Page 42 of The House of Whispers

Nathair stood, his hands interlocked with Min’s. They both looked at me then back to one another. Min sighed, speaking to me. “I know the burden you bear, caring for me. Protecting me.” A tear fell from my eyes as I looked at the floor ashamed. “But you need to let go. It’s time we protect you.” Nathair looked at her puzzled by her words. Min lightly stroked his face, smiling. “We need to stop The Ripper. It’s the only way to free us all. But we must work together.”

Nathair placed his hand over hers, kissing her palm slightly. He nodded, knowing her statement was true. He looked at me, weary but strong. “I will help you if it means protecting Min.” My eyes lifted, meeting his. “Can you accept this?”

I nodded, apologizing for my actions. Min showed me a small, warm smile. Nathair nodded in acceptance, still hesitant. I sat on my bed, wiping my tears and clasping my hands together.

“I have an idea to stop him.” Nathair and Min looked at me, waiting to hear details. “But first, I need to tell Chesmu.”

“The new bouncer?” Min asked.

“Chesmu has the ability to deflect hexer magik.” Nathair answered for me. Min looked up at him.

“How?” She glanced back at me. “How is that even possible?”

I shrugged. “I’m not sure,” my brows furrowed, “but I’m going to find out.”

Nathair stepped forward, his hands falling from Min’s. “Do you think we can trust him? Isn’t he close to Madame Chepi?”

I scoffed, smiling lightly. “He is. But I believe we can trust him.”

Min and Nathair nodded. Min fluttered to my side, kneeling as she placed a hand on my knee. Nathair had tried to stop her, but she nudged past him. “What do you need us to do?”

I gently touched her chin, smiling as she looked up at me. Min had truly grown up. She was a beautiful woman now. Strong, independent, and caring. This world didn’t deserve her.

“I need you to buy me a mask.”

Nathair, Min, and I had discussed an elaborate plan to catch the Ripper. Once our plan was concocted, Min scattered to complete her chores while secretly preparing. Nathair had gathered his police coat, nodding to me before leaving without a word. I exhaled as they left, trying to mentally prepare myself for what we had planned. The most excruciating part of our plan wasn’t what we had to do—it was the anticipation of waiting for the right time to make our move.

I fell back onto the bed, staring at the weathered ceiling of my room. I lifted my hands and twirled them around as flickers of violet drifted from my fingers into the air above. The glowing magik danced above me, creating a spectral of a doe. The deer pranced around the air, its ears flapping as I flicked a few dainty butterflies alongside it. Together, the deer and butterflies frolicked through the fiery picture above me.

The scene was peaceful, helping calm my nerves. I swirled my fingertips, my magik swirling above as the doe pranced around, the butterflies following suit. Such a magikal thing it was, watching my magik sparkle and flicker in the air. A small smile branched across my face when a flash of vermillion shot through the picture, piercing the doe in the heart. I gasped, rising from the bed searching for him as the magikal sight dropped from the air. There was no sign of Jakkal, only the single arrow of his power that swirled into the ceiling, fading away. It felt as though he had been near, watching me.

A soft knock at my door made me forget all about Jakkal. Standing, I shook the uneasiness from myself and made my way to the door. As soon as I turned the knob, Chesmu rushed into the room, quickly shutting the door behind him.

“Can I help you?” I snapped, crossing my arms and raising an eyebrow.

Chesmu locked the door, turning to look back at me. “We need to talk.” He brushed past me and paced to the center of the room.

The seriousness that clouded him intimidated me. I knew something bad had occurred, but seeing him like this only proved it more. “What’s happened?” I asked, making my way to him. I cautiously placed a hand on his arm. “What’s wrong?”

Chesmu looked down at me with his warm eyes. He gave me a faint smile before pulling away and walking to the window. He placed his hands on the window seal and lowered his head, sighing as he looked onto the street below, watching as people passed by.

“I know you feel chained to this house,” he spoke softly, “but at least you aren’t chained to her—your lives forever looped together until you die.” I could see the sadness in his eyes through his reflection in the window. My heart felt his pain as it ignited my own.

Slowly stepping toward him, I placed a hand across his bare inked back. “Just because she saved you once doesn’t mean you are forever in debt to her.” Chesmu turned, facing me as he leaned against the window seal. My hand moved with him, now placed in the center of his chest. I stared at the markings along his skin. Such elaborate and beautiful pieces of art. My gloved hand lightly ran along the indigo and cayenne colored swirls and shapes that mixed into darker black ink. As my hand continued, it brushed along the long beaded necklaces that hug around his neck and rested on his lower abdomen. “Why do you wear these?” I asked, keeping my eyes on the necklaces. No two beads were the same. Each one was a new shape or color, strung with what seemed to be small crystals, bone and medallions. They were unique and foreign to me.

Chesmu’s hand met mine as I picked up the larger stone that hung from one of the necklaces. It was heavy, carved with a design similar to the brands burned across my chest. My face tilted up to catch him observing me. He pulled me closer, wrapping his other arm around my waist. “These necklaces come from my homeland. They were given to me as a child before I was stolen.” Speaking of his past seemed to haunt him, casting a dark shadow across his face as he endured the memory.

You’re not from this world are you?

“How is it that you can deflect my magik?” The question blurted from my lips before I could stop myself. Chesmu chuckled.

“A secret for a secret. And remember,” he pulled me closer, tightened his arm around my waist, “you still owe me one.”

There’s the Chesmu I know.

My hands rested along his chest as I continued to follow the inked marking on his skin with my fingertips, thinking of what secrets I could share with him.

“I—” my nerves tingled as I forced the truth out, “I’ve taken many lives,” my hands stopped moving, “killed many because she commanded me to. To protecther.” Chesmu lifted my chin. “And the worst part is,” I choked back a soft cry, “deep down, I fear I’m losing control. I fear that I like it.” My eyes searched his face as he absorbed what I had just said.

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