the will but I’d like to powder my nose and maybe
catch a quick catnap.”
“Of course, my dear.”
After a series of polite goodbyes, Li followed
Myrtle up a set of rickety stairs. The older woman held a candelabrum in her
right hand and it was the only thing that kept Li from losing her footing.
“I don’t blame you for wanting to get free of
young Cedric,” Myrtle said. “He’s a bit of a wolfhound – he was even going so
far as to flirt with me before you arrived.”
Li found that hard to believe but she chose not to
pursue it. “I’m really just tired from the ride out. The driver wouldn’t even
bring me through the gate!”
“There are many rumors about this house,” Myrtle
agreed. “It makes the locals a bit jumpy.”
“Really? I haven’t heard any stories,” Li fibbed.
“Our family has a history of occult involvement.
Have you heard of the Sons Or Daughters of Malfeasance?”
“Um, no.”
“There are those who think they were the true
founders of Sovereign City. That their worshipping of a dark…something… is the
real reason why this region is so steeped in the supernatural.”
Myrtle took her on a winding path through a number
of dark halls and Li realized that she wasn’t sure she’d be able to find her
way back downstairs. “So our relatives were part of… the Sons or Daughters?”
“That’s what some say.” Myrtle stopped next to a
large window and pointed out towards the back of the property. Li was surprised
to see a large cemetery, located behind an abandoned church. The stained glass
windows were now broken and weeds had overgrown the tombstones.
“This property has a lot of history to it. That
church there was one of the first erected in Sovereign and the cemetery has
many notables buried there. Some of the combatants in the bloodiest local
battle of the Revolutionary War are interred there.” Myrtle looked at her with
eyes that seemed to glow in the candlelight. “The Horseman is reputed to be
among those buried in unmarked graves.”
Li gasped. Like every child born in Sovereign
City, she knew the legend of the Headless Horseman and the way it had inspired
a writer named Washington Irving to appropriate the story and, with minor
tweaks, turn it into a part of American folklore.
“Don’t worry, my dear. I think you’re quite safe
inside these walls.” Myrtle chuckled. “At least you’re protected from the
threats that originate from without.”
Glancing at the older woman, Li asked, “What do
you mean?”
“I mean that all of us should be on our guard.”
Myrtle lowered her voice. “Look at logically… every member of the family who is
here at midnight shares in the estate. If something should happen to drive one
away… or if a terrible accident should end their life before that hour… then
each individual piece of the pie gets that much larger. If all of us were to be
removed from the picture, then the entire estate would belong to Maxwell’s
lawyer, Jenkins.”
Li hid her nervous excitement, instead adopting
the facial expression that would lead Myrtle to think that she was frightened
by these suggestions. “Do you really think we’re in danger?”
“Stranger things have happened. In fact, at this
time last night, there was a man named David Dinkins here. He was a relative on
Maxwell’s mother’s side… I personally showed him to his room and Sebastian said
he was definitely there at just past eleven because his room light was still
on. But this morning – no sign of him! Nothing! All of his belongings are still
in his room!”
“Did you call the police?”
“Jenkins advised us to wait until after tonight’s
ceremony.” Myrtle smiled coolly. “Otherwise, any investigation might force the
delay of the reading of the will. And no one wants that, now do we?”
Li agreed that this seemed to be the wisest course
of action. The trek to her room resumed and Myrtle had little else to say,
except to point out an interesting portrait or
catch a quick catnap.”
“Of course, my dear.”
After a series of polite goodbyes, Li followed
Myrtle up a set of rickety stairs. The older woman held a candelabrum in her
right hand and it was the only thing that kept Li from losing her footing.
“I don’t blame you for wanting to get free of
young Cedric,” Myrtle said. “He’s a bit of a wolfhound – he was even going so
far as to flirt with me before you arrived.”
Li found that hard to believe but she chose not to
pursue it. “I’m really just tired from the ride out. The driver wouldn’t even
bring me through the gate!”
“There are many rumors about this house,” Myrtle
agreed. “It makes the locals a bit jumpy.”
“Really? I haven’t heard any stories,” Li fibbed.
“Our family has a history of occult involvement.
Have you heard of the Sons Or Daughters of Malfeasance?”
“Um, no.”
“There are those who think they were the true
founders of Sovereign City. That their worshipping of a dark…something… is the
real reason why this region is so steeped in the supernatural.”
Myrtle took her on a winding path through a number
of dark halls and Li realized that she wasn’t sure she’d be able to find her
way back downstairs. “So our relatives were part of… the Sons or Daughters?”
“That’s what some say.” Myrtle stopped next to a
large window and pointed out towards the back of the property. Li was surprised
to see a large cemetery, located behind an abandoned church. The stained glass
windows were now broken and weeds had overgrown the tombstones.
“This property has a lot of history to it. That
church there was one of the first erected in Sovereign and the cemetery has
many notables buried there. Some of the combatants in the bloodiest local
battle of the Revolutionary War are interred there.” Myrtle looked at her with
eyes that seemed to glow in the candlelight. “The Horseman is reputed to be
among those buried in unmarked graves.”
Li gasped. Like every child born in Sovereign
City, she knew the legend of the Headless Horseman and the way it had inspired
a writer named Washington Irving to appropriate the story and, with minor
tweaks, turn it into a part of American folklore.
“Don’t worry, my dear. I think you’re quite safe
inside these walls.” Myrtle chuckled. “At least you’re protected from the
threats that originate from without.”
Glancing at the older woman, Li asked, “What do
you mean?”
“I mean that all of us should be on our guard.”
Myrtle lowered her voice. “Look at logically… every member of the family who is
here at midnight shares in the estate. If something should happen to drive one
away… or if a terrible accident should end their life before that hour… then
each individual piece of the pie gets that much larger. If all of us were to be
removed from the picture, then the entire estate would belong to Maxwell’s
lawyer, Jenkins.”
Li hid her nervous excitement, instead adopting
the facial expression that would lead Myrtle to think that she was frightened
by these suggestions. “Do you really think we’re in danger?”
“Stranger things have happened. In fact, at this
time last night, there was a man named David Dinkins here. He was a relative on
Maxwell’s mother’s side… I personally showed him to his room and Sebastian said
he was definitely there at just past eleven because his room light was still
on. But this morning – no sign of him! Nothing! All of his belongings are still
in his room!”
“Did you call the police?”
“Jenkins advised us to wait until after tonight’s
ceremony.” Myrtle smiled coolly. “Otherwise, any investigation might force the
delay of the reading of the will. And no one wants that, now do we?”
Li agreed that this seemed to be the wisest course
of action. The trek to her room resumed and Myrtle had little else to say,
except to point out an interesting portrait or
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