after dawn. He lived a brisk walk¡¯s distance away from the pier, which afforded him the freedom to work late. The more he got done now, the easier a time he would have upon their return. Nikola should¡¯ve had hours to himself, still, but Benjamin Best, chief photographer at Adianoeta, clearly had other plans.

    Gingerly, he closed the antique book he had been examining. Its cover, one of cloth with corners of marbled paper, was a wonder to behold¡ªit was as delicate as it was beautiful, and had to be handled with care. Well over half the pages remained unreviewed, and so, it might still prove to be the tome he sought. Not only did the time and place of its publication make it a likely candidate when it came to finding the original source Williams had cited, but it was also one of the few possibilities he had yet to see through.

    Fact-checking was not among Nikola¡¯s duties, not in any official capacity, but when you were the youngest in staff, additional tasks just had their way of ending up in your lap. Something told him he would be finding himself responsible for even more of those in the recent future.

    ¡°I¡¯m coming!¡± he shouted back with no particular intention of actually hurrying on his way out. There were matters he could plausibly need to attend to before leaving, in any case. After ensuring none of the carpet¡¯s corners were improperly folded, he watered the plants and put the fireplace out. His bed was already made, but he fluffed his pillows up again, just in case. Next up were the dining chairs, which he carefully realigned with the table before confirming nothing in the larder was spoiled.

    Once that was all done, he unenthusiastically retrieved a duster from the drawer and made a half-hearted effort at tidying up, at least superficially. His humble abode was far from outright filthy, but it was easy to mistake for uninhabited at points.

    He would no doubt be paying a premium next time he brought the maid over, judging from how many cobwebs had already sprung up, but Nikola was a busy man. That he managed to keep himself from starving between the long work hours was nothing short of a miracle, and his decency¡¯s only saving grace was that he¡¯d wisely kept the furnishings to a minimum. There was a reason why he wouldn¡¯t have guests over even if he¡¯d known anyone to invite in this city.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    Now out of excuses and with his bags¡ªor more accurately, bag¡ªalready packed, he sent himself off on the walk of shame out the townhouse he leased as residence. The door, for all it croaked, was in working order, which led him to question why Benjamin had ignored its existence in favor of threatening the wellbeing of an antique work of art.

    ¡°Here,¡± Nikola called out as he twisted the key, carpet bag in hand. He would quite rather travel light and risk finding himself forced to purchase more garments later than go over-encumbered.

    Not all were fond of the gazette¡¯s staff, and you never knew when the necessity might arise to flee for the hills.

    ¡°What took you so long, mate?¡± Benjamin asked, his voice breaking off into a scoff. His clothes were ruffled under his unbuttoned trench coat, and he chewed on an unlit cigar.

    ¡°We¡¯ve five bells before the deadline, Best,¡± Nikola made a genuine effort to keep the venom off his tone¡ªoh, this would be a long trip¡ªas he joined the other man. He didn¡¯t make a habit of letting a foul mood get one over him, but these particular circumstances put his patience to the test.

    ¡°It¡¯s proper form to be early, boy.¡±

    It took them less than a quarter of a bell to reach the pier, their walk an uneventful one through silent sidewalks, the streetlights barely enough for them to watch their step. Benjamin had nearly tripped thrice on the pavement, the stone slippery from the moist green overgrowth, which remained unidentifiable in lighting this dim. The place was seemingly empty, not one person on sight.

    ¡°I never knew you lived this close to it,¡± the older man noted, as if this were par for the course.

    Nikola gave him the side eye. ¡°I told you as much.¡±

    ¡°Eh, it¡¯s one thing to see it be true.¡±

    The younger columnist chose not to respond, instead taking in their surroundings. The boat was already there. He would have been a liar to deny the prospect of long travels above water scared him. What if a candle flipped and torched the boat, out at sea where they would have nowhere to go but down? What if a storm or a previously undiscovered sea beast crossed their path?

    As with all aspects of his employment, it all came down to the money. Nikola Zuzen was quite fond of having the coin to feed and clothe himself.

    Benjamin¡¯s attempts at small talk were met with nods¡ªNikola did not quite trust himself not to snap at the man responsible for him having to stand for hours on end. Between his time at the desk and this, he was surprised to find his legs were not spasming.

    ¡°Ah, have I erred in my instructions? If so, I apologize,¡± a voice shouted from within the boat soon after first light. A gentleman in a tailor suit skipped in their direction. As Nikola felt his eyes widen, Benjamin tipped his hat. ¡°Good day to you, boss.¡±

    The green-eyed man replied with a smile. ¡°Glad to see you made it, Ben¡ª¡±

    John Adianoeta himself will be traveling with us?

    ¡°¡ªand how thoughtful of you to bring the help! Come, boy! We¡¯ve luggage to load still!¡±

    Nikola sighed, the bubble bursting. He chose not to waste his breath explaining how he was, actually, here in his official capacity as an employee. John led him to a carriage that had been left off to the side, where half a dozen suitcases rested.

    ¡°My property has already been loaded, but it¡¯s thoughtful of Benjamin to bring someone to take care of his. We leave in half a bell, so make haste.¡±

    Nikola found himself wishing Benjamin had actually been a threat to his window¡ªat least, then, he might have been spared from the odyssey that was his presence being required here.

    He loaded the luggage, nonetheless, his ears growing warm under his long blond hair, which hung loose as to project an image of indifference¡ªthat, and it was easier to leave it be than to keep up with whichever hairstyles were popular this season.

    ¡°That will be all,¡± John Adianoeta dismissed him, and that was what it took for Nikola to speak up.

    ¡°Sir, I work for you. The name¡¯s Nikola Zuzen, junior columnist with The Adianoeta Gazette?¡±

    ¡°¡­Oh. Forgive me¡ªyou must understand I haven¡¯t the time to memorize the faces of all new hires.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s understandable, sir. I¡¯ve only been in your employ for three years.¡±

    They stood in uneasy silence for a moment that stretched on forever. John turned to the side, seeking the swiftest path that would take him inside. He glanced at Nikola from the corner of his eye. ¡°After you?¡±

    Nikola suppressed a sigh.

    This is going to be a long, long trip.

 2 - And Into Perilous Seas

    The final meal afforded to him before they arrived on their destination would have consisted of a plain salad, soggy lettuce and limp sliced carrots. Nothing less, nothing more, had he not taken matters into his own hands. As the gazette could seemingly not be bothered to make arrangements for the trio to get an assigned time to eat at the restaurant, they¡¯d opted for surviving purely off room service. By the time Nikola made it to any meal¡ªno matter how early he was¡ªtheir private buffet was nearly empty.

    He had his suspicions, and those suspicions involved Benjamin¡¯s recent weight gain. It would have been comical, had the greens not been far too foul to actually consume. He wondered how likely it might be that the staff hadn¡¯t bothered to check its freshness.

    Nikola tried not to think much about it as he slipped into the cafeteria that catered to the third class passengers. It was brimming with activity at all hours, and the odors were only slightly pungent. It didn¡¯t hurt that he¡¯d been sneaking down here almost every day, and not once had he been admonished. Luck, it seemed, remained firmly on his favor, and he once again succeeded at fending off starvation.

    Here, they served salted pollock and fritters, which was just fine by him¡ªit certainly beat the dubious meals his boss and workmate indulged in. Soggy salads were hardly a redeeming quality. He had no qualms about this food of supposedly lower caliber, not when it kept his belly full and grumble-free.

    ¡°What troubles ya, boy?¡± an elderly lady took the seat next to his, cramped as this dining area was. She smelled of fish and of the flowery perfume that failed to drown the first scent out. Having to sit this close to strangers would have been his only complaint about this particular cafeteria. ¡°Hmph! Ya look as though ya¡¯ve sucked on a lemon.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s just my natural appearance, I¡¯m afraid,¡± Nikola assured her, though he had an inkling his expression of disappointment was not particularly convincing. ¡°My mother did always bemoan I did not turn out as handsome as my brother.¡±

    ¡°She should get her eyes checked, then,¡± the woman shrugged, biting into a whole fish¡ªskin and all¡ªas her frail hands gripped it. She eyed his outfit, which bore The Adianoeta Gazette¡¯s pin, and scowled before speaking between bites. ¡°Ya¡¯re one of those reporters disembarking in Adia, are ya not? The ones that announced the visit to the Adianoetas?¡±

    Considering this for a moment, Nikola nodded. There was no harm in confirming it, as an avid denial would likely have the opposite effect.

    ¡°Terrible,¡± the elder shook her head. ¡°Ya lot should go literally anywhere else, boy. There are tales everywhere, and ya needn¡¯t risk life and limb for this one.¡±

    He watched her carefully, unsure as to whether she struck him as a madwoman or simply superstitious¡ªplenty of people still held on to the archaic belief that the whole of Adia was a land of ill omens, and she was starting to sound like one of those types.

    ¡°Ya should know,¡± she leaned closer, her next words a whisper. ¡°Yer boss¡¯s family are monsters. Monsters, say I, and say all.¡±

    Those were the last words she spoke, and neither made an effort to resume the conversations or exchange names. Nikola left¡ªhe was as nonplussed as he was curious.

    How had she known?

    John Adianoeta was the type to bring publicity to every action he took, but the knowledge that even random individuals in third class knew about their trip caught him off-guard. Nikola himself had been instructed to keep quiet, as the news that one photographer would be allowed in might tempt others to try their luck.

    As for the Adianoetas themselves, they were popular among the upper classes and disliked by common folk. Such was the nature of old families, those so deeply ingrained in society that they were seen as something closer to monolithic entities than groups composed of individuals.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    Their age was a factor in the planning of this trip¡ªthe 200th anniversary of their first patriarch¡¯s death was upon them, and a celebration was scheduled to take place the very night of their arrival. Though their fortune came from the sale of their family¡¯s most tightly-kept secret¡ªtheir recipe for longevity¡ªnone save the family themselves had benefited enough to have both witnessed his death and still stand here today. It was said they somehow had access to a veritable fountain of youth.

    Fifty years had passed since the last such event, and the camera had not been invented, then. This was the first time this would even be possible, and for all his faults, Benjamin did have the capabilities that befit one who would be the first to not only capture the family¡¯s dealings, but to commit them to a format the public would see. It helped that The Adianoeta Gazette was among the few publications that could easily support the inclusion of images. There would be some editorializing on John¡¯s part, no doubt, but this had all been arranged far too neatly for the family not to intend to use the gazette¡¯s reach to their benefit.

    The newspaper¡¯s founder was among the youngest of the family, a mere forty years old compared to its supercentenarians, but he must have had his uses, or so Nikola supposed. That was how that kind of people saw each other¡ªin a transactional manner, despite the shared blood.

    There was something about such families that felt oddly sanitized to him. From an outside perspective, they looked more like businesses than anything else. Having had the misfortune to be left to interview one such group two years ago¡ªalbeit from a much more minor and forgettable family¡ªNikola was all too aware of that.

    By some miracle, he was not saddled with the task of unloading the luggage upon their arrival. He momentarily wondered whether his boss and workmate had forgotten he had been under orders to come along for the ride.

    He found them near a convoy of carriages, where John stood speaking with a woman who carried an embroidered umbrella. Her dress was voluminous, its sleeves long, and not a single ray of sunlight was allowed to mar her skin. Rouge colored her lips and cheeks, her expression one that would have belonged in an editorial cartoon.

    He would not have expected to see Maria Adianoeta, of all people, greeting them upon their arrival. As their founder¡¯s widow, she was all but officially their matriarch¡ªonly their oldfashioned views kept them from acknowledging that. ¡°Ah, you¡¯ve a photographer solely in your employ so soon?¡±

    ¡°Benjamin is a man of many talents, grandmother,¡± John explained. ¡°But for our purposes, he will suffice.¡±

    ¡°Oi, boss,¡± the older man actually appeared offended. ¡°None save me have managed to earn the certificate.¡±

    ¡°That much is true,¡± their boss conceded.

