The Spider's Lair

3. Candour Among Criminals

Chapter 3

Candour Among Criminals

In the days following the brutal murder, the Red Maiden, or 'Bloody Maiden' as many residents were now calling it, became much the talk around Leeside. Many citizens debated as to who, or rather, what, had committed the killing, but among all the theories, one prevailed above all others. The word 'Striga' was whispered in close confidence and a resurgence of fear spread throughout the lower echelons of society, as well as those who shared Roland's belief about the monster's existence.

Margret was in a foul mood following the substantial dip in business as many of Leeside's inhabitants second-guessed attending anyplace close to the crime. To some residents, it was like opening an old wound into the past and any attempt the Matron made to hush the whole incident was quickly rendered futile when the TinyOwl publication did another story regarding it. The newspaper attracted significant attention when it released details of the attack—or more precisely—the evocative execution. In response, an investigation was declared by the Duchess' magistrates who guaranteed the peoples safety as well as a swift justice to whomever responsible.

Although the victim was not identified by name, he was accounted to be a resident from Lupos, the Imperial capital, and published how his body was being returned home by ship. Like Roland had described, the body was indeed savagely mutilated before being drained to a husk. A decree calling for extra guards to patrol the streets at night was given. Some of the locals went so far as to petition for another search of the vast sewer system below the city. By the end of the month, Theo himself began to understand just how terrified the good people had been of the Striga.

One afternoon, during another summer rain that blasted the outside walls of the Maiden, Theo overheard a whispering pair talk about the dozens of men and woman that went missing in the past. "We had seven straight days of rainfall." The older gentlemen murmured, cocking a finger towards a water-drenched window. "On and on it went just like that, as if the Gods themselves were trying to wash away the Striga's filth. The entire west side of Redbank was swallowed up before the sky finally relented. And then there was that girl, poor thing." Sorrowfully, the man took a swallow of his pungent mead while his companion listened eagerly. "Taken right in front of her little sister—dragged down a manhole into the city bowels, never to be seen again."

What more the man had to say was cut short when Margret appeared like some ill omen to silence them.

Since then, he had suffered Margret's wrath night and day despite his best efforts to remain invisible. He considered once more the idea of tainting Margret's wine with some mischievous concoction just to avoid her incessant bullying for a while. Every problem was in some way his fault, and every mistake was of his own doing. The imperial mark—which he still obtained—remained hidden away below a barrel of mead in the cellar. He wondered how much poison it could buy on the black market. Certainly, enough to kill half a dozen people, no doubt.

Thunder barked threateningly when Jane approached him one dark day. "Hey," she said leaning across the bar from him, arms held tight against her chest. "Matilda said Margret's gone out for the evening. Some important business with a Lord Ashford down at the docks."

"Is that so?" Inquired Theo as the two smiled at one another. He hadn't been able to see Jane lately, let alone talk to her since Margret's frenzies. As usual, Margret found a way to separate the two of them by assigning them to separate areas of the Red Maiden. If Theo worked the bar, then Jane cleaned the rooms and worked errands. If Margret needed Jane to work the floor, then Theo would be out on other business like picking up supplies. Recently, Margret even subjected him to work the door as protection after Roland suffered from great pain in his joints, equipping him with nothing more than the broken end of a broomstick. As for how Jane managed to make her way to the bar, Theo had no clue.