~~Group A~~~
Isabeau smiled her charming smile at Adam, slightly relieved that Adam's “companion” hadn't followed them in. She didn't worry that the girl would cause trouble; he staff were well trained. She had ensured it. Those that had showed too much inclination ended up assisting her in her research; that always did the trick. She would have to track her down afterwards though; couldn't have loose ends. She was a perfectionist after all.
“So” she said turning her full attention, and the subtle healing powers of her Talent, on Adam. “After my husband's untimely accident you can well imagine my mind was very uneasy. I missed him dreadfully you know, and kept thinking how things could have been done different. Lab work is so unpredictable at times but we were careful. I spent every night going over and over every step we took, every measurement, every chemical, every whisper of talent, anything that might have affected the outcome. I quite believe the servants feared for my life; I don't remember eating or sleeping during this time...only work. But as I worked, and reworked, everything we had done up to this point I had a breakthrough”
For a moment she seemed truly excited, her eyes lit with pure joy of it all.
“Actually it wasn't me, it was my husband. He was there you see, I looked up and he was there. Oh not a ghost or a spirit or anything like that. We know they exist, though they are usually rare. He was a corporeal body, alive, whole, healthy, and as perfect as he ever was. I was terrified at first; no power can bring the dead back to life. I wrote you that letter in a moment of fear and panic; but he stayed with me. Days, nights, I don't know how long, he dared not show himself to the superstitious servants after all. We talked little at first, but as I grew to realize it was truly him we talked more and more. It was then I realized the glorious truth. We had done it. Somehow in that moment of explosion, in that instant, we had done it. The Panacea. It could bring the dead back. It can heal anything. Adam, we succeeded!”
As Isabeau began to talk Adam let himself sink into his talent. It was growing stronger by the second, the maze of chaos gleaming in the darkness of his mind. Each turn outlined in glowing light. Pieces were falling into place exactly as they should. He had been spot on with regards to the lady, and her experiments. He knew he could put this information together with what he already knew in a puzzle so perfect that there would be no hanging questions. Everything was perfect; which is why it was a surprise to realize his mind had wandered off as Isabeau had been talking. He never lost focus like that.
That was his first inkling that something was truly off, not just with him but with his Talent, and it was not enough warning. The feeling that everything was going perfectly was overpowering, all was as it should be, everything was as he expected, and all was content. He was too far gone to fight it and as Isabeau calmed his talent she calmed him as well for he nearly always used it; he was extremely strong psychically, Talent tied to his physical being, and now it was his downfall as he drifted off to a healing sleep.
Of course what Isabeau had planned involved very little healing, at least not in the eyes of most. But she was quite mad by now, and in view her actions were the most natural thing in the world. She looked over the sleeping Adam with a satisfied smile; though something still bothered her about him. There was something just...off. He wasn't ill per se, just not well. His will had been strong; but in the deep subconscious it had sought healing; and that was what Isabeau provided. A chance to rest and heal.
She rose and rang for her butler. The man was well trained and terrified of her to boot. He would comply with her wishes without hesitation. She gave the orders and swept regally off down a corridor, her butler trailing behind carrying the deeply sleeping Adam.
The news that the girl had wandered off was somewhat alarming; but she would be dealt with in time. Or perhaps she would let her husband have the girl; husband he may be but his appetites were on the verge of too disturbing even for her. She hoped to fix that little peculiarity now though; with Adam's help.
***
Ren had taken up a place in the kitchens to converse with the other household servants. That was the usual procedure when nobility visited one another. And the servants always knew more than their master's wished them to know. Unfortunately the Lady's house was not typical. Oh the servants chatted politely; but Ren could feel the unease and he dared not probe far. The help was afraid; of that much he was certain. It was the kind of cold mute fear that servants working for abusive master's had. He'd met a few but fortunately, or unfortunately in this case, he had never been in such a situation himself and didn't know how to connect to these folk to get them to share the stories behind the household.
When he realized he would not be much help here he rose and quietly, but decisively, walked out into the halls. Someone should have stopped him. No one did. He quickly felt for the pistol that was in his pocket. His master disliked such things but Ren saw no harm in the edge a firearm often gave. It's greatest advantage however was in striking fear, and this household was already in a fear thrall, which meant he had better be prepared to use the thing if he needed to.
The halls were empty as he walked towards the entrance of the house, and it made him edgy. Something should have been going on somewhere, but it was like people were too afraid to be seen. Perhaps that accounted for the subtle lack of care that was evident in all the fixtures and furnishings. And it made him more edgy. He needed to find Adam and Lily and they could get themselves out of there in short order.
***
~~Group B~~
The gloom of the foggy night made the old building much more difficult to make out; and the strange metalwork items scattered around the old building took on the air of torture implements rather than ironwork tools.
The sounds coming from inside grew and became unmistakably vicious.
clyp.it/q1sxfseuThe sounds were followed by some low metallic clattering, like something was knocking stuff about inside, then the culprit, amidst a flurry of snarls burst from the dark opening in the building that must have been an open door.
Though the darkness made the shape hard to discern it was broad and squat, very low to the ground. It was also charging in a waddle-run at the horses making hideous growling noises. A second squat form bared out of the building right behind it and both raced at the pair on horseback.
The unmistakable whiff of mammal long dead mixed with the musty scent of badger preceded the running pair. The horses shied and nearly slammed into one another as they tried to get away from the charging badgers. For their part the badgers paid them no mind, the first one clearly trying to get away from the second so it could devour it's prize in peace.
As the animals passed by Johanna and Wes the mostly rotted remains of a human arm and hand could be clearly seen in the mouth of the first badger.
The strange noises faded into the forest along with the badgers letting the strange silence of the forest descend on the clearing. The dampness of the fog carried with it the smell of death, still weaving through the clearing despite the badgers departure with the rotting hand. It was plain there was more in the building that the animals did not run off with.
NOTES FOR REFERENCE:
Group A—Adam, Lily
Group B--Rabid Bear in the Woods. Johanna, Wes
Group C--Missing Men. Aleksandra, Lucie
kapuchu
Dnafein