    ¡°And who would this young man be?¡± Maria Adianoeta turned to face Nikola, and as she flashed him a smile, a chill ran down his spine. She appeared to notice this. ¡°Jittery, are we?¡±

    ¡°A pleasure to meet you, madam,¡± Nikola replied, as she had addressed him directly. He¡¯d have avoided speaking until someone introduced him, otherwise.

    And that was exactly what Benjamin Best did next. ¡°Ah, that¡¯s Zuzen. Young buck, a columnist with us. He¡¯s here to help me with my notes¡ªmy time¡¯s going to be better spent elsewhere.¡±

    ¡°Aye,¡± John Adianoeta agreed with an uncharacteristically light tone. ¡°This will be a night to remember, I believe.¡±

    ¡°That, it will be,¡± Maria Adianoeta nodded, stepping closer. ¡°Grandson, dear. Bring your men to the estate before sunset, so that we may have not the need to guide anyone after dark. I would very much prefer not to stretch the staff thin at a time like this.¡±

    ¡°I shall, grandmother,¡± John outright bowed to the other woman, the gesture one out of time.

    Nikola couldn¡¯t recall the last time he¡¯d seen anyone use that traditional bow to an elder.

    ¡°Benjamin, dear,¡± Maria Adianoeta started, allowing the photographer to kiss her hand under the shade. ¡°Stay close to my grandson. I¡¯ll have the details reach you soon¡ªeverything must be perfect, and the sooner you¡¯re ready, the better for us all.¡±

    Nikola couldn¡¯t help but notice that had not been a request¡ªit as an order.

    The matriarch¡¯s eyes landed on him next, once again triggering those shivers as their gazes met. ¡°Zuzen, was it? You seem educated enough, dear. My youngest is an aspiring novelist. You will attend to her, and advise her in her work. Once the time comes, you may join the celebrations.¡±

 3 - Where the Dead Sleep

    Where he might have otherwise worried over the impropriety of being assigned a room next to quarters of a young woman his age, Nikola felt only concern.

    Clarisse Adianoeta spoke as swiftly as a locomotive, having wasted no time unlocking the doors that connected both chambers. Where the ones granted to him, had been well-appointed, hers was the epitome of luxury. Each piece of furniture bore such details that the thought of using them for their intended purpose might as well have been blasphemy.

    All that, in contrast to the room¡¯s owner.

    ¡°So,¡± the gentlewoman all but slammed her wooden pointing stick against the board, touching a sketch she had unceremoniously nailed to it. Not for a second did Nikola doubt the hammering was all her work¡ªshe seemed the type. ¡°I made it clear that the dragon would be at the top of the mountain, though I have yet to name either it or its dwelling. No better first foe for the heroes to face, that a thing of legend, to truly test their mettle!¡±

    She could have been no older than thirty, had her appearance been something he could take at face value.

    ¡°This way, their later struggles become more believable,¡± Clarisse continued. ¡°For all they may be dragonslayers, bandits can serve as a source of conflict for them. Think of the internal conflict, the emotional turmoil! Slaying their fellow humans should be a whole different beast than slaying a literal beast.¡±

    For his part, Nikola tried to put some honest effort into the task assigned at him¡ªthough none could force enthusiasm out of him, he still tried to deliver a job well done. ¡°Might I ask, what led you to choose this approach, as opposed to starting them off with a weaker opponent and slowly building up to the dragon as a final antagonist?¡±

    ¡°I would much prefer to break conventions,¡± Clarisse admitted. ¡°Tell me¡ªwere you to find yourself among the audience, would you prefer the events to proceed as countless others have, or would you prefer to be surprised?¡±

    ¡°While I believe I would personally be amenable to a surprise, you must be aware that the audience will always walk in with certain expectations,¡± Nikola argued. ¡°Innovation may yet fall short of satisfying them, when they would not expect your work to stray from the norm.¡±

    ¡°Yet I would rather not be one among many, Zuzen,¡± she addressed him as he had been introduced to her, for no one along the chain of communication had considered Benjamin hadn¡¯t even deigned to use his full name. ¡°My heroes will be introduced through their slaying of a dragon, and the people shall love it!¡±

    This had been bound to be a long evening even before he¡¯d come to learn just how stubborn the youngest Adianoeta was.

    ¡°Well, have you considered showing the finished work to a limited audience first, and utilizing whichever feedback they may provide to decide what the best course of action is?¡±

    ¡°As if!¡± Clarisse scoffed, flaring her ornate paper fan. ¡°They would take my ideas and run! Or worse yet, spoil it for everyone else!¡±

    ¡°Can you not make contracts for that, then? Forbid them from revealing anything more than necessary?¡±

    Though Nikola was unfamiliar with the exact details, he knew it was possible. Truly binding contracts were difficult to procure for reasons lost to him¡ªpresumably, it as something about the rarity of the requisite materials¡ªbut the Adianoetas were not lacking in resources.

    Clarisse stilled, her pointing stick and fan freezing as well. She lowered them soon after, just at her eyes lit up with a spark that was nothing short of terrifying.

    ¡°Yes, yes. Brilliant. I can hardly believe it, but this might have not been the waste of time I expected it to be¡­¡± Abruptly, she locked eyes with him, her gaze crazed. ¡°Zuzen! Come with me! I shall draft a contract then show you my current work! I¡¯ll then grant you the honor of being my first reader, and if we mesh well, perhaps even a cowriter.¡±

    Pardon? ¡°Miss, I am afraid that would be most inappropriate on my part, were I to agree,¡± Nikola started. ¡°I am here as an official of The Adianoeta Gazette, to aid our photographer in doing what is required of him. I cannot¡ª¡±

    ¡°Did my mother not command you to aid me?¡±

    Nikola sucked in a deep breath. ¡°That, she did.¡±

    ¡°Then aid me you shall!¡±You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    Clarisse all but lunged forward, her hand wrapping around his wrist so tightly he felt her nails come just close of sinking into his skin. She must have been stronger than any woman and most men he knew, for she yanked him in her direction as she started making for the door, and Nikola found he could do nothing but watch his shoes skid as he reflexively tried to keep her from dragging him behind her.

    Within, he was of two minds. Instinct told him to resist, to not let her act in this manner, while years worth of education and further training told him not to refute the high-status gentlewoman.

    Either option seemed equally unappealing, and soon enough, the window for a choice closed as Clarisse shoved him between two bookcases as she fiddled with the contents of one, just beyond his sight.

    ¡°Miss Adianoeta!¡± Nikola hissed out¡ªagainst his wishes, it bore not a pleading tone but one of admonishment, and eyes with pinprick pupils burned into him.

    ¡°Quiet,¡± she commanded with a whisper, and as when her mother had put him up to this, he found the weight of it to be irresistible, leaving no room for argument.

    The wall on his back gave, his mouth opening for a gasp that never came. Clarisse resumed her stride as the wall sealed like a door shut behind him, still holding on to his wrist as she made him follow her down the incline.

    A scent he could not quite name assaulted his nostrils¡ªsomething like mildew, dust, rot. They arrived upon a tunnel of sandstone, every nook and cranny illuminated by candlelight so steady it must have been lit mere moments ago.

    Where are we?, Nikola sought to ask. The realization that neither his lips nor tongue would obey struck him like a blow to the gut.

    He writhed weakly, then, for a mere instant before Clarisse pulled him past the threshold where the path widened, into a circular room topped by a grate. Groves and niches were carved into intricate panels, no wall left unmarred. Off-white shapes peeked from within. At the center, a small structure¡ªa cross between a well and an altar¡ªstood, with candles and parchment placed precariously upon its edges.

    ¡°Just how I left it,¡± she said, sounding pleased as her lips twisted. She let go of him then, leaving him to roam as one might let fenced-in cattle prance around a field. ¡°Good, good.¡±

    Clarisse changed the placement of the ink pot on the strange choice of surface, presumably to match her preferences. Quill in hand, she began to write.

    Nikola, as stunned as he was numb, tried his best to wander. It only took a few steps for him to get close enough to the wall to find numerous empty eye sockets looking back at him amid a sea of bones.

    In lieu of the scream denied to him, he jumped back with such force that he hit the central structure, eliciting a sigh from Clarisse.

    ¡°Ugh, young men. You are all like this,¡± she bemoaned. ¡°Always so quick to blow things out of proportion. Fret not¡ªI know now that I¡¯ve need of someone to handle this for me. I¡¯ll inform my mother of that. Just one less person won¡¯t make that much of a difference.¡±

    Frantically, he examined the room. He could think of no way to exit save for where they came from, and he did not trust his chances at somehow getting past that hidden door. Still, he could not stay here. His panic must have struck a chord, as Clarisse let out an exasperated sigh from where she leaned, having a clear view of the room and its sole exit.

    ¡°Speak. Is this about being the here and now?¡± Clarisse asked, looking up. Faint moonlight shone through the gate, somehow reflecting on her face despite the fierce candlelight beneath. ¡°No, you wouldn¡¯t know. But no matter. We can come to an arrangement. I can have you returned to your quarters, or someplace in the city¡ªwe own most of it, anyway. You will work for me as discussed, but you needn¡¯t see any of this, if you so wish.¡±

    ¡°Miss Adianoeta, I have agreed to none of this,¡± Nikola said through gritted teeth as he found the capacity to speak returned to him as if it had never felt. The tension in the air was so palpable he could hardly move, feeling as though she were holding him in place with her gaze.

    Clarisse eyed him. ¡°Who do you think you are, to disrespect me so as to act as if you can deny me?¡±

    She reached forward, over the well, and gathered all his hair in one fell swoop, pulling him closer as his scalp burned. Crystalline waters filled his vision, less than an arm¡¯s length away from his face. They shifted as if something alive were in them. So abrupt was the yank that she flinched from the whiplash of the motion just as bent knees slammed against the opposite side of the well, and tipped the ink pot over the binding contract she had been drafting. Her features twisted in fury.

    ¡°It is far from the first time I¡¯ve been gifted a young guest to do with as I please, and it shan¡¯t be the last,¡± Clarisse said as though that were the most normal sentence in the world. ¡°You should count yourself lucky that what I require for you is assistance and not blood.¡±

    She is insane, Nikola realized as she let go of him, leaving him to just barely manage to hang on without falling into the well, dazed by the pounding in his head. He¡¯d thought her eccentric upon their recent meeting, but he could never have foreseen this. As he blinked away the tears and once again caught sight of the veritable catacombs around them, confusion and dread still ran rampant within him.

    As Clarisse began a draft anew, it struck him that he might easily become another set of scattered bones down here. His limbs strained, the effort of holding on growing to be too much, splayed as she¡¯d left him just over the waters.

    He lacked both the strength to endure much longer and the finesse to somehow shift away without falling. His chest tightened¡ªwhether this was brought about by his position or his growing horror, he hadn¡¯t the faintest clue.

    Nikola¡¯s pants grew more frantic¡ªhe could hardly breathe.

    The start of a shout left Clarisse¡¯s lips, but he couldn¡¯t catch the meaning of the noise, not when even the frightfully speedy Adianoeta was swift enough to reach him before he hit the water.

 4 - Blood on the Water

    There are a numbered few experiences as peaceful as coming just short of learning what it means to drow, once the fight is over and that smooth serenity has seeped into every part of you.

    Nikola fought. He wrestled against the formless weight above him, yet his hands could never break the surface. It remained firmly beyond grasp, each movement as useless as slapping air. His legs fared similarly, kicking helplessly as he flopped around, unable to right himself or get any closer to precious air.

    Vaguely, he recognized it was as if something were pulling him down, like a lover¡¯s embrace around his midsection.

    There was nothing there, yet he flailed aimlessly, never rising nor sinking further.

    His lungs burned, his throat tense, and it wasn¡¯t long until an involuntary gasp sealed his fate. A singular, large gulp of icy water forced its way down his throat, and he spasmed, searing pain tearing through his chest until it, too, grew cold.

    There was no use in struggling, not anymore¡ªNikola stilled, not allowing himself to float so much as simply surrendering. That the act left him gently adrift in the water was mere coincidence.

