Arthur
has
been spending most of the evening in his basement, doing a tarot reading and listening to the voices of spirits, but...he's been hearing one
particular voice that he doesn't recognize. Some of the things it's saying, however...could be serious cause for concern. He's just staring
at his contacts list on his phone now, though, as he's not entirely sure as to who he could call to assist him...
walks in right then. "Hey, Daddy, I heard voices and--- what are you doing?"
jolts upright, having not heard another human voice in several hours, whirling around. He relaxes a bit when he sees it's Wy, however, his
shoulders slumping slightly. "Ah...hullo there, Cricket. I'm just, ah...doing a little work. Sorry if I disturbed you...how are you getting
along?"
"Fine... but, did you just recall the dead by any chance?"
laughs nervously, looking around the basement. "Well...no. I don't think so, at least..."
's eyes widen. "You did! I can't believe it! ... That's brilliant!" She takes a tentative step closer. "May I try?"
goes silent for a moment, watching her. Closing the book in front of him, he rolls up his sleeve, revealing a line of fresh, but no longer
bleeding, cuts and wounds. "...I don't know if 'brilliant' is the right word. Most of them were...very unhappy to be pulled back to the
world of the living. It's very dangerous, and I haven't quite perfected it yet-not even with my most powerful magic." He shudders as the
mental image of his old queen, his dear Elizabeth, a mass of quivering flesh on the floor, groaning and-...no, he certainly won't be trying
that again. He just needs to get rid of the spirit pestering him.
frowns, taking his arm. "What'd that bastard do to you?" She sighs. "I don't suppose I should try then... actually, I came down because I
thought I recognized one of those voices... or at least it sounded a bit familiar."
offers her a small, what he hopes is reassuring, smile pulling his sleeve back down. "Alot of things, Cricket. I've been trying to take care
of it, but...no luck so far, obviously. ...familiar? How do you mean?"
scrunches her forehead as she tries to recall where she's heard that voice before. "I'm not entirely sure... it was a woman's voice...
I know I've heard it somewhere. I just can't place it."
grabs another book off a nearby shelf, flipping through it. "That so? Then...hm...do you think it would be worth it to try and communicate
with her? If she knows you, she might be willing to help us..."
"Of course! Um... but how?"
turns to the page on summoning spirits. "With incense, of course. The other option is an animal sacrifice, but...I'd rather not resort to
that."
nods in agreement. "Incense then."
gets up to go and gather a few sticks of it. "Wait down here...if any spirits show up, scream for me, alright?
*"
"Alright." She closes her eyes, preping herself for concentration.
comes back down a few minutes later, wearing his cloak and carrying a few more books, as well as the incense.
"No one's showed up yet." She says with a little smile.
looks slightly relieved, setting everything down on the table. "That's good...we should have an easier time keeping control."
nods. "When can we begin?"
hands her a fairly heavy tome. "Right away, if you don't mind."
"Then, let's begin."
nods, closing his eyes and beginning to chant quietly.
closes her eyes and listens... and there it is, almost immediately, that one voice above the murmer of many others. "I hear her!"
Arthur
has
to remind himself to breathe deeply, resisting the urge to shiver when he feels the brush of a hand against his shoulder. "Can you tell who
it is?"
"She's... I know her. She seems to know me." A familiar, warm hand touches her face. "She's... from before. A long time ago..."
lights another inscence stick, watching Wy with a mixture of concern and awe. "You know her...? From where?"
"Mummy?"