Page 24 of The House of Whispers

How did I not see it before? How did I not know about this?!

My eyes shot to my sister’s lifeless face as I broke down, crying. “Oh, Casper,” I sobbed, stroking her swollen face, “what have you done?”

She didn’t have just one brand burned into her flesh. No, Casper now bore two. My sister must’ve recommitted herself to our madame, to this wretched house. That was the only possible reason for her to earn the second brand. My cries filled the air as I continued tending to her, my own face soaked with sorrowful tears. I crawled to Casper’s head, stroking her hair, kissing the top of her damp head.

“Sweet sister,” I cried into her dark hair, cradling her head, “you bear too much. You don’t deserve this. You don’t deserve this!” I screamed into the air, crying as I held her tight to my chest. “I’m so sorry. If it wasn’t for me, you’d be free. You wouldn’t be here. It’s all my fault.” I buried my face into her wet hair. “You suffer because of me, because of my weakness.” My eyes burned as tears rolled from my eyes.

Casper moaned softly, her lids fluttering.

“Please forgive me.” I whispered. “I’m sorry.”

A hand lightly touched my head. “Don’t say that.” She strained. “You are worth—” her words wheezed from her lips, “—every ounce of pain.” Her hand patted my face as I continued to cry, embracing her. “I would die a thousand deaths if it meant saving you, Min.” Her love for me was too much. I didn’t feel worthy. “I love you, sister.” Her voice faded as she drifted back into unconsciousness, her hand falling to the cold water causing it to splash my face. I sniffled, knowing I needed to step it up. I needed to do better, for her. I wiped my face and grabbed a towel and braced myself as I began to pull her wet body from the tub.

“I love you too,” I groaned, moving her to the floor.

Casper’s drenched, exposed, and battered body lay in my lap as her head rested upon my thigh. I slowly began to brush her damp and tangled hair, singing a softly whispered lullaby of our youth attempting to soothe her.

“They say when you sleep, she com—es in the night. Taking your children but spar—ing your wife.”

Casper’s hand gripped mine as she began to fight back her stomach. “Shhhh, it’s okay. I’m here.” Casper flung her head from my lap, vomiting next to the tub as she moaned in pain. I stared at the inky black substance pooling on the floor, feeling nothing but pain and guilt as she forced the drugs from her stomach.

Casper crawled back to my lap, her mouth stained with vomit, and she sheepishly apologized. “I’m sorry, Min. I was too weak. He—”

“Shhhhh. You need to rest. Come here.” I cradled her in my arms and wrapped the towel tight across her body. “It’s my turn to take care of you.” Casper softly cried to herself as she began to tremble. My hand stroked her hair, my grip tightened as she shook, knowing what was coming next.

“Be careful, young children, who he—ar my tale.”

Casper began to convulse, a glittery, white foam leaking from her mouth as her eyes rolled back. I quickly laid her body flat on the floor and forced the handle of a nearby brush into the grips of her teeth as she shook. “Listen to my voice, sister,” her violet eyes danced and strained to focus, “and know that I am here. I’m right here.” My hands gripped her beaten face as I stared into her shaking eyes, comforting her as she violently shook. My stomach dropped as I watched her fight the convulsion for a few lingering moments as it faded into a light shiver. “It’s almost over.”

Once the shaking faded away, I settled her back into my lap, hugging her tight as tears ran down my face.

My voice wavered as I continued singing to her, attempting to lull her to sleep.“She’ll come for you too through heav—en or hell—”

“Reynard,” Casper whispered as she began to fade to sleep. “The Jakkal is Reynard.”

“Shh. Rest, save your strength.” She had begun uttering nonsense. Dr. Reynard was dead.

“Beware the bird legs on the old woman’s hut. She and her sisters are coming to hunt.”

The night had contorted into my own version of hell. Min stayed with me until dawn, caring for me and helping me overcome the toxic aftermath of the White Rabbit pill. My head still throbbed and I felt sick to my stomach, but I continued to push through and dressed myself for my upcoming shift as Min scrubbed the black vomit from the floorboards around the tub.

I pulled the faded leather gloves over my hands as I walked to her side. “Please stop, I can clean it myself. Besides, it was my mess.” I reached for the bristled brush she was using as she swatted my hand back.

“Enough. As part of my duty to this house, I shall clean this mess.” She smiled as though everything was normal in this wretched world. “But you should hurry. We can’t have any more missteps with Madame Chepi.” Her voice faded into a dark soft tone as she froze. “She’s watching you, Casper.” Min turned to face me, her face paler than usual. “She’s waiting for you to make a mistake. Be careful.” Her harrowing words were unfortunately true.

I nodded my head as the eerie warning sank my heart. I fought back the urge to vomit as I inhaled deeply. “Do you know who Chesmu is?” My face ached at the memory of his strength as I rubbed my healing neck. Being a hexer, most of my wounds had healed—one of the few things I did enjoy about my dark magik. All that remained were small, painful bruises.

Min resumed scrubbing as her wings flickered. “I hear he’s the new bouncer for the house. Madame Chepi sent for him the night that poor Scaley was murdered. He arrived hours later and began working immediately.” She continued to fight the black stain that soaked the wood floor.

I leaned against the doorframe of the washroom and crossed my arms. “I wonder how she knows him.” And how he arrived so quickly.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Min’s chipper personality had begun to reappear. “They must be related or something. Their inked markings along their skin are similar—almost identical in some places.” She dumped a small pail of water onto the floor and used a rag to soak up the black mess. “I mean look at them. Their features are a bit similar,” she moved the rag over the wet floor, “and if she brought him here, into her house, shemusttrust him.”

Interesting.

We knew nothing of Madame Chepi outside this house. Chesmu could very well be a relative or someone from her past. They did appear similar, and he was here working for her. She had to know him well enough that she would trust him so implicitly.

“Casper?” Min’s innocent voice drew me back from my thoughts. “Last night, you mentioned a name.”

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