    Overhead, he could see flickers of light, the spectrum of candlelit oranges and something silvery beyond.

    But above all, one thought rose to the forefront of his mind¡ªif he gave in, everything would be fine. There would be neither pain nor fear where he was going.

    Only the pleasant ataraxis of becoming one with the world.

    Nikola¡¯s eyelids fluttered shut, the soothing coolness caressing his skin as time seemed to come to a halt. One second, he felt peace¡ªin the next, simple nothingness.

    A dull pressure tore past his spine, like a claw latching on to his navel. Smaller points, like swift blows, hit his body elsewhere, and his mouth contorted into a gasp without air, his writhing too weak to be meaningful.

    Still, he caught blurry sight of his forearms as his eyes snapped open, unmarred despite the sensation that had just ripped through them. Distantly, he had expected he would learn he was now little more than a mangled corpse, yet he found he was entirely unhurt¡ªall of a sudden, his perspective of the world shifted, and he was propelled upwards as innumerable tendrils of ash-gray rose all around him.

    Nikola choked, the water forced from his lungs as more wisps of shadow pierced him, visible now as they had not been under the waterline. He had yet to bleed regardless.

    Pinned as the well appeared to become the narrow end of a funnel, he could only watch as those tendrils panned further out, coming to a stop on the edges of the grate above. Each shadow was immovable, holding his body in place. Struggling felt unnaturally painless, his flesh simply held in place instead of being shredded against the dark threads.

    At some point, he grew aware of his chest moving¡ªup, down. The coughing subsided, followed by some of the most satisfying breaths he had ever drawn in. A pleasant tingling spread through him, and his ears popped.

    Voices grew loud enough for him to hear, coming from everywhere and nowhere, yet so clear they might as well have been whispered by his neck.

    ¡°So you tried to get your new assistant out, only to kill him anyway?¡± the voice sounded like and reminded him of that of Maria Adianoeta. ¡°When did I teach you to be so wasteful?¡±

    His brain had turned to mush, and it remained that way.

    ¡°I begged of it to return him to me, but it would not.¡±

    Nikola wondered who or what they could possibly have been talking about. ¡°Because it eats everything it gets its claws on within the instant, you fool!¡±

    What a strange family.

    Something akin to sleep covered him like a blanket once again, the unconventional restraints being the only thing that kept him from curling in on himself, then and there.

    The last he heard of the matriarch¡¯s voice reached his ears like a whisper carried by breeze. ¡°And to think, I had wondered if he noticed me. I wished to know what his blood could do for our senses.¡±

    For an indeterminate amount of time, he hovered like this, teetering between awareness and something else. Nikola sighed the next time he felt himself grow fully awake, the scene above the grate playing out with impossible clarity. Before his tingling eyes, feet shuffled, their movements through the uneven surface cautious.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    ¡°Boss, you sure this is the best spot?¡±

    ¡°It is. Worry not¡ªwe aren¡¯t the only guests who will end up here.¡±

    ¡°Whatever you say, boss.¡±

    There was something familiar about the voices involved in the exchange, but they were soon drowned out by others, as the area above them became more populated¡ªthe second speaker¡¯s assessment had been accurate, after all.

    Nikola almost drifted away again, only for the scrape of something against metal to catch his attention. It was a strange state to find himself in, as if only motion and sound sufficed for him to return to reality. He barely felt like a person anymore¡ªonly reacting to stimuli, watching what transpired above, enabled him to evade the allure of thoughtless sleep.

    ¡°I must rejoin my grandmother at once. Wait here, for I shall return soon,¡± it was a voice he recognized that spoke. John¡­ John Adianoeta.

    Even reaching that conclusion felt like sifting through murky waters.

    Nikola blinked, for the first time making an attempt to remain conscious. It was as arduous as his struggle within the well, draining him not only physically but in a way he could not parse, but he held on until the moment a horn blared across reality itself, filling him with energy as the fog lifted once again. For the time being, whatever kept trying to keep him dull appeared to back off.

    And that was when it hit him.

    The altercation with Clarisse Adianoeta as she dragged him to the hidden catacombs. The bizarre well. The ruined contract.

    Drowning, for he certainly had.

    Now he laid pierced by what looked the part of a treetop, shadowy branches curling up towards the edges of the grate as his body remained near the center, the well under him. Though he could not see it, something told Nikola the waters remained unblocked beneath.

    Waiting.

    Why would the waters be waiting?

    An ear-shattering scream tore from a woman¡¯s throat just above, a mess of hair and fabric hitting the ground. Strands dangled through the grate, and crimson droplets fell like tears. Shouts replaced her eternal silence within an instant, a cacophony that lit the spark necessary for Nikola¡¯s struggles to commence anew.

    He writhed against the ashen shadows, knowing full well that there was nothing he could do to free himself. Only then did the absent wounds begin to ache, as if they were scrapping at his insides with his twisting.

    That only fueled his desperation further.

    Throughout his life, Nikola Zuzen had been little more than a doormat. An unfavorite son, and the last choice for every job he ever applied to. It was true that he had failed to put himself out there, that he had erred in the side of meekness when some assertiveness might have taken him further, but it had seemed the safer path at the time. He would rather make neither enemies nor friends if it guaranteed him he could at least subsist.

    Now, he wished he had quit this job. He wished he had come up with an excuse to avoid the trip he had never wanted to go on in the first place. That he had turned down this task, that he had said ¡®no¡¯ at any point along the way.

    Now, all his efforts were fruitless, and he was about to die, trapped by some unregistered monstrosity in the Adianoetas¡¯ catacombs.

    ¡°Rejoice!¡± Maria Adianoeta¡¯s voice and its rich timbre broke through the shouting and his reverie alike, impossible to miss. ¡°Edmund, we bring you home tonight, at last!¡±

    The tendrils twisted, and Nikola gasped. It tickled and itched, anything but painful, yet each motion was excruciating. They shifted in size and width, their grip on the grate tightening at points, new coils surrounding the bars.

    More metal against metal. Nikola could see footsteps, trampling, running. People were fleeing, and some were falling. He did not catch sight of Benjamin, nor did he identify his voice amid the chaos.

    A bearded man hit the ground, his teeth bared. Blood poured from the wound in his throat as he flailed like a fish torn from the water, until his body stilled.

    Crimson pooled, covering the tendrils. It sunk into them, and soon, they were dry again.

    Nikola found he felt greed emanating from them, the air thick with it.

    One impossibility after the next.

    And that man was not the last to fall. Others joined him, their number growing by the second, until the chamber grew pitch black, the bodies packed so tightly that they kept all light from reaching the room with the well.

    The stench of copper and iron would have made him gap, under other circumstances, but Nikola found himself numbed.

    Of all ways to go out, he supposed a family from the highest echelons choosing to sacrifice their guests during the celebration was one in which he could count himself blameless. He could have avoided coming here, but as he had not, there was nothing he could do.

    There was something liberating, about the finality of that.

    The helplessness, and the acceptance.

    Eventually, the screaming died down. Only Maria Adianoeta¡¯s graceful laughter echoed through the dark.

    ¡°I call upon you, benefactor. Come to me, Edmund!¡± she roared. ¡°Come to us, Edmund!¡±

    The room caught alight then, each tendril now a glowing, crystalline red. It looked closer to an artistic depiction of a tree than anything else.

    Nikola couldn¡¯t tell if it had blinded him for what little remained of his life, as the sight burned itself into his vision and somehow brightened further, until all he could see was searing red and all he could feel was the cold of death. The matriarch¡¯s voice resounded once more.

    ¡°Edmund, dear! Tell us, my love¡ªhow do we refill the fountain of youth?¡±

 5 - King Takes Queen

    Praised be the one who came before,

    Who set foot in this foreign land,

    Took us from the crudity of yore,

    And granted us eternity¡¯s brand.

    <hr>

    ¡°What have you done?¡±

    It was an airy voice, deep yet delicate. It bore an accent that could not be place, and each syllable he uttered carried with it a reverb that was not of this world¡ªand it appeared out of breath, despite how it could not possibly have need for such things.

    ¡°Edmund, my love,¡± Maria Adianoeta repeated, her tone high-pitched. Though she did not falter in her words, there was something off about them, as if some cracked the flawlessness Nikola had attributed to her composure from the moment he met her.

    From that sea of bright red, Nikola could tell little else. A part of him remained more than slightly baffled by the fact that he still lived at all. Unable to move as he was, he could not even examine his current condition in full.

    ¡°We called upon you, arranged this feast, for that which you warned us about came to pass,¡± the matriarch spoke in an uncharacteristically soft tone. ¡°We took and took as time went by, and so the fountain¡¯s waters dried¡­ All we had left was the founding well, and so I implore¡ª¡±

    ¡°You took and took, when told not to, yet still believe you¡¯ve right to ask for more?¡± Edmund Adianoeta¡¯s voice echoed like thunder.

    Nikola had never witnessed such an event firsthand¡ªstrictly speaking, blind as he was, he still had not. But much as with the kind of human sacrifice that must have transpired above, it was the type of thing only spoken of in hushed whispers, and within the pages of history books.

    Few books condoned it, either.

    ¡°Husband, my love. It was simply not enough. Two centuries have passed, since you went on to the next life. And so we sought, to renew the vow. That of which you spoke, to me. The vow in blood and life.¡±

    ¡°A vow signed in blood and life for a reason, woman!¡± the presumptive ghost screeched inelegantly, neither patriarch nor matriarch painting the picture of a happy marriage anymore. ¡°You¡¯ve ruined it, ruined us!¡±

    ¡°Edmund, my love! We planned carefully! We spilled as much blood, and more!¡±

    The late patriarch, for his part, startef muttering something. His already unintelligible words devolved into droning whispers.

    ¡°No, no, no!¡± he bemoaned over and over.

    Abruptly, something snapped, and the very world shook. Somebody screamed.

    Nikola blinked. The red light dimmed ever so slightly. He caught sight of a shape¡ªa tendril¡ªgoing limp, its grip on the grate severed.

    Others followed, and someone shouted after Edmund.

    ¡°Stop him!¡±

    ¡°¡­Stop the patriarch, madam?¡±

    ¡°Yes, stop the patriarch, you useless dunce!¡±

    As some of the tendrils that had pierced Nikola fell far enough to drape over his limbs, he felt the impossible weight of them. A moment later, they started wiggling, and the light went out in full.

    They began to withdraw.

    Each shadow left a burning sensation in its wake, the startling absence of them making something within him still¡ªsomething as primal as it was irrational overflowed with panic at the weakening connection to the thing in the well.

    He felt himself be shaken like prey gripped by a beast¡¯s maw, side to side, until only the first of the shadows to tear into him remained.

    When it was yanked down, the tendril went taut.

    It did not slip free.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    Again, it was pulled, as if by a deliberate force that sought to remove it. Each pull grew harsher, each more violent than the last, until each started bringing soreness and eventually pain.

    A burning spread from his navel to his heart, worsening with each attempt the tendril made at dislodging itself.

    When he hit the water again, Nikola found he almost welcomed it.

    The last shadow disappeared, folding in on itself. Altogether, the pressure was gone, although discomfort lingered where he¡¯d bordered on agony seconds before.

    He panted¡ªsomehow, his grip found purchase on the stones of the well, and nothing prevented him from pulling himself out.

    It was almost too easy to lift himself with one hand, but Nikola thought little of it as he collapsed on the ground, gasping for air. He patted away at his own body without care, searching for any wound or tender spot. Upon finding none, his confusion deepened, but he¡¯d little time to dwell upon it, now.

    Clarisse was nowhere to be seen. He was alone, save for the soft glow of the well, and a weight that would not leave him. There was no guarantee this would remain the case for much longer.

    He pressed his hands against the floor in an effort to stand, and seeing as that didn¡¯t fail, he pushed further, almost hopping to his feet. The motion smudged the ash on the ground, he noticed. Water dripped from his soaked clothes and hair.

