Chapter Text
I sit up with a yawn, stretching in the plush Palace bed as the sun rays dappled across the windows. I could get used to this life.
I walked out into the hall, which was already filled with servants and help bustling around. I sighed softly, unsure if Portia would be back yet. So I just decided to wander the halls of the Palace and explore the vast structure. I’d never seen anything like it before, so I wanted to cherish the memory.
Part of the morning had passed by when I finally came across Nadia. She was deep in conversation with someone, and as I came closer, I could hear words like ‘synchronised swan arrangement’ and ‘lavender, not lilac’. They must be discussing arrangements for the Masquerade.
“Ah, Mahika, there you are! Just in time, if I may add.” Nadia smiled at me, breaking away from the other person she was talking to. I frowned, “In time for what?”
She motioned for me to follow her, speaking as she went, “There is someone who can enlighten us with regards to the night of the murder; though you might not be inclined to talk to him after his atrocious behaviour the last time you met.”
I let out a loud sigh, “Its Consul Valerius, isn’t it?”
She nodded, “I have to meet him on the veranda for our long-standing weekly arrangement.” I sighed, “Well, if he can tell us something that might shed light on this conundrum, then let’s question him, even though I’d rather do something else.”
“This meeting won’t be that bad, I assure you.” She laughed, as we stepped out onto the veranda, where the Consul was already seated on a table, wineglass in hand and an elaborate game set up on the table in front of him. He rose as we approached, a glimmer of surprise passing across his face which was quickly suppressed. “Countess, and, uh, Mahika, was it?”
I nodded, eyes narrowed as he sighed, “Allow me to apologise for my disgraceful behaviour; it was unbecoming of me.”
I sighed, “It’s ok, Consul, no lasting harm occurred, except for a ruined outfit.” Nadia smiled at me, eyes twinkling as she settled down at the table and a servant brought a seat for me.
It seemed to be some type of chess, and Valerius’ brow was creased in concentration. “So, Consul, as you know now, Mahika here is investigating the murder of the late Count.”
He nodded, “And am I to assume this is you questioning me?”
I nodded, taking out my notebook filled with scribbled thoughts and a pen, “Could you please tell me your version of events that occurred that night?”
He frowned, “That’s just it; the whole sequence of events vexes me. It was the Masquerade and some time into the night, I noticed that the Count had retired early. How did I know?” He added, pre-empting my question, “Well, the Count was not the sort of person who slips unnoticed, people notice his presence.
So I went to his chambers to see if everything was ok, and that was when I saw them. The rest of the court was at his door squabbling and screaming at him. The strangest thing was that they were screaming that he wouldn’t get away with this; and yet, they didn’t even notice the Doctor leaving the room. It was only when I pointed it out that they fell on him, wailing like the impressionable little creatures they were. I assume you’ve already spoken to the rest of the court about this?”
I nodded, lying through my teeth. Reputations meant a lot to Valerius and I wasn’t gonna have him look down at me again. Nadia winked at me, as she made some elaborate move which seemed to decide the game.
Valerius sighed, “It seems like you’ve bested me once again, Countess. Nevertheless, it was a pleasure playing with you as usual.”
She nodded, “Thank you for your help and honesty, Consul.”
He blushed, “Yes, well… And, uh, I wish you luck with your investigation, Mahika.”
I smiled at Valerius, “Thank you, Consul.”
He left and Nadia smiled at me, “I have to say, M, I’m impressed. That was some quick thinking on your part.”
I laughed, “Thank you, Nadi. I believe we have quite a few leads to go off on, now, don’t we?”
She sighed, “Yes, and what a troubling premise this is! The whole Court seems to be engaged in some shifty undertaking; and I do not look forward to unearthing it.”
A servant rushed up to Nadia, muttering something about fabrics. She gave me an apologetic look, “I’m afraid our investigation will have to wait for tomorrow.”
I nodded, “Of course, Countess.” With that, she left and once again, I was left to my thoughts, which were getting increasingly muddled. So far, I was left with a vague series of events and more questions than answers. Thinking a walk might help clear my thoughts, I decided to go to the Gardens.
I wandered aimlessly through the lush foliage, mind churning with thoughts of Julian, the Count and the damned sequence of events. I blinked, realising that the sky had suddenly gotten darker, even though it was still midday. I frowned as I continued onward, the trees growing ominously tall, obscuring the sun and the sky. Suddenly, the trees parted and I stumbled onto a bank, with a small red stream gushing in front of me, leading towards one of the aqueducts that provided water to the city.
