Page 34 of Curse in the Quarter
“Who’s buying them?”
“Discriminating Collectors. Individuals with appreciation for historical significance and practical applications.” Her smile widened. “Though the real question is why someone with your background cares about commerce in antique techniques.”
“Because those techniques are marking innocent people for spiritual harvesting.”
“Harvesting sounds dramatic. I prefer consciousness redistribution according to cosmic design.” The casual admission snagged his breath. “Would you like to examine a fragment? For educational purposes, of course.”
From one case, she withdrew an object wrapped in midnight silk. Her movements held reverence as she revealed parchment covered in symbols that moved when viewed peripherally. Not reproductions—genuine artifacts from Charlotte’s research.
“Original sigils from Charlotte Lacroix’s binding experiments. Quite potent, considering its age.” She named a price that could purchase houses. “Though I might offer professional courtesy. Fellow practitioners should support each other.”
Bastien counted bills, noting how the parchment pulsed with faint light as money changed hands. The keepsake locket against his chest grew warm—Charlotte’s creation recognizing Charlotte’s work across centuries.
The moment his fingers touched the fragment, heat flared through the locket’s metal.
Not gentle recognition but burning intensity suggesting dangerous resonance between artifacts created for different purposes. The parchment began smoking.
Not burning—releasing vapor carrying jasmine and heated copper, the signature that had led him here. As fire consumed the fragment, air around them vibrated with power dormant for decades.
Pattern bleed. The working embedded in Charlotte’s research was spreading through destruction, seeking connection with related artifacts and bloodlines. Every wisp carried microscopic traces of soul-binding energy, dispersing where it would cling and propagate.
“Impressive,” Voss said, backing away as residual energy made her protective wards crackle. “Though cleanup costs for contamination require specialized removal.”
The burning fragment revealed complexity beyond individual spells—interconnected networks linking multiple sites across the city. Charlotte’s work had been far more sophisticated than records indicated.
Smoke patterns spelled words in ancient languages. Ritual instructions. Coordinates for additional fragments.Names of bloodlines marked for inclusion in cosmic working.
At the center, one name repeated in burning gold: Delphine.
“The magical residue responds to her essence even at distance,” Bastien said, watching smoke dissipate.
“Whose essence?” Voss asked, though her tone suggested she knew.
“Charlotte’s modern incarnation. The anchor point organizing these patterns.”
“Ah. Yes, rumors about her awakening reach even our circles. Remarkable, considering consciousness preservation complexity across lifetimes. Charlotte’s theories seemed impossible until recently.”
“What changed?”
“Cosmic attention. Entities with authority to manipulate fundamental laws, providing resources beyond mortal comprehension.” She rewrapped remaining fragments as if business had concluded. “The Collectors take particular interest in souls developing beyond designated positions.”
Shadows began gathering at the courtyard’s edges with unnatural density. Not absence of light but presence absorbing illumination while remaining visible. Movement suggesting intelligence, purpose, attention focused on their conversation.
Temperature dropped twenty degrees.
“Such fascinating discussion,” a voice whispered from everywhere and nowhere. Words carried weight making stone creak and metal sing. “Educational, though ultimately irrelevant to predetermined outcomes.”
The shadows coalesced into something vaguely humanoid, though features remained impossible to focus ondirectly. Ancient presence, patient as stone, as if it had watched Charlotte’s work develop across centuries.
“Collector,” Bastien said.
“Among other designations. We prefer to think of ourselves as cosmic maintenance, ensuring universal stability through consciousness management.” The entity’s attention felt like ice against his senses. “Your participation in Charlotte’s experiments created obligations transcending individual lifetimes.”
Understanding tightened like a vice around his lungs. His presence during Charlotte’s original ritual hadn’t been observational—it had been participatory. His fallen nature had provided power making her consciousness preservation possible.
“The modern incarnation carries accumulated debts,” the Collector continued, voice now inside his skull. “When she awakens fully, payment will be extracted from all connected consciousness. You cannot protect what was designated for harvest.”
“Watch me.”