    Though he landed with surprising grace, Nikola stumbled, still out of sorts. A circle had been drawn in ash around the well, a shape shrouded by tightly-packed symbols he knew not the meaning for.

    He gave the room a quick glance as if expecting something else to have changed, finding the catacombs less intimidating. Spilled ink marred the outer sides of the well, now. Like an illusion broken, the room lacked an edge now, tainted by newfound mundanity. As if whatever made it so suffocating before had left.

    There was no time to waste, no mistakes he could afford. If he wanted to live¡ªabsurd as it was that he¡¯d made it this far¡ªhe had to get out of here. As he moved towards the exit, the oddly specific sensation of two icy pinpricks on his back struck him.

    Nikola turned, gritting his teeth. Choler he could not place rose through him like bile, soon to withdraw.

    ¡°So it wishes to leave,¡± the ghost of Edmund Adianoeta stood there. His appearance proved the famous paintings of him to be remarkably accurate, but the whole of him seemed dulled somehow. Not entirely colorless, but strangely desaturated. His face was slack with death and his eyes gleamed a pale blue, no sclera on sight. ¡°I suppose that is fair.¡±

    The ghost of the patriarch of the Adianoeta family was standing before Nikola. A ghost stood before Nikola.

    A pang of curiosity hit him¡ªthe part of him that truly loved being a columnist yet constantly got tasked with anything but writing soared within¡ªand Nikola grit his teeth.

    He was done putting all others above himself, even if it meant putting his curiosity aside, denying himself all the questions he would have loved to ask.

    ¡°Wait!¡± Edmund Adianoeta¡¯s ghost called out from behind him as Nikola picked up the pace. The narrow path was blessedly straight, no detours to distract him. It would lead him back the way he¡¯d come, or so he hoped.

    As he came upon the familiar wall, Nikola placed a palm against it. How was he meant to open this? Seeing as the Adianoetas were clearly involved with the occult, that brought forth countless possibilities Nikola knew neither start nor end to.

    ¡°Wait! Please!¡± the ghost¡¯s voice had an edge to it, his words delivered with such a genuine pleading tone that Nikola could not stand himself from looking over his shoulder.

    He was surprised to see he had outrun the ghost, and seemingly by far.

    ¡°What?¡± Nikola snapped. The edge to his own voice caught him off-guard, and he flinched. Ever since he¡¯d fled the well, something felt¡­ different.

    ¡°I can show you the way,¡± Edmund Adianoeta¡¯s form said, hesitance seeming to cross those translucent features. ¡°This place was mine to command, long before it was anyone else¡¯s.¡±

    ¡°I do not doubt that,¡± Nikola conceded, his eyes narrowing. He kept his hand against the wall, steadying himself, as if it would help. ¡°I cannot understand why you would offer, however.¡±

    ¡°To keep the peace,¡± the ghost said after a pause. It hovered in place, the image of it flickering as if swaying in the breeze. ¡°To keep the ire from myself and my family, if that ship has not yet sailed.¡±

    Nikola scowled, making no effort to hide his befuddlement. He had been somewhat nonplussed to learn the family¡¯s founding couple did not appear to be in the same page, as far as these dealings of them were. But it had been Maria Adianoeta that brought him and Benjamin here¡ªit had been her who arranged for the massacre tonight.

    Benjamin is likely dead. He was unsure as to whether he had any strong feelings about that. Years of pushing everything he thought or felt aside in favor of simply getting through the day formed a habit that would take more than one near-death experience to break free from, Nikola supposed.

    How much longer would it take, he wondered, for Clarisse or the matriarch herself to notice he still lived? It would surely take them little time to check on the well¡ªit had clearly played a part in whichever ritual they had sacrificed their guests for.

    Nikola flinched as that dull pressure returned, pulsing by the center of him, but only for a second.

    He met the ghost¡¯s glowing gaze, inhaling deeply. ¡°Lead the way, then, ghost of Edmund Adianoeta.¡±

 6 - For Fear of Pursuit

    Change has always been an inevitable force. From one moment to the next, a place could become unrecognizable. Anything from a natural disaster to poor d¨¦cor choices could play the part of catalyst there, and this only compounded with the passage of time.

    A day, a month, a year. The more time stood between one version and the next, the likelier it was for changes to have occurred.

    Two centuries.

    That much had passed since Edmund Adianoeta had walked the Earth.

    And unfortunately for his ghost, it showed.

    ¡°It was this exact crack, I swear,¡± the ghost fumbled, forcing his ethereal fingers into an imperfection in the wall. ¡°This was the latch, on this side!¡±

    Had it not been for the absurdity of it, Nikola might have had the energy to be outraged.

    ¡°What need could you possibly have for a mechanism so thoroughly concealed?¡± he asked of the decedent before him, despite having a fairly good idea of the answers¡ªoccultists were all like that, so concerned for discovery, even when none of their acts broke laws.

    For all some shunned it, there was nothing strictly wrong with partaking in magical pursuits¡ªit was when blood was spilled that problems arose, for crossing certain lines always came at a cost.

    ¡°This is the path that leads¡ª that led to that which I¡­ prepared my mother¡¯s well for. No expense could be spared, no detail too complex, not when I could not afford for any to stumble upon it,¡± the ghost¡¯s response was blatant in its omission of key details. ¡°Maria found it, regardless. I¡¯d planned for them to rely on simply making offerings through the grate, for I took all steps necessary to make it close to unbreakable. Even to the likes of them, of us.¡±

    ¡°You meant for your family to be doing this?¡± Nikola hissed out. Where he doubted he¡¯d ever get the chance¡ªor have the spine to¡ªconfront someone like Maria, something about the ghost¡¯s initial deference increased his willingness to speak up now.

    ¡°For eternal life, who would not?¡± Edmund Adianoeta counted. ¡°This should have lasted us thousands of years, for the thing in the well was keeping the fountain¡¯s waters in order! It was sustainable. Squandering my gift is what got us here!¡±

    Nikola¡¯s hands had gone to his hips. ¡°Pardon¡ªsustainable? Your family¡¯s famed fountain of youth was fueled by sacrificing people!¡±

    ¡°What else would this famed fountain have been fueled by?¡±

    ¡°I know not,¡± Nikola admitted. He tipped his head, considering this. ¡°Alchemy?¡±

    ¡°You must know nothing of alchemy, to be thinking that,¡± the ghost scoffed. At no point had it stopped its attempts at unlocking the exit.

    Nikola had to concede there. It was admittedly a concept he had not studied in depth¡ªhe knew nothing beyond the basics all with an outside perspective did. He knew not its limits, let alone how far it could be pushed. Perhaps he had erred, in blindly trusting the common belief that this was somehow how the family attained their longevity. That it must have been alchemy, their secrets well-kept to justify how none save them had ever achieved such a feat.

    ¡°So it was the taking of lives, not a secret recipe. All this time. ¡­How?¡±

    ¡°Curious as to how it¡¯s done, are we?¡± the ghost shot him a glance, actually grinning for a moment before its expression returned to one furrowed in concentration. ¡°I might tell you sometime, if that will please it.¡±

    ¡°All things considered, you are more forthcoming than I would have expected, given the circumstances,¡± Nikola noted. ¡°Though I shall be the first to say, said circumstances are anything but comprehensible.¡±

    ¡°I spoke in earnest, of my desire to keep the peace. I would do everything in my power to keep its ire from me and mine, despite their indiscretions.¡±

    That had been the second time Nikola had noticed the late patriarch¡¯s ghost speaking of this nebulous it, some adversarial force in this conundrum. He found little option but to interpret that vagueness as willful obfuscation, not that he could do anything about it. Besides, the ghost¡¯s fear of whatever it spoke of appeared to be behind its willingness to offer its aid to Nikola.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    What he could, however, do, was point out the obvious. ¡°Are you not the ghost of Edmund Adianoeta?¡±

    ¡°That, I am.¡±

    ¡°Then would it not be within your power to simply go through the wall and open it from the other side?¡±

    In fact, common knowledge dictated that it was far more taxing for ghosts to interact with the corporeal than it would be for them to move as if it bothered them. He would have expected the ghost of a famous occultist to have thought of this.

    The ghost stilled, shaking its head. Rather than address Nikola¡¯s suggestion, it took a step forward, then another. It left the room unimpeded, and within seconds, the wall gave.

    Nikola made an honest effort not to give Edmund Adianoeta the side eye.

    ¡°We must make haste. I will guide you through the gardens,¡± the ghost started. He began to point in various directions, settling for a casement window nearby, perpendicular to the bookshelves. ¡°Here.¡±

    ¡°You better not be wasting my time, George.¡±

    At the voice¡¯s increasing volume, both beleaguered columnist and trepidant ghost flinched. Footsteps could be heard, and they were getting closer.

    A moment later, Nikola placed the voice¡ªit was Clarisse¡¯s. His willingness to follow the ghost¡¯s suggestion of leaping through the window increased.

    ¡°I insist, madam. I know what I heard. It was the sound of something scratching at the walls, truly!¡±

    Nikola did give the ghost the side eye then, but the window¡ªnow ajar¡ªsoon subsumed his attention. His grip on the sill firm, he dared to look down. He could make out the grass below, somehow damp, and dark hedging that hugged the walls themselves.

    Before he could think better of it, he clumsily raised his feet to the sill, then allowed his legs to dangle out the window. It was more than large enough to accommodate the motion. He found he could hear his heartbeat upon his warming ears, and held his breath for a moment before letting go.

    Despite his hope to land either crouched or upon the hedge¡ªhe was admittedly lacking on experience jumping down from anywhere¡ªpain buzzed from knee to hip as he landed, curling in on himself. He only barely managed to keep quiet, if hissing out a breath didn¡¯t disqualify him from that achievement.

    Still, the pain dulled swiftly enough that he could focus on his surroundings again. Edmund¡¯s ghost was hovering down the window, slowly lowering itself.

    Nikola inhaled, hoping the dimming pain was a sign that he would not be mistaken to try and stand. He did just that, swaying on uneasy feet¡ªbut ready to flee, nonetheless.

    ¡°Three lefts and one right, for the first quarter,¡± the ghost told him as they approached the hedge maze. ¡°I had this made for Ursula, back when she was little. Back when she was alive.¡±

    That was a comment that would have likely gone over the head of anyone who didn¡¯t outright work for an Adianoeta¡ªpicking up tidbits that even those obsessed with the famous might not know was just unavoidable.

    The late Ursula Adianoeta¡ªEdmund and Maria¡¯s eldest¡ªhad preceded the family¡¯s fame, dying before her 20th birthday. Had John not mentioned how an oversized painting of that aunt of his adorned one of their dining areas, Nikola doubted he would have ever heard of her at all.

    ¡°Madam, there¡¯s movement down there!¡±

    Nikola cursed under his breath, rushing to enter the maze. Moonlight barely qualified as illumination here, the gleaming of its touch upon the leaves not anywhere near enough to brighten the path.

    Despite having instructed him beforehand, the ghost led the way ahead.

    As little sense as it made, Nikola found he¡¯d started following the ghost more on instinct than by sight. It was a gaping hole in the natural warmth of the world, and he didn¡¯t need to see it, not quite, to let the cold simply drag him along.

    The last turn led them to a wider section, with a bear gripping balloons on its ¡°hand¡± carved like a statue upon a standalone hedge. Two entrances stood there, one at each side of it.

    ¡°The right one!¡± the ghost instructed.

    Nikola followed the advice, entering the next section of the hedge maze. Their run could have taken no more than a handful of minutes, yet time dragged on. His chest screamed as if he had been on the run for hours.

    Just as he chose the left entrance and slid into the last quarter, a loud noise roared from behind them. Though he resisted the urge to look back¡ªif nothing else, this served as proof he needed to avoid even the barest delay¡ªthe distinct scent of cut grass reached his nostrils.

    ¡°Make haste!¡± Edmund Adianoeta¡¯s ghost howled desperately, as if Nikola could have gone any faster.

    They had almost reached the end of the maze, by the edge of the Adianoetas¡¯ estate.

