Page 75 of The House of Whispers

The void around us began to crack, pieces falling into the water beside me. Jakkal remained unfazed, watching me as the sound of a heart beating filled my ears. Flashes of orange screamed as my head burned, the void shifting. “What’s happening?” I whimpered, my hands covering my ears as I frantically watched the darkness falling to pieces around me.

“This is your mind,” he lifted his arms, motioning around us, “and it’s finally breaking.”

Casper was entranced by my magik, her eyes glowing orange as she remained on her knees, her mind unraveling beneath my power. She needed to know the truth of it all. It was the only way to have her truly realize what it is she had become. Her own mind had twisted the truth, hiding it away from herself in a frail attempt of protecting her from her true self.

Sitting there across from her as she witnessed those locked away memories, I thought she was beautiful. Seeing Casper in her costume tonight, wearing my mask—why, it was riveting. Even now, drenched in the blood of her work, she reflected an alluring power unlike any I had ever seen. Soon, she would be free.

I gasped as Jakkal’s magik painfully withdrew itself from my mind. My vision blurred, fading into clarity as my eyes absorbed the present. We were back in my room, Jakkal crouched across from me. My hands felt sticky, causing me to glance down and find them pressing against Min’s bloody body. The depth of my betrayal and the truth of my past flooded me as I quickly pulled them back, frantically wiping the blood along the front of my velvet dress.

“Do you see, now, the truth of everything?” His words made my movements freeze as I kept my eyes away from him. “Do you see what you have become?”

My jaw tightened, replaying the painful truth. Everything I had told myself about Reynard—Jakkal—everything was a lie. The line between truth and fiction had blurred, mixing together within the chaos of my crumbling brain, leaving me to question everything.

“Casper,” he purred, “take your prize and fully give yourself to the darkness.” My eyes glanced across Min’s body to see Jakkal’s hand extended, the blade turned for me to grab. “Release the old version of yourself. Let go of the pain you feel and allow the darkness to consume you.” The internal struggle had become unbearable, boiling over as my eyes stared at the bloody hilt. “Let the weight of the world fall from your back as you stand above the rest, taking your rightful place.” His words danced in my ears as I remained fixated on the knife as he held it over Min’s lifeless body. “Free yourself.”

Once Min faded from view, my curiosity led me to unfold the note and read the smeared handwriting inked along the blood-stained crinkled paper. Min had said the note was from Casper. My hands trembled as I stared at the familiar calligraphy, realizing the weight of the evidence in my hand. I frantically stuffed the note in the pocket of my costume and began searching for Chesmu.

I had searched the parlor for Chesmu, then made my way to the energized ballroom, frantically hoping to find him. It was no use, Chesmu was nowhere to be found. I’d have to handle this alone, as there was no time to seek outside help. Rushing from the ballroom, I forced my way through the crowd of masked guests, continuing through the parlor. I shoved my way through a cluster of Whisps gathered along the foot of the main stairs and made my way to the top floor.

The rancid smell of blood drenched the air, catching me off guard. My hand covered my nose and mouth, gagging as my eyes noticed the bloody trail that stained the floor. I slowed my steps, noticing that they flowed from within Madame Chepi’s room and continued in the opposite direction. Fear overcame me as I pushed forward, slowly following the trail, cautiously avoiding the footprints as they led me to the end of the hall and directly to Casper’s door.

Min.

My hand gripped the door knob, aggressively attempting to open the door. It was locked. “Min?” I hit the door, hoping for a reply. “Min?” Silence. My hands slammed into the door, banging over and over as my strength burned. A low growl tainted with a hiss escaped my mouth as I kicked the door, busting it open. I stood in the doorway, breathing heavily as my eyes adjusted to the darkness within. Slowly, my vision cleared as I noticed her body laid in the center of the room, Casper on her knees beside her, a knife in her hand. My heart shattered as my eyes remained on my love.

“Min?” I whispered, stumbling in her direction, tears swelling along my eyes. My body fell to its knees opposite Casper as my hands shook, hesitant to touch her. Her face was stained in smears of blood, her eyes dark and empty. Her throat had been sliced, blood soaking her pale skin. She was gone from this world. “No,” the word breathed from my lips. My scale-covered hand brushed her hair from her face as tears drenched my cheeks. “We were almost free.” I sniffled, carefully cradling her to my chest. “We were about to begin our life together. You can’t leave me, my love.” I buried my face into her hair, rocking her body with mine as I screamed, my cries filling the room, drowning out the sounds of the storm outside and the masquerade below. The good part of my soul, the part that Min nourished with her love, died in my arms.

