Page 19 of The House of Whispers

Before I could process his words, Madame Chepi yanked the iron rod from my singed skin. My body slumped as Chesmu released his grip, my weight sending me forward. My hands slammed into the wooden floor, catching myself as I trembled, my chest throbbing with a burning pain. My hair fell in front of my face as her bare feet appeared at the edge of my tangled strands.

“You’ve become weak, Casper.” A single tear escaped my eyes, falling to the floor. I felt trapped. Broken. “I will grant you the day to rest,” she crouched, lifting my chin. My hair remained sprawled across my face as I refused to meet my eyes to hers. I was chained to her. “But starting tonight, you work until I say, do as I say, and live as I say. No excuses.” My head dropped as she removed her hand, walking away. “Remove her, Chesmu.”

Chesmu instantly grabbed the back of my neck again, forcing me to stand as he led me toward the door. I studied his bare, inked chest as he rotated me through the doorway and into the hall. He stopped for a brief moment, closing the door behind him.

“You bear no pledge.” I spat as he silently resumed leading me away from Madame Chepi’s room. My body shook with pain, my chest stinging as the cold air kissed my fresh brand. “What does she have over you?” I demanded through winded breaths as we moved toward the end of the hall.

“Not all of us require a brand to show our loyalty.” His voice was calm and sensual. He peered at me, smirking. “Though with you bearing two brands, I have to admire the enthusiasm.” Chesmu sounded impressed. Was he… teasing me?

We approached the end of the musty hall as he pushed my door open, shoving me onto the floor inside. My whole body ached. I remained on the floor defeated, fascinated by his strength as he stood lurking in the doorway. He was staring down at me, his hair lightly falling in front of his face, watching as if expecting me to move or fight back. Chesmu tilted his head. He was… beautiful. I hated how much I felt drawn to him.

“You surprise me,hexer.” The label fell, hitting me like a brick. Anger replaced all other emotions and feelings as my hand raised, burning violet. A full smile breached across his face as he crossed his arms, pleased with my reaction. “I dare you to try.”

My magik forced the door shut, immediately locking it as a warm chuckle seeped through the door from the other side. I watched as the shadow of Chesmu’s body moved, stepping away back down the hall. His presence faded, leaving me alone and battered on my floor. Defeated.

My nails dug deep into the floor as my arms strained, struggling to drag myself to my feet. The fresh brand across my chest stank as I choked back my breaths, rushing to my bed. My teeth clenched, fighting back screams as my burned skin scraped roughly across the bedding. I needed to treat the wounds, but I was too exhausted. My fingers reached for my neck as it screamed in pain too, the small cut perfectly centered along my throat.

You’re weak, Casper. Madame Chepi’s words played on a loop as my head throbbed, my heartbeat echoing fiercely behind my ears. Iwasweak. All I wanted was an escape from reality. A rabbit hole.

No!My inner voice screamed as I removed my gloves, throwing them to the floor with anger. I balled my fists and slammed them hard into my skull. My head stung as my fists made contact, repeating the motion again and again. Punishing myself for even considering the thought. My head pulsated. I peeked through my disheveled hair to see my hands stained in bright, fresh blood. I didn’t care. Iwantedto feel the pain. To suffer. I slammed my fists back into my skull, over and over, causing myself further harm.

You don’t need it, you don’t need the drugs!Tears filled my eyes as I continued to hurt myself, punishing myself for being weak. The struggle and craving was too overwhelming. The thought alone that dangled over me caused an old hunger to begin to grow. My hands burned with magik as I threw the pillow over my face, biting into the rough cotton as I screamed. The magik in my hands set it aflame, casting the room into a violet hue.

Oh, sweet death.His voice startled me, causing me to jump and toss the remnants of the pillow to the floor, snapping my mentality back. My eyes scanned the room as the flame of my hands dissipated.

Was he here? Has Jakkal been watching me?

The room was quiet, minus the growing liveliness of the brothel beneath the floor and the street below. I groaned, rolling from the bed and slowly making my way to the window. Sunlight glistened through the glass, burning my eyes as I searched the streets below, looking for any sign of The Ripper.

Just outside the brothel, the sight of rust-colored hair, glowing like fire, caught my attention. The man met my gaze, smiling as he removed his top hat, lightly bowing to me. It was Dr. Reynard. Instantly, I backed away from the window into the shadows of my room, watching as he turned and paced gracefully down an alley. My head began to spin. Thoughts, questions, and fears swirled between my ears as whispers. The injuries had overwhelmed me and I needed to rest.

A deadly hunger boiled within as I layed back across the bed.

You don’t need it.You don’t need it. You don’t need it.The constant reminder lured me into a deep sleep. No dreams, no nightmares, just the absence of time and life itself.

The frozen breath of the autumn night kissed the old window that gazed into Casper’s room, fogging the outline of the glass. It was oddly quiet in Casper’s corner room of the brothel. There had been no sign of her all evening and I hadn’t heard her usual movements. Her presence felt off—absent. Something wasn’t right. Curiosity and worry crept slowly along my skin as I stalked across the street.

What could be the reason for the lack of your presence?

My curiosity grew, twisting into fear as I cautiously scaled the battered brothel. I approached the window of her room and peered through the thick glass, struggling to see into the dark room.

Where are you, little ghost?

As I strained to look deeper into the dark abyss of her room, I noted her body laying still in her bed. The metal tang of old blood faintly seeped through the window from within her room. Inhaling the aroma, something snapped within me. This wasn’t just anyone’s blood—it washerblood.

Rage washed all other feelings from myself as my hands ignited with the red-orange blaze of my magik. Power surged through my core as the window immediately lit up. My hands raised as my power forced the window open. The cold autumn wind pushed past me, swirling through her room as the smell of her blood smacked hard against my mask.

Stealth and surprise were the last of my worries as I slithered through the window and rushed to her bedside. She was completely still, almost lifeless. The moon cast a bright light across her body, illuminating her pale face as she remained deeply asleep. It was as if death had preserved her. My head tilted as I observed her beauty. My gloved fingers removed a dark strand of hair from her contrasting face.

“Only you, dear Casper, could capture death’s beauty in such a moment.” My finger traced her rosy lips; I was entranced by the allure of her when the fine details of her face suddenly became clear.

Casper’s face was partially beaten, swollen, and bruised. Faded streaks of blood stained her forehead. Anger boiled within as my eyes trailed further, noticing the immense discoloration peeking from behind her hair along her neck. My hand gently brushed her wild onyx hair aside, revealing a ring of gruesome dark bruising freshly wrapped along her neck and a single cut in the center.

I carefully removed the blanket she had tucked across her, as the smell of charred flesh filled my lungs. Her blouse was torn and bloodied exposing her branded chest. Not just one brand—but now two identical brands. The symbol of The House of Whispers.

My body vibrated with vexation at the thought of the pain she had endured. She was chained to this house, to that wretched madame who abused her. Casper could never embrace her true self as long as Madame Chepi lived. Her life would never be her own. My hand reached for hers, noticing her torn and bloodied nails and stained palms. I gracefully took her hand into my own. “I shall free you from this prison, Casper.” Her eyelids fluttered softly at the sound of my voice. “No one will harm you again. As long as I exist, I will spend every moment protecting you. I will give you the life you desire and bow at your feet as you embrace your true nature. Together, we will rain blood down on The House of Whispers.”

The sound of faint words broke through the silence of my sleep. My eyes fluttered as I struggled to bring myself back to reality. The voice thickened as my ears adjusted.

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