Chapter 6: Things best left unseen

“After all, why shouldn't I ... Why shouldn't I open it?” I whispered and reached a hand to the safe, then stopped just shy of it. “Just kidding.”

Sera deflated like a balloon, “Do you not crave knowing what lies inside?”

I shrugged, “Of course I want to know, but in case you didn't notice, there are three very ominous words carved into the door. I don't think anyone would take the time to carve something like that unless they really fucking meant it.”

She snorted, “If they kept relics of power inside, would they want anyone opening it? Of course not.”

I groaned. In truth, I also wanted to take a peek. The prospect of finding something of equal value to the thimbles nagged at me. Egging me on to take a look inside. In the end, curiosity won. Being strung up on a hook for weeks on end had a way of putting life into perspective. All the risks I didn’t take seemed like lost opportunities when on death’s door. 

“Just... Just one quick peek, alright?” I conceded.

“Yes,” she exclaimed and jumped up and down. “Go on!”

I weeded out the keys that looked like they fit the small lock. It took me more than a hundred tries to hear the satisfying clonk of the locking mechanism. My sanity was on the brink of utter annihilation.

I held my breath and placed my hand on the handle. The veil shuddered in response, as if trying to tell me something. I paid it no heed, but felt a knot of tension tighten in my chest. I pulled the door open, palms glossy and covered in sweat. The small door opened without a sound.

The light of the oil lamp went out, leaving the room to be covered by a dark deeper than that of night. There was something entirely unnatural about it. It draped over the room and drowned out even the violet hue of the Veil.

As I peeked inside, there was nothing. Not even the steel walls of the vault. Only a void.

I gulped, a drop of sweat sliding down my temple, “Is this enough for a peek?” 

She scrambled inside the dagger, “Close it!”

“Yup. Definitely.”

The door didn't budge, no matter how I pushed. I activated burst and felt it inch shut, if only just barely. The embroidery only gave me momentary strength, and I didn't know how many bursts I could activate before I the recoil would press down on me. I had gotten some rest during the walk, but far from enough for a full recovery.  

Darkness gushed out of the safe like a torrent. My hair fluttered as it rushed past. The shuddering veil tried to push back against it, to no avail. 

The magical darkness was unnerving as it forced its way inside me, it was violent and crude, tearing its way forward. Not at all like the gentle veil. 

“Sera?! What the fuck do I do?” I screamed. I barely heard my own voice over the harrowing flood.

“Keep pushing!” she urged. 

I activated burst, over and over. The steady flow of darkness fuelled every activation. I pushed against the door with my shoulder, trying to muster the force of my entire body. Every gruelling second of effort made the door creak closer to being shut. 

When only a crack of it remained open, the door jammed stuck against something. It wouldn’t close, no matter how I strained. 

I peeked over the edge, placing my face right in the middle of the torrential stream of magic. Tears sprayed from my eyes before I could savour their moisture. There was something there, in the dark, something forcing the door open. 

I pushed and punched at it, feeling the soft reassurance of impact, but it wouldn't let go. 

I grabbed the squishy limb, activating burst and pulling at it wildly, “Let go, damn you!” 

Before I had time to react, I felt my face press against the cold of the steel door. It was much stronger than me, and it wanted me inside. I placed my feet against the wall, pushed. The damn thing finally relented, and let me pull away enough to see the door swing open.  

I stared into the dark, and the dark stared back. It had yellow, predatory eyes and a sharp, toothy grin. 

My mouth fell open as the thing smiled at me. I could do nothing as it reached out to caress my cheek with its bone like fingers. Its long fingernails were curled like claws, and brown with dirt. I winced as they scratched at my cheek, drawing a thin line of blood.

“Come home…” it whispered with cracking dissonance. Those eyes, they stared right through me, as if I was nothing but a mirage. Yet, they saw all of me. I could feel it deep in my very being.

The smile curled to the ears as the figure turned away from me. Even the serpentine feelers retracted, and pulled at the door. It slammed shut with a loud bang as I watched on listlessl, feet firmly planted on the ground. 

It wasn’t until minutes later that I found my composure again. The jailor had been one thing, but this… this was something else. 

I slumped down with my back against the safe, covering my face with both hands as I tried to make sense of what just happened. Before I knew it, I burst out in a manic laugh. 

