Page 76 of Malice

Too dark to see my hand in front of my face.

There’s nothing around me. Not a building or a wall or a sliver of light. I can’t hear myself breathing or the beating of my heart. Nothing. Silence.

“Aster.”

I startle when Wilder appears in front of me. I can just make out his shape.

“This is so weird.”

“Especially for your mortal if he’s watching. We aren’t really speaking here. It’s driven by our thoughts, but back home our mouths are moving. It’s quite a show.”

“Whoa. So what now?”

“Now we contend with your Horror.”

“It’s here?”

“Sort of. Come on.”

“How do I—” Before I finish the sentence, we’re in the attic of Hudson’s house, but it doesn’t take me long to realize it’s a projection of the attic and we’re not physically here. Makes sense.

The house spirits turn to face us, parting to reveal the ball of energy between them, except the Horror appears completely different. It’s a snarling mass of black gunk, hissing and clawing randomly, obviously unable to focus on a particular target.

“What the fuck?”

“We’re seeing its true form in this plane. It’s very frustrated that it’s not in control and being held back.”

“Can I get to the Below from here?”

“No, and even if you could, you’re not ready. You haven’t gotten its name.”

“Right. I have to strangle it out.”

“Sometimes, yes. I brought you here so you can learn to navigate it. Would you like my suggestion?”

“Please.”

“In this state, the Horror isn’t capable of telling you anything. It’s been reduced to its most basic form. You need it to fully manifest so it’s able to communicate.”

“Oh. I have to let it restore itself before I can tackle it?”

“Correct.” Wilder nudges the Horror with his booted foot and it shrieks and squirms. “It’s aware of our presence and intensely angry. It hates you. You’re preventing it from attacking its target.”

“It should get used to that.”

Wilder grunts an amused sound. “It doesn’t know yet.”

“Know what?”

Wilder turns to me. “What the human means to you. When and if it finds out, you’re going to have your hands full.”

“I don’t understand. Hudson is?—”

The Horror reacts to Hudson’s name, pulsing towards me and making a gurgling noise, but the house spirits close in around it, holding it back.

“Fuck. It can hear us.”

Wilder nods. “If it weren’t for your helpful house spirits, it would be everywhere all the time.”

---