    ¡°Would any wards deny us passage on the way out?¡± Nikola asked of the ghost.

    ¡°No,¡± the ghost assured him. It looked off to the side, then to Nikola, and to the side again. ¡°Not anymore.¡±

    Asking for clarification on the incessantly vague comments would have to wait.

    ¡°Halt!¡± Clarisse Adianoeta¡¯s voice thundered through the world, a command imprinted into reality for all who heard it.

    It passed through Nikola, a storm of sensations not unlike tickling that came from the inside. His stomach roiled from the force of it, but he did not feel inclined to stop. Free from the twists and turns of the maze, he began his sprint in earnest, down the hill.

 7 - Cold and Empty

    Adia was a lovely port city, made even better by how they didn¡¯t force their cuisine to revolve around seasonal catch. A variety of restaurants¡ªeven foreign ones¡ªwere what populated the littoral, a makeshift market district that spammed blocks, and people from all walks of light haunted it each night.

    The edge of that was a double on, for it meant some places were serving customers even at this hour, and no street was quiet enough to be traversed unnoticed. Whether the Adianoetas¡¯ celebration was behind this, or if they always remained open this far into the night, Nikola lacked the familiarity to know.

    Soaked as he had been from that involuntary dip in the well, he¡¯d previously had bigger concerns than the state of his attire. Crouching between a set of empty boxes near one of the liveliest streets, he found he doubted he could cross it without someone noticing his condition.

    A faint brinelike scent clung to him, something he had not detected when he¡¯d tasted the well¡¯s water. For the bare bones of the plan taking form in his head, however, this was convenient.

    The night air was as chilly as always for a place like this, yet it lacked the bite Nikola would have expected. Being drenched in water only bothered him at the moment because it made things difficult for him¡ªhe found he didn¡¯t truly feel bothered by the typical adverse effects of it all.

    Something else he would question the ghost on, once given the chance.

    Edmund Adianoeta¡¯s ghost had given him directions to an empty house that could serve him as a hideout for the time being, but unlike the decedent, Nikola could not simply pass through walls to get there.

    He took that as the go-ahead to calm his grumbling stomach in the meantime. The ghost might lack the need for sustenance, but Nikola very much needed a meal. Those early stages of nausea and a headache told him as much.

    Though he doubted any of their pursuers¡ªbe it Adianoetas or those in their employ¡ªwould be back on their trail anytime soon, given how uneventful things had been since they reached this area.

    Despite its nature as a touristic sector, none of the establishments here were particularly high-end. From what Nikola had researched in advance, they sought to be affordable to attract as many patrons as possible, and thus, this would have been his first choice of place to visit in the event that his boss and coworker once again kept the whole of their meals from ever reaching him.

    A part of him wished his concerns were that simple still.

    The rest prepared. He tried his best to psych himself up, straightening his clothes. The temperature had kept them from drying, but blessedly, they were just damp by now.

    At last, Nikola moved closer to the nearest stall¡ªan artisan¡¯s¡ªand left a small tip before speaking, glad that he carried coin in his satchel at all times.

    Even when tasked to assist ultimately inhuman novelists.

    ¡°Pardon, good sir,¡± he addressed the stall owner, doctoring his expression into one of resignation. ¡°Might you point me in the direction of any tailor or consigner that is open at this hour? My friends thought it the peak of hilarity to send me for a dip past the pier.¡±

    The old man let out a hearty chuckle. ¡°Oh, to be young and stupid. I¡¯ve gone for a swim or ten myself. I¡¯m afraid none are open at this hour, but see that red awning in the corner,¡± he pointed at a closed shop. ¡°The washerwoman there, Martha¡¯s her name. She lives and breathes for the salvation waterlogged clothes, let me tell you.¡±

    ¡°I see. Thank you for your kindness. I dread going for a meal looking like this. Can you recommend me any locations that might prove understanding?¡±This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    ¡°Oh, boy,¡± the artisan again. ¡°Kid, this is Adia. Nobody cares what you¡¯re wearing so long as you¡¯re wearing something.¡±

    Nikola nodded along. He¡¯d rarely ever had a chance to conduct interviews during his tenure at The Adianoeta Gazette, but one of the key facts taught to him during training had been that old people knew everything about a place. And thus, if you needed to know where to go or how to conduct yourself in an unfamiliar location, your best chances would be to head for an elderly person and get on their good graces.

    He only bumped into anyone once as he sifted through the streets. Once he¡¯d identified the empty house Edmund Adianoeta¡¯s ghost had referred to, he returned to the market district, settling for a small restaurant that had an in-and-out situation going with their seating arrangements. It was in one such outdoor table that he sat¡ªjust because people were unlikely to mind the state of his clothes didn¡¯t mean he¡¯d right to risk ruining anybody¡¯s furniture. This chair was, at least, almost entirely wooden, made of slats held in place by metal nails.

    Having ordered a vegetable soup and quail meat wrapped in thin bread, Nikola got to eating. It was a warm meal, and affordable, too. It did not fall prey to the lack of seasoning eateries catering to tourists could often be faulted for. All in all, had Nikola been back home, he would have given them a good review on his column.

    ¡°Thank you for the meal,¡± he curtsied and tipped the waiter after paying for it.

    There was a comfort to having eaten, something that warmed him momentarily, but it had passed by the time he headed to the empty house. It was as though the air chilled the moment he came into contact with it, a predicament affecting him and only him. Unconsciously, he¡¯d clenched his jaw.

    Nikola exhaled, staring up. It was hard to believe so little time had passed. The sun was still far from rising for the next day, yet things had fallen apart so quickly.

    John set us up. That was no theory, but fact, for what he had overheard lined up perfectly. Had John not left Benjamin alone, retreating soon before the killing started?

    What could they have wanted of the photographer? Sifting through those jumbled memories as he walked, he recalled the matriarch¡¯s words as he drowned. She¡¯d expressed curiosity as to what use they could have gotten out of his blood.

    There were countless beings that required blood either as sustenance or for ritualistic purposes, and he wasn¡¯t sure as to what he believed the Adianoetas to be. Such creatures were often killed on sight for their destructive potential, with the exception of some types of demons that could only feast in quite specific ways¡ªthose could be bargained with, their needs arranged for.

    But humans, who either turned themselves into something else or chose to partake in forbidden rituals? That was much worse.

    Nikola shook his head as he examined the house. All windows had been nailed shut, its frame decrepit. The wooden planks of its walls, as well as the remnants of a stone balcony, all bore signs of having once been delicately painted. Despite the dark, he could even make out a few chips of washed-out paint, perhaps once bright in color.

    He turned the corner, finding no one on that street. This would be the safest side to enter through, or so he suspected, but he had agreed to inform the ghost of his arrival before trying anything else.

    ¡°I am outside.¡±

    The ghost of Edmund Adianoeta slipped from the house without fanfare. ¡°Come. The patio¡¯s gate is unlocked. Leap the fence¡ªit is not particularly tall.¡±

    Having said that, it disappeared back into the house, and Nikola found himself exhaling slowly. The fence in question rivaled the height of his chest, and Nikola was not exactly athletically.

    In an unceremonious manner he promised to never address in word or memory, he managed to let himself lie belly-down on the top of the gate. The way in went even more poorly, as he practically rolled and fell into the grass.

    He didn¡¯t care how, but he would be getting this ghost to procure a new wardrobe for him as recompense for all this. Work-appropriate suits such as this were expensive, and Nikola was not made of money.

    With a huff, he brushed leaves off his clothes and stood back up, making for the short staircase that led to the only door in sight, framed by a delicate gate that had been left ajar. He would not have been surprised in the slightest had he found it locked despite the ghost¡¯s accuracy as far as the gate being open went, but the knob turned with easy.

    Before entering, he squeezed his eyes shut and steadied himself. What was he to do now? Questioning the ghost seemed as good a place as any to start, even if he¡¯d yet to settle on what to address first.

    Nikola glanced over his shoulder. Again, the street was empty. Not a soul or shadow in sight.

    He still could not shake off the feeling that something had its eyes upon him.

 8 - An Uneasy Entente

    In death, Edmund Adianoeta looked as detached as the paintings of him. For someone as lauded as he, his appearances had been few and far between¡ªunlike his descendants, he¡¯d come from humbler beginnings.

    Under what would later become the family¡¯s estate, the few surviving ruins of his mother¡¯s farm must have been buried.

    Alongside the catacombs¡ªsomehow.

    The ghost appeared entirely in grayscale within the house. He¡¯d crossed one leg over another and sat down on an ornate chair with a high back, his right elbow steadied on the armrest as his chin rested upon a closed fist. ¡°Candlelight would be ill-advised here, for it may draw attention. I suggest settling until first light. Tripping would be easy with a floor this unkept.¡±

    ¡°I understand.¡±

    Nikola had not intended to seek a light source in the first place¡ªdespite the ghost¡¯s words, he found he could make out the shape of most objects in his surroundings. Indeed, odds and ends were scattered through the floor, everything from shattered pottery to pieces of fabric. It was as if a cyclone had passed through the inside of this house.

    ¡°Where are we?¡±

    ¡°The first house I ever rented, back when I was a student with my coven,¡± Edmund Adianoeta¡¯s ghost whispered. ¡°My landlady died, and no one ever evicted me. But none cared for this place after I left, either. It seemed as good a place as any to reconvene, and Maria has never been here.¡±

    Nikola nodded. He could see the age of the place, that was for sure.

    ¡°Do you actually wish to know?¡± the ghost blurted out. Awkwardly¡ªinexplicably, even a hint of fear shone through. Why would it be afraid?

    ¡°About what?¡±

    ¡°How I made my family as they are today.¡±

    Nikola considered this. ¡°I confess my curiosity,¡± he watched the ghost and its reactions. ¡°But I¡¯ve no particular interest in the details, not when they involve the unforgivable.¡±

    ¡°There were decisions on my part that I am not proud of,¡± the ghost admitted. ¡°Looking back at it is¡­ painful. So I might owe you might thanks, if you let me avoid the matter. But I am amicable about speaking of anything else.¡±

    ¡°How are you here, now? I¡¯d never heard of a ghost this¡­ realistic.¡±

    That was the burning question, was it not? Clearly, the sacrifice had been related. The timing was too suspect, and Maria Adianoeta had concluded the killings by calling out to her late husband.

    ¡°I have lingered in limbo for a long time¡ªof my own doing. It is not a perfect solution, but faced with oblivion or the fate assigned to me, it was preferable,¡± Edmund Adianoeta sighed. ¡°I realize how you must see me. Ghosts are echoes, remnants of the dead who have long since unraveled. But I assure you, I am Edmund Adianoeta. Not a ghost carrying echoes of who he was. I am me.¡±

    Nikola¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°That is not possible.¡±

    ¡°Says who, boy?¡± Edmund laughed. ¡°I see something labeled an impossibility, and that becomes my life¡¯s work. That is and always has been how I operate. Limits aren¡¯t known because nothing is possible beyond them¡ªlimits are merely the threshold of what others have been capable of doing in the past.¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡± Nikola fought the urge to insist. Such a thing was impossible. People were not unlike machines, their minds a construct brought forth by nature¡¯s unfathomable handiwork. And like machines, they broke down. Death claimed them all sooner or later, and with that, they ceased to be. Returned to the Earth from whence they came.