Nathair’s presence was unexpected, causing me severe anxiety as I watched him sobbing over the loss of his love. My body was on edge, nervous as I watched him holding Min close to his chest and screaming into the air. It was the sound of his heart breaking. He then lowered his face, burrowing it into her hair as he cried.

Lightning flashed as Nathair raised his head, his jade eyes meeting mine beneath furrowed brows. He released a menacing hiss as he growled his words. “I’m going to kill you.” Thunder roared outside as he gently lowered Min’s body, standing beside her.

My legs wobbled as I stood, my eyes glued to him while the storm raged outside. “Nathair—”

“No!” He yelled, his fist slamming into my face, sending me back. My feet stumbled as I struggled to balance myself, my head ringing as fresh blood dripped down my nose and into my mouth. “You don’t get to speak.”

Nathair stepped over Min and kicked me back into the wall as my knife bounced from my hand. My back hit the wall, sliding down as I fell to the floor. My head rang, the room spinning as my vision blurred. Nathair stopped in front of me, crouching as he raised my head. My eyes danced in their sockets, struggling to focus on him as he spoke. “All these years, I dealt with you and your sick obsession over Min.” Flashes washed across my brain as I struggled to focus on his words. “Helped you cover up your many murders, thinking it was what was best for her,” he glanced over his shoulder at Min’s body, “but I was wrong.” His angry eyes returned to me. “You were the most dangerous thing in Min’s life.” His hand retrieved something from his pocket, unfolding it as he whipped it out in front of my face. “Do you see this?” He waved a piece of paper in front of my eyes, causing my dizziness to grow. “Casper!” The harshness of his voice caused me to jump.

Nathair grabbed my face as he lifted my head to read the paper. As my eyes focused, I realized it was my note that I had sent to Min earlier tonight. “Wh-why do you have that?” I whispered. The room wobbled as if it were a boat, rocking from side to side.

“This is your handwriting, correct?” He shook the paper in front of me. I didn’t immediately answer, only angering him more. “Answer me!” I shook my head, hoping my answer would satisfy him. He clicked his tongue, removing the paper from my face. “I knew it,” he whispered, examining the note. “Do you remember when I mentioned that the Ripper sent a note to the police station awhile back?” I nodded. “Well, imagine how I felt when I saw this and recognized the handwriting.”

His words didn’t make sense. My face churned with confusion as I watched him. “I don’t understand,” I grumbled.

“Don’t play dumb with me,” he yanked me toward himself, our faces close as blood trailed down my face, “you wrote that note because you, Casper, are The Ripper.”

My eyes widened, perplexed by the ridiculous accusation. “I am not The Ripper.” My magik burned as I forced Nathair back, freeing myself. My legs shook as I struggled to stand, my balance wavering. “The Ripper is Reynard, just as we suspected.” My arms twirled as my magik dragged Nathair along the floorboards, away from me while he groaned, fighting my power. Jakkal appeared in the doorway of the washroom, watching as I snatched the blade from the floor. “He’s right there,” I aimed the tip of the blade in Jakkal’s direction.

Casper pointed her knife toward the washroom. My strength fought against her magik, barely allowing me to turn my head as my eyes searched the empty doorway.

“He’s the one who has caused all of this,” she cried, angry as her hand shook the blade at nothing. “He’s the one who killed Min.” She wept, slowly walking toward nothing. “And now, he’s offering to release me from all of this.” She faced me, waving her arms around the room as tears filled her bloodshot eyes. “I can be free from this nightmare!”

“Casper,” I groaned, wriggling against her magik on the floor, “there’s no one here.”

Her eyes met mine, glazed in disbelief.

“How can you say that?” My head turned from Nathair to Jakkal, my gaze bouncing between the two men. “He’s right there,” my knife aimed at Jakkal as Nathair watched me. “He’s always here, shadowing my every move.” I slowly walked toward Jakkal, offering the blade to him. “And now, I’ve made my choice.” As Jakkal gripped the hilt, I nodded, smiling as I turned to face Nathair.

Nathair fought against my power, groaning as he tried to break free. “Casper, listen to me!” He growled. “There is no one else here but you and me.” I glanced back at Jakkal. He gracefully walked toward me, placing his hands gently along my shoulders as he pushed me to my knees.

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