Chapter 18

“That was a spectacular waste of time.” Kellerman muttered from beside Wil as they walked down the street. They had been meeting with families of the missing, trying to find any connection between them, or clues about what happened.

So far, they had been focusing on the poorer areas of the city, where nearly a dozen people had been declared missing since last month. Speaking with the Imperial Guard, who were responsible for maintaining the peace of the Capital, this was nearly double their regular statistics.

“We now know that over half of them were taken during the Night. That’s something at least.” Wil commented, striking a line through the last name on the list.

“People go missing during the Night. It’s not common, but it happens, even in the Capital. Something could have grabbed them, or maybe they were robbed and killed. If you’re looking for a pattern, this isn’t it.” Kellerman replied, shaking his head.

“You’re wrong. If it were random killings, some monster or creature grabbing them, there would be evidence. Blood, body parts, something. Sure, a few of these missing cases fit your description, but at least four of them are just wrong.” Wil continued.

“When has someone simply just disappeared without a trace? No body, no witnesses? Even during the Night, it doesn’t happen often, and certainly not four times or more.” Wil finished, shaking his head.

“Do you really think Tabitha is grabbing people off the streets and murdering them? Someone would have seen her by now! There would be evidence, witnesses. And what about the bodies? Is she abducting them, sneaking them into the Manor, and burying them in the basement after she kills them? See reason, Wil. You’re wrong. She’s twisted, I’ll grant you that, but it’s not a conspiracy. This isn’t Aachen.” Kellerman said, leading the way into a nearby tavern.

The head of the Brookmoor House Guard sat at a table near the wall, gesturing for the waiter to bring two ales and a plate of food. Wil sat across from him automatically, reading through his notes in his journal.

“I would be inclined to agree with you, if it wasn’t for the Auguries.” Wil said, looking up from his journal as a glass of ale was placed in front of him. Thanking the waiter, he took a sip.

“Bah! Useless Witchcraft. Looking for answers in sticks and bones.” Kellerman spat out, his face twisting with disgust.

“Regardless of your personal beliefs, they work, and Kathryn is skilled with them. Her answers may be vague, at times, but rarely does she not get any response at all. Something is blocking her Divination.” Wil explained.

Kathryn had asked the gods for answers regarding the disappearances, and the troubles surrounding Tabitha, but all her Divination attempts were impeded. The bones held no answers. Even her powerful Tier 4 ‘Divination’ spell that communicated directly with Secundus was silent.

The only explanation was that another god was involved, one powerful enough to obscure the answers from them. That answer was of little comfort, it meant Tabitha was receiving divine protection. A deity that protected a psychopath meant trouble for all of Illyria.

“What’s next?” Kellerman asked, digging into his plate of food.

“We’re out of time. I have to keep a watch on the Manor house, Night is only a few hours away. If Tabitha is going to make a move, it will be then. The first few hours of Night are a powerful time for rituals.” Wil said.

“You don’t know for sure that she’s even planning anything. You’re lucky that the Earl ordered me to assist you, otherwise I would never get involved.” Kellerman stated. Markus and Wil had kept their abductions of the Earl a secret from everyone at the Estate.

A few simple illusions, and an order delivered by Markus stating that the Earl wasn’t to be disturbed, had all it had taken. There was a time limit, however. The ruse wasn’t indefinite, they needed proof, and soon.

“And I appreciate that. I should go. Let Markus know what we found talking to the families.” Wil said, standing and saying goodbye to the House Guard.

“You mean nothing? Sure, I’ll tell him that.” Kellerman agreed, waving him off.

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Tabitha felt a thrill of excitement as the yellow sun of Primaris sank beneath the distant horizon. It had been days since she had last felt the connection between herself and the ‘One’. The absence made her twitchy and on edge, like an alcoholic that hadn’t had a drink in days and was going through withdrawal.

Her hands shook as she placed the hood of her dark robe over her head. Soon, the ritual would take place, the victims already secured, they only awaited her knife.

Making her way down to the cellar, she was once again grateful for the installation of the Teleportation Array. Markus had been having her followed, his wariness over her sudden ‘transformation’ had been alarming to him. Although she could easily evade watching eyes, it was much simpler to have the array installed by some of her father’s associates.

Tiberius had gladly paid for it, anything to keep his daughter pliant and happy.

‘I haven’t heard from the Fool in days.’ She idly wondered, running her hand down the black silk cloak.

Usually he pestered her endlessly, seeking assurances that the wedding would still go ahead, demands on what titles he would receive. It was boring and unending!

She couldn’t wait until he was gone. Him, the Emperor, all the princes. She wanted this world reduced to ruin, to stand on the ashes and laugh. The ‘One’ promised an end, and a new beginning. To tear down the old and cleanse Illyria in fire.

It made her giddy to picture it, the thought of the screams…the smell of thousands burning… it sent a shiver down her spine. For a moment, she was forced to cling to the handrail of the stairs, the vision of death and destruction making her weak in the knees from pleasure.

Frustratingly, the feeling faded, the climax just out of reach. leaving her irritated. The ritual would fix it, the ‘One’ granting her the release she craved.

Straightening her robes, she reached the cellar, pulling on the wall sconce to release the hidden wall. Pulling out several stone tablets, she arranged them on the array, whispering the pass phrases and incantations as she did so. With a surge of mana, the circle of magic was complete, the connection to the other end established.

Standing in the center, she felt a small gust of wind brush past her, rustling her robes before the Array sent her shuttling through space in a flash of light. In moments, she reappeared in an empty stone room, far beneath the ground of the Capital.

The stagnant air from the Crypt around her was comforting, bringing with it a smell of death and the caress of negative energy. Her Master had established himself here over the last year, opening more chambers and connecting it with the surface.

It was a perfect place to conduct their rituals, and so long forgotten and ignored that few knew of its existence.

Moving swiftly, she left the chamber, moving through twisting corridors lined with burial vaults, alcoves with long decayed skeletons. Ignoring them, she strode with purpose to the main hall, where a massive altar had been constructed, the lidless eye of the One. In front of it was the elevated stone sacrificial slab, black with dried blood.

A mound of skulls surrounded the altar, growing as their congregation added to it. Most had been stripped of their flesh, consumed by those present during the ritual. Tabitha mouth filled with saliva as she stared longingly at the sacrifices.

Soon, they would feast, and the ‘One’ would be pleased.

Taking her place in the circle around the altar, she waited as others filed in, hooded, and cloaked, their identities a secret, even from each other.

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Wil had waited in the Manor’s cellar as the sun set. Concealed in an invisibility spell, he didn’t have long to wait before watching Tabitha descend, dressed in midnight black robes, a hood low over her face. Strangely, she paused on the steps, leaning against the wall and breathing heavily.

Whatever afflicted her seemed to pass quickly. She straightened, entering the Cellar, and opening the hidden door.

Wil watched as she arranged the missing pieces of the Teleportation Array, completing the enchantments. Seizing the moment where she was distracted by powering it, he rushed forward, entering the Array just as the teleportation took hold.

In a flash of light, he traveled with her, entering a stone chamber. The Invisibility spell flickered, bringing him into view for a moment, but luckily Tabitha was already leaving, her robes whispering across the ground as she walked.

Fixing the magical invisibility spell, Wil followed, eager to finally discover what his sister was doing.