    ¡°When Ursula died, I was besides myself. I thought as you do, once. But I refused to accept it. What sort of father wishes to stand and watch while their child dies, not an ounce of their power being enough to keep them on this world? I told myself, then, that I would never allow this again. My family would remain whole, as whole as I could keep it, for eternity.¡±

    ¡°At the cost of other lives,¡± Nikola countered. There was no grand conspiracy to certain forms of magic being considered taboo¡ªthey simply went against human decency. ¡°That¡¯s it, is it not? Countless others must have ceased to exist so your family could live for longer.¡±

    ¡°In the end, the method I developed is not anywhere near that tragic, boy,¡± Edmund scoffed, his arms now folded over his ethereal chest. ¡°My mother¡¯s well held that which enabled the fountain¡ªit was not it, mind you. A catalyst. Water drawn from it, through the grate, had to be mixed with blood¡ªand as you know, in a sacrificial context, this means the last of the blood a human heart ever pumped. The mixture would have to be poured periodically into the fountain to keep it from drying out.¡±Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    Nikola thought back to what Maria had asked of her husband¡¯s ghost¡ªof her actual husband, apparently. ¡°But something went wrong, I take it.¡±

    ¡°You tell me. They should¡¯ve had more than enough for millennia.¡±

    ¡°How many descendants of yours live today?¡± Nikola¡¯s brain slid into its inquisitive mode so swiftly he almost winced¡ªactually being free to think about anything was such a rare opportunity that letting his mind run free felt like pulling on an atrophied muscle. Perhaps Edmund¡¯s issue lay in a miscalculation. ¡°Were you accounting for that, back then?¡±

    ¡°Of course I was. I expected it to last, maybe twenty-three to twenty-seven centuries, and that was with 25 descendants taking their regular doses. The most I¡¯ve ever had¡ªthe ones living now and imbibing in it¡ªare a mere 17.¡±

    Nikola went quiet, then, rather than thinking of a response. The realization caught up to him. ¡°Your wife was curious as to what my blood would have done for them, had Clarisse not left me to drown in the well. I confess I wonder what that was about.¡±

    ¡°Each time they refresh their vow at the fountain, to continue living, a small part of that which the sacrifices were good at goes to them. It changes with each cycle, some effects better than other. It is simply part of the process,¡± the ghost eyed him up and down. ¡°In your case, I suspect it was sensitivity. Having a penchant for interacting with the supernatural, by itself, is not rare. But I suspect no one ever told you that?¡±

    ¡°Hm,¡± Nikola thought of what to say¡ªshould he be keeping any details to himself?¡ªbut settled for speaking truthfully. ¡°Back home, there are few occultists. Even working for your grandson¡¯s newspaper, with all the people I crossed paths with, I barely knew of any. Let alone spoke to them beyond occasionally using one as a source when I needed something to back my opinions.¡±

    ¡°Were you aware, though? That you¡¯ve good sight for this things?¡±

    ¡°I was,¡± Nikola confirmed. He thought back to what Maria Adianoeta had called him¡ªjittery. At the time, he truly hadn¡¯t made the connection. Knowing someone was involved with the occult was different from any sort of expectation that they were occult, and Nikola lacked the experience to tell that type of feeling apart from just regular feelings of unease. ¡°Though, in truth, it never mattered before.¡±

    ¡°I can see that. But I would guess you could have been good at this, had you been born elsewhere. It might be too late for you now,¡± Edmund looked off to the side, longingly. ¡°The dying blood of someone like that would do wonders for sensitivity among my family.¡±

    Nikola had not thought it possible for him to be baffled, not at this point into the night. ¡°Are you suggesting you would have preferred for me to be killed by them?¡±

    ¡°Obviously,¡± Edmund shrugged, reminding Nikola that this man had once been Maria Adianoeta¡¯s soulmate. They¡¯d been said to be birds of a feather. ¡°Though seeing as they chose to unbind my spirit and ruin everything, it might have worked out for the best. For me, in any case. I don¡¯t mean that personally, boy. But beyond my need to fix this before my family gets dragged off to Hell, you matter not to me.¡±

    ¡°I suppose that is fair,¡± Nikola tipped his head¡ªhe had to ensure he didn¡¯t get too complacent around this ghost. This man. Edmund Adianoeta assisted him solely for his own benefit. ¡°If we are to be upfront about this, I¡¯ve little interest in you as well, although the experience could do well in a column sometime. If I can get anyone other than your grandson to hire or even believe me, after this.¡±

    ¡°He went and made the paper, did he not?¡± Edmund laughed, fondness somehow reflecting in his glowing eyes. ¡°I only watch sometimes¡ªand John left for lands too distant for me to follow. I admit I was curious as to how you ended up here, yet were not among the dead. My sight is far from limitless in limbo¡ªbut still better than it is now, I suppose. This form, this* ghosthood, is suffocating. I am as boxed-in as a a man, a mortal man.¡±

    Nikola chose to ignore that tirade. ¡°Your words on ghosthood could also serve. That part might be less believable than your wife arranging for mass murder, somehow.¡±

    ¡°Do you truly only care for what you may get out of this?¡± Edmund raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°I like being alive¡ªno offense meant to present company. I work¡ªworked, presumably¡ªfor your grandson, and followed him here because I was paid to do so. I have few concerns beyond being able to afford to stay afloat, honestly.¡±

    ¡°You do nothing else but work?¡± the ghost appeared appalled. ¡°No wonder you are this dull! You need hobbies! Things to do in your free time. Personal projects. Anything.¡±

    ¡°I would have those, were I not at risk of starvation the moment I run out of paychecks,¡± the columnist shot the dead patriarch a glare. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t expect you to be out of touch, honestly. But in any case, I¡¯ve told you what I expect. If you wish for me to be of aid in whatever it is you¡¯re scheming, I want assurances.¡±

    The ghost started laughing. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be able to get you killed at this point even if I dedicated my life to it, boy. You¡¯ve it in you, now.¡±

    ¡°You keep referencing that,¡± Nikola noted. ¡°I cannot help but notice you¡¯ve yet to elaborate.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s simple, and the reason I sought to get you out of there,¡± Edmund stood to twirl, and bowed with extended arms as magician that just finished a trick upon the stage would. ¡°You see, young man, while my wife was busy summoning my bound spirit, that which I bound to the well took the chance to latch on to something else and flee.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Why, yes. It latched on to you.¡±

 9 - The Demon in the Well

    Nikola refused to move from where he¡¯d taken his seat, eyeing the ghost with trepidation unmasked. He bit his lip, taking a deep breath. Countless alternatives on what to say coursed through his mind, each inadequate for its own reasons. He could settle on none.

    In no small part because he felt no instinctive need to refute such a claim immediately. Not when the disconnect between the drowning he experienced and all that came after. All the oddities he¡¯d noticed and dismissed ever since. Something latching on to him was as good an excuse as any, even if it put him in an even worse position than anything he could have imagined.

    ¡°What, pray tell, did you have bound to that well?¡±

    ¡°A thing,¡± Edmund Adianoeta¡¯s vagueness returned, his expression a nervous one as he paused before saying anything further. Pinprick eyes of bright light examined Nikola as if expecting something else to happen. ¡°It was an entity¡ªnot one you should trouble yourself with, for I cut a piece off it us to bind in the first place. But in the end, it underestimated how much of its faculties it might retain. In choosing to take the chance, to abandon the well, it proves me wrong. I trapped something that could be considered alive.¡±

    Nikola found himself growing genuinely curious as to the thought process that must have led this man to make the choices he did¡ªhe did not see the world in the ways normal people did, that much was certain. If nothing else, this would be useful to hear if he survived. How this man justified his actions would make for excellent reading material for any who read his next column, assuming he even managed to have one. ¡°That is what you regret? Not the deaths?¡±

    ¡°The dead don¡¯t feel trapped. They don¡¯t feel anything at all,¡± the ghost explained, shaking his head. ¡°You might suffer somebody else¡¯s loss, but I assure you, the dead themselves suffer not.¡±

    ¡°A callous attitude for one who is dead himself to have,¡± Nikola noted. He failed to suppress the scowl that prompted in him.

    ¡°I took the necessary measures, and this was only possible because of what I already was. Like¡­ as it was, so too are we bound to it, in a sense. Without the fountain¡¯s waters, we would age anew, and fare worse than those for whom death is the end. We need to feed it to remain as we are, for that is the only way we would be granted the boons of the fountain, lest we wish to become its food instead.¡±

    The dots connected in Nikola¡¯s head, and his blood ran cold. There was only one answer that could match all these details. ¡°You made a deal with a demon.¡±

    Edmund let out a laugh, nothing. He did seem quite proud of himself, despite the dark subject. ¡°I did. In human eyes, I suppose my greatest transgression would be that. Not that that I dabbled with the occult in ways some would deem unspeakable, but that I bartered in souls.¡±

    Though Edmund was overdramatizing it somewhat, that was indeed among the worst things a sole practitioner could do. Certain demons could grant their suppliers almost anything, in exchange of precisely that¡ªa steady supply of people to be slain, turned from fleeting mortal spirits into souls that could be kept in Hell forever, to be used as their new masters chose.

    Their stores of souls fueled their capacity to grant wishes and requests, creating a vicious cycle where they would always wish for more. The only escape for those sacrificed to them would to eventually be used up as fuel, for those crafted souls would degrade back into mere spirits that would scatter into oblivion.

    As most tools for the occult came from demons, they were a necessary evil. Governments and certain societies bargain with them. It was accepted. Indeed, necessary, for the benefits of their specific deals outweighed the cost, and not all demons fed on death and eternal torment.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    The problem lay in the context¡ªEdmund was a solitary occultist, and such people were selfish. It was virtually impossible for them to bargain in ways that did not only benefit them.

    ¡°So that was what you were. What your family are,¡± Nikola realized, though it seemed a thing of fiction. ¡°You¡¯re the suppliers of a demon.¡±

    ¡°And mother¡¯s well served as its vessel, until we had¡­ a falling out. Rest assured, that it is gone. But for our sake, so the fountain would not collapse, I sought to take from it what I could, bind its power before it faded. It only cost me my own freedom, and my body¡¯s life, but I knew the risks,¡± Edmund sighed wistfully. ¡°There is a piece of that power lodged in you, though I know not how it happened. I can only guess it was an intentional escape on its part.¡±

    Nikola chose not to mention the yanking he felt. How the shadowy tendrils had struggled in the end, unable to fully withdraw after they pierced through him¡ªthey¡¯d risen to feed on the slaughter, he realized.

    And somehow, Maria had repurposed that power to free Edmund from the binding of his own making. It had also freed that piece, strictly speaking, but Nikola knew all too well that it had likely been unintended on both ends.

    ¡°They¡¯ll want it back, for your fountain,¡± he stated. He¡¯d half a mind to plan an escape route, despite the impracticality of it. Ghost or not, this occultist was still a force to be reckoned with. ¡°Tell me, how do you intend to take it back?¡±

    ¡°I shan¡¯t harm you, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re implying,¡± Edmund appeared offended. ¡°As it stands, it chose to use you as a vessel¡ªsomething I had never seen, you know. If I had known living people could function as moving vessels¡­ I would have done much. But I digress. They are trying to restore the fountain, and their methods will bring only trouble. I still cannot believe they managed to run it dry in a mere two-hundred years.¡±

    ¡°I suspect it might have something to do with the longevity treatments they offered to the highest bidders,¡± Nikola saw no issue in informing him of that¡ªif that sowed even the smallest hint of distrust in the ghost towards his family¡¯s motives, that wasn¡¯t Nikola¡¯s problem.

    ¡°They¡ª Of course they did.¡±

    The ghost let out a long-suffering sigh, exhaling for nearly a minute straight. It was marvelous, honestly, how he could express himself in such ways without real lungs to draw air in for him.

    Nikola thought back to Clarisse. ¡°Did they know not what you¡¯d left in the well?¡±

    ¡°They did, but that residual power butchered all thrown at it. They tried before, to feed it directly in hopes it somehow being more effective. That¡¯s what gave its intentions away for me,¡± Edmund admitted. ¡°It did not tear you to shreds, meaning it had something else¡­ in mind, if it even has a mind. Do you feel anything from it?¡±

    ¡°Not particularly?¡± Nikola was also far from inclined to examine every single one of his recent experiences for signs of indirect demonic influence.

    ¡°In any case, the task that befalls me will be an uphill battle, and I cannot afford to let them ruin our chances,¡± the ghost continued. ¡°Trust me when I say, you do not want to remain anything¡¯s vessel. Even if it isn¡¯t a demon in truth, it will no doubt seek to warp you as demons warp the objects that are their vessels.¡±

    Nikola, too, found himself quite uneager to actually keep this hypothetical piece of a demon within himself¡ªit was simply a matter of distrust.