“Never again.” Sera whimpered. 

The warmth of the veil flowed inside the vault, erasing all traces of the dark miasma. It trembled as it embraced me. 

I nodded and wiped my tears, “Agreed. Did you see that … thing?”

“Of course…”

“What was it?” I asked and ran a finger over my cracked lips.  

She grimaced and rubbed her throat, “No clue. But I sure am glad it is over. It was suffocating even for me, and I have no body.” 

Her eyes darted around, “Let us just leave.” 

“Let’s.” 

I closed the vault and made damn sure to lock it. No way in hell was I going to let someone else let that freak enshrined within escape. 

My lungs still burned from having breathed the dark miasma for however long the whole disaster had taken. I strained against the ache of my body as I walked back to the spartan office, using the wall as a crutch. 

On the way, I stopped and took note of the dead jailor. What the hell were you keeping down here? 

His silence in the face of death puzzled me. I know I'd talk, I'd fucking sing if that's what it took. In fact, the first days spent on the hook, I probably talked, sang, and cried more than I had in my entire life up to that point. 

Then, when my throat became dry and the jailor never returned, I gave up, I embraced the silence. Maybe things were the same for him. 

Many mysteries still remained to be explored, but they could burn for all I cared. All I wanted to know was how to get home. Finding that out was on the very top of my to-do-list. Blessed were treated as royalty on earth. It was about time fortune smiled on me for a change. 

I squeezed inside the Spartan office and plopped down on the chair with a groan. Sera laid across her chair and stretched with a yawn. Does she even need sleep? 

I waved it off, I didn’t need to know, nor did I care, really. Neither of us said a word before I fell asleep.

…

Marked.

I stared at the runes, half thinking I was dreaming. The sting of the thin wound on my cheek reminded me that it was in fact not. 

Name: Caleb Kane

Race: Human (95%) ??? (5%) 

Title: One of reviled flesh, Outsider’s mark

Blessing: W??ver

Acclaim: Whisper 

Outsider's mark.

Marked by the reviled Outsider, his atrocious task knows no end.

I cringed at the sight of the change in runes. 

“Who the fuck is the outsider?” I asked, and glared at Sera.

She paled at the mention, “A monster. Just as the jailor was the target of your ire, he is the target of mine.” 

“And this mark of his?”

“A mere jest. He wishes to sow seeds of discord.”

I gnashed my teeth, “Why?”

“Because his is the realm of madness.” 

“Speak plainly!”

She slammed her hand against the chair, shattering it into a thousand pieces, “I am! Is it so hard to grasp?! Would you rather trust him than me? I have told you, I cannot lie. I am bound by the very magic to this truth.”

“And what guarantee do I have of it?” 

“None but my word. Which I hope weighs heavier than that of the Outsider,” she snarled. 

“It weighs just about as much as air, Sera. We just fucking met!” 

She glared back, “And now we share a body, bound by a contract to not harm each other knowingly.” 

I blinked, rubbed my eyes, and sighed, “Shit. I really should read that thing.”

“Yes,” she spat. “What does the mark say?” 

“Absolutely nothing.”  

She stared at me with annoyance, “Because it means nothing, you insufferable git.”

“Sorry,” I whispered. 

“I cannot hear you.” 

“I’m sorry! Shit.”

She sneered at me, but didn’t push it. I leaned back at stared at the ceiling, taking a few breaths, then jumped to my feet. There was no point thinking about it. It had happened, I had to live with the consequences whether I understood what caused them or not. Besides, I had other things to do. I squeezed out the door, walking toward the inferno.

The heat of the fiery pit singed my brows as the vault keys clinked in my pocket. I dug them out and weighed them in my hands. They were heavy beyond belief, not them physically, but the responsibility they brought. 

I did a very irresponsible thing, and I wasn’t going to let anyone else make the same mistake. I gave the keys one last look before I threw them into the inferno. They plummeted down without ceremony, swallowed by the flames. 

I chuckled, “No mad hobbit? Thank god.” 

“What was that?”

I shook my head, “Nothing, just a stupid movie.” The best movie ever. 

“Now,” I continued with a broad smile, “Shall we get the fuck out of this place?”