Hang on..
Red??
I did a double-take as my eyes confirmed it. The water was streaked with a tell-tale red, the kind of red seen during the Red Plague. Following the stream with my eyes, I gasped upon seeing the source. The stream sprung up from an old, unused corner of the Palace which I imagine wasn’t patrolled often, long forgotten amid the foliage. Speaking of the foliage, I looked at the trees and almost had a heart-attack. All the trees near the stream were black, and dead, as if poisoned from the water of the stream. I decided I had to find out what might have caused this.
I headed to the corner with quick steps, intent on finding out the source of the red streaks and perhaps, destroying it if I could. Carefully stepping on the rocks jutting out of the water that were dry, I peered into the cracked hole from which the stream sprung. It was surprisingly large, and looked big enough for me to walk into, albeit it would be a hunched way. I took one last look around me, before steeling my nerves. Muttering a quick spell to keep myself dry, I stepped into the crack. I summoned a ball of light to see what I was getting into, and gulped. The red was much higher here, but I had to find the source.
Time seemed like a foreign concept in this drab tunnel; it was impossible to ascertain how much time had passed since I entered. Finally, it seemed like the tunnel opened up into a cavernous dungeon. The stream seemed to come from a well located a few feet away. I took two steps into the dungeon when I was hit up the smell. An acrid smell, with a hint of the sweet rot of decay. I choked before summoning a ball of fresh air to surround me, heaving a sigh as the smell was cleared. Now that I could breathe, I looked around, regretting the sight. Tables were set up around the space, surrounded by a macabre set of what looked like medical instruments. I shuddered, not wanting to imagine what might have happened here. Behind the row of tables, were a set of doors, leading into something similar to an office.
I stepped up to the well, which had a cover on it. I looked around, only to see a lever. I grabbed it and pulled, only for a huge, groaning sound to emit from the well. The sound faded, only to be replaced by another one. It almost sounded like skittering?
I peered into the well, only to recoil in horror. It was full of beetles, similar to the one I’d seen on Julian’s desk. They were the source of the sound, and the source of the red too, as I noticed a fresh swell of red merge with the water in the stream.
Now that I’d found the source, I needed to get rid of it. But how?
The answer came to me in a flash. Fire.
I took a deep breath, centering and grounding myself, before muttering a small spell I’d used countless times to light a candle or the fireplace; only this time, I amped it up, creating a fireball. I flung the fireball into the pit as I lunged away at the same time; narrowly avoiding the explosion that shook the well. I was dimly aware of a gut-wrenching scream, full of hatred and anger, echoing in the cavern. I stood up, shaky and a little dizzy after that burst of magic, only to freeze.
Hurried footsteps were approaching, and I knew that I could not be caught here, under no circumstance whatsoever. Looking around frantically, I decided to hide in the office spaces. I vaulted over the tables and ran to the door, wrenching the lock open. I shut the door, wrenching it shut from the inside, only to hear the door of the dungeons open and two distinct sets of footprints walk in, one at a slower pace than the other.
“No no no NO!!!” The agonised yell scared the living daylights out of me. Was that… Pontifex Vulgora I heard?
“Such a pity… they were such fine specimens too.” A shiver ran down my spine at the second voice. Quaestor Valdemar.
“THIS IS YOUR FAULT VALDEMAR!!! YOU SAID NOBODY COULD COME DOWN HERE!! CLEARLY SOMEONE DID!! OH, IF I EVER FIND WHO DID THIS, I’LL CRUSH THEIR PUNY SELF!!!” Vulgora roared and I flinched at their volume.
Valdemar sighed, or something close to it. “I have not let any one in, Vulgora. Whoever it is must have found another way in.. Perhaps from the stream there?”
I froze. The stream was my exit route and now, it was blocked. How in the world was I going to get out now?
“IT’S STILL YOUR FAULT VALDEMAR!!”
“Vulgora, why don’t you search the place? Perhaps the unlucky soul is still here.”
Fuckfuckfuckfuck fuck. I was screwed. In a desperate attempt, I cast my magic out, searching for anything that might help me.
There.. at the edge of my senses was a faint flicker of magic.
A portal, having just enough power for a last use. I threw a butt-load of magic at it and jumped through, just as the door to the office was wrenched open. Vulgora’s scream was the last thing I heard before the portal snapped shut and I landed in a pair of strong, sturdy arms.
“Why, hello there, Mahika… I see you’ve found something.” Nadia smiled at me, eyes twinkling.