    Benjamin sought him for the sake of having someone do work for him, as did most of his workmates. John had neither been involved in his hiring nor intentionally sought him out for the sacrifice. Every figure of authority, every older person he answer to, wanted something from him.

    Certainly, Edmund Adianoeta was not being altruistic. The dead man wished for his family¡¯s affairs to continue as they were, for even more people to die to sustain their existence indefinitely.

    Nikola simply couldn¡¯t understand what the man could possibly gain from not seeking to take this piece by force, even if harming Nikola as he was now could be counterproductive. He might instead resort to deception.

    And what better deception, than trying to convince him they should work together?

 10 - The Best Tale

    On a distant, isolated island¡ªthe name of which Nikola would never attempt to pronounce to spare himself the hit to his dignity¡ªthere stood a museum dedicated to the lives and deed of its civilization¡¯s great figures. It was renowned across the world, spoken of in many of the factoid publications he had read on sleepless nights throughout his formative years.

    He¡¯d never visited it¡ªlikely never would have the privilege of doing so¡ªand only heard of it nowadays in the sense people would hear of the ancient world¡¯s wonders. People spoke of it in hushed whispers and loud lectures alike. The museum had existed for centuries untold, and its exhibitions were composed entirely of ghosts.

    Not this uncanny, seemingly true version of a person that stood before him, now, but what would normally be considered a ghost. Indeed an echo, a mindless remnant of a person who once existed and no longer did. Everything a ghost did or said, the scenes they repeated for eternity on whichever place they haunted, was true to life, but the manners in which ghosts could react to the living world were limited.

    Much like a music box could only play so many tunes, a ghost lacked any true capacity for thought, because it was nothing but an incomplete copy.

    They were predictable, but also implacable. Part of what made such efforts¡ªas those by the museum¡ªso impressive were that successfully relocating a ghost, getting it to change its tune in any way, took the types of skills that had only been perfected through countless generations.

    But Edmund was a person still, even if a dead one.

    People could be tricked, and Nikola had no qualms about attempting such a thing when he was already convinced it was Edmund who was trying to pull the wool over his eyes. The more information he could get out of the dead man, the better.

    ¡°Tell me, Edmund¡ªwhy should I trust you? I have heard of you, for all I did not meet you on life, and I know to be a force to be reckoned with¡ªeven your fellow occultists were leery of trifling with you.¡±

    ¡°I helped you escape my own family, did I not?¡±

    Nikola forced a wry laugh out. Theatrics were not something he got to practice often. ¡°For your own ends, by your admission. You deal with demons¡ªyou could just as easily be seeking to use me to renew whichever vow you made to it.¡±

    ¡°Our vows long since depend on the fountain, not that which I swore anything to,¡± Edmund countered. ¡°Though¡ªfor reasons that should be obvious¡ªI did go to great lengths to keep Maria and the children from learning of¡­ the other details.¡±

    ¡°Has it occurred to you that they might have acted as they did because they were working on incomplete information?¡± Nikola would have preferred they not act at all, but what was done was done.

    ¡°I¡¯m not blind, just dead,¡± a shadow flitted through Edmund¡¯s glowing eyes as if he had rolled them. ¡°I know the responsibility lies in me¡ªthat is why it must be eye who fixes it. Not their flawed methods, but my tried-and-tested ones.¡±

    ¡°Which you¡¯ve yet to disclose. Pardon me for having reservations about this.¡±

    ¡°As if you would know what any of it meant, or how it worked, if I wasted breath explaining it to you.¡±

    It was a peculiar turn of phrase to hear coming from a ghost.

    Nikola¡¯s eyes narrowed as he thought of a retort for that. ¡°Yet it is not as though you can achieve any of it without my cooperation, is it?¡±

    ¡°What do you want?¡± Edmund snapped. ¡°I shan¡¯t touch you¡ªbecause I cannot afford the risk of doing so¡ªbut you need not seek to take me for a fool. If you seek answers, ask questions to my face, and so long as it does not relate to exactly what I did to my family members, for their sake, I shall give them to you.¡±Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!

    This was it. He would get what he wanted. And a good tale for the column, straight from a dead man¡¯s mouth. He was unreasonably thrilled by that latter part.

    ¡°Very well,¡± Nikola nodded, crossing his legs to mimic the late patriarch¡¯s earlier post. ¡°Start from the beginning. How did you find yourself in a position to bargain with a demon for immortality? Which sins did you commit before you even got there?¡±

    The ghost seemed to consider this, looking to the side. ¡°Perhaps it might be more pertinent to begin with something from your side, if you do not mind. How did you come to find yourself in this position?¡±

    ¡°As you know, John Adianoeta is my boss. Your grandson. I was assigned to accompany and assist our photographer,¡± Nikola pondered whether to name the man in question, given how he was almost certainly dead. ¡°Benjamin Best is, was, his name. We were told the Adianoeta¡¯s wished for this moment to be caught on camera¡ªI know not why they sought an excuse that complex, if this was what they planned to do. Upon our arrival, your wife tasked me with assisting your¡ª her daughter Clarisse. I¡­ attempted to flee from her, and in the struggle, I fell into the well.¡±

    ¡°Curious. Before you ask, no, Clarisse is not my child, but that matters little. Maria stands in my place now. Did Clarisse not command you to simply let her do as she wished?¡±

    ¡°She did,¡± Nikola acknowledged. ¡°That is part of what you turned into, is it not?¡±

    ¡°It is. In any case, you have provided me with the information I needed. I can tell you now that this was never about you. Chances are, she never accounted for a second person coming here. This tale, perhaps, should revolve around this Best, then.¡±

    Nikola nodded¡ªin truth, he had always felt like an unfortunate bystander, because who in their right mind would go out of their way to target him specifically? He was as boring a person humanly possible, never having had the chance to do anything other than that which others demanded of him.

    ¡°From what I understand of Maria¡¯s modified ritual, while I could not interact wholly with the world, relied on the fact that they had been detecting my lingering presence nonetheless,¡± Edmund started. ¡°That¡¯s where Best fits in¡ªmy understanding of this nascent art, this ¡®photography¡¯ is that it can capture a moment as it was in reality. Freeze it in time, so to speak, even if not literally. Magic is, above all else, about symbolism.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t too difficult to guess where this was going, but Nikola refrained from interrupting the ghost.

    ¡°I would have pulled it off with an artist, had I been in her place¡ªobviously, the setup for that would be different, the period of preparation would be longer there, but doable. What she did¡­ even the ten dozens she had the family draw last blood on would not have been enough to unbind the both of us. But exploiting photography as she did enabled her to suspend the moment in time, to draw out and reuse the ritual¡¯s power as long as possible, so to speak.¡±

    ¡°So it was about the effectiveness of it.¡±

    ¡°Indeed. I confess, days ago, I could not have told you what a ¡®photographer¡¯ was. Now I have to admit what my wife did was beyond ingenious. Make no mistake, had I been more forthcoming about just how I had done this, I do not doubt she could have fixed it, or even improved upon it. But I refuse to share that, even with her,¡± the ghost was examining its hands. ¡°This Best¡ªa friend of yours?¡±

    Nikola couldn¡¯t help himself¡ªhe scoffed. ¡°Anything but. His fate, however, I would not wish upon anyone. He was tedious to work with, but he did not deserve such a death.¡±

    ¡°Then it might pacify you to learn he is not dead. His inclusion in the plan was such a success that my wife has decided to keep him around¡ªhe has been transferred to the dungeons already.¡±

    ¡°Of course your estate has a dungeon,¡± Nikola tripped over that part of the sentence, despite the revelation that Benjamin was indeed alive. The relief he felt at that surprised him, but he had spoken true. His dislike for the older man did not translate into outright wishing death upon him.

    ¡°Most occultists have one. If they tell you they don¡¯t, they are liars.¡±

    ¡°Forgive me, but I would gladly go the rest of my life without any others who dabble in the occult as you do,¡± Nikola shook his head. ¡°And while I am not displeased to learn of all this, I would still quite like to have an answer to my original question¡ªhow did you end up striking a bargain with a demon on your own?¡±¡¯

    Edmund let out a drawn-out sigh. ¡°I hope you aren¡¯t too fond of sleep, boy. This will take a while.¡±

 11 - Not Hidden in the Slightest

    Most people have a point they can be pushed to, upon which they will cross every line and break every moral code¡ªthe exception to this are those who had neither a code nor lines they wouldn¡¯t cross to begin with.

    In the eyes of history, Edmund Adianoeta was the latter. Though he was never known for atrocities, scruples were not something anyone would willing associate with his name when offering commentary. He¡¯d been an alchemist above all, and experimentation was the lifeblood of his craft.

    Indeed, he had proof of how he acquired consent from every single person he ever tested his creations on, be the outcome for good or ill.

    But how genuine could such consent be when granted by the destitute who saw his compensation plan as a payday?

    ¡°That which ailed my Ursula was not something even the most advanced of human medicine could cure¡ªthat much, I knew from the moment I saw her,¡± Edmund¡¯s voice had regained its airy quality¡ªit might have even grown more prominent. ¡°She was born with teeth, and twigs for limbs. I feared for her as early on as her birth. Oh, she was beautiful. And oh, so smart. Raising her felt like¡­ like I was raising someone who would someday surpass me. But no matter what was done for her sake, by myself or experts, there was nothing I could do. Yet I could not stand for it¡ªfor a daughter of mine to suffer like this.¡±

    Nikola was torn between continuing to listen to the ghost without interruptions, and asking just what he was on about. None of the details he¡¯d mentioned so far clarified what Ursula¡¯s problem had been, and something told Nikola things would only be getting vaguer.

    ¡°So I did what I had to do. What any father would do,¡± Edmund met Nikola¡¯s gaze. ¡°I can see you doubt that last part. But you would know it to be true, if you had children. There is nothing you wouldn¡¯t do to keep a child alive.¡±

    That stance, at least, fit what Nikola had learned of the man in there short time together. He clearly put his family above all, to the detriment of anything else. He had no qualms about ending others for their sake, even.

    ¡°I called in every favor owed to me, sought to test every formula I knew of or could barter for. Every cure under the sun and the stars. You haven¡¯t the faintest clue as to how many tomes and recipe books sit abandoned, rotting away, within anywhere from the ancient monasteries to elderly people¡¯s basements. And I gather what I could from all of them. Everywhere, everywhere, I went, I never wasted an opportunity to obtain more knowledge. Anything for a chance at fixing her.¡±

    ¡°Forgive me if it¡¯s a sensible topic, but what, exactly, was wrong with this child of yours?¡±

    ¡°Everything!¡± Edmund scoffed. ¡°As I said, she was born wrong. A child who would neither cry nor speak for most of childhood, who would not look me in the eye and could not hold a conversation with an ounce of the dexterity with which she would hold a quill.¡±

    After everything the dead man had admitted he considered acceptable, Nikola had not considered it may yet be possible for him to be appalled by Edmund¡¯s words. To him, it sounded as though nothing had been actually wrong with Ursula Adianoeta. His own difficult childhood had him sympathizing with the late Adianoeta firstborn, yet seeking to argue with the ghost now might hinder him¡ªhe had a feeling he was still long ways off from getting anything that resembled an actual answer.

    ¡°In any case, the time came when I had to face I would never find a solution, no. I would have to make a solution, and so the trials begun.¡±

    ¡°History remembers you for those. An alchemist of dubious fame,¡± Nikola noted. He hoped his memory served him well in the future, if he did get to publish any of what he was hearing. ¡°Though I confess I never heard of a reason being attributed to why you did all you did. You¡¯ve been painted a mad scientist.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps I was just that,¡± Edmund shook his head, a hand going through his ethereal hair. ¡°Not without reason. But I had to test everything I made. I know society loves to decide everything that was acceptable years ago is now the greatest sin, but many disliked my choices even then. It was not without pushback. In the end, I crafted far too many worthy elixirs, mixing and matching from the ingredients of dozens of those ancient recipes. I shan¡¯t bore you with the details, but let¡¯s just say, no one wants to be the one condemning the man who concocted cures for previously incurable illnesses. Yet nothing I did was enough to fix Ursula. I lost her, in the end. I lost her because I couldn¡¯t fix her.¡±Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

    Nikola remained pensive. Did she even need fixing?

