Page 52 of The House of Whispers

“Soon,” he thumbed my lower lip. Darkness crept along my vision as my head dropped onto his arm, “soon you will.”

Lucid dreams of shadows were all I remembered as the sound of the world flooded my brain shooting my consciousness back into reality. My head ached as I shot up, my eyes struggling to focus as I peered in the darkness around me. All I could focus on was a single vermillion candle, burning brightly. It was next to the bed, a bed I did not recognize. My hands ran along the red, velvet bedding and silky, black sheets. The bed was large and weirdly familiar.

The sound of a door closing startled me. My eyes strained as I searched for the source of the sound, unable to see past the darkness of the bed. Footsteps neared. “Who’s there?” The echo of footsteps increased as a looming presence thickened. “Hello?” The sounds stopped as his mask came into view.

Immediately, my body curled into itself as he stood at the foot of the bed, watching me. His top hat was no longer perched atop his head, showcasing his rust-colored hair. His long, dark coat was absent, only wearing an off-white shirt beneath an elegant black and maroon tailored vest as the sleeves ruffled around his glove-covered wrists.

“Why am I here?” He ignored my question, removing a knife from behind him. “Jakkal?” My eyes remained glued on the reflective blade as he observed it, touching his gloves to the tip. “What’s going on?”

His mask raised to look back at me. “I’m going to free you.” He snapped his fingers, the candle snuffing out, soaking the room in absolute darkness. Fear consumed me as I remained still, waiting and listening for any type of movement. The room felt desolate of any feeling as the temperature dropped, causing my body to shake.

I slowly moved, trying to avoid making a sound, crawling on my hands and knees toward the edge of the bed. My eyes glowed in the darkness, almost blinding my vision as I neared the edge.Almost there.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Jakkal was suddenly in front of me, his mask level to my face, his sudden presence startling me.

Jakkal pushed me back onto the bed, my head slamming in the middle of the bed. I tried to crawl away as he yanked me toward him, holding my knees tightly along the side of the bed. The room ignited in an orange glow as his magik pinned my wrists and ankles down, my back firm against the bedding.

“Release me!” Jakkal stood tall, his knife in hand as he looked down at me. My eyes bolted back to the blade as he silently crawled over me. I struggled, fighting his magik, trying to break free. He remained on his knees over my torso, as he straightened his posture, tilting his head. “Please,” tears began to fall from my eyes, “please, don’t do this.”

“Do you really think,” he leaned down, running the cold tip of the blade along my face, “that after all our games,” he moved the blade down my neck, “after all our nights together,” his blade made its way to my chest, cutting the high collar of my blouse, “that I would just end it all?” He tucked the blade along his arm and ripped my shirt open exposing my chest. “You should know better by now.”

I cried softly, confused as he watched me, helpless beneath him. “Just kill me,” I sobbed, “please.”

Jakkal rose, taken back by my reaction. “You truly don’t remember, do you?” His mask tilted as he remained over me. He tossed the knife aside and examined my head. “Pity.” He straightened his back and raised me to him as his magik burned into my skull.

My wound screamed as his magik seeped into the deep laceration. “Stop.” I breathed as his fingers moved, forcing more of his power into me.

“No,” he held my head in place, inches from his body, “your wound is too deep. It’s affecting your brain. I’m fixing it.” The pain was excruciating as he moved, his magik healing me. Being so close to Jakkal as he tended to me was oddly exciting. I struggled to remain composed as his magik continued to enter my skull. Adrenaline pumped through me as he continued. “Despite what you may think of me, Casper,” I closed my eyes as he spoke, “I would never force you.” Somehow, I knew he meant what he said.

Jakkal gently lowered me back to the bed, releasing his magik as my ankles and wrists fell free. My head tingled as his magik lingered, healing me from the inside. My body remained motionless on the bed.

Jakkal moved my head, his hand firm along my chin as he examined me, searching for other major injuries. “No games tonight.” The world began to spin and fade as his words drifted through my mind. “We shall play another night, little ghost.”

The world fell flat, darkness and silence taking over as I found myself wandering in a void of existence. My feet trudged through a black liquid similar to water that flowed on for all of eternity. The liquid gripped my legs, forcing me to glance down at my reflection. Staring back at me was not my face—but Jakkal’s. My body flinched at the sight of him, moving as his reflection mirrored me. We moved as one in perfect unison. The thought of us being one sent absolute fear soaring through my soul. I tried to turn and run, only slamming into Jakkal. He caught me, silently raising my blade and slamming it into my chest. I screamed as the blade pierced my flesh, slamming into my bones. The void began to melt as my scream filled my ears, almost mirroring a high pitch ringing.

“Casper!” My body was being shaken. “Casper, wake up!” Chesmu’s voice peeled me from the nightmare as I woke to find myself back in my room at the brothel. My breathing was rapid as I frantically fell from the bed into his arms. My chest burned as my eyes struggled to focus on his face. His hands held my face as my body remained slumped against his. “Casper, it’s alright. You were having a nightmare.”

My brain struggled to focus as I realized I was back in my room. Chesmu moved, touching my chest as I winced. My knife had somehow cut my chest, slicing the neckline of my shirt. I eyed the blade, dropping it to the floor as I moved back in the bed trying to grasp the remnants of my disappearing nightmare.

Chesmu retrieved the blade and examined my chest. “I told you not to cut yourself.” He smiled, placing the blade on the nightstand. “Thankfully it’s just a small nick. Let me clean that for you.” He moved to the washroom. I could hear the water running as I tried to gather my scrambled thoughts.

What had happened?The last I remembered, Jakkal had followed me into the washroom. My eyes moved to the doorway of the washroom as Chesmu wrung out a washcloth. Memories flashed behind my eyes as I remembered fragmented pieces: Jakkal—a bed—and a knife. I glanced down, seeing my torn shirt.Why can’t I remember?

Chesmu approached me, a wet cloth in hand. He glanced at my shirt, “Might want to remove that.” He smiled as I did as he suggested. He stared at my bare chest, grinning like a child as I leaned back onto my bed. “Much better.” Chesmu winked, cleaning the small nick along my chest. “Now, rest, Casper,” he placed the cloth aside and tucked my blanket over my chest. “You’ve had a pretty eventful day. Rest.”

I grabbed his large arm. “Please don’t leave.”

He smiled, placing his hand over mine, “Never.”

The aggressive sound of knocking on my door woke Chesmu and me. The sun beamed through the thick glass, shining directly into our eyes. Together, we groaned, rolling into one another as we shied away from the light, attempting to ignore the banging on the door.

“Casper?” The knocking continued. It was Nathair.

Chesmu stroked my face, the sun highlighting the features of his face as it appeared to glow. “Want me to handle it?” he asked softly. I nodded as he kissed me, warming my heart. Chesmu reluctantly climbed from the bed and made his way to the door, swinging it open. “Can we help you?”

Nathair must’ve been thrown by the sight of Chesmu because his voice faded, falling low as he spoke. I could barely hear him.

Chesmu glanced back at me, raising an eyebrow. “I think he wants to speak to you.” Groaning, I nodded. I wrapped the sheet around my bare chest and sat up in the bed as Chesmu allowed Nathair into the room.

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