Page 15 of The House of Whispers

“She wants you to join us.” Of course she did, but I couldn’t leave. Jakkal would only kill again. I was the only one who could stop him, who knew how he worked. I had to stay. Besides, I knew Nathair didn’t want me to join. Madame Chepi wouldn’t allow it either.

“You know Madame Chepi won’t let me leave. She needs my magik. Besides, be glad she has even allowed Min to go. It’s rare that she lets her girls leave this house.” Nathair nodded.

“I’ve handled everyone here. I told the witnesses it was just another drugged John acting out and that we found him wandering outside and had him sent to the police station. No one should ask any more questions while you clean up.” I patted his arm, turning to leave when he stopped me. “Tomorrow morning I’ll return. We need to find a way to stop him. Think of something tonight, will you?”

“I’ll do my best. Thank you, Nathair. Take care of Min.” He flashed me a smile before opening the closet door.

Music, laughter, and voices filled our ears as we stepped back into the lively house. Nathair tipped his hat as he walked away to fetch Min. I glanced down at myself, noticing the tiny, dried blood specks across my chest. As my hands moved the fabric of my coat, I noticed more along the edge of my sleeves.Very odd.

“Casper.” A woman’s voice directed my attention. The same curvy Whisp from before appeared at the end of the narrow hall leading into the main room of the brothel. “Madame Chepi is looking for you.” Oh hell.

“Where is she?”

“In that Scaley’s room.” I nodded to the woman as she returned to the overflowing room of the house. I ducked into the adjacent hallway. The small hall led to a hidden, back stairwell that led to a concealed opening on each of the brothel floors. The small, spiral stairwell was dark and unlit as I traveled up to the top floor. I could hear muffled sounds of the brothel in full swing on the other side of the house walls.

At the top of the stairwell stood a hidden door concealed by a large vintage painting. The painting was about the size of a normal door and swung open to the top hallway outside the rooms. This passageway was often used to sneak out high-class Other men and political figures, though I personally had used it to dispose of the Johns I handled. I would’ve used it tonight had the hallway beyond not been filled with so many people.

The painting lightly squeaked as my hands pushed it open. My eyes peeked through, checking the hall beyond.Clear.

Stepping over the corner of the concealed doorway, I closed the painting and hurried to the Scaley's room. The door was slightly cracked open.

Inside, Madame Chepi stood facing the open window. She held a small candle that flickered, casting large shadows across the room. The small lace-like curtains moved as the night air blew through the window, creating a soft whistle.

“You wished to see me, Madame?” I remained in the doorway, an eerie presence growing from behind. She stayed looking out the open window as she spoke.

“I said no police.”

“Detective Nathair has always helped with delicate situations like this in the past; he—”

“Did you do this?!” She whipped around to face me, her accusation maiming me as the words stung deep and her expression darkened.

My brows furrowed. “I would never do something like that in our home.Especiallynot to one of your girls.” Pain and anger burned in my throat as I defended myself.

Madame Chepi’s stare remain firm as she watched me. Her dark eyes trailed down to my coat.

“Clean yourself up. Your shift isn’t over yet.” She rushed past, aggressively shoving her way around me as she exited the room and stepped into the hallway. The flicker of her candle slowly faded away, soaking the Scaley’s room in a blanket of pitch black. A sigh released from my chest, the pressure of her disdain absent as I turned back to observe the dark room. The eerie overshadowing presence that haunted me only grew stronger, causing my body to shake with a chill.

I closed the door behind me, stepping deeper in the room. Darkness had consumed any existence of light beyond my glowing eyes. “Time to reveal your secrets.” My fingers snapped, igniting the few measly candles that perched atop the surfaces of the room in a hue of vibrant purple. The blood-stained floorboards glowed beneath the cast of magik light, revealing a neverending spray of castoff, hidden to the naked eye. I stepped back, slightly horrified by the discovery. It was apparentthat Jakkal had shown the woman no mercy.

Focus, Casper. You need to reveal any evidence left behind. Anything that can be used to help stop him—The Ripper.

Stepping around the edges of the room, I stopped in front of an antique mirror opposite the bed. The mirror was lined with an antique wood that swirled around the edges. The reflective glass itself was slightly cracked and covered in dust.

Perfect.

My hand wiped the thick layer of dust from the aged mirror, revealing the reflection of my eyes as they stared back at me. I continued to rub my gloves along the glass, revealing the reflection of the entire room that stood beyond myself.

Removing my glove, I faced the east side of the room and crouched, extending my open palm, facing it inches from the floor. I moved from the east, circling clockwise around the mirror as my magik sparked from my hand and began to form a circle, burning brightly. “Mother of magik, hear my words,” the words were key in protecting my soul as I tapped into this dark level of magik, “guide me through the shadows and bathe me in your light. Shield me from the unwanted and keep me safe within this divine circle of protection.” As I whispered the last word, the circle had become complete, creating a violet fire around me.

I sat in the middle of the circle and crossed my legs, open palms resting atop my knees. Glistening magik dripped upwards from my hands as I faced the old mirror, inhaling deeply. I stared fiercely into the reflection, my irises burning into one another.

Focus.

My mind pulsated as every detail of the room slowly began to glow. The few scattered, lit candles began to rise as my magik concentration deepened. An eerie presence weighed heavily along my back as my eyes began to water, remaining open as I refused to blink. The body of the Scaley appeared in the mirror as if lying behind me. I glared, watching as her single candle flickered, revealing another person. It was Jakkal.

Tears began to roll down my cheeks as my eyes burned. I couldn’t look away, watching in horror as he sliced her open. Her faint screams echoed in my ears as the crime replayed itself behind me.

Having won his little game, Jakkal sawed off her ear, stuffing it into his tailored pocket. “There.” I whispered loudly, knowing that was the evidence I needed. As if hearing me in the past, the face of the stained fox mask rose and stared into my reflection of the mirror. The recognition of my presence startled me. He slowly rose and began to walk toward me. Absolute fear washed over me as I slammed my eyes and palms shut, the candles falling to the floor, rolling along the floorboards as their flames extinguished with my magik. I slowly peeked through one eye into the mirror to find the room returned to its normal state, a single candle burning organically atop the Scaley’s nightstand.

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