    ¡°I¡­ in my time in the deserts, I saw much. Nothing too fantastical, mind you. I¡¯m more than familiar with the tales of lost civilizations in the sand, but I¡¯ve seen none of it. There are better tales out there, waiting to be told through the misfortune that may befall those who venture into the wrong ruins. I didn¡¯t think much of it, then, when I was but an acolyte. But years later, desperate, I could not keep myself from thinking back at it. What if I returned, not as a student listening to lectures in the desert heat, but as explorer myself? I did not know what I was looking for¡ªperhaps something that could have fixed Ursula, to beat myself up over it now that she was gone.¡±

    Not even bothering to pretend he knew anything about the uninhabited deserts on the south continent, Nikola chose to take the ghost¡¯s word for it. Certainly, he knew there was much unexplored territory there, riddled with ruins, but he wasn¡¯t an expert in everything. He might as well have been uneducated as far as the subject went, with how superficial his knowledge was.

    ¡°I joined an expedition that sought to unearth a castle carved into a cave. Supposedly, it was once underwater¡ªI never knew whatever brought the first people to explore it upon that conclusion.¡±

    That did stir up a sense of familiarity within Nikola, reminding him of an unrelated topic he¡¯d encountered when writing about a local museum¡¯s new exhibit. ¡°Bones of sea creatures, maybe. They would not be difficult to identify by those who knew what to look for. Back home, we¡¯ve a valley that¡¯s said to have been submerged long ago because of such discovery.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Edmund Adianoeta said noncommittally, seemingly uneager to ponder it much more. ¡°Anyhow¡ªto answer your question¡­¡±

    ¡°At last,¡± Nikola failed to hold that whisper back, and it was not anywhere near as quiet as it should have been for his purposes. It didn¡¯t help that he hadn¡¯t intended to speak¡ªit sort of just happened, as if for a second, his tongue had been spurned on by mere flow of thought.

    ¡°¡­listen here, you¡ª Oh, I shan¡¯t waste my breath like this,¡± the ghost started then backtracked, returning to his original sentence a bit too swiftly. ¡°To answer your question, it was there that I found it. We¡¯d thought those to be spires, part of a greater whole carved in the rock, but calling this a castle was foolish. It was closer to a temple, each of those towers dedicated to a different entity. If it¡¯s true that our ancestors once lived there, many will likely be displeased to learn at least some of them were demon-worshipers. Though some would be thrilled.¡±

    Edmund drew in a deep breath as if he needed to. ¡°I digress. My companions were of the former opinion. They were horrified, and went as far as to suggest we destroy the place, knowledge and treasure be damned. Naturally, I took offense to that¡ªif any occultist tells you they wouldn¡¯t jump at the chance to meet a demon, they are liars. Not to mention, while I might have hoped to loot the castle for its ancient potions and recipes, this was set to serve me just as well. I gave them a chance to back off¡ªthey did not.¡±

    ¡°You slew them?¡±

    ¡°Not then¡ªI¡¯m not foolish enough to approach such a being without something to give,¡± the ghost continued. ¡°I chose to send them into a deep sleep from which they would never have awoken, even if I had not done as I did. When I met the demon, it was¡­ cold. An artist, or so it called itself. An artist crafted from the purest ice, which stood in the center of the tower. It wanted recognition for me, to have the work it touched and contributed be known far and wide, but it would take blood just as willingly. It was also unbound¡ªit lingered in that tower of its own free will.¡±

    ¡°How?¡± Nikola asked. That made little sense to him. Their destructive potential was precisely why all authorities had long since seen to it that any publicly known demons were either bound or watched, fed either appropriately or not at all. ¡°Why would it have stayed?¡±

    ¡°Because apparently, it wanted not for sustenance. It said it had, long ago, contributed to the art that once adorned many of the temple walls¡ªshared with other structures from the time, which later became ruins. Yet known, nonetheless. In praising those ruins, all who investigated there served, providing adoration to it, no matter how indirect.¡±

    ¡°Then, if it was fed, why would it bargain with you?¡±

    ¡°I made some promises,¡± Edmund Adianoeta averted his gaze. ¡°I might have lied.¡±

 12 - A Dead Mans Dues

    For obvious reasons, there was no real common knowledge on how demons could be dealt with. It was the type of thing decent people avoided even learning about, if they could help it. Some said even knowing was an ill omen¡ªthat in simply having information, you were opening some sort of gate within yourself that demons could access if you crossed their path.

    Nikola thought it superstition¡ªmost people¡¯s exposure to the supernatural was limited, magic experienced only in ways that were relevant to their individual lives. That type of thinking promoted wild mass guessing¡ªbecause people knew details about magic, they started to act as though they knew details about all magic. They applied rules and conventions that would only apply to a little, to the whole of it.

    Certainly, there were things you would likely wish to avoid knowing about for your own sake¡ªand that was precisely why such things wouldn¡¯t be getting such a direct warning about how you shouldn¡¯t learn about them. That would have been about as efficient as telling people not to think about not to think about pink elephants.

    Not that demons weren¡¯t dangerous. They were the closest thing in this world to a universal source of magic, for everything that held value in an occult sense could trace its origin to the actions of one demon or another.

    It went without saying that demons could crush anything within they got dominion over with but a thought, and the only reason humanity did not live crushed under their heels was the mere fact that they lacked physical forms. Vessels were the closest they would ever get to that, and those were mostly a set point through which their suppliers would deliver sacrifices.

    ¡°You lied,¡± Nikola repeated, not entirely convinced he hadn¡¯t somehow misheard. ¡°You went and lied to the demon.¡±

    ¡°I fully intended to deliver upon that which I offered, at the time,¡± Edmund insisted. ¡°Through my alchemy, I would ensure the demon¡¯s art became known throughout the world. I had plans to hire glassworkers, bind them to secrecy, even. We spoke for a long time, when the demon was whole. We settled for a simple request on my side¡ªthe fountain. That, and it changed me itself, in the same ways the fountain changed Maria and the kids. Though I reiterate I would rather not touch upon the how, it may be necessary context to mention that we¡­ understood its hunger. And none of us were artists. I¡¯ll leave it at that, for it mattered not when it came to keeping the demon fed. As my plans to roll out the new, demon-touched potions, adorned with care by one not from this world, I fed it with blood. Sacrifices. I know Maria suspected, even then, but she never had the full picture. I told them the fountain had been looted from the castle, where so many perished, and that it came with the warning that should we stop partaking in its waters, we would be hellbound. They needn¡¯t know more than that.¡±

    Nikola tried to recall the ghost¡¯s exact words, when he had earlier spoken of how it came to be at odds with the very demon who¡¯d made him what he¡¯d been. ¡°And your falling-out with it?¡±

    ¡°It so happened to be the type of demon that saw even the richest of drawn last blood to be a treat, at most. A fine wine to accompany meals, perhaps imbibed upon alone, but only in moderation. It wanted renown, the spread of its work. No amount of blood could satisfy it. And I¡­ We both said things we could not take back, and this was after I¡¯d grown to think of it as a friend of mine¡ªfoolish, I know.¡±

    ¡°It is quite sobering to learn even the best can fall prey to human nature. That instinctive urge to form bonds,¡± Nikola mused to himself. ¡°I gather you were not eager to rush to feed the demon in its preferred way.¡±

    ¡°No. As much as it pains me to phrase it this way, it hadn¡¯t the faintest clue as to how the logistics of elixir distribution work when you¡¯re an alchemist with clients all over the world. It thrived in a time and place where its reach was relatively limited, and it could not adapt its worldview to the modern world. It rushed me, ever so impatient, as if I could somehow rush bureaucracy even more than I normally did.¡±If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    The ghost flexed his fingers as if gripping something unseen. ¡°When we left the temple, I shaved away a shard of ice. That was how I got it out. And here, the well became its vessels, turning its contents to icy waters. I worked the drawing of water from the well into the process for the fountain¡¯s maintenance without alluding to it, and when the time came, I exorcised it. As I had with the ice, I carved a piece of it to keep, when it chose to flee rather than let me complete the ritual I had in mind. I used a cask of diamond and silver, to trap the piece. Unthinking, I believed it to be. Now, I am not so sure.¡±

    ¡°Because of how this¡­ piece fled the well, as you said?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Edmund Adianoeta met his gaze. ¡°Answer earnestly¡ªis there anything that speaks to you? Anything you feel or think that you doubt should belong to you?¡±

    Maybe. ¡°I do not believe so.¡±

    Nikola¡¯s confidence in that answer being the wisest was twofold¡ªfor one, he did not feel particularly eager to imply anything that might lead the occultist, dead or not, to consider him a possible threat. And beyond that, if he did have a potentially sapient piece of a demon lodged within himself, he was not about to be foolish enough to shout that from the roofs.

    He doubted he did, however. It might have been conceit, but he liked to imagine such a thing would have been obvious to him.

    ¡°Good,¡± the ghost replied, though he did not appear entirely convinced. ¡°Have my answers satisfied you?¡±

    ¡°They were satisfactory,¡± Nikola conceded. As much as he would have loved to keep the ghost talking and never return to the manor or be involved with the living Adianoetas, he knew that was not a possibility. ¡°What now?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll return to the well, and you¡¯re going to jump in for me.¡±

    ¡°No, absolutely not,¡± Nikola replied reflexively.

    ¡°It is naught but mundane water now. But I will need the well, to bind the piece anew. I¡¯ll bring the fountain back, with all bells and whistles, after I give Maria an earful. For your part, there¡¯s not much you need to do¡ªjust aid me in freeing your friend from the dungeons.¡±

    ¡°You need Benjamin for this?¡± Nikola might not have focused on the biggest concern.

    ¡°Most of the sacrifices¡¯ power was bound in a picture, burned to bring me back,¡± Edmund explained. ¡°I will similarly need to capture an image once I draw the piece out of you, to ensure it does not finish fleeing. And for that, I require the photographer.¡±

    Nikola raised an eyebrow. ¡°Did you not say you have qualms about binding something that was aware?¡±

    ¡°I can have qualms about something and still do it¡ªoften do, if nothing else.¡±

    He supposed that was fair.

    Edmund shook his head. ¡°Chances are, I will have to get some assurances out of Maria, that she keep you from harm. The process itself should not harm you. All will return to the way it was¡ªand my family will live.¡±

    ¡°And you will return to that limbo of yours?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± a wave of yearning somehow crossed the ghost¡¯s glowing gaze. ¡°I cheated fate out of its due once¡ªthat shan¡¯t work a second time. If I succeed, chances are, this will end with the energy that holds me here being returned to the well, to the piece. And as the fountain is restored, I will be left untethered. I knew hell awaited me¡ªand I¡¯ve put it off for long enough. I certainly shall not avoid to the detriment of my family, for all I will ensure they know and live with the knowledge that this was their fault. Solely their fault.¡±

    Nikola could only nod, if a bit hesitantly. ¡°How do we go about this? I assume you¡¯ll handle the details? Forgive me, but I know precious nothing about your estate, let alone how to free Benjamin from this dungeon unaided.¡±

    ¡°I will handle things, yes,¡± Edmund agreed. He looked off to the side. ¡°We¡¯ve precious few hours left¡ªhigh noon should be the best time to move, while eat.¡±

    ¡°Will they be keeping to a schedule considering¡­ well, everything that has transpired?¡±

    ¡°Oh, they will. The sky could be falling and my wife would still have everything running smoothly,¡± the ghost spoke, seeming fond of Maria for once. ¡°One thing I recommend¡ªrest. Even if you do not feel inclined to. You will need full use of your faculties, for the task at hand.¡±